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New on Sports Illustrated: Joel Embiid Ruled Out vs. Wizards Due to Right Knee Soreness

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/01/joel-embiid-injury-wizards-right-knee-soreness">
Philadelphia's star center took a hard fall in Game 4 against the Wizards in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
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76ers center Joel Embiid exited Philadelphia's contest against the Wizards in the first quarter Monday night due to right knee soreness.
Embiid was ruled out for the game shortly before halftime as Philadelphia held a 61-60 lead. He appeared to injure his knee on a drive to the basket against Wizards center Robin Lopez.
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Embiid torched the Wizards in the first three games of the first-round series as Philadelphia took a 3–0 lead. He tallied 36 points and eight rebounds in Game 3 on May 29, finishing the night 14-18 from the field in a 132-103 victory. Embiid's hot start to the playoffs continues his brilliance from the regular season, where he averaged a career-high 28.5 points per game. 
Philadelphia is looking to complete the series sweep of Washington in Game 4. The Sixers have reached the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, though they have yet to win the Eastern Conference since 2001. 
More NBA Coverage: 
• <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/31/can-the-knicks-improve-nba-playoffs-daily-cover">New York May Have Reached Its High-Water Mark</a> 
• <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/30/chris-paul-deandre-ayton-back-against-lakers">Chris Paul Is Back, and He's Brought the Suns With Him</a> 
•<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/31/kawhi-leonard-dominance-clippers-final-contenders">Clippers Looking Like Finals Contender as Kawhi Leonard Dominates</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Joel Embiid Ruled Out vs. Wizards Due to Right Knee Soreness

Philadelphia's star center took a hard fall in Game 4 against the Wizards in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. View ...

New on Sports Illustrated: MAQB: Why June 1 Could Be a Significant Date In a Potential Julio Jones Deal

