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- Six players who could succeed Celtics guard as Sixth Man of the Year
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Six players who could succeed Celtics guard as Sixth Man of the Year
The Boston Celtics are promoting Payton Pritchard to the starting lineup. That means that the NBA will have a new Sixth Man of the Year winner. Here are six candidates to succeed Pritchard as SMOY. 1. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves Reid won the award after the 2023-24 season when he averaged 13.5 points and made 41.4 percent of his three-pointers as the Timberwolves' backup big man. After Reid signed a five-year deal to stay with the team, he's clearly a big part of Minnesota's future plans and could continue to play big minutes — he averaged 27.5 minutes last season. That's a lot of opportunity to rack up stats for a team that should be quite good next season. 2. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets Smith is in a similar position to Reid as an overqualified backup big man who can put up points and shoot from outside. He's not as good from three-point range as Reid, but Smith's defense and shot-blocking are better. Smith may not be a starter with Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson locked into the starting lineup and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka interested in using "double-big" lineups with Alperen Sengun playing alongside Steven Adams. But he's going to get a lot of minutes for a very good team, especially if the 22-year-old keeps improving. 3. De'Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers Like Reid, Hunter is a talented young player who would be starting for the majority of NBA teams. He started all but six games of his career before playing in a sixth man role for the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2024-25. Hunter is capable of providing size, athleticism and scoring off the bench — something the Cavs need with super-sub Ty Jerome gone to the Memphis Grizzlies. The biggest impediment to Hunter winning this award is probably the chance that he becomes Cleveland's starting small forward instead. 4. Brook Lopez, L.A. Clippers Brook Lopez has only come off the bench in 40 of his 1,105 career games, but that's his new role as a member of the Clippers. Traditionally, Sixth Man of the Year goes to an offensive player, but Lopez is an elite rim-protector, having finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022-23. Even at age 37, he should be great defensively, and he shot 37.3 percent from behind the arc last season. Especially if the Clippers end up a top team in the Western Conference, Lopez has a real chance at being the oldest SMOY in history, beating out Jamal Crawford, who won at age 36 for the Clippers. 5. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks Alexander-Walker is one of the Atlanta Hawks' prized offseason acquisitions and a player whose combination of tough defense, shooting and ball-handling could make him quite valuable. In fact, he might start on a team that hadn't already used the No. 1 pick in 2024 on small forward Zaccharie Risacher. "NAW" was already one of the NBA's best reserves last season for the Timberwolves, so his bigger role could set the three-and-D wing up for some hardware. 6. Jordan Clarkson, New York Knicks Clarkson already won this award in 2021 with the Utah Jazz in 2021. Now he's in an ideal role with the New York Knicks where his job is simple: come off the bench and get buckets. The Knicks have a new coach in Mike Brown who might actually rest his starters occasionally, with a team that's strong on wing defense and light on wing scoring off the bench. Plus, playing in New York City has never hurt a player's chances of being noticed by the media.
5 unexpected Commanders who shocked everyone at training camp
Training camp is officially winding down for the Washington Commanders, but the hard work is just getting started. Dan Quinn and his accomplished staff are trying to ready their players for some testing challenges ahead. The lingering cloud of Terry McLaurin's contract standoff remains, but there have been some pleasant surprises along the way that represent reasons for encouragement. It has not all been smooth sailing. Washington's lackluster showing in the team's preseason opener against the New England Patriots left a sour taste in Quinn's mouth. The respected coach felt like the standards weren't being met, and he let everyone know about it. And it's better to work out the kinks now rather than during the regular season. Adam Peters and Quinn will have a good indication of what the roster could look like in Week 1. There is still time to alter perceptions for those fighting for their future. But for others who've left a surprisingly good impression, all signs are pointing up. With this in mind, here are five unexpected Commanders players who shocked everyone (for differing reasons) at Washington's training camp this summer. Unexpected Commanders players who shocked everyone at training camp Trey Amos - Commanders CB The Washington Commanders felt like they had a steal on their hands when cornerback Trey Amos was available at No. 61 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adam Peters considered taking the physically imposing defensive back with the No. 29 pick, but went with offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. instead. As luck would have it, the Ole Miss product was still available late in the second. Peters didn't hesitate. And looking at the way Amos has applied himself since joining the Commanders, it's not hard to see why. Dan Quinn and his staff make their rookies earn everything. Whether they are highly touted recruits or undrafted free agents starting from the bottom, everyone gets treated the same. They challenged Amos immediately, giving the player all he could handle. To say it received a positive response would be a huge understatement. Amos has thrived. The Commanders quickly placed him as the starting boundary option opposite Marshon Lattimore in the secondary, and he seized the opportunity with his customary determination. He's not displaying rookie frailties in coverage. He's also more than willing to help against the run, which cannot be said of most cornerbacks who turned out for Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense last season. There was cautious optimism around Amos heading into camp. Now, expectations have gone through the roof. Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB There were several feel-good stories to emerge within the Washington Commanders this summer. Arguably, none were more heart-warming than Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The running back waited a long time before the Commanders came calling at No. 245 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. There's no doubt Croskey-Merritt would have gone much higher, but having his eligibility revoked by the NCAA represented a devastating blow. It was a put-up or shut-up moment for Croskey-Merritt. The player stayed focused and around Arizona's facility to help his teammates. This endeared him to the Commanders during their comprehensive pre-draft assessments, and he's making the most of his big opportunity. Croskey-Merritt is running with the purpose and aggression that saw him take college football by storm. It immediately ruffled some feathers in the running back room, especially considering Kliff Kingsbury began working the rookie into his first-team offense as camp progressed. That is a huge positive for Croskey-Merritt. He's not going to get complacent, but it's hard to ignore the momentum building. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler seem entrenched as the team's starting tandem currently. However, the first-year pro has a shot to become RB3 if the same trend continues over the next fortnight. In this scenario, don't be surprised if Croskey-Merritt features on the offensive rotation sooner than anticipated. Jeremy Reaves - Commanders S The Commanders have always thought a great deal of Jeremy Reaves. He's a respected figure in the locker room and an All-Pro performer on special teams. His energy is infectious, and he's adept at bringing everyone together through the good times and bad. At the same time, Reaves was seen as something of a one-trick pony. The Commanders benefited greatly from his special-teams production, but even the new regime was reluctant to give him opportunities on the defensive rotation. That trend was expected to continue in 2025, but that might not be the case this time around. Joe Whitt Jr. outlined his intent to get Reaves more involved on defense. The coordinator believes that his playmaking ability and instinctive style can be a major asset. He was a man of his word, and the veteran safety is responding positively. Reaves has shone throughout camp. His ferociousness and composure in equal measure have been a breath of fresh air. He's thriving in three-safety sets next to Quan Martin and Will Harris. This is the confidence boost he needed, so expect to see Whitt implement the schematic concept when the situation dictates. Nobody deserves this more than Reaves. Hopefully, this can be the start of bigger things to come. Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB Noah Igbinoghene became something of a forgotten figure in the Washington Commanders' cornerback room this offseason. Two new arrivals with starting credentials, coupled with the return to health of Marshon Lattimore and the ongoing ascension of Mike Sainristil, saw him buried down the depth chart as an afterthought. A big response was needed. Igbinoghene deservedly got a new one-year deal before free agency. He might not ever reach the heights expected as a first-round pick, but his production last season represented a big step in the right direction. The former Auburn standout has put some newly acquired momentum to good use this summer. Not many fans were expecting much from Igbinoghene. However, he's proving his worth not only as a depth piece, but also as someone who can be trusted to log starting reps if needed when the 2025 campaign arrives. Lattimore, Sainristil, and second-round rookie Trey Amos are cemented as the starting cornerback trio. The Commanders will need more if they want to counteract some imposing passing attacks on the schedule, and Igbinoghene is displaying the strides expected. Things looked bleak for Igbinoghene once upon a time this offseason. After improving his consistency and showing the correct resolve in the face of adversity, that's not the case anymore. Ja'Corey Brooks - Commanders WR The Commanders' wide receiver dynamic has been under a cloud throughout the summer. Terry McLaurin is embroiled in a contract battle, with neither side willing to budge. And there are growing concerns that Washington might not have sufficient depth to cope without the second-team All-Pro. Several established veterans are coming in for criticism. However, the reports remain glowing around undrafted rookie Ja'Corey Brooks as he looks for a shocking spot on the 53-man roster. Brooks was a high-priority target for the Commanders once the 2025 NFL Draft concluded. A subpar 40-yard dash time saw his stock slide enough to not hear his name called, but it was evident from early on this offseason that the wideout plays a lot faster. It's not been perfect, but nobody expected it to be. Overall, everyone associated with the Commanders has been pleasantly surprised by Brooks' production and future outlook. He also took this through into a typical game-day setting, bringing in all five of his targets in Washington's preseason opener versus the New England Patriots. Momentum is building around Brooks. At the same time, the Commanders are leaning toward veteran players as Adam Peters embarks on a win-now philosophy. This means it could legitimately still go either way for the Louisville product. More Commanders news and analysis
