RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 December 2024

• Pistons, Paul Reed Agree To One-Year Minimum Contract

  The Detroit Pistons signed Paul Reed to a one-year minimum deal, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  The contract is fully guaranteed for the season.

  With the Pistons now meeting the salary floor, they have $14 million in cap space ahead of the trade deadline.

• NBA Francises Collectively Worth $138 Billion, Average Of $4.6 Billion

  The Golden State Warriors have become the second most valuable franchise in sports at $9.14 billion, trailing only the Dallas Cowboys at $10.3 billion. The Warriors are joined in the top-3 by the New York Knicks at $8.3 billion and the Los Angeles Lakers at $8.07 billion.

  Collectively, the NBA's 30 teams are worth $138 billion, including real estate held by owners and team-related businesses, such as WNBA franchises. The average NBA franchise valuation is now $4.6 billion and has a value-to-revenue multiple of 11.9, which is above all other leagues.

  The NBA has a significant drop off from the Lakers at No. 3 as they are worth 42 percent more than the Brooklyn Nets at No. 4 with a valuation of $5.7 billion.

  The 30 NBA teams generated an estimated $11.6 billion last year, or $387 million per club. The concert business has been a major revenue driver for NBA teams who own and control their own arena. The Lakers and Boston Celtics are the only teams in the top-10 who do not control their arena.

  2024 NBA Valuation Rankings
  1. Warriors: $9.14 billion
  2. Knicks: $8.3 billion
  3. Lakers: $8.07 billion
  4. Nets: $5.7 billion
  5. Clippers: $5.66 billion
  6. Celtics: $5.66 billion
  7. Bulls: $5.56 billion
  8. Heat: $5 billion
  9. Rockets: $4.77 billion
  10. Raptors: $4.66 billion
  11. Sixers: $4.57 billion
  12. Mavericks: $4.46 billion
  13. Suns: $4.32 billion
  14. Kings: $4.11 billion
  15. Hawks: $4.07 billion
  16. Nuggets: $4.06 billion
  17. Wizards: $3.98 billion
  18. Cavaliers: $3.95 billion
  19. Bucks: $3.91 billion
  20. Spurs: $3.79 billion
  21. Pacers: $3.74 billion
  22. Jazz: $3.67 billion
  23. Blazers: $3.6 billion
  24. Thunder: $3.55 billion
  25. Magic: $3.46 billion
  26. Pistons: $3.45 billion
  27. Hornets: $3.39 billion
  28. Timberwolves: $3.29 billion
  29. Pelicans: $3.09 billion
  30. Grizzlies: $3.06 billion

• Pistons Re-Sign Paul Reed, Waive Javante McCoy

  The Detroit Pistons have re-signed Paul Reed after waiving him on Saturday and have waived Javante McCoy.

  By utilizing these cap gymnastics, the Pistons were able to increase their available cap space from $10.5 million to approximately $14 million, according to Keith Smith.

  In 12 games this season, Reed is averaging 4.8 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.4 minutes.

• Pistons Sign Javante McCoy

  The Detroit Pistons have signed Javante McCoy. Detroit had to sign a player by the end of day on Sunday to get back over the salary floor, or the team would have missed out the luxury tax disbursement at the end of the season.

  McCoy has averaged 14.7 points per game for the Motor City Cruise of the G League this season. The 6-foot-5 guard has shot 57.6% from the field, including 51.4% on three-pointers.

  Detroit fell under the salary floor when they waived Paul Reed on Saturday. They then had a one-day window to get back over the floor, otherwise they would miss out on an estimated $19 to $20 million luxury tax payment at the end of the season.

• Pistons To Waive Paul Reed

  The Detroit Pistons are waiving center Paul Reed. The move will create another open roster spot for Detroit and approximately $5 million more in cap space. The Pistons will enter trade season with nearly $15.5 million available under the cap.

  Reed was playing on the second year of a three-year, $23.5 million deal. Reed's contract has only guaranteed for this season for roughly $2.5 million of his $7.7 million contract.

  The Pistons will have 14 days to sign a 14th player to a standard contract to meet minimum roster requirements.

• Cade Cunningham Believes He Should Be An All-Star

  Cade Cunningham picked apart the New York Knicks on Saturday. The Detroit Pistons guard put up 29 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists, as his team picked up a victory in Madison Square Garden. Following the game, Cunningham was asked if he thinks he's an All-Star this season.

  "I believe I am," Cunningham said. "Whenever I'm on the court every night, I feel like I'm the best player. I try to do whatever it takes to help my team win, and my teammates have made me look great this year. I'm just trying to help my team win and we'll see what happens with it."

  Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised his star player, while making sure to compliment Cunningham's work on the defensive end. Detroit's coach was also glad to see Cunningham improve from the previous game against the Boston Celtics.

  "(Cade) set the tone for the game," Bickerstaff said. "Defensively we asked him to guard (Jalen) Brunson. I thought he did a really good job of keeping him in front of him and containing him. He played a complete game tonight and I was proud of his effort, but to see the growth from game to game and the things we talked about in Boston.

  "And to be able to carry it over to tonight, I thought, was really good."

• JB Bickerstaff Says Travel Woes Left Pistons Exhausted In Loss To Sixers

  J.B. Bickerstaff wasn't looking to make an excuse for why his Detroit Pistons were blown out at home by the Philadelphia 76ers. Instead, Bickerstaff offered a reason why the Pistons were off their game.

  "Our guys were exhausted. We sat on the runway last night until 2:30, 3 am, got home around 4:30 in a snowstorm," Bickerstaff said. "We just didn't have it tonight and that's fair. Today was just a rough day for them."

  Detroit played on Friday in Indiana. Due to weather in the area, the Pistons takeoff from Indianapolis was delayed. They then played Saturday at home against a Sixers team that hadn't played since Wednesday. In addition, Cade Cunningham was a late scratch for Detroit due to hip soreness.

  Bickerstaff also suggested that the NBA look at avoiding back-to-back games when a team is coming off an NBA Cup game. Many coaches have said that teams are going harder in the cup games, even in blowouts, as point differential is an important tiebreaker. The NBA avoids scheduling NBA Cup games as the second leg of a back-to-back but has no restrictions for a back-to-back game following a Cup game.

• Cade Cunningham Out Saturday Due To Left Sacroiliac Joint Sprain

  Cade Cunningham will miss the Detroit Pistons' game on Saturday against the Orlando Magic due to a left sacroiliac joint sprain.

  Cunningham suffered the injury on Thursday night against the Hornets.

  Cunningham has appeared in all 17 games of the season up until now.

• Cade Cunningham Leaves Pistons' Loss With Hip Injury

  Cade Cunningham left the Detroit Pistons' 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets due to a hip injury.

  Cunningham fell hard to the floor after getting fouled with 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

  Cunningham stayed in the game and made both free throws before eventually exiting.

  The Pistons had no update on Cunningham's status after the game.

• Tim Hardaway Jr. CAT Scan Returns Negative

  A CAT scan on Tim Hardaway Jr. returned negative on Tuesday night, reported Chris Haynes.

  Hardaway received stitches after getting elbowed in the face against the Heat.

  Hardaway is averaging 12.5 points in 28.4 minutes per game for the Pistons.