Gavin Maloof

It's an hour before game time at Sacramento's Arco Arena, and the faithful have gathered for battle. Cowbells dangling around their necks, their hair dyed purple and black, they carry hand-painted signs with a simple message: "Beat L.A." No matter that the Los Angeles Lakers have arrived for this mid-January game without three of their best players--Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone, all sidelined because of injuries.

A fluid franchise They were going. Then they were staying. Now the Sacramento Kings really might be going … unless they end up staying. The plight of a franchise seemingly on the road to nowhere gained some traction this week when hedge-fund billionaire Chris Hansen and Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer emerged as candidates to buy the Kings and move them to Seattle. Standing in their way could be Bay Area investor Mark Mastrov, the founder of the 24 Hour Fitness chain who reportedly wants the Kings to walk in place until they can get a new stadium in Sacramento.

Joe and Gavin Maloof, the owners who transformed the NBA's Sacramento Kings from laughingstock to powerhouse, have entered into negotiations to buy the Mighty Ducks from the Walt Disney Co., two sources familiar with the sale process said Friday. And, for the first time since retaining an investment banker to sell its money-losing baseball and hockey teams 14 months ago, Disney confirmed the interest of more than one suitor for the Ducks.

Still seeking a fit for Kings Sorry, Seattle. Apologies, Anaheim. The NBA appears to be on the verge of sending its regrets to the cities that hoped to entice the Sacramento Kings to relocate after this season. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and NBA Commissioner David Stern were scheduled to meet during the All-Star break in Orlando, Fla., to devise a plan to finance a new arena before the league's deadline Thursday. If the sides agree on a proposal, the Sacramento City Council would decide at its March 6 meeting whether to accept the deal.

Sacramento King owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, who are interested in buying the Mighty Ducks, have met with Duck General Manager Bryan Murray and Al Coates, the team's vice president of business operations. Disney officials, who have had the team on the market for four years, arranged the meeting early last week. Murray and Coates were brought in to discuss the Ducks' day-to-day operations. Disney officials, Duck officials and the Maloofs declined to comment.

Guys who own Las Vegas casinos had better know a thing or two about bluffing. And obviously, they relish a gamble. But those aren't the only reasons Sacramento King co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were all smiles when the deal that brought them Ron Artest from Indianapolis was finally sealed. Artest has that effect on everybody. At first. He's funny and sincere, he arrives full of energy, and more to the point, Artest is conscientious about showing up for work. Until he loses interest. And then?

Anaheim has Disneyland, a former Stanley Cup winner in the Ducks and, as of last month, Sir Albert Pujols . So why would the city want any part of the Sacramento Kings? The NBA franchise was in disarray after Coach Paul Westphal temporarily dismissed promising-but-erratic center DeMarcus Cousins last week, only to be fired four days later. The Kings responded by making a Smart hire — not Shaka, mind you, but Keith Smart , he of the NCAA tournament heroics while making a last-minute shot for Indiana against Syracuse in the 1987 national championship game — to replace Westphal.

Still seeking a fit for Kings Sorry, Seattle. Apologies, Anaheim. The NBA appears to be on the verge of sending its regrets to the cities that hoped to entice the Sacramento Kings to relocate after this season. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and NBA Commissioner David Stern were scheduled to meet during the All-Star break in Orlando, Fla., to devise a plan to finance a new arena before the league's deadline Thursday. If the sides agree on a proposal, the Sacramento City Council would decide at its March 6 meeting whether to accept the deal.

A fluid franchise They were going. Then they were staying. Now the Sacramento Kings really might be going … unless they end up staying. The plight of a franchise seemingly on the road to nowhere gained some traction this week when hedge-fund billionaire Chris Hansen and Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer emerged as candidates to buy the Kings and move them to Seattle. Standing in their way could be Bay Area investor Mark Mastrov, the founder of the 24 Hour Fitness chain who reportedly wants the Kings to walk in place until they can get a new stadium in Sacramento.

If you have to kiss a lot of amphibians to find a prince, you have to woo a lot of NBA teams to win one's heart. With March 1 the deadline to file for relocation, Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are maintaining a stony silence about their intentions. This suggests two possibilities for Anaheim with its NBA-ready arena, after months of discussions with the Maloofs, who reportedly visited two weeks ago: It's Plan A, with the Maloofs giving Sacramento a last chance.

