April 2025

There were 1,970 posts published in April 2025 (this is page 7 of 197).

Update Your Apple Devices Now to Keep Them Safe From New AirPlay Vulnerability

There’s a new Apple security issue in town, and this time it’s Airborne. Or, well, that’s what the security researchers are calling it. As cybersecurity firm Oligo revealed on Tuesday, a collection of security vulnerabilities are now affecting the AirPlay feature in Apple products, and the AirPlay SDK used in third-party gadgets like TVs, speakers, receivers, and more.

As reported by Wired, the vulnerability lets hackers take over the AirPlay protocol to inject malware into and take control of impacted devices. This is a zero-click attack, so it works even if you don’t click on anything.

AirPlay is a widely supported protocol, and a popular way for Apple devices to share audio and video. Thankfully, Oligo had alerted Apple about this issue, and has spent months in the background fixing the issues.

How Airborne’s hijacking works

The Airborne vulnerability works only on a local network, so the hijacker will have to be in proximity to you and on that same network. This local network can be anywhere, like your home, your workspace, or the Airport wifi network.

If a hacker is on your local network, and if your AirPlay devices are discoverable, they are susceptible to a zero-click attack. Meaning that the hijacker can take control of the device without any action from you. Alternatively, they could direct another type of attack at your device, like a Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks or a Denial of service (DoS) attack.

On a Mac, this could allow the hijacker to take control of and run malicious code on your computer.

On a connected device, like a Bluetooth speaker, it could also let the hijacker play anything they want, or turn on the microphone to listen in on conversations. The video below demonstrates the security researchers taking over a Bose speaker.

Time to update all your Apple devices

Apple has patched the Airborne vulnerability on all its latest software. That means it’s time to update your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro to the latest available software version. You can do so by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad, and System Settings > General > Software Update on the Mac.

What to do about third-party devices

While Oligo has worked closely with Apple to fix the vulnerability in its own devices, the issue still remains on devices that support the AirPlay protocol, like your TV or smart speaker, which will still exposed to this issue. These devices, of which there are tens of millions out in the wild, are the real issue, as the security researchers can’t work with every single company to fix the issue.

There’s not a lot you can do about third-party devices, but if you see an update from an AirPlay supported device in your home, make sure to install it.

How to protect yourself from AirPlay hijacking

Disabling AirPlay Recieving on Mac.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Yes, you’ve updated your official Apple devices, but depending on your device, that might not be enough, as mentioned above. While you can’t really expect to update the firmware on your speaker, there are a couple of things you can do to lessen the likelihood of an attack.

  1. First, make sure you’re updating all third-party devices that support AirPlay. That means your TV, or your smart audio system.

  2. Next, make sure that AirPlay is disabled when you’re not actively using it. How to do this will differ based on your device, but to do this on a Mac, go to System Settings > AirDrop & Handoff and disable AirPlay Receiver.

  3. Only use trusted devices to stream AirPlay content.

  4. Next, limit AirPlay streaming to only yourself. On a Mac, this is under Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff. Navigate to this menu, then in the dropdown next to Allow AirPlay For, choose Current User.

  5. Most importantly, avoid playing content through AirPlay when you’re in a public network, or using any unknown network like those at airports, cafes, or hotels.

NBA & Fantasy Basketball Loser Lineup: Milwaukee Bucks — get ready for the offseason of Giannis Antetokounmpo

For three consecutive years, the Milwaukee Bucks have bowed out in the first round of the NBA playoffs, leaving a swirling mix of questions and frustrations among their fanbase and fantasy basketball managers alike. Once a regular-season juggernaut led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, this franchise is now stuck in peril while heading into arguably the most vital offseason in years.

The Bucks didn’t just lose this time; they got sent packing by a younger, more athletic Indiana Pacers squad in five games, and hard questions have to be asked. At the top of the list? How will Giannis approach his offseason after another early exit? His decision could be the domino that dictates the fantasy outlook of Milwaukee’s entire roster — and that of the team he could potentially end up with.

Antetokounmpo is, without question, the heart and soul of this team. He’s coming off a third consecutive season averaging 30-11-5 while carrying a roster held together by aging vets, limited roster depth and bloated contracts. Most of the conversation after the Bucks loss centered around Giannis’ interaction with Tyrese Haliburton’s father, but I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more about Antetokounmpo’s future in the coming months.

