SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 13: Jrue Holiday #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on January 13, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
No rest for the weary, even in the preseason, as the Golden State Warriors travel up north to play against the Portland Trail Blazers for Wednesday’s second night of a back-to-back. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT in Portland and can be watched on NBA TV.
Previously with the Warriors:
The Warriors showcased another starting lineup in Tuesday night’s 124-98 blowout victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. With center Al Horford a late scratch, Golden State opted for size and versatility around guards Steph Curry and Brandin Podziemski, with Draymond Green starting at center alongside rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Gui Santos to round out the rest of the front court.
Lendeborg impressed once again, leading the team with 17 points in 21 minutes on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting from the field. His nine rebounds also led the Warriors for the second game in a row. After the game, Lendeborg discussed why he believes he’s having so much success crashing the boards in the NBA.
“I feel like it’s a lot easier to get rebounds here (NBA). In college, the paint was always packed… These guys, I feel like, they’re more lazy to get the rebound.”
Yaxel has high expectations for himself when it comes to rebounding in the NBA 💯 pic.twitter.com/kLajtqdYoe
In perhaps one of the strangest scheduling quirks in recent preseason memory, tonight’s game wraps up a busy stretch of three games in four days for the Warriors, one that began Sunday in Hawaii before taking them back to San Francisco on Tuesday and now up to Portland for the second night of a back-to-back.
If this were the regular season, the Warriors would almost certainly rest several of their veteran players. Given that this is only the preseason, that’s expected to be the case tonight, with a long list of players not even making the trip to Portland. That’s good news for the bottom half of the roster, which should get plenty of opportunities to showcase themselves, but bad news for anyone hoping to see the Warriors’ stars on the court.
LONG list of Warriors not traveling to Portland for tomorrow’s game @NBCSWarriors
Steph Curry Draymond Green Yaxel Lendeborg Al Horford Brandin Podziemski De'Anthony Melton Gui Santos Georges Niang Gary Payton II
The Buffalo Sabres stayed unbeaten in the second game of their five-game homestand against the Minnesota Wild, a 3-2 overtime victory at Key Bank Center on Tuesday. The game played out similarly to the 4-3 win over Chicago last weekend, as the Sabres trailed entering the third period, but tied the game on goals by Noah Ostlund and Tage Thompson, before Owen Power scored the game-winner with 38 second left in overtime.
Power, who scored a career-low 29 points last season, leads the Sabres with five points in three games, making up for some of the offensive gap created by the departure of Bowen Byram to Chicago.
"He's really got himself off to a good start. Really skating well, moving the puck well. He's finding people." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "He's breaking the puck out really well. I really like where he's got his game. He's stronger. He's faster. He's really moving up there."
Colten Ellis made 18 saves for his first win of the season, but at practice on Wednesday, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was playing at the home end of the ice, providing the first indicator that he will be the starter against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
One change implemented by Ruff on Tuesday was shaking up his line combos in the third, moving Peyton Krebs and Jiri Kulich up to the top line with Tage Thompson. That combo combined for Thompson’s tying goal midway through the third, a point-blank scoring chance that Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt robbed Thompson on late in the third, and Power’s game-winner.
That unit remained intact at practice on Wednesday, with Josh Norris moving back with Ryan McLeod, and Konsta Helenius, and a fourth line unit of Beck Malenstyn, Justin Danforth, and Josh Doan. Ruff indicated after the game that Doan, who had 25 goals last season, has been struggling with a lower-body issue lately.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: A general overall view of Yankee Stadium during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 24, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The ALDS continues with the White Sox looking to finish off a sweep of the Guardians in Chicago.
Tonight, the Rays can finish off a sweep in Yankee Stadium, to air on TBS and HBO Max. Max Fried will start with a defense that will look to avoid the errors and miscues that cost them in Game 2.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 06: Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a two run home run during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game three of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers will try to finish off the Braves to move onto the NLCS Wednesday night in Atlanta. The Dodgers will start RHP Tyler Glasnow while the Braves will hope that RHP Tyler Mahle can save their season. First pitch is scheduled for 5pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Fox/FS1.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees looks on from the on-deck circle during game one of a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on September 22, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a demoralizing first two games of the AL Division Series in Tampa Bay, it all comes down to Wednesday night as the Yankees fight to keep their postseason run alive in Game 3.
