OT: Lakers $10B sale question

[superjohn]

In the old days, owners did really well. With these valuations, they are buying teams as a toy rather than an investment. If it breaks even or makes a little, that's fine. You still have access to all the famous people who play for or want to attend Lakers games. You just bought your way into celebrity circles.

This is wildly inaccurate.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This is wildly inaccurate.

Yes, probably an exaggeration in most cases. But these teams are low return investments, so it is likely part of the motivation.

 

[BlueJayFan]

Their owner is a Creighton grad and sits on Creighton's board.

But refuses to contribute for NIL.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Not too veer too far off the intended topic, but I found the timeline of events here awfully interesting:

April 2023 - Kyrie and Luka both sit (almost) the last two games of the season despite still being alive for a play-in spot so that the Mavs don't lose their pick (ended up being Dereck Lively)

December 2023 - Mark Cuban's unexpected sale of the Mavs is approved

February 2025 - One of the most shocking trades in sports history sends Luka Doncic, a 26-year-old superstar that precisely zero people around the league knew was available, to the Lakers. Anthony Davis goes to Dallas.

May 2025 - The Mavs win the draft lottery despite having, I think, <1% chance of doing so. It just so happens that one of the best prospects in years is also coming out.

June 2025 - It is announced that Jeanie Buss, daughter of longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss, has agreed to sell the franchise for a record $10 billion, potentially ending the family's 45+ year ownership.

Do people really still think the Luka-AD trade happened because some guy named Nico believes defense wins championships?

The Mavs winning the lottery after trading Luka is the only thing on your list that smells of conspiracy to me. What is the conspiracy exactly? Does Marc Cuban or other Dallas owners get a cut of the Lakers sale?! That'd be tough to hide.
The NBA orchestrated all of this to generate interest?! Way too many parties involved and uncertain benefits, people need to be specifically paid to execute vast conspiracies & remain silent.

The simplest explanation is that it (Luka for Davis) was a really dumb trade by a dumber guy operating in a vacuum.
With that unexpected windfall, it was clearly time to sell the Lakers.

 

[7774]

But refuses to contribute for NIL.

Has he given some sort of rationale for that?

 

[Fishy]

Can someone help me understand how long the ROI takes on a $10 billion dollar sports team investment/purchase?

I'm curious to know how 'richer' does someone get paying $10b (assuming leveraged financing) as well as how long to break even.

Any theories or otherwise?

Lakers sale for $10B

If you bought the Giants in 1952, it’s an investment.

If you bought the Lakers in 2025, it’s a vanity play.

 

[temery]

Can someone help me understand how long the ROI takes on a $10 billion dollar sports team investment/purchase?

I'm curious to know how 'richer' does someone get paying $10b (assuming leveraged financing) as well as how long to break even.

Any theories or otherwise?

Lakers sale for $10B

The owner gets to keep the coins that fell behind the chairs, and all unclaimed lost and found items.

 

[BlueJayFan]

Has he given some sort of rationale for that?

From what I’ve heard it’s a combination of the principle of not paying for ‘amateur sports’ and the distaste with the way things have become in college athletics, as well as not seeing any meaningful ROI on the money.

The latter point I disagree with as I see being a killer athletic school is fantastic for visibility in the 21st century, but I can’t disagree with the former.

 

[bendm]

But the nba finals ratings are down, it’s a failing league, derpppp