The Sacramento Kings saga finally appears to be coming to an end, as the NBA has approved the sale of the team: “After owners blocked the relocation of the franchise to Seattle earlier this month, the Maloof family reached an agreement to sell a 65 percent controlling interest in the Kings to Ranadive’s group at a total franchise valuation of $535 million. Ranadive, who will have to sell his minority stake in the Golden State Warriors, becomes the NBA’s first Indian-born majority owner. The Sacramento group also includes 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov, former Facebook senior executive Chris Kelly and the Jacobs family that owns communications giant Qualcomm. Moments after the league announced the sale was approved, Ranadive thanked owners in a tweet and wrote that it was an honor and a privilege “to be part of such an amazing community.” He also updated his Twitter profile to show that he is the owner of the Kings.”
Reports say that Celtics’ GM Danny Ainge has not come to a decision yet, but may be likely to buy out Paul Pierce: “While no decision on Pierce’s future has been made yet, how Ainge handles Pierce’s situation may have an impact on whether Kevin Garnett returns to Boston for a 19th NBA season, decides to retire, or urges the C’s to trade him to a contender which would force him to lift his no-trade clause. During All-Star weekend, Garnett was emphatic that he had no plans to waive his no-trade clause. “I bleed green. I die green,” Garnett said at the time. “But it is a business. Trades are a part of this league. Every year, you’re going to hear things.” But when pressed about the likelihood of him being traded Garnett said, “If I were y’all, I wouldn’t read too much into it.” The only noteworthy changes since that time are that Garnett is a year older and the Celtics are seemingly more motivated than previous years to trade Pierce who is due $15.3 million this season if he is not bought out by June 30.”
While Nerlens Noel is still projected by most to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Victor Oladipo is quietly rising up the charts: “lthough Oladipo didn’t do anything surprising at the combine, his athletic testing (he measured with an off-the-charts 42-inch vertical) and his interviews appear to have given him momentum. A number of GMs told me Oladipo was their favorite player in the draft. That doesn’t mean they’ll draft him No. 1, but, as one GM said, “I know he’s the one guy in this draft that my head coach would love to have right now. He’s an impressive young man on and off the court.” GMs were impressed by Oladipo’s mixture of candor and intensity in the interviews. Although there still are legitimate questions about his upside offensively, and it’s unlikely the Cavs will select him at No. 1, Oladipo now looks like a lock to go in the top 5, with Orlando, Charlotte and Phoenix his most likely landing spots.”
Ben Baroff is a basketball journalist who blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter here.