ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during game 4 of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center on April 27, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This time, though we may have missed someone, we see Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Paolo Banchero, and cheering from the sideline, Dereck Lively.
As Caleb Foster explained the other day, it’s not really about winning and losing. It’s about learning.
It’s strikingly clear here that the NBA players are on a different level. They’re playing fairly casually, but also dominating easily.
In fairness, it’s not like this is a serious competition. Everyone is playing and running, but there are plays where no one really puts any effort into defense.
This is more about getting some runs in and maintaining the culture.
Before too long, we may see current Blue Devils Dame Sarr, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, and Cameron Williams come back to do the same.
The roster overhaul that followed Banner 18 didn’t just crack open the door for the Boston Celtics’ youngest players, it launched them through it. Now Boston’s ability to remain competitive may hinge heavily on how quickly that youth grows up.
For Day 6 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to predict which of Boston’s youngest players will have the biggest impact this season.
In full disclosure, we asked our panel to pick any “younger-ish” player. We wondered if anyone might try to make a case for 28-year-old Payton Pritchard or 27-year-old Neemias Queta, who still feel young(-ish) based on years of service.
But today’s question really boils down to Boston’s collection of wings in Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. Down the road, rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell might muscle their way into the conversation, too.
But each of the young wings on last year’s team got a chance to strut their stuff at various points of the season, and each got an opportunity on the playoff stage.
The question now is which one of them will truly distinguish and separate themselves during the 2026-27 season?
Loyal readers of this space are well aware of how bullish this writer is on Gonzalez’s future. He nearly saved Boston from itself in Game 7, particularly with a willingness to joust with Joel Embiid despite giving up a bunch of size. There’s a Marcus Smart-like quality to Gonzalez, where he thrives on hustle and chaos.
We also can’t help but think back to Brad Stevens’ end-of-the-season press conference when he offered high praise for Gonzalez’s rookie campaign.
“The reality is Hugo had a great rookie year and is, I think, a critical part of us moving forward,” Stevens said in May. “Because his athleticism can meet the moment in big games. That’s a real thing. You can see it.
“His strength is off the charts … he’s one of the strongest guys on our team, pound-for-pound, right now, as a 20-year-old. So, he’s got a bright future.”
The only question, in our mind, is whether Gonzalez’s offensive game develops fast enough for him to win the tug-of-war for minutes with Boston’s other young wings. Even in praising Gonzalez, Stevens noted the need to further distinguish himself.
“[Gonzalez] didn’t separate himself from those other guys,” Stevens said in May. “And so, as a front-office person, I can’t sit here and say that one person should have been playing over another. There was no separation.”
Scheierman’s offensive talents, coupled with a high basketball IQ and defensive versatility, helped him earn coach Joe Mazzulla’s trust last season. Walsh pledged this summer to improve his all-around game to ensure he doesn’t get labeled as just a defensive specialist and wants Mazzulla to feel comfortable playing him in any situation. Harper Jr. started Game 7 in the postseason and should get an opportunity to build off the first consistent minutes of his career (318 minutes in 29 appearances with Boston last season; 69 minutes in 11 appearances over his first three seasons with Toronto and Detroit).
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Will Baylor Scheierman play a larger role this season?
This could truly tip in any direction. The best possible outcome for the Celtics might be that each player makes strides in their own way and then it’s on Mazzulla to figure out how to best deploy that talent.
Walsh was seemingly on an All-Defense track for a month last season but his offensive limitations caused his minutes to fade. Scheierman could be in line for another robust role with the departure of Jaylen Brown, and if he builds off last season then he’ll be an important piece of Boston’s success. Harper Jr. showed in small glimpses how impactful he can be — particularly the night he got dispatched to defend Kevin Durant in his first career start.
We’re still going to lean towards Gonzalez here. We just think the Celtics need his chaos factor. Opponents shot 3.6 percent below expected output against Gonzalez, which ranked in the 94th percentile among all wings. His rebounding was elite for his position, including on the offensive end where his corner crashes helped generate second-chance opportunities.
The Celtics were 9.5 points per 100 possessions better with Gonzalez on the court, per Cleaning the Glass data. Even with his own limitations, Boston’s offensive rating perked up 5.9 points per 100 possessions in his floor time (a reflection of how good the young bench group was overall). The defensive rating dipped by 3.6 points and opponent turnover rate spiked by 2.6 percent in Gonzalez’s minutes.
We think there’s a big leap awaiting for Gonzalez, and it starts during the 2026-27 season.
Max Lederman, Content Producer
I’m tempted to say Scheierman but I really do think the sky is the limit for Hugo Gonzalez. His intensity and offensive rebounding should keep him on the floor as he continues to earn Mazzulla’s trust, and we’ve already seen those traits swing games for the Celtics.
Biggest impact? Let’s go with Baylor Scheierman. He showed flashes of his potential throughout the season and topped it off with an incredible season-finale performance versus the Orlando Magic. I’m expecting him to have a key role off the bench this season. If we’re talking biggest breakout, we’ll roll with Hugo Gonzalez. Big things coming for him, especially on the defensive end.
Josh Canu: Editor
Baylor Scheierman. Once again, I think Scheierman is the pick here. His ability to both handle the ball and create shots for himself and teammates makes him a critical piece for the Celtics this season. The defense still leaves a little to be desired, but that will continue to develop with experience.
Baylor Scheierman. I’m tempted to say Gonzalez, but Scheierman is further along in his development and actually took a nice step forward last season. He shot just under 40 percent from 3-point range and improved defensively. His playmaking ability is underrated, too. A good-sized uptick in scoring from him this coming season would not be surprising.
This time I won’t go with the obvious answer of Neemias Queta. Instead I’m going with Jordan Walsh, who’s definitely on the -ish end of the youngish scale as he enters his fourth year. I just think there were some stretches last season, especially early on, when he was quite simply much better than anybody thought he could be. I think back to the way he was locking down Tyrese Maxey on the defensive end early in the season, which came just after he hit a dagger 3 late in a win over Orlando. I think he can take a big step as a key bench piece if he can keep up a level of consistency. We know he has the motor.
Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy
Younger(ish) is so ambiguous. That said, Forsberg was clearly hoping for a Hugo sweep here. Doing my part: Gonzalez is the answer.
