UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GUARD MARCUS CARR WILL DECLARE FOR THE 2020 NBA DRAFT

According to multiple reports, University of Minnesota sophomore guard Marcus Carr will declare for the 2020 NBA Draft. 

Carr will not lose any of his NCAA eligibility by not hiring an agent. 

Carr has until June 3, 2020 to change his mind and return to college. 

The 2020 NBA draft will be on June 25, 2020. The draft will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y..

DUKE’S TRE JONES WILL DECLARE FOR THE NBA DRAFT

Duke sophomore guard Tre Jones will declare for the 2020 NBA Draft. Jones played his high school basketball at Apple Valley High School. 

Jones’ older brother Tyus -- who also went to Duke -- is currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. 

NBA PLAYERS HAVE COME DOWN WITH COVID-19-RESPONSE TO COVID-19

According to multiple sources, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert both who play for the Utah Jazz were the first two NBA players to test positive for COVID-19. There have been multiple NBA players so far that have tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

As of March 17, 2020, NBA player Kevin Durant has been the latest player who has come down with the latest confirmed case of COVID-19. 

Also, multiple athletes and teams have stepped up and donated time and money to help fight the cure of COVID-19. 

According to Jace Frederick of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, “Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns to donate $100,000 to Mayo Clinic for COVID-19 testing.” 

Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has pledged $1 million dollars to the Target Center part-time workers who work at the Target Center while the shutdown of the NBA because of the COVID-19 virus is a pandemic continues. 

SPORTING EVENTS COME TO A STOP DUE TO COVID-19

The current sports world as we know it now is up in the air. There is a new virus going around the world -- COVID-19. Effects of COVID-19 virus has had to take a toll on different people that are affected, not only as a health concern but to the way and events that have been postponed or canceled because of the new virus. 

In Minnesota and around the country On Wednesday, March 11, sporting events started postponing or canceling their seasons and post-season tournaments.

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a cough, high temperature and shortness of breath. Simple measures like washing your hands often with soap and water can help stop viruses like coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading. There’s no specific treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19). Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms until you recover. It's not known exactly how coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads from person to person, but similar viruses are spread in cough droplets.”

Here is a growing list of sporting events around the United States and in Minnesota have been canceled because of COVID-19. 

According to Michelle Griffith of the Minneapolis Star Tribune,“NBA postponed its season, effectively canceling all Minnesota Timberwolves games at Target Center indefinitely.

NHL postponed its season, which renders the Minnesota Wild inactive.

The NCAA canceled men's and women's basketball championships (March Madness), along with all remaining winter and spring sports championships.

U.S. Bank Stadium was scheduled to host the NCAA Wrestling Championship, but the event, which was expected to draw 45,000 attendees per session, is canceled.

The Big Ten Conference announced delays in "all on- and off-campus recruiting activities for the foreseeable future."

The Boys Grade State Basketball Championship, which would have had 873 teams playing in 22 locations across the state on March 14 and 15, is postponed.

The Minnesota State High School League canceled all prep tournaments, which includes the girl’s state basketball tournament.”

Also, the MSHSL Boys’ State Basketball Tournament which was scheduled to be played March 18-21 has also been canceled. 

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA’S AMIR THOMAS COFFEY DECLARES FOR THE NBA DRAFT

University of Minnesota Junior Amir Coffey (20) has declared for the NBA draft. He will hire an agent.

Coffey who missed most of his sophomore season due to injury.

A new rule that went into effect during the 2018-19 season allows juniors to test the NBA waters and would allow them to come back to play in their senior seasons if they didn’t think that it would be a good fit.

The NBA draft is June 20, 2019.

MINNESOTA NATIVE TYUS JONES MIGHT BE HEADED TO THE NBDL

According to Marcus R. Fuller of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, “Wolves general manager Milt Newton said Monday Jones could be sent to the NBA Development League this season to get more playing time. It will come down to whether the team can get him enough playing time to develop.”

Jones was the 24th pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and then was traded to Minnesota Timberwolves.

JASON COLLINS ADMITS THAT HE IS GAY

Jason Collins, who has played in the NBA since 2001, has come out and said that he is gay. According to a CNN Breaking News email alert, “Jason Collins, who played with the NBA's Washington Wizards this season, says he’s gay, making him the first openly homosexual athlete in the four major American pro team sports.”

Collins made the disclosure in a column appearing in an upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated.

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," he said in the column.

Collins finished the season with the Wizards and will become a free agent.

Collins also has a twin brother, Jarron, who also plays in the NBA.

Collins played for the Minnnesota Timberwolves during the 2008-’09 season where he appeared in 31 games and started in 22. He averaged 1.8 points and 13.6 minutes per game while in Minnesota.

Jason and Jarron both played basketball for Stanford University.

DAVID JOEL STERN TO RETIRE IN 2014

According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, "NBA commissioner David Stern will retire on Feb. 1, 2014, completing a 30-year run in which he helped grow the league to dramatic new heights of popularity.

The elevation of Adam Silver, Stern's deputy, to commissioner was unanimously approved Thursday by the NBA Board of Governors.

Stern, 70, has been the NBA's commissioner since Feb. 1, 1984. Last December, at the time a new collective bargaining agreement was announced, he predicted it would be the final labor deal before he steps down.

"This is a 10-year (labor) deal, with a re-opener at six," Stern said at the time, explaining that either the owners or the players union can opt out after six seasons. "I'm not planning to be here certainly for the 10 and probably not the six."

Stern's first work for the league came in 1966 as outside counsel. As commissioner, he has guided the league through the eras of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. For many NBA fans, he is the only commissioner they have known."

MICHAEL BEASLEY IS HEADED TO THE PHOENIX SUNS

According to Bob Baum of the Associated Press, “Free agent forward Michael Beasley has agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.” Per NBA rules official deals can't be announced until July 11, 2012.

ROYCE ALEXANDER WHITE PICKED NUMBER 16 IN THE 2012 NBA DRAFT

Royce Alexander White who is from Minnesota was picked number 16 by the Huston Rockets in the 2012 NBA Draft.

White went to the University of Minnesota and then transferred to Iowa State before deciding to turn pro. White would have been a junior at Iowa State if he decided to return to go to school.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES SIGN KURT RAMBIS AS THE HEAD COACH

The Minnesota Timberwolves and coach Kurt Rambis have agreed on a four-year contract worth in excess of $8 million. He was an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers before becoming the head coach with the Timberwolves.

LAWSUIT AGAINST ATLANTIC YARDS REJECTED

By Associated Press

Developer Bruce Ratner says he is ready to break ground on a Brooklyn arena for the New Jersey Nets this year after an appeals court struck down a challenge to his Atlantic Yards project.

Ratner says he plans to begin building the $800 million arena this year after issuing bonds to finance the project this fall.

The state Supreme Court's appellate division on Friday struck down an opponents' lawsuit that sought to stop the state from using eminent domain to seize property where the 22-acre Atlantic Yards project is slated to be built. The opponents say they will appeal.

The $4 billion project includes an office tower and more than 15 apartment buildings. Opposition lawsuits and financing difficulties have delayed the project for years.