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Which NFL Draft position has the highest hit rate?  Nobody wants to be a fan of a team that walks away from the NFL Draft with a bust. The NFL is dictated by teams that consistently draft successfully, both by finding Pro Bowl talent in the first round, then adding valuable starters or contributors throughout the rest of the rounds. Miss on those picks and you squander opportunity, make too many of them and your team tumbles down the standings.“Bust” is a universal, albeit subjective phrase that’s too often applied to skill position players and rarely anybody else. Everyone knows the name “JaMarcus Russell,” but what about defensive tackle Justin Harrell who went No. 16 in the same class? Harrell managed to only start two games in his career and register 27 total tackles in three years before being out of the NFL. Harrell was an objectively worse player than Russell, but he wasn’t as damaging to the Green Bay Packers because of his position. Make no mistake, the man was still a bust.That’s what prompted me to dive into the last 15 years of NFL Draft data from the first round to look at the hits, busts, and everything in between at every position that has been selected. The goal was to find out which positions are safer, routinely netting more long-serving, consistent talent — and those which have had a tendency to fail more often.There’s no perfect metric to evaluate a player’s entire career, but perhaps the best we have is “Approximate Value (AV)” from Pro Football Reference. This uses a complex formula (found here) to quantify a player’s impact over the course of their career. From there, we can also look critically at drafted AV, which is the value added to the team that took the player. That’s how we avoid cases like Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield, who were busts for the teams that drafted them — but had success elsewhere. In this way we can measure the draft fit.The final elements are the Mean AV, which removes the highest 5% and lowest 5% of players to ensure that guys like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen don’t skew the values too much, and finally the Pro Bowl Threshold AV — which averages out what a typical Pro Bowler at the position has as their AV. This is used as a yardstick because by nature AV isn’t designed to be a 1-to-1 comparison between positions.PositionNo. of picksTotal AVAverage AVMean AVPro Bowl ThresholdLinebacker2378834.2633.0435Quarterback49187838.332.7270Offensive Tackle64187829.328.4360Defensive Tackle41125430.627.9450Running Back2058323.227.6155Offensive Guard1849227.326.4350Cornerback5410832025.3435Center827534.424.535Tight End1330023.123.4540Safety2147822.821.7840Edge Rusher82200124.420.8845Wide Receiver65145622.42065There are really two factors you want to look at to determine the risk of a pick: Firstly, the Mean AV, which this table is sorted by. This is the average approximate value a position has given the team taking him over the last 15 years, and the second is comparing that to the Pro Bowl Threshold for the position. This gives a picture of the chance you’ll get a bust, as well as the chance you’ll get a Pro Bowl caliber talent.For example, the average linebacker selected in the first round is almost at the threshold to become a Pro Bowler. This position represents an exceptionally safe pick. We can debate the upside of box linebackers in the modern NFL, but the numbers bear out that if you take a first-round linebacker you’ll likely see success.Conversely, wide receiver is a minefield. Not only does the position rank lowest in terms of finding long-term success, but on average, less than a third of drafted 1st round receivers go on to become Pro Bowl-caliber talents. Quarterback and edge rushers are also risky positions to draft, with fewer than 50% of drafted 1st round talents going on to be Pro Bowl quality players.Perhaps the most fascinating position to look at here is cornerback. The hit rate in terms of finding Pro Bowl talent at corner is relatively high in terms of first-round success, but overall, the position grades lower than many others in career value. This could indicate that corners tend to have a smaller window of effective high-level play, which is an area to explore next — but this data didn’t look into the career length of different positions.There’s one large inference we can make from this data, and it seems to bear out when we look at NFL teams anecdotally: If you are trying to build a team from the ground up its best to invest picks in the trenches first. These have higher relative hit rates to build the foundation of a team. Meanwhile it’s incredibly risky for a bad team in need of a lot of help to roll the dice on a receiver or quarterback without the other pieces in place, because that does open the organization up to more busts — thereby setting them back further.When the dust settles, the NFL Draft remains an imprecise science. This data shows what has happened across the league over the years, but ultimately a talented front office and scouting department can buck league-wide trends to consistently find the effective players and build winning organizations.  #NFL #Draft #position #highest #hit #rate

Which NFL Draft position has the highest hit rate?

Nobody wants to be a fan of a team that walks away from the NFL Draft with a bust. The NFL is dictated by teams that consistently draft successfully, both by finding Pro Bowl talent in the first round, then adding valuable starters or contributors throughout the rest of the rounds. Miss on those picks and you squander opportunity, make too many of them and your team tumbles down the standings.

“Bust” is a universal, albeit subjective phrase that’s too often applied to skill position players and rarely anybody else. Everyone knows the name “JaMarcus Russell,” but what about defensive tackle Justin Harrell who went No. 16 in the same class? Harrell managed to only start two games in his career and register 27 total tackles in three years before being out of the NFL. Harrell was an objectively worse player than Russell, but he wasn’t as damaging to the Green Bay Packers because of his position. Make no mistake, the man was still a bust.

That’s what prompted me to dive into the last 15 years of NFL Draft data from the first round to look at the hits, busts, and everything in between at every position that has been selected. The goal was to find out which positions are safer, routinely netting more long-serving, consistent talent — and those which have had a tendency to fail more often.

There’s no perfect metric to evaluate a player’s entire career, but perhaps the best we have is “Approximate Value (AV)” from Pro Football Reference. This uses a complex formula (found here) to quantify a player’s impact over the course of their career. From there, we can also look critically at drafted AV, which is the value added to the team that took the player. That’s how we avoid cases like Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield, who were busts for the teams that drafted them — but had success elsewhere. In this way we can measure the draft fit.

