The Carolina Panthers weren’t able to pull off an upset over the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round over the weekend. And while it was another inconsistent showing from QB Bryce Young, Carolina’s top wide receivers, Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, showed up. While McMillan was a first-rounder out of Arizona, Coker comes from humble beginnings at Holy Cross as an undrafted free-agent find.
Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski discuss Coker’s prospects for 2026 after his coming-out party on January 10 versus the Rams.
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In the loss, Coker posted a 9-134-1 line on 12 targets to lead the Panthers in all of those categories. Harmon states how he’s always been a fan of Coker and that the 24-year-old isn’t just some UDFA — he’s got legitimate talent. So Harmon is very excited about Coker in 2026 and beyond.
Pianowski points out how we all watch these playoff games together on social media and whatnot. So when managers and draftees get into rooms this offseason, they will all remember this game when Coker’s name pops up on their screens. Pianowski would have liked Coker to perform like this when no one is watching, but is also excited about the wideout moving forward.
Coker missed the first six games of the regular season due to a quad injury. He took a few weeks to get back up to speed and saw his snap count slowly rise over Weeks 8 and 9. Coker would score his first TD of the season, against these same Rams, during the upset win in Week 13. He also scored in Week 15 coming off the Panthers’ bye and finished the season with 33 catches for 394 yards and three TDs, playing a little over half a season.
The No. 1 Hoosiers have moved from 7.5 to 8.5-point favorites over Miami since winning the Peach Bowl over Oregon. And that move is largely because of bettors flocking to Indiana.
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Nearly 85% of bets and 87% of the total money bet on the spread is on Indiana to cover the number. The Hoosiers have outscored Alabama and Oregon by a combined score of 94-25 over their first two games of the College Football Playoff. Indiana beat Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl and Oregon 56-22 on Friday night.
Indiana won just three of its 15 games by one score all season and is 10-5 against the spread. Just eight teams have a better record against the spread than the Hoosiers do.
Miami, meanwhile, is also 10-5 against the spread. The Hurricanes have covered in each of their last four games, including as 3-point favorites against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl and as 7.5-point underdogs to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. That game was one of the biggest upsets of the College Football Playoff era.
Given the spread ahead of Monday night’s game, Miami could author two of the biggest CFP upsets if it knocks off the Hoosiers.
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Indiana opened at -300 to win the game straight up and is now -350. Bettors are not dissuaded by the low odds, either. Even though 44% of bets are on Indiana to win straight up, they make up 74% of the money bet on the moneyline.
The total hasn’t budged as the money is spread fairly evenly. The over/under opened at 47.5 and has stayed there even though 86% of bets are on the over. Those bets make up just 51% of the money on the total.
Speaking on Wednesday following their wild-card round defeat to the Buffalo Bills, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said Hunter’s rehab process is going “as expected” and the 2025 No. 2 overall draft pick is “hitting it hard” as he prepares to return to the field next season.
The injury to the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner raised questions about the Jaguars’ usage of Hunter going forward. Would he remain an option on both sides of the ball for head coach Liam Coen?
“[W]e still expect him to play on both sides of the ball,” Gladstone said. “Obviously, you can take a peek at expiring contracts on our roster and which side of the ball has more. … By default you can expect there to be a higher emphasis on his placement.”
Hunter played 162 of his 486 total snaps at cornerback with 15 tackles and three pass deflections. At wide receiver, he recorded 28 receptions on 45 targets for 298 yards and a touchdown.
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The Jaguars will be plenty busy this offseason as they look to build off a 13-4, AFC South division-winning season and a second playoff berth in four years.
Coen’s first season was a success, and it’ll be on the front office to continue building the roster into a Super Bowl contender. Getting a healthy, impactful Hunter back will go a long way to balancing their roster on both sides of the ball.
As the NFL season winds down and teams get eliminated, the league also starts to cut down on which officiating crews get assigned to each game. With the games mattering more, the NFL typically makes sure its best officials are assigned to the biggest games of the year.
The league unveiled those referee assignments Monday, and some familiar names will once again get the call in the divisional round. With games just around the corner, here’s how the NFL decided to assign its officiating crews for each contest.
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Bills at Broncos: 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday
Referee: Carl Cheffers
Cheffers is the most senior referee assigned to a divisional-round game. He’s been an NFL official for 26 seasons, including 18 as a referee. This contest will mark the 21st postseason assignment of his career, per Football Zebras. Cheffers has served as a referee during all rounds of the playoffs before, including three Super Bowls.
