SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 29: Mo Bamba #11 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at Redman Studios on September 29, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania (through agents), the Utah Jazz have signed Mo Bamba to a 10-day contract.
7-footer Mo Bamba is signing a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports and Greer Love tell ESPN. Bamba spent time earlier this season with the Raptors and has averaged 17 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the Jazz’s NBA G League affiliate. pic.twitter.com/zjzVIstqaO
This likely comes because of the loss to Jusuf Nurkic, who is out for the season. Bamba was on the Jazz roster to start the season and now makes his return. We’ll see if this will turn into a larger contract, but we may be seeing multiple 10-day contracts as the season goes on.
Bamba has not been able to find a home in the NBA, and it’s unlikely this is a long-term thing. That said, Bamba is a true center, something the Jazz do not have on their roster. This allows the Jazz to use their young players with a true center in certain lineups. The closest thing they have to that right now is Kyle Filipowski, but he doesn’t look like a long-term fit at center for Utah. We may not see Bamba at all, but it is a nice option for Utah to get a lineup on the floor that vaguely resembles what we might see next season.
PHOENIX — In the hypothetical scenario presented to him, Dave Roberts wasn’t the manager of the Dodgers.
He was a reporter assigned to cover the team, and he had an itch to stir things up.
What would he write about?
“It’d be hard to stir things up in this camp,” Roberts said.
In the hypothetical scenario presented to him, Dave Roberts wasn’t the manager of the Dodgers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Didn’t Roberts want to inject some excitement into spring training by, say, suggesting that Roki Sasaki could be demoted to the minor leagues?
Roberts cracked up.
“That ain’t going to happen,” he said.
Welcome to the Most Boring Spring Training Camp in the major leagues.
There are no controversies, no serious concerns. The lineup is basically set. There is only one starting position up for grabs, and that’s to be the left-handed-hitting half of a platoon at second base until Tommy Edman recovers from ankle surgery.
Welcome to the Most Boring Spring Training Camp in the major leagues. Getty Images
The Dodgers are built to withstand the loss of any player in the regular season, which explains why Roberts is nonchalant when speaking about how Blake Snell is still just playing catch.
The team is slow-playing Snell this spring, knowing it has a rotation that also includes three other Cy Young-caliber starters: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. They have enough starting pitching depth in the likes of Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, Justin Wrobleski and River Ryan to reach the postseason. The real season starts in October, and all the Dodgers care about is that Snell is healthy by then.
Mookie Betts? He’s also being slow-played so that he can recover from a grueling World Series run. He won’t appear in his first Cactus League game until Sunday or perhaps early next week, but so what? The Dodgers have the luxury of playing the long game.
There are some questions about the degree to which Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez can fight off the effects of age. But any of them returning to peak form feels more like a luxury than a necessity in the wake of the addition of 29-year-old All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The other high-profile acquisition, closer Edwin Diaz, has introduced a feeling of stability to what was the team’s greatest weakness last year, the bullpen. The group looks as if it would be a strength, as Diaz’s presence in the ninth inning will allow Roberts to deploy the other relievers in favorable situations.
Speaking of Roberts, the once-polarizing manager is now a three-time World Series champion who is in the first season of a four-year extension he signed last year. Roberts is enjoying whatever the opposite of the hot seat is.
There are some questions about the degree to which Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez can fight off the effects of age. Getty Images
The Dodgers are stable, and they’re really good.
About the only developing story is about Sasaki, the second-year fireballer from Japan. Regardless of what he does, Sasaki won’t elevate or sink the Dodgers. His ongoing saga is fascinating because he’s a generational talent, not because of how he will affect the team in the short term.
The Dodgers have a $400 million payroll, and that has bought them enormous margins for error. Another way to look at their situation is that a lot has to go wrong for them to not win the National League West.
“I like it in the sense that it’s peaceful, but it’s very intentional,” Roberts said. “I think if you watch our guys work through the day, it’s very thoughtful and intense and yet very fun. I think that’s sustainable.”
The Dodgers have a $400 million payroll, and that has bought them enormous margins for error. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers had to move up and shorten spring training in each of the last two years because of season-opening trips to Japan and South Korea. Yamamoto, Diaz, Will Smith and Hyeseong Kim will depart soon to join their respective national teams for the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani has already left.
Ohtani’s exit dramatically reduced the number of reporters in camp, as many of the Japanese journalists who were here followed the two-way player to Japan. Then again, it’s not as if any players are looking for extra space to horse around.
