The Wizards recently became the 28th NBA team to reach a jersey patch agreement with a corporate sponsor, teaming with GEICO on a multiyear deal, as the club announced in a press release. GEICO’s logo will now appear on the uniforms of multiple D.C.-area organizations, with the Wizards, the Washington Mystics (WNBA), and the Capital City Go-Go (G League) all getting the advertisement patch.
The Pacers and Thunder are now the only two NBA teams without ads on their uniforms, as we outline here. The NBA’s jersey sponsorship pilot program is set to run through the 2019/20 season, but the league seems likely to extend it beyond that, given its success so far.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- ESPN’s draft gurus, including Jonathan Givony, recently revealed their complete prospect rankings for the 2019 draft, with Duke players nabbing three of the top four spots. R.J. Barrett leads the way, followed by Zion Williamson at No. 3 and Cameron Reddish at No. 4. The Blue Devils’ trio sandwiches North Carolina small forward Nassir Little at No. 2.
- Speaking of Williamson, Chris Stone of The Sporting News took an in-depth look at the 285-pound youngster, writing that the Duke forward represents a “truly one-of-a-kind prospect.”
- The NBA G League has reached a multiyear deal with ESPN that will allow ESPN+ subscribers to watch more than 200 games per season, the league announced today in a press release. This season’s broadcast schedule begins with three games on Tuesday.
- The Timberwolves could still end up trading Jimmy Butler for valuable long-term pieces, and Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine could become long-term core pieces for the Bulls. However, in the view of Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the 2017 trade between Minnesota and Chicago is at risk of becoming the sort of blockbuster deal that doesn’t turn out perfectly for either side.
Markkanen, Lavine, Dunn, Cap Space > Butler. Yep, I’ll definitely take that.
Cap space??? You guys are paying LaVine more than the Twolves are paying butler…
And who’s in a better spot right now, Bulls or TWolves? C’mon man — Butler is killing Minny, and his continued bad behavior is just driving his value into the ground. How many more times will the ultimate competitor pull himself out of the lineup to rest? Butler’s a joke.
If Jimmy gets traded, will he continue to rest with his new team?
Don’t most stars take nights off? He didn’t last year and look where that got him. I am okay with it personally. Bad attitude or not he just needs to get away from the mess in Minnesota. Thibs is the real problem he has no idea how to mange players and their personalities.
Unless some centers and point guards step up this season, it doesn’t appear there may be one available in the top 10 picks. Manute Bol’s son, Bol Bol, is rated as the top center and is just like his dad. Right now small forwards could take the first 7 picks. Williamson is only 6’6″ so it’s hard to project where he’ll play (another Larry Johnson ?).
At the 4 and small ball 5. He is very intriguing to the point that I can’t find a comparison.
Kentucky and Duke play tomorrow night at 9:30 on ESPN.
Bol Bol is nothing like his dad. Where do you copy and paste this stuff from?
Check again dude. He goes 6’11” and about 190 pounds. I’ve seen his highlights. My stuff is credible dude. Might try doing some research on your own. In mock drafts he’s projected to go around 12. Like his dad, he’s a shotblocker and rebounder, but has limited offensive skills. Look it up.
I’m wrong he’s 7’3″ and 235. His dad was 7’7″ and about the same. They are both tall and skinny rim protectors. For highlights Google Bol Bol.
Several mock drafts have him going between 8-16. Yes he can shoot 3’s. We’ll see if he does when he plays against the better teams. He was 6’11” 2 years ago, so he’s still growing. Google 2019 NBA mock draft, there are several. We’ll see if he turns out to be better than Thon Maker.
You just proved my point. Bol Bol is an elite prospect. His dad wasn’t. They’re nothing alike
I lost all respect for Butler during his last season in Chicago.
We want Zion in Atlanta