An Ole Miss student thought she was participating in an in-game promotion. It became a surprise proposal.
Coach Lane Kiffin becomes first to congratulate newly engaged Ole Miss couple.
‘I felt like the luckiest man alive,’ former Ole Miss pole vaulter says after getting engaged.

Best-case scenario, Madison Barnette thought she and her beau Drew O’Connor would walk away with a Planet Fitness membership card and a memory at Vaught Hemingway Stadium.

Worst-case scenario, O’Connor would miss the field goal during the in-game promotion in front of thousands of Mississippi fans.

Then came the plot twist Barnette hadn’t seen coming.

The kick contest was all a ruse.

With the help of Ole Miss athletics and marketing staff, O’Connor had arranged a surprise proposal, under the guise of a field-goal promotion.

Barnette kneeled and held the football, thinking O’Connor was about to attempt a 25-yard field goal, before he suddenly changed course and shocked her by popping the question.

She said yes.

Forget the gym membership. Barnette exited the field with the real prize.

“A lifetime membership with my best friend,” Barnette, 21, the newly engaged senior Ole Miss nursing student, told USA TODAY.

The story doesn’t end there.

As an Ole Miss photographer snapped photos of the happy couple on the field, coach Lane Kiffin raced over from the sideline and hopped in the picture. Frame that photo. There’s Kiffin, smiling during a game break, alongside the overjoyed couple.

Truly, an only-in-college-football moment.

Ole Miss couple met in the Grove, got engaged at the Vaught

Barnette and O’Connor met at a tailgate in the Grove last fall. They went on their first date in January. By August, they were ring shopping.

“When you know you know,” Barnette said. “When you know that God has intentionally placed someone in your life for a reason, there’s no hesitancy to join that covenant.”

O’Connor didn’t purchase the ring when the couple shopped together, and Barnette didn’t know he’d bought a ring. Certainly, she didn’t expect a proposal to come during an Ole Miss game against The Citadel. Maybe, she thought, he’d propose during the holiday season.

O’Connor, 24, earned his master’s degree from Ole Miss, where he was a pole vaulter on the track team.

Considering where and how the couple met and Barnette’s affection for Ole Miss football, O’Connor decided to go big with an on-field proposal.

“I wanted to propose to Madison at a place that mattered to both of us, and Ole Miss completely changed both of our lives for the better,” said O’Connor, who will start work at a Missouri accounting firm in January. “It just kind of made sense for me to at least give it my best effort to make it such a special day.”

He brought the idea to Ole Miss, which jumped on board.

“Trust me, I had the easy role,’ O’Connor said. ‘Their behind-the-scenes coordination was super impressive.’

Field goal turns into a proposal, with congrats from Lane Kiffin

As a former athlete, O’Connor is allowed to go onto the field before football games. That’s where his plan shifted into gear.

An Ole Miss staff member asked Barnette if she and O’Connor wanted to participate in a third-quarter contest. She’d be the holder, he’d be the kicker, and they’d need to convert a short field goal for a prize from Planet Fitness. She figured, sure, why not?

Barnette and O’Connor went down to the sideline to get ready for the contest during the third quarter. Some Ole Miss staffers helped sell the plot by giving Barnette tips on how to hold the ball for the kick. Index finger on top of the ball, and laces out, toward the goal posts. She practiced a bit on the sideline.

O’Connor had given the ring to Ole Miss earlier in the week, so he wouldn’t have any issues getting it through security. When he and Barnette took the field, an Ole Miss staffer passed O’Connor the ring. Barnette didn’t see the exchange, but the crowd noticed and began to cheer.

Barnette focused on doing her part, so O’Connor wouldn’t miss what she thought was about to be a prize-winning kick.

“I really was hoping he was going to make the field goal,” Barnette said. “I just think, if he had missed the kick, that would be a little embarrassing, especially in front of the whole stadium. So, I was a little nervous for him, but he was so confident. He sold it really well.”

O’Connor played on his high school football team. Could he have made the 25-yard kick?

