Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Joe Ryan, Ketel Marte among players Red Sox should target in trades

Joe Ryan, Ketel Marte among players Red Sox should target in trades originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox ended their three-year postseason drought in 2025, but they must continue bolstering their roster if they hope to be taken seriously as a World Series contender. To do so, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should explore more major trades this winter.

Boston already made a significant splash by acquiring veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. It also added organizational depth by trading for infielder Tristan Gray and catcher Ronny Hernandez.

There are still moves to be made as we gear up for this weekend’s Winter Meetings. Regardless of your thoughts on a 36-year-old Sonny Gray at this stage of his career, the Red Sox could use another frontline starting pitcher. They also need a slugger or two, plus a second baseman to stabilize what continues to be a revolving door of a position for the club.

Fortunately for Boston, there are a handful of intriguing names who reportedly could be had for the right price. Here are five trade targets the Red Sox should inquire about this winter:

Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins

We’ll start with the obvious. Joe Ryan is the name constantly connected to the Red Sox in trade rumors, and it’s easy to understand why.

The Red Sox reportedly pursued Ryan at the 2025 trade deadline but couldn’t get the Minnesota Twins to bite on an offer. Now would be a good time to revisit those trade talks with Minnesota potentially undergoing a rebuild.

Ryan, 29, has been rock-solid since his 2021 rookie campaign and reached a new level in 2025. The right-hander posted a career-best 3.42 ERA with a 1.035 WHIP, 194 strikeouts, and 39 walks through 171 innings (31 games) in his first All-Star season.

Under team control through 2027, adding Ryan would require a hefty trade package. That shouldn’t dissuade Breslow from aggressively pursuing an arm that would immediately earn the No. 2 spot in the rotation.

Cole Ragans, LHP, Kansas City Royals

The Royals are reportedly open to trading their left-handed ace for outfield help this winter. If they’d take Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu plus prospects, it’s a deal Breslow should strongly consider making.

Ragans was an All-Star in 2024, when he finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting. The soon-to-be 28-year-old amassed a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP that season with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 32 starts.

Injuries plagued Ragans in 2025, limiting him to only 13 starts. Don’t let the 4.67 ERA fool you, however. He posted a 2.50 FIP with 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings, so the Cy Young-caliber stuff was still there.

Like Ryan, Ragans fits the mold as a true No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet. He’s under team control through 2028.

Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

Looking for a more affordable starting pitcher on the trade market? Perhaps Peralta is more your style.

Peralta, 29, has been the subject of trade rumors as he enters his contract year with Milwaukee. A trusted arm in the Brewers’ rotation since 2018, the right-hander is coming off his best season. He finished 2025 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.075 WHIP with 204 strikeouts and 66 walks in 33 starts (176.2 innings). He earned his second All-Star nod and was fifth in the National League Cy Young race.

Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Red Sox need a reliable everyday second baseman. Six players spent time at the position in 2025, which is actually an improvement from the 11 who played second in 2024.

The Diamondbacks appear open to trading Marte for young pitching, and that should pique Boston’s interest. The 32-year-old has been among the game’s best hitters for the last three years, including two of his three All-Star seasons in 2024 and 2025. Last year, he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 homers and 72 RBI.

The D’backs signed Marte to a team-friendly six-year, $116.5 million contract last April, so it’d take a haul to acquire him. He’s worth a look if Arizona actively pursues a deal, though someone like free agent Jorge Polanco would be a more realistic option to fill the second base void.

Brendan Donovan, IF/OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Although Donovan wouldn’t be as sexy an addition as Marte, the super utility man would be a major upgrade at second base. He’d also be capable of filling in at any other infield position and both corner outfield spots.

Donovan, who turns 29 next month, has been a model of consistency for St. Louis since entering the league in 2022. You can expect 10 to 15 home runs with an OPS in the high 700s to go along with his rock-solid defense at the aforementioned positions.

Donovan is under team control through 2027. There’s a strong chance the Cardinals deal him as ex-Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom continues to retool the roster, so Breslow should inquire about making his second big trade with St. Louis this offseason.

Posted on

Giannis Antetokounmpo discussing future with Bucks amid trade rumors: Report

Giannis Antetokounmpo discussing future with Bucks amid trade rumors: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

One of the NBA’s biggest superstars soon might hit the trade market. Again?

Almost one year since the Dallas Mavericks stunned the basketball world by trading superstar guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, a player of a similar magnitude, if you can believe it, soon could be on the move.

Nine-time All-Star and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, will discuss with the Bucks the superstar forward’s future with the team — and whether his best fit is with Milwaukee or elsewhere — with a resolution expected in the coming weeks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.

