Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) and the Minnesota Timberwolves, along with AEG Facilities, announced today they have extended the Target Center naming rights partnership through 2014. The three-year extension allows the parties to gain a better understanding of the potential for future renovations to Target Center.
“Target is pleased to continue our sponsorship of the Target Center and help provide our hometown with a facility where guests can experience exciting sports, entertainment and events,” said Shawn Gensch, vice president, marketing, Target. “Target Center is important to the vibrancy of downtown Minneapolis, and we look forward to carrying on our great relationship with the Timberwolves.”
Target has been the sole naming-rights holder of Target Center since the building opened in 1990.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with Target for the naming rights of Target Center,” said Timberwolves President Chris Wright. “This short-term extension allows both Target and the Timberwolves to fully understand the future renovation plan to Target Center. Target has been a tremendous partner for our franchise and this agreement demonstrates Target’s continued commitment to the building, downtown Minneapolis and the Timberwolves.”
The Target Center is managed by AEG Facilities and owned by the City of Minneapolis.
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Christian Laettner and Brian Davis could face jail time
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports:
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Former Timberwolves Christian Laettner and Brian Davis have been ordered to a Washington courtroom today to explain to a judge why they shouldn’t be held in contempt.
If their answers don’t satisfy the judge, the former Duke University stars could be sent to jail – an outcome few could have predicted four years ago when they were basking in the success of their West Village development in downtown Durham, N.C.
Even now, as Laettner and Davis try to fend off angry creditors, West Village remains the jewel in their crumbling real estate empire. Its mixture of apartments, restaurants and offices continues to thrive, making it attractive to investors and to those angry creditors determined to pursue Laettner and Davis’ assets.
Today’s court hearing relates to a $671,309 judgment awarded to California investors J.D. Holdings in June.
Bill Bayno to be hired as Timberwolves assistant coach for Rick Adelman
Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:
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Rick Adelman hasn’t been introduced yet as Wolves coach, but his staff is starting to take shape:
According to league sources, Portland assistant coach Bill Bayno is expected to join a staff that also could include Adelman’s son R.J., Jack Sikma and T.R. Dunn from Adelman’s Houston staff.
Bayno, 49, is a former UNLV and Loyola Marymount head coach who also was a longtime assistant for John Calipari at UMass.
Bayno worked as a graduate assistant under P.J. Carlesimo at Seton Hall and Larry Brown at Kansas early in his career. He has worked two stints with the Blazers as a scout, player personnel coach and assistant coach and also has knocked around the American Basketball Association, the Continental Basketball Association and a league in the Philippines.
Timberwolves reach agreement to make Rick Adelman their new head coach
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The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has reached an agreement in principle on a contract with Rick Adelman to become the 10th head coach in franchise history. Adelman ranks eighth all-time in NBA coaching wins with a 945-616 (.605 winning percentage) career record in 20 seasons as a head coach.
Adelman, 65, has previously served as head coach of four NBA teams: Portland (1988-94), Golden State (1995-97), Sacramento (1998-2006) and Houston (2007-11). Some of his coaching highlights include: two NBA Finals appearances (1990 and 1992 with Portland), four Western Conference Finals (1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 with Portland and 2002 with Sacramento) and four division titles (1990-91 and 1991-92 with Portland; 2001-02 and 2002-03 with Sacramento).
Additionally, Adelman’s teams have reached the NBA playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as a head coach, and he holds an all-time playoff record of 79-78 (.503 winning percentage). He is one of only five head coaches in NBA history to win 60+ games with two different teams (Portland and Sacramento). Adelman has been runner-up for the NBA Coach of the Year award four times. Most recently, Adelman was the head coach of the Houston Rockets the past four seasons leading Houston to a 193-135 record, with the .588 winning percentage being the highest in franchise history.
Timberwolves will reportedly make Rick Adelman their new head coach
The AP reports:
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The Minnesota Timberwolves are bringing in Rick Adelman to try and turn around one of the NBA’s most downtrodden franchises.
Two people with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Monday that the team and the 65-year-old Adelman have agreed on terms and a contract is expected to be signed soon. The people requested anonymity because an official announcement has not been made.
Adelman replaces Kurt Rambis, who lasted just two seasons on the job.
“Houston, we have a coach,” All-Star forward Kevin Love tweeted earlier Monday, kicking off the welcoming festivities for an accomplished coach who will be expected to bring credibility and intensity back to a team that has severely lacked both in recent seasons.
Adelman is 945-616 in 20 seasons as a head coach of the Trail Blazers, Kings, Warriors and Rockets. He parted ways with the Rockets in April.
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Ricky Rubio OK with role on Team Spain
FIBA Europe reports:
Ricky Rubio is comfortable with his role in a Spain team that many wondered if he would make this summer.
