Oh God no. Sold to Seattle owners?

[The Sebastian Express]

Again expressing my condolences to you guys and the city. You deserve much better than you got, never seen a pair of more incompetent and scumbag, rotten owners that made you all suffer the consequences of their failure.

[Howard Mass]

This is every fan's worst nightmare and feel so bad that this is happening to such a loyal fan base.

Over the years, win or lose, The Sacramento Kings fans showed up.

None of you deserve this.

I feel for all of you especially since this could very well have happened to my Orlando Magic and do not know how I would have dealt with that.

Hopefully, things could change for Sacramento although it looks unfortunately bleak right now.

I am sorry guys.

[Jamaaliver]

Hawks fan here.

My condolences. The city of Sacramento deserves better than a couple of sheisters like the Maloofs shipping the team to the highest bidder.

[SacTown Kings]

The Magoofs are such scumbags it really is disgusting. Not just the sell of the team but everything they have done to the city, their employees, the fans, their lies and excuses.....I'm sure the NBA is glad to get rid of them. Can't blame seattle fans for being happy nor can you blame the new owner for moving the kings to seattle. I hope no one goes to the rest of the games just to show our disgust with the Maloofs.

[KingsBlazers]

Incredibly sad day. I've been going to Kings games my entire life. I grew up with this team. Mitch Richmond was my favorite player. I remember the first time they made the playoffs, and how crazy that arena was. I remember when they signed Vlade and traded for Webber. Then that first series, going 5 games against the Jazz. During the Lakers series, the city was so electric about the Kings. I recall passing by new construction houses, with "Go Kings!" spray-painted on the sides.

Although I don't live in Sac anymore I still follow the team. I've seen them play (and win) in the Staples Center against the Lakers. I've been to nearly every game they've played in Portland for the last 3 years.

The last Kings game I'll ever go to was Dec 28, 2012 against NYK. They hit a 3 at the buzzer to win it by 1, and for just a moment the arena was alive again, like old times.

RIP Sacramento Kings. A truly sad day.

[arsenal6106]

I'm sorry you guys have to deal with this...

[Genocide38]

Incredibly sad day. I've been going to Kings games my entire life. I grew up with this team. Mitch Richmond was my favorite player. I remember the first time they made the playoffs, and how crazy that arena was. I remember when they signed Vlade and traded for Webber. Then that first series, going 5 games against the Jazz. During the Lakers series, the city was so electric about the Kings. I recall passing by new construction houses, with "Go Kings!" spray-painted on the sides.

Although I don't live in Sac anymore I still follow the team. I've seen them play (and win) in the Staples Center against the Lakers. I've been to nearly every game they've played in Portland for the last 3 years.

The last Kings game I'll ever go to was Dec 28, 2012 against NYK. They hit a 3 at the buzzer to win it by 1, and for just a moment the arena was alive again, like old times.

RIP Sacramento Kings. A truly sad day.

That game was utter BS btw.

[TheDon008]

Heat Fan here,

Im going to miss The Kings as a frnachise. Hard to imagine the Team Of Webber, Divac, Christie, etc. Is no longer.

BUT!

I sure am Glad the NBA is in Seattle again!

[boogie-reke]

Do we still have hope, guys?

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... um=twitter

The ongoing joke about the Maloofs in league circles is that they can get the girl’s phone number, but they can’t close the deal.

After Adrian Wojnarowski’s report that the Maloofs are close to finalizing a $500 million deal with Seattle billionaire Chris Hansen, closing a deal shouldn’t be a problem this time, but there are plenty of reasons to not call it a “done deal” just yet.

Wojnarowski said as much when he tweeted “No agreement signed, but one source describes deal as “1st and goal at 1.” Maloofs history of changing course late still makes many uneasy.”

Indeed, sources close to the situation told PBT that there are still many hurdles for this deal to overcome, and that Sacramento still has willing, reputable buyers ready to meet or beat Hansen’s offer in order to keep the franchise in town.

