The official start of the 2016 NFL Free Agency period began on Monday with teams being able to contact and begin contract negotiations, but in the last 24 hours a lot more than that has happened. We’ve seen two massive retirements, a huge trade and some equally large transactions that have come in the form of both tentative signings and releases.

There is a lot to go over, but we’ll do the best we can to touch on all of the latest buzz:

Big Name Retirements

We heard about Peyton Manning retiring on Monday and on Tuesday Detroit Lions star wide receiver Calvin Johnson followed suit. That makes two massive retirements in two days, and the two legends join the likes of Heath Miller, Marshawn Lynch and all-pro guard, Logan Mankins.

Murray Lands in Tennessee

DeMarco Murray finally got his wish, as reports broke out yesterday that the frustrated Eagles running back was traded to the Titans.

Tennessee finalizing deal for Eagles RB DeMarco Murray, league sources tell ESPN. Trade expected to be complete for new league year Weds

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2016

The move helps Philly free up a ton of cap space and also gives Tennessee a legit threat at running back. Tennessee worked with spare parts such as Terrance West and Bishop Sankey in 2015 and it simply wasn’t working. Murray gives them a determined north/south rusher that could greatly help second-year passer Marcus Mariota. Always misued in Chip Kelly’s system, it’s highly possible Murray is set up for a huge bounce back season in Tennessee.

Lamar Miller to Houston?

Miami running back Lamar Miller is a hot commodity right now, as he’s without a doubt one of the top rushers available out on the open market. It’s looking quite likely that Miller has priced himself out of South Beach, while reports of Miller going to the Houston Texans are starting to gain serious steam.

The #Texans are making a strong push to secure RB Lamar Miller before the league year begins, source said. Working toward a deal.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2016

Per reports, the two sides are “working” on a deal as Houston makes a “strong push” to quickly replaced Arian Foster, who they cut just days ago. The Texans currently do not have a viable every down option to lean on, while Miller’s versatility and explosive nature make him an ideal replacement option.

Doug Martin to Raiders?

Doug Martin will be the highest paid running back in free agency, but the big question is where he’ll actually go. Reports suggest the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would love to retain him at the right price, but it’s quite likely he won’t be back in Tampa Bay in 2016. That leaves a lot of doors open and it doesn’t sound like The Muscle Hamster is close to a decision, but the Raiders could certainly be in the mix. Six teams ar expected to be seriously interested in Martin, but Oakland has recently “entered the sweepstakes”.

Thought Oakland was done? I’m told they are now entering the Doug Martin sweepstakes. He could be scary behind that upgraded offensive line.

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 8, 2016

Bills, Dolphins Agree to Deal

Philadelphia already looked smart by dumping the unhappy Murray to the Titans, but they got rid of more perceived dead weight when they agreed to a deal with the Dolphins that sent linebacker Kiko Alonso and cornerback Byron Maxwell to South Beach. Both players under-performed in their only seasons in Philly and the Eagles new regime decided to quickly correct Chip Kelly’s biggest mistakes.

In a related move, Philadelphia upgraded over the departing Maxwell by signing former Bills cover man Leodis McKelvin to a two-year deal worth roughly $6 million. McKelvin isn’t necessarily slated to be one of Philly’s two main cornerbacks, but at the very worst should bolster the depth in their secondary.

Osweiler Looking at Texans, Broncos

Brock Osweiler suddenly has the world at his feet with Peyton Manning announcing his retirement. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter in an appearance on Sportscenter, his decision is likely down to staying in Denver or heading to Houston. Early signs suggest Osweiler will stay with the Broncos, but if the Texans offer more money, he could bolt.

Packers Eyeing Forte?

In one of the more interesting free agency rumors, the Green Bay Packers appear to be genuinely interested in adding former rival, Matt Forte.

The former Bears running back is one of the top running backs out on the open market, and after seeing Eddie Lacy struggle with his weight and effectiveness in 2015, Green Bay may want to cover all of their bases. Forte could come at a bit of a discount and former teammate Julius Peppers has even suggested he’ll try to convince him to join the Pack. Nothing is imminent, however.

NYG Keep JPP

New York originally looked like they would be testing the waters with star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who injured himself last summer in a fireworks accident and wasn’t quite himself after returning. Per Adam Schefter, however, JPP is staying in NYC on a one-year deal worth up to $10.5 million. The Arizona Cardinals were reportedly also actively involved in trying to coax JPP to the desert, but he will instead stay with the Giants for 2016.

Vikes Drop 60 Minutes

Mike Wallace’s tenure with the Minnesota Vikings ends after two up and down seasons, as the Vikings cut him loose on Tuesday. Wallace was never able to get the chemistry right with Teddy Bridgewater and has now flamed out of two NFL cities ever since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wallace was a major disappointment specifically in 2015, when he scored just twice while catching 39 passes. He still has the speed to be a dangerous threat down the field, but at 29 years old may not be seen as a legit answer as a starter anymore. Regardless, a playoff contender could use him to stretch the field, so it will be interesting to see where he winds up.

Trevathan to Chicago?

The Bears have begun the process to get their once great defense back on track, and that just might include stealing quality linebacker Danny Trevathan away from the Denver Broncos. Per reports, it “sounds like” Chicago has extended Trevathan a four-year offer, but he may decide to push for more money. Trevathan would be a nice get for a Bears defense that lacks competent linebackers for its 3-4 scheme, but he’s no lock to take the deal.

Jags Nab Malik Jackson

Jacksonville made a huge splash on Tuesday, when reports emerged they beefed up their defense with the addition of Malik Jackson. Jackson broke out with the Super Bowl champion Broncos last year and got himself paid, agreeing to a massive six-year, $90 million deal. Jackson will shore up Jacksonville’s defensive line immediately and will also be handed a hefty $42 million in guaranteed money. Jackson will be switching schemes and projects to work on the inside of Jax’s 4-3 base defense.

