HoopsHype.com Rumors

Chris Mannix: League sources say owners offered to pay Hansen-Ballmer group the $30 million non-refundable deposit they paid the Maloofs. They declined. Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

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

Chris Mannix: Sources also say that hedge fund manager Chris Hansen will not file any lawsuits in relation to the Kings/Seattle situation. Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

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

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 

The Maloof era in Sacramento, at times spirited and uplifting, at times dismal, appears to have come to an end. A Sacramento investors group has reached a deal with the Maloof family to buy its controlling stake in the Kings. The deal is expected to be unveiled today. "It's the start of a new era," said Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur Vivek Ranadive, leader of the Sacramento investor group, speaking to reporters after the Warriors game Thursday night. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Vivek Ranadive 

Ranadive added, "We just need to sign some papers and finalize everything." If the NBA approves the deal, a source told The Bee, escrow is expected to close at the end of May. The source, a stakeholder close to the deal, said the Maloof family was eager to "turn the page" and was pleased it was able to sell to a group that will keep the team in Sacramento. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof, Vivek Ranadive 

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: Joe & Gavin Maloof were already in BoG meetings. Sacramento will present after Seattle is done Twitter @BMayNews10

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, Gavin 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 

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 

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 on NBA using Best Interests of the League clause vs. Maloofs: The league "will use all options at its disposal to protect the logo.” Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Joe Maloof, Gavin Maloof 

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 

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