Wolves owner open to trading Butler
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor says All-Star forward Jimmy Butler is available for a trade, and teams should contact Taylor himself should they struggle to make progress with general manager Scott Layden.
The growing disconnect between Minnesota’s ownership and front office has created an impression for opposing teams that a showdown between Taylor and Tom Thibodeau, the Wolves’ president of basketball operations and head coach, looms as an increasingly plausible conclusion to Butler’s trade request.
Thibodeau wants to keep Butler for the upcoming season. Butler prefers a trade to the Clippers and has a strong interest in the Knicks, as well as an interest in the Nets.
♦ The shot clock will be reset to 14 seconds after offensive rebounds next season, down from 24, and the NBA made alterations to two other rules. The clear-path foul was simplified, and the definition of a hostile act expanded for purposes of triggering an instant replay review.
MLB
Brewers inch closer to Cubs
Travis Shaw, Mike Moustakas and Erik Kratz homered during a six-run sixth inning as the Brewers rallied for an 8-3 victory over the Pirates and gained ground in the NL Central race. The Brewers, who lead the NL wild-card standings by three games over the Cardinals, drew to within 1½ games of the division-leading Cubs.
♦ Pinch hitter Matt Adams had a clutch two-run double in the eighth inning in the Cardinals’ 5-3 victory over the Giants. The Cardinals, who hold a 1½-game lead for the second NL wild-card spot, moved within 4½ games of the Cubs.
♦ Yuli Gurriel hit a grand slam and a two-run homer on his way to a career-high seven RBI, and the Astros clinched a postseason berth by routing the Angels 11-3. Also, Yuli and his brother, the Blue Jays’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr., became the first brothers in history with multi-homer performances on the same day.
♦ The Rangers fired manager Jeff Banister, more than a week before the end of what will be the team’s first consecutive losing seasons in 10 years.
♦ The Red Sox tied a team record more than a century old (1912) with their 105th win in a 7-5 victory against the Indians.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Maryland guilty in McNair death
Members of the Maryland athletic training staff failed to quickly diagnose and properly treat the heatstroke symptoms of 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair on May 29, according a report released Friday by Walters Inc.
The report said there was a delay of 34 minutes between when McNair, who died June 13, first started cramping during a workout May 29 and when he was taken off the field. It took 1 hour, 7 minutes to call 911 from the onset of symptoms and another 32 minutes before McNair left in an ambulance for the hospital.
GOLF
1st 36-hole lead for Tiger since ’15
Tiger Woods shared a 36-hole lead for the first time in five years after shooting a 2-under 68 to tie Justin Rose (67) after the second round of the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.
♦ England’s Oliver Fisher shot the European Tour’s first round of 59 at the Portugal Masters.