Kevin Miller: Vice President, Content Creation and Strategy
Hugo Gonzalez
Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations
NHL teams need to fiinish getting rosters in order with training camps opening on Thursday, Sept. 17.
There's another deadline before that with the new collective-bargaining agreement taking effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wedneday.
After that, eight-year contracts can no longer be offered by a team re-signing its own player and it will drop to seven years maximum (or six years for signing a player from another team). Teams also face changes that limit signing bonuses and how they front-load contracts.
Here are some things that need to be settled with training camps on the horizon:
Both are under contract long-term, so they need to report or they won't get paid. Dylan Larkin said he will show up to camp and will have conversations with the Red Wings' new general manager about the direction of the team. But Detroit is still looking to make that hire.
If the players are moved, their teams will need to get a solid return rather than picks and prospects. The Jets signed Stuart Skinner in the offseason, but it would make sense to get another goalie back
Fantilli finished second on the Blue Jackets in goals (24) and third period in points (59). TSN's Pierre Lebrun said the Gauthier talks are making progress while the Fantilli talks are going slow.
Defensemen Alexander Nikishin (Carolina), Simon Edvinsson (Detroit) and Arber Zhekaj remain unsigned.
Quinn Hughes extension
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin is confident he can get an extension done with the defenseman, who he gave up a lot to acquire last season. Hughes told reporters he has enjoyed his time in Minnesota but is preaching patience.
"I think if you look at a player like Quinn, you only get to free agency one time," J.P. Barry, agent Pat Brisson's colleague at CAA, told the Donnie and Dhali podcast. " I think he wants to make a great choice. He's only been there around a year or so, even less, so I think he wants to see how the team does and how he feels."
Hughes is entering the last year of his contract. A three-year extension would match him up with the end of his brother Jack's contract in New Jersey.
Captain vacancies
The New York Islandersnamed Bo Horvat to replace departed Anders Lee and Robert Thomas was appointed early in St. Louis. But there remain vacancies in Anaheim, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, Ottawa, San Jose and Vancouver. The Red Wings stripped Larkin of his captaincy.
David Pastrnak (Bruins) and Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets) seem like logical choices and Moritz Seider would make sense in Detroit.
Chicago and San Jose have future captains in Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, respectively. Do those teams go with the young rising stars now or wait? Bedard will miss the beginning of the season because of shoulder surgery.
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 25: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 25, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This offseason, the Boston Celtics packed up Jaylen Brown, a franchise legend, and sent him off to one of their historic rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers. In return, the Celtics are bringing in a likely future Hall of Famer in Paul George, to go along with a slew of draft picks. We don’t need to relitigate whether this was a good or bad return for Jaylen Brown; Paul George is a Celtic. The star forward arriving in Boston in the twilight of his career reminds me of another time a future Hall of Famer arrived in Boston, except in that instance it was his second arrival, Al Horford in 2021.
Brad Stevens’ first order of business as president of basketball operations in 2021 was bringing back Al Horford. A move that foreshadowed Stevens’ brilliance as a front-office executive. Horford’s second act with Boston began in his age-35 season; Paul George will embark on his Celtics tenure in his age-36 season. I think there’s a chance that PG becomes this era’s version of Al Horford, a wing version whose blend of elite shooting and defense complements this current Celtics roster perfectly. There are two obvious barriers to Paul George reaching the lofty heights of Al Horford’s 2021-2025 Celtics stint; that dude was a playoff cheat code. Big Al could switch one through five, protect the rim, stretch the floor and was an elite connector. Those are big shoes to fill for the late-career versatile wing. The first barrier is the obvious health concerns; over the last five seasons, George has played an average of 48 regular-season games. However, it’s notable that PG has played in 125 of 131 possible career playoff games. Five were missed due to injury in 2023, and one was missed in 2022 due to COVID safety protocols. Next, when comparing Horford’s role with the Celtics and George’s potential role, there are similarities, but the Celtics will rely on George far less than they did Horford. The Celtics unfairly burdened Horford with the fate of the Celtics’ frontcourt. Rob Williams took the group to a new level, but his knees gave out; Porzingis was only able to give the team two and a half healthy playoff games, Luke Kornet was a great regular-season minutes eater, and Neemias Queta wasn’t ready yet. The centre job was Horford’s to hold down. The same will not be asked of Paul George. The 2026-2027 Celtics are overflowing with young, athletic, rangy wing depth, who will keep PG fresh throughout the season. For George to actualise his destiny as 2022 Al Horford, I will gladly accept a 48-game season if he is ready to perform as he did in the most recent playoffs, in which he tortured the Celtics on both ends of the court for an entire series. George entered his first offseason healthy in multiple years and is coming off a season in which he performed at an elite level. I expect the Celtics to limit his minutes to at most 28 minutes per game, and invoke Horford’s left big toe injury designation for back-to-backs. Call me a blind optimist, but I expect a relatively healthy season from George on a load management plan.
When comparing Paul George and Al Horford, there are clear similarities. Ageing veterans whose All-Star days are in the rearview mirror and who are willing to embrace their late-career role-player designations. George, similar to Horford, has a skill set perfectly suited to being a superstar role player. The former MVP candidate is still one of the league’s premier shooters both off the catch and on pull-ups, a capable pick-and-roll operator, and is both a lockdown on-ball defender and a swarming off-ball defender. The Celtics just can’t ask George to do too many of those things too often. For most of the season, I expect George to operate in spot-up situations, providing elite spacing for Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard, while playing high-level team defense. With a sprinkle of on-ball creation and on-ball defense when the timing is right. It will be similar to the way Horford used to pace himself in the regular season by saving a few jumps for rebounds and contests at the rim for when it was really going to matter. Joe Mazzulla shouldn’t ask Paul George (or Jayson Tatum) to guard the league’s elite offensive weapons during the regular season. That’s a young man’s job. That’s a job for Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr.
