This is perhaps the most important moment for Alex Rodriguez during his entire ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team is on the verge of doing something memorable (though they are 3-1 in the series) and needs his support in every step. Fortunately for them, A-Rod knows a thing or two about winning and losing during pivotal moments. That has led to a bond being created between the owner and his squad, something which was once again visible after game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

After going down by 3 games, the Timberwolves came in with a vengeance against the Dallas Mavericks. With Alex Rodriguez and his girlfriend Jaclyn Cordeiro present there, the team put up a masterclass that proved too much for the Mavs. With a 105-100, the T-Wolves extended the series to game 4. No one was as happy as Rodriguez after the game.

The New York Yankees legend stood outside along with Cordeiro as one after the other players kept coming towards him. Rodriguez and Cordeiro couldn’t help but hug and congratulate the Timberwolves squad for its gutsy performance. Right when the entire league had written them off, the T-Wolves found a way to rise once again. As A-Rod’s Instagram account read – “Never give up, never surrender!”

This is an extremely important development for Alex Rodriguez. After all, while he’s engaged in an ownership battle, a winning team can strengthen his case with the fanbase. But while that is an important point, there are even more reasons why this series holds so much value for Rodriguez. He’s right in the middle of the “4-5 year window” when he says the team has to do something special.

Suddenly, the Timberwolves are filled with superstars and the payroll is getting high. As a result, a loss here would lead to another missed opportunity. And then a tough decision will be in front of A-Rod.

Alex Rodriguez’s financial suspense with the Minnesota Timberwolves 

One of the primary reasons given by Glen Taylor for canceling Rodriguez’s deal was taxes. The owner couldn’t believe that A-Rod and his partners would pay off taxes. Even though Taylor is notorious for being one of the most financially frugal owners, he didn’t trust Alex Rodriguez to fully take advantage of the young core present in the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Per Yahoo Sports, the Timberwolves have a $190.8 million guaranteed amount for nine players next season. That’s higher than the NBA’s proposed $171.3 million tax threshold. So the T-Wolves will have to pay $43.25 million in taxes just for these 9 players (imagine when they fill out a 15-man roster). Will A-Rod and his partner be able to do that? That decision can make or break Rodriguez’s relationship with the fan.