The NBA offseason is still young, but we have likely already seen the biggest move. In late June, former MVP and two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant was traded the Houston Rockets.

Though the trade was still unofficial, fans already knew some parts of it. We knew that the Rockets were giving up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and the 10th-overall pick of the 2025 draft. Fans thought that was that, but oh no. There was much, much more to this trade.

On July 6, the trade became official, revealing that there were seven teams involved in the trade − the first such trade in NBA history, per ESPN. Six players, fifteen draft picks, and a bit of cash were all moved in order to move Kevin Durant to the Lone Star State. Here’s what to know.

Which teams were involved in the trade?

Obviously, the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns were involved, but other teams in on the action included the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers.

What did each team receive?

Phoenix Suns: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 10th-overall pick (Khaman Maluach), 31st-overall pick (Rasheer Fleming), 41st-overall pick (Koby Brea), Daeqwon Plowden, a 2026 2nd-round pick, a 2032 second-round pick
Houston Rockets: Kevin Durant, Clint Capela, 2031 2nd-round pick swap
Golden State Warriors: 52nd-overall pick (Alex Toohey), 59th-overall pick (Jahmai Mashack)
Brooklyn Nets: 2026 2nd-round pick, 2030 2nd-round pick
Atlanta Hawks: David Roddy, 2031 2nd-round pick swap, cash considerations
Los Angeles Lakers: 36th-overall pick (Adou Thiero)
Minnesota Timberwolves: 45th-overall pick (Rocco Zikarsky), two future 2nd-round picks, cash considerations

Why did it take so long for the trade to become official?

The deal was not eligible to be completed until July 6, the start of the NBA’s 2025-26 official year. The delay allowed teams to satisfy salary cap requirements and actually enabled Phoenix to move the second-round picks it earned in the trade around in order to alleviate some salary cap penalties they would’ve otherwise had to endure.

What was the previous biggest trade in NBA history?

Just one year ago, the league saw a six-team trade between the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers. The biggest player involved in this trade was five-time All-Star Klay Thompson, who was sent from the Golden State Warriors to the Dallas Mavericks.

The game between the Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew ended in a 1-1 draw during the final seconds of stoppage time after Stefan Frei went down with an injury on Sunday, July 6.

The Sounders goalkeeper was seen diving in the direction of the ball on a Columbus Crew’s corner kick attempt while several players were coming toward him and the net, trying to make a play on the ball. Frei took a knee to the head during the Columbus Crew’s corner kick attempt.

Medical officials were on the field to evaluate Frei before an ambulance arrived and he was transported off the field.

Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer said after the game that Frei was alert. He was being evaluated for both neck and head injuries.

‘(Frei) got hit pretty hard,’ Schmetzer said. ‘We’re in the early stages of that evaluation. As soon as we get a definitive, a real, good clarity on the extent of the injury, we’ll give you more. I don’t want to speculate.

‘He is going to the hospital, but he is fine. He was alert when he was loaded onto the ambulance … I’m very happy for our medical staff because they did a good job to be careful. We can’t underestimate that type of stuff.’

The game was no longer a priority for Schmetzer, who was heard during the game’s broadcast on Apple TV asking for officials to ‘stop the game’ following Frei’s injury.

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There were the young All-Stars, the first-time All-Stars and the old All-Stars, but no name resonated more brightly Sunday during the selections was Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Clayton Kershaw.

Just four days after entering the record books with his 3,000th strikeout, Kershaw is now going to the All-Star Game for the 11th time of his illustrious career, chosen by commissioner Rob Manfred as his “Legend Pick’ in recognition of the Dodgers veteran.

Kershaw, the oldest All-Star at 37 years old, becomes the first All-Star chosen by Manfred since 2022 when he chose Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera, who were in the final year of their careers. Kershaw has not announced whether this will be his final season, but after three Cy Youngs, two World Series championships and becoming the 20th pitcher to achieve 3,000 strikeouts, his Hall of Fame resume is already complete.

MLB ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS: Check out the full teams for Midsummer Classic

Kershaw is one of five Dodgers who will be at the All-Star Game, joining Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the most by any team. The first-place Detroit Tigers (Tarik Skubal, Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Javier Baez) and the Seattle Mariners (Cal Raleigh, Bryan Woo, Julio Rodriguez and Andres Muñoz) have the second-most representatives with four All-Stars apiece.

