Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and prolific freelancer Jared Dubin (@JADubin5) catch up on the playoffs so far and the upcoming NBA Finals.
They also discuss some of the more compelling off-seasons around the league and what lessons teams can learn from 2016 in the new salary landscape.
Sponsored by Zip Recruiter (http://www.ziprecruiter.com/sportsfan)
The Golden State Warriors could have a completely unprecedented level of salary and luxury tax in the coming seasons.
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are each expected to sign for 35 percent max contracts as soon as this offseason, or the 2018 offseason in the case of Durant.
Draymond Green and Klay Thompson will also likely sign new max contracts in the coming seasons.
By 19-20 and 20-21, the Warriors' combined salary and tax could equal $300 million per season.
The Warriors move into a new arena in downtown San Francisco in time for the 19-20 season.
The Los Angeles home of LeBron James was vandalized on Wednesday with a racial epithet. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
James was asked to comment on the incident during Wednesday's press conference ahead of Game 1 of The Finals.
"I mean, as I sit here on the eve of one of the greatest sporting events that we have in sports, race and what's going on comes again and on my behalf and my family's behalf," said James. "But I look at it as this. I mean, if this -- if this is to shed a light and continue to keep the conversation going on my behalf, then I'm okay with it. My family is safe. At the end of the day, they're safe, and that's the most important.
"But it just goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America. And, you know, hate in America, especially for African Americans, is living every day. And even though that it's concealed most of the time, even though people hide their faces and will say things about you and when they see you they smile in your face, it's a part of life every single day.
"And I think back to Emmett Till's mom, actually. It's kind of one of the first things I thought of, and the reason that she had an open casket is because she wanted to show the world what her son went through as far as a hate crime and being black in America.
"So it's like it doesn't -- no matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, being black in America is -- it's tough. And we got a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African Americans, until we feel equal in America. But my family is safe, and that's what's -- that's what's important."
The Cleveland Cavaliers will wear their blue road jerseys for Game 1 of The Finals. The Cavaliers have worn that jersey for all prior playoff games this season.
The Cavaliers are holding onto their black, t-shirt style jerseys they wore in Games 5 and 7 last season for the "right moment."
The Cavaliers discussed which uniforms to wear against the Warriors for Game 1 on their flight back to Cleveland following Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston.
Adam Silver said in an interview with ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike on Wednesday that he thinks LaVar Ball "will settle down" once his son, Lonzo Ball is drafted.
Silver has no plans to talk to LaVar Ball about his public profile.
Silver credited LaVar Ball for his promotional skills, calling his ability to generate publicity "quite incredible."
"I think here, if I were an NBA team looking at Lonzo Ball, I'm not sure how much consideration I would give to his father. I think ultimately the issue is, how much game does Lonzo have, how great a player can he be.
"I think his dad will invariably settle down once his son is drafted and a team has the appropriate discussions with him. So I'm not concerned about that," Silver said.
Emeka Okafor has been cleared to resume his playing career and is seeking a return to the NBA.
Okafor last played in the NBA during the 12-13 season with the Washington Wizards.
Okafor was out for several seasons due to a herniated disc in his neck.
Okafor turns 35 in September.
There have been concerns that the lack of competitive balance displayed in the 2017 NBA Playoffs is bad for the league.
Playoff ratings on television are up four percent from last season. The NBA's broadcast partners aren't as anxious about the current lack of parity as team officials.
"We saw a very deep, very competitive regular season that played out positively from our perspective on how fans reacted," says Burke Magnus, ESPN's executive vice president of programming and scheduling.
While superteams help national rankings, local ratings sometimes suffer as a result. NBA ratings on regional sports networks were down 14 percent this season and even the Golden State Warriors dropped by 10 percent despite adding Kevin Durant. During the 15-16 season, the Warriors' ratings were boosted by their win streak to start the season and their quest for 73 wins.
"We were all wondering the same thing," says one of the GMs in attendance during a meeting at the combine in which Adam Silver discussed efforts to shorten games. "Is this because the new generation just watches highlights? Or is it because everybody knows who's going to win?"
The Milwaukee Bucks have been granted permission to interview several front office candidates as they look to fill their general manager vacancy.
John Hammond departed the Bucks last week to join the Orlando Magic with Justin Zanik acting as interim GM.
Milwaukee made calls on Tuesday to inquire about Indiana vice president of basketball operations Peter Dinwiddie, Denver assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas, Memphis Grizzlies VP of player personnel Ed Stefanski and Atlanta Hawks special adviser to ownership Wes Wilcox.
Stefanski and Wilcox both were general managers in the NBA. Stefanski was GM of the Philadelphia 76ers (2007-11) and Wilcox was with the Hawks (2015-17).
Dinwiddie and Karnisovas have emerged as two of the NBA’s most respected young front-office executives.
Lonzo Ball will work out for the Los Angeles Lakers on June 7th. The Lakers are the only team Ball is scheduled to work out for though he could add one or two meetings with teams near the top of the draft.
Ball has emerged as the frontrunner to be selected by the Lakers at No. 2.
Ball will meet with the front office and coaches while also participating in an individual workout. Ball never considered a one-on-one workout against another prospect.
The Lakers plan to work out other top prospects over the next two weeks, including Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox and N.C. State’s Dennis Smith.
The Portland Trail Blazers own three first round picks this year and are willing to part ways with one of them in order to remove one of their unwanted contracts from their books, according to a source.
The Blazers have no pending free agents this offseason and face a numbers crunch with their roster in addition to a significant luxury tax payment.
The Blazers re-signed Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard and Maurice Harkless last offseason, while also adding Evan Turner and Festus Ezeli in free agency. The Blazers will waive Ezeli in the offseason.
Basketball Wiretap RSS Feed