Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has called for more mental health support for younger football players, who may struggle to cope with the highs and lows of the game.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and member of the League Managers' Association (LMA), including Hughes, have launched a new partnership that aims to encourage conversations about mental health.

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As part of the initiative, members of the LMA will be given a training course on how to improve "suicide awareness."

"It's important young players get the support they need," Hughes said. "A lot of clubs have provision of player welfare and departments that address that. But the resources of all clubs aren't the same.

"There are lot of emotions and disappointments, more disappointments than successes ... and it's about being able to recognise when somebody's struggling with those disappointments."

Hughes' former Wales team mate Gary Speed was found hanged in the garage of his house in Huntington, near Chester in 2011.

Police said at the time that there were no suspicious circumstances and the coroner said there was not enough evidence to say whether it was accidental or intentional.

"I've had teammates that have struggled with mental health and lost their lives to suicide," Hughes said. "We have an opportunity [as managers] to help."

Croatia's Supreme Court on Monday confirmed a prison sentence for Dinamo Zagreb coach Zoran Mamic for fraud ahead of the club's Europa League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, the Balkan nation's state television (HRT) said.

Mamic's brother Zdarvko, Dinamo's former executive director who is at large in neighbouring Bosnia, also had his sentence confirmed by the court as did former tax official Milan Pernar.

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"The Supreme Court has confirmed the Osijek Municipal Court's verdict sentencing Zdravko Mamic to six and a half years of imprisonment for the embezzlement of 116 million kuna ($18.26 million) from Dinamo football club," said the statement published by HRT.

"Zoran Mamic's sentence has been reduced to four years and eight months from four years and 11 months, while Milan Pernar had his sentence reduced to three years and two months from four years and two months."

The three had been charged with tax evasion worth 12.2 million kuna ($1.9 million) and for siphoning off 116 million kuna from transfers of players from Dinamo.

The Croatian champions are at home to Tottenham on Thursday in the return leg of their Europa League round of 16 return leg after the English side won the first leg 2-0 last week.

Manchester United are looking for a scout to help spot future superstars from the age of six.

United are hiring a lead phase scout to target players around Manchester aged between six and eight.

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The successful candidate will be expected to "compile and maintain target lists" of youngsters good enough to join United's academy.

Under Premier League rules, clubs can register players from Under-9 level.

"The purpose of the role is to lead the pre-academy recruitment strategy and help coordinate the academy scouting operation and gain market intelligence for Manchester United Football Club in the North West region,"United's job advert read.

"The primary responsibility is to oversee the recruitment strategy within the pre-academy phase, ensuring Manchester United academy have leading market knowledge.

"Also coordinating the casual scouting network to identify, track, recommend and support the recruitment of grassroots players of potential interest to Manchester United Academy in the North West region."

United have had an academy graduate in their matchday squad for more than 4,000 consecutive games.

Midfielder Scott McTominay has been associated with the club since the age of five after joining a development centre in Preston.

Meanwhile, the club have announced Hannibal Mejbri has signed a new long-term contract at Old Trafford.

The 18-year-old moved to United from Monaco in 2019 is part of the U23 side but has already made the step up to first team training with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's seniors.

What's next for Cristiano Ronaldo? It is the question being asked in Italy, Spain, France, England and even the United States as speculation continues to surround the Juventus forward and his club future.

Reports in Italy earlier this month suggested that Juventus, whose finances have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, are prepared to sell the rights to the 36-year-old for as little as £25 million this summer in an effort to get Ronaldo's £28 million annual salary off the wage bill. But those stories are nothing new: The word within the game since the start of the season has been that Ronaldo is available for the right price.

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Last week's Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Porto was another big blow to Juve's money-making machine, and having signed Ronaldo from Real Madrid in 2018 as the final piece of the club's plans to win that competition, the failure so far to deliver the biggest prize in the game has led to the prospect of him being moved at the end of the season.

Despite his age, Ronaldo continues to score goals at an incredible rate, with his weekend hat-trick against Cagliari taking his season tally to 30 goals in 33 games for Juve. It also took him to 770 career goals -- three clear of Pele's tally of 767. At 36, with huge wages, Ronaldo arguably still offers value because of his goal output, so he will not be short of opportunities this summer. But what are those options likely to be?

