RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 December 2024

• Philadelphia City Council Approves $1.3 Billion Plan For Downtown Arena

  The Philadelphia City Council on Thursday approved a $1.3 billion plan to build a downtown basketball arena next to Chinatown for their hometown Philadelphia 76ers.

  The votes to ratify a package of bills authorizing the Sixers to proceed, mostly by a 12-5 margin, capped more than two years over a 18,500-seat arena that supporters said would create thousands of construction jobs.

  "All of Philadelphia will benefit from this project," Ms. Parker said at a City Hall news conference after the vote. "We are about to put the next generation of skilled workers to work right here."

  Construction on the arena would begin in 2028, and would be finished in time for the 2031-32 N.B.A. season.

• Joel Embiid Upgraded To Questionable For Friday Against Hornets

  Joel Embiid has been upgraded to questionable for the Philadelphia 76ers' game on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets. Embiid suffered a right sinus fracture last week, but he participated in team practice over the past two days. Embiid will be reevaluated on Friday.

  Embiid has played in only six games this season due to his recurring knee issue, suspension and sinus fracture. Embiid is averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 29.3 minutes.

  The Sixers are 8-16 this season and are 12th in the Eastern Conference.

• 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

• Final Hubie Brown Broadcast Scheduled For Feb. 9

  Hubie Brown is scheduled to call his final NBA game on February 9.

  The Sixers will play at the Bucks in a game that will precede the Super Bowl.

  Brown will work the game alongside Mike Breen on ABC.

  Brown has spent 35 years as a national television and radio analyst.

• Joel Embiid Out At Least One Week With Right Sinus Fracture

  Joel Embiid will be reevaluated in one week with his right sinus fracture. Embiid suffered the injury in the Philadelphia 76ers' loss last Friday to the Indiana Pacers.

  Embiid has played in just six games this season, averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 29.3 minutes.

• Sixers Prioritizing Roster Flexibility, Staying Under Second Apron

  The injury-plagued Philadelphia 76ers are sorting out their approach to the trade deadline. Recent injuries to Joel Embiid (sinus fracture) and Jared McCain (torn meniscus) have the Sixers sorting out how to move forward.

  Philadelphia's priorities are to maintain roster flexibility, while staying under the second apron. The Sixers are currently about $6 million shy of the second apron. The 76ers also have an open standard roster spot.

• Jared McCain Out Indefinitely Due To Torn Left Meniscus

  Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Jared McCain will be out indefinitely due to a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. McCain reported soreness following Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. An MRI revealed the tear, and the rookie guard will require surgery.

  McCain had played in every Sixers game this season. The 2024 first-round pick was averaging 15.3 points on 46% shooting, including 38.3% on 5.8 three-point attempts per game. McCain was a leading contender to win Rookie of the Year for this season.

• Joel Embiid Leaves Loss To Pacers With Sinus Fracture

  Joel Embiid exited the Philadelphia 76ers' 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers after being struck in the face going for a defensive rebound. Embiid was caught with an errant forearm and elbow to his face by Bennedict Mathurin. Embiid has been diagnosed with a sinus fracture.

  The team ruled him out early in the second half with "impact to the right side of the face."

  The 76ers are still determining whether he suffered any facial fractures.

  Embiid has had number of facial injuries, including an orbital bone fracture after a collision with Pascal Siakam during the 2022 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors and one in 2018 after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz.

• Joel Embiid Calls Knee Issues 'Depressing'

  Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid wants to be on the floor. So much so, that missing games have left him feeling depressed.

  "Depressing," Embiid told ESPN when asked what the past couple of months have been like for him. "Just trying to figure it out. There's no injury. Just between the swelling... we've got to get it figured out. That's it.

  "I've been saying it for the last few months. It's been extremely depressing. It's something that hasn't been figured out, and it's been extremely annoying, because I would love to play every single game."

  Embiid said that he's still working through issues with his knee, despite returning to play on Sunday.

  "I think the whole thing is about health... that's what it comes down to," Embiid said. "I wish I could have been playing from the beginning. I would love to play every single game, every single minute, but sometimes your body just says, 'No,' and you can't do nothing about it. All you can do is just keep working to fix it and get better."

• Sixers Not Looking To Trade Guerschon Yabusele

  The Philadelphia 76ers are not looking to deal Guerschon Yabusele, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Stein adds that the team is "thrilled" with Yabusele's production.

  Yabusele is averaging 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds this season.

  Yabusele is signed to a one-year deal worth $2.087 million.