Free Agency

Quavo Gives Kirk Cousins New Nickname After Atlanta Falcons Signing

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Quavo is ecstatic about the Atlanta Falcons bringing in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency. Taking to Instagram on Monday, he commented on the news: “We having plenty chains down here ice em out Kirk Frost.” Cousins agreed to terms on a four-year, $180 million contract with the team in desperate need of a player at the position.

He joins a roster loaded with young talent on offense. In recent years, they’ve drafted Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. The team also just moved on from former head coach Arthur Smith. Raheem Morris took over the job earlier this year.

Read More: Quavo Pleas With Falcons To Make Him Their Starting QB: Watch

Quavo Plays Football At Huncho Day In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 30: Quavo attends his 2022 Huncho Day Celebrity Football Game during Fan Controlled Football Season v2.0 – Week Three at Pullman Yards on April 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Prior to joining the Falcons, Cousins played his previous six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. The organization announced they’d be moving on from him earlier in the day. “After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach agreement on a contract that fits the short and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “Kirk holds a special place in Vikings history, and we appreciate his leadership and contributions to the team and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community over the past six seasons. We wish him, his wife, Julie, and their children all the best. Our approach heading into free agency always included layers of contingencies regarding the quarterback position. We are moving forward with plans that allow us to continue building a roster that can compete for a championship.”

Quavo Celebrates Falcons’ New Signing

Cousins is 35 years old and coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. Be on the lookout for further updates on Quavo as well as the NFL on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Quavo Says Philadelphia Eagles Can’t Beat Atlanta Falcons Without Carson Wentz

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Dwight Howard Not Being Signed By The Warriors

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The Golden State Warriors will not be signing veteran big Dwight Howard. Howard, who spent last season playing in Taiwan, spent two days with the Warriors this week. However, Golden State opted not to sign the eight-time All-Star and former first-overall pick. “The Warriors are not expected to sign Dwight Howard or another veteran center ahead of training camp. Howard had a two-day visit with the Warriors this week that included meetings and workouts, but the Warriors are expected now to maintain flexibility to sign a potential big man later in camp or into the regular season,” reported Shams Charania.

Howard is expected to meet with other interested teams next week. Despite this, it appears to be growing increasingly unlikely that Howard will be back in the league this season. Howard’s last NBA action was as part of the Lakers back in 2021. He turns 38 in December. He averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game across 60 games in his last NBA season.

Read More: Dwight Howard compares the teammate vibes of LeBron and Kobe

Howard Eyes The Olympics

Despite his NBA uncertainty, Howard is eager to represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics next year. As the US looks to build a superteam, Howard made it clear that he wanted to be a part of it. Furthermore, he went as far as to say that if he wasn’t selected, he would declare for Taiwan and “drop 85” at the tournament. In the late 2000s, Howard was a go-to pick for the national team. He won Olympic gold medal at Beijing 2008 and World Cup bronze at s well as a World Cup bronze at Japan 2006.

There are just two problems with Howard’s plan. The first is that Taiwanese citizenship requires five years of residency, which Howard doesn’t have. The second is that, eligible or not, Howard would still be watching the Olympics from his home as Taiwan is not able to qualify for the Olympic tournament. Only three teams from Asia and Oceania – New Zealand, Lebanon, and the Philippines – will participate in qualifiers next year for the four remaining Olympic spots.

Read More: Dwight Howard sued by ex-butler

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Kyrie Irving Meeting Six Teams In Free Agency

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On June 27, Kyrie Irving was “close” to re-signing with the Dallas Mavericks. The market for Irving was “extremely limited, perhaps almost nil” according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The Mavericks had not only the interest but also the financial ability to sign Irving. The maximum offer Dallas could offer was 5 years, $272.9 million.

However, a day later, it was reported that Irving would be meeting with the Phoenix Suns. While the Suns are incredibly cap-burdened, the appeal of joining a title-hunting superteam in Phoenix certainly has its appeals. Well, as the offseason continues to grow wilder, it’s now being reported that Irving will have at least six free-agency meetings around the league.

