Would Viola accept a partnership with Semel?
“No,” said an insider “Only one guy gets to call the shots. You can’t have two owners that don’t know each other at all. It doesn’t work.” Of the prospective owners, Viola is the most savvy basketball wise. He is a long time season ticket holder and currently owns eight season tickets 10 rows off the court, notes a Nets’ official. According to filings he made with the SEC on another matter, Viola spends 20% of his working time on issues related to the Nets. As has been reported, he attends practices, draft workouts, etc. As one Nets insider noted, “Viola follows the NBA and the Nets like he follows the markets; he doesn’t miss a thing and has an eye for talent.” He is a member of the Nets Chairman’s Council, which passes on major financial decisions, including those related to roster moves, i.e. trades and draft picks. He reportedly gets along quite well with Ratner and with the senior executives at Forest City Enterprises as well. He also serves with Jerry Colangelo, the former Suns o
