chelsea Star Mark Cucurella is keen to leave the Premier League team in the summer.

Last month, Sports Witness Covered a front page report from Spain Barcelona’s interest in their former player.

The same source said he wants out following turmoil at Chelsea following the departure of Enzo Maresca in January. Atletico Madrid are also in the race to sign the 27-year-old.

On Thursday, we broadcast news Los Rojiblancos have identified the left-back as a top defensive target.

They failed to sign him before he transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021 and turned down the opportunity to sign him on loan a year later.

Interest in Chelsea player increased

Friday edition of sports world Also report that Atletico Madrid are keen to sign Mark Cucurella and have made him their main target.

Chelsea invest £56m [€65m] Plus bonuses to sign the fullback from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

After overcoming early difficulties, he became a regular at Stamford Bridge and also for the national team.

The Blues are likely to request around €50 million, but the Madrid club are not giving up. There are a number of factors why the Spain international is an ‘absolute priority’ for Diego Simeone’s side.

The first reason is that Atlético has the finances to execute this deal. Secondly, the former Barcelona man wants to return to Spain in the summer.

These ‘two important factors’ could convince the La Liga side to seriously make a move.

Cucurella likes Madrid’s approach, but it will not be easy for him to change club. Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new permanent manager for next season.

Mundo says the incoming Blues boss wants to have confidence in his compatriot. While price and competition may be concerns, Alonso is Atletico’s ‘biggest obstacle’.

Chelsea has already taken action

Although Xabi Alonso wants to retain Mark Cucurella, the Blues have already worked out a possible replacement.

On March 22, Game Witness specifically disclosed Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with moves for Maxi Araujo. He is likely to leave Sporting in the summer for around €45-50 million.

If the Spaniard were to leave, Araújo could be an option to replace him.

Nick Nemeth turned WWE down on multiple occasions before agreeing to return for John Cena’s farewell tournament, he revealed on the Sweet Pop Podcast.

Nemeth said that when WWE first called him he was not interested. When he came to know that the comeback would be related to Cena, he changed his mind.

“He’s asked me to come back a few different times for some other things, and I said, ‘Uh, I don’t know,'” Nemeth said before explaining what led to the situation. When he was told the opportunity was linked to Cena, he said the decision was made easier given their shared history and what Cena has done for talent in and out of the ring.

Nemeth competed in the Last Time Is Now tournament and returned to Madison Square Garden to face Solo Sequoia in a match to determine Cena’s final opponent.

Nick Nemeth regrets selfless approach in WWE

In the same interview, Nemeth reflected on his nearly two-decade WWE run under the name Dolph Ziggler, admitting that his tendency to overpower others led to his rise to the top of the card. He described himself as someone who prioritized making matches and his opponents look good rather than preparing himself for bigger opportunities, calling this both a strength and a liability.

“To a fault, I was a little selfless,” Nemeth said. “I want this match to be great. I want everyone to be talking about it – rather than ‘I want to be talked about as world champion.’

He credited this approach with keeping him on the job for 20 years, while acknowledging that it was probably this approach that kept him from consistently competing in the main event. Nonetheless, fans will remember him for being one of the best in-ring workers of his era and a missed opportunity by WWE management in charge. Currently, he is making a splash as a top star in TNA Wrestling.

Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway marks the midpoint of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. With 12 points worth of NASCAR stats to analyze, now is the perfect time to give out some awards at this stage of the season.

Let’s take a look at our midseason NASCAR awards ahead of the Coca-Cola 600.

Best Driver: Tyler Reddick

Who else will receive this honor besides Tyler Reddick? Has the No. 45 team had any luck this season? Definitely. What can’t be denied is the results and how Redick consistently finds a way to finish at the front of the field. He starts (6.6 average starting position, first in the Cup Series) as strong as he finishes (5.7 average finishing position), and he has finished in the top five in 66.7 percent of his races with a top 10 finish in 75 percent of his races. With a 129-point lead at the end of May, Reddick seemed destined to win the regular season title.

Best Team: Joe Gibbs Racing

23XI Racing needs a little consideration here, but Joe Gibbs Racing has clearly been the best team in NASCAR so far. Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs have both won this season, and JGR is the only team with two drivers in the top six points leaders. Additionally, Hamlin (624) and teammate Christopher Bell (325) are first and third in laps, with Tye in 11th (78). While it’s been a relatively quiet season for Chase Briscoe in his first year with JGR, the driver of the No. 19 car ranks eighth in average finishing position (13.0) over the last six races with three top-10 finishes.

Biggest Surprise: Ty Gibbs

Ty Gibbs remains one of the least popular drivers in NASCAR, and during the year a lot of questions were asked about whether he would prove if he was really meant to drive the No. 54 car. Let us tell you that the results of this season speak volumes about the improvements made by the 23-year-old player. In 2025, Gibbs had five top-fives, 10 top-10s and recorded an average finishing position of 17.86. Through 12 races this season, he already has six top-five finishes and is on pace to break his career high (eight) in the Cup Series. Similarly, he has finished in the top-10 eight times and will look to surpass his previous season’s best points tally (12 in 2024). Additionally, Gibbs recorded his first Cup Series win, capping a seven-week stretch of top-10 finishes, which has dramatically improved his average finishing position in the Cup to the sixth-best mark (13.8).

Biggest Disappointment: Joey Logano

A year ago we would have put Kyle Busch on this list, but he avoids it this season because of how low the expectation level has now reached for Richard Childress Racing and the No. 8 team. So, Joey Logano is left as the biggest disappointment in the NASCAR Cup Series this season. Logano has had the same number of top-10 DNFs this season (three) with an average finishing position (22.417), which ranks 26th in the Cup Series, behind AJ Allmendinger (19.5), Zane Smith (19.9) and Erik Jones (20.0). Since Darlington, Logano’s average finishing position is 26.5, and he is third at Martinsville and seventh at Bristol. Logano has no chance to challenge for the championship this year, and the best-case scenario might be him finishing outside the top-10 in The Chase.

Best Pit Crew: No. 20 Team

A lot has gone wrong for Christopher Bell this season, some of which is out of his control. JGR and Bell are feeling pretty good right now about how amazing the No. 20 pit crew is. NASCAR.com rated them as the No. 1 pit crew entering the All-Star Race, and the numbers support it. Bell’s pit crew has the second-fastest average pit stop of the season (10.52 seconds), with the fastest average pit stop of the season (8.92 seconds). Additionally, according to PitCrewRank.com, only nine of 47 pit stops have taken 11.6 seconds or longer, tying the No. 20 crew for first in PCR (1,072).

