Adam Silver Admits Learning a Lesson as Alex Rodriguez & Timberwolves Ownership Disaster Worsens

The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a smooth sailing season on the court. But the same cannot be said about their ownership. After agreeing to sell the team in a 4-part transaction for $1.5 billion in 2021, Timberwolves’ majority owner Glen Taylor shocked the NBA World by voiding the deal on March 28, 2024. This year’s final payment would have transferred the Timberwolves’ control to minority owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. This disaster in Minnesota has even led NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to learn a valuable lesson the hard way.

In an interview with The Athletic, Adam Silver revealed how the Timberwolves’ dispute might have forced him to reevaluate the league’s team sale process. “I think this deal happened in the early days of the pandemic, when it was extraordinary circumstances, I think, for everyone in our community. I think lessons learned, too, as new situations evolve in the league as to what kind of transactions make sense.

“Let’s wait to see how this one works out… But I think once the dust clears on this deal, it may cause us to reassess what sort of transactions we should allow”, Silver continued. Taylor voided the deal, claiming they failed to get the necessary funds by the March 27 deadline. However, Rodriguez and Lore later revealed they had completed the entire process and were waiting for the NBA’s approval. They even informed Glen Taylor beforehand. The duo, however, have their theory about the ‘why’ of this unexpected situation.

They believe Taylor was going through seller’s remorse after witnessing the Timberwolves’ rapid on-court success. Lore said on The Dan Moore NBA Podcast, “I think Glen (Taylor) just decided, as he said, that this team is worth a lot more than when he did the deal, and he no longer wants to abide by the contract. It’s plain and simple.”

Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore’s ‘vision’ seems to have led to Taylor’s decision

Amid the speculations, NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Rodriguez and Lore’s financial projections forecasted a sizable retreat in the roster’s payroll. They planned to lower the payroll to $171 million starting next season, to avoid the luxury tax. Glen Taylor was reportedly not pleased with Rodriguez and Lore’s plan, as he believed a lower payroll would jeopardize Anthony Edwards and Co.’s chances of competing for the title.

The Timberwolves are currently the top seed in the Western Conference with a 55-24 record. Their upward trajectory and rapid success give them a legitimate shot at winning the Championship very soon. That is why Rodriguez and Lore’s cost-cutting projections were seemingly among the concerns that caused Taylor to void the contract.

The Timberwolves ownership disaster is getting messier every day as it is now a legal dispute. Taylor, Rodriguez, and Lore will try to solve the dispute by mediation, followed by arbitration. Adam Silver said, “There is no role for the league in that process.” It is a buyer-seller dispute that the league office cannot interfere in. However, it will likely cause some major rule changes in the NBA once the dust settles.

Notably, should this deal fall apart, the duo will A-Rod and Lore will still retain 36% of the club that they’ve already purchased.

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