NBA Commissioner David Stern Wednesday said the league is "working very hard" to keep the Hornets in New Orleans. Stern: "I think we're going to put back the franchise soon in a way that there will be more than one owner interested in buying the Hornets and keeping the team in New Orleans if the business community follows through on its pledges of support" (AP, 5/4). Meanwhile, while the Hornets "had the benefit of playing three postseason games in the New Orleans Arena and keeping part of the revenue generated from those games," team President Hugh Weber on Wednesday said that it “would not lessen the about $7 million in state aid the franchise will receive.” The clause is “part of the Hornets’ lease agreement with the state and gives the team assurances of reaching certain revenue benchmarks” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 5/5).
ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU? In N.Y., Marc Berman cited sources as saying that Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh, "close to finalizing a new deal with the Knicks, is confident he no longer needs to be threatened by the dark cloud” of Isiah Thomas. Knicks Owner James Dolan reportedly has “given up on the idea of hiring back Isiah Thomas in any capacity.” Walsh is “expected to be granted permission to hire his successor as a central part of a new agreement that should be formally announced shortly.” A “two-year contract extension has been discussed” (N.Y. POST, 5/5). Sources said that the Knicks "have already offered Walsh an extension through the 2012-13 season, and the details of that arrangement are being negotiated by Knicks attorneys and Walsh's agent while others around the organization and throughout the NBA are beginning to ask themselves this: Does Donnie truly want to stick around?" Walsh has "sent word that he will say something when he has something to say, and in the meantime will continue his prep work for the offseason and the draft" (ESPNNY.com, 5/5).
A PRIVATE MATTER: Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird has indicated that he “would consider returning” to the franchise if Owner Herb Simon is “willing to spend the cash necessary to improve the team.” But in Indianapolis, Bob Kravitz wrote it is "not OK" for Bird to go public with his concerns about the Pacers since Simon has "always been generous with Bird and the franchise." Kravitz wrote, "It's wrong from a personal standpoint -- Simon has been extraordinarily good to Bird -- and it's wrong from a business standpoint, sucking the air out of the room after the team's energizing late-season improvement” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/5).
DYNAMIC PACKAGE: T’Wolves President Chris Wright noted that despite the team's 17-65 record this season, “overall attendance was up 18 percent, with 1,700 more fans per game this year over last year.” In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman noted “what worked for the Wolves was different admission prices for every team, depending on how popular an attraction they were” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/5).
