Passan notes that the Mets are "mulling the opportunity" to sign both Williams and Edwin Diaz, who is expected to reject the team's one-year qualifying offer ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
In addition to the Mets, reports have linked Williams to the Dodgers and Blue Jays.
Williams, 31, had a down year for the Yankees in 2025 after being acquired from the Brewers in an offseason trade.
Over 62.0 innings spanning 67 appearances, Williams -- who bounced in and out of the closer's role due to his inconsistencies -- had a 4.79 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while striking out 90 batters.
But there are reasons to believe Williams' relatively poor season was an aberration.
For one, his 2.68 FIP was in line with his career FIP of 2.45 -- suggesting he was unusually unlucky on balls that were put in play.
Meanwhile, his walk rate (3.6 per nine) was down, his home run rate (0.7 per nine) was around his career average, his ability to miss bats was among the best in baseball, and his famous "airbender" changeup again graded out as one of the best pitches in the sport.
The Mets have lots of work to do this offseason when it comes to putting the bullpen together.
Aside from A.J. Minter (who exercised his player option for 2026) and Brooks Raley (whose club option for 2026 was picked up on Tuesday) there are no 2025 bullpen members who are a lock to be back. And Minter's start to the season will likely be delayed by a few weeks as he works his way back from the lat surgery that ended his 2025 campaign.
Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto are all free agents.
Members of the Mets' 40-man roster who could be relief options next season include Huascar Brazoban (who is arbitration-eligible), Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross.
Reed Garrett, who has been a mainstay the last two seasons, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.
The Boston Red Sox added an infielder Tuesday. No, his name isn’t Pete Alonso.
The Red Sox acquired Tristan Gray from the Rays in a trade that sent minor-league pitcher Luis Guerrero to Tampa Bay. Boston designed first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment to make room for Gray on the 40-man roster.
Gray isn’t exactly a household name — he’s spent time with four teams over the last two years since making his major league debut in 2023. The 29-year-old appeared in 30 games for the Rays last season, however, posting a .231 batting average with a .693 OPS to go along with three home runs, nine RBI and five doubles.
Gray has positional versatility, as well: He made nine starts at second base, seven starts at shortstop, three starts at second base and one start at first base last season. At the moment, he projects as an infield depth option who can make the occasional spot start if needed.
That begs the question: What could Boston’s starting infield look like in 2026? The answer is complicated, as the Red Sox are rumored to be interested in several prominent infield free agents while awaiting the decision of starting third baseman Alex Bregman.
Here’s a position-by-position rundown of Boston’s infield:
You’d have to think the Red Sox will add a power-hitting first baseman this offseason, especially after DFA’ing Lowe. Casas has All-Star potential when healthy but has played just 92 games total over the past two seasons.
Murakami and Okamoto are two of the best hitters in Japan who are both coming stateside this winter. Both are third basemen but can play first base, so perhaps the Red Sox would explore adding them as well.
Second base
Current depth chart: Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, Tyler Sogard, Tristan Gray
Potential free-agent targets: Bo Bichette
Here’s where things get complicated.
If Alex Bregman re-signs in Boston after opting out of his contract, Mayer likely would be the starting second baseman, with Bregman playing third and Trevor Story at shortstop. If Bregman signs elsewhere, Mayer likely would slide to third, where he played 39 games last season.
Campbell was Boston’s opening day starter in 2025 but was in the minors by June. If the Red Sox believe he’s ready for the big leagues, he could get first crack at second base in the Mayer-at-third-base scenario. If not, perhaps they’d look to free agency; Audacy’s Rob Bradford reports the Red Sox have interest in Bo Bichette, who is primarily a shortstop but played second base during the World Series.
Ceddanne Rafaela also had a brief stint at second base last season but just won a Gold Glove in center field, so the Red Sox would be wise to keep him there.
Shortstop
Current depth chart: Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, David Hamilton, Romy Gonzalez, Tristan Gray
Potential free-agent targets: Bo Bichette
Story opting in to stay in Boston solves at least one piece of the infield puzzle. But if Bregman signs elsewhere and the Red Sox want to get creative, they could sign Bichette to play shortstop, move Story to second base and start Mayer at third base.
