May 2024 Basketball Wiretap

23-24 All-NBA Teams: Tatum Takes Last First Team Spot; Edwards, Haliburton Qualify For 30% Max

May 22, 2024 8:00 PM

The All-NBA teams or the 23-24 season have been announced, headlined by Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic.

Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton were also notable selections as they will each get 30 percent of the cap on their rookie scale extensions.

All-NBA First Team
Nikola Jokic
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Luka Doncic
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jayson Tatum

All-NBA Second Team
Jalen Brunson
Anthony Davis
Kevin Durant
Anthony Edwards
Kawhi Leonard

All-NBA Third Team
Devin Booker
Stephen Curry
Tyrese Haliburton
LeBron James
Domantas Sabonis

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Tags: NBA, NBA Award

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NBA Salary Cap Likely To Eclipse $200M By 28-29

May 22, 2024 2:57 PM

With the NBA set to begin new media rights deals at more than $7 billion per season in 25-26, the salary cap will increase significantly over the coming seasons.

However, the NBA and NBPA agreed to only increase the salary cap by 10 percent per season.

With a 10 percent increase per season, the salary cap will top $200 million beginning in the 28-29 season. The supermax that season at 35 percent of the cap will have a starting salary of $72 million and be worth $419 million over five seasons. The fifth-year salary on that supermax contract will be worth $95 million as the NBA approaches the point where some players earn nine figures per season by the 33-34 season.

Keith Smith/Spotrac

Tags: NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher Emerge As Probable Top-2 Picks In 2024 NBA Draft

May 22, 2024 2:21 PM

While the top of the 2024 NBA draft remains fluid, there is a growing belief among rival teams that Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher have emerged as the probable top-2 selections in some order by the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards.

"Many around the league expect the Hawks to select Sarr with the top pick, as there are compelling reasons to consider him the best prospect in this class with his elite physical tools, mobility, defensive versatility, finishing ability and potential as a perimeter shooter," writes Jonathan Givony in his post-combine mock draft.

Sarr could fit alongside Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu in the frontcourt as the Hawks are expected to largely remake the rest of their roster. 

The Wizards at No. 2 are expected to select Sarr if he is not selected at No. 1, or Risacher. 

Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo/ESPN

Tags: Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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LeBron James Has Yet To Make Decision On $51.4M Option With Lakers

May 22, 2024 1:21 PM

LeBron James has yet to make a decision on his $51.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 24-25 season, sources tell The Athletic.

James can opt-in or he can opt-out and become a free agent. If James were to have interest in playing for another team, the opt-in could be attractive as it would allow him to maintain his salary via trade. There are a limited number of teams with sufficient cap space to sign James to a contract anywhere close to his $51.4 million option.

James is expected to play up to two more seasons in the NBA.

Jovan Buha, Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Tyronn Lue, Clippers Have Yet To Make Progress In Extension Talks

May 22, 2024 12:03 PM

Tyronn Lue is set to enter the final season of his current contract with the Los Angeles Clippers in 24-25 if an extension isn't reached this offseason. Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns had interest in Lue, but it was made clear that the Clippers wouldn't entertain letting him out of his contract.

The Clippers would like to extend Lue, but those conversations reportedly haven't progressed.

"They want to extend him," said Shams Charania. "To my knowledge, right there hasn't been any progress in those conversations."

Over the past year, the NBA has seen a large increase in contract values for head coaches from Monty Williams and Gregg Popvoich to Erik Spoelstra and Steve Kerr with top coaches making more than $10 million per season.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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WBD's David Zaslav Entered Negotiations With NBA Bargaining Harder Than ESPN

May 22, 2024 10:33 AM

TNT is on the verge of losing the NBA after the 24-25 season with Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal reporting on how Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav mishandled negotiations with the league.

While ESPN was firm on wanting to retain the "A" package and not letting it go to the open market by doubling its old rights fees from $1.4 billion per season to $2.8 billion, Zaslav believed he would only have to pay between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion to retain the "B" package and refused to double it to $2.4 billion.

WBD entered negotiations believing they could ultimately match any offer the NBA received for the package, but the league's contention is they cannot necessarily match it on a dollar-for-dollar basis. 

The NBA subsequently agreed to a $2.6 billion deal with NBC that virtually make it impossible for TNT to equal.

WBD is believed to be preparing to sue the NBA over the issue. 

Tom Friend/Sports Business Journal

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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NBA Finalizing $7B+ Per Season Media Rights Contracts With ESPN, NBC, Amazon This Week

May 22, 2024 10:08 AM

The NBA is formalizing media rights contracts with ESPN, NBC and Amazon this week with sources telling the Sports Business Journal that it is the final stage of negotiations. Deals with the three providers are expected to return over $7 billion per year for the NBA.

ESPN will pay $2.8 billion annually, which is up from an initially reported $2.6 billion for the NBA's "A" package. That package includes the NBA Finals, a conference final, weekly primetime games, the WNBA and likely shared international rights.

