The ‘Best of the Day’ is a daily PSO original series showcasing the most significant stories, highlights, and facts going on in the land of the NFL, NBA, & MLB every day. Get a recap on EVERYTHING that happened on 3/15 here.
Free agency in the NFL began on Monday with a number of teams rushing to sign the best available players. However, no team was more active than the Patriots, as they look to rebound after missing the playoffs in 2020. Also, Steph Curry’s legacy could take a hit if he is unable to lead this Warriors squad to the postseason, Lonnie Walker’s sick dime took place vs. Detroit, and Giannis made history with his third consecutive triple-double.
Here is the best of the day from March 15, 2021:
Patriots went all-in on Day 1 of 2021 NFL Free Agency
The New England Patriots made a plethora of moves on the first day of free agency to shore up their roster on both sides of the ball. To improve the weapons around recently re-signed QB Cam Newton, New England signed a pair of WRs in Nelson Agholor (2y/$22M plus $4M incentives) and Kendrick Bourne (3y/$22.5M), as well as TE Jonnu Smith (4y/$50M, $31.3M gtd).
New England Patriots are adding WR Nelson Agholor on a 2y/$22M deal (plus $4M incentives) and WR Kendrick Bourne on a 3y/$22.5M deal pic.twitter.com/wEnxHvuayK
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 16, 2021
The Patriots also addressed their defense by signing EDGE Matt Judon (4y/$56M, $32M gtd), S Jalen Mills (4y/$24M, $9M gtd) and DL Davon Godchaux (2y/$16M, $9M gtd) along with re-signing DL Deatrich Wise (4y/$30M, $10M gtd). New England’s aggressive approach signals that the team believes it can still contend with the right pieces added and that it will do anything it takes to return to the postseason after missing out last year for the first time since 2008-09.
New England Patriots have finalized a 4y/$56M deal ($32M gtd) with EDGE Matt Judon pic.twitter.com/UckGCyCJul
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 15, 2021
Aside from the Patriots, a number of other teams made big moves to improve. The Chargers signed C Corey Linsley to a 5y/$62.5M deal, making him the highest-paid Center in NFL history while the Chiefs alleviated some of their concerns up front by signing top free agent OG Joe Thuney (5y/$80M). Washington made Ryan Fitzpatrick their starting QB in 2021 on a 1y/$10M deal plus $2m incentives, and the Jets added WR Corey Davis (3y/$37.5M, $27M gtd) to their offense.
Teams addressed their pass rush by signing some impact EDGE players. Bud Dupree (5y/$82.5M to TEN), Yannick Ngakoue (2y/$26M to LV), Carl Lawson (3y/$45M to NYJ), and Trey Hendrickson (4y/$60M to CIN) were among the most biggest names to change teams. Despite a number of notable free agents having signed already, there are still plenty of impact players remaining.
Related: Stories of the Day
STEPH CURRY MISSING THE PLAYOFFS COULD HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON HIS LEGACY
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors lost in a blowout to the Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 128-97 on Monday night. This loss marks the team’s fifth in their last six games and the Warriors are now currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the Western Conference playoff picture, sitting a game behind the Dallas Mavericks for the No.8 spot.
There is no doubt that Curry will go down as the greatest shooter to ever touch a basketball, but as a 2x MVP and 3x NBA Champion, he has positioned himself to potentially go down as the greatest Point Guard to ever play the game as well. However, if the Warriors finish this season without a playoff berth to show for it, that could severely hurt his all-time argument as it would make the case that Curry has been unable to lead the Warriors to success without the help of stars like Klay Thompson or Kevin Durant alongside him.
If Curry can’t lead this team to the playoffs, it may be hard to argue that he is even the league’s best point guard right NOW. Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, without the help of an injured CJ McCollum, currently has his team sitting with a 22-16 record as the 6th seed in the West.
Lillard also has the slight edge on PPG, as he is averaging 29.9 compared to Curry’s 29.3, and Lillard is averaging more assists with 7.9 compared to Curry at 6.2. If Curry can’t lead this team to a playoff spot during what may be the sole season he has no other star offensive player beside him, it may be a lot harder to call him the greatest point guard and reduce his individual legacy considering players like LeBron James led less-talented teams all the way to the NBA Finals.
COLORS KEY | FULL WARRIORS OUTLOOK
Curry: 4,856
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) March 16, 2021
Rodgers: 4,855 https://t.co/kUo5fMUI30
The 2020-21 Los Angeles Lakers are the 1st team to record multiple wins of 25+ PTS in the same season against a Steph Curry Warriors team pic.twitter.com/kpcyjKwgZf
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 16, 2021
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
What a pass from Walker
This Lonnie Walker dime is unreal 😱 pic.twitter.com/yaAMTKlwD0
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 16, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (W @WAS): 31 PTS (12-19 FG | 1-2 3PT), 10 AST, 15 REB, 1 BLK, 3 STL, 3 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (3/15/21) - F Giannis Antetokounmpo
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 16, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Most 30pt triple-doubles (7) in Bucks history
- 1st Bucks player with 3 straight triple-doubles
- 1st reigning MVP with 3 straight 20pt triple-dubs
KEY STATS:
31 PTS, 15 REB, 10 AST, 3 STL, 12-19 FG (63%) https://t.co/XyTrSw6f6U
Related: Players of the Day
Brooklyn Nets (117) vs. New York Knicks (112)
[Highlights] @NETS (-353; $10.82) d. KNICKS (+291; $15.74) 117-112 [NYK +8.5 | o223.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
NFL teams are making moves in free agency to improve their chances of competing and plenty went down on Day 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are re-signing EDGE Shaq Barrett on a 4y/$72M deal ($36M gtd) pic.twitter.com/DkflFZ1vbI
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 15, 2021
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