Inside The Vikings

Vikings Owners Have Emerged As "Serious Candidate" to Buy Timberwolves

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Wilf family could potentially land another team in town.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Owners Have Emerged As "Serious Candidate" to Buy Timberwolves
Vikings Owners Have Emerged As "Serious Candidate" to Buy Timberwolves

The Wilf family – Zygi, Mark, and Leonard Wilf, owners of the Minnesota Vikings – have emerged as a serious candidate to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sportico's Scott Soshnick reported that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is looking to sell the team, and had retained The Raine Group to facilitate the deal.

"There are several parties who have bid on the team, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. A deal could be completed within a month, one of the people said."

Another thing adding intrigue to this story is that Kevin Garnett – along with a group of investors – is among those interested in buying the team. Garnett, who is the best player in franchise history, confirmed his interest with posts on Instagram and Twitter.

Taylor has owned the Timberwolves since 1994, when he purchased the franchise for $88 million. Forbes currently values the team at $1.38 billion, and Taylor reportedly is seeking at least $1.2 billion in a sale.

Taylor and Garnett had a falling-out in 2015 over a miscommunication. Garnett thought that he would take over ownership of the team following his retirement, perhaps having been told as much by former head coach and executive Flip Saunders. Saunders died that year, Taylor retained ownership, and Garnett hasn't been on speaking terms with Taylor since. That's seen as the main reason why the franchise's greatest player hasn't had his jersey retired in Minnesota to date.

The Wilfs, who also own a minority stake in MLS franchise Nashville SC, have owned the Vikings since 2005. They helped the Vikings move from the Metrodome into U.S. Bank Stadium and also got a new training facility built during the 2010s.

This would be a very interesting development. 

Update: The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski is reporting that the Wilfs are not "currently engaged on buying the team."

"Sources tell @TheAthleticMIN that the Raine Group approached the Vikings to inquire about interest purchasing the Wolves a few months ago," Krawczynski tweeted. "There were initial discussions, but there are no active talks with the Wilfs/Vikings about the Wolves at this time."

"Sources also tell @TheAthleticMIN that the Vikings ownership group very much wants the Wolves to stay in Minnesota. But the Vikings are not currently engaged on buying the team. As always, things can change quickly but that’s where things stand now."

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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