Roughly an hour after the NHL announced the Calder Trophy finalists on Tuesday afternoon, the NHL Draft Lottery took place to determine the draft order at the top of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Here were the odds for eligible teams to win the first lottery draw and select first overall:
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the drawing to select first overall, and the San Jose Sharks won the second drawing and will select second overall.
The Sharks and Anaheim Ducks franchises had been in the basement of the NHL standings for nearly an identical amount of time. The Ducks just snapped their seven-year playoff drought, and the Sharks just missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season in 2025-26.
The two teams, on similar trajectories and rebuilding schedules, are projected to soon represent two of the top teams in the Pacific Division and Western Conference due to the talent they’ve amassed over the better part of the last decade.
Though the Ducks are finding current success, making the playoffs and advancing to the second round, it’s undeniable that the Sharks boast the roster with the best player, likely the best since Connor McDavid took hold of the “best player in the world” title: Macklin Celebrini.
Relying heavily on a season from Celebrini that deserves Hart Trophy consideration, the Sharks took a sizable leap in the NHL standings, missing the Western Conference’s second wild card spot by four points. They’ll now be selecting in the top two of the NHL Draft for the third consecutive season and in the top four for the fourth consecutive season.
With all their top ten picks throughout the course of their rebuild having been at forward positions, they could best utilize one of this draft’s top blueliners (Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff). However, the two players consistently projected as the top two selections are Gavin McKenna and Ivan Stenberg, supremely talented albeit relatively undersized wingers.
Whichever direction San Jose goes with their now-top pick will give them a further significant boost toward their ultimate goal of consistent contention. The Ducks will likely have their hands full with the Sharks for a long time, and it could produce one of the most entertaining and high-powered rivalries in the NHL for a long time to come.
Sharks GM Mike Grier will have a tall order surrounding their young talents with quality complementary pieces. The potential advantages the Ducks can cling to at the moment, when comparing trajectories, is that they have the projected edge along the blueline, and their core pieces, in theory, may have an advantage when playoff hockey rolls around, size is more valuable, and physicality is amplified.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during introductions prior to a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the Boston Celtics’ second straight early exit from the playoffs, the topic of roster changes is inevitable. Fans like you and I can be pretty emotional in the aftermath of disappointment. Brad Stevens, however, seems to be a lot more level headed. But that doesn’t mean he won’t consider all the options before him. So let’s try to lay out the factors as calmly as possible and discuss this rationally. (Well, at least try.)
Why is this even a topic?
The Celtics won a title just 2 years ago with a roster built around Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. So we know it can work. Shoot, Jaylen won both ECF MVP and Finals MVP, so everyone should understands that he was one of the biggest reasons for that title. I would submit that he has only gotten better since that title and just turned in his best season ever. If you only judged him on his career to this point, he would still be considered one of the many greats in the team’s history. Personally, I’m a big fan and I would like to see him retire as a Celtic after a long, productive career. I’d like to see his number retired in the banners.
So why are we talking about this? Mostly because we have to look at everything. Consider every angle before dismissing it out of hand based on emotional reflex.
For one thing, Jaylen’s value might never be higher than it is right now. He’s not a perfect player, but you can pick at nits in anyone’s game. He just proved that he can lead a solid team to a 2nd seed. You could argue that if his teammates made a few more shots or if Tatum didn’t get hurt that they’d be on to the 2nd round as planned. I think it is safe to say that a lot of teams around the league would love to have him as their leading man (and will be calling Brad to follow up on previously shot-down conversations).
There’s also the matter of spreadsheets and nerdy number crunching. Both he and Jayson are on max contracts in an era where the rules punish large payrolls. It is very hard to build a competitive roster in this era when you have multiple max guys on the roster. One could make a convincing case that breaking Brown’s contract into smaller, higher value deals would make more sense from a roster building perspective.
What does Jaylen want?
One thing that we can only speculate upon is what Jaylen Brown wants. I don’t doubt his affection for the city of Boston or the team that he’s spent his whole career with. In fact, I greatly admire his dedication to giving back to the community.
However, he’s always been somewhat in the shadow of one player or another. He said himself that this was his favorite season. Which begs the questions. Would he be happier as the number 1 option on a different team? Would he like to play for his hometown team in Atlanta? Is there another star he would like to play with?
I will note here as well: believe it or not, Jaylen is extension eligible this offseason. It just so happens that he had his best year. If he wants to leverage that to a longer term contract, will the Celtics be willing to give him the extra years? If not, how does he feel about that? Again, I don’t know anything beyond what he’s said publicly. Just thinking out loud.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics arrives to the arena before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What would be the return?
The only correct answer to a smug blog title that asks “Should we trade Player X?” is “Well, it depends on the return you are getting.” So let’s roll up our sleeves and peel back the layers of that answer.
We’re just entering the summer of Giannis Rumors (part 3?) and his name is bound to come up. The Celtics have already been linked (vaguely) to the Bucks superstar. Giannis had some really nice things to say about the Boston culture this year. He’s hands down a better player than Jaylen Brown, …when healthy. And there’s the rub. I just don’t know if I trust his body to hold up much longer given his age, body type, and playing style.
I can safely predict that we’ll hear more stars linked to the Celtics in various rumors in the coming months. Kawhi Leonard? Kevin Durant? Paolo Banchero? Each has their strengths and weaknesses and concerns. Personally I’m skeptical of all of the above for one reason or another. There are other big names that you could toss around, and each would need to be considered for things like fit, style, cost, and the compensation needed on either side to get a trade done.
As I mentioned earlier, the Celtics might prefer to break Brown’s deal into smaller pieces. You could logically ask why the team would let all their elite role players go one year (Jrue, Porzingis, Horford, Kornet) only to look for guys like that a year later. However, I think the team would likely be focused on younger (and perhaps healthier) options. “Like who????“ You might ask (I know you are asking). I suppose if the Cavs flame out in the 2nd round, one of their bigs (Mobley or Allen) might be available. What about Trey Murphy III? Lauri Markkanen? Onyeka Okongwu? (See, I had the guts to put some real names out there, don’t be too hard on me. I’m not proposing these deals, just listing some names to consider.)
So is this real or just another overreaction?
Most likely the latter (even if only because trades are hard), but it is certainly going to be a topic of discussion this summer. So I figured I’d get ahead of that somewhat.
The most likely scenario is that the team will happily build around Jaylen and the core players that they already have. They do have some levers to pull in terms of adding free agents. There are smaller deals that could be made (Hauser and a pick?) and bigger ones that I would hate to consider (Derrick?). The roster is also young enough that internal improvements could be a big part of the plan as well.
So ultimately I don’t think Jaylen Brown is going to be traded and I’m perfectly happy with that. He’s an All NBA level player and a champion and has a great heart for this city and this team. There should be no rush to push him out the door.
Just remember that it is Brad’s job is to consider all his options to make this team better.
The NHL is smack-dab in the middle of the 2026 Playoffs, with eight remaining teams battling out their second-round matchups. However, playoff time also means NHL Awards time, and finalists for all major awards are being announced daily.
On Tuesday, the NHL announced the finalists for the 2026 Calder Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition” and voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA).
The three finalists for the award this year are Ivan Demidov (forward, Montreal Canadiens), Matthew Schaefer (defenseman, New York Islanders), and Beckett Sennecke (forward, Anaheim Ducks).
