The suspense is killing me. So who blinked first? Who reached across the aisle?

We all saw Sacramento's youthful mayor, in jeans and a rumpled white dress shirt following a cross-country flight, hugging Joe Maloof and swinging the Kings co-owner into the air during Tuesday's romp and circumstance at Cesar E. Chavez Plaza.

But wounds seldom heal this quickly. What gives? Was this boys just being boys? The mayor and the Maloofs being smart? And now the mayor is heading to Secaucus, N.J. – across the river from arguably his greatest political accomplishment to date – to represent the Kings at Tuesday's NBA draft lottery?

"It was my idea," Gavin Maloof said, "and when I ran it by the family, they all loved it. We thought it would make a great statement for the family and the organization and the city to have the mayor go to New York.

"Look, we all want the same thing. We want to put the past behind us. The mayor has enough of a burden on him. We all want to get a new arena and get back to where we were, back to winning."

Added Joe Maloof, laughing: "When the mayor swung me into the air, I was just hoping he was strong enough to keep me from falling."

Pause.

"He's pretty strong, though."

Whatever the origins of the sudden good vibes – and keep in mind the new arena negotiations are in the infancy stage – sending the mayor to the lottery was a brilliant move, a shrewd gesture, a big-time play. Johnson earned this. He absolutely deserves the stage.

If it wasn't for the mayor's dramatic appearance at the NBA board of governors meeting last month in New York, the Kings probably would be headed to Anaheim, there would have been no celebration downtown, no chance for reconciliation between the community and the Maloofs, and, without the presence of a major tenant, zero momentum toward funding a new sports and entertainment complex.

There are other benefits to having Johnson present when the pingpong balls are released.

One, he remains the best point guard to call Sacramento home, and we can all identify the Kings' No. 1 need. And two, before emerging as a perennial All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, he was the No. 7 overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1987, meaning that he has considerable experience with the lottery, with draft day surprises, with lousy luck and with better luck next time.

"I didn't even go to New York for the draft," recalled Johnson, who graduated from Sacramento High School and Cal. "I rented a hotel to watch the draft with friends and family because, at the time, everyone was saying I was only going to go late in the first round, or into the second round. A few people finally started saying I might go as high as 10 or 12."

Instead, after Armen Gilliam (No. 2), Dennis Hopson (No. 3), Reggie Williams (No. 4), Scottie Pippen (No. 5) and Kenny Smith (No. 6 to the Kings) were selected ahead of Johnson, his challenge was either to outplay Mark Price, the Cavs' speedy, slick-shooting guard who developed into a superb facilitator, or hope for a trade. Price, the incumbent, was too good. K.J. prayed for a trade.

"I can remember the time and date that I was traded (Feb. 25, 1988), right down to the minute," Johnson said the other day. "I was so thankful … "

After being swapped to the Suns, he emerged as one of the league's elite point guards during an era flush with great point guards. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he was quick and cagey, and an excellent midrange shooter who directed a textbook fast break (career 9.1 assists per game).

And he was tough, too, much tougher than he appears. A typical play consisted of Johnson beating defenders to the basket, absorbing punishment while scoring a layup, hitting the ground, then getting up and converting a three-point play.

Interestingly, the Maloofs are still learning about Johnson as a fierce, relentless competitor in both suits and sweats.

"I couldn't bring myself to watch the NBA after we sold the Rockets (1982), so I don't really remember him as a player," Gavin Maloof said. "But everyone says he was a really good point guard. (Laugh) Too bad he can't play for us!"

The mood around the Maloofs is demonstrably upbeat, determined, collaborative, stoked in part by a warming relationship with the mayor, but also by the community's renewed passion for the Kings.

According to Joe Maloof, there have been brisk season ticket sales and an encouraging response from business leaders; only one suite remains available for 2011-12.

"Who knows what can happen with the lottery?" Gavin Maloof asked. "We have cap space, three picks, two second-rounders. Everybody is going to be coming to us because they know we're going to make moves."

With a laugh, he added: "Now the pressure is on the mayor. The last two years we did pretty well at the lottery. We got the Rookie of the Year (Evans) and then DeMarcus Cousins (with No. 5 picks). Maybe he can get No. 1. Wouldn't that be something?"

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