Aaron Boone finally made some changes to the lineup and will give some of the Yankees’ bench their chance in the spotlight, most notably including Anthony Volpe, who is replacing Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second, and José Caballero, who is taking Ryan McMahon’s spot at third. This doesn’t come as a huge surprise given their egregious errors that put the Yankees in an early deficit in Game 2.
The order has been shifted to adjust to these changes, with Trent Grisham taking the leadoff spot, followed by Ben Rice and Luis García Jr. in the hole. Cody Bellinger will take the cleanup spot, followed by George Lombard Jr., and Austin Wells will notably start in the middle of the order for the first time this postseason. Rounding out the bottom of the order, Volpe will make his second postseason start this season, followed by Spencer Jones and Caballero.
At first glance, this lineup has some grit and can bring some life to the Yankees’ offense, which has struggled in this series, scoring three runs combined in the first two games. It’s an interesting choice to have Grisham batting leadoff, especially since he’s struggled in the postseason, going 0-for-6 in the Division Series, and missed the final weeks of the regular season due to a hamstring injury.
However, the new additions in Wednesday night’s lineup may give fans some pause. Volpe, who went 1-for-3 during Game 1 of the Wild Card Series with a sacrifice bunt, has the potential to contribute offensively. However, with only having 11 games at second base on his resume in the regular season, will he make an impact on the other side of the ball?
Max Fried will take the bump for the Pinstripes in his second postseason appearance this season. He will go up against righty Nick Martinez, who is 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA in nine appearances in the Bronx. Martinez is entering a hostile situation, not only because he’s a starting pitcher for the Rays, but also because he’s returning to a familiar environment, as he attended some Yankees games during his time as a student at Fordham University. He was reportedly even kicked out once after indulging in one too many adult beverages.
Adjusting the mindset from the last two games will be essential as the Yankees prepare to play in one of the most brutal, intense playoff atmospheres in the league. The key to staying alive tonight is driving some runs in early and allowing the bullpen to enter the stage in a low-risk scenario.
Here’s a look at the Rays’ lineup, unchanged from the previous two games in this series, which has Yandy Díaz in the leadoff spot followed by Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick and superstar guard Luka Doncic have been encouraged by the team’s preseason play so far. NBAE via Getty Images
Within 24 hours, the Lakers went from looking like world-beaters against a Kings team that’s expected to finish the 2026-27 season toward the bottom of the NBA standings to getting run out of the gym by a Warriors team that’s fighting to stay relevant behind aging four-time NBA champions Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
The up-and-down nature of the last few days epitomized why making grand conclusions from preseason exhibitions about a team’s full-season outlook is a foolish exercise.
Ziaire Williams (left) is among the Lakers being relied on to pick up the defensive intensity. Getty Images
Player availability changes nightly, which was the case for the Lakers when Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Collin Sexton sat out against the Warriors.
Both teams only have a handful of training camp practices before having to play against another opponent and are lucky if they’re able to crack a double-digit number of practices before the regular season starts.
In order words, no team is — or at least should be — at its best during preseason.
But what preseason exhibitions should provide is an insight into what a team has been focusing on since putting together its roster over the summer and honing in on since practices officially began as summer turned to fall.
And for the Lakers, proof of concept was provided when they played the Kings. On Monday, LA at least had a reasonable number of players available who’ll play meaningful minutes when the games count.
Yes, Kessler not playing either game meant the Lakers lacked the rim protection they coveted when they acquired the 7-foot-2 big man from the Jazz. And it showed.
The Lakers will be a more aggressive, and better, defensive team compared with last season. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Reaves and Sexton being sidelined removed the team’s main ball handlers behind Doncic.
But for at least one game against the Kings — and really just the first half when Doncic played — the Lakers showcased a glimpse of the team’s vision.
Ninety-four feet of full-court defensive pressure, with Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia and Adou Thiero all taking turns.
