Celtics’ Thomas: Surgery on hip not top option

Nassir Little is drawing attention from a number of teams following his performance in the G League Showcase. Little is still just 25 and one of the better wing defenders in the G League.

“He’s one of the better game-ready call-up guys,” said one veteran scout.

Little was on a $6.25 million contract last season with the Phoenix Suns and remains unsigned. Little turned down lucrative overseas opportunities to continue looking for an NBA contract. Sources say Little is expected to be signed by some team in the coming weeks.

In preseason with the Miami Heat, Little averaged 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.5 minutes over two games. Over 16 G League games with Sioux Falls, Little is averaging 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 33.8 minutes.

TNT is on the verge of losing the NBA after the 24-25 season with Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal reporting on how Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav mishandled negotiations with the league.

While ESPN was firm on wanting to retain the “A” package and not letting it go to the open market by doubling its old rights fees from $1.4 billion per season to $2.8 billion, Zaslav believed he would only have to pay between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion to retain the “B” package and refused to double it to $2.4 billion.

WBD entered negotiations believing they could ultimately match any offer the NBA received for the package, but the league’s contention is they cannot necessarily match it on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

The NBA subsequently agreed to a $2.6 billion deal with NBC that virtually make it impossible for TNT to equal.

WBD is believed to be preparing to sue the NBA over the issue.