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Andrew Wiggins' Impressive First Workout a Sign of Big Things at Kansas

Tyler Conway — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:42:46 -0400

Never let it be said that Andrew Wiggins does not know how to make a proper arrival.

The nation's consensus top recruit and arguably the best prep basketball player since LeBron James made his first appearance on a Lawrence court since signing with Kansas on Monday. According to CBS Sports' Gary Parrish, the reports coming out of that workout were absolutely glowing.

"Wow!" a source said of Wiggins' performance. "Like watching a video game. He'd be the No. 1 pick this year."

Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv also got similar reports from a source:

Wiggins arrived at Kansas on Saturday, joining the remainder of the Jayhawks' brilliant six-man wrecking crew of a recruiting class. The 18-year-old wingman is the leader of a group that counts shooting guard Wayne Selden and center Joel Embiid as fellow elite names heading to Lawrence.

Bill Self's club is replacing its entire starting lineup this season, with Kansas' 2013-14 bunch likely boasting a Kentucky-like youth movement.

At the center of this rebuild is obviously Wiggins. Considered the No. 1 recruit in the nation by every major publication known to man, the Canadian-born Wiggins surprised some people with his decision to attend Kansas. He also considered Kentucky, Florida State and North Carolina, with the former two being the supposed leaders in the pack for much of the chase.

But since making his intentions known, Wiggins has put his best foot forward in ingratiating himself with the Jayhawks fanbase. Wiggins was able to arrive with the remainder of his teammates this weekend because he chose coming to Lawrence over participating with Team Canada's U19 team for next month's World Championships in Prague.

While that's not an uncommon sacrifice—most top prospects from the United States, including Jabari Parker, did not try out for the national team—Self was quick to praise his new star's decision, according to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

“I think it speaks volumes that he’s trying to get here as soon as he possibly can,” Self said.

The question remains: What does this all mean? What does Wiggins coming to Lawrence, impressing in a practice and forgoing his Team Canada efforts to do so mean in the long-term?

Absolutely nothing in a concrete sense. This was one practice. Having any reaction whatsoever to its result would be the latest in the overreaction theatre that will be the Andrew Wiggins Watch of 2013-14.

Every move this kid makes will be dissected. Every shot, every pass, every everything. Nothing—not even going to the movies or reading Shakespeare—will be sacred in covering this kid.

And while we can go all moralistic in this space and decry the whole process as corrupt—which we all should know it is by now—Wiggins is used to this attention by now. This is the deal that all notable athletes sign up for in this culture, even ones who are just barely old enough to buy tobacco products. Unless the Internet and all media platforms crawl in a hole and die, the overdone obsession with Wiggins' legacy won't stop until he becomes an NBA superstar or disappoints.

In a strange way, that's why Wiggins being impressive at his first workouts—and jarringly so at that—is actually important from a superficial sense.

There is always this overwhelming feeling in culture that first impressions are the most important. And that's especially the case for someone who is under such a microscope. We'll probably all brush these initial reports to the side within the next 12-24 hours because Wiggins is supposed to look good and this is one practice. There will probably be plenty of commenters on this site and others frustrated at the over-coverage and overreaction to an isolated incident.

And that's fine. But imagine the polar opposite scenario. Imagine a place where Wiggins comes into Lawrence looking a little overweight. Or where he comes equipped with an entourage so large that Vincent Chase would think it's excessive. Or any number of these weird scenarios you often see young stars fall into.

Now let's be clear in stating we pretty much knew none of that would happen. By all accounts, Wiggins is one of the more gracious and understated young stars of his kind in recent memory. He comes from a home that boasts a former NBA player (Mitchell Wiggins) and a former Olympic track and field silver medalist (Marita Payne-Wiggins). This kid is nothing if not fully prepared for everything the limelight provides.

That being said, it's just good to see a young man like this in action. For those who bleed Kansas colors, it has to be comforting to hear that Wiggins is not some overhyped media creation like so many former prep stars.

As someone who has watched hours of film on Wiggins, I can tell you that he's my favorite prep prospect since watching Kevin Durant play at Texas when I was still in high school. But to hear it from people inside the Kansas organization—that Wiggins is the best athlete they've ever been around when countless other stars have walked through Lawrence—that's certainly a good start for the youngster.

Of course, it will be nothing compared to seeing Wiggins throw down at this year's "Late Night in the Phog" on Oct. 4 or actually, you know, play in a real basketball game. But over these next four months, little steps like impressing during workouts and coming to Lawrence to get an early start with teammates will have to keep the coals burning on the Wiggins hype.

Will he ultimately translate that to on-the-court excellence? Who knows. But it's painfully obvious this kid is doing everything he can to make sure he does.

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Wisconsin Football Recruiting: Secondary Depth Takes Another Hit

Peter Raisch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:31:24 -0400

There are some alarms going off in the office of Bill Busch today. Busch, the secondary safeties coach for the Wisconsin Badgers, just saw another key piece of his 2013 depth chart disappear when safety JUCO commit Donnell Vercher was denied admission to Wisconsin. The reason for the denial is unknown, and Vercher is reportedly signing with Fresno State.

This news is even tougher to swallow after projected starter Reggie Mitchell bolted the Badgers before camp. In just two weeks, Busch's job went from tough to mission impossible.

So what now?

The most logical plan would be to build the secondary around rising star Dezmen Southward, and then pray. Michael Trotter and Michael Caputo make up the rest of the safeties with an ounce of game experience on the roster. Their combined four starts unfortunately revealed two players in desperate need for more field vision and maturity. Caputo notched 10 tackles while Trotter has 24 and a pass break up. A season can make a world of difference, though. Precious first team reps will most likely go to Trotter and Caputo as their backup status has been upgraded to projected starter.

The team still needs bodies at a position that was razor-thin to begin with. It starts with special teams stalwart Kyle Zuleger, who is switching to safety this season to help bolster the depth. Next, the Badgers are also embracing the philosophy of when a door closes on defense, a window opens on offense. That is why running back Jeffrey Lewis is rumored to be joining the other side of the line.

Safeties are normally the captains of the secondary, and a strong presence at the position will be especially needed as the Badgers change their defensive scheme to a 3-4. The loss of Vercher stings even more because he was described as a "ballhawk" which would have fit nicely in a defense predicated on the interception and forced fumble.

Great teams have to deal with unexpected personnel issues all the time. How Gary Andersen overcomes such a vacuum at such a critical position will be an early indicator on how creative (or how lucky) the new coach is.

Players That Contending Teams Hope Will Be Available at MLB Trade Deadline

Jason Martinez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:21:51 -0400

Earlier today, I named seven players guaranteed to be traded by the July 31st deadline. Not surprisingly, all seven will be free agents after the season and play on teams that aren't in playoff contention now and aren't expected to be a month from now.

On the flip side, there is an entire different group of players that might become available if their teams either fall out of the playoff race or fail to make a run to get back to within striking distance. Then there are the rebuilding teams, such as the Astros and Marlins, with valuable trade chips who are under team control for a few more seasons. Trading them could make sense if a particular organization feels that the return will help expedite the rebuilding process.

Which teams will be left standing as playoff contenders in late July is still to be determined, but it's likely that many of them will be asking about the availability of these six players in hopes of acquiring them for the stretch run and beyond.

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CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar Stands to Blow WWE Away This Summer

Bill Atkinson — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:15:30 -0400

The most anticipated program in WWE this year has been launched, and by the time SummerSlam rolls around in August, the WWE Universe could be emotionally and physically drained.

Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk. Two "Paul Heyman Guys" are suiting up and threatening to take wrestling fans on a ride this summer that will be more intense and thrilling than the fastest and highest roller coasters could ever provide.

At last Lesnar is going to start earning the money he thus far had been stealing from WWE thanks to his rather cushy contract. If you were to think of his battle with John Cena as a pre-banquet cocktail and his run with Triple H as the appetizer, then the upcoming program with Punk will be the dinner to end all dinners.

Why? Because finally Lesnar is crossing swords with someone who is as crazy and intense, if not crazier and more intense, as he is.

Right now, Punk is the only WWE Superstar whose crowd pop rivals that of fellow babyface Daniel Bryan. It’s really not fair to call it a crowd “pop” because it’s more of a crowd “explosion.”

Punk’s character is the gold standard of someone being over in WWE. Even during the last six months of his record WWE title run, a heel Punk still outdid any face reactions from the WWE Universe. Jet engines are not as loud as the cheers when “Cult of Personality” booms through the arena.

Punk takes any opponent to levels no one could comprehend. Look how he extended John Cena, The Rock and even The Undertaker. His match on Raw Monday night with Alberto Del Rio showed that the self-imposed hiatus did him a world of good.

Punk looks more fit and relaxed than he has in some time. He looks like a man ready to rumble.

You knew from the beginning of Raw Monday night that the end of the show would somehow involve Lesnar. As soon as Punk basically told Heyman to shove off, he practically opened the door for Lesnar to bust through.

And bust through he did. Right up to the ring and hit Punk with the F5.

With that, the first shot was fired across Punk's bow. And Punk is not the type of character to recoil in fear. Lesnar will have to answer for his actions, and that is where the fun really will begin.

And that is what Lesnar needs to begin justifying what WWE is paying him.

Since returning to WWE the night after WrestleMania 28, Lesnar has fought a grand total of four matches and has a winning percentage of .500. He lost to Cena at the 2012 Extreme Rules, but took two of three bouts with Triple H, winning at the 2012 SummerSlam and this year’s Extreme Rules but losing at WrestleMania 29.

His fight with Cena was a one-off at best. The trilogy with Triple H tried to recapture the intensity of the Ruthless Aggression era, but did not quite live up to the memory.

Now, WWE has apparently seen the light. Lesnar is picking a fight with a character whose history of rising to new highs and stooping to new lows is unmatched by anyone in the company. It has all the makings of an epic battle.

WWE seems to be ratcheting up the intensity of its product this summer with an amazing number of solid storylines—Daniel Bryan’s inferiority complex, the rise of The Shield, the coming of the Wyatt Family and the “retirement” of Mark Henry, to name a few.

