The Seahawks are finalizing a trade to send tight end Nick Vannett to the Steelers, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Seahawks will receive a 2020 fifth-round pick in the deal, the source said.

Steelers starting tight end Vance McDonald hurt his shoulder early in Sunday's loss in San Francisco, and his shoulder was in a sling Tuesday, but as for how long he could miss, a source told Schefter, "Not long." His status for Week 4 on Monday night against the Bengals hasn't been announced by the team.

Vannett will join a tight end group in Pittsburgh that includes Xavier Grimble and Zach Gentry. The team also signed Alizé Mack to its practice squad Tuesday.

Vannett was a third-round pick in 2016 out of Ohio State and is in the final year of his rookie contract. He's caught 48 passes for 463 yards and four touchdowns in 42 regular-season games. His best season was 2018 with 29 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns.

Vannett has been the Seahawks' No. 2 tight end this season behind Will Dissly, who is now the only true tight end on their 53-man roster. However, backup tackle George Fant is a de facto tight end. Seattle also has Jacob Hollister on its practice squad. Veteran Ed Dickson is eligible to return off injured reserve in Week 9.

The addition of Pittsburgh's fifth-rounder gives the Seahawks 10 picks in the 2020 draft, including the four compensatory selections they're projected to receive.

ESPN's Brady Henderson contributed to this report.

HOUSTON -- Houston coach Dana Holgorsen said Tuesday that his team is not giving up on the season despite the decision by two of his top players to redshirt the remainder of the 2019 campaign and return for 2020.

Holgorsen, senior quarterback D'Eriq King and senior receiver Keith Corbin met with reporters on Tuesday to discuss their unusual decision to sit out the rest of this season following the Cougars' 1-3 start. Holgorsen said anyone suggesting that the team is tanking the rest of the year is misguided.

"I can assure you that whoever is saying that was not at our practice last night, was not in our meetings on Sunday night, these long coaches meetings that we had preparing for a game," Holgorsen said. "We're full go ahead on playing a game this weekend. So that to me, is absolute nonsense."

Said Houston athletic director Chris Pezman to suggestions that the team is throwing in the towel: "We've got kids that we've recruited to come into program that we have confidence in that can play at a high level. ... We've got a lot of confidence in our coaching staff and everybody else that's on the team and in the program."

King, who set the American Athletic Conference record last season with 50 touchdowns responsible for, and Corbin, who is a third-year starter, both said they have not considered transferring. King's father, Eric King, told ESPN on Monday that D'Eriq and his family would evaluate all their options at season's end but returning was "absolutely" a possibility.

D'Eriq King was more emphatic on Tuesday, saying he isn't going anywhere and that it never crossed his mind.

"I'm staying here," King said. "If I wanted to leave Houston and go somewhere else, I could have. I think me being here is what I want to do and it's the best opportunity for me. I don't think anybody will reach out to me [to convince me to transfer]. Even if they do, they should know I'm staying here."

The pair said they each met separately with Holgorsen over the weekend following Houston's loss to Tulane on Thursday. Holgorsen said he discussed all available options with both players and has also discussed redshirting with other players. Some may still choose to redshirt, Holgorsen said.

Both players will practice and work out with the team and continue to be in position meetings, Holgorsen said.

Holgorsen expressed a desire to get his roster older, citing a lack of fifth-year seniors on his team. Pezman said the Cougars "mortgaged" themselves with their younger players by not having them redshirt in recent years.

"My experience with this thing is when you get a team that's old and mature and experienced, there's something that happens to those guys who are fifth-year seniors," Holgorsen said. "And we've got way too many guys on this football team right now that are not in position to be fifth-year seniors. And that makes it hard to win championships."

Added Holgorsen: "This is Year 1 for me here at the University of Houston. I've identified some things that I need to pay attention to. And I've identified some things that need to happen for us to be able to be successful and compete for championships, which is the goal here at the University of Houston. We're not currently in a very good spot when it comes to that, and there's a number of reasons why."

King admitted it would be "weird" practicing without getting ready to play on Saturday, but he plans to help sophomore Clayton Tune -- who will start for the Cougars in King's place -- as much as he can. King said after spending much of his career being unselfish, citing a freshman year in which he played five different positions and two successive years that he suffered injuries, that he felt it was worth exploring what was best for him.

"I think it was the decision best for my future and my college experience, so that's the reason I made it," King said.

To those who may believe King and Corbin are abandoning their teammates, Corbin said their attitude and work ethic would not change.

"I'm still going to come out here and practice hard to develop into the best player I can be," Corbin said. "I'm gonna give my young receivers advice ... to come out and finish this season. It's not over. I'm just doing what's best for me, best for the team, best for the future."

Holgorsen noted that it's a unique usage of the NCAA's new redshirt rule, which was instituted in 2018 and allows players to play up to four games without losing a year of eligibility.

"I think the NCAA probably is upset with me right now because this wasn't the intent of the rule," Holgorsen said.

"Four games is four games, and we can use it however we want to use it," he continued. "We need to get older and we need to develop and redshirting is not a dirty word. That's been my stance since the day I got here. I've identified a little bit of a problem that exists here, and I'm going to do everything I can here to fix it."

Houston plays North Texas (2-2) at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.

MIAMI -- On the early morning of July 4, Kendrick Norton Jr.'s life changed forever. A car accident took Norton's left arm and nearly killed him, but he has refused to allow that to end his story.

