The New York Yankees have reached a deal with the Texas Rangers for All-Star Joey Gallo. This signing could provide the Yankees with a much-needed boost behind the plate.

“Wow, a guy that can hit it out of any ballpark. I don’t think he gets enough credit for the type of defense that he plays,” said Aaron Judge after hearing about the trade.

“Also, just talking with Rougy and a couple of guys that have played with him, man, what a guy that you want in your clubhouse, a guy that shows up every day ready to play. He’s going to fight until the very end. If that’s true and it comes true that we get him, I think it’s going to be something special for our team,” Judge added.

Gallo is just 27 years old and will join a Yankees lineup that has lacked power from left-handed hitters all year. Roughned Odor and Brett Gardner have been the only left-handed hitters consistently in the lineup this season.

“That’s going to be huge, just to give the pitchers a different look,” Judge stated. “When we go up there with all right-handed guys, pitchers kind kind of get into grooves and kind of get into rhythms, but if you kind of mix it up a little bit and throw some lefties in there and a lefty that kind of bolt you on any pitch, it’s going to be big for this lineup and for this team.”

Gallo has a batting average of .223 this year with 25 home runs, 55 RBIs and leads the MLB with 74 walks. Gallo has also earned Gold-Glove recognition at first base, however he will likely take on a role in the outfield for the Yankees.

According to The Athletic, the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to engage in conversations regarding trades for point guard Ben Simmons. The 76ers reportedly have high standards and expect a huge package in return for Simmons, a three-time All-Star.

Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, has met with Philadelphia management at least once since the conclusion of the season regarding the future of his client.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons and head coach Doc Rivers have met to discuss future plans for improvement, specifically regarding the point guard’s shooting.

A majority of the blame for the 76ers’ second-round playoff series loss to the Atlanta Hawks has been directed towards Simmons, who averaged 9.9 points per game and shot 15-of-45 from the field in the series (33.3% FG). In the final three games, Simmons attempted just 14 shots, while only attempting three in the fourth quarter of the entire series.

In June, it was reported that the 76ers were committed to keeping Simmons as a major part of the franchise. Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his contract. He is still just 24 years old.

Teams around the league are speculating the 76ers’ interest in trade deals and overall expectations. An Eastern Conference executive told Sports Illustrated, “You won’t get another ‘star’ for him. They might have to attach a young player just to move him.”

“People can say he is good in all these other areas, but with today’s game, shooting is the most important skill. Are teams going to take a chance to build around a guy that is scared to shoot?” said another executive in their own interview with Sports Illustrated.

After the 76ers were knocked out of the playoffs, Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, was asked about Simmons’ future with the team. “We have a very strong group we believe in,” he said. “None of us can predict the future of what is going to happen. We love what Ben brings. We love what Joel Embiid brings. We love what Tobias Harris brings. In terms of what’s next, we’ll do what is best for the 76ers to give us the best chance to win a championship with every single player on the roster.”

Quarterback Deshaun Watson has requested a trade from the Houston Texans. Watson made the formal request to the team weeks ago, per ESPN.

Watson, 25, signed a four-year, $156 million contract extension with the Texans in September and is under contract until 2025. His contract has a no-trade clause, and it is possible for the team to franchise tag him for three years, extending the control of his rights through the 2028 season.

The trade request followed Watson’s unhappiness concerning new general manager hire Nick Caserio‘s process. It should be noted that the Texans’ new head-coach hire, David Culley, has not and will not alter Watson’s thinking, according to ESPN. Watson has not spoken to GM Caserio or executive Jack Easterby.

After Watson signed his contract extension last year, he talked about how happy he was to commit to the Texans franchise and the city of Houston.

“It’s just an amazing moment for me to be able to extend my career in a location, in a place, in a home, I would say, that my family loves, that I love,” Watson said in September. “I want to continue to dive into the community most of all and just continue to build my legacy, just build our legacy as a whole and do something that we’ve never done before.”

Watson has played a total of four seasons and 54 games. In those four seasons, Watson’s 104 passing touchdowns and 14,539 passing yards rank second in franchise history behind Matt Schaub, who produced 124 touchdowns and 23,221 passing yards in 90 games.

Watson set career highs this past season, specifically in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. His 33 touchdowns and 4,823 passing yards marked single-season franchise records.

