Lakers guard Dalton Knecht has been the subject of trade talk for a second season in a row, according to executives and scouts around the NBA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The NBA trade deadline is next week, at noon PDT on Feb. 5, and there are dozens of teams in the league fighting for playoff and play-in position, including the Lakers and Clippers.
Will the Lakers look to trade either LeBron James, who for the first time in his career has an expiring contract after making $50 million this season, or Austin Reaves, who has a player option on a $15-million contract or could become a free agent seeking a big payday after his breakout to the start of the season? Not likely.
Are the Clippers in position to make a big move? After a woeful 6-21 start to the season, they went on a tear to join the Western Conference contenders.
Times staff writers Broderick Turner and Thuc Nhi Nguyen will tackle these topics and others in an NBA roundtable.
Q: Do you envision the Lakers making a big move?
BT: Let’s start with this: The Lakers will not be acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, and he’s the biggest name out there when it comes to the trade chatter. The Bucks don’t sound inclined to want to move Antetokounmpo and he hasn’t requested a trade. He’s dealing with a right calf injury that will sideline him past the trade deadline.
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo attemps a shot between Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) and center Deandre Ayton (5). (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
So, Laker fans, forget about that happening and that therefore means L.A. will not be making a big splash.
And don’t forget, the Lakers made a very big move last year when they got Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis, a first-round pick and other players in a three-team deal.
TN: The Lakers broke the NBA with that trade a year ago; a repeat event would be pretty outrageous, even for this franchise. After the trade that brought Doncic to L.A. completely reset the organization’s timetable, it makes more sense for this trade deadline — and the ensuing offseason — to be about recalibrating the finer points of the roster and salary sheet to set up for the true Doncic era.
Q: What is the most likely scenario for the Lakers?
BT: From talking to NBA executives and scouts who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, the most likely scenario for the Lakers is to make moves along the margins. NBA people say the Lakers are looking for big wing players, but they said so is most of the league.
According to some of those NBA folks, the names that have been attached to the Lakers as potential trade targets are Dallas’ Naji Marshall, a former Doncic teammate, Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo and Sacramento’s Keon Ellis. New Orleans’ Troy Murphy III and Herbert Jones are two players the Lakers have shown some interest in — as have many other teams — but NBA people say the asking price is so high that teams are waiting to see if that comes down by the deadline next week.
Mavericks forward Naji Marshall pulls up for a jump shot against Lakers forward Jake LaRavia on Saturday. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)
To make any of these deals, the NBA executives and scouts said, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and his expiring $18-million contract is a name that comes up often as a tradeable player. Hachimura’s recent outstanding play has increased his trade value around the league, but it also has made the forward a very valuable player for the Lakers.
Lakers seldom-used guard Dalton Knecht has been a player that NBA people say L.A. is willing to move in a trade, along with a second-round pick attached to him to make it work.
TN: Knecht was playing with a lot of confidence through a brief stretch of this season, exhibited most by him taking charges in consecutive games against the Pelicans and the Spurs. But the Lakers have already shown they are comfortable parting with the former 17th overall pick. He was sent to Charlotte last year before the Mark Williams trade fell through.
Q: Can the Clippers make a big move?
BT: When the Clippers were 6-21, teams inquired about Ivica Zubac and were told the Clippers wanted multiple first-round picks for the 7-foot center, something no team was willing to do back then. Now that the Clippers are in the midst of a 15-3 run, the NBA executives and scouts said the Clippers are not looking to move Zubac, Kawhi Leonard or James Harden.
Those same NBA people said that the Clippers are looking for a pick-and-roll oriented point guard and that John Collins' name has been mentioned as a trade candidate. Also, the Clippers are looking to convert the two-way contracts to standard NBA contracts for Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller and that could play a role in any deal they attempt to make.
Q: Who are the biggest names available on the trade market?
BT: Antetokounmpo, Memphis’ Ja Morant and Dallas’ Anthony Davis.
TN: And all of the big-name players are injured, complicating the trade market. Antetokounmpo is out with a calf injury he suffered on Jan. 23 and the team didn't give a timetable for his return, although the star forward estimated for himself that he would be out for four to six weeks.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant may be one of the big-name players traded by next week. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Morant is sidelined for about three weeks because of an elbow injury. There’s been tension between the dynamic guard and head coach Tuomas Iisalo and some of that started after the Grizzlies lost to the Lakers in October in which Morant scored only eight points and was later suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team for postgame comments.
And Davis' status has been up in the air since GM Nico Harrison was fired, but he's now out because of an hand injury, the latest setback for the former Lakers big man.
Q: If the Lakers and Clippers do make upgrades to their rosters, what are their chances of making the playoffs?
BT: For the Lakers, as long as they have Doncic and James and with Reaves (calf injury) set to return perhaps as soon as Wednesday at Cleveland, they will probably finish in the top six, which are guaranteed positions in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Clippers have gone 10-3 in January, the best record in the NBA during that span, and are now the 10th seed in the West. They are most likely positioning themselves for a play-in spot, perhaps even home-court advantage if they climb to seventh.
TN: The Lakers, even with their defensive flaws, are already firmly in the playoff picture, although Phoenix could complicate matters by trying to butt into the top six. The Rockets, Lakers, Timberwolves and Suns are all separated by two games in the fourth to seventh positions. The feisty Suns have already given the Lakers fits this season.
Suddenly the hottest team in the league, the Clippers might simply back into the play-in tournament by default: Dallas, Memphis, Utah, Sacramento and New Orleans are the only teams behind them in the standings. Are any of those teams really going to make a late-season push?
#NEWS: We've acquired forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the New York Islanders for forward Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third-round draft pick, and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick.
The Jets scored three second-period goals, and the Devils made a push to get things tied but couldn’t find the equalizer and dropped Tuesday’s game, 4-3. [Devils NHL]
A look at how the addition of Leeni Hameenaho to the lineup has given the Devils a much-needed boost: [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
Carson Soucy heads to the Islanders:
The #NYR have received a 2026 3rd-Round Draft pick from the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Carson Soucy.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that goaltender Thatcher Demko will undergo hip surgery and will not play for the remainder of the 2025.26 season.
With Thatcher Demko out for the rest of the season, here is a harrowing stat:
He will have played just 95 of 258 possible games over the past three seasons. Just 36.8% of Vancouver's games over that span. pic.twitter.com/HxA9MteLUj
“The NHL Department of Player Safety will now determine supplemental discipline for players who violate all league rules rather than just those who commit physical infractions, the league told ESPN on Tuesday. It’s a significant change in protocol for the NHL on fines and suspensions. Since the Department of Player Safety was formed prior to the 2011-12 season, it had been responsible for supplemental discipline for in-game physical fouls that violated NHL rules and/or caused injuries.” [ESPN]
“It’s not a career-ending experience when you go to the program. It’s actually a life-changing experience. We’ve got to do a better job of getting the word out. As a whole society, we’ve got to work on the stigma.” A look at how the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program works: [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
It’s a two-fer with two weeks since our last check in on the AHL affiliate out in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Nick Hart’s recap of the early games from WBSPenguins.com and most recent. WBS posted a 4-2-1 record over the past two weeks worth of games.
Wednesday, Jan. 14 – PENGUINS 4 at Providence 1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton usurped first place from Providence with a clinical performance and an AHL career-high 36 saves from Sergei Murashov. Tristan Broz scored twice, and other tallies came courtesy of Joona Koppanen and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard.
Friday, Jan. 16 – PENGUINS 3 vs. Hartford 4 Time ran out on a fiery comeback attempt, as the Penguins fell in their first of back-to-back games against the Wolf Pack. Gabe Klassen scored twice, but a three-goal second period by Hartford spelled doom for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Saturday, Jan. 17 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Hartford 1 The Penguins bounced back in a big way, scoring thrice in the first period and never looking back. Harvey-Pinard notched three points (1G-2A) in that explosive opening frame. As insurance, Finn Harding scored his first AHL goal in the second period.
