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We have all been prisoners of the moment before, but it takes a former player who once dominated the game to understand the big picture. One former Washington Wizards player offers insight on situations like this.
On the Gil's Arena Podcast, former Wizard Gilbert Arenas said of Tyrese Haliburton, “When you think about winning and winning consistently in this league, you have the star player and then everybody around him meshes perfectly with him. They realize that (Tyrese) Haliburton’s a star and we’re going to try to build to his best ability. He said, “You've got to be smart to realize what a player is and what he needs to win. Because if you can’t, and you’re not smart enough to know what he needs, then that player is just a selfish player who can’t win.
Former Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has had a lot of success outside of the NBA. He became a star during his playing days with the Washington Wizards, and after his days in the NBA, he spent some time in Ice Cube’s Big Three Basketball League.
Now, he spends a lot of his time discussing the game of basketball on podcasts. He recently went on to give insight on a player the Wizards could have drafted, Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacersgave the Wizards a lot of trouble this season. It makes you wonder what life would have been like if the Wizards had drafted Haliburton. Did the Wizards make a mistake not taking Haliburton in the draft? Could Gilbert Arenas make a good addition to the Wizards’ front office?
More must-reads:
- Could Warriors actually get LeBron James before he retires?
- Gilbert Arenas arrested for for allegedly running illegal gambling business
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Dallas Mavericks $18 million guard named trade candidate
Dallas Mavericks point guard Jaden Hardy is going into his fourth season in the NBA, but his first on a three-year, $18 million extension. Despite signing an extension, Hardy's fit with the Mavericks has been questioned, especially with D'Angelo Russell coming to the team in free agency. Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley listed Hardy as a trade candidate. Could Hardy be traded by Mavs? "Buoyed by both a rapid first step and a typically accurate three-point shot (career 38.1 percent), he can look like a three-level-scorer-in-training. Inconsistency is an issue, and decision-making can be, too, but again he's 23 years old and has just a hair over 2,600 minutes on his NBA odometer. That's to be expected," Buckley wrote. "On a team without championship-or-bust pressure, Hardy would've spent the past three seasons working his way through growing pains and learning from his mistakes. Instead, he's been too often tethered to the bench and sure seemed like he was surpassed on the backcourt pecking order by Brandon Williams late last season. "Hardy, who's probably a better off-guard than lead guard, now faces an uncertain future with an organization that seems less than fully committed to his development. He hasn't done enough in three seasons to drive up his trade value, but it still seems like other, more forward-thinking franchises would covet him more than his current club." Hardy is on such a team-friendly deal that it's hard to envision the Mavs moving on from him anytime soon. He's a solid guard off the bench that can make the occasional spot start for a Mavs backcourt that won't have Kyrie Irving for much of the upcoming season. Hardy may be floated in trade rumors over the next few years with his movable contract, but the Mavs shouldn't trade him unless a really good offer comes to the table.
Yankees trading for Rockies' Jake Bird would be a mistake
The New York Yankees still have multiple holes to fill in their roster before MLB’s July 31 trade deadline. One of those holes is in the bullpen, as New York’s 4.38 relief squad ERA is good for the fifth highest in the American League. However, one of the main relievers Yankees GM Brian Cashman is targeting doesn’t appear to be much of an upgrade. Colorado Rockies RHP Jake Bird is reported to be at or near the top of the Yankees’ bullpen wishlist. A month or so ago, a glance at his stat line made the idea of New York acquiring him seem like a great idea. On June 21, the 29-year-old had a sterling 2.06 ERA. Entering play on Monday, that number has nearly doubled, up to 4.05. And that’s the type of pitcher Bird is. His career monthly ERA splits indicate he’s a middling reliever who pitches well at the beginning of the season and then tapers off by the end: April/March: 3.29 May: 2.92 June: 4.46 July: 8.31 August: 3.31 September/October: 5.21 One of the main problems with Bird is that he allows too many hits. He’s given up a few more hits than innings pitched in every season since he broke into the league in 2022, and he’s on pace to do the same in 2025. That’s not ideal for a reliever who often has to come in with runners on base. Bird’s issues aren’t a result of his notoriously hitter-friendly ballpark in Denver, either. Over his career, he’s pitched to a 4.60 ERA at home and a 4.20 ERA on the road. Also, some of his worst performances this year have come on the road, including a July 8 outing in Boston when he allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and a walk in just a third of an inning. Maybe the Yankees see Bird as a guy they can help reach his full potential, like Fernando Cruz or Tim Hill, both of whom produced drastic ERA drops immediately upon donning pinstripes. What’s more likely, though, is that they view Bird as a decent player who they’ll have control over for the next three seasons. That kind of thinking is great for the bottom line. But it won’t bring the World Series trophy back to the Bronx.
