BTW, NP's restatement is no news - so he could just restate what he stated the last time anyways. No change. Deals comes through.
I know, this might require one to jump into believe. (Grammar?) But, so is my stock experience, sometimes you just have to do that. And I know how hard that is with NP (o8>
However, as the drug is real and proven, it makes no sense that there is no partner. NP also would not intentionally lie about the NBA. Hence the most logical & simplest conclusion is: There is a deal.