Defending champions Australia will begin their 2027 Cricket World Cup campaign with a blockbuster clash against India in Cape Town on October 7.
Laker select Derrin Horton to be new public-address announcer
Derrin Horton’s first job was in public address announcing. His first passion was the Lakers. The longtime sports broadcaster’s new job is the marriage of both.
Horton will take over the mic as the Lakers’ home public-address announcer, the team announced Thursday, stepping into the role for legendary Lakers announcer Lawrence Tanter, who died last week.
“There’s no way you can fill his shoes,” Horton said in an interview with local reporters. “And so you just come here with a passion and a goal to be informative and entertaining and be a part of Showtime.”
Tanter, who provided the smooth, baritone soundtrack for Lakers home games for 43 seasons, suffered a stroke on March 17 and missed the final six regular-season home games and the playoffs last season. Tanter announced his retirement in June, transitioning to a game-day advisory role with the team. Horton, a former KTLA broadcaster who has worked as an anchor, reporter, host, play-by-play announcer and voice actor, reached out to the team about the opportunity.
Horton showed up to his audition and instinctively tried to emulate Tanter’s signature baritone voice. He wanted to sound like what he thought the classic PA announcers should sound like. Lakers president and chief business officer Lon Rosen stopped the tryout in mid-sentence.
“He said, ‘Hey! Knock it off! I want to hear your voice,’” Horton said. “And so I just was myself.”
Read more:Lakers' early defensive prowess impresses Austin Reaves, JJ Redick
Horton’s new role is a return to his roots. Before carving out a career in sports broadcasting and voice acting, Horton was just a teenaged high school basketball reject. Not good enough to play on the team, he found his first job in communications as the PA announcer for Holy Cross High in Queens. The New York City-raised Syracuse alumnus has been enamored with the Lakers since the Showtime era. He doesn’t think enthusiasm will be a problem; Horton considers himself a diehard Lakers fan.
And he knows what Lakers fans want at a game.
“They’re there to see the Lakers,” Horton said. “So what I do is just try to enhance the experience like a little salt and pepper. Season it up a little bit.”
The Lakers have their first home preseason game Oct. 8 against the Sacramento Kings. Horton said he is focused on informing fans and mastering the fundamentals. He has been working on player names and practiced at several Sparks games to understand the rhythm of professional basketball. The broadcaster said he favors understated and professional PA announcing. The style that made Tanter famous.
Horton considered the Lakers announcing legend a friend. Tanter even recorded an introduction for Horton’s wedding, announcing the newlyweds as they entered the reception: “‘For the very first time,’” Horton said, dropping his voice low like Tanter’s “‘Mr. Derrin and Elise Horton!’”
Horton wished he could have spoken to Tanter ahead of the first game.
“We’re going to miss him,” Horton said, “and I hope I do him proud.”
Scouting department change
The Lakers hired Pooh Jeter as director of pro scouting, The Times confirmed Thursday. The L.A. native was the Portland Trail Blazers’ player development coach and the assistant general manager of the team’s G League affiliate Rip City Remix.
After an ownership change in 2025, the Lakers have worked to build out their front office, following the lead of the Dodgers. After adding more than 15 people to the front office, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said, the Lakers were still focused on adding more scouts.
Staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Boston Celtics Daily Links 10/1/26
HeraldCeltics notebook: Jayson Tatum feels ‘great,’ Joe Mazzulla hints at lineup plans
Globe Veteran guard Mike Conley looking forward to dual role with the Celtics, as a player and ‘coach’
CelticsBlogJayson Tatum shares promising recovery update at Celtics practice
Jordan Walsh is learning the difference between having a role and being a role player
Reading the training camp tea leaves
Neemias Queta’s improvements with the ball can unlock a new element
Now that Payton Pritchard is extension eligible, the Celtics should pay him, right?
Who is your favorite NBA player who wasn’t on your favorite team?
