Rob Key believes he can now “map out the next two years” for the England men’s teams, having handed out a record 39 central contracts and unveiled new split coaching setups under Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum that he hopes will produce homegrown candidates for the top roles in future.
The retirement of Ben Stokes mid-summer, plus Zak Crawley being dropped, has allowed Key, the England team director, to stretch the pot of money for player contracts further this year. Thirty main deals have been issued – up from 26 last year – while nine players have been handed development contracts that top up their county pay.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 3: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in the third period during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was not always pretty, but the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to at least get something out of this past week by taking three out of four points against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars on Friday and Saturday.
Even though the week got off to a bad start with back-to-back losses against the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals, there were times where you could get a glimpse of what this team is capable of when they really start playing their game.
After no-showing the first 25 minutes against the Capitals, I thought they mostly carried the play over the remainder of that game. The numbers largely backed that up. Capitals goalie Logan Thompson was simply amazing.
After no-showing the first 40 minutes against Columbus, they at least rallied on the scoreboard and put together a passable third period. Not great. Maybe not particularly good. But passable.
The game against Dallas on Saturday was probably their best game of the season when you take into account the quality of the opponent (one of the best teams in the NHL), the fact they were playing a rested team on the second half of a back-to-back with travel, and the way they completely locked everything down and played a mostly clean, solid game. It was not the most exciting game they have played so far this season, but that is probably what they needed.
Now it is time for a new week with three more games and the start of a very difficult road trip.
The big questions that need answered this week:
How the lineup continues to shake out. Ville Koivunen sat on Saturday with Elmer Soderblom taking his place. I have been higher on Koivunen so far than most, but will that lineup change continue?
Andrei Kuzmenko figures to return soon. Who comes out for him? Is it Soderblom and Koivunen?
Is Nicholas Robertson going to stay on the fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar? He deserves a higher spot in the lineup given the way he has played, but that line has also been dominant together, accounting for a 2-0 goals advantage, a 66.1 percent expected goal share in 23 minutes of 5-on-5 ice-time, and doing all of that despite having only one offensive zone start to 18 defensive zone starts.
Will the top line ever get going as constructed? It has objectively been the worst of their lines right now, with each of the other three all putting together strong shifts, creating chances, and creating goals. The first line is not doing any of that, despite getting mostly all offensive zone starts.
How will the goalie rotation play out, and how much Sergei Murashov will we see vs. Arturs Silovs? Both goalies had really great games this past week.
As for the games ahead…
Things start on Tuesday night with the road trip beginning against the Chicago Blackhawks.
You do not want to take anything for granted at the NHL level, and there is no such thing as a “should win” game, but this is a game you really want to win. Especially given the rest of the road trip. Chicago is still one of the youngest teams in the league as part of its rebuild, but it is also, by every objective measure, still one of the worst teams in the league by a very significant margin.
They have been lousy so far.
They enter Tuesday’s game with a 1-5 record, have been outscored by a 26-12 margin, and have managed only a 38.8 expected goal share during 5-on-5 play. The San Jose Sharks (31.5 percent) and Philadelphia Flyers (30.4 percent) are the only two teams with a worse mark.
There is not a lot of experience here, and there is still some doubt as to when Connor Bedard will return to the lineup. It is possible he plays Tuesday to make his 2026-27 season debut against the Penguins, but that is still not yet known.
Bottom line: This team stinks, at least by NHL standards. It does not do anything well, and even with a lot good, young, talented players on the roster, they are at times overmatched and clearly flawed. Bowen Byram has also had a miserable start to the season after Chicago traded the No. 4 and 45 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft for him, and then gave him $12.5 million per season over the next six years.
You really want to win this game. It is not getting any easier after this.
The road trip continues on Friday with the first half of a back-to-back against the Colorado Avalanche.
Colorado will be coming off two consecutive games against Dallas before playing the Penguins, but it has won three of its first five games to start the season. As expected, the offense has been nearly unstoppable. Colorado has already scored 24 goals in five games, including three different games with six goals or more.
This is going to be one of the biggest challenges yet for a Penguins defense that has struggled through the first two weeks. Whichever goalie starts this game is also going to have to put a lot of important work in.
Nathan MacKinnon already has 10 points in the first five games, while defenseman Cale Makar is already up to seven points.
The Penguins then have to play 24 hours later against another Western Conference Stanley Cup contender in the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas will be rested in that game as the Penguins travel into Vegas after playing the day before, and that is only going to add to the challenge. The Golden Knights enter the week having won five of their first six games, and their stars are shining already. Jack Eichel has 12 points in his first six games, while Mark Stone already has seven points. Mitch Marner, Victor Olofsson and Tomas Hertl all have five points each.
The one thing that might work in the Penguins favor in these two games is the fact both Colorado and Vegas have had some early goaltending issues. The Penguins forward depth might be able to exploit that a little bit.
The Penguins only managed to get three out of a possible eight points this past week, and this week is going to be an even bigger challenge given the opponents. You really want to get those two points in Chicago on Tuesday night. From there, you just have to hope to find a way to get two more the rest of the week. Whether that is splitting the back-to-back, or finding a way to get at least one point in each of the Colorado and Vegas games, you would really like to find a way to hang with these teams. The game against Dallas looked like an encouraging step in that regard. Now they have to build on it.
WINNIPEG, CANADA - OCTOBER 7: Mackenzie Blackwood #39 of the Colorado Avalanche tracks the puck behind his net in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on October 7, 2026 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Cameron Bartlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
The Colorado Avalanche can no longer afford to ignore Mackenzie Blackwood’s struggles, especially when the team can rely on Scott Wedgewood. [The Hockey News]
Avalanche’s Trent Miner clears waivers and is sent to Loveland. [Pro Hockey Rumors]
Calgary retail guru and former NHLer Myles O’Connor, father of Logan O’Connor, dies suddenly at 59. [Calgary Herald]
Coach Jared Bednar calls out players after loss to Leafs. [Sports Illustrated]
News Around the League
Winnipeg Jets fan tracks Hellebuyck’s lost salary with ‘funny, informative’ site. [Global News]
Shesterkin out for season for Rangers with lower-body injury. [NHL]
Panthers’ Brad Marchand to miss six weeks with injury. [Sportsnet]
Detroit Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin caught off guard by Montreal fan’s chants “we want Larkin”. [TSN]
Ottawa Senators’ Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle to assist CHEO. [Ottawa Citizen]
Melanson diagnosed with vascular aneurysm, out indefinitely for Kraken. [NHL]
Family of Hamilton-born hockey player Matthew Mayich says new university review into his collapse falls short. [CBC]
Hockey N.S. launches pilot program to teach young players about consent, hazing. [Global News]
The NBC Sports weekly NBA Power Rankings are back, bigger and better than ever. This preseason edition of the rankings puts teams into championship tiers, broken down this way:
• Title Contenders. This is self-explanatory. These are highly talented teams that don't need things to go perfectly to win it all.
• Second Circle Contenders. Teams that could make a run to the conference finals or NBA Finals, but need to answer bigger questions and/or have no margin for error.
• Playoff teams. Teams poised to have a good season and make the NBA playoffs but are not a threat to win it all.
• Play-in teams. Teams that could make the playoffs but likely have to come out of the play-in first.
• Zone of Shame. These are the teams trying to avoid the bottom three worst records (and the lottery punishments that now come with them). The NBA calls that bottom three the "Relegation Zone," which is a terrible name — nobody is getting relegated. The Cleveland Charge and Maine Celtics won't be promoted from the G League to play in the NBA next season. So I'm borrowing a phrase from the great Tom Ziller of Good Morning Basketball and calling it the Zone of Shame. I'm open to other ideas, that's just the best one I heard.
Final note: I know more than 16 teams are listed as playoff teams and more than 20 are at play-in level or above, this ranking is more about potential and expectations than a hard count. That comes much later in the season.
Title Contenders
1. New York Knicks
Last season 53-29 Games in first week: 76ers, at Celtics, Magic
New York has 10 of its top 12 rotation players back from the team that just won 53 games and an NBA title — they are the most complete team in the East, and the one with the fewest questions. The Knicks kicked the Karl-Anthony Towns/Josh Hart contract extension drama down the road, although Towns wasn't a fan of that move. Knicks management saw it as a distraction, and now it's been put off. New York was a good regular season team a season ago (+6.4 net rating, fifth-best in the league) that found a magical groove in the playoffs. Don't be shocked if we get the good team, but not the magical one, for long stretches of the regular season. Watch the Knicks get their rings and see the first banner in 53 years go up to the rafters in Madison Square Garden on NBC and Peacock on opening night (taking on the 76ers).
