Looking back at the Sonics through the years...
P-I File
On July 2, 2008, an agreement was reached: A basketball team would be permitted to move east; an ownership group would pay $45 million to Seattle (with the possibility of $30 million more by 2013 if no new team had been awarded); and a name would be retired in favor of something new, the Thunder.
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Forty-one years of history, traded away.
The Sonics played 41 years in Seattle. And then, ten years ago, they were traded to Oklahoma City -- but the city holds on.
MARK LENNIHAN/Associated Press, PI FILE
That's the refrain of Seattle Supersonics fans to this day, exactly ten years ago on Monday. It's a burning passion not often found in Seattle, a town decidedly full of fair-weather fans that opt in to sports frenzy as their players climb the ranks.
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Of course the spirit has been kept alive by two things: High-profile fans (including Bruce Harrell, Macklemore and Russell Wilson, to name a few), and continued hope that men's basketball will return to Seattle someday -- and maybe that day is right around the corner.
It doesn't matter that the city received millions in return for the trade -- just before the Recession, no less -- to help balance out the debts racked up by the stadium that couldn't get seem to get butts in seats. Nor did it matter that even the federal civil trial seemed to argue that the Sonics' value to the city transcended the financial impact. And for many sports fans it may not even matter that KeyArena's musical roster is made possible thanks to the lack of a basketball team, who would have blacked out more than 80 event days to provide the NBA schedule flexibility.
What happened after the Sonics left Seattle? A lot, actually.
GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM
An investment group headed by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett buys the Seattle SuperSonics from Starbucks maven Howard Schultz.
Sonics fans protest as the city of Seattle settles with team owner Clay Bennett after he gained NBA approval to relocate the team to Oklahoma City.
Having moved from Seattle, the Thunder debut in Oklahoma City.
San Francisco hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen, who grew up a Sonics fan in Seattle, begins talking with the NBA and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn's office about the possibility of building a new arena in Sodo.
Chris Hansen begins closing deals on the purchase of land south of Safeco Field, where he wants to build a new sports arena.
that a millionaire named Chris Hansen has, for the past year, been working with the city on a proposal for a new arena. His plan is to bring the NBA back to Seattle, and perhaps get the NHL here, as well.
NBA Commissioner David Stern says Seattle is a great city for the NBA and wouldn't mind seeing a basketball team back here.
The Sacramento Kings immediately become a potential target for relocation to Seattle. The city and the team's owners are in dispute about building a new arena -- much the same situation the Sonics were in before they left Seattle.
Feeling the pressure from Seattle, the city of Sacramento begins rushing ahead with a plan to finance a new stadium for the Kings.
Chris Hansen meets with the Seattle City Council to clue them in on his proposal for a new arena in Sodo.
King County Executive Dow Constantine, left, and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn officially announce that they have been talking with Chris Hansen about a possible arena deal. They appoint an Arena Review Panel to sort through the proposal.
The city of Sacramento announces it has reached a deal with the Maloofs, the family that owns the NBA's Kings, to finance a new arena and keep the team in Sacramento. From left to right, brothers George, Gavin and Joe Maloof are seen above at a Kings game.
Chris Hansen makes his first public appearance, to answer questions for the Arena Review Panel. Along with plenty of media, dozens of Sonics fans attend the City Hall meeting to meet Hansen and voice their support.
The Maloofs say they have issues with Sacramento's plan to finance a new arena for the Kings.
The Seattle Mariners are the first organization to raise concerns about potential extra traffic caused by a new arena in Sodo.
The Arena Review Panel gives Hansen's proposal the green light and recommends the process move forward. They say it is good for the city and county, but say the public should be well protected from financial risks.
Partly in response to the Mariners' concerns, Chris Hansen announces he will pay for a study on parking, traffic and transportation.
NBA Commissioner David Stern says the agreement between Sacramento and the Maloofs will likely not happen.
The locally produced documentary ''Sonicsgate,'' on the controversy of the Sonics' departure from Seattle, is nationally televised on CNBC. Above, ''Sonicsgate'' producer Colin Baxter (wearing Sonics jacket) and other fans listen to Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine announce Hansen's plan on Feb. 16, 2012.
