Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore reportedly in exclusive negotiations to buy Timberwolves

By Kurt HelinApr 10, 2021, 7:25 PM EDT

Three-time MLB MVP Alex Rodriguez and his billionaire friend Marc Lore (who founded Jet.com then sold it to Walmart) were in the mix to buy the New York Mets recently but didn’t have the winning bid.

It looks like they found a professional sports franchise they can purchase — the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rodriguez and Lore are entering into a letter of intent and are deep in negotiations to become minority owners in the Timberwolves, with current owner Glen Taylor serving as their mentor. In two years, Taylor would reportedly sell the rest of the team to the duo.

Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic broke the story, which other reports have since confirmed.

3-time MLB MVP Alex Rodriguez and close friend Marc Lore have signed a letter of intent and are negotiating with Glen Taylor to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell @TheAthletic

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 10, 2021

A-Rod and Lore have a 30-day exclusive negotiating window with Taylor. If a deal is finalized, they would serve as limited partners for 2 ½ years before taking control of the Wolves, sources tell @TheAthleticMIN

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 10, 2021

Alex Rodriguez and partner Marc Lore are nearing minority stakes with the Minnesota Timberwolves, with plan to take control of the franchise in two years under mentorship of Glen Taylor. Statement from A-Rod and Lore: pic.twitter.com/nFDIhil5ra

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 10, 2021

Taylor has repeatedly looked into selling the Timberwolves over the years but with Rodriguez and Lore seems to have found the kind of deal he wanted, something where he can ease out of his current role. Taylor bought the Timberwolves in 1994 for $88 million, doing so to stop the franchise from moving to New Orleans, and has savored his role as owner even as the team has struggled on the court in recent years.

The team’s valuation in this sale is $1.5 billion, according to The Athletic. That includes the WNBA’s Lynx, who are part of this sale.

Taylor, a former Minnesota senator, has been looking for an ownership group that would keep the team in the state. The Timberwolves’ lease at the Target Center in Minneapolis runs through the 2034-35 NBA season. However, the fee for breaking that lease is just $50 million (not that much to tack on if someone is paying more than a billion for the team and wants to move it to another market).

At 13-40, the Timberwolves have the worst record in the NBA this season, despite having a star center in Karl-Anthony Towns and last draft’s No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards. The team fired coach Ryan Saunders halfway through the season and replaced him with Chris Finch out of Toronto.

Report: Trail Blazers trying to extend Grant (with no luck), open to trade of Hart, Nurkic

By Kurt HelinJan 28, 2023, 9:58 AM EST

Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

The Trail Blazers maxed out Damian Lillard last summer and promised to try and build a contender in the West around him. It hasn’t worked out that way, the Trail Blazers are 23-25 and sitting 12th in the West with a bottom-10 defense.

Which has pushed them to be possible sellers at the trade deadline — but not with Jerami Grant, who they are trying to extend, reports Jake Fischer at Yahoo Sports. Grant, however, can get more from Portland as a free agent.

Jerami Grant became eligible for a contract extension with the Trail Blazers earlier this month, and Portland has offered the athletic forward his maximum possible deal of four years, $112 million, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Grant has not accepted the offer, sources said, largely because the Blazers can extend him a larger contract with an additional fifth year once free agency begins June 30.

While Fischer notes that this summer the Trail Blazers could max out Grant (five years, $233 million) he’s not getting that contract either. Maybe the middle ground is in the five-year, $160 million range, but whatever the number is Grant isn’t looking to bolt the Pacific Northwest. Look what he told Jason Quick of The Athletic:

“I definitely like it here; love it here,’’ Grant said. “The guys have been very welcoming, it’s definitely a family environment, everybody is super cool, got good guys on the team, great organization — Joe, Chauncey, everything. I’m definitely enjoying it here…

“I ain’t really plan on leaving,” he said.

Two players who could be leaving — via trade — are Josh Hart and Jusuf Nurkic. They are drawing interest as Portland considers shaking things up, Fischer reports.

Portland has given rival teams the impression that it is open to discussing the majority of its players, particularly Josh Hart and Jusuf Nurkic, sources said, as the franchise remains committed to building a playoff contender around Lillard. Portland has engaged teams with an eye toward size with athleticism, plus wing-shooting defenders, sources said. Hart has become one of the buzzier names among league executives this week, as he’s expected to decline a $12.9 million player option for the 2023-24 season.

