It was only a year ago that the Minnesota Timberwolves traded away Kevin Love and promptly signed star point guard Ricky Rubio to a long-term deal. Rubio was supposed to be their new franchise player, with swing man Andrew Wiggins coming in to eventually take over that role down the road.

The passing of that torch could be coming a lot quicker than expected. Per reports, the Timberwolves are very much interested in unloading Ricky Rubio in a trade, as the 24-year old lead guard has had constant ankle issues and the team now has the depth to withstand his loss.

On top of the ankle issues, the T’Wolves apparently are not convinced Rubio is good enough to be their franchise player, and after drafting big man Karl-Anthony Towns in this year’s draft, they may have already found a superior player to trust in. Towns, combined with Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine, could give Minnesota a strong young corps that could slowly build towards getting the T’Wolves back into the NBA playoffs.

Minnesota isn’t off base with their sudden distrust in Rubio being the answer, as he’s never averaged more than 10 points per game and has also never shot better than 38% in any of his four NBA seasons. He’s quite young yet and can obviously improve, but thus far Rubio has been associated mostly with flash, inconsistency, inefficiency, poor health and losing. Minnesota looks to be ready to cut their losses and get something back for their previous investment. Unloading Rubio’s contract is one thing, while also letting one of their young guys like Lavine or even rookie point guard Tyus Jones take over at the point could be why the Timberwolves are loudly going after deals now.

Exactly where Rubio could wind up in a trade is anyone’s guess, but the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks stand out the most as potential landing spots. Brooklyn has just Jarrett Jack and Shane Larkin after letting Deron Williams go this off-season, and neither are suitable starters. Dallas has D-Will in place at the point, but he may not be the answer, while Rubio would be a long-term upgrade and could be the splash Mark Cuban is still looking for going into the 2015-16 NBA season. New York has just a rookie in Jerian Grant at the point, as they’ve been looking for a way to get Jose Calderon out of town. Rubio is a pass-first lead guard that could fit Phil Jackson’s system perfectly.

There are other options for Rubio and it doesn’t seem like Minnesota is too worried about getting a deal done right now, but don’t be shocked if something changes before the season starts. Landing Rubio probably wouldn’t change anyone’s fortunes completely due to his lack of scoring prowess, but wherever he lands he’d offer high level play-making ability. Stay tuned.

The Buffalo Bills take on the Indianapolis Colts in their first regular season game of the 2015 NFL season, which pits one of the leagues best offenses against one of the leagues nastiest defenses. Rex Ryan and co. have plenty to worry about in terms of stopping Andrew Luck, while also getting new starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor ready for his first NFL start. The last thing they need is to worry about how their ground and pound offense may struggle without star running back LeSean McCoy.

Per reports, that’s unfortunately the case, as the team is still not convinced McCoy will be fully 100% come September 13th.

When asked if he thought McCoy would be ready to take on the Colts in week one, Ryan simply said, “I hope” and then suggested if he’s not ready, the rest of Buffalo’s backup running backs will have to step up and get the job done.

Next Man Up

That next man up would go down to Karlos Williams or Bryce Brown, two backs that are plenty talented, while Williams even impressed during preseason play. Brown is likely the team’s third running back on the depth chart, but should McCoy be out or limited, he’d surely see quite a few touches in what would figure to be a rotating offensive backfield. Fred Jackson, a backup in Buffalo for the past several years, would have initially been a safer pick to pick up the slack, but the Bills opted for younger, fresher legs and cut the aging veteran loose just days ago.

Week 1 Odds

The Bills already are going to have a tough time taking down the Colts. Not only does their defense have to worry about big names like Luck, Frank Gore, T.Y. Hilton and Andre Johnson, but the Bills are no lock to move the ball on an improving Colts defense that boasts one of the best shutdown corners in the game in Vontae Davis. Throw in a less than ideal running game on a new team is expected to pride themselves in their ground attack, and Buffalo could have an even more difficult time getting out of week one alive.

This game was already looked at as a bit of a toss up, as it’s tough to gauge whether an elite defense can fully put the clamps on an elite offense. The Colts are tentatively looking like the early week one favorite (-2.5), but no McCoy could force NFL bettors to lean their way even more.

Now is a pretty good time to make sound investments, as the 2015 NFL season is rapidly approaching. The Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons both did that on Saturday afternoon, when they finalized long-term deals with offensive tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Julio Jones, respectively.