The feud between CM Punk and Brock Lesnar will prove to be more than worthy to be the leader of that parade of stars.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

Michigan Football: Why WR Jeremy Gallon Could Be Wolverines' MVP in 2013

Adam Biggers — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:13:35 -0400

The Michigan Wolverines need an electrifying athlete to carry them through 2013—and Jeremy Gallon could be the one to deliver.

As a junior, Gallon led Michigan with nine catches, two scores and 145 receiving yards during its 33-28 Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina.

The impressive performance was his national debut.

Now a senior, Gallon’s experience makes him all the more valuable to coach Brady Hoke’s program. Along with Drew Dileo, Gallon is the Wolverines’ only veteran receiver with meaningful playing time on his resume.

The days of Denard Robinson streaking 50 yards down the field are a thing of the past. But Gallon has similar speed and elusiveness that will give defenses fits.

He’s not “Shoelace," but the Wolverines still have a highlight waiting to happen in Gallon, Michigan’s could-be MVP this fall.

Gallon is Ready to Explode This Fall

He’s only 5’8” and 185 pounds, but Gallon plays much bigger than his modest stature.

Michigan may rely more on the passing game this season, giving him ample opportunity to shine. He showcased his skills after Robinson was sidelined with an ulnar nerve injury against Nebraska, the eighth game of the year.

After the loss to the Huskers, Gallon went on a rampage. He caught 22 passes in Michigan’s final four Big Ten contests—he had 45 on the year. Where Michigan lacked in the big play department, Gallon provided.

Gallon caught four passes for 30 yards or better prior to the Outback Bowl. He averaged over 26 yards per grab in a 42-17 throttling of Iowa.

Along with Roy Roundtree, Gallon was key to the Wolverines’ aerial attack with six catches for a total of 67 yards in a season-ending, 26-21 loss to Ohio State.

He’s come through when he was needed most. Gallon is truly a go-to during crunch time.

Weapon X

Gallon isn’t just a great receiver; he’s also an outstanding punt returner. In 2011, he returned 19 kicks for 192 yards. He could easily help out in that area this fall.

The former 4-star Apopka High (Fla.) sensation was also useful in the backfield this past season; he racked up 67 rushing yards on 11 carries, including a long of 12.

As one of Michigan’s most versatile components, Gallon’s value in multiple areas is evident. He’s not the fastest guy on the field most of the time, nor is he the biggest or strongest. But he certainly poses a threat each and every time he touches the ball.

Gallon is Evolving

Not only has Gallon steadily increased production each season, but he’s also increased his leadership abilities.

Coach Hoke recently praised Gallon’s maturation, saying that he’s “continued to grow” (via Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press)—and that’s just as important as performing on the field.

Gallon finished 2012 with 829 receiving yards, the fourth-most in the Big Ten and most of any Wolverines wideout. Expecting him to have 1,000-yard season may be a bit much, but expecting him to at least equal his production from 2012 this coming fall isn’t out of the question.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs: Ray Allen Will Be Difference-Maker in Game 6

David Bessin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:12:49 -0400

The normally reserved Ray Allen’s reaction to Danny Green breaking his NBA Finals record of made three-pointers is a subtle sign that the sharpshooting guard has had enough of someone stealing his thunder.

When the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs take to the court in Game 6, expect the future Hall of Famer to make some noise.

Not that it ever wasn’t there. Allen has quietly seen his minutes increase during these finals and with it, his production.

Against the Spurs, Allen is sinking a blistering 65 percent of his shots, including 52 percent from three-point land, off the bench. While the Heat’s shooting efficiency has fluctuated over the last five games, Allen is one of the few that is consistently shooting well.

If the Heat want to match Green’s production, Allen has the best shot at doing it. While he may not be known as a defender, Miami needs consistent scoring over defense now that the series returns to South Beach and they have the home crowd backing them up.

Additionally, the Heat need to find a new way to win. San Antonio has proven they can adjust under head coach Gregg Popovich after each of their losses, and now it’s Miami’s turn. Not only do they have to bounce back, they must win two games in a row, something that hasn’t happened since mid-May.

Due to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s streaky shooting, head coach Erik Spoelstra could surprise the Spurs and give a few more shots to non-Big Three players. Again, Allen would thrive in this situation, as he is by far the best scoring option after the LeBron, Wade and Bosh.

Teammates such as Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem have failed to step up over the course of the finals. If anyone gets more touches, it’s Ray.

Don’t be surprised if Allen is a big reason the Heat win their second game while facing elimination in these playoffs.

Tiger Woods Won't Win Enough To Satisfy Doubters Until He Claims Major No. 15

Jesse Reed — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:12:22 -0400

It doesn't matter how well Tiger Woods plays during non-major tournaments any more.

Woods will forever be judged by how many majors he wins, and until he breaks his five-year majors drought, he'll never silence his doubters.

Really, it's Woods' own fault.

He's the one who declared his intentions from the start—he has always made surpassing Jack Nicklaus' 18 major championship titles his No. 1 goal and focus.

He then set a standard nobody (not even himself) could live up to by winning 14 majors in 12 years—including an insane run when he won five of six majors between the 1999 PGA Championship and 2001 Masters.

There was never anything wrong with his goal or the declaration. But now that it's been five years and counting since his last major championship victory, nobody cares that Woods has already won four tournaments in 2013 and seven in the past season-and-a-half.

The only thing that matters right now is that Woods was once again denied his chance to win major title No. 15. For every passing major that Tiger doesn't win, his goal seems to slip further and further from his grasp.

Of course, it certainly didn't help that Woods put together his worst career performance in a major this past weekend at the 2013 U.S. Open, as noted by ESPN's SportsCenter:

Heck, at this point, Woods could win the AT&T National in the final weekend of June by 10 strokes and people would still say, "Yeah, but how's he going to do at The Open Championship?"

Woods is judged by a different standard than any other golfer in the history of the sport. He set his own standard, and it's up to him to live up to it.

Up next for Woods is the 2013 British Open—also called The Open Championship—where he's won three titles. The last time Woods won the Claret Jug, however, was way back in 2006. Since then, he's been cut once and has posted two other finishes outside the top 10, having missed two (2008 and 2011).

Based on the way Woods has conquered all his other challenges throughout his career, it's hard to imagine him not eventually winning another major sometime in the near future.

Once Woods wins No. 15, nobody should be surprised to see him go on a run. At the age of 37, it's not inconceivable to imagine Woods could bounce back and beat Nicklaus' record before he turns 40.

In the meantime, however, his doubters have a lot of ammunition against him.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Will Kevin Garnett Spurn Rebuilding Boston Celtics, Retire Before Next Season?

Dan Favale — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:05:49 -0400

Kevin Garnett tried to flee the Boston Celtics to no avail, so he now has a decision to make. Does he endure the next year or two of an extensive rebuild or walk away from the NBA entirely?

Once Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe reported that trades talks between the Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers were dead, Garnett was instantly (and finally) thrust head-first into the transactional mayhem that was being waged from coast-to-coast.

Never mind believing that Garnett was innocent in all this. He's guilty as charged, the charge being passive, yet not-so-passive compliance.

Notice how he hasn't publicly come out and said anything. Absolutely nothing. No matter though, he doesn't need to. His silence is deafening.

Like Doc Rivers, Garnett wants out of Boston.

Memories from the last half-decade plus will be experiences he holds dear to his heart for the rest of his life. The championship in 2008, the NBA Finals loss in 2010 and the near upset of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals one year ago, he'll remember it all.

The problem is those experiences with the Celtics are now mementos of Garnett's past, remnants of a team that was. Those Celtics no longer exist; their goals are no longer attainable.

Some maimed version of the team could have still been fielded next season, the operative word here being "could." Boston was always one Danny-Ainge-change-of-heart away from giving it another go with Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Rivers.

Had Ainge not made it clear he would rather rebuild, things would have been different. Those Los Angeles rumors wouldn't have surfaced and Boston would have gone about business as usual.

Instead, Ainge decided it was time to do what he should have probably done earlier and begin a complex reclamation project. At the very least, he was more than open to starting from scratch. We have to believe that much. Rivers wouldn't have attempted to escape a city that became family over the last nine years if Ainge was hell-bent or even slightly amenable to giving this group another year, another chance.

So Garnett tried to leave via Rivers, suggesting that he still has plenty of basketball left in those veins of his, precious energy he would prefer not to expend with the Celtics.

That's where we're at: Garnett wants to return. He would have either been sipping mai-tais by the beach or taken the Jason Kidd route by lobbying to become the next head coach of the Clippers if he didn't. Had he wanted to retire, he would have retired.

He wants to continue to playing—with strings attached.

Simply playing just to play isn't on the 37-year-old's bucket list. Contention is what he's after 18 years into his professional career. Consenting to remain in Boston entails sacrificing his body and ambitions for a team that is unfit to take him where he wants to go.

Our carousel of thinking brings us back to retirement, the ultimate exit.

Walking away from the Celtics in conjunction with the league permits Garnett to leave with dignity. That was the whole point of this Clippers ordeal, was it not?

If the trigger had been pulled, Garnett would have left Boston involuntarily. Waiving his no-trade clause would have been explained as him submitting to the will of the Celtics.

Doc wanted him in Los Angeles, the Clippers wanted him in Los Angeles and the Celtics wanted him out of Boston for financial reasons. The NBA is a business. Sometimes it gets ugly and concessions need to be made.

That's how Garnett's decision would have been slung. Like he was was collateral damage or a victim of too many moving parts.

Some would have known better, understanding that his current lack of transparency couldn't be easier to see through if he were wrapped in cellophane. Others would be blinded by the things he had done, arguing that he deserved to play for a championship-caliber outfit.

Either lens you see it through is fine, so long as you know Garnett indeed wanted out. And for awhile, Doc, the Celtics and the Clippers seemed prepared to give him that out.

Then kaboom. Everything blew up once Donald Sterling realized money would be coming out of his pocket and Ainge got too greedy for Hollywood's taste.

Now there's only one immediate way out—retirement.

Forget about Garnett finishing out his contract or coming back for one more year with the Celtics. It's doubtful he can return to Boston after this, even if Rivers does.

