Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook could be headed to the Indiana Pacers in an offseason trade. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday that “rival executives” believe that the Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers could be trade partners in a deal that could send Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield to L.A. The 33-year-old Westbrook struggled this past season for the Lakers. He averaged 18.5 points per game, his lowest total since his second year in the NBA in 2010. Before the report broke Monday, the 29-year-old Brogdon said he wants to be in Indiana, and that he loves his teammates.
The Indiana Fever began building for the future with four top-ten picks in last night’s WNBA Draft. The Fever selected Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith with the second pick. The 6-foot-4 Smith averaged 22.1 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this past season for Baylor. She’s a two-time All-American, 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year, and 2021 national player of the year. With the fourth pick, Indiana took Louisville forward and tenacious defender Emily Engstler. The Fever drafted Stanford guard Lexie Hull sixth overall. Baylor center Queen Egbo was taken 10th overall and will join her former teammate Smith.
The Fever were not done after the first round. Indiana selected South Carolina’s Destanni Henderson in the second round of Monday’s WNBA Draft. Henderson scored 26 points for the Gamecocks in the national championship win over UConn earlier this month. The Fever took IU guard and 2015 Indiana Miss Basketball Ali Patberg in the third round with the 34th overall pick. The Columbus North grad started her college career with Notre Dame and spent seven years in college. Indiana also drafted Jackson State’ center Ameshya Williams-Holiday in the third round. The Fever finished a league-worst 6-26 last year.
Javy Baez hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox Monday at Comerica Park. Baez’s first homer with the Tigers broke a 1-all tie, and helped Detroit even its record at 2-2. Elsewhere in the Major Leagues, the Cleveland Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 10-7. Rookie left fielder Steven Kwan had a bases-clearing triple in the eighth inning that pushed the Guardians lead from one to four. The Cardinals and Pirates were rained out in St. Louis, and the game will be made up on June 14th.
