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Sacramento Kings’ owners to reveal decision about possible move Monday

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The deadline for filing an application to relocate to Anaheim is Monday for Sacramento Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, and whether they will push to move or not remained a mystery even to some of those closest to the situation.

A Kings spokesman declined to comment late Sunday night.

Officials in Anaheim say they have wavered throughout the week in predicting whether the Maloofs will have the stomach to turn their back on $10 million of support mobilized by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, and on the NBA itself, with key league officials concluding the Maloofs should give Sacramento at least another year to continue work toward a new downtown arena for the Kings.

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Yet, the Maloofs find the idea of moving to Honda Center appealing, especially with arena operator and Ducks owner Henry Samueli backing $75 million in city-approved bonds that can be used for relocation fees and improvements to the arena.

A move would leave Samueli strongly positioned to help invest in the Anaheim NBA team, expected to be called the Royals. The Maloofs are reportedly in financial straits thanks to the struggle of their Las Vegas hotel-casino, The Palms.

From The Palms, the Maloofs’ brother, George, told the Sacramento Bee on Sunday that the brothers have finalized their decision and will share it with the league Monday.

An announcement is expected Monday morning.

An official close to the situation but unauthorized to discuss it publicly said the Maloofs have consulted a high-powered antitrust attorney to determine how they could proceed if the NBA were to deny their application for relocation -- which would be voted on by the NBA’s Board of Governors within 120 days and would require a majority of support from the 30 teams to be approved.

--Lance Pugmire

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