LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a double during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are lofty expectations for anyone that gets signed to a contract with an annual average value of $60 million. In the case of Kyle Tucker, it appeared as though the expectations were too tough to reach throughout the beginning of the season.
Tucker was performing at a below league-average rate over his first 33 games of the season, as he slashed .236/.322/.362 while having dropped in the lineup considerably from second on opening day to hitting routinely in the cleanup and five spots in the lineup. Since the Dodgers went into Houston to face Tucker’s old team, the outfielder has found a new gear at the plate and has been one of the Dodgers’ hottest hitters over his last 10 games.
Tucker has a .323 batting average over his last 10 games since the series opener against the Astros, and while the home run power hasn’t broken through, he has five doubles and as many walks as strikeouts. Dave Roberts knows that is still more to come from Tucker at the plate, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“Yes, I think Kyle has looked better the last week. Still not right, for me – and for him,” Roberts said. “I think he is taking much better at-bats. I think he’s been much more consistent controlling the strike zone and not chasing as much which has led to a lot more contact and some hits.”
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Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for a second straight game on Thursday, but it didn’t matter too much in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants to split the four-game set. Ohtani gave Dave Roberts the “ok” to sit out on Thursday in an effort to keep him fresh for the team’s upcoming nine-game road trip, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
Said Ohtani, through interpreter Will Ireton: “I talked to the team, and I’m good with it. My last at-bat as a hitter [Tuesday] was really good, so I want to continue that momentum whenever I get to hit again. … Tomorrow’s a day for me to work on that and make sure that that’s really my body, and to make sure that I can do that during a game.”
Kiké Hernández is in the thick of his rehab assignment, and that included a series against the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes— the former Triple-A affiliate of the Dodgers. Expecting to receive boos, Hernández was thrown off by the amount of love he received from the Albuquerque fans, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.
“A little bit shocked. Slightly embarrassed, but good,” he told reporters, including Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal, before the Comets’ 8-2 loss on Wednesday.
Quins’ resident New Zealander has some fascinating and forthright views, not least regarding England’s World Cup prospects
After 18 years it is almost time to say farewell to Harlequins’ resident Kiwi. Not every overseas recruit becomes part of the fabric of a team thousands of miles from home but that has long been the case with Nick Evans, a Prem winner with Quins as a player and a coach in 2012 and 2021 respectively. As the former All Blacks fly-half conceded this week: “It’s going to be really hard to let go of this club.”
And vice versa. During his playing days the skilful, popular Evans personified everything good about the way Quins approached the game. As a coach, he has been similarly positive, endlessly seeking fresh ways to crack opposition defences. Quins may have endured a disappointing season, but that should not tarnish the sizeable contribution that Evans, now 45, has made during his residency at the Stoop.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 09: A general view of the scoreboard before the San Francisco Giants play the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park on August 09, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The San Francisco Giants are on the “road” this weekend (I use that word very loosely, because they will be in Sacramento) so I think it’s time for another temp-check to see how we’re feeling about the team right now.
Every time I have to take time off during the season, I always feel the overwhelming urge to burst in here like Daveed Diggs in the opening of the second act of Hamilton, with a “What did I miss?”
Thankfully for all of you, this is not an audio or visual medium. But the sentiment stands.
I have been completely off the grid for nearly two weeks, and I’m thoroughly confused about what is going on. It feels like the last time I was here, Patrick Bailey was being celebrated for home run heroics against the Dodgers. Now I’m back, and the team is still playing the Dodgers (as of the time this is being written), and Bailey is gone.
Okay, then. I didn’t see that one coming. But I guess I’ll trust Buster Posey’s judgement on catchers. Given the fact that he is, in fact, Buster Posey.
Let’s see, what else have I missed? I see that they are still doing their absolute best to avoid even a .500 record, so clearly my early season predictions were a little too optimistic. But I guess it’s still early, and as we’ve established, I’ve missed a couple of weeks.