CLNS MediaIs Jayson Tatum Ready For a Leadership Role?
10 Ways Celtics Might PLAY Differently This Year
Paul George Sends Eye Opening Message as Celtics Season Begins
Celtics .com Golf, Fantasy Football and More: Inside the Celtics’ Off-Court Bond
Even in Year 20, Mike Conley Finding Some Surprises in Boston
Boston Celtics Announce 2026-27 Specialty Night Schedule and Bobblehead Series
NESN Former Celtics Fan Favorite Suffers Ill-Timed Injury
Jayson Tatum Reveals His True Feelings About Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla
‘Freak of Nature’: Ex-Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Already Turning Heads With 76ers
Mass Live Joe Mazzulla hints at Celtics starting lineup plan
Jayson Tatum shares promising news before Celtics season
Former Celtics forward gives perspective on Kristaps Porzingis health issue
Celtics notebook: Fixing Derrick White’s jumper, new rules, national team duties
Celtics WireMaine Celtics announce Phil Pressey as coach for 2026-27 G League season
Today in Boston Celtics history: Alton Lister born
What are the most exciting battles in Boston Celtics training camp?
Celtics unveil player bobblehead night schedule for 2026-27 season
The Celtics are going to be more connected than ever before
Mike Conley has high praise for Boston Celtics teammates
Mike Conley believes Celtics star Jayson Tatum will take another leap
Boston Sports Journal Simone’s Training Camp Notebook: Fantasy football, golf, and more
Hardwood Houdini Giannis Antetokounmpo joining Celtics might not be off the table after all
It speaks volumes that Paul George appears to have no minutes restriction
Amari Williams could get the same FIBA bump that Neemias Queta did
Joe Mazzulla’s vision for Neemias Queta would be a dream for Celtics’ offense
Forgotten Celtic: Sam Hauser is poised for a massive bounceback season
Celtics players raving about Jayson Tatum’s leadership hints at another leap
Baylor Scheierman’s growth is catching Mike Conley’s attention
Celtics fans can’t help but laugh at Darius Garland’s Clippers vibes quote
Mike Conley is getting exactly what he was searching for in move to Celtics
Brad Stevens quietly telling Celtics fans to get excited about young players
While Pistons face $200M nightmare, the Celtics solved one of NBA’s hardest problems
Chowder and ChampionsJayson Tatum is wrong about the Celtics in the best way possible
Celtics can surprise everyone, but their playoff viability remains a concern
CLNS Media/YouTubeWill Celtics Sign Payton Pritchard to Contract Extension?
Is Jayson Tatum READY For a Leadership Role? | Big 3 NBA Podcast
Ron Harper Jr.: Jayson Taum and Paul George Winning Celtics Fantasy League
Joe Mazzulla on Mitchell Robinson’s Free Throw Shooting
Jayson Tatum: I wasn’t Myself Last Season | Celtics Practice Interview
Why Mitchell Robinson Will Be MORE than Just a Backup Center for Celtics
Locked on Celtics Baylor Scheierman IMPRESSES | Payton Pritchard IMPROVING | Jayson Tatum’s leadership
Celtics RoundtableNew Boston Celtics Big Man Mitchell Robinson Gives Thoughts on Expanded Offensive Game
Boston Celtics Set to Bring Back Awesome Promotional Items in 2026-27
Boston Celtics Name G-League Head Coach For 2026-27
One Thing For Joe Mazzulla to Consider as He Considers Boston Celtics Lineups
Former Boston Celtics Big Man Kelly Olynyk Reportedly Has New Home
BasketNewsJoe Mazzulla reveals expectations for Jayson Tatum this upcoming season
Knicks RoundtableMikal Bridges Admits Knicks Are Going to Miss Mitchell Robinson
HeavyCeltics Floated as Trade Suitor for All-Star Champion
Celtics Trade Pursuit of $223 Million Star Floated
Mike Conley Gives Simple Verdict on Celtics’ Baylor Scheierman
Celtics’ Jordan Walsh Learning From Veteran Star Ahead of Year 4
Ex-Celtics 7-Foot-6 Fan-Favorite Handed Bad News at Training Camp
