It is becoming more and more likely every day that their will be a third NBA team in southern California next season. The Sacramento Kings filed an extension with the NBA last month to secure a possible move to Anaheim. Now comes word that the Kings have set themselves up with possible names.
↵The Sacramento Bee reports that a lawyer for the Maloof family, the owner of the Kings, has filed to trademark possible names "Anaheim Royals," "Anaheim Royals of Southern California," "Orange County Royals," and "Los Angeles Royals." In addition, the Bee reports that around the same time those trademarks were requested, an unknown entity filed to register the domain names anaheimroyals.com and laroyals.com.
↵However, it appears the Angels-esque "Anaheim Royals of Southern California" won't fly, as the Honda Center's contract with the city doesn't allow it. Per the Orange County Register:
↵↵↵The city's contract with the Honda Center spells out that any NBA team in the facility must be known as the "Anaheim (followed by the team name)."
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The Kings' franchise began as the Rochester Royals in the 1948-49 season, and continued with that name for nine seasons, plus 15 more in Cincinnati. The team changed its name to the Kings in the 1972-73 season when it moved to Kansas City-Omaha.