England have dropped Jonny Bairstow from the Test squad for New Zealand, while handing first call-ups to Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley. Bairstow, who averaged 19.45 in Tests this summer, was named in the T20I squad, along with a host of new faces that includes Somerset opener Tom Banton and Pat Brown, the Worcestershire slower-ball specialist.
With Ben Foakes overlooked for the New Zealand tour as well, the decision to leave out Bairstow means Jos Buttler is set to take over as England's first-choice Test wicketkeeper on a tour that falls outside the Future Tours Programme but which has been earmarked as an important stepping stone for England ahead of their trip to South Africa in December.
The New Zealand series comes too soon for James Anderson, who recently confirmed his desire to play on despite injury limiting his Ashes involvement. England instead looked to one of Anderson's younger Lancashire team-mates, with Saqib Mahmood included for both legs of the tour.
Of the XI that beat Australia at The Oval earlier this month to secure a 2-2 series draw, Bairstow is the only omission. Sibley is rewarded for a breakthrough season in which he has scored 1324 Championship runs - more than anyone else in the country - while Crawley, 21, has risen quickly to prominence since his debut at the end of 2017.
More to follow...
England T20I squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince
England Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes
Jacksonville Jaguars star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who requested a trade last week, called the team Sunday night to inform it that he is sick and will be unable to practice Monday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Ramsey, who thinks he has the flu, still wants to be traded and may not practice at all this week, sources tell Schefter. The Jaguars are not interested in trading Ramsey, according to sources, setting up a standoff with the two-time Pro Bowler.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan is leading the organization's stance on Ramsey's trade request, according to sources.
Ramsey, 24, played in last Thursday night's 20-7 home victory over the Titans. He revealed in a recent episode of Uninterrupted's "17 Weeks" podcast that an upsetting conversation with team management after a Week 2 loss to the Texans was the final push for his decision to request a trade.
"Some disrespectful things were said on their end that made me definitely walk out and call my agent as soon as I walked out, and I told him, I said, 'It's time; my time is up here in Jacksonville. I want to ask for a trade,'" Ramsey said.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady turned philosophical when discussing wide receiver Antonio Brown being released after just 11 days with the team.
"I do have a lot of personal feelings, none of which I really care to share," Brady said in his weekly interview on "The Greg Hill Show" on sports radio WEEI. "It's a difficult situation. That's kind of how I feel."
Brady, who spent one-on-one time with Brown on and off the field in hopes of easing his transition to the team, shared in general terms how he approaches his role as a leader on the Patriots.
"There's a lot of human elements. As a player, as a person, I care deeply about my teammates. I want everyone to be the best they can possibly be," he said on the program. "From the day I started with this team, even back in college, you try to provide leadership, and you try to care for people. You try to provide whatever you think you can to help them reach their highest potential -- whatever situation it is.
"I've had a lot of teammates over the years, so you invest -- not just your head, but your heart. You invest your soul. That's what makes a great team. That's what makes a great brotherhood. So I think in the end, the endearing trait about sports for me is the relationships I get to build, because they're very meaningful. That's at the heart, I think, philosophically, [of] my life. It's really about great relationships and seeing guys from all different backgrounds. I think it brings all of us together in so many ways."
Brady said that as long as he's playing and part of a team and community, he will "keep believing in people, in joy, in love" because "that's what works for me."
"Everyone needs something a little bit different. Everybody's upbringing was a little bit different. Everybody's emotional states are different," he said on the program. "How do you contribute -- whether someone is hurting physically, mentally, emotionally -- how do you provide to them what they may need in order to support them to help us all grow and evolve. Not only as individuals. Not only as members of the team. Not only as members of the family. Not only as members of a community. But everybody has different challenges. I think you recognize those challenges, try to provide them as best as possible, and go to bed at night trying to do the best you can do. If things don't work as you hoped, then absolutely when you put your heart on the line, there's emotions that come up. A lot of things are not always in our control. But you wake up the next day and try to find hope and optimism."
The 42-year-old Brady noted how he had the privilege of a "great upbringing" that not everyone is fortunate to have.
"People that know me, I think, know how optimistic I am and just my belief that positivity and optimism can overcome a lot of things. There's a lot of things that get in the way of that, and again, I think we're in a culture where we want to cast judgment so quickly on people. We want to disparage people so quickly. And it just speaks to me that a lot of people are probably hurting, because when you're not feeling great, you want other people to know that. I think it becomes very emotional," he said.
"Again, it's a tough life. Life is not easy. Football is not easy. Evolving and growing as people is not an easy thing. I'm very different now -- at 22 than I am at 42. So I have a lot more perspective. Life is challenging for all of us ... we all go through different aspects of our life and we try to do the best we can do. We develop friendships and relationships, people that support us, and sports has a great way of bringing a lot of people together. I believe the more you care for people, the more you love people, the more you find joy in your life, the better our society is. The better our communities are. The better our teams are. The better our families are. That's how I feel."
Brady lamented today's negative culture.
"It's so easy for us to blame and shame because everyone has a voice now," he said. "A lot of them can just be nameless, faceless comments that are very difficult for people. You love too much, that's a problem. You hate too much, that's a problem. You win too much, that's a problem. You lose too much, that's a problem. Everything ends up being a problem.
"So you just have to focus on, look at yourself, and 'What do I believe in? What are my beliefs?' I'm responsible for my own beliefs. I'm responsible for my own actions. And I'm going to do the best I can do to contribute in the best way possible. I'm not going to add on. I'm not going to be a part of this culture that can become very negative, can become very blaming, very much point fingers. I think as a parent, what responsibility do we have to teach our children? What society do we want this to become? How do we choose in the role we have to make a difference, to contribute in a positive way? And if we don't, that's our choice. For me, based on my upbringing, my choice is something that's different than that."
Who didn't make the cut but should have? Which players are the most underrated and overrated? And which future stars are set to rise the most over the next year?
