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Celtics legend Danny Ainge helps the Lakers again
Danny Ainge will forever be a Celtics legend, but he may have soured fans in Beantown with his recent transactions.
In 2023, Ainge, the CEO of basketball operations for the Jazz, helped the Lakers offload Russell Westbrook's contract. The trade was so vital that it helped the Purple and Gold make a run to the conference finals.
Two years later, Ainge has done it again, this time setting up the Lakers for not a momentary playoff run but for a decade. When the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Mavericks, the Jazz helped facilitate the transaction by acquiring Jalen Hood-Schifino's contract. However, Ainge was unaware that the Lakers and Mavericks were discussing a deal centered on Doncic and Anthony Davis.
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon, Ainge didn't know the magnitude of the trade "until about an hour before it was completed" and could not renege on the deal at the last minute.
"[Ainge] had about only 30 minutes notice, sources said, that Los Angeles was about to acquire Doncic to be the new face of its franchise. But by then it was too late to do much about it. NBA history was about to be altered."
Given his illustrious history as a Celtic, it's ironic that Ainge has helped the Lakers secure a generational talent in Doncic, albeit inadvertently. Many believe Doncic will help Los Angeles capture a championship within the next few years, much to the dismay of Celtics fans. The Celtics own an 18-17 edge over the Lakers for most NBA titles.
Ainge is the architect of the current iteration of the Celtics, drafting Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
While he'll always be revered in Boston, Ainge better tread carefully if he continues helping the enemy.
Danny Ainge reportedly had no idea he was helping the Lakers land Luka Dončić, and by the time he found out, it was too late for him to do anything about it, per @espn_macmahon
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 3, 2025
“Even the Utah Jazz, the third team that facilitated the transaction by collecting two second-round… pic.twitter.com/t4gy6souG3
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1 final move Los Angeles Lakers must make to complete 2025 NBA offseason
This offseason has been a rather eventful one for the Los Angeles Lakers. And they may not be done making moves yet. Now that they’ve received extra security for their future after Luka Doncic decided to sign a three-year, $165 million extension to stay until at least the 2027-28 season, they could very well be more aggressive when it comes to making moves — especially with LeBron James putting so much pressure on the team to turn the team into a surefire championship contender. At the very least, the Lakers can rest a bit easier knowing that they filled their biggest need heading into the offseason. They badly needed a new starting center after finishing the 2024-25 campaign with the overmatched Jaxson Hayes in the starting lineup, and they got Deandre Ayton at such a bargain contract that it’s difficult to rag them for bringing him in — punctuality and attitude concerns notwithstanding. And then the Lakers also brought Marcus Smart in from the buyout market, although they did lose Jordan Goodwin, a bundle of energy and a hustle guy off the bench, in the process. Smart has been ridiculously injury-prone over the past few years, but he did win the Defensive Player of the Year award just three years ago — so he’s a worthwhile, if risky, flier. As presently, constructed, however, the Lakers may not have enough to win a title. Doncic and James are two of the greatest postseason performers of all-time, but the supporting cast needs work — especially when they lost Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency. In particular, the Lakers need an upgrade at the wing — the final move they must pull off to complete their offseason this year. Should the Lakers bring Andrew Wiggins in? As things stand, the Lakers will presumably be starting Rui Hachimura alongside Doncic, James, Ayton, and Austin Reaves. That looks like a dangerous starting lineup on paper. However, that lineup distinctly lacks a lockdown defender who will take on the best perimeter scorer on the opposing team. Doncic and Reaves are not the sturdiest defensive duo to begin with; the former’s effort comes and goes, and the latter’s size makes him a target for opposing teams to exploit in pick-and-roll situations. James can only do so much now that he’s set to turn 41 years of age in December. Ayton’s motor issues are well-documented. The Lakers’ defense was top-notch last season even after bringing Doncic in thanks in large part to the defensive scheme that head coach JJ Redick deployed. Redick would want to load up the strong side, relying on the Lakers’ fleet-footed perimeter defenders, such as Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Finney-Smith, to cover the ground on the weak side when the opposing offense starts to ping the ball around. Now that the Lakers have more size on the interior, they don’t have to play as frenetic of a defensive scheme. However, the playoffs have shown that you can only have so many weak links on defense if the goal is to win the Larry O’Brien trophy. No, Hachimura is not exactly a defensive weak link. But he’s not exactly the lockdown wing defender that’s going to slow down the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Anthony Edwards. The Lakers will have to upgrade this position — especially if their mind is set on keeping Reaves alongside Doncic and James. The Lakers’ reported interest in Andrew Wiggins should not come as a surprise to anyone. Wiggins has the size of a prototypical and ideal wing in the NBA, and he has a track record of elevating his game in the playoffs. In 2022, Wiggins became his best self, especially on defense, hounding Doncic and Jayson Tatum en route to winning the title with the Golden State Warriors. Since the Lakers believe that they can turn back the clock to 2022 anyway with the addition of Smart, why not make another gamble in the form of Wiggins? Alas, the Miami Heat have reportedly been very difficult to negotiate with, and as such, the Lakers appear to be setting their sights elsewhere. But Wiggins might be the attainable piece at the end of the day, as 3-and-D wings are at a premium in today’s NBA. Rumor has it that the Lakers are saving their resources for the 2027 offseason, when the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell, among others, could hit the open market. But time is of the essence for this Lakers team. If the Heat lower their asking price for Wiggins, then the Lakers should be all over the former champion and All-Star starter.