One piece of the Horford-George parallel that might not line up is the length of their Celtics tenure. It’s no secret that the Celtics are open to using George’s ~$55 million contract to go star hunting. However, that star may not materialise. And while the Celtics are flush with high-value draft assets and intriguing prospects, they may be outbid for this mystery star. Conventional wisdom in that scenario is that the Celtics will pick up George’s 2027-2028 $56 million player option and let it expire. I think there is a high likelihood that the Celtics and George negotiate a decline-and-extend scenario. Something similar to what the Cleveland Cavaliers just did with James Harden. Now, before some Celtics fans throw their computers at the wall, hear me out. This would only happen if we get the Paul George season I laid out above. A successful load management season that results in 50-ish regular-season games and high-level playoff play. If the Celtics make no significant roster moves until next offseason, the team is currently projected to be around $9 million over the luxury tax line going into the 2027-2028 season. Celtics owner Bill Chism has emphasised that it is not a factor when making basketball decisions. However, if the team can stay under the tax and salary cap aprons longer, that is good for the roster’s long-term health. So, a contract could look like a two-year $85 million deal. With $45 million due in the first year and $40 million in the second year. Or it could be a three-year deal somewhere in the $100 million ballpark. Yes, George would be overpaid, but maintaining the rich salary slot is important for making the future trades that will vault the Celtics back into not just contender territory, but title favourite territory. This will also allow the Celtics to use their mid level exception to bring in another free agent like Mitchell Robinson. That smells like optionality to me.
For those who are dubious that the Celtics can benefit from the services of another ageing star, I implore you to embrace the new era of sports medicine we are living in. We live in a world where players are returning from Achilles injuries in record times across all sports. There are stars playing high-level basketball deep into their 30s and early 40s. LeBron James aside, as he is a very clear alien outlier, there are still players impacting winning late into their careers. Kevin Durant turns 38 next month and was just selected to his 12th All-NBA team. Steph Curry is 38 and still one of the best offensive players in the NBA. The Cleveland Cavaliers are asking 37-year-old James Harden to be one of their lead initiators again. That is a bad idea, but if Harden played a more condensed role, he could still be a superstar role player. Kawhi Leonard at age 35 is still a basketball cyborg whenever he takes the court. What stands out among all these players is the dramatic difference in the burden they will be asked to carry relative to Paul George. George is coming to Boston to be the wing version of 2024 Al Horford…or a tall version of 2024 Jrue Holiday. Either way, the nine-time All-Star is overqualified for this role and will thrive as a late-career impact role player for the Celtics.
BRADENTON, FLORIDA - MARCH 20, 2026: Bryce Rainer #28 of the Detroit Tigers bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on March 20, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
On Monday, it was announced that Detroit Tigers top prospect Bryce Rainer will play in the Arizona Fall League in October. The 21-year-old shortstop didn’t miss time this season, which is usually, but not always the point of sending a player to the Arizona Fall League. However, like fellow top prospect OF Zyhir Hope, the Tigers have decided to send their top young hitting talent in the minors out to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions in October. That’s pretty good news for the Scorpions.
Rainer has put together a really strange year. After missing most of his first pro season in 2025 with a season ending shoulder surgery, no one was very sure how long it would take him to get his batspeed and arm strength all the way back. It turned out that the rehab was very successful and he was good to go when spring training ended. However, there was plenty of rust to knock off and the Tigers somewhat aggressively moved him up to High-A West Michigan after a brief tune-up in Lakeland.
The left-handed hitter really struggled at the plate initially, striking out a ton and making too much weak contact. The Tigers worked to get him standing more upright in the box and cleaned up some issues with his swing, though the fairly extreme arm bar and tendency to straighten up as he gets his barrel to the zone remain. That did the trick to a degree, as by the end of May Rainer was red hot and absolutely torched Midwest League pitching in June, putting up monstrous exit velocities off the bat and hitting copious tape measure shots while playing very well at the shortstop position.
On the other hand, while his numbers were great, the strikeouts continued to pile up. Rainer crashed to Earth in July with an OPS under .700 for the month, but then got even hotter in August, mashing eight home runs and posting a .934 OPS. He carried that through the end of the Midwest League, finishing with 19 homers, 25 other extra base hits, and 17 stolen bases across 106 games after playing only 35 in his first pro season in 2025. He hit .260/.368/.465 overall but he also struck out 35.8 percent of the time while walking 14.4 percent of his at-bats.
This is pretty extreme three true outcomes sort of hitting profile. The near 70 grade raw power, defensive ability, speed, and good plate discipline are all very positive, but the strikeout rate is extreme. Rainer doesn’t chase a lot, but he does take a whole lot of called strikes and still swings and misses more than you’d like to see. From that perspective, getting him some extra work and instruction in the Fall League makes sense as he tries to make up for lost time.
Rainer is a pretty boom or bust type of prospect from a hitting perspective, and some have Zyhir Hope over him in the Tigers’ farm rankings as a result. I think you can make a good argument either way. However, he is a good defender with a legitimate 70 grade arm and pretty good footspeed. For a fairly tall, slender athlete, he’s still quick in his reactions with good agility and has pretty soft hands as well. His footwork will need to keep improving, and there are no doubt details about playing around the bag at second that could use refinement, but there’s a pretty high likelihood that he’s a quality major league shortstop. He just might be one that really struggles against left-handed pitching while hitting .240 with a solid walk rate and good power numbers against right-handed pitching.
It’s also entirely possible that the steady doses of breaking and offspeed stuff he’ll see in the upper minors take time to adapt against, and he may ultimately fall short. He might be a superstar, he might also be a part-time slugger who holds a spot on a major league roster as much because of his defensive ability as any other reason, and he might end up some kind of utility player, potentially. The future here is far more uncertain than in the cases of truly elite prospects like Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark.
However, I would caution against rushing to judgements. Rainer turned 21 in July, but he’s still only played the equivalent of a season’s worth of games since graduating high school. He’s added some good weight since draft day, but his slender frame could certainly add more lean muscle mass without sacrificing speed. His batspeed is outstanding, but it is still a long swing, and Rainer has some of the problems associated with having long levers, like trouble turning and pulling the ball hard as often as the Tigers would like to see from him, without fully selling out to do so. Instead, he hits lasers mainly toward the gaps and to center field, with plenty of juice to clear the fences in any park. If he can clean up his swing mechanics and make things a bit more compact, and use his lower half a little more effectively, he can overcome some of the strikeout issues. He’s just never going to be a low strikeout, high average hitter, despite the explosive contact he produces regularly off the barrel.
