MLB great Alex Rodriguez played with the Seattle Mariners for seven seasons before moving on to the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.
The 14-time All-Star and three-time MVP is now potentially looking at a return to Seattle. But it’s not what you might think. Rodriguez, 45, is on the verge of purchasing the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves from current owner Glen Taylor. If the sale is approved by the NBA Board of Governors, Alex Rodriguez and partner Marc Lore will gain full control in 2023.
There’s a certain level of significance to this, too. According to this note from Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press, Rodriguez could look to move the Timberwolves from Minnesota to Seattle.
“There’s buzz now that Kevin Garnett, who is said to be worth more than $200 million, will be heavily involved in the Timberwolves basketball department if he joins franchise investors Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore if/when they gain full control in 2023,” Walters reported. “The word is Garnett, the ex-Timberwolf, wants the franchise to remain in Minnesota but Rodriguez wants to move it to Seattle, where he played for seven seasons.”
The Kevin Garnett note is interesting in that he had previously headed a group looking to purchase the Timberwolves from Taylor. Unfortunately, a strained relationship between the two stopped said purchase in its tracks.
The aforementioned report notes that a rift could exist between Garnett and Rodriguez with the former wanting the Timberwolves to remain in Minnesota. With a net worth of $350 million, A-Rod would likely have more control over that decision than Garnett.
Can Alex Rodriguez move to the Minnesota Timberwolves to Seattle?
Contrary to previous reports, there’s no language in the sale that would prevent A-Rod from up and moving the T’Wolves to the Pacific Northwest. It’s a point of contention from a legal standpoint right now.
As for the NBA, it is said to be looking at expansion with Las Vegas joining Seattle as two potential host cities. Rodriguez moving the Timberwolves to Washington would pretty much enable Vegas to land an expansion team without the Association having to choose between the two cities.
It’s no surprise that Seattle is being looked at as a potential host city. It was back in 2008 that the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City and rebranded as the Thunder. It was one of the darkest days in modern Association history. Obviously, Commissioner Adam Silver and Co. are now looking to right that wrong.
While Taylor is adamant that the Timberwolves will not relocate once the sale is finalized, this is some troubling news for fans in the Twin Cities. The Wolves have played in Minnesota since entering the NBA as an expansion franchise back in 1989.
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