Bucks fans should be worried about potential new owners

A change in ownership of a pro sports team is often welcomed by a fan base because it can breathe life into a stagnant franchise. A potential change in the ownership of the highly successful Milwaukee Bucks, however, should have their fans concerned.

Per ESPN, Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry has reached an agreement to sell his stake of the team to Jimmy and Dee Haslam at a $3.5 billion valuation. The Haslams own the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. 

Per ESPN, the deal would be the second-highest valuation for an NBA team, surpassed only by the $4 billion purchase of the Phoenix Suns that was completed earlier this month. The NBA still must approve the deal.

The Haslams have a lousy track record of ownership.

Since they took over the Browns in 2012, the team has never finished above third in the AFC North. During their tenure, the Browns have had one winning season, 2020, when they finished third and reached the playoffs. After beating the Steelers in the wild-card round, Cleveland lost the next week to Kansas City.

Under the Haslems, the Browns have gone through five head coaches in a decade, two of them one-and-done, and went 0-16 in 2017.

The Browns also recently gave up a king’s ransom in draft picks to add quarterback Deshaun Watson. Despite allegations of sexual assault against the QB, the Haslams signed him to a ridiculous $230 million fully guaranteed contract.

For all that money, the Browns got a 58.2% passer in 2022. Watson only played in six games last season because the NFL handed him an 11-game suspension for violation of its personal conduct policy.

The Haslams have shown neither an ability to build a team nor the aptitude to put people in place to do so.

In the MLS, the Haslams have had success with their Columbus Crew, winning a league title in 2020, but that was with players and staff set in place by the old ownership.

Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Haslams will begin the NBA process of being vetted. That includes the Haslams meeting with eight to 10 other owners for interviews. Later, the NBA's board of governors would convene for a vote to approve or reject the sale.

The Haslams could become owners of an NBA championship contender built around perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

With the Browns, the Haslams have made scores of poor decisions. For Bucks fans, their ownership would not be good news.