Commissioner David Magley 'concerned' about Windsor Express, NBL of Canada

A team is bankrupt. More debts are owed. The season is pushed back. And the league's commissioner is a month on the job.

It's been a busy, if not controversial, off-season in the National Basketball League of Canada.The league is trying to rebuild its image after a bizarre ending to last season.

The Windsor Express were named champions when the Halifax Rainmen left town without playing Game 7 of the championship series. Their exit followed an on-court scuffle, pre-game shoot-around earlier in the day.

Newly appointed commissioner David Magley is on an eight-city tour promoting the league. He'll be in Windsor next week.

The CBC's John Van Dusen reached Magley by phone in Orlando, Fla., where the league is holding a combine this week.

"I'm concerned about all of them," Magley said of his league's teams. "But I'm not concerned about Windsor being in or out [out of the league].  But I do want to help them make money."

Halifax declared bankruptcy this off-season and still owes the league $20,000 in fines levied against it for fighting with Windsor Express players and walking away from Game 7 of the league final.

Players on both teams owe the league money. Magley said some have paid, others haven't, but couldn't elaborate any further.

Windsor head coach Bill Jones will serve a one-year suspension after his role in the incident before Game 7. An interim coach will be announced Tuesday.

Magley will hold a town hall meeting in Windsor on July 16.

This week, he told CBC that Windsor Express officials are "tireless workers" but said he'd like to see more local ownership. Express owner Dartis Willis is from Detroit.

CBC was unable to reach the Express for comment.

According to the City of Windsor, the team has paid its bills in full, except money owed for renting the WFCU Centre for the last playoff game that was cancelled due to Halifax not showing up.

"We are still in discussions with the Express in regards to the final payment for that game," Jelena Payne, the city's commissioner community development and health services, said in an email.

Last year the Express worked out a one-year deal to play at the WFCU Centre.

Part of that deal meant the team had to split concession revenues with the city and pay $3,500 a game to rent the arena.

The current lease expires Sept. 30 and the two sides would need to negotiate a deal before the start of the season, which has been pushed back to Boxing Day.

Magley wouldn't comment on Windsor's lease or finances, but did explain why the league opted for a later start.

"We've not had great numbers across the board in October, November. All of our numbers pick up in the second half of the year," he said. "And they pick up as we get closer to the playoffs.

"Well, if our playoff dates improve, with regards to our arenas because our hockey partners aren't as active at that time, then that's a win for us as well. So, that's part of the reason why we pushed the whole season back."