The day Pakistan's World Cup squad was announced, Mohammad Amir's exclusion dominated the headlines. That was perfectly natural; the fascination with the revival of his prodigious teenage talent hasn't yet died down, and the prospect of a World Cup in England where Pakistan had voluntarily left him out was perplexing to several. But if you looked past the flashiest headlines, the omission of Asif Ali came as a more surprising move.

Not because his numbers are extraordinary; they're not. An average of 31 is far from sensational, and today's 36-ball 51 is his highest ODI score in nine innings, four of which came against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. It is instead his strike rate - 132.80 - that marks him out as possessor of an ability no one in Pakistan's middle order can claim. Asif is, with more sixes than fours in his short ODI career thus far, a power hitter. Fakhar Zaman aside, no other player in the preliminary World Cup squad can claim that title.

It was a point Mickey Arthur echoed following Pakistan's spirited attempt at chasing down England's colossal first innings in Southampton today. That Pakistan had got as close as they did was a tremendous surprise to anyone acquainted with their recent batting troubles, and Asif's four sixes and two fours en route his half-century was a major factor in their fight. Without his efforts, this contest would have been a foregone conclusion well before Chris Woakes sent down the 50th over.

"We batted well as a unit there, but fell just a little short at the end," Arthur said afterwards. "Asif played really well off the back of that really good innings from Fakhar, who was outstanding today. It was disappointing not to get over the line."

Arthur made no attempt to conceal what that meant for Pakistan's World Cup plans, and where the 27-year old stands in regard to them. "Asif was very impressive today. It's no secret the one thing we've lacked is a bit of power hitting and he has the ability to do that for us. He did his chances no harm with the innings he played."

"It's no secret the one thing we've lacked is a bit of power hitting. He did his chances no harm with the innings he played." Mickey Arthur on Asif Ali

The idea that Asif may not go to the World Cup is even more incredulous once Pakistan look across to the other camp, where the approach and personnel of the hosts has made them the bookies' favourites to walk away with the trophy. Joe Root aside, there's barely a player in England's top seven who wouldn't count as a power hitter if playing for Pakistan, and to overlook one of the few they can count among their ranks would lead to plenty of head-scratching.

Sure, it poses a dilemma regarding the balance of the squad, and what it means for playing a sixth bowler. Attempts to fit Asif in at No.6 in the Asia Cup last year didn't work, but then again, nothing did for Pakistan at that tournament. This is a headache worth having, not one to be washed away by a bitter pill and a sip of water.

How to squeeze him into the team is a conversation for later though, with the more pressing conundrum being who he'd replace in the 15-man squad. His performance today mean he's unlikely to be rested for the game that follows, a game for which Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik - both in the squad as it stands - will be fit.

It would be astonishing if either were dropped for the World Cup, and that puts more pressure on Haris Sohail's shoulders than is perhaps justified. The left-hander couldn't keep the momentum going when he came in with Fakhar and Babar Azam having departed in quick succession, scoring just 14 of the 41 runs in his partnership with Asif before holing out to deep point. However, his three overs of left-arm spin were more economical than any of those bowled by his team-mates.

It might mean Pakistan take the easy way out and put him in at Abid Ali's expense, a player who burst into the selectors' plans off the back of a debut hundred in the fourth ODI against Australia in March. While not a like-for-like replacement, it resolves the apparent absurdity of omitting Asif while not forgoing the experience of Shoaib or the allround skills of Hafeez, both of whom the selectors appear to set plenty of store by. But Abid's own List A and T20 strike-rate suggest he's more than capable of keeping things moving, and to confuse the most harmonious call with the most discerning one could prove to be expensive folly.

Make no mistake: on the evidence of what we all saw at the Ageas Bowl today and later heard from Arthur, Asif hasn't gone to England just to play a bilateral series. And if that's apparent from the outside, it's a point that will have dawned equally gravely on the men who might be forced to make way for him. The pressure of facing England's bowlers is considerable as it is, but some Pakistan batsman may have more than just that on their minds when the two sides square off at Bristol on Tuesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith is not happy with the way some people have reacted to his decision to step away from football for the 2019 season.