Listening to Norton and his girlfriend, Kira Williams, recount the details of that night, it serves as a recovery step. For the rest of us, it might be an eye-opening reminder of life's delicacy.

"What first comes to mind is [his] arm bleeding. I've never seen nothing like that day in my life. That will stick with me forever," Williams said. "To see his arm gushing, see veins, to see all that just pouring out in front of me."

Norton, a 22-year-old former Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle, has a new mission -- to inspire and help others, particularly kids, who find themselves starting over as amputees.

Football players who know Norton can't imagine themselves handling this situation in such a positive manner. It's a mix of inspiration and awe.

"Seeing his smile and happiness after everything puts things in perspective. You rolled your ankle or somebody cut you off and you think you're having a bad day. OK, what are you complaining about? He lost his arm," said Isaiah Ford, a close friend who played with Norton at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, and is a wide receiver on the Dolphins' practice squad. "The game he loves and played for so long was taken away from him abruptly. You don't see him crying, moping or complaining."

Here are excerpts of the conversation ESPN's Cameron Wolfe had with Norton about the accident and his post-NFL life. It is edited for brevity and clarity:

'They're the ones that saved my life that night'

Norton was driving his Ford truck home at 1 a.m. after a night out with Williams and friends. In an attempt to transfer lanes, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, Norton's truck made contact with another vehicle. Norton yelled, "Hold on," to Williams, who remembers the truck spinning around multiple times before making contact with a concrete barrier and flipping on its roof. Norton's left arm was completely severed in the accident.

"I was just fearful that the worst had occurred," said Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who was spending the July Fourth holiday on a Maryland farm with college friends and their families when he got the news. "I was really thankful when I heard that he was alive. And then my first thought was, "How do we help Kendrick? How do we support Kendrick? How do we help his family? What can I do?" The next day, we decided to come home and go see him."

Sometimes you catch Norton staring at what's remaining of his left arm. Yes, it's a permanent reminder of that July morning. But he also chooses to see it as a blessing he is alive.

Norton estimates he lost approximately half of the blood in his body that day. There were several moments as he was rushed to the hospital where he just wanted to sleep. Meanwhile, Williams remained at the scene waiting for a tow truck to lift up their flipped truck so she could secure Norton's severed left arm that laid underneath with the hope it could be reattached. Ultimately, doctors said his arm was crushed and nerves were damaged beyond repair, and they couldn't reattach it.

What do you remember from the accident?

"I remember laying on the ground at the accident scene waiting on the ambulance. You know, I feel like they took forever. That's really the only thing I was concerned about. I was like, where's the ambulance? Just laying on the ground and feeling all those people pulling on me and helping me, and I was squeezing Kira's leg."

You mentioned the people on the scene that arrived to help you. What do you recall about them?

"I just remember us getting out of the car. And I guess people had already stopped. So basically after we got out of the car, you know, it was immediately people already right there ready to help. They were taking belts off and shirts. And I heard them calling for different things. Some dude brought me some water from out of his car. There were just people coming from everywhere, helping me, to police officers cutting off my clothes.

"There were so many people around me trying to help keep Kira calm. She told me a lady took off her shoes and gave them to her. And, you know, those people basically left naked that day because they used all their stuff and gave it to us to help. So it was amazing seeing those people that don't even know you from a can of paint to get out of their car and do all that for us."

View this post on Instagram

I've learnt so much about you these past few months. I've seen you handle things that people shouldn't have to see. I've leaned on you and you were there. You've pushed me and never let me slack. Thank you for the love. The laughs and the memories we have made and I look forward to making many more. To: Kira #kenandkira

A post shared by Kendrick Norton Jr™ (@kendricknorton7) on Sep 16, 2019 at 7:07am PDT

What would you say to those people if you could meet them?

"I would just tell them thank you. They're the ones that saved my life that night. We have the names of some people. But we're still trying to find that couple that actually were the first people on the scene to start helping."

When did you realize your arm was severed?

"When we were in the car and I was laying on my stomach trying to maneuver through the car to get to the window. And I tried to do a push up to, you know, lift myself off the ground. I fell over on the side that I was missing my arm. And that's when I realized that it wasn't there. I glanced down at it. I was like, 'Oh, snap, this is for real.' Then I kicked out the window. And we crawled out of the car. I was in shock just because there was so much going on. I hit my head. I was just thinking about getting out of the car, before it blew up, because obviously I'm still alive. I can move around fine.

"The first time I actually noticed all the blood I believe I was walking past the car. I saw blood squirt on the car. And I was like, 'Oh, crap.' And then everyone told me to lay on the ground. And that's when they went to applying tourniquets to my arm."

What were the moments like waiting for the ambulance?

"It was a little blurry for me, the vision, because I was losing a lot of blood. And I was just laying on the ground in my own blood. I'm losing a lot of blood. I just remember feeling really sleepy and really tired. I was looking for the ambulance.

"Kira had me squeezing her leg so she could see if I'm up [awake] or not. I could see her looking for the ambulance and on the phone calling people. The people behind me are trying to keep me up and stop the bleeding. They have three or four belts tied around my arm trying to stop the bleeding. There was just so much going on. So it was crazy."

Was there any point where you thought you weren't going to survive?

"Right before the ambulance came, I was like, 'I don't know if I'm gonna make it 'til they get here.' Then I heard them off in the distance. So it brought a little life back to me, a little more energy, a little more hope.

"Once I got in the ambulance, I asked the paramedics if it was OK for me to go to sleep. And they were like, 'No, no, no,' you know. So I was trying to fight through the ride.

