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The Los Angeles Clippers will face some big decisions this offseason. Here are three players who will likely not be back.The Los Angeles Clippers entered the 2022-23 season with championship aspirations, once again, and it was warranted. Since joining forces in 2019, their superstar duo of Kawhi...

Michael O’Neill believes Northern Ireland still have everything to play for in their bid to reach Euro 2024 even as injuries hit hard during the qualifying campaign. With a trip to Denmark and a home match against Kazakhstan up next, O’Neill has named a 28-man squad that includes five uncapped players and a total of 15 with fewer than 10 caps. Although Jonny Evans returns from the hamstring injury that prevented him from adding to his 100 caps in March, Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Liam Boyce, Josh Magennis, Conor Washington and Shane Ferguson remain sidelined, forcing O’Neill to rely on youth. When O’Neill returned to the Northern Ireland job in December there was an opportunity to capitalise on a favourable qualifying draw, and although that remains possible, the absence of his most experienced players is making it a much tougher ask. Northern Ireland began with a 2-0 win in San Marino in their group opener, but a 1-0 home defeat to Finland highlighted the difficulties. Asked if the job had been harder than envisaged, O’Neill said: “I suppose it depends on what the expectation is for this campaign going forward as well. I still think we have got everything to play for in this campaign. “The next two games are going to be very important and then obviously we have a double-header away in September (against Slovenia and Kazakhstan) which will be difficult, so we are going to ask a lot of a number of young players in this group. “The senior players that we have with us, we really can’t afford to lose any more. I think we have eight players out who could all equally play for us, who have all been established players with a high number of caps. “That is the situation that unfortunately we just have to deal with.” It has meant O’Neill has been juggling the need for results with the need to nurture young players, with Conor Bradley and Shea Charles in particular asked to take on significant roles. “It is a different approach from taking a team and saying ‘Right, how do we qualify? What is our route to qualification? How do we get enough points?’” O’Neill added. “Of course, that is always in the background but I think it is more about the integration of the younger players and they will have to learn very quickly on the job if we are going to take that next step.” O’Neill has hosted a series of training camps with senior players and under-21s in recent weeks, aiming to keep fitness levels high after the end of domestic campaigns while running the rule over younger faces. Nottingham Forest defender Aaron Donnelly, West Ham teenager Callum Marshall and Larne forward Lee Bonis have all used the opportunity to earn their first senior call-ups. While the return of Evans is a major boost, the Leicester defender will come into camp dealing with the disappointment of relegation and facing uncertainty over his future. “He is very disappointed for them to go down and he is in a situation where he is out of contract as well,” O’Neill said. “I am sure if he was playing his football elsewhere next season he would have liked to have left Leicester in a slightly different way but he was just unfortunate this season. “Probably, I think by his own admission, he pushed very hard to get back because I think he does make a difference to Leicester’s team. I think you saw that in the final three games that he was fit to play in. But I know he is keen to be a part of this squad and play. “It is big for us to have him back, obviously we missed him in March and I believe that Jonny still has a lot of football left in him, both with Northern Ireland and wherever he chooses to play his football next season.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live French Open day 12: Karolina Muchova reaches first grand slam final after upset Jonny Evans back in Northern Ireland squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers West Ham fans line streets to toast Europa Conference League champions

Josh Taylor will defend the WBO super-lightweight title in a main-event clash with Teofimo Lopez this weekend, as the boxers square off in New York City. Taylor, 32, previously reigned as undisputed champion in the division, and he retained that status – as well as his unbeaten record – in his most recent fight. That was a controversial decision win against Jack Catterall in February 2022, however, and Taylor vacated two belts and was stripped of another as he pursued a rematch with the Englishman. That fight fell through earlier this year, though, setting up this weekend’s bout between Scotland’s Taylor and American Lopez. Lopez, 25, is a former unified lightweight champion, who won the titles from Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020 before losing them to George Kambosos Jr in 2021. He has since bounced back from that sole professional loss with two straight wins at super-lightweight, however, stopping Pedro Campa in August and controversially outpointing Sandor Martin in December. Now Lopez is moving up a weight class in a bid to become a champion again. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The fight will take place on Saturday 10 June, at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theatre in New York City. The main card is set to begin at 1am BST on Sunday 11 June (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET). Ring walks for the main event are then due at approximately 4am BST (8pm PT, 10pm CT, 11pm ET). How can I watch it? In the US, the event will air live on ESPN and ESPN+. In the UK, Sky Sports will broadcast the fights. Sky Sports subscribers can watch the event live on TV, as well as on the broadcaster’s website and Sky Go app. Odds Taylor – 8/13 Lopez – 11/8 Draw – 12/1 Full odds via Betway. Full card (more fights to be confirmed) Josh Taylor (C) vs Teofimo Lopez (WBO super-lightweight title) Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings Joe Rogan is right: Tyson Fury has ‘no chance in hell’ against Jon Jones Why is BT Sport being rebranded to TNT Sports? Eurosport merger explained What time does Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez start in UK and US this weekend? How to watch Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez online and on TV this weekend The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings

Ronald Acuña Jr. discussed what all went into his game-saving throw for the Atlanta Braves.The amount of bases Ronald Acuña Jr. takes away from the opposition never ceases to amaze us.Whether he is putting balls into seats, swiping bags, flashing the leather or showing off his ...

Christian Eriksen has been impressed by compatriot Rasmus Hojlund’s development over the last year and believes Manchester United are signing a “very good player”. After sealing deals for midfielder Mason Mount and adventurous goalkeeper Andre Onana, Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils increased their focus on signing a new striker. United have been regularly linked to Tottenham sharpshooter Harry Kane but ended up moving for up-and-coming Atalanta frontman Hojlund. The clubs have agreed a deal in principle worth £64 million plus a further £8 million in potential add-ons for the highly-rated 20-year-old striker, who has impressed Denmark team-mate Eriksen. “What’s he like? He’s a strong number nine,” the United midfielder told the PA news agency. “He’s developed a lot in the last year from when I first saw him with the national team (to) a year’s time, so, yeah, he’s a very good player.” Put to Eriksen that Hojlund had gone under the radar for many until the recent transfer talk, he said: “I suppose we don’t get enough media attention in Denmark that’s why, so people outside Denmark don’t know enough. “He’s a nice guy, he’s a good player. Like I said, he’s developed, turning into just a nine, which he’s played for the national team. “I have to be honest I haven’t seen that many games for Atalanta, but I know how they play and he fitted in well there, so, yeah, he’s a good player.” I've said a lot of good stuff - and also said some bad stuff Christian Eriksen Hojlund played for FC Copenhagen and Austrian side Sturm Graz before joining Atalanta last summer, scoring nine goals in Serie A as well as six in as many appearances for Denmark. Asked if the striker had engaged with him about what United was like, Eriksen said: “Not recently. “I spoke to him when we were with the national team last time. “But of course, I’ve said a lot of good stuff – and also said some bad stuff – but in the end it’s what’s going to happen.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live The sporting weekend in pictures Fifth Ashes Test, day five: England hope Stuart Broad provides fairytale finish Tommy Fury promises knockout as KSI fight confirmed for October

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