The final elements are the Mean AV, which removes the highest 5% and lowest 5% of players to ensure that guys like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen don’t skew the values too much, and finally the Pro Bowl Threshold AV — which averages out what a typical Pro Bowler at the position has as their AV. This is used as a yardstick because by nature AV isn’t designed to be a 1-to-1 comparison between positions.

Position

No. of picks

Total AV

Average AV

Mean AV

Pro Bowl Threshold

Linebacker2378834.2633.0435
Quarterback49187838.332.7270
Offensive Tackle64187829.328.4360
Defensive Tackle41125430.627.9450
Running Back2058323.227.6155
Offensive Guard1849227.326.4350
Cornerback5410832025.3435
Center827534.424.535
Tight End1330023.123.4540
Safety2147822.821.7840
Edge Rusher82200124.420.8845
Wide Receiver65145622.42065

There are really two factors you want to look at to determine the risk of a pick: Firstly, the Mean AV, which this table is sorted by. This is the average approximate value a position has given the team taking him over the last 15 years, and the second is comparing that to the Pro Bowl Threshold for the position. This gives a picture of the chance you’ll get a bust, as well as the chance you’ll get a Pro Bowl caliber talent.

For example, the average linebacker selected in the first round is almost at the threshold to become a Pro Bowler. This position represents an exceptionally safe pick. We can debate the upside of box linebackers in the modern NFL, but the numbers bear out that if you take a first-round linebacker you’ll likely see success.

Conversely, wide receiver is a minefield. Not only does the position rank lowest in terms of finding long-term success, but on average, less than a third of drafted 1st round receivers go on to become Pro Bowl-caliber talents. Quarterback and edge rushers are also risky positions to draft, with fewer than 50% of drafted 1st round talents going on to be Pro Bowl quality players.

Perhaps the most fascinating position to look at here is cornerback. The hit rate in terms of finding Pro Bowl talent at corner is relatively high in terms of first-round success, but overall, the position grades lower than many others in career value. This could indicate that corners tend to have a smaller window of effective high-level play, which is an area to explore next — but this data didn’t look into the career length of different positions.

There’s one large inference we can make from this data, and it seems to bear out when we look at NFL teams anecdotally: If you are trying to build a team from the ground up its best to invest picks in the trenches first. These have higher relative hit rates to build the foundation of a team. Meanwhile it’s incredibly risky for a bad team in need of a lot of help to roll the dice on a receiver or quarterback without the other pieces in place, because that does open the organization up to more busts — thereby setting them back further.

When the dust settles, the NFL Draft remains an imprecise science. This data shows what has happened across the league over the years, but ultimately a talented front office and scouting department can buck league-wide trends to consistently find the effective players and build winning organizations.

#NFL #Draft #position #highest #hit #rate

Nobody wants to be a fan of a team that walks away from the NFL Draft with a bust. The NFL is dictated by teams that consistently draft successfully, both by finding Pro Bowl talent in the first round, then adding valuable starters or contributors throughout the rest of the rounds. Miss on those picks and you squander opportunity, make too many of them and your team tumbles down the standings.

“Bust” is a universal, albeit subjective phrase that’s too often applied to skill position players and rarely anybody else. Everyone knows the name “JaMarcus Russell,” but what about defensive tackle Justin Harrell who went No. 16 in the same class? Harrell managed to only start two games in his career and register 27 total tackles in three years before being out of the NFL. Harrell was an objectively worse player than Russell, but he wasn’t as damaging to the Green Bay Packers because of his position. Make no mistake, the man was still a bust.

That’s what prompted me to dive into the last 15 years of NFL Draft data from the first round to look at the hits, busts, and everything in between at every position that has been selected. The goal was to find out which positions are safer, routinely netting more long-serving, consistent talent — and those which have had a tendency to fail more often.

There’s no perfect metric to evaluate a player’s entire career, but perhaps the best we have is “Approximate Value (AV)” from Pro Football Reference. This uses a complex formula (found here) to quantify a player’s impact over the course of their career. From there, we can also look critically at drafted AV, which is the value added to the team that took the player. That’s how we avoid cases like Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield, who were busts for the teams that drafted them — but had success elsewhere. In this way we can measure the draft fit.

The final elements are the Mean AV, which removes the highest 5% and lowest 5% of players to ensure that guys like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen don’t skew the values too much, and finally the Pro Bowl Threshold AV — which averages out what a typical Pro Bowler at the position has as their AV. This is used as a yardstick because by nature AV isn’t designed to be a 1-to-1 comparison between positions.

Position

No. of picks

Total AV

Average AV

Mean AV

Pro Bowl Threshold

Linebacker 23 788 34.26 33.04 35
Quarterback 49 1878 38.3 32.72 70
Offensive Tackle 64 1878 29.3 28.43 60
Defensive Tackle 41 1254 30.6 27.94 50
Running Back 20 583 23.2 27.61 55
Offensive Guard 18 492 27.3 26.43 50
Cornerback 54 1083 20 25.34 35
Center 8 275 34.4 24.5 35
Tight End 13 300 23.1 23.45 40
Safety 21 478 22.8 21.78 40
Edge Rusher 82 2001 24.4 20.88 45
Wide Receiver 65 1456 22.4 20 65

There are really two factors you want to look at to determine the risk of a pick: Firstly, the Mean AV, which this table is sorted by. This is the average approximate value a position has given the team taking him over the last 15 years, and the second is comparing that to the Pro Bowl Threshold for the position. This gives a picture of the chance you’ll get a bust, as well as the chance you’ll get a Pro Bowl caliber talent.

