Joel Embiid to return for 76ers vs. Mavericks after 15-game absence
The Philadelphia 76ers announced that their former MVP center is available Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks following a 15-game absence with foot and knee injuries.
Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they won't counter with Anthony Davis, who was previously ruled out for Tuesday's game following his arrival via trade from the Los Angeles Lakers. He's dealing with a lingering abdominal strain and could potentially be available for Thursday's NBA Finals rematch between the Mavericks and Celtics.
Regardless of Davis' status, that Celtics-Mavericks game will take on a decidedly different tone following the trade of All-NBA guard Luka Dončić to the Lakers. For Tuesday, the Mavericks will play shorthanded for a second consecutive game since dealing Dončić. Dallas lost, 144-101 to the Cavaliers on Sunday.
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Newsweek
13 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Yankees' Anthony Volpe Pushes OPS Past This $365 Million MVP With One Big Game
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Newsweek
13 minutes ago
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LeBron James Next Team Odds: Lakers Clear Favorites, But Odds Shifting
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With Smart, forward Jake LaRavia and center Deandre Ayton now in the fold, the Lakers have addressed a few of their main weaknesses from a year ago. At the moment, the upcoming season still marks the final year that James will be on L.A.'s books. James, however, hardly squashed trade rumors with his response when asked by ESPN's Dave McMenamin about his future during a Summer League game on July 12. With LeBron James at the Lakers game tonight, I asked him if he would like to speak to me about his future with the franchise. 'I ain't got nothing to talk about,' he said. My report for ESPN from Las Vegas. — Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 13, 2025 That comment did not result in any substantial odds movement last weekend. There has been substantial recent movement in DraftKings' "LeBron James Next Team" market over the last few days, though, as we'll detail below. NEWSWEEK SPORTS BETTING 📩 NOW LIVE: In our new newsletter, Newsweek Sports Betting Editor Tyler Everett delivers his weekly takes on what to bet on during the upcoming weekend -- and why -- ➡️ to your inbox every Friday. If you're enjoying our sports betting content, here's your chance to get all of our latest analysis and picks in your inbox every Friday morning. SIGN UP NOW LeBron James Next Team Odds At DraftKings The odds below come from DraftKings (as of July 21). In addition to each team's betting odds, we're also listing the implied probability that those odds carry. And for reference, this table also notes what each of these teams' odds were on July 4. Fine print, from DK: "First Regular Season minute played to be for which NBA team? [2025-26 only]" Current DK odds (implied probability %) July 4 DK odds, implied probability Lakers -340 (77.3) -1000 (90.9) Mavericks +300 (25) +600 (14.3) Cavaliers +600 (14.3) +1000 (9.1) Heat +1500 (6.3) longer than +5000* Knicks +2000 (4.8) +3000 (3.2) Clippers +2000 (4.8) +3500 (2.8) *The Heat were longer than 50-to-1 when we broke down this market on July 4, so we didn't list their exact odds. LeBron James Next Team Analysis, Prediction Before we go any further, keep in mind that for a bet on any team besides the Lakers to cash, a deal for LeBron would have to happen before the 2025-26 season begins in October. I still don't think there's a realistic chance of James being dealt before the season, but the Lakers now being listed at -340 should not be ignored, especially given where their odds were when this market opened. Now, let's briefly break down whether -- and how -- the Mavericks, Cavs, Heat, Knicks and Clippers could make a deal for LeBron. Could Dallas (+300) or Cleveland (+600) Land LeBron James? If Dallas were to offer No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, the Lakers would certainly be all ears. We shouldn't necessarily rule out anything where Nico Harrison is involved, but swapping a 40-year-old for a young potential star like Flagg is unimaginable right now. The Cavaliers and Heat strike me as more intriguing and realistic possible James suitors due to his ties to both franchises, but let's start with Miami. The Heat don't have much in the way of proven commodities besides Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, making them almost as unrealistic as the Mavericks. If the Cavaliers were to consider shipping out one of their 2024-25 All Stars (Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland or Evan Mobley), they could make a compelling offer -- and the chance to make noise in the injury-depleted East this year could be tempting for James. Knicks (+2000) Or Clippers (+2000) To Pull Off Shocking James Blockbuster? Let's close with the Knicks and Clippers. New York will always be mentioned as a contender for James because of the market, but it's hard to see Leon Rose blowing up an established roster with a real chance to win the East for a player with a year (or two at the most) left in his career. The Clippers have had a solid offseason, adding Bradley Beal, John Collins, Brook Lopez and Chris Paul to complement Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Ivica Zubac. They are now well positioned to contend in the West (especially if Leonard can stay healthy), not send away a haul for James' final season or two. This market has been interesting to talk about during a quiet time of year for hoops fans, but that doesn't make any of these options remotely tempting (and the Lakers' deal for Smart this weekend only made a big James trade seem even less likely). If you are determined to place a bet on someone coming up with a blockbuster deal out of nowhere for James, I'd recommend looking at the Cavaliers. Still, staying away from this market was the smart move in early July, and that remains true despite the recent odds movement. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
USA Today
15 minutes ago
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Nikola Jokić's backup commits to Nuggets after EuroLeague flirtation
After Denver Nuggets executive vice president Ben Tenzer strongly hinted that Jonas Valančiūnas would stay in Denver following a EuroLeague flirtation, it wasn't clear exactly how Valančiūnas felt about putting off Europe (for now). Valančiūnas has changed all that by taking the professional route. On Monday, BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas shared an unofficial statement from the Lithuanian center in which he "fully" committed to the Nuggets' mission of winning the 2025-2026 NBA championship. While mostly unfounded, there were lingering questions about whether Valančiūnas would continue to spar with the Nuggets over staying in the NBA. Given Valančiūnas's status as a potential quality innings eater to help keep three-time league MVP Nikola Jokić fresh over the course of an entire season, these were more than fair concerns. Valančiūnas has put those questions to rest by proactively stating his full intentions for Denver out in the open, thereby ensuring everyone associated with the Nuggets doesn't have to worry about him pulling out the rug at the last moment through the rest of the summer: After enjoying one of the best offseasons of anyone in the NBA, the Nuggets now have one less problem to worry about. Obstacles will assuredly still arise here and there. You know, like they do for everyone. But Valančiūnas's "will he or won't he?" situation finally coming to an end means this championship contender can start focusing on gearing up for the long haul in earnest. It can start focusing on basketball and basketball alone. How will Jonas Valančiūnas help the Denver Nuggets? Valančiūnas's role with the Nuggets should mostly be pretty elementary. He will be expected to help keep Denver afloat every time Jokić is off the floor. The backup center position has been a major bugaboo for the Nuggets and Jokić, particularly over the last half-decade or so. It had gotten to the point where, most nights, the Nuggets could ill afford to give their best player any extended rest over fears that his backup and a bench lineup would inevitably crater together. Naturally, this setup has led the Serbian superstar to overextend himself in the regular season and use some of his energy that would have been better utilized in the postseason for a franchise that considers itself a championship contender. Valančiūnas won't solve all of the Nuggets' problems. He is not a player without flaws, particularly on the defensive end. But he is an experienced offensive player with a reliable bag of tricks he's polished over the years. He should be enough to actually keep Denver afloat whenever Jokić isn't playing. That, in itself, will be a godsend to a team that relies so much on the best basketball player in the world.
