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Kristaps Porzingis to miss Warriors training camp with ‘health issue’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Image 2 shows Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr on the court during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs

SAN FRANCISCO — Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with a “health issue” and won’t participate in Golden State Warriors training camp that begins Tuesday in Hawaii.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. dropped the unfortunately unsurprising news Monday morning at the team’s media day. He said that the 7-foot-4 center would be out “indefinitely” and would not board their flight Monday afternoon to Hawaii but couldn’t share more details.

“I’m not marking him down as being out to start the season or anything like that,” Dunleavy said. “He’s just not available this week. … Disappointed that he won’t be out there tomorrow, but it’s early, so don’t want
to overreact to anything.”

Porzingis was limited to only 15 games last season after the Warriors acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks but ended the season healthy in Golden State’s play-in loss. He averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per contest, providing an interesting combination with Steph Curry.

Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Inglewood, California. Getty Images
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dunelavy said that Porzingis was in the building, cleared medically and working out on the court as recently as last week. He said that he wasn’t informed of Porzingis’ issue until Sunday.

Coach Steve Kerr learned when Dunleavy called him Sunday night.

“It was surprising,” Kerr said. “This is all part of the season. The health of the team, things happen. So you just roll with it and keep moving forward. We don’t really know what it means. I don’t have a whole lot of information for you. We .. fully expect him to be with us at some point.”

Availability has been an ongoing issue for the 31-year-old Latvian. He has played 60 games just once since 2017 and has missed more games than he has played the past two seasons. He was diagnosed with a rare nervous system condition called POTS that has kept him off the court for stretches, though Dunleavy could not say if that’s what was bothering him now.

The Warriors have two other significant pieces recovering from injuries in Jimmy Butler III (ACL surgery) and Moses Moody (patellar tendon surgery). Both players have progressed to light on-court activities and will join the team for training camp but will not be ready to start the season.

“Forget one, but having two guys that aren’t going to be ready to start the season that are key rotation players, really good players,” Dunleavy said. “We’re in a bind in that regard, but I think we’ve done the
best we could at improving the roster to a point where we have some depth and we could to hold down the fort until those guys come back.”

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NHL Pacific Division Power Rankings 2026-27: Golden Knights, Oilers, Sharks and Every Team Ranked After Preseason

Training camp offered possibilities. The preseason provided evidence. Now the Pacific Division is ready to answer the questions that actually matter.

An offseason filled with coaching changes, significant roster turnover and an influx of young talent has reshaped a division that suddenly looks far less predictable. Established contenders remain near the top, but several emerging teams used the preseason to demonstrate that last year’s standings may not provide much of a roadmap for what comes next.

Some clubs exited camp with greater confidence in their depth and goaltending. Others watched prospects accelerate timelines and force difficult roster decisions. A few enter opening night still searching for answers after uneven exhibition performances exposed familiar concerns.

Preseason records alone shouldn't determine expectations. Lineups constantly changed, veterans were rested and organizations prioritized evaluation over results. But how teams performed, which roster battles were won and whether offseason additions addressed existing weaknesses provided valuable clues.

With the exhibitions complete and opening-night rosters taking shape, here’s how the Pacific stacks up heading into the 2026-27 season:

1. EDMONTON OILERS

  • Last year’s record: 41-30-11
  • Division finish: 2nd, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Mike Babcock

Nobody in the Pacific finished camp better. Edmonton went 4-0-0, completing its perfect preseason with a convincing 4-1 win over Calgary. Connor McDavid and Kasperi Kapanen each produced a goal and assist, Zach Hyman scored on the power play and Devon Levi stopped 23 shots.

That matters because Edmonton's questions were never about McDavid or Leon Draisaitl; they centered on goaltending, depth and adapting to Babcock. Camp provided encouraging answers. Tristan Jarry stopped 25 shots in a 2-1 victory at Vancouver, while Levi looked sharp against Calgary. Isaac Howard also made a strong impression, scoring against Vancouver.

A perfect exhibition record guarantees nothing, but Edmonton's established stars looked ready and its secondary pieces contributed. The Oilers enter opening night with the division's best combination of elite offensive firepower and preseason momentum.

2. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

  • Last year’s record: 39-26-17
  • Division finish: 1st, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Ryan Craig

Vegas drops one position, but this is hardly a downgrade of the defending Pacific champion. The Golden Knights won their first three preseason games before San Jose handed them a 4-2 loss in Saturday's finale, leaving Vegas 3-1-0.

The established nucleus remains formidable: Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson up front, with Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson providing high-end ability from the blue line. Hertl scored Saturday, and Nic Dowd tied the game in the third before San Jose pulled away.

The most encouraging camp development was Braeden Bowman remaining in the NHL conversation, while Trevor Connelly also received an extended look as Vegas searched for inexpensive young scoring around its veteran core. Earlier cuts sent Matyas Sapovaliv and others to Henderson.

Ryan Craig inherits a contender, not a construction project. Age and health remain legitimate concerns, but Vegas has depth, experience and enough elite talent to make another Pacific title entirely plausible.

3. SAN JOSE SHARKS

  • Last year’s record: 39-35-8
  • Division finish: 5th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Ryan Warsofsky

To be quite honest, San Jose entered camp as our No. 5 team. It leaves at No. 3.

The Sharks finished 2-1-1, but their final two victories mattered more than the record: a 10-0 demolition of Anaheim followed by Saturday's 4-2 win at Vegas. Macklin Celebrini and Mason Marchment each had a goal and assist Saturday, Michael Misa scored, and Yaroslav Askarov stopped 28 shots.

That's particularly significant because goaltending was San Jose's biggest concern entering camp.

Meanwhile, Ivar Stenberg became one of the NHL preseason's breakout stories. The No. 2 overall pick followed an impressive debut with a hat trick and four points against Anaheim, further strengthening an extraordinary young collection surrounding Celebrini, Will Smith and Misa.