It will be interesting to see how Rainer does out west. Hope has already conquered the Double-A level, so he will be expected to tear the place apart while working more on his defense, baserunning, and other finer points of the game. Typically, AFL pitching is roughly High-A level in terms of talent, but it’s highly variable and should present a comparable test to what Rainer faced with the West Michigan Whitecaps this year. We’ll be looking for adjustments in his swing and approach.
There are certainly very good reasons for Tigers fans to pay attention to the Fall League this year, and we will keep you up to date once play begins on October 3. We’ll be waiting for the rest of the Tigers contingent to be announced.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 13: Austin Wells #28 high fives Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees after the game against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on September 13, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t looking pretty for seven innings, but the Yankees finally erupted in the eighth to put away the Twins and secure the series opener. With the Blue Jays losing earlier in the night, the Yanks officially clinched a playoff spot and the celebration was on once their game was over. With the Rays and Red Sox inactive, it was also a day to gain a half-game in the standings, and they’ll need to keep moving up ahead of their matchup with the former if they want a shot at the division still.
Today on the site, I’ll start things off with a look at how Aaron Boone and company managed to squeeze out wins despite the valleys they went through. Michael’s up next with the weekly minor league recap, Andrew has the Rivalry Roundup featuring the loss that officially sent the Yankees into October, and Jonathan highlights Slow Joe Doyle’s days with the Highlanders on his birthday. Later in the day we’ve got our three remaining division check-ins, Andres scoping out the NL East, Matt scouting the NL Central, and Estevao combing through the NL West.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins
Time: 7:40 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Twins.tv
Venue: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Questions/Prompts:
1. Will we get to see Max Fried get deep into his pitch count tonight, or will the team keep him in this 75-80 pitch range?
2. Now that Aaron Judge has his first home run since coming off the IL, how many more do you think he’ll run into to close out the year?
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 31: Alperen Sengun #28, Jabari Smith Jr. #10, Tari Eason #17, Reed Sheppard #15, and Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on March 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With preseason just around the corner and just over a month till the start of the regular season, I figured now is a great time to go over some important dates for the upcoming season, so get your calendars ready!
To start off Media Day will be Tuesday, September 22 with Rockets Training Camp starting the next day (September 23).
Then for preseason this season, the Rockets will only play three preseason games, two of which will be in China. The two games in China will be October 9 and 11 versus the Dallas Mavericks in Macao. The Rockets will then return home to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 15. Houston will then start their regular season at home on October 21 to take on the Dallas Mavericks.
The Rockets will begin NBA Cup play on October 30as they take on the Dallas Mavericks on the road. Houston then plays the Utah Jazz at home on November 13, followed by the Denver Nuggets on November 20 at home and finally the Phoenix Suns on November 25 at home. Of course, if the Rockets manage to win their group, there will likely be more games added to their cup schedule.
This year’s NBA All-Star weekend is February 19 – 21, so the NBA will be on break from the 19 to the 24 of February this upcoming year. Also in February is the NBA Trade Deadline, which occurs on February 11, 2027.
Unfortunately, this season the Rockets do not have either a Christmas Day or an MLK Day game, but there are still plenty of exciting matchups. A game I have circled on my calendar is the November 25 game versus the Phoenix Suns in Houston, as that is the one time Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks will play in Houston! I will also be looking forward to all four Rockets-Spurs matchups, with one occurring on October 23, 2026 (Austin, Texas, one on January 26, 2027 (in San Antonio), and two in March, with both games being in Houston (March 5 and March 16)
With all that said, what are you excited to see playing this upcoming season? Let us know, and make sure to check back at The Dream Shake for more Houston Rockets basketball news.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 13: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on September 13, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: After tossing six scoreless frames on Sunday against the Mets, Cam Schlittler’s ERA went down to a stunning 1.95. He has now found some separation from Dylan Cease in the AL Cy Young Award race, but he’s been so good that there’s been chatter about him having a shot at the AL MVP Award — as our own Josh Diemert discussed just before his most recent start.
What does Cam think about that? Obviously, he wants to hear no such talk for the time being, instead choosing to focus on getting zeroes on the mound. “I don’t know anything about that,” Schlittler said of the MVP talk, per Hoch. “It’s a great compliment.” No starter has won the MVP Award since Clayton Kershaw in 2014. Yordan Álvarez and Junior Caminero appear to be Schlittler’s main competitors at this point.
Aaron Judge acknowledged Schlittler has been pitching like an MVP, but said “they’ve got a Cy Young Award for a reason – best pitcher in the game. So he’s got my vote, definitely, for the Cy Young.” Whether or not he has the full support of his captain, the young fireballer wants, at least, to give voters a reason to consider him.
MLB.com | Manny Randhawa: Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón was the organization’s nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, presented every year to the person who “best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
The 30 nominees were announced on Monday on an MLB Network broadcast ahead of Roberto Clemente Day, which will take place on Tuesday. Rodón, who has a 2.94 ERA this year, and his wife Ashley own the Rodón Foundation, which aims to provide financial assistance to couples going through infertility and pregnancy loss.
CBS Sports (Rotowire): Judge is still trying to shake off the rust after being sidelined for months with a stress fracture on one of his ribs. According to what manager Aaron Boone told Greg Joyce of the New York Post, he’ll give the outfielder Wednesday off, and he should be mostly good to go after that. Before Monday’s opener against the Twins, Judge was 3-for-17 with a 1/9 BB/K ratio in five games since returning — though he of course homered last night for the first time since his post-IL activation as the Yankees nailed down their 61st playoff appearance in franchise history.
While there’s a statistically significant chance it will all go south, KP’s mentorship could be a throwback to better days
At the end of his time as consultant to the England cricket setup Gilbert Enoka praised Brendon McCullum’s incredible work in healing the culture of his team. Enoka is best known as the architect of the no-dickheads policy in sport. This is basically Doctor Dickhead. Dickheads? He’s not having them.
“There wasn’t one dickhead in there,” Enoka announced, proudly. And history has shown this to be correct. All the evidence suggests the numerical value of dickheads in the England cricket team was something other than one. And yes, zero is not one. Fair point. But so are all the other numbers, the ones that go up the other way into plurals, multiples, an infinity of dickheads.