2. San Antonio Spurs
Last season 62-20 Games in first week: Thunder, Rockets, at Mavericks
In the preseason opener, Mitch Johnson started De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper together, moving Julian Champagnie to the bench. That's the kind of thing to try in the preseason, but it might carry over to the regular season. Those three make a powerful defensive force (especially with Victor Wembanyama behind them), but do they have enough shooting, and will the second unit lose too much shot creation? It may not last, but keeping those three guards happy and dialed in is a legit concern for a motivated team coming off an NBA Finals loss. Big game right out of the gate on opening night, the final game in the NBC and Peacock triple-header to tip off the season (9:30 p.m. ET start).
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last season 64-18 Games in first week: at Spurs, Nuggets, Clippers
We know how good this team's starting five is, especially with Jalen Williams back and healthy, but what might really scare teams is how strong the second unit has looked in preseason, led by Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell. Those two are lighting teams up with movement and scoring. Also worth noting, rookie big Aday Mara has looked pretty good in the preseason, and while he won't get much run on a deep team like this, if (really, when) they need him for a stretch, he looks like a guy who can help.
Aday Mara has been HOOPING
The #12 overall pick has scored 34 PTS shooting a perfect 15-15 from the field in his first 2 preseason games! pic.twitter.com/fk64WVpmhJ
Last season 45-37 Games in first week: at Knicks, Cavaliers, Bucks, Pistons
A lot of things have to go right — and Joel Embiid's knees have to hold up — for this team to be a true contender, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt to start the season. That said, don't be surprised if this team gets off to a relatively slow start. We've seen this before when "superteams" were assembled: When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the Heat in 2010, that team started 9-8 while it found its bearings, but went on to win 58 games and reach the Finals. My prediction for the 76ers: Somewhere between December and February, there will be a four-week stretch where they will look like title contenders, but physically they won't be able to hold up when it matters most.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last season 52-30 Games in first week: at 76ers, Nets
Cleveland is going to win a lot of games and it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if it is the No. 1 seed in the East at the end of the regular season. That is not how the Cavaliers' season will be judged. After four consecutive years of uninspiring playoff exits — including being swept by the Knicks last May — this feels like a make-or-break season in Cleveland. That said, they locked up Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, then filled the hole at the three with Peyton Watson, so Cleveland can largely run this back for a few years.
6. Detroit Pistons
Last season 60-22 Games in first week: Celtics, at Heat, at 76ers
The most interesting development in the preseason has been Ausar Thompson maybe developing a bit of a jump shot. He's not suddenly trying to be a Splash Brother (think more DeMar DeRozan), but in his preseason debut, he went 3-of-3 from beyond 8 feet, including a 20-foot pull-up jumper. Then, on Saturday, he was 0-of-5 in the midrange. A working jumper matters because in the playoffs teams sagged off him and packed the paint (making life even more difficult for Jalen Duren). If Thompson can't space the floor, it becomes increasingly difficult to play him and Duren together in the playoffs. Hit some mid-range shots, and that spacing suddenly looks better. Also, John Collins is a solid addition, but this team is going to miss everything Tobias Harris brought to the table.
7. Houston Rockets
Last season 52-30 Games in first week: Mavericks, at Spurs, at Hawks
It's tough to draw too much of a correlation between a couple of preseason games played in an arena next to a casino on another continent and a regular season NBA game, but the Rockets looked promising in their NBA China games. Fred VanVleet is back and looked comfortable, scoring 17 points and adding seven assists in the opener, while much of the offense still ran through Alperen Sengun, who had a triple-double in 22 minutes. Houston remains the team I think is most likely to challenge the Spurs and Thunder in the West.
Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double in 22 minutes of action in Game 1 of the NBA China Games!
Last season 53-29 Games in first week: Warriors, Clippers, at Jazz
JJ Reddick may have had to walk this back politically, but he was correct when he said, "I think with this group, probably the first time in my three years here, that I feel like the pieces actually fit together." This is the best roster they've had to maximize Luka Dončić's style of play. This team should be an elite offense and win a lot of games, but their ceiling ultimately depends on Walker Kessler living up to that contract and becoming a defensive force (expect much more drop coverage and much less switching from the Lakers). Also, this preseason, Ziaire Williams has been a key on-ball defender, a role he could thrive in, plus Jake LaRavia and Sandro Mamukelashvili have looked good.
9. Indiana Pacers
Last season 19-63
Games in first week: at New Orleans, Mavericks, at Nets
I am higher on a bounce-back year from Indiana than many pundits. The offense has looked dramatically better and has had a flow, even with a rusty Tyrese Haliburton back in the preseason. It's a very positive sign. Haliburton has a Steve Nash-like impact on a team and an offense because of his pace and style of play, this team was built to maximize that. However, like all the teams at this level in this ranking, the Pacers have questions to answer. For one, how Haliburton and Ivica Zubac mesh will be one thing to watch early in the season.
10. Boston Celtics
Last season 56-26 Games in first week: at Pistons, Knicks
This ranking feels a little low for a Boston team that is going to win a lot of regular season games, but this first ranking is focused on title contention, and I don't believe these Celtics, as constructed, are as serious a postseason threat (I am higher on the potential of the Pacers and Rockets). That said, just having Jayson Tatum back on the court will be welcome, he is a joy to watch. Plus, this team will defend, has depth and athleticism, and will be disciplined under reigning Coach of the Year Joe Mazzulla.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last season 49-33 Games in first week: at Heat, at Magic, Raptors
A huge key to the Timberwolves living up to LaMelo Ball-fueled hype is getting a big season from Jaden McDaniels. Particularly on offense. It's only a couple of preseason games, but he's played with confidence, and that's very promising. This preseason the team has lived up to the hype of being incredibly entertaining, Jonathan Kuminga has been fitting in, and Rudy Gobert is adjusting to catching more lobs. A lot of people think this team could challenge the Thunder/Spurs dominance, if it all comes together, they might.
12. Denver Nuggets
Last season 54-28 Games in first week: at Thunder, Pelicans
Any team with Nikola Jokić has to be considered a potential serious playoff threat, and Denver's potential starting/closing five of Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun is very good — if everyone can stay healthy and on the floor. Particularly Gordon. DeMar DeRozan will provide some scoring punch off the bench, but depth is a genuine concern. That said, if the core five is healthy come the playoffs, the Nuggets are a threat because of Jokić.
Playoff Teams
13. Miami Heat
Last season 46-36 Games in first week: Bulls, at Wizards, at Timberwolves
Giannis Antetokounmpo is praising Heat Culture and has fully bought in, and when you put the league's best downhill player in an uptempo offense, good things happen. Miami is going to be a good defensive team, but questions about depth and how the offense looks when the game slows down in the clutch (and playoffs) are legitimate. The Heat will need to prove they deserve a higher ranking, and opening-week games against Minnesota and Detroit can help with that.
Last season 46-36 Games in first week: Bulls, at Wizards, at Timberwolves
This ranking may be too low for the Raptors — if Kawhi Leonard stays healthy (similar to last season), this is a team that could (and maybe should) be a top-four team in the East. I personally am optimistic about their season and think they will climb from this ranking. The only reason they are not there right now is that I have to see it, and I need to see Jakob Poeltl stay healthy for a season. This will be an impressive defensive team, with Scottie Barnes and Leonard on the wing, not to mention Jamal Shead at guard.
15. Atlanta Hawks
Last season 46-36 Games in first week: at Magic, at Hornets, Rockets
Atlanta will be a fearsome defensive team after trading for Lu Dort to come off the bench, joining a roster that already has Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker on the perimeter. That defense gives them an identity. They have an All-NBA level player in Jalen Johnson to lead the offense. Most importantly, there is a real sense of possibility and opportunity around a team that was tied to — and their ceiling capped by — Trae Young for so many years. That should excite the fan base.
16. Orlando Magic
Last season 45-37 Games in first week: Hawks, Timberwolves, at Knicks
This is a make-or-break-it-up season in Orlando — this team has the third-highest payroll in the NBA and nothing to show for it (this franchise hasn't made it out of the first round of the playoffs since the animated version of "How to Train Your Dragon" hit theaters). Orlando is running it back, betting on better health from Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and that new coach Sean Sweeney can make all the puzzle pieces fit.
17. Dallas Mavericks
Last season 26-56 Games in first week: at Rockets, at Pacers, Spurs
This ranking is based on two things: How good Kyrie Irving looked in his one game in China and Cooper Flagg's expected growth in his second season. I also like some of their pickups, such as Santi Aldama, drafting Morez Johnson Jr., and taking a flier on a still-young Zaccharie Risacher. That said, there are still a lot of questions to answer, starting with how coach Dusty May will adjust to the NBA game after college.
After 586 days... KYRIE. IS. BACK.
