James Dolan selling the Knicks may be closer to reality than ever before.

According to The Ringer's Bill Simmons, the Knicks owner is currently "courting offers" and says that the team is "available."

"Multiple people told me this, who know things, James Dolan is courting offers for the Knicks," Simmons said on his podcast Sunday night. "It's happening. It's on. It's go time. He's courting offers for the Knicks. That is what I've heard at All-Star Weekend from people I trust."

However, Madison Square Garden Company said the "story is 100% false" in a statement Monday: "There has been nothing. No discussions. No plans to have discussions -- nothing."

Dolan has previously left the door open to selling the team, telling ESPN's Ian O'Connor in December that it his his responsibility to the shareholders to be open to selling but that no one has came through with a bona fide offer.

But according to Simmons, Dolan is apparently fed up with the constant criticism he catches from owning the Knicks.

"This is what I've pieced together. He really cares about buildings and the in-game/in-concert experience. He wants to put more money into that," Simmons said. "Like the Forum in LA (which Dolan owns) -- an amazing place to see a concert -- what they've done with MSG, he really cares about the buildings. The Knicks are just a pain in the ass. People s--t on him for it. He feels like if he can just sell the Knicks for some crazy price he can put that money back into the music/game experience stuff that he cares about. So the Knicks are available, from what I've heard."

The Knicks were recently valued by Forbes at $4 billion -- the highest valuation in the NBA -- but Dolan said in Decemebr he has received "feelers" around $5 billion.

"You hear numbers all the time," Dolan said in the interview. "I think people have sent feelers out, but never any that were pursued. Yeah [the feelers are] around that number [$5 billion], but those things, it's like a stock price. It's only important if you're going to buy or sell."

The valuation does not include the building, either, but Simmons believes someone would pay a price, such as $4 billion, just for the team.

"Here's the thing, and why I think somebody is going to overpay for this. We've seen it in the Bay Area. Joe Lacob, you go to those Warriors games. He's the man. He's got the Reddit CEO, Salesforce CEO...they're all coming to Lacob's place," Simmons said. "Lacob's the guy. He decides where everyone -- oh this guy needs tix, this guy wants to come to the owners club -- it's his party every night. You can't put a price on that. I think in New York, the person who owns the Knicks it is their party. I don't know if that changes the price ... from what I've heard the Knicks are available."

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