Read More: Clippers make Ivica Zubac available for trade amid James Harden speculation

Irving Interest Explodes

Per Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, Kyrie Irving has six meetings scheduled for June 30, when free agency officially begins. The first two meetings are the ones already reported. Irving will meet with the Mavericks as they try to retain the veteran they traded for in the middle of last season. Then there’s the aforementioned Suns, with their superteam plans. However, the other four options represent a wide range of playing experiences for Irving. Whether it’s with a title contender or rebuilding franchise, there’s a little bit of everything on the table.

Read More: Pistons scaring off trade suitors for Bojan Bogdanović with first-round pick demand

The Miami Heat are reportedly meeting with Irving, following their failure to trade for Bradley Beal and the continued uncertainty of Damian Lillard’s availability. Meanwhile, the Rockets join the hunt for Irving after losing out on James Harden. Whether Irving is the preference to Fred VanVleet, or whether he will be a veteran leader alongside VanVleet, remains to be seen. Meanwhile, both LA teams are also meeting Irving. For the Lakers, it’s likely they want a title run before they potentially lose LeBron to whichever team drafts Bronny. Meanwhile, the Clippers could be pulling a Suns and building a superteam, no matter the cost, to finally win them a championship. Where do you think Irving will land? This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Khris Middleton Declines Massive Player Option To Test Free Agency

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Khris Middleton has been a staple of the Milwaukee Bucks for a decade. Drafted in the second round of the 2012 Draft, Middleton was traded to the Bucks after his rookie year with the Pistons. However, Middleton quickly blossomed into a dependable and consistent small forward. He was a vital figure in the Bucks’ title run in 2021. The Charleston-born forward has gone from role player to a face of one of the league’s biggest small-market teams. When people think of the Bucks, they think of Giannis and they think of Khris Middleton.

However, he saw limited action in the 2022-23 season, playing just 33 games as he rehabbed from a ligament sprain suffered during the 2022 playoffs. Despite this, he returned to help the Bucks in the playoffs, even though the team crashed out in the first round. He averaged 23.8 points against the Heat in the playoffs. That brought Middleton to a major crossroads. 2023-24 represented a player option year for his contract, worth $40 million if he opted in.

Middleton Declines Player Option

Per ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Middleton has opted to decline his player option year and will instead pursue free agency. Despite this, Middleton’s agents told ESPN that Middleton has not ruled out a return to the Bucks on a new contract. However, the market for the three-time all-star will likely be fairly competitive.

Middleton is the latest big-name star to opt for free agency. Draymond Green chose to decline his player option with the Warriors. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving followed through with his plan to test free agency after leaving the Mavericks. However, this offseason has already proven to be weird and unpredictable. There is reportedly no market for Irving outside of the Mavericks. Elsewhere, interest in Green is seemingly being overshadowed by the Warriors’ attempts to retain him. However, despite his recent injury struggles, Middleton’s services will likely be in strong demand. Where do you think Middleton will end up? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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DeAndre Hopkins Cut Sparks Multi-Team Speculation

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The DeAndre Hopkins saga has written its newest chapter. After months of speculation that the Cardinals could trade or otherwise offload the veteran wide receiver, the Cardinals finally cut him. As a result, the Cardinals will eat $22.9 million in dead cap and Hopkins will become an unrestricted free agent. Hopkins had initially missed the start of the Cardinals’ OTAs as his status remained in limbo.

After serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, Hopkins played in nine games last season. He racked up 757 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Cardinals went 4-13. He was traded to the Cardinals in 2020 by the Texans. In three seasons with the Cardinals, he recorded 2696 yards and 17 touchdowns. However, he will now be able to pursue the team of his choice.

Multiple Teams Interested In Hopkins

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 27: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after catching a touch down pass against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Hopkins’ sudden free agency has sparked a lot of interest around the league. Among the teams interested are the Bills, Patriots, and Ravens. Hopkins, who last rushed for 1000 yards in 2020, would find very different fortunes. He could be the final piece the Bills need in their near-Sisyphean quest to reach a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Hopkins would bring a veteran calm to somewhat-embattled Mac Jones. However, the Ravens are an intriguing prospect given their already very full receiver room.

