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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pacers' Rick Carlisle reveals player who will miss first 2 games of NBA Finals
The post Pacers' Rick Carlisle reveals player who will miss first 2 games of NBA Finals appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers will not have one of their big men in the early goings of the 2025 NBA Finals versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Monday, Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle shared that power forward Jarace Walker is going to be absent for at least the first two games of the Thunder series due to a lower-body injury. Advertisement Carlisle also said that there is no definite return date for the former Houston Cougars star. 'He's going to be out for a while,' Carlisle said of Walker during an appearance on 107.5 The Fan (h/t ESPN). 'I don't know how long. He certainly will not play in the first two games of the Finals,' the 65-year-old mentor added. Walker, who was taken in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft by the Pacers, sustained a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's series-clinching 125-108 Indiana win over the New York Knicks. He was trying to defend a shot in the paint when he seemingly landed awkwardly. He stayed on the floor as play continued before getting helped off the floor. He did not return for the remainder of the contest, where he had two points and a rebound in seven minutes. Advertisement Given Carlisle's news about Walker, Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals will be the soonest the player can see action. The series will kick off on Thursday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Game 2 will be on Sunday at the same venue, while Game 3 is scheduled on June 11, Wednesday, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana. The 21-year-old Walker has a minimal role for the Pacers, but his versatility can be missed by the team. So far in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, he is averaging 11.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per 36 minutes while also shooting 40 percent from behind the arc on 6.2 attempts. During the 2024-25 NBA regular season, Walker mostly played as a power forward but also saw action as a small forward and center. Freshly minted 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Most Valuable Player Pascal Siakam may see more minutes on the court without Walker. Athletic forward Obi Toppin could also see an uptick in his minutes.
Indianapolis Star
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Warren Central High School graduate will become lead WNBA announcer on Amazon Prime: Report
A play-by-play announcer with Indianapolis roots is growing his national profile. Michael Grady, a Warren Central High School graduate who had a daily sports talk show on 107.5 The Fan, will be the lead play-by-play announcer for WNBA games on Amazon Prime, according to a story in Front Office Sports. Grady is the lead TV play-by-play voice for the Minnesota Timberwolves and called many NBA games this season for ESPN. He and Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White called the Pacers' opening playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks for ESPN.
Indianapolis Star
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
'He clearly was carried away by this moment.' Rick Carlisle addresses John Haliburton incident
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Wednesday morning John Haliburton has assured him the previous night's incident at Gainbridge Fieldhouse won't repeat itself. Carlisle joined 107.5 The Fan for his regular appearance, discussing the dust-up between Haliburton and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Pacers won 119-118 in overtime of a game featuring crazy momentum swings capped by a winning Tyrese Haliburton layup with less than 2 seconds left. After the final buzzer, John Haliburton walked onto the court from his baseline seat, holding a towel featuring his son's face in front of Antetokounmpo. The two exchanged words. "I spoke to John Haliburton last night. A lot of people in the organization did. He was very contrite about what happened. Obviously, he got caught up in the moment last night, addressing it, apologizing to Giannis, apologizing to the Bucks, apologizing to the Pacers organization," Carlisle said. "We all love our children, we all embrace their great moments. He clearly was carried away by this moment and he assure everyone that nothing like this will ever happen again. I take him at his word on the that. I'm very sorry that those events happened, and so is he. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "I want everyone to know that this is a guy with a heart of gold, and the one thing he loves, close to his son, is the Pacers. But it can't manifest the way that it did, and he knows that."
New York Times
19-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Colts roster reset: Is Tyler Warren Indy's answer at TE? What other holes must be filled?
Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard wouldn't take no for an answer. Charvarius Ward was close to securing a free-agent deal with an NFL franchise that's just a two-hour drive away from his hometown of McComb, Miss., until Ballard made one final push. 'Originally, I thought I was going to New Orleans because the deal was almost done,' Ward said last week on Indianapolis' 107.5 The Fan. 'Then the Colts, they realized how great of a player I am, and they came in and kind of beat out the Saints at the last minute.' Advertisement Ward, who's spent the last three years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, never disclosed what exactly pushed Indianapolis over the top. But his contract speaks for itself: three years, $60 million with $35 million guaranteed. That's not how Ballard operates, at least not the old one. This new Ballard made more splashes during the first wave of free agency than in any season of his nine-year tenure in Indianapolis. Ward is the headliner, but the additions of safety Camryn Bynum and Daniel Jones were also significant signings. Of course, there are still roster needs for him to address. But now that most of the free agency dust has settled, let's take a look at how the 2025 Colts are shaping up ahead of the NFL Draft. Already here: Anthony Richardson, Jason Bean Joining: Daniel Jones TBD: Sam Ehlinger, Joe Flacco 2025 outlook: Ballard declared an open QB competition at the NFL Scouting Combine, and Richardson and Jones will be at the center of it. Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 pick, probably has a leg up on Jones, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal, since he's heading into his third season in coach Shane Steichen's offense. However, Jones should have plenty of opportunities to prove himself when the first-string reps are presumably split during OTAs and training camp. 'I've had a lot of fun (watching) and a lot of respect for Anthony,' Jones said last week. 'Watching him, I think he's certainly a talented young player, and I think the competition aspect of it brings out the best in everybody. I think we're both interested in helping this team win games and (doing) whatever we can do to help that happen.' The scary part about this scenario is that neither QB feels like a good option because neither has consistently proven to be a good player. Richardson has missed 17 games due to injury through his first two seasons, and his 47.7 completion percentage in 2024 ranked last in the NFL. Jones, who did win a playoff game in 2022, was 24-44-1 in 69 regular-season starts across six years with the Giants. He hasn't thrown more than 15 touchdown passes in a season since his rookie year in 2019. Advertisement Aside from Jones and Richardson, it remains unclear what other moves the Colts could make at QB. They've kept three quarterbacks on the roster in recent years, but bringing back Ehlinger or Flacco doesn't make a ton of sense considering Ehlinger's physical limits as a passer and Flacco's age. Perhaps Indianapolis will draft and stash a young QB for development. Already here: Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Goodson, Salvon Ahmed Joining: Khalil Herbert TBD: Trey Sermon 2025 outlook: Taylor will continue carrying the bulk of the workload after rushing for 1,431 yards and 11 TDs en route to securing his second Pro Bowl nod in 2024. However, Herbert was a necessary addition to hopefully keep Taylor, who's missed at least three games due to injury over the past three years, fresh in what should still be a run-first offense. Herbert has averaged 4.8 yards per carry for his career, and he thrived in Chicago when he was paired with dual-threat QB Justin Fields. 'I feel like I could do everything,' Herbert said last week. 'Short-yardage, outside (or) inside zone … catching the ball out of the backfield, pass (protection), I've been asked to do it all, and I feel like I can do it well.' Herbert, who signed a one-year deal, has recorded 53 catches for 312 yards and two receiving TDs in his NFL career, but I still think the Colts need to add another pass-catching running back via the draft. It's not a Day 1 or 2 need, though I'd be surprised if Indy didn't choose a running back on Day 3. Already here: Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, AD Mitchell, Anthony Gould, D.J. Montgomery, Laquon Treadwell, Ajou Ajou Joining/returning: Ashton Dulin Leaving: Juwann Winfree 2025 outlook: Dulin returns to a wide receiver room that I'm not too concerned about. He'll continue to serve as a core special teamer, earning second-team All-Pro honors as a gunner in 2021, while giving the Colts quality depth at the position. Pittman had a down season