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As the NBA Playoffs are down to just four teams remaining in the Conference Finals, certain players are under pressure in each team's push for the NBA Finals.
The Western Conference Finals have been a back-and-forth matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Heading into Game 4 on Monday night, both teams have held their ground at home.
The Thunder won Games 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City, while the Timberwolves took Game 3 in Minneapolis.
Dwayne Wade gives praise to Julius Randle on his Wy Network podcast
There have been multiple players to step up for both teams, and former NBA champion and Hall of Famer Dwayne Wade mentioned the importance of Timberwolves forward Julius Randle.
"People like to (expletive) on Julius Randle... You can see the empowerment of everything and everyone around Julius, and it's allowed Julius just to be him," Wade said.
“People like to sh*t on Julius Randle.” @DwyaneWade shows love to @JuliusRandle30 pic.twitter.com/EQFZOajqvI
— Wy Network by Dwyane Wade (@wynetwork) May 26, 2025
Julius Randle hasn't had the smoothest sailing career leading up to this point, but he's been able to counter the doubts and continue to succeed.
Randle was acquired with Donte DiVincenzo by the Timberwolves in the 2024 offseason in a package that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.
This would make the Timberwolves his fourth team he's been on since entering the league in 2014.
Although it was an up-and-down regular season for the 11-year veteran, he's emerged as a key piece to Minnesota's playoff push this season.
Through 13 games this postseason, he's averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while 51% from the field.
It's seemed to work out for both sides of the trade this season, as Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks are also playing for a ticket to the NBA Finals.
Both the Timberwolves and the Knicks are looking to flip the script as they each trail 2-1 in their respective conference finals matchups.
More must-reads:
- Celtics' sale comes with significant and surprising twists
- Portland Trail Blazers to be sold to Hurricanes owner and pickleball enthusiast
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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Portland Trail Blazers to be sold to Hurricanes owner and pickleball enthusiast
A group led by billionaire Tom Dundon, the owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, has reached a tentative agreement to buy the Trail Blazers from Paul Allen‘s estate, sources tell Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico. Blue Owl Capital co-president Marc Zahr and co-CEO of Collective Global Sheel Tyle are among the other investors who are part of Dundon’s group, according to Soshnick and Novy-Williams, who say the buyers intend to keep the team in Portland. The Blazers will be valued at more than $4 billion in the sale, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. The Trail Blazers announced their plans to sell the franchise back in May. Allen, the longtime Blazers owner who purchased the franchise for $70M in 1988, died on Oct. 15, 2018, resulting in control of the team being transferred to his sister Jody Allen, the trustee and executor of his estate. The plan following Paul Allen’s death was for ownership of the Blazers to eventually change hands as part of an estate sale, which is the process that’s playing out now. The investment bank Allen Co. (no relation) and the law firm Hogan Lovells were selected to lead the sale of the team. As Soshnick and Novy-Williams note, while the valuation of the Blazers in this tentative deal isn’t yet known, a trust generally has a fiduciary duty in an estate sale to maximize the value of its assets and to sell to the highest qualified bidder. When Sportico last updated its NBA franchise valuations in December 2024, the site estimated the Blazers’ worth to be $3.6 billion. New owners have agreed to buy the Celtics ($6.1 billion valuation) and Lakers ($10 billion valuation) since then. All estate proceeds as a result of the Blazers sale will be directed toward philanthropy, per the late Allen’s wishes. In addition to owning the NHL’s Hurricanes, Dundon has invested heavily in pickleball — he’s the majority owner of the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball. Dundon, who is also the chairman and managing partner of the Dallas-based investment firm Dundon Capital Partners, will serve as the Blazers’ new governor if and when the sale is officially approved by the NBA, per Sportico’s report.
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.
