So, now what for Passan? He answered it with a couple of posts on X (formerly Twitter), first with the “I’M NOT LEAVING” clip from The Wolf of Wall Street (WARNING: it gets NSFW). Then, he kept it simple: “Baseball’s better anyway.”
That’s it. Baseball fans were very happy with that development:
In the aftermath of Woj stepping away from his duties as a reporter, Charania was the obvious choice as his successor and was the first to break some of the biggest stories in recent weeks — including the Karl-Anthony Towns trade to the New York Knicks.
I am honored to join ESPN as the company’s Senior NBA Insider. I can’t wait to be part of an incredible group of colleagues at ESPN and serve the sports audience worldwide. pic.twitter.com/sBDFGIpkb6
Even if the hiring of Charania is not particularly stunning, it is still an important decision from all parties involved and one that will impact many people across the sports media industry as well as basketball fans around the world.
ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan is a top candidate for the job, along with Charania, according to a new report from The Athletic on Saturday. The report cited six sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Passan, 44, followed the same path as Wojnarowski by first becoming a top insider at Yahoo Sports before moving to ESPN. Passan makes in the neighborhood of $1 million per year, according to sources briefed on his contract. Wojnarowski left $20 million on his deal when he left journalism to become the general manager of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team. Wojnarowski was earning around $7 million per season.
Besides the potential for greater earnings for Passan, ESPN has a long-term relationship with the NBA as it just signed an 11-year extension to be the home of the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, ESPN’s marriage to baseball is in a tenuous stage. It has an opt-out in its current contract, which is for $540 million per season, that it is expected to use or threaten to use by the end of next season. While ESPN could stay in business with MLB, it is not guaranteed. ESPN has an interest in MLB’s local rights, which could be where the two sides come together.
Many speculate that the job could go to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, a former protege of Woj who worked alongside him during their time at Yahoo. But if ESPN doesn’t make that hire, who else could get the nod?
There are some tremendously talented and well-connected folks on the NBA desk at ESPN like Ramona Shelburne and Zach Lowe, but many of them are doing excellent work and a change of direction may not make a ton of sense.
Meanwhile, here are a few other likely internal and external candidates.
1. Brian Windhorst, ESPN
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
If the decision makers at ESPN decide to keep the job internal, a likely option is veteran reporter Brian Windhorst. Already the host of The Hoop Collectivepodcast and a regular on their TV programming, Windhorst is no stranger to breaking news and creating viral moments.
2. Chris Haynes, Turner Sports (previously)
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The most logical external hire aside from Charania is absolutely Chris Haynes, who has enjoyed a successful career both as a writer and on TV. He has had various stops along the way, including at ESPN, and he is currently a sports media free agent after his contract elapsed with TNT. Haynes is one of the most “likely” people to get a look from ESPN, per Front Office Sports.
3. Tim Bontemps, ESPN
(Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for AT&T)
Aside from Windhorst, another legitimate candidate who could get an internal look from ESPN is their colleague Tim Bontemps. A longtime national NBA reporter for TheWashington Post, he has done very well during his time at the Worldwide Leader. Additionally, like Woj, he also attended St. Bonaventure and often gets retweets from Wojnarowski.
4. Marc Stein, The Stein Line
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Perhaps a reunion with ESPN is unlikely, especially after Marc Stein recently announced that he would join AllCity’s Dallas vertical. But it is clear that he is one of the most established reporters in the industry, especially with the stellar work he has done for his Substack. He is absolutely worthy of at least some consideration for a job like this one if they want a trusted veteran.
5. Jake Fischer, Yahoo Sports
One more name to add to the list of potential candidates ESPN assuredly has on its radar is Jake Fischer. He has made a rapid rise from Sports Illustrated to Bleacher Report and now at Yahoo, he is widely considered one of the best younger reporters covering the league at large. Even if he started out in a smaller role and not one as a “replacement” for Woj, it would be a valuable addition for someone capable of both breaking news and writing engaging longform.