He led the @dallasmavs in scoring with 17 points in 22 minutes to help Dallas secure the Game 2 victory at the NBA China Games 2026 pic.twitter.com/yhaPrN9knv
Last season 22-60
Games in first week: at Grizzlies, Pelicans, Lakers
Count me among the people excited for this Jazz season — I am picking Darryn Peterson to win Rookie of the Year, and I think Utah is going to be a playoff team in the West. But they have a lot to prove. I expect big years from Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., who flew a little under the radar last season. That said, the loss of Jusuf Nurkic at center to start the season is rough as this team really lacks depth up front (Jackson Jr. may not love playing the five a lot, but will have to early).
19. Phoenix Suns
Last season 45-37 Games in first week: at Trail Blazers, Warriors
The Suns built a new, Dillon Brooks-inspired culture last season and caught the league off guard by playing harder and caring more about each possession than their opponents. I'm less sold that they can replicate that, despite Devon Booker's greatness. The Suns need Miles Bridges to hit his 3s at a higher rate, and while I like the young front line of Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro, a lot is going to be asked of them. This is a solid team but one poised for a small step back.
20. Washington Wizards
Last season 17-65 Games in first week: Bucks, Raptors, at Bulls
Trae Young will get a lot of attention for his passing — he had eight assists in the first quarter in a preseason game against the Pistons over the weekend — but watch them and what stands out is the passing among the big men of Anthony Davis, AJ Dybantsa and Alex Sarr. This is going to be a very entertaining team to watch, how much that leads to winning remains to be seen, but the Wizards will be a League Pass favorite this season.
Last season 42-40 Games in first week: Suns, at Kings
It's just good to see Damian Lillard back on an NBA court again — and in Portland (it always felt off to see him in Bucks green). What looked promising this preseason is how well Deni Avdija seemed to fit and play off the Lillard-and-Ja Morant backcourt, and Scoot Henderson had his moments, too. Making that guard rotation work — don't forget about Jrue Holiday — is new coach Micah Nori, who deserved a shot (and not to instantly be on a lame-duck contract that undercuts his authority). This ranking may be low for a Portland team that will be fun to watch.
22. Chicago Bulls
Last season 31-51 Games in first week: at Raptors, at Bucks, Wizards
It feels like a new era in Chicago. Caleb Wilson is the young star, Matas Buzelis is coming into his own as the potential No. 2 on this team (maybe 1A this season), and there will be plenty of Josh Giddey. There is a lot of changeover. All that change is welcomed and needed, but can lead to a slow start to the season. Add to that Nic Claxton's hamstring injury, and there are legitimate concerns about the defense. Still, there are reasons for hope in the Windy City, which is a welcome change of pace
23. LA Clippers
Last season 42-40 Games in first week: Kings, at Lakers, at Thunder
The season hasn't even started and the Clippers are racked by injuries: Brandon Ingram (Achilles), Max Strus (foot), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot) and Jordan Miller (shoulder) — and that is not including Bradley Beal, who is closer to a return and may be ready by the start of the season (the others won't). The Clippers have an interesting young backcourt with Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler, plus some solid veterans in Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura and Brook Lopez. In a deep West, it's tough to see this team's path to a lot of wins.
24. Golden State Warriors
Last season 37-45 Games in first week: at Lakers, Grizzlies, at Suns
The Warriors have locked up Stephen Curry, he isn't going to play anywhere else, and that will keep the fans — and the $$$ — flowing in. They also locked up Brandin Podziemski on a deal that feels like a bit of an overpay to me, but isn't outrageous. Yaxel Lendeborg has impressed in the preseason. Both Draymond Green and Kristaps Porziņģis are under contract, although Porziņģis is away from the team with a health issue and nobody knows when he will return. That's kind of the story with the Warriors: When Jimmy Butler gets healthy midseason and if Porziņģis is around, this team can win some games. But how much of that version of the Warriors are we going to see?
25. Memphis Grizzlies
Last season 25-57 Games in first week: Jazz, at Warriors, at Kings
This is a bit of a low ranking for an interesting team — I like what the Grizzlies are building with a front line of Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey (with Isaiah Stewart off the bench). Boozer is everything that was advertised and more. The Grizzlies have looked good at moments this preseason, and starting Jaylen Wells makes sense for spacing. That said, I'm not sure this team will win a lot of games in a deep West, but we might be sleeping on them as a play-in team.
No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer showed off his skillset in front of the @memgrizz faithful tonight!
Last season 44-38 Games in first week: at Nets, Hawks, Heat
Trading away fan favorite LaMelo Ball was a bet against Ball, but also a bigger bet on Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel becoming stars in their own right. They have the freedom now. I like the additions of Coby White at the point to replace Ball and Naz Reid at the four, plus Grayson Allen and SF Royce O'Neale give them some solid veterans to lean on. This team has plenty of shooting and could surprise and move up to become a play-in team.
27. New Orleans Pelicans
Last season 26-56 Games in first week: Pacers, at Jazz, at Nuggets
What are we doing here? Running it back with a 26-win roster and betting that Jamahl Mosley as coach will be the difference? Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears should improve, and hopefully the Pelicans get better health from Zion Williamson, Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray, but what does that really get them? Free Trey Murphy.
28. Brooklyn Nets
Last season 20-62 Games in first week: Hornets, at Cavaliers, Pacers
Julius Randle is a floor raiser and Michael Porter Jr. is going to put up points — increasing his trade value before the deadline — all of which means Brooklyn will win more games than it did a season ago. I was high on Mikel Brown Jr. before the draft and remain bullish on him, and Egor Demin showed how much he's grown at Summer League. All of which is to say, there are reasons for optimism in Brooklyn.
29. Sacramento Kings
Last season 22-60 Games in first week: at Clippers, Trail Blazers, Grizzlies
Sacramento will give the keys to Darius Acuff Jr., and he has had some promising preseason moments playing off veteran big man Domantas Sabonis. The real future pairing was supposed to be Acuff and Maxime Raynaud, but the French big man is going to miss the start of the season with a knee injury, but fortunately it was not as bad as it looked when it happened. Ben Simmons is going to draw an outsized portion of headlines, but we haven't seen enough of him this preseason to have a sense of whether he can really take some of the shot-creation load off Acuff.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
Last season 32-50 Games in first week: at Wizards, Bulls, at 76ers
This team has some interesting players, including Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis and rookie Brayden Burries, and we know Tyler Herro can put up points and will have the green light. I'm a fan of Taylor Jenkins as a coach, but he's essentially opened a particularly brutal basket on “Chopped” of mismatched ingredients — and a number of those players could be gone at the trade deadline, with new ones in their place. It's going to be a rebuilding process in Milwaukee, we'll see which players look like the franchise will keep around for the long term.
While we can’t know yet how rookies will adapt to professional basketball, how veterans will integrate with new teammates and how coaches will choose to employ individual players for the betterment of their teams, we can judge talent and skill.
From superstars and former NBA champions like LeBron James and Steph Curry to current champs Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, from former No. 1 draft picks Anthony Edwardsand Victor Wembanyama to current No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, we considered them all. Seven NBA reporters submitted their individual rankings, and a points system was used to determine the final results.
Here, we present the players we ranked from No. 100 to No. 51 ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
(Our ranking of the top 50 players will be released Tuesday, Oct. 13, so check back here for a link or go to usatoday.com/nba).
No. 100 Myles Turner
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Position: Center
Age: 30
2025-26 stats: 11.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg
The Bucks are likely going to have a rotten season without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster. But that means that some of the players remaining will step up, and Turner, who helped the Pacers make a run to the NBA Finals in 2025, is absolutely one of those guys. He is a rare archetype of floor-spacing rim protectors and one of just two players in league history to ever record 1,500 blocks and 900 field goals on 3-pointers during his NBA career, per Stathead.
No. 99 Jalen Green
Team: Phoenix Suns
Position: Guard
Age: 24
2025-26 stats: 17.8 ppg, 42.2% FG, 1.1 spg
Green is looking to find a home in Phoenix playing alongside Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. Green adds another volume scorer to the Suns depth. He’s an exciting player who can score in bunches and also put defenders on the highlight reel with high-flying dunks. Can he be a guy that Phoenix looks to for points? He surely has the potential to be a No. 2-option next to Booker.
No. 98 Darryn Peterson
Team: Utah Jazz
Position: Guard
Age: 19
2025-26 stats: Rookie
While it’s tricky putting any rookie on a list like this, Peterson’s talent is undeniable, and his skill set should make him a problem in the pros from Day One. Peterson, who averaged 20.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 1.6 apg in his lone season at Kansas, can create offense, handle the ball, finish at the rim and hit his jumpers. If not for AJ Dybantsa, the former Jayhawk probably goes No. 1 to the Wizards. This was a deep draft class. Peterson has a legitimate claim to eventually be the best player of the lot.
Clingan had a reassuring 2025-26 season, averaging a double-double while leading the league in both total and offensive rebounds and playing in 77 games. The 7-foot-2 center also averaged 1.7 blocks and showed encouraging progress as a 3-point shooter. If he can expand his offensive repertoire in the paint and develop chemistry with new teammate Ja Morant in the pick-and-roll, Clingan could climb these rankings in a hurry.
