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A flavorful, stylish pair is gassing up for the road trip comedy 80 For Brady. Guy Fieri and Billy Porter will feature in the film about four best pals (played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field) who trek to Super Bowl LI for the championship-winning quarterback. The cast also includes Harry Hamlin, Bob Balaban, Sally Kirkland, Jimmy O. Yang, Sara Gilbert, and more. There’s no word yet on who Porter plays, but Fieri cameos as himself, and presumably they’re both a part of the ensemble of weirdos that the quartet means on the road. Bonus points to the film if Fieri and Porter appear together as best friends launching a cooking show that every single human on earth would binge.

The film, directing by indie producer and WeCrashed actor Kyle Marvin, has already wrapped filming, but doesn’t currently have a release date. It is, however, being produced by Tom Brady himself, who also plays a 5-years-younger version of himself. The film is based on a true story, with Marvin and co-writer Michael Covino rewriting a script from Booksmart’s Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins. Be on the lookout for the Paramount film soon. Maybe Brady will have retired and unretired a few more times by then.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

Though they posted intriguing metrics during the competitive portion of the season, the Indiana Pacers effectively pulled the plug during the 2021-22 season. Not only did the Pacers move on from a central piece in Domantas Sabonis, but Indiana essentially deployed a G League-level roster for a large portion of the second half of the campaign. The end result was a 25-57 record, the franchise’s worst mark in decades, and when the ping-pong balls stopped bouncing, Indiana came away with the No. 6 overall pick.

That kind of draft perch does coincide with the team’s record but, in this case, this is new ground for the Pacers. In fact, Indiana has not picked inside the top ten since 1989. That is a reminder of the usual competitive cycle of the franchise, but Indiana does have a rare opportunity to take a swing and add high-end talent to the mix.

Roster Needs: Star talent, forward depth

Bennedict Mathurin (No. 6 Overall), B+: By traditional No. 6 pick standards, this isn’t a home run, but that’s the nature of this class rather than an issue for Indiana. Mathurin is a very solid pick here and he projects as a valuable “3-and-D plus” player. He is a high-end shooter who should defend at a solid level and give the Pacers a valuable two-way wing.

2022 Free Agents:
Ricky Rubio (UFA)
TJ Warren (UFA)
Jalen Smith (UFA)
Lance Stephenson (UFA)
Nate Hinton (RFA)
Gabe York (RFA)

Roster:
Malcolm Brogdon
Buddy Hield
Myles Turner
TJ McConnell
Goga Bitadze
Tyrese Haliburton
Chris Duarte
Isaiah Jackson
Oshae Brissett (team option, non-guaranteed)
Terry Taylor (non-guaranteed)
Duane Washington Jr (non-guaranteed)
Bennedict Mathurin

A year ago, the Detroit Pistons struck gold in their rebuild, winning the NBA Draft Lottery and the opportunity to select Cade Cunningham. Following a bit of a slow start, Cunningham showed all the signs of a future star and, for the most part, Detroit was competitive in the second half of the season despite a 23-59 overall record. As such, there is a lot to be excited about for the Pistons, with Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and other pieces set to make another step forward in the near future.

Through the lens of the 2022 NBA Draft, the Pistons landed at No. 5 overall, and that brings another opportunity to add to the talent arsenal for the future. Cunningham’s versatility and size gives Detroit’s front office a great deal of flexibility when it comes to roster building, and after trading Jerami Grant for a 2025 first round pick (and clearing lots of cap room), it’s clear the focus is on the long-view.

Roster Needs: A perimeter running mate for Cunningham, more shooting, another strong guard

Jaden Ivey (No. 5 Overall), A: This is a home run for the Pistons. Even without a truly elite evaluation on Ivey, he represents a tremendous value at No. 5 overall in this draft. In addition, Ivey’s best fit might be as a No. 2 offensive option that doesn’t have to carry the full workload, and placing him next to Cade Cunningham makes a ton of sense. It might take time, but there is a lot to like about Ivey’s future.

