Category: NBA

Former Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who led the Cavaliers to the 2019 national title, has been hired by the Lakers as an NBA draft advisor to Rob Pelinka, the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager. Bennett’s record was 364-136 from 2009-24.

“As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource," Pelinka said in a statement. "Tony’s track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole. We are truly excited."

Virginia honored Bennett in a ceremony before Saturday's 86-83 win over Miami, naming the court at John Paul Jones Arena after him.

Bennett was the AP national coach of the year in 2007 and 2018. He led Virginia to six ACC regular-season championships. He previously coached at Washington State from 2006-09.

“When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization,” Bennett said in a statement. “The Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.”

Bennett played under his father, Dick Bennett, at Wisconsin-Green Bay before playing four years in the NBA, including three for Charlotte from 1992-95.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Each season, the NBA’s Most Improved Player award signals the arrival of a rising star – a player who has taken a meaningful leap forward from contributor to franchise cornerstone.

Recent winners such as Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant and Tyrese Maxey have combined for over 25 All-Star appearances. Antetokounmpo, of course, went on to win multiple MVP awards and lead the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA Championship – a reminder that this honor often precedes true superstardom.

This year’s race appears similarly compelling. The top three contenders all rank inside the league’s top 33 in Value Over Replacement Player, indicating that their improvement on the court has translated into tangible on-court value, not just inflated counting stats.

Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s break down this year’s NBA Most Improved Player candidates and determine whose leap has been the most impressive as the regular season enters its stretch run.

Defining the Award

According to NBA.com, the Most Improved Player award is intended to recognize an ascending player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons – often one whose growth has directly contributed to his team’s success.

Since the 2011-2012 lockout-shortened campaign, only one player has won the award while playing on a team that finished with fewer than 37 wins, reinforcing the importance of team context in the voting process.

Last year’s winner, Dyson Daniels, was a relative outlier. He joined Pascal Siakam as the only players in the past decade to capture the award while averaging fewer than 20 points per game. Daniels’ candidacy was bolstered by elite defensive production, highlighted by his 3.1 steals per game.

Overall, Daniels improved his per-game averages by 8.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals – a statistical jump that helped the Hawks improve their record by four wins from the year prior.

Using the above historical framework as context, we turn to NBA StatsHub to evaluate this season’s leading contenders.

Jalen Johnson (+110, DraftKings)

FGOE: +2.1%
PTOE: +0.7
Team Record: 29-31

Jalen Johnson has emerged as one of the league’s breakout stars this season, posting career-highs across the board with 23.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. He and Nikola Jokić are the only players averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists this season, putting Johnson in rare elite company.

The advanced metrics reinforce that production. Johnson owns a +2.1% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation, indicating that his scoring efficiency exceeds league-average expectations based on shot quality. He ranks eighth in the league in the NBA in Value Over Replacement Player, a strong signal of all-around impact. Among Hawks players with at least 600 minutes logged, only Dyson Daniels (+7.3) has a better Net Rating than Johnson (+4.3).

Johnson’s improvement isn’t confined to one area – he has scaled his role while maintaining efficiency, contributing as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator. Entering the stretch run, he has positioned himself as the clear frontrunner for this award.

Jalen Duren (+360, DraftKings)

FGOE: +4.6%
PTOE: +1.0
Team Record: 42-14

The primary case for Jalen Duren centers on his role as the No. 2 option on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. Team success has historically carried weight in Most Improved Player voting, and Duren’s scoring jump has coincided with Detroit’s rise to the top of the Eastern Conference.

However, players of Duren’s archetype have rarely captured this award. The last traditional center to win Most Improved Player was Jermaine O’Neal in 2002. Unlike perimeter creators, interior finishers are often more dependent on playmaking around them to generate efficient scoring opportunities. Cade Cunningham’s emergence as an elite facilitator has undoubtedly played a role in Duren’s scoring increase from 11.8 points per game last season to 18.0 this year.

