標籤: sheds

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a gamble with the James Harden trade during the season, hoping it would propel them into the NBA playoffs. Heading into the elimination game, Harden’s future in Cleveland seems predetermined.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported this weekend that even if they bow out in Game 7 on Sunday, “there is an understanding” that the Cavaliers will work out a new contract with Harden.

Cleveland is reportedly already “happy” with the replacement of Darius Garland in favor of Harden. The former NBA MVP provides Cleveland with the lead guard they’ve been looking to pair with Donovan Mitchell, and he’s seen enough of that to commit to him long-term.

Harden has a $42.317 million player option for the 2026–27 season, which he is expected to decline. However, while he may explore his options in NBA free agency, the Cavaliers’ situation appears to be the best fit for him.

For now, it seems like there is an unwritten agreement between both sides that Harden will be taken care of this summer. He is set to get a multi-year extension that will likely include a player option, potentially also allowing him to hit the open market again next summer.

So, no matter what happens in Game 7 on Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons, the Cavaliers are ready to move forward with the guard tandem of Harden and Mitchell. It’s less clear whether both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will be part of the organization’s plans if they are waived again before the Eastern Conference Finals.

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

The San Jose Sharks have one of the best players in the NHL at the moment in 19-year-old Maclin Celebrini. Coming off a record-breaking season where he almost led the team to the playoffs, it appears the phenom will be rewarded with a new deal this summer.

On the latest episode of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts, insider Elliotte Friedman said San Jose will be proactive regarding extension talks with Celebrini once he becomes eligible. He does not expect Celebrini’s camp to come up with a long-term deal for seven to eight years, but a four-year deal is also unlikely.

“I think they work hard on it. For me, it’s not a question of numbers, but of words. I can’t see them or their representatives… I can’t see them wanting to go for eight years or seven years.:

Elliotte Friedman on Maclin Celebrini contract extension talks for the San Jose Sharks

RELATED: Agents reveal potential cost of Macklin Celebrini contract extension

• Macklin Celebrini Contract (Puckpedia): $975,000 cap hit (2026-27), RFA in 2027

Friedman further said the extension could be for three or five years. The three-year extension will serve as the final year before Celebrini becomes an unrestricted free agent. Alternatively, a five-year contract would effectively buy out the first year he would be eligible for NHL free agency as an unrestricted free agent.

Both sides will have to figure out how to strike the right balance between giving Celebrini a salary that reflects his value to the franchise, while also keeping it at a point that allows the front office to build a great team around the franchise.

RELATED: Why Macklin Deserves the Celebrini Hart Trophy

• Macklin Celebrini Statistics (2025–26): 115 points (70 assists, 45 goals), 8 power-play goals, 25 power-play assists

Based on informed speculation from agents who spoke to The Athletic, a three-year extension could come in at anywhere in the ballpark of $10 million to $12 million per season. If both parties can agree on a five-year deal, the average annual value of the said deal could be closer to $14 million to $15 million.

At the very least, a contract extension is likely sometime this summer after Celebrini becomes eligible for the first time on July 1. Once this matter is resolved, the Sharks will have a much clearer picture of their long-term financial flexibility and how they can strengthen their defense in the years to come.

RELATED: Love the San Jose Sharks? Watch San Jose Hockey Now

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

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has consistently shown that he is not afraid to make major changes to the roster. While last year’s team failed to make the playoffs, the Chiefs are confident in their ability to bounce back in 2026.

Still, there is no running away from the weaknesses of the Chiefs. They have lost two starting cornerbacks this offseason, while one went through a trade. What is the plan to replace them? With two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chiefs will have their opportunities.

Recently, ESPN’s Matt Bowen highlighted a potential improvement: drafting LSU’s Mansur Delaney with the ninth overall selection in the first round. Bowen believes Delaney will “thrive” in Kansas City, playing under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

“Kansas City played man coverage on 52.3% of opponent dropbacks in 2025, which is the fourth-highest rate in the league. Delaney will thrive in those coverages (primarily Cover 1, Cover 0 and Cover 2 man) with the speed to match him vertically as a press corner. Plus, he can jam and sink into Cover 2. It’s an easy fit for someone who I think is top in the class. Is a cornerback.”

Delaney is widely viewed as the best cornerback in the draft class, and he would certainly bring an elite athlete back to Kansas City’s secondary. Delaney’s 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the LSU Pro Day showed he has the speed to keep up with the game’s greatest athletes; Now he just has to prove it. He may get this opportunity in Kansas City.