Celebrini was also named captain after scoring 115 points last season. San Jose has supplemented its kids with veterans including Marchment, Dmitry Orlov, Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse.

The Sharks aren't merely interesting anymore. The question entering the season is how quickly this young talent can turn potential into consistent wins.

4. ANAHEIM DUCKS

  • Last year’s record: 43-33-6
  • Division finish: 3rd, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Joel Quenneville

Anaheim's preseason produced extremes. Beckett Sennecke opened it with a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over San Jose. Later, San Jose crushed Anaheim 10-0, and the Ducks concluded preseason with a 6-2 loss to Los Angeles.

Don't allow those ugly exhibition losses to obscure the roster's upside.

Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish and Sennecke give Anaheim an impressive collection of young forwards, while Tristan Luneau is positioned to assume a larger role on a remodeled defense. Anaheim's challenge is transforming exciting individual talent into consistency.

The final cuts also provided clarity. Anaheim reduced camp to 27 players Sunday, assigning Nico Myatovic, Stian Solberg and Noah Warren to San Diego while placing Laurent Brossoit and Travis Mitchell on waivers for assignment.

The Ducks remain dangerous because their best young players haven't reached their ceilings. But compared with Edmonton's polished preseason and San Jose's surge, Anaheim exits camp with more questions than it had when camp opened.

5. SEATTLE KRAKEN

  • Last year’s record: 34-37-11
  • Division finish: 6th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Lane Lambert

Seattle quietly produced one of the Pacific's better preseasons, finishing 3-1-0 despite losing Saturday's finale 4-3 at Vancouver. Brandon Montour had a goal and assist, Bobby McMann scored and Berkly Catton converted a beautiful third-period rush.

Catton is particularly important. Seattle desperately needs internal offensive growth after finishing near the bottom of the NHL in scoring last season, and its younger players consistently made noise throughout camp.

The Kraken also have more potential scoring depth after acquiring Mackie Samoskevich and signing McMann long term. Samoskevich arrives after career highs of 20 assists and 32 points with Florida.

Matty Beniers and Shane Wright still need to take major steps for Seattle to challenge the division's top teams, but the supporting cast appears to have improved.

The Kraken's 3-1 preseason shouldn't be overvalued. What matters more is *how* they achieved it - with contributions from young players and depth pieces they will need once the games count.

6. LOS ANGELES KINGS

  • Last year’s record: 35-27-20
  • Division finish: 4th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Peter Laviolette

Los Angeles saved its strongest statement for last, crushing Anaheim 6-2 Saturday. Scott Laughton, Alex Laferriere, Adrian Kempe, Andrei Kuzmenko, Quinton Byfield and Corey Perry supplied the goals.

That offensive variety is exactly what Peter Laviolette wants.

The Kings' identity is changing after Anze Kopitar's departure. Byfield now carries substantially greater responsibility at center, while Kempe and Kevin Fiala become even more important offensively. Drew Doughty assumes the captaincy and remains the defensive foundation.

Veteran additions Mats Zuccarello and Erik Haula should help offset some of the experience lost with Kopitar, although Zuccarello's status was one of the issues monitored during camp. Los Angeles also conducted a major 21-player cut after giving its bubble players multiple scrimmage opportunities.

Enough established talent here to finish considerably higher than sixth. But the Kings must prove their new offensive approach works consistently while navigating the franchise's biggest leadership transition in years.

7. CALGARY FLAMES

  • Last year’s record: 34-39-9
  • Division finish: 7th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Ryan Huska

The Flames went 1-2-1 and lost 4-1 to Edmonton in their finale. Matt Coronato scored Calgary's only power-play goal, while Dustin Wolf made 24 saves.

Coronato's development is particularly important because Calgary's central problem remains offense. The Flames finished last in NHL scoring last season, meaning incremental improvement won't be enough. They need meaningful production from Coronato, Connor Zary, Morgan Frost and a healthy Jonathan Huberdeau.

The defense is more interesting. Simon Nemec gives Calgary another young, high-upside piece, while Jake Middleton adds experience and physicality. Wolf can still mask some deficiencies if he rebounds from last season.

The concern coming out of preseason is that the basic equation hasn't changed. Calgary can defend, Wolf can steal games and the Flames have intriguing young pieces - but who consistently finishes?

Until that question is answered, Calgary remains behind the Pacific's deeper offensive teams.

8. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

  • Last year’s record: 25-49-8
  • Division finish: 8th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Manny Malhotra

Vancouver finally gave Manny Malhotra something tangible to build on in the finale.

After starting preseason 0-3, the Canucks beat Seattle 4-3 Saturday behind their established offensive players. Jake DeBrusk had three points, while Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson each produced a goal and assist. Vancouver rallied from 2-0 down and won late.

That was precisely the response Malhotra wanted after a near full-strength Vancouver lineup had previously lost 2-1 to an Edmonton team loaded with youngsters.

Another concern heading into opening night: Filip Chytil has been placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the start of the season after a preseason injury.

Pettersson remains capable of dramatically changing Vancouver's outlook, and the finale offered evidence that he, Boeser and DeBrusk can generate offense together. But one good exhibition game doesn't erase the questions surrounding a team coming off 25 wins.

Malhotra has a foundation. The Canucks still have the most to prove.

PHOTO CAPTION

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) shoots against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.

W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Contributor at TheHockeyNews.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.

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How to Play Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Beginner's guide and draft tips

It's that time of the year again. With training camps set to open, fantasy basketball drafts will pick up. If you're experienced, an article like this won't do much for you. However, plenty of basketball fans may be getting into fantasy basketball for the first time. For those people, welcome. This article aims to introduce you to fantasy basketball in a way that hopefully makes your experience positive. Let's get into how to play fantasy basketball.

