Sacramento's Loss, Seattle's Gain and Everyone Else's Something

Seattle will soon welcome another NBA team to the city with the Sacramento Kings nearing a deal to sell the franchise to Seattle. (nasorb.com)

It's been a painful couple of years for Seattle basketball fans. Not only did the fans of the Sonics see their team ripped away from them and move to Oklahoma City but then had to watch the new Thunder win, and win a lot, in their new home. But if Seattle fans believe in karma balancing out the world, then Seattle's world is about to become more balanced. The Maloof family, owners of the Sacramento Kings, is nearing a deal to sell the Kings to a group of investors in Seattle. Of course, this move isn't great for everyone. Sacramento sports fans are the obvious choice (it's their only professional sports option, or it was) but we'll also look at some of the other winners and losers that might not be as apparent.

Loser: Kansas City
When AEG built the Sprint Center in Kansas City, AEG CEO Tim Leiweke told the Kansas City Star in 2004, "I can assure you, there's going to be an anchor tenant" (referring to either an NBA or NHL team making a home at the Sprint Center). Options have come and passed (including a chance at the New York Islanders and this sell with the Kings) yet AEG has sat on its collective hands. For Kansas City fans, the chance of bringing an NBA team back to KC is seeming more like a pipe dream. And it's not the venue or fans, as both the NBA and NHL hold exhibition games at the Sprint Center to packed houses. Making the sting of not landing the Kings worse is that before the Kings were in Sacramento, they called Kansas City home. Seattle's karma may have kicked in to get their team back, but Kansas City fans are still waiting for theirs.


Winner: Isaiah Thomas
The diminutive Kings point guard was born in Tacoma, Washington, and spent all three years of his college career playing for the Washington Huskies. Bittersweet though it may be leaving the first city he called home upon entering the NBA, Thomas may be getting the second best dividend available amongst the rubble. There's no need to call it a homecoming yet, though someone surely has, but Thomas has already proven his worth as a starter in the Association and collected two Rookie of the Month awards and an All-Rookie Second Team nod along the way. Jimmer Fredette would get more resounding yells if the franchise was moving to Utah, but Thomas is consistently going to get the biggest applause in Seattle's new arena. The ensuing surge of confidence could be an on-court bonus, too.

Loser: Tyreke Evans
Already on the trading block because of nagging injuries and uneven play since being named Rookie of the Year in 2010, Evans should be worried. With this news, his future is as unclear as the Kings' chances of staying in Sacramento used to be. Evans will become a restricted free agent this summer, as he was not offered an extension, but when a franchise moves and re-brands, it is a literal fresh start. Evans looked to be the brand of the team's future in 2010, but Seattle fans don't owe Evans anything, which could cause problems for him remaining with the organization. They could shed the lowly reputation they have now by removing some of the names currently on the roster. DeMarcus Cousins, as much trouble as he may be, is producing on the court while Evans has largely stalled. Thomas is already reliable in the first guard role and Fredette is starting to come around, and trading Evans or letting him slide away in free agency could be the Kings' first unofficial move toward their eventual new look.

Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
There will still be hard feelings between Seattle fans and the franchise that bolted to a different small market only to find success with the still-budding potential of two of the NBA's top players (three, if you count James Harden, and four if you count his First Team All-Facial Hair beard). But now Seattle fans will be busy cheering for this new team, meaning less time wishing OKC's bus breaks down on the way to a game. This should relieve some of the hatred and pressure the Thunder organization is feeling from Seattle fans, who can now move on. Oklahoma City also stands to benefit, though, if the franchise relocating to the Pacific Northwest seeks to claim the Supersonics name. The banners earned in Seattle hang from the rafters in OKC, after all. The name has changed but the history is still the same, and borrowing a piece so ingrained in that past glory would cost a princely sum. The Thunder should expect heavy, genuine boos when they return to their old playground, but the extra padding in the franchise's pocket should soften the blow, assuming Chris Hansen and Co. pursue familiar naming rights.

Winners to Everyone but the Public: The Maloofs
Botch your ownership of a professional sports franchise and break the collective heart of a proud fan base. Pass go, immediately collect $500 million. In this deal, the Maloofs will also keep a very small percentage of the team, but will have no say in any of the decisions or operations. To Sacramento fans, or anyone with a conscious, even this is too much. The Maloofs are a big bank getting bailed out by the government in the way that they failed miserably, yet instead of suffering the consequences, will get a nice pay day and keep some dignity with the ownership deal. Remember, these are the same owners who at one point were "working" to build a new arena for the Kings in Sacramento before backing out. Don't feel sympathy for the Maloofs; they will be fine. Feel sympathy for the fans of Sacramento who have been teased and toyed with about if they can keep their franchise and now have no franchise to be teased with.

