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March 31 Target Date Set For Closing Of Blazers’ Sale

August 20th, 2025 at 12:21pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Trail Blazers first announced their plans to sell the franchise in May, they stated that the process was expected to extend into the 2025/26 season, so it came as a bit of a surprise when word broke last Wednesday that a buyer had been found.

However, the sale of the team to a group headed by Tom Dundon isn’t expected to become official in the short term. According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, a target date of March 31, 2026 has been set for the closing of the deal.

As Quick outlines, Dundon and his group of investors have reached an exclusivity agreement with the late Paul Allen‘s estate, which means that the estate is no longer permitted to negotiate with other potential buyers. The two sides are continue to discuss certain terms of the sale, but all major points have been agreed upon and the buyers hope to sign a purchase agreement next month, a source close to Dundon tells Quick.

While a seven-month timeline to complete the sale of the team would be longer than average, it typically takes a few months from the time a tentative agreement is reached for a new ownership group to completely close its sale. For instance, it was reported on March 20 that William Chisholm had struck a deal to buy the Celtics; that deal was approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors last week, with the team confirming the closing of the sale this Tuesday.

The valuation of the Blazers in the sale is estimated to be $4.25 billion, and the plan is to keep the team in Oregon. The future of Moda Center remains up in the air, however. As Quick writes, the team has a lease agreement in place to continue playing at the arena until at least 2030, but commissioner Adam Silver has said a new building will likely be necessary.

“Nothing about the arena is a deal breaker on its own,” Quick’s source said. “It’s lots of little things that add up.”

Regardless of what happens with the arena, Blazers fans should be enthusiastic about how the change in ownership will impact the franchise, that source close to Dundon tells The Athletic.

“He brings a swagger,” the source said of Dundon. “If Tom was the owner last year, he would have been trying to get Luka (Doncic). He would be like, ‘Why should the Lakers have him?'”

John Wall To Join Amazon’s NBA Coverage

August 20th, 2025 at 11:04am CST by Luke Adams

When John Wall announced his retirement as a player on Tuesday, he referred to “new opportunities” presenting themselves and said he’s ready for his “next chapter.” According to Michael Lee of The Washington Post, the next phase of Wall’s career will involve joining Amazon Prime Video for its studio show in 2025/26.

Although Wall told Lee in a recent phone interview that he still felt like he has “a lot left in my tank” as a player and was disappointed he didn’t get another opportunity on the court, he’s looking forward to staying involved in the NBA by sharing his insights with fans on Prime Video beginning this fall.

“If you never really had the opportunity to sit down and talk to me, you won’t really understand how much I love basketball, where my basketball mind is at, where my IQ is,” Wall said. “I can basically tell you the best player in the country — from girls to boys, high school, to the players that’s in college, to the people that’s at the NBA and WNBA.”

It will be Amazon’s first season as an NBA broadcaster. The streaming giant will air games exclusively on Friday nights through December before adding Thursday and Saturday broadcasts later in the season. Prime Video will also be the home of the knockout round of the NBA Cup in December.

Amazon previously announced that former NBA stars Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki will be part of its studio show, which will be hosted by Taylor Rooks.

In addition to that studio team, Prime Video’s broadcasting roster will include analysts Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, Candace Parker, Stan Van Gundy, Dell Curry, Brent Barry, and Udonis Haslem, as well as sideline reporters Cassidy Hubbarth, Allie Clifton, and Kristina Pink, and play-by-play announcers Kevin Harlan, Ian Eagle, Michael Grady, and Eric Collins.

Wall, meanwhile, made a few more interesting remarks in his conversation with Lee, noting that he had wanted to remain with the Wizards for his entire NBA career and that he hopes to have his No. 2 jersey retired by the franchise. The former No. 1 overall pick also discussed the health issues that derailed his playing career and ultimately cut it short.

“People think, ‘Oh, he got the money, he’s set for life, he don’t care.’ No, I would give up all the money to play basketball and never deal with none of those injuries,” Wall said. “I didn’t play the game of basketball for money. I played the game of basketball because I love it. I was itching to get back to play. I wasn’t itching to sit on the sideline and collect the check. The check don’t mean [anything].”

Pacers Sign Rick Carlisle To Multiyear Extension

August 19th, 2025 at 3:46pm CST by Luke Adams

3:46 pm: The Pacers have officially signed Carlisle to an extension, according to a team press release.

“Since his return to the Pacers in 2021, Coach Carlisle has been integral to our success, which includes leading us to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances and our first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years,” president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. “Beyond his coaching achievements that rank him among the best in NBA history, Coach Carlisle continues to embrace our community and give back to the state of Indiana with his Drive and Dish program. We are thrilled to have him continue leading our team and representing our organization well into the future.”

