FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Former Super Bowl champion Chris Hogan, who caught 216 passes over nine NFL seasons, is returning to his other favorite sport — lacrosse.
Hogan, 33, has entered his name in the Premier Lacrosse League entry draft on March 25, he confirmed Saturday.
“As many of you know, my roots are in lacrosse, and I’m excited to fight for a roster spot with the best in the world!” he posted on Twitter on Saturday.
Hogan was a four-time letter winner and captain at Penn State, where he played lacrosse from 2007 to 2010 after a highly decorated career at Ramapo High School in northern New Jersey. He was a midfielder for the Nittany Lions, scoring 29 goals as a junior and earning all-ECAC recognition. His coach once said he “could be the best middie in Division I.”
In his intro video before prime-time games as a member of the New England Patriots, Hogan announced his alma mater as “Penn State lacrosse.” He used his final year of eligibility to play football at Monmouth (N.J.) University.
Hogan didn’t say whether he’s retiring from the NFL.
He played last season for the New York Jets, catching 14 passes for 118 yards in five games. The Jets were so depleted at wide receiver that Hogan, who signed in training camp, became an immediate starter. He landed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain and was waived from IR in December.
His best years came with the Patriots, from 2016 to 2018. He became a sure-handed target for Tom Brady and won two Super Bowl rings in New England before moving on to the Carolina Panthers and Jets. He began his career with the Buffalo Bills.
In a 2019 interview with US Lacrosse Magazine, Hogan said he would “absolutely” be interested in playing lacrosse again. He still owned a stick, he said, but hadn’t worn gloves in eight years.
In 2018, Hogan reportedly became an investor in the Premier Lacrosse League, which consists of eight teams after a recent merger with Major League Lacrosse. The entry draft is for players who never have played in the PLL.
The Bachelor host Chris Harrison (right) with current series lead Matt James.
ABC
Everything isn’t coming up roses for Chris Harrison. The longtime host of ABC’s Bachelor franchise continues to face backlash after apologizing for comments about photos that show a current contestant on The Bachelor attending an antebellum-plantation-themed party.
The controversial pictures evoke a painful period in American history before the Civil War ended slavery and have sparked serious, soul-searching discussion among Bachelor fans and former contestants about race, representation and accountability. A Change.org petition calling for the removal of Harrison as host of the popular dating reality show and its spinoffs has gotten more than 37,000 signatures as of Saturday morning. And Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette star, says she’s done with the franchise.
Here’s the whole brouhaha, broken down.
What did Chris Harrison say (or not say)?
During an Extra interview this week with former Bachelorette star and current TV host Rachel Lindsay, Lindsay broached photos that had surfaced of Rachael Kirkconnell, a contestant on season 25 of The Bachelor, airing now. The images show her attending an antebellum-plantation-themed college fraternity party in 2018.
The photos sparked strong reaction on social media, as they evoke the racist history of the South before the Civil War. Matt James, star of the current season, is the show’s first Black lead, and Kirkconnell, a 24-year-old graphic designer from Cumming, Georgia, is rumored to be the one he picks to marry/date/appear on the cover of People magazine with after winnowing down his field of love interests. Kirkconnell has also been accused of liking racist social media posts, including some that show Confederate flags.
Rachael Kirkconnell, shown on a date with Matt James on The Bachelor, is rumored to be his frontrunner.
ABC
“We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion,” the 49-year-old Harrison said during the interview with Lindsay. “Because I have seen some stuff online — this judge, jury, executioner thing where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart and diving into, like, her parents, her parents’ voting record. It’s unbelievably alarming to watch this. I haven’t heard Rachael speak on this yet. Until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say any of this? I saw a picture of her at a sorority party five years ago and that’s it.”
Harrison, host of The Bachelor since 2002, said that while he’s not defending the party people would not have examined an Old South party “under the same lens” in 2018 as they would in 2021, given the heightened consciousness of racial inequality amid the Black Lives Matter movement. Lindsay, an outspoken advocate for diversity in the franchise, disagreed.
“It’s not a good look ever,” Lindsay said, emphasizing the photos’ implicit connection to slavery and degradation. “She’s celebrating the old South. If I went to that party, what would I represent?” Lindsay — who hosts a Bachelor Nation podcast and sometimes makes cameos on the show — has since said she won’t renew her contract with the franchise when it runs out. “I’m exhausted. I have truly had enough,” Lindsay said on Friday’s episode of her Spotify Original Podcast Higher Learning.
How did the public react to Rachel Lindsay’s interview?
Harrison has loyal supporters who are standing behind him and decrying the “woke police” and “cancel culture”: “People, lighten up a little,” wrote one Twitter supporter. Wrote another: “So sorry you had to apologize. I can’t believe everyone has become so sensitive.” Still, criticism has continued to mount, including on Twitter and the bachelor subreddit, where discussion of the controversy has overshadowed all other Bachelor buzz for days.
