Collin Sexton is out for the Lakers in their season debut against the Warriors on Wednesday. Sexton, who missed all five preseason games because of a right soleus strain, appeared in his first full practice on Monday and was considered day-to-day before being ruled out.
The Lakers will also be without rookie guard Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and second-year forward Adou Thiero (left knee effusion), both of whom were ruled out Tuesday.
Collin Sexton is out for the Lakers in their season debut against the Warriors. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLos Angeles Lakers player Collin Sexton (10) poses during media day at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sexton appeared to be trending in the right direction and said he “felt good” after Monday’s practice, but he added that his leg had been experiencing tightness.
Sexton, who signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Lakers this offseason, has career averages of 18.3 points on 47.2% shooting (38.9% from beyond the arc), 2.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game over his eight seasons in the league with the Cavaliers, Jazz, Hornets and Bulls.
The Lakers host the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena at 7 p.m. PST.
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after striking out during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Shohei Ohtani was a diminished version of himself over the final two months of the Dodgers season and postseason, dealing with injuries to his left knee and right biceps. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday that surgery won’t be necessary for Ohtani this offseason for either injury.
“[Surgery] is not on the table. He got assessed, and had a lot of stuff going on,” Friedman told reporters at an end-of season press conference on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, as shown on SportsNet LA. “Knee was bothering him off and on, and it was a little bit of an unfortunate game of whack-a-mole. The knee got to a better spot, and then the bicep area was bothering him. Just a number of different things, some that would calm down for some period, some that would get re-irritated. It was a lot of things to try to contend with at once.”
Ohtani homered in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, snapping a stretch of 155 plate appearances without a home run, dating back to August 18. In eight postseason games, Ohtani had five hits in 26 at-bats with four walks, that home run, a hit by pitch, and a stolen base, hitting .192/.323/.308 with 10 strikeouts.
“It’s hard to tell at this point,” Ohtani said after Game 4 of the NLCS, through interpreter Will Ireton, when asked about potential surgery in the offseason. “It’s something that’s going to be analyzed and discussed over the offseason and see if that’s a viable thing to do.”
Through August 18, when Ohtani hit his last regular season home run, Ohtani was hitting .294/.390/.558 with a 153 wRC+ and 30 home runs, at that time leading the National League in OPS and slugging percentage, and second in on-base percentage and wRC+. Afterward, Ohtani hit .167/.298/.240 with just the one home run in his last 26 games, including the postseason.
“The injury started in early July. Through mid-August he was still, I think, the consensus MVP,” Friedman said. “Us continuing to put our heads together and understand where things are at at any given time, I think will increase our chances of him doing what is completely unprecedented, and the toll that it takes for him to be able to do it, impact our team in the regular season to accomplish our regular season goal, and then be in a good position going into October. Exactly what that looks like, we don’t know right now.”
Even though Ohtani didn’t pitch after July 3, and even with his missing 17 games in September, Ohtani still batted 618 times and faced 340 batters as a pitcher. His 958 total plate appearances in which he was directly involved were still most in the major leagues, 7.2 percent more than Marlins ace pitcher Sandy Alcantara, whose 894 batters faced were most among pitchers.
Ohtani said he plans to pitch again in 2027. Friedman reiterated that on Wednesday, and said he expected Ohtani to be ready for the start of spring training. Ohtani in his 14 starts had a 1.79 ERA and 2.73 xERA with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 85 2/3 innings, and lasted at least six innings in 13 of his 14 starts.
“This is unprecedented what he’s doing,” Friedman said. “I’m not only expecting him to pitch, we’re excited about him pitching. So now it’s about, how do we do that? How do we manage though a long season and have him at his best going into October. That’s a challenge, and we’ve got to figure it out together.”
The team has talked previously about how to manage Ohtani’s workload, but whether that means building in more rest days throughout the season remains to be seen.
“We’re going to have to be very deliberate about it on all sides, because the value is incredible,” Friedman said Wednesday. “Therefore it’s incumbent upon all of us to figure out the best way to do it.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Ramón Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Petco Park on May 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres made a trade in 2025 to acquire outfielder Ramón Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles. 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn was also acquired in the trade, but he was a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.
Laureano had a second year on his contract after the Padres exercised the option for 2026. He received $6.5 million for the season but was on the injured list from June 2 through the remainder of the season.
Laureano had been playing for several seasons with a partially torn labrum in his right hip but the injury worsened and surgery was required. The recovery is typically 4-5 months and took the outfielder out of the Padres plans for the remainder of the season.
