CAVALIERS Any sale of team will move slowly

The purchase offer of $350 million must be accepted and approved by the NBA.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- If owner Gordon Gund's plan to sell the Cleveland Cavaliers to a Michigan billionaire falls through, there may be other potential buyers ready to make him an offer.
LeBron James has been saving his millions.
"Once Z [Zydrunas Ilgauskas] gets his contract after this year, we're going to go halves on it," James joked after practice Friday. "I don't have that money right now, but I will."
On Thursday, Gund said he was in negotiations to sell his NBA franchise.
Dan Gilbert, chairman of Quicken Loans Inc., has reportedly made an offer in excess of $350 million to Gund, who purchased the Cavaliers for $20 million in 1983 and may want to capitalize on his team's recent ascent in popularity.
Gilbert, who tried to buy baseball's Milwaukee Brewers, was not available for comment.
Before any sale can be finalized, it has to be approved by the NBA's board of governors, a process that could take months. Spokesman Tim Frank said the league had not yet received any paperwork from the sides.
Lease runs through 2027
"Our role in a transfer of ownership doesn't begin until after the sides have reached an agreement," he said.
With the team's lease at Gund Arena running through 2027, there is virtually no chance of Gilbert moving the Cavaliers. However, there are other weighty issues -- contracts, free agents and James' future -- that are more uncertain and could be affected by an ownership change.
Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said he spoke with Gund about the potential sale.
"He explained that there was an offer but that nothing has happened yet and a lot has to happen in the interim for it to go through," Silas said. "It doesn't affect us, I've still got to win. I don't care who the owner is."
Been there, done that
When he coached in Charlotte, Silas went through a much more tumultuous situation, trying to win while knowing the Hornets were moving to New Orleans. That experience taught him not to worry about what he can't control.
"This won't be a distraction," Silas said. "The only distraction we would have is if we start losing and the fans stop coming."
From a business standpoint, it's easy to see why Gund is interested in selling, and why Gilbert wants to acquire the once downtrodden Cavs, whose profile has rarely been higher in 35 years.
With James, the team has improved on the floor and Cleveland's attendance has skyrocketed. The Cavs have become a huge box-office draw on the road and they're getting more TV exposure than ever. Corporate sponsors are elbowing each other out of the way to be part of the Cavs' family.
James is behind it all.
"I'm just doing my job," he said.
Gilbert's challenge will be to keep it going. If he buys the team, he'll immediately have important decisions to make.
Although the Cavaliers' payroll is at roughly $49 million -- among the league's lowest -- it will soon rise. The team has seven potential free agents, including Ilgauskas, whose agent may seek a maximum deal.
Ilgauskas is loyal to Gund, who gave the 7-foot-3 center emotional and financial support when he missed nearly three full seasons with broken feet. Ilgauskas said he was "sad" to hear Gund might be leaving.
"I've known Gordon for a long time," he said. "I like Gordon so much. I've got nothing but good things to say about him with what he did for me."
Ilgauskas was asked if a new owner would change his mind about staying in Cleveland.
"I don't think so," he said. "I'm not going anywhere. Whatever happens, happens."