For example, the average linebacker selected in the first round is almost at the threshold to become a Pro Bowler. This position represents an exceptionally safe pick. We can debate the upside of box linebackers in the modern NFL, but the numbers bear out that if you take a first-round linebacker you’ll likely see success.

Conversely, wide receiver is a minefield. Not only does the position rank lowest in terms of finding long-term success, but on average, less than a third of drafted 1st round receivers go on to become Pro Bowl-caliber talents. Quarterback and edge rushers are also risky positions to draft, with fewer than 50% of drafted 1st round talents going on to be Pro Bowl quality players.

Perhaps the most fascinating position to look at here is cornerback. The hit rate in terms of finding Pro Bowl talent at corner is relatively high in terms of first-round success, but overall, the position grades lower than many others in career value. This could indicate that corners tend to have a smaller window of effective high-level play, which is an area to explore next — but this data didn’t look into the career length of different positions.

There’s one large inference we can make from this data, and it seems to bear out when we look at NFL teams anecdotally: If you are trying to build a team from the ground up its best to invest picks in the trenches first. These have higher relative hit rates to build the foundation of a team. Meanwhile it’s incredibly risky for a bad team in need of a lot of help to roll the dice on a receiver or quarterback without the other pieces in place, because that does open the organization up to more busts — thereby setting them back further.

When the dust settles, the NFL Draft remains an imprecise science. This data shows what has happened across the league over the years, but ultimately a talented front office and scouting department can buck league-wide trends to consistently find the effective players and build winning organizations.

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#NFL #Draft #position #highest #hit #rate

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Important to ensure all players get equal opportunities: India captain Harmanpreet before South Africa series <div id="content-body-70869098" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Emphasising the need to give all players adequate opportunities ahead of the T20 World Cup, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Thursday said her side is confident and keen to make the most of the five-match T20I series against South Africa, starting in Durban on Friday.</p><p>Harmanpreet also said that her side is brimming with confidence following its ODI World Cup triumph. India recently registered T20I series wins over Australia and Sri Lanka.</p><p>The skipper stressed that the matches against South Africa would offer a valuable opportunity to fine-tune combinations and build momentum ahead of the global event to be held in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5.</p><p>“We want to take this opportunity very seriously and play our best cricket here. It’s a great chance for us to come together and prepare well before the World Cup,” Harmanpreet said at the pre-series press conference.</p><p>India features in Group A alongside Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and The Netherlands.</p><p>Harmanpreet underlined that giving opportunities to all players in the five-match series would be a priority.</p><p><b>READ PREVIEW | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/womens-cricket/india-vs-south-africa-womens-t20i-a-series-that-arrives-with-context-attached/article70832862.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IND-W vs SA-W T20Is: A series that arrives with context attached</a></b></p><p>“These matches are important to ensure all players get equal opportunities so that we are fully ready as a unit going into the World Cup. At the same time, we are here to win,” she noted.</p><p>“After the ODI World Cup, the team is quite confident. Wherever we are going, we are going with full confidence. The team is in good shape and this series is very important for us before the World Cup.” On the opposition, Harmanpreet described South Africa as a “balanced side” with strong all-round options, noting its consistency in reaching the latter stages of ICC events.</p><p>“They have very good players and quality all-rounders, which is very important in T20 cricket. They have been playing competitive cricket over the last few years and reaching finals regularly,” she said.</p><p>“Playing against a strong team like South Africa always gives you confidence if you do well. That’s why we wanted to face them before the World Cup.”</p><p>Speaking about conditions in Durban, Harmanpreet said the team had a productive training session and found the weather comparable to Indian conditions, though pitches would pose a different challenge.</p><p>“The weather is quite similar to India. The only difference is the pitch, but we are getting used to it and hopefully will give our best,” she said.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/m7n6e6/article70869258.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/GettyImages-2262781549.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/m7n6e6/article70869258.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/GettyImages-2262781549.jpg" alt="India recently registered T20I series wins over Australia and Sri Lanka." title="India recently registered T20I series wins over Australia and Sri Lanka." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> India recently registered T20I series wins over Australia and Sri Lanka. | Photo Credit: Getty Images </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> India recently registered T20I series wins over Australia and Sri Lanka. | Photo Credit: Getty Images </p></div><p>Harmanpreet also expressed excitement about young all-rounder Anushka Sharma, who has impressed in domestic cricket and the Women’s Premier League. The 22-year-old is an off-spin bowling all-rounder.</p><p>“She is a great talent and has done well whenever she has got the opportunity. Bringing her here is about giving her exposure and experience before the World Cup,” she said.</p><p>Reflecting on recent mixed results across formats, Harmanpreet said the team remains focused on the bigger picture.</p><p>“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but it’s important to focus on what lies ahead. Our main target is the T20 World Cup, and we want to play good cricket leading into it to regain full confidence,” she said.</p><p>On team combinations, she indicated that selections have been guided by South African conditions, particularly the need for multiple pace options, while maintaining faith in the spin attack led by experienced players like Deepti Sharma.</p><p>She also confirmed that the team management has backed continuity in the wicket-keeping department, while keeping options open based on fitness and domestic performances.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 16, 2026</p></div> #Important #ensure #players #equal #opportunities #India #captain #Harmanpreet #South #Africa #series

