Former Phoenix Suns Guard Finds New Home in Free Agency on $7 Million Deal
The Phoenix Suns have had a busy offseason thus far as they have made multiple moves that have completely changed the look of their roster.
Advertisement
Of course, this was expected to be the case after they missed the playoffs last season as they looked to retool their roster around Devin Booker.
Reggie Hildred-Imagn ImagesReggie Hildred-Imagn Images
While Phoenix has made some major changes already this offseason by trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, drafting Khaman Maluach and acquiring Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets, they did lose one of their key bench pieces in free agency on Monday night.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, former Suns guard Tyus Jones agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with the Orlando Magic.
This is a solid move for the Magic, especially after trading Cole Anthony as part of the Desmond Bane trade with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this month.
Advertisement
For the Suns, it is not a complete surprise that they allowed Jones to walk in free agency, though they were reportedly open to bringing him back next season.
Last season, the 29-year-old guard averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 41.4% from three-point range.
Jones has been a key player off the bench during his NBA career but he has also showed that he can be effective as a starter as well over the last two seasons with both the Suns and Washington Wizards.
Oct 31, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones (21) moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Now he will join an improved Magic team that is trying to take advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference next season.
Advertisement
With Jones now gone, the Suns now have an even larger hole at the point guard position, though they did sign Collin Gillespie to a standard contract earlier on Monday.
Despite this, the Suns may still be on the lookout for another point guard and one name that has continued to be linked to them is Chris Paul.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Black America Web
25 minutes ago
- Black America Web
Malik Beasley Under Federal Investigation Over Gambling Allegations, Social Media Dissects His Past Games
Source: Nic Antaya / Getty The relationship between fans and athletes was already blurred due to legalized sports betting, and now, athletes themselves are entangling themselves in legal issues. Malik Beasley can be added to that list, as the Detroit Piston is now under investigation with federal authorities on claims related to NBA game betting. ESPN reports that at least one major sportsbook began to show unusual attention to Beasley's statistics in January 2024, when he was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. During a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, sportsbooks set the under on his rebound total at 2.5, which shifted from around +120 to around -250. He ended the game with six rebounds, resulting in a significant loss for those who bet the under. Beasley's lawyer, Steve Haney, released a brief statement to ESPN , reminding everyone that he has not been charged with anything and is presumed innocent. '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.' Even though no charges have been filed, the report is already affecting the free agent's financial situation, as he was reportedly in the midst of 'serious talks' about a three-year, $42 million contract extension with the Pistons. The NBA is also aware of the allegations and is following along with the government's needs. 'We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors' investigation,' NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement . Beasley is coming off a surprisingly great year, during which he averaged 16.3 points and shot 41% from three-point range, even finishing second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting . He was only on a one-year, $6 million deal with Detroit, and this next contract would serve as a major payday and possibly give him a home as he's bounced around the league after spending his first four years with the Denver Nuggets, after they drafted him with the 19th pick in the 2016 Draft. Of course, now that Beasley has been mentioned alongside gambling, social media sleuths have found plays they find questionable. See the reactions below. Malik Beasley Under Federal Investigation Over Gambling Allegations, Social Media Dissects His Past Games was originally published on
Washington Post
28 minutes ago
- Washington Post
NBA free agency winners and losers: Rockets going big; Bucks going nowhere