President of baseball operations A.J. Preller joined manager Craig Stammen for the year-end press interviews on Oct. 14. Preller updated Laureano’s status, detailing his rehab progress and stating that he had received daily text messages from Laureano with updates on his status during the postseason. He had committed to being ready if the Padres made it to the championship round and had been working diligently in Arizona to make that happen.
Should Preller re-sign Laureano
The diminutive outfielder (5-foot-9, 203 pounds) is 32 years old and made his debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2018. Over the nine seasons since his debut, Laureano has played for the A’s, the Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves and signed with Baltimore prior to the 2025 season.
After being traded to the Padres, Laureano went on a power surge and ended up hitting 24 home runs with 76 RBI. That success prompted the Padres to pick up the option on his contract for the 2026 season.
Prior to his trip to the injured list, Laureano did not have a good start to the season. He admitted after his injury was revealed that he had been dealing with it for years and should have had it taken care of sooner.
In the 53 games played before his exit, Laureano hit .203 with a .660 OPS. His career batting average is .250 with a .760 OPS. He has a 111 OPS+ for his nine seasons as a major league player.
With many players reaching free agency this offseason and the pending labor disruption, the Padres could benefit from offering Laureano a prove-it contract before Dec. 1.
Ramón Laureano wanted to play in the postseason
After he worked through his rehab under Padres medical staff, they are uniquely qualified to determine his outlook for next season. If he was a candidate to join the roster for the playoffs then he should be fully healthy for next season.
The best that Laureano can hope for after missing most of 2026 is a “prove-it” contract. Should he choose to test the market he would likely only be offered minor league deals with other teams.
A bargain option
A prove-it deal would guarantee a Spring Training inclusion and an opportunity to win the left field job. The other players on the roster that would be competing for that job would be Samad Taylor and Dustin Harris. The player brought up to replace him when he was placed on the IL was Jase Bowen. Bowen is a valuable defensive replacement and pinch runner but hit .146 with a .438 OPS in 96 at-bats. Taylor and Harris are under contracts and the only other outfielder, Austin Hays, is a free agent.
Looking at his performance numbers and injury history, it seems reasonable that Laureano would sign for $1-3 million guaranteed with performance incentives. Any other team would require health verification and would likely not guarantee him anything. As a returning player for 2027, the Padres should be able to work with the outfielder and secure a slightly better-than-league-average player for minimal cost.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 18: A detail view of a pair of Nike shoes worn by Michael Foster Jr. #43 of the Houston Rockets against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League semifinal game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Offseason surgery is “not on the table” for Shohei Ohtani this winter, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday, confirming that the team expects the two-way star to be back at full health for the beginning of next year.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches his three-run home run during the second inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Since then, Friedman said during an end-of-season press conference alongside general manager Brandon Gomes on Wednesday, Ohtani was assessed by doctors and told he just needed rest.
When asked about the specific nature of Ohtani’s injuries this year –– which the team only described as “inflammation” and “discomfort” during the course of the season –– Friedman remained vague, saying only that he “had a lot of different things going on.”
“It was just a little bit of an unfortunate game of whack-a-mole,” Friedman said. “The knee got to a better spot, and then just kinda the bicep area was bothering him. Just a number of different things. Some of it that would calm down for some period, some that would get re-irritated. It was just a lot of different things he was trying to contend with at once.”
Indeed, Ohtani’s injury saga came to define his 2026 season, gradually diminishing the two-way star’s otherworldly capabilities and leaving him significantly hampered entering October.
It started in mid-June, when Ohtani first began battling left knee inflammation following a start in Pittsburgh in which he felt flawed pitching mechanics caused irritation in his front landing leg.
It got worse in early July, when a right biceps issue Ohtani had quietly dealt with earlier in the year resurfaced during another two-way start at Dodger Stadium –– one that would prove to be his final pitching appearance of the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout after striking out during the seventh inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
During the All-Star break, Ohtani was shut down from pitching while getting a lubricant injection in his knee.
Every attempt to ramp back up as a pitcher after that was scuttled by more injury-related setbacks, with both Ohtani’s arm and knee conditions failing to improve as the team had hoped.
Despite that, Ohtani continued in his hitting role as the Dodgers’ everyday DH, and remained productive at the plate for most of July and August (on Aug. 18, he had 30 home runs, a .294 batting average and an NL-best .949 OPS).
