The Minnesota Timberwolves have just announced another unexpectedly great signing…
When last the Minnesota Timberwolves made the Western Conference finals in 2004, contentious contract talks with Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell dissolved a contender and eventually cost them Kevin Garnett, too. A 15-year playoff drought followed, and they did not win a round until this year.
As the Wolves stand on the precipice of elimination from their second conference finals appearance in franchise history, trailing the Dallas Mavericks, 3-0, an ownership disagreement threatens to repeat history.
In 2021, billionaire entrepreneur Marc Lore and former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez agreed to buy a majority ownership stake in the Timberwolves over three installments, the last of which was planned for this season. Only, current team owner Glen Taylor announced in a statement on March 28 that Lore and Rodriguez had failed to meet a deadline for the final payment, and the deal was nullified.
Rumors raged each step of the way about Lore and Rodriguez’s ability to raise the $1.2 billion necessary to buy 80% of the team. Except, they fired back in a statement: “We have fulfilled our obligations, have all necessary funding and are fully committed to closing our purchase of the team as soon as the NBA completes its approval process. Glen Taylor’s statement is an unfortunate case of seller’s remorse that is short sighted and disruptive to the team and the fans during a memorable winning season.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 20: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on between teammates Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Rudy Gobert #27 during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on December 20, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User fully acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this picture, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