Chris Harrison said we shouldn’t judge her for going to a plantation themed party because “we weren’t as woke back then as we are now.” Pic is from 2018.
I graduated in 2009. If I found out one of my friends went to a party like that, I’m slapping the shit out of them on sight.
— Diggy Moreland (@diggymoreland) February 11, 2021
A number of high-profile contestants, including Mike Johnson, Taylor Nolan and former Bachelorette stars Tayshia Adams, Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jillian Harris, have expressed disappointment in Harrison and his choice of words and have called on series producers to vet contestants more carefully. Matt James, the star of this season’s show, on Friday expressed his gratitude to Lindsay for continuing to shine a spotlight on representation and responsibility in the franchise, which fans have criticized for its lack of diversity.
“I am beyond grateful to have Rachel as a mentor during this season,” James wrote on Instagram. “Your advocacy of BIPOC people in the franchise is invaluable, I stand with you and the rest of the women advocating for change and accountability.”
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The day before, almost every contestant of The Bachelor Season 25, including Kirkconnell, posted the same message on social media denouncing any “defense of racism.”
“Any defense of racist behavior denies the lived and continued experiences of BIPOC individuals,” the statement reads. “These experiences are not to be exploited or tokenized.”
“Rachel Lindsay continues to advocate with ‘grace’ for individuals who identify as BIPOC within this franchise,” the statement concludes. “Just because she is speaking the loudest, doesn’t mean she is alone. We stand with her, we hear her, and we advocate for change alongside her.”
The men of season 16 of The Bachelorette — which preceded Matt James’ season of The Bachelor and featured two back-to-back leads, including Adams, who is Black — also released a statement “denouncing racist behavior and any defense thereof.”
“We had the opportunity to be a part of one of the most diverse casts in the history of the franchise,” the statement reads. “The addition of more people who identify as BIPOC has opened up the conversation on race, community and who we are as people. A conversation that has been long overdue.”
Has Chris Harrison apologized?
He has. On Wednesday, he posted an apology to social media.
“To my Bachelor Nation family — I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology,” it read. “I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed.”
“While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf,” he continued. “What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry. I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a firsthand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better.”
Bachelor Nation, for those who don’t follow the reality TV franchise, refers to fans and former participants of the long-running romance show. You don’t need a visa to visit Bachelor Nation, just a TV or computer. Bachelor Nation is known for its vocal presence on social media, where weekly episodes spark an amusing run of memes and jokes that can get thousands of likes and comments. Reactions to the show’s drama and fast-tracked relationships are often funny and snarky, and that tone has seeped into the public treatment of Harrison this week. Most of the discussion has a somber tone, however.
Kirkconnell, for her part, issued her own apology, saying that “I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist. I am sorry to the communities and individuals that my actions harmed and offended. I am ashamed about my lack of education, but it is no one’s responsibility to educate me.”
“I deserve to be held accountable for my actions,” she concluded. “I will never grow unless I recognize what I have done is wrong. I don’t think one apology means that I deserve your forgiveness, but rather I hope I can earn your forgiveness through my future actions.”
Chris Harrison, the longtime host of the “Bachelor” franchise, is facing increasing backlash online after appearing to defend a contestant who has been accused of racist acts. Rachel Lindsay, the franchise’s first Black female lead and one of the show’s strongest advocates for racial justice, said Friday that she will not renew her contract with the franchise as a result of Harrison’s comments.
The controversy began after photos surfaced of Rachael Kirkconnell, a contestant on this season of “The Bachelor,” attending an antebellum-themed party in 2018.
Here’s a breakdown of how it unfolded:
Harrison’s interview with Rachel Lindsay
Lindsay asked Harrison about the Kirkconnell photos during an interview on Tuesday. Kirkconnell’s season features Matt James as the Bachelor, marking the first time the franchise has chosen a Black male for the role.
“We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion,” Harrison told Lindsay. “Because I have seen some stuff online — this judge, jury, executioner thing — where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart and diving into, like, her parents, her parents’ voting record. It’s unbelievably alarming to watch this. I haven’t heard Rachael speak on this yet. And until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say any of this?”
“Well, the picture was from 2018 at an Old South antebellum party,” Lindsay replied. “That’s not a good look.”
“Is it a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021?” Harrison asked.
“It’s not a good look ever,” Lindsay said, adding, “If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?”
“You’re 100% right in 2021. That was not the case in 2018,” Harrison said, estimating that “50 million people did that in 2018.”
“That was a type of party,” he said, adding that he is “not defending it.”
