Joe Lacob gets hit with a $500,000 fine, KD is barely communicating with the Nets, and the Sixers have a new home on the way...

TGIF!

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Warriors hit with $500k fine

Warriors owner Joe Lacob was recently fined $500,000 for “unauthorized communications regarding collective bargaining.” The fine is one of the largest in NBA history and was given based on comments he made during a recent podcast appearance.

While on “Point Forward,” a podcast hosted by Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner, the conversation shifted to NBA payroll and luxury taxes, and Lacob made his thoughts on the matter crystal clear.

He said: "The hardest thing of all is navigating this luxury tax…The truth is, we're only $40 million more than the luxury tax. Now, that's not small but it's not a massive number. We're $200 million over in total because most of that is this incredible penal luxury tax.”

He then went on to state how the system is unfair because the top eight players on the Warriors were all home-grown talent and that by charging these crazy premiums, the league is encouraging teams not to retain their drafted players. The current CBA expires at the end of the 2023-24 season, and if Lacob has his way, luxury taxes will definitely be a topic of discussion.

SIXERS

A new 76ers arena is on the way!

For the first time since 1996, the 76ers will call a new arena home. Following the end of their lease with Wells Fargo Center in 2031, the team intends to move into a new arena called 76 Place. This arena will be located in Philadelphia’s Center City and will be ready for the start of the 2031-2032 NBA season.

This new location was chosen “primarily due to it being the most transit-rich location in all of Philadelphia, the ability to redevelop an existing commercial space, and the opportunity to play a role in the continued revitalization of Center City.”

76 Place is expected to cost around $1.3B, but don’t worry locals — it will be privately funded. The Sixers are bullish on the arena’s community impact, saying it will “provide $1.9 billion in overall economic output during construction and $400 million annually upon opening to support Philadelphia's long-term economic growth and sustainability.”

This is not the first time the 76ers have attempted to make a new arena for themselves. They previously proposed a new arena at Penn’s Landing in 2020 but were unsuccessful.

THE OFFSEASON

Kis barely communicating with the Nets!

Kevin Durant requested a trade out of Brooklyn several weeks ago and has pretty much gone radio silent as trade talks have stalled.

The two teams KD’s the most interested in, the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, don’t have what the Nets need to get a deal done for a player of his caliber and contract. Meanwhile, the team the Nets would likely be most interested in trading with, the Toronto Raptors, are reportedly not keen on including rookie of the year Scottie Barnes in a trade.

Adding to the confusion of this whole situation is the relative lack of communication from Kevin Durant. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has described KD’s communication with the Nets and other players as “sparse.” No one quite understands why he wants out or if that’s even still the case.

Dave McMenamin recently reported that there was a “school of thought” Durant’s trade request was actually about getting the Nets to trade Kyrie Irving. It’s a pretty galaxy-brain-level theory, but at this point, we just don’t know what is true until we hear from the man himself.

THE RUMOR MILL

[Scott & Anderson] "I've been receiving texts as we speak that the Donovan Mitchell trade is done - it's agreed upon. They're working out the final details to be announced here shortly. ... It's a haul"

In 2017 DeMarcus Cousins was believed to be planning on accepting a $209 million dollar Designated Player Extension contract from the Kings. Since the offer being withdrawn, and being traded to the Pelicans, DeMarcus Cousins has earned only ~$12 million from further contracts.

SEEN ON SOCIAL