The Philadelphia 76ers entered the 2023 offseason with plenty of uncertainty regarding their future, more specifically with James Harden. While there has been plenty of speculation that Harden may leave the Sixers for the Houston Rockets, more and more reports have suggested that Harden may not leave after all.

NBA Insider Marc Stein only added more fuel to that fire when he reported on his Substack on June 25 that Harden returning to the Sixers had gained more traction while explaining why.

“The idea that James Harden will re-sign with Philadelphia in free agency rather than return to Houston for a second stint with the Rockets has gained momentum over the past week or two.

“Among the whispered reasons for the change in forecast: Word is Harden came away from his introductory meeting with new Sixers coach Nick Nurse intrigued by Nurse’s vision,” Stein wrote.

Nurse has both an NBA title and an NBA Coach of the Year award to his name. Former Sixers head coach Doc Rivers did too, but the difference is Nurse’s accolades are much more recent. His title came in 2019, while Doc’s came in 2008. Nurse won the Coach of the Year award the year after winning a title, and Rivers won the same award in 2000.

Sixers ‘Determined’ to Bring Back James Harden

On the June 23 episode of Sportscenter, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski gave the full details on the Sixers’ pursuit of Harden.

“They’re determined to keep James Harden, but it’ll be a negotiation,” Wojnarowski said. “It’s probably not going to be just the traditional full max long-term deal that he’s been able to command throughout his career.”

Wojnarowski also mentioned how the addition of Nick Nurse could impact how Harden approaches his next free agency.

“A lot can happen, and I’m sure will happen before June 30, but certainly, there’s a pathway back to a contender with the Sixers, perhaps financially for James Harden that could make a lot of sense, and certainly, a team with Nick Nurse, as their new head coach, you know, certainly provides a backdrop for him to continue with a contender.”

James Harden Re-Signing May Lead to Tobias Harris Trade

Harden re-signing isn’t the only plotline going on this offseason. They may also look at trading Tobias Harris. Matt Moore of Action Network revealed that their futures may be connected to one another while adding who might get him.

“The way for the Sixers to make room to re-sign James Harden to whatever deal he’s amenable to is to trade Harris.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

Moore proposed a hypothetical deal between the two sides if Harden stays among other dominos.

“IF Harden decides to stay in Philly and IF the Kings don’t manage a trade for OG Anunoby (which again looks unlikely), then the Kings and Sixers could work out a deal for Harris. It’s not known what either side wants to include in such a deal (at least by yours truly).”

With Tobias Harris entering the last year of a five-year, $180 million contract he signed back in 2019, many have wondered if he may have played his last game with the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris is on an expiring deal, which could be used to acquire another star or get more depth. Alas, it appears the Sixers have every intention of keeping him.

While reporting that the Sixers and Phoenix Suns have stopped discussing a trade involving Harris, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Sixers have every intention of keeping him going forward.

Pompey gave the full scoop on what would have had to happen to make a deal go down between the Sixers and Suns while including what the Sixers plan to do with Harris.

“Phoenix would have had to move (Deandre) Ayton as part of the Harris deal. But the Sixers have no interest in the 7-foot, 250-pounder or any players the Suns would make available.

“The Sixers were also unwilling to get a third team involved to facilitate the deal. The team has been adamant that it doesn’t intend to trade Harris at this time.”

With the Sixers potentially re-signing James Harden this offseason, it sounds like their plans are to run it back with last year’s squad, more or less. Whether or not they keep it intact throughout the whole season could be a different story.

How Tobias Harris & James Harden’s Futures Are Linked

Matt Moore of Action Network revealed that Harden’s next deal with the Sixers – should he re-sign – depends on if they trade Harris.

“The way for the Sixers to make room to re-sign James Harden to whatever deal he’s amenable to is to trade Harris,” Moore wrote.

Moore added who is considered to be Harris’ next team.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

If the Sixers plan to keep Harris on top of re-signing Harden, perhaps the Sixers believe that Harden can be attainable at the right price.

Tobias Harris’ Dad Calls Out Sixers

When asked if the Sixers have utilized Harris properly, Harris’ father-agent, Torrel Harris, explained on the “Business of Sports” podcast why he doesn’t think so.

“Personally, I don’t think so. The reason I say that, well, Tobias is an assassin scorer. I mean, they can’t stop him. Nobody in the league can stop him. So he’s proven that over his career, even when he was with the Clippers, he was an assassin scorer,” Harris said.

Torrel then added why it’s frustrating to watch Harris play in the Sixers’ offense, knowing how good he believes his son is.

“They didn’t utilize him. He was not a priority in their offense, and that’s kind of frustrating because if you’re a kick-butt player…you don’t want to be in the corner twiddling your thumb.”

Harris has never quite found a place on the Sixers while playing under Brett Brown and Doc Rivers. Things may change with new head coach Nick Nurse.

Now, one insider believes that Okwara could be on the hot seat as training camp approaches and may need to battle to keep his position on the team.  The Lions have already made some big investments into their defense, and SI.com’s Vito Chirco believes it is now time for Okwara to “put up or shut up.”

Lions Edge Rusher Has Something to Prove

As Chirco noted, Okwara has struggled with setbacks that have been largely out of his control. After a strong campaign in 2020 where he notched 10 sacks and earned a $37-million contract, the defensive end suffered a torn Achilles in Week 4 of the 2021 season and was not able to return until Week 13 of last season.

Fair or not, the situation has left Okwara on the hot seat this coming season, Chirco noted.

“He’s failed to stay healthy the past two seasons, and has suited up for just nine total games. And remember, the best ability as a pro athlete is availability, and it’s a trait he hasn’t possessed for a couple of seasons now,” Chirco wrote.

Chirco added that Okwara has already given a significant concession, agreeing to have his base salary reduced to $2 million this coming season, down from the original $11 million he would have been owed.

The pay cut came after Okwara’s production dropped significantly in each of the two injury-shortened seasons. He made just 14 total tackles with three sacks over the course of the last two years, and in 2022 appeared in just 39% of total defensive snaps.

Romeo Okwara Feels ‘Maybe Even Better’ Than Before

After two seasons shortened by injury, Okwara is confident that he will return strong for the upcoming year. Speaking to 97.1 The Ticket, the Lions defensive end said he feels “more explosive, stronger, faster” this year and that his body is “maybe even better” than it felt before he suffered the torn Achilles.

Okwara also spoke about his willingness to take a pay cut, saying he wanted to remain in Detroit and was willing to give back a bit.

“Detroit’s my home,” Okwara said. “And I think it was really important for me to be here and just keep building on what we’ve started since I’ve been here. So I didn’t really think too much of it. That’s just part of the business and I’m glad to be here.”

While the reduced salary could give Okwara a leg up in the battle for a roster spot, his future in Detroit is not assured as he is entering the final year of his contract. But Okwara remained focused on the season ahead and said he was excited to enter the season as favorites to win the NFC North — and ready to work at making it happen.

“Whatever’s expected for us, we gotta work for it,” Okwara said. “We gotta keep our head down and just work.”

Erik Jones and Legacy Motor Club is a fitting example. The Southern 500 winner in 2022, the driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet entered the 2023 season with an opportunity to ride his momentum to the playoffs. Instead, he has only secured two top-10 finishes — one at Talladega Superspeedway and one at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway was a different story. Jones had the fourth-fastest car in practice and then he ran inside the top 10 throughout the Ally 400. He ultimately crossed the finish line eighth overall in what was his first top-10 away from a superspeedway.

“It was a good day. We had a good No. 43 Allegiant Chevy,” Jones said after the race. “We were able to run up towards the top 10 all day, so just need to build on that. If you can be up there and running competitively, it gives you something to work on.

“Today was the first day in a while that I felt like we were in the ballpark and where we need to be, so that’s a good step. I’m proud of the effort, for sure. We’re getting the cars better and where we want them to be, and hopefully just get them a little bit more moving forward.”

Jones was not the only driver with a much-needed strong finish. AJ Allmendinger finished 10th overall while Chase Elliott finished fourth as he tries to bounce back from missing seven of the first 17 races.

Allmendinger’s Weekend Consisted of Success

GettyCup Series drivers race at the Ally 400.

Allmendinger’s return to the Cup Series has been a work in progress. He kicked off the year with a sixth-place finish in the Daytona 500, but he failed to crack the top 10 again until the June race at Sonoma Raceway. Allmendinger also had three DNFs due to crashes.

Allmendinger’s weekend began with a standout performance. He competed in the Xfinity Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, and he took the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro to Victory Lane after leading 25 laps.

Allmendinger then delivered a much-needed performance for Kaulig Racing in the Cup Series race. He qualified 19th overall in the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro, and he secured bonus points in the first two stages after consistently running inside of the top 10.

Allmendinger ultimately crossed the finish line 10th overall in what was his third top-10 of the season. He was set for a ninth-place finish, but Kyle Busch passed him before crossing the finish line.

“We had a really good day,” Allmendinger said after the race. “Our car was really balanced all day; we didn’t have to make adjustments. We just couldn’t get the track positions and we lost spots on pit road and had to make up for it.

“At the end of the day, that probably cost up three or four spots overall. I’m proud of the team. We are making a lot of progress, we had a lot of speed all weekend. I’m looking forward to going to a street course here to hopefully make up some more ground.”

Elliott Inched Closer To the Playoff Cutline

GettyChase Elliott watches qualifying at Nashville Superspeedway.

Elliott’s season has been a whirlwind. He missed six races early after fracturing his tibia in a snowboarding accident and then another while serving a one-race suspension for intentionally hooking Denny Hamlin into the outside wall at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

These absences dropped Elliott outside of the top 30 in points, and it put him in a must-win position. However, he has steadily moved his way up the leaderboard with some strong performances.

Elliott finished seventh at Kansas Speedway, third at Darlington Raceway, fifth at Sonoma Raceway, and fourth at Nashville Superspeedway. He is now 25th in the standings and 64 points behind the playoff cutline. Elliott still faces a hurdle, but he is moving closer to his ultimate goal of reaching the playoffs.

“It was solid, but we still needed a little bit,” Elliott said. “I actually thought we were the best at the start of the race and then we kind of got off there in the mid-stage and I think we basically just kind of got back to where we were and everyone else got a little better.

“But yeah, proud of the effort and to get two top-fives in a row is a good thing for us. Trying to get things going, so we will try again in Chicago.”

The incident occurred on a restart just after the halfway point of the race. William Byron hit Brad Keselowski from behind, who momentarily lost control and bunched up the field. Blaney checked up along with others in the field, but he went sliding through the grass after contact from Kyle Busch. The No. 12 Team Penske Ford then slammed head-on into the concrete wall at the end of pit road.

“I don’t really know what happened,” Blaney said after undergoing evaluation at the infield care center. “Someone checked up on the restart, I guess. I kind of checked up, got hit from behind — I didn’t know if they were wrecking — and I just couldn’t get it straightened out.