Though statistically, the three players produced at a similar rate, all finishing between 59 and 62 points while playing all 82 regular season games, the trophy will almost certainly be awarded to Schaefer, as he tied Sennecke for the rookie lead in goals (23), was immediately his team’s #1 defenseman, averaged 24:41 TOI, and plays (arguably) the most difficult position on the ice (the hardest one to adapt to). He’s already an elite NHL defenseman, and he turned 18 just before the season, in September.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, with a new head coach and a mandate from ownership and management to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was unclear what their plan was for Sennecke. His playstyle is naturally volatile, he had a long way to go in his 200-foot development, and on paper, the Ducks had a crowded top-nine forward group.
Former Ducks forward Ryan Strome suffered an oblique injury to open the season, leaving a spot open for Sennecke. Sennecke grabbed it, didn’t loosen his grip on that spot all season, and is now a Calder finalist.
Sennecke finished his rookie season with 60 points (23-37=60), good enough for second among all NHL rookies and third among Ducks players. Though many worried about his trajectory, joining the NHL ranks seemingly underdeveloped, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville and general manager Pat Verbeek’s strategy seemed to be to simply let him play through his inevitable mistakes, affording him a long leash and letting the good outweigh the bad.
Sennecke is a unique talent, ever involved and influential in plays in all three zones. His 6-foot-3, 206-pound frame suggests a prototypical “power forward,” but his puck skills suggest “shifty winger,” and the truth is that he’s both. He works perimeters, he mixes things up at the net-front, and he thrives off the rush. He’s as complete an offensive talent as a rookie can be.
The decision-making and defensive habits leave a lot to be desired and offer much room for improvement, but those are mistakes made by the vast majority of rookies and are to be expected.
During these playoffs, Sennecke’s play has been greater than his production, as he’s only managed a point (a goal) in seven games. As the margins are infinitely finer in the Spring, Sennecke is currently working through ways to remain impactful to his team’s success. On the positive side, the costly mistakes have nearly dried up completely, and he hasn’t been a liability in any sense for the Ducks.
Sennecke is a foundational piece to the Ducks’ current and future success, and his Calder nomination is earned.
ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 3: Robert Thomas #18 of the St. Louis Blues takes a shot as Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends on April 3, 2025 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are about to enter what could be (and perhaps should be) a fascinating offseason. Probably one of the more fascinating offseasons they have had in years.
There is the Evgeni Malkin situation looming.
There is the fact the Penguins, coming off a surprising playoff appearance, have to wrestle with the reality that they were, in fact, a playoff team, and are also still needing to get younger and look toward the future.
There is Kyle Dubas again insisting he wants to build a championship team and not a team that simply makes the playoffs and loses in the first round.
If the first two years of the Dubas are any indication of what is ahead, you can probably expect a lot of roster movement and a lot of trades. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Penguins also have a pretty significant amount of salary cap space to work with, the ability to easily create more if they sell any additional players off the roster that are still under contract, and a lot of future draft picks to potentially deal from.
So what, exactly, should they do with it?
For starters, I will repeat what I said on Monday and emphatically point out I have zero interest in the unrestricted free agent market. The only thing free agency should be utilized for is filling out cheap depth or taking on cheap reclamation projects that can be rebuilt and potentially flipped. Paying Alex Tuch or Darren Raddysh $10 million per year doesn’t do anything to help you now or in the future. That’s a “get to the playoffs and lose in the first round” move.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Just pass on all of it.
Stay out of it.
Just throw the UFA list away on July 1 and start looking at it again on July 4 or 5 to see who is left.
Aggressive trading is the way to go. Aggressively selling for more assets, and aggressively buying to potentially get the type of impact player the Penguins are still lacking for the long haul.
So with that in mind, is there a path for them to potentially go after a big fish this offseason in the trade market given some of the names that could be available? I also say this knowing full well that trade rumors and trade speculation rarely, if ever, actually turn into blockbuster trades. We go through this every trade deadline and offseason where the insiders tell us the big names that are available, we try to guess what they will go for, and then nobody actually goes anywhere.
But maybe this time will be different.
Let’s look at some options.
The “in your dreams” players
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars. I say “dream scenario” here because this is probably all it will ever be. But this is the type of player that should be at the top of the Penguins wish list if they did want to do something bold and aggressive. He is still in his mid-20s. He is one of the best players in hockey. He could be a franchise centerpiece for probably the next seven or eight years. They have the salary cap space to pay him whatever he wants. And it is for almost all of those reasons that the Stars would be insane to move him. I know the salary cap exists, but they should be moving OTHER people to make sure he stays. And I suspect they will do exactly that. It would also likely cost you Ben Kindel as a starting point. And at the risk of saying something controversial, this is the one player potentially available that I think I would be okay with that. But it’s not likely going to come to that. It will probably stay in your dreams.
Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues. I think Thomas could be a little more attainable than Robertson, just because the Blues are in kind of a no-man’s land where they are not particularly good and might actually be looking to re-tool things a little bit with their core. He’s not quite Robertson, but I still think he can be an impact player for a long time. He is one of the best playmakers in hockey and signed long-term to a fairly team-friendly contract. But again … the team has to actually WANT to trade him and the cost will be high. Ben Kindel high? Maybe. Maybe you can get away with multiple draft picks and a different young player/prospect, even if it’s a top prospect. I also feel like this could be one of those situations where you deal somebody off of your own roster (Karlsson? Rakell?) in order to collect more assets that could be applied to another trade.
I am also okay dealing prospects, even at this stage of where the Penguins are, because most of these guys are not going to play for the next contending Penguins team. Some of them are going to offer you their most value as trade chips. Especially if it is the right player. Do the Penguins have the right prospects to entice a team into that type of trade? Again … this is why he is in the dream category.
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs. Knies has been mentioned in trade speculation going back to the trade deadline, and with the Maple Leafs winning the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday and likely adding another forward into the mix, Knies would be a logical option to move for the much-needed defense help the Maple Leafs are craving. I think there’s a chance he gets traded. He is only 23 years old, already really good and already signed long-term. I just don’t think the Penguins have the defensemen Toronto would want or need.
The buyer beware category
Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators. Tkachuk is tired of his name being in trade speculation, but brother, your name is in trade speculation and you are responsible for a lot of that. But I think I am out on him. I like the IDEA of Brady Tkachuk a lot more than I like the reality of Brady Tkachuk. He is a very good player. Maybe even better than very good. But he is also at a point where I think his perceived value across the NHL is higher (and perhaps significantly so) than his actual on-ice value. There are a lot of teams and general managers in the league that would crawl over miles broken glass and random lego pieces to get him on their roster because they see TKACHUK written in bright lights, and that’s just not a bidding war I want to get into. He’s not Matthew Tkachuk. You are not building a championship level team around him. Given all of that, I’d say this dude has New York Ranger written all over him. Let Chris Drury worry about that and make it his problem.
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs. What a chaotic week for the Maple Leafs. Chaotic front office hires. Auston Matthews saying he is not sure he will be back next season and that he wants to see what direction the offseason goes in. Then they go and win the freaking NHL Draft lottery. Let’s be honest, there is a 99.9 percent chance he is a Maple Leaf next season, but in the event that he does somehow become available this is another situation where I like the idea of it a lot more than the reality of it. I am concerned about the wrist injury. I am concerned about the fact that he has been “really good” the past two years and not “really great.” I am concerned he is going to be 29 next season and due for a new contract in two years. I would be concerned at the price. I am not sure he fits into whatever timeline the Penguins should be on.
