Like a Tyreke Evans half-court buzzer-beater, it appears the National Basketball Association saved its season just in time.
If ratified by owners and players, their deal would boost smaller market teams like the Kings and could buttress public backing for a new downtown Sacramento arena.
It's still not a slam-dunk that the arena financing deal deserves approval, but it will certainly help boosters that the Kings will be playing during crunch time on key decisions. The City Council is to see a detailed financing plan for the $387 million arena on Dec. 13, leading to a series of votes before March 1, the deadline set by the NBA for firm financing to be in place. If it isn't, owners are expected to give the go-ahead for the Kings to leave Sacramento.
While the league's new labor agreement doesn't include everything sought by owners in small and midsize markets, it does make it more likely that the Kings will be financially viable and able to compete on the court. Instead of a strict cap on total player salaries, the "luxury tax" would increase significantly on wealthier teams like the Los Angeles Lakers that bust the cap to sign big-name free agents. A new revenue-sharing plan is also expected to send more money to teams like the Kings.
That should make it easier for the Kings owners to contribute to the new arena. On the flip side, those additional financial burdens make it even less likely that the Lakers would welcome another competitor in Southern California – like the Kings in Anaheim.
Under the tentative settlement announced Saturday, training camps would open and teams could begin signing free agents on Dec. 9. The first games would be on Christmas Day; the regular season would be shortened to 66 games from 82.
The Kings need to quickly rebuild the momentum they had before the five-month lockout.
Corporations across the region stepped forward with sponsorships, part of the groundswell of support that persuaded NBA owners to give Sacramento a reprieve. With help from consultants sent by the league, the team had been leading the NBA in new ticket sales and had already sold more season tickets than last year. The drafting of sharpshooter Jimmer Fredette thrilled fans, who greeted him like a rock star.
Like all NBA teams, the Kings will have to work overtime to mend fences with fans, whose best interests seemed to be missing from the negotiating table. Getting the action back on the court, and out of courtrooms and boardrooms, is a good start.
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