Mayor Mike McGinn, county Executive Dow Constantine and Chris Hansen announce they have reached a formal agreement on the city's contribution to the construction of a new sports arena. Under the plan, the public funding is capped at $200 million -- a loan to be paid back by taxes on the arena itself and operations there. No new taxes would be created. Meanwhile, Hansen and his investment group would be willing to spend $800 million on construction and the acquisition of an NBA team.
The Port of Seattle says it is concerned about extra congestion in Sodo, where trucks converge to access shipping piers and a train depot.
Chris Hansen holds a Q&A with the public on the Seattle Times website, where he divulges more details on his plan and the type of NBA owner he'd like to be.
An independent study, funded by Chris Hansen and overseen by the Seattle Department of Transportation, finds that the port would be minimally affected by any extra traffic caused by a new sports arena in Sodo. But the maritime industry remains highly skeptical.
The manufacturers' union says the area in Sodo near the stadiums should not be transformed into an entertainment center, as envisioned by Chris Hansen.
Chris Hansen's group launches a website and other online campaigns for the proposed arena, and announces a public rally set for June 14.
The longshore union sends a letter that supports the NBA's return to Seattle, but says the arena shouldn't be built in Sodo.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs to advance to the NBA Finals. Sonics fans are distressed, and a snarky headline in the Tri-City Herald gets national attention.
A Seattle City Council committee begins reviewing the arena proposal and starts asking tough questions, particularly about traffic and the financial risk to the public.
The Seattle Times publishes an editorial that urges officials to be wary of financial risks to the public, even though the formal agreement puts Chris Hansen's investment group on the line for any construction cost overruns or team revenue shortfalls.
Mayor Mike McGinn travels to New York City to meet with with the NBA.
Chris Hansen responds on his website to the concerns about Sodo congestion, saying arena traffic would not overlap with the port's hours of operation.
Seattle's loss of the Sonics continues to get national attention as the Oklahoma City Thunder open the first game of the NBA Finals.
that Chris Hansen's investment group includes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom family.
Thousands of Sonics fans attend Chris Hansen's rally at Occidental Park in Seattle's Pioneer Square. Hansen is joined by former Sonics stars Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Detlef Schrempf and Slick Watts, as well as former Huskies star Nate Robinson. Seattle bands Common Market, the Blue Scholars, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and the Presidents of the United States of America perform.
Chris Hansen meets with the King County Council and Seattle City Council to explain his plan and answer tough questions. Hansen says he has already checked out alternative sites and has settled on Sodo. He tries to put misconceptions to rest about public financing, and explains why he doesn't want the issue to go to a public vote.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn tells 710 ESPN Seattle that he doesn't think a public vote is needed. Meanwhile, in an unscientific online poll, seattlepi.com readers overwhelmingly say no vote is needed: 81 percent to 18 percent (1 percent undecided).
In an email to constituents, Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin says he thinks it's ''unlikely'' the Sodo arena proposal would be approved in its current form, saying a new venue should be built through only private investment. Other city councilmembers tell seattlepi.com that Conlin jumped the gun, and that the arena debate is far from over.
In a Q&A with The Seattle Times, Peter Nordstrom discusses why he joined Chris Hansen's investment group for a new arena. He says he and his brother Erik are in unless the arena becomes ''a big controversial lightning rod.''
A crowded and roudy ''town hall'' meeting, hosted by city and county councilmembers, showcases the public's passionate opinions on all sides of the Sodo debate. Tensions run high as the meeting quickly devolves into a heckling contest: the proponents versus the opponents and skeptics.
An expert panelist for the King County Council says that Seattle could be oversaturated with sports teams if it gains the NBA and NHL. The Seattle area, according to his analysis, would be the third-worst city in the nation for sports expansion -- though Chris Hansen has maintained that Seattle is a great investment opportunity.
Things are a bit calmer at a joint city-county council meeting held to hear public comment on the Sodo arena plan. Arena proponents are overwhelmingly in the majority, but port officials, longshoremen, an environmental lawyer and others urge caution on the proposal.
