Listen to Orlando front office president Jeff Weltman and it sounds like the Magic are going to run it back with the same core — including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner — next season and bet on better coaching and better health to get them to the top of the East.
That puts a lot of pressure on the Magic's head coaching search. Who is going to step into Jamahl Mosley's shoes and get this team both out of the play-in and the first round? What are the Magic looking for in their next coach? A creative offensive mind? Playoff experience? Weltman wouldn't be pinned down when talking to reporters (quote via Jason Beede at the Orlando Sentinel).
"I don't think we look for a particular trait or a quality. Coaches come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Someone that kind of looks at our team in the way that we feel can help move us forward. Obviously someone who understands where we are on our timeline, that we've kind of tried to get past the growth stages of the rebuild. … I don't have a box to say that we want the next coach to come out of this sort of box."
A few names have surfaced in league circles, though this is all speculation, as Weltman and company have not formally begun interviews.
Here's a quick look at some of the top candidates.
Billy Donovan
This is the name on everyone's lips in league chatter, the guy who seems the best fit for both sides. Donovan left Chicago looking for something different and a team playing in meaningful games, and the Magic are that (a team that was up 3-1 in the first round on Detroit but could not close the door). Donovan also is well-liked by players (which matters after the issues between Mosley and Paolo Banchero), and he got the most out of limited rosters he was handed in Chicago.
There is a bit of a complicated history between Donovan and the Magic. Back in 2007, Donovan did not have a contract extension at the University of Florida, where he had won two national titles, and he was eyeing the NBA. Donovan agreed to leave and become the Magic's new head coach, and on June 1st he signed his contract and was introduced to the media as the guy about to turn things around in Orlando. Then he got cold feet, or realized this was not a situation he liked, or something happened and he asked out. Six days later, the Magic released Donovan from his contract, and he returned to Florida. That's almost 20 years ago and everything is different now, that incident shouldn't impact this one, but it hangs out there.
Tom Thibodeau
The former Bulls/Timberwolves/Knicks head coach wants back in the game and Orlando may be interested, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
League sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. The Magic's defense fell off sharply last season, Thibodeau would turn that around. He's another coach who tends to get the most out of his teams, although his offense has been best when heavy with isolations/pick-and-rolls for a star guard (Derrick Rose, Jalen Brunson). Thibodeau's short rotations and heavy minutes for starters can wear down key players, and the Magic just went through an injury-filled season.
Darvin Ham
The former Lakers' head coach and longtime Bucks assistant has been linked more to New Orleans, but he is a name coming up for every head coaching job now, it seems.
Ham did not do as bad a job as Lakers fans would have you believe. He was 90-74 (.549 winning percentage) in the regular season, and his teams made the playoffs both years, reaching the Western Conference Finals one year, but were always eliminated by Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. That said, Ham the head coach was not very flexible with systems and could get stuck in a rut, trusted certain players even when it was clear it was not working, and his playoff adjustments were lacking and often fell back on "play harder." Is he, like many coaches, better the second time around, having learned some lessons?
Dusty May
You can strike this off the board. Marc Stein at The Stein Line reported that "sources say that the Magic are admirers of Michigan's Dusty May and would have a level of interest if he were indeed available."
Except, coming off a national championship with the Wolverines, nobody thinks May is leaving Ann Arbor. If, for some reason he did decide to jump to the NBA now, May would have interest from Portland, Chicago and New Orleans as well, there is no assurance he would head to Orlando. Still, it's just far, far more likely he isn't going anywhere.
Other names to watch
• James Borrego. He was the interim coach in New Orleans much of this past season and has done a good job considering the roster and injuries. However, Pelicans' management is looking more outside the organization. He's a very creative offensive mind.
• Terry Stotts. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers coach got a lot out of the Blazers in the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum era. He's spent the past two seasons on Steve Kerr's bench with the Warriors.
• Sam Cassell. The popular former player has been an assistant coach for years around the league and has been at the front of the "he should get a head coaching job" line for years. Could the Magic give him the chance?
LAS VEGAS — Ivan Barbashev and the Golden Knights played on after a disputed no-call, and his goal off a terrific pass from Pavel Dorofeyev with 4:58 left put Vegas ahead for good in its 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the opener of their second-round playoff series.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven Western Conference series is in Las Vegas.
Barbashev took advantage after officials did not call icing, which didn’t sit well with Ducks coach Joel Quenneville. It was Barbashev’s pass from behind the red line to teammate Jack Eichel, who was battling Anaheim’s Jackson LaCombe for the puck, that linesman Bevan Mills waved off for icing.
Officials declined to comment to a pool reporter.
“Clearly, I disagreed with the call,” said Quenneville, who said he did not receive an explanation from the officials. “Their guy stopped skating, which really made me annoyed.”
Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said he couldn’t see the play from his spot behind the bench. Barbashev kept skating once no call was made as Ducks players appeared to slow up.
“I tried to put the puck deep and I thought I saw Jack on the far side going deep and I thought for a second he (beat LaCombe) and that’s why they waved it off,” Barbashev said. “Jack put pressure on him, they turned it over and Pav made a great play.”
Vegas’ Brett Howden extended his goal streak to a career-best four games, his fifth during that span. Mitch Marner, who assisted on Howden’s goal early in the second period, added a 162-foot empty-net goal with 6 seconds left, and Carter Hart stopped 33 shots for the Golden Knights.
Mikael Granlund scored for Anaheim, and Lukas Dostal made 19 saves.
The Golden Knights prevailed despite being outshot 34-22.
“They were the better team tonight,” Tortorella said. “I thought as the game went on, we started finding our game, but we couldn’t find it completely. ... It’s a find-a-way league. We found a way to win, and I’m certainly not going to apologize for the win.”
Vegas’ penalty kill continued to shine, extending its stretch to 14 straight without giving up a goal by keeping the Ducks off the scoreboard on four chances. Anaheim converted 8 of 16 power plays in the first round against Edmonton. The Golden Knights are 19 of 20 on penalty kills.
Golden Knights center William Karlsson, out since sustaining a lower-body injury Nov. 8 against the Ducks, returned to the lineup. The crowd roared when Karlsson was shown on the video board after taking the ice less than three minutes into the game.
The Ducks dominated the early action, outshooting Vegas 11-6 in the first period and then controlling the puck to open the second. But the Golden Knights scored first with their first shot on goal in the second when Marner made a pinpoint pass from the right circle to Howden, who scored easily from the left side of the net.
