http://goo.gl/6h4L3j The uncertainty surrounding the potential acquisition of the Minnesota Timberwolves by a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies has exposed turmoil within the Memphis ownership group, clouding future control of both franchises, sources told ESPN.com. 灰熊隊經營團隊內的動盪，讓一名灰熊隊小股東入股灰狼隊的潛在收購案充滿變數。 Grizzlies minority owner and co-executive chairman Steve Kaplan, a California venture capitalist, had planned to sell his Grizzlies stake to buy 30 percent of the Wolves with a path to eventually take over as the Wolves' controlling owner. However, sources tell ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Zach Lowe, a dispute between Kaplan and Grizzlies owner Robert Pera over shares of the team led to behind-the-scenes trouble that took months to resolve. 灰熊隊小股東兼共同執行主席 Steve Kaplan 早已計畫賣出在灰熊隊的股份，並購入 百分之三十的灰狼隊股份，甚至最終成為灰狼隊的控股股東。然而，Kaplan 與灰熊隊 老闆 Robert Pera 之間的股權糾紛，導致延宕了數個月。 It was recently settled after Kaplan threatened to initiate an arbitration procedure, sources said. The terms of the settlement are confidential, and multiple sources declined to comment on them. NBA owners cannot formally sue each other under league rules, and minority owners typically must sell shares of one team before buying into another. 該糾紛在 Kaplan 威脅要提出仲裁程序後，於最近達成和解。和解內容屬機密，且數 個消息來源都不願對此發表評論。在聯盟規定下，NBA 老闆們無法正式互相提告，且 小股東必須賣出原有球隊股權，才能入股另一支球隊。 The resulting delay has put Kaplan's deal with Wolves owner Glen Taylor in jeopardy. Kaplan and an investor went to Minneapolis earlier this month to meet with Taylor to salvage the process. 這事件造成的拖延，使得 Kaplan 和灰狼隊老闆 Glen Taylor 間的洽談陷入危機。 Kaplan 與另一名投資者在本月初前往明尼亞波里斯，與 Taylor 會面，設法挽救收 購案。 Meanwhile, sources say Pera has been distant from Memphis over the past year and has excluded minority owners from any meaningful participation in team decision-making, which is his right as controlling owner. Kaplan is worried that the market for his minority interest will dry up once potential buyers complete their due diligence on Pera's ownership techniques, sources said. 同時，消息指出 Pera 在過去一年，早已遠離曼菲斯，且運用身為控股股東的權力， 排除多名小股東參與任何有意義的球團決策。Kaplan 擔憂目前持有少量股權的價值 ，將因為可能買家深入了解 Pera 的經營能力後而流逝。 In selling his minority stake on the open market, Kaplan has been asking for close to $100 million for his 14 percent share -- pegging the team's value at roughly $700 million. Kaplan's figure is a big-enough number to turn off some potential investors, sources said. 另外，在公開市場兜售百分之十四的少量股權，消息指出 Kaplan 將球團總價值固定 在約七億美元左右下，開價接近一億美元。Kaplan 提出的數字會大到讓一些可能買家 打退堂鼓。 The drama could drag on, particularly because of an unusual clause in the Memphis ownership agreements that Kaplan can trigger in October 2017 -- on the five-year anniversary of their purchase of the team with Pera. 歹戲拖棚，尤其是因為一項少見條款，存在曼菲斯經營團隊協議中。Kaplan 能夠在 2017年十月，也是他與 Pera 入主灰熊隊五週年時執行。 At that time, Kaplan and fellow minority owner Daniel Straus, an East Coast health care magnate and the team's vice chairman, have an option to make a bid for controlling interest in the team at a price of their choice, sources said. At that point, Pera would have two options: buy out Kaplan and Straus at that named price, or sell his shares to them based on the same valuation. Control of the decision ultimately would rest with Pera. 屆時，Kaplan 和同為小股東的 Daniel Straus，將有選擇權以他們指定的價格，去競 標球團控股權。那麼 Pera 有兩條路可選擇，用指定價格買斷 Kaplan 和 Straus，或 根據指定價格將手邊股權賣給他們。最終決定權仍落在 Pera 身上。 The so-called "buy-sell" clause is merely an option, and it is unclear whether Kaplan or Straus would ever trigger it -- especially because Pera could simply force them to pay up if they named a wildly high price. 這所謂的「買賣」條款僅僅只是一個選項，Kaplan 或 Straus 是否會執行仍是未定之 天，尤其如果他們喊價過高，Pera 可以輕易迫使他們付清。 It is relevant because it would give Kaplan a possible path to team ownership if his deal to buy into the Wolves doesn't finalize. 這是牽一髮而動全身的局面。因為上述條款能替 Kaplan 鋪上通往可能成為球隊老闆 的道路，假若入股灰狼隊計劃案未能敲定的話。 Kaplan had been making plans to become involved with the Wolves and consult on front-office, coaching and roster moves, sources said. He was expected to spend time traveling with the team to get to know the players during the season. Those plans have been scrapped, and inside the Wolves there is a growing assumption that Taylor will remain as primary decision-maker for the near term. This has been received as good news by incumbent general manager Milt Newton and interim coach Sam Mitchell, sources say. 消息來源指出，Kaplan 原先已經擬定計畫，逐步參與灰狼隊事務，諮詢包含制服組、 教練團和球員等異動。還預期在球季中隨著球隊四處移動，深入了解球員狀況。那些 計畫現階段看來是取消了。且在灰狼隊內部假定 Taylor 於可見未來，仍舊掌握決策 權的聲音日益增大。對現任總管 Milt Newton 以及代理總教練 Sam Mitchell 來說， 無疑是件好消息。 Taylor has put the Wolves up for sale in the past only to change his mind later. Amid the Grizzlies' drama and the Wolves' collection of young talent, Taylor has slowed the sale process and is now reconsidering whether he wants to sell at all, two sources close to the owner say. 過去一段時間，Taylor 未曾停止兜售灰狼隊，只是後來回心轉意。正當灰熊隊經營團 隊內部上演肥皂劇，以及灰狼隊持續收集年輕天分之際，Taylor 已經放慢出售步調， 甚至重新思考是否有賣球隊必要。 After looking to sell to local buyers, Taylor took the Wolves off the market in 2014 when he sold a share of the team to Flip Saunders and made him team president. Saunders planned to take several years to attempt to assemble his own group to buy the team from Taylor while rebuilding the roster in the wake of the Kevin Love trade, sources say. He recruited Wolves legend Kevin Garnett to return to the team and possibly eventually become an investor. But Saunders died in October, leaving Taylor to re-evaluate his options. 遍尋在地買家之後，Taylor 在2014年將球隊下架，並賣出部分股權給 Flip Saunders ，同時任命他擔任球隊總裁。Saunders 計畫運用幾年時間，一面嘗試合夥集資買下球 隊，一面重新打造球隊陣容。他還把 Kevin Garnett 找回，最終也可能是投資成員。 但 Saunders 不幸在去年十月辭世，讓 Taylor 必須重新評估其他選項。 --- 比較好奇是只有 Kaplan 要買嗎? --

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