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Deadspin | Braves blast 3 home runs in victory over Marlins <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28737414.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28737414.jpg" alt="MLB: Miami Marlins at Atlanta Braves" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith (8) hits a single against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Bryce Elder threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Atlanta Braves backed him up with three home runs to defeat the visiting Miami Marlins 6-3 on Wednesday in the rubber game of a three-game series.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Elder (2-1) allowed four hits and two walks and struck out seven. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 0.77 and ended a personal two-game losing streak against Miami.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The Braves got solo home runs from Ozzie Albies, his fourth, and Austin Riley, his first, and a two-run shot from Matt Olson, his fifth. Atlanta banged out 11 hits.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Raisel Iglesias struck out three while working a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The losing pitcher was Chris Paddack (0-3), who threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>The Braves scored twice in the second inning. Albies parked a cutter into the seats in right field. Atlanta added another run when Mauricio Dubon lined an RBI single to drive in Mike Yastrzemski.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>Miami loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but could not score. Atlanta shortstop Dubon fielded a grounder, touched second and fired to first base to retire Xavier Edwards, who was originally called safe. The Braves challenged the play, and it was overturned, ending the inning and keeping the Marlins off the board.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>The Braves have turned a double play on the infield in 16 consecutive games dating to March 30. It is the longest active streak in baseball and the longest for Atlanta since a 17-game streak in 1985.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The Braves added a solo homer from Riley to open the sixth, a 402-foot shot into the right field seats. It was the first run allowed this season by reliever John King.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Atlanta put the game away with three runs in the seventh. Drake Baldwin singled in a run and Olson followed with a 423-foot homer off Andrew Nardi.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Miami got its runs in the eighth inning on a two-run homer by Liam Hicks, his fourth, off reliever Osvaldo Bido. A third run crossed on a Heriberto Hernandez’s fielder’s-choice grounder.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Braves #blast #home #runs #victory #Marlins

Holder Paris Saint-Germain booked its place in the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal after a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the semifinal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday secured a 6-5 aggregate victory.

Leading 5-4 from last week’s thrilling first leg in Paris, Luis Enrique’s side extended its aggregate advantage early through Ousmane Dembele.

Harry Kane scored in added time for Bayern Munich, but the German side could not find the goal required to force extra time.

PSG will head into the final against Premier League leader Arsenal in Budapest on May 30 after another composed European display. The Allianz Arena also hosted PSG’s maiden Champions League triumph over Inter Milan last year.

The French champion is aiming to become only the second side since 1990 to retain the Champions League title, after Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich was left frustrated by a number of first-half refereeing decisions but struggled to create clear-cut chances for large parts of the contest.

The six-time European champion has now failed to reach the final since beating PSG in the 2020 showpiece in Lisbon.

ALSO READ: Find out what happened during the second-leg semifinal between Bayern and PSG here

PSG doubled its aggregate cushion in just the third minute when Dembele fired Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cut-back into the roof of the net.

Manuel Neuer produced excellent saves in the second half to deny Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue and keep Bayern alive in the tie.

Kane eventually found the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time, drilling home his 14th goal of the competition this season, but it proved too little, too late for the home side.

Published on May 07, 2026

#PSG #knock #Bayern #set #Champions #League #final #Arsenal">PSG knock out Bayern to set up Champions League final with Arsenal  Holder Paris Saint-Germain booked its place in the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal after a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the semifinal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday secured a 6-5 aggregate victory.Leading 5-4 from last week’s thrilling first leg in Paris, Luis Enrique’s side extended its aggregate advantage early through Ousmane Dembele.Harry Kane scored in added time for Bayern Munich, but the German side could not find the goal required to force extra time.PSG will head into the final against Premier League leader Arsenal in Budapest on May 30 after another composed European display. The Allianz Arena also hosted PSG’s maiden Champions League triumph over Inter Milan last year.The French champion is aiming to become only the second side since 1990 to retain the Champions League title, after Real Madrid.Bayern Munich was left frustrated by a number of first-half refereeing decisions but struggled to create clear-cut chances for large parts of the contest.The six-time European champion has now failed to reach the final since beating PSG in the 2020 showpiece in Lisbon.ALSO READ: Find out what happened during the second-leg semifinal between Bayern and PSG herePSG doubled its aggregate cushion in just the third minute when Dembele fired Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cut-back into the roof of the net.Manuel Neuer produced excellent saves in the second half to deny Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue and keep Bayern alive in the tie.Kane eventually found the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time, drilling home his 14th goal of the competition this season, but it proved too little, too late for the home side.Published on May 07, 2026  #PSG #knock #Bayern #set #Champions #League #final #Arsenal

Find out what happened during the second-leg semifinal between Bayern and PSG here

PSG doubled its aggregate cushion in just the third minute when Dembele fired Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cut-back into the roof of the net.

Manuel Neuer produced excellent saves in the second half to deny Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue and keep Bayern alive in the tie.

Kane eventually found the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time, drilling home his 14th goal of the competition this season, but it proved too little, too late for the home side.

Published on May 07, 2026

#PSG #knock #Bayern #set #Champions #League #final #Arsenal">PSG knock out Bayern to set up Champions League final with Arsenal

Holder Paris Saint-Germain booked its place in the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal after a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the semifinal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday secured a 6-5 aggregate victory.

Leading 5-4 from last week’s thrilling first leg in Paris, Luis Enrique’s side extended its aggregate advantage early through Ousmane Dembele.

Harry Kane scored in added time for Bayern Munich, but the German side could not find the goal required to force extra time.

PSG will head into the final against Premier League leader Arsenal in Budapest on May 30 after another composed European display. The Allianz Arena also hosted PSG’s maiden Champions League triumph over Inter Milan last year.

The French champion is aiming to become only the second side since 1990 to retain the Champions League title, after Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich was left frustrated by a number of first-half refereeing decisions but struggled to create clear-cut chances for large parts of the contest.

The six-time European champion has now failed to reach the final since beating PSG in the 2020 showpiece in Lisbon.

ALSO READ: Find out what happened during the second-leg semifinal between Bayern and PSG here

PSG doubled its aggregate cushion in just the third minute when Dembele fired Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cut-back into the roof of the net.