Shoring up the O-Line

Washington has made headlines over the past week thanks to shoddy offensive line play, especially given that poor pass protection at least contributed to quarterback Robert Griffin III suffering a concussion in his second preseason game. Williams wasn’t on the field for that game, which is probably just another example in a long list of reasons why he was worth every bit his new five-year, $66 million deal.

#Redskins and OT Trent Williams have agreed on a 5-year, $66M extension, per agent Vincent Taylor of Elite Loyalty Sports. Wow.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2015

It seems like a ton of money (and it is), but the 27-year old Williams is very much in his prime and remains one of the top left tackles in the game. He’s certainly paid as one, and then some, as his new contract pushes him ahead of Tyron Smith as the highest paid tackle in the league. It’s arguably deserved, but Williams will have to work hard to prove he truly deserves the big raise by trying to keep RG3 (or whatever quarterback ends up starting) on his feet.

Spending at Wide Receiver

Atlanta didn’t hold back on their spending, either, as they handed star #1 receiver Julio Jones a fat five-year contract extension worth just over $71 million.

The Falcons have reached a five-year agreement with Julio Jones on a contract extension, per source. — Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) August 29, 2015

Jones also received $40 million guaranteed in the new pact, which pushes him slightly past Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, both of which finalized their own new deals earlier this summer. The move cements Julio Jones as Atlanta’s main focus on offense, and with the 26-year old still one of the most explosive talents in the entire league, it appears to be a sound investment. Jones has had foot issues in the past and has missed 15 games in just four seasons, but looks to be completely healthy for the upcoming 2015 season.

Playoff Hopes?

Both signings are necessary and Williams is probably the safer player to lock down for major cash, but which signing pushed which team closer to the playoffs? With the Redskins not having a quarterback to hang their hat on, it seems to be the Falcons. Locking up Jones just ensures they won’t lose him after this season and that he’ll continue to be a huge part of what the Falcons do. With a steady Matt Ryan leading the show on offense and new head coach Dan Quinn adding bite on defense, Jones and the Falcons could start making a push back to the playoffs as early as this season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers almost won their first ever NBA title last year, despite missing two of their best players during the NBA Finals. Kevin Love was knocked out due to a dislocated shoulder in round one, while star point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) only lasted one game against the Golden State Warriors in the most important series of the year.

As it turns out, Irving may not be back for a lot longer than expected. Per reports, Irving does not plan to rush back from his knee surgery, and could end up sitting out until January. That estimated time away from the court would mean the Cleveland Cavaliers would have to endure at least two months without one of their best players.

Long-Term Impact

In the short-term, not having a healthy Kyrie Irving is obviously bad news. That could put more pressure than wanted on both LeBron James and Kevin Love to get the season going, while it also could spark issues with team chemistry once Irving returns in January. Of course, that’s assuming the January return timetable even holds true. It’s naturally possible Irving sets a set-back or just doesn’t recover as expected. Even worse, after missing all of that time, it’s entirely possible Irving could re-injure himself at some point during the second half of the season.

Backup Plan

Safety is the key here, as the 23-year old Irving and the Cavs aren’t just thinking about the 2015-16 season, but Irving’s future with the team, as well. The good news is the Cavs should be able to withstand a lengthy absence on paper. Cleveland brought in former Cav Mo Williams this summer, and he proved last year that he still has the scoring and playmaking to be a competent starter in the NBA. With Cleveland’s loaded roster helping around him, he could be even better than we’ve seen recently. The addition of Williams allows Irving to take his time and make sure he’s fully ready when he returns, and when he makes it back he can also take his recovery slow and build his minutes back up naturally without forcing anything.

NBA Finals Bound?

In the long run, Irving taking as much time to heal is actually good news. Mo Williams allows that to happen, while Matthew Dellavedova can play the point in a pinch, while James and Iman Shumpert also can assist with play-making. Irving missing the entire year and/or the playoffs would obviously be a huge hit, but we knew he had a knee issue and had surgery. Irving missing time to start the year shouldn’t keep the Cavs from holding down the top spot as the favorite to win it all this year. That being said, thinking for a second this doesn’t impact Cleveland during those two months on a daily basis is foolish. Anyone doing NBA betting may want to scale back on going crazy with the Cavs, especially when they go up against squads with strong defenses or elite point guard play. No Irving could hurt their scoring and create mismatches at the position on some nights, rendering them a weaker bet than originally thought.