Increased defensive physicality and aggression, leading to more deflections, steals and forced turnovers.
“Especially with Matisse and Ziaire, [the defense at the beginning] of the game [against the Kings], that’s contagious for everybody,” Doncic said. “It was inspirational.”
The offense will continue to revolve around Doncic — and Reaves once he’s in the lineup.
But the how will look different, with Doncic operating off the ball more to start possessions before using his teammates’ screening to come to the ball, which weaponizes his offensive gravity.
“You can look at any game, or any practice, and find good stuff to build on,” coach JJ Redick said. “So, yes, it’s encouraging.”
An encouraging start to the preseason isn’t the be-all, end-all, but the foundation and expectations are set.
And once they’re able to get more of their main players on the court, those expectations will only rise.
Los Angeles, CA - October 3, 2026: Dodgers Tyler Glasnow in dugout in the second inning during game one of NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Tyler Glasnow on the mound, a trip to the National League Championship could be secured this evening in Georgia. Joe Davis and Miguel Rojas both on the shelf for this one.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Tyler Mahle #54 of the Atlanta Braves reacts with Sean Murphy #12 of the Atlanta Braves against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Tyler-squared matchup would be more fun if it weren’t elimination-flavored, no?
Opener said it is unfair for ex-players to criticise modern batting lineup
Australia’s vice-captain eager to open in Tests against South Africa
Travis Head has accused Australia’s golden generation of being unfair in “putting a bullet through” current players, saying the game has changed significantly since they played.
Just a day after Matthew Hayden slammed selectors and accused them of promoting “the greatest pile of mediocrity” after calling up Nic Maddinson, Head took his own stand in South Africa.
Legendary broadcaster Mike Breen is walking back a story about LeBron James criticizing Joel Embiid after James called it out as “lies.”
“I’m so disappointed how the story was interpreted,” Breen told ESPN. “The whole intent was praising LeBron for already having an impact on the team’s professionalism and accountability, even something so benign as a player getting on the court for practice a minute or two late.”
LeBron James (23) of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during a game against the New York Knicks on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty Images
“Somebody told me before the game that they were out ready to practice, and Joel Embiid walked out on the court a couple of minutes late, and LeBron let him hear it,” Breen said.
The following day, James pushed back, writing on his Instagram, “He ain’t been late so stop the lies.”
NBA Finals broadcast team Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler and Mike Breen, before the Game 1. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I thought it would be an interesting anecdote to show LeBron’s leadership already on display in Philly,” Breen continued. “For me, the fact that the teammate was Joel was meaningless. In hindsight, I should have realized the fact that it was Joel is what made it a story. I’ve always been a huge fan of Joel and feel awful that it put the focus on him the way that it did.
“I don’t know why the person who told me the story would make it up, but if LeBron says it never happened then I believe him and apologize for putting it out there.”
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) walks back to the bench as the Knicks lead by 29 points during the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, Monday, May 4, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It’s not the first time Embiid has been at the center of reports about timeliness.
Two years ago, as the 76ers started 2-11, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that his Philly teammates were calling Embiid out for lateness “for everything” during the skid.
Ayehsa Curry and Steph Curry watch the match between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Men's Final of the US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, on September 7, 2025.
Before the Warriors’ first preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, Steph’s wife, Ayesha, posted an Instagram photo of them in each other’s arms while poolside. Ayesha put the spotlight on their drinks of choice in the caption.
“Game day tomorrow! 1 Hugo spritz and a water for the gentleman please,” the post was captioned.
Steph and Ayesha Curry pose for a photo next to the pool before the Golden State Warriors’ season.
Steph doesn’t need any special urging from Ayesha. He has said in the past that he only drinks during celebrations and in the NBA offseason, which means that this decision for “a water” instead of some boozy drink would have been his to make.
Ayehsa Curry and Steph Curry watch the match between Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Men’s Final of the US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, on September 7, 2025. Annie Wermiel/NY PostNBA star Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, walk to their seats before Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays against Jessica Pegula of the US during the women’s final match on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King Center. Jason Szenes for New York Post
That’s definitely worthy of a celebration. Good thing Curry got that deal done before the season began, so that he could toast it with whatever beverage he wanted.
