Rogers Buys Out Bell’s Stake In Raptors’ Parent Company
8:18am: Rogers has put out a press release officially confirming the sale agreement.
Notably, for Raptors fans in Canada, the announcement clarifies that TSN, the sports network controlled by Bell Media, will get the opportunity to renew its broadcast rights for Raptors games at “fair market value.” In recent years, TSN and Rogers’ sports network (Sportsnet) have split those Raptors broadcasts 50/50, with each network airing 41 regular season games.
BCE announced in a press release of its own that it has reached a deal with Rogers to retain TSN’s share of the broadcast rights for the Raptors (and other MLSE teams) for the next 20 years, subject to league approval.
8:00am: Rogers Communications has acquired BCE (Bell)’s stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Raptors, according to a report from Scott Soshnick and Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico.
The two Canadian communications/media giants had each previously held 37.5% of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Rogers purchased Bell’s 37.5% stake in the company for $4.7 billion in Canadian dollars, per Sportico, which works out to approximately $3.48 billion USD based on the current exchange rate. That puts the overall valuation of MLSE at around $9.3 billion.
In addition to the Raptors, MLSE controls the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, MLS club Toronto FC, and a handful of smaller sports teams, such as the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League) and Raptors 905 (G League). The company also owns and operates Scotiabank Centre and OVO Athletic Centre, the Raptors’ home arena and practice facility, respectively.
Raptors governor and NBA Board of Governors chairman Larry Tanenbaum controls 20% of MLSE via his holding company Kilmer Sports Inc. He previously held the full remaining 25% but sold a 5% stake to OMERS, a Canadian pension fund, in 2023, per Michael Grange and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.ca.
As Grange and Friedman note, the MLSE ownership agreement gave Rogers and Bell the right to buy out Tanenbaum by July 2026 and there had been an expectation that they’d do so. If Rogers still intends to move forward with that plan after purchasing Bell’s stake, the company could control nearly all of MLSE within two years. Rogers also owns MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays.
It’s unclear what sort of short- and long-term impact the sale might have on how the Raptors run their business, but the $9.3 billion overall valuation for MLSE is worth noting.
Sportico’s latest round of NBA franchise valuations in December 2023 pegged the Raptors’ value at $4.11 billion, making it the most valuable asset in MLSE’s portfolio. Sportico estimated the value of the Maple Leafs at $2.65 billion in November 2023 and Toronto FC at $725MM in January 2024.
Boban Marjanovic Signs With Fenerbahce
SEPTEMBER 18: Marjanovic’s deal is official, according to a press release from Fenerbahce. NBA reporter Marc Stein confirms (via Twitter) that the agreement includes an opt-out window in December.
SEPTEMBER 17: Veteran free agent center Boban Marjanovic has reached an agreement to sign with the Turkish club Fenerbahce, reports Bugra Uzar of Eurohoops. The agreement, which was hinted at in a cryptic tweet by agent Misko Raznatovic, has also been confirmed by Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.
According to Urbonas, Marjanovic and Fenerbahce are on track to complete a one-year contract that will allow both sides to opt out of the deal before January.
Marjanovic, 36, has been in the NBA since 2015, having spent time with the Spurs, Pistons, Clippers, Sixers, Mavericks, and Rockets over the past nine seasons. The Serbian’s size (7’4″) and skill set made him a situational specialist throughout his NBA career — he has never averaged more than 11.7 minutes per game or appeared in more than 58 games in a single season.
Marjanovic, who holds career NBA averages of 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game across 331 outings, appeared in just 14 contests for Houston last season, logging 71 total minutes.
For most of the offseason, Marjanovic has been seeking a new opportunity in the NBA. However, he drew more interest overseas and is no stranger to European competition, having played in Serbia, Russia, and Lithuania from 2006-15 before making the move across the Atlantic.
He’ll be joining a Fenerbahce team that has made an effort to fortify its frontcourt this month upon losing Luka Samanic — the Istanbul-based club, which competes in the EuroLeague, also added longtime NBA center Khem Birch last week. Nicolo Melli, Wade Baldwin, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Bonzie Colson, Devon Hall, and Marko Guduric are among the other former NBAers on Fenerbahce’s roster.