The NBA's player movement market, crunched by restrictive new salary cap rules, is in such a strange place that the biggest headline from the first 48 hours of this summer's free agency period wasn't a signing or even a trade, but the Milwaukee Bucks' stunning decision Tuesday to release all-star guard Damian Lillard. July 1 didn't exactly feel like Christmas this year for NBA fans, who digested a relatively mild opening to the offseason transaction window. The all-star class hasn't produced much in the way of fireworks: The Phoenix Suns agreed to trade Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and the Bucks waived Lillard using the stretch provision for short-term salary cap relief, but that's it in the way of meaningful changes so far. Otherwise, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander re-signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kyrie Irving re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks, Jaren Jackson Jr. re-signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, and James Harden re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Of course, there's still time for shake-ups: The New York Knicks didn't trade for Karl-Anthony Towns until Oct. 2 last year. While the full story of the NBA offseason hasn't been written yet, here's a rundown of the biggest winners and losers from the first two days of the free agency period. Oklahoma City is the first defending champion in years that managed to improve its roster immediately after winning the title. Thunder General Manager Sam Presti re-signed Gilgeous-Alexander to a no-brainer extension worth $285 million over four years, took care of glue guy Jaylin Williams with a three-year, $24 million deal, and re-signed reserve guard Ajay Mitchell to a three-year, $9 million contract. At some point, Presti will also need to strike rookie extension agreements with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, two crucial pieces of his scintillating core. With the moves so far, Presti ensured all 12 players who logged at least 50 minutes in the playoffs will be under contract for next season. What's more: Oklahoma City will be adding 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topic, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, and 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber. Somehow, the NBA's deepest team will be even deeper next season while remaining under the NBA's luxury tax line. The Thunder, like every team in the NBA's parity era, is one untimely injury away from a lost season, but it should be pleased with how the summer has played out so far. The Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were among the Eastern Conference powers to lose key roster pieces in free agency, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors all treaded water at best in the Western Conference. While Oklahoma City should expect to face new threats from the improved Denver Nuggets and Rockets, a mostly quiet summer favors the team that wears the crown. Oklahoma City is the first defending champion in years that managed to improve its roster immediately after winning the title. Thunder General Manager Sam Presti re-signed Gilgeous-Alexander to a no-brainer extension worth $285 million over four years, took care of glue guy Jaylin Williams with a three-year, $24 million deal, and re-signed reserve guard Ajay Mitchell to a three-year, $9 million contract. At some point, Presti will also need to strike rookie extension agreements with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, two crucial pieces of his scintillating core. With the moves so far, Presti ensured all 12 players who logged at least 50 minutes in the playoffs will be under contract for next season. What's more: Oklahoma City will be adding 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topic, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, and 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber. Somehow, the NBA's deepest team will be even deeper next season while remaining under the NBA's luxury tax line. The Thunder, like every team in the NBA's parity era, is one untimely injury away from a lost season, but it should be pleased with how the summer has played out so far. The Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were among the Eastern Conference powers to lose key roster pieces in free agency, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors all treaded water at best in the Western Conference. While Oklahoma City should expect to face new threats from the improved Denver Nuggets and Rockets, a mostly quiet summer favors the team that wears the crown. The Bucks solved their massive Lillard problem with the NBA equivalent of taking out a personal loan to pay down credit card debt. After the nine-time all-star guard suffered a torn Achilles' tendon during the playoffs, Milwaukee was staring at a lost 2025-26 season and facing the possibility that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo would request a trade this summer. To appeal to Antetokounmpo and bolster their roster for next season, the Bucks waived Lillard using the NBA's stretch provision so they can spread out the $113 million remaining on his contract over the next five seasons. That maneuver granted Milwaukee enough salary cap flexibility to sign veteran center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract, but it also means Lillard will eat up more than $22 million every year through the 2029-30 season. Gulp. This extreme strategy might have been justified if Milwaukee were in position to be a serious title contender next season, but Antetokounmpo's supporting cast is still heavily reliant on underwhelming contributors such as Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince. The East's title landscape has been decimated by injuries to Boston's Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, but Turner's arrival doesn't exactly vault Milwaukee to the top of the standings. While the 29-year-old Turner projects as a clear upgrade over outgoing center Brook Lopez, he is fresh off a forgettable NBA Finals in which he averaged 10.6 points and shot 21.4 percent on three-pointers. The Bucks apparently concluded that the long-term cap damage done by Lillard's stretched contract was worth absorbing