It will be interesting to see where Watson lands. Several teams have a glaring need at the quarterback position. However, Watson likely wants to play for a contender. Time will tell, but this story continues to escalate at a rapid pace. Be on the lookout for breaking news, as the Texans could decide to deal Watson at any moment.

The New York Giants traded Pro Bowler Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland will send back right guard Kevin Zeitler in return.

The Giants will also swap a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft for Cleveland’s fifth rounder. On Wednesday, the official start of the NFL year, the trade will become official.

In Vernon, Cleveland finds a productive defensive playmaker. Last season he led the Giants with seven sacks and 21 quarterback hits in just 11 games. While New York runs a 3-4 defensive scheme, under Steve Wilks‘ 4-3 defense, Vernon can expect to line up as a defensive end.

SLIDESHOW: 30 BEST SPORTS INSTAGRAMS

The move is being interpreted by some as a salary cap dump. Vernon is projected to make $15.5 million in each of the next two seasons. While Zeitler does bolster an atrocious offensive line and save the Giants $1.5 million in cap space, he doesn’t warrant a one-for-one trade for Vernon.

During the NFL combine, New York looked into moving the 28-year-old. They had previously hoped to swap him for draft picks and get another premier pass-rusher. Some speculate that this may mean the Giants are looking into more trades.

In Cleveland, Vernon joins Browns defensive line that includes young phenom Myles Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi.

While his time with the Giants didn’t lead to any deep postseason runs, it wasn’t because of poor performance on the field. If anything it was because he wasn’t on the field enough. Since signing a five-year, $84.75 million deal in the 2016 offseason, injuries have plagued the lineman. Despite not missing a game in his first five seasons, he missed nine in the last two alone.

Vernon has been one of the most electrifying players in the league when he was on the field. To see him lined up next to talented teammates will be a spectacle to watch.

In the summer of 2018, Anthony Davis left the Wasserman agency and then signed with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports in September. Paul is LeBron James‘ agent.

LeBron Thinks Lakers Should Trade For Anthony Davis

New Orleans‘ 6-foot-10 power forward is one of the NBA’s most interesting players. Davis is under contract with the Pelicans for $27.1 million next season and has a player option for 2020-21 worth $28.8 million. At only 25, he’s averaging 28 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game for a team that’s under .500 in spite of him.

Though the Los Angeles Lakers have been rumored to be targeting players from Kawhi Leonard to Paul George, Davis is on another level. The Lakers tried to acquire Trevor Ariza this month but refused to give up any part of their young core. In order to get Davis, it’s close to guaranteed that they’d have to move Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma or Josh Hart. And they’re expected to go after him.

“They’re not going to give away picks and their top young players in some deal that makes them incrementally better this season because they’ve got to save all those assets for Anthony Davis, a big trade this summer pre- or post-free agency,” said ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski said. “That’s why they’ve looked at players who are on one-year deals who don’t have money going forward.”

Even Lebron is behind the idea. When asked about it, he said, “That would be amazing. That would be amazing, like, duh. That would be incredible.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

New Orleans is well aware that teams are interested in Davis. “If you can trade him for anybody, then he is the most valuable guy in the league. Not that we would ever consider that,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said in October. “There’s no one in the league that we would trade him for, and there’s no one out of the league — not even Beyonce. If we wouldn’t trade him for her, he’s probably untouchable.”

The Lakers’ best move would be to trade for Davis now. He’s got an incentive to stay in New Orleans if he’s a free agent. They can offer him the largest contract out of any team, according to CBA rules. And if LA does want to trade for him, it’s best to pull the trigger now. The Boston Celtics are expected to be in talks for him and they’re a much deeper team. Aside from driving up the price, they’ll be able to offer more in the end. James will be 34 this month. A realistic path to a championship must include another superstar.

Karl-Anthony Towns is walking into the locker room. He was Minnesota’s No. 1 overall pick in 2015 and the young superstar’s upset.

Why nobody wants to trade for Jimmy Butler

It’s in a game the Wolves would lose 102-120 to the Houston Rockets. He slams the wall. Someone with the Wolves yells out “KAT come on,quit being a f—ing p—y!”

