MIAMI -- In the wake of a report that Michael Jordan is interested in buying the Miami Heat, team owner Micky Arison said Monday the franchise is not for sale.

Arison was out of town but responded to the report through a Heat spokesman.

According to The Chicago Tribune, an unidentified source said Jordan has been in discussions with the Heat about joining the organization as an owner. Jordan's representatives at SFX did nothing to refute the report.

"Michael has said repeatedly that he continues to explore opportunities to return to the NBA in a majority ownership capacity," SFX said in a statement. "While we won't comment on speculation, Michael's interest remains particularly strong."

The Heat might be more appealing for Jordan now that they're on the verge of completing a trade to acquire Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers. But Arison reiterated comments he made earlier this year that the team isn't on the market.

Arison is chairman of Carnival Corp., the largest cruise line company in the world, and his late father was a founding owner of the franchise.

NBA commissioner David Stern has said that he expects Jordan to become an owner in the next few years.