Cheffers’ crew is known for calling more penalties compared to the average NFL crew. It averaged nearly two penalties per game more compared to other officiating crews this season, per Pro Football Reference. The home team won slightly more when Cheffers’ crew was assigned to a game in 2025, which could bode well for the Denver Broncos, the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
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49ers at Seahawks: 8 p.m. ET Saturday
Referee: John Hussey
Hussey, like Cheffers, has a ton of experience as an official. He’s held that role for 24 seasons, including 11 as a referee. He’s had 19 postseason assignments over his career, per Football Zebras, and has officiated in every round of the playoffs, including Super Bowl XLV.
Hussey’s crew tends to call fewer penalties than other officiating crews, though is far more willing to penalize a home team. Hussey’s crew called 53 percent of its penalties against home teams in 2025. The average sits at 49 percent, per Pro Football Reference. Despite that, home teams won roughly 63 percent of the games officiated by Hussey’s crew this season.
Shawn Smith will oversee his 10th NFL postseason assignment Sunday. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Wesley Hitt via Getty Images)
Texans at Patriots: 3 p.m. ET, Sunday
Referee: Shawn Smith
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Smith has been an NFL official for 11 seasons and has been a referee for eight years. This will mark his 10th postseason assignment. Smith has officiated games in the wild-card round, divisional round and conference championships, but has never been the referee for a Super Bowl.
Smith’s crew called fewer penalties on the home team this season, which resulted in an 80 percent winning percentage for home teams in games in which Smith was the referee in 2025. His crew calls penalties at almost exactly the league average, so Texans-Patriots shouldn’t be a contest that features excessive flags.
Rams at Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday
Referee: Shawn Hochuli
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Hochuli has similar experience to Smith. Hochuli, the son of former NFL official Ed Hochuli, has been an official for 12 seasons and a referee for eight. This assignment will mark Shawn Hochuli’s 10th in the postseason. He’s been a referee in every round of the playoffs except the Super Bowl, per Football Zebras.
Hochuli’s crew tends to call more penalties than normal, coming in around roughly two additional penalties per game in 2025. They are typically costly penalties, as Hochuli’s crew averaged 124.56 yards per game in penalties this season. The average crew called 101.77 yards in penalties per game in 2025.
The interest level in Mike Tomlin’s services is high among NFL teams looking for a new head coach, but the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach reportedly doesn’t plan to be on a sideline next season.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, teams that have inquired about speaking with Tomlin about their openings have been told that he does not plan to coach next season.
Want a chance to earn a time slot for the ability to purchase tickets to events during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles? As of Wednesday, you’re in luck.
The process for buying tickets to the 2028 Summer Games began Wednesday morning. Fans who are hoping to purchase tickets to Olympic events can officially start their ticket journey, though it’s a multi-step process, and not all fans are guaranteed a shot at tickets.
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If that sounds confusing and convoluted, that’s fair. But for fans still determined to secure tickets, here’s how the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics ticketing process will work.
How to register for LA Olympics 2028 tickets
The first step in the ticket-buying process involves registering on the LA28 website. Fans who register will then be placed into a ticket draw. If you are selected as part of that ticket draw, you earn a time slot in which you are able to purchase tickets for events at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Registration for the Olympic ticket draw opened Wednesday and will remain open through March 18.
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Fans who are lucky enough to earn a time slot to purchase tickets will be notified up to 48 hours before their time slot opens.
Registering for the Olympic ticket draw does not cost any money, and fans who register are under no obligation to buy tickets if they win a time slot.
How much do LA Olympics 2028 tickets cost?
Tickets for individual events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will cost $28, per Olympics.com. The website promises “every discipline and session will be on sale.” Individual accounts who win time slots can purchase up to 12 tickets.
LA Olympics 2028 schedule
Though the 2028 Olympics are still years away, a full schedule of events has already been released. Fans hoping to buy tickets can plan out when and where they want to be when all the action takes place.
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The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will take place between July 14, 2028, and July 30, 2028. The Paralympic Games will occur between Aug. 15, 2028, and Aug. 27, 2028.
Events will take place across 40+ venues, including the LA Memorial Coliseum, the Intuit Dome and Rose Bowl Stadium, among many others.
Amongst all the Ja Morant trade rumor buzz, the Memphis Grizzlies are dealing with several injuries that have contributed to the team’s tough season.
