Chris Youngblood joins Thunder on two-way contract — and more

Shams Charania: The Portland Trail Blazers are signing guard Chris Youngblood to a two-way NBA deal from the Oklahoma City Thunder's OKC Blue G League team, agent Kashim Butler of KBA Sports tells ESPN. Youngblood played 32 games on a two-way with the Thunder as a rookie last season.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Chris Youngblood joins Thunder on two-way contract

Why Patriots Should Not Sign Trey Hendrickson originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots should be looking to add to their pass rush this offseason, but should not be fooled by some big names on the market.

Trey Hendrickson is a player the Patriots should avoid, even though on paper, he may seem like a phenomenal addition. He has been in a contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals for a couple of years now, and may finally be wearing a different jersey next season. However, despite his track record of success, he may not be worth it.

He is still looking to get paid after the Bengals ended up coming to short-term resolutions with him the last couple of years. He has 81 career sacks and led the NFL in sacks in 2024. However, he will turn 32 in December and missed most of last season thanks to an injury. He is an aging player who is going to cost plenty of money, coming off a poor year.

Some team is going to pay Hendrickson what he wants. However, the Patriots have a solid team and are not reportedly operating like a team that feels it needs to spend big to win the Super Bowl right now. The pass rush needs to be addressed, but there are options besides Hendrickson.

If the Patriots are going to invest in a pass rusher, it would be wise to spend on a younger player. Maxx Crosby is a name to watch in trade rumors. In free agency, Jaelan Phillips, Boye Mafe and Odafe Oweh are young players who could be solid additions. If the Patriots are not overly enthused by free agent options, the NFL Draft could provide them with a young pass rusher.

Regardless, the point is that Hendrickson may no longer be worth what he is looking for in guarantees. The four-time Pro Bowler and 2024 First-Team All-Pro is a great player, but did not do himself any favors last season. Signing him is not a risk the Patriots need to take right now, especially with needs elsewhere on the roster as well.

The Detroit Lions have officially made a move at running back.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Lions are trading veteran RB David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for a 5th Round Pick, sources told The Insiders.

The move comes just days after reports surfaced suggesting Montgomery “wanted out” of Detroit, a claim Montgomery publicly questioned on social media. Now, the situation has been resolved with a deal that sends the physical, downhill runner to Houston.

Why the Lions Made the Move

From Detroit’s perspective, the timing makes sense:

• Jahmyr Gibbs has clearly become the focal point of the offense
• His contract carried a notable cap hit for a reduced role
• The Lions are continuing to reshape the roster around their core

Trading Montgomery clears both cap space and snaps, allowing Detroit to fully lean into Gibbs while exploring cheaper depth options behind him.

What Houston Is Getting

For the Texans, Montgomery brings:

• Proven early-down and goal-line production
• Pass protection reliability
• Veteran leadership for a young offense

Houston adds a back who can immediately stabilize its run game and complement its existing skill talent.

The Bottom Line

David Montgomery was a key part of Detroit’s rise over the past few seasons, providing toughness and reliability during the Lions’ turnaround. But the NFL moves fast, and this trade signals Detroit’s full commitment to its new offensive identity.

More details to come as this story develops.

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