Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 7-2-19

Sports
Vernon Hargreaves In X-Factor For Tampa Bay Buccaneers
JJ Redick Agrees
Earlier this offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sur- prisingly picked up Vernon Hargreaves’ fifth-year op- tion, potentially showing faith in their former first round back in 2016.
Since that selection, how- ever, Hargreaves has not lived up to the hype that he demanded coming out of the University of Florida, includ- ing missing all of last season after getting hurt early in week one.
Hargreaves has gotten a bode of confidence from new head coach Bruce Ari- ans and new defensive coor- dinator Todd Bowles, and thus far has been starting as an outside cornerback through OTAs and mini- camp.
He will get back into a physical style of play, hard- nosed man coverage that he played in college, and he could finally live up to his ex- pectations in 2019.
The Philadelphia 76ers are losing another key piece of their roster to free agency.
Redick has agreed to a two-year, $26.5 million deal with the New Orleans Peli- cans, joining up with one of the league’s most intriguing young teams.
JJ REDICK
To Two-Year Deal
With Pelicans
VERNON HARGREAVES
Reportedly Agrees
Terry Rozier
Rockets Reportedly
Kawhi Leonard
To Three-Year Deal
Intend To Pursue
‘Seriously
With Hornets
Kevon Looney
Considering’
Terry Rozier is report- edly heading to the Charlotte Hornets on a three-year deal.
The Houston Rockets are trying to deal another blow to their biggest rivals.
NBA writer Sean De- veney reported on Thursday that the Rockets are among the teams expected to pursue Golden State Warriors free agent big man Kevon Looney. Deveney also lists the Pelicans as another such team but notes that the Dubs are hoping to quickly lock up Looney, a favorite of head coach Steve Kerr, once free agency officially begins.
Looney, who is still only 23 years old, averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in just 18.5 minutes per game for the Warriors last season. His versatility helped unlock some potent frontcourt line-
Lakers
KEVON LOONEY
ups, and his two-way impact was massive for them down the stretch of the playoffs.
The Rockets are toying with the possibility of trad- ing their current center, and a player like Looney would be an ideal, cost-effective re- placement of sorts if they are able to snare him away from Golden State.
KAWHI LEONARD
The Los Angeles Lakers made some moves this week that will allow them to free up enough salary cap space to sign a third max contract player, and there is apparently a legit- imate chance that player could be Kawhi Leonard.
Appearing on “Get Up” Fri- day morning, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said sources have told him Leonard is seriously enter- taining the thought of signing with the Lakers.
“As of last night and this morning, I have received word that he is seriously considering signing with the Lakers,” Smith said. “The Clippers are very, very nervous right now. ... The Lakers are in play for Kawhi Leonard.”
A separate report from ear- lier in the week claimed the Lakers are confident they will be a factor in the Leonard sweepstakes, so it would ap- pear his decision to grant them a meeting about more than just optics.
Reportedly Re-Open
Signing With
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Rozier has agreed to sign a $58 million deal once free agency opens, and will be part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics.
Chiefs Could
Contract Extension
Talks With Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill has avoided legal trouble stemming from the child abuse investigation involving him and is awaiting potential NFL discipline, but all indications are that the Kansas City Chiefs still ex- pect him to be a huge part of their franchise for years to come.
Hill met with the NFL this week, and Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports that he presented league officials with a “massive amount of evidence” supporting his claim that he had nothing to do with his 3-year-old son suffering a broken arm. He remains suspended indefi- nitely by the Chiefs while the NFL’s investigation contin- ues, but a source told Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports that
TYREEK HILL
the team could re-open con- tract extension talks with Hill in the near future.
Prior to the child abuse investigation, Hill and the Chiefs were reportedly dis- cussing a record-setting new deal. The 25-year-old posted career highs across the board in his third NFL season with 87 catches, 1,479 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
TERRY ROZIER
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2019