72 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No.72?
The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast.
Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 72 since the inaugural season in 2002.
Texans players to wear No. 72
No. 72 currently belongs to offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas, who should be in line to maintain his role as one of the top names on the practice squad who could get called up midseason. Last year, he was waived due to injury but the returned to the roster on the season-ending injured reserve after goining unclaimed.
Through the early stages of training camp and OTAs, Thomas should compete for a job in terms of depth at either tackle spot, but no one expects him to start Week 1 when the Texans travel out west to take on the Los Angeles Rams. And since he's only played in one game for Houston on Sundays, it's hard to consider him the G.O.A.T. in No. 72.
Best Player: Derek Newton
What could have been with the great right tackle?
After replacing Eric Winston in 2012, Newton became a stable option in run blocking during the days of the Arian Foster era. He started three straight seasons, helping Houston reach the postseason twice before inking a long-term, five-year, $26.5 million contract ahead of the 2015.
Sadly, he'd never live up to the standard of the deal because of injury. On October 24, 2016, Newton needed to be carted off during the first half of Week 7's game against the Denver Broncos with air casts attached to both legs. It was eventually revealed that both patellar tendons were torn, effectively ending his 2016 season. While he tried to come back in 2017, Newtwon was never able to recover physically, thus leading to his release in 2018.
Newton's career was cut short due to a horrific injury in Houston, but he still remains one of the team's best right tackles over the last 12 seasons.
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New York Times
27 minutes ago
- New York Times
Cap implications of Fred VanVleet's new contract
The Wolves are re-signing one of their own. And there's new basketball leadership in Toronto. Follow for the latest. Imagn Images Alex Slitz / Getty Images Fred VanVleet's new deal likely keeps Houston out of the luxury tax this year. Waiving Jock Landale would put the Rockets $11 million below the tax line with three roster spots open, and allow the Rockets to chase a chunk of their nontaxpayer midlevel exception (or the whole thing if they don't mind paying a little tax and just staying below the first apron, where they are hard-capped). VanVleet, meanwhile, will have a de facto no-trade veto unless he signed a clause that removes it, allowing him to play out the year in Houston and hit free agency next summer when there is no cash on the market. He had zero leverage in this cap-space-free market, which is one reason he likely took the deal he did. Between the hard cap and a de facto no-trade on VanVleet, the Rockets would have a near-impossible time putting together any kind of second blockbuster deal (like for Giannis Antetokounmp, for instance) until Steven Adams' trade restriction goes away in mid-December. After next season, Fred VanVleet will be up to around $190.7 million in career earnings through his first 10 seasons. I'm going to go ahead and assume that is a record for undrafted players. Days after the conclusion of the NBA Finals and hours ahead of the NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets and veteran guard Fred VanVleet have reached an agreement on a two-year, $50 million contract that also includes a player option for the 2026-27 season, a team source confirmed to The Athletic . VanVleet's $44.9 team option for the upcoming season will be declined as a result of the new deal. ESPN was first to report the news. GO FURTHER Rockets, Fred VanVleet agree to 2-year, $50 million contract extension: Source Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Boston might not be the final landing spot for Georges Niang, who came to Atlanta in the midseason De'Andre Hunter trade. While the Boston native is likely stoked about a homecoming, the Celtics are still cutting salary and could eventually drop off his $8.2 million expiring deal somewhere else, especially since it fits into a nontaxpayer or room exception. Boston momentarily got below the second apron with this trade, but is still $15 million above the projected tax line and will likely lose ground there when it re-signs one or both of Al Horford or Luke Kornet. Facing a punitive repeater tax and a frozen draft pick in a 'gap year' while Jayson Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles, more salary dumps seem likely. Jason Miller / Getty Images The Celtics needed to shed more salary to get under the aforementioned second apron, and this trade should do it and then