Smith posted an Instagram story on Saturday in which he said he is getting irritated with the criticism and reminded people that there is more to life than football.

"Why is it so crazy I want to step away from the game?" Smith said. "Y'all just chill. Everything's solid, you feel me? Stop going crazy. It's getting aggravating. You feel me? Football ain't everything. Y'all better wake the f--- up."

Smith posted a statement Thursday afternoon on his Instagram account saying he would not play football in 2019 because he needed to take time off for his family and his health. He did not rule out a return in 2020 and said that when he does decide to retire, he wants to do it in Jacksonville.

"It was said to me from a great coach, that in order for the man to be his best, he must get his world in order," Smith's post read. "At this time I must take time away from this game & get my world in order. I must give this time back to myself, my family, & my health. I appreciate the support I will & will not get. I just ask y'all respect my decision to not play football this season. I know the rumors of trade talk came about, but I started my career in Jacksonville & the day I do decided [sic] to call it quits it will be right here in Duval. I love y'all & even in my time off it's #10toesdwn ya feel me!!! Love!"

Smith had not been attending the Jaguars' voluntary offseason conditioning program, which began in April, and coach Doug Marrone said Friday afternoon that he still has not spoken with Smith. Marrone also said he wants Smith to know that he and the rest of the organization are there to support him if he wants to reach out.

"I kind of put football to the side," Marrone said after the first day of the Jaguars' rookie minicamp. "I think that [football], to me, is an afterthought right now. I really believe in my heart that Telvin knows that we're here to support him in any which way -- not just myself, the coaches, the organization, his teammates, and I'm sure he's aware of that.

"All we can do is just make sure we pray and he knows that if he needs some support, obviously we're here for him."

ASHBURN, Va. -- The scene was different for a Washington Redskins rookie minicamp, with three dozen or so media members attending. It's been seven years since they entertained that sort of gathering for a rookie minicamp. But, as in the days of Robert Griffin III, the Redskins have a quarterback as their latest symbol of hope: Dwayne Haskins.

The Redskins don't yet know if Haskins will start this season, as coach Jay Gruden has said there will be an open competition for the No. 1 job. They do know, however, that after two days of rookie minicamp, Haskins has impressed.

"It's been a treat," Gruden said. "He's made some throws that turn your head without a doubt."

Added Doug Williams, the Redskins senior vice president of player personnel: "It don't take long for the ball to get from Point A to Point B."

The Redskins, who drafted Haskins with the 15th overall pick, are preaching patience. That doesn't mean he won't challenge for the starting job, however, as he was selected that high for a reason.

They know there's a learning curve for Haskins, and two days of work against other rookies doesn't lend itself to grand conclusions. On Saturday, in his first work with media present, Haskins showed off his live arm.

Gruden said Haskins threw better Friday than he did Saturday, when he missed on several throws -- some were high, some were behind, and others were on target. During one-on-one work, however, Haskins connected on a number of red zone passes -- including a fade to former Ohio State teammate Terry McLaurin in the corner of the end zone on a perfectly placed pass. In full-team drills, Haskins fumbled one snap from under center.

In 7-on-7 work, Haskins had to dump off multiple times. After a number of plays, one coach or another would offer instruction. He made some throws with anticipation, the ball arriving as a receiver would turn around. He threw deep, though one was intercepted.

"It's challenging; you want it to be challenging," Haskins said. "The biggest thing is trying to apply the meetings to the field. [There have been] 50 plays put in so far; a lot of stuff going into it. It's fun to throw the ball around again. You're going to make mistakes. The biggest thing is I rebounded from them and look forward to getting better."

Haskins was patient at Ohio State, sitting behind J.T. Barrett for two years before getting his chance this past season. It remains to be seen if he'll need to be that patient in Washington alongside quarterbacks Case Keenum and Colt McCoy, neither of whom has a firm grip on the starting job.

"We're going to throw the ball out there and let them compete," Gruden said. "He obviously displayed enough skill set to warrant the 15th pick, and we'll give him an opportunity to see how far he can take this thing without a doubt."

Gruden has said he does not like a three-man competition for the starting job because it's hard to divide the reps to give each quarterback enough of a chance.

