'It'll be what it'll be': Marc Lore, A-Rod respond to possibility of Wolves move to the East

Would the Wolves move to the Eastern Conference if the NBA expands?

Apr 14, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx minority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez talk in the fourth quarter of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The Timberwolves' place in the NBA's Western Conference has always been confusing, as they're much closer to the majority of teams in the Eastern Conference rather than their own. Could they be on the verge of making the move to the East?

It seems inevitable that the NBA would like to expand at some point. Seattle and Las Vegas continue to be the two areas mentioned as potential expansion franchises — and if expansion happens, the Wolves would immediately become a potential candidate to join the East, alongside the Grizzlies and maybe the Pelicans.

New Timberwolves majority owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore were asked at an ESPN live show over on Saturday if they'd be interested in joining the Eastern Conference in the event that the league expands in the West.

"I think you got to be careful what you wish for. We're both East Coast guys, so there's some benefit on road games, for sure," Lore said. "It'll be what it'll be."

ESPN's Brian Windhorst mentioned Minnesota, Memphis and New Orleans as three teams that could join the East, largely because all three are located along the Mississippi River.

Lore and Rodriguez have made their willingness to make big changes well known since taking full ownership of the team. A move to the Eastern Conference would be a bit of a boost to Minnesota's chamionship hopes consider the West has been the deeper, more dangerous conference for the last two-plus decades.

In fact, since Michael Jordan's last title with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, the East has won the NBA championship just nine times compared to 18 titles in the West.