Kings Likely to Remain in Sacramento

                It appears the Kings will be staying in Sacramento after all.  The franchise seemed destined to defect to Seattle after the team's majority owners privately “executed a deal that would land a record sale price to a deep-pocketed and respected group that promised a glittering new downtown arena.”

                But on Monday, an NBA ownership committee unanimously voted against moving the Kings out of Sacramento.  There will be another formal vote for all 30 owners on May 13^th but according to ESPN.com, the full body is expected to ratify the recommendation made by the seven members of the relocation committee on Monday.

                The Kings have now likely staved off relocating for the second time in the past three years as the franchise almost moved to Anaheim in 2011.

                Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson took to twitter to explain his excitement:

 "That's what I'm talking about SACRAMENTO!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!"

                Johnson had to overcome long odds just like the Kings. As of January, he had no competing ownership bid, no plan for a new arena and no working relationship with the Maloof family, the team's owners.

                Johnson was reportedly courted earlier yesterday at a pep rally at a downtown restaurant in Sacramento. Johnson called the owners recommendation a "big day for the city of Sacramento."

                Steve Ballmer and Chris Hansen will likely get the short hand of the stick in this settlement. Ballmer and Hansen bid $365 million for 65 percent of the team and had made a separate deal with a bankruptcy court to pay $15 million for another 7 percent. They were also willing to pay millions more in relocation fees and arena development in a larger market.

                Despite the setback, Hansen has not given up on moving the Kings to Seattle.

                "When we started this process everyone thought it was impossible," Hansen wrote. "While this represents yet another obstacle to achieving our goal, I just wanted to reassure all of you that we have numerous options at our disposal and have absolutely no plans to give up. Impossible is nothing but a state of mind."

                Meanwhile, Johnson wrote another celebratory tweet:

 "I've never been prouder of this city. I thank the ownership group, city leaders, but most of all the BEST FANS IN THE NBA!!!”

                Johnson acknowledged that Seattle, who has been without an NBA team since the Sonics left after the 2007-2008 season, “no doubt deserves a team in the future."

                Seattle mayor Mike McGinn vowed to keep fighting to attain an NBA team.

                "I'm proud of how Sonics fans have rallied together to help Seattle get a team," McGinn said in a statement. "We're going to stay focused on our job: making sure Seattle remains in a position to get a team when the opportunity presents itself."

Mayor Johnson appears to have saved the Kings. (ESPN Photo)