Atlanta Hawks: ASG says Hawks not for sale
AJC wise guy Jeff Schultz weighed in on the latest report about the Atlanta Spirit Group’s supposed desire to sell the Hawks. The New York Post says ASG is looking to sell Philips Arena and the Hawks as a package deal and wants to unload the Thrashers separately.
Judging by the sports radio chatter this morning and blog comments in the past, Hawks fans would love it if ASG sold the team. But each time these stories flare up, ASG owners (when they’ve addressed the rumors) have consistently denied an interest in selling the team and insist they only want to take on investors. Micheal Gearon Jr. and Bruce Levenson released a statement today:
“As has been shared publicly for more than a year, we are interested in finding minority investors and have engaged a firm to assist us in that effort. We have no plans to move either team, and remain committed to the Hawks, the Thrashers, Philips Arena and the city of Atlanta.”
That’s not exactly a firm “We don’t want to sell the team,” though Gearon also e-mailed WSB-TV’s Zach Klein and said: “I have no interest in selling.”
It seems fans who want ASG to sell are dreaming of a deep-pocketed owner swooping in to spend big money on the franchise and provide one, clear voice for the direction of the team. But the chances of that happening are slim even if ASG is willing to part with the team because, think about it, apparently ASG is having trouble even finding proverbial minority investors.
It’s not an easy sell. The new owner(s) would have to continue to take short-term losses while believing there’s a chance to make money in the near future, an iffy proposition in the Atlanta market. Also, there just don’t seem to be many rich people running around looking to buy franchises nowadays. As the Post story notes, the Nets got “lucky” to sell the team to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov after an 18-month search–and that’s a team in the New York market that eventually play in Brooklyn.
So whether ASG is looking to take on investors or, as the Post says, sell the whole dang thing, first they need to find investors or buyers. Good luck with that.
MC
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297 comments Add your comment
Michael Cunningham
June 18th, 2010
10:25 pm
@ Astro Joe: “@MC, don’t worry about brushing up on your knowledge of local college players who are 1st round prospects. If I were you, I’d start studying the NBDL All Star team roster to determine if Thomas Gardner, Jeremy Richardson or Matt Frieje would be the better candidate to fill that desired shooter role that Pendergraft wants to fill. Coach Drew already knows those guys, so it would make for an easy transition. Time to find my Esteban Batista autographed Chick Fil A bag.”
ummm, best i leave that to the people who can look at those kind of players and make a determination if they can play in the league. though i did hear Gardner looked good with the Antwerp Giants http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF28122009_009
Michael Cunningham
June 18th, 2010
10:30 pm
@JeJe: “CAN WE PLEASE GET AN ASG/BELKIN UPDATE? JESUS”
they don’t get along
Michael Cunningham
June 18th, 2010
10:35 pm
@ The Truth: “When it comes to the recent NBA cap projections as reported by Stern, this sounds look a contradiction compared to his earlier reports of losses totaling 400 million dollars.”
yep. that’s why the players don’t trust the numbers. when called on this contradiction, stern went back to his “fix a broken system” talking points. but really this is just what happens in all labor negotiations: when things are good, labor wants more and sometimes gets it. when things are bad, management wants more and tries to take back what it already gave. both sides will always fight over how good or bad things are when it’s time to renegotiate.
the twist to this is i think some owners wouldn’t mind a lockout. just shut it down for a year and save money. that means ticking off customers and losing some revenue when they start back up but it also could mean winning enough concessions from players that the cost savings more than make up that difference.
JeJe
June 18th, 2010
10:39 pm
what is the POINT IN DRAFTING A CENTER? WE HAVE HORFORD AT C AND SMOOVE AT PF.
U CANNOT MOVE SMOOVE TO THE SF SLOT. WE ARE STUCK WITH WHAT WE HAVE UNLESS WE TRADE SMOOVE
JESUS
U PEOPLE SAY THE SAME !@#$ EVERY FREAKING BLOG. U CAN’T GET A CENTER IF HORFORD AND SMOOVE ARE STUCK AT THOSE POSITIONS. IF SMOOVE PLAYS SF WE WILL WIN 30 GAMES NEXT YEAR
GOOD GOD
Yup!
