Timberwolves – Page 16 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

A-Rod Committed to City, Eyes Site for New Arena

Posted on June 3, 2024June 3, 2024 by David Shama

A chance encounter with Alex Rodriguez at Target Center led to timely comments by the man, who along with partner Marc Lore, is in litigation to acquire controlling interest of the Timberwolves and Lynx. “This team will never leave here. We’re going to build down the street,” Rodriguez said recently to Sports Headliners.

Rodriguez and Lore have been in a pay-as-they-go process since 2021 to acquire the franchises from majority owner Glen Taylor. As outsider investors from the east coast, they have prompted speculation about where the NBA Wolves and WNBA Lynx may call home in the future, with talk about relocation to Seattle and Las Vegas. If the two wrest control from Minnesota native Taylor, it appears a new arena near downtown could replace Target Center as the home venue for the Wolves and Lynx.

While Rodriguez didn’t elaborate on his comments during the brief encounter, multiple sources tell Sports Headliners he and Lore are targeting land adjacent to the Minneapolis Farmers market at 312 East Lyndale Avenue North. It’s not known what plans Taylor will have regarding a new arena, with the 83-year-old owner telling Sports Headliners awhile back to ask the question of Rodriguez and Lore. At that time the ownership transition was on track.

Target Center is the 29^th oldest NBA arena, exceeded in age only by venerable Madison Square Garden in New York. Privately financed by original Wolves owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner, Target Center was built with a budget conscious approach and opened in 1990.

The facility doesn’t begin to compare with other modern palaces in the league that are creating significant revenue returns for team owners and communities. Technology and other innovations have considerably improved the fan experience at NBA venues since 1990. Customers want to be entertained in every way imaginable—think something like an axe throwing room in the arena, a premier seating section where only fans of the home team sit, high tech gambling opportunities in the building or at a casino down the street. As always, sight lines, proximity to the court and luxury experiences in suites and restaurants draw and retain customers whether they’re spending their own dime or the company’s.

Target Center was built on a small footprint. Because of that and its age, the building is limited in space for the basketball teams and the many other events using the arena. Eighteen-wheel trucks parked off-site have been needed for storage. If the Wolves had reached the NBA Finals, they would have been challenged to accommodate the many needs expected of the host venue by the league office. Target Center is the only arena in the NBA that doesn’t have a path going around the interior space to better facilitate infrastructure.

Land adjacent to the Farmers Market has long been a potential site for pro teams. The United soccer club wanted to buy land in the area and build a stadium. In the 1990s the Twins, looking to escape indoor baseball at the Metrodome, had the area on its list of possible sites for a stadium.

A former executive with an NBA team with knowledge of the Farmers Market area calls it a “pretty appealing” site for an arena. A big challenge will be buying up land from individual owners. Once the word is out the Wolves are interested, landowners are likely to “jack up” prices, the source said. However, because some owners in the area have changed in the last 25 to 30 years, he doesn’t expect them to be as unreasonable as when the Twins were shopping.

The location assets of the Farmers Market area start with the fact there is potentially open land, and the site is on the edge of downtown. Infrastructure including freeways are nearby and the area is served by light rail and commuter train. The site could also be promoted as a link between downtown and north Minneapolis, a connection that politicians and citizens have long criticized as not being in place for the betterment of people in both parts of the city.

It’s not clear whether the Rodriquez-Lore ownership would privately or publicly fund a new arena. Either way politics will play a huge role in whether their dream can be accomplished of building a facility that might cost $1 billion or more.

Minneapolis owns the Target Center, having acquired it from Wolfenson and Ratner in 1995. Several years ago, the city and the United couldn’t agree on some public support for a privately funded stadium for the new Major League Soccer franchise. Instead, club ownership made a deal more to its liking in St. Paul and built Allianz Field in the midway area of the city.

