“Well-Positioned NBA Source” Confident Glen Taylor Will Win Timberwolves Ownership Battle One Way or Another

After arguably their best season in franchise history the Minnesota Timberwolves enter the offseason dealing with an ownership battle war. Glen Taylor has seen the Wolves’ organizational value skyrocket since agreeing to sell and accuses Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez of not abiding by the purchase agreement.

When Glen Taylor initially pumped the brakes on any potential deal that would have transitioned ownership from himself to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, a legal battle was sure to ensue. This is where many believe the new ownership group will win.

Unfortunately for them, winning their legal case against Taylor won’t win them the ownership war over the Timberwolves. To do that, they need 23 NBA owners (3/4) to vote them into their exclusive club, which is where many expect them to run into problems. If they

Walters’ sources: Minnesota Timberwolves will remain owned by Glen Taylor

A-Rod and Lore have recently added Michael Bloomberg to their posse, in order to increase their financial portfolio, but will it be enough to convince the NBA board of governors to allow them in? That’s the question. And according to Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters, the answer is no, they will not.

“A well-positioned NBA source is confident that Glen Taylor will prevail in the Timberwolves’ ownership dispute against out-of-towners Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore, and recent addition, Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor. Even if the trio were to win an arbitration case against Taylor, it still would need sale approval from the NBA. By the way, Bloomberg, 82, is also an investor in the Baltimore Orioles.”

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Why wouldn’t NBA owners vote this deal through?

To what extent or reasoning the NBA would block a sale should the new group prevail during arbitration probably has more to do with politics and the original purchase price than anything else. Many may not know this but Glen Taylor has a lot of influence and a lot of friends inside that elite club.

This idea that 24 of 30 NBA owners would welcome in A-Rod and Lore over, for many. an old friend, may be a bit presumptuous. And don’t undersell (like Taylor did) the financial fallout for the rest of this league, if this sale becomes final.

While other franchises are going for three or four billion dollars, raising the valuation of others in the league, this deal (at just $1.5 billion) could hurt the perceived value for other organizations too. Of course a legal win would certainly bring some positive momentum to the new group, but nothing is guaranteed after that.

Plenty has been made about deadlines and the actual cash flow that have possibly hindered both Rodriguez and Lore. None of this has stopped them from operating as though the ownership will come into their hands eventually.

They’ve been exploring areas for a new arena and ways to rid this market of Bally Sports North, steps that wouldn’t be taken by a prospective ownership group that doesn’t expect to have majority share in the future.

Related: Lore, A-Rod Add New High Profile Billionaire to Timberwolves Ownership Group