NBA Franchise Notes
In N.Y., Mitch Lawrence wrote, “So many [NBA] teams are under orders from their
owners not to exceed the [luxury] tax threshold, now at $65.4[M] per club, that
it played a major role in keeping all but four reserves from changing teams” before
last Thursday’s trade deadline. The Heat “wanted to make a move for a point guard”
but could not, “largely owing to owner Micky Arison’s refusal to pay the tax.”
Celtics Exec Dir of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge: “A lot of teams have budgetary
restrictions, so trading is not as simple as, ‘We want to do this, so let’s do
it.’ It’s difficult to make deals in the NBA right now” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/25).
BOBCATS: In a Q&A with the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, Bobcats Owner Bob Johnson
said, “I didn’t spend $300[M] for a franchise not to have a winning team. I don’t
know where that came from.” Johnson, who was one of eight small-market owners
signing a letter proposing revenue-sharing changes: “If you spend up to the cap,
then small-market teams spend [81-82%] of their income on players. That’s almost
impossible for a market to be profitable. The average for the (larger) teams is
57[%] of their income is spent on players. So how does the league create an environment
so that every team has an equal opportunity to succeed?” (CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER, 2/24). In Charlotte, Scott Fowler wrote of Johnson saying that
he will spend “whatever is necessary” to win, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
But Johnson and Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael Jordan
“made some progress [last] week with their public-relations blitz. Johnson, particularly,
has been more visible than usual” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/25).
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Walsh (l) And Bird To Have Different
Responsibilities With Pacers Next Season |
PACERS: With Pacers President & CEO Donnie Walsh saying that if he returns
next year, it will be in a “reduced role,” Pacers President of Basketball Operations
Larry Bird was asked in a Q&A with the INDIANAPOLIS STAR if he will “have more
of an opportunity starting next year to put your imprint” on the team. Bird: “I
hope so, and that’s the plan.” When asked how the decision-making process will
be altered, Bird said, “If we make a big trade, we have to take it to our owners.
Donnie will still be here and he’ll still be in charge. We’ll still run things
by him. But now all the calls will go to one person” (INDIANAPOLIS
STAR, 2/24).
HAWKS: Atlanta Spirit President & CEO Bernie Mullin said that Hawks season-ticket
renewal forms have prices “increasing an average of about 6[%] for next season.”
He added that season-ticket prices will “top out at $85 per game for regular (non-premium)
seating sections, compared to $80 this season.” Mullin also said that the team
will “continue to sell ‘buy-one, get-one-free’ season tickets in the back rows
of the lower level behind the baskets and $199 season tickets in the upper level
behind the baskets” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/25).
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