The Chicago White Sox are having a pretty magical season. Despite losing more than 100 games in each of the last three seasons, the ChiSox suddenly find themselves in first-place in the AL Central with fewer than 30 games remaining.
It amost feels like too quick a turnaround. This team would've needed multiple high-end acquisitions or multiple elite prospects to graduate. They've certainly had a few between Colson Montgomery, Braden Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami, but it didn't seem like that would be enough to turn around what has been a basement-dwelling franchise in just one year.
It's almost like ... they've been the beneficiaries of divine intervention.
On Thursday, Aug. 27, the team gave renowned fan and Chicago native Pope Leo XIV his own White Sox-branded mitre (the tall, ceremonial hat worn by the Pope), a solid offering to someone who perhaps was sending daily prayers to his favorite franchise.
Once the five-star dominoes start to drop, they often fall in heaps. That was the case with the 32 best in the 2027 cycle. All 32 are already committed, as of Aug. 27. A majority have been off the board for months with their recruitments shut down.
The old school recruiting timeline has vanished. The December signing period will, of course, come with its fair share of drama as flips and decommitments occur, but it’s not as if there will be many fresh decisions to be made.
The 32 five-stars — according to the Rivals Industry Ranking — have dispersed among 16 schools. Nine of those schools have landed multiple. Rivals takes a look at those programs that reeled at least two big fish over the spring and summer:
Mike Elko and the Aggies have the nation’s No. 1 class, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. They’ve assembled an elite haul that currently features a quintet of five-stars, three of whom are the top-ranked prospects at their respective positions.
Dorsey has been in the mix since last November and his stock has soared since. The hard-hitting safety is also the No. 3 senior in Georgia. Forstall was next to follow at the end of March. The IMG Academy standout one of three A&M five-star commits who plays in Florida, alongside Matthews and Henderson.
Matthews ended a high-profile recruitment with a May decision, choosing the Aggies over Miami and plenty others. He’s long been the top-ranked tackle in the cycle and forms an elite duo in the trenches alongside Brown, who committed in April and ranks as the No. 2 senior in the Lone Star State.
Then there’s Henderson, who jumped in the mix during official visit season in June. What really makes A&M’s class so stacked, though, is the additional six commits who rank inside the top 60 nationally. Cornerback Raylaun Henry and wide receiver Eric McFarland are both currently on the cusp of five-star status, too.
The Miami Hurricanes have formed the nation’s No. 3 class this cycle. No coaching staff have pulled off bigger flips than Mario Cristobal and Co. as two of their four five-star pledges were previously committed elsewhere.
It starts with Wright, the top-ranked senior in California. The Long Beach Poly playmaker made a very early commitment to Georgia, but Miami was among the many teams in pursuit throughout the spring. He flipped in May and has since shut down his recruitment and is also now the No. 4 prospect in the updated Rivals300.
Wright was then flanked by Sears at the end of July. Considered one of the top prospects in the 2028 cycle, Sears caught most off guard when he announced his decision to reclassify up to the senior cycle. He simultaneously set his commitment date with all arrows pointing toward Coral Gables. He’s a two-way standout at the high school level and could try to play both sides at the next level.
Bryant was the other massive flip back at the beginning of June. The one-time LSU commit opted to flip after logging his official visit. He’s the No. 1 overall prospect in South Carolina. Lennear was a classic Miami recruiting win. The in-state pass-catcher was trending toward The U for months before pulling the trigger on his commitment in March.
Ohio State now has the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class in the nation and No. 2 class in the Big Ten heading into the fall. The Buckeyes’ trio of five-star commits showcase how many different ways you can win a recruitment.
Brown is the best senior prospect in the state of Ohio. He was prioritized early by the OSU staff and made a very early commitment on Nov. 23, 2024. Despite the departure of longtime receivers coach Brian Hartline, Brown remains rock-solid.
Jacobs was a Miami lean heading into his Dec. 29 decision. It was known that Ohio State was still in the mix, but just minutes before he revealed his commitment, the Buckeyes overtook the Hurricanes and swiped one of the biggest pledges of the cycle. Making a switch like that would make one think that his recruitment would carry a few twists and turns down the stretch, but Jacobs has been rather quiet since coming off the board.
OSU then went out to the West Coast this summer to pluck Fakatou, the No. 3 senior prospect in the Golden State. He considered numerous high-profile programs and named multiple leaders throughout his recruitment, but the Buckeyes emerged as the team to beat leading into his June 29 commitment and they got over the finish line.
The Notre Dame class remains at No. 2 nationally thanks to three five-stars and five more top-100 overall prospects. The Fighting Irish also inked a top-two class in the previous cycle and continue to recruit at a truly elite level.
May was a massive month on the trail for Marcus Freeman and his staff. Olubobola pledged on May 12, choosing the Irish over a slew of blue bloods. The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder reminds Rivals’ Scouting and Rankings Team of former Notre Dame star Ronnie Stanley.
Olubobola, the No. 1 senior in New Jersey, was a classic Notre Dame target. So was Sesay, the No. 3 prospect in Pennsylvania. The Downingtown East standout was trending toward South Bend for some time before locking his commitment during OV season.
