May 2024 Basketball Wiretap

Bulls Hire Wes Unseld Jr As Assistant Coach

May 18, 2024 12:00 PM

The Chicago Bulls are hiring Wes Unseld Jr. as an assistant coach. Unseld will be the top assistant on Billy Donovan's staff in Chicago.

Unseld was the Washington Wizards head coach for the past two-and-a-half years, before he was let go midway through this past season. Prior to that, Unseld was one of Michael Malone's top assistants for six seasons with the Denver Nuggets. Unseld has also worked as an assistant coach for the Wizards, Golden State Warriors and the Orlando Magic.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Cavaliers Could Look At Trading Jarrett Allen

May 18, 2024 9:54 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers are facing a summer of uncertainty. Donovan Mitchell is extension-eligible, as is Evan Mobley. Darius Garland may ask for a trade if Mitchell extends. Now, we can add Cleveland potentially looking at breaking up their big men too.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast that the Cavs may look at possible trades for Jarrett Allen. The team's starting center missed the end of Cleveland first-round victory over the Orlando Magic due to an injury with his ribs. Allen then missed the entirety of the Cavs five-game loss to the Boston Celtics in the second round.

Allen averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game this season. Those numbers are in range of when Allen was named an All-Star in 2023.

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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James Jones: Suns Won't Break Up Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal Trio

May 18, 2024 9:29 AM

James Jones believes in the roster he's built for the Phoenix Suns. So much so, that despite facing second apron restrictions, Jones shut down any talk that he'd break up his big three. Jones said there is no scenario in which the Suns would trade Kevin Durant, Devin Booker or Bradley Beal this offseason.

Phoenix has over $194 million in guaranteed salary committed to just seven players for next season. The second apron is projected to be set at $189.5 million. That means the Suns will have several restrictions for filling out the rest of their roster. Phoenix can re-sign their own free agents, sign their own draft picks, sign players to minimum contracts, and make heavily restricted trades.

The Suns are expected to be in a similar situation through next summer, as well. Durant's contract runs out after the 2025-26 season. At that point, Phoenix may see start to see some wiggle room under the tax aprons and maybe even the tax itself.

John Gambadoro/Arizona Sports 98.7 FM

Tags: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Pelicans Could Bid For Donovan Mitchell

May 18, 2024 9:17 AM

On the latest episode of The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN's Zach Lowe talked about teams that could be interested in trading for Donovan Mitchell. If Mitchell declines an extension, the thought is that the Cleveland Cavaliers will look to trade him before free agency in the summer of 2025.

Teams expected to be interested include the usual suspects like the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets. The has been some speculation that the Houston Rockets could also join that group. Lowe added the New Orleans Pelicans as a team to watch, should Mitchell hit the trade market.

New Orleans has hit a bit of a crossroads. Brandon Ingram has one year left on his contract. He's extension-eligible and could be looking for a max deal. The Cavs don't have a player with Ingram's skill/size combo at the forward spot. The Pelicans don't have a scoring guard quite like Mitchell, but do have some forward depth. That could make the two teams natural trade partners.

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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NBA Has More Confidence In NBC's Financial Solvency As Talks With TNT Continue

May 18, 2024 8:12 AM

Warner Bros. Discovery continues to have discussions with the NBA about retaining is media rights deal amid a competing offer from NBC worth $2.5 billion per year. While the NBA could renew with TNT as the incumbent, that is considered unlikely.

The NBA will likely sign papers with NBC and hat would trigger a contractual option for WBD to match. Both the NBA and WBD have reviewed legal language to determine whether a match right is legally in place. The language is believed to be vague where it is unclear if the NBA could walk away. The two sides could be headed toward a lawsuit.

WBD has a market valuation of about $20 billion and an enterprise value of about $60 billion, including $43.2 billion of gross debt, as of the end of the company’s fiscal first quarter. The NBA is more comfortable NBC can pay what would amount to more than double the previous price for the package. WBD had been paying $1.2 billion per year.

The NBA's new media rights deals with ESPN/ABC, Amazon and either NBC or TNT will triple from $24 billion over nine seasons to $76 billion or more over 11 seasons.

Alex Sherman/CNBC

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 17): Pacers/Knicks

May 18, 2024 7:55 AM

What happened in one snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Friday, May 17, 2024.

 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 16): Wolves/Nuggets

May 18, 2024 7:54 AM

What happened in one snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 15): Celtics/Cavs, Mavericks/Thunder

May 18, 2024 7:52 AM

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 14): Knicks/Pacers, Nuggets/Wolves

May 18, 2024 7:50 AM

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, May 14 2024.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 13): Celtics/Cavaliers, Thunder/Mavericks

May 18, 2024 7:39 AM

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Monday, May 13, 2024.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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Josh Hart Leaves Game 6 With Abdominal Soreness

RealGM Staff Report

Suns Expected To Hire Matt Tellem For Front Office Role

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Mike Budenholzer Talks About Dream Job With Suns, Need To Add Point Guard

ESPN

Kristaps Porzingis Expected To Miss First Two Games Of East Finals

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Raptors Plan To Trade Bruce Brown Jr. In Offseason

Doug Smith/Toronto Star

Dunc'd On: MIN/DEN Game 6; The Free Agent Centers

RealGM Staff Report

Hollinger & Duncan: Playoffs Week 4: The CRUCIBLE 2024

RealGM Staff Report

Zach Edey On NBA Future: I'm Going To Stick To Who I Am

Mike Vorkunov/The Athletic

Jazz Interested In Working Out Bronny James

Krysten Peek/Yahoo! Sports

Wizards Hire Michael Hartman For Strategy & Analytics Department

Mike Vorkunov/The Athletic

Paolo Banchero: Magic Front Office Wants To Add Two-Way Players

Ben Golliver/Washington Post

Donovan Mitchell: I'm Happy In Cleveland, I Know I've Got Decision To Make This Offseason

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

OG Anunoby Out For Game 6 With Hamstring Injury

Ian Begley/SNY.tv

Luka Doncic: This Team Is Special

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tyrese Maxey Wins 23-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award

RealGM Staff Report

DeMar DeRozan Wants To Return To Chicago

Run It Back/Fan Duel TV

Jarrett Allen Rib Injury Frustrated Members Within Cavs

Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, & Jason Lloyd/The Athletic

Evan Mobley's Agents Cautioned Cavs Against Drafting Him With Third Pick In 2021

Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, Jason Lloyd/The Athletic

Steph Curry Wins 2023-24 Magic Johnson Award

ESPN

Doc Rivers To Make 'Aggressive Push' To Add Sam Cassell To Bucks Coaching Staff

Marc Stein/The Stein Line