If he did, all wouldn't be forgotten. Though he specifically wasn't portrayed as someone who was trying to leave, he tried to leave. Barring a blockbuster trade that suddenly makes the Celtics overwhelming contenders, there's no coming back from here.

There's no use believing Garnett is prepared to force his hand any further either. He wouldn't go near the mess that comes with a publicly coerced escape at this stage of his career with a 50-foot pole.

Recovering from the Minnesota Timberwolves debacle was possible; it was easy. Garnett was in his prime, capable of having an impact on a team that would culminate in a title. People tend to forget about an impure past when championships are being contended for and a title is being won.

Wherever Garnett goes next, there would still be a championship to be won. He wouldn't leave Boston if there wasn't. His window in which to win one won't be as wide open as it was when he left Minny, though. He had six years (and counting) left to contend. Now he has like two.

Which made Los Angeles the perfect situation.

Maybe he would have won a title, maybe he wouldn't have (go with wouldn't). With the Clippers it wouldn't have mattered because he would have left under the pretense that he decided to surrender to Boston's desire to rebuild without him. Who cares if the public didn't buy it as long as he could say it?

Similar luxuries aren't available to Garnett now. If he leaves Boston, it will be on his own accord; because he forced his way to another team or, more likely, retired. The latter is easier for his legacy as both a player and a Celtic.

There's always alternatives, of course. Garnett could return to the Celtics and play on, hoping his charismatic fearlessness and Hall of Fame credentials will win over the Boston faithful. That could still happen.

But it just wouldn't be the same.

Never again would he be the unadulterated savior the city believed him to be. Never again would he be beyond reproach. Everything would be different.

Assuming a carbon-copy to that of what almost went down between the Clippers and Celtics doesn't present itself, Garnett may return to Boston in an effort to sort through the chaos help. Or he might retire, going out as a Celtic just like he originally planned before there were any strings attached.

Put in that context, it's easy to understand Garnett has reached the point of no return, and that he's more likely to retire and salvage what's left of a deteriorating union than play another minute for the transitioning Celtics.

Follow @danfavale

Andy Murray's Wimbledon Chances Are Stronger Than They Have Ever Been

Devil in a New Dress — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:00:33 -0400

The two hottest players on grass courts at the moment also happen to be two members of the fabled Big Four in tennis: Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

Both Murray and Federer have been two sides of the same coin in some ways throughout 2013 so far. Where one has been up, the other has likely been down.

Federer, the older, more experienced campaigner of the two, has had a tepid, uninspiring, un-Big-Four-like 2013—the Swiss' first title of the year came just last week at Halle where his sternest tests were Tommy Haas and Mikhail Youzhny (Federer's win-loss record against those two stands at 26-3).

Andy Murray on the other hand—although classically thought of as the No. 4 of the Big Four—has performed like anything but the No. 4. The Scottish star has won three titles (including a Masters 1000 event and Queens in London) this year and was a finalist at the year's first major, the Australian Open.

The dynamics between the two—finalists at Wimbledon and the subsequent Olympics at the same venue last year—makes this season an interesting topic of conversation heading into Wimbledon.

At the Australian Open, Murray came out on top in a semifinal between the two—defeating Federer for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament on the way to a clash with Novak Djokovic.

At the French Open, where Murray was absent due to injury and would never have been favorite anyway over Djokovic or Rafael Nadal (so he had nothing to lose), Federer's submissive loss to Tsonga—not for the first time in a Grand Slam event—didn't change the balance.

Using the coin analogy, once again, Murray's position relative to Federer is better.

The question now is: What will happen at Wimbledon between the two? The trend is clear. It is also supported by their head to head. Murray leads Federer 11-8, but both guys are level at one each for matches played on grass.

The results so far in 2013 speak, but what is the message? Djokovic and Nadal have distinguished themselves from the pack and, in more ways than one, Andy Murray is doing so, too.

NBA Rumors: Complete Survey of Hottest Draft Buzz

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:56:21 -0400

With the 2013 NBA draft just over one week away, the basketball community is left wondering what could be. From the uncertainty surrounding the first overall draft choice to the unpredictable nature of the post-lottery selections, we're hearing it all.

Fortunately for you, we're here to collect all of the hottest draft buzz.

The rumor mill has been running rampant with reports and speculation, as every team has decisions to weigh. That ranges all the way from the first overall draft choice to No. 60 overall, which proves that this is one of the most unpredictable drafts in NBA history.

The question is, what might transpire?

Who Will Go No. 1?

One of the major reasons that this is such an unpredictable draft year is the uncertainty surrounding the first overall draft choice. While recent years have seen one transcendent talent become a virtual lock for the first pick, the 2013 draft class has yet to see a player emerge as a favorite.

According to Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a target in sight—it just isn't the player you expected.

A surprising turn of events, to say the least.

Chad Ford of ESPN Insider (subscription required) followed that report by stating that Alex Len is, in fact, the top choice in Cleveland. With that being said, he's not the only player in the running for the top pick, and it's hardly a sure thing at this point.

Numerous players are receiving last minute workouts.

Sources in Cleveland strongly suggest that the Cavs have yet to make their decision. Anthony Bennett, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter, Alex Len and Noel all have visits and/or workouts scheduled in Cleveland this week. Noel is scheduled to visit the team Thursday and has a chance to seal the deal as the No. 1 pick if he performs well.

Sources say Noel's strongest competition right now is Len, whom some in the organization favor because he, too, has size and defensive ability, but he's less raw and should be cleared to play much sooner than Noel.

In other words, it comes down to Nerlens Noel and Alex Len.

A key piece of information to monitor here is the fact that owner Dan Gilbert has placed pressure on general manager Chris Grant to win now. Despite possessing a young core with an absence of veteran leadership, the Cavaliers believe they can contend for the playoffs.

Not soon, though—now.

Could that make Len, the more NBA-ready player, the pick over Noel, the player viewed as a project? It certainly seems that way.

If not, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reports that the Cavaliers are considering Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore.

Oladipo, McLemore Battling for No. 2

If the drama at No. 1 doesn't do it for you, try the fact that the top two shooting guards in the draft are dueling it out to go No. 2. While the Orlando Magic have not yet made it clear whom they will select, both off-guards are in the running.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN Insider (subscription required), Victor Oladipo has the slight edge over Ben McLemore.

Indiana's Victor Oladipo and KU's Ben McLemore are widely seen as the two best fits in Orlando. While McLemore might have more pure upside, I continue to hear that Oladipo has the upper hand. McLemore was in Orlando last week, but according to multiple accounts, his workout wasn't terrific.

Their hyperbolic rivalry continues.

McLemore and Oladipo will be compared until their careers end, so this is the only rational way to begin. Not only do they play the same position, but they also put forth contrasting styles and similarly intriguing upside.

One way or another, we're going to learn whom the NBA deems as the better prospect—the start to all great rivalries.

Trades, International Players and Rising Draft Stocks

According to Chad Ford of ESPN Insider (subscription required), the Dallas Mavericks are leaning towards trading the No. 13 draft choice. This news comes after Dallas' top target, Croatian small forward Dario Saric, decided to withdraw from the draft.

Ford reports that when Dallas picks, it'll be selecting a player for another team in order to execute a trade.

Ford continues to relay rumors that Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lucas Nogueira, Sergey Karasev and Alex Abrines are all moving up draft boards. Adversely, Rudy Gobert is slipping, as teams are less enamored with his length upon evaluating his all-around game.

Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld reports that French big man Livio Jean-Charles has become a top draft-and-stash target for the San Antonio Spurs.

A weak draft class tends to open up the door for international players to see their draft stock rise, oftentimes without rhyme or reason.

With that being said, Jean-Charles is a player I've previously labeled as a star prospect. Nogueira and Antetokounmpo possess intriguing physical gifts, while Karasev and Abrines are skilled wing players.

There are no guarantees, and that has some teams thinking the international risks may pay off better than going for a domestic player who has yet to blow anyone away.

Robert Kraft and Jay-Z Look Like Best Buds at 40/40 Club Celebration

Gabe Zaldivar — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:55:06 -0400

I have no clue what Patriots owner Robert Kraft and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z were talking about on Monday night, but it must have been hilarious.

NESN caught some of the more intriguing images from a night of what we have to assume featured expensive drinks and even more expensive formal wear.

Here are the two laughing up a storm, via a tweet from Yahoo! Sports' Rand Getlin.

The two then took time away from cracking rich-guy jokes to chill out with their beautiful ladies. Here is the lovely looking crew, via the Tumblr Mr. and Mrs. Carter.

While Beyonce needs no introduction, some of you might be curious as to who Kraft has squired to what NESN reports was the 10th anniversary of Jay-Z's 40/40 club.

That is actress Ricki Noel Lander—who, The Boston Herald reported, was "pals" with the Patriots owner back in June of 2012—and she has enjoyed small roles in projects such as 2008's Iron Man and the HBO show True Blood.

As for Kraft, he seems to be rather taken with Jay-Z. He even offered up the iconic diamond hand gesture the rapper is famous for and once got Beyonce into a silly controversy.

Please enjoy the image via an NFL on FOX tweet.

Of course, this may just be the initial throes of a lasting friendship, because Jay-Z and his budding sports agency are on a roll.

The Washington Post's Norman Chad deliver exactly how wonderful life has been for the rap star turned entrepreneur:

Co-founder of Roc-a-Fella Records, founder of Roc Nation entertainment company, co-owner of the 40/40 Club sports bars and lounge, minority owner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, Jay-Z’s net worth is estimated at nearly $500 million.

The newly founded Roc Nation Sports counts "Major League Baseball’s Robinson Cano, the NBA’s Kevin Durant, the NFL’s Geno Smith and the WNBA’s Skylar Diggins" among its initial clients.

Now those smiling faces make a great deal more sense.

Life is pretty darn amazing for these two men, who were celebrating the success of a popular club while hanging out with wonderful women.

It doesn't get much better than that.

Hit me up on Twitter @gabezal

Offseason Moves Chicago Bulls Must Consider to Revamp Attack

Kelly Scaletta — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:49:40 -0400

For two years, the Chicago Bulls led the league in wins and were on the precipice of contending for a title. Then, last year, they fell to fifth in the East. What do they need to revamp their attack and get back to contender status?