It’s also worth noting that Duren averaged 11.6 rebounds during the 2023-2024 campaign, compared to 10.5 rebounds this season. While his efficiency metrics are strong – +4.6% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation – the overall statistical leap is less comprehensive than some of his peers. Based on historical precedent, he would be an outlier if he were to win this award in 2026.

Deni Avdija (+450, DraftKings)

FGOE: +0.1%
PTOE: 0.0
Team Record: 28-31

Like the other candidates in this year’s Most Improved Player race, Deni Avdija is enjoying a career-best campaign. He has increased his scoring by 7.5 points per game compared to last season while nearly doubling his previous career-high in assists.

However, much of that statistical growth appears to be volume-driven rather than efficiency-driven. Avdija ranks 151st out of 273 qualified players in Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and 147th in Points Over Expectation, indicating that his scoring has largely aligned with expectation rather than exceeding it.

Defensively, Avidja has struggled, too. Portland’s defensive rating is 7.2 points better with him off of the floor this season, and he is tied for the second-lowest defensive rating on the Trail Blazers in FTN’s Player Ratings.

Health is another complicating factor. Avidja has played meaningful minutes in only one game since the All-Star break and appears likely to miss additional time while managing a bothersome back injury, which could limit his ability to build momentum in the race.

The Takeaway

NBA StatsHub illustrates that Johnson has improved across the board while maintaining strong efficiency metrics as a scorer, rebounder and a facilitator.

Duren’s role on a top-seeded team strengthens his candidacy, but historically, voters have leaned towards players who create offense independently rather than those whose production is heavily tied to surrounding playmaking.

Avdija’s statistical jump is notable, yet his efficiency profile and recent back injury make his path to the award more complicated.

The NBA’s Most Improved Player award has historically rewarded meaningful, measurable leaps in production – not merely expanded opportunity. When evaluating this year’s top contenders using recent precedent, Jalen Johnson is a clear standout among his peers.

When Lon Rosen was in his role as executive president and chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he "only dreamed" of having the reach that the Los Angeles Lakers have.

Fourteen years and three World Series championships later, Rosen is returning to the Lakers -- the same organization where he started his three-decade career as an intern -- as their new president of business operations. The first piece of new owner Mark Walter's front office overhaul is officially in place.

"Let's face it," he told reporters. "I'm very fortunate to be involved with two very iconic global brands."

Rosen spoke with a small handful of beat reporters on Tuesday night in a wide-ranging, 20-minute conversation. These are the biggest takeaways:

New Lakers exec: Lakers hiring Dodgers exec as new president of business operations

Rob Pelinka will remain in current role

At the forefront of that overhaul will be the president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, who has previously told reporters that he and Governor Jeanie Buss will lead the team's front office expansion this summer. Among those at his side will be Dodgers executives Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi in advisory roles.

“I just run the business side, Rob’s empowered to do what he does,” Rosen said. “He’s talked about it and I can talk about it. Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, they have involvement helping Rob a bit. It gives you a deeper bench, and I think Rob appreciates that. And it is unique. But they have a skill set that they can transfer some of it here. And that’s really how we look at it.

"Look, I have a really good relationship with Rob. I’ve known Rob Pelinka from when he was representing Kobe (Bryant). I met him many, many years ago.”

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday morning that the Lakers are hiring former Virginia head coach Tony Bennett as an NBA draft advisor under Pelinka.

Magic Johnson's involvement

Aside from Rosen's ties to Walter, he's also a longtime business partner of Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson. When Rosen left the Lakers in 1987 to start his sports marketing company, Johnson was his first client. Before Rosen joined the Dodgers front office after Guggenheim Baseball Management -- led by Walter and with Johnson as a minority partner -- bought the team for $2.15 billion in 2012, Rosen worked for Magic Johnson Enterprises.

Johnson was the Lakers' president of basketball operations from 2017-19. He was the emcee at Pat Riley's statue unveiling on Sunday, but he won't, however, be with the franchise in an official role.

