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Home , Anthony Davis, Eric Bieniemy, Kim Ng, Wesley Matthews

RAWLINS TIMES RAWLINSTIMES.COM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2020 l B3

AP quarterback throws a pass before a game against the Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Chiefs keep things fun with Mahomes’ playground plays “Listen, this is a serious By DAVE SKRETTA business. We’re grinding away,” Reid said. “But there’s a lot of hours put in, so you KANSAS CITY, Mo. — have to give the guys a little Kids have been drawing something. Now, you want up plays in the playground it to be a good play. We’re dirt as long as football has not making a mockery of the been played, their audacious thing. We’re trying to make designs usually featuring it where it’s another oppor- creative reverses, multiple tunity to score a touchdown.” laterals and even tight ends Mahomes wouldn’t say AP throwing passes back to the how many of his creations ’ LeBron James, left, and celebrate after the Lakers defeated the in Game 6 of the NBA Finals quarterback. have been vetoed, but he on Oct. 11. Wait a minute — those are did say other designs have the plays Patrick Mahomes made it into the playbook has been drawing up. without getting into a game. For the second time this The process usually involves Anthony Davis inks 5-year deal season, the Chiefs used a Mahomes taking the play to play dreamed up by their Reid, who tweaks it along quarterback in Sunday’s win with around them, but it was, ‘OK, $40 million, and the fifth year over Tampa Bay. Eric Bieniemy so that it’s Will return to L.A. Lakers LeBron. OK, AD. We’ve got would be worth more than It was called “The Black usable given the personnel to do this. It starts with us. $43 million. Pearl” because, well, they with the Pelicans, but only and opposition. By GREG BEACHAM We’ve got to be on the same Davis excelled throughout were playing the Buccaneers, Even then, it takes the reached the second round of page at all times.’ They did a his first season with the Lak- and it began with Mahomes AP sports writer the playoffs once. right in-game situation for really good job with it.” ers, averaging 26.1 points, 9.3 pitching to on a Reid to actually call it. LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Klutch clients James The Lakers are returning rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 standard end-around. The and Davis at their core, the “I think it comes from the Anthony Davis is finalizing a with a roster around James blocks per game. Along with speedy wide receiver then quarterback room in general, five-year contract worth up Lakers immediately built a and Davis that looks even hitting 50% of his shots and a pitched to on championship contender when we’re watching film. to $190 million to return to better than last season’s cham- career-high 84.6% of his free a reverse, and the tight end around them last season. The We try to find different ways the Los Angeles Lakers. pionship squad. NBA veter- throws, Davis was a domi- — and former quarterback 6-foot-10 Davis swiftly clicked to take advantage of things Davis’ agent, Rich Paul of ans and Montrezl nant presence in the paint — had the option of running defenses do,” Mahomes said. alongside James, who molded Harrell have replaced Howard and on the wing throughout the ball or throwing it back Klutch Sports, confirmed the himself into a point guard and “We hone it in to where we terms of Davis’ pending free and JaVale McGee to keep the year while the Lakers to Mahomes in the end zone. make it a play. Coach Reid led the NBA in assists to max- Davis out of the spot played the Western Confer- agent deal to The Associated The play almost worked, will think about it and when imize the talent of Davis, who during the regular season, ence’s stingiest defense. too. Kelce had Mahomes Press on Thursday. The Lak- he gets in his room with earned his seventh straight while Davis finished second to open, but had his wobbly ers didn’t comment. All-Star selection. Coach Bieniemy, they’ll One day after LeBron replaced inconsistent Danny Milwaukee’s Giannis An- pass batted into the turf. James and Davis reteamed Green on the wing and gifted tetokounmpo in the NBA’s It still left the Chiefs tweak it to where we can go James agreed to a two-year, in the bubble in central out there and have success.” $85 million contract exten- point guard Dennis Schröder defensive player of the year sideline smiling, and perhaps Florida and led the Lakers arrived to take ball-handling voting. that was the point: In a This is the kind of stuff sion with the Lakers through to Davis’ first NBA title and that happens in flag football, 2022-23, Davis committed pressure off James. Davis was even better in stressful season made even James’ fourth. The Lakers Davis was never expected the playoff bubble, averaging more trying by the looming though. Or maybe junior to the Lakers through the had missed the playoffs for high or high school. But 2024-25 season. Davis’ deal to leave the Lakers after he 27.7 points 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 specter of COVID-19, the six straight seasons before declined a $28.7 million play- assists and 1.4 blocks. He hit Chiefs have found a way to good luck finding a college includes an early termination their dynamic duo trans- coach willing to let his quar- clause prior to the fifth year, er option to become a free 57% of his shots and 38% of keep things light-hearted formed the franchise into agent last month, but many his 3-pointers, including a re- terback design the plays, let but the lengthy contract is and fun. champions again, beating the league observers thought markable game-winning 3 at Just like kids on a play- alone the coach of the Super still a clear declaration that Miami Heat in six games in Davis would go for a shorter the buzzer in Game 2 of the ground. Bowl champions. the 27-year-old Davis sees his the NBA Finals. contract to maximize his Western Conference finals “It keeps the guys alive,” Even one with Reid’s long-term future with the 17- “Watching AD and LeB- mobility, as is the preference against Denver. Chiefs coach said robust imagination. time NBA champions. ron, everything they did of many modern stars and Although the Lakers’ this week. “It keeps every- “I’ve never seen anything James and Davis won an was together,” said Dwight Klutch clients. massive fan base couldn’t body involved and so they like it,” Chiefs wide receiver NBA championship in the first Howard, who won a ring Instead, Davis chose the attend their latest champi- get into