NBA commissioner Adam Silver has insisted that it is his wish for the Atlanta Hawks to remain where they are.
The Hawks are currently up for sale after their ownership group unanimously agreed to find new owners, and they are in the process of finding interested parties.
Silver added that he is confident that any new owner would keep the team in Atlanta as the mayor has previously offered concessions for the franchise to remain.
"I do want to see the Hawks stay in Atlanta, and we've made that clear to the market," he told the media.
"I don't think it will be a real issue because I would be shocked if they were to sell to a group whose intention it was to even seek to transfer the team out of Atlanta."
Silver was speaking to reporters from the NBA's London offices ahead of the game between the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks at the O2 Arena on Thursday night.
Sumeet Paul
