Turkish Bengal

Turkish Bengals fan living in the Toronto area. Mostly here for sports takes. I post when I can but spend way too much time analyzing sports data offline.

[Ari Meirov @MySportsUpdate]

The full Terrion Arnold story, according to Tampa Police, is stunning:

Police say this all started after Terrion Arnold and several others had property stolen from an Airbnb Arnold rented in Largo in early February. Investigators say Arnold believed some of the eventual victims were responsible, even though police later determined they were not involved in that theft.

On February 3, police say Arnold and Boakai Hilton — who investigators say helped coordinate the alleged setup — directed Arianna Del Valle and Jasmine Randazzo to contact one of the victims and lure him to an apartment in Tampa.

Around midnight on February 4, investigators say the victims arrived at the apartment. Once they entered a bedroom, police say Christion Williams and Lyndell Hudson — who had been hiding in a closet — jumped out, grabbed the victims, held them at gunpoint, and attacked them.

Investigators say the incident was streamed to Arnold, Hilton, and Freddie Hughes while they were traveling to the apartment. Police also say there was a group chat involving the defendants, and that Arnold and Hilton gave directions through that chat while the attack was happening.

About an hour later, police say Arnold arrived at the apartment with Hilton, Hughes, and another person, and that he directed them to go inside while the robbery was still going on. Investigators say property was stolen from the victims during the attack.

At around 1:40 a.m., police say the victims were escorted out of the apartment by armed suspects and forced into their vehicle before leaving the scene. Police say Del Valle, Williams, and another individual then got into a vehicle driven by Arnold and left the area.

The victims later reported the incident to Tampa Police and identified the suspects. After search warrants were executed and the investigation continued, detectives arrested multiple people in the case over the following weeks.

Police say Arnold was the primary conspirator in the alleged robbery/kidnapping plot. He turned himself in Wednesday night and is now facing 4 counts of kidnapping and 4 counts of armed robbery.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

The referees for the England-Ghana game is reminding me of the referees from the Knicks-Spurs series.

Letting the boys play!

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

I wonder if he can join the @CFL for the season.

The season has started but if they brought him in now, he may be able to start by the end of the season.

[Ian Rapoport @RapSheet]

The NFL has informed teams that it will NOT be holding a Supplemental Draft, meaning Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby will not be eligible to enter the NFL in 2026.

The CBA allows the league to decide whether to hold a Supplemental Draft, and this year, it won’t.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@CHold The difference is: KAT always played. Since COVID, AD has played more than 60 games in season twice.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@JWeinbachNBA I feel like Brayden Burries would be a perfect fit in this roster construction. He’ll probably be the best player left on the board at 6 too.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

I would also add: if there’s a team I trust to build a bench with no assets, it’s Spoelstra and the Heat.

[Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie]

I am confused by the take that Miami has no depth after the Giannis deal. Off the bench, they have all of Larsson, Portis, Jovic and Dru Smith, plus access to exceptions to fill out the roster pending retaining Powell and at what price point. Think their depth's gonna be good.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

After thinking of this trade this morning, I have two takeaways:
- This is a good haul for MIL. Especially if they have a good draft and trade Herro for Holland + pick(s), they have a promising young corps to build from.
- I’m surprised they weren’t able to get the 2032 swap.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BLOCKBUSTER: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, sources tell ESPN.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@NBADraftWass If I were the Bucks, I would want Morez at 10 or 13 and then a top tier G that falls out of 5-9. I think one will fall because not all of them need guards.

If the Turner for Poeltl and Dick trade is true, I’d take that in a heartbeat.

Ament or Lopez would be a disaster.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

Wow…

[Matt Miller @nfldraftscout]

Last week, I was involved in a serious car accident in Missouri and was airlifted to Mercy Hospital. I’m deeply grateful for the exceptional care I have received, from the first responders to the doctors, nurses and medical staff. I’m incredibly fortunate to be writing this. 

As a result of the accident, I sustained significant injuries, including multiple fractures and broken ribs. I also underwent a life-saving amputation of my left arm. While I have a long road ahead, I’m focused on my recovery and taking things one day at a time.

Thank you for the overwhelming support, prayers and kind messages — they have meant so much to me and my family during this time.

I look forward to continuing my recovery and getting back to ESPN to talk football, including what should be an exciting 2027 NFL Draft class.

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BLOCKBUSTER: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, sources tell ESPN.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

So… did the Celtics miss on Giannis because they refused to include Hugo Gonzalez? 😬

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

The Celtics aggressively pursued Giannis, offering Milwaukee a package featuring 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. The Bucks seriously negotiated with two finalists in recent weeks: Miami and Boston, which were both on Antetokounmpo’s list of preferred destinations.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

Remember when Bill made fun of Mark Cuban for refusing to put Rodrigue Beaubois in a trade? This feels eerily similar to that.

[Bill Simmons @BillSimmons]

I’m just gonna say….

I would be absolutely shocked if Hugo was/is thrown into any Giannis trade offer. The entire organization is all-in on him - Stevens prob the most. They could not be higher on him. I genuinely don’t believe he’s involved. Guess we’ll see.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@SamQuinnCBS Right where the Bucks want you when they announce that their bringing Giannis back for one last ride!

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@JLaCour__ And also forgot to add, is already missing games because of injury (which is the primary reason smaller PG’s don’t play in their 30s unless you’re last name is Paul).

It didn’t pass me that you cited his 2024 stats and not his 2025 stats where he was 19/9 on worse shooting.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@JLaCour__ His counting stats looked nice but if you look at his efficiency they were well below his peak years. For example the year you’re referencing he shot 34% from three on 10 threes a game.

Now he’s a 28 year old PG, who is only a good shooter, and the worst defender in the NBA.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@RobAlexTheGreat @SamQuinnCBS I disagree. There is a concept of ceteris paribus (Latin for “holding all else equal”). I took @SamQuinnCBS’s question as: Suppose you have an identical trade offer to the Spurs and the Wizards for Fox and Young respectively. Which player/contract would you accept?

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@DragonflyJonez With that money they could have:
- Paid Mitchell Robinson;
- Taken a flier on Kuminga; and
- Brought in Lu Dort for veteran leadership and toughness.

Even if the alternative was keeping him in a 3 year 120 kind of contract, they could have at least done two of the above.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@SleeperKnicks @LetsTalkKnicks_ @SleeperWizards @Sleeper_Hoops At least there’s no No Trade Clause. They’re learning 😂

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@SamQuinnCBS I had a similar idea - though I had De’Aaron Fox going to Brooklyn. I guess keeping him in MIL also makes sense.

A lot of valuable SAS picks are pick swaps so that makes it hard to trade 5-6 firsts.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

As we get closer to the NBA draft, I have a nifty trade idea:

Boston gets: Giannis;

Spurs get: Jaylen Brown, Noah Clowney (expiring);

Nets get: De’Aaron Fox + a few picks;

Bucks get: Michael Porter (expiring), Carter Bryant, Julian Champagnie (expiring) + a lot of picks.

[Turkish Bengal @TurkishBengal]

@RobAlexTheGreat @SamQuinnCBS The question isn’t about the particular circumstances of each player though. It’s about the contract and player in a vacuum.