The son of an all-time great coach is continuing his own basketball journey.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Monday that Buddy Boeheim plans to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. As an Exhibit 10 player, Boeheim would be on a one-year contract for the league minimum salary.
The 24-year-old Boeheim is the son of retired Syracuse coaching legend Jim Boeheim. Buddy was a walk-on for his dad at Syracuse and spent four total seasons there. He went undrafted in 2022 but latched on with the Detroit Pistons on a two-way contract. Buddy posted NBA averages of 2.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8.7 minutes a game over two seasons in Detroit and also spent time with the Pistons’ Summer League and G League teams.
It was in the G League last season with the Motor City Cruise that Buddy was able to thrive a bit more. He averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game over 31 appearances, also canning 43.1 percent of his threes. Now Buddy is parlaying that success into a deal with the Thunder, who recently signed another well-known name from the college ranks too.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have done all they can to build the best possible team without giving up any of their assets, including their draft capital. More news: Lakers Hiring Former Mavericks Award-Winning Coach The Lakers lost one player to the Houston Rockets, Dorian Finney-Smith, at the start of free agency, but have gained three players, two of whom were off the buyout market. Los Angeles has been methodical in their approach as they prepare for the summers ahead, specfically the summer of 2027. While that is the case, the Lakers were expected to make a big move this offseason. That hasn't and will likely not happen. There were a ton of pieces out there that could have made sense for the Lakers, including a potential trade with one of their rivals, the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers have pieces that the Lakers could benefit from, including center Robert Williams III. A trade for Williams is not out of the question; however, a trade also involving Matisse Thybulle to go along with Williams may not be an option. According to The Athletic's Dan Woike, a trade for LA centering Williams and Thybulle is not likely. "I have a hard time believing a team that’s so close to the first apron that it can’t currently sign a free agent would gamble on not one, but two guys that have no track record of availability." More news: New Lakers Signing Recalls Moment He First Defended Kobe Bryant in NBA The chances of that happening, according to Woike, are not high. However, those two are the types of players who could make the Lakers legitimate title contenders. The Lakers have had Williams on their radar for what seems like forever. The 27-year-old center is an injury-riddled player, but he is just the type of player the Lakers need. Williams is a defensive-minded player who can protect the rim better than anybody in the league. He was limited to 20 games this past season and has failed to play more than 61 games in his seven-year career. Thybulle falls under the same category, at least that was the case last season. The 28-year-old was limited to 15 games this season, but when he is on the court, he is one of the more tenacious defenders in the league. He's earned two NBA All-Defensive nods while averaging 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. The Lakers could use both Williams and Thybulle, but that seems unlikely as things stand. Latest Lakers News For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders played host to the San Francisco 49ers today for what was a highly productive and intense time of work. It was a good day of work for both teams, but six Raiders in particular owned the field versus their opponent, and I will tell you who they are and what they did. You don’t want to miss this insider take on how the day transpired. The Condor Is Hunting The music was blaring, and the crowd was cheering, but from the first rep of practice against the 49ers, Maxx Crosby was, as always, entirely focused. You could feel his relief at being able to go up against someone not wearing the Silver and Black. Although the practice didn’t allow tackling, this was his territory, and he wanted everyone to know he wasn’t there to entertain. With the ease of a warm knife cutting through butter, Maxx Crosby spent just as much time in the 49ers' backfield as their quarterback, Brock Purdy. He made it clear to everyone on the opposing team that he would do what he wanted, to whom he wanted, whenever he wanted. I’ve said this all camp, and today was no different: he is the best player on the field every time he steps onto it. Kyu Making the 49ers Blu(e) No one on the Raiders team had as much to gain or lose today, especially during the game on Saturday, as Kyu Blu Kelly. Today, he performed outstandingly—no, he was excellent. He played with confidence and fluidity, making