“Guys are focused on getting ready,” Roberts said. “Guys are smart. They don’t want distractions. We don’t need them.”
As for stirring anything up, Roberts said, “Good luck with that.”
AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 22: Pitcher Dylan Volantis #99 of the Texas Longhorns screams and pumps his fist after a strike out to end the inning during the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Michigan State Spartans on February 22, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The No. 3 Texas Longhorns are set up how head coach Jim Schlossnagle prefers — tuned up after an eight-game homestand at UFCU Disch-Falk Field to open the 2026 season before heading to Houston for the BRUCE BOLT College Classic at Daikin Park for three games starting on Friday.
Still undefeated, Schlossnagle expects the Longhorns to face some adversity this weekend, even more so than the self-imposed adversity of playing from behind in several games to start the season.
“Everybody has a plan until you get punched. So I’m sure we’ll take some punches this weekend, and I’m looking forward to seeing how guys handle the different environment,” Schlossnagle said on Thursday.
Last year, when the Longhorns traveled to Globe Life Field to open the season Shiners Children’s College Showdown, Texas bounced back from an extra-inning loss to Louisville on Friday with wins over Ole Miss and No. 17 Oklahoma State.
“You have the season opening, you have the new coach thing going, and then you’re in a big league stadium against great teams, so there were a lot of sped up heart rates last year. Two things you’re always dealing with in competitive sports are adrenaline and adversity,” Schlossnagle said.
Now the coaching staff has a greater level of familiarity with each other, there’s more talent on the team thanks to highly-ranked high school signees and talented NCAA transfer portal additions, and the Horns have built a sustainable culture within the program. They’ve also played those eight games to start the season instead of opening in a classic.
“It is nice, certainly, to have games under your belt any time because experience matters,” Schlossnagle said.
So while the Texas head coach has some concerns about his team playing on grass for the first time this season, which he expects will cause an adjustment period early in the weekend, something he’s used to seeing from the Longhorns when he coached at other programs.
“That’s going to be something that will be interesting to see how it plays out,” Schlossnagle said.
To help prepare his infielders, Schlossnagle took them up to Dell Diamond on Wednesday to work on their fielding on a natural surface.
When Texas opens the classic against No. 9 Coastal Carolina on Friday, the Horns won’t have to face ace Cameron Flukey, who is projected as a top-10 prospect in this year’s MLB Draft, has a stress fracture in his ribs that is expected to keep him out for two months. Also out is left-hander Hayden Johnson, a key bullpen piece for the Chanticleers last season who earned preseason All-Sun Belt recognition. Another preseason All-Sun Belt pitcher, right-hander Ryan Lynch, is yet to make his first appearance for Coastal this season due to injury.
Expected to start in Flukey’s place is sophomore right-hander Luke Jones (0-0, 2.35 ERA), who allowed two runs on five hits in 3.1 innings last Friday in a win over VCU.
“We’re preparing for the guy that we’re going to face right now and he’s got outstanding stuff as well. I don’t think there’s another pitcher in the country similar to Flukey. So it’s definitely going to be different, but we’re still facing a great team, and still have to go play the game,” Schlossnagle said.
Coastal Carolina is coming off an appearance in the national title series last year in Kevin Schnall’s first season after taking over for Hall of Famer Gary Gilmore, under whom Schnall served as associate head coach for nine seasons and as an assistant for two seasons prior to three years as an assistant at UCF.
Pitcher Jacob Morrison and catcher Caden Bodine, stars on the 2025 team, were both selected early in last year’s MLB Draft, but in the outfield, Dean Mihos is back for his senior season and is batting a team-leading .424, and newcomer Rex Watson, a San Diego transfer, is hitting .381. Both have on-base percentages of .500. Designated hitter Trace Mazon is the only other hitter for Coastal batting over .300 at .371.
As a team, the Chanticleers haven’t hit particularly well so far with a .260 batting average, seven home runs, and a .402 slugging percentage through eight games. On the mound, Coastal Carolina has been much better with a 3.80 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 71 innings while holding opponents to a .216 batting average.
Picked to finish 11th in the 14-team Big 12, Baylor enters the weekend 5-3 on the season with five home wins, including a midweek 14-4 win over Texas State. In the Round Rock Classic at Dell Diamond last weekend, however, fourth-year head coach Mitch Thompson’s team lost to two ranked teams in Oregon and Southern Miss while also dropping the Saturday matchup against Purdue.