Chris Harrison & Rachel Lindsay Talk ‘Bachelor’ Contestant Rachael Kirkconnell by
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Harrison and Kirkconnell apologize
After facing backlash over his comments, Harrison posted an apology to social media on Wednesday.
“To my Bachelor Nation family — I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology,” he said. “I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed.”
“While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf,” he continued. “What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry. I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better.”
pic.twitter.com/3XHqWWYb05
— Chris Harrison (@chrisbharrison) February 11, 2021
Kirkconnell also apologized on Thursday, writing on Instagram, “I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist. I am sorry to the communities and individuals that my actions harmed and offended. I am ashamed about my lack of education, but it is no one’s responsibility to educate me.”
“I deserve to be held accountable for my actions,” she added. “I will never grow unless I recognize what I have done is wrong. I don’t think one apology means that I deserve your forgiveness, but rather I hope I can earn your forgiveness through my future actions.”
Franchise stars speak out
Lindsay, who hosts a Bachelor Nation podcast and has made frequent cameos on the show, said that she will not renew her contract with the franchise when it expires.
“I’m exhausted. I have truly had enough,” Lindsay said on Friday’s episode of her podcast “Higher Learning.”
“My entire reason for doing ‘The Bachelorette’ — and I was lucky that it worked out for me in the most beautiful way in finding Bryan — is that I wanted to be representative as a Black woman to this audience. And I wanted to pave the way for more people to have this opportunity,” Lindsay said on the podcast.
“But how much more do I want to be affiliated with this? How much more can I take of things like this? I said I was gonna leave if they didn’t have leads of color. Okay, they did that, and they made some other changes. They hired a diversity consultant — who didn’t attend the class? Did Chris Harrison not sit through that? I’m confused as to how you could have whole consultants working for you, yet what happened just happened.”
“I can’t take it anymore,” Lindsay said. “I’m contractually bound in some ways. But when it’s up, I am too. I can’t do it anymore.”
James has also spoken out in support of Lindsay.
Matt James shared his support for Rachel Lindsay on his Instagram Story.
Matt James / Instagram
“I am beyond grateful to have Rachel as a mentor during this season,” James wrote on his Instagram Story on Friday. “Your advocacy of BIPOC people in the franchise is invaluable, I stand with you and the rest of the women advocating for change and accountability.”
Tayshia Adams, the most recent Bachelorette, said on her Instagram Story on Friday that she is “really hurt and disappointed and confused” by the “ignorance” she’s seen surrounding conversations about race this week.
Adams, who is Black, added that she is “really hurt” by the response to Kirkconnell’s actions, which she called blatantly racist.
A slew of contestants from Adams’ season shared a joint message to Instagram on Friday, “denouncing racist behavior and any defense thereof.” They added that they “stand united” with Lindsay.
Season 25 contestants also posted a joint statement on Instagram on Thursday denouncing any “defense of racism.”
“Any defense of racist behavior denies the lived and continued experiences of BIPOC individuals,” the statement reads. “These experiences are not to be exploited or tokenized.”
“Rachel Lindsay continues to advocate with ‘grace’ for individuals who identify as BIPOC within this franchise,” it concludes. “Just because she is speaking the loudest, doesn’t mean she is alone. We stand with her, we hear her, and we advocate for change alongside her.”
Coach Chris Doyle has resigned from the Jaguars a day after new head coach Urban Meyer made the controversial decision to hire the former college assistant for his staff.
Meyer, who was hired last month for his first NFL job, announced late Friday night that Doyle had resigned from his position as director of sport performance after the backlash his hiring created. Diversity group the Fritz Pollard Alliance had strongly criticized Jacksonville for Doyle’s hiring.
Doyle was the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Iowa until 2020, when he and school agreed to part ways after he was accused of making racist comments and bullying players.
“Chris Doyle came to us this evening to submit his resignation and we have accepted,” Meyer said in a statement Friday. “Chris did not want to be a distraction to what we are building in Jacksonville. We are responsible for all aspects of our program and, in retrospect, should have given greater consideration to how his appointment may have affected all involved. We wish him the best as he moves forward in his career.”
Some black players at Iowa accused Doyle of telling them he was going to “send them back to the ghetto” if they did not meet his standards, among other remarks, according to USA Today. An external review of the situation concluded “a small group of coaches” demeaned players and “the program’s rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity.”
Chris Doyle on the sidelines with Iowa.AP
Doyle, in a statement made last June, defended himself by saying, “I do not make racists (sic) comments and I don’t tolerate people that do.”
Meyer initially defended the hiring at press conference on Thursday, saying he was “very confident” there would not be issues with the 52-year-old Doyle.