“Through mid-August,” Friedman noted, “he was still, I think, the consensus MVP.”
Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to the media prior to Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Getty Images
From there, however, the slugger’s performance plummeted.
He hit .157 over his final 18 regular-season games with no home runs and only one RBI. He spent two weeks on the injured list in September after showing visible pain in his swing. And, even amid continued insistence from both him and team officials that he was close to turning a corner, he went just 5-for-26 in the playoffs, failing to provide any impact production until his three-run homer in Game 4 of the NLCS –– a big swing that ultimately proved too little, too late.
Following the team’s sweep to the Brewers, Ohtani said he wanted to return to his two-way role next year.
On Wednesday, Friedman said the Dodgers also want him to return to pitching –– but that Ohtani and the team would need “to put our heads together” to decide exactly how his usage plan would look in 2027 and beyond.
“We have to all just figure it out together,” Friedman said. “And I’m not only expecting him to pitch –– we’re excited about him pitching. So now it’s about, how do we do that? How do we manage through a long season and have him at his best going into October? That’s a challenge. We have to figure that out together. And I’m confident that we will continue to learn from things as we go and continue to make it better.”
The Milwaukee Brewers ran a promotion over a decade ago offering fans a “Timeless Ticket” granting them admission to any game in the future if they paid $1,000.
Now that the Brewers are in the World Series for the first time since 1982, fans who took that deal are eager to redeem those tickets they bought in 2015. That has led to some complications.
Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger said Tuesday that several hundred fans had indicated they wanted to redeem their Timeless Tickets for a World Series game. Schlesinger acknowledged that “we subsequently erred in our internal communications on the logistics of fulfilling the requests.”
A general view shows the outside of American Family Field prior to Game 1 of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 11, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Getty Images
“While we were able to accommodate all with seats, we received feedback from some that they were unhappy with their seat locations,” Schlesinger said. “Clearly, even with extraordinary limitations on available seats, we did not live up to the spirit of the program, and we have been working through a resolution.”
Danny Fochesato of Milwaukee bought a Timeless Ticket on his 27th birthday, planning all along to redeem it whenever the Brewers reached the World Series.
The promotion enabled a Timeless Ticket holder to redeem that ticket and become eligible to buy three additional tickets to that game for the full retail price. The offer said the tickets “may be redeemed for the best available seat locations, subject to ticket availability at the time of redemption.”
“Back in 2015, that was a big selling point from the sales people about this,” Fochesato said. “They really touted, ‘Hey, this is going to be the best available seats. You’re getting the priority just behind season ticket holders. Anything the season ticket holders don’t have, you’ll have dibs at it for the World Series.’ That’s kind of the story they sold.”
That would have worked out fine when Fochesato tried redeeming his Timeless Ticket for a potential World Series game in 2018, when the Brewers reached the NL Championship Series.
Fochesato said he got four tickets in the 100 level behind home plate that he could have used if the Brewers had made the World Series that year, when they ended up losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the NLCS.
The sun sets over the Milwaukee Brewers National League Championship Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Oct. 12, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
This time, he wasn’t as fortunate.
“We had a form, and it only had 400-level or standing-room options,” Fochesato said. “We couldn’t even know what game we had. We just had to put a preference of which ones we wanted, and then we had to submit the form and just sit and wait for them what we got. I immediately was like, ‘No, that’s bogus.’”
Fochesato said he bargained his way to three 400-level seats for Saturday’s Game 2 with the Tampa Bay Rays and one lower-level seat in the right-field corner for Friday’s Game 1.
Fans cheer before Game 2 of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Oct. 12, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
He said he was in line for the public sale of tickets and saw better seats were available than those that were offered to him under the Timeless Ticket program.
The Brewers are trying to make amends.
Schlesinger said any Timeless Ticket holder who applied for World Series tickets before the deadline will now get to keep those World Series tickets while also being able to retain their Timeless Ticket to redeem for another game in any future season.
“We regret our mistake and look forward to welcoming them to American Family Field for their World Series experience,” Schlesinger said.
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James yells during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
“Ain’t nothing soft in the Midwest. I don’t know what the f—k you talking about,” James, who was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, said to the fan.
“I’m not from the West Coast. I’m from Ohio, baby. I’m not a Midwest kid, I’m an Ohio baby. F–k is you talking about?”
Full audio of LeBron GOING OFF on a Knicks fan who called him soft
“Ain’t nothing soft in the Midwest.”