Ravens Splurge on Watson

Baltimore brought in former Saints tight end Ben Watson, who even at 35 years old proved last year he can still ball. He could be the starting tight end heading into 2015, which could say a lot about how comfortable the Ravens currently feel about handing huge roles to either Crockett Gillmore or Maxx Williams. More than anything, however, it probably spells the end of the often injured Dennis Pitta.

Got more free agency news you want to touch on? Feel free to spark up some free agency conversation in the comments below!

Monday night was one wild and crazy slate for NBA betting, as a torn up Grizzlies team without Mike Conley or Zach Randolph somehow marched into Quicken Loans Arena and took down the Cavs. But wait, there was more insanity, as the Warriors couldn’t cover at home against the pesky Magic, the Spurs fell to the Pacers in Indiana and the Pelicans staged the mild upset at home over the Kings.

Okay, so the last part wasn’t too crazy, but you get the picture. It’s been a little out of control for the past three days, now that we think of it, and while it makes for some very entertaining pro basketball, it’s not conducive to very reliable betting. Let’s hope that changes as we gear up for another fun six-game slate on Tuesday night:

Nets @ Raptors

Line: Raptors -12 Total: 209.5

Brooklyn has at least been competitive lately as winners of 4 of their last 10 (at least for them), but going into Toronto and taking down the Raptors probably isn’t in the cards. The Raptors not only are too tough at home (23-7 at Air Canada Centre), but their defense is also going to be too much for an inconsistent Nets offense. Toronto won the first two meetings with little resistance, so there isn’t much to suggest tonight will be any different.

Pick: Raptors 107, Nets 92

Spurs @ Timberwolves

Line: Spurs -10.5 Total: 207

San Antonio disappointed in a road loss to the Pacers last night and their reward is Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili all getting rest.

No Big 3 tonight… #Spurs say Tim Duncan (rest), Manu Ginobili (rest) and Tony Parker (left toe contusion) are all out vs #Timberwolves

— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) March 8, 2016

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge still lead a nasty attack, though, which shouldn’t get anyone too excited about a potential Timberwolves upset. Minnesota is slightly better at home than they are on the road, but 11-21 isn’t a record to lean on. Considering the Spurs have lost just 10 games all season, look for them to bounce back and cover the spread tonight.

Pick: Spurs 109, Wolves 98

Hawks @ Jazz

Line: Jazz -1.5 Total: 191

There is a lot of built up revenge in this meeting between the Hawks and Jazz, as Utah point guard Shelvin Mack faces the Hawks for the first time since being traded, while both Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap also get to face their former squad in the Jazz. Utah has a mild edge at home, where they’re 19-12, especially since ATL has been very pedestrian away from home this year (just 16-16). The Hawks do look like the better team on paper, but a healthy trio of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert is tough to bet against at home. Vegas like Utah in a virtual pick’em, while their defense has us taking the Under here.

Pick: Jazz 90, Hawks 88

Knicks @ Nuggets

Line: Nuggets -2.5 Total: 206

Kristaps Porzingis is tentatively slated to return after sitting out New York’s last game and he should have a solid matchup against a pretty weak Nuggets defense (allowing 104 points per game). Denver is specifically bad down low, so we could see big games out of both Zinger and Melo, while Robin Lopez could also show well in this one. The bigger concern lies with the Nuggets, as rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay has been amazing, but due to a bad shooting percentage on the year, seems due for a dud. Without Danilo Gallinari and given Will Barton’s struggles, there is a reasonable chance Denver struggles on offense tonight. Denver won a close game at MSG earlier this year, but the Knicks can be scrappy and Denver isn’t always very good with handling themselves as a favorite. I like the Knicks tonight.

Pick: Knicks 102, Nuggets 98

Wizards @ Blazers

Line: Blazers -6 Total: 214

The Blazers stand in as the favorite tonight for three reasons: Damian Lillard has been mostly unstoppable, they’re at home and the Wizards are one of the more erratic groups in the league. The latter is magnified when you look at Washington’s weak 14-15 road record, especially placed up against Portland’s solid 19-12 home mark. The Blazers have regressed in the face of a tougher schedule lately (three straight losses), but Vegas is probably right in them getting back on track tonight. Of course, the thing I really am down for shooting for is the Over, as both of these teams push the pace and fire away. Averaging 102 and 103 points per game offensively and yielding no defense, I like a fast-paced, high-scoring game in Portland tonight. Give me the Blazers to win, too, but not to cover.

Pick: Blazers 109, Wiz 106

Magic @ Lakers

Line: Magic -3 Total: 212.5

This might end up being the most fun game of the night, simply because the games you usually think will be good (Wiz/Blazers) find a way to disappoint. If you don’t love that game, shift your focus to the night’s capper, when Orlando looks to redeem themselves after a loss at Golden State. Oddly enough, the Lake Show should be riding high after toppling the defending champs at home just two days ago. Los Angeles is getting stellar play out of D’Angelo Russell and seeing less and less of The Black Mamba is helping this team grow. I wouldn’t put it past the Lakers to get a nice upset win at home here, but what I’m really into is the Over in a game that should showcase little defense and a lot of running. I’ll take the Magic to win/cover, as well, even with star center Nikola Vucevic sitting his second game out in a row.

Pick: Magic 108, Lakers 106

This past weekend was a pretty weird time for NBA betting. The only real example you need (but probably don’t want to be reminded about) is the for sure safe bet on the Warriors toppling the Lakers. Instead, the defending champs lost for the sixth time this year, and did so in ugly fashion.

The point? There is truly no such thing as a safe bet.

The good thing about pro basketball is those gut punches can be overcome the very next day. Sports like golf, tennis and football make you wait about a week to make up for that bad pick. But Monday night already brings back seven games to work with. And hey, the Warriors are even here. But they’re at home, where they haven’t lost all season. They’re as good of a lock as you’ll ever see. Right?

