MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JULY 7: Kyler Fedko #51 of the Minnesota Twins bats against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning of the game at Target Field on July 7, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are wasting no time in the offseason, already making moves to firm up their Minor League rosters, when it was announced over the weekend that they signed outfielder and Gibsonia native Kyler Fedko to a two-year Minor League contract.
Per source, the Pirates have agreed to re-sign outfielder Kyler Fedko to a two-year, minor league deal.
Fedko, 27, is a Gibsonia native who made his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins in June. He had a .907 OPS in Triple-A last year.
Fedko is coming off of a torn ACL and MCL, but he expects to be back in action getting healthy somewhere around February. That means he will likely still be rehabbing when the season starts, but he is expected back on the field sometime this year.
The 27-year-old was drafted in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins in 2021. They DFA’d him back in September, allowing the Bucs to snatch him up on a short deal, which has now been upgraded to this two-year contract. Fedko originally played at Vicentian Academy in McCandless and for the University of Connecticut before starting his pro career.
He also has a fair bit of power. He hit .274 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs this past season for St. Paul, while he also hit 28 combined homers and 82 combined RBIs in double and triple-A in 2025. He had one brief call up to the Majors last season, where he went hitless in 16 at-bats. Nevertheless, the Bucs certainly like a hometown kid story, and they can always use a little extra bat pop, so this move makes sense in that regard.
After an exciting offseason with a lot of movement, the NBA season opens this week.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Heat. LeBron James took his talents to the 76ers. Luka Doncic is now the head of the snake for the Lakers. The Knicks are poised to try to repeat as NBA champions after breaking a 53-year title drought. Victor Wembanyama hopes to put his 7-foot-4 body in the way.
There’s a lot of intrigue. A lot could happen. But in the meantime, here are our very early NBA awards predictions:
MVP: Luka Doncic
Doncic has taken over the Lakers after James left in free agency following an eight-season stint in Los Angeles. Last season, Doncic led the league in scoring (33.5 points) and was third in assists (8.3). This offseason, he put his fingerprints all over the roster, including urging the Lakers to acquire Walker Kessler at center. Doncic then hosted a minicamp in Slovenia for the first time in his career to build chemistry. Doncic is all in. He wants to win his first championship. He wants to carry the 17-time championship Lakers back atop the league. And he feels wronged after finishing fourth in the MVP race last season despite his eye-popping stats. Here’s to guessing we’re going to see the best out of him yet.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic (77) warms up before a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Getty Images
Sixth Man of the Year: Ajay Mitchell
Did you see what Mitchell did to the Lakers in the second round of the 2026 playoffs when the Thunder swept LA? Mitchell looked like a star. He averaged 22.5 points. He met the moment. Rob Pelinka, Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations, brought him up unprompted as the type of player the Lakers need to find in the draft. In his third season expect him to make even more leaps.
Defensive POY: Victor Wembanyama
No one will compete with Wembanyama for this award for the foreseeable future unless he somehow fails to meet the 65-game threshold. Wembanyama is a beast on defense. He alters shots. He blocks shots. He can run the floor. His 7-4 height and 8-foot wingspan leave stars looking like G League players against him.
Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs looks to rebound against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of a preseason basketball game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Getty Images
Rookie of Year: Cameron Boozer
The hype is real, folks. Boozer might be the No. 1 option on the Grizzlies soon. He’s going to have high usage. He’s going to be a double-double machine with his shooting and rebounding ability. He impressed in summer league play in Las Vegas and the preseason, and he appears poised to make a major statement.
Coach of the Year: Nick Nurse
If he can turn the 76ers into championship contenders, he should win this award. There are so many cooks in the kitchen, including James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Nurse is going to have to figure out how to manage egos, how to keep everyone engaged and involved and how to make a bunch of alpha superstars willing to star in their roles. It’s a tall task. He’s working with some of the world’s top ingredients. Now it’s up to him to see if he can make a cohesive recipe. If he does, props to him. We’ve seen too many other superteams wildly fail, including the Nets, who never made it past the second round of the playoffs with Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Kevin Durant on the roster.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse calls to his players during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Boston. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Most Improved Player: Amen Thompson
Thompson made leaps last season and here’s to betting that trend is going to continue this year. Now that Fred VanVleet is back, Thompson is going to get way more scoring opportunities. He apparently dramatically improved his jumper over the offseason. He has the basketball IQ and natural talent to keep transforming his game, and he’s going to play for a very competitive Rockets team. His growth has been marked and should continue rapidly.
Western Conference winner: Spurs
Wembanyama is next in line for the face of the league behind James. He wants to be the best. You can see it in the way he advocates for himself, the way his emotions spill out and the way he plays on both sides of the court. Well, we saw the origin of his villain story develop in real time last postseason when the Spurs blew double-digit leads in each of their four losses to the Knicks in the Finals. Wembanyama isn’t going to allow that to happen again. Most of the greats had to get knocked down before rising to the top. Expect nothing different from Wembanyama, who has a talented team behind him in Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Tobias Harris.
Eastern Conference winner: Knicks
No one had the Knicks winning the championship on their bingo card last season. We won’t make that mistake this time around. Jalen Brunson is a superstar. OG Anunoby is now a legend. And the team is returning 10 of its 12 rotational players. The Knicks are the favorites in the East until proven otherwise.
NBA champion: Spurs
Wemby’s time has arrived. You can feel it. It’s similar to how the air feels different ahead of a major storm. We all knew it would be a matter of time before he owned the league. What we didn’t know was how quickly it would happen.
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 10: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles against Luguentz Dort #0 of the Atlanta Hawks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 10, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is the first of a series of roundtable questions I’m asking the staff here at Peachtree Hoops about the Hawks this upcoming season. The first question: which newly acquired player will have the biggest impact for the Hawks this season?
Wes: I think Luguentz Dort will bring a level of toughness, defensive versatility, and an ability to play his role on offense that the team desperately needed. Now that the reins are in the hands of Jalen Johnson to run the show, Dort will fit in as a corner three-point shooter who has tons of experience operating around a star player.
But clearly, defensively is where he’ll make his name. He’s a bigger body than even all-world defender Dyson Daniels, so he, Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker can share the load of taking on the other team’s best perimeter player depending on the night.
Malik: I’ll have to agree and say and say Lu Dort. I think he was the biggest addition to the team this offseason, and it’s because of what he brings to the defensive side of the ball. He’s going to make life easier for Dyson Daniels, and he could guard almost every position on the floor. The Hawks’ defense was good last season, but it’s going to be even better with Dort in the fold.
It’s also hard not to mention the championship experience he’ll bring to the team. That will go a long way for a team that’s looking to be contenders.
Garrett: Luguentz Dort. To me, he was Onsi Saleh’s biggest addition this offseason. The Knicks exposed Atlanta’s struggles with physicality in the playoffs, and Dort directly addresses that issue. He’s one of the league’s best defenders, embraces tough assignments and knows what it takes to win in the postseason. That combination is a major plus for a Hawks team looking to take the next step.
