The NBA championship odds saw yet another massive shakeup this morning, when the Minnesota Timberwolves dealt Naz Reid and a plethora of NBA draft picks for LaMelo Ball, who will play alongside Anthony Edwards.
This move has increased the Timberwolves' NBA championship odds to 8% (+1150), but where does that slot them among other contenders?
Minnesota needed to make a move after trading Julius Randle, as reports came out that Anthony Edwards was frustrated with how things were going since the trade of Karl-Anthony Towns.
This move shows Edwards the Timberwolves are serious about building around him, and it gives them a true ball handler who can ease the brunt of the scoring off Ant much better than Randle could over the last two years.
Minnesota was spinning its tires, and our NBA expert Joe Osborne said it best: why not?
The headline of this starting lineup is clearly the backcourt. Ant and Melo instantly become one of the toughest duos to handle for opposing guards.
Their length and shooting ability give them a variety of ways to burn you. The only thing that may hold them back is Melo's inefficiency, but at some point, he has to mature. This is the best team Melo has played on at the pro level, and it may be what he needs to start taking this shit more seriously.
Outside of those two, Minnesota looks like a nightmare to play against defensively. McDaniels and Gobert will be key pieces defensively, and they won't be needed as much on offense with two killers on the team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
They should get to Freddy Peralta, who has allowed four runs or more in four of his past six starts — and has simply not lived up to expectations with the New York Mets.
Matthew Boyd is unlikely to provide much length in his return, but the Cubs should be able to patch things together against an offense sitting 22nd in runs and 29th in OBP.
Back Chicago to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Freddy Peralta ranks in the 31st percentile in pitcher run value.
Cubs vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
At least 13 runs were scored in each of the first three games, and I’m expecting more fireworks in tonight's finale.
Chicago has plated 6+ runs in six consecutive games and scored five or more in eight of the past 10. The Cubs are firing on all cylinders at the plate and can be relied upon to do heavy lifting.
Boyd has given up multiple runs in four of five starts and will be making his first MLB appearance since May 3. Behind him is a taxed bullpen; New York should score.
Play the Over to -130.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 40-31, +0.20 units
Over/Under bets: 37-30-4, +3.39 units
Cubs vs Mets weather
Temperatures are expected to approach 80 with 15-mile-per-hour winds blowing out. Clear boost to the offenses.
Cubs vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Cubs -110 | Mets -110
Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+155) | Mets +1.5 (-180)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Cubs vs Mets trend
The Mets have cashed the Over in 13 of their last 23 games for +6.3 units and a 25% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Mets.
How to watch Cubs vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, Queens
Date
Thursday, June 25, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, SNY
Cubs starting pitcher
Matthew Boyd (2-1, 6.00 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (5-6, 4.83 ERA)
Cubs vs Mets latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Welcome in to Friday Junior's MLB player props & best bets for June 25.
One pitcher is entirely unhittable right now, while the other is a prime target for a blowout. Tonight’s card centers around two massive pitching angles: backing the sheer dominance of Cristopher Sánchez and aggressively fading a fading Zac Gallen. Here is how we are exploiting the mismatch.
Best MLB strikeout props and starting pitcher picks today
Player
Pick
Odds
Cristopher Sánchez
Over 6.5 Strikeouts
+107
Zac Gallen
Under 3.5 Strikeouts
-103
Zac Gallen
Over 2.5 Earned Runs
-141
Strikeout prop: Cristopher Sanchez Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+107)
Sure, the Washington Nationals have been one of the most dangerous offenses in baseball this season, but they have yet to face a pitcher of Cristopher Sánchez's caliber. On the year, Washington owns a 38.1% strikeout rate against left-handed pitching at home. Over their last 12 games against southpaws, that number still sits at 25%.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies' ace has been on an absolute tear, posting a 28.54% strikeout rate and 31.09% whiff rate this season. He draws a Nationals lineup that features five hitters striking out above the league average. Sánchez also enters with an elite rating on Batters-Box. In 47 elite-rated starts, he has recorded 6+ strikeouts 57.45% of the time and 7+ strikeouts 42.55% of the time.
Take this down to even money, but do not pay any juice.
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NATS, NBCSP
Strikeout prop: Zac Gallen Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-103)
If you enjoy my write-ups, first off, thank you. Secondly, you are going to hear me mention Zac Gallen's name a lot today.
The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander draws an offense that is not only on fire, but simply does not strike out. According to Batters-Box's current season dataset, the St. Louis Cardinals have zero hitters above the league-average strikeout rate.
They also have five hitters in their projected lineup with a strikeout rate of 15% or lower over their last 60 at-bats against right-handed pitching. As a team, St. Louis owns just a 15.9% strikeout rate over its last 12 games.
On the other side, Gallen owns the lowest matchup strikeout rate on the board today, per Batters-Box. Over his last five starts, his strikeout rate has dipped below 10%.
I find it hard to envision him shoving here. He has struggled for much of the season, the Cardinals' bats have been scorching hot, and I expect that to continue.
Go for the Under.
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CARD, ARID
Earned Runs Prop: Zac Gallen Over 2.5 Earned Runs (-141)
One of the worst-rated pitchers on today's slate happens to be Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who brings a poorly rated matchup ISO, hard contact rate, and ground ball rate to the table.
Away from home this season, Gallen owns a 7.68 ERA and 6.00 xERA while allowing 48% hard contact and an 11.5% barrel rate.
