In Portland, Joe Freeman cites an NBA source as saying that the Trail Blazers "have decided to suspend their search for a new general manager." The Blazers "already had slowed their search in recent weeks, as the NBA and its players dug into intense negotiations designed to salvage the season." When the players "shot down the NBA's most recent offer Monday and elected to dissolve their union, the Blazers decided it was most appropriate to halt their search, in part to protect jobs." The source said, "To go out and spend a bunch of money on a high-paying GM job doesn't make sense right now. With what has happened the last week or so, it made a lot of sense to put the search on pause" (Portland OREGONIAN, 11/17).
HOLIDAY BARGAIN: In Rochester, Sal Maiorana reports the Bills are "pushing a new ticket-selling initiative called the December Charge where fans will receive a 12.5 percent discount if they purchase tickets for all three" remaining home games. Bills CEO Russ Brandon said yesterday that there are "approximately 14,400 tickets remaining for the Dec. 4 game against Tennessee, about 15,300 left for the Dec. 18 clash with Miami, and the Christmas Eve game against ... Denver is still about 25,000 shy of a sellout." The Bills are "still in the hunt for a playoff berth and Brandon said the December schedule could prove to be an advantage" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 11/17).
JOINING FORCES: In Nashville, Nate Rau reports Canadian businessman W. Brett Wilson has joined the Predators' "local ownership group." Wilson will "hold a 5 percent interest in the team." Wilson runs "Canoe Financial, an investment firm with more than $2 billion in assets." Under the team's lease agreement with the Nashville's Metro Sports Authority, Predators owners "are required to submit certificates of net worth to ensure each member of the group can cover their liability to the city if the team goes belly up" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/17). Wilson said yesterday, "I'm not trying to change the course of the future, just support the inevitable win that we're chasing" (CALGARY HERALD, 11/17).
RETURNING STAR: In Dallas, Mike Heika cited a source as saying that former Stars President Jim Lites "has been selected by expected new Stars owner Tom Gaglardi to become the next president of the team." Gaglardi has "put in a bid that is expected to be approved by a Delaware bankruptcy court and the NHL" tomorrow. He is "then expected to name Lites to the position he once held for 14 years" (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/16).