"Earvin is one of the most unique individuals I've known in my life, and he's one of my closest friends," Rosen said. "Earvin’s involved with all types of things. He owns football teams, baseball teams, soccer teams, insurance companies, a lot of things. He’s always gonna have some type of involvement with all the teams, but he is not gonna have a day-to-day involvement. It’s gonna be no different since he left the Lakers.

"Obviously he’s a huge fan of the Lakers, but he’s not gonna be, ‘Hey Rob go sign this player. Do that.’ He’ll always be involved with all the teams that he’s involved in, but no, he’s not gonna have day-to-day involvement at all.”

Ticket prices increasing

One hot-button issue that has been at the forefront of Lakers fans' minds is the upcoming spike in ticket prices for next season. NBA Twitter personality Rob Perez posted last Friday that his season tickets were increasing by 14% in his section, not including a 3% admin fee for season ticket holders who don't pay in full upfront.

Just got my Lakers season ticket invoice. They are not only raising prices next season 14% (for my section), but are also adding a 3% "Admin Fee" if you don't pay in full.

5-month and 9-month payment plans were available for recent previous season, without a % penalty. pic.twitter.com/e9dlf0xPL7

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 21, 2026

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that one longtime Lakers season ticket holder's seats in the 300 level were spiking from $6,192 to $9,035, a 45% jump.

"Well, we hope they renew," Rosen told reporters. "And obviously it reflects on what the market is now and the demand for tickets. You can look at how tickets sell and what the prices are. You look at primary and secondary market and you can see where their demand is.”

The Lakers' future at Crypto.com Arena

Rosen was also asked about the state of Crypto.com Arena, now in its 27th year after first opening in 1999. There were previously rumors of the Lakers exploring the possibility of leaving the arena and returning to the Forum back in 2019, but that was before the Clippers built Intuit Dome across the street.

Rosen reaffirmed Tuesday that the Lakers aren't going anywhere.

"I think it's a great building," he said. "It's very functional. I guess the fans like it, because they come here and they sell it out, and they enjoy the environment, they eat the food, they park their cars. So, it's a very efficient building."

Expanding the Lakers' global brand

It's safe to say that the Dodgers reached Rosen's dream of having the global footprint of the Lakers during his run there. Now, he has a chance to take it even further in his return to the franchise that he started with as an intern.

It's something he told reporters the team will put "quite a bit of focus on."

"With the Dodgers, we signed Shohei Ohtani, and the world sort of flipped on itself on a business model," Rosen said. "I think there's a huge growth potential for the Lakers internationally, and it's something that they've started to do. ... Having Luka Doncic doesn't hurt at all. I mean, he's one of the most popular players in the world and we want to jump on his shoulders and see what we can reach out there."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers president Lon Rosen talks Rob Pelinka, ticket prices, arena

It’s been said that hindsight is 20/20.

Is it?

It likely depends on how far removed you are from what you’re trying to see. The past is a vacuous concept. Anything you do is in the past a milesecond later. Perhaps it’s most accurate to say that hindsight will eventually be 20/20.

Is it time to relitigate the Kevin Durant trade yet?

Probably not. We won’t have a comprehensive picture of the decision for another couple of years. That said, we’re over halfway through the first season of The Durant Experience. We can introduce the topic.

So, let’s.

Rockets didn’t spare much for Durant

It would not be fair to look at Jalen Green’s stats.

(Proceeds to take just a little peek at Jalen Green’s stats).

The former Rockets guard has played 11 games in the Valley. He’s averaging 24.8 points per 75 possessions, which is good, with a 46.1 True Shooting % (TS%), which is…

Unspeakably awful? Impervious to hyperbole?

Bad. It’s very bad.

Yet, it seems likely that injuries have hampered Green. He looks compromised. That’s unfortunate, but it’s only rational to observe that this looks like a wasted season for a 24-year-old with no time to waste.

Would he have gotten hurt in Houston? Now you’re invoking The Butterfly Effect. It’s too speculative, even if watching Green in Houston often felt like being in an episode of Punk’d.

