NBA ROUNDUP

Former U-M coach Juwan Howard hired by Nets

Juwan Howard has landed another coaching job.

The former Michigan basketball coach is joining the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach, according to a report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. It will be Howard's second stint as an NBA assistant and he will work under first-time head coach Jordi Fernandez.

Michigan fired Howard after the Wolverines finished last in the Big Ten with an 8-24 overall record, the most losses in the 107-year history of the program. Michigan missed the NCAA tournament for a second consecutive year.

— Jared Ramsey

Reports: Amazon set to become a new TV partner for NBA

The NBA television rights landscape is changing, with The Athletic reporting Friday that Amazon Prime Video has the “framework of a deal” in place with the league.

The outlet reported sources saying the streaming service is set to become an NBA destination platform with the contract beginning with the 2025-26 season expected to feature both regular-season and playoff games.

Meanwhile, Puck reported Friday that the league and long-time partner ESPN have “essentially come to terms” on a new agreement that keeps the network in possession of exclusive rights to the NBA Finals.

Both agreements are expected to be at least 10 years in duration.

Another long-time league partner, TNT, is not likely to be left out in the cold, though it reportedly faces a challenge from NBA/Peacock. TNT, as well as ESPN, reportedly have the right to match any offer.

The league’s current nine-year contracts with ESPN and TNT are set to expire after the 2024-25 season.

With fewer games included in the new deals – one estimate has ESPN moving from 100 games to 80 and TNT aimed for a similar reduction - the NBA cleared the way for a third partner now likely to be Amazon Prime Video.