NBA Commissioner David Stern on Thursday in a speech to AP Sports Editors in N.Y. said that a "final decision on the fate" of the Kings can be expected "on or about May 13," according to Bob Condotta of the SEATTLE TIMES. The league on Thursday also announced that the Relocation/Finance Committee would "meet Monday via teleconference." NBA bylaws "require a grace period of seven business days from the time of the recommendation to the final, binding vote" by the league's BOG. So the "earliest the vote could happen would be May 8." However, the BOG "does not have to vote on the earliest possible day," and Stern's comments "indicated it will take a little more time." He also seemed to "again indicate that expansion will not be an option." That recommendation then will be "sent along" to the BOG, which "consists of one representative from each of the 30 teams." Relocation "requires 16 of 30 votes to pass, and the sale 23 of 30." Stern last week said that relocation would be "considered first" (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/26). In Sacramento, Lillis, Bizjak & Kasler write Stern's announcement "brings some clarity to the process of deciding the Kings' fate, even as it drags the waiting out even longer for fans in Sacramento and Seattle" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/26).
FORECASTING THE KINGS' FATE: ESPN.com's Forecast panel of NBA contributors was asked to respond to questions in regard to the Kings: where should the team play in the future and where will the team play in the future. ESPN.com's Royce Webb noted on these two questions, the 118 contributors who responded "delivered a sort of split decision." A majority "think that Sacramento should keep the Kings," with 58.5% voicing that opinion."At the same time, 60.2% of the panel "forecasts that Seattle will get the Kings -- or as they would be known, the SuperSonics." Of those who "think the Kings should stay in Sacramento, half think they'll move." Of those who "think the Kings should move, almost 75 percent think they will" (ESPN.com, 4/25).