Celtics Sign Dmytro Skapintsev To Exhibit 10 Deal
SEPTEMBER 18: Skapintsev has officially signed with the Celtics, according to RealGM’s log of NBA transactions.
SEPTEMBER 17: The Celtics and free agent big man Dmytro Skapintsev have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Skapintsev, 26, played in his home country of Ukraine from 2015-22 before heading stateside two years ago to join the Westchester Knicks in the G League. He has spent the majority of the past two seasons with New York’s G League affiliate, averaging 10.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 23.9 minutes per game across 38 Showcase Cup and regular season outings in 2023/24.
Skapintsev earned a brief NBA call-up last December when he signed a two-way contract with the Knicks and appeared in two games for the club. However, he logged just two total minutes in those contests and was waived 10 days later, at which point he reported back to Westchester.
According to Scotto, Skapintsev will look to compete for a roster spot with the Celtics this fall. The 7’1″ center is unlikely to end up on the standard 15-man roster, but Exhibit 10 contracts can be converted to two-way deals before the regular season begins, so perhaps he’ll get an opportunity to unseat a current Boston two-way player (Drew Peterson, JD Davison, or Anton Watson) if he impresses in camp.
Exhibit 10 contracts can also line up a player to earn a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he’s waived by his NBA team and then spends at least 60 days with the club’s G League affiliate. The Maine Celtics would have to acquire Skapintsev’s returning rights for that to be an option for him.
Warriors Sign Javan Johnson, Donta Scott
SEPTEMBER 18: The Warriors have officially signed Johnson and Scott, per RealGM’s transaction log.
SEPTEMBER 17: The Warriors are signing free agent forward Javan Johnson and Donta Scott to Exhibit 10 contracts, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Johnson, 25, was in camp with the Warriors last fall after going undrafted out of DePaul in 2023. He spent his first professional season with the Santa Cruz Warriors – Golden State’s G League affiliate – and appeared in a total of 48 Showcase Cup and regular season games, averaging 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 20.9 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .399/.375/.882.
Scott wrapped up a five-year college career at Maryland this past spring. As a super-senior in 2023/24, he averaged 11.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 1.1 APG in 33 games (30.2 MPG), with a shooting line of .407/.335/.812. He went undrafted in June, then played for the Warriors in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer Leagues.
In all likelihood, Johnson and Scott will end up being waived before the regular season begins and reporting to Santa Cruz for the start of the NBAGL season. Their Exhibit 10 contracts will put them in position to earn bonuses worth up to $77.5K (on top of their standard G League salaries) if they spend at least 60 days with Golden State’s affiliate.
The Warriors currently have 19 players under contract, so no corresponding moves will be necessary to make room for Johnson and Scott on the 21-man offseason roster.
2027/28 Season Viewed As Target For NBA Expansion
One reason the NBA isn’t yet prepared to dive head-long into expansion talks is that a potential Celtics sale could reset the market, sources tell ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Kevin Pelton, and Brian Windhorst. If the Celtics set a new record for the highest sale price ever for an NBA team, it would only increase the price tag for incoming expansion franchises, as ESPN’s trio notes.
Commissioner Adam Silver recently stated that the NBA is “not quite ready” to move forward on the expansion process, though he left the door open for those discussions to happen later on in the 2024/25 league year.
With the NBA continuing to drag its heels on expansion, league sources and people connected to potential bidding groups are viewing the 2027/28 season as the target date for when one or more expansion teams could begin playing, with the ’26/27 campaign considered an increasingly unrealistic – albeit not impossible – option, according to Bontemps, Pelton, and Windhorst.
Based on the growing valuations of NBA franchises, it’s not unrealistic to project that a pair of new teams could net the league $10 billion combined – or even more than that – in expansion fees, ESPN’s reporters suggest.
While some current NBA team owners are wary of further diluting their share of the league’s revenue by slicing off two more pieces of a “pie” currently being shared 30 ways, expansion fee payments (which don’t have to be shared with the players’ union) exceeding $300MM apiece could help sway those ownership groups, as Bontemps, Pelton, and Windhorst point out. Additionally, the $76 billion media rights deal negotiated by the NBA earlier this year has assuaged some owners’ concerns about sharing revenues with 31 partners instead of 29, the ESPN trio adds.