Even if Bregman returns, Boston could benefit from having an extra starting-caliber infielder in the mix, as the team was very thin at first base last season following Casas’ injury.
Potential free-agent targets: Alex Bregman, Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto
As stated above, this comes down to whether Bregman re-signs with Boston or seeks greener pastures. The latter scenario might motivate the Red Sox to pursue either Murakami or Okamoto to bolster the corner of the infield. But Mayer figures to be the incumbent — assuming he can stay healthy.
Sharing the ice for 5:38 minutes in a 4-1 loss, the Islanders held the Avalanche to just two shots on gaol, with Schaefer playing a huge role in that.
Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, is someone that Schaefer name-dropped as a comparison back when we spoke to the 18-year-old at the 2025 NHL Combine.
Schaefer also dropped another name, a defenseman who he will be going up against on Tuesday night.
"I like watching Cale Makar & Miro Heiskanen, two great guys with great hockey sense and great skating ability,” Schaefer said back in Buffalo.
There were signs early on that #Isles No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer had some #GoAvsGo Cale Makar in him.
The two face each other for the first time tonight.
Miro Heiskanen, drafted by the Dallas Stars with the third pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, is one of the premier offensive-defensemen the NHL has to offer.
Through 19 games, Heiskanen has three goals with 14 assists for 17 points, averaging 25:18 minutes per game.
Through 19 games, Schaefer has seven goals, with eight assists for 15 points, averaging 22:24 minutes per game.
The Stars have been a Stanley Cup contender for the last few seasons, and Heiskanen has been a major reason why.
Schaefer will be the main reason why the Islanders get back to that status when they do.
After battling Heiskanen and the Stars, Schaefer goes on to battle another elite defenseman, Mo Seider, and the Detroit Red Wings to conclude the Islanders’ seven-game winning streak.
Puck drop between the Islanders and Stars comes your way at 8 PM ET on MSGSN2.
Head to Peacock for tonight's thrilling Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET when the Memphis Grizzlies take on the San Antonio Spurs. Then, at 11:00 PM, the Phoenix Suns go head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers. Live coverage tonight begins at 7:30 PM. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
The Grizzlies have lost eight of their last nine games, including the last four straight matchups. Saturday's 108-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers delivered an additional blow as Ja Morant left early in the first quarter with a right calf strain. The team announced later on Monday that he is expected to be out for at least two weeks.
Zach Edey's return was one bright spot for the Grizzlies. The second-year center had 13 points and 7 rebounds in his season debut, after undergoing ankle surgery in June.
However, the team is still struggling without its key players.
The Grizzlies announced on Nov. 11 that Brandon Clarke is expected to return from his right knee injury in 6 to 9 weeks. Ty Jerome has yet to play this season since sustaining a right calf injury in the preseason.
San Antonio Spurs:
The Spurs, currently 9-4, are off to their best start since the 2016-2017 season, after defeating the Sacramento Kings 123-110 on Sunday. De'Aron Fox led the team with 28 points and 11 assists. The 2023 All-Star is averaging 22 points per game so far this season, despite missing the first eight games with a right hamstring injury.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
Peacock ScoreCard: Grizzlies vs Spurs
Peacock ScoreCard turns the NBA into an interactive experience. Pick from a selection of premade cards based on what you think will happen during the game. Earn leaderboard points and see how you rank against other viewers in real-time. Click here to get started.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
Entering this week, the Toronto Maple
Leafs found themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference with
a record of 8-9-2, and winless in their last five games (0-4-1).
While it's still early in the season, and they're within range of a
wild-card berth, the rumor mill is buzzing about potential changes to
the roster.
During last Thursday's Leafs Morning
Take podcast, Jay Rosehill said a league source told him the
Maple Leafs were trying to acquire Rasmus Anderson from the Calgary
Flames. The 29-year-old defenseman is eligible to become a UFA in July. He's currently earning an annual cap
hit of $4.55 million.