Barnette wondered that, too.

“I asked him after the fact, ‘Do you think you could have made that?’’ Barnette said. ‘He was like, ‘Yeah, but it wasn’t about that.”

Instead of kicking the field goal, O’Connor grabbed Barnette’s left hand she’d been using to hold the football, and she got to her feet. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out the ring and dropped to one knee, as Barnette’s jaw dropped.

Surprise.

Never mind the kick. O’Connor had executed the proposal perfectly.

“When she said yes, I felt like the luckiest man alive,” O’Connor said.

As Barnette and O’Connor posed for photos, Kiffin couldn’t help himself. With his Rebels routing The Citadel, Kiffin had a moment to spare. He popped over to join in the fuss on the field.

Caught up in the moment, it took Barnette and O’Connor a moment to realize: Hey, Lane Kiffin has entered the frame.

Kiffin told reporters later he hoped he hadn’t improperly intruded on their moment. No worries on that.

“I absolutely loved it,” Barnette said of Kiffin joining the Polaroid moment. “I’m a big fan of Ole Miss football, Ole Miss athletics, and I think that’s why Drew knew this would be a perfect proposal for me.”

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

We’re on to the second half of the 2025 NFL regular season. Week 11’s slate of matchups features key games for the playoff race in both conferences.

In the AFC, results could impact both the wild card and divisional races. Kansas City’s looking to overcome its slow start to the season by knocking off AFC West leader Denver and drawing even in the wild-card race. Los Angeles currently holds the top wild card spot in the picture and faces off against Jacksonville, who currently holds the No. 7 seed.

The Chargers have won three straight and are on the road to face the Jaguars who are fresh off a loss to the Houston Texans. For one Jaguars player, it’s a special week: rookie tight end Patrick Herbert is facing his older brother, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

‘It’s awesome,’ Patrick said. ‘I think we kind of take it for granted sometimes looking at him and being like, ‘oh, he’s been in the league for five or six years, whatever.’ And I think it’s a big accomplishment. That’s really cool.’

He said he wasn’t thinking about potentially playing his brother later on in the regular season when he signed with the Jaguars. But it’ll be new territory for both of them.

‘I don’t think we’ve ever played on opposite teams,’ Patrick said but added that maybe they did when they played in the backyard as kids. ‘Maybe in like fifth grade, something like that. Maybe like [recreation league] basketball. That might’ve been a little bit more recently.’

Patrick went undrafted this year after his career at Oregon. He and Justin spent one season together with the Ducks in 2019 before Justin was selected No. 6 overall by the Chargers in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Patrick spent six seasons at Oregon and started six of the Ducks’ 14 games during his final season there in 2024.

Jacksonville signed him as an undrafted free agent and kept him on the practice squad following roster cuts in August. He’s one of two tight ends the Jaguars have on their practice squad along with Jordan Akins.

Barring a last-minute shakeup, Patrick will likely not be on the active roster for the game this week. If he’s at the stadium, it’ll be as a fan to see his older brother play.

He said he’s gone to him as needed during his first season in the league.

‘He’s there when I need it,’ Patrick said. ‘If I have questions for him, he’s always there. But besides that, I think it’s kind of my journey.’

What a scene it will be Saturday night in Oxford, Miss., where more than 130 players from two teams will be flying around to impress one coach. 

Welcome to the world of Lane Kiffin, whose current team Ole Miss is battling for position in the College Football Playoff. His potential future team Florida, meanwhile, is trying to do what it did last season: prevent him from reaching the CFP with a mega upset.

It’s a chance for players on Florida’s roster to make an early impression on Kiffin, who could be their coach in 2026. It’s no secret Kiffin is Florida’s top choice to replace fired coach Billy Napier, even though Kiffin could stay at Ole Miss or take another job.

It’s the hottest story in college football, and Kiffin swears it’s not affecting his team. 

