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Latest On Kings, Sacramento, Seattle

April 29th, 2013 at 12:46pm CST by Luke Adams

12 NBA owners will participate in a conference call today to discuss the future of the Sacramento Kings, eventually deciding on a recommendation to take to the league's Board of Governors. According to NBA.com's David Aldridge, that call will take place at 1:00pm central time, and is expected to last about two hours. Aldridge has more details on the saga that has pitted Sacramento against Seattle, so let's dive in and check out the highlights….

  • While today's recommendation will likely decide which way the league's 30 owners will vote in May, those owners will be free to make up their own minds, so there are no guarantees.
  • Approval for the relocation of the Kings will require a majority vote (16 of 30 owners), while approval of the sale to Chris Hansen's Seattle group will require three-quarters (23 of 30).
  • David Stern and the NBA have taken "hours and hours since they left New York" to get more detailed financial reports from Vivek Ranadive's Sacramento group on their bid for the team. The league has also pursued more details on each city's arena plan.
  • Aldridge makes some educated guesses on how the 12 owners on the relocation committee will vote, predicting that at least four will be in favor of Sacramento, while at least three will vote for Seattle. Aldridge is unsure about the remaining five.
  • According to Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com (Twitter link), the Sacramento group has answered all of the NBA's questions to the league's satisfaction so far.
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Odds & Ends: Dwight, Expansion, Thunder

April 26th, 2013 at 10:45pm CST by Chuck Myron

The storyline on the Lakers tonight is their makeshift starting backcourt of Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock, but as soon as their season ends, the attention will no doubt shift back to marquee names, and Dwight Howard in particular. HoopsWorld's Bill Ingram, with an assist from colleague Eric Pincus, breaks down the numbers to show that Howard would make more money in the first four years of a contract with the Rockets than he would in as many seasons with the Lakers, thanks to differing tax rates. Still, L.A.'s ability to offer a fifth season, enhanced endorsement opportunities and the cachet of the purple and gold provide varying levels of motivation for Howard to re-sign with the Lakers.

As we wait for yet another Dwight decision, there's plenty of news from around the league:

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Raptors Planning Run At Phil Jackson?

April 26th, 2013 at 5:44pm CST by Luke Adams

5:44pm: Leiweke told reporters, including USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt, that he and Jackson have spoken this week, but only about the city of Toronto and not basketball matters. Still, he acknowledged that he and Jackson are friends (Twitter links). 

3:48pm: Stein and Ramona Shelburne have included a few more details on Jackson and the Raptors in their full story on the subject at ESPN.com. Here are a few of the notable new items:

  • Prior to the hiring of Leiweke, the Raptors were leaning toward retaining both Colangelo and coach Dwane Casey. However, Leiweke's presence throws their futures into doubt.
  • Sources continue to stress to ESPN.com that it's very likely Jackson will be back in the NBA next season in some capacity.
  • One source tells the ESPN duo that Jackson has "far more of an open mind than has been portrayed" with regard to potential job openings, and that he's willing to consider just about any legitimate pitch.
  • A reunion with the Lakers remains highly unlikely for Jackson.
  • Jackson is well-regarded by Chris Hansen, who is leading the Seattle group trying to buy the Kings. If Hansen's purchase of the franchise is improved, the opportunity for Jackson to put together a coaching staff and front-office team may arise in Seattle.
  • The Nets may also make a run at Jackson for their coaching position this summer, since owner Mikhail Prokhorov is believed to want to make a "splashy hire."

1:26pm: Earlier this week, Phil Jackson confirmed that he has spoken to "three or four teams" about possible front office jobs, and now it appears the identity of some of those teams are surfacing.

Yesterday, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reported that the Bobcats may be considering offering Phil Jackson a chance to run Charlotte's basketball operations. Today, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports (via Twitter) he has been hearing "rumbles all week" that the Raptors are planning to make a run at Jackson, potentially offering him the team presidency.

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the majority owner of the Raptors and the NHL's Maple Leafs, among other Toronto sports teams, announced today that Tim Leiweke will become the company's new president and CEO, effective June 30th. Leiweke had previously held a similar role at Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns a portion of the Lakers and other Los Angeles franchises. As Stein points out (via Twitter), Leiweke gives the Raptors a "major player with L.A. ties" who could make a pitch Jackson would consider.

Current Raptors president Bryan Colangelo has one year remaining on his contract, but the team has yet to formally exercise its option on Colangelo for 2013/14.

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Western Notes: McMillan, Kings, Kaman, Pekovic

April 26th, 2013 at 12:19pm CST by Luke Adams

When I asked yesterday which playoff team down 2-0 in the first round had the best chance of coming back and advancing, over half of you picked the Grizzlies. Memphis delivered on the first step of that comeback last night, holding the Clippers to 82 points en route to a Game Three win.