This news comes after Antetokounmpo appeared to remove Bucks-related posts and mentions from his Instagram account, which fueled trade speculation.

Antetokounmpo has been at the center of trade speculation for years, and each time that he appears disgruntled with the current state of the Bucks, he and the team always seem to work it out.

However, the Bucks (9-13), on the heels of another tumultuous summer filled with Giannis trade speculation, have struggled to begin the 2025-26 NBA season. That could lead to Antetokounmpo requesting a trade out of Milwaukee, something ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported already happened in the offseason.

“The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis,” Windhorst said in a recent appearance on 850 ESPN Cleveland. “Because Giannis said, ‘I want to be a Knick.’ People are like, ‘Oh my god, he deleted a photo from May that had a Bucks logo in it. Guys, he asked to be traded already!'”

Charania reported back in October that New York was the only team Antetokounmpo would consider outside of Milwaukee, and if he were to become available on the trade market, the Knicks certainly would be viewed as the favorites to land him.

However, the Warriors, for years, reportedly have dreamed of pairing Antetokounmpo with superstar Steph Curry. As Charania reported this summer, Golden State was one of multiple teams that checked in with the Bucks on Antetokounmpo’s availability.

Golden State has been aggressive in its attempt to maximize Curry’s remaining years, as evidenced by the blockbuster deal for Jimmy Butler last February and the multiple reported inquiries about a LeBron James trade. While trading for Antetokounmpo could be difficult for multiple reasons, it would not be surprising if general manager Mike Dunleavy attempted to pull off a deal of this magnitude.

Posted on

Giannis Antetokounmpo discussing future with Bucks amid trade rumors: Report

Giannis Antetokounmpo discussing future with Bucks amid trade rumors: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

One of the NBA’s biggest superstars soon might hit the trade market. Again?

Almost one year since the Dallas Mavericks stunned the basketball world by trading superstar guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, a player of a similar magnitude, if you can believe it, soon could be on the move.

Nine-time All-Star and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, will discuss with the Bucks the superstar forward’s future with the team — and whether his best fit is with Milwaukee or elsewhere — with a resolution expected in the coming weeks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.

This news comes after Antetokounmpo appeared to remove Bucks-related posts and mentions from his Instagram account, which fueled trade speculation.

Antetokounmpo has been at the center of trade speculation for years, and each time that he appears disgruntled with the current state of the Bucks, he and the team always seem to work it out.

However, the Bucks (9-13), on the heels of another tumultuous summer filled with Giannis trade speculation, have struggled to begin the 2025-26 NBA season. That could lead to Antetokounmpo requesting a trade out of Milwaukee, something ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported already happened in the offseason.

“The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis,” Windhorst said in a recent appearance on 850 ESPN Cleveland. “Because Giannis said, ‘I want to be a Knick.’ People are like, ‘Oh my god, he deleted a photo from May that had a Bucks logo in it. Guys, he asked to be traded already!'”

Charania reported back in October that New York was the only team Antetokounmpo would consider outside of Milwaukee, and if he were to become available on the trade market, the Knicks certainly would be viewed as the favorites to land him.

However, the Warriors, for years, reportedly have dreamed of pairing Antetokounmpo with superstar Steph Curry. As Charania reported this summer, Golden State was one of multiple teams that checked in with the Bucks on Antetokounmpo’s availability.

Golden State has been aggressive in its attempt to maximize Curry’s remaining years, as evidenced by the blockbuster deal for Jimmy Butler last February and the multiple reported inquiries about a LeBron James trade. While trading for Antetokounmpo could be difficult for multiple reasons, it would not be surprising if general manager Mike Dunleavy attempted to pull off a deal of this magnitude.

Posted on

Warriors have glut of guard depth with Seth Curry, De'Anthony Melton now in fold

Warriors have glut of guard depth with Seth Curry, De'Anthony Melton now in fold originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Confusion rang across the Chase Center press conference room at Warriors Media Day when Pat Spencer nonchalantly walked to the podium and sat down in his No. 61 jersey with a black short-sleeve undershirt. 

Why? Because he wasn’t even officially on the roster at the moment. Spencer’s odd arrival felt like a comical breath of fresh air from what was a Warriors offseason that felt mostly bizarre. The Warriors announced shortly after that they had re-signed Spencer to a two-way contract. 

Spencer proved the previous two seasons that he’s a step above the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. The Warriors converted his two-way contract to a standard contract at the end of last season for the playoffs, and then he waited all offseason without ever putting pen to paper. 

He finally did on Sept. 29, but Spencer again didn’t begin the season on the Warriors’ 15-man roster. 

“Pat’s an NBA player,” Steve Kerr said Tuesday night after the Warriors’ 124-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “He belongs on our roster full-time.” 

