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Julian Strawther is heading into his second season in the NBA. His rookie season was streaky, but he showed flashes of potential, especially when he was hitting his three-point shot. He never carved out a role in his initial NBA season, but will likely be an important piece to the Denver Nuggets’ bench this season. After an impressive performance at the NBA Summer League, Strawther continued by having a very promising preseason. Over the Nuggets’ five preseason games, Strawther scored a total of 94 points, which is currently first among all players for preseason scoring. He has the momentum heading into the regular season and will look for it to continue.
Julian Strawther is Primed for a Breakout Season
Nuggets’ Bench is in Need of Increased Production
The Nuggets finished 25th in bench points during the 2023-24 season. Their top-scoring bench player was Reggie Jackson, who they traded during the offseason. Only two other bench players averaged more than five points a contest. The lack of scoring in the second unit was a glaring issue, especially in the playoffs, where the starters ran out of steam. In Strawther’s limited minutes as a rookie, he averaged 4.5 points per game in 50 appearances. Many of those minutes came in garbage time, which limited his ability to get in a groove. Having momentum from a solid preseason could help him get out to a good start to the regular season.
The Nuggets added former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook and veteran Dario Šarić in the offseason to strengthen their bench unit. Strawther’s game compliments Westbrook well, as Westbrook is one of the most aggressive players when driving toward the hoop. His interior game will open up open shots on the perimeter for Strawther, who put up extremely impressive three-point shooting efficiency in both Summer League and preseason. Signing those players will allow Strawther to play alongside veterans, who he can learn from and improve with.
Strawther will be an important piece in taking off some slack from the starters, who have been burdened with carrying a significant portion of the Nuggets’ offense the past couple of seasons. If he is able to score 8-12 points per game on solid efficiency, while being a net positive on the defensive end, he could see an increased role by the end of the season. The Nuggets were dead last in three-point attempts per game last season. Adding an efficient three-point shooter to their bench could be a significant boost to their completely revamped bench unit. With the skillsets of their new bench unit, it’s setting up Strawther for a breakout season.
Preseason and Summer League Performances
Strawther averaged 18.8 points per game in 28 minutes per game across the Nuggets’ five preseason contests. He showed off his impressive scoring abilities with ridiculous efficiency. He shot 52.6% from the field, 50% from three, and 77.8% from the free-throw line. His ability to draw fouls was impressive, as he averaged 5.4 free throw attempts per game. Strawther scored in double-digits in all five games, including finishing off the preseason with a 33-point explosion on 13 shots. His three-point shot kept defenders close, which opened up his ability to drive, expanding his offensive game.
The Summer League was equally, if not more impressive, as Strawther averaged 28.5 points in his two appearances. He led all players in scoring average, showing his skills as a volume shooter. He knocked down 40.9% of his three-point shots making 4.5 a game and proving he was an improved prospect. Strawther has plenty of room to improve on his game, but he proved he was clearly too good of a player to be playing in the Summer League. Overall, Strawther has showcased his improved offensive skills across both the Summer League and the preseason. His offensive production will be an important addition to a Nuggets’ bench that has lacked consistent scoring the past couple of seasons.
Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the offseason, who signed with the Orlando Magic, opened up minutes for someone to claim. With Christian Braun sliding into the starting shooting guard role, it leaves the backup shooting guard minutes open for Strawther to claim. So far, he has done everything asked of him to earn those minutes. With concerns about the Nuggets’ depth and disagreements between head coach, Michael Malone, and the Nuggets’ front office, Strawther having a breakout season would help silence those concerns.