“I’ve known Chris for close to 20 years,” Meyer said, going on to say his “relationship” with Doyle began when the two were at the University of Utah together. The only problem with Meyer’s recollection is that Doyle worked at Utah in 1998 and was already strength and condition coach at Iowa when Meyer began his two-year run as Utah head coach in 2003.
“Really, he was doing sports performance before sports performance became a high priority in college sports,” Meyer said. “So I’ve known him, I’ve studied him, we’ve had a relationship. I vetted him thoroughly, along with our general manager [Trent Baalke] and owner [Shahid Khan].”
Many took issue with Doyle being hired, including Rod Graves, executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance. The organization, named after the first African-American coach in the NFL, is made up of coaches, scouts, and front office personnel committed to equal opportunity in professional sports.
“At a time when the NFL has failed to solve its problem with racial hiring practices, it is simply unacceptable to welcome Chris Doyle into the ranks of NFL coaches,” Graves, a former Jets executive, said in a statement on Friday. “Doyle’s departure from the University of Iowa reflected a tenure riddled with poor judgment and mistreatment of Black players. His conduct should be as disqualifying for the NFL as it was for University of Iowa.
“Urban Meyer’s statement, ‘I’ve known Chris for close to 20 years’ reflects the good ol’ boy network that is precisely the reason there is such a disparity in employment opportunities for Black coaches.”
“Bachelor” host Chris Harrison is taking a step back and reflecting on a recent interview that had Bachelor Nation in an uproar.
On Tuesday, the longtime emcee appeared on Extra in an interview with former “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindsay who was the show’s first Black female lead. In the interview, he defended current contestant Rachael Kirkconnell after photos resurfaced of her attending an “Old South” themed party at a plantation in 2018.
In a statement on Wednesday, Harrison, 49, apologized for his words.
“I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics which I should have been better informed. While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf,” he wrote.
‘BACHELOR’ STAR BEN HIGGINS REVEALS HOW FAITH HAS GUIDED HIM THROUGH ADDICTION, REALITY TV FAME
“What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry. I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable,” Harrison concluded. “I promise to do better.”
Chris Harrison apologized for ‘speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism.’ (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
Kirkconnell’s photo controversy doesn’t end with the plantation photos either. A user on Reddit uploaded an image of Kirkconnell dressed up in a Native American costume and she’s been accused on TikTok of bullying a former high school classmate “for liking Black guys.”
Kirkconnell has not commented publicly on any of the photos. She’s currently competing for the first Black “Bachelor” lead Matt James’ final rose and is a frontrunner in the season.
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James on a date during ‘The Bachelor.’ (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
On Extra, Harrison and Lindsay debated the gravity of the photos. “This is, again, where we all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion,” he said. “I haven’t heard Rachael speak on this yet. And until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say any of this?”
‘BACHELOR’ FRONT-RUNNER SARAH TROTT EXITS SHOW AFTER TENSION WITH OTHER WOMEN
Lindsay pointed out the photo “was from 2018 at an Old South antebellum party … that’s not a good look.”
Harrison debated, “Well, Rachel is it a good look in 2018? Or, is it not a good look in 2021? Because there’s a big difference.”
“It’s not a good look ever,” Lindsay stated, “because she’s celebrating the Old South. If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?”
“You’re 100% right in 2021. That was not the case in 2018,” Harrison said, “I just know that, I don’t know, 50 million people did that in 2018…. That was a type of party that a lot of people went to. And again, I’m not defending it; I didn’t go to it. We are not looking under the same lens.”
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Lindsay reasoned “that’s the problem… we weren’t looking through those lens and we should have been. And just because it was a popular party, you know, doesn’t necessarily make it right.”
Paige VanZant showed a lot in her BKFC debut, but she ultimately would be on the wrong end of a unanimous decision against a game Britain Hart.
Hart earned a unanimous decision and a trio of 49-46 scorecards en route to the biggest win of her career in the main event of KnuckleMania. While she was celebrating, a fellow fighter entered the ring and threw water and her and a near skirmish broke out. Fortunately, it was broken up before things got out of hand.
Prior to that, former UFC competitor Chris Leben competed in his final fight and earned a first-round knockout win over Quentin Henry in his final combat sports appearance.
See how the pros reacted to those big moments on Friday night’s card.
Is this #bkfc or the Jerry Springer show lol? What is going on?
— Mike Pierce (@MikePierce170) February 6, 2021
Man, that was so dope watching Leben get that win. I was a big fan of his when I was a kid. Even had the chance to meet him at a local fight in Portland when I was 10.
— Ricky Simón (@RickySimonUFC) February 6, 2021
Geting in a fire fight with Chris Leben isn’t good for your health.
After losing a third straight game to drop to 8-8 on the season, a frustrated Chris Paul put it bluntly about the current state of the Phoenix Suns: They have to play better.
