James Harden trade grades; Rangers two wins away from title; Lions crush hapless Raiders as NFL deadline looms

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Happy Tuesday and glad Halloween, everybody! While you had been more than likely asleep, James Harden used to be (in any case) traded to the Clippers. Here are complete main points of the blockbuster deal with the 76ers (and a 3rd staff), plus trade grades and the way an “ecstatic” Harden may just attend this night’s sport towards the Magic.

Let’s get proper to it.

⚾ Good morning to everybody however particularly …

THE TEXAS RANGERS

Dec. 1, 2021: Rangers signal Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jon Gray of their first steps against development a contender.

Oct. 30, 2023: Seager, Semien and Gray all ship as the Rangers take some other step against their first World Series name.

Texas were given large contributions — each anticipated and surprising — from that trio in a 3-1 Game 3 win over the Diamondbacks that guidelines the sequence in Texas’ desire, 2-1.

• Semien had a two-out RBI unmarried to open the scoring. It used to be his first RBI since Game 2 of the ALDS.
• One pitch later, Seager beaten a two-run house run. It used to be his 18th occupation postseason house run; best Derek Jeter (20) has extra amongst shortstops.
• Then got here the unsung hero: After Max Scherzer left with a again factor, Gray got here to the rescue with 3 scoreless innings on no understand.
• Another injury-related drawback for Texas used to be Adolis García leaving with left facet tightness.

Both groups are going with a bullpen sport this night, making Gray’s surprising look much more an important. If he had struggled, who is aware of what Texas’ personnel would appear to be this night? Instead, the Rangers are two video games away from a name, and they have got the ones signings from 23 months in the past to thank, writes Matt Snyder.

👍 Honorable mentions

😧 And no longer this type of just right morning for …

THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

If someone is aware of what the Raiders are doing — temporary, long-term, any time period — please let me know. Las Vegas used to be listless, and admittedly, crushed in a 26-14 loss to the Lions to fall to 3-5 at the season. There are numerous unhealthy groups within the NFL. None makes as little sense as the Raiders.

• Jimmy Garoppolo — a quarterback from whom the 49ers attempted to transport on two times just for the Raiders to welcome with open fingers — used to be terrible: 10 of 21 passing for 126 yards, an interception and 6 sacks. He leads the league in interceptions with 9 in six video games.
• Davante Adams did not have a catch till the 0.33 quarter. Overall, he stuck simply one in all his seven objectives, and Garoppolo overlooked him a couple of instances huge open downfield.
• Adams has 142 yards receiving over his closing 4 video games, his fewest in that lengthy a stretch since 2015. No surprise he is so annoyed.
• The rating makes the sport appear a lot nearer than it used to be in truth. The Lions outgained the Raiders 486-157, the sixth-worst yards margin in Raiders franchise historical past. Jahmyr Gibbs outgained the Raiders 189-157 by way of himself. Detroit had 29 first downs to only 12 for Las Vegas, which used to be 1 of 12 mixed on third- and fourth-down.
• The Raiders stay the one staff with out a 20-point offensive efficiency this season.

What is that this staff looking to be? Seriously. Moves like buying and selling for Adams (and making him the league’s highest-paid huge receiver) and obtaining Garoppolo pointed against a staff having a look to contend. That’s delusional. This quarterback, this roster and this training personnel are mild years away from contending. The Raiders are directionless, and it begins within the draft.

• From 2019-21, they’d six first-round alternatives. Only one — Josh Jacobs — remains to be at the roster, and his largest storyline used to be his offseason holdout.
• They did not have a first-round select in 2022, sending it to Green Bay for Adams, who’s being held again by way of a clumsy offense.
• This 12 months’s first-round select, Tyree Wilson, used to be a venture and has one sack this season. That’s nice in a vacuum however no longer within the Raiders’ ridiculous “win-now” mindset.

