NBA Notes: Timberwolves, sale, Knicks, PJ Tucker, G League MVP

Timberwolves

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

When Lore and Rodriguez reached an agreement to purchase the Timberwolves from Taylor in the spring of 2021, the deal outlined a succession plan in which the duo would initially join as minority stakeholders with a 20% share of the franchise.

Under the agreement, they had until the end of 2022 to exercise an option to purchase an additional 20%, and until the end of 2023 to exercise another option for a 40% stake, ultimately bringing their total share to 80% in 2024 and making them the controlling owners.

However, the plan encountered complications in March 2024, when Taylor announced he would retain control of the team, citing a breach of contract and a missed payment deadline. Lore and Rodriguez disputed this, arguing that they had the funds to become majority owners but were awaiting NBA approval and believed they were entitled to an extension.

After unsuccessful mediation, the dispute was taken to arbitration. A three-person panel ruled in favor of Lore and Rodriguez in February, prompting Taylor to consider his next steps.

Ultimately, Taylor has agreed to sell 100% of the Timberwolves to the Lore/Rodriguez group at the $1.5 billion valuation initially agreed upon in 2021, Charania reported. The decision follows six weeks of discussions between the two parties.

Knicks

The Knicks have signed P.J. Tucker to a standard two-year contract, but the team could still add another player to its 15-man roster in the coming weeks, according to Ian Begley of SNY TV.

With enough cap space under the second apron, the Knicks have the flexibility to sign another veteran free agent on a minimum deal before the end of the regular season. However, the team would need to waive a player to make room on the roster for any additional signings.

G League

Celtics two-way player JD Davison has been named the G League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024/25 season, the NBA announced on Tuesday.

A 2022 second-round pick, Davison has seen limited action at the NBA level in his first three seasons, logging just 51 minutes in 12 appearances for the Celtics during the 2024/25 season. However, he spent the majority of the year with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate, where he played in 45 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season games.

In those 45 games, Davison averaged 25.6 points, 7.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 34.6 minutes per game, shooting .482 from the field, .332 from three-point range, and .762 from the free-throw line. While Maine posted an 8-8 record in the Tip-Off Tournament, the 6-foot-1 guard helped lead the team to a 21-13 record in the regular season, earning a No. 3 seed in the G League playoffs.

Oscar Tshiebwe of the Salt Lake City Stars, who is also on a two-way contract with the Jazz, finished second in MVP voting, followed by Jaylen Nowell of the Capital City Go-Go in third. The G League MVP award is voted on by the league’s head coaches and general managers.