Without a doubt, Spencer agrees, but he won’t allow his situation to be a distraction. 

“Yeah, it’s tough,” Spencer said later the same night. “Just compete every night, I’ll let them handle that. That’s something I and the front office will have conversations about. I can only control the day-to-day right now. Ultimately, I feel like I’ve shown I can play at this level at a really high level and impact winning. 

“I’ll let them make that decision when the time comes. But yeah, we will have to monitor it and figure that out.” 

As the Warriors almost pulled off an incredibly impressive comeback against the now 21-1 defending champion Thunder on Tuesday night, Spencer was the key to their ignition. Spencer tied his career high of 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, with 15 of them coming in the second half. The point guard pushed the Warriors into hyperdrive in the third quarter, when they went from scoring 44 points in the first half to matching that total over the next 12 minutes. 

Spencer scored nine points in that third-quarter barrage, leading all Warriors. He dropped another six in the fourth, too. Like your town’s local pickup hero, Spencer was playing his own personal game of H-O-R-S-E against the best defense in the NBA. Spencer’s 3-pointer in the third quarter brought the Warriors within one point and each of his last three made shots in the fourth took them from down one to up one. 

The last of those buckets was a ridiculous turnaround out of the post over 7-footer Chet Holmgren.

“Oh, night and day,” Spencer said of his progression as a shooter this season compared to last. 

Kerr admitted he’d love to get Spencer more minutes. But it also won’t be surprising if Spencer is inactive in the near future, maybe even as soon as Thursday in Philadelphia. Spencer can only be active for 50 games, and he’s almost already halfway there, having been active for all 22 Warriors games this season.

There are other factors at hand here. De’Anthony Melton will make his season debut Thursday after recovering from ACL surgery. He last played on Nov. 12, 2024, in a Warriors win against the Dallas Mavericks. Plus, Spencer wasn’t the only role player to make a huge impact on the Warriors’ comeback efforts Tuesday night.

While Steph Curry watched from a Chase Center suite as he remains out with a quad contusion, his younger brother, Seth, made his Warriors debut. And he didn’t miss a beat. 

“It felt normal. It felt natural,” Curry said after playing his first NBA game since April. 

Curry’s shot-making DNA shined from the get-go, scoring 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench. That’s something the Warriors have been missing the previous six weeks, and something Kerr will have to keep utilizing. His superstar older brother will not join the Warriors on their upcoming three-game road trip, with the hope that he can play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 12 at Chase Center. 

Between the additions of Seth Curry and Melton, Spencer continuing to prove he deserves to be on an NBA roster and Steph Curry expected to return in a week’s-plus time, Kerr is about to have a glut of guards to pick from. 

Along with those already mentioned, the Warriors’ guard options also include Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II and rookie Will Richard. Spencer, in technical terms, is the odd man out. But even with so many others in his way, the Warriors need everything Spencer brings — now and later in the season. When he wasn’t making shots on OKC, he was keeping the offense churning against a historic defense. 

History has shown Kerr will play three and sometimes even four guards together. Payton is a power forward in a point guard’s body. Moody can play both forward positions, while Richard and Hield can both slide up to the three if needed.

Depth or a logjam? A problem or a luxury? The answer might be somewhere in between. 

Just two months from the Feb. 5 trade deadline, Golden State already is starting to get more help. With that, though, Kerr has tough decisions to make that will have some Warriors seeing themselves fall down the pecking order depending on performances and matchups.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

'Wallstedt Really Is That Dude, Isn't He': Wild Fans, Media React To Rookie's Historic Play

Minnesota Wild rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt has been unbelievable this season.

In 10 games, the Swedish netminder has eight wins and four shutouts, with his latest coming on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

With an 8-0-2 record, he became the sixth rookie in NHL history with a 10-game season-opening point streak and first since Los Angeles Kings netminder Robb Stauber in 1992.

Wallstedt also became the first goaltender in more than 61 years with five shutouts at the time of his 10th career win.

With all these incredible records and a red-hot start to this campaign, fans and media around the league are taking notice of the 'Great Wall of St. Paul.'

"Wallstedt is Rookie of the year and it is not even becoming close," @JohnTravis16325 posted on X.

"He's gotta be on team Sweden in Milan, right????  Right????" @HeH8Me_ wrote.

"How long do we wait before the word 'Vezina' is mentioned?" @BruceBurniece posted.

The fans of Minnesota, and hockey fans in general, are well aware that the Oilers, the squad Wallstedt just blanked, passed on him in the 2021 draft. They traded their 20th overall pick to Minnesota in exchange for the 22nd and 90th selections.

