Mikhail Prokhorov Listening To Offers For Nets

[NorthernLightning]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/233778/Mikhail-Prokhorov-Listening-To-Offers-For-Nets

[NorthernLightning]

Maybe he got nervous when Sterling hired multiple Private Investigation firms to dig up dirt on other owners and the league.

[NorthernLightning]

The time to sell was last summer after the KG trade.

[nickagneta]

Can't see how any smart business man wouldn't be looking at offers for their team now given the profit margin one might be able to see given the ridiculous prices franchises are selling for right now. Doesn't mean they should sell but they would be stupid no to listen to offers.

[indeedproceed]

I'm more surprised that the Celtics group isn't quietly putting the team on the market. They may not get $2 billion, but 1.8? 1.6?

[NorthernLightning]

The Clippers were in no way worth 2 billion. The national spotlight was on the Sterling situation and this new owner wanted that instant attention and the long-term Hollywood lights.

And there's only so many 20 billion dollar guys in the world who like losing money and have this personality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8M6S8EKbnU

[indeedproceed]

The Clippers were in no way worth 2 billion. The national spotlight was on the Sterling situation and this new owner wanted that instant attention and the long-term Hollywood lights.

And there's only so many 20 billion dollar guys in the world who like losing money and have this personality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8M6S8EKbnU

The Clippers play in LA. They're not 'worth' 2 billion but you're not just buying the Clippers. You're buying a sports team in LA, you can build around that. Shopping centers, hotels, a new arena..they won't just stay at the staples center forever.

The revenue streams are pretty sizable.

Then look at what the Bucks just sold for. 2 billion is high, but 1.5? I don't think there is a scenario where other buyers out there wouldn't pay that.

[saltlover]

The Clippers were in no way worth 2 billion. The national spotlight was on the Sterling situation and this new owner wanted that instant attention and the long-term Hollywood lights.

And there's only so many 20 billion dollar guys in the world who like losing money and have this personality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8M6S8EKbnU

The Clippers play in LA. They're not 'worth' 2 billion but you're not just buying the Clippers. You're buying a sports team in LA, you can build around that. Shopping centers, hotels, a new arena..they won't just stay at the staples center forever.

The revenue streams are pretty sizable.

Then look at what the Bucks just sold for. 2 billion is high, but 1.5? I don't think there is a scenario where other buyers out there wouldn't pay that.

Ballmer wanted a basketball team, partly for prestige.  But he soured a lot of NBA owners in his quest to buy the Kings last year, by backing an anti-stadium group's ads in Sacramento.  He went big partly because it was a basketball team in LA, part to satisfy Sterling (which didn't work), but also to make certain he got approved by the rest of the owners.  If he came out ahead, but there was a close runner up, he might not have gotten the team.

[footey]

I'm more surprised that the Celtics group isn't quietly putting the team on the market. They may not get $2 billion, but 1.8? 1.6?

These rich guys own teams not to make money.  It is the ultimate toy. 

[hwangjini_1]

Let me serve as the opening voice of ego-centrism for CB here please.

The celtics have multiple draft picks of the nets. As was discussed in great detail on multiple threads after the pierce/KG trade to Brooklyn, about the only way the nets could hope to field a credible team 2+ years from now is to simply take a massive pounding on taxes, overpay on salaries, overpay for free agents and simply not care about money.

Prokhorov is just that sort of owner. My concern was that he would spend the nets to relevance for the next few years.

But, if prokhoeov sells the nets, will the incoming owner follow the "watch me outspend drunken sailors" model  of the nets current owner? My hope, nay my fantasy, is that the incoming new owner would be a tightwad and doom the nets to a decade of excruciatingly bad basketball, and, the celtics' will get a series of fabulous draft picks.

It is good to dream.

[Donoghus]

I'm more surprised that the Celtics group isn't quietly putting the team on the market. They may not get $2 billion, but 1.8? 1.6?

I think this group genuinely enjoys owning this organization. 

[Eddie20]

Can only mean good things for our Brooklyn picks.

[Boris Badenov]

Let me serve as the opening voice of ego-centrism for CB here please.

The celtics have multiple draft picks of the nets. As was discussed in great detail on multiple threads after the pierce/KG trade to Brooklyn, about the only way the nets could hope to field a credible team 2+ years from now is to simply take a massive pounding on taxes, overpay on salaries, overpay for free agents and simply not care about money.

Prokhorov is just that sort of owner. My concern was that he would spend the nets to relevance for the next few years.

But, if prokhoeov sells the nets, will the incoming owner follow the "watch me outspend drunken sailors" model  of the nets current owner? My hope, nay my fantasy, is that the incoming new owner would be a tightwad and doom the nets to a decade of excruciatingly bad basketball, and, the celtics' will get a series of fabulous draft picks.

It is good to dream.

And even if the new owner wants to spend, he could want to overhaul the team - coach, players, GM etc...which even with deep pockets probably means a couple of bad years during the transition.

[KGs Knee]

I'm more surprised that the Celtics group isn't quietly putting the team on the market. They may not get $2 billion, but 1.8? 1.6?

I think this group genuinely enjoys owning this organization. 

I think this is probably true.

Now, I'm sure they are all shrewd business men, and if there was to be a huge windfall through sale, would have to think long and hard about it, but ultimately, I do think (Wyc specifically) the current group just loves being a "Boston Celtics" owner.  There is a lot of pride to be had from restoring such a franchise to it's former glory, and in such a sports crazy city as Boston.

[obnoxiousmime]

I'm more surprised that the Celtics group isn't quietly putting the team on the market. They may not get $2 billion, but 1.8? 1.6?

I think this group genuinely enjoys owning this organization.

I feel like even though Wyc is a wealthy guy, he's never going to be as famous as he is now as the principal owner of the Celtics. Someone like Prokhorov isn't American and as far as I know his wealth and business is all tied up in Russia. That means he doesn't really gain any prestige in owning the Nets in the same way that Wyc does by owning the Celts. If Prokhorov was interested in expanding his ventures in NYC it would make sense to keep the team but doesn't he barely spend any time in town?

Yes it does seem like franchise values are at an all-time high but who says they're peaking? Unless you're like the Wilpons who lost a lot of money in the Madoff scandal or Frank McCourt, what is the rush to sell the team? Especially with the new favorable, owner-friendly CBA.

If Wyc sells he knows he will never get another sports franchise as prestigious as the Celtics again unless he pays today's exorbitant market price.. So why not just hold on to the one you have already?