Here are a few more items of note from ESPN’s in-depth FAQ on the possibility of expansion:
- Although the National Basketball Players Association has no real voice in the expansion process, the union would be “very much in favor” of adding 36 new jobs (30 standard roster spots and six two-way slots) for its members, sources tell ESPN.
- Seattle and Las Vegas are widely considered the favorites to land expansion teams, but they likely won’t be the only cities receiving consideration. Sources who spoke to ESPN view Mexico City as the most likely candidate to seriously enter the mix along with Seattle and Vegas, though Bontemps, Pelton, and Windhorst acknowledge there would be a number of “logistical hurdles” to contend with.
- If Seattle and Las Vegas land expansion teams, they would both have to be Western Conference clubs, meaning one current Western team would have to move to the Eastern Conference. According to ESPN, that decision would likely come down to the Pelicans, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves, with Minnesota considered the most logical choice to move East since the Wolves are geographically closer to five Eastern opponents than they are to their closest Western opponent (Denver). Still, it could be a “protracted fight” to determine which team would change conferences.
- The ownership group of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken – led by Samantha Holloway and her father David Bonderman – is considered the most likely bidder for a Seattle franchise, per ESPN. Hall of Fame NBA executive Rick Welts has served as an advisor for the Kraken ownership group, which also includes the sons of former Sonics owner Barry Ackerley. Chris Hansen, who previously attempted to relocate the Sacramento Kings to Seattle, isn’t expected to lead a bid to bring the NBA to the city, but would be willing to assist in the process, ESPN’s trio adds.
- Active NBA players aren’t permitted to own a stake in an existing franchise, but the rules for an active player becoming a stakeholder in an expansion franchise (before it begins play) aren’t as clear. Those rules may need to be clarified in the coming years, with LeBron James seriously interested in getting involved in a bid for a Las Vegas team. According to ESPN’s report, former Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry is putting together a group to bid for a Vegas franchise — that group is expected to include longtime WNBA star Candace Parker.
Knicks’ Thibodeau Talks Offseason, Randle, Centers, More
Speaking to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged that losing Isaiah Hartenstein leaves a hole to fill in his rotation but expressed satisfaction with the front office’s work this offseason on the whole.
“Obviously the OG signing was huge for us. And then adding Mikal was phenomenal,” Thibodeau said of re-signing OG Anunoby and trading for Mikal Bridges. “Getting Julius (Randle) back will be huge as well. We lost Hartenstein, which is what we’ll have to replace. But I think we have versatility, where we can play smaller at times because of OG’s ability to guard big. Julius and (Josh) Hart can guard big as well.”
As Thibodeau pointed out, the fact that players like Anunoby and Bridges are capable of defending a wide range of positions will give the Knicks the ability to switch frequently on defense and force opponents to settle for lower-percentage shots.
The Knicks’ head coach discussed several more topics with Aschburner, including what makes Jalen Brunson special, Randle’s return to action following his shoulder surgery, and how he envisions replacing Hartenstein’s production in the frontcourt.
The conversation is worth checking out in full for Knicks fans, but here are a few highlights:
On how adding Bridges to Anunoby on the wing will help the defense:
“What it adds to us is the versatility of both allows us to give different looks to a primary ball handler. We’ve been playing Donte (DiVincenzo) on those guys to start. Now we can come after that with Bridges, then OG, then Hart. We can constantly change up our look for who’s guarding that ball-handler. Also, OG and Hart are very disruptive off the ball, so I like to use them that way. The versatility of the defense will be a big thing for us.”
On why he’s optimistic about Randle’s outlook for 2024/25:
“I think Julius has always adapted to whatever challenge he’s faced each year. People forget the level that he’s played at. Four years ago, he had a monster season and we didn’t have the shooting we have now, so the floor is going to be more open. We got a glimpse of that in January, which was his last month of basketball.
“People forget the guy was 25 (points), 10 (rebounds), and five (assists per game). He’s had a lot of success and he’s been a big part of winning the last four years in New York. The more good players you have, the more sacrifices you have to make. Not only by Julius, by everybody.”
On what he expects the frontcourt rotation to look like without Hartenstein to back up starter Mitchell Robinson:
“We’ll probably have to do it by committee. We’ll look at some different things, because we have versatility — we could see Julius more at the five. I don’t want to do that for long stretches, it would take its toll, but to have him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well. He also would create a lot of (offensive) advantages.”