"The most important thing in the next couple weeks is, let's see how far we can push this guy," Gruden said. "Let's see if there is a chance he can win the job. If we feel like he's coming along slower, then we have to maybe push Case or push Colt. But if we feel like [Haskins] is coming along and he's firing and he's comfortable, then we'll play it out and see what happens."

Haskins said he'll take the same approach he did at Ohio State.

"I'll be ready for whatever the coaches want from me, whether that's starting right away or next year or through the season," Haskins said. "I'll prepare like I'm the starter."

But he also admitted waiting two years to play there wasn't easy -- and he shone a light on his mentality.

"Definitely hard," Haskins said. "Every competitor wants to play, but you have to know it's for the team, it's bigger than you. And if the coaches feel I'm the best option to win games this year, I'll be more than excited. If he says I'm not ready, I'll make sure I'll be ready."

The Redskins want to improve Haskins' footwork. They want him to get comfortable dropping back from under center, something he didn't do with the Buckeyes. They want him to get used to resetting his feet under pressure.

"With the quarterback, it starts with the basics," Gruden said. "He's a guy that didn't call a lot of plays in the huddle. So we're talking about breaking the huddle and calling plays in the huddle, and the snap count, getting guys lined up, going through his progressions, his footwork -- not only in the passing game but in the running game. There's a lot thrown at him. It's a long process, but he's a bright guy. I was impressed."

Williams, who quarterbacked the Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XXII, said he liked how Haskins handled himself at the line of scrimmage, was in control and had players aligned in the right areas.

"You can see he had a lot of work on that in the offseason," Williams said.

It was enough to whet the sporting appetite of the the 100 or so special-invitation fans who attended the workout. They lined the sidewalk outside the Redskins' bubble for autographs afterward, most waiting for Haskins, who was the final player to leave.

The fans snapped pictures, asked Haskins questions about playing in his hometown and shouted his name -- "Mr. Haskins!" -- to get an autograph. It's the most buzz generated by a Redskins quarterback since Griffin.

But all Haskins cares about, he said, is what happens on the field.

"The biggest thing I need to do is play well on Sundays, and that's all I'm looking forward to," Haskins said. "All the other stuff comes when it needs to."

WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- Pat Barry is standing over a large aluminum bathtub in his backyard, gripping one of those plastic dog-ball launchers with both hands.

He has just poured an aggressive amount of ice chips into the tub and filled it to its brim with hose water. After letting the concoction sit, ominously, for several minutes, Barry begins to stir. The sound it creates is more jagged than you'd expect, because there's so much ice. Occasionally, for dramatic effect, Barry slaps the plastic launcher against the water's surface. Whhhtt!

It's obvious that ice baths are kind of Barry's thing.

"You know, these baths are 90 percent mental, 10 percent physical," he says. "If your mind can handle this for 10 minutes, what's a 25-minute fight? I mean, it definitely helps with recovery, too. But I almost look at it as, if your ankle hurts and you sit in this ... your ankle is gonna say, 'OK, I'm good. I'm healed. Just don't make me sit in that again.'"

If someone were to come to this modest townhouse just north of Denver in search of the world-champion martial artist who lives here, that visitor would almost certainly believe the champion is Barry. He is a larger-than-life personality. Think bull in a china shop. He's talkative, animated. He's also 245 pounds, with tree trunks for legs. He's a guy you'd want to have your back in a dark alley.

But Barry is not the world champion of the household.

As Barry stirs, his fiancée, Rose Namajunas, lies contently in a nearby chair, soaking in the rays of sun. Her arms stretch gently behind her head, and she's smiling. You get the sense there's nowhere she'd rather be than here, at her own home. In the background, Namajunas' best friend, her dog, Mishka, chases a squirrel between two trees. Apparently, the two do this every day.

And even when Namajunas stands, walks to the tub and gently lowers herself into the harshest ice bath anyone has ever created in a Colorado backyard, and you realize she is the world champion, it still can be hard to wrap your head around. Rose? The same Rose who just offered you a bowl of her homemade beet soup? And who will later fill the room with music as she softly plays her antique piano?

