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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James saluted former teammate Dwyane Wade on being a nominee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2023.

Congrats to my brother @DwyaneWade on being on the eligible candidate HOF list!! I mean he ain't no candidate, he's IN!!!!! Hahaha! 🫡🙏🏾

— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 22, 2022

Wade, a 13-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion, is among the first-time nominees. He's widely expected to go in on the first ballot. Basketball Reference gives him 100 percent Hall of Fame odds based on his résumé.

Wade averaged 22.0 points, 5.4 assists ad 4.7 rebounds per game over 16 seasons and was one of the best 2-guards of his era. A member of the NBA's 75th anniversary team, he came in at No. 26 when ESPN ranked the greatest players ever in 2020 and at No. 28 when The Athletic published its own list in 2022.

No player has been more closely associated with D-Wade than LeBron.

Wade and James spent four-plus seasons together, first with the Miami Heat and then with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their reunion in Northeast Ohio only lasted 46 games before Wade headed back south to Miami.

During their four-year Heat run, the pair won two titles. Along with Chris Bosh, they helped usher in a new era in the NBA. Increased player empowerment was probably inevitable as the league's revenues rose, but The Decision is the clear demarcation point when top stars began wielding more influence and control over their careers.

The Hall of Fame will announce its newest inductees on April 1 during the weekend of the 2023 Final Four. Assuming Wade is among the honorees, you can expect James to be in attendance when he officially joins the game's icons at the enshrinement ceremony in August.

The Tennessee Titans will turn to rookie quarterback Malik Willis as the starting quarterback for Saturday's matchup with the Houston Texans, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Veteran Ryan Tannehill has been ruled out for the game with an ankle injury.

NFL reporter Paul Kuharsky reported Wednesday that Tannehill was likely done for the season, opening up the chance for Willis to make an impression down the stretch.

The 23-year-old has made two starts this season, going 1-1 in those contests. For the year, the third-rounder out of Liberty has thrown for 177 yards and an interception, completing a woeful 44.7 percent of his passes while taking six sacks. He's added 80 rushing yards.

"I think the previous experience helped a lot, as far as just knowing what it takes and knowing what your routine is going to be in order to prepare," Willis told reporters Wednesday. "It's different every week, who we play. But the way you prepare is the same mostly. It's just understanding what it takes and going out there every day. Now I get the reps a little more, and it's just about going out there and getting better."

Malik Willis on being more comfortable in the scheme and keeping a positive mindset. Wise words beyond his years from the #Titans rookie. pic.twitter.com/jrXS3kxIFb

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) December 21, 2022

It will be a trial by fire for Willis at a crucial juncture in Tennessee's season, with the 7-7 Titans holding onto a tenuous one-game lead in the AFC South over the suddenly hot Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8), winners of four of their last six.

The Titans, meanwhile, have lost four straight.

The Jags won the first matchup between the teams by a 36-22 score, with the division potentially coming down to the final week of the season when the two teams face off in Jacksonville for the second time. The division winner will claim the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

It may be a moot point if the Titans can't get past the Texans and a Week 17 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. At least this week, Willis finds himself in the spotlight.

The Phoenix Suns reportedly rejected a trade offer for Jae Crowder from the Washington Wizards centered around young forward Rui Hachimura, according to a report from basketball insider Marc Stein.

Per that report, the Suns wanted a starting-caliber player in return for Crowder.

Hachimura reportedly doesn't make the "starter-worthy" cut for the Suns.

The 24-year-old has largely been relegated to duty off the bench for the Wizards in the past two years, averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the team this season while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three in 23.5 minutes per game.

After making 105 starts for the team in his first two seasons, averaging over 30 minutes per game in each campaign, Hachimura made just 13 starts for the team last season and none this year. Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert have been preferred to Hachimura, earning bigger roles.

Injuries have played some part, as Hachimura missed about a month this season with a bone bruise in his ankle. The inability to consistently stay on the court—he's logged 50 or more games in a season just once due to injuries—has limited the fourth-year players's upside in general during his career.

The Suns, meanwhile, are in serious need of depth on the wing after Crowder chose to remain away from the team heading into the season and Cam Johnson is recovering from a torn right meniscus.

Mikal Bridges is locked into place as the team's starting small forward, while Torrey Craig, Damion Lee and Landry Shamet have seen their roles increase.

If the Suns are going to make a title push, getting another quality player to add to the mix in exchange for Crowder will be key. Having the 32-year-old veteran away from the team is hardly ideal, though to this point, the Suns clearly haven't gotten the type of offer they want.

