Celtics' sale revives Bird speculation

The Associated Press speculates that the recent sale of the Celtics may allow Larry Bird to return to the franchise. When owner Paul Gaston announced that he had sold the club for $360 million to a group led by venture capitalists Stephen Pagliuca and Wyc Grousbeck, as well as Grousbeck's father, H. Irving Grousbeck, the founder of Continental Cablevision and now a Stanford Business School professor, all of Boston wondered if the new owners might be able to lure Larry Legend to come in and run the team.

The new owners said they were interested in adding investors and would welcome Bird, who had been involved with a group trying to buy the team before moving on and trying to put a franchise in Charlotte, N.C. Bird's return would be welcome news to Celtics fans who see the former Hall of Famer as the savior for a franchise struggling through the worst title drought in its history.

It's no secret that Bird has wanted to come back to Boston -- but only if the situation was right. That wasn't going to happen as long as the team was owned by Gaston, who reportedly rebuffed attempts by Bird and Boston businessman Steve Belkin to buy the team.

Belkin told The Boston Globe that his priority now is getting a team in Charlotte, but he wouldn't rule out investing in the Celtics instead. "I wouldn't do anything without Larry,'' Belkin told the paper.

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Boston Celtics

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Celtics Sold to Private Investment Group

Boston Basketball Partners, L.P., a local private investment group, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the Boston Celtics basketball team of the National Basketball Association. Co-Managing Partners of Boston Basketball Partners, L P. are Wycliffe (Wyc) Grousbeck, a General Partner at Highland Capital Partners, H. Irving Grousbeck, Co-Founder of Continental Cablevision, and Stephen Pagliuca, a Managing Director at Bain Capital.

"We are delighted to reach this agreement, but we fully understand that nobody really owns the Celtics except the people and basketball fans of Boston, the State of Massachusetts and New England," said Wyc Grousbeck, Co-Managing Partner of Boston Basketball Partners. "As long-time community residents and Celtics fans, our goal is to build on the success that has already been achieved by the team's strong management, coaching staff and players. We look forward to years of involvement with one of the greatest sports teams ever."

"The NBA has enjoyed tremendous growth and success by developing terrific young talent, and the Celtics are a great example of this philosophy in action," said Steve Pagliuca, one of the Co-Managing Partners. "The Celtics have always enjoyed a close relationship with this community, and we are committed to further strengthening that bond. We invite the active participation and tremendous energy of the local business community in support of one of the greatest franchises in professional sports."

Via celtics.com

Boston Celtics, General Basketball

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Gary Trent says he'll return to Minnesota

Steve Aschburner of the Star Tribune reports that Gary Trent will return to the Timberwolves this season. It is believed that he agreed to a one-year minimum salary contract.

With Trent, the Wolves will have 12 players under contract. Center Loren Woods, a restricted free agent, still has not yet accepted the team's qualifying offer. The Wolves still have some interest in free agent point guard Rod Strickland, swingman Kendall Gill and journeyman forward John Wallace. Strickland, a 14-year veteran, also has talked with Boston and Cleveland. Wallace is said to have a guaranteed offer from a team in Israel.

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Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers

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