We’re Moving On Up …………….But It Ain’t To The Eastside Or That Deluxe Apartment In The Sky
Well it appears even with a horrendous season in prospect things simply aren’t getting any better for the Sacramento Kings at all. Having had a player selected to be a participant in the NBA’s midseason showcase event of the All Star Game it now seems that the organization may well consider the offer to relocate from the Arco Arena in Sacramento to the city of Anaheim , California . It may well have been a tremendous accolade to have both DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans selected to the Rookies’ All Star Western Conference roster but it simply cannot hide the overwhelming problems that this franchise now has from a competitive and financial standpoint.
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Slide show for your perusal.
The Maloof family as owners of this team have simply struggled over the past few seasons merely to keep this franchise a successful and viable concern within the city. And even now with a dwindling attendance for the team’s home games there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for the organization. The team is projected to lose in excess of $25 million this year alone but it could quite possibly be a great deal more than that given the economic outlook , albeit that the league hierarchy has already been benevolent to this team as well as several other NBA franchises around the league over the past season.
Courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle
Another Sign Points to Kings’ Desire to Leave SacramentoBy Sam Amick in counjunction with Fanhouse
With a March 1 deadline to file for relocation looming large in Sacramento and the owners of the Kings continuing discussions with Anaheim Ducks officials regarding a possible move to Southern California, a source close to the situation said Monday that they have yet to deliver documents that were promised to the arena development team in California’s Capital City.
It is, without question, yet another sign that the Maloofs (Gavin and Joe above) are strongly considering the possibility of playing elsewhere next season.
After the Sacramento City Council voted to work with developer David Taylor and arena builder ICON venue group on Feb. 8 in attempt to construct a viable arena plan, the Maloofs issued a statement two days later that they would “provide him with the studies, research and documents done during the course of the last 11 years on the feasibility of a new sports and entertainment facility.” Yet the source told FanHouse that documents have yet to be provided, and all indications are that the Maloofs will only turn their attention back to Sacramento if they can’t find a way to strike a deal in Anaheim.
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As with any presumed relocation of a franchise it would need a majority vote from the board of governors of the NBA which basically is the league’s hierarchy in conjunction with the team owners in order to facilitate the Kings’ move from the state’s capital to Anaheim. From a financial standpoint it would certainly make sense for the organization and I’ve no doubt that team GM Geoff Petrie sees it as the best option for the Kings at this juncture . And it can only be further sanctioned by both George , Gavin and Joe Maloof , who as principal executives and owners of the family’s business and sporting interests must see this as the best way forward for the organization .
On the other hand , I can help but wonder what must be going through the mind of NBA Commissioner David Stern , because for too long he has simply ignored the major economic problems that the league and the owners have simply overlooked. They’ve seen the revenues of the NBA increase exponentially over the last twenty five years and along with the franchises’ worth have appreciated steadily, where the average value of an NBA team is upwards of $ 375 million but yet somehow in the wake of this type of monetary windfall many of these teams find themselves in something of a financial mess. The NBPA (union ) for its part merely looks at this all as simply another reason why they feel that they’re in need of a larger slice of the revenues that they share with the league. And though NBPA Executive Director Billy Hunter along with union President Derek Fisher and their executive committee have been adamant that they will negotiate a fair and equitable agreement as it pertains to the present collective bargaining agreement , you simply get the feeling that though sides are still communicating things are liable to come to a head.
There’s not said to be a great impasse between the two sides but clearly there are some sticking points which neither side will freely admit to _____ that it is creating somewhat of a problem. And if as proposed the union is prepared decertify itself in order to challenge the NBA’s antitrust status within the US Federal Court rather than seek arbitration through a court appointed mediator or the NLRB ( National Labor Relations Board) then you know that the game and the league will be in for dire consequences. League executive Stu Jackson and Billy Hunter have been adamant that they wish for this all to be amicably resolved before the NBA playoffs begin and it seems given the present state of affairs that may well not happen unless both sides are willing to make certain concessions.
The NBA hierarchy has certainly never been willing to open up its books for public scrutiny , albeit , that it is in fact a private enterprise . But at the same time the league is given advantageous tax breaks and with its antitrust exemption guaranteed by the House Oversight Committee and you can well understand why David Stern and the owners would rather keep their financial records one big secret altogether and away from prying eyes.
Given the tumultuous season that the Sacramento Kings have had the only bright spot one might say has been the play of both Tyreke Evans and to a lesser extent DeMarcus Cousins who’s still showing his immaturity and unwillingness to defer to others when needed. Unfortunately Cousins’ talents at the college level and the latitude allowed by John Calipari shows how ill disciplined a player he was and still is . But that asides the real problem facing the Kings is that they’re simply still a work in progress with a great many flaws to this team. And most noticeably there’s a distinct lack of veteran leadership on the floor and that’s something that’s most definitely needed if the team is to improve.
Certainly Paul Westphal is trying to get the youngsters on this roster to buy into his style of coaching and to learn the nuances of the game . But that in of-itself may not be enough to stave off the inevitable concerning the team and its present record (13-40). They’re now in something of a dog fight with the Cleveland Cavaliers , Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards as to who may well end up with the worse record in the NBA come season’s end. It doesn’t take a betting man at this juncture that barring either Wizards or Kings’ implosion that dubious distinction may well end up belonging to Byron Scott’s ——- team . God knows , the Cavaliers simply find even more redundnant ways of losing games explicably and inexplicably , such has been their ineptitude and abundantly mediocre season !
