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#pounditThursday, March 28, 2024

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Report: Suns open to trading 1 key starter

Frank Vogel applauding with the Phoenix Suns

Oct 12, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel encourages his team before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The stalling Phoenix Suns superteam may have another move in mind ahead of this year’s trade deadline.

NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports this week that the Suns are evaluating trade scenarios centered around a member of their starting five — guard Grayson Allen. Siegel also mentions that reserve forward Nassir Little is another player the Suns would be open to moving.

Though Phoenix is a mediocre 22-18 this season, Allen has actually been one of their best all-around performers. He is leading the Western Conference in three-point percentage at a scalding 48.0 percent and is taking on the tough perimeter defensive assignments that the likes of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal cannot necessarily handle. Allen can also score by putting the ball on the deck and played a massive role in the Suns’ stunning fourth-quarter comeback Tuesday against Sacramento with his team-high 29 points.

While he is exactly the kind of role player Phoenix needs around their Big Three, Allen will be a free agent after the season. He seems very unlikely to get a new contract from the Suns, who are past the second luxury-tax apron. Thus, they might be wise to sell high on Allen at the deadline, perhaps even to this playoff team that had interest in him not too long ago.

Alabama AD makes honest admission about replacing Nick Saban

Nick Saban in red

Alabama coach Nick Saban looks on. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Alabama Crimson Tide moved quickly to bring in Kalen DeBoer as their new head coach after Nick Saban decided to retire. However, the school’s athletic director admitted that a perfect candidate was virtually impossible to come by.

In an appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show” Wednesday, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne admitted that there was no coach that could satisfy every single criteria the Crimson Tide looked for in a Saban replacement. DeBoer ultimately came the closest.

“[There’s] the old saying that the AD has a list in his top desk drawer, which I never have had. But what I’ve had is something that’s a fluid list that changes in time,” Byrne said of finding Saban’s replacement, via Mike Rodak of 247 Sports. “We had vetted, probably, a couple dozen coaches over the years that we thought, OK, could they make sense? Some made a lot more sense than others. We had criteria of what we were looking for.

“The reality is, none of them fit. There was not a perfect candidate that checked every single box. Except for probably Nick Saban, that would have been it.”

Byrne’s admission has little to do with DeBoer. It is simply an admission that Saban was, in many ways, the perfect coach for the Alabama program, and there was never going to be a perfect replacement.

Saban’s retirement has created some issues for DeBoer that were not there before. Addressing them may be job no. 1 for DeBoer, and might give him the opportunity to improve on how things were previously.

Darius Slay has telling quote about Eagles’ DC change

Darius Slay during a postgame interview

The Philadelphia Eagles made a fairly bizarre in-season coaching move by demoting defensive coordinator Sean Desai and giving his play-calling duties to Matt Patricia. There is some evidence that the change may have done more harm than good, at least based on what one of the team’s most important defenders said.

Cornerback Darius Slay admitted on Wednesday that the change in play-callers had created some difficulty for the Eagles’ defense. Slay compared the situation to “having two marriages,” since Desai technically remained defensive coordinator even though Patricia was in charge of calling the plays.

“Trying to find two identities. It’s tough,” Slay said. “It’s like having two marriages. You know how hard two marriages would be? … One might want her feet rubbed, one might want her shoulders rubbed. That’s crazy.”

In other words, Desai and Patricia prioritized different things, and the Eagles had to adjust to that on the fly.

The team made the change after Week 14, when they were 10-3, and performances did not really improve. Philadelphia finished 1-3 with Patricia calling plays, giving up back-to-back 400-yard games in their final two losses. That does not even count the ugly performance in Monday’s playoff loss to Tampa Bay.

At the time, reports suggested that players were not totally buying into Desai’s efforts. Perhaps that was true, but the decision to switch play-callers wound up looking like a desperation move that did not provide any real benefit.

Yankees reportedly have heavy interest in ex-Astros champion

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

The New York Yankees may be bringing in a guy who helped down them in the 2022 ALCS.

MLB insider Hector Gomez reported on Wednesday that the Yankees have “a lot” of interest in free agent reliever Hector Neris. Gomez adds that Neris is seeking a three-year deal worth $50 million.

The righty Neris spent the last two seasons with the Houston Astros, including winning the World Series with them in 2022. He also had a lengthy stint on the East Coast with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to that.

