How Lakers’ trade deadline moves led to turnaround
The Sporting Tribune’s Mark Medina writes how the Lakers moves at the trade deadline changed the fortunes of the franchise.
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1. How Lakers’ trade deadline moves led to turnaround
The Sporting Tribune’s Mark Medina writes how the Lakers moves at the trade deadline changed the fortunes of the franchise.
As he walked excitedly around the entrance tunnel, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka saw all the reasons that explained the franchise’s dramatic turnaround.
LeBron James headed toward the locker room after delaying Father Time once again. Anthony Davis trailed closely behind while Pelinka walked and talked with the Lakers’ star after excelling on both ends of the floor. And moments later, Pelinka embraced two key players he acquired before the trade deadline, including a valued wing (Rui Hachimura) and a dynamic playmaker (D’Angelo Russell).
Given the setting, it would have seemed understandable if Pelinka felt vindicated. He had faced criticism last season for the team’s faulty roster that contributed to a missed playoff appearance. He experienced more pressure after declining to trade Russell Westbrook before the 2022-23 season started. But with the Lakers laboring in 13th place in the Western Conference before the trade deadline, the team’s new acquisitions played a key role in ensuring the team returned to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in three years.
“I didn’t expect this,” Russell conceded. “I didn’t think this. So I’d be wrong and lying if I told you that I did.”
2. A’s reach deal to develop Las Vegas site for stadium
The Athletics are one step closer to moving to Las Vegas after reaching an agreement to put their ballpark on The Strip.
The Oakland Athletics have reached agreement to put their new ballpark on part of the site of the current Tropicana property along the Las Vegas Strip.
Bally’s Corp. announced Monday that, in conjunction with Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc., it has reached a binding agreement with the A’s for the site.
Plans call for a 30,000-seat ballpark projected to draw an attendance of more than 2.5 million people per year, per Bally’s. Previous reports estimated the cost of the stadium at $1.5 billion, with $395 million in public financing.
Under the agreement, Bally’s and GLPI will set aside about nine acres of the 35-acre parcel at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue for the A’s or a related stadium authority. Before ground can be broken on a stadium, legislation must be approved for public financing, and Major League Baseball must grant approval for the A’s to leave Oakland.
3. Oakland shows its disgust with A’s
The Sporting Tribune's Norm Clarke writes how Oakland is showing its disgust for the A's while the team's executives try to finalize a move to Las Vegas.
Feeling betrayed and abandoned, Oaklands A’s supporters held a tomato-throwing protest over the weekend to take aim at a trio being blamed for what increasingly appears to be a done deal – the A’s moving to Las Vegas.
Targets of what was billed Friday as the “Rotten Tomato Tailgate” were images of A’s owner John Fisher, team president Dave Kaval and Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
“It’s pretty much those three guys’ fault,” Kellen Osbourn told the San Francisco Chronicle at the event outside the Last Dive Bar.
“It’s just like the old Greek times,” said Dave Johansen, a founder of the Oakland bar. “It’s innocent, it’s not hurting anybody. And it’s fricken’ hilarious.”
The A’s executives and Manfred have been taking hits since announcing they are finalizing a stadium site in April.
4. Aces, Liberty create buzz in time for WNBA season
The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty are co-favorites to win the WNBA title, and the buzz is creating plenty of conversation for the league, writes The Sporting Tribune’s W.G. Ramirez.
Las Vegas Aces forward Alysha Clark did her best to diffuse any talk of the Aces and New York Liberty providing us with a WNBA Finals preview before the regular season even gets started, as the two met for a preseason clash Saturday afternoon.
"That's more so for like the outside, like the fans and the media," said the two-time WNBA champion. "It gives y'all something to talk about, which is exciting. But for us, we focus in-house, we focus on what we're doing every day, what we're getting better at, and just the chemistry that we're building."
After the Aces beat New York 84-77 in front of 4,460 exuberant fans, Liberty star guard Sabrina Ionescu echoed the sentiments.
"I think now more than ever, probably, it's more media-wise," Ionescu said. "Obviously top two teams, starting the season there's always this rivalry (talk). But to be honest, I don't think there's one within the team. There's not this whole, 'We're playing Vegas, there's this hype.' I think for us, any opportunity that we have to play a team we know there's a target on our back, and we know that's only going to make us better."
5. Francis Ngannou signs deal with PFL
Former UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou has finally signed a new deal with the PFL, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Gabriel Ornelas.
Francis Ngannou has found a new home.
Professional Fighters League signed Ngannou to a multifight contract on Tuesday, which was announced via The New York Times. The signing ends a highly publicized free agency period for Ngannou.
Ngannou and the PFL are labeling the deal as a “strategic partnership,” which includes equity and leadership roles within PFL along with Ngannou’s ability to seek boxing fights outside of the PFL. Ngannou is expected to make his MMA debut for the PFL next year, but intends to fight in a boxing ring this year. The deal includes naming Ngannou the chairman of PFL Africa, which is an expansion initiative to produce events on the continent, along with serving on the company’s advisory board to represent fighter interests.
“Let’s just say, all-in my deal with P.F.L is more than anyone else offered,” Ngannou said to the New York Times. “They didn’t just show up as a promotion that was looking for a fighter, but really came as a partner that sees more value in you as a person.”
Ngannou will fight in the Super Fight division, which includes Jake Paul and Kayla Harrison. The division allows fighters to have larger guarantees and larger cuts of pay-per-view revenue, which is not a common sight in MMA.
6. Angel City lose to Washington after late hand ball call
Angel City was in line to pick up points. Then, controversy ensued. What happened? The Sporting Tribune’s Kamran Nia has more from the scene at BMO Stadium.
As the final minutes ticked away at BMO Stadium, it seemed like Angel City would earn their first shutout of the NWSL season. Then, disaster struck.
Angel City defender Mary Alice Vignola blocked Washington Spirit midfielder Marissa Shiva’s shot, but the ball kicked off her side to her arm, awarding the Spirit a penalty kick for a hand ball.
Then, forward Ashley Hatch buried the penalty in the top right corner, giving the Spirit their only goal in a 1-0 victory over Angel City.
7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports
Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:
8. Ticket Time presented by TickPick
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today.
7:00 p.m. – Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Dodgers – $28
9. On the Air presented by The D Las Vegas
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today.
3:30 p.m. – Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore Orioles – Bally Sports West
5:30 p.m. - Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets - ESPN
7:00 p.m. – Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Dodgers – SportsNet LA
10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune
The Sporting Tribune’s Arash Markazi is joined by Brandon Deutsch, Jake Dicker, Armani Buckets and Ji Hae Wiley to discuss the Los Angeles Lakers dethroning the Golden State Warriors to advance to the Western Conference Finals and the Vegas Golden Knights beating the Edmonton Oilers to head to the Western Conference Finals for the fourth time in their six-year history.
Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher.
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