HoopsHype.com Rumors

Tony Bizjak: Stern: Talked to other investors, besides Burkle, Mastrov, Kehriotis. "It is very fluid, vry open." That's why an April 3 meeting is set up. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, David Stern, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

Sacramento officials today stepped up their public relations campaign to keep the Kings from leaving, saying the city is a better NBA market than Seattle. Mayor Kevin Johnson's Think Big Sacramento task force unveiled a barrage of statistics to bolster its argument that the city has been more supportive of the NBA than Seattle fans when the SuperSonics were in the league. The report comes four days after investors Mark Mastrov and Ron Burkle gave the NBA their bid to buy the Kings and keep the team in Sacramento. The bid is a counter-offer to the deal the Maloof family, owner of the Kings, made in January to sell controlling interest to investors from Seattle. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Kevin Johnson, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

Think Big Sacramento, the regional initiative focusing on building a new downtown arena, released a report today detailing the strength of the capital region’s professional sports market. “Today’s report provides further proof that, pound for pound, Sacramento is one of the strongest and best performing markets in the NBA,” said Kunal Merchant, Executive Director of Think Big in a statement accompanying the “Home Court Advantage Report”. “Whether measured by fan support, corporate support, or media market reach, Sacramento has proven to be a model for what a one‐team NBA market can be, should be, and is.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, Kevin Johnson, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

The proposed bid of 24-Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and billionaire Ron Burkle to purchase the Sacramento Kings and construct a downtown arena has a chance to challenge a Seattle ownership's group to move the franchise. Mastrov and the local investors' bid is "slightly lower," than the $341 million that the Chris Hansen-Steve Ballmer group has agreed to pay for the available 65 percent of the Kings, a high-level source involved in the talks told Yahoo! Sports on Thursday night. "They have a shot," the source said. "It's still a long shot, but the bid will be close enough to cause real debate." Yahoo! Sports

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Steve Ballmer, Ron Burkle, Chris Hansen, Mark Mastrov 

Burkle and the city have agreed on a deal to construct a new arena in the city's downtown. Johnson recruited $20 million in local investors to purchase 7 percent of the Kings' ownership stake available in bankruptcy court, as well as $50 million in business sponsorships over the next five years for the franchise. Yahoo! Sports

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Steve Ballmer, Ron Burkle, Chris Hansen, Mark Mastrov 

While the amount of the Burkle and Mastrov bid was not revealed Thursday, the mayor said it would be "very strong and competitive." Seattle hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer have a binding agreement with the Maloof family to buy the Kings in a deal that values the franchise at $525 million, or about $341 million for the 65 percent they control. A source familiar with the Mastrov offer said it's expected that the NBA will look over the proposal and forward it to the Maloofs, who have the right to "entertain" other offers as backups in case the NBA rejects the Seattle bid. Beyond that, the process isn't quite clear. "It's not like there's a manual for how to do this," the source said. "This is somewhat unprecedented in the history of the league." Tacoma News Tribune

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Steve Ballmer, Ron Burkle, Chris Hansen, Mark Mastrov 

City officials have also said the public contribution to the proposal could include land sales, surcharges placed on tickets for events at the arena and assessments paid by property owners near the arena. Asked if Burkle was confident he could fill the gap between what the city can commit to an arena and the final price tag, a source said "that is not going to be an issue." The source said Burkle has limited partners in the deal, a group that could include celebrities and former professional athletes. Tacoma News Tribune

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Steve Ballmer, Ron Burkle, Chris Hansen, Mark Mastrov 

Scott Howard-Cooper: A former veteran Kings employee, laughing at Maloof enemy Burkle now officially in the mix: "Imagine Joe's chain smoking right about now!!" Twitter @SHowardCooper

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Steve Ballmer, Ron Burkle, Chris Hansen, Mark Mastrov 

As of Friday, that Sacramento group has not surfaced to state its intentions or offer a plan. However, sources close to the Sacramento effort said Southern California billionaire Ron Burkle and Bay Area entrepreneur Mark Mastrov are actively assembling an ownership group and formulating an arena plan. Burkle previously attempted to buy the Kings, but was rebuffed by the Maloof family, the current team majority partners. Meanwhile in Sacramento, fan groups are working to sell out Saturday's home game in hopes of sending a message to the NBA that Sacramento supports the Kings. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Ron Burkle, Chris Hansen, Mark Mastrov 

