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Warriors mailbag: The draft, the offseason, and Steve Kerr

Steve Kerr standing next to Draymond Green.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Draymond Green #23 (R) of the Golden State Warriors stands with head coach Steve Kerr during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The offseason is underway for the Golden State Warriors, which seemed like a good time to answer some mailbag questions. Thanks to everyone who responded to the prompt in The Feed.

ScottWarrior:
1. who do you like for the Warriors at 11?

2. Will the Warriors trade the pick or draft a player and keep him?

3. If you had to pick a number, how many seasons away are we from Steph’s retirement?

It’s hard to answer the first question without answering the second question first; and it’s hard to answer the second question! Ultimately, I think the Warriors will try fairly hard to trade the pick, simply because they’re going to explore every possibility to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and any other All-NBA caliber talent. I expect them to fail in that endeavor, which means they’ll probably keep the pick. Given what we know of the front office’s recent frustrations, it seems very unlikely to me that they would trade a lottery pick for a role player. Everything will be on the table for a star, but nothing will be on the table for a sixth man.

As to whom they pick, assuming they stay at No. 11, that also depends on so many factors. Most importantly: is Steve Kerr the coach? If so, then I would anticipate a polished player who can slot into the rotation fairly early — partially because that’s the type of player Kerr works best with, and partially because Kerr’s return increases the odds of signing/retaining quality veterans that can make the Warriors competitive, which will further enforce the idea of chasing the current timeline, rather than the future one.

For those reasons (I expect Kerr to stay), I like Yaxel Lendeborg. He’s one of the highest-floor prospects in the draft, and, critically, fits both the offensive and defensive schemes. I will sympathize with any and all calls for the Dubs to chase a higher-ceiling player, but I’m hesitant to do that towards the end of the lottery. If they luck out and get a top-four pick, on the other hand…

As for Steph Curry’s retirement, if I absolutely had to pick a number, I would say three more seasons (but I think four is far more likely than two). Curry is aging like the quality of wine that he can afford to drink (must be nice), but I don’t see him as a player who is going to attempt to keep his career around as long as possible. He has too many interests — his family, his potential golf career, his numerous business pursuits, among others — to chase every last minute on the court. And he deals with enough injuries and ailments that I can’t imagine the reward will be worth the price of admission in a few years.

Here’s my bold prediction though: Curry and the Warriors will go the same route as Buster Posey and the San Francisco Giants, with Curry becoming a minority owner and a member of the board within a few years of his retirement (just don’t expect him to pull a Posey and try to oust Mike Dunleavy Jr.).

SantaCruz351:
1. What’s your latest take on how likely Steve Kerr is to stay?

2. If he stays, how many more seasons?

thanks

I think at this point it is extremely likely that Kerr stays, for the reasons I laid out last week. If he had wanted to leave, he likely would have chosen that already. The longer the indecision drags on, the more likely he is to return, as it points to the meetings being about the details rather than actual decisions.

It does feel to me like the goal for the Warriors is to line up Kerr’s timeline with Curry’s, and I think that will happen. My prediction is that he re-signs on a three-year deal, with Curry signing a two-year extension this summer, and everyone can target the 2028-29 season as the final run for that historic duo.

SantaCruz351:
I thought of one more.

Since your post-game player grades are so interesting, how about doing Final player grades for the entire season? Sort of a basketball final exam if you will.

thanks

I have thought about doing that and this is a good reminder. I’ll get to it this week. Thanks!

Nopelongpause:
When will the fan base stop hating on Podz? Does he need to be traded as he’s

A. One of the only players they have that other teams would want and

B. So universally hated by the fans for no reason I can tell. (Heard people hating on his hair?)

Sort of a joke question but still

The disdain for Brandin Podziemski is at times odd, but at other times kind of funny. I will say though, this is a case where the internet is not always reflective of other forms of reality. Podz gets a lot of late from the online segment of the fanbase, but he’s still a pretty popular player at the arena. I would say the average fan loves his energy and heart, his willingness to put his body on the line to make any play, and his craftiness (his unending support of the Valkyries is also great).

But the online segment of the fanbase? Sometimes they just latch on to people. Podziemski has said a few corny things in his career, and as Karl-Anthony Towns has proven, no amount of success on the court will shake that label.

JDGJDG:
How in the world can the Warriors realistically become a legit contender again?

