New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen has cleared waivers after being placed on Thursday afternoon.
The 33-year-old appeared in the Devils’ first two games of the 2026-27 season, averaging 7:24 of ice time per game. He was recently removed from the lineup in favor of 27-year-old Jesper Boqvist.
Noesen, a first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, has recorded 83 goals and 175 points in 484 career NHL games. His 2025-26 campaign was limited to 38 games because of injury during which he registered three goals and seven points.
The winger enjoyed a career-best season in 2024-25 with New Jersey, scoring 22 goals and recording 41 points.
Noesen returned to New Jersey in July 2024, signing a three-year contract worth $8.25 million, carrying an average annual value of $2.75 million. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Throughout his NHL career, Noesen has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Devils. He also won the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League in 2022.
With Noesen clearing waivers, the organization announced they loaned him to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.
The Comets are scheduled to host their home opener Saturday night against the Rochester Americans at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Utica enters the matchup with a 1-0-0-0 record after defeating the Providence Bruins in its season opener on October 2.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Marcus Smith’s return from injury offers hope but Quins appear a fragile side beset by entrenched problems
Speak to anyone who holds Harlequins close to their heart and a word that often comes up is “fragility”. Fragile in defence against Gloucester last weekend but mentally fragile too. The scars of recent seasons are deep and the problems entrenched. A club that is famed for its swagger has, in short, lost its mojo and the more you pull back the curtain, the longer it appears it will take to return.
A caveat. It would be oh so very typical of Harlequins to swashbuckle their way past Sale Sharks on Sunday but in many ways, that feels like part of the problem. During pre-season Harlequins set themselves the target of following in the footsteps of Exeter, who finished ninth two seasons ago before reaching the final last June. As Marcus Smith pointed out, it was not so long ago that Quins were seventh in January with only two wins and champions five months later. But in the eyes of supporters, these former glories, these roadmaps out of their current malaise are doing little but masking the extent of the problems, offering but false hope.
It’s common knowledge that the Vancouver Canucks are taking this year to focus on development. That’s why some of the scores from their first five games of the season aren’t necessarily being received negatively. What has been noticeable, however, is the volume of penalties the Canucks have been taking since the start of the 2026–27 season.
In comparison to the rest of the NHL, Vancouver has taken a total of 20 minor penalties — 22 total penalties when including fights and misconducts. Only the Montréal Canadiens (21), Utah Mammoth (21), New York Rangers (21), Philadelphia Flyers (21), Ottawa Senators (22), and Carolina Hurricanes (25) have taken more minor penalties. They’re currently averaging 4.37 penalties taken per 60 minutes.
A closer look at the numbers shows that the Canucks have not taken less than three minor penalties in a single game to start the 2026–27 season. In their 9–7 loss to the Edmonton Oilers and their 3–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver took five penalties each game and played short-handed for 6:48 and 7:53 minutes respectively. Four of the 10 combined penalties they took in these two games were interference penalties.
Taking penalties feels pretty standard for so early in the season, and in looking at Vancouver’s previous season totals, the numbers aren’t actually that different. The Canucks actually played in more penalty-killing time last season (30:03) than they have this year (27:21). The issue this year is when, exactly, Vancouver has been taking these penalties.
In Vancouver’s first game of the 2026–27 season, a 6–5 overtime win against the Oilers, Linus Karlsson took a high-sticking call with around two minutes left in the third period and Edmonton down by only one goal. The Oilers ended up converting on the opportunity to send the game to overtime. Granted, the call on Karlsson was a little soft, and Vancouver went on to win — but the point still stands.
In their next game against the Oilers, during the third period, Vancouver’s offence heated up, cutting what was initially an 8–3 deficit down to 8–6. The Canucks’ sixth goal came on the power play, capping off a three-goal onslaught that massively swung momentum into Vancouver’s favour.
Less than a minute after Vancouver’s sixth goal, Marco Rossi took an interference penalty that put the Canucks on the penalty kill, taking away the advantage they’d managed to carve out with their possession time. Leon Draisaitl went on to score the Oilers’ ninth goal to put the game away.
Aside from Vancouver’s 4–1 win against the Calgary Flames, the pattern of taking penalties in untimely situations continues. Against Vegas, the Canucks ate into what could have been valuable O-zone time by taking back-to-back penalties after having their own power play in the first period. Given their opponents’ ability to hold onto the puck, establishing more possession time after their first power play could have made the difference in a win or a loss.
A similar situation occurred in Thursday’s 7–2 loss to the Hurricanes. Early in the first period, Vancouver earned an early power play three minutes into the game. Though, once their power play expired, Drew O’Connor took a tripping penalty that awarded the Hurricanes the advantage instead. After Andrei Svechnikov scored on that power play, as well as the penalty taken less than five minutes later, Vancouver found themselves in a 3–0 hole that they were never able to climb out of.
