Bleacher Report - Front Page

What Nerlens Noel Should Shave Into His Fade on Draft Night

Jesse Dorsey — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:20:26 -0400

With Nerlens Noel being the guy everybody has their eye on as the 2013 NBA draft approaches, it's time to start thinking about that glorious head of hair and what he's going to do with it come draft night.

Aside from his incredible athleticism, his game-changing defense and that ACL in his left knee popped like a banjo string breaking in the middle of a hoedown, it's that high-top fade that exemplifies who he really is.

On the court, Nerlens is going to block shots, likely struggle a bit on offense, but generally change things for the better once he ends up working his way back from rehab.

Off the court, he's little more than a kid who watched The Fresh Prince of Bel Air as a young'un, and really like Will Smith.

Now it's time for Nerlens to get jiggy wit it in the NBA following a stellar season at Kentucky, with just a draft standing between him and a big, fat paycheck and the rest of his life.

However, before that all goes down, he's going to be expected to show up at the draft with something done to his hair.

Like a girl on prom night, people are going to be looking at, and talking about Noel's hair, and whatever he does to it will be big news.

It's something fun to talk about, and a neat quirk of a guy who seems poised to be around the league for a long time, so it's the start of his legacy.

When he announced that he would be going to Kentucky for his year of college, Noel had a big "UK" shaved into the back of his head.

That's definitely a route he could take again, but it seems a bit troublesome.

In order to get that done (something like the Cleveland Cavaliers logo above), he would have to know beforehand who was going to draft him.

That creates a big spoiler for us all, and what fun is that?

Otherwise, he would have to bring a barber with him and get something like a New Orleans Pelicans fleur-de-lis shaved into the back of his head on the spot.

That could end up looking sloppy and like he's trying to make the moment all about himself, rather than himself and the team that drafted him.

Instead, I would say go with something like this:

Take the NBA logo, the quick-stepping Jerry West and shave that bad boy into the back of his head beforehand.

Pay homage to the league, the rich history and West, while whichever team ends up drafting him accepts a big game-changer into the NBA.

Whatever he does, I'm just hoping that his barber ends up better than the one I've been to the poor guy.

Top Options for LA Clippers to Get No. 25 Pick Right in NBA Draft

Jeff Nisius — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:18:07 -0400

The Los Angeles Clippers own the 25th pick in the 2013 NBA draft and need to fill a few holes on their roster. Although this draft is not expected to be “star” heavy, there is plenty of talent available, especially later in the first round.

Considering the Clippers need shooting, big men and defenders, they should be able to fill at least one hole, assuming they keep their pick. There are potentially five players who could help the team not only in the future, but on opening night.

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Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Should Move Luis Suarez for Alvaro Morata

Ethan Grant — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Luis Suarez's exploits at Anfield have been well-documented. But as most stories do, the Suarez-Liverpool one looks poised to come to an end as the star striker continues to make headlines about interest in other clubs.

The club that continues to plague Liverpool—so much so that this report from Dominic King of the Daily Mail claims an ultimatum has been issued with respect to Suarez's transfer status—is Real Madrid, who offers Suarez a chance to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and a star-studded lineup next season.

Suarez has not been shy about his disgust for the English media and how much of an honor it would be to play with Los Blancos next season, despite the fact that he has a sizable amount of time left on his contract at Anfield.

As his quote in this LiveFootball tweet suggests, it's almost like he's trying to force Liverpool's hand by leveraging his comments against an inherent desire to leave England for good:

Liverpool finished well outside of contention for the Champions League next season, and Suarez has been the source of controversy for quite some time—he'll carry over a match ban from the FA after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic on the arm in a match late last season.

The Uruguayan striker is currently trying to get his side into contention at the 2013 Confederations Cup, but as things start to heat up with respect to whether or not it's time to fish or cut bait, it's worth noting that a new scenario has emerged in the Suarez leaving Liverpool saga.

And it involves one of Real Madrid's most promising young stars.

As the Mirror's David Maddock reported late Sunday, the main snag coming to light in any discussion (existent or not) about Suarez-to-Madrid hinges on the fact that the La Liga giants are balking at the idea of paying close to £40 million in a transfer fee.

It's not as if Suarez isn't worth a high-dollar investment—he had 23 goals in the Premier League for Liverpool and already has seven in eight games for his home nation as they try to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

He's even starring at the Confederations Cup, getting Uruguay's only goal in the 88th minute of their opening-match loss to Spain.

But Madrid have a large number of salaries on their ledger, and Suarez costing upwards to that mark would really limit flexibility moving forward. A solution? Send over Alvaro Morata.

The 20-year-old Spanish starlet has already gotten in 18 matches for Real Madrid so far in his career, and had a stellar run in the Spanish Segunda this year by scoring 11 goals in 12 matches while keeping the eye of talent scouts everywhere.

Liverpool would be wise to drop the transfer fee demands for Suarez, find a way to bring Morato to Anfield and leave the marred time of the Uruguayan striker behind for good as the next era of Brendan Rodgers football gets under way.

Morata, who is currently starring for Spain's European Championship U-21 team, has four goals in that tournament to vault the young side to the final of the tournament.

It's a win-win for both clubs—Madrid get a chip to help contend with the Lionel Messi-Neymar combination at Barcelona, and Liverpool get a chance to start over with what has been an up-and-down Suarez stay at Anfield.

As the ultimatum that came down Monday hopefully sheds some real light on what Liverpool are going to do with Suarez, this is a move that works for both sides and gives Liverpool a feeling that Morata can eventually replace the man moving to his current Spanish side.

Although Robbie Fowler feels Suarez is irreplaceable, as reported on by Liam Twomey of Goal.com, there comes a time when the drama isn't worth the consistent headaches that come with the clear success Suarez has had as a striker for the Reds.

His value is high, and although Los Blancos are trying to be coy about shelling out the money, they likely know it's worth it. By sending away a player who could certainly star in time, the future could be now for Real Madrid with plenty of European competition to follow next season.

We're a long way away from the Suarez situation being resolved, but by the time the Confederations Cup is over, we could officially know whether or not he'll be joining the club he's had such high praise for this summer.

Follow Ethan Grant (@DowntownEG) on Twitter.

Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Gonzalo Higuain Buzz a Promising Sign for Gunners

Steven Cook — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:00:01 -0400

The longtime dream of many Arsenal fans to bring in skilled Argentinian striker, Gonzalo Higuain, is closer to coming true, and that's a great sight to see for the Gunners heading into the summer transfer window.

According to Sami Mokbel of Daily Mail, Arsenal have been in deep talks with the 25-year-old's representatives and are prepared to make a £22 million bid to Real Madrid for his services.

Additionally, Mokbel states that Higuain "has privately agreed to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium this summer," and that Arsenal "are willing to make Higuain their top earner on around £150,000-per-week."

A £22 million deal would shatter the club's current transfer record of £15 million paid to Zenit St. Petersburg for Andrey Arshavin.

But perhaps that won't even be enough to woo Real Madrid, as Dion Dassanayake of the Daily Express reported that Arsenal have been told by Real president, Florentino Perez, that the offer must exceed £25.5 million.

It's unclear at this point whether Madrid will be willing to stoop to Arsenal's £22 million offer, but we do know that Juventus unsuccessfully offered £18 million for the prized striker, according to John Cross of the Daily Mirror.

But regardless of the numbers, the potential arrival of Higuain in the North London club should excite Gunners fans and breed hope for the future.

Too many people have forgotten about Higuain, largely due to him falling behind a long list of stars at Real Madrid. While you can certainly earn glory at a top-flight club like Madrid or Barcelona, all too often it ends up taking away playing time and exposure.