as long as Antetokounmpo remains in town. But Milwaukee's bleak future now involves Antetokounmpo stuck without a star sidekick while the Lillard payment plan hangs over the rest of this decade. The Bucks solved their massive Lillard problem with the NBA equivalent of taking out a personal loan to pay down credit card debt. After the nine-time all-star guard suffered a torn Achilles' tendon during the playoffs, Milwaukee was staring at a lost 2025-26 season and facing the possibility that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo would request a trade this summer. To appeal to Antetokounmpo and bolster their roster for next season, the Bucks waived Lillard using the NBA's stretch provision so they can spread out the $113 million remaining on his contract over the next five seasons. That maneuver granted Milwaukee enough salary cap flexibility to sign veteran center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract, but it also means Lillard will eat up more than $22 million every year through the 2029-30 season. Gulp. This extreme strategy might have been justified if Milwaukee were in position to be a serious title contender next season, but Antetokounmpo's supporting cast is still heavily reliant on underwhelming contributors such as Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince. The East's title landscape has been decimated by injuries to Boston's Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, but Turner's arrival doesn't exactly vault Milwaukee to the top of the standings. While the 29-year-old Turner projects as a clear upgrade over outgoing center Brook Lopez, he is fresh off a forgettable NBA Finals in which he averaged 10.6 points and shot 21.4 percent on three-pointers. The Bucks apparently concluded that the long-term cap damage done by Lillard's stretched contract was worth absorbing as long as Antetokounmpo remains in town. But Milwaukee's bleak future now involves Antetokounmpo stuck without a star sidekick while the Lillard payment plan hangs over the rest of this decade. The Rockets mean business, agreeing to trade for Durant and re-signing Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., and Steven Adams before nabbing wing stopper Dorian Finney-Smith and center Clint Capela in free agency. Now that the dust has settled, they freed themselves from Jalen Green, an inconsistent guard who underwhelmed in his playoff debut, and built out a rotation with 10-plus quality contributors. Houston has many of the necessary ingredients to win a championship: lineup flexibility, size, proven scoring, perimeter defense, rebounding and depth. On paper, the Rockets have a case as the biggest threat to the Thunder in the West. Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of the Rockets is that they will need Durant to be a big-time late-game performer if they want to make a deep playoff run. After several wasted seasons with the Suns, Durant will get a chance to return to the NBA's center stage for the first time since his 2020-21 Brooklyn Nets fell just short of the East finals. Does the two-time champion, who turns 37 in September, have one more signature playoff run left in him? The Rockets mean business, agreeing to trade for Durant and re-signing Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., and Steven Adams before nabbing wing stopper Dorian Finney-Smith and center Clint Capela in free agency. Now that the dust has settled, they freed themselves from Jalen Green, an inconsistent guard who underwhelmed in his playoff debut, and built out a rotation with 10-plus quality contributors. Houston has many of the necessary ingredients to win a championship: lineup flexibility, size, proven scoring, perimeter defense, rebounding and depth. On paper, the Rockets have a case as the biggest threat to the Thunder in the West. Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of the Rockets is that they will need Durant to be a big-time late-game performer if they want to make a deep playoff run. After several wasted seasons with the Suns, Durant will get a chance to return to the NBA's center stage for the first time since his 2020-21 Brooklyn Nets fell just short of the East finals. Does the two-time champion, who turns 37 in September, have one more signature playoff run left in him? The charitable approach would be to give the Lakers a 'TBD' grade because they still hadn't addressed their top priority — adding a starting center — as of Wednesday morning. But granting Los Angeles a pass for its early inactivity doesn't feel entirely appropriate given that this summer was its first chance to reshape its roster around Luka Doncic. Instead of lining up perimeter defenders and a lob threat for the Slovenian star, the Lakers watched as the Rockets poached Finney-Smith and saw several center candidates, including Lopez and Capela, sign with other teams. Meanwhile, LeBron James and his agent, Rich Paul, set off trade speculation by issuing a cryptic statement that suggested James and the Lakers have differing priorities. The Lakers really needed some game-changing additions after getting smoked by the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. Yet so far, they've only taken a step back by replacing Finney-Smith, one of the few players that Lakers Coach JJ Redick trusted in the playoffs, with career backup Jake LaRavia. The charitable approach would be to give the Lakers a 'TBD' grade because they still hadn't addressed their top priority — adding a starting center — as of Wednesday