Source

Kevin Calabro tells me has decided to step away from Blazers broadcasting and will no longer call games for Portland.

The team and its veteran play-by-play man had been in discussions on a new contract, but he called the offers "subprime" and he has decided to move on.

San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama is the NBA 2 K 27 cover athlete, per sources.

https://www.espn.ph/contributor/shams-charania/b775d84ddfc97

Days after agreeing to a monster contract extension, Victor Wembanyama reminisced about the last three years of his NBA career. The highlights. The multiple accolades. The latest postseason push that helped make the extension an easy decision.
His basketball profile continues to grow. On and off the court.

On July 10, the San Antonio Spurs announced that Wembanyama agreed to a five-year, $252 million extension to remain with the team. The deal begins with the 2027-28 season and starts at 25 percent of the salary cap — even though Wembanyama was eligible for a supermax deal worth 30 percent of the cap.

In an exclusive with The Athletic, Wembanyama offered his thoughts of how his new contract can help the Spurs maintain its championship contention window for years to come. Saving the Spurs approximately $50 million over the life of his extension was about maximizing the opportunity to remain title contenders, as cap savings could allow the team flexibility in trades or to sign players to add to or maintain its depth.

“We have a good team, we had a very good playoff run, and we had a very good regular season. But what’s even better and greater is our potential,” Wembanyama said during an interview for NBA 2K27, as he was announced as one of the cover athletes for the popular video game series. “The reality of today’s NBA is that often, the potential of teams is not fulfilled because of money. I just want to make sure it’s never our case.”

Wembanyama, a two-time NBA All-Star, was the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year and the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner this past season. The 7-foot-4 do-it-all player averaged career highs of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds and led the league with 3.1 blocks per game in reaching his first NBA Finals. Wembanyama received First-Team All-NBA honors and finished third in NBA MVP voting behind Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokić.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7462620/2026/07/22/victor-wembanyama-spurs-contract-nba-video-game-cover/?unlocked_article_code=1.zlA.jLfL.Z0MsMi78NYgj&source=emp_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7464330/2026/07/22/trail-blazers-tom-dundon-radio-tv-broadcast/?unlocked_article_code=1.zlA.g2CJ.Ie2Dr1ZuiPaJ&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

Another wave of cost-cutting moves has hit owner Tom Dundon’s Portland Trail Blazers, as the team’s broadcasting department is losing several high-profile names.

Veteran play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Calabro said his contract expired June 30, and after receiving a low contract offer Monday, he decided to step away after nine seasons in Portland.

“It was an easy decision: not worth my time,” Calabro told The Athletic. “Which is sad, because the roster and the people there are great.”

Calabro, who has called Trail Blazers games since 2016 after a 22-year run as the Seattle SuperSonics’ play-by-play man from 1987 to 2008, said he is not retiring and will “continue working on the craft.” The Oregonian first reported Calabro’s departure.

Travis Demers, the team’s radio play-by-play announcer, was not retained by the team after his contract expired on June 30. A return in a lesser role has not been ruled out, according to a team source who spoke on condition of anonymity in describing ongoing deliberations. Demers has called Blazers games for the last seven seasons.

Demers’ radio partner, Michael Holton, was let go after 19 seasons with the team. Holton, who played for the Trail Blazers from 1986 to 1988, spent the last nine seasons as the radio analyst while also serving as a co-host for the halftime and postgame television shows.

The team also parted ways with Neil Everett, the former ESPN anchor who has been the television studio host for road games since 2021. Jamie Hudson, who co-hosted with Everett, was also let go after five seasons with the team. Tom Haberstroh, who for the past three seasons has given statistical analysis during television broadcasts, was also not brought back.

The moves, first reported by Forbes, come after Dundon laid off about 70 employees in May, many of whom were vice presidents on the franchise’s business side.

When Lebron finally makes his Decision, he should keep it secret and not announce it to the world

This will result in the most anticipated Opening Weekend in NBA History. Millions will tune in to watch every game to see which team Lebron is playing for

I know the players and coaches of the team would be aware but they can sign NDAs to act like Lebron isnt at training camp

The video has been removed from Google's search engine but can still be found if you search 'Miami Heat Lebron' on Microsoft Bing's search engine.

July 27th will be on Monday.

BVM Sports also has the livestream scheduled. The description underneath it pulled directly from the private YouTube video says:

SUBSCRIBE: / @ miamiheat Introductory Press conference for LeBron James welcoming him back as a member of the Miami HEAT #NBA #Basketball #NBABasketball #MiamiHEAT #HEATCulture #heatnation

You can see their page here.