ESPN has assessed the possible moves open to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

REAL MADRID

Ronaldo left the Bernabeu in 2018 as Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer, with 450 goals in 438 appearances. When asked last week whether he would be happy to take Ronaldo back to Spain, Real coach Zinedine Zidane replied by saying that the player was "magnificent."

From a football perspective, Real have been unable to replace Ronaldo's goals since he left the club. Eden Hazard has struggled to make any kind of impact, and Zidane's team could certainly benefit from the goals that Ronaldo would deliver, even at 36. But Real are also desperately trying to reduce their wage bill by clearing out high-earning players in their 30s such as Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric. Bale, on loan at Tottenham this season, still has a year to run on his £600,000-a-week contract.

Clearing financial space to make way for Ronaldo would make little sense, but with Lionel Messi seemingly heading for the exit door at Barcelona, there would be an obvious appeal to Real to bring back their former superstar at a time when Barca are losing their best-ever player.

Real could justify the move for both football and commercial reasons. It may not make financial sense, but Real always seem to find the money when they need to, meaning a return to the Bernabeu should not be discounted.

MANCHESTER UNITED

It has been 12 years since Ronaldo left Old Trafford in a then-world-record £80 million transfer to Real Madrid, but United have made numerous attempts to lure him back to the club ever since. Some overtures were more serious than others, particularly in 2013 and 2014, but the stars never quite aligned and his move to Juventus three years ago seemed to draw a line under the prospect of Ronaldo returning to United.

Yet United are a club in need of a centre-forward this summer and, if attempts to sign Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland prove unsuccessful, Ronaldo would be a compelling alternative.

On the pitch, Ronaldo is still making a big contribution at Juventus, so United could expect at least one good season out of their former player and the cost of the deal is relatively inexpensive at £25 million. Ronaldo's wages would be high, but United would exploit his return to the max from a commercial perspective.

With Paul Pogba's future uncertain, United could take Ronaldo as part of any deal for the Frenchman to return to Juventus and ensure they swap one big name for another. Similarly, if Messi ends up at Manchester City, Ronaldo may find it impossible to resist a return to United so he can play out the final chapter of his rivalry with the Argentine in the Premier League.

In short, don't rule it out, especially if United's owners, the Glazer family, regard Ronaldo as having the same profile as Tom Brady, whose move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (also owned by the Glazers) helped them win the Super Bowl.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Whenever a star player becomes available, PSG are always in the running, and it's no different with Ronaldo, but things in the French capital are fluid at the moment.

If the French champions can retain the services of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the prospect of a move for Ronaldo would be slim. Due to the financial impact of the pandemic, interest in both Neymar and Mbappe has drastically diminished, and there may be no market for either. Barcelona want Neymar and Real want Mbappe, but it's doubtful either club could find the money.

But just as they are in the chase to sign Messi from Barcelona, PSG are also interested in signing Ronaldo. If Neymar and Mbappe are tempted away from Parc des Princes, PSG could even attempt to pair Messi and Ronaldo together in a Parisian dream team. Right now, though, there are too many "what ifs" at PSG for the club to be regarded as a likely option for Ronaldo. They are there, in the background, but much needs to happen for Ronaldo to end up in Paris.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Sources have told ESPN that a move to the U.S. appeals to Ronaldo, though likely as the final destination in his career. Yet if Ronaldo was to give any indication of being open to a move to MLS this summer, Inter Miami would automatically jump to the front of the line due to the ambition of the team's ownership group, which includes former United and Real star David Beckham.

Phil Neville, the Inter Miami coach, played alongside a young Ronaldo at Old Trafford and, in tandem with Beckham, would have a personal connection with Ronaldo to help swing a deal. LA Galaxy and LAFC would also likely be interested in signing Ronaldo given that they can offer the appeal of the Los Angeles lifestyle, but the majority of MLS teams would have no chance of being able to finance a deal for the 36-year-old.

Location and climate will be key: Ronaldo could never get used to the weather in Manchester, so don't expect him to move to Kansas or Minnesota.

