JJ Redick’s stint as a color commentator for the NBA Finals was brief but memorable. When he took over as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers on June 24, he became the first commentator to only do one final since Doc Rivers in 2004. The billion-dollar network is on the lookout for the next big voice to join the legendary Mike Breen and Doris Burke in the ESPN booth.

ESPN has narrowed the search to four candidates who might join the dynamic duo at ESPN. The candidates are Jay Bilas, Grant Hill, Richard Jefferson, and Tim Legler. But if none of them hit the mark, ESPN might stick with just Breen and Burke, leaving fans wondering who will fill that third seat and bring the same energy and passion to the Finals.

Even though Grant Hill is currently working for TNT, it is completely plausible that he considers a jump to ESPN. With TNT being left out of the new NBA media deal starting next season, the network is already feeling the impact, losing some of its top talent. While Grant Hill’s role covering the NCAA Tournament at TNT provides a valuable opportunity, it’s a bittersweet transition compared to the excitement and reach of a full NBA season with ESPN/ABC.

Additionally, reporter Chris Haynes is reportedly moving on, and analyst Jamal Crawford has shared on social media that he’s now a free agent. While things are looking bright for ESPN’s future, they did face some controversies during the NBA Finals last season.

“It’s like the popcorn shrimp of studio shows”- Bryan Curtis on ESPN’s halftime podcast

ESPN faced significant backlash for its ad-heavy halftime show, where the studio crew only got about two minutes of airtime amid a flood of commercial breaks during Game 1. Fans were disappointed as the brief moments of studio analysis were overshadowed by relentless ads, leaving viewers craving more meaningful content.

“And from the start of the Finals, there has been a lot of criticism about ESPN’s halftime show, which is not really a halftime show. It’s more 20-second long content nuggets positioned around commercials,” Bryan Curtis said. “It’s like the popcorn shrimp of studio shows.”  Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Bob Myers, and Josh Hart had less than two minutes to delve into the first half of Game 2 of the Finals. It was a letdown for fans who were eager to hear their in-depth analysis, as their brief time on air was overshadowed by a barrage of commercials.

The 9.62 million viewers for that game was roughly half of the impressive audience ABC/ESPN attracted for the women’s college basketball championship earlier this year. What are your thoughts on ESPN? Let us know in the comments below.