“I’m not from the West Coast, I’m from Ohio, baby. I’m an Ohio baby, f*ck is you talking about?” pic.twitter.com/IGQPTnEX3X
Given that the fan was seemingly calling James, soft, his response of “I’m not from the West Coast” could be interpreted as him equating West Coast roots with being soft.
LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Getty ImagesLos Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James looks on during an NBA preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron could have gotten his point across without implicating the entire West Coast, which is one reason why many Lakers fans were irked about his response.
Perhaps Bronny James will have some choice words for his dad’s West Coast shade when the two talk next, if only to prove that not everyone from Los Angeles is soft.
On Wednesday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman appeared on the Fan Hockey Show and addressed the latest on Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, whose trade list has reportedly grown to ten teams. Friedman said the Red Wings don't appear to be any closer to a deal than they were before, but the expanded list gives them more options.
The previous version of the list drew heavy scrutiny, with holes poked in many of the destinations. The new group of teams offers more promise that something could get done.
Many of the clubs still lack the cap space, prospects or other assets to land the 30-year-old Michigan native, including the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights. The four remaining teams on the list, however, have some path towards a potential deal.
Carolina Hurricanes
The defending Stanley Cup champions have a surprising $8.67 million in cap space and what they lack in prospects, they could make up for in NHL-ready talent. Carolina likely has little incentive to make this move, since they already have a stable second-line center in Logan Stankoven and may not want to break up a group that has proven it can win.
If the Hurricanes did take a shot at Larkin, they have some options with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who could be part of a package, though Detroit would have to see whether he would sign an extension or not. The best prospects they could offer are new NHLers Felix Unger Sörum and Bradly Nadeau.
Anything more meaningful would likely cost a young forward Carolina considers too valuable, like Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake or Stankoven. Larkin would fit under the cap, but a deal would likely force the Hurricanes to dismantle their roster elsewhere or offer a futures-heavy package built around draft picks, Unger Sörum and Nadeau.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are looking to get back into the top tier of the league, and a move for Larkin makes sense. They have $3.082 million in cap space and a blue-chip prospect in Sam O'Reilly to offer.
Tampa doesn't need a second-line center with Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, but the team could always use depth. One of its centers could move to the wing, as has happened before in their careers, forming an even more dominant top-six.
They could part with a current roster piece like Ilya Mikheyev or Pontus Holmberg to give Detroit a top-nine player, and they hold first-round picks in two of the next three years. Sending Larkin within the Atlantic Division is something the Red Wings likely don't love, but a compelling enough offer could make it happen.
Utah has started the season red-hot, with seven wins in its first ten games as the Mammoth have a strong mix of young talent and veterans that have them inline for a second straight playoff berth.
Their top six of Clayton Keller, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther has quietly established itself as one of the league's best, and adding a player of Larkin's caliber would make it better.
Utah could move Schmaltz from center, back to the wing and send Detroit a top-nine option in Lawson Crouse, along with one of their many blue-chip prospects in Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers and Ethan Belchetz. Any of them would likely entice the Red Wings to part with their former captain.
The Mammoth also have the cap space and four first-round picks over the next three seasons, making them a serious contender to land the two-way center.
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin enters the final season of his legendary career, and the goal-scoring legend would love to ride off into the sunset with a second Stanley Cup. General manager Chris Patrick has moved quickly to make Washington a Cup contender once again.
He acquired St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou in exchange for middle-six forward Connor McMichael and made an aggressive free-agent addition in sharpshooting winger Alex Tuch. The Capitals' offense is elite again, and the they still have $3.12 million in cap space.
Washington has NHL players it could part with, as well as marquee prospects like Cole Hutson, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ryan Leonard and Ilya Protas, some already at the NHL level. It also holds all of its first-round picks for the next three seasons. If the Capitals decide the move is right as they push for one more Cup under Ovechkin's leadership, they could get a Larkin deal done.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases on his two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on September 16, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The current state of the Washington Nationals’ offense, especially after the trade deadline departures of Luis Garcia Jr. and Curtis Mead, is heavily driven by the dynamic duo that is James Wood and CJ Abrams.
The lineup does include a handful of decent complementary pieces, including Keibert Ruiz and Daylen Lile, but is lacking both consistency and depth. Financial frustrations have led to Abrams and Wood’s names being floated in trade discussions, both hypothetical and legitimate, and their long-term futures with the team remain uncertain. Prospects like Eli Willits and Seaver King will look to break into the big leagues and give the MLB roster a boost, but relying on minor leaguers to carry the weight of a lineup that hopes to play in October is far from a sure thing.