STAY AT JUVENTUS

Ronaldo has a year to run on his Juventus contract, so the reality for all concerned is that he will only move if it suits him. He may not have won the Champions League with Juve, but he's nonetheless won Serie A in each of his two full seasons and scored 95 goals in 122 appearances. His time in Italy has been a success and he does not need to move either for money or a less challenging league.

But if he feels as though he isn't wanted in Turin, then the appeal of a return to Madrid or Manchester, where he would be idolised and well-paid, may persuade him to leave Juventus.

All of the cards are stacked in Ronaldo's favour right now. Real and United would both find a way to sign Ronaldo if he made it clear that he was open to return to either club, while staying at Juventus would enable him to leave as a free agent in 2022.

If he does that, at the age of 37, a move to MLS would be a genuine possibility, but if he's to leave Juventus, the Italian champions will first have to sell the idea to Ronaldo himself.

VERDICT

Fabio Paratici, Juventus' chief football officer, said last week that there are no plans to extend Ronaldo's contract in Turin, although he stopped short of saying that the Portuguese forward could leave. Sources have told ESPN, however, that Juve would welcome a sale in order to be able to rebuild and allocate the Ronaldo salary elsewhere, so potential suitors will not be discouraged.

Right now, Real and United are the most likely destinations, but Ronaldo is not the priority for either club. It is a deal, though, that could be done once there's a clear indication he is prepared to move.

As it stands, PSG have too many other issues to address, while it feels 12 months too soon for a move to MLS. So unless United or Real break cover and make a firm move this summer, another year at Juventus is the likeliest outcome.

Don't rule out United or Real. In terms of a short-term fix and a commercial project, re-signing Ronaldo would work for both clubs.

Lizelle Lee, the South Africa opening batter, has had a stellar run in the ongoing ODI series against India, and that has led to a steep rise in the women's ODI rankings, where she is now the top batter, relegating England's Tammy Beaumont to No. 2. Last week, after scoring 83* in the series opener, Lee had moved up from No. 11 to eighth, and since then, a run of 4, 132* and 69 has seen her zoom through even as South Africa have taken a winning 3-1 lead in the series.

Lee, the only South African ever to top that table, had earlier been the best in the world in June 2018 after scoring 92* and 117 against England, though South Africa had lost that series 2-1.

Though India have fallen short in three of the matches, their top-order batter Punam Raut has had a very good run, totalling 253 runs from four innings so far compared to Lee's 288. Like Lee, she has also scored two half-centuries and a century, and that has led to a rise of eight spots to 18th. She is fourth-best Indian in the list after Smriti Mandhana (seventh), Mithali Raj (ninth) and Harmanpreet Kaur (15th).

Among the other premier performers in the four matches so far in Lucknow, South Africa's Lara Goodall (49 and 59* in the second and fourth games) has gained 27 places to reach the 48th position.

Chasing teams have won all four games so far - South Africa won the third game on the DLS method while chasing - and that has been because of some impressive bowling performances, especially in the morning. Jhulan Goswami, with eight wickets in three games, is top of that chart, with Shabnim Ismail one behind after four games, followed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad with five wickets.

That has meant a rise to No. 3, behind the Australian pair of Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt for Ismail, while Goswami has held on to her fifth place, while Gayakwad has gained four slots to No. 18.

The final game of the series will be played on Wednesday.

Big picture

After a hard-fought Test series where the honours were shared, the focus in Abu Dhabi shifts to the three T20Is that Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will play within the span of four days.

Apart from the shared aim of winning the series, the two teams' respective goals with the bigger picture in mind will be quite different. Afghanistan will look to firm up their strongest team looking ahead to the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup scheduled in India later this year. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will not be participating in the World Cup, having not taken part in the qualifier event since their board was suspended at that time. They will look to show what the marquee event will miss in their absence.

One thing going Zimbabwe's way - they are ranked 12th compared to their opponents' 9th - is that visa issues could force Afghanistan to play without their strongest XI. Five of their players - including Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Gulbadin Naib - are yet to arrive in the UAE, which has forced their selectors to revise their squad with players who were around from the Test series who otherwise weren't in contention for the T20Is.

In nine previous T20I meetings between the two sides, Zimbabwe have just one win. And they have lost all five of their T20Is in 2020. But they'll be hungry to prove a point without World Cup action to look forward to, and a weakened Afghanistan side could balance the scales considerably. If they can keep Rashid Khan quiet, they might just stand a pretty good chance.

