April 12, 2022
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March Madness ended just over a week ago, but the play-in format has returned in star-studded fashion with a pair of double-elimination matchups. The Nets (-9) and Cavaliers tip at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Timberwolves (-2.5) and Clippers.
Timberwolves’ Turnaround with 12-Highest Payroll, 5th-Youngest Roster
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The 7-seed Timberwolves have quietly executed a remarkable turnaround — and are playing Tuesday for their first postseason berth since 2018.
The Wolves are the fifth-youngest team (24.5 YRS [[link removed]]) in the NBA, working with only the 12th-highest payroll ($137.1M), and haven’t made any significant moves from last season.
Yet they improved by 23 wins this campaign by continuing to take a chance on a relatively unknown second-year head coach and a first-time GM — and trusting the evolution of their Big Three.
Hired in February 2021, Chris Finch coached the team to its best win total since ’18, earning his multiyear deal signed on Monday.Sachin Gupta was promoted in September 2021 after former GM Gersson Rosas was fired; the analytics-driven executive created the ESPN Trade Machine in 2006.Karl-Anthony Towns (24.6 PPG), Anthony Edwards (21.3 PPG), and D’Angelo Russell (18.1 PPG) are all younger than 26.
Health played a big factor: Towns ($31.7M) and Russell ($27.3M) played together in only 25 games from 2019-2021 (13-12). They’re 39-24 when they’re both on the floor this season.
The change started from the top in April 2021, when governing owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore bought the team for $1.5 billion.
A few months later, they fired Rosas for an inappropriate workplace relationship and fostering a toxic culture — paving the way for this improbable turnaround.
Minnesota is a small home favorite (-2.5) against the Clippers to advance to the first round against Memphis.
No. 1 Pick Rhyne Howard Poised for Big Endorsements, $227K Deal
Saul Young-News Sentinel
The Atlanta Dream made a splash on April 6, acquiring the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft from the Mystics for the third and 14th picks.
On Monday, the Dream selected Kentucky shooting guard Rhyne Howard — a positive force both on and off the court.
A two-time First-Team All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year, Howard led the Wildcats in points (20.5), blocks (1.3), steals (2.3) and three-point percentage (38.3%) en route to an SEC Tournament title during her final season in Lexington.
The 21-year-old’s basketball prowess has already sparked financial opportunities.
As a top-four pick, Howard is in line for a three-year, $226,668 contract with a $91,981 team option for a fourth year, per the WNBA’s rookie scale [[link removed]].The Tennessee native holds endorsement deals with Wingstop, Powerade, Reebok, and Direct Auto Insurance.She was one of the most prominent NIL advocates in Kentucky, speaking [[link removed]] at a ceremony before the state’s Senate Bill 6 was signed into law.
Under first-time head coach Tanisha Wright, Howard will attempt to turn around a franchise that has been mired in mediocrity in recent years — but history suggests a top pick can work wonders for the Dream.
The last time they drafted first overall, they took five-time All-Star Angel McCoughtry in 2009 — and made the WNBA Finals three times between 2010 and 2013.
Unfortunately, the Dream failed to win a single game in any of those Finals — and have only advanced once in a playoff series since.
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Catch the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal round.
Today [[link removed]], Villarreal clings to a 1-0 lead against Bayern Munich, and Chelsea, the defending champs, will look to overcome a 3-1 deficit against Real Madrid. Tomorrow, Man City aims to protect their 1-0 lead over Atlético, and Benfica needs at least three goals on the road to avoid elimination against Liverpool.
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Steven Kwan Makes Historic Start On Boosted Rookie Minimum
Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Guardians rookie Steven Kwan is off to a historic start — and a profitable one, courtesy of the new collective bargaining agreement.
After going 1-for-3 with two walks against the Royals on Monday, Kwan has now reached base 15 times in his first four MLB games — the most for any player since at least 1901.
The 24-year-old picked the right season to make his mark in MLB, as the rookie minimum increased 22.7% from 2021 due to the negotiations ending the 99-day lockout.
Kwan is earning $700,000 — up $129,500 from last season’s minimum ($570,500).The 2018 fifth-rounder inked a $185,000 signing bonus — below the $303,400 allotted.In his first 26 swings of his career, Kwan hasn’t had a swing-and-miss.In 19 plate appearances, he has six singles, two doubles, a triple, and five walks to slash .692/.790/1.000.
With Kwan producing in the No. 2 spot in the lineup, the Guardians (2-2) have scored the most runs in MLB (28) and have a league-leading plus-14 run differential. Cleveland, which hasn’t won the World Series since 1948, was a minus-10 last season.
Kwan’s blistering start bumped his odds to win AL Rookie of the Year from +4,500 to +1,600.
Making Headlines
Manchester City
Soccer: Manchester City captain Fernandinho suddenly announced he will leave the club following this season; the 36-year-old has won four Premier League titles since joining in 2013.
MLB: The Pirates officially signed 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes to an eight-year, $70 million contract extension. Also: Longtime Dodgers announcer Vin Scully was awarded Baseball Digest’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
NBA: Ben Simmons (back) could make his season debut in the playoffs if the Nets advance, Shams Charania said [[link removed]] on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
NHL: Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was suspended four games for cross-checking the Predators’ Mark Borowiecki.
Written by Anthony Puccio [[link removed]], Doug Greenberg [[link removed]], Chris Kuc [[link removed]]
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