“When I got out of the grass, I thought I was going to come back around, and that I’d be ok. Just never got back right. I don’t know why there’s no SAFER barrier there. That’s pretty ridiculous, honestly. Hardest hit I’ve ever had in my life. Happy to be all right, but it sucks for the Pennzoil Ford Mustang. Stinks to go home early.”

The SAFER Barrier Plays an Important Role

GettyRyan Blaney prepares for practice at Nashville Superspeedway.

The SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) Barrier is found at NASCAR tracks around the country. It consists of steel tubes welded together and pieces of polystyrene foam mounted behind them. This entire construction mounts to the existing concrete wall at the tracks.

The goal of the SAFER Barrier is for it to absorb the kinetic energy of the stock car hitting it at close to 200 mph. The energy is dissipated along the wall, which reduces the amount going into the car and the driver.

The SAFER Barrier covers the majority of areas at Nashville Superspeedway, but it is not present at the end of pit road where Blaney’s collision took place. Though that will potentially change ahead of the next race weekend at the Tennessee track.

“NASCAR safety engineers work closely with safety experts on the implementation of barriers around the track,” the sanctioning body said in a statement after the race. “As we do following every race weekend, we will evaluate all available data and make any necessary improvements.”

The Focus on Safety Will Continue

The trip to Nashville Superspeedway highlighted another area where NASCAR will need to focus ahead of the 2024 season. The SAFER Barrier will need to be put in more areas surrounding the 1.33-mile track to account for other crashes that could take place in the future.

“I hope he was okay — that’s the most important thing,” Brad Keselowski said in reference to Blaney’s crash at Nashville Superspeedway. “Sounds like more work to do there, too.”

There have been multiple occasions in the Next Gen era when safety has become a talking point. These discussions took place as drivers sustained concussions after contact with the outside wall, as well as after fires erupted in the Ford Mustangs.

The safety discussions also continued into 2023 after the trip to Talladega Superspeedway and a crash involving Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece.

Each time these discussions took place, NASCAR began making changes in the pursuit of improved safety. Some changes were faster while others took extra time. Now, there will likely be more after Blaney’s crash at Nashville Superspeedway.

Perhaps the Brooklyn Nets can rid themselves of Ben Simmons’ unfavorable contract and gain an asset back in return.

Long thought to be an albatross, there is one destination that can absorb the remaining $78-plus million that he is owed over the next two years from his five-year, $177 million contract and, possibly, get him back to his former All-NBA form.

“Forget all the James Harden nonsense and the [Houston] Rockets‘ intention to start winning games in 2023-24,” wrote Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report on June 25. “using a chunk of its $60 million in cap space to take on a bad contract with picks attached is the better alternative for Houston.”

Nets get:

– Kevin Porter Jr.

Rockets get:

– Ben Simmons
– 2027 1st Rd Pick (via PHI)
– 2026 2nd Rd Pick
– 2028 2nd Rd Pick

The Rockets hired former Nets assistant Ime Udoka to be their next head coach. Udoka, who was also the head coach of the Boston Celtics for one season, was also on the Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff when Simmons was still there in 2019-20.

Kevin Porter Jr. Could Provide Unique Value

Porter, 23, entered the league as a first-round pick (No. 30 overall) by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2019 NBA Draft but was traded on draft night and then again roughly one week later, eventually spending his first NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had an explosive falling out with team officials leading to his trade to Houston in 2021.

This past season, Porter averaged career-highs with 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals while also dishing out 5.7 assists and shooting 36.6% from beyond the arc.

While his ideal role may be off the ball, he has gotten extensive experience as a lead guard.

Porter is entering the first year of an interestingly structured four-year, $63.4 million contract that is non-guaranteed in the second and third years and has a $15.8 million team option in the final season.

Porter would likely have further value in subsequent deals. But needing to attach a pick to Simmons highlights how far the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft’s value has fallen.

Patty Mills: Ben Simmons ‘Looking Good, Feeling Good’

Simmons, 26, has been viewed as one of the worst contracts in the league over the last couple of seasons. He missed all of the 2021-22 campaign with a back injury and mental health issues then only made 42 appearances this past season before being shut down in March, again due to his balky back.

The former three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive selection averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists this past season but could be primed for a bounceback campaign.

“From all accords and from what I’ve heard, he’s looking after his body, and getting into his shape and healthy,” said teammate Patty Mills, per Brian Fleurantin of NetsDaily on June 24. “From what I’ve heard, he’s looking good, feeling good.”

Mills, 34, noted that we will have to “wait and see” about Simmons getting back on the court but his account tracks with reports that Simmons has taken an improved approach to his rehab amid a slew of offseason workout photos. It also follows with Nets general manager Sean Marks saying that Simmons would not need any further procedures to address the issue.

Getting Simmons healthy appears to be the Nets’ only hope of offloading his remaining money without attaching additional assets.

The Ally 400 weekend came to a close with Ross Chastain winning his first race of the 2023 Cup Series season. He capped off a historic weekend for Trackhouse Racing while returning to his contender form.

The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro kicked off the weekend by winning the pole at Nashville Superspeedway, the first time in Trackhouse Racing history. He then went out and led 99 laps at the organization’s home track while securing bonus points in the first two stages.

“That’s just a desire to win,” Chastain said about his massive post-race burnout. “I got to tell you, it’s just so hard at this level. It’s the best of the best. It’s where I’ve wanted to be since I was 18 years old, from studying for over 10 years just to qualify better let alone go race for a Cup race win.

“Along the way, the journey, I’m so happy that my group is here, everybody that supports me. Yeah, look, it’s a Cup win. I don’t care what happened last month, the rest of my life, it’s a freaking Cup win.”

With the win, Chastain punched his ticket to the playoffs. He also added another style of track to his list of wins. His first took place at a road course in Circuit of the Americas and his second was at Talladega Superspeedway. Now he has a traditional oval on his resume.

The win was significant for Chastain considering that he returned to the playoffs. It was even more important for Trackhouse Racing. The Justin Marks-founded team calls Nashville home.

“We started this company in Nashville, Tenn., with two employees — me and Ty Norris — four years ago,” Marks said after the race, per Trackhouse Racing. “And for us to win… it’s a home race, it’s a home win, it’s amazing. …It’s been a tough couple of weeks, and we just needed something big to happen for this team.”

This Race Weekend Brought Back The Old Chastain

GettyRoss Chastain eats a watermelon at Nashville Superspeedway.

Following a crash at Darlington Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick called out Chastain for wrecking other Chevrolet drivers. Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks responded by saying that he would take a “more active role” in Chastain’s development.

The weeks after these comments featured unexpected performances by Chastain. He had two finishes outside of the top 20 followed by a 10th-place finish at Sonoma Raceway. The aggressive Chastain was gone while a seemingly timid replacement was behind the wheel of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro.

The Ally 400 was a different story. Chastain won the pole, and he had what appeared to be the best car in the field. He led laps early and then chased down Martin Truex Jr. during the final stage of the 300-lap race. Once he took the lead, he checked out and rebounded from a difficult stretch.

“You have to go to your people, trust in the process, read your books, trust the big man’s plan upstairs, just keep getting up and going to work,” Chastain told NBC Sports after exiting his No. 1 Chevrolet.

“I got to tell you, a lot of self-reflection throughout all this. I had a group that believed in me, and they didn’t let me get down. They bring rocket ships, and I just try to point them to Victory Lane.”

Chastain Previously Put the Field on Notice at Nashville Superspeedway

The Florida native bounced around between the national series early in his career as he drove for multiple teams. However, the 2021 season was when he truly put the Cup Series field on notice.

Chastain entered the inaugural Cup weekend at Nashville Superspeedway with three top-10 finishes for Chip Ganassi Racing. He was seventh in the Daytona 500, fourth in the rain-shortened Circuit of the Americas race, and seventh at Sonoma Raceway.

Chastain then headed to Nashville Superspeedway and delivered a strong performance. He started 19th overall and steadily worked his way through the field before the final stage. Chastain also rebounded from a speeding penalty before finishing second overall in what was a career-best finish.

“It’s positive. The guys got goosebumps there at the end driving through the field,” Chastain said about his performance after the race. “I get out of the car, and they’re like, ‘Man, we haven’t had that in a long time. I hadn’t either.”

This debut at Nashville Superspeedway was only a glimpse of Chastain’s success at the Tennessee track. He returned in 2022 with Trackhouse Racing and finished fifth overall after securing bonus points in the second stage. Chastain then delivered a dominant performance in 2023 to score his first win at Nashville Superspeedway.

The Buffalo Bills were once the odds-on favorites to land DeAndre Hopkins, but appear to have fallen out of the race as the All-Pro wide receiver grows closer to a final decision.

The NFL Network’s Albert Breer reported back in May that the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs were the only teams to hold substantive trade talks with the Arizona Cardinals, but after the Cardinals opted to release Hopkins the race appears to have changed. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported on June 20 that Hopkins was down to a final two, including one top rival of the Bills.

DeAndre Hopkins Mulling Over Options

Russini reported that Hopkins is considering offers from two teams that he had recently visited — the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler added that Hopkins isn’t in a rush to make a decision, and both the Titans and Patriots remain committed to landing him.

“There’s a lull in action right now. Training camp’s not for a month, not a lot of rush,” Fowler said, via Bleacher Report. “He met with the Titans, met with the Patriots. Both teams made clear that they have major interest in signing him. I’m told there is some mutual interest and respect between the Patriots and Hopkins, that something could go down, but they couldn’t get that deal done while he was on the visit.”

Fowler noted that the situation could still change, and the fact that Hopkins is considering offers from the Titans and Patriots doesn’t preclude another team from jumping back into the mix. He specifically called out one top AFC contender that had previously engaged in trade talks — though it wasn’t the Bills.

“You still have teams, like maybe the Chiefs, if they could clear up some money later, closer to training camp, then they could get involved,” he said. “There’s some contenders there but right now, he is staying put and waiting for the right situation.”

Though many pundits identified the Bills as a strong contender, general manager Brandon Beane also tempered enthusiasm when he hinted on June 5 that the Bills would likely be priced out of the race.

“It would definitely have to fit with how we would restructure the salary and all that, so never ruling it out,” Beane said in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I know he’s a good player and he’ll likely demand a decent contract.”

Bills May Have Another Move to Make

Though it appears the Bills have fallen out of the race to land Hopkins, some insiders believe they could still have one more big move left this offseason. They have been linked to Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook, who was rumored to be interested in Buffalo as well.

A June 1 report from Outkick’s Armando Salguero noted that Cook was intrigued with the idea of joining the Bills and playing alongside his younger brother or playing for his hometown team, the Miami Dolphins.

