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The LeBron James to Cleveland rumors are heating up

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The fuel on the “LeBron James is coming back to Cleveland” fire is seemingly getting gasoline poured on it from every corner. Noted The Athletic columnist Jason Lloyd spoke on 92.3 The Fan and dumped even more lighter fluid on the rumor (or at this point, league-wide assumption) that James will end his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers and rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last ride.

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“If (LeBron) plays anywhere next year, it’s going to be here,” Lloyd said. “He’s not going back to LA.” Lloyd also went on to give his experience as someone who saw the writing on the wall in Cleveland in 2018 when it became apparent that James was leaving the Cavaliers for the second time. “I’ve seen this movie before.”

James and the Lakers have been at odds seemingly for quite some time, whether that be due to the roster or the head coach. With the acquisition of Luka Doncic, who immediately became the face of the franchise in Los Angeles, it further alienated James — who rarely plays second fiddle to anyone. Even to a top-five player in the league like Doncic.

There are two questions that remain in this fairytale. The first one is if James decides to play again, which is not a given. The 41-year-old is still throwing down reverse dunks and nabbing alley-oops, but there is no guarantee that he will take the court after this season. The second question is how much money he will ask for as an unrestricted free agent playing likely his last year in the NBA.

James is an anomaly, an alien of basketball with a physical fitness level unseen in the league before. This isn’t Paul Pierce signing a deal to retire in a Boston Celtics jersey. The Cavs would be leveled up with James on the roster. But that comes at a price, and it won’t be the league minimum value.

“I don’t think he is going to take a league-minimum from Dan [Gilbert],” Lloyd continued. “Find a way to get to the mid-level [exception], have to get under the [second] apron, there’s other conversations that have to be had.”

The Cavs did good work this past week or so to put themselves in a position to get under the dreaded second apron with the trades of De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball, and they have some expiring salary they can shed. It’s worth noting that they would need to get out of more than just the second apron to get full access to the mid-level exception.

That said, if there is a willingness from both sides to make it work out from a salary perspective, there’s a good chance it will in the end.

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How good is the Red Sox defense?

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox

In 2025, the Boston Red Sox led all of baseball in errors, a statistical category they’ve been near the top of for several years now.

And yet, most defensive metrics don’t think the Sox are that bad, and some think they are elite. By Statcast’s Fielding Run Value as presented by Baseball Savant, the Red Sox had the fifth-best defense in baseball last year. By Statcast’s Fielding Run Value as presented by FanGraphs (which is apparently a slightly different thing, though I couldn’t tell you how) they were the seventh-best. By Statcast’s Outs Above Average as presented by FanGraphs, they were the tenth-best. By Statcast’s Outs Above Average as presented by Savant (again, somehow different!), they were more middling at number 13. And by Defensive Runs Saved from the Fielding Bible, they were twelfth.

Which of these metrics is the right metric? Well, according to the rules of arguing about baseball on the internet, the right metric is the one that helps you prove whatever point you’ve already decided you want to make. If you want to say that the Sox suck defensively, go ahead and use errors. If you want to say they’re great, go ahead and use Fielding Run Value. If you want to provide a nuanced opinion, choose any of the others, but nobody cares for nuance and everyone will ignore you.

The truth is that defensive metrics are far behind the metrics we use to measure pitching and hitting, and they probably always will be. This is just how the field of statistics works: some things are harder to measure than others.

Complicating the issue in the case of the Red Sox is the fact that roster features players of shockingly disparate defensive quality. Ceddanne Rafaela was arguably the best gloveman in all of baseball last year; Kristian Campbell was arguably the worst. Carlos Narvaez graded out as elite by many metrics; Connor Wong graded out as horrendous. When Wilyer Abreu was healthy, the Sox had one of the best defensive right fielders you could ask for; when Rob Refsnyder was out there, they were below average. You get the picture, and if you don’t here’s a pretty shocking little image:

According to Savant’s OAA, the Red Sox outfield (the table on the left side of the slider) was far and away the best defensive outfield in baseball, with the gap between them and the number two team almost twice as big as the gap between number two and number three. But in the infield (on the right of the slider) they were the second-worst collection of defenders, a whopping 47 runs worse than the league leaders.

We still don’t know what the Red Sox infield will look like, but it probably won’t have Kristian Campbell in it anymore. It will have Willson Contreras, who was the sixth-best first baseman in baseball by Savant’s OAA. Marcelo Mayer should absolutely be a plus-defender, though we don’t yet know exactly how good he’ll be, how much he’ll play, or where he’ll play. Much of the same can be said about Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Trevor Story, David Hamilton, and Romy Gonzalez, though, are pretty bad by most metrics.

And then there’s the issue of the revamped pitching staff. The Red Sox outfield (the strongest part of their defense, remember!) had 1074 total fielding chances in 2025, which was actually pretty low overall. And the outfield may get even fewer chances in 2026, thanks to the additions of Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez, two pitchers who induce grounders at a much higher rate than most starters (just like Garrett Crochet).

So how good will the Red Sox defense be in 2026? Talk about that or whatever else you want, and, as always, be good to one another.

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Thoughts on the Penguins at the Olympic break: Are they contenders?