That was Jimmy Butler, during the same game where he’d injure a meniscus that required surgery. Today, he’s yet to be traded. All signs point to a four-team deal by the end of this week.

After coach Tom Thibodeau’s efforts to convince him to rejoin the team failed, other teams started inquiring about Butler. Concerns that Thibodeau wasn’t hearing trade offers developed and Minnesota owner Glen Taylor told other owners to contact him directly. Butler even
spoke to him for reassurances trade talks were proceeding in good faith.

Wolves ownership learned that Miami is Butler’s preferred trade destination. They were at one point making a push for him but Thibodeau seems to have torpedoed the trade talks. Management even signed Towns to a five-year, super-max contract worth $190 million. Towns told the Wolves earlier this month he couldn’t “coexist” with Butler.

We know what’s going to happen with Butler. But the better question to ask might be why would any team trade for Butler? While on paper, Butler’s a very motivated All-Star, off it, he’s an oft-injured head case. Butler is like Carmelo Anthony, another ball-hogging wing who caused issues with any team he was on. Like Anthony eight years ago, Butler is forcing his way off a team to one he could easily sign with in ten months. He’s costing the team assets. Odds are they’ll also take on the $48 million contract of Gorgui Dieng. Then, they’ll have to resign him to a new contract most likely in the range of five years, $155 million.

Deals like that for 30-year-old players rarely help teams.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

This season, Butler went after Towns for not practicing hard enough. Butler’s only ever played over 70 games twice in his career. Towns has never missed a game. Considering the track record of Thibodeau players, Butler’s likely to fall apart soon. He missed over a month with that meniscus injury last season that required surgery. He’s played for Tom Thibodeau for most of his career. The coach, famous for grinding players to the bone, reunited with Butler last season in Minnesota after five years together in Chicago.

Zach La Vine blew out his knee after two seasons with Thibodeau and had to sit out an entire year. Luol Deng embraced Thib’s workload. He averaged at least 38.7 minutes for each of his first three seasons, then had a series of nagging injuries before aging overnight. For the last five seasons, he’s been the shell of the All-Star player he once was.

Joakim Noah was a two-time All-Star and won Defensive Player of the Year. Then the Thib’s minutes caught up to him and he missed 53 games in his last season with the Bulls. He signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Knicks and has played in only 52 games. After two seasons, the Knicks are trying to waive him.

Everyone knows what happened to Derrick Rose. He was the youngest MVP, blew out his knee, missed a whole season, tore the ligaments in his other knee, and has never been the same since. He’s bounced around the league since his contract with the Bulls expired.

How many times does Tom Thibodeau have to give an update on an MRI of a star player’s non-contact knee injury before he’s out of the league?

Jimmy Butler is 29, his next contract will go until he’s 35. It’s rare a Thibodeau player makes it past 30 healthy, especially one who’s bought into Thib’s ideology like Butler. Aside from injury concerns, Butler has complained publicly about teammates and coaches every year since 2015. After Game 5 of their playoff series versus Houston, Butler refused to fly home with the team.

Today’s NBA relies on chemistry. No one on the Warriors holds the ball. The Celtics didn’t have a player average over 32.2 minutes. A team with two ball-stopping wings, former Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins and Butler, won’t survive. Butler’s knees certainly won’t after Thibodeau’s minutes.

Hero ball is long gone. Kobe retired two years ago. Allen Iverson last played in Turkey in 2011. The best thing the Wolves could do is to fire Thibodeau, trade Butler, let Towns develop, and get Wiggins involved again.

“They don’t want me here, so they obviously know,” said Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith, when asked if he wanted a trade.

JR Wants A Trade Out Of Cleveland

Disgruntled over playing time, Smith replied “Yeah,” to a reporter on Thursday who asked if he wanted a trade out of Cleveland. Smith tweeted out amidst the tension, denying that he is unhappy.

“False!” he tweeted. “They gave me the option an I chose to stay!”

 Smith is not currently in the playing rotation, averaging just 2.5 points and one rebound. Smith and the front office have allegedly discussed potentially taking a leave of absence until a trade can be found, although he refutes this in the recent tweet above.

The NBA does not permit players to voice trade requests publicly. The NBA is currently deliberating on whether or not to fine Smith. 

The New York Giants sent defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Detroit Lions for a fifth-round draft pick this week.

