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Kings' Decline Draws 'Major League' Comparisons

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - The movie 'Major League' is about a Cleveland baseball team and its owner trying to move south to a city with a new stadium by putting together a roster of no-names and losing.  It happened in Hollywood, but is it now happening in real life in Sacramento? 

It's been suggested that the Maloofs got rid of the Kings' best players, on purpose, to make the team worse to make it easier for them to move.

On Tuesday, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said this team was not built to win.  He says he told the NBA commissioner Sacramento fans have not been fooled.

"We didn't just lose our mojo overnight, we didn't just create an environment where you have all these disloyal fans, who aren't supporting their team," said Johnson.  "That's not what happened.  Over the last couple years the basketball product that was put on the court, hasn't been as competitive."

The numbers show the Kings payroll is the worst in the league.  Far from the top three teams, the Maloofs pay their players less than any other team in the league.  In fact, it's just a few thousand dollars above the leagues minimum requirement.

Does Mayor Johnson think the Maloofs are tanking on purpose to make a case for leaving the capitol?

"So to say they sabotaged, or have done things like that on purpose?  I'd like to think it was to put themselves in a position to go after a free agent," said Johnson. "We haven't spent the dollars we need to win."

Some the key players the Maloofs have gotten rid of in the last couple of years: Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin.

Right now, the Kings have 15 wins on the year and 9 home games left.

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