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Arizona State men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley took a lot of heat for not shaking Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd’s hand at the end of The Sun Devils’ 81-72 loss to the Wildcats on Feb. 1.
Focused more on getting his team off the court after the chippy game instead of end-of-game pleasantries with Lloyd, Hurley trusted his instincts in trying to deescalate the situation.
Lloyd, while talking with Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta during Day 3 of Newsmakers Week, agreed with Hurley’s decision in the heat of the moment.
"We've never been anything but good. … I've got no problem, no beef."
Arizona's Tommy Lloyd and ASU's Bobby Hurley are all good following a chippy end between their two squads earlier this month, the Wildcats head coach told @Bickley_Marotta during Newsmakers Week. pic.twitter.com/Hcv2k8qOcF
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 20, 2025
“We’ve never been anything but good,” Lloyd said of his relationship with Hurley. “That rivalry is kind of an external thing for a lot of people. For me, I’m going to be honest with you, I know the game has a little extra meaning, but we don’t put a ton of extra stock in it. Because you win or lose against Arizona State, two days later you’ve got a game. In basketball, you got to keep it moving. Bobby called me the next day and was awesome on the phone. I appreciate his friendship and we’ve never had a problem.
“Things happen in the moment. To be honest with you, we don’t need to rehash anything, but I thought he made a great decision just taking his players off the court in that moment when things were getting chippy on both sides. He and I would be fine no matter what, but if something happened between our programs on the floor with a player losing his mind, I don’t think it would be a good look for either institution or the state of Arizona. I got no problem, no beef and to be honest with you, I hadn’t even thought about it for one second until you just brought it up.”
Since the rivalry game, the two programs have gone in opposite directions record-wise.
Including the Wildcats loss, ASU (12-14) is currently riding a six-game losing streak and is second-to-last in the Big 12. Arizona (12-3) on the other hand is 4-2 and sits behind only Houston for the top spot in the conference.
Regardless of record or conference standing, though, a whole lot of eyes are going to be on the March 3 rematch — a penultimate regular season tilt — between the two sides.
As the Phoenix Mercury wait for a decision from franchise face Diana Taurasi about her playing future, the organization has already gone ahead with a reset.
It lost center Brittney Griner in free agency when she signed with the Atlanta Dream, citing the “people” in that organization and its location for her decision to move her family.
Then in a web of a trade that included four teams, Phoenix sent guards Natasha Cloud and Rebecca Allen to the Connecticut Sun, plus guard Sophie Cunningham to the Indiana Fever.
In that, the Mercury reloaded by adding five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas from the Sun and former Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally.
How does it all change the team’s playing identity?
“I think we’ll have a chance to play a lot faster. I think we have players who can play multiple positions,” second-year Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Wednesday.
“I am excited for sort of how mobile and fluid and quick this team can play.”
He foresees a more versatile team that can rip the ball out of the net and run, spacing the court with shooters and playmakers.
Look no further than Thomas, who averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game last season. Over different seasons, she has led the WNBA in steals and rebounds. Six times she’s made a WNBA All-Defensive team.
Sabally is still just 26 years old and last season averaged 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Together, the two new stars join Kahleah Copper, who in her first year with the Mercury proved she could carry the weight as a team’s leading scorer (21.1 points per game).
Those three players are at the core of Phoenix’s revamp.
And that’s before understanding where the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, the 42-year-old Taurasi, fits in. She was given a send-off without assurances the 2024 season would be her last with the Mercury or in the WNBA altogether.
“I don’t have much more information than you guys do,” U’Ren said Wednesday. “That’s her decision to make. We can go on and on about her impact on the team and what she’s meant to the community and the league.
“That’s an extremely personal decision and it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. And she’ll make it in due time.”
So is the door still open for Taurasi to return to a team that hardly looks the same as last year’s 19-21 squad?
“She and her agent and I speak all the time. I think, like I said, that’s a decision she’ll have to make in her own time but she’ll always have a place in our organization one way or another,” U’Ren said.
In less than a month, the Los Angeles Rams will be able to start signing outside free agents. But from now until the middle of March, they can sign their own free agents to extensions in order to keep them from hitting the market.
It’s not the strongest free-agent class for L.A. this offseason but there are surely at least a couple of players they’d be interested in bringing back – led by left tackle Alaric Jackson.
Spotrac projected the market value for six of the Rams’ top free agents, laying out what their next contracts could look like. Jackson’s market value is far and away the highest among all Rams free agents and he’s the only player Spotrac believes will get a multi-year deal.
Welcome to Sleeper Picks. Sleeper’s newest offering promised plenty of entertainment and action, and they delivered. We will break down our top three picks for tonight’s NBA action. Sleeper is quickly becoming one of the most popular season-long fantasy platforms, and they are expanding into other areas based on demand. Each week in this space, we’ll talk about some strategy for the new platform while providing our favorite NBA more/less picks.
LaMelo Ball has been excellent for the Hornets this season. His efficiency isn’t pretty overall, but he shoots .505 on his two-point attempts and is averaging a robust 27.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. LaMelo has been dealing with an ankle injury but is listed as probable tonight. He has been consistent as a scorer in games he has finished recently, pouring in 20 or more points in 12 straight. Light up the More on LaMelo for Wednesday night at Sleeper Picks.
Pick: More
LeBron has looked rejuvenated since the Luka trade, scoring 29.3 points per game in his three contests since. Luka has been on a minutes restriction after an injury layoff but should be more involved tonight in what could be our first true glimpse of what the LBJ-Luka connection will really look like. LeBron scored 22 against Charlotte late last month. Light up the More on LeBron for Wednesday night basketball.