"I felt a speed bump and I asked the paramedics again, you know, 'Are we at the hospital?' And when he told me yes, I told him, 'OK. Well, you guys should be able to handle it from here. I'm gonna go to sleep.' I was really tired from losing all the blood. That's when I kinda blacked out.

"I woke up again in surgery while they were cleaning my arm that night. I was yelling at the doctors. Like, "I'm awake, I'm awake. Put me back to sleep." I ended up passing back out from the medicine. They woke me up two days after the accident."

Taking an extra step

Norton is a mainstay around the Dolphins and Hurricanes facilities these days -- visiting former teammates and coaches, working out and soaking in the culture. He was the Dolphins honorary captain for the team's Aug. 8 preseason opener. The Dolphins are paying his full salary this season while he is on the non-football injury list, and the NFL/team insurance covered his medical bills.

Football has been a huge part of Norton's life since he was a kid growing up in Jacksonville, Florida. He had 16.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in his final two seasons at Miami and was named honorable mention All-ACC his junior year. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 draft by the Carolina Panthers. Norton spent some of the 2018 season on the Panthers' practice squad before he signed with the Dolphins in December. This season, he was competing to make the Dolphins' roster and be a contributor on their young defensive line. Norton could have helped the Dolphins with his run-stopping ability, but now he provides his former teammates inspiration every time he shows up at practices.

"I dedicate my season to Kendrick," Miami defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said. "It's a guy who can't be out here. He has one arm. It's sad. But you can do something about it by going out there and playing each and every snap for him. No. 75, we got him -- 100 percent. We're brothers."

Norton has embraced his new normal by doing some of the same activities he did before the accident, such as working out, cooking, driving and hosting a YouTube show with Williams. Speaking of normal, Williams nicknamed his residual limb "Little Ken" to make it feel like a more natural part of Norton rather than a burden. He loved the idea.

Do you miss football?

"Yes. I definitely miss football, every day. Just not being in my routine, getting up early, and you definitely miss it. But I've accepted it and ready to move on."

When you walked out to practice for the first time after the accident, what went through your mind?

"It was a lot of adrenaline. I was a little nervous to see how my emotion was gonna be. But by the time I got on the field and before I could even take in anything, all the players and coaches came up to me and greeted me and immediately got my mind off of it. I immediately felt at home and felt welcome. Everyone was immediately right back joking and coming up to me. Even Coach brought me up and let me break down the team before a team period. So all of that was really special. I'll never forget it.

"Just getting back out there and seeing how close I could be to the game and handle it that early was very encouraging. I didn't know if I was gonna be able to handle it at first."

How have you embraced Little Ken?

"I just started to get used to it. I can move it more now. Sometimes at home, I even goof around with it. I'll dance with it to just make [Kira] laugh or make [Kira's] kids laugh or to lighten the mood. I Milly Rocked with it one time. I did a lot of goofy stuff with it. I'll raise it in the air and do different little things with it just to make her laugh."

Do you do workouts with Little Ken, as well?

"Yes, Kira helps me do them sometimes. She's been helping me out with my manual resistance. She's my little physical therapist. I still have full strength in my shoulder. I used to lift the nurses up off the ground when they were trying to apply strength trying to see how strong it was. So they were like, 'Whoa. You're really strong. You're a big guy. You don't need this.' So they thought it was really cool."

What day-to-day things surprised you as far as how difficult they are now with Little Ken?

"I can still maneuver through day-to-day life pretty regularly because I still have my dominant hand. But I'll be going to reach things and I'll realize, basically my whole left side of my body, I don't have any access to anything cause I can't grab anything. So it just makes everything take an extra step. So if something's on my left side for example, I'll have to get up and go get it instead of just leaning and reaching for it. So it's just different."

How long did it take you to adjust?

"I embraced it right away. In the hospital, I was connecting straws, making my straw longer so I can use my drink from far away. Always tried to keep a good, positive outlook on it. I don't usually get frustrated. I just try to find a different way to do it or even if I have to break down to ask Kira for help. She says I don't ask her for enough help. I try to do everything by myself. But that's just who I am."

We were glad to have Kendrick Norton join us on the field as an honorary captain for #ATLvsMIA.#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/3SeekJfWRq

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 9, 2019

'Following a script'

Norton hopes he will impact more people post-accident than he might have been able to on the field. He has seen daily examples when people reach out to him. He is putting together a nonprofit and is passionate about encouraging others to donate blood.

Norton wants to look into public speaking and sports broadcasting as a second career. He hasn't ruled out working as a part of a football team, but right now, he wants to focus full time on establishing his nonprofit.

"What he's giving out is him. He's not suicidal. He's happy. He's comfortable. He's comfortable in his own skin. He's comfortable with Little Ken," Williams said. "So don't worry about him. He's doing good. And you'll be seeing a lot of him in the future."

How have you tried to be an inspiration for everyone and specifically other amputees?

"I just wanna show them don't be scared to let people see any of your amputated body parts. Don't be ashamed of yourself. Don't let how other people view you determine how you see yourself, 'cause when you look in a mirror, be happy with whatever you see. That's you. And you have to live your life.

"I had a lot of them, countless, reach out to me on social media platforms. They DM me. They post videos of working out. I saw an amputee posted a video of him working out after I posted a video and tagged me in it. I reposted his video and talked to him a little bit on social media. We might be getting him to come get a workout in with us one day.

