Former Lakers Center Announces Her Official Basketball Retirement
One of the greatest defensive big men of his generation and a legend in the world of basketball, Marc Gasol, has made the decision to end his playing career. At 39 years old, the accomplished Spanish center is hanging up his sneakers after playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, and most recently, the Los Angeles Lakers during his NBA career.
NBA News: Marc Gasol is Leaving the Basketball League
In the 2007 NBA Draft, Marc Gasol—the younger brother of Lakers legend Pau Gasol—was selected in the second round.
Gasol was moved to the Toronto Raptors in 2019 after playing his first 11 seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies, where he won three All-Star selections and one Defensive Player of the Year award. Later that season, Gasol helped the Raptors win their lone NBA title in one of the best in-season deals in modern NBA history.
Gasol joined the Lakers in free agency following his time with the Raptors in the hopes of succeeding Dwight Howard in the 2020 NBA Finals. Gasol finally lost his starting position to Andre Drummond in the midst of the season, though, as he was never able to establish himself as a mainstay in Los Angeles.
The final two seasons of Gasol’s career were spent with the Girona, Spain-based team he created. With two gold medals from the World Cup, two Olympic silver medals, and two Eurobasket gold medals with the Spanish national team, he is still regarded as a famous player in European basketball.
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The top 5 needs for the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 NFL Draft
The top 5 needs for the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 NFL Draft
Vasquez, Gary A. USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Chargers would prefer to forget their 2023 season as quickly as possible. Thankfully for Chargers supporters, Jim Harbaugh has joined the team as head coach, and they have moved right forward. Now that the Bolts will shortly announce the appointment of a new general manager, it’s time to look forward.
The Chargers lack the cap capacity to make the kind of major roster improvements that will be required. They must therefore make the right selections in the draft, since it will play a significant role in their offseason plan. They hold their own selections in every round of the 2024 NFL Draft in addition to the fifth overall pick.
These resources must be used to fill the gaps in the following departments:
1. The cornerback
After a strong 2022, the Chargers’ secondary remained erratic throughout the entire season. They gave up the fourth-most passing yards per game in the NFL, 249.8. After a lackluster season, veteran cornerback Michael Davis is expected to sign a free-agent contract. The J.C. Jackson experiment was a failure, and Asante Samuel Jr. is now the team’s sole trustworthy corner.
Fortunately for the Bolts, there is a wealth of talent in this 2024 draft class to fill that need.
2. Broad Receiver
Last season, the Chargers selected a wide receiver with their first-round choice, and Quentin Johnston had a passable rookie campaign. Justin Herbert needs more weapons, but it’s unlikely that they will choose a wideout so early in the draft again. The receiver corps’ only dynamic difference-maker, Keenan Allen, must eventually start to show some indications of decline.
The Bolts will need to find their next wide receiver because neither Johnston nor Joshua Palmer have demonstrated that level of potential thus far.
3. Reversing Course
Joshua Kelley and Austin Ekeler, the team’s two best running backs, are probably gone this offseason due to free agency. Losing Ekeler will be painful, but as the relationship deteriorated over the past year, it’s time for all parties to move on. In 2023, they also had the 24th-highest running yards per game in the league.
This offseason, the Chargers will probably need two running backs. Michigan native Blake Corum is a strong contender to succeed Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles.
4. The Rusher on the Edge
In terms of edge rushers, the Bolts appear strong on paper, but their performance hasn’t translated to the field. Joey Bosa found it difficult to maintain his fitness, and Khalil Mack is getting older. They will probably be gone when their contracts expire, if not this summer. The Chargers would be wise to select a replacement in the draft.
Putting another youthful, gifted pass rusher on the other side of Tuli Tuipulotu, who has had a fantastic start to his career, might elevate the defense to new heights.
5. Narrow End
It’s time to provide Herbert with a dependable tight end option in the red zone and on third downs. Gerald Everett is not a must-retain, but he will be a free agent after this season. He has been OK for the Chargers. The Bolts have no one to trust behind him. Herbert’s job would be so much easier with a capable playmaker in addition to a strong blocker.
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Five Things the Los Angeles Rams Will Need in the 2024 NFL Draft
Five Things the Los Angeles Rams Will Need in the 2024 NFL Draft
Through Cem Yolbulan, January 30, 2024
The USA TODAY Sports Kirby Lee
In 2023, the Los Angeles Rams surpassed all predictions. A season that was viewed as a rebuilding campaign unexpectedly made it to the postseason. The amazing work the front office did in the NFL Draft, when they discovered gems in Kobie Turner and Puka Nacua, was primarily responsible for this.
For the Rams to advance further the following season, they must now win the 2024 NFL Draft. Fortunately, they will be able to improve the roster with their ten draft selections. These are the things they will need the most in the future.
5. The quarterback
The Rams have complete faith in their Super Bowl-winning quarterback, so they don’t really need a backup right now. But as Matthew Stafford approaches his 36th birthday, it’s unclear how many more years he has left.
The position of backup quarterback is similarly undetermined. Stetson Bennett has not yet made his NFL debut, and his situation remains uncertain. Probably gone now is Carson Wentz. The Rams need to identify their quarterback of the future in addition to the insurance behind Stafford.
4. Tight End/Wide Receivers
This year’s draft should be used by the Rams to attempt to find another Puka Nacua. Following their successful wide receiver selection in the previous round, the Rams ought to keep acquiring additional offensive weapons. Austin Trammel and Demarcus Robinson have contracts that are about to expire, so selecting a new wide receiver in the draft might be wise.
Another position that suffered greatly was tight end, as veterans Hunter Long and Tyler Higbee will both be making a comeback from significant injuries. The Rams offense will advance if the receiver corps is given greater depth.
3. The cornerback
In comparison to their total talent, the Rams’ defense overperformed last season. The defense didn’t miss any of the veterans that left in the offseason under Raheem Morris’ direction. Given the absence of elite players in the secondary, the pass defense stood out in particular.
It’s time to resolve this problem now. Additionally, the Rams would be wise to target a cornerback with their first-round selection. With Duke Shelley and Ahkello Witherspoon possibly leaving, the team needs a definite No. 1 and maybe even more depth at the position.
2. Security
Another position that will require attention in the 2024 NFL Draft is safety for the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams only invested $2.96 million in this position in 2023, and they will need to find someone to take over for Jordan Fuller and John Johnson III, whose contracts are about to expire. Jason Taylor II, Quentin Lake, and Russ Yeast will all return to the Rams. However, the squad will require more depth and perhaps one or more rookies who can challenge for a starting position.
The Rams might be anticipating that both Yeast and Lake will start in 2024, which would free up the organization to think about adding Day 3 picks to complete the squad. However, I don’t think either guy has the stamina to start 17 games for the Rams in 2024. If not to contend for a starting position, the Rams front management might be smart to add one or two more safetys to guarantee enough depth for the upcoming campaign.
1. The Kicker
Although it is a clear requirement, this is a problem that should be addressed in later rounds—perhaps in Rounds 6 or 7. Placekickers are not often drafted by clubs, but the Rams may make an exception given how bad things were the previous season.
Among the NFL’s least dependable kickers was the Rams’ squad from the previous season. Their kicker had to be replaced three times, with Brett Maher losing the position in the middle of the season before regaining it. Sean McVay’s play-calling was obviously impacted by the kicking unit’s inconsistency throughout the postseason, and the Rams cannot start the next season in the same circumstance.
