Sacramento Kings "Moving From Arco Arena" Speculation is Just That

Today the Orange County Register pounced on an article by the Bloomberg News service stating that the Maloof Family was in danger of losing the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.  The Register speculated that "if" the Maloofs were in financial trouble, then "perhaps" they might decide to move the Kings.  Note my use of quotation marks.  This isn't news, but merely speculation.

Later today reporters talked to Joe Maloof about the Register's report.  Unfortunately, the only part anyone outside of Sacramento seemed to concentrate on was this:

We are looking at all options to ensure the long term viability of this franchise.

Many outlets have now reported that this means the Maloofs are now considering moving the Kings.

But lets take a look at the full quote by Mr. Maloof, thanks to the excellent reporting of Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee:

We are looking at all options to ensure the long term viability of this franchise. We're looking at all our options. Of course you're going to look at your options! We're businessmen. We've been at this for 10 years without any (arena) success.

"There is a sense of urgency because we've been at this for so long ... We can't sugarcoat it. Everybody knows the region needs a new arena. When the NCAA (Tournament) is refusing to schedule events in Sac, you have to acknowledge that you need an entertainment venue. I can't give you a time table, but at some point, something has to get done ... We want to be right here in Sacramento. We've always said that. It's been what? Eleven years? Rumors, rumors, rumors. I get tired of answering all these questions. Can't we just talk about how much better DeMarcus Cousins is getting?"

So as you can see, the Maloofs are simply re-iterating what they have said many times already in the past.  Moving has and always will be an option.  But so is staying.  So is waiting to see what comes of the Jan 25th City Council Meeting which will likely decide the future of basketball in Sacramento.  Four arena proposals will be presented and one will likely be chosen.  If that plan falls apart too, as so many others have before, then all bets are off and the Maloofs can and will look at the rest of their options.  It doesn't make sense to do anything before that though, and I'll be very surprised if the Maloofs file for relocation before this years deadline of March 31st, 2011.

So until then, how great has that DeMarcus Cousins been lately?