The Cincinnati Reds reportedly signed Wil Myers to a one-year, $7.5 million contract on Thursday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The deal can reach up to $9.5 million "based on playing time or if he's traded," per that report, and includes a mutual option for 2024.

Mayers was excellent for the San Diego Padres in 2020, hitting .288 with 15 homers, 40 RBI, 34 runs and a .959 OPS in 55 games. Paired with players like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, he gave the Padres one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball.

It was an important bounce-back year for Myers, who played in just 83 games in 2018, hitting .253 with 11 homers, 39 RBI and 39 runs, as a left oblique strain and a left foot bone bruise cost him time on the disabled list. In 2019, he played in 155 games but disappointed, hitting just .239 with 18 homers and 53 RBI.

After hitting 28 homers in 2016 (which earned him a trip to the All-Star Game) and 30 home runs in 2017, Myers established himself as a solid power hitter, though his time on the shelf in 2018 limited that productivity and his power numbers were lacking in 2019 compared to previous heights.

The 31-year-old's 2021 season regressed to his form in 2018-19, however, as he hit .256 with just 17 homers and 63 RBI in 146 games. And he was far worse in 2022, hitting .261 with seven homers and 41 RBI in just 77 games.

Getting on base has remained an issue, as Myers has a career .254 batting average and .315 on-base percentage. Since hitting .293 in his 2013 rookie season, earning him AL Rookie of the Year honors, he hadn't hit .260 or higher until the 2020 campaign.

That made him the subject of trade rumors throughout last season, though the Padres couldn't find any takers. And it made it fairly unsurprising when the team declined his $20 club option in 2023.

But his defensive versatility—the former Tampa Bay Rays man has spent time at third base, left field, right field, first base and even center field during his career—and his past history of pop at the plate clearly made him an attractive target for the Reds.

Whether he can return to the level he played at in 2020 remains to be seen.

Ja Morant isn't sweating the Western Conference.

During an interview on ESPN's NBA Today on Wednesday, Malika Andrews asked Morant who he thought the Memphis Grizzlies might have to get through to win a title, and he said the Boston Celtics.

"No one in the West?" Andrews followed up.

"Nah," Morant replied. "I'm fine in the West."

The Grizzlies (19-11) are tied for the top record in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets. Other contenders include the New Orleans Pelicans (18-12), Phoenix Suns (19-13) and Los Angeles Clippers (19-14).

Then there's the matter of the defending champion Golden State Warriors, who have limped out to a 15-18 record but have still won four of the last eight NBA championships.

But Morant isn't sweating them or anybody else in the conference.

Javien Toviano, a 4-star cornerback from Martin High School in Arlington, committed to LSU on Thursday, according to Sonny Shipp of 247Sports.com.

Toviano is considered the No. 58 player from the Class of 2023, the No. 6 cornerback and the No. 9 player from the state of Texas, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

At 6'0" and 185 pounds, Toviano already has solid size for the position, though he'll have to bulk up somewhat in college. He's also a versatile athlete, also playing running back and some Wildcat quarterback for Martin.

And he has a solid athletic pedigree. His older brother, Juma Otoviano, is a running back for Rice who has rushed for 1,082 yards and five touchdowns in his college career.

"I think it starts with his humility," Toviano's head coach at Martin, Bob Wager, told NBC DFW 5 when breaking down what made the cornerback prospect special. "He's been raised the right way by his mom and dad. He has an older brother Juma who was a great role model and example for him. He plays all three phases and does whatever he can to help the football team."

That versatility has made him a key player for Martin. At the next level, however, he'll likely focus solely on the cornerback position, with the upside to be a special player.

He may have a route to immediate playing time. LSU only is currently scheduled to have three corners, Sevyn Banks, Laterrance Welch and Jaelyn Davis-Robinson, on the roster for the 2023 season after Mekhi Garner and Jay Ward declared for the NFL Draft and Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Colby Richardson ran out of eligibility.

Toviano will have competition among the freshman, however, with 3-star corners Jeremiah Hughes and Ashton Stamps committed to the school in the Class of 2023. And LSU is likely to address the position in the transfer portal.

The powers of college football are not going anywhere anytime soon.

The Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs sit on top of the class of 2023 recruiting rankings after the December National Signing Day.

Alabama and Georgia were not the biggest headline makers on Wednesday. That title belonged to the Oregon Ducks.

Oregon surged multiple positions into the top 10 of most national recruiting rankings thanks to a tremendous Signing Day.

The Ducks are the only west coast team in the top 15 of the team rankings at 247 Sports. They appear to be ready to take over the PAC-12 for good once the UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans leave for the Big Ten.

