Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey kept the receipts.
After the Buffalo Bills defeated his Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round, one of the victorious players apparently took a shot at Baltimore having nine Pro Bowlers and still falling short:
Albert Breer @AlbertBreer
One thing was clear—the <a href=”https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@BuffaloBills</a> felt disrespected. Right or wrong, it was a rallying cry, and Josh Allen brought up at halftime the narrative that the Bills weren’t big or strong enough.<br><br>On the way out, I heard a guy say, “Now those 9 Pro Bowlers can go to the Pro Bowl.” <a href=”https://t.co/M13oe8TBS8″>https://t.co/M13oe8TBS8</a>
Well, Buffalo’s season came to an end Sunday with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Humphrey seized the opportunity to bring things full circle when he took to social media and said, “after the pro bowl maybe we can all go enjoy Cancun.”
There’s a certain level of irony with Humphrey poking fun at the Bills after their loss.
After all, it was just a handful of days ago that he took to social media and urged Buffalo to defeat the Chiefs and prevent Patrick Mahomes and Co. from making history as the first team in the NFL to win three straight Super Bowls:
marlonhumphrey.eth @marlon_humphrey
I have no reason of saying this other than being a hater. The Bills or whatever NFC team gotta beat the Chiefs. We can’t let them keep getting away with this
Humphrey and NFL fans who are tired of the Chiefs winning now have to put their hopes on the Philadelphia Eagles.
It will be a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which Kansas City won 38-35. However, Philadelphia didn’t have Saquon Barkley on its side for that one, which could be the difference this time around.
But defeating a Chiefs team that feels inevitable is easier said than done.
Buffalo certainly knows that considering it has lost to Mahomes’ side in four of the last five postseasons. Two of those losses came in the AFC Championship Game, with Sunday coming in particularly painful fashion since it had a fourth-quarter lead.
Humphrey knows what it’s like to lose to the Chiefs at this stage since Kansas City defeated the Ravens in last season’s AFC Championship Game.
Ultimately, there is nobody in the NFL better at sending opponents to Cancun than Mahomes.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey took a shot at the Buffalo Bills following their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Humphrey tweeted, “Looks like Buffalo is headed to Cancun early this year,” referencing the Bills’ early exit from the playoffs. The tweet quickly went viral, with many fans and media outlets reacting to Humphrey’s jab.
While some found the tweet amusing, others criticized Humphrey for being unsportsmanlike. Regardless, the Ravens’ cornerback didn’t seem to mind the backlash, as he later tweeted, “I’m just here for the laughs.”
The Bills have yet to respond to Humphrey’s tweet, but it’s safe to say that this won’t be the last we hear of this social media feud. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Black Stars coach Otto Addo has visited Thomas Partey and Alexander Djiku, strengthening his connection with key players ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March.
His visits come amid speculation about unrest in the Black Stars camp, though no concrete issues have been confirmed.
Addo, who will lead the new Black Stars technical team, is focused on reviving the team after a disappointing 2024, which saw Ghana fail to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Determined to get the squad back on track, the former Borussia Dortmund assistant coach has intensified his efforts, engaging with key players, including Djiku and Partey.
The two players were previously rumored to have been involved in a dressing room dispute, which allegedly led to their absence from Ghana’s last two AFCON qualifiers against Angola and Niger. However, Addo’s recent visits suggest a move toward strengthening team unity.
He met Djiku in Turkey, sharing a moment with the defender before heading to England to meet deputy captain Partey. During his visit, Addo also had discussions with Partey’s manager at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta.
Watch the latest edition of Sports Debate below:
FKA/EK
Recently, rumors have been swirling about a possible breakdown in the Black Stars dressing room. To address these concerns, Ghana’s assistant coach, Otto Addo, paid visits to key players Thomas Partey and Alexander Djiku.
Addo’s visits were seen as a way to check in on the players and ensure that team morale remains high ahead of upcoming matches. Both Partey and Djiku are important members of the national team, and their form and attitude will be crucial to Ghana’s success in future competitions.
While the exact nature of the rumored dressing room issues remains unclear, Addo’s proactive approach to addressing the situation is a positive sign that the coaching staff is taking steps to maintain unity within the team.
Fans will be hoping that these visits will help to quash any tensions and that the Black Stars can focus on their upcoming matches with unity and determination.
– Manchester United and Arsenal are both in contact with Mathys Tel‘s representatives in an attempt to force a move before the end of the transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. Tel, 19, turned down the chance to join Tottenham earlier in the week after a €60m deal had been agreed with Bayern Munich. Now, though, Tel is considering his options over a potential move in the last 24 hours of the transfer window.
– Juventus are willing to activate the release clause to sign striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli when he returns from Galatasaray in the summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Bianconeri are believed to have identified the 26-year-old as an ideal candidate to replace Dusan Vlahovic, who they are expecting to part ways with in one of the next two transfer windows. An offer worth €75m would be required to activate Osimhen’s clause, but the two Serie A clubs are set to discuss the move as sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli explores whether Napoli would be willing to accept a lower offer.
– Chelsea forward João Félix‘s future could be decided on Sunday, with AC Milan leading the way to sign him. The Italian club’s interest is described as “concrete” by Sky Sports Germany‘s Florian Plettenberg, with Rossoneri boss Sérgio Conceição a “big admirer” of the 25-year-old Portugal international. Milan’s cause could be helped by the fact that both Felix and Conceicao share the same agent, Jorge Mendes
– Bayern Munich are expected to announce that left-back Alphonso Davies will sign a new contract, ending months of speculation linking the Canada international with a move away from the Bavarian club. Bild’s Christian Falk reveals that Bayern officials have sanctioned a contract worth €120m over five years, which will keep the in-demand 24-year-old at the club and end interest from Real Madrid.
– Borussia Dortmund have made an offer to sign Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, reports Sky Sports Deutschland. The Bundesliga club are reported to be keen to sign the 21-year-old on loan, and they have included a permanent option clause into their proposal that would enable them the choice to acquire him in the summer for a fee worth €30m. BVB are also said to be still monitoring Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.
CONFIRMED TRANSFERS
– Manchester United have completed the €30m signing of full-back Patrick Dorgu from Serie A club Lecce. The Denmark international, 20, becomes Ruben Amorim’s first signing since he took charge and fills a major need on the left in the Portuguese manager’s system. Read
– Tottenham have boosted their defensive options with the signing of defender Kevin Danso from Lens. Danso has joined the north London side on loan until the end of the season with an obligation to sign permanently for €25m. Read
– PSV confirmed that USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi, who is currently injured, has signed a contract extension until 2030. Read
– Marseille have confirmed that goalkeeper Pau López, 30, has joined Liga MX side Deportivo Toluca.
– Torino have announced the €15m signing of Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei from Chelsea.
– Matheus Cunha has signed a new deal with Wolves, but that won’t dissuade suitors from a move next summer as he has a release clause which will become active from June. Read
– Everton’s women announced the signing of former Chelsea defender and Norway international Maren Mjelde, 35, on a free transfer.
EXPERT TAKE
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Laurens: Is Nico Gonzalez ready for Manchester City?
Julien Laurens reports on FC Porto’s Nico Gonzalez’s link with Manchester City, and questions whether the two are a good fit.