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins scored one of their most impressive wins of the 2025-26 season on Thursday night when they beat a Buffalo Sabres team that has been one of the hottest in the NHL by an 5-2 margin. It was an impressive win not only because they mostly outplayed the Sabres, but also because they did it without Kris Letang, Rickard Rakell, Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari. They did it with another mostly off night from the Sidney Crosby line. They did it with a couple of rookies (Ben Kindel and Avery Hayes) providing most of the offense.

It has the Penguins in second place in the Metropolitan Division going into the Olympic break, while also having a pretty nice cushion over the non-playoff teams in the Eastern Conference.

It is impressive. It is also far better than anybody anticipated for this season when it began.

It also leads to a question that needs to be asked. Are the Penguins contenders this season? Right now? The knee-jerk reaction instinct is to simply say, no, they are not, because that is not what anybody anticipated at the start and certainly not what the expectations were. But as I wrote on Tuesday, your play changes expectations, and based on the Penguins play and results I am having a hard time arguing why they can not contend for the Eastern Conference this season.

Follow me here.

1. Can the Pittsburgh Penguins be Eastern Conference contenders right now?

Let me just give you some numbers on where the Penguins rank across the board in both the standings and some other major categories.

  • NHL Points Percentage: .625 (7th)
  • Eastern Conference Points Percentage: .625 (4th)
  • NHL Goal Differential: plus-23 (7th)
  • 5-on-5 Goal Share: plus-15 (8th)
  • 5-on-5 Expected Goals Share: 52.2 (7th)
  • 5-on-5 Expected Goals For Per 60 Minutes: 2.92 (4th)
  • 5-on-5 Expected Goals Against Per 60 Minutes: 2.67 (17th)
  • 5-on-5 Scoring Chance Share: 51.6 (9th)
  • 5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chance Share: 52.7 (9th)
  • Penalty Kill Success Rate: 84.0 (3rd)
  • Power Play Success Rate: 25.9 (4th)

In just about every standings metric, possession metric, and scoring chance metric they are a top-10 team. In most of them, they are a top-eight team. They are an outstanding 5-on-5 team. Their special teams in both areas are among the best in the NHL. They have four capable forward lines with some depth beyond them (as we have seen with Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen and now Avery Hayes able to make the move from the AHL and contribute). The goaltending has run hot-and-cold at times, but overall it has been good enough.

The only metric where they are not in the top-10 is when it comes to preventing expected goals defensively. They are middle-of-the-pack in that area. But even then they jump up to 12th in the NHL over the past 25 games, indicating some significant improvement in their defensive play.

Against teams currently in a playoff position they are 13-5-6 this season. Against the other top-10 teams in the standings this season they are 8-4-2.

We all know what the preseason expectations were. We all know what the roster looks like on paper and where the perceived shortcomings are.

We also know that we have a 56-game sampling where they have consistently outplayed teams, won games, and won games against other top contenders in the Eastern Conference and the NHL as a whole.

Right now the Tampa Bay Lightning are separating themselves from everybody else in the Eastern Conference and are starting to get healthy. They look like the class of the conference right now and are suddenly giving the Colorado Avalanche a run for their money league wide. They look impressive. Even dominant. Even then, the Penguins have traditionally matched up well with them and played them very well. Including this season. Including recently.

There is still a lot of hockey to be played, obviously, but not THAT much. The March schedule is brutally difficult and I suspect we will learn a lot about the Penguins during that stretch. We have also been saying that quite often this season and each time they keep passing the test. There is a lot to be said for that.

They are an objectively good hockey team right now. It is just a matter of how good and what their potential ceiling might be. My suspicion is it might be higher than even Pittsburgh thinks it is.

2. Sidney Crosby is in a funk and it has not really mattered

The one Penguins line that is not really clicking right now is, oddly enough, the Sidney Crosby line. Part of that was the absence of Bryan Rust for a few games while he served his suspension, and Justin Brazeau not really being a great fit in his place. Part of it has been Crosby going through a rare funk. Both things are contributing.

Crosby especially has been struggling with zero goals, only two assists and a minus-3 rating over his past seven games.

The Penguins record in those six games: 4-1-1

That is a testament to the Penguins forward depth.

That is also another box checked in the “why are they not considered contenders right now?” list.

3. Ben Kindel just keeps getting better

Of all the changes the Penguins made to their roster for this season, the selection of Ben Kindel and his unexpected presence in the lineup has been one of the most significant. An 18-year-old, non-top-five pick, playing at center, and just stepping right into the NHL and being one of the best players on his team (and a good team!) is just outrageously impressive and unexpected work.

He is not only impressive.

He keeps getting better.

Especially now that he has snapped out of the goal-scoring funk that he was stuck in for a few weeks.

He is now up to 14 goals in 53 games (a 22-goal pace over 82 games) and still one of their best all-around players. He had a game this past week where the Penguins expected goal share when he was on the ice was 98 percent. It is the second game this season he was over 94 percent in a game. He is arguably their best possession-driving forward this season. He is finding his scoring touch. He is a relentless puck-hound. He plays with an insane level of confidence for an 18-year-old. He has helped make their lineup significantly deeper in terms of quality. It can not be overstated how significant his presence in the organization has become.

He is not only a big reason why they are a potential playoff team this season, he is setting up to be a significant long-term building block. He is a huge part of the reason why this season has become so exciting for both the short-term and the long-term.

