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).