Braves legend Hank Aaron has joined a group with interest in buying the Hawks, according to an ESPN report Sunday.
The Braves icon has teammed with a group that includes Grizzlies minority owner Steve Kaplan and former CEO Jason Levian. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last week that Kaplan and Levian were interested in buying the Hawks. According the ESPN report by Marc Stein, Indonesian billionaire sports and media magnates Erick Thohir and Handy Poernomo Soetedjo are also involved in the group.
“This is a private process and he’d like the private process to play out,” Allen Tanenbaum, Aaron’s longtime business adviser, told ESPN Sunday.
Aaron, who remains a Senior Vice President with the Braves, has owned several car dealerships in metro-Atlanta, including BMW of South Atlanta.
The Hawks and the operating rights to Philips Arena officially went on the market last week.
The AJC also reported last week that former NBA player Grant Hill and former Raptors executive Bryan Colangelo are interested in buying the Hawks. They have been joined by former NBA player Junior Bridgeman.
Hill, an NBA TV analyst confirmed his interest Saturday on the network.
“Definitely very excited about this opportunity as I’m sure a lot of other potential suitors will be,” Hill said.
Jesse Itzler, who has served as a consultant and attends many Hawks games, is also interested in a possible run at the Hawks with Steven Starker, founder of the New York brokerage firm BTIG. The AJC reported Itzler’s interest last week.
A group that includes former Hawks player Dikembe Mutombo is also a serious contender for the team. The group includes Atlanta and overseas connections.
Others know to have an interest in the Hawks are former NBA player Chris Webber and entertainment lawyer Doug Davis.
Goldman Sachs and Inner Circle Sports have been hired to handle the sale, a process that includes identifying and vetting prospective buyers. Non-disclosure agreements were sent out Friday and the book containing financial information is expected to be ready within the next two weeks.