4. Anthony Mantha is having a career year

Kyle Dubas has been on some kind of a run over the past season-and-a-half and the Anthony Mantha signing this past offseason has been one of the more surprisingly productive moves. The plan with him at the time seemed obvious. Sign a guy coming off a down, injury-shortened season the prior year to a low-risk contract, hope to build his value up a little, then flip him at the trade deadline for a second-round pick. He seemed to be this season’s Anthony Beauvilier.

It has worked out significantly better than expected.

Going into the Olympic break Mantha is already up to 20 goals and 42 total points in 56 games, is on pace to set career highs in goals and total points. Prior to this season his high goal-mark was 25 (in only 67 games) during the 2018-19 season with the Detroit Red Wings. He is currently on pace for 29 goals. His career high in total points is 48 in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He is currently on pace for 61 points.

The Penguins could easily trade him for a second-round pick in March. Probably more. But I also do not know how they do that given the way the season is right now. It is not like the Penguins have a pressing need for more draft picks. They already have more of them over the next four years than any team in the NHL, including several picks in the first three rounds.

Should the Penguins re-sign him? That might be going a little too far with it. He has been a great addition and a great story this season. Whether or not he can continue that next season at age 32 on a significantly higher contract is an entirely different question. For now, though, you might just have to ride with it and see where it can take you.

Expectations change. Sometimes when expectations change your plans also have to change.

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Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland Hints At Trading Away Warren Foegele

While the Los Angeles Kings will receive a massive boost in the top six of their forward group with the new addition of left winger Artemi Panarin, there are some consequences to the acquisition.

On the TNT Sports broadcast ahead of Los Angeles' tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Kings GM Ken Holland was asked if he has any more moves up his sleeves.

"We've got a lot of forwards now," Holland said on the broadcast.

The Kings' surplus in forwards has been evident as left winger Warren Foegele has been the odd man out. The 29-year-old has spent the last three games sitting in the press box and hasn't been able to find a rhythm in this lineup all season.

"Warren Foegele had a great year last year," the Kings GM said. "He's been out of the lineup for the last couple of games… got to work the phones here."

Panarin Explains Losing Over $30 Million To Join Kings; Ex-King Gavrikov Had Role In DecisionPanarin Explains Losing Over $30 Million To Join Kings; Ex-King Gavrikov Had Role In DecisionArtemi Panarin explains why he wanted to join the Los Angeles Kings so badly, leaving behind over $30 million in the process. New York Rangers defenseman, and ex-King Vladislav Gavrikov, played a part in helping Panarin decide.

Indeed, Foegele had a solid campaign last year for the Kings. In fact, it was the best season he's had in his NHL career.

He scored 24 goals and 46 points in all 82 games, as well as a team-high plus-36 rating in what was his first year as a member of the Kings.

Warren Foegele (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
Warren Foegele (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

This season hasn't been the same for Foegele, production-wise. In 43 contests, the Markham, Ont., native has six goals and eight points, which is nowhere near what he registered last year.

Part of that is because of a couple of injuries he has suffered this season, and constantly being in and out of the lineup. And when Foegele can get in the lineup, he's seeing fourth-line minutes, which is a role he hasn't endured last year.

With the idea of looking to move Foegele ahead of the NHL trade deadline on March 6, Holland shared his perspective on how he thinks the trade market will pan out with the Olympic break.

Coaching Change Is Unlikely: Kings GM Holland Trusts Hiller To Make The PlayoffsCoaching Change Is Unlikely: Kings GM Holland Trusts Hiller To Make The PlayoffsFollowing Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland's presser, no one should expect a coaching change involving Jim Hiller anytime soon.

"I think it's going to go quiet now for the next 10, 12 days, and then as we get near the end of the Olympic break, the phones will start humming again, so we'll see if there's a fit," Holland said.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman posted a written version of 32 Thoughts following the Panarin trade, revealing some extra details regarding Holland's thought process.

Friedman reported that the Kings were trying to add New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck in addition to Panarin, but it appears Trocheck would like to remain in the Eastern Conference.

Nonetheless, that proves that Los Angeles is still interested in getting a center, as they'll be even thinner down the middle once Anze Kopitar retires at the end of the season. For that, Foegele, among other assets, could be a trade piece to dangle in front of other teams.

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2026 NBA Trade Deadline: Fantasy basketball winners and losers

The 2026 NBA Trade Deadline was full of moves and featured plenty of surprises.

Which players are on the rise, and whose arrow is pointing down following a flurry of transactions?

Here are the biggest fantasy winners and losers of the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline.

For details of every deal that went down, check out: 2026 NBA Trade Deadline Tracker: Live updates, news, rumors, deals, analysis of all the action - NBC Sports

▶ Fantasy Winners

Top-5 Biggest Winners

1. Jalen Smith

2. Santi Aldama

3. Onyeka Okongwu

4. Darius Garland

5. Kristaps Porzingis

Jalen Smith — Chicago Bulls

Smith is the biggest winner of the trade deadline following the trade of Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons. Like a maniacal villain looking to deplete the world’s natural resources, Chicago has stockpiled roughly 80% of the Association’s guards. Smith was starting in double-big lineups alongside Vooch, but his path to increased production has become clear. Smith will get some competition from Nick Richards, but the former has a stranglehold on the starting center job, and he’s a must-add option off the waiver wire.

