NBA Commissioner David Stern says the group that has reached agreement to purchase the Sacramento Kings has formally filed to relocate the franchise to Seattle.
Stern spoke on Wednesday night in Minneapolis before the Timberwolves hosted San Antonio. He called the Seattle group, led by Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer, "very strong," and that the appropriate committees have been convened to look over the proposed sale of the Kings and the prospective move to Seattle.
The deadline for teams to file for relocation is March 1. It's been expected that the Hansen/Ballmer group would file to move the team to Seattle, but Stern's comments were the first time that decision has been verified.
AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski contributed to this report.
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