Kobe, wife and kids attend Kings game
Is a reconciliation between Kobe and Vanessa Bryant coming? It sure seems that may be the case.
For the second time in two months, Kobe and his wife, who filed for divorce in December, were photographed together. In February, Vanessa attended the Lakers-Hawks game on Valentine’s Day and the two were pictured kissing in a tunnel.
On Sunday, Kobe stuck around Staples Center after the Lakers beat the Mavericks earlier in the day to watch Game 3 of the Kings-Canucks playoff series. He and his family watched the game from seats a few rows above the glass. He and Vanessa sat apart from each other with their daughters in between.
I don’t know what’s going on between them, but they’re clearly getting along much better than most couples who are supposed to be in the middle of a divorce.
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Kings 104, Trail Blazers 103
Marcus Thornton scored 20 points and made the winning jumper with 3.2 seconds left, lifting the Sacramento Kings to a 104-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
Thornton hit a 17-footer off an inbound pass before Portland’s Raymond Felton missed a desperation shot from halfcourt at the buzzer.
DeMarcus Cousins scored 23 points and Tyreke Evans also had 20 for the Kings, who rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to snap a seven-game skid with only their third win in 15 games. Isaiah Thomas had 18 points and eight assists.
Wes Matthews made a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored 31 points for the Trail Blazers, who made 16 of their 32 3-point attempts. Felton scored 19 points, Nicolas Batum had 14, and JJ Hickson had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Blazers have dropped two straight and four of five, and are close to being eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference.
After a steal by Terrence Williams gave the Kings the ball, Cousins drove the baseline on Joel Przybilla and made a difficult left-handed shot from close range. Matthews answered, getting free of Francisco Garcia for a corner 3-pointer, giving the Blazers a 103-102 lead with 5.8 seconds left.
Trailing by three, Matthews hit a 3 from the corner and Felton added a jumper, giving Portland a 100-98 lead at the 1:17 mark. Two free throws by Evans tied the game again with just over 35 seconds remaining.
After the Blazers built a 10-point lead in the fourth, the Kings scored 10 unanswered points. Thornton made a fastbreak lay-in and Evans followed with a layup in traffic, tying the game at 91 with 5:46 left.
It was the first home game in Sacramento since ownership announced Friday at the the NBA owners meetings that they were backing out of a proposed downtown arena plan in Sacramento.
Since announcing their decision, the Maloofs have been under sharp criticism from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, local business leaders and angered fans, who still showed up for the mid-afternoon game. Attendance was 16,012.
The franchise, which appeared to be relocating to Anaheim at the end of last season, has now fallen under another cloud of uncertainty. Although the Kings will remain in Sacramento next season, now that the arena plan has seemingly failed, it’s not clear what the Maloofs will do for the 2013-14 season.
Joe and Gavin Maloof kept a low profile at Sunday’s game, watching from their luxury box and turning down interview requests from the media. Their usual courtside seats were occupied by an elderly couple and two young children.
Hickson came to the Kings in an offseason trade and expected to be the starting power forward. However, he mostly came off the bench and was unhappy and also unproductive, averaging 4.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18 minutes.
The Kings released Hickson on March 19 and the injury-riddled Blazers picked him up. Hickson, who will be a restricted free agent after the season, was averaging 20 points and 11.3 rebounds in his four previous starts with the Blazers.
After shooting poorly in the opening half, Matthews went off in the third quarter when he made five 3s and scored 19 points, helping the Blazers take an 81-79 lead into the fourth.
Portland led by as many as 10 in the third, but Cousins had 12 points and Thomas added nine to help rally the Kings.
Notes: Felton scored 13 points in the first half for the Blazers, who shot 52 percent and led 54-46. … Garcia was back in uniform after missing the last four games with a concussion. He went scoreless in six minutes. … The Blazers are 8-10 since interim coach Kaleb Canales took over for Nate McMillan on March 15. … Portland made 6 of 9 3-point attempts in the third quarter, when they shot 60 percent overall.
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Sacramento mayor: ‘Deal is dead’ for NBA’s Kings arena
The Sacramento Kings are closer again to relocating after a deal for a new arena fell apart in another dispute with the owners, the Maloofs.
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Kings co-owner wants mayor removed from arena negotiations
Kings co-owner George Maloof wants to hit the reset button on arena talks, but would like to do so without Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.
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NBA: Latest Updates on Sacramento Kings Arena Fiasco
The Sacramento Kings may not be long for the city of Sacramento.
In late February, it was announced that Sacramento officials and team owners, the Maloof brothers, had agreed in principle to a deal for a new arena for the Kings that would cost just south of $400 million. The cost would have been split between the Maloofs, the city and arena builder AEG. According to the Los Angeles Times, the city would have taken on over $250 million of the total cost.
On Friday, that deal fell apart completely. According to the Associated Press, the Maloofs insisted at a Friday news conference that the new arena project was simply too expensive.
