Kings/Seattle Rumors: Saturday
The fate of the Kings figures to be a hot topic between now and the March 1st deadline to file for relocation. We dedicated a post to all of yesterday's rumors on a potential Kings sale, and there's more where that came from today. Here's the latest.
- Another set of local bidders has come forward with interest in buying the team, as Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee report. A group of investors, including the new owners of a troubled downtown Sacramento shopping center, say they want to purchase the team and build a $400MM arena on the site of the shopping center. The same architectural and engineering firm that designed the Barclays Center in Brooklyn has already drawn up plans for the arena, according to the Bee report.
- Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reported that the Maloofs would like to retain some decision-making role if they sell the team, as we passed along yesterday, and Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game hears that the Kings owners are threatening to take a "sweetheart deal" to move the team to Anaheim if potential buyers won't give them the control they want (Sulia link). Bucher cautions that such a move could involve the Maloofs pursuing a messy antitrust suit if the Lakers try to prevent them from setting up shop in Southern California.
- Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson thinks a Sacramento buyer would only have to pony up between $425MM and $450MM, as opposed to the rumored $500MM to $525MM asking price for the Seattle group. That's because there would be no relocation fee, and local ownership could assume a $77MM loan the city of Sacramento granted to the Maloofs, as Sam Amick of USA Today details.
- Phil Jackson keeps saying he won't coach again, but his son Charlie is close friends with Chris Hansen, the investor at the forefront of Seattle's bid for the Kings, notes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. Nonetheless, Jackson is ignoring questions about whether he would become a part of the team if Hansen's group bought it. "Some things are too premature to even talk about," Jackson said.
- Answering a question about whether the Lakers would pursue Tyreke Evans, HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler said the Kings won't be taking on payroll during sale negotiations, which would limit their ability to swing a trade (Twitter link). Yesterday, Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors examined Evans' trade candidacy, surmising that it wouldn't be a surprise to see the fourth-year guard remain in Sacramento this season.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Friday
Since Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported on Wednesday that the Maloof family was "finalizing an agreement" to sell the Kings to a Seattle-based investment group, plenty of reports have suggested it's premature to say that a deal is on the verge of completion. Still, talks definitely appear to be taking place. Here's the latest on the Kings and a potential move to Seattle:
- Sam Amick of USA Today tweets that Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson does not believe the city's window for keeping the Kings has closed.
- Amick adds that Johnson is rounding up sources of money to put together an offer comparable to the one the Maloofs have on the table from the Seattle group.
Earlier updates:
- Magic Johnson, who was part of Mark Mastrov's bid to buy the Warriors, won't be involved in Mastrov's play for the Kings, according to Scott-Howard Cooper of NBA.com (via Sulia).
- Besides Mastrov, Sleep Train CEO Dale Carlsen may also be interesting in bidding on the Kings to help keep them in Sacramento, tweets Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee.
- Mark Mastrov, who lost out to Joe Lacob and Peter Guber in the bidding for the Warriors, is interested in buying the Kings and keeping them in Sacramento, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. "Definitely, there've been conversations," said Mastrov, the founder of 24-Hour Fitness. "Definitely there's interest in acquiring the team and keeping it in Sacramento."
- Berger hears from sources that Mastrov has made the Maloofs a formal offer, though the CBSSports.com scribe notes that Mastrov, who has a net worth estimated at $350MM, likely wouldn't be able to match the Seattle group dollar for dollar.
- Sam Amick of USA Today reports that Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson has spent much of the last month attempting to identify potential buyers that would keep the Kings in Sacramento. According to Amick, the only publicly-known interested party is Ron Burkle, supermarket magnate and part-owner of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. A Sacramento-based is very unlikely to beat the Seattle group in a bidding war, says Amick.
- The Kings aren't commenting on a report that suggests a sale to the Seattle group is a "done deal," according to the Sacramento Bee. The Bee report notes that Richard Benvenuti, a limited partner of the franchise, hasn't been informed of any sale — as we heard earlier this week, minority partners must be told before any agreement is finalized. It was Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com (via Sulia) that said the deal was "done" with a price tag of $525MM.
