Sports: Just a Business

February 7, 2020

By: Jeff Yoder

QUOTE OF THE DAY
Andre Drummond

“If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there are no friends or loyalty… This is just a business.”

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NBA

Trade Day: Just a Business

4 Star Players Move at NBA Trade Deadline

Say it ain’t so! Deadline Day for NBA trades did not disappoint on Thursday, far surpassing the lack of drama at last year’s deadline. The reason: Not as many big-name free agents are expected to hit the market this summer compared to last, so acquiring star-power had to come now. Three big trades involving four key names and two former all-stars stole the headlines.

Thursday NBA Trades

D’Angelo Russell ←→ Andrew Wiggins
The Warriors and Timberwolves swapped the No. 1 overall pick in 2014 (Wiggins) and the No. 2 overall pick in 2015 (Russell) in a blockbuster trade to open Thursday morning. Golden State also received two draft picks in 2021 while the Wolves received Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman. Read More (B/R)

Andre Drummond → Cleveland Cavaliers
The Pistons were afraid of losing 2-time all-star Andre Drummond for nothing this summer (expected to be a free agent), so they sent him to Cleveland for John Henson and Brandon Knight. Drummond is averaging 17 points and 15 rebounds per game this season. Read More (CBS Sports)

Marcus Morris → Los Angeles Clippers
This was a three-team deal involving the Knicks, Wizards, and Clippers. L.A. lands Morris as well as Isaiah Thomas to boost its title hopes, while the Knicks receive Moe Harlkess and a 2020 first-round pick. The Wizards get Jerome Robinson. Read More (ESPN)

Other NBA Trades (Thursday)

–  76ers Trade James Ennis to Magic for 2nd-Round Pick

–  Hawks Acquire Skal Labissiere from Blazers

– Grizzlies Trade Bruno Caboclo to Rockets for Jordan Bell

– Grizzlies Send James Johnson to Wolves for Gorgui Dieng

– Nuggets Ship Newly-Added Shabazz Napier to Wizards

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XFL

XFL Opening Weekend

The next NFL game is eight months away but the XFL is here to fill the void. Opening weekend kicks off on Saturday with a list of amazing new rules to the game we love. It’s fast-paced with less interruptions. No, we won’t have in-depth XFL coverage every Monday, but we’ll share some highlights throughout the 10-week season. Check out the schedule (Must-Watch List) and new rules below:

XFL Rules

• PATs: 1, 2 or 3-pt Attempt
• Double Forward Pass
• 1 Foot Catch Control
• 35-Yard Touchback
• No Challenges
• Overtime Shootout
• 10 Minute Halftime
• 2 Timeouts

USA Today: XFL Preview: Coaches, Players, and Everything Else You Need to Know About the League’s 8 Teams

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PGA

Round 1: Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Pros & Celebs Team Up For Golf Glory

Canadian pro Nick Taylor leads all scores after Round 1 of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am (8-under 63), but the story of the weekend is the celebrity pairings. A long list of athletes, actors (like Bill Murray), dignitaries and other amateur celebs tee it up alongside the pros themselves. Murray and D.A. Points are +5 but plenty of other sports superstars like surfer Kelly Slater and the great Wayne Gretzky are hanging strong near the top of the leaderboard.

Notable Pairings (Leaderboard)
Patrick Cantlay & Kelly Slater (-6)
Phil Mickelson & Steve Young (-4)
Kevin Chappell & Eli Manning (-4)
Dustin Johnson & Wayne Gretzky (-3)
Kevin Streelman & Larry Fitzgerald (-3)
Viktor Holland & Justin Verlander (-2)

Highlights | Pro-Am Pairings | Leaderboard

Tee Times: Round 2 Starts Today (8:00 am ET)

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HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: Small Ball Rockets Arrive
The new-look Houston Rockets have turned to small ball after trading Clint Capela earlier this week, and they won their fourth straight (7 of last 9) last night against the Lakers (121-111) with 19 3-pointers and 41 points from Russell Westbrook. (NBA)