June 18th, 2010
10:50 pm
Backup Center? Dexter Pittman?
Move Zaza to backup PF? re-sign Randolph Morris?
Ken Strickland
June 18th, 2010
10:50 pm
Finance’s might be another reason Woodson was let go. Over the last 6yrs the ASG has invested a lot of money in lottery and 1st rd picks just to see their investments go undeveloped and unproductive under Woodson. And in some cases, down right ignored. They obviously feel LDrew will reverse that sorry trend. If the Hawks under LDrew’s direction can continue winning, but most importantly, generate the same level of excitement in the playoffs that was generated against the Celtics in O7, things could really turn around for the team, the fans and ownership.
The Truth
June 18th, 2010
11:25 pm
MC: Agreed I wouldn’t put anything pass what these owners might do when it comes to ‘jockey for position’ as it relates to their (real) profit-bottom-line and the NBAPA. However this hint by Stern of a cap increase relative to year dire prediction suggest some potential revenue opportunity being made from off-season FA media coverage. Stern may have set the stage for indirect robust revenue dollars from this as well as fan excitement generated from the endless possibilities of star-studded roster additions from FA acquisitions. In this, it’s a win-win for all involved, the FA players, the teams, and the fans.
Melvin
June 18th, 2010
11:48 pm
Not sure if someone posted this link earlier but its a good writeup on the Hawks by NBADRAFT.net.
http://www.nbadraft.net/state-cap-atlanta-hawks-0
dj
June 18th, 2010
11:50 pm
Even if you find a suitable way to get Hawks tickets,you’ll never find a way to forgive this team for rolling over in the playoffs,pitiful.
JeJe
June 19th, 2010
12:08 am
If I’m the moronic Sund or ASG, I would STRONGLY consider trading our 1st rounder.
There is absolutely nothing to spend it on. If Teague is going to be developed, there’s no point getting a point guard (this draft talent level sucks).
Sell the pick and make some money- the broke ASG could use it.
DO NOT DRAFT A CENTER. WE HAVE HORFORD AND ZAZA (WHO PLAYED VERY SOLIDLY IN THE PLAYOFFS). Resign Collins and Joe Smith for nothing and maybe see if Drew can excite RandMo enough to actually improve (even though RandMo showed glimpses this past year).
It is WOODY’s fault we choke in the playoffs. We had the bench talent to do special things this year. If freaking Teague had been developed we could’ve made it to the ECF.
FIRE SUND
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
June 19th, 2010
12:53 am
FIRE SUND
NO!!!
June 19th, 2010
2:20 am
1. No proven new head coach.
2. No big name free agent is going to play in Atlanta.
3. No chance in 2011.
Can’t wait!!!
G. Jennings
June 19th, 2010
3:24 am
I heard they looking for minority owners to buy into the organization!? If so we can all get a slice of the team ownership like the Green Bay Packers.
sam'l
June 19th, 2010
3:38 am
I don’t think winning fails to excite the fans. It’s the way we lose that makes us ill.
The city will support an intelligent, consistent, courageous team……..
So far, we haven’t had that…….there were good games last year….Phoenix, LA, San Antonio……but also several bad inexcusable ,stupid losses, and of course the humiliation from Orlando.
Apparently, Northclude would like to forget the architect of this team’s futility……who will be lucky to land an assistant coach’s job……anywhere.
sam'l
June 19th, 2010
3:39 am
sorry typo Northclyde
VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA
June 19th, 2010
7:26 am
FIRE
SUND
MIKE WHAT A CON AND HAM
FIRE AL HORFORD AND GET A STARTING CENTER WHO CAN PLAY DEFENSE
FIRE ALL THE HORFORD NUTT HUGGERS WHO REFUSE TO LOOK AT HIS HIS 12PT
CAREER AVERAGE HIS #18 BLOCK SHOT RANKING AMONGST CENTERS, OUT OF 30 NBA
99% SAID HE HIS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE ON THE NBA ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM. HE HAS A .41
FOULS TO BLKS RATIO WHICH MEANS HE IS VERY UNSKILLED AT PLAYING RIM
PROTECTING DEFENSE FIRE HIM AND HIS IGNORANT NUT HUGGERS TOO!
