Would-be Timberwolves owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are 'not giving up'

DENVER – A day after Glen Taylor said he would remain the controlling owner of the Timberwolves and Lynx when a sale to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez fell through, Lore said he and Rodriguez would fight "with all means possible" to complete the last portion of the deal that would make them leaders of the franchise.

"We're going to own this team for the next 50 years, at least," Lore said. "We got a long road ahead of us, and we're going to fight it with all means possible. We're not giving up."

In a joint interview with the Star Tribune on Friday, both Lore and Rodriguez referred to Taylor's announcement Wednesday as a "nuclear bomb" that took them by surprise, since they thought they had fulfilled the necessary contractual obligations in completing the deal for another 40% of the franchise on top of the nearly 40% they already own.

But Friday, Rodriguez said he was "disgusted" and Lore said Thursday's announcement that Taylor was ending the sale of the team came with "disappointment and surprise" and that Taylor "blindsided" them. They said Taylor was not honoring the deal because the value of the franchise has gone up significantly and he can get more money than the agreed-upon gradual $1.5 billion sale of the team in 2021.

"It's just bad faith that you have a deal and a contract, and then because you're able to get more money, you just decide I don't want the contract anymore," Lore said. "That's just bad faith. It's not being a good person, a good partner, a good human. You just don't do that. It's sort of like honor. It's honor a little bit. You made a deal and then you honor it because you have integrity."

Added Rodriguez: "We woke up to this storm. I'm with my family. Marc's with his family. And it's just like, what the ... ? This is our partner."

As recently as a few days ago Lore and Rodriguez said they assumed everything was fine with Taylor and the sale; they said they texted Taylor, who also owns the Star Tribune, shortly after submitting financial paperwork to the league on March 21. Taylor replied thanking them. Now, Lore and Rodriguez say Taylor communicated to their lawyers that they can't come to Target Center, can't access the facilities or communicate with players and staff.

Taylor said he didn't send such a message and that Lore and Rodriguez still have access to facilities, budgets and team personnel "as any limited partners would."

"We told him we sent the paperwork in. He thanked us. Saw him at the game a couple days ago, him and [Taylor's wife] Becky, it was hugs and kisses and everything seemed great," Lore said. " … So we were just shocked why a partner, a friend would do something like that.

"Then to add insult to injury, to say you can't go in the family room, you can't talk to players. You can't talk to staff. You can't go over here, can't walk over there — just very disrespectful, we thought."

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