OTHER RUMORS
– Newcastle are rivalling north-east rivals Sunderland for Linfield’s highly rated teenage defender Matthew Orr. The 17-year-old has become a first-team regular after signing his first professional contract earlier this season and the Northern Irish Premiership leaders have already rejected a bid from League One side Stockport County.
A source has told ESPN that Newcastle are considering a move for Orr, primarily to develop the youngster in the U23 side, with Sunderland also ready to exploit existing links with Linfield, from whom they signed full-back Trai Hume for £200,000 in 2022. Sources said that Orr, who trains just two days a week with Linfield due to his determination to finish his college education, is the best prospect to emerge from Northern Ireland since Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and is ready for the step-up to the professional game in England. (ESPN, Mark Ogden)
– Bayern Munich have paused their interest in signing Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, 27, until the summer. (Christian Falk)
– Crystal Palace want to sign Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, 28, on loan. (Athletic)
– West Ham United have agreed a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign striker Evan Ferguson on loan until the end of the season. (Sky Sports).
– Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain have agreed to terms over a loan move for winger Marco Asensio. (Athletic)
– Galatasaray are looking to bring in Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier, 34. (Mail)
– Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is keen to move to Aston Villa. The 26-year-old has played six matches for the Blues this season. (TEAMtalk)
– Villa are keen to sign Sunderland’s 18-year-old winger Tommy Watson from Sunderland, but Crystal Palace are also interested. (Guardian)
– Benfica are closing in on a double deal that will see them sign striker Andrea Belotti from Como and full-back Samuel Dahl from AS Roma. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Juventus are close to completing a move for Newcastle United defender Lloyd Kelly. The two clubs are reported to have reached a verbal agreement on Saturday night, which means a medical is planned for Sunday. (Relevo)
– Negotiations are ongoing between Middlesbrough and Aston Villa to finalise a move for winger Samuel Iling-Junior, as he is is set to return from his loan at Serie A side Bologna. (Daily Mail)
– Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Cher Ndour is on his way to Fiorentina. The 20 year old had been on loan at Besiktas, but is now flying to Rome to complete a medical ahead of a loan move. (Nicolo Schira)
– Strasbourg defender Loubadhe Abakar Sylla, 22, is the subject of interest from Southampton over a loan move. (Fabrizio Romano)
Reports are swirling in the football world as Manchester United and Arsenal are both reportedly interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma this summer. The 24-year-old has been a standout performer for Brighton this season, catching the eye of several top clubs.
Both United and Arsenal are in need of reinforcements in midfield, and Bissouma’s dynamic playing style and defensive abilities have made him a top target for both clubs. With his contract set to expire in 2023, Brighton may be forced to sell Bissouma this summer to avoid losing him for free next year.
It remains to be seen which club will win the race for Bissouma’s signature, but one thing is for certain – his arrival would be a major boost for either United or Arsenal as they look to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting transfer saga.
NBANBAUpdated Finals picks? One trade we’d love to see before the deadline? To mark the midpoint of this NBA season, our staff gathered to answer five burning questions for the rest of the way.
Wow, time flies like Mac McClung. The NBA season has officially crossed the halfway mark and we’re rapidly approaching the trade deadline and All-Star Weekend. To take stock of both where we’re going and where we’ve been, we gathered our staff to power rank the 10 teams most likely to win the title and answer some burning questions, including their dream trade proposals and updated Finals picks. Without further ado …
A lot has changed since our preseason Power Rankings. To reassess where things stand after a shape-shifting first half, The Ringer asked its NBA staff to each rank the 10 teams they think are most likely to win the title. We compiled the votes and analyzed each team’s Finals chances. Here are the results.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (26-21, seventh in the West)
Tyler Parker:It was supposed to go better than this. After a trip to the 2024 conference finals, people expected Minnesota to hover near the top of the West all season. That hasn’t happened. The defense has been inconsistent and leaky. The offense can get muddy. Julius Randle has struggled to fill KAT’s shoes. Turns out making moves because you don’t want to pay someone is loser behavior. With respect, Mike Conley has been put on Wash Watch. Time just wins. As of this writing the Timberwolves are seventh in the West, at the top of the play-in, a half game up on the Mavericks. They need more cowbell. Still, there are many positives that bode well going forward. Minnesota’s been one of the healthiest teams in the league this season. Donte DiVincenzo’s found his stroke from distance. Naz Reid is still hardcore. And Rob Dillingham looks real twitchy out there, real bouncy. Something else in Minny’s favor: Anthony Edwards has been a playoff monster every time he’s been there. He asks for the weight. He wants it. Shows up to the postseason willing and able. You get the defense right and show up to a playoff series with him, you’re a load to deal with and have a puncher’s chance against anybody.
9. Houston Rockets (32-14, second in the West)
Zach Kram: Tatum. Jokic. Steph. Giannis. LeBron. Kawhi. Durant. Durant again. LeBron again. Steph again. In reverse chronological order, those are the last 10 scoring leaders for the winning team in the Finals; all 10 ranked among the very best players in the league. With rare exceptions, a megastar is practically required to lead an NBA team to a championship. But nobody on the Rockets comes close—according to The Ringer’s Top 100 rankings, the Rockets’ best player is Alperen Sengun, who ranks just 37th in the league, while their leading scorer is the inefficient Jalen Green, who’s not in the top 100 at all. Now, the Rockets resemble some of those rare exceptions—like the 2003-04 Pistons—as a physical, defense-first group. But for as wonderful a story as the Rockets’ rise has been, can anyone in Houston go toe to toe with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, or other All-NBA mainstays in crunch time in May? There’s no shame in still being a year away.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (26-19, fourth in the East)
Danny Chau:Setting aside the Doc Rivers of it all, it feels as though the Bucks are the dark-horse contender hiding in plain sight. It’s been practically ages since Giannis made it to the postseason intact, and the league has its issues with object permanence. The Bucks are finding a groove on offense as of late. It’s what you’d hope would happen in a season in which Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are each scoring about as efficiently as ever—especially with Giannis more or less absorbing his teammate Khris Middleton’s best skill as a midrange marksman. There is a sort of old-school ethos in how strongly everything revolves around the Bucks’ two superstars, but if both Giannis and Dame can stay healthy, the gravity of their two-man game is enough to keep them in the hunt. And if they get there, they have something no one else does: Antetokounmpo at the peak of his powers.
7. Dallas Mavericks (26-22, eighth in the West)
Isaac Levy-Rubinett:Compared to even several teams ranked above them in this poll, the Mavericks don’t have much to prove. Their title blueprint—Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, a big-man tag team, and a bevy of well-fitting role players—has been well substantiated, and not just during last year’s run through the West. Even this season, Dallas has been gangbusters when healthy. Of course, Dallas is extremely not healthy, and it’s unclear when that might change. Doncic has been out with a calf injury since late December, he’s recently been joined by Dereck Lively II (ankle) and Maxi Kleber (foot) on the sidelines, and Dallas has slid to ninth in the West. At this point, the most relevant questions surrounding the Mavs’ title chances are metaphysical. Is their season cursed? Is there an antidote for this kind of snakebit season? On the one hand, it’s difficult to envision. NBA seasons are kind of like ships—as much as we pay attention to each and every game, it’s hard for an entire team to change course, let alone turn the whole thing around. But on the other hand, Luka is one of the NBA’s most capable captains. Last season’s Mavs remade their team at the deadline and ripped off a Finals run. Who’s to say this year’s version can’t get healthy and do the same?