DK Metcalf makes huge claim about Steelers defense
D.K. Metcalf has faced plenty of steep competition through his first six NFL seasons, both during games and practice, but the star wide receiver has noticed something different in his first training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During an interview with Ian Rapoport and Steve Smith of NFL Network on Sunday, Metcalf discussed some of his first impressions of the Steelers. He spoke about how challenging it has been to go up against cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay every day. When asked how the practice competition compares to what he saw with the Seattle Seahawks, Metcalf made a bold claim about his new teammates. "You don't want my opinion, because I think they're the best defense I've ever seen," Metcalf said. "There's some dogs everywhere on the field, and I tip my hat to them because they come to work every day and we don't have any choice but to get better." There is no question that the Steelers should have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL on paper. While they sent five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in the Ramsey trade, their cornerback trio of Ramsey, Porter and Slay is as talented as any in the league. The Steelers allowed 20.4 points per game last year, which ranked eighth in the NFL. Their pass defense surrendered 228 yards per game, which only ranked 25th. If Metcalf's assessment is accurate, Pittsburgh should show great improvement against the pass in 2025.
25-time Grammy winner's sports agency blasts Jerry Jones for 'comical' comment
The Dallas Cowboys may have 99 problems, and the way owner Jerry Jones handles contract negotiations could be considered a big one. Jones spoke with the media Saturday regarding Micah Parsons' contract situation. The EDGE, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, has requested a trade. The 82-year-old owner clarified the Cowboys have no plans to trade Parsons. While discussing negotiations, Jones took an unprovoked jab at former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and his agent, rapper Jay-Z. "When we have a problem within the team and a player, I don't ever find the agent. He's nowhere to be found," Jones said. "...Jay-Z and I negotiated [Bryant's contract in 2015], spent hours. He said, 'Anybody in my organization is on time.' He said, 'My office used to be on the street corner, and I've always been early. So, they will be on time.' And I said, 'Where do I sign? But I'm going to call you.' Finally, he quit taking my call." The 25-time Grammy winner's sports agency, Roc Nation, took issue with Jones' comment. In a statement released on X Sunday, it denied his claim, calling it "comical." This is yet another example of Jones prioritizing attention when he should be focused on extending two-time first-team All-Pro Parsons. The Cowboys often delay deals for their stars. The team signed Bryant to a five-year, $70M deal in July 2015, just before the deadline to extend players with a franchise tag. Last season, Dallas signed quarterback Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240M contract ahead of its season opener against the Cleveland Browns. The team's procrastination often leaves it paying even more for star players and wastes valuable time. Parsons is still with the team at training camp in Oxnard, Calif., but isn't participating. He likely wants a contract that's similar to that of Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt (three years, $123M). The pass-rusher is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. Jones' methods are one reason the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season. Jay-Z should mention that if he wants to write a single that includes a lyric about the owner.
'Morphed Into A Different Player': Steelers Fans Get Inspiring Update On Key Defensive Piece Heading Into 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for always having a highly capable defense. The expectations for the unit are sky-high heading into the 2025 season as it will be the fourth consecutive year that Pittsburgh is rostering the highest-paid defense in the league. The group is headlined by stars at every level, with some of the most notable being TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey. However, in order to have the best defense in the league, Pittsburgh is going to need to see some of the younger guys stepping up. Someone to keep an eye on is inside linebacker Payton Wilson. Wilson was one of the more exciting picks for the Steelers during the 2024 NFL Draft, and he did not disappoint during his rookie year. He tallied 78 total tackles, an interception, and he also recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Fans are looking for Wilson to have another successful season, which probably includes taking another step forward. Team insider Mark Kaboly has noticed a difference in Wilson while being in Latrobe, which he posted to social media. "You know that big jump that Tomlin talks about from being a rookie to being a second-year player being significant?" Kaboly asked. "It’s real, at least for Payton Wilson, and it's likely not in the area you were expecting. Wilson has morphed into a different football player, more than just on the field. A guy who barely spoke last year, Wilson has been one of the more vocal players on the defense, which already has some big personalities. The trash talking, the vocal leadership, and the intensity have been off the charts through the first week, and it’s been relentless. I can’t admit that we would see that from Wilson this early in his career, but here we are." It seems as though Wilson is trying to take on more of a leadership role during his second season with the team, and he is also trying to make more of an impact with his play. He played well as a rookie, but some fans are expecting him to take a major leap in 2025. This could propel him into Pro Bowl status, or something close. Wilson has been extremely vocal throughout camp, and he has even been taking shots at some of his own teammates in the media. Kaboly has heard him down on the field between the whistle, which is something Pittsburgh needs as a part of its defense. Kaboly believes this is all a result of Wilson being more confident and comfortable in his role. "All that means to me is that he’s much more comfortable in his role – a role where he doesn’t want to come off the field for any reason," Kaboly wrote. During the 2024 season, Wilson played a decent amount, but he only started four total games. Elandon Roberts would usually be the other linebacker next to Patrick Queen when it seemed like a running situation, while Wilson would be on the field in obvious passing scenarios. Wilson wants to be a three-down linebacker in 2025, which is certainly possible. Steelers' Payton Wilson Is Not Lacking Confidence Wilson is flying high heading into 2025, and rightfully so. He has come out and point blank said that he is one of the best coverage linebackers in the world, which is something he will be looking to prove once the regular season kicks off. He is going to need to be a key contributor for Pittsburgh if they want to be the best defense in the league, especially if he plans on being on the field in all scenarios.
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