Bird Negotiations Impacted By Sale of Team?

Summer 1983


If Steve Belkin had bought the Boston Celtics, discussions with him about a new contract for All-Star forward Larry Bird "would have been over within a week," Bob Woolf, Bird's attorney, said yeterday. Talks may not go as swiftly with the team's new ownership group of Don Gaston, Alan Cohen and Paul Dupee.

"I've known Alan for years, and he's a very nice man," Woolf said of Cohen, who resigned yesterday as board chairman of the New Jersey Nets. "He is a hard negotiator. I hate to say it, but he is." Woolf added that "it's possible" negotiations would have been smoother with Harry Mangurian.

Belkin reportedly was close to buying the team before withdrawing his offer July 29.
Bird's five-year contract at a reported $650,000 per year expires after next season. He has indicated he wants to sign a new pact before the season begins Oct. 28.

General manager Red Auerbach said he and the new owners have discussed "at length" Bird's contract status and their priority is to sign him before the season. "We have to talk somewhat further with Red about it, but we intend to make every effort to sign him before training camp," which begins Sept. 30 or Oct. 1, said Cohen. "We've been patient because we understand all the problems they've had throughout the summer and now, hopefully, they've resolved all those problems," Woolf said. "Larry would like to make a lifetime commitment to the Celtics."