Dallas, TX
LeBron’s cryptic tweet as ‘significant obstacle’ spoils Lakers’ dream trade and Kyrie reunion
When LeBron James talks, or on this case tweets, all people takes discover.
So, for all we all know, each preseason the Los Angeles Lakers famous person schedules a bunch of nonsensical tweets for random instances all year long understanding chaos will ensue.
The timing of his newest tweet although is simply too good not to have been intentional.
“Possibly It’s Me,” James posted within the wake of the Dallas Mavericks buying and selling for Brooklyn Nets All-Star guard and former teammate Kyrie Irving.
Mon, 06 Feb
Monday February sixth
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If there’s anybody who could be one of the best guess at deciphering that cryptic publish it’s NBA insider Marc Stein, who posed the query of how James might react in his newest e-newsletter on Substack.
“Will LeBron view the Lakers’ lack of ability to amass Irving as a final straw that leads him to push for his exit from Lakerland … or did he maintain again on unreservedly vouching for Irving as a result of the soon-to-be main scorer in NBA historical past knew deep down that nobody actually can?” he wrote.
Stein anticipated the Lakers to strike a three-team take care of the Spurs and Nets that may see Irving reunite with James and Brooklyn get a mixture of veterans and future draft picks.
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There isn’t a concrete reporting at this stage as to how the Lakers responded to the Mavericks’ inclusion of Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith of their commerce provide to the Nets.
Though Stein wrote that “any measure of hesitancy” from L.A.’s aspect to get in a bidding struggle could be “comprehensible” given the luggage Irving brings with him.
For what it’s price, we do know whether or not James thought Irving might assist the Lakers flip their season round and even doubtlessly win a title.
In actual fact, the 38-year-old had provided only one phrase — “Duh” — in response to that query.
However in the meanwhile James will possible need to accept working with what he has acquired, with the Lakers having already traded for Rui Hachimura earlier than this week’s deadline.
L.A. appeared just like the logical vacation spot for Irving when he first demanded a commerce for Brooklyn, opening up the chance for the Nets guard to reunite with James.
‘ALL THIS FOR 74 GAMES’: How NBA superstars’ title dream imploded
The Lakers had been hesitant to half methods with both of its two first-round picks until it was to assist land a famous person who would genuinely vault the franchise into title rivalry.
It’s why they didn’t use both of the picks in a possible deal for Myles Turner or Buddy Hield.
However in response to ESPN’s entrance workplace insider Bobby Marks, even the 2 first-round picks weren’t going to be the slam dunk in commerce talks just like the Lakers could have hoped.
“The 2 first-round picks that the Lakers needed to provide, Russell Westbrook and no matter younger gamers [they could offer] did nothing for the Nets,” he stated.
“Draft picks didn’t do something for Brooklyn primarily based on nonetheless having Kevin Durant on this roster.”
Additional to this, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that there was a “important impediment” within the early levels of talks between the Lakers and Nets.
In keeping with Amick, the Nets have been after a return that included two first-round picks (2027 and 2029) together with Russell Westbrook and two “promising younger gamers”, placing ahead Austin Reaves and Max Christie as examples.
The Lakers have been stated to be doubtlessly prepared to try this however provided that Irving assured to simply accept a two-year, $78.6 million extension as a part of the deal.
That may then marry up his contract with that of James, who’s signed with L.A. by way of the summer time of 2025, with a participant choice within the 2024-25 season.
That’s according to reporting from Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Occasions, who claimed on Sunday that there was rising “pessimism” that the Lakers would efficiently commerce for Irving.
“Irving is anticipated to hunt a four-year most contract, with the Lakers preferring a two-year deal, aligning with the 2 years remaining on James’ deal,” Woike wrote.
The Athletic although stories that Irving, who hits free company this summer time, “has been adamant” about wanting a full, four-year max deal nearing virtually $200 million ($A289m).
ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski additionally reported the Nets most well-liked what the Mavericks needed to provide in three future picks and, crucially, two real beginning choices in Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Finney-Smith is without doubt one of the league’s greatest 3-and-D wings whereas Dinwiddie presents a much-needed choice at guard to alleviate a few of scoring stress on Durant.
Add sooner or later picks and Brooklyn has property it may possibly work with to strike extra offers earlier than the deadline or sustain its sleeve to additionally proceed planning for the longer term.
Put merely, it has the Nets in a snug place the place they need to be ok to nonetheless contend and doubtlessly preserve Durant blissful so he doesn’t request one other commerce.
It’s not all doom and gloom for LeBron and the Lakers although.
Irving might nonetheless stroll away from the Mavericks in free company this summer time and find yourself at L.A.
Stein reported in his newest e-newsletter that L.A. was Irving’s “most well-liked vacation spot” however that one among Nets proprietor Joe Tsai’s “presumed aims” was ensuring he was not traded to the Lakers.
Kyrie Irving drops commerce bombshell | 02:02
As for the place the Lakers might go this season, there’s unlikely to be anybody of Irving’s calibre on the commerce desk, though the Raptors nonetheless stay probably the most intriguing staff to look at ought to they determine to change into sellers on the deadline.
Toronto guard Fred VanVleet, Utah’s Mike Conley, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier and Houston’s Eric Gordon have all been talked about previously month as potential targets.
