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🏈 Time for REVENGE

🏈 Time for REVENGE

March 08, 2023

Good morning BTP family! It is officially conference tournament time in college basketball which means we are only a week away from March Madness! The best time of the year is almost among us where we all get to sit around and watch hours & hours of basketball without consequence. Speaking of consequences, Anthony Davis is averaging 33 points & 13.8 rebounds in his last five games. This may have been one of the only positive consequences of LeBron getting injured. With only a month of the regular season left, it’s time for NBA playoff bubble teams to LOCK IN!

On today’s BTP we break down Ja Morant’s newest legal troubles and where his status remains for the rest of the season, Lamar Jackson’s non-exclusive franchise tag and what that means for him, and the rise of Anthony Richardson!

Stay Safe & Healthy!

LEGAL TROUBLE

What is Happening with Ja Morant?

It’s no secret that Ja Morant has had a tough couple of weeks. Fresh off signing a $193M max contract this summer and becoming one of the new faces of Nike, Ja Morant has consistently made the wrong kinds of headlines. Here’s a breakdown of what he’s been up to and what’s at stake for the Memphis point guard.

The backstory:

It took a while for the news to trickle out, but Ja’s legal troubles began this summer. The first troubling moment involved Morant allegedly attacking a 17-year-old at his home during a basketball game, and the second involved an altercation at a shopping mall where he allegedly threatened a security guard.

During this season, Morant again made the news, this time because members of his entourage allegedly threatened members of the Pacers after a game in February. The group claimed that Morant’s crew, who were said to be in his car, pointed a red laser at them, which they believed was attached to a gun.

Most recently, just days after the Washington Post reported on the summer incidents, Morant had his most self-destructive moment yet. Early into Saturday morning, following a game, Morant filmed himself at a bar/club and flashed a handgun to his IG Live audience.

The aftermath:

While Ja had managed to avoid any significant repercussions from the other allegations there was no avoiding this latest move. The Grizzlies quickly suspended him for a minimum of two games, he’s being investigated by Colorado police, and could very well face further punishment from the league.

If he’s found guilty of bringing a gun onto team premises which include the Grizzlies’ plane, bus, or locker room, Morant could face up to a $1M fine and/or a suspension. The closest NBA precedent we have for this situation is the infamous Gilbert Arenas incident which resulted in a 50-game suspension, but that situation is hardly a 1-1 example. Hopefully, Ja’s time away will serve him well, and these regrettable actions won’t come to define his career.

FUTURE IN JEOPARDY

What is Next for Lamar Jackson?

The Lamar Jackson—Baltimore Ravens saga took a somewhat predictable turn yesterday afternoon as the Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on their MVP quarterback. This extends their negotiating window but also paves the way for Jackson to potentially find a new home.

Why hasn’t a deal gotten done?

Lamar Jackson, who is self-represented, is looking for a fully guaranteed contract like the one Cleveland gave Deshaun Watson. Jackson is not only a former MVP, but he is without the litany of off-field issues Watson has. However, the Ravens don’t view the Watson contract as the new standard and instead see it as an outlier, akin to the insane Rudy Gobert trade in the NBA, hence, the impasse.

It’s also worth noting that Jackson is just the third QB to win an NFL MVP and be franchise tagged by their team alongside Steve Young and Peyton Manning, who later reached long-term deals. He’s also the first QB to get the nonexclusive tag since Kirk Cousins in 2016.

What’s next for Lamar?

By using the nonexclusive tag, Jackson could earn $32M this season, which is less than Daniel Jones’ new contract. The exclusive tag would have paid him around $45M and given the Ravens control of his rights this year, but the Ravens opted against it. While they negotiate, Lamar will continue to shop around his services to QB-needy teams, and if he signs an offer sheet with another team, the Ravens will still have the right to match the offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation.

By using the tag, the Ravens extended their window to sign Jackson to an extension until July 17th. But if they fail to do so, it could be a disaster for Baltimore, whose QB room includes backup QB Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown, an undrafted player in just his second season.

Should Jackson not sign the franchise tag tender, he wouldn’t technically be under contract and therefore, wouldn’t be fined for missing any mini or training camps. Assuming he doesn’t find a new team, he could wait until the season opener to join the Ravens and still be paid the full contract amount, or, more drastically, he could take a page of Le'Veon Bell’s book and hold out for the season. Only time will tell what happens next.

ON THE RISE

Inside Anthony Richardson’s Magical Combine!

Thanks to a monster showing at the NFL combine, Anthony Richardson is on the verge of making history. If taken in the first round, which he’s a virtual lock to do, Richardson would tie Mitch Trubisky for the fewest college starts by a first-round QB since 2002. Richardson entered the combine expected to be a top-ten pick and now is in serious contention to go first overall.

What happened?

The Florida Gators' quarterback only started 13 games in college and had a pretty uninspired completion rate of only 53.8%, but managed to erase a lot of doubt among the 20+ teams he formally met with. He set new QB records for vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) and threw 70+ yard passes with ease. He also ran an incredible 4.43 40-yard dash, the fastest by a quarterback in 10 years.

What’s next?

Richardson isn’t a finished product by any means, which is to be expected, given his limited reps, but his world-class athleticism can't be taught. Last Thursday, Richardson was an 8-1 underdog to go first overall, and after the combine, the odds dropped to 4-1. He’s still a distant second behind Bryce Young at -175, but it’s safe to say the combine went about as well as it could for the talented but inexperienced prospect.