2022 Free Agents:
Marvin Bagley III (RFA)
Rodney McGruder (UFA)
Jamorko Pickett (RFA)

Roster:
Kelly Olynyk
Cade Cunningham
Killian Hayes
Hamidou Diallo (team option)
Cory Joseph (player option)
Isaiah Stewart
Frank Jackson (team option)
Saddiq Bey
Carsen Edwards (team option)
Saben Lee
Luka Garza (team option)
Isaiah Livers
Braxton Key (two way)
Jaden Ivey

The Sacramento Kings continue to operate with the NBA’s longest playoff drought, last appearing in the postseason following the 2005-06 campaign. Over more than 15 years of struggles, the Kings have not posted a .500 record over 82 games, even as the franchise overhauls its roster on a consistent basis. During the 2021-22 season, Sacramento made a substantial investment in acquiring Domantas Sabonis as the frontcourt partner for guards like De’Aaron Fox and 2021 lottery pick Davion Mitchell.

It remains to be seen as to how that experiment will work, but the Kings finished at 30-52 in the standings last season. Sacramento did jump to No. 4 overall on the draft board, however, bringing the opportunity for a potential swing, even amid rumblings that the Kings might rather focus on the present in turning that selection into a more established contributor. Ultimately, Sacramento kept the pick and made a rather surprising selection compared to the consensus big board.

Roster Needs: Defense, wing talent, more defense

Keegan Murray (No. 4 Overall), C-: Murray is a quality prospect with tremendous numbers. He was highly productive at Iowa and is a multi-faceted forward that could be valuable in many different NBA contexts. However, this is a tier drop from another player (Jaden Ivey) that was available, and it represents an on-brand detour for the Kings.

2022 Free Agents:
Jeremy Lamb (UFA)
Josh Jackson (UFA)
Donte DiVincenzo (RFA)
Damian Jones (UFA)
Neemias Queta (RFA)

Roster:
De’Aaron Fox
Domantas Sabonis
Harrison Barnes
Richaun Holmes
Justin Holiday
Davion Mitchell
Mo Harkless
Terence Davis
Alex Len
Trey Lyles (team option)
Chimezie Metu (non-guaranteed)
Keegan Murray

Not since trying to give real human teeth to Sonic has there been more worry over the representation of a classic video game figure jumping into the movie theater. Ever since Chris Pratt was cast of the voice of Mario for a new animated movie, the internet has been nervous about how he’ll do. The feeling is so palpable, that producer Chris Melandandri felt the need to defend Pratt’s vocal creation, saying that criticism would “evaporate” once people heard it. He also assured that, as an Italian-American, he had no issue with it.

To pile on, Pratt promised in a chat with Variety that his voice is “unlike anything you’ve ever heard.” This is, naturally, an odd thing to say when dealing with a fanbase that would presumably want something at least similar to what they’ve heard before. It’s not like anyone is expecting Pratt to sound like Charles Martinet or Peter Cullen or Lou Albano or even Mario-on-Thames Bob Hoskins. Pratt smartly points out that it’s also an animated project, adding that he’s “not gonna be wearing a plumber suit running all over.” In a way, that means the voice is the only element of the performance, so it’s really make or break. Plus, unlike Sonic, by the time we finally hear the voice in the trailer, it’ll be way too late to change anything. Imagine being brought in to redub every single line you had in a movie because it wasn’t Marioesque.

(via Variety)

With the James Harden era another year removed, the Houston Rockets are in the business of accumulating young, high-upside players for the next great era in the franchise’s storied history. In the meantime, the Rockets have only 37 wins over the last two seasons, pivoting hard to the future both in the Harden deal and in subsequent moves. The 2021 draft was kind to Houston, particularly with the additions of Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, and the 2022 draft provided even more opportunities for the organization to add to its coffers.

Heading into the night with the No. 3 overall pick and another pick at No. 17, the Rockets had the chance to continue their roster transformation, pairing Green with another top-end talent at the center of the team’s rebuilding plan. Before the festivities even began, Houston added another first-round pick in a swap involving Christian Wood, as they continued to prioritize what they hope is a bright future.