AudacyHow Jayson Tatum is embracing his new role
Boston Celtics/YouTubeDetails on Jayson Tatum’s Emerging Leadership Behind Closed Doors
Hoops WireNBA executive: Don’t assume Celtics looking to dump Paul George
SI .comJoe Mazzulla Says Being a Stepfather Helps Him Coach Young Rookies
HITC Anonymous NBA executive claims Paul George’s $110m Boston Celtics contract is ‘actually valuable’
The RingerThe Seven NBA Players We’re Most Curious About
Crossing BroadThe NBA Deciding to Crack Down on Push-Offs Now That Jaylen Brown is in Philly Feels Like an Anti-Sixers Conspiracy
Basketball NetworkMitchell Robinson shares an update Celtics fans will love: “It ain’t going to be the same in Boston”
Joe Mazzulla reveals expectations for Jayson Tatum this upcoming season
NBA/GLeaguePhil Pressey returns as Head Coach of Maine Celtics
FansidedEvery NBA team’s best trade in franchise history
The Big Lead NBA Eastern Conference power rankings: All 15 teams ranked worst to first entering preseason
The Celtics ChronicleMitch Can Live On The Perimeter
Fan Recap Luka Garza Faces A Tougher Celtics Camp Battle Than Expected
Baylor Scheierman Is Giving Celtics Fans A Reason To Believe
Mitchell Robinson Could Change Boston’s Offense In One Crucial Way
Celtics Just Made Their Post Jaylen Brown Youth Movement Clear
Celtics Face A Bigger Paul George Decision Than Fans Realize
Celtics Already See A Role For Hugo Gonzlez If He Makes This Leap
Celtics Have Fully Entered The Jayson Tatum Era
Mike Conley Could Give The Celtics More Than Veteran Depth
The Score/YouTubeThe Celtics Traded Jaylen Brown and Got BETTER
Game Day New EnglandJoe Mazzulla Must Bench Mitchell Robinson In Late Games
‘Sacrifice’ is a good thing, actually
Jabari Walker is unlikely to be in the Sixers’ rotation to start the 2026-27 season.
As a guy who had to work his way up from a two-way spot to a standard deal last season, he understands his role is simply to be ready, no matter what the team asks of him.
“I’m more in the mindset of just doing what I can every day to be an asset to this team,” Walker said. “These are my brothers at the end of the day. … I have a relationship with all of them, so it’s something bigger than just being a teammate.”
While Walker’s mentality is ideal for the 14th guy on the roster, it was a sentiment shared by many on media day Monday — including from arguably the best player to ever walk the earth, LeBron James.
VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft who was named to the All-Rookie First Team, has been a topic of conversation. How will Edgecombe adjust his game while still developing alongside such a star-studded team?
James made a simple point — everyone will have to adjust.
Including the 41-year-old, 22-time All-Star.
“I think with the group of guys, no one mentioned that everybody’s role will probably be different,” James said. “And that’s for the greater good, if we want to accomplish something that’s really, really important. Like if we say that we want to be something special, there will be a collective sacrificing in a good way. Sometimes in sports, people hear sacrificing … people start thinking negatively about it. It’s not a negative thing.”
Every player, including the team’s stars, shared that sentiment. When Jaylen Brown was asked who would be the “alpha” on this Sixers team by a national reporter, Brown dismissed the question immediately. After all, even the person who came up with the theory of the “alpha wolf” has since debunked his own research. In fact, we’ve learned wolf packs are simply regular families, doing whatever is necessary for survival.
Maybe not an apples-to-apples comparison to a professional basketball team, but everyone has to eat. In the case of the Sixers, they’ll be looking to wins over stats for nourishment.
