Update: NBA debunks Atlanta Hawks to Seattle reports

The NBA says the Atlanta Hawks are not moving to Seattle or any other city, one day after a report claimed investor Chris Hansen and another deep-pocketed potential buyer are preparing separate bids to buy the Atlanta Hawks and move them to Seattle.

Hearing Hawks owners want team to stay in Atlanta. BUT – hearing Thomas Tull and Chris Hansen have separate Hawks-to-Seattle bids planned.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 6, 2015

ESPN NBA insider Bill Simmons said via Twitter Tuesday Hansen and film producer Thomas Tull were both planning bids for the Hawks, who were put up for sale by their current owners this week.

The Hawks have been embroiled in controversy since September, when controlling owner Bruce Levenson and his partners agreed to sell their 50.1 percent stake following the discovery of an email Levenson wrote that included racist remarks about the team’s fans and game operations, according to AJC.com.

The two remaining ownership groups reportedly agreed last week to sell their stakes as well.

But the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Wednesday an NBA spokesman insists the team isn’t going anywhere.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass to the AJC: “The Atlanta Hawks are not moving to another market.” #ATLHawks

— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 7, 2015

Hansen hasn’t been heard from much since the NBA rejected his bid to buy the Sacramento Kings in 2013 along with former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and other investors.

He did reiterate his commitment to bringing the NBA back to Seattle in a brief blog post on his Sonics Arena website Dec. 22.

As for Tull, it’s the first time his name has come up in conjunction with the NBA and Seattle. A part-owner of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and self-professed lifetime fan, Tull is best known as Chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures. The company is responsible for such blockbusters as the Batman “Dark Knight” trilogy, “The Hangover” series and other blockbusters.

But KING 5’s Chris Daniels reported Wednesday a spokesman for Tull strongly denied the report.

“Thomas Tull has not shown any interest in acquiring the Hawks. None at all,” the spokesman told Daniels.

It’s widely believed the current owners would not sell to anyone looking to move the team. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has said repeatedly that the city is committed to keeping the Hawks in Atlanta. The AJC says the NBA would not want to lose a franchise in a Top-10 market.

Still, any talk of the NBA possibly returning to Seattle stirs strong feelings among fans clamoring for the rebirth of their beloved Sonics.

Brian Robinson, co-founder of the group Save Our Sonics, says it’s understandable to get excited whenever rumors come up. But he advises it’s best to not lend them much stock.

“I’m just telling people not to ride the roller coaster until you hear something more official,” he says.

Robinson predicts there will be plenty of rumors out of Atlanta in the next few weeks as well as Milwaukee, where efforts are underway to convince voters to help fund a new arena in what’s shaping up to be a battle resembling the fight that ultimately led to the Sonics’ departure from Seattle.

“There’s a lot of chatter that will be generated in those markets as they try to add value to those franchises. We are a leverage city right now,” Robinson says.

Robinson, who has worked to keep the Sonics in Seattle and subsequently land a new team after their departure for Oklahoma City, says he remains confident the NBA will ultimately return to Seattle, given Hansen’s continued commitment.

“Everybody around him is confident that he is committed and Steve Ballmer can be replaced with one or several partners.”

Will that happen any time soon? Many insiders think the NBA won’t take any steps to move a franchise or expand until after a new labor deal that runs out in 2017 is reached. There’s speculation that could lead to a long term lockout as owners and players battle over the sharing of revenue.

But Robinson says the situation is similar to 2005, when in the midst of contentious labor negotiations, the NBA insisted Seattle build a new arena, and the Sonics were ultimately sold to investors and subsequently moved to Oklahoma.

“The NBA knew they needed to get all of their buildings and all of their franchise stability issues resolved. That could be a good reason for them to try to get something done with Seattle quickly and at least have an idea where they are going before they burn any public goodwill with a big public collective bargaining dispute,” Robinson says.

Of more pressing concern is Hansen’s completion of an arena. Work continues on an environmental impact statement that could determine the fate of the proposed new building in Seattle’s SoDo district. Hansens’s deal with the city of Seattle and King County requires him to acquire an NBA team before public funds will be committed to finance the project. Without an arena deal in place, it’s unlikely he would be able to acquire a team even if one were to be made available.