Tag: The Ringer

KOC: NBA execs looking to wrangle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Thunder

“A lot of execs around the league wonder whether SGA is the best player on the market, given the fact he’s signed to a five-year max and OKC isn’t winning anytime soon.”

The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade train refuses to slow down.

A week after Gilgeous-Alexander made it known he knew what he signed up for when he signed his five-year extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor listed him as one of the seven players who could shape the 2022-23 season.

O’Connor’s reasoning is that if Gilgeous-Alexander were to become available in trade talks, he would be arguably the hottest available commodity and could create a bidding war of draft picks as the Thunder pleases.

The most interesting tidbit in Gilgoeus-Alexander’s entry is O’Connor reporting that league executives want him to ask out of Oklahoma City.

“During the 2021 draft, Oklahoma City reportedly made a strong trade offer to the Pistons for the first pick (Cade Cunningham), which Yahoo’s Jake Fischer says included SGA. And now that the rest of the trade market has settled with Mitchell in Cleveland and KD staying put, a lot of execs around the league wonder whether SGA is the best player on the market, given the fact he’s signed to a five-year max and OKC isn’t winning anytime soon. My impression is teams just want to wrangle him out of OKC since no other obvious stars will be available. Could there be an offer too good for Sam Presti to refuse?”

With recent reports of teams such as the Toronto Raptors closely monitoring Gilgeous-Alexander’s situation, it makes sense the rest of the league is hovering around Oklahoma City like vultures waiting for the 24-year-old to request a trade.

But as O’Connor mentioned, Gilgeous-Alexander’s public comments have made it known he is content with his situation in Oklahoma City and he believes in the Thunder rebuilding plan.

That could obviously change. The NBA is a fast-paced league with player transactions, but for right now, it sounds like other teams will just have to continue to wait on the off chance Gilgeous-Alexander asks out of the Thunder.

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Eagles vs. Lions: NFL experts make Week 1 picks

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions: NFL experts make Week 1 picks

The Eagles and Lions will open the season at Ford Field, the site of last season’s 44-6 road when for Philadelphia that helps catapult the team to a postseason appearance.

The Birds developed their run-first mentality that afternoon after Boston Scott and Jordan Howard each had two touchdowns on the ground, helping Philadelphia amass 236 total yards rushing.

The Eagles broke a two-game losing streak and will look to use Sunday’s opener as momentum for a huge Week 2 home matchup against the Vikings on Monday Night Football.

The experts have made their pick, and Philadelphia is an overwhelming road favorite.

Zach Wilson checks in near bottom of Ringer’s QB rankings

Zach Wilson near the bottom of the first Ringer QB rankings. Where would you rank Wilson?

When it comes to talking about quarterbacks and how good they are, few are better at it than The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz. This week, Ruiz unveiled his first set of quarterback rankings. And it’s an early low start for Jets QB Zach Wilson.

Wilson’s numbers land him at No. 30 on Ruiz’s rankings, though Ruiz does note Wilson is a dynamic talent.

Here’s Ruiz’s breakdown of Wilson:

I know this is going to be triggering for Jets fans, but I can’t think of a more apt way to articulate my evaluation of Zach Wilson’s tape … he’s Sam Darnold 2.0.

Quick: Think of all the reasons to be optimistic about Wilson’s rookie season. Now think of the glaring areas where he needs improvement. They’re both awfully similar to what was being said of Darnold after his uneven debut season in New York. There were enough highlight reel throws to whet a QB-hungry fan’s appetite, but it’s hard to ignore that most of those plays came outside the pocket. Darnold had the same issue. There were some impressive instances of pocket presence, but even more examples of Wilson running into pressure. Same goes for Darnold. And then there’s the inconsistent accuracy. One play, Wilson is throwing a dot 30 yards downfield on the run; the next play, he’s sailing a throw to the flat.

I just don’t know what his most obvious strength is. He’s not accurate, he’s not a brain, he’s got a good arm, but it’s more flexible than powerful.He can make defenders miss, but he’s not a great athlete who’s going to outrun guys consistently. In a tight pocket, he almost looks like an oblivious beach patron about to get blindsided by a wave. There is clear arm talent there, but not much else to get excited about.

Ruiz believes Wilson’s best trait is his arm talent, as he can make some impressive throws, including when he is off-platform.

His biggest weakness, in the mind of Ruiz, is his decision-making, thanks to “far too many misreads and naive throws into coverage.” Ruiz does note there were “positive signs late last season.”