No. 96 Peyton Watson
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: Guard
Age: 24
2025-26 stats: 14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.1 apg
There was a stretch where Watson looked like an absolute two-way stud for the Denver Nuggets last season, and while it eventually led to a sign-and-trade to the Cavaliers during his restricted free agency, new scenery and a change of pace could reignite some of the flashes we have already seen from the wing who only recently just turned 24 years old. Watson is a sincere breakout candidate to far exceed where he ranks on this list.
No. 95 Coby White
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Position: Guard
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 17.4 ppg, 4.0 apg, 36.2% 3PT
White has developed into a solid NBA player, and now he has a chance to take the next step in Charlotte. The Hornets bid farewell to franchise player LaMelo Ball, so now White will likely be the starting point guard, next to Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Naz Reid. A quick, savvy guard, White can penetrate and get to his spot or get hot from deep.
No. 94 Devin Vassell
Team: San Antonio Spurs
Position: Guard
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 13.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 apg
At his best, Vassell is an almost ruthless 3-point shooter who plays perfectly off all the drives to the paint the Spurs make as a function of their offense. He’s a defender who sticks into the back pocket of a ball-handler and refuses to leave. He was one of the Spurs’ brightest spots during their 2026 NBA Finals run. If he can keep that momentum going, he’ll earn an ironclad reputation as one of the league’s most dependable impact players for the foreseeable future.
No. 93 CJ McCollum
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Position: Guard
Age: 35
2025-26 stats: 18.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.9 apg
Initially an afterthought in the trade that sent him to Atlanta (and Trae Young to the Washington Wizards), McCollum was the best closer on the Hawks late in the season. He single-handedly became a villain at Madison Square Garden for his fourth quarter shooting and proved he still has plenty of veteran leadership and scoring left in his game.
No. 92 Shaedon Sharpe
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Position: Guard
Age: 23
2025-26 stats: 20.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg
Sharpe will start the season on the injured list after tearing his right meniscus in an offseason workout, a major blow to an up-and-coming Portland team that added Ja Morant. Once healthy, expect Sharpe to continue posterizing defenders and to increase his usage rate as the Trail Blazers try to make a dent in the tough Western Conference.
Mitchell blossomed when thrust into a larger role after Jalen Williams' injury last season, and he's a strong candidate to become a full-time starter following Lu Dort's departure. The left-hander adds another layer of playmaking and shot creation to Oklahoma City's backcourt, helping ease some of the offensive burden on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With a bigger opportunity now available, Mitchell appears well positioned to take another step forward and post the best numbers of his young career.
No. 90 Ayo Dosunmu
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Position: Guard
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg
Dosunmu was an important pickup at the deadline for Minnesota after he was traded from the Chicago Bulls and an even bigger piece in the playoffs for the Timberwolves. Dosunmu averaged 15.6 points with 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 42.5 percent on his 3-pointers, stepping up as the team was hit with injuries. Those are genuinely impressive splits for someone who predominantly came off the bench, and now secured with a long-term deal to stay in Minnesota, fans can expect another solid campaign.
No. 89 Zach LaVine
Team: Sacramento Kings
Position: Guard
Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 19.2 ppg, 47.9% FG, 39.0% 3PT
LaVine can still score with the best of them. He’s a walking bucket who can score 20 to 25 points in his sleep easily. In fact in his last 3ight seasons, LaVine has averaged at least 19 points per game. Now, in his second season with the Kings and 13th overall in the NBA, LaVine is expected to be someone who will continue to be an offensive threat and help Sacramento take the next step in a tough Western conference.
No. 88 Jrue Holiday
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Position: Guard
Age: 36
2025-26 stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.1 apg
It’s somewhat unclear what exactly the Trail Blazers will expect of Holiday with both Damian Lillard and Ja Morant joining their backcourt this season. Whatever his responsibilities are, though, they’re likely to have a positive impact on winning as that is something that’s simply followed Holiday at every stop in his career. The two-time NBA All-Star is starting to get up there at 36 years old, but he’s still someone every team in the league could use.
No. 87 Cason Wallace
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Guard
Age: 22
2025-26 stats: 8.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.6 apg
As the departed Lu Dort wilted in last season’s Western Conference Finals, the upstart Wallace rose to the occasion. He irritated San Antonio’s top-notch guard trio like a pesky bee that just won’t quit buzzing around your ears and nailed big-time 3-point shots on the other end of the floor. Talk about rising to the occasion. The Thunder would be ecstatic if this is the sort of play they’ll get on a nightly basis as he moves into the starting lineup full time.
No. 86 Draymond Green
Team: Golden State Warriors
Position: Forward
Age: 36
2025-26 stats: 8.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.5 apg
The brilliance of Green’s game will go unrecognized when he doesn’t have other great players around him, which was the case most of last year after Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler went down. When the team is healthy, however, Green is still the hub of Golden State’s offense and the anchor of its defense. If the Warriors exceed expectations, Green will play a big part in that.
No. 85 Isaiah Hartenstein
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Center
Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 9.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.5 apg
Like many Thunder players, Hartenstein sacrifices eye-popping offensive numbers for the greater good of the team. He’s a smart, physical presence who anchors the Oklahoma City defense with savvy positional defense and rebounding. He’s the sort of big who can guard Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić. If it isn’t immediately clear, those are two extremely different and extremely challenging defensive assignments that he does well with.
No. 84 Dyson Daniels
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Position: Guard
Age: 23
2025-26 stats: 11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.9 apg
Daniels’ defensive prowess, at this point, is undeniable. There’s a reason he’s been a member of an All-Defensive Team in each of the last two years. The problem for the young player is his alarming tendency to be an offensive zero, especially in a playoff setting. So far in his career, Daniels has been the kind of woeful 3-point shooter who opposing teams leave open to focus more on actual threats. If Daniels doesn’t fix this glaring flaw, his elite defense will continue being canceled out.
No. 83 Andrew Nembhard
Team: Indiana Pacers
Position: Guard
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 16.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 7.7 apg
Maybe everyone forgot about the Pacers while Tyrese Haliburton was recovering from his torn Achilles tendon. But averaging career-highs of 16.9 points and 7.7 assists per game last season while in the starting lineup, it was obvious that Nembhard is undoubtedly actually a very good player. He was also integral to their success during Indiana’s run to the NBA Finals in 2025.
No. 82 AJ Dybantsa
Team: Washington Wizards
Position: Forward
Age: 19
2025-26 stats: Rookie
In his lone season at BYU, Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points on 51 percent from the field, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Bottomline, he’s a dynamic young player. With Washington, the No. 1 overall pick also finds himself in one of the best situations a top rookie could hope for. The presence of all-stars Trae Young and Antony Davis should open the floor for Dybansta to get easy looks, operate in space and learn on the fly.
No. 81 Paul George
Team: Boston Celtics
Position: Forward
Age: 36
2025-26 stats: 17.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg
Now in his 17th NBA season, George begins his tenure with the Celtics, his fifth team, after looking rejuvenated following his return from a suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. He averaged more than 17 points per game while shooting nearly 49% from the field and 39% from 3-point range, then played a pivotal role in Philadelphia's playoff run, including a series victory over Boston. The biggest question remains his durability, as George has averaged fewer than 50 games per season over the past seven years.
No. 80 Naz Reid
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Position: Forward
Age: 27
2025-26 stats: 13.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 apg
One of the NBA’s best long-range shooting big men, Reid is now on a team where that skill can really shine. The Hornets attempted the NBA’s second-most threes per game last season. He should also have a chance to expand his game in other areas in what’s expected to be his first season as a starter.
No. 79 VJ Edgecombe
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Position: Guard
Age: 30
2025-26 stats: 16.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.2 apg
Edgecombe made a strong first impression in Philadelphia, averaging more minutes per game than any rookie in the league last season. His role, however, could look much different after the arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. With opposing defenses focused on the Sixers' star-studded core, Edgecombe's development as a playmaker and spot-up shooter could unlock bigger lineups and help turn him into one of the league's most valuable X-factors.
No. 78 Dillon Brooks
Team: Phoenix Suns
Position: Guard
Age: 30
2025-26 stats: 20.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.8 apg
He was known as a villain, but Brooks had a breakout offensive campaign last season, his first with the Suns. His career-high scoring average jumped 6.2 points per game over the previous season. He still is that pest that easily goads opponents into emotional mistakes – already Pistons forward John Collins grabbed Brooks by the throat just minutes into their preseason opener – but now there’s more offense behind that persona.
No. 77 Alex Caruso
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Guard
Age: 32
2025-26 stats: 6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg
Caruso’s impact and value cannot be measured by what he does in the regular season alone. He is the sort of defender who can single-handedly break an offense with his capacity for controlled chaos, and the sort of offensive player unafraid of taking the big shot at the most important time. He’s one of the NBA’s best lead-by-example guys and the definition of a 16-game player.
