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Sacramento has kept its Kings but is facing strict deadlines, imposed by the NBA, for building the team a fancy new arena. Hours after Vivek Ranadive and his partners completed the record-setting purchase of the franchise from the Maloof family, NBA Commissioner David Stern revealed that the Ranadive group must meet "a series of benchmarks" for a new arena - or risk losing the Kings to another city. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, David Stern, Vivek Ranadive 

The NBA is insisting that the building at Downtown Plaza open no later than 2017 - one year later than city officials forecast. The rival investors who tried unsuccessfully to move the team to Seattle agreed to similar deadlines, Stern said. The new Kings owners - the eighth in the franchise's history - expressed certainty that they can build the arena by the deadline. Ranadive spokesman Adam Mendelsohn said the team is "absolutely confident about the timeline with the NBA and the commitments that have been made" to construct a new arena. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, David Stern, Vivek Ranadive 

Mendelsohn said the Ranadive group is already moving ahead on arena plans. Co-owners Mark Friedman, Mark Mastrov and Jeff Jacobs interviewed project-management firms this week. Friedman, a Sacramento developer, toured Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis last week with two other Kings co-owners, Chris Kelly and Arjun Gupta. Tours of NBA arenas in Denver, Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla., are scheduled in the next two weeks. "Everybody is moving as quickly as possible while also being as thorough as possible," Mendelsohn said. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, David Stern, Vivek Ranadive, Mark Mastrov, Adam Mendelsohn 

Joseph Goodman: David Stern on NBC Sports Radio said today that Birdman "should have been ejected" from Game 5. Game 6 looks doubtful for Bird. Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, David Stern, Chris Andersen 

Tim Reynolds: David Stern tells NBC Sports Radio that "a serious review" of Birdman's play last night is called for. Twitter

Miami Heat, David Stern, Chris Andersen 

Jon Santiago: Stern on Kings sale: “We are pleased for both the Maloof family and the Ranadive group, but particularly pleased for the fans of the Kings." Twitter @itsjonsantiago

Sacramento Kings, David Stern, Owners, Vivek Randive 

LeBron James had a response to everyone who’s amused by the NBA’s post-game podium fashion show. “Hey, the players didn’t put in the dress code,” James said. “We just all abide by, that’s all.” Initially, many players protested commissioner David Stern’s policies. “Now we all enjoy it,” James said. Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, LeBron James, David Stern 

The WNBA is riding high these days, eagerly awaiting the debut of college megastar Brittney Griner in her first pro game Monday. Then it will fold in a handful of months. At least that's the thought process of financial website 24/7 Wall St, which is picking the WNBA as one of 10 U.S. entities to disappear by next year. It cites circumstantial evidence -- NBA Commissioner David Stern, long a protectorate of the WNBA, is retiring next February -- and also looks at some unfavorable trends. Los Angeles Times

WNBA, David Stern 

Tim Bontemps: Stern on his stepping down as commissioner next February: "Stay tuned ... I will not be inactive." Twitter @TimBontemps

David Stern 

At least two teams came away from last week's Board of Governors meeting in Dallas convinced that the 22-8 vote in favor of keeping the Kings in Sacramento would have been a lot closer if NBA commissioner David Stern wasn't so determined to lobby owners in the room to keep the franchise right where it is. Yet a third team consulted told ESPN.com that Sacramento likely would have prevailed anyway, with or without Stern's hard push, since a simple majority of just 16 votes was all that was needed to block the proposed relocation to Seattle. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, David Stern 

A week later, Stern met with union head Larry Fleisher and made a deal. “He does it all by himself,” Reinsdorf said. “I never really enjoy being part of the industry in basketball, because I had no influence. Nothing to say about anything. “You go to NBA meetings and David Stern tells you what to do.” Sports Business Daily

Chicago Bulls, Jerry Reinsdorf, David Stern 

Reinsdorf says he is on better terms with the league these days. The family succession plan calls for the Reinsdorfs to retain their stake in the Bulls, while selling the White Sox. Michael Reinsdorf will take his father’s place. Jerry Reinsdorf said he doesn’t think there’s any baggage left from his disputes with the league. “David and I patched things up,” Reinsdorf said. “We get along real well now. But I act sort of irreverent to him. I think I’m the only guy who busts his balls from time to time.” Stern laughed when told of Reinsdorf’s assessment. “Actually, he’s quite wrong — he has much company in that respect,” Stern said. “His fellow owners have also broken the code, because they know I enjoy it. It makes me better to spar. “We enjoy a good poke back and forth, and we also have a good friendship and we share good memories of very good years.” Sports Business Daily

Chicago Bulls, Jerry Reinsdorf, David Stern 

Any change probably couldn't be implemented before the 2014-15 season. Silver said last month during a trip to Charlotte that it would take a minimum of 18 months to rebrand an NBA franchise. The league's uniform-maker, Adidas, and other licensees need that much lead time to produce branded merchandise. The Bobcats have estimated it would cost them about $3 million to rebrand because so much signage and other logo material would have to be replaced. Sources indicate both Bobcats owner Michael Jordan and outgoing NBA commissioner David Stern advocated a switch to the Hornets to better market Charlotte's team. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, David Stern, Adam Silver, Charlotte Hornets 

Chris Mannix: Ownership sources agree the involvement of David Stern was critical in the process. Kings were in constant contact. Seattle group wasn't. Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

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

Steve Kyler: Sources close to the process in Dallas yesterday said that David Stern was an active participant in Seattle/Sac vote. Twitter @stevekylerNBA

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern 

Kemp said, as a player, he never had a problem with Stern but that statement raised his eyebrows. "I felt like David kind of stuck it to us today," he said. "I thought that was disrespectful for the city of Seattle to see, and for a commissioner that runs the NBA that was very disrespectful. In my eyes, it just told me what we're dealing with." Seattle Times

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Shawn Kemp, Steve Ballmer, Chris Hansen 

Brian May: Stern: I would say this is a victory for Sacramento, not a victory for the NBA Twitter @BMayNews10

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Owners 

Dave Mason: Stern: "It is my expectation that we'll be able to make a deal with the Maloofs and Ranadive group to transfer title of the team." Twitter @DeuceMason

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Owners 

Sean Cunningham: STERN: General talk to consider expansion in the future after TV deal is negotiated. #NBAKings #NBASeattle Twitter @News10Sean

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Owners 

Jon Santiago: Stern on whether there's a promise of expansion for Seattle: "Just our promise of fair dealing and ultimate consideration down the road." Twitter @itsjonsantiago

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Owners