Let’s find out as we go over all seven games in tonight’s NBA betting preview:

Bucks @ Bulls

Line: Bulls -7 Total: 207

The Bulls are feeling much better these days, as both Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic are back in the rotation. That leaves just Joakim Noah off the active roster and gives the 31-30 Bulls plenty of fire power and time to bounce back and make the playoffs. It started in their last win over the Rockets and should continue tonight, when Chicago hosts the Bucks. Milwaukee has been a tough out lately with their big three of Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker raising their level of play, but this is still a team that can struggle defensively and is just 8-25 on the road. The season series is split, 1-1, but Chicago is at home, has Butler back and has much more to lose. I’ll take the Bulls to win and cover.

Pick: Bulls 105, Bucks 96

Clippers @ Mavs

Line: Clippers -5 Total: 209.5

Chris Paul continues to be L.A.’s saving grace with Blake Griffin out, as the Clippers enter Dallas tonight with a solid 6-4 record over their last 10 games. They’ve been solid on the road (19-10), but weren’t able to take down the Mavs last time they visited American Airlines Center (Dallas won, 118-108). David Lee has been a catalyst for offensive success on the Mavs’ end, but it hasn’t really led to wins with the Mavs losing two in a row coming into this matchup. The big reason why Dallas seems to be regressing is their inability to slow teams down defensively (Denver scored 116 points last night). L.A. should be without Luc Mbah a Moute (eye) tonight, but that should only help their starting five with Jeff Green stepping up.

Dallas has the minor edge at home, but Dallas may not be able to slow down the deadly trio of Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford from outside. Even if they can, they will likely be too tired from last night’s overtime loss. I’ll take the Clippers, but I’m feeling a push on the spread. The total, of course, is absolutely chasing on the Over.

Pick: Clippers 107, Mavs 102

Magic @ Warriors

Line: Warriors -14.5 Total: 222.5

As painful as last night was if you trusted in the Warriors, you can’t go away from them tonight. They’ll undoubtedly want to make up for a horrific shooting display at the Staples Center, while they face a beatable Magic team at home, where they’re 29-0 on the year. The Oracle Arena has been quite the safe haven, so it’s doubtful we can bank on a super tight game like the one we saw through three quarters at the Amway Center just a couple of weeks ago. Stephen Curry owned that matchup anyways, as the Dubs dropped 130 on the Magic in a big win. Look for Curry to come out hot and Golden State to take their anger out on an Orlando team that is just 10-18 away from home this year.

Pick: Warriors 120, Magic 105

Grizzlies @ Cavs

Line: Cavs -12.5 Total: 203

Cleveland has been quite strong at home this year and that solid 27-5 run at Quicken Loans Arena figures to hold up when the Grizzlies come to town tonight. Mike Conley and Zach Randolph still make Memphis competitive, but their defense isn’t what it was with Marc Gasol (broken foot) and they probably showed their worst flaws recently in a loss to the Suns. LeBron James and co. aren’t going to let a nice three-game winning streak go down tonight. That being said, Memphis does have enough grit to hang tight and beat the spread here. I’d also shoot for the Under.

Pick: Cavs 102, Grizzlies 96

Spurs @ Pacers

Line: Spurs -7 Total: 196.5

The Spurs should have all of their main guys back after letting them rest in their most recent game. They seem to take care of business either way these days, as they’ll enter Bankers Life Fieldhouse on an 8-game run. That shouldn’t stop against Indiana, as Kawhi Leonard will lockdown Paul George and LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan will out-work Indiana’s bigs down low.

Pick: Spurs 104, Pacers 92

Timberwolves @ Hornets

Line: Hornets -9 Total: 213.5

Charlotte proved to be too much to handle when they visited the Wolves back in November, and that’s quite likely to be the case again in Charlotte tonight. The Hornets are the healthiest they’ve been all year, while they’re simply too good at home (21-9). Minnesota has some nice young talent and they do tend to compete, but their road record (9-22) leaves a lot to be desired. We should expect a big game out of Karl-Anthony Towns, but the Hornets could give Minnesota’s wings trouble with their solid perimeter defenders. Kemba Walker should also run circles around Ricky Rubio in the win. Minnesota does bring a solid offensive punch, but I doubt the ambitious Total will be met. Take the Hornets to win/cover, but go for the Under.

Pick: Hornets 108, Wolves 98

Kings @ Pelicans

Line: Kings -1 Total: 220

If there is one game to feel pretty confident about when it comes to the Total, this is it, as the Kings and Pelicans play zero defense and boast two of the biggest stars in the NBA in DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. New Orleans is pretty banged up, but still can put up 102 points per game, while the Kings score over 106 points per game. Both teams give up over 105 points per game, however, which should open the door to a fun, high-scoring affair. The last meeting certainly lived up to expectations (a 114-105 win for the Pelicans). New Orleans holds a commanding 2-0 lead in the season series, though, which should prompt the Kings to show up and fight for their first win against the Pellies this year.

Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo are probably to suit up here, but the Pelicans feel much more banged up with Eric Gordon out for 6-8 weeks with another broken finger and Norris Cole also iffy for tonight. That has me favoring the Kings in what is basically a pick’em, and while not a lock, I do like the chances of the Over tonight.

Pick: Kings 112, Pelicans 110

The UFC was rocked on Saturday night, as it often is, with some insane upsets. Both Connor McGregor and Holly Holm, who entered UFC 196 as heavy favorites, were taken down via submission. Nate Diaz and Miesha Tate were respectively looked at as dangerous threats prior to the fights, but few thought they would actually pull off the unexpected.

McGregor Stunner

The weird thing is there was absolutely evidence of looming upsets. McGregor was giving up size and weight to the bigger Diaz and he was fighting in a weight class that had him more vulnerable that many were willing to admit. McGregor admitted as much after the fight, admitting that someone of Diaz’s size and strength could take more than the usual handful of punches that somewhat in his previous class would take.