It’s sad to think that the Sacramento Kings are no longer viewed as a legitimate and perennial contender within the league for an NBA title. But that hasn’t happened since the days when former players Mike Bibby and Chris Webber made the Arco Arena and the Kings a “must see”, can’t miss place to watch an exciting brand of basketball. Those days now appear to be long gone and all but now a distant memory for the most avowed of Sacramento Kings’ fans.
As to what might be the impending move of the Sacramento Kings, it seems that it may well inevitably take place in the off-season. As it’s unlikely that the team would be allowed to move during the season. The organization and the city of Sacramento have had numerous discussions over the team’s domicile and the very fact that neither party can agree upon who ought to be responsible for any refurbishments or the complete upgrade of the venue has in fact led the organization to its present predicament. The team’s lease on the venue is due to expire and even in discussion with the city’s mayor Kevin Johnson no acceptable compromise could in fact be reached concerning both parties’ wishes. In this day and age , when municipalities are cash strapped because of budgetary deficits and constraints the last thing they ought to be doing is to be spending money on a facility that in large part the leasee with their financial resources seems to be unwilling to spend the funds themselves on any specific upgrades even in conjunction with the leaseholder . It has become all the more asinine when repeatedly multi millionaire sports franchise owners who live high on the hog now have the municipalities at their beck and call merely to spend money when those funds are needed elsewhere for services that are of vital benefit to the residents within that city . But you’d be hard pressed to hear the owners , much less the NBA hierarchy or the politicians question the rationale behind spending the funds in such a way. Especially now given the current economic climate and the inane stupidity that has been shown by the NBA with regard to its finances .
This may not be the last such case we have concerning an NBA franchise and its financial situation as it’s clear that many other teams are in a rather precarious situation . One only has to survey the landscape to realize that the New Orleans Hornets now under league ownership and the long drawn out financial debacle that has now engulfed the Detroit Pistons and its reluctant owner Karen Davidson has simply shown us how wayward and somewhat irresponsible the NBA and its owners have become ______ and are !
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Picture gallery for your perusal .
What thoughts if any do you have concerning the Sacramento Kings and its present predicament and how do you feel it will ultimately end for the organization ? Also your thoughts if any you might have concerning that of the both Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Hornets ? Simply wade in with your comments on these matters or anything else you feel that is pertinent to this topic and the NBA at large .
😛
Alan aka tophatal ……………………….
Picture and slide show details below.
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(1) Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden (L) and Portland Trailblazers’ Wesley Matthews (C), both of the Sophmore Team, go after a rebound against Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins (R) of the Rookie Team during the NBA All Star – Rookie Challenge at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 18, 2011. The Rookies won 148-140 . AFP/Getty Images/Mark J Terrill ……
(2) LOS ANGELES, CA ,. (L-R) Eric Bledsoe (12) of the Los Angeles Clippers and Rookie Team, Greg Monroe (10) of the Detroit Pistons and the Rookie Team, DeMarcus Cousins (15) of the Sacramento Kings and the Rookie Team and Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors and the Sophomore Team react during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at Staples Center on February 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images …….
(3) Tyreke Evans (6) of the Sacramento Kings, who is missing the game due to injury, throws the ball during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at Staples Center on February 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images ……
(4) Sacramento Kings head coach Paul Westphal, left, questions official John Goble about a foul call during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. The Thunder beat the Kings 99-97 . AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli ……
(5) (L-R) Brothers George Maloof, Gavin Maloof and Joe Maloof watch a preseason game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center October 13, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers won 98-95. Getty Images North America / Ethan Miller ….
(6) Inset Sacramento Kings general manager Geoff Petrie joins the Grant Napear show to talk about the Kings’ incredible victory over the Grizzlies and he feels the Kings are a better team than their record indicates and sees the Kings improving with each game. courtesy of CBS Sacramento/Grant Napier Show …… @ copyrighted material all rights reserved .
(7) Former NBA star Kevin Johnson the current mayor of Sacramento. The city council and the Kings’ organization have been at odds concerning the team’s lease of the city owned ARCO Arena . Many of the Kings’ grievances lay in the fact that the aged venue is in need of refurbishing and major renovation and neither side can agree on who should bear the burden of the costs or whether or not the expense should be shared between the two parties. At the same time the Kings’ leaseof the facility is due to expire . AFP/Photo/ Carter Yates ……….
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NB : By clicking on the respective links below you can view the latest news , stats and details as it relates to the NBA and Sacramento Kings.
NBA Standings Conreference & Division
Sacramento Kings’ front office
Sacramento Kings head coach Paul Westphal
Sacramento Kings’ 2010-11 schedule
Sacramento Kings’ team stats
Sacramento Kings current form by win streak
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Eye candy …………… the ubiquitous Tammy Torres Not so debilitating after all !
It’s hard knock life and I’d to knock the shizz-nick out Tammy !
Who wouldn’t want to share with Tammy a lick of her ‘lollipops’ ?
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The Family Stand …………………. “Ghetto Heaven”
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