IFWT_AtlantaHawks

The Atlanta Hawks are currently up for sale, and NBA Legend Grant Hill is looking to join a collective group consisting of former team owners to purchase the team. Hit the jump for details.

Via CBS Sports:

There’s a pretty lengthy list of money-having people who reportedly have interest in becoming Atlanta Hawks owners. The franchise — 100 percent of it — will be on the market in the next few days, and some of the potential buyers have already visited Philips Arena. Here are your candidates, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore:

* Jason Levien. The former Memphis Grizzlies CEO left the organization in May. He is a co-owner of the MLS franchise D.C. United.

* Steve Kaplan: The Los Angeles-based investor joined Robert Pera’s group as a limited investor to purchase the Memphis Grizzlies. He has reportedly made attempts to buy baseball’s San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in recent years.

* Sheldon Adelson: The billionaire businessman is the chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

* Bryan Colangelo: The former President and CEO of the Toronto Raptors. The son of Jerry Colangelo, he was the NBA’s 2005 and 2007 Executive of the Year.

* Grant Hill: The former NBA player and current analyst joined Antony Ressler and Bruce Karsh with a $1.2 billion failed bid to by the Los Angeles Clippers. Hill deflected questions about his interest in the Hawks during a recent segment on NBA TV.

The AJC has previously reported others with an interest in an ownership stake in the Hawks. Former NBA players Dikembe Mutombo and Chris Webber, who has stated his intent publically, have expressed such an interest. New York-based entertainment lawyer Doug Davis, the son of the legendary musician Clive Davis, is also believed to have interest. Davis did not respond to a request for an interview.

According to sources, Jesse Itzler, the entrepreneur and former rapper who has done some consulting work for the Hawks, is a prospective investor. He attends many home games and has previously considered a minor interest in the team. According to sources, his current interest would be as a minority owner. He is married to Sara Blakley, the founder of Spanxx.

Chris Hansen and movie producer Thomas Tull are planning separate bids to buy the team and move it to Seattle, according to Grantland’s Bill Simmons, though the current ownership group has maintained it wants the Hawks to stay where they are. Given that Steve Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion, you might be wondering what will happen here, price-wise. Insiders guessed it could be $700 million to $1 billion, per Grantland’s Zach Lowe.

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Tavia HartleyIFWT