Worst Pit Crew: No. 8 Team

Kyle Busch’s winning streak in the Cup Series has reached triple digits. The future Hall of Famer deserves much of the blame for what happened, with his struggle to adjust to the Next Gen car and his anger playing a role in the conflicts that led him to perform better. What can’t be ignored is how poorly the No. 8 pit crew has performed this season. Busch’s pit crew ranked 35th in PCR with a 12.22 average pit time. While Bell only required pit stops of 11.6-plus seconds 19.2 percent of the time, the No. 8 team required 12-plus seconds in 17 of 49 qualifying pit stops, or 34.7 percent of the time. We wouldn’t predict Busch winning a Cup race in the near future.

RELATED: Insiders reveal which team Kyle Busch could race for in 2027

Most Improved Driver: Carson Hocevar

Carson Hocevar is the next superstar NASCAR has been waiting for. The 23-year-old’s first career Cup Series win at Talladega and the celebration that followed was perhaps the best moment of the Cup Series this season. What’s really different with the driver of the No. 77 car is how he’s channeling his aggression and racing smarter, which results in more consistency in the end. Hocevar (14.6) currently leads William Byron (16.0), Kyle Larson (17.3), Chase Briscoe (17.5) and Christopher Bell (17.8) in average finishing position. He’s already set career highs for top-fives (three), and he’ll break personal bests for top-10s (nine) and laps led (131) in just a few weeks. Keep in mind, Hocevar is having all this success while overcoming bottom 10 pit crews.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Chad Brown-trained horse Iron Honor heads into the 2026 Preakness Stakes as the current favorite. However, one racing insider believes there are two other legitimate contenders to win Saturday’s race.

The second leg of this year’s Triple Crown comes this weekend with the 151st edition of the Preakness Stakes. This year differs from recent editions as only three Kentucky Derby competitors will be at Laurel Park on Saturday, and none of them are race winner Golden Tempo.

Before Saturday’s race, Iron Honor, a horse trained by two-time Preakness winner Chad Brown, is the favorite. And according to racing insider Byron King, we may be getting the best version of the three-year-old colt yet.

“[Iron Honor] “It is projected as a slight 9-2 favorite due to the success of trainer Chad Brown, who has won this race twice before with new horses, excluding the Kentucky Derby,” King reported. player. “Iron Honor is racing with his “blinkers off”, which usually helps the horse settle and relax, and many believe he will run much better than his seventh-place finish in the Wood Memorial.

“…I quite like Iron Honor. Especially with the “blinker off” angle, which shows the horse is more experienced.”

Other horses to watch in the 2026 Preakness Stakes, including The Hell We Did

For bettors, this is useful information, but they also want to know about horses with long odds that can yield big returns on wins, places, and show stakes. King suggests that some of the Preakness competitors offer upside, especially if they are locally bred in Maryland.

“You have a lot of horses in the 5-1 to 15-1 range where you can make a case for them,” King said. “Some of the tried and true methods of picking a Derby winner are not in place this year. The home track edge may also be greater because the race is at Laurel Park instead of Pimlico this year.”

Racing Insider believes that a local contender, the Brittany Russell-trained colt Taj Mahal, is a contender for good reason. However, he has concerns about how he will be able to handle a more talented field.

“Taj Mahal is based in Maryland, so he has the ‘home track edge,'” says King. “He has shown early speed in previous long-distance races, but in this field he faces too much speed and gets pulled into the inside post position. I would be surprised if he wins, as it is a big step up from beating the Laurel Stakes horses to winning the Preakness.”

When it comes to sleeper picks in this year’s stakes, the name king tops is the Todd Fincher-trained colt The Hell We Did.

King said, “I also like a horse named The Hell We Did. He finished second in the Lexington Stakes and has great pedigree as a half-brother to Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador.”

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Ted Turner, who helped finance one of the world’s most powerful wrestling promotions, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), has died at the age of 87.

In the 1980s, World Wrestling Federation (WWF) founder Vince McMahon had the bold idea of ​​taking his brand nationally. In the process, they revolutionized the concept of regional wrestling promotions and dominated the industry for a decade and well into the 1990s. One of the regional brands that faced financial problems due to the dominance of the WWF – now WWE – was North Carolina company Jim Crockett Promotions. Who owned a share of the NWA.

With his company in dire straits, Crockett sold his wrestling assets to rapidly rising media mogul Ted Turner. The man who turned TBS, TNT and CNN into powerhouse national television networks was a wrestling fan and wanted to continue airing in-ring content on TBS.

Turner already had a weekly show called “World Championship Wrestling”, so he took Crockett’s roster, which included wrestling icon Ric Flair, and turned WCW into a real wrestling promotion. Still, despite airing content on national TV each week, success like the WWF was not immediate.

Ted Turner helped propel WCW to the top of wrestling

So the television veteran decided to put his money where his mouth was, and when new WCW boss Eric Bischoff asked him to invest big bucks in WWF legends like Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, he did. Although this has not yet turned them into real competition for the WWF, it has given the brand far more credibility in the industry.

WCW then regained that identity and added better storylines and talent. With the help of the massively successful nWo storyline and the high-flying cruiserweights, the company became the strongest in the industry and nearly put the WWF/WWE out of business.

That growth was supported by Turner’s wealth and the mega-companies he created. This is why the WWF did parody segments about Turner, Hogan and Savage in the mid-90s and called them “Billionaire Ted”. They could sense the growing threat he was helping to create in WCW.

Along with his roles at WCW, TBS, TNT and CNN, he also owned the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks for a few decades. He died on Wednesday after battling dementia in the last years of his life.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Villarreal midfielder could be the ideal profile for Pep Gueye of manchester united The midfield, and his interest in it, is ‘no coincidence’.

Orgullo Biri covered the Villarreal midfielder today And explain why he is a perfect fit for Manchester United despite his €45m asking price.

Manchester United’s interest

A report from Spain in February insisted that Manchester United were in the mix for the Sevilla midfielder.

It added that the 27-year-old player has earned a lot of fans thanks to his performances this season. He put his name on the radar by scoring the winning goal in the Africa Cup of Nations final in January.

A report earlier this month then explained to him gua was learning english Ahead of the potential move. All indications were that he was open to a Premier League transfer.

Orgullo Biri has now reported that Manchester United have ‘showed intense interest’ in the midfielder. According to him his ‘physical attributes and sporting intelligence’ have been noted.

The website states that Gueye’s influence on Sevilla is ‘undeniable’. He wins back possession, breaks lines and provides balance in transitions. He is also the type of midfielder who ‘controls space and wins duels.’

According to him, those aspects are ‘worth their weight in gold’ in the Premier League. As a result, it is ‘no coincidence’ that Manchester United want him.

€45 million asking price

Are they willing to pay Villarreal’s €45m asking price? This is the value of the release clause that is currently written into his contract. He has no intention of moving from there. But sources inside the club say an offer close to this could convince them.

