When the Nashville Predators signed Jonathan Marchessault to a five-year, $27.5 million contract in the summer of 2024, the expectation was pretty simple. He was coming off a Stanley Cup win with the Vegas Golden Knights, had just scored 42 goals, and looked like the type of player who could help push Nashville into contender territory, playing alongside Steven Stamkos.
That obviously hasn't happened.
The Predators have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and now that Chris MacFarland is running the front office, it feels like some difficult conversations are coming. One of them probably has to involve Marchessault.
It's tough to look at the last two years and call the signing anything other than disappointing. This past season was especially rough. Marchessault finished with 12 goals and 31 points in 62 games, dealt with injuries, and never really found the offensive rhythm Nashville brought him in to provide.
At the same time, the Predators are no longer a team built entirely around veterans. There are younger players pushing for bigger opportunities, and that's where things get interesting. Matthew Wood, Joakim Kemell, and Luke Evangelista are part of the future. And, eventually, those players need more ice time and bigger roles if the organization wants to find out exactly what it has.
That's why a trade should happen this season.
Not because Marchessault can't still help a team, but because Nashville may have reached the point where moving forward is more important than trying to make an old plan work. Reports have already suggested that both sides could be open to a fresh start, although his no-movement clause means he will have a significant say in where that might be.
The contract is probably the biggest hurdle. Nashville may need to retain salary, and the return likely isn't going to be anything headline-grabbing. However, sometimes it's just worth moving out a heavier contract even if the return isn't overly impactful.
If MacFarland can clear some cap space, open up a roster spot, and give one of the organization's younger forwards a bigger opportunity. Then it starts with moving on from Marchessault, which could happen as early as the 2026 NHL Draft.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 19: Caden Powell #38 of the Houston Astros hits a game-winning fielder's choice in the ninth inning during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (27-37) lost 5-4 (BOX SCORE)
Javier made a rehab start for Sugar Land last night and was really good tossing 3 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts. The offense got on the board in the first on a Ferreras walk. Javier was relieved by Alexander who allowed 5 runs over 4 innings. Sugar Land got 2 runs back in the 6th on RBI singles from Ferreras and Perez. In the 9th, they got a run on a Winkler RBI double but the comeback fell short as Sugar Land fell 5-4.
Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
J.P. France, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (26-32) won 8-7 (BOX SCORE)
Nezuh started for the Hooks and allowed 4 runs over 4 innings of work. The Hooks got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Spence Rbi groundout. They got another run in the 5th on an Encarnacion RBI single. Santos allowed 3 runs in relief as the Hooks found themselves down 7-2. They picked up 2 runs in the 6th on a Holy RBI single and Sullivan RBI triple. In the 7th, the offense scored 3 runs to tie it on a Brutcher RBI double, Guillemette RBI double and Whitaker RBI double. In the 8th, Austin connected on a solo home run to give the Hooks the lead. McLoughlin and Chirinos closed it out with scoreless outings as the Hooks won 8-7.
A+: Asheville Tourists (16-41) won 13-3 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Thomas solo home run. They got 2 more runs in the 2nd inning on a Nunez 2 run home run. Rodriguez started for Asheville and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 4. The offense played add on scoring 4 runs in the 4th on a Moss RBI single, Garcia 2 run double and Powell RBI double. The offense picked up 2 more in the 5th on a groundout and Moss sac fly. The offense would add 4 more runs in the 6th inning on a Powell 2 run single, Ochoa RBI double and Moss sac fly.
Luis Rodriguez, RHP: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (WIN)
Anthony Cruz, RHP: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (26-32) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on an error. They got 4 runs in the 2nd inning on a Flores solo home run, Lytle RBI double, a run on an error and a run on a balk. Beck got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs over 5.1 innings with 3 strikeouts. The offense got one more in the 4th inning on a Huezo RBI single. Varela allowed 3 runs in relief and didn’t retire a batter. Fraide came on after him and pitched well closing the game out with 6 strikeouts over 3.2 innings allowing just 1 run.
Burnley relegated in 2022 after Everton breached PSR
Everton ‘angered’ by verdict and have appealed
Burnley have won a landmark legal case against Everton for breaching Premier League financial rules, with the Merseysiders ordered to pay nearly £40m in compensation. It is the largest financial penalty ever imposed on a Premier League club.
The verdict by a Premier League independent disciplinary commission – comprising the same three-man panel that deducted Everton 10 points over the same £19.5m breach in November 2023 – has widespread ramifications for the competition and increases the likelihood of more clubs taking legal action against members who have broken league rules.
“No way the NBA was going to do the correct thing and upgrade Wemby’s uncalled foul to the flagrant on Jalen Brunson that it was obviously glaringly was,” famous sports pundit Skip Bayless posted to X.
“The Alien is now the face of the league the new ratings magnet, the most protected player in the NBA. This is exhibit A.”
