After suffering a groin injury against the Boston Celtics two weeks ago, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been out of action and has missed each of the team's last five games. Though the Lakers are 3-2 in those games, it is fair to assume they want James back on the court as soon as possible.
As the end of the regular season approaches, the Lakers are still fighting for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. With a 43-25 record, they are currently one game behind the Houston Rockets in the standings. Additionally, they are just four games ahead of the No. 8 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers are looking to build momentum and earn the No. 2 seed before the end of the season, which is why James' absence is brutal for them. However, head coach JJ Redick recently provided an update on the four-time champion that might make fans happy.
Since James has already been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he will not have another opportunity to suit up until Saturday when the Lakers go up against the Chicago Bulls. Fortunately for James and the Lakers, Redick is "hopeful" that he will make his return to the court on Saturday.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said that he’s “hopeful” that LeBron James and Rui Hachimura will play on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) March 21, 2025
James' return will provide a big boost for the Lakers as they look to end the season on a high note. If he does not make his return against the Bulls, James' next opportunity to suit up will be on Monday against the Orlando Magic. Regardless, it seems that the Lakers are getting their star back sooner rather than later, which bodes well for their success.
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In his first season with the Chicago Bulls, Josh Giddey proved that he could be an all-around star at 22 years old. The point guard impressed after being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. Giddey helped the Bulls make the Play-In Tournament, and while the final result was somewhat expected, their 39-43 record was better than people anticipated. On top of that, Giddey had some highlight games, from nearly recording a quadruple-double to hitting a buzzer beater from half court against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. By the end of the season, there was belieft that the point guard's new deal could be big. Giddey entered the summer as a restricted free agent, but remains unsigned as training camp sits around the corner. The Bulls have been offering less money than what he wants, but this has been the case with other situations like Cam Thomas and the Brooklyn Nets, as well as Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors. NBA insider Marc Stein gave the harsh reality of these contract disputes regarding restricted free agents. Most teams don't have the money to offer any of these players, so there isn't any pressure on organizations, including the Bulls, to sign them. "Since there are no cap-space teams in circulation to emerge with an offer sheet to Thomas or fellow restricted free agents like Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga and Chicago's Josh Giddey, Brooklyn appears to be in no rush to expedite discussions with Thomas' representation," Stein wrote. The Bulls can match any offer Giddey receives or allocate him in a sign-and-trade if they want to move him. Chicago can also bring him back on the $11.1 million qualifying offer if a deal isn't reached.
With less than 48 hours to go until the 2025 MLB trade deadline, the New York Yankees are still flirting with the Pittsburgh Pirates over some pitching. According to insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees and Pirates are still discussing reliever David Bednar and starter Mitch Keller on Tuesday night. But while there’s interest in both arms, the Yankees might not like the price. “Bednar is a target. Keller interests them, too, but the price tag might discourage them,” Heyman reported Tuesday. That lines up with what we’ve seen from the Yankees so far this month. They’ve been aggressive in scouting relievers but cautious about overpaying, especially for pitchers under long-term control. Bednar, who has a 4.19 ERA and 16 saves in 2025, would fill a pressing need for a club that ranks near the bottom of the league in bullpen ERA for July. His late-inning experience and high ground-ball rate make him a logical fit. Keller, meanwhile, would be a luxury at this point, especially after Luis Gil’s impending return. The right-hander is having a bounce-back year for the Pirates, with a 3.56 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a team-leading 121 strikeouts in 125 innings. But he’s under team control through 2028, and Pittsburgh doesn’t appear eager to move him unless blown away. That’s likely where the Yankees’ caution kicks in. The team has shown a willingness to deal mid-tier prospects but has reportedly been hesitant to part with top-end talent like Cam Schlittler or Spencer Jones, especially for non-rental pieces. Still, the fact that conversations have occurred shows that even in the wake of Aaron Judge’s injury news, the Yankees remain active on both the bullpen and rotation fronts. The Yankees front office is casting a wide net. With time running out, names like Bednar and Keller remain firmly in the mix.
After getting their seven-game win streak snapped against the San Diego Padres on Monday, the New York Mets are looking to get back on track with a victory on Tuesday. Despite their latest loss, things are looking good for New York. With a 62-45 record, they hold a one-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. A big reason for the Mets' success is Juan Soto, who is in the midst of his first season with the team. However, the 26-year-old left the game early after fouling a ball off his foot in the fourth inning. Following Soto's exit, the team made an announcement and gave an update regarding his injury. As the Mets look to continue their strong campaign, they will need Soto as healthy as possible. Fortunately for them, while he was forced to leave Tuesday's game injury, it seems that not all is bad as he has been diagnosed with a foot contusion, rather than a break or something more major (h/t Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) "Juan Soto exited tonight's game due to a foot 'contusion,' or bruise, according to the Mets, DiComo wrote on X. "That would imply nothing is broken at first glance, but the Mets will likely test him thoroughly. Until there is more clarity, Soto's status will be worth monitoring for the foreseeable future as he is a crucial part of the team's success. The Mets will take on the Padres for the series finale on Wednesday before heading back home to take on the San Francisco Giants in a three-game weekend series. Hopefully for New York, there will be another update about Soto's injury sooner rather than later.
There have been a couple of different theories floated about why the Las Vegas Raiders made the shocking decision to cut star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, but head coach Pete Carroll has no interest in sharing the real motive. The Raiders released Wilkins on Thursday, which was barely a year after they signed him to a four-year, $110M contract in free agency. Initial reports suggested Wilkins and the team were at odds over how the 29-year-old's foot injury was being handled, but the story has since taken a bizarre turn. ESPN's Adam Schefter said on Monday that there was an incident between Wilkins and a teammate in the locker room that Wilkins viewed as playful, but his teammate did not take it that way. Tashan Reed of The Athletic reported that the incident took place in a meeting room at the Raiders' facility last week and was investigated by the team's human resources department. On Tuesday, a reporter asked Carroll about the alleged incident. The 73-year-old coach refused to get into it. "I have no comment to make,” Carroll said, via The Athletic. “We made a decision on what we’re doing, and we’re moving with it. We’ll see how that all unveils itself in time.” The last part of Carroll's comment is interesting. Carroll may have been saying time will tell how the decision to cut Wilkins will turn out for the Raiders, or he may have been insinuating that more information will come out at some point. Raiders defensive tackle Adam Nelson was also asked about Wilkins on Tuesday. Nelson responded by encouraging people to seek therapy if they are struggling with something in their life. Wilkins had 17 total tackles and a pair of sacks in five games with the Raiders before he suffered his season-ending foot injury.
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