While all is well on the pitch for Wolves, it's a different story behind the scenes, where the battle is on between Glen Taylorthe historic owner, and the duo Alex Rodriguez – Marc Lore.
For several years, the former baseball star and his partner had begun to buy the franchise in pieces, the last one having to change hands on March 27. Except that the two men had difficulty getting the last check together, changing financiers along the way. By the time the NBA validated the new figures, the “deadline” had passed, and Glen Taylor did not want to postpone it, simply canceling the operation!
Adam Silver doesn't want to get involved
From now on, each camp is sharpening its weapons, the Rodriguez/Lore duo promising to fight to the end for control of the club, as initially planned, while ensuring they have the necessary funds.
Asked about the issue, Adam Silver explained that the NBA did not have to get involved in the mess, the two camps having negotiated, in the initial contract, a possibility of mediation in the event of failure of the sale. The league still asked Glen Taylor, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore to avoid commenting on the subject in the media.
Incredible coincidence, ESPN still obtained the financial projections shared by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore for next season, with both men planning to reduce the club's wage bill.
A big inevitable transfer
This season, the Wolves had the 3rd largest payroll in the entire NBA, with $198 million, behind the Warriors and the Clippers. Next year, Anthony Edwards' extension will begin and with two other players on max contracts (Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns), the team could have the largest payroll in the entire league, and therefore pay more than 25 million dollars in luxury tax.
In their projections, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore nevertheless planned to be below the “luxury tax” and therefore on the contrary to recover 6.5 million dollars from the teams which were going to be above it.
Basically, this means they were planning to trade at least one of their “max players” (Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert?) to save money. For Glen Taylor, this would prevent Wolves from getting involved in the title race. Enough to confirm the historic owner's fears about the willingness and/or ability of the Rodriguez/Lore duo to invest to make the franchise a stronghold in the NBA… in Minneapolis.