Our NBA experts answer the biggest questions about this year's rankings and what they mean for the upcoming season.
1. What is your biggest takeaway from the rankings?
Tim MacMahon, ESPN: We aren't buying the theory that big men aren't that valuable in today's NBA. I see 15 players who will see all or a significant chunk of their minutes at center (including New Orleans Pelicans center Derrick Favors, Indiana Pacers power forward Domantas Sabonis and Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr.) among the 50 players in this pool. And there are a bunch more to come in the top 50.
Nick Friedell, ESPN: This section is chock-full of guys whom teams are banking on to take significant leaps in their play this season. A lot of these young players have the ability to play much better over time. Whether they do -- or don't -- will be key to their teams' seasons.
Eric Woodyard, ESPN: Detroit Pistons star center Andre Drummond being listed outside of the top 50. Sure, he isn't the greatest offensive threat. But we can't just glance over the fact that Drummond led the league in boards the past two seasons and is one of eight players in league history to post at least 1,000 points and 1,000 boards in six or more consecutive seasons. I don't see him slowing down, either -- he's only 26. Maybe they forgot about Dre.
Malika Andrews, ESPN: This group from 100 to 51 is Eastern Conference heavy. It makes sense: The East's best teams don't always flaunt the biggest superstar duos or trios, but they're often deep with rotation players. Both of the East's top 2019 playoff teams, the Bucks and Raptors, had several players make this list.
Andre Snellings, ESPN: The NBA is getting younger, with the new generation taking over and carrying the wave moving forward. A whopping 31 of the players ranked 51-100 have been in the NBA five seasons or fewer, which in the era of one-and-done means most of these guys are under 25 years old. With this shaping up as one of the most exciting NBA seasons in recent memory, it would appear that the future is in good hands.
2. Which player didn't make the top 100 but should have?
Andrews: One of the first things I did when I received a copy of the rankings was scan for Danny Green. How could he not be a top-100 player? When Kawhi Leonard was traded from San Antonio to Toronto, Green was also a key part of that blockbuster deal. Green is one of the best 3-and-D players in the league and has proved to be a key rotation piece. It doesn't compute that he didn't make the cut.
MacMahon: Sacramento Kings small forward Harrison Barnes has his limitations, particularly as a playmaker. But anyone capable of scoring 19 points per game with decent efficiency deserves to be considered among the top 100 players in the NBA. My unsolicited advice to the Kings: Utilize Barnes primarily as a stretch-4 in pace-pushing lineups.
Woodyard: Many people forget that when coming out of high school, Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrew Wiggins was heralded as the best player in the nation. After one year at Kansas, he has by no means enjoyed a legendary NBA career, with no All-Star appearances, but the kid can straight-up ball. Could he go harder at times? Sure. But he put up 18.1 points with 4.8 assists last season, with a career average of 19.4 points per game. I think the trade rumors could spark a career season for Wiggins. He is a top-100 player in this league.
Snellings: I almost picked Terry Rozier by default because someone is going to have to produce for the Hornets this season, but Jonas Valanciunas was too strong not to pick. He has been a per-minute monster who wasn't getting the minutes for years, averaging 19.4 points per 36 minutes on 56.2% shooting with 13.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per 36 minutes, primarily for the Raptors the past four seasons. The Grizzlies traded for him and gave him minutes to end last season, and his production scaled with more playing time. He's a legit 20-10 threat this season who has had a positive defensive RPM for four straight seasons -- a clear top-100 player.
Friedell: There are few players on the list I would want on the floor more than Andre Iguodala. He might not put up big numbers anymore on a night-to-night basis, but he is very smart, and his teammates and coaches respect him.
3. Who is most likely to outperform his ranking?
Woodyard: I was shocked when I didn't see LA Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley's name listed on the NBA All-Defensive Team last year. You can't tell me he wasn't at least worthy of second-team. I'm not buying that. With the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the good thing for Beverley is he will be in the spotlight more. More media attention and more wins typically bring more opportunities to achieve individual accolades and possibly a title. I totally expect Beverley to outperform his No. 79 ranking. He's as tough as nails, and playing with better talent will only help him.
Friedell: If Kyle Kuzma (No. 77) is as good as so many people in Los Angeles believe, he will shoot up this list this season playing alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Lakers' platform has the ability to create stars, and Kuzma will become one this year if he lives up to his potential.
Snellings: I like a lot of the young players on this list, such as Deandre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marvin Bagley, to potentially make star leaps this season. But the player most likely to outperform his ranking is Robert Covington, who, if healthy, is cartoonishly underrated at No. 97. Covington quietly plays Defensive Player of the Year-caliber defense, with Rudy Gobert the only player in the NBA to rank higher than Covington in defensive RPM in each of the past three seasons. Covington had injury issues last season, but in 2017-18, he measured eighth in the NBA in overall impact as determined by RPM, and all seven of the players in front of him that season are consensus top-25 guys when healthy.
MacMahon: Small forward Gordon Hayward (No. 65) arrived in Boston as a top-30 player. It's probably a stretch to expect him to get back to that level with the Celtics, who have too many mouths to feed to build an entire offense around him like the Utah Jazz did. But Hayward should benefit from a better atmosphere in Boston, and a full year of chipping away at rust and doubt could merit All-Star consideration in the Eastern Conference.
Andrews: Brandon Ingram. Ingram missed the final five weeks of the 2018-19 season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, but now he's back in the gym. A source told ESPN's Andrew Lopez that Ingram has been a full participant in optional practices this summer. So long as he stays healthy, Ingram has the upside to outplay his ranking.
4. Who is least likely to live up to his ranking?
Friedell: Hayward should be better after another year of work following that gruesome leg injury, but the problem for the Celtics is that he just might never be the player he once was. Some nights last season, he showed flashes of who he was before the injury, and other times he had little impact on the floor. Hayward might get passed this season by a group of young, hungry players coming up behind him.