Warriors fans are hoping any alcoholic drinks they have this season will be a cause for celebration rather than for sorrow.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Wild Card Series between the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs was the most stress-free and lopsided playoff series the team has ever been a part of. The offense was relentless, and the pitching was dominant. It is unrealistic to expect that against the Milwaukee Brewers.
What we experienced instead was the most stressful and exhausting baseball of any playoff series in recent memory.
With the Friars kicked in the gut the first two games in Milwaukee, losing after being ahead in both games, the team had their backs against the wall in their return home to Petco Park for a must-win Game 3.
Outstanding and a grind
The Friar Faithful likely witnessed the best game of the season in the 4-3 win over the Brewers on Tuesday night. All phases of their game had to be on point. After getting out to a two-run lead, the Padres had to keep responding to a Brewers team that just never quits. Tenacity applies to both teams in this series, and it’s a battle to the end of nine innings to determine who is still standing at the conclusion.
The 47,708 Padres fans in attendance joined the TV audience to fight through 3 hours and 22 minutes of grueling baseball. The competition was spectacular and exhausting.
Key pieces absent
What we didn’t know going into the must-win contest was that closer Mason Miller would be absent to attend the birth of his first child. And Adrian Morejon had a sore shoulder, which would keep them both away from competition.
Down their two most high-leverage relievers, the coaching staff had to put together a plan that would cover whatever innings starter Nick Pivetta left for the bullpen.
Their secret weapon was Michael King
At the conclusion of his start versus Milwaukee in the second game of the series, King told manager Craig Stammen that he would be available for the bullpen in games 3 and 4. After throwing 72 pitches on Sunday in their 4-3 loss, King was all in on providing more depth for the pitching staff. He was a reliever before becoming a starter, a perfect setup to provide reliable depth in the bullpen.
Instead of throwing his regular between-starts bullpen on Tuesday, King reported to the bullpen at the start of the game.
Bogaerts was as surprised as the Friar Faithful
Xander Bogaerts saw King starting to warm up before the eighth inning and couldn’t believe what he was seeing. In the postgame scrum at his locker, Bogaerts’ awe was obvious.
“It’s unbelievable him being available for that,” Bogaerts said.
Being available wasn’t the end of what King was intending. When it became clear that Miller would be away for the game, King became the de facto closer for the Padres. Called into action after Stammen used Jason Adam, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Yuki Matsui from the fifth through seventh innings, King was it for the last six outs. No one outside the organization knew that Morejon was unavailable. The Padres kept that piece of information very private before the game.
When the ninth inning began without anyone warming in the bullpen, it was obvious the burden was King’s to bear.
His six-out save was his first as a major league pitcher and kept the Friars afloat to fight another day.
A must-win Game 4
Manager Craig Stammen wasn’t willing to divulge the Game 4 starter at his postgame news conference on Tuesday night, but Walker Buehler would be the logical choice. That became official a couple of hours after the game, and pitching coach Ruben Niebla also said as much in his post-game scrum with the media.
Buehler last pitched on Sept. 26 against Arizona in the last series of the regular season. He allowed five hits and three runs over 3.2 innings with three strikeouts. He was unavailable to pitch in the first two games versus Milwaukee while attending the birth of his second child in San Diego.
Activated back to the roster on Oct. 5, Buehler should be fresh and tuned up for his start.
The big question now is who will be in the bullpen to back Buehler up. All hands on deck is the battle cry for any team in the postseason. Regular season constraints and workload considerations won’t apply. The staff can’t worry about saving anyone for the next game. There won’t be a next game without winning this one.
Niebla was optimistic that both Miller and Morejon would be a part of their plan for Game 4. He said as much during his postgame comments. The decision on Morejon won’t come until they evaluate him today. Niebla reported that he threw a bullpen session before the game on Tuesday, but he wasn’t healthy enough to pitch that day.
Gavin Sheets should return
The other player originally intended to be available on Tuesday was Gavin Sheets, who was penciled in to DH. He was scratched with a stiff neck that wasn’t responsive to treatment before the game. His availability for Game 4 will be assessed during pregame work. It was reported after the game on Tuesday that he had improved and was available in the eighth inning.