They are coming off of a season that was both encouraging and discouraging at the same time. It was encouraging in the sense that the Bulls overachieved in spite of a plethora of injuries. It was discouraging in the sense that they had so many injuries to overcome.

Injuries are a problem the Bulls have had the last three seasons. Over that time, they’ve had their preferred starting five available for exactly 44 games. They’ve been missing two or more starters nearly twice as often, in 86 games.

In order for the Bulls to contend, they need to make the moves that will keep them out of the training room and on the court. Primarily that means getting players that coach Tom Thibodeau has sufficient confidence in to play. This will help him to keep from overplaying his starters.

Here are the moves the Bulls need to make this offseason to be a serious title favorite for 2014.

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College World Series 2013 Schedule: Viewing Guide and Predictions for CWS Action

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:46:37 -0400

After North Carolina knocked LSU out of the 2013 College World Series on Tuesday, six teams remain in the tournament.

The question is, who will advance to the Championship Series and win the national title?

There are two games slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, boasting some teams that have been rolling.

Here's my take on each game, as well as my prediction of who will advance to the Championship Series and be crowned.

*Complete bracket and schedule can be found at NCAA.com. Stats through June 17, via NCAA.com.

June 18

NC State vs. UCLA

When: 8 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

NC State opened up its trip to the 2013 College World Series with a vengeance, destroying in-state foe North Carolina, 8-1. The Wolfpack have won all six of their games in the tournament.

UCLA started off its CWS appearance with a 2-1 win over No. 4 LSU. The Bruins have won all six of their games in the tournament.

Something has to give.

While UCLA hasn't named its starter for Tuesday, NC State will start left-hander Logan Jernigan, according to Jeff Gravley of WRAL-TV.

Jernigan has posted a 1.19 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) this season. In the Wolfpack's 5-4 win over Rice in Game 2 of the Raleigh Super Regional, he allowed one run in five innings.

While UCLA's pitching has been great this year, the offense worries me a bit, especially against the left-hander. I expect NC State to scratch out enough runs to win this game.

Prediction: NC State wins

June 19

Indiana vs. Oregon State (3)

When: 8 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

Indiana lost its first game of the tournament on Monday against Mississippi State, 5-4. It was a thrilling game that could have gone either way.

Meanwhile, Oregon State blew out Louisville, 11-4.

Oregon State—ranked second in the country in ERA—has the pitching to quiet Indiana's bats, but Indiana's pitching isn't too shabby, either, ranked ninth in ERA. Indiana shut out Louisville in the College World Series, 2-0.

The way this tournament has been going, this is anybody's game, but I'm going to stick with Indiana, who I really liked headed into the CWS. Indiana's offense has consistently scored more throughout the season, ranked 12th in runs (Oregon State ranks 46th).

Prediction: Indiana wins

June 24-26 (Championship Series)

Indiana vs. NC State (Prediction)

When: 8 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

I expect to NC State to defeat UCLA on Tuesday, wait for UCLA to defeat North Carolina in the loser's bracket, and then defeat UCLA again to advance to the Championship Series.

I expect Indiana to defeat Oregon State on Wednesday, then go on to avenge its loss to Mississippi State to advance to the Championship Series.

In the Championship Series, I like Indiana over NC State in three games, due to the Hoosiers' advantage in pitching and offense.

Prediction: Indiana wins 2013 College World Series

Examining Miami Dolphins' Offseason and Key Preseason Positional Battles

Justin Onslow — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:44:45 -0400

In the NFL, building a winning franchise starts with the draft and continues through several years of smart free-agent acquisitions and salary cap management.

The Miami Dolphins have accelerated the process.

Miami has done a good job adding some youthful talent through the draft in recent years, but what the team did in free agency this offseason goes far beyond any of those efforts. As a result, the Dolphins will be in much better position to make a run at the AFC East title in 2013.

General manager Jeff Ireland wasn’t afraid to go after the players he wanted in free agency, starting with former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace.

Wallace, coming off four tremendous seasons with the Steelers, was arguably the biggest name on the free-agent market, and he cashed in on that status with a five-year, $60 million contract. While the 26-year-old didn’t live up to lofty expectations in 2012 (836 yards and eight touchdowns), he’s still one of the league’s best deep threats, always capable of blowing the top off opposing defenses.

Along with the addition of Wallace, Ireland also struck a new five-year, $31 million deal with the team’s leading receiver in 2012, Brian Hartline. The 26-year-old had a career year with the Dolphins last season in tallying 74 receptions for 1,083 yards, but recorded just one touchdown on the season. With Wallace in the fold, Hartline should garner a lot less attention from opposing defenses and could see a significant increase in red-zone production this season.

But the pair will have to share those targets with newly-acquired wide receiver Brandon Gibson and tight end Dustin Keller as well. Ireland brought in both players via free agency, adding to a receiving corps that is already a massive improvement over its 2012 incarnation. If second-year signal-caller Ryan Tannehill is to have a breakout season, those four players will be the biggest reason for it.

Ireland also went to work on the defensive side of the ball. With the acquisitions of linebackers Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe and cornerback Brent Grimes, the Dolphins also significantly improved their defense heading into the 2013 season.

We’ll delve a little deeper into additional free-agent dealings in the following slideshow, but suffice it to say the Dolphins added a lot more than they lost this offseason.

In the draft, Miami made a surprising decision in moving up to the No. 3 spot for Oregon linebacker Dion Jordan—a player many considered the best front-seven defender in the 2013 class. Jordan has the versatility to play several positions in Miami’s front seven, and at the very least he gives defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle plenty of options.

Let’s take a closer look at Miami’s draft class and various free-agent signings and departures, as well as a few positions to keep an eye on as the 2013 season draws near.

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6 Early Winners and Losers of the Carolina Panthers' Offseason

Stephen Fenech — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:40:34 -0400

With the NFL offseason drawing closer to its end, the Carolina Panthers have had some serious winners and losers. While it's always important to impress the coaching staff, playing time is not secured during mini-camps.

That isn't to say that a young player cannot show strides of improvement, but rather that they must demonstrate their progression once the regular season draws closer.

With concerns at wide receiver, along the offensive line and in the secondary, the Panthers need unproven players to step up this season. If the majority of Carolina's fringe players fail to make a difference, the Panthers will have an up-hill battle in regards to competing for a playoff berth this season.

This is the time to be optimistic, but the Panthers will need a few breaks in order to satiate the expectations of the fanbase.

Whether it was a strong performance at OTAs or an injury that is keeping a player on the sidelines, there have been plenty of intriguing storylines for Panthers fans.

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With Injuries Piling Up, Is Alex Rodriguez Now the Yankees' Savior?

Zachary D. Rymer — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:40:04 -0400

"Do you miss me now?"

I can't help but imagine that Alex Rodriguez is out there somewhere, saying that very thing with a wry smile on his face. He has to know that the New York Yankees are going through some hard times. Hard enough to cast a new light on his road back from a January hip operation.

The Yankees suddenly find themselves needing A-Rod, and their need for him may only get stronger before long.

In case you're just now crawling out from underneath a rock, Tuesday has been injury central in The Bronx. Yanks general manager Brian Cashman hinted to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com and other reporters on Monday that first baseman Mark Teixeira could end up back on the disabled list after aggravating his right wrist, and the club made the move official on Tuesday.

On top of that, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com has reported that third baseman Kevin Youkilis is also going on the DL, and that he's guaranteed to be out a while:

Given that he could be out as long as three months, Youk's season may have just come to an end. If so, there goes $12 million down the drain on a guy who played in 28 games and posted a .219/.305/.343 line with two home runs.

There's a chance that Teixeira's season could also be over. Cashman did not rule out the possibility of Teixeira needing season-ending surgery to repair his wrist, and B/R's Will Carroll wrote on Tuesday that Teixeira's situation appears to be headed in that direction.

If Teixeira does need to have surgery, it would cost him six months. That would mean another $23.125 million down the drain on a guy who hit .151/.270/.340 in 15 games.

Meanwhile, Cashman clarified to Jack Curry of the YES Network that, yeah, A-Rod is still on the club's radar:

Barring a swift conclusion to the Biogenesis scandal—and that's something we can safely do seeing as how MLB still has a case to build and a fight with the union to look forward to—Rodriguez's return will be happening pretty soon if all continues to go well in his recovery.

According to Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger, A-Rod was able to run the bases at a 75 percent effort over the weekend. McCullough also reported on Monday that Rodriguez was scheduled to face live pitching on Tuesday for the first time in his recovery.

With Youk out for the foreseeable future, the Yankees already have a glaring need for A-Rod at the hot corner. Unless Cashman bundles up all his best prospects and trades them for, say, Chase Headley, all the Yanks have now are their internal options: David Adams, Jayson Nix and Reid Brignac.

Their OPSs in 2013: .567, .631 and .247. Respectively, of course (he said with his tongue in his cheek and his eyes rolling).

You don't have to like A-Rod. In fact, I don't give a darn whether you hate his guts and never want to see him in pinstripes ever again. I'm not a big fan of the guy myself, truth be told.

But we can all join together and admit this: Heck, even a broken-down A-Rod can do better than that.

Think back to when A-Rod returned from a DL stint with a broken hand last September. He was all sorts of out of sorts, but he still managed a .710 OPS in 28 games. That's horrid by A-Rod standards, but far better than .567, .631 and .247.

Rodriguez was much better before he was done in by a Felix Hernandez fastball in July, posting an .806 OPS with 15 home runs in 94 games. The average third baseman posted a .754 OPS in 2012, according to Baseball-Reference.com. While he wasn't having a terrific year before he got hurt, Rodriguez was still easily above average.

If A-Rod returns to post an OPS over .800 down the stretch this year, people are either going to be celebrating wildly or hurling accusations of PED use at him. Whatever the case, production like that would be a huge surprise after such a long layoff from such a significant operation.

But a .775 OPS? According to FanGraphs, that's the Steamer projection for Rodriguez this season, and it comes with projections for a .338 wOBA and a 107 wRC+.

Numbers such as these have to be taken for what they're worth given the circumstances, but they would make A-Rod an above-average offensive producer. The league's third basemen have a .733 OPS this year. A wOBA of around .320 is typically average, and a 100 wRC+ is exactly average.

