October 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced that framework for a deal that could keep the Raiders in Oakland has been reached with a group lead by Ronnie Lott.

As the clock continues to tick towards midnight for the Raiders’ chances to stay in Oakland, pieces for an 11th hour deal are starting to fall into place.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced that their is “framework” for a deal with a group headed by Ronnie Lott that would transfer ownership of the Coliseum land.

“The mayor said this a.m. there is a framework that that has been agreed upon and now in closed session today (county) and closed session on Nov. 29 (city council). Both bodies will review so we know if we can move forward,” the mayor’s office said.

So to be clear, this isn’t a deal between Oakland and the Raiders. It’s a deal between the city of Oakland and a group to buy land.

What this would accomplish is that it would essentially take the city of Oakland out of the negotiations. Not completely, of course, but that’s the premise of the deal. Mark Davis would be given the opportunity to negotiate with the Ronnie Lott group to come to a deal to build a stadium on the existing land.

The thinking here is that the Warriors will leave to San Francisco, and that the A’s will build a new stadium elsewhere. Leaving Oracle Arena vacant. So the existing land could be leveled and rebuilt into a stadium (and more) for the Raiders.

So while this sounds promising, as Schaff described it, this is “a small step in a complicated deal.”

But it’s worth making note of, and keeping an eye on.