Aaron Young

ayoung2@dmreg.com

The NBA Development League announced Monday in a news release that Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is purchasing a majority ownership of the Iowa Energy.

Minnesota would be the 18th NBA team to own and operate a D-League affiliate once the deal is complete. The move allows the Timberwolves to have a feeder program only four hours away.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Iowa Energy into the Timberwolves family,” Taylor said in the release. “It’s great knowing that we can develop our young players so close to home and enjoy all the other benefits that come with owning a D-League team.

"We look forward to growing our relationship with the greater Des Moines area, the state of Iowa and basketball fans across the Upper Midwest.”

Iowa's current hybrid partnership with the Memphis Grizzlies ends after the 2016-17 season, the release said. Prior to its partnership with the Grizzlies, the Energy was affiliated with seven different NBA teams between 2007-2014, including serving as Minnesota’s affiliate for the 2013-14 campaign.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Minnesota considered starting a D-League team in Rochester, Minn., Fargo, N.D., or in the Twin Cities. The Timberwolves also considered taking over the existing Sioux Falls Skyforce in South Dakota.

At 230 miles apart, Minnesota and the Energy make sense. The teams can exchange players quickly.

"The teams that have utilized the D-League best, proximity is really important," Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau told the Star-Tribune. "You'd like it to be driving distance."

Jed Kaplan, who led the acquisition of the Energy in 2014, will continue as a partner and will remain active in the management of the team, the release said.

The Energy won the 2011 NBA D-League Championship. They'll continue to play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.

Iowa is currently 5-20 this season heading into Thursday's game against the Oklahoma City Blue.