Manuel Neuer produced excellent saves in the second half to deny Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue and keep Bayern alive in the tie.

Kane eventually found the net in the fourth minute of stoppage time, drilling home his 14th goal of the competition this season, but it proved too little, too late for the home side.

Published on May 07, 2026

#PSG #knock #Bayern #set #Champions #League #final #Arsenal
Should the Celtics Blow It Up? Analyzing Every Major Option | Deadspin.com  Feb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images   Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to “fix” the Celtics.You’ll probably not be surprised to hear I have a few myself. OK, more than just a few.Raising a 7-foot bar on a bunch of wishful thinking among Celtics fans and senseless knee-jerk reactions among the unfaithful, here’s where I stand on some of the more popular suggestions:Fire Brad Stevens.Let’s get the most ridiculous one out of the way.Stevens was NBA Executive of the Year this year for a reason. He did the seemingly impossible (or so Golden State tells us) … He got rid of a bunch of overpaid veterans, remained competitive even without Jayson Tatum for the most part, and restructured a roster that should be able to compete for Eastern titles for most of the next decade.Fire him? I say: Reward him.Fire Joe Mazzulla.He did such a great job during the regular season, he set himself up for a hard fall in the playoffs. And even at that, you have to wonder what might have happened had Tatum not contracted a case of Embiid-itis.Did he mismanage the Philadelphia series? Sure. The Pistons would have fired their coach if he’d done that. Maybe even the Knicks and Cavaliers. But they haven’t won a title, made the Finals twice and been a perennial contender for the better part of a decade.Based on the improbable regular season alone, Mazz deserves the benefit of the doubt. But don’t let it happen again.Trade Derrick White.On the surface, this one makes sense. As the 76ers series demonstrated, the Celtics could use a Robert Williams III type more than a White type. But that’s what Stevens, in a rare blunder, thought when he exchanged Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic.Look at the Eastern Conference. When Joel Embiid isn’t playing – which is most of the time – the top players are almost all guards: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton … You need somebody to slow them down.Yeah, the Celtics could move Jaylen Brown fulltime to the backcourt, but that likely would force Tatum to actually have to guard somebody. Giving Brown the tough frontcourt assignments allows Tatum to freelance, grab cheap rebounds and stay fresh for his late barrage of missed 3-pointers. Wait, that was supposed to be a positive.Trading White maybe gets you Wendell Carter Jr., but does that make you better? I say: Just bigger.Trade Jaylen Brown. May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images    Let’s be honest: Breaking up the Brown/Tatum tandem would take a lot of guts. But after watching the Celtics play without Tatum for two-thirds of last season, it’s at least worth considering.So which one gets shopped? That depends what type of team you want.We’ve seen what the Celtics look like without Tatum – energetic, defensive-minded and all-inclusive on offense. And that’s without whatever high-level player or players you would get by trading Tatum.You turn Brown into, say, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr., and you improve defensively on the interior and offensively on the perimeter. But you lose what made the Celtics so fun to watch this season – the team’s best defender and emotional leader.I’d keep Brown.Trade Jayson Tatum.It might take just one call to turn the Celtics into the Eastern frontrunner again …Stevens: If we give you Tatum for Giannis, how many first-round picks would you want?Bucks GM Jon Horst: Let me get back to you on that.If the response is anything you can count on one hand, the Celtics’ off-season is complete.Tatum has done a lot of good things for this team, but he’s not in Giannis’ league. Few players are.The Celtics would get their interior force, a runner who would allow the team to pick up the pace and another elite shot-blocker who would make Boston the most well-rounded defensive force in the league, with White shadowing star little guys, Brown locked onto mid-sized scorers and Giannis pitching a tent in the middle.Stop dreaming? OK, then I’d settle for Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter.Stand pat.Stevens earned a nice, long vacation. Maybe he should take one.No phones. See you in October with the same pieces that made the Celtics the favorite in the Eastern playoffs. Even with Tatum at less than 100 percent.After all, it ain’t broke.Unless, of course: Brad, this is Horstie getting back to you …   #Celtics #Blow #Analyzing #Major #Option #Deadspin.comFeb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to “fix” the Celtics.

You’ll probably not be surprised to hear I have a few myself. OK, more than just a few.

Raising a 7-foot bar on a bunch of wishful thinking among Celtics fans and senseless knee-jerk reactions among the unfaithful, here’s where I stand on some of the more popular suggestions:

Fire Brad Stevens.

Let’s get the most ridiculous one out of the way.

Stevens was NBA Executive of the Year this year for a reason. He did the seemingly impossible (or so Golden State tells us) … He got rid of a bunch of overpaid veterans, remained competitive even without Jayson Tatum for the most part, and restructured a roster that should be able to compete for Eastern titles for most of the next decade.

Fire him? I say: Reward him.

Fire Joe Mazzulla.

He did such a great job during the regular season, he set himself up for a hard fall in the playoffs. And even at that, you have to wonder what might have happened had Tatum not contracted a case of Embiid-itis.

Did he mismanage the Philadelphia series? Sure. The Pistons would have fired their coach if he’d done that. Maybe even the Knicks and Cavaliers. But they haven’t won a title, made the Finals twice and been a perennial contender for the better part of a decade.

Based on the improbable regular season alone, Mazz deserves the benefit of the doubt. But don’t let it happen again.

Trade Derrick White.

On the surface, this one makes sense. As the 76ers series demonstrated, the Celtics could use a Robert Williams III type more than a White type. But that’s what Stevens, in a rare blunder, thought when he exchanged Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic.

Look at the Eastern Conference. When Joel Embiid isn’t playing – which is most of the time – the top players are almost all guards: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton … You need somebody to slow them down.

