Stern Defends Timberwolves Punishment
S. Smith
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- NBA commissioner David Stern said the
Minnesota Timberwolves' punishment for illegal contracts with Joe
Smith was for the team's good.
He also denied owner Glen Taylor's claims that the team was
punished more severely because it is in a small market city.
Taylor had said the league punished the Timberwolves more
severely because it is based in ``a little town out here in the
prairie and wasn't quite as important to the NBA as some other
towns.''
In a 40-minute interview with Twin Cities reporters in his New
York office Tuesday, Stern said that his investigation and
penalties in the Smith salary-cap circumvention case were designed
to help teams such as Minnesota.
``The system I'm enforcing is designed to keep teams like
Minnesota in the ball game,'' Stern said. ``How can the system work
if there isn't a cap of some kind that enhances the ability of the
lower-grossing team to compete? ... That's what this was about.''
As part of the Timberwolves' punishment for signing the
agreement with Smith -- who had his contract voided and has since
signed with Detroit -- Stern took away five Timberwolves'
first-round draft picks, one of which was reinstated after Taylor
agreed to a suspension until September and vice president of
basketball operations Kevin McHale agreed to a leave of absence
until August. The team also was fined an NBA-record $3.5 million.
Stern did not rule out restoring one or more additional picks at
some point, but added: ``I wouldn't expect the situation to be
reviewed soon.''
He said he would visit Target Center if the Timberwolves make
the playoffs.
``I wouldn't expect it to be the warmest reception, but that's
OK,'' he said. ``I've had a number of e-mails from fans, and I've
found them overwhelmingly polite. Firm, but polite.''