The New York Knicks just made the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. But they could be aggressive this summer in trying to find a piece to really put them over the top.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reports this week that Knicks swingman RJ Barrett is not seen as untouchable in a trade for a superstar. The Knicks are said to be eyeing Portland star Damian Lillard as one potential target.
Barrett only recently turned 21 and had a very strong sophomore season. He averaged 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on 40.1 percent from three. Barrett was also remarkably durable, starting in all 72 games for the Knicks.
That said, the Knicks may be looking for a true No. 1 scoring option in the backcourt. Be it Lillard or this other star guard, it sounds like they are willing to fork over some quality young talent to get it.
Photo: Flickr/All-Pro Reels via cc-by-sa 2.0
The Minnesota Timberwolves are among the teams that are said to have interest in Ben Simmons, but apparently there is a limit to how much they are willing to spend.
The Timberwolves have no intention of including D’Angelo Russell in any trade this summer, according to Jon Krawczynski and Danny Leroux of The Athletic. While they are expected to pursue Simmons and potentially other players, the T-Wolves view Russell as a key part of their core and “want to keep it that way.”
Russell appeared in just 42 games in his first full season with Minnesota, but the team has obviously been impressed with the former No. 2 overall pick. He averaged 19.0 points and 5.8 assists per game. Of course, leaking word that Russell is off-limits could be the Timberwolves’ way of posturing ahead of a summer of negotiations.
Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Malik Beasley all made more than 38 percent of their 3-point attempts this season. Simmons is obviously a liability as a shooter, but the Timberwolves could, in theory, give him the spacing he needs to thrive. He could also help them defensively.
A report last month gave us an idea of just how interested the Timberwolves are in Simmons.
Stephon Gilmore made it clear that he wants a new contract from the New England Patriots when he chose not to show up to minicamp, but the All-Pro cornerback has now removed all doubt.
Gilmore confirmed to NFL reporter Josina Anderson on Friday that he is seeking a new deal. He said he simply wants to be paid what he is worth and is hopeful he and the Patriots can work something out.
“I just want what I’m worth, however that plays out,” Gilmore said. “Every player should be paid what they’re worth. That’s just how it is. … Hopefully we can find some common ground and get it situated. I just know what I bring to the table and my style of play. Right now I’m just trying to focus on myself and make sure I’m good mentally and physically.”
A report earlier in the offseason claimed it was a foregone conclusion that Gilmore would be traded. That was before the Patriots went out and spent more during free agency than they ever have. Gilmore told Anderson he is not looking to be traded.
Gilmore suffered a quad injury last season, but he says his recovery is going well. Some of the reports we heard this week should make Patriots fans feel more optimistic about the situation, though it’s never a great sign when a player goes public with his frustrations.
Rory McIlroy struggled through the first two rounds of the Scottish Open this week, but a fan made sure the event will be one the four-time major champion will never forget.
McIlroy was chatting with Jon Rahm on the 10th tee at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick on Friday when a fan casually walked up to him and removed a club from his bag. The spectator first tried to grab McIlroy’s driver, but the head cover came off. He then grabbed an iron from McIlroy’s bag, walked to the opposite side of the tee box and began taking practice swings.
As you can see in the video below, McIlroy and his caddie appeared to be so confused that they froze.
The fan, of course, was ejected from the event. A European Tour spokesperson told ESPN’s Cameron O’Halloran on Friday that “the matter is now in the hands of Police Scotland.”
Fans have seemed particularly brazen at golf events this year. Just last month, someone waltzed onto the course at the US Open and began taking shots. You can see that video here.
Rahm led the tournament as of Friday afternoon after shooting 11-under through two rounds. McIlroy was just 1-under after the second round, which may not be enough to make the cut.
Jalen Lewis, one of the top prospects in the high school basketball Class of 2023, has officially become the youngest basketball player to ever turn pro in the United States.
Lewis, who is 16, has signed a multiyear deal with the new Overtime Elite league. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the contract is worth around $1 million.
Lewis is the No. 12 overall prospect in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-8, 218-pound center currently plays at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif.