some. The question now is whether they feel they need to save even more money. That probably doesn't mean sending out recently acquired players like Georges Niang or Anfernee Simons (from the Jrue Holiday trade), but would they feel the need to part with Sam Hauser via salary dump if it means they can easily keep Al Horford and/or Luke Kornet? The latter players become even more imperative now that Porziņģis is officially off the books. Niang is a nice addition because his 3-point shooting fits perfectly in the Celtics' offense. He can really let it fly and flirts with being a 40 percent 3-point shooter for his career. Finding him in the corner or on the wings will have high upside for a good result. The key for Niang, who enters a contract year during an era where elite shooting is quite invaluable, will be fitting into the team defense. Boston's next step is making sure its frontcourt has enough size to remain relatively competitive. Dale Zanine / Imagn The Kristaps Porziņģis trade is a very interesting and opportunistic move by a new Atlanta Hawks front office. Porziņģis is on a $30 million expiring deal next season, meaning this could potentially be a rental for the Hawks. It's a great risk for a team that has been stuck in the mud of the East standings since their 2021 Eastern Conference finals appearance. The Hawks have been extremely disappointing for various reasons, as they've swapped out coaches and players around Trae Young since that postseason run. If Porziņģis is able to be relatively healthy for the Hawks next season, he provides a great running mate for Young. As good as some of the players alongside Young have been, Porziņģis would probably be the best he's had. He can stretch the floor as a career 36.6 percent 3-point shooter, and that number rose to 39.2 percent in his two seasons with the Celtics. He's a pretty special shooter at his size, and he's capable of being a great option going to the basket with pick-and-roll opportunities. For a passer like Young, that provides a phenomenal target. It allows the Hawks to feel pretty easy about moving on from 31-year-old Clint Capela, and it moves Onyeka Okongwu back to his more natural position of playing the four. And, when adding a healthy Jalen Johnson into the mix, you have a great three-headed big-man rotation. The issue, though, is Porziņģis misses a lot of time. He hasn't played in 72 games since his rookie campaign. Over the last four seasons, he's missed 40, 25, 17 and 31 games, respectively. He's had injuries throughout his career, so the Hawks must be careful about how they utilize him and manage his physicality. The Hawks also have to make sure they can re-sign him. They aren't giving up too much for him, but you don't want this to be a rental. GO FURTHER NBA trade grades: How can Kristaps Porziņģis help Hawks' offense? Do Nets have new plan? Kyrie Irving's new deal will save Dallas a bit more than $7 million against the luxury tax and $8 million against the aprons, assuming it starts at $36.7 million and has standard 8 percent annual raises. Barring other deals, the Mavs are $9.5 million below the second apron, meaning they will have enough room below that threshold to use their taxpayer midlevel exception to fill their 14th roster spot. Anybody who didn't understand how punitive the NBA's salary cap and its second apron are should understand more clearly after the last 24 hours of Boston Celtics moves. Out: Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis In: Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang and three second-round picks Many people are wondering how the Celtics got so little for the pair. I wonder how they got so much, especially in Holiday's case. Every other team knew they were looking for savings to help them duck the apron and reorient themselves for when Jayson Tatum returns from his Achilles injury, likely in 2026-27. That meant sending out more money, in the short and long terms, than they took in. Boston's motive was clear, and there were only so many teams that could facilitate those trades. When your ambitions are naked and your pathways are limited, you lose leverage. I can't say the Celtics did a great job. But Boston moved Holiday, a good but expensive 35-year-old guard with three years still left on his deal, to Portland for the useful Simons and two second-rounders. I thought they might have to send out some picks to make a Holiday deal work. The three-team Porziņģis move is more of what I imagined, basically a straight salary dump of a good (if injury-prone) player for significant savings and not much else. This is what the Celtics were facing, though. They can perhaps look to move Sam Hauser, starting a four-year, $45 million deal next year, to save more, but they have achieved the main objective of getting below that second apron. That they took a significant talent hit was a guarantee. That they came out of it with at least one useful player in Simons and three second-rounders? That's fine. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images I love the opportunistic approach by the Brooklyn Nets to get Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick in this year's draft in the Kristaps Porziņģis trade. They didn't really give up anything of value in this deal, and they ended up with a solid rotation wing and a fifth first-round pick in this year's draft. Take that, Sam Presti! I can't imagine the Nets are going to use all five of those picks because that would just be ridiculous. Developing five such players at once is asking a lot. But the Nets are in a position to package those picks to either move up or add selections for teams that need cost-effective depth on rookie deals. Brooklyn is doing what proper rebuilding teams often do, which is stockpiling draft assets by using its cap space to acquire contracts. And then, we'll see what happens with those resources. Grade: A+ Click here to see my trade grades for the Celtics and Hawks. GO FURTHER NBA trade grades: How can Kristaps Porziņģis help Hawks' offense? Do Nets have new plan? By agreeing to sign for less than $43 million annually on his new contract, Kyrie Irving will give the Mavericks the opportunity to duck under the second apron, which allows them to use the $5.7 taxpayer midlevel exception in free agency. Last season, Irving averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists. He was voted an All-Star for the ninth time in his career. However, his season was cut short after he tore the ACL in his left knee in a March game against the Sacramento Kings. Irving isn't expected to be back on the court until 2026. The Mavericks, who on Monday agreed to terms with center Daniel Gafford on a three-year contract extension, still need to upgrade the guard position this summer, where they are thin. Lon Horwedel / Imagn Will the Detroit Pistons look to make a big acquisition to enhance their chances of contending in the East? Would it be best to prioritize internal growth? What about signing Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren to rookie-scale max extensions this summer? 'We're not going to be super aggressive this summer, I don't think,' team president Trajan Langdon said Tuesday. 'I don't foresee any of that. It's just developing from within and hoping to keep a couple vet pieces that we had on the roster this past year. If we can add around the margins to get better, we will, but I don't think it's anything that's going to be super aggressive or crazy.' Considering how different the East could look next season, and no current clear-cut favorite to come out of the conference, Langdon was asked if his offseason plan was at all altered. Just in the 2025 postseason, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard and Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum all suffered ruptured Achilles. 'It's definitely provoked some thought internally, in terms of what we can do to get better,' Langdon said. 'It hasn't changed the roadmap for us. I don't think we want to think we're in a place to push all of our chips in and be locked in. … We still want to keep that optionality. Our guys have been in the gym working a lot, they want to get better. 'So I think we will see growth from our young players from this year to next year, and that's ultimately what's really important for us. Because if those guys get better, we'll ultimately get better. We're continuing to keep our ear to the ground and see if there's opportunities to get better without pushing all of our chips in, proverbially.' Read more about Langdon's pre-draft news conference here. GO FURTHER Pistons' Trajan Langdon touts internal growth, not being 'super aggressive this summer' Kyrie Irving plans to decline his $43 million player option for next season and sign a multi-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks that could keep him with the team through the 2027-28 season. Irving's new deal is worth $119 million over three years, his agent confirmed Tuesday. Irving holds a player option in the final year of the contract in 2027-28. When Irving officially agrees to the deal, he will be aligned contractually with Anthony Davis, who is under contract for the next two years in Dallas and holds a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28. ESPN was first to report the news. GO FURTHER Kyrie Irving to decline player option, sign 3-year, $119 million extension with Mavs: Source For the Hawks, the Kristaps Porziņģis trade is the first significant move under new GM Onsi Saleh, who said in his introductory press conference Monday that he has been given the green light to go into the luxury tax. They now sit about $28.9 