A King County Council committee votes to advance the Sodo arena proposal to a full council vote. Both the Seattle city and King County councils would have to approve the ''memorandum of understanding'' for the project to move ahead, and all parties are able to make amendments.
The Seattle City Council puts its foot down and says Chris Hansen's arena proposal isn't good enough yet. ''Our review has led the majority of councilmembers con conclude that the agreements do not represent an appropriate balance of public and private benefits,'' the council says in a letter to Hansen, ''nor do they sufficiently protect the city from the financial risks inherent in the arena's financing.''
Responding to the Seattle City Council's continued doubts, Chris Hansen personally guarantees to cover the public's financial risk if all the safeguards of the arena financing plan fall through. Such a personal guarantee is almost unheard of in these kinds of deals.
Chris Hansen buys Sonics fans a beer at FX McRory's in Pioneer Square. He bought a round of beers for hundreds of arena supporters after a Seattle City Council committee voted to approve an arena proposal.
On the same day Chris Hansen bought supporters a beer, the a Seattle City Council committee voted to pass the arena financing plan to the full council.
After Chris Hansen gave his personal guarantee to cover unforeseen financial issues, the full Seattle City Council votes 6-2 (one abstention) to approve the financing plan for a new multipurpose sports arena in Seattle. The legislation, however, would still have to go through two more votes to eliminate discrepancies between the city and county councils' different versions.
The King County Council passes its amended version of the arena financing plan, to eliminate discrepancies between its version and the Seattle City Council's version of the legislation.
The Seattle City Council passes its amended version of the financing plan. The city and county councils' two versions are now identical.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine sign the arena financing agreement into law at an event at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club. Chris Hansen is also in attendance.
A Seattle longshoremen union files a lawsuit against the city and county, saying a state-mandated environmental impact review does not adequately require alternate locations to be considered for a new arena.
After an NBA Board of Governors meeting, Commissioner David Stern says there is no current team in play for relocation to Seattle. ''I don't have any current view on where such a team comes from,'' he said. ''We deal with a lot of cities. Seattle happens to be another great city.''
The first design renderings for a new Seattle arena are released. Kansas City, Mo.-based 360 Architects is serving as Chris Hansen's design consultant on the proposed arena south of Safeco Field in the Sodo neighborhood.
, with more specific renderings including three main ideas. 360 Architecture's preferred (at that time) design is above.
to its preferred arena design option. Meanwhile, the Seattle Department of Planning and Development holds several meetings to show 360 Architecture's ideas and take public comment.
Yahoo Sports first reports a possible deal for Chris Hansen to purchase the Sacramento Kings and relocate them to Seattle. The report followed a hot night of rumors on Twitter and elsewhere.
, including a refined orange ''icon'' that the designers say was inspired by Mount Rainier and the fan blades of a jet engine.
Activist group Citizens For More Important Things files a lawsuit against the city and county, portending that the arena financing plan does not comply with a law that requires the city to make a profit on any investments in pro-sports teams. Voters passed Initiative 91 in 2006 while new Sonics owner Clay Bennett was asking Seattle to build a new arena.
As reports fly that Chris Hansen is close to a deal with the Maloofs to buy a 65 percent controlling stake of the Kings -- for an overall franchise valuation of $525 million, an NBA record -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson (pictured) appeals to NBA Commissioner David Stern to let the city make a counteroffer before the NBA's board of commissioners. Stern says OK.
Reports surface that Chris Hansen had reached an agreement to buy 65 percent of the Kings at an overall valuation of $525 million, meaning the Seattle group would spend about $340 million. The next day, Chris Hansen confirms the deal in a statement, as do the Maloofs and the NBA.
California state Stenator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) writes a letter expressing his ''distress'' that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (pictured), whose company has countless technology contracts with the state of California, is involved with the pending sale of the Kings. Steinberg hints at potential retaliation against Microsoft.
The Sacramento Bee reports that a 7 percent stake in the Kings, currently in California bankruptcy court, could be a roadblock for Chris Hansen's acquisition. The bankruptcy trustee for minority owner Bob Cook's 7 percent share says that the limited partners should have the ''first right of refusal'' to buy a controlling stake in the franchise.
