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Final Decision Made On Alex Rodriguez Becoming NBA Owner

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Apr 2, 2025 11:26 AM ET

A lengthy Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx ownership saga is finally reaching a resolution.

Glen Taylor agreed to sell the NBA franchise to former MLB superstar Alex Rodriguez and entrepreneur Marc Lore in 2021. However, Taylor claimed in March 2024 that they missed a deadline for a $600 million payment to secure their new ownership.

In February, an arbitrary panel ruled in favor of Rodriguez and Lore, concluding that Taylor violated the terms of their agreement. That created the potential for a contentious league vote to approve the purchase if Taylor still contested.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Taylor won't appeal the arbitration ruling. He agreed to transfer full ownership of the Timberwolves and Lynx to Rodriguez and Lore, who will acquire the NBA and WNBA franchises for the $1.5 billion price tag they agreed on four years ago.

Since that deal, four NBA teams (Bucks, Hornets, Mavericks, and Suns) have sold for $3-4 billion. Rodriguez and Lore claimed last year that Taylor was merely experiencing "seller's remorse" when attempting to nullify their agreement.

"We went through the process, and I spent a lot of time," Taylor told the Associated Press in March 2024. "We've got a really good team, we’ve got a lot of good things going for us, I enjoy it and I'm healthy enough to do this."

As the ordeal unfolded, the Timberwolves made last year's Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years. They registered their second-most wins (56) in a regular season behind burgeoning young superstar Anthony Edwards.

Following February's arbitration ruling, Taylor said he was "disappointed" by the panel's 2-1 decision. On the other hand, Lore and Rodriguez told ESPN they were "extremely pleased."

"We look forward to working with the NBA to complete the approval process and close this transaction so that we can turn our attention to winning championships in Minnesota for our incredible fans and the Twin Cities community," they said.

League governors must still vote to approve the sale before Rodriguez and Lore assume full control of the Timberwolves and Lynx.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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