Lauri Markkanen to the Cavs
We’ve got an NBA trade to get your Friday started, as ESPN is reporting that the Chicago Bulls have traded restricted free-agent Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Markkanen goes to the Cavs on a four-year, $67 million contract, and it’s all a part of a three-team sign-and-trade agreement.
The Cavs send Larry Nance Jr. to the Portland Trail Blazers, while they send a 2023 second-round draft pick from the Denver Nuggets to the Bulls. The Blazers then trade Derrick Jones Jr. and a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick to Chicago.
Hopefully you’re reading this before Happy Hour. If not, perhaps re-read it tomorrow, because it’s not, not confusing.
The NBA, the Astros, the Nats and the COVID-19 Vaccine
As the NBA prepares for the 2021-2022 season, the league is taking precautions around COVID-19, requiring that all personnel that have direct interactions with players and refs are fully vaccinated, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. These positions include front-office personnel, coaches and trainers.
The following NBA personnel must be fully vaccinated in order to conduct in-person interactions with players and refs: Coaching staff, medical/performance staff, equipment, front office, player development, team/arena security, PR, social media, scorer’s table, attendants. https://t.co/E2EWbrTBkG
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2021
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros are requiring that all full-time employees (not players) get the vaccine, making them the first two MLB teams to do so. You know I hate to praise the Astros, but, good for both of these teams for putting health and safety first.
Jameis Winston – QB1 Again
Who says you never get a second chance to make a first impression? Not Sean Payton, as Jameis Winston will be the New Orleans Saints’ QB1, as reported by Adam Schefter. Winston has not started since 2019 when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The former Heisman Trophy winner went 28-42 with 121 touchdowns and 88 interceptions with the Bucs’ starter from 2015-2019. Then they signed Tom Brady, so…that was that.
The Saints will open the season at home against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
Saints-Cardinals Preseason Game Canceled
Speaking of the New Orleans Saints, the team canceled its preseason finale with the Arizona Cardinals due to Hurricane Ida. The game was scheduled to be played on Saturday at 7 pm CT and was moved to noon, but it was ultimately decided that conditions were too dangerous.
As of posting, Hurricane Ida looks like it will make landfall in Southern Louisiana Sunday evening. Stay safe everyone.
Trevor Bauer
On Friday, Major League Baseball extended Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Trevor Bauer’s leave of absence to Sept. 3. This is the seventh time the leave has been extended.
Also on Friday, the Pasadena Police Department finished its investigation into the assault allegations against Bauer, and the case is now in the hands of the LA County DA’s office. It is now up to the District Attorney’s Office as to whether or not to proceed with the case.
A woman accusing Bauer of sexual assault was granted a temporary restraining order against Bauer earlier this summer. Her request for a permanent restraining order was dismissed last week.