"I definitely feel a different type of [metaphorical] weight on my shoulders. But it's not anything that I can't carry. I'm going to keep pushing forward and continue to motivate, inspire and continue to be something for the young kids and even adults to look up to."

Have you ever thought, 'Why did this happen to me?'

"I never asked why this happened to me because it could've been worse. Why not me? Why someone else? They could ask the same thing. So I never would ask why me? It was just in the plans for me. I'll take it and roll with it every day."

What do you hope to accomplish with your nonprofit?

"It's gonna be called Kendrick Norton Angel's Initiative. And we're gonna be looking to help kids after tragic accidents where they lose limbs -- so young amputees -- helping them cope with that. And also it's gonna be focused on blood drives and bringing awareness to communities and different ethnicities.

"Donating blood became a passion of mine after the accident. I learned how important it is even if it's a bag or two of blood. Donating blood can save people's lives, because I was a recipient of it.

"It ended up saving my life. I received over 20 bags of blood in the hospital. I took a lot of blood from a lot of people. I just wanna tell everyone that I received blood from thank you."

Do you have any regrets?

"No. I don't live life with regrets. It's a hard life to live like that. Any choice I make since I was a child, I made it. I deal with the consequences from the choice -- good or bad."

What are your plans regarding your arm moving forward?

"I have one more surgery [which was performed Monday]. They're gonna unloosen some nerves and prep them for my prosthetic. I'm gonna have a prosthetic that I can control with my mind. I'll be able to physically move the prosthetic. It'll be a four-month healing process before I can actually move the prosthetic."

Norton's story serves as a reminder of how quickly life can change and why hardships don't always have to steal joy. "I feel like we're just playing parts in a play," Norton said. "Our life's already written for us. So I feel like we're just following a script."

The Milwaukee Bucks have been fined $50,000 for violating league rules that prohibit teams from discussing future player contracts, the league announced Tuesday.

The fine is in response to comments that Bucks general manager Jon Horst made about Giannis Antetokounmpo's contract at a televised town hall on Sept. 12, when he said that the Bucks plan to offer Antetokounmpo a supermax contract worth $253.8 million, the largest in NBA history, next summer.

The collective bargaining agreement stipulates that team officials cannot commit to offer a player a supermax contract until he has played seven seasons. Antetokounmpo, who has played six seasons, will be eligible to sign a supermax contract in July 2020.

At the town hall, Horst initially said that he could not talk about Antetokounmpo's contract situation.

"Giannis, a year from now, will be eligible for a supermax extension," Horst said. "At that time of course he will be offered the supermax extension." He went on to say that building a team culture where players want to show up and work hard is a priority for Milwaukee.

"We all fully believe that if we put the right things in place and give Giannis the right opportunities -- he loves Milwaukee, he loves the state of Wisconsin and I think he will be a Buck a long time," Horst said.

Nets point guard Kyrie Irving caught an inadvertent elbow in the face during a pickup game at Brooklyn's practice facility Tuesday and was sent to the hospital to be evaluated, but general manager Sean Marks said the team was just being cautious.

"I wouldn't even want to speculate at all, but I think it's just a case of doing our due diligence," Marks said, adding that coach Kenny Atkinson accompanied Irving to the hospital. "Kyrie goes and gets checked out like he would anywhere else and we always send staff with him, and it's a great opportunity for Kenny, too."

Atkinson later told NetsDaily.com that Irving was "OK."

Marks, speaking to reporters at the team's media day, also made it clear that the Nets do not plan on having Kevin Durant this season. He is expected to miss the entire season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained while playing for the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.

Marks said Durant's recovery is going well and he believes the 10-time All-Star wants to play this season. Durant will have a say in determining when he's ready, Marks said, but the team is taking a long-term approach and planning on him not playing.

Irving and Durant were the two prize free agents the Nets acquired in a stunning transformation when free agency opened on June 30.

Marks praised his new point guard on Tuesday, saying Irving has already shown leadership and intensity in the team's summer get-togethers. He said Irving has been "religious" in his participation in workouts at the team's practice facility. Marks said he could already see camaraderie building between the team's veterans and young players.

Training camp officially opens for the Nets on Saturday. They're taking part in the NBA's preseason China Games, facing the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 10 in Shanghai and Oct. 12 in Shenzhen. The Nets open the regular season on Oct. 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the ninth season in a row, ESPN.com is predicting the top players in basketball with NBArank.

Who will be the best player this season? To get the final prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players.

LeBron James vs. Kawhi Leonard. Zion Williamson vs. Luka Doncic. Devin Booker vs. D'Angelo Russell.

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. 50 to 31.

More: 100 to 51 | Zion's expectations | Most underrated, overrated

NBArank: 50 to 31

50. Lauri Markkanen

• Chicago Bulls | PF

• Previous rank: 66

• 2019-20 projected RPM wins: 3.4

Chris Herring on Markkanen's February: The Finnish 7-footer was on the biggest tear of his career, averaging 26.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in February on 49% shooting overall and 38% from 3. He and Zach LaVine really started playing well off each other.

49. Klay Thompson

• Golden State Warriors | SG

• Previous rank: 18

• Projected RPM wins: 1.2

Kirk Goldsberry on Thompson's shooting: Thompson has a case as the most terrifying heat-check shooter we've ever seen. Unlike almost any other catch-and-shoot specialist, Thompson has won games in huge moments with ridiculously efficient volume scoring. Who can forget the night in 2016 when he scored 60 points against the Pacers despite dribbling just 11 times and possessing the ball for a total of 90 seconds?!

