NBA set to take over the Hornets

[elcheato]

The New Orleans Hornets will soon become the first franchise ever owned by the NBA.

The league's plans to take over control of the Hornets are going ahead "100 percent" and the move will be publicly confirmed in the coming days, according to numerous sources.

After the stalled sale of the Hornets from longtime owner George Shinn to minority partner Gary Chouest collapsed for good in recently, NBA officials moved forward with their proposal to purchase operational control of the team.

 

[Elite]

Why the hell would the NBA own a team? Conflict of interests much?

 

[RipCity32]

How the fuck is that going to work?

 

[cruzg24]

I wonder if this will have any effect with Cp3 and his decision to stay or leave...

 

[MapleLeaf]

This is really confusing...like how is this going to work

 

[DJT]

I hear they are just buying it so they will have better control of who buys it.

Does seem a bit fishy though.

 

[elcheato]

Stern will probably trade CP3 to a big market then move the team to Seattle.

 

[DJT]

lol the NBA is just going to sell the team.

 

[cruzg24]

Stern will probably trade CP3 to a big market then move the team to Seattle.

Or maybe the Oklahoma Sloppy Seconds will go back to Seattle.

 

[elcheato]

Not a chance, they sell out every game. They're basically being built as the new Spurs of the NBA. The quiet superstar who only cares about playing basketball and keeps a town like OKC relevant in basketball.

 

[DJT]

Yeah, I don't see anyone moving to Seattle. I think they will get a new team down the road when they build a new arena.

 

[cruzg24]

Chris Paul should go to the Magic, mmmmm.....

Now that would by a dynamic duo if I ever saw one....

 

[RipCity32]

OKC is proving to be 10x the basketball city Seattle was near the end there. No chance OKC would ever move back lol.

 

[$tunna]

Yeah this should be interesting

 

[jonathanlambert33]

The NBA will bridge this team to Chouest or another local owner.

Shinn had to be removed from the equation in order to clear the path for a new owner. A sale from Shinn directly to the next owner became impossible for a number of reasons (personal and financial).

Under the NBA's umbrella and through the ongoing efforts of Hugh Weber, a new lease will be negotiated, the TV situation will be worked out and the organization will be turned over (sold) to Chouest (or whoever) in the healthiest status it has ever been. No debts, long term business deals that make sense, etc.

David Stern was behind the Hornets' return to New Orleans after Katrina. Stern also was instrumental in getting New Orelans an All Star Game. Failure in New Orleans isn't an option for him. It's in his and the league's best interest to be successful in New Orleans. This isn't Seattle! We are a cooperative market with a big league arena. When this is done, Stern's message to other cities will be well documented. Work against me and you end up like Seattle. Work with me and we help you...like we did in New Orleans.

There is a lot more to this, but this is the nuts and bolts. While I still think the eventual owner will be Chouest, I'm not saying that can't change. There are others in our region who are interested in this team, but haven't stepped forward because it's been an understood that Gary would be the next owner. The door is now open for them too.

The story that Shinn could have sold to a different ownership group who would have wanted to move the team is very real. Why he didn't might be debated, but the end result is the league purchased the team and squashed those scenarios...with the full intention of bridging a buy to a local owner who will keep the team in New Orleans.

Shoot all the holes in my theories that you like. Media from around the nation or world can continue to write us off...but I'm sticking to my guns...again...and again...when this is over...we'll see who is dialed in and who isn't.

As I have said in the past couple of days, watch the lease. When that deal is done, that will be an indicator that things are headed toward a successful resolution.

 

[Oiler35]

How about a team back in Canada?

 

[MapleLeaf]

3 words:

Kansas City Hornets

 

[The Young One]

I'd rather have the kings than the hornets...what would we do when CP3 left.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

To be fair, EVERYTHING (from where the team plays to how the team plays) rests on the ownership situation.

 

[Pugz]

There is reason to believe that the NBA is looking into the possibility of moving the Hornets to Kansas City, a league source told Sam Amick of FanHouse.

The Sprint Center was built in Kansas City just three years ago.

The NBA is following through with plans to take ownership of the Hornets, who will become the first team ever to be owned by the league.