Simien joined Olubobola in the trenches at the end of June. The No. 3 prospect in Louisiana spurned the usual SEC suitors and is headed for the Midwest. Notre Dame’s class also features DL David Folorunsho, a five-star in the Rivals300 rankings.
This was expected. Nick Richards had been working out in the Heat facility for a while, it was just a question of timing.
Now with the Klay Thompson signing complete, the Heat and Richards have come to terms on a one-year deal for Richards to be a backup center behind Bam Adebayo, the team announced Wednesday. This contract is not fully guaranteed until the season opens, notes Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel. The Heat did the same thing a year ago with Precious Achiuwa, and it gives them flexibility if a player they are interested in becomes available.
Richardson will be the third center on the roster, playing behind Adebayo and Bobby Portis.
Richardson is a six-year NBA veteran, originally a second-round pick out of Kentucky. Last season, he split time between Phoenix and Chicago, appearing in 48 games and averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
This signing also puts the Heat at 14 standard contracts, which could be their roster heading into the season. They have the cap space to add a 15th player on a minimum contract, and veteran guard Gabe Vincent has been mentioned, but the Heat may choose to keep that roster spot open and see what develops. The non-guaranteed nature of Richardson's contract, and the fact that only $500,000 of Myron Gardner's $2.6 million deal is guaranteed, gives the Heat flexibility.
The Heat also agreed to bring back Keshad Johnson on a two-way contract (he was on a standard contract with the team last season), Winderman reports.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - MARCH 22: Kate Koval #13 of the LSU Tigers warms up prior to a game against the Texas Tech Lady Raiders in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you haven’t heard by now, Kate Koval is leaving the LSU Tigers. The former Notre Dame women’s basketball player was not happy that LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey signed a Russian player, and 10 days after… Koval decided to leave.
With Koval’s father being in the Ukrainian military and being part of the war aginst the Russian invasion — you can understand how she feels about all of this. Despite any offical statement from Koval on the matter, I think the reasons are fairly clear because it’s all so personal.
We can debate about Kim Mulkey being… well, Kim Mulkey, at any other time, but right now I’m wondering where Koval might end up. Given the timing of everything, Koval won’t be able to transfer and play this season and will have to wait until spring to decide where she will be going with the remaining three years of eligibility.
Is there a chance Koval returns to Notre Dame? To be honest, I don’t quite remember the reasons for her departure from Niele Ivey’s program, but she’s a 6’5” center with two years of experience playing big girl basketball. They don’t grow that on trees — so is there a chance?
Ukrainian player Kate Koval is leaving LSU's women's basketball program after Kim Mulkey signed a player from Russia.
Last week, Mulkey even suggested the two could help end the war between the countries. Days later, Koval, whose father is in the Ukrainian military, is leaving.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Head coach Brad Underwood’s Illini went hunting for promising additions this offseason, and succeeded at doing so, landing multiple elite freshmen and a proven transfer. But with a chunk of Illinois’ veteran core returning to Champaign, Underwood will have to figure out how to carve minutes out for the new faces without disrupting the chemistry of the established vets.
Quentin Coleman & Stefan Vaaks: 26-30 minutes
Illini fans assume five-star freshman Quentin Coleman will step right into the starting lineup, filling the point guard role that Keaton Wagler left. Alongside him, Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, coming off an Estonian League Championship and Big East All-Freshman Team selection, will likely step into the shooting guard role after averaging 15.8 points per game while shooting 35% from 3-point range with the Friars last season. 26-30 minutes per game is a realistic expectation for both of the newcomers in the starting five.
David Mirkovic & Andrej Stojakovic: 28-30 minutes
After his standout freshman campaign in orange and blue last season, David Mirkovic has virtually locked down his spot in Underwood’s ideal starting lineup. Mirkovic started 35 out of Illinois’ 36 games last season.
Stojakovic though, sat on the bench for 11 games behind Jake Davis during the back end of last season after returning from injury. There’s a question mark as to whether Underwood will replicate that rotation, but given Stojakovic’s scoring production as Illinois’ second-leading scorer last season, it still would be somewhat of a surprise to see him start the season on the bench if he’s fully healthy. Jake Davis earned that spot through rebounding and defensive grit, high IQ spacing and consistent 3-point shooting. But if Stojakovic used this offseason to develop his rebounding and defensive abilities, his ceiling is much higher. 28-30 minutes per game for Stojakovic is a realistic prediction.
Jake Davis: 18-20 minutes
Additionally, Vaaks’ entrance in the starting lineup changes the lineup dynamic. Vaaks and Davis offer spot-up shooting, but a lineup with Vaaks and Stojakovic gives the Illini a late-clock creating option. Davis looks like Illinois’ ideal sixth man this season if he doesn’t start. Keeping him around for at least 18-20 minutes per game will preserve Illinois’ perimeter spacing and defensive discipline.
