May 21, 2013 8:52 PM EDT

The 2013 NBA Draft Lottery was held on Tuesday in Times Square with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning for the second time in three years and third time in ten years. The Washington Wizards moved up from the eighth slot to draft third.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 2. Orlando Magic 3. Washington Wizards 4. Charlotte Bobcats 5. Phoenix Suns 6. New Orleans Pelicans 7. Sacramento Kings 8. Detroit Pistons 9. Minnesota Timberwolves 10. Portland Trail Blazers 11. Philadelphia 76ers 12. Toronto Raptors 13. Dallas Mavericks 14. Utah Jazz
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May 20, 2013 11:01 AM EDT
The Sacramento Kings have been sold to Vivek Ranadive, which makes the status of Geoff Petrie as basketball president an unknown.
Petrie is preparing for the 2013 NBA Draft as though he will still be the Kings' decision-maker. Petrie is signed through the end of June.
"I haven't had the opportunity to talk to anybody yet (from Ranadive's group)," said Petrie. "But my understanding is the sale probably won't officially close for a couple more weeks. How that plays into communication, I really don't know at this point."
The Kings need a point guard and also must plan a strategy for Tyreke Evans' restricted free agency.
"You're closing in on some planning, just structural, ownership-driven involvement that will have to happen in a much more compressed time frame here," Petrie said.
May 17, 2013 12:25 PM EDT
With Vivek Ranadive agreeing to purchase the Sacramento Kings, Geoff Petrie is not expected to be retained as chief decision-maker on basketball personnel moves.
One candidate for the position could be Chris Mullin, who was in the Golden State Warriors' front office from 2004 until 2009.
Ranadive and Mullin have met several times, but have not discussed the possibility of working together.
"I definitely would (be interested in the job)," Mullin said. "But you know, it's something that's got to be the right fit. It's gotta be – they need my expertise…I'm not one of those people to go solicit it. But a guy like him, if he called me and he needed me, I'd love that."
May 17, 2013 12:22 PM EDT
Mike Malone is expected to be a leading candidate for the Sacramento Kings' head coaching position.
Keith Smart is not expected to be retained, according to a report.
Malone is familiar with prospective Kings' owner Vivek Ranadive due to their connection with the Golden State Warriors.
May 17, 2013 10:57 AM EDT
The NBA owners offered to refund a $30 million non-refundable deposit made by the Chris Hansen-Steve Ballmer ownership group that was made when entering into a purchase agreement with the Sacramento Kings.
The Seattle-based group had agreed to buy the team from the Maloof family.
Hansen and Ballmer declined to accept the offer, which would have come from each of the NBA's 30 owners.
May 17, 2013 12:36 AM EDT
The Maloofs have agreed to sell the Sacramento Kings to a group led by Vivek Ranadive for $535 million, according to a source.
The Maloofs had hoped to sell the Kings to a group led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer, but the NBA's Board of Governors voted against the sale by a 22-8 margin. The Hansen-Ballmer group intended to move the Kings to Seattle, which lost their NBA franchise to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Ranadive is currently a part owner of the Golden State Warriors.
The new ownership group is hoping to build a new arena in downtown Sacramento with public financing.
May 15, 2013 5:57 PM EDT
The NBA Board of Governors has voted down a bit to relocate the Sacramento Kings to Seattle, according to a report from USA Today's Sami Amick.
The Maloofs had agreed to sell the Kings to a group led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer who had planned on moving the franchise to Seattle as a replacement for the departed Sonics.
Mitch Levy of KJR reports that 22 teams voted for the Kings to remain in Sacramento while eight approved the sale.
The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder in 2008.
A group attempting to buy the Kings to keep them in Sacramento is being led by Vivek Ranadive, current part owner of the Golden State Warriors.
If the Kings are able to build a new arena in downtown Sacramento, plans call for the city to heavily finance the build.
With nearly all NBA teams in fairly stable situations in their current locations, Seattle's best chance at getting a team now appears to be through expansion.
"We will talk to the Maloofs within the next 24 to 48 hours to see if we can facilitate an agreement between Maloofs and Ranadive group," said David Stern.
Stern described the presentation made by the Seattle group as "excellent" and an "extraordinary ownership group."
Stern said there was a generalized talk to consider expansion, but will wait until the completion of the next television negotiation.
Stern promised "fair dealing" in regards to Seattle in the future. Stern also praised the efforts from Hansen and Ballmer and said that their relationship with the league is very good.