Class of 2023 Recruiting Rankings

1. Alabama

2. Georgia

3. Texas

4. Miami

5. Ohio State

6. LSU

7. Oregon

8. Oklahoma

9. Notre Dame

10. Tennessee

Oregon stole the headlines on Signing Day itself by flipping a few players.

The Ducks landed quarterback Austin Novosad, who was committed to Baylor, to replace Dante Moore, who opted last week to go to UCLA instead of the Ducks.

The Ducks landed two recruits who were originally committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and they landed cornerback Daylen Austin, who was initially pledged to the LSU Tigers.

Head coach Dan Lanning and his staff finished off the day with the signature of five-star defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei.

Oregon made the biggest move in the team recruiting rankings on Wednesday with a SEC-style approach to the process that Lanning brought with him from Georgia.

The Ducks still have some progress to make to catch up to Alabama and Georgia in the recruiting rankings.

Alabama is on top of the team rankings with a class that features a ton of four-and-five-star players.

The Crimson Tide is bringing in six five-star players and 20 four-star players. The biggest news from Tuscaloosa in the last week was the flip of offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor from Iowa.

Proctor is one of six players ranked in the Top 25 to sign with Alabama. Safety Caleb Downs is the highest-rated prospect in the Tide's recruiting class.

Georgia also has an abundance of top-tier recruits headed to its program. Twenty four-star players and two five-star prospectors are a part of the second-best recruiting class.

Arch Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, is the top player in the class of 2023. He headlined the third-ranked Texas Longhorns class.

Texas, Alabama and Georgia are three of eight schools with multiple five-star players in their recruiting classes.

Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas and Notre Dame were also in the top 10 of the team rankings last year.

The top recruiting team in the class of 2022, the Texas A&M Aggies are currently 14th, one spot ahead of USC.

Michigan has never won a College Football Playoff game. The Wolverines lost in their CFP debut in the 2021 season, falling to Georgia in the Orange Bowl, which was a semifinal matchup.

TCU has never played in a College Football Playoff game. The Horned Frogs have mostly struggled since the four-team format was introduced ahead of the 2014 season.

One of these programs will soon be notching its first CFP win and advancing to play for the national championship. Which one will it be? That will be decided on Dec. 31.

No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU are set to face off in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on New Year's Eve. The winner will advance to face the victor of the Peach Bowl, which features a matchup between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State.

Here's all of the latest information on this year's Fiesta Bowl, including odds, comments and more.

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Fiesta Bowl Odds

Spread: Michigan (-8)

Over/Under: 58.5 total points

Moneyline: Michigan -305 (bet $305 to win $100); TCU +255 (bet $100 to win $255)

Via DraftKings Sportsbook

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Preview, Top Comments

Michigan has rolled through the 2022 season, winning each of its first 13 games. It won a big matchup against Ohio State to end the regular season, then took down Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Now, the Wolverines will face a challenging opponent in TCU. Although the Horned Frogs lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game, they won each of their 12 games before that. So the Fiesta Bowl has the potential to be a competitive game.

If Michigan is going to end up on top, it likely will need to find a way to limit the production of TCU senior quarterback Max Duggan, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and is having a stellar season.

"We'll be fired up to compete against a relentless competitor like him," Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said, per Josh Henschke of Maize & Blue Review.

Duggan has passed for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 13 games. He's also rushed for 405 yards and six scores.

The talented QB is the primary reason why TCU led the Big 12 in points (40.3) and total yards (473) this season.

"Nothing but tremendous respect for the type of competitor that he is," Harbaugh said, per Henschke. "And it's going to be a huge challenge getting ready for a quarterback like that. All I have seen is just relentless competitor, super-talented, tremendous effort."

But Michigan's defense has excelled in tough matchups already this season. The Wolverines have allowed only 277.1 total yards per game, which ranked third best among FBS teams. Their 13.4 points allowed per contest ranked fifth.

In 13 games, Michigan has allowed more than 17 points only three times.

Duggan is ready for the challenge. Not only because the Wolverines have been dominant this season, but because the school has thrived for so many years.

"You get to play a great program that has so much history, and that's what you want," Duggan said, per The Athletic's Sam Khan Jr. "You want to play the best."

Michigan has had steady leadership for quite some time. Harbaugh took over as the head coach at his alma mater ahead of the 2015 season, and it took him no time to get the program on track. The Wolverines have won 10 or more games in five of his eight seasons at the helm, including his first two and the past two.

Sonny Dykes is also having immediate success at TCU. He took over as the Horned Frogs' head coach prior to the 2022 campaign. Before that, they hadn't won more than seven games in any of the previous four seasons.