Steelers' Free Agent Addition Shaping Up To Be A Disappointment After Several Weeks Of Training Camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in a ton of new faces throughout the 2025 offseason, as the organization seemed willing to spend a bunch in order to turn the franchise into a true contender. The major additions included players like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Darius Slay, but there were other new guys brought into the fold that should be able to contribute. This includes the majority of the 2025 draft class, as well as smaller free agent additions like Brandin Echols, or even Malik Harrison. Pittsburgh signed Harrison to a two-year deal worth a total of $10 million with just over $4 million guaranteed at signing. He was never going to be one of the primary inside linebackers for Pittsburgh as the organization rosters both Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, but there was some hope he could fill the role of being the run-stopper, similar to Elandon Roberts. Harrison is also expected to play a role on special teams, but insider Mark Kaboly had the newly acquired linebacker listed as a "loser" up until this point in training camp. "The free agent signing from Baltimore is a solid special teamer and a good downhill run stopper, but he didn’t show much in his coverage ability, which will limit how the Steelers can use him," Kaboly wrote. Essentially, Kaboly noticed a lack of versatility up to this point of the summer when it came to Harrison. Unfortunately for Harrison, that is an area where the other inside linebackers in Pittsburgh shine. Wilson and Queen are both able to play a role in stopping the run and can shine in coverage. Cole Holcomb is a reliable tackler who is getting used to playing again after missing the entire 2024 season, and he could wind up being better than Harrison in coverage. Harrison spent five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens where he started 34 games and recorded 174 total tackles. Now, Pittsburgh might be put in a spot where the organization is paying him $3.2 million in 2025 to only be on the field in running situations and special teams. Thankfully, Pittsburgh can get out of the deal following the 2025 season for a dead cap charge of just over $2 million. There is still time for Harrison to move up the ranks at inside linebacker, but he is going to have to put on quite a showing during the team's next two preseason games. Queen and Wilson being the primary starters seems to be set in stone, but Harrison is competing with Holcomb, Mark Robinson, Devin Harper, and Carson Bruener for positioning on the 53-man roster. Pittsburgh kept five inside linebackers on the team in 2024, so Harrison shouldn't be in danger of losing his roster spot. However, the organization certainly wants him to perform better moving forward. Steelers Could Break Intriguing Streak Under Omar Khan's Tenure The inside linebacker position is an interesting spot to analyze when it comes down to who is going to be on the final roster. Queen and Wilson are locks, Harrison probably is as well, but that is it. Holcomb is bouncing back from an injury and carries a cap hit of $3.6 million, and Robinson has been able to make plays on special teams. There is a world where Pittsburgh is going to have to cut seventh-round pick Carson Bruener, which would mark the first time in Omar Khan's time as general manager where the Steelers cut a draft pick. It will be interesting to see how the entire situation plays out, as Holcomb could also be traded for some additional draft capital if he performs well in the last two preseason contests.
Aaron Rodgers shares detail about relationship with Matt LaFleur that Packers fans have known all along
Aaron Rodgers' main task this season as a new member of the Pittsburgh Steelers is to master offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offensive philosophy. It's a work in progress throughout training camp, but the veteran quarterback is getting closer to where he wants to be in the regular season. It helps that Arthur Smith's scheme is similar to what Matt LaFleur runs in Green Bay. Smith was a tight ends coach with the Tennessee Titans back in 2018, when LaFleur was the playcalling offensive coordinator there. Throughout his two-decade long career, Rodgers has seen a multitude of schemes and languages. In an interview with the Steelers' official channels, the quarterback shared an interesting detail that Packers fans have imagined since he was still with the team. After an adaptation season between LaFleur and Rodgers in 2019, they created a hybrid version of the offense starting in 2020. That allowed the quarterback to flourish, winning two consecutive MVP awards while leading the Packers to the first seed twice, including an NFC Championship Game appearance. "I think I'm pretty close," Rodgers said when asked about the adaptation to the new offense. "For me, it's about what image comes to mind when I break the huddle. I've got a lot of offenses in my mind. The old school West Coast offense from 2005, Mike [McCarthy]'s iteration from 2006 to 2018, Matt LaFleur's offense in 2019, then the hybrid we ran in 2020 to 2022. After that, Nate Hackett's version in 2023 and 2024, and now Arthur Smith's version. The pictures are starting to crystallize a little better as we get into the third week here." Curiously, the Steelers' quarterbacks coach is Tom Arth, who spent some time as a Packers quarterback alongside Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre back in 2006, but was cut before training camp. After two years with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers is back with a traditionalist franchise in the Pittsburgh Steelers. The training camp at St. Vincent College reminds him of what he experienced during most of his time with the Packers. "I'd say it's a bit of a throwback for me, just because we did this same concept for 14 years in Green Bay. We stayed at St. Norbert's across town, and it gives you the opportunity to really connect with your teammates because there’s nowhere to go, we're stuck here at the dorms," Rodgers explained. "It's been really fun, whether it's playing cards or, I'm not a gamer, but all these kids are video gamers. Just getting to spend time with these guys has been pretty cool." Aaron Rodgers, now 41 years old, signed a one-year deal with the Steelers to have another shot at a ring. He will make $13.65 million as a base salary, and has several incentives tied to playing time, performance, and team results. It might be his final season, so the veteran is making sure to sip every little detail. And some of them remind him of how impactful his time in Green Bay was—for everyone involved.
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