VANCOUVER, British Columbia – David Radler, a media heavyweight with strong Vancouver connections, is playing a key role in lining up possible buyers for the Grizzlies, with the sole intent of keeping the franchise at GM Place, The Province of Vancouver reported on Friday.
Radler said Thursday he has been working to bring together potential investors.
Radler is the president and chief operating officer of global newspaper giant Hollinger International Inc., and a former publisher of The Province and The Vancouver Sun.
Radler has spoken with NBA commissioner David Stern and says there is no doubt in his mind that Stern wants the franchise in Vancouver, despite the publicity generated by owner Michael Heisley's bid for relocation to Memphis.
"We're trying our best to make it happen," said Radler, a basketball enthusiast who watched from his usual courtside seat as the Grizzlies hammered the Knicks 89-68 on Thursday night.
Radler, though, is aware of the difficulties ahead.
"It's not over until it's over but we have to be realistic," he said. "I don't believe there's much more than a 20 percent chance of saving the team at this point. In order to do that we must have a major investor.
"We have three potential major investors, but I repeat in quotation marks, 'potential.' They're not at the table yet."
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