McGregor did not fail to impress initially. He left Diaz with a bloodied face and, just as we alluded to, he made Diaz work for the win. But the main issue was going to be Diaz’s size and ability to take more than one punch. McGregor was accustomed to dropping lesser opponents with one blow or just a handful of solid punches. Diaz took more work and ultimately McGregor tired out and was over-matched. That doesn’t mean McGregor can’t beat Diaz or move up in weight class, but it certainly suggests he may find dominating that next level quite difficult.

Needless to say, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see Notorious to drop back down to the level that made him famous. The loss was shocking and huge for the sport, but in a lot of ways it wasn’t all that surprising. Thankfully for McGregor this was not a title fight and he can return home, lick his wounds and bounce back in a title match the next time he hits the cage. Provided it’s a strong opponent and he wins convincingly, Mystic Mac should win back the respect of the MMA world. That being said, McGregor was exposed to a certain degree and the betting odds could be a little more even in his matches going forward.

Short-Lived Title Run

Holly Holm is a very different story, as her bout with Tate was for the women’s bantamweight title and she lost it via a rear choke hold in what ended up being a very gritty battle. But that is precisely what we knew could happen – if Tate simply stayed patient and picked her spots, she’d have a chance to dethrone the new champ. After all, when you look at Tate’s two previous battles with former champion Ronda Rousey, she lost quickly in one due to a bad move and an excellent counter-move by Rousey, and the other she actually pushed Rousey into the second round before slipping up again.

Two big things to take away from this one: Holm needs to work on her ground game and countering, while Tate’s experience and patience finally paid off. She has endured some really intense battles with both Rousey and Cat Zingano and perhaps because of losses in those three matches, she wasn’t getting the credit she deserved. As it turns out, she went in with an excellent game plan and performed it perfectly. Holm didn’t, and we now have a new champ.

It’s tough to figure out what is bigger here: Tate’s rise back up to steal back the title, or Holm’s insanely fast fall. Was Holm’s rise a fluke? Should she have waited for the surley insanely hyped rematch with Rousey?

I don’t think her rise was a fluke, no. She was quite impressive in dismantling opponents en route to a 9-0 MMA start before destroying Rousey in her first title bout. In a lot of ways that could have been more about Rousey being ill prepared or over confident, but Holm was the superior boxer and Rousey engaged with that skill-set far too much – especially considering Rousey’s boxing isn’t even close to most MMA fighters – let alone a former boxing and kickboxing champion.

The difference between Rousey and Tate here was patience and systematic restraint. Tate saw the flaws Rousey displayed in her epic loss, and she simply turned the tables. Holm is technically sound, but she doesn’t have the raw viciousness or submission skills Rousey sported. She also wasn’t a master technician or counter artist like Rousey is. Tate exploited Holm’s weaknesses to her advantage and didn’t get caught up in over-engaging her in a straight up fist fight.

What’s Next?

As we mentioned with McGregor, life goes on. He’ll bounce back with a title fight at his own weight class and chances are for the short-term he’ll still be a dominant force in the UFC. McGregor didn’t apologize for taking the Diaz fight (and the cash), as he knew full well what he was getting into and was simply up for the challenge:

“I stormed in and put it all on the line. I took a shot and missed. I will never apologize for taking a shot. S— happens. I’ll take this loss like a man. I will not shy away from it. I will not change who I am. If another champion goes up two weights let me know. If you’re tired of me talking money, take a nap.”

Where the MMA world shakes is on the women’s side.

A Rousey vs. Holm rematch loses it’s luster and falls into the background. What’s next is a battle between Tate and Rousey, who as the original former champ should get the first crack at the title once she’s cleared to fight. She is still serving a six-month UFC-imposed vacation due to injuries she suffered in her loss to Holm, but that fight should come as early as this summer.

We can’t look past that fight. That would end up being the third fight between Rousey and Tate and we need to consider two things: Rousey could be looking past this match at Holm, while there’s no doubt Tate will badly want to avoid an 0-3 hole against a fighter that has terrorized her thus far. Rousey should be on a bigger mission to redeem herself after suffering her first loss ever, however, so it’s tough to imagine her going 0-2 here and failing at getting a rematch with Holm. Of course, when both fights do roll around, don’t be shocked if like the next McGregor fight, the odds are a little more even.

Whenever you are an expected NBA Finals contender, analysts and fans count the days until you actually win the championship. As the days grow into years, the expectations turn from hopeful to chastizing. When you’re LeBron James trying to lead a Cleveland Cavaliers team to the promised land – a place the team has never come away from victorious – the pressure can get downright annoying.

James Could Leave

A recent trip to Miami to work out with former Heat teammate Dwyane Wade sparked rumors that James could be planning an exit, but that could possibly be the tip of the iceberg, depending on who you talk to. Per NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, all of the chatter around the Cavs could eventually be so much that King James could decide to leave Cleveland again – for good. In a recent radio interview, Smith got specific:

“What everybody who’s close to him continuously reminds me of is: ‘don’t you dare take LeBron for granted or think he’s trapped into staying in Cleveland just because he came back. Don’t put it past him that he’ll get so annoyed that he’ll leave again if he feels like he’s being taken for granted, ran into the ground and, essentially, misused.”

Rumors suggested that reality last off-season and nothing came of it, but recent whispers suggest even Kyrie Irving isn’t happy in Ohio. And the more the talk keeps going on, the louder it gets.

Gauging whether or not Smith’s take is legit or not isn’t the point, though. It’s too early to lean one way or the other, as the Cavaliers – as dysfunctional as they seem – still could turn things around and win that evasive title. This is still a title contender that won two games in the NBA Finals a year ago – and did most of their damage with both Kevin Love and Irving on the shelf.

