On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Celtics have announced that Kristaps Porzingis will be sidelined for five to six months after undergoing surgery for a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg, reports Tim Bontemps of ESPN. His projected recovery timeline means he’ll miss next season's first month or two.
Porzingis wasn’t available for most of the Celtics’ playoff run because of his strained calf in the first-round series against Miami. He was able to return for the start of the NBA Finals but was knocked out of action in Game 2 with an injury that forced him to have surgery. He briefly returned as Boston won the title in Game 5, but he admitted that he probably made his condition worse by playing.
Injuries have plagued Porzingis throughout his career, but he was relatively healthy for most of the regular season, appearing in 57 games and averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29.6 minutes per night. He negotiated a two-year, $60M extension after being traded to Boston last summer and is under contract through 2025-26.
Porzingis’ early-season absence increases the Celtics’ urgency to keep at least one of their backup centers. The team will want to be careful with Porzingis when he does return, along with veteran big man Al Horford, who recently turned 38. Boston holds a $2.2M team option on Neemias Queta, but Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman are unrestricted free agents.
Brian Robb of MassLive suggests the front office should be aggressive on the free agent market to find another big man willing to accept a veteran’s minimum contract, which is all Boston can offer as a second-apron team. He lists former Celtic Daniel Theis as one possibility, along with Mason Plumlee, Andre Drummond and Drew Eubanks.
More must-reads:
- Celtics will likely be without injured Finals hero to start next season
- Celtics president has potentially bad news for would-be draft picks
- The 'Boston Celtics coaches' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
Analyst Believes Kings Will Trade Star Player if They Land Warriors' Young Forward in Free Agency
The Sacramento Kings have been busy this offseason as they have made multiple moves to upgrade their roster to chase a playoff spot in the Western Conference next season. It all started in the 2025 draft for the Kings where they traded into the first round to select Nique Clifford and then used their second-round pick to draft Maxime Raynaud. They then landed Dennis Schroder in free agency via a sign-and-trade deal with the Detroit Pistons to upgrade their starting point guard position. Sacramento has also been linked to many other players in free agency this offseason, including Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga who is a restricted free agent. If the Kings want Kuminga, they will have to acquire him via a sign-and-trade with the Warriors and if they are able to do so, Sactown Sports 1140’s Allen Stiles believes that they will move on from one of their star players. “I believe that there is a handshake agreement between DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings. That is my belief,” Stiles said. “If Jonathan Kuminga is acquired by the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento Kings will get their butts in gear as far as getting DeMar DeRozan to another team.” This is a bold statement by Stiles but one that makes sense since DeRozan and Kuminga play the same position. Of course, DeRozan has been in trade rumors since the end of last season for the Kings but he has not had a large trade market thus far which has kept him on Sacramento’s roster. That may change if they are able to land Kuminga though as they would want Kuminga in their starting lineup which would force them to move DeRozan. If this ends up being the case and Stiles is right, the Kings may not receive a large trade package in return for their veteran forward but it would allow them to open up playing time for Kuminga if they are able to acquire him from Golden State.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Ryan McMahon Only Needed 2 Games With the Yankees to Embarrass Aaron Boone
Only eight plate appearances into his New York Yankees career, Ryan McMahon has already been more productive than the team’s previous third base options. What might sound hyperbolic or outright false at first glance is actually true, at least from a certain point of view. Analytics — specifically, Wins Above Replacement — proves that argument, and it’s one that Yankees manager Aaron Boone should be ashamed of. McMahon went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in Sunday’s victory over the Phillies, giving him four hits in his first eight at-bats. FanGraphs ruled that McMahon is already worth 0.2 fWAR through two games in a Yankees uniform. Amazingly, McMahon has a higher fWAR than the trio of DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Jorbit Vivas, who have played a combined 148 games in the infield thus far. LeMahieu provided -0.1 fWAR over 45 games before being unceremoniously cut earlier this month, while Vivas (-0.2) is currently at Triple-A. Peraza and his -0.6 fWAR remain on the active roster, though he’s shifted into a bench role. Baseball-Reference has been slightly more generous, giving Peraza -0.2 bWAR. Boone stuck with LeMahieu and Peraza until he couldn’t anymore, and it’s partly why the Yankees have dropped to 5 1/2 games back in the AL East. Injuries and age took their toll on LeMahieu, who only played second after returning from calf and hip problems. Peraza owns a .152 average and .452 OPS in 170 plate appearances. We’ll see if McMahon can elevate the Yankees, who open a pivotal four-game set with the rival Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
CBS Sports names Jaxson Dart as NY Giants' Biggest Reason for Hope
Few teams reshuffled their roster more than the New York Giants did this offseason. That can happen when seats are warm, ownership is displeased, and external chatter is relentless. Coaching and scheme design will be essential, but this squad appears to be deeper and more versatile. The makings of a competitive squad are evident, leaving many fans genuinely hopeful for the new campaign. However, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports believes the biggest cause for optimism comes in the form of a player who will not even begin the season on the field. "As exciting as Abdul Carter and his injection along a defensive line that already consists of Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence is, what gives New York Giants fans hope is Jaxson Dart," he writes. "Of course, it's a question as to when we'll actually see Dart with Russell Wilson, likely the Week 1 starter, but he provides hope for a brighter tomorrow and heads to New York with a ton of raw skill." Sullivan alludes to something that everyone knows: the quarterback is king in this league. Yes, teams have won Super Bowls without their signal-caller posting huge numbers, but competency under center is vital. The anguish Giants fans have suffered over the last several years is proof of that. This franchise has stumbled in the absence of a reliable quarterback. There have been a myriad of other problems on both sides of the ball, in the front office and on the sidelines during the last decade-plus, but an effective offensive centerpiece could have probably made at least some difference. It is pointless to lament the past. Dart is allowing the team and fan base to look into the future. Now, he must work hard to ensure that he can validate that optimism and decisively change the trajectory of Big Blue football. Can he do it? Although there are questions about Dart's pocket presence, touch, and ability to adapt to an NFL offense, he has the physical talents and collegiate experience to warrant a fair amount of enthusiasm. The NY Giants trust Jaxson Dart to turn this franchise around The Giants certainly believe in him, as demonstrated by the organization's decision to pull off a trade with the Houston Texans to move back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The No. 25 overall pick particularly impressed head coach Brian Daboll with his preparedness and leadership skills. He also put up pretty good numbers at Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart posted a fantastic 69.3 completion percentage and threw for 4,279 yards last season, which ranked third in the country. The First-Team All-SEC selection recorded 29 passing touchdowns to just six interceptions and totaled 495 rushing yards. While there is no guarantee the 22-year-old's balanced attack will carry over into the NFL, he has the tools and seemingly the right mentality to enjoy a memorable run with the Giants. And that is enough to imbue the Meadowlands with color during training camp and throughout the 2025-26 season. Whether or not Dart leaps over veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the depth chart will depend on multiple factors, with the most important one being his development. Still, New York has at least put together a worthwhile plan. Now, we wait to see how it all shakes out. What happens next with the NY Giants? Find out! Follow and like us on Facebook. Visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos. Want to send a question in for our mailbag? You can do so here.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
