FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Matthew Caldwell is stepping down as the business operations president of the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and accepting a 10-year deal as CEO of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.

The teams announced the deal. Caldwell will begin overseeing “day-to-day business operations and high-level strategic initiatives for the Timberwolves, Lynx, and (the G League’s) Iowa Wolves” on Sept. 2.

It’s a major move by new Timberwolves and Lynx owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who assumed full control of those franchises earlier this summer.

“I love the NHL. I’ve enjoyed hockey and I’m a big fan of it,” Caldwell said. “But the NBA is just a much bigger, global platform. I really believe in Marc and Alex and their vision and what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to make Minnesota best in class.”

Caldwell joined the Panthers in 2014 as chief operating officer before being promoted to CEO in 2016.

“Our vision is for the Timberwolves and Lynx to set a new standard of excellence in pro sports and we’re confident that Matthew is the leader needed to make that a reality,” Lore and Rodriguez said in a joint statement. “Leading our organization into an innovative new era requires an exceptional individual at the helm and Matthew’s proven track record leading the business of the Florida Panthers is undeniable. We can’t wait to see the remarkable impact his bold leadership will have on this organization.”

Caldwell — who served in the Army, is a West Point grad, received MBA and law degrees from Northwestern and worked on Wall Street for Goldman Sachs — played a major role in many parts of the Panthers’ turnaround in recent years, especially off the ice.

Earlier this year the Panthers extended their operating agreement with Broward County for five more years, ensuring that the team remains in the South Florida market through 2033 and likely well beyond. The team is playing host to an outdoor game in the Miami Marlins’ stadium for the first time this season, has a long waiting list for season tickets and opened a new practice facility at Fort Lauderdale’s War Memorial two years ago.

Caldwell said the change was somewhat bittersweet, which was a sentiment echoed by Panthers owner Vincent Viola.

“There are very few opportunities I would advise him to pursue, but working with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore on a global platform like the NBA is at the top of that list,” Viola said. “It’s tremendously bittersweet for our family, but we recognize this is an exceptional opportunity and great next step in his career. Matt’s impact on our organization has been immeasurable and he leaves with our respect and gratitude.”

Detroit is coming off a breakout season: 44 wins and a top-six seed, Cade Cunningham becoming not just an All-Star but an All-NBA player, and then the team’s young core gaining some serious playoff experience against the Knicks in the first round.

That left some pundits suggesting consolidation trades — using some of that young core to trade for another star to pair with Cunningham, who could vault the team up the standings even further. That was never the plan inside the building, with Piston’s president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon telling The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson the plan is to stick with the young core.

“We want to see what those guys’ ceilings are. It’s continuing to put players with them that can continue to help them grow, develop and reach their potential. That’s one thing we try to be as cognizant as possible of, which is something at times that can be challenging. Of course, you want to continue to get better, but we’re very aware of what the timing of that is. We want our guys to continue to develop and at least get close to their ceiling or potential. Then maybe at that point is when we realize, OK, what is the proper player fit for these guys when it’s time to really go?…

“I don’t think we truly understand who our players can be at this point. I just think it’s too early for us to truly understand what the best way to press the proverbial gas pedal is right now. So, we’re gonna try to be patient with that and let our young guys continue to develop.”

That young core is led by Cunningham, who had his big breakout last season, but includes a lot of quality players: Jalen Duran (a potential All-Star big man), Jaden Ivey (who was having his own breakout season averaging 17.6 points a game until a broken left fibula ended his season on Jan. 1), Ron Holland (who looked ready for a bigger role at Summer League), Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser.

The one big change in Detroit will be sixth man Malik Beasley, who has not been re-signed (in the wake of a federal gambling investigation) and is replaced by Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson.

In what is considered a down year in the East due to key injuries in Boston and Indiana, can Detroit make another leap up the standings? Is this young core ready for that? The opportunity is there, but the growth of a team is not always as linear as we fans would like it to be.

Whatever happens, it will be on the Pistons’ young core to make it happen. Langden is giving them their shot.