This note will probably upset some Jets fans: Ruiz ranked 32 quarterbacks for this list. The only two quarterbacks below Wilson? Jacoby Brissett and Mitchell Trubisky. Take that for what it’s worth.

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Jacoby Brissett ranked the 2nd-worst starting QB in the NFL

Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett ranked the 2nd-worst starting QB in the NFL by The Ringer

Jacoby Brissett was not the primary plan for the Cleveland Browns as the starting quarterback in 2022. Based on the league-wide quarterback rankings from The Ringer, the Browns’ backup plan is about as bad as it gets on the starting QB front.

Analyst Steven Ruiz ranked all 32 Week 1 starting quarterbacks, which means the Browns QB being evaluated is Brissett and not suspended Deshaun Watson. Brissett was No. 31 on the list, ahead of only Pittsburgh’s Mitch (don’t call him Mitchell anymore) Trubisky.

The primary explanations for such a low ranking for Brissett are his lack of accuracy and poor decisions with the ball,

Brissett has almost everything you want in a quarterback: the size, the big arm, and a good grasp on how to play the position. There’s just one problem: His accuracy is horrendous. That may sound a little harsh, but I can’t think of a more appropriate word to describe it. Brissett just can’t get the ball to go where he wants it to. His poor aim and cavalier decision-making leads to some ugly interceptions, which makes it hard for any coaching staff to trust him.

Fortunately, it’s only a temporary situation with Brissett, who is holding down the fort until Watson returns after the first 11 games.

In case you’re wondering, Baker Mayfield comes in at No. 20 as the Panthers starter.

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Jared Goff rates near the bottom in NFL QB rankings

Lions quarterback Jared Goff rates near the bottom in NFL QB rankings from The Ringer

Lions quarterback Jared Goff has some work to do to restore his good name in 2022. After an underwhelming first season in Detroit following his unceremonious exile from the Los Angeles Rams, it’s clear the book on Goff is still not a positive one.

Look no further than the NFL quarterback rankings from The Ringer. Analyst Steven Ruiz ranked the Week 1 starting quarterbacks from 1 to 32 in advance of the start of the season.

It takes some scrolling well down the rankings before unearthing Goff. He’s No. 25 on the list, sandwiched between San Francisco’s Trey Lance and Daniel Jones of the New York Giants.

Labeled “A talented (but stationary) thrower,” Goff sits below unproven players like Lance, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and even Seattle’s journeyman backup Geno Smith. His best attribute is listed as arm strength, while the biggest weakness cited is creativity.

No doubt the disappointing final season with the Rams and the miserable start to 2021 are difficult to ignore when evaluating Goff. But the improved finish, once Ben Johnson took over the Lions offense, as well as Goff’s two Pro Bowl nods in the last five years seems a little overlooked.

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Seahawks QB Geno Smith gets highest ranking yet from the Ringer

A new ranking from Steven Ruiz at the Ringer has Smith as high as we’ve seen him so far.

Geno Smith is a radically different quarterback today than he was when he came into the NFL. His first two years as a starter for the Jets, Smith threw more interceptions (36) than touchdown passes (28). One viewing would explain why – Smith ran into a road block that many young quarterbacks in the league do. Still relying on his plus arm talent, he tested pro defenses down the field too much, resulting in a lot of reckless play and turnover-worthy throws.

These days Smith is a much more conservative passer – a point guard or game manager type of quarterback. He won’t throw bombs but he rarely makes mistakes with the ball and relies on his ability to read the defense and take what he’s being given.

While that strategy isn’t as exciting as rolling out, dancing around pass rushers for seven seconds and throwing 40 yards down the field it is a lot more sustainable – which is probably what Pete Carroll wants more than anything after 10 years of Russell Wilson’s unique brand of chaos. If nothing else, Smith’s approach should keep Seattle’s offense from falling into the gutter.

Most QB rankings this offseason have put Smith somewhere in the high 20’s – some places as low as No. 32 overall. Until today we had Smith ranked higher than anyone else – putting him at No. 25 in ours.

A new ranking from Steven Ruiz at the Ringer has Smith as high as we’ve seen him so far – at No. 22. That’s better than Tua Tagovailoa and several other up-and-comers at QB. Ruiz broke down the game of all 32 projected starters through a variety of metrics on a 100-point scale, gauging accuracy, arm talent, creativity, decision-making, pocket presense and pre-snap.

Smith earned decent ratings across the board in these categories, with no one area being any lower than 71. He also didn’t go any higher than a 79, which Smith earned in the arm talent category.