The trade market could help, but Washington’s low payroll gives them no excuse not to add offensive pieces in free agency. The roster’s need to bolster the pitching rotation indicates that much of the front office’s offseason focus will be directed toward arms, but President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni could lean on his growing pitching pipeline and be more aggressive with free agent hitters.
If, and that’s a big if, they choose to play ball with some of the bigger bats available, former Pittsburgh Pirate Brandon Lowe is a player that could really intrigue the Nats’ brass.
Lowe is coming off his best statistical season to date based on bWAR, cruising past his previous high of 4.6 with an impressive 5.4 in 2025. The 9-year veteran absolutely raked after being traded to Pittsburgh, appearing in 150 games and putting up a .260/.331/.493/824. slash line and mashing 35 home runs with 96 RBI.
Washington has solid power output if all of their big-time hitters are clicking at the same time, but adding a bat like Lowe could instantly raise both the ceiling and floor of the offense. He’s eclipsed the 30-HR mark in every season he’s played over 110 games in, and has been a 110 OPS+ bat in all but one year. His 3rd percentile Whiff% wouldn’t do much to improve the Nats’ strikeout issues, but he has the pop to out-slug any concerns in that area.
Addressing the position fit with Lowe, the 32-year-old has the ability to play 2B, fill in at 1B, or become the primary DH to maximize his offensive output. If Washington fully moves Abrams off of SS, Lowe could be the primary DH with smaller stints at 1B and 2B to increase the roster’s positional flexibility.
As with just about any above-average free agent in today’s MLB, Lowe will certainly not come with a low price tag. He won’t break the bank, but to secure his services, the Nats will have to commit multiple years and a good chunk of cash.
Spotrac has his market value listed at 4 years, $91,240,000, and it could get even higher with the lack of impact bats available. It will be remarkably difficult for the Nats to reach a contending level without getting things done in free agency, especially if one (or both) of Abrams and Wood leave via trade, and Lowe fits their window perfectly as a bat who can anchor the lineup as their contending window looks to open in the near future.
With the careers of at least three Australians either in the balance or kaput after a dismal day in Gqeberha against South Africa, Australian coach Andrew McDonald conceded the nation’s batting order was far from a perfect one.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have fired manager Kurt Suzuki after he lost 100 games in his only season in charge of the long-struggling club.
Baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak announced Wednesday that the Angels declined the option on Suzuki’s contract and would open a search for a new manager in 2027. Suzuki has been offered the opportunity to stay with the organization as a special assistant.
“Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about our players,” Mozeliak said in a statement. “I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his true abilities as a manager.”
Mozeliak indicated he made the decision in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which reached a deal to purchase controlling ownership from Arte Moreno on Sept. 1. The sale is not expected to close until next year, but the sports conglomerate run by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is already making significant changes to its beleaguered baseball team.
The Angels went 62-100 — the first 100-loss season in franchise history — and finished last in the AL West in their only season under Suzuki, who ended his 16-year major league playing career as a catcher for the Angels in 2021-22. Suzuki had never been a manager at any level before he was given the job by general manager Perry Minasian, who had employed Suzuki as his special assistant for the previous three seasons.
Minasian was fired by Moreno last June, and longtime St. Louis Cardinals GM Mozeliak stepped in on a temporary basis to run the front office while leading the search for a permanent GM to replace him. That transition plan has been thrown into flux by Moreno’s decision to sell, and Mozeliak didn’t indicate whether he has a long-term future in his own job, although he said he had been looking “toward 2027 and beyond” while reaching the decision to fire Suzuki.
Mozeliak also indicated that Suzuki’s entire coaching staff is not expected to return in its current positions, but some members had been offered staff positions in the organization.
Mozeliak already fired Suzuki’s pitching coach, Mike Maddux, and two staffers in August because he felt the team wasn’t making sufficient use of the technology and analytics available to its pitchers. Mozeliak promoted Tim Leveque, the Angels’ Double-A pitching coach, to the major league staff at the time.
Suzuki’s replacement will be the seventh manager, including interims, to lead the team in nine seasons since it parted with Mike Scioscia after the 2018 season. The Angels have had 11 consecutive losing seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons, both the longest active skids in the major leagues.