Taking penalties is a big part of the game. Oftentimes, the timeliness of them can be the difference between a win and a loss. For Vancouver, this is an issue they’ll want to sort out sooner, while they’re still in ‘rebuild mode’, rather than later.
Oct 8, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (50) skates with the puck past Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 25: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals bats against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nationals deployed a strategy of both buying and selling at the trade deadline this season, shipping off major league talents such as Curtis Mead, Luis Garcia Jr., and Foster Griffin, while also acquiring immediate big league help such as Connelly Early, Will Dion, and Yovanny Cruz. They didn’t quite buy in the sense some expected, holding onto almost all of their prospects except outfielder Christian Franklin, who was swapped for Orioles relief pitching prospect Joe Glassey, but they showed they would be somewhat aggressive in acquiring pieces that could help them win in the upcoming season.
So as the Nationals enter the winter and look to bolster their roster for a potential playoff push in 2027, the question looms of what current Nationals, either big leaguers or prospects, could be used as trade chips to strengthen the roster. Having taken over the organization about a year ago, there are still plenty of players in the system that Paul Toboni did not acquire, ones who he would be more willing to part with than the old regime would’ve been. Let’s examine some of those potential trade chips, and who Nats fans could expect to acquire if they were to be shipped off.
SS/2B CJ Abrams
I’ll begin by getting the big one out of the way, that being CJ Abrams. Abrams had a career year in 2026, setting new personal bests in just about all offensive categories, but he is also 2 years away from free agency, a defensive liability, and a middle infielder in a system with a plethora of middle infield talent on the way up. While in an ideal world Abrams could be a National long-term with a contract extension, it would be malpractice for Paul Toboni not to at least take calls from other teams about Abrams.
Now most fans would expect a CJ Abrams trade to be a signal of the Nationals selling, but does it have to be? Perhaps there is a world where a swap for a high-profile hitter or starting pitcher could be performed, bolstering the Nationals in another area while temporarily weakening them in another, at least until the likes of Seaver King, Eli Willits, and others can fill the gap.
2B Luke Dickerson
Luke Dickerson making it through the trade deadline as a National was somewhat of a surprise to me, as he was top of my list of prospects I expected the Nats to shop. Dickerson is a talented young ballplayer, putting up a strong 112 wRC+ in 118 games in 2026, but in a Nationals system filled to the brim with exciting middle infield talent, he’s an awkward fit. The Nationals have tried Dickerson all over the field, getting him plenty of outfield reps upon his call-up to High-A, but the best thing for both parties may be finding a new home for Dickerson and some more pitching depth for the Nats’ farm system.
1B/3B Yohandy Morales
Morales is another name I expect could be on a new ballclub by the start of 2026. Morales had a great year at Triple-A, with a 127 wRC+ in 104 games, and a solid cup of coffee at the big league level, with a 124 wRC+ in 17 games, but there are holes in his offensive profile that make me question his long-term viability as a big league bat, especially with the little defensive value he provides. The front office clearly had some questions as well, only finally giving YoYo a shot in the bigs in September despite some incredibly hot stretches at Triple-A during the year.
SS Coy James
James showed some exciting tools in 2026 at Low A, but similar to Dickerson, his fit in the Nationals farm system is awkward unless he were to be moved off the middle infield. The Nationals also not promoting James was somewhat interesting, although the logjam of infield talent at High A could also help explain that. James’ combination of power and speed makes him a more interesting trade chip than Dickerson and YoYo, with the chance of returning a quality big league reliever or backend starter if paired with another piece or two.
C Caleb Lomavita
Lomavita is another prospect brought in by the old regime that has simply been passed up in the Nationals farm system by other backstops, with Maxwell Romero Jr. earning the promotion to Triple-A over him midseason. Lomavita hasn’t posted bad numbers, with a 102 wRC+ in 85 games in 2026, but his free-swinging approach as well as subpar defense have led to him being passed up in the organizational depth chart. Lomavita may not bring in much value on his own, but could be used as a flier piece to help get a deal done.
Kessler has missed the Lakers’ first three preseason games after jamming his finger against the backboard during training camp, according to Lakers coach JJ Redick.
“It’s not concerning,” Redick said before the Lakers’ 114-110 exhibition win over the Kings on Thursday. “He’ll play in the preseason.”
Los Angeles Lakers player Walker Kessler (14) attends media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on Monday, September 28, 2026, in El Segundo, California. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Lakers have two exhibition games left. They play the Warriors on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Then they host the Nuggets on Friday at Crypto.com Arena.
Kessler only played in five games last season after suffering a torn labrum that required season-ending surgery. He’s an elite rebounder and rim protector who contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-2025, tying him for fifth most in the NBA, according to NBA.com.