"The Oilers passing on Jesper Wallstedt Is the most baffling thing I've ever seen an NHL team do on draft day. It was meant to be and instead they traded down. I was at an Oiler watch party and people went nuts. Sometimes the fans know what's right. Oilers fans aren't dumb," @Pete___Hughes wrote.

"Wild never felt in any danger of losing a game against McDavid and the oil. While only having a 1 goal lead almost all night. That's how unreal Wallstedt is playing. Thank for the trade EDM," @cdwild27 posted.

"THE GREAT WALL OF ST. PAUL SHUTS OUT THE TEAM THAT TRADED AWAY THE PICK THEY COULD’VE USED TO DRAFT HIM! DIDN’T WANT HIM AND NOW THEY WISH THEY HAD HIM," @B_Marsh92 posted on X.

A Historic Start: Wild's Jesper Wallstedt Joins Nearly Century-Old Company With Record Rookie SurgeA Historic Start: Wild's Jesper Wallstedt Joins Nearly Century-Old Company With Record Rookie SurgeRookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt shatters NHL records with a historic shutout surge, dominating rookie leaderboards and rewriting goaltending history.

On the other hand, the entire hockey community was drooling over Wallstedt’s performance against Edmonton and in awe of his numbers so far this season.

"Four shutouts in last 6 starts? You s----in’ me, Wallstedt?!?" @RearAdBsBlog said on X.

"Wallstedt really is that dude isn’t he," @alexismirjana posted.

"You know how after one season, we already declared Kirill Kaprizov the best player in (Wild) history? I think by the end of this season, we will consider Jesper Wallstedt to already be the best goalie in (Wild) history," @BrandonMileski posted on X.

"Jesper Wallstedt's last 6 starts have resulted in 10.5 percent of the total shutouts in the NHL so far this season lol," @DimFilipovic wrote.

Wallstedt received rookie of the month honors for November, beating out Anaheim Ducks right winger Beckett Sennecke, who had 14 points in 15 games during the month, and New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who had 11 points.

If he keeps up this strong performance, he could be a household name in the NHL in no time.

Image

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.

Posted on

Cummins conundrum is key as Australia try not to overthink tactics

Will the captain return? Will Nathan Lyon play? Who will open? Ashes hostilities are renewed and the hosts don’t need to ask too many questions

At last, at long last, an Ashes series is about to start. It feels that way, anyway, after so many months of lead-up, such an eternal blur of preview and prediction and preamble, were supposed to reach their end – only to find that the end was instead a momentary interruption, a hiccup, an indigestion-dream of a Test from Perth, a contest done in the span of 31 hours, leaving everyone to return to punditry and prognostication for a further 11 blasted and benighted days.

We are, for pity’s sake, in a discussion cycle about Ben Stokes correctly applying a bike helmet while not on a bike, or Steve Smith correctly applying eye-black stickers in his Tim Tebow tribute act, or the archaeologically uncovered fact that Australian teams have a good record at the Gabba. Like farmers waiting for the rains, we are praying for play to start to let us talk about something that has happened, rather than something that might. Even the day-night format means another wait, four more hours than would usually be the case before the balm of the first ball.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns emerge among top surprise teams to begin the 2025-26 NBA season

With most teams having played at least 20 games, the NBA season has reached its quarter mark, so it’s time to take stock of what we’re seeing.

Some of it, the continued dominance of the Thunder and Nuggets, and the struggles of the Nets and Wizards, was to be expected. However, there are a few teams that have really stood out with surprising starts to the 2025-26 NBA season. Some for better reasons than others.

Let’s look at some of the teams that have given us the biggest surprises at the start of the season.

Detroit Pistons

As the calendar flips to December, the Detroit Pistons are sitting with the second-best record in the entire NBA at 17-4. The fact that the Pistons are a good team isn’t surprising. They finished 44-38 last season and earned the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference before giving the New York Knicks all they could handle in a 4-2 first-round series loss. They came into the 2025-26 season with a core that included five key members who were 24 years old or younger and a collection of experienced veterans like Tobias Harris, Caris LeVert, and Duncan Robinson. Still, not many people saw them making this big a leap.