6. Memphis Grizzlies (31-16, third in the East)
Rob Mahoney:Why not Memphis? They’ve got the defense, the depth, the star power, the shooting—and ultimately, the variety of ways to win. The Grizzlies have made themselves amorphous by design. They don’t need Ja Morant to go off for 30 to win, or even for him to play at all; this is a team that has found every rotation contingency possible, and squeezed out wins from circumstances of all kinds. That’s championship savvy. There are no easy roads through the West this season, but if any team is ready to bob and weave its way through the field to challenge OKC, it’s the Grizzlies.
5. New York Knicks (32-16, third in the East)
Howard Beck:The case for the Knicks is compelling: They have the NBA’s second-ranked offense, powered by one of the league’s best guard-center tandems (Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns). They have a pair of top-shelf 3-and-D wings (OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges) and a truly elite hustle/glue/vibes guy (Josh Hart). The Anunoby-Bridges combo seems specifically designed to contain the Celtics’ superstar wings. But the Knicks’ overall defense—a strength one year ago—has wilted this season (currently 13th, between the Mavericks and Hawks). Their lack of depth is concerning—as is Tom Thibodeau’s (very much related) overreliance on his starters. Maybe Mitchell Robinson’s return will solve the defense and depth issues. But if not, it’s hard to see the Knicks getting through Boston or Cleveland.
4. Denver Nuggets (28-19, fourth in the West)
Kram: The Nuggets’ main strength is the same as when they won the title in 2023: Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world, and the Nuggets are awesome (plus-11.6 net rating) when he plays. Unfortunately, the Nuggets’ main weakness is the same as when they lost in the second round of the 2023-24 postseason: With Jamal Murray’s production in flux, the Nuggets don’t have the requisite firepower beyond Jokic, so they’re terrible (minus-10.4 net rating) when Jokic rests. Denver might have the shallowest roster of any contender, with just five above-average players, according to estimated plus-minus, and only one other player (a rejuvenated Russell Westbrook) even close to that threshold. Can a six-man team win the title? Even the similarly top-heavy 2022-23 Nuggets had seven reliable players in the postseason, which is better than the current group can muster.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (38-9, first in the East)
Michael Pina: If you’re going to compete for an NBA championship in this decade, explosive offense is non-negotiable. The Cavaliers have had the most efficient attack in the NBA for pretty much this entire season. They’re fourth in 3-point rate and first in 3-point percentage; significantly more potent with their leading scorer Donovan Mitchell on the bench. Doubts about their core four’s compatibility have been answered in Kenny Atkinson’s ball-hopping spasm of a system, in which they aren’t reliant on any one player or single lineup combination. The Cavaliers have options. The two questions I have for the playoffs are: 1. What happens if/when their 3-point shots don’t fall? 2. And can Darius Garland hold up on the defensive end, when opponents hunt him with a ruthlessness that’s typically reserved for the grind of a seven-game series?
2. Boston Celtics (33-15, second in the East)
Matt Dollinger: See, the Celtics don’t win every poll at The Ringer. After starting the season 21-5, it felt like the reigning champions were going to suck all of the suspense out of this season. But they’ve gone 11-10 since, offering hope to a slew of contenders banking on variance in this year’s title race. That said, it’s hard to see the Celtics’ struggles as anything other than a midseason lull. They’ver been tinkering and toying all season, giving extended minutes to their bench in hopes of having a deeper reserve in the postseason. It’s hard to take the regular season as seriously as can be when you’re coming off one title and arguably the favorite to win the next. You’re trying to peak in June, not January. So while it’s tempting (believe me, very tempting) to think the door might be open, the Celtics are the only team that ranks in the top five on both offense and defense, they still have two of the top 15 players in the game, and they now have the confidence of a team that knows it can win the big one. Unfortunately for the haters (read: us), I think they’re just pacing themselves.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-9, first in the West)
Chau: OKC is arguably the most unorthodox title favorite since the 2014-15 Warriors reset basketball’s collective brain chemistry. All-time elite defenses throughout history have generally excelled at securing and extending possessions. The Thunder, in spite of how they lost last year, still suck at rebounding, preferring chaos over stability—they remain one of the league’s worst rebounding teams, but you’d have to go back nearly 20 years to find a team with a higher opponent turnover percentage. They’ve created a distinctive blueprint for success, and we’ve yet to see the finished product. Maybe chaos really is a ladder: one to prepare them for heights that can be reached only when both of their 7-foot anchors in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein are finally ready and able to coexist on the floor.
Mahoney: It’s still the Cleveland Cavaliers. I know it’s old news by this point, and I know they’re in a relative slump, but come on. They’ve dropped three of five and are still on pace to win 66 games—18 more than last season, with virtually the exact same roster. Kenny Atkinson is a wizard. Evan Mobley is the truth.
Kram: I mistakenly thought the Clippers would be terrible with Paul George gone and Kawhi Leonard injured. It would’ve been an unmitigated disaster if so because the Thunder have swap rights on the Clippers’ first-round pick this June. But Norm Powell’s “addition by subtraction” prediction came true! Powell should be the Most Improved Player favorite, and the Clippers should now be a playoff team. With Kawhi looking more like himself every game he plays, they might even win a round or two.
Pina: In two months, Paul George went from the greatest free agent signing in Philadelphia 76ers history to one of the worst contracts in the NBA. The 34-year-old hasn’t averaged fewer than 20 points per game since he was 22. He’s currently at 17.1, with a free throw rate that’s disturbingly low. This is the first time George’s team has been outscored with him on the court, too. Joel Embiid’s health issues tend to overshadow everything that’s gone wrong in Philly, but PG’s sharp left turn toward someone who’s producing at a level that isn’t worth half as much as he’s currently owed is almost equally worrisome. The Pistons would not trade Tobias Harris for him.
Beck: Just about everything that’s happened in Sacramento: the good, the bad, the awkward, the absolute WTF of it all. Losing 19 of their first 32 games? Did not see that coming! Firing Mike Brown, who’d won Coach of the Year just two seasons ago? Nope! Botching the dismissal and creating a PR nightmare? Er, OK, maybe not quite as surprising. (Kangz gonna Kangz.) Winning 11 of their first 16 games under rookie head coach Doug Christie? No one could have predicted that, either. And then, after the last of those wins, a report: Star guard De’Aaron Fox wants to be traded, preferably soonish. Kangzzzz! I don’t know what’s coming next. I just know I feel bad for my friends in Sacramento, who have suffered enough Kings dysfunction. They deserve better.
Parker: Hard to pick. There’s Jaylen Wells. Zero fears from him. Did not know he had it like this. There’s the Rockets in general. Hungry and ahead of schedule. Mostly a team full of scrappers, plus you’ve got Amen Thompson Vince-ing his way into the hearts of gravity haters everywhere. Cosmic athleticism from Houston’s Thompson twin. The guy has access to many different portals. There’s Norm Powell throwing fireballs in the Intuit Dome. There are the early struggles from the Sixers and Suns and Heat. There’s the hard-playing Clippers and Pistons and the unexpected Russell Westbrook–Nikola Jokic chemistry.