Monday, Jan. 19 – PENGUINS 3 at Springfield 2 Rutger McGroarty returned from the NHL and Avery Hayes returned from injury as offense from Valtteri Puustinen, Chase Pietila and Klassen led the Pens to their second-straight victory.
Wednesday, Jan. 21 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Belleville 3 (OT) A goalie duel between two old friends took place, as Joel Blomqvist and Leevi Meriläinen went save-for-save in a starry display. However, Meriläinen’s 25 saves in the first two periods kept his team in it, leading to an OT win for the B-Sens. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Atley Calvert both scored for WBS.
Friday, Jan. 23 – PENGUINS 4 at Hershey 3 (SO) A back-and-forth thriller at Giant Center ended with the Penguins surviving in a shootout. Owen Pickering and Ville Koivunen lit the lamp in the first period, and Avery Hayes forced OT with his late, tying goal. Rutger McGroarty posted an assist on all three goals. Koivunen scored again in the shootout, while Sergei Murashov thwarted all three of Hershey’s attempts.
Saturday, Jan. 24 – PENGUINS 2 vs. Charlotte 5 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton wrapped its eight-game season series with Charlotte with a loss. Gabe Klassen and Aidan McDonough found twine for the Penguins, but Blomqvist’s season-high 35 saves weren’t enough. Charlotte won each of its for visits to Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza this season.
It’s been a test lately for WBS, seeing prior stalwarts like Sam Poulin and Valtteri Puustinen leave the organization via trade, and some bonus AHL participants in Danton Heinen and Philip Tomasino moving on to their next teams as well. That’s opened the doors for players on AHL contracts like Gabe Klassen, Aaron Huglen, Aidan McDonough and Atley Calvert to step into bigger roles. Those aren’t the sexiest names when it comes to surefire NHL prospects or big picture items for the organization at a whole but will be critical to the WBS season.
Klassen is especially standing out with his 10 points (8G+2A) in the last 11 games. The 22-year old is in his second season with the Pens organization, having spent most of 2024-25 in Wheeling. Klassen is a guy who has popped a little in events like the September prospect challenge, it’s been nice to see him go from a bit player at the AHL level and turn into a key contributor for WBS over the last month, often playing these days centering a line with the NHL top prospects.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 24, 2026
AHL games are lower scoring, the Pens benefit from having a strong defense corps and two of the finest goalies currently in the league these days. That can go a long way, and has been so far.
Another boost has been the return from the AHL for Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen. McGroarty has compiled five assists in the four games he has been back. That’s very encouraging considering he’s returning from a concussion suffered in a NHL practice a few weeks ago. Koivunen has recorded six points (1G+5A) in the nine games since his re-assignment to the AHL in early January.
Missing from the above lines, one might note, is WBS’s leading scorer Tristan Broz. It looks like Broz will be out for at least a few weeks with an undisclosed injury. Joona Koppanen has also missed time after blocking a shot.
ICYMI: I had a pretty in-depth 1-on-1 with #WBSPens HC Kirk MacDonald following last night's OT loss to Belleville.
Talked on a variety of topics, and players – including an unfortunate update on Tristan Broz's injury timeline.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Kiki Cuyler* makes the Hall, and other stories.
Today in baseball history:
1888 – In Chicago, IL, 350 fans brave the weather to watch a baseball game on ice at Lincoln Park. Second baseman Fred Pfeffer of the Chicago White Stockings plays wearing a top hat. After two hours and five innings of play, the game is called. The “Spaldings” defeat the “North-Siders,” 7-6. (2)
1890 – In the first of many lawsuits filed against Players League members by their former teams, a judge refuses to grant an injunction against John Ward, president of the Brotherhood. His decision, echoed frequently by other judges, states that the “want of fairness and mutuality” in the standard National League contract, specifically the clauses relating to the reserve rule, “[is] apparent.” (2)
1907 – In an effort to reduce playing-date conflicts between their leagues, presidents Harry Pulliam of the National League and Ban Johnson of the American League meet to plan schedules. Conflicting dates are reduced to 27. (2)
1953 – Fred Saigh is found guilty of income tax evasion and is sentenced to a fifteen-month jail term, but will serve only five months at the federal prison in Terre Haute before being given parole for good behavior. The embattled Cardinal owner, under pressure of his franchise being taken away by MLB, puts in place a lucrative deal with a consortium that plans to move the team to Houston, but is persuaded to sell the team for less ($3.5 million) to Gussie Busch, when the Anheuser-Busch president persuades him that civic pride was more important than financial gain. (2)
1958 – Roy Campanella, driving home from his liquor store in Harlem, breaks his neck when his rented 1957 Chevrolet sedan hit a telephone pole in an early morning auto accident on Long Island. The 36-year-old Dodger catcher, who has won three MVP awards (1951, ‘53, ‘55) will remain paralyzed for the rest of his life. (2)
1968 – Goose Goslin, a former Senator and Tiger outfielder who retired with a career .316 batting average after playing in five World Series, and Kiki Cuyler*, a .321 career hitter who won four stolen base crowns for the Pirates and Cubs, are elected into the Hall of Fame by a unanimous vote of the Veterans Committee. Goslin believed his enshrinement in Cooperstown was helped by his interview that was shared in Lawrence Ritter’s 1966 book, The Glory of Their Times: The Story Of The Early Days Of Baseball Told By The Men Who Played It. (I recommend this book) (1,2)
1980 – Hank Aaron refuses an award from CommissionerBowie Kuhn honoring him for hitting his 715th home run. Aaron charges that baseball’s treatment of retired black ballplayers falls far short of what is needed. (1,2)
2009 – Aaron Heilman is traded for the second time this offseason when the Mariners swap the 30-year-old right-hander to the Cubs for utility infielder Ronny Cedeno and southpaw Garrett Olson. Seven weeks ago, the Mets dealt the much-maligned reliever to Seattle as part of a three-team trade that included the Indians. (2)
2013 – The Los Angeles Dodgers announce the launch of SportsNet LA, their own regional sports network on Time Warner Cable. The deal is a prelude to a long-rumored $7 billion deal that will award Time Warner broadcast rights for Dodger games for the next 25 years. However, the Commissioner’s office is concerned about the proposed deal, as its annual value is well above that used for revenue sharing purposes, which will result in the Dodgers pocketing a huge financial windfall if no adjustments are made. (2)
1521 – Emperor Charles V opens the Diet of Worms in Worms, Germany which lasts until May 25th; Produced the “Edict of Worms” which denounced Martin Luther
1807 – London’s Pall Mall is the first street lit by gaslight
1813 – Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is published by Thomas Egerton in the United Kingdom
1985 – The charity single “We Are the World” is recorded by supergroup USA for Africa (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, and other pop stars)
2017 – Australian Open Women’s Tennis: Serena Williams defeats older sister Venus Williams 6–4, 6–4 for her 7th Australian title and record 23rd Grand Slam event singles victory.
Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.
It is an assumption around the league that the Orioles’ offseason work is not done just yet. Specifically, they want to upgrade their rotation. Less specifically, if reports are to be believed, they seemingly aren’t settled on any one arm in particular.
Framber Valdez is considered the top pitcher left on the free agent market, and the Orioles have been connected to him for months now. Reporting indicates that the O’s have made an offer, although details on that are fuzzy. But it would seem that Valdez is hoping for a bigger, better offer to come his way.
Lurking in the background of those conversations is another free agent, Zac Gallen. A year ago, it seemed like the righty was poised to sign a big contract this winter. He was coming off of three straight years with an ERA of 3.65 or better, and had earned Cy Young votes in three of his previous five campaigns. But he struggled in 2025, compiling a 4.83 ERA, and saw his strikeout rate dip for the third year in a row. On top of that, he was extended a qualifying offer by the Diamondbacks, adding a layer of cost consideration to his free agency.