The Pistons are 5th in the NBA in net rating, with the 13th-ranked offense and the 2nd-ranked defense. Offensively, they’re 12th in the league in points per game but are a highly efficient offense that is 8th in field goal percentage and 2nd in rebounding. They don’t shoot particularly well from deep, ranking 2nd-to-last in made three-pointers per game, but they push the pace and rely on their physical defense. They’ve also been buoyed on offense by a big leap from center Jalen Duren, who is averaging 19.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game in 18 games this season. He has become a tremendous complement to Cade Cunningham, who has taken his game to a new level. The 24-year-old remains limited when shooting from beyond the arc, but is ninth in the NBA in scoring at 28.2 points per game, while also ranking 2nd in the league with 9.3 assists per game to go along with 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Both he and Duren rank inside the top 15 in Player Impact Estimate, among all starters, so while this hot start may be a surprise, it has all the makings of something real.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto had underachieved for a couple of seasons with this Island of Misfit Toys roster that never seemed to mesh, too many same-sized midrange players, and the addition of Brandon Ingram last season at the trade deadline just felt like more of the same. It wasn't. This is a team that plays pressing, aggressive defense and converts those opportunities in transition — no team starts more of its offense in transition than Toronto, at nearly 20%. Also, they are touching the paint — fifth in the league in points in the paint — and Ingram is leading a mid-range shot renaissance north of the border that is working. The Raptors are not reliant on the 3-pointer (they are in the bottom five in the league in percentage of points from beyond the arc). All of that gives them some stability. Toronto has been a great story early this season, and they are a team poised to take a big swing at the trade deadline if the right opportunity presents itself.

Miami Heat

The Heat headed into the season preparing for their first year since 2018 without Jimmy Butler running the show. With Tyler Herro also sidelined by offseason surgery, the team needed to switch up how they played if they had any shot of remaining successful. Well, all head coach Erik Spoelstra did was drastically reshape his offensive philosophy to essentially cut out any form of pick-and-roll and replace it with constant motion. The Heat play with the league’s fastest pace and run an offense based around a cut-and-replace style of constant motion. While they are 11th in offensive rating, they rank 2nd in the league in points per game, 2nd in drives per game, 3rd in assist rate, and attempt the most shots per game of any team in basketball. While they don’t shoot tons of threes, they rank 5th in three-point field goal rate, so this is an offense that can beat you in a number of ways. So far, that has propelled the Heat to a 14-7 record that puts them third in the Eastern Conference. With their new pace and style, they are proving to be a real challenge for anybody to figure out.

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant is out the door, Dillon Brooks comes in and picks up his scoring load — who had that on their 2025-26 NBA bingo card? Phoenix looked on paper like a team in transition from its failed “Big 3” era to whatever was coming next. Instead, credit coach Jordan Ott came in, and both got this team to play hard — something it did not do a season ago — and gave it an identity. Phoenix is a trapping, pressing defensive team now in the Oklahoma City/Toronto mold. Beyond that, Ott gave players space on offense to be themselves and step up, and not only is Brooks doing that (a career high 22.3 points per game for the defensive specialist), but players such as Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen are thriving. Plus, this team still has Devin Booker to fall back on. The Suns are building something real in the desert.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs were supposed to be an ascending team, but they weren’t necessarily supposed to have arrived already. Despite star Victor Wembanyama missing multiple weeks with a calf injury and point guard De’Aaron Fox starting the year late with an injury, head coach Mitch Johnson has the Spurs sitting at 14-6 and in fourth place in the Western Conference. When he’s been healthy, Wembanyama has been otherworldly, averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game in his 12 contests. However, the Spurs have really taken off because of the play of their guards. Fox has averaged 24.5 points, 6.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in his 12 games, and second-year combo guard Stephon Castle has had a mini breakout this year, posting 17.3 points, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in his 13 contests. With rookie Dylan Harper also acquitting himself well, the Spurs have three young guards who are able to push the pace and facilitate an efficient offense around their star center. What’s even more impressive is that none of those four players has played more than 13 games this season. If this team can get everybody healthy, they could make some noise in the playoffs.

New Orleans Pelicans

Blame injuries if you want, there have been plenty, although Zion Williamson being out for an extended period — this time with an adductor strain — can't be a surprise. Blame Willie Green if you want; the Pelicans used him as a scapegoat and fired him 12 games into the season (they should have fired him over the summer in that case). The fact of the matter is, New Orleans is a young, banged-up, and ill-fitting roster struggling without an identity, all of which has interim coach James Borrego thinking more long-term than short-term. “This is a process of learning, exploring, seeing what lineups, giving guys opportunities to grow, to lean into mistakes, to take risks, to fail, to succeed. That's all part of growth,” Borrego said. That all sounds good, except the Pelicans traded away the rights to their first-round pick next June to move up in last year’s draft and select Derik Queen (who shows real potential, but that doesn’t make the process good or the price fair).

New Orleans has come to a pivot point: Is it time to move on from Zion Williamson as the foundation of what they are building? How can the Pelicans build anything of substance without a stable foundation they can count on to just be on the court? That likely is a question for next offseason, but it may be time to explore the trade market, even if the return is not going to be near what they might hope.