Yeah, that’s my answer. Jokic and Westbrook falling in love before our eyes. They can’t pass it to each other enough. You take it. No, you take it. It’s adorable, and I think they should do a podcast together.
Chau: The bottom falling out for Philadelphia. After the Sixers’ first-round exit at the hands of the Knicks last season, I wrote about the burden of Joel Embiid’s dominance, which is housed in a body that could give way at any moment. It felt hyperbolic, even to me as I wrote it, but there was an overwhelming sense at the time that he was standing at the precipice of something. The precipice crumbled beneath the weight. Embiid has played 13 games all season and hasn’t suited up in weeks. The team is about four, five seconds from hitting eject on the season, one in which a pivotal first-round pick hangs in the balance. But if the Sixers have to sacrifice themselves at the altar for an Eagles Super Bowl victory, that’s probably a net win for the city.
Kram: Cam Johnson to Oklahoma City. More than any other contender, the Thunder can afford the pick price that Brooklyn wants for Johnson, and I think they should pay it. Oklahoma City’s greatest potential playoff weakness is a lack of secondary scoring behind SGA if Jalen Williams isn’t quite ready to be a championship-level no. 2. In the midst of a career year, Johnson can help. At the very least, he’d add a crucial knockdown shooter to a rotation that ranks just 16th in 3-point percentage this season. Among Thunder players with at least 100 long-range attempts, only Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe are shooting better than 37 percent, but Johnson’s all the way up at 42 percent on 7.6 tries per game.
Beck: Can Denver find a way to pry Johnson from Brooklyn? I’m not sold on the Nuggets as constructed, the Jokic-Westbrook bromance notwithstanding. They could use another athletic wing who can defend and shoot 3s. Johnson fits the bill and could replace a lot of what Denver lost when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defected to Orlando last summer.
Parker: Zion Williamson to Golden State. Obviously this won’t happen, but let me waste your time for a second. Dubs say bye to Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Podz? A pick? Picks? And you bank on your culture being able to turn Zion around. I mainly want this because I think Steph would make every attempt to get Zion comfortable. Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s a Duke guy, too. What about the brotherhood? Honor the brotherhood, Michael Jr. Plus, the Zion–Draymond Green relationship has the potential to be filled with drama and passive aggression, two of my most favorite things. It’s a swing, but Curry deserves it. We all saw the Olympics. He still has the goods.
Chau: A trade for Chris Boucher, who has been approaching divinity since the start of 2025. The longtime Raptor has a ready-made postseason skill set that he’s honed through fluctuating roles in Toronto over the years. He’s an instinctive and proactive off-ball cutter, a solid defender with the length and athleticism to close out and recover, and a rock-solid offensive rebounder whose tenacity and nose for the ball supersede his rail-thin frame. And that’s not mentioning the fact that he’s shooting better than 53 percent from 3 on more than four attempts per game in January. Boucher’s heater has kept Toronto warm during this recent polar vortex, but it might finally be time to see one of the longest-tenured Raptors in franchise history show what he can do on a team like Denver, Houston, or Dallas.
Mahoney: Robert Williams III to the Knicks. New York needs size on its bench badly, and reasonable people can disagree as to whether the Knicks should aim to get bigger on the wings or on the back line. Personally, I see a team in desperate need of some rim protection—not as a default look but as an option. Williams can play behind Towns or with him. He can guard in the action or swoop in from the weak side. At this point, Williams is a better bet to be an impact player this season than the still-recovering Mitchell Robinson—and that’s saying something given Time Lord’s extensive injury history.
Pina: It would be cool to see the impossibly deep Memphis Grizzlies make some kind of consolidation trade, if not a simple upgrade of what’s already in place. It’s unclear for whom exactly, but they could use another shotmaker who is comfortable playing fast and provides defensive versatility. Marcus Smart’s $20 million contract is useful enough to go get someone like Lonzo Ball, Cam Johnson, or Bruce Brown with draft equity attached. And if the Warriors are looking to sell, Memphis could add more salary and get Andrew Wiggins instead.
Pina: What shape is Kawhi Leonard in? He’s shown flashes of brilliance since returning to L.A.’s starting lineup, handling significant defensive responsibilities and getting where he wants with the ball. Is it possible for him to peak in the spring, playing 35 minutes every night? If so, the Clippers are a sleeper to make some noise in the playoffs.
Chau: My eyes are locked on Amen Thompson’s steady alpha ascent and how it shapes the Rockets moving forward. Thompson’s game-winner in Houston’s statement win over Boston is just the tip of the iceberg. He is a force multiplier on both sides of the court, yet his usage rate (even during his star-making January) is lower than that of some mid-tier starting centers in the league. With Amen’s havoc creation in the starting lineup, the Rockets pull off the rarest of feats in today’s game: They can boat-race teams on offense without having any reliable shooting. Imagine if they gave Thompson even more responsibility now that he’s settling into the flow of things. Imagine if they added even a modicum of consistent perimeter shooting at the deadline.
Mahoney: The mystery-box Mavericks. In theory, Dallas is one of the most dangerous teams in the field: balanced, dynamic, and a worthy foil to the West-leading Thunder. Yet all of that is predicated on the Mavs getting healthy enough to play their best basketball at the right time, which feels less certain with every mounting injury. Luka Doncic will hopefully be back soon, but Kyrie Irving still has a bulging disc in his back, and Dereck Lively II could be out for months—and that’s to say nothing of the rotation minutes lost with Dante Exum still sidelined and Maxi Kleber recently joining the injury report. Are the Mavs a sleeping giant or just cursed?
Kram: Victor Wembanyama will almost certainly become the youngest Defensive Player of the Year in league history. But I want to see whether he becomes the first player since Dikembe Mutombo in 1995-96 to average four blocks per game; Wemby’s at 3.9 right And because he’s already had one game this season with double-digit blocks, I will always be monitoring his potential for the NBA’s first quadruple-double in more than three decades.
Beck: Could the Sixers (as our guy Kram wrote last week) actually pivot from contender to (gulp) tanker? Would they? Should they? Might they? Is this actually a serious question? Well, yeah, it sort of is! As a refresher: The Sixers owe their 2025 first-round pick to the Thunder. But they keep the pick if it lands in the top six. And they currently hold the eighth-worst record in the league. If Joel Embiid can’t get (and stay) healthy, this season is toast anyway. Would you rather send a lottery pick (perhaps as high as seventh!) to OKC … or just pull the plug and try to ensure yourself a top-six pick? I can’t recall ever seeing a case quite like this, and I’m absolutely fascinated to see how the Sixers play it.
Parker: Several enticing things at play during the second half of this season. Luka’s health feels pretty massive, though I don’t suppose that’s really a story line. Ditto for Ja Morant and his dings. Full strength, how good are the Grizzlies? I talked about the Rockets already and will talk about them again now—do they have enough gas to consistently break down elite defenses? Do the Magic have a late-season run in them now that Paolo Banchero’s healthy? Will Jokic win a fourth MVP? Even if he doesn’t, we’re kind of in the Jokic era now, yeah? And have been for some time? When did it start? I guess it should be the Jokic-Giannis era, really. Antetokounmpo’s once again Hulk-smashing everything unfortunate enough to lie in his path. Physically overwhelming, bonkers mix of mobility and muscle, plus a thirst for dominion. A healthy Giannis makes anything possible. He can still top out as the best player in the world.