“These guys get way more of it than I do,” Kiffin said earlier this week. “They get calls on Saturday night after games from other coaches talking about next year and how much money they have for them, and their plans for them and their system. So I don’t think it’s that big a deal.”

Florida’s November upset of Ole Miss last season not only knocked the Rebels out of the CFP, it likely prevented Florida from firing Billy Napier — and kept Kiffin in Oxford. If ever there were a moment when it would’ve been easier for Kiffin to leave what he has built at Ole Miss, it was after the disappointing way last season ended. 

Now here we are a year later, and Kiffin — with another rebuilt roster — has Ole Miss steered toward the CFP. Florida, on the other hand, is scrambling again, trying to find the right coaching fit for the fifth time in 16 seasons.

This week’s SEC football picks

South Carolina at Texas A&M (-19.5): A classic opportunity for the Aggies to play flat after two statement road wins over LSU and Missouri — one that got a coach fired (Brian Kelly), and the other that has a coach downplaying the focus on all things CFP (Eli Drinkwitz). 

Maybe after this week, against a South Carolina team that has lost six of seven and has completely mismanaged one of the best talents in college football (QB LaNorris Sellers), Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer will be downplaying the focus on bowl eligibility after beginning the season as a trendy pick for the CFP.   

Arkansas at LSU (-4.5): Let me just say right now that I don’t like this pick. It’s a rivalry game, and who knows how LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier will react to getting benched last week.

Or if the LSU team is even listening to interim coach Frank Wilson.

If you don’t think those aren’t legitimate issues, I give you Florida last week against Kentucky. One word: quit.

That and Arkansas has played hard under interim coach Bob Petrino, losing four straight by a combined 18 points. 

Tennessee Tech at Kentucky (-21.5): Fortunately, these November games against FCS opponents will end in 2026 when the SEC moves to a nine-game conference schedule.

Until then, enjoy your body bag game, ‘Cats. One step closer to bowl eligibility.    

Oklahoma (+5.5) at Alabama: Alabama has made amends for two of the three embarrassing road losses last season (Tennessee, Vanderbilt), and gets an opportunity to make up for the third this weekend.

Or the worst of the three losses. 

Forget about the 40-year flood loss to Vandy, the 21-point loss to OU in Norman kept the Tide from the CFP. That should be motivation enough. 

Alabama’s offense struggled last week against a stout LSU defense, and Oklahoma’s defense is similar in size, speed and ability to athletically cause problems up front for the Alabama offensive line. 

All it’s going to take is Sooners’ QB John Mateer to continue moving forward from the injured thumb on his throwing hand, and playing like he did in September.  

New Mexico State at Tennessee (-39.5): There’s a slight chanced Tennessee could reach the CFP at 9-3. But it would take a run of November upsets not seen since 2007.  

Florida at Ole Miss (-13.5): The big (non-coach) question in Gainesville: how will QB DJ Lagway respond to getting benched in last week’s blowout loss to Kentucky? 

Layaway has played one solid game this season in the upset of Texas. Other than that, he has been full of inconsistency and confounding decisions with the ball.  

May as well respond with his best game of the season, especially considering the guy who could be coaching him at some point would also be deciding if he’s diving in the transfer portal for a replacement starting quarterback in 2026.

Texas at Georgia (-6.5): After finally playing its most complete game of the season, we can now see a road map to Georgia making a deep run in the CFP.

They don’t necessarily do anything exceptional, but the run game has picked up over the past two games and the defense is beginning to affect the quarterback. 

Texas QB Arch Manning played his best game of the season two weeks ago in a win over Vanderbilt, and the Longhorns must beat either Georgia or Texas A&M to reach the CFP. It’s either all coming together, or we’re overlooking that two games in the four-game winning streak were in overtime against two of the SEC’s worst teams (Mississippi State, Kentucky).  

Mississippi State (+6.5) at Missouri: Are you buying that Drinkwitz is randomly talking about too much focus on the CFP after a wipeout loss to Texas A&M?

