Alex Rodriguez's loss could turn out to be Arron Afflalo's gain. On a day in which the former baseball MVP learned that his ex-fiancee had chosen Ben Affleck over him–though there's no shame in losing to Batman–Rodriguez also saw his 30-day negotiating period with Timberwolves owner Glenn Taylor expire. No longer in possession of that exclusive window, former NBA player and ownership hopeful Arron Afflalo reentered negotiations in an attempt to purchase the Timberwolves, according to a report by Marc Stein of the New York Times.
A-Rod's day really couldn't get any worse.
NBA veteran Arron Afflalo, who is heading an ownership group that has pursued the Minnesota Timberwolves for 10 months, told @NYTSports he plans to launch a renewed purchase bid now that Glen Taylor's exclusive negotiating window with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez has expired.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 11, 2021
While the 11-year pro is estimated to have earned north of $57 million over the course of his career, the former UCLA product was the public face of an ownership group backed by venture capitalist Brock Berglund. Though the group has yet to enter into direct negotiations with Taylor, Berglund's estimated net worth of $10 billion means that Afflalo and company should easily be able to afford the rumored $1.5 billion asking price the Wolves are expected to command.
However, despite the expiration of the exclusive negotiating period Rodriguez and financer Marc Lore had in place, the group is still believed to be in the pole position to secure the rights to the franchise after Taylor publicly declared he would sell the team to them last month. According to ESPN, the holdup is centered around the exact date Taylor would give up controlling interest in the franchise.
Given that Taylor also had an exclusive negotiating period with the Memphis Grizzlies minority owner Daniel Strauss late last year before the deal fell apart, it is not inconceivable that Rodriguez's group experience a similar falling out, regardless of their current confidence. Should a deal fall through, Aaron Afflalo looks ready to pounce.
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