No. 76 Walker Kessler
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Position: Center
Age: 25
2025-26 stats: 14.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg
Walker Kessler could be ranked higher but after only appearing in five games last season with a torn labrum, we're being cautious here. Nevertheless, do not sleep on Kessler's talent. The 7-foot-2 now plays alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, which should open his game more. He’s the last line of defense that the Lakers will lean on as a career 2.4 blocks per game, type of guy.
No. 75 Ja Morant
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Position: Guard
Age: 27
2025-26 stats: 19.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 8.1 apg
Morant is getting a fresh start in Portland after emerging as one of the NBA's most electrifying young stars in Memphis, and his playmaking should add a new dimension to the Trail Blazers' crunch-time lineups late in games. But he's also joining a crowded backcourt and must prove he can stay healthy and available. Morant has played just 79 of a possible 246 regular-season games over the past three years. If he can stay on the court, Morant still has the talent to be an offensive force in the league.
No. 74 Josh Hart
Team: New York Knicks
Position: Guard
Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 12.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.8 apg
In order to secure an NBA championship, a team needs a versatile player who is able to contribute to winning in a variety of ways. That’s exactly what Josh Hart is on the court, helping with utility like a Swiss Army Knife. His game isn’t the flashiest and won’t show up in as many of the highlight reels, but simply put, New York wouldn’t have a banner or rings without Hart. A big concern for Hart is his injured right finger and lack of contract extension with the Knicks, but the 31-year-old should still make his impact known next season.
Both with the Los Angeles Clippers and then Miami Heat, veteran shooter Norman Powell averaged at least 21.0 points per game. Now with the Chicago Bulls, this ranking is actually surprisingly low for someone who was named a 2026 NBA All-Star. Powell has shot just a notch below 40.0 percent during his 11-year career in the pros, and he should provide some firepower as an elite offensive player to a roster that needs it desperately.
No. 71 Ivica Zubac
Team: Indiana Pacers
Position: Center
Age: 29
2025-26 stats: 14.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg
Zubac was a defensive stalwart, earning a spot on the Second-team All-Defense largely for his work with the Clippers before a midseason trade. He will be a big help to a Pacers team that gave up 120 points per game, allowed nearly 49% shooting, and ranked near the bottom of the league in rebounding.
No. 70 Tyler Herro
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Position: Guard
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 20.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.1 apg
Herro is playing for his hometown team after being dealt from Miami to Milwaukee as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo mega trade. Now, he gets to be the man, the No. 1 option on a team built around him. It’s scary hours. Herro only appeared in 33 games last season, so expect him to be energized and ready to prove himself after the breakup with the Heat.
No. 69 Damian Lillard
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Position: Guard
Age: 36
2025-26 stats: Did not play
At his best, Lillard is a sharpshooter whose long-range ability forces defenses up, opening the lane for him to also get tough buckets at the rim. That’s why I feel good about his ability to bounce back from Achilles surgery. Less dependent on youthful athleticism as some of the other guards of his era, Lillard’s gifted shooting is still there, as he’s displayed all offseason.
No. 68 Jimmy Butler
Team: Golden State Warriors
Position: Forward
Age: 37
2025-26 stats: 20.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.9 apg
When Butler is right, he’s a top-25 player in the NBA and the sidekick Golden State desperately needs for Steph Curry. Through 38 games last season, he averaged those 20 points on 52/37/86 splits and also gave them 1.4 steals per game. The only question is when he’ll return and how much he’ll have left coming off an ACL injury at his age.
No. 67 Keyonte George
Team: Utah Jazz
Position: Guard
Age: 22
2025-26 stats: 23.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.1 apg
George broke out in a big way last season, setting career highs in nearly every major offensive category despite another difficult year for the Jazz. Utah is banking on him to be a foundational piece as the franchise looks to emerge from its rebuild and contend in the Western Conference for the first time in five years. It rewarded George with a new five-year, $157.5 million contract this offseason, and his blend of shot-making, playmaking and swagger has him positioned to become the face of the Jazz's resurgence.
No. 66 Josh Giddey
Team: Chicago Bulls
Position: Guard
Age: 23
2025-26 stats: 17.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 9.1 apg
For some reason, perhaps because the Bulls have struggled to contend, Giddey doesn’t get the publicity he deserves. He’s an offensive engine who is comfortable orchestrating offense for his teammates, made evident by his career-high assist average. His 13 triple-doubles last season were tied with Hawks forward Jalen Johnson for second best in the NBA. Giddey, though, played just 54 games last season.
No. 65 Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Position: Guard
Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 20.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.7 apg
Alexander-Walker was something of a revelation in his first season in Atlanta. On a Hawks team still figuring out its identity, Alexander-Walker garnered a well-earned Most Improved Player Award as the rare, somewhat older player to do so. As it stands, he’s a dynamite 3-and-D, high-IQ player who is indispensable to the winning formula for any serious team.
No. 64 Ausar Thompson
Team: Detroit Pistons
Position: Forward
Age: 23
2025-26 stats: 9.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.1 apg
After helping lead the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, Thompson finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The advanced analytics loved his impact, too. Thompson ranked behind only Victor Wembanyama in the all-in-one metric defensive estimated plus-minus, per dunksandthrees.com. He fell this far in the rankings because his offensive game is not there yet, though at just 23 years, there is plenty of time for that development.
No. 63 Payton Pritchard
Team: Boston Celtics
Position: Guard
Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 17.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.2 apg
Pritchard was allowed to spread his wings in his first season as a starter last year, and results for the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year were better than anyone could have expected. If everything the analytics people say about Jaylen Brown not maximizing his teammates is true, Pritchard should be even better with Brown out and Jayson Tatum stepping in as the lead man.
No. 62 Jarrett Allen
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: Center
Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 15.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
Allen continued to be a key piece of Cleveland's success last season, thriving alongside James Harden after the Cavaliers acquired the former MVP. Allen averaged 18.5 points and 9.6 rebounds after the trade deadline and delivered several big performances during Cleveland's run to the Eastern Conference finals. His contributions often fly under the radar, but the Cavaliers have consistently been at their best with the veteran center anchoring the paint.
No. 61 Aaron Gordon
Team: Denver Nuggets
Position: Forward
Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 16.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.7 apg
When he’s healthy, the do-it-all Gordon remains the skeleton key who unlocks the Nuggets as a bona fide championship contender. That’s the issue. Soft-tissue injuries have limited Gordon to just 75 total regular-season games over the last two years and have ended his postseasons, too. If the Nuggets can better manage Gordon’s workload moving forward, they’ll finally have one of the league’s premier role players available more often to set their table.
No. 60 Michael Porter Jr.
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Position: Forward
Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 24.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.4 3PM
Michael Porter Jr. is a stat sheet stuffer and one of the best pure scorers in the league. His offensive talent overwhelmingly makes up for defensive deficiencies. He plays with confidence that can’t be taught. He stands at 6-foot-10, has a high vertical on his jump shot and releases at a high arc, making it almost impossible to defend his shot.
No. 59 Domantas Sabonis
Team: Sacramento Kings
Position: Forward
Age: 30
2025-26 stats: 15.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.1 apg
Sabonis only played in 19 games last season. But when he played 70 games in 2024, he was the same triple-double threat you remember, and he shot the three at a career-high 41.7 percent. With better health, there’s no reason to believe he can’t still be that same player.
No. 58 Mikal Bridges
Team: New York Knicks
Position: Forward
Age: 30
2025-26 stats: 14.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.7 apg
Though he did go through a slump late in the season, Bridges absolutely erupted for the Knicks in the playoffs and, at one point, seemingly could not miss. His offensive game is measured, and he plays a secondary role there, but he’s a force on defense, particularly in high-leverage situations, when his length can be a big problem. The other thing about Bridges: he’s always on the floor. Bridges has never missed a game in his pro career, playing in 638 consecutive contests, which is eighth-most all-time.
No. 57 Brandon Miller
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Position: Forward
Age: 23
2025-26 stats: 20.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.3 apg
Now that LaMelo Ball is gone, Miller figures to have a far bigger workload coming up this season. The one thing preventing him from really ascending up this list is inconsistency and spurts of inefficient shooting; across his 65 games last season, five of those saw him score 7 points or fewer. Yet, in a four-game stretch to close out January, he averaged 26.3 points per game.
No. 56 Jaden McDaniels
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Position: Forward
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 14.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.7 apg
He averaged career-highs in points and assists, but it wasn’t until the playoffs, when Minnesota had to face stretches without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, that McDaniels showed out. He averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in the postseason and blossomed into a more consistent offensive threat. As always, his defense has been stellar, but it was his jump in efficiency from 3-point range – from 33% in 2025-26 to a career-high 41.2% last season – that has him on the verge of cracking the Top 50.