- According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, the Maloofs still want to have a say in how the franchise is run, even if they sell it to Chris Hansen's Seattle group. Wojnarowski's initial report indicated that the Maloofs would likely retain a small percentage of the team in any sale, but Woj suggested it wouldn't be enough to allow them a say in how the club is run.
- Condotta's source tells him that a sale decision would go beyond pure dollars and cents for the Maloofs, since being involved in the NBA has been very important to the family.
- Ryan Lillis, Dale Kasler, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee hear from a source close to the Maloofs that talks between Kings ownership and the Seattle group are in the "early stages." A formal offer has not yet been made, though the Bee's sources expect that one is forthcoming.
- Sacramento fans and players, including Aaron Brooks, Isaiah Thomas, and Jason Thompson weighed in on the possibility of the Kings leaving town in an Associated Press report (link via USA Today).
Latest On Trade Candidates From Reno
Marc Stein of ESPN.com attended the NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, Nevada this week, where many NBA GMs and executives were present. He posted a roundup of trade-related chatter he heard during the event:
- The Raptors are making the hardest push for Rudy Gay, offering the Grizzlies a package that includes Jose Calderon and Ed Davis. Memphis is still undecided as to whether they will move Gay.
- There is a growing sense from front offices around the league that the Lakers will not ultimately trade Pau Gasol this season.
- Teams have continued to ask the Kings about DeMarcus Cousins, and were told that he is not available.
- A source told Stein that it is highly unlikely the Bucks will move Brandon Jennings before the end of the season.
- The Jazz are more likely to trade Al Jefferson than Paul Millsap, even though both are free agents this summer.
- The Hornets are not expected to trade Eric Gordon, despite previous rumors that he may be available.
- Despite his recent statement that he intends on staying retired, the Nets are still making a hard push to convince Phil Jackson to be their next head coach.
- Stein lists several players as having been made known to be available by their teams, including the Raptors' Andrea Bargnani, the Spurs' DeJuan Blair, the Cavs' Omri Casspi, the Rockets' Cole Aldrich, and the Bucks' Drew Gooden, Samuel Dalembert, and Beno Udrih.
Berger On Gay, Pierce, Stoudemire
Earlier today, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported that 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov, who previously attempted to buy the Golden State Warriors, is interested in buying the Kings from the Maloof brothers and keeping the team in Sacramento. For a full recap of Berger's information and other reports that have emerged today regarding a potential Kings sale, keep an eye on HoopsRumors.com's roundup.
Berger wrote another column today that features updates on several high-profile players who may be on the move at the trading deadline. Here are the highlights:
- Berger gives an update of the rumors surrounding the Grizzlies' efforts to move Rudy Gay. The Warriors, Suns, Raptors, and Kings have shown the most interest in trading for the seven-year veteran, whom Berger writes the Grizzlies are looking to move primarily to avoid paying luxury tax.
- Berger writes that the Suns' offer would be centered around Jared Dudley, draft picks, and the ability to absorb the majority of Gay's contract. The Raptors could offer Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon, although the Grizzlies are looking to get at least one good young player in return.
- A potential deal with the Warriors is unlikely, writes Berger, because it would likely involve Memphis taking back either Andris Biedrins or Richard Jefferson, neither of whom the Grizzlies have any interest in.
- Berger writes that the Knicks are open to trading Amare Stoudemire for cap relief, although he does not believe it likely that a team would be willing to trade for him given his health and contract.
- Berger is more optimistic that the Celtics would be able to move Paul Pierce if they were so inclined, because his contract is only partially guaranteed for next season and he is still performing at a high level.
Rudy Gay Rumors: Friday
In Hoops Rumors' live chat yesterday, I picked Rudy Gay as the biggest name I think will be on the move before this year's trade deadline. With nearly six weeks still remaining until February 21st arrives, I don't expect anything to be finalized soon, but that doesn't mean the rumors aren't continuing to swirl around Gay. Here's the latest:
- Sam Amick of USA Today adds a new team to the mix for Gay: the Clippers. According to Amick, a package that includes Caron Butler, Eric Bledsoe, and picks could provide exactly what the Grizzlies are seeking. The Clippers are "justifiably wary" of making a move that would affect their chemistry, and are reportedly not looking to move Bledsoe before the deadline, but the club would at least consider Gay, says Amick.