(Ashton Kutcher).

Dillon Brooks is having a career year. He’s averaging 20.9 points per game. The Rockets miss Brooks. His point-of-attack defense would be useful this year. Put a pin in that.

Khaman Maluach is averaging 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. That said, there’s no reason to assume Houston would have drafted Maluach. They could have picked Cedric “I’m not a” Coward, who’s been sensational for the Grizzlies, and was selected one spot later.

Again, we’re getting too hypothetical. Other than Coward, there’s nobody left on the board you’d look at and even entertain over having Kevin Durant, besides Derek Queen, who distinctly could not play alongside Alperen Sengun. For argument’s sake, let’s say Houston gave up Green, Brooks, and the median player picked between 10th and, say, 20th in a wide-open 2025 NBA Draft for Kevin Durant.

Mistake?

Rockets’ Durant trade is aging…decently?

I’ll say this: I’d rather have Coward and Brooks than Durant right now.

Call it a hot take. Coward is young and very much a player the Rockets’ young core could conceptually use. The Rockets could gradually phase Green out as they phased Coward in. They’d have less intense expectations and a clearer future outlook.

Now, they’re downright confusing. Is this team operating on Durant’s time, or the young guns? We’ve been over this ad nauseam, but if Houston hadn’t made the Durant trade, we wouldn’t have to.

That said…

If we assume Houston doesn’t draft Coward, this was still (in my opinion) the right decision. A flailing Green, good veteran, and some kind of Noa Essengue or Joan Beringer (both intriguing young players, to be clear) remains an excellent price for Kevin Durant.

Some fans will evaluate strictly through the lens of result. It seems more reasonable to factor process into your analysis. The Rockets made this deal under the pretense that it gave them a fighting chance of winning an NBA title in 2025-26. Fred VanVleet’s injury dashed those dreams.

If you’re still a Green truther…I don’t know what to tell you. It would be generous to say that he’s on track to be Zach LaVine. If you’re unfamiliar with LaVine, he’s the guy who averages 20 points per game every year and, somehow, is untradeable at the deadline because of how little impact he has on his team’s success.

That’s not to say Green can’t succeed. Any number larger than zero is not zero. There’s a non-zero chance he wins an MVP award in his career, but it’s likely less than one percent. The more likely result is that the centerpiece of the Durant deal is a player the Rockets won’t miss.

They had lots of time to draw that conclusion.

The Golden State Warriors wrap up their brief road trip on Wednesday night with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. Tip-off is set for 4:30 PM PT in Memphis and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area.

Back-to-Back in Memphis

🏀 GSW at MEM
🕟 4:30pm PT
📺 @NBCSAuthentic
📻 @957thegame
📲 https://t.co/6BLvDT0oIP@Betway || #DubNationpic.twitter.com/lXt44ICUkJ

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 25, 2026

Previously with the Warriors:

Golden State had a chance to make it two wins in a row but ultimately came up short in their 113–109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Playing without Stephen Curry once again, the Warriors had to find ways to generate offense, and De’Anthony Melton answered the call with a team-high 28 points.

DE'ANTHONY MELTON SLAM pic.twitter.com/xtDwV1sjXE

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 25, 2026

However, in a tight game where every possession mattered, turnovers proved costly for Golden State. The Warriors committed 20 turnovers, which the Pelicans converted into 18 points. After the game, head coach Steve Kerr emphasized the importance of taking care of the ball as the team continues to navigate injuries and a shortened rotation.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr highlighted 21 turnovers and a lack of offensive execution against New Orleans.

“With the injuries we have, we have to play well to win. And I don’t think we played well tonight.”

More: pic.twitter.com/1J80XFe7uU

— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) February 25, 2026

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors will remain shorthanded for at least one more game, as Melton has been ruled out on the second night of a back-to-back. Al Horford, however, is expected to return after sitting out Tuesday’s game for load management.