But what happens if that turn around doesn’t happen and James decides enough is enough? Does he waste the rest of his prime years fighting a losing battle simply to save face in Cleveland? Or does he start over somewhere else in pursuit of some last gasp titles? We can’t know for sure, but if he decides to shock the world with another “decision”, it’s highly likely one of these five teams would be in the running to land him next:

South Beach Return

We can talk about the Lakers and the Knicks for a second, but this is the most obvious call. In this scenario, James returned home gave it a serious go for two years, and by the time the 2015-16 NBA season dries up, he might have even gotten the Cavs to two straight NBA Finals appearances. That’s three in his history by this writer’s count, and even without a win, it’s hard to say he didn’t do all he could for the Cavs.

It’d certainly still feel like he’d be turning his back on the franchise that originally drafted him, but in a business world and league where careers are defined by rings, few can actually blame James for going back to South Beach, where he hit up four NBA Finals series in four tries and won his only two titles. Wade is aging, but Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside may have the goods to help James end his career with a nice run of titles. There’s only one way to find out, after all.

The Lake Show

What’s better than replacing the Kobe Bryant era with the LeBron James era? It’s not the prime King James, but it would certainly do, as James could bring his championship experience to a team that has dreams of quickly competing for one again. It’s a bit of a stretch in a brutal Western Conference, but James can still guide a band of scrubs to the playoffs no matter the division and we’ve already seen the likes of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle make huge strides. Add in Ben Simmons or another huge lottery pick from the 2016 NBA Draft, and you could suddenly have a very viable team for James to lead into the fray.

The Big Apple

There is some draw here. Phil Jackson – at least for now – is running the show and the Knicks will likely spend some time deciding on a competent long-term head coaching option. Who knows, maybe if King James and another prized free agent make their way to NYC, Jackson comes down from the front office and coaches a stacked Knicks squad, himself. That’s certainly going out on a limb, but James pairing up with Melo isn’t, nor is it crazy to think Kristaps Porzingis could quickly develop into a game-changer by next year. He already kind of is, after all.

Other pieces need to come here like a point guard upgrade, but New York already has quality defensive pieces on the wing and down low in Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez. James would seal the deal in pushing the Knicks back into the playoffs and in time, potentially even back to greatness.

The Harsh Reality

Thinking about betting on a James exit? It might be a waste of money. Stephen A. Smith is just doing what he always does: saying what you’re thinking out loud. But there’s a good reason why you even don’t do that; because it’s not always smart. That’s probably the case here, as going back to the Heat with a 34-year old Wade doesn’t guarantee anything. Neither does going to New York with an aging Melo or going to the Lakers in the post-Kobe era.

James has as good a chance right now in Cleveland as he’ll get, short of ditching the Cavs for the Spurs or Warriors. The best idea as to keep plugging away and hope the right pieces get brough in to help off the bench or Irving/Love get dealt for the right players to really spice things up. The problem isn’t James or any one player by themselves in Cleveland, it’s the lack of constant flow on offense and consistency overall. Irving and Love don’t defend, and that echoes throughout this Cavs team. Maybe that will slowly change once the playoffs come. After all, the Toronto Raptors are the only real threat to keep the Cavs from making the Finals, and in so many ways, that’s no threat at all.

Betting on the Cavs to make the Finals again this year is a lock. Betting on the Cavs to win it all has some merit to it. But betting on James leaving town just because of some Twitter comments, a coaching change or some random rumors might be a bit of a reach.

In lieu of our usual NBA betting preview, we’re giving our readers four fun bets to chase for Saturday night’s NBA action. We figured two pretty key things: one, you might not want to bet on every game each night anyways, and two, that your attention could be stolen by the killer UFC fights going on tonight.

Either way, we’re shortening things up for the weekend and testing out a “four bets” column that gives you four of our favorite NBA bets. From straight up picks to the spread or Total, we think these four bets are the best targets for tonight:

Rockets/Bulls Total

Jimmy Butler returns and there is even some talk about Nikola Mirotic making it back tonight, so the Bulls actually will look a lot like themselves tonight.

Hey Jimmy! pic.twitter.com/5JhyEgfZ1v

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 5, 2016

That could mean a mild defensive boost at home tonight, but more than anything they should be able to improve on offense and just be more competitive. I don’t see them suddenly locking down a pretty potent Rockets offense (105 points per game), but Houston’s atrocious defense and this game going down at the United Center certainly works in the favor of the Total here. It’s a high one (214.5), but we think targeting the Over makes a good amount of sense.

Spurs Over Kings

The Spurs are undefeated at home (29-0), allow just 92 points per game and have twice smoked the Kings (by 18 and 16 points). That alone puts them in a good spot tonight, but when you look at Sacramento’s defense (giving up 109 points per game), it’s even harder not to love the Spurs. San Antonio takes this matchup all day no matter how you look at it, but being at home puts this over the top. Their spread is pretty big (-13), but seeing as they topped that easily in two previous meetings, we feel good about it happening again.

Pistons Over Knicks

The Knicks are at home tonight, where they tend to be the most dangerous, but we need to really consider how bad this team has been lately at cranking out wins. New York is truly falling apart, having lost three straight games and 8 of their last 10. They’re in a bad way and tonight a Pistons team that is fighting for a playoff spot and could use a bit of a break. With the season series split at the moment, we like Detroit to enforce their will and get the win to get two games above .500. Not having Kristaps Porzingis tonight doesn’t help matters, either. We’ll take the Pistons, straight up.

Kristaps Porzingis (contused left lower leg) will be unavailable tonight versus @DetroitPistons

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) March 5, 2016

Wizards/Pacers Total

This one is about two things: superstar talent and pace. John Wall and Paul George both like to put on shows and with both of these teams playing last night, I don’t think being tired comes into play as much as it can sometimes. The other thing is pace, as Washington is 10th in pace in the league right now and Indiana is 7th. That translates to both of these teams running the floor a good amount and getting up a decent amount of shots. Ultimately that means points coming from both sides. Oh, and the previous two meetings had both teams well over 100+ points both times. The Total isn’t even that ambitious here, either (just 208 or 208.5 on most sites), so we definitely love the Over here.