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LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
Former Houston Rockets Guard Signs with LA Clippers
Another former Houston Rockets guard is in the move this offseason, as TyTy Washington Jr. has signed a one-year contract with the LA Clippers, as reported by Shams Charania this weekend. Washington Jr., a former first-round pick, is now on his fourth NBA team in four seasons, as the 2022 draft pick is still trying to find his long-term home in the league. He played for the Rockets in his rookie season after being drafted with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. That would be his only season in Houston, where he logged 31 games, averaging 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Following his lone year with the Rockets, Washington spent time on both the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns on two-way contracts, logging minutes with both teams' G League affiliates. His most recent stint came with the Suns, logging 16 games on the main roster, only averaging seven minutes per game, so the opportunities seemed abysmal for the young guard. For the Valley Suns, Washington averaged 22.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds, proving he can be a solid scoring option, just needs the chance to prove his value to a team. Washington's career averages are 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest while shooting 34.7% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point range in 58 games. Now joining the Clippers this season, Washington is only 23, so the room to develop is still there for the 6-foot-3 guard. Obviously, going to a team that employs James Harden and Bradley Beal, minutes may be hard to come by for the young guard, but if he can prove his worth, then Clippers coach Tyronn Lue may find a way to include the former Kentucky product in his roster.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Seahawks vs. Lions parlay picks for 16-1 'Monday Night Football' SGP
Since gambling has existed, the dream of turning a tiny amount of money into a lot has been the dream of many players. Lotteries, slot machines, etc., they all offer the same appeal. Since the legalization of online sports betting, we can now add same-game parlays to that list. So, we have a Seahawks vs. Lions parlay on Monday night. NFL parlays aren't the smartest bets — I'll be the first to tell you that fair odds are nearly impossible to calculate, given the tangled web of correlation between each. They are fun, though — and just like lottery tickets, it's nice to dream every once in a while. Of course, you could also make some "sensible" SGPs with alternate legs and try to cash a +200 ticket, but that's not what this article is about. Inspired by my colleague Gilles Gallant's "180 challenge," in which he tries to hit one anytime touchdown parlay at +1800 odds or better to pay off a whole season, we'll be operating with a similar goal here. Of course, with primetime games on multiple days every week, we'll need a winner on each day of the week, but we'll also have more chances to bring it home. Without further ado, here's what I'm targeting for my Lions vs. Seahawks "Monday Night Football" parlay picks on DraftKings. Seahawks vs. Lions Parlay Picks for 'Monday Night Football' Lions -4 (-110) Over 47 (-110) David Montgomery Over 7.5 Receiving Yards (-110) Jaxon Smith-Njigba 70+ Receiving Yards (+240) Full Lions vs. Seahawks Parlay Odds: +1600 (DraftKings) | $10 Bet Wins $160 Lions vs. Seahawks Monday, Sept. 30 8:15 p.m. ET ABC Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NFL odds here. Spread Pick Lions -4 (-110) My colleague Nick Giffen highlighted this matchup in his Luck Rankings this week as a potential game to watch, based on the injury status of both teams (but especially Detroit). It's been a bit of a mixed bag on that front, with center Frank Ragnow ruled out as expected, safety Brian Branch getting through concussion protocol but being marked doubtful due to illness, but the rest of the questionable Lions getting in full practices. The biggest factor for me is the Lions' red zone numbers so far this season. They rank 26th with a sub-40% TD conversion rate this season after being one of the league's best units last season. Considering the on-paper improvements to this offense, they should be able to recapture last year's success and pick up the scoring. Plus, the Seahawks' defensive numbers are propped up by the fact that they've faced the Broncos, Chargers, and the post-Tua Tagovailoa Dolphins so far this season, which leads me to my next pick. Total Pick Over 47 (-110) "Favorite and Over" is a bit of a square way to start a parlay, but I think it's appropriate here. I mentioned the reasons for optimism on the Lions' side with my spread pick on their side and I also don't see them holding the Seahawks down here. Seattle is a top-ten offense by points per game despite playing solid defensive units like the Broncos and Chargers. Detroit's secondary