🔄 Luka Doncic traded in shocking deal

NHL Salary Cap increase, MLB umpire fired after betting probe, New NFL offensive coordinator, and more!

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Sportie Newsletter
February 04, 2025

🏀 Basketball

Luka Doncic traded to Lakers in shocking deal

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired five-time First Team All-NBA guard Luka Dončić, forward/center Maxi Kleber and forward/center Markieff Morris from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade.

In return, the Lakers sent forward Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a future first round draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks, while guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a future second round pick were sent to the Utah Jazz.

Dončić is one of three players in league history to garner five All-NBA First Team selections before age 26, joining Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan.

The 25-year-old has tallied 12,089 points, 3,655 rebounds and 3,489 assists and is one of two players in NBA history to record at least 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists through their first 400 career games

"Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come,"

Lakers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka

🏈 Football

Allegations against Justin Tucker were a “surprise” to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

Ten massage therapists have accused Justin Tucker of inappropriate behavior. The Ravens kicker broadly and flatly denied all allegations in a statement posted on X.

The NFL said last week it would “look into” the allegations, which it was unaware of until the Baltimore Banner contacted the league for comment before publishing its story.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked Monday about Tucker allegedly using inappropriate sexual contact with massage therapists. He said his first reaction to the news was “surprise.”

Tom Brady played a role in Chip Kelly becoming new Raiders OC

Chip Kelly is going back to the NFL, but this time he's going to be working under someone else and not a head coach.

Kelly is going to get $6M per year from the Raiders, and recently speaking on "The Pat McAfee Show", NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed that that the Raiders' new limited ownership is behind that cash. That includes Tom Brady.

🏒 Hockey

NHL Salary Cap to Increase in Coming Years

The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced today an agreement that will provide increased predictability on core Salary Cap economics for a minimum of the next three years (through 2027-28).

The agreement sets the following annual increases to the Upper Limit, subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement being in effect beyond the 2025-26 season:

  • 2025-26: $7.5 million

  • 2026-27: $8.5 million

  • 2027-28: $9.5 million

The NHL salary cap is a limit on the total amount of money each team can spend on player salaries in a given season. It's a key part of the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the owners and the players' association.  

Ryan Hartman suspended 10 games

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has been suspended for 10 games, without pay, for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle during NHL Game No. 828 in Ottawa on Saturday, Feb. 1, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced Monday.

The incident occurred at 19:44 of the second period. Hartman was assessed a match penalty.

Hartman is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, will forfeit $487,804.90. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

⚾️ Baseball

MLB fires umpire for betting violation

Major League Baseball has fired umpire Pat Hoberg after he shared sports betting accounts with a professional poker player who bet on baseball.

In a news release issued Monday, the league said it found no evidence Hoberg manipulated baseball games, and said that “the data provided by the sportsbooks does not show any baseball bets from his own electronic devices.”

However, the league found that the poker player bet on baseball via the account they shared, including eight games that Hoberg was involved with as an on-field umpire or replay official.

Former MLB commissioner dies

Francis T. “Fay” Vincent, who served as the eighth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1989-92, has passed away. He was 86.

Vincent took office as Commissioner in September 1989 -- following the sudden death of his friend A. Bartlett Giamatti -- and served during a period that included a lockout in 1990 and the banning and eventual reinstatement of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

Vincent’s tenure ended in September 1992, when Vincent bowed to pressure to resign from 18 of the 28 owners at the time.