Atlanta Hawks: NBA commish-in-waiting Adam Silver says Hawks ownership now stable
By Michael Cunningham
Adam Silver, who is set to replace David Stern as NBA commissioner next spring, said he’s pleased with the investments and commitments made by Hawks owner since a potential sale of the team last year fell through.
“I’m really encouraged by everything I’m hearing and seeing here in addition to the new investment I’m seeing in the [Philips Arena] building here,” Silver said before the Hawks played the Magic last night. “Bruce [Levenson] has become a much more active owner since that aborted sale. He’s now on several important ownership committees. He’s given a long-term agreement to [GM] Danny Ferry. He’s become much more involved in the community.
“I think the franchise has been more than stabilized. I think the prospects are terrific. I’ve personally spent increasing amounts of time with Bruce. He’s clearly passionate about this team and passionate about this team being successful in this market.”
Silver, currently the league’s deputy commissioner, was in Atlanta to meet with Turner Broadcasting executives. He said he also wanted to attend his first Hawks game this season see the improvements made at Philips Arena, which include new video boards and a restaurant. Silver said he was scheduled met to meet after the game with Hawks owners and Ferry.
The NBA last November nixed a sale agreement between Hawks owners and Los Angeles businessman Alex Meruelo after it concluded Meruelo could not meet its financial requirements to operate the team. Last month Levenson said he and his partners considered themselves “extremely fortunate” the sale fell through and are focused on building the franchise for the long term.
Ferry signed a six-year contract with the Hawks last summer. Ferry said at the time that he was persuaded to take the job because of Levenson’s assurances of a long-term commitment to the franchise and promise of increased investments in basketball operations.
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77 comments Add your comment
drmaryb.(""_*).
November 21st, 2012
7:38 am
Blast Off!
I feel your pain bruh … looks like Ssautee just got hi-jacked on here and, that is so asinine to do that. Im one blogger who has stopped posting on the regular for the very same reasons you opine.
Until the AJC upgrade their blog sign-on processes … there is NOTHING to see here. Absolutely BS for the past several years now. This outa – conTROLL fool is beyond the help of MEDS.
Peace – Yawl!!!
Satuee
November 21st, 2012
8:37 am
Guys please check out my new blog page. We will cover a lot of b ball. for all you real ballers, sign up now.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgay.date.com%2Fgay-single%2Fgeorgia-sauteenacoochee15.htm&ei=RUOsUIrOFqGR0gGny4CADg&usg=AFQjCNH3xUEtxiY8OEmjU8Y4wBvaH7AqRA
bruh
November 21st, 2012
8:40 am
The hawks were a much better team last year with Out Al then with him. Last years team would have swept this years team in 4 games.
drmaryb.(""_*).
November 21st, 2012
8:41 am
Suck My Dick bruh!!!
drmaryb.(""_*).
November 21st, 2012
8:43 am
Nice post Sautee.
Sautee.
November 21st, 2012
8:45 am
Thanks Mary. Sign up please. There are women there too, but mostly men.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgay.date.com%2Fgay-single%2Fgeorgia-sauteenacoochee15.htm&ei=RUOsUIrOFqGR0gGny4CADg&usg=AFQjCNH3xUEtxiY8OEmjU8Y4wBvaH7AqRA
vava74
November 21st, 2012
9:06 am
There must be a shortage of lithium pills in the ATL…
Slap Dog Hoops
November 21st, 2012
9:37 am
Stern is leaving after this spring? that’s too bad. he will be missed.
hot.trod.87
November 21st, 2012
10:09 am
we miss you Michael Cunningham !!!!!!!!!!!!
hot.trod.87
November 21st, 2012
10:18 am
Saw Joe miss those wide open shots against LA. Still no ta closer. Thank you Ferry. Picked up Lou Williams aka Mr. 4th quarter. Thank you Danny Ferry. Saw Marvin Williams get taken out of the starting lineup in Utah. thanks you Danny Ferry. See Kirk Hinrich having his worst shooting start in his career not to mention injuries. Thank you Danny Ferry .Atlanta Hawks Kyle Korver has a higher PER w/ the Hawks than he had on the Chicago Bulls the Past 2 Seasons . Thank you Danny Ferry & Larry Drew . Seeing we have the 2nd most cap space Utah ($35m) Atlanta ($34m) Detroit ($28m) Cleveland ($26m) Dallas ($26m) Milwaukee ($20m) Charlotte ($16m) Houston ($13m) Indiana ($7m) LA Clippers ($7m) … Thank you Danny Ferry. Seeing we have a Bi-Annual Exception $1.957 million; TPE $1.375 million (Willie Green) .. We have credit on our salary cap. thank You Danny Ferry… We still have our amnesty ( only player eligible is Al Horford
.. Thank you Danny Ferry. 2013: Owed first-rounder (top-14 protected through 2016, converts to a second-rounder with cash in 2017) from Houston Rockets (Joe Johnson, Sasha Vujacic). Thank you Danny Ferry!!!!! 2013 – Owed second-rounder (top-40 protected through 2015, unprotected in 2016) from Houston Rockets (David Andersen). Thank You Danny Ferry!!!!!!!! Who hired him??? ASG did so big thanks to them for moving beyond their mistakes and making a big improvement in such a short period of time.
ogletree
November 21st, 2012
10:41 am
” We still have our amnesty ( only player eligible is Al Horford ”
I guess if you are rebuilding, which it is time for the hawks to do… that is the logical step. We tried trading Al all summer but had no takers. We have got to repair the log jam of power forwards and shortage of centers. Josh is the teams best power forward and one of the best in the NBA. Hes now being spent and wasted at the Sf to appease Al who while serviceable is not the talent that Josh is.
