Sports Brief: Week of Feb. 5 – 11

NBA: Trades, Thunder recap

The front offices of NBA franchises made a multitude of moves prior to the trade deadline Feb. 7.

The Dallas Mavericks continued their roster realignment, sending forward Harrison Barnes to the Sacramento Kings for forwards Zach Randolph and Justin Jackson. Randolph has not played in a game for the Kings this season and was waived the following day by the Mavericks.

The Memphis Grizzlies traded center Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors for Jonas Valanciunias, CJ Miles, Delon Wright and a 2024 first-round pick. This trade ended Gasol’s 11 seasons with the Grizzlies.

The Philadelphia 76ers moved Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, a lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 first-round pick and 2021 and 2023 second-round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers for Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott.

For a more in-depth look at all the moves made before the trade deadline, click here.

In Oklahoma City news, the Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets Saturday, 117-112, in one of the league’s premiere matchups.

Paul George led the Thunder with a double-double, scoring 45 points and grabbing 11 boards. With recent career highs, George remains a key contender in the NBA MVP conversation. Russell Westbrook added another triple-double, scoring 21 points, grabbing 12 boards and dishing out 11 assists.

The Thunder continued their win streak Monday defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 120-111. Westbrook finished with his tenth consecutive triple-double and was accompanied by George who had a triple-double of his own.

Oklahoma City will play the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday at 7 p.m.

NFL: Free Agency

With the 2018-19 NFL season in the books, many teams have started looking into the free agent market for immediate help next season.

Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell, who sat out the entire season in hopes of avoiding injury, headlines this offseason and is likely to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets or Oakland Raiders. Bell has vocalized a desire to play with the 49ers, who can offer him a five-year, $80 million deal.

The Jets, who are looking to add weapons for quarterback Sam Darnold, are poised to offer a five-year, $76 million contract but can raise the value if needed.

The Raiders, who had a disastrous season, are making a franchise move to Las Vegas and can offer Bell a five-year, $85 million deal.

For an in-depth look at potential free agency landing spots, click here.

MLB: Harper, Machado still unsigned

Superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado remain unsigned despite the earliest stages of spring training commencing later this week. The indecision between the two All-Stars has stagnated as it appears each is holding out until the other signs. The Philadelphia Phillies look to be the frontrunners for landing both, but the Chicago White Sox have continued to make a push for Machado.

Although the two household names have loomed over the heads of fans all offseason, many other moves were made, which have clubhouses excited to start the season.

For an extensive look at the best and worst moves by each organization, click here.

UFC: UFC 234

UFC 234 headlined middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum until Whittaker was forced to withdraw from the fight prior to its start due to physical ailments.

Middleweights Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva, who were scheduled to fight before the main event, went all three rounds, with Adesanya winning the bout by decision. The winner of this fight was predicted to fight the winner of the headliner, but that is now blurred due to the condition of the event.

Despite not being on the fight card, Conor McGregor still made a splash, as he declared he would be interested in fighting Silva. Dana White seems to not be interested in the fight’s prospect, but Silva is not opposed.

00