While Kessler is yet to appear in purple and gold, Austin Reaves made his exhibition debut on Thursday. He finished with eight points, five rebounds, eight assists and one steal in 25 minutes. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 23 points in 25 minutes.
But we have yet to see the Lakers’ Big 3 take the court together.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Walker Kessler poses for pictures with NBA photographer Adam Pantozzi during media day in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
A handful of other players were sidelined for Thursday’s exhibition game, including Ziaire Williams (soreness), Arthur Kaluma (lower leg), Collin Sexton (lower leg), Cameron Carr (contusion) and Dalton Knecht (contusion).
“Would love to get some news on some people in the next few days and be able to see what we look like at full strength, at least in one of these games, and just build that rhythm with each other,” Redick said. “I’m very confident we’ll have enough practice time over the next 13 days, 12 days, whatever it is, until we start.”
The Lakers host the Warriors in their regular-season opener on October 21.
Sonya Curry married "the most amazing man" this summer, she shared in an Instagram post on Friday.
Sonya Curry married “the most amazing man” this summer, she shared in an Instagram post on Friday.
The author remarried five years after she filed for divorce from NBA great Dell Curry after three decades of marriage. They are parents to Warriors superstar Steph Curry, NBA sharpshooter Seth Curry and daughter Sydel Curry.
Sonya and her new husband, whose identity was not disclosed, were married at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort, she shared, adding that it was planned in just nine weeks.
“A year ago my mom passed unexpectedly, while simultaneously the most amazing man came into my life! & months late, I was blessed with becoming his wife!” Sonya wrote.
“Our union is a testament to the fact that God has seen every tear I’ve cried and answered every prayer that I had regarding the type of man that would be a perfect help mate for me (if God saw that it was in his will for me to remarry)! I hope this encourages you-not just about finding a husband or wife, but with any prayer you have submitted to God- to not lose hope.”
Sonya Curry attends the 2022 ESPYs at Dolby Theatre on July 20, 2022 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images
Sonya wore a white gown with gold floral print by Pnina Tornai from Kleinfeld Bridal and Iza diamonds.
Their wedding reception included warm white and neutral tones with white roses and candles — and roller skaters called Zoni Girls, who are part of the Arizona-based pop-up roller rink.
Last week, Sonya shared an Instagram video, entitled, “Summer 2026 recap,” which included footage from her wedding.
Sonya and Dell married in 1988, the same year Steph was born. The couple welcomed Seth in 1990, and daughter Sydel in 1994.
Warriors star Stephen Curry on stage with his mom Sonya and dad Dell while holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy after winning Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NBAE via Getty ImagesStephen Curry and Sonya Curry attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival “Stephen Curry: Underrated” Premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on January 23, 2023 in Park City, Utah. Getty Images
The pair met while they were student-athletes at Virginia Tech, and connected on a recruiting trip for Sonya, who was an all-conference volleyball player for the Hokies.
Dell played in the NBA from 1986 until 2002, and retired as the Charlotte Hornets’ all-time leader in points (9,839) and 3-point field goals made (929).
He currently serves as a color commentator and analyst on Hornets broadcasts.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Capital One Arena on March 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Less than 14 hours after a 111-109 win over the New York Knicks to open preseason play, the Wizards returned to CareFirst Arena for an early practice.
Alex Sarr, who missed Thursday’s game but is close to returning, is trending toward returning on Saturday, Brian Keefe said after Friday’s practice. Keefe said they’ll know more about Sarr’s official status tomorrow.
Khris Middleton (ramp up) is also nearing a return.
Keefe’s rotation
The Wizards’ rotation on Thursday uncovered some details. It’s reasonable to assume that, when healthy, Washington’s starting five will look as follows:
PG: Trae Young
SG: AJ Dybantsa
SF: Kyshawn George
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Alex Sarr
Deandre Ayton, Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly are the three locks to come off the bench, if those starters hold true. That leaves five players — Middleton, Bub Carrington, Justin Champagnie, Will Riley and Tre Mann — vying for the last two-to-three spots.
Keefe said nothing has been determined regarding his opening-night rotation.
“It’s still early in camp,” Keefe said. “We’re trying different combinations, seeing what works. Those [rotation] decisions haven’t been made yet.”
Carrington and Champagnie play well in opener
Both Carrington and Champagnie played well into the fourth quarter on Thursday. And they played well.
Carrington dropped Deuce McBride with a crossover into a step-back three — his second of the night. He finished with 11 points on 3-for-6 FG.
“Bub’s got the ability to make shots off the dribble and off the catch. He’s got a unique scoring ability from the three,” Keefe said. “He gave us a little bit of a burst when our offense was getting a little stagnant, which can happen early in preseason games.”
Champagnie did typical Champagnie things, particularly on defense. The 6-foot-6 forward paid homage to Jose Alvarado by stealing an inbounds pass and laying it up to quickly turn one basket into two. He added another steal when he jumped the passing lane before slamming it home in transition.
