Atlanta Hawks Sale Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation on Potential New Owners
As of Jan. 2, 100 percent of the Atlanta Hawks franchise is up for sale. Multiple groups have already shown interest in purchasing the team, with the only caveat being the new owner must keep the team in the city of Atlanta.
Continue for updates.
Adam Silver Comments on Possible Hawks Relocation
Thursday, Jan. 15
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he did not want to see the Atlanta Hawks relocated as part of their sale in an interview Wednesday, according to The Associated Press (via Fox Sports):
""I do want to see the Hawks stay in Atlanta, and we've made that clear to the market," he said Wednesday.
Silver said the current owners, who put the team up for sale this month, are also intent on keeping the franchise in the city.
"I don't think it will be a real issue," he said, "because I would be shocked if they were to sell to a group whose intention it was to even seek to transfer the team out of Atlanta.''
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Keeping the Hawks in Atlanta has been a priority for the league since they officially went on the market on Jan. 2.
Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first passed along statements from league spokesman Mike Bass stating that the league planned on keeping the team in the city. Vivlamore also talked to Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, who told the reporter that the league had informed him that its desire was to keep the team in Atlanta.
Hank Aaron Joins Group Interested in Purchasing Hawks
Sunday, Jan. 11
Atlanta baseball legend Hank Aaron has reportedly entered the fray with a group attempting to purchase the Hawks, according to ESPN's Marc Stein:
New Group Interested in Purchasing Hawks
Thursday, Jan. 8
A new group has emerged as a potential candidate to purchase the Hawks, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com:
The 42-year-old Hill wrapped up a 17-year NBA career in 2013, playing with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers. He currently works as an NBA analyst for NBA TV. Junior Bridgeman had a 12-year career spanning from 1975-87. The majority of his career was spent with the Milwaukee Bucks.
As for Bryan Colangelo, he's the former president and CEO of the Toronto Raptors. He won the NBA Executive of the Year in 2005 and 2007. His father Jerry formerly owned the Phoenix Suns and is currently the managing director of the USA Basketball men's national team.
Hawks 100 Percent Up For Sale
Wednesday, Jan. 7
The Atlanta Hawks have been among the Eastern Conference's best teams this season, but much of the focus over the past several days has related to an eventual ownership change.
According to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the entire franchise is now up for sale, as of January 2:
There has been plenty of speculation regarding who might step up and purchase the team, and Vivlamore has been given several names by his sources.
Per Vivlamore, former Memphis Grizzlies CEO Jason Levian, Grizzlies vice chairman Steve Kaplan, CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corporation Sheldon Adelson, former Toronto Raptors CEO Bryan Colangelo and former NBA All-Star Grant Hill have all shown interest in making a play for the Hawks.
Also, ESPN's Bill Simmons is reporting that a pair of offers to buy the team and move it to Seattle are being prepared as well:
It is still extremely early in the process, so it is likely that many of the current candidates will fall by the wayside before the field gets whittled down to a few serious buyers.
There is a lot to like about the team in terms of its current on-court performance, and there is no question that the Hawks' ownership saga will be an intriguing subplot for the remainder of the 2014-15 season and beyond.
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