Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has stepped back some from his earlier statements that he might announce a competing bid for the Sacramento Kings by the end of this week.

The Mayor now says an announcement could come by next weekend, "We have made considerable progress in discussions with a potential ownership group.  What has become very clear to me is that all of the ownership groups that we are talking to -they recognize that Sacramento is a strong NBA market and they are fully-committed to keeping the team in Sacramento."

Johnson says three groups have approached him about making a bid for the Kings.  Billionaires Ron Burkle and Mark Mastrov are heading up two of the groups. 

Twenty one local business people have committed a million dollars each to help buy the team.

National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern is scheduled to talk with Johnson by phone Thursday.