As Mayor Kevin Johnson works to build out the business leaders who are willing to put at least $1 million into the effort to keep the Kings in Sacramento, reports begin to bounce around big-pocket names like 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov (pictured) and California billionaire Ron Burkle, who owns the NHL's Pittsburgh Penquins.
that Chris Hansen's ownership group has formally applied to the league for relocating the Kings to Seattle for 2013-14 season. The NBA's Board of Governors is expected to vote on the pending sale and relocation application in April.
The Maloofs turn over confidential documentation of their deal with Chris Hansen as part of the bankruptcy case in California. The 7 percent share could be a snag for Hansen, especially if potential investors Mark Mastrov or Ron Burkle (pictured) buy the minority stake at auction.
The Kings-to-Seattle situation is a hot topic during the weekend of the 2013 NBA All-Star Game. Commissioner David Stern ducks scores of questions from reporters, but comes up with this quote: ''The idea of leaving Sacramento is not a good one. The idea of going back to Seattle is a good idea. We’ll have to see how that plays out.'' Stern also comments on the bankruptcy issue, saying, ''These are the kinds of issues that usually get resolved -- they do or they don't.''
, showing a few big changes (and a bunch of cool views). There's a drastic new look for the pedestrian plaza and main steps that lead up to the arena's main concourse. And we now have a clearer concept for the big, orange ''icon'' -- now being called a ''turbine,'' since it is inspired by jet engines -- where the main arena bowl would be located.
King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North, pictured above, rejects the local longshore union's lawsuit against the proposed arena. North agreed with the city and county that their ''memorandum of understanding'' with Chris Hansen for financing an arena is nonbinding, and that it indeed requires a state-mandated environmental review before construction is approved.
Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata says it's basically a ''done deal'' that the proposed new arena would be built in Sodo, especially with the longshore union's lawsuit out of the way and a realization that the city would lose $5 million that Chris Hansen provided for legal and consulting fees. Meanwhile, the city begins scheduling times for Sonics games at KeyArena for the 2013-14 NBA season, in anticipation of a new team that needs a temporary home.
That night, Fox-40 Sacramento TV reports that a minority Kings owner, real-estate developer John Kehriotis, has a new plan to keep the Kings in Sacramento. His new group would reportedly spend $750 million on acquiring a controlling stake in the Kings and on building a new arena for the California capital, but it was unclear what the new effort would mean for Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's counteroffer.
In his ''State of the City'' address, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announces the ''big whales'' we'd already known about -- Mark Mastrov and Ron Burkle -- as the main investors in a new group that will bid against Chris Hansen for the Sacramento Kings. ''With all due respect to Seattle,'' Johnson says, ''it is not going to be this team, our team. No way.''
The Sacramento Bee reports that the ownership group led by Mark Mastrov and Ron Burkle has submitted its bid for the Sacramento Kings to the NBA. That makes official the counteroffer spearheaded by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.
Seattle's local longshore union announces it will appeal the February ruling by Judge Douglass North, and restates its claim that the city of Seattle and King County are not allowing full environmental and economic reviews before the arena momentum gets out of hand. ''The politics behind this crafty deal are in letting wealthy private individuals decide what is best for us,'' said mayoral candidate Peter Steinbrueck.
NBA Commissioner David Stern says the Sacramento bid, headed by Mark Mastrov, Ron Burkle and Mayor Kevin Johnson, is ''not quite there'' when compared to the Seattle bid. ''Unless the (bid amount) increases,'' Stern said, ''it doesn't get to the state of consideration.''
Chris Hansen's group launches a ''Sonics priority ticket waitlist'' for people to reserve a spot in line when/if 2013-14 Sonics tickets are released to the public. Seattle fans temporarily crash the Sonics Arena website as the service goes live.
Coinciding the the launch of a priority ticket waitlist, Chris Hansen's group releases renderings and a video of the latest designs for the interior of the proposed new Seattle arena.
Vivek Ranadive, pictured, emerges as a third deep-pocket investor in the Sacramento ownership group -- and reportedly takes over the leadership role less than two weeks before the group's counteroffer presentation to the NBA's Board of Governors on April 3.