De’Anthony Melton will sit tonight in Memphis on the second night of a back-to-back. Had 28 points last night. Draymond Green is questionable. Al Horford will return for the Warriors vs Grizzlies.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 25, 2026

Horford will look to build on his recent strong performance against the Denver Nuggets when he knocked down five threes and finished with 22 points. His floor spacing could be especially important against a Memphis team that is dealing with injuries to multiple frontcourt players, including starting center Zach Edey.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have lost six of their last seven games and are 0–2 against Golden State this season, giving the Warriors a solid opportunity to bounce back and close the trip on a positive note.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!! 

Projected Starters

Warriors: Pat Spencer, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Gui Santos, Draymond Green

Grizzlies: Ty Jerome, Cam Spencer, Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson, Kyle Anderson

How to watch Regular Season Game 59

Who: Golden State Warriors (30 – 28) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (21 – 35)

When: Wednesday, February 25th, at 4:30 p.m. PT

Where: FedExForum — Memphis, Tennessee

TV and Streaming: NBC Sports Bay Area (available on fuboTV)

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing some of their best basketball of the season, but could be hitting another bump in the road.

James Harden had his right thumb wrapped during postgame interviews after the team’s win over the New York Knicks. Now we know why.

The team announced on Wednesday afternoon that Harden injured his right thumb on Tuesday. X-rays revealed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx. Harden will undergo treatment and is questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

A non-displaced fracture is a broken bone, but that bone hasn’t shifted or moved. It’s still in place. And the break occurred at the tip of the thumb, which is preferable to having it break lower.

The severity of the break will determine how long it takes for a full recovery. It could heal completely in two weeks or could be closer to four.

Right now, it seems like Harden could be attempting to play through it given that he’s listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game, which is an option. He could do so with a brace on it.

It’s also worth pointing out that Harden is left-handed. The injury is on his non-dominant hand, which is obviously preferable.

The Cavs are still working through how to best play with Harden, and they don’t have much time to figure it all out with only 23 games left. Missing a few weeks with an injury would be costly for a team trying to put the pieces together.

At the same time, the Cavs need to be fully healthy heading into the playoffs. This team won’t likely reach its ultimate goal. There’s pros and cons to either approach.

Harden has played seven games with the Cavs. He’s averaging 18.9 points and 8 assists on .494/.488/.867 shooting splits.

When the Dallas Mavericks traded Anthony Davis, they were mocked for the sheer lack of assets they acquired. Most expected that the trade would only amount to salary cap relief, but the Mavericks may have found something extra.

That cherry on top, was Marvin Bagley.

In his 6 games with the Dallas Mavericks, Bagley has averaged an impressive 13.5 points, and 8.5 rebounds, all while only playing 23 minutes per game. This may have come as a shock to many Mavericks fans, as Bagley’s reputation is of a bust who was drafted before Luka Doncic. But this “breakout” isn’t that surpirising.

Bagley has slowly evolved as a player since he was drafted, having to completely change his role after being taken 2nd overall. Many hoped that Bagley could develop into the next dominant two-way superstar, believing that his offensive game would rapidly improve.

But it never did, leading to most labeling him as a bust within just a few years. It also didn’t help that he was drafted ahead of Luka Doncic and Trae Young, both players being passed over by Kings G.M. Vlade Divac.

So how did Bagley turn his career around?

By focusing on the things that top 3 picks do not often do.

Bagley has become everything you want in a backup big man, from incredibly high effort, to defensive switch-ability. His touch around the rim is also a breath of fresh air, as watching Daniel Gafford or Moussa Cisse attempt jump-hooks is maddening. Bagley’s rebounding, especially on the offensive end has been sorely lacking since Dereck Lively got hurt. His box score numbers don’t look all that impressive, but the advanced metrics tell a different story. Bagley grades very highly in most defensive playmaking metrics, and players shoot 8 percentage points worse when he is contesting a shot, according to Databallr.