MacMahon:Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, simply because he will miss so much of the season while recovering from his gruesome leg injury and then surely will need significant time to work his way back into form as a skilled, physical force. Let's be real: The Blazers wouldn't have taken on the potential headaches and humongous salary that come with center Hassan Whiteside if they anticipated Nurkic to rank as the 83rd-most impactful player in the NBA this season.
Snellings: Brandon Ingram (No. 56). Ingram's game doesn't scale well on a team such as the Pelicans. He prefers to create with the ball in his hands, but Lonzo Ball, Jrue Holiday and even rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker are better creators for both themselves and the team. And of course, the primary frontcourt iso threat will be Zion Williamson, not Ingram. Ingram doesn't shoot well enough to be maximized as an off-ball threat, and he doesn't create well enough to justify the types of touches he'd require to thrive.
Andrews: Gordon Hayward (No. 65). Although Enes Kanter recently said that Hayward should be eyeing the All-Star Game, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Celtics forward. Hayward seemed to grow more comfortable during the 2018-19 season, but he never appeared to be back in pre-injury form. If he cannot inch back toward 100 percent, his ranking will likely slip. Boston is counting on Hayward to replace some of the production the team lost during summer free agency.
Woodyard: I get it, the New York Knicks are a big-market team, but it disturbs me that they haven't reached the playoffs since 2012-13 and are somehow receiving all of this attention. With no disrespect, center Mitchell Robinson (No. 98) is going to have to prove to me that he's top-100 worthy because I don't see the Knicks putting him in position to really take off. Hopefully, I'm wrong. He was solid as a rookie in the 66 games he played. I'll be tuned in to see the improvement.
5. Which player ranked 100-51 will finish the highest heading into the 2020-21 season?
MacMahon: Jaren Jackson Jr.'s rookie season with the Grizzlies got overshadowed by frequent flashes of brilliance from Luka Doncic and Trae Young, but Jackson also showed signs of being special. Anthony Davis is the only other teen to average at least 13 points and one block per game. Jackson's blend of perimeter shooting and rim protection makes him a perfect big man to build around in the modern NBA.
Andrews: Jaylen Brown. With Kyrie Irving gone, the young guard has more room to grow. The Celtics had a turbulent 2018-19 season. Now, it seems the air has been cleared. For Boston to make a push in the 2020 playoffs, Brown and Jayson Tatum need to take the next step in their development.
Woodyard: One thing I know about Michigan State University players is that they are tough! That said, I'm looking forward to watching Jackson make big strides in his second season in Memphis. He's no longer surrounded by veteran guys such as Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, but I think that'll open doors for him to take off in this league. Although he made the All-Rookie First Team, I think we were robbed of seeing his true talent due to injuries.
Friedell: Jackson is primed for a big season. Playing alongside Ja Morant should only clear up more space for him on the floor. Jackson is one of the best young big men in the league and will take another step in his progression this season.
Snellings: Lonzo Ball is out of the pressure cooker of being the "next big thing" for the storied Lakers franchise and is also in position to increase his playmaking role for the Pelicans after deferring to LeBron James last season. Ball averaged 10.2 points (36% shooting, 31% from deep), 7.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game as a 20-year-old rookie, numbers eerily similar to then-co-Rookie of the Year Jason Kidd. If Ball is healthy this season, he should finally start to fulfill some of that Kidd-like upside.
We asked, "Which player will be better in 2019-20?" To decide, voters had to consider both the quality and the quantity of each player's contributions to his team's ability to win games in the regular season and postseason.
We'll roll out our top 100 players over the next week. Here are Nos. 100 to 51.
Zach Lowe on White's 2019 playoffs: If you paid attention during the regular season, you knew White was good. I'm not sure anyone expected him to work as San Antonio's best player for much of its series against Denver, with a 36-point eruption in Game 3 that stood as the best single-game performance of the first round -- a two-way masterpiece that bordered on perfection -- until Damian Lillard's 50-pointer.
Foul trouble slowed White in Game 5. Tiny cracks emerged in his defense. But zoom out and the Spurs must be thrilled with how at home he looks in the postseason hothouse.
Brian Windhorst on Fournier's summer:Here is the kind of guy Fournier is. As soon as he got his bronze medal with France in the FIBA World Cup, he gave it away, saying he already had one from 2014 at home. Then he criticized American friends, such as former Magic teammate Tobias Harris, for not coming to play. Fournier played with the same fearless attitude throughout the tournament. He battered Team USA, and even though he didn't shoot great down the stretch, he finished at 41% from 3-point range and averaged 19.8 points in the event. Still unclear: Whether he gave away the watch he got for making the all-tournament team.
Kevin Pelton on Robinson's role: After spending most of his rookie campaign coming off the bench, Robinson projects as a starter in 2019-20. Among New York's young players, he is the best equipped with role-player skills to contribute if and when the Knicks add a star.
Andre Snellings on Covington's rank: At No. 97, Covington is cartoonishly underrated if healthy. He quietly plays Defensive Player of the Year-caliber D, with Rudy Gobert as the only player in the NBA to rank higher than Covington in defensive RPM in each of the past three seasons. Covington had injury issues last season, but in 2017-18, he measured eighth in the NBA in overall impact as determined by RPM, and all seven of the players in front of him that season are consensus top-25 guys when healthy.
Pelton on the Pelicans' trade for Favors:If Favors proves a good fit, by trading for him New Orleans will have full Bird rights when Favors hits unrestricted free agency next summer. The downside to dealing for Favors is he isn't quite as stretchy a big man as would be ideal next to No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson. As hard as he worked to add 3-point range playing power forward in Utah, Favors topped out last season at 17 made 3s, and he is a 21% career shooter from beyond the arc. So Favors will congest things a bit for Williamson on offense.
That is offset by his polished defense, which will take pressure off Williamson to be a rim protector from day one.
