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Knicks are new favorites in East after injury to Celtics' Jayson Tatum
Coming off a 121-113 victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals vs. the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks are one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
The Knicks went all in this offseason by trading for forward Mikal Bridges and big man Karl-Anthony Towns. These moves have paid huge dividends, as the group looks capable of competing for a championship.
Aside from New York taking a 3-1 lead in the series, the biggest takeaway from Game 4 was Boston's Jayson Tatum's potential Achilles injury.
In light of recent developments, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has changed his stance regarding the NBA title hopefuls. He is confident the Knicks will be one of the last teams standing this season, now that the Celtics could be without their star player.
On Tuesday's episode of ESPN's "First Take," Perkins discussed the Knicks as they get closer to eliminating the defending champions. He wouldn't be shocked if they secured a Larry O'Brien Trophy in June.
"Look, they going to the NBA Finals man. Once they close out the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks are headed to the NBA championship," Perkins said. "I'm a take it a step further, I wouldn't be surprised if they win it all if I'm being honest with you."
"I wouldn't be surprised if [the Knicks] win it all."
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 13, 2025
The crew didn't agree with this @KendrickPerkins take pic.twitter.com/ZkP3CvS5oN
New York gambled on building a team that could take down Boston, and it has paid off. The Knicks' versatility and impressive play in the clutch this playoffs could carry their momentum to the NBA Finals.
Even if New York can finish the job against Boston, tough challenges will still be ahead. As things currently stand, they're on a collision course for a rematch with the Indiana Pacers. Indiana might have eliminated them last year, but the circumstances would be different now.
With the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers hobbled, the Knicks should be considered favorites to represent the East in the Finals. They have a star duo in Towns and Jalen Brunson that continues to come up big when it matters most, and a supporting cast that thrives in their respective roles.
Only time will tell if this will be enough for the historic franchise to end its playoff drought.
More must-reads:
- Jalen Brunson busting an age-old myth about small guards
- Jalen Brunson puts Celtics on the brink in Game 4
- The 'Most points in an NBA playoff game for each franchise' quiz
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Lakers Receive Massive Jarred Vanderbilt Update Ahead of Upcoming Season
The Los Angeles Lakers will seem to enter the upcoming season with virtually the same roster, minus some key additions. More news: Lakers Insider Urges Team to Make Major Change to Starting Five The Lakers have only lost one player this offseason and added three new players who could play vital roles for the team. While that is the case, the core remains intact, led by the likes of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura. Whether the current roster is enough to compete in the loaded Western Conference remains to be seen. The Lakers' top three are as good as it gets in the NBA; however, the questions lie more with the others for the purple and gold. The Lakers' depth is not as strong, which is one of the primary reasons they fell short in the first round of the playoffs last season. One of their key players who didn't step up when needed most was forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who has had difficulty staying on the court. Injuries for the last two seasons have riddled Vanderbilt, but it appears that they are no longer affecting him, at least this offseason. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Vanderbilt is healthier now than he's been for the past handful of offseasons. “I’m also hearing Jarred Vanderbilt is healthier now than he was at any point last season, which will naturally spark hope that the versatile forward seems like an offseason addition himself when training camp opens in late September.” More news: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Has Reportedly Already Agreed to Massive Contract Extension With LA The Lakers traded for the defensive-minded forward in February 2023. He came out of the gates hot in the purple and gold and established himself as a fan favorite. However, after the 2022-23 season, Vanderbilt was dealing with a severe foot injury heading into the 2023-24 season. That season, he was held to 29 games with six starts. Vanderbilt missed the back half of the season and the playoffs. As for the 2024-25 season, the 26-year-old was held to 36 games after making his season debut in January 2025. While he was on the court, it was clear that he was not the same player that the Lakers had traded for in 2023. Vanderbilt will now enter the second season of his four-year, $48 million contract with the Lakers. More news: Lakers’ Shake Milton Already Finds New Home Days After Release, Signs 2-Year Deal For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Proposed Matheson Trade Makes Little Sense for Canadiens or Maple Leafs
A recent trade pitch from Heavy.com has the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring veteran defenseman Mike Matheson from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Simon Benoit, restricted free agent Nick Robertson, and a 2028 third-round pick. While the idea might seem intriguing on paper—especially for a Toronto team looking to add offensive punch from the blue line—the numbers don’t add up terribly well. Matheson, entering the final year of his eight-year, $39 million contract, carries a $4.875 million cap hit. In this hypothetical deal, the Leafs would send out Benoit’s $1.35 million salary and the unsigned Robertson, meaning the club would be taking on over $3.5 million in additional cap obligations. As it stands, the Maple Leafs don’t have that kind of space to play with. In fact, the deal would put them roughly $675,000 over the salary cap, forcing GM Brad Treliving to make additional moves just to stay compliant. That’s a steep price for a player they don’t necessarily need. Toronto’s blue line is already deep, especially with recent additions like Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The team also has Morgan Rielly and Jake McCabe, with Brandon Carlo acquired at last season’s trade deadline. Treliving has made it clear he likes the “length” and physicality of his defense corps. While Matheson would add some offensive flair—he posted 31 points in 80 games last season—he doesn’t offer enough of a game-changing upgrade to justify the cap crunch when the real need is more scoring up front. If the idea is to gain that scoring from the back end, it can only mean Toronto has run out of realistic options for their top-six forward group. Canadiens Likely Don’t Love This Trade Either The Canadiens, for their part, could benefit from shedding salary on a player they no longer really need and acquiring two young, controllable pieces. However, as one commenter on the post noted, GM Kent Hughes likes Matheson and has already said there is no rush to trade the defenseman. The Canadiens need a second-line center, and the return from Toronto doesn’t help fill that need. From Toronto’s perspective, this move feels like a forced fit. For Montreal, it removes a tradeable asset and doesn’t bring them back what they’re ideally looking for.