Form guide

(Last five completed matches, most recent first)

AfghanistanLWWWW
Zimbabwe LLLLL

In the spotlight

Fresh off an 11-wicket match haul in the second Test, Rashid Khan continues to be Afghanistan's No. 1 weapon in the format. In the last 12 months, he has taken 48 T20 wickets at an average of 18.85 while conceding just 6.14 runs an over. Those are elite numbers but he has done even better in his 16 matches in the UAE, with an average of 17.20 and an economy rate of 5.37. With two global tournaments approaching, Afghanistan could be tempted to make more use of his big-hitting skills as well, so don't be surprised if he gets a promotion wit the bat.

Zimbabwe's batsmen could face a difficult time against the spinners, but their bowlers could cause some problems too, particularly with Blessing Muzarabani leading the attack. In his nine T20Is, the tall right-arm quick has taken two or more wickets on six occasions, including a career-best 3 for 21 against Australia.

Team news

The visa issue could force Afghanistan to field an XI that looks markedly different to the one that featured in their last white-ball outing earlier in the year.

Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Usman Ghani, 3 Karim Janat, 4 Asghar Afghan (capt), 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Afsar Zazai (wk), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Naveen Ul Haq, 10 Amir Hamza, 11 Fareed Ahmad.

Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Prince Masvaure, 2 Tinashe Kamunhukamwe/Kevin Kasuza, 3 Wesley Madhevere, 4 Sean Williams (capt), 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Ryan Burl, 7 Milton Shumba, 8 Regis Chakabva (wk), 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Wellington Masakadza, 11 Blessing Muzarabani.

Pitch and conditions

The pitch in Abu Dhabi is expected to be good to bat on under lights, although the large boundaries could keep the sixes in check. It should be a warm, dry evening.

Stats and trivia

• The last time these two teams met in a T20I game, in Chattogram in 2019, Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan for the first time in nine attempts.
• Rashid is six wickets away from becoming the seventh man (and fourth spinner) to take 350 wickets in the format.
• If he scores 28, Sean Williams will go past Elton Chigumbura (893 runs) and Brendan Taylor (909) to become Zimbabwe's second-highest T20I run-getter behind Hamilton Masakadza (1662).

Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar, the UAE players who the ICC had found guilty of offences relating to attempted match-fixing during the 2019 T20 World Cup qualifying tournament, have been banned from all cricket for eight years each by the game's governing body. The bans have been backdated to October 16, 2019, when they were provisionally suspended.

Following a hearing and presentation of written and oral arguments, the ICC's anti-corruption tribunal found the two senior UAE players guilty of:

• Article 2.1.1 - for being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match or matches at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.
• Article 2.4.4 - for failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.

Additionally, Naveed, the former UAE captain, was also found guilty of breaching two counts of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code for Participants of the T10 League 2019:

• Article 2.1.1 - for being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match or matches at the T10 League 2019.
• Article 2.4.4 - for failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code at the T10 League 2019.

The two had been pronounced guilty of of corruption by the ICC in January this year.

"Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar represented their adopted country, the UAE at the highest level in cricket. Naveed was the captain and leading wicket taker. Anwar was the opening bat. Both had long international careers and were well versed in the threat from match fixers," Alex Marshall, the general manager of the ICC's integrity unit, said in a statement. "That they both chose to engage with this corrupt activity was a cynical betrayal of their positions, their teammates, and all supporters of UAE cricket.

"I am pleased that the independent Tribunal has imposed significant bans from all forms of cricket and this should serve as a warning to any cricketer who considers taking the wrong path."

In a statement released shortly after the ICC verdict became public, the ECB acknowledged the work done by the authorities, and reiterated that it remained "firm in its stance denouncing any activities of corruption and those undertaken by the players in this anti-corruption case".

As pointed out by Marshall, the two were among UAE's most experienced international cricketers. Anwar, just past his 42nd birthday, has been their highest run-getter across the ODI and T20I formats, and 33-year-old Naveed their most prolific wicket-taker in ODIs and second from top in T20Is..