NBC's "B" package is believed to be worth $2.6 billion annually would probably include a "Basketball Night in America" on Sunday nights following the NFL season, a total of two primetime windows a week, conference semifinals and a conference final. 

Amazon's deal is believed to be worth between $1.8B and $2B and would likely include the Emirates In-Season Tournament, the SoFi Play-In Tournament, first-round playoff games, the WNBA and international rights.

The final changes to the deals have been fluid and changing, but expected to be finalized in the coming days or week. Once the written bids are ratified, the NBA will take NBC's contract to Warner Bros. Discovery to see if they can match it in "total value."

WBD may enact legal action over the rights. It's believed that the TNT parent company could contest its right to match the NBC deal. The NBA and WBD apparently have different definitions of what matching a deal would consist of.

Tom Friend/Sports Business Journal

Tags: NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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Jalen Brunson, Bojan Bogdanovic Undergo Successful Surgeries

May 22, 2024 9:22 AM

The New York Knicks announced that Jalen Brunson and Bojan Bogdanovic have both undergone successful surgeries for their respective injuries.

Brunson had surgery on a fractured left hand. He'll be re-evaluated in six-to-eight weeks. This injury and subsequent surgery will likely keep Brunson from being a potential injury replacement for Team USA at the Summer Olympics.

Bogdanovic underwent surgery for ligament damage in his left wrist. Bogdanovic is also recovering from surgery on his left foot. He'll be re-evaluated in six-to-eight weeks after the wrist surgery. Bogdanovic is likely to miss the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in early-July for the Croatian National Team.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Jalen Brunson, Bojan Bogdanovic, New York Knicks, Croatia, NBA, NBA Injury, National, National Olympics, National Teams

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LaMelo Ball, Hornets Being Sued After Accident Broke Fan's Foot

May 22, 2024 9:11 AM

A Charlotte-area family is suing LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets, after Ball drove over and broke a young fan's foot. The incident occurred in early-October at the Hornets Purple and Teal fan event.

Angell Joseph, at the time 11 years old, approached Ball's car to ask him for an autograph. Ball didn't respond nor sign anything, and then drove off. In the course of doing so, he drove over Joseph's foot, which left the young fan with a broken foot.

The family would have attempted to work through insurance, but the police report from the incident was missing information identifying Ball and his insurer. The family is also suing the Hornets for not providing enough measure to protect fans at the event.

Jason Stoogenke/WSOC TV

Tags: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 7 Averages 8.41M Viewers

May 22, 2024 1:17 AM

Game 7 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets averaged a 4.1 rating with 8.41 million viewers across TNT and truTV.

The numbers represent the largest audience ever for an early round playoff game in TNT history.

It is also the most-watched game of the NBA season.

The game peaked with 11.3 million viewers, making it the fourth most-watched early round playoff game since 2012.

Game 7 between the Knicks and Pacers earlier in the day averaged a 3.4 rating with 6.45 million viewers on ABC, down 11% from last year. 

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Mike Conley Questionable For Game 1 With Right Soleus Strain

Minnesota Timberwolves

Kristaps Porzingis Could Return From Calf Injury By Game 4

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Jalen Brunson Open To Signing Four-Year, $156M Extension With Knicks

Steve Popper/Newsday

Stephon Castle Moving Up Spurs' Draft Board

Kelly Iko/The Athletic

Rockets Monitoring Potential Trade For Donovan Mitchell

Kelly Iko/The Athletic

Rudy Gobert, Victor Wembanyama Healdine 23-24 NBA All-Defensive Teams

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Magic Interested In D'Angelo Russell

Kelly Iko/The Athletic

Devin Booker Not Interested In Requesting Trade From Suns

Zach Lowe/ESPN

LeBron James Undecided On Player Option For Next Season

Jovan Buha and Shams Charania/The Athletic

Lakers 'Infatuated' With Idea Of Hiring JJ Redick

Jovan Buha and Shams Charania/The Athletic

Nets Add Connor Griffin, Deividas Dulkys To Coaching Staff

Michael Scotto/HoopsHype

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 19): Pacers/Knicks, Wolves/Nuggets

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 18): Mavericks/Thunder

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Wolves Received Waiver From NBA To Wear Throwbacks For Games 6, 7

Jon Krawczynski/The Athletic

Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren Headline 23-24 NBA All-Rookie Teams

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Teams Monitoring Potential Trade Availability Of Julius Randle

Shams Charania/The Athletic

LeBron James Reportedly Not Involved In Lakers' Coaching Search

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Knicks Enter Offseason With Goal Of Trading For Big Star

Fred Katz/The Athletic

Nikola Jokic: Wolves 'Built To Beat Us'

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Dunc'd On: MIN/DEN and IND/NYK Game 7s

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