A deal for a new arena in Sacramento is falling apart, which could allow the Kings to move out of the area.

The Maloof family has raised objections over certain aspects of the deal.

"It just feels like they were coming up with reasons of why not to do the deal," Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson said.

David Stern stressed the deal was "always nonbinding," and he supported the Maloofs' decision to say they were no longer comfortable with its terms.

"I think it's fair for the Maloofs to say they don't want to do that," Stern said during a news conference after two days of owners meetings. "If they had done it simpler, earlier or more directly, it could have saved a lot of angst and trouble."

The two sides reached a tentative deal last month to fund the estimated $391 million arena that would open for the 2015-16 season in the downtown Sacramento rail yards. 

The Kings are scheduled to play at Power Balance Pavilion next season, but their future after that is unclear.