Adam Silver (Vaguely) Tackles Subject Of Celtics Sale Approval

NBA commissioner Adam Silver hasn’t begun to overlook the finer details behind the record-setting $6.1 billion sale of the Boston Celtics, which is slated to make Bill Chisholm the franchise’s next majority owner.

The Celtics spent over eight months examining candidates, undergoing several rounds of interviews and Chisholm, a Massachusetts native and graduate of Dartmouth College, was identified as the next man up. However, there’s a slight issue that, until addressed, won’t receive league approval to finalize the sale: Chisholm’s financial commitment, which was less than his Sixth Street Partners.

That violates the current NBA regulations established in 2021. It also explains the rumors that Chisholm has begun recruiting additional investors to help lessen the need for Sixth Street’s investment as it currently stands. Chisholm’s alternative option is to cross his fingers in hopes that the league would approve a waiver before his initial bid undergoes its voting process before the NBA’s Board of Governors in June.

“It’s very early days in that transaction,” Silver said during Thursday’s annual board of governors meeting in New York, per Dennis Young of Front Office Sports. “We’re just learning about it. We haven’t had a chance to not just vet potential new owners but dig into the specifics of the deal.”

Boston fetching its $6.1 billion pricetag marked the highest cost ever for a North American sports franchise and surpassed the 2023 sale of the Washington Commanders — for $6.05 billion. The $6.1 billion also doesn’t take into account the projected payroll spike from $230 million this season to roughly $500 million next season once Jayson Tatum begins to cash in on his $315 million supermax contract. The Celtics are sitting cozy within their championship window, as the only thing threatening their status as potential kings of the Eastern Conference remains roster retention.

That’s been the biggest worry attached to the unexpected departure announcement made by Wyc Grousbeck and the team last July. Building a core led by Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White was a process 12 years in the making — when the Celtics traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett for a package that included three first-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets.

Everyone invested in what the Celtics have morphed into, from the fans to the players, isn’t willing to give that up. Boston waited years under the reign of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, enduring numerous beatdown playoff exits in the process, for its chance to reclaim the mountaintop. Bidding farewell to Grousbeck will be a tough departure for the organization when looking back at the 63-year-old’s 23-year run.

Rest assured, Grousbeck and Chisholm have clarified that the longtime majority owner will remain in his current role throughout the 2027-28 season — something Silver didn’t have a concrete response for either.

“The Grousbeck family and the buyer are still working through those arrangements on exactly how that would work in terms of CEO roles and governor roles during the transition,” Silver said, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Boston has four NBA Finals appearances and two banner raisings to thank Grousbeck before he officially rides off into the sunset. The Mass. native never failed to put the organization first, even during the tough times and helped carry on the Celtics’ winning tradition before his time was up.

Chisholm, once fully submerged into the majority owner’s role, will be held to that same standard in keeping the tradition alive.

Silver also mentioned that once the league helps complete the sale of the Celtics, an expansion team discussion will begin its consideration process. Las Vegas and Seattle are the rumored favorites to land teams and help bring the expansion to life.