Kings Receive Extension To Consider Anaheim's Honda Center
Matt Moore
CBSsports.com
ANAHEIM, Calif. --The Kings have been considering relocation to Anaheim for months. They've been in discussions regarding a loan for over $100 million in the event of such a relocation to the Honda Center in Anaheim. David Stern recently acknowledged discussions between the two parties. With the deadline for relocation for next season, March 1st, rapidly approaching, the Kings are going to need a little more time.
Mark Kreidler of KHTK reports that the Kings have asked for, and been granted an extension past the deadline to consider the Anaheim relocation option. Kreidler also reports that the Maloofs have said they will not sell the team, nor will they accept the loan from Samueli. Perhaps most interestingly, Kreidler reports that the league also wants time to consider such a relocation. They are "not sold' on Orange County.
The NBA not interested in shoving a small-market team into the greater Los Angeles area? Be still my beating small-market heart. That said, this move does nothing to stop the relocation, it simply slows it and opens the door for the Maloofs or the league to shut down the movement. Ownership is also looking to see if city officials in Sacramento blink at the talk and get moving on the new arena that nearly everyone (except possibly, voters hit hard by the economy) agrees needs to happen, or at least must happen for the Kings to stay in Sacramento.
The best news here is that the ax on Sacramento, which has proven to be a great NBA city, has been stayed for at least another day.
