King's Back

Portland's Power Play: The Dame Deal Reversed

When Damian Lillard returned to Portland this week, it felt like déjà vu with a twist. Instead of running it back with the same old pieces, Dame found a completely rebuilt squad — Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Clingan, Camara, and now a fully formed frontcourt with Grant and Yang. Wildly enough, it was the Lillard trade itself that enabled this rebuild.

As shown in the viral lineup tweet, Portland didn’t just survive the breakup — they got better positioned. They flipped Jrue Holiday, got assets, and somehow turned a bad leverage situation into future flexibility and a competent roster. If Dame ever comes back healthy on a lighter contract, he’ll walk into the best supporting cast he’s ever had.

From a betting lens? Keep this squad circled. They're not winning the West, but with so many young guys outperforming expectations (NDB Index darlings like Sharpe and Scoot), the Blazers might be a sneaky value team against the spread, especially when the books still treat them like tankers.

Redrafting 2018: Luka vs. Shai — Who’s No. 1 Now?

The graphic said it best: “Who wins the 2018 Redraft?” Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

Stat-wise, Luka edges it — 28.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.2 APG. But it’s not all about the numbers. Luka's heliocentric style reshapes offenses, controls tempo, and dominates playoff series. He is the offense. Meanwhile, Shai’s game is sleeker, more in rhythm with his team, and defensively superior. And lately? More efficient.

From a betting perspective, Luka makes headlines but Shai makes bankrolls. The Thunder cover spreads like clockwork. OKC has also been a bettor’s goldmine on futures markets. Using our NDB Index — which values contract efficiency and player impact — Shai’s scalability gives him the narrow edge in 2025. And a Championship.

Who goes No. 1? Flip a coin, but bet with your gut: Shai is the better value. Luka might be the better highlight.

LeBron James Jr.: A New Chapter for the Lakers

“We’re gonna have to start having some serious convos about Bronny 🔥” — and with that tweet, the narrative officially flipped. 18 points, 5 assists, and 7-of-13 shooting against Boston? That’s not a charity game. That’s real NBA playmaking.

Bronny came into Summer League as a meme to some. He leaves it as a legitimate contributor — and maybe even a rotation piece. For the Lakers, this changes everything. Suddenly they don’t look so shallow if players like Knecht can start hitting his shots. Luka and LeBron’s minutes can be stretched with Bronny filling in on both ends. The dream of a father-son lineup might not just be symbolic anymore — it might work.

Expect Bronny’s early season player props to be underpriced. We’re tracking him with the NDB Index and projecting that early inefficiency in his line will be corrected by December. Get in early, cash out quietly.

UFC 318 Pick: Holloway vs. Poirier — Let’s Ride

Max vs. Dustin II is a perfect rematch. Max Holloway’s pace, chin, and combos make him a nightmare — but don’t overlook the evolution in his defensive game.

Sharp AI ran the numbers. We’re siding with Max Holloway, Round 4, KO/TKO. The late-round volume advantage plays well here. Max is better over time, and Poirier’s tendency to get drawn into firefights could cost him as the fight wears on.

If you’re tailing SharpStakes this week, this is the headline bet:
📍 Holloway R4 KO/TKO (+1800) — sprinkle smart, ride the wave.

LINKS, CODES, & VALUE

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— Sharp Edge Weekly