Steelers rookie Will Howard may have already moved up the depth chart
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
Cubs Should Only Be Willing To Trade Multiple Top Prospects for These Four Players
The Chicago Cubs have been the topic of seemingly endless rumors and speculation as to what they could wind up doing before the trade deadline. It makes sense why as one of the better teams in baseball with a limited window and the prospect pool to go out and get just about any player who may be available should they choose to empty the farm. Guys like Owen Caissie, Jaxon Wiggins, Moisés Ballesteros, James Triantos and Jefferson Rojas have been named possibilities to move, but the Cubs must be pragmatic here. While Chicago should be aggressive, they also must be smart, trying to win both this year and in the future. More News: Cubs Predicted to Acquire All-Star Pitcher From Royals at MLB Trade Deadline Dealing away premium prospects in exchange for guys who are half season rentals can often wind up backfiring, and if the Cubs are going to make a massive blockbuster, it must be for players with control attached. Sure, Eugenio Suárez would be amazing, but unless the Arizona Diamondbacks come down off their asking price, it does not make much sense. Here are four guys who it actually makes sense to make a mammoth offer to acquire. Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins RHP Ryan has understandably been the subject of rumors as the Twins fade out of contention during what has been by far the best season of his career. But all indications are that Minnesota would have to be blown away by an offer. More News: Cubs Should Go After Hated Rival's Former Star Pitcher After Shocking DFA A package including three of the aforementioned blue chip prospects can be justified here for Chicago. Ryan has pitched to a 2.63 ERA and 0.903 WHIP with a 10-4 record in 20 appearances so far this campaign, already accounting for a ridiculous bWAR of 4.5. He's as valuable as they come and has two more years of arbitration after 2025, giving the Cubs a brand new ace to pair with Shota Imanaga. MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals LHP The only reason Gore is even thought of as potentially available is because there's a new regime in the nation's capital after they fired both manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo earlier in July. Gore has officially broken out as a legitimate ace this season after years of hype as a top prospect. He has a 3.59 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 112.2 innings. Similarly to Ryan, he is arbitration eligible for two more full seasons after 2025. If he is dealt, it would take a massive offer to land him. More News: Cubs Can Land Intriguing Consolation Prize at Trade Deadline in Twins All-Star Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians RP It's a little bit tougher to justify trading multiple top prospects for a closer, however, Clase is not only one of the best in the game, he has one of the best contracts as well. Set to make $6.5 million next year before club options for $10 million each of the two following seasons, Clase makes less than half of what his comparable peers make and produces at the same level. Last year, his 0.61 ERA and 0.659 WHIP had him finish third in AL Cy Young voting. After a rough start to this season, he is back on track and looking like himself again. Clase would be the featured piece of the bullpen for years to come. More News: Cubs Expected To Focus on This Over Eugenio Suarez Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins RHP Cabrera would not go for quite the same haul as Ryan or Gore, but there's a good chance that Caissie alone would not get it done. The 27-year-old is emerging this season as a legitimate stud, and unlike the two aforementioned aces, he has three years of arbitration instead of two. With a 3.48 ERA and looking like he has finally arrived as a big league top-of-the-rotation anchor, Cabrera has the chance to come to Chicago and blossom. If the Cubs are willing to take a chance that he gets even better, an argument could be made that Cabrera should be the top target. For more Cubs news, head over to Cubs On SI.
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