Michael Carrick’s side are 13th in the table after four games but, City mitigation aside, several areas need attention
Manchester United are 13th in the Premier League, having taken four points from their first four games: a 2-0 defeat at Hull, 5-2 win against Ipswich, 2-2 draw at Everton and the 1-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday. Mitigation regarding the City reverse can be found in the derby coming three days after the Champions League win against Sabah on Thursday, with Enzo Maresca’s side having 48 hours more rest after winning at Porto. So are United, who host Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before visiting Fulham in the league on Sunday, as poor as the table suggests?
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 10: Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s not often you find a player three seasons removed from a lottery selection on an Exhibit 10 deal, yet on Monday morning, the Celtics found someone in that exact situation in Providence product Devin Carter.
It hasn’t been easy sledding for Carter entering his third NBA season, but he couldn’t have found himself in a better situation.
Welcome to Celtic University.
Devin Carter's deal with the Boston Celtics is an Exhibit 10 contract, a league source told @spotrac.
If Carter earns a regular season spot, deal becomes a standard non-guaranteed contract. It can also be converted to a two-way deal. Or Carter can get a bonus for joining Maine.
Everyone loves a redemption story. A discarded lottery pick quietly attached to a second-round pick seven years from now and dumped soon after by the second team is an intriguing setup. The thing is, despite having trouble getting his career off the ground, Carter has never really looked like a traditional bust.
The Kings — for all their bad contracts and bizarre roster choices compounded by a poor track record of draft hits — didn’t give Carter all that much opportunity across his two seasons. For a lottery pick, there never seemed to be a clear vision of where he fit into the SacTown circus.
His jumper has yet to translate like his 38% 3-point shooting indicated as a junior, and he can be erratic with the ball in a way that wasn’t as prevalent in his college days, but in 74 career NBA games, 25 of which he played 20 or more minutes, Carter has 11 multi-steal appearances and four with 20+ points. Those four games of 20 or more points all came with efficiency above 50% (he was a combined 60% FG in those four contests).
Those are real flashes. For Boston, that’s all you need to see to offer an Exhibit 10.
In particular, we’ve seen the defensive flashes that played a major role in his lottery selection.
Boston is not lacking for defensive hounds. Far from it, in fact. This is the rich getting richer, while adding to the one position that was in need of an extra depth piece.
Even before this move, Boston’s perimeter defense looked like one of its greatest strengths on paper. Derrick White is coming off his third All-Defensive Team honor. Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman more than held their own in a full-season sample, while Ron Harper Jr. flashed exciting potential in his brief time in Boston. And that doesn’t factor in a full season for Jayson Tatum, a true jack of all trades defensively, and the addition of Paul George and two-way rookie Dillon Mitchell.
At guard and on the wings, they have options everywhere. Carter, if he can take advantage of this move with either a two-way contract or standard deal, only adds fuel to the fire.
Carter ideally fits the archetype of a ballhandling lead guard, with legitimate slashing burst and a pick-and-roll acumen, but it’s unclear where those chances will come in the short-term. White, Tatum, and Payton Pritchard will lead multiple units bringing the ball up the floor, and the addition of Mike Conley adds another steady hand.
Just the idea of Carter being an understudy to Derrick White should fire up the synapses. That might be the absolute perfect guard for him to take notes from.
Garbage time or a G League setting would be where we’d really see Carter develop as a point guard, but that doesn’t have to be the sole reason to give Carter time on the floor for Boston. In his brief time in the NBA, he’s proven to be an impactful rebounding guard and a pickpocketing, lane closing menace. It’s in these two areas where Carter would get his opportunity. His offense, for all the potential it could bring, is likely the side of the floor that’d require the most patience from a developmental standpoint.
Good thing he’s in Boston, where his shooting development can become a priority, while an avenue to minutes still remains a possibility. We saw it all last year, Joe Mazzulla is hardly afraid of rotational experimentation or the chance to throw out a new starting five on a given night. If you can defend, rebound or hit open shots, you have a chance to see the floor.
For his long-term outlook, the clearest template to follow would be that of Davion Mitchell, who survived his own ordeal as a Sacramento lottery pick, found an opportunity to run offense on a middling Raptors team, and rediscovered his identity as a defensive menace and capable shooter with the Heat, who he started 70 games with last season.
With an already deep group of guys currently under contract, I don’t want to put too much expectation on Carter immediately carving out a significant role. That feels unfair for anyone entering a season on an Exhibit 10. Chances are, he’ll find himself on a two-way contract to start the season, with a standard deal offered later near the trade deadline.
But this is a 24-year-old, lottery-level talent we’re talking about. Someone who was rightfully considered a top talent out of a good draft class, a player the Celtics can afford to be patient with that has considerable skill already built in.
To happen upon that without sacrificing any draft assets or players makes it the exact type of move that, if successful, looks utterly ridiculous in hindsight.
“How did the league let him be a Celtic?”
Don’t be afraid to get excited about the future possibilities of Carter in green. This could be a perfect marriage between a player looking for a clear path forward and a team that would embolden the things he does well and offer patience in the areas that need work.
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks, watching their season flash before their eyes, made sure they stayed alive Monday night with one swing of the bat by their biggest star.
Corbin Carroll’s two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning rescued the D-backs from a potential lethal defeat, winning 8-7 over the Miami Marlins at Chase Field.
The victory keeps the Diamondbacks within 2 ½ games of the sizzling San Diego Padres for the National League's third and final wild-card spot with 11 games remaining in their bid to reach the postseason for the first time since their 2023 World Series run.
“I don’t even know where to start,’’ D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said, “other than I think really good players do really good things. They have an understanding of the situation and executing at a very high level at the most critical moments.’’
If the Diamondbacks were not in contention for a postseason berth, Carroll might not even be playing, dealing with a strained back that has limited him at the plate, hitting just .184 in September. He missed two games last week, underwent an MRI, and was dropped to fifth in the batting order.
This night, stepping up to the plate to face rookie right-hander Jack Ralston after an injury forced veteran closer Pete Fairbanks out of the game, he launched a 2-1 splitter 423 feet into the right-field seats, with the ball traveling 108.4 mph off his bat.
Just like that, the D-backs had their ninth walk-off win.