Champagnie’s best play of the night was when he came from the help side to meet James Wiseman at the rim before drilling a transition triple on the ensuing possession. He finished with 12 points (3-5 FG, 5-6 FT), two blocks and two steals.
“Justin can play with almost any lineup because of the intangible things that he does,” Keefe said. “You see the offensive rebounding. We all know the cutting and then the hustle plays he makes. He had that huge block at the rim on a help, which was great. Then he hits a three on the next possession … That’s what he does. He does winning stuff.”
Like the Brooklyn Nets, whose preseason tipped off on Tuesday, the Long Island Nets’ roster is filling up ahead of training camp later this month; and also like the big club, Long Island’s frontcourt includes something the organization values in its development: positional size
“I do think positional size is a factor we look at,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said at Media Day. “Sometimes size can make up for some other deficiencies.”
That “factor” has quietly become just as big on Long Island’s roster as it is on Brooklyn’s. As the team finalized things over the last couple of weeks, there was an obvious premium placed on size across the board and not just height.
Two-way players Grant Nelson, Chaney Johnson, and Tyler Bilodeau are examples, along with new Exhibit 10 pieces, Dain Dainja and Ben Humrichous, as well as G League signee Nick Pringle. Long Island also recently traded for Jonathan Pierre, a 6’9” 23-year-old forward, although he plays more of a wing role.
Each check in as big for their position and big in general. Pierre, Bilodeau and Humrichous are 6’9” wings while Dainja and Pringle are also 6’9” who also bring physicality, particularly Dainja who checks in at 255 pounds with a 7’7” wingspan. Johnson can and has played small ball center at 6’7”.
While the Nets still feature the youngest roster in the NBA this season along with the most players on rookie deals, Long Island is becoming its own pipeline to Barclays Center as the Nets have proved in the past several years. They regularly shuttle young players along the 22 miles from Barclays to Nassau Coliseum and back, taking advantage of G League rules permitting the three two-ways to be active for up to 50 NBA games and up to two roster players to get minutes with no restrictions. It’s not uncommon for players to get call-ups. Last season, 11 Nets split time between with the two venues.
What’s interesting beyond their size is that all of those names add something unique. Among Long Island’s front court chips this season, Brooklyn fans are most familiar with Johnson and Nelson. They’re also the most likely to see time in Brooklyn, maybe at some point getting converted to a standard deal.
Chaney Johnson
Johnson has already shown encouraging production against NBA competition. In 17 appearances with Brooklyn last year, after signing a two-way contract on December 26, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while posting a 63.5% true shooting rate. He also collected 33 offensive rebounds, accounting for roughly 42% of his total boards last season. That’s an interesting, valuable role for a scrappy player. There is always room in an NBA rotation, especially the Nets’, for efficient offensive rebounding.
After he posted nine points vs. the 76ers Thursday to go along with four rebounds, two blocks and two steals, Egor Demin, predicted he’ll ultimately get a standard deal…
Asked Egor Demin about Chaney Johnson last night:
“[Chaney] is the hardest working guy in the gym… He’s going to develop into a [standard] contract at some point. He’s going to be amazing. I'm glad to have him as a teammate. He does the work that not many people want to do on… https://t.co/cqYfD4yxNfpic.twitter.com/83jbQELEKi
“He worked really hard this summer, he had a very good summer league, and he’s also had a very good camp. You see his intensity and physicality, and it’s something that we need,“ said the head coach after Thursday’s game.
C.J. still has areas to clean up. He has room to grow as a shooter beyond the arc, as he shot just 30% from deep on 30 attempts last season while committing 51 fouls in around 348 total minutes. Johnson will always be an aggressive player, and that is one of his calling cards, but adding more discipline will make the transition Demin predicts more likely.
Grant Nelson
After going undrafted last year, in part because of a balky knee, Nelson wound up with an Exhibit 10 last year, averaging 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds in 19.3 minutes across 23 G League games. He also shot 54.9% from the field and 80.9% from the free-throw line. Overall, the Alabama product played in a limited role as he dealt with a patella tendinitis that had plagued him throughout his college career. Across 15 starts in the G League, though, he averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds per 36 minutes, adding even more intrigue. That came after a seven-week rehab program with LI’s player performance team.
Nelson’s strong showings in the G League earned him a 10-day contract with Brooklyn. Across four games on the deal, Nelson played 35 minutes, putting up 17 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. Shortly after the Nets didn’t renew him for a second 10-day contract, as expected, it was revealed that he suffered patellar tendinitis, commonly known as “jumper’s knee,” which ended his season. At Media Day, Nelson said that with the help of the Nets performance team, he’s completely healthy and in Brooklyn’s two preseason games, he’s impressed off the bench.