Yeah, the Celtics could move Jaylen Brown fulltime to the backcourt, but that likely would force Tatum to actually have to guard somebody. Giving Brown the tough frontcourt assignments allows Tatum to freelance, grab cheap rebounds and stay fresh for his late barrage of missed 3-pointers. Wait, that was supposed to be a positive.

Trading White maybe gets you Wendell Carter Jr., but does that make you better? I say: Just bigger.

Trade Jaylen Brown.


May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn ImagesMay 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Let’s be honest: Breaking up the Brown/Tatum tandem would take a lot of guts. But after watching the Celtics play without Tatum for two-thirds of last season, it’s at least worth considering.

So which one gets shopped? That depends what type of team you want.

We’ve seen what the Celtics look like without Tatum – energetic, defensive-minded and all-inclusive on offense. And that’s without whatever high-level player or players you would get by trading Tatum.

You turn Brown into, say, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr., and you improve defensively on the interior and offensively on the perimeter. But you lose what made the Celtics so fun to watch this season – the team’s best defender and emotional leader.

I’d keep Brown.

Trade Jayson Tatum.

It might take just one call to turn the Celtics into the Eastern frontrunner again …

Stevens: If we give you Tatum for Giannis, how many first-round picks would you want?

Bucks GM Jon Horst: Let me get back to you on that.

If the response is anything you can count on one hand, the Celtics’ off-season is complete.

Tatum has done a lot of good things for this team, but he’s not in Giannis’ league. Few players are.

The Celtics would get their interior force, a runner who would allow the team to pick up the pace and another elite shot-blocker who would make Boston the most well-rounded defensive force in the league, with White shadowing star little guys, Brown locked onto mid-sized scorers and Giannis pitching a tent in the middle.

Stop dreaming? OK, then I’d settle for Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter.

Stand pat.

Stevens earned a nice, long vacation. Maybe he should take one.

No phones. See you in October with the same pieces that made the Celtics the favorite in the Eastern playoffs. Even with Tatum at less than 100 percent.

After all, it ain’t broke.

Unless, of course: Brad, this is Horstie getting back to you …

#Celtics #Blow #Analyzing #Major #Option #Deadspin.com">Should the Celtics Blow It Up? Analyzing Every Major Option | Deadspin.com  Feb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images   Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to “fix” the Celtics.You’ll probably not be surprised to hear I have a few myself. OK, more than just a few.Raising a 7-foot bar on a bunch of wishful thinking among Celtics fans and senseless knee-jerk reactions among the unfaithful, here’s where I stand on some of the more popular suggestions:Fire Brad Stevens.Let’s get the most ridiculous one out of the way.Stevens was NBA Executive of the Year this year for a reason. He did the seemingly impossible (or so Golden State tells us) … He got rid of a bunch of overpaid veterans, remained competitive even without Jayson Tatum for the most part, and restructured a roster that should be able to compete for Eastern titles for most of the next decade.Fire him? I say: Reward him.Fire Joe Mazzulla.He did such a great job during the regular season, he set himself up for a hard fall in the playoffs. And even at that, you have to wonder what might have happened had Tatum not contracted a case of Embiid-itis.Did he mismanage the Philadelphia series? Sure. The Pistons would have fired their coach if he’d done that. Maybe even the Knicks and Cavaliers. But they haven’t won a title, made the Finals twice and been a perennial contender for the better part of a decade.Based on the improbable regular season alone, Mazz deserves the benefit of the doubt. But don’t let it happen again.Trade Derrick White.On the surface, this one makes sense. As the 76ers series demonstrated, the Celtics could use a Robert Williams III type more than a White type. But that’s what Stevens, in a rare blunder, thought when he exchanged Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic.Look at the Eastern Conference. When Joel Embiid isn’t playing – which is most of the time – the top players are almost all guards: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton … You need somebody to slow them down.Yeah, the Celtics could move Jaylen Brown fulltime to the backcourt, but that likely would force Tatum to actually have to guard somebody. Giving Brown the tough frontcourt assignments allows Tatum to freelance, grab cheap rebounds and stay fresh for his late barrage of missed 3-pointers. Wait, that was supposed to be a positive.Trading White maybe gets you Wendell Carter Jr., but does that make you better? I say: Just bigger.Trade Jaylen Brown. May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images    Let’s be honest: Breaking up the Brown/Tatum tandem would take a lot of guts. But after watching the Celtics play without Tatum for two-thirds of last season, it’s at least worth considering.So which one gets shopped? That depends what type of team you want.We’ve seen what the Celtics look like without Tatum – energetic, defensive-minded and all-inclusive on offense. And that’s without whatever high-level player or players you would get by trading Tatum.You turn Brown into, say, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr., and you improve defensively on the interior and offensively on the perimeter. But you lose what made the Celtics so fun to watch this season – the team’s best defender and emotional leader.I’d keep Brown.Trade Jayson Tatum.It might take just one call to turn the Celtics into the Eastern frontrunner again …Stevens: If we give you Tatum for Giannis, how many first-round picks would you want?Bucks GM Jon Horst: Let me get back to you on that.If the response is anything you can count on one hand, the Celtics’ off-season is complete.Tatum has done a lot of good things for this team, but he’s not in Giannis’ league. Few players are.The Celtics would get their interior force, a runner who would allow the team to pick up the pace and another elite shot-blocker who would make Boston the most well-rounded defensive force in the league, with White shadowing star little guys, Brown locked onto mid-sized scorers and Giannis pitching a tent in the middle.Stop dreaming? OK, then I’d settle for Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter.Stand pat.Stevens earned a nice, long vacation. Maybe he should take one.No phones. See you in October with the same pieces that made the Celtics the favorite in the Eastern playoffs. Even with Tatum at less than 100 percent.After all, it ain’t broke.Unless, of course: Brad, this is Horstie getting back to you …   #Celtics #Blow #Analyzing #Major #Option #Deadspin.com

NBA Executive of the Year this year for a reason. He did the seemingly impossible (or so Golden State tells us) … He got rid of a bunch of overpaid veterans, remained competitive even without Jayson Tatum for the most part, and restructured a roster that should be able to compete for Eastern titles for most of the next decade.