Even still, Gallen is a bonafide big league starter with an impressive resume. If the price is right, teams could be willing to take the risk that he will bounce back and get back to his lofty standards. After all, Gallen was much better in the second half of the year (3.97 ERA) than he was in the first half (5.40 ERA). Maybe he found something with his mechanics that he can lean on for a much better 2026 season.
Gallen’s free agency has been an adventure. Back in early December, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Gallen was close to finalizing a deal with the Chicago Cubs that would pay $22 million per year. That was quickly refuted by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Now, a month-and-a-half later, Gallen remains on the market.
The latest reporting on the pitcher comes from Jon Heyman. Appearing on MLB Network Tuesday evening, Heyman described the Orioles as “in on Zac Gallen,” alongside the Cubs, with a return to the Diamondbacks also on the table. That would be a rather new development for the O’s, who have only been tangentially linked to Gallen throughout the winter, as they have been to just about any pitcher with a pulse.
This could also be viewed as a broader negotiating tactic. The Orioles want Valdez’s camp to know they have other options. Gallen’s team might be trying to push the Cubs or Diamondbacks for an extra year or more money in their offers. In that way, the two sides can use each other without truly being involved or interested in one another.
Or maybe the Orioles do actually sign Gallen. Who knows. Please just let it be spring already and let me stop reading “rumors.” I’m all set!
Links
MLB Rumors: Zac Gallen Gets Latest Update with Potential Suitors | Yardbarker Just a re-link of the one mentioned above. Gallen is an intriguing arm. He will probably be cheaper than Valdez, and he is two years younger. But he is also coming off of a far worse season, and there are worrying trends in his pitch data. If the money makes sense, the Orioles could still sign him, but Valdez feels like their preference.
Latest prospect rankings and leftovers from Birdland Caravan | Roch Kubatko Oodles of quotes from the Birdland Caravan events that happened before the snow this weekend. There is a good energy around the team as spring approaches. The roster feels better. The players seem excited. The manager is giving off a good attitude. The vibes are immaculate.
Here is 2026’s All-Underrated Team | MLB.com A new Oriole and an old friend make appearances here. Taylor Ward is going to be an interesting player to watch. I admit that I haven’t caught many Angels games the last few years. But his stats show what sort of impact he can make in a lineup. You have to imagine that he will be putting his best foot forward as a 32-year-old in a contract year.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Wesley Wright turns 41 today. The southpaw was limited to just two appearances for the Orioles in 2015 due to a lingering trapezius strain. He was released in July of that season.
This day in O’s history
1982 – The Orioles acquire outfielder Dan Ford from the Angels in exchange for third baseman Doug DeCinces and pitcher Jeff Schneider
2000 – Free agent pitcher Pat Rapp signs a one-year deal with the Orioles.
2026 baseball projections are out now, so I’m going to begin to take a look at how the crystal ball of statistical projections sees things for the coming year. Sure, we might lose one of our key players in Brendan Donovan, so I will probably do this again (plus ZiPS literally just came out a few days ago in its raw form), but I have grown wary of the thought of either keeping or watching Donovan go, so for now, I’ll just assume he’s going to stick around. Even though it would seem that he is going to be traded any day or week now…
But wait! I have some poll results from last week’s polls: 82% of voters said that it isn’t fair that Jim Edmonds did not make the Hall of Fame because he is practically just as good as his old teammate Scott Rolen, as well as the two most recent Hall of Fame inductees Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones. 10% of voters said that he was straight up snubbed by the writers. Only 8% of voters thought that he fell just short and should not be in the Hall of Fame.
As far as the Nolan Arenado poll went, 32% of voters think that Nolan Arenado will fall just short of getting into the Hall of Fame, and that he has rapidly entered his decline phase. 27% of voters think that he’s so much on the cusp of induction that it is impossible to tell if he will make the Hall of Fame. 5% vote for duh, everyone knows Nolan Arenado and his legendary defense, it’s the Hall of FAME, he should be in. Then there was a split 18% of voters saying that he will make it in eventually, and 18% thinking that he should not even be considered for the Hall of Fame.
So VEB is pretty united in thinking Jim Edmonds should make it to the Hall of Fame, and in thinking Nolan Arenado probably won’t make the Hall of Fame. At least according to those two polls from last week. Now back to this week’s scheduled programming:
These are probably going to be the Cardinals key players (unless of course Donovan is traded, then who knows):
Click this link in the event that the embed link doesn’t work on wordpress.
So the early results are in and as you can tell, ZiPS and Fangraphs Depth Charts like the Cardinals starters ok enough, but the Bat X (another system that was actually pretty good when using it last season) makes our best 9 look a little weak. That said this will be one of the more difficult teams to project with so many unknowns and young players adding to the uncertainty. However, The Bat thinks our starting rotation will be better than some might expect. Albeit, nothing too impressive now matter how you slice it.
If Brendan Donovan leaves, the projections see him as our 2nd most valuable player at this point. Masyn Winn’s elite defense has made a believer of both ZiPS and Fangraphs Depth Charts, so that’s an encouraging sign. He should be our most valuable player, at least according to projections. Here’s where I’m going to disagree with the projections though…
I think Ivan Herrera will be our second most valuable player, even if Donovan stays. The projections think he will be about as valuable as Pedro Pages, but I think he can surpass that, even with The Bat X doubtful projection. No projection system has him cracking 3 WAR, but I believe he can do it. But on the other hand, this is the season where I will define my thinking of him… will he stick at catcher, and more importantly, can he play a full season?
Herrera staying healthy could be a huge boost for this team. Outside of Winn and Herrera, I don’t see much potential of an over 3 WAR season from anyone except JJ Wetherholt, who could win Rookie of the Year if he cracks 3 WAR. Sure it is possible he will cross that milestone this season, but I think it unfair to expect that from him in his first year. If Brendan Donovan somehow completes a full season in St Louis in 2026, sure he has a chance at cracking the 3 WAR barrier, but I wouldn’t bank on that.
The Pedro Pages projections are very solid but I’m not even sure that he won’t be traded still. So I don’t have much to say about that other than his defense carries him well. I’d like to instead focus on Lars Nootbaar: if healthy, he’s putting up at least 2 WAR this year. Not bad on such a mediocre team. Another bright spot is none of the projection systems think that Jordan Walker will continue to be a negative value MLB player. In fact, Fangraphs Depth Charts and The Bat X think he will be around a win over replacement level. So I guess that might be nice. For what it’s worth, ZiPS thinks Jordan is good for 14 home runs. Depth Charts and the Bat X say 16 homers. So he seems to be destined for 15+ home runs. I guess that would be ok.
If anyone besides Ivan Herrera can bring some offensive upside to the ballclub, it might be Alec Burleson. While ZiPS and The Bat X think that he will have trouble cracking the 2 WAR barrier, Fangraphs Depth Charts sees a little more potential than that, and I suppose if everything breaks Burly’s way, he’s another candidate for a breakout 3+ WAR season. It’s not really out of the question, given his track record of improving noticeably each year of his MLB career. He looked like he couldn’t hit in his cup of coffee in 2022. In 2023, he was a below average hitter. In 2024, he was an above average hitter. Then, in 2025 he raised his batting average and on-base percentage enough that he was awarded a Silver Slugger (I guess because he bounced around 1B, DH, and OF).
That tracks to a wRC+ of 56, 89, 106, and 124. Since he has went up by 18 wRC+ from 2023-2024 and also from 2024-2025, I guess that means he will hit at 142 wRC+ in 2026! Then we would have our best hitter.
What is perhaps most interesting about the starting pitching: Michael McGreevy is projected to be our best starting pitcher. Maybe this is his year. Maybe not, but I think 2 WAR from McGreevy is totally possible. Just behind McGreevy is Liberatore as #2, and for what it’s worth, The Bat sees both McGreevy and Liberatore as 2 WAR starters. I’m sure it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Dustin May as another 2 WAR starter. His projections however range from 1.5 to 1.8 WAR.
