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Celtics president has potentially bad news for would-be draft picks
The Boston Celtics have two picks in the upcoming NBA Draft.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens told reporters on Tuesday that whoever the team ends up selecting on Wednesday and Thursday may not end up seeing much playing time during the 2024-25 season.
Stevens added that the team is currently planning on using both of its picks (No. 30 and No. 54) to make selections.
Brad Stevens: “It’ll be hard for any draft pick to crack our rotation when healthy.”
— Souichi Terada | 寺田惣一 (@SouichiTerada) June 25, 2024
The words aren't particularly surprising, especially given the fact that the Celtics are the NBA champions. Not only did they have one of the best and deepest rosters during the 2023-24 campaign, but Stevens and company expect the entire starting lineup (plus sixth man Al Horford) to be back in the fall.
Barring injury or a massive surprise, Boston's backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, plus superstar forwards Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, will all return as starters. It was announced on Tuesday that center Kristaps Porzingis will be undergoing surgery "in the coming days" to address his torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon he suffered during Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
The Latvian missed Games 3 and 4 of the series against the Dallas Mavericks but returned for Game 5. If Porzingis isn't ready for the start of the season, Horford, who was a career-long starter prior to this season, could easily step into the first five.
Beyond those six, who were the six most experienced players on the roster, Boston had 28-year-old center Luke Kornet, buzzer-beater master Payton Pritchard and sharpshooting small forward Sam Hauser earning the bulk of its bench minutes.
Notably, the Celtics' two rookies (Jordan Walsh and Drew Peterson) played just nine and three regular-season games, respectively, for the top team in the NBA. Walsh appeared in just three playoff contests, while Peterson didn't see the court in the postseason.
The last Boston rookie to have a significant role was Pritchard, who played in a team-high 66 games during his debut 2020-21 campaign, averaging 7.7 points and 19.2 minutes.
More must-reads:
- A 2024 offseason preview for the Boston Celtics
- Celtics must find a way to replace Oshae Brissett
- The 'Boston Celtics coaches' quiz
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Are Jazz finally ready to part ways with All-Star forward?
The Utah Jazz's rebuilding project feels like it’s accelerating, and moving Lauri Markkanen might be the next domino to fall. Guard Collin Sexton was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in late June, forward John Collins exercised his $26.5M player option and was subsequently flipped to the L.A. Clippers in a three‑team deal and guard Jordan Clarkson was cut. They also drafted Ace Bailey with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, signaling they are pressing forward with youth and flexibility as cornerstones of their plan. Just one year ago, Utah eyed moving Markkanen, who was linked to the Golden State Warriors last summer, but ultimately decided to re-sign him to a five-year, $238M extension, making him essentially untradeable for the 2024-25 season. That deal set the stage for where things stand today: a large contract paired with declining production. His 2024-25 season was underwhelming by his standards. Across 47 games — he missed time due to both a shoulder injury and the team tanking — Markkanen averaged just 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 42.3% shooting, including 34.6% from three-point range. Those numbers represent a drop from his previous production, and Utah missed the playoffs entirely with just 17 wins. Now that Utah is blowing up its roster, with veteran trades clearing room, the 2024 All-Star now looks like a misaligned asset. His salary will account for over $45M against the cap in 2025-26, giving the front office a stark choice: trade him now or risk being stuck when the contract outpaces performance. Maybe a responsive team would package young assets or a first-rounder for him, but only if Utah sweetens the deal, meaning it would need to take back bad salary or future picks. After all, the Jazz earlier accepted Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson, plus a second-round pick in the Collins deal, clearly prioritizing cap space and draft flexibility over retaining core pieces. By holding onto him last year, Utah effectively wasted a prime trade window. Now, with Bailey and other young wings pushing for minutes, Markkanen may become the odd man out in both minutes and long-term vision. If they wait too long again, Utah could face the same mistake they made with Collins — overpaying, then accepting minimal return. This time, shrugging might cost even more, since his contract is fully guaranteed and extends beyond a likely competitive window. For a franchise chasing youth and control, Markkanen may no longer fit. He’s not an All-Star floor spacer who demands defensive attention anymore — he’s a heavy contract that limits future maneuverability. And after Utah’s signal this offseason, it’s obvious they’re aiming for a clean slate rather than nostalgia. The answer should be clear: if the Jazz truly want flexibility to move up or revamp around new guard and wing prospects, it’s smarter to deal him now while he still holds some shine. Otherwise, he could turn into a cap anchor they can’t shake.
Yankees continue to enhance bullpen with Jake Bird acquisition
The New York Yankees have continued to fortify their bullpen, acquiring right-handed reliever Jake Bird from the Colorado Rockies, per YES Network's Jack Curry. This trade marks the second recent deal between the Yankees and Rockies, following New York’s July 25 trade for infielder Ryan McMahon. In return, Colorado receives a pair of New York's prospects, second baseman Roc Riggio (No. 10 in the Yankees' system) and left-handed pitcher Ben Shields (No. 28). Both players advanced through the Yankees’ system this season, rising from rookie ball to Double-A. Bird, 29, has posted a 4.73 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings this season. With team control through 2028, Bird represents a long-term asset for New York rather than a short-term rental. Unlike most power arms in the Yankees' bullpen, Bird relies on finesse. His repertoire centers around an 84 mph sweeper — his most used pitch, thrown 39.5% of the time — complemented by an 80.5 mph changeup and a 94.4 mph sinker. Bird will join a revamped bullpen that now includes David Bednar, acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates less than an hour prior to the Bird transaction.