Fire him? I say: Reward him.

Fire Joe Mazzulla.

He did such a great job during the regular season, he set himself up for a hard fall in the playoffs. And even at that, you have to wonder what might have happened had Tatum not contracted a case of Embiid-itis.

Did he mismanage the Philadelphia series? Sure. The Pistons would have fired their coach if he’d done that. Maybe even the Knicks and Cavaliers. But they haven’t won a title, made the Finals twice and been a perennial contender for the better part of a decade.

Based on the improbable regular season alone, Mazz deserves the benefit of the doubt. But don’t let it happen again.

Trade Derrick White.

On the surface, this one makes sense. As the 76ers series demonstrated, the Celtics could use a Robert Williams III type more than a White type. But that’s what Stevens, in a rare blunder, thought when he exchanged Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic.

Look at the Eastern Conference. When Joel Embiid isn’t playing – which is most of the time – the top players are almost all guards: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton … You need somebody to slow them down.

Yeah, the Celtics could move Jaylen Brown fulltime to the backcourt, but that likely would force Tatum to actually have to guard somebody. Giving Brown the tough frontcourt assignments allows Tatum to freelance, grab cheap rebounds and stay fresh for his late barrage of missed 3-pointers. Wait, that was supposed to be a positive.

Trading White maybe gets you Wendell Carter Jr., but does that make you better? I say: Just bigger.

Trade Jaylen Brown.


May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn ImagesMay 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Let’s be honest: Breaking up the Brown/Tatum tandem would take a lot of guts. But after watching the Celtics play without Tatum for two-thirds of last season, it’s at least worth considering.

So which one gets shopped? That depends what type of team you want.

We’ve seen what the Celtics look like without Tatum – energetic, defensive-minded and all-inclusive on offense. And that’s without whatever high-level player or players you would get by trading Tatum.

You turn Brown into, say, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr., and you improve defensively on the interior and offensively on the perimeter. But you lose what made the Celtics so fun to watch this season – the team’s best defender and emotional leader.

I’d keep Brown.

Trade Jayson Tatum.

It might take just one call to turn the Celtics into the Eastern frontrunner again …

Stevens: If we give you Tatum for Giannis, how many first-round picks would you want?

Bucks GM Jon Horst: Let me get back to you on that.

If the response is anything you can count on one hand, the Celtics’ off-season is complete.

Tatum has done a lot of good things for this team, but he’s not in Giannis’ league. Few players are.

The Celtics would get their interior force, a runner who would allow the team to pick up the pace and another elite shot-blocker who would make Boston the most well-rounded defensive force in the league, with White shadowing star little guys, Brown locked onto mid-sized scorers and Giannis pitching a tent in the middle.

Stop dreaming? OK, then I’d settle for Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter.

Stand pat.

Stevens earned a nice, long vacation. Maybe he should take one.

No phones. See you in October with the same pieces that made the Celtics the favorite in the Eastern playoffs. Even with Tatum at less than 100 percent.

After all, it ain’t broke.

Unless, of course: Brad, this is Horstie getting back to you …

#Celtics #Blow #Analyzing #Major #Option #Deadspin.com">Should the Celtics Blow It Up? Analyzing Every Major Option | Deadspin.com
Should the Celtics Blow It Up? Analyzing Every Major Option | Deadspin.com  Feb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images   Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to “fix” the Celtics.You’ll probably not be surprised to hear I have a few myself. OK, more than just a few.Raising a 7-foot bar on a bunch of wishful thinking among Celtics fans and senseless knee-jerk reactions among the unfaithful, here’s where I stand on some of the more popular suggestions:Fire Brad Stevens.Let’s get the most ridiculous one out of the way.Stevens was NBA Executive of the Year this year for a reason. He did the seemingly impossible (or so Golden State tells us) … He got rid of a bunch of overpaid veterans, remained competitive even without Jayson Tatum for the most part, and restructured a roster that should be able to compete for Eastern titles for most of the next decade.Fire him? I say: Reward him.Fire Joe Mazzulla.He did such a great job during the regular season, he set himself up for a hard fall in the playoffs. And even at that, you have to wonder what might have happened had Tatum not contracted a case of Embiid-itis.Did he mismanage the Philadelphia series? Sure. The Pistons would have fired their coach if he’d done that. Maybe even the Knicks and Cavaliers. But they haven’t won a title, made the Finals twice and been a perennial contender for the better part of a decade.Based on the improbable regular season alone, Mazz deserves the benefit of the doubt. But don’t let it happen again.Trade Derrick White.On the surface, this one makes sense. As the 76ers series demonstrated, the Celtics could use a Robert Williams III type more than a White type. But that’s what Stevens, in a rare blunder, thought when he exchanged Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic.Look at the Eastern Conference. When Joel Embiid isn’t playing – which is most of the time – the top players are almost all guards: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton … You need somebody to slow them down.Yeah, the Celtics could move Jaylen Brown fulltime to the backcourt, but that likely would force Tatum to actually have to guard somebody. Giving Brown the tough frontcourt assignments allows Tatum to freelance, grab cheap rebounds and stay fresh for his late barrage of missed 3-pointers. Wait, that was supposed to be a positive.Trading White maybe gets you Wendell Carter Jr., but does that make you better? I say: Just bigger.Trade Jaylen Brown. May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images    Let’s be honest: Breaking up the Brown/Tatum tandem would take a lot of guts. But after watching the Celtics play without Tatum for two-thirds of last season, it’s at least worth considering.So which one gets shopped? That depends what type of team you want.We’ve seen what the Celtics look like without Tatum – energetic, defensive-minded and all-inclusive on offense. And that’s without whatever high-level player or players you would get by trading Tatum.You turn Brown into, say, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr., and you improve defensively on the interior and offensively on the perimeter. But you lose what made the Celtics so fun to watch this season – the team’s best defender and emotional leader.I’d keep Brown.Trade Jayson Tatum.It might take just one call to turn the Celtics into the Eastern frontrunner again …Stevens: If we give you Tatum for Giannis, how many first-round picks would you want?Bucks GM Jon Horst: Let me get back to you on that.If the response is anything you can count on one hand, the Celtics’ off-season is complete.Tatum has done a lot of good things for this team, but he’s not in Giannis’ league. Few players are.The Celtics would get their interior force, a runner who would allow the team to pick up the pace and another elite shot-blocker who would make Boston the most well-rounded defensive force in the league, with White shadowing star little guys, Brown locked onto mid-sized scorers and Giannis pitching a tent in the middle.Stop dreaming? OK, then I’d settle for Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter.Stand pat.Stevens earned a nice, long vacation. Maybe he should take one.No phones. See you in October with the same pieces that made the Celtics the favorite in the Eastern playoffs. Even with Tatum at less than 100 percent.After all, it ain’t broke.Unless, of course: Brad, this is Horstie getting back to you …   #Celtics #Blow #Analyzing #Major #Option #Deadspin.comFeb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to “fix” the Celtics.

