Franchise Notes

T'Wolves Exec Says Team Has No Regrets About Drafting Rubio

T'Wolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn said he has "no regrets at all" about drafting G Ricky Rubio with the No. 5 pick in June's NBA Draft, even though Rubio has decided to stay in Spain for at least another two seasons. Kahn: "Depending on our circumstances two years from now, he's still the highest-value pick we could have made. At the end of the day, he's still ours" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/2). FanHouse.com's Jay Mariotti said of the T'Wolves, "This is a team that was 27th in attendance a year ago. This is one of the NBA franchises I would be concerned about in a bad economy because since (Kevin) Garnett left, what have they done?" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 9/1).

GETTING A BARGAIN? In N.Y., Ken Belson notes the Yankees "appear to have heeded the complaints of their fans" by offering some ticket prices for the playoffs that are "identical to the prices listed for the regular season." The Yankees also touted that prices would cost less than tickets for equivalent seating during the '07 MLB postseason, but the "price of seats that are not in suites or club sections had already increased" an average of 86% this season from '07. So the team will "still be making plenty of money by charging those same prices during the first round of the postseason" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/2).

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? In Denver, Adrian Dater reported the Avalanche are "practically giving season tickets away" this offseason. Some fans have bought season tickets in Pepsi Center's lower bowl for an average of $25 per game, while others have purchased upper-deck seats for "less than $10 a game." While the deal "might still prove to be a cash-for-clunker" offer, if fans are "going to watch another year of bad hockey, they won't lose quite as much cash as last year" (DENVER POST, 9/1).

FAST CARS & FREEDOM: SI.com's Tom Bowles wrote NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski's move to Penske Racing starting next season was the "best he could have made under the circumstances." Penske "emerges the big winner in the sweepstakes for NASCAR's hottest free agent," and the switch "puts Keselowski in the perfect position of growing with a program that's even better positioned for success in 2010." With Richard Petty Motorsports "likely bolting for Toyota, the full resources of Dodge in Cup will be thrown behind" Penske Racing (SI.com, 9/1).