Sports News Daily

(Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)   The Indiana Pacers are a team on the rise after advancing all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Although the Pacers were eliminated by the eventual champions the Boston Celtics, the season should be considered a success for a franchise that seemed far ahead of schedule. Now entering the offseason, Indiana has the chance to bolster it’s roster some more and make an earnest run at a title when the 2024-25 NBA season tips off. The Pacers already got to work locking down key pieces as they’re set to sign Pascal Siakam to a large extension to keep him in the fold. However, Siakam alone won’t propel Indiana to the top of their conference as they need more 3-and-D wing players to improve their defense. With that in mind, it seems they are targeting sharpshooter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope via Mike Singer of the Denver Post. “The Pacers are a team to watch for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency . Indiana w...

(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)   LeBron James is the most powerful player in the NBA. He has used his unmatched leverage again to get his son, Bronny James, to the Los Angeles Lakers. The fact that he’ll get to play with his firstborn speaks volumes about his work ethic, durability, and the way he takes care of his body. That’s a heartwarming history itself — or it would’ve been if they had handled things better. Now, with James opting out of his contract and reportedly being on the verge of signing a three-year deal to return to the Lakers, there’s a chance that he could get to play with his other son, Bryce. Nonetheless, when asked about that, Bryce didn’t see that happening, as he’s eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft, and James will be 42 years old by then (via Bleacher Report). "Nah … He's gonna be 42, bruh." Bryce James on if he thinks LeBron is going to wait for him to get drafted before retiring (via _justbryce/IG Live) pic.twitter.com/Gja2wFl4C2 —...

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)   The Phoenix Suns are in quite a predicament right now. They have little-to-no wiggle room to find reinforcements, and their roster simply isn’t good enough right now. That’s why most of their efforts to get better have to come from within, and why keeping some of their solid role players is a must. Considering that, the front office is delighted to know that Royce O’Neale isn’t going anywhere. As shown by ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the former Brooklyn Nets forward/center intends to stay in Phoenix. Free agent F Royce O’Neale intends to sign a new four-year, $44 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NaBcMJyiuV — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2024 O’Neale will reportedly sign a four-year pact worth $44 million with the Suns. He’s a versatile and valuable rotational piece for Mike Budenholzer’s team. O’Neale can play both forward spots and some small-ball center. He’s...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   No sooner than the final selection of the 2024 NBA draft was made did the analysis of how teams fared start pouring in. Experts raced each other to determine whose fortunes were vastly improved by their choices during the two-night event, and there obviously was a wide array of judgments. For a notable analyst who also had quite a career in the league, one club emerged victorious from the festivities. Former NBA star Draymond Green told The Volume that the Minnesota Timberwolves won this week’s NBA draft and then explained why. "There’s gonna be some teams that’s gonna regret passing Rob Dillingham" — @Money23Green thinks the Wolves won the Draft pic.twitter.com/dqr525llnu — The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) June 28, 2024 Green revealed, “The reason the Minnesota Timberwolves won the draft is because they drafted their point guard of the future in Rob Dillingham, who I think is a very special player. The former star believes ...

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)   During this year’s two-night draft, dozens of players who graded higher as potential NBA stars were chosen, but none drew nearly the attention of USC’s Bronny James. He will join his legendary father, LeBron James, as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and become the first father-son duo in league annals to suit up together. From the obvious human interest angle to the speculation over what the move accomplishes for the team, it was a fascinating selection that fans could not get enough of. Bleacher Report posted a video via the Lakers social media of GM Rob Pelinka and coach J.J. Redick calling the younger James to inform him that they were selecting him with the 55th pick. And just like that, NBA history was made. JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka call to draft Bronny James What a moment (via @Lakers ) pic.twitter.com/XCJE1IkmO4 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 28, 2024 Pelinka told James he was very impressed with his char...

