Today's practice was about defensive concepts and the coditioning test. Smart said almost everyone passed. Wouldn't say who didn't.

"No one will notice a change. In fact, if anything, you’re going to see another growth spurt."

"The Kings with no castle: The saga in Sacramento will be a topic for another day, but here's the relatively brief update: It's been one relocation rumor after another since the Maloof family that owns the team backed out of a downtown arena deal with the city and arena development company AEG. That's what happens when an NBA team is stuck playing in a 24-year-old arena, which was built on the cheap to begin with.

Business aside, there is some basketball worth watching in Sacramento this season because of the presence of two fascinating young stars: enigmatic center DeMarcus Cousins and (insert position if you know it here) Tyreke Evans. Cousins is the best center in the game not named Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum, and it's entirely possible that the gap between him and them closes significantly this season. And for all the talk of his rough start with the U.S. select team during the summer, there's simply no way that spending substantial time on the court with future Hall of Famers can hurt a young man's game.

As for Evans, the former Rookie of the Year is entering a contract year without clarity on two key fronts: what position he plays and whether this is his team anymore. Cousins has clearly emerged as the organization's centerpiece, but that doesn't mean Evans can't help secure his own future with a much-improved year. The push to make him a point guard ended last season and won't be revived now with Isaiah Thomas, Aaron Brooks and Jimmer Fredette all on board. Speaking of Fredette, the former BYU dynamo who mostly struggled as a rookie is looking like the odd man out at the moment and those rumblings about a possible trade could grow louder in the coming months." - Sam Amick of SI.com features 10 non-Super-Team storylines.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/09/24/storylines-nba-season/1.html

Parties from both sides telling me Sleep Train talks collapsed in part due to the Kings not offering a guarantee to stay beyond this season.

Source: Carl's Jr NOT renewing with the Kings, another MAJOR sponsor in jeopardy. Some concerns as well amongst liquor partners as to saturation of Maloof Zing vodka brand, and potential favoritism over bev partners. Aaaaand, Sleep Train has reportedly pulled out of naming rights talks for the former ARCO arena. Finally (I think), it appears that other big sponsor that is leaning towards not sponsoring the Kings is Thunder Valley Casino. Not set though.

...but all you need to know is this: now, practically the last thing standing in the way of an arena rising on the site is Hansen finding a team to buy and move.

Well, that and the Mariners... Last month it emerged that the team has funded opposition to the arena plan, including paying for a survey showing residents were against publicly financing an NBA arena.

The Maloofs owe about $70 million to the city of Sacramento and well over $100 million to the NBA, and a sales price in excess of $400 million is needed to give the 43 percent stakeholders an easy way out of Dodge. Considering the franchise is valued at $300 million by Forbes, which is a generous valuation, Hansen would need to hope that the bump of moving to a larger market in Seattle and owning land near the arena would justify the inequity there if he plans to meet the family’s needs.

But more importantly, when you factor in a relocation fee, which sources tell me will be assessed to give Sacramento buyers a fair shot at buying the team, Hansen could be looking at $500 million or more to buy the Kings. After paying $300 million and counting to build an arena, that’s approaching a billion dollars to get in the game.

It’s possible that the man known for his patience will wait for a less toxic situation to pop up, and it’s fair to wonder now if the league would reconsider expansion now that multiple cities have expressed interest in NBA clubs.

How do you finish last, by a landslide, in fan voting for owner honesty? For the Kings' brother bosses, Gavin and Joe Maloof, it takes six easy steps:
1)Play footsie with Anaheim, where city officials and Ducks owner Henry Samueli offered to help you relocate.
2)Withdraw your plans, in part because local Sacramento businesses pledge to keep you in town.
3) Strike a deal with Mayor Kevin Johnson to build a $391 million arena in the Sactown rail yards, with the city paying up to 255 million, and the NBA footing a 67 million loan to help cover the rest.
4) Cry in public when announcing the deal.
5)Triumphantly hold the mayor's hands aloft at the first Kings home game after the deal.
6)Back out 6 weeks later.

I was reading through the mag, trying to find something on the negative about the Magoofs and was pleasantly surprised to find this article on page 56. There is more but its good to see that a national sports magazine has the correct gist of things

Rich ‏@RichB702
@aaronbruski Says Maloofs and reps were at Westin town center nearly a month negotiating.

Francisco Garcia "is available (in a trade) and has been for some time," according to Hoopsworld's Steve Kyler.
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Garcia has a $6.1 million salary in 2012-13 and then a team option for $6.4 million in 2013-14, so he's essentially an expiring contract for a team that wouldn't want to keep him beyond this year. However, we can't imagine there is much of a market for him due to his consistent battles with injuries and his subpar 2011-12 season when he averaged just 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds on 37.6 percent shooting in 16 minutes per game.
Source: Hoopsworld Aug 30 - 10:44 AM E.T.