Naveed and Anwar were charged under the ICC anti-corruption code in October 2019, and suspended days before the start of the qualifiers in the UAE. Naveed, who was UAE's captain at the time, was stood down from the post. At the time, Naveed had accepted that he had failed to report a suspicious approach during the tournament, but claimed he had ended the conversation when he realised the person he was meeting was a "fixer".

Bangladesh Emerging Team 184 for 7 (Towhid 58, Saif 48, Shamim 28, Chase 2-36) beat Ireland Wolves 154 (Tucker 38, Sumon 4-28, Tanvir 2-32, Aminul 2-37) by 30 runs

Sumon Khan, the 21-year-old medium pacer, fired the Bangladesh Emerging Team to a 30-run win in the only T20 fixture against the Ireland Wolves, ensuring that the visiting side leaves for home without a win in seven games.

The only match the Irish travellers didn't lose was the first 50-over game in Chattogram, which was called off after 30 overs following news that a member of the Wolves' XI - Ruhan Pretorius - had tested positive for Covid-19. As such, the tour was expected to include one more T20 game, but it had to be cancelled on account of Covid-19-related restrictions in Ireland about their transit country - UAE - on the flight home.

Batting first on the day at Dhaka's Shere Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh made 184 for 7 in their 20 overs, with Towhid Hridoy top scoring with a 35-ball 58 from No. 5. He struck seven fours and a six in his innings, and added 52 runs for the fourth wicket with Saif Hassan, who made 48 off 36 with five fours and a six.

Shamim Hossain's cameo, however, was the most entertaining innings of the lot, as he hammered four sixes in an 11-ball 28 to take the home side to a strong total.

Khan took a wicket with the third ball of the Ireland chase when he removed Gareth Delany for a duck, after which Harry Tector and Stephen Doheny lifted the innings with a 45-run stand before falling in the space of six balls to leave Ireland 53 for 3 after eight overs.

Lorcan Tucker's 38 and Shane Getkate's 26* were useful hands, but with Khan returning 4 for 28 and both Tanvir Islam and Aminul Islam Biplob picking up two wickets each, the result was never in doubt.

The Wolves had earlier lost the only four-day game by an innings and 23 runs and the one-day series 4-0. They will leave for home from Dhaka on Wednesday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota fired Richard Pitino on Monday after the men's basketball coach compiled a 54-96 regular-season record over eight years in the Big Ten and had only three conference finishes higher than 10th place.

The Golden Gophers went 14-15 this season, dropping 11 of their last 14 games. They were 0-10 on the road, one of only three major conference teams in the country without a road win.

Athletic director Mark Coyle was scheduled to address reporters on Tuesday morning. He called Pitino "a tremendous person and coach" in a statement distributed by the university.

"Decisions like this are never easy, but after evaluating this season and the previous eight years of our program under Richard, it is clear to me that new leadership is needed," Coyle said. "We have one of the best practice facilities in the nation, a historic competition venue and a state that produces top-caliber talent. This is an extremely attractive job."

Pitino wasn't available for comment, but he posted a thank-you message to Minnesota on Twitter on Monday night with a picture of him and his kids at Williams Arena.

"Always wanted to represent Minnesota the right way on a daily basis with class and integrity," Pitino tweeted. "Fired up for what the future holds!"

According to an Albuquerque Journal report, Pitino was among the finalists for the coaching vacancy at New Mexico. If he is hired elsewhere, Minnesota would be off the hook for a $1.7 million buyout, according to the language in his contract that had three years remaining. Payments will stop when Pitino gains "comparable employment," which is defined in the deal as an NCAA Division I head coach, a head or assistant coach of a professional team, administrator or director of an NCAA Division I program or a commentator for a national broadcasting company.

Coyle ought to have plenty of strong candidates to consider. Two sons of former Gophers head coaches, Eric Musselman (Arkansas) and Brian Dutcher (San Diego State), are proven program-builders with teams currently in the NCAA tournament. Craig Smith (Utah State) and Niko Medved (Colorado State) are Minnesota natives currently having success running mid-major programs. Then there's Gophers alum Ryan Saunders, who was fired last month as coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hired at age 30 with one prior year of experience as a head coach at Florida International, Pitino guided the Gophers to an NIT championship in his first season. Only two NCAA tournament appearances followed, though, in 2017 and 2019.