May 14, 2013 5:22 PM EDT
A group from Sacramento has formed a Political Action Committee and hopes to launch a ballot initiative to prevent the city from publicly funding a new arena for the Kings.
"Taxpayers for Safer Neighborhoods PAC has joined with Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork (STOP) to announce the first phase of a campaign to end the financially irresponsible diversion of over $250 million in public funds to build a new downtown basketball arena," wrote the group in a release.
“Working with Taxpayers for Safer Neighborhoods, we have put together the funds to begin gathering signatures for an initiative which will prevent the public gift of over $250 million in taxpayer dollars to developers and professional sports team owners,” said Julian Camacho, Chairman of Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork (STOP).
Sacramento is facing an $8.9 million deficit.
The NBA is attempting to broker a deal between Vivek Ranadive and the Maloofs to keep the Kings in Sacramento and prevent a relocation to Seattle by a group of owners led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer.
A recent report concluded that publicly funded sports venues add little to the economy.
May 13, 2013 8:33 PM EDT
The NBA's relocation committee met on Monday in regards to the future of the Sacramento Kings and did not change their position to keep the team from moving to Seattle, according to a source.
A final vote with all 30 owners is scheduled for Wednesday.
Vivek Ranadive is leading an ownership group trying to buy the Kings to keep them in Sacramento and to build a new arena.
The Maloof family has told the league they don't plan to sell to Ranadive if the move is blocked.
The Ranadive group has worked with Sacramento on a new downtown arena that would include $250 million in public money.
The Maloofs prefer to sell to a group led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer that intends to relocate the Kings to Seattle.
May 13, 2013 10:50 AM EDT
The Maloofs continue to consider the possibility of selling the Sacramento Kings to a group that intends to keep the team from relocating to Seattle, according to a source.
Reports over the weekend indicated that the Kings have an alternative plan in place to sell a smaller stake to the Seattle-based group led by Chris Hansen.
But the Maloofs "still has that option," said a source of the Sacramento offer.
The Sacramento group is offering $341 million.
The Maloofs "intend to be loyal to Hansen to the bitter end," the source said. The Maloofs also do not feel that the Sacramento bid is complete or competitive.
Sacramento Kings Archives
May 11, 2013 | Marc Stein/ESPN
Phil Jackson has expressed an interest in working in the NBA next season.
The NBA relocation committee is planning to re-evaluate the Hansen-Ballmer offer and has scheduled another meeting ahead of next Tuesday's full owners meeting in Dallas.
Chris Hansen's ownership group raised their offer for the Kings by $75 million to a valuation of $625 million.
The Kings could turn to Monta Ellis depending on how the Tyreke Evans situation is resolved.
The NBA's relocation committee voted last week by a margin of 7-0 to vote against Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer's plan to move the team to Seattle.
Vivek Ranadive's ownership group has agreed to accept fewer revenue-sharing dollars while the Kings continue to play at Sleep Train Arena and will accept no money once they move into a new arena.
Mayor Kevin Johnson and others are accused of adding secret 'sweeteners' to the subsidy that will push the actual amount beyond $258 million.
The NBA's relocation committee has voted against moving the Sacramento Kings to Seattle.
The earliest day the Board of Governors can vote on the Kings' proposed sale is May 8.
The final truly important decision of David Stern's tenure as NBA commissioner will almost assuredly be what the owners decide to do about the future of the Kings.
In a letter sent to the NBA's relocation committee, the Maloofs indicates there is "significant distance between us and the Sacramento group."
DeMarcus Cousins had picked up his 16th technical foul of the season Sunday night at Houston.
Ron Burkle had a small stake in the Sacramento group's bid to purchase the Kings, but it will now need to be replaced.
The 7-2 vote approves a non-binding 'term sheet' calling for a $258 million public subsidy.
DeMarcus Cousins has avoided suspension for delivering a right elbow to Mike Dunleavy's head on Sunday.
DeMarcus Cousins was ejected for throwing an elbow on Sunday, and his teammates admit they are unsure how much more advice and guidance the young big man needs.
David Stern said he expects a comparable offer from the Sacramento group at some point while making it clear the bid is not there yet.
Mayoral adviser Chris Lehane said Sacramento drew more fans than Seattle in 20 of the 23 years that both cities were in the NBA.
Aaron Brooks signed a two-year, $6.6 million deal with the Kings last offseason.
The Kings have agreed to a buyout with Aaron Brooks.
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