What will the Maloofs do?

[RookieOfTheDay]

I though it would be interesting to see where people's thoughts are at on this. After all, what else have we got to talk about until Monday? LOL

 

[John Galt]

I believe they will file, having reckoned that they've torn the bonds of affection with Sacramento past the breaking point. If they lose the vote, they'll sell (knowing Stern will bust them in court and leave them very much the worse for wear).

If they announce that they are either staying in Sac because they love the fans, or that they're selling now... I'll be surprised. I hope I'm surprised.

 

[Trueblood]

I voted "Stay in Sacramento" but I just don't like that one too much. I'd prefer they sell to Burkle. If they stay in Sac, they're going to do everything possible to sabotage an arena effort. Someone like Universal is going to have to be very generous if the Maloofs own the Kings.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I believe they will file, having reckoned that they've torn the bonds of affection with Sacramento past the breaking point. If they lose the vote, they'll sell (knowing Stern will bust them in court and leave them very much the worse for wear).

If they announce that they are either staying in Sac because they love the fans, or that they're selling now... I'll be surprised. I hope I'm surprised.

I was talking with a friend about that. He thinks if they come back and spend some money on the team like the said they would, that all will be quickly forgotten.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I voted "Stay in Sacramento" but I just don't like that one too much. I'd prefer they sell to Burkle. If they stay in Sac, they're going to do everything possible to sabotage an arena effort. Someone like Universal is going to have to be very generous if the Maloofs own the Kings.

They'll have to be careful though because Stern is no dummy and would easily spot that. He'll be keeping an eye on the Maloofs, of that I'm certain.

 

[John Galt]

I was talking with a friend about that. He thinks if they come back and spend some money on the team like the said they would, that all will be quickly forgotten.

Yeah but the bitter prick brothers would have to shed THEIR butthurtedness too.. can they?

I'll buy tickets if they stay one more year - I have never been to a game where I was warm all over becasue I liked the ownership group so much.. so I think the fans can move on no problem.

Can the boys?

 

[Trueblood]

They'll have to be careful though because Stern is no dummy and would easily spot that. He'll be keeping an eye on the Maloofs, of that I'm certain.

That's where it gets tricky. Where is the line drawn? What will the NBA let them get away with and what is considered stepping over the line? If they start asking for crap like parking spots again then that most likely won't fly but if they start citing how many owners in the league get to control their respective arenas for non NBA events and that they merely want the same, how much power can Stern wield? If he says that they can't get what other guys get then you start looking at lawsuits and what not, something the league desperately wants to avoid.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

That's where it gets tricky. Where is the line drawn? What will the NBA let them get away with and what is considered stepping over the line? If they start asking for crap like parking spots again then that most likely won't fly but if they start citing how many owners in the league get to control their respective arenas for non NBA events and that they merely want the same, how much power can Stern wield? If he says that they can't get what other guys get then you start looking at lawsuits and what not, something the league desperately wants to avoid.

Let's just hope the city is willing to give them at least what other owners get. I really don't care if they control the arena as long as we keep the team.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

My gut feeling as of right now is that the Maloofs will file for relocation, despite knowing that it cannot possibly succeed. Then, when the BOG denies their request, they will file an anti-trust lawsuit against the league. This will, of course, be suicide.

Hopefully they will lose the lawsuit (with an injunction keeping the team in Sacramento until the lawsuit is over) then sell the franchise in disgrace. This won't do wonders for our development, though, because it's going to be really hard to lure free agents to a team that is in limbo like that.

However, if they win, they will move to Anaheim only to find that none of the "independent basketball clubs" that fall out of the anti-trust case (with the NBA decentralized) will schedule games against them, yet they'll still have millions of dollars of contracted salary on the books and a lease at the Honda Center and big time loans to cover at least the debt to Sacramento (though they will get away without a relocation fee). And no operating income. In desperation they will join the Continental Basketball Association as the players still under contract reach buyout terms and return to the NBA. Meanwhile, the NBA, salivating over Burkle, will allow him to establish a new franchise which he will hopefully place in Sacramento. Here We Rebuild Yet Again.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I'll buy tickets if they stay one more year - I have never been to a game where I was warm all over becasue I liked the ownership group so much.. so I think the fans can move on no problem.

I think it may depend on what you mean by "move on". Will the fans support the team? Yes, absolutely. But will the fans support the Maloofs? I highly doubt it. There is a decent amount of precedent for sports fans to dislike their team's ownership group - you need look no further than L.A. where the Clippers' Donald Sterling is basically reviled, and where both the Frank McCourt and the previous Fox ownerships of the Dodgers have been barely tolerated.