To make matters worse, he draws seven, yes, SEVEN elite-rated St. Louis Cardinals hitters, according to Batters-Box's current season ratings.
Over their last 12 games, the Cardinals have been squaring the ball up all over the yard, posting a 122 wRC+, .782 OPS, .345 wOBA, and .151 ISO. With that many bats in a premium spot tonight, how could I not back the Cardinals against Gallen's noodle arm?
If you are not in the juice-paying business, the Cardinals First Five Team Total Over 2.5 is another great way to attack this matchup.
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CARD, ARID
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 239-440, -6.7 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
I want everyone to be honest with themselves. Ignoring the sequencing, did you think the Cubs would be on a pace for more than 87 wins? I did. So yeah, I’m a little disappointed where this half of baseball ended up. I don’t have to convince any of you that this team left wins on the table. Though if we are being honest, this team stole a ton of games in the first half too. It absolutely won more than a handful of games that should probably have been lost while losing more than a handful that probably should have been won. It has been that kind of an odd season.
But the team approaches today’s halfway point of the season at 43-37 and going 9-3 over their last 12 after having dropped to 34-34. Certainly, if you’d listed all of the injuries this team would face over the first 80 games, I wouldn’t have thought they’d win even 43. And yet, we’re left feeling a bit like they’ve underachieved. The only reason that ends up mattering is that the road ahead looks really bumpy and problematic.
I’ve always said that the whole thing about too many teams being in front of you is fairly overrated. The only question that matters when you fall behind the pace is if you are capable of stringing together the type of 10-game winning streak or 15 wins in 20 games type of stretch that really makes up ground. If you are that type of team, you can work your way through a crowd.
The problem for this team is that the projection going forward just can’t be very optimistic. Maybe the lineup and some let up in new injuries in the second half allows the team to play .500 or a little better ball the rest of the way. Playing .500 the rest of the way nets 84 wins. I’ll eat my hat if that is even within a few games of a playoff spot in this year’s NL.
I don’t see how this team can get on any kind of sustained streak and I don’t know how you’d convince this front office and ownership group that you can give up the kind of talent necessary to swing a needle moving trade. Without a needle moving trade, you are relying on healthy productive returns and development from within. I can allow myself to think of Matthew Boyd making strong contributions down the stretch. Do I think Jameson Taillon can? What would I be basing that on? He hasn’t had real sustained success in quite some time.
This team has been excellent against NL East teams struggling at the time the teams meet. This team has otherwise been extremely ordinary. The Cubs are 12-1 against the Phillies and Mets and 31-36 against the rest of the league. After this series, the Cubs will be done with both. The Cubs presently have more wins against the NL East (14 in 19 games) than the Central (8 in 17 games). There are a heck of a lot more games left against the Central than the East.
This series has been a lot of fun. Just prepare for a rough road ahead.
Game 79 Positives:
The Dansby Swanson game, the Dansby Swanson series. Holy cow. Two homers, seven runs driven in.
Michael Busch, a solo homer, a walk, a hit by pitch. Two runs driven in and one scored.
Ian Happ, a double, a walk and a hit by pitch. He scored a run.
Game 80 Positives:
The Mets defense isn’t ours and their pitching may be in further disarray as a result.
Nico Hoerner with a three-double game and three runs scored.
Dansby Swanson, three more hits, one a triple and four runs driven in and one scored. Stole a base. First Cub ever to have three straight four+ RBI games. 15 runs driven in already in the series. Already a record vs. the Mets.
Pedro Ramirez with a three-hit, four-run, two RBI, two stolen base game.
Game 79, June 24: Cubs 10, Mets 3 (42-37)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Billy Goat: Shōta Imanaga (-.167). 5.1 IP, 20 BF, 4 H, BB, 4 ER, 4 K (W 5-6)
Goat: Michael Busch (-.137). 0-5
Kid: Seiya Suzuki (-.103). 0-5, DP
WPA Play of the Game: A.J. Ewing’s two-run homer with two outs in the second gave the Mets a two run lead.(.207)
Cubs Play of the Game: Dansby Swanson’s RBI-triple with a runner at second and no outs in the sixth inning gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead (.182).
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 78 Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong over Dansby Swanson 59-50 (113 total votes).
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch +20
Pete Crow-Armstrong +19
Ben Brown +13.5
Carson Kelly +12.5
Michael Conforto +9
Jacob Webb/Jameson Taillon -8
Edward Cabrera -9.5
Phil Maton -10
Caleb Thielbar -13
Seiya Suzuki -22.5
Dansby Swanson is +7 over the Cubs last six games to leave the bottom of the leaderboard.
Up Next: The fourth and final game of this series and seventh and last game of the season series. The Cubs are a perfect 3-0 in the series and 6-0 on the season against the Mets. Matthew Boyd (2-1, 6.00) returns. He’ll face Freddy Peralta (5-6, 4.83).
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 10, 2026: Peyton Bonds #25 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights bats during the third inning against the UCLA Bruins at Bainton Field on April 10, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The 2026 is about a month away — the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.
Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at Rutgers outfielder Peyton Bonds.
Peyton Bonds is a 6’5″, 230 lb. righthanded hitting centerfielder who just wrapped up his junior season at Rutgers. Bonds is the son of Bobby Bonds, Jr., and the nephew of Barry Bonds. Undrafted coming out of high school in New Jersey in 2023, he spent his freshman season at Campbell, then transferred to Rutgers, where he has played the past two seasons. Bonds turns 21 next month.
