I'm going on an internet diet for the next 24 hours. I'll check in with you guys later!
Didn't they do just that with the sale of the Golden State Warriors? Larry Ellison had the highest bid, but it was known that his intention was to move the team to San Jose so the NBA and current ownership opted for the lower bid that kept the franchise where it is now.
Actually, Larry Ellison's bid didn't work out because the Warriors owner at the time, Chris Cohan, didn't want to sell to him so he set up a bogus bidding process. He waited til someone outbid Ellison at an amount that he liked and then shut down the process before Ellison could up the ante. Ellison was ready to bid more than Lacob but Cohan made sure to not let him get in another shot because he simply didn't like him.
Ellison was going to keep the Warriors in Oakland. After all, the arena is named after his company. I'm guessing he eventually would've made a play for SF like Lacob is doing but who knows.
He did want to buy the Sonics and move them to San Jose. He actually outbid Clay Bennett by $75 million but the league wanted OKC over San Jose so he lost out.
Same with New Orleans. He was set to outbid the league for the Hornets and the move them to San Jose but the league preferred keeping the team in New Orleans so they bought the team outright.
Also, NBA's Scott Howard-Cooper said it would be VERY unlikely (via David Stern) that the NBA would return to Sacramento
Also, NBA's Scott Howard-Cooper said it would be VERY unlikely (via David Stern) that the NBA would return to Sacramento
Which makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.
The NBA went back to Charlotte, almost immediately, after the fans essentially boycotted ownership.
The NBA then bought the freaking the team that left Charlotte in order to ensure they remained in New Orleans.
Now the NBA is more than willing to go back to Seattle after only a 5 year absence.
What about Sacramento? Not one of those cities has supported their franchises as Sacramento has done with the Kings.
Why won't the NBA stand up for Sacramento like they did for New Orleans? If they are unable to do so (I call shenanigans on that), why wouldn't they be as willing to go back to Sacramento almost immediately as they've done in Charlotte and now, possibly, Seattle??
I'm sick to death of hearing how Sacramento won't ever get another team if we lose the one we got due to poor ownership or lack of an arena. Charlotte lost their team due to poor ownership and Seattle lost their team due to lack of a new arena. If both cities end up with new teams after only a few years, why couldn't the same be done for Sacramento?
Where is that super rich guys from Asia that wants to buy the team?
Aaron Bruski
@aaronbruski
The Maloofs owe $219M to the NBA according to @largesteve.
https://twitter.com/aaronbruski/status/289174905017229313
**** ME!!!!
Just how incompetent are these clowns?!
They didn't spend it on the team. It had to go down with the Palms. They should be investigated for fraud.
Unless of course you are a Seattle ownership group that is loaded with money and does not care about the cost and is only worried about getting the NBA back to Seattle.
Dare I ask what this sentiment comes from?As we say in Portland: F Sh*ttle.
After reading through the thread, I didn't see this mentioned I thought I should point it out:
While a potential ownership group that intended to keep the Kings in Sacramento wouldn't have to worry about paying off the city loan right away and wouldn't incur relocation fees .. they would have to pony up 75M (or whatever the share is) to take the city up on the new arena deal (which would still be a requisite for the NBA to give their approval).
So, let's say a local ownership group only has to offer 425M to all but match the deal on the table from the Seatte group, in the end, it still becomes 500M when the arena contribution is made.
This may make it more difficult to find alternate investors willing to make a bid.
That said, let's somehow hope Ron Burkle and MVP decide to team up (since MVP recently stated that he's seeking a minority ownership stake). While the Maloof's seem stubbornly against selling to any group with Burkle's involvement, perhaps they won't have a choice if the NBA steps in. Couldn't the NBA buy the team from the Maloof's (knowing they have guaranteed ownership group to flip it over to) then sell it to Burkle/MVP?
While a potential ownership group that intended to keep the Kings in Sacramento wouldn't have to worry about paying off the city loan right away and wouldn't incur relocation fees .. they would have to pony up 75M (or whatever the share is) to take the city up on the new arena deal (which would still be a requisite for the NBA to give their approval).
well, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Seattle people still have to pay for an entire new arena, for which there isn't yet any public funding plan in place? meaning that this end of the equation would rest even heavier on them.
well, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Seattle people still have to pay for an entire new arena, for which there isn't yet any public funding plan in place? meaning that this end of the equation would rest even heavier on them.
well, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Seattle people still have to pay for an entire new arena, for which there isn't yet any public funding plan in place? meaning that this end of the equation would rest even heavier on them.
Let me correct you then. There is PRIVATE funding in place for the new Seattle arena. If they buy the Kings, the arena deal will go forward without a problem.
This team is moving, sorry guys. Seattle has a team willing to invest 1 billion+ for the team and arena, no way KJ will be able to find a local group who will do that.
The arena will get done if they have the Kings coming in, mark my words.
The issue now is: Can a Sacramento group match the 500 mil that Seattle is offering, and are they willing to follow through with the bidding war? I highly doubt it.
The arena will get done if they have the Kings coming in, mark my words.
The issue now is: Can a Sacramento group match the 500 mil that Seattle is offering, and are they willing to follow through with the bidding war? I highly doubt it.
We don't know what the 500 mil number entails. Sacramento has to match the net profit/benefits, not the dollar figure. The key is presenting another offer and making the NBA BOG make a choice on approval. The NBA can justify letting the team move if there are no other offers. If there is an equal offer in Sac and the league still approves the sale to Hansen, then it's another black eye for the NBA and Stern in my opinion. If the NBA leaves Sac, make sure they leave knowing they were in a fight. Don't lay down for them.