Glen Taylor’s Bold Move: Subpoenas NBA in Bitter Timberwolves Ownership Battle
The ownership struggle for the Minnesota Timberwolves rages on, with Glen Taylor resorting to an unusual tactic to keep control. According to Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams and Michael McCann, Taylor plans to subpoena the NBA in a bid to invalidate a $1.5 billion sale agreement with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez.
The agreement, initially struck in May 2021, was scrapped just before finalization on March 28. Taylor has accused Lore and Rodriguez of breaching the agreement, though the two partners dispute these allegations.
A mediation session failed to resolve the dispute, and an arbitration hearing is set for November. While NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated that the league has “no role” in the matter, subpoenas could force the NBA to reveal confidential communications, including emails, texts, and social media exchanges with the Timberwolves. This could pose a significant risk to the NBA if sensitive information is disclosed.
The Timberwolves’ ownership saga has already seen various details emerge ahead of the arbitration hearing. Rodriguez and Lore had anticipated NBA approval following Taylor’s cancellation of the sale, with the agreement allowing for a 90-day extension. Taylor argues that a “limited extension” could have been granted under certain conditions, which he claims were not met.
Even if Taylor and Lore win the arbitration, they would still need approval from the NBA Board of Governors for the sale to proceed. This complex and protracted battle has been unfolding for three years and may reveal more twists before a final resolution is reached.
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