Giants trade DT Damon Harrison to Lions for 5th-round pick

Less than 24 hours after trading starting cornerback Eli Apple to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round pick in 2019 and a seventh-rounder in 2020, the New York Giants (1-6) made a second high-profile trade, sending defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Detroit Lions (3-3) for a fifth-round draft pick.

With the Giants currently last in the NFC East, there has been an impression around the league that anyone on New York’s struggling defense could be available in a trade.

Outside of Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham, there shouldn’t be too many untouchable players on the Giants’ roster.

Later Wednesday, Harrison took to Twitter to bid farewell to the New York-New Jersey area, and to say hello to his new team.

The Lions are within striking distance to surpass the first-place Minnesota Vikings (4-2-1) in the NFC North but have the NFL’s 30th-ranked run defense and 24th-ranked scoring defense. The Vikings have also been allowing 26.3 points per game and have yielded 139.3 rushing yards per game.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Opponents have averaged 5.3 yards per carry against Detroit, the most in the NFL.

The addition of Harrison should immediately beef up the Lions’ defensive line, which has been without star pass-rusher Ezekiel Ansah for the majority of the season due to a shoulder injury.

Harrison signed a five-year, $46.25 million deal with New York before the 2016 season and Detroit will have to pay the remaining $4.1 million he is owed this season, plus $7 million in 2019 and $9.25 million in 2020.

The Giants will head to the nation’s capital for an NFC East showdown with the Washington Redskins (4-2). The game will air on Fox at 7:00 p.m. EST.

The Giants have reportedly traded cornerback Eli Apple to the Saints, according to Adam Schefter. Following a tough loss Monday night, the Giants seem to be going all in on a rebuild, trading their 2016 first-round draft pick to the Saints. In New Orleans, he joins a secondary that’s routinely gone through No.2 corners.

CB Eli Apple Traded To Saints

New Orleans sent over a 2019 fourth-rounder and a 2020 seventh-rounder for the corner.

Apple struggled in New York but the Saints hope a change of scenery helps him. The Saints were also in the market for Patrick Peterson but a lack of a 2019 first-round pick makes a trade extremely difficult.

The move is much needed for New Orleans. While they have the No.1 run defense, they’re No. 28 against the pass. While Marshon Lattimore has bounced back, the rest of the secondary has struggled. Injuries have hurt as well, with 2018 free agent signing Patrick Robinson sidelined with a broken ankle.

Apple also left his last game with an ankle injury, which the Saints need to watch.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

This move now leaves the Giants without their 2015 or 2016 first-round picks. The team recently released Ereck Flowers, one of the league’s worst guards.

One thing the Saints get out of Apple is how affordable he is. The Saints owe Apple only $1million this year and have the ability to pick up his fifth-year option for 2020 in May.

With an aging quarterback, the move is just another example of the team being in a win-now mode. The 5-1 Saints have used their draft capital to improve this season, trading away their first, third, and fourth-round picks for the upcoming draft.

All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson has asked to be traded from the Arizona Cardinals by the Oct. 30 trade deadline.

Patrick Peterson ‘Desperately’ Wants Out of Arizona

League sources attest that Peterson “desperately” wants out amid a dismal season in Glendale. Despite his demands, coach Steve Wilks insists there will be no trades involving the seven-time Pro-Bowler. “We’re not trading Patrick,” said Wilks. “That’s out of the question.”

Interested teams include the Eagles and the Patriots, while Peterson’s cousin tweeted that he prefers the Saints. Athletes around the NFL have gathered to recruit Peterson, hopeful that he will be the final piece toward a Super Bowl run, or the perfect guy to right the ship.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The Cardinals are 1-6 this season and third in the NFC West. Arizona is coming off a brutal 45-10 home loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday. The Cardinals’ only win this season came against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5. They next host San Francisco on Sunday.

On Friday, the Cleveland Browns announced they traded running back Carlos Hyde to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.

Jaguars Acquire Carlos Hyde Via Trade

According to ESPN, the swap is pending a physical. In March, Hyde signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Browns.

