March 2022 Minnesota Timberwolves Wiretap

Alex Rodriguez Struggling To Generate Cash For Purchase Of Wolves

Aug 30, 2022 10:43 AM

Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore were supposed to be equal partners in the Minnesota Timberwolves when they made a $250 million down payment in July 2021, but Rodriguez failed to come up with his full share. Lore covered the balance and as a result, he now has a roughly 13 percent share while Rodriguez has amassed seven percent.

“Alex and Marc were supposed to be 50/50,” an NBA source said. “Alex couldn’t come up with his half.”

The terms of the deal require Rodriguez and Lore to make the next 20 percent payment by the end of the year, which Rodriguez may struggle again to raise the cash to provide.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if A-Rod becomes a subservient No. 2 to Lore,” a source said, predicting that Lore might end up buying more than half and controlling the team.

Lore is standing with Rodriguez.

“I couldn’t imagine having a better partner. He is one of my best friends,” Lore said Monday. “There is no one else I would rather be partners with than Alex.”

Insiders say Rodriguez's previous relationship with Jennifer Lopez helped his business interests, including with Lore.

“Marc got completely mesmerized by the J. Lo thing,” the source who knows both both investors said.

Rodriguez and Lopez broke up in the spring of 2021.

Rodriguez might be worth $500 million, but little of it is believed to be liquid, sources said.

“His ability to raise capital went from strong to meaningfully weaker,” believes a source who knows Rodriguez well. “J.Lo validated him.”

Glen Taylor reportedly wouldn't be overly disappointed if a deal with Lore and Rodriguez fell through because he believes the value of the franchise has risen to about $2 billion since the deal was reached.

NBA rules won't permit Rodriguez to become an owner unless he can personally foot the bill for 15 percent of the total purchase price, which is nearly $200 million when factoring in the team's debt, without the help of co-owners. 

Josh Kosman/New York Post

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

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Taurean Prince Arrested On Outstanding Drugs, Weapons Charges From Texas

Aug 26, 2022 11:37 PM

Taurean Prince was arrested on Thursday night in Miami due to an outstanding warrant from a traffic stop in Texas back in May.

Prince was originally pulled over due to expired registration. Police would find two handguns, a vape pen containing THC, and a cannister of marijuana in Prince's car.

Prince was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance.

Arlington police stated that the tests on the vape pen came back recently, explaining why the warrant for Prince took three months.

 

ESPN

Tags: Taurean Prince, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Taurean Prince Arrested In Miami On Outstanding Warrant Out Of Texas

Aug 26, 2022 12:26 AM

Taurean Prince was arrested on Thursday night in Miami due to having an outstanding warrant in Texas.

Prince was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

It is not clear what charges Prince is currently facing.

Prince signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension with the Wolves in June.

ESPN

Tags: Taurean Prince, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Wolves Hire Jonathan Wallace As Director Of Player Personnel, GM Of G League Team

Aug 24, 2022 12:06 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the hire of Jonathan Wallace as Director of Player Personnel and Iowa Wolves General Manager. Wallace joins Minnesota’s earlier basketball operations hires of Dell Demps, Matt Lloyd and Steve Senior. 

“I am happy to welcome Jon to the Timberwolves basketball operations staff,” said President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly. “I have spent many years with Jon and know his basketball acumen is going to benefit the Timberwolves organization as a whole, including the Iowa Wolves as General Manager. I look forward to our basketball operations staff working closely together toward the goals we have set for this franchise.”

Wallace joins the Timberwolves after spending three seasons with the Denver Nuggets, most recently as Scouting Coordinator. He was originally hired as a Basketball Operations Associate in 2019 by the Nuggets. Before his front office NBA experience, Wallace completed a professional playing career that took him from the then NBA Developmental League to Germany and Belgium. He played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2008 where he won a championship.  

Prior to his time in the NBA, Wallace was hired in 2016 as Special Assistant to the Head Coach/Head Manager at his alma mater, Georgetown.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, Iowa Wolves, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League Teams

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Wolves Sign CJ Elleby, Luka Garza

Aug 23, 2022 3:33 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward CJ Elleby and Luka Garza. 

Elleby, 6-6, spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers where he averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 58 games (28 starts, including starting 28 of the Trail Blazers’ final 30 games). In two seasons with Portland, he accumulated 407 points and 259 rebounds. 

The Federal Way, Wash. native spent two seasons at Washington State, ending his college career with averages of 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. His 16.6 points per game rank as the fifth-best scoring average in school history. Elleby was named to the 2019-20 All-Pac-12 First Team and the 2018-19 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

Elleby was originally selected by the Trail Blazers with the 46th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Garza, 6-11, spent last season with the Detroit Pistons where he averaged 5.8 points on 44.9% shooting and 3.1 rebounds per game in 32 games (five starts). He played in 16 games (all starts) last season for the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise and averaged 20.6 points on 51.8% shooting and 9.5 rebounds per game.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Luka Garza, C.J. Elleby, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Timberwolves Hire Michael Grady As New Play-By-Play Announcer

Aug 18, 2022 10:29 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves hired Michael Grady as the team's new play-by-play announcer.

Grady, who was previously with the Nets, replaces Dave Benz in the role.

“I know the fan base already has a sense of excitement about what this team can be, and I’m excited about fanning that flame,” Grady told Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

Grady served as the sideline reporter and pregame and postgame host for the YES Network over the last five years. 

Jon Krawczynski/The Athletic

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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RealGM Radio: David Locke, Adam Mares On The Northwest Division

Aug 16, 2022 2:11 PM

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux), David Locke of the Utah Jazz and Locked on Podcast Network (@DLocke09) and Adam Mares of DNVR (@Adam_Mares) break down the Northwest Division.

They discuss how the Jazz, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves and Thunder fared in the off-season and predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, RealGM Radio

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Wolves Hire Joe Connelly As Director Of Scouting

Aug 12, 2022 2:51 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves have hired Joe Connelly as Director of Scouting.

Connelly is the brother of Tim Connelly, who also left the Nuggets this offseason to run the Minnesota front office.

Mike Singer/Denver Post

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Jon Wallace Named Director of Player Personnel For Wolves

Aug 11, 2022 11:15 PM

Jon Wallace was hired as the director of player personnel for the Minnesota Timberwolves, reported Mike Singer of the Denver Post.

Wallace will also be the general manager of the Iowa Wolves.

Wallace was previously a scouting coordinator with the Nuggets. 

Mike Singer/Denver Post

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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CJ Elleby, Wolves Agree To Camp Deal

Aug 2, 2022 3:37 PM

CJ Elleby has agreed to a training camp deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Elleby will have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot with the Wolves.

Elleby was the 46th overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Michael Scotto/HoopsHype

Tags: C.J. Elleby, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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