"It's been quite a journey from where we were this time last year to where we are today," Dykes said, per Khan. "You got to give our players and everybody associated with our program a ton of credit for just believing and doing things the right way."

On Dec. 31, one of these two teams will be taking another big step forward and moving on to the CFP National Championship Game, which is set for Jan. 9. And at that point, they'll be only one win away from a national title.

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Two nonprofit watchdog groups—CharityWatch and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy—and an investigation by ESPN's Tisha Thompson found that the Washington Commanders' Charitable Foundation is "operating in a manner that calls into question whether it is upholding its charitable mission responsibly."

"There are so many red flags here, it's hard to keep score," CharityWatch executive director Laurie Styron told Thompson. "Taxpayers who subsidize the existence of public charities also have a stake in knowing that nonprofits aren't being used to forward the personal interests of the people running it."

The charity receives 75 percent of its donations from the public and the team's fans. In 2020, it allegedly raised $2.1 million in contributions and grants and gave away $697,000. In 2021, it is said to have raised $927,992 and gave away more $471,000.

The review found that the charity "lacks sufficient independent oversight"; failed to disclose that one of the companies it owes money to belongs to team owner Daniel Snyder; had a number of "unusual transactions" listed in its filings; and provided grants to organizations that don't align with its mission statement.

"The Washington Commander owners, players, donors, alumni, and staff have dedicated time and resources to helping others and we are very proud of the work that has been accomplished, while becoming even more integrated as a community partner in the Washington region," team spokesperson Jean Medina said in a statement.

John Brownlee and Stuart Nash, who are counsel for the Commanders, responded to the report in a statement:

ESPN chose to ignore the informed opinions of the Foundation's independent auditors, and additional outside legal experts who actually had access to the Foundation's records and finances, in favor of the uninformed opinions of individuals who had no such access, and who had affirmatively refused such access when it was offered to them.

Up until April, Commanders co-CEO Tanya Snyder was the sole voting board member in the foundation. Team president Jason Wright, senior vice president of corporate affairs and strategy Amina Bulman, Commanders' Charitable Foundation executive director, Valeri Biberaj and chief operating officer Greg Resh were then added as voting board members by Snyder.

Resh later left both the team and the foundation's voting board in September.

"The potential for abuse is really, really high," president and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Aaron Dorfman told Thompson regarding the board being comprised solely of team employees.

"The better practice would be to have some people on the board who are not beholden to the Snyders or to the team," he added. "People who have the best interests of vulnerable children, because the foundation says that is what it's working toward. And that would help guarantee that the foundation is used for its intended purpose of really benefiting the community."

It is the latest controversy for the Snyders and the Commanders, who have faced numerous investigations and inquiries in the past year, including a House Committee on Oversight and Reform probe that found Snyder had fostered a "culture of fear" within the organization. It also reported instances of "sexual harassment, bullying, and other toxic conduct" over the course of several decades.

In November, the organization announced that the Snyders had hired Bank of America Securities "to consider potential transactions," the first indication that the beleaguered owner may finally consider selling the franchise.

Some officials within the Los Angeles Lakers are "very intrigued" by New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

Woike reported the Knicks are looking to get a first-round draft pick for Reddish but that "the asking price is expected to eventually dip" because he isn't featuring for New York at the moment.

Reddish hasn't played since a 121-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 3, and the Knicks' recent turnaround makes it tough to see his role increasing anytime soon. Following that Mavericks defeat, New York went on an eight-game winning streak.

If the Lakers want Reddish, then they probably just need to play the waiting game.

The 23-year-old is eligible for restricted free agency in the summer, and you wouldn't expect the Knicks to re-sign a player who's not even in the rotation right now. Sooner or later, the front office will have to settle for whatever's on the table because getting a second-round pick is better than nothing.

For Los Angeles, Woike's report symbolizes the predicament for general manager Rob Pelinka.

Especially in the wake of Anthony Davis' foot injury, which will sideline him for at least a month, the need to upgrade the roster became more pressing. But identifying a solution that makes the Lakers meaningfully better is easier said than done.

"The Lakers certainly have options, but under the circumstances, most of them involve overpaying with no real certainty that Davis will be whole enough to make a trade matter—at least for a playoff run this season," Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus wrote.

Reddish was a top-10 pick in 2019 for a reason. He was a 33.3 percent three-point shooter in his one season at Duke and had a boatload of defensive potential thanks to his 6'8" frame. Coming out of the draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman pegged him as a three-and-D starter in the NBA.

That's the kind of player Los Angeles needs, and he could be a contributor for years to come if he worked out.

Reddish is also a reclamation project, though, and that kind of midseason gamble is never ideal when a franchise is operating with the kind of short-term view the Lakers are.