The NBA free agent class just became more intriguing with the addition of a new player: ESPN's Chris Broussard.

The NBA insider's current contract with the network expires in mid-September, said sources with knowledge of his deal. That could make the experienced, versatile Broussard a valuable free agent at at time when the surging NBA has never drawn more media attention.

The 47-year old Broussard joined ESPN in 2004 to cover the NBA for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine.

Broussard reports on-air for ESPN from NBA games. He also appears frequently on ESPN shows, such as "Mike & Mike" and "NBA Countdown."

MORE: 11 NBA players ready to take over this season

The deeply Christian Broussard also markets himself as a "motivational speaker" for churches, colleges, corporations and sports teams.

The founder of the K.I.N.G Christian men's movement did not return my calls and emails seeking comment. ESPN declined to comment Thursday evening on Broussard's status.

Broussard seems like the kind of veteran ESPN's John Skipper wants to keep. If he doesn't stay with ESPN, I could see him jumping over to TNT, the NBA's other TV partner, to team with fellow NBA Insider David Aldridge.

But the real question for the ex-New York Times reporter is whether he wants to remain an NBA Insider — or try to become the kind of "fearless," all-sports, opinionist that Fox Sports boss Jamie Horowitz wants at FS1.

There's big money and opportunities for all-around sports opinionists who can carry their own TV talk/debate shows these days.

Michael Smith, another former newspaper journalist, started as an NFL insider at ESPN. He's now the co-star of his own weekday ESPN2 show, "His and Hers," with Jemele Hill (noon ET).

Former "First Take" argument-starter Skip Bayless is getting $5 million a year from FS1 to launch his new show, "Undisputed," with co-star Shannon Sharpe on Sept. 6 (10 a.m. ET).

MORE: Bayless, Sharpe get new partner

Ex-ESPN colleagues Jason Whitlock and Colin Cowherd also got big paychecks from FS1 to launch their "Speak for Yourself" (6 p.m. ET). Their hourlong show will soon shift to the 5 p.m. time slot directly opposite ESPN's "Around the Horn" and "Pardon the Interruption."

NBA TV Insider is a great job, but the competition has never been more fierce.

Who wants to compete every day against Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports' The Vertical? Not to mention, ESPN is also loaded with NBA insiders, from Ramona Shelburne and Amin Elhassan to Stephen A. Smith on "First Take" and Marc Stein.

The controversial Broussard is also one of those hot-button personalities who draws scrutiny for his scoops — and scorn for his mistakes (Deadspin calls him the "always wrong" Chris Broussard).

Mavericks Mark Cuban called out Broussard for his "ridiculous" 2015 report that a manic Cuban was driving around Houston looking for DeAndre Jordan's house. Broussard issued a mea culpa, saying he should have reached out to Cuban first

Broussard is not shy about sharing his religious beliefs. He clashed with openly gay ESPN colleague LZ Granderson on "Outside the Lines" in 2013 when Jason Collins became the first active player from a major sport to come out. ESPN ended up apologizing for his comments.