“Cook is from Miami,” Salguero wrote. “[He] has made it known through sources he’d like to play either for the Dolphins or with his brother James Cook on the Bills. And the Vikings have let it known Cook probably isn’t in their future.”

But adding any player would be difficult for the cash-strapped Bills, who would likely need to make some form of corresponding move in order to create the cap space needed to sign Cook or any other impact player.

As the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro explained during a press conference at Nashville Superspeedway, there are going to be so many new fans. He pointed to the number of tickets sold to new fans in advance of the inaugural street race, and he said that a lot of people will simply walk up when they hear the engines roaring through the heart of the city. This will only put NASCAR in front of new potential fans.

“I think there’s signs all over town so they’ll at least know about it,” Chastain said. “And then when we go roaring down through there, there are going to be so many new fans. I’m bought-in. It doesn’t matter, for me, how my personal race goes or my weekend goes. I could very easily drive it into the tire barriers about every corner if I’m not careful.

“I’ve done that on the simulator quite a bit. You make the brake zone by just a few feet and there’s no run-off. Yes, I want points and I want to win, but I’m more looking at it from the big picture of us as a whole and if it elevates all of us, it’ll pay off for me in the long run.”

Chastain’s Boss Sees Positives Entering the Chicago Week

GettyRoss Chastain stands at attention during the national anthem.

Chastain is not the only one that sees the positives of the Chicago Street Race. Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks also had some comments about the upcoming event during a press conference of his own.

Marks, who will actually drive for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series race, explained that street racing can definitely provide excitement late in green flag runs when drivers are sliding around on old tires. His hope is that there won’t be a lot of caution flags that lead to the field lining up behind the pace car.

Ultimately, Marks sees how the Chicago Street Race can be a success regardless of the racing. He has seen firsthand how residents of a variety of cities will watch a race simply because there is a big event happening that provides excitement. It happened in other racing series, and it can happen in NASCAR.

“I tell this story — I raced in the Long Beach Grand Prix in one of the support divisions six or eight years ago,” Marks said. “I remember Sunday morning before the race, I sort of had this lightbulb moment where I was like, ‘this race works so well because there’s 100,000 people here and 95,000 of them aren’t race fans.

“‘They’re here because something is happening in their town and it’s exciting and came right to their front doorstep.’ So I think that’s an important element of street racing. We run a race in Nashville and there’s so many people that come that don’t know much about IndyCar racing. They just think it’s cool that there’s race cars coming to their city and racing through the streets and it’s quite a spectacle. So from that standpoint, I’m a huge fan of NASCAR doing it.”

The Race Will Provide Some Intense Battles

When the new fans watch this street race in Chicago, they will get a firsthand look at cars from the Xfinity Series and Cup Series. They will also see close-quarters battles on a purpose-built track that will challenge the best drivers in the field.

“It’s really rough. It’s bumpy. It’s slippery,” Kyle Busch said at Nashville Superspeedway. “There’s some corners that are very challenging, some blind ones at that. When you’re going around the Bean on the left-hander, that’s really, really slippery and there’s a huge bump going through [Turn] 9 before you get into [Turn] 10. The wall in [Turn] 8, before you go around the left-hander, is, to me, really narrow over there.

“You’re barely trying to miss getting your right front ripped off; not bouncing off that and killing your car on the left side. So there could be more room given over there, I feel like. That’s probably a really tight spot that could use a little bit of help, just based off of what the simulator is telling us. But other than that, it’s going to be a tight street course. That’s what tight street courses are.”

There is a belief that this race could be major for NASCAR. It could help bring in new fans that may not have necessarily expressed interest in the racing series. Making the race weekend an event with numerous concerts will only aid in this pursuit.

That being said, the action on the track will need to deliver for viewers in attendance and those at home. A caution-filled wreck-fest could potentially turn potential fans away, as could a race with only one lead change. There will have to be some contact between drivers, some angry comments, and some passes for the lead.

With Marcus Smart gone, the Boston Celtics could potentially look at guards on the open market who could give them good production in his place. Steve Popper of Newsday floated Derrick Rose as an option for the Celtics.

After Rose’s team option was declined by the New York Knicks on June 24, Popper mentioned the Celtics could be among the teams interested in Rose as a free agent this summer.

“There are contending teams — the Lakers, Suns, and Celtics or even a return to his hometown Bulls — who could have minutes available at point guard for Rose. He is healthy and has adjusted his game, becoming more of a three-point threat in recent years.”

Before this season, where he shot 30.2% from three in a minimized role, Rose put up three-point shooting percentages of 40.2% and 38.8% the two seasons before that.

Rose won the league’s Most Valuable Player award in his third NBA season in 2011, but multiple extensive knee injuries cut his prime short. Rose has successfully transitioned into more of a role player, with his days as a star long past him.

With Smart gone, there could be room for Rose in the Celtics’ guard rotation, especially if they plan to handle Malcolm Brogdon with kid gloves like they did last season.

Derrick White May Have Been Why Marcus Smart Was Traded

While many can speculate on why the Celtics decided to trade Smart in their deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, Bill Simmons explained on the June 23 episode of “Off the Pike with Brian Barrett” why he believes the Celtics decided it was time to move on.

Simmons started by saying Smart’s reputation with the team made it hard for the Celtics to bench him.

“I think Marcus has been on the team for nine years and felt like it was his team,” Simmons said. “It was him and Tatum and Brown. It was the big three, and he had an outsized voice in the locker room, on the court. I think it was really tough to bench him.”

Not benching him meant fewer minutes for Derrick White, who Simmons believes is the better player.

“I think it became a real thing where (Smart) was being treated like he was Tatum or Brown. Meanwhile, White was the better guard the whole year unquestionably, so maybe that was a piece of it. I just feel like, eh, this is awkward. Maybe we gotta just fix this.”

Payton Pritchard Likely Staying With Celtics

Before it was revealed that Smart would be traded, Brian Robb of MassLive reported what Malcolm Brogdon’s departure would mean for Payton Pritchard’s role on the team going forward.

“Boston would likely retain Payton Pritchard in such a scenario as he would slot into a reserve guard position if Brogdon were dealt unless the Wizards insisted on his inclusion in a deal,” Robb wrote.

Whether it was Smart or Brogdon, one of the Celtics guards being traded away means more time for Pritchard pending any more trades. Of course, if they add Derrick Rose into the picture, that could very well put Pritchard back in the doghouse.

The Minnesota Vikings have amassed a stable of young talent over the past two years, though several of those players have barely had a chance to showcase their skills.

Safety Lewis Cine is at the top of that list after suffering a compound fracture to his leg in Week 4 of last season against the New Orleans Saints. The injury cost him the remainder his rookie campaign and required two surgeries to fully repair.

Minnesota selected Cine with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but he appeared in just three games and played only two snaps on defense during those contests, per Pro Football Reference. Cine saw the field for a total of 34 special teams snaps before breaking his leg.

Cine’s rehabilitation appears to be coming along swimmingly based on training videos the safety posted to social media in February, which can be viewed on YouTube courtesy of the Purple FTW! Podcast.

Lewis Cine Primed for Larger Role With Vikings Secondary Under New Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores

GettySafety Lewis Cine of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before an NFL game against the Detroit Lions in September 2022.

That Cine wasn’t ready to jump into a starting role as a rookie, even before he was injured, is mildly concerning. However, NFL defenses are complicated, and players learn in different ways and at different speeds.

Cine has had the entire offseason to study the game in general, as well as to watch tape of opponents and work with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s defensive staff during practice and meeting sessions. The learning curve might reset to a degree with the arrival of Brian Flores as the Vikings’ new defensive coordinator, but that alone doesn’t mean Cine can’t explode onto the scene in a real way during his sophomore season.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report on Sunday, June 25, named Cine a top-eight breakout candidate among second-year players who have been “forgotten” for one reason or another, to one degree or another, after unimpressive rookie campaigns.

“While the second-year man may still be stuck behind Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum at safety, he should see the field more as a sophomore,” Knox wrote. “He could also have a real opportunity to shine as a rotational player under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. If Flores is going to use a more aggressive and diversified scheme than predecessor Ed Donatell, Cine could be a huge part of it.”

Lewis Cine Offers Optimistic Outlook Heading into Second NFL Season With Vikings

GettySafety Lewis Cine of the Minnesota Vikings participates in training camp drills in August 2022.

The Dallas Mavericks are trying to trade for Philadelphia 76ers small forward Tobias Harris, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers have reached out to the Sixers about a Harris trade.

“The Sixers have been adamant that they’re not willing to trade him unless it drastically improves their team. They made that clear on draft night and don’t intend to change their stance,” Pompey wrote. “However, the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks joined the previously mentioned Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Detroit Pistons as teams making inquiries about the 30-year-old’s availability, according to sources.”

Harris signed a five-year, $180 million contract with the Sixers in July 2019. He’ll make $39.3 million next season, the final year of his contract.

The 30-year-old Harris averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists this past season for the Sixers while shooting 50.1% from the field, 38.9% from beyond the arc and 87.6% from the free-throw line.

Mavericks Probably Won’t Get Tobias Harris

The Mavericks probably won’t get Harris, as Pompey is reporting that the Sixers are planning to keep the swingman.

New Sixers head coach Nick Nurse intends to get Harris more involved offensively than he was under Doc Rivers last season as the fourth option behind James Harden, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Harris is represented by his father, Torrel. The CEO of Unique Sports Management International was recently a guest on the “Business of Sports” podcast and Torrel said the Sixers haven’t used his son correctly on offense.

“Personally, I don’t think so. The reason I say that, well Tobias is an assassin scorer,” Torrel said. “I mean they can’t stop him. Nobody in the league can stop him. So he’s proven that over his career, even when he was with the Clippers, he was an assassin scorer.

“They didn’t utilize him. He was not a priority in their offense. And that’s kind of frustrating because if you’re a kick-butt player, you don’t want to be in the corner twiddling your thumb. I just think that when they gave him opportunities — like there was a stretch Joel (Embiid) didn’t play and James Harden didn’t play for like 15 games — he led the team and averaged over 25 points. Then they come back, ‘Okay, well you gotta go back in the corner.’”

Harris has career averages of 16.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers and Sixers.

Mavericks Tried to Get Jarrett Allen

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Mavericks reached out to the Cavaliers about trading for center Jarrett Allen.

However, the Cavaliers are not interested in dealing the Texas product.

“Sources say the Dallas Mavericks, who own the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and have sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. — a player the Cavs discussed at the February trade deadline — were one team that recently reached out about Allen’s availability,” Fedor wrote. “While it’s unclear what was offered, the Mavericks have been seeking a pick-and-roll partner for guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.”

Allen signed a five-year, $100 million contract with the Cavaliers in August 2021. He averaged 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this past season while shooting 64.4% from the field and 73.3% from the free-throw line.