Higuain was able to emerge as the premier striker for Los Blancos at times during his career, but fell behind Karim Benzema as of late, provoking a move to another club where he could get the playing time he deserves.

The lethal Argentinian striker is still a world-class talent, and he's demonstrated it at the highest stage. And that's not only with La Liga, as he's proven to be one of Argentina's best players with 20 goals in 32 appearances.

His ability to create and find space, as well as accurate finishing ability, make him the prototypical striker candidate, and that's exactly what the Gunners need. With a handful of dangerous players to surround Higuain with, this move could turn into a game-changer in the Premier League next season.

For Arsenal, they spent the entire 2012-13 Premier League season attempting to insert a striker into their formation that would come close to replacing the production of recently-departed star Robin van Persie. Higuain may not be a new-age RVP, but he could be as good as it gets this transfer window.

It's been far too long since Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was able to bring in a household name to Emirates, and Higuain might be the closest thing they get to that.

Arsenal Transfer News: Club Must Fight to Keep Laurent Koscielny on Roster

Rob Goldberg — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:00:01 -0400

While Arsenal look to add talented pieces to the squad this summer, it will be just as important to make sure the players already on the roster do not go elsewhere.

The current focus from fans appears to be the incoming transfer of Gonzalo Higuain. David Hytner of the Guardian reported that Arsene Wenger is prepared to make a club-record bid for the forward, and it seems likely that a transfer will be completed at some point soon.

This moves will likely fortify the offense to create one of the best attacks in the English Premier League. However, it is important not to forget that the defense was a big reason that Arsenal were able earn a top-four finish this year.

In league play, only Manchester City allowed fewer goals during year than the Gunners. The solid play of the back line helped keep things steady as the relatively inexperienced forwards got acclimated to the EPL.

One of the biggest contributors of the defense was Laurent Koscielny, who started 20 matches in the Premier League, plus five more in the UEFA Champions League.

He also helped on the offensive end at times with four goals on the year, including this one against Newcastle:

Of course, the solid performance of the 27-year-old player did not go unnoticed. ESPN FC reports that the defender is a target for two of the top clubs in the world:

Although Koscielny has four years remaining on his current contract, he has warned that he is willing to leave for a better squad, according to Paul Collins of the Daily Mail:

I want to lift trophies and to have a winning record. I hope the club will give me the means. If this weren’t the case, I’d look elsewhere. I want to win titles and I hope the club have the means.

I feel good at Arsenal and if the club [can] compete with the best, I have no reason to leave. But if it fights every year for Champions League qualification it’s hard psychologically to be under such constant pressure.

With Barcelona or Bayern Munich, he certainly would not struggle to qualify for the UCL. Both squads are almost permanent fixtures in the contest and are contenders for the title virtually every year.

Still, Arsenal have the pieces in place to once again be at that level as well. In a down year with young players, they still were able to do well in the EPL while reaching the knockout stage of Champions League.

It is clear the future is bright, as long as they keep the right players in place.

ESPN's Dermot Corrigan reported that the club could get around £15 million for the player in a transfer. However, it would be more important to keep him around to compete in the future.

If Arsenal want to compete at a high level over the next few years, it will need an elite defense to stop the opposing attacks of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as that of Barcelona, Real Madrid and more.

Koscielny has the agility and intelligence to stick with the better players around the world and do his best to keep them off the scoreboard.

It would be wise for the club's hierarchy to do what is necessary to keep the talented player on the roster.

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

Manchester United Transfer News: Red Devils Should Forget About Marco van Ginkel

Richard Langford — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:00:00 -0400

Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel is a promising talent, but the Red Devils don't need to spend the time or resources on him. And there is no doubt it would take a little of both to land him.

As John Drayton of the Daily Mail reports, United and Chelsea are in pursuit of van Ginkel, and "United’s chief scout Jim Lawlor flew to the championship to watch the 20-year-old and the Red Devil’s (sic) interest is likely to start a bidding war from £15million."

The interest in the 20-year-old is not surprising.

Van Ginkel has been blossoming with Vitesse Arnhem. His eight goals were third on the team and were instrumental in Vitesse finishing fourth in the Eredivisie.

He has also been impressive on the international stage. He stood out at the Euro U21 Championships before his Dutch side was eliminated.

He is a complete player who can pass and shoot. He's also shown a wisdom in his game that goes beyond his years.

For these reasons, speculation about van Ginkel's future destination has been running rampant. This comes to us from ESPN: "van Ginkel has yet to decide where he will be playing his club football next season. [He] could be the subject of a transfer battle between Manchester United and Chelsea."

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail speculated his price could be around £15 million.

However, if a bidding war does ensue, there is no telling how high that price could go. Manchester United doesn't need to be a part of that process.

For the Red Devils, this would be more of a signing for the future and not the present.

While it is always wise to keep an eye on the future, the mighty Red Devils have the money and the prestige to land players in their prime, and that is what they need to focus on now.

And there are certainly rumors surrounding Manchester United and elite players.

For instance, Cesc Fabregas making the jump back to the EPL is not out of the question. Also, there is the continuing speculation that a certain player named Ronaldo could be returning to his former stomping grounds.

A bidding war with Chelsea for van Ginkel would distract from efforts like those just mentioned, and it is something that Man U would be wise to avoid.

Kevin Strootman Has His Heart Set On Premier League Move

Simon Edmonds — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:53:37 -0400

The Mirror's Joe Mewis is reporting that Manchester United transfer target Kevin Strootman wants to be playing Premier League football next season, according to the player's agent Chiel Dekker.

Strootman has been one of United's top targets for the best part of a year now, and this news will come as a welcome re-assurance for fans who are desperate to snap up the 23-year-old.

Dekker said:

He is focused on England because that would suit his style.

He has the physique, the character and the fitness for it.

I am certainly not afraid he could handle that level.

There's been a lot of hearsay surrounding Strootman for a while with very little actual backing for a potential transfer.

This revelation from Dekker doesn't change that, but it does indicate that the Dutch U-21 clearly has a move to England in mind, and with United showing such a keen interest for a lengthy period of time, it would make perfect sense for Strootman to try and align himself with the English champions.

Dekker has made it clear that if Kevin were to move away from his current club, PSV, it would have to be for big money and to a side of a higher pedigree.

From PSV it would have to be a step up to a good club.

It is not simple though because the price will be expensive and not many teams can afford him.

The clubs know what he can do now. It is up to them whether they want to reach an agreement with PSV and take him.

I'm sure that most people are aware by now that Strootman plays as a central midfielder and has been touted as a potential replacement for Paul Scholes.

In truth, United desperately need a player of Strootman's quality, and at such a tender age, he would be the perfect player to mold into the United style of play.

David Moyes is yet to make a move for the PSV man, but with the amount of attention that the club has paid to the young man, I would be shocked if United don't make an offer at some point in the coming months.

Watch this space.

Follow me on Twitter: @Eddie_Edmonds

Scottie Pippen Backs Derrick Rose's Decision to Delay Return

Zach Buckley — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:32:48 -0400

Derrick Rose might not have had all of Chicago supporting his decision to sit out the entire 2012-13 season while rehabbing from a torn ACL, but he can call at least one Windy City legend an ally.

Scottie Pippen, who played 12 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, said Rose had every right to stay away from the floor until he felt completely comfortable to return. And, despite what certain media reports suggested, Rose was the only one who could have made that call.

"I was kind of surprised people turned on him knowing the difficulty of Derrick's injury," Pippen said, via Scott Powers of ESPNChicago. "No one can justify what he's going through. No one can make his decision as to when to get back on the basketball court."