There are 19 first-time All Stars, including 21 players who are 26 years old are younger, with 22-year-old James Wood of the Washington Nationals being the youngest. Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, 23, is the youngest AL player, and joins his father, Jack, as the first father-son duo to be selected as All-Star shortstops, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Shane Smith is not only the first Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher to make the All-Star team, but also becomes only the second player to be a Rule 5 Draft pick and make the All-Star team the following season, joining Miami Marlins infielder Dan Uggla in 2006.

Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom, the two-time Cy Young award winner and a candidate to win his third, is returning to the All-Star Game for the first time since 2021. He’s 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA and his 101⅓ innings pitches are the most he’s accumulated since 2021.

There, of course, are plenty of players who were snubbed, well at least initially considering there are about a dozen players added before the July 15 All-Star Game with injuries and pitching limits. St. Louis Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, Astros starter Framber Valdez, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, Mets outfielder Juan Soto, Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, Phillies starter Ranger Suarez, Twins starter Joe Ryan, Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez and Rays third baseman Junior Caminero were among the most glaring omissions.

San Francisco Giants DH Rafael Devers may have gotten robbed of an All-Star selection simply by being traded last month from the Boston Red Sox. Devers entered the day hitting .262 with 17 homers, 67 RBIs and an .866 OPS, but his numbers paled in comparison to Shohei Ohtani (30 homers, 56 RBIs, 1.002 OPS) and Kyle Schwarber (27 homers, 62 RBIs, .922 OPS), who were the top two picks on the players’ ballot.

The players ballot, which also included managers and coaches, once again provided intrigue. They voted for Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña to be the starter, which went to Wilson in the fan balloting. They also voted for Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays to be the starting first baseman instead of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays.

While Freeman is the NL’s starting first baseman, the players wanted New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who easily won their vote. Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. received the most fan votes, despite not making his season debut until May 23, but finished only fifth in the player balloting. Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton wasn’t chosen by the fans, but he received the second-most votes from AL outfielders by the players, behind only Yankees MVP Aaron Judge.

In the NL, the players voted Padres setup reliever Jason Adam to the All-Star team, but not teammate Robert Suarez, the Padres closer, who is tied for the MLB lead with 24 saves. San Francisco Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez received the most votes among NL relievers, followed by Edwin Diaz of the Mets. In the AL, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman received the most votes ahead of Josh Hader of the Houston Astros, who has been perfect in 25 save situations.

The AL All-Stars selected by the players:

Catcher Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays.
First baseman Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays.
Second baseman: Brandon Lowe, Rays
Shortstop: Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros.
Third baseman: Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox.
Outfielders: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins; Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians; Julio Rodriguez Seattle Mariners; DH Brent Rooker.
Starting Pitchers: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers; Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox; Max Fried, New York Yankees; Hunter Brown, Houston Astros; Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers.
Relief Pitchers: Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox; Josh Hader, Astros; Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners.

The NL All-Star chosen by the players:

Catcher: Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies.
First baseman: Pete Alonso, Mets.
Second baseman: Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals.
Shortstop: Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds.
Third baseman: Eugenio Suarez, Arizona Diamondbacks.
Outfielders: James Wood, Nationals; Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks; Fernando Tatis, Padres.
DH: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies.
Starting pitchers: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates; Zack Wheeler, Phillies; Chris Sale, Atlanta; Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants; MacKenzie Gore, Nationals.
Relief pitchers: Randy Rodriguez, Giants; Edwin Diaz, Mets; Jason Adam, Padres.

MLB made six selections in each league to fill out their roster, and to assure that every club was represented. In the AL, Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm and Witt, of the Royals were chosen, along with pitchers Kris Bubic of the Royals, Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, Woo and Smith.

In the NL, MLB chose 34-year-old Cubs starter Matthew Boyd for his first All-Star Game, also with starters Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers, Robbie Ray of the Giants and Yamamoto. It also selected first baseman Matt Olson of Atlanta and Kyle Stowers of the Miami Marlins.

While Tarik Skubal should easily be the choice to start the All-Star Game for the AL, it will be a fascinating decision for NL manager Dave Roberts of the Dodgers to choose between Zach Wheeler of the Phillies and Skenes of the Pirates. Wheeler threw a one-hit complete game Sunday, retiring 27 of the 28 batters he faced with 12 strikeouts while Skenes leads the NL in ERA (2.03) and opponent’s batting average (.182).