What might be most surprising is Andre Pallante the solid #4 starting pitcher that the projections see. Heck, I’ll take 1.4 to 1.5 WAR from Andre Pallante! And then the other projected top 5 SP is Kyle Leahy at this point. Guess we will see what he looks like in Spring Training, because we now have Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins staring into the starting rotation. Perhaps those guys become middle relievers though. Or, it could be Pallante and Leahy.
Of all other pitchers possible to crack the starting rotation, ZiPS gives parlance to the idea that Quinn Mathews will be getting some innings, around 46 IP is what is projected. What are the breakdowns for Fangraphs Depth Charts projections on innings pitched? Leahy will get around 128 IP with Pallante (148), McGreevy (149), May (153), and Liberatore (157) shouldering most of the workload. Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins are projected at around 100 IP each to round out a top 7 in possible rotation arms.
The key components to the bullpen are projected to be Matt Svanson, JoJo Romero, Riley O’Brien, Gordon Graceffo, and Ryne Stanek all getting 60 or so innings. I think the bullpen could be a strength again this year.
What if we get lucky and we get the best projections from each system for each player? That line of thinking has us at 7 WAR production from Winn + Wetherholt, close to 6 WAR from the Herrera + Pages combo, close to 5 WAR from Burleson + Nootbaar, and if you get another 6 WAR from the trio of Donovan, Scott, and Walker, that doesn’t sound so bad does it.
And if things go well for the rotation, it’s not impossible that the top 7 innings eaters are worth 10 WAR.
Now worst case scenarios… Leahy fails at starting pitching and the rotation bottoms out at around 5 WAR total. Winn and Wetherholt both fail to pass 2 WAR. Donovan is gone. Alec Burleson’s 2025 season was a bit of a mirage and he hits like he did in 2024. Lars Nootbaar is hurt again. Herrera at catcher only causes confusion for the whole team and he doesn’t hit like he did last year. Victor Scott II is barely above replacement level because he can’t hit, and Walker is a failed prospect. Yes, that is a last place team, probably. And of course in this nightmare scenario, Gorman still never pans out.
Well I hope that was fun! It has both given me a little hope, and a glimpse into how bad this team could be. I almost didn’t even write about projections this year, because the highlights and entertainment value are likely to be to see how new players perform and grow, and to see how all this rebuilding and retooling pans out. It feels like more of a research and development team than one worried about win totals and WAR values. But in the coming weeks I plan on looking at the NL Central and sorting out how likely we are to finish ahead of any of the other NL Central teams. Hey, it’s not much, but finishing ahead of last place is definitely a goal of some sort.
That concludes the baseball coverage, now that I have finished writing about 2025 music in the past few weeks, I am about to start a new project that will take me all year probably. I have experienced life in over 50 years now, being born at the end of 1975. So I am going to go back and write about each year of my life, from the standpoint of music/arts/culture. And knowing me, it’ll be mainly about music but I’ll be throwing random movies and other things in, as well, just to keep it fun.
1975
I was born just after the end of the Vietnam War, and the founding of Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SNL made its debut and Jaws was the big movie of the year. The first successful test flight of my favorite plane ever, the supersonic Concorde, occurred. The Rubik’s Cube was patented. Watergate was still on everyone’s minds. Benoit Mandelbrot coined the term fractal. But I wasn’t alive for most of that year.
As far as baseball goes, the Reds were in the NL West somehow and won 108 games, the Brewers were in the AL East, the Pirates were the best team in the NL Central, Rod Carew had a .359 batting average, the home run leaders were in the upper 30s in total, Frank Tanana threw 269 strikeouts, Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth in career RBI, Lou Brock reached 2,500 hits vs the Padres with the birds on the bat on his jersey, Joe Morgan was the MVP, and the Reds edged out the Red Sox in a 7 game World Series. The Cardinals and Mets barely finished above .500 and were in the same division. They used to be a key rival for the Cardinals.
Always music-minded, I will now turn to some musical selections… the highest esteemed albums of that year were releases like ‘Wish You Were Here’ by Pink Floyd, ‘Blood On The Tracks’ by Bob Dylan, and Eno’s ‘Another Green World’. Those are all fine albums, but I am here to tell you about my favorites from 1975. Maybe you’ll hear a sleeper here that you didn’t know about… or not!
links to full albums on album title
Top 10 Albums from 1975
Mahavishnu Orchestra – ‘Visions of the Emerald Beyond’ I would argue that this is John McLaughlin’s most underrated album, only eclipsed by 1971’s ‘Inner Mounting Flame’. The heights are even higher on Visions of the Emerald Beyond, however! And it even gets downright funky at one point. Rock n Roll in its highest form, absolutely astonishing. Every time I hear this album I wonder how someone can be so good at guitar, while finding other musicians on that level… Let your spirit soar into the emerald beyond.
Rush – ‘Caress of Steel’ I have a soft spot for this album, and another that I feel is undervalued in an even more famous prog rock band’s discography. It is worth listening to this album for the epic cut “The Necromancer” alone. While “The Fountain of Lamneth” gives us a taste of what’s to come on ‘2112’ and ‘Hemispheres’ with Rush’s first truly epic length prog rock songs. “Lakeside Park” and “Bastille Day” are two of Rush’s very best songs and are fan favorites… and “I Think I’m Going Bald” is a rare taste of comedy from the band, sounding like a stoned AC/DC. I always wondered how this album flopped while the ones after it succeeded, but I suppose timing is everything when you’re coming up with new ideas.
Yezda Urfa – ‘Boris’ If you have this album as the best album of 1975, I cannot argue with you there. This may be the most ambitious album of the whole list. It’s expansive prog rock sound is bigger than the genre. It stays completely authentic without sounding pretentious, despite its advanced musical nature, it shows restraint and wisdom. It gives you glimpses into the future, invents whole genres years before they exist without anyone knowing. The recording sounds very real, immediate, intimate. Energetic guitars, synthesizers, complicated bass parts, and tasteful but very dynamic and inventive drumming create a whole musical world to be enveloped in. Prog rock at its best. If that wasn’t enough, here are 27 minutes of bonus tracks!
Budgie – ‘Bandolier’ if you don’t know Budgie, well I’m hear to tell you that they are one of the best rock n roll bands of all time! This is not my favorite album by them but it is still so good that it is towards the top of my list! For fans of Led Zeppelin, early Rush, Blue Cheer, and Black Sabbath. The tightest riffs! Budgie is a key band to 1970’s rock if you have not heard of them. They have elements of prog but I’d file them under early heavy metal and straight up 70’s rock.
Frank Zappa – ‘One Size Fits All’ my prog rock extravaganza continues with The Mothers of Invention masterpiece ‘One Size Fits All’. I once did a project with some close music friends I’ve made over the years and they came to the conclusion that the album opener “Inca Roads” is the best Zappa song of all time. I wasn’t full in agreement with the majority but it is certainly one of his most impressive musical pieces, insanely complex and interesting. The whole album is really good though, flows from start to finish.
King Tubby – ‘The Roots of Dub’ I must admit I am not the biggest reggae fan… unless it’s true dub reggae! I love that shit. I first learned about it in my Sound Production class in college, and how King Tubby was one of the originators of the sound, which along with people like Brian Eno really started to push the idea of the studio as member of the band. The use of effects such as delay, echo, tape loops, and other studio tricks were employed by Tubby, who along with Lee Scratch Perry was ahead of their time in music production while using less equipment than many of their peers. Anyhow, ‘The Roots of Dub’ shows the beginnings of this style of music and is a bit more simple than some dub productions, but it’s also pure and happy music showing what you can do on a DIY budget. He then created his Hometown Hi-fi soundsystem and became one of the most inventive producers of all time.
