Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell says he will “test the waters” and enter the NBA draft pool but not hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning to the Cardinals for his junior season.
Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell says he will "test th…
May 28, 2023 | 12:44 pm EDT Update
Brandon Miller compares himself to Paul George
When asked by HoopsHype what he thinks of the comparisons to George, Miller replied, “I think I compare myself to Paul George a lot due to the fact he takes pride in the defensive side. I steal some of his moves and put my own twist to it.” Miller met with the Hornets, Pistons, Pacers, Magic, and Bulls. In addition to discussing the gun incident with those teams, Miller said the main feedback he received from teams was to hit the weight room more.
NBA Execs: Rockets pick will be heavily discussed in trade talks
With Houston aggressively set to pursue James Harden in free agency and a mandate to improve the team in the immediate future, rival executives expect this pick to be heavily discussed in trade talks with a decent chance of being moved for a win-now player.
Emoni Bates: "I definitely feel like I can be one of the best players to ever play this game"
“In my opinion, I definitely feel like I can be one of the best players to ever play this game because I know how hard I work,” Emoji Bates replied. “I’ve been playing against people that are going into this draft my whole life. For me, this is about getting better and stronger. When I get stronger, it’s going to be fun.”
Currently, Walt Disney Co., home of ABC and ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., owner of TNT, are in an exclusive negotiating window to renew their contracts with the NBA. The current deals expire in 2025, and executives at the two companies are waiting for the league to decide what packages of games it will sell. Meanwhile, just about every other major media company — and some technology giants — have expressed interest in making bids once the exclusive window ends next spring.
Currently, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery pay about $2.7 billion a year combined to broadcast NBA games to a national audience. With all the additional bidders lining up, the league is poised to rake in even more money under the next round of contracts. “I would expect NBA rights to more than double and potentially quite a bit more,” said Ed Desser, a sports media consultant and former NBA executive who has negotiated the league’s previous media deals.
To many, Disney is the favorite to keep the rights. It has the full suite to offer — a broadcast channel in ABC, a cable channel in ESPN and a streaming service in ESPN+. ESPN has a history with the NBA that goes back four decades and a close relationship with the league. Disney CEO Bob Iger is a NBA fan who has known Commissioner Silver since the 1990s. The ties run deep. When the NBA resumed its 2020 Covid-disrupted season, it did so at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
May 28, 2023 | 12:26 pm EDT Update
Sasha Vezenkov on NBA opportunity: I will decide how to continue when the time comes
Sasha Vezenkov’s future is most likely tied with the NBA and the Sacramento Kings organization. The Olympiacos leader’s rights belong to the Beam Team, and they’re reportedly willing to bring the forward to the US. Asked about it, Sasha wasn’t ready to fully commit to it. “I’m only thinking about how to become the champions of Greece and what will be the right decision for me at this moment,” he said. “Nobody knows what will happen in a few years, so I will decide how to continue when the time comes.”
“I feel very good when specialists and coaches say nice words [about me] but I know it’s a business and it’s all about how, what, and when. We agreed that it would be fairest to finish the EuroLeague season and then talk. We’ll see if they have a specific offer,” Vezenkov continued. “I’m ready for new challenges but, as I’ve said before, Athens and Olympiacos are my home and I feel great. For me, the most important thing is what’s best for my future.”