Los Angeles Clippers

We started writing this even beforethe Clippers released future Hall of Famer Chris Paul at 2:40 a.m. on Wednesday, but that’s just par for the course in what has been a disaster of a season. The season began with the NBA launching an investigationinto whether Clippers owner Steve Ballmer used back-channel investments to give star wing Kawhi Leonard more money while circumventing the salary cap. Leonard then missed an extended period of time with an injury, veteran Bradley Beal was lost for the season with a hip injury, wing Derrick Jones Jr. was lost for a few weeks due to injury, and newly acquired John Collins struggled so much to fit into the offensive flow that the team has reportedly already begun looking to trade him.

After a big loss to the Heat on Monday, the Clippers now sit at 5-16 on the season. They rank 24th in net rating, with the 27th-ranked defense and 20th-ranked offense (mostly thanks to James Harden). They play at the third-slowest pace in the league, put up the second-fewest shots per game, and are 19th in field goal rate, 21st in made three-pointers per game, and 26th in rebounds. Everything about this team seems fractured and disjointed, and with one of the oldest rosters in the league and no first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, it’s hard to see where the Clippers go from here.

Posted on

Stephen Curry out at least three more games as he recovers from quad contusion

Stephen Curry is going to stay home when the Warriors head out on a three-game road trip, coach Steve Kerr said after the Warriors fell to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. Curry continues to recover from a bruised right quad, which has kept him out of the last two games (the Warriors are 1-1 in his absence).

"He's going to stay home. It was a long shot for him to play in the back-to-back and we don't play again until Friday," Kerr said, via Ana Thanawalla NBC Sports Bay Area. "So it just makes perfect sense for him to stay home with [director of sports medicine and performance] Rick [Celebrini], get the rehab done here, get his work in and hopefully be ready for Minnesota next Friday."

After the Warriors return home, they will be off until Friday, Dec. 12, giving Curry plenty of time to recover.

The status of Jimmy Butler for the upcoming road trip also is in question after he left Tuesday's game with knee soreness. Kerr said postgame he did not have an update on Butler and the team has yet to announce anything.

The 11-11 Warriors have a +0.4 net rating this season, but that falls to -1.8 when Curry is off the court and -10.8 when both Curry and Butler are on the bench.

Posted on

Draymond Green details ‘s–tty' feeling of road trip with child's birth nearing

Draymond Green details ‘s–tty' feeling of road trip with child's birth nearing originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green’s dominant presence on the Warriors has been an emotional engine, but the four-time NBA champion has learned how to compartmentalize while expecting his fifth child as the team sets out on a road trip.

Green was asked after the Warriors’ 124-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night at Chase Center about hitting the road as his wife, Hazel Renee, is expecting the birth of the couple’s next child together and shared his honest perspective.

“Sucks … pretty s—-y to be honest,” Green said. “But nonetheless, this is my job, and I love to do my job.”

One positive Warriors fans saw in last night’s loss to Oklahoma City was Green’s first-born son, Draymond Jr., standing courtside next to his dad during the game.

Green further detailed how he manages his work-life balance in the NBA.

“I haven’t seen my family much over the last month, really, so we try to cherish the moments we do get,” Green shared. “But yeah it’s fun, they keep me on my toes. That’s why they were here, and it’s just so much going on. I was happy that he was here.”

Renee, who is an actress and a recording artist, first alerted fans via Instagram on Sept. 3rd that the couple is expecting another child.

However, now in his 14th season with Golden State, this isn’t the first time Green has missed out on the parental experience.

“It’s terrible, to be honest; it’s not the first time I’ve been in this position, though,” Green added. “But my wife does a great job; she’s strong, I’ll do all I can and get back here if I need to. It’s been tough, just with our schedules.”

Having a strong family support system is an enormous pillar to utilize in achieving long-term athletic success, so with Green expecting his fifth child, could a fifth championship ring be on the horizon as well?

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Hart returns to NHL after nearly two years, receives warm welcome from home fans

LAS VEGAS — Some fans brought signs supporting Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart, and the Vegas crowd generally welcomed him from the moment he skated onto the ice.

Hart, one of five 2018 Canada world junior hockey players acquitted of sexual assault in July, made his first NHL appearance in nearly two years Tuesday night and received the loudest response during introductions before Vegas’ 4-3 shootout victory over Chicago. If there were any boos, they were difficult to hear.

Hart made 27 saves, including six in overtime.

“I think just skating out the first time onto the ice wearing a Golden Knights sweater is an amazing feeling,” Hart said. “It didn’t really sink in until the national anthem. Just looking around and that feeling you’re back playing.”

Hart then became emotional, wiping his right eye.

“Sorry,” he said. “Yeah, it’s been a really difficult journey to get back, one I wouldn’t have been able to do without my family and friends. I’m just so happy to be playing the game again.”