Love/hate our picks for Saturday night’s NBA action? Let us know if it helped you win in the comments below!

The Chicago Bears and star tight end Martellus Bennett are headed for a divorce. Per reports, the team has already begun looking for potential trade partners with just a week before the free agency period opens. Already wanting out as recently as last season, Bennett could be a tough player to move due to a hefty $5 million price tag sitting on the books for 2016.

Bears and Martellus Bennett’s agent, Kennard McGuire, are working together to trade the tight end to an agreeable landing spot, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2016

Bennett may not be the most attractive option at first glance, as he was a far cry away from his career 2014 season a year ago. In 2014 Bennett was on top of his game and a true difference-maker for Chicago’s passing game, hauling in 90 balls for 916 receiving yards and six scores. Bennett saw his numbers drop in 2015, however, as the 28-year old missed five games due to injury and ended what could be his final season with the Bears with just 53 catches for 439 receiving yards and three scores.

Had Bennett finished 2015 healthy and not missed any time, he probably would have had a decent chance to live up to expectations. He wasn’t the only Bears offensive player to disappoint, either, as star #1 receiver Ashon Jeffery missed ample time due to lower leg injuries and rookie receiver Kevin White never played a down in his first year due to a shin issue.

Bennett may not have had the best closing season to his time in Chicago, but he still could provide value in the right situation. A more than capable blocker, Bennett is also a reliable possession receiver who can win in the red-zone due to elite size and a good catch radius. The big question is, what team is a tight end away from doing serious damage in the NFL and will they pay what is left on his contract? There are several teams that could (or should) consider the move – especially with a weak free agency crop and little to get excited about in the draft:

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay is the perfect example of a team that certainly could use a talent upgrade at tight end, but isn’t necessarily going to trade for a pricey option to get it. This is probably an impossible destination due to the Packers being a division rival, but Bennett certainly brings more to the table than current starter Richard Rodgers.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams just released Jared Cook due to a fat salary, so it’s tough to see them wanting to trade for another expensive tight end. Bennett is way more reliable than Cook and would help as a blocker, as well, so it actually wouldn’t be a bad move. Jeff Fisher would be wise to get next year’s quarterback – whoever that may be – a safety net for the middle of the field and red-zone.

Houston Texans

Houston just let the soft-handed Garrett Graham go, leaving them with Ryan Griffin and C.J. Fiedorowicz as their top options at tight end. Griffin is a competent pass-catcher and Fidorowicz certainly has upside, but neither are complete options and neither offer the stability Bennett could. The Texans could dump one and a mid-to-late round pick to make a pretty big upgrade.

New York Jets

Jace Amaro doesn’t seem like he’s long for the pros and Jeff Cumberland is a pedestrian plodder. The Jets aren’t in dire need of an elite pass-catching tight end thanks to all that Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker can do, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt. Bennett would at the very worst serve as a huge talent upgrade and give them an extra presence in the red-zone.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Heath Miller just retired, so the Steelers naturally have to be wondering if youngster Jesse James can handle the starting gig. It’s fair to argue he can’t, so trading for Bennett would be a wise move. That’d at least athletically speaking actually be an upgrade over Miller, while Bennett’s solid blocking could also help a Steelers team that likes to stay balanced by running the football.

Denver Broncos

Vernon Davis was a waste and Owen Daniels is a pedestrian option, so perhaps Denver considers quickly upgrading tight end in the post-Peyton Manning era. They didn’t want to pay Julius Thomas big money when he was a free agent, though, so it’s far to assume they may not want to pay Bennett’s salary, either.

Oakland Raiders

Oakland has a very nice core of young talent, but their one weakness on offense remains tight end. Mychal Rivera is a mere possession type and has not exhibited the same red-zone or blocking ability Bennett has. Bennett could fit in nicely as the third guy in the pecking order behind Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons haven’t had a suitable tight end since Tony Gonzalez retired and it shouldn’t shock anyone that they haven’t been back to the playoffs during that time. Bennett could really open up the offense near the goal-line and would give Matt Ryan an extra big body to target over the middle of the field. Atlanta needs passing weapons more than ever with the recent release of Roddy White, as well.

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners traded away Vernon Davis last year and quickly found out they do not have a suitable option to replace him. Trading for Bennett to take over as the full-time starting tight end wouldn’t be a bad trade for new head coach Chip Kelly. Then again, if he can grab the younger (and more athletic) Coby Fleener in free agency, Kelly will probably do that instead.

Arizona Cardinals

Last and possibly least are the Cardinals, who do not have a threatening tight end. Troy Niklas is young and full of promise, but he hasn’t developed as had hoped and Darren Fells is a pedestrian journeyman type. Bennett would give Arizona a rock solid tight end that could add a whole new dimension to one of the best passing games in the league. The one caveat? Arizona doesn’t really use tight ends very much.

Got a better idea as to where Martellus Bennett could be traded? Tell us in the comments below!

We got through a light four-game slate with flying colors on Thursday night, as we went 3-1 on a pretty easy night. The only thing that threw us for a loop was the Mavs losing to the Kings, but we initially made the pick thinking both Rajon Rondo and Rudy Gay (questionable heading into the night) might sit the game out. They played, and the Kings won by three.

Hopefully our picks helped you win some money yesterday and the past few days, as we’ve been on a hot run and head into Friday night fully prepared to take on a mammoth-sized 10-game slate. There is a ton of action to cover, yet tonight somehow feels quiet with mega stars like James Harden, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry all taking the day off. Let’s forget about them and move ahead with Friday’s picks in our latest NBA betting preview:

Suns @ Magic

Line: Magic -13.5 Total: 217

Phoenix is all kinds of awful and they also should be tired after playing last night. We’ve seen some promise out of youngsters Alex Len and Devin Booker, but that can’t eradicate a woeful 4-25 road record. On the flip side, Orlando is at their best at the Amway Center (17-15) and have been better lately (5-5 in last 10 games). That being said, they don’t normally blow teams away. I think the Suns lose but beat the spread here.