Pippen, who made seven All-Star Games and won six championships during his 17-year career, said the criticisms that Rose took may have been misguided:

As a player that has played this game, I know at the end of the day I've had numerous amount of surgeries, and the doctors released me at numerous amount of times to go and play. But a lot of those times didn't (they) didn't mean to and play against the best in the world right now, but to get yourself ready to compete again. Sometimes as a player, you're not there yet. The doctor can tell you the headache is gone, but he don't totally know that it is gone unless he can get in your head.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose began taking part in "full contact" practice in late January, leading some to speculate that the point guard would return to action near the All-Star break. That day came and went, then reports surfaced that Rose had been given medical clearance to play. More projected return dates popped up, but none proved correct.

When Chicago limped into the second round of the postseason with a hobbled roster of injured players and slightly less injured ones willing their way through each contest, the criticisms of Rose only heightened in intensity.

Pippen experienced the franchise's highest highs and knows better than anyone just where the standards have been set for this team. So he said that even though the anxious fanbase may not have had a perfect read of the situation, their impatience was at least understandable.

"Fans are demanding," he said. "They want to win. They want it now. If you have an injury, they want you back the next day."

The Bulls could have handled the situation better than they did. There's no good reason why Rose's medical clearance was ever linked to the media. His numerous public pregame workouts only fueled talks of his impending return.

The longer the situation dragged out, the more those talks to turned back on Rose. Fans wondered what else he needed to see before actually playing in a game, since both the team and the media seemed to place that decision solely on his shoulders.

Different things surfaced as the rumored final steps in the process.

Some said he was waiting until he could confidently dunk off of his left foot. Others said that the physical side of his recovery outpaced the mental portion, and that he'd never return until both were completely healed.

Looking beyond this one-year window, though, there was no reason to rush him back to the floor. The 24-year-old has already established himself as a special talent in this league. Don't forget he's just two years removed from becoming the youngest MVP winner in NBA history.

So while it may have been inspiring to watch him take a step into the unknown alongside his teammates who were clearly dealing with their own ailments, Rose wasn't willing to compromise his future just to serve as an emotional rallying point.

And he shouldn't have been. No player means more to the future of this franchise than the former MVP, so getting him back at 100 percent was always the top priority.

Now after excruciatingly long months of waiting, was it all worth it? If you believe what Thibodeau's saying (via Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago) about how Rose looks now, then the answer is an unequivocal yes:

Watching the way he's moving now, there's a confidence. [Reporters] may not have been able to see the total work he was putting in, but he was putting in an enormous amount of work each and every day. He just never got to the explosiveness that he was comfortable with. I think he's there now. He feels great, and that's the most important thing.

It wasn't always easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but Pippen promised it will be a brilliant sight to behold.

"I don't have any doubt," Pippen said. "Derrick is a very determined, hardworking player, so I don't have any doubt he will be back bigger and better as ever."

Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver Stock Watch

Charles Edwards — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:30:00 -0400

The Carolina Panthers will be taking a few weeks off before training camp convenes at the end of July. The offense will be counted on to be the team's strongest asset, which will only happen if the wide receivers step up. Many have suggested the Panthers needed to add a top receiver to complement Steve Smith, but the only additions have been the signings of Ted Ginn Jr. and Domenik Hixon.

While there still is a lot of time to make evaluations on the current crop of receivers in this year's camp, it's worth a look at the stock each one brings to the roster. Carolina will need to see these guys step up and give Cam Newton plenty of options during the season.

Here is a look at each wide receiver's stock and where they stand upon entering camp.

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Breaking Down Every Seattle Mariner's Odds of Being Moved at the Trade Deadline

Todd Pheifer — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:11:47 -0400

Should the Seattle Mariners make a deal at the trade deadline? Ah, the yearly question.

Are the Mariners “contenders” or “pretenders?” At the moment, that is pretty easy. Pretenders. In fact, it is fair to suggest that the Mariners are not even pretending. They are just mediocre.

Sure, there have been some great individual performances, but overall this squad just hasn’t put it together consistently throughout the season. Maybe they will get it together later in the summer, but that may be too late.

In the meantime, the trade deadline will start to loom on the horizon, and this team will need to make some decisions. Are they going to make trades for the future, and if so, will the future ever become the present?

With that in mind, here are the odds of each member of the Seattle Mariners getting traded at the deadline.

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The 4 Biggest Disappointments for the Giants so Far

Hope Schwartz — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:06:23 -0400

2013 was almost bound to be disappointing given the sky-high standards set by the 2012 World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Coming off of a postseason where everything came together—the rotation, bullpen, offense—the 2013 squad had high expectations. And with a lineup returning MVP Buster Posey, ace Matt Cain and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, the Giants were bursting with potential.

However, struggling starting pitching and periodically anemic offense left the Giants barely over .500 more than a third of the way into the season. The National League West as a whole has not done much better, and the Giants are in third place, 1.5 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Giants have managed to stay in contention, despite major disappointments from key players.

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Yasiel Puig Is Not Bo Jackson, There Will Never Be Another Bo

Art Eddy — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:06:22 -0400

It always happens, especially in sports. When a new phenom hits the bright lights at the pro level, the comparisons start up.

This rookie is a younger version of so-and-so.

Just wait, in a few years we will forget about what’s-his-name because of this newcomer.

This time the buzz from Los Angeles centers on Yasiel Puig, which it should. Puig is an amazing player to watch. He knocks the cover off the ball and has a cannon for an arm that makes runners think twice about advancing. Yet it seems he is getting linked to a handful of players, most notably Bo Jackson.

In spring training, Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly made the comparison of Puig to Jackson. Mattingly told L.A. Times writer Dylan Hernandez:

“I don’t think I’ve seen anybody do something like this. You don’t see this kind of package. This is a Bo Jackson-type package you just don’t see.”

When Mattingly uttered those words Jackson and Puig started to become linked. Even Puig got tired of hearing his named being associated with Bo. In this video, we see Yasiel being asked what he thought of the comparison—watch how he rolls his eyes as almost to say enough already.

Puig gets it and others should do the same. Yasiel is not going to play in the NFL. Puig did not win the Heisman or have a possible career in track and field. Bo Jackson did.

Managers, players and fans might see a resemblance of the two on the diamond, but that is where the similarities end.

Jackson was a freak of nature. He exceed expectations by playing at a consistently high level in both the NFL and Major League Baseball.

Even though his hip injury prevented him from ever playing in the NFL again, he still made his way back to baseball. He hit a home run in his first at-bat playing for the Chicago White Sox.

Jackson’s stories seem to be that of legends we read in books, but his tales actually happened. We sometimes exaggerate a player’s greatness. With Bo you couldn’t stretch the truth. He made the impossible come to life. It looked effortless for him, which made everything he did seem more unbelievable.

Puig will pack Dodger Stadium with fans wanting to catch a glimpse of him. He will continue to make laser type throws that will stun opposing teams. He will have games where he hits two or more home runs. He will do this and much more to keep us at the edge of our seats.

All I am saying is that when you say a player that is like Bo Jackson….Wait, let’s scratch that thought. It will never happen.

As sports fans, we are always looking to link the past or present to the future. We see it all the time. In the NFL we look to see who will be the next Peyton Manning. In the NBA people are trying to compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan. LeBron is a completely different player than MJ. It is like comparing apples to oranges. Why not just admire greatness without the need to compare one player to another?