<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/05/31/monday-afternoon-quarterback-june-1-julio-jones">
On June 1, cap hits for NFL teams change drastically. A Julio Jones Trade could be more feasible for the Falcons after that date.
Julio Jones is still a Falcon. For now …
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• You’ve heard about June 1 a lot—and in some cases, the date is treated as one in which a team can bail itself out of cap jail. And that’s true, but only to a certain degree, and that’s why I figured on this May 31 it’d be good to explain how this all works. And to do it, let’s say, for simplicity's sake, we have a player that signed a four-year, $40 million deal last year with a $20 million signing bonus and $5 million base salaries in each year. In this circumstance, the player would have a $10 million cap number each year, even though he got $25 million in Year 1, with $5 million of it accounting for the base salary, and $5 million accounting for the proration of the signing bonus. Now, let’s say the team that signed this player wanted to trade him this year, a year after he did the deal. If they do that in March, April or May, the $15 million left in bonus proration ($5 million for each year remaining on the deal) hits at once. If they wait until June 1? Then, this year’s proration ($5 million) hits this year’s cap, and what’s left in proration ($10 million) hits the 2022 cap. Got it? Now, if we apply this to Jones, we need to look at the annual bonus prorations left on his deal. Those are as follows …
2021: $7.75 million
2022: $7.75 million
2023: $7.75 million
So if the Falcons deal him today, the money hits their cap all at once—and they take $23.25 million in dead money on to their 2021 cap, which is actually more than the cap hit for keeping him on the roster ($23.05 million). But if they do it tomorrow? Then, $7.75 million in dead money sits on their cap for this year, and $15.5 million left over (the 2022 and ’23 prorations) hits the cap next year, and the Falcons move the $15.3 million he’s due in cash off this year’s cap, which would allow them the space to sign their draft picks and still have some breathing room left over. I know that’s a lot of math. But it’s the simplest way I could figure, to properly explain what all this June 1 business you get every year means.
• That, of course, begs the question—who else is hard against the salary cap? As of the league’s latest internal cap report, here are the league 10 cap-neediest teams.
<ol>
<li>Falcons: $285,693</li>
<li>Saints: $348,664</li>
<li>Bears: $1.069 million</li>
<li>Buccaneers: $1.476 million</li>
<li>Titans: $3.903 million</li>
<li>Raiders: $4.075 million</li>
<li>Giants: $4.127 million</li>
<li>Eagles: $4.266 million</li>
<li>Texans: $5.221 million</li>
<li>Vikings: $6.172 million</li>
</ol>
And there are eight more teams (Packers, Rams, Seahawks, Steelers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins, Ravens) less than $10 million under, meaning more than half the league is pretty close to the limit, which is a reality of post-pandemic economics in the NFL. These numbers, by the way, are moving targets. Some teams have signed their rookies, others haven’t, which means some of these teams still have some work to do.
• One such team is the Saints, and the key to how they’ll make their seemingly-perpetually-strapped situation work in 2021 is through their bumper crop of 2017 rookies. They already have Alvin Kamara on a new deal, and that leaves CB Marshon Lattimore, RT Ryan Ramczyk and S Marcus Williams as the key figures. The three are due $31.982 million in 2021, and each is getting the money in a lump sum (Lattimore and Ramczyk are on fifth-year options at $10.244 million and $11.064 million, respectively, and Williams is on a $10.612 million franchise tag). Extending each of them would allow for the team to manage some cap relief into each deal and give New Orleans the room to sign its rookies. Of course, moving any one of them via trade would be another option. But I do know that other teams that inquired on Lattimore and Ramczyk earlier in the offseason got shut down, which tells me a big push is coming to give those guys contracts.
• A couple weeks ago, you might’ve heard that Washington owner Dan Snyder and team president Jason Wright had embarked on a trip to see venues across America as they work on getting a new stadium financed and built (somewhere) in the greater D.C. area. Well, I was able to get their itinerary for that trip. Snyder, Wright & Co. visited Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena in Vegas, Staples Center and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and Chase Center in San Francisco. The idea was, well, to find ideas for a new place, and the hope is to match the opening of that new place with the 2027 expiration of the team’s lease at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Next up for the Capitol Stadium Crew is a trip to Europe to see stadiums over there.
• I like the Lions kicking tires on Todd Gurley—who’d be a low-cost addition matching the vision that Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have for the team. It’s obvious where the team’s strength is going to be on offense, given the contractual (Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow) and draft (Penei Sewell) investment in the line. And so it makes sense to lean into that with some insurance for bell cow D’Andre Swift, which in turn should make life a lot easier on new Lion QB Jared Goff.
• Last week, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said he views a Fred Warner extension as a “matter of time”, and that underscores how the team’s structure will continue to evolve. Warner was one of the NFL’s best linebackers last year, and wouldn’t be out of line asking for $16 million (or so) per year. And next year, Nick Bosa’s eligible for a second contract, and could shoot for $30 million per year if he regains his rookie form. Add it up, and you’ll see why having a quarterback on a rookie contract will, in time, be a godsend for San Francisco, and also why uncovering role players in the draft with the picks they have left after dealing up for Trey Lance will be important.
• If you told me six months ago that Urban Meyer and Charlie Strong would be the dudes handing Chris Jericho foreign objects on Tony Khan’s wrestling show, I’d have thought you were out of your mind. But here we are.
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• Seeing the Vikings using soft helmets didn’t stun me—I figured we’d get there eventually. Those have been around in high-profile 7-on-7 camps for a while now, and logically make sense as vehicles to cut down on unnecessary offseason concussions. As we said in the <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/05/17/mmqb-meet-nick-sirianni-eagles-offseason-tim-tebow-daily-cover">MMQB a couple weeks back</a>, there were eight concussions during the offseason program in 2019, the last year there was a full one.
• <a href="https://www.espn.com/blog/tampa-bay-buccaneers/post/_/id/24897/what-will-bucs-rookie-joe-tryon-do-first-with-his-nfl-money-pay-for-his-sisters-school-moms-bills">Great story here</a> on Buccaneers rookie Joe Tryon using his rookie deal to pay for his sister Julia’s medical school, from my buddy Jenna Laine over at ESPN. Love stories like that, and this particular one is a guy making a true investment back into his family. Good work, Joe.
• As a PSA: We’ve got three full weeks left to the summer break, and after that I’ll be getting away too. Working now on finding some good guest columnists to fill that time, and we’ll keep you posted on that (and if you have ideas for me, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter @albertbreer or IG @albert_breer). 
More NFL Coverage:
• <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/05/31/joe-burrow-inside-story-of-acl-rehab-monday-morning-quarterback-mmqb">MMQB: Joe Burrow and the Long Road Back</a> • <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/05/28/spice-up-nfl-new-ways-to-score-doink-points">Orr: Let’s Spice Up the NFL With New Ways to Score</a> • <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/05/26/lamar-jackson-stay-ravens-forever-contract-negotiations">Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Wants to Stay With Baltimore 'Forever'</a> • <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/05/21/nfl-offeason-story-lines-rookie-running-backs-aaron-rodgers-urban-meyer">Orr: The 10 Most Interesting Storylines for the 2021 NFL Offseason</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: MAQB: Why June 1 Could Be a Significant Date In a Potential Julio Jones Deal

On June 1, cap hits for NFL teams change drastically. A Julio Jones Trade could be more feasible for the Falcons after that date. Julio Jo...

