logo
Why Molly Qerim will be absent from ESPN's First Take

Why Molly Qerim will be absent from ESPN's First Take

USA Today11 hours ago
Molly Qerim continues to be the host of First Take, moderating and participating in the daily sports debate show on ESPN in a job she's had for a decade.
But you may not see her anytime soon on the Worldwide Leader, which is coincidental given that Stephen A. Smith has been absent lately. Why is that? We have an answer of sorts!
As Qerim posted on Instagram: "Another NBA szn in the books. Thank y'all for rocking with us 10 yrs & counting. Time to work on my tan-lines, shut my brain off & be with the fam. See ya in a few weeks. Grateful always, MQ"
Sounds like it's well-earned vacation time for the host. But it seems like every time she's absent, fans take notice and worry on social media.
So everyone stay calm! She's just on vacation!
When will Molly Qerim return to First Take and ESPN?
There's no official word on that. So maybe like she said, we'll see her in "a few weeks," which would put her return date in late July.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Malik Beasley was allegedly having ‘financial issues' as troubling details emerge after gambling probe
Malik Beasley was allegedly having ‘financial issues' as troubling details emerge after gambling probe

New York Post

time9 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Malik Beasley was allegedly having ‘financial issues' as troubling details emerge after gambling probe

Malik Beasley is being sued by his former marketing agency for failing to pay back in full a $650,000 advance, according to ESPN. The lawsuit, filed by Hazan Sports Management Group in April, is seeking $2.25 million in damages from the NBA veteran, who was revealed to be under federal investigation over gambling allegations earlier this week. The company alleged that Beasley has 'financial issues' and that they had 'received little more than drips and drabs of sporadic payments and vague promises to repay the balance over time.' Advertisement In the lawsuit, Hazan Sports wrote that the firm 'elected to take a chance and make a substantial investment of time, effort, and resources in a player with known issues (including and especially financial issues)' when Beasley signed with them in November 2023, per ESPN. Malik Beasley of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NBAE via Getty Images The latest legal troubles for Beasley come two days after ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the U.S. District Attorney's office was looking into the 28-year-old for gambling on NBA games and prop bets. 'At least one prominent U.S. sportsbook detected unusual heavy betting interest on Beasley's statistics' when he was with the Bucks in January 2024, the outlet's report stated. Advertisement Beasley, who is a free agent, had reportedly been in talks with the Pistons on a three-year, $42 million deal to keep him in Detroit before the gambling allegations surfaced. Steve Haney, Beasley's attorney in the gambling probe, stressed that the NBAer has still not been charged with a crime. 'An investigation is not a charge,' Haney said. 'Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now, he has not been charged with anything.' Advertisement Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley reacts during the second half of Game 1 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, April 19, 2025, in New York. AP Beasley is the third player to get in hot water recently due to gambling allegations. Last year, the Raptors' Jontay Porter was banned from the league for life after he was found to have manipulated his performance for gambling purposes. Heat guard Terry Rozier was investigated for gambling allegations earlier this year, although he was cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this week, per Charania.

How Hawks secured Nickeil Alexander-Walker
How Hawks secured Nickeil Alexander-Walker

