The Timberwolves and its ownership talks with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore haven’t ended. Now a legal matter, neither side plans to back down. It’s been 3 years since they started their 20-20-40-20% part-by-part takeover. But with the sudden rise in the team’s valuation, Glen Taylor, the majority owner, had announced that the franchise wouldn’t be available on the market anymore. He also claimed that the buyers missed the deadline to pay their 3rd installment, the most crucial one. Adam Silver, on the other hand, hasn’t been a fan of the Wolves’ dispute and with the Celtics now on sale, many were eager to hear his decision-making process.

Adam Silver termed the Minnesota discussion about the ownership “exists independent of the league.” Now the Celtics are eying a new owner, after winning their 18th title. Wyc Grousbeck is looking to include a step-by-step transaction because of the heavy luxury taxes that the franchise was going to face after extending their star players’ contracts. To put it into perspective, the luxury taxes are projected to touch the $450 million mark!

Nevertheless, Grousbeck’s proposal suggests selling the franchise in parts which would allow him to maintain controlling power before eventually, the new owner takes control in 2028. However, Adam Silver isn’t fond of this approach and wouldn’t like to take any chance in light of the Timberwolves dispute. “I think every one of these situations presents itself differently. It remains the case of what I said philosophically about step transactions but the devil’s in the details there.”, Silver said via The Athletic.

Fans as well as critics believe Jeff Bezos will likely be the new owner of the Celtics, amidst Fenway Sports Group also being in the race. There have been a few events to back this statement, including Bezos selling huge shares of Amazon. To be precise, he sold Amazon stocks worth $5 billion. Knowing the Celtics’ sale value to be around $6 billion, fans believed that Bezos might just be serious about becoming an NBA team owner.

Regardless, Adam Silver doesn’t seem too keen on the step transaction, and it might not be favorable with someone like Jeff Bezos either. Moreover, the situation in Minnesota is already hectic enough. A similar dispute with the reigning Champions would be the last thing the league would want. But why aren’t things coming to a halt within the Timberwolves management?

Adam Silver and the NBA do not wish to intervene in Timberwolves fiasco

The reason behind Glen Taylor having second thoughts on selling the majority stake is quite simple. In 2022, the Wolves were valued at $1.67 billion. Two years later, the team’s valuation has almost doubled, as it currently stands near $2.9 billion. Not only that but with their recent trip to the Conference Finals, the franchise’s future is certainly bright. Anthony Edwards is also getting a lot of limelight, and there’s no reason it’ll stop. At this point, Taylor wouldn’t want to give it all away when the franchise is nearing its peak.

Whereas A-Rod and Lore are still hopeful of bagging the majority stake and taking the franchise in their direction. A report back in April suggested they wanted to implement a “sizable retreat in roster payroll,” avoiding the hefty tax bill. Now, Adam Silver and the league don’t seem to take any further interest in intervening in this internal situation. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see the Celtics’ future along with the Timberwolves, as they continue the talks with their new owners.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this Wolves deal will have an impact on the Celtics sale? Let us know in the comments.

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.