Another name has entered the mix to buy the Washington Commanders.
According to Sportico’s Scott Soshnick and Eben Nova-Williams, Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has joined the bidding group alongside Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris to buy the Washington Commanders.
Johnson is “providing both money and expertise to the Commanders bid,” according to Sportico. It’s unclear how much capital Johnson is contributing.
This wouldn’t be the first time Magic and Harris have teamed up to try and buy a team. The two former a bidding group for the Denver Broncos before the franchise was sold to the Walton-Penner family in August.
Since retiring from the NBA back in 1996, Johnson has been involved in several business ventures and has done quiet well for himself. He is apart of the ownership group that owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and invested in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and MLS’ Los Angeles FC.
Additionally, Johnson “has franchised movie theaters, Starbucks stores, fast food and gyms,” according to Sportico.
Harris, the managing partner of the 76ers and co-managing partner of the Devils, has a stake in Premier League side Crystal Palace. He also owns the Prudential Center, where the Devils play.
Danaher co-founder Mitchell Rales is also among those in Harris’ bidding group for the Commanders, per Sportico. Harris has a net worth of $5.7 billion, per Forbes, and Rales has a net worth of $5.5 billion.
The Commanders are expected to be sold this offseason after owners Daniel and Tanya Snyder hired Bank of America to consider a transaction in November amid investigations into an alleged toxic workplace environment and financial improprieties.
The Snyders “cleared out of the team’s facility in advance of the sale of the team,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported March 16.
Daniel Snyder purchased the Commanders for $800 million in 1999. The team is now valued at $5.6 billion, according to Forbes.
