What Wyc Grousbeck Revealed About Upcoming Sale Of Celtics Franchise

The Boston Celtics are 15 days away from the start of their championship defense, but the looming ownership switch remains amongst the organization. Wyc Grousbeck’s days as ownership head honcho are dwindling down and with two titles highlighting 22 years of hard work and dedication, the team governor elected to speak out.

Three months ago, the Celtics announced their intentions to sell the franchise with Grousbeck stepping down. Understandably so, the news — less than two weeks after winning the NBA Finals — generated a lot of unclarity regarding the direction of the franchise. Boston’s payroll skyrocketed after the front office invested over $500 million in contracts during the offseason but the “green light” that Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens ran with last offseason wasn’t turned off. Grousbeck broke his silence to help clear the air as much as possible as Boston sits with three preseason games left until Opening Night at TD Garden.

“The sale process is gearing up and about to hit full speed,” Grousbeck told Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, “It took this long for our advisers to go through the financial and business data of the team and our whole management team, and spend enough time to put together offering books. Now they’re beginning to have discussions with interested parties, and the bidding process will commence in the next month or so.”

Before the Celtics opened up preseason play in Abu Dhabi against the Denver Nuggets, the franchise underwent a forward step in its sale process, according to a source with close knowledge, by reaching out to a “small group” of “qualified buyers.” The members of that group are unknown, however, the team’s current higher powers group has provided plenty of reassurance about the commitment to win no matter what. Jayson Tatum was retained on a record-large $315 million extension, Derrick White was given a $125 million payday and Lonnie Walker IV was welcomed with an Exhibit 10 contract since nobody else in free agency elected to offer the four-year veteran an opportunity to earn a roster spot — banner-raising commitment at its finest.

“I just went through a 360 review from, like, 24 people in the organization,” Grousbeck added, per Himmelsbach. “A 360 review is when a manager gets feedback from everybody he works with. And people have really thought it’s gone great. This has changed a lot of people’s lives over the last 22 years and it’s made me really think about how we’ve all done this together, and how appreciative and proud I am to have been the guy who pulled it together and made the calls along the way. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.”

Grousbeck still has Oct. 22 to look forward to, watching Banner 18 officially raised in the TD Garden rafters while adding a second championship ring to his hand before Boston hosts the New York Knicks to begin another optimistic year.