I get it. This is part of human nature, but it seems to be played out. These comparisons come up too many times. We tend to put labels on players as soon as they enter the limelight. We set these high expectations on players before a full season is in the books. Don’t believe me? Remember “Baby Jordan?” I think his name was Harold something.

2013 Stanley Cup Final: Biggest Early Takeaways from Bruins vs. Blackhawks

Carol Schram — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:03:38 -0400

The daylight hours are long. The temperatures are warm and muggy. As the summer solstice looms on the horizon, the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs enter their seventh week and wind toward their conclusion.

Three games into the last round, the Boston Bruins lead the Chicago Blackhawks two games to one in a close series where every goal carries serious weight.

Now that these teams have become acquainted, here's a look at some early takeaways from the Stanley Cup Final so far.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com.

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Michigan Basketball: 5 Lessons Learned About Wolverines This Offseason

Zach Dirlam — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:58:28 -0400

The offseason may only be two months old, but we have already learned five lessons about the Michigan Wolverines basketball program. Just about all of them are positive.

Last season's Final Four run has a lot to do with the Wolverines' successful offseason. Two key players passed up millions for another year under the watchful eyes of head coach John Beilein. Others are hoping to bolster their draft stock during the 2013-14 campaign.

After two straight years of championship contention, another successful season appears to be on the horizon. The following lessons will help kick start it all.

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Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland Try Their Hand at Matchmaking

Trent Reinsmith — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:58:03 -0400

UFC 161 was originally set to feature an interim title bout as its main event. Interim UFC bantamweight champion, Renan Barao, was supposed to defend his title against Eddie Wineland, but a Barao foot injury forced that fight to be cancelled. Instead, fans watched Rashad Evans defeat Dan Henderson via split decision in the headlining bout of the June 15 fight card.

While Barao may not have been ready to fight this past Saturday, he feels he will be ready very soon. The interim champion recently took to twitter and let UFC president Dana White know that he was ready to get back in the Octagon:

Wineland responded to Barao’s tweet with an offer of his own, requesting the fight take place at UFC 164 in Milwaukee on August 31:

Following Wineland’s tweet, Barao replied that he didn’t care where the fight would take place:

The twitter exchange between Barao and Wineland was greeted by silence from the UFC. At least publically it was greeted with silence. The behind the scenes details may be a different animal.

One wild card in this is the fact that UFC bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz, is back to training:

Cruz has been on the shelf following two surgeries to repair a damaged ACL. The last time he defended his title was October 1, 2011, defeating Demetrious Johnson by unanimous decision.

If Cruz’s rehab is on point and his return seems imminent, the UFC may decide to book him against Barao in a unification bout. Opting not to book the Barao versus Wineland match would be better for this bout, as both fighters would be closer to full health and coming off full training camps.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for additional news on the top of the UFC’s bantamweight division.

Official USA Men's U19 World Championship Roster Finalized

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:55:06 -0400

The Team USA U19 roster has been determined, per USABasketball.com.

The roster includes Oklahoma State point guard Marcus Smart, Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes, Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon and top 2013 recruits Aaron Gordon (Arizona) and Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington).

Team USA U19 World Championship Roster

Player	Position	School
Michael Frazier	G	Florida
Aaron Gordon	F	Archbishop HS/Arizona
Jerami Grant	F	Syracuse
Montrezl Harrell	F	Louisville
Jahlil Okafor	C	Whitney Young HS
Elfrid Payton	G	Louisiana-Lafayette
Marcus Smart	G	Oklahoma State
Jarnell Stokes	F	Tennessee
Rasheed Sulaimon	G	Duke
Mike Tobey	F/C	Virginia
Nigel Williams-Goss	G/F	Findlay Prep/Washington
Justise Winslow	F	St. John's HS

Smart could have been a top-five pick if he would have declared for the NBA draft this year. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals in his freshman year at Oklahoma State. That included posting 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals against Oregon in the 2013 NCAA tournament.

Stokes averaged 12.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in his sophomore campaign at Tennessee. That includes registering 14 points and 13 rebounds against Mercer in the 2013 NIT tournament.

Sulaimon averaged 11.6 points while shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc in his freshman season at Duke. He posted a combined 37 points against Creighton and Michigan State in the NCAA tournament.

Gordon and Nigel Williams-Goss were ranked as the No. 4 and No. 34 recruits in the 2013 class, respectively, according to 247Sports.com.

In the FIBA U19 World Championship two years ago, Team USA finished fifth. That was after finishing first in 2009 and second in 2007. Team USA has won the World Championship four times, dating back to 1979.

The tournament will be hosted by the Czech Republic this year from June 27 to July 7. The United States is part of Group D, which includes China, Ivory Coast and Russia. Russia placed third in the tournament in 2011.

Stanley Cup Final 2013: All the Stars Aligning as Boston Bruins Seize Control

Nicholas Goss — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:49:28 -0400

We have seen the first significant momentum shift in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, with the Boston Bruins giving a complete 60-minute effort to take a 2-1 series lead following a convincing 2-0 victory in Game 3 Monday night.

Momentum is a difficult thing to capture and hold to in the postseason, where one goal, big hit or clutch save can alter the balance of a series.

Through three games, the Bruins have prevented the Blackhawks from seizing control of the series by excelling at the crucial, if not glamorous, aspects of the game—faceoffs, puck battles, special teams and blocking shots. Game 3 was a culmination of the Bruins' success in these areas.

The most distinct advantage the Bruins had Monday night was in the faceoff—an area they dominated during the regular season and have excelled at in the postseason with a league-best 56.1 percent success rate.

It's incredibly difficult to control the tempo of play and establish a rhythm offensively when a team is struggling in the faceoff dot. Winning draws has become a major problem for Chicago, which lost the faceoff battle, 40-16, Monday night (the most lopsided margin of the team's playoff run).

Blackhawks centers Michal Handzus, Dave Bolland and Marcus Kruger combined for a 3-22 record on faceoffs in Game 3. As for the Bruins, veteran centers Patrice Bergeron (24-4) and Chris Kelly (8-3) helped their team maintain puck possession and prevent the Blackhawks from using their speed and skill to generate scoring chances.

"Definitely something that we take a lot of pride in and we talk about a lot," said Bergeron of the team's faceoff success. "We have some really good centermen, so it’s not just about the four centers, it’s about everyone on the ice chipping in and helping to get those battles."

After three games, Boston now holds a 137-105 advantage in the category, which is something Chicago must turn around to pressure Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask more consistently.

"You can talk about (faceoffs) and our power play. Those were basically the differentials in the game," said Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville.

Speaking of the Blackhawks power play, this is another area that needs to improve for Chicago to have a chance. The Bruins lead the playoffs in plus/minus per 60 minutes at even strength (1.1), which helps show how important it is for the Blackhawks to capitalize on their power-play chances.

Chicago was 0-of-5 with the man advantage in Game 3, extending the team's power-play drought to 0-of-11 in the series.

"They box you out. They got big bodies. They blocked shots," said Quenneville when assessing Boston's penalty-killing strengths. "I think we had some chances to get some pucks through the net, we didn't. Our entries weren't great. That's something you want to look at."

Special teams will be a key factor for the remainder of the Cup final, and it's an area Boston has taken advantage of so far.

"I thought our special teams was huge tonight," said Bruins forward Tyler Seguin. "I think they have a lot of firepower up front especially, and our PK did a tremendous job tonight."

Team	PP	PK
Blackhawks	0-of-11	7-of-9
Bruins	2-of-9	11-of-11

Another key to watch out for in Game 5 is the battle between the last two Frank J. Selke Trophy winners: Jonathan Toews vs. Bergeron.