“Obviously, this is right down to crunch time ...’’ Carroll said. “These are the games that we dream about playing at the beginning of the season. Meaningful games in September.’’
The Diamondbacks, who overcame deficits of 3-0, 5-3 and 7-4, realize they can’t afford a slump this time of year. They are three games back in the loss column to San Diego, and after the Marlins leave town, the powerful New York Yankees arrive for a three-game series.
“It really doesn’t matter what they [the Padres] do,’’ D-backs starter Corbin Burnes said. “If we win every game, we’re in, no matter how many we get out, as long as we get within three.’’
Yes, indeed, the D-backs finish the season against the team they’re chasing, with a three-game series against the Padres at Petco Park. If they’re within three games, and sweep, they’re going to the playoffs, likely with a first-round matchup against Atlanta. But, of course, they’d feel a whole lot more comfortable if they didn’t have to rely on a sweep to get into the dance.
They have to just keep on winning and hope that at some point the Padres start to lose. The Padres have reeled off a season-long eight-game winning streak. It has been eight years since the Diamondbacks even had an seven-game winning streak.
Still, just the fact that the D-backs are in the race is what compelled Burnes — who won the Cy Young Award in 2021 and had five consecutive top-10 Cy Young finishes — to return and hopefully make an impact.
Burnes, making his second start since his return, and his first at home since June 1, 2025, still looked rusty at times and had trouble locating his cutter. He gave up five runs — including two homers — in 4 2/3 innings, but it was an improvement over his season debut last week in Kansas City.
“I mean, everything’s under a microscope, right?’’ Burnes said. “Usually, you get five, six [outings] in spring training to work through some stuff and build that intensity for opening day. But when you got to come back in the middle of it in September, everything’s got to be sharp and crisp.’’
Burnes, scheduled to make two more regular-season starts, including against the Yankees this weekend, showed signs of being one of the game’s elite pitchers. He struck out four batters, and generated 14 swings and misses in his 75 pitches. The Marlins couldn’t touch his changeup, but he had trouble commanding his cutter, with the Marlins swinging and missing just twice.
“He’s just not the same right now,’’ one veteran scout in attendance. “His arm strength isn’t there yet.’’
Still, the fact that Burnes is back, and doing everything in his power to make a difference in the stretch drive, reverberates throughout the clubhouse.
“To be in the middle of a pennant race and you have Corbin Burnes to pencil into the lineup,’’ Lovullo said, “that’s a manager’s dream.”
Meanwhile, the D-backs, made their latest move to find some offensive help by spending $420,000 to claim left-handed DH Jesus Sanchez off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. Sanchez, who’s scheduled to join the D-backs on Tuesday, will not be eligible if the D-backs make the postseason, but he could be a valuable weapon for the D-backs, who are scheduled to face all right-handed starters the rest of the season.
Sanchez, 28, hit .260 with eight homers in 269 at-bats until the Blue Jays designated him for assignment last Friday. He slashed .276/.333/.448 with a .755 OPS against right-handed pitching this year compared to just .355 against left-handed pitching.
The Diamondbacks are just 53-58 against right-handed starting pitchers this year, and 27-13 against left-handers. They have the third-lowest OPS (.684) against right-handed starters this year, and second-lowest against all right-handed pitchers.
“We’re trying to find lighting in a bottle,’’ Lovullo said. “We're trying to get some impact left-handed bats into this lineup to help us score some runs. …
“[Sanchez] can impact the baseball, we've all watched him from afar, we've seen him do some really good things. Being able to handle quality right-handed pitching was a big piece of this puzzle.’’
After Monday’s off day, the Astros and Rangers will begin a 12-game-in-13-day stretch that could decide the American League West champion, starting Tuesday night. Both teams will play four series against four different opponents, and they do not have any common opponents. However, both teams are only slated to play three games against a team that currently holds a playoff spot.
The Astros lead the Rangers by one game and own the tiebreaker, meaning the Rangers must be two games better than the Astros over the final 12 games to overtake their rivals. Here’s a closer look at both teams’ remaining schedules.
Astros
Three games vs Royals
Three games vs Braves
Two games at Mariners
Four games at Athletics
The Royals are a last place club, but they haven’t played like one for the better part of two months. Kansas City entered the All-Star break tied with the Angels for the American League’s worst record, but only five teams are better than their 28-25 record since. The Royals will arrive at Daikin Park having lost 9 of 13, but this series isn’t the layup it might appear to be.
Led by their pitching, the Braves have a comfortable lead in the National League East, and could clinch while in Houston. They are also chasing the Brewers and Dodgers for a bye into the Division Series. The Astros should miss their old nemesis, Martín Perez, but they will have to face Tyler Mahle, who has a 1.25 ERA since coming over before the trade deadline.
Wednesday’s series finale in Chicago would be Chris Sale’s turn in the Braves rotation, but as of Tuesday morning they have not announced a starter. The Astros better hope Atlanta doesn’t decide to give Sale, who appears headed to a top-two Cy Young finish, extra rest.
The Mariners are 11-16 since taking two of three from the Astros last month and appear to have called it quits on the season, but a chance to ruin the Astros season should perk that team up, and the Astros have struggled against Seattle the last couple of seasons.
Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Brent Rooker are gone, and the A’s pitching is absolutely dreadful, so this series should be a layup. Of course, the A’s took two of three at Daikin Park last month, and frankly embarrassed the Astros in the process. Playing four games in Sacramento is a bit of a nightmare for a team that doesn’t have a deep pitching staff.
Rangers
Three games vs Red Sox
Three games vs Blue Jays
Three games vs Mets
Three games at Twins
The Red Sox are pretty much locked into the American League’s second Wild Card, so they won’t have much to play for this week in Arlington. The Rangers are scheduled to face Sonny Gray and his 2.76 ERA on Thursday, but they will avoid Ranger Suárez and Payton Tolle. The Rangers will see two other lefties, Jake Bennett and Patrick Sandoval, instead. Sandoval had a 3.29 ERA in nine games, including eight starts, against the Rangers while a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
Toronto blew a lead to the Tigers at home Monday night, costing it a chance to pull into a tie for the AL’s final Wild Card. The Blue Jays remain a game behind Cleveland and will be desperate this weekend.