morning. But granting Los Angeles a pass for its early inactivity doesn't feel entirely appropriate given that this summer was its first chance to reshape its roster around Luka Doncic. Instead of lining up perimeter defenders and a lob threat for the Slovenian star, the Lakers watched as the Rockets poached Finney-Smith and saw several center candidates, including Lopez and Capela, sign with other teams. Meanwhile, LeBron James and his agent, Rich Paul, set off trade speculation by issuing a cryptic statement that suggested James and the Lakers have differing priorities. The Lakers really needed some game-changing additions after getting smoked by the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. Yet so far, they've only taken a step back by replacing Finney-Smith, one of the few players that Lakers Coach JJ Redick trusted in the playoffs, with career backup Jake LaRavia. The Nuggets' decision to replace general manager Calvin Booth with Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace has paid immediate dividends. After Booth's tenure was defined by inactivity and missed opportunities, Denver's new regime struck quickly by trading forward Michael Porter Jr. and a first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson, trading Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for Jonas Valanciunas, and signing both Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency. Even if Russell Westbrook departs as expected, the Nuggets accomplished important goals by ditching Porter's overly generous contract; replacing Porter's shooting with Johnson's; and improving a shaky second unit with the additions of Brown, who was a member of Denver's 2023 title team, and Valanciunas, a capable backup for franchise center Nikola Jokic. Hypotethetically, Denver might have outlasted Oklahoma City in its second-round playoff matchup had it been able to swap Porter, Westbrook and Saric for Johnson, Brown, Hardaway and Valanciunas before the playoffs. After all, the Nuggets pushed the Thunder to Game 7 despite erratic play from Westbrook and injuries to Porter and Aaron Gordon. Jokic, 30, now looks like he has enough help to lead his fourth straight 50-win team and compete for his fourth MVP award next season. The Nuggets' decision to replace general manager Calvin Booth with Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace has paid immediate dividends. After Booth's tenure was defined by inactivity and missed opportunities, Denver's new regime struck quickly by trading forward Michael Porter Jr. and a first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson, trading Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for Jonas Valanciunas, and signing both Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency. Even if Russell Westbrook departs as expected, the Nuggets accomplished important goals by ditching Porter's overly generous contract; replacing Porter's shooting with Johnson's; and improving a shaky second unit with the additions of Brown, who was a member of Denver's 2023 title team, and Valanciunas, a capable backup for franchise center Nikola Jokic. Hypotethetically, Denver might have outlasted Oklahoma City in its second-round playoff matchup had it been able to swap Porter, Westbrook and Saric for Johnson, Brown, Hardaway and Valanciunas before the playoffs. After all, the Nuggets pushed the Thunder to Game 7 despite erratic play from Westbrook and injuries to Porter and Aaron Gordon. Jokic, 30, now looks like he has enough help to lead his fourth straight 50-win team and compete for his fourth MVP award next season. The new cap rules, which were designed to undercut high-spending teams, have cut off the Warriors at the knees. After pulling off a midseason trade for Jimmy Butler, Golden State made no additions of consequence during the opening stage of free agency. Instead, longtime center Kevon Looney, a starter on the Warriors' 2022 championship team, was poached by the New Orleans Pelicans. No wonder Draymond Green recently criticized the National Basketball Players Association for agreeing to the latest collective bargaining agreement, which he said resulted in 'the players [getting] screwed more' despite the league's financial growth. With Stephen Curry, Butler and Green earning nearly $140 million in 2025-26, when the salary cap line is $154.6 million, Golden State has few avenues to make a splash. In a best-case scenario, the Warriors will find a way to sign-and-trade restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga for a piece or pieces that fit better with their core trio. Even if that happens, the Warriors still might not be deep enough to compete with the West's top teams. Golden State looked dysfunctional on offense in the playoffs once Curry got injured in the conference semifinals, and keeping its three aging stars healthy throughout another 82-game season and four rounds of the playoffs will be a tall order. The new cap rules, which were designed to undercut high-spending teams, have cut off the Warriors at the knees. After pulling off a midseason trade for Jimmy Butler, Golden State made no additions of consequence during the opening stage of free agency. Instead, longtime center Kevon Looney, a starter on the Warriors' 2022 championship team, was poached by the New Orleans Pelicans. No wonder Draymond Green recently criticized the National Basketball Players Association for agreeing to the latest collective bargaining agreement, which he said resulted in 'the players [getting] screwed more' despite the league's financial growth. With Stephen Curry, Butler and Green earning nearly $140 million in 2025-26, when the salary cap line is $154.6 million, Golden State has few avenues to make a splash. In a best-case scenario, the Warriors will find a way to sign-and-trade restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga for a piece or pieces that fit better with their core trio. Even if that happens, the Warriors still might not be deep enough to compete with the West's top teams. Golden State looked dysfunctional on offense in the playoffs once Curry got injured in the conference semifinals, and keeping its three aging stars healthy throughout another 82-game season and four rounds of the playoffs will be a tall order. Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh, who was appointed to the position in April, has hit the ground running. In the past two weeks, Saleh has acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Celtics, nabbed an unprotected 2026 first-round pick from the Pelicans, executed a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves for Nickeil Alexander-Walker and signed free agent guard Luke Kennard. Saleh gave up nothing of consequence in the deals for Porzingis and Alexander-Walker, and he handily won the trade with New Orleans. The Hawks have missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, but they are well positioned now to climb into the East's second tier. Alexander-Walker arrives as a playoff-tested third guard to complement lead playmaker Trae Young and perimeter stopper Dyson Daniels, and Kennard represents another shooting threat. While Atlanta's ceiling will hinge on Jalen Johnson's health and 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher's development, Saleh has added size, experience and athleticism to an organization that had spent years spinning its wheels. Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh, who was appointed to the position in April, has hit the ground running. In the past two weeks, Saleh has acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Celtics, nabbed an unprotected 2026 first-round pick from the Pelicans, executed a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves for Nickeil Alexander-Walker and signed free agent guard Luke Kennard. Saleh gave up nothing of consequence in the deals for Porzingis and Alexander-Walker, and he handily won the trade with New Orleans. The Hawks have missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, but they are well positioned now to climb into the East's second tier. Alexander-Walker arrives as a playoff-tested third guard to complement lead playmaker Trae Young and perimeter stopper Dyson Daniels, and Kennard represents another shooting threat. While Atlanta's ceiling will hinge on Jalen Johnson's health and 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher's development, Saleh has added size, experience and athleticism to an organization that had spent years spinning its wheels. Speaking of Alexander-Walker, the Timberwolves were forced to part with the Canadian guard after re-signing forwards Julius Randle (three years, $100 million) and Naz Reid (five years, $125 million). All things considered, Minnesota was able to salvage its big and physical identity by retaining Randle and Reid alongside defensive lynchpin Rudy Gobert. With franchise guard Anthony Edwards entering his age-24 season, Minnesota avoided taking a major step back despite its cap constraints. Still, losing Alexander-Walker will thin out a backcourt that was already overmatched in the Western Conference finals against the Thunder. Mike Conley will turn 38 before the 2025-26 season opens, and Edwards needs assistance when it comes to ballhandling and playmaking responsibilities. Unless 2024 lottery pick Rob Dillingham can take a major step forward, Minnesota's shallow backcourt rotation could hold it back from reaching a third straight West finals. Speaking of Alexander-Walker, the Timberwolves were forced to part with the Canadian guard after re-signing forwards Julius Randle (three years, $100 million) and Naz Reid (five years, $125 million). All things considered, Minnesota was able to salvage its big and physical identity by retaining Randle and Reid alongside defensive lynchpin Rudy Gobert. With franchise guard Anthony Edwards entering his age-24 season, Minnesota avoided taking a major step back despite its cap constraints. Still, losing Alexander-Walker will thin out a backcourt that was already overmatched in the Western Conference finals against the Thunder. Mike Conley will turn 38 before the 2025-26 season opens, and Edwards needs assistance when it comes to ballhandling and playmaking responsibilities. Unless 2024 lottery pick Rob Dillingham can take a major step forward, Minnesota's shallow backcourt rotation could hold it back from reaching a third straight West finals. The Grizzlies win points for self-awareness. Their late-season collapse, which culminated in a first-round playoff exit against the Thunder, made it clear to management that the trio of Jackson, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane wasn't going to be delivering a championship any time soon. With Morant's trade value submarined by his off-court shenanigans and Jackson in line for a lucrative contract extension, Memphis traded Bane to better balance its books. Finding a buyer for a two-way talent such as Bane was the easy part. The Grizzlies then set about replacing his production by striking a