The city of Sacramento misses its self-imposed deadline to finish a term sheet for the financing of a new arena for the Kings. The delay shows just how challenging it is to scramble together a viable counteroffer to Chris Hansen's Seattle bid.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announces that city officials and investors have — two days later than planned and three days before a City Council vote — reached a deal to finance a new arena for the NBA’s Kings. The plan would commit the city to $258 million in public funding, mainly borrowed on bonds backed by parking-garage revenue, to build a $448 million complex including a new arena, office space, housing, retail and a hotel in downtown Sacramento. The investment group would put up $190 million.
At the end of a four-hour meeting, the Sacramento City Council approves 7-2 the financing term sheet for construction of a new arena complex in downtown SacTown. ''We want the folks of Seattle to get a team -- we wish them well -- but we want to keep what's ours,'' Mayor Kevin Johnson said after the vote.
Chris Hansen reaches a deal to buy the 7 percent of the Kings franchise that is tied up in bankruptcy court. If approved by a judge and the NBA, the new agreement -- coupled with the January offer for 65 percent -- would push the Seattle ownership group's stake in the team to 72 percent.
Chris Hansen releases more renderings of the planned arena's interior, particularly giving more details about the ''Sonic Rings.'' ''In addition to what is shown in the pictures here,'' Hansen wrote, ''we also plan on having several different themes on each ring, ranging from sports bar style environments and areas dedicated to 'super fans' craving few distractions, to family-themed areas catering to young Sonics fans that still have a hard time sitting in their seats for two hours.''
Chris Hansen's group announces that nearly 45,000 people have signed up for the Sonics tickets waitlist, plus 268 applicants for suites and 983 indications of interest in business sponsorships.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson tweets that a minority owner plans to match Chris Hansen's bid on the 7 percent chunk of the Kings which Hansen is trying to buy in addition to the Maloofs' 65 percent. The Sacramento Bee confirms that the new bidder is Kings limited partner David Lucchetti, whose offer could keep Hansen from buying the 7 percent.
The Seattle and Sacramento groups make their formal presentations to the NBA's finance and relocation committees at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. Here are our main reports:
- Maloofs urge NBA to approve Kings' sale, relocation to Seattle
- Chris Hansen: 883 days of work squeezed into 90 min. pitch to NBA
- Sacramento mayor after NBA pitch: 'We are playing to win'
- NBA commissioner: Decision on Kings sale, relocation could be delayed
- King County Council reaffirms arena support in letter to NBA commish
- Gallery: Hansen, McGinn, Stern, Bennett at NBA meetings in NYC
- Seattle, Sacramento face off in NYC: The basics of their NBA pitches
Billionaire Ron Burkle, pictured, drops out of the Sacramento ownership group due to a conflict of interest -- he is part-owner of a sport-management company with some NBA players as clients. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says Burkle will remain involved in development around that city's proposed arena, and on April 9 announces a new major investor in Sacramento developer Mark Friedman.
The Maloofs reportedly set a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday, April 12, for the Sacramento group to submit a written ''back-up'' offer in case the NBA rejects Chris Hansen's plan to buy the Kings and relocate them to Seattle. (Brothers Joe and George Maloof are pictured.)
Chris Daniels of Seattle's KING/5 reports that NBA Commissioner David Stern has been working behind the scenes to find investors for the Sacramento group and bolster that city's bid to keep the NBA's Kings.
A minority owner of the Kings is expected to match Chris Hansen's offer for the 7 percent chunk of the franchise that's tied up in a California bankruptcy court. Due to a right of first refusal, Kings limited partner David Lucchetti is able to match Hansen's $15.1 million offer, The Sacramento Bee reports.
The NBA reportedly asks the Sacramento ownership group to refund Chris Hansen's $30 million nonrefundable deposit on the Kings if the league decides to let the team stay in Sacramento. The news, reported by SportsBusiness Daily, suggests the NBA has either not yet made a decision -- or has decided against Seattle.
Kings minority owner David Lucchetti reportedly withdraws his interest in matching Chris Hansen's bid for the 7 percent share of the team in California bankruptcy court, paving the way for Hansen's likely acquisition of that chunk.