Or maybe he knows how difficult it will be to score points the rest of the season with a third-string quarterback.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes his team’s ‘Monday Night Football’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders will be “therapeutic” for the players.

Jones appeared on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Nov. 14 to discuss the Cowboys’ upcoming game in the aftermath of Marshawn Kneeland’s death by suicide.

Jones reflected on his experience playing a college football game for the University of Arkansas soon after former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

“I think it was therapeutic. You’re fortunate and that you’ve got that to dwell on it, your play. I’ll never forget when I was a junior, John Kennedy got killed, and we played a game on Saturday,” Jones said Friday. “Wasn’t the same circumstances, but just that early, it really caused you to get your mind away from the tragedy.”

Kneeland died last week while the Cowboys were on a bye. The Nov. 17 contest against the Raiders will be the Cowboys’ first game since Kneeland’s death.

Jones said Cowboys first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer has handled the situation well.

“One of his distinctive skills is people skills. He knows how to communicate. That’s a complete must when you’re coaching,” Jones said. “We’re proud of him.”

The Cowboys will wear a special helmet decal for the rest of the season to honor Kneeland. The Cowboys also started a “Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund” in part to help Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina, who is pregnant.

Finding an NFL team that qualifies as underrated isn’t easy given the landscape of the league after 10 weeks.

With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the league’s middle class appears to be thinning out. Only seven teams currently stand either at .500 or one game away in either direction. The league has a solid collection of overachievers setting the pace for the playoff push, as well as established contenders still trying to find their form. On the other end are teams that, regardless of whether they have embraced their cellar status, have little hope left for 2025.

To make the exercise of identifying underrated teams even more difficult, we limited ourselves to those that were outside the top 10 of USA TODAY Sports’ latest NFL power rankings. So while the likes of the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions might be even better than some give them credit for, they’re hardly flying under the radar.

Who then qualifies as underrated right now? Here are our five picks of teams that at the very least might be undervalued:

Baltimore Ravens

There’s almost no point in judging Baltimore based on its early-season returns. Though the Ravens’ 1-5 start still follows them around in the standings, this is almost a completely different operation from the one seen before their Week 7 bye. That’s a welcome shift for John Harbaugh and Co. – and one that’s tough for the rest of the AFC to stomach.

A defense that started the season as a sieve has found its stride, allowing just 17.5 points per game in the last four contests while also notching eight takeaways. That transformation surely stems in part from a much better health outlook after the unit was severely undermanned in the opening weeks, but putting Kyle Hamilton in the slot upon safety Alohi Gilman’s arrival via trade has helped Baltimore create more havoc. The upshot is undeniable: Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry can fall short of world-beater status and the Ravens can still prevail, as was the case in Sunday’s 27-19 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings. With four of their next five games coming against teams with three or fewer wins, sure feels as though it will only be a matter of time before this team finds its way back to at least a wild-card spot.

Houston Texans

Between the rise of the Indianapolis Colts and the Texans’ 2-4 start, it was straightforward enough to toss aside the two-time AFC South champions as they continued to be dogged by the same offensive line issues that plagued them throughout 2024. But Sunday’s rally to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 36-29 via a 26-0 fourth-quarter run could prove to be an inflection point for this season.

Houston enjoyed a good bit of success deploying jumbo packages in a win over the San Francisco 49ers, but C.J. Stroud was lost to a concussion early the following week in a close loss to the Denver Broncos. But if backup Davis Mills can hold things down for another week against the floundering Tennessee Titans, the Texans might be in position to make a late push. A truly superlative defense that ranks first in yards allowed (261.3 per game) and expected points added per play (-0.18) will keep the team in almost any game. Now, however, the ground game is making headway with rookie Woody Marks leading the charge, and the Nico Collins-led receiving corps is actually being afforded opportunities to do some damage. Rallying all the way back to reclaim the division seems far-fetched, but Houston still has two tilts against the Colts coming up. Don’t rule out the team making a run back to the AFC playoff picture.