“Like [James] said, sacrifice has a negative connotation, but has its perks and its benefits,” Brown said. “Anytime you’re going for something great, something of high metric, it’s going to take a level of sacrifice. So that’s just the understanding that someone like him, who has been great all his life, he understands sacrifice at a high level, and I agree with him.”
Nobody has felt the pain of the Sixers’ recent failures more than Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Embiid is by far the longest-tenured Sixer. In fact, he’s the third longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia after the Flyers’ Sean Couturier and Eagles’ Lane Johnson. After Embiid is Maxey. The drop-off to the third longest-tenured Sixer is quite steep.
It’s obvious they’re willing to scale back in any capacity in order to finally get over the second-round hump and win the franchise’s first championship since before LeBron was born.
“One through 17, 18, we got the talent. Whatever,” Maxey said. “But if we’re not willing to sacrifice, we’re not willing to put in the work, it ain’t gonna mean nothing.”
“I think it’s hard to win,” Embiid said. “I haven’t done it. Feel like I know what it takes, but it is hard to win, man. You need that consistency. You need to get guys on the same page. But feel like this year we have that.”
After the first day of training camp, the team’s first full practice together, head coach Nick Nurse didn’t like the use of the word “sacrifice.”
“Sacrifice just seems like such a negative term to me,” Nurse said at practice Monday, “and I’d rather like really emphasize being who you are, right? But maybe we need you to do something super special for our team at this moment, and you have the abilities to do it. Then let’s do it.”
But luckily for him, his players don’t see it that way.
James’ perspective was a little different. Instead of viewing the word “sacrifice” as a negative, why can’t it be a positive?
“So many guys that’s been in our league over the course of my career that’s never made a sacrifice in their career,” James said, “and they average 20, 22 points per game and they’ve had one or two postseason appearances and zero postseason wins. If that’s the way you want your career to be then, that’s fine, everyone has different goals. But I don’t think anybody downstairs or I don’t think anybody in the locker room, have that feeling, or want their career to be like that, or we wouldn’t be here.”
Sacrificing for a greater good is not only positive, but laudable.
From LeBron James to Jabari Walker and every player in between, it’s what the Sixers will have to do to accomplish their ultimate goal.
Tristan Vukcevic sidelined with hip injury
Wizards forward/center Tristan Vukčević sustained a left hip impingement and will be reevaluated in approximately four weeks, the Wizards announced Thursday.
Vukcevic had been a partial participant during the first two days of training camp. He’ll continue to be a partial participant throughout the remainder of camp.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds across 49 appearances last season. He shot 47.9% from the field and 34.7% from 3-point range.
Vukcevic projected as Washington’s third-string center behind Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton. He can play some forward as well, as showcased by his impressive shooting touch for a 7-footer.
Women’s tennis tour announces prize money parity with men’s events
WTA announces ‘major milestone’ in fight for equality
Combined WTA 1000 events to award equal prize money
All combined WTA 1000 tournaments will award women equal prize money to the men from 2027, the Women’s Tennis Association has announced, with the Italian Open and other major events joining the rest of the category in offering the same payouts.
Billie Jean King has often said that she was moved to form the women’s professional tennis circuit after earning $600 for her 1970 Italian Open title while Ilie Nastase took home $3,500 for winning the men’s tournament the same year.
Continue reading...Penguins Assign Forward To Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins made a roster move after practice on Thursday.
They assigned forward Rutger McGroarty to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after he was a healthy scratch for Wednesday's season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers.
It also comes after forward Ben Kindel fully participated in Thursday's practice. Kindel is currently week-to-week with an injury that he aggravated during the Penguins' first pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Forward Rutger McGroarty has been assigned to @WBSPenguins (AHL). pic.twitter.com/EnCtmNQTVg
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 1, 2026
McGroarty played in 24 games for the Penguins last year, compiling three goals and six points. He also played eight games in the 2024-25 season, scoring one goal and totaling three points.