King County Superior Court Judge Laura Middaugh throws out the second lawsuit against Seattle's arena plan, saying Citizens for More Important Things filed its complaint too early. Middaugh says the citizen-activist group can re-file the suit after the arena project is finalized.
The Sacramento group misses the Maloofs' 5 p.m. deadline for submitting a formal, written back-up offer for the Kings in case the NBA rejects Chris Hansen's purchase agreement. A spokesman for Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says the investors aren't worried because they are working on the NBA's timeline, not the Maloofs'.
Chris Hansen increases his bid for the Kings, bringing the overall valuation of the team from $525 million up to $550 million. ''The Seattle Ownership Group has elected to voluntarily raise its purchase price as a sign of our commitment to bring basketball back to our city and our high degree of confidence in our arena plan, our financing plan, the economic strength of the Seattle market, individual and corporate support for the team and, most importantly, the future of the NBA,'' Hansen wrote on SonicsArena.com.
Seeing no other serious offers but Chris Hansen's, a California bankruptcy judge approves Hansen's purchase of the 7 percent share of the Kings previously owned by Bob Cook.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announces that the city and Chris Hansen have reached an agreement for Hansen's ownership group to operate KeyArena for as long as it is used as an interim NBA home.
Meanwhile, the NBA confirms that the league won't make a decision on the Kings' potential relocation at the Board of Governors meeting April 18 and 19.
As the NBA's joint finance and relocation committee holds a special meeting on the Kings situation, the Sacramento ownership group submits its final counteroffer to buy the team. Reports begin to leak out of New York that many NBA owners feel the Sacramento offer is ''less than ideal.''
The NBA Board of Governors concludes its two-day meeting in New York City, delaying its vote on the Kings situation. That weekend, league Commissioner David Stern says the board will not likely vote until May 13. Meanwhile, another committee meeting is scheduled for April 29 to make a recommendation to the full board regarding the sale and relocation.
After a week of silence, the NBA's relocation committee issues a recommendation to the full Board of Governors: The seven committee members vote unanimously to recommend rejecting the Kings' relocation to Seattle, though they don't take up Chris Hansen's purchase agreement. It is a major win for Sacramento and a major loss for Sonics fans. A final vote by the Board of Governors is scheduled for May 13.
Yet Hansen vows to keep fighting, writing on his group's blog that he has ''no plans to give up'' his quest to buy the Kings and bring them to Seattle.
Moving forward with his arena plan, Chris Hansen's group files its ''master use permit'' with the city of Seattle, describing its preliminary plan for the proposed new venue. KING/5 reports the permit filing is a significant step in the development process.
Reuters reports that Chris Hansen's plan may now be to still buy the Kings, even if the NBA doesn't allow them to be relocated to Seattle, and potentially move the team north later if Sacramento's arena plans fall through. The idea sounds similar to Clay Bennett's purchase of the Sonics and their relocation in 2008.
The Sacramento investment group puts half of its planned purchase price for the Kings into an escrow account, The Sacramento Bee reports. It's a key step for the Maloofs, who currently own 65 percent of the NBA team, to see the Sacramento offer as legitimate.
Meanwhile, an organization opposing Sacramento's arena plan sues the city, alleging officials were hiding the true cost of the project to taxpayers.
With an apparenty leg up on his competition for the NBA’s Kings, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson (pictured at right) says that the lead Seattle investors, Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer, should ''take the high road'' and ''be gracious.''
Chris Hansen raises his offer for the Kings again, this time to an overall franchise valuation of $625 million -- $100 million more than the original bid. With the new offer, the Seattle group's acquisition price would be about $406 million for the Maloofs' 65-percent stake in the Kings.
ESPN reports that legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson (pictured) is waiting on the league's decision on the Kings before he settles on a new team executive job. Jackson has ''hit it off,'' ESPN reports, with Seattle investor Chris Hansen, leading some to believe he could become president of the Sonics if they return.
The Maloofs cut a new deal with the Seattle group, led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer (pictured), for a backup plan to sell 20 percent of the NBA Kings to Hansen in the event the league's Board of Governors next week rejects the team's relocation to Seattle, according to an ESPN report.
