Basketball Wiretap

Chris Finch To Have Patellar Tendon Surgery Wednesday

Apr 30, 2024 9:50 AM

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch will have surgery for a ruptured right patellar tendon on Wednesday. Finch was injured near the end of the Timberwolves Game 4 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Minnesota guard Mike Conley collided with Finch on a play near the sideline.

Finch's status to be on the bench for Game 1 of the Wolves second round series against the Denver Nuggets is unknown. Finch may have to coach the game from the locker room, sending his plans to the assistants on the bench. Minnesota is expecting their coach to be able to travel to Denver for Game 1, barring any unexpected complications.

Finch led the Timberwolves to the second-most wins they've had in regular season franchise history. Minnesota's sweep of the Suns was only the second time in which the team has won a first round series.

Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Injury

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Lakers 'Very Open' To Adding Bronny James Next Season

Apr 30, 2024 8:20 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers are "very open" to adding Bronny James to their roster next season and could potentially draft him.

Bronny James is evaluating his options after his freshman season at USC, which includes declaring for the draft or transferring to another school. Bronny was a projected lottery pick in the 2024 NBA draft before his cardiac arrest and disappointing freshman season with USC. Bronny was moved by ESPN from the lottery in 2024 to the second round in 2025 in their mock drafts.

LeBron James is expected to be a free agent this offseason and has spoken about his desire to play on the same team as Bronny in the NBA.

Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Tags: Bronny James, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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LeBron James Expected To Play Up To Two More Seasons, Lakers Could Offer Max Three-Year, $164M Deal

Apr 30, 2024 2:06 AM

LeBron James is expected to play up to two more seasons in the NBA, sources told Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

The Lakers are open to offering James any deal to return, including a three-year, $164 million max extension.

James has a $51.4 million player option for next season.

The Lakers are also open to the idea of drafting Bronny James.

James' relationship with Jeanie Buss is described as being "better than ever."

Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, Sam Amick/The Athletic

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

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Darvin Ham's Future As Lakers Head Coach In 'Serious Peril'

Apr 30, 2024 1:55 AM

Darvin Ham's future as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers is in "serious peril," according to Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

Some close to the organization have indicated that Ham's return next season is highly unlikely.

The Lakers plan to reassess the season over the next couple of days before reaching a decision.

Ham made several decisions throughout the season that caused doubt within the Lakers. For example, Ham benching Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell during a losing streak after the In-Season Tournament did not sit well with players nor the organization.

There was a sense that Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish were allowed to play through their mistakes, unlike Reaves, Russell, and Rui Hachimura.

Many within the Lakers felt that Ham rarely blamed his own schemes, game plans, or rotations.

Ham signed a four-year contract with the Lakers in 2022.

Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mitchell Robinson Questionable, Bojan Bogdanovic Out For Game 5

Apr 30, 2024 1:33 AM

Mitchell Robinson is questionable with a left ankle injury for Game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Bojan Bogdanovic will miss the game due to a foot contusion.

Jalen Brunson is probable with a right knee contusion.

The Knicks are up 3-1 in the series. 

SNY

Tags: Mitchell Robinson, Bojan Bogdanovic, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Spurs, Pacers To Play Two Regular Season Games In Paris

Apr 30, 2024 1:27 AM

The NBA Paris Games 2025 will take place between the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers on January 23 and 25, the league announced on Monday.

This will be the third and fourth games in Paris for the Spurs, though they have not played in France since 2006.

The Pacers have never played in France. 

ESPN

Tags: Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, NBA

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NBC In Advanced Talks With NBA On $2.5B Per Season Media Rights Deal

Apr 29, 2024 11:02 PM

Comcast’s NBCUniversal is prepared to pay an average of about $2.5 billion per season to air a package of NBA games.

Warner Bros. Discovery, parent company of TNT, has paid an average fee of $1.2 billion per season under its current deal. WBD has the right to match any third-party offer.

NBC's package would include two regular season nights per week and playoff games. NBC could also air games on its Peacock streaming platform.

ESPN is expected to pay an average of $2.6 billion, which is up from $1.5 billion from its current deal.

Amazon is also expected to partner with the NBA for media rights.

Joe Flint, Amol Sharma, IsabellÄ… Simonetti//Wall Street Journal

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Kristaps Porzingis Leaves Game 4 With Calf Tightness, Celtics Optimisic Achilles Wasn't Injured

Apr 29, 2024 9:34 PM

Kristaps Porzingis left Game 4 of the Boston Celtics' first round series against the Miami Heat with a non-contact injury.

The Celtics publicly announced Porzingis was doubtful to return with right calf tightness.

Sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the early indications are Porzingis did not sustain an injury to his Achilles. 

When a player tears his Achilles, it is typically a fairly obvious immediate diagnosis. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Injury

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Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard Could Both Miss Game 5

Apr 29, 2024 6:04 PM

The status of Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf strain) and Damian Lillard (Achilles tendon strain) is in doubt for Game 5 as the Milwaukee Bucks face a potential elimination.

Antetokounmpo has missed the entire series with the injury, while Lillard missed Game 4.

The Bucks trail the Indiana Pacers 3-1 in the first round series.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Tristan Da Silva Declares For 2024 NBA Draft

Apr 29, 2024 3:49 PM

Tristan Da Silva has declared for the 2024 NBA draft. 

Da Silva is a projected top-20 pick in the draft coming off his senior season at Colorado.

In 34 games last season, Da Silva averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 34.0 minutes per game.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Tristan Da Silva, Colorado Buffaloes, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Kevin Durant Eligible To Extend With Suns Beginning July 8th

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Jayden Quaintance Commits To Arizona State

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Dunc'd On: The Weekend Game 4s

RealGM Staff Report

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 28): Knicks/Sixers, Clippers/Mavs, Pacers/Bucks, Wolves/Suns

RealGM Staff Report

Karl-Anthony Towns Calls Anthony Edwards 'The Face Of The League'

NBA TV

Luka Doncic On Kyrie Irving: I Feel Like I'm Letting Him Down

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Joel Embiid Disappointed At Number Of Knicks Fans In Philadelphia

Fred Katz/The Athletic

Kevin Durant Never Felt Comfortable With Suns Offense

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Suns To Take 'Hard Look' At Coaching Change; James Jones Expected To Remain As GM

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Chris Finch Feared To Have Torn Patellar Tendon In Knee

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Frank Vogel Says He Has 'Full Support' Of Mat Ishbia

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Mark Daigneault Wins Coach Of The Year Award

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

RealGM Radio: Jared Dubin On The First Round And Anthony Slater On The Warriors (Apr 2024)

RealGM Staff Report

Kawhi Leonard Out For Game 4, Status For Remainder Of Series In Doubt

Ohm Youngmisuk/ESPN

Bojan Bogdanovic Playing Through Left Wrist Injury

Mike Scotto/HoopsHype

Hornets Interested In Hiring Brock Aller For Front Office Role

Ian Begley/SNY

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard Out For Game 4

RealGM Staff Report

Mavs GM Nico Harrison: We're Built For The Next Three Playoff Runs

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 27): Magic/Cavs, Thunder/Pelicans, Celtics/Heat, Lakers/Nuggets

RealGM Staff Report

Christian Wood Available For Lakers For Game 4

Dave McMenamin/ESPN