“We’re not …” Paul started, pausing briefly, “playing well enough right now. I’m not going to say we’re not good enough, but we’re not playing well enough right now.”
The Suns fell 102-97 at home on Wednesday to Paul’s former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the final three minutes going the wrong way for Phoenix. The Thunder finished on an 11-2 run, with the Suns missing their final six shots.
Paul, who led the Thunder to a surprising 5-seed last season behind brilliant clutch-time play, scored a season-high 32 points in 35 minutes against OKC. But two clean looks in the final 20 seconds didn’t fall, the first being a go-ahead midrange turnaround that spun out of the rim, and the second a potential tying straightaway 3 that caught all air.
The Suns have been without All-Star guard Devin Booker the past two games because of a sore hamstring. While the team has missed his scoring ability, coach Monty Williams refused to acknowledge that, or anything else, as an excuse.
“Until this team understands consistency for four quarters, we’re going to feel like this a lot,” Williams said. “We can try to get everybody to feel sorry for us. It ain’t going to work. We’ve got to be consistent. This is on us.”
Williams, clearly aggravated in his two-minute postgame availability, harped on Suns’ need for consistency.
“Down the stretch, we had an unbelievably poor finish,” he said. “We have open shots, missing shots under the basket. It’s just poor. Poor execution and poor finishing. That’s it.
“At some point, you just have to finish out games and understand what it takes to be a really good team is consistency,” Williams said. “Period. That’s the deal.”
Williams made it known if he was going to be asked any question from that point on, he would answer the same way: consistency.
“Whatever you ask me, I’m going to say ‘consistency,'” Williams said. “That’s it.”
The Suns led by 15 at the end of the first quarter. But with sloppy turnovers and stagnant offense, they scored only 10 points in the second quarter, prompting a 21-4 run by OKC to take the lead heading to the break.
As Paul tends to do, he calmly settled into the game, deferring early but asserting himself late. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to give the Suns a late lead, but defensive lapses and bad offensive possessions led to Phoenix collapsing.
“We play in spurts,” Paul said. “We’ve gotta respect who we’re playing against. Every night. Respect the opponent. They get paid just like we do.”
For Paul and the Suns, a promising start to the season has slipped in the past three weeks. The addition of Paul had appeared to help sustain the momentum they built with their undefeated bubble run, but a disruption to their season with a three-game break from health and safety protocols and then Booker’s injury has brought it to a halt.
The Suns have lost five of their past six games, with pretty much all the recent losses being close calls — back-to-back overtime games against the Denver Nuggets not going their way, a four-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and a five-point loss to OKC.
“I’m just trying to figure out how we can win,” Paul said. “Because the losing stuff gets old.”
CLEVELAND, Ohio — There’s an argument to be made that the Cleveland Cavaliers never should have traded Kyrie Irving, who sent a reminder of his brilliance this week with 75 points in two combined games against his old team Wednesday and Friday.
The Cavs should have called his bluff, let him undergo the threatened knee surgery and accepted the nagging headaches and potential chemistry issues that often come with a disgruntled star who was not only checked out mentally but didn’t want to play another second with teammate LeBron James. The revamped front office could’ve banked on winning as the remedy for the combustible setup. Could have held onto the hope that moody Irving would’ve snapped out of his funk in time for the Cavs to chase one final championship. The last hurrah.
Someone else can make that argument.
The Cavs — who moved their record to 8-7 Friday after beating Irving’s high-powered and title-hopeful Brooklyn Nets for the second time in three nights — aren’t where they are today without the gutsy deal that was once considered a lopsided laugher. Turns out, it was lopsided. Still is. Just not the way most originally believed.
The showpiece of that 2017 summer blockbuster that sent Irving to Boston — and gave him the chance to be the “focal point” — was Collin Sexton. Well, technically the “Brooklyn pick” that the Celtics were clutching tight. Many around the league didn’t think the Cavs could pry it away. It was expected to be a golden ticket to one of the top spots in the 2018 NBA Draft before the Nets went on a Spencer Dinwiddie-led surge at the end of the season, causing the Cavs to drop to eighth. No Luka Doncic. No Trae Young. No Deandre Ayton. Not even Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Cavs ended up with Sexton, now the cultural backbone and cornerstone of this rebuild. Sexton, alone, helps twist the perception of the maligned Irving trade.
One game after Sexton’s career night — causing everyone around the league to take notice with a 42-point masterpiece, outdueling Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden — the 22-year-old guard poured in 25 points to go with nine assists in the 125-113 win.
It’s Sexton’s 14th straight game with at least 20 points — a streak that goes back to the 2019-20 season. He became the first player in Cavs history to open a season with 20-plus points in his first 10 games. He keeps reaching franchise marks that put him in the company of James and Irving.