THE HAWKS WILL NEVER COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH AL HORFORD AS YOUR CENTER.!
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS SOMETHING AL CANT PLAY!
VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA
June 19th, 2010
7:27 am
** OUT OF 30 NBA COACHES
99% SAID HE HIS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE ON THE NBA DEFENSIVE TEAM.
VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA
June 19th, 2010
7:31 am
PLEASE FIRE MIKE THAT DAMM CON AND HAM AND GET A REAL SCOPE REPORTING, TEAM UNITING, HAWKS KNOWLEDGEABLE JUST THE FACTS MAAM, BRING US A REAL CENTER DEMANDING BEAT WRITER!
WHERE DID YOU GET THIS LOSER FROM AJC?
VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA
June 19th, 2010
7:32 am
FIRE CON & HAM
FIRE SUND FIRE SUND FIRE SUND FIRE SUND
FIRE AL HORFORD FIRE AL HORFORD FIRE FIRE FIRE!
Save America!
June 19th, 2010
7:57 am
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/18/federal-lands-arizona-travel-warnings-place/
Big Ray
June 19th, 2010
8:45 am
Fire people who can’t disengage the CAPS key….
Big Ray
June 19th, 2010
8:51 am
Tell me you wouldn’t pay to see this:
Truth Serum calling Al Horford “W h o r e f o r d” to his face, then telling him he sucks on defense.
Somebody call security….oops, too late….call the paramedics instead…..
Melvin
June 19th, 2010
8:53 am
Hoopsworld (and other experts) are calling this upcoming draft one of the deepest in years and the Hawks asst GM on saying that he’s not sure they could find a player at 24? I hope he’s just blowing smoke.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16519
JeJe
June 19th, 2010
9:45 am
” Tell me you wouldn’t pay to see this:
Truth Serum calling Al Horford “W h o r e f o r d” to his face, then telling him he sucks on defense.
Somebody call security….oops, too late….call the paramedics instead…”
HILARIOUS!
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
9:51 am
Sautee
@1014 PM RE: SCHOOL a FOOL
Man’ it’s June 20th and you’re still Splainin’ what an UFA is? Bump that! ROF & LOL.
OBRIEN
@ 831 PM RE: “TBS – Very Funny”
Come on OBRIEN, you got a funny BONE too?
Josh & JJ throwing out the “First – Pitch?”. Now you know that’s gonna be a “Wild – Pitch!”.
( A Turn – Over waiting to happen !)
Good Sunday Morning Boyz & Gurls! Rise and Shine! Hit the Deck! Let’s Go!
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:02 am
Michael Cunningham
@ 1035 PM RE: labor negotiations
Can I get an Amen! – From the Congregation! Hello,t hat’s the oldest negotiation tactic in the Book!
The Economics are Good! -vs- The Economics are Bad! In any and all labor talks – it’s the Economy – Stupid!
Either way, The Hawks will be fine:
We can always go to Russia and finds us a billion dollar Arms – Dealer – Right?
Ken Strickland
June 19th, 2010
10:16 am
MELVIN-thanks, that was very interesting and informative reading. It really does put some things into perspective. While the draft isn’t very deep in top notch centers or PG’s, it certainly seems deep in everything else. With so many underclassmen entering the draft, it’s a gold mine for organizations with HC’s that are committed to developing young talent.
Now that we have a HC that actually is, we can surely get a productive player out of this draft. But too me, it seems like a smart move to look at the current development of former Hawk roster players like Othello Hunter, Thomas Gardner or Jeremy Richardson. I looked at the numbers of JCollins, RMorris and OHunter and came up with some interesting results. JCollins-4.8MINS, .7PTS, .6REB: RMorris-4.4MINS, 2.2PTS, 1.4REB: OHunter-4.7MINS, 1.6PTS, 1.7REB.
Considering the lack of consistency, and limited mins played, the pts and rebs for RMorris and OHunter weren’t bad. They’ve proven they can be inexpensive and productive situational players. We all know that Zaza, Crawford, Evans and Bibby will be the main rotational players off the bench, unless Crawford starts.
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:17 am
I GOT the POWER!