This season, 28-year-old Hyde — a former San Francisco 49er — has logged 382 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns. His departure from Cleveland will allow for other Browns running backs like rookie Nick Chubb, a second-round pick out of Georgia, to develop. Chubb already boasts two touchdowns and 173 yards after 16 carries this year.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville has been missing starting rusher Leonard Fournette for most of the 2018 campaign. The Jaguars (3-3, third in AFC South) announced earlier this week that Fournette will miss Sunday’s home matchup against the Houston Texans because of a re-aggravated hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the team’s past two games.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

This will surely hurt Jacksonville, as Fournette is one of the team’s top offensive players.

Fournette has suffered multiple injuries since he joined the NFL in 2017. His last full season came in 2015, his sophomore year at LSU. Last year, he was suspended one game for missing a team meeting.

Last week, the Jaguars signed another veteran running back: 31-year-old free-agent Jamaal Charles, who formerly played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos.

In his first practice back with the Minnesota Timberwolves, trade-hungry shooting guard Jimmy Butler fought to prove his worth, this time against his own
teammates.

Jimmy Butler Turns Up The anger In Practice

An Adrian Wojnarowski report detailed a feisty, determined Butler that took charge of the Wolves’ practice and audibly denounced a few of his teammates and team brass. Among those was General Manager Scott Layden, who was on the receiving end of a brash call-out from Butler.

“You f-—ing need me, Scott,” Butler shouted during a boisterous practice. “You can’t win without me.”

Making sure to back up his big talk, Butler bombarded the Wolves’ starting lineup with buckets and by taking a few scrimmages wins in dominant fashion. The most exhilarating detail: Butler’s wins reportedly came with a team of low-end bench players, and the final game of the practice concluded with Butler exiting with an aura of swagger and confidence.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Leaving the team and staff “largely speechless,” the players appeared energized and impressed by Butler’s showing. He spoke to Rachel Nichols of ESPN about his emotions and the now infamous practice session.

“A lot of it is true,” said Butler on his words. “I haven’t played basketball in so long. I’m so passionate. I don’t do it for any reason but to compete. All my emotion came out in one time. Was it the right way? No! But I can’t control that when I’m out there competing. That’s raw me, me at my finest, me at my purest. Inside the lines.”

He was also reportedly critical of forward Karl-Anthony Towns during the practice, guarding him in the post and forcing a pass out of the paint. “He can’t do sh—t against me!” Butler expanded more on his outbursts, citing passion as his reasoning for the clamor.

“Am I being tough on him? Yeah, that’s who am I,” Butler said. “I’m not the most talented player on the team. Who is the most talented player on our team — KAT. Who is the most God-gifted player on our team — [Andrew] Wiggins. Who plays the hardest? Me! I play hard. I put my body [on the line] every day in practice, every day in games. That’s my passion. Everybody leads in different ways. That’s how I show I’m here for you.”

Jimmy Butler announced Wednesday that he would like to be traded out of Minnesota, his biggest preference being the Los Angeles Clippers, the favorite to sign Kawhi Leonard come free agency in July of 2019.

Butler, Leonard could pair up in 2019

Wielding two maximum free agent slots, the Clippers are emerging as the front-runner for the All-NBA Toronto Raptors forward, something Timberwolves shooting guard Butler sees as a component of a promising future in Los Angeles. If not Leonard, a second star will be able to pair up with the guard, who told Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau that he wants to be traded. The potential for Los Angeles to offer Butler a partner with a second star player in a deep summer free agency class in 2019 is appealing to him, according to league sources.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

Other options for Butler are in New York, citing the Nets and Knicks as the alternatives to Los Angeles. The Nets also have two free agent slots available for max contracts come this summer, but prefers the Knicks and Clippers. Despite all three teams standing at a relative standstill near the bottom of the NBA rankings, this summer could bring a sum of potent talent to the attractive cities. This might have been what attracted Butler in the first place, but it is also what could be a deterrent to Los Angeles.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Suppose Butler is traded for a package from Los Angeles: sure, there is a decent pool of decided veterans in Lou Williams, Patrick Beverly, and Tobias Harris that Thibodeau can choose from in exchange for his all-star guard. But would Los Angeles willingly dump a core of veterans for Butler, a player that could decide not to resign come summer time? It’s all part of the front-office game in the NBA, a big risk for an even bigger reward — or none at all.

