Sports
Three Eastern Conference Trade Deadline Winners to Watch
Feb 24, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) brings the ball up court during the second half against the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images When the Pacers made an improbable run to the NBA Finals last spring, a clutch-shooting guard, do-everything forward and plucky reserve led the way.
Thanks to the Bucks and Grizzlies, there were no Tyrese Haliburtons or Pascal Siakams available at the trade deadline earlier this month. But that didn’t stop Eastern longshots from taking a stab at cheaper versions – and even a T.J. McConnell type – in their hopes of duplicating the Pacers’ success.
The extremely early results have been encouraging.
While, for the most part, the title favorites stood pat, here are three clubs that at least put themselves on the postseason map with a trade-deadline addition, and now can be identified as Teams to Avoid in the Eastern playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers were the biggest disappointment in the first half of the NBA season. For those who wagered that last year’s regular-season champs would duplicate their 60-win success … well, at 37-22 with 23 games remaining, you can prepare to make those tickets a sacrifice to the spring’s last fire.
And those vacation-home investments in the Cavaliers to win the NBA title. You can …
Whoa, now hold on there.
No one expected the addition of James Harden earlier this month to rejuvenate the future superstar, but few have been more consistent than the league’s boringest player in his first seven games out of the California sunshine.
The best part about Harden’s play on LeBron’s old court is that he’s accepted the role of Haliburton – a guy willing to sacrifice shots (until a big one is needed) while being a glue piece. He’s had seven or more assists six times already, complementing games of 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
When the Cavaliers won for the sixth time in Harden’s short honeymoon on Tuesday, they sent a message to the Knicks: We were better than you last season, and now that we’ve caught you in the standings, rest assured we’re better than you this year, too.
Who knew Harden still had secret powers beneath the beard?
Atlanta Hawks
Feb 24, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) controls the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Hawks were labeled a winner at the trade deadline more so for what they dumped (Kristaps Porzingis) than what they hauled (Jonathan Kuminga).
As much as they came to despise Kuminga, three games into the Porzingis era, Warriors fans would have to agree.
The Hawks certainly didn’t respond well immediately to the deal, losing to the Hornets twice among three straight defeats in the immediate aftermath of the deadline. But that was to be expected from a team still acclimating to the earlier exporting of former franchise posterboy Trae Young.
They also played six straight games without Kuminga, who debuted with a bullet on Tuesday, demonstrating his personal highlight reel from days past wasn’t some AI-created cartoon.
Like in his teen-age days with the Warriors, Kuminga was the best player on the court – OK, the Wizards were the opponent – in his Atlanta curtain-raiser, dunking from short range and splashing from deep in a 27-point, 24-minute tribute to Dominique Wilkins.
The Siakam-type performance demonstrated the Hawks now have the star power in tandem with Jalen Johnson to take good outside shooting, perimeter defense, size and depth to the next level.
Their rise is bad news for other likely play-in teams in the East, and then to one of the favorites who might have seen this movie before – like when they were jolted by the underdog Pacers last season.
Charlotte Hornets
Feb 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) takes a shot over Washington Wizards guard Jaden Hardy (8) during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Who would have thought T.J. McConnell would become one of the most feared bench players in the Eastern playoffs last season?
The Hornets were watching on TV, but clearly they noticed. Because they went out at the trade deadline and made a similar under-the-radar addition in Coby White.
White is actually more like Kuminga than McConnell, but it’s his game-changing role in short spurts that potentially gives him the type of impact the Pacers got from their gnat last spring.
In an Eastern bracket dominated by defensive-minded clubs, the Hornets appear prepared to demonstrate that good offense beats good defense. Don Nelson will be proud.
Coincidentally, White, like Kuminga, debuted for his new team Tuesday and couldn’t have been more electrifying. With a pair of 3-pointers, 10 points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal in just 16 minutes, he showed his former team – the Bulls – and his former home fans just how much better off he is in ACC country.
Despite a pitch count, the Hornets were 20 points better than the Bulls when White was on the court. It helped produce a second straight win as Charlotte chases Atlanta toward the top of the play-in quartet, with the distinct possibility both will make the playoffs.
Harden, Kuminga and White. Three guys unwanted three weeks ago.
Now three guys nobody wants to have to deal with.
Sports
Reports: Search for NFLPA's next executive director includes 3 finalists
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The NFLPA logo at press conference at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Three names have emerged as finalists in the NFL Players Association’s search for a permanent executive director, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic.
The list includes interim executive director David White, former NFLPA president and later chief strategy officer JC Tretter and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti, as first reported by ESPN.
The NFLPA’s 32 player representatives could be asked to vote on the position at their annual meeting on March 13-18 in San Diego.
The search followed the resignation of NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. last July, one month after a series of controversies were revealed, including a reported conflict of interest and a decision to hide key parts of an arbitration ruling from the players.
Howell lasted only two years after the former chief financial officer of technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton was selected by a 10-person NFLPA executive committee. The NFLPA was criticized for what was viewed by some as a secretive 16-month process that led to Howell’s hiring.
He was replaced by former player Tretter, the NFLPA’s chief strategy officer, but he also stepped down in the wake of the Howell controversy after he had presided over the search process. Tretter told ESPN in 2025 that confidentiality in the search process became more important after leaks to the media in previous elections.
Labor executive White has been in charge of the NFLPA on an interim basis since August.
NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a linebacker with the Chicago Bears, in a statement published by ESPN on Friday, said the executive committee is “conducting a comprehensive search that includes a strong pool of highly qualified candidates. Out of respect for the integrity of the process and those involved, we will not comment on or disclose individual names.”