Instead, George Maloof proposed the idea of renovating Power Balance Pavilion. Most, however, have concluded that this is yet another attempt on the part of the Maloofs to get the team out of Sacramento.
Even commissioner David Stern has his doubts, as he said on Friday that he was “hopeful but not optimistic” that the Kings and the city could work something out, according to the USA Today.
Stern blames the latest setback on Christopher Thornberg, an economist hired by the Maloofs earlier this week to do a feasibility study. Conveniently, Thornberg determined that the projections for the new arena were flawed, and he questioned whether Sacramento’s economy could support it.
The Maloofs famously tried to move the team to Anaheim last season, but a last-ditch effort by Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson managed to keep the Kings in Sacramento for at least one more season. Now, the fear is that the 2012-2013 season could be the Kings’ last in Sacramento.
For their part, the Kings say they’re committed to staying in Sacramento. J. Michael Falgoust of the USA Today tweeted part of the Maloofs’ Friday afternoon statement:
#Maloofs just released a statement: “We are committed to remaining the Sacramento Kings.” #nba
— J. Michael(@jmikeNBAusat) April 13, 2012
The Kings are scheduled to play in Power Balance Pavilion next season. Beyond that is the big unknown, though the Maloofs can’t up and move the team without the approval of the league’s relocation committee.
For the moment, the Maloofs are saying relocation is not an option.
“If it takes six more months (to negotiate), OK,” said George Maloof.
Johnson is not sold. Here’s what he said on Friday, via Ken Berger of CBSSports.com:
KJ: “They are now saying they don’t want to do the deal, which is essentially saying they don’t want to be in Sacramento.”
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) April 13, 2012
The Kings have been located in Sacramento since 1985.
The Maloofs are saying the right thing in insisting that they want to keep the Kings in Sacramento, but Johnson has a point. Backing out of the deal for a new arena is essentially backing out of a long-term future in Sacramento. The idea of renovating Power Balance Pavilion has to be taken for what it’s worth, as the Maloofs know they’re not committed to the arena for the long haul.
So don’t be surprised if the Maloofs continue to stall for a little while longer and then reboot the effort to try to relocate the team.
If and when it comes to that, they’ll undoubtedly say that they were left with no choice.
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Aging Arena and Struggling Economy Will Force Kings to Leave Sacramento
An aging arena and a poor economy will ultimately force the Sacramento Kings to relocate to another city in the near future.
On Friday, a deal between the city of Sacramento and the Kings ownership for an entertainment complex worth almost $400 million fell through, creating even more questions about the team’s future beyond next year.
The Kings have played at the Power Balance Pavilion since 1985, but the need for a new arena to help the team make more money isn’t being satisfied.
The Maloof brothers (Kings’ owners) recently hired an economist to study the city’s economy.
“[NBA Commissioner David] Stern took issue with the timing by the Maloofs, who hired economist Christopher Thornberg to do a feasibility study. Hired earlier this week, Thornberg raised various red flags. Thornberg questioned the strength of the local economy and said the city’s revenue projections were unrealistic.
The projections, he said, were based on flawed premises, such as 100% occupancy of luxury boxes when the NBA average is 85% and failing to project that those who will use luxury boxes will leave a void in courtside seat sales.
By Thornberg’s estimation, the city’s plan leaves them $15 million short, and there are no safeguards for the Maloofs in case of another economic downturn.
The Kings are 28th in the NBA in attendance per game, and rank 23rd in percentage of the arena filled each night. The team is not getting fans to show up to the games in numbers that will help the franchise succeed financially.
Considering the fact that the Kings probably won’t be a legitimate playoff contender for many more years, it’s unlikely that the team’s low attendance figures will improve anytime soon.
The best option for everyone is to move the team. There is no shortage of cities that would welcome an NBA franchise with open arms.
Cities like Seattle, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Louisville and Pittsburgh are all possible relocation destinations with passionate fans who support their teams in good times and bad.
Kansas City and Pittsburgh have an advantage over the other cities since they have built arenas over the last decade that are capable of housing a professional sports franchise.
The Maloofs are some of the worst owners in sports. They have been unable to make money, build a quality team, or secure a deal with the city for a new arena over the last decade.
If the owners aren’t willing to fork over the cash needed for a first-rate arena, then the city’s taxpayers shouldn’t, either.
With Sacramento and the Kings both struggling financially, the best decision for everyone is to move the team to a city where there will be no lack of support from fans.
The Kings don’t have a future in Sacramento, so there’s no point in delaying their inevitable relocation by bickering over a new arena.
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Sacramento Arena Deal Falls Through: Kings’ Focus Turns to Anaheim
For Sacramento Kings fans that were exuberant about the team remaining in California’s capital city came a crushing blow Friday, as NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the arena plan in Sacramento is “not going to happen.” New concerns now arise about the trouble to finance an arena in Sacramento, and the focus shifts back to Anaheim.
