Why Maria Taylor might not be with ESPN through the entire NBA Finals

Maria Taylor could not very last with ESPN through the conclude of the 2021 NBA Finals.

The network host’s agreement has been a subject matter of considerably discussion, with the on-air preferred reportedly requesting Stephen A. Smith money — in the community of $8 million — to continue to be with ESPN.

Reportedly, ESPN has a $three million agreement offer on the table for Taylor, but that won’t be enough to satiate her agreement requests.

According to the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand, Taylor’s existing agreement expires July 20, which is the date of a probable Match 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals. Marchand suggests that it truly is unclear what ESPN and Taylor would do really should the two sides not get to a new offer, leaving the risk that Taylor may perhaps not finish her web hosting obligations for the network if the series stretches to six or 7 video games.

Additional: Adam Silver weighs in on Rachel Nichols circumstance

Taylor, 34, wears quite a few hats for ESPN, such as as a sideline reporter for the higher education soccer nationwide championship game and now the NBA Finals following disparaging responses have been produced by fellow ESPN host Rachel Nichols.

Nichols missing her sideline reporter obligations for the NBA Finals following the surfacing of the responses, with Malika Andrews having her place on the ABC broadcasts.

ESPN initially offered Taylor a raise to all over $five million, per stories, but Taylor turned it down in hopes of upping her price to match Smith’s salary.

The Suns direct the Bucks two-, with Match three scheduled for Sunday, July 11.