This is becoming an every-night occurrence, with glimmers of star potential that go back to last December, when Sexton began his launch as one of the Eastern Conference’s best.
His backcourt mate, Darius Garland, who returned from an eight-game absence because of a sprained right shoulder Friday, cast an early vote for his buddy to get some All-Star recognition.
“He deserves it,” Garland said while nodding his head. “He comes in every night with the mindset that you can’t stop him. And that’s what he shows the league, that’s what he shows the world and everybody that’s watching this basketball game. He’s getting wherever he wants. Getting teammates involved. I mean, a lot of people don’t do that. When you come off a 42-point game, you expect them to probably go for another 40-ball. He’s still getting his buckets, but he’s making everybody else better around him. That’s what I love about Bull right now. He’s just locked in. He wants to win. We all want to win. We’re all behind him.”
In his third season, typically when youngsters make “the leap,” Sexton is averaging 26.8 points on 52.3% from the field and 46.8% from 3-point range to go with 4.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals. His scoring average would rank 10th, tied with MVP candidate Doncic, if Sexton had enough games to qualify.
A low-maintenance player who embodies the Cavaliers credo is a heck of a starting point when reassessing the Irving trade.
The Cavs also received Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and broken-down Isaiah Thomas. Not great — until you start tracking further.
Without Thomas, there’s no Larry Nance Jr. The Cavs acquired Nance from the Los Angeles Lakers along with Jordan Clarkson midway through the 2017-18 season. It cost Thomas, Channing Frye and a first-round pick. Thomas’ salary number allowed the Lakers to dump Clarkson — a sticking point for them to give up budding Nance.
Now in his third full season with the Cavs — and sixth overall — Nance is a key piece of this nucleus. He’s the do-everything forward in the midst of a career year, averaging 11.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals.
An analytical darling, some of Cleveland’s tracking metrics point to him being one of the team’s most impactful players. Nance, who is under contract through the 2022-23 season, has a developing 3-point shot, hitting 42.9% from beyond the arc this season. He also looks more comfortable as a playmaker, a role he was never granted in Los Angeles. But the other end is where he shines, taking pride in his on-off rating and always peering at plus-minus. Integral to the team’s defensive turnaround, Nance is leading the league in steals and ranks sixth in defensive win shares.
“There isn’t anyone who personifies the type of person we want in this organization more than Larry,” Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He continues to be the motor that helps this thing keep churning on both ends of the ball.”
Crowder didn’t mesh well in Cleveland. He was flipped in a three-team deal with the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings. The Cavs received George Hill and Rodney Hood.
About a year later, with Cleveland shifting its priorities, Hill was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks for John Henson, Matthew Dellavedova and a future first-round pick. Without Crowder and his valuable contract — a secondary reason the Cavs targeted him in the Irving deal — they don’t get Hill. Without Hill, the Cavs don’t have Andre Drummond and Jarrett Allen.
This past February, the Cavs used Henson’s expiring contract along with Brandon Knight to get Drummond, giving the Detroit Pistons salary relief they needed to rejigger the roster. Going back to last season, the Cavs are 11-11 with Drummond in the lineup, much more competitive than when he arrived.
Drummond can get out of control every now and then. Bickerstaff went a different direction to close Wednesday’s game. But Drummond rebounded Friday, recording another double-double with 19 points and 16 boards. The two-time All-Star has been a force at both ends, bullying opponents around the rim and anchoring the team’s defense the way he promised.
“The potential for this team is endless,” Drummond said. “We have all the tools to be a great team. There’s no reason why we can’t beat the best teams in the NBA. We have the heart, we have the drive.
“When I got here, my message to these guys was, we should never be afraid of anybody, we don’t care who’s on the court. It could be Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Doesn’t matter. We’re gonna play them the same way each and every night, we’re going to stick to our scheme and what works for us. We don’t want any cute games. Want to make it as ugly as possible and may the better team win. Night in and night out, it ends up being us.”
That first-rounder from the Bucks was the linchpin of last week’s Allen theft. The Nets didn’t want to part with the up-and-coming center. They shopped sharpshooter Landry Shamet instead, hoping he could fetch the final first-round pick the Nets needed to land Harden. When those attempts failed, they reached out to the Cavs who were delighted to jump in the deal.
Cleveland also got Taurean Prince, who looks to be much more than a throw-in piece. While the Cavs need to pay Allen, a restricted free agent this summer, they believe he’s the long-term answer in the middle — a 22-year-old shot-blocking pick-and-roll partner for Sexton and Garland.
Back to Clarkson for a minute. He was sent to Utah last December for Dante Exum and two second-round picks. The Cavs also got a trade exception. Not only did Clarkson’s departure coincide with Sexton’s rise, but it brought Exum, who was used in the Harden blockbuster — the salary needed to match Prince. The trade exception allowed the Cavs to absorb Allen’s contract.
