Atlanta Mayor Wants Levenson To Sell Interest In Hawks By Year's End

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is calling for Hawks Managing Partner Bruce Levenson to "quickly take steps" to sell his interest in the club, according to Leslie & Trubey of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Reed said that he wants the Hawks to have "fresh ownership by the end of the year." Reed: "What’s really happening is that most people believe we have handled what was a very negative situation in a thoughtful way in our city, but I will tell you there is some increasing urgency about when will we move forward with a new owner." However, it is unclear whether Reed's time frame will be "easily met" because the Hawks "share a complicated ownership structure." He also indicated that he "doesn't know if the other owners will sell." Reed, who is "seeking a prominent role in directing the team's future," met with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in N.Y. last Friday to "discuss vetting those suitors" (AJC.com, 10/3).