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The Cavaliers can clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a home win Sunday over the Sacramento Kings. They can also avenge an unexpected loss in Sacramento a few weeks ago.
But the coolest part would be clinching the East. Think about what everyone predicted before the season.
Everyone said the Cavaliers didn’t make enough offseason moves to become a contender — that all they did was hire a coach (Kenny Atkinson). As for the roster, well, head of basketball operations Koby Altman didn’t really mess with it. Instead, the Cavs wanted to bank on the familiarity of the core four: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
But again, all the experts said that wouldn’t be enough. After all, the New York Knicks went out and got Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. And the Philadelphia 76ers added Paul George to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Cleveland didn’t do enough to match, the narrative strongly suggested.
Yet here the Cavaliers are today, 62-15, leading the conference and moments away from clinching the No. 1 seed in the East playoffs. Atkinson will tell you there’s still work to be done, and that is true.
But a great start will soon be capped by a fantastic regular-season finish. And what a remarkable body of work from this year’s Cavs. Fans of this team were able to witness Cleveland sports history in the making.
- Cavs guard Ty Jerome (knee) and Dean Wade (illness) are listed as questionable. That’s an upgrade for Jerome, who has missed the last five games. Wade has missed two. Atkinson said Jerome would be playing if these were playoff games.
- It will be interesting to see how the Cavs approach things once they do clinch the East. They can still beat or tie the franchise-best record of 66-16. I haven’t asked anyone directly, but I don’t think that’s a big goal of the team. Just the sense I’m getting.
Which #Cavs team is your favorite, excluding the title team? #LetEmKnow@AmicoHoops has a few picks you may enjoy.
Find @drinkgaragebeer near you: https://t.co/0hWx2M2P6T. pic.twitter.com/GGqIKJCSAH
— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) April 5, 2025
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Patrick Beverley backs LA Lakers signing to have ‘stunning year’, he’s seen exciting signs
Former NBA star Patrick Beverley believes the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason moves set them up for success. Free agency began with a wobble for the LA Lakers when they lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets. But after fixing the center position with a move for Deandre Ayton, signing Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, the good vibes are coming back. Add in a Mark Walter led takeover and Luka Doncic extending his contract, not even LeBron James’ usual cryptic messages can spoil the mood. Marcus Smart backed to make an impact Amid the changes at the LA Lakers over the summer, the move for Marcus Smart has been tipped as one of the most influential. Former LA Lakers player Patrick Beverley backs Smart to have a major impact for the team. He says he saw signs with how Smart was playing for the Wizards last season that give him confidence, even if many in the NBA world were not paying attention. “Marcus Smart has something to prove,” Beverley began. “People don’t understand past the trade deadline, Marcus Smart was playing some really good basketball with the Wizards. And he has motivation to get a new contract, to get back to the Marcus Smart he knows he is. “I think he’s going to have a stunning year, don’t sleep on the Lakers.” What happened with Marcus Smart in Washington Marcus Smart began last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, but injuries restricted him to only 19 games, and at the trade deadline he was sent to the Wizards. Smart’s role in Washington was important behind the scenes, offering a valuable sounding board for the young team, with the organization tanking. The former Celtics star ended up playing in only 15 games for the Wizards, who were battling to try and land the best chances of top lottery odds. Smart averaged 9.0 points per game, shooting 44.0 percent from the field. Now with the Lakers, he has a little more to fight for, playing for a team in the spotlight who have their sights set on achieving a top playoff seed.
Pros Predict Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev – ‘That’s A Tough One’
UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis will defend his belt against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, with MMA pros weighing in on the matchup. Du Plessis (22-2) has been on a tear, winning 11 straight bouts. After dethroning Sean Strickland at UFC 297, the South African standout defended his crown against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and then turned back Strickland again in a rematch at UFC 312. Chimaev (13-0), despite limited activity since 2023 due to injuries, has made a major impact in his few appearances. Victories over former champion Kamaru Usman and elite contender Robert Whittaker have kept his hype alive. Here is how MMA insiders saw the fight playing out. Predictions “That one is tough. I’m going with Khamzat Chimaev. He seemed like a future champ for a long time, and he finally becomes the champ here,” (Diego Ferreira, UFC lightweight) “I think DDP gets it done. I think he survives the first two rounds and then takes over,” — (Drakkar Klose, UFC lightweight) “I’m going with Dricus Du Plessis. He’s too big a guy and has the gas tank to extend this fight,” (Mario Bautista, UFC bantamweight) “I think Khamzat needs to get DDP out in the first or second round to win. Dricus is a tough out for anyone, and I do think Dricus can survive and then take over and even maybe finish Chimaev late,” (Marcus McGhee, UFC bantamweight) “That’s a tough one. If it goes past a couple of rounds, DDP. I don’t think Chimaev has the gas tank to go all five rounds, but I think DDP survives and defends his belt,” (Davey Grant, UFC bantamweight) “Khamzat by submission. He’s the real deal,” (Steve Garcia, UFC featherweight) “I think Dricus has been a very tough cookie to crack, and grappling is his thing. Even if Chimaev gets him down, his bottom game is good, and I think Du Plessis keeps the belt,” (Eryk Anders, UFC middleweight) “Khamzat Chimaev. He’s not cutting weight, and I think he gets another early finish here to send a statement to the whole UFC,” (Terrance McKinney, UFC lightweight)
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.
The Telegraph detail significant issue as Chelsea look to complete deal for Alejandro Garnacho
Cowboys fans won't like Jerry Jones' update on Micah Parsons standoff
With the regular season approaching, the Dallas Cowboys should be aiming to extend EDGE Micah Parsons promptly. But they're still in no rush to do that. Parsons is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2025 and has requested a trade. Dallas insists it has no plans to move the 26-year-old pass-rusher but hasn't clarified when it will extend him. Giving him a new deal before the regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4 at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock) seems wise. Dallas owner Jerry Jones, however, said that's not the team's deadline, nor does it need one. "No, not at all," Jones said Wednesday, via Jonah Javad of WFAA-TV in Dallas. "You don't have deadlines when you're playing under contract." Parsons is under contract, but that doesn't mean he must suit up. The EDGE could hold out of regular-season games, like former Cowboys star running back Emmitt Smith did in 1993. The Pro Football Hall of Famer missed the first two games of the season before becoming the league's highest-paid RB at that time. Parsons hasn't said whether he would hold out of regular-season games, but it's apparent he's unhappy with where things stand. "My mouth is closed," Parsons said Wednesday while leaving the practice field in Oxnard, California, via Field Level Media. Jones didn't say if talks with Parsons would resume when the Cowboys return to Texas for their second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. The matchup is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The owner still seems confident Parsons will play on the fifth-year option if Dallas doesn't sign him before the start of the regular season. "Again, all you've got to go on are contracts," Jones said. "We are negotiating for a contract. When you do a contract, you would hope that after a negotiation, that's what both the team and player look to see what our obligations are. I have a lot of respect for the contract." Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb played the last years of their rookie contracts. Perhaps Jones wants Parsons to do the same. Still, that would be silly. Paying the four-time Pro Bowler should be a no-brainer for the Cowboys, so they should stop wasting time and show him the money.
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