Pick: Magic 106, Suns 96

Knicks @ Celtics

Line: Celtics -9.5 Total: 209.5

The Knicks are falling further away from the playoff picture with two straight losses and just a 2-8 record over their last 10 games. Playing the Celtics on the road in TD Garden won’t help change that. Boston has been quite strong at home (21-10) and has also had little trouble against New York (2-1 season series lead). Look for them to finish the job and win the season series, outright. The meetings have been fairly close, though, so I do think the Knicks can beat the spread.

Pick: Celtics 105, Knicks 99

Blazers @ Raptors

Line: Raptors -6 Total: 210

Toronto hosts Damian Lillard and the red hot Blazers, who have won 8 of their last 10 while Lillard has dropped 30 points almost nightly. He might flame out in Canada tonight, however, as the Raptors are 21-6 at Air Canada Centre and the Blazers aren’t great on the road (14-17). I think the Blazers put up a fight, but I’ll take the Raptors to cover at home.

Pick: Raptors 103, Blazers 95

Timberwolves @ Bucks

Line: Bucks -5.5 Total: 213.5

The Bucks have been playing quite well lately behind the rise of Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker. They cooled off in a recent loss, but here they are tonight at home (where they’re 17-11) against a bad Timberwolves team. Milwaukee should have a solid chance to live up to their billing as the favorite, as Minnesota is generally bad (9-21) away from home. They have enough offensive fire power to keep it interesting, though, so I like the Wolves to beat the spread.

Pick: Bucks 101, Wolves 97

Heat @ 76ers

Line: Heat -9 Total: 205

The Heat could rest some guys after playing last night, but that shouldn’t matter against the atrocious Sixers. Philly isn’t much better at home than on the road and they’re 0-10 in their last 10 games. I do think they’ll fight hard in this one, but I like the Heat to put it away late behind big games out of Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside. Philly could also be without their two best big men anyways, so their chances take a hit.

Pick: Heat 105, Sixers 90

Pacers @ Hornets

Line: Hornets -3 Total: 200

Charlotte hosts the Pacers in a pretty fun Eastern Conference clash. The obvious call here is that the Hornets are at their best in front of their home crowd (20-9), while the Pacers don’t generally travel well. Paul George is still a tough leader and can easily put the Pacers on his back, while Indy is going to badly want to prevent a 3-0 season series sweep. I call upset in what should be a tight game.

Pick: Pacers 104, Hornets 101

Wizards @ Cavs

Line: Cavs -8 Total: 213.5

Kevin Love is out, so it’s up to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to exact revenge on the Wiz. John Wall and co. did as they pleased in an earlier meeting at Quicken Loans Arena, and that just won’t be tolerated this time around. The line is much too ambitious, though, so I like the Wiz to fight and beat the spread.

Pick: Cavs 108, Wiz 104

Jazz @ Grizzlies

Line: n/a Total: 191.5

This one is basically a pick’em, largely due to the absence of Marc Gasol and the fact that both teams can defend quite well. Usually I’d give the edge to Utah here (up 2-0 in the season series), but Memphis is 22-9 on their home floor this year. The Jazz are reeling at the moment, too (lost four straight), so they’re tough to trust.

Pick: Grizz 98, Jazz 97

Nets @ Nuggets

Line: Nuggets -5.5 Total: 208

No defense and hopefully a good amount of offense has me chasing the Over in this one, as the Nets and Nuggets try to repeat the 105-104 gem we saw back in early February. I expect even more points, while the likes of Brook Lopez and Emmanuel Mudiay shine. This one is in Denver, though, and with the Nets being an atrocious 6-22 on the road, I’ll give the Nuggets a shot at stealing the win. This should be pretty close, though, so I’ll take the Nets to beat the spread.

Pick: Nuggets 107, Nets 104

Hawks @ Lakers

Line: Hawks -9.5 Total: 206

We should fear a huge blowout here, as the Hawks are the superior team and L.A. could potentially be down Lou Williams, Jordan Clarkson and Kobe Bryant. That’s a lot of scoring and the Lakers don’t defend, so there is little to keep me away from taking the Hawks to cover. In fact, I’d take a much bigger line than this.

Pick: Hawks 110, Lakers 92

The game of the week arrives on Thursday night, when we get a rematch between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors. The defending champs won sans Stephen Curry the other day and will play host at Oracle Arena, where they’ve yet to lose this year.

OKC couldn’t finish off the Dubs at home just a few days ago, but they’ll have revenge on the brain and would love to take down the defending champs. After going just 2-5 in their last seven games, however, can we safely assume they’re a good bet to make it happen?

We tackle that in more in Thursday night’s NBA betting preview:

Phoenix Suns @ Miami Heat

Line: Miami -13.5 Total: 211

Phoenix travels to South Beach tonight, as they’ll battle Dwyane Wade and the Heat for the second time this season. Miami stole game one in the two-game series in early January, when they took down the Suns in the desert, 103-95. The Suns look a little different now, as Markieff Morris got traded and Brandon Knight (26 points in first meeting) has been sidelined for the last month. With Knight’s scoring gone and no defense to be seen, the Suns are going to have a very difficult time keeping up with the Heat, who have been a solid 19-12 on their home floor and look to build on a two-game winning streak.

Phoenix’s only saving grace could be big man Alex Len, who continues to start next to Tyson Chandler. That pairing hypothetically helps the Suns’ defense and rebounding, while Len has turned the corner recently two straight big double-doubles and 13+ points scored in five straight games. Len and Chandler can’t do it all by themselves, however, as the Suns look to be severely out-manned when it comes to their perimeter talent. Because of that, the likes of Goran Dragic, Joe Johnson and Wade could have a huge advantage in front of their home crowd in this matchup.

