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As they head into what could be a historic NBA meeting Wednesday and conferences today on the Kings future, however, the Maloofs continue to make it clear they prefer to cement a deal with the Seattle group led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, George Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Owners, Chris Hansen 

A source familiar with the agreement, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of this week's NBA talks, said Hansen would strengthen the team's balance sheet as it enters into arena talks with the city of Sacramento. Even though Hansen has said his dream is to revive the Seattle SuperSonics, the Maloof-Hansen group would nonetheless make a good-faith effort to jointly finance an arena in Sacramento, the source insisted. Should a Sacramento arena deal fall through, sources said, the team likely would seek NBA approval a second time to move to Seattle. The deal would allow Hansen to purchase a controlling interest in the team – at a price that valued the entire team at $625 million – within the next two years, subject to NBA approval. Those details were laid out in a memo Friday from NBA executives to team owners, a source said. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Owners, Chris Hansen 

The Hansen-Ballmer agreement to purchase 65 percent of the team from the Maloofs would now be based on a valuation of $550 million, an increase of $25 million. Now, Hansen has sweetened the pot again -- increasing the franchise valuation by another $75 million as part of a backup plan to buy 20 percent of the team from the Maloofs if owners formally reject relocation on Wednesday in Dallas. CBSSports.com

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, Steve Ballmer, Chris Hansen 

With Wednesday's Board of Governors vote on the fate of the Sacramento Kings looming, the Maloof family, which owns the team, is still trying to find a way to sell the team to a group led by Seattle hedge fund manager Chris Hansen instead of a local group in Sacramento led by software magnate Vivek Ranadive. Their latest gambit would sell 20 percent of the team to Hansen's group for $120 million, which would leave the team in the Maloofs' control, according to a source. NBA.com

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Vivek Ranadive, Chris Hansen 

The Ranadive group has agreed to match the 65 percent price of $341 million for the Kings in that deal, and has put at least 50 percent of that $341 million into escrow. NBA Commissioner David Stern said last month that while the Sacramento bid to keep the Kings at the time was slightly lower than the Seattle bid, the league considered the Sacramento bid binding. The league was made aware of both sale proposals involving Hansen on Wednesday, according to a source. Although there has been substantial buzz in Seattle that there are potential antitrust issues that could be the basis for a lawsuit against the NBA if Hansen is rejected, Hansen's group remains uninterested in legal remedies if it is rejected Wednesday, according to the source. NBA.com

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, David Stern, Gavin Maloof, Vivek Ranadive, Chris Hansen 

Aaron Bruski: Source: “Ballmer is playing a game of Russian Roulette with SEA’s NBA future. He can’t throw money at the problem like this is Microsoft.” Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Steve Ballmer, Vivek Ranadive, Chris Hansen 

Aaron Bruski: Source: The idea that Hansen/Ballmer would own any portion of the Kings while they play in Sacramento is a “non-starter.” Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Steve Ballmer, Vivek Ranadive, Chris Hansen 

David Aldridge: Even if BOG rejects original deal for Hansen, it would still have to approve sale of minority stake to him, knowing he wants to move team. Twitter @daldridgetnt

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Since we still have a few days to go, before the vote, is it reasonable to expect that we are edging closer to a virgins-into-the-volcano stage? Well, in a manner of speaking, yes. According to a source with whom I talked by phone, who was knowledgeable of Hansen’s plans but who didn’t want to be identified, mostly out of fear of a court-ordered mental-health evaluation, “There’s more.” Lock up your daughters. While the speculation about motives and strategy has commenced fearsome chattering among the digirati locally and nationally, Hansen was fairly straightforward in his post: “While we appreciate that this is a very difficult decision for the league and owners, we hope it is understood that we really believe the time is now to bring the NBA back to Seattle,” Hansen wrote. “It is paramount that we do everything we can to put Seattle’s best foot forward in this process.” SportsPressNW.com

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Chris Hansen 

On the other hand, Hansen’s first increase in the bid price, $25 million, was “not recognized” at the Board of Governors meeting April 19, according to the same source, ostensibly because it wasn’t part of the original purchase and sale agreement signed with the Maloofs in January. Whether that was a procedural matter or a genuine disqualification isn’t known, but the tactic could provide a workaround for the anti-Hansen crowd. SportsPressNW.com

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Chris Hansen 

Chris Hansen: In an effort to further demonstrate the extent of our commitment to bring basketball back to Seattle, we have elected to voluntarily increase our proposed purchase price for the Sacramento Kings NBA Franchise by $75 million — from an enterprise value of $550 million to $625 million. In conjunction with our revised offer, we have also guaranteed to the NBA that the Franchise would be a revenue sharing payer in all years in Seattle. SonicsArena.com

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Spencer Hawes: Chris Hansen, cheers to you sir Twitter @spencerhawes00

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Spencer Hawes, Chris Hansen 

Aaron Bruski: KJ statement: "We feel very confident about the position we are in right now." Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Kevin Johnson, Chris Hansen 

Aaron Bruski: League source with intimate knowledge of the Kings transaction: "No matter how much they kick and scream, this is not about SEA's offer." Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Chris Hansen just raised the stakes in the effort to bring the Sacramento Kings to Seattle. Seattle's lead investor told the NBA Friday he will raise his bid on the Kings franchise to $625 million, an increase of $75 million on his previous bid. king5.com

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Hansen had already raised the valuation of his bid to $550 million in an attempt to sway NBA owners. He is attempting to purchase 65 percent of the franchise from the Maloof family. Hansen's group had already placed $357 million in escrow for the majority share. This is the third time his group has raised his bid. king5.com

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Chris Daniels: BREAKING: The $625 million dollar pricetag for #NBAKings would put franchise on par with Miami Heat, as 6th most valuable in NBA per Forbes. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Mayor Kevin Johnson is so confident that the Kings are staying put, he's got some advice for the guys trying to buy the team and move it to Seattle: Back off. While saying he understands why they are putting up a fight, Johnson said Tuesday that hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer should "take the high road and be gracious." Hansen and Ballmer have said they are still exploring their options after the NBA's relocation committee recommended by a 7-0 vote against their plan to move the Kings to the Emerald City. "Once the relocation committee spoke as loud and as clear as it did, I would probably take a step back and understand that I'm probably not going to get this team, so how can I put Seattle in the best possible position to get a team moving forward?" the mayor said. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Steve Ballmer, Kevin Johnson, Chris Hansen 

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says if he were leading the Seattle group trying to move the Sacramento Kings, he’d give up. The mayor says Seattle should focus on the next opportunity to get an NBA franchise, "Once the relocation committee spoke as loud and as clear as it did, I would probably take a step back and understand that I'm probably not going to get this team so how can I put Seattle, Ballmer, Hansen, the Nordstrom family and anybody else from Seattle in the best possible position to get a team going forward. I would take the high road and I'd be gracious." Capital Public Radio

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Steve Ballmer, Kevin Johnson, Chris Hansen 

Jon Santiago: KJ on possibility of Hansen and buying #SacKings but not moving to Seattle - doesn't expect that to happen. Twitter @itsjonsantiago

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Kevin Johnson, Chris Hansen