Pelton on Brooklyn's center position:Though not quite 31 years old, DeAndre Jordan has aged rapidly because of his dependence on athleticism. Because he still is a strong finisher and his size won't fade, Jordan might be worth $10 million in the first couple of years of this deal. By 2022-23, when Jordan will be 34? That looks incredibly unlikely. Worse yet, the Nets might have to start Jordan ahead of third-year center Allen, a similarly good pick-and-roll option who is far more active defensively at this stage of his career.
Pelton on Miami's rotation:The Jimmy Butler trade did come at a cost to Miami's depth. Of the seven Heat players who logged more than 1,200 minutes last season, just three -- Winslow, Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk -- will return. So, Miami is counting on them, along with healthy comebacks from veterans Goran Dragic, James Johnson and Dion Waiters, who combined to miss 102 games due to injuries in 2018-19.
Mike Schmitz on Memphis' lottery picks:With Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant has an agile big who can get up and down, provide spacing in pop situations or function like a lob target as a diver. Morant-Jackson transition drag screens will give defenses fits, and Jackson's ability to shoot and handle will give the Grizzlies creative ways to combat teams that dare Morant to shoot or funnel him to the rim, while providing Morant the driving lines he didn't have at Murray State. Jackson's defensive versatility and rim protection also will help Morant cover up some of his mistakes on that end of the floor as he gains experience. Memphis still needs to continue building out its roster and putting shooters around Morant, but he and Jackson figure to make up one of the best point guard-big man duos in the league sooner than later.
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Ja Morant projects to be an NBA star with his dynamic skills
Check out all the highlights and reaction to Ja Morant's breakout season at Murray State, where he went from relative unknown to college superstar thanks to his high-flying dunks.
Adrian Wojnarowski on Randle joining the Knicks: Randle has developed into one of the NBA's most versatile offensive frontcourt players. At 24, he had the best NBA campaign of his five-year career last season, averaging 21.4 points on 52% shooting to go along with 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for the Pelicans.
Lowe on Gallinari's fit in OKC:Gallinari was a borderline All-Star last season, and he can work as the stretch power forward the Thunder haven't had since Serge Ibaka kinda, sorta became one. OKC can even steal some minutes with Gallinari as a wing.
Pelton on Porter in Chicago: Porter is a solid complementary piece, a capable defender who scores with high efficiency in a limited role. He is a career 39% 3-point shooter who made better than 43% of his attempts in each of the previous two seasons, before dipping to 37% in the first part of 2018-19. There's little question that the Bulls could use a player such as that alongside Zach LaVine on the wing.
Pelton on Harris and the Nets:The youth of Brooklyn's returning core of role players sets the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving pairing apart from other star duos we've seen in recent memory. Of the other players on the roster, only Harris (28 in September) is older than age 26. At 27, Irving also is in the middle of his prime, giving the Nets plenty of options to supplement Durant if he needs to manage his playing time while coming back from injury and to prolong his career beyond that.
The wing players Brooklyn has stocked up on should fit well in smaller roles alongside Durant and Irving. Harris, the NBA's reigning 3-point champion, led the league by shooting 47.4% beyond the arc last season.
Tim Bontemps on VanVleet's 2019 playoffs:VanVleet might be Toronto's backup point guard, but he was a crucial part of the team's run to the title. He got hot from 3-point range over the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks to help the Raptors make the NBA Finals, and he played tremendous defense on Warriors star Stephen Curry in their matchups.
Pelton on Marcus Smart's defense: No regular starter expends more energy on defense than Smart, who seems to will himself into position to thwart opponents' plays. In addition to effort, that also requires strong pattern recognition from Smart, who excels at gambling defensively when the odds are in his favor.
Kirk Goldsberry on Richardson's fit in Philly:With the Heat, Richardson built his brand by playing outstanding perimeter defense. He provides Philly with an active, versatile wing capable of frustrating even the world's best perimeter players. Unlike Butler, Richardson will be content to play off the ball and stretch the floor, making him an ideal wing alongside Ben Simmons.
Richardson might not be as good as Redick as a shooter, but he really is good at hitting open catch-and-shoot 3s. His shooting percentage jumped to 42.4% (73rd percentile) when his defender was at least 6 feet away. Simmons created 452 such open looks last year, and it's fair to expect Richardson's 3-point activity to skew toward his strengths in Philly, where he'll play alongside higher-usage teammates who command a lot of defensive attention.
Lowe on Millsap: Millsap is one of the league's ultimate gap-fillers -- on both ends. He senses what the Nuggets need and does it. He seizes more of the offense if things bog down. He can create something from nothing in crunchtime. He always appears in the right place, at the right time, on defense.
Windhorst on Rubio's summer: Now one of most experienced international players, Rubio played with a vision and aggression befitting his experience. Spain has a number of experienced players, but he drove it to the World Cup title, scoring 20 points in the championship game to cement MVP honors. He shot the 3-pointer better than in the past, at 38%. If he carries that to training camp, it will be a true boost for the Suns.
Pelton on Nurkic's defense: Terry Stotts' defensive scheme calls for the screener's defender to drop back into the paint on pick-and-rolls, protecting the rim. The 7-foot Nurkic excelled in that scheme, using his size to intimidate in the paint. Per Second Spectrum tracking on NBA Advanced Stats, the 55.9% of shots inside 5 feet opponents have made with Nurkic as a primary defender ranks in the top 20 among players who have defended at least four such shots per game.
Pelton on Tucker's playoff performance:Because he spent so long in the lottery in Phoenix after returning to the NBA, Tucker didn't make his playoff debut until age 31, following a deadline trade to Toronto. That's too bad, because since joining the Rockets, Tucker has proved to be their version of Draymond Green in many regards, including playoff overperformance.
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Ohm: Westbrook-Harden duo will work in regular season
Ohm Youngmisuk is confident that the pairing of Russell Westbrook and James Harden will work during the regular season, but is concerned that won't carry into the postseason.
