HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

David Aldridge: Even if BOG rejects original deal for Hansen, it would still have to approve sale of minority stake to him, knowing he wants to move team. Twitter @daldridgetnt

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

A source close to the Sacramento group said Friday that it was buoyed by Twitter comments made this week by Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, a member of the relocation committee, to a Seattle fan who had questioned why the league turned down the relocation the NBA was treating Seattle fairly. In those comments, Arison said the issue before the committee and league was not what Seattle was doing to make itself a viable NBA market again, but what Sacramento had done to prove it was still one. Arison, according to the transcript provided by a Seattle radio station, said that Sacramento had passed that test. NBA.com

Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Micky Arison, Owners 

Bob Cooney: Hinkie deal is for multiple years, maybe 3 or 4, according to sources. He was high, if not at the top, of owner Josh Harris' list. Twitter @BobCooney76

Philadelphia 76ers, Owners, Josh Harris, Sam Hinkie 

Chris Hansen: In an effort to further demonstrate the extent of our commitment to bring basketball back to Seattle, we have elected to voluntarily increase our proposed purchase price for the Sacramento Kings NBA Franchise by $75 million — from an enterprise value of $550 million to $625 million. In conjunction with our revised offer, we have also guaranteed to the NBA that the Franchise would be a revenue sharing payer in all years in Seattle. SonicsArena.com

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Spencer Hawes: Chris Hansen, cheers to you sir Twitter @spencerhawes00

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Spencer Hawes, Chris Hansen 

Aaron Bruski: KJ statement: "We feel very confident about the position we are in right now." Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Kevin Johnson, Chris Hansen 

Aaron Bruski: League source with intimate knowledge of the Kings transaction: "No matter how much they kick and scream, this is not about SEA's offer." Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Chris Hansen just raised the stakes in the effort to bring the Sacramento Kings to Seattle. Seattle's lead investor told the NBA Friday he will raise his bid on the Kings franchise to $625 million, an increase of $75 million on his previous bid. king5.com

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Hansen had already raised the valuation of his bid to $550 million in an attempt to sway NBA owners. He is attempting to purchase 65 percent of the franchise from the Maloof family. Hansen's group had already placed $357 million in escrow for the majority share. This is the third time his group has raised his bid. king5.com

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Chris Daniels: BREAKING: The $625 million dollar pricetag for #NBAKings would put franchise on par with Miami Heat, as 6th most valuable in NBA per Forbes. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Chris Hansen 

Aaron Bruski: Multiple league and Sacramento sources reiterate to PBT that money is not a problem for Sacramento's ownership group. Twitter @aaronbruski

Sacramento Kings, Owners 

Roland Lazenby: Just as the gulf between Dr. Buss + Phil was huge, the chasm between Jim Buss + the ZenMaster is expansive. Basketball's Grand Canyon. Twitter @lazenby

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Owners, Jim Buss 

When Jim Buss fell for Brown in their sitdown at the pre-draft camp in Minneapolis, the Lakers knew he was West’s pick to fill the Warriors’ vacancy. That was why they slammed the deal home so quickly, and why the price got to $4.5 million a year, more than they’re paying Mike D’Antoni. Lakers Nation

Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Jerry West, Mike Brown, Owners, Jim Buss 

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says if he were leading the Seattle group trying to move the Sacramento Kings, he’d give up. The mayor says Seattle should focus on the next opportunity to get an NBA franchise, "Once the relocation committee spoke as loud and as clear as it did, I would probably take a step back and understand that I'm probably not going to get this team so how can I put Seattle, Ballmer, Hansen, the Nordstrom family and anybody else from Seattle in the best possible position to get a team going forward. I would take the high road and I'd be gracious." Capital Public Radio

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Steve Ballmer, Kevin Johnson, Chris Hansen 

Jon Santiago: KJ on possibility of Hansen and buying #SacKings but not moving to Seattle - doesn't expect that to happen. Twitter @itsjonsantiago

Sacramento Kings, Owners, Kevin Johnson, Chris Hansen 

Walsh said yesterday he would return if Bird doesn’t and owner Herb Simon wants him to. “I like this but I don’t need to do it,’’ Walsh said. Walsh said he will definitely run the draft in June. The Pacers general manager is highly regarded Kevin Pritchard. Last month, in a visit at the Garden, Walsh told The Post, “I took this job because Larry [Bird] wanted a year off. If Larry wants to come back, I’m out. I’m leaving.’’ New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Bird, Owners, Herb Simon 

And although a source confirmed Jackson met with the Nets on Monday and is reportedly Mikhail Prokhorov's top choice, the 11-time champion has stated he’s not interested in coaching and wants a front-office job. King could be opposed to that because it could diminish his role. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Billy King, Owners