Report: OKC Thunder to face Denver Nuggets on road in 2024-25 season opener.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will open their 2024-25 season on the road against the Denver Nuggets, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The contest tips off on Thursday, Oct. 24 on TNT.
It will be a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference. Both were the top two seeds last season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic are expected to be loud participants in the MVP conversation next season.
After a first-seed finish last season, expect the Thunder to be a title contender for the foreseeable future. This means more exposure on the national stage with contests at TNT and ESPN.
OKC’s season opener being on national television is a strong sign they’ll be a frequent guest at that level.
The Thunder’s full 2024-25 regular season will be unveiled on Thursday, Aug. 15. Part of it has already been announced via the NBA Cup group schedule.
Report: NBA excludes OKC Thunder from 2024 Christmas slate.
After a first-seed finish, most assumed the Oklahoma City Thunder would surely spend the next handful of Christmases as part of the NBA’s slate of games.
Instead, it appears the league has declined to invite OKC for its winter holiday celebration. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the five-game Christmas schedule for the 2024-25 season and the Thunder were excluded.
Among the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns were featured.
The surprising decision to leave the Thunder out is perplexing. The last time the Western Conference’s first seed failed to play on Christmas was in 2012 with the San Antonio Spurs.
Even with the Thunder working against the small market they play in, surely the MVP and Rookie of the Year runner-ups from last season would’ve been enough to overcome that bias.
But it looks like that’s clearly not enough as the league prioritizes market over talent in this year’s slate. All the Thunder can do now is force its hands for future seasons with another successful regular season and deep playoff run.
The Thunder last played on Christmas in 2018. A nine-year streak coincided with their dominance at the time led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Report: OKC Thunder add Buddy Boeheim to Exhibit-10 deal.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Buddy Boeheim to an Exhibit-10 deal, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. He will join OKC in its summer league squad.
Boeheim went undrafted in 2022. The 24-year-old went to Syracuse for four college seasons from 2019-22. He is the son of legendary college coach Jim Boeheim, who coached the Orange from 1976-2023.
He’s spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Pistons. He was on a two-way deal and played in the G League. He’s averaged 2.5 points in 8.7 minutes throughout 20 games in his tenure.
The Thunder can get his G League rights and add him to the OKC Blue if he impresses enough during summer league. He will get a chance to get serious minutes, especially down the stretch of the multi-week event.
Report: OKC Thunder signs Isaiah Joe to four-year, $48 million deal.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Isaiah Joe to a four-year, $48 million deal, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. This comes two days after OKC declined his cheap team option for next season.
The Thunder have locked down a key rotation piece for the foreseeable future. After being a late training camp addition in 2022, Joe has turned into a sharpshooter for OKC off the bench.
The 24-year-old has had a pair of productive seasons for the Thunder that have turned his career around. He’s now getting a nice raise and will be a key rotation piece for the foreseeable future.
In 78 games last season, Joe averaged 8.2 points on 45.8% shooting, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He shot 41.6% from 3 on 4.5 attempts.
OKC also re-signed Aaron Wiggins to a similar deal after it declined his team option for next season.
Report: OKC Thunder signs Aaron Wiggins to five-year, $47 million deal.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Aaron Wiggins to a five-year, $47 million deal, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. This comes two days after OKC declined his cheap team option for next season.
The Thunder have locked down one of their key rotation pieces over the last three seasons. The 25-year-old has worked up to being a backup wing for OKC after being drafted with the No. 55 pick of the 2021 NBA draft.
This is a great value extension for the Thunder as Wiggins is one of the better backup forwards in the league. To get him at a bargain rate means OKC keeps a key bench piece.
In 78 games last season, Wiggins averaged 6.9 points on 56.2% shooting, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He shot 49.2% from 3 on 1.6 attempts.
OKC also re-signed Isaiah Joe to a similar deal after it declined his cheap team option for next season.
