Chip Scoggins: The Timberwolves and Lynx may have a new owner. But they shouldn't have a new plan.

Chip Scoggins, Star Tribune on Aug 22, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves and Lynx have a new majority owner. The good news is we don’t have to learn a new first name.

One Marc is stepping back, a new Marc is stepping forward.

Based on the way the organization is spinning what otherwise would qualify as bombshell news, the introduction of a new controlling owner sounds more like a reshuffling than an indication of major changes forthcoming.

Marc Lore passed the billionaire’s baton to Marc Stad in what amounts to an expensive game of ownership karaoke.

Take it away, Marc S. The crowd is good and warm.

The real news can be found in the details, and it’s almost unfathomable.

The Minnesota freaking Timberwolves are being sold at a $4.5 billion valuation. That’s with a B. That means, if my math is correct, the Vikings are worth roughly one gazillion dollars.

These aren’t Isaiah Rider and David Kahn’s Wolves.

The team being valued at $4.5 billion is a reminder of why wealthy folks jump at the opportunity to become professional sports owners. Yeah, it’s cool, good for the ego and intoxicating when it involves winning a championship.

It’s also a gold mine of an investment.

Lore and Alex Rodriguez agreed to purchase the Wolves/Lynx from Glen Taylor for $1.5 billion back in 2021. The organization’s valuation has tripled essentially in the span of Anthony Edwards’ career.

Even more eye-opening, the Wolves are a relative bargain by NBA standards. CNBC ranks the Wolves 29th out of 30 teams in valuation.

The Lakers were valued at $10 billion when Mark Walter acquired control in 2025 and $12.5 billion when the franchise changed hands again roughly a year later.

Perhaps this will become a new hobby for the ultrarich. Flipping houses became an industry that found viewership on cable TV. This could be the next reality show: “Flipping Franchises.”

The sticker surprise attached to the Wolves sale underscores the global popularity of the NBA built on the marketing of its superstars. The Wolves have never been more popular locally or anywhere thanks to Edwards’ megawatt personality and talent, combined with the team’s recent playoff success.

The name at the top of the Wolves organizational flowchart changes, but the same expectations remain in place for Stad:

— Commit to staying in Minnesota now and forever.

— Hire great people, trust them to do the job.

— Spend money and invest in the product to provide the best support in the pursuit of a championship.

— Sign President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly to a long-term contract.

The Wolves have become a reputable, well-run operation under the guidance of Connelly, who is in the final season of his contract, and coach Chris Finch. The Lynx remain a model organization in the WNBA under Cheryl Reeve’s leadership.

Stad steps into an ideal situation, one that he already understands.

His background as a minority investor in Lore’s ownership group is a critical part of this transaction. He already knows the inner workings of the operation. He knows the people, and they know him. Continuity is a word that will be mentioned quite often by Wolves officials during this transition.

Stad presumably will have his own style and his own thoughts on issues facing the team, but this doesn’t feel like a looming shake-up.

Meanwhile, Lore will fade into the background to focus on other business after lowering his investment stake in the teams. His tenure in charge was rather brief. His return on investment, though, says he did quite well for himself.