Aside from Morant being sidelined, Grizzlies second-year center Zach Edey has been out with a left ankle injury that will be reevaluated in six weeks. Edey is dealing with a stress reaction in his ankle that was diagnosed on Dec. 11. Edey hasn’t played since Dec. 7 in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers where he scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Along with Edey’s injury, the Grizzlies also released updates on power forward Brandon Clarke and point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who are also out due to injury. Clarke has been out with a Grade 2 calf strain he suffered on Dec. 20, and is expected to return to the court in 4-6 weeks. Pippen is recovering from a sesamoidectomy procedure he underwent to relieve discomfort in his left great toe (big toe) on Oct. 21. He is expected to make his season debut in 4-6 weeks.
The Grizzlies are 17-22 through 39 games and are currently sitting in 10th place in a stacked Western Conference. If the playoffs were to begin today, Memphis would barely edge out the LA Clippers by one game for the final play-in tournament slot.
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Memphis plays the Orlando Magic on Thursday in Berlin, Germany, at 2:00 p.m. ET at Uber Arena.
With more than a quarter of the league’s head coaching jobs opening, the NFL’s winter chaos is extending far beyond the wild-card playoff round kicking off this weekend. Already, nine clubs are searching for their next head coach. Candidates will in turn want to ask franchises: What plan is in place for stability at the all-important position of quarterback?
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It’s early to predict resolutions to all quarterback questions without knowing who will coach these teams and, in some cases, which general manager will oversee personnel decisions. But what’s not too soon to say: The right coach-quarterback pairing can catapult a franchise to the postseason in its coach’s first year.
The Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson and Jacksonville Jaguars’ Liam Coen reached the playoffs this season as first-time head coaches. Mike Vrabel has similarly elevated the New England Patriots from a four-win team to the AFC’s No. 2 seed in his first year at the Patriots’ helm (Vrabel previously led Tennessee Titans teams to the playoffs).
The rapid success of each hinged heavily on top quarterbacks already in place. The Bears, Jaguars and Patriots had each already invested in a quarterback with a top-three overall draft pick.
So what will 2026’s first-year head coaches encounter at the most impactful position in sports? Let’s break down each franchise’s biggest questions, from the ones that warrant the smallest to the biggest question marks:
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9. Baltimore Ravens’ top question: A system fit?
As the most attractive opening of the bunch, the Ravens offer the chance to work with a two-time MVP in Lamar Jackson. General manager Eric DeCosta has some work to do on Jackson’s contract, which includes only one more year of guarantees and two more years of control. A $74.5 million salary cap hit looms each of those seasons, per Spotrac, which should further incentivize the Ravens to pursue an extension. But from an on-field perspective, Jackson is by far the most talented, proven and settled quarterback across the eight openings. His dual-threat abilities routinely thwart defenses. Even in a season-ending loss, he threw multiple touchdowns of 50+ yards in the fourth quarter, including one that required escaping two defenders who had wrapped up Jackson for a seeming sack.
League coaches and executives don’t question Jackson’s rung in this group. Health is somewhat of a question (Jackson missed four games this year with hamstring and back injuries) but not enough to mute excitement around his ability. One caveat league sources point to as worth following though: the value of pairing Jackson with an offensive play-caller who will maximize his skill set. While the timing-predicated Shanahan/McVay system has delivered success to many coaches and teams across the league, one high-ranking NFC executive said it would not maximize Jackson’s dual-threat ability.
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“That’s real,” an assistant from another NFC team told Yahoo Sports. “It would be silly to put him in that system. Just like it would be silly to put [Joe] Burrow in a QB-run system. Each are great players that could probably operate within the offense — but they are losing their superpowers.”
8. New York Giants’ top question: Can Jaxson Dart be saved from himself?
Before the Ravens and John Harbaugh dissolved their 18-year marriage, the Giants had a case for best opening. The club has promise coming off the rookie season of 25th overall pick Jaxson Dart, who accounted for 24 touchdowns to seven turnovers and averaged 230 offensive yards per start — even as star receiver Malik Nabers suffered a torn ACL in Dart’s first start.
Nabers joins a talented core that includes left tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and edge rusher Brian Burns as pieces to build around. But the No. 1 responsibility for the Giants’ next head coach must be to rein in Dart’s recklessness. His dual-threat abilities and toughness energize the team and fuel production. But routine concussion checks, and two games missed due to concussion, is unsustainable. Dart needs an adult in the room who can shape his appetite for danger and remind him when the risk is worth the reward (think: game-winning drives, touchdowns, occasional third downs). Reduce the risk a bit, and the Giants’ quarterback can be a bright spot on their roster after exceeding expectations as a rookie.
