Tom Friend

NBA Commissioner said Tuesday he would consider it a “failure” if the Trail Blazers left Portland and acknowledged he and other owners spent time with owner Tom Dundon in New York this week discussing the city’s fragile arena situation.

The NBA's Board of Governors meetings convene Monday and Tuesday with the Clippers' salary cap circumvention and the Lakers' stunning sale hovering over the proceedings. Other expected topics are the future of NBA Europe, expansion and local television.

The NBA levied severe penalties against the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer in the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention scandal that included Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics and Lockton Insurance.

The Thunder unveiled a rare local broadcast template Thursday that will put their 2026-27 non-national games on cable, satellite, direct-to-distributor, over-the-air and the NBA app — a “hybrid” approach that no other team in the league has yet to trial.

The sales of the Lakers and T-Wolves were unexpected and brought record valuations. But the similarities end there, which make it unclear if these kind of sales are a trend or anomolies.

The NBA media rights deal 2.0 is all about local broadcasts and the cha-ching that could come with it. Sources tell SBJ that the NBA and YouTube remain in advanced talks about a 2027-28 aggregated hub for between 20-to-25 teams — and eventually 29 — for a potential price tag north of $1B.

A virtual meeting of the WNBA’s anti-hate task force —which included Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, team presidents and general managers — delved into transgender eligibility and online rancor on Wednesday. But, as expected, the group did not adopt or recommend any new policies.

The Cavaliers captured both the NBA’s Team Partnership of the Year and Premium Experience of the Year awards on Tuesday, in the franchise’s latest wave of league-wide business honors under CEO Nic Barlage.

Multiple groups from Las Vegas and Seattle are bidding for an NBA expansion franchise, and they have certain checkmarks to take care of. A decision will come by the end of the year.

The Lakers have made L.A-based Albert their jersey patch sponsor, as the personal finance app crosses locker rooms and strikes its first deal with an NBA franchise.