Pina: Celtics over Nuggets. In seven. The All-Star break should do wonders for a Boston team that’s looked either exhausted or bored in every other game it’s played over the past several weeks. Their fundamentals are perfectly fine. Their depth, versatility, experience, and talent are top tier. Out West, the only team that can touch Nikola Jokic in a seven-game series is the Oklahoma City Thunder, but in that matchup, I’m hesitant to pick OKC without having seen Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein share the court.
Kram: Thunder over Celtics. Before the season, I picked Celtics over Thunder. But OKC has been so dominant when it’s had even one of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein available and Boston has looked rickety enough lately that I’ll flip that order now.
Chau: Thunder over Knicks. Oklahoma City will prevail in the battle for orange-and-blue supremacy. Both teams have real postseason questions that need answers, but they also both have the most latent upside left to mine in the second half of the season.
Parker: Knicks over Thunder. This was my preseason pick and neither team has done anything to dissuade me so far. Both have been varying degrees of rad this season, capitalizing on a potent mixture of elite point guards, wise offseason moves, and continuity. But it’s not easy. The Celtics’ current slump doesn’t make them any less loaded; the champs must be respected. And, look, the Cavs. Cleveland has done nothing but exceed expectations at every turn. These guards, just a joy. Conan bows to Jarrett Allen. And hey, everyone, Ty Jerome could make you happy. If you’d just give him that chance, he could make you so, so happy. And then obviously Mobley’s, you know, some kind of dragon. I already said that with Giannis, all things are possible. But I’m sticking with the two teams I took in the preseason, Knicks-Thunder, though I’m changing my winner. The Knicks’ starters are gonna be worn to a nub if they make it to the Finals. Thibs is putting some hard city miles on those guys. And the Thunder are adding Chet to this historic defense at some point. Give me OKC.
Beck: Thunder over Celtics. I picked this in the preseason, and I’m sticking with it. No team in the West can match the Thunder’s talent and depth. The Cavaliers are a worthy challenger to the Celtics—and will surely test them this spring—but I don’t think they have an answer for Tatum and Brown. (And no, I don’t think Boston’s January swoon is all that worrisome.)
Mahoney: Thunder over Celtics. That has less to do with Boston (which looks very much like a defending champion, both in clear dominance and midseason malaise) and more to do with the Thunder making a particularly convincing case. This is a historically stifling OKC team, and that’s without accounting for whatever Chet Holmgren is able to give OKC once he returns to the floor. They’re young, sure, but they’re feisty and resourceful—and don’t have the baggage of playing one long season into the next.
As we reach the halfway point of the NBA season, it’s time to take stock of where each team stands in the league. From power rankings to trade rumors, there’s plenty to discuss as we look ahead to the rest of the season.
In this midseason survey, we’ll break down the top teams in the league, examine some of the biggest trade rumors swirling around the NBA, and take a look at some of the standout performances from players around the league.
So sit back, grab your favorite team’s jersey, and join us as we dive into all the latest news and updates from the NBA. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a casual observer, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s get started!
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NBA midseason, Power rankings, Trade rumors, NBA news, Basketball updates, NBA trades, Sports analysis, NBA standings, Player rankings, NBA updates
The trade deadline is one week away and the Lakers are still searching for the right answer to their problems.
Is that a center? A point guard? A third star? A combination of those three?
The front office will assess those questions in the coming days. While fans wait, let’s catch up on the latest rumors and reports.
Myles on the move?
One of the names to emerge over the last week has been Myles Turner from the Pacers. Effectively, there was no report linking him to the Lakers other than people citing a history of links to the Lakers and Turner’s contract expiring at season’s end.
Naturally, since this didn’t have a starting point, there really isn’t much smoke to this one, at least according to longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein. In his latest Substack newsletter, Stein said the Pacers are only looking to move Turner if they get another starting center in return.
Yet the prevailing leaguewide sense, one week out from the trade buzzer, is that the Pacers do not want to trade Turner.
There is a strong belief among some league personnel that Indiana would need to see proposals that return a starting-level center to even consider the notion.
There are three-team machinations of deals that could potentially send the Pacers a starting center while landing the Lakers Turner, but those are complicated deals. And those are only possible if the Pacers want to move Turner, which remains to be seen.
Center not the biggest need?
While there’s been plenty of talk about the center position — and more to come shortly — that isn’t the only position of need for the Lakers currently.
After trading away D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers have been short on playmakers on the roster. There has been a heavy reliance on Austin Reaves and LeBron James in the starting lineup while Gabe Vincent’s recent strong play has come at a critical time.
However, that might not be a sustainable formula moving forward, and the Lakers know it. According to Dan Woike of the LA Times in a recent extensive piece, the need for another ball handler is very apparent even to those in the locker room.
A center also is not the Lakers’ lone need. According to players inside the locker room discouraged from publicly discussing trade targets, there’s a desire for more playmaking, a need that’s become clear since the team traded D’Angelo Russell.
As much as the discussion has been about the need for center, perhaps equally important is the need to bring in another guard. With Vincent out, the Lakers have to turn to one of Shake Milton or Bronny James and, as fans saw on Tuesday against the Sixers, those are not good solutions.
Looking for a big man
Ultimately, the Lakers’ trade deadline will probably be graded on whether they land another center. Although this has been a need for some time, Anthony Davis’ public remarks amplified the pressure on the front office to find an upgrade.
But the Lakers are not alone in searching for a center. As Woike also noted in his piece, the price for big men is high as the deadline nears.
In conversations with executives inside and outside of the organization, it’s become clear that the costs for starting-caliber NBA centers are high — particularly ones good enough to force the Lakers into the kind of seismic change that moving Davis to power forward and LeBron James to small forward would cause.
Trading for a big man just for the sake of bringing in another center isn’t going to solve any problems. Finding one that can both complement AD and also excel without him is quite the needle to thread.
But, Woike still reports that the team is looking for potential options.
The Lakers have been actively exploring adding a big man, though it’s not being done recklessly, according to NBA executives. Concerns about cost, fitting Redick’s preferred style of play and the ripples from moving Davis — namely playing James major minutes at small forward — are being weighed.
With Walker Kessler, the No. 1 target for most fans, seemingly unavailable at the deadline, it really thins the list of players who fit all the criteria the Lakers need.
The Lakers aren’t in a particularly easy situation to find upgrades, but they certainly are under a lot of pressure to do so. Sure sounds like fun!
The Los Angeles Lakers are not wasting any time in their quest to fill out their roster for the upcoming season. With the trade deadline looming, the Lakers are actively looking for a point guard to bolster their backcourt.
One of the names that has been circulating in Lakers rumors is Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. The 25-year-old center is known for his shot-blocking prowess and would provide a defensive anchor in the paint for the Lakers. However, reports indicate that the Pacers are asking for a hefty price in return for Turner, potentially including a combination of draft picks and young players.
While the Lakers are intrigued by the possibility of adding Turner to their lineup, they are also exploring other options at the point guard position. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way, the Lakers are looking for a playmaker who can facilitate the offense and take pressure off of their star duo.
