I'm reading, but I don't understand the all out panic. Direct quote for David Stern.
"I have advised Mayor Johnson that the NBA will advance pre-development expenses on behalf of the Kings pending our report to the NBA Board of Governors at its meeting on April 12-13."
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/29/437...-troubles.html
First off, Stern says the payment is on behalf of the Kings, so we know which side of this the NBA falls. Second, Stern specifically throws in the meeting with the NBA Board of Governors into the conversation. Read between the lines. Everything Stern says has a purpose. The pressure is on the Maloofs.
However, none of the conversation is about how much in total the Maloofs will invest in the project, so I'm not sure how we're making a leap saying the Kings may not pay ANY money or their $73 mil. Pure speculation and desperation to make that leap.
As far as Stern not wanting another team in LA, or AEG not wanting a team there, or the other owners...how is that a bad thing? All of that favors the city of Sacramento. The Maloofs can throw all the tantrums they want, it won't change the fact that league prefers not to have another team in L.A.
Stern is keeping a close eye on this. If the Maloofs act silly and try to kill this deal with unreasonable requests, they will be out of an NBA franchise. How does that benefit them? The league will NOT let the Maloofs move if they agreed to the term sheet and then try to back out of it. Just won't happen. Doesn't matter what the Maloofs want at this point. They're backed into a corner.
This was always going to be a bumpy ride. There was lots of foreshadowing by the city, the Maloofs and the NBA when they said there is still work to be done. No need to panic on every piece of news.