HoopsHype.com Rumors

Using his "connections," Mark Cuban has hit a grand slam. He confirmed Friday that he'll have pop superstar Justin Timberlake singing at his private Super Bowl party in New Orleans on Feb. 2, the night before the big game. "It's going to be a heckuva party," Cuban said. "We always win the party. I'm bringing sexy back. Watch AXS-TV for a chance to win tickets to the party." By the way, Timberlake is a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies. Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Justin Timberlake 

Sources say Levien took a lead role in assembling a star-studded ownership consortium which includes actor/singer Justin Timberlake as well as Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and wife Ashley. Timberlake and Ashley Manning are native Memphians, as are two more prominent minority owners in Pera's group: Former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway and former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, Jason Levien, Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera 

The Memphis Grizzlies have changed owners officially, and the new bosses want to make clear their commitment to staying in Tennessee very clear. "The Grizzlies are here to stay in Memphis," new Grizzlies chairman Robert J. Pera said. The Grizzlies announced Wednesday that the reported $377 million sale by Michael Heisley had been finalized to a group led by Pera, a former Apple engineer who founded the communications technology company Ubiquiti Networks. The group includes local businessmen, entertainer Justin Timberlake, Memphis native and former NBA player Penny Hardaway, a former U.S. congressman and Ashley Manning, wife of four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera 

An introductory media conference will be held at 10 a.m. this coming Monday, November 5. Pera and members of the new ownership group will be on hand for their first event at FedExForum to tip-off a new era in Memphis Grizzlies basketball and both media and the general public are invited to attend. For those members of Grizz Nation unable to attend in person, the press conference will be streamed in its entirety online at grizzlies.com. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera 

Kurt Helin: NBA owners have officially approved sale of Memphis Grizzlies to Robert Pera. (And Justin Timberlake. And Peyton Manning.) Twitter @basketballtalk

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera 

Steve Aschburner: The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Memphis Grizzlies to an investor group led by Robert Pera. Twitter @AschNBA

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera 

Ken Berger: Owners have approved the transfer of Grizzlies ownership to Robert Pera, league sources tell @CBSSports. Twitter @KBergCBS

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera 

Steve Aschburner: Memphis Grizz ownership group incl. Ashley and hubby Peyton Manning, ex-NBAers Penny Hardaway, Elliot (Socks) Perry, Justin Timberlake. Twitter @AschNBA

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera, Peyton Manningm Memphis Grizzl 

Sources told ESPN.com that one of the key agenda items at this week's two-day Board of Governors session in Manhattan is ratifying the transfer of control of the Grizzlies from the outgoing Michael Heisley to Pera's star-studded consortium, which includes actor/singer Justin Timberlake as well as Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and wife Ashley. Timberlake and Ashley Manning are native Memphians, as are two more prominent minority owners in Pera's group: Ex-NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway and former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Michael Heisley, David Stern, Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake, Owners, Peyton Manning, Robert Pera 

NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, wife Ashley, and former NBA player Penny Hardaway have agreed to join the group of minority owners for the Memphis Grizzlies, said a person familiar with the deal. The Mannings and Hardaway join a minority group that includes singer and actor Justin Timberlake and a couple of Memphis businessmen, the person told the Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because prospective buyer Robert J. Pera's purchase of the Grizzlies is pending approval by the NBA. Philadelphia Inquirer

Memphis Grizzlies, Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning 

Chris Vernon: SCOOP 2: Also involved in the local ownership… Penny Hardaway. they now have Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning, and Penny Hardaway. Wow. Twitter @ChrisVernonShow

Memphis Grizzlies, Penny Hardaway, Justin Timberlake 

Steve Nash was introduced as a Los Angeles Laker at a July press conference but appearing on Tuesday night's "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno and sitting by Staples Center sideline resident Justin Timberlake seemed to make him more of a Laker. "Hi, I'm Steve. I'm from Canada," Nash introduced himself to the studio audience with that familiar self-depricating humor. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Media, Justin Timberlake 

Who’ll be the coolest dude on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” Tuesday: Justin Timberlake or Steve Nash? The Lakers’ new point guard will join Timberlake as a guest on the talk show — still the industry leader in late-night comedy for now despite declining revenues that led Leno to cut his salary in half to about $15 million per year, according to The Wall Street Journal. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Justin Timberlake, Showbusiness 

Former congressman Harold Ford Jr. has agreed to become a member of Robert Pera's Memphis Grizzlies ownership group. Less than two weeks after Pera added some star power in the person of homegrown pop star and actor Justin Timberlake, he's come to an agreement with the former five-term congressman from Memphis. "I'm honored to be a part of Robert's ownership group," said Ford, who did not specify what percentage of the team he will own. "He's a genuine guy and a great guy." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Justin Timberlake, Robert Pera 

To that end, Ford said, he talked to Pera about navigating the political landscape in Memphis, about talking to the right people about the right things. "I give Robert a lot of the credit for that," he said. "I wouldn't have wanted to be a part of anything that was not going to work out favorably for the city. At no time did Robert ever object to doing the right thing for Memphis, at no time did he ever resist. Honestly, I never got the sense that there was any other interest other than the team succeeding on and off the court." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Justin Timberlake, Robert Pera 

Next, a group of local owners agreed to invest in the team as part of a deal that essentially guarantees that the team will remain in the city for at least 15 more years. Now sources confirm that Timberlake will be joining the ownership group. Maybe that accounts for the Grizzlies' bump in ESPN's "ultimate franchise ranking," which attempts to rank pro franchises in all four major sports. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Justin Timberlake 

Robert Pera, prospective new owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, has recruited a famous Memphian to be part of his ownership group: Justin Timberlake. Sources with knowledge of the arrangement said Thursday that Timberlake, one of the NBA's most prominent celebrity fans and a Memphis native, has committed to joining Pera's team of minority partners as the sale of the franchise from Michael Heisley to the 34-year-old technology magnate nears completion. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Justin Timberlake, Robert Pera 

Sources told ESPN.com that Timberlake and Pera have quickly struck up a friendship, with one source adding that the singer/actor is making "a meaningful investment into the team" and "plans to be active" with the Grizzlies. The league office, sources said, has been made aware of Timberlake's proposed involvement and is already well acquainted with him after inviting the self-proclaimed basketball junkie to participate in various celebrity games at All-Star Weekend. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Justin Timberlake, Robert Pera 

Sources said Pera and Timberlake, in addition to their blossoming basketball connection, have bonded over the star's keen interest in technology. In the 2010 movie "The Social Network" about the rise of Facebook, Timberlake portrayed Napster co-founder Sean Parker. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Justin Timberlake, Robert Pera 

Stern said there are now at least 10 cities that have expressed interest in hosting a team and over a dozen “high net worth” prospective owners, whose interest will further increase franchise values. He didn’t identify the cities or people involved. BusinessWeek.com

Memphis Grizzlies, David Stern, Justin Timberlake, Robert Pera