Latest news with #RyanSmith
Fox News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Jazz Owner Says Ace Bailey 'is coming to Utah' on Saturday
In 1999's "Office Space," Initech employee Peter Gibbons told Joanna that he didn't "like" his job and he wasn't "going to go anymore." In the case of former Rutgers star Ace Bailey, it seemed like he may just not show up to play for the Utah Jazz on Day 1. However, after a short-lived game of chicken, Bailey gave in and plans to report to Utah — as expected — on Saturday, team owner Ryan Smith said. Utah selected Bailey with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but it was reported on the live broadcast of the draft that the 6-foot-10 prospect didn't have the Jazz as a "preferred destination." Bailey also didn't conduct a workout with a single team in the draft process. Therefore, doubt grew over whether he'd report to the Jazz's summer league training camp. While he hasn't officially set foot in Utah, the Jazz brass seem confident the chaos is over and Bailey will be a cooperative member, and a key part of their future. Here's everything that unfolded with the saga between Bailey and the Jazz that ultimately ended how the team expected it to. Bailey was a five-star recruit who played one year at Rutgers. In his freshman season, the still-18-year-old Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and one steal per game, while shooting 46.0/34.6/69.2. Bailey earned All-Big Ten honors. Outside of taking Bailey at No. 5, Utah acquired the No. 18 pick to select Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. and selected Wisconsin guard John Tonje with the No. 53 pick. Clayton reportedly arrived in Salt Lake City prior to the weekend, whereas Bailey held out until the weekend. Bailey was present at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. However, he didn't have a workout with any team in the weeks leading up to the draft, with speculation that he wanted to fall to a team in the bottom part of the top-10. He even canceled a scheduled workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who had the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. There was "minimal contact" between Bailey and the Jazz in the days after he was drafted, according to an ESPN report. But, the team remained confident that he'd be present in Utah by Monday. Furthermore, Bailey's camp informed one team picking in the top-five that he wouldn't report if they drafted him, though, it's unknown if the Jazz were that team. However, now that drama seems like a rumor of the past. New Jazz president Austin Ainge spoke glowingly of Bailey. "He's great. We were able to speak with him. He was super excited. We're super excited. We're expecting a very bright future," Ainge said of Bailey on Thursday, according to ESPN. "His scoring gets a lot of attention, [and] deservedly so. He's very skilled for his size. But watching a lot of film on him, I was impressed with his defensive effort and particularly his rebounding. Lot of weakside block shots, and his joy and energy for the game. We do a lot of background calls and work on guys, and everyone loves being around Ace." The unofficial start of NBA free agency is Monday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET, which is when teams can begin negotiating with the agents of players who were not previously under contract with them. On the team front, Utah's Salt Lake City Summer League kicks off on July 5, and Bailey should have a huge role for them in that process. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
A late-night blockbuster trade. Plus: Why you need to care about this NHL draft
Red Light newsletter 🏒 | This is The Athletic's hockey newsletter. Sign up here to receive Red Light directly in your inbox. I don't know about you, but I didn't get a whole lot of sleep thanks to the Mammoth and Sabres pulling off a blockbuster just before midnight last night. Let's break it down… We'd been hearing rumblings about J.J. Peterka's availability for weeks now, going back to the combine in Buffalo when I listed both these teams as likely to be big players this offseason. The player wasn't happy on the struggling Sabres, and he had real leverage after back-to-back seasons clearing 25 goals at a young age. Utah, meanwhile, had acres of cap space – more than $18 million, fifth most in the league before the deal – and a new market and owner that wanted to go big. Mission accomplished, Ryan Smith. Did the Sabres get enough – power forward prospect Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring – for one of their best young players? Our trade graders, including yours truly, aren't so sure, but a lot will hinge on Doan's development and Kesselring's ability to absorb tough minutes alongside Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power. This deal certainly sets the table for a massive draft weekend, where you can expect more teams to be very aggressive on the trade front. More on that from our insiders further down. Without a huge name headlining the 2025 NHL entry draft class, there hasn't been as much buzz around this one as in past seasons. With Round 1 set to open tomorrow night in Los Angeles, however, I wanted The A's prospect experts, Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler, to weigh in on why you should care about this draft, despite the lack of a generational talent at the top. Advertisement For a more casual hockey fan, how would you sell this draft in terms of the highlights or interesting things to watch for? Pronman: After Matthew Schaefer goes (first overall), there's a blob of forwards in the 2-9 range. We don't have any high degree of confidence as to how these forwards, almost all of them premium young centers, will go. As well, there is a major question mark among them in Roger McQueen, who is a top 5 talent but suffered from a back injury most of the season. Wheeler: I think the story of this draft is that it hasn't been written yet. Last year, you had Macklin Celebrini and then this rare collection of high-end defensemen that you knew were going to shape the way the draft was viewed in five or 10 years. Next year, we know Gavin McKenna is around the corner. This year feels much less certain, which should create a fascinating continued conversation. There are different potential outcomes as to which players will be the defining players of this class. How close will the top three picks be to helping the Islanders, Sharks and Blackhawks – who pick 1-2-3 – next season? Pronman: Schaefer and Michael Misa (ranked No. 1 and No. 2) could play in the NHL right away. The rest of the top prospects likely need a year or two outside the league. Wheeler: What Corey said. Are there any dark horse picks who could go 10th or later that you think have a chance to turn into stars? Pronman: I'm a big fan of Victor Eklund, who we don't expect to go in the top 10. I think he has a lot of similarities to Seth Jarvis at the same age. Wheeler: I've given winger Ryker Lee (projected to go in the late-first or early-second) one of the highest skill grades in the class and believe he's one of the only prospects likely to be taken outside the top 20 who is talented enough to become a productive, top-six, power play type if he hits some development checkpoints. Advertisement Here's our latest draft big board for more on how Corey and Scott see things playing out. And here's the full draft order going into night one. Speaking of the draft … Why the Canucks rolled the dice on trading for Evander Kane and what the Oilers are up to after dumping his contract. Ranking every NHL team's salary-cap situation, from best to worst. Who has the most money to spend as we sit five days from free agency? (Spoiler: The Sharks are loaded.) Where could Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson get dealt, given his $10 million contract? Pierre LeBrun has been Mr. Rumblings of late and his latest doesn't disappoint with a ton of good nuggets from around the league, including notes on Mitch Marner, Claude Giroux and the John Gibson trade we've been waiting decades for. 