Sacramento mayor to Seattle fans: 'Don't celebrate too early'

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson says he has a plan to keep team from moving to Seattle. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Even though the deal moving the Sacramento Kings to Seattle is all but done and has to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors, Sacramento mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson says that he has a plan to keep the team in town.

Johnson assembled 19 local business leaders who each committed $1 million toward purchasing the Kings and keeping the team in Sacramento, reports the Sacramento Bee.

"Does [the Maloofs-Seattle deal] mean it’s over? Absolutely not," Johnson said today. "Our game plan has not changed."

The Kings owners, the Maloof family, agreed to sell a controlling stake in the Kings to an investment group led by Christopher Hansen last week. Hansen wants to move the team to Seattle and rename them the SuperSonics.

Johnson needs to have a plan in place by March 1. That is the deadline for Hansen's group to file relocation paperwork for the franchise.

Johnson also had a message for the Seattle fans who are eagerly awaiting the return of NBA basketball:

"Don't celebrate too early," Johnson said.