Paul George on woeful 76ers after 8th straight loss: 'Showing no signs of a team that will compete'
PHILADELPHIA — Yes, the Philadelphia 76ers played without two-time NBA scoring champion and the always-injured Joel Embiid . Yes, they haven't been a playoff contender this season, even with two other All-Stars in the starting lineup.
Yet, there it was, on the scoreboard, on all the social media derision, on the top of the implausibility-meter when the 76ers broke camp for the Bahamas.
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Pacers Breakout NBA Finals Star 'Expected' to Be Trade Target
Pacers Breakout NBA Finals Star 'Expected' to Be Trade Target originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Wednesday's Game 3 of the NBA Finals series between the Pacers and the Thunder featured a guy who has been the breakout player of the 2025 postseason--point guard Tyrese Haliburton--as well as three-time All-Star Pascal Siakam and newly crowned NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Yet the leading scorer was a bench player who had tallied 23 total points in his previous three games. Advertisement That would be Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin. On a mere 12 field-goal attempts, Mathurin managed 27 points, as he went 2-for-3 from the 3-point line and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Such has been life in Indiana for Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. He thrives as a high-volume shot creator, but plays for a team that operates on a ball-sharing, no-star basis. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) battle for the loose ball during the third quarter of game two of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Mathurin is capable of having 27-point outbursts, as he did in Game 3. It's also no surprise when he chips in a mere five points in 16 minutes, as he did in Game 1. And while, maybe, if the Pacers pull off the upset and win this series over the Thunder, the team will happily bring back everyone on the roster, around the league, there are rumblings that Mathurin could land on the trade block this summer. Advertisement "I think that's almost expected," one NBA GM said. "If they want to keep other guys, someone has to go. They don't want to pay (Mathurin) so, the expectation is they'll see what they can get now while they can." Mathurin averaged 16.1 points this season, but the fit with the Pacers is specious. He has a salary of $9.2 million due next year, but he is up for a rookie scale extension this summer. The Pacers are expected to shell out to keep free-agent center Myles Turner this summer, but dealing Mathurin would partially offset his contract. The Pacers are not certain to trade Mathurin. If there is not a great market for him, the team could hold onto him for another year and seek to use him in a sign-and-trade in 2026, when he will be a restricted free agent if no extension deal is reached. Advertisement But they could pay a price by waiting. "Trading a restricted free agent, you're up against a wall," the GM said. "You want to make the deal now. And he is a young guy--he is 23 (next week). There will be a good market for him because a lot of young teams see him as a guy you can get a lot more out of in a different situation, with the ball in his hands more. "If you're the Pacers, you certainly have to listen to offers." The NBA Finals still have a long way to go, of course. But transaction season is sneaking up on the league, too. And Mathurin could loom as a target when that comes around. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Devin Williams set to re-enter as Yankees' closer, but with a supporting cast
NEW YORK – Luke Weaver's left hamstring injury instantly put Devin Williams back in the ninth inning spotlight. Provided a two-run cushion against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, Williams gave up a run before saving a 3-2 Yankees' victory at the Stadium - preserving another sharp outing by Carlos Rodon. Advertisement For the most part, it'll be Willams' job to close out Yankees' wins – five weeks after he lost that role in a string of rough outings that swelled his ERA to 11.25. On to protect a two-run lead after Mark Leiter Jr.'s scoreless eighth inning, Williams needed 30 pitches to navigate the ninth and faced the tying run at second base before Bo Naylor flied out on a 3-2 changeup to end it. "Really good. I feel confident,'' Williams said of his stuff, and feeling he's "in a good rhythm right now'' as opposed to the early spring, when his struggles forced a switch back to Weaver as the closer. "I was still figuring it out at the beginning of the year. It's a big adjustment to make, just in life,'' Williams said of his first weeks in the Bronx, where fans routinely reminded him this isn't Milwaukee. Devin Williams' uneasy ninth inning save Jun 3, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Williams said he views "the eighth, ninth or seventh'' innings as "the same thing, a high-leverage situation at the end of the game,'' though the ninth has unquestionably been a challenge. Advertisement "Putting myself into advantageous counts and just attacking'' is the intent, though Carlos Santana's one-out double on a 1-2 changeup, Williams' signature pitch, was "a really good at-bat'' won by the veteran. Two batters later, Daniel Schneemann bounced an RBI ground single to right and stole second, but "I liked his pitch mix, his pitch decisions,'' Boone said after Williams converted his sixth save of the year. "They took some tough at-bats against him,'' but Williams saved it for Rodon, now 7-0 with a 1.27 ERA over his last nine starts. 