So, it seems obvious that he should be resigned this offseason, but it may not be that easy. Since Bagley is on a minimum contract, the Mavericks only have his non Bird Rights, meaning they can only offer him 3.7 million next season, according to MavsCBA. This means the only way they can bring back is to pay him part of the Mid-Level Exception. This brings another set of problems, as it would be ideal for the Mavericks to find one high end role player with the MLE, rather than splitting it into two.

But there may be a solution.

This solution is to shuffle the deck of your existing role players. Instead of using the MLE to find a 3-and-D wing, use either Gafford, or P.J. Washington, allowing the Mavericks to use the MLE money on Bagley. While this may seem like a winding process to sign a backup big man, it’s something that should happen anyway, regardless of Bagley.

If they do manage to resign Bagley, a center duo of him and Dereck Lively becomes very interesting, if Lively can stay healthy. Rather than having two centers who do the exact same things, the Mavericks could have real versatility, with centers who have very different skillsets.

Either way, it has been fun to watch a player find his role in the NBA, and no matter what team he plays for next season, Marvin Bagley III has found a home in the league.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — James Harden is questionable for Cleveland's game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night because of a right thumb injury.

The Cavaliers guard was injured during Tuesday night's 109-94 win over the New York Knicks. Harden was examined by the Cavaliers medical staff after the game and X-rays on Wednesday showed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx.

Harden will undergo treatment and evaluation. The 17-year veteran was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to Cleveland on Feb. 4, and is averaging 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and eight assists in his seven games with the Cavaliers.

Cleveland (37-22) has won eight of its last nine games and is tied for third place in the Eastern Conference.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

After the firing of Joey and Jesse Buss, the Lakers found themselves with very few scouts left in their front office. They’ve begun to bolster that department by announcing on Wednesday that Tony Bennett would be joining the Lakers as an NBA Draft advisor.

Via the Lakers: Tony Bennett has been named as NBA Draft Advisor pic.twitter.com/ZO8sxSI77F

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) February 25, 2026

He’ll be working with the President of Basketball Operations, Rob Pelinka, as they continue to retool their scouting department.

Bennett has 18 years of collegiate coaching experience. He was the head coach at Virginia for 15 years, from 2009 to 2024, and the coach of Washington State for three years from 2006 to 2009. Bennett is a three-time recipient of the national coach of the year award, winning in 2007, 2015, and 2018. Virginia won the national championship in 2019 under Bennett’s leadership.

Given his decade-plus time as a college coach, he is precisely the kind of person a franchise would want discussing which players have what it takes to perform at the next level, working with Pelinka to help build the culture in Los Angeles.

In a press release, Pelinka expressed his enthusiasm about Bennett joining the Lakers organization.

“We’re thrilled and honored to welcome Tony as an advisor to the Lakers basketball operations department,” Pelinka said.  “As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource. Tony’s track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole. We are truly excited.”

Bennett also spoke about joining the Lakers in the press release.

“When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization,” Bennett said. “The Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.”

The Lakers have a 2026 first round draft pick, so Bennett’s first big task will be to find a quality player for the Lakers to select at that spot.

Now that Mark Walter is officially the majority owner, the Lakers have been making plenty of new hires.

Lon Rosen has been named the new President of Business Operations as the franchise moved on from Tim Harris, who is leaving after 35 years with the team.

The Lakers will undoubtedly add many more new faces as the franchise continues its transition into a new era.

For now, they’ve begun to address their need for improved scouting by adding Bennett to this position, and that’s a step in the right direction for the purple and gold.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes lost four strikes to challenges in his first spring training start.

Skenes struck out four and walked four over 2 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, who were 4 for 4 against the right-hander on challenges to get called strikes overturned to balls — one of them by the slimmest of margins.

The 53-pitch outing is expected to be the only one Skenes has for Pittsburgh before he joins the U.S. for the World Baseball Classic. He allowed one hit and one run while facing 12 batters. He is going into his third season with the Pirates.

“Winning gold is the biggest thing,” said Skenes, who was then asked if U.S. success in the just-completed Winter Olympics provides more motivation. “Yeah, men’s hockey, women’s hockey, all the other golds that we won in the Olympics. We’re America, we’ve got to assert our dominance over everybody else. That’s what we do. ... It's going to be fun.”