Roster Needs: More defensive talent, a long-term creator at the point guard position, overall upside

Jabari Smith (No. 3 Overall), A-: This wasn’t the result most envisioned, but it’s an easy choice for Houston after the way the top two shook out. Smith should fit seamlessly alongside Jalen Green with the Rockets, as the 6’10 forward is one of the best shooters in the draft with great size. He also projects as a plus defender, and his ceiling is sky-high if Smith can continue to develop as a ball-handler and playmaker.

2022 Free Agents:
Dennis Schroder (UFA)
Bruno Fernando (RFA)
Anthony Lamb (RFA)
Trevelin Queen (RFA)

Roster:
John Wall
Eric Gordon
Jalen Green
David Nwaba
Alperen Sengun
Kevin Porter Jr
Usman Garuba
Josh Christopher
Garrison Mathews (non-guaranteed)
Kenyon Martin Jr (non-guaranteed)
Jae’Sean Tate (team option, non-guaranteed)
Daishen Nix
Boban Marjanovic
Trey Burke
Sterling Brown
Marquese Chriss
Jabari Smith

Perhaps more clearly than any franchise in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder are in the midst of an extended rebuild. To be fair to Sam Presti and company, the Thunder are just two seasons away from a Chris Paul-led playoff appearance, but Oklahoma City then boldly announced a full-scale teardown that resulted in the virtually unprecedented accrual of future-facing draft capital. On the floor, the results have been pretty ugly for the Thunder, with only 46 combined wins in the last two seasons.

After a disappointing lottery result in 2021 led to only one top-tier draft pick (Josh Giddey), the Thunder were a bit more fortunate this time around, landing in the top tier of the 2022 class. That gave Oklahoma City the opportunity to add to an already intriguing stockpile of intriguing young pieces, and, along with another lottery pick at No. 12, there was plenty of ammo for the Thunder to make some noise on Draft night.

Roster Needs: Top-tier talent, shooting, reliable play in the frontcourt

Chet Holmgren (No. 2 Overall), A: The Thunder take the best player available in my view, which is usually a good idea. Holmgren certainly has some risk with his well-documented frame concerns, but he is a preternatural defender with elite length and the rim protection ability. Holmgren also brings a varied, impressive skill set on the offensive end, and he brings substantial upside to the table for a Thunder team that is still looking to accumulate talent.

2022 Free Agents:
Melvin Frazier (RFA)

Roster:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Derrick Favors
Josh Giddey
Darius Bazley
JaMychal Green (player option)
Ty Jerome
Mike Muscala (team option)
Aleksej Pokusevski
Tre Mann
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Kenrich Williams (non-guaranteed)
Lu Dort (team option)
Isaiah Roby (team option, non-guaranteed)
Theo Maledon (non-guaranteed)
Vit Krejci (non-guaranteed)
Aaron Wiggins (non-guaranteed)
Chet Holmgren

The Orlando Magic finished with the second-worst record in the NBA during the 2021-22 season, posting an unsightly 22-60 overall record. The Magic were clearly in a rebuilding mode after selling veteran pieces during the 2020-21 campaign, however, and Orlando is 35-89 since the 2021 trade deadline passed. On the bright side for Orlando, the ping-pong balls bounced in their favor, with the Magic landing the No. 1 overall pick in late June.

Orlando is still in search of a franchise player, with this particular selection providing the team’s clearest path to such a piece. Outside of that pursuit, the Magic did have some encouraging moments during the 2021-22 campaign, especially through the lens of rookie forward Franz Wagner and a talented young big man Wendell Carter Jr. Orlando will need more from 2021 lottery pick Jalen Suggs moving forward, but the Magic project to receive more contributions from Jon Isaac and Markelle Fultz, and the team has the world at its fingertips.