Names like Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors and Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans have been mentioned in Lakers rumors as potential targets. Both guards bring different skill sets to the table, with Lowry known for his leadership and championship experience, while Ball is a young and talented playmaker with room to grow.
As the trade deadline approaches, Lakers fans will be eagerly anticipating any updates on potential acquisitions. With a championship on the line, the Lakers are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of adding talent to their roster. Stay tuned for more Lakers rumors as the deadline draws near.
Ingram, 27, is on a $36 million expiring contract. He became eligible for a contract extension worth up to $208 million over four years last summer, but the Pelicans have not been willing to max him out, nor have they been able to find him a suitable trade. Initially, according to The Stein Line, other teams proposed frameworks for Butler deals that also involved Ingram. Then New Orleans decided to reach out to Miami directly about a Butler-Ingram swap.
For the Heat, who would like to move on from the Butler era, make the playoffs this season and not take on money past 2025-26, a trade built around Butler and Ingram would make a lot of sense. Ingram has been out since Dec. 7 with a high-grade ankle sprain, but, assuming he can get back on the court for the stretch run, he’d give them another talented creator. If he fits well, they’d have the option of re-signing him with Bird rights in the offseason. They could also sign-and-trade him at that point.
A Jimmy Butler-free trade deadline preview: Six questions about the other storylines ahead of Feb. 6
James Herbert
For the Pelicans, the motivation here is less clear. They need to shed $1.4 million to get under the luxury tax, and, given that they never pay the tax and have a 12-36 record, they’re not going to add to their payroll between now and the Feb. 6 deadline. Butler is making $48.8 million this season, so, presumably, New Orleans would be giving up more than just Ingram. Could CJ McCollum ($33.3 million this season, $30.7 million next) be moved to Miami (or elsewhere)? Does the front office envision Butler helping a healthier version of the team make a playoff run next season, or is this just a creative way to create financial flexibility?
The new CBA means that almost any trade involving Butler and Ingram would have to be complex and involve at least one other team. The Heat are close to the second apron, and, if they aggregate multiple contracts, they can’t finish the trade above it. As they are over the first apron, they cannot take back more salary than they receive.
According to The Stein Line, the Pelicans have also had recent discussions about Ingram with the Toronto Raptors and that “preliminary conversations” with the Atlanta Hawks have “not gained significant traction.”
Does Fox want out or did Sacramento decide to shop him? Yes
Let’s talk about semantics! When ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings was on the block, he did not report that Fox had demanded (or politely requested) a trade. He did, however, report that Fox had a “target destination in mind ahead of 2026 free agency.”
So does Fox want out? Well, The Stein Line reported Thursday that the Kings recently approached Fox about trading him before the deadline, not the other way around. They reportedly told some teams that they were open to discussing Fox last week.
Rich Paul wants De’Aaron Fox rumors out now and timing shows how players have lost leverage with NBA’s new CBA
Bill Reiter
But they didn’t do those things in a vacuum. In the same story, The Stein Line reported that, regardless of how this season played out, Fox had “no intention of extending in Sacramento.” Is communicating this to the Kings the same as publicly demanding to be traded immediately? No, and definitely not in this case — according to The Stein Line, Fox would actually prefer to leave Sacramento this coming offseason — but it’s not all that different from a private trade request. If the team knows you don’t want to stay, you don’t have to ask for a trade.
To be clear, I’m not saying Fox has wronged the Kings or vice versa. He has the right to leave in free agency, and, if that’s the plan, then being upfront about it helps Sacramento, as it has an opportunity to get something back in return. The Kings, meanwhile, have the right to take the best offer they can get, and to do the deal when it makes the most sense for them, not him.
On Monday, Bogdan Bogdanovic was on the Hawks’ active roster for their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He didn’t log a single minute, though, and officially got a DNP-CD. He was then listed as out due to personal reasons for their games against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Bogdanovic is expected to miss Saturday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, too.
On Thursday, four separate outlets — HoopsHype, The Arizona Republic, SNY and The Stein Line — either directly reported or implied that Bogdanovic is likely to be traded before the deadline. The Phoenix Suns have reportedly talked to Atlanta about swapping Jusuf Nurkic for Bogdanovic (and presumably incentivizing the Hawks with draft capital). Miami has also “expressed interest” in him, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Bogdanovic is 32 years old and is making $17.3 million this season. That would be a big-time bargain if he were playing at the level he did last season, but he has shot 37.1% from the field and 30.1% from deep in 24 games this season after missing the first few weeks with a hamstring injury. He’s also owed $16 million next season, and he has a team option worth $16 million in 2026-27.
If Bogdanovic’s down year is strictly health-related, not evidence of decline, then, whether it’s the Suns or another win-now team, this could be a great opportunity to buy low. If Bogdanovic can get healthy relatively quickly, that is.
What’s the Pacers’ plan?
Tyrese Haliburton’s five-year extension kicked in this season, and Indiana’s newly named All-Star reserve, Pascal Siakam, is in Year 1 of a four-year deal. Both contracts started at $42.2 million, or 30% of the salary cap. As thrilled as the Pacers must be to have both stars on the roster — after a slow start, they’ve won 16 of their last 21 games — they knew when they traded for Siakam that, with that kind of money on the books, they’d have to make hard decisions about the rest of the roster.
One decision: How much can they afford to offer Myles Turner in free agency? The big man, who turns 29 in March, is on a $19.9 million expiring contract. That is an artificially low number; two years ago, Indiana used cap space to renegotiate and extend his contract, so he got a $17.1 million raise as soon as he signed it and the team has paid Turner a below-market-value salary in the two seasons since. The Pacers do not have that option now, and, if they simply add a new contract for Turner to the 10 salaries they already have on next year’s books, they will be in the luxury tax. (Turner will be looking for a starting salary of more than $30 million, per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.)
Another decision: How much can they afford to offer Bennedict Mathurin when he’s up for an extension this summer? The 22-year-old is a gifted scorer with considerable upside, but you can’t pay everybody. Indiana has already signed wing Aaron Nesmith through the 2026-27 season, and it has signed guard Aaron Nembhard through the 2027-28 season. Ben Sheppard will be up for an extension the year after Mathurin, too.
The Pacers don’t exactly have to make those right decisions right now, but they need to at least have an idea of where they stand, as it will inform how they approach this trade deadline. The rest of the league knows the position Indiana is in, so other teams have been reportedly monitoring both Turner and Mathurin.
On Friday, The Athletic’s Fred Katz reported that the Pacers are “not trying to get worse,” so they are unlikely to trade Turner. They have also reportedly rejected other teams’ overtures about Nembhard, who has been instrumental to their turnaround. And while the franchise has not paid the luxury tax in two decades, that streak could potentially end next season, depending on how the rest of this one goes.
According to The Athletic, Indiana’s conversations about Obi Toppin (who re-signed with the team last summer on a four-year, $58 million deal) haven’t really gone anywhere. Mathurin is not mentioned in the story.
The 30-year-old guard joined the Grizzlies in the same June 2023 deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics. To acquire Smart, Memphis gave up Tyus Jones, the 2023 first-round pick that became Marcus Sasser and the 2024 first-round pick that became Bub Carrington. Smart has dealt with a series of injuries since then, though, and appeared in only 20 games in 2023-24.