I think that will be mild compared to the way that Sacramento fans will treat the Maloofs. Remember how much the Maloofs loved the limelight? Remember Gavin gushing about Tyreke and his 7-foot wingspan after we drafted him? And all the other numerous times they've addressed the fans at rallies, games, etc.? That's all over. Done. They will be booed offstage. If they even try to come back in public with their simpering "we love the fans" junk, I'll be the first one to start the "Bulls***" chant and you'd better believe it will drown them out. They can no longer be the public face of their franchise because their fan base will support their team while doing everything it can to undermine them. And I don't believe they can stand to be reclusive owners - it's not in their personality. They'll do everything - every single thing they can - to move to Anaheim, but if they don't succeed, I don't believe they will stick around, because I don't believe they have the stomach to do so.

Man, the whole "sell to Burkle and buy the Hornets" thing must be starting to look real good to them right now. They lose 'Reke and they lose 'Cuz, but they get CP3 and they get to try their Disney dreams all over again with a new franchise that (to my knowledge) is not saddled in debt to its municipality and whose base might not put up as much of a fight when they try to leave. And hey, the NBA might even let them go - though they may still balk at a third team in LA, maybe they concede and open up the Vegas market. Still, the Maloof dream is all but dead in Sacramento. The smart move is to sell. And I think they're stubborn enough not to do it. That's the scariest part of it to me.

 

[JB_kings]

Forced to sell... NBA won't let them move and actively searching and destroying every bridge back to Sacramento. Only thing left to ponder is who will end up with the team?

 

[funkykingston]

I think two of the poll options will happen. First they'll file for relocation, then (perhaps after a legal battle with the NBA) they'll decide or be forced to sell. The one option I don't think they'll choose is to return to Sacramento. The one the CAN'T choose is to move to Anaheim without filing.

Addressing that point first - yes, Sterling moved the Clippers without the NBA's consent but the league's bylaws were changed after that and it's no longer possible. Well, it's possible, but the NBA could simply say the team is violating league bylaws and refuse to schedule any games with a "rogue" team, leaving them with no income, massive debts and a non-NBA basketball team.

As for moving back to Sacramento, I just don't see it. A PR savvy owner could smooth things over with the fans, but the Maloofs have never shown themselves to be savvy at all. The "if we came back it would be because of the fans" talk proves that without a doubt. A more honest approach would work so much better. But they don't get that and I think they loathe the idea of being viewed as bad guys, which they will even if they do return.

But winning back the fans is far from the most important issue. The Maloofs are obviously hurting financially and they see Sacramento as a money pit and Anaheim as their land of milk and honey. I think they see themselves being barred from success by the "unfair" practices of the NBA.

I think it's unlikely that the Maloofs stay as owners if the team returns to Sacramento.

 

[ArcoKings]

The boys will file.

 

[IfAt1st]

I predict that the Maloofs realize that they're screwed, they've lost the war, and they will stay in Sac for the next year.

They'll be gambling that the public will buy their comments about "We were just looking out for our business and exploring our options" and they will bide their time and see what they can mount next year when/if the Sac arena deal fizzles out after another lackluster Kings season.

I don't think they want to be out of the NBA - and if they do anything other than stay in Sac one more year and wait for the Sac initiatives to fail/succeed, then they will be forced out of running an NBA franchise. This would be giving up their father's legacy (NBA ownership) and I don't think they want to do that.

 

[rainmaker]

My gut feeling? They either stay in Sac and work with the city/KJ/Stern/NBA to get an arena built, or Stern forces them to sell. The only way I don't see that happening, is if an arena plan with funding in not finalized within the next year.

I don't think moving the team without approval is an option, and read somewhere in the past few days that Stern put parameters in place to prevent any owners from doing what Sterling did with the Clips. Filing would be asinine, given they would be going against the same people they are counting on to put together a new CBA which benifits small market franchises and includes revenue sharing. If they file, they'll still be in Sac next year IMO, and will be working against the city/fans/and league, which in turn will lose them even more money.

I really do feel that if they file, they'll lose the team. One question I have is what happens to the corporate sponsorships that have been pledged if they do file and stay next year? would those corporations still hand over that money, or simply wait to give that money to a new potential owner?

 

[Gary]

Got a feeling they will file and we will have this whole friggin summer of this crap.

Tha Magoofs are acting like spoiled brats..

What do spoiled brats do?

They throw a tantrum and do what they want to do anyway even though the parent (The NBA) says no.

 

[Glenn]

I don't care.

 

[The Hammer]

I don't care.

How dare you insult them like that!!

 

[Glenn]

How dare you insult them like that!!

Sorry. But I really don't.