“Say what you want about Geno, there’s one thing you can’t deny: He throws dimes. He doesn’t have elite arm strength, but his poise in the pocket allows him to drive the ball on longer developing passes, whether it’s a deep dig route aimed between the numbers or an out-breaker to the sideline.”

Ruiz also identified the weakest part of Smith’s game as accuracy – especially on shorter throws his ball placement can be off. He also mentions Smith hanging onto the ball too long, which we found to be his Achilles’ heel last season – leading to 13 sacks taken in three starts. Especially against teams like Pittsburgh with a strong pass rush, Smith will be forced out of his comfort zone. In matchups like that the best line Seahawks fans can hope for is something like 200 yards and one touchdown. Smith is sharp enough to feast on dysfunctional defenses like he did against Jacksonville last year – he just won’t be able to lead a lot of comebacks.

Add it all up and you have a capable caretaker QB with a high basement but a low ceiling.

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FanDuel will rebrand TVG into FanDuel TV with Kay Adams set to join network as host

FanDuel TV will be the first ‘watch and wager’ television network in the U.S.

FanDuel TV is on the way and set to become the first “watch and wager” television network in the United States.

In a press release Thursday, FanDuel confirmed that it’s rebranding TVG Network to FanDuel TV, and bringing aboard former NFL Network host Kay Adams among other recognizable talent.

Adams left NFL Network’s Good Morning Football in May after six years as the host. She’ll be hosting her own hour-long morning show set to air Monday through Friday on FanDuel TV as part of the network’s slight shift away from horse racing.

Other talent coming over to FanDuel TV include Pat McAfee, former ESPN anchor Lisa Kerney, and the network will also air programming from Bill Simmons’ The Ringer.

“FanDuel TV is the first network designed from the ground up to be watched by viewers with their phone in hand,” FanDuel Chief Commercial Officer Mike Raffensperger said in the release. “We intend for FanDuel TV to sit at the intersection of live sports and interactive content and believe Kay is the best example of an on-air talent who can bring fans closer to the narratives of the games they care about most. Our goal is to provide fans compelling programming to watch and wager on in tandem with our mobile app.”

A launch date for the network wasn’t announced, but it’s planned for September 2022, according to Legal Sports Report. As part of the rebranding TVG2 will become FanDuel Racing and the TVG app will become FanDuel+.

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Chet Holmgren and his agent want to be drafted by the Thunder, per Ryen Russillo

“I’ve been told (OKC) is where Duffy and Chet want to go.”

In his latest podcast episode of The Ryen Russillo podcast, The Ringer’s Ryan Russillo revealed that he’s heard the Oklahoma City Thunder are Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren’s preferred destination.

“Well, there’s also something that backs it up to his agent Bill Duffy, very powerful agent doing this a long time. I’ve been told this is where Duffy and Chet want to go. They want to go to Oklahoma City because you just mentioned that the players that they’ve been playing in the frontcourt and you start thinking about that second contract and the opportunities and he has way more freedom because of the roster in front of him than maybe he would in Orlando… That’s the preference that I’ve heard and it makes a lot of sense from a basketball standpoint”

Holmgren can now be added to the continuing growing list of top draft prospects like Jabari Smith Jr. and Shaedon Sharpe who would love to be drafted by the Thunder.

Holmgren has been the favorite to go No. 2 to the Thunder since the end of the lottery, but recent shakeups due to private workouts and betting lines have shifted that a bit more to an uncertain level.

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Kevin O’Connor questions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s long-term future with the Thunder

“He’s not necessarily a part of the long-term future. Maybe he’s a guy they flip again, but why would you not want to keep (SGA)? He’s just the guy that you’d be open to moving if the deal’s right.”

During the video version of his 2022 NBA mock draft following the NBA draft lottery, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor expressed his excitement over the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting Jabari Smith Jr. second overall.

During his analysis, O’Connor added an interest side note about how he doesn’t believe Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a guarantee to be on the team for the long run as he thinks Josh Giddey will be.

“I think it’s worth noting as a quick aside here, (Josh) Giddey’s likely there for the long term, that (Shai) Gilgeous-Alexander stuff — he’s already into his second contract. They already had trade talks potentially trying to go for Cade Cunningham last year according to multiple reports. He’s not necessarily a part of the long-term future. Maybe he’s a guy they flip again, but why would you not want to keep Gilgeous-Alexander? He’s just the guy that you’d be open to moving if the deal’s right.”

