Sports News Daily

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)   Russell Westbrook’s time with the Denver Nuggets appears over. The veteran guard delivered solid production during the regular season but faltered when it mattered most in the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With speculation mounting about Bruce Brown’s potential return to the Nuggets, Westbrook’s future with the franchise looks increasingly uncertain. A recent report suggests a championship contender would have interest in the former NBA MVP. “Russell Westbrook has emerged as a potential free agent target for the [New York] Knicks … league sources tell Jake Fischer and me,” insider Marc Stein wrote on X. Russell Westbrook has emerged as a potential free agent target for the Knicks and Al Horford is a top target for Golden State, league sources tell @JakeLFischer and me. LOTS more here in this What We're Hearing compilation as the 6 PM ET bell draws near: https://t.co/bZDtCeAViL pic.twitter.com/sgJ9aSIgjY — Marc Stein ...

(Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)   The Indianapolis Colts already had more than enough motivation to be at their best this season. But after owner Jim Irsay passed away, this is now bigger than football. At least, that’s how Zaire Franklin feels. The linebacker recently talked about how Irsay’s passing has brought the team together, adding that they’re looking forward to honoring him every time they step on the field this season. “With the passing of Jim Irsay, a great man who’s done not only so much for the city, but the state of Indiana, this season, and just honoring his legacy and continuing to bring his dream to fruition, is definitely extreme motivation. It’s one of those things that gets everybody on the same page where everybody is fighting and pulling in the same direction, for the same purpose,” Franklin said, via JPAFootball. 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Colts LB Zaire Franklin says that the team has extra motivation to honor the late Jim Irsay with their play h...

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)   After 10 years in the NBA , Bojan Bogdanovic is hanging up his jersey for good. According to Legion Hoops, Bogdanovic is retiring from the sport after playing for six teams and becoming an important part of multiple lineups. Bogdanovic announced the big news this weekend on social media, revealing that he has been suffering through a foot injury and two surgeries over the last 14 months. BREAKING: Bojan Bogdanovic says he is retiring from basketball pic.twitter.com/xd7d0O0ejB — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 29, 2025 Bogdanovic made it clear that he simply cannot play at the level he once did, which means retirement is his only option. He first got started in the league in 2014-15 after playing overseas in Europe. He began with the Brooklyn Nets, before moving on to the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, and finally the New York Knicks. During his time with the Knicks in 2023-24, he averaged 10.4 ...

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)   The Utah Jazz have started their offseason moves, and everyone is wondering what they will do. They might trade away a few stars, including Jordan Clarkson. But new reporting from Andy Larsen, via NBACentral, said that Clarkson is receiving “next to no interest” on the current trade market. Does that mean he will stay in Utah, or will the Jazz find a suitable and willing trade partner to work with? Jordan Clarkson is receiving ‘next to no interest’ on the trade market, per @andyblarsen pic.twitter.com/2a1aPUSwtp — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 30, 2025 Last season, Clarkson put up 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 40.8 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from the three-point line. That was his sixth season in Utah, where he has become a permanent fixture and an important part of the lineup. Clarkson has been in the league for 11 seasons now and won Sixth Man of the Year back in 2020-21. He’s a proven playe...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   D’Angelo Russell split his time last season between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets , and now he might be on the move again. According to Marc Stein, per Evan Sidery, Russell could be headed to a new team before next season starts, and the Dallas Mavericks are currently viewed as favorites. As expected, Russell would be viewed solely as a “temporary starter” in Dallas, as they await Kyrie Irving to return from his torn ACL. The Mavericks are viewed as the favorites to sign D’Angelo Russell when free agency opens, per @TheSteinLine ( https://t.co/NVgYN571R8 ). Russell would be a temporary starter in Dallas while Kyrie Irving rehabs from a torn ACL. pic.twitter.com/afa0RFSaGw — Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 28, 2025 Russell posted 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists during his time with the Nets in 2024-25. Before that, it was 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists with the Lakers. Russell would love to remain a s...

(Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)   It looks like it is the end of the road for Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Minnesota Timberwolves . After spending multiple seasons with the team, he is heading for the exit, according to new reporting. On X, Jake Weinbach wrote that Alexander-Walker is expected to leave Minnesota in free agency this summer. After the team just signed Naz Reid to a new five-year deal, there is simply no financial flexibility to also include Alexander-Walker. “Alexander-Walker is set to become one of the more sought-after free agents this year,” Weinbach wrote. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is expected to leave Minnesota in free agency as the Timberwolves approach the 2nd apron for a consecutive season after signing Naz Reid to a five-year, $125M deal. Alexander-Walker is set to become one of the more sought-after free agents this year. — Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) June 28, 2025 Last season, Alexander-Walker averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, a...

(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)   The Miami Dolphins have endured two frustrating seasons defined by missed opportunities and injury setbacks. Their 2023 campaign started with promise at 11-4 before falling apart down the stretch. Last season brought more disappointment when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed six games with concussion issues, leading to an 8-9 finish and their first playoff miss under Mike McDaniel. Despite the recent struggles, one former Miami standout remains confident in the team’s potential. Recently retired Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead appeared on FS1’s SPEAK to share his unwavering belief in the Dolphins, especially Tua. “If Tua’s under center every game, there’s not a team that the Dolphins can’t beat… he definitely changes the face of the franchise,” Armstead said. Terron Armstead believes the Miami Dolphins are a playoff team if Tua stays healthy: "If Tua's under center every game, there's not a team that the Dolphi...

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)   The Miami Heat have swung and missed in their pursuit of another star way too many times in recent years. Either Pat Riley is losing his magic, or he’s failing to adjust to the demands of modern NBA teams and stars. Whatever the case, that doesn’t mean they will stop trying. According to a report by Shams Charania of ESPN, the Heat have now set their sights on Jonathan Kuminga. Reporting on the NBA Draft surrounding a potential free agent target for the Miami Heat: pic.twitter.com/qVsK1DpGO5 — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025 They unsuccessfully tried to trade for Kevin Durant, who, despite wanting to play there just like Damian Lillard, will end up suiting up for another team. It goes without saying that Kuminga is no Kevin Durant, but he’s still young and seems to have a sky-high upside and plenty of untapped potential. The Warriors can essentially match any offer that Kuminga gets, since he’s a restricted free age...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   The Utah Jazz just landed two of the most promising players in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. First, they rolled the dice on Ace Bailey, perhaps the most controversial among high-end prospects. Then, they landed Walter Clayton Jr. That’s why Matt Norlander of CBS Sports believes they added the two best tough-shot makers in the entire class. “Utah drafted the two best tough shot-makers in the entire draft,” Norlander said. "Utah drafted the two best tough shot-makers in the entire draft." @MattNorlander breaks down what to expect out of the new Jazz duo in Utah. pic.twitter.com/753MG1fHmV — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 26, 2025 He gushed about both of those players’ abilities to finish through contact and make breathtaking buckets despite having no clear look at the rim. Even so, the Jazz’s draft night didn’t come without risk and controversy. There were multiple reports about Ace Bailey not wanting to play for t...

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)   No one expected the Boston Celtics to make a lot of noise at this year’s NBA draft, but they may be drawing up plans to create a splash. It may not be a hugely productive event for the Celtics, but it could help them out. According to Steve Bulpett, via Legion Hoops, the Celtics are “aggressively” trying to land a lottery pick in the draft. How much luck will they have, and what will they do with it? The Celtics are aggressively trying to land a lottery pick for tomorrow’s draft, per @SteveBHoop pic.twitter.com/lVc9wiPNJf — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 25, 2025 No one knows how successful the Celtics will be in this pursuit of a draft pick, or if they will have any success at all. If they are able to grab a pick, they could turn it into a developing player who could help them over the years, or they could package it together in a trade for a star already in the league. They have a lot of options, based on how things go. The...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   The Sacramento Kings have been on the hunt for a new point guard to help their backcourt, and they may have found the right person for the job. According to Marc Stein, the Kings are “already being painted” as a landing spot for Dennis Schroder when free agency begins. Will Schroder solve their problems, and how long will he remain in Sacramento? The Kings are already being painted as a likely leading suitor for Dennis Schröder when free agency begins, @TheSteinLine has learned. MUCH more on the Kings and MANY trade, free agency and draft matters in this new piece co-scribed with @JakeLFischer : https://t.co/niZqzRShhZ pic.twitter.com/XWls8MSNtK — Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 25, 2025 Schroder has been all over the league recently. Since 2023-24, he has played for the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Detroit Pistons. During his time with the Pistons, he averaged 10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.3 as...