The reclamation project
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks. Let’s get weird. What type of players has Kyle Dubas made an effort to acquire over the past two years?
Bad contracts teams do not want.
Talented players that have not worked out as planned/hope in their current environment. Some have worked out here better than others.
With that said, have I got the player for you, because Elias Pettersson fits BOTH of these categories.
The contract is … not great. The recent production, given the contract is … even worse.
But here’s what you have working in your favor: There is obviously an elite talent somewhere in that body. Vancouver has been about as grim of a situation as there is in the NHL and if there is anybody that can use a fresh start it is this freaking guy. It’s also probably not going to cost you much in the way of assets because there’s probably not many teams in the league willing to take on that contract or have the ability to take on that contract. I’m not saying it’s high on my wish list. I am saying I think it’s an option at least worth exploring and discussing. I could be talked into it.
The likely path
Restricted free agents. I am not even necessarily talking offer sheets, but simply trades involving other team’s RFAs. Remember that salary cap crunch Dallas is dealing with in order to keep Jason Robertson? Maybe that costs them Mavrik Bourque. It might cost you a first-round pick and a decent prospect (think K’Andre Miller trade), but you’re getting a 20-goal scorer that still has some serious untapped potential.
Cole Perfetti? A talented player that hasn’t quite put it all together in his current spot while still flashing top-line potential? While also playing for a team that is entering a desperate offseason and likely to do something dumb? Sounds like a Pittsburgh Penguin already.
You need more young players on defense. Are Simon Nemec or Brandt Clarke long-term fits in New Jersey or Los Angeles? I feel like Nemec is probably more attainable than Clarke, but the Kings are, after all, run by Ken Holland, and he did trade Jordan Spence last offseason so he could pay Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, so who knows? Sometimes you have to target the general manager more than the player.
There is also the strong possibility somebody that is not even on anybody’s radar gets moved. Either way, we are probably looking at some big roster movement this offseason, and given the resources the Penguins have to work with there are some really intriguing possibilities.
The Philadelphia Flyers hope a change of scene can charge a comeback against the Carolina Hurricanes, with the two Metropolitan Division foes meeting at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, May 7.
My top Hurricanes vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks anticipate Carolina continuing its own charge to the Eastern Conference Finals and peppering Philly goaltender Dan Vladar with shots.
Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3 prediction
Hurricanes vs Flyers best bet: Dan Vladar Over 26.5 saves (-120)
The Carolina Hurricanespaced the NHL in attempts per 60 minutes on the road during the regular season and again in Round 1 of the playoffs, and they’re sporting a high-end 55.9 Corsi For percentage through two Round 2 games.
Plus, Vladar has done his part in the crease with a .928 save percentage and 8.67 goals saved above average over eight postseason games, which includes respective .945 and 5.13 marks across three home starts.
Additionally, I’m anticipating Philly pushing to generate more offense, which will leave them susceptible to extra Carolina counter attacks and shooting opportunities.
Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3 same-game parlay
The Hurricanes are too deep, talented and experienced for the Flyers to hang, and the gap in 5-on-5 play showcases it. In addition to the highlighted possession dominance, Carolina has also generated 54.6% of the expected goals and outscored Philly 5-1 at 5-on-5.
Of course, Hurricanes starter Frederik Andersen is building a Conn Smythe case in the crease with an eye-popping .958 save percentage with 12.53 goals saved above expected through six playoff games. Philly will have to push to generate more scoring chances in Game 2, which sets up Andersen to record 22 or more saves for the fifth time this postseason.
Turning to Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov, he’s been held to a single playoff point despite logging top offensive minutes and being on the ice for 6.74 expected goals. Additionally, after taking three minor penalties in Game 2, I’m expecting a scoresheet response from Svechnikov.
[The Carolina Hurricanes have covered the puck line in 15 of their last 25 away games (+11.75 Units / 38% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Flyers.
How to watch Hurricanes vs Flyers Game 3
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Hurricanes vs Flyers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Circuit’s future is uncertain after Saudi withdrawal
Two-time major champion also criticizes PGA Tour
Bryson DeChambeau insists he would focus on his YouTube channel should LIV Golf not survive.
The future of the Saudi-backed breakaway remains in doubt after the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced plans to withdraw financing at the end of the year, having spent more than $5.4bn on the venture since 2022.
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado (5) brings the ball up court against Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) during the second quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
A Game 1 stinker for the Sixers against the Knicks? It wasn’t ideal, but the Sixers have rebounded from such losses already in the postseason and, in defiance of how I’ve looked at this team for so long, I have confidence they will again. Before they have a chance to do so in Game 2, here’s a fresh “5 Sixers thoughts” column from me…
Let it rip, Tyrese
Tyrese Maxey was a godsend as a late-game closer in the Sixers’ series win over the Celtics, but, even in acknowledging the magnitude of that performance and that upset, I wish he was more aggressive early in games. In that Game 1 shellacking at Madison Square Garden, Maxey attempted just one first-quarter shot. It was over at halftime.
In Game 7 against Boston, he had three first-quarter shots, tied for the fewest among the Sixers’ five starters.
I know all these guys, Maxey included, were likely gassed to start the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It’s why I’m cutting this group way more slack than I could’ve ever dreamed for a Sixers team that got run off the court in the playoffs like this, but I want to see Maxey not wait until the 11th hour to take over. Sixers fans everywhere know he has it in him.
Tiki Barber sounds like an absolute clown yet again
Tiki Barber, the former New York Giant who now works as a host at WFAN in New York, their equivalent of WIP, has a penchant for letting his mouth run. When former Giants running back Saquon Barkley signed with the Eagles during the 2024 NFL offseason, Barber stated, “He’s dead to us now.” Barkley responded by having perhaps the greatest running back season in football history while hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, something that Barber never did in his own career.
Anyway, Barber is at it again. After Joel Embiid took a shot from Mikal Bridges on a screen in Game 1, the big fella was dealing with some abdominal pain, certainly a concern as he recovers from appendicitis. After the game, Embiid remarked, “I just felt like it wasn’t necessary, but we move on. It’s playoff basketball. So, if that’s the reality of it, I guess we have to go out there and be physical, too, and do it, too.
“If it was that bad, then don’t play,” Barber said about the Sixers center’s injuries. “It’s part of the risk of playing when you’re hurt,” Barber later said. “So, stop being a b***h.”
Barber, who fumbled the ball 35 times between the 2000 and 2003 seasons and whose Giants won the Super Bowl immediately after he retired, could have his comments come back to bite him. Embiid has proven what he can do on the court no matter his health. I would not be shocked to see him go off on a 35-point, near-triple-double tear in a Wednesday win after this.
The Adem Bona Experience
I love the energy Adem Bona has, but…
Serious candidate for most impressive Sixers stat of the night: Adem Bona with 5 fouls in 3:47 on the floor.
The backup center rotation behind Joel Embiid for nearly a decade continues to be, uh, something.
Shooting variance tells the tale of the modern NBA
That’s only a surface-level take, yes, but it was apparent during the Sixers’ seven-game battle with Boston and was once more in Game 1 against New York. The Knicks aren’t going to shoot 51 percent from three this whole series. Things will ebb and flow. I remain unbothered by how Monday night played out and am ready for the Sixers to fight back with a vengeance on Wednesday evening.
How is this guy still talking?
