And-Ones: NBA Cup, Timma, Commerce Candidates, Flagg

Whereas the NBA Cup will probably be an everyday a part of the league’s schedule going ahead, there’ll probably nonetheless be some changes to the format and schedule in future seasons, in response to tales from Joe Vardon of The Athletic and ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Managing the schedule for each playoff video games and extra common season contests for groups not primarily based in Las Vegas is a problem, nonetheless thunder Head coach Mark Daigneault He is not comfortable his crew will play back-to-back video games Thursday and Friday on the East Coast after the Cup last in Vegas on Tuesday, as Vardon watches.

“We’re mainly on a six-day West Coast street journey proper now, and our subsequent sport after that’s three time zones away, a four-hour flight to Orlando after which a back-to-back towards Miami — which so appears like a street journey is a street journey.” Unprecedented. Daigneault stated. “The NBA would by no means schedule that. They might by no means put a crew on a six-day West Coast street journey after which fly them east for a back-to-back journey.”

Apart from contemplating potential scheduling changes, the league could discover a brand new location for the ultimate 4 video games of the NBA Cup. In accordance with Vardon, Abu Dhabi’s Public Funding Fund has expressed curiosity in internet hosting the occasion, though that might create extra vital scheduling points. Cities equivalent to Mexico Metropolis, Nashville, Tampa and San Diego have additionally inquired about internet hosting Tom Friend Sports Business Magazine.

As for the format, the NBA and Amazon — which is able to broadcast the NBA Cup’s knockout spherical initially of subsequent season — have mentioned potential modifications, together with probably transferring the match to later within the common season, Bontemps says.

Sources who spoke to ESPN cautioned that there isn’t any assure the format will look totally different subsequent season, however Bontemps means that increasing the convention stage from 4 video games to eight video games is one thought the NBA would possibly discover, as a result of it might improve the league’s odds of profitable. . Prime groups advance to the knockout spherical and create extra marquee matches.

We now have extra from across the basketball world:

• Veteran Latvian striker Janice Tima He was discovered lifeless in Moscow, in response to a report issued by the middle Russian news agency TASS (through Eurohop), who say authorities imagine it was a suicide. Timma was chosen by the Grizzlies with the sixtieth decide within the 2013 draft and his rights have been traded to attraction in 2015, however he by no means signed an NBA contract, having spent most of his profession competing in European leagues – along with taking part in in Latvia, Russia, Spain, Greece and Turkey, he additionally had stints within the G League and in Puerto Rico. Tima received the Baltic League and Latvian League titles and was named an All-Star 5 instances in Latvia and Russia.
• Sam Vecini of The Athletic It has revealed its first ‘buying and selling board’ for the 2024/25 season, figuring out 30 of the highest gamers who’re more likely to go away by 6 February. Topping Vecenie’s checklist are: Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVineand Cameron Johnson It consists of three or extra gamers every Bulls, networks, Falcons, Path Blazers, Processorsand jazz.
• ESPN’s Jeremy Wu (Insider hyperlink) He spoke to NBA executives and scouts concerning the Duke freshman Cooper FlagExploring his strengths and weaknesses, what makes him a singular candidate, and why he is the favourite to be the No. 1 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft. Andrey Kirilenko, Jayson Tatum, Franz Wagner, Aaron Gordon and Grant Hill Are a few of Woo’s sources of present and former NBA gamers which are referenced as comparisons to Flagg.“I do not suppose he is a person of my technology – I feel that phrase is beginning for use too steadily.” One government stated. “(However) while you have a look at this draft, if he goes No. 1, no matter whether or not the others are higher, nobody goes to say that was a foul decide.”