Meanwhile, the Rockets only received about 5% of the votes in that poll, but their chances likely improved with word from the Thunder that Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. As we wait for official word on a timetable for Westbrook's return, let's check out a few notes from around the Western Conference:

  • Nate McMillan may be a top contender for the Pistons' head coaching opening, but Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press says there's a "belief around the league" that McMillan will wait to see what happens with the Kings, since he could also be a strong candidate there if the franchise moves to Seattle.
  • The NBA's relocation committee is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of Governors next Monday on whether or not to approve the sale and relocation of the Kings. However, an official vote by league owners may not come until May 13th, as Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee outline.
  • While Chris Kaman has said he'd like to return to Dallas next season, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com thinks the veteran big man just doesn't want to close any doors. MacMahon predicts Kaman will have to take a pay cut this summer, and will end up signing a one-year contract with a team besides the Mavericks.
  • Speaking to Mondo.rs (translation via HoopsHype), Nikola Pekovic reiterated a desire to re-sign with the Timberwolves this summer, adding that he has no intention of leaving the NBA to return to Europe.
  • Andre Iguodala's performance in this year's postseason could go a long way to exhibiting whether or not he's worth a long-term, big-money contract, according to Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post.
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Kings Recommendation Expected On Monday

April 25th, 2013 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA's relocation committee will have a conference call next Monday to discuss the Kings sale, at which point a recommendation is expected to be made, according to TNT's David Aldridge (via Twitter). That recommendation would be taken to the NBA's Board of Governors, who would then vote on the fate of the Kings (Twitter link).

Aldridge suggests that if the process continues on schedule, a final vote on the Kings could happen as early as May 8th, though Chris Daniels of KING TV in Seattle believes a vote during the week of May 13th may be more likely (Twitter link). As Daniels notes, the situation remains fluid, having been delayed already, but commissioner David Stern has said there will be resolution in time for May 21st's draft lottery.

The NBA's finance and relocation committees are made up of a handful of NBA owners, who will in turn make their recommendation to all 30 owners on whether or not to approve the sale and relocation of the Kings.

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Pacific Rumors: Brown, D’Antoni, Kings, Warriors

April 24th, 2013 at 5:59pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Lakers are the only team that's yet to win a game among the three Pacific Division clubs in the playoffs, but they have a chance to do so tonight against the Spurs. As always, the on-court action is just one of many stories making headlines in Lakerland, and we've got the rest of the news here, along with dispatches from around the division:

  • The Cavaliers' decision to hire Mike Brown as their new head coach could grease the financial skids for the Lakers to fire Mike D'Antoni if they so choose, as Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld examines. Kennedy tabs the amount still left on Brown's contract with the Lakers at $11MM, while Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times says it's closer to $8MM, with around $6MM-$7MM guaranteed. The Lakers will be spared from shelling out a portion of that guaranteed money — perhaps as much as half, according to Pincus —now that Brown is with the Cavs (Twitter links).
  • Still, that $3MM-$4MM would amount to nothing more than "a grain of sand on the beach" when it comes to the Lakers' books, a source tells Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. The precise amount won't be known until the league approves the contract, which could take a month, McMenamin hears. A more significant effect that Brown's new job could have on the Lakers might involve the desire of Brown's former assistant coaches, some of whom remain with L.A., to follow him to Cleveland.
  • The fate of the Kings will have a significant impact on David Stern's legacy as NBA commissioner, writes Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee. One league executive told Voisin that Stern has been "anguishing" over the process that has Seattle and Sacramento groups competing for the franchise.
  • Seattle's effort to build a new arena has cleared a major permitting hurdle, and Chris Daniels of KING-TV in Seattle has the details.
  • Warriors front office adviser Jerry West gives his thoughts to Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group about the team's sharpshooting backcourt duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

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David Stern On Jordan, Kings, Jackson, Silver

April 23rd, 2013 at 11:01am CST by Luke Adams

The 2013 NBA postseason will be David Stern's last as commissioner, but when he appeared on ESPN Radio in New York this week, Stern said that fact hasn't really hit him yet. As Stern pointed out, he'll still be attending NBA playoff games beyond this year, as a fan rather than as a commissioner, giving him an opportunity to "experience the game in a different way." The longtime NBA commissioner also addressed a number of other notable topics during his ESPN Radio appearance, so let's check out a few of his comments, courtesy of Eric Schmoldt of Sports Radio Interviews….

On Michael Jordan's struggles as owner of the Bobcats:

"I have no doubt that Michael, who is a smart businessman and good manager and, I think, a good judge of talent, he’ll do fine. It’s just not as easy as people think it is to get going in this league if you inherit a bad situation."

On the latest in the Kings saga:

"I think we’ll likely have a meeting of the relocation committee later this week, which will then issue a report early next week. And then seven days after that report is issued, there’ll be a Board of Governors meeting to vote on it. I don’t want to project anything because it’s for the owners and the committees to make the announcement."

On whether he'd like to see Phil Jackson back in the NBA:

"Oh, I would. I think it’s great. I love the variety that our sport has. Sometimes Phil has a way of saying things that are directed to zing the league office, but that’s fine. We’re sort of one big family, and I think that somebody who has as many rings as Phil does, who brings so much sort of interesting thought to our game, would be a great addition, or re-addition, to our sport."