multiple plays against the top-tier 49ers. Without any ego, the Raiders' rising star not only looks the part but also plays the part, showcasing a significant improvement from the younger version of himself earlier this year. Carroll couldn’t help but rave about his performance. "I'm glad you noticed it because I'm noticing it, too. He's had plays every day for about the last five or six days out here. Mock Game Two, he's just been really active. Seems like he's really settling in, and his aggressive style of play has really shown up. So, I'm fired up for him. If you've noticed, I don't know if it happened today, but yesterday, he got work with the ones just to see how he fits in and all of that. Just a great example of a guy competing his butt off and try to make a statement." Brock Bowers Doing Brock Bowers Things Brock Bowers, the NFL's best tight end and one of the truly elite players in the game, has somehow managed to improve even further. While the addition of a new quarterback may play a role, it doesn't diminish Bowers' exceptional ability to manipulate defenders, make impossible catches, and perform physically extraordinary feats that leave onlookers in awe during every practice. It's almost as if Bigfoot has a poster of Brock Bowers on his wall; this young man possesses skills that seem practically divine, playing his position at a level never seen before. During today's practice, he once again showcased his talent with several touchdowns and impressive catches, but one play, in particular, stood out as otherworldly. Running full speed toward the sideline with a 49ers defender in perfect coverage, Geno Smith threw an impeccable pass into a six or seven-inch window. Bowers leaped to make the catch, and despite the momentum that would have carried any other player out of bounds, he somehow got his feet down and, defying the laws of physics, burst upfield. Isaac Newton would be turning over in his grave at what Bowers can do. Although he hasn’t even played a game in his second year yet, he is poised to completely redefine his position by the time his career comes to a close. This was just one of the many outstanding catches he made today. Please don’t feel bad, 49ers fans. No one can guard him. No one. Book(er) It Thomas Booker joined the Raiders in a trade for Jakorian Bennett, and John Spytek deserves recognition for successfully acquiring a starting defensive tackle from the Super Bowl champions. With his exceptional motor and drive, Booker has quickly emerged in the desert and is now the second-best defensive tackle on the team, poised to start alongside Adam Butler. His enthusiasm is a joy to watch, and he complements a defensive line led by Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, alongside the impressive Adam Butler. The Raiders' defensive line is shaping up to be elite with their starting four. Today, Booker particularly stood out against a 49ers team that appeared disorganized. Carroll didn’t mince words praising his new defensive weapon today, "He's done really well. I mean, quick learner. Just pick stuff up right off the bat. He's right now battling to play a lot and that means he's going with ones quite a bit. He deserves to. He's already shown that. I'm really excited about our chance to get him here, and he's an amazing kid. I can't wait for you guys to talk to him, to hear from him; he's really something." Jakobi Meyers, Pay the Man Jakobi Myers is one of the most underrated and, frankly, disrespected wide receivers in the game of football, unlike the drama that surrounded Davante Adams and the success that many expected from him—which ultimately did not materialize—this drama-free superstar knows how to win. Meyers is an egoless talent and the ideal teammate. Every single day, he makes impressive catches and contributes to plays, often selflessly blocking and making the position look easy. In a recent game against some of the best defenders from the 49ers, Meyers truly dominated the field. He executed perfect routes, and when Geno Smith moved, Meyers matched his movements flawlessly, finding open space to make plays. I have no idea where the misguided criticism of Meyers comes from, but knowledgeable football analysts recognize his value and contribution to the team. It's time to put an end to the doubt, Spytek. Pay the man. Carroll praised Meyers today, "He's so sure handed, so steady, so improvisational, that he can get himself open. With he and Brock [Bowers], it's tough to cover those two guys. And so, they complement each other in a great manner, but Jakobi [Meyers] has done a fantastic job every day we've come out here he's making plays." Is Michael Mayer the Incredible Hulk in Real Life? Michael Mayer has had an impressive training camp. Along with his coaching staff, he has found his rhythm and reemerged as the offensive threat the Raiders envisioned when they drafted him as the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, during today’s practice against the 49ers, Mayer showcased something we hadn’t seen during camp. He delivered a block on a 49er player that is sure to leave a lasting impression for years to come. Mayer was known for his physicality coming out of Notre Dame, but it hadn't fully materialized in Las Vegas until now. Today, he resembled the Incredible Hulk, demonstrating his comfort in the game with two impressive blocks that showcased his selfless nature in making plays, even when he wasn’t directly involved. Michael Mayer appears to be back to his form from South Bend, and that spells trouble for the rest of the NFL. Geno Smith’s Leadership on Full Display Geno Smith has been, without question, the best quarterback I have covered in my six years as a Raiders Beat writer, and it isn’t close. His ability to spin the ball, throw everyone open, and make every throw has been terrific. On a field with a quarterback on the opposing team making $16 million more dollars per year than him, Geno was without any doubt the best QB on the field. Multiple great throws at this point are taken for granted since he does it every year, but one thing he did shone louder than any of the other amazing things he had done. WR Tre Tucker has had an excellent camp, but started with three critical drops. Plagued during his rookie year with drops, it was the first time we had seen it since, but after the third Geno sprinted down the field, encouraging him. Leadership. All Tucker did was respond with multiple touchdowns and no more drops. It was a terrific example of this team embracing him. It doesn’t matter if you talk to your teammates; if they don’t respect you, they don’t listen. This team doesn’t like Geno; they love him and respect him. Geno Smith owned the field today, but more than what he did to the 49ers was what he did for his teammates. He led, and they followed. He tried to dismiss his actions when asked about his pep talk to Tucker, but the fact is his leadership is impressive. He said after practice about the interaction, “For sure, there's going to be ups and downs in this game, you're never going to be perfect. We strive for perfection, but we're all human. So, the main thing whenever a guy makes a mistake, or anything happens out there that we don't want to happen, it's about showing that we have each other's back. And so, whenever you can go up to a guy and pat him on the back, or give him a word of encouragement, that's what we're here for, and they do it for me as well. So it's not just a one-way street, it's a two-way street. I just want to continue to breathe life into my guys, because we got some really, really good players, and they work extremely hard. So when they mess up, it's okay. We move on to the next play and keep going." We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp and Pete Carroll’s comments.
Swifties are buzzing over Taylor Swift's newly announced song "Ruin the Friendship," with many wondering if it's a nod to a rumored rift between the pop star and longtime friend Blake Lively. The speculation comes as Lively is locked in a high-profile legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. The track, listed on Swift's upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl — set to drop Oct. 3 — was revealed during her appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce's "New Heights" podcast. According to Yahoo, some fans quickly linked the title to reports that Swift had distanced herself from Lively after Baldoni named her in his since-dismissed $400 million defamation suit. In court documents, Baldoni accused Lively of using Swift's influence to gain creative control of the film and even shared alleged texts in which Lively referred to Swift as one of her "dragons." Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and running a smear campaign against her — claims he denies. Evidence Shows Taylor Swift Wrote Song Before Lively Drama Began While the theory gained traction online, the timeline tells a different story. Swift shared that she wrote The Life of a Showgirl during the summer of 2024, while touring Europe, months before Lively's allegations became public in December. "I'd do three shows, take a few days off, fly to Sweden to record, and then head back to tour," she said on the podcast, ENews said. Adding to the doubt, Swift and Lively were last seen together in October 2024 on a double date with Kelce and Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds. The couple also attended Swift's Eras Tour earlier that year. In January 2025, a source told E! News that rumors of a falling-out were "not true." Swift, who has been friends with Lively for over a decade and is godmother to her four children, has often publicly praised the "Gossip Girl" alum. In past interviews, she even said Lively and Reynolds were among the first to hear her new music. While Swift's lyrics have often drawn from personal experiences, "Ruin the Friendship" could easily be about something else entirely. Neither Swift nor Lively has commented on the speculation.