Toews has been completely shut down by his former Team Canada teammate (zero points through three games), who made a bit of history in Game 3, per Vin Masi of ESPN Stats & Info and Jeremy Lundblad of ESPN Boston:

"He's really patient and he's really good at reading the play. He always knows where everybody is," said Rask when asked about Bergeron's defensive performance.

"He knows when the guys are behind him and when they're in front of him. You know, he just makes the right reads all the time. Then when there's time to lay down or block a shot, he does that. He does a great job standing on his feet, too, and taking care of those passing lanes. He's got to be one of the best in the league for doing that."

Toews is his team's catalyst with his scoring, defense and leadership, but he's been virtually invisible of late. It's certainly possible he's playing with an injury, but there's no excuse for a player of his caliber to have one goal scored in 20 playoff games.

Winning the Stanley Cup requires teams to do all of the "little things" consistently. Right now, you have to give the edge in effort to the Bruins, who have usually been first to loose pucks, stronger in the dirty areas and along the boards, and better in the faceoff dot.

"We got to make sure that every play is critical, every shift is important, value being out there and doing the right thing," said Quenneville. "Managing the puck is kind of what we're talking about on those situations."

The Blackhawks have received great goaltending from Corey Crawford in the series. The Game 3 score would have been far more lopsided if not for Crawford's work in net. Crawford has a .940 save percentage in the Cup final, but his teammates are letting him down and not creating enough high-quality scoring chances against the stingy Boston defense.

Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, they are running out of time to correct their mistakes and turn the tide. A Game 4 loss Wednesday, of course, would force Chicago to win three consecutive games against a confident Bruins squad that is firing on all cylinders.

"Throughout a whole season, it's not easy to have that full commitment. But I think when you get to this stage, players start feeling it," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien. "They go above and beyond. That's what you're seeing from our team right now."

The Bruins are two wins away from winning a second Stanley Cup title in three years, but if there's one thing this team has learned this postseason, it's the importance of capitalizing and putting teams away when the opportunity strikes.

"You definitely get that extra tingle knowing you’re two games away, but you got to stay calm," said Seguin. "We’re going to enjoy this for the night. We know where we stand, but we know Chicago is going to come out much better next game."

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.

WWE Raw Results and Report Card 6/17/13: Mark Henry and a Night of Surprises

Ryan Dilbert — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:42:08 -0400

WWE hit right note after right note on Monday's WWE Raw, following up Payback with a number of surprises, returns and Mark Henry's teased retirement.

One of the better episodes in recent memory impressed from start to finish. WWE definitely knows how to maximize momentum after a pay-per-view.

The show featured a swerve, feuds new and continued, and Superstars shifting roles.

Thanks to Monday's events, the Money in the Bank card already has some intriguing options in the works. Alberto Del Rio made his heel turn official. Christian and Brock Lesnar came back. Henry pulled a Ric Flair and turned a fake retirement speech into a show-stealing performance.

Here are the segments and matches from the June 17 edition of WWE Raw, complete with kudos, analysis and grades.

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7 MLB Players Guaranteed to Be Dealt Before Trade Deadline

Jason Martinez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:41:58 -0400

There are currently only five MLB teams that are more than 10 games out of a playoff spot and more than a few examples of similar teams catching fire late in the season and returning to playoff contention.

On the other hand, most of these teams just aren't very good.

Some teams that are only a few games back are obviously not very good. While one can't completely eliminate them from playing meaningful baseball again for much longer, it's becoming clear which teams won't be "buyers" this July and will certainly be looking to trade any soon-to-be free agents on their roster.

Here are seven players I guarantee will be dealt by July 31, 2013.

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6 Ways You Know You Are a New York Jets Fan

Philip Schawillie — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:32:15 -0400

Do you want to prove you're a diehard New York Jets fan? Then stop talking about old news, whether it be Super Bowl III, butt fumbles or Mark Sanchez turnovers. The Jets have interesting tales to tell this year. Separate yourself from the crowd and check them out.

It's not that this content is new. However, the hubbub over stories like the quarterback competition, Mike Goodson's arrest and Woody Johnson's "truth, justice and the American way" reference obscures other people and stories that Jets fans should follow. It's time to take a look.

Most of what you'll find here is related to football or at least to sports. Some is not. In fact, one slide reveals a set of human tragedies independent of profession. You'll learn how one bad decision ended the NFL career dreams of two men and pushed one of them into more trouble.

If you make it from beginning to end of these slides and find nothing you didn't already know, congratulations! You know you're a true Jets fan.

Player statistics not otherwise credited come from Pro-Football-Reference.com.

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A New Era of Parity: How the Field Caught Up to Tiger, Rory and Phil

James McMahon — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:22:48 -0400

Tiger Woods is still the best player in the world by a good margin, but that superiority hasn't translated into a major victory in a half decade.

Phil Mickelson hasn't won a major in more than two years and has only two in the past seven. A bright future is ahead of Rory McIlroy, but the young star expected to assume the mantle of top golfer is struggling through an extended swing change hangover.

With those three struggling, the opportunity for breakthrough performances both from new faces and golfers coming into their own is making the current landscape of professional golf one of the most competitive and unpredictable since the late 1990s.

It may also be the early stages of the end of the Woods-Mickelson era and the beginning of one that will certainly be highlighted—but not necessarily dominated—by McIlroy, as so many recently believed.

In an 11-year stretch from 1997 to 2008, Woods won an unheard-of 14 major championships. No golfer before him in the modern era won majors at that kind of clip; not Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer or Ben Hogan.

During that same run, Mickelson captured three majors of his own, added a fourth in 2010 and was undoubtedly the second-best golfer in the world for a decade. With a pair of major victories in 2011 and 2012, McIlroy emerged as the heir apparent to the Woods-Mickelson dominance.

Yet the talk of professional golf is no longer limited to these three golfers, as their extended and recent struggles have opened the door for others to not only win major championships, but to be considered among the game’s elite.

Through that door have come the likes of recently-minted U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, reigning Masters champion Adam Scott, former World No. 1 Luke Donald and 2012 green jacket winner Bubba Watson, to name just a few.

Call it perfect timing or maybe just a stroke of luck, but the game has a number of talented, enigmatic and poised-to-pop golfers who are heading into their prime just as questions persist around the game’s long-toothed leaders’ ability to win and dominate the way they once had.

It’s true that parity in professional golf has been around in good measure since Woods stopped winning majors after his injury-plagued triumph at Torrey Pines in 2008. In fact, since that victory—a span of 20 major championships—only McIlroy and fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington have won more than one major.

That means since the 2008 U.S. Open we have seen 18 different winners, and only four of those—Mickelson, Harrington, Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera—owned a major title before a torn ACL and personal turmoil ended Tiger’s reign of dominance.

Even with Woods out of the mix, Mickelson has sputtered over the past several years, at least as it pertains to majors. Since Woods’ last major victory, Mickelson has managed only one himself—the 2010 Masters—and hasn't threatened as much as people might think.

Yes, many golfers have won majors since Woods abruptly stopped doing it five years ago, but it felt more like those golfers were holding Tiger’s place rather than plotting to take it. Victories by Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink and Darren Clarke were great theater, but no one thought those golfers would ascend much beyond those singular accomplishments.

That said, there’s something different about what we have seen over the past year-and-a-half, culminating with this past weekend’s U.S. Open. There’s something special about the golfers who are starting to break through, creating a feeling that a new elite group is arriving to join McIlroy as the future of professional golf.

During their prime, Woods and Mickelson were just better than the great golfers that challenge them. There was Els, Davis Love III, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and David Duval just to name a few. Those players had great talent, and several of them won majors, but it just seemed that when Woods and Mickelson were at their best, it wasn't a fair fight.