Hearing this might be a little concerning for the Thunder fanbase as Gilgeous-Alexander is easily the best player on the team currently. He also fits relatively well with a potential Giddey and Smith Jr. timeline as they will all be 24 years old, 20 years old and 19 years old respectively at the start of the 2022-23 season.

From what it sounds like, it seems like this is more O’Connor spitballing with the Gilgeous-Alexander stuff than it is about him reporting anything he knows. The Gilgeous-Alexander for Cunningham stuff is pretty interesting though as some have reported that to be the case, so O’Connor chiming in and saying it happened adds more legitimacy to the rumor.

Either way, it’s too early to worry about Gilgeous-Alexander’s long-term future with the team. There’s always a possibility that he’s not here for the long run, but that shouldn’t be on the fanbase’s mind as of right now as the team prepares to select second overall for the first time since Kevin Durant in 2007.

Gilgeous-Alexander is under contract for the Thunder until 2027 as his rookie extension kicks in next season. To read what else O’Connor had to say about why the Thunder should take Smith Jr. second overall, here’s the full analysis transcribed.

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Kevin O’Connor explains why the Thunder should take Jabari Smith Jr. second overall in 2022 NBA draft

“This pick is one of my favorite matches from team to prospect in the entire draft.”

In his latest 2022 NBA mock draft, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. second overall. The video version of his mock draft explains in further detail as to why he thinks the Smith Jr. to Thunder scenario is a dream matchup for both parties:

“I got Jabari Smith Jr. going number two right now. This fit here for Oklahoma City. It’s — again — sensational for Sam Presti and the Thunder that they land number two. They have the ammo to trade up to number one if they really need to get their guy for sure. But Jabari Smith and number two makes a hell of a lot of sense because you get a guy who’s 6’10, who shot 43.6% from three as a freshman at Auburn, and he’s not just some spot up shooter, some guy who’s taken standstill threes. He’s somebody who can come off of screens and hand off and movement. Auburn didn’t do that during his freshman year, but you can see the way he takes pull up jumpers, the way he relocates off ball, how those skills are going to apply to more organized sets that you see in the NBA. So for Oklahoma City here, think about what they have. Their best young guys — Josh Giddey, who they drafted last year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who they of course got in the Paul George trade. Those guys are your primary ball handlers. And I think it’s worth noting as a quick aside here, Giddey’s likely there for the long term, that Gilgeous-Alexander stuff — he’s already into his second contract. They already had trade talks potentially trying to go for Cade Cunningham last year according to multiple reports. He’s not necessarily a part of the long-term future. Maybe he’s a guy they flip again, but why would you not want to keep Gilgeous-Alexander? He’s just the guy that you’d be open to moving if the deal’s right. If they’re keeping SGA and Giddey, Jabari Smith Jr. makes all the sense in the world considering the fact he brings that shotmaking that complements those guys. One of his weaknesses: getting very little of the ball, doesn’t have the tightest handle. This is where the (Michael Porter Jr.) comparison comes from. That’s something to keep in mind here. Think about what makes the best version of Michael Porter Jr. work in Denver. Well, he’s playing off of Jokic, he’s playing off of Murray and he’s feasting against some of the weaker matchups. He’s getting spot up threes, he’s attacking close outs. Jabari Smith Jr. will be in a similar environment next to SGA and Giddey and some of the other handlers for the Thunder. But the reason why this works is because Smith can develop that over the course of time. The level that he needs to reach as a ball handler — and he doesn’t need to be the 6’10 Kyrie Irving. He just needs to reach a passable level so he can be creating offense for your team. And even though he doesn’t, whatever man, because you’re getting somebody who sets the tone on defense, who’s 6’10, who’s long, who’s tough, who hustles, who brings it every single possession on the floor. So at a minimum, you get a guy with size, a shooting stroke, who’s smart, who can defend multiple positions. This is why this guy is a top pick and why he rose up the rankings during his freshman year at Auburn. For OKC here, this pick is one of my favorite matches from team to prospect in the entire draft. But with that said, Oklahoma City, you could say a lot of the same things about what Chet (Holmgren) could be with that team as a complementary piece and what (Paolo) Banchero could be as a primary guy, alongside them as a creator.”

It seems like Smith Jr. fits all the needs that the Thunder need in terms of building with Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey as he provides excellent outside shooting, an ability to move off the ball and a defensive pedigree that can raise the team’s floor on that side of the court. Considering that is in increasingly becoming more of a two-man draft between Smith Jr. and Holmgren, it’s hart to see the Thunder not be extremely happy and excited with whichever of the two they select.

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