Skenes told reporters he’d love to start again after having the honor in last year’s All-Star Game as a rookie, but most of all, would love to sit down and chat with Skubal, who is 10-2 with a 2.02 ERA this season, with 148 strikeouts in 116 innings

“It would be cool, he said. “More than anything, I want to get him off to the side and ask him how he does what he does, basically. I’ve talked with him a little bit, but to see him do it again, at an even higher level than he did last year arguably, it’s pretty dang cool.”

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Rosters for the 2025 All-Star Game, to be played July 15 in Atlanta, don’t necessarily represent a changing of the guard within Major League Baseball. Yet the 64 players selected to the National League and American League rosters announced July 6 indicate another wave of fresh talent has landed.

James Wood is in: The Washington Nationals’ 6-foot-7 outfielder whose .943 OPS leads NL outfielders will make the first of what’s expected to be many All-Star appearances.

Hunter Brown is in: The Houston Astros ace, who’d be the favorite to start the game in a Tarik Skubal-free environment, leads the major leagues with a 1.82 ERA and the AL with a 0.90 WHIP.

Among those not getting, at least for now, a golden ticket to Cobb County: Cubs slugger Michael Busch, Rays infielder Junior Caminero and Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. But stay tuned: Injury and pitching replacements will dominate this space for the next nine days until the Midsummer Classic tips off.

A look at the AL and NL rosters: 

American League All-Star roster

Starters (voted on by fans)

Catcher: Cal Raleigh, Mariners
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
Second base: Gleyber Torres, Tigers
Third base: José Ramírez, Guardians
Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Athletics
Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Outfield: Javier Báez, Tigers
Outfield: Riley Greene, Tigers
Designated hitter: Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles

AL reserves

C Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays
INF Jonathan Aranda, Rays
INF Alex Bregman, Red Sox
INF Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees
INF Jeremy Peña, Astros
INF Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
DH Brent Rooker, Athletics
OF Byron Buxton, Twins
OF Steven Kwan, Guardians
OF Julio Rodríguez, Mariners

AL pitchers

Tarik Skubal, Tigers
Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
Yusei Kikuchi, Angels
Max Fried, Yankees
Jacob deGrom, Rangers
Shane Smith, White Sox
Hunter Brown, Astros
Kris Bubic, Royals
Bryan Woo, Mariners
Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox (reliever)
Josh Hader, Astros (reliever)
Andres Muñoz, Mariners (reliever)

National League All-Star roster

NL starters (voted on by fans)

Catcher: Will Smith, Dodgers
First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Second base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
Third base: Manny Machado, Padres
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Mets
Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs
Outfield: Kyle Tucker, Cubs
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

NL reserves

C Hunter Goodman, Rockies
INF Pete Alonso, Mets
INF Elly De La Cruz, Reds
INF Brendan Donovan, Cardinals
INF Matt Olson, Braves
INF Eugenio Suárez, Diamondbacks
DH Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
OF Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks
OF Kyle Stowers, Marlins
OF Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
OF James Wood, Nationals

NL pitchers

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (chosen by commissioner as Legend Pick)
Chris Sale, Braves
Zack Wheeler, Phillies
Paul Skenes, Pirates
Logan Webb, Giants
Robbie Ray, Giants
Freddy Peralta, Brewers
MacKenzie Gore, Nationals
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers 
Matthew Boyd, Cubs
Edwin Diaz, Mets (reliever)
Jason Adam, Padres (reliever)
Randy Rodriguez, Giants (reliever)

When is the MLB All-Star Game?

The 2025 Major League All-Star is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.

When is the MLB Home Run Derby?

The 2025 Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 14.

Who is in the Home Run Derby?

Several players have announced their plans to participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby as of Sunday, July 6.

Here’s who has committed so far:

Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Cal Raleigh, Mariners
James Wood, Nationals

WASHINGTON — It’s a strange existence, this life as baseball’s No. 1 prospect. The greater glory is often in anticipation, the projection of minor league greatness to big league excellence, and the parlor game of just when a buzzworthy talent will land at the game’s highest level.