Fantasy wise, Giannis remains a first-round pick in all formats because of his gaudy counting stats. He’s a top-5 option in points leagues, while in 9-cat leagues he’s a mid-to-late first-rounder because he’s a bit harder to build around due to his poor free-throw shooting and lack of 3s.

Their big swings have left them asset-strapped. Between the Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard trades, the Bucks gutted their youth to acquire stars and don’t hold a meaningful draft pick until 2030. Kyle Kuzma won’t garner much on the trade market, and many of their key role players (Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr. ) are free agents or have player options below market rate.

Then there’s Lillard, who is owed $112M over the next two years. Could Lillard somehow regain form post-Achilles tear? Perhaps — it will take time, but time is of the essence.

Between Lillard’s injury and the Bucks’ being cash and asset-strapped, fantasy managers should treat the Bucks as the team of the singular superstar. Beyond that, tread lightly. There’s uncertainty across the board, but one thing’s clear after this latest playoff crash-out: Milwaukee has far more questions than answers heading into 2025-26.

Stay tuned as we dissect more playoff exits, one team at a time, and help you dominate your draft board.

Toronto Raptors 2024-25 fantasy basketball season recap: Injuries limit Raptors stars

While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.

In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.

Next up in the series are the Toronto Raptors. With this being the first full season of the “Scottie Barnes era,” few expected Darko Rajakovic’s team to be in the conversation for a postseason berth. Unfortunately, injuries once again were a factor in the team’s lack of success, with Barnes and Jamal Shead being the only players to make at least 65 appearances. A significant move was made at the trade deadline, with the Raptors acquiring Brandon Ingram and signing him to a three-year contract.

Toronto Raptors 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 30-52 (11th, East)

Offensive Rating: 109.6 (26th)

Defensive Rating: 113.6 (15th)

Net Rating: -4.1 (24th)

Pace: 100.62 (9th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 7.5 percent chance of winning draft lottery, 39

After winning 25 games in the first season of Darko Rajakovic’s tenure as head coach, the Raptors improved their win total by five games in 2024-25. However, the team was no closer to securing a spot in the postseason. Among the six players who made at least 30 starts, only Barnes and Ochai Agbaji did not miss at least 20 games. The injuries caused instability within the Raptors’ rotation, which did the team no favors in terms of winning games.

Toronto lost 12 of its first 14 games and went 2-11 in December. When the calendar flipped to 2025, only Washington and Charlotte would have fewer wins among Eastern Conference teams. A significant change would be made at the February trade deadline, with the Raptors acquiring Brandon Ingram from the Pelicans in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown and a trade exception. Despite being sidelined by a left ankle injury, Ingram would be signed to a three-year extension by the Raptors less than a week after being acquired from New Orleans.

With the addition of Ingram, he, Barnes and Immanuel Quickley will be the key building blocks for the Raptors moving forward. However, the change raises questions regarding RJ Barrett’s future in Toronto, as he has two seasons remaining on his current contract. Can the three wings (Barrett, Barnes and Ingram) coexist as starters? And if not, would the Raptors consider trading Barrett or use him as a sixth man? Toronto has some significant questions to answer this offseason.

Fantasy Standout: Scottie Barnes

While Barnes’ per-game and total fantasy value did not match his Yahoo! ADP, he was a top-50 player in eight-cat formats. Making 65 appearances, the Raptors wing averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers in 32.8 minutes, shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the foul line. Barnes’ averages were down slightly compared to the 2023-24 campaign, when he earned his first All-Star selection. But he played 65 games, with the lone extended absence occurring due to an inadvertent Nikola Jokic elbow to the face that left Barnes with a fractured orbital bone.

Barnes would miss three weeks of action, returning on November 21. He only missed six games the rest of the season. While there were frustrating moments for fantasy managers regarding Barnes’ playing time, he was generally on the court long enough to provide solid value during the fantasy playoffs. Will Barnes’ ADP next fall match his number from this season (19)? Probably not, but he’s a player who will likely come off the board in the third round of many standard league drafts. While there are questions about Toronto’s wing rotation, Barnes will be a prominent figure in the team’s lineup.

Fantasy Revelation: Jakob Poeltl

A veteran center who has provided reliable middle-round value in recent seasons, Poeltl was even better in 2024-25. After four consecutive top-100 seasons, the 7-footer was a top-50 player in nine-cat formats this season. Making 57 appearances, Poeltl averaged 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.6 minutes, shooting 62.7 percent from the field and 67.4 percent from the foul line. The improved foul shooting had a significant impact on his fantasy value, as Poeltl is a career 55.1 percent shooter.