Indeed, as reported here numerous times, Hansen would have to drastically overpay in order to outdo the Sacramento ownership groups, because Sac owners don’t have to account for a relocation fee, a city loan back to Sacramento, and the hard costs of moving. Sources say that this will total a minimum of $125 million, and should the NBA decide they want to levy a higher relocation fee to even out the playing field that number could increase.

This means that if the Maloofs sell to Hansen for $500 million, that in reality they are getting much, much less. In Sacramento, this means that it’s time for their local buyers to step up with their offers, and make the same effort the city made in the spring of 2011 when the Maloofs had most believing the team would move to Anaheim.

An offer of $425-$450 million dollars would start to put more money in the Maloofs’ pockets than the Seattle offer does, and that’s where the next step in this relocation debacle lies.

If there is any silver lining to today’s events for Kings fans and Sacramento, the Maloofs should be willing to entertain a bidding war, unless it is out of pure spite and indifference to any league reaction opposing such actions.

There are other hurdles for the deal to clear, including an up-or-down vote from the Board of Governors after a recommendation by the league’s relocation committee, headed up by none other than Clay Bennett. Bennett saw firsthand the difference in how the Seattle politicians turned their back on the Sonics when he arrived, independent of his and the league’s mishandling of that situation, and he has been extremely impressed with Sacramento’s efforts to keep their team.

However, David Stern has said he would try expedite any sale that moves a team to Seattle.

Hansen and the Maloofs will need to convince Bennett and the other 29 owners that torching the No. 20 Sacramento market, along with all of the negative attention the league’s relocation behavior will receive, will be worth the incremental benefit of going to a somewhat larger market with a handful of professional sports teams.

There are plenty of benefits to being in Seattle, and Hansen is the type of owner that they want. He and his group are about to throw nearly a billion dollars to obtain a franchise that Forbes valued at $300 million. And there is some sentiment that Seattle needs to be indemnified for what happened to them, though most sane people would say that two wrongs don’t make a right.

In Sacramento, this is the ultimate show us your hand moment. Look for mayor Kevin Johnson and his people to respond soon, and as we know with the Maloofs if there is anybody that can’t close a deal – it is them.

[boogie-reke]

That makes me somewhat optimistic I gotta say.

Even the Maloofs are not that big a pricks to move the team out of spite if they can get more money from a local buyer?

I really think KJ can work his magic here and bring someone to put a proper offer on the table that can beat Seattle's if we exclude the relocation and loan fees.

[OzSonic]

I'll be honest my first reaction was a big scream of joy and lot of air punching.

Then I remembered how it felt 5 years ago. I'm not from Seattle but followed the Sonics virtually all my basketball following days. I was gutted and have been a broken fan since they left. I've always thought I only felt a tenth of what local fans felt and it hurt like hell. I feel bad for feeling so happy and feel horrible for the fans of Sacramento.

[ceremony816]

Should've been KCMO

[bibby1023]

Come on KJ, come through for us!!

Kevin Johnson ‏@KJ_MayorJohnson
Bottom line Sacramento: it's not over... #keepthefaith #playingtowin

[Wolfay]

Kevin Johnson ‏@KJ_MayorJohnson
Bottom line Sacramento: it's not over... #keepthefaith #playingtowin

[21shumpshumpst]

Guys if this goes through it sucks. My condolences. I cannot imagine what it would be like for the Knicks to be sold and sent packing elsewhere.

I hope it doesn't go through. Pulling for you.

[boogie-reke]

We're gonna do this guys.

We have 1 more miracle left. It's gonna happen. Believe.

[SacTown Kings]

What local buyers is Woj talking about? I didn't know there were any. I only heard of that one rich dude that said he would keep the team in Sacto. Is there someone else besides him? And ya the Maloofs only care about themselves so if they can get more money selling to someone that keeps the team here I'm sure they would do that.

[Nutsacjac]

It's really the worst when a franchise is moved.

If this comes to fruition, I hope that stadium is empty the rest of the year.

[Danny Darko]

The whole saga starting with the rug being pulled out from the Sonics only to become the best team in the west in Oklahoma after a year with Durant in Seattle sucks. Now the Maloofs are doing their loyal fans dirty.

[Gold Chain]

Aww, that really sucks.

Sorry to hear.