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The beginning of an NBA season is filled with small sample sizes and can lead to some bizarre stats to start the year, but after six games, trends begin to form and numbers begin to even out.
So far, the numbers are clear; Keegan Murray is the Sacramento Kings’ most important player.
Keegan Murray's On/Off Net Rating
— Will Z. Stats (@will_zimmerle) November 4, 2024
On: +14.2 | Off: -24.3 | Difference: 38.5 pic.twitter.com/t4lfLaLym0
When Keegan is on the court, the Kings post a net rating of +14.2. When he sits that plummets to -24.3. For reference, the Golden State Warriors lead the league with a +17.6 net rating, while the Utah Jazz pace the league at -18.3.
Like in previous seasons, the Kings came into the year with limited wing depth, and Keegan is currently averaging 37.7 minutes per game, tied for seventh most in the league.
A big part of the dip in production when Keegan sits is that Trey Lyles has been slow to return to form after injury. Lyles is scoring 3.8 points per game on 25 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Trey’s numbers are sure to come up, but explain the big difference in Keegan’s on/off numbers. With the way the roster is currently constructed, there aren’t many options other than Lyles to spell Keegan.
The great takeaway from the splits is that Keegan has played extremely well to start the year. He’s shooting just 30.8 percent from beyond the arc but has looked aggressive on offense through the first six games.
Pairing that with his improved rebounding, up from 5.5 rebounds last season to 8.0 this year, and his continued growth on defense, it’s easy to see why he has such a big impact on the team's success.
There’s just no one else on the roster who can do all of the things Keegan Murray can do on the court. He’s turned into such a well-rounded player early on in his career that it makes his time off the court so hard to replace.
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Report reveals how hard Warriors tried to trade for LeBron James
The Golden State Warriors have been linked to LeBron James on occasion over the last 18 months, but their interest in trying to trade for the Los Angeles Lakers star may be stronger than has been previously reported. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported this week that the Warriors would likely have some interest in James if the Lakers were ever to entertain a trade. To that end, the Warriors have called the Lakers on “multiple occasions” over the last 18 months to gauge the Lakers’ willingness to trade James. The report adds that there is a strong belief that James and Steph Curry very much enjoyed their time together as teammates during the 2024 Summer Olympics, which is one motivator for Golden State. The Lakers, of course, have not been willing to trade James, even though there were some hints of trouble between the two sides this summer. It is fair to question whether the Warriors would have the resources to pull off such a trade even if it were plausible. It is accurate that the Warriors are likely to be linked to James in any case where he is perceived to be available. Pairing him and Curry together would likely be a result of the Warriors trying to make one last run at a championship during the twilight of Curry’s career.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur Makes ‘Bittersweet Admission After NFL Preseason Win Against Seahawks
With the NFL preseason over, teams across the NFL, including the Green Bay Packers, now face a series of decisions that will lead to the final 53-man roster. The Packers have until Tuesday to trim their roster down to that count. There will be several factors for the Packers to consider before thinning out the roster. Health, depth needs and offseason performances will all go into the equation for Green Bay. In any case, there will be tough news the Packers have to deliver to players, who will eventually not make the final cut. “A lot of decisions have to be made, and this is always a bittersweet time,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters following Green Bay’s 20-7 win at Lambeau Field on Saturday against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, per Ryan Wood of USA Today. Who’s in and who’s out of the final 2025 Green Bay Packers roster? There are plenty of players who are easy calls to be included in the final cut. Quarterbacks Jordan Love and Malik Willis will make it. Running backs Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson should, too. However, MarShawn Lloyd can be expected to be put on the injured reserve, as the oft-injured tailback is dealing with another injury. The wide receiving room should have rookie Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed, but it will be interesting to see whether Malik Heath and Mecole Hardman would make it. The offensive line also gives the Packers some intriguing dilemmas, with Kadeem Telfort and Donovan Jennings seemingly at risk of getting released. The defense doesn’t seem to offer as much complexity, particularly on the defensive line, but Barryn Sorrell’s injury could make things interesting as well.