Skenes threw 27 pitches for strikes against the Braves, along with four other pitches initially called strikes by home plate umpire Chris Segal that Braves hitters challenged through the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.

“Today, that’s how it is. I’ve just got to adjust," Skenes said. “I think it will even out over the course of the season, but ask me in June.”

Three of those challenges came on consecutive batters in the first inning.

Matt Olson challenged an 82.3 mph curveball that was called a strike, and had a smile on his face as replay showed indeed that the 1-1 pitch was only about one-tenth of an inch off the plate. He went on to draw a walk.

“When the season gets rolling, that’s probably not the pitch that you’re going to be challenging, but you’ve got to feel it out a bit,” Olson said. “I figured, whatever. It was a backdoor sweeper that I felt kind of held up a little bit.”

Jurickson Profar then challenged a 98.3 mph fastball for a strike on the first pitch he faced, and it was overturned to a 1-0 count before he also walked. Austin Riley sought a replay when a 99 mph pitch on an 0-2 count was called a strike, but was above the zone, though on the next pitch he struck out swinging on a 98.5 mph fastball just below that.

In the Braves second, Ronald Acuña asked for a review and got a ball on a 97.6 mph fastball off the plate that had been called a strike.

While the overturned strike thrown to Riley was the fastest of the day by Skenes, his fastball was consistently in the upper-90s throughout his outing.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Virginia coach Tony Bennett, a two-time national coach of the year, joined the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday as NBA draft adviser to president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka.

Bennett was Virginia's coach from 2009-24 and guided the Cavaliers to the 2019 national championship. Bennett compiled a 364-136 record at Virginia.

“As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource," Pelinka said in a statement.

"Tony’s track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole. We are truly excited.”

Bennett is Virginia's career leader in wins.

Virginia honored Bennett in a ceremony before Saturday's 86-83 win over Miami, naming the court at John Paul Jones Arena after him. With a group of his former players by his side, Bennett watched as his signature was unveiled on the court.

Bennett was the AP national coach of the year in 2007 and 2018. He led Virginia to six ACC regular-season championships. He coached at Washington State from 2006-09.

“When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization,” Bennett said in a statement. “The Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.”

Bennett played under his father, Dick Bennett, at Wisconsin-Green Bay before playing four years in the NBA, including three for Charlotte, from 1992-95.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

As expected, the Golden State Warriors will be without De’Anthony Melton in Wednesday night’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. While Melton will be sitting out the second half of the Dubs back-to-back, Al Horford (who missed Tuesday’s game) will be returning to the rotation. Draymond Green is questionable. Obviously the Warriors are already missing Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and Seth Curry as well.

The Dubs will face a Grizzlies team that is among many NBA squads engaged in an embarrassing tanking operation. Despite trading core pieces like Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the last year, Memphis is still holding out Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Santi Aldama, Cedric Coward, Brandon Clarke, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will all be out (some with legitimate injuries to be fair). Former Warriors forward Kyle Anderson is also listed as questionable.

The Warriors hopes of escaping the Play-In Tournament have largely been dashed by Butler and Curry’s injuries, however, the collective tanking throughout the league has also lessened the pressure on Golden State from behind them in the standings. Nevertheless, the Dubs do have a fairly easy schedule over the final months of the season and could make a run at the 6th or 7th seed with a particularly strong stretch.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel called on the NFL to increase staffing at its replay command center to ensure reviews from all games are treated equally.

Vrabel spoke at the NFL scouting combine Wednesday and was asked about comments earlier this week by league executive Troy Vincent that there were a handful of mistakes made in replay last season in games played in the early Sunday afternoon window when as many as nine games were played at the same time.

“We need to make sure every game is treated the same — from the prime-time game on Sunday night to the prime-time game on Monday or Thursday or whether it’s one of those 1:00 games that is the lifeblood of our league,” said Vrabel, who is a member of the competition committee.

