El SEGUNDO, Calif. -- It only took seven reps for a key Chargers offensive lineman to go down. Center Tyler Biadasz had his head down as he was carted into the facility.
On the seventh play of Tuesday morning's joint practice, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw a pass downfield to receiver Quentin Johnston, who made a heck of a grab while also being interfered with by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir.
While everyone was celebrating downfield, the training staff rushed to Biadasz, who was on the ground in pain and favoring his left leg. During the play to Johnston, left guard Kayode Awosika blocked 49ers defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez into Biadasz's leg.
The Chargers center was helped up by two trainers and onto the cart. As he sat on it, Biadasz hit the cart three times in frustration. Herbert and multiple players came over to offer their support.
"Obviously praying for the best," Herbert said after practice.

#biadasz #herbert #down

Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston appears to have avoided a serious injury.
Johnston, who limped off the field during Tuesday's joint practice against the49ers, appears to be just fine.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Johnston is not expected to miss much time, if any, after exiting practice with a lower body injury.
The 24-year-old did not finish the practice session; however, he may be available for the team's next practice, which won't be until this weekend after their Thursday night game against the 49ers.
Johnston is heading into his fourth year in the league. He is set to enter the final year of his four-year rookie deal, and it will be his biggest season yet. Availability, or lack thereof, is far from the issue with Johnston, as he's missed only five of a potential 51 games played in his first three seasons in the league.

#appears #chargers #quentin #adam

The Chargers plan to play their starters, including quarterback Justin Herbert, for exactly one series in their second preseason game against the 49ers this Thursday night. Head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed the decision following a collaborative joint practice with the 49ers, emphasizing the need to ramp up competitive game reps ahead of the regular season.
This matchup offers the first live-game look at the first-team unit executing the playbook of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
For Herbert, this brief appearance provides a crucial opportunity to establish rhythm with his primary targets, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre' Harris, along with the newcomers, tight ends David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. The starting offensive line will also be tested as the team continues to evaluate its ongoing battle for the starting left guard position.
Once the opening series concludes, Harbaugh will pull the starters and hand the game over to the backups, Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei, to finalize the remaining roster evaluations.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Jim Harbaugh reveals playing time plan for Chargers starters vs. 49ers

#starters

Aug. 17—Darius Wabbington announced a top six of Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, and Texas in late June. A month-and-a-half later, Illinois is squarely in the mix for the Class of 2027 five-star center.
The Illini are set to host Wabbington for an official visit the third weekend of October, per 247Sports' Brandon Jenkins. The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center, who is a consensus five-star recruit and ranked as high as the No. 15 overall prospect in his class, also has official visits scheduled with Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, North Carolina, Texas and Washington.
Wabbington is coming off an impressive junior year at Sunnyslope (Ariz.) where he averaged 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.6 **** ists in his third varsity season for the Vikings. He played for Compton Magic on the adidas 3SSB circuit where he was the third-leading rebounder and put up 16.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
Wabbington also has international experience, having played for the U.S. (alongside Illinois freshman Quentin Coleman) at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup earlier this summer. Wabbington and Team USA took silver after losing to Canada in the gold-medal game, and he averaged 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 **** ists in five games in Mexico.

#points #louisville #north #carolina

Updated Aug. 13, 2026 5:16 pm ET
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1223 ET – A jump in Adyen shares in response to a guidance upgrade that stems from two recent acquisitions suggests investors’ fear is coming out of the Dutch payments company’s stock price, AlphaValue’s Quentin de Villeneuve says in a research note. Adyen reported strong first-half results, with volumes and net revenue slightly ahead of consensus estimates, the ****** yst says. While Adyen hadn’t formally upgraded guidance, it had disclosed the Talon.One and Orb deals would contribute to its top-line growth, he adds. “Investors were fearing a growth slowdown. By boosting its revenue guidance through inorganic growth, Adyen gave the market the number it wanted to see,” de Villeneuve says. Shares close 16% higher, their biggest one-day gain since February 2024. (adria.calatayudwsj.com)

#adyen #investors

Brad Pitt, 62, has an eye-watering $130 million real estate portfolio spanning continents, including a Santa Barbara retreat and a cliff top property in Carmel Highlands. One of his most recent purchases is a $12 million mansion in Los Angeles with air-tight security features. The award-winning actor recently allowed a journalist from Esquire access into the heavily protected home, and then it was revealed how little time he really spends there…
The article explained that since Brad acquired the home in September of 2025, he has only managed to spend three odd weeks inside. Despite not frequenting the residence regularly, he seemed taken by the incredible features, particularly the view across the iconic city. He even spoke highly of it on a cloudy day. "June gloom. I love June gloom. It's just so much more contemplative and introspective," he said.
Brad has a gorgeous home in LA (@ Getty Images)
Brad purchased this house after his nearby $5.5 million home in Los Feliz was sadly ransacked by thieves, so this made security a keen focus for the star. The new property features a secure entryway, privacy with landscaping and a high-tech alarm system. The six-bed residence also features a scenic pool, a marble-clad bathroom and a recording studio due to the previous owner being The Killers' guitarist, Dave Keuning.
Brad and Angelina pictured in 2015 (@ Getty Images)

#home #million #security

The Chargers released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2026 season. While coaching staffs frequently remind fans to take early PR-generated depth charts with a grain of salt, this layout highlights several intense training camp position battles, personnel choices, and notable rookie standings.
Here are the key takeaways from each position group following the team's first depth chart release:
Justin Herbert firmly anchors the starting role. As no surprise, Trey Lance secures the direct backup QB2 spot over DJ Uiagalelei, setting expectations for how preseason game snaps will flow.
Omarion Hampton leads as the starting back. Behind him, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal are locked in a tight committee race for the primary RB2 role. Alec Ingold is the clear FB1, backed up by Scott Matlock. Matlock has also been getting reps at offensive tackle throughout camp.
Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston are listed as the primary starters alongside Tre' Harris. Camp standout Brenen Thompson, who is ahead of Derius Davis and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, is rapidly building momentum to push for meaningful reps by the regular season.

#depth #chart #primary

The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the 2026-27 NBA season with almost a brand-new roster, and ESPN's Malika Andrews thinks they'll take a step back from last season. When discussing whether the Lakers or the Boston Celtics will exceed expectations on NBA Today, Andrews revealed she expects them to be in the same boat.
"I see both of these teams as having actually fairly similar paths," Andrews said. "They're both going to be fighting to be sort of in that top six, maybe in danger of falling out of that top six in the league."
Now, the Lakers haven't finished outside the top four in the Western Conference since JJ Redick took over as head coach in 2024. They were the third seed in 2024-25 with a 50-32 record and the fourth seed in 2025-26 with a 53-29 record.
Redick, of course, had a certain LeBron James' **** istance in those two seasons, and that is no longer the case. James is among the many notable names who have departed the Lakers this offseason, with Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Luke Kennard also heading out of town.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are now the only key pieces left over, and they've seen the Lakers bring in the likes of Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin **** ton, Kevon Looney, Ziaire Williams, and Matisse Thybulle. It is an interesting collection of players.

#record

There are still several weeks to go in the summer of 2026, which means that people can only speculate about how good the new-look Los Angeles Lakers will be this coming season. LeBron James is gone, as are Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, and the Lakers have replaced them with men such as Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin ****** ton and Sandro Mamukelashvili, among others.
Some feel the franchise is definitely on the right track to building a championship team around Luka Doncic. Others feel its new players are incapable of getting the job done, and that the franchise gave those players outsized contracts while exhausting virtually all of its trade capital.
Channing Frye, who won the NBA championship with James on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, said during an episode of the "Road Trippin' Show" that the Lakers won't be able to compete with most of the teams that will make the playoffs in the Western Conference (h/t Fadeaway World).
"Make a playoff run?" Frye said. "No. They can make the playoffs. But no. I don't like the way that team is built at all. And maybe something happens, but no, they're going to lose to a team like Denver, Minnesota, OKC, Houston. I even got Phoenix right there, Utah. I mean, do I even have to say San Antonio?
"I just don't see the way that this team is built that they're really going to compete versus those type of other teams," Frye continued. "So, no. I don't think so."

#feel #right

Washington Huskies tight end Decker DeGraaf was one of 37 players in the country named to the 2026 preseason John Mackey Award watch list on Wednesday.
DeGraaf, a 6-foot-4 and 245-pound true junior, was also on the list ahead of the 2025 season, when he doubled his catch total from his freshman year and proved to be a dependable weapon for Demond Williams Jr. behind Denzel Boston and Dezmen Roebuck.
The former four-star recruit out of Glendora High School finished third on the team in receptions (32) and receiving yards (360) while being tied with running back Jonah Coleman for third with a pair of touchdown catches.
The other four UW players to catch one touchdown catch in 2025—Quentin Moore, Omari Evans, Audric Harris and Raiden Vines-Bright—aren't with the program, meaning someone will have to increase their production in 2026, and DeGraaf is poised to be that player.
"I definitely want to be a big part of this offense," DeGraaf said on Tuesday. "Definitely going into year three with Demond, we've built a lot of chemistry. He's looking for me, I'm looking for him. We have a really good offense. I think we have a lot of guys—me, Dez, Rashid, Christian Moss, a lot of the young guys. I think a lot of them are going to step up and make a big impact this year."

#year

Quentin Lake's job got a lot more interesting this offseason, and he's not complicating it.
Asked on "Inside Football" with Trey Wingo how the Rams' pass rush changes his approach on the back end with Myles Garrett now in Los Angeles and Aaron Donald weighing an unretirement, Lake kept it simple.
"My job really is just to not [expletive] up, honestly," Lake said. "All the attention is on them. Your back end is, honestly, as good as your rush. If you have guys up there that can get to the quarterback quickly, that can stop the run and rush the passer, it makes our job incredibly easy."
The Rams immediately reshaped their defensive front with the acquisition of Garrett. It cost them a lot of draft picks and young edge rusher Jared Verse, but now the Rams have one of the most formidable defenses in the league.
Lake said even the possibility of pairing Garrett with a returning Donald changes how offenses have to game-plan. Donald would only make things more interesting, as the three-time DPOY has been working out at the Rams' facility and going through what head coach Sean McVay called a "very strict, regimented process."

#interesting

The Lakers spent this offseason spending big to revamp their roster to better fit around Luka Doncic and his preferred style of play. Austin Reaves returns as a secondary playmaker on a hefty new contract. They traded for Walker Kessler to be the pick-setting, alley-oop finishing big man Doncic prefers to play with. And they made a host of other moves — including parting ways with LeBron James — to bring in role players who should be a better stylistic fit with Doncic.
All of that only works if Doncic is healthy.
Which he wasn't at the end of last season due to a hamstring injury, he missed all of the Lakers' playoff run. In an email to fans, Doncic told them he is "100% healthy" now and ready for a big season.
Concerns about Doncic's durability were a key reason former Mavericks GM Nico Harrison traded Doncic in the first place. The Lakers have bet big on a more mature Doncic, 27, being in his best condition and staying healthy when it matters. He averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 ***** ists and 7.7 rebounds per game last season — when healthy, he remains one of the game's elite players and was named First-Team All-NBA (he only played 64 games, one below the league's 65-game cutoff, but was given an exemption due to "extraordinary circumstances" because he missed time for the birth of his child).
The Lakers looked to get Doncic some help this season by not only re-signing Reaves but adding ball-handling guards Quentin Grimes and Collin ***** ton. Expect JJ Redick to experiment with some three-guard lineups using that group, although the challenge becomes it forces Doncic (6'8") to guard bigger players, which can take a physical toll.

#healthy #better

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The Chargers held their first padded practice of training camp Tuesday morning in San Diego, and Jim Harbaugh was excited for the milestone.
"It's part of the process," Harbaugh said. "Feels good for players to have the armor on. It's an important step we're making today."
It was a tale of two practices. The offense dominated the 7-on-7 period, with Justin Herbert throwing back-to-back touchdown passes to Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey from 15 yards out.
He also connected with McConkey on a 25-yard completion down the field that got the fans fired up.
"The guys we have running routes are making special plays," Herbert said.

#calif #feels

High school football will soon return, which means it's almost time to kick on those Friday Night Lights.
USA TODAY High School Sports has released its latest class of 2027 football player rankings, which were compiled using composite evaluations from several industry recruiting services. One Cincinnati athlete landed among the nation's top 100 seniors.
Ace Alston, a cornerback at Anderson High School, tied for No. 96 with Quentin Burrell, a wide receiver from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago. Alston, a Notre Dame commit, is listed at 6 feet and 185 pounds. His industry composite ranking is 119.
More: Kicking off 2026 Enquirer fall football coverage with previews
Alston is the only senior from Greater Cincinnati to make the Aug. 4 list.

#alston #cincinnati #industry

There are question marks about how capable the Los Angeles Lakers' new-look roster will be on the defensive end, especially on the perimeter, after they were 20th in defensive rating last season. New starting center Walker Kessler could improve their overall defense by himself, but there still seems to be an overall lack of high-level perimeter defenders.
But when it comes to the other end of the floor, there is a feeling that the Lakers will be very good and perhaps even elite. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves give them an outstanding foundation offensively, and the additions of Quentin Grimes, Collin **** ton, Sandro Mamukelashvili and even Matisse Thybulle will give the team the ability to hit from the outside and score in transition more than it has in a while.
Per Keith Smith of spotrac.com, a rival NBA scout raved about the Lakers' ability and potential on offense this coming season.
"Well, there's certainly a lot of offense. And I think it's offense that all fits together pretty well. They have way more shooting this year than last year. More off-the-dribble creation too. They should be a really good passing team also," a rival scout said. "Defensively…well, they'll score a lot of points! (laughs) If (head coach) JJ (Redick) can get this group in the top-20 on defense, give him Coach of the Year, because they'll probably be awesome."
Last season, L.A. was first in overall field-goal percentage, but just 10th in offensive rating, 14th in 3-point accuracy and 16th in fast-break points. Its offensive rating, 3-point shooting and fast-break points should increase now that it has a roster that is younger, more athletic, more fluid and more offensively well-rounded. Grimes and Mamukelashvili can not only hit from the outside but also operate off the dribble, and **** ton will help a bench that was starving for offense last season.

#well #Lakers #points

The Los Angeles Lakers made a few polarizing moves this offseason to upset fans hoping to have an easier path towards NBA Championship contention. One common criticism comes from Lakers fans unsure of why the team paid one of their bigger contracts to Collin ******* ton. The team already has Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as starters who will dominate the guard minutes.
Sexton likely knows of the criticism surrounding his name and shared the following promise to Lakers fans:
"I'm super excited to be a part of this organization and this team. You can expect someone who's going to come in every single day with energy and juice, ready to give it my all. You'll know you've got a dog on the court.
It's the Lakers, you know, it's so much going on here, so much history in the building. I feel like they're the best fans in the world. So, being able to go out there and put that jersey on each and every night, it's going to be a good time for sure."
The quote shows that ******* ton wants Lakers fans to know he is taking this opportunity seriously and wants to give his all. Winning is most important to ******* ton, and this will be one of his most noteworthy roles yet. ******* ton, Quentin Grimes, and Walker Kessler are the biggest additions needed to pan out for success.

#Lakers #sexton #going #criticism

The Brooklyn Nets have developed their teams through a number of strategies over the decades, and their front office has put together considerable success through the NBA draft. Many of the franchise's best players have joined the Nets either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades made on that day.
Moreover, it is not only the star players who have been acquired by the Nets through the draft. Several prominent alumni have been selected by the team each offseason during this annual event, with certain colleges being more prominently represented than others. An ******* ysis of the players from different schools reveals that both prestigious programs and smaller institutions have contributed top talent to the Nets' roster over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Nets out of Saint-Quentin.
Draft year and position: 1st round (19th pick, 19th overall), 2025 NBA Draft
Seasons at Saint-Quentin: 1

#players #brooklyn #many

The Chargers continued their training camp at The Bolt on Thursday. Throughout the 90-minute session, QB1 made his presence felt in team drills.
According to the team's official website, Justin Herbert had a deep sideline completion to running back Keaton Mitchell, then hit wide receiver Quentin Johnston over the middle against double coverage, then it that same area of the field to Tre' Harris and Ladd McConkey, and capped it with a deep crosser to rookie Brenen Thompson.
Herbert's dominance should come as no surprise, but it is highly encouraging. Over the past few months, he has had to alter his foundational mechanics for new coordinator Mike McDaniel's system, which have included his footwork and stricter rhythm and anticipation.
While it's still early, Herbert appears to be playing fast, free, and looks entirely capable of putting together an MVP-caliber campaign in this new-look offense.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers training camp Day 2: Justin Herbert dominates practice

#chargers #justin #camp

Luka Doncic is reportedly going to welcome his Los Angeles Lakers teammates to Slovenia later this summer.
The Lakers have undergone a major rebuild following LeBron James' departure, with eight new players joining the team.
These new additions include Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin ****** ton, Kevon Looney, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
Given the huge roster turnover, the new-look Lakers must focus on building their team chemistry ahead of next season.

#slovenia #james

Another ranking, and another list where the Chargers find themselves just outside the top 10.
ESPN recently ranked NFL teams based on their under-25 talent, and the Chargers came in at No. 11, narrowly missing out on a spot among the league's top young cores.
"The top young player for the Chargers is Alt, who is 23 years old and tasked with protecting quarterback Justin Herbert. Running back Omarion Hampton and tight end Oronde Gadsden (both 23) performed well for the Chargers in 2025. Wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris are all 24.
"On defense, the underrated slot cornerback Tarheeb Still is still just 24 years old, while edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu will turn 24 on Sept. 3. However, rookie first-rounder Mesidor does not qualify for this ranking, as he turned 25 in April."
The Chargers dropped one spot in the list compared to last year. Notable teams ahead of Los Angeles in this category are the Raiders, Browns and the Texans.

#teams #spot #espn

Lakers reportedly trying to stop Hawks from sending $46M ex-Warriors NBA champion elsewhere originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers got the bulk of their offseason work done during the opening days of free agency. They were able to add players such as Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Colin ***** ton to the organization.
Now, Los Angeles is attempting to land former Golden State Warriors NBA champion Jonathan ***** inga. The two sides reportedly have mutual interest.
“There is mutual free agent interest between Jonathan ***** inga and the Lakers, per Jovan Buha. Los Angeles continues to work behind the scenes to secure ***** inga’s commitment as their new wing addition,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
While that has been the case, the Lakers have also signed wings Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. Even so, there is a growing belief that negotiations between the two sides have hit a rough patch and may even be at a stalemate.

#even

Los Angeles Lakers fans seem to be confident about how much Quentin Grimes will help the team on offense. The 26-year-old 6-foot-4 guard has ample bounce and burst to his game, not to mention solid athleticism, and he averaged 13.4 points and 3.3 ***** ists a game this past season while with the Philadelphia 76ers.
But while he is a solid defender, Lakers fans don't seem to be sure if he's a good enough defender to be a starter on a championship team. Yet Grimes seems eager to take on such a challenge, based on what he said during a recent appearance on the "Mason & Ireland Show" on ESPN LA radio.
"That was really one of the bigger selling points. Talking with JJ [Redick] and then having them be able to pitch me what my role [will] look like, having a pretty a pretty big offensive role within the team. But also having a big leadership role on defense as well as taking on that challenge every night of guarding the best players and wanting that responsibility. I want to have that challenge every night. So, that was really the two main things when I was choosing [a team] in free agency."
Los Angeles came into this offseason, in the minds of many people, needing two legitimate two-way wings. It needed one who could guard guards, especially while playing the role of a point-of-attack defender, and one who could guard forwards.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, coach Redick plans to use Grimes in that role as a point-of-attack defender. If he proves capable of holding down that role at a high level, it would go a long way in helping the team reach contender status.

#role #defender #angeles #redick

Whenever a player who could've helped the Los Angeles Lakers ends up with another team, some fans simply ******* ume that the Lakers didn't go after him. But the team has been aggressive this summer in remodeling its roster after LeBron James left, and that aggression extends to players it struck out on.
On Sunday, Luguentz Dort, who was a key starter for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the last several years, was sent to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team trade. Before that trade went down, the Lakers were reportedly one team that had interest in him, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
"Several teams expressed trade interest in acquiring Dort before he was traded to Atlanta, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat, league sources told HoopsHype."
Los Angeles has lacked defensive-minded wings, especially those who can also hit open 3-pointers, for a number of years. While Dort shot just 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range last season, he could've served as a nice piece for L.A.
About a month ago, NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote that the team had called the Thunder about Dort. Instead, it eventually added two-way wing Quentin Grimes and forwards Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle in free agency. It is also hoping that 6-foot-5 rookie guard Cameron Carr will make it into its rotation and display some legitimate two-way ability.

#Lakers #dort

The Buffalo Bills claimed a player previously on a division rival, and though a roster longshot, he has some traits worth betting on.
Buffalo Bills rookies report to training camp July 21, with veterans following one week later. So it isn’t a surprise the front office is making moves in the final stretch of the offseason’s dead period.

On Tuesday, the Bills claimed a player from the division rival New York Jets to add depth on offense.
Per Tuesday’s NFL wire, the Bills claimed wide receiver Quentin Skinner, who was recently waived by the Jets. The Bills terminated Deven Thompkins to make room for Skinner.

Skinner is an intriguing addition to a Bills wide receiver group dealing with its usual uncertainty. Though Skinner is unlikely to play a big role on offense, a strong training camp could make Buffalo consider using a 53-man roster spot on him. It will be an uphill battle, but he has some noteworthy traits. That starts with his size.

Skinner, 24 years old, is 6-foot-5. He could provide the Bills with some size in the red zone. However, his experience is very limited. As an undrafted rookie, he recorded one catch while playing for the Jets. Ironically, that ten-yard catch happened against the Bills in Week 18 (perhaps it’s an explanation of the Bills’ interest).

Before that, he led the Jets with 114 receiving yards in three preseason games.

At Kansas, Skinner recorded 80 catches for 1,584 yards and 11 touchdowns throughout three seasons. In 2024, his senior year, he even led the Big 12 in yards per reception at 22.3. That and his size will earn him a chance to prove himself with the Bills.
Following Tuesday’s moves, here’s an updated look at the Bills’ WR room:
DJ Moore

Last weekend, former Duke alum Gary Trent Jr. signed a new four-year $64 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, a surprising figure given his production last year.
In 65 games for the Bucks last season, Trent Jr. scored the fewest amount of points (8.1) since his rookie year, to go along with one rebound, 1.2 ****** ists and 0.5 steals. Following the move, NBA insider Tim MacMahon ripped Milwaukee for handing out such an expensive deal, saying, "If you look at the ****** ytics of it, he had negative win shares, a negative box plus-minus, a negative VORP, and he got a mid-level exception basically, a full mid-level. This contract stinks. It smells awful."
For comparison, Quentin Grimes signed a four-year $60 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers despite averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 ****** ists and 0.9 steals. However, since the subtraction of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have some money to spend and could potentially package Trent Jr. in a trade this summer or at the February deadline.
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: NBA insiders rip contract of former Duke Blue Devil

Lakers sign 6-foot-9 forward amid Jonathan ***** inga pursuit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Lakers roster has gone through quite the transformation since LeBron James revealed he wouldn't be returning to play in Los Angeles for the 2026-27 season.
They've signed/traded for the likes of Walker Kessler, Collin ***** ton, Quentin Grimes and others.
On Monday, they added another player to their roster for next season.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday afternoon that the Lakers signed Ziaire Williams to a short-term deal.

LeBron James emerges as Lakers' biggest threat in pursuit of Warriors NBA champion Jonathan ****** inga originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into next season with two clear cornerstones in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The team will also feature several new additions, including Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Colin ****** ton, and others.
The Lakers entered the summer with a clear vision for the future, and part of that plan was reportedly influenced by Doncic. This will be the first season with Doncic fully leading the franchise after LeBron James informed the Lakers that he would not be returning.
"LeBron James will return for an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA -- but it won't be with the Los Angeles Lakers. James has informed the Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday," ESPN wrote.
Los Angeles has also been heavily involved in the Jonathan ****** inga sweepstakes, viewing the young wing as a potential replacement for James. However, the Lakers are not the only team interested, as the Cleveland Cavaliers have also emerged as a potential suitor.

Lakers' $66M promising duo makes shocking Summer League decision amid trade rumors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been very active this summer as they continue reshaping the roster following LeBron James' announcement that he would not be returning. The first major move came when Los Angeles acquired Walker Kessler in a trade with the Utah Jazz.
The Lakers followed that up with several key moves, including signing Colin ****** ton, Quentin Grimes, and bringing back Austin Reaves. However, the organization remains active on the trade market and could look to move Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt.
"The Lakers are actively shopping Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade talks. After gaining two second-round picks in the Deandre Ayton trade, Los Angeles could consolidate those ****** ets in a deal immediately for a starting-caliber wing," NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
Knecht could be looking for a fresh start after beginning his rookie season with the Lakers on a strong note. The former first-round pick was briefly involved in a trade to the Charlotte Hornets, but the deal was ultimately rescinded.

Some Los Angeles Lakers fans seem a bit skeptical about the signing of guard Quentin Grimes. Whether they aren't sure whether his offensive game will fit alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, whether he's a good enough defender against players at certain positions or feel he's being overpaid at $60 million over four years, his signing hasn't been met with universal approval.
But Grimes is a capable player on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-5, 26-year-old averaged 13.4 points a game this past season and is regarded as a plus defender, making him the type of two-way wing the Lakers have badly needed over the last few years.
One bone of contention with Grimes is whether he can be a point-of-attack defender or if he's more of a wing defender. According to a recent article by Dan Woike of The Athletic, coach JJ Redick, who is reportedly a fan of Grimes, plans to ****** ign the player to guard opposing ball-handlers.
"Grimes will be slotted in as a point-of-attack defender with plenty of offensive game, a bet on him as a two-way talent. Team and league sources have long known JJ Redick to be a fan of Grimes, who was a priority target this summer."
If this plan works, it could greatly elevate L.A.'s defense, which will also immensely benefit from the trade for center Walker Kessler, one of the NBA's best shot-blockers and rebounders.

Over the last couple of weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers have been making what has thus far been a quick and painless transition from the LeBron James era to the true start of the Luka Doncic era. James officially decided to leave the Lakers in free agency on June 30, and the team moved swiftly to trade for center Walker Kessler and nab guards Quentin Grimes and Collin ***** ton, big man Sandro Mamukelashvili and center Kevon Looney in free agency.
There are quite a few Lakers fans who have been doing back flips ever since James decided to bid farewell to the Purple and Gold. It may be a breath of fresh air in some ways for the franchise, but the 41-year-old did play eight years for it and make it relevant again upon his arrival in 2018, not to mention leading it to the NBA championship in 2020.
Derek Fisher, who won five NBA ***** les alongside Kobe Bryant, told Yahoo Sports Daily that he doesn't understand why Lakers fans don't appreciate James' time with the team more than they do.
"A lot of people in L.A. didn't love LeBron's time here and it's been confusing to me," Fisher said. "The reaction to him deciding not to return to L.A., a lot of people have celebrated it and almost had a parade as though this is the greatest thing ever. I'm not saying this is doomsday for the Lakers by any means. I think the organization will be fine, it's been here for 80 years, it'll be fine. But, I'm surprised at the reaction for sure and yeah, I think people have moved on, a lot of fans have."
Fisher was then asked why fans didn't embrace James the way they embraced previous Lakers greats.