At least four former NBAers "are involved with different groups trying to get" the Hawks, with each player having "significant roles" in their respective ownership groups, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com. The fact that so many former players are going after the Hawks reflects a "competition itch each had while a player, expressed by other means." Junior Bridgeman is "teaming with Grant Hill in one group," while Chris Webber "and a group of Atlanta businessmen are in a second group." Webber said, "It's the biggest opportunity of my life." He added, "If we buy the team it's not going anywhere." Hill: "Just to be thinking along those lines is an important step." Hill and Bridgeman "only came together in the last few weeks to prepare their bid for the Hawks." Hill said that he has had "preliminary talks with his group about how the division of labor would work," but he did not "go into specifics." Aldridge wrote it "seems obvious" that former Raptors President Bryan Colangelo's front-office experiences "would make him a logical candidate to run the basketball operations side, with Bridgeman and Hill acting in a more senior management capacity." Former NBAer Dikembe Mutombo "also has interest in the Hawks, though it is not known whether he'll be part of one of the existing bidding groups or try to form one of his own." Baseball HOFer Hank Aaron also has joined a group seeking the Hawks that includes Grizzlies Vice Chair Steve Kaplan, DC United Owner Erick Thohir and former Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien (NBA.com, 1/12).