Fripp & Eno – ‘Evening Star’ is an inspirational collaboration between two of the all time musical greats. If you like ambient music and/or drone, this helped write the book on it. You will hear some of the most beautiful and welcoming music imaginable in the world of ‘Evening Star’ as well as its more somber second half which comes down from the ecstatic highs. I know Eno also released ‘Another Green World’ and more in 1975, but I have to keep it prog adjacent with Fripp involved too! Haha, just kidding. I just like this album a lot and think it’s pretty sounding.
Black Sabbath – ‘Sabotage’ to me, this album came out after Black Sabbath peaked. It’s hard to believe that this is Sabbath’s 6th album, but maybe it explains that they were a little burnt out by the time ‘Sabotage’ was released. Putting out two albums in 1970, and then an album a year for three years after while touring a lot and partying like no men on earth before, might do that to you. Seeing Black Sabbath this low on my list kind of surprises me and probably you too, but it’s on here primarily because of how good the song “Hole In The Sky” really really is, and because of “Symptom of the Universe”. Even though I think of them as past their prime and burnt out already here, I still think of it as the last great Black Sabbath album. But holy moly Batman, the first 6 Sabbath albums have so many incredibly awesome songs that defined heavy metal.
Henry Cow – ‘In Praise of Learning’ a slice of avant garde prog that could be seen in the same league as maybe ‘Larks Tongues In Aspic’ by King Crimson with its use of space, free jazz outburts, sound experiments, but showing moments of all out frenetic musicianship and virtuosity. It’s a little bit pretentious but if you can get past that it’s doing a lot of things that few dare to accomplish. Elements of postmodern classical, avant jazz, prog rock, protest music, and experimentation. And in some ways it sounds like a precursor to no wave and post-punk that would come years later.
Betty Davis – ‘Nasty Gal’ I love how Betty does funk music and I love her voice. Just a fun listen that was pretty edgy for the times! While I prefer 1974’s ‘They Say I’m Different’, this is definitely a damn good follow up. There is a documentary about her that I definitely recommend watching. She was a controversial musician who just kind of disappeared before she got any more famous. Married to Miles Davis for a time but he got paranoid that she was having an affair with Jimi Hendrix! Which hastened the end of their marriage since she claims she wasn’t. She was a talented NYC enigma who just vanished.
And that right there is my Album of the Year 1975. I have this one on vinyl which I bought on a whim and remains one of my prized possessions!
All righty, one year down many to go! Now hopefully we will get more Cardinals news this week and keep the hot stove going, it’s still January but you know what February means! Keep on rocking in the free world if you can.
With Spring Training and the 2026 MLB season within sight, ESPN has released their list of the Top 100 MLB prospects for the upcoming season. Atop their list was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin, who has been touted as one of the best prospects in recent history.
ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel compiled the list of prospects and cited that Griffin’s tools far surpassed any other prospect from this class and put him in the upper echelon of some of the best players in the game today.
“Griffin is the top prospect in baseball by a mile, and I almost put him in the 70 FV tier, which is the highest I’ll put any hypothetical prospect, as that means I expect him to be on MVP ballots with 5-plus WAR seasons every year,” McDaniel wrote. “If I move him to a 70 FV, that would put Griffin in the conversation with Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and other top prospects of this era.”
McDaniel went on to give Griffin pro comps to Fernando Tatis Jr. because of his frame and overall talent, as well as Bobby Witt Jr. because of his skills as a shortstop with a blend of power and speed that makes him dangerous both in the batter’s box and on the base pads.
Four Pirates prospects just cracked ESPN’s Top 100 for 2026 — and it starts at the very top.
Konnor Griffin is the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, with Kiley McDaniel calling him “the best we’ve seen in a number of years” and putting him in Bryce Harper/Mike Trout territory… pic.twitter.com/sr1pxSX3uT
While these are still all projections for how good Griffin can be, McDaniel did note that to this point the game has not looked difficult for him and has excelled everywhere he’s been in his young career.
“We don’t currently know the limits of what Griffin can do on a baseball field, ranging from being the most talented player in his age group since early in high school to fixing what some swing gurus thought was a fatal flaw to his game in a matter of months,” McDaniel wrote. “Projecting him to make further adjustments seems like a formality now.”
Since Griffin stepped foot on the field for the first time as a professional, it was clear that he could be something special. The Pirates drafted him ninth overall in the 2024 draft as the best high school prospect in the class. He would make his pro debut in 2025 with the Bradenton Marauders. From there it was only a matter of time before the top prospect in Pittsburgh’s system was going to make a name for himself.
After 50 games with Bradenton, Griffin was called up to High-A Greensboro where he really started to establish himself as one of the best players in the world. He would be added to the National League Futures roster during the All-Star break, and would then pick up where he left off by being promoted to Altoona and helping them during their postseason run. The 19-year-old short stop finished the 2025 season with a slash line of .333/.415/.527 to go along with a .942 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases.
With those great numbers came a great amount of individual accolades for Griffin. Baseball America named him the top Minor League player of the year and a Minor League All-Star. USA Today named Griffin the top Minor League player of the year as well. He was also named a Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove award recipient with other numerous All-Star nominations being claimed by Griffin as well.
It's Top 100 Day!
The article is stuffed with 25,000 words of tool grades, scouting reports, and notes on the metas that teams are using to find value in scouting and development https://t.co/Yztl4WCXOQ
With the way that the Pirates are currently constructed, Griffin has a very real chance at making an impact in the Major Leagues as early as this year. The Mississippi native was one of the several prospects to be non-roster invitees to big league Spring Training in Bradenton, and it’s speculated that his time with the Pirates will not end there this season. Even if he’s not in Pittsburgh immediately following Spring Training, there’s still a chance that he get’s called up at some point in the season.
McDaniel noted that given Griffin’s inexperience he might not be called up this early, but did cite that the “superstars almost always arrive ahead of schedule”.
“There’s chatter he could break camp as the every-day big league shortstop and possibly garner a bonus draft pick for the Pirates if he wins National League Rookie of the Year,” McDaniel wrote.“Add Griffin to Paul Skenes, with Bubba Chandler also breaking into the big leagues with front-line upside, and you can start to imagine how this team could electrify the Steel City.”
There were many doors for Boston to walk through this season. Some led to a high lottery pick, where player development became the priority — while others offered a chance to stay competitive. Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics found something at the intersection of both, where uncertainty is a weapon and development is the byproduct of a relentless, winning system.
Effort, consistency, and impact are the only true currencies in this locker room. Most teams — especially contenders — rely on rigid hierarchies. Mazzulla, however, treats his rotation like a living organism. It’s a literal revolving door where strong performances are rewarded with minutes and roles can shift on a game-to-game basis.
For opponents, it’s a nightmare to prep for. Without a fixed rotation to scheme against, pressure points shift nightly, if they exist at all.
We’ve seen the importance of the Stay Ready Group culture the organization has built, but this team has taken it to another level. In previous years, that meant being prepared in a pinch. Now, your moment could come any game, at any time.
BROOKLYN, NY – JANUARY 23: Jordan Walsh #27 and Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images)
The lack of a set rotation could’ve been problematic. Instead, it’s led to heightened competition that is accelerating development.
When opportunity exists in a tangible, reachable way, players know they’re working for something. Celtics teams of the past few years haven’t had room for young players to truly break through from practice to the rotation. Boston’s most stable minutes belong to Brown, White, Pritchard, and Queta. Simons and Hauser lead the rest of the pack, but on a nightly basis, either could see their minutes swapped for anyone.
The youth movement has been the most visible beneficiary. Jordan Walsh went from an afterthought to the fifth starter for 20 straight games, leapfrogging Josh Minott, who had his own impressive stretch as a starter. Hugo Gonzalez found his path, stealing minutes whenever the game calls for effort and tenacity — even in crunch time. Baylor Scheierman has become a trusted rotation option, too.
Most recently, Amari Williams and Ron Harper Jr. have followed suit, earning opportunities on two-way deals.
