I happened to think today about an argument that everyone is making about the Davis group buying the Grizzlies. The point is continually brought up “Why would Davis pay $350 Million to buy a team that’s losing money?”

The answer is simple. And he explained it on the Vernon show when they were talking to about his plans as owner. He never says he wants to make money with the Grizzlies. Nor do his investors. In the grand scheme of things, the Grizzlies are simply a key that Davis needs to open up his opportunities to develop downtown Memphis. And THAT’s what he kept saying on the show was his plan. To develop downtown…to bring in conventions…turn downtown into a 24 hour downtown that people wanted to come to.

Just like his Duke connections in Durham, Davis wants to use the "Grizzlies owner" status as a tool to get inside the downtown development. That’s where the real money is – and it’s where he’s already made his money…real estate development.

THAT’s where Davis and his investors plan to make their money. The Grizzlies losing money will be considered the cost of doing business to them. They’ll try to lower the amount they lose, of course – but you want to know why they’ll spend $350 Million to buy a team that’s losing money…because they don’t plan on making their money with the Grizzlies. They plan on using the Grizzlies to get the connections they need to make their money in real estate.

As long it is a legitimate owner who has the team’s best interest in mind and they make good decisions for the team while they make their money elsewhere…I’m fine with that.