The trade rumors have already begun to swirl for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Shortly after their 2024-25 season came to an end, it was reported that they are expected to be a factor in this offseason's NBA trade market.
Now it has been revealed who one of the players they might target is.
According to MassLive's Brian Robb, the Clippers are one of the teams expected to show interest in Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday.
The Clippers definitely need to add a guard they can trust to partner with James Haden in the backcourt this offseason.
I just don't think Holiday is the right guard to go after.
The main reason is that he just doesn't give the Clippers what they need right now.
Holiday has been an elite defender throughout his career. The Clippers had one of the NBA's best defenses this past season.
That doesn't necessarily mean they shouldn't be pursuing good defenders, but it probably means it shouldn't be the focus of their biggest move.
Holiday also appears to be starting his decline. Holiday will be turning 35 in June and saw his numbers noticeably dip this past season.
His 11.1 points and 3.9 assists per game were both his lowest since his rookie season. The 44.3% he shot from the field was his lowest shooting percentage since the 2015-16 season while his 35.3% from three was his lowest since the 2019-20 season.
That would be troublesome for a Clippers squad that finished 20th in the NBA in scoring this past season.
A big move for a guard would be a great sign for the Clippers working their way into contention next season. That move just probably shouldn't be for Holiday, especially at this point in his career.
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The New York Knicks are looking to make more moves to upgrade their depth as they figure to be one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference next season. Of course, the Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000 last season and with the amount of injuries to top players in the East, the Conference is wide open entering next season. Because of this, the Knicks have emerged as one of the favorites to win the East thanks to their core led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite this, Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman recently created a three-team mock trade that would see the Knicks move on from Towns. In the trade, the Knicks would add Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams III and a 2028 first-round pick via the Portland Trail Blazers while they would send Towns and Pacome Dadiet to Portland. The Trail Blazers would also send Duop Reath to the Atlanta Hawks in this proposed mock trade. While the Knicks are looking at ways to improve their depth, moving on from Towns would be a tough decision for them to make despite his struggles, especially on the defensive side, during the playoffs last season. It would also be a tough decision to swap Towns for Williams III due to his injury history, especially with Mitchell Robinson’s injury history as well and the Knicks’ lack of true center depth. While that may be the case, adding a veteran point guard in Holiday to the second unit could be a good addition to the Knicks’ bench and Williams III would also give them more size. Despite this, it is highly unlikely that the Knicks will move on from Towns this summer and likely into next season as they see their core being able to help them compete for a championship next season.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs losing star Mitch Marner this offseason, the team has had to fill a massive hole in the lineup. The Toronto front office has done a decent job so far, and the roster looks a little more well-rounded. But it seems that the Maple Leafs may not be done making moves this summer. According to NHL insider Nick Kypreos of SportsNet, Toronto could trade away defensemen Morgan Rielly or Brandon Carlo in an attempt to add more offense. "While we do also have Morgan Rielly on this list, if the Leafs move a defenseman it'll likely only be one of them. But while Rielly comes with the complication of a no-movement clause, Brandon Carlo has just an eight-team no-trade list and so is also worth putting on the trade board. "Making $3.485M against the cap for another two years, Carlo was a welcome addition to the Leafs' defense corps, averaging 19:13 of ice time per game and nearly two minutes on the PK. In the playoffs, he was among the team's shot-blocking leaders," Kypreos wrote. Marner accounted for 27 goals and 75 assists last season, which will be very tough for the Maple Leafs to replace. But the team does have a limited number of tradable assets to work with, which could potentially be why they are thinking of trading a defender. The Toronto front office remains very active on the trade front and it could lead to a deal taking place. There is still plenty of time left between now and the start of the regular season, giving the Maple Leafs some needed optionality before the new year.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in a bunch of new faces, bringing a fresh sense of excitement and optimism ahead of the upcoming season. As the organization continues to make moves and finalize its roster, it seems like they’re tying up loose ends and preparing for this upcoming season. However, the changes might not be finished just yet, as a Steelers insider predicts a few potential cuts on the horizon. On a recent episode of the Chipped Ham Football podcast, Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo talked about how the team looks heading into the rapidly approaching training camp. When the conversation shifted to potential roster cuts, Batko named four players who could be at risk, adding that he believes one or two of them are likely to be let go by cutdown day. "To me, I look at it as there's three L's here," Batko said. "[Isaiahh] Loudermilk, [Dean] Lowry, [Logan] Lee. Actually, four L's. Loudermilk, Lowry, [DeMarvin] Leal, Lee. I think one or two of those guys unfortunately for them, are probably going to take an L on cutdown day." Cutdown Day in the NFL is when teams have to shrink their rosters from the offseason maximum that can be around 90 players to just 53 for the regular season. It usually happens at the end of preseason and is a big moment for players fighting for a spot. Some make the team, some get released, and others might be moved to the practice squad. It’s a stressful and emotional time, as one decision can change a player’s entire career. During the podcast, Batko noted that the defensive line and linebacker groups are the most likely areas for surprise cuts. With a crowded defensive line room, it’s clear the Steelers have made a strong push to bolster that unit, which could lead to some tough roster decisions. The Steelers used their highly valued first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft to select Derrick Harmon, a talented young defensive tackle from the University of Oregon. While it's common for rookies to spend time developing before earning significant playing time, Harmon seems to be the exception. Early indications from the team suggest that he’s already in line for a starting role, highlighting both his potential and the confidence the coaching staff has in his ability to make an immediate impact. The Steelers’ defensive line has some big questions as the season starts. Veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward, who is 36, still plays well and brings experience. However, beyond him, most of the players are young draft picks or longshots who haven’t proven themselves yet. Since the team didn’t sign any big free agents, they’re relying on Harmon and other young players to quickly step up and help Heyward hold down the defense. Heyward has been a key piece of the Steelers’ defense for years, with an insider even ranking him among the top three defensive linemen in franchise history. However, now at 36, the Steelers know they need to prepare for the day when Heyward is no longer on the field. That’s why they’re focusing on developing younger players to eventually fill his role. Finding the right balance between veteran experience and promising talent is a tough thing, but it’s a strategy the Steelers have used across their entire roster this offseason. The Steelers Are Putting In The Work With offseason programs underway and training camp quickly approaching, now is the perfect time for players like Batko mentioned that are on the cusp to show why they deserve a spot on the roster. Cutdown days are always tough, but ultimately, the NFL is a business. The Steelers have to make the best decisions to ensure they have the strongest roster possible heading into the season, but fans are excited and hopeful for this team this year.
Life is great when you know you have a franchise quarterback in the NFL, and it helps when he can recruit players to your team because of how good he is. The Washington Commanders have a new norm of being a top destination in the league as Von Miller headlines the list of players who wanted to join the team for the main attraction, Jayden Daniels himself. Miller signing with Washington at the end of his career proved his belief in the team's chances to reach the Super Bowl and just how good Daniels really is. Von Miller's choice came down to one key factor: the QB Miller signed a one-year deal with Washington this week, and he didn't take the decision lightly. He had many options when it came down to where he wanted to play, but he chose to chase a ring in Washington because of the belief he has in Daniels. The future Hall of Famer told Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post that signing with a team that has a good quarterback was how he made his decision. Enters the Commanders. “It was the best team with the best quarterback. That’s usually the math for me to be able to go and do what I do.” - Von Miller to Nicki Jhabvala, The Washington Post Miller played for the Bills last season and saw firsthand what having a top quarterback in the league can do for a team. He also said that he saw similar qualities in Daniels that Josh Allen possesses, and that he can become one of the best in the league. “You can’t leave Josh Allen and just go anywhere. . . Like, Josh Allen was MVP of the league last year. I feel like Jayden Daniels has MVP potential as well.” - Von Miller to Nicki Jhabvala, The Washington Post Those are massive words coming from one of the all-time greats who has played against and sacked some of the best QBs the league will ever see. A shift in the NFL favors the Commanders Even though this is just a one-year deal for Miller joining the Commanders, the impact can be felt for years to come, with more top players in the league wanting to come chase a ring in Washington with Daniels at the helm. Having a franchise QB on a rookie contract is the biggest luxury in the NFL, and Washington has the best one in the league. Another season with Daniels leading the way gives Washington all the potential in the world to reach the Super Bowl. But then, just looking forward, how dominant can this roster become in the next two years? It'll look like an Avengers version of an NFL roster at this rate. Deebo Samuel, Laremy Tunsil, and Von Miller were the first wave of players wanting to join the Commanders. Washington isn't going anywhere, and they can continue to improve the roster with Daniels being the attraction for players to follow the new trend.
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