while playing with a fractured back in 2024, and I expect him to rebound in 2025. Downs has convinced me he's a budding star, and Pierce is coming off a career year. Mitchell really struggled as a rookie, but after being put through the wringer, I'm curious to see how he'll respond. The 22-year-old said at the end of the season that nothing can shake his confidence, and if the lights come on for him in 2025, the Colts' wide receiver group should be in great shape. Advertisement Already here: Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, Jelani Woods, Sean McKeon, Albert Okwuegbunam Leaving: Kylen Granson (Eagles) TBD: Mo Alie-Cox 2025 outlook: The Colts don't have a starting tight end. Neither Ogletree nor Mallory have shown the potential to shoulder that responsibility, and Woods — a third-round pick in 2022 — has missed the last two seasons due to injury. I think Indianapolis should draft a tight end on Day 1 or Day 2. Penn State's Tyler Warren sits atop my wish list (and perhaps Indy's, too), but Michigan's Colston Loveland, LSU's Mason Taylor and Texas' Gunnar Helm could all be good fits with the Colts, as well. The jury is still out on whether Alie-Cox will return, though I'm not opposed to bringing him back, as long as he isn't the No. 1 option and will be utilized primarily as a blocker. Already here: LT Bernhard Raimann, LG Quenton Nelson, C Tanor Bortolini, OL Matt Goncalves, RT Braden Smith, G Atonio Mafi, G Josh Sills, G Dalton Tucker, OT Blake Freeland, OT Luke Tenuta, OT Jack Wilson Returning: C Wesley French, OL Danny Pinter Leaving: C Ryan Kelly (Vikings), RG Will Fries (Vikings) TBD: G Mark Glowinski 2025 outlook: The Colts' starting offensive line is poised to have two new starters. The departures of Kelly and Fries are significant even if, in Kelly's case, it was expected. During the final year of Kelly's tenure in Indianapolis, I never got the impression he and the Colts were going to hammer out an extension. Fries essentially priced himself out of Indianapolis' market with a five-year, $88 million deal in Minnesota, so it's not shocking that he moved on, too. Kelly's replacement is presumably Bortolini, a fourth-round pick last year who played well in his five starts, but Fries' replacement is unclear. My guess is that Goncalves, who started eight games combined last year at both tackle spots, would move to right guard. After all, that's what The Athletic's draft guru, Dan Brugler, suggested during Goncalves' pre-draft evaluation. Advertisement 'Goncalves has several skills that will translate to tackle in the NFL, but a move inside to guard as a phone-booth blocker should better accentuate his size, strength and play style,' Brugler wrote last year. In addition to re-signing French and Pinter, I'd expect the Colts to add more depth along its offensive line via free agency and the draft. Plus, if the team doesn't think Goncalves is ready to start at right guard, then it may want to sign a proven veteran in free agency or draft a plug-and-play prospect. Already here: DE Kwity Paye, DE Laiatu Latu, DT DeForest Buckner, DT Grover Stewart, DE Samson Ebukam, DE Tyquan Lewis, DE Durell Nchami, DT Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT Pheldarius Payne Joining: DT Neville Gallimore Leaving: DE Dayo Odeyingbo (Bears) TBD: DT Raekwon Davis (released), DT Taven Bryan 2025 outlook: Don't hold your breath for Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson. The Athletic's Dianna Russini recently reported that the Bengals and Hendrickson are trying to work out an extension to keep him in Cincinnati. Pairing him with former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo, who now holds that same position in Indianapolis, is a fun idea but always seemed like a long shot. On a more realistic scale, I think the Colts must bolster their defensive line depth, especially after Odeyingbo inked a three-year, $48 million with the Bears. His production took a dip last year, but Odeyingbo was still one of the Colts' most reliable — he hasn't missed a game in three years — and versatile defensive linemen. Adding Gallimore, who comes over from the Rams, and cutting Davis isn't enough to reinforce the trenches. Ballard also suggested Ebukam, who missed all of last year with a torn Achilles, could be a vital part of Anarumo's new-look defense. If I had to pick Ballard's worst offseason decision so far, it would be this one. Ebukam will turn 30 in May, and banking on a player his age and his position to come back and be a difference-maker seems foolish. The Colts could create $6.5 million in cap space versus $4 million in dead money by cutting Ebukam. But again, when Ballard spoke at the combine, the vibe I got was that