Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore Have Long To-Do List as New Timberwolves Owners

A Long, Contentious Process

The sale to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez was originally agreed upon in 2021, but disputes over financial deadlines led to arbitration.

An arbitration panel ultimately ruled in favor of Lore and Rodriguez, upholding their right to buy the team at the previously agreed-upon price of $1.5 billion. Although longtime owner Glen Taylor initially considered an appeal, he ultimately chose not to move forward and agreed to complete the sale. The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the deal, finalizing the transfer of ownership.

After 30 years under Glen Taylor, the Timberwolves are officially in new hands.

Taylor Was Historically Bad

Glen Taylor has long been regarded as one of the worst owners in professional sports, and under his leadership, the Timberwolves developed a reputation as one of the NBA’s most dysfunctional franchises. They hold the worst regular-season winning percentage in league history, having won just 41% of their games.

Taylor’s tenure was marked by poor decision-making, including questionable hires like David Kahn and Kevin McHale, and high-profile draft blunders. Most famously, selecting both Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn ahead of Stephen Curry in the 2009 NBA Draft. The Timberwolves have never reached the NBA Finals and, prior to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez’s involvement, had won only two playoff series in franchise history.

With the new ownership group now officially at the helm, there’s renewed hope among fans that the recent success can be sustained and built upon as the team chases its first Finals appearance and championship.

As the Timberwolves transition into this new era ahead of the 2025–26 season, here are a few priorities many fans hope Lore and Rodriguez will pursue.

Honor Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett, aka KG, or The Big Ticket, is unquestionably the greatest player in Timberwolves franchise history. Unfortunately, his longstanding feud with now-former owner Glen Taylor prevented him from being properly honored by the team.

With Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez now in charge, they should make it a priority to celebrate Garnett this upcoming season. That includes hosting a “KG Night,” retiring his iconic No. 21 jersey, and raising it to the rafters of Target Center. Plans for a statue outside a future new arena should also be put in motion to permanently honor the franchise’s all-time great.

Develop Plans for a New Arena

The Target Center, located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, has been home to the Timberwolves for nearly 35 years and is the second-oldest arena in the NBA. Its last major renovation took place almost a decade ago. Now, with the team’s recent success and a new ownership group in place, conversations around building a new arena have gained renewed momentum.

A major point of debate is whether the new arena should remain downtown or relocate to the suburbs. That will be the defining question for the franchise’s next chapter. At this point, it’s not a matter of if a new arena will be built, but when and where.

Retain Tim Connelly

Retaining Tim Connelly, one of the top executives in the NBA, should be a top priority for Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore.

Connelly’s tenure in Minnesota has been eventful and impactful. He made waves immediately with the blockbuster trade for Rudy Gobert. Though widely criticized at the time as a massive overpay, the deal has paid off. In the three seasons since acquiring Gobert, the Timberwolves have made the playoffs each year and reached the Western Conference Finals twice. That same season, Connelly orchestrated another key move, trading D’Angelo Russell in a deal that brought in Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, a clear win for the Wolves.

In addition to reshaping the roster, Connelly has also locked up core players to long-term deals, including Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert, and Julius Randle.

Following the season, Connelly told reporters, “I’m super happy here… It’s been great, not just working with the team, but this whole community really feels like home. I think you guys are stuck with me.” Ensuring Connelly remains in Minnesota would be a major step toward sustaining the franchise’s recent success.

Update Jerseys & Branding

When Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore were officially introduced as the new owners of the Timberwolves, they held a press conference where Rodriguez said, “We’ve done a lot of work in the background. I think our fan base is going to be very, very excited… Bringing back some of the history of the KG days is something we’re very aware is important to our fan base.”

This was a promising signal for the many Timberwolves fans who long for the team’s classic aesthetic. The fierce wolf logo peering through pine trees, and the iconic black, white, and blue jerseys trimmed with evergreens.

A few years ago, the team unveiled a throwback-inspired jersey that paid tribute to this era. Fans loved it, and it was widely considered one of the best looks the franchise has had in years.

If Rodriguez and Lore can successfully rebrand the team by blending those beloved retro elements with a modern identity, it would go a long way toward further energizing the fan base.

Ultimately, Timberwolves fans are hopeful this new ownership group will bring stronger leadership for both basketball and business, and—most importantly—a culture of winning.