Glen Taylor Holding Back Timberwolves Ownership Change Yet Again

With nine games remaining in the 2024-25 season, the 41-32 Minnesota Timberwolves are battling for their playoff lives right now, a fight that resumes on Friday at Target Center against the Phoenix Suns. As of the writing of this article, the Wolves are 8th in the West, back just a half game of both the Warriors (7th) and Clippers (6th).

But the playoffs aren’t the only thing being fought over at Target Center and Mayo Clinic Square. For years now, longtime MN Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has been locked in a legal battle with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who are heading an ownership group he once agreed to sell the organization to.

Back in mid-February, we thought we finally got a resolution to this entire Wolves sale saga. That was when reporters broke the news that, after months of arbitration arguments and hearings, Minnesota Timberwolves ownership had been awarded to the Lore and A-Rod group.

Now, the only thing standing between Marc Lore and majority ownership of the franchise he made his first payment nearly four years ago was an NBA Board of Governors vote, which he is believed to have the votes for.

Glen Taylor still pondering appeal of legally binding arbitration ruling

But not so fast, explained NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday, while speaking at a press conference to kick off the 2024-2025 end of season Board of Governors meetings. It was believed a vote on the Minnesota Timberwolves ownership change could take place this weekend, while all of the owners were together.

That won’t be happening, though, explained Silver. Why not? Because incumbent owner Glen Taylor is still deciding whether or not to file an appeal of the legally binding arbitration ruling in favor of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.

Adam Silver says the Wolves sale remains on hold as Glen Taylor considers appealing the arbitration ruling and he continues to talk directly with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 27, 2025

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If you are a regular listener of Darren Wolfson‘s scoop sessions on the Mackey & Judd Show on SKOR North, he’s been hinting at a possible appeal from Glen Taylor holding up the finalization of what we thought was an impending Lore + A-Rod takeover.

What would former Minnesota Timberwolves owner be appealing?

But, what in the world could Glen Taylor possibly be appealing? That’s where the questions really begin. According to what Wolfson has reported, nobody is totally sure. The only thing that he is believed to be able to appeal is that the independent arbitrator — one very respected Thomas Fraser — was somehow compromised.

The contract calls for the arbitration ruling to be binding. Technically speaking, neither side can appeal. The loser could ask a federal court to vacate the ruling. That generally requires extreme measures for that to be a possibility, such as one side believing a member of the panel was compromised or that the panel acted outside of its authority.

Jon Krawczynski – The Athletic

Without knowing the motive or reasoning behind exactly why Taylor is pondering an appeal, it’s hard not to see this as the latest attempt by a remorseful seller who’s going to do absolutely everything within his power to delay this sales process as long as possible.