But the revolving door applies to the veterans, too. Sam Hauser saw his minutes shrink in December, and now he’s started 12 games in a row, playing arguably the best basketball of his career. Similarly, Luka Garza was completely zapped from the rotation for nearly a month, yet he stayed ready enough to reclaim a significant role as the first big off the bench.
The approach is fittingly ironic for a coach who has long treated even the most basic life situations with tactical paranoia. Mazzulla has admitted he avoids physical revolving doors because “if one of them gets stuck, then you’re just a sitting duck.”
On the court, Mazzulla has weaponized that very fear. By refusing to let his rotation get stuck in a rigid pecking order, he’s ensured the Celtics are never the ones trapped. Instead, it’s the rest of the league left guessing — trying to prepare for a team where any man can be up and the door never stops spinning.
The difference one defenseman can make for an NHL team is often quite large.
If a squad has a weak link, it can be exposed because even the bottom pair generally plays around 15 minutes a night.
In the NHL draft, defensemen are often the most interesting case studies. Since 2003, a defenseman has been drafted in the top five every year.
What teams value on the blueline is always quite interesting, as they traditionally lean into drafting big, defensively focused defensemen. That said, the best blueliners in the world right now are all mobile puck-movers, and their physical stature is often not a major part of their game.
Let's see which blueliners are the cream of the crop ahead of this year's NHL draft.
Top 10 defensemen in the 2026 NHL Draft
North Dakota (NCAA) defenseman Keaton Verhoeff
The most well-rounded defender in the class, Verhoeff's improvement this season makes him an easy choice as the top blueliner. He has good size, excellent fluidity on his feet and some of the best passing skills of any blueliner in the class. Verhoeff understands how to make smart plays at both ends of the ice, which allows him to win most of his shifts. He looks like a top-five pick.
Jukurit (Finland) defenseman Alberts Smits
Smits is the ultimate ball of clay that NHL teams can mold into an effective defenseman. His baseline is quite high as a big, mobile, defensive-minded player who can shut opponents down. His upside is incredible with the kind of run-and-gun offensive skill and fluidity that makes the best defenders in the world what they are. If he can continue to refine his offensive game, he could be a top-pair stud.
HV71 (Sweden) defenseman Malte Gustafsson
Malte Gustafsson has impressed in the Swedish League, and his overall control of the game makes him one of the most interesting defenders in the draft. There isn't an area of the game you can point to as a weakness. Gustafsson has become more physical at the men's level while continuing to showcase his mobility and puck-moving on the breakout. He's become a true two-way presence and should be taken inside the top 10.
Villeneuve is one of the most dynamic puck-moving blueliners in the class. He is a true difference-maker on offense, with incredible shiftiness and passing. His defensive game is better than he gets credit for, using his feet to defend and turn the play around. He's a wild card, however, because he's 5-foot-11 and 162 pounds. Villeneuve could be taken in the top half of the first round, or he could fall because of his size.
Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) defenseman Chase Reid
Reid is possibly the most divisive defenseman at the top of the class. He can carry the puck through the neutral zone and create off the rush. His passing is inconsistent, but when it's on, it's quite dangerous in the attacking end. Reid shows the tools needed to be effective defensively, but that's a work in progress. He's being discussed as a top-10 pick, but he could fall outside that range.
Lulea (Sweden) defenseman William Hakansson
One of the premier defensive blueliners, Hakansson is a stopper in the simplest terms. He has excellent size, uses his length well to defend in transition and gets into the corners to recover pucks effectively. Hakansson has a physical edge to his game as well. If a team wants a defender who can put up a wall in their own zone, you could see Hakansson go around the mid-first round.
Tappara (Finland) defenseman Juho Piiparinen
Piiparinen is a steady, do-it-all defenseman who limits mistakes and knows when to make the right play. He won't blow your mind when you watch him, but he can do just about everything asked of him. He can shut down plays, recover dump-ins and move the puck up ice reliably. A mid-to-late first-round pick seems appropriate for a player you don't have to worry about too often.
Prince George (WHL) defenseman Carson Carels
After getting some hype at the World Junior Championship, Carels has shot up many draft boards. His playmaking and steady all-around game have made him a very solid prospect. Carels can play just about any role adequately, but he just needs to find his specialty and really lean into it. He really could go anywhere in the first round since draft experts have him ranked all over the place.
Vancouver (WHL) defenseman Ryan Lin
Although he's injured, Lin builds off his mobility in all areas of the game. His game is a bit inconsistent overall, but when he is on his A-game, he could be one of the top five defenders in the draft class. His ability to handle the puck, work along the blueline and set up teammates is impressive. He skates forward to defend, attempting to cut off play in the neutral zone. He could go anywhere in the mid-to-late first round.
Dukla Trencin (Slovakia) defenseman Adam Goljer
A shutdown defender who is on the younger side of the draft class, Goljer is still a bit raw, but his potential as a top-four play-killer could be quite intriguing. The Slovak blueliner doesn't dangle his opponents on the breakout or at the offensive blueline – he punishes them. Goljer isn't quite as refined as some of the guys ahead of him, but he's got the upside you want to see from a no-nonsense defenseman.
The Trojans (15-5, 4-5 Big Ten) will look to complete the season sweep of the No. 25 Hawkeyes (14-5, 4-4) on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).
USC earned a 99-89 win over Iowa on Jan. 14 in Los Angeles behind a 25-point effort from Desmond Claude and 24 points from Saint Thomas. The Trojans led by 16 points at halftime and cruised to the victory.
The Trojans are coming off a 73-71 win over Wisconsin, while Iowa earned a 68-62 win over Rutgers in the teams' respective last games.
Here's how to watch USC vs. Iowa men's basketball, including the start time, TV channel, streaming information and more:
USC vs. Iowa men's basketball will air nationally on the Big Ten Network. Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Jordan Taylor (analyst) will be on the call while Andy Katz serves as the sideline reporter.
Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports app or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
USC vs Iowa time today
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28
Time: 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT)
The matchup between USC and Iowa is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
USC vs Iowa predictions, picks, odds
This section will be updated when odds are available.
Prediction: Iowa 76, USC 70
The Hawkeyes' offense overcomes the length of the Trojans' defense to win this one at home. The win moves Iowa a game above .500 in conference play, while USC falls two games below.
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust has been suspended for three games after the NHL Department of Player Safety deemed he performed an illegal check to the head of Vancouver forward Brock Boeser. Boeser has since entered concussion protocol. PensBurgh]
It appears forward Evgeni Malkin is no worse for wear after he was seen in discomfort on Pittsburgh’s bench after the final horn in Sunday’s game against the Canucks. [PensBurgh]
Penguins prospect Emil Pieniniemi was promoted to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins from the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers on Tuesday, a positive next step in his development after the organization lifted his suspension because Pieniniemi failed to report to Wheeling at the start of the season. [Trib Live]
Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany will miss approximately the next two months after undergoing hand surgery, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. [Trib Live]
Updates from around the NHL…
When it rains, it pours in Vancouver: Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is set to undergo hip surgery that will end his season, general manager Patrik Allvin said Tuesday. [Associated Press]
Sunday’s Stadium Series game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins will pay homage to Tampa’s pirate history. The rink will sit atop a treasure map design covering Raymond James Stadium’s field. [Sportsnet]
Which of the 10 teams that have yet to hoist the Stanley Cup has the best chance of doing so? Who is set up for the best chance at long-term success? [USA Today]
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane reached another milestone on Tuesday. Kane tied Mike Modano’s record for the most points by an American-born player in NHL history, posting the 1,374th point of his career late in the third period of the Red Wings’ game against the Los Angeles Kings. [Daily Faceoff]
Every longtime Cleveland Cavaliers fan remembers exactly where they were on June 19, 2016. It’s impossible to forget the anxiety that turned into euphoria when the final buzzer sounded, LeBron James fell to the floor, and a professional sports team in Cleveland was crowned champion for the first time in 52 years.
