Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports dropped a bombshell yesterday, reporting that the Maloof family was close to selling the Sacramento Kings to a group of Seattle-based investors led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer. No agreement has been finalized yet, but Wojnarowski's story and subsequent reports have suggested that the two sides are in discussions. Here are the latest links related to the possible sale of the Kings:
- A trio of Sacramento Bee reporters, Tony Bizjak, Dale Kasler and Ryan Lillis, hear from sources that the Maloofs are indeed engaged in talks with the Seattle investment group. However, no formal offer has been made yet, according to the Bee report. Now that Kings ownership seems willing to explore the idea of selling the team, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson says he hopes to recruit local bidders in an effort to keep the franchise in Sacramento.
- The Bee's sources described the talks with Hansen's group as "conceptual" and said that reports suggesting a deal was nearly done may be premature. However, if the Seattle group were to present the Maloofs with a "ridiculous" offer, that could change quickly.
- The Maloofs, David Stern, and the NBA owe Sacramento a chance to try to put together a local investment group to keep the Kings, opines Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee.
- If the Kings relocate, then it's the Maloofs, rather than the community, that would deserve the blame, says Marcos Breton of the Sacramento Bee.
- Shaun Powell also calls out the Maloofs in his latest piece for Sports on Earth.
- Kings players are trying to focus on basketball and not get wrapped up in the swirling rumors, writes Matt Kawahara of the Sacramento Bee.