The Minnesota Timberwolves’ sale to a group led by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez was officially confirmed by the NBA’s Board of Governors on Tuesday, and they were quick to reassure fans about one significant thing.
In an interview with Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Lore was adamant that he and Rodriguez have no plans to relocate the Timberwolves from Minnesota. Rumors that the team could eventually be moved have never completely gone away, in part because of uncertainty regarding the future of Target Center.
“In the start-up world, I’ve always been driven by the mission, not the money,” Lore said. “And mercenaries are driven by money. And I think anybody who would even contemplate moving the team is clearly a mercenary. The only reason would be for money, right? And that’s just not us.
“We love the idea of Minnesota history and playing a part in that history. To move it and start over would be devastating to not only the community and the fans, but us as well. It’s not consistent with our value system.”
Lore and Rodriguez purchased the team from former owner Glen Taylor, though there was some legal wrangling over the sale after Taylor tried to back out.
One of Taylor’s concerns was whether the new owners would spend enough to keep the team competitive. That concern may still linger, but it certainly does sound like they plan to remain in Minnesota for years to come.