Malika Andrews on Lopez's role in Milwaukee:Nothing about Lopez's 3-point shooting is ordinary. He attempted 512 3-pointers in the regular season -- the most by a 7-footer in league history.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated headlines for the Bucks, Lopez was his shooting sidekick, opening the paint for Antetokounmpo's drives and dunks while making defenses pay if they didn't step out to guard him.
Wojnarowski on Beverley's free agency: Beverley was one of the most pursued guards in the free-agent marketplace. His tenacious, versatile play had a huge role in the Clippers' surprising run to the postseason and their six-game playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.
Wojnarowski on Gordon's new contract:Gordon agreed to a three-year, $54.5 million contract extension in August. Gordon, 30, was entering the final year of his contract in 2019-20, which is worth $14 million. He has averaged nearly 17 points in his three seasons with the Rockets, which included an NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. Gordon is part of a nucleus that includes James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela that is expected to compete with the elite in the Western Conference.
Nick Friedell on Kuzma's potential: If Kuzma is as good as so many people in Los Angeles believe he is, he will shoot up this list by playing alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Lakers' platform has the ability to create stars. Kuzma will become one this year if he lives up to his potential.
Lowe on future finances for Brooklyn and Dinwiddie:In the 2021-22 season, things get hairy for the Nets. Jarrett Allen's first veteran contract will kick in. Dinwiddie can decline a $12.3 million player option and reenter free agency in the summer of 2021 if he is confident he can get a fatter deal. Caris LeVert's deal rises every season, per contract details obtained by ESPN.com. Deals for Joe Harris and Taurean Prince might too if Brooklyn re-signs them. All of a sudden, the Nets could vault something like $25 million over the tax -- triggering a tax bill approaching $50 million. Even obscenely wealthy owners might blanch at that.
Lowe on what's next for Adams:Adams is maybe the biggest winner in the Russell Westbrook trade, by the way. He actually can grab some defensive rebounds now. He is one of the league's burliest rebounders, and yet his career defensive rebounding rate is almost on par with that of Andrea Bargnani -- one of the worst big man rebounders ever.
Windhorst on Bogdanovic's summer: He shot 36% from 3-point range for the Kings last season, but he was relentless throughout the World Cup, nailing 53% of his 3s and making an average of four per game. Granted, the line is closer in international play, but everything about his shot looked smooth, and his confidence was great. He averaged 22.9 points and was unquestionably one of the best guards in China, as he was named to the all-tournament team.
Goldsberry on Redick's shooting: Redick has jumped around his whole career. The Pelicans will be his fifth team since he entered the league in 2006. But as Redick entered his prime, the NBA began a love affair with 3-point shooting, and Redick has the checks to prove it, as teams have continued to value his unique ability to knock down shots in all sorts of predicaments.
Along with Curry and Klay Thompson, Redick is one of the few NBA players who can come off of a curl, set his feet and get a high-efficiency shot off in traffic.
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McMenamin: The West is too tough for Pelicans to make playoffs
Dave McMenamin and Scottie Pippen like the direction the Pelicans are going in, but see a difficult road to the playoffs due to the competitiveness in the West.
Lowe on the Lou Williams and Harrell tandem:Each is good on his own: Williams the slippery scorer, and Harrell the ferocious dive-and-dunk machine who treats the rim like a pull-up bar along his door frame. Together, they form something more. They lift each other. They keep adding subtle touches designed specifically to work in concert. Defenses have no idea what is coming.
Lowe on the Spurs' continuity:The Spurs might have the most vanilla tentpole All-Stars in the league, but they also get Murray back to join Derrick White. Remember: The normally stolid Spurs could not hide their enthusiasm last year over what Murray was about to do before his knee injury.
Bobby Marks on Harris' bonus watch:Already pressed against the luxury tax, the Nuggets could see their $979,000 buffer shrink if shooting guard Harris stays healthy and the team has a deep playoff run.
As part of his four-year, $74 million rookie extension, Harris has $2.4 million in incentives for team playoff success and individual honors. If Harris plays 60 games (which he has done only twice in five seasons), the Nuggets reach the NBA Finals and the team logs 57 wins, Harris will earn $775,000. Winning an NBA championship would push that total to $975,000 and leave the Nuggets just inches away from paying the tax.
Pelton on Bagley's importance:How far Sacramento progresses as a franchise over the next three seasons will be closely tied to the development of Bagley. In some ways, the broad outline of Bagley's offense-first skill set should seem familiar to new head coach Luke Walton, who had a similar big man in Julius Randle with the Lakers. Walton progressively gave Randle more minutes at center, relying on his ability to switch pick-and-rolls rather than asking him to protect the rim like a more traditional 5-man. Bagley's athleticism gives him similar potential as a switch defender.
Ohm Youngmisuk on Ball's new team: The Pelicans could be one of the more exciting young up-and-comers. Ball, who averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 47 games last season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury on Jan. 19, can hardly wait to start lobbing passes to New Orleans' latest first overall pick, Zion Williamson.
Lowe on Milwaukee and Bledsoe: Even the Bucks are worse off for losing Malcolm Brogdon, their second-best player for parts of the Eastern Conference finals. (One of biggest swing questions in the 2020 title race is whether Bledsoe has permanent playoff-itis. With Brogdon, the Bucks almost made the NBA Finals despite Bledsoe struggling. Without him, they have limited margin for Bledsoe error.)
Pelton on Phoenix and Ayton: As expected, Ayton's combination of size, skill and athleticism made him an efficient scorer. His .608 true shooting percentage ranked him second among rookies who played at least 500 minutes, behind Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks. As Phoenix finds more playmakers on offense, Ayton should be able to improve on the 21% of the team's plays he used as a rookie, becoming more of an offensive force.
