New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NBA will review the sale agreement of the
Sacramento Kings to an investor group that reportedly intends to relocate the
franchise to Seattle.
While the NBA confirmed that the Maloof brothers have reached an agreement
with a group headed by Christopher Hansen, there was no indication from the
league concerning multiple reports from Sunday that said the new ownership
group would move the franchise from California's capital to the Pacific
Northwest.
"The NBA received an executed Purchase and Sale Agreement for the transfer of
a controlling interest in the Sacramento Kings from the Maloof family to an
investor group led by Christopher Hansen," the NBA said in a statement. "The
proposed transaction is subject to the approval of the NBA Board of Governors
and has been referred to the Board's committee process for review."
Seattle has been without an NBA team since the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma
City following the 2007-08 campaign. The Sonics were an expansion franchise in
1967-68.
The Kings, meanwhile, have been in numerous cities since their inception in
1948-49. They began as the Rochester Royals until 1956-57, then stopped in
Cincinnati through 1971-72 before moving to the Midwest. They changed their
name to the KC-Omaha Kings before becoming the Kansas City Kings in 1975-76,
then moved to Sacramento for the start of the 1985-86 season.
Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player, is reportedly seeking a
group to buy the Kings and keep them in Sacramento.
The Kings have been at odds with the city over a new building for the team. An
agreement to build a $391 million arena with the city council was announced
last February, but fell through just two months later.
The Sports Network