NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Friday said that while he "doesn't believe the league should have a say in whether championship-winning teams decide to visit the White House, his personal belief is that they should make the trip if invited," according to A.J. Neuharth-Keusch of USA TODAY. Silver, who spoke with Trail Blazers G C.J. McCollum in a Players' Tribune interview, said, "These institutions are bigger than any individual politician, any individual elected official. It concerns me that something like going to the White House after winning a championship, something that has been a great tradition, would become one that is partisan." But Silver added that while teams "should make decisions as organizations," he would also "respect an individual players' decision not to go." Shortly after being crowned '17 NBA champions, the Warriors announced that they were "undecided on a potential White House visit" with President Trump and "would 'make those decisions when and if necessary'" (USATODAY.com, 7/21).
DEADLINE LOOMING: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps reported NBA Deputy Commissioner & COO Mark Tatum in a letter to Greater Cleveland Sports Commission President & CEO David Gilbert said that if the "battle over the proposed transformation of Quicken Loans Arena continues for much longer, the NBA will no longer consider Cleveland as a host city" for the '20 or '21 All-Star Game. Tatum said the league "will not be able to consider Cleveland as the host city" unless construction of The Q's "Transformation" project begins on or before Sept. 15 (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 7/21).