million below the tax line with their $25.3 million and $14.1 million trade exceptions intact, plus the No. 13 pick in tomorrow's draft at their disposal. Atlanta still has the $14.1 million mid-level exception available to sign a shooter for the second unit, or can use their Bird Rights to re-sign Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr. Porziņģis' arrival may mean the end of Clint Capela's tenure in Atlanta as Capela enters free agency. The Hawks currently project to start Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher and Jalen Johnson, but it's unclear who will be the starting center. Twenty-four-year-old Onyeka Okongwu was promoted to the starting lineup in the second half of last season and averaged 15 points and 10.1 rebounds in 40 games as a starter. Okongwu's ascension came after Johnson went down for the season with a shoulder injury; the 23-year-old forward's defensive versatility will pair well with Okongwu's ability to guard up on screens. With all the promise Okongwu showed, will the Hawks move him back to the bench for Porziņģis? The new acquisition generally rests for back-to-backs and has dealt with injuries for years, so Okongwu would still start often no matter what Atlanta decides. But he showed his potential when he finally got the top spot, and the Hawks may not want to impede his progress now and risk alienating him. Meanwhile, Young is eligible for a 4-year max extension worth up to $228.6 million this offseason, and he has a player option for the 2026-27 season, so it's possible the Hawks must make a decision on keeping the All-Star point guard. "Trae, me and him spoke the other day, and he's just locked in for this season coming up,' Saleh told reporters Monday. 'We're both locked in and we have a lot of optionality this summer.' If Young stays, as Saleh implied, Porziņģis will pair well with him. The Hawks may want to evaluate how playing next to Porziņģis augments Young's strengths as a pick-and-roll playmaker and covers for his defensive vulnerabilities. Young and the Hawks have until the end of next season to agree on an extension. Steven Ryan / Getty Images Combining the savings from the Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday trades, the Boston Celtics currently sit about $4.5 million under the second apron. They could still aim to escape the luxury tax entirely later in the offseason, but have put themselves in a good spot financially entering the first round of the draft. Though the Celtics needed to trade two starters to alleviate their salary-cap dilemma, team president Brad Stevens was able to address the problem without trading Jaylen Brown or Derrick White. Boston also managed to cut all of that salary without sending any outgoing draft picks in the trades. In another win, Stevens brought back nothing but expiring contracts in Georges Niang (from Atlanta) and Anfernee Simons (from Portland) while removing the three years and $104.4 million left on Holiday's contract from the Celtics' books. Boston will save more than $200 million in luxury tax payments between the two moves. Stevens isn't necessarily done tweaking his roster. Though the Celtics just agreed to acquire Simons, they could shop him to see if they can wiggle out of more salary in the process. They would reset the repeater tax by getting under the luxury tax threshold for the 2025-26 season and staying there for the following season. With Jayson Tatum rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, they could take the opportunity to take another step back salary-wise to position themselves with more future flexibility. In the meantime, Stevens has already changed his team's financial situation drastically this week. It cost him Holiday and Porziņģis, but should pay dividends down the road. GO FURTHER Celtics, Hawks, Nets finalizing 3-team trade involving Kristaps Porziņģis: Source The Nets now have five first-round picks after acquiring the No. 22 selection in the three-team Kristaps Porziņģis trade. The Nets, Spurs, Thunder, Wizards, Pelicans, Jazz and Suns own multiple first round picks. Only one of the final 18 first round picks still belongs to its original owner: No. 28 to Boston. The Raptors have entertained discussions in a wide variety of directions, league sources indicate. They were in the mix for Kevin Durant before he was traded to the Rockets on Sunday. They could look to move down if the player they want isn't available at No. 9. It's worth noting as well that Duke center Khaman Maluach is a player that has become the subject of trade speculation league-wide, with several late lottery teams interested in sliding up the board to acquire him. With Jakob Poeltl potentially hitting free agency next year, the Raptors could use a long-term answer at center. Many people around the league have connected Maluach