As much as the Yankees would prefer the old A-Rod at third base, they'd gladly take these numbers. Going from well below-average production at the hot corner to average or slightly above-average production wouldn't be much of an upgrade, but it would be an upgrade all the same.

Rodriguez's pending return is only going to increase in importance if Teixeira is lost for the season. That would leave the Yankees with a glaring hole to fill in the middle of their lineup, and Rodriguez would be a lesser of seemingly a dozen evils to fill said hole.

No, you ideally don't want to have a .775ish OPS guy batting third or fourth in your lineup, but this is another potential upgrade situation.

The Yankees' No. 3 hitters have posted a pedestrian .741 OPS this season. Their cleanup guys have only managed a .667 OPS, and the numbers don't get better as you move further down the line.

If Teixeira is lost for the season, I also wonder if the Yankees could consider Rodriguez as a part-time solution at first base. There's still some time for them to have A-Rod put in some work at first in his recovery, and playing him there upon his return would have its advantages.

For one, he'd provide more offense at first than Lyle Overbay. He was a steal through the first few weeks of the season, but has since come back down to earth with a .613 OPS in his last 28 games.

For two, stationing A-Rod at first would leave the door open for Adams to provide quality defense at third base. His bat has stunk, but the small-sample-size returns on his defense are pretty good. He has zero Defensive Runs Saved, according to FanGraphs, but a 2.9 UZR in only 149 innings at third.

Several months ago, we weren't supposed to be entertaining possibilities such as these when A-Rod's return would be looming. The Yankees were supposed to have Youk at third, Teixeira at first and solid numbers coming in from both. In that scenario, Rodriguez was either going to be a luxury or a shrug-worthy non-factor when he finally returned.

But ideal scenarios have a tendency to never work out in baseball, and the Yankees can tell you all about that. Youk's season might be over, Teixeira's season might be over soon, and now A-Rod's road back to The Bronx is anything but a non-story.

There's no chance of Rodriguez coming back and being his old great self. But in light of how much disaster has fallen on the Yankees in 2013, there's a very good chance of him coming back and being a very welcome addition.

I'll say for the umpteenth time: Baseball is weird like that.

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

Stanley Cup Final 2013: Is Game 4 a Must-Win for the Chicago Blackhawks?

Nicholas Goss — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:36:27 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks have responded well to adversity over the last few years, and this kind of experience in the NHL playoffs is one reason why the Original Six club was able to advance to the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins.

But after being shut out 2-0 in Monday's Game 3 as the Bruins took a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 to be played in Boston on Wednesday, this Blackhawks team is about to face its biggest challenge of the season.

A loss in Game 4 would put Chicago in a 3-1 hole and give Boston three opportunities to clinch the series.

The Blackhawks overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second round against the Detroit Red Wings, but the Bruins present more difficult challenges than Chicago's Central Division rival. The Red Wings were a strong opponent, but the Bruins have more depth, a better blue line and superior goaltending.

"I think they’re a little bit different team than Detroit was," said Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford. "They’re able to sit back and wait for us to collapse defensively. You can’t block everything. But, we made some plays, we had some good shots and had a couple of the chances that went just wide. We’ve got to keep playing hard."

The Blackhawks don't have many more chances to improve and win games before it's too late. They must come into Game 4 with the mindset that a team has when facing elimination.

"I don’t know, there’s time running out," said defenseman Duncan Keith. "We’ve got to get a goal. I think we just have to come out with a big game next game and find a way to get a win. We’ve been through some tough situations, but we know that we’ve got to have our best game of the year next game."

Completing a historic comeback down 3-1 is improbable for a number of reasons, the most notable one being the slim chance of the Blackhawks being able to beat Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask three consecutive times.

The 26-year-old leads the playoffs in wins (14), save percentage (.946), GAA (1.64), shutouts (three) and saves (617). In the Cup final, he has given up just one goal in his last two starts and became just the second goaltender to shut out the Blackhawks this season with his victory in Game 3. His shutout streak is currently at 122:26.

"He's been focused since day one of the playoffs. You watch him on off days, you watch him, he's quiet, focused, calm," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien after Game 2.

"Right now all his energy is put towards his game, how he needs to get his rest, relax. When the game starts, he's a focused individual. Like I said, I've never seen a guy so calm, obviously confident with the way he's played. Probably quietest I've seen him so far, but in a good way."

Beating Rask in three straight games is difficult in itself, but a defeat on Wednesday would also force the Blackhawks to win a game at TD Garden, a place where the Bruins are 8-2 in the playoffs and haven't given up a goal since the first period of Game 5 in the second round.

Boston has won six consecutive games on home ice, including four-straight victories in the Cup final at TD Garden dating back to 2011.

The Blackhawks need something to spark them and instill some confidence in the team, whether it's a power-play goal, a dominating period similar to the first 20 minutes of Game 2 or a moment of brilliance from Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane.

Chicago lacked energy on Monday and played without the level of intensity and determination expected from a team that was losing control of the series. This has to change for the momentum in the Cup final to shift back in the Blackhawks' favor.

The Bruins are playing with a ton of confidence and can almost taste their second Stanley Cup title in three years. This is a veteran team that understands the importance of Game 4 and what a win would mean for its chances of becoming champions.

Another Blackhawks loss would put them in an insurmountable hole, making Wednesday's matchup at TD Garden a must-win situation for the Original Six club. It's now or never for the Presidents' Trophy winners.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. He is also a credentialed writer at the 2013 Stanley Cup Final in Boston. All quotes obtained firsthand.

Heat vs Spurs NBA Finals Game 6: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis

Tristan Thornburgh — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:32:04 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs are one win away from securing their fifth NBA championship in franchise history.

They're also one loss away from facing a pressure-packed Game 7 on the road.

In a championship series where up is down, left is right and the only consistent contributor in a field of Hall of Famers is a D-League veteran three-point specialist (Danny Green), it's anyone's guess what will happen when the Spurs square off with the defending champion Miami Heat in Game 6 tonight.

If San Antonio hopes to avoid a winner-take-all scenario on Thursday night, it has to do something that neither team has been able to do all series: win consecutive games. The Spurs will surely have their work cut out for them considering the Heat haven't suffered back-to-back losses in more than five months.

As great as the pressure is for San Antonio, it is Miami that has everything to lose. LeBron James is averaging 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists in the postseason, but the one stat everyone is looking at is the 3-2 deficit his team faces in the finals. The next most notable stat might be his 2-of-11 shooting in the second half of Game 5.

Which Heat team will show up tonight? And which Spurs team?

Game 6 begins at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Aaron Hernandez Reportedly Questioned by Police in Homicide Investigation

Tyler Conway — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:30:54 -0400

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was reportedly questioned by North Attleboro, Mass., police on Monday as part of an ongoing investigation of a possible murder that took place near his home.

UPDATE: Tuesday, June 18, at 7:18 p.m. ET by Tyler Conway

Sports Illustrated's Greg Bedard is stationed outside of Hernandez's house, where police have executed a search warrant and two men left with police:

Bedard noted that the two men left with police:

However, The Sun Chronicle iterated the fact that the two men are not considered in custody:

Bedard also set the stage with a few other tweets:

---End of update---

A source close to the police investigation told Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel and Greg Bedard that Hernandez is not currently a suspect in the murder, but investigators are interested in searching the Patriots tight end's home.

Police reportedly developed an interest in questioning Hernandez after a rental car became an integral piece of evidence in the murder of a 27-year-old Boston man, whose body was found on Monday within a mile of Hernandez's home. It's unclear whether he was murdered in that location or dropped there.

David Linton of The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro first reported that police are looking into the rental of a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban with Rhode Island license plates, which investigators believe is connected to the murder.

Police are currently working with Enterprise, the vehicle's leaser, to dust the vehicle for fingerprints and check for other evidence. Thamel and Bedard's report notes that a source close to the investigation has said Hernandez's name is tied to the rental car. It's unclear whether Hernandez himself rented the car or not.

ABC News' Michele McPhee reported that the man murdered, who was unidentified as of publication, is an "associate" of Hernandez's. ABC News also found out that Hernandez has been uncooperative with police since the investigation began, while Thamel and Bedard have reported the New England tight end has consulted an attorney in the case.

Drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots in 2010, the 23-year-old Hernandez is considered one of the most promising young tight ends in the NFL. In 2011, his second pro season, he hauled in 79 receptions for 910 yards and seven touchdowns.

Struggling with injuries throughout last season, Hernandez was unable to maintain a similar level of production. He had 51 receptions for 483 yards and five touchdowns, while only playing in 10 games. Hernandez is currently recovering from shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready for Patriots training camp in July.

The Patriots organization has refrained from commenting on the investigation. A source close to Hernandez has confirmed that Hernandez did speak with investigators this week, but his representation refused to comment on the matter when contacted by Sports Illustrated.

A spokesperson for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office also declined to speak on the nature of the case.

NBA Trade Rumors: Breaking Down Buzzworthy Draft-Day Rumors

Steven Cook — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:30:53 -0400

Not every team is fully focused on making their respective selections off the draft board in the upcoming 2013 NBA draft, as there's been plenty of buzz about draft-day trades that could shape up the entire process.

There are many more questions than answers at this point leading up to the June 27 affair, but rumors have surfaced across the Association, and we're sure to see the draft order shaken up as the event progresses through its two rounds.

Let's break down the biggest draft-day rumors that would be sure to shake things up.

Cavaliers Still Mulling Trade Options

In a far-encompassing NBA draft update on the Cleveland Cavaliers' plans, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reported that the Cavs aren't sold in retaining their top overall pick:

Trading the top pick is another option the Cavs have explored, and they will likely continue to do so. They’ve also recently taken part in trade discussions involving “a viable” small forward, according to an FSO source.

Of course, this tidbit of information comes after Amico uses hundreds of words to break down all of the candidates for the top overall pick, like Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter, Ben McLemore and now even Alex Len.

Amico states that Cleveland is also looking into selling both of their second-round picks in order to move up with their No. 19 overall pick.