Overall, he has racked up four goals and nine points in 32 NHL games.
He'll now go down to the AHL to help WBS get off to a strong start to its 2026-27 AHL season. He'll likely be back with the NHL club later this year, especially if he plays well or injuries pile up.
The Penguins will play the Montreal Canadiens in their home opener at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Victor Wembanyama takes strong stand against promoting sports betting
Sports betting is everywhere. One place – or person, rather – where you won’t find any support is with San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama.
According to the American Gaming Association, sports betting revenue surged to a record $16.96 billion in 2025, a staggering 22.8% year-over-year increase. That figure was bolstered by a 22% annual growth of the online sports betting market.
Despite the popularity, and despite the potential revenue Wembanyama could net, he’s not interested in those endorsements.
“Absolutely not,” Wembanyama told reporters Thursday, Oct. 1 when asked if he would ever become a brand ambassador for a sports gambling company. “I would never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it, in my opinion. Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”
As the landscape for sports betting and prediction markets has exploded in recent years, several players have profited by signing deals to endorse these companies.
Recently, LeBron James’ previous deal with DraftKings expired, so he partnered with Polymarket. In February 2026, Giannis Antetokounmpo took a passive equity stake in Kalshi that is less than 1%, and he’s doing promotional work for the prediction market. Boardroom, a sports and entertainment media network co-founded by Kevin Durant, has partnered with FanDuel, with Durant frequently appearing in ads and even floating proposed parlay bets that fans and users can tail.
The NBA also has a lengthy list of official and authorized betting and gaming partners, both domestically and internationally.
Wembanyama, 22, has repeatedly been outspoken about several cultural and societal issues, from his rejection of soda products, to saying he was “horrified” of fatal shootings of civilians by federal immigration enforcement officers.
Similarly, Wembanyama has expressed a desire to be very intentional about the brands he partners with.
“In the past, a dimension of money, but not anymore,” Wembanyama said. “But even with that, I refused much, much more money than I’ve made for things that were not to my values. And now I want to promote things that have a good impact, have a good influence with who I can share messages and values. The one thing that’s very important for me: our biggest strength is not our millions and millions (of dollars), our biggest strength is by inspiring. And we can inspire in a good or bad way.
“I want to inspire in a good way; that’s the strongest thing I can do.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama takes strong stand against promoting sports betting
Isaac Heeney ‘can’t wait’ to resume AFL career after suspension for hotel incident
Receiving the club’s best and fairest award on Thursday, the player apologised for ‘extreme difficulty’ and says absence was ‘heartbreaking’
Isaac Heeney says he “can’t wait” to continue his AFL career at the Sydney Swans after the midfielder was crowned the club’s best and fairest player.
In a two-minute pre-recorded video to mark the 30-year-old’s third Bob Skilton medal, Heeney voiced his determination to resurrect his playing career after serving a club-imposed suspension throughout finals.
Continue reading...Borthwick’s England reign remains full of contradictions with World Cup a year away
England’s identity under Steve Borthwick is not as clear as it should be this close to the tournament
It was not so long ago that the Rugby Football Union would host an annual Christmas bash. Executives, head coaches, assistants, members of staff and an invitation to the press pack. Mince pies and mulled wine, even a touch of merriment if we were lucky. Eddie Jones would sometimes make an appearance, but the mind goes back to one year when he did not.
To give him his due Steve Borthwick, his assistant at the time, did. He would probably rather have been anywhere else, but one of the more clear-eyed RFU employees, who had long-since figured out that the then forwards coach was destined for the top job, did their utmost to involve him. Alas, Borthwick soon had a long-distance train to catch and hours of in-depth analysis on a laptop ahead of him.
