Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski are two of the most well-respected NBA insiders in the world. They are known for their ability to break news and provide insights into the league’s inner workings.
However, a recent New York Magazine article has raised questions about the role that Charania and Wojnarowski play in contract negotiations. The article alleges that the two reporters have sometimes acted in the interests of teams, rather than players.
“The thing that changed is they became double agents,” John Skipper, the former ESPN president, told me. “They call people and say, ‘Tell me what you’re up to,’ and the quid pro quo is, ‘I’ll tell you a little something I’ve heard.’ You’re suddenly on the road to being part of causation if somebody acts upon something you share.”
The longtime front-office executive told me that information from insider reporters could even help a GM save a buck. “Woj or Shams might say, ‘Hey, don’t get levered up on Player X; he’s not gonna get an offer from his team,’” the executive said. “There are times when they have information that has prevented me from making a mistake in terms of the magnitude of a contract offer or the inclusion of a specific asset in a deal.”
One of the most serious allegations in the article is that Charania and Wojnarowski have sometimes leaked information to teams about players’ contract demands. This information can be used by teams to gain an advantage in negotiations.
The article also alleges that Charania and Wojnarowski have sometimes helped teams to spread negative rumors about players. These rumors can be used to drive down players’ value and pressure them into accepting less lucrative contracts.