Bonds has a good hit tool and an ability to make contact that belies his bloodlines, at least as far as his grandfather goes. MLB Pipeline praises his bat-to-ball skills and his bat speed. He also puts up impressive exit velocities. However, his present in-game power is lacking — he has just 16 homers in three years of college ball. Given his size and bat speed, it would seem that he should be able to hit for power, but he has had a high groundball rate in college. A team that drafts him is going to be looking to work with him on getting the ball in the air consistently.
There appear to be differing opinions on his speed, with BA putting it at plus and MLB Pipeline at average. However, it appears he’s seen as good enough defensively to stick in center field. MLB Pipeline says he earns praise for his instincts, makeup and “passion for the game.”
Bonds put up a .267/.341/.427 slash line in 170 plate appearances at Campbell as a freshman while going 14 for 14 on stolen base attempts. Upon transferring to Rutgers as a sophomore, he slashed .300/.384/.430, with 45 Ks against 21 walks in 258 plate appearances while stealing 16 bases in 18 attempts. He took a step forward in 2026, though he missed time due to a hamstring injury suffered in April. He slashed .352/.436/.535 in 166 plate appearances, walked 16 times against 21 Ks, and was 13 for 15 on the basepaths.
Bonds is a guy who has shown significant improvement year-over-year, going from an underwhelming performing in the Colonial League as a freshman to being one of the best position players for Rutgers as a sophomore, and then the best player on the team this year. That sort of improvement would show an ability to adapt and show significant growth which, along with the high makeup grades, could indicate greater potential upside, as well as a greater likelihood of Bonds getting the most out of his abilities.
Despite his size and pedigree, he’s not a toolshed like his grandfather and uncle. His father was a grinder who was an 18th round pick in 1992 who barely played above A-ball, who spent seven years playing in the Padres and Giants systems, then five more in the Indy Leagues. Bonds should go well before the 18th round.
Bonds is someone who would seem to profile as a second to fourth round pick. If the reports on the defense are correct and he’ll be able to handle center field going forward, it gives him a decent floor. His ability to succeed long-term in the majors, though, likely will be dependent on his ability to elevate the ball, and convert the impressive exit velocities into extra base hits instead of 6-3s.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 21: Brandon Marsh #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, June 21, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The other day, we posted a poll about which thing has been most surprising this season for the Phillies. The results:
Brandon Marsh’s tenure with the Phillies have been something of a roller coaster. His acquisition in 2022 was met with a bit consternation as the Phillies had to send Logan O’Hoppe back to the Angels in return. At that time, O’Hoppe was seen as the heir apparent to J.T. Realmuto and his inclusion for what some called a platoon player was seen as an overpay by Dave Dombrowski.
I think it’s safe to say that that trade can be deemed a success.
However, in the years since then, the allure of the platoon was too strong for Rob Thomson. Marsh was summarily chained to the bench whenever a southpaw has been on the mound opposing the team, though the numbers behind the decision were sound (.202/.276/.309 in 393 PA against LHP from 2022-25). This year, those numbers have perked up quite a bit (.273/.305/.429 in 82 PA against LHP), leading to his getting more time against southpaws. It doesn’t hurt that the team didn’t have a right handed option better than Marsh to take on that platoon with him, but it reminds me a bit of Chase Utley when he first came to the majors. One of his bugaboos was that he also struggled with left handed pitching, but it was plainly obvious he just needed to be exposed to them more often, his natural hitting talent great enough that he should have been able to be successful.
Marsh’s success against left handed pitching has carried over and led to greater overall numbers, his ability to mash right handed hitting remaining the same. In fact, since the beginning of last season, Marsh’s 121 OPS+ is eighth among all outfielders in the game. He’s been good for a while, so his success this year shouldn’t be too, too surprising. But in a season in which some things have been good, some things have been bad, you voted Marsh’s year as the most surprising thing about them.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Labaron Philon Jr. after he is drafted twenty-second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In February, the Sixers traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for what wound up being the No. 22 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft and three future second-rounders. The deal was… not well received.
To defend the controversial trade, then-team president Daryl Morey told reporters that McCain’s path in Philadelphia was “a little bit muted relative to where his path could be on another team” due to the presence of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe blocking him in the starting lineup. Morey conveniently left out that McCain’s new team, the then-reigning-champion Thunder, had an even more crowded backcourt.
Despite that, McCain carved out a significant role in OKC’s rotation, especially in the playoffs. He averaged 12.5 points in only 21.5 minutes per game between the conference semifinals and conference finals.
The Sixers thus entered this year’s draft under enormous pressure to hit on the No. 22 pick to help justify the McCain trade. They spent that pick on another small guard in Labaron Philon Jr.
Some Sixers fans are questioning the wisdom of replacing an undersized guard with another undersized guard. The Athletic draft expert Sam Vecenie is not one of them.
“Essentially, Morey traded McCain to the Thunder for Labaron Philon Jr. and three second-round picks, a value proposition that I think is strong, even as a fan of McCain’s game. Philon is a terrific playmaker out of ball screens who had an elite season at Alabama. I had him as a top-20 player in the class, and I was on the lower end of his evaluations. He improved drastically as a shooter, can pass and also displayed much improved finishing ability around the rim while averaging 22 points and five assists.”
Philon did routinely go before No. 22 in mock drafts, for whatever that’s worth. In a year where the draft was relatively chalky, that seems notable.
