Blount will not be back with Wolves

Last update: September 24, 2009 - 7:15 AM

The Timberwolves have given veteran center Mark Blount's agent permission to find work for his client elsewhere, a decision that's expected to result in a contract buyout or trade. Either way, Blount will remain home in Miami while the Wolves begin training camp Tuesday in Mankato and will not play for the team again.

A former Timberwolf, he returned to Minnesota last month in a trade that sent Quentin Richardson to the Heat.

The Wolves could trade him for another player who also has a similar expiring contract or they could pay him less than the $7.9 million owed for this season if he reaches a contract agreement with another team. The payoff amount would then come off the team's salary cap next summer.

He has appeared in 605 career games over his nine-year career. He has career averages of 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

JERRY ZGODA

Russian to buy Nets

Russia's richest man has a deal to buy a controlling interest in the New Jersey Nets and nearly half of a project to build a new arena in Brooklyn.

Mikhail Prokhorov's Onexim Group announced the deal Wednesday with Forest City Ratner Companies and Nets Sports and Entertainment. They say they have signed a letter of intent to create a partnership for the development of the Atlantic Yards Project.

According to the agreement, entities to be formed by Onexim Group will invest $200 million and make certain funding commitments to acquire 80 percent of the NBA team, 45 percent of the arena project and the right to purchase up to 20 percent of the Atlantic Yards Development Company, which will develop the non-arena real estate. Prokhorov would be the first non-North American NBA owner.

Felton re-signs

Raymond Felton signed Charlotte's one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer after the restricted free agent was unable to come to teams on a long-term contract.

The move means the Bobcats point guard will report on time to training camp next week, then become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Agent Kevin Bradbury said he turned in the paperwork to the team Wednesday morning.

Felton was a restricted free agent, meaning the Bobcats could match any offer he received. He repeatedly said he wanted to stay in Charlotte and sign a long-term deal, but the two sides were never close.

Felton averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 assists last season and won over new coach Larry Brown, who said keeping Felton was a top offseason priority.

Harpring out indefinitely

Veteran forward Matt Harpring will not take part in the team's training camp or preseason and will miss the start of the regular NBA season.

Harpring has been plagued by knee injuries and an ankle problem. Last year he developed a strep infection after a June surgery to remove a bone spur in his right ankle.

Utah Jazz General Manager Kevin O'Connor made the announcement Wednesday that Harpring can't play for now and that his status will be re-evaluated in six weeks.

Harpring has said he's unsure whether he'll be able to play again.

Harpring has appeared in 665 games over 11 seasons with Orlando, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Utah. He was signed by the Jazz in 2002. Last season he averaged 11 points and 2 rebounds in 63 games.

Productive meeting

The NBA and its players' association have completed their second collective bargaining meeting, calling it a "productive information sharing session."

They met for three hours Wednesday, with the players presenting their financial information. The owners offered details of theirs last month at the first meeting

The current agreement runs through the 2010-11 season, but the sides decided to open talks well in advance with many teams struggling because of the economic downturn.

No deal is expected anytime soon, but players' association president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said both sides agree it was good to start talking early.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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