De’Anthony Melton/Brandin Podziemski — Golden State Warriors

Jimmy Butler is out for the season. Steph Curry is banged up. Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield are gone. Someone’s got to step up for Golden State, and Melton and Podz are the two most likely to answer the call.

Nick Richards — Chicago Bulls

The starting center job is Jalen Smith’s to lose, but there’s no frontcourt depth on this team. Richards emerges from the big man logjam in Phoenix and will have a new opportunity to earn meaningful rotational minutes in Chicago.

Kelly Oubre Jr./Quentin Grimes — Philadelphia 76ers

Jared McCain was beginning to hit his stride before he was traded, and his absence frees up some additional minutes and scoring chances for Oubre Jr. and Grimes.

Walter Clayton Jr. — Memphis Grizzlies

Clayton was stuck behind breakout Keyonte George and stellar backup Isaiah Collier in Utah, but he has a chance to earn some additional run for the Grizzlies down the stretch. Ty Jerome and Cam Spencer have been great, but “silly season” is fast approaching.

Ayo Dosunmu — Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves’ search for a capable backup ball-handler and scorer ended with the deal to acquire Dosunmu, and he should see quality minutes in Minnesota. Moving from a crowded Chicago backcourt is a clear lateral move for Dosunmu’s fantasy value.

Kyshawn George/Bilal Coulibaly — Washington Wizards

Washington was shockingly giving Khris Middleton 24.3 minutes per night despite the team’s terrible record and focus on the future. Middleton’s departure shores up big minutes for George and Coulibaly for the rest of the season.

Darius Garland — Los Angeles Clippers

Garland will move to a team with less depth across the board, and he won’t have to contend for touches with another ball-dominant guard. Expect more scoring and more assists in LA.

Kristaps Porzingis — Golden State Warriors

Availability notwithstanding, KP’s move to Golden State is a good one for his fantasy value. Atlanta’s frontcourt depth features standouts Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson, but Golden State is bereft of talent and size there. Porzingis should see big minutes and usage with his new team.

Baylor Scheierman — Boston Celtics

Scheierman has started two games with Payton Pritchard shifting to a bench role. Pritchard has still seen big minutes and shot opportunities, but Scheierman has some additional runway now that Anfernee Simons is gone. Scheierman is more of a deep-league guy at this point, but he’s worth keeping an eye on in standard leagues.

Marvin Bagley III — Dallas Mavericks

Dallas’ center rotation is Daniel Gafford and Moussa Cisse. Gafford’s injury history is a long and storied one, and Cisse is on a two-way contract. Bagley III should see backup center minutes right away, and spot starts are surely in his future when Gafford inevitably misses time.

Malik Monk — Sacramento Kings

Sacramento dealt Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, freeing up more playing time for Monk moving forward. Monk has flashed big upside throughout his career as a microwave scorer and three-point shooter, and he could see increased run during “silly season.”

Tristan Vukcevic — Washington Wizards

With Bagley III gone, Vukcevic is Alex Sarr’s top backup at center. He’s not worth a look in standard leagues yet, but he has streaming appeal if Sarr misses time.

Brook Lopez/Isaiah Jackson — Los Angeles Clippers

Ivica Zubac’s departure should mean more run for both centers in LA, but it’s yet unknown how the minutes will shake out.

Onyeka Okongwu — Atlanta Hawks

He’s been excellent as Atlanta’s starting center, and he’ll no longer have the spectre of Kristaps Porzingis hanging over him.

Santi Aldama — Memphis Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale were shipped out of town this week, and Zach Edey is still on the shelf. Memphis’ frontcourt rotation is the thinnest in the Association, so Aldama should see monster minutes once he’s back on the court.

▶ Fantasy Losers

Top-5 Biggest Losers

1. Neemias Queta

2. Jay Huff

3. Jaren Jackson Jr.

4. Dennis Schroder

5. James Harden

Jaren Jackson Jr. — Utah Jazz

JJJ will no longer be the first or even second option on his team, and he’s stuck in a crowded big-man rotation in Utah. He’s still got fantasy value in all formats, but expect a downtick in scoring and rebounding.

Jusuf Nurkic/Kyle Filipowski — Utah Jazz

Both big men will have to relinquish some minutes and production to the newly acquired Jackson Jr. Nurkic is still worth holding, but Filipowski is a drop.

James Harden — Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland’s roster is deeper than LA’s, so Harden won’t be relied on as much for scoring or rebounding. He could see an uptick in assists, but he gets a slight downgrade here.

Neemias Queta/Luka Garza — Boston Celtics

Queta has played some great basketball this season, and he’s been a standard league guy thanks to his rebounding and defense. Garza has soaked up backup minutes and made an impact when inserted into the starting lineup. The arrival of Nikola Vucevic drastically lowers Queta’s value and makes Garza a drop in most formats.

Dennis Schroder/Keon Ellis — Cleveland Cavaliers

They go from playing behind Russell Westbrook to playing behind James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. That won’t be good for Schroder’s or Ellis’ fantasy value.

Jay Huff — Indiana Pacers

Huff has been an elite shot-blocker this season, and he’s provided solid value for fantasy managers who scooped him up. His run as Indiana’s starting center is over, and his fantasy value takes a massive hit with the arrival of Ivica Zubac.