Rosehill felt that the only way the
Leafs would make that deal is if Andersson agreed to sign a contract
extension. He was skeptical that they had the trade assets to entice
the Flames.
Two days later, Sportsnet's Elliotte
Friedman said the Maple Leafs attempted to acquire Andersson last
season but failed. He felt that the Flames' rearguard wasn't a fit for
Toronto.
According to Friedman, the Leafs are
not interested in parting with futures. However, if they were to
revisit their interest in Andersson, the Flames' asking price could
include top prospect Easton Cowan.
Friedman claimed the Leafs prefer a
“roster for roster” trade, meaning they're examining players on
their roster who might interest other teams, excluding their core
players.
Adam Proteau of The Hockey News
can see the Leafs peddling defenseman Morgan Rielly. He wondered if
they might offer him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Erik Karlsson, or
the New Jersey Devils for Dougie Hamilton.
The opportunity to play for a contender
could entice Rielly to waive his no-movement clause. However, the
better-than-expected Penguins aren't in any rush to move Karlsson,
who would also have to waive his no-move clause. Meanwhile, Hamilton has stated
he has no desire to leave the Devils, and the Leafs might not be on
his 10-team list of preferred destinations.
Proteau suggested veterans like center
Max Domi and defenseman Brandon Carlo could also be trade candidates,
along with depth forwards Calle Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson, Bobby
McMann and Dakota Joshua.
Assuming the Leafs can find any trade
partners willing to take some of those players off their hands, they
won't fetch the type of returns that could provide a significant,
immediate boost to the roster.
Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sunrecently observed that the promising Cowan and power forward Matthew
Knies are the two Leafs that other clubs covet. However, they're
among the least likely to be moved out of Toronto.
For
action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue,
subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by
subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Jets are 3-4 since November 1 and are 5-5-0 in their last 10. They're 11-7 on the year and are the only team in the Western Conference without an OT loss. So, they sit 3rd in the Central Division and 6th in the West.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 17.8% - 21st in NHL
Penalty Kill - 72.9% - 26th in NHL
Goals For - 57 - 18th in NHL
Goals Against - 59 - 18th in NHL
Jets Stats
Power Play - 24.1% - 8th in NHL
Penalty Kill - 84.1% - 8th in NHL
Goals For - 58 - 15th in NHL
Goals Against - 50 - 7th in NHL
Series History vs. The Jets
Columbus is 18-17-1 all-time, and 9-8-1 on the road vs. Winnipeg.
The Jackets are 5-4-1 in the last 10 games vs. the Jets
The CBJ went 1-1 vs. the Jets last season.
Who To Watch For TheJets
Mark Scheifele leads the team with 11 goals and 24 points.
Josh Morrissey leads the Jets with 16 assists.
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 8-6-0 with a SV% of .913. His last start was on November 15.
Eric Comrie is 3-1-0 with a SV% of .908. His last start was a loss on November 9.
CBJ Player Notes vs. Jets
Zach Werenski has 10 points in 12 career games against the Jets.
Charlie Coyle has 24 points in 35 games.
Sean Monahan has 21 points in 32 games vs. Winnipeg
Injuries
Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 11 games - IR
Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 3 Games - IR
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 26
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Phoenix Suns go head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader on Peacock. This is the first of three matchups between the two teams this season. Tip-off is at 11:00 PM ET.
See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
The Suns' five-game win streak came to an end after falling 124-122 to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Phoenix led by as many as 22 points with less than 10 minutes left in the game before the Hawks bounced back on a 43-19 run. Dillon Brooks scored a game-high 34 points in the loss, and Devin Booker added 27 with 7 assists and 2 rebounds.
The four-time All-Star guard leads the Suns in points and is on pace for a career-high year in scoring (28.4 points per game) and field goal percentage (49.5%).
Phoenix has won seven of its last nine matchups.