Continue reading...October baseball for Atlanta begins with Ray Kerr on the mound for Game 3 vs. Phillies
In a year where the (not particularly inspiring) tagline for playoff baseball is “No Time Like October”, only one out of four Wild Card series made it to today, the actual first day of the month. Aren’t we so lucky that it was Braves vs. Phillies? /s
Two games into the postseason and three sweeps later, the Padres, Yankees, and papally-blessed White Sox have punched their tickets to the next round. The swift eliminations of the Cubs, Red Sox, and Astros means the singular scenario for a night game at Truist Park has come to fruition.
Tonight’s winner-take-all game will decide which NL East team will board the plane to Los Angeles for the weekend to play in the National League Division Series, aiming to deny the two-time defending World Series champions their shot at a three-peat.
Doesn’t it feel like it was always destined to come down to this? A pair of divisonal rivals, with fanbases that passionately hate each other, both trying to dispel a miasma of past playoff failures. Apparently, this makes for tremendous baseball for those without a specific rooting interest or stake in it.
Unfortunately, we here at Battery Power are rooting very hard for the home team. And we would do pretty much anything to trade exciting and entertaining baseball for easy and comfortable victories. But if you’ve been following the team this season, you know they like to do things the hard way. So here we are.
The Atlanta Braves will send Ray Kerr to the mound to start for Game 3. Kerr returned to the majors on August 16 after missing two years due to Tommy John surgery and long rehab process. The lanky lefty is capable of multiple innings and had a 1.47 ERA and .600 WHIP in nine games.
Kerr faced the Phillies for a solid third of his 18.1 innings pitched in the regular season. His two outings were as follows:
- September 5: 3.1 innings of one-hit ball (a single by Kyle Schwarber) and one strikeout
- September 13: 3.0 innings of one-hit ball (a double by Bryce Harper) and four strikeouts
In the latter game, Kerr relieved starter Grant Holmes. The roles will reverse today; we can expect Holmes to follow for the bulk of the innings. A Braves bullpen unit that has been so strong all year faltered yesterday afternoon, but it is likely that all hands will be on deck to get all 27 outs tonight.
The Phillies are in the same mode and will counter with right-hander Aaron Nola. He is their most-rested option, but Zack Wheeler, Game 1’s starter Jesús Luzardo, and yesterday’s winning pitcher Andrew Painter are all also on the table. Closer Jhoan Duran was unavailable yesterday, and his status for tonight is not yet known.
The Braves are very familiar with Nola, of course. He has a 4.50 ERA in three starts against the team in 2026. He last pitched in Saturday for the pentultimate game of the regular season on short rest, lasting one inning after allowing three runs on four hits on 21 pitches.
It would be great to see the team in the home uniforms be the ones to Let It Fly – the leaders in home runs off Nola are Austin Riley with 7, Matt Olson with 5, and Ronald Acuña Jr. with 4.
Welcome to October. Who will shine brightest under the Truist Park lights?
Game Info
Game Time: Thursday, October 1, 8:00 pm EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Watch: NBC/Peacock
Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM, ESPN Radio
5 Phoenix Suns lineups to look forward to in 2026-27
My annual “5 Lineups to look forward to” piece is finally here. The season must be getting closer, folks.
This is one of the deepest Suns teams in recent memory, even with the Mark Williams injury factored in. Thinking back to some of the past issues I’ve done this for, it was slim pickings. Now, I struggled to fit everyone in.
The question is, can Jordan Ott figure out how to maximize that depth with the right combinations and minute distributions? He has the rest of training camp and the preseason to figure it out.
Let’s dive right into the five fun lineup combinations.
Disclaimer: No, you will not see what I suspect is the starting lineup (Booker, Green, Brooks, Bridges, Maluach/Oso)
Lineup 1: SIZE + Defense!
Devin Booker – Jordan Goodwin – Dillon Brooks – Rasheer Fleming – Khaman Maluach
This lineup gives the Suns a strong blend of size and athleticism, while keeping just enough scoring on the court between Booker and Brooks to make it work. On paper, assuming Fleming and Maluach both make leaps, this could be the Suns’ best overall defensive unit. Oso may have something to say about that, but either way… this team would cause chaos.
