Hornets Chair Jac Sperling said that the team’s ranking at the bottom of the Western Conference standings "will not impact the expected sale of the Hornets to a private investor or group,” according to Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Sperling yesterday said that the team “will soon change hands from league ownership with an eye toward future stability and better on-court results.” Sperling: “I think the (new) owner, like our fans, is looking in the long term here.” Sources indicated that the list of potential suitors “has been whittled from a half-dozen or so, a number acknowledged by [NBA Commissioner David] Stern on several occasions, and that all parties have entered into confidentiality agreements regarding sales discussions.” Former Hornets minority Owner Gary Chouest is “said to be among the prospective buyers, while Saints owner Tom Benson and a group of West Coast investors fronted by former NBA coach and executive Mike Dunleavy have also been reportedly interested.” Sperling said that potential investors are “unconcerned with the team’s present difficulties, preferring instead to focus on the possibilities.” Sperling: “I’d say they’re looking at the future. I think, all of us (are)" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 2/14).
MANAGEMENT TRAINING: In Dallas, Brad Townsend noted Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban “continues to maintain” that G Chris Paul’s trade from the NBA-owned Hornets to the Clippers “was an equally poor decision, if not worse, than the trade that got vetoed” for Paul to go to the Lakers. Cuban: "I don't think it was about the Lakers, per se. I think it was about the way they did the deal, which was ridiculous. I don't think it was about which team. It was the fact that we just went through this whole CBA and said that the incumbent team has the advantage -- and then the team the league owns (chickened) out. Look how it's worked out for them.” He added, "Bad management gets you bad results" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/13).