Portland Trail Blazers:
The Trail Blazers have dropped their last two straight matchups, most recently falling 138-133 to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in overtime. Shaedon Sharpe led the way for Portland with 36 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, while Deni Avdija — who leads the team in scoring this season — added 29 points with 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Portland is led by Tiago Splitter, who took over as interim head coach after Chauncey Billups’ arrest on October 23. This is Splitter's first head coaching role in the NBA. He spent last season as the head coach of the Paris Basketball Club.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
Peacock ScoreCard: Suns vs Trail Blazers
Peacock ScoreCard turns the NBA into an interactive experience. Pick from a selection of premade cards based on what you think will happen during the game. Earn leaderboard points and see how you rank against other viewers in real-time. Click here to get started.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
“I must tell you, right before the dunk I blocked his shot,” Green said. “When I blocked his shot, I looked at him like, I gave him a crazy look like ‘Yeah, motherf–ker …’ and he was like ‘What? Huh? You too small.’ So I walked up to him like ‘You little, motherf–ker, you’re too little.’ He’s like, ‘I’m too little? Alright.’ “
Yes, Green called Wembanyama, of all people, “little.”
Wembanyama responded with a vicious lob dunk over Green on the following possession, which did not count because Green was called for a foul on the play.
The 6-foot-6 Green really stood no chance against Wembanyama on the play, and as it unfolded, time seemed to move in slow motion for the veteran forward as the Spurs star came crashing down over him.
“By the way, just so we’re clear, that whole conversation happened walking from one block to the other block and then we start fighting for position,” Green added. “And from there, everything else just happened in slow motion. I’m fighting for the position; he’s fighting for the position. I don’t want to pick up a foul — because the whistle was … a whole other issue — I go fight for the position, he goes and fights for the position and he does this spin, and when he spins, he’s still in place.
“He took one step and he’s in front of the rim catching a lob with the left. I thought I could get the lob when I saw it go up, I had no chance of getting it. I thought Jimmy [Butler] could get the lob from the backside; he had no chance of getting it. The only person who had a chance to get the lob was the guy who caught the lob, Wemby.”
Green admitted that he was happy the refs called a foul on him, because had the dunk counted and Wembanyama screamed in his face, as he did, he believes Golden State might not have been able to overcome San Antonio’s momentum at that point in the game.
“So that was a fun ass moment, I love to see guys respond and not back down,” Green added.
“Respect earned. I think the young fella, obviously we all know how special he is, but I think the thing I’m most impressed about is his work ethic and I know his work ethic is insane because I know how much better he’s gotten.”
There is no doubt that Green has the utmost respect for the young star, despite their heated moments on the court, and even believes Wembanyama could sweep all three major NBA awards this season.
However, on Wednesday and Friday, Green and the Warriors got the better of Wembanyama and the Spurs in back-to-back games.
Keegan Murray could make his 2025-26 NBA season debut soon.
The young Kings forward was assigned to the Stockton Kings on Monday and cleared for 5-on-5 contact basketball. Murray plans to join Sacramento in Oklahoma City amid its current five-game road trip, per The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson, and “there is hope” he will play before the Kings return home.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray has been cleared for 5-on-5 contact basketball and assigned to the G League Stockton Kings for practice today. Murray plans to join the NBA club in Oklahoma City and there is hope he will make his season debut during the current road trip.
The former No. 4 overall pick signed a five-year, $140 million extension with the Kings before the start of the season. Murray has averaged 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 233 regular-season games for Sacramento.
Sacramento surely misses the two-way wing’s services, as the team has been off to a widely underwhelming start to the season.
The Kings are 3-11 on the season (14th in the Western Conference) and trying to snap out of a current six-game losing streak. Still ahead, the Kings will face the Thunder in Oklahoma City, Grizzlies in Memphis and Nuggets in Denver before returning to Sacramento on Nov. 24.
Murray’s return, whenever that might be, should help with that goal of turning things around.
While the Montreal Canadiens were suffering a fourth straight defeat, one of their former players was reaching an important milestone. Jeff Petry, who spent eight of his 16-season-long career in Montreal, skated in his 1,000th game with the Florida Panthers.