Luck and determination are needed
Hopefully, Morejon, Miller, and Sheets can all be ready for tonight, and the Padres will need more from their offense against the Brewers if they want to push the series to Game 5.
Fernando Tatis Jr. remains in a slump; he is 1-for-14 in the series. After chasing 10 of the 21 pitches he saw outside of the strike zone in the first two games, Tatis was more selective in Tuesday’s contest. He was able to make contact and drive in a run with a groundout in the third inning.
Jake Cronenworth hit a go-ahead home run to the Crone Zone in Game 3, his first meaningful contribution in the series after going 0-for-7 in the first two games. He also laid down a sacrifice bunt in the third inning that contributed to the team’s first run.
With contributions from the full lineup, the Padres will need their complete bullpen to step up. For these two home games, the entire pitching staff is available. Adam, Rodriguez, and Matsui carried the load on Tuesday. Joe Musgrove, Robbie Ray, and David Morgan will need to contribute for this series to continue.
King contends he is able to come in for Game 4 after throwing 41 pitches in his closer role in Game 3. It is likely his availability will be as an emergency-only option.
Luck and determination served the Padres well on Tuesday. They will need more of the same as well as increased contributions from their player depth. An offensive explosion would also be welcomed.
There is enough to pull this out if the team continues to play as a cohesive group and the contributions come from all through the roster. Beating this Brewers team is a challenge but the Friars have been playing with resilience and togetherness.
The Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman hit his 17th career postseason home run Tuesday, Oct. 17, leaving him tied for 18th overall with sluggers Aaron Judge and David Ortiz.
Yet the feat by the 35-year-old Dodger is likely underappreciated.
It wasn’t just a home run Hernandez hit. It was a two-run blast that helped the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves, 3-1, in Game 3 of the best-of-five NLDS as Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead.
On the all-time playoff homer list, Hernandez needs just one more to catch Reggie Jackson, the legendary New York Yankees slugger who earned the nickname “Mr. October.’’ Would Hernandez earn the right to borrow the moniker and any home run magic that comes with it?
He’s swinging for the fences on a star-studded list led by Manny Ramirez with 26 postseason home runs and populated by Derek Jeter (20), Albert Pujols (19) and Mickey Mantle (18).
Hernandez looks like he crashed the party, with Hernandez the only utilityman on the list of select sluggers.
But perhaps most impressive of all for Hernandez is this: During the regular season, he has averaged a home run every 28.4 at-bats. During the postseason, by contrast, he has averaged a home run every 17.5 at-bats.
This is his 10th season with the Dodgers. Of his 17 postseason homers, he hit 12 for the Dodgers. Perhaps his most memorable was a three-homer game in Game 5 of the 2017 NLCS that helped power the Dodgers past the Cubs, 11-1, and advance into the World Series.
Hernandez hit his other five playoff homers for the Boston Red Sox 2021. He has three World Series championships, all with the Dodgers (2020, 2024, 2025).
Kiké Hernandez further distinguished as fan favorite
Clutch hitting isn’t the only reason Hernandez is a fan favorite with the Dodgers.
In June 2025, after ICE raids hit Los Angeles, Hernandez was the only Dodgers player to address the matter publicly. It was a significant act given the large percentage of Dodgers fans who are Latino.
“I may not be Born & Raised, but this city adopted me as one of their own,” Hernández, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, wrote on social media. “I am saddened and infuriated by what’s happening in our country and our city. Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love. This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights. #CityOfImmigrants.”
When the Dodgers visited the White House July 23, Hernandez was on a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment for a strained left oblique. But he also told reporters, "If I was active, I probably wouldn't have gone anyways."
Other Dodger playoff sluggers
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy are tied for 10th on the postseason home run list with 18 playoff homers apiece.
Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexander Romanov is going to be out of action for a long time.
The New York Islanders announced on Wednesday that Romanov needs to undergo surgery for an ACL tear and will be out for the next six to eight months because of it.