As Kyle Goon, a Lakers beat reporter put it, the “largest query” for the Lakers now could be whether or not the failed Irving bid might result in any fractions within the locker room — and extra particularly whether or not it might see Westbrook moved on earlier than the upcoming deadline.
Dallas, TX
Game Day Guide: Stars vs Rangers | Dallas Stars
First Shift 🏒
As the Stars swerve down the road that is the 2024-25 season, they are learning to adjust.
Last season, the team rolled out three fantastic lines that stayed consistent for most of the year. Hintz played beside Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski, Duchene centered Seguin and Mason Marchment, and Wyatt Johnston found chemistry with Benn and either Dadonov or Logan Stankoven. It was a formula that drove opponents crazy and led to the best regular-season record in the Western Conference.
But Pavelski retired and Seguin is out 4-6 months following hip surgery, and that creates some challenges. That’s a big hit for a team that could really use some offense.
“With Seguin out of the lineup here and Joe Pavelski retired, that’s 60 goals from last year that are out, so we have to fill that void with other guys,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Other guys have to find a way to score goals. That includes guys that have scored before getting up to the pace that they’ve been on most of their careers and some other guys that we’re counting on to stick some pucks in the net have to do that.”
Robertson has seen his points per game pace go from 0.97 to 0.68. He has previously tallied back-to-back seasons of 40-plus goals but is on pace for 19 this season. Johnston had 32 goals last season and is on pace for 16 this year. Hintz is down from .81 points per game to .63. Benn is on pace for 16 goals in 82 games, that would be the lowest goals per game total of his 16-year career.
So how do the Stars snap out of it?
Well, getting the power play would be a good start.
And getting some line chemistry going would be another.
Bottom line, they have to fight through this.
“We’ve got to find a way, it’s as simple as that,” said Duchene, who is leading the team in scoring. “Whether it’s making adjustments tactically or just getting some swagger in our game. One of the toughest things to do in hockey is to have confidence or swagger when you’re not getting results, and we’ve got to find a way to find that.”
Asked how the team could do that, Duchene said, “For me, you’ve got to enjoy playing the game. I think you’ve got to stick with it and not get frustrated.”
The Stars on Wednesday got goals from Sam Steel, Dadonov and Colin Blackwell, and that’s a great sign. If the depth scoring can chip in, it helps feed the top scorers.
“I think whenever you can put one in, you get a little more pep in your step,” said Steel. “We know there are certain things we are doing when we’re scoring, so we’ve got to try to get back to those habits.”
And that seems the way the team has to do it. It’s how they did it last year, too.
“We don’t have Connor McDavid, or that type of player,” DeBoer said earlier in the season. “Our strength is in our depth, and we have to use that.”
Dallas, TX
Back with the Dallas Cowboys, former Auburn defensive lineman eligible for his NFL debut
A seventh-round draft pick of Dallas on April 27, former Auburn defensive tackle Justin Rogers is back with the Cowboys after spending the first 15 weeks of the 2024 NFL season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dallas signed Rogers from the Bengals’ practice squad, the NFL team announced on Thursday, putting him line to make his NFL debut with the Cowboys during the final three weeks of the season.
“Been keeping an eye on him,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said at his Thursday press conference. “Fortunate to have the opportunity to bring him back. We still consider him one of ours. …
“Obviously, we thought enough of him to draft him, so it’ll be great to get him back into the mix.”
The Cowboys released Rogers when they reduced their preseason roster to the regular-season limit of 53 active players, and he joined Cincinnati’s practice squad for the 2024 season.
Although each NFL team can elevate two practice-squad members to active status for each game, Rogers has not played this season.
Rogers fills the roster vacancy created when linebacker DeMarvion Overshown went to injured reserve with a knee injury.
The Cowboys play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 7:20 p.m. CST Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
Dallas, TX
5-Star WR Dallas Wilson to Request Release from Oregon Paperwork, Sign With Florida
On3 Industry Five-star Tampa Bay (Fla.) Tech wide receiver and Oregon Ducks signee Dallas Wilson is expected to request a release from his Oregon financial affidavit and sign with the Florida Gators, according to a report from Zach Abolverdi.
Abolverdi’s report states that Oregon has until Thursday to respond to his request.
Wilson signed with the Ducks to play for Dan Lanning on December 4 after Florida made a strong push late in his recruitment, hosting him on campus for a late unofficial visit. The coveted pass catcher had been committed to Oregon since January 17, 2023.
Wilson is rated a five-star (97.09 per On3 Industry) prospect. He’s ranked the No. 19 player nationally, the No. wide receiver and the No. 3 player in Florida. As a senior in 2024 he caught 41 passes for 677 yards and 9 touchdowns (according to MaxPreps).
The Florida native was one of three wide receivers to sign with Oregon in the 2025 recruiting class, along with five-star+ plus Duncanville (Tex.) wide receiver Dakorien Moore and four-star Scottsdale (Ariz.) Notre Dame Preparatory wide receiver Cooper Perry.
Oregon is expected to lose wide receivers Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden following the 2024 season. Junior wide receiver Evan Stewart could declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, which would create a larger need at the position for Junior Adams and the Ducks.
Dallas Wilson Highlights
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