Tomislav: 22 minutes; Zvonimir: 18 minutes
Although Tomislav Ivisic likely has his spot in the starting lineup locked down, having started two seasons at the center position for the Illini, Underwood may be a little more generous to Zvonimir than he was last season regarding minutes. Tomislav’s pick-and-pop spacing, 3-point threat, low-block scoring and playmaking abilities should grant him around 22 minutes per game. That leaves an 18-minute window for Zvonimir to utilize his elite rim protection, vertical rim running and stretch-five threat from the wing to offer a completely different playstyle. Zvonimir averaged 17 minutes per game last season, and it’d be a shock to see those numbers decrease.
Lincoln Williams & Lucas Morillo: 10-12 minutes
A problem Underwood might face is deciding how to balance minutes for the first seven with minutes for the rest of the incoming freshmen. There’s been quite a good bit of hype around wings like Lincoln Williams and Lucas Morillo, but will Illinois fans get to appreciate them on the court this season? Or will they have to wait until the returning core departs? What gives them both a chance to get rotational minutes is the fact that they can both fill in at guard and wing. Williams offers explosive vertical ability and transition scoring, while Morillo offers patient ball-handling and playmaking. If both of them can offer disciplined defense and rebounding, they may be able to carve out 10-12 minutes per game if they maximize their opportunities.
It won’t be easy for Underwood to dish out 200 minutes for a roster this deep, but it’s a good problem to have. TCR readers, what are your minutes per game predictions?
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Daylen Lile #51 and Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals celebrate after the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on September 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Entering 2026, Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews were two of the most hyped youngsters on the Nationals’ big-league squad. Lile was coming off a rookie campaign where he posted an excellent 131 wRC+ in 91 games, including a scorching hot September, earning him a player of the month award and a top-5 finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Dylan Crews had yet to string together much big-league success, but he’d also missed much of 2025 due to injury, and the draft pedigree and bursts of success were still there.
2026, however, has been a bit of a letdown for both hitters. Lile has made large strides defensively in left field, going from the 5th percentile in OAA in 2025 to the 74th percentile in 2026, but the bat has not been nearly where it was in 2025, as entering today, he has a 92 wRC+ on the season, down 39 points from his 2025 mark. His whiff rate has increased by about 4%, his chase rate has increased by an alarming 13%, and his OBP sits under .300 entering today.
As for Crews, while many thought this could be the year of his breakout under the new regime, that has not been the case, as he began the season in Triple-A, and while he’s seemingly made some strides in his third big-league season, such as hitting the ball harder than ever and getting the ball off the ground more, the results haven’t been there for show, with a 80 wRC+ entering today, just 2 points higher than in 2025.
The good news is that while both their bats have left something to be desired in 2026, Lile and Crews are winning ballplayers in many other facets, such as both being plus defenders now and having 90th+ percentile speed. Their offensive issues are both against one side: for Lile, it is against LHP, where he has a 59 wRC+, and for Crews, it is against RHP, where he has a 54 wRC+. Crews has feasted on LHP this season, with a 136 wRC+, and Lile has done well against RHP, with a 104 wRC+ and probably more than that in the tank if he can improve his plate discipline.
So my question is, if the Nationals plan on being competing for a playoff spot in 2027, whether that’s by winning the division or making a Wild Card spot, would the best course of action be to bring in a free agent outfielder and to platoon Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews? If you give Daylen Lile roughly 100 starts when the Nats face a righty, and Dylan Crews roughly 62 starts when the Nats face a lefty, you come out with a combined season of plus defense, speed, and offense from the two of them. You also gain a valuable pinch-hitting option off the bat in whichever of the two doesn’t start the game, giving you the ability to pinch-hit Daylen Lile in a critical situation against a righty reliever, or vice versa.
Daylen Lile vs RHP/Dylan Crews vs LHP combined in 2026:
162 games of a .786 OPS with above average defense and baserunning is an easy 3-4 WAR ballplayer, production that would be huge for the Nationals in a 2027 season where they likely plan on being competitive in the Wild Card hunt. Platooning Lile and Crews in the corner outfield allows James Wood to rotate between corner outfield and DH as needed, Jacon Young to patrol Center Field full time with Crews subbing in occasionaly to give him days off, and perhaps a chance for the Nats to add a thumper to their lineup via free agency, It is not a great free agency class for hitters, but the once place there is some depth is in the corner outfield, where the list of free agent names includes George Springer, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Randy Arozarena, Taylor Ward, Lane Thomas, and more.
Potential 2027 Nats OF vs. RHP:
LF: Daylen Lile, CF: Jacob Young, RF: James Wood/FA, DH: James Wood/FA
Potential 2027 Nats OF vs. LHP:
LF: James Wood/FA, CF: Jacob Young, RF: Dylan Crews, DH: James Wood/FA
While I understand why some fans would hesistant giving up on Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews so soon as everyday hitters, the reality is that if the Nationals want to truly compete for a playoff spot in 2027, it will be an uphill battle in a strong National League, and they can’t afford another season of bad production by Lile and Crews against one side or the other.
Combining their strengths allows the Nats to have one of the strongest outfields in all of baseball, with Young patrolling center field, James Wood carrying the offense, and Lile and Crews trading off and doing damage against their respective sides.
Major League Baseball, trying to create a similar free-agent frenzy that the NFL and NBA have each offseason, proposed a window and a December deadline for players to sign, freezing further signings until the first week of February.