9:30 am: After leading the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance in a quarter-century this spring, head coach Rick Carlisle has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the team, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link).

The Pacers had one of the worst years in franchise history during Carlisle’s first season back on the job in 2021/22, posting a record of just 25-57. But the club has steadily improved since then, increasing its regular season win total to 35 in ’22/23, 47 in ’23/24, and 50 this past year.

Indiana has also made consecutive deep playoff runs with Carlisle at the helm, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 and then appearing in the NBA Finals this year for the first time since 2000.

Accounting for both his current stint with the Pacers and his previous four-year run from 2003-07, Carlisle has posted an overall regular season record of 338-318 (.515) and has gone 41-34 (.547) in the postseason, making the playoffs in five of eight seasons.

In addition to his time in Indiana, Carlisle has another 15 years and 1,197 regular season games under his belt as a head coach in Detroit and Dallas since 2001.

The details of Carlisle’s new agreement are unclear, but he reportedly signed a four-year contract in 2021 and was also extended in 2023. Given that his initial four-year deal just ended this year and both of his extensions have been described as “multiyear” pacts, it seems safe to assume he’s under contract for several seasons to come.

Hawks Sign Caleb Houstan To One-Year Deal

August 19th, 2025 at 3:02pm CST by Dana Gauruder

August 19: Over a month after their agreement was first reported, the Hawks have officially signed Houstan, the team announced today in a press release.

July 17: The Hawks and Caleb Houstan have agreed to a one-year contract, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports (Twitter link).

Houstan spent the first three years of his NBA career with the Magic. He appeared in 168 games during that span, including 23 starts, after being selected early in the second round of the 2022 draft.

Last season, Houstan appeared in 58 games (six starts) with Orlando and averaged 4.1 points in 13.6 minutes per game while making 40 percent of his 3-point tries.

Houstan became a free agent when Orlando declines its $2.1MM option on his contract for next season. Terms for his contract with Atlanta have not been revealed, but it’s likely a minimum deal.

Still just 22 years old, Houstan struggled to get steady second-unit minutes with the Magic. At 6’8”, he provides good size at the wing spots and he’ll now try to earn minutes with another Southeast Division squad.

That will be a tall task, considering the Hawks have Dyson Daniels at off guard and Jalen Johnson at small forward with free agent pickups Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard slated to get steady minutes off the bench. He’ll also have to battle Vit Krejci (43.7 percent from three last season) for playing time.

Oscar Tshiebwe Re-Signs With Jazz On Two-Way Deal

August 19th, 2025 at 11:48am CST by Luke Adams

Former Kentucky standout Oscar Tshiebwe is back under contract with the Jazz, having re-signed with the team on a two-way deal, per NBA.com’s official transaction log.

Utah made Tshiebwe a restricted free agent in June by issuing him a two-way qualifying offer. It’s possible he simply accepted that offer, which is the equivalent of a one-year, two-way contract with a partial guarantee worth $85,300.

After going undrafted in 2023, Tshiebwe spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Pacers and his second year in the NBA on a two-way deal with the Jazz. The 6’8″ forward/center has only made 22 total appearances at the NBA level across those two seasons, but has shown his rebounding prowess in limited action, averaging 7.6 points and 8.7 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per game across 14 outings for Utah in 2024/25.

Tshiebwe, who grabbed double-digit rebounds in eight of the 10 games he played for the Jazz in past March and April, has put up monster numbers in the G League — he earned a spot on the All-NBAGL first team and placed second in MVP voting this spring after averaging 16.1 points, a league-leading 18.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest in 42 games for the Salt Lake City Stars.

Tshiebwe racked up at least 20 boards in seven of the last nine games of his G League season in March. In one matchup with the Iowa Wolves during that stretch, he grabbed 30 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive glass.

It remains to be seen whether Tshiebwe will be utilized more frequently by Jazz head coach Will Hardy in 2025/26, but he’ll be eligible to appear in up to 50 NBA regular season games on his two-way deal, which will pay him $636,435 if it becomes fully guaranteed.

Tshiebwe and Elijah Harkless now occupy two of the Jazz’s three two-way slots, with second-round pick John Tonje viewed as the frontrunner to fill the final opening.

John Wall Announces Retirement

August 19th, 2025 at 10:16am CST by Luke Adams

Former No. 1 overall pick and five-time NBA All-Star John Wall has announced his retirement, publishing a video on social media to confirm his decision (Instagram link).

“I’ve been chasing a ball since I could barely walk. Driveways, parks, packed gyms, 5:00 am workouts,” Wall said over a video montage of his career highlights. “I gave this game everything I had, from Raleigh to Kentucky to the league. Every jersey I’ve worn meant more than just wins and stats. It was about representing something bigger, and it’s something I couldn’t do without you.

