The ownership battle begins to sink the Minnesota Timberwolves as employees cry for help. In the last few months, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have locked horns with Glen Taylor after he called off the ownership deal midway. Following the issue, Alex and Lore have reached out to the media to state their arguments. A-Rod accused Taylor of restricting his access to players and various other facilities in the Target Center. Moreover, a particular restriction has put the Wolves’ employees in jeopardy.

While the ownership battle doesn’t seem to end anytime soon, the team has an array of big events approaching them. Notably, they will approach the 2024 NBA Draft in June, followed by free agency in July, leaving the front office clueless. The strain in the ownership battle has put a pause on the business, marketing, and basketball operations of the team. Moreover, speaking of the situation, an undisclosed employee from the management said, “We’re all caught in the middle,” as per The Athletic.

Alex Rodriguez, speaking in ‘Dan Moore Podcast’ revealed Glen Taylor’s stringent restrictions put on him. A-Rod added, “He has shut us out from conversations with any of the employees of the team, with Tim Connelly (president) and the players. We couldn’t go to the suite. We couldn’t walk at certain places within the arena. So, he’s really gone nuclear on us.” 

Everything went as per plan when both parties struck the deal at $1.5 billion in 2021 for the sale of Timberwolves and Lynx. Alex and Lore have also paid two installments of the deal which would value up to 40% of the agreed amount. However, when it came down to the final installment, which was another 40%, Taylor pulled out of the deal, claiming that the duo had breached the deadline.

On the other hand, the duo accused Taylor of scrapping the deal after realizing the sudden surge in the team’s performance in the 2023-24 season. Thanks to Anthony Edwards & Co. for staying afloat at the top of the West ladder.

The Timberwolves’ upcoming front-office issues 

The Minnesota Timberwolves produced their best performance in the last two decades. Ant-Man, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert played a huge role in bringing the struggling franchise to the top. But, the question is, will the Wolves continue with the same impact in the following seasons?

Leaving the ownership aside, the team has crucial front-office issues, in terms of retaining some of its star players. Currently, the team has only 10 players in their contract and they already seem to have burned their purse value. The Wolves have two players with an annual salary above $50 million for the next four years. And, they also have their crucial players like Kyle Anderson and Monte Morris entering free agency in the off-season.

If the team manages to rope in the remaining for the base price, the total payroll will come up to $193 million with a luxury tax of $70 million. If the ownership issue isn’t sorted at the right time, the Minnesota side might as well lose one of their star players.

Moreover, a report stated that Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have estimated to produce a payroll worth $171 million annually with a luxury tax of $1 million. Even if A-Rod and Lore win the ownership battle, it could end up being costly for the Wolves family,

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow in what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.