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#pounditMonday, March 18, 2024

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Timberwolves player had incredible reaction to Anthony Edwards’ dunk

Kyle Anderson reacting to Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards' dunk over John Collins

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson had the best angle to witness Anthony Edwards’ best dunk of the year. Anderson’s reaction to the jam up-close did not disappoint.

Edwards on Monday had arguably the most disrespectful dunk of the season over Utah Jazz big man John Collins (video here). The tomahawk slam even had the opposing fans at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah fired up.

Anderson also went viral on X for his live reaction to the dunk. The UCLA alum, who stood just a few feet away from the play, was utterly flabbergasted by what he had just witnessed.

The replay of Slo Mo’s reaction gets better every time you rewatch it.

Edwards’ dunk also got every single member of the Timberwolves’ bench on their feet in excitement.

Collins will be seeing himself on the wrong end of a poster dunk for years to come. The play will likely be the crown jewel in any Edwards highlight reels.

But Collins will at least get a consolation prize in the form of Edwards’ game-worn jersey from the contest. Edwards said he was giving it to Collins after a fan had asked for the Timberwolves star’s jersey.

Edwards tallied 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in the 114-104 Timberwolves win.

Anthony Edwards throws down most disrespectful dunk of the year

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards dunks over John Collins

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards on Monday submitted his unofficial entry for dunk of the year.

The Timberwolves trailed 66-65 midway through the third quarter at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

During a fastbreak, Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit Edwards in stride with a perfect pass. Instead of taking an additional dribble toward the rim, Edwards immediately took off from several feet outside the restricted circle. The 2-time All-Star baptized Jazz big man John Collins with a vicious poster jam.

Edwards himself couldn’t believe what he had done. The Timberwolves star watched a replay of his dunk during a postgame interview, calling it the “best of my career.”

The dunk may have also woken Edwards up during the game itself. He recorded a full stat line of 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists after the highlight play.

Edwards has a legitimate case to be considered the most electrifying player in the NBA today. He nearly pulled off a similar slam on 3-time block champ Anthony Davis just over a week ago.

The Timberwolves star also shook up social media earlier this month with his insane game-sealing block against the Indiana Pacers. Edwards hit his head on the rim and was nearly horizontal in the air when he swatted Aaron Nesmith’s potential game-tying layup (video here).

Edwards led the Timberwolves to a 114-104 win over the Jazz. He finished with 32 points on 13/23 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

Knicks get rough injury news on OG Anunoby

OG Anunoby in a Knicks uniform

Jan 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby appears to be headed for another substantial stint on the sidelines.

Anunoby returned to the court last week after an 18-game absence due to a right elbow injury. That same elbow has reportedly “flared up” again.

The Knicks wing is slated for a multi-game absence with an exact timeline for a return still unclear, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Anunoby managed to play in three games before re-aggravating the lingering elbow issue. He averaged 9.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 40% shooting from the field. The Knicks won all three contests.

Anunoby has reportedly flown back to New York midway through the Knicks’ current four-game road trip. The 26-year-old underwent an MRI on his elbow that Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said came back clean.

Before the Knicks’ Monday clash against the Golden State Warriors, Thibodeau was asked whether Anunoby might have returned from his injury too early. The veteran coach didn’t think that was the case.

“You can’t work backwards,” Thibodeau said. “There’s many steps he had to go through. He met all the markers. He was cleared. This is a possibility. Whenever you come back from surgery, this is what you’re looking at…We feel good about where he is.”

When Anunoby has been healthy enough to play, the Knicks have been one of the best teams in the NBA. The Knicks so far have a 15-2 record when Anunoby is in the lineup.

Lakers big man likely finished for regular season after opting for knee surgery

The Lakers logo at half court

Apr 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court during game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing yet another stretched-out absence from a key rotation player.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Monday that Lakers big man Christian Wood has decided to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee and is expected to miss several more weeks. Wojnarowski notes that the Lakers end the regular season on Apr. 14 (in just under four weeks).

Wood, 28, has been sidelined since the All-Star break with the injury. In the first half of the season for the Lakers, he was averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in under 18 minutes per game off the bench.

For a team badly lacking in size behind Anthony Davis, the Lakers have had a hard time replicating Wood’s production since. Jaxson Hayes has become the go-to backup 5, but he does not provide the same all-around offense that Wood does. The Lakers are also experimenting with a super-small second unit where Taurean Prince picks up some frontcourt minutes and Max Christie steps into the rotation.

In any case though, the Lakers need answers quick after dropping their last two straight games to fall back to tenth in the West. They will probably have to solidify their spot in the regular season standings without the assistance of Wood, who now becomes their latest very long-term absentee.

Diamondbacks manager’s ironic comment resurfaces after Blake Snell signing

Torey Lovullo smiling in a Diamondbacks hoodie

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo watches the pitchers throw in the bullpen during the first day of spring training workouts at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale on Feb. 15, 2023. Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo may very well be living in his own baseball version of Groundhog Day.

On Monday, the San Francisco Giants landed reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on a short-term deal.

The Giants’ ace acquisition surely won’t please Lovullo, who just days prior had pleaded with the baseball gods to prevent such a move from happening.

The Diamondbacks manager was asked by reporters Thursday about the San Diego Padres’ recent trade for former Cy Young runner-up Dylan Cease.

“I wish the best players would quit coming to the NL West,” Lovullo said.

Lovullo’s response may have tempted fate. He only has himself to blame for Snell choosing to sign with yet another NL West team.

Kidding aside, the NL West has certainly attracted some of MLB’s best talent over the last half decade. The Dodgers acquired baseball’s biggest star in Shohei Ohtani this offseason. The two-way slugger joined a clubhouse that had already added fellow MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman over its last four seasons.