This was his first season making at least 60 percent of his attempts, and he also averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Availability is a question for Poeltl, having failed to crack 60 games in either of the last two seasons. Add in the spike in free-throw percentage, and it’s fair to question whether or not he can sustain those numbers in 2025-26, especially on a roster that will have another perimeter scorer in Brandon Ingram. However, there’s no denying the strides made by Poeltl in 2024-25, leading to him offering greater value than most fantasy managers expected (Yahoo! ADP: 93).

Fantasy Disappointment: Brandon Ingram

Most of the players on Toronto’s season-ending roster played to expectation regarding their ADPs, and even those who did not weren’t far off the mark. Ingram’s issue, as has been the case for most of his career, was availability. Boasting a Yahoo! ADP of 67, he was limited to 18 games by an ankle injury suffered in early December. The slender forward would not play again during the 2024-25 campaign, but the injury did not dissuade the Raptors from acquiring Ingram from the Pelicans at the February trade deadline.

Toronto did sign Ingram to a three-year extension shortly after the trade, so his immediate future is secure. But the unknown has to be considered, even for a player who’s averaged at least 20 points in six consecutive seasons. How will he fit alongside Barnes and Quickley? How does Ingram’s arrival impact RJ Barrett? Also, can Ingram play at least 65 games in a season for the first time since his rookie campaign (2016-17)? While being a middle-round pick does not mean managers who drafted Ingram lost value on par with those who drafted a Joel Embiid, that’s still a significant price to pay. Don’t be surprised if many managers either push Ingram down their boards or refuse to draft him at all next fall.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Immanuel Quickley:

After making at least 64 appearances in each of his first four NBA seasons, Quickley’s availability was a problem in 2024-25. He suffered a pelvic injury during the season opener on October 23 and a partially torn UCL in his elbow in mid-November, playing a total of three games before the end of December. There would be another extended absence in mid-January, with Quickley missing eight games with a sprained groin. IQ would play in 24 of Toronto’s last 35 games, but, like other established rotation players, his minutes would fluctuate down the stretch.

Quickley finished the season with averages of 17.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.6 three-pointers in 27.8 minutes, shooting 42 percent from the field and 86.7 percent from the foul line. He finished the season ranked just outside the top-100 in eight- and nine-cat formats, failing to match his Yahoo! ADP. While that was disappointing, Quickley finished with career-high averages in points, assists and three-pointers. Fantasy managers are unlikely to consider using a top-50 pick on Quickley, given how this season went, but he’ll be worth a top-100 selection in most leagues.

RJ Barrett:

Barrett was never much of a fantasy asset while a member of the New York Knicks, but there was hope that the move to Toronto would raise his value. The averages did increase in his first full season with the franchise, averaging 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.8 three-pointers in 32.2 minutes. Shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 63.0 percent from the foul line, Barrett was a 12th-round player in eight-cat formats. The nine-cat value suffered due to an average of 2.8 turnovers per game, while the points league value was hindered by Barrett playing only 58 games.

Most concerning for Barrett heading into the 2025-26 season was the Raptors’ decision to acquire Ingram at the trade deadline in February. Can he, Ingram, and Scottie Barnes start alongside each other? Doing so would require significant improvement from at least one of those three as a perimeter shooter; Ingram is the best of the bunch, as he’s made 36.3 percent of his three-point attempts as a pro. If they can’t coexist, what happens with RJ, given the money committed to Barnes and Ingram? Barrett’s status in Toronto may not be one of the league’s major storylines this summer, but it is something to keep an eye on.

Gradey Dick:

After making 17 starts in 60 appearances as a rookie, Dick moved into the starting lineup for the 2024-25 campaign. He started all 54 games he played, averaging 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers in 29.4 minutes, shooting 41 percent from the field and 85.8 percent from the foul line. Due to the lackuster field-goal percentage and production outside of points and three-pointers, Dick finished the season ranked outside the top-175 in eight- and nine-cat formats.

However, before his season ended in early March due to a hyperextended right knee and bone bruises, the second-year wing had three 30-point games and another seven with at least 20. All three 30-point performances occurred within the season’s first month, including a 31-point effort in a November 1 loss to the Lakers. Based on the numbers, Gradey appears likely to be a fantasy specialist until he can boost the production outside of points and three-pointers. But that may not be easy to do next season due to Ingram’s addition. There’s a high likelihood that Dick will be used in a reserve role, which limits his fantasy ceiling.