It’s gettin’ ….. It’s gettin’ kinda – hectic! (hit song from the ’80’s)
If I were the “Blog-Dog” like MC? I would “Scroll – On past half the “Wanna – Be”
bloggers on here. Especially multiple – named ones and the ALL -CAPS annoying
bloggers – (Big Time!)
But, I am NOT the: Blog-Dog,
Michael Cunningham IS!
Knowledge Quest
June 19th, 2010
10:25 am
I have to agree that Al normally does better against smaller opponents than against guys his size or bigger.
Blue Ray you and the peanut gallery must learn that its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.
BTW, Im sure glad the paramedics got there in time. I wish Al a speedy recovery. He did not understand defense in basketball and apparently not boxing either…..
Knowledge Quest
June 19th, 2010
10:27 am
If I were Mike con “what a Ham”, Id just resign! Lets get a writer with out an anterior motive take charge. Why cant we get Mark Bradley instead?
Joe Mama
June 19th, 2010
10:31 am
LMAO @
Knowledge Quest
June 19th, 2010
10:25 am
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:33 am
INTELECTUALLY STIMULATING!
@ 1025 AM: as Mark Jackson would say, “Mamma! There goes that MAN!”
It’ the size of the FIGHT in the dog!
How does one judge – The Heart of a Man?” -drmaryb-
Can YOU scout – Energy? -the donkey-
Joe Mama
June 19th, 2010
10:34 am
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:17 am
Yea he reminds me of a dog too. Isnt a hyena a dog?
Truth-Serum
June 19th, 2010
10:37 am
Love you Mary, got to go. Ill look for you again later!
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:39 am
Joe Mamma
I have, NO dog in – that fight.
ROF.
Truth-Serum
June 19th, 2010
10:41 am
By the way peanut gallery “W h o r e f o r d” is pronounced Horford, there no difference in the sound or the definitions. The two are synonymous.
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:41 am
Who’s Your Daddy?
Grand – Daddy! Top of the Day – too You!
Hawks73
June 19th, 2010
10:41 am
I find it humorous that the real problem with the Hawks are us, the fans, and not the ownership group. I have lived in GA my entire 37 years of existence and I distinctly remember the days of Fratello and different ownership group and yes…SELLOUTS at the old Omni!
It’s disingenuous to blame us (the Fans) when it’s clear that if we have a LEGITIMATE ownership group that was COMMITTED to fielding the very best product on the court, that fans wouldn’t support (the product).
If you look at all of our professional franchise(s) history you will see that WINNING alone will bring us in droves to the park, court, field. The Braves & Falcons have had lean years under different management groups and failed to gain our trust, it’s the PERCEPTION of the OWNERSHIP group that will either determine confidence or in still apathy.
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:48 am
Truth – Serum
(@ 1037 AM post)
I Love You too! Please, inject me with that Pheno-Barbiol.
Sautee
June 19th, 2010
10:54 am
Truth-serum,
Still whining about Horford, I see.
You are the biggest whiner in all of Hawks fandom, IMHO.
It takes an ALL-TIME whiner to WHINE about having an All-Star Center. Un-freakin’ believable.
It’s like complaining about the farmers with your mouth full.
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
10:57 am
Hawks73
‘Nuff Said!”. Co-Sign that ISH!
Can I get an Amen? From the Congregation!
“IF You build a WINNER? We WILL come!” -drmaryb-
Dept. of Unintended irony
June 19th, 2010
11:05 am
“Lets get a writer with out an anterior motive take charge.”
Yeah, I never liked it when a writer had his motive in front either.
ROFLOL!
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
11:18 am
Horford!
Is a CENTER – piece!
drmaryb
June 19th, 2010
11:21 am
MC
Check that grammar: Anterior -vs- Interior? Mnnnhhh …..
ryan
June 19th, 2010
11:46 am
I think the way you can get the owners to spend money is the fans have to get angry look at Boston and New york when they angry they get what they want Atlanta has to get mean and nasty you can not let these owners push you around.
rusty
June 19th, 2010
12:33 pm
why have the fans not really taken to this team. 1= they should have been playing uptemo ball in stead of
iso basketball with no team work(in the start of the season when they played so well they were running & the fans loved that] 2= every time they looked good they would get blown out of games (this happened way more than it should have prob due to our poor iso & switching defense.3= we need a leader on the
court( we dont have one) 4= no one liked woody & his style of coaching & pig headness) 5= the team needs to play with more purpose ) basically this team played subpar in the playoffs when they needed to step their game up.