Members of the current Cavaliers had a different perspective on that Finals.
Larry Nance Jr. is the only one from the current group who grew up in the area and was in the league a decade ago. The rest were just college, high school, or even middle school-aged kids watching one of the best Finals of their lifetime.
Jaylon Tyson was 13-years old at the time, but he remembers that Finals vividly.
“I was 1,000% locked in,” Tyson told Fear the Sword. “We were seeing it at my dad’s house. Me, him, and my little brother were sitting there watching it. And all I remember is the block. I got up. That was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Tyson grew up a fan of LeBron, so he was thrilled with the result.
“I was happy for LeBron, happy for Cleveland, obviously, and then I got drafted here,” Tyson said. “It was a full-circle moment.”
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Lonzo Ball was a little older. He was preparing for his freshman year of college at the time.
“I did like the Cavs at that time,” Ball told Fear the Sword. “LeBron was my favorite player, so I actually watched Game 7 in my homie’s dorm room in UCLA on a little, tiny ass 30-inch screen.
“College life was definitely exciting. I was on the basketball team, so obviously, we loved the game. So, can’t really ask for anything better than that Game 7 and for it to end the way it did.”
Dean Wade had a similar story. He watched the game with his college teammates at the Kansas State practice facility.
“Half my team was split, like 50/50,” Wade said to Fear the Sword. “We were all cheering for a different team. It was the loudest the locker room had ever gotten.”
Wade was also rooting for the Cavs, but more so out of a disdain for the Warriors.
Not everyone was as locked in. Both De’Andre Hunter and Nae’Qwan Tomlin followed the series as high schoolers, but they weren’t living and dying with every possession.
Jarrett Allen didn’t watch that Finals at all, admitting that he didn’t pay attention to the NBA when he was in high school.
Then, there’s Craig Porter Jr., who was 16 at the time, remembers the actually important stuff.
“I remember J.R. Smith,” Porter told Fear the Sword. “I remember some shit like he ain’t put a shirt on for a week or something like that. I remember that it was one of the biggest parades. [Matthew] Dellavedova almost died guarding Curry.”
“I wasn’t a fan of either team,” Porter said. “But you gotta watch that. It’s the best brand of basketball.”
Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers will be as close to a 10-year celebration of that Finals as the Cavs will get. It’s the one time LeBron will be back in Cleveland this season. They’ll undoubtedly show highlights from that series, and the crowd will give him a standing ovation.
Even though 10 years have passed, we still haven’t seen a Finals come close to recreating the cultural and local impact that one did. And it will likely be several more decades until we see one that rivals it.
That 2016 Cavaliers team and championship are one of one.
“In my opinion, it was the finest Finals victory there ever was,” Ball said.
Free agency never really ends, as general managers are likely to tell you as the January cold gives way to the promise of Florida sunshine. Yet the pickings are getting ever slimmer on Major League Baseball's free agent market - especially the hitting side.
A pair of difference-making starting pitchers are still available, along with a decent swath of reliable, itinerant veterans who can pad out the middle or back of the rotation. But it's getting late late, as one might say, as teams aim to wrap up their dealmaking before camps begin opening Feb. 10.
Not sure if he’ll sniff the Max Fried rent district for lefty starters but it never hurts when you’re literally one of two on the market. Valdez is consistently right around 200 innings, has a championship pedigree and suppresses the home run ball. Not an ideal conclusion to his Houston era, but it’s also easy enough to hand him the ball and set your alarm clock for September.
2. Zac Gallen (30, RHP, Diamondbacks)
He led the NL in WHIP (0.91) and the majors in fewest hits per nine innings (5.9) in 2022, but regressed to 1.26 and 8.3/8.1 the past two seasons. He was much better once the trade deadline passed, posting a 3.32 ERA in his last 11 starts.
Giolito finally turned the page on a pair of injury-ravaged seasons to make 26 starts and post a 3.41 ERA, enough to comfortably decline his $19 million player option. Giolito completed at least six innings in 15 of his 26 starts, though he missed a playoff outing with elbow soreness.
4. Eugenio Suárez (34, 3B, Mariners)
Forty-nine home runs at age 34: What kind of a price do you put on that? Suarez, a free agent for the first time in his career, is about to find out. Suitors know what they’re getting: Punishing power, a ton of strikeouts, suboptimal defense at third but off the charts on the clubhouse affability index.
5. Chris Bassitt (37, RHP, Blue Jays)
A little high for the reliable righty? Well, consider that there are so few Chris Bassitts out there and this one just completed a three-year, $63 million deal with numbing consistency: 32 starts a year, a 3.89 ERA, nearly six innings per start. He topped that off with a selfless stint in the playoff bullpen, where he gave up one earned run in seven appearances.
6. Max Scherzer (41, RHP, Blue Jays)
He indicated after World Series Game 7 that he hadn’t thrown his final pitch, and he posted often enough in 2025 that the standard one year, $15.5 million deal should still be waiting for him.
7. Justin Verlander (43, RHP, Giants)
Those videos of Verlander and Scherzer playing bridge in the nursing home are gonna be wild 40 or so years from now. For now, though, they’ve got innings in their arms and for Verlander’s sake, hopefully he can find a home that’s both pitcher-friendly but also not totally lacking in run support: His 3.85 ERA resulted in a 4-11 record as he sits on 266 wins.
8. Luis Arráez (28, INF/DH, Padres)
Let the Arráez Rorshach tests begin. Do you see a singles hitter with a league average OPS? Or a magician with elite bat-to-ball skills? A three-time batting champion with three teams? Or a guy who can never justify his lack of slug despite all those one-baggers. Be interesting to see what the market thinks.
9. Nick Martinez (35, RHP, Reds)
More invaluable than his peripherals indicate, Martinez took the ball 82 times over two years in Cincy, including 42 starts, and amassed 6.3 WAR and a steady 3.83 ERA.
10. Jose Quintana (37, LHP, Brewers)
Can we at least spare this man the indignity of nosing around for a job in March?
11. Paul Goldschmidt (38, 1B, Yankees)
Until further notice, he remains a decent right-handed platoon option at first, the Yankees eminently pleased at the 1.2 WAR and clubhouse gravitas he provided.
12. Rhys Hoskins (33, 1B/DH, Brewers)
A bumpy couple of years in Milwaukee, where injuries and the emergence of Andrew Vaughn cut Hoskins out of the fun this past season. He struck out more than once per game as a Brewer but did salvage league-average OPS thanks to his power.
13. Zack Littell (30, RHP, Reds)
Littell completed the transition from swingman to full-fledged starter the past two seasons and this year reached 186 ⅔ innings with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. Just 130 strikeouts might give suitors pause to believe he can repeat it, but Littell has proven himself as a reliable innings-eater.
14. Tomoyuki Sugano (36, RHP, Orioles)
A tale of three seasons for Sugano, who started strongly, faded badly and then made a mini-comeback to land almost exactly on the definition of "quality start": A 10-10 record and 4.64 ERA. Probably did enough to land another job stateside in 2026.
15. Michael Conforto (33, OF, Dodgers)
Will that beautiful left-handed swing again prove irresistible to a suitor? The Dodgers gambled $17 million that they could turn him into a weapon and he batted .199 and did not make the playoff rosters.
16. Marcell Ozuna (35, DH, Braves)
Last call for the full-time DH? The Braves couldn’t get rid of Ozuna at the trade deadline and now he’ll take his 21 homers to the market. Hit 40 and 39 homers in 2023-24, finishing fourth in NL MVP voting in ’24.
17. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (31, INF, Blue Jays)
Simple though his role may be, there’s simply not many IKFs out there, tasked with catching the ball, running the bases well and possessing the ability to fill in anywhere on the infield.
18. Austin Hays (30, OF, Reds)
Cincy was a solid fit for Hays, who smacked 15 homers in 380 at-bats. Still adept in a right-handed platoon role.