During his introductory press conference, new team president Mike Gansey said that he’d pursue a combination of best player available and fit at No. 22. After the draft, he told reporters that the Sixers had needs at all five spots around their Big 4, and Philon was the highest-ranked player on their board when they were on the clock.
“He’s got some toughness,” Gansey added. “I think he’s gonna fit Philly. He plays with an edge, plays with a swag. He’s not afraid.”
Gansey made clear that Philon’s talent was the top reason why the Sixers drafted him. But he also stressed that he envisions Philon fitting into the culture that he’s hoping to build.
“I just love his competitiveness. Especially in Philly, you want guys who wanna compete, and guys that aren’t afraid. He’s gonna be with Maxey and VJ, and I think that’s another thing, that he can learn from those guys. Because VJ and Tyrese are some of the best people, but they’re also really good players. So, learning from them will be really good for him.”
“… His mentality fits the way I want guys, and especially with Coach Nurse. Because Nick wants some guys that will fly up and down and play the right way and play with some edge and toughness, and I think he fits that.”
Vecenie seems bullish on Philon’s chances of at least playing McCain to a standstill in the coming years.
“I’d rather have Philadelphia’s end of this deal than Oklahoma City’s. Philon has four years left on a rookie scale deal versus McCain’s two, and while we haven’t seen Philon play in the NBA yet, I think he’s a good bet to provide at least a strong presence as a backup lead guard behind Tyrese Maxey on a 76ers team in desperate need of ballhandling.
“There is also some upside beyond that. McCain will be a terrific player for Oklahoma City, and he provided positive moments in the playoffs. This isn’t a shot at McCain or the Thunder, who were in the middle of a title chase and clearly needed another shooter and ballhandler, as we saw in the playoffs. But he and Philon are pretty equivalent in terms of value, and the three second-rounders tip this over the line into Philadelphia’s favor.”
Now, it’s fair to wonder what the reaction would have been if had Philon gone earlier and the Sixers took Jayden Quaintance—who said he’s expecting to get another knee procedure and miss at least part of next season—or Karim López instead. Both would be seen as fair-value picks, albeit far riskier than Philon.
There is undeniable irony in replacing McCain with a similarly sized guard, but the Sixers can’t help how the board fell. Philon was 16th in the consensus mock draft across five major outlets. Granted, Cameron Carr, who was also still on the board, was 14th.
Carr is a bit larger than Philon, although both need to fill out their frames to become above-average defensively. Gansey noted that Philon took a step back on that end of the floor this past season, but he was far better on defense as a freshman since he had a smaller offensive role. Philon isn’t likely to supplant Maxey or Edgecombe anytime soon, so he could become a sparkplug off the bench a la Lou Williams.
Even if Carr winds up being the better shooter between the two, Philon is a far better ball-handler and playmaker. These days, NBA teams can’t have enough ball-handlers and playmakers, particularly ones who can score at all three levels.
Heading into the offseason, the Sixers had exactly two guards under contract: Maxey and Edgecombe. One would hope the Sixers aren’t planning on playing them all 48 minutes per game next year. Ergo, they needed to add guards at some point this offseason, whether via the draft, trades or free agency.
Philon should have plenty of opportunity right away behind Maxey and Edgecombe even if the Sixers do re-sign Quentin Grimes. He might top out as a high-end bench guard, but the same could still be said about McCain for now.
From a best-player-available perspective, the Sixers got lucky that Philon fell right into their laps. He might not be the cleanest fit with Maxey in particular, but the same went for McCain as well.
If Philon and McCain wind up being relatively breakeven players, the three-second round picks that the Sixers acquired in the McCain trade will tip the scales in their favor. That outcome was hard to imagine a few months ago, but Philon’s unexpected drop could help the Sixers save face on one of their most controversial moves in recent years.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/lkhXBWHCrA
The T-Wolves also acquired G Josh Green in the trade while sending C Naz Reid over to Charlotte along with four future picks and three pick swaps. Ball has struggled to stay healthy throughout his six NBA seasons but when he's on the court, he's been very productive. Ball has averaged at least 20 points and 7.0 assists per game in each of the past five seasons.
With Ball teaming up with a fellow 2020 draft classmate in Ant-Man, how will the trade impact fantasy basketball for 2026-27?
Fantasy impact from Dan Titus:
By now, we expected to see Ja Morant in another uniform, but after the draft, Shams Charania reported that the Charlotte Hornets were exploring trades for LaMelo Ball. By morning, a deal was done, sending the one-time All-Star to the Minnesota Timberwolves — a team starved for a point guard to pair with their superstar, Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves made room to acquire Ball by trading away Julius Randle last week, which gave them space to absorb the three years remaining on Ball's contract. This duo will surely be one of the more entertaining backcourts in the league.
Now to the fantasy impact.
LaMelo Ball: Leaving the Hornets will have a positive impact on his fantasy value because he'll be joining a team desperately needing a point guard who can also score. The supporting cast isn't as strong in Minnesota, but I'd be comfortable selecting Melo in the third round since he'll have to see an uptick in minutes leading to more production. His health concerns will always be in the background, but this is a good move for his fantasy outlook after finishing 42nd in 9-cat and 31st in High Score this past season.