The Washington Redskins originally brought in pass rusher Junior Galette to spice up their pass rush. After losing Brian Orakpo in free agency and badly needing impact players on a defense that struggled a year ago, Galette was a much-needed addition. Even with some serious off field baggage, the former Saints linebacker was looked at as a huge get.

Until now. Per reports, Junior Galette is now out for the entire 2015 NFL season after suffering a torn Achilles after hurting his ankle during practice. Washington initially feared his Achilles may have been damaged, and the team had their fears realized late on Wednesday afternoon.

Source close to Galette says Achilles’ tendon is indeed torn.

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) August 26, 2015

Galette was initially going to be a massive spark for Washington’s new-look defense, which included a new defensive coordinator and a more aggressive style. The Redskins had even addressed their defensive line and brought in help in the secondary. On top of paying to bring in Galette, they also handed fellow rush linebacker Ryan Kerrigan a massive contract extension. Most of Washington’s other moves on the defensive side of the ball could still pan out, but the addition of Galette will not.

On the surface, Galette was a high reward, low risk signing, as he signed on for the veteran’s minimum. Coming off of two successful seasons where he contributed over 22 sacks to New Orleans’ defensive efforts, the 27-year old Galette appeared ready to provide a solid impact for the Redskins where they needed it most. The team was still waiting to hear back from the league in regards to Galette’s pending suspension, but there was hope he would only miss a handful of games for previous off field issues.

While a tough blow, it’s hard to lose what you never really had. The Redskins may not have had Galette for much more than half of the year potentially, while the team does have some solid depth at the position with Trent Murphy and Preston Smith now likely competing for a starting gig. Jackson Jeffcoat is third in line at the moment, but was an extremely productive pass rusher in college and could warrant consideration. The Redskins could also be players in what is left over on the open market, as well.

The Redskins weren’t expected to contest for the NFC East in 2015, much less make a serious playoff run. The loss of Galette certainly doesn’t help their chances, however, so betting on them to do much this season is probably ill advised.

For the second time in two years,  Brian Hoyer has won an NFL quarterback battle. After declining to name a starter for his offense on Sunday night, Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has now revealed that Hoyer will indeed be the team’s starter under center for the 2015 NFL season.

Sources: The #Texans have named Brian Hoyer as their starting QB to begin the 2015 season.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2015

It’s an odd development after both Hoyer and backup quarterback Ryan Mallett failed to impress in their second preseason game. The two had both played well in the first preseason game, forcing O’Brien and co. to wait on naming a starter. Hoyer started the summer very much in the lead, but Houston wanted to give the younger Mallett a real shot at winning the job after flashing some ability in some starts in 2014.

Final Answer?

The move to make Hoyer the starter now makes a good amount of sense, as it gives the first team offense time to get into a groove and should give Hoyer a good amount of time to get things going with the starting unit in week three’s dress rehearsal. Hoyer isn’t going to blow anyone away, but he did help the Cleveland Browns to a 7-4 start a year ago and had the edge over Mallett when it came to experience, poise and accuracy. Of course, just like Hoyer ended up losing his starting gig last year with the Browns, Houston fans have to wonder if this is a decision that could end up being short-lived.

Playoff Bound?

Mallett certainly possessed a stronger arm and the upside, but Hoyer’s experience in Bill O’Brien’s offense (was with the New England Patriots in the past) likely got him the job. If Hoyer can play within himself and the offense, it’s definitely possible he can deliver similar results to what we saw him do in Cleveland last season. Hoyer faded badly down the stretch in 2014, but plays in a soft AFC South division that arguably only really has the Indianapolis Colts as a legit threat. Should Hoyer keep his head on his shoulders and maximize #1 target DeAndre Hopkins, it’s possible Houston could think about challenging for the division title. Hoyer indeed figures to be the Texans’ best bet to reach the playoffs, but that probably doesn’t change their meager 60/1 Super Bowl odds.

J.R. Smith wanted to test the waters in NBA free agency. Ultimately, he decided winning was more important than anything else.

Smith revealed on his Instagram account that he originally opted out of his contract with the Cavs to get a better grasp on the league and exactly how/where he fit in. He also wanted to give Cleveland time to figure out their roster, as well as whether or not he was a key piece they wanted to keep.

