Nike founder Phil Knight has teamed up with Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinisky to make an offer of more than $2 billion to buy the Trail Blazers, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Knight and Smolinksy are currently in talks with the Paul Allen trust that owns the Trail Blazers today, Wojnarowski added. Allen, who co-founded Microsoft, died in 2018.
Knight, 84, is a Portland native and according to Wojnarowski, his involvement shows that current ownership is determined to sell to someone who is committed to keeping the franchise in its current location.
“Again, talks are ongoing on the possible purchase of the franchise,” Wojnarowski wrote.
The Blazers are coming off a 27-55 record, missing the playoffs after an eight-year streak of qualifying. General manager Joe Cronin has said he is committed to rebuilding the team into a contender around All-Star guard Damian Lillard.
Hoops Wire will have more on this story as it develops.
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