Seriously, I wish them well. I like them. I have always liked them. They brought a spirit to this team and city that was missing under the ownership of Luckenbill, the hermit, and Jim Thomas who never lived here. The Maloofs moved in and became a part of the community. They were exciting and still might be. They seem to be good guys and a tad emotional. As to their handling of this situation, they seem to be in over their head and in panic mode. I care what Stern tells them and I hope they listen. If they listen to Stern and not fight him, I will care what they do.

I didn't vote, obviously.

 

[Bricklayer]

Filing would of course just be another nail in their Sacramento coffin, but nothing they have done in the past two weeks has shown any awareness of, or care for, the damage they are doing to their busines in Sacramento. Whether filing out of desperation or out of tonedeafness, it would be right in line with a series of public relations disasters that would have to be termed idiotic if they hold out any hope of returning.

Don't think this is about the Kings at all really, much as a new arena is needed. Think George is desperate in Vegas, think mom might lose her mansion, think their desperation on other fronts has completely overridden whatever limitied business sense they had about the Kings themselves.

 

[Glenn]

With their personal charm, I didn't think they could burn all their bridges in Sacramento. They are coming very close. They have turned their back to Sacramento, at least publically. They may have to turn to a city that is tired of them. Then they might not have to tank a season as the fans will take care of it.

They depend on Stern for a moderately graceful reintegration into Sacramento if that is the way the wind blows.

Now all this depends on the average fan knowing as much about the details as we do amd I kinda doubt it. I don't think the average fan knows what is going on and may be FAR more forgiving..

Oh, please sell to Burkle. In some ways, even if Burkle moved the team, and there is NO indication that he would, I could even accept that. Don't want to hijack the thread with a discussion of Burkle but at least he seems competent and I want competence at the head of the team I wiull root for 'til the day I die.

 

[Gary]

Crandall was right on Grants report though.. If they just said something to Sac saying we have the great fanbase and that we were going to give it one more shot (basically saying all the right things) you really couldn't fault them if they came back. I wouldn't like them still but I would still support the team, and wouldn't hold animosity.

I don't think the Maloofs get that.. Either that or they just don't have the cash to stay in Sac while the arena gets built, and they are afraid if Sac is given one more year then we WILL get it done and then they would be stuck here. Maybe they were screwing up the arena plans for a reason?

All they have to be is HONEST though.. Basically if they came out and said "Hey guys, we are strapped for cash, and we need to nickel and dime it while the arena gets built in order to actually make a few bucks" I would totally understand. Of course they would never do this.. Honesty isn't in their vocabulary.

 

[Glenn]

Crandall was right on Grants report though.. If they just said something to Sac saying we have the great fanbase and that we were going to give it one more shot (basically saying all the right things) you really couldn't fault them if they came back. I wouldn't like them still but I would still support the team, and wouldn't hold animosity.

All they have to be is HONEST though.. Basically if they came out and said "Hey guys, we are strapped for cash, and we need to nickel and dime it while the arena gets built in order to actually make a few bucks" I would totally understand. Of course they would never do this.. Honesty isn't in their vocabulary.

The "I like the Maloofs" side of me says they could do this very thing.

Right from the start, an an ambush intervuew about the potential mocve, they made a point of saying "we are the Sacramento Kings." This gets lost in the anger but whne you piece together the non-ambush related comments, they have been OK. We are assuming an awful lot because of all the quiet but in a situation like this, do you expect them to head to the nicrophone at every twist in the path. That's a siully way of doing businees. It's really not something we are owed as entitled as we may feel.

"Honesty isn't in their vocabulary?" That's harsh and I'd like you to point out the lies. The quitness has led us all to fill in the blanks with what suits us. Perhaps we are lying to ourselves. Pretty heavy, huh?

 

[jpsls]

The "I like the Maloofs" side of me says they could do this very thing.

Right from the start, an an ambush intervuew about the potential mocve, they made a point of saying "we are the Sacramento Kings." This gets lost in the anger but whne you piece together the non-ambush related comments, they have been OK. We are assuming an awful lot because of all the quiet but in a situation like this, do you expect them to head to the nicrophone at every twist in the path. That's a siully way of doing businees. It's really not something we are owed as entitled as we may feel.

"Honesty isn't in their vocabulary?" That's harsh and I'd like you to point out the lies. The quitness has led us all to fill in the blanks with what suits us. Perhaps we are lying to ourselves. Pretty heavy, huh?

Maybe they haven't been dishonest, but transparency certainly isn't in their vocabulary. They didn't even want to give Sacramento a last chance.

 

[Glenn]

Maybe they haven't been dishonest, but transparency certainly isn't in their vocabulary. They didn't even want to give Sacramento a last chance.

