A look at potential NBA relocation candidates

Atlanta Hawks

Arena: Philips Arena (18,729).

Cost: $213 million (privately financed).

Opened: September 1999.

Lease: Atlanta Spirit, which owns the Hawks and NHL's Thrashers, owns the arena.

Attendance rank: 20th.

Net loss: Lost $5.6 million (17th).

Sponsorship revenue: $13.5 million (16th).

Summary: Attendance annually ranks near the bottom of the league, and the ownership group is split between three quarreling factions, but the Hawks are firmly rooted in Atlanta. Co-owner Michael Gearon, who has ties locally, appears as if he'll win a February 2009 trial to determine who gains control of the team. Ownership would sell the profit-draining Thrashers before the Hawks.

Charlotte Bobcats

Arena: Time Warner Cable Arena (19,077).

Cost: $260 million (publicly financed).

Opened: October 2005.

Lease: Expires in 2030, which includes a sliding penalty scale for early termination starting with a $200 million buyout if the team leaves before 2010.

Attendance rank: 24th.

Net income: $10.8 million (10th).

Sponsorship revenue: $9.3 million (24th).

Summary: Four years after the inception of the expansion Bobcats, the relationship between owner Bob Johnson and the city has become acrimonious. Johnson claims the team isn't receiving enough support from corporate sponsors and is losing money. Forbes estimated the team has declined $23 million in value since Johnson paid $300 million.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Arena: Target Center (19,356).

Cost: $104 million (publicly financed).

Opened: October 1990.

Lease: Expires 2025.

Attendance rank: 25th.

Net loss: Lost $24.4 million (29th).

Sponsorship revenue: $16.8 million (9th).

Summary: Target Center has undergone $16 million in renovations in the past three years, but it's one of the oldest buildings in the NBA and is in dire need of a major makeover. Last year, the team transferred management of the building to the city after a three-year period during which it lost millions. The city lost the NHL's North Stars in 1993, and the NHL's Wild, an expansion team in 2000, outdraw the Timberwolves annually.

Los Angeles Clippers

Arena: Staples Center (19,060).

Cost: $375 million (publicly/privately financed).

Opened: October 1999.

Lease: Expires 2014.

Attendance rank: 19th.

Net income: $4.9 million (13th).

Sponsorship revenue: $6.2 million (28th).

Summary: The vagabond Clippers, originally the Buffalo Braves, have a long history of moving, and they're second-class citizens in their own building. Owner Donald Sterling has flirted with Kansas City in recent years, but he has no interest in selling and isn't motivated to leave Los Angeles. The team will open a $200 million practice facility in Playa Vista this year.

Memphis Grizzlies

Arena: FedEx Forum (18,119).

Cost: $250 million (publicly/privately financed).

Opened: September 2004.

Lease: Expires 2014 and includes roughly $100 million in penalties if the team moves.

Attendance rank: 29th.

Net loss: Lost $20.1 million (28th)

Sponsorship revenue: $16.3 million (11th)

Summary: A prime candidate because owner Michael Heisley has tried unsuccessfully to sell the team twice and the team, which began in Vancouver, has Northwest roots. Forbes valued the team at $276 million, but Heisley's selling price begins at $350 million.

Milwaukee Bucks

Arena: Bradley Center (18,717).

Cost: $90 million (publicly financed).

Opened: October 1988.

Lease: Expires Sept. 30, 2008.

Attendance rank: 22nd.

Net loss: Lost $16.2 million (25th)

Sponsorship revenue: $10.7 million (22nd).

Summary: Sen. Herb Kohl, 73, considered selling the team a few years ago to Michael Jordan, and league insiders say he's looking to sell once again. Forbes ranked the Bucks 29th in team value at $269 million in 2007. Kohl wants to keep the team in Milwaukee, but the city ranks 35th in market size, according to economic reports.

New Orleans Hornets

Arena: New Orleans Arena (18,208).

Cost: $84 million (publicly financed).

Opened: October 1999.

Lease: Expires in 2014; includes an opt-out clause in 2009 and penalties as much as $100 million.

Attendance rank: 26th.

Net loss: Lost $8.3 million (19th).

Sponsorship revenue: $14 million (14th).

Summary: A surprise playoff run helped boost attendance. The Hornets, second-to-last in the league in attendance at the All-Star break (12,645), sold out 14 of their last 19 home games, including the playoffs, averaging 16,783. Still, they ranked 26th overall in the league and must average 14,735 fans next season to prevent owner George Shinn from opting out.

Portland Trail Blazers

Arena: Rose Garden (19,980).

Cost: $262 million (publicly/privately financed).

Opened: October 1995.

Lease: Expires 2025. Team owner Paul Allen also owns and manages the building, and the team has an agreement with the city to play in Portland through 2023.

Attendance rank: 6th.

Net loss: Lost $43 million (30th).

Sponsorship revenue: $9.9 million (23rd).

Summary: Speculation continues about Allen's interest in moving the Blazers to Seattle. He bailed out the Seahawks years ago, but the Blazers rumors are unfounded and appear to be wishful thinking. Without the Sonics, Allen has cornered the Northwest market.

Sacramento Kings

Arena: Arco Arena (17,317).

Cost: $40 million (privately financed).

Opened: 1998.

Lease: The Maloof family owns the team and also owns and manages the building.

Attendance rank: 27th.

Net income: $3.8 million (14th).

Sponsorship revenue: $11.4 million (19th).

Summary: The Kings once had an eight-year sellout streak from 1999 to 2007. The glory days have been replaced by a slow rebuilding period that's failed to excite fans. Even more alarming is the Kings' push for a new arena is now eight years old. The NBA took over negotiations last year and there's still no clear path for a resolution. The Maloofs have publicly committed to Sacramento, but if they leave, they're likely to bolt for Las Vegas, where they have strong business ties.

Note: The attendance rankings are from the 2007-08 season; the net income figures are for the 2006-07 season; the sponsorship revenue figures are from the 2005-06 season.