ESPN's Brian Windhorst dropped a hint that seems to confirm reports that the network is adding a major name on July 1

YouTube/Yahoo!

Several reports have linked ESPN to one of the biggest names in NBA media and now one of their own has dropped a hint about exactly when it will happen.

Deadspin's Kevin Draper first reported in February that ESPN would be hiring the biggest news breaker in the NBA and long time thorn-in-ESPN's-side, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo's "The Vertical." Recode's Peter Kafka later reported that a deal had been finalized, but there was some confusion as to whether Wojnarowski would be joining ESPN before the draft or after. Draper later reported it would happen "sometime around July 1."

Now we have one of ESPN's own NBA reporters dropping a hint that not only seemingly confirms those reports but also tells us that Woj will be making his debut for ESPN during their NBA free agency specials the first week of July.

Brian Windhorst was a guest on Zach Lowe's "The Lowe Post" podcast when he was simply asked what he would be working on after the NBA Draft. Windhorst then dropped a little bomb about ESPN announcing their own free agent signing sometime during the free agency specials.

"The nights of June 30, July 1, and July 2 we have free agency specials we will be doing out of L.A.," Windhorst said. "We may have our own free agent signing to announce at that time as well."

Lowe responded by saying, "I'm just going to leave that there," which sounded like it was either something he didn't want to talk about, it was something he was not supposed to talk about, or perhaps both.

While Windhorst does not give a name or any other hints, the reported Wojnarowski move is the one that has created a lot of buzz in the sports media world, inside and out of ESPN's Bristol campus, and the timing lines up with the earlier reports.

You can hear Windhorst's comments at the 1:02:00 mark of the podcast at this link.

NOW WATCH: A 12-time Olympic medalist reveals her eating habits during training

See Also:

• No school has had more players drafted in the NBA's first round than the University of North Carolina

• LaVar Ball makes his first bold prediction for Lonzo's NBA career

• Jimmy Butler may have lost out on nearly $33 million by being traded to the Wolves in a blockbuster deal