[Krawczynski] Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore in serious talks to become the next owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves

[wolves_89]

Read on Twitter

Just for reference, with the current cap estimates ($172M luxury tax line) the luxury tax bill for a $200M payroll would be around $76.5M in 2024-25 (for a total of $276M).

Also for reference, this season (2023-24) the payrolls (including luxury tax) for the most expensive teams: Warriors $352M, Clippers $332M, Bucks $264M, Celtics $247M, Mavs $230M, and Suns $225M.

[jpatrick]

“Lore and Rodriguez rendered a budget projection as potential majority owners”

Talk about a nothing statement.

If you don't think proposed budgets are being sent around a company months before the offseason, when expenses can be reduced, I don't know what to tell you. I'm assuming ARod/Lore sent this up the chain (ie to Taylor and mgmt) when they thought the deal was going through. I wouldn't be shocked if Taylor, seeing how this could dismantle the first good Wolves team in 20 years, decided that was the last straw and decided to void the contract at that point based on ARod and Lore's payment breaches (whether it was a material breach or not is a different issue).

[wolves_89]

One thought I had is that Glen Taylor has likely seen that he is widely regarded as one of the worst owners in all of professional sports and wanted to try to change his legacy. First step, declare that he is ending his agreement with A-Rod/Lore (worst case he likely retains control through the offseason). Second step, take a bit of the $600M he's already received from A-Rod/Lore and go all in next season for a championship.

[shrink]

Not big surprised there. Considering the conflict, they will do the opposite things Taylor want. Let's see where it goes. I have been firmly convinced that KAT may be trade this year if it doesn't show up in PO. But those kind of news are not the best way to prepare PO.

No, if they choose to cut players to save money, you can’t blame that on Taylor.

[shrink]

Lore and ARod to Wolves fans

Watch on YouTube

[thinktank]

Profit. Sell it for more than a Billion more than you paid for it.

So they sell it next year?

Maybe. And if they don't care if the new owners want to keep the team in Minny, they can probably get a few Billion more than they paid...

LOL.

[minimus]

Whats a mess... Can an ordinary MIN fan just have ONE season without any drama?

[younggunsmn]

So Taylor made the whole thing up and is lying about them sharing it with the NBA?

Could be 100% fabricated or it could be some truth he twisted. And we’ll never know. And that makes it a super suspect statement that doesn’t even qualify as “news”.

So Taylor made all this up and Woj ran with it without verifying anything?

Read on Twitter

More like Taylor spoon fed this to Woj.

I tried to warn you guys.
Bag on Taylor all you want, Lore and Rodriguez would be much worse.
All flash, no cash.

[younggunsmn]

So Taylor made all this up and Woj ran with it without verifying anything?

Read on Twitter

If anything, obfuscation about the teams’ plan would be more likely.

I’m telling you, the way this is being spun sounds fishy as all getout.

This makes me wonder if Taylor is close to losing this team. This is desperation on his part.

You should be writing Novels. You have a far more active imagination than JK Rowling and Stephen King.

Thinktank you are so deep into cognitive dissonance on this one you will never find your way out.

As part of their ownership approval application with the league, which was viewed by Taylor, the NBA, and Carlyle Group, all verified by Woj as sources (or why would he mention them), Lore/Rodriguez submitted a budget plan for next year at 1 million below the projected luxury tax, and ~27 million dollars below our projected payroll for next year before adding any draft picks or free agents.
Which means their budget called for cutting close to 30 million dollars in salary.

Of course the release of this is a PR shot from Taylor, but it's also an incredibly effective one.
These guys don't have the money.
They tried to buy the 2nd least valuable team in the entire league and couldn't even close on that.
They don't have the money and if they end up with the team it will end up moved or a laughingstock.

People talk about them buying low and making money selling the team.
You know how they could make a lot more money?
Buying the 2nd cheapest team in the league and moving it to a more lucrative market where the valuation instantly jumps to 5 billion or more.

[thinktank]

If anything, obfuscation about the teams’ plan would be more likely.

I’m telling you, the way this is being spun sounds fishy as all getout.

This makes me wonder if Taylor is close to losing this team. This is desperation on his part.

You should be writing Novels. You have a far more active imagination than JK Rowling and Stephen King.

Thinktank you are so deep into cognitive dissonance on this one you will never find your way out.

As part of their ownership approval application with the league, which was viewed by Taylor, the NBA, and Carlyle Group, all verified by Woj as sources (or why would he mention them), Lore/Rodriguez submitted a budget plan for next year at 1 million below the projected luxury tax, and ~27 million dollars below our projected payroll for next year before adding any draft picks or free agents.
Which means their budget called for cutting close to 30 million dollars in salary.

Of course the release of this is a PR shot from Taylor, but it's also an incredibly effective one.
These guys don't have the money.
They tried to buy the 2nd least valuable team in the entire league and couldn't even close on that.
They don't have the money and if they end up with the team it will end up moved or a laughingstock.

