Alex Rodriguez To Purchase Minnesota Timberwolves

Former MLB star Alex Rodriguez is close to finalizing a deal to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA and Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA with backing from billionaire Marc Lore, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Current majority owner Glen Taylor has been looking for someone to buy the sibling franchises since 2020.

“We look forward to entering this phase of the process with Glen Taylor,” Rodriguez and Lore said in a joint statement on Saturday. “Our respect for him and the legacy he has built lays an amazing foundation for what is to come. We are excited by the prospect of getting to know the Timberwolves organization.”

The teams would remain under Taylor’s control until a takeover from Lore and Rodriguez in 2023.

The Lynx have won four WNBA championships, whereas the Timberwolves have won one division title. The two teams share the Mayo Clinic Square practice facility, which is across the street from the Target Center, where both teams play their games.

One wrinkle in the deal: Rodriguez’s ties to Seattle, which hasn’t had an NBA team since the Supersonics left for Oklahoma City. However, Seattle already has a highly-successful WNBA franchise in the Seattle Storm, who have also won four WNBA championships.