Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
FIBA injuries could affect playoff picture
Luka Doncic. SOPA Images

FIBA injuries could affect Western Conference playoff picture

Slovenia faced Greece in a pre-World Cup friendly. The injuries to its NBA players could be far from friendly.

Luka Doncic came up limping near the end of the first half Friday, in Slovenia's second game with Greece this week, after a knee-to-knee collision with Emmanouil Chatzidakis.

The Mavericks' Doncic didn't play in the second half as a precaution, but team officials don't think the injury was serious. There were also reports that Doncic wasn't going to play in the second half anyway, as Slovenia gears up for the FIBA World Cup later this month.

The injury to Denver's Vlatko Cancar looked decidedly worse.

Cancar, who averaged five points while starting nine games for the Nuggets last season, landed awkwardly after a fourth-quarter dunk, falling to the ground and clutching his left knee.

The Nuggets envisioned a larger role for their 26-year-old power forward next season after Bruce Brown and Jeff Green departed as free agents. Cancar played extremely well alongside Nikola Jokic last season, with the Nuggets averaging 125.3 points per 100 possessions when the two shared the court. For comparison, the Sacramento Kings, last year's No. 1 offense, averaged 120.7 points per possession.

Cancar left the arena with his knee wrapped. On the positive side, he was walking under his own power, not on crutches.

He and Team Slovenia and the Nuggets now await the results of his MRI, though teammate Jordan Morgan was optimistic.

If Cancar can't continue, it's a big blow to Slovenia's World Cup hopes. And a slightly smaller blow to the Nuggets hopes of repeating as champions.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

USA Basketball upset by Uruguay at FIBA AmeriCup
NBA

USA Basketball upset by Uruguay at FIBA AmeriCup

The FIBA AmeriCup 2025 in Managua, Nicaragua, has been turned upside down. USA, one of the tournament favorites, was upset by Uruguay, 86-85, on Sunday. After trailing for the majority of the game, USA briefly regained the lead 83-82 with 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Uruguay quickly responded with a mini four-point run to help seal the victory. Former Tennessee Volunteers guard Santiago Vescovi led Uruguay in scoring with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, along with five assists and two rebounds. Langston Galloway led the way for USA with a game-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. The result is significant because after two games in Group A, Uruguay and USA sit in second and third place, respectively, at 1-1. The final games in the group are that much more important now, as USA will face one of the tournament favorites, Brazil (2-0), while Uruguay will face Bahamas (0-2). There are a number of scenarios that could play out depending on who wins these games. For the tournament, the top two teams from each of the three groups will advance to the quarterfinals, along with two of the best third-place teams. Point differential is a big factor in FIBA Basketball, and USA currently has a +/- of +11, so even with a loss to Brazil, it would still be in a likely position to advance to the quarterfinals. The only difference is that it might find itself in a little bit of unfamiliar territory, playing as the "underdog" against a higher-seeded team.

Steelers should pursue one of Aaron Rodgers' former targets to boost offense
NFL

Steelers should pursue one of Aaron Rodgers' former targets to boost offense

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently constructing the team's final roster for the 2025 season, which is one of the toughest decisions for every NFL organization. Players on the edge of rosters are traded from team to team, while other players are waived, allowing clubs to pick them up on the waiver wire. The Steelers will have a chance to do this, but it will be interesting to see what positions the franchise prioritizes before the start of the regular season. Wide receiver is a spot fans want to see upgraded, but the organization could also use some added depth on both sides of the ball. The Steelers could consider picking up many players who were released on Monday and Tuesday. However, there is an intriguing name available at wide receiver, Malachi Corley, a 2024 third-round pick, who was waived by the New York Jets on Tuesday. The Steelers had previously shown interest in him during the pre-draft process last year, but didn't have the chance to select him. Corley had immense potential coming out of college. He played at Western Kentucky, and over four seasons, caught 259 passes for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. His production was consistent, but he had some trouble transitioning to the NFL. It doesn't help that he went to a dysfunctional organization like the Jets, and a part of his release is the fact that a new regime took over in New York An obvious connection between Corley and the Steelers is with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was reported that Rodgers wanted the Jets to draft Corley back in 2024, which likely influenced the organization's decision. He has some familiarity with the young receiver, and that could lead Rodgers to persuade Pittsburgh to bring him in. Corley had a rough rookie season as he struggled even to make it onto the football field, but a change of scenery and a new organization could play a role in helping him improve. Until the first three weeks of the regular season are over, the waiver wire goes in the order of the 2025 NFL Draft. After the first three weeks of the regular season, the standings are updated to reflect the current standings in the NFL. Pittsburgh has the 21st priority on the waiver wire. That means that 20 teams in front of them can submit a claim for Corley, or any other player Pittsburgh may be interested in. That cycle will then repeat itself, and that is how waived players end up on new rosters. Corley still has potential, and one of the 20 teams in front of Pittsburgh could try to grab him.

