Jack Winter Articles - Page 69

Trae Young staked his claim as a future star during the second half of his rookie season, even playing well enough to steal a couple Rookie of the Year votes from landslide winner Luka Doncic. The Atlanta Hawks point guard showed a preview of what’s to come in a potential breakout 2019-20 campaign at Drew […]

The Los Angeles Lakers filled out their roster around LeBron James this summer in a far more logical manner than a year ago. When Kawhi Leonard rocked the basketball world midway through free agency by choosing his “other” hometown team and bringing Paul George along with him, there was an assumption the Lakers misplayed their […]

Jim Boylen’s old-school tactics wore thin on the Chicago Bulls in the first week of his tenure as head coach after taking over for the fired Fred Hoiberg. Players were so frustrated with the frequency and intensity of his practices, they briefly considered skipping one en masse before agreeing to discuss their issues with Boylen […]

The Indiana Pacers, as far as we know, aren’t currently conducting auditions or taking applications for the position of global ambassador. If they ever feel compelled to help market the team with a Drake-style celebrity super fan, though, it’s pretty clear who the Pacers should choose. Award-winning actor Jessie Eisenberg, most notably of The Social […]

Khris Middleton’s basketball journey has come full circle. Weeks after signing his first ultra-lucrative NBA contract, the Milwaukee Bucks star returned to where his path to the game’s highest level was first being forged to have his jersey retired. Middleton went home to Charleston, SC earlier this week to watch his jersey be hung from […]

The Sacramento Kings have signed free agent Isaiah Pineiro to a partially-guaranteed, one-year contract, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic. A 6-foot-7 wing out of the University of San Diego, Pineiro averaged 18.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, becoming the first player in school history to ever score at […]

The Sacramento Kings announced a number of hires to Luke Walton’s coaching staff on Friday, including former NBA wing Stacey Augmon as an assistant coach and player development specialist. Joining Augmon in that dual role is former WNBA player Lindsey Harding, while Rico Hines, best known for being the organizer of famed offseason scrimmages on […]

The Washington Wizards have engaged in preliminary discussions with Cleveland Cavaliers defensive coach Michael Longabardi about joining Scott Brooks’ staff, according to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post. The Wizards removed the interim tag from Tommy Sheppard’s title on Friday, making him full-time general manager. He assumed the role upon the April firing of longtime […]

Current and former NFL players have found common ground in their fight to minimize the frequency, impact, and treatment of football-related head injuries. An update to the collective bargaining agreement guaranteed players lifetime membership in the NFLPA, ensuring concerns of the past generation would be melded with those of the present and vice versa. But […]

The Green Bay Packers signed free agent wide receiver Malik Taylor, the team announced on Friday. #Packers sign WR Malik Taylor 📰: https://t.co/ZkuQs9baME pic.twitter.com/EKsQceTdeX — Green Bay Packers (@packers) July 19, 2019 Taylor went undrafted in April out of Ferris State, a Division II school in Grand Rapids, MI. He finished his college career with […]

Playing music during practice has become increasingly en vogue in the NFL over the past several years. Made most popular by the Seattle Seahawks’ Pete Carroll, coaches like Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs and Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons, among many others, now blast music over the loud speakers at practice, too. […]

The Denver Broncos are counting on a coaching upgrade this season. Just because Broncos general manager John Elway clearly believes first-year coach is Vic Fangio is better equipped to lead his team forward than the departed Vance Joseph, though, doesn’t mean he’s comfortable publicly criticizing Denver’s former coach. “I don’t want to say anything bad […]

The Denver Broncos were always going to expect more from Courtland Sutton this season. But with leading receiver Emmanuel Sanders still limited by his ongoing recovery from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles, training camp has begun with Sutton firmly established as his team’s No. 1 target. On just the second day of practice, the […]

The NFL completed its investigation into domestic violence allegations against Tyreek Hill without suspending him. Rather than making sure the star wide receiver can avoid the type of off-field trouble that’s twice put his career in jeopardy before re-engaging in contract discussions, though, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to begin talks anew in the […]

Philadelphia Eagles fans weren’t the only ones thrilled to find out that Darren Sproles has decided to put off retirement and sign a one-year deal to continue his playing career in the City of Brotherly Love. As evidenced by his tweet in response to the news, Eagles star tight end Zach Ertz seems as excited […]

The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Quinton Crawford as an assistant coach, according to Brad Turner of the LA Times. Crawford was a video coordinator and player-development coach with the Charlotte Hornets last season. He spent two seasons on first-year Lakers coach Frank Vogel’s staff with the Orlando Magic, first joining the team as assistant […]

Greivis Vasquez’s career came to a close before many knew it happened at all. Nearly three years since playing in his final NBA game, the former Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Hornets guard still struggles with the reality his playing days are really over. “I’m not out of the league because of my talent. I’m […]

Matisse Thybulle was billed as arguably the best perimeter defender in the 2019 NBA Draft. But that distinction, accurate as it may be, fails to convey the greatest strength of his utterly unique game: making plays as a help defender. The No. 20 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft showed off that truly rare […]

The LA Clippers and cross-arena rival Los Angeles Lakers fancy themselves championship favorites next season. The Utah Jazz finally geared up for a title run, adding some high-quality offensive punch. The Houston Rockets, with the two most ball-dominant players in league history, will definitely be heard from come spring. The Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail […]

