Sports
Three NBA Trade Deadline Flops That Changed Nothing
Nov 22, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) passes the ball against the Washington Wizards during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The flurry of activity leading up to the NBA trade deadline was so dizzying at times, it was hard to catch your breath.
But now that the dust has settled on this year’s roster shuffling, there’s really only one conclusion to draw:
Man, we’re out of shape.
The Thunder went into the future-rescripting week as a prohibited favorite to win the NBA title, and that remains the same.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant watched their teams play Wednesday night as the final hours ticked down on moving day. And Friday, they’ll do the same thing — still stuck where they don’t want to be.
The Wizards and Jazz won the day. When’s the last time we were able to say that?
And will it really matter?
Make no mistake: In terms of landscape-changing impact, the NBA trade deadline fizzled again. Losers outnumbered winners in a landslide.
Here are my three biggest flops …
There’s No Defense for Celtics Blunder
Nov 22, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) reacts during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Amid talk of tanking the season, the Celtics have a really nice thing going this year. And just when you thought the only thing that could mess it up was the premature return of Jayson Tatum …
THEY DID WHAT?
Despite having lost key stoppers, the Celtics have become the best defensive team in the NBA. Led by Jaylen Brown, they bring it on the effort side of the court every night.
Neemias Queta has been a big part of that. He protects the rim and rebounds on one end, and pretty much stays out of the way on the other. You know, kinda like Robert Williams III did in the Celtics’ most recent run to the Finals.
Heck, even Luka Garza has proven useful, and now Amari Williams is playing an effective role.
Shockingly, without Tatum, this team might have played itself into the favorite’s role in the East.
But not anymore. Not with Nikola Vucevic anchoring the middle. And I do mean anchoring.
Yeah, he’s big, strong and puts up good numbers. Well, SOME good numbers.
Others are just big. As in his team’s perennial propensity to stockpile losses. And then there’s the scariest number of all: 1,607.
Care to guess what that is? Maybe if it were written as minus-1,607, you’d have a better clue.
That’s Vucevic’s career plus/minus in 15 seasons with the 76ers, Magic and Bulls.
Yeah, I know, those haven’t been great teams the past decade and a half. But they weren’t THAT bad.
In his 31,983 minutes, Vucevic’s teams have been 1,607 points worse off. Simply stated: When he plays, the opponent prospers.
It says here: He’s the worst defensive big man in the league. And now he’s going to be asked to chase Cade Cunningham on the perimeter when Brown gets screened time and time again?
You’ve got to be kidding.
The Twin Bridges To Nowhere
Nov 29, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) shoots the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) during the second quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Talk about a trade that really should have happened …
When New York acquired Mikal Bridges from the Nets at a heavy price in July of 2024, it seemed like a brilliant move. Tom Thibodeau was desperate for defensive athleticism on the wing, and few have more of that than the slender Bridges.
But things have changed in Gotham City. OG Anunoby now fills that role just fine, and the Knicks find themselves more in need of a heavyweight to be a bodyguard for Karl Anthony-Towns.
And “brother” Miles is much better suited for that.
Meanwhile, the Hornets have an entertaining thing going down in North Carolina. They’ve turned into a virtual track team seeking more sprinters and one fewer shot putter.
Mikal is that guy.
No, the Bridges boys are not related. But they really deserved to be interconnected this week.
Adding Miles would have made the Knicks a more serious contender. And bringing aboard Mikal would made the Hornets one of those teams to avoid in the playoffs — this year and moving forward.
It would have been a win-win that someone would have labeled the best brother trade in NBA history since the Gasols.
They’d be wrong. But no matter. It was the Bridges, both seeking happiness, who got wronged.
The Dukie of Hazzard Sequel
Even with a dynasty between the end of his playing career and today, many Warriors fans still consider Mike Dunleavy Jr. the franchise’s worst draft pick of all-time. And that includes Chris Washburn.
When he was brought back as GM, doomsayers predicted another decade of darkness. It appears they might be right.
Dunleavy was given a rather simple task about a year ago: Maximize the bring-back on a 22-year-old gazelle who already had demonstrated 20 points-per-game ability.
The 2025 deadline passed and no deal.
The 2025–26 off-season passed and no deal.
And now the 2026 deadline has passed and … Shockingly, the best Dunleavy could get for Jonathan Kuminga was a salary dump.
The goal for the Warriors at this deadline was two-fold:
Do something to enable to team to sneak into the 2026 playoffs and give Stephen Curry a chance to put on another of his must-see shows; and
Most importantly, turn Kuminga into someone who could, with Jimmy Butler III returning, help give Golden State a shot at one more title run next season.
Kristaps Porzingis does neither.