In Brooklyn’s preseason opener Tuesday night, he scored five points in six minutes, along with a rebound and an assist, while shooting 2-of-4 from the field and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. Then, Thursday, Jordi Fernandez doubled his minutes and he came away with eight points on 3-o-4 shooting, missing his only three, but getting to the line five times in eight minutes.
Ultimately, the 24-year-old is an interesting piece. The Nets were intrigued enough to give him a summer rehab plan and bring him back on a two-way deal.
Tyler Bilodeau
The new face on a two-way deal with Brooklyn this year is their second-round pick from June, Bilodeau. In the second round, teams often look for players who excel in a select area, and Bilodeau is just that when it comes to 3-point shooting. In his final year at UCLA, the 22-year-old averaged 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 51.8% and a Big Ten-leading 46.4% from three.
His biggest concern, though, is on the defensive end of the floor which is likely to be his development priority. However, his shooting ability is fascinating, and he has the potential to develop into a serviceable defender at 6’9” and 228 pounds and a wide frame. Developing in the G League instead of sitting on Brooklyn’s bench should be valuable and help him grow
While his missed his two attempts beyond the arc vs. Philly, the UCLA product grabbed five boards in 12 minutes, matching his point output.
Dain Dainja
Some of Brooklyn’s Exhibit 10 signees also have unique aspects to their game. Atop that list is Dainja. At 6’9” and 255 pounds with a crazy 7’7” wingspan, he’s physically imposing. Dainja spent the 2025-26 season with the Miami Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. In Sioux Falls, he put up 13.1 points on 62.3% shooting, 5.9 rebounds, and one block across 36 appearances. His scoring efficiency really sticks out, aside from his wingspan, and if he can develop into an offensive hub for Long Island while complementing the scoring with screening and defense, he could certainly make some noise this season.
Nick Pringle
Pringle is another physical option. The 24-year-old stands at 6’10” and 230 pounds after signing with the organization on an Exhibit 10, although unlike Dainja and Humrichous, his deal does not feature a training camp invite.
Across his six-year college career, including stops at Wofford College, Alabama, South Carolina, and Arkansas, he shot 64.9% from the field in 152 games while tallying 654 rebounds and 125 combined steals and blocks. He was also part of Alabama’s 2024 Final Four team, averaging 6.2 rebounds during the NCAA Tournament that year. Pringle also overlapped with Nelson in Tuscaloosa when the Crimson Tide got to the Final Four in 2024.
Ben Humrichous
Humrichous is a very different player, and like Bilodeau, he was a heavy 3-point shooter in college. At Illinois last season, he made 57 of 158 attempts from beyond the arc, for a 36.1% clip. Around 86% of his overall field goal attempts came from deep, which is ridiculously high. The biggest question with Humrichous, who is 6’9” and 224 pounds, is where he can contribute when his shot isn’t falling, or when opposing defenses eliminate him from 3.
Jonathan Pierre
Lastly and perhaps the most interesting front court adds, there’s Jonathan Pierre. The organization liked his potential enough to trade for his rights earlier this month. He is another player who fits the mold of “positional size,” at 6’9” and 210 pounds. Pierre took a very interesting journey to the G League. He began high school as a 5’10” guard before hitting a growth spurt up to 6’7” and entering college as a forward at Nova Southeastern, where he helped the program go undefeated and win a Division II National Championship.
After an excellent first season in DII, he transferred to Memphis before breaking out at Belmont during the 2024-25 season. At Belmont, he averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Belmont also listed him at his current height, 6’9”, after he was dubbed 6’7” earlier in his college career, suggesting Pierre grew further in college.
He ultimately went undrafted, although Jam Hines of No Ceilings NBA viewed him as a “definite” top-60 prospect for the 2025 draft class. Hines noted that Pierre ranked in the 87th percentile in scoring efficiency as a pick-and-roll ball handler while making 37.8% of his catch-and-shoot threes on 156 attempts. He was also 46.2% on three-point attempts as a screener, though on a 13-attempt sample.
Pierre’s first year in the G League was nothing extraordinary, as he averaged 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.9 minutes across 34 total games. Still, his upside is certainly enticing. The Belmont product is also still just 23, making him Long Island’s second-youngest player behind only Bilodeau, who is a second-round rookie.
————————————————-
All of front court adds have something to prove, and different goals to reach this season. It will take a while to figure things out. That process starts the end of the month when the team gathers for training camp, then Opening Night on November 6 in Greensboro, N.C., vs. the Swarm, the Hornets affiliate.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox reacts in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox and Yankees met in the postseason in consecutive years in the Wild Card round – both won by New York.
The clubs had not met in consecutive postseasons since their pair of classics in the 2003 and 2004 ALCS. My how things have changed since those incredible back-to-back October clashes.
The rivalry climaxed in those years. Despite the intrigue of another round of consecutive meetings in Oct… actually September, Boston and New York are in a far lesser realm of the rivalry, one where mediocrity limits its potential.
