HoopsHype.com Rumors

The 12 owners on the NBA's relocation/finance committee will make the recommendation on the future of the Kings: • Peter Holt, Spurs (chairman of the board of governors) • Micky Arison, Heat • Clay Bennett, Thunder • Jeanie Buss, Lakers • James Dolan, Knicks • Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics • Ted Leonsis, Wizards • Greg Miller, Jazz • Robert Sarver, Suns • Herb Simon, Pacers • Larry Tanenbaum, Raptors • Glen Taylor, Timberwolves Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, James Dolan, Wyc Grousbeck, Micky Arison, Robert Sarver, Ted Leonsis, Glen Taylor, Jeanie Buss, Greg Miller, Herb Simon, Peter Holt, Clay Bennett 

The call took place on Tuesday – one day before Yahoo! Sports reported the finalizing of a deal – and informed several league owners that the Hansen-Ballmer Seattle group would purchase 65 percent of the Kings, sources said. The league office told members of the relocation committee that the non-binding agreement would constitute 53 percent of the franchise owned by the Maloof family and an additional 12 percent from minority owner Bob Hernreich. The sale price of $525 million is considered an overall valuation of the franchise. The committee is comprised of several NBA owners, including committee chair Clay Bennett of Oklahoma City. Yahoo! Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, David Stern, Steve Ballmer, Clay Bennett, Chris Hansen 

From the league office, pressure on the Maloofs to sell has been growing, sources said – just as hopes for a new Sacramento arena have been fading. Seattle Sonics fans will never forgive Stern for his complicit role in Clay Bennett's deception to move that franchise to Oklahoma City, but make no mistake: Stern desperately wants to return the NBA to one of its great markets and wants it for his own measure of vindication before he leaves office. Yahoo! Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Owners, Clay Bennett 

Chris Mannix: NBA commish David Stern sitting at center court, alongside Thunder owner Clay Bennett and GM Sam Presti Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, David Stern, Clay Bennett 

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks says he hopes to meet with team chairman Clay Bennett and general manager Sam Presti in "the next couple of days" to discuss a new contract. Brooks pointed out Saturday that no one has had down time since training camp started in early December, following the lockout that condensed the season. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Coaching, Sam Presti, Scott Brooks, Clay Bennett 

John Hollinger: That's Sam Presti and Clay Bennett in the tunnel greeting all the OKC players. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, Clay Bennett 

A city that seven years ago didn't even have a pipedream of being an NBA port now is on the league's grandest stage. With streamers falling and the crowd still yelling, Thunder chairman Clay Bennett told the fans and a national television audience, “All I can think of is how this incredible group of young men has unified this city and this state.” And even the Spurs took notice. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Clay Bennett 

NBA Commissioner David Stern, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver and four members of the relocation committee, emerged from behind closed doors at 4:46 local time. Stern and the four owners - Glen Taylor (Minnesota Timberwolves), Clay Bennett (Oklahoma City), Mickey Arison (Miami) and Greg Miller (Utah Jazz) - were off to a board of governors meeting at the Amway Center. Stern said he planned to attend tonight's All-Star Game and then return to the hotel and rejoin the meeting. He said the good news is "we're still talking." Sacramento Bee

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, Micky Arison, David Stern, Glen Taylor, Clay Bennett 

Many have wondered over the past two seasons how the Thunder could possibly retain its core, which quickly became cluttered with talented parts. But the picture finally is beginning to crystallize. And in between pre-written paragraphs praising Westbrook, Presti on Sunday provided the most telling answer as to how it will be done. “Days like today are made possible because of our owner, Clay Bennett, who's shown unwavering support in our efforts to build and sustain an elite basketball organization,” Presti said. “We're fortunate to have an owner as committed as Mr. Bennett is.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Clay Bennett 

In observing Oklahomans in the community as well as from courtside, Davis said one aspect that defines the people of the state is their willingness to take a risk to try to make something happen. He points to agricultural and oil and gas. But he doesn't stop there. “Oklahoma City took a huge risk, defined the term ‘leap of faith,' when it built the arena hoping to land a professional sports team,” he said. “And it took a spectacular series of events, starting with Hurricane Katrina, for anyone outside to take the notion seriously. Folks like Ron Norick and Mick Cornett and Clay Bennett believed, and here we are.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Media, Brian Davis, Clay Bennett 

