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Earlier this week, Awful Announcing reported that ESPN had agreed to ask Adrian Wojnarowski and their reporters to not tip picks during the NBA draft at the behest of the NBA.
Via Awful Announcing
A source tells Awful Announcing that ESPN has instructed its reporters to refrain from revealing picks on social media before they’re announced at Thursday’s draft, breaking with how the network has operated in the past. Previously, ESPN’s crew of insiders (or at least the ones who didn’t appear on the draft broadcast) has been free to report NBA Draft picks as soon as they learn of them — in contrast to how things work during the NFL Draft, when ESPN and NFL Network annually agree to hold off until the picks are read from the podium.
The source said ESPN’s directive not to tip picks this year was presented as an edict from the NBA itself. An ESPN representative declined comment Tuesday, while an NBA representative did not respond to a request for comment.
While Woj seemed like he was going to follow the rules at first but then hilariously started using code words like “prefers” and “zeroing in” to tip picks.
Memphis is locked in on selecting Jaren Jackson Jr., league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
Orlando is focused on selecting Texas center Mo Bamba with the sixth pick, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
Chicago is zeroing in on Wendell Carter with the seventh overall pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Source: Cleveland prefers Collin Sexton with the No. 8 pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Sources: New York has been focused on Kentucky's Kevin Knox with ninth pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Sources: Sixers are targeting Villanova's Mikal Bridges with No. 10.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Source: Portland has a laser on Anfernee Simons.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/KofieYeboah/status/1009955424764878848
ESPN: “You can’t announce picks early on Twitter”
Woj: pic.twitter.com/UVCWpdXq2U
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 22, 2018
.@wojespn we got some ideas for you… "considering" "contemplating" "pondering" "ruminate" "musing"
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 22, 2018
Woj is euro-stepping ESPN's "Don't break draft selections" rule with his word choice.
Using words like "prefers", "zeroing in", and "focused on"
instead of
"have selected" or "will select". pic.twitter.com/7xTJg7fTpo
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) June 22, 2018
Lol at Woj finessing the gag order with this nonsense https://t.co/qxp1CWys1z
— max (@MaxOnTwitter) June 22, 2018