While the Bleacher Creatures have every right to give it to Red Sox Nation for back-to-back flight stamps to Cancun, the Yankees have done nothing with either momentum boost from defeating their rivals over the past two years. In the ALDS in each of the last two seasons, New York went out with a whimper at the hands of the American League East champions – the Blue Jays in 2025 and the Rays in 2026.
What happened to the era where the Red Sox and Yankees sent star after star into battle for marathons that defined generations? The truth is we’ll never be at the level of 2003 and 2004 between these teams again, but can we raise the standard just a little bit?
Both teams have a handful of big names that sometimes distract from flawed rosters that can otherwise barely qualify for the postseason and that’s about it. The Red Sox have averaged just 88 wins over the last two years. Dating back to the 2024 World Series, New York is just 2-10 in its last 12 playoff games against non-Boston clubs and have been eliminated at Yankee Stadium in four consecutive playoff exits since 2022.
Weren’t these the teams that spent the majority of the first quarter of the 21st century fighting for division titles? Weren’t these the teams that met in October 2018 each having won 100 games in the regular season?
The rivalry is calmer. The stakes are lower. The results fall short and it’s a sad state of a fierce rivalry that once defined the sport. These teams have lacked an all-in approach and frankly it’s starting to show in a major way – both against each other and in their own respective championship aspirations.
Heading into an offseason with uncertainty swirling around the sport as a whole, can the Red Sox and Yankees each take legitimate actions for a stern reestablishment as bonafide contenders?
Doubtful.
Red Sox brass in the end-of-season press conference appeared committed to the young core that’s taken strides in recent regular seasons before bowing out with remarkably disappointing showings in the playoffs. In the Bronx, retaining general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone seems likely, keeping the status quo for a Yankees team that has failed to get over the hump in the Aaron Judge era and still remains without a championship since 2009.
The Red Sox and Yankees will still pack stadiums and draw ratings whenever they meet, but this stage of the rivalry is a large, unquestionable disappointment. Here’s to that changing sooner rather than later…
SAN FRANCISCO – Day 12 of the Kristaps Porziņģis Watch passed Friday without a sighting from the Warriors. There is an update of sorts, as director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini made contract with the team’s projected starting center.
“Rick spoke with him (Thursday),” coach Steve Kerr said after a light practice.
Meanwhile, the Porziņģis conundrum continues to leave a considerable gap in the roster. During the best of times with Golden State last season, there were days when KP could fill the void and days when Kerr and his staff were forced to turn to an alternate plan.
Plan B was a concession then, and it’s only slightly better now that Plans C, D, E and F have been added to the roster.
When I asked Kerr if he knew how his big-man rotation would look, the coach acknowledged that with the regular-season opener 12 days away, it remains a work in progress.
“We haven’t figured it out,” he said.
There are five options. Plan B is veteran Al Horford, who won’t be available for back-to-back sets and hasn’t been for four years. Plan C is veteran Draymond Green, whose nights at center continue to exist despite a desire to minimize them. Plan D is Charles Bassey, who played five games after being added late last season. Plan E is rookie Graham Ike, holding a two-way contract. Plan F is promising rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who already looks like a utility man out of necessity.
“Both Graham and Charles were really impressive the other night, getting good reps in camp, and we’re going to need both of them during the year,” Kerr said. “And then if Kristaps isn’t here, the question would be: Do we start big with Al or Charles? Or do we start Draymond at the 5 and Yaxel at the four, maybe Gui (Santos at small forward) to give us some size and playmaking.”
At issue is Kerr’s commitment to bring the offense in line with the current NBA. He wants to play 5-out, meaning five perimeter-shooting threats that can be spaced around the 3-point arc. Porziņģis is one of the best 3-point shooters among centers in the league. He’s ideal, and his presence was a factor in Kerr’s decision to alter the offense.
Without KP, it’s an automatic downgrade. Horford’s 3-ball is solid, but at age 40 his minutes will be limited. Green’s 3-ball is solid from the corners, but opponents still sag on defense. Bassey is 3-of-13 from deep in 126 NBA games. Ike shot 34.8 percent in college but averaged less than one attempt from deep per game.
Lendeborg shot 36.4 percent on 286 attempts in his final three college seasons – but made significant improvements each year, from 33.3 percent to 35.7 to 37.2.
Despite being penciled in at forward, Yaxel’s size (6-foot-10, 241 pounds) and feel for the game might move him up from Plan F all the way to Plan B. Or at power forward to provide physical support for Green.
“With the fact that we have Yaxel now, you’d get a 6-10 guy next to (Green),” Kerr said. “If we go that route, it makes it a little more palatable. And if we pair them with Gui (6-foot-8), now all of a sudden, you got three good-sized guys at their positions, and it doesn’t feel as small as in the past couple years.