Ochai Agbaji:

The 2024-25 season was the most productive of Agbaji’s three-year NBA career. Starting 45 of the 64 games he appeared in, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 27.2 minutes. Shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 70.8 percent from the foul line, Agbaji finished with career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers, shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc. He scored in double figures in four straight and five of his last six appearances, including a 24-point effort in an April 11 loss to the Mavericks.

Agbaji finished the season just outside the top-150 in nine-cat formats, and outside the top-175 in eight-cat formats. He wasn’t a player to target in drafts before the season began, but injuries to other Raptors gave him value as a streamer throughout the year. That will likely be the case for Agbaji in 2025-26 as well, especially with the addition of Brandon Ingram. Given the injury history of multiple Raptors ahead of him in the pecking order, there’s likely to be times when Agbaji is recommended as a “waiver wire” add.

Chris Boucher:

While he had his moments during his time with the Raptors, Boucher struggled to regain his footing over the last two seasons. Once again limited to 50 appearances off the bench, the slender forward averaged 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 three-pointers in 17.2 minutes. Boucher shot 49.2 percent from the field and 78.2 percent from the foul line, but he offered little as a defender. Adding the Raptors’ desire to work in some of the team’s younger players, most notably Jonathan Mogbo, left little room for Boucher within the rotation as the season progressed.

His last action would come on February 26, when Boucher played 19 minutes in a loss to the Pacers. For a player entering free agency this summer, effectively being put on ice had to be frustrating. Boucher was not a player many fantasy managers selected in the fall, but he is someone who could have had some value during the “silly season” had he been allowed to play. Boucher is unlikely to be a player worth targeting in fantasy drafts next fall, regardless of where he lands in free agency.

Ja’Kobe Walter:

Walter was Toronto’s first-round pick last summer, with the Raptors selecting the former Baylor standout with the 19th overall pick. Unfortunately, he sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on two separate occasions, once during the offseason and again in early November. Walter would only appear in six games before the end of November. There was another extended absence in March, as he missed seven games with a right hip flexor strain and a right quad strain.

In total, Walter would play 52 games, finishing with averages of 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 21.2 minutes. Shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 79.5 percent from the foul line, the rookie guard was barely a top-300 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Walter is another player whose fantasy prospects for 2025-26 have been impacted by the addition of Ingram, as it creates a bit of a logjam on the wings. While there may be moments when Walter is worth streaming, he is not someone who needs to be selected in most redraft leagues.

Jonathan Mogbo:

The 31st overall pick in last summer’s NBA Draft, Mogbo played in 63 games as a rookie, seeing time at the power forward and center positions. An occasional fill-in for Jakob Poeltl when the Raptors were without their starting center, Mogbo averaged 6.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 20.4 minutes. The rookie shot 43.8 percent from the field and 73.2 percent from the free throw line, finishing the season ranked outside the top-250 in eight- and nine-cat formats. In addition to 13 games in which he scored in double figures, Mogbo recorded three double-doubles and one triple-double in his debut campaign.

The question for the Raptors is whether they view Mogbo as a power forward only moving forward, or someone who can be used at the four and the five positions. Based on his role as a rookie, the latter appears to be the kind of player the franchise wants Mogbo to be. His fantasy value will be limited next season with everyone healthy, but there will be times when Mogbo is worth streaming.

Jamal Shead:

Shead was Toronto’s other second-round pick last summer after a storied career at the University of Houston. The point guard played in 75 games, making 11 starts, and averaged 7.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.0 three-pointers in 19.6 minutes. Slotting in primarily as Immanuel Quickley’s backup, Shead did start four of his last five appearances of the 2024-25 season. Among the highlights were the double-double he recorded in a December 22 loss to the Rockets and the career-high 12 assists Shead recorded in an April 6 win over the Nets.

While there were those willing to stream Shead for his assists during the “silly season,” the year-long value was not sufficient to get him on the radar before that point. With Quickley locked into the starting point guard role for the foreseeable future, there isn’t much to gain from selecting Shead in drafts ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Restricted Free Agents: None

Unrestricted Free Agents: Chris Boucher, Garrett Temple

Here’s What’s New in the Latest Nintendo Switch Update

The Nintendo Switch 2 is nearly here. If you managed to preorder Nintendo’s much-hyped Switch successor, you’ll be able to play new games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza starting June 5.

