Finals Could Mark End Of Run For ESPN Trio Of Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, Doris Burke

That would mean no more play-by-play man Tim Breen paired with analysts Richard Jefferson and Doris Burke. Of the three, Breen is the most likely to return and Burke is the most likely to be replaced.

Per Marchand, those three are viewed less favorably by those at parent company Disney than the previous top broadcast team of Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. For the record, many fans seem to agree.

“While ESPN intends on re-signing Jefferson, it has not yet locked him up with his contract expiring, according to sources briefed on the talks,” Marchand wrote. “Amazon Prime Video has expressed some interest in Jefferson, according to the same sources. Meanwhile, Burke’s spot is not guaranteed for next season, according to sources familiar with ESPN’s preliminary plans. While Breen, the Basketball Hall of Famer under a long-term deal, is not going anywhere, ESPN will evaluate its entire roster.”

The NBA’s new media rights deal kicks in next season, with ESPN/ABC returning and being joined by newcomers NBC and Amazon.

Disney, it seems, has the most to figure out.

“ESPN’s decision-making has been odd for two years, starting with the Van Gundy and Jackson firings,” Marchand wrote. “The NBA never ordered a Code Red on Van Gundy, though it was well-known that the league didn’t like his criticism of officials. That certainly didn’t help Van Gundy, especially on the precipice of the NBA’s long-term TV rights negotiations, at the end of which ESPN secured The Finals for its entire new 11-year deal.”

Former NBA guard and current ESPN analyst Tim Legler could be in line to become a member of the network’s top broadcast team next season, Marchand noted.