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#pounditThursday, March 28, 2024

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1 NBA Draft prospect has a promise from team

Chris Livingston on the court

Mar 4, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Chris Livingston (24) dribbles during the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 88-79. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Most NBA Draft prospects are wondering where they will be selected in the draft and by whom, but one prospect already seems to have his answer.

Former Kentucky forward Chris Livingston has canceled his remaining pre-draft workouts, according to NBA reporter Shams Charania. Charania says Livingston’s behavior suggests the prospect has a promise from a team to draft him.

Though Charania is acting as if matters are up in the air, his report is likely reflective of reality.

Charania is represented by United Talent Agencies, whose sports department is co-headed by Klutch Sports founder Rich Paul. Klutch Sports also happens to represent Livingston.

Livingston, who is from Paul and LeBron James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio, was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He averaged 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over 34 contests with the Wildcats during his freshman season.

Livingston worked out with the Pacers on Monday.

He also was set to work out for the Cavaliers next week, so it sounds like that won’t be happening.

Dwight Howard unhappy with his team in Taiwan for cutting his pay

Dwight Howard looking on

Jan 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) arrives at Toyota Center before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Dwight Howard’s honeymoon phase in Taiwan appears to be over.

In an interview this week with TVBS News (a Taiwanese TV channel), the eight-time NBA All-Star Howard called out his team, the Taoyuan Leopards. Howard said that the Leopards offered him a contract for next season with a 65 percent reduction in pay (relative to his first season). He called it “very disrespectful” and “very disappointing.”

Howard also said in the interview that he is now eyeing a return to the NBA (but did leave open the possibility of playing another season in Taiwan).

According to Keoni Everington of the Taiwan News, Leopards CEO Chang Chien-wei said the contract offer for Howard was based on a new calculation method (involving escalators for the team winning as well as de-escalators for the team losing and for Howard himself not playing). Chien-wei also noted that Howard missed ten of the Leopards’ 30 games this season.

Howard, 37, was a difference-maker in the games he did play, averaging 23.2 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. But the Leopards as a whole had the worst record in the T1 League this season, going a fetid 6-24 (.200).

The ex-NBA Defensive Player of the Year Howard actually got a much larger contract from the Leopards this season than the T1 League usually allows for foreign players. He also really appeared to be loving life in Taiwan and was recruiting a number of high-profile basketball figures to join him there.

But earlier this week, Howard expressed interest in returning to the NBA (with one particular team). Now we have a better idea of why he had the sudden change of heart.

Rams agree to deal with ex-Chiefs champion

Sean McVay smiles

Aug 19, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay on the Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football set before the game against the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Demarcus Robinson is going from one Super Bowl champion of the 2020s to another.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that the Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms with the free agent wide receiver Robinson. The 28-year-old had spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens, catching 48 passes for 458 yards and two touchdowns.

Robinson is best known for his run with the Kansas City Chiefs, whom he played for from 2016-21. He won Super Bowl LIV as a Chief in 2020 and found the end zone a total of 15 times with them.

The Rams have run dry at wide receiver outside of All-Pro Cooper Kupp, who missed the final eight games of last season with a high-ankle sprain. They traded the disappointing Allen Robinson II to an AFC team and used just one draft pick (a fifth-rounder) on a receiver this year (Puka Nacua of BYU). With only Van Jefferson and Ben Skowronek (plus tight end Tyler Higbee) to battle with for the non-Kupp targets, Robinson should see a decent amount of work for the Rams next season.

Jamal Murray shows off nasty burn on his hand from Game 3 of Finals

Jamal Murray clapping

Feb 8, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts in the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Murray recorded a 30-point triple-double in a victory over the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals … but it definitely came at a cost.

The Denver Nuggets star Murray dove for a loose ball in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game and ended up with deep scrape on his left hand. Murray was seen flexing the hand on occasion for the rest of the game, but it didn’t seem to affect him too much as he ended up with 34 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists in a 109-94 win for Denver.

On Thursday, Murray showed off the extent of the damage to reporters. The bottom part of Murray’s left palm had a pretty nasty open layer of skin visible. Mike Singer of the Denver Post shared the photos.

Here is a closer look.

Murray was later spotted with his left hand taped during practice. But Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said that it was just a floor burn for Murray (indicating that Murray will be just fine for Friday’s Game 4).

The dynamic-scoring guard Murray, averaging 26.0 points per game in the Finals, shoots with his right hand anyway, so the issue with his left hand shouldn’t affect him too much. But that hardwood can pose a big risk for hand injuries (as this other NBA star can also tell you).

Dodgers take action with struggling Noah Syndergaard

Noah Syndergaard in the dugout

May 14, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday took action with the struggling Noah Syndergaard.

The Dodgers placed Syndergaard on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his right index finger.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Syndergaard’s poor start on Wednesday that the pitcher not only had a blister on his right index finger but also broke a nail.

It’s hard not to view the move as anything other than the Dodgers trying to buy Syndergaard some time to turn things around.

The Dodgers signed Syndergaard to a 1-year, $13 million deal in December, and he has been nothing short of disappointing. Syndergaard allowed six runs over three innings against the Reds on Wednesday, raising his season ERA to 7.16.

Syndergaard is struggling mentally as he knows his stuff isn’t good enough to get hitters out. His average fastball velocity of 92.4 mph is 1.4 mph lower than his average last year, and by far the lowest of his career.

Maybe the two weeks away will allow Syndergaard some time to heal physically and mentally. If he is unable to improve once he is activated off the injured list, the Dodgers will likely consider designating him for assignment.