Hansen's group also, ESPN reports, has offered to pay a $115 million relocation fee to the NBA for the owners to split. The league's relocation committee is reported to be meeting again before the full board's vote May 15.
Furthermore, Art Thiel of SportsPressNW reports that the relocation committee's vote in April, a supposedly unanimous 7-0 vote to recommend keeping the Kings in Sacramento, was actually a 4-3 decision before the minority agreed to vote with the majority for the sake of unamity.
The NBA's joint finance and relocation committee meets on a conference call to discuss the latest developments. But they finish the meeting with no new recommendation for the full Board of Governors vote on May 15.
NBC's ProBasketballTalk reports that the Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has taken the reins of the Seattle's ownership group and is beginning to cause friction between Seattle and the NBA. The report paints Ballmer as a hotheaded investor ''on a rampage'' to beat Sacramento and buy the Kings.
The main players in the Kings saga begin heading to Dallas, where the NBA's Board of Governors is slated to meet the next day. Kings owner George Maloof (pictured) reiterates that his family, which owns 65 percent of the franchise, remains committed to selling the team to the Seattle group. Meanwhile, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says he believes the Maloofs will consider Sacramento's counteroffer if the NBA rejects Chris Hansen's acquisition.
In Dallas, the NBA's Board of Governors votes 22-8 to reject the proposed relocation of the Kings to Seattle, effectively ending Chris Hansen's bid for the Sacramento team. NBA Commissioner David Stern says the league will work ''fairly'' with Seattle in its ongoing quest to bring home the Sonics, and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver confirms that the board discussed the possibility of future expansion to Seattle.
The Associated Press reports late in the day that the Maloofs have reached a deal to sell their 65 percent of the NBA's Kings to the Sacramento ownership group led by Vivek Ranadive, right, and organized by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, middle. The sale would put the nail in the coffin for Chris Hansen's effort to buy the Kings and relocate them to Seattle.
The NBA's Board of Governors unanimously approves the Maloofs' sale of the Kings to the Sacramento ownership group that beat out the Seattle group led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer. The fat lady sings.
Outgoing NBA Commissioner David Stern says he will ''enjoy watching'' Seattle's bid for an NBA team in the next few years, as Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver takes over Stern's job in February 2014. However, Las Vegas emerges as another top city into which the NBA is interested in expanding.
Chris Hansen is outed as a mystery contributor to an anti-arena referendum campaign in Sacramento, angering many people after he said in May he would move on from his fight for the Kings. On his SonicsArena.com website, Hansen apologizes for his $100,000 donation. ''I made a mistake I regret,'' he wrote. ''While I'm sure everyone can appreciate how easy it is to get caught up the heat of battle, with the benefit of hindsight, this is clearly a decision I regret. I wish the city of Sacramento and Kings fans the best in their efforts and they have my commitment not to have any involvement in their arena efforts in the future.''
Three days later, on Aug. 19, pro-arena group DowntownArena.org calls on Hansen to block his benefactor -- Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork (STOP) -- from submitting petition signatures that were obtained with the help of his contribution.
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And who can blame them? Ten years later, Kevin Durant is a big name; KeyArena is getting an upgrade, all while being home to the Storm and many concerts; and the Oklahoma City is enjoying tickets to a sliding doors reality that many Seattleites still feel entitled to.
Additionally, the big names behind the sale -- Clay Bennett, Howard Schultz, NBA commissioner David Stern, maybe even former-Mayor Greg Nickels, if you're heated enough -- provide enough fodder for fans' ire to keep stoking the fan fires within them.
And now, with a $600 million-plus renovation on deck for KeyArena, and reportedly a NHL team hoping to set up shop here, that hope seems like it's going to be rewarded soon enough.
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"I've been through this. I've seen teams ripped out of communities, and it's not a pretty thing to go through. I feel the pain, and we've been dealing with Sonics Rising and the Sonic community, and we understand," Tim Leiweke, CEO of the Oak View Group, a group working on KeyArena's remodel, said at a press conference announcing the renovation earlier this year.
"Lots of people have preferences about the NHL compared to the NBA: Whichever one comes first, if we do a great job with them, the other one will come."
Will that idea bear fruit? We'll see. Either way, Sonics fans will be waiting.