Yep, that Rose is one of the baddest women on the planet. And as Barry will tell you, she always has been. She was born for the fight game. The woman's a killer.

Barry himself used to be a fighter. Successful one, too. In his prime, he was a feared kickboxer who also fought in the UFC. But the first time he met Namajunas, nearly 10 years ago when she was still a teenager, Barry knew his career was over. Even at a young age, Namajunas had something Barry recognized he'd never had and never would.

"I can pinpoint the end of my career to when Rose first hit me," Barry says. "The first time we matched up and moved around, she hit me with this punch that took years for me to figure out. I instantly knew she had something special about her. ... I'm good, you know? Some would even say, at a point in time, I was great at what I did. But I didn't have the whole package.

"She's every bit of MMA, all combined into one."

This weekend, Namajunas (9-3) will defend her strawweight title against Brazilian challenger Jessica Andrade (19-6) at UFC 237 ... in Brazil. Oddsmakers have Namajunas as an underdog.

It is unusual for a UFC champion to travel to a challenger's backyard, but due to timing, the UFC's schedule and Namajunas' confidence in her ability to perform amid chaos, she agreed to go. Originally, there was talk of holding the event at a 45,000-seat soccer stadium, but it ultimately landed at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Now there will be only 15,000 fans chanting "Uh vai morrer!" -- Portuguese for "You're going to die!" -- at her on Saturday.

"There is no safe fight," Namajunas says. "There is no safe environment for a fight. ... For me, it's about being in that mentality and being ready for anything."

It could be said that Namajunas' entire life has revolved around this idea of environment -- her desire to find a safe one and her need to explore the chaotic ones. Namajunas grew up in Milwaukee and is a first-generation American. Her parents came to the U.S. from Lithuania. According to Namajunas, her father was schizophrenic and exited her life relatively early. Her mother worked a lot, and her brother was rarely home. She has mentioned several times during her career that she experienced sexual abuse as a child, but has made it clear that she does not want to discuss specific details.

"I lived in a house, but I never felt comfortable there, never felt safe there," Namajunas says. "So that's something I've longed for my entire life, just having a place to feel safe, like no one's going to hurt me."

Namajunas found that safe place in 2016, when she and Barry purchased their home. The two have made significant improvements to it -- including a flower bed that extends around the perimeter. Namajunas wants to plant roses there this year.

This is her safe environment, and it's where she prefers to spend the majority of her time. But another side of Namajunas still seeks the unsafe, because the unsafe is where Namajunas grows.

"She came from a rough lifestyle growing up, and when she started facing those things, her life changed," explains Namajunas' coach, Trevor Wittman. "I think she's kind of become addicted to being in chaotic situations and seeing how she performs.

"When they asked me about Brazil, I was like, 'Eh, I've been down there a few times, judging [can be biased]' -- things like that. But then Pat was like, 'She said she fights the best when she's in chaos.' And it clicked for me, and I said, 'That's what she said? We're going to Brazil.'"

When Namajunas dropped former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk with a left hook in the first round of their title fight in November 2017 at Madison Square Garden, Barry recognized the punch immediately. That punch, which began Namajunas' title reign with one of the biggest upsets that year, was the same punch she hit Barry with all those years ago.

"It looks like a jab, but it's really a hook," Barry says. "There's some magical little twist to it. I remember thinking when she hit me with it, 'That's a really good punch.' We kept moving, and she hit me with it again. Same thing. I was pretty positive I was blocking it, and it just kept landing. I mean, I had giant gloves on, blocking, and my head kept getting knocked to the side."

For some reason, what took Barry five seconds to realize about Namajunas has taken the rest of the sport much longer. Frankly, this sport tends to count Namajunas out. Perhaps that's because Namajunas is so genuinely open about everything -- her fear, in particular. It is not unusual for Namajunas to cry at practice, during fight week or anytime else. Before her last fight, a rematch against Jedrzejczyk at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, New York, she was so tense in the locker room that she clenched her fists to the point her hands bled.