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)   The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to make changes this summer but they have to decide which ones they want. Paul George has been tied to the team for weeks now but the chances of them landing him have reportedly dwindled. According to Zach Lowe, per NBACentral, both Jerami Grant and Brandon Ingram have been mentioned as potential targets for the Sixers in the offseason. People have mentioned Jerami Grant and Brandon Ingram as potential targets for the Philadelphia 76ers, per @ZachLowe_NBA “People have whispered Brandon Ingram, people have whispered Jerami Grant, neither of those are as exciting to me as Paul George. I don’t know what the hell… pic.twitter.com/MVqzyS7Ixi — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 27, 2024 Lowe noted that neither of these players are as exciting as George but they could still be a huge help for Philadelphia. Ingram is a player most certainly on the move very soon. His time with the New Orleans Peli...

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)   The NBA world was shocked and excited the other day when it was revealed that the Houston Rockets are keen on signing Kevin Durant in the future. They are actively making moves to acquire draft picks to make a future deal happen even though the Phoenix Suns claim they are fully committed to Durant. But according to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, other teams want Durant too. He reported that both the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls have “some level of interest” in Durant. They might all be interested, but will any of them actually land Durant? In addition to the Rockets, Dallas and Chicago also have some level of interest in Kevin Durant, I’m hearing. — Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) June 26, 2024 There is a big difference between having an interest in Durant and actually acquiring him via a trade. If the Mavericks and Bulls want to join the conversation around Durant, they will have to accumulate a lot in exchange ...

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)   One of the key Boston Celtics players from last season was former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis battled through injuries in the postseason to help guide the Celtics to their 18th league championship. Some of the injuries that he battled through in the NBA Finals were a torn retinaculum and a dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, according to insider Ryen Russillo, recently said that Porzingis will miss the start of next season most likely due to the surgery that he will receive for both injuries. Brad Stevens says Kristaps Porzingis will miss the start of next season, per @ryenarussillo . pic.twitter.com/H6pQIE9ygz — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 26, 2024 If every Boston Celtics fan was told that they’d win the title this year but lose Porzingis for the start of next season, they would definitely take it. The Latvian big man is a key player for them but w...

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)   What this NBA Draft class lacks in star power, it might be trying to make up for in trade rumors, as the season just ended yet the stove is absolutely burning after the Mikal Bridges trade last night. Stars could be on the move, and one Golden State Warriors veteran is now seeing his name surface in rumors as the team is going big-game hunting. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported that Moses Moody could be on the move, saying “If a big trade happened, at least one of them is in it. Moses Moody was relatively available at the deadline. They were looking to make smaller moves at the deadline. They were trying to get in on Alex Caruso. It’s possible Moody might have moved in that deal.” Moses Moody could be one of the young players Golden State packages in a trade, per @anthonyVslater “If a big trade happened, at least one of them is in it. Moses Moody was relatively available at the deadline. They were looking to make smaller moves at th...

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)   Unless something shocking happens, it’s the end of the road for Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans. According to Marc Stein, via NBACentral, Ingram has “likely played his last game as a Pelican.” This isn’t very surprising for anyone paying attention to the Pelicans lately. Many analysts have predicted Ingram would be on the move this summer, even though he has done terrific things for the Pelicans during his five seasons in New Orleans. Now everyone is paying close attention to where Ingram lands. Brandon Ingram likely played his last game as a Pelican, per @TheSteinLine “A prominent former All-Star considered more likely to be dealt this week with the draft and free agency converging: New Orleans' Brandon Ingram. It was roughly six weeks ago, back on May 12, that I… pic.twitter.com/nIAoYsvlUL — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 25, 2024 During his years with the Pelicans, Ingram has put up 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds,...