It didn’t appear the lead would last long when Ducks top-line center Leo Carlsson made a dazzling spin move to set up LaCombe with an an open net. LaCombe, however, inexplicably passed up the shot for a pass, and the Golden Knights avoided what appeared would be a sure Ducks goal.
Just as time was starting to run out on the Ducks in the third, they didn’t waste their next opportunity. LaCombe made up for his previous gaffe by walking in on Hart before delivering a pass to Granlund, who was open in the right circle and scored at 13:57.
The tie didn’t last long, with Dorofeyev passing to Barbashev to put the Golden Knights ahead 2-1 just 65 seconds later.
The 2025-2026 season ended for the Kings the same way as the last 3 years: they were eliminated in the first round. The Kings have changed throughout those 4 seasons, and heading into the offseason, they have lineup gaps to fill. Looking back at the last 4 seasons will show whether they need minor or major changes.
\n\n
Results of Each Season
Looking back at the last 4 seasons for the Kings, they all seem to end the same way: getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Kings have not won a playoff series since their Stanley Cup win in 2014. The results of the last 4 seasons are as follows:
2025-26: Eliminated in 4 games by the Colorado Avalanche.
2024-25: Eliminated in 6 games by the Edmonton Oilers.
2023-24: Eliminated in 5 games by the Edmonton Oilers.
2022-23: Eliminated in 6 games by the Edmonton Oilers.
The common theme is the one-sided rivalry between the Kings and the Oilers, and while the Kings came close at times, the Oilers have gotten the better of them each time they have met recently in the playoffs. When comparing the endings of each King's season, they all end the same way, just in different formats.
Comparing Regular Season Success
The regular seasons throughout each season have been different for each Kings team, with different successes and defeats. In the 2025-2026 season, the Kings finished 4th in the Pacific Division and 20th in the overall NHL standings. This was the worst season for the Kings, as they finished in the lowest spot in the standings they have occupied in 4 years. Another negative from this previous season was the offensive production, which was among the worst in the NHL.
2025-26: 2.68 Goals for Per Game.
2024-25 3.04 Goals For Per Game.
2023-24 3.10 Goals For Per Game.
2022-23 3.34 Goals For Per Game.
The Kings' offensive game has slowly gotten worse throughout each season. The offence has been the key factor in the Kings' decline over the 4 seasons, as player progression, age, and different schemes have affected the offensive output. One of the major takeaways from the Kings this season was their ability to defend.
2025-26: 2.90 Goals Against Average.
2024-25: 2.48 Goals Against Average.
2023-24: 2.56 Goals Against Average.
2022-23: 3.10 Goals Against Average.
So while the Kings took a step back overall compared to the last 2 seasons, they are in a better spot when it comes to getting scored on, which has been a staple of the Kings' play, as they have been a much better defensive team over the last couple of seasons.
Overall, this season is the worst in terms of offensive production but average on defence. For the Kings, their final regular-season placement makes it clear how poorly they have performed this season.
2025-26: 20th in NHL.
2024-25: 6th in NHL.
2023-24: 12th in NHL.
2022-23: 10th in NHL.
The final standings for the Kings showcase that their best team was in the 2024-25 season and their worst was this season, while they went up and down throughout the 4 seasons. It is a concern that, heading into the offseason, they are coming off their worst season and are losing key pieces to their lineup.
Player Progression throughout Each Season
While many players were traded to and from the Kings, the core is the group that can show us how they perform next season and help us project their progress, and whether they can positively impact the Kings.
Starting with the players who continue to be successful for the Kings, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala stand out.
Adrian Kempe has been a consistent player for the Kings and is regarded as one of the team's best. Throughout the good and bad seasons, Kempe still shows his ability to put the team on his back and help the Kings succeed.
While Fiala has not been as consistent as Kempe and has had his share of injuries, he is still a player the Kings can depend on when they need to, and that is the type of player the Kings need more of, especially when it comes to their young players or new players coming in.
Darcy Kuemper is also a big factor for the Kings and while he only has played in the last 2 seasons for the Kings those 2 seasons tell a very different story.
2024-25: 50 Games Played, 31 Wins, 11 Losses, 7 Overtime Losses, 2.02 Goals Against Average, .922 Save Percentage
2025-26: 50 Games Played, 19 Wins, 14 Losses, 15 Overtime Losses, 2.78 Goals Against Average, .891 Save Percentage.
The last 2 seasons for Kuemper have been extremely different: in 2024-2025, he was a Vezina Trophy nominee and one of the best goalies in the NHL, and a season later, he struggled and eventually lost the starting position to Anton Forsberg.
Overall, this past season was a step back for the Kings, even after making a big splash in the trade market by acquiring Artemi Panarin and signing him to a 2-year deal. When comparing each season, even though the ending result is the same, the feeling toward the Kings organization is very different.
The Kings no longer have Anze Kopitar and now have to look for a centre in the offseason. The Kings' signing Artemi Panarin and having Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Drew Doughty alongside the younger guys on the team, like Quinton Byfield, Brandt Clarke, and Alex Laferriere, means the Kings do not necessarily need to get younger.
But they need to focus on improving their offence, as that has been the aspect of their game holding them back. Overall, this season was not a good one for the Kings, especially after coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory the year before.
Unfortunately, when comparing this season to the previous 3 seasons for the Kings, it ranks last, and while there were some positives, the Kings have work to do to find success not only in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago White Sox signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal and placed outfielder Austin Hays back on the 10-day injured list because of a left calf strain.
Grichuk, who elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, should give the White Sox a solid right-handed bat against left-handed pitchers.
The 34-year-old is a career .268 hitter with an .816 OPS, 79 homers and 220 RBIs in 1,569 at-bats against left-handers over 13 big-league seasons, including a .317 average and .940 OPS against them from 2022-2024.
“It kind of came together last second,” Grichuk said before the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. “We were talking to a few other teams and were about to get something done when they came into the mix. It’s a young, exciting team that is playing good baseball, so we felt like it was a good spot.”
The White Sox lost at least 100 games in each of the past three years — including a major league-record 121 losses in 2024 — but they entered Monday with a 16-18 record, thanks in part to the potent bat of new first baseman Munetaka Murakami’s 13 homers and 26 RBIs.
“Any time you get a chance to throw on the jersey and compete and keep playing, it’s an honor,” said Grichuk, a 2009 first-round pick of the Angels who is playing for his sixth team in four years.