Orgullo Bieri argues that, for a Premier League team, this is a ‘manageable figure’. Villarreal sees it as a ‘strategic sale’. Reports have indicated that United would be prepared to make a significant financial effort.

As far as they are concerned, it brings a potential deal closer. Pep Gueye, on the other hand, knows he is at his peak and this could be his big opportunity to make the leap as a European giant.

Everything seems to be lined up. And as far as he is concerned in Spain, Manchester United could get ‘one of the biggest coups of the summer’ if they progress.

🇪🇸David Affengruber | Manchester United are going to sign the Elche star in the picture

➡️ €20m fee reasonable for Red Devils
💬 “When football is not enough, there is Affengruber”https://t.co/I5QcVgrraC #free

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 24 April 2026

Thursday night in Pittsburgh, Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft finally put a definitive end to months of rumors and speculation. As the world expected, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza finished first for the Las Vegas Raiders. After that, as many suggested, things got interesting in the next 31 selections.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest surprises from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Carnell Tate went fourth to the Tennessee Titans

In early mock drafts, Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate was projected to go fifth or sixth. However, as we got closer to Thursday, it started looking more likely that he might fall out of the top 10 as Jordan Tyson moved ahead of him on the draft board.

However, with Arvel Reese still available, the Tennessee Titans decided to give Cam Ward a new weapon and selected Tate. Buckeye should be good at the next level, but it can’t be ignored that he wasn’t even the best receiver at OSU last year. The Titans may have moved up to No. 4 with Tate.

Los Angeles Rams use the 13th pick on Ty Simpson

There have been rumors for several weeks that the Los Angeles Rams were pursuing Alabama’s Ty Simpson. However, the idea of ​​using the 13th overall pick on a quarterback seemed ridiculous. Especially since most projections had him going late in Round 1 or early in Round 2. But instead of getting a player who could make an impact during the season with Super Bowl expectations, L.A. boldly decided to draft Matthew Stafford’s successor.

Some may see this decision as a major overreach that will have no impact on the team over the next year or two. They are right. But many football analysts believe Simpson could be a very good NFL QB if given time to learn more and develop. He will get it in LA and could end up being a huge addition to the team.

Arvel Reese lost to New York Giants at No. 5

Before Thursday night, many NFL Draft evaluators believed Reese was the second pick of the New York Jets. Especially after he canceled his meeting with David Bailey last week.

Although many believed the player could become a superstar in a matter of years, he was passed up by three franchises and fell to the New York Giants at No. 5 overall. On paper, John Harbaugh now has an absurd amount of talent and looks to be in his linebacker corps with Reese and fellow first-round picks Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

NY Giants trade Caleb Downs for Francis Mauigoa?

Speaking of veterans, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs going to New York with their second pick in Round 1 seemed like a match made in heaven. John Harbaugh has played smart, elite safeties leading his defense on successful teams in the past. He also suggested earlier in the offseason that Downs had Hall of Fame potential.

Yet, when they were on the board again at 10, instead of reuniting him with Reese, they decided to select Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. Building from the line and out is not a bad team-building strategy. But the Giants tried that four years ago with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal. And it hasn’t worked out so well.

Instead, the top rival, the Dallas Cowboys, traded up a spot to get Downs, and will now have to face talented defenses twice a year for the next decade.

Kansas City Chiefs trade up to 6 to get Trent McDuffie’s replacement

There were rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs could advance to Round 1 of this year’s event, as they had two selections in the top 30. Many speculated that they could get a player like Jeremiah Love or potentially a top receiver. Instead, they gave up some extra options to get LSU’s Mansur Delaney.

After trading All-Pro Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs clearly felt they needed to find his replacement early in this year’s event and they liked Delaney. However, it seems like they could still get him at No. 9 and waste draft assets out of fear that he might go first.

Ruben Benn Jr. lands with an unexpected Florida team

Reuben Benn Jr.’s draft stock declined after the NFL Combine when draft evaluators discovered that his arms were shorter than productive players at his position. But statistics don’t lie, and he was still a top star for a Miami team that reached the national championship game.

So when the Miami Dolphins were at 12, it made a lot of sense to have the Hurricanes pass rusher in South Beach with the state’s most popular NFL team. But instead, they reached out a bit on Alabama’s Kayden Proctor. However, Ben Jr. would remain in Florida as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him three times later.

EDGE will stay in FL, but not with the team, some thought Thursday.

Dallas Cowboys help Philadelphia Eagles get AJ Brown’s replacement

After weeks of speculation, the Cowboys traded up in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. However, it did not reach the top five. They actually went down three notches. But what made the move a surprise was that they swapped positions with division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles.

It is expected that Philly will trade the star receiver after June 1. That became a guarantee when the Eagles used the 20th pick on USC receiver Makai Lemon. So essentially, the Cowboys helped an opponent get a replacement for the player they were planning to trade and got a nice new weapon for Jalen Hurts. Strange.

The New York Jets got a potential steal at the end of Round 1.

The New York Jets had two picks in Round 1 and played well by selecting David Bailey at No. 2, then landed stud tight end Kenyon Saadiq at No. 16. However, he surprised many when he came back in Round 1 and was the pick of the San Francisco 49ers at No. 30. With the pick, they took receiver Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana.

There are a lot of draft evaluators who like Cooper Jr. a lot. He had a really good junior year for the Hoosiers, as he often made big plays. Who knows if Mendoza wins the Heisman or goes No. 1 without a receiver? Keeping his positive side in mind, New York could get a steal at pick 30.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Birmingham City’s Carlos Vicente says the Championship team has helped him settle in quickly in England.

The Spaniard spent his entire playing career in his home country before joining the Blues from Deportivo Alaves in January.

Birmingham City invested almost €8m and saw them move to the La Liga side resulting in anger From some sections of the Spanish media.

Two months ago, Alavés sporting director Sergio Fernández revealed that it was not entirely their decision to sell the 26-year-old.

That time, He said: : “He was a very important player for us. But sometimes circumstances arise that force us to take decisions. Financially, we have to be responsible and also address the concerns and needs expressed by the player.”

settling in well in birmingham city

As Published an interview with Carlos Vicente to discuss a range of topics including his transfer to Birmingham City and life in England so far.

The January signing said everything was done by Chris Davis’ side to make him comfortable.

When asked about his adaptation to England, he said: “Very good. The club has done everything possible to help me during these months.”

“Although we have gone through a difficult period collectively and individually, I already feel very comfortable. My life here is very calm, and I dedicate myself to training, rest, eating well, reading and studying.”

The Blues now sit 14th in the Championship, 12 points behind sixth-placed Hull City. The Spaniard knows promotion is unlikely this season but is still dreaming of a Premier League place.