1. Decide who you want to play with.

For some, playing with people they know will be the best course of action. If there's an entry fee, it should (in theory) be easier to collect everyone's money before the league starts. For others, simply entering an online league with strangers that does not charge a fee will be the preferred entry into fantasy basketball. The good news is that fantasy managers have plenty of options.

Regarding the money, here's an important tip: only put up what you're willing and able to lose potentially. The good thing about season-long fantasy leagues is that the possibility of falling into the trap of chasing one's losses is off the table. Committing money that you can't afford to lose financially (or mentally) is a good way to make the fantasy experience a bad one.

2. What kind of league do you want to compete in?

If you're entering online leagues, you make this decision when sifting through available options. Do you want to compete in a category league or a points league? For the latter, point values are assigned to each category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers). For Yahoo! default points leagues, here are the values for those categories:

Points: 1

Rebounds: 1.2

Assists: 1.5

Steals: 3

Blocks: 3

Turnovers: -1

Understanding the scoring will impact how you approach your draft, especially in the later rounds. Also, do you want to compete in a head-to-head league, which offers weekly matchups with other managers, or a rotisserie league? In the latter, a slow start could be harder to rebound from. That also means managers may need to be more open to making a major trade earlier in the season.

Also, do you want to compete in a redraft league or a dynasty league? For redraft leagues, you'll pick your team every year. Dynasty leagues have a first-year draft, usually including players who are currently in college, and run for multiple years. If you don't want to commit to a league for multiple years, the redraft format is usually preferred.

3. What kind of draft do you want to have for your league?

Snake drafts are the most common, but the question is whether it includes a reversal every two rounds. That means the person with the final pick in the first round, for example, would have the first pick in the third round, and the order would alternate every two rounds. Another question for snake drafts: do you want to complete this in one sitting, as in-person drafts do, or hold an online slow draft? For slow drafts, managers will have more time to make their picks, and they usually run for multiple days.

Word of advice: set up email alerts for when you're either on deck or on the clock. Filling your queue with a few potential options is something else to consider doing, but most managers will prefer to look at the board before making a pick.

If you don't want to go with a snake draft, you can also do a salary draft. In this format, you're given a salary cap, $200 in default leagues, and can spend the money however you like. Want to spend $75 (or more) on Victor Wembanyama or Nikola Jokić? Go right ahead. Managers can either choose to splurge on a couple of stars and fill out the roster with low-cost options, or take a more balanced approach. From personal experience, salary drafts are far more efficient online than in person.

For in-person drafts, regardless of format, instituting some penalty for those who consistently try to select or nominate players already off the board would be a good idea.

4. Do your research before draft day.

Finding time to research players before draft day can be challenging. But the worst approach is to take a rankings sheet and go off that alone. We'll have preseason articles available throughout the coming weeks, and there are other good resources out there as well, whether in written or podcast form. The reason research matters: injuries, potential rotation battles, and coaching changes will all impact a player's value, and those discussions aren't included on a rankings sheet.

If you prefer the "cheat sheet" method, don't fret: we've got those for you, too.

5. Don’t be afraid to participate in a few mock drafts before your big day.

You can certainly do this before finalizing the kind of league you'll be competing in, but it makes more sense to do mock draft exercises afterward. Mocks aren't perfect, but they can help you get used to surprises that may come up in a draft. For example, if someone uses a first-round pick on a frequently injured player, here's how you can potentially pivot to take advantage.

Mock drafts are also helpful in salary leagues because they can show you how players are perceived price-wise. And it also allows you to figure out the approach that's best for you, as noted in the third point. Spend it all on a few stars, or spread your cap dollars more evenly? Testing this out in a mock draft or two ensures that you won't be flying blind on draft day.

️ 6. Once the season begins, set aside some time to set your lineups.

Life can get busy, making it easy to forget to set your lineup each day. Leagues can allow a new lineup every day, or you may have to set your lineup for the entire week before Monday's games start. Regarding daily lineups: does your league have a weekly games cap? If so, paying closer attention to matchups and how many games a player's team has scheduled becomes even more important.

The optimal approach for leagues that allow for daily lineups: one check in the morning, and a second in the afternoon/early evening to account for any potential absences due to injury or suspension.

7. If you have to shift your strategy, don’t be afraid to do so.

Panicking after one week of fantasy basketball wouldn't be wise, but there may come a point when you have to make major moves to salvage the season. As noted above, it can get "late" earlier in roto leagues than in category leagues. Is the change as simple as a few waiver-wire pickups? Or do you need to make a major trade?

If a trade is needed, please don't get into the habit of trying to get over on other managers. Trades should benefit both parties, and trying to fleece other managers is a good way to ensure no one wants to do business with you in the future. Also, if your league has a trade block, use it. Not just to list players you're willing to give up, but also to list categories that your team is either struggling or excelling in.

8. Last but not least: this is supposed to be fun. Don’t ruin the experience for others by sabotaging the league.

This is especially important if you're playing for money and sharing the league with people you know. Sure, "it's just fantasy basketball." But that's exactly why colluding and cheating should not happen. Real relationships shouldn't become strained or severed over fantasy sports. If you approach it the right way, a league can last for years, and strangers can become friends.

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Islanders Anxiety – Episode 380 – Proving Us Wrong

Mike and Dan wrap up the Islanders preseason and prepare for the start of real games, while making two big announcements for this week.

The Islanders went 1-3 in the preseason, with some standout performances, a few injuries, a slew of guys sent to Hamilton and one free agent signing – hulking defenseman Logan Stanley. The games themselves didn’t do much to get us excited for the season, and some of the moves also left us feeling a little bit of deja vu. The Islanders are asking a largely holdover crew to reverse the path they’ve been on for several seasons. They can start by once again becoming hard to play against, something they haven’t been in a long, long time. It’s possible that they surprise us this season – waiving Pierre Engvall was one surprise – but we find ourselves on the doubting side when we should be at our most joyful.