draft-day trade for Cedric Coward and signing free agent guard Ty Jerome, who was fresh off a career year with the Cavaliers. Memphis also landed veteran backcourt stopper Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the Bane trade, re-signed coveted forward Santi Aldama in free agency and agreed to sign Jackson to a five-year, $240 million extension. Instead of a top-heavy salary sheet for a team that wasn't good enough to push the West's best, Memphis has restored its second-unit depth and maintained its fast-paced style. With better health for Morant, the Grizzlies could easily climb over a few teams that finished above them in last year's West standings. The Grizzlies win points for self-awareness. Their late-season collapse, which culminated in a first-round playoff exit against the Thunder, made it clear to management that the trio of Jackson, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane wasn't going to be delivering a championship any time soon. With Morant's trade value submarined by his off-court shenanigans and Jackson in line for a lucrative contract extension, Memphis traded Bane to better balance its books. Finding a buyer for a two-way talent such as Bane was the easy part. The Grizzlies then set about replacing his production by striking a draft-day trade for Cedric Coward and signing free agent guard Ty Jerome, who was fresh off a career year with the Cavaliers. Memphis also landed veteran backcourt stopper Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the Bane trade, re-signed coveted forward Santi Aldama in free agency and agreed to sign Jackson to a five-year, $240 million extension. Instead of a top-heavy salary sheet for a team that wasn't good enough to push the West's best, Memphis has restored its second-unit depth and maintained its fast-paced style. With better health for Morant, the Grizzlies could easily climb over a few teams that finished above them in last year's West standings. The Raptors' offseason got off to a demoralizing start when franchise icon Masai Ujiri was let go on Friday, one day after the NBA draft concluded and just three days before the free agency window opened. Ujiri, an executive who transformed the Raptors from a laughingstock into the 2019 champions, apparently fell out of favor with ownership following two consecutive dismal seasons. In the years since his bold trade for Kawhi Leonard set up Toronto for its first title, Ujiri lost his golden touch in the draft and watched major talents — Leonard, VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby — leave town. Ujiri's critical flaw in the post-championship years was that he undervalued shooting. Still, many of Toronto's most important young players are simply not good enough shooters to be major weapons in the modern era. Bobby Webster, Ujiri's deputy, has made only one notable move this week: re-signing center Jakob Poeltl to a four-year, $104 million contract, which was in the discussion for the week's biggest overpay. Poeltl, 29, hasn't played in a playoff game since 2019 and crunches the court because — you guessed it — he is a non-shooter. The Raptors have now made major financial commitments to Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Poeltl, a group that presents countless fit questions and is wholly lacking in playoff success. Toronto must hope that Ingram, who arrived in a midseason trade but didn't play down the stretch because of injury, and Barnes, a talented but immature 23-year-old forward, can boost its outlook next season. That's not impossible given the tattered state of the East, but Ujiri's abrupt exit provided a harsh reminder of just how far the Raptors have fallen — and how much work they have ahead of them to climb back up. The Raptors' offseason got off to a demoralizing start when franchise icon Masai Ujiri was let go on Friday, one day after the NBA draft concluded and just three days before the free agency window opened. Ujiri, an executive who transformed the Raptors from a laughingstock into the 2019 champions, apparently fell out of favor with ownership following two consecutive dismal seasons. In the years since his bold trade for Kawhi Leonard set up Toronto for its first title, Ujiri lost his golden touch in the draft and watched major talents — Leonard, VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby — leave town. Ujiri's critical flaw in the post-championship years was that he undervalued shooting. Still, many of Toronto's most important young players are simply not good enough shooters to be major weapons in the modern era. Bobby Webster, Ujiri's deputy, has made only one notable move this week: re-signing center Jakob Poeltl to a four-year, $104 million contract, which was in the discussion for the week's biggest overpay. Poeltl, 29, hasn't played in a playoff game since 2019 and crunches the court because — you guessed it — he is a non-shooter. The Raptors have now made major financial commitments to Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Poeltl, a group that presents countless fit questions and is wholly lacking in playoff success. Toronto must hope that Ingram, who arrived in a midseason trade but didn't play down the stretch because of injury, and Barnes, a talented but immature 23-year-old forward, can boost its outlook next season. That's not impossible given the tattered state of the East, but Ujiri's abrupt exit provided a harsh reminder of just how far the Raptors have fallen — and how much work they have ahead of them to climb back up.