Hood was tossed to Portland nearly two years ago in a package that included Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin and two future second-round picks.
Trading is a lengthy, complex game of chess. It’s not just one move, but rather a series of them that require short- and long-term thinking.
Cleveland’s rebuild plan — jumpstarted by Irving’s trade demand — has started to come into focus. Because of that one move, and a string of others that spawned from it, the Cavs now have Sexton, Nance, Drummond, Allen, Prince and more draft capital to potentially use in future deals.
Checkmate.
Irving, meanwhile, had two frustrating years in Boston and bolted on bad terms. He’s in Brooklyn now, hoping the Harden addition will allow the Nets to rise to the top of the league. Irving’s greatness can’t be argued. The Cavs honored him in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game, as Irving saluted the crowd and pointed to his ring finger — a recognition of the role this organization played in him becoming a champion.
The hatred has quelled. The Cavs have moved on. They’re in a good place, one of the NBA’s surprise teams in the first month, with a bright future and an exciting young core. There’s hope again. It wouldn’t have been possible without the Irving trade more than three years ago.
Lopsided indeed. In Cleveland’s favor.
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Kevin Porter Jr. — a 6-foot-4 wing who teased fans, teammates, coaches and executives with a promising rookie season dotted with hypnotizing on-court flashes of star qualities — wasn’t going to reach his potential here in Cleveland. So, the Cavs agreed to send Porter to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a future second-round pick late Thursday night.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who volunteered to oversee Porter’s development at the start of the 2019-20 season while Bickerstaff was still John Beilein’s lead assistant, couldn’t consistently get through to Porter — even though Bickerstaff is known leaguewide as a great communicator, leader and culture-builder.
General manager Koby Altman, who started fostering a bond with Porter during his erratic freshman season at USC, often checking in with the troubled youngster via text and spending plenty of time on campus getting to know him, couldn’t get through to Porter anymore either. At least, not enough to pull him back after months of missteps.
“The organization did everything and more for him,” a league source told cleveland.com. “They went above and beyond. They gave him more chances than most franchises would have.”
Now the Rockets will try to save Porter from destroying his career — a hopeful start that spiraled quickly with too much free time during a pandemic-extended offseason, a string of poor decisions away from the court and immaturity that followed him, first from Seattle to USC and then college to Cleveland. Always one step forward and a few steps back.
For Houston, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move — a worthy gamble for an organization that recently dealt James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets and has assistant coach John Lucas, who has a history of helping reclamation projects with off-court issues. If it doesn’t work, the Rockets move on, giving up nothing, as the heavily-protected second-rounder is unlikely to ever convey.
For the Cavs, it’s a significant setback in their rebuild.
Teammates considered Porter the most talented of the young core, the player with the likeliest path to stardom. Members of the front office viewed him as untouchable when rival teams reached out in past trade talks. Porter was supposed to be the one — the centerpiece of this rebuild with the capability of altering the trajectory, the phenom they stole at the end of the first round.
Even after an offseason arrest, Porter was still in Cleveland’s long-term vision, choosing to pick up his third-year option.
What could have been. Flash forward to Thursday. The Cavs agreed to a trade that was basically a salary dump. They had two options: Deal Porter for not much in return or waive him outright. They chose the least painful, getting some wiggle room below the luxury tax and an open roster spot earmarked for a backup point guard to help fill the short-term void with Matthew Dellavedova sidelined indefinitely because of a concussion.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 29: Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers speaks to Kevin Porter Jr. #4 and Collin Sexton #2 during the first half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 29, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)Getty Images
Two-way street
Make no mistake: No one looks good here.
Not Porter, who received multiple chances to show the organization he learned from his mistakes, to prove he had the emotional maturity to deal with everything that goes into being an NBA player. The Cavs set goals for him and Porter didn’t always work toward them, feeling disrespected with the organization holding him out for so long. They were hoping he would reciprocate or simply respond in a different, more mature way. They were also hoping Porter would make better choices when it came to those around him.
The Cavs empathized with him, recognizing his chaotic past and the massive burden he was carrying at such a young age, moving his family to Cleveland so they could be taken care of and safe. Despite the time, effort, resources, and extra care, it didn’t work. How do you help someone who is not willing to help themselves? How many next times will you give before frustration builds and exhaustion overwhelms?
Altman doesn’t look good either. He took a gamble nearly two years ago, paying $5 million and giving up four second-round picks for Porter’s draft rights. The Cavs worked tirelessly to accumulate those assets. They are in no position to throw them away — even if just second-rounders. The Cavs knew all the reasons behind Porter’s draft night plummet. They did their homework, talked to countless people and met with Porter personally. Despite some other teams taking Porter off the board, the Cavs were enamored with his upside, seeing a Harden-like offensive package and tantalizing two-way traits.
