The following lists FORBES' franchise valuation
estimates for NBA teams. FORBES writes, "Last year's work
stoppage created havoc on NBA balance sheets. The average
basketball team posted a loss of $5.8 million last season,
after earning $6.6 million the previous year. But by locking
out the players until they cried uncle, the owners will keep
those salaries artificially low, eventually widening
margins. This explains why teams values went up, despite
heavy losses" (FORBES, 12/13 issue). See (#19) for reax.
OPERATING
CURRENT 1 YR % REVENUES INCOME DEBT/
TEAM VALUE1(MIL) CHANGE ($MIL) ($MIL) VALUE2
KNICKS $334 13% $92.9 $4.0 49%
BULLS 307 1 66.8 20.4 10
LAKERS 282 5 58.7 -0.9 56
BLAZERS 257 5 57.1 -13.5 58
SUNS 239 2 58.3 5.8 23
76ERS 231 18 57.7 1.8 30
PISTONS 226 10 51.3 -1.7 0
JAZZ 215 7 47.7 -0.7 22
WIZARDS 209 1 48.6 -2.8 53
CELTICS 187 6 41.5 2.3 47
SUPERSONICS 183 8 43.6 -2.3 40
PACERS 178 17 34.2 -19.4 32
CAVALIERS 170 6 37.8 -0.1 0
SPURS 169 39 42.3 -6.7 15
ROCKETS 168 1 44.3 -3.6 24
NETS 166 6 38.6 -8.6 12
HEAT 162 12 33.1 -20.7 114
MAGIC 159 19 37.9 -9.1 35
KINGS 151 27 34.3 -12.5 43
HAWKS 150 7 28.8 -19.3 44
T'WOLVES 146 23 41.7 4.2 14
MAVERICKS 141 18 26.1 -14.7 76
WARRIORS 140 8 31.8 -7.7 80
RAPTORS 138 14 33.6 -8.0 96
HORNETS 136 10 30.3 -2.2 37
GRIZZLIES 127 -5 28.2 -12.4 47
NUGGETS ^ 124 13 23.8 -9.8 56
BUCKS 111 18 25.8 -14.9 23
CLIPPERS 103 1 23.0 -13.2 0
NOTES: Revenues and operating income are for the '98-99
season. Current Value1 is the value of team, without
deduction for debt (other than arena debt). Debt/Value2
includes arena debt. ^ = Nuggets sale is pending.
-30-