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)   Anyone who claims to know the NBA would be laughed out of the room if they did not acknowledge the greatness of Lebron James. The superstar holds four NBA championships and competed for 10, including a staggering eight in a row. As the current Los Angeles Laker enjoys his offseason preparing for his 22nd campaign, fans were treated to surprising footage that showed the legend honing his skills on the basketball court. Fan site Lakers Vino, per NBACentral, posted a fantastic video showing the superstar engaged in an impromptu slam dunk contest with Obi Toppin. LeBron James x Obi Toppin mini dunk contest ( @ChrisJHoops / h/t @VinoUncorked ) pic.twitter.com/mRdX4DIbLo — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 24, 2024 While Toppin is an athletic power forward for the Pacers who will enter his fifth NBA season this fall, all eyes, of course, were on the iconic James. He threw down some powerful dunks as the two players enjoyed ligh...

  The NFL is one of the ultimate money-making machines, and as such, the players are going to get a bigger chunk of money for as long as the dollars keep coming in. Those new streaming deals come with loads of cash, and this being a quarterback’s league, signal-callers will benefit the most. With that in mind, Rich Eisen asked Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk who could be the first player to average $60 million a year in salary, and he put together quite an interesting list. Who will be the first QB to $60M per year? @richeisen recently asked me that question. Here's the full list of candidates to win that specific race. https://t.co/b6bwhaO3uI — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 23, 2024 First, he chose Dak Prescott, who could leave the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent next offseason or finally sign a contract extension with them. Jordan Love got the nod next, as he’s reportedly pretty close to getting a contract extension with the Green Bay Packers, and he’s alread...

(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)   There was a time when NFL scouts and analysts actually doubted Lamar Jackson. At least, they doubted him as a passer. Some urged Jackson to switch positions and play running back or wide receiver, and he even slipped in the NFL draft. Jackson always claimed that he was a quarterback first and foremost, and even though he was at times a better scrambler and runner than a passer, he repeatedly stated that he liked to be a passer. He’s clearly come a long way from those days. Jackson has put in a lot of work on his passing over the years, and it’s showing. As a matter of fact, he had the highest PFF grade among all NFL QBs last season on intermediate throws — which are throws for 10-19 yards — with 95.5. The best QBs at intermediate passes in 2023 pic.twitter.com/J3IBGFar84 — PFF (@PFF) June 21, 2024 He was followed by Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kirk Cousins. In his first year under Todd Monken, Jackson ...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   Things reportedly aren’t working out very well between the Golden State Warriors and Klay Thompson. According to Anthony Slater, talks between these two are now “essentially frozen” and no offer has been made to retain the four-time champion. “It’s more probable than ever he may leave the only franchise he’s known, regardless of his market,” Slater wrote for The Athletic, confirming that Thompson could be on the move very soon. Talks between Klay Thompson and the Warriors are essentially frozen, per sources. There has been no offer made. It's more probable than ever he may leave the only franchise he's known, regardless of his market. Latest update at @TheAthletic https://t.co/hlj9a7Oa4w — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 22, 2024 NBA fans have been expecting this moment for months now. Even before last season started, there was a big question mark hanging over Thompson’s head. He wasn’t able to agree to a deal with the ...

(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)   The Boston Celtics are celebrating their Finals win on Friday afternoon as they take to the streets of Boston for their massive championship parade. It’s a day to honor this big accomplishment and also make the city proud. According to Bleacher Report, Celtics star Al Horford was wearing a shirt that featured another Boston sports hero. He had on a shirt with a photo of New England Patriots legend Tom Brady. Horford was obviously paying homage to Brady but was also promising Boston that a new dynasty had arrived. Al Horford rocking a Tom Brady shirt at the parade (via @CTabatabaie ) pic.twitter.com/1Llfn1BLJ6 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2024 Brady did amazing things for Boston and all of New England during his years with the Patriots and helped that team become the most dominant one in the NFL. Horford and his Celtics want to do the same thing and they are hoping this isn’t the first championship they win. R...