Good news for the Astros is that Max Scherzer and his 6.38 ERA will face the Tigers on Wednesday, so he won’t be available to face the Rangers. Better news is that Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease will start one of the games in Arlington. José Soriano, acquired at the deadline from the Angels, is also likely to pitch against the Rangers.
The Mets are the Mets, so who knows what they could look like on a given day, but Nolan McLean should pitch in that series. The Mets are always a threat as long as Juan Soto is in the lineup, and maybe Marcus Semien will be motivated against his old team.
The Twins are 9-16 since Aug. 17, which is just a half-game better than the Angels, who have the league’s worst record in that span. The Astros would be well-served to still have their lead when the season’s final weekend begins.
Last week, the Utah Jazz fandom found a new, shiny object of desire. It wouldn’t be the summertime without this tradition; I’ll remember fondly the days when I would contemplate longingly the backcourt fit of Donovan Mitchell and Jrue Holiday, or how Jerami Grant’s length could potentially shore up our perimeter defense. However, the new member of this storied club is not sparking my imagination in quite the same way.
Enter Myles Turner.
Now, do not be fooled by the headline, because I do understand from where this fascination originates. The offseason is long, the tanking was arduous, the highlights are tantalizing – I get it.
Myles Turner is a center and our center is Jusuf Nurkic.
Myles Turner is a center who shoots three pointers and the two 2026 NBA finalists both had centers who shoot three pointers.
Myles Turner was the starting center on a team that very nearly won the championship.
I understand all of these points, but still – I do not want Myles Turner on my team. Some of my reasons are logical, some of them less so. And who knows? Maybe all of them will prove hilarious in hindsight when Turner is wearing Jazz purple and hoisting the Larry O’Brien.
Nevertheless, I will attempt to explain, in 4 points, why I do not think that Myles Turner is the answer to Utah’s troubles, before quickly outlining the course of action I would prefer the franchise take as they trek into their next era of relevance.
1. Myles Turner does not fit what we need on offense
MILWAUKEE, WI – FEBRUARY 27: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a free throw during the game against the New York Knicks on February 27, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
While it is true that I can’t name more than a handful of centers who can hit three pointers more effectively than Myles Turner, I do not think this offensive quirk is enough to constitute a proper fit in the Utah Jazz offense. Much of my concerns with Turner stem from his physical weakness. This flaw isn’t obvious while looking at his physical profile – he’s 6’11, 250 LBs, and appears reasonably well-built – but makes itself very evident with any extended time watching his game. Combining the last two seasons, Turner is taking less than 20% of his shots near the rim, and this past season, in the minutes Giannis was on the bench and Turner was on the court, the Bucks attempted 4 less shots at the rim every 100 possessions. Additionally, Giannis-only lineups attempted more shots at the rim that Giannis+Turner lineups, and this trend extends for several years into the past. That number may not jump off the screen, but it is a huge swing for a single player to generate. Turner does not play with force (especially damaging as a center in a league once again becoming more physical), and that leads to his units not taking advantage of the most physical areas on the court. Additionally, this playstyle is harder to accommodate against elite defenses – versus the Thunder in the finals, Turner posted the 3rd worst shooting percentage in a finals series by a center post-merger, at 36.8% (credit @carsobi on Twitter for the stat). One series sample sizes aren’t worth too much, but it is indicative of the type of offensive profile Turner has demonstrated his whole career.
This is already a problem that I anticipate the Jazz to have. Jaren Jackson Jr. loves his floaters and short mid range jump-shots, and has a similar impact on his teams rim frequency (albeit less severe). Keyonte George has slimmed down across his NBA career and prefers operating from the perimeter without putting too much pressure on the rim. At least early on, Darryn Peterson will be too slight to strain defenses with his slashing. In a league where force is becoming a prerequisite amongst the contenders of the highest echelon, the Jazz are already lacking, and Turner would do nothing to but add another player who is not always looking to put consistent pressure on the defense.
However, it’s not like Nurkic is leading a steam engine to the rim with his basket pressure, so what gives? Turner’s poor offensive fit is compounded by two facts: he is a horribly poor offensive rebounder, and he doesn’t bring any semblance of passing to a lineup. His rebounding woes are well documented – except for old man Brook Lopez, Turner posted the worst total rebounding percentage among centers who started any meaningful number of games, and that is buoyed significantly by a respectable enough defensive rebounding percentage. The possession battle is key to good offenses, and Turner is a detriment in that regard while Nurkic is a bit more positive. Second-chance opportunities off of offensive rebounds are some of the most efficient possessions in basketball, so while pulling them down isn’t necessarily sexy, it is a guaranteed way to significantly bolster your overall offensive footprint. The Jazz already are lacking in this department (hopefully, Markkanen can once again be quietly pretty good at this at the small forward position), and likely cannot afford another significant negative at their center position.
Finally, the playmaking. I sometimes feel like the only one worried that the Jazz are constructing a roster that is being marketed by fans as one with top-5-in-the-league potential, and yet has very few good passers. Keyonte is a plus, Collier is a plus, and Nurkic is a plus. The rest of the roster ranges from inconsequential to actively damaging distributors. This next year, Ace and Darryn and Lauri and Jackson and Svi and Hayes and Green and Okogie and Hinson will all clearly be at their best being set up by a playmaker. These guys are play finishers, who are valuable to have, but are an archetype that starts to bring in diminishing marginal returns ESPECIALLY if your team doesn’t feature an all-world level playmaker. I anticipate Nurkic, once again, being a key hub in coach Hardy’s system – he sets up shop on top of the key while the stars run in circles around the perimeter or cut to the basket. This system will do some to limit the heavy pressure that will already be put on Keyonte’s shoulders, as well as allow Darryn Peterson to climatize to the offense in a more natural manner. I hesitate when I see proposals for lineups where Keyonte is the only passer who is better than the league-wide positional average, and I struggle even more when the players around him also can’t create for themselves off the dribble. A team of Keyonte-Darryn-Lauri-Jackson-Turner is, on the surface, tantalizing (and would likely play many minutes together) – there are 5 strong shooters, and most are solid athletes. But when you really dive into how they would function together offensively, questions start to arise. Keyonte is the only above average passer. Keyonte is the only above average ballhandler (Jackson is close, but it isn’t an uber-impressive skill either way). No one listed has shown the ability to consistently reach the basket and collapse the defense off of the dribble. That is 4 play-finishers and 1 playmaker who has playmaked positively for 1 season on a destitute roster. When the Jazz inevitably run into the Spurs or the Thunder (both of which are unavoidable if contention is the goal), the team will get torn to shreds without more positive decision makers on the floor next to George, and for that reason, I anticipate Nurkic’s DHO offense being a sneakily-important option come playoff time. So yes, Turner’s shooting is immediately appealing, but his flaws on offense overlap too harshly with flaws already present on the roster for me to be too excited about his fit in Utah.