The playmaker should make his much anticipated debut in the NBA this coming season with the Minnesota Timberwolves if the lockout ends and he’s hoping it will be a breath of fresh air because there were some tough times at Barcelona.
Rubio doesn’t possess a great jump shot but passes extremely well and plays as good a defense as any player at the EuroBasket.
He didn’t score in the 77-68 win over Germany on Wednesday and frankly, he doesn’t care.
“Little by little, I’m getting better as the tournament goes on,” he says.
“I feel more comfortable, although I still have to improve in shooting.
“I think I’ve done well in other facets of the game and that boosts my confidence.
“I know my limitations and my strengths and I have to take advantage of those.
“My strength is defending and hopefully I will see my shots go in but it does not worry me.”
Timberwolves Dancers to tour southern China
The Timberwolves Dancers will tour southern China over the next two weeks, bringing the Timberwolves brand to one of the fastest-growing NBA markets in the world. The trip is part of the Guangdong Mobile Tour, an eight-weekend event co-sponsored by the NBA and the China Mobile Communications Corporation that will feature interactive basketball activities and performances from NBA dance teams, local DJs and freestyle streetball performers.
“This is a tremendous honor for our team,” Timberwolves Dancers Director Natalie Alvarado said. “The girls are incredibly excited to represent the Timberwolves organization and the NBA in front of the great basketball fans in China.”
The Guangdong Mobile Tour will travel throughout the Guangdong province in southern China for eight weeks beginning this Friday, Sept 9, with the Timberwolves Dancers performing for four days in the capital city of Guangzhou. The team will then travel to Zhuhai for two more performances the following weekend.
This year’s tour marks the Timberwolves Dancers’ third international trip in recent years, and second visit to China. The team also performed as part of the NBA’s Jam Van Asian Tour in 2006, making stops in Shanghai and Nanjing. The dancers also accompanied the Wolves to France last fall as part of the league’s NBA Europe Live preseason schedule that saw the Wolves take on the New York Knicks in Paris.
Tony Ronzone out as Minnesota Timberwolves assistant GM
With the NBA lockout ongoing, the main official NBA news revolves around overseas signings or NBA team front office changes.
The latest management moves comes out of Minnesota.
Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:
Timberwolves assistant general manager Tony Ronzone has left the organization.
Known for his international-scouting connections, he was hired in spring 2010 just about the time Fred Hoiberg was headed for Iowa State’s head-coaching job and had a voice in personnel moves that included drafting Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams as well as trading away Al Jefferson, acquiring Michael Beasley and re-signing center Darko Milicic.
The Wolves, through a spokesman, said they and Ronzone mutually have agreed to part ways and wished him good luck.
Ronzone coordinated workouts and was the franchise’s public face in preparations for the June draft.
The Timberwolves had the worst record in the NBA last season, finishing with 17 wins and 65 losses.
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Knicks hire Mike Woodson as assistant coach
The New York Knickerbockers announced today that Mike Woodson has joined Head Coach Mike D’Antoni’s staff as an assistant coach. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I was extremely encouraged after meeting with Mike that he would be a great addition to our coaching staff and we are pleased to welcome him back to New York,” D’Antoni said. “Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team and we are confident that he will help us as we continue towards our goal of building a championship team.”
Woodson joins the Knickerbockers after serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons from 2004-2010, where he guided the Hawks to the playoffs in each of his last three seasons. In six seasons in Atlanta, Woodson amassed a 209-286 (.419) coaching record in 492 games while posting an 11-18 record in 29 playoff games. Prior to joining the Hawks, Woodson served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks (1996-99), Cleveland Cavaliers (1999-2001), Philadelphia 76ers (2001-03) and the 2003-04 NBA Champion Detroit Pistons.
“I consider Mike D’Antoni to be one of the top coaches in our game and I am thankful for this opportunity,” Woodson said. “I’m excited to re-join this great franchise where my professional career started and will work to build off of the success they had here last season.”
Woodson was drafted by New York with the 12th overall selection in the 1980 NBA Draft out of Indiana University and averaged 14.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 786 career games over 11 NBA seasons with New York, New Jersey, Kansas City-Sacramento, L.A. Clippers, Houston and Cleveland. In his rookie season with New York, Woodson averaged 4.7 points in 81 games under the legendary Red Holzman.
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Rick Adelman interviewing for Timberwolves head coaching job
Rick Adelman is in town today to interview for the Timberwolves coaching job.
He’ll meet with president of basketball operations David Kahn, CEO Rob Moor and owner Glen Taylor.
The Wolves brass worked for weeks to get Adelman to come in for more than a phone interview. If he wants the job, and they can agree on a salary, the job is probably his.
The salary would probably have to be around $5 million per year.
— Report by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune blog
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