With so many viable options, the Cavs certainly have their work cut out for them in the coming week to figure out how they can best put a playoff-worthy team on the floor to surround budding star Kyrie Irving. It seems they're well into exploring those options.

Draft-Day Trade for Paul Pierce?

Say it ain't so! It's been a while, to say the least, since we've seen a Hall of Fame player traded on draft day, but it seems that is just what the Celtics have in the works.

This ESPN report from Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne primarily dissects late news regarding the potential Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett deal with the Clippers, but don't overlook this development:

"Pierce is not part of this trade, but sources say that the Clippers hatched this ambitious plan to acquire Rivers and Garnett with the intent from the start to land Pierce as well. The Celtics have until June 30 to either buy out Pierce for $5 million or guarantee him $15.3 million for next season, but it's believed that Boston wants to wait until the draft later this month to see if it can make a trade to get something for Pierce instead of just setting him free."

The 35-year-old has been the heart and soul of the C's ever since he's been there, and his departure from Boston certainly would mark the end of an era.

While there's no telling how likely a Pierce move to the Clippers would be if Rivers and KG don't end up there, per ESPN, the growing notion is that Boston is looking to shop its long-time hero.

Mavericks Shopping No. 13 Pick

In an interview with Dallas' own BaDD Radio on KTCK-AM 1310, per Dallas Morning News, Mavs owner Mark Cuban spoke candidly about his team's upcoming plans.

That largely hinged around their No. 13 overall pick in the draft, which Cuban had a quick, four-word affirmative answer of "that is the case" when asked if he wanted to trade their pick.

Though, he also admitted his team has a lot of different scenarios for the decision:

“We’ll look at taking future draft picks. We’ll look at moving down and getting multiple draft picks. We’ll look at trading for players that we think are good. There are a lot of opportunities.”

Per Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, sources have indicated that Dallas is certain to shop their pick in order to free up space for Dwight Howard.

Obviously, the Mavs will need to create some cap space to court the likes of a Howard, and making a move in the draft is a good way to do so. The 13th pick might not be a game-changer for any franchise, but it's the highest pick the Mavericks have had in more than a decade.

Certainly, Cuban's Mavericks will keep their options open, but to hear an owner proclaim so clearly that he's interested in trading his pick is surprising and only validates the growing notion that we'll see Dallas try to make a move with the 13th pick.

Every Top 25 Team's Biggest Recruiting Need in Class of 2014

Edwin Weathersby — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:29:53 -0400

Recruiting is the lifeblood for every college football program. Teams must replenish and restock their rosters with young talent every year to assure the program has depth to compete at a high level each season.

College rosters are hit hard every year with graduation, dismissals, academic issues, injuries and the draft. The best recruiting programs are led by staffs who recruit with the idea to fill future needs as determined by the future turnover on their roster.

As this 2014 recruiting cycle moves on, every team in the country has needs it must fill on the trail. Taking a look at Adam Kramer's post-spring top 25 rankings, the defending champion needs a left tackle and Chip Kelly left Mark Helfrich with low numbers at the defensive tackle position.

Begin Slideshow

Where LeBron James Ranks All-Time with and Without 2nd NBA Title

John Friel — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:13:21 -0400

Within the next 24 hours, we're going to find out what type of narratives are going to come into play over the next season for LeBron James.

If the Miami Heat lose: Is the 'Big Three' a complete and utter failure? Is LeBron going back to Cleveland? Is the career of Dwyane Wade over? Is Chris Bosh getting traded? Was the first championship just a fluke? LeBron James is not the world-defying, capable-of-jumping-over-buildings-in-a-single-bound champion.

But if he wins, what a resounding success the 'Big Three' is. The San Antonio Spurs are old, finished and have no chance for Game 7. LeBron James is the perennial champion we all expected him to become.

Tonight, the path that is the ongoing, historic and often-criticized legacy of LeBron begins to fork as the NBA world waits with bated breath to find out what type of player he reveals himself to be, again. Bearing just as much significance as the shots he took under pressure in last year's NBA Finals, and the one before that, this Game 6 tonight is going to redefine the career of James.

Is it really going to matter to anyone that the San Antonio Spurs had a once-in-a-lifetime series from the likes of Danny Green and Gary Neal if the Heat end up losing this? Will Dwyane Wade's poor performances in the first three games, as well as his defense on Green, take some of the attention? How about the team's overall lackadaisical and borderline imprudent play on both sides of the ball?

None of that is going to matter and the Spurs will get zero credit for stopping LeBron, because obviously it's LeBron's fault.

Even if Tim Duncan takes home his fifth NBA title, the stories for the summer are going to revolve around LeBron's legacy, not Duncan's as it should for a 37-year-old leading his team to a fifth NBA title since 1999.

Instead we'll be subject to stories about a 28-year-old, who turns 29 in late December, and how he can't get it done. How the spotlight is too bright for him, even though he's been to this stage four times in a career that's only ten years in. How he can't win with this stacked Heat team, even though he's been forced to carry his All-Star teammates and supporting cast for a majority of the postseason.

We also won't be able to realize that we'll be saying the same thing about LeBron year after year after year. He's going to be having legacy-defining games and postseasons until he can no longer be deemed as a capable primary option.

LeBron is going to be at this stage a number of times over the next few seasons, so get used to the world either constantly berating or defending him. 29-year-olds tend to have a few more years of quality basketball left in them, especially the ones that have already won four league MVP's.

It's all going to be on LeBron's shoulder no matter what, and for two reasons. One is because he's LeBron James and there's a far better narrative surrounding a moneymaker and ratings-drawer like LeBron, rather than the Heat as a whole.

Two, and most importantly, is that we are all extremely well aware that LeBron is capable of lifting entire teams on his back and carrying them to the finish line. He did it when he dropped 48 on the Detroit Pistons in 2007, as well as when he attempted to beat an entire Orlando Magic team by himself averaging nearly 40 points to along with 14 rebounds per.

But nothing rings closer to home than his Game 6 against the Boston Celtics in last year's Eastern Conference Finals. It was the most pressure-filled game of LeBron's career, considering his team was facing a closeout game in an environment they usually struggled in, and he responded with flying colors.

45 points. 15 rebounds. 5 assists. That's why people want to say this Game 6 tonight lies squarely on LeBron's shoulders. Because they know that he can put up preposterous numbers at any point, including in the games where his team needs him most. He is averaging over 31 points per game in possible closeouts over his career.

James already responded to one possible monumental defeat with a monstrous offensive and defensive performance in an easy Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Not only did James drop a cool 32 points, getting to the line 16 times, grab eight rebounds and dish out four assists, but he also held youthful phenom Paul George to a mere seven points on 2-of-9 shooting.

George would foul out after playing only 33 minutes. That's the influence of the terrifying LeBron we have all come to either love or loathe.

But we're still waiting for LeBron's Game 6. We're all waiting for those statlines that induce tears from the eyes and cause bile to well up in the throat of every critic that has told us that LeBron James has no clutch gene, or whatever those ESPN folks call it.

We're all just patiently waiting for the next 45-15-5 because we haven't seen it yet. While he's had such performances as that Game 7 against Indiana, the hair-raising eight minutes of basketball in Game 5 against Indiana and even most recently dropping 33 points on the Spurs in a Game 4 victory, but he still doesn't have that postseason-defining performance for this year.

LeBron had appeared to figure out something in that Game 4 vs San Antonio, but the other four games against San Antonio have been relatively poor. He was held to his three lowest scoring outputs of the postseason in the first three games of the Finals and was recently held to 36 percent shooting in the Game 5 loss, which was the fourth lowest shooting-percentage of his postseason.

This entire postseason hasn't gone as smoothly as so many anticipated. With a healthy Chris Bosh in tow, LeBron brimming with confidence and so many Heat shooters having shot well in the regular season, it was a legitimate argument to have Miami possibly displaying postseason dominance to the equivalent of the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers team that went 15-1.

Those plans fizzled when Miami lost a home-opener to an injury-depleted Chicago Bulls team. The Heat proceeded to struggle with that Bulls team in two of the next four games, all Heat wins, before setting their sights on an Indiana Pacers team they had defeated in six games the previous postseason without Bosh.

It took seven games for the Heat to defeat the Pacers, nearly dropping their first two at home if not for a game-winner at the buzzer by LeBron. And, no, that game-winner by LeBron in a Game 1 at home is not the stamp you put on the letter to convince the NBA community that James has had an incredible postseason run.

Because, at the moment at least, James has yet to have the defining moment of the postseason that's going to have us in 2023 saying, "Guys, remember when LeBron did such and such in that championship run where he and Miami beat San Antonio?"

Then again, as seen before with those examples of what people won't remember if LeBron loses, it's also the same scenario if Miami wins. If LeBron gets the ample help he needs from Bosh and Wade, the Heat play defense and Danny Green wakes up from this two-week long dream, then nobody will care how he wins.

All they want to see is the hardware at the end of the season and who has it. And unless Wade ends up having back-to-back 30-point games, the Finals MVP if the Heat win is going to end up in the hands of LeBron James.

Suddenly LeBron will have just as many Finals MVP awards as Kobe Bryant and as many championships as Wilt Chamberlain, arguably the greatest player in NBA history. By the end of the week, or possibly even a few hours from now, we will find out just where LeBron could possibly rank among the league's greatest to ever play, despite only playing a decade's worth of basketball.

He has two opportunities to prove that. Two home games. Isn't it something that the Heat are two home games away from a championship, yet we've already banished Miami and LeBron's entire career's work to the land of wind and ghosts? The knee-jerk is strong with this generation.

LeBron is going to need all the help he can get, in order to hold said hardware. Tom Haberstroh of ESPN recently put out an article openly questioning why LeBron's NBA Finals performances were so much lesser than his performances in other rounds. What we got from it was the idea of fatigue playing a factor:

"People forget because he won the title, but James' body shut down in last year's Finals."

"At the end of Game 4 against the Okalahoma City Thunder, James laid on the ground unable to get up under his own power. Midway through the fourth quarter, James had to be carried off the court because of a leg cramp, which seems minor. But it forced James to remove himself from crunch-time of an NBA Finals game."