Well, they seem to think the answer is by acquiring a superstar. Antetokounmpo or Leonard, anyone? How about LeBron James?

That would certainly help, though it’s not particularly realistic, I fear. They’ll try like hell, though, and they’ve pulled it off before.

Otherwise, the plan is simple, if not particularly easy. They need a sprinkle of more talent and a dash of updating their schemes. I’m not fully convinced that the Warriors can’t be competitive running it back (which means re-signing Kristaps Porziņģis) and getting a healthy Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody for the second half of the season. But you can’t rely on that, so they need to do something a little more substantive (I’m curious to see if Porziņģis’ second-half surge boosted his value, and if he could be a sign-and-trade piece now, though I’m doubtful).

People will be quick to point out that the Warriors can’t rely on the health of Curry and Butler, and that’s true. But here’s the reality: the Warriors days of being title favorites are gone, and they’re not coming back for many, many years. But just because you’re not title favorites doesn’t mean you can’t be contenders, and just because you’re merely a contender doesn’t mean you can’t become a champion. Exhibit A: the Golden State Warriors in 2022.

If you’re a contender, you need a little bit of luck to really compete for a title, and for the next few years, that luck will likely have to come on the injury front if the Warriors have any chance of surpassing the West’s elite in the postseason.

Onepunman:
Will Draymond exercise his player option?

Draymond Green is a hard one to figure out. We know he wants to stay with the Warriors, but as he showed a few years ago when he almost signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, he also wants to play somewhere where he is appreciated and compensated accordingly. Green has been very introspective about his current relationship with the organization, and how he doesn’t want to hang around just to hang around. But with Kerr likely coming back, it seems all but certain that Golden State will want Draymond to stick around. So my guess is that he doesn’t exercise his player option, and instead negotiates a new deal three-year deal with the Warriors for a lower annual value. That will line him up with Curry and Kerr, while also giving the Warriors more flexibility this offseason.

scizzorhands:
Draft content. Options for trading down and/or trading to get more picks in the 2026 draft.

I’d be surprised if they trade their first-round pick for anything other than a star player. It seems unlikely that they would want to trade down to get more draft picks, and put more young, raw players on the roster, though they’ll probably do something in the second round, because that’s just what they do. But with the first-round pick, they’ll want to get the best player they can, rather than multiple lesser players.

Thanks for the questions, everyone!

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Gamethread 5/5: Athletics at Phillies

May 4, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) speaks during an interview after the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:

For the Athletics:

Let’s talk about it.

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Joe Ryan injury update: Twins ace grateful to 'dodge a bullet' with elbow

WASHINGTON – Joe Ryan got a second lease on the 2026 season. And now the Minnesota Twins hope that applies to them, too.

Ryan threw a scare into the entire organization on Sunday, May 3 when he exited his start against the Toronto Blue Jays after just two batters and nine pitches. Elbow soreness was the report, a nebulous diagnosis that had Twins fans spiraling for two days.

Ryan immediately left Target Field for an MRI and an already depleted organization braced for the worst, just two months after ace Pablo Lopez succumbed to Tommy John surgery in spring training.

But the MRI was clean and Tuesday, Ryan played catch without incident. He will throw a bullpen on Wednesday and, if all goes well, make his next scheduled start Saturday at Cleveland.

All normal stuff – and that’s a huge relief for Ryan given his state of mind after he motioned for manager Derek Shelton and left Sunday’s game under a cloud of uncertainty.

“Any time you dodge a bullet, you’re grateful for every day you get to come in and put the jersey on,” Ryan said Tuesday at Nationals Park, three hours before the Twins opened a three-game series at Washington. “That’s part of being in the big leagues – understanding that. I try to embrace that and not take anything for granted.

“Every day you get to do that, it’s a blessing. I think a little bit extra when you have a little bit of a scare like that.”

Especially when this burgeoning ace avoided major injury at such a key time in his career.

Ryan, who turns 30 in June, was a 2025 All-Star on his way to a career-best season: 194 strikeouts and a 1.04 WHIP in 171 innings over 30 starts. That seemed to increase the likelihood the rebuilding Twins would trade him in the offseason, but he stayed.

He’s posted a 3.72 ERA through his first eight starts this season, his second-to-last before becoming eligible for free agency. Naturally, the Twins would not be able to trade a potential ace rehabbing an elbow injury.