"[Crying] better not be a bad thing, because it be happening on a daily [basis]," Namajunas says, laughing. "It's the yin and yang. I don't know. It's a balance you've got to have, because it's a traumatic experience, getting into a fistfight. If you're not feeling it, you probably shouldn't be doing it."

At 26, Namajunas is the UFC's youngest champion and has already fought four of the strawweights in ESPN's top-10 rankings. The majority of her wins have come via submission, but she is coming off back-to-back fights in which she outstruck a Muay Thai specialist, Jedrzejczyk. "She's stunned me more than anyone I've ever trained with," says Namajunas' teammate Justin Gaethje, a UFC lightweight.

And yet Namajunas has been a betting underdog in each of her past three title fights. And there's a good chance that even if she wins this weekend, that trend will continue. If Namajunas remains champion, it's likely she'll eventually run into the red-hot, undefeated prospect Tatiana Suarez, whom many are already calling the future champ of the division.

The only sense Barry can make of it is that Namajunas, at least when she's away from a fight, doesn't fit most people's concept of a cage fighter. And for that reason, perhaps she'll always be overlooked. But Barry believes this fight against Andrade -- a powerhouse of a strawweight who used to compete in a division 20 pounds heavier -- will go a long way in earning Namajunas the credit she deserves.

"It may seem like she's all over the place outside of fighting and her emotions are everywhere. Can she control them? Can she not?" Barry says. "But as her name gets announced and she's walking towards the ring, man, you can see it all. All the questions. All of the doubt. It just all comes together. And she's fantastic at what she does, man. When Rose is on, she's the best."

If you're one of those who really enjoy the story behind a fight, the UFC 237 main event might be for you.

I mean, how can you top this? Rose Namajunas (9-3), a UFC champion who is known for wearing her emotions on her sleeve and occasionally acting downright fragile during fight weeks, is going into one of the most intimidating settings in mixed martial arts: facing a Brazilian title challenger, Jessica Andrade, in Brazil.

Andrade (19-6) looks every bit the part of a UFC champion (which is why oddsmakers have made her the favorite). The 27-year-old is a wrecking ball of a strawweight who was competing at 135 pounds less than four years ago. She has UFC title fight experience. And she has knockout power, which she displayed against Karolina Kowalkiewicz in September.

Namajunas' fiancé, Pat Barry, has described this fight as actually more challenging than her back-to-back contests against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. And as crazy as it sounds, all things considered, he might be right. This might be the most frightening combination of circumstances one could come up with in the strawweight division right now. How Namajunas handles it will be good theater.

By the numbers

399: Days it will have been, on fight night, since Namajunas was last in the Octagon (UFC 223 in April 2018, a rematch win over Jedrzejczyk in Namajunas' first title defense).

10: UFC victories by Andrade, tying her with bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes for most by a female fighter in company history.

6.58: Significant strikes landed per minute by Andrade, the second most by an active female fighter in UFC history, behind Cris "Cyborg" Justino (6.76), according to UFC Stats.

59.3: Takedown accuracy of Namajunas, according to UFC Stats. That is the second-best success rate in the company's strawweight history.

3: Consecutive bouts in which Namajunas has not been a betting favorite. She has been the defending champion in two of them. Entering fight week, she was a +110 underdog.

Source: ESPN Stats & Information

A look back

If at first you don't succeed: Namajunas enters the Octagon in December 2014 for her UFC strawweight championship bout against Carla Esparza. It is the finale of Season 20 of "The Ultimate Fighter," with this season being held to kick off the promotion's 115-pound women's division. Although Namajunas was just 22 years old and 2-1 as a pro when the show began, she has made the final by defeating future UFC fighters Alex Chambers, Joanne Calderwood and Randa Markos. On this night, Namajunas -- with a full head of hair in braids -- will fall short in her first bid for a belt, as Esparza submits her with a third-round rear-naked choke. Namajunas will have to wait nearly three years for another shot at the title, but when the opportunity comes, "Thug Rose" will make the most of it.

Five vs. five

Bumpy road ahead?

Andrade understands why Namajunas would agree to travel to Rio de Janeiro to defend her belt.

"I think Rose probably wanted to have a chance to compete in Brazil, especially Rio," she told ESPN's Marc Raimondi. "It is the home of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. And I think every mixed martial artist would probably like a chance to come to Rio and see what it's all about."

