Photo: Getty Images - Rocky Widner
- Troy BallardShocking -- the Sacramento Kings deal for a new stadium has been kaboshed -- and the team is back in limbo.
Sacramento's mayor, Kevin Johnson, painted a bleak image for the team's future in the city, going as far as to say, "Is the deal dead? As we know it, absolutely."
The NBA and David Stern really went all-out trying to meet the Kings in the middle -- advancing over $70 million in credit for a new stadium to be built in Sacramento.
But, alas, no dice for the Kings.
There is some legal mumbo-jumbo floating around about how the Kings never actually formally agreed to the new deal, and have all the rights in the world to back out, bla-bla-bla. There is plenty of smoke and mirrors -- the Kings say they want to stay, the city says the team isn't acting like they do -- and it's turned into a real train wreck.
Stern has all but tossed in the towel on defending either side, and he is leaving the Kings and the city of Sacramento to their own devices. Probably a smart move, considering he couldn't do much in the first place other than wag his finger at ideas he didn't like.
Let's level the playing field really quickly -- the Kings have tanked in Sacramento.
The team flat out blows, posting a 19-41 record, with only 14 wins coming at home in Sacramento. The fan base may still be somewhat dedicated, but the players are struggling and it has been a revolving door of bad coaches.
The Kings have blown like this for almost a decade. The last time the team was good-good was when Hedo Turkoglu, Mike Bibby, and Peja Stojokovic were still relevant in the NBA. Since those three departed and the core of the team was ripped up, the Kings have floundered and have developed into a consistent doormat in the West.
It's time to move on.
I know the team has deep connections in Sacramento, and that it is such a rich history, and more bla-bla-bla. But the Kings organization being sketchy about committing to a new deal shows that ownership is thinking it may be time to move on. If the team hasn't already decided to move out of Sacramento, it as least on the table as a very real possibility.
The Kings have stumbled along not doing anything relevant in a long time. It's time to re-energize, re-tool, and re-start. The only way this will happen is by getting out of Sacramento and establishing a new future in another city. It's the only idea that makes sense at this point.
Keep your fingers crossed, Seattle.
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