Texans releasing former Pro Bowl OL
NFL

Texans releasing former Pro Bowl OL

Amid a full-scale offensive line makeover, the Texans are set to move on from a player they took a flier on this offseason. They are releasing Trent Brown, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The 10-year veteran spent the summer on Houston’s active/PUP list, having suffered a torn patellar tendon during what amounted to a brief cameo in Cincinnati. The Texans needed to either activate Brown or send him to the reserve/PUP list. Option C, however, will be used. This will be the first time a team has released Brown. This release comes as Brown was moving toward a recovery from knee surgery, according to Wilson. But he will head back to free agency instead. The 380-plus-pound blocker having suffered a major knee injury during an age-31 season invited questions about his future, but a reunion with Nick Caserio — a Patriots exec when the team traded for Brown in 2018 — provided a lifeline. The Texans gave Brown a one-year, $2.35M deal with $550K guaranteed. Houston will eat only the $550K in dead money. Brown being nearly recovered is certainly notable, as it could lead to another chance given his history as a starter. Brown has made 96 starts, including three to open last season with the Bengals. Brown had spent the previous three years back in New England, after Las Vegas conducted an O-line makeover in 2021 that involved shedding a big-ticket Brown contract. Brown did not live up to the Raiders deal but became a regular again with the Patriots, starting at both LT and RT during his second stint. Brown has been injury-prone throughout his career, and although the former 49ers seventh-round pick operated as the Pats’ full-time LT during their 2018 Super Bowl-winning season, he has played more than 11 games just once since. The Texans also added two more tackles — Cam Robinson, Aireontae Ersery — this offseason. Robinson has emerged as a trade candidate. With Brown out of the picture, Ersery is moving toward the starting LT job (opposite the versatile Tytus Howard) with 2024 second-rounder Blake Fisher then set to be a swing tackle.

Miami Dolphins' Mike McDaniel confirms suspicion regarding former Tennessee Vols standout Jaylen Wright as preseason comes to a conclusion
NFL

Miami Dolphins' Mike McDaniel confirms suspicion regarding former Tennessee Vols standout Jaylen Wright as preseason comes to a conclusion

Current Miami Dolphins running back and former Tennessee Vols standout Jaylen Wright hasn't had the best month of August thus far. A pedestrian performance in the preseason compared to a strong one from Oklahoma State rookie Ollie Gordon II has some on social media calling for the latter to take over as the team's primary backup to starter De'Von Achane. Things took a turn for the worse this past week for Wright during joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wright hobbled off the field with an apparent leg injury and didn't return. It was also enough to keep him on the sideline of the Dolphins' 14-6 win over the Jaguars on Saturday night in the team's final preseason game. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked after the game about Wright's status, and he said Wright is "week to week". Wright's injury appeared to be more than just a very minor tweak or something a player can shake off and keep practicing, as Miami Dolphins beat writer Omar Kelly noted that it "doesn't look good" when he was leaving the field on Thursday. A week-to-week prognosis could be an injured reserve situation to start the season, which we'll know soon enough, as the Dolphins have to cut their roster down to 53 players by Tuesday at 4:00 pm ET. If Wright heads to injured reserve, a decision will have to be made by then. It's an unfortunate update on a player who could have used some momentum at the end of the preseason heading to the start of the regular season. Now, it appears possible he might not even be in uniform for that.