LONDON -- NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants the Hawks to stay put, and he's confident any new owner would keep the team in Atlanta.

Silver said Wednesday that "I do want to see the Hawks stay in Atlanta, and we've made that clear to the market."

Silver said the current owners, who put the team up for sale this month, are also intent on keeping the franchise in the city.

"I don't think it will be a real issue," Silver said, "because I would be shocked if they were to sell to a group whose intention it was to even seek to transfer the team out of Atlanta."

Silver was speaking to reporters at the NBA's London offices ahead of Thursday's game between the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks at the O2 Arena.