In the second half, we talk about the games against the Maple Leafs and Devils that kick off the new campaign, and how beating two good but flawed teams would do wonders for our mood. The Islanders have only won 14 of 53 home openers, which is a pathetic number. It would be great to get No. 15 this Saturday. We also take a quick look around the rest of the NHL and see who we think will be good, bad, disastrously funny or fun to watch without the worry we always bring to Islanders games.

Be sure to come to Zofia’s Hideout, 84th Street in NYC on Wednesday for a meet up and viewing of the Islanders’ season opener. Or say hello to us on Saturday at the Islanders home opener at UBS Arena against the Devils. We’ll be in Sect. 101 in between periods.

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Cavs player preview: Meleek Thomas – How will the Cavaliers balance development and need?

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded out of the first round in this past year’s draft. At the time, there was frustration for a team that has very limited opportunities over the next five years to take first-round talent. With the 34th selection, the Cavaliers were able to take Meleek Thomas, whom draft experts had in the first round of their mock drafts.

The Cavaliers were immediately validated for their trade down and selection of Thomas in the Summer League. He set Las Vegas ablaze to the tune of 27.3 points per game. This not only led all players in the circuit but also earned Thomas a spot on the Summer League First Team. Thomas was the only non-lottery player to earn this selection.

It’s early, but the Cavaliers appear to have selected a player with a solid foundation.

The Cavaliers have shuffled their bench this offseason, leaving some question marks. When Summer League ended, the bench still consisted of Max Strus and Dennis Schröder. With both now residing on other teams, the bench has a lot of “mystery box” players. Mario Hezonja, Tyrese Proctor, Craig Porter Jr., Khalifa Diop, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are all interesting players; however, they are a far cry from what you would call “stable” or “safe” options.

This is where the Cavaliers will enter a conundrum early in Thomas’s career. It is more likely than not that one or more of the players listed above will not meet the expectations or needs the Cavaliers have for them in their role at the start of the season. If so, Thomas will be thrust into meaningful minutes.

Thomas has already shown a knack for putting the ball in the basket. In Summer League, Thomas accompanied his 27.3 points per game with sizzling .500/.438/1.000 shooting splits over four games. Thomas is a natural scorer, but don’t expect the level of efficiency and opportunity that was present in Summer League.

In Vegas, the Cavaliers had one true prospect to showcase, and that was Thomas. That wouldn’t be the case in the regular season. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, Thomas will need to be more complementary. At Arkansas, he did something similar with fellow NBA draftee Darius Acuff Jr.; however, the opposition now is much more formidable.

The worst-case scenario for Thomas is that the Cavaliers whiff on quite a few of their mystery-box role guys, and the pecking order on the bench needs major renovations. Thomas will get less of the Jaylon Tyson treatment from a few years ago — one where he got to develop and play in garbage time to get his feet under him — and instead be thrust out there to salvage poor decisions made by the front office in constructing the bench. That may not be best for his overall development.

Thomas is a natural scorer, which should help in the early returns of his first minutes in the NBA, and is his most likely role if he does get thrown into early minutes. However, it would be a disservice to Thomas to isolate his development to solely being a scorer. Koby Altman hinted at the draft presser that the Cavaliers want to allow him to develop his facilitating and offense-running capabilities. It will be nearly impossible with one of the two All-Star guards also on the floor. It will be interesting to see how the front office and coaching staff toggle Thomas between a project and a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency role.

The Cavaliers are in win-now mode, so they are more likely to sacrifice long-term upside for an opportunity to improve the roster now. Therefore, Thomas could be put in a position where he will need to sink or swim this season, even if it isn’t what’s most beneficial for his development.

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Scanning the waiver wire for intriguing options

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 28: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against Colin Blackwell #15 of the Dallas Stars at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 28, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Penguins would probably figure to not use waivers to boost their lineup, given all the depth they already have. However with four players placed on IR yesterday plus the statuses of Bryan Rust (injured) and Andrei Kuzmenko (personal) still up in the air for the start of the season, the waiver wire could hold a little more intrigue now than it might have recently given the outflow of bodies from the roster in recent days.

The timing for this works out, there are currently 71 player on waivers today that could be claimed and announced at 2pm eastern. Waiver claims are typically used by NHL teams as short-term patches and temporary fixes for the sort of issues that a team like Pittsburgh is dealing with right now. The majority of players waived at the beginning of the season tend to go back on the waiver wire once claimed, which would presumably be the situation in Pittsburgh since the main goal would be to get to the other side on the injuries their players are dealing with at the moment.

Here are some currently available candidates that stand out. The Penguins currently have 48 of their 50 available pro contracts spoken for, giving them the ability to add one player via waivers if they really wanted to do so.

Colin Blackwell, C, Dallas Stars

Blackwell is a speedy, pesky fourth-line grinder with legitimate defensive value. He’s only 5-foot-8, but he plays way bigger than that, with a gritty motor and a physical edge.

Blackwell is a black hole offensively (only four goals in 70 games and poor offensive play-driving metrics), but his defensive metrics are very solid, and he’s a high-quality penalty killer, having averaged over two minutes per game on Dallas’ 13th-ranked PK last season. He’s worth a look for a team that wants some shorthanded help and fourth-line speed.