In anticipation of the Switch 2’s launch, Nintendo just rolled out a big new software update for its existing lineup of Switch consoles: the original Switch, the Switch OLED, and Switch Lite. This is version 20.0.0 of the Switch’s software, and if you know anything about software, round numbers usually denote major updates.

Version 20.0.0 isn’t groundbreaking, by any means—this isn’t Nintendo’s iOS 19—but there are a number of significant changes and features to note here. Perhaps most notably, the update lays the groundwork for the Switch 2 itself, especially if you’re someone planning to move from an existing Switch over to Nintendo’s newest console.

Virtual game cards and GameShare

Some of the biggest changes to ship with this update have to do with how you access and play digital games. First, there are Nintendo’s new virtual game cards, which the company announced earlier this month. Virtual game cards are a workaround for playing your digital games across two of your Switches: Just as you can swap a physical game card between two of your consoles, you can choose to load and unload virtual game cards to switch which console you’re playing a digital game on.

As part of this rollout, Nintendo added a brand new “Virtual Game Card” icon to the Switch Home menu. Click this icon to manage the virtual game cards on your Switches. That said, this update also adds “Online License Settings” to your Switch, which lets you play downloaded digital titles or DLC when connected to the internet—with or without the virtual game card loaded.

In addition to being able to load virtual game cards between two of your Switch consoles, you can also lend these game cards to family members for two weeks at a time, as long as you’re connected within the same Nintendo Account family group. You can retrieve them at any time as long as the other party is online, but if they keep their Switch offline, you’ll need to wait until the two-week time limit expires.

Speaking of sharing games, version 20.0.0 also introduces GameShare. This feature, exclusive to the Switch 2, lets you share certain software titles between Switch 2 consoles. You need to be within the same local wireless network to share software, and the feature does not work with any of the original Switch consoles.

Get ready for Switch 2

Following the update, you’ll find an important new function under System Settings > System: System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2. You will want to use this feature if you buy a Switch 2, as it allows you transfer the contents from your current Switch console to your new one. If you decide to sell or trade-in your existing Switch before you have access to the Switch 2, the feature lets you upload your data to a Nintendo server which you can download on your new console at a later time. (When you choose this method, your original Switch console will be reset to factory settings, so make sure you really plan to restore from a Switch 2 if you choose this function.)

You can also select multiple save data files to transfer at once. You’ll find the option under the “Transfer Your Save Data” menu.

Other changes with Switch version 20.0.0

If you’re managing a child’s Switch, Nintendo added a way to protect access to the Virtual Game Card menu with a PIN or Nintendo Account login. You’ll find this setting in User > User Settings.

Nintendo changed the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch News icon colors, as well as “some user icons,” though the company doesn’t specify which in the update’s release notes.

Antetokounmpo, Bucks brass to sit down discuss future of team. Is it time he asks for a trade?

“I’m not going to do this… I know how it’s going to translate,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said when asked about his future with the franchise after the Bucks’ first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Pacers.

Antetokounmpo may not want to discuss it, but in league circles it is all anyone else wants to talk about: Will Giannis Antetokounmpo ask for a trade, or return to the Bucks next season? Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee’s just-extended GM Jon Horst, as well as other organizational decision-makers, soon will sit down and discuss the future, reports Shams Charania at ESPN. This is an annual meeting, but this year’s takes on added weight after the Bucks were bounced from the playoffs in the first round for the third straight season.

There’s a lot to pack here, let’s break it all down.

Antetokounmpo’s Decision

• The Milwaukee Bucks are not going to trade Antetokounmpo unless he asks for a trade (even if it’s a savvy basketball decision). He is worth too much to the franchise financially to do so — he is the reason people buy season seats, and sponsors want to be associated with the team. They don’t build the relatively new Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee without him on the roster. Who knows how long it will be before the Bucks can land another Hall of Famer and MVP player once he leaves, so the organization isn’t about to push him out the door.

• Antetokounmpo has not asked for a trade. If anything, the vibe has been the opposite of that this past season. Every report out of Milwaukee this year talks about how he has been happy with the organization and their willingness to do what it takes to compete, including trading for Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo thought he and Lillard made progress this season.

• With his torn Achilles suffered in the playoffs, Lillard will be out for most, if not all, of next season.

