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Glen Taylor To Cede Control Of Timberwolves To Lore, Rodriguez

Longtime Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has decided not to appeal an arbitration ruling in favor of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez and will sell his controlling interest in the franchise to the minority stakeholders, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

When Lore and Rodriguez reached an agreement in the spring of 2021 to buy the Timberwolves from Taylor, the succession plan called for the new owners to initially come aboard as minority stakeholders with a 20% share of the franchise.

The duo then had until the end of 2022 to exercise an option to purchase approximately another 20% and had until the end of 2023 to exercise their option for an additional 40% stake, bringing their total share to 80% in 2024 — that plan would have made them the controlling owners a year ago.

However, the process hit a snag in March 2024 when Taylor announced he would be retaining control of the Timberwolves, citing a breach of contract and a failure to meet a payment deadline. Lore and Rodriguez disputed that characterization, stating that they had the funds necessary to become majority owners but were awaiting NBA approval and should have been entitled to an extension.

After mediation failed to resolve the dispute between the two sides, it advanced to an arbitration hearing. A three-person arbitration panel voted in favor of Lore and Rodriguez in February, and Taylor has been weighing his options since then.

Rather than continuing his fight to retain the franchise, Taylor has agreed to sell 100% ownership to the Lore/Rodriguez group at the $1.5 billion valuation that was initially agreed upon in 2021, according to Charania, who says that decision was made after the two sides held discussions over the past six weeks.

The franchise’s value has increased substantially since that deal was made (as of December, Sportico pegged it at $3.29 billion), which was believed to be a major factor in Taylor’s efforts to try to halt the sale. Still, Taylor will ultimately come out way ahead in the transaction after having reportedly paid in the neighborhood of $88-94MM to buy the Timberwolves in 1994.

There are still some final hurdles to clear before the ownership transfer is officially finalized. Most notably, the NBA’s Board of Governors will need to approve the new ownership group, which includes other investors – such as Michael Bloomberg – in addition to Lore and Rodriguez. However, there’s no reason to believe that the league will stand in the way of the sale.

Once the transfer is complete, Lore is reportedly expected to serve as the Timberwolves’ primary governor. One February report suggested that former Minnesota star Kevin Garnett – who had a long-standing feud with Taylor – will likely be hired to a position in the team’s front office when Lore and Rodriguez officially take over.

Pacers Officially Clinch Playoff Spot

The Pacers clinched a playoff spot without taking the court on Tuesday. Indiana (44-31), which holds the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, was assured of making the playoffs when Portland knocked off the seventh-place Hawks (36-39), 127-113.

Indiana has done plenty on its own to secure its postseason berth with the end of the regular season approaching. The Pacers have won nine of their last 12 games, including a 111-109 victory over Sacramento on Monday. They erased a 16-point, second-half deficit to pull out that home victory.

The Pacers will have home court advantage in the first round if they retain the fourth spot. The Pistons are two games behind them with the Bucks, who defeated the Suns on Tuesday, three games back. Indiana trails the third-place Knicks by 3.5 games.

Indiana reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season with virtually the same roster it has this year. The Pacers defeated the Bucks in the first round and the Knicks in the conference semifinals before getting swept by Boston.

The Pacers were the league’s highest-scoring team last season (123.0 PPG). They are seventh in the category this season (117.1) but still have plenty of weapons — seven players are averaging double figures led by Pascal Siakam (20.1 PPG).

Indiana’s playoff success will hinge on whether the club can get more stops against the league’s elite. The Pacers are in the bottom 10 in defensive field goal percentage (47.5%).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Coby White Earn Player Of The Month Honors

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Bulls guard Coby White have been named the NBA’s Players of the Month for the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, respectively, the league announced today (via Twitter).

Gilgeous-Alexander continued to bolster his Most Valuable Player case in March by averaging an eye-popping 34.7 points per game on a scorching-hot .517/.413/.929 shooting line across 14 contests. The Thunder won 13 of those 14 games, with Gilgeous-Alexander also contributing 7.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 block per night.

