Former LA Clippers star Paul George is now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, but there was a chance he could have never hit the open market for Philadelphia to offer him the four-year, $212M deal he ended up signing.

As it was becoming clear that George and the Clippers were too far apart to reach an agreement, LA explored potential opt-in and trade scenarios, but none made enough sense for them to go through with. In a new report from Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, it was revealed that the Denver Nuggets were one of the teams interested in George, and even considered a deal that would have sent Michael Porter Jr. to the Clippers.

“Michael Porter Jr.’s big payday in Denver might not have been as big under this new CBA,” Fischer wrote. “While Porter helped the Nuggets clinch the 2023 championship, Denver already was flirting with the concept of including Porter in a trade to land Paul George this summer, sources said, although his cap number likely would have been too daunting for the CBA-conscious Clippers to have truly considered if George had opted in to be traded.”

As Fischer noted, the Nuggets considered swapping Porter for George, but there is no indication the Clippers would have been open to this, as their future financial flexibility is of utmost importance for roster building.

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Dear Eric: My grandchildren are 23 and 18. I married their grandfather before they were born. I always felt like they were my grandchildren and not step-grandchildren. They have lived with their grandmother (my husband’s ex) because their mother was unable to care for them.

We lived three hours away, but we would take them for weekends as much as we could. We worked full time and their grandmother held much resentment that she and her husband had to give up their retirement years to raise children. We sent money, attended as many events as possible, or were made aware of, paid for extras like trips, car, tuition, etc., but it was never enough.

Through the years, I never received a card, gift, phone call or text on any holiday, or my birthday. My husband got calls and maybe a card. He passed away a few months ago. I made a point to drive to see them over the Christmas holidays, take them to lunch and give them cash gifts (I’m close to 80 years old). I also send cards with cash on days like Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc. I would have to text them to see if they received these cards.

I made a few phone calls right after my husband died, only to have it go to voicemail and then just a text back saying they got my call. I love them dearly, they are the only grandchildren I will have, and they are basically very good kids that have survived a traumatic childhood.

When I am with them, they are loving, full of enthusiasm and say they will keep in touch and maybe even come see me. Then, nothing. I know it is their age; young people are consumed with self and do not think about an old lady, maybe just wanting a call or a text.

Do I continue sending cards with cash? Do I initiate the phone call or text?

— Abandoned Grandmother

Dear Grandmother: My heart goes out to you. I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband and that you’re not getting the support from your grandchildren that you desire.

It’s true what you write: there is a generational lacuna that sometimes keeps young people from seeing the value of their grandparents and other seniors until it’s too late. But you grandchildren are adults and can be responsible for their actions.

With regard to the cards, turn off the ATM, at least temporarily. You’re showing love and care by sending money, but because it’s not reciprocated, it’s become commodified. It’s not your fault, but it’s easy to feel like you’re not getting a return on your investment.

Removing money from the equation will clear the way for you to have a conversation with your grandchildren individually. It doesn’t have to be long or overwrought. Say to them, “I love you and I miss you. I need you to call me once a month” (or whatever cadence feels right to you). “Put it on your calendar. This is the way that you can show me that you value me.”

Hold them to it. Sometimes the best way to show someone that you love them is to say, “This relationship isn’t working for me; here’s how we can make it work together.”

Dear Eric: I got into an argument with my husband and afterward I went into my bedroom to be away from him. My best friend, who was visiting, didn’t ask me how I was doing. Instead, she sat with him in the living room, watching TV, listening to him tell her how I’m no longer the same person and I’ve gone off my rocker etc.

I am extremely upset over the fact that she never came to see me and ask how I was. I feel like she really isn’t a true friend to me.

Since the incident, I have been cordial and have been treating her as an acquaintance rather than a friend.

I am not sure if I should continue our friendship and sit down to try to repair our relationship. How should I proceed?

— Betrayed Bestie

Dear Bestie: Your husband shouldn’t be bad-mouthing you to your friend, especially within earshot. That creates a complicated dynamic for everyone.

But I suspect that the complicated dynamic was probably already in place before you went to your bedroom. It’s very uncomfortable being alone with a couple while they fight. Your friend may have felt trapped.

Reach out to her and let her know about your feelings in order to clear the air. Ask her how she feels about the whole thing. If she felt that she was put into a position she didn’t want to be in, make amends.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

The Rockies said they would pick the best player available in the Major League Baseball draft with the third overall pick.

