It's NBA schedule release day, and in what is hopefully becoming an annual tradition, NBA Scheduling Czars, Sr. VP of Game Schedule Management Tom Carelli and Sr. VP of Basketball Strategy & Analytics Evan Wasch, return to shed some light on the blood, sweat, and tears that go into scheduling an NBA season. They discuss the reduction of back-to-back games, exploring earlier start times, focusing on player health and mental well-being, communicating and working with teams and arenas, identifying key match-ups and narratives, prioritizing high-profile and nationally-prominent games, and the factors considered when booking NBA travel. They also answer a few fan questions from twitter.

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ESPN columnist/commentator, Howard Bryant, joins The Full 48 with Howard Beck to debate the hypothetical effect of abolishing free agency, the luxury tax, and the draft in the NBA. They dissect apocalyptical scenarios that might result including league contraction, lack of player spread, and extreme over-spending for A List talent in smaller markets. They also discuss changing fandom, the end of the dynasty/super team era in the NBA, and the soap opera culture (aka free agency) taking over the league.

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ESPN columnist/commentator, Howard Bryant, joins The Full 48 with Howard Beck to debate the hypothetical effect of abolishing free agency, the luxury tax, and the draft in the NBA. They dissect apocalyptical scenarios that might result including league contraction, lack of player spread, and extreme over-spending for A List talent in smaller markets. They also discuss changing fandom, the end of the dynasty/super team era in the NBA, and the soap opera culture (aka free agency) taking over the league.

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Michael Lee of The Athletic returns to break down this crazy Summer and off-season! He weighs in on the Washington Wizards front office re-org, the City of Los Angeles winning big in free agency (nabbing 4 of the top 8 players in the league between the Lakers and the Clippers), Mike Conley joining the Utah Jazz, and the Brooklyn Nets landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Howard and Michael also share their top 5 Christmas Day match-ups (which may or may not include the Golden State Warriors), their play-off predictions for both the Eastern and Western Conferences (and why Dallas and Atlanta are definitely out), and why Russell Westbrook will never be hated in OKC. Plus, Michael Lee reveals the entire story behind the Jay-Z diss track inspired by the DeShawn Stevenson and LeBron James feud covered by Michael during his beat writing days in DC.

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Michael Lee of The Athletic returns to break down this crazy Summer and off-season! He weighs in on the Washington Wizards front office re-org, the City of Los Angeles winning big in free agency (nabbing 4 of the top 8 players in the league between the Lakers and the Clippers), Mike Conley joining the Utah Jazz, and the Brooklyn Nets landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Howard and Michael also share their top 5 Christmas Day match-ups (which may or may not include the Golden State Warriors), their play-off predictions for both the Eastern and Western Conferences (and why Dallas and Atlanta are definitely out), and why Russell Westbrook will never be hated in OKC. Plus, Michael Lee reveals the entire story behind the Jay-Z diss track inspired by the DeShawn Stevenson and LeBron James feud covered by Michael during his beat writing days in DC.

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President of the New Orleans Pelicans, David Griffin, offers an explanation for Zion Williamson's limited showing at Summer league, why the Pelicans are Jrue Holiday's team, what JJ Redick brings to a younger roster, and why it makes a lot of sense to flip flop the draft and free agency. He also provides some insight to the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, why he thinks the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers are "scary good," and how he feels the Brooklyn Nets will get the best version of Kyrie Irving.

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President of the New Orleans Pelicans, David Griffin, offers an explanation for Zion Williamson's limited showing at Summer league, why the Pelicans are Jrue Holiday's team, what JJ Redick brings to a younger roster, and why it makes a lot of sense to flip flop the draft and free agency. He also provides some insight to the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, why he thinks the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers are "scary good," and how he feels the Brooklyn Nets will get the best version of Kyrie Irving.

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NBA VP of Referee Development and Training, Monty McCutchen, discusses the upcoming Coach's challenge rule, implementing the proposed use of the replay center, experimenting with the Transition Foul rule in the G-League, micro-chips in basketballs, L2M reports, improving the player-referee relationship, and female referees in the NBA.

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NBA VP of Referee Development and Training, Monty McCutchen, discusses the upcoming Coach's challenge rule, implementing the proposed use of the replay center, experimenting with the Transition Foul rule in the G-League, micro-chips in basketballs, L2M reports, improving the player-referee relationship, and female referees in the NBA.

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Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, Gersson Rosas, says Karl-Anthony Towns is the reason they almost landed a big free agent (aka D'Angelo Russell), is excited about incoming rookie, Jarrett Culver, is advocating for swapping the draft and free agency dates, and shares the important core values he learned during his 16 years with Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets. Gersson also recounts the heartbreak of Chris Paul's injury during last year's Conference Finals, and the joy of signing James Harden. Plus, "Minnesota Nice" is a real thing!

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