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Jake Paul to Fight Former UFC Champion Tyron Woodley in Boxing Match

<a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/05/31/jake-paul-fight-tyron-woodley-boxing-match-miami">
Jake Paul and UFC star Tyron Woodley will reportedly fight in an upcoming boxing match in Miami.
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/04/19/boxing-jake-paul-fight">Jake Paul</a> will reportedly fight former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in a boxing match, per <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeCoppinger/status/1399469421521932291?s=20">The Athletic's Mike Coppinger</a>.
Paul recently signed a multi-fight deal with Showtime and the fight will reportedly be promoted by Friday face-off in Miami. No date or formal announcement has been made. 
<a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/02/24/daily-cover-logan-paul-floyd-mayweather-celebrity-fights">Paul is currently 3–0 as a professional boxer</a> and is coming off a win against UFC veteran Ben Askren in April where he won by TKO in the first round. 
Woodley, 39, has fought professionally since 2009 and won the UFC welterweight championship in 2016. He successfully defended the title four times before losing it in 2019. He has lost his last four professional UFC fights and last fought on March 27 at UFC 260. He has a professional record of 19–7–1. 
Paul's brother, Logan, <a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/04/22/floyd-mayweather-logan-paul-june-5-bout">is slated to fight former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather</a> in an exhibition match on June 5. 
More Boxing Coverage:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/05/21/manny-pacquiao-fight-errol-spence-jr-las-vegas-match">Pacquiao to Face Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas Match</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/video/2021/05/21/trilogy-wilder-fury-july-24-las-vegas">The Trilogy Fight Between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury Will Take Place July 24 in Las Vegas</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/boxing/2021/05/20/bruce-trampler-matchmaker-sports-memorabilia-collection">The Priceless Collection of a Legendary Matchmaker</a></li>
</ul>

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Jake Paul to Fight Former UFC Champion Tyron Woodley in Boxing Match

Jake Paul and UFC star Tyron Woodley will reportedly fight in an upcoming boxing match in Miami. Jake Paul will reportedly fight former U...

New on Sports Illustrated: Naomi Osaka's French Open Withdrawal Puts the Spotlight on Mental Health

<a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/05/31/naomi-osaka-withdraws-french-open-press-boycott">
Naomi Osaka's decision to withdrawal from the 2021 French Open after she declined to go to mandatory press conferences calls attention to mental health issues in athletes.
It's second day of play at the French Open yet it's hard to imagine a bigger story emerging from this year's tournament. On Monday, Naomi Osaka announced that she is
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/05/31/naomi-osaka-withdraws-french-open-mental-health-depression-social-anxiety">withdrawing from the event</a>. "I'll take some time away from the court," she said, in the wake of the controversy over her decision last week to decline to go to mandatory press conferences. Reporting from the tournament on the grounds in Paris, Jon Wertheim shares his thoughts on Osaka's decision and its impact.
What were your initial thoughts on hearing today’s news?
Jon Wertheim: My first thought was one of profound empathy for Osaka. My next was of deep disappointment, because it shouldn’t have come to this. There are infinite angles to this story. But distilled to its essence, it is about a vulnerable athlete who is clearly detailed, and her wellbeing ought to be our first priority. Her decision to decline the press conferences may have been poorly executed and the explanation in her initial post may have begged for more details and logic, but this wasn’t about defiance so much as it was about self-care and self-reflection. As we learn more about mental health and become as acquainted with the rhythms and symptoms, as we are with physical injuries, I suspect we will look back on this as a watershed moment.
But there is also disappointment and even anger here, because it should not have come to this. Anyone who knows Osaka knows she isn’t entitled or a grandstander as she has been portrayed. You had a feeling she did not realize how quickly this situation would escalate. She won her first match on Sunday playing the fearless tennis that has characterized her career. She accommodated an on-court interview and there was a feeling that the air was coming out of this controversy. Then, the four majors got together—something they famously don’t do often—and released a harsh, even menacing and humiliating statement, essentially threatening to ban her. To use a French word, a little nuance would have been nice. A cursory knowledge of Osaka would have gone a long way.
Where does she go from here?
JW: One virtue of tennis: there are plenty of entry points. Wimbledon starts four weeks from today. There are other tournaments throughout the summer. We hope she return when she is ready and in a better place mentally.
What are the other players saying?
JW: One constituency that has acquitted themselves well: the players. Without coordination, they have all said the same thing. They empathize with Osaka and wish her well, but don’t agree with her premise. Most of them seemed fine with the press obligations. Some said it is even essential. No one played the blame game against the media.
Did you know Osaka was in this type of dark place?
JW: There were reports that she was very emotional after suffering a loss in Miami. She had won the previous majors she had entered at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open, but she was really struggling on the clay. She had referenced mental health before. One irony: she had always been something of a media darling. Her press conferences were inevitably engaging and different, and I think a lot of us in the press room were surprised to hear this was the source of so much anxiety.
Have you ever seen anything like this?
JW: Never. We've seen players defiantly eat fines, we’ve seen players defaulted for inadvertently hitting officials with a ball, we've seen players retire with injuries. But I can't recall anything like this.
Is it naive to ask if anything good can come out of this?
JW: No. because some good has to come out of it. For one, we are learning about mental illness. And as obvious as it should be, that wealth and athletic success don’t insulate someone. We are learning about the role of media and social media. We are learning about empathy and lack of empathy. A few minutes from this writing, Serena Williams, age 39, will take the court. She is living proof that players can persist, endure controversy, and play for years beyond expectation, earning great affection along the way. It's hard to spin this chapter as anything other than ugly, but it is a chapter and not a final verdict.

