NBA Commissioner David Stern during his annual All-Star Weekend news conference Saturday proclaimed "what has long been assumed but never confirmed: He will recommend deputy commissioner Adam Silver to succeed him as commissioner when he retires,” according to Ken Berger of CBSSPORTS.com. Stern said, “One of the things that a good CEO does -- and I try to be a good CEO -- is provide his board with a spectacular choice for his successor. And I have done that. And that's Adam.” Stern placed “no timetable on his departure,” but said he would have the discussion with owners “very soon.” Berger noted Silver has played a “key role in negotiating the league’s last two broadcast rights agreements" and the last four CBAs with the NBPA. He also “created NBA China as a stand-alone entity” (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/25). In N.Y., Howard Beck noted Stern’s comment was “his most definitive statement” on the subject of retirement. Stern reiterated that he “would retire before the NBA’s new labor deal expired, which could be as soon as 2017.” He is “expected to step down much sooner than that, perhaps within the next two years.” Stern, who turns 70 in September, has been “grooming Silver, who is also known as a tough negotiator, for several years.” Beck noted the NBA BOG “will choose Stern’s successor,” and out of “respect for the board, Stern has been careful not to appear as if he is publicly lobbying for Silver.” But Stern Saturday “made his feelings clear.” Meanwhile, NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter earlier Saturday said that he “intended to fulfill the four years left on his contract.” He declined to speculate “whether he would be around for the next labor deal” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/26).
ON DECK: SI.com’s Ian Thomsen wrote it “used to be that Stern was joined at these annual State of the Game news conferences" by Hunter, and the fact Hunter had “essentially been replaced by Silver on the podium was a signal of how the core issue has changed from an argument over money to this succession of power.” Whether Silver “takes over in one, two or three years, he will be inheriting a business that is on the up and yet hard to figure.” The league “took a public beating over the last year -- games were canceled and the resulting level of many teams' play has been inconsistent from game to game.” But none of that has “seemed to matter as fans appear to be paying more attention than ever” (SI.com, 2/25). However, in N.Y., Mitch Lawrence writes Silver “isn’t necessarily viewed as a lock to get the job.” Some owners "think Silver can handle the job, but others question whether he’s got the leadership qualities that have helped Stern transform the NBA into a league that generates $4 billion in annual revenues.” A “couple of people to watch if Silver doesn’t get the promotion: former deputy commissioner Russ Granik, still highly regarded by many owners, and ex-Garden president Dave Checketts” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/27).
BIG EASY BUY: In New Orleans, John Reid noted Stern on Saturday “declined to confirm or identify” if a group led by L.A. businessman Raj Bhathal has emerged as a top candidate to purchase the league-owned Hornets. Stern did say that they are “in discussions with one group and they have another group in sort of second place that is waiting to see how discussions go forth with group one.” He said that the league expects a deal "to be struck within the next 10 days.” But he noted that they are “a little bit behind because they haven't struck a deal with the state of Louisiana on a renegotiated lease extension” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 2/26). CBSSPORTS.com’s Berger noted Stern “confirmed that he has spoken with Seattle investor Chris Hansen, who is spearheading support for an arena to attract a team and replace the Supersonics.” Stern said of Hansen’s plan, “It sounded OK to us. Go for it. That’s all.” But Stern acknowledged that the plan would require that “we have a team that we could put there” (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/25).
ACROSS THE GLOBE: The AP’s Brian Mahoney noted Stern “doesn't see expanding beyond 30 teams in North America, but neither he nor Silver would rule out overseas in the next decade.” Silver said that the league is “working to schedule games in London next season, after this season's games at the O2 Arena had to be scrapped because of the condensed schedule.” Silver added that the league is “in discussions about playing preseason games next season in China, perhaps in Shanghai, where former Houston All-Star Yao Ming owns the Chinese Basketball Association team” (AP, 2/25). Silver: “Yao Ming has been a terrific owner in the CBA so far, and we look forward to working with him" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 2/27).
HE'S GOT JOKES: In Cleveland, Tom Reed noted Stern “couldn't resist taking a playful dig” at Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert. Stern spoke of “the improvement" of the Cavaliers and G Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft last June. Stern: "It's great that the Cavs have done that, and I'm delighted that Dan Gilbert hasn't sent me any emails this week" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/26). Gilbert was critical of a potential preseason trade that would have sent G Chris Paul to the Lakers, and let Stern and Silver know his feelings in an email.