It’s unhealthy from the highest down. Bad entrance workplace, unhealthy training, unhealthy roster. If the Raiders are sensible, they’re going to get started blank quicker than later … however fresh historical past displays they are no longer highly intelligent.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL trade deadline: Two offers Monday, extra to return?

NFL trade deadline day is right here. Teams have till 4 p.m. ET to make their offers, and there will have to be some important motion.

First, although, let’s discuss what took place Monday. The headliner used to be the Giants sending defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seahawks in alternate for a 2024 second-round select and 2024 fifth-round select.

• Williams has simply 1.5 sacks this season, however his power numbers point out the sacks could also be coming.
• The 5-2, NFC West-leading Seahawks surely hope that is the case. Seattle ranks 5th in sacks this season and eleventh in power charge however positioned Uchenna Nwosu on IR with a season-ending pectoral damage closing week.
• At 2-6, the Giants are in promote mode and had been keen to consume a few of Williams’ contract to make this paintings. Williams will probably be a unfastened agent after this season.

The Giants earned an “A” grade for this deal, and Jared Dubin known as it “a nice bit of business.”

Williams wasn’t the one defensive lineman at the transfer Monday, and you’ll be able to see all the offers surrounding the deadline right here.

As for as of late, we assessed who will have to purchase, who will have to promote and who will have to keep put, and our reside weblog is up and operating.

🏈 Changes to school soccer ratings, plus a long-overdue transfer

Today’s a large day for the NFL, adopted by way of a large night time for varsity soccer: The first College Football Playoff Rankings of the season are set to be launched. Ahead of that disclose, we’ve got Dennis Dodd’s Power Rankings — with a brand new No. 1 and No. 2!

1. Georgia (earlier: 2) — “Nine weeks in, Georgia looks fully capable of winning three in a row.”
2. Ohio State (4) — “Fully armed and ready, the Buckeyes won a Big Ten classic at Wisconsin by bowing up and wearing down the Badgers.”
3. Michigan (1) — “Will Jim Harbaugh make it until the end of the season?”
4. Florida State (3) — “This is the most complete FSU team since Jimbo Fisher days.”
5. Washington (6) — “Are the Huskies slipping? Their last four wins have come by a combined 27 points.”

We actually have a new CBS Sports 133 the place Michigan stays on best. Clemson tied for the largest drop in our complete FBS ratings, falling from thirty fifth to forty fourth after consecutive regular-season losses in the similar season for the primary time since 2011. In “The Monday After,” Tom Fornelli says Dabo Swinney and his staff are at a crossroads.

• Fornelli: “There isn’t one thing you can point to as the fatal flaw here, nor does this seem like an outlier season. While I wouldn’t anticipate Clemson fighting for its bowl life in years to come, its grip on the league has loosened, at a minimum, and may have been lost entirely. … If Swinney wants a quick fix, he’ll have to break character this offseason and utilize the transfer portal. It’s something he’s been allergic to doing until this point, but this approach has undoubtedly played a role in his team’s struggles the last few years.”

In extra news at the training entrance, Brian Ferentz won’t go back as Iowa‘s offensive coordinator subsequent season; he’s going to proceed in his function throughout the finish of this season. Yes, that roughly makes him a lame duck, however to be fair, his offense has been lame for a very long time. The Hawkeyes are useless closing in yards consistent with sport this 12 months. Per his newest contract, Ferentz wanted Iowa to reasonable 25 issues consistent with sport to stay his task. It used to be 14% beneath tempo of that function after Iowa’s to Minnesota.

Iowa ranks 131st in yards consistent with sport since Ferentz took over in 2017, however his standing on personnel used to be by no means truly challenged as a result of his father, Kirk, is the trainer. This transfer away from Brian is lengthy past due.

📺 What we are observing Tuesday

🏀 Knicks at Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Kings at Maple Leafs, 8 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ Rangers at Diamondbacks, 8:03 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Spurs at Suns, 10 p.m. on TNT