Thompson has made the third-most 3-point shots this decade, trailing only James Harden and Stephen Curry. But what's incredible is that he did that as second or third banana on one of the era's most dominant teams.

48. Bojan Bogdanovic

• Utah Jazz | SF

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: -0.3

Kevin Pelton on Bogdanovic in Utah: Bogdanovic could be a great fit in the Utah frontcourt next to Rudy Gobert. At 6-foot-8 and a listed 216 pounds, Bogdanovic is relatively similar in size to former Jazz small-ball 4 option Jae Crowder (6-foot-6, 235 pounds). Sliding him down from the wing to the power forward not only gives Bogdanovic a quickness advantage in most matchups, but also makes his shooting ability even more dangerous.

47. John Collins

• Atlanta Hawks | PF

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 4.7

Brian Windhorst on Collins and Trae Young: Young running the high pick-and-roll with Collins is the new highlight factory in Atlanta, with Collins rolling to the rim to accept lobs from Young in traffic and slamming them down. We've devoted a lot of attention to Young, but Collins' role in the Hawks' machine is just as impressive. Just two years into the development program, Collins has blossomed into a future All-Star, averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds in his second season.

46. DeMar DeRozan

• San Antonio Spurs | SG

• Previous rank: 39

• Projected RPM wins: 3.2

Zach Lowe on a DeRozan move: DeRozan loves bringing the ball up the sideline and taking a screen from one of San Antonio's other perimeter players -- a method of getting a smaller defender switched onto him. That is when DeRozan can eat. In the 2019 playoffs, the Nuggets conceded a lot of those switches. When they didn't -- when they blitzed him instead -- DeRozan made the right play.

45. Aaron Gordon

• Orlando Magic | PF

• Previous rank: 41

• Projected RPM wins: 5.0

Lowe on Gordon: Gordon sort of floats around the offense instead of participating in it ... He is talented enough to stumble into 15 points per game this way. He is a solid rebounder and also a stopper on defense across almost every position, if he is dialed in. There is a better player in here, somewhere.

44. Myles Turner

• Indiana Pacers | C

• Previous rank: 48

• Projected RPM wins: 5.0

Tim Bontemps on the Pacers' bigs: Turner and the Pacers agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract extension last fall. Turner rewarded that investment by taking a significant step forward in 2018-19, leading the NBA in blocks and earning himself All-Defensive Team consideration.

43. Kevin Love

• Cleveland Cavaliers | PF

• Previous rank: 24

• Projected RPM wins: 3.6

Windhorst on a possible Love trade: Love is about to start a four-year, $120 million contract extension that he signed last year. The team is eager to see how he'll fit in with new coach John Beilein's system. Love played just 22 games last season because of foot surgery. These facts don't add to a trade scenario. However, Love and the team knew when he signed the deal that there was a good chance he wouldn't finish it in Cleveland, and a trade might be inevitable at some point.

42. Zion Williamson

• New Orleans Pelicans | PF

• Previous rank: N/A

• Projected RPM wins: 2.4

More on Zion: Our NBArank panel placed the No. 1 overall pick of this year's draft 42nd, the highest ever for a first-year player in the nine seasons we've been doing NBArank. That's understandable given that Zion is one of the most promising players to enter the league in recent memory.

Still, is it fair to think any 19-year-old rookie will be one of the league's top 50 players right away? Our experts dive into what to expect this season.

41. LaMarcus Aldridge

• San Antonio Spurs | PF

• Previous rank: 28

• Projected RPM wins: 3.0

Royce Young on the Spurs' expectations: The Spurs just keep on Spurs-ing, and while there are plenty of questions on how they can reclaim space in the upper tier of the West, they remain stable. They dealt with significant injuries last season, but the core of coach Gregg Popovich, big man Aldridge and guard DeMar DeRozan was enough to produce another postseason berth. There's an obvious need for more talent, but the biggest steps forward are getting Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker IV healthy and pushing the development of the other young talented players on the team.

40. Nikola Vucevic

• Orlando Magic | C

• Previous rank: NR

• Projected RPM wins: 7.2

Pelton on Vucevic's breakout season: Never previously considered even an average defender, Vucevic anchored a top-10 defense under new coach Steve Clifford and ranked eighth in the entire NBA in defensive RPM.

39. Kyle Lowry

• Toronto Raptors | PG

• Previous rank: 21

• Projected RPM wins: 8.5

Bontemps on Lowry: Kyle Lowry is listed at 6-foot-1. He is oddly shaped. He'll never be seen as the quickest or most athletic player on the court. And yet, despite all that, he constantly finds himself making winning plays.

38. Draymond Green

• Golden State Warriors | PF

• Previous rank: 16

• Projected RPM wins: 5.5

Pelton on Green's postseason performance: Green's focus has long been on the playoffs rather than the grind of the regular season. And come the postseason, after getting in better shape, he emerged as perhaps the second-most important Golden State player after Stephen Curry during the Warriors' run to the NBA Finals. Green's 13.3 points per game in the playoffs were his most since 2016, and his 8.5 assists per game were a career high.

37. Al Horford

• Philadelphia 76ers | C

• Previous rank: 34

• Projected RPM wins: 3.3

Bobby Marks on Horford's place in Philly's lineups: Although there are questions about the Horford/Joel Embiid fit, the addition of the former Celtic gives head coach Brett Brown an insurance policy when Embiid is out of the game. Philadelphia has the flexibility of putting Tobias Harris at power forward (his true position) to pair with Horford. The same holds true when it comes to moving Josh Richardson to small forward, a position he has played the majority of the past three seasons.

