NBA Hall of Famer joins one of four groups bidding on Commanders

Getting rid of Dan Snyder may require a "Magic" act.

Per Sportico, NBA Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson joined a group led by Josh Harris that is bidding on the Washington Commanders franchise. An ESPN report notes Mitchell Rales, a billionaire from the D.C. area, joined the group last month, further bolstering the bid.

In 2011, he joined the winning group in the Los Angeles Dodgers sweepstakes and Sportico reports he's viewed as taking on a similar forward-facing role with this Commanders group. The Dodgers sold for over $2 billion, which makes the $50 million Johnson roughly 2.5 percent of the total cost, but that didn't stop him from becoming the most prominent member of Dodgers ownership.

Harris owns the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL's New Jersey Devils and was part of a failed bid along with Johnson for the Denver Broncos last season.

The other known interested party is Tilman Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets. Maybe James Harden won't be the only asset the 76ers and Rockets owners fight over this year.

Two other suitors remain anonymous, but regardless of who wins the right to turn around the NFL's worst-run franchise, things are trending toward a sale happening sooner rather than later.

According to Sportico's report, "After being relatively stagnant for the last few months, Commanders negotiations have progressed over the last week, and it's a possible a deal could be reached ahead of the NFL owners meetings ... at the end of the month."

Snyder was named in a suit filed by Washington D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine last year that alleges Snyder, the NFL and Roger Goodell conspired to downplay the extent of the organization's various workplace transgressions for financial gain.

That by itself should be enough to force Snyder to sell the franchise. But pair it with the team's poor facilities and his failure at securing funding for a new stadium, it's difficult to think of one redeeming aspect of his run as team owner. 

Snyder's initial asking price was $7 billion, per reports. He could be disappointed in the final number if Sportico's valuation ($4.78 billion) is more accurate. Should he decide not to accept an offer, other owners could force him to sell by a 24-to-8 vote, which has never happened in the history of the league.

Now that would be an act of magic.