Final Arbitration Decision on Timberwolves Ownership Coming Very Soon

The battle over who should rightfully own the Minnesota Timberwolves has been raging for years, at this point. In the summer of 2020, Glen Taylor put the Wolves up for sale. Then in April 2021, a group including Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez bought a minority stake in the franchise, with an intent to become majority owners in the future.

But with the final payment from the Lore group due in April 2024 — nearly three years after originally signing their deal — Taylor got cold feet and chose to cancel the sale. At the time, he claimed Lore and A-Rod didn’t fulfill their part of the purchase agreement.

That’s when Lore and A-Rod took triggered the arbitration clause in their purchase agreement, which is where the two sides have spent the last year. Now here we are, almost five years since Glen Taylor announced he was selling the MN timberwolves, and finality is reportedly on the horizon.

Minnesota Timberwolves ownership decision should bring finality

The public fight between Glen Taylor, Alex Rodriguez, and Marc Lore has gone on for far too long. At this point, Target Center is falling apart and the team is trending in the wrong direction. A decision on the future needs to happen, and the Star Tribune’s Jeff Day is suggesting that it could be coming soon.

The question of who owns the Timberwolves and Lynx should be answered either Friday or Monday, according to sources close to the team.

The arbitration process was built into their purchase agreement, and the final decision will be binding and likely unappealable.

Jeff Day on the Timberwolves sale (Star Tribune)

This charade has gone on long enough and the Timberwolves need a path forward. The arbitration panel ruling in favor of Taylor should put arena changes into motion. Lore and Rodriguez have already discussed those plans and can move forward with them.

No matter who wins this arbitration vote, the announced owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves will have an asset on their hands that has greatly appreciated since the last time it was properly valuated and put up for sale.

So much hanging in the balance with this arbitration decision

There are multiple roster and personnel decisions that hang in the balance when it comes to the sale as well. Karl-Anthony Towns was traded due to luxury tax implications, and Tim Connelly signed a short-term extension to see this process through.

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Anthony Edwards can only do so much on the court. Chris Finch and his rotation don’t need to be involved with the ownership situation. Once there is a path forward, everyone can stop wondering what the hierarchy will ultimately look like.

Minnesota has seen the Timberwolves be something of a laughing stock for the majority of their existence. This process has not been positive. It’s time to see the end come to fruition.