Chicago Bulls Guards

It’s unclear how this rotation is going to shake out, but the team has all of Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, Tre Jones and Collin Sexton on the roster. All of them get a downgrade until we get some clarity on playing time.

▶ Fantasy Neutral

Nikola Vucevic — Boston Celtics

Vooch saw big minutes in Chicago, leading the center rotation on a team thin on depth at the position. That will be the case in Boston, too. Fantasy managers should expect the durable big man to offer up points, rebounds, assists and triples while staying available.

Trayce Jackson-Davis — Toronto Raptors

TJD will be buried in a busy frontcourt behind Collin Murray-Boyles, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jakob Poeltl. There’s nothing to see here.

Luke Kennard — Los Angeles Lakers

Kennard will operate as a spot-up three-point shooter in LA, just as he did in Atlanta. His move to the Lakers doesn’t move the needle on his fantasy value.

Khris Middleton — Dallas Mavericks

Middleton won’t be in Dallas next year, and his usage with the team this season will surely be comparable to what it was in Washington. The Mavs have no incentive to give him meaningful run.

Jock Landale — Atlanta Hawks

Landale had a monster game in his Hawks debut, going for 26/11/5 with four blocks and five triples. He won’t make that kind of impact on a nightly basis, especially once Onyeka Onkongwu returns. Still, Landale could have standalone value if he sees 20 minutes per game off the bench.

Gabe Vincent — Atlanta Hawks

Vincent wasn’t on the fantasy radar with the Lakers, and nothing has changed with his move to the Hawks.

Vince Williams Jr. — Utah Jazz

Not much changes for V-Dub in Utah. He’ll still be competing for rotation minutes, and his usage will be heavily dependent on injuries to players ahead of him on the depth chart.

Bennedict Mathurin — Los Angeles Clippers

Mathurin will go from one of the worst teams in the NBA to a team that’s gaining momentum after a rough start. He’ll be asked to operate as a primary bucket-getter and occasional rebounder for the Clippers, in the same way he was asked to do so for Indiana. New location, same responsibilities.

▶ Teams Stock Up

Charlotte Hornets

They’re riding an eight-game win streak, looking to end a 10-year playoff drought and added a strong backup guard to shore up a rotation that has had trouble staying healthy.

Washington Wizards

A starting lineup of Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr is intriguing to say the least. The Wizards have two superstars surrounded by a young, athletic and defensively-gifted core. This team is going to be fun next season.

Boston Celtics

Brad Stevens’ system and Joe Mazzulla’s coaching have propelled the Jayson Tatum-less Celtics to a top-3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the C’s traded a backup guard for a reliable, starting center. Big dub.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The rich get richer, as the defending champs add a talented PG in Jared McCain.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The swap of Darius Garland for James Harden should be a good move for the Cavs and the Clippers. Harden is joined by Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis as new additions who shore up Cleveland’s backcourt rotation.

▶ Teams Stock Down

Chicago Bulls

The rebuild is officially in place, but what the heck is this team doing? The guard-heavy Bulls lack an identity, and Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis are the only two guys on the roster around which you can build.

Golden State Warriors

The Dubs are barely treading water, and their season won’t magically turn around by adding a usually-unavailable Kristaps Porzingis.

Sacramento Kings

They’re arguably the worst team in the NBA with no franchise cornerstones, identity or direction. They’re not winning now, and they probably won’t be winning anytime soon.

Miami Heat

They made no moves, and they’ll be lucky to escape the Play-In Tournament.

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Aaron Watson is the #16 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system!

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 07: Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs leans on the dugout wall prior to a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on June 07, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds jumped at the chance to draft 6’5” right-hander Aaron Watson in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and threw him an over-slot $2.7 million signing bonus to persuade him to eschew his commitment to the University of Florida and turn pro for good.

Watson, whom you just voted as the #16 ranked player in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, was ranked as the #27 overall player in the country coming out of high school last year, as well as the #1 player in the state of Florida by Perfect Game. He reportedly possesses plus command of three pitches already and works in and around the zone with aplomb for a player his size and age, the kind of already-polished pitcher that should, in theory, move quickly through the Reds system should they so choose.

The Jacksonville, FL native still hasn’t thrown an in-game pitch as a pro yet, however, and that mystery is probably the lone reason why he didn’t end up higher on this year’s CPR. Where he begins in 2026 is all that’s left to determine, though I’d be surprised if it’s anywhere other than with Daytona in the Florida State League.

Congrats to Aaron, who took home a pretty easy victory on the biggest, most crowded ballot yet.

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Tigers Topics: How has the Framber Valdez deal altered your outlook on the club’s future beyond 2026?

Detroit Tigers team owner Chris Ilitch, left, talks to president of baseball operation Scott Harris as they watch batting practice during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Well it’s certainly been an eventful few days in Tigertown. After a fairly shocking signing of top free agent starter Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal on Wednesday, Tarik Skubal won his arbitration battle and set a new standard for elite third year arbitration eligible players by securing a $32 million contract for 2026.

I’m not going to look the gift horse in the mouth here. We could wish the Tigers made a bigger move last offseason. You could wish for another bat. Still, the Tigers made a huge move to improve their rotation for 2026, turning it into arguably the best in baseball, and improved the bullpen by pushing presumed starting options into the pen and adding a starter that tends to eat more innings per start than most. There’s a lot to like.