People talk about them buying low and making money selling the team.
You know how they could make a lot more money?
Buying the 2nd cheapest team in the league and moving it to a more lucrative market where the valuation instantly jumps to 5 billion or more.

That projection is meaningless.

For all we know, that projection was designed to illustrate that the team could be run below the lux to reinforce for the owners that there is a way for new ownership to run the team cheaply, should they choose.

Also, is ANY hypothetical projection be binding? No.

Do you honestly think that new ownership would use a protection to tip their hand about their REAL STRATEGY to run the team in their first offseason?

“Hey owner guys!, first thing we want to do as POTENTIAL owners is show your our poker hand and let you know that we want to lower any return on a potential KAT trade by telling you all in advance that we’re going to trade him! How does that sound, owner guys?!”



This is all Taylor and all fools believing Taylor that this projection has any real significance.

Let Taylor tell you how high to jump at your own risk.

Finally, this “news” doesn’t change the ownership fight one iota.

So what is this “news” worth?

Nothing.

PS. The owners’ plan is to expand, not relocate. Cmon now. Get real.

PPS. If Taylor cared so much about winning, when why drop this “news” that KAT is likely gone on the eve of their biggest game, where KAT can’t even play? “That’ll help em win!” Taylor is a slimy, greedy, owner, who only cares about money—not winning.

[shrink]

It seems desperate to defend Lore and ARod’s earlier financial position and their previous honesty, by saying they are lying now to Taylor, the NBA owners, and their funding source, the Carlyle Group.

This is horrible news for the people that believed in Lore and ARod, but closing your eyes and saying it’s a lie is not the way to deal with it.

[KGdaBom]

You should be writing Novels. You have a far more active imagination than JK Rowling and Stephen King.

Thinktank you are so deep into cognitive dissonance on this one you will never find your way out.

As part of their ownership approval application with the league, which was viewed by Taylor, the NBA, and Carlyle Group, all verified by Woj as sources (or why would he mention them), Lore/Rodriguez submitted a budget plan for next year at 1 million below the projected luxury tax, and ~27 million dollars below our projected payroll for next year before adding any draft picks or free agents.
Which means their budget called for cutting close to 30 million dollars in salary.

Of course the release of this is a PR shot from Taylor, but it's also an incredibly effective one.
These guys don't have the money.
They tried to buy the 2nd least valuable team in the entire league and couldn't even close on that.
They don't have the money and if they end up with the team it will end up moved or a laughingstock.

People talk about them buying low and making money selling the team.
You know how they could make a lot more money?
Buying the 2nd cheapest team in the league and moving it to a more lucrative market where the valuation instantly jumps to 5 billion or more.

That projection is meaningless.

For all we know, that projection was designed to illustrate that the team could be run below the lux to reinforce for the owners that there is a way for new ownership to run the team cheaply, should they choose.

Also, is ANY hypothetical projection be binding? No.

Do you honestly think that new ownership would use a protection to tip their hand about their REAL STRATEGY to run the team in their first offseason?

“Hey owner guys!, first thing we want to do as POTENTIAL owners is show your our poker hand and let you know that we want to lower any return on a potential KAT trade by telling you all in advance that we’re going to trade him! How does that sound, owner guys?!”



This is all Taylor and all fools believing Taylor that this projection has any real significance.

Let Taylor tell you how high to jump at your own risk.

Finally, this “news” doesn’t change the ownership fight one iota.

So what is this “news” worth?

Nothing.

PS. The owners’ plan is to expand, not relocate. Cmon now. Get real.

PPS. If Taylor cared so much about winning, when why drop this “news” that KAT is likely gone on the eve of their biggest game, where KAT can’t even play? “That’ll help em win!” Taylor is a slimy, greedy, owner, who only cares about money—not winning.

ThinkTank you've gone off the deep end. Your imagination is running wild in a desperate attempt to make every piece of news regarding Glen, ARod and Lore all about how wonderful A Rod and Lore are and how greedy and slimy Glen is. You even said Glen doesn't care about winning. You might actually believe your crazy ideas. Glen doesn't care about winning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Glen only cares about money!!!!!!!!! So ridiculous it is way beyond my imagination, but well within yours. Winning will help him make money. So he obviously cares about winning. If all he cared about was money he would have sold the Wolves long ago to somebody who wanted to move them.

[slick21]

Despite having little to no evidence to the contrary, I have often wondered if Lore and ARod would be able/willing to pay a large tax bill. But they have been saying all the right things.

In their defense regarding this "leak," isn't it possible that this was just one of many scenarios that could take place? Submit a plan for keeping the team intact and paying the tax, submit a plan for getting under the tax line, etc.

And now the news-grabbing headline says "Lore/ARod submitted plan to cut payroll!"

[KGdaBom]

Despite having little to no evidence to the contrary, I have often wondered if Lore and ARod would be able/willing to pay a large tax bill. But they have been saying all the right things.