Goodwin at the point of attack. Booker taking on the two. Brooks bodying the smaller wing/forward and Fleming harassing the larger wing/forward, with Maluach lurking in the back line. This could be a winning lineup.
Lineup 2: Bench Mob + Book + Floor Spacing
Collin Gillespie – Luke Kennard – Devin Booker – Jordan Goodwin – Khaman Maluach
I tried to draft up the most optimal floor spacing unit for Devin Booker. Gillespie and Kennard at the 1 and 2, with Booker playing “up” as a wing and Jordan Goodwin at the 4, anchored by Man Man down low, who can also pick and pop.
This could be a unit we see occasionally, even with Bridges at the 4 here to give Green and Brooks run in a staggered lineup opposite of Book/Bridges. There could be some defensive concerns with this group, but it would questionably be their best shooting combination.
Lineup 3: Youths! Plus bench guard duo
Collin Gillespie – Luke Kennard – Rasheer Fleming – Koa Peat – Khaman Maluach
This lineup is basically surrounding your two best shooters and small(er) guards with three super athletic players. We may not see this specific lineup a ton, but it could be one of those late-game lineups that gets thrown out there whenever the game is already decided.
Not garbage time, the time just before it hits garbage time, where there’s just too much time left to call it that. That’s when they’d throw this unit out there.
Lineup 4: Balance
Devin Booker – Luke Kennard – Dillon Brooks – Miles Bridges – Oso Ighodaro
This lineup has a decent blend of scoring, shooting, size, and just enough playmaking, with Oso handling some point center duties along with Booker as the primary ball-handler.
It very well could be one of the first subs we see (or Collin Gillespie) to take over Green’s spot alongside the starters for floor spacing or playmaking purposes, depending on what they feel they need most.
Lineup 5: Athleticism over everything
Jalen Green – Miles Bridges – Koa Peat – Rasheer Fleming – Khaman Maluach
There is a very realistic chance that we do not see this lineup next season at all. Miles Bridges at the 2?! Why not. Let’s get weird. It’s a requirement to throw at least one curveball your way in these pieces.
I really wanted to find somewhere to place Pat Spencer. With the Booker/Green backcourt plus Gillespie, Kennard, and Goodwin off the bench, it’s a tough ask. Ryan Dunn was also omitted due to my affinity for Fleming and Peat.
What lineups are you looking forward to the most? Let us know below!
Rumored Warriors free agent target headed to Italy
During the free agency waiting game this summer, many players were linked to the Golden State Warriors. While the Dubs ultimately went in a different direction, veteran center Kelly Olynyk was one name that came up in multiple reports. Now, it seems, Olynyk was unable to get an offer he wanted from an NBA team this offseason so he’s heading abroad. According to a report by Alessandro Magro of the Italian outlet Superbasket, Olynyk is expected to sign a deal with BC Roma in Italy.
While it’s technically possible that Olynyk could eventually return to the NBA, it seems most likely that his career in the most prestigious basketball league in the world has come to an end after 13 seasons. Now 35, Olynyk began his pro career with the Boston Celtics, who acquired the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft to select him out of Gonzaga.
Olynyk immediately became a mainstay in the Celtics rotation as a valuable stretch big. He would subsequently play for the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, and San Antonio Spurs. Over his NBA career, Olynyk averaged 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 21.8 minutes per game on 48.6%/36.9%/79.4% shooting in 842 games (283 starts). However, this past season, Olynyk had the smallest role of his career on the Western Conference champion Spurs. He appeared in just 42 games, averaging just 8.6 minutes per appearance.
Darcy Kuemper’s Nightmare Return Raises Immediate Questions For Kings
Darcy Kuemper’s return to the Kings’ crease could hardly have gone worse.
