Sacramento Kings move to Seattle voted down by NBA relocation committee

So much for the NBA returning to Seattle. On Monday the NBA’s relocation committee voted unanimously to oppose the Sacramento Kings’ proposed move to Seattle. The committee is made of of 12 owners, and they held a conference call in which the potential move was discussed and voted down. The group’s recommendation will be passed on to the NBA Board of Governors, which will convene during the week of May 13 to vote on the matter. The Maloof family which currently owns the Kings, has had an agreement since January to sell a 65 percent controlling interest in the team to a Seattle-based group. Hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft Chairman Steve Ballmer are the leaders of that group. Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson – a former NBA point guard – has worked tirelessly to put together a competing offer from local investors, including software tycoon Vivek Ranadive. Johnson’s plan would include a new arena built in the area to replace the aging Speel Train Arena (formerly Arco Arena ...