The Angels now have MLB’s third current managerial vacancy, all in the AL West. The Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros also parted ways with their managers after the season.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 14: Jonathan Kuminga #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 14, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026-27 NBA season is officially underway! A new season kicked off on Tuesday with a trio of exciting games, and tonight the Golden State Warriors begin their campaign when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers.
It goes without saying that the most intriguing players for Warriors fans to watch this year are … well … Warriors. But there are a lot of other players around the NBA to keep an eye one. Here are nine players on other teams that Warriors fans will want to be watching closely.
Jonathan Kuminga
The Warriors and Kuminga tried for years to form a fruitful pairing, and it simply never worked out. I don’t think anyone is to blame in that situation, and even if Kuminga goes on to materialize his potential elsewhere, it won’t necessarily mean that Golden State messed up.
But it’s worth keeping an eye on. After a brief stint with the Atlanta Hawks last year following his departure from the Dubs, Kuminga signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason. On paper, it’s a great fit: the Wolves are a team that is dependent on athleticism, have a clear spot on their roster for him to fill, and have two players (LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards) who like to make audacious passes. Kuminga should be flying to the rim every other possession, hoping to catch a highlight-reel lob.
Warriors fans still have some investment in Kuminga. For some, it’s a matter of believing in his talent. For others, it’s a curiosity as to whether that talent can blossom in a different environment, and with a new coach. And for some, it’s simply a matter of rooting for a player who, despite having a complicated history with the team, was always very likable.
Klay Thompson
It’s still weird to see Klay in a different jersey, and it should delight no one that his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks didn’t pan out. But Thompson is on the Miami Heat now, reunited with Andrew Wiggins, and things are primed to go better. Sure, Klay had a rough preseason, but an Erik Spoelstra-coached team that stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo should play right into Klay’s strengths, and give him a chance to compete for a deep postseason run. And let’s be honest: South Beach seems on Klay’s wavelength in a way that inland Texas never was.
I’m still holding out hope that Thompson will return to the Bay, but for now, it will just be fun to see if he can resuscitate his career with the Heat.
James Wiseman
As long as we’re talking about former Warriors, it will be fun to track Wiseman’s progress. After looking like he might have to go outside of the country for opportunities, the Dubs’ former No. 2 overall pick signed on with the defending-champion New York Knicks, and with Mitchell Robinson now playing in New England, there should be an opportunity for Wiseman to get reps. The lefty didn’t play in New York’s season-opening loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, as he’s firmly behind starter Karl-Anthony Towns and backup Andre Drummond on the depth chart. But those two won’t both stay healthy all year, and Wiseman should get his chance at some point. After injuries and poor play limited him to just five games over the last two seasons, it will be fun to see if Wiseman can secure his spot as a quality NBA role player.
LeBron James
The big news for the Warriors this offseason was someone who didn’t actually join their team. The Dubs went all in on James, trying — certainly not for the first time — to acquire the league’s all-time leading scorer. Ultimately, James chose to sign with the Sixers, and had a decent debut on Tuesday, with 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
After many years, the dream of teaming LeBron with Steph Curry is officially dead, and we’re left to wonder what it would look like. It’s always fascinating to follow the paths of players that the Warriors almost acquired; based on how James looks in his league-record 24th season, we’ll get a chance to see whether the Warriors narrowly missed out on a franchise-changing signing, or if they got fortunate that he gave another team a rose.
Brayden Burries
It’s repeated every year: the draft is a crapshoot. There’s certainly a lot of scouting skill involved, but so much rests in the hands of chance and fate. The Warriors, for example, had their entire franchise changed by drafting Curry seventh overall in 2009. But what if another team drafted him first? Or what if they had a higher selection; would they still have taken him? Golden State maintains that Curry was No. 2 on their draft board, and even if you take that at face value — and I don’t — it means that they would have drafted Blake Griffin had they won the draft lottery that year. And while you can certainly do worse than drafting a six-time All-Star with highlight reel dunks and SNL-level comedic chops, it’s safe to say that if the Dubs had drafted Griffin over Curry in 2009, they would not have four titles, a dynasty, and a league-leading valuation.
All of that is to say: you need to draft well, but sometimes the situation matters more than the scouting. And that was very relevant in June’s draft, when the Dubs used the No. 11 pick on forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Golden State was always high on Lendeborg, and the fit seemed perfect, but reports came out that the team was enamored with Arizona guard Brayden Burries. We’ll never know exactly how they felt, but it certainly appears as though the Warriors were hoping Burries would fall to them, and were exploring options to trade up and nab him.