Ebukam wasn't going anywhere. Advertisement Already here: Zaire Franklin, Jaylon Carlies, Segun Olubi, Cameron McGrone, Liam Anderson, Austin Ajiake, Jacob Phillips Leaving: Grant Stuard (Lions) TBD: E.J. Speed 2025 outlook: I expect the Colts to draft a linebacker, a position Ballard has scouted well in the past, and it could happen pretty early depending on how the board shakes out. Indianapolis needs an upgrade next to Franklin, a second-team All-Pro last year, and preferably someone who excels in pass coverage. Franklin and Speed were both exploited across the middle of the field in 2024, which leads me to believe the Colts won't retain Speed. Indy could always turn to Carlies, the former safety turned linebacker, to assume a starting role. However, it would be negligent, in my opinion, to not bring in more competition before simply moving Carlies up the depth chart. Keep in mind that Carlies missed seven games last year due to injury. Stuard is a notable but manageable loss on special teams, so it shouldn't be too tough for the Colts to find a cost-friendly replacement in free agency. Already here: Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Jones, Sam Womack III, JuJu Brents, Alex Johnson Joining/returning: Charvarius Ward, Corey Ballentine, David Long Jr. 2025 outlook: Ward is the crown jewel of the Colts' free agency haul. The 28-year-old has started in three Super Bowls, winning one with the Chiefs during the 2019 season, and 17 playoff games overall. He's coming off a difficult 2024 campaign, which included the death of his 1-year-old daughter in October. Ward said he suffered from PTSD while in California and needed a fresh start. Now that he has a new NFL home, he's eager to shut down any airspace in his vicinity. 'I'm just ready to go out and show that I'm one of the best corners in the game again,' Ward said last week. 'Because the year before that I was (a second-team All-Pro). … A lot of bad things happened last year, and I'm just hungry, and I'm ready to prove myself.' Advertisement Ward brings much-needed experience to a Colts cornerback room that hasn't had much of it in recent years. He immediately takes over as the top outside cornerback, and with Moore manning the slot, that leaves Jones, Womack and Brents to duke it out for the other outside starting spot. Ballard vowed to add more competition to the roster, and Ward's arrival will definitely promote that. Ballentine, 28, offers depth and experience, as well. Already here: Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas II, Daniel Scott, Marcel Dabo Joining: Cam Bynum TBD: Julian Blackmon, Trevor Denbow, Ronnie Harrison Jr. 2025 outlook: Bynum gives the Colts stability on the backend for the first time in years. He'll presumably line up at free safety next to Cross, who will start at strong safety. Bynum's arrival likely means the team won't retain Blackmon. A third-round pick by the Colts in 2020, Blackmon has proven he's a good player, but he hasn't stayed healthy enough to be relied upon consistently. Bynum, on the other hand, hasn't missed a game in three years and is another high-IQ playmaker for Anarumo to utilize. The 26-year-old, known for his choreographed turnover celebrations, has eight interceptions and 28 pass breakups through his first four seasons. 'It's always about the ball,' Bynum said Monday. 'You get graded, you get paid based on how many times you can touch the ball and take the ball away, and that's something I've been able to do in my career.' Already here: K Matt Gay, P Rigoberto Sanchez, LS Luke Rhodes Joining: K Spencer Shrader 2025 outlook: Shrader inked a two-year deal with the Colts, per a league source, and will provide some offseason competition for Gay. Since coming to Indy in 2023, Gay has made just 82.1% of his field-goal attempts during his first two years, compared to 92.5% across his prior three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. All six of Gay's missed field goals in 2024 were from 50-plus yards, so while that isn't ideal, it's hard for me to see the team replacing Gay with Shrader unless Gay really struggles this offseason. Advertisement Shrader started his NFL career with the Colts last year and was 5-for-5 on field goals before he left to kick for the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs during his rookie campaign. However, unlike Gay, he never logged a field-goal attempt of 50-plus yards and can't be trusted to consistently make them either. The date to keep an eye on regarding Gay is June 1, which is when his contract gets interesting. If he struggles a lot in camp, the Colts could release Gay after June 1 and create $4.74 million in cap space versus just $2 million in dead money.