Al will get Drew fire very soon.
I agree with your premise. Either get something for Al or Amnesty him. Its time to rebuild and move forward.
Al and teague will never get you past the second round. Im some cases will not get you past the 1st round.
hot.trod.87
November 21st, 2012
10:48 am
Not advocating anything.. I think we’re in a MUCH better position than we’ve been in for years.. I love the changes being made and see the flexibility we have to make more changes
I MUS WRITE
November 21st, 2012
11:34 am
KS- Is your 7:15 post a way of reaching out for help. Give me your adress and I’ll send help.Put the knife down and put the top back on the pills. Its not worth it dude… Who gives a ratz azz who is posting under what name blah blah blah….This is a basketball blog your opinion is just one amongst many. I notice your feathers get rufled quite often…Let it go man before u burst a blood vessel…..
Stable Ownership……………………”CRICKETS”
vava74
November 21st, 2012
11:38 am
IMUS,
I think that post by KS was a fake too… even KS at his best will not venture in such a tornado like blog ranting
vava74
November 21st, 2012
11:39 am
Or are you a fake IMUS too?
vava74
November 21st, 2012
11:39 am
And am I the real vava74 ??
I MUS WRITE
November 21st, 2012
11:45 am
VaVa -I agree man there is sum crazy stuff going on around here lately…….Hot Rod- Missing another grown man is just MOIST c’mon son. Sautee whats up dude -Im gonna check out your blog. I just wanna talk hopps and leave all the psycho babble for the crazies…..
Jack Taylor for 3……138 points is impressive for any level of basketball….Kinda bad that he took 108 shots and had 0 assists. Reggie Theus is sumwhere smiling….
I MUS WRITE
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
Yeah its me man …The real IMUS -I havent been hacked but …..My fault KS if that wasnt you. Who evers doing this garbage get a life lonley mudda fugga
doc
November 21st, 2012
11:53 am
yes hot., a bit more to be thankful for this year. at least jj looks happy in brooklyn according to announcers. heh heh
with all that, we havent lost a step as a team according to early polls and i like the brand of ball they play on both sides of the ball. korver wasnt a surprise to me but stevenson has really played hard and been a bit more than i expected though seemingly fragile. korver is a keeper type.
loose marbles around here, hope they are found soon for their sake. scroll works fine.
Big Baby
November 21st, 2012
12:11 pm
TRADE OSH FOR ERSANITY ILLYASOVA!!!
Rev in Tampa
November 21st, 2012
12:23 pm
Relatives called and said they won’t be coming into Atlanta until tomorrow. That means I get to take my kids down to Phillips, cheer my Hawks, and watch JC2 shoot the rock without a conscience.
vava74
November 21st, 2012
1:16 pm
Rev,
Enjoy the game! Hopefully we will not be the “1″ on the Wizzards record!!!!
doc
November 21st, 2012
1:46 pm
enjoy rev, quite a step up from tampa. heh heh
tell us your appraisal of the experience, new scoreboard and the reasonably priced hagen daaz ice cream.
get a win too.
Rev in Tampa
November 21st, 2012
2:04 pm
Doc,
The last time they had the nba in tampa was a preseason game last year b/t heat & magic, but condensation formed on the floor and they canceled the game. So, yea, quite a step up.
doc
November 21st, 2012
3:06 pm
yeah, but you got hockey!!!
dont forget to say hi to my hagen daz man.
Melvin
November 21st, 2012
3:48 pm
doc,
did you purchase season tix this year?
Brendan
November 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
Ya know, I don’t think it can be understated how badly ownership drove the NHL franchise away. It’s hard to expect people who would OTHERWISE go to hockey games … to invest money in that product … when the ownership holds up a neon, flashing sign that reads, “We don’t care about hockey. We’re NOT interested in your concerns over the direction of the team. We’re not discounting season tickets, so deal with it.” And then ultimate INACTION, the retention of Don Waddell throughout the entire history of the team, which included nine (9) Top 10 overall drafts, in a league where 53% percent of the teams make it in, that only qualified for the playoffs once in 11 seasons, and didn’t produce a single, solitary playoff win, from the bounty of all that favorable draft positioning.
My $$ is on this thought process. “Hmmn, I could either pay for my daughter’s braces and son’s college tuition, or … I could invest in a product that even the very owners don’t care about.” And still, such families came out to one (1) game per season, which was more than admirable, under those conditions, at $250 a game, including food, souvenirs, and parking.
If we’re going to call ourselves “realists,” try this on for size. The flight of the Thrashers was quite intentional on the part of the ownership group. Drive the team into the ground, so badly, that even the most “die-hard” Thrasher/hockey fan will stay home, or purposefully abstain in protest, make it completely unprofitable for any prospective local buyer, and ditch the product.
I’d say … the Spirit, LLC, executed that game plan to perfection.