Ultimately, Burries went one spot ahead of the Dubs, to the Milwaukee Bucks. And so far, that looks fortuitous: Lendeborg was one of the stars of the preseason, prompting Draymond Green to anoint him the next face of the franchise, while Burries struggled to find offense in his preseason games, averaging 14.0 points but shooting just 41.3% from the field and 11.8% from deep. Watching the rookie progression of Lendeborg and Burries — who both figure to play prominent roles on their respective teams — will be fascinating.
Cooper Flagg
In many ways, the Warriors and Mavericks are polar opposites. The former is trying to maintain their recent highs, while the latter is trying to climb the mountain. The Dubs are built around a player in his 18th season, while the Mavs are constructed around a teenager.
But there’s something tying the two franchises together. Both are hoping to be competitive this year, while also building a strong future for years to come. And Flagg is at the heart of both timelines for Dallas.
Last year’s No. 1 pick certainly didn’t disappoint in his first year — he won Rookie of the Year honors and averaged 21.0 points per game — but it’s not yet clear whether he’s a really good player or a superstar. If he’s merely the former right now, it makes Golden State’s path to the playoffs this year much smoother; no one is counting on Dallas being a standout team, but a leap from their cornerstone player could change that. And as the Dubs look to build a consistently competitive team in the post-Curry era, one of their primary adversaries could be the Mavs, depending on how Flagg develops.
Kevin Durant
As with James, the Warriors have tried a few times over recent years to acquire Durant, who of course had a wildly-successful three-year stint with the team during the dynastic days. They were close to a reunion at the 2025 deadline, but stopped pursuing a trade when it was made clear that KD did not want to return to the Bay Area.
That could eventually change. Durant tends to bounce from situation to situation, and he maintains a stellar relationship with Curry, and a strong one with Draymond Green, despite their prior drama. We know the Dubs always want to go deep sea fishing to add a star, and if the situation with the Houston Rockets sours, it seems like a safe bet that they’ll poke around a reunion. And if not … well, Durant is worth paying attention to anyway. Who doesn’t love watching an all-time great bucket-getter who loves to be petty online?
Nikola Jokić
This one’s a bit of a stretch, but again: we know that Joe Lacob always wants to make a splash and acquire a huge star. The Warriors failed in their pursuits to land Antetokounmpo and James, but it won’t slow them from fishing in the deepest depths of the ocean.
It seems highly unlikely that Jokić, who has stunningly finished as the MVP or the runner-up in each of the last six seasons, will be leaving the Denver Nuggets anytime soon. But there have been a few whispers and murmurs, and he could elect to test free agency next summer. It would be very difficult for the Warriors to swing an in-season trade for the eight-time All-Star, as matching his salary will be hard, and Denver is highly unlikely to consider any offers. But it’s worth monitoring his situation with the Nuggets: if it’s not a great year for Denver, and rumors persist that Jokić isn’t convinced his future is in the Mile High City, then it could open the door for the Warriors to try to make a seismic splash next summer.
Myles Turner
They haven’t played their first game yet, but the Warriors already have a bit of a center situation on their hands. On Wednesday morning, news broke that the Dubs are already exploring options to trade Kristaps Porziņģis, who reportedly is reconsidering his NBA future as he continues to deal with health issues.
Porziņģis figured to be the team’s starting center, while Al Horford — who is 40 years old, played just 45 games last year, and doesn’t play back to backs — is the primary backup. That means that the team is desperately lacking in options at the five, barring a huge turnaround in the Porziņģis situation.
It seems likely that the Dubs will try to replace KP at some point, and who better than Turner? The Bucks’ center does all the things that made Porziņģis so attractive to Golden State: he’s a physical force who plays strong defense (he’s led the league in blocks twice), fits the system well on both ends, and stretches the floor (he’s shot 38.9% on threes over the last two years, on high volume). The only difference between Turner and Porziņģis is that the former has a reliable bill of health, having played in over 70 games in each of the last three years.
The Bucks already seemed to regret signing Turner even before they traded Antetokounmpo, and now that they’re likely in rebuild mode, it seems as though they’ll be shopping their center. So keep your eye on Turner: if he has a good season and Milwaukee does not, he could be starting for Golden State by the end of the year.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks inspects his ring during the Ring Ceremony prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Madison Square Garden waited 53 years to hand out championship rings, and what a glorious celebration it was. Knicks fans were losing their minds, Spike Lee looked like he was finally vindicated, and the ring/banner combo was luxurious.