The Yankees may not be interested in meeting the price tag for Neris, who is 34 years old and doesn’t close. Three years and $50 million would be almost on par with what the Yankees just gave to All-Star Marcus Stroman in free agency. We also know that the Yankees have been very particular about where to spend this winter.

Still, the Yankees are thin on dynamic setup options other than Jonathan Loaisiga and Tommy Kahnle (both of whom missed extended time with injuries last year). If Neris, who also brings some fire on the mound, can come down on his ask a bit, there may be a match there.

Report: Mavericks could trade for former NBA champion

The Dallas Mavericks logo

Nov 20, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the Dallas Mavericks logo during the game between the Mavericks and the Warriors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Mavericks were one of several teams to show interest in Siakam, who was traded to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. However, the team appears to have at least one noteworthy backup option identified.

The Mavericks are being linked to Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Dallas has general interest in many versatile forwards, including former Maverick Dorian Finney-Smith.

Wiggins is the highest-profile name and perhaps the most interesting. The veteran forward is having a poor year with the Warriors, averaging a career-worst 11.9 points per game. There are growing indications that the struggling Warriors are open to moving him, partly to get away from his four-year, $109 million contract that only kicked in this season.

Dallas is looking for a complementary option to help Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Wiggins is used to playing such a role with Golden State and could be a good addition if his current form turns out to be an aberration. Any team trading for him would be betting that he can bounce back, though.

‘The system is terrible’ – JJ Watt blasts PFF grading system

JJ Watt looks on

Jan 4, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) warms up before the AFC Wild Card NFL Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

JJ Watt made it clear on the X platform Tuesday that he is not a fan of Pro Football Focus. On Wednesday, he elaborated on why he dislikes PFF.

PFF is a stats-based football website that assigns grades to players based on the evaluations made from their staff members who watch film. Their grades are subject, but they are often referenced and cited as an authoritative source by the sports media. PFF’s grades are frequently cited on “Sunday Night Football” because NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth is one of the founders of the site.

On Tuesday, Watt was critical of PFF’s grade for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Stroud played very well and helped the Texans eliminate the Cleveland Browns. Stroud’s stats were nearly identical to Jordan Love’s. Despite that, Stroud was graded lower than several other quarterbacks who competed in the Wild Card Round. Stroud was given a 77.8 from PFF, while Love, with nearly identical stats, got a 92.5.

Watt took aim at PFF’s grading system via X.

“This is what happens when you try to grade football players with an algorithm…,” Watt wrote on X.

“CJ Stroud’s performance was ‘graded’ a 77.8

“And people treat this s— as gospel,” Watt wrote (profanity censored by LBS).

A day later, Watt appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and was asked for his feelings on Pro Football Focus.

Watt stated that PFF is a business and one that is successful. But he criticized their grading system. The future Hall of Famer also made clear that he doesn’t hold a vendetta against PFF because they graded him poorly in the past. On the contrary, he says they graded him highly in the past, but he still has issues with them.

“The system is terrible,” Watt said of PFF. “Do they watch a lot of film? Sure, great. Do they know everybody’s assignments? Do they know exactly what’s supposed to happen? Do they know how they’re waiting and how they’re supposed to do different things? No. It’s just a terrible system, and the fact that they have the ability to affect not only what the public thinks about players, but literally are affecting voting for awards, how players contracts are being handled … it’s really pretty scary and crazy that they’ve gotten that level of power.”

Watt said it’s “ridiculous” that PFF’s rankings are shown on “Sunday Night Football.” He really doesn’t like how PFF is regarded as such an authority.

“They come from a high and mighty place. And they speak like they know everything there is to know about football … as somebody who’s done it … I’ve literally sat in a meeting with coaches and put the grades side-by-side, from a coach’s grade and from the PFF grade. I’ve done it. And it’s not even remotely close,” Watt said.

“So don’t sit here and tell me, ‘you don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know how all this works.’ Yeah, I do. I’ve literally done it. I’ve sat in that room and done it with coaches in the National Football League. So take your sh– and shovel it somewhere else, because I’m not dealing with it.”

You can watch a video of Watt’s comments but beware of the profanity.

Mavericks could reunite with notable former player in trade?

