This sounds like total BS! http://www.njbiz.com/article/20110509/NJBIZ01/110509897

talk about lobbing one out there. zero chance.

As I said elsewhere, this reminds me of the Bob Stoops to Florida rumors that have been printed as fact in the past. I do, however, think it's possible he was making inquiries for the Maloofs, as he is chairman of the relocation committee.

Kinda funny how we can all spot bad journalism a mile away.

Thunder Respond

http://njbiz.com/article/20110509/NJBIZ01/110509858

The idea of the Thunder wanting to leave all of this, so soon, for Newark is almost humorous.

Does the state of New Jersey still think they're cool or something?

I don't even need to read the article to say - ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!

Okay, now I will go read it.

Okay I was right - what a joke. It was even written by a staff writer, who probably just got fired for printing a made-up story, or a promotion for doubling the number of on-line readers.

In all seriousness, here is my guess what happened. Bennett is head of the relocation committee which is currently trying to find a 'Sacramento Solution'. As part of his job with the NBA I am sure he contacted Newark about the relocation of the Kings (or maybe New Orleans which is currrently owned by the NBA). Someone with the Newark Arena said they talked to Bennett about relocation to Newark and the reporter took it to mean the Thunder.

I don't think the team will ever leave OKC.

Newark, NJ's Prudential Center is temporary home for the NBA New Jersey Nets. It is also current home to the NHL New Jersey Devils.

I doubt very seriously if this story has any fabric.

Newark, NJ's Prudential Center is temporary home for the NBA New Jersey Nets. It is also current home to the NHL New Jersey Devils.

I doubt very seriously if this story has any fabric.

The Nets will leave soon for their new arena in Brooklyn. It is possible that the Kings and Hornets would use the Prudential Center as part of their due diligence in trying to relocate, just like the Sonics did with Las Vegas and Kansas City before moving to OKC.

In 1976 the Nets had to pay the Knicks over 4 million dollars in indemnification fees. Today the fee would be higher as well as it would have to be paid to the Knicks and Nets. No team could afford to locate there.

In 1976 the Nets had to pay the Knicks over 4 million dollars in indemnification fees. Today the fee would be higher as well as it would have to be paid to the Knicks and Nets. No team could afford to locate there.

The Hornets can and it won't cost a penny. The Hornets are owned by the NBA. The Sacramento Kings are still owned by the Maloof brothers but the team is now managed by the NBA as well.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/05/nba-crew-in-sacramento-tries-to-rebuild-kings-image/



So it turns out, the Maloof brothers trying to move the Kings out of Sacramento did not sit well with the locals. Who could have seen that coming?
David Stern responded by sending the A-Team. No, not that A-Team (although some B.A. Baracus could go a long way to helping the situation). This was some of the best from NBA Headquarters who are working in all aspects of the Kings office working to rebuild bridges in the community.

Can just see the ads ... Ain't nothing badder than a Newark Hornet ... it's a Jersey thing.

Can just see the ads ... Ain't nothing badder than a Newark Hornet ... it's a Jersey thing.

Is a Newark Hornet anything like a giant butterfly net? Think about it for a minute.

The Hornets can and it won't cost a penny. The Hornets are owned by the NBA. The Sacramento Kings are still owned by the Maloof brothers but the team is now managed by the NBA as well.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/05/nba-crew-in-sacramento-tries-to-rebuild-kings-image/

The indemnification fee relates to loss of exclusivity of TV rights and market. While the league may own the franchise right now, I know of no professional franchise that is owned by the league forever. As soon as it reverted to private owners, they would be on the hook. The other owners would never allow the relocation if they saw the possibility of this happening to them as well.

The idea of the Thunder wanting to leave all of this, so soon, for Newark is almost humorous.

It's absolutely hysterical!

The indemnification fee relates to loss of exclusivity of TV rights and market. While the league may own the franchise right now, I know of no professional franchise that is owned by the league forever. As soon as it reverted to private owners, they would be on the hook. The other owners would never allow the relocation if they saw the possibility of this happening to them as well.

The NBA has revenue sharing now. There is no indemnification. BTW - the Kings were on track to move to Southern California, home to the Lakers and the Clippers, until Sacramento came up with a few million dollars to keep them one more year.

The NBA has revenue sharing now. There is no indemnification. BTW - the Kings were on track to move to Southern California, home to the Lakers and the Clippers, until Sacramento came up with a few million dollars to keep them one more year.

The NBA currently has a 75 mile territorial radius around each team. This article in the DOK alludes to such.

By Mel Bracht
The Oklahoman
Fox Sports Net will televise 60 to 65 Oklahoma Thunder games this season on a revamped network, FS Oklahoma, as part of a new multiyear television contract, network spokesman Ramon Alvarez said this morning. The NBA team was expected to make the announcement this morning.

The remaining Thunder games apparently will be televised by an Oklahoma City over-the-air station.

FS Oklahoma will launch with the first Thunder telecast in October and will be available statewide as a replacement for FSN Southwest, Alvarez said. The date of the launch has not been set.

FS Oklahoma will air “Thunder Live” pregame and postgame shows, which will be anchored from a studio in Dallas, Alvarez said.

This fall, FS Oklahoma also will begin airing Oklahoma high school state championships as part of a three-year contract with Oklahoma Secondary School Activity Association. The network will air up to 16 live broadcasts and 10 tape-delayed broadcasts of state championship games. The network also is developing plans for auxilliary programming for its Oklahoma coverage, including the Thunder and high schools.

Dallas Mavericks telecasts, which have been carried in Oklahoma in past seasons, still will be available to homes outside of a 75-mile radius of Oklahoma City, the Thunder's main territorial rights, Alvarez said. If the Thunder and the Mavericks are both playing that night, the Thunder telecast will be shown on FS Oklahoma.

If there is a conflict between a Thunder telecast and a college football telecast, one of the events would be available on FSN Plus, Alvzarez said. Cox would be able to show the other event on its local channel, Cox 7 in Oklahoma City and Cox 3 in Tulsa.

http://newsok.com/fs-oklahoma-to-air...?tm=1222702281

So the supersonics are moving again?

The NBA currently has a 75 mile territorial radius around each team. This article in the DOK alludes to such.

Maybe so but the Kings were just about to relocate to Anaheim against the wishes of the Lakers and Clippers and narry a penny was going to be paid to either team. The Clippers play in the same arena as the Lakers and the Clippers didn't pay a fee to the Lakers. The Kings may very well still move to Anaheim if the City of Scarmento doesn't come up with the millions they said they would.

Maybe so but the Kings were just about to relocate to Anaheim against the wishes of the Lakers and Clippers and narry a penny was going to be paid to either team. The Clippers play in the same arena as the Lakers and the Clippers didn't pay a fee to the Lakers. The Kings may very well still move to Anaheim if the City of Scarmento doesn't come up with the millions they said they would.

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION v. SDC BASKETBALL CLUB, INC. [1982]
Taking advantage of the opportunity to move into the vacant Los Angeles Coliseum, the San Diego Clippers relocated without seeking league permission in May, 1984. The league then filed a $25 million lawsuit against the Clippers and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission claiming the move was in violation of the NBA’s by-laws. In March, 1986 Federal Judge Leland Neilsen dismissed the lawsuit citing a recent antitrust decision allowing the recent move of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders to Los Angeles, but a Federal Court in San Francisco ruled that the NBA could proceed with its lawsuit in April, 1987. Finally, in September, the Clippers and NBA reached an out-of-court settlement with the Clippers agreeing to pay the Los Angeles Lakers a $5.5 million indemnity for moving into the Lakers' territory and to sign documents acknowledging the validity of league bylaws regarding franchise movement. (http://apbrbasketball.blogspot.com/2011/04/pro-basketball-legal-cases-1974-84.html)

I stand corrected on the Clippers but note that the move was done without league approval. However, $5.5 million is pennies. I guess if a team does move to Newark and has to pay the Knicks some money then so be it. If the Kings can afford to pay the Lakers and the Clippers they can afford to pay the Knicks and the Nets.

If a team does end up in Newark, wouldn't they also have to pay the Nets since they will be in the area too? Or does the oldest team in a 75 mile radius get the payment?

If a team does end up in Newark, wouldn't they also have to pay the Nets since they will be in the area too? Or does the oldest team in a 75 mile radius get the payment?

I would assume if a payment is required it would go to both the Nets and Knicks, although the Nets would have a hard time making a case for the money since they just moved from there, presumably since they didn't have enough fan support.