The Celtics were eliminated over the weekend. Please log off, Jaylen Brown.
Click bait is like flopping for the media exaggerating contact yall be safe out here
The NBA Draft Combine is approaching, and three Illini players were invited to participate in Chicago. The combine will run from May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis. Players will compete in five-on-five scrimmages, skill drills, measurements, medical examinations, and interview sessions.
A total of 73 players were invited, including Illini standouts Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell, and Andrej Stojakovic. All three former Illini appear in recent NBA mock drafts and will have a chance to improve their stock during the NBA Draft Combine.
Where do the Illini rank in NBA mock drafts?
Jeremy Woo (ESPN): Keaton Wagler – #6 Kylan Boswell – #52 Andrej Stojakovic – #54
We will have a better idea of where former Illinois players Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell could land following the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10. Junior guard Andrej Stojakovic appears in some mock drafts but is expected to return to college for his senior season.
Boswell has exhausted his eligibility, and Wagler is projected to be a top-10 pick, meaning both players are expected to remain in this year’s draft. Illini fans will likely get another look at them during NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas beginning in mid-July.
Boswell is still just 21 years old and will now get his opportunity to prove himself at the professional level. While the G League may be the most likely outcome initially, Boswell will have the chance to earn an NBA roster spot or sign a two-way contract. The Champaign native also spoke about how much Brad Underwood has meant to his development over the past two seasons.
“He’s (Brad Underwood) meant everything for me. How much he demands from me – I think will translate to help me just in whatever my career takes me,” said Kylan Boswell on head coach Brad Underwood.
Wagler is expected to become one of the highest Illinois basketball players ever selected in the NBA Draft. While it is unlikely he surpasses Deron Williams as the highest draft pick in program history at No. 3 overall, he could potentially tie Kendall Gill at No. 5, Red Kerr at No. 6, or George Bon Salle at No. 7. Wagler would become Illinois’ highest draft pick since Meyers Leonard was selected No. 11 overall in 2012.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 4: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is guarded by Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs Date: May 6th, 2026 Time: 8:30 PM CDT Location: Frost Bank Center Television Coverage: ESPN
Game 1 was not pretty. It was not elegant. It was not the kind of series opener that ends with everyone breathlessly talking about offensive genius or some masterclass in modern basketball.
No, this was a rock fight. It steel-cage match with a shot clock. And somehow, the Timberwolves survived it.
They walked into Frost Bank Center, stole home-court advantage, and escaped with a Game 1 win by the skin of their teeth. This was not a comfortable victory. This was the Wolves clinging to a seven-point lead late, watching it shrink to four, then two, then holding their breath as Julian Champagnie’s potential game-winning three clanged off the rim and allowed every Wolves fan to exhale.
From the opening possession, it was obvious this series was not going to look anything like the matchup with Denver. Against the Nuggets, Minnesota discovered that Denver’s rim defense was basically a velvet rope with no bouncer. Attack Jokic, make him move, pressure the paint, force rotations, rinse, repeat. Against San Antonio? Different universe. The game opened with blocks on both ends, which was appropriate because Victor Wembanyama spent the night reminding Minnesota that layups are now a privilege, not a right.
Twelve blocks.
Twelve.
Well, maybe seven or eight blocks and a few missed goaltends and fouls if you believe Chris Finch (and of course we do!). Either way, Wembanyama managed to turn the paint into a restricted military zone. The Wolves had 24 points’ worth of shots sent flying in the opposite direction, and somehow they still found enough offense to win. That alone should tell you two things: this Wolves team has some real playoff scar tissue, and this series is going to be an absolute grinder.
Minnesota did not have anyone who could match Wembanyama’s alien anatomy, because nobody does. But what the Wolves did have was collective defensive toughness. They made San Antonio work. They kept the Spurs to 102 points. They turned the game into a series of ugly possessions, hard contests, forced decisions, and physical collisions. Both teams landed punches. Both teams went on runs. Neither could fully break away.
And then there was Anthony Edwards. His 18 points will not end up on one of those glossy playoff graphics. By Ant standards, it was almost pedestrian. But if you watched the game, you understood how important his presence was. After everything with the knee, after the uncertainty, after wondering whether Minnesota’s superstar would even be available, he came back and gave the Wolves just enough downhill juice and clutch shooting to matter.
He was one of the few players who could look at Wembanyama lurking near the rim and still say, “Yeah, I’m going anyway.” He was willing to stare down that massive wingspan and launch a cold-blooded three right past it.
So many Wolves possessions became a game of cat and mouse. You could see guys driving, seeing Wemby’s shadow stretch across the lane, and suddenly reconsider the plan. Minnesota had multiple shot-clock violations. Other possessions ended in desperation heaves because the Spurs’ defense, powered by the human cell tower in the middle, had swallowed up the first, second, and third option.
So even if Ant was not fully Ant, he gave Minnesota something it desperately needed: pressure. Confidence. A killer instinct.
Julius Randle had his moments too, especially late, when Minnesota needed someone to manufacture offense through brute force. It was not always pretty, but in the fourth quarter, when the Spurs were pushing and the Wolves were trying not to cough up a game they had spent all night wrestling into their possession, Randle used his strength to bully his way into points, draw contact, and keep Minnesota upright.
Mike Conley was enormous. Filling in for the injured Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, Conley reached into the old-man bag and pulled out four critical threes, the exact kind of stabilizing shot-making Minnesota needed. Every one of those makes mattered.
Naz Reid mattered too. As the third big in Minnesota’s frontcourt rotation, he gave the Wolves a needed offensive counterpunch, attacking the rim when the opportunity was there and spacing the floor when San Antonio’s defense tilted inward. Against Wembanyama, you need bigs who can force decisions. Naz did enough of that to help Minnesota survive.
But surviving Game 1 is not the same thing as solving the Spurs. That’s the danger heading into Game 2. The Wolves stole home court. They proved they can win this kind of game. They sent a little doubt into every talking head who confidently penciled San Antonio into the Western Conference Finals because Wembanyama is the future and the NBA loves a coronation story.
But now comes the real opportunity: Minnesota can leave San Antonio up 2-0.
A Game 2 win changes everything.That puts the young Spurs under the kind of psychological pressure they have not had to deal with yet. That forces Wemby and company to go on the road against a battle-tested Wolves team that has spent the last three postseasons collecting scars, receipts, and road wins in hostile buildings.
Game 1 was the first bite.
Game 2 is where the Wolves decide whether they are satisfied with that, or whether they are ready to really sink their teeth in.
With that, here are the keys.
1. It Begins and Ends With Defense
If Game 1 made anything clear, it is that points are going to be expensive in this series.
Minnesota is not walking into this matchup and dropping 125 unless something truly bizarre happens. Wembanyama’s rim protection is too overwhelming. The Spurs can turn ordinary possessions into escape rooms. That means the Wolves have to win the same way they won Game 1: by making San Antonio just as uncomfortable.
Holding the Spurs to 102 points was a strong start, but it was not perfect. Minnesota still gave up too many easy looks, especially when San Antonio got out in transition. In the half court, the Wolves were able to lock in, communicate, and force the Spurs into tougher possessions. But when San Antonio ran off misses, pushed after makes, or caught Minnesota cross-matched, things got dicey fast.
That cannot be the tradeoff. The Wolves cannot spend 20 seconds defending beautifully only to get burned because they are late getting back the next trip. Transition defense has to be a priority. The Spurs are young, fast, and fearless. If you let them run, they will. If you let them build confidence with easy baskets, suddenly their half-court offense gets lighter too.