The proposal, which MLB formally sent to the players union Thursday, would have a “quiet period" from five days after the World Series until the first day of the winter meetings in December. Teams could re-sign their own free agents in that window, but would only be able sign others from the first day of the winter meetings until Dec. 21. If a free agent is not signed by that date, he would have to wait until the first week of February.
Trades and negotiations with free agents still would exist during the month-long “quiet period" but teams would be prohibited from finalizing an agreement.
Bruce Meyer, interim executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, quickly rejected the proposal, saying it’s only a different way to reduce salaries.
“The league, through their propaganda arm, is promoting their latest set of roster and transaction proposals as player-friendly," Meyer said in a statement.
“MLB expressly conditioned these proposals on the players’ agreement to a salary cap system, which would drastically reduce overall player compensation, eliminate fully guaranteed contracts through escrow, and turn back the clock on fundamental player rights," Meyer said.
“Their latest proposals regarding free agency would eliminate player rights by establishing an artificial free agency window, subject to a salary cap, which would reduce player leverage and create a game of musical chairs pitting player vs. player."
There would also be a complete ban on all transactions and contracts involving Major League players until the first Monday in February, giving players about two weeks to finalize deals before spring training.
MLB also is proposing that teams be permitted to carry an extra pitcher on their roster, from 13 to 14, but the 26-man roster limit would remain the same.
There also would be a creation of weekly rosters, allowing teams to re-set their 26-man roster on Monday each week, preventing clubs from shuttling pitchers with options back and forth players from the big leagues to the minor leagues. MLB’s research shows that Major League transactions have nearly doubled since 2011, with teams averaging 57 players last season, led by Atlanta with 72 players.
MLB also wants to modify the injured list, reducing the minimum from 10 days to one week for position players, and 15 days to two weeks for pitchers. The 60-day IL would be increased to a 12-week minimum (84 days).
“The suggestion that the only way to limit roster churn, or incentivize earlier free-agent signings is with a salary cap is entirely unserious," Meyer said. "Players have proposed changes that would address these priorities, but the league is not interested in any changes that don’t directly reduce the rights of all players and shift leverage to the owners."
MLB proposed that players selected in the Rule 5 Draft no longer would have to remain on the major league roster all season, and could be optioned to the minors during the season. Players coming out of college also could be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft one or two years earlier.
Players under the age of 20 also would be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft four years following the signing of their first professional contract, while players 20 or older would be eligible at the third Rule 5 Draft after signing their first contract.
The proposals, of course, are all under the umbrella of a salary cap and salary floor, which has been adamantly rejected by the players union.
“A cap-and-floor system would unlock additional opportunities to improve the game for players and fans, creating more stability in rosters, getting the best players to the Major Leagues more quickly, and accelerating the pace of the offseason,” MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin said in a statement. “In our current economic system, these changes would be too harmful to competitive balance and would not be practical.”
The Golden State Valkyries have owned this matchup with three straight wins over New York, but the Liberty return to Barclays Center tonight eager to flip the script.
Low-scoring battles have been the story across all six all-time meetings, and our Valkyries vs. Liberty predictions and WNBA picks are riding the Under once again.
We're backing New York to snap the skid on home court—pushed over the finish line by another monster performance on the glass from Jonquel Jones on Thursday, Aug. 27.
UPDATE: Added Jonquel Jones prop!
Valkyries vs Liberty prediction
Valkyries vs Liberty best bet: Under 162.5 -105
The New York Liberty have allowed just 81.9 ppg at home, good for third-best in the WNBA. The Golden State Valkyries have been even stingier on the road, allowing the fewest ppg at a paltry 76.1.
New York allows only 43% shooting at home, and Golden State allows just 41.2% on the road.
The Liberty slow things down at home, sporting the ninth-ranked pace at Barclays Center compared to the sixth-ranked pace across all other venues. The Valkyries are the slowest-paced team in the league overall and on the road.
That all adds up to yet another low-scoring matchup between these teams, and I'd play it down to 160.5.
New York’s offense gives it the advantage. The Liberty are scoring 88.7 ppg at home compared to the Valkyries’ 81.7 ppg on the road. Golden State is 4-10 ATS with a rest disadvantage, and playing its third game in four days will cause noticeable fatigue.
Jonquel Jones has gone for 24+ points + rebounds in six of her last nine healthy appearances, including four of five at home. At 6’6, she’s got a clear size advantage over the GSV frontcourt, and she tuned them up for 28 in her last matchup.
Jones has recorded 16 double-doubles this season, hitting that milestone in 10 of 18 home games. She’s averaging 10.6 boards at home compared to just 7.9 on the road.
The Valkyries sport a 67% rebound percentage on the road, good for fifth-worst in the WNBA, and Jones can take advantage on the offensive glass.
Her 10.6 boards at home rank third in the league, and her 2.3 offensive boards are 10th. She’s double-doubled in three of her last four at home and five of her last six healthy games overall.
