We Finally Have An Official List Of The Groups That Are Set To Put In Offers To Buy The Boston Celtics

Billie Weiss. Getty Images.

Once it became news that Wyc Grousbeck (aka his dad Irv) was putting the Celtics up for sale back in July, we've all been waiting to hear who the candidates might be as the next owner of the most successful franchise in NBA history. We got rumors around John Henry and Fenway Sports Group which I think everyone would agree would be the worst case scenario given what we're seeing with the Sox, there were more rumors that Jeff Bezos was going to fork over some of that sweet, sweet Amazon money for a new toy seeing as how he has more money than God. That one was something I could get behind, if he simply agreed to cut the checks and do nothing else other than listen to Brad Stevens and whatever he wanted to do.

Then of course there's Pags, who has been in the ownership group for the past 20+ years and for my money was my preferred choice, as long as he committed to spending what it took to keep this train moving.

Well, with the next round of bids due this week, we have our list of the 4 groups who are going to make their pitch

Based on that story, it's stated that Pags is the frontrunner which I certainly don't hate, but you never know with these things. Considering Wyc has been open about wanting to stay on, I do wonder if Pags being open to that idea, given their long standing relationship, gives him the leg up. Then again, he's been in the shadow for so long despite owning a greater share of the team, maybe he wouldn't want that? Who knows.

What's notable, of course, is who is not listed. No John Henry, no Bezos. Maybe now we can stop with the FSG rumor that seems to pop up every few weeks. 

If this is the final group, OK. My stance has not changed when it comes to the only rules I care about for whoever ends up being the choice

1. You must accept and bow down to our lord and savior Brad Stevens. He calls the shots, you do what he wants without questioning it.

2. You must be willing to spend hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars on luxury tax and second apron penalties to keep this roster together for as long as this current window is open

3. You believe in Mazzulla Ball and everything it stands for

4. You are not John Henry and FSG

As long as they follow these rules, I have no problems. It does feel like Pags is the best bet to satisfy all four of those rules, mostly because he's already involved. He understands where the team is right now. He understands the genius of Brad Stevens. If you tell me he has the cash available to fund this window, then just go with him. Keep the continuity, keep things with a player who has a tie to the city and the franchise and everyone is happy. 

In that story it didn't really talk about any other potential "mystery" bidders, so as far as I'm concerned this is the final list of options. What the price ends up being is anyone's guess considering the Celts don't own their own arena and only have a 20% stake in their TV network, but I take this update as a positive.

First, John Henry and FSG are nowhere to be found. Second, more reporting that Pags is in the lead. Go Pags go!