Minnesota Vikings

Sitting in fourth place in the NFC North is unquestionably a letdown for a franchise that went to great lengths to facilitate a changing of the guard behind center after a 14-win season. And a good deal of unease traces back to J.J. McCarthy and what he has – or hasn’t – shown in the first four starts of his career. Yet with a sample size this small for a young quarterback, it’s wise to resist sweeping proclamations about both the short and long term.

Even with McCarthy far from fully settled, particularly when operating outside the pocket, Minnesota has found enough of a spark from its second-year signal-caller to power a Week 9 win over the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. Still, given the passer’s bouts of inaccuracy and proclivity for putting the ball in harm’s way, there has to be somewhat of a reduced ask for him. That isn’t a problem when Minnesota can stay on schedule and play complementary football. But the Vikings also need their defense to provide more of an edge with takeaways, as the unit has generated just nine after collecting 33 a year ago. With better fortune overall on the turnover front, however, the Vikings can keep things simple for McCarthy and reassert their relevance in the NFC.

Cincinnati Bengals

It’s easy to dunk on Cincinnati for a defense that’s on track for historic levels of ineptitude, with the unit on track to break the record – held by last year’s Carolina Panthers – for most points surrendered in a single season. And with consecutive collapses to the New York Jets and Chicago Bears that underscored how singularly ineffective they are in stopping anyone, the Bengals also seemed ready to be written off. But that’s probably still premature for a team with this ceiling.

Simply put, there aren’t any other teams with three or fewer wins that can match Cincinnati in firepower, with the offense having averaged 32.8 points per game in Joe Flacco’s four starts since being traded to the team. Things can’t get much worse for the error-prone defense, so any progress in cleaning up the rampant missed tackles might make a world of difference. So, too, would having starting rookie linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter better trigger against the run. But the real reason for hope is the layout of the AFC North, which comprises a flawed foursome of teams. The Bengals have already beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers once and could score an all-important sweep on Sunday, though they’ll likely have to do so without injured edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart. If they manage that, then the two looming contests against the Ravens take on added significance, especially with Joe Burrow eyeing a return in the first tilt on Thanksgiving night. The path to making

Atlanta Falcons

Things certainly seem to be getting dire for a franchise that’s tied for the second-longest active playoff drought at seven seasons. Riding a four-game losing streak, the Falcons are staring down the likelihood of again falling short of the postseason, which could prompt some difficult decisions for owner Arthur Blank, who said this summer he’s ‘impatient to win.’ Still, Atlanta is probably somewhere closer to the NFC’s middle class than its 3-6 record indicates.

Third downs have been the offense’s undoing, with the Falcons ranking 29th in conversion rate after going 0-for-8 in a 31-25 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin. Getting to more manageable outlooks in that setting could yield massive improvement and also place less stress on volatile second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., whose inability to work the middle of the field has severely limited an Atlanta attack that has failed to even approach lofty preseason expectations. There’s still enough talent for a late-season surge, though, and an upcoming three-game stretch against the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets could help the Falcons put things together after near misses against two of the AFC’s best in the Colts and New England Patriots. Don’t count on the postseason drought ending, but Atlanta has a chance to finally start delivering on its promise.

For the next two weeks, that allegiance might grow. Even Vanderbilt fans should support the Big Orange this weekend and next, even if they choose not to wear any Pantone 151 C.

We’re in that unusual portion of the college football schedule where it’s become beneficial to root for your rivals.

Confused? Follow along.

Vanderbilt’s College Football Playoff hopes are pinned to the Commodores finishing 10-2, including a win at Tennessee in the regular-season finale, and convincing the CFP committee they’re worthy of one of the last at-large spots.

That becomes an easier argument to make if Tennessee is 8-3 entering that Nov. 29 rivalry game at Neyland Stadium. So, for the next two weeks, Vandy fans are now Vols fans, as Tennessee plays New Mexico State this weekend and then travels to Florida on Nov. 22.

OK, so maybe not fans but at least silent supporters.