36. Khris Middleton

• Milwaukee Bucks | SG

• Previous rank: 35

• Projected RPM wins: 4.1

Pelton on Middleton's free agency: Using the threat of a lucrative four-year offer from another team, Middleton was able to get the Bucks to guarantee him the fifth season only they could offer, which will pay him $40.5 million at age 32. As a concession, Middleton did take a slight discount from his $190 million maximum contract, agreeing for a reported $178 million. That will save the Bucks about $2 million in 2019-20 salary, which is crucial as Milwaukee budgets for possibly entering luxury-tax territory.

Ultimately, Middleton got $37 million more from the Bucks than any other team could offer (a maximum of four years and about $141 million). Given the low likelihood he would make a starting salary of $37 million as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022, that looks like a wise decision.

35. Jayson Tatum

• Boston Celtics | SF

• Previous rank: 25

• Projected RPM wins: 6.1

Jackie MacMullan on Tatum's sophomore season: The Celtics need more from Tatum, who had an electric rookie season in 2017-18, culminating with a dunk over his childhood idol, LeBron James, in the Eastern Conference finals. Tatum did not build on that success, appearing, at times, curiously passive in 2018-19 and exhibiting occasional defensive indifference.

34. Kristaps Porzingis

• Dallas Mavericks | C

• Previous rank: 59

• Projected RPM wins: 1.1

Herring on projecting the Mavericks: Marking Dallas down for more than 40 wins in the stronger of the two conferences strikes me as a small reach, if only because of how long it might take Porzingis to regain a rhythm after sitting out a season to rehab following his ACL tear.

33. Victor Oladipo

• Indiana Pacers | SG

• Previous rank: 15

• Projected RPM wins: 4.3

Pelton on Indiana making it work while Oladipo recovers: Facing a challenging offseason with four of the team's starters in the 2019 playoffs hitting free agency, the Pacers made moves to maintain and possibly improve their depth, adding Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren, T.J. McConnell and Justin Holiday.

The Pacers still are depending on Oladipo's return at close to full strength for shot creation, but they've given coach Nate McMillan plenty of options in Oladipo's absence.

32. Chris Paul

• Oklahoma City Thunder | PG

• Previous rank: 11

• Projected RPM wins: 6.7

Goldsberry on CP3's transformation: Over Paul's past two seasons, 3-pointers have represented more than 48% of his looks. It has been a remarkable late-career transformation and further evidence that the world's best shooters can thrive and adapt in ways normal shooters can't. One of the most intriguing questions about Paul's next chapter in OKC: Will he go back to his beautiful midrange game?

31. Jrue Holiday

• New Orleans Pelicans | SG

• Previous rank: 27

• Projected RPM wins: 9.4

Marks on Holiday's place in New Orleans: Holiday is an elite defender who can play multiple positions, and he ranked No. 11 overall in ESPN's real plus-minus. Despite trading Anthony Davis in June, New Orleans looks content to build around Holiday and run with a competitive basketball team in Zion Williamson's first season.

More: 100 to 51 | Zion's expectations | Most underrated, overrated

CHICAGO -- Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez said he was "ready to play" after being activated from the injured list on Tuesday. Two home runs later, it seems he might have been understating matters.

The switch-hitting Ramirez smacked a first-inning grand slam in his first plate appearance since Aug. 24, swinging left-handed against Chicago White Sox starter Carson Fulmer. He followed that up with a three-run shot from the right side of plate in the third against reliever Hector Santiago.

With the Indians up 11-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, manager Terry Francona replaced Ramirez in the lineup with Yu Chang. Ramirez finished the game 2-for-3, striking out in his final at-bat. The Indians won by the same score.

"Seven RBIs his first two at-bats when he had surgery and hasn't played in a month, that's unbelievable," Francona said.

Ramirez had missed four weeks during Cleveland's drive for an American League playoff spot because of a broken fractured hamate bone in his right hand.

His seven RBIs through three innings on Tuesday were a career high for a game.

"I was super, super happy," Ramirez said after his big game. "It was great to be back with the guys and help however I [could]."

Ramirez was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to the contest. Ramirez, who turned 27 last week, suffered the hamate injury on Aug. 24 against the Kansas City Royals. He had surgery two days later.

Ramirez said before the game that he's still "not 100 percent on my wrist, but still I feel a big improvement."

The two-time All-Star hit .254 with 20 homers and 75 RBIs in his first 126 games this season. He was on a tear before getting hurt, hitting .320 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs in 46 games in July and August.

"The idea is that he can hopefully play a lot," Francona said pregame on Tuesday. "Pitchers have to respect who he is.

"It's one less position we have to pick and choose or kind of platoon or whatever we've been doing in a couple of positions."

Cleveland is a half-game back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the second AL wild card.

The Indians have been hit hard by injuries all year. Second baseman Jason Kipnis underwent season-ending surgery on Tuesday, also for a fractured hamate bone in his right hand.

Before Ramirez went on the IL, he had turned around a subpar first-half performance. Prior to the All-Star break, he hit .218 with a .652 OPS over 85 games. Ramirez began the second half before his injury by hitting .327 with a 1.068 OPS.

After his big outing in Chicago, it appears Ramirez has picked up where he left off.

