As TNT enters what will almost certainly be its final season with the NBA, at least one prominent member of its roster is headed for the exits.
TNT NBA reporter Chris Haynes will depart the network upon the expiration of his contract, which is expected shortly, Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post reported Thursday. Haynes has worked for TNT since 2019 and added Bleacher Report duties in 2022.
Haynes is the first major departure from TNT since the network was left out of the new NBA media rights deals. TNT parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has sued the NBA for the right to match Amazon’s bid for the rights, but there is no expectation that legal effort will result in the network continuing to air games after this season.
In addition to Haynes, TNT NBA analyst Jamal Crawford said recently that he is a free agent — though that does not necessarily mean he is leaving the network.
Though much of the focus since the NBA deals were announced has been on the TNT studio cast of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal — whose respective statuses beyond this season are unclear — the network employs a number of additional analysts, play-by-play voices, hosts and reporters who are likely to move elsewhere.
Haynes enters a free agent market that also includes fellow insider Shams Charania and will — as of next season — feature two new destinations in NBC and Amazon.