So I want to hear from you guys. How are we feeling about the team/season at the moment?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants begin their three-game series against the Athletics tonight at 6:40 p.m. PT.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 03: Trey Gibson #43 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 03, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Trey Gibson started and limited Charlotte to one run over four innings. After a brief stint in the Orioles bullpen, the organization limited Gibson to 65 pitches. He threw 41 strikes. The 23-year-old allowed four hits, three walks, and struck out five.
Trace Bright piggybacked Gibson and ran into some trouble. The righty allowed three earned runs on seven hits. He struck out six, but was done in by three Charlotte homers.
The Tides failed to match the Knights power. The team loaded the bases in the top of the eighth, but Sam Huff grounded into a double play. The contact led to Norfolk’s only run, but the twin killing ended any attempt at a rally. The team finished 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Thomas Sosa drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, but Chesapeake’s defense gave this one away at the end. The RubberDucks tied the game on a squeeze play. Akron got the winning run to second, and he came all the way around to score on an infield single to second base.
The outcome spoiled a solid outing by Juaron Watts-Brown. The former Blue Jays prospect limited Akron to only one hit over four scoreless innings. He struck out five and issued four free passes.
High-A: Frederick Keys 5, Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) 4
Yeiber Cartaya kept his season ERA below one with 4.1 solid innings. Cartaya actually allowed two runs, but only one was determined to be earned. He struck out three and walked three.
Keagan Gillies, Chandler Marsh and Joe Glassey teamed up to pitch 4.2 innings of scoreless relief. The trio combined to allow only one hit and struck out eight.
Elis Cuevas smacked his sixth home run of the year during a five-run seventh. The blast capped a 3-for-4 night with four RBIs and two runs scored. Wehiwa Aloy finished 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Leandro Arias doubled in four trips, and Braylin Tavera went 1-for-4 with a run scored from the leadoff spot. Ike Irish went 0-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts.
Christian Rodriguez added to a strong night of starting pitching on the farm. Rodriguez held Fayetteville to only one hit over 4.2 innings. He struck out eight and walked three.
Unfortunately, the Woodpeckers managed six runs against Delmarva’s bullpen. The Shorebirds attempted to battle back with three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but a two-run single by Stiven Martinez and a throwing error were not enough to get Delmarva back in the game.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 3: Pitching coach Alon Leichman (77) of the Colorado Rockies and catcher Hunter Goodman (15) of the Colorado Rockies come to the mound to talk to pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) of the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of the Rockies' season home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Coors Field in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
I’ll be the first to admit that I was excited about the Rockies signing Michael Lorenzen this offseason.
With the new front office being high on him and the 34-year-old’s affinity for problem-solving and a seven-pitch mix, I bought into the hype. I even predicted Lorenzen, who signed a one-year deal worth $8 million in January, would record a career-high 10 wins this season.
Ten appearances — including nine starts — into the season, my optimism has worn thin. Lorenzen is leading MLB in hits surrendered with 67. And it’s not even close, as Cincinnati’s Brady Singer is second with 58. Minnesota’s Simeon Woods Richardson recently edged out Lorenzen for most earned runs given up at 36, while the Colorado RHP has 32.
Lorenzen has a 6.55 ERA in 44 innings — which is the worst in baseball among qualified players — and is 2-5 on the season. Lorenzen has not come close to solving Coors Field as he has a 9.64 ERA in four appearances there (18.2 innings) vs. a 4.26 mark in six appearances (25.1 IP) on the road.
Overall, opponents are hitting .347 with him with an xBA of .314. The xBA, his 114.2 max exit velocity, the .415 xOBA and 14.7% strikeout rate are all career-worsts for Lorenzen.
What’s most worrying about Lorenzen’s numbers is his high batting average on balls in play (BABIP) at .385, a hard-hit % of 50.3 and a barrel % of 9.3. The league average is around .300 for BABIP, 35-40% for hard-hit percentage and 6-7% for barrels. BABIP takes out homers, strikeouts, walks, and HBP and favors bloopers, line drives, poor defense, and ballpark gaps.
A high BABIP can be a mark of bad luck on its own, but paired with batters hitting the ball hard (at 95 mph or higher) and squaring the baseball up for barrels, it reduces the odds of bad luck and is more of an indicator of bad pitching.