• The Bucks do not have a clear path to retooling this roster around Antetokounmpo. In an effort to contend now, the team has given up long-term assets for short-term gains, so it does not control its own first-round draft pick until next decade and is already well into the second luxury tax apron for next season, limiting team building. Two of its top rotation players, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, are free agents this summer and will be expensive to retain. How much can trading Pat Connaughton ($9.5 million contract next season) and a 2031 first-round pick really get this team?

• The Bucks we saw this season and playoffs are pretty much the Bucks we will see for the next few years — Antetokounmpo was the third-best player in the league, had an MVP-conversation level season, and this team was the No. 5 seed and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

• Antetokounmpo must decide what matters most to him: Being a one-team player his entire career, being loyal to the Bucks and living with that outcome, or contending for another ring? If another title is what matters most to him and his legacy, he has to ask for a trade.

Potential Antetokounmpo landing spots

• Other teams around the league have been keeping an eye on the Antetokounmpo situation for a couple of years, and think that watched pot may finally boil over.

• What teams are interested in an Antetokounmpo trade? All 29 of them. It’s malpractice not to at least call and kick the tires on a deal — MVP-level players in their prime don’t become available for trades often. However, only a handful of teams make real sense.

• Houston is the most obvious, because these playoffs have shown its need for an elite bucket getter, and the Rockets have a lot of young players and picks to build that trade around. How aggressively the Rockets might pursue Antetokounmpo is the question — Houston likes its young core and isn’t looking to blow it up.

Amen Thompson is reportedly off the table, but there has been some buzz that the Rockets would be open to trading Alperen Sengun in the right deal. Houston can throw multiple first-round draft picks — a 2025 lottery pick from the Suns, unprotected Phoenix firsts in 2027 and 2029, plus some of the Rockets’ own picks — as well as other players such as Jalen Green or Reed Sheppard in the mix.

• Brooklyn has said its “plan A” is to chase and land Antetokounmpo, giving them the biggest hoops star in New York. They have draft picks and the cap space to take on some contracts that the Bucks will want to dump if they are rebuilding, so this could be the best offer Milwaukee sees.

• Miami will be in the discussion, but lacks the draft picks to really get in the game at the highest levels. How much does a Tyler Herro/Jaime Jaquez Jr./Duncan Robinson return thrill the Bucks anyway?

• San Antonio would be interesting — a Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Antetokounmpo big three would win a lot of games — and they have the draft picks to entice the Bucks. An offer centered around Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and two lottery picks this year (the Spurs and Hawks) would have to make the Bucks at least think about it.

• Oklahoma City has the players and draft picks to not only get in this race but win it, but don’t expect them to break up a young core they are already contending with.

• There will be a lot of noise about the Knicks, who could offer something along the lines of Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, and first-round picks in 2026 and 2030, but that bid would fall short.

• The NBA is poised for this to be the Summer of Antetokounmpo, but it’s going to be his decision. Does he want to stay loyal and in Milwaukee, or chase a ring elsewhere?

Owners of NBA’s Jazz and NHL’s Utah Hockey Club unveil renovation plans to add seats to arena

The owners of the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club and NBA’s Jazz are beginning a massive renovation of their downtown Salt Lake City Arena that eventually will increase hockey capacity to roughly 17,000 and basketball to nearly 19,000 fans.

Smith Entertainment Group announced its plan after a meeting of the Salt Lake City Council.

Officials said the initial stage of renovations this summer should boost the number of full-ice view seats by 1,400: 1,000 new ones and upgrading 400 that had a sightline of just one end of the rink in the team’s first season in the city.

“Just in Year 1 (post-renovations) we’re going to see a great improvement for the lower-bowl capacity for hockey,” Jazz president Jim Olson said on a video call with reporters.

To make room for a new retractable seating system and install a new ice floor slab, the floor is getting raised 2 feet and lengthening the arena bowl by roughly 12 feet at each end.

“(Delta Center) was built solely for basketball,” Olson said. “When you come and plop the size of an ice sheet in that venue with those sightlines, the geometry just doesn’t work, and so that’s where you come up with the riser-system configuration. You come up with raising the floor 2 feet. We are absolutely protecting the basketball experience but then also creating a great hockey experience where all the seats can see all the ice.”

The plan is for renovations at the building that opened in 1991 to take place over the next three summers.

The NHL team, which was called the Utah Hockey Club as a placeholder after Ryan and Ashley Smith bought the Arizona Coyotes and moved them to Salt Lake City, is expected to have a full-time name before next season. Its YouTube channel showed as the Utah Mammoth for a brief time.