That mystique, especially as it pertains to Woods, isn't there any longer. At the 2009 PGA Championship, Woods lost a major for the first time after leading through 36 holes. In 2012, he twice led majors after 36 holes, only to become a nonfactor after 54.

The decline in dominance has coincided perfectly with the evolution of a new powerful, confident and tested cadre of golfers such as Scott, Rose, Donald and Bradley.

They are neither afraid nor intimidated by the world’s best players because they've been emulating them and are chomping at the bit to compete against them.

The generation of golfers that came up with Woods and Mickelson didn't have the opportunity to study them and adopt their traits. The generation that’s coming at them now did, so the battlefield is more even.

That arriving reality was on full display Sunday when at least a dozen golfers without a major championship were in the hunt when the final round began—and a handful of those, including Rose and co-runner-up Jason Day, were right there when the matter was decided late in the afternoon.

Most agree the sky’s the limit for the likes of recent major winners Scott, Rose, Watson, Keegan Bradley, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen. The same can be said for the likes of near-miss major contenders Jason Day, Luke Donald and Billy Horschel. It just feels different with this crop of contenders than it did a couple years ago.

It feels like a changing of the guard taking place before our very eyes.

No, Woods and Mickelson will not go easily into the night. Yes, McIlroy will figure things out and eventually head the class of major winners for years to come.

That said, for the first time in a long time, the golfers chasing the game’s elite will have as much to say about winning or losing as Woods, Mickelson and McIlroy do. Their talent and poise is equal. Their determination and maturity the same.

It’s a new day in golf—and it’s going to be exciting to watch it play out.

Stanley Cup Final 2013: Lifeless Chicago Blackhawks in Big Trouble in Boston

Steve Silverman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:20:27 -0400

The bad news started for the Chicago Blackhawks even before the first puck was dropped

Marian Hossa was not able to play as a result of an upper-body injury. It was first reported that Hossa was injured in the pregame warm-up, but that was refuted by Jonathan Toews and head coach Joel Quenneville.

No matter when the injury occurred, it seemed as if the entire team slumped with the news that the dangerous Hossa couldn't play. The result was a much-too-easy 2-0 victory for Boston and a 2-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final for the Blackhawks.

Once the puck dropped, the Boston Bruins set the pace, and the Blackhawks were forced to counterpunch. They were not very effective in that area. When the Blackhawks had control of the puck in the offensive zone, they rarely tested Tuukka Rask. Most of their best chances were shots that went wide or were blocked by the Boston defense.

#Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville on #Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask: "Tonight I thought we made it rather easy on him."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) June 18, 2013

After the first period, it seemed that it was just a matter of time before the Bruins seized control of the game. Daniel Paille, the hero of Game 2 for the Bruins with a game-winning goal in overtime, put the Bruins on the board again early in the second period.

Corey Crawford had made a brilliant glove save on a wrister from Tyler Seguin, and Chris Kelly got his stick on the rebound. While he could not control the puck, he kept the Blackhawks from getting possession. The speedy Paille wheeled around from behind the net, took possession of the puck and he fired it past Crawford's glove.

That goal meant that the Blackhawks would need one of their stars to step forward.

Patrick Sharp, the only Blackhawk to score a goal in the past two games, was buzzing around the TD Garden ice and was looking for shooting opportunities and open teammates. He found little of either. Sharp had two shots on Rask, but he rarely found open teammates.

Toews, the captain who has scored just one goal in the postseason, fired five shots, but most of them were from a distance and none of them caused much difficulty for Rask. Patrick Kane put his speed on display—primarily in the third period—and he ended up with four shots.

Quenneville knows his team can play better, but he credited the Bruins for making it tough on the Blackhawks.

"They box you out," Quenneville said in the postgame press conference, via Corey Masisak of NHL.com. "They've got big bodies. They blocked shots. I think we had some chances to get some pucks through the net, we didn't. Our entries weren't great. That's something you want to look at. "

The Blackhawks simply made the game far too easy for the hosts. They were beaten soundly in nearly all the key statistical aspects of the game.

The most obvious area that the Bruins dominated was in the faceoff circle. It was a horrific beating for the Blackhawks as they lost 40 of 56 faceoffs. It seemed that nobody could contain Patrice Bergeron, who won a remarkable 86 percent of his draws.

That allowed the Bruins to hold on to the puck throughout the game, a factor that goes counter to the Chicago game plan. The Blackhawks rely on puck possession, but the Bruins' success in the faceoff circle made it nearly impossible to succeed in that part of the game.

In addition to the faceoff edge, the Bruins blocked 17 shots to the Blackhawks' seven. Boston also outhit Chicago 31-25, and the Bruins once again had the special teams edge.

The Blackhawks were 0-of-5 on the power play and they gave up several short-handed chances to Rich Peverley, Chris Kelly and Brad Marchand.

The Bruins, who were struggling as much on the power play before the start of the series, scored once on the power play when Bergeron converted a Jaromir Jagr goalmouth pass in the second period. The Bruins also moved the puck well on their other power-play opportunities.

The Bruins did a good job of anticipating where the Blackhawks were going with the puck and took the puck away six times, while the Blackhawks took the puck away from the Bruins twice.

The Blackhawks put some pressure on Rask in the late stages of the game when they were desperate to mount a comeback. Their best chance came on a Bryan Bickell wrister that hit the inside of the post in the final minute, but the rebound skittered harmlessly away.

The Blackhawks struggled on the chippy TD Garden ice, but that can't be an excuse since the Bruins were at a similar disadvantage.

The Blackhawks could not match the Bruins' energy, hustle or skill. They have an opportunity to rebound in Game 4, but it won't happen unless their stars bring their A-game.

There was no sign of that in Game 3, and the loss of Hossa hurt badly. But regardless of whether Hossa can play Wednesday night, the Blackhawks will have to take the play to the Bruins and not let the hosts dictate once again, or they will find themselves in a much deeper hole at the end of Game 4.

Butler Basketball: 5 Lessons Learned About the Bulldogs This Offseason

Joe Boozell — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:19:44 -0400

Butler basketball is evolving before our very eyes.

And yet, the more things seem to change for a Bulldogs program that already seems to be a well-oiled victory machine, the more they stay the same.

While the NBA is often referred to as a “player’s game,” college basketball is undoubtedly a coach’s game. And Butler has one of the game’s best—Indiana native Brad Stevens.

After a report last offseason that linked his services to Illinois was followed by an offer Stevens turned down to UCLA, the much-coveted 36-year-old gave Butler fans reassurance that he’ll stay in Indianapolis for a very, very long time.

However, Stevens’ admirable loyalty is not the only headline the Bulldogs have made this offseason.

The sweat is accumulating by the minute in the ever-so-humid Hinkle Fieldhouse gymnasiums (more on that later), summer coaching camps are in full swing and the 2013-2014 campaign in a new conference with new expectations is right around the corner.

Hey, it’s not like it has major shoes to fill on the heels of the 2012-2013 season, right? (Perhaps Roosevelt Jones and Rotnei Clarke beg to differ.)

Here are five lessons to be taken away from what has been the Butler basketball offseason to date.

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Power Ranking Every Detroit Lions Player Under Contract Prior to Training Camp

Chris Madden — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:16:36 -0400

The Detroit Lions' are heading into 2013 with a lot of new faces and a lot to prove. It's no stretch to say the wheels fell off last season, and when that happens, changes are inevitable. As a result, the Lions will open training camp with more than a few new faces vying for starting spots.