You’ll probably not be surprised to hear I have a few myself. OK, more than just a few.

Raising a 7-foot bar on a bunch of wishful thinking among Celtics fans and senseless knee-jerk reactions among the unfaithful, here’s where I stand on some of the more popular suggestions:

Fire Brad Stevens.

Let’s get the most ridiculous one out of the way.

Stevens was NBA Executive of the Year this year for a reason. He did the seemingly impossible (or so Golden State tells us) … He got rid of a bunch of overpaid veterans, remained competitive even without Jayson Tatum for the most part, and restructured a roster that should be able to compete for Eastern titles for most of the next decade.

Fire him? I say: Reward him.

Fire Joe Mazzulla.

He did such a great job during the regular season, he set himself up for a hard fall in the playoffs. And even at that, you have to wonder what might have happened had Tatum not contracted a case of Embiid-itis.

Did he mismanage the Philadelphia series? Sure. The Pistons would have fired their coach if he’d done that. Maybe even the Knicks and Cavaliers. But they haven’t won a title, made the Finals twice and been a perennial contender for the better part of a decade.

Based on the improbable regular season alone, Mazz deserves the benefit of the doubt. But don’t let it happen again.

Trade Derrick White.

On the surface, this one makes sense. As the 76ers series demonstrated, the Celtics could use a Robert Williams III type more than a White type. But that’s what Stevens, in a rare blunder, thought when he exchanged Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic.

Look at the Eastern Conference. When Joel Embiid isn’t playing – which is most of the time – the top players are almost all guards: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton … You need somebody to slow them down.

Yeah, the Celtics could move Jaylen Brown fulltime to the backcourt, but that likely would force Tatum to actually have to guard somebody. Giving Brown the tough frontcourt assignments allows Tatum to freelance, grab cheap rebounds and stay fresh for his late barrage of missed 3-pointers. Wait, that was supposed to be a positive.

Trading White maybe gets you Wendell Carter Jr., but does that make you better? I say: Just bigger.

Trade Jaylen Brown.


May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn ImagesMay 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7)after Philadephia’s win in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Let’s be honest: Breaking up the Brown/Tatum tandem would take a lot of guts. But after watching the Celtics play without Tatum for two-thirds of last season, it’s at least worth considering.

So which one gets shopped? That depends what type of team you want.

We’ve seen what the Celtics look like without Tatum – energetic, defensive-minded and all-inclusive on offense. And that’s without whatever high-level player or players you would get by trading Tatum.

You turn Brown into, say, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr., and you improve defensively on the interior and offensively on the perimeter. But you lose what made the Celtics so fun to watch this season – the team’s best defender and emotional leader.

I’d keep Brown.

Trade Jayson Tatum.

It might take just one call to turn the Celtics into the Eastern frontrunner again …

Stevens: If we give you Tatum for Giannis, how many first-round picks would you want?

Bucks GM Jon Horst: Let me get back to you on that.

If the response is anything you can count on one hand, the Celtics’ off-season is complete.

Tatum has done a lot of good things for this team, but he’s not in Giannis’ league. Few players are.

The Celtics would get their interior force, a runner who would allow the team to pick up the pace and another elite shot-blocker who would make Boston the most well-rounded defensive force in the league, with White shadowing star little guys, Brown locked onto mid-sized scorers and Giannis pitching a tent in the middle.

Stop dreaming? OK, then I’d settle for Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter.

Stand pat.

Stevens earned a nice, long vacation. Maybe he should take one.

No phones. See you in October with the same pieces that made the Celtics the favorite in the Eastern playoffs. Even with Tatum at less than 100 percent.

After all, it ain’t broke.

Unless, of course: Brad, this is Horstie getting back to you …

#Celtics #Blow #Analyzing #Major #Option #Deadspin.com

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