New York Mets acquire centerfielder Cedric Mullins from Orioles
The New York Mets have swung another deal with the Baltimore Orioles. First, it was a trade to acquire left-handed relief pitcher Gregory Soto last Friday. Fast forward six days later and the Mets have now landed centerfielder Cedric Mullins from the Orioles in exchange for minor leaguers: Raimon Gomez (No. 30 prospect), Chandler Marsh and Anthony Nunez. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com was on Mullins first and Will Sammon of The Athletic had the full return. The Mets were in need of a centerfielder and got their man in Mullins, who is a rental piece. Mullins is slashing .229/.305/.433 with a .738 OPS, 15 home runs and 49 RBI. Although Mullins has had a rough go at the plate since May, he is beginning to heat up lately, hitting .306 with a .852 OPS in his last 15 games. Mullins, a left-handed bat, joins a fully left-handed hitting outfield with the Mets alongside Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo. The lefty swinging Jeff McNeil has also seen extensive time in center this year as well. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who has struggled offensively, will likely lose playing time.
Closer David Bednar Acquired By New York Yankees In Blockbuster Trade
David Bednar is heading to The Bronx. That means the Yankees bullpen might finally have the edge it desperately needs heading into crunch time. Let’s break this trade down and see why the Yankees targeted Bednar and what they are giving up in return. David Bednar Career Summary After enduring a miserable start in 2024 that screamed, “Send me back to Triple-A,” Bednar recalibrated, introduced a filthy curveball, and essentially told everyone, “Yeah, I’m better now.” The guy has been lights-out since his mid-April return to the majors. Zero blown saves. He has converted 17 of 17 of his save opportunities. His 2.37 ERA and 51 strikeouts in just 38 innings say enough. What Did the Yankees Trade Away? Now, nothing in baseball comes for free, and the Pirates weren’t going to part with their two-time All-Star for pocket change. New York sent Pittsburgh Catcher Rafael Flores, ranked the Yankees’ No. 8 prospect, along with two promising youngsters, catcher/first baseman Edgleen Perez (No. 14) and Outfielder Brian Sanchez. The Yankees fanbase is likely feeling relieved that they did not have to cough up any higher-ranked prospects. Flores is a solid offensive catcher, so the Pirates took a calculated shot at adding depth to one of their weaker spots. Perez and Sanchez are still raw, but with enough seasoning, they could turn into valuable major-league pieces. Why Bednar? At this point, asking why the Yankees targeted Bednar feels rhetorical. Have you seen their bullpen lately? Their closer corps has been a revolving door of unpredictability this season. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver cannot be trusted in high-leverage situations. Every game feels like a cardiac event for Yankees fans. No one expects Bednar to wave a magic wand and fix all of their problems overnight, but adding a proven closer who does not flinch under pressure is a significant upgrade. Plus, his ability to handle late-game heroics and career-high 39 saves back in 2023 proves he thrives in high-stakes moments. The Yankees are banking on that being the case again. For Pittsburgh, Is This a Win Or a Loss? Losing Bednar, a hometown favorite from Mars, PA, is a gut punch. He had 100+ saves with the Pirates and gave the fans plenty to cheer for during some rough seasons. But the harsh reality is, the Pirates are dead last, and keeping a closer whose talent is being wasted in low-pressure games does not make sense. Flipping an elite reliever like Bednar for prospects could help the rebuild. Will Flores, Perez, and Sanchez be the keys to unlocking future success? That is a wait-and-see game, but moves like these can lift a struggling franchise. What’s Next for Bednar and the Yankees? For Bednar, the stakes only get higher from here. The pressure of wearing those iconic pinstripes comes with expectations that many players struggle to fulfill. Can he keep the zero blown saves streak alive? Will Yankees fans immediately crown him a hero, or will he be eaten alive by the Bronx Zoo? For the Yankees, this is as much about survival as it is about success. Their division is a slugfest, and the Wild Card race will be tough. Adding Bednar signals they know the bullpen could make or break their playoff ambitions. Final Pitch The Bednar trade encapsulates the chaos of the MLB trade deadline. The Pirates get their prospects, Bednar gets a shot at October baseball, and Yankees fans get some hope. Whether it is false hope or not remains to be seen.
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