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Rafael Leao is actively looking for a new club armory There is a chance to sign an attacker.

sports witness Previously covered how Manchester United had asked for information on signing the AC Milan player. They seemed interested but no concrete proposal came forward.

Recently, the Portuguese expressed his desire to leave the Rossoneri. After enduring a difficult 2025/26 campaign, he has been clear he wants a new challenge. He could not cross the ten-goal mark, his attitude was questioned and his relationship with Max Allegri hit rock bottom.

Now, Arsenal have a chance to sign Leao in the summer.

Players keen on Gunners

gazzetta dello sport There are reports that there is growing frustration in Leo’s camp regarding finding a new club. He is believed to be behind his words regarding his decision to leave Milan.

Due to this the player has been put forward for Arsenal. The Gunners are believed to be looking for a winger, having missed out on Anthony Gordon at Barcelona.

The Portugal international is keen on a move to England and would not reject an offer from the London club. Even if Galatasaray is interested, he is willing to wait for English clubs to make a move.

The status of union is absolutely clear. They need around €50m to sell Leao, while Arsenal have yet to formally step forward.

Gala have offered the player €10m per season. It is quite a hefty salary, but he has not approached Milan because Leao himself is not keen. He waits, hoping the gunners will advance.

LEO can provide significant value

Over the past two seasons, the 26-year-old has looked like a shadow of himself. This coincided with off-pitch chaos at Milan, who constantly found themselves without a game plan. This is still the case and it has affected everyone – even Leo.

They need a club with a game plan and Arsenal align with those ideas. He can offer more than Gabriel Martinelli and can be one of the most electric attackers in the league even on his day.

There are question marks about work-rate and attitude, but this is where Mikel Arteta could come into play. Leo needs a manager like the Spaniard to get more out of him, especially when he will not have to spend much. While risky, a deal could be positive depending on the player’s salary demands.

add inter match armoryKepa Arrizabalaga is already included in his goalkeeping target list Tottenham HotspurGuglielmo Vicario.

Over the past few months, there have been repeated claims of interest from the Serie A side in the Italy-based Tottenham stopper.

On 3 April, Game Witness broadcast news Inter have agreed a four-year deal with the 29-year-old Spurs man. two days ago, Italian media pointed out The two sides are out of a deal, but Tottenham are in no rush to sell.

The Italian champions are also changing their plans as the Arsenal goalkeeper emerges as a new target.

arsenal man on tottenham player

is according to gazzetta dello sportWho covers the latest on Kepa Arrizabalaga and Guglielmo Vicario.

Yann Sommer has been Inter Milan’s No. 1, and the 37-year-old will leave when his contract expires in June.

His deputy Josep Martínez has played nine matches this season. Gazzetta says he has ‘demonstrated confidence, reliability and, more generally, competence.’

Christian Chivu’s team have decided to promote him as their new No.1 and hence, the deal for the Tottenham Hotspur player is ‘on hold if not completely put’.

Sommer’s impending exit will also force them to sign another stopper. Inter Milan plan to bring in a stopper capable of providing cover and competition for Martínez.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who has been David Raya’s backup at Arsenal, comes into the picture.

He was not first-choice when moving from Chelsea on loan to Real Madrid during the 2023/24 season. Kepa also has a similar role under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates as he made 12 appearances for the Gunners and that does not include Premier League appearances.

Inter Milan believe Kepa could be a ‘perfect partner’ for Martínez, giving Martínez the opportunity to achieve his full potential. This will not please Vicario, who is keen to leave Tottenham in the summer.

Contract, price and agent information

Kepa Arrizabalaga and Guglielmo Vicario have been linked with moves to Arsenal.

transfermkrt The Spaniard is valued at €7m and his Spurs counterpart valued at €7m €23m. Agency AC Talent manages Gunners Man while Italian agency GG11 is representing Vicario.

Just four months after starting his tenure, Fabio Paratici has been put forward as an ideal name for Napoli Tottenham Hotspur to an end.

football napoli 24 Report on comments by journalist Massimiliano Gallo in Il Neapolitana regarding the former Tottenham director of football.

napoli change = tottenham reunion

Napoli could be facing a summer change rush as Roma are showing serious interest in their current sporting director Giovanni Manna. While there’s no sign yet that he’s ready to jump ship, questions are being asked about who will replace him.