Roman Anthony reached that apex on June 8, when he hit a 497-foot grand slam for Class AAA Worcester, a blast that figuratively punched his ticket from central Massachusetts to Fenway Park. Days later came the hurried drive east, the first big league start, hit and RBI and the fan delirium of what might come next.

And then, the hard part.

“You kind of understand that as a player – when you’re a prospect in the minor leagues and then when you come up here, nobody really cares anymore about your prospect status,” Anthony tells USA TODAY Sports.

“It’s time to help the team win.”

To that point, Anthony, 21, has been wildly successful, even if his first almost month in the major leagues has not yet produced a sizzle reel worth of sharable moments.

It would be hard to match the hype: Anthony’s ascent as a hitting savant since the Red Sox chose him with the 79th overall pick in 2022 crested these past two seasons, as an .879 career minor league OPS zoomed to .940 at Class AAA.

So when Anthony began his career with two hits in his first 27 at-bats – an .074 average and .416 OPS – the hype machine cooled. And a maelstrom gathered around him: The club abruptly ended its cold war with All-Star slugger Rafael Devers and on June 15 traded the designated hitter to San Francisco in a blockbuster that roiled two franchises.

Anthony had one major league hit to his name then, but the Red Sox did not consider spoon-feeding him; instead, they moved him to the No. 3 hole, and he’s batted either second or third in 16 games since.

They were rewarded with such foresight: Anthony has 16 hits in 50 at-bats since, a .314 average. One week ago, he had no multi-hit games; now, he has four, coinciding with the Red Sox winning five of seven to crawl back to .500 at 45-45 entering July 6.

“Now,” says Red Sox manager Alex Cora, “he’s finding green. He’s getting on base at a high rate. He’s doing an outstanding job.”

Even if his contributions aren’t the stuff of breathless anticipation.

Roman Anthony overcomes ‘gap’ between minors, MLB

It’s true: Home runs get the headlines. And Anthony hasn’t homered in nearly three weeks and 56 at-bats, since his first and only big league dinger off Seattle’s Logan Gilbert on June 16.

That’s not surprising given his batted-ball profile: Anthony’s groundball rate of 55% is 11% higher than the league average. He has struggled most with spin, to be expected of a young player, with a 40.5% whiff percentage on breaking pitches, more than three times his rate against fastballs.

And yet, he’s ripped six doubles and makes the right contributions to keep the lineup whirring. Cora lauded his focus in drawing a walk with an eight-run lead Friday; the next day, he hit a ball to the right side to move a runner that scored, then rolled a pair of singles that way to aid the Red Sox’s 10-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

That we are witnessing the building of a foundation as opposed to an instant smash is hardly a surprise in this era. Since the revamping of the minor leagues in 2022, the gulf between Class AAA and the big leagues has been widening.

Anthony played just 93 games over two seasons at Worcester and was a month past his 21st birthday when he debuted in Boston. He was tossed into a grind where three-city, nine-game road trips are common, whereas the minor leagues have largely shifted to a format where six-game series in one destination are commonplace.

“I think the gap between minor league baseball and the big leagues is the biggest I have witnessed as far as stuff, execution, fastballs, obviously breaking ball stuff,” says Cora. “Traveling, everything. This whole six days in one city – it doesn’t prepare them for this. We played at 11 yesterday, we play at 4 today, tomorrow at 1, hop on a plane and then we got seven in a row in Boston.

“Minor league baseball is not preparing these guys for what this is. They’ve done a good job adjusting. The organization does a good job with them when they get here, try to keep it as simple as possible. But it’s a big adjustment period.”

Anthony adds another factor to this: The cutthroat nature of the majors, where the game becomes a binary – did you win or lose? – as opposed to the developmental priority of the minor leagues

“I think the biggest adjustment is learning how to prepare yourself to help the team win every single day,” says Anthony. “In the minor leagues, and coming to the big leagues, the idea of showing up every day to win is so much different than it is in the minor leagues.

“My experience so far has been awesome.”

It doesn’t hurt that the Red Sox are hitting an offensive high point in the post-Devers era, scoring double-digit runs in four of their last seven games. They haven’t shown a consistency in all phases to compete in the American League East but encouraging performances of late from starters Lucas Giolito and Walker Buehler create some hope they may can stay in many more games than they were earlier this season.

Cora admires Anthony’s ability to flush outcomes with the aplomb of a much more veteran performer.

