Report: LeBron James, Fenway Sports activities Group won’t be shopping for the Celtics

All summer time lengthy, there was hypothesis with who will purchase the Boston Celtics. As of right now, it appears like we now know for positive that Fenway Sports activities Group won’t be within the working.

Based on Dave Powell of the “Liverpool Echo,” LeBron James, John Henry, and Co. might be holding their sights set on a brand new Las Vegas NBA growth franchise, somewhat than the historic one in Boston.

“However through the summer time the Boston Celtics NBA workforce, the present NBA champions no much less, had been put up on the market by Wyc Grousbeck, and given FSG’s sturdy ties to the town, with its base being in Boston, there was a lot rumor and conjecture round a possible bid by the Reds’ house owners for the Celtics, with the New York Publish claiming that there was important curiosity.

Nonetheless, that curiosity had been dismissed by folks the ECHO spoke to on the matter, with Celtics shareholder and present proprietor of Italian Serie A aspect Atalanta, Stephen Pagliuca, being tipped because the particular person to make a play for management.”

That is implausible information.

The Henry-led FSG had been a rumored suitor for the Celtics ever since information broke in June that the workforce was up on the market. This in fact sparked angst amongst the Celtics trustworthy, as a result of first-hand expertise the town has had with FSG’s possession of the Boston Pink Sox.

Possession could make or break a franchise’s championship hopes. Within the case of the Sox, there’s a sense that the workforce may’ve had extra success in recent times if possession hadn’t been so set on saving cash.

Franchise staples like Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, and Xander Bogaerts all wound up being let go in favor of holding the checkbooks closed.

It’s robust to think about the Celtics coping with that very same remedy, as Wyc Grousbeck has basically executed the alternative. After already being over the CBA’s second-apron, Boston re-signed or prolonged nearly everybody from final season’s championship squad.

Within the 2025-26 season, the workforce may resist $500 million in luxurious tax penalties, in line with ESPN’s Bobby Marks. This doesn’t bode nicely for making a revenue, which is reportedly one of many causes that Wyc’s father, Irv, has pushed for this sale.

The sale course of itself might be getting underway somewhat quickly, per Grousbeck’s current chat with The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.

“The sale course of is gearing up and about to hit full velocity,” Grousbeck instructed Himmelsbach earlier this month. “It took this lengthy for our advisors to undergo the monetary and enterprise knowledge of the workforce and our entire administration workforce, and spend sufficient time to place collectively providing books. Now they’re starting to have discussions with events and the bidding course of will start within the subsequent month or so.”

Grousbeck did point out the duty of discovering a “nice purchaser” to tackle the workforce.