No. 55 Julius Randle
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Position: Forward
Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 21.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.0 apg
Randle has been underappreciated at every stop of his career, so far. The Lakers never let him spread his wings. The Pelicans gave up on him after a single season. The Knicks thought he was a ball-stopping black hole. The Timberwolves thought trading him was a necessary evil to level up. Let’s make this clear. Randle has been one of the NBA’s best true bully-ball power forwards for a long time, and that won’t change in Brooklyn.
No. 54 Desmond Bane
Team: Orlando Magic
Position: Guard
Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 20.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.1 apg
Bane was one of only two players on this Top 100 list to play in all 82 games last season. After a slow start following the trade from Memphis, Bane settled into his usual form, averaging more than 20 points per game while shooting better than 39% from 3-point range. He’s one of the league’s most reliable high-volume perimeter shooters at this point and should be more effective as he enters his second season alongside the Magic's core.
No. 53 Darius Garland
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Position: Guard
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 18.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 6.7 apg
The Clippers don’t have nearly as much talent on their roster this year compared to what they had last season. But they also don’t have an incentive to tank with their pick already owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. So with every incentive to win, expect them to play through their most experienced and talented player on the roster: Darius Garland. Maybe he isn’t going to play the most meaningful minutes of his career for a contender like he did with the Cavaliers, but with his responsibilities and offensive load on the Clippers, he’ll make the most of it.
No. 52 Trey Murphy III
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Position: Forward
Age: 26
2025-26 stats: 21.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.2 3PM
Murphy has quietly emerged as one of the go-to options for the Pelicans. He’s proved to be a player who can shoot the 3-ball with consistency. His wingspan, length and use of hands give him an advantage defensively as he averaged 1.5 steals per game last season.
No. 51 Kon Knueppel
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Position: Forward
Age: 21
2025-26 stats: 18.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.4 apg
After finishing second in the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year voting behind his collegiate teammate Cooper Flagg, it became increasingly obvious that Knueppel has a long professional career in front of him. Last season, he set the NBA record for the most 3-pointers made for a first-year player. He also led the league in 3-pointers. This season, Knueppel could step into an even bigger role in Charlotte with LaMelo Ball now on the Timberwolves.
After Jacob Fowler’s heroics in the Montreal Canadiens' shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, the young netminder was named the game's first star, and after a live interview on Sportsnet, he was made available to the media in the dressing room. He faced a barrage of questions about the game, the shootout, and his position in the organization. The pack of journalists moved on to the next player; we chose to talk to him about something a little different.
Last week, we published an article about Fowler’s new mask and wanted to get his thoughts on it and tell him how honored Diane Bibaud was by his gesture. The Florida native explained:
Yeah, I mean, I always look for kind of different ways to honor the organization, but when they [Sylabrush’s Sylvie Marsolais and Alexandre Mathys] had the idea to put her on the side of the mask and do a little tribute to her, I saw it and immediately said that was an incredible thought, and I’m happy she likes it; I was hoping she did.
Interestingly, after we published our article about the mask last week, Curtis Cook, the Buffalo Sabres arena organist, shared it on X and said it was cool that Fowler did it. The masked man had a good laugh when we told him about that and joked:
Maybe Buffalo’s feeling a little jealous now, their guys need to do it too.
- Challenge extended as a certain How I Met Your Mother character would say...
Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler honored organist Diane Bibaud by including her on his mask this year. How cool! https://t.co/3YbqrVZgVs
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 19, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! I hope you enjoyed the weekend, and if you’re one of those who is off today for the federal holiday, I hope you have a relaxing day.
We’re still many months from the next Orioles game, but the League Championship Series has begun. Last night, the Brewers and Dodgers kicked off the NLCS in Milwaukee with two aces on the mound. Tarik Skubal started for the Dodgers and lasted five innings with two runs allowed. Jacob Misiorowski struggled a bit and was knocked out after 4.1 innings. But the Brewers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning and held on . The Brewers had the chance to score more in the eighth inning but left the bases loaded. Luckily, it didn’t come back to haunt them. The Brewers now have one more win in the 2026 NLCS than they did in the 2025 NLCS.
There are two games today as the Rays host the Guardians in the ALCS. This is an acceptable final two in the American League. I don’t especially like the Rays, but I can get behind any team that has never won the whole thing. I can also get behind a team that hasn’t won since before my parents were born, if the Guardians are to prevail.
I’ll be honest, though, I don’t think the Guardians have much of a chance. The Rays are heads and shoulders better than the Guardians. I don’t want to give any credit to the Yankees or Red Sox, but whatever team came out of that branch of the WC/ALDS games was going to be better than whoever prevailed among the Astros/White Sox/Guardians.
Links
Did The Orioles Extend The Right Pitchers? – MLB Trade Rumors Charlie Wright of MLBTR looks at the performances of Shane Baz and Kyle Bradish and suggests the Orioles should have extended Trevor Rogers instead. I mean, ok. But how easy would that have been?
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have six Orioles birthday buddies, including Nolan Reimold (43). Reimold was drafted in the second round of the 2005 draft and went on to play 451 games for the Orioles over seven seasons. Reimold always had promise, but injuries kept his career from ever getting going. He had a promising rookie year in 2009 with a 2.4 bWAR in 104 games. Unfortunately, 104 games is the most he ever played in a season. Reimold had neck, back, Achilles, and oblique injuries. Probably other injuries as well. He played his final Major League game in 2016.
Also born on this day are former Orioles Francisco Peña (37), Paul Janish (44), Leslie Brea (53), Sid Fernandez (64), and Ray Murray (b. 1917, d. 2003). None of these players had a long tenure with the Orioles, with games played ranging from 8 to 42 games. The 42-gamer was Janish, who is also the reason we have Camden Chatter BubbaFan here with us to this day. Thanks, Paul!
The Orioles have played seven postseason games on this day in history and won just two. The two wins came in 1979 and 1983.
In 1979, the Orioles defeated the Pirates 8-4 to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series. Scott McGregor pitched a complete game to get the win. Kiko Garcia had a four-hit day and drove in four runs. Benny Ayala hit a two-run homer.
In 1983, the Orioles evened the World Series at one game apiece with a 4-1 victory over the Phillies. Mike Boddicker allowed just three hits in a complete game. He also knocked in a run on a sac fly. John Lowenstein had three hits, including a home run.
On this date in 1969, 1971, 1996, 1997, and 2012, the Orioles lost to the Mets, Pirates, Yankees, Indians, and Yankees (again).
2009 – The Phillies advance to the NLCS thanks to a ninth-inning rally that gives them a 5-4 win over Colorado in Game 4 of their NLDS at Coors Field. After the Rockies score three times in the eighth, closer Huston Street is unable to hold the 4-2 lead, giving up a two-run double to Ryan Howard and a run-scoring single to Jayson Werth. For the second straight night, Brad Lidge records the save for the Phils.
2012 – The Cardinals move on to the NLCS with another dramatic comeback, pulling out a 9-7 win over the Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS, after trailing by six runs. With St. Louis trailing, 7-5, in the top of the ninth, Carlos Beltran hits a lead-off double, but Drew Storen retires the next two batters; however, Yadier Molina and David Freese both draw walks on full counts and Daniel Descalso hits a shot just off the glove of SS Ian Desmond to tie the game. Pete Kozma follows with a single to score two more runs. Jason Motte then pitches a scoreless bottom of the 9th to give St. Louis another stunning postseason win.
2021 – The Astros win Game 4 of the Division Series, 10-1 over the White Sox, and will meet the Red Sox in the ALCS. The White Sox score first on a homer by Gavin Sheets in the second, but it’s all Houston after that, as they get a run in five of the last seven innings. Jose Altuve scores four runs and drives in three to lead the charge from the lead-off spot.
2021 – The Braves come back twice from being two runs down against the Brewers in Game 4 of the NLDS, before Freddie Freeman homers off Josh Hader in the eighth for the go-ahead run. The 5-4 win sends the Braves to the NLCS.
2021 – The other NLDS will go to the limit after the Dodgers defeat the Giants, 7-2, in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. They chase Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani in the second inning and keep piling on runs, scoring in four of the first five innings, and leaving the bases loaded in the other. Mookie Betts and Will Smith both go deep for L.A.
2023 – Nick Castellanos homers twice to propel the Phillies into the NLCS with a 3-1 win over the Braves in Game 4 of the Division Series. For Castellanos, it is a second consecutive game with two homers, something he is the first to accomplish in the postseason.
2024 – A grand slam by Lane Thomas off Tarik Skubal in the fifth inning is the key blow as the Guardians defeat the Tigers, 7-3, in Game 5 of the ALDS. The Guardians rely heavily on their bullpen, as starter Matthew Boyd leaves after just two scoreless innings in what is a pre-determined strategy.