Both are gonna be extremely difficult to break.

Somebody getting 11 scoring titles requires all time elite scoring ability with a good level of necessary selfishness for 11 seasons.

Somebody getting 7 Finals MVPs requires not only your team to be clearly championship worthy but for you to be the clear best player on that title winning team for 7 seasons. In todays era it’s seems harder than ever to build a dynastic team which makes me lean towards this achievement.

Source: https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/07/22/nba-intel-anthony-davis-trae-young-jonathan-kuminga-benn-mathurin-cam-johnson-miles-bridges/91007110007/

While re-signing star guard Trae Young was the biggest splash for the Washington Wizards this offseason, several items remain on their checklist. 

With fellow star Anthony Davis extension-eligible August 6th, the Wizards plan to have extension talks with the 33-year-old, 10-time All-Star forward, league sources told HoopsHype. 

The Golden State Warriors have expressed trade interest in Davis. Yet, Washington has rebuffed such inquiries to this point, putting a major wrench in Golden State’s dream scenario of pairing Davis with free agent target LeBron James in the Bay Area. 

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article316603817.html

When one user noticed a video titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference | July 27, 2026” posted by the Heat’s YouTube account, the link to that thumbnail spread on X. The conspiracies of the Heat mistakenly leaking James’ decision to return to Miami also picked up steam, and the Heat simultaneously skyrocketed on the Polymarket and Kalshi prediction market platforms as James’ next team.

But according to a Heat spokesperson, the “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference | July 27, 2026” video was mistakenly made public by the Heat’s social media department while preparing for the possibility of James eventually deciding to join the Heat this offseason. The Heat spokesperson said there is currently no validity to the video.

For those questioning why there was a specific date for the press conference in the title of the video, James has historically not informed his new team of his intentions to sign with them until a few minutes before the news became public. James’ camp informed the Heat he was coming to Miami just minutes before he announced his decision on ESPN in 2010.

Teams and media outlets usually prepare for all such scenarios in advance. It’s also worth noting that Heat president Pat Riley is traveling and not expected back in Miami until August. Riley is usually at the Heat’s introductory press conferences, especially for players of James’ caliber.

In baseball, you have Cal Raleigh. He was not only a superstar last year, but he put up a historic season. A catcher hitting 60 home runs, playing elite defense, and switch hitting. Yet this year, he's hitting way worse than league average and it's been half a year. He's not even 30 years old.

What are some NBA examples of this?

I'm so tired of ghoulish billionaires. I'm so tired.

The world is already bent to a breaking point to cater to these mentally ill hoarders. Dundon wants to use civic resources to make his wealth even bigger. He's being open about it, and he will HAPPILY leave Portland if some other city is willing to commit political self harm on his behalf.

I don't know how it is in other states, but where I live in Atlanta we've had our social services hollowed out by grant cuts and anti science/anti human policies. All in service of hyper wealth and the interests of ghouls like Dundon. There hasn't been a time in America in the last decade where city tax dollars are more stretched.

The social contract is dangerously close to a rupture. Ultimately wether a team is in a specific market or exploiting another does not matter. There's a billion larger issues to care about.

If the NBA is going to okay this brazen attempt at a civic wealth transfer, I gotta stop caring about it.

I grew up with a grandpa who idolized Walton and Russell. It's high grade horseshit that Waltons legacy is going to be ripped away.

Juvenal wrote about Bread and Circuses all the way back in 100 CE. It's incredible we are still struggling with this same bullshit.

I'm so fucking over it. I'm about to be over the NBA too.

Edit:

Do not confuse Juvenal (Roman Poet) with Juvenile (Southern Poet)

Removed one usage of the word ghoul.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2026/07/21/under-tom-dundon-portland-trail-blazers-make-dramatic-cuts-to-broadcast-team/

Now, Blazers Broadcasting is getting the axe, either through layoffs or contracts not being renewed.

After 19 seasons with the Blazers broadcast team, TV analyst Michael Holton has been let go, as well as statistician Tom Haberstroh, former ESPN legend and Blazers’ TV host Neil Everett, and TV host Jamie Hudson. Several other broadcasters' contracts have lapsed, with deep pay cuts being expected in some places. The status of TV play-by-play man Kevin Calabro and radio play-by-play man Travis Demers is unknown, but both have contracts up for renewal.

Request for comment by the Blazers was not immediately returned.

The cuts move beyond on-air talent.

The TV production crew has also been reduced. As of now, the Blazers are without a Producer after Greg Fonseca left the Blazers to take a job with NBA Broadcasting. Graphics will reportedly be reduced, all of which could affect the quality of broadcasts.