In Wednesday night’s season opener at Ball Arena, Kuemper surrendered eight goals on 29 shots, including four on the power play, as Los Angeles was overwhelmed by a Colorado Avalanche team that has given it fits for quite some time.
Yes, the Kings didn’t do their goaltender many favors. There were defensive breakdowns throughout the night, and Colorado made them pay for virtually every mistake. But Kuemper’s preseason struggles followed him into the opener, raising an immediate question about head coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to hand him the start.
That decision looks even more puzzling given what happened the last time these teams met.
The Kings were swept by Colorado in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, but they were far more competitive than the final result might suggest. A big reason for that was Anton Forsberg, who repeatedly gave Los Angeles a chance to stay in games against a talented Avalanche roster.
Colorado’s power play, meanwhile, was hardly a factor during the regular season despite the Avalanche entering the postseason as the Presidents’ Trophy winners. That clearly wasn’t the case Wednesday.
Colorado scored four times with the man advantage, turning what was already a difficult night for the Kings into a rout.
And while it would be unfair to pin all eight goals on Kuemper, it’s also fair to question why Laviolette went back to him in the first place.
Kuemper struggled through the preseason, and Forsberg had already shown he could handle the pressure against Colorado. Yet when the regular season arrived, Laviolette opted for the more expensive, more established option.
The result was an eight-goal night and a very bad start to the season.
Here’s the bottom line: If you put Forsberg in net, the Kings at least give themselves a legitimate chance to win that game.
Look back at the four-game playoff series against Colorado. Forsberg allowed an average of 3.25 goals per game and, despite the Kings being swept, repeatedly gave them an opportunity to stay within striking distance. Mackenzie Blackwood, meanwhile, gave up four goals in his season debut Wednesday.
You can make the argument that Kuemper had to get the start because he’s the Kings’ $5.25 million goaltender while Forsberg makes $2.25 million. But if that’s the reasoning, fine.
Just understand that when your decision results in an eight-goal embarrassment on opening night, criticism is going to come with it.
Laviolette made the call. Now he has to own this. Either way, the Kings’ goaltending situation has suddenly become one of the biggest storylines of their young season.
The Kings don’t have much time to dwell on the loss. They’ll head to San Jose on Saturday to face Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks, giving Laviolette his first opportunity to respond to what happened in Colorado.
Quentin Grimes is ready to compete for a starting spot
Aside from Walker Kessler’s four-year, $130 million deal, the largest contract the Los Angeles Lakers handed out to an external free agent this summer went to Quentin Grimes, who signed a four-year, $60 million deal. With two open spots available in the starting lineup to join Kessler, Reaves and Luka Dončić, the Lakers will likely hope one of their biggest money signings of the offseason can solidify himself as a member of that quintet.
Other than Grimes, candidates to earn a starting spot on the wing are players like Jake LaRavia looking to rebound from a tough second half in 2026-27, Ziare Williams trying to fully break through in the NBA and Matisse Thybulle aiming to put a few injury-riddled years behind him. Grimes is embracing that spirit of competition and believes it will ultimately benefit the Lakers.
“You want to be competitive every day in practice. I want to fight for [a starting spot], I want to earn it,” Grimes said. “You don’t want anything handed to you or given out to you. So, I feel like having that competition aspect to go out there and try to fight for a starting spot is going to be big for our team.”
Beyond his floor-spacing and ability to attack closeouts, Grimes was signed for his point-of-attack defense. While he didn’t flourish in that area as much during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, it was perhaps his greatest skill back when he played for the New York Knicks and he sounds ready to set the tone defensively for a Lakers roster that certainly skews toward the offensive side of the floor.
“I feel like I take a lot of pride defensively…Everybody wants to have responsibility, whatever it is on the court, and mine happens to be defensively,” Grimes said. “I know what I’m capable of offensively and they know that as well.
“So, just to be able to know that and guard the best player every night, take on that challenge, want to be competitive, want to do whatever I can to help this team win. That’s all I want is that responsibility.”
You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.