Kings' Owners Have No Comment On Latest Report Of 'Done Deal'

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A tweet send by sports reporter Matt Steinmetz revived rumors Friday about the Sacramento Kings being sold and moved to Seattle.

Steinmetz tweeted at 9:29 a.m., "I've heard from reliable source that the Kings' sale to Hansen-Ballmer in Seattle is done deal. Source said price (continued on separate website) of the Sale is $525 million. The source said further that the Maloofs will have no stake or decision-making with Seattle team and are out."

But the Maloofs aren't commenting on this latest report.

"Nothing has changed with our position. We will not comment on rumors or speculation about the Sacramento Kings," said a spokesman for the Maloofs.

On Wednesday Yahoo! Sports reporter Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted the sale was being finalized, which touched off a local media storm and revealed the previously unknown fact that the Maloofs were willing to sell.

The Seattle Times is reporting the Maloofs want some operational control as minority owners before they sell their majority stake to a group led by billionaire Chris Hansen, a Seattle native who is intent on bringing NBA basketball back to his home city.

Hansen has the green light to build his $500 million new basketball arena in an area that resembles the Sacramento railyards. But there are two hurdles he'll need to overcome before building can start: an environmental review, and the big sticking point -- a team to play in it.

CBS13's Rob McAllister spoke with an NBA spokesman who says he has no information on any possible deal with the Maloofs  and Seattle, and says nothing has been turned into league that he knows of.

A potential buyer has already come forward to say he'd buy the Kings and keep them in Sacramento. CBSSports.com's Ken Berger tweeted that Mark Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness, has expressed interest in buying the team.

Listen to CBS Sports 1140's interview with Berger.