Hart is a front-office favorite around the league — at least on his old contract — and is seen as a versatile role player who has become a plus defender, can hit some 3s (33% from deep this season but 37.3% last season), and can put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim. He could fit in a lot of teams’ rotation, there will be interest, but with him on an expiring contract, the offers will not be high.

Nurkic, who signed a four-year $70 million contract last summer, is averaging 14.1 points per game, is shooting 38.5% from 3 and is grabbing 9.7 boards a night. He’s also averaging a career-high 2.6 turnovers a night (one of the culprits of the Blazers’ sometimes sloppy play), and while not a negative defender has not been the kind of anchor the Blazers hoped for this season.

Portland needs to do something. Lillard has returned from injury to play at an All-NBA level — even dropping a 60-spot the other night — but even after all their summer moves this is the same old Portland team with not enough around Lillard to threaten the top teams in the West.

Watch Curry score 35, help Warriors pull away in fourth to beat Raptors

Associated PressJan 28, 2023, 8:04 AM EST

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry had 35 points and 11 assists, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Toronto Raptors 129-117 on Friday night.

The high-scoring affair was close until the Warriors pulled away with a 31-point fourth quarter, securing a sweep in the season series.

🚨 STEPH SHIMMY ALERT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/MlT8Pdyy9R

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 28, 2023

“It feels like we took better care of the ball tonight,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. “When Steph plays like that, the whole game opens up. The whole floor opens up.”

Klay Thompson added 29 points, knocking down six 3-pointers despite beginning the night 0 for 5 from beyond the arc. Though Thompson played in the Warriors’ 126-110 victory in Toronto on Dec. 18, the game Friday was his first time facing the Raptors at home since he tore his ACL in his left knee in the deciding Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals won by Toronto in Oakland.

Kevon Looney returned to the starting lineup and had 12 points and eight boards as six Warriors players scored in double figures.

The Warriors have won consecutive home games after dropping four straight at the Chase Center.

Steph in the Warriors win:

35 points
7 rebounds
11 assists
4 threes pic.twitter.com/cTxtVC8Feb

— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2023

“We’ve been teetering on either side of .500 for a very long time. I’m kind of sick of it at this point,” Curry said. “(We’ve) got to figure out how to keep moving in the right direction and stack wins no matter how we can get ’em.”

Golden State’s bench outscored Toronto’s 39-26, highlighted by 15 points from Jonathan Kuminga. The 20-year-old missed his first three shots from deep before making four straight 3s in the final three minutes of the third quarter, giving the Warriors a 98-94 lead they did not relinquish.

“He just showed another element to his game that some might have doubted,” Thompson said. “To get on the hot streak he did was very impressive, and for that man, the sky’s the limit for his talent.”

Donte DiVincenzo had a career-high 11 assists and the Warriors outscored the Raptors by 24 points in his 33 minutes off the bench.

“We knew what we were coming up against, and we’ve had fairly good success guarding and executing, and tonight we just didn’t do it,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. “We missed a lot of communication, we just got beat physically.”

Fred VanVleet had 28 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who began their season-high, seven-game road trip 1-1. Scottie Barnes had 24 points and Pascal Siakam had 21, while Gary Trent Jr. added 17.

Precious Achiuwa contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

LeBron, Grizzlies, NBA world reacts to death of Tyre Nichols

By Kurt HelinJan 28, 2023, 1:34 AM EST

David Berding/Getty Images

Hours after the excruciating video of Memphis police fatally beating Tyre Nichols was released, the Memphis Grizzlies chose not to open their locker room and not speak to the media about it — it was too raw, too painful.

“The senseless loss of life for Tyre Nichols has really hit us hard,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said pregame in an interview with local broadcast partner Bally Sports (via the Associated Press). “It’s been tough being on the road, not being home. I wish I could extend my arms through this camera right now to the family. They’re going through a lot.”

#JusticeForTyre pic.twitter.com/gYY8AgCVbd

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 27, 2023

The Grizzlies weren’t the only ones who felt that way around the NBA, emotions were high around the league Friday (as they were around the nation). Miami, Atlanta, Cleveland, Minnesota and Milwaukee released states echoing what the Grizzlies said.

LeBron James used his platform to make a statement, as he has in the past.