As it turned out, they just might have landed the very best player in the draft when they selected Charlie Condon, a third baseman/outfielder out of Georgia.

“He’s the kind of guy who has the chance to change the face of the organization,” Danny Montgomery, assistant GM of scouting, said. “(With his) power and the ability to do things defensively, and a little bit of versatility, we were all extremely happy.

“We would have been happy with any of the other four guys we had (targeted), but this guy is really special.”

Condon, 21, began his baseball journey as a tall, skinny kid from Marietta, Georgia, who began his college career as a walk-on and became the highest-drafted baseball player in Bulldogs history.

“It’s been a lot of hard work by myself and hard work by the people around me,” Condon told MLB Network Sunday night. “The thing that I have learned along the way is to trust your own process and be comfortable in your own skin.”

With the first overall pick, Cleveland took Travis Bazzana, a second baseman from Oregon State. In something of a surprise move, Cincinnati picked Chase Burns, a right-handed pitcher from Wake Forest, with the No. 2 pick. A lot of draft analysts predicted that Colorado would draft Burns.

There were other power hitters available with the third overall pick, including Florida first baseman Jac Caglianone, who was drafted by Kansas City with the sixth pick, and Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz, who was picked by Oakland at No. 4. The Rockies were tempted to take both players, but Condon’s polished skills, power, versatility and personality won them over.

“There were some very, very good hitters at the top of this draft,” said Marc Gustafson, Colorado’s senior director of scouting operations. “We broke down all of the attributes they had, so it was tough. It was almost like 1A and 1B, and we went back and forth and debated it.

“But at the end of the day, our history, our scouts’ eyes, the multiple looks we had from a lot of different personnel, we just felt like Charlie Condon was the pick for the Rockies.”

Added Montgomery: “With Caglianone, this was a tough call. This went all the way up until an hour before the draft, and I’m telling you the truth. We banged this back and forth and had private meetings with (GM) Billy (Schmidt).

“In the end, somebody has to finish second and we just felt like (Condon) was our guy.”

Condon dominated college baseball in 2024. He swept the sports’ top awards, including the Dick Howser Trophy as the best collegiate player in the nation and the Golden Spikes Award for the best amateur player at all levels.

He hit 37 home runs, the most by a collegiate player in the last quarter-century and also posted the highest OPS (1.565) in the talent-rich Southeast Conference. He batted .433, walked 57 times and struck out 41.

In the competitive balance portion of the draft, Colorado selected Brody Brecht, a right-handed pitcher from Iowa, with the 38th overall pick. With the 42nd pick, it took Texas outfielder Jared Thomas.

Condon has raw power, with an exit velocity consistently topping 100 mph. With his lanky 6-foot-6-inch frame, he’s drawn comparisons to current Rockies first baseman Kris Bryant, who won a National League MVP with the Cubs in 2016, and current Philadelphia All-Star Alec Bohm. Although Condon has the arm to play third base, he could end up as a corner outfielder.

“I’ve told everybody and told you guys a lot that it’s underrated how good of an athlete he is,” Georgia coach Wes Johnson told reporters recently. “You look at it now, he’s played first, he’s played third, he’s played all three outfield spots now at a high level.”

Condon told MLB Network: “What I want to do is continue to develop my defensive versatility.”

Before Condon received a late walk-on offer to attend Georgia, he planned to play football and baseball at Division III Sewanee University in Tennessee. At the time, Condon was 6-foot-5 and weighed just 196 pounds. He now weighs 216 pounds.

Condon is the first position player the Rockies have selected in the first round since 2021 when the team took outfielder Benny Montgomery out of Redland High School (Pa.). The Rockies took right-hander Gabriel Hughes out of Gonzaga in 2022 and right-hander Chase Dollander out of Tennessee last season. Condon is the 13th position player all-time to be selected in the first round by the Rockies.

Brecht, at 6-foot-4, can throw a 100 mph fastball and has a biting slider. He struck out 128 batters in 78 1/3 innings but also walked 49. A two-sport athlete for the Hawkeyes, Brecht caught nine passes as a redshirt freshman wide receiver in 2022 before giving up football.

Thomas, from Waxahachie, Texas, is a left-handed batter. He hit .336 with 76 RBIs during his two years at Texas. In 2023, he was the Longhorns’ leadoff hitter and mashed 16 homers and was 18 for 18 on stolen base attempts. His .349 batting average led Texas and ranked eighth in the Big 12.

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Originally Published: July 14, 2024 at 6:10 p.m.