Clifford spent his first three seasons at the University of Colorado in the Pac-12, where he played a complementary role. From there, he transferred to Colorado State for the current season and has thrived in a new system as a featured piece. As a 6-foot-6 guard, he understands how to use his frame to his advantage plays a smart brand of basketball that truly impacts winning.
An explosive athlete who can finish at the rim with power or touch, Clifford is more than capable of putting pressure on the rim. He’s also a much improved jump shooter and has been l more effective from beyond the arc and the free throw line this season than in years past. The question will become whether or not NBA teams believe in the one-season sample of improvement.
Clifford isn’t an elite passer, but certainly can facilitate and create for others. At the NBA level, he projects to be a complimentary connector that elevates the offensive with both his scoring and passing. He’s also a really good rebounder for a guard and leverages his height to crash the boards effectively.
On the defensive end, Clifford has quite a bit of upside given his positional size. He also reads opposing offensive players well and is understands how to be an impactful team defender within a scheme. He’s a smart defender that can be disruptive on that end of the floor.
Although he’s spent time at two different schools during his collegiate career, Clifford has been able to stay close to home in Colorado where he grew up. The former four-star and top-100 recruit in his high school class has rounded out his game over the past four years and is ready to make an impact at the NBA level. When he transferred to Colorado State, Clifford said it was because he thought it was a better opportunity for him to showcase his talent and have a shot at the NBA. That’s proven to be a great move.
Potential Second-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave through Aug. 31 as part of Major League Baseball’s ongoing investigation into sports betting, per a league announcement. Clase’s teammate, Luis Ortiz, was the first (and thus far only other) player placed on leave under the ongoing investigation. Clase will continue to be paid while the league looks into any alleged wrongdoing. He will not count against the team’s 40-man roster while on leave. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Clase was being placed on leave shortly prior to MLB’s formal announcement. “The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that as part of their sports betting investigation Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave per an agreement with the Players Association,” the team said Monday in a statement, per Mike Axisa of CBS Sports. “We have been informed that no additional players or Club personnel are expected to be impacted. The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time, and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process as we continue to fully cooperate.” Clase’s name had surfaced as a potential trade candidate this summer, as several contenders around the league have been weighing a run at impact relievers with multiple years of club control remaining. A trade wasn’t seen as likely, given Clase’s below-market contract and general track record of excellence. The 27-year-old has pitched 47 1/3 innings of 3.23 ERA ball this year — a “down” season relative to his lofty standards. The right-hander boasts a superlative 1.84 ERA in 336 2/3 innings over the past five seasons. He’s saved 181 games, fanned just under one-quarter of his opponents, issued walks at a tiny 4.8 percent clip and piled up grounders at an elite 58.5 percent rate. Clase signed a five-year, $20M extension in April 2022. He’s being paid just $4.5M this year and has a $6M guarantee for the 2026 season. His extension included a pair of $10M club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, though he’s already maxed out a series of escalators that have pushed the value of each of those options up to $13M apiece. The news comes as a notable blow to the Guardians’ already-thin postseason hopes. Cleveland is eight games back of the division-leading Tigers and 3.5 games out of an AL wild-card spot (with three teams to leapfrog). They were already without Ortiz, their fourth starter, due to this ongoing investigation and had lost another rotation member, Ben Lively, to Tommy John surgery. Former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber was targeting a June return but has yet to pitch in the majors after a setback in recovery from his own Tommy John procedure — though he’s on a rehab assignment and on the cusp of a return to the majors. Clase’s bullpen-mate, Cade Smith, figures to take over closing duties for the time being. He’s arguably an even better reliever at this point than Clase is, and Smith himself has received plenty of attention on the summer trade market. As with Clase, a deal has been seen as unlikely, given the 26-year-old righty’s four-plus seasons of remaining club control. Depending on how one chooses to view the Clase suspension, it could make a Smith trade more or less likely. Smith now becomes even more of a focal point in the bullpen and all the more critical to whatever playoff hopes Cleveland has left. At the same time, losing Clase further dampens those postseason odds and could make the Guards more willing to turn the page on the 2025 season and focus on the future. Smith should be an integral part of that future, but he could also net a legitimate prospect haul if moved in the next three days, potentially adding multiple long-term contributors to the Guards in 2026 and beyond.
Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most promising players in the NHL, but now he has been called out by David Pastrnak, who stated he lacks humility. After being picked No. 1 overall in 2022 NHL Draft, expectations were high in Montreal for young star Juraj Slafkovsky, and thus far, he's shown glimpses of being the elite level player many expected when he entered the National Hockey League. However, there are still some major steps to go, and in a recent interview, Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak pointed out perhaps one area where the 21-year old may need to improve moving forward. When asked about Slafkovsky and his potential, Pastrnak gave nothing but a glowing review of the young Canadiens star, but he did note that he believes Slafkovsky needs more humility. 'He's still a young player who is gaining experience in the NHL every year. This season it was already clear that he gave the team more than before...He just needs a little more humility, he should set an example for the young ones.' On the ice, there's no doubting that Slafkovsky has the presence, the size and the talent to be a true star, posting 101 total points over the past two seasons, but for whatever reason, it appears as though Pastrnak believes he needs to improve off the ice before he can take a major leap in Montreal. Ultimately, the talent is still there for Slafkovsky, and at 21-years old, he'll continue to learn off the ice, and if he can go anywhere close to living up to the potential that he's shown in his first three years at the NHL level, there's no doubt that he can be a big time star and help lead the Canadiens to significant post-season success.
The Green Bay Packers saw immediate dividends from Josh Jacobs’ signing in 2024, but the player who the former rushing champion’s arrival made expendable is already making waves with his new team. Jacobs figures to play a starring role in the Packers’ offense in 2025, once again, after rushing for 1,359 yards with a career-high 15 touchdowns last season. And, while Green Bay will likely feature former third-round draft choice Marshawn Lloyd in a prominent role, a former Packer appears to be carving a niche for himself elsewhere. Former Packers RB A.J. Dillon Impressing at Eagles Camp Former Packers running back A.J. Dillon began Eagles training camp as a player potentially on the bubble, with few carries to go around behind reigning NFL Offensive Player of The Year, Saquon Barkley, but has been an early standout in Philadelphia. According to Zach Berman of PHLY, Dillon has “caught the attention of the coaching staff,” during the early practices at the NovaCare Complex this summer. Since being chosen by the Packers with the No. 30 overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dillon has logged 597 carries for 2,428 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Eagles signed Dillon to a one-year contract with the Eagles, and he has the chance to be the first back off the bench to give Barkley a spell, or as an insurance policy this season. Despite former second-round draft choice Will Shipley’s presence on the roster, and spot on the depth chart behind Barkley, Dillon could be a legitimate second option in Philadelphia’s backfield.