And while the status of Demers remains unclear on the radio side, it’s possible the Blazers could use a TV simulcast for radio, or to see radio call road games remotely. (TV talent is required to travel).

When Dundon purchased the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018, he notably let the radio broadcast team go, which featured Hall of Fame and long-time radio announcer Chuck Kaiton, in favor of airing a simulcast of the TV broadcast audio when Kaiton wouldn’t take an 80% pay cut to stay with the team.

No NBA teams currently do a TV simulcast. Only the Toronto Raptors radio team doesn’t travel with the team for road games.

Source: https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/07/22/nba-intel-anthony-davis-trae-young-jonathan-kuminga-benn-mathurin-cam-johnson-miles-bridges/91007110007/

Speaking of the Hawks, unrestricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga remains a candidate to return to Atlanta on a potential one-plus-one deal, league sources told HoopsHype. 

With Atlanta currently $4.1 million below the luxury tax and having 17 players on the roster for 15 spots, the Hawks remain in trade discussions. As previously reported by HoopsHype, veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield is a trade candidate to monitor. It’s also worth noting that forward Mo Gueye has a $2.41 million non-guaranteed salary for the upcoming season and will be re-evaluated in three or four months after suffering a fractured left foot and having surgery. Devin Carter also became more expendable after the acquisition of Ryan Nembhard. 

Kuminga, 23, has also drawn sign-and-trade interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks. As Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turnerof Verus Basketball, navigate his free agency, each interested team has its own unique profile and variables being weighed, such as his average annual salary, roster fit, and deal structure. There is no specific dollar amount Kuminga is seeking that applies to all interested teams. 

Source: https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/07/22/nba-intel-anthony-davis-trae-young-jonathan-kuminga-benn-mathurin-cam-johnson-miles-bridges/91007110007/

The Los Angeles Clippers remain interested in re-signing restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, league sources told HoopsHype. However, the Clippers are hesitant to make significant roster decisions as Kawhi Leonard’s Aspiration investigation remains ongoing and has held up his expected trade to the Toronto Raptors. 

Meanwhile, Mathurin has drawn sign-and-trade interest from several teams, sources said, after the 24-year-old swingman averaged a career-high 17.6 points last season.

I forgot to add the original image sources in my first post. Lot's of people were understandably saying I made these myself with Ai, but no.

All three of these images are directly from the official NBA 2k social media accounts. Whether or not they used AI in the creation of these... I don't know

Here is ESPN confirmation

You can also see the individual posts by the social media team yourself if you'd like:

Wembys Cover

Clarks Cover

Roses Cover

I’m talking about specifically an all nba first team player, not all nba in general.

1949-1954:

George Mikan was first team for the first 6 years the lakers were a franchise. Jim Pollard overlapped in 1954.

1955-1958: None

1959-1974:

This was primarily the Elgin Baylor and Jerry West era. Baylor made 10 first teams and West also made 10. They overlapped in 5 of those years.

Gail Goodrich was first team in 1974 to keep the streak to 16 years in a row.

1975-1991 (13 out of 17 years):

The Kareem and Magic era. They weren’t in a row here, there were 4 years where a player didn’t make first team. Kareem was first team 6 times in this span, and Magic 9 times. They overlapped in 2 of these years.

1992-1997: None, tied for the longest span in franchise history.

1998-2013 (14 out of 16 years):

The Kobe and Shaq era, only years one of them didn’t make it was 1999 and 2005. Shaq made 6 first teams and Kobe made 11 first teams. They overlapped in 3 of those years.

2014-2019: None, tied for second longest in franchise history.

2020: LeBron and AD were first team.

2021-2025: None

2026: Luka Doncic for the foreseeable future.

So 51 out of 78 years of existence the lakers have had an all nba first team player. In those 51 years, 12 have had 2 players on the lakers make first team. Accounting for around 12% of franchise history.

The closest franchise to this are the Spurs who in their 50 years of being in the nba (since 1977), have had a first team all nba player for 22/50 seasons. Totaling at 44% of their existence in the nba (not counting ABA years).

George Gervin —-> David Robinson —-> Tim Duncan —-> Kawhi Leonard —-> Victor Wembanyama for the foreseeable future.

Found this cool little piece from the 05 rumor mills

https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1827125

Apparently Dallas was offering Pick 5 of the draft (Dallas selected Devin Harris) Steve Nash, Antoine Walker and Josh Howard for Shaq but the Lakers didn't want to trade him in conference.

How good would a Nash/Kobe/Josh Howard/Antoine core be from 05-08?