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For John Tonje, it's not about how you start; it's how you finish.
The Wisconsin Badgers guard struggled in his first five-on-five scrimmage at the NBA Draft combine, but he redeemed himself in his second and final scrimmage of the event.
After scoring just three points the first time, Tonje tied for the team lead with 17 points on Thursday to go with seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.
John Tonje had 17 pts on 8-15 FG. Showed scoring touch from midrange and attacked closeouts with confidence.
— Cyro Asseo (@CyroAsseo) May 16, 2025
Mackenzie Mgbako added 17 pts and 8 reb. Hit 3 triples, looked confident in pick-and-pop actions, and showed improvement reading help.
He still had trouble connecting from deep, going just 1-of-5 from the three point line, but he was 7-of-10 on all other shots in the scrimmage.
That shooting performance matches what Tonje showcased earlier in the week, lighting up drills with the fifth-best shooting percentage among all participants.
His strong showing should leave a lingering positive impression on NBA scouts who were watching to see how he might separate himself from the competition.
The combine isn't going to skyrocket his draft stock overnight, but it will make teams think twice about how far he could fall on draft weekend.
Great vision and pass execution from RJ Luis Jr here to see the nice backdoor cut from John Tonje pic.twitter.com/YQAn3EKBmt
— Mike O (@coolguy551_) May 15, 2025
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Florida’s 7-foot-9 center tried to play for Gators’ football team
Olivier Rioux has limitless potential on the basketball court by virtue of his height alone, but the Florida center recently tried his hand at a different sport. Rioux worked out for Florida’s football team earlier this week. The 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman took snaps on special teams and tried to use his massive wingspan to block kicks. It did not go very well, however. Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said the school’s football coaches “were a little disappointed,” as Rioux only has an 11-inch vertical. “I like the idea,” Golden said on Thursday, via The Associated Press. “I give them credit for trying it.” Even at 7-foot-9, Rioux apparently learned that you need to be able to jump to block kicks. Fortunately, he should be able to block plenty of shots on the basketball court without needing to leave his feet. Rioux did not play last season, as he took a redshirt year as a freshman. The Canada native still received plenty of attention during Florida’s national championship run because of his height. After the Gators beat Houston, Rioux effortlessly cut down his piece of the net without using a ladder (video here). An insane photo of him standing next to a reporter also circulated all over the internet. Rioux played for the Under-19 Canadian national team this summer. It remains to be seen whether he will make a significant impact for the Gators in his second collegiate season.
Five potential landing spots for Christian Wilkins after stunning Raiders release
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Two Teams Linked to a Trade with Bruins for Pavel Zacha
The Boston Bruins are gauging trade interest in forward Pavel Zacha, according to The Fourth Period. Following a down season and a trade deadline where Zacha’s name was thrown around but was ultimately not moved, Bruins GM Don Sweeney is trying to move the 27-year-old Czech center. Zacha is playing in the final season of a contract that has a $4.75 million cap hit. Zacha, acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2022 for Erik Haula, has been a solid pickup for Boston. He posted 21 goals and 57 points in 78 games in 2023-24, though his production dipped slightly to 47 points over a full 82-game slate last season. He can play up and down the lineup and has a strong two-way game. Who Has Shown Interest in a Zacha Trade? Two teams reportedly monitoring Zacha are the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club. Both teams are seeking top-six forward depth and would value Zacha’s steady offensive contributions. The Canucks have been busy all summer, signing and trading players. They have also been linked to Jack Roslovic talks in free agency, meaning they wouldn’t be adding both. Utah has been looking to make a splash this season and work their way up the standings in an attempt to compete for the playoffs. The Bruins would likely demand a notable return, but neither team is looking to send players back. The trade would likely involve a high pick or a mid-tier prospect. Zacha controls part of the process with an eight-team no-trade list. He’s owed just $3.75 million in actual salary each of the next two seasons, further boosting his trade appeal.
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