those, and Kelce said. “We season of their partnership, with the Lakers before mov- longest possible contract, onship run, Davis is already has taken a beating over it, got one of the best quar- and they’re returning this ing on to Philadelphia as a albeit with an opt-out after cementing a spot among the his maneuvering with the terbacks in the league, so month with new contracts and free agent last month. “They four years. If Davis had set franchise’s greatest big men, football, but that’s part of it. whatever he says, we’re going a solid chance to repeat. worked out together, they up his deal to become a free a proud lineage stretching We have a wrinkle here and to kind of follow it. He’s so “Those are great contracts, ate together, they rolled dice agent in 2022, he could have from and Wilt there that we have fun with. creative to where everybody and they’re well-deserved,” together. We called them The re-signed to receive a starting Chamberlain through Ka- Hopefully it works.” is like, ‘Let’s give it a try.’” veteran Lakers forward Brothers. They were always salary worth 35% of the reem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille It did work the last time Of course, Reid always has said Thurs- together, playing video team’s salary cap. O’Neal and Pau Gasol. Mahomes and Kelce con- the final say in whether to day from the opening work- games, doing something. In truth, the differences Davis spent his first seven spired on a play. They called run one of the plays. outs of training camp. “It’s a “Even though there was between his current contract NBA seasons as the center- that one “Ferrari Right” after At least twice this season, big family, and it worked out games where LeBron was and that hypothetical deal are piece of the Pelicans, but he the $340,000 car Mahomes he’s said yes. the best for everybody.” having triple-doubles, he only a few million dollars — could only lead them to two bought earlier this summer. “We’re trying to be cre- The Lakers acquired Davis made sure he fed AD and AD and for Davis, security with playoff appearances, and he It began with Mahomes put- ative, have fun out there, in a trade less than 18 months got off,” Howard added. “I a title contender clearly was requested a trade in Febru- ting himself in motion. He enjoy it day-in and day-out,” ago, shipping most of their just think when you have two worth a few million. ary 2019. The players traded changed direction and took Mahomes said. “We try to young core to guys like that who are willing Davis will make more than from Los Angeles to New the snap, looped back to his execute the basics and the to acquire one of the best big to do whatever it takes to $32.7 million this season, Orleans for Davis included left and ultimately zipped a base plays as much as possi- men of his generation. Davis win, it brings up the morale more than $35 million next , who got a pass to ble, but when they get those made the All-NBA first team of the team. They put ev- season and nearly $38 million five-year, $158 million deal in the back of the end zone. plays in, we try to execute three times and earned six erything on their shoulders. in 2022-23. The fourth year from the Pelicans last month, Just like they drew it up those as well as possible, straight All-Star selections They knew they had guys of the contract is worth about and playmaker . while killing time in practice. t o o.” Kim Ng’s crash course: She’s bullish on Marlins’ future Instead, Ng’s comments focused on from within, she said, because so many By STEVEN WINE efforts to build on the Marlins’ recent prospects are on the cusp of major league Associated Press progress as CEO ’s owner- success. ship group begins Year 4 of a franchise “If just one of those guys lives up to MIAMI — For Kim Ng, the first three revival. their potential that we haven’t seen yet, weeks as of the Miami This year the Marlins reached the that would be a huge impact on our Marlins has meant less rest and more playoffs for the first time since 2003. club,” Ng said. coffee. A rebuilt farm system ranked among The Marlins likely won’t be too busy in She has been getting to know colleagues baseball’s best began to bear fruit, and an the free agent market, because they don’t at work, contacting agents and other abundance of prospects has the organiza- want veterans clogging competition. teams, and learning as much as she can tion enthusiastic about 2021. “Whenever we can give a prospect a about the 150 or so players in the Marlins After three weeks studying video and chance to play, we really would like to do organization. talking with Marlins scouts, Ng shares in that,” Ng said. “The quicker they come “Let’s call it a crash course,” Ng said the optimism about the foundation built along and develop, the better off we’re with a smile. “I got to sleep in until 5:30 by Jeter and his group. going to be as a club for a long time.” this morning, so I’m doing pretty good. “They are ahead of the game,” Ng said. One veteran who could be part of the Not a big coffee drinker, but I’ve had to “It takes a really, really long time to build long-term plans is third baseman Brian dip in there a bit these past couple of a farm system of this quality and caliber. Anderson, who is heading into his fifth weeks. My husband has been really great That’s the most exciting thing about all of season with the Marlins. He’s unlikely to making sure I’m eating three times a day.” this, and making sure we as a front office receive a long-term contract offer this Having a husband in a supporting are doing everything we can to help in winter, however, in part because the team role is a reminder Ng is the first female their development.” has a new GM. VIA AP PHOTO/JOSEPH GUZY general manager in major league history. Heading into next week’s winter “I personally would like to see how this New Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng poses for a photo at That milestone wasn’t mentioned once meetings, which will be held virtually, year goes before we venture down that Marlins Park stadium before being introduced during a virtual news during her 30-minute news conference the Marlins’ priorities include upgrading road,” Ng said, “so I have a better under- conference on Monday, Nov. 16, in Miami. Ng discussed her climb to Thursday, a sign of how quickly a break- the bullpen and adding a veteran bat, Ng standing of who he is as a player, and I become the first female GM in the four major North American pro- through can become part of the norm. said. But improvement can also come get a better sense of the situation.” fessional sports leagues.