The Blazers are coming out of a very complicated season marked by Damian Lillard’s injury and the start of the team’s sporting reconstruction. Phil Knight, founder of Nike and a native of Portland, would like to help the franchise relaunch and has therefore offered to buy the franchise from Oregon… by putting a very nice check for 2 billion dollars on the table.
Phil Knight, 84 today, has always been attached to his home state of Oregon. The Portland-born former Oregon Ducks college graduate is considered one of the 25 richest people in the United States. His wealth according to Forbes exceeds $50 billion. In 2016, Knight stepped down as CEO of Nike following 52 years at the helm of the company. Today, the brand’s founder at the Swoosh is looking for a new challenge, and the Blazers represent a rather interesting one. So he teamed up with Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinisky to formulate an initial written offer of $2 billion to the current owners of the Trail Blazers, where right now it’s a little complicated. For some context, Paul Allen, chairman of the foundation that currently owns Portland and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL, died in 2018. His sister has taken over as head of the company since and there have been many rumors of a plan. sale of franchises to relaunch the foundation. However, according to the eternal Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPNthe Blazers are currently not for sale.
Phil Knight and Alan Smolinisky have been engaging on the purchase bid with the Paul Allen Trust and league office, sources said. Other prospective groups have done the same, too. The Blazers say they’re not for sale, but Knight and Smolinisky are expected to continue pursuit. https://t.co/ZRJSrbQBov
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2022
On the side of the commissioner of the League, Adam Silver is aware of the desire to buy the Blazers by his two friends. Both Knight and Smolinisky have had conversations with League executives regarding it. Last night at his annual press conference preceding Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Adam Silver said the Portland franchise will have to be sold, according to the rules. However, he does not know when the sale will take place. Seeing a rumor around a proposed takeover of the Blazers worries the fans. Portland is one of the smallest media markets in the West… not particularly the best position to hold whenwe hear the desires of the NBA to return to Seattle or settle in Las Vegas. Silver denied that, adding that the NBA clearly prefers the team to stay in Portland. Omitting the Indian cemetery below the Moda Center, the Trail Blazers have loyal fans, a long history marked by an NBA title in 1977, and some great Playoff series victories, the dedication to Paul George. According to the assessment of Forbesthe Blazers are also the thirteenth most valuable franchise in the NBA.
Phil Knight wants, by buying the franchise, to help the Blazers rebuild and become sustainable over the long term in the state of Oregon, not elsewhere. This takeover might strongly strengthen Portland’s case, cited by The Athletic among the six candidate cities to bring in one or two new WNBA franchises during expansion in 2024.
Exclusive: The WNBA hopes to name potential expansion cities in the coming months.
Which cities have the interest and financial backing to add a team?@ChantelJennings & @MikeVorkunov with more: https://t.co/NEtQEkw8tQ pic.twitter.com/GX7EEsp3j7
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 2, 2022
Source texte : ESPN, The Athletic