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)   The Toronto Raptors  wanted to land Kevin Durant, but they fell short of their goals. They aren’t done trying to tweak their roster and will keep at it as the offseason gets started. According to Michael Scotto, per Legion Hoops, the Raptors are now “shopping” RJ Barrett. Barrett has done great things since coming to Toronto, so what could he fetch them on the trade market? REPORT: The Raptors are shopping RJ Barrett, per @MikeAScotto (h/t @esidery ) pic.twitter.com/3be6duXnXn — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 23, 2025 Barrett has been with the Raptors since the 2023-24 season. During his time in Toronto, he has averaged 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. The Raptors could turn him into a couple of players or even an A-list star, if they play their cards right. And a Barrett move could be just the first of many coming out of Toronto over the next few weeks. For a while, it seemed like the Raptors’ front office w...

(Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)   Kevin Durant has officially made his move from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, and that could impact the Sacramento Kings . Now that Durant has moved, other teams will turn to the Kings. According to Legion Hoops, teams that pursued Durant and didn’t land him are expected to “pivot” to Malik Monk or DeMar DeRozan. As reported, teams who pursued Kevin Durant and didn’t land him are expected to pivot to Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan pic.twitter.com/has4uuHAUA — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 22, 2025 The teams that were reportedly vying for Durant were the Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, and possibly a few others. Does that mean they will all be picking up the phone to call Sacramento about Monk and DeRozan? DeRozan is a name to watch because he has been talked about as a trade target for several teams, including the Heat. Meanwhile, the Kings are in an interesting position, attempting to determin...

(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)   Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 29 points and 12 assists as his Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, winning the NBA Finals after one of the most amazing regular seasons in years. Gilgeous-Alexander has been incredible since the start of the year, and the numbers prove it. According to ESPN, Gilgeous-Alexander’s average of 32.7 points per game during the regular season is the most in a title-winning season. In fact, he passed Michael Jordan, who averaged 32.6 points per game in 1992-93. SGA averaged 32.7 PPG during the regular season, the most in a title-winning season in NBA history He passes Michael Jordan, who averaged 32.6 PPG in 1992-93. pic.twitter.com/mYwON2wxKK — ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2025 Beating Jordan at anything is a huge accomplishment, and this just cements Gilgeous-Alexander’s status and place in the league. In 2024-25, he led the league in scoring, was named MVP, Western Conference Finals ...

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)   Alex Caruso of the Oklahoma City Thunder was celebrating his Finals win on Sunday night and turning a few heads with his comments. Following the Thunder’s big win over the Indiana Pacers, Caruso said, “Yeah, now I got a real one – now no one can say anything.” This was a reference to this first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, which was won in the bubble in Orlando during the bizarre, unique 2020 playoffs. Following that statement, Caruso hopped on X to add more context and make it clear that he was just joking around. “I had 3 beers already, it’s SARCASM!! -two time,” Caruso posted on X. I had 3 beers already, it’s SARCASM!! -two time https://t.co/coxn1bDpKp — Alex Caruso (@ACFresh21) June 23, 2025 Back in 2020, Caruso was a crucial part of the Lakers’ run through the bubble on the way to their 17th banner. He didn’t stay with the Lakers for much longer and moved to the Chicago Bulls in 2021-22. He was there fo...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   Jalen Green shouldn’t be unpacking his suitcase after moving to the Phoenix Suns . Green was part of the blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, but he will not remain in Phoenix. According to Legion Hoops, the Suns will “look to reroute” Green to another team soon. Why are they doing this, and where could Green go? BREAKING: The Suns will look to reroute Jalen Green to another team pic.twitter.com/qxcNDr8prd — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 22, 2025 There are a lot of possibilities here for both the Suns and Green. He could end up with any number of teams, where he will hope to improve his game and show that he can be a leader after years of inconsistent work with the Rockets. The Suns, meanwhile, have to play this carefully because they are attempting to get the most out of this deal. Green and Dillon Brooks were part of the trade, along with draft picks. By moving Green to another destination, Phoenix ...

(Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)   It’s been a while since the New England Patriots last won a ring. At least, their quarterback now has one of his own. As shown by MLFootball on X, Drake Maye just got married to his lifelong girlfriend, Ann Michael Hudson. Apparently, they’ve been together since they were 12 years old, and they’ve now tied the knot after a decade together. CONGRATS: #Patriots star quarterback Drake Maye got MARRIED today to his longtime girlfriend Ann Michael Hudson. Drake and Ann Michael have been together since the age of 12; now ten years later she is his wife. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Maye! pic.twitter.com/PCFdtj8foM — MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 22, 2025 Notably, this was the perfect time to enjoy these festivities, as the start of the season is just around the corner, and Maye won’t have that much spare time. The Patriots have high hopes and expectations for their second-year quarterback, who showed glimpses of strong play...

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)   The Charlotte Hornets might have a problem with their lead player. On a recent podcast episode, Zach Lowe talked about LaMelo Ball and the negative impact he may be having on his team and their attempts to recruit new talent. “You have some agents who are like, ‘I don’t know if I want to have my guy next to LaMelo Ball. I just don’t know if that’s a good fit for us,'” Lowe said, via NBACentral. "You have some agents who are like, 'I don't know if I want to have my guy next to LaMelo Ball. I just don't know if that's a good fit for us.'" – Zach Lowe (Via @ringer / h/t @HornetsReddit ) pic.twitter.com/Uich4sCvnW — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 20, 2025 Obviously, Lowe wasn’t able to divulge much more than that, so fans still don’t know the specifics or which players across the league have refused to play alongside Ball. Still, this is not good news for the Hornets. Ball averaged 25.2 point...

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)     The Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season went a lot better than most people expected. After all, most sportsbooks projected them to finish well below .500, but they ended up having one of the best records in the NFC. Sam Darnold had the best statistical season of his career, with much thanks to his offensive line and the coaching staff he had around him, but the Vikings couldn’t get it done in the playoffs. Despite being dominant in the regular season, Darnold and his teammates couldn’t get anything going against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round, losing in their first playoff game. This loss certainly stung, and Darnold recently spoke about this and highlighted what happened, as The Athletic via “VikingzFanPage” on X noted. “For lack of a better term, we laid an egg as an offense. And I think for me personally, that sucks… I feel like I could have played way better,” Darnold said. Sam Darnold on how the #Vikings...

(Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)   The Indiana Pacers pulled off a tall task on Thursday night, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder to force the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 2016. Tyrese Haliburton was questionable heading into the game, and while many expected him to have a marginal impact, he ended up scoring 14 points, playing 23 minutes. One might assume that this was the story of the game, but people aren’t talking about his impact as much as Pascal Siakam’s highlight reel dunk. As Legion Hoops showcased on X, Siakam had an emphatic posterizing dunk over Jalen Williams of the Thunder, a bucket that extended their lead to 20 points. PASCAL SIAKAM POSTER OH MY GOODNESS pic.twitter.com/hU5lwq2mMQ — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 20, 2025 Siakam only finished the game with 16 points, as he wasn’t needed much in the second half, given their sizable lead, but he was certainly needed to give the Pacers a hot start. This team showed that they have plenty of...