This season, Smart has appeared in 18 games, and he has been sidelined since he suffered a finger injury (a “partial tear of the proximal extensor hood of his right index finger,” per the team) on Dec. 21. While practicing with the the Grizzlies’ G League team, the Memphis Hustle, on Jan. 9, Smart fractured his left thumb, which required surgery. On Wednesday, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters that Smart was still “week-to-week” and limited to individual work, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
These hand injuries are strange, and, if Memphis doesn’t end up trading Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year could still play a significant role as it battles for playoff positioning. As ESPN pointed out, though, the Grizzlies have to think about the money they’re likely to spend this offseason when Santi Aldama will be a restricted free agent and Jaren Jackson Jr. could be eligible for a supermax extension (if he makes an All-NBA team). Given how backup point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has emerged this season and how well rookie Jaylen Wells has fared with the starting five, it is understandable that Memphis — perhaps the league’s deepest team — might want to shed Smart’s $21.6 million 2025-26 salary.
The NBA trade rumors are heating up as the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly interested in a trade for Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat in exchange for Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans are looking to add a proven veteran presence to their young roster, and Butler could provide the leadership and scoring punch they need to make a push for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, there are also rumblings that Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics could be on the move again. Smart has been a key player for the Celtics, but with their crowded backcourt, there could be a potential trade in the works to shake things up. Stay tuned as the NBA trade deadline approaches to see if these rumored trades come to fruition.
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NBA trade rumors, Pelicans, Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram, swap, Marcus Smart, trade, NBA rumors, basketball trade rumors, NBA news, NBA trade updates
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Ripley vs. Belair Reportedly Discussed for WrestleMania
Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair haven’t competed in a singles bout since 2022—in a gauntlet match no less—but they may not be avoiding one another for much longer.
Fightful Select (via Steve Carrier of Ringside News) reported that WWE officials have discussed staging Ripley vs. Belair at WrestleMania 41 in April.
Ripley reclaimed the Women’s World Championship on Raw’s Netflix premiere by beating Liv Morgan. She then successfully defended the gold against Nia Jax to open the most recent Saturday Night’s Main Event special.
Even assuming Ripley still has any unfinished business with Morgan, WWE is setting the table for her to pivot to a fresh storyline in time for WrestleMania.
Belair would present one such scenario for the champion and also be somebody with whom she has some shared history. They crossed paths in NXT and battled at NXT TakeOver: Portland in 2020.
Ripley told Sportskeeda’s Bill Apter last August she’d like to challenge Belair again and that their encounter would be “WrestleMania-worthy.”
The champ just might get her wish.
Latest on Graves’ WWE Contract
Veteran announcer Corey Graves “wasn’t looking to leave the company” when he publicly vented about his demotion from the Raw broadcast team in a since-deleted post on social media, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter‘s Dave Meltzer (via Carrier).
Meltzer reported Graves still has two years remaining on his current deal with WWE.
With Raw moving to Netflix, WWE decided to pair Pat McAfee with Michael Cole at the broadcast table, while Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett pivoted from the company’s flagship program to SmackDown.
As a result of the reshuffle, Graves wound up back in NXT and he didn’t sound too thrilled. Seemingly alluding to McAfee in a Jan. 13 post, he lamented “being told you’re not famous enough for your own job.”
Graves didn’t call the Jan. 14 edition of NXT and WWE chose to have Barrett rather than him replace McAfee for Raw on Jan. 20. McAfee was unavailable due to his ESPN duties for college football’s national championship game.
Graves returned to NXT this week. Colleague Vic Joseph advised fans not to adjust their television sets because “this isn’t AI” while pointing to the retired wrestler. Graves, for his part, said he’s “right where I want to be.”
Hendry Discusses Possible Royal Rumble Match Appearance
WWE always includes some surprise appearances during the Royal Rumble match.
Those spots used to be reserved for returning legends or active stars who have been out of action for a while. The company’s partnership with TNA Wrestling, which was formalized this month, opened the door for other possibilities. Mickie James showed up in 2022 and brought the Impact women’s title with her.
Especially with the TNA deal in place, a lot of fans are hopeful that Joe Hendry will compete in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match.
Asked about the idea during an interview on the DeLoco Podcast (via Fightful’s Corey Brennan), Hendry expressed his desire to make it a reality.
“Anywhere, anytime, any show is what I said to Shawn Michaels when I debuted in NXT, that’s the first thing I said when I came back through the curtain and look at all the exciting things that it led to,” he said. “That obviously would be a huge honor and a privilege and something that’s synonymous with our business.”
Hendry also described himself as “a soldier for TNA Wrestling” who “will do is do what TNA Wrestling asks me to do.”
Speculation over the 36-year-old’s only grew last week when he announced an upcoming appearance at Wrestlecon Indianapolis, which runs Friday and Saturday. Royal Rumble takes place Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Perhaps that’s merely a coincidence, but fans will believe there’s much more to it than that.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode below.
In the world of WWE, rumors are always swirling about potential matchups, backstage drama, and future storylines. One of the hottest rumors right now is a potential showdown between Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. Both women have been making waves in the WWE, and fans are eager to see them face off in the ring.
Another rumor that has been circulating is about Corey Graves potentially returning to the ring. The former wrestler turned commentator has been hinting at a possible comeback, and fans are curious to see if he will step back into the squared circle.
In other news, Joe Hendry recently spoke out about his hopes for this year’s Royal Rumble. The Scottish wrestler is determined to make a big impact in the event, and fans are eager to see what he has in store.
As always, stay tuned to WWE for the latest news, scores, highlights, stats, and rumors. The world of professional wrestling is always full of surprises, and you never know what might happen next.
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WWE Rumors, Bianca Belair vs Rhea Ripley, Corey Graves, Joe Hendry, Royal Rumble, Wrestling News, Wrestling Scores, Wrestling Highlights, Wrestling Stats, Wrestling Rumors
It was this time last year that Tiffany Stratton, then one of the top stars on NXT, was just hoping she’d receive a call to come to Tampa Bay and compete in the Women’s Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant.
What a difference 12 months has made as Stratton will gleefully sit back tonight with some popcorn and watch 30 other women battle it out for the right to face her at WrestleMania 41.
Tiffy’s time atop the SmackDown Women’s Division came in relatively short order. In just a matter of months Stratton went from a surprise Royal Rumble appearance to being a break-out performer inside the Elimination Chamber, to capturing the Money in the Bank briefcase and then successfully cashing in to win the WWE Women’s Championship.
Stratton told The Takedown on SI that it was while she was getting ready for Friday’s Royal Rumble Press Junket that she really allowed herself to reflect back on the past year of her career. Harkening back to that feeling of waiting for the phone to ring to see if she’d be competing in her first Royal Rumble to now being the woman that everyone else is hoping to face in Las Vegas.
“It’s so surreal and I could start crying [if she really sat and thought about how far she’s come]. I’m just super happy.”
Having the WWE Women’s Championship draped over her shoulder is going to allow Stratton to become one of the 65,000+ fans that expected to pack Lucas Oil Stadium tonight.
Three former Woman’s Royal Rumble winners and seven former Women’s Champions are among the field this year, including Bayley, Bianca Belair, IYO SKY, Nia Jax, Liv Morgan and Naomi. And those are just some of the names that we know will be in the match.