This 12-team playoff makes for strange bedfellows.

Texas needs to pull for Texas A&M these next two weeks. Because, unless the Longhorns win at Georgia this weekend, their playoff hopes are pinned to beating Texas A&M on Black Friday and hoping a 9-3 record is enough.

It’s easier to make that case if the Aggies are 11-0 and ranked within the top three when they head to Austin. So, for the next two weeks in Austin, keep it weird, and Gig ‘em!

The better Georgia Tech plays the next two weeks, the better it would look for Georgia if the Bulldogs beat the Yellow Jackets. So, get the buzz, from Atlanta to Athens for the next two weeks.

BYU’s at-large resume is propped up by a Holy War win against Utah. Embrace that spiritual kinship, Cougars, because BYU would benefit from Utah finishing 10-2.

The longer Southern California avoids a third loss, the longer Notre Dame can claim a quality victory. Can Irish fans bring themselves to say, Fight on?

Now, brace yourselves, because I’m going to suggest something quite bold. Ohio State despises Michigan so much, the Buckeyes can’t bring themselves to say or write “Michigan.” To Ohio State, its rival is either The Team Up North or Xichigan.

So, I ask you, Michigan: Can you stomach Ohio State maintaining its No. 1 ranking and building to an 11-0 record?

The two-loss Wolverines’ playoff hopes hinge on winning out. A statement win against undefeated and top-ranked Ohio State would be impossible for the committee to ignore. Ohio State losing to UCLA this weekend would be the last thing Michigan needs.

Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M don’t need any help. Beat everybody, and you aren’t left rooting for your rival.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The college football Friday schedule may be small, but it packs a mighty punch for potential College Football Playoff implications.

The Friday, Nov. 14, action kicks off with an ACC matchup between No. 21 Louisville and Clemson, with the Cardinals looking to bounce back from an untimely 29-26 loss to California in Week 11. Louisville will need some help to get back into the ACC championship game conversation to open the door for a CFP berth.

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Clemson is coming off a dominant 24-10 win over rival Florida State, but still needs two wins in its final three games to avoid missing a bowl game.

Meanwhile, No. 6 Oregon will look to get its offense back on track in a matchup against Minnesota. The Ducks’ offense has combined for 39 points over the last two weeks, with quarterback Dante Moore throwing for just 198 yards combined over the previous two games.

The Golden Gophers have flown under the radar for much of the season, reaching bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season. They could be a potential trap game for the Ducks with USC and Washington on the horizon.

Here’s the rest of Friday night’s schedule with TV info and betting odds for each game:

College football games today

Clemson at No. 21 Louisville

Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN (Fubo)
Betting odds: Louisville (-3) | Over/Under (46.5)

Prediction: Louisville 27, Clemson 23

The Tigers ride the high of a win over rival Florida State to take a lead through three quarters and position themselves for the upset victory. However, the Cardinals score two fourth-quarter touchdowns to steal the win from Clemson.

Minnesota at No. 6 Oregon

Time: 9 p.m.
TV: Fox (Fubo)
Betting odds: Oregon (-24) | O/U 44.5)

Prediction: Oregon 34, Minnesota 10

Oregon passes a major test of a tougher-than-expected opponent with a strong win behind a three-touchdown passing performance from Dante Moore and a revival of the offense following sluggish performances against Wisconsin and Iowa.

The Dallas Mavericks have to hire a new general manager, and that person may opt to completely overhaul the roster and rebuild.

The Memphis Grizzlies are dealing with a frustrated — if not fully disgruntled — star in Ja Morant.

The Sacramento Kings might also be selling off their assets.

The 2025-26 NBA season isn’t even a month in, but there are already plenty of indicators that may point to a potentially busy trade market.

The NBA trade deadline is still a long way off, on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET, but we’re already looking at players most likely to be traded and their best possible fits.

