Sign up for the daily newsletter, Jay’s Plays of the Day, to get sports betting recommendations for the top games of the night and the week ahead.
NBA Draft
Would you trade Cooper Flagg?
Where does he rank in terms of can’t-miss prospects, and how many of those can’t-miss prospects missed?
Here are the last six No. 1 overall NBA choices:
2024 — Atlanta took Zaccharie Risacher
2023 — San Antonio took Victor Wembanyama
2022 — Orlando took Paolo Banchero
2021 — Detroit took Case Cunningham
2020 — Minnesota took Anthony Edwards
2019 — New Orleans took Zion Williams.
That’s an impressive list of franchise-changers, for sure.
I believe Flagg is one of those dudes, for sure.
(Side question: Do you believe there was anything “hinky” about Dallas dealing Luka Dončić to a destination spotlight and then getting the top pick in a year with a bona fide cornerstone prospect? Discuss.)
The above list tells me two things.
One, Hawks gonna Hawks even when they get the No. 1 overall pick. Risacher was pretty good as a rookie in Atlanta — 73 starts, 12.6 points per game, 35.5% from 3 — but no one is looking for pretty good from pick 1, round 1.
Two, the rest of those cats are dudes who have redirected spiraling franchises. Sure, Zion has battled health stuff, but when he has been on the floor, he’s an undeniable force.
Thoughts?
Seattle’s silent superstar
There was a time when watching LeBron James was among my top two or three sports to-do items.
My interest has waned. That is not a commentary about the man or the player — I think LeBron’s case to be the GOAT is way closer to MJ than most give him credit for — or even the increased activities of aging Lil 5-at-10s.
In retrospect, the LeBron fade was first and foremost about location.
And in a lot of ways, that happens across all non-NFL sports because West Coast time zones.
It’s happening right now with Cal Raleigh, the Seattle superstar catcher who is posting monster numbers.
He’s on pace for 67 homers after hitting No. 32 last night.
He’s already passed Johnny Bench for the most HRs for a catcher before the All-Star break.
He’s on pace for a historic 10.7 WAR at his position.
He even has a tremendous nickname — The Big Dumper — which is just as kindergarten silly as you would guess.
And no one could pick him out of a line-up of the Usual Suspects with Verbal Kint, Dean Keaton and the rest of the crew.
Keep mashing Big Dumper. Here’s hoping you wipe all the records off the books.
Next step
The NCAA will no long cap sports-specific scholarships.
Rosters numbers will be trimmed, but scholarships will expand.
For clarity, we all know college football numbers.
NCAA rules had an 85-scholarship limit, but there was no ceiling on how big the rosters could be. Many FBS programs would have 140-plus guys in the program.
Now, for schools that opt-in into the House settlement, you can have 105 players in your football program. Period.
Some athletes in outlier sports will greatly benefit from this change. Potentially.
Take wrestling, which formerly had unlimited rosters but could only give 9.9 scholarships. Now wrestling has a capped roster at 30 student-athletes — but all of them are eligible to get scholarships.
With that comes the curious questions and uncertainty of which schools and programs are looking at cutting entire programs in various low revenue-generating sports, you know?
Just in case you’re wondering, schools can start paying players July 1 — which is a week from Wednesday.
Fittingly, on Bobby Bonilla Day.
This and that
› Congrats to these 10 cats who made the TSWA all-state baseball team.
› Good stuff here from Paschall on Baylor School grad Harris English aiming for a second consecutive Ryder Cup selection later this summer.
› Love lists like this. Here’s a top-10 list of gotta-visit barbecue restaurants in the U.S. One is in Tennessee — Memphis, as you would expect — and more than a few are in Texas. I miss Porker’s.
› Braves played. Braves won. Hey, that Spencer Schwellenbach is pretty good at baseball. So is Ronald Acuña Jr. if you were wondering.
Today’s questions
True or false, it’s Tuesday. Morning, Ernie.
True or false, Cooper Flagg makes an All-NBA team in his first three years.
True or false, LeBron James is the best No. 1 overall pick in NBA history.
True or false, mid-major athletic programs will start eliminating sports because of the changing landscape post-House settlement.
True or false, you miss Porker’s.
True or false, you already miss the NBA. (Kidding. That actually may be our first F or F on a Tuesday.)
You know the drill.
As for today, July 24, let’s review:
Today is National Cousins Day.
“High Noon” was released on this day in 1952.
“Eye of the Tiger” started its six-week run at No. 1.
Karl Malone is 62, and Barry Bonds is 61.
J-Lo is 56.
What’s her Rushmore? Go.