Blake Lizotte was already back at practice yesterday, and if the team senses his absence will not last much longer then adding another player in that same sort of mold wouldn’t make much sense. However, given the current centers from practice yesterday were players who aren’t traditional PKers in Sidney Crosby, Tommy Novak and Hendrix Lapierre, plus the injured Lizotte, it’s not difficult to see that that if the Penguins were to dip into waivers at all for a temporary replacement if would be someone exactly like Blackwell who is known for his PK work and defensive impacts and can work as a center. Blackwell also adds some value of being a right-handed center, which the Penguins currently don’t have any of with Ben Kindel on IR.

Pittsburgh could always choose to go with what they’ve got, but if they don’t quite like the situation of PKers around at the moment (or if they need a fairly capable stand-in for Lizotte at that fourth line center spot for a couple of days or games) then grabbing someone like Blackwell would make sense, even if they’ll have to turn around and waive Blackwell themselves in the near future.

Sam Lafferty, C, Florida Panthers

Lafferty has appealing physical traits with a heavy 6-foot-2 frame and blazing-fast speed. He can serve as a fine fourth-line winger to play an uptempo north-south, dump-and-chase style and can play center in an emergency.

Lafferty is very limited, though — his offensive value is almost nil, and he doesn’t provide the PK value that another waiver option like Blackwell does.

Lafferty is a former Penguin, though he’s been gone since 2021 and the entire coaching and management has turned over in Pittsburgh since then to render those ties moot at this point. There is some connective tissue from the past, Kyle Dubas acquired Lafftery for Toronto in 2023 that’s probably more relevant than his previous Pittsburgh stint.

Much like the Blackwell note, this would be contingent on the statuses of Rust and Lizotte. If the team is pretty confident that one or both of those players will be back soon, they wouldn’t need Lafferty. If that’s not the case, then there could be some value in picking up a veteran option who is used to bouncing from team to team and providing some speed, energy and PK to tide the team over until their own options get back.

John Beecher, C, Florida Panthers

Beecher is never going to be known for his point production, but he’s a big forward who is a top skater in the league. His puck game is a significant issue, though, and he generates his value through his speed and compete. He could have value as a depth forward for a team.

The Pens seem to like their own internal options similar to Beecher (specifically, Elmer Soderblom and Fillip Hallander) more than someone like Beecher. Still, the same notes above apply for adding a 6’3”, 220 pound center who has some speed and ability to join the PK unit as a patch is out there if they want it.

Dylan Garand, G, New York Rangers

Garand has been inconsistent as a pro after a sterling junior career. He has the quickness, technique and reads of a legit pro goaltender, but he is on the smaller side, and although he moves well, he isn’t the truly premier athlete you would want for a barely 6-foot goalie. I see the argument for a pickup, but he’s probably a No. 3 goalie for an NHL team.

The Pens seem content and even eager to let Sergei Murashov have a shot at the NHL. Right now would be a way to pick up a goalie for free, though. Garand is 24 years old, he wouldn’t offer a lot of experience (his three career NHL games are even less than Murashov) so it might be off the table. But Garand has the ability and upside to think that some NHL team might take a chance and put a claim in for him. Dubas has been no stranger to accumulating mid-20’s talent and seeing what happens with the opportunity and it’s not like the current Penguin goaltending situation is solid enough to let this opportunity pass without even having a discussion.

—

In the end, the smart money might be on no activity this afternoon for the Pens. The appearance of Lizotte back in practice goes a long way in the hopes that his missed time won’t amount to enough to make it necessary to grab a replacement caliber player to fill in. Given the total quantity of injuries it’s at least a topic worthy of some debate to figure out just how the Penguins want to get through the early part of the season until some of their important depth players return to the lineup.

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All 14 Writers At The NHL's Website Predict Senators Will Miss The Playoffs

If the Senators were looking for bulletin-board material heading into the 2026-27 season, they didn't have to look very far.

They only had to visit NHL.com.

The NHL's official website released its annual predictions for the upcoming season, with 14 writers and editors selecting their division winners, wild-card teams and eventual Stanley Cup champion.

Travis Green is asked Saturday about Jake Sanderson after he left the game in his preseason debut.

Not one of the 14 picked the Senators to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Zero.

That's a pretty notable snub for a team that reached the postseason in each of the past two seasons and only one impactful player loss.

But that's clearly the biggest reason for the national skepticism: Brady Tkachuk is gone.

The Senators finished fifth in the Atlantic Division last season with a 44-27-11 record and earned a playoff berth before being swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round.

But between an early season wrist injury, a brace he'd wear for most of the season, the distraction of podcasts and Olympics, and fading interest in being a Senator, Ottawa fans are keenly aware that losing last year's version of Tkachuk isn't all bad.

Every one of the 14 panelists selected three teams from the Atlantic Division, along with two wild-card teams from the Eastern Conference. The Sens weren't included in any of those selections.

Montreal, Florida and Tampa Bay were the three teams most frequently chosen from the Atlantic, while Buffalo, Boston, Toronto, the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils also appeared among the Eastern wild-card selections.

But the Sens don't necessarily have to look outside their own locker room for reasons to believe they can remain in the playoff conversation.

The Sens finished ninth overall in goal scoring last season. Tim Stützle scored a team-high 34 goals last season. Drake Batherson scored 33, Dylan Cozens had 28 and Shane Pinto added 23. The Senators also added William Eklund, who had 53 points with San Jose last season, and veteran Andre Burakovsky to help address the offensive loss created by Tkachuk's departure.

Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot give the Senators an excellent one-two punch on the blue line.

Then there's goaltending. The Sens made the playoffs with goaltending that was well below average in the first half of the season. And that's putting it mildly.

After the Olympics last season, Linus Ullmark went 12-4-3 with a .902 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average over 19 games. He carried that strong finish into the playoffs against Carolina. And he now has what the Senators believe will be better support with two new Swedish goalies directly behind him on the depth chart.

And if you like intangibles, there also won't be the level of noise and controversy that swirled around this team for a lot of last season. It's amazing that the Sens powered through all that and still made the playoffs.