The Gophers were primed to return to the Big Dance this season after beating Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan and Purdue -- ranked No. 5, No. 9, No. 4 and No. 20, respectively, in the AP poll for March 8 -- before injuries to starters Gabe Kalscheur and Liam Robbins accelerated another late-season slide.

The Gophers simply didn't make enough shots to keep up and had to work too hard to get them. In the Division I rankings as of Friday, they were 13th in 3-point attempts and 334th in 3-point percentage.

Quick-witted and even-tempered, Pitino never pretended to ignore public criticism. After a win over then-No. 6 Maryland in 2016, Pitino quipped he could "start going inside at Starbucks instead of going through the drive-through." He expressed the same peace after Minnesota lost Thursday in the Big Ten tournament, anticipating his postseason meeting with Coyle.

"We all have losses. That's OK. I do have a great relationship with Mark. If he gives me some bad news, that doesn't mean I'm going to flip a desk or anything," Pitino said.

Minnesota's best run under Pitino was in 2017, when a 7-0 record in February fueled a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten and a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Gophers were one-and-done. Two years later, they beat Louisville in the NCAA tournament to reach the second round.

The son of longtime college and pro coach Rick Pitino, who was the first to win NCAA championships at two different schools with Kentucky and Louisville, Richard Pitino was picked by previous Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague to replace Tubby Smith. The elder Pitino, now the coach at Iona, is back in the NCAA tournament this month as a No. 15 seed.

After striking out with Fred Hoiberg, Flip Saunders, Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens, Teague received a strong endorsement of Richard Pitino from Billy Donovan, the current NBA coach with the Chicago Bulls who had Pitino on his staff at Florida from 2009 to 2011.

Pitino and his wife and three children became fond of Minnesota despite East Coast roots, but he ultimately failed to forge a strong connection with the state's high school circuit, with Minnesota annually producing high-major prospects.

Sure, two of the best players from the 2019 team, Amir Coffey and Daniel Oturu, are both Minnesota natives and now with the NBA's LA Clippers. There were too many recruiting misses, though, that left the Gophers with little depth when injuries hit.

One of those whiffs came with the freshman class in 2017, when Pitino and his staff signed Isaiah Washington at point guard from New York and passed over Minnesota native McKinley Wright IV. Wright became the all-time assists leader at Colorado, where he was a three-time All-Pac-12 player. Washington transferred after two seasons with the Gophers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The NBA trade market had been quiet in 2021, but the unofficial tipoff to deadline season arrived last week. The Detroit Pistons sent Svi Mykhailiuk and a 2027 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Hamidou Diallo.

Two lottery-bound teams swapping bench players headed for restricted free agency isn't exactly a repeat of the James Harden blockbuster. And unfortunately for fans hoping for another move that will shake up the NBA title race, it doesn't look like that will happen in the next week.

"I just think it's going to be a boring deadline," a Western Conference executive told ESPN.

A combination of continuing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the play-in tournament expanding the playoff races in each conference and a sheer lack of superstars available has left the NBA collectively scratching its head.

Still, for teams on the fringe of those expanded playoff races, this week offers an opportunity to make one more push to improve their postseason chances or to take advantage of a scarce trade market and secure future considerations. ESPN spoke to several scouts and executives to get a sense of what this group of six teams might do heading up to March 25.

Atlanta Hawks

Where they stand: 19-20, eighth in Eastern Conference

Possible trade candidate: PF John Collins

After going all-in during free agency last summer, the directive in Atlanta is clear. The Hawks want to make the playoffs. They fired head coach Lloyd Pierce just before the All-Star break and have since ripped off five wins in a row to catapult themselves back inside the top eight in the East. Despite the Hawks getting Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari back to health and potentially having Kris Dunn and De'Andre Hunter rejoin them soon, the universal opinion among league insiders is that Atlanta is looking to acquire talent over the next week.

"The pressure hasn't changed," said a West executive. "They still are going to do something."

Whomever the Hawks decide to target, the name floating around from Atlanta's end is John Collins. The fourth-year forward is set to be a restricted free agent this summer and could be in line for a nine-figure deal after he and the Hawks failed to come to an agreement on an extension before the season.

