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Nets' top free-agent priority revealed
The Brooklyn Nets will enter the offseason hoping to improve their roster. They finished 11th in the Eastern Conference this season, missing the play-in tournament by four games.
Mikal Bridges has proven himself to be the franchise's star player. However, finding some additional high-level talent is likely high on the agenda.
Nevertheless, Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks has confirmed that retaining Nic Claxton is the Nets' top priority entering the free-agency period.
“Nic is the No. 1 priority for us, there’s no doubt about that," Marks said. "We hope he’s a Net for a very long time. We hope we can continue to build around him and with him."
Nets GM Sean Marks on Nic Claxton: “Nic is the No. 1 priority for us, there’s no doubt about that. We hope he’s a Net for a very long time. We hope we can continue to build around him and with him.” pic.twitter.com/Q8eUh2pGRj
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) April 24, 2024
Claxton, 25, was drafted by the Nets with the 31st pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has developed into one of the most athletic rim-runners in the NBA.
This season, he averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 62.9 percent from the field. His athleticism also makes him a valuable defender around the rim. He averaged 2.1 blocks per game this season.
Brooklyn already has its primary offensive talent in place. Marks' comments make it clear that Claxton is seen as a vital part of the Nets' rebuilding plans. He can operate as a rim-protector and rim-runner and be a reliable space creator with his screening ability. With such a varied skill set, Claxton will be key to developing a team capable of making the playoffs.
Of course, Claxton will likely be looking for an increase on the $8.75 million he's been earning for the past two seasons. He's a more well-rounded player than he was when he signed that deal.
As such, it will be interesting to see if the Nets can secure the services of their homegrown talent or whether another team from around the league can poach Claxton with a higher offer.
If they fail to secure their top priority, the Nets will need to move fast; otherwise, they will risk going backward.
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Mock Trade Sends Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga to Pacers for Former Knicks’ Lottery Pick
The Golden State Warriors have had a disappointing offseason thus far as they have failed to make any additions to their roster outside of the 2025 draft. Of course, the Warriors were expected to be extremely active this offseason to upgrade their roster around their star trio of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green to try and chase a championship next season. Instead, Golden State has made no additions to their roster outside of their two second-round draft selections and the main reason why is the continued saga between them and restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. It has been reported that Kuminga has turned down the Warriors’ contract offer and Golden State is unwilling to meet his demands for a new contract. Other teams have also reportedly offered Kuminga a contract this summer but have failed to meet the Warriors’ high asking price for him in a sign-and-trade deal. With Kuminga’s situation still unresolved, the Warriors have already missed out on multiple free agent targets and options to upgrade their roster next season continue to dwindle as time passes. Warriors predicted to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Pacers Because of this, Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Raman recently released a three-team mock trade that would send Kuminga to the Indiana Pacers for a former New York Knicks' lottery pick with the Atlanta Hawks also being involved. In the trade, the Warriors would send Kuminga to the Pacers for Obi Toppin and a 2027 first-round pick. Golden State would also send Trayce Jackson-Davis and two second-round picks to the Hawks for Mouhamed Gueye. This is an interesting trade for every team involved, especially the Warriors as they would move on from two young players, though adding Toppin to their roster would be a major upgrade. For Toppin, he would give the Warriors an athletic forward who is coming off a stellar season in Indiana that saw him average a career-high 10.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. The 27-year-old forward is also an efficient three-point shooter and excels finishing around the rim. Golden State would also add a young center in Gueye who would give them more size in their frontcourt, which is something that they desperately need. Despite this, the Warriors may want more in return for a trade involving both Kuminga and Jackson-Davis, though adding Toppin and Gueye to their roster would be major improvement amid their underwhelming offseason.
Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Makes Revealing Confession About Playing In Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bunch of aggressive moves in the 2025 offseason. One of those moves was General Manager Omar Khan’s decision to trade away former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to acquire tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers clearly viewed Ramsey as a cornerstone piece to elevate their defense to an elite level in 2025. As training camp has come and gone, Ramsey has quickly reminded those in Latrobe, PA, just how dominant he can still be. Following a practice session, Ramsey sat down with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder for an episode of The Pivot podcast to share his early impressions of life in the Steel City. During the conversation, Ramsey spoke about the culture he has experienced since joining the Steelers, expressing admiration for the way the organization operates. He pointed to the smooth handling of TJ Watt’s contract negotiations as an example of how the Steelers take care of their own. "Probably so," Ramsey said on The Pivot podcast when asked if his career would have been different if the Steelers would have drafted him. "Yeah, 100 percent... If I would've started my career here, it probably would've been different. My focus may have been a little bit different at times. I may have been here my whole career. This is like a place where I feel like, one, they take care of they own. I truly believe that they take care of their own. Two, guys really want to be here." Ramsey explained that such mutual commitment between player and team is not common across the league, making Pittsburgh stand out. He also noted how much players genuinely want to be part of the organization, praising the coaching staff, fan base, and the team’s tradition of winning. To him, it is a football environment built for long-term success and player happiness. "I've heard them say it when they were going through TJ [Watt's] contract, I was watching Mike [Tomlin's] interviews," Ramsey said. "He's like, 'Both sides want to get it done, so it's gonna get done. That's not always the case where you at everywhere. But here, it is like, 'I want to be here. Let's figure it out. Let's do it the right way!' They handle business the right way. Fans are amazing here. Coaching staff is amazing here. They're always winning here. It's not much to not be happy about if you truly love football." Ramsey went further by admitting that if he had been drafted by the Steelers earlier in his career, things might have turned out much differently. He suggested that his mindset and focus could have been even sharper and that he might have spent his entire career in Pittsburgh. Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Really Loving His Time In Pittsburgh For Ramsey, the Steelers represent the kind of stability, respect, and winning culture that players strive for. His comments not only highlight his high regard for the organization, but also serve as a reminder of the unique culture that has made Pittsburgh one of the most respected franchises in the NFL. Ramsey was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He arrives in Pittsburgh at the age of 30, aiming to help the team build the best defense in the league. His career has included stops in Jacksonville, with the Los Angeles Rams where he won a Super Bowl, and with the Dolphins. Now he is enjoying his time in the Steel City. Do you believe Ramsey's career would have been a lot different had Pittsburgh originally drafted him in that 2016 NFL Draft?
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Denver Broncos Quarterback Bo Nix Addresses Shaky Performance
Ahead of the NFL season, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has emphasized stepping up as a leader. The former Oregon Ducks quarterback led his team to the NFL postseason as a rookie and is looking to make a further push in year two. The Denver Broncos faced the San Francisco 49ers for their first preseason game, and it was not Nix's best performance. He finished the game going 6-of-11 for 31 yards and one safety with zero touchdowns. Nix’s performance could be seen as concerning, or possibly just getting rust off, but the former Oregon quarterback has continued to take accountability. Nix Takes Accountability NFL insider Kay Adams was in Denver for the Broncos' practice on Tuesday. Nix and wide receiver Courtland Sutton sat down with Adams on the Up Adams show, and the second-year quarterback was not pleased with how practice went. “I like the narrative that we had a good practice, but I wasn’t necessarily too excited with it today,” Nix said. “I felt like, starting from me, I felt like the energy could have been better today. But, you know, I just got to do my job better. And, you know, until it’s perfect, it’s not done well enough.” Nix recently made the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025, and he shared a similar viewpoint. The former Ducks quarterback was ranked No. 64, and while that is an honor to be voted so highly by fellow NFL players, Nix felt like it was not good enough, and there are goals to still achieve. Preparing For Year Two One of the top aspects of the 2025 NFL season is that Nix and the Broncos will have many returning players on the offense. While there are new additions, having Sutton and the returning offensive line adds continuity. Nix is excited for the direction that the team is heading. “We’re excited to be able to learn and grow together. You know we got a good football team, but we don’t want to just be talk,” Nix added. “We’re gonna hear that enough. We want to go out there and actually be a good football team. So, it doesn’t happen by accident.” The Denver Broncos finished the 2024 season with a 10-7 record, thanks to an impressive final 10 games of the season. Of the final 10 games, the team won six, and Nix threw 24 touchdowns. This caused the Broncos to earn a playoff spot in Nix’s rookie season. While Nix may be having up-and-down practices, he proved he can turn things around, and the former Ducks quarterback can do it again in year two. Sean Payton Emphasizes Nix’s Leadership Nix taking accountability should come as no surprise. Earlier in training camp, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton emphasized that his quarterback is showing his leadership growth this year. “The leadership skillset, I think, comes at that position, and he’s comfortable with that. And when you're a young player, it’s just about proving yourself,” Payton told NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund and Patrick Claybon. “When you prove that you can play, they latch onto that, and I think it happened for him last year.” Nix is aware of the mistakes he is making and is working to hone his skills ahead of the season. The Broncos have two preseason games remaining where Nix could have the chance to turn things around and shake off the rust ahead of the season. The Broncos will first face the Arizona Cardinals (Aug. 16) then the New Orleans Saints (Aug. 23). Nix and the Denver Broncos will open the regular season against the Tennessee Titans at home on Sept. 7. RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
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