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Bold predictions for the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season

Bold predictions for the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season

We're about a quarter of the way through the NBA season, so it's time for some bold predictions. Remember folks - these are bold predictions. 

 
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Bold predictions for the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season

Bold predictions for the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

We're more than halfway through the NBA season, so it's time to make some BOLD predictions for the rest of the NBA season. So bold that the defending-champion Nuggets don't even make the Conference Finals and Nikola Jokic doesn't even win the MVP. So buckle up for some eye-opening takes on award winners, standings projections, playoff upsets, and even a little offseason player movement - I just couldn't resist. Enjoy!

Note: Stats are current as of Valentine's Day morning.

 
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The Celtics will be the only team to win 60-plus games

The Celtics will be the only team to win 60-plus games
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics currently have the NBA's best record (42-12) and net rating (plus-9.4). Their starting five - Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday - is the best in the NBA and the core players in that lineup are in their respective primes. And the stats back up the fact that they are an elite unit (plus-11.4 points per 100 possessions). These are all indicators that Boston will win 60-plus games and finish with the best regular season record in the NBA. 

 
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The Clippers will finish with the best record in Western Conference

The Clippers will finish with the best record in Western Conference
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Five games into the James Harden era, the Clippers were 3-7 and looked like a borderline Play-In team. Since then, the Clippers are 32-10 and everything has fallen into place. Kawhi Leonard has played like an MVP. Paul George and Harden have played like All-Stars. Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Russell Westbrook, and the rest of their role players have been excellent. And at the helm of it all is Ty Lue, arguably the best coach in the league. There's no reason to believe this team won't continue its torrid pace the rest of the regular season.

 
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The Kings, Pelicans, Lakers and Warriors will be in the Play-in Tournament

The Kings, Pelicans, Lakers and Warriors will be in the Play-in Tournament
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

These are all pretty dang good rosters - better than most Play-In teams in the past. In fact, there's a good chance that both LeBron James and Steph Curry outright miss the playoffs despite having healthy (thus far), All-NBA-caliber seasons. And the Pelicans and Kings both are well-above .500, so it's pretty surprising to see them in this group. However, there's no chance they surpass the Thunder, Nuggets, T'Wolves, or Clippers, and they're neck-and-neck in the standings with the Suns and Mavericks. 'Tis life in the Western Conference though.

 
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The 76ers, Heat, Bulls and Hawks will be in the Play-In Tournament

The 76ers, Heat, Bulls and Hawks will be in the Play-In Tournament
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulls and Hawks are rudderless organizations that don't belong in the playoffs, so no need to pay them any attention here. The Heat and 76ers, on the other hand, are still stealth Finals contenders given that the Heat have made the Conference Finals three out of the past four years, and the 76ers have arguably the best player in basketball (Joel Embiid) on their roster. Injuries have kept, and will continue to keep these teams in the Play-In mix, but if either or both could get healthy come spring, they'll be a nightmare matchup for their first round opponent. Which is why...

 
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At least one Play-In team will upset their opponent in the first round

At least one Play-In team will upset their opponent in the first round
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, the Heat and Lakers made runs to the Finals and Conference Finals, respectively, from the Play-In. Could we get a repeat this season? It's certainly possible - especially considering both the Heat and Lakers project to be Play-In teams. While I don't think a Play-In team makes that far this season, I do foresee at least one of the teams - whether it's the Heat, Lakers, 76ers, Warriors Pelicans or Kings - upsetting their first round foe. As a matter of fact...

 
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The 76ers will "upset" the Bucks in the first round

The 76ers will "upset" the Bucks in the first round
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

If the 76ers continue to drop down the standings without Joel Embiid, they very well could end up in the Play-In. And if they do, they could find themselves in a first round matchup against the likes of the Celtics, Cavs, Bucks or Knicks. Therefore, what could've been a Conference Finals matchup could end up coming two rounds early. A healthy Embiid can play Giannis Antetokounmpo to a draw. Damian Lillard is obviously a playoff killer, so Philly will have difficulties there, but Tyrese Maxey should be able to feast on Lillard on the other end. A series like this could very well come down to coaching, and I'll take Nick Nurse over Doc Rivers from a tactical standpoint any day. And a second straight first round exit will lead to...