TOO FACTUAL!!! https://t.co/Om43WiAzrN

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 28, 2023

WE ARE OUR OWN WORSE ENEMY!!!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 28, 2023

Statements were released from the NBA, WNBA, players, the players union and more.

Change is needed at all levels and we all need to do our part. We can’t lose our humanity as a society.

To the Nichols’ family and Memphis community, my heart is with you tonight.

— Chris Paul (@CP3) January 28, 2023

“This is just crazy,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said unprompted to open his press conference, discussing the video and incident.

pic.twitter.com/Oe3FfcTCSf

— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2023

A statement from the NBPA. #JusticeForTyre

🔗: https://t.co/FHZfUh2u9A pic.twitter.com/lilsGNxHqP

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) January 28, 2023

pic.twitter.com/gkh8GYNQ72

— WNBA (@WNBA) January 28, 2023

Nichols, 29, was pulled over in a traffic stop by Memphis police officers on Jan. 7 and was beaten to death by five officers. The bodycam footage shows Nichols being brutally beaten as he calls out for his mother and is defenseless. Nichols died in the hospital three days later. The five officers involved have been fired and charged with second-degree murder.

Dolan says he he has no plan to sell Knicks, retire, but he loves facial recognition

By Kurt HelinJan 27, 2023, 8:54 PM EST

James Devaney/GC Images

Knicks owner James Dolan has been better in recent years about staying out of the way of the front office and staying out of the media spotlight — both of which are good for the Knicks and their fans’ sanity.

However, he stepped back in the spotlight the past couple of days — doing an interview on “Good Day New York” on Fox 5 Thursday then WFAN sports talk radio on Friday — and reminded everyone why it’s best when he stays out of it. Here are the highlights of these interviews.

• Dolan isn’t going anywhere, saying to WFAN he is not selling the team, nor does he plan to retire. Via Fred Katz at The Athletic:

“I have no plans whatsoever to sell at this point. I’m not retiring anytime soon. It’s a family-controlled asset, so someone in the family will eventually own it.”

That was a bit of a pipe dream for Knicks fans, there had been no rumors of a sale. With the value of NBA franchises rising rapidly and Dolan enjoying being the owner of one of the biggest brands in the sport, there has been little chance of a sale.

• Dolan defended Madison Square Garden’s controversial use of facial recognition technology to ban attorneys from firms involved in lawsuits against the Knicks or MSG from entering the property (or other Madison Square Garden properties, such as Radio City Music Hall).

James Dolan spoke publicly today for the first time about MSG's facial recognition policy. He downplayed its use and seriousness in interview with Fox 5 NY.

"Facial recognition is just a technology. When I walked into the studio did you recognize my face?… Facial recognition." pic.twitter.com/beVyfXXrfF

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) January 26, 2023

“At Madison Square Garden, if you’re suing us, we’re just asking of you — please don’t come until you’re done with your argument with us. And yes, we’re using facial recognition to enforce that…

“If someone is suing you, that’s confrontational. It’s adversarial. If you’re being sued, you don’t have to welcome that person into your home.”

Except, it isn’t a home, it’s a public building where sports and entertainment events take place for which tickets are sold. Also, there are fans saying they have been banned from the building because of social media posts critical of Dolan.

• This policy has created a considerable backlash, including from the New York Attorney General, who said the policy could violate anti-discrimination laws in the state. Lawmakers in the New York state assembly introduced a bill prohibiting sports venues — such as Madison Square Garden — from refusing entry to attorneys or others involved in lawsuits against the organization.

• Dolan said on FOX 5 that the State Liquor Authority reached out to the Madison Square Garden company saying the use of facial recognition technology in this manner could lead to a suspension of their liquor license.

“This isn’t going to bother me because I’ve been sober 29 years. I don’t need the liquor.”

Dolan even hinted he could do a dry New York Rangers game on Fox, but he backed away from that idea the next day speaking on WFAN.

• Dolan reiterated his support of current Knicks decision-maker Leon Rose.

James Dolan to WFAN on if he thinks Leon Rose has done a good job: "Yes. Absolutely…The team with the best talent wins. So then you want a guy who can get you the best talent and I believe Leon Rose is still the best guy."

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) January 27, 2023

• Dolan also went on to say he expects the Knicks to make the playoffs this season, however, there is no timeline for the team to contend for a ring.

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