Browns HC, Shedeur Sanders clear air on controversial benching during two-minute drill
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared to be frustrated with Kevin Stefanski when the head coach took him out for the final offensive drive of Saturday's preseason game. The Browns made a curious decision to put in Tyler Huntley to lead the offense in the final two minutes of their final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field. Huntley, who has almost no chance of making the 53-man roster, engineered a six-play, 46-yard drive that ended in a game-winning field goal to give the Browns a 19-17 win. Following the game, Stefanski was asked about why Sanders approached him before Huntley went in. Stefanski claimed the rookie quarterback was just being a competitor, and there was nothing more to it than that, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Sanders told reporters he didn't know the Browns were benching him for the two-minute drill. "I didn't know I was out, Sanders said via video from ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "I was on a bike that was powering up... I was powering up for that two-minute drive. Because that's just a situation every quarterback dreams for... I thought I was in. So then (Stefanski) told me I wasn't in. I was like, 'Ok.'" Sanders left the game after leading the offense to five straight punts. He struggled in his second preseason appearance, going 3-of-6 passing for 14 yards. The fifth-round pick took six sacks for -50 yards. Sanders didn't want to leave on that low note. The Browns shouldn't have let him. Stefanski should have given Sanders the chance to run the two-minute offense and gain valuable experience instead of giving reps to a player who won't be on the roster by Tuesday afternoon.
Mets manager confirms veteran pitcher done for the season due to 'pretty significant' injury
The New York Mets announced that Frankie Montas has been placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 22) due to a UCL-related injury in his right elbow. Right-hander Huascar Brazoban has been called up from Triple-A to take Montas’ spot on the active roster. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Montas’ UCL injury is “pretty significant,” via Mike Puma of the New York Post. Mendoza went on to confirm that Montas will not pitch again in 2025. It’s the latest setback in what was been a brutal inaugural season for Montas in Queens. The right-hander signed a $34M guarantee with the Mets during the winter but has produced just 38 2/3 innings of work for the team so far. A lat strain suffered at the outset of Spring Training left Montas to open the season on the injured list and he did not make his season debut until June 24. After throwing five scoreless innings in his first start of the year, Montas pitched to a ghastly 7.85 ERA over his next six starts with an 18.2% strikeout rate and a whopping seven home runs allowed. Those brutal results led the Mets to move Montas to the bullpen earlier this month, where he’s surrendered four runs (two earned) on four walks and six hits (including a home run) while striking out just three. Altogether, Montas has posted a 6.28 ERA and a 5.31 FIP during his time with the Mets with an 18.0% strikeout rate and a 7.9% walk rate. It’s a deeply disappointing outcome, and now it’s an open question when Montas will next be available to pitch. The Mets have made no announcements about the right-hander’s timeline for return, nor offered any indications about the severity of the injury. Of course, many fans will wonder about the possibility of Tommy John surgery, which is often required to repair a pitcher’s UCL once damaged. Such a procedure (or even a less invasive internal brace procedure) would likely cost Montas not only the remainder of this year but also the entire 2026 season. With that being said, some UCL injuries are possible to address via rehab. That’s a path that Braves hurler Grant Holmes opted to take earlier this month as he deals with a partial UCL tear, though even Holmes’s rehab process has brought his 2025 campaign to an abrupt end. While the details of Montas’ prognosis and timeline for return won’t be clear until the Mets make an announcement offering more information, the club will be without the right-hander for at least the immediate future. Given the fact that Montas’ performance was poor enough that he was bumped from the rotation earlier this month, perhaps that’s not too massive of a blow. Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson and Clay Holmes remain in the club’s rotation and have recently been joined by top prospect Nolan McLean. Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman remain in the minors already on the 40-man roster as potential depth options behind that group, and well-regarded prospect Brandon Sproat has a 4.24 ERA in 24 starts at Triple-A this year. Replacing Montas on the roster is Brazoban, who began his career in the majors with Miami back in 2022 but has served as an up-and-down relief arm for the Mets this year. It’s a role he’s performed quite well in, with a 3.83 ERA and 4.14 FIP across 51 2/3 innings of work spread between 3 starts and 41 relief outings. Brazoban figures to take up Montas' mantle as the club’s long reliever going forward.
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