A finalist when Howell was picked for the post in 2023, White has labor experience as national executive director and chief negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) from 2009-21.
Tretter, who played offensive line for the Green Bay Packers (2014-16) and Cleveland Browns (2017-21), was player president of the NFLPA from 2020-24. He told CBS Sports upon his resignation that he wasn’t involved in the confidentiality agreement that Howell made with the league to keep from players an arbitrator’s rulings on possible collusion by NFL owners.
Pernetti, the American Conference commissioner since June 2024, is a former president of IMG Academy, an athletic powerhouse boarding school in Bradenton, Fla.
Media reports listed other candidates, who are not finalists, as former players Dominique Foxworth, Matt Schaub and Jeff Saturday. Former NFLPA president Foxworth (2012-14) and Saturday, who are now ESPN commentators, said they were interviewed by the firm running the search but not by the executive committee.
Schaub, a former player rep and candidate for the post in 2023, did not respond to attempts for comment, per ESPN.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Plenty at stake as No. 8 Purdue sets sights on Ohio State
Feb 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) looks at a referee during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images While No. 8 Purdue and Ohio State are coming off losses, they still have goals in front of them when they convene on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
The Boilermakers (22-6, 12-5 Big Ten) have their eyes on a top-four finish going into the conference tournament. However, they find themselves in fifth place after a 76-74 home loss to No. 13 Michigan State on Thursday.
Nebraska and Michigan State are tied for second with 13-4 conference records with Illinois (13-5) a half-game back. The top four teams receive triple byes into the tourney.
“Most disappointing for us is you’re trying to jockey for that triple bye. Now you’re playing fewer games,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “Last year was the first time in 10 years that we didn’t get there.
“That’s important leading up to the NCAA Tournament because you want to be a little more pristine, like three games in three days instead of four games in four days. It’s not the end of the world but that’s what you’re jockeying for.”
Purdue likely will need to win out beginning with its game versus the Buckeyes (17-11, 9-8 Big Ten) who are in a more dire situation. While Painter can talk about the NCAA Tournament with certainty, Ohio State is wobbling on the bubble.
A 74-57 setback at Iowa on Wednesday marked the first time the Buckeyes lost two straight games this season. It also left them with a 1-10 record against Quad 1 opponents.
Ohio State is in ninth place in the Big Ten, one game back of Iowa (10-7) for the double bye which goes to teams seeded five through eight.
In order for the Buckeyes to upset Purdue, they must get a full team effort. Playing without center Christoph Tilly (ankle) against Iowa — his status for Sunday’s game is unknown — the Buckeyes did not get much out of Bruce Thornton.
Thornton did not score in the first half, during which Ohio State found itself trailing 37-23 at intermission. His first points came with just over 12 minutes left in the game. He had 10 points, half his season average.
“He’s got to be aggressive, stay aggressive,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “We moved him around a little bit. I thought he passed up some opportunities in the first half to attack. Did a much better job getting the ball in the paint in the second half.”
The Buckeyes are looking for consistency but Diebler said that has been difficult because players have been in and out of the lineup due to injuries.
“We’ve got a little time now to have some great prep heading into our next game and hopefully we can get healthier and get some time to practice some of these lineups that we’re having to play,” he said.
Purdue’s Braden Smith, who has totaled 1,004 assists, needs four more to pass Long Island’s Jason Brickman for fourth on the NCAA all-time list.
“(Smith’s) a fabulous player. He’s great,” Painter said. “He’s put a lot of time into it and sacrificed a lot. Basketball’s an important piece in his life. I’m honored to coach him and he’s been great for us, fabulous, and done a lot for this university.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Austin looks to continue successful history against D.C. United
Feb 21, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; DC United forward Tai Baribo (9) in action against the Philadelphia Union at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Austin FC will look to continue their successful history against D.C. United and break into the win column when the sides square off on Sunday afternoon in Austin, Texas.
The Verde (0-0-1, 1 point) kicked off the 2026 season with a 2-2 draw at home with Minnesota United on Feb. 21. Austin got goals from Brendan Hines-Ike and Myrto Uzuni and an assist from their flash offseason signing Facundo Torres but gave up the tying goal in the 90th minute and settled for spitting the points.
“We just have played one game and I think we see a team already that is more vertical, that is more going forward,” Austin coach Nico Estevez said Thursday. “We don’t want to lose much time on building if it’s clear that we can be vertical, but we also use the building up to create the spaces in between the lines.
“We want to be a team that is fun to watch and a team that goes forward and wants to score goals, and this is the work that we keep doing.”
The Verde announced Friday that they have acquired forward Christian Ramirez from MLS waivers. Ramirez played last season with the LA Galaxy and started 10 of 25 games, scoring four goals and adding an assist.
Austin has won each of its three all-time meetings with D.C. United, most recently a 4-2 victory last season in the nation’s capital.
D.C. United began their campaign with a 1-0 win at home against the Philadelphia Union, with the game’s lone goal scored by Tai Baribo in the 23rd minute. Baribo signed with the Black and Red in the offseason after he played 2025 with the Union, which added insult to injury in the Week 1 victory.
D.C. coach Rene Weiler lauded his new scoring threat after the win.
“As a striker, you have to be decisive and he scored the goal, it was the decisive goal, so he did his job,” Weiler said. “It’s uncomfortable to play against him, so, it helps us a lot.”
Sean Johnson was sharp in his first competitive start in goal for D.C. United, producing three saves to earn a clean sheet, the 113th of his MLS career.
D.C. United finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2025 but are already off to a better start.
“We want to be unpredictable, so we played some diagonal balls and then we played some long balls,” Weiler said. “So that is an option to open the field.”
–Field Level Media
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