Report: Atlanta Hawks May Have To Keep Same Owners For Another Year

Sources are telling Mark Stein of ESPN.com that the sale of the Atlanta Hawks may have hit a snag, and that the current owners and NBA officials are skeptical that potential buyer Alex Meruelo can actually afford and operate the team.

Meruelo, who owns a California investment firm, released a statement denying the accusation.  According to Stein, the statement read:

I have more than ample resources to purchase and operate the Hawks in a first-class manner. I am committed to the purchase of the Atlanta Hawks. While I can't comment on the details of the approval process, I have and will do everything I can to bring the process to a positive conclusion.