What private byusiness has the obligation to the customer? Does Macy's send out press bulletins when they want to build a new store? I think the fans sense of entitlement here is a bit much. These negotiations with whomever they have negotiated (do you honestly believe they have never talked to KJ?) have been none of our business except as we think it is. We have no right to the conversations between Samueli and the Maloofs except have come away with a remarkable amount of knowledge. We also think they have never talked to Burkle. Want to bet on that?

You see where I am going. They are not our government and transparancy, although it would help or hurt our degree of anxiety, is not owed. In the end, as we are ignorant of the details, they can come out with a fine speech and I think most will be mollified.

I don't think they are back room deal making villlains. I think they are desparate to stay afloat and have an image they would like to maintain. Don't we all want a team to pull of a last second win and hear the shrieking Maloof whistle and a dance at center court from these owners. I do.

The way they get there is their business.

 

[Section 101]

What private byusiness has the obligation to the customer? Does Macy's send out press bulletins when they want to build a new store?

Yes they do. Walmart has been blocked from building many stores.

 

[jpsls]

What private byusiness has the obligation to the customer? Does Macy's send out press bulletins when they want to build a new store? I think the fans sense of entitlement here is a bit much. These negotiations with whomever they have negotiated (do you honestly believe they have never talked to KJ?) have been none of our business except as we think it is. We have no right to the conversations between Samueli and the Maloofs except have come away with a remarkable amount of knowledge. We also think they have never talked to Burkle. Want to bet on that?

You see where I am going. They are not our government and transparancy, although it would help or hurt our degree of anxiety, is not owed. In the end, as we are ignorant of the details, they can come out with a fine speech and I think most will be mollified.

I don't think they are back room deal making villlains. I think they are desparate to stay afloat and have an image they would like to maintain. Don't we all want a team to pull of a last second win and hear the shrieking Maloof whistle and a dance at center court from these owners. I do.

The way they get there is their business.

You mean they don't owe the city that has supported the team one final ultimatum and at least notification they are seriously looking to relocate? I agree that we have little right to no right between the conversations between the Maloofs and Samueli, but they do have obligation to notify the city that has supported it for nearly three decades.

An pro-franchise is not a privately held entity like Macy's or any other business. The customers don't put their emotion, heart, and soul into the Macy's. There is not civic pride associated with any other businesses like a sports franchise. You don't ask people to put their heart into a team, and then move it and say, "It's just business."

Technically, the Maloofs own the team, but in the grand scheme of things, the team belongs to the community.

 

[KingsFanatic]

Like others have said, I also believe that they will file for relocation on Monday. I just have a bad feeling about this...My heart says they will stay, but my brain says they will file....If they do file, Monday is going to be an extremely dark and depressing day for Sacramento...

 

[Livinthedream]

What private byusiness has the obligation to the customer? Does Macy's send out press bulletins when they want to build a new store? I think the fans sense of entitlement here is a bit much. These negotiations with whomever they have negotiated (do you honestly believe they have never talked to KJ?) have been none of our business except as we think it is. We have no right to the conversations between Samueli and the Maloofs except have come away with a remarkable amount of knowledge. We also think they have never talked to Burkle. Want to bet on that?

You see where I am going. They are not our government and transparancy, although it would help or hurt our degree of anxiety, is not owed. In the end, as we are ignorant of the details, they can come out with a fine speech and I think most will be mollified.

I don't think they are back room deal making villlains. I think they are desparate to stay afloat and have an image they would like to maintain. Don't we all want a team to pull of a last second win and hear the shrieking Maloof whistle and a dance at center court from these owners. I do.

The way they get there is their business.

I think the very fact that there is an argument about what the Sacramento Kings can and cannot do let's you know that this is not a regular business and shouldn't be compared to a Macy's. Isn't that what this whole thing is about? Maloofs want to move, but have to get permission and the city they currently reside in can affect whether they get that permission or not? That doesn't happen with just about any other type of business that I can think of.

When you make demands of a city or request extremely large government funding for your business needs, then I think you cease to operate as a normal business. If the Maloofs or NBA requires that we give hundreds of millions of dollars to them to retain their services, then I want to know exactly what my city is paying to keep. And if the Maloofs expect the city or the people in that city to feel good about giving away that money, then they need to be upfront about their overall business situation and intentions.

I don't think the problem is that the Maloofs aren't going to the local media and laying out their whole financial portfolio. It's that they appear to be being dishonest or deceptive to everyone they are dealing with who has a horse in the race, except Samueli.

 

[vikinginferno]

Like others have said, I also believe that they will file for relocation on Monday. I just have a bad feeling about this...My heart says they will stay, but my brain says they will file....If they do file, Monday is going to be an extremely dark and depressing day for Sacramento...

Not really... It is VERY unlikely it gets approved and it could very well lead to the Maloofs selling, which for many here, would be great news.