"From the grand slam to the other [homer], it was really exciting, almost like storybook [for] Jose," Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger said.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shohei Ohtani will soon navigate through another shortened offseason, this time because of knee surgery that interrupted the late stages of his throwing progression while recovering from Tommy John surgery. But the Los Angeles Angels are hopeful he won't lag too far behind the other pitchers when spring training opens next season.

"I would imagine he'd be a little behind, but I don't think he'll be terribly behind," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "Really, the issue is him being healthy. We're not going to rush it just to meet some timetable."

Ohtani, wearing a balky brace on his left knee and walking with crutches, spoke to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since undergoing a procedure to address discomfort from bipartite patella, a rare condition caused by the two bones of the kneecap not fusing together at birth. Ohtani, speaking 11 days after surgery, said the rehab process is "coming along smoothly" and that he hopes to begin light throwing "really soon."

The Angels will once again use him as a two-way player next season, planning to start him on the mound once a week and place him in the lineup as a designated hitter four times a week.

"I'm very excited, obviously," Ohtani said through his interpreter, "and since I got this surgery quick, I need to take each day preciously, try to get back early as possible and get back to full strength next season."

The surgery came with an estimated recovery time of 10 to 12 weeks and paused Ohtani's throwing program 11 weeks after he returned to the mound. The Angels' hope is that Ohtani can return to throwing off a mound around late November, then conclude his 2019 throwing program the following month and temporarily shut himself down.

Ohtani dismissed concerns about a shortened offseason because he doesn't believe it affected him this year. Asked if he expects to continue to be the effective two-way player he was as a rookie last year, Ohtani said: "I still need to win my spot in spring training, I feel like. Personally, I'm going to be ready to go."

Ohtani, 25, was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018 while posting a .925 OPS in 367 plate appearances and a 3.31 ERA in 51⅔ innings. This year, he juggled hitting with his recovery from surgery, putting together a .286/.343/.505 slash line as the Angels' primary DH. Ohtani finished with four fewer home runs (18) despite 58 more at-bats and experienced a stark decline in launch angle (from 12.3 degrees to 6.8).

Ausmus believes Ohtani "had a solid offensive year."

Ohtani didn't necessarily agree.

"I felt like I could've put together a lot better season," Ohtani said. "I feel like I was going through struggles that lasted a little too long. It wasn't what I imagined."

WASHINGTON -- Washington is wild.

The Nationals clinched a wild-card berth with a 6-5 win over old friend Bryce Harper and the division rival Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. Technically, the spot wasn't locked up until three minutes after the last out. That's when the Chicago Cubs lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, eliminating them from wild-card contention and sending Washington to the postseason.

The final out of the Cubs-Pirates contest was shown live on the giant video board at Nationals Park. As soon as Chicago slugger Kyle Schwarber grounded out to Pittsburgh's Adam Frazier to end it, the Nationals -- who had calmly congregated along the first-base line -- began their celebration in earnest, bouncing up and down as Panic! at the Disco's "Hey Look Ma, I Made It" blared throughout the stadium. It was a moment that, exactly four months ago, seemed improbable at best.

"I imagined it in spring training," said manager Davey Martinez, whose team was expected to be a World Series contender but went 19-31 over its first 50 games and had the third-worst record in the National League as of May 24.

Despite the slow start, Washington's second-year skipper remained his usual upbeat self.

"I said this team is going to bounce back and turn it around," Martinez said. "I thought we hit the bottom then, but this team -- we get everybody back, we get healthy, we're going to be OK. So let's just keep fighting, and here we are."

Although it's Martinez's first trip to the playoffs, it's the fifth time in eight years for the Nationals. Each of the previous four times, they were division winners. Not that anyone in Washington's clubhouse seemed to mind the team's wild-card status.

"Everybody in this clubhouse envisioned this exact thing right here," said shortstop Trea Turner, whose dramatic grand slam on Tuesday night was the decisive blow and resulted in a rousing curtain call from the surprisingly thin crowd of 22,214. "We talked about it when we were 19-31, we talked about how we were going to laugh at everybody else outside of this clubhouse for everything that they said about us, and we are here now."

"There's still a path for us to win it all," said ace Max Scherzer, who got the win Tuesday night and is expected to start the wild-card game next Tuesday. "We're going to get tested like we've never been tested during the regular season. But I love what this team has together. I love our chemistry. I love what we have. That's what it takes to win in the postseason."

Winning in the postseason is unfamiliar to the Nationals, who've never advanced past the first round in four tries under general manager Mike Rizzo.

"Each season is unique and special," said Rizzo, who joined the Nationals in 2007 and took over as GM two years later. "When you get to put plastic down and pour beer over each other, it's a special season. We don't take that for granted. These are things that a lot of teams wish they were doing."

One of those teams on the outside looking in is the Phillies, who had grand plans when they signed former Nationals star Harper to a 13-year, $330 million contract during the offseason, but were eliminated during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, a 4-1 loss. Their defeat in the nightcap, which came in spite of a pinch-hit homer from Harper, sent the former MVP's old club into celebration mode.

An impromptu conga line formed, propelling players around the clubhouse to the thumping beat of Latin music. Chants of M-V-P filled the Nats' locker room as teammates stood around third baseman Anthony Rendon and showered him with beer. Gerardo Parra led a rousing reprise of "Baby Shark," the toddler tune that the reserve outfielder adopted as his walk-up song earlier this season and has since become something of an anthem in the nation's capital.