In Lorenzen’s defense, he’s had some solid outings this season. His best game was his lone Quality Start when he gave up one run on seven hits in seven innings in New York against the Mets. Despite giving up 12 hard-hit balls, which is a season-high mark, Lorenzen’s curveball, sinker and cutter were working well.
He walked zero, struck out three and gave up only one double (six singles).
Lorenzen has two starts where he’s given up two runs or fewer, including the May 12 performance against Pittsburgh, where he was outdueled by Paul Skenes. In his five-inning outing, Lorenzen gave up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks, limiting the Pirates to three hard-hit balls. A big reason for his success was the command of his changeup and the steady 95-mph velocity of his four-seam fastball.
After the game, Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer was pleased with Lorenzen’s start.
“Breaking balls were good. I thought he was attacking very good. His fastball maintained velocity all night,” Schaeffer said. “I thought he was really good. He matched [Skenes]. Michael was good for us. That’s what we expect from him.”
Earlier in May, MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa documented Lorenzen’s high BABIP, especially at Coors Field, blaming bad luck. Lorenzen explained that he believes he is pitching well and his BABIP is bound to shrink.
“It’s kind of just challeng[ing] them to put the ball in play, and just a lot of bloops that are hit over second base on changeups, sinkers in that are jammed,” Lorenzen said. “I’m making good pitches, I’m throwing the right pitches. Just things aren’t going my way.”
Considering the elevated hard-hit % and barrels, this might be wishful thinking. At the same time, Lorenzen does have a low walk rate (6.6%) and a good ground ball rate (46.3%), which shows he is doing some things right. He’s proven he can have success, but it comes when his changeup, curveball, sinker and cutter are working and the four-seam fastball isn’t the go-to pitch.
However, Lorenzen has only made it to the sixth inning three times and is consistently getting shelled. After discussing Lorenzen’s early tenure with the Rockies with the wonderful Broomfield Baseball Club this week, it’s clear to see I am not the only one who’s doubting Lorenzen. The group, which meets monthly at the Broomfield Public Library, had several thoughts. Lorenzen might not have the durability to stay in the Rockies rotation, or, if he does, he’ll require a long reliever more often than not. He may have to move to the bullpen. Perhaps the front office will decide the Lorenzen experiment didn’t work and he’ll be shipped out of town by the trade deadline (if a team will take him).
After giving up seven runs on 11 hits with three walks, two strikeouts and 10 hard-hit balls on May 6 at Coors Field against the Mets, Lorenzen remained confident his numbers would even out.
“You just have to keep doing it and trust that baseball’s going to change,” Lorenzen told Randhawa. “You can’t have a .450 BABIP all year. So you just have to kind of hope that at some point it changes. … I feel like I’m making progress. Today’s the best I’ve felt in a really long time, mechanically. I’m happy with how I feel. And the numbers aren’t supporting it.”
His start in Pittsburgh supported that, but it was on the road. The next test will be when the Rockies return to Coors Field when Lorenzen is scheduled to start against the Diamondbacks on May 17.
The Isotopes scored nine runs in the last three innings, shrinking an 8-1 deficit, but the comeback still came up short on Thursday night. The late surge was powered by a three-run homer by Blaine Crim, who also doubled and scored another run. Vimael Machín hit a two-run double, while Cole Carrigg tripled and added an RBI single. Zac Veen and Braxton Fulford each chipped in RBI singles, and Drew Avans drove in a run with a sac fly.
Cole Messina homered, Andy Perez went 4-for-5 and Bryant Betancourt added two hits as the Yard Goats out-hit the Sea Dogs 10-7, but it wasn’t enough for Hartford. Portland jumped out to a 3-0 in the second inning by getting three hits, including a homer, against Sam Weatherly (0-2). Blake Adams took over for the next five innings, but gave up two more runs that ended up deciding the game. Jimmy Obertop added a double for Hartford, Zach Kokoska singled and scored a run and GJ Hill scored a run for the Yard Goats.