Yet it’s early enough this season that the 15-20 club can appreciate that its ace is structurally sound as it loiters within 2½ games of first in an AL Central where no team is above .500.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (41) walks off the field after pitching against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Target Field.

“It’s relief,” says Shelton, the Twins' first-year manager. "I think the eternal pessimist in me is like, ‘I’m gonna wait until we get through tomorrow.’

“But today was a really good sign, because he threw well, was able to throw his breaking ball.”

Ryan said he felt the pain Sunday facing the second batter, Kazuma Okamoto. He threw a couple more pitches and it persisted. Not excruciating, he said, though he’s felt lesser pain and it’s turned out to be a more calamitous injury.

“You never know,” says Ryan, who will earn $6.2 million this season, “until imaging comes back.”

Yet Shelton appreciated that Ryan removed himself from the game. Arms, especially elbows, are not to be messed with.

“The one really great thing about Joe is he’s probably as in tune with his body as much as any player I’ve been around,” says Shelton. “He can articulate really well what he’s feeling.”

Now the Twins hope to develop some consistency. They won 11 of their first 19 games, then lost 12 of their next 15, salvaging the final game against Toronto after Ryan departed.

“We’ve played really well, we’ve played not well, and we’ve played well and not won games,” says Shelton. “I think the thing I’m most pleased with is our effort and our ability to play a full 27 outs.

“This is a younger group. There’s going to be times we have ebbs and flows. We just have to keep going.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Ryan injury update, what we know about elbow

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Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds preview, Tuesday 5/5, 6:40 CT

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 4: Michael Conforto #20 of the Chicago Cubs hits a pinch hit walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on May 4, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tuesday notes…

  • STREAKING, PART 1: The Cubs have won 12 straight games at home. It is their 19th double-digit home winning streak of the Modern Era, which began in 1901, and their 15th at Wrigley Field, their home since 1916. This is their first such streak since they won 14 in a row, May 18-June 22, 2008. A 13-game streak in 2001 and a 10-game streak in 1998 are their only others of the kind since 1970. Their record is 18 straight, Sept. 4-22, 1935, during a surge that lifted them to the pennant. The 2008 streak was one of five of 14 games. The 2001 streak was the only one of 13. They also had a lone streak of 12, in 1927, for a total now of 10 streaks of at least 12 in a row. The 1927 streak was the only one that ended after 12 games, and did so with a thud: a 12-2 loss at home to the Phillies. The Cubs extended the 2001 streak to 13 by beating the Twins, 5-4. Ricky Gutierrez hit a two-run homer and Sammy Sosa added a solo shot. The 13th win in 2012 was by 3-1 over the Dodgers. Derrek Lee homered with one in the first and Aramis Ramirez homered in the eighth. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • STREAKING, PART 2: The Cubs are 16-3 in their last 19 games, their best 19-game record since they also were 16-3 from July 31-Aug. 20, 2016. They were 16-3 in four overlapping spans that season, in two in 2015, in three in 2001, in one in 1977 and two in 1967. They had an even 100 in 1903-45. The Cubs were 19-0 in three overlapping spans in 1935 and 18-1 in 20 spans, many overlapping, in 1906 and 1935. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • FACING THE REDS: This is the Cubs’ 83rd series vs. the Reds at Wrigley Field since 1994, first season of the Central Division. From 1969 through 1993, the Cubs were in the NL East and the Reds, for reasons that defy logic, were in the NL West. It is only the 17th of the 83 series at Wrigley that was scheduled to be more than three games. The Cubs swept four games in 2018. That is the only time they won even the first two games. They went 3-1 in four series, including the most recent before the current one, in 2023. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • SAVING THE DAY:The Cubs have had six different pitchers record saves already this year. In alphabetical order: Ben Brown, Corbin Martin, Hoby Milner, Daniel Palencia, Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb. Thielbar leads the team with two. Twelve different pitchers recorded saves for last year’s Cubs. Only five of those pitchers (Brown, Palencia, Rea, Thielbar and Jordan Wicks) are still in the Cubs organization.

Cubs lineup:

Reds lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Andrew Abbott, LHP

Jameson Taillon has had some good starts this year, some bad, some middling. The last one, last Wednesday in San Diego, was really good — seven innings, three runs, six strikeouts.