Naz Reid: Reid's been a winner of the offseason because no matter where he goes, someone is seemingly out the door. I thought he was going to ball out in Minnesota without Julius Randle, but now that he's traded to Charlotte, expect the Hornets to move on from Miles Bridges and his expiring contract at some point. Assuming Naz starts for Charlotte, he'll be one of the biggest risers in fantasy because, with no Bridges, a path to 30+ minutes a night is what fantasy managers want to see. Reid finished 82nd in 9-cat last season and barely made the top-120 in High Score. With an ADP of 95th overall last year, expect that to jump at least two rounds, maybe more.
Anthony Edwards: Remains a first-round talent in most leagues. He was the 14th overall player in 9-cat, and 17th in High Score, a career-best for him after averaging 29-5-4 with over 3 3s and 2 stocks per game. He's going to put up 30 a night this season, and having a dynamic point guard like Ball will only give him easier looks off-ball and in transition, where he excels. He'll still have playmaking duties whenever Melo is off the floor, so with all the change around him this offseason, he's primed for another step forward.
Coby White: I have to imagine the Hornets will try to retain him even more now that the newly selected rookie, Christian Anderson, and Tre Mann are the only point guards on the roster. Until we know more, I'm going to assume this will be the case, and Coby White's value will be much higher than it would have been in a sixth-man capacity.
Christian Anderson: Dynasty value is up and redraft consideration could be in play now that the Hornets are thin at point guard. There's a reason the Hornets selected him 18th overall in the 2026 Draft after averaging 18 points per game with over 7 assists at Texas Tech.
Miles Bridges: Expect him to be traded now that Naz Reid came over. By trading Ball, Charlotte is signaling that they're ready to build around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
Kon Knueppel: He'll go into his second NBA season with more pressure to deliver but that won't be an issue after he was squarely in the running for Rookie of the Year and put together the most prolific 3-point shooting display for a rookie, ever. He's a threat to shoot 50/40/90 and could be a more fantasy-friendly version of Klay Thompson in his Warriors days. Less emphasis on the defense, and more counting stats in rebounding and assists, with a ton of 3s.
Brandon Miller: Similarly to Kon, more pressure is going his way, but he can handle it. He'll provide Paul George-like stats and should be gone by the fifth or sixth rounds in fantasy drafts. Now we have to see if there's another gear as a playmaker he can tap into to further his fantasy output on top of the 3s, steals and rebounding.
Joan Beringer: The rookie didn't play much for the Wolves, but with no big man returning in the deal for Minnesota, he's getting a promotion. He should back up Rudy Gobert now, and he'll be the better lob threat for LaMelo than Gobert. I'd be buying some stock.
Other players whose values I'm still sorting out post-trade are Jaden McDaniels, Terrance Shannon Jr. and Ayo Dosunmu. With the exception of Shannon, I think they'll be top-100 players by preseason draft time, but this roster is much different from last season.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 02: Josh Green #10 of the Charlotte Hornets plays against the Phoenix Suns during their game at Spectrum Center on April 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Draft finished up on Wednesday night, with three Arizona Wildcats getting picked and another signing a 2-way deal immediately afterward. But that’s just the start of the NBA’s typically insane offseason, with free agency just around the corner and several blockbuster trades likely to occur.
One of those big trades dropped Thursday morning, and it included a former UA standout.
Ex-Arizona guard Josh Green has been traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Green and all-star point guard LaMelo Ball were dealt from Charlotte in exchange for forward Naz Reid while a bunch of draft picks were also swapped.
The 6-foot-6 Green is headed to his third NBA team ahead of his 7th season in the league. A 1st-round pick of the Dallas Mavericks in 2021, Green spent four seasons with Dallas before getting traded to Charlotte in 2024 as part of a massive 6-team trade.
Green, who is going into the final year of a 3-year, $41 million contract, appeared in 58 games last season for the Hornets and averaged 4.3 points in 15.7 minutes per game. He shot 42 percent from 3 and 89.3 percent from the line, coming off the bench exclusively after starting 67 games his first year with Charlotte.
With Dallas he 62 games, including 33 during the regular season in 2023-24 and scored 14 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Green played one season at Arizona, the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign when he averaged 12 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He was one of three Wildcats taken in the 2020 NBA Draft along with Nico Mannion and Zeke Nnaji.
A blockbuster trade completed between the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks could have major ramifications on the New York Rangers’ fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday night.
The Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram from the Sabres in a trade that included the fourth overall pick.
With Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra projected to be selected with the first three picks in the draft, it was widely speculated that the Blackhawks were looking to draft Chase Reid.
That would have left the Rangers with their pick of the other top defensemen, including Alberts Šmits, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff.
However, the Sabres, unlike the Blackhawks, are loaded with top-end defensemen, but could certainly use reinforcements at the forward position.
That’s why, instead of selecting Reid, the Sabres may look to target the projected second-best center, Viggo Björck.
This would clear the pathway for the Rangers to go ahead and pick Reid, as there’s now more of a possibility he’s available at their pick with this Byram trade in place.
The NBA Draft may be over, but that doesn't mean the intrigue has to end with it. Just hours after the draft concluded and undrafted free agents began signing with teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves made another shocking trade, completing a deal with the Charlotte Hornets to land LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/lkhXBWHCrA
So now that we know all the details of the trade, why would each team have made this move?
Minnesota Timberwolves
Get: LaMelo Ball and Josh Green
As we mentioned in our Rotoworld blurb, Anthony Edwards has expressed frustration with how he’s been double-teamed since the team traded Karl Anthony-Towns. With Donte DiVincenzo likely out all of next season with an Achilles injury, the Wolves could have really used a floor spacing guard who could hurt defenses if they sent extra men at Edwards. Ball can be that piece. Last season, he averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 36.8% from beyond the arc.