Anaheim has Disneyland, a former Stanley Cup winner in the Ducks and, as of last month, Sir Albert Pujols . So why would the city want any part of the Sacramento Kings? The NBA franchise was in disarray after Coach Paul Westphal temporarily dismissed promising-but-erratic center DeMarcus Cousins last week, only to be fired four days later. The Kings responded by making a Smart hire — not Shaka, mind you, but Keith Smart , he of the NCAA tournament heroics while making a last-minute shot for Indiana against Syracuse in the 1987 national championship game — to replace Westphal.

NBA officials now expect the Kings to play next season in Sacramento, league executives told The Times on Friday. Whether the team, which was about to seek permission to move to Honda Center in Anaheim, stays in Sacramento beyond next season is yet to be decided. Officials say it will depend on Sacramento-area governing bodies and businesses fulfilling Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's pledges to the NBA relocation committee last week in New York, including construction of a downtown arena for the Kings.

If you have to kiss a lot of amphibians to find a prince, you have to woo a lot of NBA teams to win one's heart. With March 1 the deadline to file for relocation, Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are maintaining a stony silence about their intentions. This suggests two possibilities for Anaheim with its NBA-ready arena, after months of discussions with the Maloofs, who reportedly visited two weeks ago: It's Plan A, with the Maloofs giving Sacramento a last chance.

The Sacramento Kings fired interim coach Kenny Natt and his four assistants Thursday, a week after the club finished with the NBA's worst record. The Kings, once a model of stability during eight consecutive winning seasons and playoff appearances under coach Rick Adelman, will be looking for their fourth coach since Adelman was fired in 2006 by owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Natt, a longtime NBA assistant for Jerry Sloan and Mike Brown, was promoted after Sacramento fired Reggie Theus on Dec. 15.

Guys who own Las Vegas casinos had better know a thing or two about bluffing. And obviously, they relish a gamble. But those aren't the only reasons Sacramento King co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were all smiles when the deal that brought them Ron Artest from Indianapolis was finally sealed. Artest has that effect on everybody. At first. He's funny and sincere, he arrives full of energy, and more to the point, Artest is conscientious about showing up for work. Until he loses interest. And then?

It's an hour before game time at Sacramento's Arco Arena, and the faithful have gathered for battle. Cowbells dangling around their necks, their hair dyed purple and black, they carry hand-painted signs with a simple message: "Beat L.A." No matter that the Los Angeles Lakers have arrived for this mid-January game without three of their best players--Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone, all sidelined because of injuries.

NBA officials now expect the Kings to play next season in Sacramento, league executives told The Times on Friday. Whether the team, which was about to seek permission to move to Honda Center in Anaheim, stays in Sacramento beyond next season is yet to be decided. Officials say it will depend on Sacramento-area governing bodies and businesses fulfilling Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's pledges to the NBA relocation committee last week in New York, including construction of a downtown arena for the Kings.

The Sacramento Kings fired interim coach Kenny Natt and his four assistants Thursday, a week after the club finished with the NBA's worst record. The Kings, once a model of stability during eight consecutive winning seasons and playoff appearances under coach Rick Adelman, will be looking for their fourth coach since Adelman was fired in 2006 by owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Natt, a longtime NBA assistant for Jerry Sloan and Mike Brown, was promoted after Sacramento fired Reggie Theus on Dec. 15.

Sacramento King owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, who are interested in buying the Mighty Ducks, have met with Duck General Manager Bryan Murray and Al Coates, the team's vice president of business operations. Disney officials, who have had the team on the market for four years, arranged the meeting early last week. Murray and Coates were brought in to discuss the Ducks' day-to-day operations. Disney officials, Duck officials and the Maloofs declined to comment.

Joe and Gavin Maloof, the owners who transformed the NBA's Sacramento Kings from laughingstock to powerhouse, have entered into negotiations to buy the Mighty Ducks from the Walt Disney Co., two sources familiar with the sale process said Friday. And, for the first time since retaining an investment banker to sell its money-losing baseball and hockey teams 14 months ago, Disney confirmed the interest of more than one suitor for the Ducks.