TITLE: Beal Says Clippers Already Feel Like Home; NBA Board to Review Lakers Ownership Shift; Knicks Highlight Depth Under New Coach
SLUG: beal-clippers-lakers-ownership-knicks-outlook
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Clippers
Guard Bradley Beal said his move from the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Clippers has been so smooth that it feels as though he has “been here for a few years.” Speaking with the Orange County Register, the three-time All-Star credited the organization for making him feel at home ahead of Friday’s game in Los Angeles against his former team.
Beal remains on a minutes restriction following offseason knee surgery, according to The Athletic. Head coach Tyronn Lue noted that a veteran-heavy roster will require about 15–20 games before the staff settles on definitive rotations. Lue added that each night’s lineup could look different, and The Athletic reported that Bogdan Bogdanović and Nicolas Batum are the veterans most likely to see reduced minutes once the roster is fully healthy.
Lakers
Majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers is on the verge of changing hands. ESPN reported that Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter is expected to secure league approval as the club’s new controlling owner before the end of October. Walter’s record-setting offer values the franchise at approximately $10 billion.
Walter and business partner Todd Boehly already hold a 27 percent stake in the Lakers. Their group plans to purchase a significant share of the Buss family’s 66 percent majority interest. Jeanie Buss will stay on as team governor for several years, as the Buss family intends to keep at least 15 percent ownership—the NBA’s minimum threshold for that position.
The league’s Advisory Finance Committee will examine Walter’s proposal on Friday and forward its recommendation to the Board of Governors, which is slated to vote next week.
Knicks
Despite reaching last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks are not labeling the upcoming campaign as “championship-or-bust,” according to forward Karl-Anthony Towns. “We’re just focusing on being the best version of ourselves and earning the city’s respect every day,” Towns told RG.org.
New head coach Mike Brown’s debut win underscored a faster pace and deeper rotation compared with the Tom Thibodeau era, The New York Post reported. “I truly believe this team is deep,” Brown said. “Give Leon Rose and his group credit. I like to play a lot of guys. I don’t know if it’ll be 11 every night, but I want everyone ready when their number’s called.”
Source: Hoops Wire
