Nets’ Joseph Tsai agrees to Liberty deal pending approval from NBA Board of Governors

Photo Credit: Mike Lawrence/New York Sportsday Wire

All the NBA’s got to do is say yes.

According to the Associated Press’ Doug Feinberg, Alibaba executive and Brooklyn Nets minority owner Joseph Tsai is one NBA Board of Governors’ vote from officially becoming the new owner of the New York Liberty.

The deal would mark the first time the team would have an owner that would not be Madison Square Garden and James Dolan since the team debuted in 1997 as one of the W’s original franchises.

Feinberg reported that the WNBA’s Board of Governors already gave its seal of approval and now only needs the NBA’s to follow suit.

The impact of this deal – if approved – would be multifold. It would give the Liberty stability entering what has already been a wild free agency period given the news involving both Maya Moore and Liz Cambage.

Some have speculated that it could encourage New York to even pursue Moore or Cambage.

The primary thing that Liberty fans want to know is where the team will play starting with the 2020 season (CBA pending). The Westchester dates are locked in for 2019 and it is possible that the two 11 a.m. start times could occur at either Barclays Center or Nassau Coliseum.

Another thing – where will Liberty games air? YES Network is a possibility, but the team may not have the flexibility with YES as it did MSG given YES is all-Yankees from March until October.

All are questions to ask…the chatter around those issues will surely pick up when…and only when.. the deal is done.