“This season, yes, but it’s still my biggest dream. That’s one of the reasons I decided to come here. If I didn’t know this was what the club was aiming for, I probably would have made a different decision. We have a good foundation to try to jump into next season.” Vicente explained.

Birmingham City players on Brady call

NFL legend Tom Brady is a minority owner of the English club through 2023. Carlos Vicente is a fan of the American, but his call to join Birmingham City did not go away.

“No. I was thrilled, but it didn’t influence my professional decision at all. He’s one of my idols and one of the five greatest athletes of all time, but it didn’t influence my decision in the slightest.” He added.

AS asked if he was more impressed by Brady’s call than receiving calls from Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

Responding to that, Vicente said: “Yeah, definitely. I’m a huge NFL fan, and Brady is an idol to me in every way. It felt incredible to be able to talk to him. I was already in Birmingham, and the sports director gave me his phone, and it was a video call.

“When I saw his face, I was blown away. I’m a fan of American sports, both the NFL and the NBA, and Brady is a megastar who has always impressed me.”

Vicente’s statistics

Carlos Vicente has played 15 matches for Birmingham City so far, including one match in the FA Cup.

His championship statistics are as follows:

• Appearances: 14
• Start: 7
• Target: 3
• Help: 1

Martin Montoya has revealed how he came very close to joining Manchester United as a youth player when he was coming through the Barcelona system.

mundo deportivo cover quote Today we hear from the 34-year-old and how he followed almost the same path as Gerard Pique, who moved to Old Trafford, and Cesc Fabregas, who moved to Arsenal.

Barcelona’s youth were targeted

Martín Montoya was a product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy and made 67 appearances for the first team, as well as 75 appearances for the club’s B team.

Despite serving primarily as a backup to Dani Alves, he was also a major honor winner at the Camp Nou, with three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, a Champions League and a Supercopa de España.

However his career could have been very different. This is because Manchester United called him when he was young.

“I was very close to Manchester United,” he told journalist Rodrigo Rei.

“When I was young, I was close to playing for Manchester United. They came to offer me a contract, like they did with Cesc Fabregas and Pique.

“They offered you to spend four years in England, but at the time I didn’t want to do that. My dream was to play for Barcelona. For me, United is the biggest team in the Premier League.”

Interestingly, Montoya will play alongside both Pique and Fabregas for Barcelona. This, at least, justified the decision for all three.

brighton mantra

Montoya eventually reached England when he joined Brighton on a €7m deal in 2018. He spent two years with the Seagulls and made 56 appearances in total.

This saw him matched with Alexis McAllister. He is currently at Liverpool but reports in England have linked him with a potential shock move this summer. Montoya, for his part, is a fan.

“I spent six months with him; he came and then took a loan and went to Boca,” He said.

“Really a fantastic player, although at the time we didn’t think he would reach the level he is now. He was very young, barely spoke English, but as a person he is a star and as a footballer, he is performing brilliantly and has a huge future.”

🇩🇪 Exclusive: Castello Lukeba ‼️

➡️The formula confirms this @Kaus_Pandey17 There is interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United
➕ Defender tempted to move to Premier League
➡️ Summer decision will depend on the proposed projecthttps://t.co/2VZ2ljcDv7 #afc #lfc #afc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 25 March 2026

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks had their 11-game winning streak snapped last night against the Houston Rockets in a way they probably didn’t want to. The good news was that he got a chance to get the best taste out of his mouth the next night against the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, they had to do it without Jalen Johnson, who was out just hours before the game due to left shoulder inflammation.

In the first half of the game, the Hawks looked like they were missing their best player; Meanwhile, the Warriors were missing two of their best players and that made it interesting. It was the second half where things turned around and the Hawks put on a tremendous performance early in the third quarter, which ultimately helped them win the game by defeating the Warriors 126–110.

Although they were without Johnson, the Hawks got major contributions from several players, and it is something that has helped the team be successful this season.

“I think we’re a team, no matter who’s on the field, and different guys will do different things every night,” Quin Snyder said. “I think our group right now isn’t worried about who’s actually getting credit for the basket. They’re worried about our scoring, and when that happens, your team is better. We want to be greater than the sum of the parts, and when we’re missing a guy like Jalen, who is obviously important to our team, other guys have to pick it up, and it’ll be his turn when he comes back.”

Dyson Daniels did everything for the Hawks in this one, finishing the game with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

“I do a little bit of everything and try to build momentum,” Daniels said. “Defense is where I’ve found my niche in this league, so that’s always going to be my number one, and then being able to push the pace, try and get my feet in the paint, find my teammates, and be able to hit some shots tonight.”

Mohamed Gueye started in Johnson’s place, and like most times this season, when it’s his turn to play a bigger role, he performs well. He couldn’t miss, as he made 6 of 6 shots from the field and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“Every night is the same for me,” Guay said. “I’m just trying to come in and do my thing. Tonight I was fully prepared with the threes, and I made them, so hopefully next time I’ll be fully prepared as well.”

The third quarter changed the situation for the Hawks and a 25-5 run gave them a 24-point lead. CJ McCollum led the way in the bucket-getting category and scored 13 points in that quarter alone.

“The whole team stepped up defensively and got some stops, and were able to get out and get some easier, better looks,” Snyder said. “Obviously, CJ’s shot-making was really big during that time, too.”

The Hawks went ahead by a lot in the fourth quarter as the Warriors didn’t have enough juice to score in the fourth. With the win, the Hawks are still in the driver’s seat, and with the losses to Miami and Orlando, they still sit at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference standings.

“It was one of those things that we needed and it was a critical time for us,” Daniels said. “We needed a win, so I’m glad we got this win.”

James Borrego has no interest in spinning a story about what the New Orleans Pelicans have done after the NBA All-Star break. The math of the playoff picture is the same, but the coach says what’s going on inside the Big Easy’s locker room is very real. Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray may be playing their best basketball ever, but this turnaround has nothing to do with clipboard-based schemes.

The turnaround has been largely driven by a starting unit that has quickly found its rhythm with an All-Star point guard in the mix. This is obvious and cannot be overstated. How well they fit together is being overlooked at a time when most teams would be planning for the summer holidays.

“Yeah, you know, that group has played well together,” Borrego began. “That settles us with the herb handling, you got Murph out there, Saddiq and Z have a two-man game going on.”

Murray sets up buckets for Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Saddiq Bey while Herb Jones does a little bit of everything. It certainly seems like a recipe for success, although it will have to wait until next year. Unfortunately, it’s too late for the Pelicans to make postseason noise. Still, despite having very slim chances of catching the Golden State Warriors for the final NBA Play-in Tournament spot, the Pelicans continue to play with pride.