That has been the mission for Payton, perhaps the franchise's greatest player. He is trying to muster up support from local leaders to build a new arena. "We're not able to talk about a team coming back here yet because the five-year deal is not over yet. That was part of the deal when Clay Bennett took the team," Payton said. "When that happens then you can go to (commissioner) David Stern and say, 'Look, this is what we have.' We need to get an arena here first. "We all know that this is a great city, a beautiful city, but NBA is about show. You got to show them. The history is rich here. The team was here for a long time. Then we broke it. We just gave the team away. This city needs basketball." ESPN.com

Seattle SuperSonics, Gary Payton, David Stern, Clay Bennett 

The makers of the award-winning documentary "Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team" unveiled their latest project Wednesday during halftime of the Western Conference Finals game between Dallas and Oklahoma City. Director Jason Reid and producer Adam Brown teamed with Seattle hip-hop duo Blue Scholars and filmed a short narrative film for the group's single "Slick Watts." Reid reached out to the former Sonics great, who stars in the seven-minute film with Blue Scholars' DJ Sabzi (Saba Mohajerjasbi) and MC Geologic (George Quibuyen). The short film is online at sonicsgate.org. Seattle Times

Oklahoma City Thunder, Seattle SuperSonics, Clay Bennett 

Reid had hoped to use the Sonics' 1979 NBA championship trophy in the video, but was denied access by Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett. "The video isn't like a typical hip-hop music video," Reid said. "It's a day in the life of Seattle without the Sonics." Seattle Times

Oklahoma City Thunder, Seattle SuperSonics, Clay Bennett 

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, as well as members of the region's business community, revealed that $9.2 million in corporate money had been pledged toward keeping the Kings in Sacramento. That revelation came shortly after a meeting with the NBA's fact- finding team, headed up by Oklahoma City Thunder principle owner Clay Bennett and NBA attorney Harvey Benjamin. That's $2.2 million more than Johnson initially told the league could be pledged when he met with the NBA Board of Governors last week. "Probably two weeks ago most of us thought the Sacramento Kings were moving to Anaheim," Matt Mahood, President and CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce said. "But I believe through our efforts and Mayor Johnson's leadership, Sacramento put a stake in the ground today saying the Sacramento Kings need to stay here." news10.net

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Kevin Johnson, Clay Bennett 

Tom Ziller: Making Bennett the head of relocation committee is a huge slap in the face. But D-Day has been deferred. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, David Stern, Gavin Maloof, Anaheim, Clay Bennett 

Adrian Wojnarowski: There wasn't an instance of honesty in Bennett's move of the Sonics out of Seattle. Documents proved it. Now he's lording over Kings future. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, David Stern, Gavin Maloof, Anaheim, Clay Bennett 

Tom Ziller: Stern says he/committee thinks L.A. metro can support third team. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles, Joe Maloof, David Stern, Gavin Maloof, Anaheim, Clay Bennett 

Owners of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and the HP Pavilion arena appear to be spearheading hopes of bringing an NBA team to San Jose. Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose told Yahoo! Sports that Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment Enterprises reached out to the Maloof brothers, owners of the Kings, about bringing the franchise to San Jose to no avail as the Maloofs are intent on moving to Anaheim. The HP Pavilion holds 18,500 seats for basketball with 66 suites. It hosted a regional in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament last year and hosted the Golden State Warriors during the 1995-96 season while their arena in nearby Oakland was renovated. “We have all the ingredients for [basketball],” Reed said. “We just need someone that wants to buy a team and put them in the arena. That’s all.” Yahoo! Sports

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, David Stern, Gavin Maloof, Anaheim, Clay Bennett, San Jose 

Oklahoma City businessman and NBA owner Clay Bennett was named to the University of Oklahoma board of regents by Gov. Mary Fallin on Friday. Tulsa World

Oklahoma City Thunder, Clay Bennett