David Bienick: Phil Oates confirms to #kcra that he & dozen other #Sacramento investors met with Mark #Mastrov today about #NBAKings. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Mark Mastrov 

Ken Berger: Prospective Kings buyer Mark Mastrov met today in Sacramento with about 20 local investors committed to keeping the team there. Twitter @KBergCBS

Sacramento Kings, Mark Mastrov 

Ken Berger: League source described Mastrov's interaction with local investors as an "informal meeting." Twitter @KBergCBS

Sacramento Kings, Mark Mastrov 

Ken Berger: Mastrov, who has met with Ron Burkle about teaming up to buy the Kings, explained his vision for the team and a new Sacramento arena. Twitter @KBergCBS

Sacramento Kings, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

Source: Mastrov and Burkle are indeed committed to putting together a proposal for purchasing the Sacramento Kings and keeping them in Sacramento. The biggest hurdle will be convincing the current NBA owners to keep the Maloofs from following through with their existing agreement to sell and send the team to investors in Seattle. Still hard to imagine Hansen and Co. would invest not only in building a new arena but agree to a deal that includes a $30 million non-refundable payment if they weren't given some sort of guarantee above and beyond the Maloofs, but I guess we're going to find out. Sulia

Sacramento Kings, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because it was a private meeting. While the Maloof family that currently owns the team has an agreement with the Seattle-based group led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to sell 65% of the team for approximately $341 million, the deal must still be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors. Burkle -- the supermarket mogul who is part owner of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins -- has been planning to make a competing bid with fellow money man Mark Mastrov, the Northern California-based founder of 24-Hour Fitness, in an attempt to convince the NBA to keep the team in Sacramento. The goal all along from the Sacramento side has been to force the NBA into a tough decision by putting together an arena plan and a bid that's competitive with the Hansen-Ballmer group. USA Today Sports

Sacramento Kings, David Stern, Steve Ballmer, Ron Burkle, Chris Hansen, Mark Mastrov 

The Sacramento-Seattle saga has predictably continued with yet another unanticipated twist. A bankruptcy attorney overseeing 7 percent of Kings shares claims that minority owners are being denied their legal opportunity to match any sale purchase offer for the franchise. A hearing is scheduled for next Thursday in the bankruptcy case involving Kings minority partner Robert Cook. Meanwhile, Sacramento's best chance for a local savior to step forward appears to be a combination of two buyers: Supermarket magnate Ron Burkle and 24-Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov. According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Burkle and Mastrov have met to discuss teaming up. Mastrov also plans to be in Sacramento next week to meet with other potential local investors. CBSSports.com

Sacramento Kings, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

Mayor Johnson has responded by saying he is talking with several wealthy business people to see if any are interested in making a counter offer that he can present to the NBA this spring in hopes of stopping the sale and move. Johnson has declined to name names. Several sources however said two major players already are in serious talks about a potential bid - Ron Burkle, a multi-billionaire grocer magnate in Southern California, and Mark Mastrov, founder of 24-Hour Fitness. Both have been described by the mayor's team as "whales," capable of meeting NBA standards for team owners. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

Billionaire Ron Burkle and Bay Area investor Mark Mastrov are in serious discussions to team up on a bid to buy the Sacramento Kings and partner with the city of Sacramento on a plan to help finance a new downtown sports arena, The Bee has learned. A source familiar with the negotiations told The Bee late Tuesday that Burkle and Mastrov are both committed to keeping the team in Sacramento and building the Kings into a contender. The teaming of Burkle and Mastrov is seen by city officials as a "dream team" counteroffer to the group that this week reached a deal with the Maloof family to buy the Kings and move the franchise to Seattle, the source said. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

Billionaire Ron Burkle and Bay Area investor Mark Mastrov are in serious discussions to team up on a bid to buy the Sacramento Kings and partner with the city of Sacramento on a plan to help finance a new downtown sports arena, The Bee has learned. A source familiar with the negotiations told The Bee that Burkle and Mastrov are both committed to keeping the team in Sacramento and building the Kings into a contender. The teaming of Burkle and Mastrov is seen by city officials as a "dream team" counter offer to the group that this week agreed to buy the Kings and move the franchise to Seattle, the source said. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov 

Burkle's track record with the Penguins is appealing to the city, according to the source. He purchased the franchise when it was struggling and helped it secure a new arena and win a Stanley Cup. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Ron Burkle, Mark Mastrov