In their defense regarding this "leak," isn't it possible that this was just one of many scenarios that could take place? Submit a plan for keeping the team intact and paying the tax, submit a plan for getting under the tax line, etc.

And now the news-grabbing headline says "Lore/ARod submitted plan to cut payroll!"

I wish this wasn't leaked. All of this stuff should be kept in house IMO. Every leak from A Rod, Taylor and Lore should not have happened. The RealGM headline and Woj article to me seem unfair to A Rod and Lore. I have to admit though it does make me question even more their ability to run the team. Did Woj get this information from Taylor or his representatives? It seems people are assuming that. I'd like to know the source.

[shrink]

Despite having little to no evidence to the contrary, I have often wondered if Lore and ARod would be able/willing to pay a large tax bill. But they have been saying all the right things.

In their defense regarding this "leak," isn't it possible that this was just one of many scenarios that could take place? Submit a plan for keeping the team intact and paying the tax, submit a plan for getting under the tax line, etc.

And now the news-grabbing headline says "Lore/ARod submitted plan to cut payroll!"

I wish this wasn't leaked. All of this stuff should be kept in house IMO. Every leak from A Rod, Taylor and Lore should not have happened. The RealGM headline and Woj article to me seem unfair to A Rod and Lore. I have to admit though it does make me question even more their ability to run the team. Did Woj get this information from Taylor or his representatives? It seems people are assuming that. I'd like to know the source.

I think it got personal pretty quickly in the ARod and Lore response. They had every right to be mad, but Taylor didn’t take personal shots at them in his announcement. Moreover, Lore and ARod turned this from “Lore vs Taylor” to “Lore and all you MIN fans” vs Taylor. So yes, this sounds like Taylor trying to get the fans back. But ANY owner with this big of news could have told Woj, and why not throw a monkey wrench into MIN’s organization? I don’t care that much - the big beneficiary for keeping ARod and Lore’s plans secret were ARod and Lore.

To me, some people have a “how can I blame Taylor for this?!!” knee-jerk reaction to anything negative. But even if Taylor delivered the news, it’s ARod and Lore who want to gut he team next year. It’s shocking, but it’s their choice. This news doesn’t come out if their plan with the NBA and Carlisle is to pay lux taxes and maintain our championship-level team.

[BlacJacMac]

We can't have nice things...

Read on Twitter

[frankenwolf]

This whole thing is ridiculous. None of this should be out for media consumption, but that is the way the world is now. Yes, A/L had a projection to cut payroll AS ONE POSSIBILITY. Have any of us seen this report? Personally, I don't like Glen as the owner and thought A/L would bring in some fresh air. OTOH, Glen has said that he would pay for a winning team, he just never had a winning team to pay for and had no idea how to build one (evidence our 20 years of suffering since KG left).

I don't care who runs the team, as long as they are competent. Looks like, right now, we have the competent leadership and we have a very good team. The ownership battle will play out in arbitration and public opinion until the final judgement comes down. Let's enjoy this team as they HOWL to the championship!

[Mattya]

It’s gonna be funny seeing the Taylor defenders in here become pocket protectors this offseason when Taylor tries to reduce salary.

[shrink]

This whole thing is ridiculous. None of this should be out for media consumption, but that is the way the world is now. Yes, A/L had a projection to cut payroll AS ONE POSSIBILITY.

Read on Twitter

I have not read this is “one possibility.”

You don’t get financed by a capital group on “one possibility,” right?

The whole situation is sad.

[Texas Chuck]

It really surprises me how the majority of posters itt appear to have simply chose a side at the beginning of this and aren't even attempting to look at any of the news coming out. Just going to spin it to support the side I picked.

This sucks for you. Sucks, sucks sucks. But I think it would suck less for you if you tried to evaluate it on what's actually happening not on a rooting interest in one group or the other.

From the outside its been pretty clear the Lore group didn't have the money. All the evidence we get suggests they don't have the money. You can be mad the current guy is making that public, but it was known long before this. There has been plenty of reporting hinting at this for a long time.

Honestly your best hope is almost certainly this falls apart, and then Taylor finds a new governor prepared to keep the team in town. That shouldn't be an impossible task. But Lore/ARod taking over feels like a worst case scenario at this point. Just because the current guy hasn't been great doesn't mean the new ones are a panacea. Ask Kings fans about how pumped they were for Vivek just because he wasn't the Maloofs and then he proved to be not as broke, but somehow far more incompetent.

As a Mavs fan Cuban has plenty of flaws, but it was a remarkably successful tenure. Nervous as hell about these Vegas guys. Lots of Mavs fans had soured on Cuban for a variety of reasons, but not sure getting what they wanted is going to work out. We had Perot Jr who had non-basketball priorities and we are lucky we didn't lose our team. I'm not sure this new group is basketball focused either and that's scary scary.

Good luck and hope this has a happy ending. Or hope Ant/Gobert go crazy and you win the West(the whole thing?) this year and then who cares what happens with this mess. You got one.