Another NBA star could be on the move, plus gauging Riley's hot seat

New York Times

29-01-2025

The Pulse Newsletter📣 | This is The Athletic's daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.
Good morning! Make a bold prediction today.
Trades, Brewing: De'Aaron Fox and a suddenly busy deadline
Yesterday's biggest sports news came out of Sacramento, where the Kings are finally open to trading star point guard De'Aaron Fox. It is seismic — he has been the main reason for the team's resurgence over the last three years — yet expected, as the Kings have faltered somewhat this season and Fox clearly wants out.
Advertisement
And thus, with all due respect to the long timeline of Jimmy Butler's efforts in Miami, we are now officially in the blitz of NBA trade deadline season. May glory await you on the other side.
One point on Fox before we start noodling:
Now we turn to Pulse friend and Bounce author Zach Harper for some fun. Rapid-fire trades start now:
Where do you think Fox lands — and when?
Zach: San Antonio with Victor Wembanyama, but I'm not convinced this happens before the trade deadline. There's plenty of time for the Kings to make the deal that benefits them the most. My guess: around draft night in June or the first week of free agency.
What's one trade you'd like to see happen?
Zach: I want to see Memphis just say, 'Bleep it,' and go for Jimmy Butler. Jimmy, Ja Morant, JJJ, Desmond Bane and a whole lot of grit still left to grind in Memphis. Butler might not want to go there, but Memphis could pull it off and make everybody a believer.
What's the funniest trade you can imagine happening before the deadline?
Zach: Kyle Kuzma goes back to the Lakers. Imagine the parable of the Prodigal Son returning, except he wears sweaters he'll eventually frame on his wall (yes, that's a thing), his hair is dyed like some bad Demolition cosplay and 'he's done fitting in' as he returns to LeBron's Lakers.
Subscribe to The Bounce for more, and also check out Sam Vecenie's list of trade ideas before you go.
Mercury acquire Thomas, Griner leaves
The WNBA chips are falling: The Phoenix Mercury are adding Connecticut Sun forward and perennial MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas in a sign-and-trade, a source confirmed to The Athletic, just two days after the blockbuster Jewell Loyd trade. Thomas has spent her entire 11-year career in Connecticut. She is a five-time All-Star and two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In other surprising news last night: Longtime Mercury star Brittney Griner agreed to join the Atlanta Dream, ending her 11-year run in Phoenix.
Eberflus lands in Dallas
The problem in Chicago was never defense under former head coach Matt Eberflus, who agreed to become the Cowboys' defensive coordinator yesterday. Eberflus inherits an extremely talented unit, and is a solid addition for new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. More details inside.
Iguodala quips on jersey retirement
The Warriors will retire Andre Iguodala's No. 9 jersey on Feb. 23, the team announced, the first of five numbers that should be retired by Golden State in the coming years. Iguodala's first reaction to beating Steph Curry and company to the honor: 'I'm just the oldest,' which is fair (he's 41). The retirement date is special too, as Golden State welcomes Dallas back to the Bay, which allows Klay Thompson to be present. I feel old, too, Andre.
More news:
📫 Love The Pulse? Check out our other free newsletters.
Say What Now? Some eye-popping 2025 CFB predictions
We are in the liminal space of the NFL season, where more than a week remains before the Super Bowl and, in essence, nothing of note will happen between now and next week. Thus it is a perfect time to consider … next college football season.
Our writers got together to vote on every award and result under the sun here, but I'm laser-focusing on the section full of wild predictions. My three favorites, with a Pulse probability rating attached:
1. Iowa will elevate to a top-50 offense this year.
This comes via Kennington Smith, and I just cannot stand by it. They will likely improve with the addition of transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski, but the Hawkeyes ranked No. 117 in yards per game last year. It is bold, though.
Pulse probability: 4 percent
2. Multiple starting players leave their teams during the season over not receiving promised NIL/revenue-sharing money.
We're getting warmer here, and this take from Chris Vannini feels prescient. I wonder if NIL collectives have learned from the Matthew Sluka saga last year, or if we're all just doomed to repeat these cycles until more regulation comes forth. Probably the latter.
Pulse probability: 35 percent
3. After getting trounced by Notre Dame in South Bend, USC will fire Lincoln Riley.
Oh, this is the one. I read this, from Lindsay Schnell, and instantly felt truth in my bones. Riley is on the downslope at USC, a stunning notion considering the fanfare he brought with him from Oklahoma. The competition is harder now, too, and a blowout loss to the Fighting Irish on Oct. 18 could be a third straight loss on the schedule.
Pulse probability: 94 percent
Go read the rest of the prognostications, including one I personally believe to be 102 percent happening.
📺 Soccer: Sparta Prague at Bayern Leverkusen
3 p.m. ET on Paramount+
Today marks the final match day of the first-ever league stage of Champions League play, and the schedule is stacked. There are a dizzying number of possible outcomes for the final eight teams, as outlined here, but Leverkusen holds the key to many. If the reigning Bundesliga champs lose, there could be chaos.
📺 NHL: Flyers at Devils
7 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV/Max
This is a rematch of two nights ago, when Philadelphia notched a nice win against a better team. New Jersey remains a top contender, however, according to our metrics, whereas the Flyers are still 'growing.'
Get tickets to games like these here.
Kate Koval is a rising star in women's college basketball, playing at powerhouse Notre Dame. But she is also a native of war-torn Ukraine. Chantel Jennings penned a gripping story about Koval navigating both worlds. It's worth your time today. An accompanying podcast is also available on Apple and Spotify.
In Anaheim, there is a dichotomy among its sports teams, as Sam Blum writes today. The Ducks embrace their hometown. The Angels only have eyes for Los Angeles. Really interesting read.
Here's a fascinating story out of Spain, where talented 18-year-old center back Juma Bah paid his own €6 million release clause to break a La Liga contract and join Manchester City.
It's hard to imagine a better sell than this: Should soccer players be allowed to impersonate seagulls?
Ted Lasso existed before the show. And back when the character was just a commercial oddity, NBC gave away Ted Lasso trading cards. Now, those freebies are worth thousands.
Aryna Sabalenka is a tennis superstar, so why don't her endorsements and brand deals align with that? Charlie Eccleshare interrogated that here.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Keith Law's top 100 prospects list, as it should be.
Most-read on the website yesterday: We have a new NFL mock draft, with a shocking top five. See all the picks here.