“When I opted out of my contract, I wanted to understand the landscape of the NBA and where I fit best,” said Smith. “The Cavaliers had things they needed to do in order to piece together a championship caliber roster. I ended up deciding that instead of potentially securing a larger deal elsewhere, I wanted to rejoin an incredible organization in pursuit of the ultimate goal, an NBA championship.”

Smith waited a while to make his decision, which comes long after the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert and even Matthew Dellavedova re-signed with the team. Richard Jefferson and Mo Williams have also joined the team during the time Smith has been thinking over his options.

It’s arguable Smith simply didn’t find the ideal fit he was truly seeking, but cynicism aside, Smith seems to be heading back to Cleveland for the right reasons: to be a part of a special team that could win a championship.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were already a pretty good bet to win the 2015-16 NBA Finals, with or without J.R. Smith. Shumpert was brought back to give the team a stable defender who can also hit the timely outside shot, while the same can be said for the feisty Dellavedova. Mo Williams also came in to provide a spark off the bench, hit three’s and help backup starter Kyrie Irving. Slowly but surely, J.R. Smith was losing his spot on this Cavs squad, and with Jamal Crawford trade rumors heating up, Smith probably decided to sign on the dotted line at the perfect team.

Smith’s deal is expected to be for the next two seasons with the first year worth roughly $5 million. That allows Smith to do several things: get paid, win a title and then try to land one more big deal with another team and possibly a bigger role when he’s still in his prime at 31 years old.

The real question, of course, is what does Smith do for the Cavs right here, right now? The answer is a good amount. Smith is a floor spacer, a capable defender when he puts his mind to it and a solid scorer in general. Likely coming off the bench, he’s great for the second team offense and has shown in the past he can be a clutch performer. A solid fit with the Cavs last year, Smith figures to once again have a prominent role and certainly won’t hurt Cleveland’s bid for their first NBA title ever. They had the league’s best NBA Finals odds (5/2) before Smith signed his latest deal, and those odds only got stronger.

Jamal Crawford is still part of the Los Angeles Clippers’ roster despite numerous trade rumors swirling around him this summer. Per reports, the trade rumors have started back up again, with both the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks as Crawford’s most interested potential suitors.

Jamal Crawford, the former Knick, is also being pursued by the Cavs. Crawford is entering the final year of his contact.

— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) August 18, 2015

New York continues their rebuild around Carmelo Anthony, and while they’re certainly not ready to compete for an NBA title this upcoming season, they could actually have enough pieces to at least entertain the idea of making a push for the NBA playoffs. The Knicks went out and drafted well and brought in solid talent that can pass as NBA players. That’s a major improvement from what they were a season ago, and if Jamal Crawford is promised a big role or buys into what they’re doing, a return to New York, where he played from 2004 to 2007 could be realistic.

Cleveland has to be Crawford’s destination of choice, of course. The Cavaliers have a deadly trio of LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving and still have a major need for bench scoring. J.R. Smith is still a free agent and seemingly isn’t expected back, while Mo Williams secures their backup point guard woes. All that’s missing for Cleveland’s title run is a spark off the bench at the two spot.

Should Crawford be traded to the Cavaliers, he’d have a chance at a title and a solid scoring role behind likely starter, Iman Shumpert. In New York he might have a more prominent role in the offense, but his title hopes would have to wait far beyond the 2015-16 NBA season.

Jamal Crawford’s interest is key here, but what’s most interesting just what kind of value he brings to the table for either team. The Knicks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but even a 35-year old Crawford still packs a mean scoring punch (averaged 15.8 points per game last season), while he can also help out at the point in a pinch.

As for Cleveland, Crawford could truly be the final piece for a legit title contender. The Cavs were in the Finals last year and came close to winning it all, and now at full strength, are understandably the favorites to win it all at the end of the 2015-16 NBA season. Getting a strong, explosive scoring threat like Jamal Crawford could be the cherry on top they’ve been waiting for.

The Buffalo Bills entered the summer without a starting quarterback. E.J. Manuel was expected to give the starting gig a shot, the team traded for veteran journeyman Matt Cassel and also brought in Tyrod Taylor to form a three-headed competition. Between the three of them, new head coach Rex Ryan and co. figured the Bills would uncover one competent passer.

The competition is now down to just two quarterbacks.