Pick: More
Williams is finally back with the Hornets and is set to suit up tonight against the team he was almost traded to. Williams has been excellent when healthy this season and should be out for blood tonight after the Lakers rescinded the trade due to ‘a failed physical’ when, in truth, GM Rob Pelinka simply had buyers remorse at all the assets he relinquished to acquire the talented but oft-injured center. Williams has scored 10 or more points in nine of his last 10 games, with two 30+ point outings and five of 20+. Work with the More on Williams for Wednesday night’s NBA action.
Pick: More
Writers note: The lines are constantly changing on Sleeper (and sometimes expiring), so there is a high probability that one or all of the numbers may no longer be the same when you open your app. There are excellent values when they are first posted, with the only catch being that they are not all released at the same time. Vigilance could provide a solid return on investment this season, literally.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.
The post Wednesday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: LaMelo Ball, LeBron James, Mark Williams (2/19) appeared first on FantasyPros.
The NFL informed teams on Wednesday that the 2025 salary cap will be in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, giving them a much better idea of how much space they’ll have this year.
Back in December, NFL.com reported that teams were budgeting for a cap in the range of $265 million and $275 million, so the actual number will be above even the high end of that projection from about two months ago.
Over The Cap has listed the projected cap as $272.5 million this offseason, which means teams will have more space than anticipated. So how much room will the Rams have to work with now?
According to Over The Cap, they’re projected to have about $44.37 million in cap room, which would be 15th in the league. That’s based on a salary cap of $279.5 million, right in the middle of the NFL’s official range.
If the cap ends up being $281.5 million, the Rams will have $46.37 million available, or $42.37 million if the cap winds up on the low end of the range at $277.5 million.
The NFL today informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year’s $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 19, 2025
Regardless of where it falls, that will be a significant jump from the last two years. The cap was $255.4 million last year, so it will rise at least $22 million in 2025 and it will increase by at least $53 million in the last two years, as Dan Graziano said.
Even though Arizona Diamondbacks starting shortstop Geraldo Perdomo signed a four-year $45 million contract extension on Monday, the move to keep Perdomo in the desert long term does not change what the Diamondbacks will do with top prospect Jordan Lawlar, general manager Mike Hazen said Tuesday.
The main question is Lawlar primarily plays the same position as Perdomo and is Arizona’s only player ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects.
But despite being ranked No. 11 overall by MLB pipeline, Lawlar was limited to just 23 games in 2024. The shortstop is still only 22 years old and has shown flashes, but he was unable to remain healthy and stay on the field last season during an injury-riddled campaign in the minors.
“Depth is not keeping Jordan Lawlar off the roster, so I can promise you that,” Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Tuesday during Day 1 of Newsmakers Week. “I think the history over the last year or so he was hurt for the majority of last year. Obviously, he came up in ’23 and did a really good job for us at the end of the season and nothing has changed with regards to Jordan Lawlar. And when Jordan Lawlar is ready to be on this team, Jordan Lawlar’s gonna be on this team.”
The sixth-overall pick in 2021 tore a ligament in his thumb at the end of spring training in 2024 and spent more than two months on the injured list after needing surgery.
After a short stint at the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, he made his return to Triple-A Reno on June 11 and in four games went 8-for-20 with four extra-base hits, playing shortstop and third base. However, he suffered a strained left hamstring on a game-tying triple in the ninth inning of his fourth game back, just six days later.
Lawlar finally returned from injury on Sept. 8 for the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles. After two games with the Sod Poodles, he played 10 more games with Reno to wrap up his season, playing a mix of shortstop, third base and DH.
Lawlar later went on to play 27 games in the Dominican Winter League where he slashed .237/.315/.355 with three home runs for Tigres del Licey.
“Back, back, back … wayyyy back!”
MLB’s No. 9 prospect Jordan Lawlar (@Dbacks) lofts his third homer in 20 @LIDOMRD games: pic.twitter.com/fNJF6i60XJ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 18, 2024
Before the untimely injuries, Lawlar was expected to compete for playing time at the big-league-level prior to the start of the 2024 season.
The shortstop slashed .278/.378/.496 with 20 home runs and 36 stolen bases in the minor leagues over 105 games in 2023 between Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A.
Lawlar also spent a short time in the majors in 2023 after veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed was cut, but he struggled at the plate and recorded four hits and 11 strikeouts in the 34 plate appearances he saw over 14 games.
However, the combination of Lawlar’s talent and work ethic has kept him in the fold, according to Hazen.
“And we very much feel the exact same way we always have. He’s extremely talented. He’s an incredible baseball player. He has great make up and work ethic and he fits into the fabric of what this organization is going to be. I’m not worried,” Hazen said.
But despite there being uncertainty as to whether Lawlar can stay healthy or if he is ready to produce at the big-league-level, Hazen emphasized the importance of depth and how Lawlar factors into the equation of fitting the puzzle together.
Lawlar could start the season in Triple-A Reno to get everyday at-bats before the club calls him back up. And even with Perdomo at shortstop, Lawlar has received more looks at other spots along the infield.
“If you look at the rosters of the teams we’re competing with at the very top of the National League, you’re not gonna find nine good players on that team, you’re gonna find 13 good position players on that team and that’s what we need to shoot for so we’re gonna stay competitive,” Hazen said.
“And so I’m not worried about what positions we have that you would consider to be locked down. We have opportunity for good players to come onto this roster at any point in time.”
