Basketball Wiretap

Spurs Don't See Trae Young As Fit Next To Victor Wembanyama

Apr 23, 2024 1:30 AM

The San Antonio Spurs do not see Trae Young as a fit next to Victor Wembanyama, sources told Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.

Helin adds that the Spurs could be interested in Dejounte Murray instead.

The Hawks are likely to trade one of either Young or Murray this summer, according to reports. 

The Spurs could also pursue Chris Paul in free agency.

Kurt Helin/NBC Sports

Tags: Trae Young, Victor Wembanyama, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Kawhi Leonard Questionable For Game 2 On Tuesday

Apr 23, 2024 1:11 AM

Kawhi Leonard is questionable for Tuesday night's Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks.

"He's going to go through practice today and we'll see," said head coach Ty Lue on Monday.

Leonard has missed the last nine games with inflammation in his right knee.

The Clippers are up 1-0 in the series. 

Ohm Youngmisuk/ESPN

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Jarred Vanderbilt Targets Game 3 Return

Apr 23, 2024 1:09 AM

Jarred Vanderbilt is looking to return to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup for Game 3 on Thursday, sources told ESPN.

Vanderbilt, who is out due to a right foot sprain, has been increasing his workout intensity over the last two weeks.

Vanderbilt and Christian Wood have not been cleared for Game 3, though the Lakers are hopeful that both will be back for Thursday.

The Lakers are down 2-0 in the series. 

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Jarred Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Kings-Pelicans Play-In Game Averages 2.57M Viewers

Apr 23, 2024 1:05 AM

Last Friday's Play-In Tournament game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings averaged 2.57 million viewers across TNT and truTV.

That number is a 2% increase from last year.

The lead-in game between the Bulls and Heat averaged 2.25 million viewers on ESPN.

Overall, this year's Play-In Tournament games averaged more than double the viewership of regular season games. 

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Tags: New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, NBA

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Sixers Plan To File Grievance With NBA Over Officiating In First Two Games At Knicks

Apr 22, 2024 11:19 PM

The Philadelphia 76ers plan to file a grievance with the NBA over the officiating across the first two games of their first round series against the New York Knicks, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

The Sixers trail New York 0-2 after the first two games.

New York was trailing Philadelphia by five points with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game when Jalen Brunson bounced in a three-pointer. Josh Hart then stole the ball from Tyrese Maxey with ball eventually finding its way to Donte DiVincenzo who missed a three-pointer, but Isaiah Hartenstein collected the offensive rebound, passed it to OG Anuonby who then found DiVincenzo for a three-pointer to go up by one.

Nick Nurse claimed he was trying to call timeout before Maxey had the ball stolen to begin the sequence.

Joel Embiid described the officiating at the end of the game as "[expletive] unacceptable."

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: New York Knicks, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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2024 NBA Draft Tiebreakers: Hornets Win Over Blazers For 3rd Best Lottery Odds

Apr 22, 2024 10:26 PM

Six ties among teams with identical regular-season records were broken today through random drawings to determine the order of selection for NBA Draft 2024.

The drawings were conducted by NBA President of League Operations Byron Spruell at the NBA office in Secaucus, New Jersey. The tiebreaker process was overseen by Marc Dieli, a partner from the accounting firm of Ernst & Young.

The results of the drawings:

• The Charlotte Hornets (21-61) won a tiebreaker with the Portland Trail Blazers.

• The Sacramento Kings (46-36) won a tiebreaker with the Golden State Warriors.

• The Philadelphia 76ers (47-35) won a tiebreaker with the Indiana Pacers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Orlando Magic. Second, third, and fourth place in the tiebreaker drawings went to the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando, and Indiana, respectively.

• The Milwaukee Bucks (49-33) won a tiebreaker with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns. Second and third place in the tiebreaker drawings went to Phoenix and New Orleans, respectively.

• The Dallas Mavericks (50-32) won a tiebreaker with the New York Knicks.

• The Denver Nuggets (57-25) won a tiebreaker with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Wolves To Have Mediation On Ownership Dispute On May 1st

Apr 22, 2024 10:05 PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves' ongoing ownership dispute will have an initial mediation session on May 1st. 

Glen Taylor voided a deal to sell a majority stake in the Wolves to a group led by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez after he asserted they failed to meet contractual deadlines.