"Many attributed James' 2011 collapse to something more psychological than physical, but here we are in the 2013 Finals and James still doesn't look like his normal, dominant self. He is missing shots in the lane that he normally hits. He is taking more jumpers than usual. His fast breaks are no longer automatic points. James is not pressuring the Spurs' defense as much as we expected, especially late in Game 5, and there are times when he's not sprinting back on defense when everyone else is."

Legitimate argument? Or an excuse? LeBron is forced to carry his teammates, playing on a constant carousel on defense as he defends everything from point guards to center and is usually the one who ends up having to facilitate on a consistent basis, in order for his team to look championship-caliber.

Haberstroh brings up an excellent point about LeBron collapsing in Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals, and needing the heroics of Mario Chalmers and Dwyane Wade to finish it off. That series also came in a shortened series where the Heat ended up playing 16 less regular season games than usual.

It also may be evident here that James is fatigued. Why else can he not work himself around the doughy Boris Diaw? Or doesn't have the lift to throw down slams on fastbreaks over guys like Danny Green? Or is having trouble against Tony Parker, even though he was a stalwart against the faster and more athletic Derrick Rose in 2011?

It's an interesting thought that will most likely be left on the cutting-room floor because, "Blah, blah, blah, narratives, LeBron can't take the pressure. It's all in his head. Should the Spurs rest their starters in a closeout game in the NBA Finals?"

This game, and the next one if it happens, are just two more legacy games to add to LeBron's always building and renovating resume. We expect nothing but perfection and out-of-this-world play in every game and when we don't get it, we're immediately left to name-calling and attempting to play scientist observing LeBron's DNA from a distance.

The problem with that, however, is this will be LeBron's third loss in four attempts, if Miami comes up short tonight, and that's going to somehow resonate during his Hall-of-Fame speech. Not the fact that he's been to the NBA Finals four times in ten years, but because he lost three of those, including one where he was on a poor Cleveland team.

We'll pick and prod his career until there's nothing left but the bones of what should be recognized as a lavish and exemplary ten-year journey being left to critics who will ask, "Why didn't this or that happen?" or state "He'll never be as good as Jordan or whomever else that had consistency from his teammates."

It's tough to rank him amongst the league's greatest because we're going to end up being in the same situation as next year. He'll either have one or two titles, there will be a career-defining game and you'll read the same redundant article with key words such as 'Legacy', 'Clutch' or 'Defining'.

I'm guilty of it. We're all guilty of it. We're all playing our own part in this wild ride of LeBron's career, whether we're outright criticizing him for not coming through and winning three consecutive championships already or we're defending him as a four-time MVP who just caught a lot of bad breaks in the Finals.

We'll find out which side we're on in a few hours.

WWE: John Cena, Welcome to Mark Henry's Hall of Pain!

Tony Dolemite — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:09:18 -0400

Mark Henry has more in the tank after all, like it or not. That's just it. Fans didn't like it when Henry introduced John Cena to his Hall of Pain this past Raw, they loved it. They cheered!

Well, that does not surprise me.

Anytime John Cena gets punked the way he did, the fans go nuts. I also believe it had to do with the fact that there are a huge number of Henry fans who would love to see him win it big. In an act that will live forever in wrestling infamy, Mark Henry reestablished his dominance and became a threat to the WWE Title.

He also gave an Emmy Award winning performance, I might add. Go figure.

Whether or not Henry wins the title at this stage of his career is debatable. You know as well as I do that you can never say never, especially where Vince McMahon is concerned. On a personal level, I think Henry would make an even better WWE Champion compared to his run as World Heavyweight Champion, if it's done the right way.

Now more than ever, WWE Creative has to stand back and let Henry be Henry—unleash the beast! Allow him to be the threat to John Cena's title reign the way it was meant to be.

That's the difference between Henry and Ryback. As badass as WWE Creative tried to make him out to be, Ryback always seemed like a fish out of water.

With as many defeats as he has suffered throug the last several months, it was never realistic to position him as a challenger to Cena. Had Ryback been handled differently he would be a lot further along. Though I do have my issues about how he has been handled, I hope Ryback's career can be salvaged.

But I digress.

This isn't about Ryback and it isn't so much about John Cena as much as it's about Mark Henry and his Hall of Pain, which has its share of inductees. Henry is on the upswing and is beyond ready: It's his time to shine. Who knows how many years Henry will be capable of continuing at the level he's on now.

Whatever happens, I hope when it's said and done, fans will be able to look back on this period of Henry's career and walk away satisfied that WWE Creative did not drop the ball on this one. He is the world's strongest man with an attitude, period.

Enough said!

Spurs vs. Heat Game 6: Keys to San Antonio Closing out Series

Richard Langford — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:09:17 -0400

The Spurs have two chances to close out the 2013 NBA Finals to earn the fifth title of the Gregg Popovich-Tim Duncan era. However, they shouldn't be content to let this series advance to a Game 7.

Even a team as talented and experienced as the Spurs doesn't want to play a Game 7 on the road against a team as talented as the Heat.

To avoid having to keep their talents in South Beach for another game, here is what San Antonio must do in Game 6.

Manu Must Maintain Hot Hand

Game 5 featured the rarest of 2013 occurrences: A Manu Ginobili sighting.

The 35-year-old scored a season-high 24 points and dished out 10 assists. This was a vast improvement over what the Spurs had been receiving from Manu. Check out his scoring chart in the finals:

Also, it's not like Manu was forcing shots to get 24. He was 8-for-14 from the field. This isn't just a good performance for the Argentinian in terms of this year, but for his career. As SI.com's Ben Golliver points out, his 57.1 percent shooting tied his career-playoff best.

Manu doesn't need to be quite that efficient in this game, but he needs to remain aggressive. His 14 shots were the most he's taken in these finals. This just doesn't lead to his own scoring, but it sets up his whole team.

When Manu is hitting from the outside, it makes it easier for him to get into the lane, and that is when he can wreak havoc on the Heat defense and make things easier for his teammates.

Be Aggressive Getting Into the Lane

As we just discussed, Manu's penetration helps set up the Spurs' offense. He can't be the only one working to get into the lane, though. Tony Parker is the master of this, and his penetration is always key to the Spurs.

San Antonio is wonderful at making the right pass and setting backscreens once they infiltrate the lane. This leads to quality open looks.

This job doesn't solely fall on the guards, either. Tim Duncan must be aggressive in his post ups, and any screener must look to get into the lane on pick-and-rolls.

While this will allow for some easy looks around the rim, it will also create open shots from the perimeter, which leads us to my last key.

Hit From the Perimeter

While Danny Green rightfully gets a ton of credit for the Spurs' Game 5 win by hitting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, the real key for the Spurs was their performance in the paint.

According to CBS' Royce Young, in Game 5 San Antonio netted 50 points in the paint. Parker alone went 10-for-14, and again according to Young, each of Parker's buckets came within nine feet.

While this will again be key, I fully expect the Heat to make guarding the paint more of a priority. This likely means more minutes for interior defender Chris Andersen and increased attention from all Heat defenders.

I don't expect the Heat to do this at the expense of wandering off Green—at least not anymore than they already have. This means the rest of the Spurs must connect from the outside to not only make Miami pay for leaving them open, but to stretch out the Heat's defense.

Clippers Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Must Get Better Return in Eric Bledsoe Trade

Rob Goldberg — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:07:54 -0400

Eric Bledsoe is an extremely talented young player, and the Los Angeles Clippers have to make sure they are not giving him up for nothing.

In three years in the NBA, the point guard has shown plenty of potential. Last season, he averaged 8.5 points, 3.1 assists and three rebounds per game. Unsurprisingly, he is much better when he starts.

When Chris Paul was out this year and Bledsoe was able to start at point guard, he averaged 14.2 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He also made 43.8 percent of three-point shots in the 12 games.

Although some could argue this is a small sample size, he has displayed his ability as a playmaker plenty of times when running the point. If he does get this opportunity to be a starter, he could be an All-Star.

The problem is that the Clippers already have an All-Star point guard in Paul. If the team is able to re-sign the free agent, there is little need to keep Bledsoe.

As a result, the organization has been actively shopping the point guard all around the league over the past week.

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel discussed the possibility of Bledsoe being shipped to the Orlando Magic along with Caron Butler in return for Arron Afflalo.

NESN reported that a trade for Danny Granger is also possible with the Indiana Pacers.

However, these are just the smaller swaps. The Clippers are also rumored to be involved in a few blockbuster trades that could take place over the next few weeks.

Talks with the Boston Celtics for coach Doc Rivers and power forward Kevin Garnett have centered on Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan, according to Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Of course, this deal appears to now be finished according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times:

Still, it is something that should not be counted out until everything is settled. These two teams are fully capable of resuming talks at any time.

Most recently, however, Bledsoe has been paired with Blake Griffin in a possible move to acquire Dwight Howard, according to Stein:

There are a lot of big names being discussed, although it still seems as though the Clippers are too eager to part with the youngster.

First, there is no guarantee that Paul will return to Los Angeles next season. He admitted to being angry at the organization following the firing of Vinny Del Negro. He also is being pursued by the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and others.

If Paul does not re-sign with the club, Bledsoe will be vital in maintaining the high level of success that the Clippers have enjoyed over the past few years.

On the other hand, there would be no problem in having an elite backup if Paul were to return.

Still, it makes sense for the Clippers to get some value in return for the talented player that can help immediately. However, none of these trades would be enough for a 23-year-old point guard who could be a star on his new team.

If Los Angeles plans on trading Bledsoe, the team better make sure it gets a game-changer in return who can help the squad contend for a championship next season. Otherwise, there would be no problem in keeping Bledsoe for another year.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.

Matt Harvey's Career-High Strikeout Game Inching Him Closer to Being the Best

Chris Stephens — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:05:11 -0400

Matt Harvey had the game of his life for seven innings on Tuesday. His 13-strikeout performance inches him closer to being the best in the National League.

The New York Mets ace threw seven frames, giving up three hits and three runs as New York beat the Atlanta Braves, 4-3.

I'm not ready to hand over the title "best" to Harvey just yet, as I think Adam Wainwright and Clayton Kershaw have something to say about that.

However, Harvey is continuing to show why Mets fans can't get enough of him.