Borrego stressed, “I would say more than anything, there’s just a caring factor, an urgency and a belief.” “There’s a ‘this is all that matters’ mentality right now. Like we want to do something. We want to be competitive. We want to grow. We want to get better. We’re taking pride every day in our film sessions, practices, shootarounds, games and our overall mentality of finishing strong and being a team moving in the right direction. And more than anything, it’s a group effort. Everyone bought in, in the same direction.”

The lineup has appeared in balanced production. Over the past 15 games, the Pelicans have ranked among the more efficient offensive teams in the league, relying on Williamson’s interior scoring, Murphy’s perimeter gravitas and Murray’s shot creation to produce consistent looks. Bey’s versatility and Not on Herb’s defensive factors complete a unit that now plays with clear distinction and purpose.

the pelicans are playing to win

Borrego, for his part, doesn’t think much about where the race began.

“Obviously, staying healthy helps,” the interim head coach acknowledged. “I’m not going to get caught up in that. By getting Dejounte back, we now have depth, size and physicality on our defense.”

Murray’s return has reestablished the structure at both ends. Offensively, the 29-year-old has given the Pelicans another primary initiator, reducing the burden on Williamson while improving late-game execution. Defensively, his length along with Jones has helped the Pelicans gain a disruptive edge that was inconsistent under Willie Green. Still, Borrego was quick to dismiss the idea that the team’s recent form is entirely linked to health.

“Overall, it’s been a mentality of taking care of each other and playing,” Borrego explained. “I think we’ve had that going for us for quite some time now. It didn’t happen overnight or in the last six to ten games. I guess we’ve been top five in clutch games all year. I think we’ve probably been top five in clutch games all year. We’ve been putting ourselves back, even when we were losing games, we said put ourselves in these situations to win games. Keep fighting. Keep hitting the rock.”

Over the last 15 games, the Pelicans are in the top 10 in scoring (119.4), field goal percentage (48.3%), turnovers (15.5), and free-throw attempts (28.8). It took a few months, but the nuances of Borrego’s game plan are starting to become second nature.

How does he feel about working for months to keep this season from being ruined?

Borrego insisted, “This is what has led us to this moment. We didn’t flip a switch and turn it on.” “We’ve been working on it for months, and it’s finally starting to turn around. But it’s been an overall commitment to working every day, getting better and playing for each other. I think that’s been the biggest factor there.”

This is going to be a big factor in the front office’s head coach decision coming soon. It must be said how much Williamson and Murray are investing in the ideas.

A new rumor suggests that the Minnesota Vikings could be the biggest beneficiaries after Max Crosby ended up being traded to the Baltimore Ravens and Trey Hendrickson moved to Baltimore.

On Tuesday night, NFL fans were stunned when the Las Vegas Raiders revealed that the Ravens have backed out of a planned trade for the five-time Pro Bowler. Following the news, reports emerged that the results of Tuesday’s physical exam left the medical team uneasy about Crosby’s long-term outlook.

Yet, despite adding one of the best pass rushers in the game, the Ravens made a surprising pivot on Wednesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report that the franchise and four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson had agreed to a four-year deal worth $112 million.

The Cincinnati Bengals star was the best pass rusher on the 2026 free agent market so far. One obvious consideration would be that teams losing Hendrickson would consider a possible trade for Crosby. However, what scared off Baltimore will likely be an issue for other interested teams like the Dallas Cowboys.

Vikings Greenard may soon become a very popular item

But a new report reveals which player teams are focusing on now that Hendrickson is no longer available. Diana Russini of The Athletic reports, “Look for teams in need of pass rush help to turn their attention to a potential trade for Minnesota’s Jonathan Greenard, who several teams have inquired about.”

Along with Hendrickson, Jalen Phillips and Odafe Oweh – the next-best pass rushers in free agency – also signed with new teams this week. Considering concerns about Crosby’s surgically repaired knee, the Vikings could be at the center of an unexpected bidding war for the one-time Pro Bowler.

Greenard posted 12 or more sacks in 2023 and 2024. However, injuries limited him to only 12 games and three sacks last season. Still, impact pass rushers are hard to find, and with two seasons left on the 28-year-old’s contract, he should still get a very good return in a trade.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Monday was the first day of the NFL free agency negotiating window. As always, this was the time when all the action happened. Many top free agents have already agreed to sign contracts with teams, however, so they will have two days before finalizing anything. He always leaves room for change of heart.

Still, after so many deals have been agreed upon in principle, it’s time to break down the biggest winners and losers of free agency so far.

Winner- Tyler Linderbaum

Linderbaum seemed like a strong bet to re-sign with the Ravens. Trading for Max Crosby would have changed Baltimore’s spending plans. Or, perhaps it was just the fact that the Raiders not only made Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history with an offer, but Linderbaum signed a contract worth $27 million per season, while the previous mark was only $18 million. Talk about resetting the market.

Winner-Malik Willis

There was some talk that Willis would top Justin Fields’ two-year, $40 million contract signed last season. He cleared it easily. Miami signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal. Not bad for a player who has just six starts to his name. Still, if the dual-threat QB can live up to Miami’s projections, the Dolphins could have a star on their hands.

Winner-Mike Evans

It was hard to imagine, but Mike Evans left the Buccaneers after 12 seasons. Although the decision to do so may not have been easy, he found a great opportunity with Kyle Shanahan on the 49ers. He will step in as a top target for Brock Purdy, but he won’t have the full attention of the defense with players like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Additionally, receiving over $20 million per season while coming off a career low in production at age 32 is good value for Evans, even if he is a potential Hall of Famer in the future.

Winners – Pass-Rushers

Pass-rushers get paid on the open market. Jaylen Phillips was right not to sign an extension with the Dolphins or Eagles after being dealt to Philadelphia for a third-round pick at the trade deadline. Now he joins the Panthers on a playoff team, also earning a massive four-year, $120 million contract. Not bad for a player who hasn’t gotten more than 8.5 sacks in a season, but the sky may be the limit for the 26-year-old in Carolina.

Meanwhile, we also saw Boye Mafe become Trey Hendrickson’s replacement in Cincinnati. The Bengals signed the 27-year-old to a three-year, $60 million contract. He had a career-high nine sacks in 2023, but has had just eight sacks since. Then, Washington signed Odafe Oweh away from the Chargers to a four-year, $100 million contract. Oweh has recorded 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons and that is a huge accomplishment for the Commanders.

Winner-Alec Pierce

Pierce said he deserved the right to hit the open market after a breakout season where he led the NFL with 1,003 receiving yards while averaging 21.3 yards per reception. That makes perfect sense, as Pierce received interest from a collection of major leaguers, but ultimately opted to pursue his success with the Colts. However, getting a four-year, $116 million contract certainly didn’t hurt.