For Gallo, the answer is simple. Go and get Fabio Paratici, the man he thinks is the best on the market.

“We know that De Laurentiis is very close to Manna; he considers her his discovery,” he said.

“He always talks highly about them. At least from the president’s perspective, there’s no reason for any separation.”

“If he is to accept Roma’s advances, De Laurentiis must waste no time and bring in the best player on the market.”

antonio conte relationship

In fact, he believes there is a precise reason other than the transfer market. Hiring Paratici would provide comfort and security to manager Antonio Conte.

“Paratici has a deep knowledge of football,” he said.

“He would be the ideal man for Napoli. He would be the sporting director that Napoli has never had.”

“Paratici is someone who knows a thing or two; he is not just a sporting director for delicious restaurants; he knows how to buy and sell at any price. And he will also be a point of reference for Antonio Conte at the club. The manager will feel safe.”

mutual respect

It would certainly be an interesting move for the former Tottenham director, who returned to Italy in January to lead Fiorentina.

It was billed as a long-term project, but with security almost secure, would he be tempted to try his hand at another big project?

A reunion with Conte certainly makes sense. The pair worked together again at Tottenham between 2011 and 2014. Conte also admitted in 2021 that there is ‘great mutual respect’ between the pair. He even said, “We speak the same language and I’m not just talking about Italian.”

It suggests that, five years on, he would be willing to work with the former Tottenham director again if the chance arose. It remains to be seen whether Napoli listens to Gallo’s suggestion.

brentford Now know that it is becoming a very real race for Issa Doumbia. And Sporting aren’t really hiding their intentions anymore.

The Venezia midfielder has had a huge season in Italy. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 37 appearances. He has helped Venezia gain promotion back to Serie A. So it is natural that he has made himself one of the most talked about midfielders in the country.

That rise has attracted the attention of many clubs across Europe. However, The Brentford name will continue As one of the English sides was seriously interested in the position.

The problem for them is that sporting is moving fast.

Sporting is working hard for Doumbia

according to to ballThe Portuguese side have already moved beyond simple interest and made a concrete contract offer to the player.

Now the financial details have also come out. The newspaper reports that Sporting are offering Doumbia a five-year contract worth €100,000 (£85,600) a month after tax until 2031.

nottingham forest A move for Davide Fratesi to Inter Milan failed in January. There is still hope for a transfer, with the player increasingly accepting that he needs to leave.

At the end of January, the East Mids club came close to signing the Italian. A deal was almost complete, with the Nerazzurri simply waiting to sign a replacement.

sports witness The saga was covered closely, as Fratesi had to stay due to Inter’s failure to sign Curtis Jones.

After that, things did not change for the midfielder. The 26-year-old has started only two Serie A games in 2026, relegating him to bench-warmer status.

Nottingham Forest may have another chance at Fratesi, who is awaiting a transfer.

evacuation team

corriere dello sport Reports on the Italy international made it clear that he was keen on a transfer in January.

The newspaper believed that Nottingham Forest could not meet Inter’s demands and this was another reason for the failure. The Nerazzurri wanted a loan with an obligation to buy but the Premier League side wanted a simple loan.

Now, it is certain that Fratessi will leave Inter in the summer. Despite being very important for them in the 2024/25 campaign, he has given up hope of making his mark.

It is said that the midfielder’s smile has disappeared in the last few months. Hoping to get out, he has his ‘phone in hand’ and his crew is doing everything they can to make a move.

He wants to play regularly and make an impact at the highest level, as he did under Simone Inzaghi.

Nottingham Forest given another chance

Ideally, the Champions League-experienced player may not be keen on a move to the City Ground. But in this case, things may be different.

Nottingham Forest dealt Fratessi’s squad in January in their move for Lorenzo Lucca. This shows that they have a very good working relationship, which could also help in the signing of the Italy midfielder.

Fratesi is a midfielder who adds a lot of unpredictability in the final third. He may not be technically proficient, but he has the ability to achieve important goals. This would help any team, let alone Nottingham Forest.