"They're worried he's getting maxed, and they're putting it out there they are willing to pay him if he gets a max but won't be thrilled about it," said an East executive. However, Collins' $4.1 million salary makes it difficult to trade him for an established player, and a deal for the future -- be it young players or draft picks -- doesn't help the Hawks make a playoff push this season.

"I think they'd like to buy, but not sure there's a lot to buy or what they buy it with," said an East exec. "[Kevin] Huerter and picks, I guess, is the package, but what is that buying you?"

Chicago Bulls

Where they stand: 17-20, ninth in Eastern Conference

Possible trade candidates: PF Thaddeus Young, PF Lauri Markkanen

Arturas Karnisovas, Chicago's first-year vice president of basketball operations, neatly summed up the trade market in a pre-All-Star-break news conference.

"Expanding the playoffs to 10 teams -- and then two or three are still delusional and think that they can make it to 10 -- that makes [for] a very interesting trade deadline," he said with a smile.

What seems clear is that the Bulls want to be one of those 10 teams themselves. In fact, executives think the Bulls would even consider improvements to push to make the playoffs for the first time since trading Jimmy Butler four years ago, and referenced coach Billy Donovan's decision to bench Coby White and Wendell Carter Jr. in favor of Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young for Sunday's win over the Toronto Raptors as proof.

"They're clearly trying to win when they are benching those two young guys," said a West executive.

"Patrick Williams and Zach [LaVine], I'd think, are untouchables. Otherwise, they're open."

However, contenders around the league are eyeing the Bulls' roster should they decide not to chase a postseason berth. Young is shooting a career-high 60.5% from the field in his 14th season and would be of value to multiple teams looking to bolster their bench. However, depending on how serious Chicago is about a playoff push, the Bulls might prefer to retain him.

"He helps [the Bulls] now," said one of the East scouts, "but contending teams would be wise to look at him if they decided to move him."

What's more unclear is the status of Markkanen, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason. The Bulls might not want to match what Markkanen could get on the open market this summer, especially in a free-agent market that has lost much of its star power. However, any team trading for the 7-footer would face the same dilemma.

"I think they'd trade Markkanen if they get a good offer, but I don't think they're likely to trade him," said an East executive. "I don't think they do anything unless they get something they love."

Sacramento Kings

Where they stand: 15-24, 13th in Western Conference

Possible trade candidates: PF Harrison Barnes, PF Nemanja Bjelica, SG Cory Joseph, PF Jabari Parker

The Kings' 15-season playoff drought doesn't appear likely to end this year. They're already four games back of the final play-in spot, with three teams between them and the 10th-place Memphis Grizzlies.

They also have a player in Barnes who could be a good fit on teams like the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, who are in need of a battle-tested combo forward who can provide versatility and two-way play.

"I think Barnes will be in play," said an East executive.

The ninth-year forward, who won a title with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, is posting career highs in rebounds (6.2) and assists (3.5) to go along with 16.7 points per game. He's under contract for two more seasons at declining salaries, which could lead Sacramento to decide to retain him as it tries to build a playoff team around De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton.

"If I had to guess on Barnes, I would say [he doesn't get traded]," said an East scout.

If that happens, the Kings have other players who could be moved in lesser deals, including Bjelica, who is playing a career-low 17.7 minutes per night but is still a career 39% shooter from 3-point range (though at just 32.6% from beyond the arc this season).

Ultimately, though, Barnes could be one of the most impactful players available at this year's deadline. That's both a sign of how little there is to trade and the importance of his role in today's NBA, and could lead to Sacramento getting an offer that forces its hand.

"My sense is they'll keep him," said a West executive. "But if someone throws a [Robert Covington]-style package at them (meaning multiple first-round picks), you have to think about it."

New Orleans Pelicans

Where they stand: 17-22, tied for 11th in Western Conference

Possible trade candidates: PG Lonzo Ball, PG Eric Bledsoe, SG JJ Redick

Each of the past two offseasons, the Pelicans have made blockbuster trades, bringing back a slew of draft picks and interesting players. What that has done, however, has left them with almost two entirely different teams.

