Judge Blocks Belkin's Removal
9th August, 2005 - 2:09 pm

AP - A judge here stepped into the feud between owners of the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, blocking the other members of the ownership group from removing Boston businessman Steve Belkin as managing partner.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Allan van Gestel granted Belkin's request for a temporary injunction, saying a contract signed by all the owners last year prevents the group from voting him out.

It was unclear whether the other owners would scrap plans for a Tuesday vote to replace Belkin, who owns 30 percent of the franchise, with co-owner Michael Gearon Jr.

Belkin is part of the nine-member Atlanta Spirit LLC group, which also owns the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and the operating rights to Philips Arena.

The dispute stems from Belkin's refusal to approve a sign-and-trade deal for the Hawks to acquire guard Joe Johnson from the Phoenix Suns . As the team's NBA governor, Belkin must sign off on all trades.

The ruling, which extends indefinitely a temporary restraining order obtained by Belkin last week, can be appealed to a higher court. The judge said Belkin's refusal to sign on to the Johnson deal was not grounds for his removal under the contract.

"It is hardly apparent on the present record that the deal for Johnson, however talented he may be ... is in the economic best interest of the franchise," the judge wrote. "Sometimes the cost is just too great."

The five-year contract the Hawks offered Johnson -- worth about $70 million, including $20 million for the first year -- would have made him the team's highest-paid player. Atlanta would also give Phoenix two first-round picks, second-year guard Boris Diaw and a $4.9 million trade exception.

"Steve Belkin simply thinks that's too much to pay for Joe Johnson," Belkin's lawyer, John Fabiano, told the judge. [READ]

Those guys and Knight didn't have much of a chance with removing him. And if Belkin is right, the NBA will investigate these tampering charges, i fully expect that some of his claims are accurate. Could cost, the Suns draft picks, the other Hawk owners interest in their team (being banned), and Knight his job and being banned too. Funny stuff. All the particulars are now out, 2 unprotected 1st round picks, Boris Diaw, and they still have to pay JJ max salary. That is more than the Knicks had to pay for Marbury, much more. Knight should be fired on principle alone.

Posted by bobs3304:

They weren't unprotected. They were both protected, but one of them was only protected Top 3 and only until 08...

Other than that...they're still overpaying, but it's an incentive to stay competitive. I think if you take away Diaw it's very fair.

Per the AJC, the deal says that they were not protected. Billy Knight admitted the deal he went to Belkin with was unprotected lottery picks. There are two offers per Belkin which is starting to match up. At first Knight and the remaining owners claimed that the deal was lottery protected. It isn't fair, it isn't the original agreement either, Calangelo added the picks after the fact and Knight just signed off, he didn't get BOG approval either. Well that's why there will be an investigation into these charges. JJ doesn't want to play for the Suns, they are the ones who should be happy to get something. I thought it was a sign and trade, it not even a sign and trade because the Suns aren't taking back salary to match up. It is just a trade.