The Dallas Mavericks logo

Nov 20, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of the Dallas Mavericks logo during the game between the Mavericks and the Warriors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Mavericks may be trying to recoup some of the costs of the Kyrie Irving trade.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reported Wednesday that the Mavericks are looking into various versatile forwards ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline. One such forward they are being linked to is Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets.

The 30-year-old Finney-Smith, who is signed through 2026, spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Mavs from 2016-23. But he was sent to Brooklyn at last year’s trade deadline as part of the blockbuster trade for Irving. A talented role player who is a forceful defender at 6-foot-7 and is shooting a career-high 40.4 percent from deep this season, Finney-Smith has retained strong value.

While the Mavs have found something special in their back line with rookie big man Dereck Lively II, their wing defense has suffered since they traded Finney-Smith. The ex-Florida Gator Finney-Smith had a key role in Dallas’ 2022 Western Conference Finals run, and they would clearly love to have him back (if they can fend off at least one big West foe for his services).

Ron Rivera open to major change after Commanders firing

Ron Rivera on the sideline

Sep 26, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera walks on the field prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera lost his job as head coach of the Washington Commanders on Jan. 8, but he is eager to continue coaching. So eager, in fact, that he is willing to accept something of a demotion in order to remain in the game.

Rivera suggested he would be happy to work as a defensive coordinator in the right situation, the role he held for multiple teams before landing his first head coaching position in 2010.

“Sometimes you do have to take a step back,” Rivera told John Keim of ESPN. “You take a step back you learn and grow from it. It’s like I told other players, if you look at this year as a lost year, you’re [hurting] yourself. You should look at it as a year to learn and understand why things happen. This was probably the greatest learning experience I’ve had in a while this year. I mean, a lot of things came to light at certain times this past season that I think going forward will really help me.”

Rivera said he has had contact with multiple organizations about potential coaching opportunities, but is taking his time and making sure to pick the right one.

Rivera was the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2006, and held the same role with the San Diego Chargers from 2008 to 2010. He also took over defensive playcalling duties in Washington after the midseason firing of Jack Del Rio in 2023.

It is possible Rivera could be a head coach again, but that chance is unlikely to come this year. In the meantime, his experience might be valuable to a team seeking a veteran defensive coordinator, even if he has not explicitly held that job in over a decade.

Warriors coach Dejan Milojevic dies – dead at 46 after heart attack

Dejan Milojevic passes the ball

Mar 8, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors assistant coach DeJan Milojevic before the game against the LA Clippers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic has died at the age of 46 following a heart attack he suffered on Tuesday.

Milojevic and the Warriors were having a private dinner on Tuesday in Salt Lake City, Utah, a day ahead of their scheduled Wednesday game against the Utah Jazz. During the dinner, Milojevic suffered a heart attack. Despite life-saving efforts, he died on Wednesday morning, the team announced.

The NBA had issued a statement earlier in the day Wednesday saying that the scheduled Jazz-Warriors game had been postponed due to what they described as a medical emergency.

Milojevic was in his third season as an assistant coach for the Warriors. Prior to that, he coached in Montenegro. He was a longtime coach in Serbia prior to Montenegro (2012-2020). Milojevic had also served as an assistant coach for Serbia’s national team.

Prior to coaching, Milojevic had a lengthy playing career in Europe. He was a three-time MVP of the Adriatic League (2004-2006).

Report reveals Pascal Siakam’s stance toward long-term contract with Pacers

The Indiana Pacers logo at center court

Apr 22, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A general view of center court before game four between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Pascal Siakam’s short-term future is sorted after he was traded to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. However, questions remain about where he will be beyond this season.

Siakam will be eligible for free agency this summer, which was a key issue in trade negotiations involving the Toronto Raptors. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, however, Siakam is excited about being traded to Indiana, and the expectation is that he will be “eager” to work out a new contract with the team.

Initial comments from Siakam’s agent Todd Ramasar backed up that notion, stating that Siakam’s future with the Pacers looks bright.

Reports had previously suggested that Siakam was determined to test free agency, a stance which would have complicated trade talks. The Pacers were clearly comfortable with whatever Siakam’s stance is, as it is unlikely they would have given up such a draft pick haul if they did not anticipate being able to work out a long-term deal.

A two-time All-Star, Siakam arrives in Indiana averaging 22.2 points and 6.3 rebounds on the season. He will fit into a talented core that also includes Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner.