Thunder to sit 3 starters vs. 76ers, including SGA

The Carlyle Group has dropped out of financing the next payment by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Carlyle had been in talks with the NBA for several months about the possible investment, but were unable to agree to a structure that would be approved by the league.

Glen Taylor said on Tuesday there’s been issues surrounding $300 million of financing for the latest funding round. The deadline for the payment, which will give the duo another 40% bringing them to 80% of the team, is due at the end of March.

“They (Lore and A-Rod) had an equity group that was going to come in and put in $300 million, and that equity group has either withdrawn or the NBA has denied them,” Taylor told reporters. “They have to go out and find new revenue. That I do know.”

Lore and Rodriguez agreed to purchase the Timberwolves for $1.5 billion.

An NBA spokesman said in a statement that the league “did not deny Carlyle’s proposed investment.”

Fred VanVleet has one more guaranteed season under contract with the Houston Rockets. The team has a $44.9 million option on VanVleet for the 2025-26 season. If the veteran point guard has his way, he’ll be in Houston for a long time.

“I didn’t come here to be a rental,” VanVleet said. “I didn’t come here to be a free agent (again). I came here for a long-term home. I’ve loved my time here so far. I think I have a good understanding with management and the coaches about what the future looks like with this team. The business will always take care of itself. I don’t really get too concerned with that stuff. That stuff will work itself out. But I think my family and I will be in Texas. I came here for a home, and I think I found one.”

VanVleet is also relishing helping a young team grow into a playoff contender. He uses his experience as an undrafted player to mentor his younger teammates.

“Every last one of them, I have a great relationship with all the guys,” VanVleet said. “There’s a lot more of us than there is … stars in the league. The rest of the guys are trying to figure it out. I can always relate to those guys. I always tell the story I was a side-hoop guy. I was the guy shooting on the side with no coaches. I was rebounding with myself. I always keep that in mind.”