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Tim Montemayor, who used to host a late-evening show on KHTK before going to work in St. Louis and now in San Francisco for KNBR and KGO Radio, had some interesting tweets late Wednesday. They've been discussed in other threads, but I wanted to boil them down for folks who couldn't get through the 1,000+ comments we're getting each "slow news day."
There is an effort to satisfy both cities in the #NBAKings saga: I am told there is a plan being talked about where #Seattle would ...
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) April 24, 2013
...get an expansion team in 2014/2015 and most of the requirements for that process are already met through the current situation #NBAKings
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) April 24, 2013
The #NBA has gone to great lengths to find a way to satisfy both situations without creating more "disfunction and animosity" in either city
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) April 24, 2013
The lone sticking point is the #Seattle groups willingness to wait another year which I am told they have fought hard against #NBAKings
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) April 24, 2013
I have also confirmed via two sources that David Stern has told #Seattle this is the only path that assures an #NBA return to the market
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) April 24, 2013
Stern has made it clear he will not push or force any other club to relocate to #Seattle he feels the process is bad 4 all parties involved
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) April 24, 2013
If the #Seattle chooses to move ahead with the #NBAKings #Stern told them "it's would be tough to overcome Sacramento's obvious advantage"
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) April 24, 2013
So if Monty's report is accurate, the only thing holding back expansion -- the best solution for both cities and the league -- is Chris Hansen, who refuses to wait another year. For the sake of the people of Seattle, I hope he comes off that position and gets those fans a team. Assuming the report is accurate.
As for the report's accuracy, I'm cautiously optimistic. Montemayor has reported some info on the relocation battle a couple of times, but nothing as major as this. Let's hope other reporters step in and confirm or deny quickly.