Has Magic Johnson legitimized one potential Commanders ownership bid?

Has basketball legend Magic Johnson legitimized the potential bid from Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales to buy the Washington Commanders?

Another day, another twist to the potential Washington Commanders’ ownership race as Dan Snyder gets set to pack his bags and leave town at long last.

It’s been a long, drawn-out saga as anticipated. There seems to be a new report with every passing hour, but despite the sale being imminent according to multiple analysts, nothing officially has emerged as yet.

This looks like a foregone conclusion. The fact Snyder has pushed back bonus payments on recent contracts according to Ben Standig of The Athletic adds further fuel to the fire regarding something being announced sooner rather than later.

Perhaps the frontrunner right now is the power couple of Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales, who’ve joined forces in pursuit of giving Snyder what he wants. And a recent revelation from Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico adds another layer of legitimacy to their quest for the Commanders.

Magic Johnson reportedly joins group looking to buy the Commanders

The writers reported that Earvin Magic Johnson has joined the consortium led by Harris and Rales. This is a power play similar to what Jeff Bezos was said to be planning with Jay-Z, although Snyder is reportedly reluctant to relinquish power to this particular bidder, per the New York Post.

"“The former NBA star and notable sports investor was also part of (Josh) Harris’s failed bid for the NFL’s Denver Broncos last year. He is providing both money and expertise to the Commanders bid, said the people, who were granted anonymity because the details are private. The group is one of a handful still in talks with current owner Dan Snyder, who is exploring a possible sale amid numerous accusations and investigations into financial impropriety and a hostile work environment.”"

This is notable. Johnson has a history of running sports franchises after a glittering NBA career, which is an experience that should prove invaluable as Harris and Rales look to find their feet quickly if successful.

While this is positive news to a certain extent, fans are getting pretty tired of the rumors without much substance. They want Snyder gone. The NFL wants Snyder gone. Yet somehow, he still remains.

Nobody thought Snyder was going to make things easy. He’s asking for a lot – both in terms of money and confidentiality after a disgraceful end to his tenure, so having Johnson in the mix could speed up the process if Harris and Rales meet the projected asking price of between $6-7 billion.

Johnson at least comes from a sporting background, even if his net worth is just a drop in the ocean compared to what would be required. He’s not the major money man, but the Basketball Hall of Famer can smooth the ownership transition in the event Harris and Rales get the green light in the not-too-distant future.

Hopefully, this is the last rumor that surfaces before something becomes concrete. Something fans of this once-proud franchise have been waiting patiently for.

To put it mildly.