The Sacramento Kings could be moving ... but not back to Kansas City. The NBA's board of governors has granted the franchise an extension to apply to move. The Kings' next possible destination? Anaheim.
This isn't a surprise to anyone who has followed the Kings' inability to get a new arena built. Team owners Gavin, George and Joe Maloof never sounded as if they were giving Kansas City and the Sprint Center any consideration. (Flying to KC from the West Coast wasn't high on their lists of good times.) And, as far as we can tell, there isn't a local ownership group stepping up for an NBA franchise (the city's biggest problem of all).
The LA Times reported that the NBA's board of governors granted the extension to apply for a move until April 18, which gives the Maloofs plenty of time to discuss their options April 14-15 with the rest of the league's owners. Joe and Gavin Maloof reportedly "have made several
visits to the Honda Center to meet with arena officials." Meetings have gone so far as to suggest that the Kings' moniker may be dropped because the NHL's Los Angeles Kings are a rival to the Anaheim Ducks, who play at the Honda Center.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player with the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers, isn't exactly sugarcoating the news. He believes the Kings plan on playing in Anaheim's Honda Center next season.
"The likelihood of them leaving is probably greater than them
staying," KJ reportedly said at a press conference. "It's clear [the
Kings] are looking to try to strike or create a deal with Anaheim. ...
If they don't get a deal, they'll choose Sacramento. I don't think
Sacramento has a whole lot of say right now."
Sacramento, get ready to feel Seattle's heartache.
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