HoopsHype.com Rumors

Bobby Jackson told me a little while ago that he will coach the Kings squad in the Las Vegas Summer League that begins on July 12. After working in basketball operations, BJax just finished his first season as an NBA assistant. While the roster won't be determined for a while, Jimmer Fredette and Tyler Honeycutt plan to participate, and undoubtedly will be joined by the team's draft picks. "I've been getting ready," said Jackson. "I've been working on my plays, my play calls. Coach (Keith) Smart said I can run whatever offense or defense I want, and it's no secret what I want to do - get it and go. I don't want to see any pounding. You pass, cut, pick and rolls. I don't want to give them (players) too much to think about because you want them to play freely, without worrying about mistakes. Just simple basketball." Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Coaching, Bobby Jackson 

Matt Steinmetz: I asked David Stern if he could update Kings situation: “No, I can’t. For that you have to go to Sacramento and talk to ownership there." Twitter

Sacramento Kings, David Stern 

Tom Ziller: Geoff Petrie is a) the longest tenured GM in the NBA, b) a 2-time GM of Year and c) a guy who hasn't received one vote for award since '07. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Geoff Petrie 

Ransacked Media is getting some deserved attention for publishing emails between George Maloof and the NBA from back on February 29. (The handshake deal came on February 27 in Orlando.) I'll let you connect the dotes on how Ransacked, an arena deal opponent, got the emails, but regardless, it's valuable information that I'm glad was published. Because while it makes the Maloofs' case that the Kings immediately informed the NBA of the issues it had with the handshake term sheet, the emails make an even stronger case that the Maloofs knew right from the start that their absurd demands were out of line with NBA norms, and that they were focused on making the deal as untenable as possible to guarantee its doom. Sactown Royalty

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof 

Like when George told NBA lawyer Harvey Benjamin that the team wanted to amend the term sheet to eliminate collateral on a city refinancing of an existing Maloof loan. Benjamin's response on February 29 (some 12 minutes after George sent his note): Regarding collateral, I thought you understood in Orlando that there's no way of avoiding the fact that the debt will come due when the team leaves Natomas and that the city will not refinance the debt without collateral. ... Also, the required amount of collateral will only be the amount equal to the debt, which is a big win since collateral value in excess of the debt is often required. Sactown Royalty

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof 

Benjamin instantly recognizes Maloof's angle, and instantly shuts it down completely. And remember, the NBA is representing the Maloofs' interests. It's worth noting that the Maloofs' current loan ($68 million, or thereabouts depending on recent payments) has a collateral of just $25 million. The Kings got a sweetheart loan in 1997, and they tried to push for an even sweeter deal this time. Sactown Royalty

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof 

Basically, add it all up and the Maloofs are looking for the best arena deal in the history of the NBA (which is saying something). The NBA is pushing back immediately. THE NBA was immediately telling the Maloofs that their arena demands were out of line! This is the same NBA whose arena model is essentially the institutionalized menace of threatened relocation. And when the NBA quickly made it clear to the Maloofs that these were not sticking points but ridiculous demands in Benjamin's immediate response (excerpted above), what did George do? He doubled down. He kept plugging. He leaked the story to the L.A. Times. He had that ridiculous press conference in New York. He vilified KJ and the city, and to some extent the NBA. Sactown Royalty

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof 

I know what case the Maloofs are trying to make by leaking these emails -- that their concerns were made before the City Council approved the term sheet, that despite holding hands with KJ and crying for the TV crews that they had concerns with the deal. Point made. Assertion accepted. In the process, they have shown just how absurd their position on myriad basic issues was, and have proven once again that they had no interest in legitimately getting a deal for a new Sacramento arena done. This is unassailable proof straight from George's own fingertips. Sactown Royalty

Sacramento Kings, George Maloof 

The arena deal may be dead. But through their spokespeople, the Maloofs and the city of Sacramento are exchanging words yet again. “It is becoming clearer that the foundation of Think Big is built on fabrication and deception,” said Maloof spokesman Eric Rose in an email statement to media Monday evening. “The name of the organization should be changed to Think Big Fraud.” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof 

CBS13 has learned the Maloof family has hired a retired FBI agent, who now works as a private investigator. The private eye has been making calls to some of Sacramento’s most powerful business owners, as recently as last week, inquiring about possible forgeries on a letter sent to NBA Commissioner David Stern. That letter, publicized at a press conference, called for the NBA to strongly encourage the Maloofs to sell the team in an effort to build a downtown arena. CBS Sacramento

Sacramento Kings 

Stranley Lukowicz was one of the business owners contacted, and CBS13 spoke to him on the phone. “We got a call from somebody claiming to be a private investigator and trying to get in touch with myself to see if we signed a letter to the NBA commissioner; because they believe our names were forged,” said Lukowicz. When asked if his name was forged, Lukowicz said, “No they were not.” CBS Sacramento

