Joshua Valdez Articles - Page 22

The Atlanta Hawks continue to be the center of attention this offseason, even after selecting French big man Zaccharie Risacher first overall in the NBA Draft. Atlanta is now wheeling and dealing as it transitions into its new era, led by Risacher and second-year forward Jalen Johnson. The Hawks are shipping guard Dejounte Murray to […]

While nothing is set in stone, it’s looking more and more like the Clippers and Paul George could part ways this summer with each new report. Los Angeles is running out of time to offer the nine-time All-Star a new contract, and other teams are patiently lurking. The Clippers haven’t shown any interest in offering […]

The days of the Golden State Warriors dynasty are over, but there’s still a chance they could put together another contending squad before Steph Curry calls it quits. While Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George may be past his prime at 34, he could still do damage alongside the greatest shooter ever, and there’s reason […]

The Atlanta Hawks are starting their new era, but does that mean they’ll show the door to their old guard? Star guard Trae Young is still just 25, but the squad is rumored to be looking to build around the kids. Young is eyeing the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs […]

The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers had one of the most intense first-round battles of recent memory, full of hard fouls, trash-talking, and clutch plays. However, it was particularly intense when Joel Embiid pulled on Mitchell Robinson’s leg from the ground. Robinson has now finally given clarity on the situation, via NBA Central. Mitchell […]

The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft is now in the rearview mirror, and there was a healthy mix of exciting picks, head-scratching moves, and big surprises. While the second round has yet to begin, there’s plenty to analyze after an action-packed first round. Who were Wednesday night’s biggest winners? Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma […]

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was one of the biggest “what if” stories of the 2023 NFL season. After the Colts drafted him with the fourth overall pick, the 22-year-old went down with a season-ending shoulder injury after just four starts. However, Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard said that the young signal-caller is fully healthy, […]

Last-minute trades have been par for the course on NBA Draft night for years, with future picks constantly swapped as organizations look to fulfill their differing needs. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs made an especially wacky deal Wednesday night, the likes of which have rarely been seen before. The Wolves acquired guard […]

After the Mikal Bridges trade Tuesday night, the New York Knicks showed they’re prioritizing the wing in an effort to dethrone the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, it may not be possible for them to do that while retaining center Isaiah Hartenstein, who’s coming off a career year and is looking for a hefty raise. New York […]

The New York Knicks made a splash move Tuesday night, sending Bojan Bogdanovich and a boatload of draft picks to Brooklyn for former All-Defensive First Teamer Mikal Bridges. Naturally, this has further intensified Julius Randle trade speculation, as the three-time All-Star may be the odd man out after the blockbuster deal. While there’s no concrete […]

The Golden State Warriors’ dynasty has faded, and Klay Thompson is a poster child of that decline. The four-time NBA champion is coming off his worst season yet, and there’s a good chance he may not be a Warrior again. Head coach Steve Kerr opened up about the possibility of Thompson not coming back, via […]

People often assume that professional athletes have the most perfect lives in the world, due to their wealth and fame. However, mental health struggles transcend those surface-level concepts, and Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is no stranger to internal battles. The 27-year-old opened up about his self-love journey, via Foul Territory. "I was just […]

The New York Yankees (52-28) have lost three consecutive series, but they still have a two-game lead atop the AL East thanks to their hot start. Giancarlo Stanton’s hamstring injury, though, puts more pressure on the rest of the roster to maintain that lead. Infielder J.D. Davis, the newest part of New York’s supporting cast, […]

After a hot start, the Kansas City Royals (43-37) have cooled off considerably and could use a boost at the deadline. General manager J.J. Picollo is under pressure to get the team a playoff berth for the first time since 2015, and it may not happen if he stands pat. Picollo plans on making moves […]

Italy was on its last legs in the final minutes of its UEFA Euro group stage match against Croatia. Down 1-0, Mattia Zaccagni and company were in danger of not moving on to the knockout rounds with a loss. That was until Zaccagni slotted in his first-ever goal for Italy in the top right corner […]

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off one of their best seasons ever, and the offseason has gotten off to a solid start as well. While the Wolves have yet to make any significant player transaction, they made a vital move to maintain their foundation over the coming years. Minnesota has signed head coach Chris Finch […]

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark added another chapter to their epic rivalry during Sunday’s matchup between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. Both players showed out, but the Sky came away with the 88-87 victory, vaulting them ahead in the standings. TV pundit Monica McNutt claims that the WNBA Rookie of the Year race between […]

The Toronto Raptors have largely struggled since winning the 2019 NBA championship. However, guard Scottie Barnes has been a bright spot and not one they’re taking lightly. The Raptors are about to lock up Barnes long-term, via ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “ESPN Sources: Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Scottie Barnes intends to sign a five-year maximum rookie […]

The St. Louis Cardinals (38-37) are still within striking distance for the NL Central crown near the season’s midpoint. Now, the “Cards” are getting back a crucial bullpen arm as they try to shrink their 5.5-game deficit of the Milwaukee Brewers. Right-handed pitcher Giovanny Gallegos has healed from his shoulder injury, via MLB.com. “Gallegos, who […]

The New York Mets (36-39), with the help of McDonald’s mascot Grimace, have inserted themselves back into the wild-card race. Now, New York’s NL representative finds itself in a precarious position as the MLB trade deadline approaches. The Mets could be both buyers and sellers this summer, via The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Will the Mets be buyers […]

Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer last took the field in Game 3 of last season’s World Series, tossing three shutout innings in a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The three-time Cy Young Award winner then went down with a back injury, robbing him the opportunity of helping the Rangers defend their crown so far […]

While players often wait until the offseason to sign big contracts, sometimes there’s no point in waiting for marriage when the relationship is going well. The Philadelphia Phillies found a gem in southpaw pitcher Cristopher Sanchez, and both sides decided to commit long-term. The Phillies signed Sanchez to an extension Saturday, via the New York Post’s Jon […]

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce is known for being a menace, and he’s now in full villain mode after the team’s new championship victory. Pierce usually resorts to making crazy takes on his podcast or on TV, but this time, he made a bold proclamation at the Celtics’ championship parade. Pierce made fun of the […]

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle tried his best but couldn’t return for the team’s playoff run after injuring his shoulder in January. New York had to make do without its second-leading scorer, which led to an earlier exit than the team originally anticipated. Luckily for Knicks fans, Randle confirmed that he’s ready for next […]

Much has been made of the “Nova Knicks,” one of the more unlikely stories in recent NBA history. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo each won two NCAA Championships together on Jay Wright’s Villanova squad, and now they’ve reunited on the New York Knicks. Brunson and Hart recently chopped it up with Wright, even […]

With the Los Angeles Clippers suffering another disappointing playoff exit this past season, the basketball world is speculating whether the organization will break up its star trio of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden. George’s name is now getting thrown around in the same sentences as the New York Knicks by some highly esteemed […]

The New York Yankees (51-26) still have the best record in baseball, but that could change at any moment. The Baltimore Orioles sit just a half-game behind them after winning their three-game series in the Bronx, and Thursday’s 17-5 win to cap it off was convincing. Yankees manager Aaron Boone sounded off on Baltimore’s skill […]

Oklahoma football is entering a new era on multiple fronts. Not only are the Sooners transferring to the SEC, but head coach Brent Venables is locked in for the long run. The 53-year old signed an extension with Oklahoma on Friday, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “Sources: Oklahoma has agreed to a new six-year contract for […]

Thursday night’s game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., is loaded with rich baseball history. Not only did the late Giants legend Willie Mays play there, but outfielder Mike Yastrzemski’s family did, too. San Francisco manager Bob Melvin even asked Yastrzemski if he wanted to play […]

The Los Angeles Lakers were under pressure after striking out on UConn boss Dan Hurley. The team finally landed on former sharpshooter JJ Redick, but not before checking in with its star player first. The Lakers made sure Davis was fully on board before officially hiring Redick, via The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and Jovan Buha. […]

New York Yankees star prospect Jasson Dominguez has been embarrassing minor league pitchers this season, slashing .356/.404/.609 across 23 games. However, his progress towards rejoining New York’s big-league team has stopped. Dominguez will be out for at least two months with a left oblique strain, via The Athletic’s Brandon Kuty. “Dominguez out for at least 8 weeks, […]

The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles have been embroiled in a classic divisional battle, full of animosity, close games, and hit-by-pitches. Yankees relief pitcher Victor Gonzales drilled Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson with a fastball in the seventh inning Wednesday night, which some thought may have been a retaliation for Baltimore hitting Aaron Judge and […]

In baseball, it’s rare for one player to dominate an entire team over an extended period. However, Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson isn’t just anybody. The two-time All-Star has gone on an unprecedented run against the Detroit Tigers, via OptaSTATS “Following today’s win by the @Braves over the Tigers, Matt Olson now has a […]

With the 2024 NBA Draft fast approaching, fans are running out of time to place their bets on who’ll be selected first overall. French international Alex Sarr had been the favorite for a while, but the tide has shifted. Following recent reports about the Atlanta Hawks’ plans with the first pick, fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher […]

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge claimed to be ready to go for Wednesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles after getting plunked in the hand by a fastball Tuesday. After Judge himself grinned and reported that his X-rays and CT scans came back negative, the five-time All-Star seemed like a shoo-in to take the […]

The Atlanta Hawks hold the No. 1 pick in this summer’s NBA Draft and thus have the most leverage in any possible draft-day trade scenario. With the draft soon approaching, rumors have been flying as the basketball world continues to speculate Atlanta’s next moves. While it’s not confirmed, the Hawks are reportedly taking a long […]

Los Angeles Sparks (4-11) rookie Cameron Brink was off to a promising start to her WNBA career after getting drafted second overall. The Stanford alum averaged 7.5 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting with 5.3 rebounds, immediately shining on a struggling Sparks team. Unfortunately, Brink suffered a torn ACL after getting tangled up with the […]

The universe works in mysterious ways, and San Francisco Giants Special Advisor Dusty Baker experienced that firsthand Tuesday. After visiting the great Willie Mays on Monday, the 93-year-old legend passed away Tuesday. Baker expressed his feelings on losing his longtime friend, via USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. “Isn’t it ironic?’’ said Baker, “that while the eyes […]

With Boston Celtics center Al Horford finally becoming an NBA champion, he’s now forever linked with Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden unexpectedly. Horford won his first ring after his 186th playoff game on Monday, which had previously been a record amongst active players. Now, Harden holds that record, and Horford couldn’t be happier about […]