TLDR: Myles Turner is inefficient, doesn’t take enough shots near the rim, is a poor passer and offensive rebounder, and amplifies the flaws already present on the roster. The shooting is cool, but doesn’t make up for his deficiencies.
2. Myles Turner does not fit what we need on defense
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 29: Jamir Watkins #5 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket as Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on January 29, 2026 at Capital One Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This section will be shorter, because the problem is less damning. I have never been overly impressed with Myles Turner as a defender (he always seemed to me more of a shot-blocker than a paint-defender), but that does not mean he is bad. For most years of his career, his teams have been better defensively with Turner on the court. This was not true in either of the Pacer’s deep playoff runs in 2024 and 2025, but I digress – Turner would not actively hurt the Jazz on defense.
However, due to his overlap with Jaren Jackson Jr., I think the fit of Turner on the Jazz defense is not worth the opportunity cost. Be it Steven Adams, or Zach Edey, or Jonas Valanciunas, the Grizzlies had the right idea – pair JJJ with a bruising interior presence to unlock the best version of him. I do not think Turner is that presence. I, once again, think back to his physical weakness. He is often unwilling to bash and brawl in the paint with the biggest and the baddest, and that is reflected in his poor rebounding numbers. Per my eyes, and despite his position, he functions less like a true defensive anchor and more like a shot-blocking roamer. That isn’t, in a vacuum, a bad thing – Kevin Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko are two of my favorite defensive players ever, and they functioned similarly. Additionally, Myles Turner has been a positive defensive player in his career – I am not trying to deny that. However, I do not think the type of defensive player that Myles Turner is will support or magnify the type of defensive player that Jaren Jackson Jr. is. Combined this with the fact that I think other options more additive to JJJ will become available at some point on the trade market (I’m looking at you Jarrett Allen), I think that trading for Turner would be too hasty a solution to Utah’s defensive issues.
TLDR: Myles Turner is a good defensive player, but we should hold out for a good defensive player who is a better defensive fit.
3. I do not want to pay Myles Turner in 2029
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 8: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks arrives to the arena before the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 8, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This point is short and simple. Myles Turner is 30 years old, and his birthday is in March. During any potential playoff run the Jazz will be on in 2029, Myles Turner will be 33 years old, and will be owed 29 million dollars. Historically, defensive big men display some of the worst longevity of any archetype in the league. If Turner plays anywhere near the level he did last season, his current contract appears to be an overpay, and considering his age, the contract could very well get worse before it becomes better. Above all else, I do not want to be attaching draft assets to move off of Myles Turner so we can pay our young guys when extension season comes up. This, combined with the fact that he isn’t clearly additive to our current group of players, really make the trade idea risky in my mind.
TLDR: Just read it.
4. I do not like watching Myles Turner play basketball
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 27: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 27, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 139-122. 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
I told you not all of these would be logical.
At the end of the day, I trust my eye, and my eye is consistently frustrated whenever Myles Turner is on the basketball court. He’s tall, and fast, and can shoot, and can jump, and yet he always leaves me wanting something more. He’s too jumpy on defense when his wingspan doesn’t require him to be. He’s too soft on offense when his athleticism could help him be a force. His hands are big but he can’t catch. He doesn’t move the ball, except in the direction of the hoop when he is contested and behind the three point line. He whines, and whines, and whines. He’s never giving me enough.
This tweet describes my feelings well;
He’s the starting center of a finals team but Myles turner is still raw in year 10 lmfao
Part of this is an aesthetic bias – I like my big men to be big men – and maybe part of this could be waved away if I watched more Pacers and Bucks games this past decade. However, my eyes have told me the same story for the majority of Myles Turner’s career; he’s missing something. Maybe it’s strength or toughness or decision making or something else entirely, but whatever it is, it has put a cap on just how positive he can be on the basketball court.
This isn’t to say that Myles Turner is a negative player, because I don’t think that’s true. His defense is a plus and his shooting can unlock certain offenses. I do not hate Myles Turner. However, it is to say that the type of player that Myles Turner is is not a player that I want to watch for 82 games and a playoff run. He’d block some big shots and hit some big threes and maybe even get a singular offensive rebound, but his flaws prevent me from ever being excited to add him to the roster. He can continue to do his thing for the rest of his career… but just not for my team.
TLDR: Watching Myles Turner makes me mad and I like to be happy.
So…what SHOULD the Jazz do?
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 1: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz and Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 1, 2025 at Delta Center 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For this season? Likely stand pat. With the additional cap flexibility that comes from trading Walker Kessler, the team has been afforded the luxury of patience. This season can be one for development while Nurkic fills in as a flawed but only short term option at center. We can attempt Jaren Jackson Jr. at center and verify if power forward really is his ideal position. Additionally, who knows which centers are available next trade deadline? Or the offseason after that? Perhaps the Thunder think it’s time to move on from Isaiah Hartenstein, or the Cavaliers cut ties with Jarrett Allen? It could be Wendell Carter or Neemias Queta or (don’t laugh at me) Nikola Jokic. We do not need to hurry into a player who doesn’t fit and a contract with downward potential.
We do not need to expect the Jazz to be contenders this year. It’s a fun exercise, but perhaps one not quite deserved. We’ve rooted for a losing team for so long, that the moment any marginal improvements are made, we naturally over-index. I do not believe that trading for Myles Turner would make us any more likely to contend for a title, but it is nonetheless a move that a team with aspirations for a deep playoff run would make. So let’s see what we have, at least at first; no need to trade our birthright for a mess of pottage.
What do you think on Myles Turner? Would you be in favor of a trade to add him to the team? Sound off below.
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