Hart was the first of those five Canada junior players to agree to an NHL contract. The league ruled those players were eligible to sign deals beginning Oct. 15 and to play starting Dec. 1. Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract and has been working with Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson, Nevada.

After he agreed to sign, Hart read a statement to reporters that, in part, said he wanted “to show the community my true character and who I am and what I’m about.”

Hart was asked Monday what steps he has taken to fulfill that pledge.

“There’s been a few things we’ve talked about,” Hart said. “We did a thing there in Henderson helping out the homeless. There’s some things we’ve talked about throughout the season. Whatever I can do to help, I’m happy to help.”

Giving Hart his first start at home could help ease him into what could be a rocky reception around the league. After facing the Blackhawks, Vegas goes on a five-game road trip against Eastern Conference teams, including a Dec. 11 stop at Hart’s former club, the Philadelphia Flyers.

“I think he just wants to go back to being a hockey player,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. ”Getting back on the ice and practicing, all that was step one of preparation for this moment. He’ll keep doing that for his next start. We’ve got Philly around the corner. I’m sure there will be a conversation about that down the road. We’ll deal with that next week when we get to it, but right now, he should just enjoy his night.”

Hart worked in Henderson on getting back into NHL game shape. He appeared in three games and went 1-2.

“I’ve worked my (butt) off to get back to this point,” Hart said Monday. “For me, the key is preparation and I’ve done everything I can to be prepared.”

Against the Blackhawks, Hart gave up a goal on the second shot he saw, a drive from Oliver Moore above the right circle. In the second period, Hart left his crease to try to clear the puck but instead sent the pass right to Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored for Chicago. Connor Bedard then beat Hart with pinpoint shot from the right circle for a 3-2 lead early in the third.

But when the Golden Knights absolutely needed saves, Hart delivered. He shut out the Blackhawks over the final 15:15 of regulation and was spectacular in overtime — particularly when teammate Shea Theodore broke his stick. Hart then stopped three of four attempts in the shootout to end Vegas’ seven-game losing streak in games that went to overtime.

His new teammates celebrated as if they had just won a Stanley Cup playoff game.

“Everybody here has been so great,” Hart said afterward. “They’ve been very welcoming. The organization’s been awesome, and I’m just grateful for everything and the opportunity here.”

The 27-year-old last played in an NHL game on Jan. 20, 2024, for Philadelphia. Hart played six seasons for the Flyers, going 96-93-29 with a .906 save percentage and 2.94 goals-against average.

The Golden Knights could use the help in net, especially with starting goalie Adin Hill on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and his return possibly weeks away. Akira Schmid has received the majority of the work with Hill out and is 9-2-4 with an .896 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA.

Vegas had lost four straight games before defeating San Jose 4-3 on Saturday night.

“I thought he was outstanding,” Theodore said about Hart. “He made a lot of huge saves, especially in the shootout. That’s what you need, and we’re all so happy for him.”

Posted on

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On Canadiens' Defensemen, Senators Still Shopping Around

It's no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are believed to be in the market for a top-six forward, preferably a second-line center.

Some observers suggest they could draw on their blueline depth for trade bait to address that issue.

The Canadiens have gone that route recently. Last year, they sent Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets for right winger Patrik Laine. In July, they shipped Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for right winger Zack Bolduc.

On Tuesday, RG. Org's Marco D'Amico reported the Canadiens could draw on their blueline depth if a high-end top-six forward became available. He also claimed that teams had inquired into the availability of Kaiden Guhle, who is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle. He's expected to return to the lineup in early January.

Injuries have dogged Guhle during his short NHL career. Nevertheless, D'Amico said the 23-year-old rearguard has drawn interest from some Western Conference teams over the past two off-seasons.

Despite Guhle's injury history, D'Amico claimed the Canadiens have no interest in trading the young defenseman. He's in the first season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million, and they value his mobility and physical defensive game.

If the Canadiens move a defenseman for a top-six forward, D'Amico speculated that it could be Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble or Adam Engstrom as their blueline depth improves. He didn't rule out Alexandre Carrier becoming a trade candidate once promising David Reinbacher is ready to join the Canadiens' lineup.

Given the Canadiens' recent trade history, it wouldn't be surprising if they peddle another blueliner to add a forward. However, a dire dearth of available talent in the trade market suggests the March 6 trade deadline might be their best opportunity to do so.

Montreal isn't the only Canadian team that's looking to add via trade at this early stage of the season.

President of hockey operations and GM Steve Staios speaks to the media prior to a Jan. 12 match at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The Ottawa Senators have reportedly been shopping around since mid-November. On Nov. 28, Senators beat writer Julian McKenzie of The Athletic took note of a report by TSN's Darren Dreger saying GM Steve Staios sought a defenseman and a forward.

