NBA News and Rumor Roundup 8/21/2024
Bezos eyes Boston, the Summer of Shams, and the full NBA schedule releases
Aaaaand we’re back!
While we’re still in the dregs of the NBA offseason, we do have quite a bit to talk about. Rumors are bubbling up surrounding the much-anticipated sale of the Boston Celtics, while there’s a media member free agency spree that is very likely to break a few wallets along the way.
On the WNBA side, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continue to break records in what has been something of a watershed season for the league — and we’ve even got Ice Cube’s BIG3 league to talk about for a few different reasons. If I had a nickel for every time I talked about Ice Cube and BIG3 in the past 2 weeks, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
First up, let’s talk a bit about the full NBA schedule, now that we know where and when each team will be playing throughout the season…
Note: Some of you may wonder why I haven’t talked about the recent Rich Paul-related news (which I won’t explicitly mention here). That’s because mentioning it would break my self-enforced rule against aggregating other Substackers’ scoops (in this case, ’s). You can read his original report here. I highly recommend going straight to the source on this one.
NBA Scheduling Shenanigans
Last week, we talked about some of the leaked opening night and Christmas Day games, but that was before we had the full schedule on our hands. While I don’t want to go through every single big game throughout the season here, I do want to take a look at the first month (late October to late November) and what games might be of interest — even if their excitement levels aren’t entirely obvious. While both opening night games (Celtics vs. Knicks and T-Wolves vs. Lakers) are quite intriguing, I covered those last week, so they won’t be included here.
OKC Thunder @ Denver Nuggets | 10:00 PM ET | October 24
While there’s likely going to be more eyes on the Mavs/Spurs game prior to this one due to Wembanmania and Dallas’ longstanding popularity, this is probably going to be a much more consequential contest. The Thunder look absolutely loaded this year with the additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso, turning the team into one of the most switchable defenses in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off an MVP-level season, while Jalen Williams looks to be in contention for an All-Star nod this season. Oh, and the roster’s average age is 24.5, which makes them the second-youngest team in the league — pretty good for a contender, if I say so myself.
On the other end are the Nuggets, who are coming off of another MVP-level season from the inevitable Nikola Jokic but have failed to fill their gaps this offseason. The team lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, traded away solid point guard Reggie Jackson, and their most exciting rookie, DaRon Holmes II, tore his Achilles at Summer League. And yet, this is still a team with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr., so you can’t count them out quite yet. Expect some fireworks here.
Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks | 7:30 PM ET | October 25
I really don’t have to say much here. The Pacers are coming off a near-Cinderella season that saw them beat the (somewhat hobbled) Knicks to get to the Conference Finals and were able to retain Pascal Siakam after acquiring him at the trade deadline. While Tyrese Haliburton had an up-and-down year due to both injuries and perceived passiveness at times, he still provides some of the most entertainment value in the league as an offensive hub alongside key contributors like Andrew Nembhard and Obi Toppin — in other words, they’re just plain fun.
The Knicks, on the other hand, upped their firepower to an extreme degree this offseason, grabbing Mikal Bridges and resigning both Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, with the former taking an unprecedented $100+ million pay cut to help the team thrive. With the Pacers/Knicks rivalry being already tenuous, adding another chapter on national television is bound to bring some drama.
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers | 7:00 PM ET | November 1
While this one may not be circled on most people’s calendars, it’s an intriguing matchup nonetheless. Both the Magic and Cavs are in somewhat similar situations, with both looking to take the leap into a deep playoff run after years of up-and-down basketball. The Magic are much younger and have two key stars in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, while Cleveland is (still!) helmed by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, along with the newly extended Evan Mobley.
This will also be a great chance for new Magic signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to show fans what he brings to Orlando — which is, hopefully, some shooting — after thriving on the Nuggets for the past few years. Expect some staunch defense from both teams and some potential scoring pop-offs between Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero. In an ideal world, these two teams may end up being in contention sometime in the next 3 or 4 years.
Houston Rockets @ OKC Thunder | 8:00 PM ET | November 8
Being a Rockets fan, I just had to include this game — but there’s good reason for the non-partisan fans out there to watch as well. Houston still has a conglomerate of young talent that it isn’t entirely sure what to do with but has added Reed Sheppard — who looks like a true steal even at #3 overall — to the mix as well. Sheppard brings a whole other level of three-point shooting to this team that has struggled with three-point consistency from its best players (i.e. Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, etc.).
Alperen Şengün is coming off of a near-All-Star season, Amen Thompson is the best rebounding guard in the league already, and Dillon Brooks, uh, is still here. In a way, the Rockets are hoping to be where the Thunder are in a year or two, making this matchup all the more intriguing. I’m curious to see how Sheppard fares against the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on both the offensive and defensive end, even if OKC is the definitive favorite here.
