Yahoo Sports NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski is "close to an agreement to leave Yahoo and join ESPN," according to sources cited by Kevin Draper of DEADSPIN. Wojnarowski in '15 had "talks with a number of sports media organizations" about "starting a personality-driven basketball site," most notably SI. He "stuck with Yahoo, and a year ago launched The Vertical, poaching reporters from outlets" like the Washington Post, SI and RealGM.com. Wojnarowski and Yahoo at the time signed a four-year contract worth over $6M. A source said that Wojnarowski's exit from Yahoo is "complicated, and will likely take months to fully sort out." Draper wrote it "isn't clear if the contract has an escape clause, or if ESPN or Wojnarowski is paying Yahoo a buyout, or something else." Between writers, editors, podcasts, video and freelancers, The Vertical has a "dozen or so journalists." A source said that "some of them -- it isn't clear who -- are expected to join Wojnarowski at ESPN." Wojnarowski and his agent "didn't respond to phone calls requesting comment," while ESPN declined to comment. Yahoo PR had "not finished 'looking into it' by press time" (DEADSPIN.com, 2/8).