 
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Giannis Antetokounmpo demands trade shortly after the season

Giannis Antetokounmpo demands trade shortly after the season
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo has had an interesting last 12 months, hasn't he? On the court, he's been a maniac, playing every possession like it's his last, even during most regular season games. Off the court, he seems to be on edge and has been a lot more vocal in his displeasure over his coaches. Last spring, he all but said it was time for a change after the team was upset in the first round by the Heat. And earlier this season, he called out his then-coach, Adrian Griffin, (as well as his teammates, and even the equipment manager) publicly in a surprising tirade that preceded Griffin's dismissal weeks later. If his team suffers another postseason collapse, he's going to take a long look at this aging Bucks roster and see if the grass is greener elsewhere.

 
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The Knicks (!!!) will win the Eastern Conference

The Knicks (!!!) will win the Eastern Conference
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

Given that the Celtics are depending on Kristaps Porzingis to remain healthy throughout the playoffs, and the 76ers are depending upon Joel Embiid to return to 100 percent before the playoffs, and the Cavaliers' ugly playoff exit from last season has left a bad taste in my mouth, I suddenly have found myself having a New York state of mind. Since their acquisition of OG Anunoby, the Knicks have been one of the best teams in basketball (12-2 when Anunoby plays). They look to be built for the playoffs too as seen by their eighth-rated offense, eighth-rated defense and sixth-best net rating. New York may not be the best team in the East, but they're probably the deepest team, they grind on defense, and they have an emerging star and go-to guy in Jalen Brunson for late-game situations.

 
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The Thunder will finish with the four-seed...and lose in the first round to the Mavericks

The Thunder will finish with the four-seed...and lose in the first round to the Mavericks
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

This series will spawn a new rivalry: Luka Doncic vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Both are bonafide MVP candidates, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Both are huge guards with unique playing styles. The Thunder are inexperienced, but more talented; the Mavericks are built to complement Luka and have the playoff-Kyrie Irving X-factor. I think this series comes down to which superstar plays better. Give me Luka by the narrowest of margins in another epic first round series.

 
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The T'Wolves will finish with the three-seed...and lose in the first round to the Suns

The T'Wolves will finish with the three-seed...and lose in the first round to the Suns
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Talk about a brutal draw! The T'Wolves and their number one-rated defense will unfortunately run into the one team that doesn't care about their defense, the Kevin Durant and Devin Booker-led Suns. It'll result in an epic first round series of two vastly different styles. Ultimately, the Suns will prevail due to their endless supply of elite shooters players (Durant, Booker, Bradley Beal, Eric Gordon, Grayson Allen) because, in today's NBA, offense wins championships.

 
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The Suns will then dethrone the Nuggets in the second round

The Suns will then dethrone the Nuggets in the second round
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

So long as Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are healthy, the Suns will easily be a contender. They came the closest to beating Denver last postseason, so I don't see why they couldn't beat them this year having added even more offensive weapons around Durant and Booker. While the Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray pick-and-roll will remain unstoppable, something tells me the Nuggets' role players won't come up as big as they did last season when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and others all played their best basketball in the playoffs. These are bold predictions, remembers? So let's imagine a world where Phoenix pulls out a couple of high-scoring, epic games to swing the series.

 
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Dallas will win the Western Conference...and the NBA Championship

Dallas will win the Western Conference...and the NBA Championship
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

That's right! Last season was The Year of Nikola Jokic. This season will be The Year of Luka Doncic. Dallas will avoid the Play-In and finish in the top-six of the Western Conference. From there, they will upset the Thunder in the first round. Then, they'll finally take down the Clippers after coming so close in past postseason affairs. The one team that I don't see them beating is the Nuggets, but the Suns will take care of Denver for them. In the Western Conference Finals, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will have the firepower to hang with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but also the defensive wings and bigs to swing the tide. Last, in the NBA Finals, they'll have, by far, the best player in the series against the Knicks. And you can expect Luka to put up some obscene numbers on his way to Finals MVP and the first of numerous championships for the Luka Legend.

 
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Luka Doncic will win the MVP

Luka Doncic will win the MVP
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

In case you haven't noticed, Luka Doncic is on an absolute heater lately. In his past 30 games, he's averaging 36.4 PPG, 10.5 APG, 9.3 RPG with 49-37-78 shooting splits. He's getting tot the free throw line nearly 11 times a game too. Those are clearly MVP-worthy numbers (and his numbers this season aren't much different)...the question will be where does Dallas end up in the standings? Right now, they're in eighth, but they're only one game out of fifth. If he gets the Mavericks up to the fifth-seed, and continues this torrid pace, he'll win his first MVP award.

