While ESPN and TNT didn't extend their media rights deals with the NBA before their exclusive negotiating window closed, sources tell Front Office Sports that both networks have matching provisions that allow each an opportunity to respond to outside bids before contracts are finalized. The provision applies to both streaming and linear rights packages.

The NBA currently gets nearly $2.7 billion annually from its nine-year $24 billion deals with ESPN and TNT expiring at the end of next season and a doubling of that annual average is possible. 

The NBA has been tied to WBD in various ways since 1984, while ESPN has been a partner for more than 20 years. ESPN also provides significant programming beyond live sports that help promote the league.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have ruled out Dean Wade for the remainder of their first round series against the Orlando Magic with a right knee sprain.

Wade recently underwent an MRI to diagnose the extent of the injury.

In 54 games this season, Wade is averaging 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds on 39.1 percent shooting on three-pointers. 

Naz Reid has been named the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Reid finished with 352 points, ahead of Malik Monk with 342 points. Reid received 45 first place votes, while Monk had 43. Reid and Monk each had 39 second place votes and 10 third place votes.

Bobby Portis Jr., Norman Powell and Bogdan Bogdanovic round out the top-5.

In his fifth NBA season, Reid established himself as the top reserve man in the league, appearing in a career-high 81 games, averaging career-highs across the board, including 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He finished the 2023-24 campaign shooting 47.7% (406-of-851) from the field, including a career-high 41.4% (169-of-408) from three.

What happened in three snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

University of Illinois senior forward Coleman Hawkins has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. Hawkins could have played a fifth season of college basketball, due to the NCAA granting players an addition year of eligibility due to COVID-impacted seasons.

Hawkins was a two-year starter for the Illini. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks as a senior.

Hawkins projects to be a late second-round pick or a possible post-draft two-way signee.

G League Ignite forward Izan Almansa has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. Almansa is from Spain and has played for Overtime Elite, in addition to the Ignite.

The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 10.5 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Ignite this season. Almansa shot 55% from the field in his lone G League season.

The 18-year-old big man is considered an early second-round pick by most draft experts. At one point, Almansa was considered as a lottery pick. However, a poor season on an underwhelming Ignite team saw the Spanish forward's draft stock drop.

Game 2 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets averaged 4.25 million viewers across TNT and truTV.

The number is down 2% from last year's Warriors-Kings matchup.

The lead-in game between the Sixers and Knicks averaged 3.47 million viewers.

This year's NBA playoffs is averaging 3.45 million viewers. 

Grayson Allen aggravated his sprained right ankle in Game 2 of the Phoenix Suns' 105-93 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter and did not return to the game.

X-rays on the ankle returned negative, with Frank Vogel adding that Allen was day-to-day.

Allen initially injured the ankle in Game 1.

The Suns are down 2-0 in the series. 

Tyrese Maxey has been named the NBA's Most Improved Player for the 23-24 season.

Maxey’s scoring rose for the third consecutive year, and he finished the regular season averaging 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

“It feels great,” Maxey said on the TNT broadcast where the award was announced. “Somebody like myself, who prides myself on putting in a lot of work and outworking people and finding ways to get 1% better every single time I step in the gym, it feels good for that to come to light, honestly.”

Maxey received just over half of the first-place votes.

Coby White finished second while Alperen Sengun was voted third.

The rest of the voting: Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams was fourth, Jalen Brunson was fifth, Washington’s Deni Avdija sixth, Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas seventh, Orlando’s Jalen Suggs eighth, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton ninth, Phoenix’s Grayson Allen and Miami’s Duncan Robinson tied for 10th, San Antonio’s Devin Vassell and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied for 12th, and Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith was 14th.

What happened in three snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Monday, April 22, 2024.