“He’s a consistent player, a consistent individual,” says Cora. “He does not get caught up in results. He wants to put up good at-bats.

“He wants to get better.”

Roman Anthony would ‘much rather have it this way’

Anthony, of course, is just one of a gaggle of mega-prospects who came up through Worcester in recent years, now playing alongside infielder Marcelo Mayer. The third piece of their Worcester triad one year ago, catcher Kyle Teel, was dealt to the Chicago White Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade this winter.

Teel made his debut one week before Anthony, and the two talk or text frequently, Anthony admiringly noting that Teel is “killing it” on the South Side, with a .283 average and .400 OBP.

Yet it is Anthony – who will officially lose his “prospect” status by around the All-Star break – that many in the game believe will produce a 15-year career. Become an elite hitter. And, eventually, elevate the ball, put more of them in the seats and remain the longtime cog in the Red Sox lineup.

That’s still a way off. And the new-car sheen of his debut has long faded. Yet the beginning of a long relationship is only just beginning – with Anthony quietly fulfilling his end of the bargain, with greater things to come.

“I feel like AC trusts me and I feel like I’ve been having good at-bats and doing what I need to do to help the team. Continue to get better at that every day,” says Anthony. “Credit to the staff, trusting me and putting me in that position to hit there with such a great lineup around me.

“I’d much rather have it this way than be a prospect in the minor leagues. I’m in the big leagues and this is the dream – to be here. Just being a player on the Boston Red Sox who is trying to help this team win.”

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CP3 could be calling it a career.

Chris Paul revealed he is nearing the end of his NBA career, as the 20-year veteran said he plans to play just one more season in the Association.

The 12-time NBA All-Star was asked about his future during a conversation with Jemele Hill at the American Black Film Festival. Hill mentioned Paul is in the ‘twilight’ of his playing career and asked how much longer he plans to play.

‘At the most, a year,’ Paul said.

Considered one of the best point guards to play in the NBA, Paul just finished his 20th professional season with the San Antonio Spurs. He started in all 82 games for San Antonio, the first time he accomplished the feat since he did so for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014-15 and the first time a player in their 20th season did it.

However, it wasn’t a flashy season from the veteran. He averaged 8.8 points per game, the lowest of his career, along with 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He also only average 28 minutes a game, his second-lowest after the 2023-24 season with the Golden State Warriors.

Chris Paul free agency: Where will guard play in 2025-26?

While it appears Paul will embark on a farewell tour, who he will do it for remains a question. He signed with San Antonio prior to the 2024-25 season on a one-year, $10.4 million contract, meaning he is a free agent.

Paul is one of the top remaining unsigned players, and he seemed to give Hill an indication of where he could be headed. Hill mentioned the Los Angeles Lakers are in need of a guard, and Paul mentioned his family has stayed in Los Angeles while he’s played across the country. But ultimately, a decision hasn’t been made.

‘I love to play basketball, but I love my kids and my family more. That is gonna weigh a huge part on my decision on what happens next year.”

Playing year 21 could make sense for Paul. He could play with longtime friend LeBron James on the Lakers, or he could rejoin the Clippers, where he spent six seasons. They are also playoff caliber teams that could give Paul a chance to get that elusive NBA title.

Paul has been one of the best guards in the NBA ever since he began his career in 2005 with the New Orleans Hornets. He’s an 11-time NBA All-Team member, nine-time all-defensive team member and has led the league in assists five times and steals six times.

His 12,499 assists and 2,717 steals are the most among active players and second-most in NBA history. John Stockton has the all-time record in both categories, with 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals.

Brian Campbell emerged victorious in a playoff at the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, on Sunday, July 6.

Fierce winds and firm greens had been the great equalizer this Fourth of July weekend at TPC Deere Run as defending tournament champion Davis Thompson began the final day at 15 under par, but wound up finishing tied for 18th. Campbell, meanwhile, defeated Emiliano Grillo in the playoff to take home the $1,512,000 top prize.

COMPLETE LEADERBOARD: 2025 John Deere Classic

What channel is John Deere Classic on today? Time, TV schedule

Round 4 of the 2025 John Deere Classic will broadcast nationally on Golf Channel from 1-3 p.m. ET and CBS from 3-6 p.m. ET. The action can also be streamed on ESPN+, Paramount+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.