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)   The Golden State Warriors continue building their championship culture through familiar channels. Steve Kerr has delivered four NBA titles and six Finals appearances during his tenure, compiling a 567-308 regular season record that speaks to sustained excellence. The organization took another step in that direction Thursday by promoting a coach already familiar with their system. “Steve Kerr’s son is the newest member of the Warriors’ NBA coaching staff,” NBA on ESPN shared. Steve Kerr's son is the newest member of the Warriors’ NBA coaching staff. Nicholas Kerr is joining the NBA team’s coaching staff after spending the past two seasons as the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League. pic.twitter.com/sEidvdbNDE — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 19, 2025 Nicholas Kerr earned this promotion after two successful seasons leading Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. The 32-year-old guided the team to identical 20...

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)   Following another disappointing playoff outing, some thought the Pittsburgh Steelers were ready to move on from T.J. Watt. Of course, it wasn’t that the shortcomings were Watt’s fault or that he isn’t a great player. If anything, the pass rusher was their best and most valuable trade chip to kick-start a long-overdue retooling process. The Steelers, however, want no part of that. Instead, they’re now on the verge of breaking the bank to keep Watt around for years to come. According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Steelers are in line to make Watt the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. “Not only is he going to get more than Myles Garrett, [but] I think T.J. Watt’s going to get a nice, strong, healthy deal. I think, at some point in time, the two sides will be able to figure out a way to get this done. I can’t imagine that T.J. Watt wouldn’t be there for the start of training camp. We were with Mike Tomlin last week at man...

(Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)   Year in and year out, the Baltimore Ravens are among the best teams in the NFL. They have an elite roster, a solid coaching situation, and one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been enough to get over the hump. That’s why FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd doesn’t think that asking for more money is in Lamar Jackson’s best interests right now. Instead, he said Jackson should take a pay cut in his next contract extension to make sure the team stays competitive. “When you pay the quarterback big money, it hurts your overall roster. I think Lamar Jackson’s smart enough to figure that out. For Lamar, he’s gotta get that ring. I think he’s an all-time talent. It’s very simple to figure out. You want a better roster? You want better supporting cast? You’ve gotta take a little less money. If you believe you’re an all-time great talent, and I think Lamar is in that class, then money becomes secondary,” Cowherd s...

(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)   The New York Giants put an emphasis on solving their quarterback situation this offseason. They wanted to get Matthew Stafford, but he stayed with the Los Angeles Rams. Then, after considering a run at Aaron Rodgers, they signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson and drafted Jaxson Dart. Given their current situation, perhaps rolling with Dart wouldn’t be the worst idea, even if it comes midway through the season. Unfortunately, that’s not something the Giants brass might be able to afford right now. Analyst Louis Riddick recently said no one but the owner is safe in New York, so the Giants will be under a lot of pressure to get back to the playoffs this year. “Everybody seems to be getting along like it’s summertime, everybody’s in a good mood, but there’s a lot on the line for the Giants. There’s a lot on the line for everyone. Outside of the owner, everyone’s up for review in New York once 2026 rolls around. It’s all fun...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   Over the last few days, the intense attention around Kevin Durant and his future in the NBA has only grown. The countdown to a Durant trade is winding down, and a few teams are still battling to get him. Recently, the Toronto Raptors have become a bigger part of the conversation around Durant. According to Evan Sidery, they are climbing up the standings for potential teams for Durant, via DraftKings Sportsbook. The Miami Heat and Houston Rockets are currently the top teams with +350 odds, while the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Raptors are right behind them with +400. The Raptors continue to climb on @DKSportsbook ’s best odds to trade for Kevin Durant: Heat: +350 Rockets: +350 Spurs: +400 Timberwolves: +400 Toronto: +400 In the past few days, Toronto has moved from +2000 to near-favorites while every other team keeps receiving higher odds pic.twitter.com/oRevNgRPQd — Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 17, 2025 Why ...