Zak Hanshew's 2026 Transparency Record
Best bet: 30-36, -8.8 units
SGP: 7-59, -22 units
Player prop: 18-22, -6.42 units
Valkyries vs Liberty odds
Spread: Valkyries +2.5 | Liberty -2.5
Moneyline: Valkyries +120 | Liberty -142
Over/Under: Over 162.5 | Under 162.5
Valkyries vs Liberty trend
The Valkyries and Liberty have cashed the Under in all six meetings. Find more WNBA betting trends.
How to watch Valkyries vs Liberty
Location
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Date
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Valkyries vs Liberty latest injuries
Valkyries: No key injuries to report. Liberty: Satou Sabally (Out). Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
On Wednesday, Jeanie Buss, through her attorney Adam Streisand, filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court asking the judge to block a vote by Jeanie's five siblings to sell the family's remaining shares of the Lakers, something detailed in multiple reports. The petition challenges the vote's legality, calls her siblings "devious," and says they have been plotting to remove Jeanie as the team governor.
The Buss family still owns 17.8% of the Lakers through a trust involving all six siblings: Johnny, Jim, Janie, Joey, Jesse and Jeanie. Among that group, Joey, Janie and Jeanie are the three co-trustees. Every one of the children of Jerry Buss had a role with the franchise, but that changed over the years and especially after the sale to Mark Walter, with Jeanie locked in as team governor as part of the sale contract but the other siblings ultimately being pushed out of an active role. For example,
The five other siblings voted to exercise a tag-along clause and join Walter's sale of the iconic basketball franchise to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, a deal made at a $12.5 billion valuation. That would have the Buss family stake worth $2.2 billion, or a little more than $370 million each.
The five siblings believe all they need to force the sale is four total votes and two-thirds of the co-trustees, which they have.
Buss' petition challenges that through five causes of action. Those include referencing a 2017 court order, when Jeanie was in a power struggle with Jim (who had been the GM of the team but Jeanie fired, to the cheers of Lakers fans) and Johnnie, an order that "requires the trustees to take all actions reasonably available to ensure Jeanie's appointment as Controlling Owner." She also says the trust requires her to keep control of the team as governor, and to fill that role NBA bylaws require at least a 15% ownership stake (and Jeanie represents the Buss trust in that sense).
This all feels like an episode of "Succession." Over the years, Jeanie has overseen, or at least kept her position, while every other family member has been forced out, at times directly by her hand. Jeanie enjoys her position as team governor and, in many ways, is still the face of the franchise her father built into one of the largest global sports brands — she doesn't want to give it up. Would the other siblings like to force her out for personal reasons? Maybe that's part of the motivation, but also $370 million is a lot of money.
This drama is not expected to impact the sale of the Lakers from Walker to Kushner and Isner. The likely biggest winners in all this drama will be the lawyers.
Even after a 53-win season and a first-round victory without Luka Dončić, the Lakers braintrust determined it was time to scrap the roster and start over.
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka’s highly anticipated 2026 summer with space and flexibility arrived. Players with massive roles last season left unceremoniously in free agency, leaving behind vital positions to be filled, and hopefully upgraded.
The roster now completely orbits around the planets of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Two on-ball offensive dynamos who are league-wide leaders in shot creation volume, finishing first in total points scored per game as a duo.
One of the key starting shoes left to fill around them is for a two-way scorer and connective piece. LA identified that guy this summer as Quentin Grimes.
Listed at 6’5 and 207 pounds, Grimes will oscillate between positions one through three. LA inked him to a four-year, $60 million contract with a player option, making him the fourth highest-paid player on the team behind Luka, Reaves, and big man addition Walker Kessler. The deal would indicate he’s locked in as the fourth starter.
All the numbers and evidence point to Grimes flourishing next to LA’s backcourt. An elite and fearless spot-up shooter with a quick release, he’s a hand-in-glove fit next to high-level shot creators by popping to open space with tangible force and isn’t bashful with his attempts.
In the clip below, the Sixers run their stack action, a staple of the Lakers offense under head coach JJ Redick. It involves two screeners in a vertical alignment coming up for the ball handler. Grimes operates as the second screener, setting the back pick and pops out for the quick three.
Philly would run Grimes off numerous actions as the catalyst for their half-court offense. He shot 38.3% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season and the 1.13 points per possession on spot-ups put him in the 71st percentile. That percentage jumped to 45.8% in the playoffs in 11 games, leading the Sixers.
The shooting gravity lets Grimes do what he does best: turn into a rim seeker. He uses power dribbles and physicality to force his way against closeouts and aggressive defense.
In the clip below, he collects a dribble handoff. His defender is up pressuring the ball, leading to Grimes powering past him and finishing through contact.
Grimes averaged 6.6 drives per game, finishing at 53.6%. It’s a welcome number for the Lakers, who, with LeBron James exiting, have a pressing need for downhill attackers.
He excels as a cutter, using athleticism to fly in for lobs or creative layup finishes. He has good court awareness, often getting sharp cuts when defenders are ball-watching, like the one below.
With 3.3 assists per game, he’s shown to be a willing passer and has a good feel for hitting weakside shooters or teammates at the rim. Grimes is at his best playing off of stars while taking advantage of compromised defenses. Where he gets in trouble is his propensity to over-dribble. While the catch-and-shoot numbers are elite, his pull-up shooting is quite the opposite.