NBA trade rumors: Players who might be on the move

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks forward-center

Why: Davis, 32, is a massive injury risk and has played only 14 games for the Mavericks since being traded in February. He’s pricey and has two more seasons on a contract that averages $58.5 million in annual value, with a player option in 2027-28 worth $62.8 million. The Mavericks need to get younger and Davis doesn’t fit that timeline.

Best fits:Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies guard

Why:This feels untenable. Morant, the electric 26-year-old guard whose numbers have dipped, grated at direct criticism that his head coach, Tuomas Iisalo, levied at him. Iisalo reportedly challenged Morant to be a better leader, and Morant responded with curt media sessions and reportedly denounced Iisalo’s substitution patterns. The Grizzlies have a young, talented team, and the front office may want to change the vibe in the locker room, though Morant’s value might be the lowest it has ever been.

Best fits: Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks guard

Why: The easiest deal might be a Morant-Young swap, but the Hawks might actually play more cohesively without Young. The team’s performance with him on the court versus off is similar, but his contract is significant enough where that salary cap space could be used more efficiently. Young is expected to miss at least a month with an MCL sprain, and Atlanta is 6-2 without him, versus 1-3 in games he started and finished.

Best fits: Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves

Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz forward

Why: It seems like Markkanen, the versatile stretch forward whose numbers have exploded this year, is always the subject of trade rumors. And while it may seem unconventional for a team to trade away a 28-year-old who is averaging 29.3 points per game, his value has never been higher. So, if the Jazz want to continue their youth movement and stash away draft capital, a deal here would make sense.

Best fits: Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics

Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans forward

Why: It might just be time for a change of scenery. Williamson came into the season in the best shape of his career, but he suffered a hamstring injury that has sidelined him yet again. Availability has been the big issue for Williamson, who is just 25. That means that his trade market has depressed significantly, with teams being wary about shipping assets for a player who is often injured. But the Pelicans are 2-9 and may be looking to completely reset their roster.

Best fits: Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings center

Why: A recent report suggested the Kings could offload their best players to undertake a full-scale rebuild, and Sabonis could be the most desirable target. He’s best when he anchors an offense from the top of the key, with the ball in his hands. Sacramento is poorly constructed and coach Doug Christie has gone away from Sabonis as a distributor, relying more on his point guards.

Best fits: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets

DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings forward

Why: Ditto to the above on the Kings rebuild and poor roster construction. DeRozan, 36, excels in the midrange and is a fairly consistent scorer, something that could help teams looking for a boost in offensive production. But, because he thrives in the midrange, he might not be a fit for a lot of up-tempo offenses that prioritize perimeter shots.

Best fits: Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks

Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings forward

Why: Ditto to the above … LaVine is having a solid start to the season, leading the Kings in points per game (23.9) at an excellent 51.9% shooting clip. He also leads Sacramento in made 3-pointers per game (3.3) and is shooting those at 42.3%. His contract is a little unwieldy, but he provides instant offense.

Best fits: Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors

NBA trade rumors: Players unlikely to be traded

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers forward

Why: Although Los Angeles is essentially treating James as an expiring contract, it’s tough to see the franchise trading him, unless it’s at James’ request. He will turn 41 in late December, and he has a no-trade clause in his contract. James has said, however, that he wants to compete for championships, so if he senses that the Lakers will be unable to do so, he could theoretically ask out. Still, it’s tough to envision that happening.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks forward-center

Why: After an offseason of angst and speculation, one in which trade conversations took place, the thinking was that Antetokounmpo would be in a wait-and-see mode to determine Milwaukee’s direction. The Bucks are 7-5, and the role players around Antetokounmpo have been surprisingly steady, with point guard Ryan Rollins being the bright spot. Antetokounmpo is putting up monster numbers and the Bucks will not move him unless he makes things ugly and asks out.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers center

Why: He has played in just six games, and the 76ers are being cautious with his usage. This is by design; they do not want to put undue strain on Embiid’s body. Still, injuries are a constant concern, so teams would be hesitant to part with assets for a player who will be 32 in March. His contract would also be a burden to unload.