In fact, there are more new faces than ever before. In 2012, the NFL increased every team's roster size to 90 players during the offseason. Fans need a chart just to keep track of all of them.

Training camp starts on July 23, and now is a good time to take a look at the Lions' 90-man roster and see where each player stands.

Here are power rankings for each Lions' player under contract, pre-training camp edition.

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Top 5 Players Brooklyn Nets Should Be Targeting in the 2013 NBA Draft

Andrew Kipp — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:16:05 -0400

The Brooklyn Nets own the 22nd pick in the 2013 NBA draft, which is set to take place at the Barclays Center on June 27.

The Nets’ first-round pick will be their only pick, because they owe their 2013 second-rounder to the Minnesota Timberwolves from a 2011 draft-night trade for Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic.

Brooklyn has a few holes to fill this offseason, a fact that was affirmed following a first-round playoff exit at the hands of a depleted Chicago Bulls team back in early May. The draft will provide an opportunity for general manager Billy King to target a talented young player who will hopefully make an immediate impact.

The Nets could stand to upgrade at small forward and power forward, but as Tim Bontemps of the New York Post reported, many, including draft guru Chad Ford of ESPN, believe King will use the 22nd pick to bolster the team’s depth at center.

This year’s draft doesn’t feature a lot of clear-cut stars, but there should be a few quality players around when the Nets are on the clock.

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Top 5 Likeliest Trade Partners for the Dallas Mavericks on Draft Day

Ross Bentley — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:15:15 -0400

With the 2013 NBA draft just 10 days away, 28 NBA teams are preparing for the offseason's biggest night, and the other two will join them soon once their quest for a championship is completed.

Although there are certainly some high-quality players available, many are regarding the 2013 draft class to be one of the weakest in recent memory.

The Dallas Mavericks could have used a stronger one.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, the Mavericks are in need of more pieces if they want to get back into the playoffs, much less the NBA Finals.

Ever since the lottery balls didn't fall their way, there have been rumors that the team is looking to shop their 13th overall pick to the highest bidder to save cap room to go after high-profile free agents.

At the tail end of the lottery, the 13th pick still has a high value, and there likely will be plenty of teams inquiring about that pick in the next week and a half and on draft night itself.

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10 Biggest Disappointments for the New York Yankees so Far

Kenny DeJohn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:10:52 -0400

At 38-31, the New York Yankees have gotten lucky so far this season. Not often does a ragtag group of veterans past their respective primes come together to win ballgames like they did for the Yankees in April and May.

Unfortunately, June has not been as kind. The team is 7-8 this month after finishing a brutal West Coast trip that saw them go 4-6. A sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics was tough to swallow, but losing a series (2-1) to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim should not sit well with the club.

Disappointment seems to be a trend with the Yankees over the past month or so, but there are some players who have been disappointing since early on. Many of these players have been given countless chances to succeed, but their inconsistencies have prevented them from playing well.

Picking just 10 disappointments for the Yankees was actually pretty difficult. There are multiple players who could qualify as disappointments that did not make the cut.

Being a disappointment for this slideshow hinges on a few different things. On-field production is obviously a key component, as are health and reliability. This list was constructed with those criteria in mind.

*Note: Alex Rodriguez is not included in the upcoming slides. He's deserving of an article all his own.

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John Cena to Defend WWE Championship vs. Mark Henry at Money in the Bank PPV

Tim Keeney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:04:23 -0400

After successfully retaining his title on two pay-per-views in a row against Ryback, John Cena is moving on to the next massive heel.

On Monday night's epic post-Payback episode of Raw that had several memorable moments and returns, it was revealed that the current WWE champion will defend his belt against Mark Henry at Money in the Bank in Philadelphia on July 14.

Add this to Rob Van Dam being scheduled to return and Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk at least on the horizon after Raw, and Money in the Bank is already shaping up very nicely.

Henry has sat out the last month, and when it was revealed he would be returning on Raw, everyone assumed it would be to announce his retirement.

And that's what appeared to be happening. The World's Strongest Man interrupted a Cena championship-winning promo dressed in a jacket and tie. He proceeded to tell the crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan that he was officially retiring.

But not so fast.

As Cena went to embrace Henry, the big man picked him up and delivered the World's Strongest Slam, thus completing the ruse:

Later in the night, it was confirmed: Cena vs. Henry at Money in the Bank.

This isn't going to be the most scintillating feud ever, and a stipulation very well may be necessary to inject some energy into the match itself.

Fans will also undoubtedly be disappointed Daniel Bryan isn't in line for the WWE title, although this sets up Bryan to win the WWE championship briefcase at the PPV.

But the company is giving the feud sufficient time for a build-up, and if Monday's absolutely spectacular segment—which drew huge pops from the crowd—is an indication of things to come, we are in line for an enthralling month.

WWE Payback 2013 Aftermath: AJ Lee, Dolph Ziggler and Major Changes Upcoming

David Levin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:08 -0400

She won. He lost. She is a Black Widow waiting to stalk her prey. He just lost the world title and became a hero in the process.

Oh, and she pissed Stephanie McMahon off on Monday night.

The tangled web of AJ Lee and Dolph Ziggler may have just gotten a little (excuse the word) crazier as the company threw many curveballs at us Sunday night (and Monday on Raw). The biggest, however, may have been the “heel” turn for Alberto Del Rio and the loss of the intercontinental title by Wade Barrett, who has been wasted as a talent in this company since his return from surgery last year.

Welcome to the confused state of the WWE, where changes in characters, personalities and angles happen faster than Summer Rae changes her dancing dresses.

Seeing Triple H, Vince McMahon and Stephanie all fighting to control Raw was as good a storyline as we have seen developing in a while.

What the WWE did on Sunday night, although we may not like it, is strengthen the “face” side of the fence through controversy. Making Alberto Del Rio a “heel” champion does a lot of things for the company that will be great heading into Money in the Bank and SummerSlam. It also allows me and others to ask a lot of questions.

The most pressing might be if CM Punk makes a turn to the "sunny" side.

Does this mean upon his return that Rob Van Dam becomes the top contender for the title? What happens to Ziggler and his big push? Does Sheamus have anything left as a possible champion? Where does Jack Swagger fit in all this chutzpah?

Sometimes, the WWE and its creative team have ADHD. They cannot stick to one project for more than a New York minute and need a diaper changed because of their immature decisions.

Monday night proved there was some real thought put into the planning of the program. But this story really is about Ziggler and Lee and their path traveled together.

Most of the time, the readers on Bleacher Report have the right ideas and would do a better job as Vince McMahon’s writers than the “professionals” in the big black chairs. Maybe they should help plan this all out.

This could also play out well over the summer, see Vince and Triple H fight for control of the company and Curtis Axel become the new “corporate” guy in the WWE. Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon together is more sinister than Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink mastering a plan to hurt Dusty Rhodes.

By the way, if Vinnie Mac and Triple H feud for control, who gets Stephanie in the settlement?

And again, I am drawn back to Ziggler and his “love” AJ Lee. Does “spider woman” find herself a new beau? It will be interesting to see how this ends in divorce. Who gets Big “E” in the settlement?

Honestly, I love the changes that are forthcoming. Del Rio was a good start, because it made him relevant (and we did not see it coming). Ziggler as a face is a “Shawn Michaels-like” move when he parted ways with Sherri Martel.

Axel, again, winning praise from Vinnie Mac was “corporate-like” and very old school.

All I can say is the new Payback pay-per-view made everything look old school and very interesting over the next three months.

But I am not sure whether that is a good or a bad thing.

