Month: July 2021

The LA Lakers and Washington Wizards have agreed on a trade for Russell Westbrook, which would bring him back home to LA. ESPN reports that the Lakers had agreed to send guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, forward Kyle Kuzma, center Montrezl Harrell and the No. 21 pick in this year’s first round to the Washington Wizards for Westbrook. Westbrook reportedly wanted to leave Washington and join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in his hometown of Los Angeles.

The deal marks Westbrook’s third trade in as many seasons after spending 2019-20 in Houston, who traded him to Washington for the 2020-21 season. Prior to that, he spent 11 seasons with Oklahoma City. Westbrook is in the middle of a five-year, $206.8 million contract that he signed with the Thunder. He is scheduled to earn $44 million in 2021-22 with a player option for 2022. During the 2020-21 season in Washington, Westbrook averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists per game, helping lead the Wizards to the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

The Chicago Cubs will trade Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees, acquiring outfielder Kevin Alcantara and right-handed pitcher Alexander Vizcaino in the deal. Chicago will also pick up the remainder of Rizzo’s contract, after the Cubs exercised their club option in Rizzo’s contract worth $16.5 million for 2021.

Rizzo wad acquired by Chicago in 2012, and was a vital part of the Cubs National League Championship Series in 2015 and 2017 and a World Series crown in 2016, breaking a 108-year drought. The first baseman is a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glover who finished in the top 20 in MVP voting five straight years from 2014 through 2018. In the 60-game season in 2020, Rizzo won a Gold Glove while helping the team to a division crown with 11 home runs and 24 RBI. So far in 2021, he has 14 homers in 92 games.

Rizzo will take over as the Yankees primary first baseman, which has been D.J. LeMahieu’s position this season. The Yankees are only three games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second wild card spot.

Editorial credit: stockelements / Shutterstock.com

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton has agreed to a seven-year, $63 million deal with the New Jersey Devils. The 28-year-old Hamilton’s departure from Carolina was anticipated after he and the Hurricanes were unable to reach agreement on a new contract during the season, and was granted permission to seek a sign-and-trade elsewhere.

Hamilton joined the Hurricanes in 2018, and over three seasons he notched 121 points (42 goals, 79 assists) in 184 games while averaging 21:30 time on ice per night. His career-best 50 points in a season came with the Calgary Flames in 2016-17.

Editorial credit: Jai Agnish / Shutterstock.com

MLB announced that the Nationals vs. Phillies game on Wednesday was postponed in order for testing and contact tracing to be continued on the Nationals. Wednesday’s game was originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Citizen’s Bank Park.

A COVID-19 outbreak in Washington’s clubhouse was first reported after 12 members of the Nationals organization tested positive for COVID-19, including four players, according to manager Davey Martinez. It could be the largest outbreak any team has dealt with this season. Washington shortstop Trea Turner was removed from the first inning of Tuesday’s game between the Phillies and Nationals after testing positive for COVID-19.

Editorial credit: hannahsnyder / Shutterstock.com