>> In order to move up from No. 23 to No. 17 in the first round of April’s draft to take pass rusher Dallas Turner, and to move up from No. 11 to No. 10 to take QB J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings had to trade Nos. 11, 23, 129, 157 and 167 picks this year, plus third- and fourth-round picks in 2025. Clearly, the team’s front office feels urgency for contract extensions next year.

If McCarthy and Turner turn out to be productive, it would mean extensions. If not, major front office changes would be expected in 2025.

>> The way it looks now, the Vikings are headed for a 7-10 or so record next season, the same as last season.

>> The issue with Sam Darnold, 27, who, as expected, was named the Vikings’ starting QB, isn’t a strong arm or physical skills. It’s interceptions — he’s thrown 56 during his six-year career. Next season, by the way, will be his last shot at being a starter.

>> If running back Cam Akers, recovering from Achilles surgery last November, passes an upcoming physical, look for the free agent to re-sign with the Vikings.

>> That was McCarthy dining on chicken wings at Kyndred Hearth in Eagan the other day.

>> Among purchases for Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson, after inking a new $66 million, four-year deal that includes an $18 million signing bonus, is a new house in Sunfish Lake.

>> With the weighty addition of Michael Bloomberg, the Alex Rodriguez-Marc Lore, Timberwolves-Lynx investor tandem, if it were to win an upcoming sale arbitration, would be expected to buy out owner Glen Taylor’s then-remaining 20% at an escalated price. That, however, would be predicated on approval of a sale by the NBA. That’s certainly not a given.

Bloomberg, 82, is not only a very wealthy guy ($107 billion per Forbes), but a very powerful guy. So is multi-billionaire Taylor, who had two terms as chairman of the NBA.

It seems unlikely that Bloomberg would have joined Rodriguez-Lore if he thought the pair would lose in arbitration. Bloomberg’s minority investment is believed to be 10% of the $1.5 billion price tag. Either directly or indirectly, it’s not a bad guess that Bloomberg has had business dealings and relationships with some current NBA owners.

At this juncture, there would seem no chance of a Rodriguez-Lore-Bloomberg group ultimately joining Taylor in ownership. If RLB were to win the case and get league approval, it would have to buy Taylor out completely. If Taylor wins, he would have to buy RLB out completely. The two groups together would be a bad mix.

Meanwhile, an informed source close to Taylor is confident he’ll remain the Wolves-Lynx owner. A delay in the arbitration date could mean allowing more time for a resolution.

>> Bloomberg, by the way, would not be the wealthiest NBA investor. Steve Ballmer, owner of the LA Clippers, is worth $131 billion, per Forbes.

>> It’s not a matter of if, but when the Twins will erect a statue of Joe Mauer at Target Field.

>> Since John Anderson’s recent retirement as Gophers baseball coach, eight players, including second baseman Brady Counsell, son of Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, have entered the NCAA transfer portal. Counsell is leaving for Kansas.

Another Gopher, outfielder Easton Fritcher, is headed to the University of St. Thomas.

Also, five Tommies from the Summit League champions already have entered the transfer portal.

Amazingly, for baseball there are 2,228 college players in the transfer portal.

>> Twins TV: It’s status quo for the Comcast-Diamond Sports Group dilemma, meaning no progress. Diamond’s pivotal big bankruptcy hearing in Houston remains on schedule for July 29. Don’t be surprised if streaming for Twins games becomes an option after the hearing.

>> Talks about a new Twins radio deal are underway. Incumbent WCCO-AM has had rights the last half-dozen years and is in the mix, but so are iHeart and Hubbard broadcasting.

>> Twin Royce Lewis, 25, hasn’t even played 100 major league games yet has 27 career home runs and 73 RBIs while hitting .303.

>> Sonny Gray, 34, who left the Twins for $75 million, three-year deal with the Cardinals last November, is 9-4 with a 2.81 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings this season.

>> Ex-Twin Miguel Sanó, 31, while rehabbing from knee inflammation, burned himself by leaving a heat pack on too long without a pad. He’s hitting .243 with 32 strikeouts in 70 at-bats for the Angels.

>> A luxury Target Center suite for the WNBA Lynx-Indiana Fever (Caitlin Clark) game on July 14 was bought for $1,700 via auction the other day.

>> The Lynx are valued at $85 million with revenue in 2023 of $131 million, per analysis by Sportico, which has the Las Vegas Aces No. 1 in the WNBA at $140 million with revenue of $17.8 million. The average WNBA team is valued at $96 million.

>> David Kahn, 62, infamous as Timberwolves president in the 2009 NBA draft for choosing Jonny Flynn over Steph Curry, is president of Paris Basketball. France has produced the NBA’s last two No. 1 NBA draft picks, Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher. France will have a formidable team in Paris next month for the Olympics.

>> Don’t be surprised if the Wild soon hire former Islanders head coach Jack Capuano, 57, as an assistant.

Overheard

>> From baseball statistician extraordinaire Bill James via Eddie Epstein’s “Disaffected Musings” blog on the late Willie Mays: “Willie Mays was overqualified for the Hall of Fame.”