New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
Nebraska recruiting reset: Biggest needs, class size, in-state strategy under Matt Rhule
LINCOLN, Neb. — As a debate simmers on whether Nebraska football swung and missed in the June recruiting race or if the Huskers hit a home run, coach Matt Rhule can relax and survey the solid results of a long spring and early period of summer during the next 20 days — in theory, the least hectic time on the college football calendar. Advertisement Nebraska added a commitment to its Class of 2026 on Tuesday from three-star wide receiver Larry Miles of Winter Garden, Fla., to go with pledges gathered Monday from offensive linemen Leon Noil of New Orleans and Claude Mpouma of Chicago. A physically imposing four-star prospect, Mpouma rates as an especially gratifying score for Rhule. High-ceiling tackles are hard to come by out of high school and from the portal. Nebraska missed on more than it landed in recent cycles. Mpouma visited Auburn and Florida last month and considered Ohio State and Michigan among his finalists. Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Iowa wanted him. His talent and size appear so promising that FBS offers began to arrive last year before he'd played a down of football or attended a camp. He provides a cornerstone in this class for Nebraska. His commitment also solidifies the Huskers' presence in Chicago, where they've got 2027 QB commit Trae Taylor trending fast to become the top peer recruiter ever for the program on social media. The 2026 class stands at 12 members. Compared to USC, which has 20 four- and five-star commits in its 30-player class, that's a pedestrian output. But the measure of recruiting success demands perspective. It rarely boils down to who said no. Or who said yes. Rather, how did they fit and develop? Did they stay for more than a handshake? With the transfer portal in play, team rankings in recruiting mean less than ever. The same will be true if Nebraska wins 11 games next season and carries that momentum forward to build a top-10 class in the 2027 cycle. Twelve to 15 commits in the bag when Nebraska opens camp in four weeks would put it on track. Rhule planned to favor efficiency ahead of depth in this recruiting cycle. The new roster limit, in effect this season after the adoption Tuesday of a revenue-sharing model in college athletics, likely dictates a class of fewer than 20 players. Advertisement And the best play for Rhule this year involves a gamble. He's banking that the Huskers make a jump, starting Aug. 28 at Arrowhead Stadium. He's expecting that recruits will notice and that new doors will open. And that the final batch of spots in the 2026 class go to players who perhaps aren't looking today at a program that's lost 58 percent of its games over the past 10 seasons. Rhule came off sounding defiant in a message posted less than two hours after the Mpouma decision went public. Too many people have profited financially off of negativity and despair. Their time is over — Matt Rhule (@CoachMattRhule) June 30, 2025 Is that a prediction? Or was the third-year coach philosophizing on a summer evening during a dead period that's supposed to offer him and his staff a chance to escape from the grind for a few weeks? Extended downtime, I suspect, is a fleeting dream for Rhule. He's got plenty on his plate. Front and center sits a growing group of recruits and the need to execute a balancing act to manage the roster as the program readies for the start of camp. Here are the answers to three questions about more of what's happening with the Class of 2026: What's unique about the construction of this class? Terms of the House settlement have eased the transition to a 105-player roster. A hard-count 105 is coming, though, and Nebraska must recruit with the altered math in mind. Its roster today numbers 126. By Sunday, 30 days after the settlement was approved in federal court, any team that plans to carry more than 105 into the 2025 season must designate the players who would have been cut if a hard-count 105 had been implemented. For the remainder of their careers, regardless of the programs at which they play, those players will be protected. They won't count against the 105. But when their careers at Nebraska end, the Huskers cannot exceed 105. Advertisement The roster is composed of 92 freshmen and sophomores and 34 juniors and seniors. As many as 21 could be placed on the designated list. To avoid a logjam as the list grows smaller in 2026 and 2027, Rhule and his staff simply can't sign a big class this year. At what spots are the Huskers in need of reinforcements? The 2026 class includes four offensive linemen, three wide receivers and one player each at quarterback, running back, tight end, defensive back and linebacker. That's two defensive players out of 12 commits. Here's a breakdown of the roster: QB (6), running back (8), receiver (15), tight end (7), offensive line (21), defensive line (18), linebacker (18), defensive back (26) and specialist (7). Linebacker and O-line have the highest concentration of upperclassmen on the roster. Four-star linebacker Calvin Thomas of Houston is set to announce his decision on July 12. 🫣 — Calvin ''CT3'' Thomas (@Calvin_Thomas08) June 28, 2025 Expect the Huskers to prioritize the pursuit of defensive linemen, although they've got nine freshmen at the position group on the roster. How has the recruiting strategy changed during Rhule's time in Lincoln? Aside from the need to place monetary values on each recruit and think more strategically than ever on class size, there's this nugget: Rhule signed eight Nebraskans out of high school in 2023, eight in 2024 and six in 2025. From the first two classes, five of 16 have departed via transfer; five of 16 are projected as two-deep players when camp begins this month. The takeaway: Nebraska can be more selective with local talent. In the Class of 2026, it has one commitment from a Nebraskan — linebacker Jase Reynolds of Elkhorn North. Fifteen are committed elsewhere, including nine players from reigning Class A champion Millard South. Alabama QB commit Jett Thomalla headlines the group. Advertisement Nebraska offered just one of the players who has chosen to leave the state, Millard South tight end and Missouri commit Isaac Jensen. There's one left on the table: Omaha North defensive back Darion Jones, brother of Nebraska cornerback Donovan Jones. The younger Jones is set to announce a college decision Friday, likely between Iowa and Nebraska.
