While reiterating that Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof change their minds faster than I switch from ESPN to MSNBC to CNN, here are a few final thoughts on an eventful Wednesday that began and ended with an insane number of tweets, rumors, reports, etc., about the possible sale of the Kings franchise to a group from Seattle.
* According to sources, several of the team's minority owners were stunned (and ticked off) to hear that talks about a sale/relocation between the Maloofs and the Chris Hansen-led Seattle group reportedly have intensified. And one day after Virginia Beach removes itself as an NBA player? Hmmm. I also heard that high-ranking Kings employees were shocked by the reports that first surfaced early Wednesday on Yahoo!
* Of the Maloofs, Gavin has long been most adamantly opposed to selling. The second of five Maloof siblings, he jokingly has said that he would chop off one of his legs before agreeing to a sale of the franchise. As for the investors Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson said he has spoken with about purchasing the Kings? Let's just say, the brothers like Ron Burkle about as much as they like the Lakers, which is to say, they will never get over it ..
* This is pretty lousy timing for KJ. The former Phoenix Suns All-Star should be celebrating his nomination for the 2013 Naismith Hall of Fame.
* Not a bad number: 19 sellouts in 27 seasons in Sacramento. While Kings attendance is dwindling - for obvious reasons, among them franchise uncertainty and a disappointing product - based on the eyeball test and from watching games on NBA League Pass, a number of other teams appear to be, um, quite generous with the numbers.
* Publicly, league executives were unusually quiet Wednesday. Can only guess at the significance of the silence ....
* For those who might not have noticed, L.A.'s other team - those Clippers - will be here for the regular-season finale. The man sure knows how to make money, though.
* While the reported estimates of $500 million would break all NBA numbers for franchise sales, any relocation would require that the Maloofs pay off the $77 million loan to the city, pay approximately $30-$35 million in relocation fees, and receive approval from the Board of Governors.
Finally, this is a wild and crazy season. Who thought the Lakers would be on the playoff bubble? That the Grizzlies and Warriors would be this good? Or, for that matter, that the Kings would be this bad?
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