LEBRON JAMES "hasn't been shy about his desire" to own an NBA team, and has been "making maneuvers and preparations so that if he were to retire today, and an NBA franchise was for sale tomorrow, he could place a bid," according to Joe Vardon of THE ATHLETIC. James "not only has the finances to be a primary investor, but enough of the right people around him, and enough cache built in the league, to pull it off." He said of becoming an owner, "Ain't no maybe about it, I'm going to do that shit." Main Street Advisors Founder & CEO PAUL WACHTER, who helped TOM WERNER and JOHN HENRY buy the Red Sox in '01, serves as a financial consultant for James, who is now a "partner of Werner and Henry's Fenway Sports Management group because of a deal facilitated by Wachter" involving EPL club Liverpool. Wachter: "I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to be a great sports team owner, from having watched the Fenway ownership group and others I know, and there is zero doubt in my mind that LeBron will be a great owner."
MAGIC WITH THE ASSIST: Lakers President of Basketball Operations MAGIC JOHNSON said James would be "outstanding as the second player to be an owner in our league" along with MICHAEL JORDAN. Johnson: "Having Michael in Charlotte is great and it's special, but we need more. ... It takes a special situation, a special player, to become an owner. Not only do you have to make a lot of money, which LeBron checks that box, but you have to be very intelligent. He checks that box. Personality-wise, you need to have respect, not only of the players and the owners and (NBA Commissioner) ADAM SILVER, and you need charisma. LeBron has all those boxes checked." Wachter said that James would "likely target three to six partners" for his bid. Meanwhile, James said a benefit of being a player-turned-owner is that he "would be able to relate to both sides." James: "If I'm going to be an owner of a franchise, I have to run that franchise not only to compete for a championship but also for the fans, for the city and everybody that's involved" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/14).