to Toronto because of his time at the NBA Academy in Africa and Masai Ujiri's efforts to promote basketball within the region. Read the rest of my latest mock draft here. GO FURTHER NBA mock draft 2025: Why Ace Bailey is the mystery man of draft week Stephen Lew / Imagn There appear to be two ways to break down this trade for the Wizards. First, there's a ton of cap flexibility in the immediate future. By moving Jordan Poole for C.J. McCollum, the Wizards just shaved a year off committed salary from their books. Poole has two years left on his deal, and McCollum will enter the 2025-26 season on an expiring deal. As of right now, the biggest long-term commitment the Wizards have on their books past this coming season is the $13.9 million owed to Corey Kispert in 2026-27 and the $13 million he's due in 2027-28. Almost everybody else on the current roster has either an expiring contract for the summer of 2026 or is under a rookie contract. Thanks to this deal, the Wizards have gone from having one of the worst contract situations in the league, hindered by Bradley Beal's no-trade clause, to clearing roughly $100 million in cap space for the summer of 2026. Second, there's a potential mentorship aspect. McCollum has been viewed as one of the better veteran voices in the league for quite some time. Even when he first entered the NBA, he was considered a mature player. He's in a leadership position with the National Basketball Players Association, and adding him should help provide even more leadership as Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart help show a young core the ropes. The Wizards know they're going to be a bad on-court product with a low ceiling for wins. But their youth can make them fun, and they are finally in a position to rebuild with flexibility the way good organizations typically do. Read more on why I gave the Wizards an A- for this trade. GO FURTHER NBA trade grades: Do the Pelicans need Jordan Poole? How can CJ McCollum help the Wizards? The Atlanta Hawks are acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis from the Boston Celtics in a three-team team trade that will send Georges Niang and a second-round pick to the Celtics, team sources confirm to The Athletic . Terance Mann and the Hawks' No. 22 pick will go to the Brooklyn Nets. Combining the savings from this trade and yesterday's move of Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers, the Celtics currently sit about $4.5 million under the projected second apron. ESPN was first to report the trade. GO FURTHER Celtics, Hawks, Nets finalizing 3-team trade involving Kristaps Porziņģis: Source
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker still a fan favorite in his first return to Houston since leaving the Astros
HOUSTON — Three years ago, a Houston Astros fan's sign caught Kyle Tucker's attention from right field at Daikin Park. Grace Gonzales, then 6, held up a poster next to her dad, Antonio, down the right field line during Houston's game Aug. 27, 2022, that conveyed to Tucker that he was her favorite player. Written in multi colors, 'Tucker you're my bestie!' popped off the white board. As he finished playing catch with the ball boy between innings that day, Tucker noticed the message and tossed the baseball to Grace. It cemented Tucker's status as her No. 1 player — even after the Astros traded him to the Chicago Cubs in December. 'When I picked her up from school, I told her, 'I forgot to tell you, Tucker got traded,' Antonio Gonzales of South Houston recalled to the Tribune. 'She said, 'Grandma already told me. I looked up the Cubs, and their mascot is a bear, and I like it. I said, 'What?' She goes, 'I think I'm going to be a Cubs fan.'' While Grace, wearing a gray T-shirt with 'King Tuck' written across the front, continues to support the Astros, the Cubs have become her second-favorite team thanks to Tucker. With the Cubs in town for a three-game series this weekend, Antonio, who is in his second year as an Astros season ticket holder, knew they needed to be at the games for Tucker's return and watched the series opener from the first row in right field where Tucker started Friday against Houston. Grace remade the sign Thursday night to bring to Friday's game, featuring a slight edit: 'Tucker you're my bestie!' During pregame batting practice Friday, Tucker spotted Grace, now 9, holding the sign next to her dad, 45, and grandma, Frances, 65, in the fan area near the batting cage. He made sure, as he stopped to sign for fans, to ink her poster with his signature, creating another indelible memory for the Gonzales family. After spending seven years with the Astros and winning a World Series title in 2022, the impact on fans isn't lost on Tucker. 'We wouldn't have a job or be able to come out here and play every single day if it weren't for the fans,' Tucker said before Friday's game. 