Yes, some preseason injuries have certainly emerged as a cause for concern in Ottawa, but no one who's nicked up has been described as having anything that's long term. And it's goes without saying that every preseason prediction about every NHL team comes with the caveat of "if they can stay healthy." 

Yes, the Atlantic is deep, just like it was last year. Some will rise, others will sink. But we'll take GM Steve Staios at his word that he "has no intention of taking a step backwards this season."

That's the prediction that will matter, because no matter how much other teams have improved, 99 points will probably get you into the playoffs.

No matter what, when the season begins on Oct. 3, the Senators won't be playing for the approval of 14 NHL.com writers. They won't be playing to stick it to their former captain.

They'll be playing for each other and a third consecutive trip to the playoffs.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

Senators’ Sunday Roster Crunch Complicated By Injuries
Senators Split Two Games With Montreal, Face More Injury Trouble 
Sens Prospect Faces Lengthy Recovery After Preseason Shoulder Injury
Senators Acquire New Goalie From Tampa Bay Lightning On Friday
Ottawa Bids Farewell To Leevi Merilainen, Claimed By Canucks

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Wizards Media Day 2026 discussion

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: AJ Dybansta #4 of the Washington Wizards poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 15, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Wizards are hosting Media Day at CareFirst Arena starting at 11 a.m. ET. Greg Finberg is in Congress Heights for us. Monumental Sports Network will air the coverage and I’ll post an embed as soon as we can. Enjoy the first day of the NBA calendar!

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More good Sixers news — the 2001 black jerseys are back for 2026-27

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 31: A close-up photo of the Philadelphia 76ers hardwood classic edition jersey during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 31, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In what can only be described as a no-brainer, the Sixers will bring back their Allen Iverson era black jerseys for the 2026-27 season.

According to Nike/the NBA’s uniform rules, the Sixers technically could not wear the black jerseys this season. You’re not allowed to wear throwback uniforms unless it falls on an anniversary (like last season when the team celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2000-01 team). As they say, rules are meant to be broken.

And thank goodness.

These jerseys are iconic. So much so, Jaylen Brown couldn’t wait to get his hands on one to wear for a live stream. And when the news broke of LeBron James signing in Philly, guess which jersey was photoshopped onto him? That’s right. Tyrese Maxey and other Sixers are also huge fans of these jerseys.

In total, the Sixers will wear six different jerseys this season, including the return of the black “Hardwood Classic”.

In addition to the red, white and blue jersey variants that have become standard for the Sixers and the return of the Iverson-era black uniforms, the team will also debut their new “Specter” uniform (the black with red stars) this season. The league and Nike announced earlier this month that eight of the NBA’s oldest franchises will wear the new line of uniforms this season. It is not exactly clear yet how often or when these jerseys will be utilized specifically.

All of the Sixers’ jerseys will also feature a new patch sponsor, replacing the Crypto.com logo that has featured on the team’s jerseys and courts for years now. The Sixers have a new, multi-year deal with Bloom Energy. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on social media that the deal is worth over eight figures, annually making it one of the most lucrative in the league.

Call it the LeBron effect.

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‘I’ve achieved more than I dreamed of’: Britain’s Katy Marchant retires from elite cycling

  • Olympic gold medallist also won world and European titles

  • ‘I’m proud of where I’ve got to and what I’ve done’

The Olympic gold medallist Katy Marchant has announced her retirement from elite cycling. The 33-year-old took gold alongside Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell in the women’s team sprint at the 2024 Paris Games, the same year she won world and European titles.

“I’ve achieved more than I could ever have dreamed of achieving,” Marchant said only a few months after stating a goal of racing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “It just feels really strange. It’s not been a difficult decision. Don’t get me wrong, there’s been moments where I’ve thought: ‘Could I just, should I just, what if I just?’ But I know what it takes to push on for another two years.

Continue reading...
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Discussion Thread: Knicks Media Day 2026

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 27: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks smile during a press conference after the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2025 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 2025 NBAE(Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The moment you’ve been waiting for months has finally arrived, folks!

After a considerably shorter offseason than we Knicks fans are accustomed to, the build-up to the 2026-27 NBA season officially begins today with Media Day.

The reigning, defending, undisputed NBA champions are back together after their run to the championship, with their first press conference of the new season scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET.

All players and head coach Mike Brown will meet with reporters and turn their attention toward the challenge of doing it all over again, as well as dealing with questions about health (Jalen Brunson’s wrist), money (Karl-Anthony Towns’ extension), and destiny (Deuce McBride’s future), among many other things.

Ultimately, Media Day will give us all the first real chance to “officially” hear from the Knicks since the offseason began, with plenty to discuss before the team gets back on the court when Training camp (Tuesday, Sept. 29) and the preseason (Oct. 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers) get going. The Knicks will also face Washington, Minnesota and Toronto twice before the exhibitions wrap up Oct. 15.

Then, the real real thing will arrive when New York raises the curtain and the banner (should we say banners, though?) on the 2026-27 regular season at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 20, hosting Philly.

Follow along throughout Media Day as the quotes, photos, videos and assorted preseason optimism start pouring in. Drop everything you hear, see and think about today’s festivities in the comment section below and discuss it all with your fellow Knicks fans, and we’ll put it all together in multiple posts during the next few hours and days for you to find everything in one place.

Go Knicks!

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How LeBron James can complete the process

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 9: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers embraces LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers after the game on December 9, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Nearly two months from the day his signing was announced, LeBron James will speak to the Philadelphia media for the first time. There’s still over three weeks before he can play his first regular season game with his new team, but saying this hasn’t gotten old yet: LeBron James is a member of the 76ers.