Overtime Elite has now signed three top prospects from the 2023 high school class, with the others being twin brothers Matt and Ryan Bewley. Former UConn head coach Kevin Ollie has signed on as the first head coach and head of player development for the league.
San Diego Padres pitcher Daniel Camarena appeared in just his second MLB game on Thursday night, and it would be hard to imagine him ever having a more memorable performance. If you want to know how exhilarating it was, Don Orsillo’s call should help take you through it.
Camarena came on to pitch in the top of the fourth inning with the Padres trailing the Washington Nationals 6-0. He allowed a two-run homer, but it isn’t what Camarena did on the mound that had everyone buzzing. In the bottom of the fourth, the 28-year-old belted a grand slam off of Max Scherzer. Orsillo’s call of the homer was priceless.
That may be the most excited Orsillo has sounded in his career, and this is a guy who has called numerous playoff games.
The hit was the first of Camarena’s career and his first home run since high school. He had a hilarious quote about the moment after the game.
Here are some more incredible stats about Camarena’s blast:
Camarena’s grand slam cut the Nationals’ lead to 8-6, and the Padres ended up winning 9-8. He was basically brought into the game to chew up innings after Yu Darvish struggled, but he did so much more than that. The Padres undoubtedly shared in Orsillo’s excitement.
Shaquille O’Neal was ecstatic to find out that his broadcasting season was ending.
Shaq, who usually provides NBA analysis for TNT, was serving as a postgame analyst on NBATV Thursday after Game 2 of the NBA Finals. During the broadcast, Shaq was informed that this would be his last analyst assignment of the season.
The Big Fella got up and began dancing around in his underwear on live television:
This isn’t Shaq’s first time stripping down on TV. It’s part of what makes him so much fun. And congratulations to him on completing his assignments for the season.
Jae Crowder had a funny answer to a question about Giannis Antetokounmpo on Thursday.
Crowder’s Phoenix Suns beat Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks 118-108 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. They got the win despite Giannis scoring 42 points with 12 rebounds.
Crowder was asked a somewhat odd question after the game. He was asked what more the Bucks can do if they lose even when Giannis scores so many points. He said he wasn’t looking to give them advice because he’s trying to beat them.
Well, duh. He wasn’t the best person to ask that question to.
As for the Bucks, it doesn’t help that Antetokounmpo only went 11-for-18 on free throws. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday shooting a combined 12-for-37 (32.4 percent) didn’t help either. Maybe getting more from them and better free throw shooting is all they need.
Heading to Milwaukee for Games 3 and 4 should make a big difference.
If you saw the way the Phoenix Suns reacted after their Game 2 victory in the NBA Finals on Thursday night, you wouldn’t have thought they won.
The Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-108 to take a 2-0 series lead. They are two wins away from winning the championship, but they sure didn’t seem to show it afterwards. You barely saw any smiles, laughter or celebrating.
You have to love this if you’re a Suns fan. This is a team that knows they haven’t won anything yet, that knows the job isn’t done. They are still focused and have their game faces on. This is the kind of team that has the determination necessary to keep winning.
“Two more, we got a long way to go,” Chris Paul said in an interview on NBATV after the game.
Game 3 is on Sunday in Milwaukee.
H/T CJZero
The third match between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder that was scheduled for July 24 has been postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak among Fury’s camp.
Fury tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms. The 6-foot-9 heavyweight champion received one COVID-19 vaccine dose but did not get the second shot, according to boxing reporter Dan Rafael.
Rafael says there is an outbreak that includes assistant trainer Andy Lee, featherweight Isaac Lowe and former heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker. All three are members of Fury’s camp helping to prepare him for the third fight with Wilder.
Rafael also reports the new fight date is likely to be in early October. Mike Coppinger says Oct. 9 in Las Vegas is the anticipated fight date.
The two men fought to a draw in their first fight, while the undefeated Fury scored a knockout win in their second fight. Fury tried to schedule a fight with Anthony Joshua, but Wilder won a legal battle to secure the third fight.