He shot just 24% on his off-the-dribble 3-pointers last year and the shot selection can leave much to be desired. Still, he’s shown he can shoulder the volume if it’s there and produce, even if it’s not hyper efficient.
He put up 21.9 points per game in 28 games for an injury-riddled Sixer team to close out the 2024-2025 season. He has a mid-range fadeaway he relies on and can get a shot up consistently with a high release point.
Where Grimes will carry heavy responsibility is on the defensive end. The starters, and the roster as a whole with the Kuminga situation now finalized, don’t have a bevy of point-of-attack defenders. Grimes’s offensive strengths translate well to the defensive end.
His physicality and athletic frame allow him to guard up or down. He’s a ball hawk when locked in and has quick hands for unsuspecting ball handlers while being a solid screen navigator who doesn’t get shoved off easily.
In their seven-game series win over the Boston Celtics, Grimes matched up with Jaylen Brown. Watch below as he stays attached on the initial down screen. He gets a deflection, picks up the star full court and forces a difficult shot at the end of the clock.
The defensive numbers point to an impact player on that end. Grimes gave up just 0.81 points per possession in isolation defense, placing him in the 75th percentile. He surrendered just 0.85 points per possession as the guard defender in ball screens.
He can get overmatched at times against the bigger predator wings around the league with this size and likely not who you want to be your main on-ball defender against the likes of the best superstars in the league. That being said, he’s a solid option whose aggressive style should pair well next to the erasing rim protection nature of Kessler
A bonus is the previous connection and familiarity with Luka. The two played together for 228 minutes in 21 games in Dallas, posting a +11.1 net rating.
While not the exact two-way wing front offices and fans dream about, Grimes brings a high floor, much-needed athletic play and should fit seamlessly into LA’s rotation next season as a vital starting piece in their hopeful playoff run.
In the fairly low global stakes fantasy world of sports the 2026-27 NBA season is a high stakes one for the Houston Rockets. We’ve reached a point where all three facets of the team: management, coaching, players, all need to deliver. Or we can go to that old “three legged stool” analogy for the team.
What exactly do they need to deliver? At the very least the Rockets need to win a playoff series. If they don’t, barring some roster catastrophe, it’s difficult to see ownership not making significant changes. The Rockets are now past the “scrappy up and coming team” point. After making the playoff two seasons in a row, and then promptly exiting in painful fashion both times, once to a vastly depleted Lakers team, it’s time to show something more. Can they? I think so. Will they? I’m not so sure.
Right now we have a management and coaching team that overall has proven better at making excuses than winning playoff series. Against the Warriors Jalen Green somehow got all the blame, despite a coaching performance that showed, generously, a limited ability to adjust to the opponent. Against a Lakers team featuring a 41 year old LeBron James, and no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, the management whinge was no Fred VanVleet and no Steven Adams, and Kevin Durant shocking no one with an injury, and essentially missing the series. We’ll get to coaching, and players, in parts 2 and 3.
So, the Rockets had essentially no effective point guard play in their series versus Los Angeles. Neither second year player Reed Sheppard, nor Amen Thompson were up to the task. Kevin Durant wasn’t either, and never was going to be, despite coaching insistence on initiating the offense through a veteran, and HoF, scorer and finisher, rather than initiator, all season.
Well, no Fred VanVleet was a surprise, right? Sure, if you’re still surprised in mid April over an injury that occurred in September of the previous year. Several competent, possibly equal or better (given FVV’s largely dismal 24-25 season), point guards were traded in season for less than the Rockets paid to get off Dorian Finney-Smith’s contract in the off season. Not one of those guards, of course, went to the Rockets. Losing Fred VanVleet isn’t like OKC losing SGA for the entire season, or the same with the Spurs and Wemby. That’s a real excuse, a real season destroyer. In the Rockets case they basically had the same season they had the year before (except for slowing their pace even more, somehow, to 29th in the NBA on offense) without VanVleet.
I believe it’s perfectly fair to blame management for having neither a coherent contingency plan nor a response for the loss of VanVleet.
Oh, and then the Rockets lost key man Steven Adams. This was shocking? How? Steven Adams, over the past four season has averaged playing in 33 of 82 potential regular season games, to be a bit kinder, and going to five years it’s 41. What this indicates, clearly, is a player you cannot expect to be available when you need him. I think Adams is a unique player, and fun to watch, but if your cunning plan is relying on Steven Adams playing in the post-season, it’s not a great plan.
The last season showed us a GM who simply couldn’t, or wouldn’t, react on to injuries he knew about in the preseason, or early in the season, to attempt to salvage that season. Why would you attempt to salvage that season? One, life is finite. Two, Kevin Durant is even more finite, at 37. How many years does Durant have left at his current level? Whatever the answer, it can’t be many.
Rafael Stone has shown himself to be one of the best contract negotiators, and salary cap managers in the NBA. In terms of drafting, development, roster construction, coach selection, and active roster management, Stone has shown himself to be, at best, middling. In some of those areas, coach selection, player development, roster management, I’d suggest he’s actually a negative, or detriment, to team success. Right now Stone doesn’t profile as a top NBA General Manager. He currently has the profile of the top assistant to a top General Manager.
