http://goo.gl/WRMFrn MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has been searching for several years for an investor who would be willing to purchase a minority share of the team and let Taylor continue to run the show for a few more years before eventually taking over as the majority stakeholder. 灰狼队老板 Glen Taylor 寻找投资者已持续数年，他希望投资意愿者先购入球团少量股 权，并且最终以主要股东身分接手，而在那之前 Taylor 仍将再主导球团一段时间。 Taylor discovered that most of those who were interested in buying the Wolves wanted to a majority share right away. Taylor 发现多数展现意愿的投资者，都想要立即取得大部分股权。 But as the NBA's popularity, and the value of the league's franchises, has skyrocketed, several potential investors have come forward who are interested in putting together the kind of succession plan Taylor had envisioned, a person with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for all parties involved. 随着 NBA 知名度普及，以及联盟球团价值的提升。几名潜在投资者已经浮出台面，他们 有兴趣拼凑出符合 Taylor 所预先设想的承接计画。 Taylor has had conversations in recent weeks with a handful of bidders, including Stephen Kaplan, a minority owner with the Memphis Grizzlies who tried to buy the Atlanta Hawks last year. Yahoo! Sports first reported Kaplan's interest. The person with knowledge of the talks told the AP that discussions are in the very early stages with several suitors. 在最近几个礼拜，Taylor 与数名竞标者的对话已经展开，包含灰熊队小股东 Stephen Kaplan，他去年曾有意买下老鹰队。知情人士向美联社透漏，协商还处在初期阶段。 There is no timetable for a deal to be in place, and it remains unclear how any of the discussions would affect star forward Kevin Garnett's stated desire to become a Timberwolves owner. 距离合约敲定并无时间表，而且这一切协商是否影响 Kevin Garnett 成为灰狼队老板， 依旧是未知数。KG 曾表达过拥有球队的意愿。 Garnett is playing his 21st season and made a celebrated return to Minnesota during a midseason trade last February. From the moment of his return, he has said that he hopes to one day be an owner, and he reiterated that desire on media day before the season. KG 在上一季季中交易重返明尼苏达，现正进行职业生涯第21个球季。从回归那刻，他就 表示希望有一天能成为球队老板，并且在季初媒体日重申过。 "That's the plan," Garnett said. 「那在未来计画中。」KG 说道。 Garnett, of course, cannot become an owner until his playing career ends. He is in the first season of a two-year deal that he signed last summer and has always said he will retire when his body tells him it is time to do so. 当然，KG 必须高挂球鞋後，才有成为老板资格。目前他正执行去年夏天所签下两年合约 的第一年，也总是表示身体状态会告诉他什麽时候该退。 Kaplan would have to divest himself from the Grizzlies franchise before he could come on as a minority partner in Minnesota, and a deal for a minority share of the team would not guarantee that he would get the team when Taylor does decide to move on. 而 Kaplan 想成为灰狼队小股东的前提，他必须撤离原先在灰熊队的投资。此外，取得 灰狼队少量股权，并不保证未来他能单独拥有这支球队。 One thing Taylor has made clear to any potential investor since he first put the franchise on the market three years ago is that he wants the Timberwolves to remain in Minnesota. Taylor 在三年前首度将球团摆上架後，就对任何潜在投资者明确表示，他想要灰狼队 继续深耕明尼苏达。 Renovations on Target Center are scheduled to begin next spring, and the project includes local government funding. As part of that agreement with the City of Minneapolis, the Timberwolves extended their lease at the building through 2032, ensuring the franchise's long-term future in the Twin Cities. 标靶中心(Target Center)的整修计画预定明年春天启动，此工程获得地方政府资金挹 注。另外与明尼亚波里斯市政府协议中，灰狼球团主场馆租约延续至2032年，确保了球 团在双子城的长期经营。 --- 以上是季初的外电消息，虽然已经过了几个月，但重要性不减。 Taylor 正默默进行着球队股权移转计画，这几天有进度回报。 http://goo.gl/zXFX8y Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said the process to sell 30 percent of the team to Los Angeles private equity investor Steve Kaplan's group is at a "standstill" while Kaplan pursues selling his minority portion of the Memphis Grizzlies. NBA rules prohibit a person from owning parts of two teams. "We can't do anything until he works a deal in Memphis," Taylor said. Taylor said he has no set no deadline to complete the sale and said the process likely will take months and "not weeks." Taylor said he believes the transaction still will be completed. When asked if there could be complications with Kaplan selling his portion of the Grizzlies, Taylor said, "He hasn't told me that." Taylor 表示出售球团30%股权给 Steve Kaplan 的过程目前是「停滞」状态。因为 碍於联盟规定，Kaplan 必须先处理投资在灰熊队的少量股权。Taylor 认为距离完 成出售球团股权，可能还要数个月，但相信最终能达成。 --- 记得 Taylor 原先想把球队一步步交到老桑手上，可惜计画赶不上变化，後来老桑 过世，一切计画重新修正，目前已经找上 Kaplan 为首的集团。这则消息很重要的 原因，在於当新股东进入後，可能会影响球队未来走向，例如决定球队篮球事务执 行长(POBO)人选，填补老桑留下空缺，再交由新任POBO决定新任总教练。而像老桑 从巫师队挖脚的总管 Newton，还有代理总教练 Sam 等人的去留，都将得到答案。 个人认为资深球迷应该都乐见其成，Taylor 是位和善的老先生，也非常关注球队 和关心球员。但是他过於干涉球队运作，以及保守作风，只放心找他「熟识」的人 来做事，多少是这支球队长年停滞不前的原因之一。灰狼队需要新气象，和新思维 进入高层，来搭配这一群还年轻但有天分的球员，这不失一个契机。现在就静观其 变，希望能顺利进展。 --

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