Preseason All-Big 12 selection Travis Sanders, the team’s shortstop, is leading the Bears with a .448 batting average and first baseman Tyce Armstrong is hitting .323 with four home runs, three of which were grand slams in the season opener against New Mexico State, only the second time in college baseball history a player has accomplished that feat in a single game.
The Baylor staff has been solid with a 4.02 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with opponents batting .274 against them.
In the weekend finale, the Horns face the Buckeyes and right-hander Pierce Herrenbruck (1-0, 2.70 ERA). After a weekend sweep of Saint Louis in Florida, Ohio State lost two games to Louisiana Tech in the Grind City Classic before winning two against host Memphis.
The Buckeyes are batting .242 as a team, led by center fielder Miles Vandenheuvel at .391 and designated hitter Mason Eckelman at .346. Outfielder Noah Furcht is hitting .364. Although Ohio State was not picked to finish in the top six of the Big Ten, the pitching staff has been a strength with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP with opponents batting .232.
First pitch for Texas is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central on Friday and Saturday, times that will likely be delayed, and at 2 p.m. Central on Sunday. All three games will stream on Astros.com and the Astros YouTube channel.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, California. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It looks like Adam Silver wants to have his cake and eat it, too. Yesterday, I wrote about Tony Jones reporting that the NBA was sending its own doctors to verify the injury to Lauri Markkanen.
Today, Tony Jones apologized for getting something wrong. Apparently, they are just going to verify the MRIs, which is apparently standard practice, but not sending their own medical personnel to Utah.
Lauri Markkanen is undergoing his MRI, I’m told, so the Jazz should have results coming. The NBA is evaluating the results, as standard practice. They did not send medical personnel to Utah. That part I got wrong. My apologies.
This is the second time the NBA has made a point of critiquing the reporting on what they are doing. If you don’t remember, they critiqued Rick Carlisle, saying they didn’t do what he said they did.
Reached out for comment on this:
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” a league spokesperson told @YahooSports. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ General… https://t.co/2TX97UsawR
Obviously, Tony Jones was contacted by someone, which led to his apology today. It’s not clear what to think at this point, but given how the NBA has been going about things, I have a hard time believing anything they say. Or finding any fault with Jones at all.
Putting the he-said he-said behind us, it’s an absolute scabby mess that the NBA keeps picking at. It’s a bad look for the league and for Silver’s leadership to continue creating a PR disaster like this, all for some momentary gains with threats to Utah and Indiana. For what? games with their best players on the floor to manufacture some bogus competitiveness? What if they focused on the upcoming playoff race instead of two small-market teams that they never push anyway? It’s not like Utah or Indiana had any notable number of national games.
The best thing for Adam Silver and the NBA to do right now is to stop. That’s literally all they have to do. Let the Utah Jazz do the things that so many other teams have done for so many years. Do your job and cover the competitive games going on as we speak, rather than trying to harm the future of teams doing what’s best for them.
The Mets second baseman, acquired from Texas in exchange for Brandon Nimmo this offseason, is looking not just to help solidify a revamped infield, but also get back to the type of hitter he was in 2023.
Since then, his struggles at the plate have been well-documented, and though the Mets don’t need Semien to get back to that All-Star level, a resurgence at the plate by a 35-year-old can’t exactly be counted upon.
But if he plays defense like he’s capable of, the Mets will take it.
Losing Francisco Lindor to hand surgery for a stress fracture in his left hamate bone slowed the duo’s learning curve in the middle of the diamond, but with Lindor set to begin fielding drills as soon as Friday, their work can begin in earnest.
“It sounds like his hand is feeling pretty good,” Semien said. “I’m looking forward to seeing it because he’s one of the best in the game. He’s a person I can learn from on the defensive side as well.”
Marcus Semien celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of the Mets’ 5-0 spring training win over the Astros on Feb. 26, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Though each of them has plenty of experience, they want to figure out the nuances of playing together before the regular season begins.
“It is [important],’’ Semien said of the duo building chemistry. “Both of us are veteran players. We’ve played a lot of baseball in our careers, but playing together and getting a feel for how it is to communicate. What balls can I get to and what balls he can get to and making sure we’re standing in the right places is something we should do as quickly as we possibly can.”
He has no doubt that with new infield instructor Kai Correa, as well as Tim Leiper, they’ll be able to get on the same page.