“But it’s not ideal.”
Any of those combinations would make it “definitely” harder to play a 5-out offense, Kerr conceded, adding that it would be too difficult to juggle offensive schemes based on personnel.
The upshot is that the offense designed around having a stretch 5 will remain in place despite the uncertainty of Porziņģis, who for spacing reasons might be the second-most important component behind Stephen Curry.
What the Warriors have, on paper, is an aging but high-quality squad.
What they’ll have beginning Oct. 21 won’t include Jimmy Butler III or Moses Moody, both expected to miss much, if not most, of the season as both recover from surgical knee repairs.
And it’s at least conceivable that it won’t include Porziņģis, whose “health issue” has not been clarified but has sidelined him for almost two weeks. Until he reemerges to join his teammates, the Warriors have no choice but to immerse themselves in alternate plans.
Beginning the regular season at 2-2 is not catastrophic for the Buffalo Sabres, but the club is showing some similar traits to teams of recent past that did not achieve success. Through four games, the Sabres have played spotty inconsistent hockey, have not received strong goaltending from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and have been woeful with the man advantage.
In the 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Buffalo was 0 for 3 on the power play, and so far this season, they are the only club in the NHL who does not have a goal with the man advantage (0 for 13). This is not shocking, because the Sabres have traditionally been weak on the power play, in spite of having top offensive performers in Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson.
Three years ago, Buffalo had a 16.6% effective rate on the power play (29th overall), two years ago, it was 18.8% (24th overall), and last season it was 19.5% (21st overall). In their first year under Lindy Ruff, the Sabres went 0 for 22 on the man advantage. This season, the group has started 0 for 13, and Ruff has already tinkered with the personnel on the first power play group, subbing in Noah Ostlund for Josh Doan, but they to this point have had no success.
"We obviously made some changes. We had a couple of great opportunities. I mean, our first power play wasn't any good. I'm not going to try to disguise that. Our second one, we had Benson all alone in front of the net, and you get a couple whacks. You got to put that in the back of the net. (Thompson) had one right in the slot that, normally, he finds a hole." Ruff said. "I think (we're) squeezing the sticks a little bit. We had some guys that abnormally didn't handle a puck very well, and that really hurt us."
Buffalo are 2-1 on their five-game homestand, and take on the offensively gifted Utah Mammoth on Saturday and the Florida Panthers on a Columbus Day matinee.
The star 76ers center has found himself in the middle of a maelstrom before the new NBA season even kicks off, with Knicks’ play-by-play announced Mike Breen reporting — and then walking back — that Embiid was chastised by LeBron James for being late to practice.
“Those type of things, I can’t understand,” Embiid told reporters after his preseason debut against the Nets on Thursday. “One, it is not true, but then again, it’s like, ‘Why me?’ … I guess I’m Joel Embiid. I’ve been in that situation. I don’t usually talk when it comes to those [rumors]. So, it feels like I’m an easy target.”
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during practice on October 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center. NBAE via Getty Images
Breen, on the broadcast of the Knicks-76ers preseason game on Monday, recounted a story he was told of the 2023 NBA MVP showing up a “couple of minutes late” to practice and that James “let him hear it.”
“I thought it would be an interesting anecdote to show LeBron’s leadership already on display in Philly,” the veteran broadcaster told ESPN. “For me, the fact that the teammate was Joel was meaningless. In hindsight, I should have realized the fact that it was Joel is what made it a story. I’ve always been a huge fan of Joel and feel awful that it put the focus on him the way that it did.”
Mike Breen and Ariel Hukporti #55 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk before the game against the New York Knicks on October 5, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
It should be a telling season for Embiid, an endless target of media and fan scrutiny for his play and health issues. He now has offseason additions James and Jaylen Brown with him on the Philly roster alongside emerging star Tyrese Maxey with heightened championship expectations.
The 32-year-old might have some big names to help shoulder the load, but may never fully escape the criticism.
“It sucks, but what can you do? It’s unfortunate,” he said of Breen’s ill-fated anecdote. “I don’t know where that came from. It never happened. … I think we just got to focus on ourselves. There’s going to be a lot of outside noise to pull us apart from what we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to accomplish. So, it’s important that we stay together and we keep our [head] down.”
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox had two chances to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time in more than a century.
Now they have one chance to avoid a frustrating end to a surprising season.
The White Sox are going to a winner-take-all finale in their AL Division Series against Cleveland after a pair of disappointing defeats. Their bullpen is staggering after a 9-5 loss, and their hitters struck out 31 times over the last two games.
Game 5 is back in Cleveland, with the winner advancing to the American League Championship Series against Tampa Bay.
“Of course it’s a little disappointing,” All-Star outfielder Tristan Peters said, “but if we keep thinking that way we’re going to take that into Saturday, and then it’s not going to end well. I’m just telling myself, and I think everybody else is, too, that we’re not done. This isn’t done.”
