The Seattle GrizzlySonics?

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...ies-sale.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a4&eref=sihp

Majority owner Michael Heisley has been trying to sell his Memphis Grizzlies for years to just the right person, and the Illinois billionaire finally found his buyer.
Robert J. Pera, a 34-year-old billionaire from California.
Heisley said Monday he has an agreement to sell his NBA team to a group headed by Pera. Heisley made the announcement less than a couple hours after published reports of a deal selling the team he moved from Vancouver to Memphis in 2001.
"I am confident that the franchise will continue its development toward being a perennial championship contender and an important member of the Memphis community," the 75-year-old Heisley said in a statement. "I am particularly gratified that we have put together a team which is poised to continue its development. We have an outstanding team of players, coaching staff and basketball and business management."
The sale is subject to approval by the NBA Board of Governors and other conditions.
Heisley had a deal in 2006 with a group headed by Christian Laettner that fell through in January 2007 when they failed to line up financing the $252 million to buy his majority share. Heisley had been talking to Oracle founder Larry Ellison earlier this year about a possible sale before backing off, saying he didn't want to sell to someone who would relocate the team.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...11/grizzlies-sale.ap/index.html#ixzz1xXsLKxFE

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Why add in "Seattle Sonics"? He has no plans to move the team.

 

[ironcrotch]

Seattle KingSonics seems like their last chance.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Why add in "Seattle Sonics"? He has no plans to move the team.

Neither did Clay Bennett.

:MARIS61:

 

[RR7]

Neither did Clay Bennett.

:MARIS61:

Bennett absolutely did.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://slam.canoe.ca/BasketballVancouverArchive/jan21_van.html

Immediately following the announcement, NBA commissioner David Stern voiced his personal opposition to a relocation, citing the league's record of not having any franchise migrations since the Clippers moved from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1984.

"It's my goal to see the Grizzlies stay and succeed in Vancouver," Stern said.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

pretty predictable time line now.

seattle approves new arena.

memphis trades rudy gay and other players. starts tanking.

attendance dwindles.

move team.

 

[julius]

http://slam.canoe.ca/BasketballVancouverArchive/jan21_van.html

odd quote there, considering the Kings moved in 1985...a year AFTER the Clippers moved out of San Diego.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

:MARIS61:

 

[The Professional Fan]

PLEASE, move to Seattle. Re-align the divisions and give our Blazers a much needed break in travel.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

its going to happen. but not for a few years. its pretty inevitable now. just gotta wait until the arena is built.

 

[THE HCP]

PLEASE, move to Seattle. Re-align the divisions and give our Blazers a much needed break in travel.

AMEN

 

[The Professional Fan]

AMEN

I know you feel it first hand. But really - it's such bullshit, and such a disadvantage how much the Blazers have to travel. At a minimum we should be in the Pacific Division to make things fair. Move Phoenix out.

 

[THE HCP]

It is tough man! Road trips back east are easier then overnighters here in the west. Would love realignment regardless if Seattle gets a team or not.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Memphis is a horrible market to have a pro-basketball team.

It's a college town.

Move them to Vancouver, BC! That city has an NBA ready arena and Stern has stated that he regrets moving out of that market.

 

[The Professional Fan]

It is tough man! Road trips back east are easier then overnighters here in the west. Would love realignment regardless if Seattle gets a team or not.

That's exactly what I'm saying. Regardless of what happens in Seattle. Portland should be in the Pacific Division.

 

[THE HCP]

PDX, GS, SAC, LAL, LAC should be the Pacific.

 

[julius]

PLEASE, move to Seattle. Re-align the divisions and give our Blazers a much needed break in travel.

Two games in Seattle won't help their travel significantly.

 

[The Professional Fan]

PDX, GS, SAC, LAL, LAC should be the Pacific.

Agreed. It's only fair. Who's closer to the Pacific fucking Ocean? Portland or Phoenix? That's right. Having the Blazers travel to OKC, Denver, Minny and Utah is ridiculous. Here. Fuck it:

Portland to Denver: 1,246 miles
Portland to SLC: 766 miles
Portland to OKC: 1,924 miles
Portland to Minny: 1,728 miles
Total: 5,664 miles

Phoenix to Denver: 821 miles
Phoenix to SLC: 663 miles
Phoenix to OKC: 1,006 miles
Phoenix to Minny: 1,732 miles
Total: 4,222 miles

Share the pain.

 

[THE HCP]

Wish I got frequent flyer miles during the season!

 

[The Professional Fan]

Two games in Seattle won't help their travel significantly.

Ask the players that.

 

[ebott]

PLEASE, move to Seattle. Re-align the divisions and give our Blazers a much needed break in travel.

That's not a real thing. A positional realignment would be a maximum of 4 games closer. I think it would make me as a fan feel better about being in a division with the California teams. But it largely wouldn't affect much.

Also I don't think travel time in a private jet is that taxing.

 

[jlprk]

Will the new owner buy Ubiquiti Arena? There's no quit in Ubiquiti. He speaks Japanese.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_J._Pera

 

[THE HCP]

Also I don't think travel time in a private jet is that taxing.

It is.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Portland to Sacramento: 580 miles
Portland to Golden State: 629 miles
Portland to LAL: 963
Portland to LAC: 963
Total: 3,135 miles

Phoenix to Sacramento: 753 miles
Phoenix to Golden State: 739 miles
Phoenix to LAL: 373
Phoenix to LAC: 373
Total: 2,238

Phoenix in the NW Division is 4,222 miles.
Portland in the Pacific Division is 3,135 miles
Difference: 1,087 miles for Portland

Portland in the NW Division is 5,664 miles
Phoenix in the Pacific Division is 2,238 miles
Difference: 3,426 for Phoenix

Not fair.