Vitor Pereira’s side have a chance but there are every possibility that more clubs will come knocking for them.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a new identity when the 2026 season begins. In an ideal world, Aaron Rodgers would again lead the charge on offense for Mike McCarthy. Defensively, obviously, Cam Heyward and TJ Watt lead the charge.

Still, the Steelers can only rely on Rodgers for so long. The four-time NFL MVP is in his prime and will need playmakers to help the Steelers’ offense reach its true potential.

Trading for Michael Pittman would certainly help, but is it enough? Pittsburgh may not feel like their work is done at the receiver position, and we’d be willing to bet Rodgers would agree.

Recently, NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports reported that Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is “in play” for the Steelers with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pauline says most analysts have Cooper as the WR4 in this draft class.

Pauline wrote, “Cooper is building momentum among scouts and receivers coaches.” “He’s athletic and a great pass catcher with a developing game, and people rave about his character. Cooper has talked with every team from picks 18 to 36. I’m told Cooper is in play for the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick No. 21 despite being traded for Michael Pittman.”

Of course, each individual team structures their draft board differently and has different prospects than others. We all know the Steelers see Cooper as someone who can be better than the fourth-best receiver prospect.

No matter what, the Steelers could definitely use another playmaker in their offense to help draw attention away from DK Metcalf, Pittman and Pat Freiermuth.

RELATED: 6 best Dexter Lawrence landing spots after Giants trade request

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

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy launched a tirade against golf legend Tiger Woods following the 50-year-old’s arrest for DUI following a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida last weekend.

Authorities say the 15-time Major champion was driving at a high rate of speed, hit a pressure-washing truck and spun his vehicle. Although he blew a 0.00 for alcohol, Woods displayed obvious signs of impairment, failed field sobriety tests, and refused a urine test – leading to charges of DUI, property damage, and refusing to submit to testing.

He was briefly held in the Martin County Jail before posting bail and was released later in the evening. Portnoy addressed the incident during his Monday episode wake up barstool show. Suffice it to say, he has no tolerance for Woods’ frequent driving problems.

In his fiery remarks, Portnoy argued that Woods should face prison for “waking up” and stopping endangering others on the road.

“When you drive while impaired, you’re not just putting yourself at risk. You’re putting someone else on the road, innocent people (at risk),” Portnoy said. “You really can’t take this lightly. I have no sympathy for that guy.”

“I don’t know anybody who’s ever flipped a car. This guy flips a car every two weeks! So, you know what? Put him behind bars, put him in jail for a while, and wake him up.”

“What’s wrong with Tiger Woods? You have to have someone drive you. He has to have a driver wherever he goes, no excuses.” – @stoolpresidente pic.twitter.com/mZmXYIcWJ6

– Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) 30 March 2026

Portnoy’s brutal move leads Tiger Woods to call for jail sentence after latest DUI rollover crash

Portnoy further explained that everyone has their vices, including him. But not everyone’s vices are a threat to those around them.

He said, “I have a lot of vices in me. … It’s my vices that put me in danger, not anyone else. Just get a driver when you drive. It’s not difficult.” “Get the driver. You’ll kill someone.”

Read more:

Unfortunately, Tiger’s people are making it clear that they have no interest in appointing a driver. Sources say that he does not want anyone to keep an eye on his activities all the time or know about his whereabouts.

The golf icon insists he is perfectly capable of driving himself.

According to an unnamed source cited by the gossip outlet people magazineWoods does not like to be in the public eye. Which is extremely strange, because he keeps putting himself out there with his reckless behavior.

“He’s not a social butterfly and prefers to hang out around the house with his kids, or kick balls or play video games,” the source said. “He hates public scrutiny.”

Woods has a documented history of driving incidents dating back to 2009, when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and tree outside his Florida home in the early morning following a domestic dispute. That controversy exposed his extramarital affairs and badly derailed his career.

In 2017, he was arrested for DUI after police found him asleep behind the wheel of a Mercedes with multiple drugs in his system, including Vicodin, Xanax, and Ambien; He later pleaded guilty to careless driving and completed a diversion program.

Then in 2021 he suffered a near-fatal single-car rollover while going more than 80 mph in Los Angeles.

