HoopsHype.com Rumors

Speaking by phone, Kings co-owner George Maloof said negotiations with Ranadive are "going on fine." "These guys are good guys, I have a lot of respect for the people who are trying to buy the team in Sacramento," Maloof said. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Owners, Vivek Ranadive 

Chris Mannix: George Maloof warning that Kings situation is "not over" suggests that somehow, someway, this ends with lawsuits. Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Owners 

Kings co-owner George Maloof was reportedly forced to hide from reporters in a Dallas Marriott’s bell stand closet after NBA commissioner David Stern announced Wednesday that the league’s Board of Governors had voted down a plan to move Sacramento’s basketball team to Seattle. Kevin Fippin of Kings blog SacTownRoyalty.com reported that Maloof briefly entered the closet to avoid a crush of cameras. He later exited the closet and addressed reporters. SI.com

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Owners 

“Media just chased George Maloof into the Bell Stand closet!!! UNREAL!!,” Fippin reported in a series of Twitter posts that included a photograph of the media scrum converging on the closet, which is adjacent to the hotel’s main entrance. “He is in a closet guys!!! … George opened the door for a second and closed when he saw this! … Guys, I don’t make up who gets chased across a hotel lobby into a bell check closet. I’m not that awesome!” SI.com

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Owners 

Media just chased George Maloof into the Bell Stand closet!!! UNREAL!! Twitter

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof 

Aaron Bruski: Stern on changing Maloof minds: They were clear on that until the end, but their agmt to sell in SEA effectively ended with the vote. Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, David Stern, George Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Owners 

Marc Stein: George & Joe Maloof spent good 20 mins or so leaning up against a lobby wall ... but otherwise like rest of us. Waiting for some hard news Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, David Stern, George Maloof, Owners 

Brian May: Several NBA owners are beginning to arrive in full force for BOG meetings. George Maloof chatting w/several outside meeting room Twitter @BMayNews10

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Owners 

As he prepared to board a plane for the NBA Board of Governors meeting in Dallas, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson Tuesday told reporters the Maloofs have not closed the door on making a deal with a group that would keep the Kings in town. "We're holding our breath as a city," Johnson said at a short press briefing at Sacramento International Airport. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, George Maloof, Owners, Kevin Johnson, Gavin Mallof 

George Maloof, one of the members of the family that owns the Sacramento Kings, said again today their desire is to sell the team to a Seattle group led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer. Maloof is in Dallas in advance of the NBA Board of Governors meetings tomorrow, and in a brief interview as he walked through the lobby, reiterated the family’s long stance about selling the team to the Seattle group. “We have a binding agreement,” he said. “That’s our commitment, to Chris and Steve. We want to see it through.” Seattle Times

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Owners, Steve Ballmer, Chris Hansen 

Ken Berger: Asked an owner today if Hansen backup plan with Maloofs is a game-changer. ”It doesn't make any sense to me,” he said. Twitter @KBergCBS

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Owners, Jim Maloof 

Despite repeatedly dismissing overtures from a Sacramento group eager to buy the Kings, the team's owners have not closed the door on that possibility and were receiving updates from the NBA on the Sacramento group's efforts as recently as this weekend, a source said Sunday. The team "still has that option," said a source with knowledge of the Maloof family's thinking. Sacramento Bee

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

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 

The Maloofs "intend to be loyal to Hansen to the bitter end," the source said. They have also indicated they do not feel the Sacramento bid, headed by Silicon Valley executive Vivek Ranadive, is complete or competitive with Hansen's. Still, should the NBA reject the deals on the table with Hansen, the source said the Maloofs have not ruled out a Ranadive offer. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, George Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Owners, Vivek Ranadive 

Sam Amick: A perception v. reality addendum: to make assumption that Maloofs & Sacramento side are at stand-still without communication would be wrong Twitter @sam_amick

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

Chris Daniels: Source tells me that Maloof family have unequivocally, three times, told NBA they will NOT accept back-up bid from Ranadive group. #NBAKings Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, George Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Owners, Vivek Ranadive 

David Aldridge: Sacramento group still confident it has done everything league has asked on sale, arena, & will ultimately be able to buy team from Maloofs. Twitter @daldridgetnt

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

David Aldridge: League hoping to entice Maloofs to sell to local group in Sacramento that has offer on $525M valuation for Kings, new arena on table. Twitter @daldridgetnt

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

Ken Berger: The Maloofs, who wanted to move forward with sale to Seattle-based group, will not be issuing a statement, I'm told. Twitter @KBergCBS

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

Brian May: George Maloof told me he can't/won't say if Sacramento offer is equal to Seattle Twitter @BMayNews10

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof, Owners