Philadelphia 76ers @ Memphis Grizzlies | 8:00 PM ET | November 20
This is a showtime matchup right here, despite the game being relegated to League Pass subscribers. The 76ers are in as big of a win-now mode as they’ve ever been, adding Paul George to the mix alongside MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star Tyrese Maxey, creating the most offensively-balanced big 3 in recent memory. Anything short of a run to the Finals this year will likely feel like a disappointment for Philly, making every game all the more crucial.
On the other end of the court, the Grizzlies are looking for a bounce-back season with Ja Morant (who is both healthy and not suspended), Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane at the helm, creating an interesting battle of the big threes. Morant is a Mack truck in a point guard’s body, so don’t be surprised to see a few poster efforts on Joel Embiid in this game. Plus, with the arrival of rookie Zach Edey — assuming he’s healthy — we’re going to see some incredible pick-and-roll play between Morant, Bane, JJJ, and the Purdue big man. If you’re on the fence about getting League Pass, this is one of the games that should make you bite the bullet.
A Free Agency Sham(s)
While NBA free agency has largely come and gone, one of the more interesting free agent narratives has nothing to do with what happens on the court, though it has ramifications for NBA Twitter (it’s not NBA X) for years to come.
According to the New York Post, Shams Charania, long known for his inside scoops in a quiet rivalry with Adrian Wojnarowski, is leaving Stadium — an outlet where he hosted “Inside The Association” each week — after 6 years at the company. This effectively makes Shams a free agent from a television perspective, and the timing couldn’t be better for the insider. With the NBA signing new a media deal and bringing in NBC and Amazon for the ride, Shams could now be paid an obscene amount of money by either outlet. ESPN is technically also an option, but don’t bet on it given that Adrian Wojnarowski — who has a relationship with Shams that The Washington Post describes as akin to Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker — is the primary scooper at the network.
Making matters even more interesting is the fact that Charania’s contracts with The Athletic and FanDuel TV are about to expire, opening up even more media opportunities to be negotiated for the insider. It’s unknown which way he and his camp are leaning, but it could have ramifications on what networks get exclusive scoops first. A move to Amazon would immediately make the e-commerce and streaming giant a powerhouse as an NBA news source, while NBC could get its own Adrian Wojnarowski-type insider to go up against ESPN at large.
We’re starting to see more instances of media personalities commanding massive contracts, effectively turning the industry into their own leagues, at least for those at the top. According to at least one report, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is being offered $18 million per year to stay at the network, yet wants $25 million based on how he perceives his value to the organization. Charles Barkley’s deal with TNT is worth upwards of $100 million total, while fellow Stephen A. Smith coworker Pat McAfee is getting $85 million over a 5-year span. In other words, media personalities and insiders have never been more valuable to networks — Shams’s free agency couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Celtics Are (Amazon) Prime Real Estate
Earlier this week, Bill Simmons, the founder of The Ringer and podcast juggernaut, reported that billionaire Jeff Bezos is considering making an offer to buy the Celtics, which are currently up for sale by Wyc Grousbeck. Now, Bill Simmons has a somewhat streaky history with correct predictions and sources, so you can take this with a grain of salt, though it does seem possible. There have been rumors for years that the former CEO and founder of Amazon would look to buy a sports team, but that was mostly reserved for the Seattle Seahawks (and the Washington Commanders, for a time).
Yet, a Celtics sale would certainly be an interesting and profitable pivot. The team has been in the top 10 for leaguewide attendance for much of its history, was listed as the 4th most valuable franchise last year, and, well, you don’t always get a chance to buy a team with such a rich legacy like the Celtics.
The primary reason the report gives me pause is due to Bezos’ history as a businessman, however. The multibillionaire is almost infamous for being incredibly cheap with anything outside of Amazon, with his acquisition of The Washington Post being a shock to many both inside and outside the e-commerce giant. His cheap tactics were largely seen as exploitative in relation to the wider market, making his acquisition of a traditional media outlet quite a strange investment at the time. In other words, acquisitions — outside of the tech space for Amazon’s purposes — are not exactly Bezos’ thing.
Could he buck his trend of choosing to shy away from acquisitions for the Celtics? It’s definitely a possibility — I mean, $195 billion can buy you literally every NBA team in the league. Don’t be surprised if this is all smoke and mirrors, however, given Bezos’ business tendencies.
Other News, Rumors, and Fun Facts
It’s been quite a week for Caitlin Clark, who has helped the Indiana Fever essentially guarantee their spot in the playoffs alongside Aliyah Boston. Clark not only broke the record for the most assists by a rookie in WNBA history with 232 (as of Sunday) but also recorded the second-most games of 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a single season — and that’s out of all WNBA players, ever. Angel Reese, on the other hand, recently became the fastest player in league history to record 20 double-doubles, further proving the fact that this is going to be a season for the history books across the board.