is better than last season, but it's still a concern — especially if Branch does miss the game. He's probably their best defensive back, which will create problems matching up with the Seahawks' trio of wide receivers. These picks together bring us to +248, the same odds we'd get if taking the under. David Montgomery Player Prop Over 7.5 Receiving Yards (-110) I'm a little surprised at this line, considering Montgomery is averaging 18 yards through the air this season and has cleared this line in each of the last two games. We have him projected with a median around 10 here, which is probably on the conservative side if we think this one turns into a shootout. The loss of Ragnow also should shift the Lions to a more pass-focused approach, as they'll have a tougher path towards picking up yardage on the ground. Jaxon Smith-Njigba Player Prop 70+ Receiving Yards (+240) "JSN" has started to emerge as the Seahawks' #2 option in the passing game, with more targets, routes run, receptions, and yards than Tyler Lockett. Crucially, he also is the Seahawks' primary slot receiver, with 18 of his 21 targets coming when lined up inside. That's important here if the Lions are, in fact, missing Branch, as he's their primary slot cornerback. Detroit's secondary has made improvements this year, but it's still not a deep unit, especially with Emmanuel Mosley still on the IR. I'm going with 70 as the target yardage since it brings the total odds of the parlay to +1600, but you could adjust this up for a bigger payout or down for a better chance of hitting, depending on your preferences. Full Lions vs. Seahawks Parlay Odds: +1600 | $10 Bet Wins $160 About the Author Billy Ward has been passionate about fantasy sports since the 1990s and pursued a career as an MMA fighter, turning pro at 21 before returning to college to finish his degree. He has notable achievements in fantasy sports and DFS, including qualifying for the DraftKings UFC DFS world championship and five-figure wins in NFL DFS and best ball. Now a member of the Action Network’s predictive analytics team, Billy specializes in NFL, MLB, and combat sports, managing DFS player projection models and contributing to podcasts and live betting shows. Follow Billy Ward @Psychoward586 on Twitter/X.
Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg dies after battle with cancer
Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg lost his battle with cancer on Monday. He was 65. A 20th-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 MLB Draft, Sandberg quickly moved through the Phillies system despite his humble beginnings. He made his major league debut at the end of the 1981 season, getting six plate appearances in 13 games, his only hit coming off of a bat he borrowed from shortstop Larry Bowa. Drafted as a shortstop, the Phillies hoped that Sandberg would be the heir apparent for Bowa. However, that 13-game stint convinced the Phillies that he was not the answer. Although Sandberg had played at second and third as well in the minors, he was blocked at those positions by Manny Trillo and Mike Schmidt respectively. Bowa and Sandberg were traded to the Cubs during the 1981-82 offseason, with shortstop Ivan DeJesus heading to Philadelphia. Sandberg, now a second baseman, had a solid first two seasons in Chicago before exploding into stardom in 1984. He posted a .314/.367/.520 batting line in his 700 plate appearances, hitting 19 homers and 36 doubles while stealing 32 bases as he led the Cubs to their first postseason berth since 1945. Sandberg made his first All-Star Game, was named the NL MVP, won a Silver Slugger and his second Gold Glove award. A perennial All-Star, Sandberg possessed a combination of power and speed at second base that was rare for his era. He was a 10-time All-Star, winning nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. Sandberg posted a lifetime .285/.344/.452 batting line in his 9282 plate appearances, hitting 282 homers and 403 doubles while stealing 344 bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame 2005 in his third year on the ballot. After a decade away from the game, Sandberg returned as a minor league manager in the Cubs system in 2007, moving up the ladder to Triple-A in 2009. After Cubs manager Mike Quade was fired, and Sandberg was passed over for the opening, he joined the Phillies organization in 2011. After three years in the Phillies organization, he became the interim manager in 2013, and was eventually hired full-time at the end of the season. Sandberg lasted just over two years in total as the Phillies manager, resigning after 74 games in 2015 as the losses piled up. He remained in the game as a goodwill ambassador for the Cubs before announcing that he had prostate cancer in 2024. Although his cancer had gone into remission, it returned in December, spreading to other organs before Sandberg ultimately lost his battle. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Sandberg during this difficult time.
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