The first article of the summer series after three years, let’s start with the management rights of the team.
After the death of Paul Allen, rumors of a Pioneer resale continued. But PA’s sister Jody and her Vulcan company eventually chose to take over the team. In the first year that Jody took over, the pioneers reached the Western Conference finals. However, the subsequent reorganization coupled with the external epidemic hit the industry, and the internal and external problems caused everyone to wonder whether Jody would hold this team for a long time. Big question mark – even though she paid the luxury tax for two years.
And this time, “Woj Bomb” brought the resale case to the surface: a team led by NIKE founder Phil Knight made an offer to the Paul G. Allen Trust, and will continue to bid.
Nike founder Phil Knight and Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinisky have made a $2 billion-plus written offer to purchase the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Discussions are ongoing with the Paul Allen trust that’s overseeing ownership of team. Story soon.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2022
In fact, it wasn’t Woj who first broke the news that the pioneers were going to sell, but a local reporter Joseph Canzanowho has 20 years of experience running local sports news.Cnazano learned from the Paul G. Allen Trust that it will take an inventory of its assets, including the Seattle Seahawks, which will sell the Blazers and the NFL in the future.
Although the official only claims to have received an offer, there is no plan to sell it at this time. But just after that,Adam Silver Directly stated at the press conference that the pioneers will change hands in the near futurewhich is an indirect confirmation that the resale case has begun – just because the morale of the team is not suitable for public discussion.
2025
2025 will be an important year for the NBA league. This year, the league will sign a new broadcast contract. It is generally expected that the league’s revenue will increase significantly again, and it also means that the amount of salary space may be ushered in again. substantial increase.2025 is also a pivotal year for the Blazers: their current contract with Portland expires in the same year. In fact, the Portland side has been urging the Blazers to reach an extension.If the team wants to resell, it would be more appropriate to change owners first and then renegotiate with the new owner.This is why it is generally expected that this year or two will be the most appropriate time for the team to decide on a buyer. Considering the need to renegotiate the new territorial contract after the resale negotiation, now is indeed the best time. And it is understood that the Blazers’ resale case is handled by the same organization as the NFL Denver Broncos. The Blazers are likely to wait for the Broncos to finalize the process before starting the process. (Edit: An hour after the article was finished,Broncos Announce Sale for $4.5 Billion）
According to Woj, the current offer offered by Phil Knight and Alan Smolinisky’s team, one of the Dodgers’ shareholders, is $2 billion plus, which is in fact the highest price ever. NBA team pricesthe top three.However, because the new broadcast contract did not unexpectedly set a new record for the league’s revenue, the final transaction price is expected to rise, and Phil and Alan have already stated that they will continue to bid.
Will the Trail Blazers leave Portland?
As mentioned earlier, the pioneers need to re-sign the territorial contract, so does this mean that the pioneers will move out in the future? It is undeniable that who the buyer is will affect whether the team eventually relocates. The most famous recent case is the Seattle SuperSonics’ move to OKC. However, judging from the current situation, although the contract has not been renewed with Portland, the Blazers have no doubts about moving. The first is Phil Knight, the founder of NIKE who was the first to disclose the bid this time. He is a native of Portland. The reason why Knight, who is 84 years old, wants this team, is naturally the biggest reason behind the hope that this team that has been with us for more than 50 years, or even the only professional sports team in Portland for many years, will not. just disappeared.in addition Silver also mentioned at the press conference that Portland has a large number of die-hard fans, and his own expectation is that the Blazers will not leave.