Additionally, LaMelo does two other things well that the Timberwolves could have used this season: he is a good passer, and he plays with exceptional pace. Oftentimes this season, the Wolves used Edwards as a point forward, and while he was good in that role, having him as the primary ballhandler allows the defense to more easily double him. Moving him off the ball, as the Knicks did with Jalen Brunson, will create easier scoring opportunities for him, and Ball can be a good facilitator. With the plethora of young teams in the West, the Wolves also needed to be able to play with a more aggressive pace. Ball brings that style of play, which can put pressure on defenses, force them to collapse into the paint, and then set up easy opportunities for other players on his team.
The Timberwolves also have the defense to compensate for Ball's question marks on that side of the ball. Edwards is a capable defender himself, when he wants to be, and the other three starters (Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert) are all strong defenders, with Gobert's presence also likely to deter many guards who get by Ball from attacking the rim.
There are risks, though. Ball has dealt with plenty of injuries over the last few years, and even though he played 72 regular-season games last season, that was the most he's played since he played 75 games in his second season in 2021-22. Ball can also be a volatile personality at times, and was fined multiple times by the league last season for reckless contact and profane language, etc. His personality fit alongside Edwards and his new teammates will be crucial; however, he did make sacrifices in minutes and shots per game this season, which shows that he can be amenable in order to win games.
Josh Green averaged just 16 minutes per game with the Hornets last year, but is another capable shooter, knocking down 38.7% of his three-point shots during his NBA career, so he will give the Wolves another capable shooter off the bench.
Charlotte Hornets
Get: Naz Reid, a2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033)
At first blush, this seems like the Hornets gambling that Ball will not continue to remain healthy or play at the level he did in 2026. If you don't believe in his long-term health, then it makes sense to capitalize on his value right now. However, this seemed to be a team that was surging and had a young core. After starting the year 11-23, the Hornets went 32-13 down the stretch and made the play-in tournament. Over that stretch, the Hornets had the top-ranked offense and fifth-ranked defense, so it's a gamble to break up a team that played that well.
However, this appears to be part of a larger move to build for a more sustainable future. Ball has three years left on his contract and is eligible to sign a two-year, $119.2 million extension in July, but the Hornets would have to commit big money to keep him around for the team's long-term build. They also have Kon Knueppel (20 years old), Brandon Miller (23 years old), Moussa Diabate (24 years old), and Ryan Kalkbrenner (24 years old) playing big roles on the team. With the team hoping to re-sign Coby White (26 years old), who averaged 15.6 points in 21 games after the trade deadline, Charlotte seemed to feel good about their foundation.
Miles Bridges, who is 28 years old, has just one more year on his deal, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him dealt as well. The Hornets seem to be looking two to three years down the road as their chance to build a true contender, which makes sense given that the Knicks' core is a little on the older side and players like James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo are aging. Picking up all of these draft picks gives them assets to trade to continue to build for that window.
There were also financial motivations for this deal
The Hornets reduce their payroll by $30 million by trading LaMelo Ball and Josh Green for Naz Reid.
Josh Green for Naz Reid is a clean salary match, allowing them to create a $40.8 million trade exception for Ball.
They also have 12 future first-round picks through 2033.
That trade exception is the largest one in NBA history, and creates huge cap space for the Hornets to replace Ball with somebody that they believe fits the style of play of the rest of their core. Perhaps they want to focus on a more pure point guard?
For now, the Hornets have reshaped their frontcourt in a drastic way in order to fit into the modern style of play in the NBA. With Naz Reid, Diabate, Kalkbrenner, and rookie Hannes Steinbach, the Hornets have a large frontcourt but one that is also maleable against whatever style of offense they have to defend. Reid and Diabate are very switchable and athletic, Kalkbrenner is a mountain of a man and an imposing shot blocker, and Steinbach is another large human who could be a high-post hub on offense.
Reid himself is not somebody to be overlooked. The 2024 Sixth Man of the Year averaged 13.6 and 6.2 rebounds per game last season and is a career 37% shooter from beyond the arc. He is a physical defender, but the Wolves were 0.6 points worse with him on the floor, and he did rank 154th in defensive plus/minus. He might fit best with the Hornets as a bench big man, and the salary cap match of his contract may have been the biggest motivation for him being included in the deal.
Apr 5, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives by Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images | Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Just as the dust was settling from the 2026 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves went out on Thursday morning and made a shocking trade that saw the Wolves send out Naz Reid, their 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks in exchange for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/lkhXBWHCrA
The upside is easy to see with the trade. Ball is a 24-year-old former All-Star who has the skill set, size, and talent to play at an All-NBA caliber level. The Wolves also desperately needed a point guard with Donte DiVicenzo out most or all of next season and Mike Conley hitting free agency.
Still, the move is a surprising one. After moving on from Julius Randle earlier in the week, the Timberwolves were set to move Reid, who is beloved by fans in Minnesota, into the starting lineup. Instead, they decided to move Reid in exchange for a running-mate for Anthony Edwards in the Wolves’ backcourt.
Reid is a developmental success story and cult hero in Minnesota. After going undrafted in 2019, the Wolves turned Reid into a Sixth Man of the Year and one of the most important pieces in their recent run of success. Now, those two words, Naz Reid, are heading to Charlotte, where Hornets fans are sure to embrace him just like the people of Minnesota did.