Tyus Jones may very well be a more effective player than Ja Morant this season. But with the Memphis Grizzlies in the earliest stages of a suddenly-promising rebuilding process, it’s safe to say the No. 2 pick’s playing time will be prioritized regardless. The best way to help young, talented players commit fewer mistakes, many […]

LeBron James has been his team’s primary ball handler for the entirety of his career, but has never before started at point guard full-time. A position switch so far into a player’s career would normally be an indication of decline. But not with James, who’s passing genius and positional scalability has first-year Los Angeles Lakers […]

Kevin Durant has kept an extremely low profile since rupturing his Achilles tendon during his stunning mid-series return to the NBA Finals. Just over two weeks after announcing his decision to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, though, the two-time Finals MVP has provided a much-anticipated update on his recovery status. Durant posted a series of […]

Free agent Tariq Owens has signed with the Phoenix Suns, according to NBA reporter Keith Smith. The one-year deal is reportedly an Exhibit 10 contract, which allows the Suns the option to convert it to a two-way contract. Owens went undrafted out of Texas Tech. The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and […]

Joe Flacco left his first official practice with the Denver Broncos exuding confidence. Not only did the veteran signal-caller insist he still has “a lot left in the tank” entering the 12th season of his career, but Flacco also made it clear that he believes his best football still lies ahead of him. Obviously, the […]

Kenny Moore and Pierre Desir of the Indianapolis Colts donated thousands of dollars to a Go Fund Me account for the funeral services of Madi Moore, a young fan who passed away earlier this week, according to Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star. Madi Moore, 17, died on Monday morning at Indiana University’s Riley […]

Marquise Brown has been slower to recover from surgery than initially anticipated. Even so, there’s been optimism throughout the offseason that the rookie wide receiver would be ready to take field for training camp. But with the Baltimore Ravens’ first official practice of the 2019 season right around the corner, Brown still hasn’t been given […]

Aaron Rodgers is fully healthy after a season marred by multiple injuries, and seems poised to thrive in the Green Bay Packers’ rebuilt offense under first-year coach Matt LaFleur. He’s not only expected to play much better in 2019 than he did a year ago, but also to re-establish himself as one of the best […]

Joe Flacco has never lived up to the promise, deserved or not, associated with the Baltimore Ravens’ victory in Super Bowl XLVII. But well over a half decade removed from that triumph and playing for another team for the first time in his career, the veteran signal-caller seems more confident in his abilities than ever. […]

Josh Norman is right: Getting behind the wheel of a car is far more dangerous than it seems to comfortable to admit. The stigma of danger associated with the vast majority of extreme sports is overblown, too. But running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain? As a professional athlete with an eight-figure salary? It’s fair […]

Drew Lock’s agent drove a hard bargain in contract negotiations with general manager John Elway and the Denver Broncos. But once it became clear any further delay in putting pen to paper would cause the rookie to miss his first official NFL practice, Lock lived up to his word of settling for whatever parameters the […]

Joe Flacco hasn’t had all that long to get to know his Denver Broncos teammates. It was only a few months ago that the veteran signal-caller was acquired by Denver in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens, the only team he’d ever played for in a career that had already spanned 11 seasons. But as […]

The Los Angeles Clippers won the wildest offseason in NBA history by convincing Kawhi Leonard to sign with his “other” hometown team, also making the stunning move that sealed the reigning Finals MVP’s fate, trading for Paul George. Their collective acquisition is one of the biggest player-movement coups the league has ever seen, not just […]

The Phoenix Suns continued filling out their roster with a pair of minor moves on Wednesday. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Cheick Diallo agreed to a two-year deal with the Suns. The three-year veteran didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the New Orleans Pelicans this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. He averaged 6.0 […]

The LA Clippers didn’t want to part ways with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. All intel leading up to the wee hours of July 5 was that they were extremely high on the First Team All-Rookie honoree, to the point the front office considered him a franchise building block. But when the opportunity arose to morph into a […]

Christian Wood has been claimed off waivers by the Detroit Pistons, the team announced on Thursday. The Pistons officially announce that they've claimed Christian Wood off waivers. — Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) July 17, 2019 Wood was waived by the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this week. He was originally acquired by the team in March, being […]

If the Oklahoma City Thunder continue driving such a hard bargain, Chris Paul may remain with the team far longer than anyone anticipated. In a story indicating the Thunder’s inability to find attractive trade offers for Paul and willingness to play out the 2019-20 season with him on the roster, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski noted that […]

The Golden State Warriors waived forward Julian Washburn, the team announced on Wednesday. Warriors waive forward Julian Washburn pic.twitter.com/Q1TIPtNqes — Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) July 17, 2019 Washburn, 27, was acquired by Golden State in a trade earlier this month with the Memphis Grizzlies that sent Andre Iguodala and a future first-round pick to the Memphis […]

If all goes according to plan, Drew Lock will eventually assume the role of the Denver Broncos’ franchise quarterback. Just because he’s always been poised to sit behind veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco as a rookie, though, hardly means the Broncos can afford the University of Missouri product holding out from training camp. The Broncos opened […]

Deion Jones is on the verge of signing a new deal with the Atlanta Falcons. According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the fourth-year veteran could put pen to paper on a lucrative, multi-year extension with the Falcons as early as Wednesday. Deion Jones’ agent Drew Rosenhaus is reportedly in town and the […]