2011 – The Chicago Cubs agree on a five-year contract with Theo Epstein to be their new team President. Epstein built the Boston Red Sox team that won two World Series in 2004 and 2007, but was shaken by the team’s brutal September collapse this season, following manager Terry Francona‘s departure by a few days. The deal won’t be made official for another two weeks, and Boston and Chicago will need to agree on compensation as Epstein still has a year to go on his contract.
2017 – The woes of the Nationals in the Division Series continue, as they again fail to advance to the next round of the postseason, losing Game 5 at home, 9-8, to the Cubs. In a wild and sloppy game, Washington jumps ahead, 4-1 after two innings thanks to homers by Daniel Murphy and Michael Taylor off Kyle Hendricks, but Chicago comes back with a pair of runs in the 3rd, and a brutal four-run inning against ace Max Scherzer, pitching in relief in the fifth. Both teams will add a few runs in the later innings, but Chicago’s lead holds to the end as Washington loses at this stage for the fourth time since 2012, and three times in a decisive fifth game in which they held a lead at one point.
1859 – Jules Leotard performs the first flying trapeze circus act in Paris; he also designs the garment that bears his name.
1892 – Pudge Heffelfinger receives $500 to become first professional football player in the Allegheny Athletic Association’s 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Athletic Club.
1966 – Buzz Aldrin takes the first “space selfie,” a photo of himself performing extravehicular activity in space during the Gemini 12 mission.
1972 – Charity concert for United Crusade (now United Way) in San Diego, California attracts nearly 52,000; performers include: J. Geils Band, Jesse Colin Young, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Foghat, and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.
1984 – Paul McCartney releases single “We All Stand Together”.
1990 – “The Body Bag Game” – after Eagles coach Buddy Ryan threatens beating Redskins so badly “they’ll have to be carted off in body bags” the Eagles defense score three touchdowns winning 28–14, knocking 8 Redskins out of the game.
2019 – Former Houston Astros MLB pitcher Mike Fiers reveals team secretly “stole signs” via camera from visiting teams 2015-17; signs between opposing pitchers and catchers are intercepted and relayed to Astros batters.
2025 – Final US penny is minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; manufacturing cost of the1-cent coin, produced for 232 years, had risen to nearly 3.7 cents, an estimated 1.4 billion remain in circulation.
Sep 30, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) warms up prior to game two of the Wildcard round against the Atlanta Braves in the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Watching those two teams last night, it’s clear they are on a different level than the Phillies. Maybe they get by one of them in a five game series, but there is no shot either is getting beat should a series between them and the Phillies go seven games. The chasm is too wide.
MACAU, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Kyrie Irving #11 of Dallas Mavericks pulls up Cooper Flagg #32 of Dallas Mavericks during NBA China Games 2026 between Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena on the Cotai Strip on October 11, 2026 in Macau, China. 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 Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets took their Texas rivalry on the road to Asia for some preseason games, and one of the highlights was the return of Kyrie Irving.
Irving missed 586 days after blowing out the ACL in his left knee, and he’s now 34, which means that his playing days are mostly behind him.
He’s got a fair amount left in the tank, though, and watching Irving and Flagg team up with Dereck Lively, as soon as he’s good to go, will be a lot of fun.
In Irving’s return Sunday, the former Duke star scored 17 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and shelled out 3 assists. For his part, Flagg finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.
To borrow from Casablanca, this could be the beginning of a beautiful partnership.
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Being a coach means understanding how to get the most out of your players. For Kenny Atkinson and the Cleveland Cavaliers, no player’s development has been more important than Evan Mobley’s.
Drafted in 2021, Mobley was a lottery ticket for the future. Five seasons later, his development has largely come secondary to prioritizing Donovan Mitchell’s prime. The Cavs have tried to blend both timelines, bringing Mobley along while staying all-in on Mitchell’s timeline.
This has further complicated an already challenging question: How do you get the most out of a player?
What’s the balance between pushing someone outside of their comfort zone without losing the big picture of who they are at their core? And how does that fit into the broader team system?
Cleveland has been trying to figure that out for years — and Atkinson thinks he might have solved it.
“Threading the needle,” Kenny Atkinson said. “We’ve been on different planes of that scale with Mobley, you know, we’ve pushed it, we’ve pulled it back… I feel like he’s in a good place now; I have a much better grip on how he can be successful on both ends of the floor for us.”
Most players in Mobley’s position spend the first few years of their career racking up usage on uncompetitive teams. You can learn a lot by throwing someone into the fire. But Mobley and his coaching staff haven’t had that opportunity while trying to compete in the playoffs.
Everyone is learning on the fly.
Sometimes Mobley is bringing the ball up the floor and running inverted pick-and-rolls. Other times, he’s isolated in the corner as a proto-floor spacer. In his most refined role, he sits in the dunker spot and waits for someone to throw him a lob.
Mobley has tried on all of these hats to varying success. He’s a great play-finisher, but a sketchy three-point shooter. He can create advantages when using screens, but Mobley isn’t a skilled one-on-one creator. All of this has been slowly uncovered by Atkinson’s experiments.
“We’ve dialed back to [Mobley] getting it in the flow [of the offense],” said Atkinson. “Lean into the creativity a little bit more, especially the inverted pick-and-rolls; he’s going to get iso moments… but that’s not the main menu right now.
A bit of usage here. An adjustment there. Atkinson feels he has the temperature just right entering the season, with a vision for how Mobley can continue to develop.
“One of our assistants talked about how Kevin Garnett got his offense,” said Atkinson. “He could get to a spot and just run, raise up and shoot over guys. I like that prototype…, but as I said, [Mobley’s] 24 years old, I’m continuing to find a full package.”
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 13: Manager Stephen Vogt #12 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 at Tropicana Field on July 13, 2024 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The beginning of the new work meek also lines up with one of the last times this year that we’ll see multiple MLB games on the same day. After the Brewers eked out a 2-1 win over the Dodgers in the NLCS opener last night, they’ll play Game 2 late this afternoon while the Rays and Guardians begin their ALCS rumble at the Trop in the night game. We’re guaranteed of one more on Thursday and potentially another on Friday if the NLCS isn’t a sweep. But that might be it unless we have a couple long series. Value the baseball while you can!*
*Or just continue your hiatus if you feel like the 2026 Yankees forced you to take five. No judgments! I get it. Sincerely.
Today on the site, Kevin will recap the first game of the NLCS, Andrés will remember the worst moments of the 2026 Yankees season, and then return to celebrate the 92nd birthday of Stengel/Houk-era Yankees dynasty shortstop Tony Kubek, also a highly-regarded announcer. Later, Nick will preview the Rays/Guardians ALCS and Estevão will weigh who Yankees fans might prefer to win it all from the two remotely palatable teams remaining.
Today’s Playoff Matchups:
National League Championship Series Game 2
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (RHP Logan Henderson vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto)
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST
TV: FOX/FS1/FOX ONE
Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
American League Championship Series Game 1
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians (RHP Drew Rasmussen vs. LHP Foster Griffin)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max/truTV
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Questions/Prompts:
1. Does the Brewers taking NLCS Game 1 and actually winning a game against the Dodgers change your predict
2. What percent chance do you give Cleveland in this ALCS of pulling off an upset?
NEW YORK, NY - 1974: Pete Maravich #7 of the New Orleans Jazz drives against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden circa 1974 in New York, NY. 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 1970 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In his day, Pete Maravich was called a hot dog and a show-off, because no one in his era did the sorts of things that he could do. He had total control of the ball, and was essentially unstoppable, and people in his era didn’t know how to take him.
At LSU, he averaged 44.2 ppg, and that was without the three-point shot. Some estimate that if he had played with the three in college, Maravich might have averaged 57 points per game.
It’s freakish territory. You can understand a Wilt Chamberlain doing that, but Maravich? A spindly, 6-5 white guard?
Incredible.
He was misunderstood in the pros too, but he certainly had his moments, and one of his greatest games came at the expense of the visiting New York Knicks, whom he lit up for an astonishing 68 points on February 25, 1977.
And keep in mind, again, that he did this before the NBA adopted the three-point shot.
One wonders what he could have done in today’s game.
Greetings, internet users. Welcome to The Scratching Post, your home for open conversation with your fellow Carolina Panthers fans.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
Four teams remain in Major League Baseball’s playoffs and it’s simple enough to consider them three paupers and a prince. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ $338 million payroll – which shoots past a half-billion dollars after luxury taxes – makes that tough to avoid.
The game’s second highest-paid roster in the majors is still standing, along with No. 19 Milwaukee ($144 million), No. 25 Tampa Bay ($98.3 million) and the 30th-ranked Cleveland Guardians, whose $74.2 million payroll wouldn’t quite cover the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, alone.