Graham: I really like the deal to acquire Aaron Wiggins, I think he’ll have more of a positive impact than expected, but it’s hard to overlook just what Lu Dort is going to bring. It’s not just what Dort brings – which I’ll discuss in a moment – but the commitment the Hawks have made stylistically, and philosophically.
Dort’s shooting struggles in the postseason are well documented, as are those of Dyson Daniels. It’s going to be difficult to have both of those players out in crunch-time, but on the defensive end of the ball the Hawks have made a clear commitment to a defensive mentality. Now, Dort can be included into ‘chaos’ lineups which can involve Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Dort, Johnson, and Okongwu – every single one of those players can hold their own defensively and excel (Johnson is more than capable of this when he applies himself to do so).
The Hawks may have an offensive ceiling with Daniels and Dort on the floor, but they have the defense to still bring a net rating in those scenarios. If Dort and Daniels can improve their three-point shooting and sustain it in the postseason, then the ceiling is removed for this squad. With Dort, the Hawks can have at least two plus defensive wings on at all times. The versatility he provides to what the Hawks can now run out on the court lineup-wise is a big step forward.
Dort himself will bring a toughness, a mentality that the Hawks will thrive off of, and championship experience to learn from. Everything Dort brings will only help Atlanta grow on and off the court as they try to take the next step; Dort is the perfect acquisition for the Hawks’ next phase of their journey. The message is clear: it’s defense first.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 16: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a layup against John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter of a preseason game at Little Caesars Arena on October 16, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Allen Graves has had a bit of a rough outing in the Raptors’ preseason games, but his coach sees things as going all according to plan.
In two games played, the forward has averaged just over 19 minutes of playing time, posting numbers of seven points, five and a half rebounds, and an assist and a steal a-piece per game. Less than stellar from a first round pick, especially considering that the scoring is being done at a clip of 25% accuracy, while shooting just over nine percent from three.
Offensively, Graves has struggled, especially in his last game, where he was four for thirteen, and missed all five shots from three. However, the rookie can’t be faulted for what he’s doing: after all, he’s just following his coach’s directions.
On the 14th of October, Darko Rajaković was asked about Allen Graves’ feel for the game despite his inaccuracy (the night before, the forward had shot 16% from three). The coach’s response?
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 16: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during a preseason game on October 16, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“I don’t care if the shot is gonna fall or not.”
“He’s a great shooter,” Rajaković continued, intently. “I promise him this morning, the first time when I see him, that he does not take open shot when I see him, I’m going to sit him on the bench. It’s going to be simple as that.”
It’s this type of confidence and championing of his players that has characterized Rajaković‘s tenure as the Raptors’ head coach. This type of leadership and standing by players who are down can be instrumental in keeping a locker room united, but at the same time, the coach is not simply making a leap of blind faith.
“He’s a great shooter,” repeated Rajaković, as if drilling a lesson into schoolchildren who were liable to forget if not reminded. “He has a great feel for the game and yesterday was a typical rookie game playing for the first time in front of home crowd. That was such a typical game, I was so happy for him to get in a foul trouble, to miss shots, and I think that was awesome.”
It is this clear willingness to let a player develop that is a big part of what sets the Raptors apart as an organization. A few rough preseason games aren’t something to be ashamed of, in the mind of Darko Rajaković. They’re a learning experience, and more than that, a milestone for a young player. Showing flashes of greatness on the court are not being prioritized over working on oneself — yet.
It seems for now, Allen Graves will be given the room to make mistakes, to brick jumpshots, and take all the missteps that one might take in an NBA game, in the service of maturing into a well-rounded player. It would be nice if everyone was afforded the luxury of time and external validation that seems to be happening here. But, even if that can’t be the case, it’s good to know that some NBA coaches have real heart.
It seems that Rajaković was channelling his inner Dion Waiters when he spoke to the media last week.
More Waiters: "I’d rather go 0 for 30 than 0 for 9 because you go 0 for 9 that means you stopped shooting.That means you lost confidence."
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers are on the outside looking in to see how the fates of three remaining teams in the postseason play out. While the 2026 World Series gets underway, the Dodgers will now be focusing on how they will operate either before or after the impending lockout.
Nine players that were on the 2026 team will be reaching free agency; the biggest name of the bunch being left-hander Tarik Skubal. One of the biggest questions surrounding the Dodgers’ offseason will be whether or not they bring him back in the fold, and what price they’ll have to pay to retain his services. Sonja Chen of MLB.com lists the questions the Dodgers will have to answer, including Skubal’s future with the team.
The Dodgers parted with two Top 100 prospects — MLB-ready starter River Ryan and outfielder Zyhir Hope — in addition to right-hander Brady Smith in exchange for up to three months of Skubal. They weren’t the only team willing to spend big on a talent of Skubal’s caliber, and the same will be true when he hits the open market for the first time.
Although the Dodgers were unsuccessful in their hopes for a three peat, both Skubal and Blake Snell still believe that their championship window is still wide open, notes Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.
“I don’t feel that at all,” Skubal said. “It’s hard to win the World Series, and this group has done it the last two seasons. Obviously, not this year, but … I think that this group is incredibly talented. And the preparation and the work ethic that this group has — I don’t buy into that narrative.”
Said Snell: “We’re only getting better.”
Jack Harris of the California Post gives Shohei Ohtani an “F” grade as a part of his end-of-season report card, with his turbulent second half and postseason derailing what looked to be another MVP-caliber season.
To be clear: The two-way star was the second-best player in the National League this year, hitting 30 home runs and posting a sub-2.00 ERA in 14 starts on the mound. Even in a relatively down year for him, he finished fifth in the majors in FanGraphs’ version of wins above replacement. He remains, undoubtedly, MLB’s foremost star player and the Dodgers’ most potent weapon.
But that is why the way his season finished was such a failure.
Miguel Rojas will no longer take the field in a Major League Baseball game, and he took the time to appreciate all of his teammates following their NLCS Game 4 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers, per Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider.
“They changed my life,” Rojas later said, his eyes still pink from his speech to his teammates. “I truly and honestly say that from the bottom of my heart. The last couple years here for me, it’s been the most amazing time of my life in baseball, and I grew so much with this group. I grew as a man, as a father, as a player, as a leader, as a teammate. And I just wanted to say thank you to every person here in this organization for giving me the opportunity to be myself and to kind of help change the culture of this club.”
A rainout in Cleveland?!? What, did they NOT think of putting a dome on Progressive Field???
Well, if they did, those 17 magical moments wouldn’t have happened that November night. So, I guess it’s an even trade in the end.
I appreciate your reading.
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Doug Schwamb (Chicago Cubs On SI): What Does a Successful Cubs Offseason Actually Look Like? “The Chicago Cubs have some moves to make, but what is a realistic offseason plan for them? There are some different ways to approach it.”