New on Sports Illustrated: Naomi Osaka's French Open Withdrawal Puts the Spotlight on Mental Health

Naomi Osaka's decision to withdrawal from the 2021 French Open after she declined to go to mandatory press conferences calls attention ...

New on Sports Illustrated: Naomi Osaka Withdraws From French, Details Her Battle With Depression

<a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/05/31/naomi-osaka-withdraws-french-open-mental-health-depression-social-anxiety">
Naomi Osaka wrote that she has dealt with bouts of depression since the 2018 U.S. Open.
Naomi Osaka announced she is withdrawing from the French Open in a social media post where she details her battles with anxiety and depression. 
Osaka announced
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/05/26/naomi-osaka-skipping-media-availability-french-open-mental-health">she would not participate in media availability on Wednesday</a> and cited her mental health. She was <a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/05/30/naomi-osaka-fined-french-open-skip-press-conference">fined $15,000 for not making herself available to the media</a>. 
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"I think the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris," she wrote. "I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer."
Osaka said she has suffered bouts of depression since the <a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2018/11/26/naomi-osaka-us-open-title-serena-williams-2018-moments-sportsperson">U.S. Open in 2018</a> — the year she defeated Serena Williams to win the tournament. In that match, Williams had a confrontation with the umpire that ended with both players in tears during the closing ceremony. 
The four-time Grand Slam champion also apologized to the "cool" journalists she may have hurt and stressed that she suffers from anxiety when public speaking. Additionally, she said she privately apologized to the tournament and would like to work with officials to make the experience better for players, media and fans. 
Osaka noted she "take some time away from the court."
"Hope you are all doing well and staying safe, and love you guys and see you when I see you." 
More Tennis Coverage
<a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/05/30/2021-french-open-live-stream-watch-online-tv-channel">How to Watch 2021 French Open</a>
<a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/video/2021/05/28/should-the-wta-force-naomi-osaka-to-fulfill-media-obligations">Should the WTA Force Naomi Osaka to Fulfill Media Obligations?</a> 
<a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/05/27/2021-french-open-predictions-picks-nadal-djokovic">2021 French Open Men's Seed Report</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Naomi Osaka Withdraws From French, Details Her Battle With Depression

Naomi Osaka wrote that she has dealt with bouts of depression since the 2018 U.S. Open. Naomi Osaka announced she is withdrawing from the ...

The World of Sports

New on Sports Illustrated: Joel Embiid Ruled Out vs. Wizards Due to Right Knee Soreness

New on Sports Illustrated: MAQB: Why June 1 Could Be a Significant Date In a Potential Julio Jones Deal

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Jake Paul to Fight Former UFC Champion Tyron Woodley in Boxing Match

New on Sports Illustrated: Naomi Osaka's French Open Withdrawal Puts the Spotlight on Mental Health

New on Sports Illustrated: Naomi Osaka Withdraws From French, Details Her Battle With Depression

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