The New Jersey Nets have one season left before moving to Brooklyn, but Newark mayor Cory Booker is hopeful the city will be an attractive landing spot for another NBA franchise, The Record reported Monday.
As Newark’s Prudential Center gets set to play host to the NBA Draft on Thursday night, Booker told the website he believes it will be an “uphill battle” to bring another team to his city, but said the battle “is winnable.“
“We’re definitely engaging in conversations with folks who have put out feelers about the potential for our arena to host an NBA team,” Booker said. “There are definitely a number of teams struggling in their current arenas. That gives me signs of hope.“
Prudential Center is site the draft while the usual venue, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, undergoes renovations. The draft could stay in Newark in the coming years if NBA commissioner David Stern deems this year’s event a success.
Booker said Stern has never dismissed the idea of bringing another team to Newark after the Nets depart following the 2011-12 season.
“He’s never thrown cold water at me,” Booker said. “He’s never said no. In fact, we’ve had some conversations about if it were to happen, what would that pathway look like?“
According to the report, the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Bobcats are considered possible candidates for a move due to financial losses and a desire for a new arena.
As far as investors go, Booker said newly retired Shaquille O’Neal, a native of Newark, would be part of the “A-team” in leading the effort to make sure the NBA returns to the Garden State.
The WNBA’s Liberty will play at Prudential Center for the next three years while the Garden undergoes summer renovations. The NHL’s Devils play their home games at the arena, along with the Seton Hall University men’s basketball team.