Winner- Fernando Mendoza

He’s not on the team yet, but likely No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza ends up being a big winner here after the Raiders strengthen their core, especially on offense. Linderbaum is considered a good fit for Clint Kubiak’s offense, which values ​​an excellent center. Also, having an elite and experienced center is always good for a rookie QB. The Raiders also got a new deep threat in their final new franchise QB in Jalen ‘Speedy’ Neller, who could be poised for a breakout season if given more opportunities from Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota.

Winner – Tennessee Titans

The Titans aren’t happy with being in the bottom five, and now the new arrangement is set to upgrade the roster talent. Tennessee has added several starters, including a new target for Cam Ward in 1,000-yard receiver Van’Dale Robinson. Robert Saleh’s defense also got some upgrades. First he signed a three-year, $63 million contract with John Franklin-Myers away from Denver. He has recorded 14.5 sacks over the past two seasons. They also added 24-year-old cornerback Kor’Dale Floet on a $45 million contract. Three major upgrades to address weak points at Tennessee, and they’re all already familiar to the coaching staff.

Winner – New York Giants

The Giants may have lost a 1,000-yard receiver in Van’Dale Robinson, but they didn’t panic. The Giants still managed to get franchise QB Jackson Dart a new weapon by stealing tight end Isaiah Brown from the Ravens. Was possibly seen as the eventual replacement for Mark Andrews in Baltimore, but now he’s got the starting job in New York instead.

Winner – Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are set to receive their highest draft pick since making Patrick Mahomes the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Still, they have now added a key playmaker to their backfield by signing Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $45 million contract. Walker provides another threat to utilize Andy Reid on all three downs. Additionally, the Chiefs made sure to bring back Travis Kelce under contract for 2026 as well.

Winner – New York Jets

Even though their first move of the day happened before free agency began, we still have to note that the Jets traded All-Pro defender Minkah Fitzpatrick for just a seventh-round pick. But the Jets didn’t add adept players to Aaron Glenn’s defense. They also added former All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis on a two-year deal. Both veterinarians will help prepare the environment in New York.

Winner- Punters

It was a good day to be a speculator. The Giants made Jordan Stout the highest-paid punter in the NFL, and brought him in with John Harbaugh from Baltimore. Stout received a total of $12.3 million over three years. Then, the Saints gave Ryan Wright a four-year, $14 million contract. The Dolphins joined the party by re-signing Jake Bailey to a three-year, $9 million contract. Booting the ball isn’t bad.

Loser – Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans

It’s not easy saying goodbye to a franchise icon and potential future Hall of Famer like Mike Evans. He spent all 12 seasons of his career with the Buccaneers and became the franchise leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He also won a Super Bowl. Still, Bucs fans will now have to support Evans’ success in San Francisco for the next three seasons. Tampa Bay made some underrated signings in Kenneth Gainwell and Alex Anzalone while retaining Cade Otton, but still holding out Mike Evans.

Loser – Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens lost several starters, seeing Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely, Dre’Mont Jones and Jordan Stout leave for other teams in free agency. Baltimore signed offensive lineman John Simpson, but he was ranked just 54th among guards in 2025 according to Pro Football Focus. We’ve seen the Ravens get worse since trading for Crosby, but their defense should be much better.

Loser – Alvin Kamara

Franchise icon Alvin Kamara is being phased out due to Kellen Moore’s offense in New Orleans. He is coming off a career-low 471 rushing yards and 186 receiving yards with one touchdown. Additionally, the Saints signed Travis Etienne as his replacement by giving him a $52 million contract. Now 30, Kamara may have played his last snap in a Saints uniform.

Loser – Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks won the Super Bowl. Since then they have been misappropriating talent. It started with the loss of offensive coordinator/playcaller Clint Kubiak to the Raiders. Now players are also getting paid to take jobs elsewhere. Rashid Shahid remains unsigned, but the Seahawks’ chance to run it back has evaporated after seeing Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker sign with the Chiefs, where he might be able to add to his Lombardi total.

Loser – Michael Penix Jr.

When all is said and done one of the biggest losers of free agency may be Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons now have a Pro Bowl quarterback joining them in Atlanta after signing Tua Tagovailoa after recovering from an ACL injury suffered on November 16. After throwing a career-high 15 interceptions last season, Tagovailoa will not only be highly motivated to show the Falcons that he is capable of being an elite QB again, but he will need to increase his value in time to hit the open market again in 2027.

RELATED: Philadelphia Eagles have made trade offer for young Pro Bowl defender

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Los Angeles Lakers face the New York Knicks without LeBron James as he battles multiple injuries. According to ESPN’s Malik Andrews, the most recent injury he suffered came in his latest matchup against the Denver Nuggets, where he suffered an elbow injury, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the injury that’s particularly holding him back.

Andrews said, “He was taken out of the game an hour before tip. I’ve been told it’s more the foot than the elbow, which is something that’s going to be day-to-day.”

🚨Malika Andrews says LeBron’s status tonight was determined more by his foot injury than his elbow pic.twitter.com/odJ2Tv3hmi

– ReavesMuse (@MuseReaves) 8 March 2026

James was able to warm up the day before the game, but he may not have been good enough to play in the game. Additionally, the Lakers want to be cautious of James, which is something they have tried to do during the season.

It is uncertain how many more games James may miss or whether he will return in the next game. The Lakers can afford to be without James for a few games with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves playing good basketball this season, but having someone like James on the court makes everything a little easier.

With about 20 or so games left in the regular season and the Lakers still fighting for seeding in the Western Conference, staying healthy will be important. The fact that James was able to get some work done before the game shows that he shouldn’t be out long, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he returns sometime next week.

For now, the Lakers will have to rely on Doncic to lead them to victory, which he has no problem doing. If other key players like Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart can step up, the Lakers should be in good shape as James continues to recover.

Chris Finch reveals what went wrong in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 119-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Finch is in the sixth season of his head coaching career with the Timberwolves. He hopes to lead the franchise to its third consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance, while attempting to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in history.

However, they have to go through ups and downs in the regular season. According to reporter Dan Moore, their blowout loss to the Magic was an example of the latter, as Finch explained after the game why the team did not play up to its usual high standards.

Finch said, “I thought there was a massive effort. I thought there were a lot of gameplan breakdowns that really hurt us. They may have looked like lack of effort playing games, but I think they were more mental lapses than physical effort.”

Chris Finch was asked how much of the Wolves’ 27-point loss at home to Orlando today had to do with effort.

“I thought a fair amount of the effort was there. I just thought there were a lot of gameplan breakdowns that really hurt us. They may have looked like lack of effort plays, but they were… pic.twitter.com/dZua8QnHkl

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 7 March 2026

Chris Finch, how the Timberwolves performed against the Magic

Chris Finch knows the Timberwolves are capable of beating the Magic. However, his performance on both sides of the ball left much to be desired all night.