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“If you’re looking at the course of the entire season, he was dynamic,” one talent evaluator whose team faced Dart told Yahoo Sports. “He was a guy that after our game [we said,] ‘Holy smokes, this Dart kid’s for real.’ He created issues for our defense.”
7. Tennessee Titans: Develop the reigning top draft pick?
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi spoke this week about eliminating Chiefs “bias” from his head-coaching search. But Borgonzi, whose 16 years in Kansas City included the first eight of Patrick Mahomes’ career, will also benefit from the front-row seat he had to the development of a first-round quarterback flashing tantalizing out-of-structure plays and creative arm angles. Ward entered the NFL with that playmaking ability. Over the course of his rookie year, even after the Titans fired head coach and offensive mind Brian Callahan six games in, Ward demonstrated acclimation to the NFL. Across his first 12 games, Ward completed 59.7% of pass attempts, throwing for seven touchdowns to six interceptions while averaging 196 passing yards per game. In his next four games (an AC joint sprain sidelined him most of the finale), Ward’s yardage and completion percentage remained similar (192 yards, 59.2%) but he improved to eight passing touchdowns to just one interception. Ward’s passer rating jumped from 75.2 to 95.0 between those stretches. That growth should intrigue coaching candidates, though anyone taking this job should feel sold on Ward as their future given he’s one year into the Titans’ investment of the first overall pick.
One talent evaluator whose team faced Ward noted his decision-making speeding up.
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“He’s been good extending plays outside of structure all year,” the evaluator told Yahoo Sports. “In December, he’s really just settled in [and] starting to click within the designed plays. He’s taken a positive step playing with more anticipation, patience and decisiveness from the pocket. He’s doing a better job of taking easy completions and yards. His surrounding cast is below average, so all of that is impressive.”
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Do you believe in Fernando Mendoza?
The Raiders will have a tough time selling candidates on coaching stability after they’ve cycled through five coaches (full-time and interim) the last five seasons. Talent gaps loom, too. And yet the Raiders can offer coaching candidates the top overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. League sources thus see Raiders upside with an expectation that the club will soon welcome Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza impresses scouts with his ideal size and frame, athleticism and good arm strength, talent evaluators across the NFC and AFC told Yahoo Sports.
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“My comp was Jared Goff and I feel really good about that,” one NFC talent evaluator said. “Mechanics look similar, athleticism and pocket manipulate do too. See him as a winning, good-not-great starting QB at his ceiling. Comfortable floor.”
An AFC offensive assistant believed Raiders’ decision makers would gravitate toward Mendoza. The franchise announced that general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady would lead their head-coaching search. The Raiders’ clearest admission yet that Brady is intimately involved in key decision-making is unlikely to be checked at the door when picking a player at the position he played and knows arguably better than anyone in the organization. Raiders brass will need to decide what to do about Geno Smith, who has one year and a $26.5 million cap hit left on his deal (which would reduce if he’s cut). Smith’s top advocate is gone after the Raiders fired head coach Pete Carroll. Mendoza increasingly seems to be the answer.
“Mendoza just seems like a real cerebral guy,” the AFC assistant told Yahoo Sports, “and that is what the Patriots guys love and what Brady was.”
5. Atlanta Falcons: Will in-house guys cut it?
The Falcons’ answer at quarterback next season has plenty of question marks with turnover at head coach and general manager, as well as the expectation that 14-year Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will be heavily involved in football operations. But with two possible quarterbacks under contract, the Falcons aren’t starting from scratch as some of their counterparts appear poised to be.
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Michael Penix Jr. still has potential to become a strong NFL quarterback two years after the Falcons selected him eighth overall. But as four of the six 2024 first-round quarterbacks have already clinched a playoff berth, Penix has averaged 227 passing yards per start, throwing for 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Credit Penix for playing well against tougher opponents this season, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots. But he’s yet to establish consistency. And most concerningly, Penix suffered his third ACL tear in November. He tore his right ACL twice in college and now will add his left ACL to the surgically repaired list. An AFC talent evaluator said repetitive injury to a similar part of the body raises more of a red flag in evaluation than scattered injuries.
“We say two ACLs is a scary thing,” the evaluator told Yahoo Sports. “You’ve got three? That scares the hell out of me.”