Minnesota’s defense has to be connected from possession one. Wall off the paint. Contest without fouling. Get back. Finish possessions with rebounds. Make San Antonio earn everything.
Because the Wolves are not winning this series in a track meet. They are winning it in the mud.
2. Stay Out of Foul Trouble
Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle both finished Game 1 with five fouls. Stephon Castle fouled out for San Antonio. The whistle was tight, and while that spoke to the physicality of the game, it also created a dangerous tightrope for Minnesota.
The Wolves cannot afford to have McDaniels stapled to the bench for long stretches. We saw in the Denver series how quickly things shift when Jaden picks up early fouls. In Game 5 against the Nuggets, he got two quick ones and Minnesota’s defense immediately lost most of its bite. Against San Antonio, his availability is even more important. He is one of the few Wolves with the length, feet, and defensive instincts to bother multiple Spurs actions. He has to be on the floor. He has to be aggressive. But he also has to be smart.
Same goes for Randle. Same goes for Gobert. Same goes for Naz. Against Wembanyama, the Wolves need every big body they have. They cannot afford cheap fouls 30 feet from the basket. They cannot afford frustration fouls. They cannot afford reaching when verticality will do. Every whistle that sends a key Wolf to the bench makes life easier for San Antonio.
The best ability is availability, and in this series, that might be more than a cliché. It might be the difference between a 2-0 lead and a tied series.
3. Keep the Offense Moving, And Find Ways to Remove Wemby From the Play
Game 1 was a warning: if the Wolves let San Antonio’s defense get set, possessions can die slow, painful deaths.
Wembanyama changes everything. He doesn’t just block shots. He changes decisions before they happen. He makes drivers hesitate. He makes cutters pull up short. He makes guys second-guess what used to be automatic. That is how you end up with multiple shot-clock violations and late-clock prayers.
The answer is not to simply “be tougher” and drive into him anyway. That is how you end up as Block No. 13.
The answer is movement.
The ball has to move side to side. The Wolves need to make San Antonio’s defense rotate, make Wemby turn his head, make him guard multiple actions instead of letting him sit in the paint like a final boss waiting for challengers. The more static Minnesota becomes, the more powerful he gets.
One of the most encouraging wrinkles late in Game 1 was the way Randle helped wall off Wembanyama from the play, using his body to seal him and create cleaner driving lanes. That is the kind of stuff Minnesota has to lean into. Screen him. Pin him. Drag him away from the basket. Make him choose between helping and giving up something else.
You are not going to eliminate his impact. But you can make him work harder to apply it.
That means Ant attacking at the right times. Randle using his strength intelligently. Naz spacing and cutting. Conley organizing. The offense has to be active, deliberate, and patient enough not to panic when the first look disappears.
Against Denver, the Wolves could attack the rim as Plan A.
Against San Antonio, Plan A has to be creating the conditions where attacking the rim is even possible.
4. Hit Shots (And For the Love of KG, Hit Your Free Throws)
Minnesota shot 38% from three in Game 1. They needed every bit of it.
Conley’s four threes were massive. Edwards’ late shot mattered. Naz hitting from deep mattered. In a game where the rim was guarded by a skyscraper with timing, the three-point line became the team’s lifeline.
The Wolves do not need to shoot 45% from deep to win this series, but they cannot afford one of those 24% disaster nights. They need mid-30s or better. They need the open looks to go down. They need to punish the Spurs when the defense collapses or when Wembanyama is pulled out of position.
But it is not just about making shots. It is about generating the right ones. No desperation heaves because the possession got stuck. No contested threes early in the clock because someone didn’t want to drive. No wasted chances after beautiful ball movement. If the Wolves create clean looks, they have to cash them in.
And free throws? …Enough.
This has been a season-long issue, and it cannot follow them deeper into the playoffs. The margin in this series is too thin. Every point matters. When the Wolves earn trips to the line, they cannot treat them like extra credit. These are professional basketball players. Good ones. There is no reason for the free-throw percentage to resemble something from a middle school tournament.
5. Stay Physical and Keep Punishing Wembanyama
Wembanyama had a triple-double. He blocked 12 shots. His defensive impact was absurd.
He also scored just 11 points.
That is not an accident.
Minnesota did a strong job making his offensive life uncomfortable. They bodied him. They leaned into him. They denied easy catches. They made him fight for position. They forced him into an 0-for-8 night from three. Now, will that happen again? Probably not. Wemby is too good, too talented, too inevitable to expect another quiet scoring night.
But the approach has to stay the same.
Make him feel the series.
Randle has to keep using his strength. Gobert has to make him work inside. Naz has to be physical. Everyone has to box out. Every drive by San Antonio has to be met with bodies, not open lanes. The Wolves cannot allow the Spurs to live off second-chance points and easy putbacks, which nearly cost them Game 1.
This is where Minnesota’s size and experience need to matter. San Antonio has the alien. Minnesota has the grown men. Use them.
The Wolves are not going to out-finesse the Spurs. They are not going to win a verticality contest with Wembanyama. They have to make this a strength battle. A positioning battle. A will battle.
Make the young team feel the older team’s weight.
The First Bite Wasn’t Enough
The Wolves stole Game 1, but stealing home court only matters if you protect the advantage it gives you. A split in San Antonio is fine. A 2-0 lead heading back to Target Center is something else entirely. That is a statement. That is pressure. That is a young Spurs team suddenly facing the reality that playoff series are not won by highlights, hype, or wingspans alone.
Minnesota has a chance to put real weight on San Antonio’s shoulders. The Spurs are talented. They are hungry. They are not going away because they dropped one close game at home. Wembanyama will adjust. Their coaches will adjust. Their guards will push harder. Their crowd will be louder. Everything about Game 2 will be more difficult.
Let it be.
The opportunity remains the same.
The Wolves have the experience. They have the scars. They have the defensive identity. They have the physicality. They have just enough offensive punch, if they execute, to make this series theirs.
But it will not happen by accident. They need to defend like Game 1 was not good enough. They need to stay out of foul trouble. They need to move the ball with purpose. They need to hit their threes. They need to stop throwing away free points at the line. They need to make Wembanyama feel bodies every single trip down the floor.
The first bite drew blood.
Now comes the next one.
This is where the apex predator does not relax after wounding its prey. It tightens the grip. It gets more physical, more focused, more relentless. It keeps attacking before the opponent has a chance to recover.
Game 1 was the warning.
Game 2 is the chance to make San Antonio truly feel the weight of the hunt.
At this point in the calendar, there is a lot to be determined regarding the next season in fantasy basketball. Between free agency, the draft and injuries, there are going to be a lot of changes to NBA rosters by the time that fantasy drafts are held in the fall. With that in mind, Rotoworld staffers Raphielle Johnson and Noah Rubin are part of a six-round mock draft for a 10-team, eight-cat head-to-head league.
While the beginning of the mock draft was unsurprising, some picks clearly illustrate the difference between eight-cat formats and leagues in which turnovers are a scoring category. How early will Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton go after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon? And what should fantasy managers make of Anthony Davis, whose name has already come up in trade rumors despite not appearing in a game for the Wizards after his trade from Dallas?
Below is each round of the mock draft, which includes a third-round reversal. Rounds 4-6 will be added in the coming days.