Spokane jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but it didn’t last long. The Hops tied it up in the bottom of the frame and continued to add one-run tallies in the second, third, fifth and seventh on their way to victory. Caleb Hobson started the game with a single for the Indians, stole second and reached third on an error. He came around to score on a Royneir Hernandez single to put Spokane up 1-0. Max Belyeu doubled to move Hernandez to third and a wild pitch allowed Hernandez to score to make up the Indians runs. Belyeu finished with three hits, while Kelvin Hidalgo added two. Lebarron Johnson Jr. took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in four innings.
Ethan Holliday hit his seventh homer of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning, Carlos Renzullo hit a two-run triple in the seventh inning and Roldy Brito and Derek Bernard each recorded RBI doubles in Fresno’s 15-hit victory on Thursday night. Tanner Thach added three hits, drove in a run and scored a run and Clayton Gray went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Riley Kelly struck out eight batters, giving up two runs on two hits with five walks in 4.1 innings for the win. Jhon Medina allowed one run in 1.1 innings and Manuel Oliveras added 3.1 scoreless innings to help the Grizzlies win.
The young pitcher left in the second inning with right arm tightness. Dollander and the Rockies coaching staff aren’t saying a lot about the seriousness of the injury. Dollander will likely undergo imaging before more information is released. Read more about the game here.
Cristian Crespo dives into some of the successes of Rockies prospects like Cole Carrigg, Roc Riggio, Andy Perez, Jacob Humphrey and more across all four levels.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 13: Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Red Sox are starting to pitch like the rotation they were built to be over the offseason. That’s even with Garrett Crochet still on the shelf as he strengthens his way back from left shoulder inflammation.
A big part of better turns through the rotation lately comes from a solid run of starts from Sonny Gray. His ERA didn’t jump off the page from his final years in St. Louis, but his metrics were encouraging to the point that the Red Sox made the move to trade for him this winter.
He didn’t have his rhythm immediately in April and spent some time on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Gray clearly found something in his return as he’s allowed just one earned run in 11 innings since his activation off the injured list.
The veteran right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA through his first seven starts in a Red Sox uniform. He’s settled into a role without the pressure to lead a return. Crochet will be back and Ranger Suarez also started to throw the ball exceptionally well in recent weeks. As a result, Gray can be himself and go to work on the mound.
All the recent signs are encouraging for Gray as of late and nobody in the Red Sox community wants him to succeed more than the person who still plays his 2013 ALDS highlights on loop (wonder who that might be). With that said, two metrics for Gray are worth keeping an eye on if his production slips this summer.
Gray’s K/9 sits at 5.8 after his most recent start. For reference, he struck out at least 10 per nine innings in each of his final two seasons with the Cardinals. The Boston starter also holds an ERA-FIP gap of 1.01 (4.19 FIP). No need for real concern yet, just something to monitor as the season develops closer to hitter-friendly environments.
Obviously, none of the rotation growth matters if the Red Sox don’t start scoring more runs. In the meantime, the Gray trade looks strong for the health of the pitching staff in 2026.
Happy Friday, everyone! Hopefully, it’s been a good week, and you’re set to enjoy your weekend. To ease you into the final day of the week, we’ve got an assortment of baseball news for you to enjoy. We’re taking a look at the early discussions regarding the CBA and a potential salary cap, the new tentative Rays stadium deal, bad luck injury news for Cal Raleigh (who just busted his slump in the strangest way), and a surprising turn for the White Sox who… are playing winning baseball?
We’ve got all that and more in today’s news, so grab a coffee and enjoy!
A scary update from a recent White Sox game. Stay safe out there, friends!
There's an update regarding the delay in the 4th inning. A fan fell into the visiting team bullpen. That fan has now been transported to the hospital for treatment.
A.J. Ewing hit his first major league home run, Nolan McLean got through seven innings, and the Mets hit a total of five home runs as they completed a sweep of the Tigers yesterday at Citi Field.
Ewing’s home run traveled 405 feet, and here’s something you might not have known about the 21-year-old: When he’s not on the field, he plays guitar to take his mind off the game.
Before the game, the Mets provided injury updates on Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez, as the former has shown signs of healing in his calf but still doesn’t have a timeline for returning, while the latter had surgery that will very likely keep him out until mid-July.