Tim MacMahon on Hayward's upcoming season: Hayward arrived in Boston as a top-30 player. It's probably a stretch to expect him to get back to that level with the Celtics, who have too many mouths to feed to build an entire offense around him like the Jazz did. But Hayward should benefit from a better atmosphere in Boston and a full year of chipping away at rust and doubt and merit All-Star consideration in the Eastern Conference.
Schmitz on SGA's potential:I've long been a supporter of Gilgeous-Alexander as the best long-term point guard prospect in the 2018 draft, and I'll remain on that island for the time being. While not clearly as dynamic as Trae Young, I love the fact that Gilgeous-Alexander should be able to defend up to three positions in time, all while making every pick-and-roll read, striding it out into finesse finishes and keeping defenses honest from 3-point range.
Gilgeous-Alexander has the approach to the game -- along with the physical upside -- that could make him one of the league's best two-way point guards down the line. He needs to continue shooting it better from 3 and rely less on inside-the-arc jumpers, but I'm keeping my stock in Gilgeous-Alexander for the moment.
MacMahon on Sabonis and valuable bigs: Throughout these rankings, we aren't buying the theory that big men aren't that valuable in today's NBA. I count 15 players who will see all or a significant chunk of their minutes at center (including Derrick Favors, Domantas Sabonis and Jaren Jackson Jr.) among the 50 players in this pool. And there are a bunch more to come in the top 50.
Lowe on Ingles' moves: Ingles keeps help defenders guessing until the very last second. He has a fake for every part of his body -- eye fakes, pump fakes and the meanest pass fake since Manu Ginobili was spinning big guys around like tops. It wouldn't surprise me if Ingles has some sort of nose fake we don't know about.
Windhorst on Gasol's summer:He took only one week off between the NBA Finals and reporting to the national team, making his strong play even more impressive. He played 39 minutes and scored 33 points in a double-overtime win in the semifinals against Australia -- one of his best performances in a long career for Spain -- in what turned out to be the vital one in securing the gold.
play
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Which NBA players will have the biggest reunions in 2019?
Ohm Youngmisuk and Tim Bontemps think the Lakers and Raptors reunion games will have the most attention on them in 2019.
Lowe on LeVert's potential:LeVert has a chance to grow into a championship third option, which is probably his appropriate NBA ceiling. He is still just 24, with potential to become an All-Star, two-way wing. His jump shot -- he is a career 32.9% shooter from deep -- might be the swing factor. The presence of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant ensures Levert will not be overburdened as a primary on-ball creator.
Pelton on Hield's potential:Because he already is 26 -- after revealing last December he had previously been listed a year younger than his actual age -- Hield doesn't have the same kind of upside as De'Aaron Fox. But the centerpiece of the return for DeMarcus Cousins has developed into a high scorer, topping 20 points per game last season by virtue of a combination of more playing time, a faster pace and a 3.2-point increase in his points per 100 possessions. Hield hasn't made much progress as a playmaker and will likely always struggle defensively, but he is a reliable starter at a position that is difficult to fill. (Nobody knows that better than the Kings, who drafted Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas in the lottery before dealing for Hield.)
Youngmisuk on Williams' award-winning season:Clippers' supersub Williams won the Sixth Man of the Year Award for the third time in five years. Since joining the Clippers in 2017-18, Williams has won Sixth Man kudos two years in a row. Williams, 32, averaged 20 points and 5.4 assists in 26.6 minutes per game off the bench last season.
Andrews on Brogdon in Indiana:The Pacers' splashiest free-agency acquisition was former Rookie of the Year Brogdon, who signed a lucrative three-year, $85 million contract with Indiana. Until Victor Oladipo returns from the quad injury that ended his 2018-19 season, much of the Pacers' offense likely will run through Brogdon.
Lowe on Ingram in New Orleans: The Lakers rushed Ingram into an alpha scorer identity. Playing a secondary role alongside Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson (and Jrue Holiday, if he remains with the Pelicans, instead of nudging them for a deal to a win-now outfit) will be perfect for Ingram. He can attack off the catch and run pick-and-rolls against scrambled defenses when Holiday, Ball or Williamson swings the ball to him.
His 3-point shooting will be the wild card -- the difference between Ingram being a solid veteran and something much more.
Lowe on Chicago:This is a huge year for LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. If LaVine grows into more of an all-around player -- and not an empty-calories hog -- Chicago's ceiling and position in the trade market change. Markkanen should be good. He has a good stroke, and some handle and vision, as well as a bit of a nasty streak. But this will be his third season. It's time for production to catch up with appearances.
MacMahon on Jackson's potential to rise: Jackson's rookie season got overshadowed by frequent flashes of brilliance by Luka Doncic and Trae Young, but Jackson also showed signs of being special. Anthony Davis is the only other teen to average at least 13 points and one block per game. Jackson's blend of perimeter shooting and rim protection makes him a perfect big man to build around in the modern NBA.
Marks on Capela' fit in Houston:He is perfect fit for the Rockets' offense, because 54% of his production comes out of the pick-and-roll and cuts, according to Synergy. In fact, per NBA Advanced Stats, more than 99% of Capela's shot attempts have come from within 9 feet of the rim.
Eric Woodyard on Drummond being underrated: My biggest takeaway from the rankings was Drummond being listed outside of the top 50. Sure, he isn't the greatest offensive threat. But we can't just glance over the fact that Drummond led the league in boards the past two seasons and is one of eight players in league history to post at least 1,000 points and 1,000 boards in six or more consecutive seasons. I don't see him slowing down, either -- he's only 26. Maybe they forgot about Dre.
Windhorst on Brown at Team USA:Brown was one of the few Celtics who wasn't afraid to push back against Kyrie Irving last season when the former Boston point guard took some shots at the younger players on the roster. Brown is sometimes quiet, but he isn't meek. That attitude has been positive this summer.
Results from the Czech Republic, Self Transcendence 24-hour Track Race, English Schools’ Combined Events and Race Walking Championships and more
Coverage of the South and Midlands Relays can be found here.
Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon, Czech Republic, September 21
Britain’s Jessica Piasecki won the women’s race in a PB of 71:34 in a close finish with Ukrainians Daria Mykhailova (71:36) and Olha Skrypak (71:41).
Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer won the men’s race in 63:17.
English Schools’ Combined Events and Race Walking Championships, Exeter, September 21-22
Stuart Bladon won the senior boys’ decathlon with a score of 6468 points as the other medallists Adam Booth (6367) and Luke Cressey (6112) both set PBs.
Stephen Simmons, only 15th last year, won the intermediate boys’ octathlon with a PB score of 5346 points while Oliver Thatcher claimed silver and Jami Schlueter took the bronze.
Sammy Ball, who was seventh last year and is the England octathlon champion, won the junior boys’ pentathlon with a PB score of 3356 points with Jake Minshull (3243) and Jacob Blanc (2992) the other medallists.
Erin Lobley won the junior girls’ pentathlon comfortably with 3241 points as Seren Rodgers’ PB got her second place with 3096 and Grace Colmer was third with 3062 points.
Ella Rush won the under-17 heptathlon with 4978 points as Rebekah O’Brien finished second with a PB 4852 with Katie Chapman also improving her best score with 4625 points.
Emily Race went one place better than last year to win the senior girls’ event with 4910 points ahead of last year’s intermediate champion Jessica Hopkins who set a PB of 4789 points while Emily Tyrrell won bronze with a score of 4764 points.
Emily Tyrrell clocks 14.98 (-3.8) in the sprint hurdles in bright and breezy conditions in the senior girls heptathlon as the English Schools Combined Events & Race Walks Champs in Exeter gets underway. @SchoolAthleticspic.twitter.com/0PsyXSDfOj
Self Transcendence 24-hour Track Race, Tooting Bec, September 21/22
There were victories for Rob Payne and Jo Newens, Adrian Stott reports.
Payne completed 251.989 km/155.57 miles, a total of 629 laps of the track.
In so doing he achieved the men’s individual British Athletics guideline qualifying standard for 24 hours of 250km.
Newens , who like Payne was also running her first 24-hour track event, achieved 221.373km/137.55 miles which surpassed the women’s guideline British Athletics qualifying team standard for 24 hours of 215km.
In all, 31 runners from 48 starters bettered the 100 mile barrier, a record for the event.
Rhodes College Invitational, Memphis, USA, September 21
Britons took four of the first six places with Scott Beattie second and Patrick Dever third, both in 24:22, while Isaac Akers was fifth in 24:26 and Cameron Field sixth in 24:36.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 22
Kenyan Evans Chebet won in a South American all-comers’ record of 2:05:00 ahead of Rueben Kiprop’s 2:05:19. Daniel Kipkore was third in 2:06:52.
In fifth, Derlys Ayala from Paraguay won the South American title in 2:10:31.
The women’s winner Rodah Jepkorir timed 2:25:46.
Admiral Swansea Bay 10km, September 22
Kieran Clements won the men’s race in 30:03 from Liam Dee (30:17) and James Hunt (30:22).
Natasha Cockram won the women’s race in 33:27 from Clara Evans (33:36) and Jenny Nesbitt (33:46).
Hengshui, China, September 22
Marta Lema took more than a minute off the course record in 2:24:31.
Aychew Bantie won the men’s race in 2:08:51.
Zandaam, Netherlands, September 22
Kenya’s Evaline Chirchir ran 50:32, the fourth fastest ever woman’s time over 10 miles.
Kenya’s Irene Cheptai was second in 50:35, while Dagnechew Selamawit of Ethiopia was third in 50:48.
Ethiopia’s Solomon Berihu took the men’s race in 45:49. Kenya’s John Langat was second in 46:20.
Sheffield 10km, September 22
Andrew Heyes won in a course record of 30:44.
Mohamed Saleh was second in 31:23 and Jamie Hall clocked 32:13 to take third place.
Elaine Livera was the first woman in 37:41, ahead of Anna Watkinson-Powell who was second in at 38:01 and Hannah May Fletcher who finished third in 38:33.
Simplyhealth Great East Run, Ipswich, September 22
Record entries saw 2010 European 10,000m runner-up Chris Thompson win in 66:43. Andrew Rooke was second in 69:39, with Danny Rock third in 70:22.
In view of the intense event schedule between September and December 2019 (Asian Championships, ITTF World Tour and World Cups) combined with the Chinese national team’s ongoing preparations for the Olympic Games and comprehensive factors related to preventing athletes’ injuries, after discussion with the national coaching team, the China Table Tennis Association (CTTA) has decided to adjust the player participation lists for the following events:
ITTF World Tour Swedish Open:
Men’s singles: Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong, Lin Gaoyuan, Liang Jingkun, Wang Chuqin, Fang Bo, Yan An, Sun Wen, Yu Ziyang, Zhou Qihao, Liu Dingshuo, Zhao Zihao, Zhang Yudong, Xu Haidong
Women’s singles: Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen, Chen Meng, Wang Manyu, Zhu Yuling, Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi, Chen Xingtong, Gu Yuting, Zhang Rui, Liu Fei, Qian Tianyi, Liu Weishan
Men’s doubles: Xu Xin/ Fan Zhendong, Lin Gaoyuan / Liang Jingkun
Women’s doubles: Ding Ning / Chen Meng, Wang Manyu / Sun Yingsha
Mixed doubles: Xu Xin / Liu Shiwen, Lin Gaoyuan / Wang Manyu
ITTF World Tour German Open:
Men’s singles: Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong, Lin Gaoyuan, Liang Jingkun, Wang Chuqin, Fang Bo, Yan An, Sun Wen, Yu Ziyang, Zhou Qihao, Liu Dingshuo, Zhao Zihao, Zhang Yudong, Xu Haidong
Women’s singles: Chen Meng, Wang Manyu, Sun Yingsha, Wang Yidi, Chen Xingtong, Gu Yuting, Zhang Rui, Liu Fei, Qian Tianyi, Liu Weishan
Men’s doubles: Fan Zhendong / Lin Gaoyuan, Xu Xin / Liang Jingkun
Women’s doubles: Chen Meng / Gu Yuting, Wang Manyu / Sun Yingsha
Mixed doubles: Xu Xin/ Sun Yingsha, Wang Chuqin / Wang Manyu
England's victory over Tonga was the sort of performance you would expect to see in the first game of the warm-ups, rather than the first game of the tournament itself.
