A source close to the Sacramento Kings denied today that the team has been sold to a Seattle group.
"That rumor is inaccurate," said the source, who declined to be named.
An NBA representatives declined comment this morning on the rumor, which surfaced on the Internet.
The Twittersphere exploded earlier today with the rumor, launched by a tweet from a food blogger who said the the Kings owners had sold the team a group in Seattle that plans to build an arena and lure a team.
The blogger, Daina Falk, the daughter of sports agent David Falk, did not cite any source, and subsequently erased her tweet.
Kings spokesman Eric Rose reiterated the team's stance that it will not comment about rumors from other cities. "If we had something to announce, we'd announce it," he said.
A spokesman for Chris Hansen, the head of the Seattle arena effort, said Hansen would have no comment.
The Kings had reportedly been involved in talks about a potential move to Virginia Beach. Those talks broke down, however. Virginia Beach officials on Tuesday announced they had dropped their arena efforts for now.
The Maloof family, owners of the Kings, have repeatedly said in the past they do not intend to sell the team. Some recent media reports, however, suggest the family may be willing to sell if buyers offer a price in the $500 million to $600 million range.
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