Lore and Rodriguez are disputing Taylor's position as they attempt to finalize their purchase of the Wolves. 

Lore and Rodriguez agreed to purchase the Wolves in 2021 at a valuation of $1.5 billion. The deal allowed them to purchase 20 percent of the team in July 2021, 20 percent more in 2022 and 40 percent more in 2023.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA CBA

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J.J. Redick To Interview With Hornets For Head Coach Vacancy

Apr 22, 2024 7:14 PM

J.J. Redick will interview with the Charlotte Hornets for their head coaching vacancy.

Redick previously interviewed with the Toronto Raptors last offseason for their head coach position.

Redick is currently one of ESPN's lead color analysts along with Doris Burke. Redick also has multiple podcasts.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Charlotte Hornets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Cody Williams Leaves Colorado For 2024 NBA Draft

Apr 22, 2024 3:04 PM

Cody Williams has declared for the 2024 NBA draft, leaving Colorado after his freshman season.

Williams is a projected lottery pick as one of college basketball's best defenders. Williams is the younger brother of Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Williams averaged 11.9 points, three rebounds and 1.9 assists on 55.2 percent shooting in 24 game for the Buffaloes.

Williams ranks No. 19 on ESPN's list of Top 100 prospects. 

Adrian Wojnarowski, Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Colorado Buffaloes, NCAA, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Heat In Position To Acquire All-Star On Same Timeline As Bam Adebayo

Apr 22, 2024 2:41 PM

The Miami Heat are believed to be in a position to use their asset pool and how appealing they are to All-Stars across the league to acquire one in the near future.

"Miami is always in great position because, especially if it's players with not a lot left on their contract," said Adrian Wojnarowski before Miami's loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1. "One year or two years. And they tell their team, 'I want a trade to the Heat, and if you don't send me to the Heat, I'm going to become a free agent and go somewhere else. Don't trade me to that team or that team.'

"Teams can still decide to send you where they want to send you, but it's always an advantage for Miami. Players want to be part of that organization. So I think Miami will be in a position again to use the assets they have to get another All-Star level player that maybe connects more on the timeline of Bam Adebayo and his age."

While Wojnarowski didn't specifically mention any names, one player who appears to fit the description is Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2025 and there has been speculation he could seek a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason given his potential reluctance to sign long-term. Mitchell has also been linked with the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

Last offseason, the Heat had interest in acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, but no deal ever materialized before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Bam Adebayo, Donovan Mitchell, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kings Have Yet To Approach Mike Brown With Extension Offer

Sam Amick, Anthony Slater/The Athletic

Tyrese Maxey Questionable For Game 2 With Illness

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Dunc'd On: All 8 Game 1s of the 2024 1st Round

RealGM Staff Report

Zaccharie Risacher Declares For 2024 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

NBA Could Sell Local Games Individually In New TV Deal; WNBA Rights Also A Factor

Andrew Marchand/The Athletic

NBA Seeks 10-Year Deals For Media Rights, Streamers Could Get Finals Games

Andrew Marchand/The Athletic

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 21): Heat/Celtics, Clippers/Mavs, Bucks/Pacers, Thunder/Pelicans

RealGM Staff Report

Jarred Vanderbilt Remains Day-To-Day With Foot Sprain

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Harrison Ingram Enters NBA Draft

ESPN

2023-24 Clutch Player Of The Year Finalists Announced

RealGM Staff Report

2023-24 Most Improved Player Finalists Announced

RealGM Staff Report

2023-24 Coach Of The Year Finalists Announced

RealGM Staff Report

2023-24 Sixth Man Of The Year Finalists Announced

RealGM Staff Report

2023-24 Defensive Player Of The Year Finalists Announced

RealGM Staff Report

2023-24 NBA Rookie Of The Year Finalists Announced

RealGM Staff Report

2023-24 NBA MVP Finalists Announced

RealGM Staff Report

Spurs Could Pursue Chris Paul In Free Agency

Marc Stein/The Stein Line

'Growing Belief' Hawks Prefer To Trade Trae Young Over Dejounte Murray

Marc Stein/The Stein Line

Nets Hire Steve Hetzel As Assistant Coach

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Christian Wood Available For Lakers For Game 3

Shams Charania/The Athletic