Marcus Semien hits a solo home run in the third inning of the Mets’ spring training win over the Astros. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“We’re gonna be a good combination,’’ Semien said.
At the plate could be a different story, but Semien’s homer in a 5-0 win over the Astros on Thursday at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches was a positive sign.
“When he’s healthy, we know there’s a lot of things he can do, not only defensively, but offensively,’’ Carlos Mendoza said.
The manager added there’s been an adjustment to Semien’s posture that should help his swing path, and Semien said he and the coaching staff are “looking at whenever I was at my best and, ‘How do we get back to that?’ They’re working relentlessly to do that.”
And he’s hoping being around offensive minds like Lindor, Juan Soto and fellow newcomer Bo Bichette will help.
“Those guys are great to get feedback from,’’ Semien said. “Those conversations are gonna happen all year. This is a good place to be as a hitter.”
Vibes were high at Hohokam Stadium today. After four straight losses and an off day, the A’s came out of the gate hot, scoring six of their seven runs in the just the first two innings!
On the pitching side, Jack Perkins was a standout. His two innings to start the game were perfect. No walks. No hits. A strike out for good measure as well as a fastball that sat around 96 mph. Pretty good! It was nice seeing him bounce back after a rough go around against the White Sox. I guess he was still flushing all that Mr. Pibb out of his system.
After a solid inning from Mark Leiter Jr. in the third, A’s pitching took a little bit of a dive. While Wei-En Lin isn’t guilty of surrendering any runs, his two free bases and low velo on the heater were far from encouraging. After his day was over, three straight innings, from the fifth to the seventh, saw the Rangers chip away at their deficit. The first came courtesy of a Tyler Wade home run. The former A took future former A Joel Kuhnel deep to right field, followed by two more runs in the sixth and seventh off of Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang. The righty had a rough day at the yard. Four hits were offered up including a Marco Torres dinger to center. Thankfully, things took a turn for the better after that. The last two frames saw Nick Hernandez and Brooks Kriske collectively hold the Rangers to no hits on three strikeouts.
Offensively, nine hits were racked up by the green and gold, with the bulk of that production coming from a couple of fan favorites. Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and Darrell Hernaiz each turned in 2 for 3 days at the plate. Rooker’s single to left put the A’s on the board early in the first. The newly acquired Jeff McNeil would then add to the total by knocking in Soderstrom with a nice little two-bagger to follow. Speaking of Soderstrom, in the last half of the second, the lefty picked up two RBIs off of a single to center. One batter later, B-Rook connected on a slider located on the outer half of the plate, which resulted in his first home run of the spring.
Eight of those nine hits by the green and gold were off of Rangers starter Cal Quantrill. After he was yanked in the third, A’s bats went a tad quiet. The last of bit of noise by the A’s took place in the fifth, thanks to a couple of Rangers’ errors and aggressive base running by Jeff McNeil, who went first to home with some pep.
It was a productive day at the ballpark indeed. Lots of positives. A few negatives. Overall, a good showing for the squad – – a departure from the four straight less than desirable performances we all had been subjected to. Tomorrow’s game against the Kansas City Royals will provide the A’s their first chance at back to back wins in the Cactus League this year. It’ll also be the first start for Jeffrey Springs in 2026! Let’s see if the A’s can keep things chugging!
NOTES:
Before today’s game, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the A’s have made an extension offer to Stickman Nick Kurtz. One would have to belief it’d be the largest contract in A’s history by far. What are your predictions for its total and do you realistically see the A’s locking up the first baseman this season?
Former A’s broadcaster Glen Kuiper will be filling-in on a handful of San Francisco Giants games this season. This would mark his first return to the booth since his firing back in 2023. Damn shame it’s with the Giants :/
A’s have circled March 8th as Jacob Lopez’s return to the hill. The lefty suffered a left elbow flexor strain at the end of the 2025 season. So far, his spring has mostly consisted of live BP’s and sides. If everything goes according to plan, his first outing will be against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 04: Derrick White #9 and Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics share a laugh against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on December 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DENVER — The Celtics finished their West Coast roadtrip with an impressive 3-1 record, tallying double-digit wins against the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns, before running out of steam in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Afterwards, Jaylen Brown noted that a 3-1 record on a four-game trip wasn’t “half-bad” while attributing most of the Celtics’ struggles in Denver to some uncharacteristic poor shooting (like Joe Mazzulla, I’ll give some credit to the Nuggets for playing a pretty superb game).