If the Falcons have questions about Penix’s readiness for Week 1 in 2026, they may be wise to keep veteran Kirk Cousins in the house — especially after he quarterbacked five wins, including the final four games of the season, following Penix’s injury. Cousins’ performance this season suggested that his 2024 campaign may have been more about his proximity to a 2023 Achilles tear than irreversible aging. That also gives Cousins trade value. The Falcons’ next head coach and general manager will have full plates.
4. Cleveland Browns: Is Shedeur Sanders the guy?
The Browns drafted two quarterbacks last spring. Do they feel confident enough in either to not spend a pair of first-round picks, including the sixth overall selection, on a thrower? Given Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry’s philosophy on drafting quarterbacks nearly every year — and more often than one thinks because of its importance and the need to retool quickly if missing on a dart throw — it’s fair to guess the Browns draft a quarterback. Cleveland’s evaluation of the 2026 class, in concert with its next head coach, will determine how serious a consideration Sanders gets up against the newest addition. The level of patience from Browns team owner Jimmy Haslam could also influence whether the Browns chase a free-agency Band-Aid or try to run it back one last time with Deshaun Watson.
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NFL history indicates coaches prefer quarterbacks they selected themselves. The Browns won three of Sanders’ seven starts, but his 193 passing yards per game and 59.2% completion rate in those starts weren’t significantly stronger than fellow draft classmate Dillon Gabriel’s 153 and 58.9% mark in six starts. Sanders threw seven touchdowns to nine interceptions in his starts: Gabriel, six to two. Sanders is considered to have a higher ceiling of the two, but his lower floor was also on display at times.
Some league voices question whether Sanders’ personality and skill set will be enough to entice a new coach to bet on him. Others think a coach giving Sanders more opportunity than Cleveland did this past season could turn things around.
“There’s so many levers,” one AFC talent evaluator told Yahoo Sports. “Will a more adaptive coach help him? Does he just need the full offseason? Is just entirely not it? … He’s clearly more talented than [Gabriel].”
3. Arizona Cardinals: What’s going on with Kyler Murray?
Arizona has one of the three big pillars intact, as general manager Monti Ossenfort outlasts head coach Jonathan Gannon. That’s notable given Ossenfort was involved in the decision to place Kyler Murray on injured reserve in November for a foot injury, a designation the Cardinals chose not to remove. Perhaps Murray’s foot was simply not ready, but this would not be the first time a club sidelined its quarterback beyond the necessary health period in order to avoid triggering injury clauses in a contract. Murray’s five games this season, in which he posted two wins and a 6:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, do not inspire confidence for his 2026 job security. Fill-in Jacoby Brissett posted a better passer rating than Murray even as the Cardinals lost 11 of 12 games with Brissett.
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Ossenfort endorsed neither of them Monday, which was telling particularly with his high-priced former first overall draft pick in Murray.
“When you come off a season like we have,” Ossefnort said, “I’d say all options are on the table, whether it’s quarterback or any other position.”
League voices believe the Cardinals will use the capital of the third overall pick either directly or indirectly to find a quarterback, giving a new coach a chance to reset at the position. If the Cardinals feel strongly enough about a rookie, a market-efficient contract could offset the dead money likely to carry over from Murray’s contract. As of now, Murray is due $36.8 million in guarantees next season. More guarantees, including his $19.5 million 2027 salary, are due the fifth day of the league year in March, per Spotrac.
“Can’t imagine someone trades for him, although maybe [given] there are QB needy teams,” one NFC executive told Yahoo Sports.
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Added another: “If you’re him, why not just get cut and get to hit the market?”
Aaron Rodgers’ lone season in Pittsburgh ended in a wild-card defeat against the Texans. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
(Cooper Neill via Getty Images)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers: What’s the Aaron Rodgers succession plan?
When the Steelers beat the Ravens to win the AFC North title the final week of the regular season, star edge rusher T.J. Watt said: “This is why he’s here.” But after a 24-point home loss in the wild-card round, and the resignation of head coach Mike Tomlin, But after a 24-point home loss in the wildcard round, and the resignation of head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers know he’s unlikely to return.
“Aaron came here to play for Mike,” team president Art Rooney II said. “So I think it will most likely affect his decision.” As Rodgers hit 42 years old, retirement was the most likely chapter after this season; a reality Tomlin’s resignation seems more likely to cement. In house, the Steelers have under contract veteran backup Mason Rudolph, who has a career 9-9-1 record in six years, and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. Hosting the NFL Draft may seem like it would tempt a splash move, but the Steelers’ late spot in the draft order and a shallow quarterback class suggest that route is unlikely to produce better results than when the Steelers selected Kenny Pickett 20th overall in the 2022 draft.
