NBA Will Suspend Timberwolves Owner

M I N N E A P O L I S, Dec. 6 -- Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor saidTuesday night that he has agreed to be suspended by the NBA for hisrole in a secret deal with former player Joe Smith that violatedsalary cap rules.

Kevin McHale, vice president of basketball operations, agreed totake a leave of absence, Taylor said. Coach and general managerFlip Saunders will not be punished.

According to the agreement, Taylor and McHale will be unable toattend games, negotiate contracts or talk to reporters, the ownersaid.

Will Not Have to Attend Hearings

Taylor said his suspension would last until September. McHale’sleave of absence would last until August.

Taylor said he negotiated the agreement with NBA deputycommissioner Russ Granik. The deal has not been signed, but Taylorsaid he expects it to become official next week. By reaching theagreement, Taylor said Wolves executives will not have to attendhearings in New York City scheduled for Dec. 12-13.

NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said the league had no comment.

Minnesota’s game Saturday at Target Center against the LosAngeles Clippers probably will be the last one this season thatTaylor can attend.

“I’m not happy about this, but I accept it,” Taylor said. “I watch all the away games on television. Now I’ll watch all the games on television.”

Taylor revealed the suspension Tuesday during a speech at theUniversity of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, saying he expected to agree in a few days to a deal that he called“basically a suspension.”

While he said he would cooperate with the NBA’s decision, Taylorbelieves the Wolves were perhaps being singled out by the leaguebecause Minneapolis is not a major market.

Little Town?

“We’re a little town, a little town out here in the prairie,”Taylor said. “And it isn’t quite as important to the NBA as theother towns.”

Saunders said the Wolves wouldn’t even be in Minnesota if notfor Taylor.