Sacramento Kings 

Thomas was one of the biggest surprises of the 2011-12 season, someone who will likely receive Rookie of the Year votes just 10 months after being overlooked by every team in the league. At 5’9, Thomas has always had doubters, and being dubbed Mr. Irrelevant only motivated him more and solidified his underdog status. “I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder and that just motivated me even more,” Thomas told HOOPSWORLD. “I went into every game thinking, ‘Okay, this team passed on me. They didn’t pick me.’ Every day, it was on my mind. I wanted to go out there and show them that they missed out on something special. I looked at other players and thought, ‘This guy was drafted ahead of me. I may not be better than him, but I’m going to outwork him.’ It made me work harder because I wanted to show the NBA and the world that I could compete on this level. I think I did an okay job of that this year.” HoopsWorld

Sacramento Kings, Isaiah Thomas 

“Every guy from Seattle who has made it to the NBA has helped me and taught me so much,” Thomas said. “I can’t thank them enough. Jamal Crawford is a mentor and big brother to me. He has helped me since I was a freshman in high school and we talk every day. He’s someone that I’ve learned a lot from, on and off the court. He’s a hell of a person and he really cares about others. He’s kind of like the OG of the group, the OG of Seattle players. Everyone looks up to him. Jason Terry has helped me a lot as well. Nate Robinson has been great too and he’s someone who I can really relate to. We went to the same college, played for the same coach and play a similar style. Not to mention, he’s the exact same height as me so he can give me specific advice and tips on the court. Those guys have really helped me, which means a lot.” HoopsWorld

Sacramento Kings, Isaiah Thomas 

“I had two welcome-to-the-NBA moments,” Thomas said with a laugh. “In the first game of the season, we were playing the Lakers. Now, Kobe Bryant is my favorite player. When I checked into the game, Paul Westphal said, ‘Okay, Isaiah, you got Kobe.’ I kind of looked behind me. I didn’t think he was talking to me. I asked, ‘I got Kobe?!’ It didn’t seem real. So I start guarding Kobe. As he was backing me down, I was smiling. That’s my favorite player and I was guarding him. It was crazy. He scored a couple of times, but I stopped him a couple of times. I was happy with that.” HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Kobe Bryant, Isaiah Thomas 

“Then, when we were playing the Heat in Miami, I blew past LeBron James,” Thomas said. “He did it on purpose, but I didn’t realize he was letting me go by him. I got past him and put up a lay-up, but he swatted it off the backboard. That was one of his biggest blocks of the year. He looked at me and said, ‘Welcome to the NBA, lil homie.’ Those were my two welcome-to-the-NBA moments, from two of the best players to ever play the game.” HoopsWorld

Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, LeBron James, Isaiah Thomas 

CBS13 has learned the Maloof family has hired a retired FBI agent, who now works as a private investigator. The private eye has been making calls to some of Sacramento’s most powerful business owners, as recently as last week, inquiring about possible forgeries on a letter sent to NBA Commissioner David Stern. That letter, publicized at a press conference, called for the NBA to strongly encourage the Maloofs to sell the team in an effort to build a downtown arena. CBS Sacramento

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, David Stern 

Stranley Lukowicz was one of the business owners contacted, and CBS13 spoke to him on the phone. “We got a call from somebody claiming to be a private investigator and trying to get in touch with myself to see if we signed a letter to the NBA commissioner; because they believe our names were forged,” said Lukowicz. When asked if his name was forged, Lukowicz said, “No they were not.” CBS Sacramento

Sacramento Kings, Joe Maloof, David Stern 

You listen to Thompson and you believe he’d really like to stay with the Kings and have it work out there. Is that realistic for a team with four straight last-place finishes? Who knows? The Kings will add another lottery pick to the roster this draft. “I just don’t want to be in a bad situation,’’ he said. “And I really do believe we have the talent to be a playoff team. As far as the city and fans go, I really like it, that’s not a problem at all. It’s great. We’re the only pro team in town; the fans are good to us. The thing is I just want to win.’’ Newark Star-Ledger

Sacramento Kings, Free Agency, Jason Thompson 

But now that the downtown railyard plan and all those other arena plans have died an agonizing economic death because someone – say, the Kings' co-owners – lack the deep pockets to close the deal, the builders of the Kings' first two homes are campaigning to construct a third. "We're asking for 90 days," said Rann Haight, the original architect of the arenas constructed in Natomas in 1985 and 1988. "We know the building better than anybody. We think that's enough time to note the deficiencies in the building, come up with a schedule of how long it would take to address them, while continuing to play in the current building." Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings 

Nonetheless, there remains a small and significant segment of the political and business community that has long embraced the notion of renovating the current arena as a viable alternative to the $391 million railyard project. "The prospect of renovating the existing Natomas arena is something I suggested months ago," Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna said Tuesday, "and something I sense the league and owners might be more supportive of today than in the past." Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings