| Dalton Johnson |
| @DaltonJ_Johns |
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https://theathletic.com/2409304/2021/02/24/james-wiseman-steph-curry-warriors-nba/?source=user_shared_article
https://theathletic.com/2410202/2021/02/25/seven-things-weve-learned-from-as-spring-training-so-far/?source=user_shared_article
12. San Francisco 49ers: Rashawn Slater, G/OT, Northwestern
With Nick Bosa coming off an ACL tear and Dee Ford’s future murky because of a back issue, the 49ers are badly in need of a defensive end. But taking one here might be a reach. Slater is the best player on the board at this point. The 49ers could insert him immediately at right guard, a problem area in recent seasons, with an eye on him moving to tackle in the future. A plausible alternate scenario: Another team looking for a tackle trades up to get Slater, the 49ers trade back, draft a defensive end and add several more picks in the process. — Matt Barrows
7. San Francisco 49ers (via mock trade with DET)
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
This is a pick that raises the 49ers' ceiling. When they went to the Super Bowl in 2019, they were led by a stellar running game and defense that could both rush the passer and create turnovers. It didn't appear that coach Kyle Shanahan fully trusted Jimmy Garoppolo to win playoff games with his arm. I'd love to see Fields play for Shanahan, who could get the best out of him. If this deal happens, San Francisco could designate Garoppolo as a post-June 1 release and save $25 million on its cap this year. That would help offset the lost draft picks in the trade because the team would have some money to spend in free agency -- and bring back left tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers were really hurt by injuries last season, but they should be back in the NFC West race in 2021.
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https://theathletic.com/2375978/2021/02/25/zion-williamson-luka-doncic-trae-young-nba-young-talent-rankings-top-10/?source=user_shared_article
Sam Vecenie
21. James Wiseman | 7-1 center, 19 years old | Golden State Warriors | Contract: 4 years, $39.6 million, last two years team options | PR: 2020 Draftee
We’ll close out this one with the third-to-last rookie on this list. So far, I’d call Wiseman’s rookie season about as successful as could have reasonably been expected. He’s a teenager on a team expecting to compete where he started the season in the starting lineup. He only played three games last season. It was going to be a process. There are some bumps in the road, and he’s taken his lumps. But he’s still producing, averaging 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds with 1.3 blocks in just 21 minutes per night. The Warriors are better with Draymond Green at the five or with Kevon Looney in the lineup, but that doesn’t diminish the signs that Wiseman has shown. He’s enormous, he’s extremely athletic and has looked very coachable.
Offensively, he’s been useful due to his athleticism. The Warriors have used him in the dunker spot and in pick-and-roll as a finisher, and he’s succeeded there. His ability to high-point the ball above basically any other center mixed with his terrific hands allows him to be a constant lob threat at the rim. He takes a few too many midrange jumpers that tank his overall shooting percentages. He needs to either work an awful lot on his floater, or he needs to stop taking it because he’s missed all 10 that he’s taken this season. He’d probably be a bit more successful if he excised everything but the 3s and shots at the rim from his game at this stage, but the Warriors are clearly encouraging him to explore and expand his skill set. It’s always tough to balance development versus wins for a player early in his career, and the Warriors have largely erred on the side of letting Wiseman do his thing versus limiting him in the moments when he’s on the court. But the place where he’s really made an impact is out in transition. Wiseman runs the floor hard every time there is an opportunity for an easy bucket. He presents as an easy target to hit for an easy 2, and his presence draws defenders toward the rim, creating easier looks for Stephen Curry to attempt his lethal transition pull-up 3s.
Defensively, he’s still really figuring out where he needs to be. Particularly, he’s struggling with his depth in drop coverage. Teams can catch him stuck in no man’s land in the gap and hit him for pull-ups or lobs. If he gets locked out on the perimeter, his rotations can be a bit rough. But when he’s around the rim or in position to rotate from the weak side, his tools are readily apparent. He’s a monster around the basket inside already due to his 7-6 wingspan. Teams already have to account for his presence if he’s there. He’s not awesome on that end yet, but you can see the world where he’s going to learn from Green and pick things up quickly.
Ultimately, ranking Wiseman here is a bet on a very intelligent, hard-working kid coming through on the immense physical tools he has and becoming a force. It’s not an exaggeration to say that given his length, athleticism, balance, shooting ability and shot-blocking instincts that Wiseman could very quickly morph into a top-10 center. The Warriors are basically the perfect place for him to do so as well, given the presence of Curry and Green along with a great coaching staff. And at the very least, he’s going to be productive in the minutes he plays.
I’m not quite as high on him becoming an All-NBA guy as some are, given that I have some real reservations about his shot creation and his passing ability. With what we see from other centers on the offensive end, it’s tough to imagine him reaching the level of a Jokic or an Embiid on that end of the floor. He might just be a super high-level defender who finishes enough plays to make some All-Star Games if things really break right. But that’s a hugely valuable player and worthy of a ranking like this even if the floor is just a run-of-the-mill starting center at some point.
Golden State Warriors
What would selling look like for them?
Assuming Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson are sticking around, selling would be pretty quiet. Andrew Wiggins makes over $31 million per season so any trade would be a massive one logistically while Kevon Looney’s $5.2 million player option for 2021-22 ensures another team would not offer an asset. The biggest piece would likely be Kelly Oubre as an acquiring franchise gets Bird rights on him and forwards are still incredibly hard to come by. Bob Myers could also look to move one-year signings Kent Bazemore and/or Brad Wanamaker, but the return would be even more limited than when he traded Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III last deadline.
Theoretically Myers could also shop 2019 draftees Jordan Poole, Eric Paschall and Alen Smailagic but all three are unlikely to change teams for different reasons.
Why would they be sellers?
It was surprising to see CEO Joe Lacob green light adding Oubre’s salary considering Thompson’s injury, the Warriors’ luxury tax bill and their reduced revenues this season. It is important to remember that the collective bargaining agreement determines luxury tax payments at the end of each season, so changing course by moving Oubre again now that it is clear they are not title contenders would save them a ton of money.
Why would they reject selling?
The fact that the players on the block would not generate much of a return combined with an understanding that many theoretical deals would make the 2021-22 Warriors worse as well. There just is not that much incentive unless Myers thinks he can capitalize on Wiggins’ successful first half of the season and that feels unlikely.
Will they be sellers?
Probably not. The incentive to do so is small and the likely asset return is even smaller so staying the course makes the most sense unless the front office believes they can offload salary without significantly weakening the roster, especially since they have already sent out so many future picks.
The 49ers general manager didn’t hesitate when asked if he had any doubt that Garoppolo, if he’s free of injury at the time, will be the team’s quarterback in September.
“No, not at all,” Lynch said. “I really believe that.”
His comments came on “The Eye Test for Two” podcast with Clark Judge and Ira Kaufman, both of whom are Pro Football Hall of Fame voters and who began the segment by talking about Lynch recently being voted into the Hall.
His backing of Garoppolo was firmer than what he and Kyle Shanahan said just after the 2020 season — that the 49ers have been very good with Garoppolo as their starter and that there would have to be an obvious upgrade for them to make a change.
Since then, the 49ers reportedly showed interest in trading for former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford but backed out of discussions when the trade price became too high. Stafford ended up with the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round selection. The 49ers likely would similarly test the waters with disgruntled Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson if Houston decides to trade him, though the asking price for Watson surely will be steeper than it was for Stafford.
Lynch did offer a bit more clarity when it came to the rest of the quarterback room.
Noting Garoppolo’s long injury history — he’s missed 23 starts since 2018 — he indicated the team would focus on finding a better backup.
“When (Garoppolo’s) healthy, he’s played at a high level,” he said. “But we probably have to add someone. We probably need to improve ourselves, so if he’s not there, we’re all right — we can win games.”
The team’s backups in recent seasons, Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard, have been a collective 6-17 as starters since 2018. Both are scheduled to become free agents next month, and Mullens still is recovering from a late-season elbow injury on his throwing arm.
Lynch’s comments suggest neither will be back, or at least that the team doesn’t view either as the No. 2 behind Garoppolo. The 49ers also have Josh Johnson and Josh Rosen under contract for 2021, but it’s likely they will compete for the No. 3 spot on the roster.
The No. 2 spot? The 49ers could draft a quarterback. North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Alabama’s Mac Jones are the likeliest of the top-tier passers to be available when the 49ers pick at No. 12 in April.
Still, if the 49ers are looking for a backup to steadily guide the team in 2021 should Garoppolo be sidelined again, it’s hard to see a rookie doing that, especially in Shanahan’s complex scheme.
7. San Francisco 49ers (via mock trade with DET)
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
This is a pick that raises the 49ers' ceiling. When they went to the Super Bowl in 2019, they were led by a stellar running game and defense that could both rush the passer and create turnovers. It didn't appear that coach Kyle Shanahan fully trusted Jimmy Garoppolo to win playoff games with his arm. I'd love to see Fields play for Shanahan, who could get the best out of him. If this deal happens, San Francisco could designate Garoppolo as a post-June 1 release and save $25 million on its cap this year. That would help offset the lost draft picks in the trade because the team would have some money to spend in free agency -- and bring back left tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers were really hurt by injuries last season, but they should be back in the NFC West race in 2021.
Trade: San Francisco shakes up the draft
Another trade, and this one could cost the 49ers a lot of capital. It's tough to project the exact details, but moving up five spots in a talented quarterback class means there will be competition. We can look to the Mitchell Trubisky trade as one comp, but another could be the Steelers' move for Devin Bush in 2019, where they jumped 10 spots with the Broncos and had to give up the Nos. 20 and 52 picks, plus a third-round pick the following year.
Yes, it's 10 spots, but the Lions should expect a similar return. That would mean they'd get pick No. 12, the 49ers' second-rounder this year and a future pick, though San Francisco doesn't have a third-round selection because of its trade for Trent Williams last year. I wouldn't be shocked, though, if the 49ers had to give up their 2022 first-round pick to get it done.
The 49ers would get their quarterback. Detroit is rebuilding and needs premium picks to add talent across its roster, and it already has the Rams' first-rounders in 2022 and 2023 and their third-rounder this year. This is a win-win deal for both sides
https://theathletic.com/2409405/2021/02/25/the-49ers-6-most-likely-targets-in-the-first-round-of-the-nfl-draft/?source=user_shared_article
https://theathletic.com/2409212/2021/02/25/russell-wilson-trade-seahawks/?source=user_shared_article
| Dugar, Michael-Shawn |
| @MikeDugar |
It leaves us with a question: What happened? theathletic.com/
| The Athletic |
| @TheAthletic |
￭ Some think a trade may happen in the near future
￭ Wilson's ideas to fix the offense were dismissed by coaches
￭ Wilson believes Pete Carroll and his sons answer to no one
theathletic.com/
| ProFootballTalk |
| @ProFootballTa |
| ProFootballTalk |
| @ProFootballTa |
| Bleacher Report |
| @BleacherRepor |
The Dolphins, Jets, Saints and Raiders have been mentioned. Some people in the NFL think a trade could happen “in the near future.”
🍿 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/
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| New York Post |
| @nypost |
| New York Post |
| @nypost |
There have been several unusual responses lately from athletes, teams and league executives to broadcasters and other media members who cover them. The latest comes from Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Matthew Judon, who went after ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley on Twitter and Instagram over Hensley’s report (part of a larger piece Tuesday about Baltimore’s options with pass-rushers like Judon and Yannick Ngakoue, possibly including a franchise tag or letting them walk in free agency) that the team had previously offered Judon (seen above during a November 2019 game) a long-term contract with an estimated average annual value of $16.5 million. Complaints over reporting around contract offers aren’t new, but Judon’s complaints were in much stronger terms than often seen, including referencing Hensley’s “lying butt,” saying “Bro, you have to stop lying,” and then even eventually dropping a threat of “I’m waiting on your ESPN sourced apology or I’m leaking these photos I got with you in the strip club.” Here’s that exchange:
There are a lot of questions surrounding why cops didn't take a sample of Tiger Woods' blood after his rollover crash ... but the fact of the matter is, there was simply no reason for them to do so because there was no evidence Tiger was impaired at the time of the crash.
Law enforcement sources tell us there were no drugs or alcohol inside of Tiger's GV80, nor did he show any signs of impairment when he was pulled out of the wreckage. In fact, cops say he was awake and alert on the ambulance ride over to the hospital ... so the guy wasn't totally out of it by any means.
B- VEHICLE SAVED LIFE—
The Genesis GV80 that Tiger Woods was driving at the time of his nasty California rollover crash is packed with a host of safety features that may have helped save the links legend’s life.
Woods, 45, suffered severe leg injuries in the Tuesday morning crash in Los Angeles County that left the luxury SUV — on loan from the luxury brand after Woods hosted the Genesis Invitational golf tournament over the weekend — a mangled wreck.
But, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said during a Tuesday evening press briefing, the outcome could have been far worse.
“The cabin of the vehicle was more or less intact, the front end was totally destroyed, the bumpers, everything was destroyed, airbags deployed all of that,” said Villanueva. “However, thankfully the interior was more or less intact, which kind of gave him the cushion to survive what otherwise would’ve been a fatal crash.”
The GV80, a new model and Genesis’ first SUV, has a base retail price of $48,900 and comes equipped with a slew of safety features, including a 10-airbag system.
“It uniquely features a centre airbag ready to activate between the two front seats, to help prevent collisions between passengers and subsequent impact injuries,” Genesis notes on its site. “For optimum impact reduction, there’s also a side curtain airbag that extends all the way back to the third row.”
| ABC7 Eyewitness News |
| @ABC7 |
abc7.com/lady-ga
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| New York Daily News |
| @NYDailyNews |
A 28-year-old former porn star imprisoned after trying to help smuggle $21M worth of cocaine from Peru to Australia could be sent back to Canada when she finishes serving her sentence Down Under this weekend, News.com.au reports.trib.al/oszGjY7 2/24/21, 1:22 PM
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