Eastern Notes: Heat, Haliburton, Raptors, Wizards
The Heat are currently operating below the second tax apron by approximately $1.2MM with 14 players on guaranteed contracts. Adding a 15th man on a minimum-salary deal would push the team’s salary above the second apron, prohibiting the front office from aggregating salaries or sending out cash in a trade.
As Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel acknowledges in a mailbag, the Heat could carry a 15th man on a non-guaranteed contract to open the regular season, essentially paying that player by the day and then waiving him to sneak back below the second apron if needed for an in-season deal. But Miami is more concerned about being able to carry a 15th man later in the season during the playoff race, according to Winderman, who anticipates the team will keep its final standard roster spot open this fall.
For what it’s worth, if the Heat do want to carry 15 players and surpass the second apron, they’d be able to do that and could still aggregate salaries in a trade as long as they sent out more salary than they took back in that trade, moving below the second apron as a result of the transaction. In that scenario, they’d be hard-capped at the second apron for the rest of the season.
Here’s more from around the East:
- Asked last week during an appearance on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show (YouTube link) about rumors that he was attempting to recruit his Team USA teammates to the Pacers during his Olympic experience this summer, star guard Tyrese Haliburton suggested that story was overblown. “I think there was recruiting going on from everybody, but me saying that got blown out of proportion because I play in the smallest market,” Haliburton said. “… I’m not going anywhere. So if (anyone) wants to play with me, they’d have to come (to Indiana).”
- With Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl locked in as starters, who will claim the fifth spot in the Raptors‘ starting five? Eric Koreen of The Athletic explores that question in an article examining Toronto’s depth chart and rotation, speculating that Gradey Dick will be the fifth starter and that rookie Ja’Kobe Walter will get a shot at rotation minutes this fall.
- The Capital City Go-Go – the Wizards‘ G League affiliate – announced that they’ve acquired Erik Stevenson‘s returning rights from the Texas Legends (Mavericks) in exchange for a 2024 first-round pick and Jake Stephens‘ returning rights (Twitter link). The move suggests that Stevenson, a former West Virginia standout who played for the Wizards in Summer League, will be with Washington’s G League team to open the 2024/25 season and could be a candidate for a preseason Exhibit 10 contract.
Kenrich Williams Undergoes Procedure On Right Knee
Thunder forward Kenrich Williams underwent a successful arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right knee on Tuesday in New York, the team announced today.
According to the Thunder, Williams will be reevaluated after the preseason. That means he’ll miss all of training camp and the preseason, and there’s certainly no guarantee he’ll be ready to go when the regular season gets underway.
Williams, 29, saw his playing time decline last season for the Thunder after averaging 22.0 minutes per game in his first three years in Oklahoma City. In 69 games in 2023/24, the 6’6″ wing averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 14.9 minutes per contest.
A solid defender who has made 38.8% of his attempts from beyond the arc since joining the Thunder in 2020, Williams slid down the depth chart as a result of younger players like Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Cason Wallace taking on increased roles. Although Williams is still a quality depth piece for OKC, it likely won’t have a significant impact on the team’s rotation if he has to miss time this fall.
Williams is under contract for approximately $13.8MM over the next two seasons, with the Thunder holding a $7.2MM team option for 2026/27.
Timberwolves Sign Eugene Omoruyi, Skylar Mays
SEPTEMBER 17: Both deals are official, per RealGM’s transaction log. Both Omoruyi and Mays signed Exhibit 10 contracts, as expected, Hoops Rumors has confirmed.
SEPTEMBER 16: The Timberwolves have agreed to sign free agents Eugene Omoruyi and Skylar Mays, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
While Scotto doesn’t specify the terms of the agreements, Omoruyi and Mays seem likely to sign non-guaranteed contracts that include Exhibit 9 and/or Exhibit 10 language. The Exhibit 9 clause protects teams in the event of a preseason injury, while the Exhibit 10 clause allows for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if the player is waived by his NBA team and then spends at least 60 days with the club’s G League affiliate.