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)   During the NFL offseason, the media likes to create debates and lists that attract the attention of fans and players alike. CBS Sports’ Peter Prisco recently released his list of top 100 NFL players currently in the league. One great young player who did not make the list is Jets star running back Breece Hall, who recently responded to a group of CBS Sports analysts chatting about his omission. “There’s not 100 people better than me in the NFL,” Hall tweeted. There’s not 100 People better than me in the NFL…. #ChildPlease https://t.co/s6zi5G7p73 — Breece Hall (@BreeceH) June 20, 2024 To say Hall is not one of the league’s best 100 players is a stretch. After having what possibly would’ve been an Offensive Player of the Year-winning season as a rookie in 2022 before blowing out his knee, Hall responded with a big-time season as a sophomore in the NFL. The former Iowa State star, despite falling six yards shy of 1,000 rushing yard...

(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)   The Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to trade for former Bears quarterback Justin Fields earlier this offseason. This came after they signed veteran Russell Wilson to a one-year deal. As the offseason has moved along, Fields has gotten more familiar with the way things work in Pittsburgh but is still set to be the team’s backup behind Wilson. Fields has reportedly struggled during training camp, and Fox Sports’s Colin Cowherd recently gave his take on the former first-round pick. “The ability for a QB to feel the game and see the game. This has been my knock on Justin Fields,” Cowherd said on  The Herd . "The ability for a QB to feel the game and see the game. This has been my knock on Justin Fields." — @ColinCowherd reacts to report of latest training camp struggles pic.twitter.com/ZabyNVW1IW — Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 19, 2024 Fields was not able to succeed in Chicago. It was not entirely his fault bec...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   The Dallas Mavericks ultimately came up short in the NBA Finals and got blown out once again by the Boston Celtics in Game 5 last night, failing in their quest to become the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit. It was a tough ending for an incredible run the team had through the postseason, and former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes that one of the team’s stars displayed a tremendous amount of toughness in the series. Bickerstaff appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio with Brian Scalabrine and Frank Isola and shared how impressed he was with Luka Doncic’s ability to play through pain in the Finals, bringing up how he was taking shots in his ribs and still going out and playing 40 minutes and performed at a high level. Former Cavs coach J. B. Bickerstaff admired how Luka fought thru pain to play in NBA Finals, more specifically that he took “shots in his ribs” to play. Audio from @Scalabrine and @TheFrankIsol...

(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)   The Boston Celtics were shocked and disappointed by their loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. They knew that playing against the Mavericks in Dallas was going to be tough but they didn’t think they’d be defeated in such a powerful way. Now the Celtics have another chance of ending the Finals on Monday night and they need to make the most of it, according to JJ Redick. On his “Old Man & The Three” podcast, Redick said that the pressure is building for the Celtics and they have to capitalize on their talent or else face a very tough road ahead. If the Mavericks can win on Monday night in Boston, the Celtics will be in a truly bad spot, and they could risk giving up a huge advantage. The pressure is building for Boston. Watch the full episode of The Old Man and the Three Things with @jj_redick and @LegsESPN : https://t.co/xmgGK0TXXO pic.twitter.com/gOf20hLEft — TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) J...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)   It was 2009 when one of the more comical NFL collisions took place. Chad Ochocinco Johnson, then a star wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, attempted an ill-advised block on Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson might as well have run into a brick wall as he crumpled to the ground before the image went viral across NFL fandom. Now, Johnson told another former NFL great, Shannon Sharpe, that an errant shoelace and the laws of physics came into play in that noteworthy confrontation. Ray Lewis got lucky Ocho tripped on his shoelace @ochocinco @ShannonSharpe @ShayShayMedia_ pic.twitter.com/fyjaevLSK6 — Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) June 16, 2024 Johnson revealed that “people always laugh at me about that little clip,” but they are missing the complete story. The former receiver explained that, just before making contact with the formidable Lewis, he tripped over his own shoelace. Johnson told Sharpe that, due to t...