The human stiff is always hurt and has done more damage to franchises than help raise banners. Just ask the Knicks, Mavericks, Wizards, Celtics and now Hawks. All are counting their lucky stars that someone was dumb enough to take him off their hands.
And next year? The $30.7 million saved in Zinger’s expiring contract does nothing to help produce a championship, unless you consider it an addition by subtraction. The club will still be seriously capped.
The Warriors needed Morant, but Dunleavy jumped the gun a day early when the price was still coming down.
So instead of just a headache, they got the full-body torture.
Sports
Bucks get second chance against Clippers in same week
Mar 23, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives the ball while under pressure from Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Bucks will take on a familiar Western Conference opponent as they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon.
This is the sixth straight game for Milwaukee against a team from that conference, and they have lost four of five, including a blowout 129-96 loss to the Clippers on Monday. Overall Milwaukee has lost 13 of its past 16 contests, and the past four have all been by more than 30 points.
It’s also the second day of a back-to-back as the Bucks fell to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday 127-95. The loss officially eliminated Milwaukee (29-44) from postseason contention for the first time since 2016.
“It’s been disappointing, obviously. Since I’ve been here I haven’t had a healthy stretch, and it’s been key guys like Giannis, Dame,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said, referencing star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the departed Damian Lillard. “This year having only one star, every other team has two and three, we needed health, we were thin. It just didn’t go our way.”
Rivers added that the talk surrounding Antetokounmpo’s potential exit via trade “probably didn’t help either.”
Los Angeles (38-36) comes in off a thrilling 114-113 victory on the road in Indiana on Friday, the fourth straight victory for Los Angeles, which has qualified for at least the play-in tournament. Kawhi Leonard sealed the victory by knocking down a jumper with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock.
The shot came after a furious comeback as Los Angeles at one point trailed by 24 points. The Pacers were up 42-21 at the end of the first quarter.
That game-winner gave Leonard 28 points on the night but it was Darius Garland’s 30 that led Los Angeles. Bennedict Mathurin, previously with the Pacers, added 17.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue praised Leonard after the game.
“Get the ball in his hands at the end of the game and you got a great chance. (Kawhi) brought us home tonight,” Lue said. “We saw that Kawhi could come off, Ben made a good pass and Kawhi made a big shot.”
Leonard leads the team in four statistical categories, averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game. In 12 games as a member of the Clippers, Garland is averaging 21.8 points and 6.7 assists since being acquired in the trade that sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Antetokounmpo officially not qualifying for scoring leadership because of the number of games he has missed, Ryan Rollins leads the Bucks averaging 17.0 points and 4.6 assists per night.
On the injury front, the report is busy for the Bucks, who were without Antetokounmpo (knee), Kyle Kuzma (Achilles), Bobby Portis (wrist), Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) and Gary Harris (groin).
Rivers told reporters he would be “surprised” if Porter sees the floor again this season.
For Los Angeles, Isaiah Jackson (ankle) left the game on Friday and is listed as day-to-day.
In the Clippers’ blowout win over Milwaukee on Monday, it was Leonard who led with 28 points on 8-for-18 shooting. Brook Lopez and Kobe Sanders each added 19 while Gary Trent Jr. led Milwaukee with 20 points off the bench.
The Clippers have won two of the past three over Milwaukee after the Bucks previously won four in a row and swept two consecutive season series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tiger Woods’ Legacy at a Crossroads After Latest DUI Arrest
It is time to permanently take Tiger Woods off the pedestal.
Woods has often been given a pass for some of his miscues and personal failings, all because he used to be the best golfer on the planet.
Seven back surgeries and that major leg surgery have ensured that label will never again be the case.
That Tiger is long gone – like one of those prodigious drives he used to hit at Augusta.
We certainly can feel bad for the guy for having to endure that much physical pain.
In my view, having to undergo one back surgery would be one too many.
But Tiger is now 50 – and his latest DUI arrest displays he’s not acting that old.
Something about Tiger and vehicles just don’t mix.
Friday’s DUI arrest is No. 2 for Tiger and that’s not the type of thing you want to add on to.
His first one, in 2017, was also on Jupiter Island, Fla., and it was due to an abundance of prescription medications. Woods was found asleep in his car at 3:00 a.m. while it was on the road and the engine was running.
That’s a very, very bad DUI No. 1.
Since Woods didn’t have alcohol in his system on Friday, the assumption is that toxicology reports will again show heavy amounts of medication in his system.
Doctors and pharmacists are always quick to share with people how medications may affect them adversely.
The fact that Woods has had two of these incidents while driving vehicles is unacceptable. That’s putting a lot of innocent people in harm’s way in addition to himself.
