HoopsHype.com Rumors

The National Basketball Association’s Development League on Monday unveiled a unique deal that will see sponsor logos on all its playoff team jerseys. The league signed a pact with Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. BBVA to make the bank the presenting partner of the D-League playoffs and finals. marketwatch.com

Business, D-League 

The Knicks simply don't have the means to sign both Lin and Nash in the offseason. But one source close to the situation told ESPN.com that the Knicks are routinely besieged with offers (lucrative offers, naturally) from potential sponsors that want to be involved with Lin. Package those opportunities with Lin's size, athleticism and untapped potential -- along with an unmistakable fearlessness in the big moment that resonates as much as anything he showed us in those 57 days -- and the widespread pessimism about signing him away from the Knicks is understandable. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Business, Jeremy Lin 

Tony Parker has been one of the most trusted pitchmen in Spurs history in a variety of advertisements around the world. He’s relaxed in a spa setting with teammates Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for H-E-B. Parker also wore cowboy garb for a Western-themed commercial for the same grocery chain. Most recently, he played God in a commercial for Axe deodorant. His most recent commercial is a little tamer, but still effectively shows his skills of persuasion as he pitches for Toupargel, a food home delivery company where Parker will be seen cooking for his friends. Parker’s advertisements will run most of the fall in France. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Business 

The days when the star-loaded Sacramento Kings were perennial playoff contenders might be a memory, but a talented guard can still land an endorsement deal. Kings guard Tyreke Evans, master of the crossover dribble and bull-rush drive to the hoop, is starring in his first nationwide television commercial for VBlast, a new vitamin- enhanced water line. The 30-second spot – which can be viewed on YouTube – is premiering in the key New York market and will eventually be rolled out nationally. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Business, Tyreke Evans 

According to Schaub and sports marketing experts, the Kings' next endorsement star is likely to be guard Jimmer Fredette, the flashy scorer out of Brigham Young University who has yet to play his first NBA game. Fredette's stat sheet-filling game, easy smile and light-it-up personality made him arguably the most popular college player in the United States last year – popularizing the term "Jimmermania." Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Business, Tyreke Evans 

You've always been pretty picky about what you endorse, making sure you actually like and use the product. It seems that the general trend of athlete endorsement has caught up with what was once considered that very high standard because transparency is so important. Steve Nash: Absolutely. It's a lot harder for someone to pump a traditional endorsement on their social media sites. That's usually an obligation or at least part of an endorsement deal and it's going to make an athlete think twice about what they're doing. To go to your fans and say, "Buy Aspirin." Those fans are going to be like, "Really? Why would you say that?" Whereas, if you have a fresh take or sense of humour about the product or partner you have, then you're giving the consumer something new, a different story through your own creativity. It's not just a traditional endorsement deal where it feels like someone's shoving something down your throat. Canadian Business

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Business 

The NBA Store will reopen this fall in a temporary location, not far from its old home on New York's Fifth Avenue. The league said Thursday that partner Adidas will run the temporary 6,000-square-foot store between 47th and 48th streets, incurring all expenses in its operation. The NBA closed its old store at the corner of 52nd Street in a cost-cutting move in February. The league plans to find a larger space for a permanent store, which Adidas will operate under the same agreement. Wall Street Journal

Business 

Wizards rookie Chris Singleton, though, is taking a bit of a different tack. He is going back to school at Florida State. He is working out. But he also is getting some entrepreneurial spirit going. He told Sporting News that he and some friends from FSU have started a new clothing line, called Doughpe Clothing (that’s pronounced, “Dope.”) It can be found at doughpeclothing.com. “You know, it is a lot of fun because we are just getting it started and getting it off the ground,” Singleton said. “It’s an urban T-shirt line, something I am just trying to make people aware of, do the marketing and see how much interest we can get going for it. We just launched it (in late July). But it is already off to a pretty good start. We have the time to do something like this right now, so why not try it?” Sporting News

Washington Wizards, Business, Chris Singleton 

Basketball star LeBron James is joining forces with renowned hedge-fund manager John Henry and veteran Hollywood producer Tom Werner in a deal that brings together one of the biggest stars in sports and two of the world's most renowned teams. The deal between Mr. James and Fenway Sports Group will give Mr. James a minority stake in the soccer club Liverpool, which FSG owns. FSG, which also owns the Boston Red Sox, is partnering with Mr. James's sports-marketing firm, LRMR Branding & Marketing to become the exclusive world-wide representative for Mr. James. Wall Street Journal

