The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t keep it a secret when the whole team went to Miami for preseason workouts and dinner at new minority owner Alex Rodriguez’s home.
Now the T’Wolves will have to pay for their indiscretion.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA fined Minnesota $250K for organizing an offseason practice outside of the team market in early September.
Those activities included dinner at minority owner Alex Rodriguez’s house with his partner Marc Lore.
Timberwolves workouts were centered minority owner Alex Rodriguez's house. Team had a dinner with Rodriguez and his minority ownership partner, Marc Lore, at Rodriguez's house to end the week. Teams aren't allowed to organize or pay for offseason group workouts outside market. https://t.co/pHTnNI95lQ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 15, 2021
Sources told Page Six that A-Rod hosted more than 50 team members and staffers at his 11,000 square-foot Coral Gables home.
Entertainment included a DJ and magician.
“Alex and Marc had the team in Miami for the week practicing and scrimmaging. Players included D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns.” The new owners “wanted to set the tone for the upcoming season. They attended practice daily, and hosted multiple dinners,” per Page Six.
Minnesota even tweeted and shared pictures from the trip.
Wolves in Miami 🐺 pic.twitter.com/fHjGj4XCRa
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) September 8, 2021
building something special. pic.twitter.com/uwHpoOaL9x
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) September 10, 2021
The event was such a success, Minnesota was considering making it an annual ritual.
Rodriguez, 46, and partner Lore, CEO of Wallmart, own a 20 percent share of the Timberwolves and the WNBA Lynx for $1.5 billion.
The two partners joined Glen Taylor’s ownership group with the intention of Lore and Rodriguez taking over the team after a 2 1/2-year owner internship.
The pair will be allowed to purchase another 20 percent in 2022 and a final 20 percent in 2023.
The Seattle Mariners drafted Rodriguez first in the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft.
He played seven seasons in Seattle and three in Texas before joining the New York Yankees.
Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, three-time MVP, two-time Gold Glove, and won the World Series in 2009 with the Yankees.
The Timberwolves are 4-8 and sit in twelfth place in the Western Conference.
In his sixth year in the league, Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 22.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists for the T’Wolves.