Compare Stone to say, Sam Presti or the Rose team in New York, and you’ll see what I mean. The Knicks constructed a championship roster with literally one player drafted by the team playing real playoff minutes. I want to like Stone, I want him to do well, but stalled development of top 5 picks across the board, no reaction to a serious injury, and his growing propensity to offer excuses, rather than solutions, has me worried.
I will say that signing the consensus best shooting coach in the NBA was a good move, and long overdue. It’s difficult to see it doing anything but improving the team. Stone’s other off season moves were…fine. Adequate. But being Mr. Adequate in everything but contract negotiation might not be good enough for much longer.
In any case, I think Stone had better hope the Rockets at least win a playoff series this year. This team is entirely of his making, or at least has his signature on it all. I can’t imagine he has much runway left, barring greater team success. We will see what next season brings.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Bob Myers looks on during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier this offseason, Bob Myers went on the Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul and pitched LeBron James coming to Philadelphia. I don’t know how much of a direct impact that had on King James selecting the Sixers in his free agent search, but consider me officially on board with any future podcast appearances Myers would like to make.
This week, Myers appeared on the Cousins podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. While it won’t have the league-altering ripple effect of LeBron choosing the City of Brotherly Love, we did receive a couple interesting nuggets centered around Jaylen Brown.
Here’s Myers on the early parts of the negotiations with Boston.
“You start hearing there was a possibility, and the job then became is this a real thing with Jaylen Brown? Is it a real thing? I think Brad Stevens is one of the most straight shooters in the league. So when you, when you work in the NBA as an executive, you usually have at least one or two, I don’t want to say transactions with every other GM. So you know, if I call Tracy, I go, hey, you want to make a deal? He might be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, and then he does, I mean, that’s like, I know not you’re not this way. But I, you have to understand like he’s honest, or he, he might tell me what I want to hear, or he might lie to me. This dude just might just lie. He lied to me two years ago, he’s going to lie to me again. That’s not Brad Stevens. So when Brad Stevens, um, responded with, what are you offering? Then you knew that there was a shot. Yeah. And so then it becomes 50 conversations, um, towards one, both organizations did a great job not leaking that, which is impossible. That’s literally impossible.”
The first job of an executive is to make the calls, but the harder job is to be able to sniff out during a conversation when there’s a real opportunity, which Myers describes here. It was one thing to trade for Brown, but the Sixers getting him for the eventual package they used has to be seen as a huge coup. That’s all on Mike Gansey, Myers, and whoever else was a part of the discussion from the Sixers’ side recognizing how highly motivated Boston actually was to move on from Brown. Also, the trade announcement did come completely out of left field, so Myers makes a good point that both sides kept an airtight lid on all those conversations.
Myers also described his first interaction with Brown following the trade:
“We needed an edge, and I think Jaylen Brown sets an edge. To win a championship, you need guys that are of that ilk, that are comfortable being uncomfortable… I talked to him the day after [the trade] and said ‘don’t ever underestimate that you are a champion. And that there is power in that, so use that with this team.’ And I said, we need you to lead, so I’m going to ask you to lead.”
I don’t think we can talk speak highly enough about the benefits in bringing in two guys with the “been there, done that” pedigree of Brown and James. That’s two guys with multiple NBA Finals appearances each who are among a group of only 37 individuals to ever win a Finals MVP award. There’s basically no situation the Sixers can go through that they haven’t already seen and overcome. For a Sixers core group that has been repeatedly stymied by the second round of the playoffs, that’s a huge boon.
Be sure to check out the whole interview on Cousins. I, for one, am happy to soak up any content related to this Sixers’ dream offseason.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (l.) with his son Stephen (r.) in the team's war room during the 2025 NFL Draft.
The older Jerry Jones gets, the more eyes turn to his son Stephen, Jerry’s right-hand man.
And while Stephen is expected to take control of the franchise at some point, Jerry sounds like he wants to keep going until his body gives out.
“I don’t have a succession plan, I don’t,” Jerry, 83, told The Athletic. “One day I just won’t be here to toss my two cents in.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (l.) with his son Stephen (r.) in the team’s war room during the 2025 NFL Draft. Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag
The Jones patriarch bought the Cowboys 37 years ago for $140 million and within a few years restored the franchise to glory, winning three Super Bowls across four seasons.
The Cowboys are now worth an estimated $15.5 billion, according to Sportico, but their championship drought has reached 30 years — they haven’t even made a conference championship game since their last Super Bowl victory in 1995.
Jones has perhaps made more headlines than he has victories during that time, with some fans worried he’s more concerned about being the center of attention than winning.
That’s not how things will look if and when the 62-year-old Stephen grabs the reins.
“I’m not pushing Jerry out by any means, but when that day comes, it’s gonna feel a lot different,” Troy Aikman, the legendary quarterback of those three ’90s Super Bowl teams, told The Athletic.