The Habs first acquired Petry at the trade deadline in 2015 for a second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick at the 2015 draft. He could have been a rental player, but after putting up seven points in 19 games, he was signed to a six-year contract extension with a $5.5 million cap hit and became a significant part of the Sainte-Flanelle’s blueline. From 16 points in his first complete season in Montreal, he became a steady 40-plus points producer in the last four years of the contract. His performance prompted then-GM Marc Bergevin to sign him to a four-year contract extension with a $6.250 million cap hit in September 2020.
Whichever way you look at it, the Canadiens were lucky to have Petry during the Shea Weber years. Acquired to be the team’s top blueliner, Weber missed a lot of time due to injury, and when he was on the sidelines, Petry consistently stepped up to fill the void. In 508 games with the Habs, he put up 248 points.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 outbreak derailed Petry’s career with the Canadiens. A family man, Petry became a shadow of himself when his wife and three boys stayed behind in the USA for the season because of the restrictions. It prompted him to request a trade to an American team despite having recently signed a contract extension.
In their eight years in town, the Petry family left their mark on the organization. Not only because of the defenseman’s play, but because his wife Julie started a clothing label with goaltender Carey Price’s wife Angela. The Line Change label began as a Canadiens-only label but quickly expanded to other teams, and it’s now teaming up with Jessica Campbell, the first female assistant coach to have a role behind an NHL team’s bench.
The family’s eldest son, Boyd, also became something of an internet sensation in Montreal through the team’s social media, shooting many videos of the youngsters behind the scenes while he watched his dad play.
When Kent Hughes finally found a trading partner for the right-shot defenseman, he landed Mike Matheson from the Pittsburgh Penguins, a player who has played a significant role in the Sainte-Flanelle’s rebuild. The Canadiens’ GM had to throw in Ryan Poehling in the trade, and he received a 2023 fourth-round pick as well in what turned out to be a fantastic trade for the Habs. To this day, Matheson is a significant cog in the Canadiens’ defence, while Petry’s stay in Pittsburgh only lasted 61 games.
Just over a year later, the Canadiens reacquired the defenseman in a three-way trade. Still, Hughes promptly traded him again, this time to the Detroit Red Wings, a team he grew up watching as an Ann Arbour, Michigan native whose dad played for the Detroit Tigers in the MLB. The way Hughes handled the delicate Petry was no doubt noted by players around the league, as it showed just how respectful the GM was of his players.
Petry would end up playing in Detroit for two seasons before signing a one-year deal at a league-minimum $775,000 with the Panthers in the hope of winning a Stanley Cup before retiring. While things haven’t gone according to plan so far for the double-reigning Champions, with injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, they are far from out of the playoff race. In 1,000 games, the defenseman has put up 390 points, meaning that 64% of his offensive production came while wearing the Sainte-Flanelle.
The Panthers honoured Petry for his milestone in a pregame ceremony, where he received the traditional silver stick and added a personal touch by having his sons announce the starting lineup in the dressing room.
It appears we have seen Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together on the court in meaningful games for the final time.
After the two superstars and longtime rivals joined forces to help secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, both were asked by James’ co-host, Steve Nash, on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast if they intend to participate again at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“You already know my answer,” James told Nash. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo.”
“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said. “It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”
James will be 43 years old and Curry will be 40 at the time of the 2028 Olympics, and it’s fair to assume that both could be retired by then.
Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris last summer was so special, because the league’s iconic elder statesmen, like Curry, James and Kevin Durant, all joined forces to create a super team with other NBA stars that rivaled, and perhaps exceeded, the talent of the famous 1992 “Dream Team.”
Their heroics last summer, specifically Curry’s, made for some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, and James doesn’t believe it could get much better in 2028.
“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “How are we going to top those last two games?”
Without James, Curry, and perhaps Durant, who also will be 40 in the Summer of 2028, it appears Team USA will need new leadership at the next Olympics as it looks to secure another gold medal.
It appears we have seen Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together on the court in meaningful games for the final time.
After the two superstars and longtime rivals joined forces to help secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, both were asked by James’ co-host, Steve Nash, on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast if they intend to participate again at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“You already know my answer,” James told Nash. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo.”
“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said. “It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”
James will be 43 years old and Curry will be 40 at the time of the 2028 Olympics, and it’s fair to assume that both could be retired by then.
Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris last summer was so special, because the league’s iconic elder statesmen, like Curry, James and Kevin Durant, all joined forces to create a super team with other NBA stars that rivaled, and perhaps exceeded, the talent of the famous 1992 “Dream Team.”
Their heroics last summer, specifically Curry’s, made for some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, and James doesn’t believe it could get much better in 2028.
“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “How are we going to top those last two games?”
Without James, Curry, and perhaps Durant, who also will be 40 in the Summer of 2028, it appears Team USA will need new leadership at the next Olympics as it looks to secure another gold medal.
As the Mets' offseason shakes out, the huge domino that will fall regarding the offense isPete Alonso.
With Alonso a free agent for the second consecutive year, it can be argued that he is the best fit to fill the Mets' power need and that Alonso's most logical landing spot is right back in Queens
But with Alonso reportedly seeking a seven-year deal and his free agency potentially dragging out, New York could be forced to move on without him in order to remove the risk of losing other quality options.
No matter what happens with Alonso, though, the Mets should be looking to add more offense.
If Alonso leaves, New York's goal should be adding two impact bats.
If Alonso stays, the goal should be adding one other legitimate bat in addition to him.
Should the versatile Cody Bellinger be near the top of the list?
Here are the pros and cons of signing the outfielder/first baseman...
Jul 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Cody Bellinger (35) tosses his bat as he watches his three run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
PROS
In his age-29 season, Bellinger had his second-best campaign since winning the MVP award in 2019.
Over 656 plate appearances spanning 152 games for the Yankees, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 (125 OPS+) with 29 home runs, 25 doubles, five triples, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored.
Bellinger also didn't strike out much. The left-hander fanned only 90 times, continuing a career trend that has spanned from 2019 to now, which was interrupted only during the 2022 season.
And Bellinger continued to show his versatility in 2025 as he started 115 games in right field, 36 games at first base, and 25 in center field. He was a plus defensively while moving all over the field, rating in the 93rd percentile when it comes to Outs Above Average and possessing an elite throwing arm.
Bellinger's aforementioned strikeout rate was among the best in the majors, while his other advanced offensive stats were a mixed bag. However, with his MVP season being an exception, he has rarely been above average when it comes to hitting the ball hard -- and has succeeded at the plate in spite of it.
Meanwhile, Bellinger has repeatedly proven that he can handle playing in a big market.
His MVP season came in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, he had an .881 OPS for the Cubs in 2023, and excelled in 2025 in his first season with the Yanks.
Bellinger has also been a lineup mainstay for most of his career. He played in a career-low 95 games for the Dodgers in 2021 as he battled a bunch of different injuries, but has played between 132 and 162 games in every other season of his nine-year career.
Mar 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits an RBI single in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
CONS
The Mets signing Bellinger would almost certainly be contingent on one of two things happening -- the departure of Alonso or the trade of Brandon Nimmo.
If Alonso returns -- and he should be at the top of the Mets' list of priorities -- there could still be room for Bellinger if Nimmo is traded. But there are a few issues there.
The first is that Nimmo has a full no-trade clause, which means he would have to approve any deal. The second is that while Nimmo is still an above average offensive player, his contract (five years remaining at $20.5 million per season) and age (he'll be 33 years old in March) might mean New York having to pay down some of his deal in a potential trade.
The simplest scenario could be the Mets signing Bellinger to replace Alonso at first base if the latter signs elsewhere, but that would make New York's lineup even more left-handed and not adequately fill the power void Alonso's departure would create.
Then there's the question of how much it will take to sign Bellinger, with a reasonable belief being that his contract will be between five and seven years long.
As someone who is a plus offensive player, a plus defender, and a plus on the bases, it's hard to argue against that length of contract being fair for Bellinger. But while his struggles in 2021 and 2022 seem like an aberration, there are some underlying concerns regarding Bellinger's offensive production.
One of those concerns? Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 (.909 OPS) at the hitter's haven that is Yankee Stadium in 2025. On the road, he hit just .241/.301/.414 (.715 OPS).
