NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the league will expand eventually, but that reports it’ll happen imminently are false.

Speaking on a range of topics, Silver said, “At some point, this league invariably will expand, but it’s not at this moment that we are discussing it.”

• Silver cited the potential dilution of talent among reasons to be cautious about growing the NBA.
• Previous reports indicated that the league was looking at adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.
• In late March, the Oak View Group purchased 25 acres for a $3 billion entertainment complex in Las Vegas — including a $1 billion, 20,000-seat arena.

“Those are wonderful markets,” said Silver. “We’ll be looking at it at some point, but there’s no specific timeline right now.”

Portland Possibilities

On Thursday, reports came out that Nike co-founder Phil Knight made a bid of over $2 billion to buy the Portland Trail Blazers. The team confirmed it had received the bid, but said that it was not currently for sale.

“I don’t have a sense of the precise timing, but at some point it will be for sale,” said Silver. The team is currently controlled by Jody Allen, sister of late former team owner Paul Allen and trustee to his estate.

“Portland has been a wonderful community for the NBA, and my preference would be that the team remains in Portland as part of this process,” Silver added.

FC Barcelona is reportedly in talks to sell a stake of its television rights to Bank of America in a deal valued at $645 million, according to Bloomberg. 

Barcelona is looking to offload a portion of its media rights to help alleviate recent financial woes that have plagued the La Liga soccer club over the past year. 

In March 2021, Barcelona was technically bankrupt, and three months later the club borrowed $605 million from Goldman Sachs. In October 2021, Barcelona reported $1.56 billion in debt, and the club currently has a spending cap of -$153 million — the only negative limit in La Liga.

• A plan to sell 25% of Barcelona’s media rights will depend on a vote by members on June 16.
• Barcelona could also sell a stake in its licensing and merchandising business for fresh capital. 

CVC Capital Partners was competing for a stake in Barcelona’s media rights, but the club ended negotiations with the private equity firm after an alternative proposal was made by Bank of America.

Quick Fix 

Barcelona agreed to a long-term sponsorship deal with audio streaming platform Spotify worth $306 million in March.

Barcelona has reportedly asked its players to take pay cuts to provide the financial resources necessary to reshape and improve the team’s current roster.

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day believes it will take $13 million in collective endorsement deals to keep his championship-seeking roster intact, according to a report by Cleveland.com 

Day said Ohio State — winners of eight national championships and 39 Big Ten titles — will struggle to compete with other major college football programs that are paying players directly following the start of the name, image, and likeness era in July 2021. 

Schools and their athletic programs aren’t allowed to pay athletes directly, per NCAA rules, but the rules aren’t being properly enforced, according to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith.

• Day predicts top-level quarterbacks will soon require $2 million in NIL earnings.
• He also believes offensive tackles and defensive ends could make roughly $1 million.  

The Buckeyes ranked No. 1 in NIL compensation and in the number of athletes who have signed at least one NIL deal. 

Piece of the Pie 

Football and basketball players on scholarship at institutions in Power 5 conferences could pocket a minimum of $50,000 each year, according to Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence. 

In May, the NCAA announced updated guidelines to its NIL rules that help hinder boosters from providing or even offering NIL deals to recruits.

The Oakland A’s face issues in their current home while battling port and construction groups over their desired site for a new ballpark.

The team is seeking to relocate to Howard Terminal along the Oakland waterfront, a 55-acre stretch currently used as a truck parking lot, container yard, and training area for dock workers. 

• Groups representing port-related businesses have sued to block the stadium project, arguing that changing Howard Terminal’s status as a port-controlled facility would impact port operations and revenue, as well as worsen supply chain issues.
• San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission staff issued a report last month recommending that the team get use of the port.
• The commission, which took public comments on the port question at a hearing on Thursday, many from port workers opposing the project, will vote on whether to redesignate Howard Terminal on June 30.

The A’s have designs on a $12 billion project including housing, office space, and retail connected to the Jack London Square commerce area.

The team is also exploring real estate in Las Vegas as an alternative option.

Crumbling Coliseum

Team president Dave Kaval wrote to the RingCentral Coliseum stadium authority board on May 12, detailing numerous issues including broken seats, leaks and plumbing backups, security, stadium aesthetics, a feral cat population on the stadium grounds, and “a significant uptick in moths.”

The A’s attendance has plummeted to an MLB-low of 7,547 per home game.