He's 6-1 with a league-leading 115 strikeouts and a 2.16 ERA. Kershaw (1.84) and Shelby Miller (2.08) are the only ones with a better ERA than him.

There's a lot to be excited about for New York fans, especially considering the possibility of Harvey starting the All-Star Game.

All-Star Start

With the All-Star Game being at Citi Field, Mets fans are hoping that manager Bruce Bochy will pick Harvey to start the game.

Bruce Bochy: Matt Harvey being a Met would "play a part in his decision" for who starts the AS game at Citi #Mets #MLB @MLBNetworkRadio
— Casey Stern (@CaseyStern) June 18, 2013

For New York fans, that would be something to look forward to amid what has been a disappointing season thus far.

Harvey has managed to single-handedly pique the interest of the Mets faithful. An All-Star start would be the cherry on top.

And it's not as if he hasn't earned it.

The only thing Harvey is lacking in is wins, but then again, so is Kershaw, who only has five.

Patrick Corbin and Jordan Zimmermann could also make a claim for the starting spot, but at the rate the other three are pitching, it's highly unlikely.

Still Much to Learn

Harvey is no doubt having a great season, but it's way too early in his career to call him the best.

Hundreds of pitchers have begun their careers with excellent first years only to fall by the wayside.

The fact remains that Harvey has just started 25 games in his career. Over those starts, he's 9-6 with a 2.37 ERA and 185 strikeouts.

For him to become one of the best, he's going to have to continue to dominate in 2013 and beyond.

I'm not saying he won't, but I will continue to have reservations until there's more than one season's worth of starts on which he can be evaluated.

He could be the next Nolan Ryan, but he could also be the next Kerry Wood.

Heat vs. Spurs: San Antonio Will Finish Off Miami In Game 6 of NBA Finals

Jesse Reed — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:01:40 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs are poised to win a fifth NBA title heading into Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals with a 3-2 lead over the Miami Heat.

This series won't be heading to Game 7, as the Spurs will crush Miami's dream of repeating as champions on Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

After the game, there will be two narratives playing out:

Where does San Antonio rank amongst the all-time dynasties in NBA history with five titles since Tim Duncan arrived?
How will Miami retool this offseason to keep LeBron James in the long term after failing to win a title in two of three finals appearances?

Miami would appear to have a clear advantage in this contest. With a 37-4 record at home during the regular season and an 8-3 record there during the postseason, the Heat have been tough to defeat in front of their home crowd. Furthermore, Miami hasn't lost two games in a row since January.

But trends always come to an end, and the Spurs are ready to bury Miami's streak six feet under in Game 6.

Tony Parker and Gary Neal are significantly better than Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. Even with a gimpy leg, Parker has been able to maneuver at will into the paint to set up a scoring opportunity for himself or for one of his teammates.

It's Parker who has been the catalyst for San Antonio's incredible three-point barrage thus far. San Antonio has been able to spring Parker loose inside using simple pick-and-rolls on a regular basis. Once Miami's defenders start rotating, that's when the Spurs kick the passing game into high gear.

Danny Green, Manu Ginobili or Neal end up shooting wide-open perimeter shots that have been finding the net more often than not.

Speaking of Green, he's making three-point shots at a pace we've never before seen in an NBA Finals. He broke Ray Allen's record of 23 made three-pointers in a finals series in Game 5, as noted by ESPN's Numbers Never Lie:

With just five more made threes, Green will break Reggie Miller's all-time postseason record of 58, as ESPN's Jared Zwerling noted after Game 5:

Needless to say, Miami has been embarrassed by its lack of perimeter defense. When asked how Green had been consistently shooting open shots, Chris Bosh told David Aldridge, "He won't be open tonight."

So we know Miami will be making a point of guarding Green, but the shift will only make it easier for San Antonio to attack the interior of Miami's defense.

With a concerted effort at stopping the outside shot, Miami will unwittingly fall prey to the greater danger, which is the pick-and-roll game with Parker and Tim Duncan/Tiago Splitter.

It's something we've seen at times during this series when Miami has opted to keep a couple of defenders on the perimeter. Parker will penetrate, then dish out to one of the men outside while Duncan or Splitter dart into the lane.

With all the movement to guard the shooters outside, Duncan and Splitter have been able to score easy buckets inside as the shooters find them wide-open in the paint.

No matter what Miami does tonight, San Antonio will find a way to take advantage of the interior defense of the Heat. The biggest reason the Spurs have had so many open shots outside is because there isn't an enforcer inside.

Thus, James and Dwyane Wade have spent a lot of time in the paint to help Bosh.

Miami simply doesn't have an answer for Parker's penetration. One way or another—whether it's Green and the gang launching threes or Duncan and Splitter pounding the paint—San Antonio will win Game 6.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

FIFA 13: Thiago Alcantara, Isco and the Best Euro U-21 Squads on Ultimate Team

Nick Akerman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:47:44 -0400

Thiago Alcantara and Isco have fired Spain to the European Under-21 crown, and as any FIFA 13 fan knows, this will have a profound effect on the Ultimate Team market.

Many gamers will try their hardest to select an online side that features U-21 players, is enjoyable to use and possesses high chemistry (if you don't know what that means, head over here). While difficult, the task certainly isn't impossible.

Here are a few Ultimate Team squads that might tickle your fancy and are only made up from players who featured in Israel's recent tournament.

Begin Slideshow

Breaking Down the Future of Canadian International Basketball

C.J. Moore — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:46:03 -0400

On June 27, two Canadians could be called in the NBA Lottery—Anthony Bennett and Kelly Olynyk. In 2014, Canadian Andrew Wiggins is expected to be the first pick.

Once an afterthought in basketball, Canada is starting to produce some of the world's best talent, thanks in part to the NBA expanding to Canada in the mid-'90s and to relaxed immigration laws, which ESPN.com's Myron Metcalf wrote about last year.

The talent pool is getting so deep that Steve Nash, the national team's general manager, actually has real depth to work and mold a roster with.

As unreal as it would have been even 10 years ago, the Canadians could have an actual chance to medal in the 2016 Olympics for the first time since the first Olympics with basketball in 1936, when Canada lost to the United States in the gold-medal game. The Canadians have never finished better than sixth
place in the FIBA World Championships.

As you start to break down what Nash's roster could look like, the Canadians have a realistic shot next summer in Spain at making the world take notice.

Begin Slideshow

Kurt Busch: A NASCAR Driver Who Has Earned His Second Chance

Paul Carreau — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:44:54 -0400

By now, we are all familiar with the trials and tribulations of Kurt Busch.

He was the Sprint Cup Series Champion in 2004, and then there was his long-running feud with Jimmy Spencer. He notched at least one win every season from 2002 until 2011, and then there was his unceremonious parting with Penske Racing at the end of the 2011 season.

It is safe to say that Busch has seen all of the highs and lows of the sport he loves. But his career should begin to take a swing towards the up side once again, based on what he has accomplished over the last season and a third.

After his verbal tirade aimed at legendary NASCAR reporter Dr. Jerry Punch at the 2011 season finale at Homestead, team owner Roger Penske was through with the Kurt Busch soap opera, and decided to part ways with his star.

At this point, Busch was left scrounging for a ride for the upcoming 2012 season, as most of the rosters of the top team owners had already been filled, and the ones that hadn't been filled were leery to sign Busch, as he had become more of headache than he was seemingly worth.

This led Busch to Phoenix Racing, and its owner James Finch.

Finch and Busch worked out a deal for the 2012 season. There was no contract signed between the two, just a handshake and a gentlemen’s agreement. Busch wasn't allowed to quit, and Finch wouldn't fire him. It was as simple as that.

Expectations were low, as Finch fielded just the one car, and ran on very limited funds, but at the very least, Busch was still in the top NASCAR series.

Late in the season, it was announced that Busch would move on to Furniture Row Racing for the 2013 season. With Finch’s blessing, Busch ended up going to drive for his newest team for the final six races of the year.

Phoenix Racing finished that season 27th in owners points, which was the best in its history. And that was in large part to Busch. He gave Finch multiple top-10 finishes for just the fourth time in his team's history, and Busch's six lead lap finishes were the second-most for a James Finch driver in team history.

Driving for Furniture Row, Busch ended the 2012 season with three consecutive top-10 finishes, which was a first for the team.

That leads to 2013. Continuing to drive for the single car team based out of Denver, Colorado, Busch has been nothing short of impressive. Through 15 races Busch sits 20th in the point standings.

That ranks him within 20 points of Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who are all based out of multi-car teams, and are expected to contend for race wins and championships.

Furniture Row team owner Barney Visser sits 22nd in the owners points, which is two places higher than the team has ever finished a season.

Prior to his misfortunes at Michigan this past weekend, Busch was 15th in the driver standings, while Visser was 16th in the owner’s point standings.

Busch has scored five top-10 finishes, three of which resulted in top-5 finishes. He won the pole for the Southern 500 at Darlington, and has thus far led 145 laps on the season.

Prior to this season, Furniture Row Racing had only led a total of 48 laps in eight seasons since its inception as a team in 2005.

The only thing that Busch hasn't been able to do since his departure from Penske Racing is get back to victory lane, but he is inching his way closer.

He was up front all night long at Richmond, but had to settle for a ninth place finish, after a late race dust-up with both Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth.

Two weeks later he won the pole at Darlington and led the first 69 laps before seeing the handling of his car go away, and fading to just outside the top-10.

If not for a poor final pit stop, Busch appeared to be well on his way to winning this season’s All-Star Race, ultimately settling for a fifth-place finish. Then, to put a cap on the two week festivities in Charlotte, Busch posted a podium finish in the Coca Cola 600.

Busch has more than earned a second chance to drive for one of the top teams in the sport with his performances over the last season-plus.

More importantly, his attitude has seemed to improve. While he still can't boast a spotless off-track record, he is trying to say all of the right things during his interviews, and has remained upbeat, positive and complimentary all while driving less than top equipment, and after suffering his fair share of poor luck.

Busch has more than proven himself capable as a driver. As a person trying to repair his image, his efforts cannot go unnoticed. Now it is time for a top-tiered team owner to step up and give him the ride that he deserves.