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The Best of the Day: March 17th, 2021
See the best of the day in sports from March 17, 2021 including SF re-signing Williams to a record deal, triple-doubles galore in the NBA, and more!
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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 3/17 here.
Day three of the NFL’s free agency period saw the San Francisco 49ers re-sign Trent Williams to a record-breaking deal while Patrick Peterson will be trading uniforms after signing with the Minnesota Vikings. Also, on an absurd losing streak and having already traded away their best players, the Houston Rockets are now open for business, Fox’s game-winner vs. D.C., and Trevor Ariza was traded for an 11th time, something that has never happened before.
Here is the best of the day from March 17, 2021:
Trent Williams’ historic O-Line contract headlines Free Agency day 3
The San Francisco 49ers and OT Trent Williams agreed to a 6y/$138M deal, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. The contract includes $55M in guaranteed money as well as a $30M signing bonus. An 8x Pro Bowler, Williams spent his first nine seasons with Washington before being acquired by the 49ers via trade during the 2020 NFL Draft.
San Francisco 49ers are re-signing OT Trent Williams on a 6y/$138M deal ($55M gtd), making him the highest-paid Offensive Lineman in NFL history pic.twitter.com/o1MBbM0JLx
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 17, 2021
There was some doubt as to how Williams would perform this year after sitting out all 2019-20 due to a dispute over Washington’s handling of his injury situation as well as his contract. However, the 32-year-old put those doubts to rest early, finishing with the fourth best pass block win rate among OTs in 2020 (93.6%), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Williams wasn’t the only free agent who made waves on Wednesday though, as long-time Arizona Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson decided to head up north and sign with the Minnesota Vikings on a 1y/$10M deal. In his 10 seasons in the desert, Peterson was an 8x Pro Bowler and a 3x All-Pro while being named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s.
8x Pro Bowl CB Patrick Peterson is signing with the Minnesota Vikings on a 1y/$10M deal pic.twitter.com/AwKfDjCQgo
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 18, 2021
Other notable moves included two WRs signing elsewhere, as Washington landed Curtis Samuel on a 3y/$34.5M deal ($24.5M gtd) and Arizona added A.J. Green (1y/$6M plus $2.5M incentives). Also, the Patriots brought back LB Kyle Van Noy (2y/$13M) and the Cowboys re-signed CB Jourdan Lewis (3y/$16.5M). With more players going off the table every day, teams will be looking quickly to sign the remaining available free agents before it’s too late.
Related: Stories of the Day
ALL EYES ON HOUSTON WITH THE TRADE DEADLINE AROUND THE CORNER
After Wednesday’s defeat to the Golden State Warriors, the Houston Rockets have now lost a staggering 18 games in a row. In the last calendar year, the Rockets have traded away three of their best players, including big names like James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and most recently, P.J. Tucker. It is clear that Houston is open for business before the trade deadline, in hopes of securing a brighter future.
Houston’s March 17th trade of P.J. Tucker to the Milwaukee Bucks was another example of where the Rockets are at in their pursuit to flip valuable veterans for future draft picks. It is apparent that the Rockets’ front office will be taking plenty of phone calls with negotiations ready and an abundance of interested parties considering their list of potential trade candidates includes valuable contributors like Victor Oladipo, Eric Gordon, Sterling Brown, David Nwaba, and now D.J. Augustin as well.
The Rockets have gone from a conference finalist to one of the league’s worst in just three short years. They parted ways with the head coach who led them to the conference finals in hopes of new beginnings. Houston is now forced into desperation mode because of past trades that have not worked out.
The roster they have now is not one that can make a playoff run, so they are trying to make up for lost time by securing future draft picks. The Rockets will now try to rebuild through the draft and find players that mesh with their young talent, like Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr..
COLORS KEY | FULL ROCKETS OUTLOOK
The Rockets are trading PJ Tucker, Rodions Kurucs and Bucks’ ‘22 1st-round pick back to Milwaukee for DJ Augustin, DJ Wilson and ‘23 unprotected 1st-round pick. Houston also gets right to swap its ‘21 2nd-round pick for Milwaukee's 1st-round pick unless it falls 1-9, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/7ImYLuvjIM
— Off The Ball Network (@OTB_Network) March 17, 2021
Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day
Swipa wins it for Sac-town
SWIPA. CLUTCH. 🥶#Crunchtime pic.twitter.com/3MEek6azZf
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 18, 2021
Related: NBA Highlights
SG James Harden, BKN (W @IND): 40 PTS (13-27 FG | 2-9 3P), 15 AST, 10 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO
#PlayerOfTheDay (3/17/21) - SG James Harden, BRK
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 18, 2021
TOP FACTS:
- Most GP (6) with 30pts/10ast in a season in Nets history
- 2nd most 40pt triple-doubles (22) in NBA history
- 1 of 6 triple-doubles on Wednesday; Most ever in a day
KEY STATS:
40 PTS, 15 AST, 10 REB, 2 STL, 13-27 FG https://t.co/16Knwu854p
Related: Players of the Day
Milwaukee Bucks (109) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (105) [OT]
[Highlights] BUCKS (-245; $9.54) d. @76ERS (+205; $11.20) 109-105 (OT) [PHI +6 | u235.5]
Related: Games of the Day
Related: Facts of the Day
Prime Trade Destinations for Deshaun Watson by Pro Sports Takes
With Watson wanting out of Houston, PSO discusses the best trade destinations for the disgruntled superstar
Plenty of teams are lining up for a generational QB like @deshaunwatson but where could he realistically end up? https://t.co/nDYM7tmEAu
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 17, 2021
Related: Latest PSO Posts
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