19. Patrick Corbin (36, LHP, Rangers)
Can still eat innings – 155 of ‘em in 2025 – and now with a little less pain, as he shaved his ERA from 5.62 his final year in Washington to 4.40 in Texas.
20. David Robertson (40, RHP, Phillies)
Used to be only Roger Clemens could get away with chilling out for a few months and then hopping aboard a playoff train. Robertson did so to some success in Philly; will he be up for the long haul next spring?
21. Tommy Kahnle (36, RHP, Tigers)
Leaving New York – where he’d posted a 2.38 ERA his past two seasons – was tricky for Kahnle, whose 4.43 ERA was his worst since 2018.
22. Daniel Coulombe (36, LHP, Rangers)
Was better before he got caught up in the Twins fire sale (1.16 ERA in Minnesota, 5.25 in 15 appearances in Texas) but on balance remains one of the most reliable and versatile lefty relief options available.
23. Walker Buehler (31, RHP, Phillies)
The arm is too good to give up on, even if the Red Sox had little choice but to do so after posting a 5.45 ERA and 5.89 FIP in 22 starts there. He fared a little better in a two-start look-see with Philadelphia, but he’ll clearly be in a short-term incentive-laden situation in 2025.
24. Jon Gray (34, RHP, Rangers)
His 2025 was a wash, as a fractured wrist in spring training and shoulder neuritis limited him to six appearances.
25. Tyler Anderson (36, LHP, Angels)
Seemed like a quick three years in Anaheim, mercifully, where Anderson posted a good year, not-so-good and a so-so season. He’s coming off the last of those, the biggest bugaboo a career worst 1.8 homers per nine.
26. Miles Mikolas (37, RHP, Cardinals)
A bit of will-he or won’t-he involved with Mikolas, who may retire, though he’s never one to leave any innings on the table. Last year, he ate up 156 ⅓ of them, with a 4.84 ERA.
27. Miguel Andujar (30, INF, Reds)
A nifty revival for the 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up, as he posted an .822 OPS with the A’s and Reds and positioned himself as a versatile righty platoon bat going forward.
28. Justin Wilson (38, LHP, Red Sox)
About as close to a LOOGY as one can get in this three-batter minimum era, as Wilson tossed 48 1/3 innings in 61 appearances, holding lefties to a .212 average.
29. Mitch Garver (35, C/DH, Mariners)
The bat continues to fade, but Garver did catch 43 games backing up the Big Dumper in Seattle.
30. Scott Barlow (33, RHP, Reds)
A throw-till-you-blow guy and well, Barlow hasn’t blown yet, his 75 appearances always a value to a team needing innings.
31. Martin Perez (34, LHP, White Sox)
Declined the player portion of his mutual option after a flexor strain limited him to 10 starts in 2025.
32. Starling Marte (37, OF, Mets)
His four years of meritorious, if injury-plagued, service in Flushing are over. But Marte should still retain some value as an extra outfielder.
33. Andrew McCutchen (39, OF, Pirates)
He’s not so sure about that open invitation to return to Pittsburgh, but has indicated he’ll run it back one more time, somewhere, in 2026.
34. Brent Suter (36, LHP, Reds)
If only for the post-clinch dance moves. For real, though, Suter never pitched more than 3 ⅔ innings last season but appeared in innings 1 through 9 at some point. Anytime, anywhere.
The Houston Rockets’ offensive philosophy is to bully opponents on the glass. Buy and large, it works.
The more scoring opportunities one gets, the higher likelihood that they’ll score. Especially put-back opportunities around the rim or open kick-out threes.
Steven Adams has been a big part of that, as he leads the league in offensive rebounds, with 4.5 per contest.
Adams is out indefinitely with a Grade 3 ankle sprain. He’s going to miss a considerable amount of time.
Clint Capela provides insurance for Adams, but he now becomes the only back-up big behind Alperen Sengun, who has also missed time here and there with injury (seven games through the first half of the season).
What was once viewed as a deep rotation isn’t quite the same without Adams.
Iko reports that Houston’s brass hasn’t made definite plans, but that they are merely mulling and assessing whether it’s necessary, whether via trade or buyout.
Complicating matters is Houston’s financial hamstring, as they’re just $1.2 million under the hard cap. They can reasonably afford to part with Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate or Jeff Green, without any regret.
Doing so would pretty much indicate that the team won’t be adding an on-ball facilitating guard.
The buyout market would help the Rockets financially.
But that will be scarce, although more realistic, featuring the names of Precious Achiuwa, Marvin Bagley III, Daniel Theis.
Not to say the trade market will be plentiful either. The Rockets won’t be going after the likes of Daniel Gafford or Onyeka Okongwu.
Jay Huff might be the best possible option on the trade market, considering the Rockets’ financial situation. Especially when considering his seemingly reduction in playing time, as he’s played just six minutes in the Pacers’ last two games.
Sam Hauser has played with a noticeable swagger in January. | Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Early in the season, Sam Hauser didn’t look like himself.
Shots he usually makes in his sleep weren’t falling, and his percentages were by far the worst they’ve ever been in his career.
In November, he shot 31 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from 3-point range. It was a true nightmare for a shooter who prides himself on efficiency and reliability.
Gradually, he built his way out of the slump. In December, those numbers rose to 39 percent from the floor and 40.8 percent from distance. He wasn’t where he wanted to be, but he was making progress.
Now, so far in January, Hauser is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from 3. He’s averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 0.9 steals per game this month. After seeing the worst version of Hauser, we’re now seeing the best version of Hauser yet. Of course, hitting 10 3’s in a game helps the numbers look better, but hey, they all count.
Sam Hauser was LETHAL from downtown in the @celtics' road win tonight!
🎯 30 PTS 🎯 10 3PM
It's his second career game with 10+ 3PM, making him the only player in Celtics history with multiple such performances! pic.twitter.com/cZOt2tWMHA
As Hauser has returned to form and unlocked a new level, the Celtics have hit their stride and blossomed into one of the NBA’s biggest success stories. While there are of course a wide range of factors at play, it’s not a total coincidence that Hauser’s ascension aligns with the team’s.
Often a barometer for how the Celtics are shooting as a whole, his contagious confidence has helped them reach new heights collectively. To put it in perspective, Boston is 15-3 when Hauser makes three-plus 3’s and 14-14 when he hits two or fewer.
While Hauser’s 3-point shooting will always be his superpower, there’s a lot more to his game than just his marksmanship. Even when he doesn’t ultimately take the shot, he shines as a decoy and is a master spacer.
The action where the Celtics use Hauser as a screener and have him scurry to the wing is very difficult to stop. If teams worry about Hauser, the ball-handler will make them pay; if they worry about the ball-handler, Hauser is often the beneficiary. If they somehow guard both of those options, the big is often alone under the rim. Simply having him as a threat keeps defenses off balance and constantly scrambling.
His passing and playmaking have also reached another level. When defenders fly at him, Hauser consistently makes the right decision. He’ll get the shot off quickly, relocate and shoot, upfake to drive and shoot or upfake to drive and pass. Playing way up on him is still the right decision more often than not, but he’s learned how to handle the additional attention and get others involved.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is always quick to point out Hauser’s defense. It’s not an easy task guarding players who are often bigger, stronger or faster, but Hauser uses his smarts, anticipation and court awareness to compensate and more than holds his own.
Look at Sam Hauser's defense on Bam Adebayo. Miami probably thought this was an easy basket but Hauser stands up to Bam, switches off then back onto him, and they contest the shot that falls short. pic.twitter.com/pYz0ARbB6T
If you ask Hauser, he’ll still shake his head about the cold stretch to start. But he’s earned the right to give himself a break and forget all about it. This has been one heck of a response, and he looks like the player he knew he could become.
When the Celtics are rolling, there’s a good chance Hauser is as well. When Hauser is rolling, there’s a good chance the Celtics are as well. Lately, both have been rolling, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
