Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets:

NBA INSIDER

It’s time for Seattle, Las Vegas and any other city hoping to land an NBA franchise to get serious.

Speaking before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, commissioner Adam Silver said expansion is part of the league’s future. The only thing standing in the way is a media rights deal, and that’s President of Global Content and Media Distribution Bill Koenig’s job.

“Can you tell me when the media deals will be over so I can begin the expansion process?” Silver joked at Koenig’s expense.

In a more sincere moment, Silver said Koenig has been working “all around the clock” to secure a long-term commitment. The media deal was reportedly close to being done until Warner Bros. Discovery made a late push to retain rights. It previously looked like bids from Amazon, NBC and ESPN, which also has a current broadcasting deal, were close to the finish line. What’s clear is that the NBA will include both traditional cable channels and streaming services in the next deal.

“It’s complicated for several reasons. One is the advent of new platforms, particularly streaming, and the interest of streaming companies, and then the traditional media companies also carrying our games on streaming platforms,” Silver said.

“It’s complicated with multiple partners all seeking similar assets. In many cases, just figuring out the right way to balance those games as they go to different partners. Then lastly … we tend to do long-term deals. We think that’s good for the stability of the league. But it means to a certain extent you’re trying to predict the future, which is of course impossible.”

The media deal is the only hurdle standing before expansion, the commissioner said. Silver also mentioned the hope of more international expansion, though he added that wasn’t a priority in the immediate future. Toronto is currently the only franchise located outside the United States. The first step was a new collective bargaining agreement, which went into effect July 1. As soon as the media deal is done, the NBA can get serious about expansion.

“Media deals, it’s been a long process. It’s ongoing, and we hope to wrap it up in the relative near term. Then we will turn to expansion,” Silver said. “It’s not preordained that we will expand this time, but I know there’s an enormous amount of interest out there. And to me, yes, there are wealthy individuals, institutions that would like to invest and buy NBA teams. … I’m actually very excited about turning to that process, but first we’ve just got to be finished with the media deals.”

WHAT I’M FOLLOWING

– Nikola Jokic is listed on Serbia’s 16-man preliminary roster for the Olympics. All signs point to him representing his homeland this summer in Paris. If that’s the case, the July 28 matchup with the United States will be appointment viewing.

– A Bruce Brown reunion will be hard to pull off, but the sixth man of Denver’s championship squad is fueling speculation there’s interest in a reunion on Instagram. After posting a picture of him celebrating the Game 5 win over the Heat to clinch the Nuggets’ first championship on Instagram, Brown sought help getting an early tee time in Denver this weekend.

– David Adelman is still a long shot to be the next Lakers coach after Connecticut coach Dan Hurley turned down the job on Monday. According to sportsbetting.AG, JJ Redick is a -500 favorite to be the next coach of the Lakers. Adelman is listed at +1800.

– Peyton Watson appeared to be getting some work in at the University of Texas last week.

– Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and his wife were among the NBA players who attended Rajon Rondo’s wedding in Italy last week.

WHAT I’M THINKING

The commissioner addressed a lot of different topics during his annual pre-Finals media availability, but there’s one national issue and a more local issue that unfortunately didn’t receive much time.

The NBA dealt with its first big gambling scandal this year, which resulted in Jontay Porter’s lifetime banishment from the league. The league, its teams located in states where sports gambling is legal and the media have leaned into the movement for good reason. It’s simply a moneymaker for all parties involved.

It’s more complicated than that, though. Porter’s alleged decision to remove himself from games with illness or injury after just a few minutes and assure the under bets on his individual stats hit, was reportedly a way for him to pay off debts from other wagers. Players are currently allowed to bet on non-NBA events. That should get the NBA’s attention, because young people with access to a lot of money can dig quite a hole rather quickly.

It was worth asking whether that situation impacted how Silver and the league view their relationship with the rapidly growing industry.

For all the talk about the new media rights deal, there wasn’t much of an answer for the many fans across the country impacted by blackouts, as regional sports networks, like Altitude in Denver, and big cable companies remain at an impasse. The new media rights deal needs to provide an option for impacted fans. It could be as simple as removing blackout restrictions on League Pass. But something’s got to give or fans will just get more and more comfortable watching their home teams via illegal streams. That’s bad for business. Silver seemed to acknowledge as much at last season’s press conference in Denver.

“It makes no sense, and it’s on us to fix it,” Silver said of the issue.

Maybe the league can use some of that gambling money to help teams make their games more accessible in their home markets.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Silver’s press conference happened a couple of days before the news broke Caitlin Clark likely won’t be headed to Paris, but the commissioner did speak on the impact Clark and new crop of promising players have had on the WNBA as it nears its 30th year.

“This was a long time coming,” Silver said. “If you went back and looked at our original business plan from 28 years ago, we didn’t think it would be such a long timeline to break into the popularity we’re seeing now.”

Silver also touched on the reasoning behind the the NBA’s decision to end its G League Ignite experiment to develop elite young talent. The ability for college players to be compensated for their name, image and likeness appeared to have played a role, as did a desire to restructure the way young players are developed in the United States.

“It’s interesting, as you look at the growing body of international players in the NBA, Luka Doncic as an example before, who in essence went on a professional track beginning at 13 with Real Madrid, there’s clearly some improvement we could use in the U.S. system for the training of these elite players,” Silver said. “There’s no doubt they come into the league as some of the most skilled players in the world, but in many cases they haven’t — it’s not that they haven’t learned team basketball, but because of the way the system works, they’re constantly changing teammates, they’re jumping from program to program. You can tell that the international players in many cases are just learning a different style, and in some cases a more efficient and winning style of basketball, team play basketball than we’re seeing in some of the U.S. programs.”

WHAT I’M READING

Kicking it with Kiz is always a good time, and this week’s edition was no different. The news Caitlin Clark is likely being omitted from the Olympic roster was the source of a couple of inquiries. I originally thought Arike Ogunbowale was the biggest snub, but Kiz has me rethinking things.

THE LIST

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s decision over his $15.4 million player option looms large over Denver’s offseason. Here are a few other players around the league with options for next season that could alter the look of free agency.

1. LeBron James

The man knows a thing or two about offseason drama, and he could create some more this summer. The 39-year-old has $51.4 million waiting for him in Los Angeles. Whether that’s enough to lock him in remains to be seen with the franchise still looking for its next head coach and James’ son Bronny available in the draft.

2. Paul George

The Clippers wing has a salary worth just under $49 million, but he could receive a longer-term commitment in free agency. If he declines, he’ll become one of the premier talents available this summer.

3. OG Anunoby

Traded from Toronto to the Knicks during the season, Anunoby would make just under $20 million if he wants to give New York another shot before becoming an unrestricted free agent next year. While most players need to decide by June 29, Anunoby’s decision is due by the 24th.