Their thought process: What does it look like for this kid when we provide structure he’s never had, a consistent routine he needs, proper eating habits, a better sleep schedule, workouts, professional coaching, a few veterans to show him the way and Bickerstaff as a relatable mentor?
It wasn’t perfect in Year One. There were some slipups. But his rookie season made it seem a wise bet.
Porter averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He was one of the bright spots during a sometimes-miserable 19-win season that ended abruptly in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He dueled Harden in a captivating showdown last December. Porter ignited a February comeback against the Miami Heat, tallying a career-high 30 points.
Bickerstaff often referred to Porter as one of the best passers on the roster and there was excitement about the possibility of using the 20-year-old swingman as a playmaking guard. Porter developed a close relationship with assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who spoke of her love for the youngster.
Then it all changed during a lengthy offseason. Porter drifted away.
Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Porter Jr. argues a call from an official in the first quarter, January 15, 2021, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
End of the winding road
In August of 2020, he was accused of punching a woman in the face. In October, Porter posted a black square on his Instagram with the message “Do you ever wish to see the end of your time?” That incident led to Cavs officials and teammates reaching out to him, making sure he was OK and offering to help. He was involved in a one-car accident in November — arrested and charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, failure to control the vehicle and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. All of those charges were dismissed.
Porter’s days with the Cavs reached a breaking point last Friday when he became upset after learning his space in the locker room had been given to newly acquired forward Taurean Prince. Porter had returned to practice with the Cavs a day earlier — part of an undisclosed reintegration plan.
That night, Altman came in and tried to talk through the issue. But Porter wouldn’t calm down. Food was thrown. Tensions rose. The verbal exchange between Porter and Altman was “uncomfortable for everyone in there,” said a source who witnessed it.
Jan 15 was the culmination of too many mistakes, including disrespecting teammates and staff members.
Following that confrontation, Porter was told to clean out his locker and removed from the building, exiled from the team while the front office determined the next steps. Porter didn’t practice Saturday and then Bickerstaff, who has said on multiple occasions how they are in the business of people, caring for their players beyond basketball, addressed the situation Monday afternoon.
“We all want to see Kevin be successful, and I still feel that way,” Bickerstaff said. “So whatever it is that happens in the future for him, I hope nothing but the best for him. And it’s part of our responsibility as coaches to give everyone our all and try to make the best of every situation. I can say that we did that.”
Bickerstaff’s message has centered on togetherness, collective buy in, accountability and discipline. The Cavs are trying to build a culture that’s not yet firmly established. A surprising 7-7 start has them moving in the right direction, currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture a month into this strange season. They couldn’t risk all of that for one player, no matter how talented. They had already gambled enough on him.
The Cavs didn’t want this. They stood by Porter after his arrest. They repeatedly referred to him as a good kid at his core. It wasn’t an impulsive decision.
Maybe there were some things they could’ve done better. Same goes for Porter. Bickerstaff and Altman will surely reflect on that. They will take the mirror test. But moving on was the best — and only — option for everyone involved. Porter was the lone guy who couldn’t live up to the organizational standard. What would it say about the core values if he kept getting preferential treatment and endless chances? This was a message. Words into action.
The new core
With Porter gone, the focus turns to the remainder of Cleveland’s young nucleus. Collin Sexton displaces Porter as the cornerstone. Low-maintenance Sexton has been one of the East’s best players over a breathtaking six-month stretch that extends back to last December. His recent play helps soften the stinging blow.
Jarrett Allen’s arrival is a nice boost too, giving the Cavs a 22-year-old center of the future who becomes the defensive linchpin. Dylan Windler is nearing a comeback and was a threat to Porter’s playing time. Taurean Prince, the throw-in piece of the Allen deal, is still just 26 years old. Isaac Okoro has impressed the Cavs since being drafted fifth overall in November. Darius Garland showed exciting growth before suffering a sprained right shoulder. Don’t forget unheralded Larry Nance Jr. Having all of them at least helps.
The Cavs chose culture over talent. But it doesn’t change the end result: Cleveland lost one of its treasured — and most important — building blocks.
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New Cavs face masks for sale:Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charity.
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Where Collin Sexton’s 42-point game vs. Nets ranks on the Cavaliers’ all-time scoring list
Collin Sexton drops career-high 42 points against Nets: See how social media reacted to Sexton’s big night
Collin Sexton changing narrative, becoming cornerstone of Cleveland Cavaliers’ rebuild: ‘He’s not a regular NBA player’
Cavaliers’ past meets present and future as Collin Sexton bests Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets 147-135 in 2OT