Still, other teams selecting in the top ten also need cornerbacks. The question is whether they are willing to choose one of the top ten for this position, or whether they will find other needs more important. The same is true for the Chiefs, who could also use an edge rusher, offensive tackle or possibly another pass-catching weapon for Mahomes.

If the Chiefs determine that Delaney is not the right fit with the ninth overall pick, they could move back into the position later, as they also have the 29th overall pick in the first round.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: End of March edition

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

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t provide any official medical update on Max Strus ahead of the team’s win over the New York Knicks, but what he had to say falls in line with the impression that the veteran swingman is getting healthier by the day.

“I watched him work on the court today,” Atkinson said Monday night. “It’s been a really positive trend. A lot of activity, contact with coaches, changes in direction. So that’s all I’ll tell you. What it means — when you start playing, all that — I can’t give you that. I haven’t even asked.

“I was so pleased and surprised, like, man, he’s starting to pick it up now.”

This is the first instance in which Atkinson mentions that Strus graduated from non-contact court work and conditioning to working against contact. Although this is only against the coaching staff, it is an important development that portends a comeback.

Strus has yet to play a game this season after suffering a Jones fracture of his left foot in late August, a few weeks before training camp. The Cavs’ last official statement on the injury came on January 6, indicating it required more time to heal. Strus had a follow-up evaluation four weeks later, but other than Atkinson emphasizing his progress, the team has not released any other updates since then.

“The hardest part for him is just being patient,” Cavs president Koby Altman said in his post-trade-deadline Zoom call with the media in early February. “That injury was a terrible offseason injury. It took a long time to heal, but he’s making progress. He’s getting back on the field, and we’re excited to have him for this stretch run, but we’re definitely taking our time to make sure that when he comes back, he’s 100 percent.

“I know there’s no one more excited than him to come back. No one’s pushing harder than him to come back. But at the same time, we want to make sure he’s 100 percent when he comes back. And unfortunately I still don’t have a timetable for you.”

Atkinson recently shared that Cleveland does not have a target number of games for the Struts to play in order to advance to the postseason. He hopes to suit up in the regular season.

“Getting Max back any time before the playoffs would be a huge bonus,” Atkinson said. “I mean, he missed a lot of time last year with an ankle. He’s not a 22-year-old, right? A guy with that experience and the way he works in the weight room. Of course, he wants a little runway where he can find his rhythm. But, as long as we get him to make a run in the playoffs, I think it’s a win for us. He has a lot of experience. Obviously, he played very well in the playoffs last year.”

It will be interesting to see how the Cavs’ rotation looks when Strus returns to the floor. Atkinson has plenty of options to go with the rebuilt core of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Guys like Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson and Keon Ellis have proven their ability to step up when needed. Unfortunately, someone will have to fall down a peg due to the depth of the team.

“Obviously, thrilled that we’re getting healthy. We’re almost there,” Atkinson said last week. “Max, like that last part, but almost perfect. So I think it’s figuring out the rotation and the lineup. That’s the biggest thing. And also, when you have everybody healthy, obviously, the minutes are distributed differently. Guys who are playing a lot may not be playing as much.

“There’s a lot of moving pieces with this, which we all know is part of it. And everybody has to make sacrifices and do their part. But listen, it’s a good problem to have with the talent we have. So, excited to see James with the new guys we’re integrating.”

Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham has been spot-on in the NBA this season. The Pistons are firmly on top of the Eastern Conference after finishing sixth last time out with a 44-38 campaign, one win away from the overall record.

And well, the contributions of MVP contender Cunningham are a major reason behind that improvement. But while his offensive strengths are well-documented, Jalen Duren also pointed to an aspect of Cunningham’s game that doesn’t get talked about enough, according to a post on X by journalist Jeremy Otto.

Jalen Duren says Cade is a great two-way player, even though everyone talks about his offensive skills. 3 more blocks tonight #piston pic.twitter.com/uLT4qph6ef

– Jeremy Otto (@JeremyOttoPxP) 26 February 2026

“Yeah, I mean, 6-7, I mean, doing exactly what he’s supposed to do. He’s a great defender, he’s a great scoring player, you know people know him for being a point-guard, for being a scorer but he’s a great two-way player. He’s been doing that all season, so it’s nothing new. I know when I see him one-on-one on a fast break with a smaller guard, I’m Likes his chances,” Duren said.

While that may be true, it’s hard to praise a player’s defensive efforts when he’s averaging 25.3 points, 9.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds per appearance. However, Cunningham is averaging about 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.

He boasts a solid defensive rating of around 109.5 while producing 4 defensive rebounds per game, and is undoubtedly making his presence felt on the other end of the court as well. However, Duren may still feel that it is Cunningham’s offensive ability that gets talked about the most, and for very good reason.