March 2013 Basketball Wiretap

Target Center To Get $97M Renovation, Wolves Extend Lease To 2032

Oct 28, 2013 12:08 PM

The City of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) have agreed to the major terms of a $97 million deal to renovate the 23-year old city-owned Target Center. Minneapolis will contribute $48.5 million to the project, the Timberwolves and Lynx will pay $43 million and AEG will pay $5.5 million. 

“The new Target Center will be stunning. I am thrilled that Timberwolves and Lynx fans will soon have a first class experience when they come to our games,” said Glen Taylor, majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx professional basketball teams, which both use Target Center as their home. “This is a fair and sensible solution. Target Center has a perfect location and good bones, so we’re excited about building something truly special on that strong foundation.” 

As part of the deal, the Wolves have extended their lease to 2032. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA CBA

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Heat Must Remain 'Development Team' Due To CBA

Oct 23, 2013 8:17 PM

The Miami Heat will attempt to win their third consecutive championship this season, but Pat Riley acknowledges that they will need to continue developing complementary pieces in order to remain a contender.

"We are a development team," said Riley. "Right now, we're a championship team, with veteran players. But the pipeline to becoming a championship team in the next four or five years, because of the new collective-bargaining agreement and all of the punitive taxes and revenue-sharing concepts, that really sort of eat into how you build a team financially.

"Developing players is the most important thing that we can do right now in the game."

The only remaining developmental prospects on Miami's roster are Justin Hamilton and Eric Griffin, but they have taken on reclamation projects in Michael Beasley and Greg Oden.

Ira Winderman/South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tags: Miami Heat, NBA, NBA CBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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NBA Owners Approve 2-2-1-1-1 Format For Finals

Oct 23, 2013 1:53 PM

NBA owners have unanimously approved to switch the format of the NBA Finals to 2-2-1-1-1.

There will be an extra day off between Game 6 and Game 7.

The NBA previously had a 2-3-2 format.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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GM: Silver Cares More About Monetization Than Integrity Of Game

Oct 23, 2013 1:29 PM

Adam Silver will take over for David Stern in February as commissioner of the NBA.

Silver is believed, by at least one general manager, to have a stronger focus on monetization than Stern.

“I don’t know how much he thinks about the integrity of the game,” the GM said. “He’s more about selling widgets.”

Ric Bucher/Bleacher Report

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Execs Blame Media Attention Over Skill Level, Orientation For Why Collins Remains Unsigned

Oct 23, 2013 1:27 PM

Several NBA general managers believe Jason Collins remains unsigned not because of his skill level or sexual orientation, but because of the anticipated media distraction.

“If it were just an initial blast and you knew it would settle down after that, it would be one thing,” said one executive. “But you know this is something that he and his teammates are going to be asked about everywhere they go, all season long, and all it takes is one guy to say something a little off and it could really blow up. He’s still good enough to play in the league, but when you throw in the ongoing media frenzy, most teams are going to decide it’s just not worth it.”

Collins finished last season with the Washington Wizards and continues to workout in hopes of signing with an NBA team.

Ric Bucher/Bleacher Report

Tags: Jason Collier, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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NBA May Consider Adjusting Start Times To Better Accommodate International Viewers

Oct 17, 2013 9:49 PM

The NBA may consider starting games at a different time to be more accommodating to fans outside of North America and South America.

Basketball has become increasingly popular in both Asia and Europe.

“I think that the NBA is going to have to wrestle over the next decade as more and more of our viewing audiences are outside the United States is what’s the best time for games to be played so that those fans can enjoy them live as opposed to having to get up in China to watch an NBA game at 7 o’clock in the morning,” Stern said. “I think that’s a fun problem that we’re going to be addressing because so much viewing is happening outside the United States now.”

It would be difficult for teams to start games before 7:00 PM EST on weeknights.

Scott Howard-Cooper/NBA.com

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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