The last two years have been a whirlwind for the franchise. No one would have predicted they would be signing the best player in the history of the sport 15 months after a season so disastrous the topic of Joel Embiid going into medical retirement was legitimately broached. Now they have loaded up to compete in an Eastern Conference as loaded as it’s ever been.

The acquisition of James was very different from the three previous times he switched teams in his career. He is no longer the seismic presence that instantly launches a team into title contention. Not only did he not take the max contract for the first time in his career, but the 41-year old signed with Philadelphia for the league minimum.

What’s also unique is that James is coming in to be the final piece of this roster. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, who’s covered James extensively, detailed how James has taken control of his new teams at his last stops. This time is different in that James is coming in to supplement what is already on the roster. McMenamin specifically said he expects James to pour into the guys he mentioned by name on his most recent podcast, those guys being Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.

Since James chose the Sixers as his new team, the predominant question that’s been raised for this team is how will they share just the one basketball across this star-studded starting five? James will be at the center of that answer. Shortly after he chose the Sixers, it was reported that James will be the primary point guard.

That was always the logical step. While both Embiid and Maxey have made strides in becoming better passers, neither of their elite skillsets contains facilitating — the same can be said for Brown. There’s been a lot of concern over how that will impact Maxey in particular. His massive jump in scoring production has come as a product of having one of the highest usage rates in the league.

Maxey will definitely sacrifice some on-ball reps, and probably a few points per game because of it, but at the team’s benefit. Maxey is a lethal shooter, and one that’s always been consistently considerably better shooting off the catch.

He’s one of the best play finishers in the league and he hasn’t had that opportunity in years because the Sixers have needed him at the center of everything. It won’t look quite the same because James Harden is so unique in how he dominates the ball, but Maxey should get a similar amount of high quality looks playing off the ball he had back in the 2022-23 season.

Being a long time offseason workout buddy with James, their fit feels like it will be figured out the easiest. While boasting an even higher usage rate for much of his career, the pairing with Embiid doesn’t feel like it will be that hard to figure out. Embiid is obviously an elite hub himself operating from the free throw line, but like Maxey, his best years came because of his pick-and-pop with Harden.

James and Embiid are both so talented, they won’t have to do much more than that to create good shots when they are on the floor together. How often they are on the floor together is a legitimate concern. The aforementioned health of Embiid is something that will always be a question mark. James’ durability is one of the most incredible feats in sports, but even the healthiest 41 year old, turning 42 early in the season, should not take on the full grind of an 82-game season.

He’s yet to pick up a major injury so far in his career, but as a Laker he picked up nagging injuries that caused him to miss big chunks of seasons for the first time in his career. He played 55 and 56 games in the 2021-22 and ‘22-23 seasons, respectively. Amazingly, he played 70 games in each of the next two seasons, and a lot of that came down to the Lakers needing him on the floor to get through the season and to the playoffs. He played in 60 games last season, dealing with and on and off glute injury.

The priority for James and Embiid needs to be getting them through the regular season and as healthy as possible for mid-April. That will come at the cost of sacrificing game reps during the regular season to build chemistry. It’s a tough balance to strike, one they attempted but never really succeeded at with Embiid and Paul George.

They’re going to have very different versions of this team depending on who is available on any given night. It’s tough to win games like that, but the Sixers won 45 of them last year. There’s no one more prepared to do that than Maxey and with an objectively better roster this year, the team should be up to the task.

The key to eating those regular season innings is the trickiest fit with James to figure out, and that’s Jaylen Brown. There’s no one part of Brown’s game you can easily point to and say, they can just run that action with him and LeBron. It’s easy to say he’ll be great to eat up these reps in the games James misses, but ideally, they will share the court a lot together.

It will take a sacrifice that’s never been asked of a guy who’s won a Finals MVP before, but the fact that it will take that level of buy-in from everyone on the team could bode well for this effort. No one can afford to get mad about their touches, all five of them will have to figure this out.

The level of talent in the starting five is fantasy team levels of star-studded. There’s no frame of reference for fitting this much together outside of firing up 2K. It certainly isn’t the path the Sixers thought they’d take when they set out star hunting eight years ago.

But when you get the chance to add LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to your team, you don’t turn it down.

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3 Knicks players with biggest questions surrounding them entering 2026-27 NBA season

The NBA offseason is officially history. With the Knicks set to host media day on Monday, there will surely be plenty of questions for the defending champions. 

Contract extension talks for Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride will be central topics in training camp. Also, the team’s mindset in a championship-defending season will be another big theme brought up. Let’s look at what players are facing the most questions heading into the new season.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Coming off a title, the Knicks are still on cloud nine. Jalen Brunson just continued the good times hosting the season premiere of Saturday Night Live.

However, one potential rain cloud on the way is Towns’ contract extension talks. The team and the big man have yet to come to terms on a new deal. Towns can sign for a maximum of four years and $276 million. SNY’s Ian Begley noted last week that the Knicks have made offers to Towns that started between $45 million and $50 million per season, which would equal a range of $180 million to $200 million over a four-year deal.

Towns is vital to New York’s championship hopes. The center’s mix of elite outside shooting and post-up makes him a difficult cover for opposing defenses. He has also grown as a playmaker and defender over two seasons in New York.

If the Knicks and Towns can’t come to an agreement, the team would be in serious trouble. First, if he accepts his $61 million player option for next season, New York would likely cross the second apron. If Towns opts out, he can enter unrestricted free agency and sign with another team. That would leave the Knicks with limited options to replace him.

Towns and the Knicks have all season to come to terms on a deal, so the alarm bell hasn’t officially been rung yet. Will he sign an extension? That will be a question that hovers over the team until an agreement is reached.

Miles McBride

Another contract extension to watch is McBride. The reserve guard is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. 