Food For Thought:
Tommy Castro (born April 15, 1955) is an American blues, R&B, and rock guitarist and singer. He has been recording since the mid-1990s. His music has taken him from local stages to national and international touring. According to The Chicago Sun-Times, Castro plays “Memphis soul-drenched R&B…top-of-the-line blues.” Tom Callahan of Blurt added, “Castro has a soulful voice, searing guitar and is an excellent songwriter and vocalist. If you close your eyes you will be convinced that you are listening to Otis Redding singing in 1967…tremendous.”
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Los Angeles, - October 15: Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgerslook on in the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Dodgers 6-4 to win Game 4 of a NLCS playoff baseball game and advance to the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
We’re more than half-way through the month of October, and one half of the World Series matchup has been decided.
There will be no three-peat.
The Milwaukee Brewers, getting their revenge for how they bowed out of the playoffs last year, did something that seemed unimaginable at the start of this season. The Brew Crew swept the dreaded Los Angeles Dodgers—with their gargantuan payroll and roster loaded with future Hall of Fame talent—in the National League Championship Series. In doing so, Milwaukee now has their sights set on winning their first title in franchise history as they prepare for the team’s first World Series appearance in 44 years.
The Brewers now await the crowning of the American League champion to be their opponent in the Fall Classic. The Cleveland Guardians—looking for their first World Series win since 1948—and the Tampa Bay Rays—looking for their first World Series win in franchise history—have the series tied up at two games each and have guaranteed their seasons will continue until at least Monday night.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies look to continue their rebuild after another 100-loss season. The first change of the off-season in pursuit of that goal came last week with the firing of pitching coach Alon Leichman after just one season.
With that being said, here’s what our staff here at Purple Row had to say this week:
Who do you want the Brewers to face in the World Series, and ultimately who do you want to win it all? For the Rockies, how do you feel about the Leichman firing? Do you believe more departures will follow?
Each week, Melissa Rohlin of the California Post will power rank the NBA’s 30 teams:
1. San Antonio Spurs
There was palpable pain on Victor Wembanyama’s face after the Knicks eliminated the Spurs in the NBA Finals. The Spurs had double-digit leads in each of their four losses in that series. Wembanyama blamed himself. Here’s to betting he’s going to be a beast this season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) warms up before a game against the Sacramento Kings at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
2. New York Knicks
We underestimated the Knicks last season and won’t repeat that mistake. They return 10 of their 12 rotational players. They’ve proven that no deficit fazes them. And Jalen Brunson is fearless.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2025 championship Thunder were stunned by the Spurs in the Western Conference finals last season. This roster is deep, young, talented and hungry to get back atop the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has won two straight MVP awards, isn’t going to take his foot off the gas this season.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey? This should be fun. It might take them a second to figure things out and develop chemistry. But if they do, watch out. It’ll be interesting to see if this superteam takes over the league or flames out, such as the disappointing Nets who never got past the second round of the playoffs despite having Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden on the roster.
Philadelphia 76ers’ LeBron James dribbles during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
The regular season doesn’t matter for this Cavs team. They keep combusting in the playoffs, including getting swept by the Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference finals. Either they make a deep run with Donovan Mitchell, Harden, Peyton Watson and Evan Mobley or else it’s hard to imagine there isn’t going to be a reckoning soon.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
This team has a lot of question marks. But also a lot of potential. If Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler play to their potential and the team’s perimeter defense surpasses expectations, the Lakers could be very good. But this team has nine new players, including Kessler, who played only five games last season after having season-ending shoulder surgery. So, yeah, lots of questions.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots during pregame warmups before a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
7. Houston Rockets
Fred VanVleet has returned after missing last season because a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee that he suffered in an offseason workout in September 2025. Alperen Sengun is looking good. Durant is still very much Durant. This team could be the dark horse of the West.
8. Indiana Pacers
Didn’t you learn not to overlook Tyrese Haliburton back in 2025? You know, when he stunned the NBA by leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals before suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of that series? Sure, he’s going to be shaking off rust this season. But he’s someone to keep your eye on.
9. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons added more scoring threats after Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren were overcrowded by defenders in the paint last postseason. If Ausar Thompson can also be counted on having a reliable outside shot, they could be good.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves’ ceiling rose after they acquired LaMelo Ball, pairing him with Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. Jonathan Kuminga was another great addition to the roster. If the hype is real, the Timberwolves could give the top teams in the West a run for their money.
11. Boston Celtics
Brown is gone. We’re going to see what Jayson Tatum can do without his longtime counterpart, with whom he won a championship in 2024. And this should be a revenge season of sorts for Paul George, who caught a lot of strays from pundits amid the Brown trade.
12. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets had an underwhelming offseason. But any team with Nikola Jokic is going to be in the championship hunt. Their starting five of Joker, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun is very skilled, but their lack of depth could haunt them.
13. Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are going to be a lot of fun on both sides of the court. This team should be a title threat in the next couple of years.
14. Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard has returned to the Raptors, whom he carried to a championship in 2019. After far too many injury-riddled seasons with the Clippers, he looked great last year, averaging 27.9 points on 50.5% shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game over 65 contests. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the league’s best players.
15. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg is gearing up for a breakout season, and Irving is returning to the lineup after missing last season because of torn left ACL. It’ll be interesting to see what new coach Dusty May can do with this group in the wake of the Doncic-Anthony Davis debacle.
16. Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are formidable, but a lot of questions remain around this team, especially with its outside shooting. Their eye-popping payroll coupled with the fact that this team hasn’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs the last three years means they’re on a very short rope to figure things out quickly.
17. Atlanta Hawks
This team should have a strong defense behind Lu Dort and Dyson Daniels. If Jalen Johnson can continue to take leaps, this team could make some noise.
18. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors didn’t have the offseason they hoped. Antetokounmpo was traded to Miami. James chose the 76ers. But if Jimmy Butler returns healthy in a few months from his torn right ACL, he, Steph Curry and Draymond Green could make some noise in the West, especially if Yaxel Lendeborg keeps impressing.
19. Utah Jazz
This team is lacking frontcourt depth at the start of the season after Jusuf Nurkic suffered a partial plantar plate tear in the second toe of his right foot during the preseason. But Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson are exciting, and Darryn Peterson could be a difference-maker.
20. Washington Wizards
Trae Young and Davis both feel as though they have a lot to prove. Young’s star has fallen. Davis has been on a wild downswing ever since he was dealt to the Mavericks for Doncic. Those two guys should be very fun to track this season as they seek revenge.
21. Los Angeles Clippers
This team is down in the dumps following the Aspiration scandal. They’ve hit rock bottom. They’re racked with injuries. But don’t be surprised if coach Tyronn Lue somehow brings out the best in them.
22. Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker really needs a great year following last season’s subpar performance. He shot 45.6% from the field, his lowest percentage since his third season in the league. If he can reemerge as a superstar, he and Dillon Brooks could be fun.
23. Portland Trail Blazers
This team could be ranked much higher. It depends how Damian Lillard looks after missing last season because of a torn Achilles tendon. And how quickly Lillard, Deni Avdija and Ja Morant can develop a rhythm. There’s a lot of wild cards here. But this team also has the potential to skyrocket in these rankings very soon.
24. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson should compete for Rookie of the Year. Josh Giddey is always fun. And Matas Buzelis made leaps last season. The Bulls have a lot of growing to do. But there’s also intrigue here.
25. New Orleans Pelicans
We’re entering this season with the same tired storyline. The Pelicans won 26 games last season, yet they refused to pull the plug. Don’t expect much to change this time around.
26. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer is living up to the hype. He joins some young hotshots in Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer. This team should be fun. But it’ll be a while before it can make noise.
27. Charlotte Hornets
Ball is out. Let’s see what the team’s creators can do without him, especially Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Naz Reid.
28. Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff is an electric scorer, and if he lives up to his potential, this team could be worth monitoring. Domantas Sabonis claims he’s healthy following knee surgery. And there’s also always intrigue around Ben Simmons. But winning games is another issue altogether.
29. Brooklyn Nets
While everyone suspects the Timberwolves of taking veiled shots at Julius Randle, he could raise the Nets’ ceiling. But it’s a very low ceiling, despite Michael Porter Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. being on the roster.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
Welp, at least the Bucks won a championship in 2021 before everything fell apart.
Welcome to the Den! Over the course of the season I want to take 10 game snap shots and ask and answer a few questions about the Wolves. Some of these questions are about serious hoop, some of them are the silly questions I think about riding the Green Line to the Target Center. So curl up with a beverage of your choice, get comfy, and stay awhile.
1. Are Ant and LaMelo better together?
If we can take anything from preseason (we shouldn’t), and if head coach Chris Finch is giving us any hints to his plan for the season in his quotes about lineups (he isn’t), then Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball will share the floor a lot. The reasons to keep them separated are obvious. Both players can handle the ball. Both players have tremendous gravity on offense creating opportunities for others. The Wolves have a dearth of ball handling and keeping someone on the court at all times who won’t get bullied in a full-court press is imperative.
So why would Finch ever play a minute without one of his star guards on the court? Well…
Overwhelming Offense: With both guards on the court, they create a Sophie’s Choice for how to guard the Wolves that leads to easy mismatches easily exploitable with Ant’s athleticism or Ball’s passing. If both players are loaded up on, there are plenty of other players to kick the ball to for easy looks.
Bench Strengths: Fresh off Terrance Shannon Jr.’s impressive 2026 playoff performance, Finch noted the need to put the ball in his hands to get the most out of him. Ball or Edwards might play well alongside TJ by spotting up for threes as Shannon barrels to the hoop and collapses the defense. That said, both players are better when their usage is higher and the Wolves have other bench shooters that TJ can feed.
Establishing Roles: Melo knows his primary role. Its the one role he has always known. He is there to stir the drink on offense and get everyone involved. Ant is going back to his best role as a shooting guard. He will move off-ball and create advantages for his team. On the defensive side of things, Ant will need to establish himself on defense and that will be easier when he is not the primary creator.
There will be moments in games where the pair are split up. Ant will likely play more minutes than Melo. To get the most out of both players skillsets, those times apart should be limited.
2. What is Joan’s good/bad ratio?
As reported by Jace Frederick of The Pioneer Press during the short tenure of Rob Dillingham, head coach Chris Finch said of Dillingham,
“If you play three games, you hope that you get one good, one not so good, and one maybe stinker. And you got to turn that into two positives and maybe one negative. Once we get there, then things start to go.”
If Finch is holding Joan to a similar standard, how many bad games can the Wolves withstand for every good game Joan provides. I believe the Wolves can weather two bad games for every one that impresses. For all the talk of a team focused on defense, this is a team built to score in bunches. There will be games where defense is wanting any minute Rudy Gobert is off the floor. So long as the offense is humming and it should be, then the Wolves can handle Joan riding the pine on account of leading the league in fouls.
The second year player needs minutes and needs opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them. The bench defense does rely on him, but this is a team that will win with their offense as they learn and adapt to a leaner and smaller team.
3. How many minutes should Melo average?
In his six-year NBA tenure, LaMelo Ball has only played 61% of games. Much of that was due to injury, some of that was due to being on a team in the tank for a better lottery pick. He has played over 50 games in a season three times. Last season was his second most games played. He also played his fewest average minutes per game at 28 minutes.
The early preseason returns, such as they can be relied on, have shown how dynamic the Wolves can be with Ball on the floor.
It will be imperative for Coach Finch to go against his nature of leaning on his starters. The Wolves do have a bevy of guards to slot into the starting spot should Melo miss a few games but none of them offer the dynamism of size, dribbling, shooting, and passing. To keep LaMelo available while also getting the most out of him, I look to the Wolves former floor general Mike Conley in the 2024 season. At 29 minutes a game, the 36-year-old guard was able to suit up for 76 games.
If Ball plays over 70 games the Wolves will be in contention for a top four seed in the playoffs.
4. How long can effort outlast physicality?
Everyone is talking about it: the Wolves got smaller this season. With Naz Reid, Julius Randle, Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, and Joe Ingles all playing elsewhere, the Wolves lost just under 32 feet and 11 inches of height. Minnesota added Melo, Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Lyles, Cody Williams, and Isaiah Evans for a total of 33 feet and one inch of height.
Unfortunately this pedantic look doesn’t actually dispel the fact that the Wolves are not as big as their rivals and will need to be creative to counteract this discrepancy. Mostly they will rely on effort in the hopes that sweat equity will overtake size. And it is here that I have my biggest concern for the year.
In the early parts of the season, as teams are trying to figure themselves out and miscommunications are more common, this effort strategy has a better chance of working. In the bleak mid-winter especially with the new anti-tanking rules in place, that effort will be harder to summon and the size issue will still be there. I don’t foresee a trade unless the Wolves are dealing away one of their cheaper contracts and that likely doesn’t bring back much of a needle mover. No amount of weight room work is going to build the requisite muscle in time for it to be of use.
Minnesota will need to get clever in their defense to earn the extra possessions that decide close games. An option could be found in gambling for more steals at the risk of drawing fouls. Per Stat Muse the Detroit Pistons were called for the most fouls last year while also forcing the most turnovers. This style of play led to the third best point differential for the season last year behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.
The Wolves fouled the third most last season while only forcing the 12th most turnovers. In a league trending bigger, general manager Tim Connelly gambled on smaller players. Those players will need to take similar risks to earn extra possessions when the effort to rebound runs into a bigger and stronger wall.