One group is the young players whom Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin has either drafted (Zion Williamson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kira Lewis Jr. and Jaxson Hayes) or paid (Brandon Ingram and Steven Adams) to be part of this team moving forward. The other includes the names that have been bandied about by executives around the league for weeks now: Ball, Bledsoe and Redick. "They're willing to move on from all of those guys," said a West scout.

New Orleans actually pulled Redick from the lineup earlier this year as Griffin tried to work out a trade for him. After missing three games, he returned and showed the shooting form that has interested contenders -- 46.4% from 3-point range since the start of February -- but he's now out again, this time after undergoing a nonsurgical procedure on his left heel. The injury and his $13 million salary make finding a match for a trade difficult, and league insiders see him as a possible post-deadline buyout candidate.

Bledsoe, meanwhile, makes even more -- $17 million this season, over $18 million next season -- and after his disastrous showings in the playoffs each of the past two seasons in Milwaukee, contenders might be reluctant to add him for the stretch run.

Then there's Ball, who is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Over the past 11 games, he's averaging 14.9 points and 6.2 assists, while shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc. Some league insiders wonder if he's even still a candidate to be traded, though his restricted-free-agent status certainly complicates the situation. Agent Rich Paul will undoubtedly be looking for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft to be given a hefty deal somewhere, and it's possible Griffin would prefer to move on and free up additional playing time for Lewis and Alexander-Walker, both of whom he drafted in the first round.

"I know he feels pressure to win," an East executive said of Griffin. "He also really likes all the young players he drafted and wants them to play. I don't really know how he's going to bridge that gap."

Toronto Raptors

Where they stand: 17-22, 11th in Eastern Conference

Possible trade candidate: PG Kyle Lowry

"I think they've got to take a long look at where they're going," said an East scout. "Are they really going to pay [Lowry] and have him there for three or four years?"

That's the question the Raptors face heading into next week's trade deadline. Lowry is arguably the greatest player in Raptors history and the face of the franchise, but in a trade market devoid of star talent, he could also represent the best player available -- if he is even available.

Lowry, 35, will be a free agent this summer. And while he made it clear he will be retiring as a Raptor when he spoke last week after returning from the All-Star break, he gave no definitive answer as to where his playing future lies after this season. That has led to plenty of speculation about where Lowry could end up if Toronto chose to move him, with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers being positioned to land him.

"There aren't a lot of deals that I look around and think should happen," said an Eastern Conference executive. "That one is."

Lowry's large contract creates trade obstacles. A team that's over the cap must send out nearly $25 million in matching salaries to make a deal work. Still, after a long list of big names have changed teams since the summer of 2019 -- including Jrue Holiday and James Harden joining Eastern Conference contenders over the past five months -- Lowry stands out as the lone true game-changing player should the Raptors decide to move on.

"I would say they hold," said a West scout. "I just don't get the feeling it's going to happen, though maybe they're just waiting for the right offer."

Orlando Magic

Where they stand: 13-26, 14th in Eastern Conference

Possible trade candidates: SG Evan Fournier, SG Terrence Ross, PF Aaron Gordon, C Nikola Vucevic

Orlando's core has been together since the Magic acquired Ross midway through the 2016-17 season, and all they have to show for it is a pair of first-round playoff exits. The hopes the team had of taking a step forward this season were shattered by injuries to Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz, among others, leaving the Magic far behind even the expanded playoff field.

And yet, in the days leading up to the deadline, it's still unclear whether Orlando will significantly shake up the roster, even with a quartet of players who could bring back significant future considerations that could help them in healthier times.

"I can't figure those guys out," said a West scout. "I don't know if they'll do anything."

With Fultz and Isaac set to come back next season, the belief around the league is that Orlando is unlikely to trade Vucevic, who made the All-Star Game two of the past three years and is under contract through 2022-23 (with salaries that decline each year). However, rival teams do think Orlando will move on from Fournier, who is on an expiring deal, especially as the Magic's playoff hopes grow more and more unlikely.

"I think they'll rent Fournier to someone, but that's it," said an East exec. "Nobody has given me any indication they're going to move Vucevic, or even have a discussion for him, unless they get a huge return."

The swing piece here is Gordon, of whom opinion is split around the league as to what will happen with him. What isn't disputed, however, is that Orlando should be active.

"Have you seen their team?" asked a West executive.