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)   To say that this has been an eventful offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals could be a bit of an understatement. Tee Higgins’ situation, in particular, has been a major headache for the fans and the front office. Fortunately for everybody involved, it seems like they’ve finally come to terms with a solution. According to a report by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the talented wide receiver will finally sign his franchise tender. Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is signing his franchise tender today, per source. pic.twitter.com/6JWCExH1MP — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 15, 2024 He had reportedly asked for a trade back in March. His contract negotiations had reportedly stalled, and it seemed like both parties were far apart. Still, he claimed that he wanted to stay with the team and that he anticipated to play for the Bengals in 2024. The Bengals didn’t allow him to hit the free-agent market, placing him under the franchise tag...

(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)   Perhaps the only NFL player more ecstatic about Trevor Lawrence’s staggering $275 million contract extension than Lawrence himself is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. After all, if he is not re-signed by the club before the season begins, he will transition into an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024 campaign and be subject to a tremendous bidding war among league clubs. The bar for NFL quarterbacks is soaring through the roof, and the timing could not be better for the Dallas signal-caller. NFL expert Ari Meirov opined that Prescott “could become the first-ever $60 million per year quarterback,” via The 33rd Team. Dak may be due for the biggest payday of all h/t @MySportsUpdate https://t.co/KWMOKk3TdA pic.twitter.com/06M5qi0chr — The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) June 13, 2024 But the $60 million question is if this gargantuan payday will come in Dallas or elsewhere. Wouldn’t the Cowboys have been better...

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)   Mikal Bridges has really flourished during his time with the Brooklyn Nets. He has averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists since coming to the Nets in the middle of last season. But the Nets have been lacking, which has many people wondering if they will trade away Bridges or others in order to build a better roster. Fred Katz, via Evan Sidery, says that isn’t happening. He reported that the Nets are showing “zero interest” in trading Bridges away and view him as the co-star for “whichever All-Star they can eventually trade for.” The Nets continue to show zero interest in trading Mikal Bridges, per @FredKatz ( https://t.co/YzxiQPeXcq ). Brooklyn’s front office has told teams they view Bridges as the co-star to whichever All-Star they can eventually trade for. pic.twitter.com/cbF6P9MIbg — Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 14, 2024 This is promising news for all Nets fans. First, it shows that Brooklyn is eager to keep B...

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)   In just a matter of days, the Boston Celtics could win their 18th NBA championship, which would be the most by any team in history. At the center of the team are many terrific young players and their trusted head coach, Joe Mazzulla. Speaking with The Athletic, Celtics star Derrick White heaped a ton of praise on Mazzulla. “I think Joe is a basketball genius,” White said, adding, “So whatever he says, I’m going to try to just do it to my highest capabilities.” When Joe Mazzulla was suddenly thrust into the Celtics coaching job, he wanted to alter the formula. He constructed his offense and trusted his players to execute it. He built 𝙈𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡. And it has the Celtics a win away from a title. https://t.co/7BnV7Lk1xR pic.twitter.com/hiANhnr7NR — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 13, 2024 Mazzulla’s career has gone through some tremendous changes over the last several years. He used to be an assistant coach for the ...

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)   The Boston Celtics are two wins away from winning their league-best 18th NBA championship. Even so, no one seems to bat an eye about this, as the team is stacked with talent. That’s also why the fans have been so harsh on Jayson Tatum. The team has found success and Tatum has been doing the little things it takes to win. However, they still criticize him for his shooting woes and scoring numbers. That’s why former NBA player Chandler Parsons came to his defense. Talking on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Parsons claimed that people would’ve been praising Luka Doncic or Nikola Jokic if their teams were up 2-0 in the NBA Finals and they averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game. “If this were Luka, if this were Jokic, we would be praising him how he’s getting his teammates involved, how he’s letting the game come to him. We’re still finding a way to nitpick Jayson Tatum even though [The Celtics] are dominating this p...