Rumors

David Aldridge: Interesting innovation that Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez say will be available at Wolves home games next season: an in-game “reverse auction” for seats, where people in the upper bowl at Target Center can bid on seats that are left empty during games by early-leaving patrons.

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Gary Washburn: The new #Timberwolves ownership group of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez said they consider Kevin Garnett a “Minnesota legend” and will have talks with KG about mending fences with the franchise. His No. 21 is still not retired in Minnesota. #Celtics.

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Tim Reynolds: The sale of the Timberwolves to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez has been unanimously approved by the NBA’s board of governors, per source. It’s done.

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Mike Vorkunov: Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez have been approved by the NBA to be the owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. Lore will be the governor for the Wolves and A-Rod will be alternate governor, while A-Rod will be the governor for the Lynx and Lore will be alternate governor.

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“It was definitely a relief,” Lore recalled about the feeling that hit when he learned that the arbitration panel had ruled in their favor. “It felt right. Anytime you’re on the right side and you realize that laws do work in the U.S., it feels good to know that you know there’s a real justice system.”

New York Times

They eventually want to build a new arena, have already appointed an interim leader of the business side of the operations to take over while they search for replacements for chief executive officer Ethan Casson and chief operating officer Ryan Tanke, longtime leaders of the business side and close allies of Taylor, and are working on a contract extension for Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, who helped build the Wolves into back-to-back Western Conference finalists.

New York Times

The two of them have spent the last four years meeting with other ownership groups across leagues to determine best practices. The importance of hiring the right people and letting them do their jobs was a key lesson, they said. Lore said the goal is to establish a set of standards and principles within the organization. “Once they understand the nuances and the vision strategy in the same way that me and Alex do, then there’s no need to be involved in the decision making at all,” Lore said.

New York Times

Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx top executives Ethan Casson and Ryan Tanke are stepping down from their roles, the biggest front-office changes so far as the organization prepares to enter a new era under new ownership. The two leaders, who have spent a total of more than 45 combined year with the organizations, announced their plans to step down in a joint letter sent to staff members Friday. Neither announced plans for where they will go next, and the new ownership team — led by former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez and e-commerce executive Marc Lore — has not publicly identified any possible successors for their roles.

Business News

Tim Connelly moved an opt out in his contract last summer as he awaited how the Wolves ownership situation was going to play out. Now that that’s settled, and Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are set to become controlling owners, Connelly seemingly put to rest any concerns that he would leave. “Super happy here,” Connelly said. “It’s been great, not just as working with the team, but this whole community really feels like home. I think you guys are stuck with me.”

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Sometime toward the end of June, team sources familiar with the process told The Athletic, the league is expected to hold a final vote to approve Lore and Rodriguez as the new majority owners of the Timberwolves and Lynx. The two partners prevailed over Taylor in a February arbitration ruling, essentially ending a tense and bitter power struggle for control of the franchises.

New York Times

Now it is up to Lore and Rodriguez, who recruited Connelly to Minnesota three years ago, to build upon the recent run of success. They plan to be much more aggressive with their investment on the business side of the operations, including formulating plans for a new arena, team sources told The Athletic. The partners have openly stated their firm commitment to keeping the team in Minnesota, and team sources reiterated that is the long-term vision for a team that is booming in popularity locally, thanks to their playoff runs the last two seasons.

New York Times

The leaguewide expectation, of course, is that Minnesota will ultimately sign Connelly to a new deal now that Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez have at last secured operational control of the franchise from longtime owner Glen Taylor.

marcstein.substack.com

Speaking on the KG Certified podcast recently, Kevin Garnett said he didn't know whether he sees himself having an increased impact or presence in the organization under the new ownership group. "I've talked to Marc and Alex before and I'm sure we'll have another positive conversation," he said.

Sports Illustrated

Garnett's co-host Paul Pierce said with the new ownership group taking over it was time for KG to have his jersey retired and even get a statue outside Target Center. The 15-time All Star balked at that, saying, "I'm not really in that space though, bro. If I'm being honest." "It's all good. I ain't in that space right now," Garnett said. "I ain't in that space. I'm doing something else right now. I got another takeover I'm locked in, that I don't know if I can devote my time to something like the NBA. The NBA is an everyday thing and they need you every day. I don't have time to be an everyday thing."

Sports Illustrated