5. Which Wolf Takes the Leap?
Ant, Melo, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels all have accolades in their trophy case. There are things each of them could do to improve. McDaniels could move into All-Star territory, though with Ant and Ball on the team, barring the Wolves holding the number one seed, I don’t see them getting three all-stars. Melo could join Ant in the All-NBA space in a best of all worlds eventuality for the Wolves. Ant could win MVP, the pinnacle of the league.
The likely leaper candidates are Jonathan Kuminga, Ayo Dosunmu, Joan Beringer, Terrance Shannon Jr.
Kuminga’s Case: I will keep beating this drum until he proves otherwise. Kuminga needs to model his game after Josh Hart. He won’t win Most Improved Player, but he will win a decade plus career.
Sixth Man Ayo: Posting one of four triple doubles for the Wolves last year and scoring 43 points off the bench in the playoffs when Ant and Donte DiVincenzo were injured, Dosunmu showed the ability to morph into whatever player his team needed. If he can find consistency while maintaining this doppelganger, he’ll put himself solidly into the Sixth Man of the Year race and likely the Most Improved Player race.
Go On Joan: If Joan can keep his fouling to below four a game and increase his rebounding to six or more a game, up from his 2.3 average now, then they Wolves have answered one of their biggest concerns. This leap would likely only be seen amongst the Minnesota faithful and deep NBA stat head sickos.
TJ Gets a Payday: TJ is on the cusp of a contract extension. For him to earn a payday he will need to win his minutes. Whether that is by scoring, setting up his teammates, or using his leaping ability and size to grab defensive rebounds to end possessions, TJ’s next contract appears directly tied to his EPM for this season.
My bet is on Ayo who has the most versatility.
6. Which Wolf has the Dunk of the Year?
I wish this could be Joan because of how angrily he dunks, but there are few dunks by big men who make the cut for Dunk of the Year. Shaquille O’Neal dunking Chris Dudley to the floor and DeAndre Jordan’s alley-oop dunk over Brandon Knight are top of mind and beyond that a struggle unless the backboard is shattered. Dunks of the Year belong to the players who break the bonds of gravity to violently flush it through the rim. The three most likely candidates for the Wolves are Ant, Kuminga, or TJ.
TJ treats the rim like it pulled up Urban Dictionary and started listing derogatory terms to describe his mother. He has the speed and leaping ability to capture the imagination. Very strong candidate.
Kuminga has listened to years of criticism about his deficiencies and has watched his annual earnings drop back to below what he made on the third year of his rookie contract. With a team looking to set him up, if he puts all of his frustration at Steve Kerr, the national media, and maybe his agent into a single dunk, we might see the backboard shatter.
Ant has the greatest advantage of name recognition and a highlight reel worth of past DOTY finalists. Given the popularity of the Wolves backcourt, if he posterizes an opponent off a Melo alley-oop then…
7. Which Wolf gets a new nationally recognized nickname?
According to Basketball Reference these are the nicknames for the Wolves likely nine man rotation. In bold after them, I have added a few of my thoughts for consideration.
LaMelo Ball: Melo – LaFrenchConnection LaFrench is his middle name
Anthony Edwards: Ant, Ant-Man – Ripleyfor when he defeats “the Alien” Victor Wembenyama.
Jaden McDaniels: Seatbelt, Big Mac, Slim – Sith Lord already sort of out there with the Darth Jaden Memes, The Warden (puts people in cells + Game of Thrones Warden of the North tie-ins.
Jonathan Kuminga: none listed – DR3 a play on where Kuminga is from, the Democratic Republic of the Congo aka the DRC, heavily contingent on him becoming a + three point shooter.
Rudy Gobert: The Stifle Tower, The French Rejection, The Gobert Report, Gobzilla, Big Ru – Rudy has plenty and I don’t think I can do any better.
Quamdeen Ayopo “Ayo” Dosunmu: none listed – Ayo is already too good. It has a singularity to it, it is easy to yell, and conjures both someone grabbing your attention while asking you, “what’s up?” (For clarity, his name is pronounced “EYE-o”)
Terrence Shannon Jr.: none listed – SouthpawI don’t know if his right hand will ever be reliable.
Joan Berringer: none listed – The Baron of Blocksmuch as I love Baron J, I don’t see much of a jump shot emerging
Trey Lyles: TreyMamba – Spanish Honeymaker because he played for a Spanish team last year and you know, el bees, as in this team is twiggy up and down and Finch is gonna need to add some pounds to some lineups
For my money, I think McDaniels is primed for a nationally recognized nickname. Clyde Frazier was calling him Mac during the recent Wolves versus Knicks bout. While a few on this list do not have any and Jaden has three, none are called out with the type of exuberance that leads to water cooler talk where he is spoken about only in nickname.
8. Is this The Year?
In a word…
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 10: Anthony Edwards #5 of Team USA smiles after receiving a gold medal during the Men's Gold Medal Game on August 10, 2024 at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
No.
I think the Wolves are going to be a very good team. I think they have a better than 50% chance to be in the top four of the Western Conference. I even think they could surprise the world and beat one of San Antonio or Oklahoma City and make it to the Western Conference Finals. I do not think they are good enough to beat both of those teams if all are healthy.
All that said… HOWL! 82-0! Hope springs eternal!
9. Where are we in the Marathon?
While basketball was the first sport I fell in love with, distance running was the first sport I was actually good at. I have run a few marathons and given the grind of an 82-game season, I wanted to take a look at where the Wolves are in the grand scheme of the most famous distance race.
The Wolves are wrapping up preseason which equates to the final week before the race. The energy is high, there is a touch of nervousness, mileage and workouts are not maxing out the legs or lungs. The Wolves’ regular season rotations aren’t playing in all of the games, and the deep bench are getting more run than they normally would. In those final days before the race there is a mix of feeling incredible, muscles are relaxed with a spring in your step. Other days any small twinge can feel like a five alarm fire that your body isn’t ready.
The starting lineup makes sense. With Jaden at the point of attack and Rudy minding the hoop, Ant, Ball, and Kuminga are showing the effort needed to force stops. On the other side of the court, the ball is moving more than any Wolves offense in recent memory. Opposing defenses are struggling deciding which player to concede a shot from. Even still, it is a long season and injuries are sure to creep up and sap some of the strength of the team.
On the bench there are bright spots but an equal number of worries, some already mentioned in this article. Can Joan keep his hands to himself enough to stay on the court? Should so much of the point guard duties be foisted upon TJ’s left hand? Is there a more glaring reason Trey Lyles spent a year out of the league?
None of these things will be known until the games start mattering and the minute distribution comes into alignment. At this point, there isn’t much left for Connelly, Finch, or the rest of the Wolves players to do but get to opening day ready and healthy. Anxiety and excitement grows with each passing day until the starting gun fires and all the worry melts away and you have to contend with the course in front of you.
One step at a time.
10. Wolves Record Through Ten
The Wolves first ten games are filled with hard-nosed defensive teams. The Giannis and Bam Heat, the Magic, the Raptors, the Cavaliers, the Rockets and the Spurs. If they can go 50-50 in that stretch, they have the talent to dispatch the Warriors, Clippers, Bucks and Pelicans.
Wolves start the season 7-3.
Canis Comment Section: What questions do you have? How would you answer any of the these questions?
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a roundtable of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: What is your boldest prediction for the Suns’ 2026-27 season?
GuarGuar: My boldest prediction is we will be a Top 4 seed in the Western Conference this year. I think the cohesiveness and development of this group will show big time, and I also think we will have better injury luck overall.
zenzino: Instructions said ‘3 or less’. Less? I don’t think so. I’m taking it to the limit! Shocking, I know.
Suns finish 5th or 6th seed and, due to some favorable matchups, make it to the Western Conference Finals.
Maluach has an ok start to the season but then hits his stride and wins the NBA Most Improved Player.
Goodie is Goodie all season long and makes NBA All-Defensive 2nd team. I’d say 1st team but the bias against being a Suns player will work against him.
Ashton: My boldest prediction? Is Rod trying to set me up for a positive answer? Though I suppose I could swing to the dark side and give out some predictions that would really make “Bightsiders” PO’ed. Let’s roll with the positive.
Suns win 45 games
Suns miss fewer games than last season due to injury concerns and rest management issues.
Let’s take it a step further. Sun fans actually get true updates on players’ status reports rather than the same mealy-mouthed spoon-fed crap we get season after season. “Oh, it’s just tweaked a little” turns into 4-6 weeks out. I like transparency.
Do I believe these to be true? Probably not.
Rod: I’m not sure how bold this one is, but I think Ryan Dunn is going to be a key rotation player for the Suns this year. He’s looked both confident and competent in preseason, and has obviously regained Jordan Ott’s trust.
I think the Suns will not only be a top 10 defensive team this year, but in the top 5 defensively. Overall, they’ve ranked only 17th in preseason, but in 1st quarters (played mostly by 1st and 2nd unit players) they ranked 4th in defense.
By the time the playoffs roll around, the return of Mark Williams is going to give the team a significant boost that pushes them up in the final seeding and plays a big role in winning at least their first-round playoff series.
Q2: ESPN recently called the center position as the Suns’ “biggest roster hole”. What are your thoughts on this?
GuarGuar: I agree, given that Maluach is unproven and Oso would be very undersized for a starting center. I’m hopeful Man Man can prove to be a quality big this year so it’s not a big issue, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about our Center spot this year. The Duop signing makes me feel a tad better.
zenzino: My thoughts are that ESPN is the biggest hole in the sports media roster.
I’m actually surprised they took enough time away from stroking LeBron to worry about the Suns. It’s all those short helicopter trips.
Obviously, there’s no roster hole at either guard position. I’m cool with the depth at SF. For me, it’s a toss-up between PF and Center. Even though there are more possible bodies at the SF position, I’m pretty confident in Oso and Man Man to be ‘good enough’ and hold it down for the first half of the season.
Sheer is going to take a little longer than we hoped, but like Man Man, I think he’s going to start trusting in the work he’s doing more and more and work his way into consistent rotation.
It’s probably pretty obvious; I’ve made a conscious decision to look on the bright side of things with the Suns (see what I did there?). So understand my takes are going to focus on the positive.
I like this team as currently constructed. Are they bursting with talent 1-15? Not really. But all 15 guys go out there, play hard, and usually contribute.
Ashton: You cannot say that ESPN will state the obvious and run with it. Oh wait, I can! That is exactly what they do. We have been calling that topic on the board ever since, and maybe even before Mark Williams went down with injury. KM has been more of a revelation in the preseason, so maybe the raw center can hold up. I thought he did just fine against Wemby. Why in the world did Coach Ott sit Oso? Unless he is not healthy, he could have really used those minutes against Wemby on Wednesday.
Also, I need to slip this in somewhere, and this question will work. But what is the point of preseason if all the starters (now including Oso) are sitting out? Yes, preseason games have been reduced from eight games to four, but it is still glorified Summer League. Just increase the age requirements for the Summer League games while scrapping the preseason altogether.
Rod: They call it a hole; I call it a question mark. It could turn into a roster hole, but that’s still undetermined at this point. Maluach has shown enough promise that it’s very possible that he could begin to be a force in the lineup fairly early on in the season, and Ighodaro is already a proven, quality backup center. It all depends on how quickly Khaman adapts and settles into playing a much bigger role than he’s used to.
Another big question mark that could become a hole is the lack of a true point guard in the starting lineup. Can they get the Booker/Green backcourt to function well enough together to make that lack a non-factor? Sure, having Gillespie move up into the starting lineup could fill that potential hole, but it could create another one on the 2nd unit…or at least an adjustment to the 2nd unit roles which might not go smoothly.
Q3: Eddie Johnson recently said that Devin Booker needs to be aggressive and be taking the most shots for the Suns this season. What’s your opinion on this?
GuarGuar: I 100% agree with Eddie; we need Book to be ultra aggressive and our leading shot taker. I’m as big of a Book fan as it gets, as evidenced by my history here on BSOTS…but I’ll be honest when I say I’m concerned about Devin. His elevation on his jump shot hasn’t been there the past 2.5 years. I don’t know if it’s just declining athleticism, the Books, or what…but he’s not elevating anywhere near what he used to do. And that is why I think his jump shot has been off the past couple seasons.
He needs to gain that alpha confidence again more than anything, though. Too many times he gets passive and is obsessed with just making the right play. And while I commend his discipline and self-sacrifice for the betterment of the team…it gets to a point where it’s too much. And it was way too much last year. We need Book to get back at least close to his prime a couple seasons ago in order to be a future contender. And I still believe in him to lead us.
zenzino: EJ has a pretty high basketball IQ. Smart guy.
That being said…duh.
Yes! Book needs to be the primary bucket getter. I’ve been wanting Book to get back to his scoring ways for quite a while now. I hope Book sticks to what he said on media day about looking to shoot more.
This will be facilitated by others. Oso’s passing and playmaking have improved to the point where he is a primary connector when he’s on the court. We just caught a glimpse of it in the first game; Bridges’ passing and playmaking are underrated. And Green is making strides, working with Nash. I posted a great video in the feed of a film breakdown showing the change in Green’s reads and decision-making. If he continues to progress, that’s another effective tool in the Suns’ toolbox.
All of this will get Book off the ball more and greatly reduce the pressure on Book to be the main facilitator and playmaker so he can concentrate on what he does best. If these things come together, Book could have the best scoring season of his career.
And I’m here for it.
Ashton: For those not aware, Eddie Johnson is the color commentator for the Arizona Family Suns games and has had the same stints with ASU and the Phoenix Mercury. Also, a co-host on NBA Today. He has had an illustrious NBA career and should not be confused with “Fast Eddie”, who is Eddie L. Johnson. I enjoy listening to his color commentary.
Eddie is not wrong in his statement, but Book has received little play in the preseason, mainly due to rest. This is being submitted before Friday’s Utah Jazz game, but I highly doubt a Booker start happens. Book has looked pretty fly in his street clothes while negotiating his next endorsement deal on the cell.
Rest management does not make you an aggressive player. In fact, I am beginning to side with the crowd that thinks Book may have already turned his corner for wanting to prove he is one of the best in the NBA. Depending on what top NBA 100 player rankings you read, Book is aging like vinegary wine that has corresponded with his age. I last saw him ranked at number 26 (CBS Sports), but 30 is not out of the question. Is this a call to trade? No. He is still the heart and soul of the team, but I think he is slowing down. He will still be the best player on the team.
Which is why I want Booker to use his NBA experience and be a playmaker for the Suns. I have maintained this stance for a while. Sorry, Eddie, you will not find support for your “aggressive” statement from me. I want him to act more like a mentor and a veteran. Something which he did not do in preseason, while passing up an excellent chance to bond with his on-court teammates.
Rod: I agree with one caveat…he needs to concentrate on his bread-and-butter mid-range game and limit his long-range three-point attempts. If they leave him alone at the three-point line, he should fire away, but otherwise I’d rather see him get closer to the FT line and get off one of his fadeaway mid-range jumpers that he’s so good at. We’re going to need him to average about 25 points and he can do that, and probably do it more efficiently, sniping from mid-range (and at the FT line) than bombing away from three.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“We have a lot of weapons, guys that can have a big night any night and we know that.” – Luke Kennard
“I love Luke (Kennard). You can plug and play him anywhere. He has a tremendous shot, knows how to play the game, and is not only a three-point shooter as you see. He can create for himself in the midrange; he’s got a great handle. He’s going to be another scorer for us coming off the bench. He guards; he stays in front. He was a perfect pickup for us this offseason, and I can’t wait for Phoenix to see all the types of games he’s going to have. He’s going to have some tremendous games.” – Dillon Brooks
“He (Ryan Dunn) has had a great camp so far. I’m sure it will continue because of the way he works.” – Jordan Ott
“For the team, whatever is asked of us, we’re going to do.” – Oso Ighodaro
Suns Trivia/History
Teams With The Most 2nd Chance PPG In The 2026-27 NBA Preseason
Boston Celtics — 26.0
Dallas Mavericks — 23.7
Houston Rockets — 23.3
Orlando Magic — 20.0
Portland Trail Blazers — 18.7
Cleveland Cavaliers — 18.0
Phoenix Suns — 17.8
Sacramento Kings — 17.8
Miami Heat — 17.5
New York Knicks — 16.4
From Stat Defender (Twitter/X)
On October 18, 1968, Dick Van Arsdale scored the Suns’ very first basket at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum as Phoenix beat the Seattle Supersonics 116-107 in their inaugural regular season opener. Van Arsdale (21 pts), Gail Goodrich (27 pts) and Dick Snyder (20 pts) led the way in scoring with 68 of the Suns’ total points (58.6%). Goodrich and center George Wilson would share the honors of being the first two Suns players to ever record double-doubles, with Goodrich getting 27 pts and 10 assists and Wilson scoring 16 points while pulling down 19 rebounds. Goodrich was also just one rebound short of getting the first triple-double in Suns history.
On October 18, 1977, 6-time All-Star Walter Davis made his NBA debut for the Phoenix Suns in a 100-83 win over the Golden State Warriors. In his first-ever NBA game, Davis scored 20 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and made 5 steals in 31 minutes.
On October 22, 1976, twin brothers Tom and Dick Van Arsdale played together in a game for the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first pair of twins to play for the same NBA club. Unfortunately, the Suns ended up losing the game 111-98 to the New Orleans Jazz.
On October 23, 1993, in the finals of the sixth McDonald’s Championship, held at the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany, the Phoenix Suns defeated Italian League champion Buckler Bologna 112-90. Charles Barkley led all scorers with 28 points and was awarded the Drazen Petrovic Trophy as MVP of the tournament after scoring 52 points in two games.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday: Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers, 7:00 pm AZ time
Saturday: Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors, 7:00 pm AZ time
Important Future Dates
Oct. 19 – All rosters set for NBA Opening Day (5 p.m. ET) Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins Oct. 24 – NBA G League Draft Oct. 26 – NBA G League Training Camps open Oct. 30 – Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Group Play tips off Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027 March 1 – Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline April 11 – 2026-27 Regular Season ends (All 30 teams play) April 12 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2027 (3 p.m. ET) April 13-16 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 17 – NBA Playoffs 2026 begin
After multiple weeks of waiting, the Lakers were finally able to see what it looked like when their Big 3 was on the floor together.
The results made it clear there’s plenty of room for growth.
With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler available for Friday’s preseason finale loss to the Nuggets on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, the wait to see how the team would look with its most consequential players alongside each other ended.
The Lakers finally got a look at their “Big 3, which includes Luka Doncic (77) and Walker Kessler (14). NBAE via Getty Images
Finally, the highly anticipated Doncic-Kessler pick and roll would be unleashed on an opposing team instead of held within the confines of the team’s practice floor.
The 7-foot-2 center, who made his debut in Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors in Las Vegas, would be able to build off his first NBA game in nearly a year in a positive way and complement both of the team’s star guards.
And the Lakers’ wing defenders — this time with Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams in the first unit in what could be a preview for the regular-season opener against the Warriors — would have their defensive anchor behind them, allowing them to be more aggressive with their perimeter defense.
Some of this came to fruition.
Luka Doncic (77) was responsible for five of the Lakers’ 10 first-half turnovers. NBAE via Getty Images
But other aspects left a lot to be desired.
The biggest among them: too many early turnovers, with the Lakers recording six giveaways by the end of the first quarter and 10 turnovers by the middle of the second.
It was evident that Kessler was adjusting to what his new life will look like when defenses load up on Doncic and Reaves, and the playmaking responsibilities that’ll come in those moments.
“There’s going to be some growing pains, just lack of reps together so far,” Reaves said. “More than likely going to pick up on it sooner than later. So we’ll continue to grow that over the next couple days and be ready for Opening Night.”
The growing pains didn’t take away from the good the Lakers were able to accomplish.
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves (15) also struggled to take care of the ball in the team’s preseason finale. NBAE via Getty Images
Sandro Mamukelashvili and Williams showed immediate connections with Doncic.
Kessler was able to get a better idea of what his life will look like in the short roll when Doncic and Reaves are blitzed in the pick and roll — a strategy that the Nuggets deployed early and often against the Lakers.
“Obviously there’s a transitional period playing with both Luka and AR on the floor together,” Kessler said. “Kind of what I was saying before, about the blitz and ball screens and playing out of that pocket. I started to get it a little bit. Obviously Luka and AR are pretty used to that.”
The hiccups on Friday made it even more apparent how helpful it would’ve been for the Lakers to get more reps with their Big 3 on the court together.
How certain rhythms and cadences can only be understood when players are on the court together against another team.
Coach JJ Redick made it clear his team will be ready to go when the games start to matter in the standings when they kick off the regular season against the Warriors on Wednesday.
Friday will be an important part in making sure Redick is correct.
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NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 16: Reece Beekman #26 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 16, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards have signed Reece Beekman to a two-way contract, the team announced Saturday.
Beekman, 24, spent four seasons at Virginia before going undrafted in 2024. He spent his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors and later the Brooklyn Nets.
The 6-foot-3 guard played last season with the Osceola Magic — the Orlando Magic’s G League affiliate. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Beekman excelled with Washington’s Summer League team in July. The stout defender capped his showing with a 13-point, 15-assist performance against the Atlanta Hawks’ Summer League squad.
He signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Wizards and joined the team for training camp before inking a two-way deal. He joins Jamir Watkins and Felix Okpara as Washington’s two-way players, which means the team’s 2026-27 roster is now set. G: Young | Johnson | Carrington | Mann W: Dybantsa | George | Coulibaly | Riley F: Davis | Champagnie | Middleton | Gill C: Sarr | Ayton | Vukcevic Two-way: Watkins | Okpara | Beekman
The Wizards also announced they waived Chris Livingston, Trevor Keels and Alondes Williams — all of whom had previously signed Exhibit 10 deals.
The Washington Wizards have waived G Trevor Keels, F Chris Livingston and G Alondes Williams.
Teams can offer an ~$90k bonus to players who sign an Exhibit-10 contract and spend at least 60 days with their G League affiliate. It’s essentially an incentive for the players to sign with the Go-Go.
So, expect those three to sign with the Go-Go in the near future.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) A general view of a baseball statue is seen as the Toronto Blue Jays play against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
There are 157 days remaining until the next scheduled Orioles game. We will probably not know whether a game will happen on that day or not until something like 110 days from now. Many of the days between now and then will have apocalyptic rhetoric about whether there will be a 2027 season at all. It’s going to suck for fans.
For now, the 2026 season remains to be decided. Milwaukee is sitting around waiting to find out who they will play in the World Series. The Brewers will probably be trying to stay sharp; they won’t play another game until Friday regardless of when the series ends between the Guardians and Rays to determine the AL representative. When the World Series is over, no later than Halloween, we can start to find out what will happen with the offseason.
Cleveland and Tampa Bay will play another one in Cleveland today. Game 5 was pushed back to today due to Friday’s rain in northeast Ohio. That is set to begin at the unusual time of 5:08 Eastern. The series will not end tonight. The Rays fought to even the series up on Saturday night. The Guardians cannot clinch in front of their home crowd. They can only hope to take a lead back to the Trop.
I am mildly hoping the Guardians are the winners in the series, but I’m not sad about the Rays winning last night. Cleveland had former Oriole Shawn Armstrong as an opener yesterday and then ended up using seven different pitchers on the way to a 7-3 loss. It offends me on an aesthetic level to see bullpen games or openers in the playoffs. If you don’t have starting pitchers that can even get you five innings in the postseason, you don’t deserve to move on. Deserve has nothing to do with it in baseball, not the regular season nor in the postseason. But for last night, the Rays had a real starting pitcher and they won, so, good for them.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Five surprising occurrences from the 2026 Orioles season (School of Roch) Number one is that the Orioles catching duo of Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo was separated in the middle of their first full season together. I’m still surprised Elias pulled the trigger on that one.
A possible unexpected Orioles 40-man roster decision (Orioles on the Verge) The prospect enthusiasts at the Verge are stumping for reliever Yaqui Rivera, which would keep hope alive for the Orioles getting any MLB value whatsoever out of the Cole Sulser/Tanner Scott trade.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Nothing of particular consequence has happened on this day in Orioles history. Until the team makes a deep postseason run in the three wild card era, this is not going to change.
There are a number of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2025 outfielder Jordyn Adams, 2007-08 pitcher Garrett Olson, 1992-98/2000-01 pitcher Alan Mills, 1995 pitcher Terry Clark, and 1977 one-game pitcher Ed Farmer.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: toy retailer Frederick August Otto Schwarz (1836), baseball Hall of Famer Candy Cummings (1848), longtime Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau (1919), rock’n’roller Chuck Berry (1926), tennis legend Martina Navratilova (1956), movie martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme (1960), jazz legend Wynton Marsalis (1961), gold medal skier Lindsay Vonn (1984), and actor Zac Efron (1987).
On this day in history…
In 1597, Spain’s King Philip II had a third armada launched with the aim of invading England. Although some forces were actually landed from the armada in Cornwall and Wales, this endeavor was ultimately no more successful than the previous two attempts to invade.
In 1748, the War of the Austrian Succession came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, a treaty that was notably concluded without any Austrian participation. The result of the treaty was Austria losing a lot of territory to Prussia, which had begun the war in 1740 by refusing to accept a woman, Maria Theresa, as inheriting the throne of Austria.
In 1851, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick was first published in London, although at this point it was simply called The Whale.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on October 18. Have a safe Sunday.
Sep 13, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) hits a single to drive in two runs against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Honestly, I don’t think that it does much to sway anything in the upcoming negotiations either way too wildly. The MLBPA still hasn’t started putting out ads to combat the ones the league is putting out, so the PR battle is still kind of one sided.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 6: George Hill #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks signs autographs prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 6, 2020 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photos by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Spurs guard George Hill was once called Gregg Popovich’s favorite player. Trading the 2008 draft pick was a difficult decision for Pop and the Spurs, but it has yielded continued dividends.
For starters, it landed the Spurs Kawhi Leonard, Dāvis Bertāns, and draft rights to Erazem Lorbek. Leonard helped bring the Spurs fifth NBA championship, picking up Finals MVP honors. The eventual trading of Kawhi Leonard started a domino effect that resulted in the Spurs drafting Keldon Johnson as well as multiple moves for which they still future draft picks.
Since moving on from the Spurs, Hill has maintained ties to the region. Most notably, the IUPUI standout has a 850-acre ranch outside San Antonio.
“Former NBA player George Hill @indianageorge3 reportedly owns a 850 acre ranch in Texas, home to more than 1,000 animals!“
According to Wikipedia, “He employs 16 ranch workers to tend to the big herbivores he houses on his ranch. There are dozens of species on the ranch such as fallow deer, sables, kangaroos, wildebeests, donkeys, elk, antelope, scimitar oryx, Arabian oryx, red lechwes, New Zealand red stags, kudus, ostriches, and zebras among others.”
Pretty impressive for a child from Indiana whose neighborhood growing up was smaller than the estate he currently owns.
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