NBA Free Agents 2013: Best Landing Spots for Top Shooting Guards on Market

Ethan Grant — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:07 -0400

As Danny Green continues to set the new standard for shooting guard play in the midst of his impressive NBA Finals performances, thoughts start to shift toward what NBA teams in need of a Green-like talent can do to bolster the position.

The Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves are a few teams with obvious needs at the position, but when it comes to free agency, you make moves to make your franchise better—bar none.

That makes the 2013 NBA free-agent shooting guard pool an interesting one indeed. Several players will be looking to cash in big after strong seasons while other candidates with Green-like potential will surely entice all 30 NBA teams.

With the NBA Finals preparing to close down, the 2013 draft and start of free agency will be here before we know it. Take a look at some notable SG free agents below, and the best landing spots for the top stars at the position.

Notable 2013 NBA Free-Agent Shooting Guards

Player	Previous Team	2012-13 Stats (PPG/RPG/APG/FG%)
Ben Gordon (PO)	Charlotte Bobcats	11.2/1.7/1.9/40.8
Gerald Henderson (R)	Charlotte Bobcats	15.5/3.7/2.6/44.7
Marco Belinelli	Chicago Bulls	9.6/1.9/2.0/39.5
O.J. Mayo	Dallas Mavericks	15.3/3.5/4.4/44.9
Andre Iguodala	Denver Nuggets	13.0/5.3/5.4/45.1
Brandon Rush	Golden State Warriors	7.0/0.5/1.0/66.7 (2 games)
Jodie Meeks (TO)	Los Angeles Lakers	7.9/2.2/0.9/38.7
Tony Allen	Memphis Grizzlies	8.9/4.6/1.2/44.5
Ray Allen (PO)	Miami Heat	10.9/2.7/1.7/44.9
Monta Ellis	Milwaukee Bucks	19.2/3.9/6.0/41.6
J.R. Smith	New York Knicks	18.1/5.3/2.7/42.2
Kevin Martin	Oklahoma City Thunder	14.0/2.3/1.4/45.0
Nick Young	Philadelphia 76ers	10.6/2.2/1.4/41.3
Gary Neal (R)	San Antonio Spurs	9.5/2.1/1.9/41.2
Manu Ginobili	San Antonio Spurs	11.8/3.4/4.6/42.5
Alan Anderson	Toronto Raptors	10.7/2.3/1.6/38.3

*TO=team option. PO=player option. R=restricted.
For a complete look at the 2013 NBA free-agent class, click here (via ESPN).

Best Landing Spots for Top SGs

Andre Iguodala: Detroit Pistons

Despite some resistance across the league, as noted here by Denver Post columnist Benjamin Hochman, AI is a shooting guard, and he's performed reasonably well enough in that role to warrant consideration for both wing positions on any team.

Iguodala exercised his early termination option last week, and as noted by Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, he will leave $15.9 million on the table to do so.

The 29-year-old wing must feel he's worth a long-term contract in the neighborhood of that salary, or he simply sees a better option on the horizon outside of the friendly confines of the Mile High city.

There's a number of teams that could show interest in Iguodala this offseason, including several listed above in the intro section and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a strong core in place and two first-round picks in the 2013 draft.

But the Detroit Pistons offer Iguodala an opportunity to reunite with former head coach and move closer to his Illinois background. A core of Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, along with the No. 8 pick in the draft, may also weigh strongly in Iguodala's offseason decision-making.

Iguodala is a big-time performer, and the fact that he's been to the playoffs the past three seasons might make a team closer to contention more reasonable. The money and the chance to lead right away, though, comes in the form of the Pistons.

O.J. Mayo: Minnesota Timberwolves

Mayo had a strong start to the 2012-13 regular season, taking over for the Dallas Mavericks in stretches as Dirk Nowitzki rehabbed from knee surgery.

He faded fast after the turn of the calendar, though, struggling to carry his strong start to the second half of the season. Mayo lost favor with Rick Carlisle, opted out of his contract and has to face the facts that he was a so-so player for most of the year after he so wanted to prove Memphis wrong by signing a low-dollar contract with the Mavs.

Mayo can still play some good ball, though.

One of the best three-point shooters in the league last year, Mayo connected to the tune of a 40.7 percent clip, and that's exactly the kind of off-the-ball abilities Minnesota needs from its shooting guard in the current offense.

With Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love and Derrick Williams in place, the T'Wolves are a few pieces (and some good fortune in the medical department) away from really surprising some people in the West.

Although Mayo was frustratingly disappointing as a closer (33.3 percent free-throws in the final minute of a game last year), he won't have to be that guy in Minnesota. Love and Rubio will take care of the big plays, and Mayo can really extend his role as a knockdown three-point shooter in a strong offense.

Monta Ellis: Sacramento Kings

Monta Ellis is another player who opted out of his contract despite the status of the new CBA keeping teams from breaking the bank these days, but he'll still be a sought-after player because he can flat-out score.

As B/R's own Ethan Norof notes, Ellis must really want out of Milwaukee, where he was traded in 2012 for Andrew Bogut:

The combo guard averaged over 19 points per game this season, tops for any shooting guard currently on the open market. Playing in tandem with Brandon Jennings, he asserted his will as one of the NBA's hardest players to guard—no matter what position he was playing.

Ellis also averaged six assists per game, a strong number that suggest he does have greatness in him if harnessed the right way.

Although I'm not sure that greatness will be harnessed fully in Sacramento, a return to the west coast in the form of the Kings would be a smart move for a franchise that looks dead on offense at times when dealing with the inflated likeness of DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans.

Former Golden State mentor Mike Malone is the new head coach of the Kings, and that relationship has been described by Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears as a potential plus for the free-agent journey Ellis is about to embark on.

Personally, Ellis is a very good sixth man who should average 25-30 minutes per game on a good team. His defense is atrocious and his decisions are questionable at times, but there's little doubt he can carry the second unit (or first unit) of an offense.

No matter what Malone decides to do with Ellis, the Kings are a nice fit for the guard to return to California and earn a prominent role on a team oozing with misplaced talent.

J.R. Smith: Atlanta Hawks

After nine seasons as a premier NBA sixth man, J.R. Smith finally has a chance to cash in like a starter.

A victim of the lockout in 2011, Smith was a late signing of the New York Knicks later that season when he returned from his commitment overseas.

All he's done since then is carry New York's second unit, earn the green light from head coach Mike Woodson (although I'm not sure anyone on the roster has a red light) and average over 18 points on just over 42 percent shooting from the floor in his second season in the Big Apple.

There's plenty to like about the Smith/New York relationship.

One thing that won't go over well, though, is the salary situation.

Smith made just under $3 million this season, and with Tyson Chandler, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire making double-digit millions on a cap that could easily stretch to $85 million if the Knicks don't find a way to clear some space, where is the money in the budget to sign him?

Sure—the Knicks have money. But this is a franchise known for throwing money at players who stay on the books for years, even if they no longer where blue and orange.

Enter the Atlanta Hawks.

Loaded with cap space, opportunities and still in the mix for a big free-agent name even with Smith in the fold (think Andrew Bynum), the Hawks would be a great place for Smith to flex his muscles as either a starter or a sixth man yet again.

I think the Knicks have Smith's heart, and rightly so, but they don't hold the best interests of his wallet in mind, and we might be looking at another Jeremy Line situation if the Hawks (or any other team with hefty cap space) offers up a contract that shouldn't be matched.

The shooting guard market is an interesting one to pay attention to, as many notable names might end up just trading places with other guards. These four are the big ones to watch, though, and should be monitored until the dotted line is no longer empty.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant (@DowntownEG) on Twitter.