McBride’s extension hinges on what happens in Towns and Hart’s contract extension talks. Specifically, if Towns signs an extension at a lower cap figure than his $61 million player option for the 2027-28 season, the Knicks might have room to negotiate with McBride and re-sign him. If not, then the Knicks could move the guard either in-season or he can leave as a free agent.

McBride is a key part of New York’s plans. He’s a high-volume three-point shooter and is accurate from long distance. McBride has shot 39.6 percent from beyond the three-point arc over the last three seasons. A very good point-of-attack defender, the former second-round pick has also been able to guard some wings, despite being listed at just 6-foot-2. Over the years, McBride has proven effective from the bench, but he’s also been able to fill in as an occasional starter at either guard position.

At 26 years old, is there still any more room for McBride to grow? In the NBA Finals, he struggled with the San Antonio Spurs’ full-court defensive pressure, scoring just 11 points in five games. While McBride’s development will be important to watch, how the Knicks handle the guard’s pending free agency will ultimately be a storyline all season.

Mohamed Diawara

It would be easy to go the contract extension route and have Hart as a topic. But I think the Knicks and Hart have an easier path to an extension since his fit to the current Knicks roster is ideal. Also, the Knicks have a team option on Hart for the 2027-28 season.

Let’s focus on Diawara. Entering his second year, Diawara showed signs of being a rotation player with solid defense and a better-than-expected jumper. However, he eventually fell out of New York’s rotation in the second half of the regular season. The Knicks believed in Diawara’s potential, signing the French forward to a four-year, $11.2 million contract.

Diawara had a rough Summer League showing, but he still has promise as a useful rotation player. At 6-foot-9, he offers a mix of length and skill that could be helpful to a Knicks bench that is small. The perimeter bench players in the rotation are all 6-foot-5 or under. Can Mike Brown find minutes for the forward?

As I mentioned earlier in the offseason, Diawara’s development with the Knicks will be important for the future of the franchise. As the club looks to avoid the second apron over the next few years, there’s a chance key rotation players will depart. Developing young players on cheap contracts will be important to New York in maintaining a contender.

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Warriors' Moses Moody offers surprising injury retrospect, where rehab stands

Warriors' Moses Moody offers surprising injury retrospect, where rehab stands originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Basketball season is near and the Warriors are getting ready to begin training camp, hoping to bounce back after missing the NBA playoffs last season. But when the season begins, the franchise will be missing a couple of key players such as Moses Moody, who is recovering from a knee injury.

Moody is set to miss the early portion of the 2026-27 NBA season, but during media day on Monday, he reflected on his rehab and why stayed positive in the wake of his horrific injury.

“It’s funny. My first thought on the ground was, I know this is going to be a good thing at some point. I’m going to say I’m happy this happened,” Moody told reporters. “So what’s the point of being upset about it right now if I’m going to be happy that it happened?

“Then the next step is I got to make it a good thing. So whatever time it allowed me to have, do something with that time. I’d be happy that I had the time to do. Then on the basketball court, being able to slow down and train my movements and body and a bunch of stuff that might normally get passed up because I got so many other things to work on. I can slow down and go step by step. I feel like I’ve done that.”

Moody’s left patellar tear is an injury that can make a player feel down about the situation, especially with the long and grueling rehab process that is required to return to play and the pain and emotions that come with it. But Moody quickly thought about how he could make the most of it, alluding to how he was feeling the moment he went down in that March 26 game against the Dallas Mavericks.

“Well, it didn’t hurt, first off. I guess you don’t got a lot of nerves in that area,” Moody told reporters. “Another one that I think about is, how do you actually feel versus how you’re supposed to feel? And I’m looking at it, and I’m, like, I should probably be in pain and screaming and all that right now, but actually it doesn’t hurt. Now I’m just waiting until I get up or whatever is next.

“That was the feeling for me. So as I sit there calmly and think, that was the first thought that came to my head. Looking back on it, I think it’s pretty cool that that’s how that went.”

Moody still has a little ways to go but is progressing well in his rehab. Moody currently is participating in light on-court activity and described the process as tedious, but also said how much he has enjoyed working through this career hurdle.

“Yeah, I would describe it as light on-court activity,” Moody told reporters about where he is in the rehab process. “I’m in a good spot with it all. It’s been a fun process, tedious, you know, day by day and everything, but I’ve enjoyed it.”

Moody’s specific return date is still TBD, but he and the Warriors are confident he can come back by midseason, which would be around January or February.

“Yeah, I’m confident with the plan. I think everything has been on track for what Rick [Celebrini] has estimated and everything,” Moody told reporters. “Yeah, I’m in a good spot.”

The Warriors open their season Oct. 21 on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. Expectations for the team heading into the season are not super high, but the Warriors are determined to be competitive early on so that when they do get Moody back, they can reach another level and prove to the league that they once again are contenders.

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Monday Morning Texas Rangers Update

Sep 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Elias Diaz (35) sits in the dugout after losing to the Minnesota Twins and getting eliminated from the playoffs at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Good morning.

Shawn McFarland writes that the Texas Rangers finally succumbed to working with a threadbare pitching staff in a season finale loss that left no doubt that there would be no October baseball.

Jeff Wilson writes that the Rangers went 2-4 in their final two series of the year against two teams with losing records to drop the American League West by a game.

Kennedi Landry writes that the Rangers are disappointed with their play this season as they missed the postseason for a third straight year.

Evan Grant writes that, despite being in the worst division in history, it was the big guys who didn’t show up for Texas in the end.

ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle writes that Jacob Latz establishing himself as a contributing big leaguer can be taken as a silver lining for the Rangers in 2026.

And, Bob Nightengale notes that former Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has dropped out of the running for the top decision-making job with the erstwhile Oakland Athletics. Considering the level of talent they deployed in their 9-0 series finale loss to Houston, I can’t say I blame him.

Have a nice day!