It’s known the city has limited financial resources to keep up with Target Center improvements and probably limited intent to help with a new arena. Members of the council are viewed by many Minnesotans as having anti-business positions and for taking controversial stances such as their spring ordinance for higher pay for Uber and Lyft drivers that almost ended badly needed service in the city for everyone from bar patrons to people with disabilities needing transportation for medical appointments.

“That city council is kind of crazy,” said the former NBA insider.

A former city insider said council members “don’t get it” as to where money comes from to run the state’s largest municipality. She cited a lack of awareness about how important city sports and entertainment venues are to tax revenues. During and after the pandemic and George Floyd phenomenon, the number of downtown workers and visitors dropped dramatically. A saving grace for city coffers, she said, are the ticket tax revenues generated by patrons at Target Center, Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium.

Hennepin County, which funded Target Field, won’t be any slam dunk for help with a new arena either, the source said. Her opinion is the county has leadership “worse” than that of the city.

The state of Minnesota is likely the best source of public support (in whatever form) for a new arena. In the legislature there are those who understand that the cultural, tax and economic vitality sports, concerts, and other entertainment contribute to Minneapolis, the hub of the region. They understand how such venues benefit the hospitality, retail and transportation industries, including generating taxes and employment.

Support and funding for new venues is always a struggle and such important issues deserve public debate and transparency. Both the Twins and Vikings began pursuing new homes in the 1990s, and it was a long process. Target Field opened in 2010 and U.S. Bank Stadium in 2016.

Target Center opened about 34 years ago as the home of the Wolves. Xcel Energy Center opened in 2000 to house the NHL Wild. Now St. Paul is reportedly seeking as much as $300 million to renovate that building.

With the Wild committed to St. Paul, and the Wolves committed to Minneapolis, it could be that their future homes will be the” X” and a new arena in the Farmers Market area. History tells us neither will be accomplished soon.

Talking about the possibility of the Wolves’ plan to build near the Farmers Market, the former NBA insider said: “It can be done but it will be a huge political battle.”

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Timberwolves Will Create High Drama in Coming Offseason

Posted on May 31, 2024 by David Shama

The Timberwolves are finished in the playoffs after losing last night to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. The Mavs won the series 4-1 and embarrassed Minnesota on its home court, jumping off to a big lead in the game and winning 124-103.

That thud last night and losing the series in five games doesn’t tarnish a special year. As time expired Thursday evening, fans chanted: “Let’s go Wolves!” The shout out was in appreciation for a 56-26 regular season, No. 3 seeding in the postseason and deep playoff run.

This team produced one of the best years in franchise history dating back to 1989-1990. That success has also set up an intriguing offseason. Among the drama will be the following:

Who is going to have majority ownership of the Wolves and WNBA Lynx? Arbitration and later a vote by the NBA’s owners will settle the issue. That vote will be very interesting not only because Glen Taylor has a long time relationships with the league’s other 29 owners that could favor him in the outcome. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are trying to close on a sales price of $1.5 billion for the Wolves and Lynx that was agreed to in 2021. With NBA franchises now valued at $3 billion and more, do the owners want to see a club sold for $1.5 billion? Prediction here: Taylor will emerge from the legal dispute with Lore and Rodriguez as the controlling owner.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly, who took over as the front office basketball boss in 2022, reportedly has an opt out now in his contract. Will the architect who put the pieces together elevating the team from mediocre to championship contender want to leave? The push to bring Connelly to Minneapolis from Denver was led by Lore and Rodriquez but the opinion here is the valued decision maker will stay on working for Taylor and wanting to further build on his work.

How will ownership and Connelly approach an expensive player payroll that as constructed now will put them way over the NBA salary cap? Speculation is ownership will have to pay over $25 million in luxury tax to keep an expensive core together led by Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and others. Spotrac.com projects the payroll at over $190 million for next season, one of the highest figures in the league.

But if all the key players return the Wolves will be sitting on a box office and marketing bonanza with fans. Presumably they could generate revenues from varied sources to cover the luxury tax expense while driving up the value of the franchise if success duplicates or exceeds last season. Taylor, 83, has never seen his team win an NBA title and might have a “let’s go for the ring” approach this offseason.