New York Times

time10 minutes ago

  • New York Times

How Hawks secured Nickeil Alexander-Walker

NBA free agency is moving fast and furious. The latest: A stunner in Milwaukee Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images The Hawks' Dejounte Murray trade with New Orleans keeps on paying dividends. Not only did Atlanta obtain the pick that went to the Celtics for Kristaps Porziņģis and defensive stopper Dyson Daniels, but also the $25 million trade exception that deal generated now has been used to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Atlanta will still have several million of that exception left over, as well as its full $14.1 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception and a $13 million exception from the Bogdan Bogdanović trade. But as a practical consequence, a hugely productive offseason in Atlanta is now down to smaller moves. Atlanta sent only a second-round pick to Minnesota in the sign-and-trade to assure it topped every other team on the market, ultimately going a shade over the nontaxpayer midlevel exception to get Alexander-Walker. The Hawks still have roughly $13 million remaining below the tax line with at least two more roster spots to fill, and seem likely to target another guard based on current needs. For its trouble, Minnesota will receive a trade exception for roughly $14.4 million. The Wolves are hugely unlikely to use it this season because they're way over the first apron, but it's a possibility for next summer. Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE via Getty Images The LA Clippers will sign Brook Lopez for two years. Lopez just turned 37 years old. But he doesn't have to start, and he has a relationship already with two key Clippers: president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank (his first head coach in New Jersey) and center Ivica Zubac (teammates from the 2017-18 season in Los Angeles, Lakers edition). Now, the Clippers have three different centers: A post up big in Zubac who is an All-NBA defender, a veteran in Lopez who spaces the floor and protects the rim in deep drop and the 2025 first round pick in Yanic Konan Niederhauser who will develop his athletic tools. Lopez is arguably the best backup center LA has had for Zubac since Serge Ibaka's back injuries allowed Zubac to reclaim the starting job midway through the 2020-21 season, with the possible exception of Isaiah Hartenstein in 2021-22. Brett Davis / Imagn It's the end of an era in Milwaukee. For the last seven seasons, Brook Lopez has been a cornerstone of everything the Bucks have done on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Lopez was going to be playing drop coverage and waiting to swat shots at the rim. Offensively, he was going to be stationed in one of the high quadrants ready to fire a deep 3 and give space to two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. He exits Milwaukee as one of the greatest players of their championship era. Along with Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, he was a member of the core four that led the Bucks to the league's best record in five seasons under former head coach Mike Budenholzer and the franchise's first title in 50 seasons. Brook Lopez becomes the first player in NBA history to give his team a "Disney discount," signing for two years and $18 million and putting himself within a short drive of his theme park of choice. The Clippers are now loaded up front with Ivica Zubac and Lopez. Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser's chances at rotation minutes just went from "pretty decent" to "LOL, kid." The Clippers are $4.5 million from the luxury tax line with at least one open roster spot left to fill. Getting an older guy in the building who can help Yves Missi and Derik Queen grow was high on the Pelicans' priority list. Kevon Looney has been around forever, but he's still only 29. He could be an important piece for this team on and off the court. Brett Davis / Imagn Given how tight the market was expected to be, I'm surprised we're seeing backup centers getting the contracts they are. Not so much in money, but in length of contract. I thought depth centers might get squeezed in this environment, but that is not the case. Ronald Cortes / Getty Images The Celtics had wanted to retain Luke Kornet, but didn't have the financial flexibility to compete with an offer the size he received from San Antonio (four years and $41 million). Without him, their depth at the center position is beginning to look bleak. In addition to Kornet, Boston also lost Kristaps Porziņģis this offseason and could soon lose another free agent in Al Horford. If Horford departs, the Celtics will only have Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman and second-round pick Amari Williams (expected to sign a two-way contract) as rostered big men — and they will have limited resources to search for an upgrade or two. A two-year, $29 million deal for Caris LeVert would be for the entire nontaxpayer midlevel exception, and is a strong tell that A) the Pistons will operate as an over-the-cap team and thus re-sign Paul Reed via Bird Rights, and B) that the Hawks are very much in the market for a different backcourt player, most likely Nickeil Alexander-Walker. By virtue of operating this way, the Pistons can still re-sign or sign-and-trade Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway Jr. Note that this LeVert deal cannot be converted into a sign-and-trade, which would potentially benefit Atlanta, because a sign-and-trade must be for three seasons. The Detroit Pistons and free-agent guard Caris LeVert have agreed to terms on a two-year, $29 million, a league source confirmed The Athletic on Monday. LeVert, who will be 31 years old at the start of next season, averaged 12.1 points on 46.7 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from 3 during 64 games split between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks. The former Michigan Wolverine will presumably take over primary ballhandling duties on the Pistons' second unit, aiding Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. GO FURTHER Caris LeVert, Pistons agree to terms on 2-year, $29 million deal: Source Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images The Houston Rockets will sign center Clint Capela to a fully guaranteed three-year, $21.5 million contract, a league source told The Athletic. Al Bello / Getty Images Free agent center Luke Kornet will sign with the San Antonio Spurs on a four-year, $41 million deal, a team source confirmed. In signing Kevon Looney to a two-year, $16 million contract, per a league source, the Pelicans add a veteran big with championship experience to the bench. Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Center Kevon Looney will sign a two-year, $16 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, a league source said. Looney departs the Warriors after spending his first 10 seasons in the Bay Area. Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Free agent wing Bruce Brown will sign a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets, a league source said. The deal is for the veteran's minimum, a team source said. Brown was a key member of Denver's 2023 championship team before departing that summer as a free agent. He now returns to Denver. Cam Johnson was widely expected to be traded at the deadline back in February, with the Nets reportedly seeking two first-round picks. This trade for Michael Porter Jr. is a great reminder of how there is nuance to how we talk about asset value and the trade market. There is a massive difference between a first-round pick in the near future from a playoff team than the Nuggets' 2032 first, when Nikola Jokic would be 37. It's apparent the Nets are stretching out their rebuild timeline by taking on the next three seasons of Porter Jr.'s deal, but it's worth it to have that Nuggets pick as a gem in their trade coffers. First-round picks are not homogenous and the Nets' patience trading Johnson paid off big time. Page 2

NBA Sources Used 1 Word to Describe Damian Lillard's True Reaction to Bucks Waiver
NBA Sources Used 1 Word to Describe Damian Lillard's True Reaction to Bucks Waiver

Yahoo

time10 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

NBA Sources Used 1 Word to Describe Damian Lillard's True Reaction to Bucks Waiver

NBA Sources Used 1 Word to Describe Damian Lillard's True Reaction to Bucks Waiver originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Milwaukee Bucks just got out of the Damian Lillard business, albeit at a steep cost. Advertisement Part of that cost, beyond the tens of millions of dollars the Bucks will pay Lillard over the next several years not to play for them after waiving him and stretching his contract on Tuesday, June 1, is the angering of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. "BREAKING: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is not pleased with the team's decision to waive Damian Lillard, league sources tell me," NBA insider Chris Haynes reported via X. Lillard, on the other hand, had the opposite reaction as he continues to rehabilitate from an Achilles tendon tear he suffered during Round 1 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. Former Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0).Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images "League sources say Lillard is elated with this decision, as it puts him in the kind of basketball-first position that few All-Star-level players, if any, have experienced in league history," Sam Amick, John Hollinger, Eric Nehm and Tobias Bass of The Athletic reported on Tuesday. "In short, he'll be able to join the contending team of his choosing, either sometime soon or perhaps next summer, without the financial aspect of the decision playing a significant part." Advertisement Lillard can also stick it to Milwaukee over the next couple of years specifically, if he so chooses. "With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during that two-year period," they continued. "And while the Bucks would surely prefer Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount." Lillard probably won't be able to return until the very end of the season, so no team is likely to pay him too much in 2025-26 considering the Bucks will make him whole regardless. However, the soon-to-be 35-year-old superstar should be at full health ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, at which point he could do some real damage. Related: Bucks' Stunning Moves Make Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Intentions 'Very Clear' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store