The New England Patriots acquired receiver Josh Gordon on Monday afternoon via trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Josh Gordon Sent to patriots for fifth-round pick

Another year, another season of Belichick and co. upending the fluidity of the NFL, disregarding the hopes of fans across the other 31 teams, setting it ablaze as they look onward with stoic satisfaction. A 2019 fifth-round pick has been sent to Cleveland for the 27-year-old wideout, who is expected to play this week vs. the Lions on Sunday Night. His hamstring, injured during a photoshoot, came back clear after an MRI, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport. An additional seventh-round pick will be sent to the Patriots in the event that Gordon fails to play ten of the 14 games left of the regular season.

The move follows the narrative of the Patriots’ ambitious acquisitions of talent and blossoming them, targeting efficient trades and signees who can benefit them at a low-cost. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported that New England was one of “eight to ten” teams that inquired about the talented pass-catcher. Interest was garnered after the team announced they would release him on Saturday.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

The Patriots have now made twenty-eight trades involving a wide receiver since March.

New England’s inevitable postseason runs in the playoffs seems to churn out a decisive number of stars at the skill positions, and 2018 is not looking like an exception. Tom Brady‘s weapons closet could look something like this come playoff time: Gordon, TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Julian Edelman, WR Chris Hogan, RB James White, RB Rex Burkhead, RB Sony Michel. 

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The addition unquestionably bolsters New England’s claim as Superbowl favorites, revitalizing (again) an offensive force in the AFC in the midst of another NFL season.

For now, the team is on to Detroit.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to completing a deal to acquire Los Angeles Clippers forward Sam Dekker via trade, it was announced on Sunday.

Clippers’ Sam Dekker To Be Traded To Cavaliers

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said the Clippers agreed to the deal in order to clear a roster spot, while 24-year-old Dekker is hoping to earn more playing time. Dekker, a Wisconsin standout, joined the NBA in 2015 when the Houston Rockets selected him as a first-round pick (No. 18).

The Clippers landed Dekker in June 2017 in a trade that sent Chris Paul to the Rockets. Last season, Dekker averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12 minutes per game, per ESPN. The young forward is still reportedly owed $2.8 million on his contract with the Clippers, who currently have 15 guaranteed roster spots to fill before next season begins. Point guard Patrick Beverley remains on a non-guaranteed deal with the team, who will need to trade or waive another player in order to keep Beverley.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

Last month, Dekker —who played on the gold-medal-winning under-18 U.S. men’s national team that beat Brazil at the FIBA Americas Championship in 2012 — married Olivia Harlan, an SEC Network and ESPN reporter who is the daughter of NBA on TNT play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan. 

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers waived forward Okaro White on Monday. White did not play in any regular-season games with the Cavs but participated in every contest for Cleveland in this year’s NBA Summer League. He averaged six points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

The Cleveland Browns on Sunday traded wide receiver Corey Coleman to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a seventh-round 2020 NFL Draft pick.

Browns’ Corey Coleman Traded to Bills

The move marks the seemingly hopeless Browns’ latest attempt to improve their roster after posting a string of terrible seasons in recent years that have turned them into the league’s weakest teams. Last season, Cleveland finished a winless (0-16) campaign.

Coleman — whom the Browns selected as the No. 15 overall pick out of Baylor in the 2016 Draft — has thus far turned out to be one of the worst first-round picks from that class. In two pro seasons, the 24-year-old wideout has far from impressed, logging 56 catches for five touchdowns and 718 yards in 19 games. In 2017, Coleman sat out seven contests due to a hand injury and only compiled 23 receptions for 305 yards and two scores.

Cleveland initially had the second overall draft pick in 2016, although they eventually traded that spot to Philadelphia, which ended up selecting quarterback Carson Wentz, who has thus far been outstanding for the defending champion Eagles despite ending last season early because of an injury.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

The Browns took Oklahoma’ Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield as the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, so at least the team has some hope. The downside to this, however, is that Mayfield has drawn concern for some off-the-field issues, just as Cleveland’s previous QB Johnny Manziel — who is now playing for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes — had been known for when he played for the franchise.

