Truths in season here on NBA's latest project

An in-depth look at the league's new in-season tournament experiment, as well as Gregg Popovich's contract extension and more, all here for you in the latest Monday Musings.

LAS VEGAS — The NBA's new in-season tournament, as trumpeted on massive neon billboards up and down the famed Vegas Strip, appears in most advertisements as the NBA In-Season Tournament.

The champion’s prize?

The NBA Cup.

These are notable items because nothing about the league’s latest experiment is called the Stern Cup … as Adam Silver has hypothetically suggested at various points over the years.

The NBA has been renaming lots of trophies to honor numerous all-time greats in recent months, but there is still nothing of significance that bears the name of Silver's mentor: The one and only David J. Stern.

My read: The NBA absolutely could not bring Stern’s name into this project from the jump because, well, what happens if they have to scrap it someday?