Roster Needs: Star-level talent, floor spacing, wings

Paolo Banchero (No. 1 Overall), B: After the widespread expectation that the Magic would tab Jabari Smith Jr., Banchero is the guy, and Orlando secures a top-flight prospect. This is a draft with a consensus top three prospects, but Banchero is the most NBA-ready on the offensive end. He is a capable offensive hub at 6’10 with high-end passing vision, and murmurs about his defensive issues are likely overstated given his size and feel. He won’t necessarily help Orlando’s decade-long search for shooting, but Banchero could be the best player in the draft and this is a reasonable choice, even if not the top player on my board.

2022 Free Agents:
Gary Harris (UFA)
Mo Bamba (RFA)
Robin Lopez (UFA)
Bol Bol (RFA)
Admiral Schofield (RFA)
Ignas Brazdeikas (RFA)

Roster:
Jonathan Isaac
Markelle Fultz
Wendell Carter Jr.
Terrence Ross
Jalen Suggs
Franz Wagner
Cole Anthony
Chuma Okeke
RJ Hampton
Mo Wagner (non-guaranteed)
Devin Cannaday (non-guaranteed)
Paolo Banchero

Sometimes, life can unexpectedly snatch you away from safety and thrust you into imminent danger. Other times, life can just as quickly turn a dire circumstance into a heartwarming miracle.

Such was the case for a baby hawk who went from being dinner to being adopted by a family of bald eagles near the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia, Canada. The amazing moment was captured by a 24-hour livestream webcam run by GROWLS, a nonprofit organization that helps rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife.

The video shows the seemingly doomed baby hawk being tossed into an eaglet’s nest. Pam McCartney, a GROWLS volunteer who had been watching the livestream at the time, braced herself.

“Usually when I watch, like, David Attenborough and his shows, I can close my eyes or fast forward or whatever, but this was live at the time, and I was just like, oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh,” she told CBC.

Much to her surprise, nature seemed to have something else in mind.

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The baby hawk had inexplicably survived the eagle’s talons, which in itself was an extraordinary feat according to ornithologist and Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Biology at Montreal’s McGill University, David Bird, who shared the story on a segment of the radio show “As It Happens.” Yes, a guy who studies birds has the last name Bird. It’s too perfect.

In an even rarer phenomenon, the hawkling was spared by both the mother and baby eagle once they realized it was alive and moving around. McCartney shared that by that evening both chicks were being cared for. Her guess is that it might have something to do with the eagle family having recently lost one of the two eaglets.

“In my mind of growing up on Disney, I’m seeing this eaglet think like, ‘was this another little sibling?'” she told CBC.

As mind boggling as it is, this is not the first hawk adoption story to hit the area. In 2017, a young red-tailed hawk, nicknamed Spunky, made headlines after being raised by a pair of bald eagles.

Bird told CBC that, while Spunky did require support from an extended family of scientists (primarily because hawks and eagles feed on different prey), it was still ultimately a success. Spunky is “alive and well,’ which is a good omen for this new baby hawk.

So far, the birds are one big, happy family, McCartney reports, with plenty of “raptor kisses” for everyone.

Families really do come in many different shapes and sizes, all across the food chain.

As the NBA Draft loomed large on Thursday night, a team without a single pick dominated the conversation as the Brooklyn Nets impending implosion gained steam.

Hours before the draft, reports from both ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania indicated that both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were starting to consider their options for leaving Brooklyn, as the Nets continued to be unwilling to give Irving the long-term extension he was seeking. Around 7:45 p.m. ET, those rumblings about Irving’s discontent grew into a full fledged report from Charania that it wasn’t just an option for Irving, but now the “expectation” that he would begin seeking out a new team via trade, and will likely elect to opt into his player option in order to facilitate that.

Opting in is the only way Irving can get to either of the Los Angeles teams, as both will be hard-capped and cannot do a sign-and-trade — but could extend Irving in six months should they acquire him after opting in. Irving also has a number of other contenders on his wishlist, per Woj, but it remains to be seen which teams would be interested enough in Kyrie and all the baggage that comes with him to pursue him in a trade. In any case, it appears there is real smoke towards the Nets losing all of there stars without ever seeing through a full season with everyone, a rather stunning fall after barely any rise at all for the team that was supposed to be the next superteam in the NBA.