🏒 NHL: Vasilevskiy Breaks Lightning Record
The Lightning downed the Penguins (4-2) on Thursday night thanks to 29 saves by goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy also recorded a point for the 17th straight game to break a franchise goalie record. (NHL)

⚽️ SOCCER: Copa Del Rey Giant Slayers
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid suffered massive upsets Thursday in the Spanish league’s Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Madrid lost to Real Sociedad (4-3) and Barcelona got shut out by Athletic Bilbao (1-0). (SI)

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HEADLINES

LeBron James & Giannis Antetokounmpo Make All-Star Team Selections
(CBS Sports)Spotify to Buy The Ringer, Bill Simmons’ Podcast Empire
(CNN)

Dodgers Lock Up Max Muncy With 3-Year, $26 Million Extension
(Yahoo! Sports)

Knicks to Hire Agent Leon Rose as New Team President
(ESPN)

6-Time Pro Bowl Safety Eric Weddle Announces Retirement
(Bleacher Report)

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WEEKEND READS

🏈 Can Chiefs Become NFL’s Next Dynasty?
It’s difficult to build a dynasty in the NFL—ask just about any franchise that isn’t the Patriots. But with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City is as well positioned as any team. (The Ringer)

🥊 Jon Jones’ Path to MMA Greatness
Jon Jones was just 23 years old when he became light heavyweight champion in 2011, making him the youngest belt holder in UFC history… But it has been a bumpy road for “Jonny Bones” ever since, with a mixture of breathtaking victories and heartbreaking failures. (ESPN)

⚽️ Transfer Window: Winners & Losers
The winter window saw some of Europe’s biggest clubs load up, others eye smaller or more long-term reinforcements and others sit out entirely, evidently content with the current state of their squads or unwilling to overextend in an effort to secure some improvements. (SI)

🎾 Sofia Kenin Proved Them Wrong
The 21-year-old American was overlooked heading into Melbourne, but the Australian Open was hers for the taking… To win her maiden major, all Sofia Kenin had to do was do what came naturally: go all in. (WTA)

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WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

Bring on a full slate of college hoops, Week 1 of the XFL, UFC 247, and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. We’ll return to your inbox Monday morning for a full recap of everything that went down. Enjoy the weekend!

NCAAB (Men’s)
#9 Maryland at #20 Illinois (Fri. 8:00 pm ET)
#18 LSU at #11 Auburn (Sat. Noon ET)
#16 Michigan State at Michigan (Sat. Noon ET)
#13 Kentucky at Tennessee (Sat. 1:00 pm ET)
#12 Seton Hall at #10 Villanova (Sat. 2:30 pm ET)

NCAAB (Women’s)
Friday Night Pac-12 Triple-Header
#12 Arizona at #3 Oregon (9:00 pm ET)
#10 UCLA at #6 Stanford (11:00 pm ET)
#19 Arizona State at #9 Oregon State (11:00 pm ET)

NBA
Raptors at Pacers (Fri. 8:00 pm ET, ESPN)
Jazz at Rockets (Sun. 7:00 pm ET, NBATV)

NHL
Islanders at Lightning (Sat. 7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
Flames at Canucks (Sat. 10:00 pm ET, RSN)
Avalanche at Wild (Sun. 7:30 pm ET, NBCSN)

XFL (Week 1)
Dragons vs. Defenders (Sat. 2:00 pm ET)
Wildcats vs. Roughnecks (Sat. 5:00 pm ET)
Vipers vs. Guardians (Sun. 2:00 pm ET)
Battlehawks vs. Renegades (Sun. 5:00 pm ET)
*Games on ABC, ESPN, and FOX

PGA Tour (All Weekend)
Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Golf Channel, CBS Sports)

UFC 247 (Saturday)
Main Card (10:00 pm ET, PPV)

SOCCER (Europe)
Sat: Leverkusen vs. Dortmund (12:30 pm ET)
Sun: Bayern vs. RB Leipzig (Noon ET)
Sun: Inter Milan vs. AC Milan (2:45 pm ET)
Sun: PSG vs. Lyon (3:00 pm ET)

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