 
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The Victor Wembanyama-Chet Holmgren Rookie of the Year race will mirror the LeBron-Carmelo Rookie of the Year race

The Victor Wembanyama-Chet Holmgren Rookie of the Year race will mirror the LeBron-Carmelo Rookie of the Year race
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

This Rookie of the Year reminds me of the LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony race from 2003-04. Both were destined to be great - LeBron was a better overall player and prospect, but on a bad team; Melo was a really good scorer on a playoff team. LeBron ultimately won the award, and rightly so, but it was a great race, and for a while, Carmelo seemed to have the momentum. Fast forward to this season, Victor Wembanyama is in LeBron James' situation and Chet Holmgren is in Carmelo Anthony's situation (albeit even better). Much like 03-04, the better overall player, Wembanyama, will win the award. He's just too damn good - he had a triple-double with blocks the other night for goodness sake!

 
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The Pacers will set the record for the best offensive rating in NBA history

The Pacers will set the record for the best offensive rating in NBA history
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Pacers have the second-fastest pace in the league and will parlay that into the highest offensive rating per 100 possessions in NBA history (current record is held by the 2022-23 Kings, which were at 119.4 points per 100 possessions). After looking as though they'd blow the record out of the water earlier in the season, the Pacers have fallen off slightly as they've tried to integrate Pascal Siakam and work through Tyrese Haliburton's hamstring injury. They currently sit at 120.9 points per 100 possessions, which second behind the 2023-24 Celtics, who are at 121.3 points per 100 possessions. However, I suspect that their offense will get humming again once Haliburton gets back to 100 percent.

 
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In fact, nine teams will finish with top-10 all-time offensive ratings

In fact, nine teams will finish with top-10 all-time offensive ratings
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

118.3 points per 100 possession puts a team in the top-10 all-time for offensive ratings. Right now, the Celtics, Pacers, Clippers, Thunder, Bucks, 76ers, Hawks, Knicks, Suns, Mavericks and Warriors all sit at 118.3 or better (and the Nuggets are at 118.2 points per 100 possessions). I suspect that nine of those teams will finish at or above that mark because offense is as efficient as possible, and the NBA is as offensively-talented as it has ever been.

 
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Jalen Brunson will make First-Team All-NBA

Jalen Brunson will make First-Team All-NBA
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Brunson's Q-rating is about as high as any player's in the entire NBA right now. He's the unofficial mayor of New York, and seems poised to led the Knicks to a deep playoff run despite only making his first-ever All-Star appearance this season. For the year, Brunson is averaging 27.5 PPG and 6.5 APG to go with efficient 48-41-83 shooting splits. And he's currently carrying the team with Julius Randle and OG Anunoby out for extended periods. 

 
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Anthony Edwards will make an All-NBA Team and an All-Defensive Team

Anthony Edwards will make an All-NBA Team and an All-Defensive Team
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Ant-Man is making his leap into superstardom this season, and he's doing it at a high level on both ends of the court. On offense, he's averaging career highs in PPG (26.1) and APG (5.2) to go along with career-bests in all shooting splits (47-39-84). If that weren't enough, he's also one of the defensive catalysts for the team with the best defensive rating in the league, and the top record in the Western Conference. 

 
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The Pistons will not finish with the worst record in the NBA

The Pistons will not finish with the worst record in the NBA
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

When I made my initial prediction earlier this season on Detroit's losing ways, they were in the midst of a 16-game losing streak. I predicted that streak would get into the 20s (it ended at 28), but that they would not finish with the worst record in the NBA. I got half of it right so far, so now let's see if Cade Cunningham and company (currently 8-45) can get them past either Wizards (9-44), Spurs (11-43) or Hornets (12-41). My guess is the Wizards end up at the very bottom when it's all said and done as they have the worst roster in the league in my opinion.