'I just know I can get outs and eventually we're going to score a few runs, and defensively all year we've been so great. It makes it easy to pitch,'' Rodon said after yielding a run over seven innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk. Advertisement Before the game, Boone mentioned that Williams has "thrown the ball really well, he's in a really good rhythm'' over the last month, primarily in a setup role. Entering Tuesday, Williams, 30, had 13 scoreless outings in 15 appearances, though one of those was last Tuesday's shaky save (two runs allowed) in a 3-2 win at Anaheim. Boone now expects Williams 'to be the dominant guy he's been throughout his career,'' not a surprising take from the ever-optimistic manager, who'll be without Weaver for at least a month and possibly until the All-Star break. Yankees' ninth inning could be a carousel, too May 28, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (56) and catcher J.C. Escarra (25) celebrate at the end of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images A really sunny take is that the first-place Yankees – so far unchallenged in the AL East – can rebuild Williams' confidence while also having a less-taxed Weaver for the second half and postseason. Advertisement But this doesn't have to be just Williams' show in the ninth. 'Depends who's available that day and who you use to get there,'' Boone said of potentially using Leiter Jr., Jonathan Loaisiga, Tim Hill or the just-activated Fernando Cruz (shoulder) in the ninth. Maybe that's not technically a closer-by-committee plan, but Williams won't be the only Yankee reliever closing games for the next four-to-six weeks. After the Dodgers series: Yankees things to watch this week and beyond Plus, the ever-altering composition of Boone's bullpen is bound to see more change. On Tuesday, Jake Cousins, a solid bullpen addition last year, just began a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday at Class A Hudson Valley. Advertisement Perhaps right-hander Will Warren or veteran Ryan Yarbrough – excelling now as a starter – winds up in the 'pen, with the Yankees seeking both starters and relievers before the July 31 MLB trade deadline. Yankees' plan to withstand loss of Luke Weaver May 22, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images For now, losing Weaver is 'definitely a blow, but one I think we can withstand,'' said Boone, with a collection of relievers capable of getting 'high-leverage, important outs for us.'' That starts with Williams, the two-time NL All-Star with Milwaukee who posted a combined 1.66 ERA over his last three seasons before his December trade to the Bronx. Of course, Weaver's ascension as a high-end reliever - graduating to closer only last September, after Clay Holmes series of blown saves - comes after posting a 6.78 ERA as a Cincinnati Reds starter in 2023. Advertisement Credit the Yankees' expertise in trading for underperforming or under-utilized arms and converting them into bullpen weapons. Which is partly why the Yankees don't pay expensive salaries to relievers anymore, almost assuring Williams - earning $8 million in his free agent walk year - will be another team's closer in 2026. Luke Weaver: "Blindsided'' by hamstring injury Weaver, 31, is also headed to free agency after this season, with anticipated hefty boost over his current $2.5 million salary. On Tuesday, Weaver said he was "blindsided'' by the nature of his injury, suffered after warming up for Sunday's ninth inning at Dodger Stadium (he did not pitch in the 7-3 Yankee win). Advertisement "I want to make sure that I'm at full capacity'' before returning, said Weaver. "I know we have six, seven other guys capable of doing the job.'' This article originally appeared on Is Devin Williams Yankees closer again after Luke Weaver Injury?
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Grizzlies' Ja Morant Makes Major Career Move
Grizzlies' Ja Morant Makes Major Career Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Memphis Grizzlies drafted Ja Morant with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Morant has career averages of 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists. He signed a five-year, $197 million extension with Memphis in 2022. Advertisement However, the Grizzlies have won only one postseason series since drafting Morant, who has been suspended by the NBA twice for showing a gun on Instagram Live. A two-time All-Star, Morant appeared in 50 games for the Grizzlies this season. He averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field, 30.9% from 3 and 82.4% from the foul line. Memphis was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of this year's playoffs. Morant missed Game 4 after getting hurt in Game 3. Ja Morant doesn't have an agent anymore. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images The 25-year-old Morant has stayed out of the news until Thursday, as Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that the point guard has parted ways with Lift Sports Management. Advertisement Morant joined Lift, an agency headed by former NBA forward Mike Miller, in April 2024. "All indications are that the relationship between the Grizzlies and Morant remains strong," Cole wrote. "Morant could look to partner with another agency that best represents his goals. Another option for the Grizzlies star is self-representation." Morant will make $39.4 million next season, $42.2 million in 2026-27 and $44.8 million in 2027-28, the final year of his contract. Morant is eligible to sign a two-year extension this offseason. It's unknown if the Grizzlies will sign their best player to another lucrative contract. Related: NBA Trade Idea Sends Grizzlies' Ja Morant to Heat in Exchange for Four Players This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