Per reports, third-year passer E.J. Manuel has slid away from the competition and the organization now feels their 2015 starting quarterback is either Cassel or Taylor. The lingering question is naturally which quarterback gives the Bills the best chance to win, but after both passers out-performed Manuel all summer, it appears the team is at least one step closer to a final decision.

Taylor to Start

Taylor already impressed enough after the first preseason game that he is expected to start Buffalo’s second preseason game. Cassel started game one and didn’t do anything to overly impress, but also was accurate and poised in the pocket. Taylor starting appears to be the Bills simply getting a good look at Cassel’s only real competition against a first team defense and with Buffalo’s first team offense.

Taylor vs. Cassel

While Taylor has yet to actually seriously threaten Cassel, a good showing in week two could be enough to get the Bills on board. Taylor could have a decent chance in doing just that, as he exhibited nice athleticism and overall mobility in week one of preseason play and looked competent as a pocket passer, as well. After sitting behind Joe Flacco in Baltimore the past couple of seasons, it’s possible Taylor could be a gem the Bills simply need to keep grooming until he realizes his full potential.

Of course, the whole point of the battle is experience and safety versus upside, as Cassel is an experienced veteran who can master a playbook and take what the defense gives him. However, if Cassel can show he can also push Buffalo’s offense a little further than expected, then he could end up being the total package the Bills are looking for. Odds are the Bills don’t have a single complete passer on their roster, but the franchise will ultimately have to decide which quarterback gives them the most qualities they’re seeking in the position. Cassel figures to be the leader for now, but Bills fans will want to keep an eye on Taylor this week.

Bills Playoff Odds

The Bills already had the defense to make a playoff run and with LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins and Charles Clay on offense, the only thing they’re truly missing is a reliable quarterback. Cassel and Taylor are the final two options and both could end up being solid choices. However, if the Bills are to threaten for the AFC East crown and make any noise this post-season, one of them will have to end up being more than just “solid”.

For the longest time it was believed that San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was content with riding on the final year of his current contract. Due to constant rumors about the Chargers potentially moving (changing cities), or possible a reason unknown to the public, Rivers remained shy in regards to seriously talking about a new deal. For one reason or another, Rivers, finally decided waiting wasn’t the best idea.

Rivers and the Chargers reportedly agreed to terms on a new long-term deal on Saturday night, which ends up being a four-year extension worth roughly $83.25 million.

Philip Rivers has agreed to a contract extension.

— UTKevinAcee (@UTKevinAcee) August 16, 2015

The deal eliminates any questions about Rivers’ future with the team, and also protects San Diego from entering the 2016 NFL season without an answer under center. Naturally, the deal also gives the team stability going into this season, as Rivers and the franchise can now work together to try to win in 2015 and beyond.

There had previously been rumors that Rivers was on his way out of town, which even spawned talk about the Chargers drafting a new franchise passer in the 2015 NFL Draft. The draft came and went without that happening, of course, while Rivers ultimately decided not to let his contract situation leak int the season.

The deal is a win for both sides, as the 33-year old Rivers continues to play at an extremely high level and has found serious success under head coach Mike McCoy over the past two years. During that time, Rivers has put up a stellar 63:29 TD-INT ratio, while completing over 66% of his passes in both seasons. San Diego has also had a dangerous offense during that span, while the Bolts have also remained a competitive team and made the playoffs in McCoy’s first season at the helm.

With Rivers locked up through the 2019 season (Rivers will be 37), the team and the quarterback can enter 2015 safely knowing that they’ll be hinged at the hip. Year three of Rivers/McCoy could end up being the best yet, as Rivers should be as comfortable as ever in the balanced system, which relies more on short to intermediate passes and allows Rivers to pick his spots with the deep ball. The team could be at risk of getting off to a slow start with starting tight end Antonio Gates suspended for the first four weeks of the year, but rookie rusher Melvin Gordon could help open up their offense and backup tight end LaDarius Green should be able to do a solid job in place of Gates.

On paper, the Chargers are a borderline playoff team that could very well be on the brink of a deep playoff run. The Denver Broncos have been a major thorn in their side in each of the past two seasons, but if San Diego’s defense can finally start matching their offense, the Bolts could have one of the most balanced attacks in the entire league. That will be precisely what they need to upend Peyton Manning and the Broncos, but the news of Rivers sticking in town could have a ripple effect for the entire franchise and give it the confidence it needs to make a serious push in 2015.