That’s selfish, entitled and immature behavior. I guarantee you Woods didn’t only drive under the influence on just these two occasions.
Woods has been involved in two other car accidents, the worst being the one in 2021 near Los Angeles when he was reportedly going 80 miles per hour on a winding road.
He was badly hurt in the accident with the broken leg bone coming through the skin. He was quickly whisked into surgery.
That injury pretty much ended any chance of the formerly dominating Woods prowling on the golf course.
He famously won the Masters in 2019 after not winning a major for 11 years. It was his 15th major title. Everybody was on board that Woods could bottle up that performance and bring it out again at future majors.
But that ailing back wasn’t allowing Tiger to turn back the clock.
Who knew that the magnificent performance at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines was basically the top of the slope before the inevitable fall.
That five-day, 91-hole victory over Rocco Mediate when Woods played with two stress fractures in his left tibia was something to see up close.
Woods was often wincing after drives and other shots and somehow he kept pressing on. The birdie putt on 18 to force the playoff was amazing theater and a shot for the ages.
The following day, a Monday, Mediate was once again just one Woods’ missed putt away from winning his biggest title. Again, Woods knocked in the putt to force a 19th hole.
Tiger won the tournament on that next hole for his 14th career major at just age 32.
Two days later, Woods revealed he had played the tournament with a torn ACL in his left knee and would be undergoing reconstructive surgery.
Suddenly, a memorable performance became one of the best the sport has ever seen.
That Tiger, who wouldn’t submit to the pain and kept coming through to keep from losing is the one people want to remember.
They idolize the guy with five Green Jackets for winning the Masters, the dude who won four PGA Championships, three U.S. Opens and three Open Championships. The player who hunted people down on Sundays, the guy who hit amazing shots, the golfer who made tough putts look easy.
That’s the Woods people want in their image files, not a dude that is continually in the news for DUIs and other silly stuff.
That golfer we remember won’t be coming back. And entitlement only takes you so far.
We’ve reached that point. The pedestal no longer has room for Tiger to stand on it.
Sports
Cubs, Nationals conclude high-scoring series
Mar 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8), center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) and right fielder Matt Shaw (6) celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has delivered multiple hits in both of the team’s games to open the season.
As he aims to stay hot Sunday and help the Cubs to a series victory against the visiting Washington Nationals, Crow-Armstrong credits a confidence that stems from an exciting off-field development.
The Cubs this week announced a six-year, $115 million extension for Crow-Armstrong through the 2032 season.
“That’s the best part is knowing that I’m here, it’s where I wanted to be,” Crow-Armstrong said. “And I’m just glad that that idea could be created and made into some real thing, getting to be here for the next six years, knowing that I’m going to be somewhere is the coolest thing ever when it’s somewhere that I’ve really wanted to be for a long time.”
Crow Armstrong contributed two hits to Saturday’s 10-2 rout of Washington after collecting two others during Thursday’s 10-4 loss to the Nationals on Opening Day.
Chicago capitalized Saturday on the kind of formula that it hopes is a constant throughout the season: timely hitting and effective starting pitching.
Miguel Amaya hit a solo home run and Ian Happ belted a three-run blast as part of separate four-run rallies. Right-hander Cade Horton, meanwhile, allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Lefty Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73 ERA in 2025) gets the call for the Cubs on Sunday. After yielding 31 home runs in 25 starts last season, Imanaga hopes to limit the long ball moving forward. He struck out 13 batters in 9 2/3 innings over his last two spring starts.
Washington managed just one extra-base hit Saturday, as James Wood hit his first home run of the season leading off the fourth. Teammate CJ Abrams missed the game due to a death in the family.
Daylen Lile reached base twice, contributing a single and a walk.
Right-hander Jake Irvin (9-13, 5.70 ERA in 33 starts in 2025) is set to start for Washington. A durable option for the Nationals, Irvin has started 33 games and worked at least 180 innings in each of the past two seasons but pitched to a career-worst ERA in 2025.
As with the rest of the club’s starting rotation, Irvin figures to see a mix of catchers Drew Millas and Keibert Ruiz in the first few weeks of the season.
“I think it’ll be pretty close to even split, at least to start off,” first-year Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “Let those guys play themselves in or out of playing time, and then take it from there.
“But early on, want to keep both of those guys fresh, rotate them in and out pretty frequently.”
Irvin is seeking his first career victory against the Cubs, entering Sunday at 0-4 with a 9.70 ERA in five previous starts. He went 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in two starts versus Chicago last season.
Imanaga is 2-0 with 2.08 ERA in two career starts versus Washington with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings.
–Field Level Media
Bucks get second chance against Clippers in same week
Tiger Woods’ Legacy at a Crossroads After Latest DUI Arrest