The Padres, who last employed Snell, signed Xander Bogaerts last offseason and also got two years of Juan Soto. Padres third baseman Manny Machado, like Snell, moved from one NL West team another when he left the Dodgers to sign with San Diego in 2019.

Despite the stacked competition in the NL West, the Diamondbacks have still been able to compete with less talent on paper. But the road to another NL pennant next season has gotten much tougher for Lovullo’s squad.

Report reveals Yankees’ biggest offer to Blake Snell

A Yankees hat

Aug 14, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a New York Yankees hat and glove on the bench against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Blake Snell ended up thousands of miles away from the New York Yankees, and that may have been in part because they willingly let him go.

The reigning NL Cy Young winner Snell agreed to sign with a new MLB team on Monday, landing a two-year, $62 million deal from a West Coast club. It finally ended a months-long holdout by Snell, who was the biggest unsigned free agent left.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in the aftermath of Snell’s agreement that the Yankees, who were heavily linked to Snell throughout the offseason, offered him $150 million last month. However, the Yankees eventually pulled that offer and declined to re-enter the sweepstakes on Sunday when Snell’s market heated back up, Nightengale adds.

We know based on previous reporting that the Yankees’ offer was for six years, which would have been an average of $25 million a year. Snell ended up getting $31 million a year but over just two seasons (for a total value of $88 million less than the Yankees’ offer).

The 31-year-old Snell could still end up as a winner in the long run if he produces another strong season in 2024 (he also has an opt-out clause after the first year). But given how much support Snell had from many Yankees, he may ultimately regret not taking that $150 million offer.

Blake Snell is officially signing with a new team

Blake Snell throwing the ball in Padres uniform

Aug 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Blake Snell (4) pitches in the second inning of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants are the winners of the 2024 Blake Snell sweepstakes.

Snell is expected to sign with the Giants on 2-year worth $62 million deal, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. The deal reportedly includes an opt-out clause after the first year.

Snell had previously been linked to a powerhouse American League club. But a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on Sunday pegged the Giants as the new favorites after the other team scoffed at Snell’s reported asking price.

The 31-year-old Snell is coming off his second Cy Young win after a dominant 2023 campaign. The former San Diego Padres pitcher led the majors with a 2.25 ERA over 180.0 innings pitched. He had a 14-9 record across 32 starts.

Snell came into the offseason seeking a long-term deal. However, Snell was forced to compromise after teams became unwilling to offer the All-Star pitcher the combination of years and annual salary that he was looking for.

Snell now headlines a Giants rotation that also features last season’s NL Cy Young Award runner-up Logan Webb.

Troubled 76ers big man opens up about concerning past behavior

Kai Jones in his Hornets uniform

Jul 5, 2023; Sacramento, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Kai Jones (23) dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia 76ers big man Kai Jones made headlines for the wrong reasons earlier this season. The former first-round pick has since opened up about what may have caused his unusual behavior.

The concern surrounding Jones began with a bizarre live stream on Instagram wherein the then-Charlotte Hornets center was speaking in what sounded like gibberish (video here). Jones also beefed with his Hornets teammates online and eventually asked to be traded.

The Hornets ended up waiving Jones, who was signed by the 76ers last week.

In an interview with The Athletic’s Shams Charania published on Monday, Jones sounded like a man ready to move on. The 23-year-old revealed that he had dealt with the deaths of two of his great grandparents. The ordeal had made him contemplate on his own mortality, leading to “negative voices” impacting him mentally.

“I think I was just trying to cancel out the negative voices in my head. Because, to be honest with you, Shams, I didn’t want to die,” Jones told Charania.

Jones admitted that he had pushed several people away during his troubled phase, including his former agency Klutch Sports. Jones added that his mental state has improved significantly thanks to regular therapy sessions.

Jones played two seasons for the Hornets, averaging 2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks across 67 games played. The Texas alum was selected 19th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Randy Gregory drawing interest from 1 NFC West team

Randy Gregory without a helmet

Sep 18, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory (5) during the second half against the Houston Texans at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Randy Gregory finished last season with the San Francisco 49ers, and may not have to go far to find a new team.

The free agent pass rusher has drawn interest from the Seattle Seahawks, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports. Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde once served as the defensive line coach with Gregory in Dallas, which may be partly fueling the interest.

Seattle’s interest is preliminary, but it does make sense given Durde’s previous experience. The Seahawks could also use some reinforcements on defense, as they have endured some high-profile departures already this offseason.

Gregory started the 2023 season with the Denver Broncos, but was cut as the team looked to get younger and shed salary. He caught on with the 49ers, where he became part of their defensive line rotation and collected 2.5 sacks in five games with the team.

Josh Dobbs lands with NFC contender as potential backup QB

Joshua Dobbs with the Minnesota Vikings

Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) after a victory against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Josh Dobbs became something of a cult hero last year, and his play was good enough to land him a deal with an NFC contender.

Dobbs is signing a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, his agent Mike McCartney announced Monday. The deal means Dobbs will have a chance to win the team’s backup quarterback job.

The 49ers also have Brandon Allen, who will be Dobbs’ chief competition for the role. Brock Purdy is firmly entrenched as the team’s starter.

Dobbs started for the Arizona Cardinals last season with Kyler Murray still recovering from his knee injury. Once Murray returned, Dobbs was shipped to the Minnesota Vikings, where he became a hero as Kirk Cousins’ replacement. At the time, there was talk that he was playing himself into a big free agent contract, but his play tailed off and he wound up benched before the end of the season.

The 29-year-old quarterback wound up throwing for 2,464 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. He added another 421 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns to go with those numbers.