“So if it’s something we need to take care of in the offseason, staffing issues that need to be taken care of so that those things are looked at, we need to be really good at replay because there’s going to be mistakes on the field. ... We have to get to a system in replay that’s as close to 100% accurate as possible.”

Vincent said there were 322 stoppages for replay reviews this past season, including 171 that were made from the replay center in New York. He said five of those plays were mishandled, with the majority coming in the 1 p.m. ET window when there are more games being played simultaneously.

“There were five after we kind of took a step back and breathed — four of them (were) in the 1:00 window,” Vincent said. "Just volume and you go, ‘Ah, if we had to do that one again, just looking at it.’”

At least one of those plays proved crucial in the playoff race. Vincent cited a replay review in a Week 14 game that overturned a ruling on the field of an interception thrown by Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers. The decision cost Baltimore 46 yards in field position, and the Ravens eventually lost the game 27-22 when a potential go-ahead TD pass from Lamar Jackson to Isaiah Likely was ruled incomplete by replay.

That call was not one of the five Vincent referenced, but he did say it warranted more discussion about what is or isn't a catch. A win in that game for Baltimore would have given the Ravens the AFC North title instead of the Steelers.

An increase in staffing at the replay command center during windows with more games would not solve all of the inequities in comparison to higher-profile games, which feature significantly more cameras used by the broadcasters.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, a former broadcaster and a new member of the competition committee, said that needs to be addressed as well.

“I do think that’s something we want to strive for as a league,” Lynch said. "I think there’s some uniformity you can get by requiring teams to have fixed cameras and things. I know all those things are being discussed, but that is a reality that the 1:00 games, there’s multiple games going on at the same time. So, the New York headquarters, they’re not going to have all their attention on that game. And then within that, the element that I talked about just not having the amount of cameras and angles. That’s a reality and something that we have to figure out because every game is important in our league, not just the prime-time games.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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A fourth-quarter comeback couldn’t save the Toronto Raptors from a sloppy start against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

And things won’t get easier. Scottie Barnes is dealing with a minor injury, and they welcome Victor Wembanyama and the red-hot San Antonio Spurs to town for the second half of a back-to-back. 

My Spurs vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks break down what projects to be a low-scoring matchup set to tip off at 7:30 pm ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, on Wednesday, February 25.

Spurs vs Raptors prediction

Spurs vs Raptors best bet: Under 229.5 (-110)

The San Antonio Spurs have won nine consecutive games, and Victor Wembanyama & Co. seem to be getting better with each passing game.

With Wemby anchoring the middle, the Spurs are an elite defensive team, ranking third in defensive rating. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors are also strong at that end of the floor, ranking sixth in defensive rating.

Additionally, Scottie Barnes is questionable after getting banged up in last night’s game against the Thunder. That all reads like a low-scoring game, and these teams have been two of the best Under bets in the NBA this season.

Spurs vs Raptors same-game parlay

Wemby is going to take advantage against a potentially fatigued Raptors team, so I’m taking the Over on his rebounds and his blocked shots.

"The Alien" is averaging 11.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game this season, but those numbers are up to 12.5 and 3.5 over his last 13 games.

Toronto ranks 18th in rebounding rate and 24th in opponent blocks per game.

Spurs vs Raptors SGP

• Under 229.5
• Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks

Our "from downtown" SGP: Block Party

Wemby isn't the only one who could rack up the blocks in this defense-first NBA matchup.

Spurs vs Raptors SGP

• Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
• Julian Champagnie Over 0.5 blocks
• Brandon Ingram Over 0.5 blocks
• Scottie Barnes Over 1.5 blocks

Spurs vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Spurs -7.5 | Raptors +7.5
• Moneyline: Spurs -305 | Raptors +245
• Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5

Spurs vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Raptors have hit the Game Total Under in 29 of their last 45 games for +11.40 Units and a 23% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Raptors.

How to watch Spurs vs Raptors

Spurs vs Raptors latest injuries

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