If Caleb Downs can fullfil a Kyle Hamilton + Nick Emmanwori hybrid LB/DB role that lets you never have to truly play BASE defense
This defense can be a problem - THE hardest skillset to find on defense right now as 12 & 13 Personnel increases
Cowboys - Downs
insane to me that he fell. Every year these hybrid safeties transform defenses and are so impactful, yet they get under-drafted. One of the fastest mental processors I've ever scouted
NBA exec on the Cavs and Giannis:
“It’s Defcon 5 for the Mitchell stuff if they don’t go to the Finals or at least the East finals.
"So, they can put Mobley on the table and another player and that’s a tough thing for the Bucks to say no to.”
😳 (via @HeavyOnSports)
The Biden DOJ went after Live Nation with an antitrust case in conjunction with 40 states. Live Nation donated $500K to Trump’s inaugural fund and unsurprisingly, his DOJ lets them off with a small fine so they can continue screwing the public.
Kid Rock voted for this.
The Cavs core four of Mobley, Allen, Mitchell, and Harden have played just 76 possessions together so far
Here's how they rank:
🏀 +36.7 NET (100th percentile)
🏀 125.0 ORTNG (97th percentile)
🏀 88.3 DRTNG (100th percentile)
In contrast with the Pistons, the Cavs have Mitchell, Harden, Schroeder, Tyson all who can create and make plays. Talk all you want about Harden's playoff failures but it's not going to be all on him this year in Cleveland. They have enough to win this whole thing.
Koby Altman:
- Traded Kyrie for: Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schroder
- Found diamonds in a rough with Sam Merrill, Naequan Tomlin, Craig Porter Jr, and Dean Wade
- Drafted a DPOY in Evan Mobley
- Made a risky but needed maneuver to trade Darius Garland for James Harden
- Signed the only Heat role player who managed to keep his powers when he left Miami in 23 in Max Strus
.@MikeAScotto confirming the Cavs and Kings trade talks, and it looks like the Cavs may prefer Dennis Schroder to Malik Monk due to their contracts.
Scotto also mentions the Wizards as a team willing to take on Lonzo Ball’s contract for draft compensation.
Sources: The Cavaliers and Kings have discussed a framework that would send De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento for Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, and Dario Saric.
More reporting on those trade talks, Lakers, Cam Thomas, Bucks, Mavs, Suns and Spurs on @hoopshype. https://t.co/P4H0pgR7P6
Chris Fedor and @EjElite1 discuss De’Andre Hunter trades and Fedor says a general framework of Hunter for Rui and Knecht, with a third team being brought in, has been discussed.
(Reminder — that trio cannot work financially thus the 3rd team.)
Pod: https://t.co/asDb76ALz5
A salary point on both sides of the Hunter & Lakers discussions:
- Below is what the Cavs books would look like for next summer if Hunter and Ball are removed. If the Cavs were to swap Hunter for Rui, it put them on a path to a cleaner salary sheet while also retaining the optionality of Rui's bird rights. Similar to Sam Merrill last year, and what limited the Cavs in paying Ty Jerome, is the Cavs would have Rui's full bird rights. This means they could pay him whatever amount they want and could exceed some cap restrictions in doing so. A Rui extension may push them back up to the 2nd Apron but it would provide more optionality in how they make moves.
- On the flipside: How much do the Lakers value their 2026 cap space? They will have to pay Austin Reaves but they could go into summer with up to $84M in cap space. If they take on Hunter, that would be $24.9M less in cap space. This could change depending on what other money they would attempt to move but a major consideration for them is Hunter's future salary commitments.