This latest arrest is another blow to Woods, who has been working hard to return to the PGA Tour after back surgery and an Achilles injury. Sources close to the golfer have expressed concern over his physical and mental condition. It appears that his many injuries have caused him to become addicted to painkillers.

Let’s hope Tiger gets the help he needs before he gets to where Portnoy is suggesting.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

Newcastle United forward Anthony Elanga is preparing for one of the biggest matches of his international career as Sweden take on Poland in a decisive World Cup playoff final on home soil.

The 22-year-old has seen a consistent involvement for Newcastle this season, even if his output has been modest. In all competitions, Elanga has made 44 appearances, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

Those numbers help explain his current role. Elanga is often used for his pace and energy rather than consistent end product, particularly in transition phases or when defending late in matches. But he has already accepted He is keen to explain that his spell at St James’ Park will be a successful one.

strive for control on home soil

Anthony Elanga is now projecting the same profile in Sweden’s biggest match of the campaign.

talking to soccer channel In Sweden, Elanga said: “It’s us who are at home, so we have to be in control.”

He also pointed to the need for balance, highlighting both offensive intent and defensive discipline.

“We know we have players up front who can threaten their back line. But we are the home team and we need the support of all our fans. Hopefully we can control the match and play our game.”

Sweden took a more reactive approach in their 3–1 win over Ukraine in the semi-finals. However, Elanga played the full 90 minutes in that match and put in a solid performance even without a direct goal involvement.

“Even more so in this match.”

Anthony Elanga arrives in a confident mood and this occasion clearly means something to him.

“It’s the final. We have to give everything. It’s going to be about who wants it more. We have to play our hearts out and really give everything. That’s what I’ll do.”

he adds: “I know I’m a player who always gives everything. Even more so in this match.”

That mentality reflects his role at Newcastle United. He is not always decisive in front of goal, but his physical output and willingness to run remain key assets.

newcastle will be watching

Anthony Elanga’s involvement in such a high-pressure match will be closely monitored by Newcastle United, especially given his increasing importance as a team option.

Sweden manager Graham Potter has already made it clear that this match will require a different tactical plan. This could suit Ilanga, especially if Sweden take a more aggressive approach on home soil.

For Newcastle, the picture is clear. Ilanga is entering a decisive international night with rhythm, minutes and confidence and with the intention of leaving everything on the field.

🇧🇷Alan Elias | Newcastle United prepare offer + exclusive details

💵 Magpies planning ‘unique’ approach
❌ Source reveals that Napoli have not been offered
➡️How are things right now…https://t.co/dLLTskDYdI #nufc #SSCinapoli

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 24 March 2026

Alisson’s long-term future at Liverpool has been questioned in recent weeks.

sports witness The Italian has covered claims from Juventus about interest in bringing him back to Serie A in the summer.

There are concerns over Michele Di Gregorio’s performances this season, as the Italian has made high-profile mistakes. This leads to the Bianconeri being considered an established goalkeeper, with the Liverpool star interested.

Luciano Spalletti knows the former Roma player from his time together in the Italian capital. He would be willing to coach them once again.

Juve’s task is unlikely to be easy. The Reds could offer specific challenges as part of the deal. Initially, there was confidence in Turin that the transfer would be relatively easy, but this belief has begun to meet with a harsh reality.

Liverpool wants the goalkeeper to honor the contract

Journalist Franco Leonetti has talked about the situation in Brazil. He also mentioned Juventus’ interest in the 33-year-old but clarified the Reds’ stance on the matter.

With Alisson’s contract expiring in 2027, Liverpool are expected to honor the deal.

Leonetti told Radio Bianconera – Go tuttomerkatoweb: : “It makes sense that Juventus are looking for a goalkeeper with international experience. It is too early to say whether it will be Oblak, Alisson or someone else.”

Specifically on Alison, he said: “With regard to Alisson, the English club are saying that they would like to honor his contract until June 2027.”

This may force the older woman to pay a higher amount than expected. It has been suggested that the intermediaries around Alisson are trying to broker his exit but Liverpool themselves are posing a challenge.

Our opinion on Alisson’s Liverpool future

This approach from Liverpool could be a positive one if it is genuine and not a bargaining chip. Alisson is still at the age where goalkeepers can make an impact and he still does so consistently.