Big Brawl Ignited By Unexpected Steelers Player As Things Got Heated With Buccaneers
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a joint practice at Acrisure Stadium on Thursday ahead of the two team's second preseason game on Saturday. The game this weekend won't feature a ton of starters from either side, so the scrimmage was the best opportunity to see what the matchup looked like with both team's starters on the field. Unfortunately, local media was not allowed to report much from the practice session, but it did come out that Pittsburgh struggled on defense, and a little brawl broke out between the two sides at one point. Practices ahead of the season always get heated, and while the Steelers were in Latrobe, the team had its fair share of inter-squad brawls. However, things especially get chippy during joint practices. This has been seen around the NFL going on every week, and most of them have some fireworks. That was the case on Thursday for Pittsburgh, as punter Cam Johnston picked a fight with Tampa Bay during a special teams period. A lot of the special teamers for Pittsburgh got in on the action during practice, as Johnston, Christian Kuntz, and Corliss Waitman all got involved in the brawl. It has been said that Johnston was not happy with how close a defender was to hitting his plant leg on a punt, which is not something you want to see, let alone during a practice period. It is definitely understandable why Johnston would have the reaction that he did during practice on Thursday. It is the same exact scenario that ended his 2024 season during the first game of the year. A blocker was rushed back into him while he was punting, and he suffered major damage to his knee that he has spent the last year rehabbing. He does not want an instance like that happening again, especially not during practice. Johnston finds himself in the middle of a position battle with Waitman, who happens to be the player that was able to pull him out of the fight during practice. Both punters will likely have starting jobs somewhere during the 2025 season, with Johnston being the favorite to stay in Pittsburgh. Waitman filled in nicely in 2024, and he has made a name for himself within punting circles in the league. The organization might look to trade one of the punters, which would probably end up being Waitman due to his lower salary. Steelers Seemed To Struggle In Joint Practice With Buccaneers As mentioned, reporting during practice was not allowed on Thursday, but it seems like Pittsburgh struggled when going up against Tampa Bay, especially in the two-minute drill. The defense had issues dealing with the talented wide receiver room of the Buccaneers, and the offense struggled to get anything going outside of a dominant seven shots period. Things are going to need to improve mightily before the regular season begins at the start of September, because after just one joint practice, this team seems like it might be more of the same of what has been seen in years past. Pittsburgh went all-in on winning during the 2025 offseason as it made significant upgrades on both sides of the football. Those upgrades don't seem to be paying off quite yet, but there is still a ton of time for that to change as the organization prepares for its second preseason game of 2025.
Mets' playoff chances in jeopardy after latest tough loss
The New York Mets have been in a slump for a couple of weeks now, and it is putting their playoff chances in some serious jeopardy. After Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets have lost 13 of their past 15 games and have seen a once-comfortable lead in the wild-card race nearly completely disappear. Following Thursday's results, the Mets have the slimmest of leads over the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final wild-card spot in the National League, sitting just 0.5 games ahead of them. It is a stunning reversal from where things were just a little more than two weeks ago. On July 27, the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants to win their seventh game in a row and improve to 62-44 on the season. They were not only six games ahead of the Reds in the playoff race, but they were on top of the National League East (holding a 1.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies) and were just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the National League. Now all of that is gone. As of Thursday night, the Mets trail the Phillies by five games in the NL East, they are 12.5 games back of the Brewers for the top spot in the NL overall and now only have half a game of cushion over the Reds. They also have the St. Louis Cardinals (3.5 back) right behind them and gaining ground. Manager Carlos Mendoza tried to remain optimistic while also acknowledging they are not playing well. The Mets' bats have been a big source of frustration during this slump, but it's not the only issue. The bullpen has also been a major problem, and key trade-deadline addition Ryan Helsley contributed to that on Thursday by giving up two runs in the top of the eighth inning to turn a 3-2 Mets lead into a 4-3 deficit. Whether it is the bats, the arms or the defense causing the problem, the common result remains the same — more losses. Now the Mets find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race, fighting for a spot. It was not that long ago that they seemed to be a playoff lock.
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