Meanwhile, social media has also floated the possibility of the Chiefs making a play for the veteran wideout. Like the Ravens, the Chiefs have a very full receiver room. However, the Chiefs are missing that X-factor standout downfield. As for the Cardinals, they will now roll with Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, and 2023 third-round draft pick Michael Wilson. Recently, Hopkins gave an interview in which he listed the top quarterbacks he would like to play under. At the top of that list was the Bills’ Josh Allen as well as the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts. Where do you think Hopkins will land? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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Kyrie Irving Asks Fans To Stop Free Agency Speculation

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It’s that time of the NBA season when trade rumors begin to swirl. There are just three teams left in the playoffs and 27 teams trying to figure out their offseason plans. Along with that, there is a wealth of pending free agents including James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Khris Middleton, and Kyrie Irving. NBA fans should strap in for what will be a blockbuster offseason.

Kyrie Irving is an intriguing prospect on the free agent market. Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks to play alongside Luka Dončić. However, the Mavericks opted to choose rebuilding over playoff contention. It’s unclear whether the Mavericks will pursue Irving but of course, his pending freedom has led to rampant speculation of where Kyrie could be heading.

Kyrie Irving Tries To Shut Down Speculation

Irving, however, does not appear to be a fan of all the rumors. “Stop mentioning me on Twitter. All you fanbases, stop mentioning me right now. It is still the Western Conference and Eastern Conference Finals. Excuse me, Denver already made it to the Finals and we’re still waiting on Boston or Miami but can y’all please leave me out of this? Please, can I just be with my family in peace? I got people at my dinner table discussing what my free agency plans are. Stop that, y’all think it’s funny but please stop that. I actually like having peace of mind when I’m at the crib. I see all your ats and mentions…and I’m just as excited as y’all are but y’all gotta chill though,” Irving said on Instagram Live.

There is a wide variety of rumors swirling about Kyrie, who is linked to so many teams. It’s unlikely that Kyrie will be interested in a rebuilding project, hence why he appears to be leaving Dallas. However, it appears that Kyrie would much rather enjoy the ride, as opposed to doomscrolling on Twitter. However, when actual news of Kyrie’s next move breaks, we’ll have it here on HotNewHipHop.

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James Harden Reacts To Free Agency Rumors

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James Harden is an NBA star who always seems to have attention around him. Overall, this is because he is a huge name. He used to be the best scorer in the league. Although he doesn’t possess that title anymore, he is certainly still a great playmaker. Now, however, he and the Philadelphia 76ers are out of the playoffs. Doc Rivers has since been fired, and rumors surrounding Harden are beginning to ramp up. Free agency is just a couple of months away, and a lot of people are curious about Harden’s fate.

There is this sense that Harden is going to leave Philadelphia. Overall, his partnership with Joel Embiid hasn’t gone according to plan. They have yet to make it out of the second round together. Ultimately, this is no different than when Ben Simmons and Embiid were together. For now, many believe Harden will want to play in Houston under Ime Udoka. Moreover, James Harden could teach the young stars over there a thing or two. Yesterday, it was even reported that Harden was interested in Phoenix.

Read More: James Harden Delights Twitter With Vintage Performance

James Harden Speaks

James Harden has always been aware of the various rumors that surround him. That said, it should not be a surprise that he took to Instagram yesterday with a simple yet effective message. “Experts really don’t be experts,” he said simply. Although this was not pointed at anyone in particular, it does seem like the timing would suggest it is about the reports from yesterday. Perhaps Harden is not interested in Phoenix at all. At the end of the day, that would mean another reunion with Kevin Durant. Considering their lack of postseason success together, it is hard to see the point in doing this for a third time.

It will be interesting to see how all of this shakes out in the not-so-distant future. Many are invested in free agency, and if your team has a shot at Harden, you’d want to follow that. Let us know where you think Harden should go, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

Read More: James Harden Seen Arguing With Man In Vegas

Odell Beckham Jr.’s Most Likely Landing Spot Revealed

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Odell Beckham Jr.’s last appearance on a football field was in 2022, helping the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Beckham tore his ACL in the game and missed all of last season. Beckham is still held in high regard among free-agent receivers looking for a home. According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, Beckham is fielding plenty of offers. While he may have his offers to choose from, who will land the superstar receiver?

