Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson Certain that Kings will Remain in Sacramento

[Calispursfan11]

From the horse's mouth. There will be no Seattle Kings...


http://www.rgj.com/article/20130219/NEWS13/130219012/Watch-video-Sacramento-Mayor-Kevin-Johnson-says-Kings-going-stay

[irishock]

:cry aw shit, guess MJ will bring his Bobcats to here now

[Calispursfan11]

:cry aw shit, guess MJ will bring his Bobcats to here now

Well, KJ might be laying it on a little thick. In reality, Kings may still end up in Seattle but... whereas I thought their move was certain, now it looks like a 50/50 at best.

[Findog]

I think it's 75 percent that they go to Seattle, maybe even 90 percent. There's a legally binding agreement between the Maloofs and Chris Hansen/Steve Ballmer to sell the group and relocate. This isn't an auction anymore. The Maloofs are locked in to sell the team to Hansen/Ballmer. The city of Seattle has approved an arena and the Environmental Impact Study is really just a formality. Sacramento doesn't have an arena plan. The Board of Governors could reject the sale but they can't force the Maloofs to turn around and sell to a Sacramento-based group. At that point the Maloofs would probably file anti-trust legislation against the NBA. The only time the Board of Governors has ever rejected a proposed move is back in the nineties a group tried to buy the T-Wolves and move them to New Orleans. That sale and relocation was rejected because the NBA determined that they were undercapitalized.

Stern and the owners want the Maloofs out of the ownership pool and they want back in the Seattle market. This sale accomplishes two of those objectives. And that franchise is worth way more in Seattle than it is in Sacramento. Hansen is overpaying too and that eventually is going to make money for the other owners when they sale. It's going to happen.

[Latarian Milton]

kings also had a glamorous history and they were very close to winning a championship back in the 00s, would be a shame if they give up the "kings" brand tbh. MJ's bobcats have been a shitty franchise since their birth and they would have nothing to lose, everything to gain with a move to seattle or anywhere else

[Findog]

kings also had a glamorous history and they were very close to winning a championship back in the 00s, would be a shame if they give up the "kings" brand tbh. MJ's bobcats have been a shitty franchise since their birth and they would have nothing to lose, everything to gain with a move to seattle or anywhere else

George Shinn killed professional basketball in Charlotte and the Bobcats were never able to resuscitate it. This mess goes all the way back to the way he poisoned the well in Charlotte and then took the Hornets to New Orleans in a pique of butthurt. The fact of the matter is that New Orleans, no offense to diehards like BRHornet or RedZero, but I'm just not convinced that it's a viable bball market. There are diehards in every fanbase and guys like BR and RedZero would have been heartbroken if the Hornets had stayed in Oklahoma City, but it wouldn't have had the same impact as the Sonics leaving Seattle. OKC, Seattle and Sacramento are all great bball markets but it's a game of musical chairs and there's only two teams to go around.

[Jacob1983]

At least he's trying to keep the team in Sacramento and not just cry like a pussy and give up. Hopefully, he can pull it off and the Kings can stay in Sacramento.

[Thebesteva]

Kevin Johnson>Kirby TBH

[Budkin]

I hope they get to keep their team. Small markets get fucked in this day and age and Kings fans are loyal to the end.