'The Athletic Hockey Show' serves up an erudite draft preview show, looking at if the Sharks might skip Michael Misa and take Anton Frondell as No. 2 instead. We know a lot of NHL teams are flush with cap space. And we know free agency is underwhelming (but still check out the big board anyway). Which means the trade market should be extra busy here in the days to come, as clubs attempt to embiggen their rosters starting at the draft tomorrow. I checked in with our insiders – Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston – and a top NHL player agent on which teams they think will be leading the charge this weekend. LeBrun: Edmonton. They're probably the team given the urgency internally to sign Evan Bouchard before July 1, still move more money (Viktor Arvidsson), find some cheaper forward alternatives, and likely tweak the goaltending. It's a lot to do. Johnston: Montreal. GM Kent Hughes has gone shopping on draft week before and has first-round picks to move as he pursues a top-six forward. Advertisement Anonymous agent: Pittsburgh. They're attempting to be very active. In addition to Karlsson, a guy like Bryan Rust could bring a return that adds a lot to their asset base. Exciting stuff. Flip your The Athletic app NHL notifications on this weekend, as it's going to be a busy one. 💡Mirtrivia answers: Question 1 is my gift to our oldtimers. Many will recall the Islanders taking Rick DiPietro first in 2000, making him just the second goalie ever drafted with the top pick. But do you remember the 1972 and 1973 drafts when they set the table for an 1980s dynasty by taking Billy Harris (who was later traded for Butch Goring) and Denis Potvin? Question 2, however, should be a relatively easy one: Aaron Ekblad to the Panthers, drafted from the Barrie Colts back in 2014. The other three defensemen to go No. 1 in the past 28 years? Erik Johnson (2006), Rasmus Dahlin (2018) and Owen Power (2021). Pretty good company for Schaefer, who is a kid worth rooting for. 📫 Love Red Light? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters. (Top photo of J.J. Peterka: Bill Wippert / NHLI via Getty Images)
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Fairhope man accused of murder, attempted murder after police chase starting in Baldwin County
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) — A Fairhope man is accused of murder and attempted murder after an incident Saturday night in Baldwin County. MYSTERY: Over a dozen pelican corpses found on Mobile street, police respond According to a news release from the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a home on Dominion Drive, outside the municipal limits of Fairhope, at about 11 Saturday night. Two residents of the home were severely injured and flown to a hospital in Pensacola. One person died, another person is being treated. Deputies say their suspect is 38-year-old Ryan Smith. He left the home prior to deputies getting there. The news release say deputies spotted Smith's vehicle on I-65 in North Baldwin County. That led them on a chase into Escambia County Alabama. Deputies stopped Smith using the Grappler system on the front bumper of their vehicle. Smith is being held in the Baldwin County Jail. The news release did not identify the victims. A deputy says they are not releasing the cause of death until after an autopsy, but they don't believe the victims were shot. Fairhope man accused of murder, attempted murder after police chase starting in Baldwin County Deputies haven't said what connection Smith may have to the victims. The news release described this as a 'domestic situation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BYU's AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball's Top NIL Earner
BYU's AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball's Top NIL Earner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. BYU's AJ Dybantsa is already turning heads before the 2025-26 college basketball season. As the No. 1 player in the country, he's already projected as the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. But his moves off the court are just as good. Advertisement Dybantsa saw a significant jump in his On3 NIL valuation recently. He moved up to $4.1 million and cracked the top five for the first time in his career. As it stands now, the 6-foot-9 power forward is only $200K away from Miami QB Carson Beck at No. 2 ($4.3M) and $100K from Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith ($4.2M). Arch Manning is firmly at the top with a valuation of $6.8 million. However, Dybantsa is the top college basketball earner after landing deals with Nike and Red Bull. Dybantsa is on a contract with BYU to receive over $7 million this season, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times. An NIL offering he denied at the McDonald's All-American Game. Related: BYU Basketball Shows Interest in Rising International Star BYU has picked up the pace on the NIL trail very quickly. One of the biggest contributors is Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith. But underneath it all is Kevin Young. The Cougars coach came to Provo after being an NBA assistant for the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. His detailed guidance and pro-ready approach is why Dybantsa decided to sign with BYU. Advertisement Related: BYU Cracks ESPN's Future Power Rankings Top 25 As the season quickly approaches, Dybantsa will be part of the most hype-filled year in BYU Basketball history. The Cougars projected starting lineup has many national outlets putting them as a national title contender and on a level playing field in the Big 12 with Houston, who is coming off a heartbreaking loss in the National Championship to Florida. The upcoming season will be fun to watch as Dybantsa has already said he's one-and-done before turning pro. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘It's a wonderful community': Calgary's oldest independent bookstore is celebrating 50 years
Owl's Nest Books co-owner Ryan Smith talks to former owners Michael and Susan Hare about the store's 50th anniversary celebration plans.