“They weren’t willing to honor the deal”, said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson about the Maloofs during his press conference Friday afternoon. “They were coming up with reasons not to do the deal”, said Johnson, describing five days worth for disagreements arising recently about the arena that the Maloofs were not satisfied with.
This new development points strongly to the idea of relocation if possibilities for reconciliation between the city of Sacramento and the Maloofs have been exhausted. Voters had the chance to finance the arena publicly and shot down the referendum years ago, which would make a public opinion on this matter nearly out of options.
Commissioner Stern made the comments at a news conference speaking with the NBA Board of Governors in New York. No promise was made for the Kings to be in Sacramento beyond the 2012-2013 season. He said parties involved have gone as far as they could but have not managed to keep the team in Sacramento.
The agreement in principle has fallen through just as the multi-million dollar upgrades are being made to the Honda Center in Anaheim. The Maloofs have no binding deal in place after 2013.
Just after 2:25 Pacific Time Sacramento Mayor Keven Johnson held a press conference. the Mayor said, “I really was optimistic… it was just not to be, and that’s very disappointing”. Mayor Johnson stated the Maloofs desire not to renovate Power Balance Pavilion, they wanted a brand new arena. The Mayor added that the downtown plan was the ideal location and failed to identify prospects a renovation plan going forward.
“I think it’s fair for Maloofs to say they didn’t want to do it,” Stern said, adding that “If they did it a little earlier, a little simpler and a little more directly, it could have saved some angst.”
The Kings have about a handful of games to go in the shortened 2011-2012 season and sit second-to-last in the Western Conference with a record of 19 wins and 40 losses. They have a 14-15 record at home in Sacramento this year.
The long-time fans of the Kings will read the messages today with a disappointment after the deal in principle was made recently bringing new hope to the city of Sacramento. The city of Anaheim now regains focus as a sale will likely be in the works in the months to come.
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Sacramento Kings Arena Deal Approved on March 6 ‘Is Not Going to Happen’
Roughly five weeks after financing for Sacramento’s new sports and entertainment complex was approved, the deal has fallen apart.
The deal, which is non-binding, was agreed to by the city of Sacramento, the NBA and the Sacramento Kings owners—the Maloofs—during the NBA’s All-Star game festivities on Feb. 27. The agreement was subsequently put up for vote before the Sacramento City Council and was approved on March 6.
Three weeks later, on March 29, it came out that the Maloofs and the city of Sacramento were at odds over who would pay the arena’s $3.26 million pre-development costs. The Kings argued that since they were only tenants in the arena, they should not be responsible for those costs. The city, meanwhile, pointed out that the Maloofs agreed to pay those costs as part of the agreement that was struck on Feb. 27.
In order to keep the project moving forward, the NBA agreed to advance the city $200,000 to cover the pre-development costs until the matter could be resolved at the NBA’s Board of Governors meetings in New York on April 12 and 13.
The Maloofs gave a 90-minute presentation on April 12, spelling out that the terms of the deal struck on Feb. 27 were not amicable. In an effort to keep the deal going, NBA commissioner David Stern asked Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson to attend the meetings and discuss the matter with the Maloofs.
Johnson agreed to attend the meetings, but before he left, he fired off a letter to the Maloofs stating that they should honor the deal they agreed to and that the terms of the agreement were non-negotiable.
The Maloofs, for their part, hosted a press conference this morning (April 13) to discuss the agreement. The gist of the conference was that the agreement would have to be re-worked and, as it currently stands, would be a financial disaster for the team and the city.
As Mayor Johnson pointed out in his letter, the city is not open to re-negotiating the deal. With neither side willing to budge, the arena deal is an impasse. So much so, that Commissioner Stern said the deal is “not going to happen.”
“It’s not going to happen, but I can say the city has stepped up,” he said. “We have nothing further to give, to cajole, to yell, or all the various ways I’ve tried to keep the parties on track to get what we thought was a win-win in Sacramento.”
With Mayor Johnson still in attendance in New York, he’s expected to meet with the Maloofs this afternoon. But given the hard-line stance by both sides, and given the Maloofs’ ability to back out of the non-binding agreement, it’s unlikely to be settled.
On the bright side, the Kings are slated to stay in Sacramento at least for the 2012-13 season, so there’s still time to work something out. The Maloofs also reiterated today that they’re committed to staying in Sacramento long-term.
So while the agreement that was approved on March 6 appears to be dead, there’s still an opportunity for the sides to work something out in the future. But given the current relationship between the Maloofs and the city, it’s not going to be easy.
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Kings owners push back against city over arena’s financing
George Maloof said Sacramento didn’t respond to his 14 questions and objections after he went through the initial term sheet.
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Mavs gets much-needed win, 110-100 over Kings (Yahoo! Sports)
DALLAS (AP) The Dallas Mavericks finally won a game without Lamar Odom, who is no longer an option for them.
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