The Philadelphia Eagles could be an ideal landing spot for a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive playmaker.

As suggested by Glenn Erby of Eagles Wire, Philadelphia should consider adding former Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate. Erby believes the 31-year-old tight end would be a good fit considering his experience and that he can play in two tight end sets with starting tight end Dallas Goedert.

“Brate has valuable starting experience in the NFL (33 starts in 126 career games),” writes Erby. “He had just 20 catches for 174 yards last season at the age of 31, but provides value in two-tight end sets and good tight end depth.”

Why Eagles Could Consider Cameron Brate

Prior to being released by the Buccaneers this offseason, Brate had spent his entire nine-season career with Tampa Bay. Through 126 career games and 33 starts, Brate posted 273 receptions for 2,857 yards and 33 touchdowns. While Brate is coming off of his worst season outside of his rookie campaign — he posted just 20 receptions for 174 receiving yards and no touchdowns — he has shown playmaking ability in the past, notching 57 receptions for 660 yards and eight touchdowns during the 2016 season.

That performance helped Brate land a six-year, $40.8 million deal with the Buccaneers prior to the start of the 2018 season.

However, injuries — including a concussion and a neck injury — severely limited him last season.

Why Eagles Signing Cameron Brate is Unlikely

The Eagles currently feature seven tight ends on their roster. Five of those tight ends have notable experience, with all of them — with the exception of free agent signing Dan Arnold — having previously played for Philadelphia. Outside of Goedert and Arnold are veterans Tyree Jackson, Jack Stoll and Dallas Calcaterra.

However, most of those tight ends did not impress in pass and run blocking. According to Pro Football Focus, Goedert posted a 57.0 pass-blocking grade and 56.4 run-blocking grade. With the exception of Calcaterra — he posted a 73.3 pass-blocking grade and 61.7 run-blocking grade last season — all of the Eagles’ veteran tight ends posted worse grades.

By comparison, Brate excels in the blocking department. According to PFF, Brate posted a 79.1 pass-blocking grade last season. Among all tight ends with at 30 targets, Brate ranked fourth among all players at the position in pass blocking.

There’s been little chatter regarding any interest in Brate on the free agency market. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Brate isn’t signed.

The Eagles could certainly take a flier on Brate if they choose to, signing him to a veteran’s minimum deal. However, the fact that Philadelphia already features so many tight ends on the roster — with four of them having played for the Eagles in the past — makes signing Brate an unlikely scenario. Especially when one has to assume that Philadelphia views Arnold — he had just nine catches last season and has just 95 career catches in five seasons– the way they would view Brate.

If one of Philadephia’s veteran tight ends suffer an injury during training camp or the preseason, signing Brate could become a possibility.

The Cleveland Browns spent considerable capital enhancing the wide receiver room this offseason, though the most meaningful upgrade may come from a player who was already on the roster.

The NFL has a short memory and fosters an unforgiving ecosystem of fierce competition, which allows players to tumble from the “next best thing” to “yesterday’s news” in a matter of games. Wide receiver David Bell was fairly well-hyped entering his rookie campaign, after Cleveland selected him with the No. 99 overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Bell was positioned to compete with Donovan Peoples-Jones for the No. 2 spot behind leading man Amari Cooper. Instead, he finished sixth on the team in receiving with just 214 yards on 24 catches — a yardage tally that set him behind both aforementioned receivers, starting running back Nick Chubb and the team’s top two tight ends, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant.

The Browns’ addition of Elijah Moore at the cost of a second-round pick, as well as the signing of free agent speedster Marquise Goodwin and the drafting of promising rookie Cedric Tillman could push Bell further down the stat sheet. The other possibility is that their collective presence will motivate Bell to produce the kind of sophomore season that will force the doubters to forget about his underwhelming entrance onto the NFL stage last year.

David Bell Poised for Leap in 2023, Appears Big Part of Browns’ Future

GettyWide receiver David Bell of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals in October 2022.

Such is the prediction of Bleacher Report’s Christopher Knox, who contended on Sunday, June 25, that Bell is among the most likely second-year players to make a leap after an unremarkable rooking campaign.

Browns fans probably haven’t forgotten about David Bell, the 2022 third-round pick who played 47 percent of the snaps as a rookie. However, outsiders probably don’t know his name.

Fans should expect the Browns to push Bell for playing time, even with the new additions in the fold. Peoples-Jones is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and Cooper could be a 2024 cap casualty.

Bell has a chance to be a big part of Cleveland’s future, and with a strong training camp, its present too.

Bell is only 22 years old and will play the second season of a four-year, $5.1 million rookie deal with the Browns in 2023.

David Bell Won’t Start for Browns Right Away, May Contribute Big Before Season Ends

GettyWide receiver David Bell of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass during an NFL preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles in August 2022.

Moore is now in the fold and presumably positioned to compete with Peoples-Jones for the No. 2 job, with the third spot falling to the loser of that competition. Given that context, Bell isn’t a good bet to start for Cleveland — at least not in Week 1.

However, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported last week that Bell is all but a lock to retain a spot on the roster after training camp concludes at the end of August.

“Bell is still in great standing with the club and will make the 53-man roster,” Cabot wrote on June 22. “[Head coach] Kevin Stefanski loved him coming out of Purdue last season and still sees the same tremendous potential in him as a slot receiver in the mold of Jarvis Landry.”

There is a chance Bell will play his way into a major role in 2023, perhaps even into a starting role at some point. And, of course, there is the ever-present eventuality of injury on every NFL roster that more or less guarantees Bell will get a shot or two this year to show what he can do, assuming he remains relatively healthy.

Daniel Jones’ upward curve has seen him go from potential draft bust to franchise quarterback, rewarded with a four-year, $160-million contract by the New York Giants. Now, even one of Jones’ biggest critics is prepared to compare the 26-year-old to Tom Brady.

Chris Simms had been one of Jones’ main detractors, but the NBC Sports analyst put Big Blue’s QB1 no. 11 in his latest annual ranking of the top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL.

Jones just missed the top 10, but Simms, speaking to Ahmed Fareed on an edition of Chris Simms Unbuttoned, explained why he sees shades of seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady: “Size is a skill. … Daniel Jones, to me, is in a small class of quarterbacks in the NFL, where he can throw over the line of scrimmage. It keeps a variety of completions and throws still available to him that is not available to most quarterbacks in football, and it’s a short list. You know, him, (Justin) Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Brady could kinda do that.”

Simply being mentioned in connection with Brady is testament to how far Jones progressed during 2022. His progression is why the Giants paid up this offseason and are counting on No. 8 to continue getting better and officially join the ranks of the elite at football’s most important position.

It’s a gamble, but the signs are good Jones can meet expectations.

Daniel Jones Improved in Every Area During 2022

Simms, son of two-time Super Bowl champion Giants quarterback Phil, gave Jones credit for more than just his 6-foot-5, 221-pound frame. Jones also earned plaudits for his improved arm and accuracy: “Go back and watch. I mean, he’s got games where you go 10-12 plays in a row where you go, ‘there’s nobody open,’. and he’s still getting completions or still getting positive yards. He’s a high-level thrower of the football. What I mean, like a Kirk Cousins, it’s incredible control and accuracy. He hits the bull’s-eye a lot on tight-window, 15- and 10-yard throws.”

While he’s one of the more mobile signal-callers in the NFL, Jones made strides as a passer by setting a career-high tally of 3,205 yards through the air. He also threw just five interceptions, the fewest in a season of his career.

One of his best throws was a 33-yard touchdown completed to Darius Slayton during a 23-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7. As Next Gen Stats detailed, there was little separation between Slayton and his coverage, but Jones still managed to fit an “improbable” throw into a tight window.

Throws of this calibre became common for Jones on the watch of offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and head coach Brian Daboll. The latter helped turn Josh Allen into a star with the Buffalo Bills, and Simms believes Jones is on a par with Allen when it comes to running: “They could not have won and played the way they did without Daniel Jones’ skillset last year. His running is in the upper echelon of football’s runners. We know Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, right? He’s right there with Josh Allen and that crew right after it.”

Jones took his rushing threat up a notch last season. He amassed a career-best 708 yards on the ground, gaining 562 before contact, according to Pro Football Reference.

Many of Jones’ best runs were for crucial gains in clutch moments. Like when he dashed for eight bruising yards to help set up a Saquon Barkley touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, a play highlighted by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

Jones is the driving force of both phases of the Giant’ offense, but he’ll be expected to do even more after the team bolstered his supporting cast.

Jones Has More to Work With This Season

Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen need Jones to share more with Brady than height. Brady was consistent enough to win six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and add a further title as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although he was famously beaten by the Giants in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.

Contrast that record with Jones, who is still striving to prove his championship credentials. The Giants are giving him every opportunity after trading for Pro-Bowl right end Darren Waller, signing wide receiver Parris Campbell in free agency and selecting natural deep threat Jalin Hyatt in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Those new faces can help Jones expand the Giants’ passing attack after the offense mustered a league-low 28 completions of 20-plus yards last season. Ironically, Jones actually performed well throwing deep, despite the lowly overall figure.

Numbers from Lauren Gray of Pro Football Focus show Jones had a deep passer rating of 119.4, good for third in the league. He also completed 43.5 percent of his deep strikes, the ninth-best mark in football.

One of his notable completions was this 44-yarder to Slayton against the Dallas Cowboys.

Jones has a talent for the long game, but he needs more opportunities, with Gray noting how he tried only 23 vertical throws last season, the second fewest on the charts. Extra chances will be available now Jones has speedsters like Campbell and Hyatt to aim for on the outside.

More production vertically is the next step toward Jones becoming an elite QB and meriting Simms’ lofty comparisons.

Former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose will become a free agent in July after the New York Knicks elected to decline his $15.6 million team option for the 2023-24 season. Per Fred Katz of the Athletic, there is still a chance Rose could return to the Knicks on a more team-friendly deal during the free agency period.

“The Knicks are declining Derrick Rose’s $15.6M team option, league source confirms to The Athletic. I’m told this doesn’t close the door to a potential return for Rose on a cheaper contract. He’ll now enter unrestricted free agency this summer,” Katz tweeted on June 24.

However, Steve Popper of Newsday, who was first to report that the Knicks would be declining Rose’s option, says several teams could be interested in the former All-Star’s services, including the Phoenix Suns.

“There are contending teams — the Lakers, Suns, Celtics, or even a return to his hometown Bulls — who could have minutes available at point guard for Rose,” Popper writes.

Suns Need a Playmaking Point Guard

Rose has not been an MVP-caliber player for quite some time now. Last season he appeared in just 27 games and averaged 5.6 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 rebounds. But with the offensive firepower of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and the recent addition of Bradley Beal to the roster, the Suns do not need Rose to be that.