- The Nuggets, Kings, and Rockets, three teams that have been mentioned as potential suitors, don't appear to have any interest in Gay at the moment, according to Amick.
Trade Candidate: Tyreke Evans
The draft class of 2009 was eligible for rookie scale extensions heading into this season, and more of those players (eight) were extended than in any offseason since 2008. That figure is a little surprising when recalling the top few players selected in the 2009 draft — Blake Griffin and James Harden were no-brainer extension candidates, and were locked up to max deals by their respective teams. However, Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn didn't even play out their rookie contracts, and Ricky Rubio isn't for a new deal until 2014, having remained overseas for a couple years.
The other guy at the top of the 2009 draft class not to receive an extension was fourth overall pick Tyreke Evans, who represents perhaps the most interesting case of the bunch. The Kings' ownership and uncertain financial situation, which has been making headlines over the last couple days, could be partially blamed for Sacramento not ponying up the money to extend Evans. But it's not as if the 23-year-old was entirely deserving of that extension. Since his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2009/10, Evans has never matched the PPG and PER rates he posted in year one, and has struggled to find an optimal role in Sacramento.
With reports suggesting that the Kings franchise could be changing hands (and cities) by next season, it's hard to assess exactly what Evans' future holds. New ownership and/or management may value the young scorer more or less than the current group, and if the franchise is in flux when the trade deadline approaches, the Kings may simply choose to stand pat, rather than being active on the trade market. For now, though Grantland's Zach Lowe writes that the Kings are "open for business," and Evans appears to be a more likely trade candidate than teammate DeMarcus Cousins.
Evans hasn't always been on the same page with the front office, and recently told Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee that he'd be neither shocked nor devastated if he were dealt next month. Voisin's report suggested that the Grizzlies had inquired on Evans, and that the Lakers, Celtics, and Nuggets had also shown interest in the past. Memphis makes a little sense as a trade partner to me, considering the Grizzlies are shopping Rudy Gay. A package that includes Evans and Francisco Garcia's expiring contract could be a starting point for a conversation between the two sides, with the Kings landing the small forward they've long coveted and the Grizzlies gaining some cap flexibility. But I have my doubts that Sacramento would take on a pricey, long-term deal like Gay's at this point, and the Grizzlies, faced with the prospect of losing Evans in a matter of months, would likely also be wary about making such a move.
It's hard to see an ideal fit with the Lakers, whose roster is made up primarily of aging, expensive assets, or the Nuggets, who probably don't have the future cap flexibility to extend Evans unless they dump one or two long-term contracts on the Kings. The Celtics make a little more sense, but I'd have to think Boston would balk at including Avery Bradley, and I'm not sure Sacramento does a deal without him.
There are a few other teams who could find Evans' expiring deal attractive, such as the Mavericks — if the Mavs could put together a package for Evans, they'd hold his Bird Rights, giving them the option of re-signing him in the summer if they don't land one of their bigger free agent targets. However, Dallas already has a wing scorer in O.J. Mayo, who may ultimately be a better value next summer than Evans. The Suns, expected to be active prior to the trade deadline, could be another potential suitor, though with Goran Dragic and Kendall Marshall already manning the point in Phoenix, it might turn into a repeat of the situation in Sacramento, with Evans struggling to find a position.
Because Evans' value isn't exactly at its peak right now, and the Kings' future as a franchise is up in the air, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the former Rookie of the Year to remain in Sacramento through this year's deadline. That would leave the team a couple decisions this summer — whether to issue Evans a qualifying offer (worth about $6.93MM), and then whether to match any offer sheet he signs elsewhere. Still, it's certainly worth keeping an eye on the situation as February 21st approaches. Even though Evans hasn't lived up to his potential so far in Sacramento, a change of scenery and a new coaching staff may help the fourth-year player recapture some of that promise he showed when he first entered the league.