You ever seen a championship ring that turns into an arena, son??
And it took the Philadelphia 76ers about two and a half hours to make the whole thing feel like the beginning of the end. Knicks legends handed out the jewelry, the banner went up, and then Philly walked into the building and won 106-100.
Roughly 1,600 miles southwest, the reigning Western Conference champion Spurs were preparing for a revenge tour after fumbling a title away to the Knicks a few months ago. But while the Knicks raised a championship banner, San Antonio raised nothing and got the smackdown laid on them by the previous NBA champion, the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC came into San Antonio and beat them 116-104, a defeat so sound even the greatest Spurs fan apologist would have to hang their head in shame.
So the two teams that met in June’s Finals both started 0-1. If you’re a Warriors fan, you’ve seen this movie. Hell, you’ve starred in it. But let’s give the Knicks their rightful due as champs and focus on them for this exercise.
Deep breath….how come nobody warned the Knicks that ring night ain’t no joke?!
Here’s what makes the L especially sting: it was Philly. The Knicks swept the Sixers in the second round last spring on the way to a 16-3 playoff run, and a sweep like that usually tells a team it’s a few levels short of contending. Philly didn’t treat that sweep like a minor setback. They treated it like a demolition order, went out and added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, and came back looking for revenge. Those moves turned a team New York had already handled into a team built to beat New York specifically.
Tyrese Maxey had 28 while the newly acquired Brown had 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. LeBron put up a chill 14-9-7 and then told reporters that winning on somebody else’s ring night was “pretty special”. Twenty-four seasons in and the man still collects other people’s celebrations like trophies. And don’t get it twisted, HE’S AN OHIO BABY!
LeBron goes OFF on a Knicks fan:
“Ain’t nothing soft in the Midwest…I’m not from the West Coast, I’m from Ohio, baby. I’m an Ohio baby, fu*k is you talking about?”
Dub Nation knows what it’s like to fumble an emotional ring night, like on October 17th, 2017. Oracle Arena. The Warriors were raising the banner from the Kevin Durant revenge tour, Durant was getting his first ring, the rings themselves had more diamonds than any championship ring in the history of the four major American sports, and the Houston Rockets showed up with Chris Paul playing his first game in red. The Warriors led by 17 but Houston clawed back to steal a one-point win.
Houston to the Warriors was as the Philly is to the Knicks of this era, and not just because they were mad at the Dubs. Daryl Morey built that roster as an answer key to the Warriors’ switching defense. Golden State’s whole identity was switching everything, so Houston loaded up on two of the best isolation guards on earth and spent possession after possession hunting Steph on switches until the defense broke.
It nearly worked. Seven months after ring night, Houston had the Warriors down 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals, and if Chris Paul’s hamstring holds up, Houston fans would argue the Warriors lose that series. Hilariously crazy hypothetical since that era of Rockets basketball was literally incapable of eliminating the Warriors from the playoffs, but that opening night game proved just how intense the rivalry was and how close the margins were.
So when I watch Philly celebrating on the Knicks’ own ring night, I see potentially more than a regular-season win. I see a team that rebuilt itself around one opponent telling New York exactly where it plans to be in May. That’s why the ring night loss isn’t the scary part. It’s about the full season of taking everyone’s best shot while all your rivals gain more and more intel on your strengths, weaknesses, and emotional temperature.
The Warriors have won six Western Conference titles since 2015, and no other team in the West has more than one in that span. That’s four championships in eight seasons and four ring nights. And for all that dominance, the Warriors successfully defended their title exactly once.
Funny how that works. Steph said that night in 2022 that ring night is never an easy game. He was talking about the nerves of one evening, but I think it describes the whole year after. When you’re climbing the first time, you’re preparing to beat everybody. The second time up, everybody has spent the summer preparing to beat you. Houston built a roster to attack our switches. Philly went out and got LeBron and Jaylen to get past the team that swept them. And the Knicks are going to see that same energy from Miami, Cleveland, Boston and whoever else circled the Garden on their schedule.
Brunson told the crowd before tipoff that the joy the city felt this summer was something the team would love to replicate. Every champion says some version of that on ring night, including the dynasty Dubs. New York got its nemesis on opening night. Now it gets to find out whether it can survive the six months that follow.