Round 1
Position
Player
Team
Manager
1
C
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs
Adam King, Fantasy Basketball International
2
C
Nikola Jokić
Denver Nuggets
Matty G, Old Man Squad
3
G
Luka Dončić
Los Angeles Lakers
JaviSan, Menace Podmen
4
G
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
Raphielle Johnson, Rotoworld
5
G
Tyrese Maxey
Philadelphia 76ers
Yuri Ono, BBB Fantasy Basketball
6
G
Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons
Noah Rubin, Rotoworld
7
G
Tyrese Haliburton
Indiana Pacers
Steve St-Pierre, Menace Podmen
8
F
Jalen Johnson
Atlanta Hawks
Dan Titus, Yahoo! Sports
9
G, F
Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jacob Dunne, Fantrax
10
G, F
Kevin Durant
Houston Rockets
Dan Besbris, Old Man Squad
One question that many fantasy managers will grapple with during the draft season is whether this is the time when Wembanyama becomes the unquestioned first overall pick. Injuries limited him to 64 regular-season games in 2025-26, but the production was elite. And at 22 years of age, the 7-foot-4 phenom still has not reached his ceiling. Jokić will definitely remain in the 1.1 conversation, but it will be interesting to see what changes Denver makes during the offseason and how (or if) they affect the three-time league MVP's production.
The most interesting pick made in the first round may be Haliburton, who did not play at all this season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. There's no doubt that Haliburton can, when healthy, provide elite fantasy value. What will the early stages of his return look like, especially with Ivica Zubac in the fold at the center position? Also, if the Pacers land a high lottery pick, that's another talented option for Haliburton to work with.
Round 2
1
F
Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics
Dan Besbris, Old Man Squad
2
F, C
Scottie Barnes
Toronto Raptors
Jacob Dunne, Fantrax
3
F, C
Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks
Dan Titus, Yahoo! Sports
4
G
Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors
Steve St-Pierre, Menace Podmen
5
G, F
Cooper Flagg
Dallas Mavericks
Noah Rubin, Rotoworld
6
F, C
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks
Yuri Ono, BBB Fantasy Basketball
7
F
Kawhi Leonard
LA Clippers
Raphielle Johnson, Rotoworld
8
G, F
Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics
JaviSan, Menace Podmen
9
G
Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland Cavaliers
Matty G, Old Man Squad
10
F, C
Anthony Davis
Washington Wizards
Adam King, Fantasy Basketball International
As good as Flagg was during his rookie season, the sky may be the limit for him in Year Two. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd's decision to use him at point guard was questioned early on, but the approach may benefit the talented forward in the future. Getting a healthy Kyrie Irving back on the court will help, and Dallas will also have a lottery pick to work into the fold this summer.
Antetokounmpo, whose future in Milwaukee remains undetermined, and Davis are two other interesting second-round picks. The Bucks can't sign Antetokounmpo to an extension until October 1; will they have an idea of what the star forward wants before then? And if Giannis is traded, where will he land? When healthy, he's an excellent option in eight-cat formats, especially in roster builds in which free-throw percentage is being punted.
Davis has yet to appear in a game for the Wizards after Washington acquired him from the Mavericks. Injuries have been an issue in recent years, making him a challenging player to rely on in fantasy leagues. How well will Davis fit alongside Alex Sarr? Also, AD's name has come up in some trade rumors. Would Washington entertain the possibility if the return is favorable?
Round 3
1
G
James Harden
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dan Besbris, Old Man Squad
2
F, C
Chet Holmgren
Oklahoma City Thunder
Jacob Dunne, Fantrax
3
G
Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets
Dan Titus, Yahoo! Sports
4
C
Jalen Duren
Detroit Pistons
Steve St-Pierre, Menace Podmen
5
G, F
Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns
Noah Rubin, Rotoworld
6
G
Josh Giddey
Chicago Bulls
Yuri Ono, BBB Fantasy Basketball
7
G
LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
Raphielle Johnson, Rotoworld
8
F, C
Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat
JaviSan, Menace Podmen
9
G, F
Austin Reaves
Los Angeles Lakers
Matty G, Old Man Squad
10
G, F
Deni Avdija
Portland Trail Blazers
Adam King, Fantasy Basketball International
This is the round where some turnover-prone playmakers could represent significant value in 2026-27 if they were to go this low. Harden, Giddey, Ball and Avdija can all be highly valuable options in eight-cat formats, as was the case this season. For Giddey and Avdija, the question for next season is the fit of the roster around them.
In Chicago, they're hiring a new front office and head coach; Giddey should have the ball in his hands plenty, but who else is in the fold besides Matas Buzelis is something that will be considered in fantasy drafts. As for Avdija, does his usage take a significant hit with a healthy Damian Lillard (Achilles) on the court? He's coming off the best season of his NBA career to date, and adding a consistent shooter of Lillard's caliber should help with Portland's offensive spacing.
May 4, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson talks with forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Before Game 1 against the Minnesota Timbwolves, I chatted with Thilo Widder from our sister site Canis Hoopus about how the Spurs would need to get more creative on offense to counter the Wolves’ size advantage. We saw that play out in a tight, defensive-minded Game 1 loss for the Spurs, so today, we discuss what adjustments they’ll need to make and if the young, inexperienced squad has what it takes to make them, or will the play0ff-hardened Wolves, fresh off two straight Conference Finals appearances, show them how it’s done.
J.R. Wilco
What a game! Of course I would have preferred a different outcome, but this is what Spurs fans have been missing for the last 9 years; a high level of competition, important games, high-stakes, pressure, and … relevancy.
Here’s what we know about this series after Game 1. It’ll be a shame if this doesn’t go the distance. That might sound weird, so I’ll clarify. As a Spurs fan, of course I want it to end in five games with San Antonio completing the Gentleman’s Sweep and running the table – no matter how unrealistic that is. But as a basketball fan, I’d love little better than to sink my teeth into 336 minutes of these two teams trading haymakers.
I mean, come on now, Monday night’s first three plays were all blocks by tall French dudes! The game was tighter than the lid on a 10-year-old jar of grandma’s strawberry preserves. Neither team ever got a double-digit lead? Every time I thought the Spurs were going to get some breathing room, someone in a white jersey did something laughably athletic and timely to end San Antonio’s run.
Example #1: The Spurs like to end quarters on at least a mini-run by setting up a two-for-one such that they take a shot, giving the other team the ball with about 30-ish seconds left on the clock. Well, Minnesota not only knows this, they’re aware that Fox is often the player taking the last shot, and even as he works around the Champagnie screen and gets free for a paint jumper that’s so in his sweet spot it’s in danger of giving him diabetes, Hyland leaves Julian, blocks Fox from behind and Randle gets a dunk at the buzzer. Example #2: End of the 2nd quarter Conley and Clark mess up Vassell and Fox’s pick and roll, and even though De’Aaron ends up getting into the lane with just Randle in front of him, he’s not fully in control and loses the ball.
In neither quarter of the first half were the Spurs able to even get a shot off in their final possession. And people were criticizing Mitch Johnson for not calling a time out at the end of the 4th. But I think it would have been foolish to allow the Minny defense to get set when they’ve already shown the ability to blow up your usual end-of-quarter offense during the flow of the game. Anyway, that’s the kind of defense that needs to be put under a microscope in order to understand it so that it can be better attacked, and that’s precisely what I believe San Antonio’s coaching staff is doing right now.