The Mets will appear on three different networks this weekend as they host the Yankees: Apple TV has the game tonight, FOX has the game tomorrow, and the series finale on Sunday will mercifully be on SNY.
Ranger Suárez struck out eight in five-and-one-third scoreless innings against the Phillies, the only team he’d ever pitched for until signing with the Red Sox in free agency, but Philadelphia scored three runs in the eighth and beat Boston.
The White Sox continue to be one of the most surprising teams in baseball, as they completed a sweep of the Royals to put themselves over .500 for the first time since Opening Day of the 2025 season.
Former Met Justin Turner couldn’t get a gig with a major league club coming off his disappointing year at the plate in 2025—and blames the game putting too much weight in “data sheets” for not even getting a non-roster invitation—but he’s thriving as he continues to play baseball in Tijuana.
This Date in Mets History
Pat Mahomes recorded the win against the Phillies in his Shea Stadium debut on this date in 1999.
Feb 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates against the Orlando Magic in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.
Player Snapshot
Position: PG/SG
Age: 27
2026-27 Contract Status: UFA (Early Bird Rights)
SunsRank (Preseason): 13
SunsRank (Postseason): 7
*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.
Season in One Sentence
Jordan Goodwin deserves a lot of credit for the culture shift that occurred in Phoenix this season.
By the Numbers
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
70
22.5
8.7
4.9
2.2
1.5
41.3%
37.1%
69.6%
113.4
110.1
+93
The Expectation
Some people wanted to roster Jared Butler over Jordan Goodwin during the preseason. Boy oh boy, are we glad that the Suns’ front office didn’t listen to them, all due respect to Butler, who did look great in the preseason. The Phoenix Suns knew what they had in “Goodie.” He was a major piece of the identity they wanted to create.
Jordan Goodwin was the unsung hero of the Phoenix Suns this season. While many were excited to see him return, I find it unlikely anyone knew just how good and important he would be for this team. The tenacity he brought on a nightly basis was infectious.
But we already knew that. What we didn’t expect was for him to shoot 37.1% from deep on a healthy amount of attempts per game. His 4.3 attempts from deep per game were a career-high. He shot 39.2 with the Lakers in 29 games the previous year, but that was only on 2.3 attempts per game. It was a precursor for what was to come. Thanks again, LA!
The Reality
Watching Jordan Goodwin this season felt like watching a guy who refused to let the Suns’ “fragile” identity take hold. Goodwin’s evolution from a bench “insurance policy” into the 2026 Dan Majerle Hustle Award winner was fun to watch.
We all saw it all year long. Goodwin didn’t just play basketball; he attacked opponents relentlessly. He finished the year averaging a career-high 1.5 steals per game, often acting as the lone point-of-attack defender capable of making life miserable for opposing guards.
His shooting, once a major red flag, stabilized at a respectable 37.1% from deep. This proved he could stay on the floor next to Devin Booker without killing the spacing, providing a much-needed physical presence in a backcourt that can sometimes lean too heavily on finesse. Despite being a guard, he was the Suns’ second-best offensive rebounder behind only Mark Williams, averaging 2.0 offensive boards per game. His 4.9 rebounds per game were third on the team behind only Williams and Ighodaro.
What It Means
This was an investment in grit. Goodwin leaped from 13th to 7th in our SunsRank for a simple reason: he brought it every single night. He looked mature. He knew his role. He didn’t ever force anything offensively and usually made the smart play. He’d take the open shot, he’d find a lane to cut in, he’d make the extra pass. All of the little things you need your role players to do, he embraced.
As an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Suns have no choice. They need to prioritize retaining Goodwin this summer. You can find guards who can score anywhere, but finding a “junkyard dog” who actually impacts the win column is a much harder task. I’ll say it again, he and Dillon Brooks are the identity of this team. It’s still Devin Booker’s team, but those two are the heart and the soul that we need to keep around to keep this thing moving in the right direction.
“That’s our culture – that’s the minimum,” Goodwin said. “We’re going to go in and play hard every single day.”
“When you walk into the building, you can’t escape it,” Ott said. “That’s what you want to build. You want to build a group so competitive that if you don’t play hard, you’re the outlier.”
And my goodness did the Suns miss him in the OKC series. He is the exact player they needed to play 40+ minutes against a team like the Thunder. His absence wasn’t talked about enough. Yes, they missed Mark’s size, but Goodwin being out was the true backbreaker.
Defining Moment
January 4, 2026 vs. Oklahoma City: In a mid-season preview of the eventual playoff matchup, Goodwin was unconscious from deep.
He exploded for a team-high 26 points and drained 8 three-pointers to carry Phoenix to a 108-105 win. He made some clutch defensive plays, but when the offense is rolling like that for him, too, it’s fun to watch. And yes, this was the night of the Devin Booker game winner. One of our favorite wins of the season, and make no mistake… that shot doesn’t happen without Goodwin’s game.
Grade: A+
Yes, that’s a plus. Goodwin exceeded every reasonable expectation. He provided elite perimeter defense, solved his shooting woes, and became the physical heartbeat of a team that desperately needed one. He was an elite rebounder for a team that desperately needed it, too.
If he doesn’t return next season, we riot.
I would expect the Suns top priorities this offseason to be 1. Retaining Collin Gillespie 2. Retaining Jordan Goodwin
The year is 2015 and Dwight Powell is a bench player on the Dallas Mavericks. They are a middling team that will lose in the first round of the playoffs. The year is 2021 and Powell is a bench player on the Mavericks. They are a young, exciting team that will lose in the first round of the playoffs. The year is 2024 and Powell is a bench player on the Mavericks. They are an electric collection of shooters and defenders that will reach the NBA Finals. The year is 2026 and Powell is a bench player on the Mavericks. They are a weird, bad team that will finish in the bottom ten of the league.
The last decade of basketball in Dallas has featured just about every type of team, except a championship team, and Powell has been around for all of them. He’s seen lots of different roles—young prospect, possible trade piece, important rotation player, starter in a pinch when the team is plagued by injuries, and now, veteran presence off the bench who contributes from time to time.
This Mavericks season was one of the weirdest in recent memory, and they’re lucky Powell was on the roster to guide a constantly changing lineup through a rough year. He didn’t have a resurgent year where he put up big numbers, but he was there to provide big man minutes when every other big man went down with injuries and kept the Mavericks’ culture from turning toxic. Powell is unofficial mayor of Dallas, after all.
Season in review
Powell put up some respectable numbers for a bench player on a bad team. Over 63 games and 12 starts, he averaged 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and one assist per game. Again, not eyepopping numbers, but the Mavericks didn’t need big numbers from Powell. He’s on the team to be a veteran presence for all the young players and step in when the younger big men are unable to play.
The NBA season is long, almost certainly too long. The players show up for training camp in early October and aren’t done until mid-April. They play three or four games per week, flying across the country, sometimes waking up in hotel rooms not sure what city they’re in. It’s a grind when the team is good and the season is going great. When you’re experiencing a season like the Mavericks just had, it can be a chore.
Having a player like Powell around can help. A player who’s seen everything, has a personality that’s uplifting, and is generally a good hang can keep a bad season from turning into a disaster. Things in Dallas could have turned toxic quickly this year, and for the most part, the team was drama-free. Powell was a part of that, and it’s something NBA teams value.
Best game
Powell’s best performance of the year came against the Utah Jazz on January 17. In the 138-120 win over the Jazz, Powell scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out three assists, and had three steals. He had some games where he scored a little more, but in this game, he filled up the entire stat sheet and came away with a win.
Contract status
Powell just completed the last year of a 3-year deal that paid him $12 million in total. He is an unrestricted free agent.
Looking ahead
As the Mavericks try to build the foundation of a contender around Cooper Flagg, Powell won’t be a priority for the new Dallas front office. But they’ll have his Bird rights, and he’ll likely be amenable to a team friendly deal. If the Mavericks need a veteran to hold down the end of the bench and provide more leadership than minutes, Powell will likely have a spot in Dallas.
BRING HIM BACK. Dwight Powell, Mavs Functionary For Life.
Grade: B-
Powell does everything you want off the court. His play on the court is sometimes frustrating to watch. He’s an emergency big, so it’s mostly fine, but over the course of a long season, even an emergency big gets thrown into a situation where you need good play. And sometimes Powell has it in him, and sometimes he doesn’t. Overall, though, the Mavericks get what they need from him—a veteran who can eat minutes in garbage time and fill in when needed. It’s where he’s at in his career now, and he performs well in the role.
After an unlikely reunion on the Vegas Golden Knights, former Philadelphia Flyers Carter Hart and John Tortorella find themselves just four more wins from the Stanley Cup Final.
On Thursday night, Hart, Tortorella, and the Golden Knights eliminated fellow former Flyers Ryan Poehling, Cutter Gauthier, and the Anaheim Ducks with a dominant 5-1 win, claiming the series 4-2.
They await the vaunted Colorado Avalanche, who have run into goaltending issues of late but have more or less breezed their way to the Western Conference Final with little difficulty.
Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and the Minnesota Wild were brushed aside by the Stanley Cup favorites in just five games.
Interestingly enough, Hart's last game for the Flyers, which he played under Tortorella, was against the Avalanche over two years ago on Jan. 20, 2024.
The 27-year-old was stunned for five goals on just 15 shots in the 7-4 loss and was replaced by Sam Ersson.
Three days later, Hart took a personal leave from the Flyers, and was then charged with sexual assault stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case on Feb. 5.
Having sat out the entire 2024-25 season, Hart was found not guilty of the sexual assault charge levied against him on July 24. The Golden Knights officially signed the goalie on Oct. 24.
Hart showed plenty of signs of rust after the long layoff this season, stumbling to a career-worst .891 save percentage despite a 11-3-3 regular season record with the Golden Knights.
In the playoffs, though, the former Flyers goalie is 8-4-0 with a 2.47 GAA and .917 save percentage, coming back to life with a .935 save percentage across these past six games against the Ducks.
As for Tortorella, who was fired by the Flyers on March 27, 2025, he took over for an elite coach in Bruce Cassidy in a shock switch from Vegas back on March 29, bookending almost exactly a full year away from the bench.
The Golden Knights quickly ripped off a sizzling 7-0-1 finish under their new coach, which has, obviously, carried over into the playoffs.
Notably, Mitch Marner, of all players, leads the entire NHL playoffs in scoring with his seven goals, 11 assists, and 18 points in 12 games under Tortorella, which speaks volumes about the job the ex-Flyers bench boss is doing.
Where things go from here is dubious at best with Colorado looming, but the Flyers have certainly been well represented this postseason, especially with a respectable run of their own.
DENVER, CO - MAY 13: Defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) of the Minnesota Wild adjusts his gear during the third period of Game 5 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
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Devils Links
“Šimon Nemec is something of an enigma and could be one player affected by the changes. Sometimes, he shows flashes of being a second overall pick. Other times, he looks like a fish out of water. Nemec will become a restricted free agent on July 1. You don’t want to give up on a 22-year-old defenseman second overall pick, but it might be time for the Devils to move on.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“Tom Fitzgerald leaned too heavy on size and defense when building the blueline, and that has held the team back over the last couple of years. Sunny Mehta will surely look to add more mobility and offense to balance things out. There are a couple of intriguing ‘buy low’ candidates who could help him do just that.” [Infernal Access ($)]
So about that Quinn Hughes trade. Is it a move Sunny Mehta could pull off? [New Jersey Hockey Now]
The @NYIslanders’ 2025 No. 1 #NHLDraft pick, Matthew Schaefer, is this year’s Calder Memorial Trophy winner — an award presented to the player who was the most proficient in his first year in the League. pic.twitter.com/X79uom6mAn
“The Vancouver Canucks are turning to two franchise icons to hopefully lead them back to glory. Daniel and Henrik Sedin were named co-presidents of hockey operations on Thursday, and the identical twins’ first act was to hire former teammate Ryan Johnson as general manager.” [NHL.com]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
Nov 4, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) sits on the floor after a play against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The NBA released two schedules for the Western Conference Finals- one of the Spurs/Timberwolves series ends on Friday at the conclusion of Game 6, another if the series heads back to San Antonio for Game 7.
Now official from NBA. The Western Conference Finals on NBC/Peacock will be played on: May 18, 20, 22, 24, 26*, 28*, 30* if SAS-MIN ends in 6 games, or May 20, 22, 24, 26, 28*, 30*, June 1* if SAS-MIN ends in 7 games.
If the Spurs close out the series tonight in Minnesota, they’ll head to Oklahoma City to play Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, May 18. From there, the series will take place every other day (the even dates) fro the remainder of May.
May 18 and May 20 in Oklahoma City, May 22 and 24 in San Antonio. If Games 5, 6 and 7 are necessary, they will take place on May 26 on OKC, May 28 in San Antonio, and May 30 to close out in Oklahoma’s state capital.
If the Spurs and Timberwolves require a Game 7, that will take place on Sunday, May 17th. The winner will then face the Thunder on May 20 and 22 in Oklahoma City before hosting games 3 and 4 on May 24 and 26 respectively. Games 5, 6, and 7 could take place as needed on May 28, 30, and June 1.
The Eastern Conference is facing the same conditions based on whether the Cavaliers or Pistons win Game 6 tomorrow.
The NBA Finals have already been determined and will start with Game 1 on June 3rd, Game 2 on June 5, Game 3 on June 8 and Game 4 on June 10. If Games 5, 6, an 7 are needed, they will take place on June 13, 16, and 19.
Quite a month of basketball still to go, with the stakes getting higher every moment.
Two elimination games tonight, but only one that will have Pounders chanting “Go, Spurs, Go!”
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The Warriors for years have attempted to build for the future while simultaneously going all-in on the present with superstar Steph Curry.
They could have another opportunity to do so again this summer, and find themselves at an interesting crossroads.
Golden State has the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23, and could use it to either select a prospect who could be a foundational piece for years to come, or include the pick in a potential blockbuster trade for a proven star player to pair alongside Curry next season.
While some believe the Warriors should leverage their 2026 first-round pick in a potential trade for a star, like Milwuakee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who the team aggressively pursued during the season and likely will be available again this summer, that does not appear to be Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy’s goal right now, as ESPN’s Marc Spears reported Thursday on “NBA Today.”
The Warriors are expected to keep the 11th pick of the draft, per @MarcJSpears
"The Warriors have that 11th pick and people wondering can they get in the Giannis mix. From what I'm being told today from several people the Warriors like to keep that pick" pic.twitter.com/xAYydFiRL8
“The Warriors have that 11th pick and people are wondering ‘Hey, can they get in the Giannis mix?’ From what I’m being told today from several people, the Warriors would like to keep that pick,” Spears said.
The Warriors have attempted to fortify a young core for the future alongside Curry for years, in the form of former first-round picks Jordan Poole (2019), James Wiseman (2020), Jonathan Kuminga (2021), Moses Moody (2021), Patrick Baldwin (2022) and Brandin Podziemski (2023).
Podziemski and Moody are the only players still on the roster, and neither appear to be on a path toward stardom.
Which begs the question: Should the Warriors take another crack at developing a lottery pick, or use the No. 11 selection in a trade?
But he does remember the first thing he did when Golden State selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in 2009.
“Getting that call from Larry Riley, the GM at the time, Don Nelson, who was the coach at the time, getting that call and being like, ‘Hey, we’re looking forward to having you, we’re excited.’ And then me quickly looking at my phone trying to figure out exactly where Golden State was,” Curry recalled on WNBA star Azzi Fudd’s “Fudd Around And Find Out” podcast.
Hey, he was just a kid who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina — nearly 3,000 miles east of the Bay Area.
“All I was thinking about was New York,” Curry said. “But careful what you wish for. I’m glad it went my way for sure.”
Curry added that his favorite part of the night was being booed by New York fans inside The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He remembers initially questioning why they were booing him, but then he realized it was because they wanted him on the Knicks.
That was supposed to be his story.
But his real one is pretty sweet, too. Curry, a 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time league MVP, has won four NBA titles with the Warriors over his 17-year career — and most importantly, not only now knows where Golden State is, but he also has found his home here.