Field Yates of ESPN noted how many first-round picks have lasted three years or less with the Browns over the past few years:

Another Browns player whose return to the team remains as of yet uncertain is quarterback Josh Gordon, another Baylor product. The 27-year-old has been dealing with a series of undisclosed health issues, and the team is reportedly insisting he take as much time as he needs to recover. According to NFL.com, the absence of Gordon — who has missed the team’s training camp — will not affect his status of becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2019.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

When Spurs star forward Kawhi Leonard indicated that he wanted to leave San Antonio due to a fallout between he and the organization’s higher-ups, the NBA media went abuzz with trade rumors. Leonard himself has reported that he wants to play for the Lakers, basically alerting the Spurs that he has no plans to resign with the team after his current contract ends in 2019.  This being the case, San Antonio was expecting to trade Leonard elsewhere, so as to at least get something for his departure as opposed to keeping him for the 2018-19 season but losing him for nothing down the line.

While the Lakers were obviously the first choice for a trade destination according to Kawhi’s wishes, the Spurs were reportedly asking for too much in return. Having just signed the best player in the world in LeBron James and being Kawhi’s expected #1 choice in free agency, LA couldn’t find a way to meet the Spurs demands and decided to wait on their acquisition of the forward. However, the Spurs eventually found a trade destination for Leonard last week, but that’s where things get difficult.

SLIDESHOW: 30 BEST SPORTS INSTAGRAMS

San Antonio traded Kawhi to the Toronto Raptors, one of the few places which he explicitly said would not be where he would want to go. The Spurs also sent along Danny Green, while receiving Jakob Poeltl and All-Star swingman DeMar Derozan from Toronto. Right off the bat, we know this is a bad look for the Spurs, as they sent Kawhi to a place to which he specifically did not want to go, clearly disregarding his feelings. However, one could argue that the Raptors treatment of DeRozan was even worse.

Just days prior to the trade, the Raptors specifically told DeRozan that they would not trade him. DeRozan has been a Raptor throughout his entire 9-year NBA career and has expressed love for the team, the city, and the fans time and time again. This makes the trade seem like even more of a betrayal, as the team went against their word to their best player. DeRozan, clearly upset, took to his Instagram story to announce his displeasure, indicating that there is no loyalty in the NBA.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlXyk1cgmxc/?utm_source=ig_embed

And you know what? He’s not wrong.

Fan constantly criticize players for leaving their teams, calling them disloyal for wanting to play elsewhere. Kevin Durant was called a “cupcake” for leaving OKC to play with the stacked Warriors. LeBron was shredded for his decision to leave Cleveland for South Beach. But when teams do the same to their players, it’s considered to be “just business.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The Kawhi/DeMar trade is the pinnacle of this strange dichotomy, and looks to perhaps be a tipping point in the two perspectives being reversed. Players now have more power than they’ve ever had before in free agency, and this gives them a brand new thing to think about. Now, not only will they be looking into their best opportunity to play and win, but also how their team would treat them down the road. This could very well sway teams away from San Antonio and/or Toronto at first, as both teams have demonstrated a lack of empathy toward their players’ wants. Toronto already wasn’t the greatest free agent to begin with, but now that they’ve abandoned the one star who truly wanted to play there, why would any other star do the same? They may have a better chance to win next season, but Kawhi will almost definitely leave in 2019, so it’s basically championship or bust for the Raptors, because it may be a while before any good player ever wants to go there again.

This extends far past Toronto and San Antonio, though, as now players cannot help but be wary of the teams with which they plan on signing. They want to be treated as people, not pieces in a chess game, ready to be sacrificed for the good of their organization. Especially given the way DeRozan was treated by Toronto, even the most solemn of promises can be broken, and the trust between players and teams could be forever hindered.

The NBA is still one of the most powerful sports leagues in the world and is continuing to grow and grow, but this trade could very well make it so that its players may never see it as they once did.

Quarterback Johnny Manziel joined the Canadian Football League in hopes of working his way towards an NFL comeback. Playing in the CFL has historically been a good prerequisite to getting into the NFL, as tons of players have proven themselves NFL-worthy while playing in Canada. Manziel hasn’t quite had the opportunity to show off his skills in Canada, as he hasn’t seen the field with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but that could change following his being sent to Montreal to play quarterback for the Alouttes.

In the official trade announcement, Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed said, “We have acquired an exceptional quarterback with undeniable talent. With his great mobility, his athletic abilities and his instinct we believe that he will have a positive impact on our offence.”