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Perhaps the Steelers’ next head coach will suggest a bridge quarterback to general manager Omar Khan, or perhaps Pittsburgh will feel Howard is readier than his draft pick and rookie injury history would suggest. The Steelers have no clear answer at quarterback, just as they haven’t since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. On the bright side for its next head coach, Pittsburgh has a rare history of patience at the position.
“The longer runway is obviously huge,” an AFC assistant said of the roster retool ahead, “but you are going to need it.”
1. Miami Dolphins: Is anything sure?
The Dolphins win the award for biggest question mark at quarterback given they currently have no head coach, a brand-new general manager in Jon-Eric Sullivan and a costly quarterback whose play lost the team’s confidence. Quinn Ewers, a seventh-round rookie thrown into a tough situation, unsurprisingly did not secure his future during three end-of-year starts.
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Tua Tagovailoa is just two years into a five-year extension, so $99.2 million in dead cap looms on a contract that was not structured to offer its first “reasonable” out in 2027. Perhaps the Dolphins’ next coach will feel they can salvage Tagovailoa like Mike McDaniel did when he replaced Brian Flores. But Tagovailoa’s 20-touchdown, 15-interception performance this season will hurt his case and his history with concussions will give future leaders pause.
And while Sullivan’s 23 years with the Green Bay Packers showed him the value in drafting and developing quarterbacks, that’s unlikely to prove an immediate salve: The Dolphins don’t pick until 11th.
McDaniel will not make this decision after Miami dismissed him Thursday. But his postseason comments on Tagovailoa likely hint at the sentiments of some team brass who will continue on in decision-making roles.
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“For the first time, I assessed, as my job, whether or not [Tagovailoa] should be the starting quarterback on the team,” McDaniel said Monday. “That was a result of an inability to get some things done. Does that mean that’s a forever thing for him in terms of being able to execute stuff that he’s executed in the past? No, it doesn’t.
“[But] he’ll have to work to get himself back to where we’re all used to seeing.”
Sebastian Ofner needed to heed the wise words of Yogi Berra and Lenny Kravitz during his Australian Open qualifying match on Wednesday:
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
The 29-year-old Austrian faced Nishesh Basavareddy in the second round of qualifying in hopes of making it to the tournament’s main draw.
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After splitting the opening two sets in the best-of-three match, Ofner took a commanding 6-1 lead in the third-set tiebreak. Thinking it was like an ATP Tour tiebreak, he won a seventh point and celebrated as if the match were over. Except that it wasn’t, and the umpire had to remind Ofner that Grand Slam qualifiers are played to 10 points.
The match would then proceed to fall apart for Ofner, who would lose 12 of the next 16 points and ultimately the match to the 20-year-old American, who gave the Tyrese Haliburton/Reggie Miller “choke” gesture after the final point.
Since Jaren Jackson Jr. signed a $239.9 million contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies on July 13, he quietly became eligible to be traded on Tuesday, just as he more loudly enters a trade discussion.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko, if the Grizzlies move on from Ja Morant, as expected, “there’s a growing thought [among rival executives] that Jackson could be the next domino to fall at some point.”
The question, then: What might a trade market for Jackson look like? Robust, to be sure. There are not a lot of 26-year-old, two-time All-Stars in the NBA. Even fewer who have won a Defensive Player of the Year award. And almost no others who can also both space the floor and create for themselves offensively.
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Think of the champions of the 2020s — the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder — all of them featured at least one of these skeleton-key bigs who can shrink the court defensively and expand it on the other end, unlocking a title.
In that sense, Jackson may not be just another name on the trade market. He could be the reason the next champion was able to counteract Chet Holmgren against the championship favorite in OKC. Jackson can play alongside a center, too, as a floor-spacing forward opposite the Thunder’s double-big lineups.
He might also be the reason the Grizzlies are willing to accept less than equal value for Morant. They recently began entertaining offers for the two-time All-Star point guard, prioritizing a package of “draft picks and young players” in return, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Except, as the market surfaced, Memphis was seeking “at least” a single first-round draft pick as a haul, per Substack insider Marc Stein.
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Remember, four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young was traded last week for the expiring contracts of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. No draft picks were exchanged in the transaction. It was essentially a cost-cutting measure for the Atlanta Hawks, and the Grizzlies will hope Morant’s market is not the same.