But Andrade says she believes that decision will prove to be a major regret for Namajunas.

"She is gonna feel in this fight similar to what [Brazilians] feel in every single fight," Andrade said. "The travel is not easy, and just adapting to the home of your opponent is not the easiest thing. Just dealing with travel is a big pain. She's gonna have to deal with that for the first time defending her belt. I know maybe she might not feel like it was a bad idea to begin with, but I think once the crowd starts chanting and things start developing, she might feel like it was not the best idea to come down here for this."

Fighting words

"I'm confident in myself and I believe in myself. And really, it doesn't matter where the fight is. There's no safe environment for a fight. I believe in myself and I believe in my abilities. And I have everything it takes to win this fight." -- Namajunas, speaking to ESPN

"The pressure is not just a big threshold in this fight, but it's what makes me different as a whole. In every fight, I know that I can do something that very few people are able to do. I'm able to be in her face, walking forward for five rounds, putting on pressure, trying to knock her head off with every single punch. It might not work out the first time, the second time, but I'm gonna be coming after her for 25 minutes. I know if I can get one punch right, I might knock her block off. And she knows that." -- Andrade, speaking to ESPN

Film study

And the winner is ...

Like so many others, I am guilty of underestimating Namajunas. And as tempting as it is to go with Andrade, whose style can quickly create a terrible situation for her opponents, I'm going with the champion.

Brett Okamoto's pick: Namajunas via decision.

Waiting in the wings

You'd have to think Jedrzejczyk will be watching ... and rooting for the challenger. She has lost twice to Namajunas and wouldn't likely get a third shot at her anytime soon. But if the night ends with the belt around the waist of Andrade, whom Jedrzejczyk defeated in a 2017 title defense, the ex-champ suddenly would be right back in the title mix. Other interested observers will be Tatiana Suarez and Nina Ansaroff, who tussle June 8 in a fight expected to be a No. 1 contender showdown.

What to watch for (beyond the main event)

You'll see this fight on SportsCenter in the morning

Jose Aldo should lead the highlight shows simply because he's the one MMA legend on this card who's still performing like one. (Sorry, Anderson Silva and BJ Penn.) Aldo ruled the featherweight division in the UFC and WEC for six years before Conor McGregor and Max Holloway got the better of him. But at age 32, the Brazilian dynamo is on a run again, No. 3 in ESPN's 145-pound rankings after winning his past two fights by knockout. He faces a stiff test in sixth-ranked Alexander Volkanovski, a 30-year-old Australian who is 19-1 and has won 16 in a row, six in the UFC. Which fighter will pass through the crossroads unscathed?

Then again, what NOT to watch for

So, yeah, Penn once was among the greats of the sport. He was fearsome. He was skilled. He was winning titles in multiple weight classes before it was the stylish thing to do. But you wouldn't detect any of that greatness if you've seen only his recent performances -- OK, let's stretch "recent" back a full decade. Penn has only one victory since 2009 and is winless in his past seven. It's sad to watch. So when his lightweight bout with Clay Guida is about to kick off the ESPN prelims at 8 p.m. ET, watch this first, just so you'll know what you're missing:

Nickname of the night

Thug Rose! Thug Rose! Thug Rose! (h/t Daniel Cormier, with assists from Jon Anik and Joe Rogan)

MILWAUKEE -- Despite having a week between the end of the second round and the beginning of the Eastern Conference finals, there is no guarantee that Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon will be ready to return to the starting lineup by the beginning of the next series as he recovers from a minor plantar fascia tear.

"He needs more game minutes, more game action," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after practice Saturday. "We plan to continue to increase Malcolm's workload and minutes. To say exactly how it's going to play out -- the next step will be him playing a little bit more in Game 1."

On Wednesday, Brogdon played for the first time since March 15. He came off the bench in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics and played in sub-four-minute spurts. He played a total of 17 minutes and scored 10 points.

Budenholzer said Wednesday that 17 minutes were "more than we planned." After that game, Brogdon said he didn't feel any residual pain.