The Tigers are now rocking a well above average $215 million estimated payroll heading into spring camp, blowing the rest of the AL Central out of the water in that regard. As a result, a lot of questions we’ve all had about the Ilitch family’s real interest in trying to win something, and about Scott Harris’ ability to pull off a big deal with some creativity have been answered. By going heavy in average annual value on the deal, complete with a signing bonus, some deferred money, and an opt-out for Valdez after year two, Harris pulled off not just a good deal from a competitive standpoint, but an opportunistic and fairly innovative one by franchise standards.

Of course, he got worked in the arbitration hearing, but that wasn’t much of a surprise and I don’t think anyone is begrudging Skubal getting paid what he’s worth.

My question is whether all this has you feeling differently about the club’s willingness and ability to operate as a contending team for the long haul? Or do you just feel more optimistic about 2026?

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Guardians' Clase Accused of Rigging Pitches in 48 Games

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of manipulating his performances in 48 MLB games over two years, according to a court document obtained by ESPN. 

The new document significantly increases the number of games during which Clase was believed to have fixed his pitches.

Key Takeaways

  • The original number of games Clase was believed to have rigged was nine.
  • Luis Ortiz’s attorney asked that the cases be heard separately.
  • Two anonymous bettors won more than $460,000 betting on pitch outcomes of Clase and Ortiz.

Clase was indicted for his role in the alleged betting scandal in November. The original unsealed documents accused the 27-year-old and three-time All-Star of manipulating his pitches in nine games.

Christos N. Georgalis, an attorney for teammate and alleged co-conspirator Luis Ortiz, claimed that the government believed the real number of games was in the dozens. He also asked in a filing that his client’s case be reviewed separately from Ortiz’s due to the “markedly different levels of culpability.”

“With 26 months of alleged criminal conduct by Mr. Clase -- including suspect pitches during 48 games, dozens of communications with [a bettor], cash transfers and coordination of illegal wagers, [Ortiz could receive an unfair trial].”

Unlike Clase, Ortiz was only believed to have rigged pitches in two games in June 2025. 

Clase’s actions supposedly occurred from 2023 to 2025, according to the indictment. He made 197 regular-season appearances during that time, meaning that nearly 25% of them allegedly involved illegal activity. 

Piling accusations

Prosecutors claim that the two pitchers received thousands of dollars worth of bribes to help two anonymous gamblers in their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 in bets.

Both Clase and Ortiz allegedly fixed different aspects of their pitches, including whether a pitch would be a ball or a strike, or if it would be slower or faster than a given velocity.

In one instance, the government claims that a message sent in April 2025 led to bettors winning $15,000 by wagering a pitch would clock in at less than 98.5 miles per hour.

The judge in the case asked the government to provide Clase’s legal team with evidence of “at least 250” suspicious pitches so they could prepare for trial.

Clase and Ortiz pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery. 

It was about … cockfighting?

In a unique defense, one man who bet on Clase’s pitches said he only traded messages with Clase about cockfighting, not sports betting, per the New York Times. The bettor said that he won money because he was familiar with his friend’s pitching tendencies, and that the money that was discussed was for a legal rooster fighting ring in the Dominican Republic. 

Clase is in the fourth season of a five-year, $20-million contract. Ortiz joined the Guardians at the start of the 2025 season and made 16 appearances before he and his teammate were placed on non-disciplinary leave by MLB in July.

The trial is set to begin on May 4. Ortiz’s attorney has not received a response to his request for more time to prepare. 

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

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What to know about the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony on Friday

MILAN (AP) — The opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics is happening Friday night. Here's what you should know about it.

It will be centered in Milan’s landmark San Siro stadium, featuring the Parade of Athletes and entertainment over the course of the nearly three-hour spectacle that is expected to be the most widely viewed moment of the Games as millions around the world watch on official broadcasters.

How to watch the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony

The opening ceremony begins at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Eastern, 1900 GMT) and will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock and NBC Olympics platforms. Also, NBC will air an enhanced encore in primetime at 8 p.m. ET.

Pop star Mariah Carey and crossover tenor Andrea Bocelli are among the performers. Some 60,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony live in San Siro, including a U.S. delegation led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Because the Games are spread out across Italy, elements of the opening ceremony including the procession of athletes will also be conducted in three other locations. Moments will be beamed to the televised audience from Cortina in the heart of the Dolomite mountains, Livigno in the Italian Alps as well as Predazzo in the autonomous province of Trento.

Who will light the Olympic cauldrons? Yes, plural

There will be two cauldrons — an Olympic first — inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies: one in Milan, at the Arco della Pace some 4 kilometers (2½ miles) from San Siro, and the other at Piazza Dibona in Cortina, some five hours and 400 kilometers (250 miles) away. The cauldrons will be lit simultaneously.

Of course, the identities of the final torchbearers won't be revealed to the world until they step into the spotlight Friday night.

What is the theme of the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony?

The theme is “Harmony,’’ an especially potent message with many populations exposed to violence. The concept of an Olympic Truce, originating in ancient Greece and revived by Olympic officials in the 1990s, is even more urgent this year, opening ceremony creative director Marco Balich told The Associated Press recently. The truce aims to promote peace and dialogue through sport by ceasing hostilities for a week before the Olympics and a week after the Paralympics, which close March 15.