As far as Arne Slot and the vast majority of fans are concerned, Giorgi Mamardashvili is still behind the Brazil international in the pecking order. Even if he is the long-term successor, he will learn only by spending another season around Alisson.

At a time when the team is going through a gradual transition, having an experienced campaigner like Alisson could prove to be very important.

Julio Enciso has admitted he was not happy at Brighton & Hove Albion, as he is now enjoying life in France.

Le Figaro covered the 22-year-old’s comments today Because he wants to get his career back on track in Strasbourg.

The midfielder joined the French club for €9.5m last summer, ending a three-year stay with them before joining the Seagulls for €11.6m in 2022.

Enciso would make only 57 appearances in total for the club. This was largely due to injuries that held him back.

A meniscus injury in 2023 cost him 38 games for club and country and spent 184 days on the treatment table.

brighton to strasburg

The second half of last season’s loan spell at Ipswich Town was also cut short by injuries. That frustration led him to move to France this summer, where he has been impressing this season.

He has already played 24 times for Strasbourg this season, starting 15 of their 18 games so far in Ligue 1. He has justified that status too, with eight goals and three assists in 24 games in all competitions so far.

The Paraguayan is also the joint-top goalscorer in the French Cup with five goals so far. Le Figaro described him as the main architect of their impressive performance in the competition to date.

Becoming a star under O’Neal

He’s clearly having fun with Gary O’Neill. The former Wolves boss employed him as a ‘playmaker’ in the middle of the pitch.

Enciso is enjoying the support he is receiving, admitting he has never been happy at Brighton in recent years.

“I admit that I went through a very difficult period,” He said.

“I wasn’t happy at Brighton. But here I have the support of my teammates, my coach and I’m doing a lot of personal work as well.”

The Utah Jazz have been in full tank mode lately, regularly pulling their starters down during games and most recently having Jaren Jackson Jr. out for the rest of the season due to injury. Now, as the season enters its home stretch, the team has received tough news regarding an injury to its best player, Lauri Markkanen.

“Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen could be out for a while after suffering a concussion in practice Wednesday,” Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Markkanen is being evaluated for right ankle and hip injuries, and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the ailments.

The news comes amid allegations that the Jazz are intentionally trying to lose games in order to gain a higher pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which many predict will be loaded with high-end talent. Recently, the NBA issued a hefty fine against Utah’s ownership for their blatant tanking efforts, and given Utah’s history, some fans may be skeptical about this latest injury update regarding Markkanen.

This season, Markkanen is averaging nearly 27 points per game and that’s part of the Jazz’s vision for the long term, as they hope to pair him and Jackson Jr. with another blue-chip prospect in the upcoming draft.

In any case, the Jazz next face off at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday evening. Tipoff from the Delta Center is scheduled for 9:00 pm ET.

Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra faces even more uncertainty over his future, with reports coming from Brazil indicating that Cruzeiro does not intend to invoke a buyout clause in his loan deal.

According to a Brazilian journalist Thiago FernandesCruzeiro have no plans to sign the winger permanently.

The Colombian has not met the appearance-related targets that would trigger a mandatory buyout, and the Brazilian club are unwilling to pay €3.5m (£3m) for a full transfer.

Meanwhile, a recent detailed report globo esporte This explains why the deal is stalled.

Why did the injury record derail Cruzeiro’s plans?

Sinisterra joined Cruzeiro on loan from AFC Bournemouth last August, with the Brazilian side paying around €2.9m (£2.5m) for the temporary transfer. The idea was clear. He will regain rhythm, build fitness and strive to return to the Colombia national team before the 2026 World Cup. However, the gamble has not yet paid off.

In six months at Cruzeiro, Sinisterra suffered four different injuries and played only three matches. His latest setback came against Mirasol, when he was diagnosed with right thigh inflammation and was ruled out again.

The pattern is familiar. At Bournemouth, after transferring from Leeds United, he also struggled with muscle problems. Brazilian reports remind that he suffered three muscle injuries in England and missed more than 30 matches.

Cruzeiro implemented a Personal Strength and Balance Program From day one. Yet, the issues returned. He suffered a right thigh strain in September, then a left thigh muscle injury in October. Later in the season he managed seven matches, including two starts. another muscle problem Make it smaller.