I’m on my flight home from Denver, and we have had lots of basketball coverage and reporting on the site throughout the trip, so I wanted to share a few more casual observations from my past week on the road!
Celtics fans are literally everywhere, in every city
Celtics fans made their presence known in all four cities of this West Coast trip — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Denver — which is pretty much par for the course.
I’ve been on the road for the past two seasons, and have been pretty underwhelmed with the home crowds at Chase Center (in SF) and Crypto.com Arena (in LA).
But, this trip, the road fans stood out to me more than ever before.
In LA, we saw Jaylen Brown egging on Celtics fans who were kicked out of the arena in the waning moments of the Celtics’ blowout.
Baylor Scheierman is from a small town in Nebraska!!!
Baylor Scheierman became the butt of a team-wide joke after candidly answering my question about what it was like to play against LeBron James and the Lakers. Scheierman reflected on the experience
“It was a dream come true,” he said. “Being from a small town in Nebraska, I had a lot of hometown friends & family that were taking pictures of the TV screen, sending it to me, ‘You’re on the court with LeBron James. LeBron James is guarding you.”
Asked Baylor Scheierman about going up against LeBron & the Lakers:
“It was a dream come true. Being from a small town in Nebraska, I had a lot of hometown friends & family that were taking pictures of the TV screen, sending it to me, ‘You’re on the court with Lebron James.’” pic.twitter.com/IpL1IyEghT
I posted the clip on Twitter/X, and Hugo Gonzalez (who Scheierman is extremely close with) replied to it, poking fun of how often Scheierman brings up the fact that he’s from small-time Nebraska: “Could we please stop spamming the “I’m from a small town in Nebraska”????“
@playforhim3 could we please stop spamming the “I’m from a small town in Nebraska”????
Scheierman, meanwhile, was quick-witted in his response, taking a shot at the fact that Gonzalez was long-destined to be a pro while Scheierman had a more unlikely journey: “Little brother, we weren’t supposed to all be here.”
Hermanito, no se suponía que todos estuviéramos aquí.
As I got the Twitter notifications, I laughed at the exchange because I thoroughly enjoy the friendships that emerge on sports teams. They were my favorite part of being on a sports team, and they’ve been my favorite part of covering them over the past three years. I’ve also written extensively about Baylor and Hugo’s very close relationship, and I have enjoyed being in the locker room this year and hearing their constant banter.
Later that night, the Celtics blew out the Phoenix Suns, 97-81, and vibes were extremely high (I wrote about the play of the season here).
Then, Sam Hauser, who tallied 16 points in the win, began his media availability by noting he was “from a small town in Wisconsin” with Scheierman within earshot. Derrick White later noted he was “from a small town in Colorado.”
I actually (jokingly) apologized to Scheierman for setting him up for the slander, because I do frequently ask players about the emotional / pinch me side of being in the NBA. Case in point: on Tuesday night, I also asked Neemias Queta about representing Portugal in the NBA, and what that experience has been like.
Asked Neemias Queta what it’s been like to represent Portugal this year:
“That's always something surreal for me to like, being from Portugal and living in the NBA world, and just being able to go out here and compete at the highest level every night.”
The Scheierman/small-town Nebraska stuff was all in good fun, and the ongoing bit highlighted to me the growing camaraderie on the team — so I thought I’d share it here!
Everyone is cheering on Ron Harper Jr.
Harper Jr. is on a two-way contract, but he’s not your average two-way. It’s obvious to anyone who steps foot in the Celtics locker room that he already gets along pretty well with many of the guys on the official roster, and that’s likely in part because he’s pretty deep-rooted with the Celtics.
He was on the 2024 Celtics Summer League team with Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Neemias Queta, and was at Celtics training camp in both 2024 and 2025.
Harper started in place of Jaylen Brown in Phoenix when Brown was sidelined with a right knee contusion. From the jump, I noticed that Brown was extremely animated whenever Harper did anything on the floor, and was coaching him up when he was on the bench.
I asked Jaylen about Ron on Wednesday night, and he shared his ongoing message to Ron: “Confidence — just let it fly.”
“At times, you can see he might be thinking about it a little bit,” Brown said. “Ron is one of the best shooters on our team, and teams are leaving him open. Tonight, they were choosing to leave him open, he just has to step in and knock it down, like he’s been doing his whole life.”