“They’ve had some tough years here, but they’re on the up-and-up. They’ve got a lot of good guys, and I’m excited to grind with them.”
Hays missed most of April because of a right hamstring strain. He returned and played three games before suffering a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks.
“With Hays going down, we needed a right-handed outfielder,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “(Grichuk) fit the roster, he was available, and we feel really lucky that we got him. He’s a guy with a ton of experience who has performed really well in his league.”
Picking No. 1 overall is the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the San Jose Sharks took a jump to pick at No. 2.
Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is likely to be the first prospect off the board, but there’s no true consensus this year. Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg, Canadian defenseman Carson Carels and American defenseman Chase Reid are fellow top prospects.
The draft will be held from Friday, June 26 to Saturday, June 27 in Buffalo, home of the Sabres.
Here are the draft lottery results following the two big draws for the first two selections:
The Maple Leafs entered the lottery with an 8.5% chance at winning the first pick, the fifth highest of the 16. Fellow Canadian side Vancouver had the top odds with a 25.5% chance, but didn’t get within the first two picks.
Vancouver has never picked No. 1 overall in the draft, so the drought will continue after a season in which it won just 25 games, the fewest in the league.
Toronto would’ve also had to shift its first-rounder to the Boston Bruins had it not been in the top five due to a previous trade agreement involving Brandon Carlo. But it’ll be safe now with McKenna likely going first.
San Jose, which picked Macklin Celebrini No. 1 overall in 2024, had a 5% chance at picking first but will gladly collect second as it hopes to take another step forward to a playoff berth.
Former NHL star T.J. Oshie was in the Oval Office on Tuesday, May 5 for an event with Donald Trump, who was signing a proclamation about the Presidential Fitness Test, and the president wanted to get Oshie's prediction for this year's Stanley Cup winner.
"Who's going to win in hockey?" Trump asked Oshie, who played 16 NHL seasons and won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals.
"It's a tough one," Oshie responded with a smile. "Colorado is the favorite. I like Minnesota though."
Other high-profile athletic attendees for the signing in the White House included golf legend Gary Player, Florida men's basketball coach Todd Golden, golfer Bryson DeChambeau and former MLB All-Star Noah Syndergaard.
The Colorado Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular-season team and hold a 1-0 lead over the Minnesota Wild, Oshie's pick, in the second round of the playoffs with Game 2 set for Tuesday night.
“I won’t use that as an excuse, but that was an emotional roller coaster (last series),” Paul George said. “One day off and then right back into another matchup. I think there was some carryover with us trying to get up and get prepared for this matchup. But we should’ve come out and done a better job.”
New York’s offense never endured a drought. The Knicks finished the night at 63.1 percent from the floor and 51.4 percent from three-point range. Both Joel Embiid (14 points on 3-for-11 shooting) and Tyrese Maxey (13 points on 3-for-9 shooting) were far less productive than usual.
“We just were kind of stuck in mud at both ends and they put it on us,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “They had a great shooting night and we didn’t guard well enough. They put it on us.”
Nurse was not at the Sixers’ film session Tuesday morning because he was dealing with a personal matter, a team official said. The Inquirer and The Athletic reported that Nurse was away to attend the funeral services of his brother, Steve Nurse, in Iowa. Of course, such things are bigger than a basketball series.
Nurse was expected to rejoin the Sixers later Tuesday, according to The Inquirer. Game 2 is Wednesday night and the Sixers don’t sound uncertain about being capable of tying up the series.
“Confident group,” Kelly Oubre Jr. said Tuesday. “We don’t feel too high or too low. I think that we kind of stay even-keeled. We also know in the back of our heads that we’re always capable of doing better and doing more. We owe it to the city of Philadelphia and to our families to just go out there and put on a better display of basketball.’
While Oubre and the Sixers generally highlighted the problems with their own play in Game 1, Jalen Brunson’s name also popped up plenty.
Brunson torched the Sixers for 35 points, going 12 for 18 from the field and 8 for 8 at the foul line. When Embiid was asked postgame about his own foul drawing in Game 1, he began his response with Brunson.
“You’ve got to ask Jalen Brunson,” Embiid said. “I don’t think I got to the free throw line as much as I wanted.
“But that’s not the reason we lost. I think defense was the biggest reason. We just weren’t good enough or physical enough. All their guys were too comfortable. I want to focus on what we could’ve done better on defense.”
And when Oubre fielded a question Tuesday about Brunson being the “head of the snake” for the Knicks’ offense, his reply was … quotable.
“He has a big head,” Oubre said. “It’s definitely tough to guard him with his head doing all that.”
Oubre imitated Brunson bobbing his head around in an effort to draw fouls and create favorable contact.
“He’s a great player,” Oubre continued. “We’ve played against him plenty of times and we have to make the adjustments that we saw on film. Kudos to him. … They did what they had to do at home and it’s up to us to respond.”
None of the Sixers’ opinions on Brunson’s style of play will be relevant Wednesday night.
“They’re a really physical team and they’re good,” Edgecombe said Tuesday. “If we lack physicality and effort, the score’s going to be like that.”
George expects the series to begin in earnest with Game 2.
“Just get settled in,” he said. “Yeah, we had breakdowns tonight, but they also shot the s— out of the ball. … They came out on fire, but it’s a game of adjustments. We’ll make adjustments.
“It’s the same as last series. They don’t get any extra points (in the series) for going up big tonight.”
NEW YORK — Anthony Volpe has to earn back his New York Yankees job, just like any other prospect.
New York optioned the Gold Glove-winning shortstop to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following the end of a 20-day minor league injury rehabilitation assignment that followed Oct. 14 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
José Caballero, who helped the AL-best Yankees win 14 of 16, started at shortstop for the 34th times in 35 games.
“It’s a surprise, but then also Caballero’s rolling,” said Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who called Volpe and spoke with him for 30-40 minutes. “I think the biggest thing is how the team is flowing right now. It’s kind of tough to move some things around.”
Volpe hit .250 (11 for 44) with one homer and six RBIs in 13 minor league games during his rehab assignment. He is in a 1-for-11 slide.
“Whether he’s ticked off, happy, frustrated, whatever, I know he’s going to grind,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure he’s not thrilled about it and doesn’t necessarily love that idea ’cause I think he’s obviously worked really hard to go through this and going into this, we expected him to be, once this rehab was up, to be here and playing and so that’s obviously changed over the last few weeks. But I think there’s part of him that gets it, too, and Anthony’s a pro.”
New York’s starting shortstop since 2023, Volpe has struggled at the plate, hitting .222 with 52 homers, 192 RBIs and 70 stolen bases over three seasons. His .212 average last year was 144th among 145 qualifiers, his play hampered after he hurt his hurt his left shoulder on May 3.
“He’s going to be more motivated than ever to come back here,” Judge said. “If it’s even him as a utility guy, anything, just to get himself back up here, because besides what he can do on the field, he’s a big part in this clubhouse and this dugout.”
Caballero entered Monday hitting .259 with four homers, 12 RBIs and 13 stolen bases — tied for the AL lead. He was batting .316 in his last 21 games.
Caballero’s seven defensive runs tied Boston’s Wilyer Abreu for third in the major leagues, trailing Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (10) and Seattle second baseman Cole Young (eight).
“We have a lot of really good players right now and competing for real roles and real spots and I think that competition ultimately is going to be a great thing for us,” Boone said. “It doesn’t change how we feel about Anthony or the kind of player we think he is and will be. But in this moment of time we felt like this was absolutely the right thing to do.”
If Volpe remains on option to the minors for at least 20 days, it would delay his free-agent eligibility by a year until after the 2029 World Series. For now, he’ll play shortstop for the RailRiders and not other infield positions.
“If we have those conversations as the days unfold, we’ll have those, but not right now,” Boone said.
George Lombard Jr., a top prospect promoted to Triple-A on April 29, “will bounce around,” according to the manager.
Volpe will follow the path of outfielder Jasson Domínguez, who spent his first 24 games at Scranton and then rejoined the Yankees on April 27 after Giancarlo Stanton strained a calf muscle.
“This has been a tremendous character reveal for Jasson. All he’s done is put his head down and had a smile on his face and worked his tail off and played really good baseball and now is up here earning real time again,” Boone said. “Anthony’s going to have a long career, be a really good player in this league. His next step as a player is gaining that consistency offensively. Even through some of his struggles, I think he’s been a way better player than some of the narratives around him sometimes are.”
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game One on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Getting it right starts with getting it wrong. It’s true in math, mental health and Madison Square Garden, where last night the New York Knicks took a 1-0 series lead over Philadelphia with a 137-98 shellacking of the 76ers.
Through all the fits and false starts of this season, there were glimpses. Early on the Knicks were an offensive dynamo but struggled to get stops. Then there were periods of defensive dominance. Early in December, they won nine of 10 games; two weeks later, they dropped nine of 11, followed by an eight-game winning streak. All the while, the hares heard the hype. Cleveland got Harden! Look at Boston not even need Tatum! Detroit! Detroit! Detroit!
All the while, the tortoise kept on keeping on. Over the last four games, the tortoise has mutated into the Ninja Turtles. Leonardo, Michaelangelo and Raphael were Games 4-6 versus Atlanta. Last night the Knicks were Donatello: brilliant, focused, and carrying a big stick.
Jalen Brunson reminded everyone with short-term memory loss who’s the best player in the series East. Karl-Anthony Towns continues to look right at home playing point center. Mikal Bridges is playing like he’s worth 10 first-round picks. OG Anunoby is shooting a playoff-record 99% from the field while locking down anyone within reach. Josh Hart is doing 99% of all the things, and doing them well.
What’s different about these Knicks — than any Knick team I’ve seen in my life — is their depth. Miles McBride looks more in-rhythm. Mitchell Robinson looks springy. Ariel Hukporti was terrific backing up KAT and Mitch, who both committed four fouls. Every Knick played and scored besides Jeremy Sochan. Everyone played like they knew their role and it was the role they were born to play.
Contrast that with the opposition. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined to shoot 11-of-30. The Sixers were -24 in the 3-point battle. New York had 34 assists to 15 turnovers; Philadelphia had 15 dimes and 19 oopsies. Their bench was outscored by 12. Their starters were outscored by 27. And those are just what the numbers say.
The eye test wasn’t any better, which doesn’t bode well for the Sixers, who’ve mostly stuck with a six-man rotation to get this far. Quentin Grimes had a pissiness about him that suggests he still hasn’t gotten over the end of his time as a Knick, when he complained, “It feels like if I don’t hit the shot, I’m coming out. Every shot I shoot probably weighs like 100 pounds if I don’t make it.” Grimes missed three of his four looks last night but did get 24 minutes of run, so hopefully he’s happy.
At least Grimes mostly kept his issues internal. In just four minutes of playing time, Adem Bona committed five fouls (I think all offensive) and three turnovers, and “committed” is putting it gently. He played like the Kool-Aid man high on bath salts, running through every Knick he could. The Knicks, similar to Game 6 in Atlanta, didn’t let up, even with the game decided by the third quarter. There’s a difference between aggression and anarchy.
Quoth LadyKnick: “It is really surreal . . . similar to the ‘90s Knicks, but more on [offense].” This team really is something special. I know, I know, they’re just “quirky” enough to where you can see them losing Game 2. But they’re also doing things we haven’t seen from any Knick team in the past, or any team, period. Sometimes a win is just a win, a 1-0 lead, the home team handling its business. Sometimes it’s something more.
In 1969 the Knicks hadn’t won a playoff series in 16 years. They opened their postseason against the league’s best team that year, the Baltimore Bullets. The Bullets had never had any success, but landing Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld in consecutive glowed them up from rags to riches. The Knicks won Game 1 in Baltimore impressively, then went on to sweep them. It was a statement win, the birth of the Golden Age in club history.
In 1992 the Knicks were a year removed from a sub-.500 record and an embarrassing first-round sweep. They faced the Pistons in the opening round, a Pistons team that had owned the East the prior five years, winning 15 of 18 series. The Knicks won Game 1 by 34, then went on to win a dogfight. It was a statement win, the birth of the Silver Age in Knick history.
What does last night mean? Depends on what happens tomorrow. If the Knicks slip, the Sixers will take the split as “mission accomplished,” and the Knicks will face two games in Philly MSG West. If they win? Then the joyride continues, and hopefully the surreal never stops.
FIBA Hall of Famer and Puerto Rican basketball legend José ‘Piculin’ Ortiz has passed away at the age of 62. Ortiz was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Puerto Rican basketball history. He had been battling colorectal cancer since 2023, according to FIBA.
Throughout his career, Ortiz played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers, averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His performance earned him the Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 1987. That same year, he made history as the first Puerto Rican player ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, going 15th overall to the Utah Jazz. Ortiz went on to play two seasons in the NBA, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds over 64 games.
Following his time in the NBA, Ortiz played professional basketball in Europe, with teams in Spain and Greece, before returning to Puerto Rico to continue his career.
Hoy Puerto Rico pierde más que un atleta. Pierde una leyenda.
Gracias por tantas alegrías y por representar nuestra bandera con orgullo.
Descansa en paz, José “Piculín” Ortiz Rijos. 🕊️ Nuestro “Concord”.
Ortiz was a pillar of the Puerto Rican National Team, representing his country in four Olympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996, and 2004) and competing in numerous FIBA World Championships and international tournaments. On August 30, 2019, Ortiz’s contributions were recognized with his induction into the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame, honoring a career spanning two decades.
“Today Puerto Rico loses more than an athlete, it loses a legend,” Puerto Rico’s Basketball Federation told FIBA. “Thank you for all the joys, for representing our flag with pride and for taking the name of our island to the highest. Rest in peace, José “Piculin” Ortiz Rijos. Your legacy will live on every court, with every fan and with every generation that you inspire.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be under the microscope this season in the wake of their recent hiring of former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka.
Leafs CEO Keith Pelley on Monday, May 4, introduced Chayka as the team's new GM and Hall of Famer Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations. But at the news conference, Pelley faced questions about Chayka's past − after he abruptly resigned from his post in Phoenix just before the 2020 playoffs and later received a one-year suspension from the NHL for "conduct detrimental to the league and game."
In an exchange that later went viral on social media, Pelley responded to a Toronto Sun writer's pointed questioning of the Chayka hiring by responding simply, "We conducted due diligence, and it was a deep due diligence."
Steve Simmons goes at Keith Pelley for hiring John Chayka. This was something. pic.twitter.com/zSw8768sCQ
— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) May 4, 2026
Pelley continued: "It was a thorough process. I've read all the reports, I've talked to numerous people; I won't reveal who I've talked to that were close to the process. I'm very happy with where we landed."
The 36-year-old Chayka became the NHL's youngest-ever GM when he was hired 10 years ago by the Coyotes.
Chayka will have the tall task of turning around a Maple Leafs team that went from first in the Atlantic division two seasons ago to last place this past season − when the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
The hiring of franchise icon Sundin could help stem any immediate backlash in Toronto. An 18-year NHL veteran, Sundin served as Maple Leafs captain for 10 of his 13 seasons with the team. However, he has never held a front office position in the NHL.
Toronto's Stanley Cup title drought dates back to 1967.
Spaniard will pay fines for previous event clashes
Deal includes playing in agreed tournaments this year
Jon Rahm has revealed he has ended his dispute with the DP World Tour, which returns the Spaniard to contention for next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, but he played down the sense of golfers sharply exiting LIV. Rahm, who has been tipped to make a return to the PGA Tour, has cited tight contractual terms as a reason he and others are not completely in control of their own destiny.
The abrupt exit of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) from LIV – the Saudis will remove finance at the end of this year – has left the tour scrambling for alternative investment. Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are LIV’s biggest names, whom many assumed would already be glancing towards a playing future elsewhere. Rahm urged caution.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 26: A general view of the 2026 All Star Game logo prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers on March 26, 2026 at Citizens Bamk Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the calendar turns from spring to summer, the warmer temperatures bring us the highs and lows of America’s pastime. Majestic and plentiful homers, programs turned into makeshift fans, sweaty thighs stuck to plastic seats.
Everyone’s favorite time of year featuring our favorite sport wouldn’t be complete without being inundated with reminders to VOTE for our BOYS to make the ALL-STAR GAME (!!)
I have curated my online experience so meticulously, I fear I will not see a single thing about the 2026 All-Star Game. The mute list is thorough – the city, the ballpark, the team and its players, and most nicknames and variations of all of the above.
But of course, I want a huge contingent of Braves to be recognized. (Or do I? The 2023 curse might still be fresh in my mind.) Less than forty games into the young season, it’s way too early to be predicting who will be earning a nod to represent the A.
Except Drake Baldwin. We riot if the reigning ROY doesn’t get to add an All-Star honor to his resume.
There will be plenty of time to bitterly argue over who should win the fan voting based on merit and a deep understanding of stats. That’s a space in which my Battery Power colleagues shine. My lane and expertise is a little different, so I am far more interested in the question: what will the promotional voting campaign look like?
Braves Creative Director Insung Kim and team have undoubtedly already put pen to paper, if not already finalized, what this year’s aesthetics, graphics, and posting schedule will be. Maybe the only thing left to execute is production of their annual promo video for the campaign launch, where Peter Moylan has become their main muse and star. (However, with the introduction of BravesVision, it might be Wiley Ballard’s time to shine…)
Every year, a minimum of thirty-one creative and marketing teams (all clubs, plus MLB itself), have to sit down and decide which singular city trait to use for their All-Star campaign and pray that it’s a wholly original idea. The list on the whiteboard probably doesn’t change much from year to year. It’ll be something like:
Most famous food / drink
Historical or pop culture homage
Generic regional quirk
The first one has been the frontrunner the last few years. We all saw everyone and their mother doing coffee/barista campaigns for Seattle in 2023. It was a little disappointing, but not surprising, to see everyone resort to Legally Distinct Waffle House / diner theming and photoshoots when we hosted last year. I guess peaches and peanuts weren’t inspiring stuff.
Arlington’s cowboy hats and wild West stereotypes in ‘24 fall in the third bucket and thus were everywhere (but it doesn’t feel like it ever left Atlanta with the introduction of the “Braves Country” branding shortly thereafter).
I could be entirely wrong, but it seemed like everything across the org kicked up a notch after winning it all in 2021, and the budget increase for marketing showed. For Los Angeles in 2022, the Braves rolled out their “send our stars to Hollywood” campaign giving each player a feature film title and brief trailers for each. These graphics became real posters that were given to fans, the trailers played at local movie theaters… this one was fun and the fans seemed to react enthusiastically in turn. Not only was this a successful test run / proof-of-concept for the marketing team (2022’s six All-Star selections are the most for the Braves since 2011, when they had five players in attendance), it’s yet another case of how human originality and creativity can resonate with people, be valuable, and build a brand.
The Braves’ investment in creative concepting and campaign execution doesn’t go unnoticed and unappreciated by me! In the spirit of the list above, here are some ideas off the top of my head for 2026 in Philadelphia:
Weiss’s Water Ice
Pretty self-explanatory. Some examples:
Rainbow Acuña Jr.
Mango Matty O
Baldwin Blue Raspberry
Yaz-pricot
Butterscozzie Albies (woof, I know)
The Boxin’ Braves
The Rocky statue is there, but that’s pretty one-note on its own. I’m envisioning something similar to the Hollywood and Western campaigns where they give players a ring name or persona and different boxing poses in their respective posters.
Convenience store (à la Wawa)
This seems comparable to the Waffle House of it all. It must be of some significance to the city’s denizens if they changed the r/phillies subreddit to it during their losing streak earlier this season. There’s a hoagie angle here but I’m not brave and/or paid enough to try.
Honorable mention concepts I didn’t want to think through: American history, soft pretzels, being home of the First U.S. Mint for some coin-related imagery, perhaps.
In all seriousness, my best guess for the creative vision will probably be around Philadelphia being the Mural Capital of the World. If not done by the Braves, then it’s a contender for the league in general. It’s a way that pays homage to the city that’s very safe / not controversial or too pander-y. There’s immense potential for distinctive, stylized, and vibrant photo treatments and backdrops. And it could have nice tie-ins and activations throughout the city engaging with the existing walls and murals in the lead up to the game itself.
We’re a month out til all the All-Star festivities kick off in earnest. While you all brace yourselves, I’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what creative’s cooked up (and to see if I’m completely off the mark). Did I miss any extremely obvious ideas? Let us know in the comments.
Munetaka Murakami is the hero we need and deserve! | (Sean Haffey/Getty Images)
Winning is fun. For the first time in the 2026 season, the White Sox had a winning week. What started as an astonishing sweep of the Los Angeles Angels ended with a near sweep and series win in San Diego. Sunday’s loss capped a 5-1 week and saw the South Siders just two games below .500.
When your team wins five games in a week, there are only a few low lights to mention, but there are always some.
Dog Day Rain Delay
If you’re unfamiliar with the saying “April showers bring May flowers,” look no further than Monday’s game in Chicago. Fans of the Pale Hose braved the weather to bring their pooches to the park, only to be met with a three-hour rain delay. First pitch was finally tossed at 9:40 p.m. CDT, and the White Sox would not win the game until 12:34 a.m. CDT Tuesday. There are serious props to divvy out to those who stayed to see the end of the game. Here’s hoping there were endless beers for those fans.
Pitching’s Weakest Link
Anthony Kay has officially earned this title for the starting rotation. Kay pitched in two games this week, and while there was improvement between the two starts, there is still work to be done.
Monday’s rain delay might have been a long one but the lefty’s outing was quite short. Four innings of pitching resulted in four earned runs, two hit batters, two walks, and two strikeouts. Had the offense not kicked it into high gear, he would have earned the loss. Instead, he eked out a no-decision for the night and got to celebrate a comeback win with his teammates.
Kay also started in the series finale in San Diego on Sunday, giving up three runs (two earned), walking one, and striking out five. He was again in line to get the loss, but the White Sox tied the game in the seventh to take him off the hook. Two no-decisions in one week sure feels better than two losses.
Luisangel Acuña
To be fair, the offense was facing a well-rested Mason Miller in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday. However, I can make no excuses for Acuña when the tying run is on second base with two outs, and you strike out on three pitches to end the game.
Fans can say the White Sox swept the Angels at home and took a series from the Padres in San Diego in 2026. If you had told them that in 2024, they probably would not have believed it. It has been a long road to get back to playing fun baseball again, and followers of the South Side team should be soaking in every last inch of it, no matter how brief it may be.
Monday’s Fun
After the aforementioned rain delay, the White Sox were down 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. If viewers had not already turned the game off, they were in for a treat.
In the seventh inning, Tristan Peters, Andrew Benintendi, Munetaka Murakami, and Miguel Vargas all drove in runs. The outfielders did their damage the old-fashioned way — with a single and a double — while Murakami and Vargas went with their usual method this year: the long ball.
Every run of the seventh inning would count for something as relief pitching gave up two additional tallies to open the week with a final score of 8-7.
In the second game of the home set against the Angels, the South Siders were up against April’s AL Pitcher of the Month, José Soriano. The apparent ace entered the game with an ERA of 0.24 and had not surrendered a run since his start on April 6. After 25 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, Colson Montgomery tagged one to right field in the second inning of the game to snap the streak.
On the home pitching side of things, Davis Martin continues to make himself known. He was one out shy of another quality start, going 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven, and allowing just one run. He ended the night with an ERA below 2.00.
Tuesday was the night Drew Romo officially made a name for himself. In the fourth inning, he too hit a home run off of Soriano. His first hit of the season would also be his first career home run. The switch-hitter decided to take his at-bat in the sixth inning from the right side of the plate and hit his second hit of the season. This one also exited the park.
There was an abundance of school-aged children at Wednesday’s series finale, given that it was Weather Day at the ballpark. They made their presence known with many screams captured by the on-field microphone.
Even though he earned a no-decision, Erik Fedde showed up for seven strong innings of baseball. He held Mike Trout’s Angels to just two runs, walked no one, and struck out six. Seranthony Domínguez earned his keep after recording the save in Tuesday’s game. The closer held this game at a 2-2 tie in the top of the tenth and even ended up with the win.
The contest was looking like it was going to be a tough 2-1 loss until the bottom of the ninth inning. Sam Antonacci hit his second triple of the season to drive in Peters to tie it up and push the contest into extras. In the 10th inning with the bases loaded, Montgomery played hero and walked off the game to complete the sweep.
Vibes were high when the White Sox arrived in San Diego. Mune treated some of his teammates to sushi during the off-day, and it appears a new handshake between him and Montgomery was born out of it.
The power of friendship is clearly what brought them to homering in the same game for the seventh time this season. They are the only pair to do so this season thus far. Murakami’s home run capped off a six-run second inning for the White Sox. His 13th dinger of the season allowed him to retake the MLB home run lead (as of 9:35 p.m. CDT May 4, Mune and Aaron Judge are now tied for the lead after hitting their 14th home runs).
The shortstop’s round-tripper did not occur until three innings later to extend the lead to 7-0. Long balls are always exciting, but the ninth home run of Montgomery’s season carried a little less pizazz than his counterpart’s 13th.
Scoring eight runs will win plenty of ballgames, but strong pitching is what keeps teams in them. Noah Schultz knew the task at hand and delivered one of his strongest outings thus far. The 22-year-old rookie struck out only two batters in his six innings of work, but he also allowed no runs, keeping the White Sox’s cushion at maximum comfort.
Shutouts on Saturdays
Sean Burke would like a word with Martin about the title for pitching staff ace. The righthander came out guns blazing in San Diego and fired six innings of no-run baseball, striking out six along the way. Burke has now gone 14 1/3 innings without allowing a run.
Domínguez yet again gets praise for achieving the save in this win as well.
The singular blemish to the week came on Sunday; however, there were still highlights in the close loss.
First and foremost, Romo homered for a third time in the week during the top of the third inning to give the Good Guys an early lead. As if that were not exciting enough, Derek Hill saw that the team was running out of time and hit a game-tying two-run bomb in the seventh inning.
The saddest little infield squibbler in the eighth brought home the go-ahead run, lifting the Padres and handing the White Sox their first loss of the week.
If you weren’t keeping track, pitching gave up only 17 runs last week. That is an average of less than three runs per game. On the flip side, the offense scored 32 runs. That comes out to just over five runs per game. Five runs scored per game > three given up per game = lots of wins this season. This equation, if repeated by the White Sox many weeks over, could result in a very fun rest of the season.
Other News and Notes
The big news during Sunday’s loss was that Chicago promoted Braden Montgomery from the Double-A Birmingham Barons to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. After 99 at-bats with the Barons, the outfield prospect is hitting .313 with five doubles, three triples, and six home runs. A promotion well deserved.
Also down on the farm, Hagen Smith was named the White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April. He ended the month with a 2.20 ERA in Charlotte, striking out 21 batters in 16 1/3 innings pitched.
Austin Hays went on the injured list on May 4 with a calf strain. To add outfield depth to an already infield-heavy White Sox team, the front office signed Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. The former first-rounder was DFA’d by the Yankees on Friday after playing in 16 games and batting .194. He will fit right in with this outfield.
The momentum looks to continue on the West Coast with three more games against the Angels until the Good Guys can return home for a weekend series against the Mariners.
Sep 30, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors vice chairman and team president Masai Ujiri talks to the media during media day at Scotiabank Area. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world on Monday morning by hiring veteran executive Masai Ujiri as their new President of Basketball Operations and Alternate Governor. Ujiri enjoyed largely successful stints as the top decision maker with the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors throughout the 2010s, winning both an Executive of the Year award and an NBA title during that time. He was let go by the Raptors in June of 2025.
Though Ujiri’s track record through 2019 is virtually bulletproof, the last few years of his Toronto tenure were tumultuous to say the least. After winning the 2019 title, the Raptors became imprisoned in mediocrity from 2020 to 2023 before finally embarking on a long-overdue rebuild. According to reporting around the organization, this was in large part due to a mandate from ownership group Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Chairman Ed Rogers had no interest in a rebuild so soon after winning the title, and Ujiri was prevented from hitting the reset button at an ideal time.
But even factoring in the troublesome Toronto ownership piece, Ujiri’s final six years in Toronto can’t be described as anything less than a failure. Is this guy cooked? Has the game passed him by? OR was Ujiri fed up with Toronto ownership, mentally checked out during the final years of his tenure, and desperate for a break and change of scenery? With these questions in mind, let’s take a hard look at all the major moves Ujiri made after winning the 2019 title. Through the good, the bad, and the neutral, we might be able to discern whether Ujiri can rediscover his fastball and build a winner around Cooper Flagg.
The Good
June 2021- Toronto selects Scottie Barnes fourth overall in the NBA Draft
This is by far the best move of Ujiri’s post-title tenure. Barnes has blossomed into a superstar for the Raptors, a top-15 player worth building a franchise around. And while it may seem like giving Ujiri credit for hitting on the fourth overall pick is a bit generous, Barnes wasn’t the consensus best player available when Toronto made their selection. After Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley were off the board, many assumed the Raptors would take Jalen Suggs with their pick. Others argued for guys like Jonathan Kuminga or Franz Wagner. At the time of the draft, The Ringer, The Athletic, and SB Nation had Barnes ranked fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, on their big boards. This wasn’t a no-brainer pick at fourth overall, and Ujiri nailed it.
August 2021- Toronto signs & trades Kyle Lowry to Miami for Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic
You could argue that Toronto should have traded Lowry a year earlier, but Ujiri did well to avoid paying him a three-year mega contract while getting something in a sign-and-trade. Lowry was a franchise legend and had played an instrumental part in delivering their first title, so he had a lot of say in whether he stayed or went. When it became clear that his time as a Raptor was over, Ujiri worked with his preferred destination to facilitate a deal. And though Dragic infamously did not work out, Achiuwa did enough to establish himself as a rotation player in the league. Ujiri dodged a bullet by not paying Lowry, who declined dramatically in Miami. This should have launched the rebuild in earnest, but OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were too young to trade and too good to bottom out.
June 2024- Toronto acquires Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, Sasha Vezenkov, and a 2025 2nd round draft pick from Sacramento for Jalen McDaniels
If you want to fleece someone, call the Sacramento Kings. This return was highway robbery for Jalen McDaniels, a player not to be confused with his much more talented brother. Sacramento made this trade to duck the luxury tax, and Ujiri smartly preyed on their desperation, snagging a good role player in Mitchell and a rookie flyer in Shead. The latter’s defensive prowess should allow him to maintain a rotation role in Toronto for a long time. This was a nice bit of business from Ujiri that went under the radar when it happened.
February 2025- Toronto acquires Brandon Ingram from New Orleans for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 1st round draft pick (from Indiana), and a 2031 2nd round draft pick
The last major deal of Ujiri’s Raptors stint was a blockbuster. And though it may be a controversial take, I think this was a good deal from a process and value standpoint. Ingram’s value was depressed at the time, and Ujiri saw an opportunity.
As I’ll detail later, the Raptors have had a tough time attracting free agents, and Ingram represented a chance for them to add an All-Star on the relatively cheap. They essentially gave up one first-round pick and some garbage. And look, here’s where it gets thorny— that pick is currently slotted as second in the 2026 NBA Draft. Now, it looks like Toronto paid a hefty price for Ingram. But a year ago, who could have foreseen Tyrese Haliburton tearing his Achilles in the NBA Finals, triggering a supertank gap year from Indiana, and exponentially inflating the value of their draft pick? I suppose that’s the danger in dealing those assets, but I think this was solid process by Ujiri. Ingram was fantastic for Toronto this season, making the All-Star team and helping them to the fifth seed before injuries ended his season.
The Bad
November 2020- Toronto drafts Malachi Flynn 29th overall over Desmond Bane
Ujiri has mostly nailed the draft throughout his career, and lots of people passed on Bane, but this one hurts. Flynn was a bad basketball player, and he wasn’t even the usual archetype Ujiri goes for. You would have hoped that he would have recognized Bane’s obvious talent instead. Making the wrong pick one slot before Bane went adds insult to injury.
March 2021- Toronto trades Norman Powell to Portland for Rodney Hood and Gary Trent Jr.
This was the first big blunder of Ujiri’s 2020s run. I understand the process here— Ujiri decided he didn’t want to pay Norman Powell entering his age-28 season and flipped him for a guy (Trent Jr.) of a similar archetype who’s nearly six years younger. Trent had a couple of good years in Toronto, but it’s clear that Toronto gave up on Powell too quickly. Paying him the modest $18 million AAV contract he got from the Clippers would have been a solid investment.
February 2022- Toronto trades Goran Dragic and a 2022 1st round draft pick to San Antonio for Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, and a 2022 2nd round draft pick
While this trade wasn’t that consequential, it was bad process. Toronto was on a hot streak heading into the deadline and looking to bulk up for the playoffs, and Ujiri thought that Thaddeus Young was the guy to put them over the top. They dangled Dragic’s expiring contract and the 20th overall pick (essentially moving down 13 spots) to acquire the veteran forward. Young gave Toronto very little during his tenure, and Ujiri was wrong in believing he had more left in the tank. The pick they gave to San Antonio ended up being Malachi Branham, who stinks. But they missed the opportunity to draft Walker Kessler, Andrew Nembhard, Christian Braun, or Peyton Watson, all of whom would have been great additions for the future.
February 2023- Toronto acquires Jakob Poeltl from San Antonio for Khem Birch, a 2023 2nd round draft pick, a 2024 1st round draft pick, and a 2025 2nd round draft pick
Again, value-wise, this isn’t a bad deal. Poeltl was still a very good player at the time, and Toronto only gave up one significant pick for him. And the 2024 draft was horrible, so the eighth-overall pick they gave up (Rob Dillingham) doesn’t hurt that much. Ultimately, this trade was a failure because of what it represented in a timeline sense. Toronto was clearly staring a rebuild in the face, and trading a lottery pick for Poeltl, a good, not great center, didn’t make any sense. He didn’t make the team any better, and they had to rebuild the next year anyway.
July 2023- Toronto loses Fred VanVleet for nothing in free agency
VanVleet has opened up about his desire to leave Toronto before the 2023 offseason. The Raptors weren’t good that year, but they didn’t trade VanVleet at the deadline because Ujiri wanted to push for the playoffs. Maybe the offers weren’t great, but they likely could have gotten something. Instead, they finished .500, lost in the Play-In, and let a franchise legend walk for nothing.
December 2024- Toronto trades OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn to New York for R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 2nd round draft pick
There’s no way around it; this was a disastrous trade for Ujiri. He dealt Anunoby when his value was at its lowest in years and failed to get back a single first-round pick. Sure, Barrett has turned into a nice player for them, but the contract Ujiri gave Quickley after the deal basically negates that. After seeing the leap Anunoby took in New York, it’s painful to see just how little Toronto got back for his services.
July 2024- Toronto signs Immanuel Quickley to a 5-year, $162.5 million contract
This was just a crazy overpay by Ujiri. Quickley isn’t a bad player, but he’s a one-way guy who doesn’t guard at 6’2. Giving him $32.5 million per year never made sense because that’s a number you give someone if you anticipate a star leap on the way. Nothing about Quickley’s game made it seem like that was possible. A contract like this on the books for a non-star player (with injury issues) makes team building really difficult.
February 2025- Toronto trades Davion Mitchell to Miami in a five-team deal that nets them PJ Tucker and a second-round pick (Jimmy Butler trade)
2025 PJ Tucker was unquestionably cooked like the Christmas goose. Why did Ujiri feel like he had to force his way into the Jimmy Butler trade so he could give up a good role player for this guy? It was apparently just salary dumping Mitchell and getting a second-rounder in the process. After Ujiri was fired, they flipped that pick to the Warriors for Trayce Jackson-Davis, who stinks. I bet they wish they had Mitchell back, because they didn’t use that cap relief for anything.
The “Whatever”
Most of the transactions Ujiri made in the 2020s fall into this category. Here are some highlights:
Trading a first-rounder for Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji: This is one of the more “sure, why the hell not” deals in league history. Ujiri traded the 29th pick in a bad draft (Isaiah Collier) for two okay role players who played decently in Toronto, and Olynyk helped them get Ingram later. Perfectly adequate.
The Pascal Siakam Trade– Toronto got three picks for Siakam. One was used to acquire Olynyk and Agbaji. One was used on Ja’Kobe Walter in 2024 (19th overall). He’s fine! And one was used to trade for Brandon Ingram (2026). It’s not a great return for a star player, but given how long they waited to do the deal, this wasn’t bad value.
Selecting Gradey Dick 13th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft: Dick had a decent sophomore season before regressing in a big way this year. While he might not be very good, it’s not like the Raptors whiffed on a bunch of other players to take him. Sure, they could have drafted Keyonte George or Jaime Jaquez Jr., but that’s hardly a franchise-ruiner. And Dick is still just 22 years old with plenty of time to figure things out.
Every Single Free Agency Signing: The Raptors free agency history in the 2020s is hilarious. They could not get anyone to come to Canada. Here is a list of some marquee names they added:
Stanley Johnson
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Aron Baynes
Alex Len
Khem Birch
Svi Mykhailiuk
Otto Porter Jr.
Will Barton
Jalen McDaniels
Dennis Schroeder
Garrett Temple
Bruno Fernando
Ujiri just wasn’t interested in free agency. None of those guys got big deals, none of them were any good. It’s remarkable. At least we know he won’t be counting on Plan Powder!
Objectively, this is a pretty poor run for any executive. Most of the moves made during this time didn’t work out, and it’s fair to wonder if Ujiri’s philosophy is still congruent with winning basketball in today’s game. However, when you consider the context of the entire post-title Raptors ecosystem, I think it’s easy to take a glass-half-full approach toward Ujiri’s next chapter in Dallas. Here, he has complete control with new organization, one with a generational superstar tailor-made for Ujiri’s sensibilities. If this doesn’t re-energize him, he’s probably got nothing left.