In January, he even gave up part of his holiday to continue treatment and started pre-season early. He returned slowly, playing 30 minutes in the derby against America-MG and 54 minutes against Mirasol. breaking again.

What does this mean for Bournemouth

The loan runs until the middle of the year. Since mandatory purchase targets have not been met, Cruzeiro is not expected to proceed with the €3.5m (£3m) deal. From Bournemouth’s point of view, this creates a new decision point this summer.

Sinisterra is 26 years old and still under contract on the south coast. However, recurring muscle injuries continue to affect his market value and limit consistency. Without consistent minutes, it becomes difficult to structure a permanent exit.

Unless there is a drastic change in the coming months, the current direction points towards a return to Bournemouth and another reassessment of his future.

Once Evan Mobley put together an All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the standard was set. Teammates, coaches, fans and the media were talking about the seven-foot-tall player all summer long and tossing his name into MVP conversations without hesitation. So, in turn, any lack of meeting those expectations is considered a failure by some, and perhaps, based on how steadfast the praise was at last year’s All-Star Game and Mobley’s own words, that’s justified.

Now that Darius Garland is in Los Angeles, it appears the microscope has zoomed in a lot on the 24-year-old forward. People crank that dial when the Cavs lose, and especially on national television.

Although he had a catch-and-drive dunk and a jump hook, Mobley missed a few threes in the final 3:20 of the game when his team was still within striking distance. And despite holding Chet Holmgren to an average scoring game, OKC’s power forward grabbed 15 rebounds compared to Cleveland’s two. They weren’t face-to-face every minute of the game, but that’s a worrying discrepancy.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had all 13 offensive rebounds from Sunday.

Where do you think the fault lies? pic.twitter.com/eXb19FU7GD

-RealCavsFans.com (@realcavsfans) 23 February 2026

Mobley deserves criticism for that part of the contest. Even if he’s out of position on most Cavs possessions due to the switch-heavy scheme defensively, recording two total rebounds at that size is absolutely unacceptable. Track the ball and catch it. When you have it in your hand, be strong with it, hold it high, and don’t let the opponent take it away from you.

Should he really be to blame for most of the Thunder’s extra chances? No, there were three examples, maybe fourWhere Mobley could have done a better job on the defensive glass was unrelated to the back-iron misses that found OKC’s perimeter players away from the paint.

• At 7:26 of the second quarter, he hung up on Jaylin Williams to make sure he didn’t miss a three; However, when Jared McCann’s floater went haywire, he waited too long to mingle with his teammates, who should have done so themselves due to the 3-on-2 advantage.
• Similarly, at 9:19 of the fourth, Mobley did not want to let a red-hot Cason Wallace get a free look in the left corner, so he tried to set up a contest time on Holmgren through the middle while driving; This forced a miss that rolled off the rim, but neither he nor Donovan Mitchell came up with it.
• Although with a strong position, Mobley was outclassed by Hartenstein at the 2:30 mark of the final frame, allowing Lou Dort to push him back to the top of the floor.

Evan Mobley’s frequently changing Cavs responsibilities

Let’s step away from the rebounding thing for just a minute and turn to Mobley’s extensive offensive game. The Cavs put the ball in his hands early in a point-forward type role in the first few weeks of the year. It was experimental because that’s what you do in the regular season. He was bringing it up and getting started, and when he didn’t have it, he was pulling up the floor. It was more dribble drives, separation, self-composition and kicking out than off-ball work.

Then, as the campaign progressed, Cleveland wanted to put Mobley in a better position to succeed with less management, as in 2024–25. That meant using him as a mid-floor hub, putting him in screens-and-slips, and getting him close to the bucket. Mobley burst onto the scene in early December and recorded four consecutive double-double performances before going down with a left calf injury. He was sidelined for five short games, then returned at Christmas.

After finding his footing again, Mobley enjoyed a solid month of January, including his best game of the season. He scored 29 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks in 35 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. He did not turn it over even once and walked out of the field after scoring 13 runs out of 24. Unfortunately, after another solid performance in Game 2 of the home-and-home series with the Orlando Magic, Mobley experienced more pain in the same calf. He missed the entire season through January 28 during the NBA All-Star break.