With this news, Romanov is set to miss a significant chunk of the season, at a minimum. If his recovery takes six months, he could return in April during the final stretch of the regular-season. Yet, if he ends up needing eight months to recover, that would likely be the end of his year unless the Islanders go on a long playoff run.
This is terrible news for Romanov. The former Canadiens defenseman was limited to only 15 games last season due to injury. Now, he is missing a significant amount of time again for the Islanders.
Romanov was selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. In 133 games over two seasons with the Habs, he posted four goals, 15 assists, 19 points, and 365 hits. His time with the Canadiens ended when he was traded to the Islanders following the 2021-22 season.
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 28: Duop Reath #26of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 28, 2026 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve already covered why the Sixers can’t easily replace Hukporti. The TL;DR version: They’re hard-capped at the first apron and don’t have enough wiggle room under it at the moment to sign anyone other than an undrafted free-agent rookie. They’d have to waive Jabari Walker or dump salary to sign someone to a standard contract.
The good news is that they do still have an open two-way spot, which they could use to sign someone as a stopgap solution. After all, they initially signed both Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker to two-way deals last year before converting both to standard contracts, so there’s recent history of them making good use of those spots.
With that in mind, we’ve taken a brief walk around the league to examine some training camp battles that could help the Sixers solve their backup center problem for now. Fair warning: These are not for the faint of heart.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have two bigs signed to Exhibit 10 deals, Rienk Mast and Keba Keita. Of the two, Mast might be the better bet. Mast is listed at 6’10” and 250 pounds on the Pacers’ training camp roster, while Keita is 6’8″ and 230 pounds.
Mast spent his first three years of college at Bradley before transferring to Nebraska ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. He averaged 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29.5 minutes per game across his 66 games at Nebraska, although he blocked only 26 total shots over those two years. On the bright side, he did shoot 32.5 percent from deep on 4.3 attempts per game, so he could add a floor-spacing element to the Sixers’ frontcourt.
Keita split his college career between Utah and BYU, but he never averaged more than 8.3 points or 7.9 rebounds in any of his four seasons. He was a better shot-blocker than Mast in college, but it’s hard to imagine that translating to the NBA given his height (or lack thereof).
The Pacers do still have one open roster spot, so they could always sign Mast or Keita to a standard contract if either impresses during the preseason. But if both get shipped down to the G League, the Sixers could poach one of them if so desired.
Milwaukee Bucks
Staying in the Central Division, the Milwaukee Bucks also have a pair of centers signed to Exhibit 10 contracts. They just signed Johni Broome (no thank you), but they also added Jake Stephens on an Exhibit 10 in mid-September.
Stephens spent most of his collegiate career at VMI before heading to Chattanooga for his final season. He averaged 22.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 blocks and 2.1 threes during that lone campaign at Chattanooga before heading overseas for the past few years.
Last season, Stephens played for KK Split in the Croatian A-1 League and Adriatic League ABA. He chipped in 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.4 blocks and 0.3 threes in 16.1 minutes per game while shooting 54.2 percent overall and 29.4 percent from deep across 61 appearances.
Stephens turns 27 in early November and has a few years of international experience, so he’s more seasoned than a typical NBA rookie. That could be appealing for a Sixers team that’s smack dab in a win-now window.
New York Knicks
Out of any camp battle, this is the one worth keeping an eye on, even if it wouldn’t necessarily provide immediate relief for the Sixers.
The Knicks signed all three of James Wiseman, Tony Bradley and Drew Eubanks to Exhibit 9 contracts leading up to training camp. That’s notable, as Exhibit 10 deals have ties to the G League, whereas Exhibit 9s do not.
The cost-conscious Knicks do have two open roster spots, and Stefan Bondy of the New York Postrecently reported that they’re planning to fill one of them with a center. Wiseman got the most playing time of the three in the Knicks’ preseason opener Monday against the Sixers, finishing with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, five rebounds and one block in nine minutes. Bradley had two points and no other contributions of note in six minutes, while Eubanks had one point, one rebound, one turnover and two fouls in his six minutes.