Dezz Nuttz
June 19th, 2010
12:38 pm
Sautee I cant figure out how you can possibly about your mouth full with Dezz Nuttz!
Dezz Nuttz
June 19th, 2010
12:41 pm
You whine about Dezz nuttz with yo mouth full….Dat aint right Saltee… Are you made coz Truth Serum calls you the “Legendary Brown OOzzzz of Undershorts?
northcyde
June 19th, 2010
12:41 pm
sam’l
June 19th, 2010
3:38 am
I don’t think winning fails to excite the fans. It’s the way we lose that makes us ill.
The city will support an intelligent, consistent, courageous team……..
So far, we haven’t had that…….there were good games last year….Phoenix, LA, San Antonio……but also several bad inexcusable ,stupid losses, and of course the humiliation from Orlando.
Apparently, Northclude would like to forget the architect of this team’s futility……who will be lucky to land an assistant coach’s job……anywhere.
*******************
Bad losses by the Hawks:
- the entire Orlando series + 2 regular season blowouts
- Game 3 and Game 5 vs Milwaukee
- the 2 Knick home games
- the debacle @ Golden St
- the Woody/Kidd run-in vs Dallas
- getting blown out twice vs Miami
- losing @ New Orleans w/o Chris Paul
- getting blown out @ Charlotte
Good wins by the Hawks:
- winning Game 2 and a potential series ending Game 6 @ Milwaukee
- beat the Lakers
- beat the Magic ( Smoove’s buzzer beating dunk )
- beat San Antonio in OT
- beat Charlotte in OT ( JJ buzzer beater )
- beat Phoenix ( Crawford buzzer beater )
- swept the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics
- swept Utah
- swept Portland ( when their main players were healthy )
- beat Houston ( Smoove buzzer beater dunk )
- beat Dallas in Dallas
- 34 home wins overall ( 2nd best in franchise history )
- 5 – 1 vs the two NBA Finals participants
- 21 – 9 vs the “stronger” Western Conference
- 30 wins by 10 points or more
sam’l . . . you’re right. The bad losses DO stick with the fans more than the good wins. Every team in the league goes through bad games throughout the season. But this team has been very good at home for the past 2 years.
Remembering the playoffs is a given. We played well for maybe 3.5 games in the playoffs. The Orland series was a complete stinker, and fans have a right to be mad at that. But that doesn’t completely tarnish what that team did last year, and that’s take a major step in becoming a top 10 team in this league. If JJ comes back, expectations are still going to be relatively high.
The Hawks have NEVER gotten to the Eastern Conference Finals since they’ve been in Boston. As “bad” as people want to make last season to be, that was one of the top 5 teams in ATLANTA HAWK HISTORY that you saw play last year . . . not some .500 squad.
No way I’m going to act like I didn’t enjoy last year much more than I was disappointed. Ownership may be part of the problem, but some of the fans MUST ADMIT that there is something extremely wrong with the sports mentality of Atlanta fans. You just can’t keep blaming everything else around the fans . . and not place a large chunk of the blame on the fans themselves.
Before the Bibby trade, I bet every Hawk fan ( both die hard and casual ) would KILL to say that we were a 50+ win team that made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. But now that we’re here, the apathy still remains. The bar of expectation keeps getting raised, which will make some of you even mad at a team that won 50 games.
We failed miserably against Orlando. That’s the major black eye on last season. So we must try to match up better against them in the future. But if JJ comes back, this is still a top 10 ballclub, if Drew can accomplish half of what he wants to do.
Just keep that in mind when you see people borderline trash this team and its players.
James Brown
June 19th, 2010
12:47 pm
hey hey Hayyy, Mazio, Atlanta’s got to be funky, What-so-ever they do… they got to get a center!
SUNG TO THE TUNE OF MAKE IT FUNKY
1-2-3 GET A CENTER…GET A CENTER… GET A CENTER