Dreger felt that Staios didn't intend to go "big-game hunting" in the trade market. He also dismissed rumors suggesting that top prospect Carter Yakemchuk could become a trade chip.

"Not going to happen," according to Dreger.

Meanwhile, Postmedia reported the Senators attempted to move unsigned left winger Alex Formenton before the Dec. 1 signing deadline for RFAs but couldn't find any takers. The 26-year-old is now ineligible to play in the NHL this season.

Image

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.

Posted on

Brewers becoming more open to trading potential Mets target Freddy Peralta: report

If the Tigers aren't willing to trade Tarik Skubal this offseason, the Mets' best bet when looking to add an impact starting pitcher via trade this offseason could be calling the Brewers about right-hander Freddy Peralta.

And after waffling on the possibility of dealing Peralta, Milwaukee is considering "cracking the door open for trade discussions," reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who notes that interest in Peralta is "significant."

Peralta, 29, is set to make just $8 million this season in what is his final year before free agency. 

The cost-conscious Brewers have made a habit of trading their most valuable players in the final year or two of their deal.

They traded pending free agent Corbin Burnes during the 2023-24 offseason and pending free agent Devin Williams last offseason. At the 2022 trade deadline, the Brewers dealt Josh Hader to the Padres when he still had a year and change of team control remaining.

So Peralta getting moved this offseason would keep with the above philosophy.

For the Mets, Peralta would be a perfect fit atop a rotation that is expected to include Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson.

Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field.
Oct 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning of game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. / Michael McLoone - Imagn Images

It's unclear what the Brewers would want in exchange for Peralta, but it's fair to believe they would want at least one of New York's highly thought of young starters -- Brandon Sproat or Jonah Tong -- as part of a deal.

Peralta is coming off a phenomenal 2025 season, where he had a career-best 2.70 ERA in 176.2 innings. He posted a 1.07 WHIP, allowed just 124 hits, and struck out 204 batters -- a rate of 10.4 per nine.

Since transitioning in 2021 from mainly a relief option to the starting rotation, Peralta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. In 139 starts over the last five years, Peralta has a 3.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and has fanned 895 batters in 738.1 innings while allowing just 536 hits. He has also been reliable when it comes to taking the ball, tossing 165.2 innings or more reach of the last three seasons.

His ability to miss bats and limit hits is elite, as is his stuff. 

Peralta relies mainly on a four-seam fastball (which he threw 53 percent of the time this past season), a changeup, and a curve. He'll also mix in a slider.

In 2025, his pitching run value graded out in the 97th percentile, via Baseball Savant. And all of his individual pitches were tremendous -- the fastball was in the 84th percentile, the breaking balls were in the 88th percentile, and the changeup was in the 96th percentile. Looking at Peralta's advanced metrics, he was near the top of the league in xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, hard hit percentage, and extension.

If the Mets don't land Peralta, other possibilities on the trade market include Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez of the Twins, Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera of the Marlins, and MacKenzie Gore of the Nationals.

Posted on

Terence Crawford dethroned over $300k fee, handing Britain’s Sheeraz title shot

  • Crawford stripped of WBC belt in sanctioning-fee row

  • Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz to fight Mbilli for vacant title

  • Unpaid fees end brief reign as undisputed champion

Terence Crawford has been stripped of his World Boxing Council super-middleweight world title after a dispute over unpaid sanctioning fees, a decision that puts Britain’s Hamzah Sheeraz in line to fight for the vacant belt.

The WBC announced on Wednesday that it had removed the American star as its champion, three months after he shocked Canelo Álvarez in Las Vegas to become undisputed at 168lb. The organization said Crawford had not paid its required fees from that victory or from his previous bout in 2024, despite “multiple” attempts to contact him and his team.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Favourable 2027 Rugby World Cup draw provides few potholes for England | Robert Kitson

Signs are encouraging for an improving squad to invoke the glory of 2003 with rivals facing trickier routes in Australia

As the Ashes have reminded us, it never pays to get too excited in advance about winning in Australia. But once the draw for the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup had concluded and the various knockout permutations had been crunched there was a strong whiff of deja vu in the Sydney air. A World Cup in Australia and a decent draw for England? What could possibly go wrong?

The organisers had already stoked the narrative nicely by wheeling out Jonny Wilkinson in the promotional tournament video, essentially a mashup of Mad Max and Wacky Races roaring across a dusty outback. When every Australian wakes up on Thursday to discover it is 666 days until the 2027 edition kicks off, the nagging fear of nightmarish history repeating itself will further intensify.

Continue reading...