But the Davids and the unavoidable Goliath obscure another fact about this final four: They’re perhaps the best-run franchises in baseball, a petri dish for both on-field and executive talent that’s created a spirit of mutual regard in these AL and NL Championship Series.
You can tell simply by the former players and management who once worked for the other guys.
When the Tampa Bay Rays take the field for Game 1 of their American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, nine of the 26 players on their roster will have played for one of the other three clubs, including a whopping six players who came over from Cleveland.
Their manager, Kevin Cash, got his start on Cleveland’s coaching staff, spending two seasons as bullpen coach under Terry Francona before Tampa Bay hired him in 2015.
In Game 1 on Monday, Oct. 12, Cash will hand the ball to Drew Rasmussen, the two-time All-Star who was acquired from Milwaukee in a 2021 trade. The Brewers GM for that deal – now their club president – was Matt Arnold, who spent nine seasons learning his craft with the Rays.
And both Arnold and current Rays baseball operations president Erik Neander all worked in Tampa Bay under Andrew Friedman – now something of a godfather in the sport as he lords over the Dodgers, his keen acumen building a top-to-bottom machine ensuring every season ends in the playoffs, the past two with World Series championships.
Yes, these AL and NL championship series will be fiercely fought and tightly matched as all four clubs vie for a trip to the World Series. Best to get the admiration out of the way early, then.
“Chris and Cherny, they're first-class individuals and they run a first-class organization,” Cash said Sunday of Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff, the Guardians’ longtime top front office executives. “I do think there's more similarities than not. I feel Cleveland does mirror us or we mirror them. And I say that with the utmost respect to them, the way they develop pitching, the way they think about the game.
“As far as developing and acquiring (players), there's a lot of similarities. And know that we are facing an extremely talented opponent top to bottom on that roster.”
That includes two former Rays – slugging first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and reliever Shawn Armstrong. The Guardians-to-Rays pipeline is, shall we say, a little more robust.
Guardians of Tampa Bay
The Rays may play their games just a long fly ball from the Gulf of Mexico, but their roster seems soaked in the freshwater of Lake Erie.
All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero was acquired by Tampa Bay from Cleveland in November 2021 for pitcher Tobias Myers, perhaps the worst deal in the Antonetti-Chernoff era.
Slugging first baseman Yandy Diaz played 88 games over two seasons for Cleveland before a three-team, five-player trade in December 2018 sent him to the Rays. Second baseman Richie Palacios, who dealt the knockout blow to the Yankees in the ALDS, was a Cleveland draftee who debuted in 2022, but has been an increasingly important player in his three seasons in Tampa Bay.
Relievers Cole Sulser and Kevin Kelly were also Cleveland draft picks, with Sulser now in his second stint in Tampa Bay after originally coming over in the Díaz deal.
Yet the river of talent doesn’t just go in one direction. The Guardians can thank the Rays for bringing their manager into pro ball.
Stephen Vogt was a 12 TH-round pick out of Azusa Pacific University in 2007 – the Rays were barely a decade old – and debuted with them for 18 games in 2012.
He went 0-for-25.
“I always joke whenever I come here with the players,” says Vogt Sunday, “my career hits as a Tampa Bay Ray will be playing on a loop the whole series.”
Of course, Vogt eventually carved out an excellent 10-year career, making two All-Star Games with the Oakland Athletics and, by the back end of his career, carving out a clubhouse niche that screamed, future manager.
A day before Game 1, he couldn’t help but reminisce about returning where it began – even if his debut was ignominious.
“Nate Lowe and I were talking about our time as Tampa Bay Rays,” says Vogt of his first baseman. “And once the Rays won their series, I really wanted to get here for a number of reasons. I mean, this is the organization where they gave me my first shot in pro ball. And this is where I grew up in the game. And the reason I'm sitting here is a lot of the people that have worked here or still work here that poured into me that saw value in me and who I was and helped develop me into the person and player that I am.
“It's going to be really fun to see a lot of those people over the next week. It's really special coming back here.”
Once a Ray, then a Guardian, now a star in Milwaukee
It’s been something of a scourge since baseball’s “Moneyball” era began in the 2000s – certain organizations or executives labeled as “smart.”
Sure, some are more adept than others, but even the boy wonders can chafe at such labels. And besides, even the “smart” teams make mistakes.
If there’s one thing that binds the Rays, Dodgers and Brewers together, it’s a reputation for “fixing” or perhaps maximizing a player’s skill set. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder has led innumerable reclamation projects in Tampa Bay. All three of Tampa Bay’s playoff starters – Rasmussen, fellow All-Star Nick Martinez and former Brewer Freddy Peralta, who’d struggled with the Mets this season – showed significant improvement under Snyder.
Not all waiver claims are perfect, though. And not all players get it right the first time.
Just take it from Jake Bauers, who now stars for the Brewers yet could not stick in the big leagues with Cleveland and Tampa Bay.
Now 31, Bauers has been part of some massive deals, landing in Tampa Bay as part of the famed three-team, 11-player deal in December 2014 that most notably shipped Wil Myers from Tampa Bay to San Diego and Trea Turner to Washington.
He debuted for the Rays at 22, in 2018, and hit 11 home runs in 96 games. But the Rays saw something special in Diaz – most notably, his hard-hit rate and average exit velocity – and acquired the bodybuilding slugger from Cleveland.
But Bauers couldn’t stick in Cleveland, either, posting a sickly 73 adjusted OPS across the 2019 and 2021 seasons. Next came Seattle, Cincinnati and the New York Yankees, with stops at a pair of minor league affiliates.
He toted a lifetime .302 OBP and 80 adjusted OPS into Milwaukee after the Brewers acquired him from the Yankees in a roster-churning move for both clubs.
In Milwaukee, he found a form of tough love that he acknowledges might have been missing earlier in his career.
“I’m super grateful they traded for me. Super grateful to be here these last three years,” Bauers told USA TODAY Sports last month. “At the same time, I think playing here can be a little bit uncomfortable, compared to some places.
“There’s a lot of things that the staff, starting with (manager Pat Murphy), and also the players in the clubhouse - we don’t let slide. That’s a big key to our success but at the same time, it can be uncomfortable at times if you’re not willing to face the man in the mirror.
“But it’s been awesome.”
Bauers set a career high this year in virtually every offensive category, most notably home runs (26), OBP (.389) and OPS (.874). The lefty swinger batted cleanup against Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal in Game 1 of the NLCS, which the Brewers won 2-1.
You might say his Rays connection saved his career. Arnold, now running the Brewers, remembered Bauers from his Rays tenure and had a feeling there was more in there.
“Had some history with Jake in Tampa and knew who he was as a guy,” says Arnold before the NLCS started. “There were some ingredients that we liked. For him, again, to take those next steps putting in the work -- he was talented already, but he's put in real work and gotten strong and physical, and he's done a tremendous job and really can't be thrilled more.”
Says Murphy: “What he's done this year is just - it's been tremendous. Really happy for him. He got his chance, and he broke through. To see that happen and to see a guy have that belief system, that’s the greatest feeling in the world.”
Dodgers-Rays: An unbreakable connection
If the Rays are Guardians South, then the Dodgers are Rays West.
They’re carrying four former Rays on their NLCS roster, two of them – starters Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell – examples of flexing their financial might, as they acquired Glasnow and signed him to a $130 million extension the Rays weren’t willing to pay. Snell, dealt by Tampa Bay to San Diego after the 2020 World Series signed a $182 million deal after a stop in San Francisco.
Reserve catcher Hunter Feduccia was drafted by the Dodgers in 2018 and then shipped to St. Petersburg and back to Dodger Stadium twice in 369 days - both clubs sharing joint custody, it seems.
And then there’s reliever Evan Phillips, who was a Ray for just 12 days in August 2021, getting into one major league game, before a roster crunch put him on waivers. He was claimed by the Dodgers – and has never left.
Phillips has saved 46 games for them since 2022, sitting out most of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery yet posting a 0.96 WHIP in six seasons with L.A. Sometimes being “smart” is having an open 40-man roster spot at the right time.
Then again, Friedman knew Phillips came with the Rays’ stamp of approval, and now he can’t get away from them.
Arnold and Neander watched and learned at Friedman’s side and now, for the second consecutive year, Friedman and Arnold are matching wits in the NLCS.
Friedman has led the Dodgers to three World Series championships since 2020, the first over Neander’s Rays. The Brewers have not reached the World Series since 1982.
Regardless of which teams advance to the Fall Classic, there will be plenty of familiarity.
“When we worked together, I thought, he's going to be really successful,” Friedman said of Arnold before Game 1. “Obviously worked together with Matt and Erik for a long time. Both are very creative, big motors, really good leaders. To see each of their respective teams having success is not surprising at all.
“I think the creativity but also the ability to connect and relate to everyone - it's not surprising that they have organizations that are so synced up. And watching them have the success they've had is awesome.”