“To my family, my mom especially, thank you for all your sacrifices. I hope I made you proud. To my teammates, trainers, and coaches, thank you for believing in me. And to the fans, you made me feel unstoppable.

“Today I’m stepping off the court, but not away from the game. Basketball will always be in my life. As new opportunities present themselves, I feel now is the time to walk confidently into my next chapter. Thank you for every cheer, every moment. Retired, but never done, I’m doing it the Wall way.”

Drafted first overall by the Wizards in 2010 after earning SEC Player of the Year honors as a freshman at Kentucky, Wall almost immediately emerged as Washington’s full-time starting point guard and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.

The 6’3″ guard, known for his speed and athleticism, remained in D.C. for 10 seasons, receiving five straight All-Star nods from 2014-18, making an All-Defensive team in 2015 and earning All-NBA third team honors (and MVP votes) in 2017.

However, a series of leg injuries, including a torn Achilles, slowed down Wall during his last few seasons with the Wizards. He was traded to Houston during the 2020 offseason, but was limited to just 40 appearances in his first year with the Rockets due to ongoing health issues, then reached a mutual decision to remain away from the team in his second year in Houston. Wall’s last season in the NBA came in 2022/23, when he made 34 outings for the Clippers.

In total, Wall appeared in 647 NBA regular season games, making 604 starts, and averaged 18.7 points, 8.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per contest, with a career shooting line of .430/.322/.776.

Reporting as recently as December 2024 indicated that Wall hadn’t given up on making an NBA comeback, but after no opportunities materialized this past season, the veteran – who will turn 35 next month – has decided to call it a career.

Shortly after Wall made his announcement, the Wizards put out a social media post congratulating him on his retirement and referring to him as “one of our franchise all-time greats” (Twitter link).

Celtics Announce New Ownership Structure, Titles

August 19th, 2025 at 9:09am CST by Luke Adams

Following last week’s announcement that the NBA’s Board of Governors had approved the sale of the Celtics to a group led by William Chisholm, the team put out a press release on Tuesday confirming the ownership change and the closing of the sale while sharing more details on the new hierarchy at the top of the organization.

As expected, Chisholm has taken over as the Celtics’ governor, with Aditya Mittal and former majority owner Wyc Grousbeck named alternate governors.

Although the plan to have Grousbeck retain his governor position until 2028 fell through, he’ll still hold the CEO and co-owner titles, and will run day-to-day operations alongside Chisholm, per today’s press release. Grousbeck retained a stake in the franchise, but no longer controls at least a 15% share, making him ineligible to remain on as the team’s primary governor.

As for Mittal, reporting in May indicated that he was expected to be the second-largest stakeholder in Chisholm’s ownership group. In addition to Chisholm, Mittal, and Grousbeck, shareholders in the franchise include Bruce Beal, Andrew Bialecki, Dom Ferrante, Robert Hale, Mario Ho, Ian Loring, and the investment firm Sixth Street.

“This truly is a dream come true for me and my family,” Chisholm, a lifelong Celtics fan, said in a statement. “I feel so fortunate to be here as part of this new investor group, who are accomplished, driven people who care deeply about the Celtics and the Boston community. On behalf of our group I am thrilled to partner with Wyc, (president of basketball operations) Brad Stevens and (president of business operations) Rich Gotham to move this outstanding organization forward. We are committed to building on the legacy of the Celtics and raising banners, and I can’t wait for the team to get back out there this fall.”

The Celtics’ announcement also includes a brief statement from Grousbeck:

“The Celtics have been my life’s work for the past 23 years. This incredible ride is now continuing. I am fired up to be shoulder to shoulder with Bill as we pull every lever to go after another banner. There is nothing better than winning.”

Marco Belinelli Announces Retirement

August 18th, 2025 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Longtime NBA wing Marco Belinelli has announced his retirement as a player, as Eurohoops relays. Belinelli confirmed the decision in a social media post on Monday (Instagram link).

“I gave it my heart,” Belinelli wrote. “Every piece of me. Every single day. Basketball gave me everything… and I gave it everything I had. Saying goodbye isn’t easy. But it’s time. I carry with me every emotion, every sacrifice, every cheer. Thank you to those who always believed. To the next generation—I leave a dream. Make it count.”

Belinelli, who turned 39 in March, was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2007 draft and spent the next 13 seasons in the NBA, appearing in 860 total regular season games for nine teams.

The 6’5″ Italian swingman held career NBA averages of 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 22.7 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .424/.376/.846. Known for his outside shooting, he made 1,216 career three-pointers.