How does this team get better? Significant improvement will come organically from a roster mostly of young players led by Anthony Edwards, 22, Jaden McDaniels, 23, and Naz Reid, 24. It requires experience to win championships and these players have big upsides on a roster that potentially has its top six guys returning.

New pieces? The Wolves need a plan that sooner or later will replace valued 36-year-old veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. Other wants should be to add more consistent and clutching scoring, ideally from a big-time veteran or prospect (possible Towns trade?), and develop a deeper bench to go along with NBA Sixth Man of the Year Reid.

Those needs will go through Connelly’s mind in a rare NBA Draft where the Wolves haven’t mortgaged away their selections. Minnesota has the No. 27 and 37 picks in next month’s draft.

In some towns just the approaching draft, free agent signings and trades would provide the offseason focus but not here there is even more anticipation about what’s next.

Roles for U Frosh Koi Perich in 2024 Might Be Multiple

Koi Perich is the face of the 2024 Golden Gophers football recruiting class. Expectations by fans are considerable for the former Esko star and consensus four-star recruit ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota by On3, 247Sports and ESPN last year. On3 ranked him as the No. 3 safety in the nation and the No. 53 overall recruit in the country.

As a senior last fall Perich played defense, offense and special teams while leading Esko to a 10-1 record. He accounted for 27 touchdowns, including five on defense.

Perich showed he could perform not only against small town Minnesota competition but also on the national stage. Playing in the All-American Bowl against some of the better prep talent in the country last January, Perich was named MVP. He had an interception, broke up two passes, made a tackle for a loss, and blocked and recovered a punt.

Perich tantalizes fan enthusiasm beyond his talent because of his loyalty to the home state school. Ohio State, a favorite to win the 2024 national championship, put a December recruiting rush on the teenager with head coach Ryan Day visiting him. He could have not only become a Buckeye but chosen to any number of other marquee programs.

That kind of “he’s one of us” feeling fuels curiosity about Perich who also excelled in basketball at Esko and won the 2022 Class A state long jump championship. Among the questions is how soon will he play for the Gophers and where?

Ryan Burns, the recruiting authority from GopherIllustrated, predicts Perich isn’t likely to start right away. “It’s not a knock on Koi’s talent. It’s a knock on him getting here in June (summer school starts Monday). If he would have been here in January, I think the likelihood of him having a much bigger role this fall would have been exponentially higher.

“It’s just so tough for—in my eyes at least—for a true freshman that comes in in the summer to really make a giant impact in the fall. It’s not unheard of to see it happen. We’ve seen guys where it happened like Antoine Winfield Jr. . …”

As of late, there’s a developing tradition of great safeties at Minnesota. Winfield was named a unanimous All-American in 2019. Tyler Nubin was honored as a first and second team All-American in 2023.

Perich has a legacy to follow and although he may not be a starting safety in 2024, Burns sees potential roles on the field including the possibility of playing nickel on passing downs. That could have the hyped freshman on the field for 200 to 300 snaps next season.

Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

At Esko Perich returned three punts for touchdowns and one kickoff for a score last season. Given how prolific Perich was at returning punts and kickoffs in high school, Burns would “love to see” the fan favorite have a chance at those roles with the Gophers.

“As you know, my bar for (head coach) P.J. Fleck’s return game is incredibly low,” said Burns who noted the Gophers haven’t returned a kickoff for a TD since 2017, nor taken a punt back for a score since 2018. A poor kickoff return game last year, he said, resulted in consistent bad field position and added to problems for aa challenged offense.

So, nickel back, returning punts and kickoffs, and even time at safety could be on the table for Perich. The Gophers do have to replace their starting safeties from 2023 and sooner or later that could create an opening for you-know-who.

The conclusion? No one should be shocked if Perich contributes to Minnesota’s success in 2024 with probably bigger things coming in 2025.