Returning to a very different team, James Harden is now their point guard, which changes the calculus for what Mobley needs to do. At best, on this team, he is the third scoring option. It was different a few months ago, so there needs to be an adjustment on his (and Harden’s) part.

Jarrett Allen is already the quintessential pick-and-roll partner for Harden, so where does that leave Mobley? Well, for one, Cleveland needs to get him into the dunker spot right this very moment. He should have plenty of opportunities to capitalize on the seriousness he possesses as both a ball-handler and roller. In particular, alley-oops from Harden or Allen should be common.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson noted that Mobley’s popping could also be used as a weapon. They sure as heck aren’t shooting the three well right now, which may be due to a lack of lift from the shin, but he’s still a confidently capable mid-range shooter. If opportunities arise, he will have to take them. Atkinson also sees opportunities to quickly find mismatches at small forwards and guards in double-big lineups. When that happens, Harden can be counted on to feed him.

We’ll also see Mobley without Harden and Allen on the floor with Mitchell. The staggering choice allows for optionality in terms of style of play. Both of them had a lot of success last year and a good chemistry has been established between them, which will give both of them a chance to be as successful as ever. Adding Schroder to that mix also helps as his downhill nature forces defenses to stop the ball.

painting the whole picture

Many people are casually leaving out Mobley’s defensive skills when evaluating his game. Being a top-tier tackler who shuts down driving lanes, runs to the corners to compete, and replaces all shots in a single possession doesn’t make a highlight reel unless you’re a coach. It’s a tough business to be in, as in that department, Mobley is one of them. Find another player his size who covers as much ground, switches seamlessly, and recovers just like him.

Sadly, making lots of money also comes with noise. Mobley has had a poor offensive season, and it shows in his season-long production numbers. Does this mean that he has performed well as a basketball player? no way. He will turn 25 in mid-June. Given Cleveland’s push and pull with his offensive responsibilities, a troublesome calf that kept him out twice, and readjusting to life with a new floor general, it’s understandable that Mobley doesn’t have everything figured out at this point.

However, the Cavs have exaggerated the timeline. He was originally crowned after an undefeated extension of the trade-deadline. Garland, his old core four two-man-game partner, has moved to the West Coast. The Giants are in the building now, hardening the locker room significantly so the team can really prepare for the playoffs.

Expectations are sky-high for this fresh-wine-and-gold group, so anything less than greatness will receive a scathing response, whether that’s warranted long-term or a momentary reaction in the heat of battle. That means Mobley will have to quickly adapt to what is being asked of him and take on a role that has once again changed.

Whether that’s fair or not, that’s just the reality of the situation.

He may not have entered the NBA with a lot of hype compared to his fellow rookies, but Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward has been a pleasant surprise.

Coward, the 11th overall pick out of Washington State, has earned a role with his workaholic attitude, providing the Grizzlies with toughness and toughness on both ends. He has started 35 games.

The 22-year-old newcomer said he will only improve as he progresses biggest lesson What he’s learned so far is to “keep it simple.”

“I found it out when we played the OKC (Thunder) at home. The last possession, (Alex) Caruso put me in a box. I was too complicated in what I was trying to do,” Coward said on “The Kevin O’Connor Show.”

“I wish I could get that moment back. I know I’ll get that moment again, maybe it won’t be against Caruso, but I know that moment will come again.”

Cedric Coward says Alex Caruso “put me in a box,” and shares valuable lessons he learned against an all-world defender. @ACFresh21 https://t.co/20R63KDpR5 pic.twitter.com/fcL7Th7HtW

— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) 17 February 2026

He said that he has learned to let the game come to him instead of making a big deal out of the issue. At a young age, Coward has a mature mentality and battling experienced opponents like Caruso has given him a greater understanding of the NBA.

“Get in your space and do what you’re comfortable doing and don’t really worry about what they’re going to do,” Coward said.

“So for me, don’t do anything crazy, and at the same time, get the matchups I want. I would love to go against anyone other than Caruso on that Thunder team.”

Coward was named among the rising stars at All-Star Weekend, but was unable to play due to a knee injury.

He averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists.