There’s no deal to sell the Sacramento Kings to a group of Seattle-based investors right now, according to David Stern.
“The one thing we do know is that no purchase and sale agreement has been submitted to us,” the commissioner said at a press conference today from London’s O2 Arena. “And we assume if one were going to be executed, the next thing they would do is submit it to us.”
Speaking before Thursday’s overseas match-up between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons, the NBA commissioner said an agreement between the Maloofs and the Chris Hansen/Steve Ballmer group hasn’t been brought to the league office. Stern did add that there have been discussions with the city of Seattle and the Hansen/Ballmer group about bringing the NBA back to the state of Washington.
“The mayor of Seattle came in some time ago and told us that he was in favor of having a team,” Stern said. “And we always entertain mayors, even for cities that don’t have teams.
“Chris Hansen, we understand to be a prospective builder of a building there who has acquired land, has been in to have talks with us,” the commissioner continued. “So we’ve been ‑‑ we are more or less in a series of communications, but right now we don’t know anything in terms of actionable plans.”
The NBA commissioner acknowledged that he’s granted Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson‘s request to address the Board of Governors. However, he wasn’t asked about AEG’s renewed interest in Sacramento, but offered this take on the league’s relationship with the potential operator of a new downtown arena.
“We’re like members of the same family,” Stern said in his opening remarks. “They treat us well in their venues all over the world, and I want to say thank you to them.”
Earlier this week, AEG head Tim Leiweke said he was asked by both the commissioner and mayor to re-engage in the capital city’s arena issue. During a presentation of the NHL’s Stanley Cup at the state capitol on Wednesday, Leiweke also told reporters that Stern doesn’t like relocating franchises.
Q&A Transcript with Stern on the Sacramento and Seattle situation
Reporter: “Could you give us an update on the Sacramento‑Seattle situation, and what are the odds that the Sonics will be playing next year?”
Stern: “I was hoping you would give me the update. I would say the following: The one thing we do know is that no purchase and sale agreement has been submitted to us, and we assume if one were going to be executed, the next thing they would do is submit it to us. There’s been lots of speculation. The mayor of Sacramento has asked me, well, if it comes to pass because we’ve been reading it in the newspapers, and he knows that anything he reads in the newspapers is likely to be accurate, could I come in and address the Board of Governors or the relocation committee, and I said, always. The communities have supported us ‑‑ and many that haven’t, but Sacramento has been particularly supportive, are always welcome to present. The mayor has been in before. So that’s it, other than the speculation of what’s going on.”
Reporter: “Has there been any contact with the folks in Seattle?”
Stern: “The answer to that is yes. The mayor of Seattle came in some time ago and told us that he was in favor of having a team, and we always entertain mayors, even for cities that don’t have teams. Chris Hansen we understand to be a prospective builder of a building there who has acquired land has been in to have talks with us. So we’ve been ‑‑ we are more or less in a series of communications, but right now we don’t know anything in terms of actionable plans.”
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