According to multiple reports, mayor Kevin Johnson says Sacramento is back in the ballgame after announcing that two investors want to buy the NBA's Kings and build a downtown arena to stop the proposed move of the city's only major league sports team to Seattle.
"They have a shot," the source said. "It's still a long shot, but the bid will be close enough to cause real debate."
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 will submit a bid for the team to the NBA on Friday, Johnson said in a speech Thursday night. Mastrov was among the final bidders for the Golden State Warriors before Joe Lacob and Peter Guber bought the team for an NBA-record $450 million in 2010.
"I've been assured by the commissioner of the NBA that we will be given full consideration," said Johnson, Sacramento's two-term mayor and a former NBA All-Star.
Johnson has lined up 20 local investors to show more local support, each whom have committed $1 million. They hope to buy the 7 percent share of the team now under control of a federal bankruptcy court.
One of those investors is former Sacramento Kings star Mitch Richmond, who was a 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame finalist.
"He will undoubtedly bring credibility to our efforts," Johnson said.
The NBA board of governors will make a decision on the sale by mid-April.
"With all due respect to Seattle, I do hope they get a team someday, but let me be perfectly clear it is not going to be this team," Johnson said. "Not our team. No way."
Earlier this month, commissioner David Stern said it was acceptable to think that the Kings could stay in Sacramento despite Seattle's strong bid.
The Seattle group made payment on a $30 million deposit to the Maloof family in late January, sources confirmed. Seattle plans to build an arena for the team for the 2015-16 season, using KeyArena for the next two years to house the team.
The Seattle ownership group - which has been in frequent contact with NBA commissioner Stern and the league office - has been operating with a belief that it will acquire the franchise and be granted the ability to move it to Seattle