LeBron James, Business 

Mr. James said he was "humbled" by the deal and looked forward to donning a red Liverpool jersey and visiting Anfield, the team's legendary stadium. "The first time I stepped on an NBA court I became a businessman," said Mr. James, who is 26 years old. "This is a great opportunity for me." Wall Street Journal

LeBron James, Business 

The Nivea for Men brand, through its sports marketing firm Leverage Agency, struck a deal with the New Jersey Nets. Its logo adorns everything from locker room rugs to plush towels to products in each of the player’s lockers. In cased you missed any of that, the locker room itself is called the Nivea for Men Locker Room. “Having a partnership with a team makes a lot of sense for us,” said Magnus Johnson, vice president of marketing for Beiersdorf Inc., the American subsidiary of the parent company that owns the Nivea brand. “Athletes go from jerseys to suits and ties and they’re always looking for something to make them look good.” CNBC

New Jersey Nets, Business 

Boston Celtics' forward Kevin Garnett was to sign a sneaker contract with Chinese brand Anta this weekend, according to sources of the NBA China. An official with anonymity told Xinhua Thursday that the All-Star player had reached an agreement with Anta, but would not announce it until Garnett's contract with Adidas expires at end of the month. Xinhua

Since news leaked Tuesday night that Lin would sign with the NBA's Golden State Warriors, Lin has been approached with a number of endorsement opportunities, including a shoe deal, his agent Roger Montgomery told The Crimson today morning. When Lin signs with the Warriors on Wednesday at 11 a.m. PST in Oakland, Calif., he will become just the fourth Asian American to sign an NBA contract—making him the perfect marketing opportunity with the strong Asian American community in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I think he’s going to shore up our backcourt—that’s for sure,” said Robert Rowell, president of the Warriors. “I also think the signing is going to be great for the Bay Area market. I think he is going to be a lightning rod… We have a very large fan contingent that will be excited to have Jeremy on our team.” Harvard Crimson

Reminder: LeBron's new Nike contract does not have a NY bonus. Though he could make more money thru royalties. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, LeBron James, Shoes, Business 

“One of the most interesting dances we’re going to see after this orgy of spending,” the GM said, “is that when you give these run-of-the-mill free agents substantial contracts, how is David (Stern) going to go in front of the union when this CBA expires and say, ‘Uh, we’re broke.’ “Broke, my butt – you just gave Darko $20 million? You just gave Rudy Gay, a third-tier player – talented, but not really driven to succeed – more than $80 million? And now you’re telling the players we need a new business model, when owners are giving money away like candy on Halloween? Lots of luck with that.” Newark Star-Ledger

Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Rudy Gay, Business 

LeBron James’s departure might mean more losses for the Cleveland Cavaliers than those on the court. James, a two-time Most Valuable Player at the age of 25, will become the NBA’s most coveted free agent on July 1. The franchise value of the Cavaliers would fall should he leave his hometown team, perhaps by as much as $250 million, according to former basketball executives. Cleveland has had two straight 60-win seasons and finished second in the NBA in attendance with an average of 20,562 fans a game last season. It’s fifth in the league with a value of $476 million, according to Forbes magazine’s ranking of NBA franchises. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cavaliers in a year or two are below the league average in terms of value,” said Michael Cramer, the former president of baseball’s Texas Rangers and hockey’s Dallas Stars who teaches sports business at New York University. “One player has a tremendous impact, especially in the NBA, and especially when you’re talking about one of the top two or three visible, recognizable players not only in the league, but in all of professional sports.” Bloomberg

Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, LeBron James, Business 

Russ Granik, the NBA’s deputy commissioner for 30 years, said the Cavaliers’ value wouldn’t plummet that much without James. Granik is vice chairman of Galatioto Sports Partners in New York, which has helped buy or sell 14 professional sports teams, and said James’s departure would more likely have a “modest” effect on the team’s value. “Having a player of LeBron’s caliber is going to improve the way your team plays and is going to provide more in the short term in ticket sales, sponsorship revenues and maybe even TV revenues,” Granik said in a telephone interview. “But when you’re talking about assets that are worth $300 million on up, I don’t think it would have that much effect on that valuation. I think that’s crazy.” Bloomberg

Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, Business