The only point guards the Suns have under contract for next season are Cameron Payne and Jordan Goodwin. For reference, Payne averaged 8.1 points per game in the playoffs and Goodwin, who was acquired in the Washington Wizards trade and did not make the playoffs last season, averaged just 6.6 points per game. Rose could be a significant upgrade.

After trading Paul, the Suns do not have a true starting point guard. That could become problematic because despite Beal, Durant, and Booker being top-class scorers, they are not particularly known for their playmaking ability. For his career, Rose averages 5.3 assists per game. Although he is no longer among the elite point guards in the NBA, it is worth the Suns taking a chance at Rose on a veteran’s minimum deal.

Suns Free Agency Options Will Be Scarce

With the free agency period approaching in July, the Phoenix Suns are still looking to build out their roster in hopes of becoming a title contender. They have already made several key moves since being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.

They fired Monty Williams and hired former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel to replace him. They also traded Paul in a blockbuster trade that landed them Beal. But the next task may be among the most difficult for the Suns’ front office as they turn their attention to building around their stars.

Here is the reality: players like Rose are not the most attractive in the free-agent pool. But other cream-of-the-crop free agents such as Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Fred VanVleet won’t be available to Phoenix unless they are willing to take a significant pay cut. This is due to the fact that the Suns have already utilized most of their cap space on their All-Star trio. It will be interesting to see how they build out their roster.

This offseason, the Boston Celtics have several players slated to hit free agency with fourth-year forward Grant Williams serving as the headliner of the bunch.

There are bound to be several opposing ball clubs vying for his services on the open market and Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes the sharpshooter should be viewed as the “top target” for the Dallas Mavericks.

“If he is indeed available, the Dallas Mavericks should pursue him with the mid-level exception they would have access to in the event Kyrie Irving re-signs and takes them over the salary cap. Dallas already landed a big man who can roll to the rim in Richaun Holmes on draft night (presumably with a trade exception it created earlier by trading Dāvis Bertāns).

“Now, the Mavs could use another big who can space the floor for Kyrie and Luka Dončić’s drives. Over the last three seasons, Williams has averaged 7.0 points and 1.2 threes, while shooting 39.7 percent from deep. And perhaps just as important, he’s shown a solid ability to defend centers and bigger wings,” Bailey wrote.

Bailey would continue on to note that, considering his restricted free-agent label, the Celtics would have the ability to match any offer sheet extended to Grant Williams, thus making a possible pursuit of him in free agency potentially complex.

However, recent rumblings may suggest that Boston might not be as hell-bent on bringing him back as they once may have been.

Kristaps Porzingis Makes Grant Williams Expendable

Just recently, the Boston Celtics made a rather sizeable splash with their decision to trade for former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis.

While the blockbuster certainly adds some much-needed depth to their big-man rotation, the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach suggests that it simultaneously seems to spell the end of Grant Williams’ tenure in Beantown.

“According to multiple league sources, the completion of the Porziņģis deal would likely mean that Grant Williams’s time in Boston has come to an end,” Himmelsbach said via Twitter.

Should this prove to be the case, recent reports by Mass Live’s Brian Robb suggest the Celtics could be looking to take part in some sort of sign-and-trade involving the 24-year-old, which, in turn, could subsequently aid in Bailey’s suggestion for the Mavericks to pursue his shooting talents.

“Boston has the ability to address that depth issue if they bring back Grant Williams but that seems to be a long shot at this point barring another big move, per sources. The money and likely role for him is not there with Porzingis signed at $36 million. Instead, look for the Celtics to try to swing a sign-and-trade with him per sources and instead add another player for guard/wing depth or grab a future draft asset or traded player exception,” Robb wrote.

Grant Williams is coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he posted career-best per-game averages in points (8.1), rebounds (4.6), and assists (1.7) while cashing in on 39.5% of his shot attempts from beyond the arc.

Torrey Craig ‘Top Target’ For Celtics

Grant Williams may be seen as the “top target” the Mavericks should consider pursuing this summer, but when it comes to the Celtics, Andy Bailey seems to believe that veteran wing Torrey Craig and his defensive abilities should be atop the wish list for Brad Stevens and company.

“There’s a good chance the Boston Celtics will be a luxury tax-paying team in 2023-24, which makes potential targets in free agency far less glamorous. And that’s fine. Boston already made a huge splash when it acquired Kristaps Porziņģis in a trade. Now, it should be looking to fill out the rotation with wings (presumably on minimum contracts) who can fit into a sometimes positionless scheme with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Torrey Craig is a multipositional defender in that salary range who shot 39.5 percent from deep in 2022-23,” Bailey wrote.

The 3&D veteran has been linked as a possible target for the Celtics on more than one occasion, with Masslive’s Brian Robb suggesting back at around this past season’s trade deadline that he would be a quality addition to Joe Mazzulla‘s rotation.

Through 79 games played with the Suns in 2022-23, Torrey Craig went on to post averages of 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and just shy of a block while shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.5% from deep.

The rumor mill as of late has seen the concept of the New York Knicks trading for Los Angeles Clippers star wing Paul George constantly being broached.

Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes seems to believe he’s constructed a “realistic” package to make this hypothetical exchange become a reality.

The proposed trade reads as follows:

New York Knicks receive: Paul George

Los Angeles Clippers receive: RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Evan Fournier, 2024 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick (via DAL; top-10 protected)

An eight-time NBA All-Star, Paul George finds himself coming off yet another sound statistical season as he finished off the year boasting impressive per-game averages of 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 45.7% from the field and 37.1% from deep.

Unfortunately, he only managed to suit up for 56 games and missed the entirety of the club’s five-game playoff run due to a myriad of ailments. Lacking health has become somewhat of a trend over the last several years for the All-NBA talent, as he has yet to see over 56 games played since being acquired by Los Angeles back in 2019.

Though this trend should certainly be viewed as concerning, Hughes believes that it could also prove to be somewhat of a positive when it comes to negotiations revolving around the $175 million star, as his injury-prone status has only diminished his trade value.

With this, he suggests that while a package headlined by RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley could be perceived as “underwhelming” for someone of his caliber, ultimately, the Clippers may not find a more intriguing offer.

“It’s hard to know whether the Clippers trading George would be the first step in a rebuild. Chances are, with a new arena opening in 2024, the Clips won’t tear the whole thing down by also moving Kawhi Leonard. Either way, Barrett and Quickley are both intriguing pieces—starting-caliber young players (Barrett just turned 23; Quickley is 24) who’ll either lead the next era or give Leonard more durable running mates. Quickley, in particular, could thrive as the spark-plug guard L.A. desperately needs,” Hughes wrote.

Clippers ‘Fans’ of RJ Barrett

While the proposed exchange by Grant Hughes sees the bigger name in Paul George heading to the Knicks, it appears the Clippers themselves would be bringing on a player in RJ Barrett who, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, has supporters within the organization.

“I do know — the Clippers over there — there are some fans of RJ Barrett,” Begley said.

Coming off of a rather up-and-down 2022-23 campaign, RJ Barrett showed flashes of being a legitimate franchise cornerstone on numerous occasions throughout the year and was on an absolute tear for the vast majority of New York’s two-round playoff run.

Seeing 73 games of regular season action, the wing went on to post solid averages of 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists for the Knicks and put up 21.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 47.9% from the floor and 35.8% from deep from April 18 through May 10.

Knicks ‘Hesitant’ to Trade For Paul George

Despite the recent rumblings and media coverage regarding recent talks between the Knicks and Clippers on a potential Paul George trade, Andrew Greif and Broderick Turner of the LA Times recently reported that New York is a bit reluctant to actually pull the proverbial trigger on such a deal.

“After some internal discussions, the Knicks have become hesitant about acquiring George. The Knicks also think George’s representatives will ask for a contract extension. He’s due to earn $45.6 million next season and $48.8 million the following season if he exercises his option,” Greif and Turner wrote.

Aside from future financial commitments, this hesitation by the Knicks likely stems from Paul George’s recent injury history, as he has played in just 189 of a potential total of 308 regular season games over the last four seasons.

With pick No. 250 in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs selected Ball State cornerback Nic Jones to round out this year’s draft class. But had the Chiefs gone in a different direction with that pick, a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie claimed he could have been selected by Kansas City.

During an interview on the “Three Point Stance” podcast, Steelers 2023 seventh-round pick, offensive tackle Spencer Anderson, went into detail regarding his conversation with the Chiefs leading up to their final selection in the draft.

“When we were getting towards the final round of the draft, the phones start picking up more and more,” Anderson said on the June 22 episode. “Teams start reaching out, the 49ers, the Ravens, whoever it was. I had no clue that I was going to go to Pittsburgh. I was on the phone with Kansas City and I remember that Kansas City had the pick right before the Steelers. Kansas City had told me they were going to with me or a DB. If their DB went off the board, they were going to go with me. I remember, I was on the phone with Andy Reid, I was talking to him. He was just like, ‘Sit tight.’ And I was like, ‘Cool.’”

Anderson said one or two defensive backs were drafted leading up to pick 250, which made him think he was going to be drafted by the defending Super Bowl champions. That was until the Chiefs took Jones at pick 250 and the Steelers selected Anderson with the 251st pick.

“I was still supposed to be staying on the phone with Andy Reid,” Anderson continued. “He’s like, ‘You’re a heck of a player.’ And all of that stuff… and then I got a call from (Steelers general manager) Omar (Khan)… He put me on the phone with Coach Tomlin. He was like, ‘Hey, man, versatility is your calling card, so we’re going to go ahead and submit you with our next pick.’”

Chiefs Addressed Offensive Tackle After Draft

Though the Chiefs opted to select Nic Jones — who has earned rave reviews and could surprise at the NFL level — with pick 250, the team took care of their offensive tackle depth after the draft by adding some talent to the top of the depth chart through free agency.

On May 3, the Chiefs signed veteran offensive tackle Donovan Smith to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

Donovan Smith an 8-Year Starter For Buccaneers

Donovan Smith, 30, entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. Over the last eight seasons he was a full-time starter in Tampa Bay and surrendered 41 sacks in 124 career regular season starts according to PFF. In seven playoff games, one of which was the Super Bowl LV victory over the Chiefs, Smith surrendered 3 total sacks (none of which were against Kansas City).

During the 2022 season, Smith gave up a total of 31 pressures (18 QB hurries, 7 QB hits, 6 sacks) in 13 regular season starts. He also had the second-most penalties called on him among all NFL offensive linemen (12), according to Football Database. Those penalties were for offensive holding (7), false start (4), and illegal use of hands (1).

It’s also worth mentioning that Smith suffered an elbow injury during Week 1 of the 2022 regular season and played through it for the remainder of the season. He also dealt with a foot injury late in the season.

If Smith can stay healthy, he can be a serviceable starter for Kansas City at left tackle during the 2023 season. That will allow offseason addition Jawaan Taylor to remain at right tackle, which will give the offensive line stability at every position.