 
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LeBron James will opt out of his contract and sign with the Knicks this offseason

LeBron James will opt out of his contract and sign with the Knicks this offseason
Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Unless the Lakers make another deep playoff run, this offseason is going to be a fascinating one for LeBron James. He has a player option, which means that just about everything will be on the table for him. He's been leaving plenty of breadcrumbs suggesting that he's open to leaving the Lakers in recent weeks - hourglass emoji tweet, saying he doesn't know whether he'll opt-in or not, openly flirting with the Knicks, and having his agent, Rich Paul, smooth things over with the Knicks' front office (Paul broke away from CAA years ago to form Klutch, and his former-mentor, Leon Rose, now runs the Knicks). Adding to that, this week, ESPN reported that the Warriors and 76ers both inquired as to King James' availability at the trade deadline as well. Oh, and there's the Bronny James variable - will he declare for the Draft? Will a team promise to draft him if LeBron signs with them? My guess is the Knicks, having nearly won the title this season, decide to replace Julius Randle with LeBron and bring the King to the Big Apple this summer.

Pat Heery

Pat Heery began his sports writing career in 2016 for The Has Been Sports Blog. He practices real estate law during the day and runs pick & rolls at night. Follow him on Twitter: @pheery12

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Portland Trail Blazers to be sold to Hurricanes owner and pickleball enthusiast
NBA

Portland Trail Blazers to be sold to Hurricanes owner and pickleball enthusiast

A group led by billionaire Tom Dundon, the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, has reached a tentative agreement to buy the Trail Blazers from Paul Allen‘s estate, sources tell Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico. Blue Owl Capital co-president Marc Zahr and co-CEO of Collective Global Sheel Tyle are among the other investors who are part of Dundon’s group, according to Soshnick and Novy-Williams, who say the buyers intend to keep the team in Portland. The Blazers will be valued at more than $4 billion in the sale, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. The Trail Blazers announced their plans to sell the franchise back in May. Allen, the longtime Blazers owner who purchased the franchise for $70M in 1988, died on Oct. 15, 2018, resulting in control of the team being transferred to his sister Jody Allen, the trustee and executor of his estate. The plan following Paul Allen’s death was for ownership of the Blazers to eventually change hands as part of an estate sale, which is the process that’s playing out now. The investment bank Allen Co. (no relation) and the law firm Hogan Lovells were selected to lead the sale of the team. As Soshnick and Novy-Williams note, while the valuation of the Blazers in this tentative deal isn’t yet known, a trust generally has a fiduciary duty in an estate sale to maximize the value of its assets and to sell to the highest qualified bidder. When Sportico last updated its NBA franchise valuations in December 2024, the site estimated the Blazers’ worth to be $3.6 billion. New owners have agreed to buy the Celtics ($6.1 billion valuation) and Lakers ($10 billion valuation) since then. All estate proceeds as a result of the Blazers sale will be directed toward philanthropy, per the late Allen’s wishes. In addition to owning the NHL’s Hurricanes, Dundon has invested heavily in pickleball — he’s the majority owner of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. Dundon, who is also the chairman and managing partner of the Dallas-based investment firm Dundon Capital Partners, will serve as the Blazers’ new governor if and when the sale is officially approved by the NBA, per Sportico’s report.

Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
NFL

Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension

Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.

Steelers' Free Agent Addition Shaping Up To Be A Disappointment After Several Weeks Of Training Camp
NFL