Last year against the Reds, he made two starts, throwing 13.1 innings and allowing three runs, with only one home run allowed. More of that would be good. Current Reds are batting .264 (28-for-106) against Jamo with seven home runs, two each by Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl. Keep the ball in the yard tonight, please, Jamo.

Andrew Abbott has had three good years for the Reds and has been tough on the Cubs: Seven starts, 2.56 ERA in 38.2 innings.

But this year, Abbott is off to a rough start. He’s allowed four or more runs in three of his seven starts, though the last one, April 30 vs. the Rockies, was pretty good (two runs in six innings).

Current Cubs are batting just .183 (17-for-93) against Abbott, but Seiya Suzuki has homered off him, and Dansby Swanson has taken him deep twice.

Despite a season OPS of .830 vs. LHP this year, the Cubs are just 5-5 vs. LH starters. Hopefully that changes tonight.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

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Benson Has “That Kind Of Smirk On His Face That Irritates You”

The Buffalo Sabres practiced on Tuesday in preparation for the opening of their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. The club finished off the Boston Bruins in six games, while Les Habitants went the full seven games with Tampa Bay. One of the keys to the Sabres' victory over the Bruins in the series finale was the play of youngster Zach Benson, who scored the insurance goal in the third period to give Buffalo some breathing room.

Throughout the series, the BC native was the focal point of the Bruins ire and an irritating presence on nearly every shift, something that Boston should be familiar with since they had Brad Marchand on their roster for 16 seasons. That pestiness provoked Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy to take a baseball swing at Benson after the Sabres winger tripped him near the end boards. 

"He's hard to play against. There's the pest that's real annoying, there's a pest that's really hard to play against, and I think he's a real hard player to play against," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "He plays the game the right way. He has the puck a lot. He can score. I mentioned yesterday that he's annoying, because he gets to the net all the time. He gets to the puck. He's the first touch. If he's not the first touch, he's all over you to try to get it back. Then he's got that kind of that smirk on his face that he irritates you too as an opposition player. It makes me smile when it annoys other people."

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

X factors in the Montreal-Buffalo series.

Benson has played over 200 games in the NHL since being drafted 13th overall in 2023 and posted a career-best 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists), but has slowly evolved into the role of an irritant and seems to enjoy chosen path.

"It's part of the game that he likes. Being in another team's face and being annoying and being called a pest. I don't think it's something that bothers him one bit." Sabres linemate Josh Doan said. "He enjoys this part of the game. It's that competitive side of him. He's not going to be the biggest guy and blow you up, so if he's going to get in your head, it's going to be from being annoying and stripping you or or crashing into your paint and being around your goalie as much as you can. I think he doesn't get as much credit for how strong he can be in those areas. It's not very easy to get him out of there, so over a long over a long series, it gets tiring."

It is likely that Benson will attempt to rile players such as Montreal defenseman Arber Xhekaj or forward Josh Anderson, hoping to draw the Canadiens more physical players into penalties. The Sabres will need to take advantage of those opportunities, after going 1 for 24 on the power play against the Bruins. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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Brandon Nimmo wants Mets 'to do well,' believes trade to Rangers was strictly 'a baseball decision'

Former Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo returned to New York as a visiting player for the first time on Tuesday, and even though he was in the Bronx to face the Yankees, he fielded many questions about his Mets tenure and the current state of the team.

“I want them to do well,” Nimmo said. “I’ve played here before when things aren’t going well, and it’s not fun. I wish the best for them, but also I’m trying to take care of things here and make sure we’re trying to play good baseball here.”

Nimmo, of course, was traded to the Rangers this past offseason in the deal that brought Marcus Semien to the Mets. The trade came just three years into Nimmo’s eight-year, $162 million contract, and he had to waive his no-trade clause to complete the deal. 

Nimmo said that he reached out to a lot of people before making his decision, including Pete Alonso, who told him the Mets hadn’t reached out to him at that point.

“When Pete said they hadn’t even reached out to him, there was definitely a lot of uncertainty as to which direction they were going. But ultimately, I had to make other phone calls and talk to other people and deliberate over it for many more days. So, it wasn’t just his conversation that went into it. I talked to dozens of people. It was just a piece of the puzzle that helped in the decision-making process.”

“I obviously would have loved to have seen Pete retire in a Mets uniform,” he later added. “He’s the Mets’ home run king and has all these titles that go along with it. I think that would have been awesome, but it wasn’t in the cards for what they felt like were the best baseball decisions.”