The Knicks are less than $3.3 million below the second apron, which team owner James Dolan adamantly refuses to cross, so they don’t have enough wiggle room to sign two of Wiseman, Bradley or Eubanks. Regardless of which one they sign, the other two will head back into free agency, where the Sixers can keep tabs on them once the calendar flips to December. (Unfortunately, none of Wiseman, Bradley or Eubanks are eligible for two-way deals since they have more than three years of NBA experience.)
OKC Thunder
The last thing the Oklahoma City Thunder need is another center. They already have Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Thomas Sorber and Aday Mara taking up four of their 15 standard roster spots. That didn’t stop them from signing Christoph Tilly to an Exhibit 10 contract, though.
Tilly spent his first three collegiate seasons at Santa Clara before transferring to Ohio State ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. He averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.4 made threes in 26.0 minutes per game with the Buckeyes across 32 outings. He shot only 23.2 percent from deep on low volume, so he isn’t much of a threat from long range, but he’s not a complete non-factor, either.
The Thunder liberally rested starters in their preseason opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, which allowed them—and the rest of the league—to get a long look at Tilly. He finished with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, one block, three turnovers and four fouls in 25 minutes.
Tilly is listed on the Thunder’s training camp roster as 7’0″ and 246 pounds, so he at least has the size to fill in behind Embiid and Bona. Stephens might be the more promising option based on his overseas experience, but Tilly could be an intriguing flier.
Phoenix Suns
Finally, someone with actual NBA experience!
After going undrafted in 2023, Duop Reath initially signed a two-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers wound up converting him after the 2024 trade deadline to a three-year, $6.2 million minimum contract.
Reath appeared in 146 games for the Blazers during his three seasons in Portland, including 20 starts his rookie year. He finished his tenure there with averages of 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 threes and 0.4 blocks in only 13.3 minutes per game. The Blazers wound up trading him and two second-round picks to the Atlanta Hawks for Vít Krejčí ahead of last year’s trade deadline, and the Hawks promptly waived him.
Reath signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Suns this offseason, but they already have 15 players under standard contract and all three of their two-way spots filled. If the Sixers prefer to sign someone with NBA experience to their last two-way spot, the 6’9″, 245-pound Reath might be their best option at center, particularly since he overlapped with Anfernee Simons and Rayan Rupert in Portland.
Toronto Raptors
After spending five seasons at Oregon, Nate Bittle went undrafted this past summer and promptly signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Toronto Raptors. He averaged 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.8 threes in only 20.6 minutes per game in his four summer-league outings while shooting 50.0 percent overall and 43.8 percent from deep.
That shot-blocking and three-point-shooting ability wasn’t an outlier, either. During his super-senior season at Oregon, Bittle averaged 1.8 blocks and 1.4 threes per game, although he shot only 31.9 percent from distance.
The Raptors do still have one standard roster spot open, although they’re less than $1 million below the first apron. They presumably won’t be willing to cross that and subject themselves to the first-apron restrictions to sign a 15th man, even if it means playing keep-away from a division rival.
Utah Jazz
After going undrafted in 2025, Jonas Aidoo signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets, who promptly waived him two days later. He latched on with their G League affiliate in late December and averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in only 11.5 minutes per game while shooting 55.2 percent overall.
The 6’11”, 240-pound center signed another Exhibit 10 deal this offseason, albeit with the Utah Jazz this time around. He’s played sparingly over their first two preseason games, although he did chip in six points on 2-of-3 shooting, five rebounds and a block in only eight minutes against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
The Jazz have plenty of breathing room under the aprons and do have an open roster spot, so they could choose to sign Aidoo to a standard contract or convert one of their two-ways to a standard deal and hand him that open two-way deal instead. But if he does shake loose, he has a year’s worth of G League experience that could give him a leg up on some of the other fresh-out-of-college options whom the Sixers might consider for their last two-way spot.
Again, none of these options are perfect. But the Sixers are desperate for a warm body who’s roughly 7 feet tall in the wake of Hukporti’s injury. Thankfully, they could have some half-decent options available in the next few weeks as long as these Exhibit 10 signees don’t get converted to standard contracts.