Some 1,200 volunteers have been rehearsing since November for Friday's show. Volunteers include Balich’s butcher, the head of his office and an 88-year-old widow.

The ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September at the age of 91. Armani had long designed the Italian team’s Olympic uniforms, and his legacy as one of the founders of Italian ready-to-wear is tightly tied to Milan.

Balich is the producer of a record 16 Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies, including the 2006 Turin opening ceremony.

Who else will participate in the opening ceremony?

In addition to Carey and Bocelli, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, Italian singer Laura Pausini and concert pianist Lang Lang will perform. Italian actors Sabrina Impacciatore, who appeared in the second season of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” and actress Matilda De Angelis will also participate.

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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The Mavericks used the trade to build around Cooper Flagg, view Kyrie Irving as long-term complement

Oct 6, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right) look on during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

According to league sources and first reported by Grant Afseth of the DallasHoopsJournal.com, the Dallas Mavericks continue to see strong long-term potential in pairing Kyrie Irving with Cooper Flagg as soon as Irving returns from injury.

The trade of Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders on Wednesday, however, was clearly driven by flexibility and the desire to clear long-term salary.  

But according to this report, the Mavericks also believe it will help clear the way for a roster more cleanly oriented around Flagg. And they see Irving as a natural complement, rather than a conflicting presence.

As an experienced 14-year veteran point guard, Kyrie Irving would be expected to regain the reins of the Mavericks offense as soon as he returns from injury. The Mavericks will without a doubt breathe a sigh of relief that their table setter will soon be back on the court – some reports say after the All-Star break, but most realistically, we won’t see Irving in a Dallas Mavericks uniform until next season. 

But interestingly, as the organization moves to build a roster around Cooper Flagg, they look to have other plans in mind for Kyrie Irving: 

“The Mavericks believe Flagg’s comfort handling the ball and making early reads has validated internal projections made before the draft. Some within the organization now view him as the team’s best passer, even as his scoring responsibility continues to grow,” league sources toldDallasHoopsJournal.com.

“Irving is regarded internally as a score-first guard who is at his best when he doesn’t have to expend energy running the offense. Flagg’s ability to initiate offense, dictate pace, and absorb playmaking duties is seen as a way to create those advantages.”

That sentiment was echoed in co-interim general managers Matt Ricardi and Michael Finley’s press conference Thursday. 

When Michael Finley was asked how much Kyrie Irving is part of the future vision for the Dallas Mavericks, he was adamant:

“Kyrie has the ultimate respect for Cooper, he loves the kid’s work ethic, he loves the kid’s love for the game, and I think Kyrie is embracing the role of a mentor to Cooper…I think Cooper can learn a lot from Kyrie.”

As Grant Afseth reports:

“Rather than asking Irving to function as a full-time organizer, the Mavericks envision Flagg handling much of the early offense while Irving attacks gaps, punishes rotations, and takes over late in possessions. Sources described the pairing as complementary, with each player amplifying the other’s strengths.”

That sounds a lot like how the Mavs used Irving next to Luka Doncic, which was a great strategy that allowed the team and both players to get the best out of each other, while using their energy more efficiently. 

The difference, however, is that Luka Doncic was a legitimate point guard. But playing Irving next to Flagg in this position could be very interesting to follow, because it would allow Irving to rest and use his skills for reading the game and elite finishing ability as efficiently as possible. In turn, Irving could provide leadership and a calm presence next to Flagg as the ball handler, which he has needed at times. 

Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg have yet to play a minute together, however. But their chemistry and relationship have had ample time to develop throughout the season, as Irving has been very active in both mentoring and coaching the younger guys, like Brandon Williams and Cooper Flagg here. And that has the potential to make this combination very interesting. 

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

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What would a successful 2026 season look like for the Pirates?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park on September 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been more aggressive than usual in the offseason acquiring veteran players like Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn and Jose Urquidy. These moves have made a lot of Pirates fans excited for the 2026 season, but how high should the expectations for this team really be ?

The last time the Bucs had a winning record was in 2018 where they went 82-79. They were unable to make the playoffs that year even with the winning record. Since 2018, they have had three seasons with 60 or more wins. Their last three seasons, Pittsburgh has had 76, 76 and 71 wins, with the last two seasons resulting in last place finishes in the National League Central. 

The last time the Pirates made the playoffs was in 2015 where they lost in the wild card round to the Chicago Cubs. They made the playoffs for three straight seasons from 2013-2015, where they won the Wild Card Game against the Cincinnati Reds in 2013. 

Talking about the past gives a good baseline on what a successful season for this team will look like for 2026. The Buccos have the former Cy Young winner in Paul Skenes and a plethora of young talent in the pitching rotation and in the batting lineup. 

When you also look at the NL Central, it looks more open than it has in the past. The St. Louis Cardinals are projected to finish in last place in the division, while I believe the Reds will be on par with the Pirates. The Milwaukee Brewers lost Freddy Peralta who had a CY Young season, and they didn’t really add anyone major in the offseason. 

When you put all of those details into consideration, I think a successful season for the Pittsburgh Pirates is winning around 82 games this year. Last year the Reds got into the playoffs with 83 wins, so if Pittsburgh can get around that win total there is a shot they will be competing in October. 