Mammoth, Outlaws and Utah Hockey Club are the finalists.

“Progress continues on exploring all three of the name options that were chosen as finalists by our fans,” SEG executive Mike Maughan said. “We’re fully on track to announce a permanent name and identity ahead of the ’25-26 NHL season and look forward to sharing that with our fans when we do.”

Six Signs Your Bank Is About to Fail (and What to Do About It)

Most people still rely on banks for most of their financial needs: In fact, 96 percent of the country has at least one bank or credit union account. (And if you use a bank to deposit your salary and pay your bills, you should even consider having a second bank, just in case something goes wrong.)

But what happens if your bank fails? Bank failures aren’t common, but they do happen—two failed just last year, and 2025 has already seen one bank failure back in January. While your money is probably generally safe even if your bank fails, a bank failure can still cause you a lot of trouble because your funds may be unavailable for days (or longer) as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) sorts out the mess, and any loans or mortgages you have with your bank will be sold to other creditors without your input. So being able to spot the signs of bank failure early can enable you to make smart decisions that can save you a lot of stress down the line.

Signs your bank is about to fail

“Bank failures almost always follow a similar pattern,” says Cory Frank, founder and CEO of Robora Financial. “Actual or expected losses lead to questions about capital adequacy, which then spark concerns about solvency. Fears around solvency often prompt customers to take self-preserving actions, such as pulling deposits. These actions, in turn, can cause a liquidity crisis. Liquidity risk is unique among risk types in that the perception of a problem can create a real problem—customer behavior itself can drive a bank or credit union to fail.”

Some of the key signs of a failing bank are easy to spot if you’re paying attention:

  • Branch closures. An obvious sign of distress in any business is shutting down locations, which often implies a need to cut costs and concentrate resources.

  • Layoffs. If your bank starts cutting staff, it’s time to at least start researching its financial situation.

  • Frozen HELOCs. If you have an old home equity line of credit that you haven’t used in a while and your bank suddenly freezes it, it could indicate the bank is trying to claw back enough funds to stay afloat.

  • Raising rates. If the interest rates your bank charges on loans suddenly soar, it’s a sign that the bank is looking to boost income fast.

  • Not renewing loans. If the bank suddenly begins letting existing loans with local businesses expire, it might mean a liquidity crisis is brewing there.

  • Delays in payment processing. If your bank starts dragging its feet on paying interest or processing other payments, it might indicate the bank is struggling to maintain its cash reserves.

Frank notes that banks also often activate what’s called a “Recovery Playbook” when failure is imminent, including cutting or delaying stock dividends, selling off assets, and launching aggressive deposit campaigns with above-market rates in hopes of slowing down withdrawal rates.

What to do if you suspect your bank is going to fail

There are a few basic things people can do to protect themselves against bank failure. “Stay informed,” Frank says. “Search for recent news about your bank or credit union for any of the red flags mentioned. Analyze financials, if you can: Download and review the institution’s Call Report (for banks) or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) 5300 report (for credit unions) to spot negative trends.”

But even if you’re paying attention, bank failure can still surprise you. “There doesn’t need to be a deep recession or collapse of the economy if there are internal problems at the bank that the public is simply unaware of,” says Adem Selita, co-founder of The Debt Relief Company. “However, banks do undergo stress tests and are checked for these issues quite often in order to minimize the risk of this happening. But that doesn’t mean the system is foolproof.”

Both Frank and Selita stress the simplest way you can protect yourself: Make sure your deposits are within FDIC (for banks) or NCUSIF (for credit unions) insured limits, which are both currently $250,000. “Even if your bank goes belly up, you will still hopefully be made solvent to that amount,” notes Selita.

If you have several accounts with the bank and you’re not sure that your deposits are covered in full, you can use the FDIC’s insurance estimator to estimate how much of your money will be protected in the event of a bank failure. If you don’t think 100% of your funds are insured, you should consider moving some of that money elsewhere before the worst happens.

Tyrese Haliburton’s father apologizes for confrontation with Giannis Antetokounmpo after Pacers’ series win over Bucks

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s father apologized to several parties after an on-court confrontation with Giannis Antetokounmpo on Tuesday night. 

After his son put the nail in the Bucks’ coffin to help Indiana advance in five games, John Haliburton appeared to be in a verbal altercation with Antetokounmpo following the final buzzer. 