'They come out and support us every single day, and Houston has a good fan base in that sense. I just try and come out and play in front of the fan base and do what I can out on the field and then also stuff outside the field just to show some support back from a personal level.' The Astros honored Tucker and veteran reliever Ryan Pressly in their first game back in Houston with a 4-minute pregame tribute video that recognized their accomplishments with the organization. After watching the montage from the visitors' dugout, Pressly and Tucker stepped on the field, tipped their caps to the fans giving them an ovation, and gave a wave of acknowledgement to the coaches, staff and players who watched in the Astros' dugout. The series matchup also featured two of the key players the Cubs sent to the Astros in the deal. Isaac Paredes started at third base and batted second while rookie Cam Smith, the Cubs' 2024 first-round draft pick, played right field and hit in the cleanup spot. Asked whether Friday would feel like more than a regular-season game, Tucker downplayed it. 'I'll be all right,' Tucker replied. 'I still got to go out there and compete and kind of try to push that to the side and go out there and compete. We've got a job to do. Our job's to win games.' A trip back to Houston for Pressly means getting a couple of nights to sleep in his own bed. The 36-year-old right-hander and his wife made Houston their year-round home, complicating the offseason decision to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Cubs. Pressly tallied 111 saves and had a 2.81 ERA in seven seasons with the Astros. 'It's kind of emotional being back here, but at the same time, you've still got to go out there and do a job and try to get them out,' Pressly told reporters before the game. 'But I'm happy to be back here for sure.' Tucker and Pressly fittingly share their first trips back to a city that has meant so much to them. The two were already forever connected in Astros history: Pressly was on the mound when the final out was recorded to capture the '22 title against the Philadelphia Phillies, the World Series ending when Tucker ranged into foul territory and caught the ball near the netting to set off the celebration. 'I've got it,' Tucker said of the baseball from the final out. 'It's a cool memento.'
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Cubs' Kyle Tucker, Ryan Pressly return to Daikin Park for first time since Astros traded them
HOUSTON (AP) — Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly returned to Daikin Park on Friday for the first time since the Houston Astros traded them to the Chicago Cubs during the offseason and were greeted by a video tribute before the start of the game. The two stepped out of the Cubs dugout and tipped their caps to the fans while getting a standing ovation. 'Obviously, we are here to do our job and win some games, but it's nice to at least catch up with some of the guys over there that I played with for awhile and been around, so it is cool in that sense' Tucker said earlier. A three-time All-Star right fielder eligible for free agency after the season, the 28-year-old Tucker is hitting .287 with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs. He was swapped in December for outfielder Cam Smith, infielder Isaac Paredes and right fielder Hayden Wesneski. Pressly, a 36-year-old right-hander, is 2-2 with five saves and a 3.90 ERA. The two-time All-Star closer was dealt in January for minor league right-hander Juan Bello. Tucker was part of Astros teams that reached six straight AL Championship Series and caught the final out of the 2022 World Series against Philadelphia. 'There's a lot of really good memories here,' Tucker said. 'We had a lot of success playing in this city and on this field. It's cool. The biggest thing is being around the guys in those moments.' Pressly earned the save in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series. 'A lot of memories were made out on that field,' Pressly said. 'A lot of lifetime friendships made on the other side as well. I always root for these guys. They were great teammates. I was super fortunate and blessed to share a clubhouse with a couple of those guys who are pretty much legends over there in this city.' Houston entered an AL West-best 48-33 record, identical to the record of the NL Central-leading Cubs. 'Every time they lose someone, they always seem to replace them with someone who is really good and kind of pick up the baton right behind them and keep winning. It's what they've been doing for the past decade now,' Pressly said of the Astros. 'It was fun to watch when I was on the team, but now that I'm not on the team, it's not fun to watch. It's always been a good team. It's going to be fun.' ___ AP MLB:
