The timing of all this is pure genius.
The NBA In-Season Tournament, which caused such great chaos in the first months of this 2023-24 campaign, whatever happens Billy Donovan could say, is expected to culminate with the championship game on December 9 in Las Vegas. Then six days later, just when hoops fans begin to desire something more from their favorite association, contracts signed during the offseason become negotiable and the rumor mill that will dominate the media conversation until at the February 8 trade deadline begins in earnest.
Ten days later, fans will be treated to the last buffet of Christmas Day Games. And from there, as we all know for so many years now, the general public is fully engaged and ready to start really paying attention to the latest action as the playoffs approach.
It’s almost as if this was all intentional.
Spoiler alert: it is.
Watching the league’s big offseason plans come to fruition is to marvel at this masterclass in well-timed marketing, as it has everything to do with the television rights negotiations that are expected to come to a head next summer. All these imperfect ideas that were implemented – from the in-season tournament to new player participation policy and beyond – are clearly motivated, in large part, by a desire to increase consumer confidence in a way that will drive up the final numbers of the upcoming deal. And if you thought the nine-year, $24 billion ESPN/TNT deal, which expires after next season, was a huge sum, just wait until you see the numbers on the next one after streaming services came to the table.
As the NBAexecutive vice president of basketball strategy and analytics put it in July“The hope is that (the in-season tournament) becomes a true pillar of our season and generates significant value for the league in the years to come.”
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Yet, as if it wasn’t serendipitous enough that the league’s sweeping changes have thus far had the desired effect, the hilarity of it all is that the NBA also wins when it comes to elements uncontrollable. It has eight convincing teams in the round of 16 which begins on Monday, some from historically large markets (Knicks, Lakers, Celtics) and others from smaller markets where All-Star talent is in abundance (Bucks, Suns, kings, Pelicans And Pacers). And for fans who prefer to start the trade deadline discussion early, Chicago (0-4 in IST) and Toronto (1-3) were kind enough to withdraw prematurely from the competition and thus reconfirm that it was time to separate their respective squads.
Or at least that’s the hope of their rivals…
And the trading season favorites are…
After all these months (years?) of chatter about the Bulls and the Raptors becoming sellers, they remain at the forefront of almost every conversation I have with scouts and executives these days. Now you know the usual suspects… OG Anunoby And Pascal Siakam headlining in Toronto, Zach LaVine And DeMar DeRozan in Chicago and high-profile players from both teams could hit the market as well.
DeRozan, perhaps more than any of the aforementioned players, is considered very likely to be on the move before the deadline. And for good reason. Not only is the 34-year-old still very productive (21.3 points, 4.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game in 18 games this season) and therefore attractive to suitors looking for more firepower, but also his contract which is expiring ($28.6 million this season). ) should encourage Bulls president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency this summer.
When it comes to possible destinations, the Heat and the Knicks are known to be preferable to DeRozan if he ends up being moved. Our Jovan Buha recently revealed that the Lakers are more interested in DeRozan (and former Laker Alex Caruso) than LaVine, which makes perfect sense to anyone who remembers how LeBron James courted DeRozan three summers ago.
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In the months leading up to the Lakers’ victory Russell Westbrook commerce, DeRozan (with Damien LillardBradley Beal and Westbrook) had long conversations with James and Anthony Davis about coming to them. The Lakers ultimately closed the deal with Washington for Westbrook, but the fact that he hosted him at his Brentwood home for a meeting speaks volumes about James’ respect for DeRozan.
Fast forward to the present day, and James – who told reporters that “many” things need to change after the Lakers’ 44-point loss Monday to the Sixers — once again sharing the kind of frustration that sometimes leads to roster retooling. After losing to Oklahoma City 133-110 on Thursday, the Lakers (11-9) have lost three of their last five games and are 19th in net rating. If talks between the Lakers and Bulls ultimately go through, Chicago is known to covet the Lakers guard Austin Reaves.
As for Caruso, he had hoped to re-sign with the Lakers in the summer of 2021 before letting him go to the Bulls on a four-year, $37 million contract. His market is expected to be robust and the Bulls are known to price the 29-year-old high.
The point differential predicament
As for the in-season tournament, league officials made it clear from the start that it would be a work in progress. Adjustments will be made. Items can always be added or subtracted. This is of course a long-term project and the details contained therein are always subject to change.
With that in mind, it will be very interesting to see if any changes are made to the points difference factor that has caused such a ruckus in recent days when teams have gone to such uncomfortable lengths to break ties in the standings. Donovan, whose Bulls had to endure the hack-a-(Andre)Drummond treatment from the Celtics as they tried to win by at least 23 points to reach the quarterfinals, was clearly confused by the decision in fourth quarter and had a chat with Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla about his mid-court reasoning.
In New York, where the Knicks beat Charlotte 115-91 Tuesday night and needed a higher point differential Cleveland to advance to quarterfinals as wild card, veteran guard Josh Hart says the system “spoils the integrity of the game a bit.” Cavs guard Donovan Mitchellwhich the Cavs did their best to run up the score in a victory against Atlanta to move forward, said it was “a little weird.”
And that is certainly the case. But from this perspective – sitting courtside in Sacramento for the Kings –Warriors classic Tuesday night – it was also a lot of fun.
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As the Kings advance Domantas Sabonis I’ll share later that the Kings — who trailed by as many as 24 points — never felt out of the game because they had to lose by less than 12 points to advance. In other words, what difference does it make when you’re down 17 at halftime like the Kings and the deficit you’re more focused on is actually six. Warriors coach Steve Kerr pontificated on this subject before the game.
Long before the madness that followed late, when the Warriors blew a five-point lead in the final 58 seconds and fell 124-123, Kerr had discussed the strangeness that might accompany the point differential predicament. To advance, the Warriors not only needed a Minnesota Overcome Oklahoma City (which happened) but also a 12 or more point victory over the Kings if the Timberwolves won.
What if, he asked lightly, the Warriors found themselves with a chance to artificially force overtime in order to reach the point differential margin?
“Should we give up a layup and then try to win by 13 (in overtime)? Kerr said in his pre-match press conference.
Well, he was asked: what is the answer?
“Um, I’ll let (Commissioner) Adam Silver answer that,” Kerr said with a smile. “He’s the one who decides what we should do. I don’t know. This is a very interesting question. …Besides, we won’t do it. We’re going to try to win this damn game.
Indeed, a scenario unfolded which was not very far from this debate. And as Kerr predicted, that’s exactly what they did.
With 7.4 seconds left and the Warriors down one, Stephen Curry took the inside pass and dribbled down the floor. He could have attacked the rim and attempted to foul, then missed one of two free throws to try to keep their IST chances alive. Instead, of course, he missed on a long-range 3-pointer, and the Kings prevailed.
Speaking of kings…
Anyone who has watched Sacramento play recently has probably noticed a familiar face sitting courtside at Golden 1 Center: Vlade Divac, the Kings legend who led the front office for five mostly tumultuous years before that. resign suddenly in August 2020. He was replaced by Monte McNair, the current fourth-year general manager who signed a three-year extension in January.
Divac’s frequent presence at Kings games has sparked natural questions in league circles about why he reappears, especially since he is often seen sitting with owner Vivek Ranadive. But according to a team source, Divac was officially added as a “Kings ambassador” in early November.
The role, which is entirely rooted in the business side of the organization and does not include any influence on basketball operations, is focused on community, fan and business outreach. Divac, who began serving in the role informally last season, recently traveled to China with longtime president of business operations John Rinehart as part of an effort to grow the Kings’ brand worldwide.
(Photo by Zach LaVine: John Jones / USA Today)