Final Fantasy Meets Dragon Quest In Legendary Crossover
What’s more iconic than Cloud wielding a Buster Sword? How about Cloud rocking Erdrick’s Armor and wrecking Dragon Quest monsters all in one event? That’s right, Square Enix has decided to gift us mere mortals a crossover between Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis and Dragon Quest Tact. This limited event runs from July 30 to August 6, and if you’re not hyped yet, you might want to check your gaming pulse. But what does this actually mean for you? Well, buckle up, because this crossover is more than just a gimmick. It’s packed with so much fan service that even Sephiroth might need a break from brooding to join in on the fun. The Chaos, The Loot, The Slimeocalypse First off, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is about to host King Slime and his slimy gang because, apparently, even pixels deserve to meet their heroes. Players get to battle these absurdly charming enemies and earn event-exclusive gear worthy of both franchises. We’re talking Cloud stepping into Erdrick’s Armor and wielding what is unquestionably one of the most epic swords in gaming. Aerith, not to be outdone, is gracefully handed the Supreme Sage Garb because, you know, killing enemies and looking fabulous is her thing. And don’t even get me started on Sephiroth taking a cosplay detour as Psaro. Imagine one iconic villain dressing up as another. It’s meta. It’s chaotic. It’s everything we didn’t know we needed. Players, Prepare for Nostalgia Overload The crossover also throws in daily free draws, a boatload of loot, and arguably, a reason to ditch any other mobile games cluttering up your screen time. There’s something inherently rewarding about collecting crossover goodies that scream, “I was there when Square Enix decided Cloud needed an RPG glow-up with Dragon Quest-style flair.” Some highlights from the event include: Daily Free Ten Pulls (Spoiler Alert: Prepare for gacha heartbreak… and joy). Crossover Missions loaded with rewards like Red XIII’s Great Sabrecat Collar (think of it as drip for your furry companion). Event Bonuses that range from refined Mythril piles to rare crossover wallpapers that scream, “Yeah, I’m that gamer.” And, oh yeah, login bonuses stacked higher than a stack of pancakes at a chocobo-catered brunch. Why This Crossover Actually Slaps If you’re rolling your eyes at the idea of yet another crossover event, it’s time for a quick reality check. This isn’t just a lazy cash-grab with recycled assets and buzzwords. It’s a love letter to fans of both games, blending two legendary worlds into an experience that’s as ridiculous as it is satisfying. Think of it like a bizarre but beautiful RPG fever dream where Dragon Quest monsters challenge Final Fantasy heroes, and the only loser is anyone who missed out. Plus, when was the last time you saw King Slime try to flex on Aerith? Exactly. Is this Peak Mobile Gaming? Now, will this event cure all your gaming ailments? Probably not. Will it load up your plate with so much nostalgia and fan-service-packed chaos that even your backlog of unplayed games might get jealous? Absolutely. Square Enix’s crossover brilliance usually lies in its ability to unite wildly different fandoms and generate hype that turns even the most casual gamer into a midnight-grinding, loot-obsessed fan. And if that’s not peak mobile gaming, what even is? Final Thoughts Events like these are why gaming history has a vault packed with “Hype Levels Overload” moments. Whether you’re here for the loot, the cross-franchise cosplays, or just some good old-fashioned Dragon Quest monster smashing with your favorite FF cast, this event delivers on every front. Hot tip? Set your alarms. Grab your popcorn. And pray that RNG is in your favor for those 10 pulls. Trust me, you’ll want bragging rights when someone asks why Cloud suddenly looks like he walked out of a Dragon Quest cutscene. Remember, this party only lasts for a week. Don’t sleep on it, because King Slime certainly won’t. Be sure to visit Total Apex Gaming for more game-related news and content.
Eugenio Suarez Reportedly Has Simple, But Perfect Reaction to Being Traded to Seattle Mariners
According to Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710, All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez had a simple, but exciting response to being traded back to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night. Drayer, who was on the team plane from Sacramento to Seattle, said the Mariners held the plane for Suarez, who had just arrived with the Arizona Diamondbacks for their weekend series against the Athletics. When Suarez entered the plane himself, he went down the entire plane and greeted each person individually. Suarez had played with the Mariners from 2022-2023 and was considered the biggest offensive prize at the deadline. He has 36 home runs this season. Per Drayer on the 'Brock and Salk' show: I spoke very briefly with him, and he just said, ‘I am so happy,' Mariners fans are also excited to see Suarez return, and catcher Cal Raleigh gave a ringing endorsement of the move as well. Bringing in Suarez will give the Mariners the deepest lineup they've had in years, as he'll pair with Raleigh, Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor. The Mariners have a solid left-right balance and have a good combination of speed and power. Seattle enters play on Thursday at 57-52 and in second place in the American League West, five games back of the Houston Astros. They are also tied with the Texas Rangers for the third and final wild card spot in the AL. Both teams are trailing the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Mariners will play the Rangers on Thursday at 6:40 p.m. PT.
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