“There’s so many insane women that we have right now, and I feel like there’s so many different surprises that we can all look forward to. You never know who’s gonna be in it. I’m gonna have such a fun time just watching it.”
A returning Becky Lynch, someone whom Stratton is very familiar with, could be one of those surprises. Nikki Bella and Trish Stratus are two other names that have been circulating the rumor mill in recent days.
Then there’s the woman whose name I have omitted on purpose until just now.
Charlotte Flair has missed the last year of her career due to a devastating knee injury she suffered in a match with Asuka. The Queen’s announced return ahead of the Women’s Royal Rumble Match is giving off serious 2023 Cody Rhodes vibes. The American Nightmare’s victory that year came in his first match back from a torn pec muscle.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the same play that was called for WWE’s starting QB, is run once again for the 14-time Women’s Champion. Especially given all the recent reports of Flair being penciled in for a match with Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41. Reports that the WWE Women’s Champion has read, by the way.
While Tiffany wouldn’t outright say she’s rooting for Charlotte to win tonight, she certainly wouldn’t shy away from the chance to go toe-to-toe with one of the greatest women’s competitors of all time.
“Honestly, I think we could have a banger match. I feel like that’s a given”, Tiffany said with confidence. “If it were me and Charlotte, I feel like we would probably have one of the best matches on the entire WrestleMania card. So, hopefully that happens. And if it does, I’m ready.”
It’s a match that would also mean a great deal to Stratton personally. If Charlotte Flair didn’t walk the path before her, then maybe there would be no Tiffany Stratton in WWE today.
On either April 19 or 20, the WWE Women’s Champion will compete in her first-ever match at WrestleMania. There would be no more fitting opponent for her than Charlotte Flair.
“It would be a generational match,” Stratton said. “I got into wrestling because of her. I saw her on an episode of SmackDown one day and she kind of inspired me to get into wrestling. It would just mean so much to my younger self if she would be my WrestleMania opponent.”
Tiffany Stratton Aware of Charlotte Flair WrestleMania Rumors; Ready For The Queen
It seems like the wrestling world is buzzing with rumors of a potential showdown between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania. The up-and-coming starlet, Tiffany Stratton, has been making waves in the wrestling scene and her recent success has caught the attention of the Queen herself, Charlotte Flair.
With reports swirling about a possible match between the two at WrestleMania, Tiffany Stratton has made it clear that she is well aware of the rumors and is more than ready to step into the ring with Charlotte Flair. In a recent interview, she expressed her excitement at the prospect of facing off against one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time.
“I’ve always admired Charlotte Flair and I would be honored to share the ring with her at WrestleMania,” said Tiffany Stratton. “I know she’s a tough competitor, but I’m confident in my abilities and I believe I can give her a run for her money.”
As the anticipation builds for WrestleMania, fans are eagerly waiting to see if this dream match between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair will come to fruition. Will the young upstart be able to dethrone the Queen, or will Charlotte Flair prove once again why she is considered one of the best in the business?
One thing is for sure, if this match does happen, it will be one for the ages. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting potential showdown at WrestleMania.
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Tiffany Stratton, Charlotte Flair, WrestleMania, rumors, wrestling, WWE, professional wrestling, female wrestlers, women’s division, championship match, rivalry, wrestling news, sports entertainment, WWE superstars, WrestleMania predictions
Even with WrestleMania 41 taking place during Easter weekend this year, the WWE does not need Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for the massive Las Vegas spectacle to be successful.
There is no doubt that WWE advertising an appearance from Johnson would make the event more exciting, especially for older wrestling fans, but between a loaded existing roster and ample legends to recruit for the event, the company is in a good position.
Here are the reasons why WWE wouldn’t be lost without The Rock at WrestleMania.
Loaded Existing Roster
One of the biggest reasons Johnsons is not needed this year for WrestleMania is also one of the company’s most admirable attributes: its loaded existing main roster. While not true yearly, WWE has enough star power in 2025 to carry it through its biggest show without The Rock.
On the men’s side, Cody Rhodes and Gunther have carried the world titles well, while top names Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and more have made midcard storylines important all year.
The women’s divisions on both shows have improved with better angles and storytelling, led by Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Bianca Belair, and others. Add in the returns of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Jade Cargill, and the depth across the main roster is undeniably strong.
With WWE recently adding several championships and putting a renewed focus on existing titles, WrestleMania 42 can be a spectacle highlighting every belt on the roster, with several new champions crowned.
Instead of leaning on legends, let the Royal Rumble winners each main event a night of WrestleMania. Problem solved.
Other Legends and Debuting
Superstars
If WWE cannot get The Rock but still insists on leaning on the past to build excitement for the Las Vegas PLE, there are ample options for them to choose from the history books.
From “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Brock Lesnar to Trish Stratus and Lita, there are plenty of former WWE Superstars who could be utilized either in a physical capacity as part of a match or as a way to add intrigue to an existing storyline.
Another name guaranteed for the show is John Cena, who holds mainstream star power as well.
Or, instead of depending on stars of the past like The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan, WWE can work on debuting several marquee NXT names and giving them worthy programs leading into the biggest show of the year.
Superstars in the making, like Ethan Page, Wes Lee, Roxanne Perez, Trick Williams, Jordynne Grace, and the tag team of Nathan Frazer and Axiom, should all be given the time that would have been used for The Rock.
An Unadvertised Arrival
Another distinct possibility is that WWE believes it doesn’t need The Rock as part of the card to draw people in, but could use him in a one-off, unadvertised spot that sets the stage for a full year of storylines.
While Johnson is a director and shareholder in TKO Group Holdings, WWE knows WrestleMania is the sport’s Super Bowl and doesn’t require the legend’s presence to sell tickets or generate interest.
What Triple H and WWE Creative do need, though, is for people to tune into Raw and SmackDown in the weeks following WrestleMania. One way to ensure interest in the premium live event is to have The Rock show up unannounced at the end of Night 2.
In an ideal world, Rhodes would lose his title to Reigns in the 2025 WrestleMania main event. As the new champion is celebrating, Johnson should hit the ring to embrace his cousin, only to hit him with a Rock Bottom and set the tone for the road to WrestleMania 42.
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As we gear up for WrestleMania 41, there’s been a lot of talk about who will make a special appearance at the event. One name that keeps popping up is none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. While The Rock is undoubtedly a huge draw and a fan favorite, it’s important to remember that WWE doesn’t actually need him to make WrestleMania 41 a massive success.
WrestleMania is the biggest event in the wrestling world, drawing in millions of viewers from around the globe. With or without The Rock, the show is sure to be a hit. WWE has a roster full of talented superstars who are more than capable of putting on a show-stopping performance.
Not to mention, WrestleMania is about more than just one individual. It’s a celebration of the entire wrestling community and a showcase of the incredible talent that WWE has to offer. From the high-flying acrobatics of the cruiserweights to the hard-hitting action of the heavyweights, there’s something for every wrestling fan to enjoy.
So while it would be exciting to see The Rock make an appearance at WrestleMania 41, let’s not forget that the show will be a massive success regardless. The WWE Universe is ready to tune in and witness the magic that only WrestleMania can deliver. So sit back, relax, and get ready for a night of unforgettable moments and jaw-dropping matches.