With the Timberwolves trading away both of their power forwards, Reid and Randle, they will now be on the search for a starting power forward to pair with Rudy Gobert in the front court. The Wolves look to trade either of their expiring contracts, the newly acquired Josh Green, or the injured DiVicenzo, to add a player that better fits their needs.
Minnesota does have the flexibility to round out the rest of the roster. With three open roster spots that will need to be filled, the Timberwolves have space below the second apron, which they are now hard-capped at, meaning they are not allowed to go above that salary mark.
Here's where the Wolves salary cap sits after the LaMelo Ball trade
If Isaiah Evans gets the $1.3 rookie minimum, the Wolves are $9.6 million under the 2nd apron with 3 roster spots to fill
If they sign 3 vet minimums, they would have $2.2 million left. Wolves could also try to… pic.twitter.com/g9SyziiQk6
Going into the 2026 NBA Draft, there was not much discussion regarding the possibility that Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball could be on the move. The future appeared bright, as he was coming off one of his most successful seasons as a pro, helping lead the Hornets to a second-half resurgence that culminated in a loss to Orlando in the Play-In tournament.
However, in the immediate aftermath of the draft, multiple insiders reported that teams were actively pursuing Ball, even though the Hornets did not plan to move him. Well, the Minnesota Timberwolves made an offer that Charlotte believed it could not refuse, and Ball is reportedly headed north in the second blockbuster trade of this offseason. Let's take a look at the particulars and how this trade affects fantasy basketball.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030) and three second-round picks (2029, 2032, 2033), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/lkhXBWHCrA
In the immediate aftermath of the trade that sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn, one could not blame the Timberwolves fans who expressed concern that the new ownership would prioritize slashing payroll this summer. Instead, getting off of Randle's money helped set the stage for Thursday's move, even if the Timberwolves had to part with Reid to get it done.
In Ball, Minnesota now has the perimeter playmaker that it desperately needed next to Anthony Edwards. In 72 games last season, Ball averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.8 three-pointers, shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 89.9 percent from the foul line.
While efficiency can be an issue for LaMelo, the greater concern has been his availability. Counting 2025-26, he has surpassed 70 games played in two of his first six seasons. When available, Ball can be a highly valuable fantasy option, especially for those willing to punt field-goal percentage and turnovers. However, based on the track record, his staying healthy has been an issue, lowering his ADP.
Having Ball on the floor could open things up for Edwards, one of the NBA's bright young stars. Regardless of who the Timberwolves placed around him, Ant-Man would be fine, but the exits of Randle and Reid represent a significant shift in the franchise's direction.
The guards will dominate the offense even more, especially with Ayo Dosunmu agreeing to a new deal last week. Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels will be needed even more on the offensive end, while there may be a few more lobs in Rudy Gobert's future. And Reid's exit will free up additional opportunities for Joan Beringer, who is likely Minnesota's starting center of the future. Beringer may not offer much in redraft leagues, but his dynasty league value receives a boost with Thursday's reported trade.
Adding Green gives the Timberwolves a defensive-minded perimeter player who can add depth, but he's unlikely to offer much value to fantasy managers.
Reid, a top-5 finisher in Sixth Man of the Year voting each of the last three seasons, winning the award in 2024, appeared poised to take over as Minnesota's starting power forward with Randle being traded. Obviously, that won't be happening now, but starting in Charlotte may be in the cards. The question is whether he'd start at the four or the five.
Miles Bridges has been the subject of trade rumors, and Thursday's deal could prompt the Hornets to move him as well, going all-in on Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel as the new faces of the franchise. If the Hornets can move Bridges, Reid can slide in at power forward, with Moussa Diabaté, Ryan Kalkbrenner or another offseason addition starting at center.
The question for Charlotte in the aftermath of this deal is, who will run the point? Coby White, acquired from the Bulls at the trade deadline, is an unrestricted free agent, and the franchise selected Texas Tech's Christian Anderson with the No. 18 overall pick in this week's draft. White would have a higher fantasy ceiling if he returns, and Anderson should look even more appealing to dynasty league managers than he did before the trade.
However, regardless of who starts at point guard, Miller and Knueppel should have the ball in their hands more as the Hornets embark on a new era, raising the fantasy ceilings of both players.
23-year-old spotted in protective boot on Wednesday
Raducanu’s last match was HSBC Championships final
Emma Raducanu faces a race to be at full fitness for Wimbledon after her preparations for the tournament were disrupted by injury.
On Wednesday evening Raducanu was seen by Clay magazine leaving the All England Club wearing a protective boot on her right foot after not practising that day. She had been scheduled to train at midday on Thursday but did not practise for a second straight day.
MONCTON, CANADA - MARCH 12: Tommy Bleyl #16 of the Moncton Wildcats stick handles the puck against Lucas Romeo #16 of the Cape Breton Eagles during the first period at Avenir Centre on March 12, 2026 in Moncton, Canada. (Photo by Dale Preston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The title a nod to song from a certain movie, anyways it’s difficult to draft NHL players. NHL teams are tasked with scouting players mostly when they are 16 and 17 years old and have to try and rank what they will be as fully formed adults. Needless to say, it’s not an exact science and a process that ends up with more misses than hits. Our results of making picks alongside the Penguins at their spot in the draft has gone about the same way. Here’s the last decade of fake vs real drafting.