SLIDESHOW: 30 BEST SPORTS INSTAGRAMS

The Alouttes are in desperate need of a shift in quarterback play, as they currently sit in last place in the CFL’s East Division and rank last in both points scored and rushing yards. They have also experienced several injuries to their QBs this season, opening up plenty of opportunities for Manziel to play. Perhaps more optimistic for Manziel, though, is the fact that the Alouettes are coached by Mike Sherman, who coached Manziel at Texas A&M, where he shined as a star in college, becoming the first freshman in history to take home the Heisman Trophy in 2012.

On his reunion with Manziel, Sherman told the Montreal Gazette that, “This is a move both Kavis Reed and I felt we needed to make at this time. Neither one of us believes in the status quo and felt we needed to shake things up. Johnny is someone we believe can elevate one of the most important positions on our team. I look forward to reuniting with Johnny again and working with him.”

We’ll see if Manziel is given an opportunity to play right away as the Alouettes take on the Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday, July 26.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Prior to signing a two-year deal with the Tiger-Cats, Manziel worked out in the NFL Spring League in hope of being given an NFL contract. Although he did not perform for the Cleveland Browns well while on the field, his off-the-field issues played a huge part in his failure as an NFL quarterback, including constant partying, ignoring league and team rules, and a 2016 domestic violence charge. However, Manziel has indicated that he’s turned his life around, as he has quit drinking  and is being treated for bipolar disorder.

It’ll be interesting to see how his tenure in Montreal plays out and whether or not he’ll ever be invited back to the NFL. He has shown us that he has a ton of talent in the past, and at only 25 years old, he still has plenty of time to turn things around.

The Oklahoma City Thunder sent Carmelo Anthony to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday as part of a reported three-team deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, but the veteran small forward may soon be waived and join the team of his choice.

Carmelo Anthony Traded To Hawks, Could Join Rockets

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, 34-year-old Anthony will be bought out for his full $27.9 million, but will then enter the free agency market and could join any team he wishes. Wojnarowski reported the Houston Rockets are the top squad Anthony is interested in playing for next.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

NBA fans quickly jumped on Twitter to comment on the trade for Anthony, who lasted just one season with the Thunder after playing six years with the New York Knicks. Oklahoma City were eliminated by the Utah Jazz in the first round of this year’s playoffs. and Anthony was reportedly very unhappy all throughout this period.

As part of Thursday’s trade, the Hawks also received Justin Anderson and a 2022 Thunder first-round draft pick. Oklahoma City got Timothe Luwawu Cabarrot and Dennis Schroder, while Mike Muscala ended up with the Sixers.

Fans seemed to either poke fun at Anthony for his brief time with the Thunder and Hawks, or note how the forward being traded, waived and sent to another team seemed far too complex or simply not a very financially savvy move. Others questioned whether the Rockets would be the best fit for Anthony.

SLIDESHOW: Sports Figures Who Died In 2018

The Los Angeles Dodgers won a major deal on Wednesday in acquiring highly-touted Baltimore Orioles All-Star shortstop Manny Machado via trade, and Dodgers players and fans seemed delighted.

Manny Machado Traded to Dodgers

In exchange for 26-year-old Machado, the Orioles landed five prospects: third baseman Rylan Bannon, righty Zach Pop, outfielder Yusniel Diaz, right-hander Dean Kremer, and third baseman Breyvic Valera.

Machado is reportedly close friends with Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. The pair snapped a photo together during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.

After the All-Star break, the Dodgers (53-43) are 0.5 games ahead of Arizona for first place in the NL West.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

“We tried to maintain a competitive club this year, and that’s why we resisted the offers we had in the offseason to trade Manny,” said Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette of the Machado trade. “But when it became obvious that it was time to look to the future, trading Manny is the first step in the plan to rebuild our ballclub.”

Here are some of the top reactions to Machado’s new destination from Dodgers players, fans and other people around MLB. Even athletes from other sports leagues chimed in:

SLIDESHOW: Sports Figures Who Died In 2018

Machado, a four-time All-Star, also won the Gold Glove Award twice (2013, 2015). He has played all seven of his MLB seasons with the Orioles, and is now expected to help give the Dodgers a major edge in their division.