If it is, though, what message does that send? By seeking a package of picks and young players for Morant, Memphis is telling the rest of the league that it is building for years down the line, when Jackson will be entering his 30s and approaching the end of his current contract. It would make sense, then, to deal Jackson, too, for that same package of picks and young players, which is why rival execs are circling.
Here are nine possible contenders who could make a play for Jackson.
The package: Hugo González, salary filler and picks
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The Celtics own the league’s second-best offensive rating (121.4), and they are starting Neemias Queta at center. While Queta has impressed as a rim-runner and rim-protector, he is hardly a floor-spacer. Nor is he as switchable defensively as Jackson. In other words, Jackson represents a pretty significant upgrade.
Jackson has shot as well as 39.4% on 6.5 3-point attempts per game, though the past two years he has settled into a slightly above-average status, shooting 37.1% on a handful of 3-point attempts per game. His total package placed him 17th last season on the All-NBA ballot, just shy of a third-team nomination.
We have seen Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis help Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to a championship, and there is no reason to think Jackson could not also vault Boston’s wings into more serious contention. Tatum’s rebounding ability offsets Jackson’s deficiency in that regard. It really is a hand-in-glove fit, so long as the Celtics could keep their core together. Plus, Jayson, Jaylen and Jaren has a nice ring for a trio.
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It would be tough for Boston to part ways with González, who entered the NBA this season as a helpful contributor. He is a 19-year-old 3-and-D wing who can attack close-outs and has shown flashes of a more expansive offensive game. He already does all of the little things that help Boston win in a way that shows he wants to be great. González may be the single highest-ceiling prospect the Grizzlies could acquire for Jackson.
The package: Austin Reaves, salary filler and picks
And Reaves may be the single-best current player the Grizzlies could get in return for Jackson. Reaves is making an All-Star bid, averaging a 27-5-6 on 51/37/87 shooting splits for a team on pace to win 51 games.
The Lakers could really use Jaren Jackson Jr. on the defensive end of the floor. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
(Katelyn Mulcahy via Getty Images)
Imagine Jackson as a pick-and-roll partner to Luka Dončić and LeBron James. He would also solve some of their issues on defense, where they rank 26th, despite Marcus Smart’s presence. One strategy, if you must build around both Dončić and James, is to match them with former Defensive Players of the Year.
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The Grizzlies’ defensive rating is 4.3 points better, allowing 113.3 points per 100 meaningful possessions (or the equivalent of a 13th-rated defense), whenever Jackson is on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. Opponents are also shooting 8.4% worse than their season averages around the rim whenever Jackson is defending — still an impressive number, though that figure was even better during his DPOY campaign.
The package: Anthony Black, salary filler and picks
Black is averaging a 15-4-4 on 47/35/72 shooting splits in a breakout third season, starting half of the Magic’s games. The arrival of Jackson, however, would give Orlando a legitimate force at every position on the floor in a lineup that boasts Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane.
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As is, the Magic start Wendell Carter Jr., a fine player, at center. He is no Jackson. In fact, Carter might be considered a light version of Jackson. He does not protect the rim as well, holding opponents 3.9% below their season averages at the basket, and he does not space the floor as well, either, shooting 32% from 3-point range on 2.4 attempts per game for his career. Jackson can do everything Carter can, only better.
This move would reunite Jackson with Bane, his former Grizzlies teammate. The Grizzlies outscored opponents by five points per 100 non-garbage possessions when the two shared the court together last season, significantly better than their season-long net rating of -1.4. Together they helped Memphis to 48 wins in the crowded Western Conference last season. Imagine what they could do for a Magic team that could have won 48 games without them, if not for injuries. Better than that is the stuff of contention.
It is concerning, though, how little Orlando has left in its draft tank after making the deal for Bane, which cost them the rights to four first-round picks. They still have another, but would Memphis want to put all of its stock into the Magic’s draft capital while making them a contender for the foreseeable future?
The package: Jalen Green, salary filler and picks
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The hard-playing Suns have been one of the season’s biggest surprises, ranking 14th on offense (114.7 points scored per 100 possessions) and sixth on defense (112.2 points allowed per 100 possessions). They are half a game back from a guaranteed playoff spot in the West. And they should want to be better.
Jackson would represent a significant upgrade over existing centers Mark Williams, Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, none of whom is a floor-spacer. If they have the chance to drive their offense into the top 10 while maintaining their current level of defense, if not improving on that end, why not take it?
