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Why Scotty Pippen Jr., Ja Morant are just kidding themselves with bold Thunder claim
On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies saw their season come to an end in the first round of the playoffs. Despite being swept at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, multiple members of the team feel they could have stacked up with the title hopefuls.
The series started in historic fashion with the Thunder pulling off a 51-point victory. Things further took a turn for the worst for Memphis in Game 3 when Ja Morant got injured after taking a hard fall.
After the Thunder completed their sweep, Morant uttered a bold take by saying he felt the Grizzlies could have pulled off an upset if he didn't get hurt. While on FanDuel TV's "Run It Back" show Tuesday, Scotty Pippen Jr. echoed that same stance.
"Third game we're up, Ja goes down," Pippen Jr. said. "Even the fourth game, we still competed. It could go either way I feel like if he doesn't go out."
Scotty Pippen Jr. says the Grizzlies could've taken down the Thunder if Ja Morant did not get injured
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 29, 2025
"We felt pretty well...it could go either way if he doesn't go out."@spippenjr | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/bADU6xVaV7
Although they never managed to secure a win, the Grizzlies did make things interesting in the latter half of the series. In Game 3, the Grizzlies had a 26-point lead going into halftime before OKC fought back and won, 114-108. Game 4 ended up being the closest of the four matchups, with the Thunder walking out with a two-point victory.
The Grizzlies might feel the series could have been a toss-up, but the opening games tell the true story. The Thunder were clearly the better team from the beginning and made that apparent with a pair of blowout victories on their home floor. Even if the Grizzlies managed to take one of the games on their home floor, it's doubtful they would win outside of Memphis.
Cohesion is a major factor in the Thunder being the team that advanced. OKC has been a tight-knit squad all year, while the Grizzlies have been scrambling since firing their coach toward the end of the regular season.
Morant's injury certainly shifted things, but their chances of pulling off an upset were slim from the beginning. Upon being swept, the Grizzlies will now regroup in the offseason in hopes of contending in 2026.
More must-reads:
- Ja Morant makes bold five-word claim about Thunder-Grizzlies series
- Cavaliers, Thunder prove their regular-season records were for real
- The '2023-24 NBA playoff points-per-game leaders' quiz
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Warriors Predicted to Send Jonathan Kuminga to Trail Blazers for $55 Million Defensive Duo in Offseason Trade
The NBA offseason has slowed down a ton since the end of the Summer League but despite that, one headline has remained the talk around the league. That would be the ongoing saga between the Golden State Warriors and restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Of course, it has been reported that Kuminga has turned down the Warriors’ contract offer and while other teams have offered him a contract in free agency, they have failed to meet Golden State’s high asking price in a potential sign-and-trade. As the Warriors continue to await Kuminga’s decision, they have already missed out on many free agent targets as they have failed to make any additions to their roster outside of the 2025 draft. Because of this, Golden State is likely wanting Kuminga’s ongoing situation to end as soon as possible so that they can start upgrading their roster and Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Raman recently released a mock trade that would send the young forward to the Portland Trail Blazers. Warriors predicted to trade Jonathan Kuminga to Trail Blazers In the trade, the Warriors would send Kuminga and two first-round picks to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Toumani Camara and Robert Williams III while also receiving a 2026 second-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks for Gui Santos. Portland would also send Matisse Thybulle to Atlanta for Kobe Bufkin and a 2030 second-round pick. This would be an interesting trade for every team involved as the Trail Blazers would land another young player to build around while the Warriors would address two key needs on their roster. For Golden State, adding a young defensive-minded forward in Camara would be a great addition to their roster as he would provide them with another great scorer and defender in their lineup. The Warriors would also fill their hole at the center position by adding Williams III who is a great defender and solid inside scorer, though he has had injury problems throughout his career. While this trade would work out for the Warriors, it would be a major risk for them to give up two future first-round picks and the Trail Blazers may also be unwilling to move on from Camara after he showed out for them last season.
Jalen Milroe Surges Past Former NFL Starter on First Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart
Despite being viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe ended up sliding into the third round. The 22-year-old who was the starter for Alabama for two seasons was selected with the No. 92 pick by the Seattle Seahawks. Although every player's dream is to go in the first round, Milroe likely couldn't have gone to a better situation. There is virtually no pressure on him as the Seahawks signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Sam Darnold, to a three-year, $100.5 million contract this offseason, and also have Drew Lock, who has started 28 career games on the roster as well. However, based on ESPN's initial depth chart, Milroe may be climbing the depth chart sooner than most expected. Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart As reported by ESPN, the Seahawks depth chart goes as follows: QB1: Sam Darnold QB2 Jalen Milroe QB3 Drew Lock If this truly ends up being the case, Milroe has taken major strides following his final season at Alabama. During his final year in Tuscaloosa, Milroe was criticized heavily for forcing passes into windows that weren't there after being late on reads. In his final season at Alabama, Milroe threw a career-high 11 interceptions to just 16 touchdowns, an increase of five more interceptions than he threw in 2023. Although training camp is still ongoing and the preseason games have yet to be played, clearly, Milroe is finding some success in the pacific northwest.
Yankees' unlikely answer emerges from depth chart to save season — for now
One out, seventh inning, 2-2 tie in Arlington. Ben Rice watched from the dugout as manager Aaron Boone called Paul Goldschmidt to pinch-hit for Austin Wells. When Goldschmidt crushed a 0-2 fastball over the left-field wall for the go-ahead run, the New York Yankees had their first lead since the fifth inning. More importantly, they had it because Rice's catching ability made the crucial substitution possible. The 26-year-old's emergence as a multi-position weapon couldn't be more timely. The Yankees entered Wednesday's Texas series finale having blown a seven-game AL East lead since May 28, sitting 6.5 games behind Toronto and 3.5 behind Boston for the first wild card. They'd started August 0-5, desperate for any break before facing Houston at home. Rice represents the internal solution they've needed. His .779 OPS sits well above the .719 MLB average, powered by 16 home runs and elite contact metrics. Baseball Savant ranks him in the 95th percentile or higher in hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity, expected slugging and expected weighted on-base average. Those numbers seem impossible considering where Rice started. The 2021 12th-round Dartmouth pick hit .171 in 178 plate appearances last season. But knowing he'd catch in 2025, Rice added 10 pounds to his frame and worked relentlessly on his receiving skills. The defensive flexibility pays dividends beyond Wednesday's game. Rice has posted a +2 fielding run value across 84 innings caught and 180 innings at first base. Not spectacular, but competent enough to create the matchup advantages Boone exploited against the Rangers. Rice embodies exactly what championship teams find within their system. Aaron Judge remains the Yankees' best player, but Rice may be their most valuable in pure utility terms. His ability to produce above-average offense while handling two premium positions creates strategic options other teams lack. Wednesday's sequence proved the point. Without Rice's catching ability, Boone couldn't have pinch-hit Goldschmidt in that crucial spot. The move worked because Rice had spent months building trust through consistent performance at both positions. The Yankees still trail Toronto by 6.5 games with the Astros series looming next. Their playoff chances remain fragile yet likely, per FanGraphs, after months of disappointing baseball. But Rice's ascension from .171 hitter to essential depth piece shows what's possible when overlooked talent meets opportunity. If the Yankees accomplish anything meaningful this season, they'll trace it back to moments like Wednesday's seventh inning. Not because of Goldschmidt's clutch homer, but because Ben Rice made that moment possible.
Lions CB undergoes shoulder surgery, will miss 2025 season
Ennis Rakestraw will not play in 2025. The second-year corner was already known to be a candidate to miss time, but the Lions placed him on injured reserve Thursday. Only players released via an injury settlement are eligible to play after being moved to IR at this point in the offseason. Given his status as a 2024 second-round pick, that will obviously not be the case for Rakestraw. After what was essentially a redshirt rookie season, this news is a significant blow for team and player. Lions head coach Dan Campbell recently said Rakestraw was going to miss time due to a shoulder injury. Surgery took place on Thursday, and NFL insider Jordan Schultz notes the procedure was a success. That is of course only a small consolation considering the fact Rakestraw’s rehab process will cost him the entire campaign. The 23-year-old logged just 141 total snaps across eight games last season. A starting cornerback role was not in play since Detroit still has Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson in the fold and replaced Carlton Davis with D.J. Reed via free agency. Still, Rakestraw was in position to occupy a backup spot on the perimeter, so an injury to Arnold or Reed could have elevated him to first-team action. Now, the Lions’ secondary depth will be tested after the unit dealt with numerous injuries last season. Luq Barcoo and D.J. Miller were signed earlier this week. Veteran Avonte Maddox represents an experienced option amongst the team’s remaining backups, although he is best suited for slot and/or safety duties. Rock Ya-Sin has spent his entire career as a corner, but the Lions have tried him at safety this offseason. In the wake of Rakestraw’s injury, it will be interesting to see that plan changes and Ya-Sin’s attention turns back to the cornerback position. With nearly $48M in cap space, Detroit can easily afford a one-year deal amongst the remaining free agents at the CB spot. Asante Samuel Jr., Rasul Douglas and Kendall Fuller are some of the veterans still looking for a gig at this point in the offseason. With a vacancy in the secondary, it will be interesting to see if the Lions pursue a contract with any member of that trio or another cover man on the market.
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