Omoruyi, 27, has played for the Mavericks, Thunder, Pistons, and Wizards since making his NBA debut in the fall of 2021. The 6’7″ forward made a career-high 43 appearances for Washington last season, averaging 4.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 0.8 APG in 9.1 MPG. His contract with the Wizards covered the 2024/25 season, but his salary was non-guaranteed and Washington opted to waive him in August.
Mays, the 50th overall pick in the 2020 draft, has appeared in 105 games across four seasons for the Hawks, Trail Blazers, and Lakers. The 27-year-old guard, who played his college ball at LSU, split his time between Portland and L.A. last season, appearing in 38 total NBA games and averaging 4.1 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per contest. He owns a career shooting line of .445/.345/.859.
Mays was rumored last month to be drawing interest from Italian team Olimpia Milano, but it appears he’ll be remaining stateside at least for the time being. He’s no longer eligible for a two-way contract, whereas Omoruyi – who has three years of NBA service – has one more season of two-way eligibility.
The Wolves currently have 17 players under contract. Once they complete reported deals with Omoruyi, Mays, and Chasson Randle, they’ll be one away from the 21-player preseason limit.
2024/25 NBA Over/Unders: Pacific Division
With the 2024/25 NBA regular season set to tip off next month, we’re getting serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign and continuing an annual Hoops Rumors tradition.
With the help of the lines from a series of sports betting sites – including Bovada and BetOnline – we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.
In 2023/24, our voters went 16-14 on their over/under picks. Can you top that in ’24/25?
We’ll wrap up our series today with the Pacific Division…
Phoenix Suns
- 2023/24 record: 49-33
- Over/under for 2024/25: 48.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Suns win in 2024/25?
-
Over 48.5 58% (215)
-
Under 48.5 42% (158)
Total votes: 373
Sacramento Kings
- 2023/24 record: 46-36
- Over/under for 2024/25: 47.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Kings win in 2024/25?
-
Over 47.5 63% (227)
-
Under 47.5 37% (136)
Total votes: 363
Golden State Warriors
- 2023/24 record: 46-36
- Over/under for 2024/25: 44.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Warriors win in 2024/25?
-
Under 44.5 54% (211)
-
Over 44.5 46% (177)
Total votes: 388
Los Angeles Lakers
- 2023/24 record: 47-35
- Over/under for 2024/25: 43.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Dalton Knecht, Bronny James
- Lost: Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie
How many games will the Lakers win in 2024/25?
-
Under 43.5 52% (205)
-
Over 43.5 48% (190)
Total votes: 395
Los Angeles Clippers
- 2023/24 record: 51-31
- Over/under for 2024/25: 39.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Clippers win in 2024/25?
-
Under 39.5 51% (186)
-
Over 39.5 49% (180)
Total votes: 366
Previous voting results:
- Boston Celtics (58.5 wins): Over (69.7%)
- New York Knicks (53.5 wins): Over (58.8%)
- Philadelphia 76ers (52.5 wins): Under (51.7%)
- Toronto Raptors (30.5 wins): Under (58.7%)
- Brooklyn Nets (19.5 wins): Over (54.3%)
- Dallas Mavericks (49.5 wins): Over (78.0%)
- Memphis Grizzlies (47.5 wins): Under (65.6%)
- New Orleans Pelicans (46.5 wins): Under (60.6%)
- Houston Rockets (43.5 wins): Under (51.4%)
- San Antonio Spurs (36.5 wins): Under (52.9%)
- Orlando Magic (47.5 wins): Over (57.1%)
- Miami Heat (44.5 wins): Under (63.1%)
- Atlanta Hawks (35.5 wins): Under (66.4%)
- Charlotte Hornets (29.5 wins): Under (63.1%)
- Washington Wizards (20.5 wins): Under (56.6%)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (56.5 wins): Over (68.1%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (52.5 wins): Over (65.2%)
- Denver Nuggets (51.5 wins): Over (54.3%)
- Utah Jazz (29.5 wins): Under (60.1%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (22.5 wins): Under (54.7%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (50.5 wins): Over (63.2%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (48.5 wins): Under (51.6%)
- Indiana Pacers (47.5 wins): Over (57.2%)
- Chicago Bulls (28.5 wins): Under (61.9%)
- Detroit Pistons (24.5 wins): Over (60.2%)