Belinelli’s best season came in 2013/14 in San Antonio, when he averaged 11.4 PPG and made a career-high 43.0% of his three-point tries. He won the NBA’s three-point contest that season and was part of the Spurs‘ championship team, appearing in all 23 playoff games the team played that spring.

Belinelli also suited up for Golden State, Toronto, New Orleans, Chicago, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.

Since leaving the NBA in 2020, Belinelli has played for Virtus Bologna, the Italian club with whom he began his career as a teenager. He has bolstered his career résumé in recent years, winning a pair of Lega Serie A titles in 2021 and 2025, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023, and claiming an MVP award in 2024.

Rockets Decline To Match Hawks’ Offer Sheet For N’Faly Dante

August 18th, 2025 at 3:09pm CST by Luke Adams

3:09 pm: The Hawks have officially announced in a press release that they’ve signed Dante.

2:08 pm: Big man N’Faly Dante will join the Hawks, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who reports (via Twitter) that the Rockets aren’t matching the two-year, $4.5MM offer sheet Dante signed with Atlanta.

Dante appeared in just four NBA regular season games last season after going undrafted out of Oregon. However, he was a mainstay for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League while on a two-way contract with Houston, averaging 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game across 42 outings at the G League level.

Dante, who will turn 24 in October, earned a two-way qualifying offer from Houston in June, but the Rockets have since filled all of their two-way slots by signing Kevon Harris, Isaiah Crawford, and JD Davison, which was perhaps an indication that they weren’t counting on having Dante back.

The Hawks’ two-year offer sheet to Dante appears to just be worth the minimum salary, but even that modest price was too steep for the Rockets, who are operating just $1.26MM below a first-apron hard cap and can’t add a 15th man on a veteran’s minimum deal without shedding salary. Given the team’s cap situation, Scotto’s report that Houston isn’t matching the Hawks’ offer doesn’t come as a real surprise.

Once they officially add Dante to their roster, the Hawks will have 14 players on standard contracts, with Caleb Houstan reportedly expected to join the team as well. Dante will provide depth in a frontcourt that also includes incumbent center Onyeka Okongwu, offseason addition Kristaps Porzingis, rookie Asa Newell, and third-year big man Mouhamed Gueye.

Dante is the first two-way restricted free agent to sign a qualifying offer since Tyrone Wallace did so in 2018. Wallace was a Clippers RFA who signed an offer sheet with the Pelicans and had it matched by L.A.

The Hawks, meanwhile, will become the first team to sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet that goes unmatched since they did it themselves with Kings RFA Bogdan Bogdanovic in 2020.

Bobby Webster To Be Raptors’ New Head Of Basketball Operations

August 18th, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Arthur Hill

Raptors general manager Bobby Webster will be promoted to head of basketball operations, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

In a full story on the move, Charania states that Webster will remain the team’s GM, retaining the title he has held since 2017. The Raptors opted not to formally name a president at this time, the team said in a press release announcing Webster’s new full-time responsibilities.

Webster has been running the organization since it parted ways with Masai Ujiri in late June. His promotion follows an extensive search that included several external candidates, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports (Twitter link).

A report last month indicated that Bulls general manager Marc Eversley and Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan were among the candidates receiving consideration for the job. In addition, former Toronto coach Dwane Casey and ex-Sacramento GM Monte McNair were believed to have interviewed with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Keith Pelley.

According to Charania, Pelley and Webster worked together closely during Summer League in Las Vegas. That allowed Pelley to get a sense of Webster’s management style, while Webster was able to communicate his vision for the future.

Webster began his career with the NBA’s front office in 2006 before joining the Raptors in 2013 as Ujiri’s first hire. He started as vice president of basketball management and strategy, then worked his way up to assistant general manager before becoming GM.

“Going through this comprehensive process this summer and meeting with external candidates played a critical role in arriving at this decision as it made clear that we already have the right person leading the Raptors in-house,” Pelley said in a statement from the team. “When we weighed the many considerations, including roster construction, team culture and competitive landscape, it made perfect sense to officially hand the team to Bobby and give him the time and support to allow his plan to develop.

“After spending time together this summer in Las Vegas, I was very impressed by Bobby’s leadership style, his rapport with the players and staff, his reputation with his peers across the league and – especially and importantly – his vision for the Raptors. This team is his, now, to lead and I know we all look forward to what comes next.”

At the time of Ujiri’s exit, it was reported that Webster was one of multiple Raptors executives who had received a contract extension. Today’s announcement from the club indicates that Webster had his contract “further” extended, suggesting he signed a new deal for the second time this summer.

Webster will have leeway to run basketball operations as he sees fit for the foreseeable future and could eventually earn the president title, tweets Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca

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