Forbes ranked the Pistons as the NBA's fourth most valuable franchise last year at $479 million, but Dr. Patrick Riske writes that the team is unlikely to sell for market value.
"But unlike the Golden State Warriors - a team that just sold at a price ($450 million) that was over $125 million above its projected Forbes market value - the Pistons may sell for $100-125 million below their currently projected market value," Riske wrote on Monday.
The struggling Detroit economy will have a severe effect on the team's sale price. The economy in San Francisco is much stronger.
Also, Karen Davidson will still profit considerably from a Pistons sale under any circumstance.
"The Pistons were purchased by her late-husband in 1974 for $8 million. Adjusting for inflation, that's approximately $28 million today," Riske wrote.