The Oklahoma City star has now been named the West’s Player of the Month three times this season, having also won the award for October/November and December. He’s the only player in either conference to have been recognized as a Player of the Month more than once in 2024/25.

Gilgeous-Alexander beat out fellow nominees Deni Avdija, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Alperen Sengun, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac to claim the Western Conference award, per the NBA (Twitter link).

As for White, he has taken his game to another level since the Bulls traded leading scorer Zach LaVine to Sacramento ahead of the trade deadline. In 15 March games, the sixth-year guard put up 27.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 3.7 APG with a .495/.379/.878 shooting line, leading Chicago to a 9-6 record.

White was named Player of the Week for the Eastern Conference on both March 17 and March 24, becoming the first player this season to earn that honor in consecutive weeks.

The other nominees for Player of the Month in the East were Paolo Banchero, Quentin Grimes, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, Knicks teammates OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, and Pacers teammates Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.

Dyson Daniels, Draymond Green Named Defensive Players Of The Month

Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, who was named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for games played in October/November, has won the award for the second time this season, the NBA announced today (via Twitter). Daniels is the East’s Defensive Player of the Month for March.

Daniels, who has become a legitimate contender for Defensive Player of the Year in his first season as a Hawk, continued to wreak havoc on opposing offenses in March, leading the NBA in steals (3.3), deflections (5.4), and forced turnovers (3.1) per contest over the course of 14 games as Atlanta went 9-5.

Daniels is the second Eastern Conference player to be recognized with two Defensive Player of the Month awards this season, joining Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, who earned the honor in both December and February.

Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, Warriors forward Draymond Green was named the Defensive Player of the Month for March.

Green, who advocated for himself as a top DPOY candidate a couple weeks ago, backed up the claim with his performance on that end of the court in March. According to the NBA, Green ranked third in the West in steals (1.9) and contested shots (9.1) per game for the month, while Golden State had the fourth-best defensive rating in the league (109.7).

Five different players have been named Defensive Player of the Month in the West this season — Green joins Victor Wembanyama, Jaren Jackson Jr., Amen Thompson, and Toumani Camara as the honorees in the award’s inaugural season.

Mobley, Knicks forward OG Anunoby, and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes were also nominated for the Eastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month award for March, according to the NBA (Twitter link). The West’s other nominees were Camara, Clippers center Ivica Zubac, and Thunder wing Luguentz Dort.

Stephon Castle, Zaccharie Risacher Named Rookies Of The Month

Spurs guard Stephon Castle has been named the Western Conference’s Rookie of the Month for March, while Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher has won the award for the Eastern Conference, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).

Castle, who has emerged as the frontrunner to be named the 2024/25 Rookie of the Year, advanced his case by averaging 19.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per game across 17 outings in March. He posted a shooting line of .456/.302/.686 as the Spurs went 7-10 during that stretch.

As for Risacher, 2024’s No. 1 overall pick averaged 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 27.1 minutes per game in 14 March contests, including nine Hawks victories.

While Castle is the betting favorite, Risacher continued to make his own case for Rookie of the Year consideration by posting a strong .533/.393/.739 shooting line on the month for an Atlanta team headed for a play-in berth.

Through the first four months of the season, no player had won a Rookie of the Month award more than once in either conference, with Jaylen Wells, Yves Missi, Isaiah Collier, and Castle splitting the honors in the West while Jared McCain, Alex Sarr, Kel’el Ware, and Risacher did the same in the East. That makes Castle and Risacher the first repeat honorees of the season.

According to the league (Twitter link), Donovan Clingan, Zach Edey, Quinten Post, Kyle Filipowski, and Collier were also nominated for Rookie of the Month recognition in the Western Conference for March, while Matas Buzelis, Justin Edwards, Jamal Shead, Sarr, and Ware were the other nominees in the East.

NBA Announces Five Suspensions For Pistons/Timberwolves Altercation

Five players have been suspended following the altercation between the Pistons and Timberwolves that took place in Minnesota on Sunday, the league announced today in a press release (Twitter link).

Those suspensions are as follows:

All five players were ejected from Sunday’s game following an on-court incident that occurred midway through the second quarter.

