Photo Credit: USA Today
The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the surprise teams last year making a big turn around after the hiring of Jason Kidd.
Things could get a little rocky for the franchise though as they’ve been battling with the state of Wisconsin to help fund a new arena.
Milwaukee Bucks president Peter Feigin told Wisconsin lawmakers Monday that time was of the essence in approving $250 million in public funding for the proposed arena in downtown Milwaukee or the NBA will move the team to another city.
At an informational hearing held by the state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, Feigin said the Bucks owners’ purchase agreement for the team includes a provision that construction of a new arena start in 2015. If that does not occur, he said the NBA will buy back the team for a $25 million profit and move them to “Las Vegas or Seattle.” –Bizjournals.com
The rumors of moving an NBA franchise to Seattle has certainly been heating up over the years with the Sacramento Kings as the most likely candidate, but the Bucks could be a real possibility.
Bucks owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry of the Milwaukee Bucks would be forced to sell the franchise to the NBA, and would take a huge loss in money so the motivation for ownership to get something done is there.
Whether the state will budge or not is the big question. If the state does not budge ownership may be forced to move the team especially if the numbers add up like Bucks president Peter Feigin thinks.
A move to Seattle would be awesome for the fan base, but moving a historic franchise like the Milwaukee Bucks would be a huge blow for the city and something no one wants to see.
Any professional team moving to Las Vegas is intriguing, and could be likely in the future but my guess is Bucks ownership gets something done.
With the team getting new uniforms this off-season and a playoff appearance last season to go along with a young nucleus of Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and recently signed Greg Monroe this could be one of the more exciting teams in the NBA.
For any Bucks fan I hope some sort of deal gets done because no city deserves to lose a franchise.