Chicago earned an AL wild card by going 84-78 this season. It became the first team in MLB history to reach the playoffs after losing 100-plus games each of the previous two years.
Then, with manager Will Venable making all the right moves, the White Sox swept AL West champion Houston in their Wild Card Series before winning the first two ALDS games in Cleveland. It was the first 4-0 postseason start in franchise history — and all four wins came on the road.
That gave the White Sox a great opportunity to wrap up a postseason series at home for the first time since the 1906 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. But they flopped.
“Certainly, that’s something that we wanted to give our fans,” Venable said. “I think we just want to win this series however possible, and wherever that is, we’ll take it.”
Venable has leaned heavily on his bullpen out of necessity. But it looks as though that’s catching up to Chicago.
Erick Fedde heard chants of “Fed-de! Fed-de!” from the crowd of 39,920 after he replaced opener Hagen Smith in the first inning of Game 4 and pitched shutout ball into the fifth. But he was pulled after pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey launched a leadoff homer and Steven Kwan singled with one out.
Jordan Hicks came in and allowed a two-run homer to José Ramírez that gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead. Anthony Kay got one out in the sixth and was charged with two runs, and Grant Taylor yielded four runs and four hits without retiring any of the six batters he faced.
“They’re making really good swing decisions,” Venable said. “They’re making contact. We talked about how good a job they do of doing that. When you walk guys, they make you pay.”
Taylor, Kay, Smith and Bryan Hudson have pitched in three of the four games in the series. The 24-year-old Taylor tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings over the first two games of the ALDS.
“I don’t think it plays any role that I’ve thrown more this series,” Taylor said. “It truly was just execution. I walked two guys, and they put the ball in play.”
Taylor threw 18 pitches, eight for strikes. He promised he would be ready for Game 5 if needed.
“I’m going to be available for anything,” he said. “If they want me to go nine, then go for it. I’m going to do everything in the next couple days to be ready to go.”
Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward (84) gestures from the field during a Major League Baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 2026. (Photo by Peter Zhan/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
As you might have noticed, the two division series in the National League ended Wednesday night. The 103 win Milwaukee Brewers and the 100 win Los Angeles Dodgers — the two teams with the best records in MLB, and the top two seeds in the National League — each finished off their opponents in four games. So much for the “you don’t want a bye because you get rusty” theory.
The Dodgers are trying to make it to the World Series for the third year in a row. The Brewers are trying to make it to the World Series for the second time in their history.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is no doubt that Donovan Mitchell is amongst the handful of the NBA’s best players. He can score in waves, at all three levels, and put the team on his back when it matters most. His superstardom is what drives the Cleveland Cavaliers’ relentless organizational pursuit of a championship. They have pushed all of their chips in, a few times over now, to put themselves in the best possible position to win right now.
We know Mitchell, assuming he remains healthy, will be a dominant force in the regular season. His four years in the Wine and Gold have been superb, with four trips to the All-Star Game and three All-NBA nominations.
But as great as he is, there is one more evolution for Mitchell — to be the best player on a championship team.
It may not have felt like it last season, but the Cavs were four wins away from the NBA Finals. They blew Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in historic fashion, a blame that Mitchell puts on himself. A better version of Mitchell doesn’t allow Cleveland to wither on the vine the way they did. The long and short of Mitchell this upcoming season is how he plays in the postseason, on the biggest stage, against the greatest stars — and he will have the opportunity to showcase it.
Mitchell will get a full season next to James Harden, who takes the pressure off in a way that Darius Garland never really did. Harden’s impact on Jarrett Allen has already been discussed, but his ability to take pressure off of Mitchell as a scorer and facilitator should be better than it was last year. That relationship goes both ways, as Mitchell’s ability as a passer is paramount to making the Cavs’ offense as lethal as possible. There are plenty of shooters around him, and therefore assists abound.
No matter what, Mitchell will get his stats. He averaged 27.9 points per game last season on 48.3% shooting, while hitting 36.4% of his threes. His efficiency as a member of the Cavaliers has always been solid, and that should continue even in his age-30 season.
The elephant in the room is the playoff performances, and that goes for the Cavs as a whole. Mitchell’s numbers take a hit when the lights are the brightest, particularly his shooting efficiency and turnover rate. There is a passivity to his game that escapes onto the court, something that has perplexed the fan base.
Going back to that collapse in Game 1 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, Mitchell only attempted six shots in the fourth quarter and overtime — making just one of them. That made shot came with over eight minutes left in the final frame.
There should be plenty of confidence that Mitchell will have a great regular season, an All-Star caliber effort that reminds people why he is one of the league’s best. But his judgment will be made in the playoffs, for better or worse. That is what comes with being a great player, and it is up to Mitchell to change the narrative of not only himself, but this franchise as a whole.