VERDICT
Even though Bellinger is a good offensive player who would help when it comes to the Mets' desire to improve their defense, he isn't a smooth fit.
Perhaps that could change if Bellinger lingers on the market deep into the offseason and/or Alonso departs.
But as of now, the Mets' top offensive targets should be Alonso, Alex Bregman, and Bo Bichette.
The Warriors have been rolling since Moses Moody was reinserted into the starting lineup, an adjustment that likely won’t change anytime soon.
Since suffering a blowout road loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder last week that resulted in several team meetings, Warriors coach Steve Kerr changed some things around and plugged Moody into the first five, alongside Steph Curry, Will Richard, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
Since then, the Warriors have won three games in a row, and Moody is averaging 18.3 points on 48.6-percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range, with 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 30 minutes.
On 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” on Monday, Kerr was asked if he believes Moody has solidified a spot in his starting lineup going forward.
“Well, he started the last 30 games last year. One of the reasons we liked him in that role is because we had lost [Andrew Wiggins] in the trade for Jimmy and Moses was the best-suited guy to guard the ball,” Kerr explained. “He’s doing a great job of that. So he’s a really good fit next to Steph, Jimmy and Dray. He guards the ball and he’s very efficient offensively. He doesn’t turn it over and knocks down shots.
“I never want to say for sure that everything is set in stone because things happen and combinations change and all that stuff, but I don’t foresee Moses coming out of the lineup, I would say that.”
The 23-year-old underwent right thumb surgery to repair a torn UCL that affected him during the NBA playoffs last season.
That offseason surgery — combined with inspiration from former teammate Klay Thompson — led Moody to make a slight tweak with his shot. So far, that adjustment has made all the difference as Moody is shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc on 6.6 attempts per game this season.
The Philadelphia Flyers have a number of their top prospects knocking on the door for an NHL role, but if those players do get called up, the team cannot continue to make the same mistakes repeatedly as they have been.
Rookie Nikita Grebenkin has hardly gotten a fair shake since the season started, franchise player Matvei Michkov is playing significantly less than last year, and it took the Flyers nearly a month to install defenseman Emil Andrae as a regular in the lineup.
While defenseman Adam Ginning, who has played just once since Oct. 16, is likely the first to go to make a roster spot for a prospect, the Flyers need to do it with a purpose.
Anthony SanFilippo of On Pattison recently reported that the Flyers might be "ready to give [Alex Bump] a look, but they don't want him stuck playing on the fourth line. The Flyers brass believes when Bump comes up, he has to play in the top nine."
In translation, that means more than 12 minutes a night, and not playing with Rodrigo Abols and Garnet Hathaway.
But the same, obviously, hasn't been true for Grebenkin and Michkov, who have both had to do that this season at some point.
Bump, 21, has four goals, nine assists, and 13 points in 15 games with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, with 11 of those points coming in his last 10 games.
The offense is finally coming after an unimpressive preseason, and the Flyers, who rank seventh-worst in the NHL in goals scored, could certainly use that.
This is simply a matter of how, but head coach Rick Tocchet and Co. have not yet shown a willingness to lean into the youth, bar the Noah Cates line and newcomer Trevor Zegras.
Adding a young Bump to the equation only further muddies matters, as the Flyers would then have to organize a group of top-nine wingers that includes him, Michkov, Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, Zegras, if he stays on the wing, and potentially Grebenkin, too.
Such a move would effectively force Zegras and Christian Dvorak to stay down the middle permanently, which can, and arguably should be, the plan for Tocchet, but that remains to be seen.
Tocchet has basked in the versatility those two bring to the table, and it would be hard to imagine he softens his stance on that to make way for a 21-year-old winger.
Nonetheless, the Flyers absolutely should be leaning into youth and more traditional rebuilding practices while it is convenient for them, rather than seeing what developments come about and winging it from there - no pun intended.
Plus, Porter Martone could be in the conversation as soon as this spring. The Flyers ought to see which pieces fit into Tocchet's "puzzle" and which ones do not, and sometimes, you have to build the frame first and turn it every which way to find your next move.
Vaughn Dalzell
Raphielle Johnson