Well, on the plus side at least four out of the five mock picks prior to 2025 that we made played in the NHL last season. That’s better than the Pens ended up with in reality. A player like Hoglander has spun his wheels professionally in recent years (really, he might just need to get out of Vancouver ASAP to benefit his career) and might not be looking to be as proud of a pick as it might have seemed a couple years ago when he produced a 24-goal season. Hoglander’s recent career plateau aside, he worked out a lot better than the actual pick of Sam Poulin did.
The real Pittsburgh 2020 first round pick got traded in the last minute to Toronto for Kasperi Kapanen. The Maple Leafs ended up using that pick to select forward Rodion Amirov, who sadly passed away in 2023 after battling brain cancer. The Penguins ended up getting 162 games and 82 points (29 goals + 53 assists) out of Kapanen before waiving him in 2023 and seeing him go to St. Louis. Zary, for his part, has 86 points (and some good defensive metrics) in 191 games with Calgary. So I guess there’s a case to be made that the Pens would have been better off in the long run for holding onto their pick depending on what they did with it, but then again they wanted a NHL forward for 2020-22 to help their late-stage contention windows and it ended up not panning out since Kapanen didn’t help push the team that far forward while he was on it, and then was jettisoned as a bad contract to allow more cap space via dropping him for nothing.
2022 isn’t looking to great either for our pick, or for the Penguins after draft+4. Ivan Miroshnichenko has only played 52 career NHL games, mostly as a spare part forward. He has become an excellent AHL player but needs to make a big move soon if he’s going to establish himself. Owen Pickering, well we’ve all spent a lot of time on his case. We remain convinced former Penguins GM Ron Hextall thought/hoped he had found Travis Sanheim 2.0 when he drafted Pickering – unfortunately though, at this point there’s enough evidence to say that he got Temu Sanheim instead. Pickering might go on to play NHL games in a modest role, it looks like he will fall short of his draft day ceiling of a matchup defender that could have played up the lineup.
We have plans for a victory lap in 2023, Matthew Wood scored 17 goals and put up 30 points in the NHL in his draft+3 season with Nashville. That’s the dream development curve from a mid-first round pick these days, gotta see some flashes and pay off fairly early on to indicate a potential real factor/difference-maker. Yager didn’t do much in the AHL, but was called up for a few meaningless games once Winnipeg was eliminated last season. Who knows what that means for the future, some predictive models aren’t too high on Yager’s chances at all right now. That doesn’t truly matter to the Pens now, of course, since they flipped Yager for Rutger McGroarty, who hasn’t yet established himself either.
Victory lap plans might be canceled after seeing the Pens pull Ben Kindel from deep in the weeds. That’s why the pros are pros! However, for his part Eklund had a great 2025-26 in the top Swedish league and a great WJC tournament. He also popped over to the AHL and scored 10 points in nine regular season games, and recorded an assist in one NHL game late last year. Eklund had a very encouraging draft+1 to suggest there’s a real player in there.
The Pens could have had Eklund at 12, but instead opted to trade down and ended up coming out of the first round with Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff when the dust settled. It’s not hard to see why Pittsburgh with a lack of talent would want more quantity – it also makes sense that they wouldn’t be interested in drafting two forwards with similarly small frames like Kindel+Eklund and diversify the profile of player they got by adding larger forwards to their prospect portfolio. That reasoning aside, this area of how Zonnon+Horcoff vs. Eklund works out will be worth watching for developments in the way Yager/McGroarty has been a very deep-in-the-weeds type of minor storyline over the past few years.
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For this year’s draft, I’m going to use scouchsim.com on 25% random to predict who was selected in the first 21 picks. This process is inexact for the real world events on Friday night, and obviously can’t predict if Pittsburgh will trade up or down in reality, but is about as good as it’s going to get for a reasonable way to set the stage of what players could be out there at the time of the selection. In our side quest, we’ll simply stick with the 22nd pick and not get too creative.
After running the sim, here were the top ranked players available:
To an extent, I considered all of these names at least momentarily. The trouble with picking in the area of 22nd is that you know there will be a good future NHLer or two available crowded around a handful that won’t amount to much at the top level. Sorting through and deciding what will end up 4+ years from now is the guess work of today, both for us and for teams picking towards the end of the first round.
NHLe helps as a guide for previous production as projection of how the future unfolds. It loves Tommy Bleyl (12% chance of star outcome of being in the top 15% of WAR/82, and a 64% chance of becoming an NHLer to play in 200 games) as one of the top profiles in the whole draft by this metric. Hurlbert (7% chance of star and 64% becoming an NHL player) ranks highest among the available selections as well, presenting what becomes the two finalists to spell out the thought process. For Bleyl, the question becomes is he going to develop into more of a Axel Sandin-Pellikka or a Calen Addison type of future. It’s a worthy rhetoric to wrestle with. For Hurlbert, it’s more about future position as a center or wing – with a default consensus coming into the draft that he will likely play on the wing as a pro.
In the end, we’ll make Bleyl the official Pensburgh choice, not meant to be predictive of what Pittsburgh will do (we’ll take a stab at that in a full first round mock draft tomorrow). You can check out more on Bleyl from what we wrote earlier in the week. Bleyl’s offensive upside, skating, right shot make him a prospect worth rolling the dice on at this point of the draft. Our fictional prospect pool could use that style of player, as could virtually any real NHL organization that always has a hunger and emphasis on right shot defenders with skill.
Timberwolves
COVERS INTEL: Freddy Peralta ranks in the 31st percentile in 
Cristopher Sánchez
Zac Gallen
