When it became apparent that instead of processing the purchase of the Sacramento Kings by Chris Hansen as would normally happen the NBA Board of Governors would look at the situation holistically, David Stern decided to combine the two involved committees of owners — the finance committee, which "vets" proposed new owners and the relocation committee — and have them consider the situation.
Those two committees actually share a number of members, so there are 12 total current members of the so-called supercommittee. It's unclear if all will attend Wednesday's meeting in New York, where the groups from Seattle and Sacramento will make their cases. Nonetheless, here is that list.
Micky Arison, Heat
Clay Bennett, Thunder
Jim Buss, Lakers
Jim Dolan, Knicks
Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics
Robert Sarver, Suns
Herb Simon, Pacers
Larry Tanenbaum, Raptors
Glen Taylor, Timberwolves
Peter Holt, Spurs
Ted Leonsis, Wizards
Greg Miller, Jazz
There are two missing names I totally wish I saw there: Joe Lacob of the Warriors and Mark Cuban of the Mavericks. Lacob doesn't want San Jose to be a threat; if the Kings leave Northern California, S.J. and Larry Ellison loom. So long as there is a team in Sacramento, S.J. is far less attractive. Cuban, I think, would be sympathetic to the argument that a team valued at $525 million in Sacramento is more valuable to the league's owners than a team valued at $525 million in Seattle. I could be wrong — Cuban's hard to read — but I'd have liked to see someone like him on the committee.
Leonsis is a big deal. He's reportedly friends with Vivek Ranadivé. Relationships matter. I can't judge whether small-market teams will be sympathetic. I think they will: a huge valuation in Sacramento would be boon for someone like Taylor, who is trying to sell his team. Holt will be asking San Antonio taxpayers for more help at some point; would he prefer the Sacramento subsidy example over the Seattle version when opponents point out what other cities contribute? Maybe, but it's hard to tell how much sway that will hold. What about Greg Miller? Is he going to be more concerned with freedom to sell to whomever he wants or with seeing that huge small-market valuation?
This is a tough nut to crack, especially when we don't know how the presentations will go, who Hansen will bring, how Stern will frame it, what if anything the committee will decide on Wednesday. Will they be offering an immediate recommendation to the full board? Will they consider it and have Holt (the chairman of the board) lead a discussion April 18-19? It's a big ol' mystery on a very, very important subject.
0 Comments
Badge Legend