Asked Jaylen Brown what’s stood out about Ron Harper throughout this roadtrip:
“Ron’s one of the best shooters on our team.”
Said teams were leaving him open and that it’s all about instilling him with confidence pic.twitter.com/OFDNScJMLE
“He cares about the details,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Obviously, the offensive stuff — he can make shots, he can think, he can play. But defensively, just competing, understanding the details, executing the game plan, taking pride in defense… He just loves basketball.”
Those are just a few of my fun notes from this West Coast swing — I’ll try to do more of these journal entry-style posts when I’m on roadtrips moving forward!
Forward Taj Gibson, 40, has agreed to a deal to join the Memphis Grizzlies, his agent told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Feb. 26.
It will be the 17th season for the USC product. He's played with seven different NBA teams during his professional career, including last season with the Charlotte Hornets. He started 11 of the 37 games he played in.
He can play as a power forward and center.
Gibson adds a veteran voice to a Grizzlies’ roster that was among the youngest in the league to start the season.
The Grizzlies and forward Kyle Anderson also reached a buyout agreement, according to Charania.
How old is Taj Gibson?
Gibson is 40 years old and will turn 41 on June 24.
If he plays for Memphis, he will become the 35th player in the league’s history to play in an NBA game after turning 40.
Taj Gibson stats
Gibson has averaged 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in 1,002 games played.
DALLAS, TX - MAY 26: Kyle Anderson #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Slo-Mo is back!
On Thursday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Kyle Anderson has agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kyle Anderson has agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. Anderson spent two seasons with the Timberwolves (2022-24) and gets an opportunity to rejoin the West contender. pic.twitter.com/lzdq2lDayL
It is not the first time Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has signed the 12-year veteran as back in the summer of 2022, the Wolves signed Anderson to a two-year $18 million deal. Anderson fills the 15th and final roster spot for Minnesota and is eligible to be added to the playoff roster.
Slo-Mo had other potential opportunities to join a contending team, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, but decided to rejoin a Wolves organization that both believed in and treated him well in the past.
Anderson played a monumental role during the 2022-23 season in getting the Wolves to the playoffs in what ended up being a turbulent season following the trade for Rudy Gobert. Anderson that season averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while also providing leadership for a young Wolves roster both on the court and in the locker room.
Slo-Mo’s production dipped during the 2023-24 season, in which the Wolves made their first Western Conference Finals in 20 years. The most notable decline was his 3-point shot, which went from 41 percent the season prior to under 23 percent, a number that remains the outlier for his career.
The play that best represented what Slo-Mo brought to the Wolves during his two seasons in Minnesota came in Game 4 of the 2024 West Finals when Anderson called for Anthony Edwards to pass to an open Karl-Anthony Towns in the corner, simultaneously screening off the defender as the Wolves avoided a sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
Anderson will likely see a somewhat limited role the rest of the season in Minnesota, but can provide extra defensive depth at both the wing and the center position, a role he played a lot during his first stint with the Wolves. Slo-Mo will surely also provide added leadership both on and off the court as he reconnects with former teammates Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Mike Conley.
Slo-Mo could join the team as soon as Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, according to Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune. The Wolves’ next game at home takes place Tuesday against the Grizzlies, where Anderson is likely to see a sizeable ovation from the Target Center faithful.
Feb 26, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a RBI double in the second inning against the Florida Marlins during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Marlins 8 Blue Jays 7
When I had to leave the Blue Jays had this one well in hand, but they gave up 4 runs in the 8th and 2 more in the 9th and lost.
Pitchers:
Kevin Gausman: 1 inning, 1 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts. A nice start to his spring.
Tyler Rogers: 1 ining, clean, 2 strikeouts.
Yariel Rodriguez: 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 earned, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. I’ve seen him twice this spring and he hasn’t impressed. He’s going to have to be a lot better than this to get back on the 40-man roster.
Spencer Miles: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 earned, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. It wasn’t a good outing, but he got to 98 mph on the fastball. He’s making a case to be on the team.
Gage Stanifer: Got two outs, no hits, 3 earned, 2 walks 2 strikeouts, 1 hit batter.
Geison Urbaez: One out, 2hits, 1 earned,
Michael Plassmeyer: 1 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned, 1 k. Got the loss.
Hitters, Starters:
George Springer: 0 for 2, walk. His first game of the spring. No need to panic. He’s done this before, he knows he doesn’t need to play in every spring game to get ready:
Daulton Varsho: 2 for 2, walk, double. Hitting .625 this spring.