Beckham has been a star in every stop he has made. He burst on the scene as a New York Giant. Then, created a tough tandem in Cleveland with Jarvis Landry. Beckham’s stop in Los Angeles seemed like the perfect opportunity for him. A chance to play with a high-caliber QB in Matthew Stafford. At the same time, he was lining up on the same side of the ball as Cooper Kupp. If reports are accurate, Beckham’s next stop may also include another high-caliber QB.

Is Odell Beckham Jr. Heading To The Concrete Jungle?

So Beckham has offers. Which of those deals looks the most appealing to the hungry receiver? The one team who seems most likely to land him would be the New York Jets. When the deal is inevitably done for Aaron Rodgers to be in New York, Odell could soon follow. However, the Baltimore Ravens are reportedly lying in the shadows waiting for OBJ. If the Ravens were to sign Beckham, it would be a huge reason for Lamar to stay. The Jets are looking to go from pretenders to contenders in just a calendar year.

Beckham is probably in no rush to decide his future. He certainly wouldn’t make a decision before seeing where Rodgers ends up this season. However, if the Jets score this duo, it could make them instant AFC East favorites. Although, the Dolphins and Bills won’t go down without a fight. Do you think the Jets are making the right decisions with OBJ and Rodgers? Just how far would the Jets go with them? Let us know in the comment section below. To stay up to date will all the latest in the NFL, subscribe to HNHH.

Russell Westbrook Hit With Harsh Reality Check

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Russell Westbrook used to be one of the best point guards in the entire NBA. However, in recent years, Westbrook has seen a bit of a regression. Overall, fans do not believe in him the way they once did. It is a sad reality, albeit one that he must deal with moving forward. Even amongst actual NBA teams, there is this certain narrative surrounding Russ. No matter what he does, people are going to put him under the microscope, and that will not be changing.

Right now, Russ is dealing with the fallout from a trade involving the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers. Subsequently, Russ is on the Jazz who have made it clear that they want to buy out his contract. This is a stressful time for the former Laker, who must now decide whom he wants to play for. For now, it seems like three teams re in the running for Westbrook. This includes the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls. However, there are no guarantees that any of these teams end up taking him.

Russell Westbrook Moving Forward

While speaking on Fan Duel TV today, Shams Charania had some interesting comments about Russ. Unfortunately, they come across as a bit of a harsh reality check that will make Westbrook feel bad. “When you look at teams around the league, there’s not a spot for Russell Westbrook,” Charania said. “It’s a slow-moving market, and we’ll see if he’ll be able to find a home.” For now, one would have to assume that Russ will find a team before the postseason. After all, he is absolutely still a serviceable player, regardless of the narratives out there right now.

No matter what, this is going to be a very interesting situation to monitor over the coming months. Hopefully, for Russ, he is able to go out there and change how people feel about him. Until then, let us know which team you would want Russell Westbrook to play for, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

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Odell Beckham Jr. Offers Update On Playing Status

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Odell Beckham Jr. is fresh off of a free agency tour. During this tour, he got to meet with the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys. Throughout this tour, it became quite clear that numerous teams want him. However, there is a concern that OBJ isn’t in shape to play this season.

He has torn his ACL twice over the last three seasons, which doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence in his health. Consequently, there has been a reluctance to put him on a roster. Of course, that will likely change soon as Odell has yet to truly reveal where he wants to go.

Odell Beckham Jr attends “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” the 2022 Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Odell Beckham Jr. Gives A New Update

Recently, Odell was a guest on The Shop. Last night, The Shop did a live Thursday Night Football special, and fans were excited about it. Of course, the crew made sure to ask Odell the tough questions. However, Beckham Jr. was quite diplomatic with his answers.

At one point, Maverick Carter asked OBJ if he knew which team he wanted to go to. As you can imagine, Odell skirted the question, although he did offer some interesting insight. The wide receiver said that he doesn’t want to play in the regular season. Instead, he would rather wait until the playoffs and give it his all while the lights are the brightest.

For now, it seems like Odell’s best options are the Cowboys and the Bills. These are the two teams with the best chance of winning a Super Bowl. However, there is still no guarantee he even gets picked up this season.

That said, be sure to stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the NFL. Additionally, let us know where you think Odell should go, in the comments below.

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