Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who saved pro basketball for Minneapolis and the region in 1994 by buying the team before it could be relocated, is overseeing the rebuilding of the franchise on the court and with its ticket base. Despite a team record of 3-16, the worst in the NBA, and projections for losing $10 to $15 million this season, the Mankato-based businessman isn’t disappointed with the wins and losses, nor is he upset with the financial losses.
Taylor said there is a three part strategy for this season regarding the team and that the “measuring” doesn’t include wins and losses. The plan is to first evaluate individual players, including the seven players on the roster who are first, second or third year players. Then evaluations will be made of different groups of players and how they perform together. Finally, as the season progresses, Taylor and his basketball staff will evaluate whether the team is improving.
The Wolves owner dismissed the idea that the organization may want to finish low in the NBA standings to increase the likelihood of a higher draft choice next spring. “We’re trying to win as many games as we can,” he said.
The Wolves haven’t been in the playoffs since 2004. The franchise lost money the last two seasons and in one of those years Taylor said the financial deficit was similar to the $10 to $15 million he’s projecting for 2007-2008. Still, Taylor accepts the losses and said the franchise could be in the black next season or the year after. “I am not upset,” Taylor said. “As a good businessman I don’t like it (losing money). But I understand we took some risks to get in the playoffs (acquiring higher price talent). I can’t go back and change it.”
Full season ticket totals are approximately 5,000, down from 6,200 last season, according to a Wolves source. Partial season tickets are approximately 2,000, down from 2,500 last season. The franchise is projecting average attendance of 14,500 after averaging almost 16,000 last season in the 19,356-capacity Target Center.
With the on-court disappointments of recent seasons and the off-season trade of main draw Kevin Garnett to Boston, the marketing challenge of selling tickets has been difficult in recent years but President Chris Wright and his staff have done an exceptional job attracting spectators. If the franchise meets projected average attendance, the Wolves will be playing to about 75 percent of capacity. Wright said the Wolves already have soldout two games this season.
Taylor said he’s been pleased to hear from fans who say they’re enjoying the new roster including a new lineup from last season. The players have shown willingness to play hard and together. Taylor added it’s a group that has i