Despite a "strong push by Sacramento officials to keep the Kings," the Maloofs "remained uncertain Wednesday whether to stay in Sacramento next season or request NBA approval for a move to Anaheim," according to a source cited by Tony Bizjak of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The source said that the Maloof family "held talks Wednesday with several top NBA officials, including members of the league's relocation committee." The Kings owners "expressed appreciation for local businesses that have pledged $10 million in sponsorship support for next year, but also shared concerns about whether their finances can withstand several years of waiting for a new arena to be built, and whether Sacramento will be able to come up with an arena plan that is financially feasible, given past failures." NBA officials, in turn, "told the Maloofs to stay in Sacramento." The source said that it "appears unlikely at this point that team owners will come to a conclusion before Monday, the day set by NBA officials as the deadline for the team to request permission to relocate to Anaheim for next season" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/28). In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin reports sources close to the Maloofs "expect an announcement before the weekend" about the family's decision to file for relocation to Anaheim. Voisin: "I also continue to hear that diverging opinions exist within the family -- some wanting to sell, others determined to retain ownership even if that means returning to Sacramento and figuring out a way to handle the situation from a p.r. standpoint." The Maloofs "hate being portrayed and/or perceived as villains, and are reluctant to alienate their peers, especially given the labor situation and ongoing collective bargaining talks" (SACBEE.com, 4/28).
COMMITTEE UPDATE: In California, Randy Youngman reports the NBA relocation committee "conducted a conference call Wednesday to hear more about the Sacramento Kings' proposed agreement to move the team to Anaheim, as well as to brief the Kings' owners about recent community support intended to keep the team in the state capital." Thunder Chair Clay Bennett, who is heading the committee, "presided over the call, with the other six NBA owners on the committee and NBA commissioner David Stern also participating." Joe, Gavin, George and Phil Maloof, the Kings' majority owners since '99, "got their chance to address the committee, as did Michael Schulman, chairman of Anaheim Arena Management, the Henry Samueli-owned company that runs Honda Center and has been in protracted negotiations with the Maloofs." Samueli, the Ducks Owner, also was "on the line." Meanwhile, Stern appeared on the "Dan Patrick Show" yesterday and "made another allusion to that Kings scenario." He "used the phrase 'were they to stay for one more year,' saying it would give developers time to finalize a plan on how to build and finance a new arena." Regardless of "any opposition to the Kings moving," Stern mentioned that the Maloofs "still have the right to file for relocation by Monday's deadline" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/28).
SAVING GRACE? SI.com's Sam Amick cites sources as saying that Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson "indicated that he met with" Penguins co-Owner Ron Burkle in L.A. on Monday. The meeting was "confirmed by a third source." Burkle reportedly is willing to buy the Kings and keep the team in Sacramento, but it is "indisputable that he has ties to the Lakers that certainly make it a curious situation considering the well-chronicled private protests from team owner Jerry Buss." Beyond being a Lakers season-ticket holder, it is a "matter of public record that Burkle has done significant business deals with the most famous Lakers player of them all," Basketball HOFer Magic Johnson (SI.com, 4/28).