Steelers' Free Agent Addition Shaping Up To Be A Disappointment After Several Weeks Of Training Camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in a ton of new faces throughout the 2025 offseason, as the organization seemed willing to spend a bunch in order to turn the franchise into a true contender. The major additions included players like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Darius Slay, but there were other new guys brought into the fold that should be able to contribute. This includes the majority of the 2025 draft class, as well as smaller free agent additions like Brandin Echols, or even Malik Harrison. Pittsburgh signed Harrison to a two-year deal worth a total of $10 million with just over $4 million guaranteed at signing. He was never going to be one of the primary inside linebackers for Pittsburgh as the organization rosters both Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, but there was some hope he could fill the role of being the run-stopper, similar to Elandon Roberts. Harrison is also expected to play a role on special teams, but insider Mark Kaboly had the newly acquired linebacker listed as a "loser" up until this point in training camp. "The free agent signing from Baltimore is a solid special teamer and a good downhill run stopper, but he didn’t show much in his coverage ability, which will limit how the Steelers can use him," Kaboly wrote. Essentially, Kaboly noticed a lack of versatility up to this point of the summer when it came to Harrison. Unfortunately for Harrison, that is an area where the other inside linebackers in Pittsburgh shine. Wilson and Queen are both able to play a role in stopping the run and can shine in coverage. Cole Holcomb is a reliable tackler who is getting used to playing again after missing the entire 2024 season, and he could wind up being better than Harrison in coverage. Harrison spent five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens where he started 34 games and recorded 174 total tackles. Now, Pittsburgh might be put in a spot where the organization is paying him $3.2 million in 2025 to only be on the field in running situations and special teams. Thankfully, Pittsburgh can get out of the deal following the 2025 season for a dead cap charge of just over $2 million. There is still time for Harrison to move up the ranks at inside linebacker, but he is going to have to put on quite a showing during the team's next two preseason games. Queen and Wilson being the primary starters seems to be set in stone, but Harrison is competing with Holcomb, Mark Robinson, Devin Harper, and Carson Bruener for positioning on the 53-man roster. Pittsburgh kept five inside linebackers on the team in 2024, so Harrison shouldn't be in danger of losing his roster spot. However, the organization certainly wants him to perform better moving forward. Steelers Could Break Intriguing Streak Under Omar Khan's Tenure The inside linebacker position is an interesting spot to analyze when it comes down to who is going to be on the final roster. Queen and Wilson are locks, Harrison probably is as well, but that is it. Holcomb is bouncing back from an injury and carries a cap hit of $3.6 million, and Robinson has been able to make plays on special teams. There is a world where Pittsburgh is going to have to cut seventh-round pick Carson Bruener, which would mark the first time in Omar Khan's time as general manager where the Steelers cut a draft pick. It will be interesting to see how the entire situation plays out, as Holcomb could also be traded for some additional draft capital if he performs well in the last two preseason contests.

Aaron Rodgers shares detail about relationship with Matt LaFleur that Packers fans have known all along
NFL

Aaron Rodgers shares detail about relationship with Matt LaFleur that Packers fans have known all along

Aaron Rodgers' main task this season as a new member of the Pittsburgh Steelers is to master offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offensive philosophy. It's a work in progress throughout training camp, but the veteran quarterback is getting closer to where he wants to be in the regular season. It helps that Arthur Smith's scheme is similar to what Matt LaFleur runs in Green Bay. Smith was a tight ends coach with the Tennessee Titans back in 2018, when LaFleur was the playcalling offensive coordinator there. Throughout his two-decade long career, Rodgers has seen a multitude of schemes and languages. In an interview with the Steelers' official channels, the quarterback shared an interesting detail that Packers fans have imagined since he was still with the team. After an adaptation season between LaFleur and Rodgers in 2019, they created a hybrid version of the offense starting in 2020. That allowed the quarterback to flourish, winning two consecutive MVP awards while leading the Packers to the first seed twice, including an NFC Championship Game appearance. "I think I'm pretty close," Rodgers said when asked about the adaptation to the new offense. "For me, it's about what image comes to mind when I break the huddle. I've got a lot of offenses in my mind. The old school West Coast offense from 2005, Mike [McCarthy]'s iteration from 2006 to 2018, Matt LaFleur's offense in 2019, then the hybrid we ran in 2020 to 2022. After that, Nate Hackett's version in 2023 and 2024, and now Arthur Smith's version. The pictures are starting to crystallize a little better as we get into the third week here." Curiously, the Steelers' quarterbacks coach is Tom Arth, who spent some time as a Packers quarterback alongside Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre back in 2006, but was cut before training camp. After two years with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers is back with a traditionalist franchise in the Pittsburgh Steelers. The training camp at St. Vincent College reminds him of what he experienced during most of his time with the Packers. "I'd say it's a bit of a throwback for me, just because we did this same concept for 14 years in Green Bay. We stayed at St. Norbert's across town, and it gives you the opportunity to really connect with your teammates because there’s nowhere to go, we're stuck here at the dorms," Rodgers explained. "It's been really fun, whether it's playing cards or, I'm not a gamer, but all these kids are video gamers. Just getting to spend time with these guys has been pretty cool." Aaron Rodgers, now 41 years old, signed a one-year deal with the Steelers to have another shot at a ring. He will make $13.65 million as a base salary, and has several incentives tied to playing time, performance, and team results. It might be his final season, so the veteran is making sure to sip every little detail. And some of them remind him of how impactful his time in Green Bay was—for everyone involved.