Holland, who tried to swipe the ball away from Reid as he drove to the basket, was called for a foul and was immediately confronted by the Timberwolves big man, who yelled at the Pistons forward and repeatedly jabbed his finger at him. DiVincenzo quickly entered the mix and he and Holland shoved one another, leading to a scrum that spilled into the stands along the baseline.

As those three players fell into the stands, Sasser and Stewart entered the fray and shoved Reid and DiVincenzo, resulting in a “continued escalation” of the situation, per the NBA.

In addition to those five players, the game’s officials ejected Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Timberwolves assistant Pablo Prigioni. However, neither coach was mentioned in today’s announcement, so it appears they won’t face any additional discipline from the NBA.

According to the league, Stewart received an extra game due in part to his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” He’ll miss Wednesday’s game in Oklahoma City and Friday’s contest in Toronto, while his teammates Holland and Sasser will only have to sit out on Wednesday. Reid and DiVincenzo will serve their suspensions on Tuesday when the Wolves face the Nuggets in Denver.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, Stewart’s two-game suspension will cost him $206,897, which represents 2/145ths of his $15MM salary for 2024/25. Holland ($46,812), Sasser ($15,834), Reid ($80,283), and DiVincenzo ($65,776) will lose 1/174th of their respective salaries for this season.

Knicks Re-Sign P.J. Tucker On Two-Year Deal

April 1, 10:59 am: Tucker has officially re-signed with the Knicks, the team confirmed today in a press release (Twitter link).


March 31, 5:28 pm: The Knicks plan to sign Tucker to a two-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (Twitter link). The contract will include a team option for next season.


March 31, 8:58 am: Even though he barely played during his two 10-day contracts, P.J. Tucker remains a “strong candidate” to re-sign with the Knicks by the end of the season, a source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.

Tucker’s second 10-day deal expired over the weekend, making him a free agent again and opening a spot on New York’s 15-man roster. With eight games remaining, Bondy suggests the Knicks might consider signing another player to a 10-day contract, but Tucker is expected to get a standard deal at some point to make him eligible for the playoffs.

The 39-year-old forward made just one game appearance during his time with New York, playing two minutes without collecting any points or rebounds. It was his only NBA action of the season, as he reached an agreement in October to be away from the Clippers while they tried to trade him. He was eventually sent to Utah and then Toronto before last month’s deadline, but he didn’t suit up for either team before being waived February 28.

Bondy’s source added that Tucker understood he wouldn’t be guaranteed any playing time when he joined the Knicks, but they view him as valuable because of his locker room leadership and playoff experience.

“A lot of times when you become a vet and be in the league, like young guys and stuff on the bench, they’re not going to (encourage and motivate teammates). They’re not going to have your back like that,” Tucker said after joining the team. “So it’s always good to have vets and like-minded guys that just have each other’s back. And that’s what really makes a team strong — just knowing that they have people there and I support you whether you’re playing good or bad. We’re in it together.” 

Bondy adds that Tucker’s signing prompted veteran forward T.J. Warren to leave New York’s Westchester affiliate. Warren, who had been hoping for an NBA call-up, was the G League team’s leading scorer.

Pelicans’ McCollum, Williamson Shut Down For Rest Of Season

The Pelicans have shut down guard CJ McCollum and big man Zion Williamson for the remainder of the 2024/25 season, the team’s PR department tweets.

McCollum, who was diagnosed with a right foot bone contusion after sustaining the injury on March 23 at Detroit, will continue his rehabilitation program which includes rest and treatment.

Williamson, who suffered a low back bone contusion during a fall on March 19 at Minnesota, will continue his recovery plan which includes rest and treatment.

The injury-ravaged Pelicans are among the lottery-bound teams jockeying for the best odds to get the top pick. Shutting down two of their top players could move them closer to that goal. They currently have the league’s fourth-worst record at 21-54 — the bottom three teams each have a 14% shot at the No. 1 overall pick.

New Orleans has seven games remaining after losing 10 of its last 14 contests.