What is most impressive: The Suns have almost exclusively done all of this without Green, who has been nursing a hamstring injury for the entire season. We do not yet know what the 23-year-old is fully capable of for a winning team, since the 52-win Houston Rockets cast him off in favor of Kevin Durant, but the Grizzlies may be willing to take the chance that the former No. 2 pick still has All-Star potential.
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How much better the Suns could make the deal, given how low their draft stash is, makes for concern.
The package: Jaden Ivey or Ron Holland, salary filler and picks
The Pistons have long been rumored as a possible destination for Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, whose ability as a 3-point shooter would make him an ideal fit alongside Duren in the frontcourt.
Jackson is not the offensive threat that Markkanen is, but his shooting ability allows him to fit next to Duren as well, while providing a secondary level of rim protection that Markkanen cannot. In that sense, the Pistons would lean into their hard-nosed identity on defense, rather than trying to forge a new one.
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Detroit’s double-big combination of Duren and Isaiah Stewart is outscoring opponents by 7.7 points per 100 meaningful possessions, operating like a top-five outfit on both ends. Consider adding Jackson to that mix, as the Pistons play with a level of size, physicality and versatility for a full 48 minutes that few teams could match. It would be a counterpunch to Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in Oklahoma City.
The package: Keldon Johnson or Devin Vassell, salary filler and picks
I cannot imagine the Spurs would give up Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle in any deal, excluding one for Giannis Antetokounmpo, at this point. The three-guard combination of Harper, Castle and De’Aaron Fox has been phenomenal for San Antonio. It is hard to mess with that, even for a player of Jackson’s caliber.
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So, instead, the Spurs would have to build a package around Johnson or Vassell. They have the expiring contracts of Harrison Barnes and Kelly Olynyk, plus plenty of draft picks, to sweeten a pot.
I cannot tell you how terrifying it would be to put Jackson, a former Defensive Player of the Year, alongside Victor Wembanyama, who may perpetually win that award for as long as he can meet the 65-game threshold. Not even the mighty Denver Nuggets’ offense would want to see that combination.
The package: Collin Murray-Boyles, salary filler and picks
The Raptors have surprised most everyone, playing their way, as of now, into a guaranteed playoff spot, and they have done so with Jakob Poeltl — a traditional big — at the center position. They are clearly in the market for an upgrade, as their reported interest in Anthony Davis indicated, and why not be even more motivated to part with a picks-laden package for a 26-year-old who played 74 games last season?
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Jackson would add a layer of offensive versatility to a team that boasts Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley and still only manages to rate 19th on the offensive end. Meanwhile, the Raptors would sacrifice little, if anything, on their top-10 rated defense, swapping Jackson for Poeltl.
But would the Grizzlies want any of Toronto’s long-term salary? Barnes, Quickley and Poeltl are all on the books at above-market rates through at least the 2028-29 season. Likewise, Ingram and Barrett are owed a combined $69.6 million next season. So, while the Raptors have young players to add to a deal — Jamal Shead, Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter among them — they may not meet Memphis’ presumed cost-saving ask.
The package: Jonathan Kuminga, salary filler and picks
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The Warriors have, for all intents and purposes, given up on Kuminga, benching the 23-year-old former top-10 pick for large swaths of this season, even as his skill set represents a lot of what they are missing.
What if Jackson traded places with Jonathan Kuminga? (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Ezra Shaw via Getty Images)
So, why would Memphis want Kuminga? It is a good question to ask. He has shown flashes of brilliance, especially on the offensive end, and the Grizzlies might envision a higher ceiling for him in new scenery.
For Golden State it makes all the sense in the world. They need a bit of rejuvenation on both ends of the floor for an old team that features Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Horford. Why not chase a 26-year-old who can improve their standing offensively and defensively? Jackson could both play alongside Green and serve as his long-term replacement on a team forever trying to sustain Curry’s prime.
The package: Zaccharie Risacher, salary filler and picks
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Like the Raptors, the Hawks reportedly expressed interest in trading for Davis, potentially offering recent No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in return. It would follow, then, that Atlanta should have interest in pursuing a floor-spacing, rim-protecting big who better fits the timeline of the 24-year-old Jalen Johnson.
The Hawks have the single-best asset to offer for anyone — the New Orleans Pelicans’ unprotected first-round pick in June — though they may not part with that for anybody but Antetokounmpo. They have other draft assets they could offer, even after they failed to acquire picks in return for Trae Young.
