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Something that @WindhorstESPN said on SportsCenter tonight bothers me. (0:29 mark below)
He said, “This is the most obvious case of tampering in history because it’s three days before free agency even opens, and we have two sides announcing a sign-and trade.”
That’s not true. https://twitter.com/stoltzy3/status/1329301056807899137
He said, “This is the most obvious case of tampering in history because it’s three days before free agency even opens, and we have two sides announcing a sign-and trade.”
That’s not true. https://twitter.com/stoltzy3/status/1329301056807899137
The Bucks did not announce a sign-and-trade. The Kings did not announce a sign-and-trade.
No, it was @wojespn, Windhorst’s colleague at ESPN, who announced the sign-and-trade, typo and all. See for yourself. You probably RT’d it! https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1328580779966914561
No, it was @wojespn, Windhorst’s colleague at ESPN, who announced the sign-and-trade, typo and all. See for yourself. You probably RT’d it! https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1328580779966914561
Now, let’s look at how Woj reported the transaction, as compared to how another NBA insider ( @KevinOConnorNBA) reported the news.
O’Connor said that “The Bucks will pursue” Bogdanovic.
But Woj said “Milwaukee is landing” Bogdanovic.
KOC is speculating; Woj is reporting.
O’Connor said that “The Bucks will pursue” Bogdanovic.
But Woj said “Milwaukee is landing” Bogdanovic.
KOC is speculating; Woj is reporting.
Woj’s word is treated as gospel in NBA circles (and for good reason, based on his track record), but ESPN (through Woj, and later through Windhorst) is trying to paint the picture as a done deal, well in advance of the opening of free agency. Fishy, right?
Is it fishy because the Kings and Bucks had discussions (which is allowed)? Or is it fishy because everybody treated it as an OFFICIAL transaction *only after* Woj reported it on Twitter? It wasn’t even a new thing; ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported it on Nov 5: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30221719/giannis-antetokounmpo-future-all-star-trades-nba-draft-everything-else-watch-offseason
The tipping point, when the trade moved from theoretical to actual, was 12:08am CST, when @wojespn tweeted that ESPN’s sources said the deal was happening. Look again how KOC’s word choice changed *after* the Woj tweet.
Honestly, it’s late, and I’m not even sure what point I’m making now. But there’s a big story making the rounds about the league potentially punishing the Bucks for tampering, and franchise execs being outraged at Milwaukee...based off of one tweet from one (reputable) reporter.
Something doesn’t add up about *any* of the stuff between the Bucks, the Kings, Bogdan Bogdanovic and his agent, and ESPN. Maybe it never will, but when @WindhorstESPN reports on live TV that “both sides announced the deal” when that’s simply a falsehood...something is off.
