There's zero reason for noted reporters to risk their reputation by making up such a thing.
Respectfully.....that's bullshit. They do it all the time. All of them....they speculate, they guess, and, yes, they hope. I cannot count the number of times nearly each and every one of these "reporters" has promoted, liked, retweeted, etc. rumors that not only turn out to be unfounded, but often made up out of whole cloth.
That said, I'm not saying this case is conspiracy worthy, I'm saying that it gives those with tendencies toward believing conspiracies ample fodder.
I'm with you in the sense that these folks are reporting what they see and hear....whether or not it is appropriately sourced. It is what they do and have always done and there's nothing really wrong with it. Sometimes they're right. What I am saying is that it is also reasonable that those with a propensity for creating and/or perpetuating conspiracy theories, will and do take this stuff and run with it ("the New York media is doing this to get the Canes off of their game" bullshit).
Because of today's social media milieu airspace gets naturally filled. To me, that's what this is.
Until one of these noted "reporters" starts quoting actual sources, my sense is it is all a tempest in a teapot. AND it is perfectly logical to think that things will clear up after the playoffs.