Over the past couple of years Tonga have lost by 85 points to New Zealand, by 50 points to Wales, by 34 points to Japan. They are ranked 15th in the world and their players rarely get the time together that England are afforded.
I wasn't expecting to see England win by 100, but I thought they would create more clear-cut opportunities.
Tonga are big and imposing physically but I expected England to systematically pick them apart - to maul, pick and go through the middle, gradually tire them out, before going wide and ripping them apart with the pace of Anthony Watson, Jonny May and Elliot Daly.
Instead it took them nearly 60 minutes to get out of sight and they were often reliant on moments of individual magic from the likes of Watson and Jonathan Joseph to expose their weaknesses.
England, playing their own game and what is in front of them, should be good enough to beat Tonga all day, every day.
Instead they changed the way they play to accommodate Tonga. Early on especially they kicked away good balls and over-complicated their play with set moves. It was summed up by how England attempted to receive kick-off after their first try.
I think Maro Itoje's team-mates were trying to extend the maul back into the England 22m to make the clearing kick easier for George Ford or Owen Farrell. Instead they got offside and gave away a penalty and a route straight back on to the scoreboard for Tonga.
In his post-match interview Farrell talked of how England attempted to deny Tonga targets for their trademark one-on-one hits.
It was completely unnecessary. When England focus on their own game they are scintillating and very difficult to beat. They are good enough to focus on what they are going to bring to the match rather than the opposition.
It is not news that England have struggled to change their strategy mid-game in the past. Why start doing so before the first whistle?
If they play their own way and have a couple of strategies up their sleeve to adapt to what the opposition are doing if they need to, they will maximise their chances.
They can't afford to have another performance like that, because you then start to mend things in training, rather than moving forward positively towards the next iteration of how you want your team to play.
Super Maro
For all the rustiness collectively and tactically, I think there were plenty of good individual performances.
Second row Itoje gave away a couple of penalties but I thought he showed his ability as a true enforcer.
He won four turnovers - more than any other England player - and disrupted the Tonga line-out. When he wants to alter how a game is going, he can do so in so many ways.
Centre Manu Tuilagi will take the headlines with his two tries. His bludgeoning power was in full evidence for his first score as he powered over from close range, but he also showed his canny game intelligence with the supporting line for his second.
Watson's feet were electric and I thought Daly looked sharper than he has, with more threat with ball in hand.
The Tom Curry-Sam Underhill axis in the back row had an effect at the breakdown, slowing up Tonga's ball and threatening turnovers. Lewis Ludlam, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jonathan Joseph all did well off the bench.
Ireland have been the most surprising of the home nations so far. I did not expect them to dispatch Scotland so convincingly, but they made Gregor Townsend's side look very, very average.
That is a very good sign for them going forward.
United States of whoever
England have a four-day turnaround before they play a fresh United States side, 1,000km away from Sunday's game, in Kobe.
That makes it tough for head coach Eddie Jones. We have all been second-guessing him since he got the job, but I would like to see more of a second team against on Thursday with firepower to come off the bench.
Although the line-up against Tonga looked close to it, I don't think his first-choice XV is cut and dried just yet.
I imagine Joe Cokanasiga may get a chance to show what he can do on the wing. Mark Wilson's inclusion may change the back row balance. George Kruis may get a chance to show what he can do as a second-row starter.
It will be a great chance for those on the fringes to put their hands up and say they are not here for the ride, they want to be playing against Argentina.
Matt Dawson was speaking to BBC Sport's Mike Henson
Scotland flanker Hamish Watson has been ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup because of a knee injury suffered in Sunday's defeat by Ireland.
The 27-year-old back-row will be replaced in the squad by Edinburgh club-mate Magnus Bradbury.
Watson fell awkwardly after being cleared from a ruck and left the field on a stretcher just before half-time.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said: "We feel for Hamish, who had worked so hard for this opportunity."
A scan after the game confirmed the damage to the knee was significant enough to mean Watson will play no further part in the tournament.
"While there is a high probability of picking up injuries during a World Cup, it's always disappointing to see someone having to head home," Townsend added.
Bradbury is already in Japan, having travelled as precautionary injury cover for Jamie Ritchie, who missed the opening game with a facial injury suffered in the final warm-up match against Georgia.
Ritchie is expected to be fit to face Samoa in Scotland's second group game next Monday (11:15 BST).
Analysis
BBC Scotland chief sports writer Tom English
Having missed the entire Six Nations this year with a broken hand, Watson is now out of the World Cup after less than 40 minutes of action. To call it a devastation is to put it mildly.
Watson's appearance on the international scene came a fraction too late for inclusion in Vern Cotter's squad four years ago. Now he's gone early in Japan.
The brutal nature of rugby means there's no guarantee that Watson will still be in his pomp in four years' time in France. He'll be 31 going on 32 then with a lot more miles on the clock.
It's a cruel injustice on a terrific player, the kind of uncompromising character that Townsend desperately needs in the wake of such an awful night against Ireland in Yokohama.
The flanker brings aggression with ball in hand and scavenging qualities at the breakdown. Scotland are crying out for more of him, not less of him. He's one of the best open-side flankers around and was going to be critical in the difficult weeks ahead.
Finn Russell is the most irreplaceable player in this Scotland squad, but Watson is probably second on that list. Townsend doesn't have anyone else like him. For player and coach, this is a calamity.
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