McCollum, 33, finishes the season with averages of 21.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 56 games. He has one season left on the two-year, $64MM extension he signed in 2022.

Williamson, 24, completes his 2024/25 campaign with averages of 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in just 30 games. He missed two months of action due to a hamstring strain. The former top pick has three years remaining on his five-year max extension.

Rutgers’ Dylan Harper Declares For NBA Draft

Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper, one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class, announced on ESPN’s NBA Today on Monday that he’ll be entering the 2025 NBA draft (Twitter video link).

The decision comes as no surprise, as Harper has long been considered a strong bet to be one of the first players off the board this June. He ranks second overall on ESPN’s board behind only Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, notes draft expert Jonathan Givony.

A 6’6″ point guard and the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals in 32.6 minutes per game in 29 outings during his first and only college season. He posted a shooting line of .484/.333/.750 and was named to the All-Big Ten third team.

Harper broke Rutgers’ freshman scoring record and finished fifth in the Big Ten in points per game, according to Givony, who says the 19-year-old has drawn comparisons in NBA circles to a young James Harden.

“NBA teams saw I am an all-around player,” Harper said. “I can do whatever it takes to win. Whether it’s score, defend or facilitate. Anything coach needs me to do.”

Here are a few more prospects entering the 2025 draft:

  • St. John’s junior forward RJ Luis is declaring for the draft while maintaining his remaining college eligibility and entering the NCAA’s transfer portal, agent Sam Permut tells Givony (Twitter link). Luis had a big year as a junior, averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game en route to Big East Player of the Year honors. He ranked 72nd overall on ESPN’s top-100 list as of last week.
  • Oregon senior big man Nathan Bittle will be testing the draft waters while retaining his final year of college eligibility, he announced on Instagram. The No. 96 prospect on ESPN’s board, Bittle averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game across 35 starts this season, earning spots on the All-Big Ten third team and the conference’s All-Defensive team.
  • Following his junior season, Vanderbilt guard Jason Edwards is heading back into the transfer portal while testing the NBA draft waters, he tells Joe Tipton of On3 Sports (Twitter link). Edwards, who transferred from North Texas a year ago, averaging 17.0 points per game for the Commodores in 2024/25.
  • Jacksonville State senior guard Jaron Pierre will test the NBA draft waters while entering the transfer portal, tweets Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. Pierre isn’t on ESPN’s top-100 list but ranked first among all Conference USA players with 21.6 points per game in 2024/25. He knocked down 38.2% of a career-high 7.6 three-point attempts per game.

Brandon Clarke Out For Season With Knee Sprain

March 31: The Grizzlies have issued a follow-up statement on Clarke, announcing that he won’t undergo surgery to address his knee injury (Twitter link). The decision to embark upon a non-operative treatment and rehabilitation plan was made after consulting with several medical experts, who unanimously recommended that path, per the team.

According to the Grizzlies, Clarke has received an orthobiologic injection and is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the start of next season.


March 22: Brandon Clarke will miss the remainder of the season due to a “high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee,” the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).

The 28-year-old power forward/center was injured on a hard fall during Wednesday’s game at Portland. He didn’t return after leaving the game late in the first quarter and was held out of Friday’s contest. The Grizzlies add that more information will be provided “after a treatment plan and timeline are set.”

That leaves Memphis without an important component of its frontcourt depth for the stretch run and the playoffs. Clarke appeared in 64 games this season, making 18 starts and averaging 8.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per night while shooting 62.1% from the floor.

It was a bounce-back season for Clarke, who was limited to six games a year ago due to an Achilles tear. While the team didn’t offer any specifics, this injury sounds far less severe and shouldn’t affect his availability for training camp this fall.

With three straight losses, the Grizzlies have slipped into fifth place in the West at 43-28. They’re facing a tight battle to hold off the Warriors (41-29), Clippers (40-30) and Timberwolves (41-31) to claim one of the six automatic playoff spots.

Clarke has two full seasons remaining on his four-year, $50MM contract. He’ll make $12.5MM in 2025/26 and again in 2026/27.