Los Angeles Lakers franchise owner Jerry Buss -- a critic of the Sacramento Kings' planned relocation to Anaheim -- sits on the NBA's seven-member committee considering the move, SBNation.com has learned.
The league's standing relocation and arena committee has been directed to begin considering the Maloof family's forthcoming request for relocation to Anaheim, according to a source. The Maloofs' relocation application is due April 18. The NBA's committee will have up to 120 days to make a recommendation to the full Board of Governors, which is made up of the 30 franchise owners.
The Maloofs need majority approval to move the Kings to Southern California. The Maloofs themselves do have a vote, and league-appointed governor Jac Sperling will vote on behalf of the NBA-owned New Orleans Hornets.
Buss is understandably opposed to the Kings' relocation. Not only would an NBA team in Anaheim potentially slice into the Lakers' fan base in Orange County, but Buss' new cable contract with Time Warner (worth a reported $5 billion over 25 years) could shrink if the L.A. area adds a third team. Reports indicate the value of that deal could shrink 10 percent if L.A. gets a third team, meaning a Kings relocation to Anaheim would cost the Lakers' $500 million.
SBNation.com has also learned the identity of four other members of the relocation committee: Mickey Arison (Miami Heat), Herb Simon (Indiana Pacers), Peter Holt (San Antonio Spurs) and Ed Snider (Philadelphia 76ers). There are two other members of the committee, but SBNation.com has not been able to confirm their identities.
The full Board of Governors not only votes on whether to allow relocation, but also on what fee the Kings would have to pay the league as a whole and to the Lakers and Clippers separately. When the Sonics were moved to Oklahoma City, the franchise had to pay a $30 million relocation fee, which was then split evenly among the other 29 teams. Buss is but one vote, but he is expected to press hard for a sizable "territorial" fee if he can't first derail the move. Such fees are not governed by the NBA bylaws, and are completely subject to majority rule by the Board of Governors.
NBA franchise owners will meet Thursday and Friday to discuss the Kings' relocation and other league items. The Maloofs and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, who has fought the relocation, will make presentations to the league on Thursday.
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Apr 15
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Apr 13
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When was the last time the committee voted NO on relocation?
That in itself will clearly define what is going to happen here. I can hear the moving vans backing up already.
Instant Karma gonna get you!
by StinkyFingers on Apr 13, 2011 1:28 PM EDT reply actions
Not necessarily.
Most previous moves were not into somebody else market share. The Kings moving into the LA Laker and Clippers market is much different.
I could see it approved by many small teams who also want that option, but it could also be a bargaining chip for revenue sharing.
I didn't major in Common F-cking Sense, but ...
by MustangMBS on Apr 13, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The LA area is the 2nd largest in the US and it's large enough to the point where
it theoretically can handle three teams that can fill up seats every game. I don’t think the Lakers stand to lose many fans nor their sexy worldwide appeal if a third team were in LA because they’re an iconic franchise, while the Clippers clearly aren’t. The Clippers are likely to be much more worrisome about the move because up to this point, all they needed to do was provide season tickets that were cheaper than the Lakers since most folks in the area that want NBA season tickets want Lakers tickets, not Clippers.
by thewiz06 on Apr 14, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions
1994
http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2011/4/12/2106728/the-relocation-that-never-happened
by rpmonkey on Apr 13, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
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