TV channel: Golf Channel | CBS
Start time: 1 p.m. ET

2025 John Deere Classic top 10 leaderboard, payouts

2025 John Deere Classic purse, payouts

The total purse for the 2025 John Deere Classic is $8.4 million, with just over $1.5 million going to the winner. Here is the complete rundown on how much each position pays:

1st: $1.512 million
2nd: $915,600
3rd: $579,600
4th: $411,600
5th: $344,400
6th: $304,500
7th: $283,500
8th: $262,500
9th: $245,700
10th: $228,900
11th: $212,100
12th: $195,300
13th: $178,500
14th: $161,700
15th: $153,300
16th: $144,900
17th: $136,500
18th: $128,100
19th: $119,700
20th: $111,300
21st: $102,900
22nd: $94,500
23th: $87,780
24th: $81,060
25th: $74,340
26th: $67,620
27th: $65,100
28th: $62,580
29th: $60,060
30th: $57,540
31st: $55,020
32nd: $52,500
33th: $49,980
34th: $47,880
35th: $45,780
36th: $43,680
37th: $41,580
38th: $39,900
39th: $38,220
40th: $36,540
41st: $34,860
42nd: $33,180
43th: $31,500
44th: $29,820
45th: $28,140
46th: $26,460
47th: $24,780
48th: $23,436
49th: $22,260
50th: $21,588
51st: $21,084
52nd: $20,580
53rd: $20,244
54th: $19,908
55th: $19,740
56th: $19,572
57th: $19,404
58th: $19,236
59th: $19,068
60th: $18,900
61st: $18,732
62nd: $18,564
63rd: $18,396
64th: $18,228
65th: $18,060
66th: $17,892
67th: $17,724
68th: $17,556
69th: $17,388
70th: $17,220

DeMaurice ‘De’ Smith hasn’t served as the NFL Players Association’s executive director for more than two years. But there’s clearly no love lost between him and some of the NFL’s most important figures.

According to Awful Announcing, Smith plans to publish his new book, ‘Turf Wars,’ in early August. In it, he slams NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones, former NFL general counsel Jeff Pash and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Smith calls Goodell ‘a cold, dark void’ who ‘was in the employ of madmen.’

Jones is characterized as stingy despite his estimated net worth extending into the tens of billions in recent years.

Smith writes, ‘If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he’d stop and pick it up.’

Jones is one of the main names called out in the book, though Smith doesn’t let the rest of owners off the hook either. Awful Announcing’s report on the early copy of ‘Turf Wars’ includes that its author calls the overall group of NFL owners ‘a cabal of greedy billionaires.’

Notably, and despite the general characterization of NFL owners, Patriots owner Robert Kraft receives a nod in the acknowledgements section of Smith’s book, according to Awful Announcing.

The worst of all top NFL officials, according to Smith, is Pash, who retired in 2024 after 40 years of working with the league.

Smith calls Pash ‘definitely the most unscrupulous. In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat.’

Smith didn’t stop at calling out NFL executives, either. Awful Announcing reported that the former head of the NFLPA called Rodgers ‘the god of Cheesehead Nation’ and ‘isolated and dismissive.’

Writes Smith: ‘He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit. An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist.’

That wasn’t all.

‘In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers,’ Smith writes. ‘‘Can you call me?’ it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?’

Smith’s criticism of players didn’t stop with Rodgers. Also on the chopping block is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who Smith calls out for criticizing players that kneeled during the national anthem because it ‘may be hurting the game and having an effect on revenue.’

Smith served as the NFLPA’s executive director from 2009 until 2023. During his tenure, he dealt with the 2011 NFL lockout amid new contract bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations and the ‘Deflategate’ incident from the 2014 AFC championship game.

Smith also was the man who filed the initial complaint with arbitrator Christopher Droney that accused NFL owners of collusion. Droney ultimately dismissed the case, though not before noting in a 61-page document that the NFL Management Council ‘encouraged 32 member Clubs of the NFL to reduce guarantees in future contracts with players at the March 2022 annual meeting.’

The report ultimately found that NFL owners had not been engaging in collusive conduct, but the document remained under wraps until Pablo Torre unveiled it on his podcast, ‘Pablo Torre Finds Out’ late last month.