The Sacramento Kings are staying in California's capitol. That comes after the NBA's Board of Governor rejected the relocation bid which would have moved the team to Seattle.
The vote was 22-8 in favor of keeping the team in Sacramento. NBA Commissioner David Stern did not reveal which teams voted to allow the move. Stern said the next step is meeting with the Maloofs about selling the team to Golden State Warriors minority owner Vivek Ranadive and his group.
"We will talk to the Maloofs and see in the next 24-48 hours to whether we can help facilitate an agreement to be signed between the Ranadive group and the Maloofs for the sale of the franchise." Stern said.
Stern added that he anticipates the Maloofs will accept a sale in the ballpark of $525 million to Ranadive's group.
As for Seattle, the question now turns to whether relocation will be an option. Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said generalized talk about expanding the league to 31 teams may occur after the next national TV deal is decided. Those negotiations have begun. The other bit of news that was revealed on the expansion front is that expansion could be revisited in the next year, as opposed to the three years from now when the current TV deal runs out.
The good news for Kings fans is the only game in town will stay, but I do not imagine the full celebration will happen until a sale from the Maloofs to the Ranadive group is completed. Stern said he hopes that agreement is made as soon as possible.
