Wizards’ new owner is still early to be confirmed

Since the death of longtime Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin in November, it had been almost sure that Ted Leonsis will buy the team to be the successor. Well, it has been not so sue because of an internal e-mail.

According to The Associated Press, Leonsis’ group is “surprised and disappointed” about an internal e-mail among Wizards staff. The e-mail seeks to downplay the perception the Leonsis will be the inevitable new owner and says “there is no exclusive right for anyone to purchase the Wizards.”

Leonsis and his Lincoln Holdings group has owned 44 percent of the Wizards and the rest of Pollin’s Washington Sports & Entertainment empire since Pollin welcomed him into the WS&E family in 1999 by selling him the NHL’ Washington Capitals. As the former AOL executive, he was also anointed by Pollin his successor. So Leonsis has the inside track to purchase the other 56 percent and would have to fail to clear all of several hurdles not to do so.

However, the e-mail written by WS&E president of business operations Peter Biche says there’s nothing to keep the Pollin family from marketing the Wizards to other potential buyers “at this time.”

At this time, the Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas has been suspended for the remaining season and will not be in his No. 0 Wizards jersey until next season begins. At this time, an exclusive appraisal process is ongoing. The Pollin’s family has chosen an appraiser to value the team, so does the Leonsis group. If Leonsis’ group is willing to offer the price offered by the appraisers, in case they value the team for the same price, or a price offered by a neutral appraise in case the two appraisals fail to yield a mutually agreeable sale price, the new owner is to be Leonsis; if not, other buyers could make their offer, but Leonsis’ group has the right of first refusal to match any offer the Pollins or Washington Sports receive.