"I felt 100 percent," Brogdon said. "You want to ease your way into the game and try to help them a little bit. I tried to do that."

The bench group, of which Brogdon was a part in Game 5, was key to Milwaukee's success against the Celtics. Big games from George Hill and Pat Connaughton helped the Bucks win Games 3, 4 and 5. That bench unit has been nicknamed the "Bench Mob."

"It's not the second unit," Connaughton said. "It's the 'Bench Mob.' Big difference there. One is a demotion, the other is a promotion!"

Nikola Mirotic has been starting in Brogdon's absence. At practice Saturday, Mirotic said that no matter whether he's coming off the bench or starting, he will be prepared. Connaughton said that the "Bench Mob" is also prepared for whatever Budenholzer draws up.

"Whatever coach wants to do we support," Connaughton said. "If we have to re-knight Niko [Mirotic], we will re-knight him. If Malcolm is still with us, we are happy to have him. Regardless of who is a part of the Bench Mob, the Bench Mob's goals and morals will still stay the same."

The Bucks had the day off Thursday and held individual player workouts Friday. Budenholzer said the team scrimmaged Saturday during practice and that Brogdon was able to participate.

The long break between series gives Milwaukee the luxury of taking some time off. The Bucks will not practice Sunday and will likely watch Game 7 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors as a group. The winner will play at Milwaukee in Game 1 of the East finals Wednesday night.

"We want to go to the Finals Finals," Mirotic said, "so it don't matter who we play."

The Cleveland Cavaliers moved closer Saturday to completing a first round of candidate interviews for the franchise's head-coaching job, league sources told ESPN.

Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman and members of his front office met separately with several assistant coaches in Denver on the eve of Game 7 between the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers, including Denver assistants Jordi Fernandez and Wes Unseld Jr. and Portland assistant David Vanterpool, league sources said.

The Cavaliers also interviewed Orlando Magic assistant Steve Hetzel in Denver on Saturday, sources said. The Cavaliers had received permission to interview another Trail Blazers assistant, Nate Tibbetts, but scheduling conflicts will push that meeting until after the Blazers-Nuggets Western Conference semifinals series ends, sources said.

The Cavaliers interviewed San Antonio Spurs assistant Ettore Messina in the past several days.

Former Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel has agreed to a three-year deal to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told ESPN, with Jason Kidd agreeing to join Vogel's staff in a prominent assistant-coaching role.

Vogel's hiring speaks to the significant influence of Lakers adviser Kurt Rambis and former coach Phil Jackson, whose opinions weigh heavily with owner Jeanie Buss. Vogel was the runner-up to Jeff Hornacek when Jackson hired a New York Knicks replacement for Derek Fisher in the summer of 2016.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka had spent the past few days gathering information from those who have worked with both Vogel and Kidd about how they believe those two could complement each other on a Lakers coaching staff, league sources said.

Vogel, 45, flew to Los Angeles on Thursday and met with Pelinka and his front office and had detailed discussions on how Vogel would approach the possibility of taking over what has become a volatile situation.

The Lakers have been under tremendous pressure to partner LeBron James with a suitable replacement to Luke Walton and to start to quell the turmoil that's surrounding the organization.

As much as Vogel has to be judged on a difficult two-season tenure with the Magic (2016-18) during which he won 29 and 25 games with a rebuilding team, he did build a strong reputation in his five full seasons with the Pacers, who advanced to the Eastern Conference finals during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.

The Philadelphia Phillies placed starting pitcher Vince Velasquez on the injured list with a right forearm strain, the team announced Saturday.

The right-hander lasted just four innings in his last start Monday, giving up four hits (three home runs), five walks and five earned runs against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Velasquez has a 1-2 record in six starts this season with a 3.86 ERA.

Lefty reliever Austin Davis was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The Washington Nationals reinstated outfielder Juan Soto from the 10-day injured list on Saturday ahead of the team's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Soto, 20, had been on the IL with back spasms. He is batting .248 with six home runs and 22 RBIs, tied for the team lead.

Soto will bat third against the Dodgers and play left field.

The Nationals optioned infielder Jake Noll to Triple-A Fresno in a corresponding move.