Could this be the final season for one “difference maker” on the San Francisco 49ers? Even though he’s limited offensively?

The 49ers signed former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud with the intention of bolstering this area of S.F. — the return game. But even with his skillset in returning kicks and punts, analyst Kyle Posey of SB Nation on Friday, June 23 wrote how it may become difficult for the Niners to keep him in 2024.

“There’s no denying that McCloud proved to be a difference-maker on special teams. That should continue in ‘23. But a bigger output on offense may be difficult to come by for a few different reasons,” Posey wrote.

However, the 49ers analyst added what McCloud can do to prevent himself from drifting away from the Niners once he hits the free agent market.

How McCloud Can Extend Stay in the Bay

It’s a crowded wide receiver room as 49er fans know. Deebo Samuel has a new, refreshed approach for 2023, Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a career-best season, even 2022 third rounder Danny Gray has a chance to elevate his snaps from a year ago.

But how can McCloud prove he’s more than returns?

“McCloud scored one touchdown on 21 targets a season ago. He’d have to up that number,” Posey wrote. “Kyle Shanahan constantly mentions his wide receivers being able to contribute in multiple ways. McCloud is a bit limited due to his stature, so he must impress, almost in an exaggerated fashion, to stick around.”

Posey then pointed out the deep post pattern against the Atlanta Falcons for a would-be touchdown. That was also the game that saw this highlight worthy punt return.

“If McCloud wants another contract from the 49ers, those are the types of receptions he’ll have to haul in,” Posey wrote. “To be fair, McCloud also had a 35-yard return against Atlanta. A splash play every couple of games should be enough to entice the 49ers into giving McCloud another contract.”

McCloud’s Current Deal & What it Entails

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound McCloud is officially in the final year of the two-year deal he signed in the 2022 offseason.

But, his cap number sits at $2.09 million according to Spotrac.

“If, for whatever reason, the Niners felt the need to release McCloud, he’d cost $875,000 in dead money, but the team would end up saving $1.21 million,” Posey wrote. “The only portion of his contract that was guaranteed was paid out in 2022.”

Furthermore, the 49ers are already facing the inevitability of moving on from one of their core wide receivers in 2024.

“Based on their recent investments, the 49ers are planning for life without one of their core wideouts next year. McCloud played 461 snaps last year, with 296 of those coming on offense. There wasn’t a game where Ray-Ray saw the field for more than 30 snaps. That speaks to his role and how the offensive staff feels about him,” Posey said.

The biggest key, though, will be if the second-year pro Gray can emerge. Gray could end up as the true fourth WR option as Jauan Jennings is currently the third. That could mean McCloud being the eventual odd man out, unless he puts together a career-best receiving season in ’23.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has already commanded a massive level of respect after just one season in the NFL.

Longtime former member of the Dallas Cowboys Dez Bryant called G-Dub, “Fantasy WR 1” on Twitter.

Bryant was then asked on Twitter who is his top-5 fantasy wideouts for the upcoming 2023 season.

He provided his list in “no particular order” but said these top guys “will lead the pack”:

• Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
• CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
• Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
• Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
• Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

High Praise From a Former Top Wideout

Bryant was in the NFL from 2010 through 2020.

He was voted a first-team All-Pro in 2014 and earned three Pro Bowl nominations during his illustrious career.

If anyone would know a thing or two about playing the wide receiver position it would be Bryant.

In 119 career games, Bryant caught 537 receptions for 7,506 receiving yards and secured 75 touchdowns.

Bryant was routinely thought of as a top-flight fantasy wideout throughout his career. The same can’t be said about any member of the Jets over the last 12 years.

Mike Clay of ESPN ranked Wilson the No. 11 PPR preseason fantasy football wideout in 2023.

This is new territory for fans in the fantasy football community and members of the Jets alike.

According to Draft Shark’s projections, Wilson is expected to catch 91.1 receptions for 1,248 receiving yards and finish with 7.5 touchdowns in 2023.

Those figures would place third, sixth, and No. 15 all-time in a Jets single season if they came to fruition.

Wilson Gave Back to the Jets Community This Offseason

Wilson hosted a youth football camp on Sunday, June 25 in Highstown, New Jersey.

Rich Cimini of ESPN said there were about “300 campers on hand” and he noticed plenty of “No. 17” jerseys in the crowd.

Wilson’s camp offered three different price tiers for the youngsters in attendance ranging from $149.99 (champion’s package) to $399.99 (MVP package).

Those packages included photo ops, autographs, personal meet-and-greets, and the biggest offering included a camper going one-on-one against Wilson in a football drill in front of everyone in attendance.

100 percent of the proceeds from this event benefitted the “FlexWork Scholarship Fund.”

According to Wilson’s event details on his website, these funds will allow “disabled and disadvantaged youth the opportunity to attend our camps.”

During the camp, Wilson got to try out a new position as a quarterback throwing the ball around to campers.

Cimini took a nine-second video and you can hear the campers calling out to Garrett asking for the football during a passing drill.

After the camp came to a close, Wilson took to social media to send out a message to his 107,200 followers.

“It was my pleasure to be able to give back to the community who supports the JETS, and I. Thank you to everyone who contributed, and to all the kids for coming out today! We’ll do it again soon.”

Wilson will now enter his second professional season looking to improve upon his impressive rookie campaign.

Jets team reporter Caroline Hendershot said in an article posted on June 23 that Wilson has a chance to be one of if not the best receivers in the NFL next season.

With Aaron Rodgers at the helm, Wilson is going to have a legitimate shot to live up to that billing in 2023.

The Detroit Lions have been a team floated as a possible landing spot for several different veteran wide receivers this offseason.

With some rumors, the Lions have been connected to star receivers such as DeAndre Hopkins or Stefon Diggs. But a wideout ready to play more of a secondary role might be a better fit.

One interesting possibility for the Lions if they targeted a secondary weapon in a receiver acquisition is Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.

With the arrival of Davante Adams last year, Renfrow played a smaller role in the Raiders offense in 2022. He also missed seven games because of a concussion.

On June 5, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox identified Renfrow as the one player the Raiders should consider trading before the 2023 season.

If the Raiders shopped Renfrow, the Lions should be interested.

Could the Lions Be Interested in Trading for Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow?

At about the same time Knox suggested Renfrow as a trade candidate for the Raiders, A to Z Sports’ Jack Gentry proposed the Lions as a possible destination for the 27-year-old wideout.

“Las Vegas signed receivers Jakobi Myers and Deandre Carter this offseason, which likely buries Renfrow deeper on the depth chart,” Gentry wrote. “With just one year left on his contract, the Lions should be able to pry him away from the Raiders without being forced to give up a high draft pick.

“Renfrow makes even more sense for the Lions who will be without Jameson Williams for the first six games of the regular season. If Detroit is committed to creating a dynamic passing attack, general manager Brad Holmes must put in a call to the raiders’ brass at the bare minimum.”

With the arrival of Adams and concussion issues, Renfrow went from a 100-catch, 1,000-yard receiver in 2021 to a guy who caught just 36 passes for 330 yards in 2022. His touchdowns also dropped from 9 in 2021 to 2 in 2022.

In addition to Adams, the emergence of Mack Hollins cut into Renfrow’s opportunities last season. Hollins left for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, but as Gentry noted, Las Vegas signed other veteran receivers, Jacob Myers and Deandre Carter, who could continue to limit Renfrow’s chances at significant playing time.

The Lions may be able to land Renfrow for a Day 3 draft selection.

What Renfrow Could Offer the Lions

Detroit doesn’t have a very deep receiving core to begin with, but as Gentry also pointed out, Jameson Williams will miss the first six games. Williams will sit those contests because of a gambling suspension.

Renfrow obviously doesn’t directly replace Williams’ speed. But neither would any of the other potential receivers the Lions might add this summer.

What Renfrow would supply the Lions and quarterback Jared Goff is a reliable target in the slot. The 27-year-old played about 86% of his offensive snaps in the slot last season. He’s only averaged 10.8 yards per catch in his four-year career, but Renfrow has also caught nearly 75% of his targets.

He’s a chain mover and could be particularly useful in that role in an offense that features other dynamic playmakers such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Sam LaPorta.

When Williams returns, Renfrow could find himself even more open with opposing defenses worried about the second-year wideout blowing the top off the secondary with his speed.

There’s also little risk with the Lions acquiring Renfrow. Signing Hopkins won’t cost anything, but his presence could cut into Williams’ playing time after Week 6.

Renfrow won’t be stealing snaps from anyone else. If he doesn’t work out, the Lions can allow him to leave in free agency next spring and only lose the late draft pick it would cost to acquire him.

The reward Renfrow offers as a dependable, veteran slot wideout, though, is enough that the Lions should consider him a potential trade target before the season.

The beginning of the NBA free agency period is just mere days away, and the Phoenix Suns will have a challenging task on their hands in trying to build around their All-Star trio of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant. With minimum cap space to work with, they will likely be forced to pick from a group of ring-chasing veterans.

There was speculation that the Suns might dangle their starting big man Deandre Ayton as trade bait to land one or two serviceable role players to assist their main cast members. However, per NBA insider Chris B. Haynes of Bleacher Report, the Suns are no longer shopping their star big man on the trade market and intend to “move forward” with him as a member of their roster.

“Phoenix Suns are moving forward with the plan of keeping Deandre Ayton to play alongside Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal,” Haynes tweeted on June 25.

Suns Tried to Trade Deandre Ayton to Sixers

A recent report from Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer suggested that the Suns offered Ayton to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Tobias Harris, but Sixers’ general manager Darryl Morey did not budge. When the Sixers shut down their offer, the Suns upped the stakes and asked Philadelphia to get a third team involved, which they vehemently denied.

“The Sixers have no interest in the 7-foot, 250-pounder with three years and $102 million left on his contract. And why would they when franchise player and reigning MVP Joel Embiid, like Ayton, plays center? The Sixers also do not have any interest in any of the players the Suns would make available,” Pompey said of Ayton.

“So, Phoenix wants the Sixers to get a third team involved to facilitate the deal, according to a source. However, the Sixers are unwilling to do so.”

Can Deandre Ayton Work With New Look Suns?

One has to wonder if the Suns’ decision to “move forward” with Ayton is because they want him on the team or if they have just given up on trying to trade him. Is it just a coincidence that the Suns have completed two blockbuster trades in the last five months, and Ayton remains a member of the Suns’ roster? Even though Phoenix has been actively shopping him since being eliminated from the playoffs.

Or is it more likely that teams do not want Ayton on their roster, even though he is still a 7-footer and just 24 years old? When Ayton is actively engaged, he is still one of the best centers in the NBA. But there are times when he is disengaged, and everything unravels for him. It is one of the reasons that Monty Williams had him split the minutes at the five spot with undrafted center Jock Landale in the playoffs.