New York Times
11-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Colts free agency takeaways: Let Chris Ballard cook? GM delivers difference-makers on Day 1
Kenny Moore II said it best on Monday: 'It's not a f—king drill,' the Indianapolis Colts cornerback shared via X. What he meant was this: Colts general manager Chris Ballard wasn't messing around on the first day of the NFL's legal tampering period. While the first day of free agency isn't typically a day the Colts GM likes to participate in, he was a changed man Monday. Advertisement And that is exactly what he promised. Ballard vowed he would operate differently in Year 9 of his tenure, and so far, he's kept his word. Rather than sitting by the side of the free-agent pool, Ballard jumped right in and made a pair of splashes. Former Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and ex-49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward are headed to Indy. Neither were second-tier free agents. Neither came at discounts. They're each proven difference-makers with winning backgrounds whom Ballard rewarded with huge contracts to ensure they'd join his franchise. Those moves, which Ballard has typically avoided in the past, speak volumes to what appears to be a change of philosophy. Here's what felt different on Monday and why it matters. Let's start with a trivia question: Before Monday, during Ballard's nine-year tenure, what's the most amount of total money he's ever spent on an outside free agent? Bonus points if you can name the player! A few of you may already know the answer if you read my recent story about Ballard's free agency history. But for those who are unfamiliar, the answer is shocking. It's defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Colts in 2017, Ballard's first year as Indy's GM. He hadn't spent that much on an outsider since, with Monday marking the first time he cleared the $30 million threshold. And not only did he surpass it, he smashed it. Twice. First came Bynum, who agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal, per a league source, to become the team's new starting free safety. Then Ballard went back for seconds, adding Ward on a three-year, $60 million deal with $35 million guaranteed to take over as one of the team's starting outside cornerbacks, according to a league source. 'Don't expect, 'Hey, here's the Colts, and they just spent $400 million on all these different players,'' Ballard warned during his appearance on 107.5 The Fan at the NFL Scouting Combine. Advertisement But what about $120 million on two players? 'There's been times when I wish I would've done just a hair more to get a couple players that we were heavily involved with in free agency,' Ballard continued. 'Maybe if I would've pushed a little bit more financially it would've (sealed the deal). I think that's probably the biggest difference, like, sometimes you just gotta finish it.' That's exactly what he did. Since the end of a disappointing 2024 season, Ballard has hinted that his approach to free agency would be different, and the contrast between last year and this year could not be clearer. Aside from retaining in-house free agents, the Colts' biggest free agent acquisitions in 2024 were two backups: QB Joe Flacco and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis. Neither one was expected to move the needle, and neither one did. Bynum and Ward will be a different story. These aren't bargain-bin players who were discarded by other franchises. They're highly coveted defensive backs, in the middle of their primes, whom Ballard brought to Indianapolis because he believes they'll directly affect winning. Two months ago, he claimed his team wasn't 'close' to being a serious contender. Two weeks ago, he claimed he'd do everything in his power to change that. This isn't everything, but it is as strong of a start as a Colts fan would have dared to hope for. 'As hardheaded as I am … I've looked deeply (at) things I need to change and do, and the proof comes with your actions over time,' Ballard said at the end of the season. 