Winning 80 or more games will show that the Pirates are on an uphill trajectory and are heading into the right direction.Although I don’t even think they need to make the playoffs for this season to be considered successful. With how rough the last couple of seasons have looked, I will take a winning season even if that means that there is another October that the Bucs won’t be playing in.   

I know fans in Pittsburgh are probably getting sick of the losing seasons and not competing in the postseason but I would tell everyone to trust the process. The Pirates have a lot of young potential that even if they can show that they can be competitive in the months of August and September to me that would be a realistic successful season. 

Tell us in the comments what you think qualifies as a successful season for the Pirates.

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My simple message for England: get the ball into Arundell’s hands early against Wales | Ugo Monye

Expectations abound for Six Nations and Bath wing deserves another shot in the starting lineup to show his raw attributes

Optimism abounds about England’s Six Nations chances. They go into a tournament considered as one of the genuine favourites for the title for the first time in years and they have the body of work to back that up after 11 consecutive victories. That sort of winning streak leads to greater expectations but these players can walk tall and handle external pressure.

I would warn against expecting another 50-point victory against Wales on Saturday, however. The fixture list aligns perfectly for England – if Steve Borthwick were to handpick his side’s schedule then this would probably be it – and while I fully expect them to beat Wales and claim a bonus point, we have to remember that they are never at their best at the start of a campaign. The Professional Game Partnership might have made some aspects of bringing together players from 10 different clubs an easier task, but it is still a challenge. As a result, we cannot expect that England will be at their fluent best at Twickenham.

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Mets 2025 Season Preview: Austin Barnes is trying to keep his career going

Mar 5, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (15) drops the ball against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Heading into a baseball season, you have to think about depth, even when it’s not particularly pleasant to do so. Take the signing of veteran Dodgers’ catcher Austin Barnes for example. For Austin Barnes to have a meaningful impact on the 2026 season, something has gone wrong for either Luis Torrens or, more problematically, Francisco Alvarez. That might mean injury, ineffectiveness, or some equally unpleasant option, but nobody really wants to see Barnes in Queens in 2026. 

While that may seem unfair, there’s a reason that Barnes was signed to a minor league deal just a few weeks before spring training began. Barnes is 36 years old, playing a position that rarely ages well and is nine seasons past his last meaningfully productive season in the majors. Sure, he’s been essentially league average, give or take, since then, but he’s a glove-first catcher whose playing time has steadily decreased over time. His career slash line of .223/.322/.338 isn’t exactly awe inspiring, but he’s a steady hand behind the dish with veteran experience and still solid defensive metrics who will occasionally turn on one. He’s exactly who every team should have in their back pocket as a third or fourth option. 

The question is if Barnes is still willing, at 36, to play in Syracuse for the bulk of the season with the hopes of getting a shot at some more big league time down the road. If recent evidence is to be believed, the Mets will need a third catcher at some point. In fact, 2025 was the only year since 2016 that the Mets used just three, and not four or five, catchers over the course of a year. So if the goal is more MLB at-bats and another cap/jersey to frame for the den, then have at it, Austin. 

But for a guy whose knees have to be begging for a breather, it would be totally understandable if this was the end of the road for Barnes as a player. For his sake, I hope we see him in Queens at least once this season. For the team’s sake, let’s hope it’s a short stay. 

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World Baseball Classic Rosters Announced

Members of World Baseball Classic 2026 Team USA Cal Raleigh, Corbin Carroll, Mark DeRosa, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Mike Hill pose for a photo during the MLB Awards ceremony. | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The World Baseball Classic (WBC) rosters were announced yesterday on the MLB Network and MLB.com. There is no shortage of talent taking part in this year’s classic led by current and former league MVP’s. But don’t expect just wily veterans to show up because thirty of MLB Pipeline’s top one hundred prospects have made the rosters also and will get the nod in the tournament which runs from March 5-17.

The A’s young arms will be prominent for Chinese Taipei with Top 30 prospects Wei-En Lin (number 19), Tzu-Chen Sha (number 28), and Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (number 29) all making the team. The Dominican Republic has two strong arms straight from the team’s 25-man roster Elvis Alvarado and Luis Severino. Other names familiar to A’s fans making international rosters are Denzel Clarke for Team Canada and Darell Hernaiz for team Puerto Rico.

Here’s the full list of A’s players participating in the classic:

ATHLETICS
Elvis Alvarado (Dominican Republic)
Brayan Buelvas (Colombia)
Denzel Clarke (Canada)
Carlos Cortes (Puerto Rico)
Max Durrington (Australia)
James Gonzalez (Panama)
Darell Hernaiz (Puerto Rico)
Wei-En Lin (Chinese Taipei)
Joey Meneses (Mexico)
Luis Severino (Dominican Republic)
Tzu-Chen Sha (Chinese Taipei)
Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (Chinese Taipei)

For the first time in the tournament’s history, all four reigning MVP Award and Cy Young Award winners are on rosters. Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, and Aaron Judge will play for Team USA, and Shohei Ohtani is returning to Team Japan. In all, seventy-eight previous MLB All-Stars will play in the tournament including thirty-six from last year’s game. Twenty-two all-stars will don Team USA’s stars and stripes, the most of any team.

The tournament will begin on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome. The other pools — located at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Daikin Park in Houston; and loanDepot Park in Miami — will begin play on March 6. The finals will once again take place at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.

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