But maybe Williams being on the outskirts and a championship-winning head coach in Frank Vogel coming in to take his place could be just what Ayton needs to ensure he reaches an elite level. With a huge season coming up, the Suns will need him to play at his highest level. It will be interesting to see if he can get it done.

The Cleveland Browns had high hopes for versatile running back Demetric Felton when they selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. However, it’s time for the former UCLA standout to prove he can be a difference-maker for the Browns if he wants to stick around.

The Browns shuffled their running back room this offseason, with veterans Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson departing via free agency. Johnson is now in Jacksonville, while Hunt remains a free agent with a return to Cleveland unlikely.

Felton has floated between the running back and wide receiver rooms during his time in Cleveland, although it looks like he’ll be more slotted into the backfield for the coming season.

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com believes that Felton is on the roster bubble for the coming year.

“I think Felton, the Browns’ sixth-round pick in 2021, is on the bubble heading into the season. He’s split time at running back and receiver — mostly receiver his first two seasons — and he’s never really found a home,” Cabot wrote in her latest mailbag column. “This year, he has a chance to make the team as a back, but the Browns really need a strong runner who can spell Chubb and Jerome Ford in the event they get hurt, and churn out 80-100 yards.”

There’s no doubt that Felton brings an added element as a pass-catcher but it might not be what the Browns are looking for.

“Felton’s versatility might help him, but it’s actually been a detriment to this point,” Cabot said. “While he battles for a roster spot, the Browns will continue to look for that third back to replace D’Ernest Johnson, who got the tough yards when they needed them but became too expensive for that role.”

Browns Will Lean Heavily on Nick Chubb Despite Changes

The Browns’ offense will look a little different next season, with Cleveland expected to rely more on the passing game and Deshaun Watson. But Cabot assured that Chubb will still have a significant role in the offense.

“The Browns recognize that Chubb is a huge part of the offense, and that’s not changing anytime soon,” Cabot said. “This is still the AFC North, and there’s still weather to contend with in November and December.”

Cabot also noted that Chubb will play a larger role as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, which has not been showcased extensively in the past. But as long as the Browns can get the ball in his hands, he’ll be a difference-maker. He’s coming off a season where he rushed for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning second-team All-Pro honors and his fourth Pro Bowl nod.

Browns Still Searching for Another RB Option

Behind Chubb is Ford, who is unproven but expected to get a larger workload this season as the primary backup. Ford had just eight carries for 12 yards as a rookie.

The Browns are still in search of another option as insurance, although it won’t be one of the big names on the market like Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott or Hunt.

“The Browns will continue to keep their eyes peeled for another back, not just for training camp but one who can carry the load in a pinch,” Cabot said. “They’re not looking to add a big-name back such a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they have no plans to re-sign Hunt. But they will look to bolster the room sometime between now and the start of camp.”

The group the Browns could consider includes former Chargers RB Justin Jackson, Kenyan Drake, or a familiar face like Dontrell Hilliard, who started his career in Cleveland.

The slowest juncture of the NFL calendar is the period between the conclusion of all offseason programs for every team in the league, including the Baltimore Ravens, and the start of training camp in late July.

It’s also the perfect time for almost every media outlet that covers the sport to churn out lists, rankings, and projections to fill space, occupy, time, and stir up some engagement and debate among fanbases.

Pro Football Focus’ Jim Wyman recently wrote an article listing the best duo for every qualifying position group in the league. Positions such as quarterback, center, and others where only one player can be on the field at a given time were excluded.

One could make a compelling argument that the Ravens tight end duo of three-time Pro Bowler Mark Andrews and ascending second-year pro Isaiah Likely could warrant more consideration over the likes of David Njoku and Jordan Akins for the Cleveland Browns. There’s also the inside linebacker tandem of First-Team All-Pro Roquan Smith and fourth-year pro Patrick Queen that warrant consideration given how strong they finished the 2022 season once they joined forces.

However, the lone representative on the list from the Charm City franchise was second-year breakout candidate Kyle Hamilton and underrated veteran ballhawk Marcus Williams who was named the best safety duo in the league.

“With all the attention going to Sauce Gardner, Hamilton quietly put together a dominant rookie year of his own, as he led all safeties in PFF grade at 87.6,” Wyman wrote. “In fact, Hamilton had at least an 83.0 PFF grade in all four major grading categories.”

The Ravens selected the former Notre Dame star at No. 14 overall in the first round and after a rough start to his rookie campaign, he finished with an 87.7 run defense grade, 85.7 as a pass-rusher, and 83.0 in coverage per PFF which gave him “about as well-rounded a rookie season as we’ve ever seen”.

“Williams, on the other hand, is coming off his lowest-ranked PFF grade season since 2018, and he still graded amongst the top 20 safeties in the league with a 73.9 PFF grade,” Wyman wrote.

The 2023 season will be their first working as a tandem in the backend following the offseason trade of stalwart veteran Chuck Clark to the New York Jets. Given this fact, most of Wyman’s reason for having them listed as the league’s best is more based on projection than production.

Hamilton Could Become Household Name in Year 2

The 2022 first-rounder will not only have more responsibilities as a full-time starter in his second season but even high expectations following such an outstanding second half of his rookie year.

He was on the field early and often as a nickel defender serving in a hybrid safety role where he was tasked with blitzing, aiding in run defense, and covering whoever lineup in the slot at times whether it was a receiver or tight end, or running back. Hamilton executed and played the role that capitalized on his versatility and rare blend of size, strength, and length at an elite level.

Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald found creative ways to deploy him and use his skillset to cause chaos for opposing offenses, especially in the box and near the line of scrimmage.

According to Pro Football Reference, Hamilton recorded 62 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, five quarterback hits, five pass deflections, and one forced fumble in 16 games that included four starts.

He played 53 percent of the team’s total defensive snaps as a rookie as a regular rotational piece but now that he is slated to take over for Clark, not only will his snap count increase significantly but so will the ground he’ll need to cover in the backend. While he didn’t run a blazing 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process, Hamilton’s range and closing speed are both exceptional.

The Heavy’s own Senior NFL Insider Matt Lombardo recently had Hamilton featured in an article titled ‘Predicting the NFL’s Next First-Time All-Pro at Each Position’ because he believes that he is “as versatile as they come at safety” and that he can “build on a prolific rookie season”.

“Not only does Hamilton thrive in coverage, where he played both deep safety and in the slot while holding opposing receivers to only 9.9 Yards per reception, but he’s a real weapon up near the line of scrimmage,” he wrote. “Hamilton’s 2.0 sacks and 20 run-stops underscore his value at all levels of the Ravens’ defense.

Williams Poised For Big Season As Well

The most likely and perhaps the only reason that the six-year veteran defensive back had his lowest-graded season since his second year in the league was the fact that his gradable sample size was limited to 10 games as a result of an injury.

He missed seven games from Week 6 to 13 after suffering a dislocated wrist in Week 5 in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. However, prior to that setback, Williams was off to a sensational start to his career as a Raven and looking worth every penny of the sizable five-year deal worth $70 million that the team signed him to in free agency with three interceptions in the first four games.

While 2020 seventh-rounder Geno Stone filled in more than admirably for him, he just didn’t present the same playmaking threat from a ball skills standpoint. In his first game back from injury, Williams seemingly picked up where he left off by recording an interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14.

He finished the year with 61 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, eight pass breakups, and team-leading four interceptions according to PFR. Williams is the Ravens’ first true free safety since six-time Pro Bowler Eric Weddle patrolled the backend in Baltimore from 2016-2018 and he could prove to be perhaps the best since Hall of Famer Ed Reed now that he has a full year in Macdonald’s system, is healthy, and is still ascending at just 26 years old.

Hamilton believes Williams is “one of the best in our league” and was well on his way to proving it prior to his untimely injury. He is excited about the opportunity to play alongside him on a full-time basis and learn as much as he can.

“He tells me every day, not even football-wise, just, mentally, how to attack every day – how to watch film, how to adapt to certain coverages that we’re playing and stuff like that – [and] not to overthink it,” he said in a press conference on June 6, 2023. “He gives me a lot of confidence in my game, so he’s helped me a lot the past two years. And hopefully, it’s going to be a bright future.”

The Philadelphia Eagles could be the perfect landing spot for a bold trade proposal.

As suggested by Philly Voice’s Shamus Clancy, the Eagles could seek a Super Bowl run “rental” by acquiring Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen. In this trade scenario, the Eagles would acquire Queen in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick.

The Ravens recently declined Queen’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract for the 2024 season, leading to speculation that Baltimore could seek to trade the linebacker.

Why the Eagles Could Use Patrick Queen

Clancy argues that Nakobe Dean’s lack of experience — he played just 34 defensive snaps last season — should motivate the Eagles into potentially acquiring Queen, who led the Ravens with 122 tackles last year.

“It may be too early to just assume that Nakobe Dean can come in and be the Eagles’ unquestioned No. 1 linebacker after playing just 34 defensive snaps during his rookie year,” writes Clancy. “The team wants him to succeed and take this role, but I’m not quite sure he’s ready. He has a sky-high football IQ, but I need to see how he adjusts to the physicality of the NFL. Bringing in Queen to be the “green dot” linebacker while having Dean be the No. 2 LB could be a nice pathway to having Dean be the top dog in 2024.”

Dean is the projected starting middle linebacker, with former sixth-round pick Shaun Bradley — who has 45 career tackles to his name — the only listed backup. In fact, the Eagles have eight outside linebackers on the roster, but only two middle linebackers.

As far as Queen is concerned, he’s been one of the top young linebackers in the NFL since Baltimore used a first-round pick on him back in 2020. He finished third in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after leading the Ravens with 106 tackles during the 2020 season. He followed that up by leading the Ravens in tackles during the 2021 season with 98 tackles. In other words, he’s led Baltimore in tackles for three consecutive seasons.

According to Pro Football Focus, Queen posted a solid 70.0 defensive grade and 68.2 grade in coverage last season. However, despite his impressive tackle totals, the advanced analytics show Queen actually struggled on the field over his first two seasons. Queen’s 29.7 defensive grade and 30.0 grade in coverage during his rookie season were extremely low, with his grades ranking last among linebackers with at least 500 snaps.

Eagles Could Use Patrick Queen as 1-Year Rental

With that being said, Queen is coming off of an impressive 2022 season. However, the Ravens may not be inclined to signing the young linebacker to a big-money contract with money currently tied up to fellow linebacker Roquan Smith. Smith is currently in the midst of a five-year, $100 million contract that makes him the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history.