In addition, the Suns have been awful lately, going 1-9 in their last 10 games. The Total is dicey here just because the Suns could struggle to score on the Heat on the road, but Phoenix giving up 107 points per game defensively makes it worth considering. Miami plays at a slower pace and defends, though, so target the Under and we’ll take the Heat to win/cover.

Pick: Heat 105, Suns 94

San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans

Line: Spurs -8.5 Total: 207

The Spurs visit New Orleans for the first game on TNT tonight, so we need to prepare for two things: the Pelicans playing up for the national TV spotlight and the top Spurs stars getting Pop’d. Especially on the second game of a back to back set, we need to be careful of San Antonio resting some of their key guys. Both Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are the true danger zones, but Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge could also be rested. So far, so good, but naturally any of those guys sitting could hurt the Spurs’ odds here.

The big thing the Pellies have going for them is they’re at home tonight, where they’re a solid 16-13. San Antonio, conveniently enough, has lost all nine of their games this year away from home. This series is split (1-1), too, so New Orleans knows if Anthony Davis can show up, they can shock with a 2-1 series lead. San Antonio is too good to let that happen, though, so I expect the Spurs to win. That being said, rest potential and being on the road is going to keep this pretty close. I like the Pellies to beat the spread.

Pick: Spurs 106, Pelicans 101

Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks

Line: Mavs -7.5 Total: 220.5

This is the second highest total of the night for pretty good reason, as the Mavs and Kings both have very strong offenses and neither play much defense. Sacramento could limp into this one with both Rajon Rondo and Rudy Gay iffy to play, so it’s quite possible this one is easy for the Mavs, who have been good at home (19-12). Sac-town has been atrocious away from Sleep Train Arena (10-19), but in both previous meetings they scored at least 112 points and have split the series. The last clash was an awesme 117-116 OT thriller won by the Mavs in Dallas, and it’s fairly possible we see something close to that again. Because of the lack of defense, I’m looking for a huge game out of DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings to beat the spread. Shoot for the Over in this one.

Pick: Mavs 115, Kings 112

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors

Line: Warriors -7.5 Total: 228

This is easily the game of the night and also boasts the highest total. Golden State should get Stephen Curry back and should be feeling pretty good after winning two intense meetings against OKC already. They’re also undefeated at the Oracle Arena this year and haven’t lost a home game in nearly 50 tries. It’s tough to figure the first coming now, especially with OKC going 2-5 in their last seven and collapsing just last night in Los Angeles. The points and big performances will be there, but look for the Dubs to once again show that they’re better than the Thunder.

Pick: Warriors 111, Thunder 107

The days of Arian Foster dominating opposing defenses as a member of the Houston Texans are over. Per reports, the Texans have officially moved on from their star running back, cutting his $6.5 million salary off of the 2016 books on Wednesday.

The #Texans have released RB Arian Foster. pic.twitter.com/reDZtFRmwC

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) March 3, 2016

The writing had been on the wall in regards to Foster’s fate in Houston, as he missed a combined 11 games over the 2013 and 2014 seasons and then entered last season with a severe groin injury. After missing the first three weeks of the 2015 campaign, Foster returned to the field but never regained his previous form, failing to average even 3.4 yards per carry in any of the four games he appeared in. The end arrived in week seven against the Miami Dolphins, when Foster tore his Achilles tendon and was lost for the remainder of the season.

Texans owner Bob McNair went public about the team’s issues at running back, saying the team needed to “get our running game going again”. While never specifically stating that Foster would be cut following his devastating injury, McNair suggested the team would be “working on things”, while reports quickly emerged after the regular season that Foster would not be back with the team in 2016.

Replacing a Star

It was safe to say Foster was going to be a cap casualty with a hefty $6.5 million due to him, but even on top of that, Houston has and still does appear prepared to completely move on at the position. With pedestrian talents such as Chris Polk, Alfred Blue and Jonathan Grimes slated to take over, the Texans would be wise to look for help via free agency or the 2016 NFL Draft. That could lead to Houston eyeing rookie rushers like Derrick Henry or Ezekiel Elliott, while big name free agents such as Doug Martin, Matt Forte and Lamar Miller could quickly become appealing.

The draft remains Houston’s most likely path to their next starting running back, as they just experienced what it was like to pay a rusher big money and watch it blow up in their face.

The good news is the Texans already know they can win without Foster holding their offense hostage. Thanks to a borderline elite defense and star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans claimed the AFC South divisional title and made the playoffs last year. They’ll still surely need to improve at running back (and elsewhere), but the loss of Foster does not send the Texans reeling heading into 2016.

Foster’s Future

Foster fully intends to continue his playing career, but at 29 years old he comes with serious baggage with a long history of lower leg injuries – specifically last year’s brutal Achilles tear. An injury of that magnitude is extremely difficult to overcome for any player, let alone an aging and banged up running back approaching the age of 30. If healthy, however, Foster will undoubtedly still have his suitors on the open market. Foster will be looking a steep downgrade in pay, but running back-needy teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks could potentially kick the tires this summer.

While this isn’t the exit Foster probably dreamed of, he leaves the only NFL team he’s ever known with four 1,200+ rushing yardage campaigns and 69 total touchdowns.

Star Casualties

Foster is the latest (and biggest) star player to hit the open market, but he’s far from the only one. The Atlanta Falcons recently parted with veteran wide receiver Roddy White after 11 seasons, the New Orleans Saints cut ties with receiver Marques Colston, the Buffalo Bills released defensive end Mario Williams and the New England Patriots cut ties with wide receiver Brandon LaFell. With the 2016 NFL Free Agency period right around the corner, we can expect a few more big names to be cut loose over the next week.