Four players scored in double figures for Minnesota in the win. Anthony Edwards led the way with a stat line of 34 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. He made 8 of 18 shots from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line. Julius Randle came next with 14 points and nine rebounds, Naz Reed had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Rudy Gobert provided 12 points and eight rebounds.

Minnesota fell to a 40–24 record on the season and finished fourth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, while trailing the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

The Timberwolves will look to bounce back in their next game while on the road. They will face the Lakers as tip-off takes place on March 10 at 11 pm ET.

With the NBA playoffs far out of reach and the NBA Draft Lottery the only scoreboard that matters, Will Hardy has transferred his message to the young Utah Jazz roster. Forget rigid scripts. Think for yourself. The Jazz want their players to be decision-makers, independent thinkers who are able to direct their own careers. Speaking after the All-Star break, Hardy presented a philosophy that stands in stark contrast to the hyper-structured world of modern NBA player development.

The Jazz, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with one of the league’s worst records, are succumbing to the realities of a rebuild. Victory is rare. Minutes are plentiful for the young core. They need to figure out who has the ability to gain control instead of just following orders.

“With all of our young players, we’re encouraging them to be independent thinkers about their careers, about their development,” Hardy said. “It’s about who they want to be as a person, where they want to be as a player, because I think in today’s world, we have a lot of personal trainers. We have strength coaches, and the staff has grown up as well.”

The alternative, Hardy warned, is a dangerous inaction.

“So it can be easier for the players,” Hardy admitted, “if they want, check their phone, look at the schedule that’s set out for them. They come into the facility and take what they should be taking for breakfast. We say here are the vitamins you should be taking. They go into the weight room, and it’s two sets of something with eight reps each. We go on the court and tell them where to shoot. They can go all day without having to make decisions for themselves.”

Hardy believes that hand-to-hand existence poses a long-term risk. One day, the structure disappears. Come free agency, a trade means joining a new team, or life after basketball will have to be considered. The players discover that they never learned to pilot their ship.

“It can be a slippery slope,” Hardy said, “because there will come a day when they realize they have no control over what they’re doing.”

Hardy was careful not to suggest a single solution. He acknowledged that agency is not something every young player is ready to embrace immediately.

“I think it’s a case-by-case basis, but we have to encourage all of our athletes to think about it,” Hardy shared. “As you move along in your process, some people may feel like taking on that agency. Some people may not want to take on that agency because they’re not sure what to do with it.”

In a season defined by accusations of tanking (earlier this month the Jazz were fined $500,000 by the NBA for resting healthy players, which the league deemed harmful), Hardy’s approach has doubled as both practical and philosophical. With little to lose in the standings, franchises can afford to experiment, fail and adjust players on their own terms. The goal is not to produce more losses, but to create more self-reliant professionals who will eventually thrive when the franchise fights again.

It remains to be seen whether every player embraces the freedom. Hardy acknowledged that some people would crave the comfort of a printed program. However, in a rebuild where the future is more important than the present, the Jazz are betting that the people who step up and make their own decisions will be the ones who will matter most when the tank eventually ends.

The Orlando Magic suffered a 113-110 double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night when Jalen Green knocked down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end a back-and-forth contest. After the loss, Paolo Banchero identified three key issues that proved decisive: foul trouble, turnovers and second-chance opportunities.

Banchero finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in 47 minutes. He shot 11 of 28 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, while helping Orlando push the game into two extra periods.

After the final shot, Banchero described his advantage in the decisive game.

“I wasn’t on the ball so my focus was on protecting the inbounder. I didn’t really see much, just turned my head and the ball was in the air.”

While the game ended on Green’s shot, Banchero pointed to circumstances that developed long before the final possession. Orlando lost Desmond Benn and Wendell Carter Jr. to foul trouble, while Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs were unavailable due to injury. Suggs was ejected shortly before Saturday’s contest.

“I don’t mean ideal, but [I] Thought we played hard, I didn’t think we made enough plays down the stretch they did – a little more than we did and yes, definitely a little bit of a loss. Now! [a] Tough game.”

Turnovers, offensive rebounds tilt game toward Suns

Ben had one of his strongest performances of the season, finishing with 34 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block, before fouling out. He shot 12 of 18 from the field, 5 of 9 from 3-point range and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line in 40 minutes. Carter added seven points, 11 rebounds and one assist while shooting 2-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the line in 34 minutes.

Beyond the foul trouble, Banchero emphasized Orlando’s ball security and inability to control the glass.

“Obviously we got hurt. We knew they were a big second-chance points team and they crashed the glass very hard. They did a great job of, you know, getting themselves a lot of extra possessions, getting a lot of dagger threes off offensive rebounds, so [it] “We are definitely hurt.”

The Magic committed 16 turnovers, including six from Banchero, leading to 22 Phoenix points. Orlando also surrendered 22 offensive rebounds and allowed 23 second-chance points, with the Suns scoring 8 of 23 on those extended possessions.

Jamahl Mosley says little things add up in big ways in Magic defeat

Coach Jamahl Mosley reiterated Banchero’s evaluation, noting the cumulative impact of lost possessions.

“We gave ourselves a chance. It happens within a game – guys are going to foul out, foul trouble is going to happen. There are going to be injuries throughout the season. You have to give Phoenix a lot of credit, but it was a back-and-forth battle. But in a game like this, it’s about the little things and the little details. We can’t do it more than 16 times for 22 points and also have 22 offensive rebounds. Can’t give up. Can’t come back. But our guys fought till the end, obviously, despite the situation. The best thing about the league is you have to turn around and do it again.”

Mosley also credited Green for the decisive shot.

“He had a helluva shot. I think there was some separation on that baseline, maybe he got thrown off his route, he did a helluva job of coming back and countering it, but Jalen Green hit a helluva shot. You’ve got to give him credit for that.”

Paolo Banchero turns his focus to Clippers after 2OT loss

The Orlando Magic now focus on the second night of their four-game road trip, visiting the Los Angeles Clippers (27-29) on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on NBA TV. Banchero said many of the lessons from Saturday’s loss will carry over into the match.

“Yeah, Clippers [are] A good team, they made some trades. They look a little different, but I think it puts a lot of emphasis on the same thing that killed us tonight, hitting the glass, crashing very hard as they defend. Yes, just have to be ready for the challenge, they are a good team, good guys there so yes, it will have to change quickly.

Los Angeles has bounced back from a 6-21 start to the season despite a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The Clippers reshaped their roster at the trade deadline, trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and sending Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and a second-round selection.

For Orlando, the margin for error is small. As Banchero underlined, foul trouble, turnovers and second-chance points proved decisive in a game decided by a single possession.