After the two shook hands and started exchanging words, Antetokounmpo and Haliburton got in each other’s faces and needed to be separated. 

“I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game,” an X account under John’s name wrote early Wednesday. “This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.” 

The account, “@PapaHaliburton,” had been inactive for the past three years prior to the apology. 

John Haliburton joined several Pacers fans who rushed to the hardwood after his son scored a game-winning layup in overtime to put the series to bed. 

Antetokounmpo addressed the incident in an insightful answer during his postgame press conference. 

“At the moment I thought he was a fan,” Antetokounmpo said. “But then I realized it was Tyrese’s dad. I love Tyrese. I think he’s a great competitor. [But] it was his dad. Coming in the floor and showing me his son, a towel with his face, [and saying], ‘This is what we do. This is what we F-ing do. This is what the F we do.’ I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.

“My dad … my dad’s not with us no more. My dad used to come into the family room and he was the most respectful person ever. When you come from nothing and you work your whole life to sell stuff in the street, your whole life you’ve been scared of the police deporting you and sending you back to your family and you have to protect your kids, you create this mentality of being humble your whole life. To not kind of disrespect anybody. To not make the attention high, the emotions high, so anybody can snitch on you or say something bad about you. So when he came here, I remember saying, ‘Dad, why are so you humble? Why do you go into the family room and don’t say a word, you sit in the back? Why are you like that?’ He said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ That’s how I grew up. That’s what I had around. 

“So when I see other dads — which no disrespect, maybe if my son plays basketball, I might be in the court, I might be the one on the court and like 20 years later, you can play this interview and say Giannis, you’re contradicting yourself, but we’ll see in 20 years — but I’m telling you right now how I feel. Having somebody’s dad — and I’m happy for him and I’m happy for his son, that’s how he’s supposed to feel — but coming to me and disrespecting me and cursing at me is totally unacceptable.” 

“I talked with him at the end and I think we’re in a good place,” he added. 

Haliburton, who posted 29 points, nine assists and five rebounds in the win, also addressed his father’s actions postgame.

“Me and my pops had talked about that and I don’t agree with what transpired there from him,” Haliburton said. “I think he just got excited, saw his son make a game-winner, and came on the court. We had a conversation and I think he should just allow me to play basketball, stay over there and I’ll come to him to celebrate.

“I’ll talk to Giannis about it eventually,” the Wisconsin native added, saying that he’d have a conversation with his father. “I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there. It’s unfortunate what happened at the end there.”

The fourth-seeded Pacers sealed a date with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals. The Cavs had the best record in the East in the regular season and swept the Miami Heat in the first round. 

You Can Get the Nix Mini 3 Color Sensor on Sale for Just $80 Right Now

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you’ve ever stood in front of a wall trying to figure out what shade of white it is, the Nix Mini 3 Color Sensor can save you from guessing games and bad decisions. This tiny gadget is made for painters, designers, contractors, or DIYers who needs to match a paint shade or reproduce a brand’s exact color. About the size of a golf ball and weighing just 20 grams, it’s small enough to toss into your bag but precise enough to scan colors with serious accuracy. The Nix Mini 3 is currently on sale for $79.99 on StackSocial (down from $119), which isn’t exactly cheap, but if you need precise color info, it’s a valuable investment.

The Nix Mini 3 pairs via Bluetooth to your phone using the free Nix Toolkit app (available on iOS and Android) and gives you instant access to over 200,000 brand-name paint colors. You just scan a surface, and the app gives you the closest paint matches, plus the color codes you’d need for design software or print. If you work in digital design or printing, you’ll appreciate that it also provides RGB, HEX, and CMYK codes with each scan. And if you subscribe to their premium plans, you can match to Pantone, RAL, and NCS libraries too. The subscription might be a deal-breaker for some pros, but the free tier covers a lot of ground if you’re mostly working with mainstream paint brands.

The device is dust- and splash-resistant (IPX4), which means it can handle a messy construction site or a day in a paint-splattered studio. It charges via the included USB-C cable and now scans with 3x the resolution of the previous Mini 2, offering better accuracy and faster results, according to the manufacturer. It also comes with a lanyard and a diagnostic tile for calibration. If your work depends on color accuracy—or you’re just tired of guessing at shades while staring at a paint wall—this might be worth adding to your toolkit. Just know that serious pros who need Pantone-level precision might have to factor in the extra subscription cost.