Speaking of the WNBA, the 3x3 basketball league Unrivaled, which was founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, continues to add an incredible amount of talent prior to its first season. WNBA star Marina Mabrey and Dallas Wings Satou Sabally just joined on, while Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, and Dearica Hamby (along with many others) are a part of the new league as well. With salaries reported to start in the six-figure range, Unrivaled will likely become the highest-paying women’s basketball league in the United States and could become the next big thing in basketball.
3x3 basketball, as you might tell from Unrivaled and the Olympics, is having a bit of a moment. Ice Cube’s BIG3 league just wrapped up its championship, with Bivouac, led by former NBA veteran Gerald Green, grabbing the title. On the losing side was 3’s Company, which had former #2 overall pick Michael Beasley as their leader. While Ice Cube has a bit of beef with FIBA’s 3x3 competitions, BIG3 does appear to have a thriving fanbase and could become the most popular 3x3 competition in America at some point.
Usman Garuba, who was drafted by the Rockets before playing for the Warriors last season, has officially signed with European basketball powerhouse Real Madrid. It’s actually something of a homecoming for Garuba, who played for Real Madrid before entering the draft in 2021. He’s still 22 years old with great upside, which means he could rejuvenate his career overseas before a potential return to the NBA.
According to reports, Steve Kerr will likely step down as Team USA’s coach for the 2028 Olympics, with Erik Spoelstra and Ty Lue the two most likely candidates to replace him. Both were assistants for Kerr at the 2024 Olympics; I’d likely give the edge to Spoelstra based on reputation, but both would be very good choices for the position.
Yesterday, it was reported that Jimmy Butler and Paul George took part in a charity basketball game in Hong Kong at the request of former Rockets legend Yao Ming, with the proceeds going to Ming’s foundation that works with youth around the area. You don’t see Yao Ming as much as other retired NBA legends, so it’s nice to see what the (very) big man is up to nowadays in his home country.
Per Lonzo Ball himself, we can expect him to be on the court this season for the Bulls. After a nagging knee injury that has sidelined him for two full seasons, the return of a healthy Lonzo Ball would be a blessing for the league. Still just 26 years old, he offers incredible skill as a distributor, though the Bulls may not have a great use for him with Josh Giddey around.
In a very fun moment, former classmates Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk — the latter of which is one of the NHL’s best players — recreated their viral high school photo after throwing out the first pitch(es) for the St. Louis Cardinals. And yes, that is the same kid in the background after all these years.
Reportedly, the Sacramento Kings are set to work out three guys over the next few days, with the trio being Lonnie Walker, Isaiah Thomas, and Tony Bradley. While the latter two have struggled to get back into the league, Walker is just 25 years of age and has shown some real flashes of role-player stardom. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team sign Walker, though Thomas or Bradley could bring a nice veteran presence to the locker room. While Isaiah Thomas still obviously can ball out, he has struggled to carve out a role in the league since his injury issues all those years ago.
On this day in NBA history (in 1936), the great Wilt Chamberlain was born! While we still don’t have footage of the famed 100-point game, Wilt’s impact on the sport of basketball can not be understated.
My Favorite Reads This Week
This is an obligatory read as a Rockets fan, but I quite enjoyed
’s writeup on what Houston’s youngin’ Amen Thompson brings to the table, even if he can’t hit the side of a barn with his jump shot yet. The combination of passing, rebounding, and verticality is way too intriguing to not pay attention to — so go read Mike’s piece to learn more.- just put together a great combination of charts and analysis about the upcoming NBA season, including which teams have the toughest (and easiest) stretches throughout the year. You can find the “toughest” stretches here and the “easiest” ones here.
- , who does some great data work here on the platform, wrote up some analyses about the Olympic medal counts for each country, further breaking them down into a ball sport summary. In other words, we can definitively say that the USA is full of ballers, and you’ll see why here.
- is quite literally one of my favorite sports-related creators of all time simply due to the fact that I don’t know how he does it. By taking a glance at some of the most iconic photos of this year’s Olympics, he somehow matches them with random art pieces that somehow work. It’s incredible — go see what I mean.
Congrats to the ever-great
for one year on Substack — you can find his celebratory piece here.If you want a look at some of the best upcoming basketball talents in the nation, you probably should take a look at
’s recent piece. He took a trip to Formula Zero, a basketball camp that draws in tons of great basketball players from everywhere in the States, and broke down who he thought shined the most. Check that out right here.While
just wrote a great scouting report on an incoming UCLA sophomore with international experience, I’m more impressed that he was able to spell Berke Büyüktuncel’s name right every single time. Regardless, you should read Ersin’s report on the guy, as he’s got some quality skills that could make him a worthwhile prospect. Go read that right here.
That’s it for this week’s roundup! More content is on the way for this weekend — I’m putting together some shot-tracking data to drive a few pieces in the near future, so stay tuned for that. Until then, I highly suggest you take a look at Monday’s piece, where I got to ask shooting coach
about biomechanics, what it’s like to work with NBA stars, and more. Till next time!