Which brings me to Finch and Co’s job prepping their team, and the expectation of the next game. With the Wolves getting to the Western Conference Finals two years in a row, you’ve been through long postseason runs, what kinds of adjustments are you used to seeing, what do you expect them to do next, and how much fun are you having?
Thilo
That was certainly something. While you guys may have missed that (long postseason runs), I don’t think Wolves fans will ever get used to it. I mean we used to have to sell first round picks for cash considerations so we could fire our coach! We’re that team!! And we just upset a two seed that was only +400 or so to sweep us!
There’s always that element of surprise with these Wolves. I try to be realistic only to have them blow those expectations out of the water, only to let me down the second I start believing. This happened during Game 7 against the Nuggets in 2023-24 and during Game 4 of the Suns series in 2024-25. I can’t wait for it to happen again now that I’m believing.
On the point of adjustments, I will give myself a quick pat on the back for calling that Fox would be the target, the supposed weakest link named by the coaching staff. That has always been the first change Chris Finch and the rest of the bench have done in the playoffs.
Finch understands, as most coaches do, that while regular season games are about how much you can keep your formula intact, the playoffs are all about how well and how quickly you can change while preventing the opposing team from getting what they’re most comfortable doing.
From the outside looking in, the Spurs seem like they want Fox, Harper, and Castle to get to the paint alongside Wembenyama to absolutely bully opposing teams inside the arc offensively while funneling everyone inside towards Wemby.
Well, they certainly did the latter half. The only issue? The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team of psychopaths.
Wemby blocked everything and it didn’t matter. Minnesota still got 50+ shots in the paint. That’s the funny realization that Finch came to. Blocks don’t always end possessions and Wemby can only do so much.
The issue with the Wolves is that they seem to flame out as that third series approaches. Every team gets the crap kicked out of them only for Minnesota to burn themselves out. It’s why I still struggle to fully believe.
As far as what to expect, I assume that nothing will change as far as paint volume goes. The biggest change will be who is taking those shots. Ayo Dosumnu will be coming back and did the same to the Nuggets. I think the biggest difference will come with how Rudy Gobert is deployed. Maybe he isn’t a head-to-head matchup with Wemby (Randle did a better job, truth be told), and is instead used to overwhelm the Wemby-less minutes.
That’s where my first question comes in. Wembanyama was not the biggest let down of the two main stars, but he is far more crucial than Fox. How do you think the approach changes, or do you think it’s just a question of hitting shots instead of missing them? Additionally, do Wemby’s gaudy blocked shot numbers actually hide the fact that his rebounding/defensive play finishing left a lot to be desired? How do you deal with that?
J.R.
First, when you’re talking about comparing one game to the next, it’s never just about one factor, even if it’s hitting shots. Let’s say that you look at the average score of a player and figure that he can be depended on to deliver that. Well, over a season he can, but in a single game there are too many variables. It’s easy to say, “We’ll be fine on Wednesday because those outside shots will drop,” but maybe Minnesota gets to the line more and hits all of their free throws. Or San Antonio doubles their average turnovers and starts hemorrhaging transition points. There are just far too many factors involved in every game to imagine a single category improving and then expect everything else to stay the same.
As for Wemby’s play, it’s wild to think that in a game when he tallied a dozen blocks and 15 boards, that his defense and rebounding could have been better, but there it is. Wemby still leaves his feet for fakes when he’s around the basket, and I don’t think anything besides time and seasoning will cure it. I don’t know whether this is conventional basketball wisdom, but it’s my firm belief that jumping to challenge midrange or perimeter shots is fundamentally sound. But when it comes to big men around the basket, they should raise their arms to challenge but keep their feet to be available for the rebound. This goes doubly for Wemby because he’s so tall that he affects shots sometimes even when he doesn’t make a move to block. Bottom line, the idea of defense is to get a stop, not to get blocks. I like it when he denies a guy, but I like ending an offensive possession even more.
The Wolves decided that they’d just keep attacking regardless of how many blocks he got, and you can’t argue with the results. As to how you deal with that, I’m not sure but it’s got to be a team thing. Funneling drivers to Wemby definitely works when Gobert is on the court, begging to be ignored, but when Minnesota goes small you’ve got to find someone better than Shannon for Vic to guard. He’s so fast that the instant Victor gets hung on a screen, it’s over.
But all is not lost. I don’t expect Fox to have two stinkers in a row, and some regression to the team’s mean for threes can be expected unless the Timberwolves have some magic potion that makes the team they’re playing forget how to shoot open looks from deep. That would sound laughable, but it seemed to happen to Denver, and we know what happened in Game 1.
How about your take on Game 2: do you think it’ll be as close as Monday, and do you see the Spurs solving some part of what Finch has planned?
Thilo
I actually texted a boss at another gig (who among us does not have too many jobs?) about this today and said “I’m expecting a 20-point win for San Antonio because anything else would set off alarm bells.”
So let’s just say, I think San Antonio will solve something, I just wonder what that will be.
It’s hard to win a game on the road, especially with how intense the Frost Bank Center looked to be during stretches of that fourth quarter. It’s even harder to win two games on the road. It’s impossibly hard to win the first two games in a series on the road in the second round against a higher seed team.
The last time I can remember away teams taking 2-0 leads regularly was during the bubble and this is so vastly different.
I will say though, I harped on about playoff experience during the first episode (?) of this series, and that is something that I think will continue to be relevant. Mitch Johnson is not Gregg Popovich. He has not been here. He likely wouldn’t be here if Pop had the health to stick around.
Yeah, it is hard to win on the road, but it’s probably easier to imagine winning on the road when you have a track record (which the Wolves now shockingly do) than when your rotation has 90% of its career playoff minutes coming from old man Harrison Barnes.
Maybe that’s too short or dismissive of an answer, but I truly think it comes down to that. Experience matters and the Spurs – the dynastic, ever relevant Spurs – lack that right now.
To that point, it’s kind of hard to see who will lead the team in this series. It feels a little premature for Wemby to take that over alongside all his on-court roles, and Fox surely needs to play better for that to happen. Castle and Harper are not good enough to outshow their age in that regard too.
People will laugh at this comparison, but the Pistons have Tobias Harris. The Wolves have Mike Conley. The Thunder needed Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. Vets are important, and the Spurs don’t have a ton of them to unite behind.
Every team needs that. Every single championship team stresses the importance of those guys. Who will be that underappreciated, often unutilized guy to step up? It remains to be seen how the game will turn out, but that’s what I’ll be watching for.
LeBron James and the Lakers pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NBA Playoffs history in the first round, defeating the Houston Rockets despite missing the services of MVP candidate Luka Doncic. But for King James' record 23rd NBA season to continue, he'd have to pull off a miracle by dethroning the reigning champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder. And that's a miracle that probably won't come true if you watched Game 1 on Tuesday night.
Despite a great game by LeBron, the Lakers lost by 18 points, signifying this could be a quick series. But on the bright side for the four-time NBA MVP, he's got something to look forward to when his team gets eliminated.
According to J.R. Smith, who appeared on FanDuel's "Run It Back" on Tuesday, the 2016 championship Cleveland Cavaliers squad has a 10-year reunion trip planned. And not just any trip, but a big-time golf trip now that James has caught the golf bug bad.
Smith, one of the best celebrity golfers around, was asked about LeBron's new love of the game. And he revealed the following:
"Scotland, Northern Ireland . . . a golf trip," Smith says in the clip. "These boys want to play 36 holes a day . . . I don't know how many they'll finish."
