Stern: Hawks Owners Committed to City

[Ruhiel]

NBA commissioner David Stern said Wednesday that Hawks ownership has committed to pay the luxury tax should they exceed the league’s salary cap. Stern said he remains confident in the Atlanta Spirit following the group’s attempt to sell the Hawks and the operating rights to Philips Arena that fell through last year.

“They’ve committed to pay the luxury tax, which not many teams in our league do these days,” Stern said. “They are committed to hire the personnel to demonstrate to the fans that this is a franchise worth supporting. I think they are committed to Atlanta, and I’m committed to them.”

Stern said the sale of the Thrashers, the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement (including revenue sharing of which the Spirit will benefit) and joining the league-wide credit facility make the Hawks “a desirable asset.”

“It could be sold if they were interested in selling it,” Stern said. “But without naming names, they are well down my list of current worries. ... They are doing pretty well on the court and I do know, because we talk about it a lot, they are committed to give it the business support.”

[evildallas]

"I think they are committed to Atlanta"

Ughh, thanks I guess.

Not the most definitive statement I've heard from Stern.

[MaceCase]

Was that why he was in the crowd, a pow wow with Jr.?