Tyreek Hill has ambitious statistical goal for 2023

Tyreek Hill runs with the ball

Sep 29, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is aiming high for the 2023 season.

Hill said Thursday that his goal is to be the first wide receiver in NFL history to post a 2,000-yard season. Hill thinks he can pull off the achievement because of his coaching staff and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

“Not getting injured, coming in each and every day, wanting to get better, wanting to be coached,” Hill said. “I feel like I got the right tools around me. I got the most accurate quarterback in the NFL. I got one of the best head coaches in the NFL, and also my position coach is a monster also. Just having those three things, man, and me just keeping the same mindset that each and every day, I want to get better. I want to break the record, and I do want to break the record. I feel like this is one of those years that I can achieve it.”

As ambitious as the goal sounds, it is doable, and Hill is one player who could conceivably pull it off. The current record is held by Calvin Johnson, who managed 1,964 receiving yards for the Detroit Lions in 2012. Last season, Hill tallied 1,710 receiving yards, a career best.

The high praise for the likes of Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel is not new, nor is the ambition. Plus, the wide receiver has hinted that he might call it a career early, so there might be a sense of urgency involved as well.

Masataka Yoshida not interested in winning 1 MLB award

Masataka Yoshida during batting practice

Apr 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida (7) watches batting practice before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Masataka Yoshida has made a great impact for the Boston Red Sox this season, and he may have some recognition coming his way as a result. It is not recognition he wants, however.

Yoshida was dismissive of the possibility of winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2023, pointing out that he does not feel like a true rookie and that the award should go to someone else.

“I am not interested in Rookie of the Year because I have done years in Japan already,” Yoshida said through a translator Wednesday, via Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe. “But it’s an honor.”

It is not often you will see a player openly suggest he has no business winning an award, but Yoshida has a point here. The outfielder had an accomplished career in Japan before moving to Boston this season, and he entered MLB at 29 years old. While he is a rookie by the technical definition, he has played professionally for years.

There is precedent that Yoshida will not like, however. Ichiro Suzuki won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2001 despite debuting at 27, and had a somewhat similar career arc to Yoshida.

On the basis of pure performance, it is hard to argue against Yoshida for the honor. He is hitting .318 with 7 home runs, and is the favorite for the award at the moment whether he wants it or not.

Well-known ESPN anchor leaving network amid budget cuts

A blue and white ESPN logo

Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; ESPN logo prior to the 2011 Sugar Bowl between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Disney is preparing for a new round of budget cuts at ESPN, and several on-camera figures are expected to be let go. On Thursday, one high-profile name was revealed to be among the first to go.

Longtime “SportsCenter” anchor Neil Everett will not see his ESPN contract renewed, he confirmed to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports. Everett’s departure comes after 23 years with the network.

“ESPN changed my life, but now it’s time for me to change my life. Time to write a new chapter,” Everett said.

Everett joined ESPN in 2000, originally as an ESPNEWS anchor. Since 2009, he has co-hosted the Los Angeles-based late night edition of “SportsCenter” alongside Stan Verrett. Since 2021, he has done some pregame and postgame work for his hometown Portland Trail Blazers, a role he plans to increase now that he is out at ESPN.

Everett is unlikely to be the last high-profile victim of the upcoming round of budget cuts. Interestingly, the moves come at the same time the network is spending big money to bring Pat McAfee on board.

Yankees pitcher makes blunt admission about Red Sox rivalry

Nestor Cortes Jr. smiling

Aug 28, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. (65) sits in the dugout during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox remains the subject of media hype, but at least on one side, the players do not seem to have it circled on their calendars these days.

Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes had a pretty honest admission about the state of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, saying that there are other AL East opponents the team is far more competitive with.

“It doesn’t feel like what we have with Tampa now, or with Toronto now,” Cortes said, via Jake Mintz of FOX Sports. “You could argue that [the Red Sox] haven’t been who they really are the last couple years.”

The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry seemed to peak in the mid-to-late 2000s, when both teams were competing with each other for titles on a regular basis. Any distaste between the two teams on a personal level has largely faded. Even a pair of playoff meetings in 2018 and 2021 have largely failed to reignite the rivalry to what it was.

The Yankees have had heated moments with the Blue Jays this year, while nothing similar has happened with the Red Sox in recent seasons. Cortes isn’t wrong about the Red Sox taking a step back in terms of contending for championships, either, even if Boston might see it as a slight. Something significant will have to change for the rivalry to reignite.

Adam Silver cracks joke about Ja Morant’s gun issues

Adam Silver speaking

Jun 2, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver talks to media before game one of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

NBA commissioner Adam Silver had some jokes about the Ja Morant situation during an interview on Thursday.

Silver spoke with “The Dan Patrick Show” for an extensive interview about the league, and the Morant situation did come up as well. As the interview was wrapping up, Silver admitted he was a fan of Patrick’s past appearances in Adam Sandler movies. Patrick joked that Sandler “carries the ball more than anybody” and suggested that Silver have Sandler record an anti-traveling PSA.

“I’m gonna get Sandler to do a PSA for the NBA on an anti-carrying program,” Patrick joked.

“It could have a double meaning, by the way,” Silver replied.

Silver is alluding to Morant’s two instances of carrying a gun and flashing it on Instagram Live. Silver has suggested that Morant will likely face significant discipline for the second instance.

Even if the line is funny, one has to wonder if it’s a good look for the commissioner to be making jokes about the situation considering the seriousness with which he has been otherwise treating it. We certainly didn’t see that response coming, though.