Latest On Possible Kings Sale
Earlier Thursday, Sacramento Kings co-owner George Maloof stated that the reported sale to Chris Hansen's Seattle-based group was not close. Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com tweets that Wednesday's reports of an imminent sale continue to be premature, citing sources close to the negotiations.
Speaking at a public event on Thursday in Washington, D.C., NBA commissioner David Stern addressed the Kings' situation. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today tweets that Stern does not plan to get personally involved in the negotiation or potential relocation process, leaving those responsibilities to the NBA's board of governors. Zillgitt adds that Stern believes an ownership group committed to keeping the Kings in Sacramento should be given a fair chance to match the offer made by the Seattle group.
Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com spoke to Kings head coach Keith Smart, who understands that the uncertainty of the team's ownership status could pose a distraction for the players and the coaching staff. However, Smart believes the players will be able to tune out the speculation.
Potential Kings Sale Could Impact Trades
On Wednesday, Yahoo! Sports reported that the Maloof family was in talks to sell the Sacramento Kings to a Seattle-based ownership group led by investor Chris Hansen. While the status of the deal is still up in the air, Grantland's Zach Lowe examines how the potential sale could affect the Kings' willingness to make trades as the deadline approaches.
Lowe writes that executives around the league believe the Kings will still be willing trade partners, despite the complications that may arise in the event of an ownership transfer. He believes there is a unanimous belief within the organization that DeMarcus Cousins, despite his recent troubles, is considered off-limits in any trade discussions.
The three players beyond Cousins that Lowe points to as potential pieces the Kings could move are Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, and Francisco Garcia. Lowe suggests that these and other players could be turned into a package for Rudy Gay.
Lowe also speculates about the status of Evans, who is headed to restricted free agency after the 2012/13 season. He writes that Evans may have a similar experience in free agency to that of O.J. Mayo, who signed a two-year contract with the Mavericks when no long-term deal presented itself.
Maloof: Deal To Sell Kings “Not Close”
A deal to sell the Kings to a Seattle-based group led by Chris Hansen is "not close," Kings co-owner George Maloof tells Bryan May of ABC News10 in Sacramento (Twitter link). It's the first public comment made by a member of the Maloof family since Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported yesterday that the two sides were nearing an agreement.
While it's a little good news for Kings fans in Sacramento, it hardly means that a sale won't eventually be finalized, as Sactown Royalty notes. The Sactown Royalty piece points out that George was the Maloof brother at the forefront of relocation talks with Virginia Beach and Anaheim, and helped kill the Sacramento arena deal in the spring of 2012.
Multiple reports besides Wojnarowski's have indicated that Kings ownership is in talks with Hansen's group, but based on those reports and Maloof's comments, it appears that discussions may not come reach a resolution (one way or the other) in the immediate future.
Odds & Ends: Knicks, Cousins, Fernandez, Cavs
The Pacers and Trail Blazers head into today having each won 11 of their last 14 contests, but both teams will be in for tough matchups at home tonight, as the Knicks arrive in Indiana and the Heat play in Portland. As we look forward to what should be a fun TNT doubleheader, let's check in on a few afternoon links from around the NBA:
- While the Knicks have inquired on Kenyon Martin, they won't make a decision on the free agent big man one way or another until they determine Rasheed Wallace's timetable, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
- One NBA team executive predicts to Ian Thomsen of SI.com that if DeMarcus Cousins becomes available, there won't be as much interest as there might have been in the past. "We do all of this research and background work on players now before we draft them," said the exec. "I think half of the consideration when we look at players now is trying to understand who these guys are as people. I really do think that most teams are going to say they don't want any part of him."
- Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News thinks that the Lakers should trade Dwight Howard for Dirk Nowitzki. However, even if the Lakers were interested in such a move, which seems extremely unlikely, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wouldn't be, as he tells David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida: "No knock on Dwight, I just won't trade Dirk" (Twitter link).
- Although he signed a three-year deal overseas this past offseason, Rudy Fernandez isn't ruling out an eventual return to the NBA, writes CNN.com's Paul Gittings.
- The Cavaliers should attempt to make a play for Rudy Gay, suggests Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
- Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post wonders if Wilson Chandler's return to the Nuggets lineup could lead to a trade, either of Chandler or another player.