'He'll hurt the opposition': Sourav Ganguly's big sta… — and more

The Ravens have said all the right things about their commitment to Tyler Linderbaum, and GM Eric DeCosta added some intrigue to the negotiations. Linderbaum had his fifth-year option denied and will test free agency. There has been some talk that Baltimore may not step up to the plate with a lucrative offer. DeCosta dismissed those reports, telling the media at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team has made a "market-setting" offer to the Pro Bowl center.

DeCosta's comments about an offer come days before the new league year, and according to ESPN's Dan Graziano, that offer still may not be enough.

According to reports, Linderbaum is expected to receive offers that exceed $20 million per season, easily making him the highest-paid center in NFL history.

Meanwhile, the Ravens hope they can keep free agent center Tyler Linderbaum. But plenty of people in Indy believe he will get offers that exceed $20 million per year, and that Baltimore won't want to go that high. The highest-paid center in the league is Kansas City's Creed Humphrey at $18 million per year, and while GM Eric DeCosta told reporters at the combine that the Ravens had made a "market-setting offer" for Linderbaum, that might not turn out to be enough. Baltimore is already looking out for upgrades at guard (it would not be a surprise to see it address that position in the first round of the draft) and now could need a new center.

Linderbaum, the team's top pending free agent, said he "absolutely" wants to return. The Ravens did not pick up his fifth-year option last offseason, but he still could return on a deal that puts him in the top five highest-paid centers.

A 2022 first-round pick out of Iowa (25th overall), Lnderbaum has been named to the Pro Bowl three times, and how he views the Ravens will be something to watch with March 9 approaching. In 2025, Linderbaum remained one of the best run-blocking centers in the NFL. His 83.1 PFF run-blocking grade ranked fourth at the position.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: NFL Free Agency: Tyler Linderbaum could exceed $20 million per year

NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets (15-45) are still looking for their first win coming out of the All-Star break, but they had a better chance of ending their losing streak with the Cleveland Cavaliers (38-24) missing Donovan Mitchell due to injury. Brooklyn came into the game dealing with two injuries to center Nic Claxton and rookie guard Egor Demin and it seems like the Nets could have used both of them.

The Netslost to the Cavaliers on Sunday 106-102 despite the fact that Brooklyn never trailed by more than 11 points as they had arguably their best effort since coming back from the break. Forward Michael Porter Jr. led the way for the Nets with 26 points and five rebounds while rookie forward Danny Wolf had 23 points and nine rebounds coming off the bench.

The main reason that the Cavaliers were able to emerge from this game with a victory was due to the efforts of guard James Harden (22 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) and center Jarrett Allen (20 points, six rebounds). Brooklyn was unable to come away from this game with their desired result, but they gave a much better effort. Here are three Nets takeaways from Sunday's loss to the Cavaliers:

Michael Porter Jr. Impacts Both Ends Of The Floor

Porter, who finished this game with 26 points (10-of-17 from the field, 5-of-8 from three-point land) and five rebounds, has clearly been the offensive engine for the Nets this entire season, but this game showed how impactful he can be on the defensive end when he's locked in. Porter used his length to get into the passing lanes and racked up three of Brooklyn's 10 steals against a Cavaliers team missing Donovan Mitchell.

Rookie Danny Wolf Impresses Off The Bench

Wolf has had some rough stretches this season while trying to provide some semblance of consistency off the bench as a rookie, but he has found his stride as of late. Coming off his best month of the season, Wolf had arguably his best game of the season against the Cavaliers after dropping 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in 27 minutes off the bench.

Grant Nelson Sparks Bench Unit

Nelson, playing in just his second game with Brooklyn after signing a 10-day contract with the club after spending the entire season in Long Island, came off the bench with quite the impact in his first stint on the floor. Nelson, who played 20 minutes for head coach Jordi Fernandez, dropped 11 points, four rebounds, one steal, and three blocks as he brought the kind of spark that the team is looking for in every game, especially one against a formidable opponent like the Cavaliers.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: 3 Nets takeaways from 106-102 loss to James Harden, Cavaliers

Lakers reportedly could battle with Knicks, Warriors for $149 million seven-time All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Los Angeles Clippers’ 34-year-old star forward isn’t set to be a free agent until 2027. 

The two-time NBA champion is in the midst of completing the second year of his three-year $149 million contract extension he inked with the Clippers in 2024, meaning a trade must be completed for him to leave Los Angeles this summer. 

However, Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh believes there’s a world in which the Los Angeles Lakers could battle the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks for the two-time NBA Finals MVP’s services this summer.

“Maybe it’s a case where Adam Silver levies some sort of punishment, whether it’s forcing Kawhi Leonard’s contract to be invalidated,” Haberstroh stated last Monday.  And I think that would be one of the things that is on the table, because that is what David Stern did with the Joe Smith cap circumvention with the Minnesota Timberwolves decades ago.”