“Baltimore has declined the Queen’s fifth-year option for 2024,” writes Clancy. “After giving the bag to Roquan Smith, the Ravens likely didn’t want to pour more big money into the linebacker position. For a team thin as always at LB, a rental for Queen for a Super Bowl run could be more enticing to Roseman rather than drafting another backer on Day 2 or handing out a big-money free agent deal. ”

If the Eagles are seeking an upgrade at the middle linebacker position, Queen is likely their best option for the 2023 season.

Each of the 32 NFL franchises is enjoying a final break before training camp hits in the month of July.

However, the New York Jets have plenty of work to do before the season arrives. Field Yates of ESPN said Gang Green has “one last offseason roster move” to complete.

Yates said defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and quarterback Aaron Rodgers “need new contracts.”

Williams Expected to Land Monster Contract Extension

Yates said the former Alabama standout has “emerged as one of the best players in the league.”

Williams is heading into the last year of his rookie contract and is set to make $9.5 million in base salary in 2023.

He held out the entire voluntary portion of the offseason and the mandatory portion was canceled by head coach Robert Saleh.

Jets analyst Joe Caporoso of “Badlands” predicted that Williams will land a new deal “between July 4th and [training] camp starting.”

Several defensive tackles signed massive contracts this offseason and Yates believes Williams’ new deal should be worth “at least $22.5 million per year.”

Only four defensive tackles in the NFL currently make at least $22.5 million per season according to Over The Cap:

• Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams, $31.6 million
• Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans, $23.5 million
• Daron Payne, Washington Commanders, $22.5 million
• Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants, $22.5 million

Rodgers’ Contract Requires More Tinkering From Jets

Prior to being traded from the Green Bay Packers to the Jets, Rodgers altered his contract to make the trade happen.

Rodgers is owed $108.7 million over the next two calendar years and that includes “$101 million in guarantees”, according to Roster Management.

A-Rod “dropped his 2023 salary to $1.2 million” and he pushed the rest into 2024, per ESPN. According to Spotrac, he is set to receive $107.6 million in yearly cash next season.

Yates said Rodgers won’t be making “that little” in 2023 nor will he make that much “next year.” He said the two sides “will renegotiate revised contract terms in time.”

So it isn’t a matter of if but rather when this Rodgers deal is going to be reworked ahead of the season. The same can’t be said for the Quinnen situation.

He is under contract for 2023 and the Jets have the franchise tag in their back pocket. General manager Joe Douglas technically doesn’t have to extend Williams if he doesn’t want to. The Jets have team control over Williams for the foreseeable future.

However, if Douglas chooses not to that could create a potentially contentious situation in the locker room ahead of an all-in type of season which could prove detrimental.

Although the expectation from everything I’ve heard indicates both a Rodgers restructure and Williams extension is expected to happen before the start of the season.

Which situation happens first will be interesting to watch. In theory, Gang Green has the ultimate flexibility.

The Jets could make Quinnen’s cap hit very small in 2023 on a new contract allowing the team to eat more of Rodgers’ cap hit this season. Or they could do the opposite by making Q’s cap hit ginormous this season and small in other years.

Gang Green has the fifth most cap space in the NFL with $23 million, per Over The Cap.

After six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Noah Brown got to know Dak Prescott pretty well.

So when Brown signed with the Houston Texans this offseason, he couldn’t help but make a comparison between Prescott and his new, rookie quarterback CJ Stroud — who he feels could be better than his former Cowboys QB.

“They’re both great quarterbacks — great arm talent,” Brown said of Prescott and Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. “That’s a great class to be in. I think he has all the potential to live up to that, maybe even surpass it. So, you know, I’m rooting for C.J. and I’m willing to have his back on anything.”

Prescott is coming off a turbulent year where he led the league in interceptions despite missing five games. He threw 15 in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. The turnovers were an issue but Prescott has shown some qualities of a top-tier quarterback. He passed for 2,860 yards and 23 touchdowns in 12 games, helping the Cowboys to the Divisional Round.

Noah Brown Coming Off Career Year in Dallas

The Cowboys selected Brown in the seventh round of the 2017 draft out of Ohio State. He’s coming off a career year with Dallas, catching 43 passes for 555 yards and three touchdowns last season. All those were more than his previous five seasons in the NFL combined.

Brown’s deal with the Texans was for one year and $2.6 million and he’s hoping to maintain his upward trajectory with Stroud as his quarterback.

“I know C.J. has great arm talent,” Brown said. “The little bit of time I’ve been here working with him, he’s picked up the offense fast, taken ownership of his reps. I think that can only lead to positive things.”

There were rumors ahead of the draft that the Cowboys were intrigued by Stroud, although there was little to no chance that they’d be able to move up high enough in the pick the Buckeyes standout.

Stroud helped lead Ohio State to the College Football Playoff, passing for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. He was even better a year ago, passing for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Dak Prescott Confident in New-Look Cowboys Offense

The Cowboys offense will look different next season and Prescott will have a few new weapons to work with. Premier among those is Brandin Cooks, who the Cowboys swung a trade for this offseason. Cooks will combine with CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup to give Dallas a formidable top trio of pass-catchers.

“Real speed. Runs the same way every time. I think that’s the most important thing,” Prescott said of Cooks. “When you have speed like that, for him to be able to do it every play, every route, the start of every route, the cornerbacks, defense, they don’t know what they’re getting. It all looks the same.”

The Cowboys are also making a shift when it comes to their playbook, with head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties. So far, Prescott has liked what he’s seen from what he’s dubbed the “Texas-Coast” offense.

The Golden State Warriors have never shied away from voicing extreme confidence bordering on bluster, and rookie Brandin Podziemski fits that culture seamlessly.

The Dubs selected the 6-foot-5 guard out of Santa Clara with the 19th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Despite his youth and relative lack of experience on any major stage to speak of, the 20-year-old Warrior made a couple of bold claims about the type of player he expects to become on the professional level.

“I think I bring a lot to the Warriors. I think in the NBA, I could be a triple-double guy,” Brandin Podziemski told Heavy NBA insider Sean Deveney on Thursday, June 22. “I [can] dribble, pass and shoot at a high level. Competitor, toughness. Things I bring to the table like shooting. I’ll be playing alongside the two best shooters in the world.”

Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski Hungry for Shots, Defensive Improvement During Rookie Year

GettyBrandin Podziemski poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 19th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Podziemski’s confidence may border on the brash, though it’s a far cry from unearned. As a 19-year-old sophomore in the NCAA’s West Coast Conference, he averaged 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 48.3% shooting, which included a 43.8% clip from behind the arc, per Sports Reference.

If Podziemski can find his way into the rotation next season, there are likely to be some shots waiting for the rookie after the departure of Jordan Poole, who Golden State sent to the Washington Wizards on the day of the draft in exchange for Chris Paul III. Poole hoisted 15.6 attempts per game across 82 regular season appearances in 2022-23, averaging a career-high 20.4 points per contest.

Along with touting his offensive prowess Thursday night, Podziemski didn’t shy away from the criticisms he’s faced regarding his game on the opposite end of the floor.

“People question my defense. I get to play against Draymond Green, All-Defensive player; Gary Payton [II], All Defensive player,” Podziemski said. “The room for improvement is right there, and it’s right in front of me. So I’m really excited to be a part of this organization. I think I’m a perfect fit for them, and they’re a perfect fit for me. I want to win a championship this year.”

Podziemski averaged 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest across 36 games played during his sophomore campaign at Santa Clara.

Warriors 2nd-Rounder Trayce Jackson-Davis Displays Similar Confidence, Heart to Podziemski

GettyForward Trayce Jackson-Davis, formerly of the Indiana Hoosiers, dunks against the Wyoming Cowboys during an NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game in March 2022.

Golden State also acquired Trayce Jackson-Davis out of Indiana on Thursday night as part of the Poole/Paul trade. The Wizards drafted the historic Hoosiers forward with the No. 57 overall pick before shipping him to the Bay Area as a stipulation of that deal.

Jackson-Davis is the only player in Indiana history to accumulate more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds during his collegiate career. That is saying quite a lot considering the history of basketball success at Indiana and the long line of quality NBA players the program has produced. Jackson-Davis averaged 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and four assists for the Hoosiers during his senior season.

That he was passed over multiple times by several franchises and ultimately selected with the second-to-last pick in the draft were a pair of facts that did not sit well with Jackson-Davis, firmly placing a chip on his shoulder as he begins his professional career.

“Ya’ll will regret it,” Jackson-Davis tweeted late Thursday night. “I promise you.”

While his draft circumstances were different than Podziemski’s, the supreme confidence and eagerness to work Jackson-Davis conveyed via his social media message offer striking similarities to his new Golden State counterpart. They also render him a seemingly perfect fit for the Warriors’ culture, which has committed clearly to winning now and winning big.

One of the biggest moves of the offseason was when the New York Giants sent a third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders to land star tight end Darren Waller. His first two full years with the Raiders were impressive as he had 1,145 receiving yards in 2019 and then broke the team’s reception record with 107 catches in 2020.

He landed a three-year contract extension from general manager Dave Ziegler last year, but he fell out of favor with the coaching staff quickly due to injuries. He was limited to just nine games last season with a hamstring injury. He was linked to a number of trade rumors during the season with The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reporting on November 6, 2022, that the Green Bay Packers offered a second-round pick for Waller. The Raiders decided to hang onto him only to trade him in the offseason. For his part, Waller wasn’t too surprised when he got the news that he was traded.

“Not totally shocked,” Waller said of the Raiders trade on the red carpet of his foundation’s event at Aria in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 22, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I had heard some things. There were different moments throughout the year that I heard I may be traded or I may not. So the actual event of it wasn’t too shocking.

“But I didn’t expect it to be the Giants.”

Why Was Darren Waller Traded?

Darren Waller became one of the faces of the Raiders in recent years and quickly immersed himself in the Las Vegas community. He even married Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum shortly before getting sent to New York. There could be many factors as to why he was traded, but he’s not going to overthink it. He’s just ready to move and start the next chapter of his career.

“I’m done questioning God and what he’s trying to do,” Waller said. “He’s gotten me to this point. I know that he’s going to continue to have a plan for me, you know?”

Waller Excited About Joining the New York Giants

There was excitement surrounding the idea of Josh McDaniels being able to utilize Darren Waller at tight end. Under McDaniels, Rob Gronkowski became a future Hall of Famer. However, Waller and Gronkowski have different playing styles. The former is fast and athletic while the latter is big and runs excellent routes. Waller may just not have been a fit with McDaniels, which is why they drafted Michael Mayer in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft to replace him. Regardless, Waller isn’t too upset about having to move. He’s quite excited about joining a Giants team that made the playoffs last season.

“It’s been great,” Waller said. “It’s been a great challenge. I love a good challenge and just forming a new relationship with my teammates. They’re really excited about winning. They’re really solid about doing things the right way and continuing to build a foundation on what they started last year. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

With New York having a young wide receiver corps without a star, Waller should be a major focal point in the offense this season.