Kyle Davis co-authored this post.

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In Unsteady Times, the Kings Deserve Attention

DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans in less trying times. (Sacramento Bee/Jose Luis Villegas)

Southern California has a stranglehold on the state's basketball market, long entrenched by years of Los Angeles Lakers dominance and bolstered by the recent emergence of the Clippers as a postseason team. Trades netting All-Star caliber talents last winter (Chris Paul to the Clips) and this summer (Steve Nash and, eventually, Dwight Howard to the Lake Show) ensure that any Western Conference contender will have to play well in SoCal in order to prove their postseason worth.

As southern California basketball flourishes, though, things aren't as full of life in Northern California. The Golden State Warriors have scorer after scorer on the roster, and while an exciting offense keeps them from being dead in the bay water, they don't project as a playoff team in 2012-13.

The Sacramento Kings finished at No. 28 in Marc Stein's final NBA power rankings for last season — two spots out of last place. While it is only one notch higher than the Warriors ranked, make no mistake: the Kings are levels ahead of the Warriors, and a majority of NBA teams, when it comes to being interesting.

The Kings are mercurial. An enigmatic presence that deserves more attention than it will receive. There's reason to invest time in Queen City's NBA franchise, even if there's not much winning to be had by said team.

The average age of the 14 players currently on the roster is 25.35. Historically, NBA players' performance peaks as they work through their late 20s. The elder statesmen are shooting guards John Salmons and Francisco Garcia at 32 and 31, respectively.

Thomas Robinson. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee)

Thomas Robinson, the freshly drafted power forward out of Kansas, will have the same growing pains as any rookie, but he'll be fun to watch in the post with footwork that belies his 21 years and a serviceable short-to-mid-range jumper. Robinson will also pair with DeMarcus Cousins to form one of the more formidable frontcourt tandems in the league.

And, yes, Cousins is a bright spot for the Kings. As much of a headache as he can be — and there are still maturity issues for him to work through — Cousins posted better stats in most categories last year and grabbed nearly 50 more offensive rebounds than in his rookie campaign, despite playing in 17 fewer games because of the lockout-shortened season.

The guard play will be something to watch, too. Tyreke Evans, after winning Rookie of the Year in 2009-10, has produced two seasons of play that didn't live up to expectations and is coming off a case of plantar fasciitis that some will use to asterisk 2012-13. There's still a chance — and, surely, hope among Kings fans —for Evans to return to form. In order to succeed with the pieces around him, though, he may be wise to dish the ball more often. His 16.4 PER last season ranked a tick above the league average of 15. In the final year of his rookie contract, 'Reke has to know that it's time to earn his next deal and this is the inevitable make or break season.

Regardless, Evans will be the Kings' primary ballhandler and depth at point guard is not an issue. Isaiah Thomas, the diminutive baller who played college hoops at Washington, had the best advanced stats of any Kings player last season. The front office also acquired Aaron Brooks, two years removed from winning the Most Improved Player award and coming off a season overseas. He was unhappy in Phoenix before that, but being that he had a say in landing in Sactown and is presumably content, he could still flash the talent that made him attractive in his time with the Houston Rockets.

Jimmer Fredette. (AP/Steve Yeater)

And, of course, there is another pointman living on the bench. Jimmer Freddette is an anomaly. His stellar college performance was not projected to translate to the NBA, but he did put up better numbers than most of his teammates last season. But mostly, the range! His ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor is legendary in the state of Utah, and range like that does not go away. As Kelly Dwyer noted at Ball Don't Lie, The Jimmer is now technically a veteran and has to find his way in The Association soon, lest he wants to find a career elsewhere. The best way to do that may be to choose his shots instead of throwing up everything that comes his way; being a pure shooter on a team that already has enough guys to make plays. That same logic could be in the minds of other teams, too, possibly looking to snag Fredette while his price is low.

The players are young, and seeing how they work together is reason enough to be on NBA League Pass alert when a Kings game is scheduled. Keith Smart, entering his first full year as head coach, should be able to implement a plan after getting to know most of the roster last season. All of this, without mentioning the will-they-won't-they relocation rumors the Maloof family attempted, unsuccessfully, to dispel. If Kings players get the feeling that their play may affect the organization's future, this is when pressure is at an all-time high. It's time to be professional; time to excel.

Sacramento loves the Kings and deserves better than to lose them to a city that would be half as dedicated. Even with the threat of a move hanging above them, this squad will be fun to watch this season. They have players that are capable of lighting up opponents every time they step on the court, but they need to make the transition from NBA cellar dweller to middle-of-the-pack regiment.

Hoops-wise, that's as sunny as NorCal gets this year.


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