Attending an NBA owners meeting in N.Y. today, T-Wolves
Owner Glen Taylor "might find himself on the outs with a
group in which he had been a central figure -- investors in
small-market teams," according to Steve Aschburner of the
Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Taylor, who signed F Kevin
Garnett to $125M contract extension, said, "I've already had
owners call me. It wasn't anything negative. More along
the lines of, 'We understand.' They know you're darned if
you do and darned if you don't" (STAR TRIBUNE, 10/9).
BREAK DOWN: In an analysis of Garnett's new contract
and the Timberwolves' finances, the AP determined that the
deal "is built on the rosiest of scenarios -- including a
possible doubling of the NBA's $1.1 billion, four-year, TV
contract with NBC and Turner Broadcasting starting next
season." The renewal of the team's local media deals,
increased profits this season and higher ticket prices in
the future also will help, and "if all goes well, the
Timberwolves could blossom into a glamour franchise and grow
in value to more than $300 million by the end of the
contract." But the analysis also shows that team losses
could reach $56M over the life of the deal, with $103M in
losses occurring over the last four years. One way the team
"might avert" those losses is with pay-per-view broadcast
rights for future games (AP/STAR TRIBUNE, 10/9).