“The interesting thing on that is it provides a conundrum where I think if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you’re now going to see a frenzy for his services, with the likes of the Lakers, with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, or the New York Knicks."

“They would try to go get Kawhi Leonard at this stage as a free agent. That would create more hysteria and chaos around the league.”

While Haberstroh’s idea is undoubtedly far-fetched, it isn’t completely out of the equation. If it somehow materializes, the Lakers could position themselves to sign the accomplished veteran after striking out on him in 2019 (he entered free agency after winning a title with the Toronto Raptors and eventually joined the Clippers).

Leonard’s two-way dominance when healthy would make him an ideal fit in JJ Redick’s system in Los Angeles. The San Diego State product is contributing 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game with the Clippers this season, shooting 49.4% from the field and 38.1% from three-point land in 44 contests. 

If anything, Haberstroh’s report emphasizes the importance of closely monitoring Leonard’s situation in Los Angeles. 

More NBA: Cavaliers acquire 6-foot-3 former Pacers star, two-time All-Star via G-League trade

The day has finally arrived – one that will decide Barcelona’s fate in the Copa del Reyif it has not already been decided.

Hansi Flick’s side faced hell at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano not too long ago, and the result on the night saw them eat four goals in a game that was marred by controversy.

Regardless of the refereeing situation and everything made of it in that game, the fact remains that Barcelona were outclassed and that the 4-0 loss was a kind result for them.

Tomorrow, they take to the field at the Spotify Camp Nou, striving to do the unthinkable – overturn that deficit. It will not be easy, nor is it widely considered possible. Making the impossible possible and the improbable probable, however, is what makes sport great.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.

1% chance, 99% faith

At 4-0 down, not many will back Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to come back against Atletico Madrid, irrespective of the attacking firepower they have in their ranks, simply because it is a task too difficult to accomplish.

Heading into 90 minutes, four goals down and needing at least five to take a clean win is easier said than done, especially when the opposition knows that all they have to do is sit tight and defend deep.

Barcelona are no strangers to scoring four goals in a game, and their average number of goals per game last season was close to that number. However, doing so on demand is very different from pulling it off organically.

Despite knowing well how there is a very low chance of a comeback, however, the team have made it clear that they retain complete faith in their abilities. Remontada’s cannot be forced, but if any team can do it, it is Barcelona.

The clash against Atletico Madrid tomorrow is perhaps the single-most demanding game that Barcelona have played under Flick, and the team are capable of creating more than enough chances to win.

Everything that it will boil down to, however, is their efficiency in front of goal and their defensive solidity at the back. Improbable, but not impossible.

Need for a surprise element

Aiming to mastermind a historic comeback. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Having a clear-cut lead ahead of the second leg, it is likely that Atletico Madrid will not come to attack but to defend their advantage and get through the storm at the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow.

Los Rojiblancos, thus, may well line up in a hyper-defensive setup to block Barcelona’s passing channels, crowd the area, and lower the chances of the Catalans getting shots away at goal.

Considering the situation, it is essential that Hansi Flick comes up with a novelty up his sleeve to force open channels in attack and catch the visitors off guard. After all, they will arrive having studied the team’s dynamics in recent games.

There are several variations Flick can opt for to catch Simeone by surprise, especially in attack, and how well that dynamic works out will account for the result massively.

Shifting Lamine Yamal to a central role and deploying Roony Bardgji for width on the right flank is one approach that could yield positive results. Raphinha and Ferran Torres will continue to start in attack alongside them in such an approach.

Another manoeuvre is starting Marcus Rashford on the left and shifting Raphinha to a central role – an idea that has worked on occasion this season but has also failed equally on other days.

A third interesting idea would be to start Dani Olmo as a false nine in place of Ferran Torres with Lamine and Raphinha flanking him. Fermin Lopez would start as the attacking midfielder in such a setup, with Pedri and Marc Bernal taking the reins in midfield.

No room for defensive lapses

As important as it is for Barcelona to score goals at the Spotify Camp Nou, keeping a clean sheet at the other end counts for as much. And while scoring four goals may not be impossible, not conceding seems to be a far bigger challenge.

If Barcelona are to complete the dreamy Remontada, the defence will have to play the game of their lives, and Flick will have to line up a setup that does not hand Atletico Madrid as much space as they did in the first leg.

The defence will have to play deeper, likely with an aerially dominating presence in Ronald Araujo. With Eric Garcia ruled out of the game through suspension, the captain has good chances of starting alongside Cubarsi and will be critical on the night.

Jules Kounde will have to replicate the good showing from the weekend and must be defensively solid down the right. 

Given how Atletico Madrid capitalised on the left flank in the first leg, it will be interesting to see if Flick opts for Joao Cancelo or Alejandro Balde at left-back.

Every goal that Diego Simeone’s side scores will demand an additional goal from the hosts, and chasing four goals already, there is no scope to be chasing any more. All eyes, needless to say, will be on Flick’s defensive plan.