"This is so awesome," said reliever Sean Doolittle. "After everything we've been through, coming together after everything over the course of the season and having to crawl out of the hole that we found ourselves in May, it makes it that much sweeter. This is really, really special."

Seven months ago, I boldly declared that the Washington Nationals would be just fine, thanks, without Bryce Harper. It turns out they were more than fine.

After missing the playoffs in 2018, Harper's final campaign in D.C., the Nats are back in the postseason for the fifth time in the past eight years. It's the first time they've been there without Harper, and it's proof positive that there is, in fact, life after Bryce.

Here are five reasons Washington has been able to move on without its former franchise face:

1. Rendon is raking

Although he has one fewer MVP award than Harper, the dirty little secret in the District is that Anthony Rendon has been the team's best and most complete player for several years now. It's a secret finally starting to make its way around the league.

In July, after being an All-Star snub on multiple occasions in the past, the 29-year-old third baseman made the Midsummer Classic for the first time in his career. Batting almost exclusively in Harper's old No. 3 spot, Rendon has put up huge numbers. He's hitting .322 with 34 homers and leads the league with 124 RBIs and 43 doubles. He's also in the top three in runs, slugging and OPS. Combined with his dependable glove work at the hot corner (plus-3 runs saved), it's the kind of campaign that has him on the short list for a certain piece of hardware, along with names such as Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and Ketel Marte.

"For me, Rendon is the MVP," manager Davey Martinez said of the player who finished 11th in last year's balloting and sixth the year before that. "What he means to this organization, this city, our lineup, it's tremendous. He's earned all the accolades he's going to get."

Depending on how these last games shake out, it's possible that Rendon could wind up tied with Harper in the awards column.

2. Soto is a super soph

When Juan Soto exploded onto the scene last season as a 19-year-old rookie and did things that few if any teenagers had done, he instantly became a walking and talking insurance policy for if/when Harper departed via free agency. Although some wondered if the young outfielder would regress in his second big league campaign, he has done the opposite.

While the plate discipline has been just as good (his 106 walks are second in the NL), the power numbers have spiked (34 bombs). Between that and figuring out how to handle off-speed pitches, Soto has become a Harper-esque middle-of-the-order thumper. Said hitting coach Kevin Long: "He understands his skills and is also willing to try a few minor things to get even better."

Perhaps the most significant upgrades in Soto's game have nothing to do with the dish.

In spring training, the Dominican product said he spent the offseason trying to improve his speed and defense. By all appearances, the work has paid off. After swiping five bases as a rookie, Soto, whose minor league teammates called him Gamba (Spanish for bowlegged), is 12-for-13 in steals this year. That's a 92% success rate, and it's tied for third among NL players (minimum 10 stolen bases). In left field, where he's still very much a work-in-progress, he has accounted for zero runs saved, an improvement on the minus-5 he posted a year ago.

So much for that sophomore slump.

3. Robles is roaming center field like a vet

If Soto was Washington's insurance policy, then Victor Robles was the addendum. The flashy rookie, who entered 2019 as the 10th-best prospect in baseball according to ESPN's Keith Law, took over as the Opening Day center fielder and hasn't looked back. Actually, that's not true.

Back in April, it seemed that Robles was in over his head defensively, as he regularly misread and/or misplayed balls in the outfield. But he has learned on the fly and quickly become one of the better center fielders in the game.

"That kind of arm you don't see very often," Soto said of his teammate, whose 12 assists lead center fielders and whose 21 runs saved rank second among all outfielders.

Thanks to the speedy Robles, the Nationals didn't think twice about sliding veteran Adam Eaton to right field to fill the void created by Harper's departure. Together, Robles, Eaton and Soto have helped Washington's outfield lead the majors in outs above average (their 26 OAA are more than twice as many as that of the next best group).

Offensively, though Robles hasn't been as productive as Washington might have hoped and has made more than his share of mistakes on the bases, manager Davey Martinez will gladly take 17 homers and 26 steals from the rookie -- especially at the bottom of the order.

4. The Big 3 is living up to the hype

When Washington inked lefty Patrick Corbin to a six-year, $140 million contract in December, it pretty much signaled the end of the Harper era in D.C. It also gave the Nationals' rotation a 1-2-3 punch as good as any in the game.

Corbin, ace Max Scherzer and deputy ace Stephen Strasburg all rank among the NL's top six in strikeouts. And FIP. And WAR. Together, they've led Nats starters to a 3.51 ERA that ranks second in the majors, behind only that of the Dodgers.

"They've been phenomenal," Martinez said of his three-headed mound monster. "The reason why we're doing what we're doing."

Perhaps most importantly, Washington's troika has logged more than 550 innings combined, which has helped the team overcome a historically bad bullpen -- and Harper's historic free-agent exodus.

5. Their foes are friendly

The NL East was supposed to be the NL Beast. With the exception of the Marlins, every other team in the division was expected to be stout. While the defending champion Braves have been as good as advertised (and then some), New York and Philly -- a pair of clubs that were billed as markedly improved -- have disappointed.

Yes, the dysfunctional Mets seemed to have Washington's number this year, winning 12 of 19 matchups, including several in dramatic comeback fashion. But against the rest of the league, the Mets have been essentially a .500 club. As for Harper's new team, the Phillies? Decimated by injuries to the bullpen and outfield, they were eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday ... by the Nats.

When it comes to cooperative competition, nobody has been more magnanimous than Miami. Against the Marlins, Washington coasted to a 15-4 record. But that was always going to happen.

Just like the Nationals were always going to be fine without Bryce Harper.