NEW ORLEANS - Today's game wasn't the story of Monday.
The Maloofs and partner Bob Hernreich entered a binding agreement to sell the team to hedge fund manager Chris Hansen, who would then move the Kings to Seattle to bring back the Supersonics.
Whether Kevin Johnson can pull together a group to convince the NBA to reject the Seattle deal and keep the Kings in Sacramento remains to be seen. But for now, the Kings as constructed will be the team you watch.
The ownership situation puts deals on hold. Whoever the new owners eventually are, they'll probably want say in not only adding financial commitments, but also have a say in who makes that decision.
Basketball president Geoff Petrie is in the last year of his contract and it wasn't clear if the Maloofs would keep him beyond this season if they were still the owners.
Petrie hadn't announced if he wanted to return to the organization but a move to Seattle makes that decision for him.
From Petrie on down, Kings employees could be looking for new jobs.
Coach Keith Smart's contract runs through next season, but a new owner with deep pockets might be content to pay him to not coach the franchise next season.
"Also there's a big pull on everyone else as well," Smart said. "People that work for the organization in other capacities."
Public relations staff, trainers, etc., have no assurances they'll have jobs with the new owners.
*The pending sale (to whoever ends up with control of the team) ends the Maloofs tenure that began with a successful run during the Webber-Divac-Adelman years and has been a dud for the six-plus seasons.
The Maloofs as owners (through Monday's loss) have seen the Kings go 543-549 (.497) with a 32-32 record in the playoffs.
The team was 219-323 (.404) under Jim Thomas wita 3-6 postseason mark. Greg Lukenbill's Kings were 194-380 (.338) with a 0-3 playoff record.
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