The Orlando Magic have been a major disappointment this year, currently sitting at 28-25 as they prepare to return from the All-Star break. The Magic pushed all of their chips to the center of the table in the offseason by trading for Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Benn, but so far, they don’t have much to show for it.

One of the biggest culprits for the Magic’s decline has been the play of Paolo Banchero, who has largely lagged behind so far this season.

Recently, former NBA great Kendrick Perkins put a harsh label on Banchero on ESPN’s NBA Today.

“I’ll go a little further and say Paolo Banchero has been the most disappointing player-wise,” Perkins, formerly of the NBA on ESPN, said on Twitter.

While Banchero still has a lot of natural talent, many fans have grown tired of his poor shot selection, occasional lapses in defense, and overall lack of progress from his rookie year.

This, along with persistent injury concerns for the Magic, especially to co-star Franz Wagner, has Orlando currently sitting in a play-in position in the East, well below where most pundits projected them to be at this point in the season.

Of course, Orlando still has plenty of time to turn things around, and it’s unlikely that Banchero can improve his basketball IQ and decision-making as his career progresses. However, for now, he is hoping to avoid following the career path of players like Ja Morant, who received accolades early in his career before slowly slipping into obscurity.

In any case, the Magic will next take the field on Thursday evening when they begin their West Coast trip against the Sacramento Kings, their first game since the All-Star break. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 pm ET.

NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and with it, you get time to sit back and relax for NBA players. They also respond to the media and weigh in on issues facing the NBA today. One of the biggest issues facing the NBA that players were surveyed on was tanking, and the same applies to player participation. But one player said the prevalence of alcohol is another issue that needs to be discussed.

Every year, The Athletic surveys every player heading into NBA All-Star Weekend and asks them questions across the board. This year, they asked what was the biggest problem facing the NBA, and the answers ranged from players competing to injuries to tanking, but one player said the biggest problem was excessive alcohol at games.

This answer came from Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington. “Maybe they’re selling too much alcohol at the games,” said Carrington, who attended a Rising Stars game. “They keep spreading it on the court. You have to stop the game to wipe it off.”

The Athletic even noted that Carrington’s answer was his favorite of the weekend. Carrington joined the Rising Stars program as an injury replacement. Carrington replaced fellow Wizards sophomore Alex Sarr on Team T-Mac. Sarr was unable to participate due to a right hamstring strain.

The biggest concern for the players was injuries. Jaylon Tyson of the Cleveland Cavaliers said that the perception of injuries around the league was not good.

“I think the biggest problem right now is the perception that people don’t want to play,” Tyson said. “Guys are working hard every day to be able to go on the court, but unfortunately, our bodies aren’t robots, so we can’t go out there and play. We have to be healthy to go out there to play.”

It’s also worth noting that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said ‘every possible measure’ to prevent tanking is on the table.
The NBA commissioner also addressed an expected discussion on expansion next month and said relocating any teams is not being considered.

John Heitinga’s time at Tottenham Hotspur is already over. Just 33 days after arriving as part of Thomas Frank’s staff, the Dutchman was out.

Heitinga joined Spurs as Frank’s assistant in mid-January. However, once the club sacked Frank on Friday, the writing was clear on the wall. Igor Tudor moved in as interim head coach until the end of the season. A few days later, Heitinga followed Frank out the door.

Now, a Dutch podcast has offered a brutal rendition of what really happened. But I am saying foreign travelPandit Suleyman Ozturk did not back down. He suggested that Tudor had no use for the former Everton defender.

“I think Igor Tudor can’t do anything with Heytinga. That’s just it. I think that’s the story. We shouldn’t make it bigger than it is.” He said.

That was not the only sharp comment. Discussing Tudor’s arrival, Ozturk described the Croatian as a confrontational figure brought in to shake up the dressing room.

“He has been brought in to take Spurs over the next two months and keep them in the Premier League. If you make such a call in front of this team, anyone who tells them the truth… will eat you up.”

strong words. And they paint a clear picture of why Heitinga might not have fit into the new arrangement.

Gone from ‘Europe’s greatest talent’ in a matter of weeks

The same podcast made fun of the publicity that followed Heitinga from the Netherlands. Ozturk described how some media had labeled him “the greatest coaching talent in Europe”.

“It’s painful. You’ve been an assistant for three weeks. The greatest European talent. And now? What do you do?”

Heitinga was tasked with organizing the defense of Tottenham under Frank. However, Dutch pundits also questioned whether Frank really wanted him, hinting that he may have been imposed by the board.

Meanwhile, Tudor has reportedly arrived with his staff. In modern football, this often means sweeping changes. Heitinga became collateral damage.

what happens next?

For Tottenham, the focus is on survival. Tudor’s mission is short and clear: to stabilize the ship and reevaluate it over the summer.

For Heitinga, this episode raises new questions. After a difficult tenure as head coach of Ajax, this meant a Premier League reset. Instead, it lasted barely a month.

Still, as explained in the podcast, a solid contract could soften the blow. The Dutchman has previous experience in England with West Ham and Liverpool. There is a possibility of another opportunity coming. But it ended with lightning speed.

Ahead of his first All-Star appearance, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren explained how he took his game to new heights during Mayday on Saturday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander supported Holmgren’s first All-Star selection, calling it a no-brainer. Gilgeous-Alexander watches Chet work during practice, but the Thunder starting forward says it’s important to work overtime when no one is watching.

For Holmgren, it’s the extra time he puts into improving his game to the best of his ability that has led to him becoming the All-Star forward he is today.

“I would call that all work that’s not in the game,” Holmgren said. “It’s the preparation before games, the morning shoots, the work over the summer; all the stuff that no one sees – the rehab from injuries. If you didn’t do it, no one would know about it. But at the end of the day, once you get on the court, it’s right there in the air.”

Holmgren is averaging career bests in points per game (17.4), field-goal percentage (56%), and rebounds (8.7).

Chet Holmgren reacts to his first All-Star selection

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren is grateful for his first All-Star selection. Before All-Star weekend, Holmgren reacted to Chet’s move to Los Angeles after his first All-Star selection.

“It means a lot. I have a lot of people I have to be grateful for – the help they’ve given me along the way. From family friends, coaches, old teammates, current teammates, the Thunder, the opportunity they gave me and the situation they put me in. I’m just forever grateful for that,” Holmgren said.

“I always say I would never play or give a chance to things of that nature, but that doesn’t mean there’s gratitude for it, and there’s no understanding of the seriousness of it. I’m extremely grateful, and I just feel like I have to keep going, and I have a lot of [further] To go.”

Holmgren will play for Team USA Stars along with Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards, Suns’ Devin Booker, Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Pistons All-Star tandem Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren and Hawks’ Jalen Johnson.