Accompanied by former NBA star George Mikan...

Accompanied by former NBA star George Mikan and Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich, two Twin Cities businessmen gave the National Basketball Assn. a $100,000 check as a down payment on a possible expansion franchise to replace the Lakers, who left 26 years ago.

League Commissioner David Stern said that although the Minnesota group has a strong case, it is not likely that the NBA will expand before the 1987-88 season.