Nice little jab by J.R. there, but you can tell he's thrilled that LeBron has become a golfer.
"They're locked in," Smith says with a smile. "I'm like, OK, now we talking. Now we talking."
Sounds amazing, J.R. And if you guys need any help planning—or anyone to round out your group, please let us know.
25 February 2026, Lower Saxony, Hanover: A meerkat stands in the sunshine at Hanover Zoo. Photo: Julian Stratenschulte/dpa (Photo by Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Aneudis Mejia went 3.1 innings for Hickory, allowing four runs, walking three and striking out three.
Marcos Torres homered. Paulino Santana had two walks and a stolen base. Yolfran Castillo had a pair of hits and a stolen base. Hector Osorio had a pair of hits.
Hub City starter Aidan Curry allowed three runs in 3.1 IP, striking out four and walking four. Andrew Susac struck out two in two innings, allowing two runs.
Maxton Martin homered. Paxton Kling had a hit. Malcolm Moore had a hit. Yeison Morrobel had a double and a walk. Gleider Figuereo was 3 for 4 with a double.
Josh Stephan starter for Round Rock, allowing three runs in six innings while striking out 11. Ryan Brasier struck out one in a scoreless inning. Alexis Diaz walked two, struck out two and allowed a run in an inning. Dane Acker walked three and allowed three runs while not retiring anyone.
Aaron Zavala was 2 for 3 with a walk and a pair of doubles. Cam Cauley had a hit and a walk.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 6: Colorado Rockies grounds crew use leaf blowers to blow off the snow around the edges of the field on Opening Day against the Atlanta Braves on April 6, 2018 Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Carl Edwards Jr. has elected free agency following his designation for assignment by the Mets.
ESPN handed out grades to every team to start the season, and the Mets did about as poorly as one would expect.
If you’ve ever wondered how to become the biggest baseball fan possible, look to the man who has attended 10,000 baseball games, with the big number 10,000 coming during the Mets’ doubleheader against the Rockies.
Every Mets starter has gotten pushed back a day due to yesterday’s postponement.
Mark Vientos looks to be returning to his 2024 form, just when the Mets need him the most.
Brandon Nimmo is already realizing some major differences between New York and Texas as a player.
Around the National League East
The Marlins designated pitcher Chris Paddack for assignment.
The Braves activated closer Raisel Iglesias, and have sent Dylan Dodd to begin a rehab assignment.
The Phillies continued their winning ways under interim manager Don Mattingly with a 9-1 blowout against the Athletics, with Cristopher Sánchez throwing eight scoreless innings with ten strikeouts and only three hits.
The Marlins lost 9-7 to the Orioles when Andrew Nardi gave up two runs in the top of the ninth on back-to-back RBI singles.
The Nationals were handed a beatdown by the Twins in an 11-3 loss, with Cade Cavalli giving up six runs (though only three were earned) and Andre Granillo giving up four.
The Braves narrowly defeated the Mariners 3-2, with Matt Olson hitting a solo home run in the top of the ninth to give the Braves the lead, and Raisel Iglesias got the save in his return from the injured list.
Around Major League Baseball
The Tigers terminated the contract of Gabe Alvarez, manager of the Toledo Mud Hens, and named former Met Mike Hessman as the interim manager.
New interim manager of the Red Sox Chad Tracy is making subtle changes to try and help the team succeed.
Mike Trout believes that his hot start is a return to form that he can sustain.
Various broadcast booths across baseball have paid homage to the former Yankees announcer John Sterling following his passing.
The Yankees announced they will be wearing a memorial patch for Sterling for the rest of the season, starting with their next homestand.
A reliever who played against and alongside some of the biggest names in baseball has taken a new path post-baseball—auto engineer at Ford.
Tamp Bay Rays pitcher (and former Met) Steven Matz has become the latest Ray to end up on the injured list.
Brewers reliever Angel Zerpa’s season will be undergoing Tommy John surgery on Monday, ending his 2026 season.
Even Shohei Ohtani has his limits, finding himself out of the lineup on days he pitches during a rough start to his offensive season.
Benches cleared in the game between the Tigers and Red Sox after Framber Valdez hit Trevor Story with a pitch following back-to-back home runs by the Red Sox.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Allison McCague published another pitcher meter for the last two weeks of Mets baseball.
Steve Sypa wrote up the Mets Minor League Players of the Week for the sixth week of the season.
This Date in Mets History
Willie Mays, who played for the Mets for a couple years in the early 1970s and had his number retired by the Mets in 2022, was born on this day 95 years ago.
Anthony Volpe of the Somerset Patriots runs the bases during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 1, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
When the Yankees announced that Anthony Volpe would not be added to the active roster when he was activated from the injured list, but instead optioned to Triple-A Scranton, manager Aaron Boone indicated that the team had not considered playing him anywhere but at shortstop. Speaking to the media less than 24 hours later, Boone appeared to walk back those remarks, saying “We’ll see. Right now, he’s going to play shortstop” in response to another question about Volpe’s positional flexibility. While I understand the reasoning behind having Volpe at least start playing his accustomed position exclusively, the prudent move for all involved is to get Anthony Volpe some reps at other positions, or at least at second base.
The benefits for Volpe should be clear. There is no shortage of former shortstop prospects who reinvented themselves throughout the league. Once upon a time, Amed Rosario was the No. 1 prospect in the Mets organization, and in 2017, the MLB.com scouting report said, “There is no question he’ll be a shortstop long-term, with the potential to be an elite-level defender thanks to his range, hands, footwork and plus arm.” He did not come anywhere close to that potential, but has instead built himself a nice career as a southpaw-slugging utilityman capable of playing second, third, and both corner outfield spots — not particularly well, but at least passably. Before him, Jurickson Profar had the same career trajectory (before his multiple PED suspensions, of course).
Defensively, Volpe projects as a player who should be able to slide around the diamond, at least a little bit. As a Gold Glove shortstop (and yes, I would still classify him as that despite his struggles with the glove last season, which at this point I’m inclined to blame on his injury), he clearly has the range to move around the diamond, even if I’m disinclined to think that he’ll have the arm for the hot corner his throws from short were clocked at 81.9 mph last year (a career high despite the injury), which ranked 40th among shortstops. That weakness, however, would be minimized at second base. Since Volpe has just 45 professional innings away from shortstop — 18 at second, 27 at third, and all in 2021 with the Tampa Tarpons and the Hudson Valley Renegades — it would be beneficial for Volpe’s future career for him to start getting reps there sooner rather than later.
At the same time, it’s within the Yankees’ best interests for them to see what else Volpe can do besides playing shortstop. Yes, the team already has quite a bit of flexibility at the major league level, with Rosario, Caballero, and now Max Schuemann all capable of playing multiple positions. Of this trio, however, Cabby is already in the starting lineup, Rosario doesn’t play great defense, and Volpe has a higher ceiling and slightly longer track record than Schuemann. If Volpe can reinvent himself as a strong defender at both middle infield positions over the next month or two, he can provide real insurance in the event of a Jazz Chisholm Jr. injury this season (or a departure in free agency this winter).
In truth, there’s really only one person who would not benefit from Volpe increasing his positional versatility: Oswaldo Cabrera, who has struggled to find his footing in Scranton after missing most of last season. And while I love the Yankees’ human Golden Retriever… more competition is never a bad thing.