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Luka Doncic’s Health May Determine Wolves Playoff Fate

Posted on May 25, 2024May 25, 2024 by David Shama

Luka Doncic’s health may determine the fate of the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks’ superstar guard has been laboring in the playoffs with a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness.

At times Doncic moves with a slight limp. He is also frequently seen bent over in apparent exhaustion from his max minutes and pain.

After last night’s heroics while making a three-point shot to defeat the Wolves 109-108 at Target Center, Doncic was asked on TNT’s postgame show about his health. He told Ernie Johnson it was good. “I will play no matter what,” said Doncic whose physical style of play sometimes has him sprawled on the floor.

That’s the uber competitor talking but there are limits to what even a superbly conditioned 25-year-old can endure. Not saying it’s gong to happen but as the Mavericks, up 2-0 in the best of seven series get ready to host Game 3 tomorrow night in Dallas, there’s no guarantee Doncic’s injuries won’t worsen—or something new may happen to prevent him from being on the court.

The Wolves’ chances in the series have come down to not only correcting their own flaws but the possibility of benefiting from an ailing Doncic who is limited in his movement or unable to play at all. Doncic has carved up the Wolves in the first two games, scoring 65 points, while totaling 16 rebounds and 21 assists (passing with shades of Magic and Pistol Pete).

Minnesota so far has no answer for the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Slovenian who finished No. 3 in NBA voting for MVP. He has scored inside and out, while frustrating the Wolves with deft passing all over the court. His alley-oops to teammates in the lane have given the Mavs consistent offense in both games, and when it’s not Doncic in action it’s fellow superstar guard Kyrie Irving doing the damage.

Doncic’s menacing presence has even shown up on defense. Not known as a standout defensively, he has a talent for anticipating passing lanes, intercepting the ball and often starting a fast break.

For all of Doncic’s heroic play and stellar contributions by teammates including the electric Irving, the Mavs have won two games by a total of four points. The Wolves entered the series as betting favorites and the close losses in the first two games are a reminder (we shouldn’t need one) the playoffs are unpredictable.

As recently as their last playoff series the Wolves jumped to a 2-0 lead by winning opening games in Denver against the defending NBA champion Nuggets. Then Minnesota lost three consecutive games only to win two straight, including their dramatic Game 7 win in Denver.

The Mavs aren’t dominating the Wolves and seem unlikely to win the next two games, even as the home court advantage moves to Dallas (Game 4 Tuesday night). The Wolves can and will make adjustments after they blew a five-point lead in the closing minutes last night in a game where they led by 18 in the second quarter. Suggestions from this “bench:”

Replace Jaden McDaniels with Anthony Edwards as the primary defender on Doncic. Daniels is a terrific defensive player, but Edwards is superlative, too, and is about 40 pounds heavier. Edwards’ strength is a better match against the muscular Doncic.

Irving has scored 50 points in the series. At 6-9, with long arms and mobility, McDaniels can cause problems for the 6-1 Irving who has scored 50 points in the series and can ignite sustained offensive runs for Dallas.

Edwards has to do better than 40 points in the first two games (making 11 of 33 field goals). One adjustment is to prioritize getting Edwards off to fast starts in the first half, bolstering his rhythm and confidence. Throughout the game the Wolves need to put the basketball more in his hands, letting him make plays for himself and others.

Towns photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns has 31 points in the two games, making 10 of 36 field goals. The world knows there’s no such thing as consistency in the playoffs from KAT, who is now in his ninth NBA season. But it would help if the Wolves regularly posted him near the basket and let him shoot over defenders, providing higher percentage scoring opportunities and drawing fouls on Dallas front court players.

If “bad” KAT shows up tomorrow night, don’t hesitate to give max minutes to NBA Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. He made seven of nine three-point attempts while scoring 23 points off the bench in Friday night’s loss, while KAT sat and watched.

Maverick centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II can be subpar free throw shooters. Hacking them in the two to five minutes period in the fourth quarter could be a targeted strategy paying off in close games for the Wolves.

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