On preparing Adam Silver to take over as commissioner next February:

"Adam and I, by the time I step down on February 1st, we will have worked together in the NBA for 22 years. Okay? So, if he’s not prepared now, he will never be prepared. He knows what I do that he would like to do, and he knows what I do that he would not like to do. And everyone has their own approach to it. There’s nobody that is better prepared in dealing with media, fans, the game, owners, television, international. I’m very happy, and proud, that I have recommended to the owners — and they have accepted — a successor who is totally steeped in our game and our business."

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Pacific Notes: Paul, Clippers, Kings, Jackson

April 21st, 2013 at 5:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Chris Paul has kept mum on his future so far, but he may have dropped some very telling hints when speaking to reporters this afternoon.  The Clippers star remarked that guard Eric Bledsoe is likely going to wind up elsewhere next year because the club won't have enough money to sign him, tweets Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com.  The way that Paul spoke of Bledsoe's future leads Markazi to believe (link) that Paul intends on staying in L.A. for the long-term.  It's also worth noting that Bledsoe isn't a free agent this summer – he's under contract next season for $2.6MM.  However, the Clippers are expected to shop him when/if Paul re-signs (link).  Here's more out of the Pacific.. 

  • An NBA owner expressed his doubts to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com about Sacramento's bid for the Kings, saying, "The check's in the mail, and that's not good enough. The check's got to arrive."  Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson nonetheless believes most owners were "blown away" by the competitiveness of the city's offer, as well as the fast pace at which its come together.
  • Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News (on Twitter) notes that the three-year, $28MM extension that Stephen Jackson signed with the Warriors is just expiring now after four trades and one release.
  • Ike Diogu began the season in training camp with the Suns and played 41 games with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China.  Now, he's headed to Puerto Rico to play with Leones de Ponce, Sportando's Emiliano Carchia reports. 
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Odds & Ends: LeBron, Kings, Draft, Wiggins

April 20th, 2013 at 12:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Here's today's look around the Association as we get set for the 2013 playoffs to get underway, starting with the Knicks and Celtics at 2pm central..

  • If the Cavs really want to make a run at bringing LeBron James back to Cleveland in the 2014 offseason, it will be interesting to see how they replace coach Byron Scott, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.  If John Calipari somehow winds up as the Cavaliers' choice, then it might be time to at least consider how deep the James-Calipari connections run.
  • Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times is displeased with how commissioner David Stern has handled the Seattle-Sacramento battle over the Kings.  Brewer opines that it's frustrating to see Stern continue to defend the Sacramento offer while inferring that it does not fully match the Chris Hansen deal.
  • The latest mock draft from HoopsWorld still has Nerlens Noel going No. 1 but has some changes elsewhere in the lottery.  Victor Oladipo is at No. 3 in the latest mock while Georgetown's Otto Porter is projected to go No. 6.
  • Despite rumblings to the contrary, Canadian high school standout Andrew Wiggins says that he won't be announcing his college choice anytime soon, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.  Wiggins is universally projected to be the top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
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Sacramento/Seattle Updates: Friday

April 19th, 2013 at 6:55pm CST by Luke Adams

NBA commissioner David Stern spoke to the media today from the league's Board of Governors meetings, briefing reporters on the latest updates in the Kings saga. According to Stern, the NBA's subcommittees discussing the Kings sale will likely vote on their recommendation sometime late next week. That recommendation will then be taken to all 30 owners, who will vote a week or two after that (Twitter link via ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst). Resolution is expected to come before May 21st's draft lottery, says Stern (Twitter link via Ken Berger of CBSSports.com). Here's more on Sacramento, Seattle, and the Kings:

  • Several ownership sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com that they have serious questions about the Sacramento group's financing to purchase the team and build a new arena. Windhorst also passes along details of the Maloofs' letter to the NBA.
  • Stern downplayed the idea that whichever city demonstrates it can build its arena more quickly will be a key factor in the league's debate, Windhorst notes.

Earlier updates:

  • Expansion hasn't been discussed in this instance, though Stern didn't rule out the possibility down the road, tweets Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
  • Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who is on the NBA's relocation and finance committees, told Chris Daniels of KING TV that they have asked the Seattle and Sacramento groups for more information. There's no one big issue that needs to be addressed, but rather a "bunch of little things," according to Taylor, who recognizes the need to move the process along (all Twitter links).
  • Daniels also confirms (via Twitter) that the Maloofs have sent the NBA a letter asking the league to approve its sale agreement to the Seattle group. According to Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter links), the Maloofs believe the Sacramento offer carries "unacceptable risk" and noted that it doesn't match Seattle's bid, though Stern suggested it's in the same ballpark "with regard to the net result" to the Maloofs (Twitter link via NBA.com's Scott-Howard Cooper).
  • Stern confirmed today that the league is treating the Sacramento bid as submitted, even though it hasn't been signed by the Maloofs, tweets TNT's David Aldridge.
  • One owner told Berger that the Seattle/Sacramento debate could still go either way, saying it was "50-50" at the moment (Twitter link). According to Stern and Silver, the NBA isn't trying to influence the owners to vote either way (Twitter links via Windhorst and Zillgitt).
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