'That's what we're going to do.' Gus Bradley wasn't oblivious. His defense was deteriorating toward the end of the 2024 season, and its performance against the Giants was, ultimately, the nail in the coffin. The Colts surrendered 389 yards of total offense and made journeyman QB Drew Lock look like a first-ballot Hall of Famer. After that embarrassing loss, which eliminated Indianapolis from playoff contention, the now-former Colts DC was asked if he had the right players to execute his style of defense. Advertisement 'Whether they're the best player or the worst player, our job is to make sure each player performs up to their best capabilities,' Bradley said. ' … There's no leg for me to stand on because I just don't think we did a good enough job as coaches to get the most out of our players.' It was kind of Bradley to take the blame, but the truth is that for as bad as the coaching may have been, he never received the kind of personnel upgrades in three years that new DC Lou Anarumo has received in a matter of months. At the end of the 2023 season, Ballard said it was unfair to point the finger at Bradley because the GM didn't give him enough talent to work with. Then, Ballard promptly ignored the team's obvious needs at safety and cornerback, and the Colts defense got carved up again in 2024. Who could have predicted that? The Colts ended up parting ways with Bradley in January, and while it's fair to want a change in DC, it's also fair to question how much Ballard's frugal team-building approach affected Bradley's tenure. Ballard appears to have changed course entirely to fully embrace Anarumo's multifaceted schemes that ask a lot of the secondary. When Anarumo's units were at the peak of their powers in Cincinnati and powering the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Games during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, it was largely because they had veteran safety Jessie Bates III anchoring the back end. 'He's a problem solver,' Anarumo said of his former player. 'He can go get the ball. He's a guy who does a lot of — he checks a lot of boxes. Smart, good tackler, great ball skills, communicates.' You know who else that sounds like? Bynum, the 26-year-old safety who's spent the past two years thriving in Vikings DC Brian Flores' varied schemes. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2022, Bynum has started all 51 regular-season games for the Vikings and played more than 1,000 snaps each of the past three years. He isn't the same caliber of player as Bates, who is a two-time second-team All-Pro, but his experience and production — five interceptions and 19 passes defensed combined over the past two years — will give Anarumo a jump-start on revamping the defense. Ward will be a catalyst, as well. The 28-year-old is coming off the hardest season of his career after missing games due to knee and hamstring issues, as well as taking a leave of absence following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy, in October. Advertisement 'You know, I've got a lot of trauma in California,' Ward said at the end of the season. 'There were great times, but the worst thing that's happened to me — that's probably ever gonna happen to me, knock on wood — happened in California. It just brings back bad memories.' Ward was limited to 12 games and registered seven pass breakups in 2024. But before the injuries and personal tragedy, he was one of the most dominant outside cornerbacks in the NFL. The Colts believe that player is still inside him. Ward delivered a breakout year in 2023 with career highs of five interceptions and a staggering 23 passes defensed — the most ever for a franchise that once featured Hall of Fame defensive backs Deion Sanders and Ronnie Lott. Ward and Bynum won't fix the Colts defense all on their own, but they'll certainly elevate the roster under Anarumo and bring a winning pedigree Indianapolis has lacked amid a four-year playoff drought. Next up on the Colts' to-do list? Making decisions on starting right guard Will Fries and a to-be-determined QB to serve as competition for Anthony Richardson. After Indianapolis' big spending on the first day of free agency, it may not be able to afford Fries, who's projected to land a four-year, $56.5 million deal, per Spotrac. If he's heading out the door, then what's plan B at right guard? Ballard has also claimed he wants to add a 'real' challenger at QB. Daniel Jones is still available, and with several teams having already snapped up their quarterbacks, could his next stop be in Indy? We'll likely find out later this week, but for now, Ballard has earned a bit of trust among a fan base that was surprised by his early aggression. 'Let him cook!' Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said Monday via X as he praised his GM. But one good day in the kitchen isn't enough to satisfy the taste buds of this hungry fan base. Ballard must keep cooking … like his job security depends on it. (Photos of Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum: Mark J. Rebilas and Dan Powers / Imagn Images)