Aikman’s teammate, Darren Woodson, told the outlet that Stephen has “a little bit more motherf–ker in him.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (r.) and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (l.) at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Friday, August 7, 2026, in Canton, Ohio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Woodson has taken issue with the Cowboys making “emotional decisions” under Jones, whom Woodson says keeps guys because of personal feelings.
“I don’t think that leash will be as long with Stephen,” Woodson said.
Stephen doesn’t have as big of an ego as his father, according to Aikman, something the Hall of Famer believes will “serve (Stephen) well.”
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones (left) and owner Jerry Jones attend a training camp opening press conference at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Stephen himself outlined how he and his father differ in contract negotiations.
“With agents these days, you give them an inch and they’ll take a mile,” he told The Athletic. “He doesn’t like giving an inch, never has. “If a deal’s within striking distance, Jerry will lose this point and this point and this point and if it gets done, he’ll live with it. It’ll eat at me a little more.”
Jerry admitted that his son has helped keep him in check over the years.
“He’s about as good as anybody I’ve ever been around in giving deference when he should. Now, don’t confuse that with lack of intensity,” he said. “He’ll bite back real hard when he has to. Real hard. He just does it with more grace than I do.”
One thing father and son seem to agree on is they want to keep the team in the family and avoid the temptation to cash out.
“We certainly don’t wanna think about that,” Stephen said of the Joneses not owning the Cowboys. “We don’t want it to be that way.”
It's the most fitting possible date. Toronto had to retire the number of its greatest player when it faced the team from the city where he was born and raised, and where he's also adored.
The Raptors announced that Lowry's No. 7 will be retired on Jan. 10 against the Philadelphia 76ers, coached by Nick Nurse, who led Toronto to its 2019 title. That will come after a series of events in September honoring the player they are calling the GROAT (Greatest Raptor of All Time).
"I've been looking forward to this moment for years. I always said that Toronto is home, and that I'd retire a Raptor, and to see my No. 7 go up in that building is going to mean everything to me," Lowry said in a release announcing the news. "We built something special here — my teammates, the organization, the city and the fans, and all of Canada. We became champions together, and to be able to share this night with all of them, and with my family, is going to mean a lot to me."
Lowry was born in Philly and played high school ball in the city, then spent two seasons at Villanova in the years that helped establish the Wildcats as an NCAA powerhouse.
He was drafted No. 24 in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies and played two and a half seasons there before going on to Houston and spending another three.
Then he came to Toronto and changed that franchise.
In nine seasons in Toronto, he led them to the greatest stretch of Raptors basketball: Seven playoff appearances, five consecutive seasons of 50+ wins, two Eastern Conference Finals and the franchise's lone championship in 2019. With Toronto, Lowry was a six-time All-Star who averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game while hitting 37.7% of his shots from 3-point range. Lowry remains the Raptors' all-time leader in assists, steals, and 3-point field goals.
Lowry will join Vince Carter as the only other player with his number retired by the Raptors.
Red Bull New York locked up its biggest star to a new contract.
Julian Hall, the extraordinary 18-year-old striker who has become a household name for soccer fans this season, signed a four-year MLS contract through the 2029-30 season, occupying a U-22 initiative spot on the Red Bulls’ roster. Hall is now the youngest player in MLS history to sign a U-22 initiative deal at 18 years, 156 days old.
The Manhattan native’s deal with the Red Bulls had been set to expire next winter, The Athletic reported, and the new one puts in place a mechanism for the MLS club to be in a good position when the highly touted player eventually moves on to the next stage of his career.
Red Bull New York forward Julian Hall (16) kicks the ball against Orlando City SC during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Harrison, New Jersey. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
“This club has been a huge part of my development, and I’m grateful for everyone who has believed in me and helped me get to this point,” Hall said in a statement released through the Red Bulls. “I feel like I’m continuing to grow as a player, and I’m excited to keep working, keep improving and help this team achieve our goals.”
Hall has been nothing short of impressive this season, recording 12 goals and five assists across all competitions and becoming the youngest player to record a hat trick in MLS history when he did so in a May 13 win over the Crew.
The impressive campaign has drawn the attention of a number of European clubs that are showing interest in bringing the teen overseas.
Marseille of France’s Ligue 1, Newcastle United of England’s Premier League, Atletico Madrid of Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Red Bull Leipzig — owned by Red Bull New York’s parent company Red Bull GmbH — and Premier League side Hull City are all said to be interested in Hall, amNewYork reported.
The new deal with the Red Bulls will keep Hall from leaving the club for free as he would have if he departed after his current contract expired.
In an interview with ESPN, Hall said that “as a kid it’s always been a dream to go to Europe,” but his focus right now is to “help the team and progress forward.”
Julian Hall has signed a four-year contract extension with the Red Bulls. ISI Photos via Getty Images
Hall’s international services are still up in the air, with Poland having attempted to recruit him to play for its national team, which he is eligible to play for through his heritage. Hall came up through the U.S. youth national team program.
In a conversation with The Post earlier this month, head of Sport Julian de Guzman said that he “would not be surprised if Julian gets called up to a senior men’s national team before the end of this year.”
COVERS INTEL: New York’s defense comes alive at home, as the team sports the 
