The Athletic NBA Daily: Detailed Episode Summary
Episode: Why the Clippers Didn’t Want Paul George | Celtics Potential Sale
Release Date: November 8, 2024

Introduction

Hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni, The Athletic NBA Daily delivers a comprehensive recap of the latest happenings in the NBA. In this episode, released on November 8, 2024, the hosts delve into two major topics:

1. The Clippers’ Decision Against Acquiring Paul George
2. The Potential Sale of the Boston Celtics and Its Implications for NBA Ownership

The 76ers’ Struggles: Injuries and Team Chemistry

Zena Keita opens the discussion by addressing the Philadelphia 76ers' challenging season. The team stands at a disappointing 1-6 record, compounded by injuries to key players like Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

• Injury Concerns: Tyrese Maxey exited the game against the Clippers with a hamstring injury, sidelining him for at least two weeks (02:31). This absence further strains the team's chemistry, already fragile due to inconsistent lineups.

• Maxey’s Workload: Kelly Oubre highlights Maxey's increased responsibility, noting that Maxey is carrying a usage rate of about 30%, often playing between 41 to 48 minutes per game (04:10). This heavy load is unsustainable and detrimental to both Maxey’s health and the team’s performance.

• Embiid’s Return: Joel Embiid is set to return next Tuesday for the NBA Cup game against the Knicks, but the team's bottom-five offense and subpar defense raise concerns about their ability to build chemistry with the limited roster.

Bucks’ Lineup Changes: Andre Jackson Jr. Steps Up

The Milwaukee Bucks secured a 123-100 victory over the Utah Jazz, marked by significant lineup adjustments.

• Andre Jackson Jr.'s Role: Andre Jackson Jr. replaced Gary Trent Jr. in the starting lineup, delivering an impressive performance with a +19 rating, four steals, and a notable chase-down block (05:06). His athleticism and energy provided a much-needed boost for the Bucks, signaling positive developments despite their rough season start.

• Future Implications: While this is a promising sign, Zena cautions against premature excitement, emphasizing the need for consistent performance improvements as the Jazz remain a strong opponent.

Paul George’s Return to the Clippers: A Rocky Reception

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Paul George's return to the Los Angeles Clippers and the surrounding controversies.

• Fan Reception: Kelly Oubre recounts the mixed atmosphere at Intuit Dome, where Paul George was met with largely negative reactions. Despite his positive outlook prior to the game, the reality was starkly different, with anti-George signs and a lukewarm crowd (07:55).

  Kelly Oubre (07:55): "First of all, thank you guys for having me... the mood was certainly, you know, largely anti Paul George... It wasn't LeBron going back to Cleveland. You know what I mean?"

• Game Performance: George did not deliver the comeback performance fans hoped for, falling short and contributing to the tense environment.

• Clippers’ Trade Decision: Sam Amick discusses the Clippers' rationale for not pursuing trades for George. The primary opportunity involved the Golden State Warriors, but disagreements over asset exchanges, particularly regarding draft picks and player trades, led to the Clippers deciding against acquiring George (10:29).

  Kelly Oubre (10:29): "They absolutely drew the line in the sand... they just weren't interested in doing."

• Long-Term Strategy: The Clippers prioritize future flexibility, especially concerning cap space and maintaining strong partnerships with stars like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Extending George's contract to 2027 would impose financial constraints, making it an unattractive option for the franchise (13:08).

Celtics’ Potential Sale: Transforming NBA Ownership Dynamics

Transitioning to the second major topic, the episode explores the Boston Celtics' unexpected decision to put the team up for sale just weeks after winning the NBA Championship.

• Ownership Turnover: Mike Vorkanoff explains that the Celtics' potential sale could mark the ninth team changing hands since 2019, a pace unmatched by other major leagues like the NFL, MLB, or NHL (14:46). This trend reflects a broader shift in NBA ownership dynamics.

• Financial Implications: The current ownership faces hefty luxury tax bills due to high payrolls, exacerbated by recent multi-year contracts signed by key players like Derrick White, Chris Osborne, Jalen Brown, and Jason Tatum. Potential buyers must contend with:

  • Luxury Tax Rates: Prices are projected to jump, with players like Paul George potentially costing the franchise up to $60 million by 2027 (16:01).

  • Asset Valuation: The Celtics are valued between $4.75 billion to $6 billion, setting a new benchmark for NBA franchises and potentially influencing future expansion fees, such as those for a Vegas team (17:32).

• Ownership Structure Challenges: The Celtics present a unique case as they do not own their arena, TD Garden, adding another layer of complexity for potential buyers. Additionally, the ownership structure includes significant minority stakeholders, complicating the sale process (19:30).

• Market Trends: This sale underscores the escalating valuations of NBA teams, driven by lucrative media rights deals and burgeoning revenue streams from merchandise, tickets, and other fan engagements. However, the high costs associated with maintaining a competitive team may deter some investors, especially given the impending luxury tax penalties (18:45).

• Fan Interaction and Media Landscape: The discussion also touches upon how evolving media deals—requiring multiple subscriptions for comprehensive game access—could impact fan engagement and loyalty. The fragmentation of viewing platforms might lead to subscription fatigue, challenging teams to balance profitability with fan accessibility (21:51).

  Paul George (22:24): "You're going to have to subscribe to all these things if I'm a big NBA fan who wants to watch my team every night, and that's going to be annoying."

Conclusion

The episode wraps up by emphasizing the interconnectedness of team management decisions, ownership dynamics, and the evolving media landscape. Key takeaways include:

• Clippers' Strategic Moves: The Clippers prioritized long-term flexibility over acquiring Paul George, reflecting a calculated approach to team building amidst financial constraints.

• Celtics’ Sale as a Market Indicator: The potential sale of the Celtics highlights the NBA's rapidly increasing franchise valuations and the financial pressures of maintaining a championship-caliber team.

• Impact on Fans: Changes in media distribution and ownership structures pose challenges for fan engagement, necessitating innovative solutions to preserve the relationship between teams and their supporters.

The hosts encourage listeners to stay informed through The Athletic’s in-depth coverage and to subscribe for more comprehensive analyses.

Notable Quotes:

• Kelly Oubre on Paul George’s Reception:

  "He did not see it coming... the mood was certainly, you know, largely anti Paul George"
  07:55

• Kelly Oubre on Clippers’ Trade Decision:

  "They absolutely drew the line in the sand... they just weren't interested in doing."
  10:29

• Paul George on Media Landscape Challenges:

  "You're going to have to subscribe to all these things if I'm a big NBA fan who wants to watch my team every night, and that's going to be annoying."
  22:24

For more insights and detailed analyses, subscribe to The Athletic NBA Daily and stay ahead of the game with expert reporting from award-winning NBA journalists.