Last Friday's practice against Miami was easily the biggest one of Bears training camp to that date. They learned their first-team defense stacked up well against an offense regarded as potentially explosive and they saw enough bigger plays from Caleb Williams with the offense to expect they'll all eventually come around after more reps. Just like with anything in the NFL season, the more you get into it they only get bigger. Friday's practice against the Buffalo Bills is even more critical for the Bears and definitely the biggest of training camp because much could be revealed at tackle. It's huge because it could be the key practice in the tackle shuffle going on, and that left tackle spot might eventually be the key to how well their offense plays -- at least in the early season. There are only two practices after Friday before the preseason workouts end. They have Tuesday and Wednesday practices next week prior to the Friday, Aug. 22 game at Kansas City. There are two days off, one for travel and one after Sunday's game in that time frame. What happens in this Friday practice and the game with Buffalo will provide plenty of food for coaches' thoughts. Again on Thursday the Bears looked at undrafted second-year tackle Theo Benedet at left tackle with starters. They've never used Jones anywhere but left tackle and that's where he remains, for the most part, although they did have him line up at right tackle for some walk-through plays. Meanwhile, they've worked Ozzy Trapilo at right tackle with the backups behind starter Darnell Wright for two practices. It all sounds like one of several scenarios could be unfolding. 1. Jones has left tackle spot It will remain status quo despite some of the harsh words line coach Dan Roushar had for the one whiff Jones had in Sunday's tie with Miami, calling it "inexcusable." Ultimately, it was a meaningless preseason game. They must have confidence Jones has done better both in camp and also starting for two other years, because inexcusable didn't mean cutting him. Moving Trapilo to right tackle this week in practice makes sense because he would be in the mix for swing tackle and would need plays on that side to make sure he's in the flow. He hasn't played there much in camp or since last year at Boston College. The Bears put him with the backups because it really makes little sense to give starter Darnell Wright reps against second-team guys when he's obviously their starting right tackle and has been facing starting competition for two-plus seasons. He gets no benefit from facing backups. Making Wright play with the backups would make no sense unless they really were considering putting his job up for grabs. There is absolutely no indication of this. So they left Wright with starters when he was on the field and let Trapilo play with second-teamers at practice against backup defensive linemen like Austin Booker, Dominique Robinson and Tonah Kpassagnon. As for Benedet, they really want to see what he's capable of doing because it's possible fourth or fifth tackles would be on the practice squad. Last year they kept only three tackles on the initial 53-man roster but spent most of the season with four tackles on it. Larry Borom had been designated to return from IR at the start. They waived Jake Curhan, but later brought him back to the practice squad. They had Kiran Amegadjie as a rookie on the roster. Most of the season was spent with four tackles. Benedet spent last year on the practice squad but flashed with his pass blocking in Sunday's tie. It's possible he was so good they might think he fits better than Amegadjie. They had Amegadjie work with the third team at left tackle, which can't be good for him any way you look at it. Perhaps Amegadjie's roster spot is in danger despite being a 2024 third-round pick. Either way, the fourth tackle might need to play and they have to be sure if Benedet has the potential to be that guy. 2. Jones will being traded This will be the more controversial option. They could have already determined Trapilo is good enough to start at left tackle and they want to see if Benedet really has the skill he flashed because he might need to be the swing tackle and not a practice squad player. If they trade Jones, it's entirely possible they would need to play Trapilo at right tackle if Wright suffered an injured. If Jones had been pulled from playing with starters, it would be easier for suspicion he'll be traded soon, but he has continued to get some plays as starter. It could be they're not certain Jones will be traded and they're just preparing for the possibility. Regardless, Benedet is going to need experience at both tackles to be on the roster as a swing tackle, so his reps at left tackle make sense. He had been playing right tackle earlier. 3. Uncertain Roushar At this point, it's unlikely Roushar would be undecided on what he'll do at left tackle and right tackle. He's had all offseason to look at these players. However, it's simply possible he isn't certain about the pecking order or experience level for backups at each spot and needs as many reps against the best possible competition for them to make sure who's swing tackle and fourth tackle. So, Benedet gets first-team plays because he showed something against Miami they hadn't previously seen and he has been the only one of the top five tackles not to get regular reps against first- and second-string players. Benedet is a bit like guard Bill Murray last year, who came out of nowhere to get onto the roster. Benedet has been here, he just wasn't really taken seriously by media. 4. Trapilo is left tackle starter If they had decided this already, and were designating Jones as swing tackle, they'd probably need Trapilo getting as many first-team reps as possible. So he'd be getting all of them. But this isn't the case. This seems the most unlikely scenario, but it doesn't mean Trapilo wouldn't eventually be left tackle starter if a trade of Jones occurred in-season.
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