The Mystery of the NBA Team That Billions Can’t Buy

14 comments

1. >So Knight and Smolinisky tried again, according to a person familiar with their plans. On numerous occasions, including earlier this year, they made it clear to Jody Allen that they still wanted to make a deal. They indicated that they realized the price had gone up and that they were willing to pay more than their initial offer, this person said. Again, Knight’s calls to Jody Allen were diverted to Kolde, and nothing came of the brief discussions. 

   >A few months ago, Smolinisky even sent a handwritten letter to Jody Allen seeking common ground and saying he and Knight would love to discuss the Blazers with her, according to a person familiar with the matter. In response, Smolinisky received an email from someone replying on Jody Allen’s behalf with a familiar message: Paul Allen’s sports teams aren’t on the market.

   So beyond the one offer that was widely reported last year, there have been numerous other offers and attempts, and every single one has been ignored and diverted to Kolde.

2. “In several separate phone conversations with Kolde, people familiar with the situation say, Smolinisky and Knight laid out their vision to keep the Blazers in Portland forever. They would invest in the team to make it a championship contender. They would boost the fan experience off the court by improving the area around the arena, according to people familiar with their thinking.

   Knight has few peers in the history of global sports marketing. He and his family are worth more than $40 billion, according to Bloomberg. He has a groundswell of local support.

   Yet Knight’s conversations with Kolde hit a wall, and Kolde didn’t explain why the Blazers weren’t for sale.”

   It’d be nice to see the NBA put some pressure on her to sell the team to someone with such formidable plans for the franchise and Oregon. Would love to see Knight get this deal done.

3. I love the part where Jody is now taking credit for helping develop Moda Center & Lumen field from the start. We never heard a goddamn word about her having anything to do with the teams or their facilities before PA died. God I can’t wait til she’s gone.

4. She needs to be forced to sell.

5. Honestly the fanbase needs to make it clear we do not want Jody/Vulcan as the owner. We could have one of the richest owners in basketball with an ownership group willing to compete and pay and hire smart people ready to go when he dies.

   This is the group of people who stood by Olshey and only outed him when it came out he was a Dick. Same group of people who shat all over mike and mike. Same group that facilitated and approved a 5 year Chauncey hire.

   I’m honestly close to boycott levels of disappointed in this franchise and their priorities, this kind of shit just pushing me further away.

6. She’s not selling, she’s not building a contender, it’s been obvious from the day she took over. She’s a shittier version of her brother.

7. Two things:

   • The Vulcans are hanging on until the new TV deal in 2025.

   • It’s reasonable to think they’re driving the price by making investments like renovations, the G League team, and a potential WNBA team. Similar to how you might renovate a house before selling it.

8. Isn’t she waiting until the new CBA to maximize the sale, which she’s legally obligated to do as executor of Allen’s trust? I doubt we’ll have her after next season

9. It’s Interesting because I feel like she’s been a fine owner for the Seahawks

10. Hit piece! Hope this lights a fire

11. It sounds like the Knight group really want to invest in the community and upgrade the area around the arena which is needed. I really hope this gets resolved sooner rather then later

12. Whatever you think about Phil Knight (I’m certainly not a fan of his GOP fundraising and ethically dubious shoe production) his investment in the Albina area and interest in developing the area around the Rose Garden is encouraging. Jody’s main priority seems to be spending as little money as possible so she can continue to profit off something she had no involvement in creating.

13. The Vulcans feel like the Empire, who after 9 movies apparently still haven’t been defeated

14. hahahaha

    >Smolinisky is interested in redeveloping the area around the Moda Center, which sits across the Willamette River from downtown Portland. Improving the team’s surroundings would create jobs and maximize the Blazers’ value, the men believe. Smolinisky has driven through Portland with members of Knight’s family, according to people familiar with the matter.

    ​

    #