When president of baseball operations David Stearns traded Nimmo and let Alonso and Edwin Diaz depart in free agency, rumors swirled that there was an alleged rift in the Mets’ clubhouse, particularly between Nimmo and Francisco Lindor. 

Both players have since said there was no truth to those rumors, and Nimmo said again Tuesday that he thought his trade was purely a baseball move.

“I believe it was probably just a baseball decision. Like I said last year and even in these interviews in the spring, I really didn’t see anything wrong with the chemistry between the guys,” Nimmo said. “And if it was happening, I didn’t know about it, so they were keeping it hush-hush, which is kind of tough to do in a clubhouse where you spend most of the day with each other. But from my standpoint, I think it was a baseball decision, and I think it was something that David felt would better the New York Mets and (general manager Chris Young) felt would better the Texas Rangers.”

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Who are top picks in new AI NBA mock draft ahead of 2026 lottery?

The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is on Mother's Day this year, with every team that didn't make the playoffs seeking the gift of the right ping-pong ball combination on Sunday, May 10. A whole batch of franchises tanked this past season just to have a better shot at securing the best choice possible in what's considered a strong draft class. So much so that NBA commissioner Adam Silver is considering radical changes to the NBA draft lottery system.

Teams have been lining up for the top of the draft board. BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson of Kansas, Duke's Cameron Boozer and UNC freshman Caleb Wilson have largely been considered the best four prospects but in varying orders. The potential prizes extend beyond that this year, though. The latest first-round mock draft conducted by USA TODAY Sports through Microsoft Copilot's artificial intelligence chatbot shows – when compared to one done just two weeks earlier with the same team order – the perception of this draft is fluid before its exact order is known.

The top five picks remained the same, but there was plenty of movement from there. New prospects were elevated into the first round by AI or higher in the NBA draft pecking order with another two weeks of intel. Other players were dropped out of the top 30 selections. More will be decided over the next week or so, when the NBA Draft lottery and NBA Draft Scouting Combine are held in Chicago.

Here's Microsoft Copilot's latest 2026 NBA mock draft heading into the draft lottery, as curated by USA TODAY Sports

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2026 NBA mock draft by USA TODAY Sports

You can compare AI's picks to the latest USA TODAY 2026 NBA mock draft by clicking here.

2026 NBA mock draft: AI picks first round

USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot AI to generate a mock draft for the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft featuring only players who could be eligible this year. Microsoft Copilot assigned the draft order based on regular-season NBA records and the latest draft lottery tiebreakers, with the worst record getting the No. 1 pick and the best record getting the No. 30 pick. It used current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as team needs, prospect analysis and potential pick swaps/protections, to determine the first-round selections for each team in this exercise.

AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot had several picks inaccurately assigned to teams based on previous trades and pick swaps.

Here's a 2026 NBA first-round mock draft, according to Microsoft Copilot AI, as of May 5:

Note: The Hawks receive the better pick between the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks through a trade during the 2025 NBA draft. The Bucks get the lesser of the two selections.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA mock draft 2026: AI makes first-round picks for every team

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Smith to the i.l., Foscue up

MESA, AZ - FEBRUARY 21: Justin Foscue #56 of the Texas Rangers looks on during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on February 21, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Texas Rangers have placed infielder Josh Smith on the injured list with a right glute strain, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled infielder Justin Foscue.

Smith, who took over at second base this season for Marcus Semien, has gotten off to a difficult start to the 2026 season, putting up a .217/.324/.239 slash line while also having issues out in the field. In his previous two games he went 4 for 7 with a walk, with those four hits representing 20% of his hit total for the season, but he will now be sidelined for the time being.

Foscue, the Rangers’ first round pick in 2020, is in his fourth season at AAA Round Rock. He has slashed .287/.407/.426, with as many walks as strikeouts. He has split his time between first base, second base and DH this season. He will look to improve on his career major league slash line of .059/.094/.098 while he is up.

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Malachi Moreno nearly cracks the first round in new NBA Mock Draft

Mar 13, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) goes around Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) during the second half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Kentucky Wildcats are nearing completion of their 2026-2027 basketball roster, with just a couple more spots to fill.

Kentucky native Malachi Moreno was expected back on the team after he tested the NBA Draft waters. However, some recent draft rankings and projections have left some wondering if he could actually stay in this year’s draft.

The Georgetown (KY) native was mocked 31st overall to the New York Knicks in Jonathan Wasserman’s latest mock draft at Bleacher Report, one spot shy of the first round. His pro comparison was former Wildcat Nick Richards, who saw great success in his junior year in Lexington.

As a few players could potentially withdraw from the draft process in the coming weeks, Wasserman believes Moreno could be a first-round pick based on his size alone.

“With NIL bringing back a handful of first round guys, Malachi Moreno has a chance to capitalize on that during the draft process,” Wasserman said. “There is already enough intrigue around a 19-year-old, 7-footer with strong shot-blocking and passing metrics, plus some touch indicators. Certain teams would prefer to gamble on a freshman with Moreno’s tools, production, impact, and historically translatable/valued archetype, rather than a projected 23-year-old rookie in a shallow draft.

“Scrimmages at the NBA combine will represent a huge opportunity for Moreno to generate more first-round interest.“

Moreno was invited to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago next week. This is a huge opportunity for Moreno to showcase his size and athleticism in front of NBA scouts, teams, and front offices. The scrimmages will be aired on television as BBN and Mark Pope will be keeping a close eye on the 7-footer.

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Updated list of Bruins draft picks for 2026 and future years

Updated list of Bruins draft picks for 2026 and future years originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins, for the first time in a long while, have a boatload of picks in the upcoming NHL Drafts.

Most notably, they have five first-round picks in the next three drafts, including the possibility of having three of them in the 2028 draft.

The Bruins did not get lucky in Tuesday night’s 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.

They had a 58.2 percent chance of getting the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top-five protected 2026 first-round pick. But the Leafs won the lottery and will pick No. 1 overall. As a result, they will give the Bruins a 2027 or 2028 first-round pick to complete the Brandon Carlo trade from March of 2025.

  • If the Leafs’ 2027 pick is outside the top 10, it goes to the Flyers. The Bruins would then get the Leafs’ unprotected 2028 first-round pick.
  • If the Leafs’ 2027 pick is inside the top 10, they can choose to give it to the Flyers or Bruins. The team not chosen will get Toronto’s unprotected 2028 first-rounder.

What will the Bruins do with all these draft picks?

They can use all or most of them to add talented young players to the organization and bolster a prospect pool that still lacks high-end talent. The Athletic ranked the Bruins’ prospect pool 30th out of 32 teams in 2025, but it improved to the 19th-ranked prospect pool in this year’s rankings after a strong 2025 draft and other prospects showing on-ice improvement.

That’s an impressive jump, but it’s still middle of the pack.

The Bruins could also use some of these draft picks as trade chips to acquire immediate help. The B’s desperately need another top-six forward (preferably a center) and a top-four defenseman.

The players that make up Boston’s core are largely in the win-now portion of their careers, so it would make sense for the Bruins to prioritize adding veteran help to the roster after this season’s playoff run.

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Wild vs Avalanche Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 2

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Nazem Kadri was a standout in Game 1, leading all players in shots on goal and scoring a goal in the process.

Our Wild vs. Avalanche predictions expect another active offensive night from Kadri in Game 2, with plenty of involvement around the net once again.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Tuesday, May 5.

  • UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & goal scorer pick.

Wild vs Avalanche Game 2 prediction

Who will win Wild vs Avalanche Game 2?

Avalanche:Cale Makar missed almost the entire opening period, and the Colorado Avalanche still scored nine goals while generating 17 high-danger chances. They have an unmatched level of firepower, and the Minnesota Wild aren’t stout enough defensively to slow them down.

Wild vs Avalanche best bet: Nazem Kadri Over 2.5 shots on goal (+115)

Nazem Kadri was a one-man shooting gallery in the series opener, generating a game-high eight shots on nine attempts.

Kadri’s shooting success against the Minnesota Wild is nothing new. He has averaged 4.4 shots on 6.8 attempts over five head-to-head matchups this season.

That should come as no surprise given the Wild allowed the fourth-most shots to centers during the regular season.

They also ranked 29th in defending the slot, which is where Kadri likes to set up home base — at both 5-on-5 and on the power play.

Wild vs Avalanche Game 2 same-game parlay

Kadri spent a lot of his 5-on-5 time against the Michael McCarron line, which is a matchup that favors the Colorado Avalanche. He also skated on the top power play unit alongside Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, et al.

That is very favorable usage, and makes Kadri a likely candidate to find success in Game 2.

Mats Zuccarello has recorded multiple shots on goal in nine of the last 11 against the Avalanche, including Game 1. With so much attention paid to Kirill Kaprizov, there will be opportunities for Zuccarello.

Wild vs Avalanche SGP

  • Nazem Kadri Over 2.5 shots on goal
  • Nazem Kadri Over 0.5 points
  • Mats Zuccarello Over 1.5 shots on goal

Wild vs Avalanche Game 2 goal scorer pick

Brock Nelson (+305)

Brock Nelson had plenty of good looks in Game 1. He generated six scoring chances, trailing only Kadri and Ryan Hartman – both of whom found the back of the net. 

Nelson is a plus-finisher and the Wild bleed shots to centers, making him a standout value play at such a high price.

Wild vs Avalanche odds for Game 2

  • Moneyline: Minneosta +160 | Colorado -190
  • Puck Line: Minnesota +1.5 (-145) | Colorado -1.5 (+125)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Wild vs Avalanche trend

Nazem Kadri has picked up a point in five of his last six home games against Minnesota. Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs. Avalanche.

How to watch Wild vs Avalanche Game 2

LocationBall Arena, Denver, CO
DateTuesday, May 5, 2026
Puck drop8:00 p.m. ET
TVESPN, CBC

Wild vs Avalanche latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Yankees Injury Notes: Latest on Ben Rice, Carlos Rodon on cusp of return

Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided updates on a few injured players ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Rangers...

Ben Rice's progress

The young Yankees slugger is out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game after getting hit awkwardly with a Max Fried pickoff attempt in Sunday's matchup with the Orioles.

The Yankees skipper was asked what Rice would need to do to be used off the bench, and Boone said the next few hours will determine the first baseman's availability. 

"He hasn’t really started hitting yet," Boone said. "If he starts doing some light hitting and then can ramp it up even more, and do the things he needs to do to get a swing off, then we’ll have a conversation. We’ll see how the next few hours are here."

Rice has been the Yankees' most consistent hitter and their most dangerous bat alongside Aaron Judge. In 33 games, Rice is hitting .342 with an OPS of 1.214 to go along with his 12 home runs and 27 RBI. 

Carlos Rodon's next start 

Rodon is set to make his latest rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday night. Boone was asked if everything went well in this start, whether the southpaw's next step will be to return to the Yankees, and the manager confirmed that.

Tuesday will be Rodon's third rehab start since offseason elbow surgery. His first start was with High-A Hudson Valley, where he allowed one hit and one walk over 4.1 innings. His second start saw him dominate Double-A with Somerset. Rodon struck out eight batters and allowed one run on five hits across 5.1 innings on April 30.

 

Latest on Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole

Boone was also asked about both Stanton and Cole, and where they both were in their separate recoveries.

On Stanton, Boone revealed that the slugger has started to hit in the cage but is still not running as he recovers from a calf strain. Boone did say the calf injury is lingering a "little bit" but they are taking their time with it.  

"It still feels minor, but not ready to push it yet," Boone said.

As for Cole, Boone was asked if the former Cy Young winner was going to make a couple of more starts before returning to the team. The Yankees skipper tempered expectations, saying Cole is "still a little ways away." 

Cole is set to take the mound for High-A Hudson Valley on Tuesday night. The right-hander has made three previous rehab starts between Hudson Valley and Somerset. In those starts, he's allowed a combined seven earned runs across 14.1 innings (4.40 ERA), allowing 11 hits, one walk and striking out 10 batters. 

 

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Bryce Elder gets the ball with Braves’ series streak on the line

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 30: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Truist Park on April 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images) | Getty Images

So, it’s come down to this. With the 2026 Braves’ haven’t-lost-a-series-yet streak on the line, it’s up to Bryce Elder and his teammates to win tonight, and then hopefully win tomorrow as well to keep it rolling.

Elder started off the season in exciting fashion, with three stellar starts and one hiccup. Since then, there hasn’t been much to write home about unless you really enjoy penning missives about his low HR/FB rate. He had a 6/2 K/BB ratio with a dinger given up against the Nationals, then a 2/1 K/BB ratio in seven innings (somehow) against the Phillies, and then a really weird start last time out where he had a 5/3 K/BB ratio and the lowest groundball rate of his career against the Tigers. The Braves lost each of those last two outings.

On the season, Elder has a 46/78/97 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-). Over those last three starts, it’s 78/88/111. For his career, his line is now 102/104/100. For all the changes he’s made, he’s definitely looked, in aggregate, like the same ol’ Bryce Elder… just with all the benefits that come with a much lower HR/FB rate.

Elder’s mound opponent will be George Kirby, who has had a much better career to date, but has a similar-if-you-squint 2026. Kirby was a bit homer-prone (three dingers) but highly effective in his first four outings (83/92/80), but has been more meh and reliant on not giving up homers in three starts since (66/87/107). Even so, the Mariners have won all three of those outings, and four of his starts in a row overall. This game could very well come down to which hurler the HR/FB gods decide to smile on with greater frequency.

Overall, Kirby is a very good 93/82/84 guy for his career, with over 4 fWAR per 200 innings pitched accumulated so far. He had a couple of 4+ fWAR seasons in 2023 and 2024, and could’ve gotten somewhere around there in 2025 had he not gotten a late start due to some inflammation in his throwing shoulder. He’s probably something like a top 20 arm in MLB, though his strikeout rate is seriously diminished this year, which appears to be related to some issues he’s having getting his four-seamer to carry the way it did previously.

Elder has one career start against the Mariners, which came in Atlanta back when he was Good Start of 2023 Elder: a 6/1 K/BB ratio in six innings. Kirby has two career starts against the Braves: one where he dominated them in 2022 in Seattle, and another where he lasted seven innings but took a loss despite a 6/1 K/BB ratio thanks to a dinger and some other well-struck balls back in 2023.

With Raisel Iglesias back in the fold and everyone in the bullpen theoretically available sans Tyler Kinley, who gave up the game-winning homer last night, the Braves could have an opportunity to shorten the game — provided that Elder, HR/FB, and the bats-versus-Kirby cooperate.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, May 5, 9:40 p.m. EDT

Location: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

TV: BravesVision, Gray TV

Streaming: MLB.tv (and Braves.tv if you’re in-market, etc.)

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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LeBron James couldn’t believe he was on the floor with Bronny, torching Rockets

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 24: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 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

From Luke Kennard’s Game 1 performance, to Marcus Smart’s offensive surge in Game 2, to Deandre Ayton’s play in Game 6, there were so many great moments for the Lakers during their series win over the Rockets.

While LA’s victory lap has to come to an end as they prepare to face the Thunder in the second round, one lasting memory that deserves an immediate look back is the string of plays LeBron James and Bronny had in Game 3.

With the Lakers looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead and needing a road win to do so, the family duo delivered.

James set a screen for Bronny and he nailed the three. On the next possession, LeBron lobbed it to Bronny, who converted a reverse layup to give LA a 12-point advantage.

LeBron piled on another five straight points, meaning the James family had scored 10 consecutive Lakers points. During Tuesday’s episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast, LeBron reflected on the iconic moment.

“We had that mini-run between the two of us, and that was just something that I will never, ever forget. Something that I’ve learned, obviously, at my elder stage and being 41 years old to kind of like appreciate the small wins in the moment. That was one of the moments where I kind of, I’ve always, like, always been locked in, and that moment right there, throwing him the lob, seeing him make the three, we kind of going back and forth, I kind of blanked out for a little bit and just really accepted and relished in that moment.

“That’s pretty cool for me as a dad. And then us as colleagues and then our whole family, like, I think I mentioned at one point, like my mom being at the game and her being able to watch her son and grandson in a postseason game at the same time. My wife was there. His sister was there. I think Bryce was back home from college. You can’t even write that script in Hollywood better than what’s going on. So just being super appreciative of it.”

After all the hoopla and screaming about nepotism and privilege, it’s great to see that Bronny has silenced those ridiculous criticisms. He stepped up for a shorthanded Lakers team and played meaningful, playoff minutes for LA during the early parts of that series.

Thanks in part to Bronny’s efforts, the Lakers survived without Austin Reaves, and now that he’s back, they’ve advanced to the next round.

LeBron should take this all in as much as he can because these moments are still amazingly cool and unique. Absolutes aren’t wise to say in any sport, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever see another father-son duo playing at that high a level in the NBA again.

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