Vladimir Guerrero: 1 for 3, RBI. .286. And stole a base. I wish he wouldn’t try to steal, but stole it easy.
Addison Barger: 0 for 3, RBI, 2 strikeouts. .000.
Alejandro Kirk: 1 for 2, double, walk, strikeout. .222.
Kazuma Okamoto: 1 for 3, double, 2 RBI, strikeout. .333.
Ernie Clement: 0 for 3. .500.
Andrés Giménez: 2 for 3, home run, double. .222.
Myles Straw: 1 for 2, walk. .250.
Others:
Eloy Jiménez: 0 for 2, strikeout. .500.
Rafael Lantigua: 1 for 1. .500.
Je’Von Ward: 0 for 1, strikeout.
Riley Tirotta: 0 for 2, strikeout. .125.
RJ Schreck: 0 for 2, strikeout. .222.
Brandon Valenzuela: 0 for 2. .200. Looks good behind the plate. I”ll bet that we see him in Toronto at some point this season.
Charles McAdoo: 0 for 1. .333. He’s impressing me with his defense at third.
Cade Doughty: 0 for 1.
Josh Rivera: 0 for 2, strikeout.
Josh Kasevich: 1 for 1. .571.
Carlos Mendoza: 0 for 1.
The Jays are now 1 and 4 this spring. It doesn’t look like they going to win the Grapefruit League Crown again this year.
Tell us who has impressed you this spring, so far.
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 23: Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 23, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles, CA - November 03: Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Mark Walter during a celebration of the Los Angeles Dodgers back to back World Championship at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday, November 3, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Can the way a baseball team operates be successfully imitated in basketball? Lakers fans are about to find out.
Not only is their new majority owner Mark Walter in charge of the Dodgers, but he’s also bringing some of those talents to the Lakers. Lon Rosen is now the President of Business Operations for the Lakers after spending the last decade-plus with the Dodgers.
The plan, according to Pelinka and sources, is for the Lakers to expand its front office around the president of basketball operations by reforming its college scouting staff, building a modern pro scouting department and adding to its existing analytics department. The goal is to mirror the Los Angeles Dodgers’ successful front office, which has mastered player identification and development, in addition to working with a seemingly unlimited payroll.
While baseball fans complain about the Dodgers’ wealth, a lot of their success stems from their ability to identify and develop players. Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger won back-to-back National League Rookie of the Year Awards in 2016 and ‘17.
The Dodgers continue to develop young prospects like Josue De Paula, who will likely impact the team’s success in the future. This is why the Dodgers are considered by many baseball experts to be one of the best organizations at developing homegrown talent.
There are also players like Chris Taylor and Max Muncy, who were miscast or misused with other franchises but landed with the Dodgers and became key pieces to winning teams. In a sport with a salary cap like the NBA, being able to identify those types of players is even more valuable than in baseball.
The Lakers have found plenty of quality players in the draft before, from top picks like Lonzo Ball to undrafted players like Austin Reaves. Recently, though, they missed on their first round selections, such as Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Dalton Kencht is out of the rotation and viewed as a negative asset by NBA scouts.
Given that the Lakers let go of the Buss brothers, who were integral to the scouting department, bringing in new people is a top priority. Tony Bennett has recently been brought on as an NBA Draft advisor, the first publicly announced hire for the team’s scouting department.
The idea of copying the Dodgers’ dynasty and applying it to the Lakers is exciting, but basketball is an entirely different sport.
The Lakers can’t spend on players like the Dodgers under the NBA’s CBA. They can, however, spare no expense on all other hires. Being aggressive in providing the franchise with as many top resources as possible will give them the best chance of success.
Things might be changing all around the Lakers front office, but at the top, it will remain the same.
The Lakers will need people who understand NBA basketball and its politics at the highest level for this to work anywhere near as well as it has for the Walter’s baseball team. Perhaps that’s the role Pelinka can thrive in.
Hopefully, the number of new people like Bennett and the workers Walter trusts, like Rosen, can blend to make something special in downtown Los Angeles. And soon, the baby Lakers will be a sign that the front office is winning in the margins while its star players rack up victories on the floor.
MILWAUKEE — A substantial tumble since New Year’s Eve hasn’t diminished Mike Brown’s belief in a Knicks championship.
But the coach understands there are factors beyond talent that will help hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
“I truly believe it [that we are championship team],” Brown said Thursday. “Now, having said that, there are things that have to go right. You got to be playing your best basketball. You have to be connected. The things that I talk about. You got to sacrifice. If you got guys on your team that aren’t sacrificing, you could be in trouble. Because it’ll mess with your connectivity. Which is huge. You got to have a competitive spirit. You got to want to compete every night. And you got to believe. You got to keep believing. Even when things are going bad. Even when you go through stretches of 2-7 or 2-9. You got to believe not just in the process — because it is a process — but you got to believe in each other. And then at the end of the day, in anything you do, starting with me, everybody has to be held accountable.”
Mike Brown of the New York Knicks reacts one the baseline during the first half when the New York Knicks played the Houston Rockets Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Knicks (37-22) haven’t looked the part of a title contender over most of the past two months, amassing a pedestrian 14-13 record starting Dec. 31. Heading into Thursday, it was tied for the NBA’s 18th-best winning percentage during that stretch — and it included bouts of ugly defense, disjointed vibes and blowout defeats against the East’s top dogs. The No. 1 Pistons (48-13) have created space in the standings that feels insurmountable, while the Celtics (38-20) surpassed the Knicks for No. 2.
Lately, New York, just a half-game above Cleveland for No. 3 in the conference, has been more pretender than contender.
Before New Year’s Eve, though, the Knicks were 23-9 and NBA Cup champs. They carried the look of an NBA Finals team, after nearly reaching that point last year. So the talent has shown it’s capable, and there’s a public mandate from owner James Dolan to at least win the East.
But Brown, who was on the coaching staff of four NBA championship squads in San Antonio and Golden State, said the Knicks need to quickly find the other stuff first — sacrifice, accountability, competitiveness.
“Those things, which are our standard, are huge for us,” Brown said. “Those things are not necessarily what the outside world can see. The outside world sees the shots, the points, the defense and all that. If you want to win a championship, you gotta have a team that’s talented. We have that. Can we make sure we maximize and embrace our standard every time we step on the floor? And if we can, that’s what’s going to get us over the hump.”
All those opponents are top six in their respective conferences.
It’ll be a good test of Brown’s “standard.”
“Everything is geared toward being your best toward the end of the season and going into the playoffs and hopefully throughout that run,” Brown said. “I’ve never been a guy who puts stock in everything and it’s the end of the world if it doesn’t happen in this particular game. That’s not life in general. Things are going to average out to however they need to at the right time. And hopefully after 70 games, or whatever it is, you feel pretty good where you are going into that postseason.”
The Florida Panthers resumed their NHL season on Thursday night when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena.
It was the first game for Florida following the NHL hitting the pause button for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Prior to puck drop, Florida honored everyone on the ice who was a part of Team USA, a list that included Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, General Manager Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, as well as Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews who also wore the “C” for the United States.
The four Americans gathered at center ice, where Zito and Richards dropped a ceremonial puck between Tkachuk and Matthews.
It was a very cool moment for the gold medal winners, putting a bow on what was surely an incredible experience.
Later, during a first period TV timeout, Florida took a moment to recognize their other Olympians.
Three Panthers – Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett – won silver medals with Team Canada, while three others – Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola – claimed bronze medals while representing Finland.
Florida’s Latvians – defenseman Uvis Balinskis and forward Sandis Vilmanis – as well as Finnish blueliner Gus Forsling, were also honored.
As for the game, the Panthers were already up 2-0 on Toronto when the game reached TV timeout number one.
The Florida Panthers resumed their NHL season on Thursday night when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena.
It was the first game for Florida following the NHL hitting the pause button for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Prior to puck drop, Florida honored everyone on the ice who was a part of Team USA, a list that included Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, General Manager Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, as well as Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews who also wore the “C” for the United States.
The four Americans gathered at center ice, where Zito and Richards dropped a ceremonial puck between Tkachuk and Matthews.
It was a very cool moment for the gold medal winners, putting a bow on what was surely an incredible experience.
Later, during a first period TV timeout, Florida took a moment to recognize their other Olympians.
Three Panthers – Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett – won silver medals with Team Canada, while three others – Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola – claimed bronze medals while representing Finland.
Florida’s Latvians – defenseman Uvis Balinskis and forward Sandis Vilmanis – as well as Finnish blueliner Gus Forsling, were also honored.
As for the game, the Panthers were already up 2-0 on Toronto when the game reached TV timeout number one.
