Atlanta Mayor: City Wants Hawks To Stay
Mayor Kasim Reed intends to keep the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta.
With the Atlanta Hawks embroiled in controversy due to the inappropriate words of majority owner Bruce Levenson and general manager Danny Ferry, there has been a lot of uncertainty as it relates to the team’s future. A big fear among many Atlantans is that the team’s next owner may look to move the team elsewhere, perhaps Seattle.
Atlanta lost its second NHL team, the Thrashers, to investors willing to buy from the infamous Atlanta Spirit Group. That group currently maintains the Hawks and Philips Arena, so who could possibly blame fans for being a bit worried?
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, however, expressed on Tuesday that the city would be directly involved in the sale of the its basketball team, and would seek assurance that it would remain in Atlanta.
The city is going to play an important role in the buyer who purchases Mr. Levenson’s interest. Obviously, we have a vital interest as the owner of Philips Arena and the holder of the debt on Philips Arena in making sure that we get a terrific partner in the city of Atlanta. We also have an interest in making sure that the new buyer wants to keep the team in the city and in the city.
Let me be clear what that means: In the city and in the city.
That means that a prospective owner that receives my support, and I believe the support of the Atlanta City Council, will make a long-term commitment to keep the Atlanta Hawks in the city of Atlanta and will make a long-term commitment not to move the franchise. I want to publicly state from the city’s perspective that is going to be our perspective to whomever the prospective owners are.”
Wednesday, Reed revealed that he has been in talks with potential buyers.
I have had conversations with no less than six prospective buyers,” Reed said. “All six of those prospective buyers will have to go through a process to be vetted by the NBA. That process is going to occur very quickly.”
He suggested that the city may be willing to offer financial concessions — possibly as much as $150 million, after the city sells Turner Field. He also said that city leaders would favor Dominique Wilkins’ involvement with any new ownership group.
J.J. Hickson Violates Drug Policy, Out Five Games
The NBA announced Wednesday
that Denver Nuggets forward J.J. Hickson has been suspended for five games for violating the Anti-Drug Program. His suspension will begin with the first game of the 2014-15 NBA regular season.
Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post writes:
The suspension is for use of recreational drugs. If it was a suspension for use of performance-enhancing drugs, it would have been made public, under terms of the NBA’s drug policy.
Hickson’s suspension will begin on the first regular-season game and last through Nov. 7. He’ll miss games against Detroit, Oklahoma City, Sacramento (back-to-back) and Cleveland.
The Nuggets were made aware of the situation early Wednesday, but under the confidentiality clause of the NBA’s Anti-Drug policy cannot comment on it. Hickson could not be reached for comment.”
Hickson, who is returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), should be ready for training camp.
Michael Beasley Gets Another Look
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting
that after failing to secure a contract from the Los Angeles Lakers following several summer workouts, free agent forward Michael Beasley is getting a look from the reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
“The Spurs have 14 guaranteed contracts for next season, and so far, they haven’t been able to come to terms with restricted free agent Aron Baynes.
Beasley, 25, has slipped from the No. 2 overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA draft to a journeyman trying to secure a minimum-salary contract.”
Beasley’s career has been marred by a history of off-the-court issues, mainly marijuana possession and use. Perhaps playing for a class-act organization like the Spurs and a future Hall of Fame coach like Gregg Popovich is just what his career needs.
Michael Brumagin writes the Tweet of the Day for SheridanHoops.com and is also a correspondent for BleacherReport.com. Follow @mbrumagin