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Sacramento Kings announcer Grant Napear says he's confident the team will stay in town, but he predicts the NBA will give Seattle an expansion team of its own. (AP image)

Sacramento insider confident city will keep Kings

BY Josh Kerns  on January 16, 2013 @ 5:56 pm (Updated: 10:36 am - 1/17/13 )

It's been a week since the first reports surfaced the owners of the Sacramento Kings were selling to investor Chris Hansen and moving to Seattle. But after numerous conflicting reports, it's looking more likely the Kings aren't going anywhere, at least for the near future.

"I will tell you that the mood is as upbeat and positive as I can remember at any time including two years ago when it was announced that the Kings would not be moving to Anaheim and they would be staying in Sacramento," said Kings play-by-play announcer Grant Napear in an interview with 710 ESPN's "Bob and Groz."

One day after Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson announced the NBA would allow him to present any counter proposal to the NBA's Board of Governors, Napear said the former NBA star's close relationship with league commissioner David Stern holds tremendous weight.

"I don't think David Stern would have told Kevin Johnson you'll get a chance to make a counter offer at the NBA Board of Governors meeting if he knew there was no chance."

Johnson said Tuesday several deep-pocketed investors were willing to step up and buy the team from the Maloof family and keep the Kings in Sacramento.

And the head of entertainment giant AEG reaffirmed his company's support to help build a new Sacramento arena if the Kings' ownership situation gets settled.

AEG Chief Executive Tim Leiweke told The Sacramento Bee Stern and Johnson asked him to re-engage on the arena and "we haven't changed our opinion about Sacramento or the arena."

"To the commissioner's credit, I don't think he ever forgot about Sacramento," he said.

Napear said over 65 businesses have pledged to sponsor the Kings if they stay in Sacramento and season-ticket sales have soared since the initial report of an impending sale. And he remains confident the city will ultimately prevail.

"It's been pretty remarkable what's happened here really in the last four or five days," he said.

But what about the reported $525 million offer from Hansen and his group? Napear said the NBA won't be able to turn down an ownership group featuring Hansen, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and several Nordstroms, and change its tune about creating a new expansion team for Seattle instead.

"I don't think they're going to be able to pass up what Seattle has presented. I think everybody around the league realizes that Seattle should have never lost their team and that's a tremendous NBA market."

While Hansen has reportedly sought to finalize a deal by March 1, the mandated league-deadline to file for relocation, Napear said with the NBA vowing to let Johnson make a counter offer and the Board of Governors not meeting until April, it's likely the saga and all the unconfirmed reports will continue unresolved for the foreseeable future.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • Eta Huinya wrote...
    I hope they fight for their team and keep it
    January 16, 2013 6:30 pm
    I'll wait for an expansion team or another dead team to float too close to shore. I'm honestly not too interested in having a team in Seattle until after Stern retires as I feel he has been slowly ruining the NBA.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Stern will
    January 16, 2013 6:53 pm
    Do what stern wants to do. If the NBA blocks this sale and doesn't figure out a way to get a team here before the Hanson group dissolves out of frustration, people will just move on. Ask anyone in LA if they miss pro football?
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  • Rayvensdad wrote...
    This insider's perspective...
    January 16, 2013 8:55 pm
    sounds purely speculative. "I don't think David Stern would have told Kevin Johnson you'll get a chance to make a counter offer... if he knew there was no chance." There is nothing factual there. NOTHING. The commissioner is touching all bases by allowing such an action, and that is the only fact that can be gleaned from this. Sounds like a last ditch pipe dream in my opinion.
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  • Newton wrote...
    Sacramento Can't afford this team.
    January 16, 2013 9:02 pm
    The city is broke. Seattle is broke. But they have this arena bogus deal and so its all about making more money in Seattle. Well this economy is about to go belly up any day now so good luck on selling those bonds.
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  • AKAF wrote...
    Yet...you have a private investor...
    January 16, 2013 11:44 pm
    Yet you have a private investor that is willing to build an arena and hand it over to the county/city. Those bonds will be paid for by attendance...don't worry Seattle and King County residences will not have to pay a dime. Look at the job creation in building these arena and staffing it after it is built...stop being so negative.
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  • R L M 456 wrote...
    Yet you have a private investor that is willing to build an arena and hand it over to the county/city.
    January 17, 2013 12:05 am
    are you kidding me

    Hansen did not become a billionare by giving away anything

    don't get me wrong< I am all for getting a team

    just don't believe it is out of "LOVE" for anything but his own checkbook

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Richardb787 wrote...
    Stern
    January 17, 2013 11:36 am
    And those fools in Sacramento believe in Stern? The NBA will not turn down $100 million in relocation fees, they are greedy businessmen. They know a great deal (Hansen, Balmer, et.al)when they see it. Sacramento can't compete with thier deep pockets. And yes, if anyone has ever really listened to Hansen, his love of the Sonics and his childhood days in Seattle watching them, is in part driving this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mocorro wrote...
    SACRAMENTO WILL KEEP THE TEAM;
    January 17, 2013 11:44 am
    Think about this !!!!!. 525 million dollars, Will set a president for the most ever payment for a basketball team. The Seattle group distant themselves from the competition, as far as setting the bar in overpaying, to ensure that the offer that was made won't be toppled by another potential bidder. Now! Lets talk about something that makes more sense. Lets talk about Sacramento first ? It comes down to the last deal, That the Maloofs, made then backed out off. Business wise , It didn't make good sense in Sacramento, for the Maloofs, or to the next ownership group that would buy and keep the team there. Not enough profit$$$ to be made in that market for any ownership group. It would make more sense in Seattle;. Because , It's a much bigger market, more Corporate sponsorship, bigger Television market, There will be a sparkling new basketball / hockey arena in 2 years, but most importantly there is a deal already in place with the City of Seattle , unlike Sacramento , There is none. In conclusion; There is too much money at stake here ! 525 million dollars for the NBA to not approve this deal. The NBA needs an expansion team in 2 years , and give them to Sacramento. That would give that City, ample time to get an ownership group together . Less than 2 months to scramble for an ownership group is just a little bit too late.
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