Wembanyama may not be a Trae Young-level villain to Knicks fans quite yet, but he’s Public Enemy No. 1 at the moment after shoving Brunson.
As Brunson stood near the 7-foot-4 big man from France in the first quarter, Wembanyama shoved the back of Brunson’s head, which sent the much smaller Knick toward the court.
Brunson raised from the floor quickly and went toward Wembanyama, who smirked while play continued since the referees did not call a foul.
NBA senior vice president of referee operations Monty McCutchen told ESPN on Tuesday: “I think we can all agree a foul was missed on that play.”
The post-game review allowed for the NBA to upgrade the foul if the league deemed it necessary, and that review meant quite a bit since Wembanyama is at risk of being suspended for flagrant fouls.
He has two points this postseason and receiving a flagrant 2 foul would disqualify him for the next game, while a pair of flagrant 1 fouls would also lead to him missing a game.
ESPN reporter Shams Charania’s tweet revealing the league’s decision drew considerable backlash from Knicks fan.
Another X user wrote: “This is the 2nd egregious action he’s had with no consequence this playoffs. It’s honestly comical.”
One account posted: “It was obvious Wemby wasn’t getting suspended for Game 4. The NBA isn’t dumb they know global viewership would’ve taken a massive hit without the generational talented Wemby in MSG tonight.”
The New York Post’s backpage on June 10, 2026. NY Post
All eyes will now be on the referees Wednesday night with a spotlight on how they call the pivotal Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks coach Mike Brown already has tried greasing the referees for a more favorable whistle by complaining about the 24-8 free-throw advantage for the Spurs in the second half of Game 3.
“I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free-throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight,” Brown said. “I don’t think I complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free-throw attempts. San Antonio is a great team. They are a great team, OK. It’s going to lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free-throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling. Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too.”
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 30 : Gabe Landeskog, captain of Colorado Avalanche, poses for a portrait at the locker room of Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
As we get deeper into summer, more and more NHL award winners have been announced. Colorado Avalanche fans are still waiting to learn the results of several major awards and were pleasantly surprised to hear Gabe Landeskog was announced as the winner of two different awards: the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Landeskog was surprised with the Masterton trophy earlier today by his family, in a super sweet video posted by the NHL. Landeskog was being interviewed about winning the Messier award in the video, before watching a video informing him he won the trophy, followed by his family bringing the Masterton trophy out to him.
Gabriel Landeskog is the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner for the 2025-26 season! 💪
The trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. #NHLAwardspic.twitter.com/hMbgQ8g71B
Obviously, Landeskog’s knee injury and journey to get back to NHL action have been very well-documented up till this point, and he’s shown incredible resiliency and perseverance in his return to the Avs, which is exactly why he’s being recognized with the Masterton Award. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I’ll never not be amazed by Landeskog’s return to the NHL, as no professional athlete has ever really successfully returned to playing their sport from a knee cartilage replacement procedure before him, and yet, here we are.
Full voting table for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, won by Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. #GoAvsGo#NHLAwards
Landeskog was nominated for the Masterton trophy for a second consecutive year but that did not deter voters as they elected him in recognition of his perseverance. Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin was a close second and also a very worthy candidate after his fiancée dealt with incredible health struggles. Many different players were also received votes in what is a very prestigious award. Congratulations, Gabe!
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Elias Diaz #35 and Luis Curvelo #57 of the Texas Rangers celebrate after a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field on June 07, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ross Fenstermaker, in his then role as a scout, described Chad Comer as “not a legitimate prospect” but thought he had a future as a coach. That turned out to be a spot-on assessment.
Cole Winn is back from the IL after receiving a Botox injection for thoracic outlet syndrome and is hoping to return to his 2025 form.
Brandon Nimmo has seen his numbers plummet over the last 30 days, though the data suggests that’s largely been a result of bad luck.
Nathan Eovaldi gave up some hard hit balls in the sixth and the offense failed to capitalize on opportunities as the Rangers failed to get back to .500 for the sixth time this season.
The last time the Rangers were at .500 was May 1, when they were 16-16.
On Ezequiel Duran giving himself the nickname The Solution, Skip Schumaker says “sometimes you need a delusional type of player.”
It’ll be tougher for the Reds against Michael King. The Reds rank 23rd in wOBA and 25th in ISO when facing righties on the road, and King has posted a 1.14 WHIP while allowing 0.94 HR/9 at home.
Singer has conceded at least three earned runs in five of his last six starts. He is struggling, and there’s no reason to expect the bullpen to pick him up.
The Reds ‘pen ranks 27th in xFIP over the last 60 days and isn’t overflowing with fresh arms after using six on Tuesday night.
Four of their relievers — including Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon — pitched in consecutive days and will be unavailable.
Bet to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 25-22, -3.63 units
Over/Under bets: 22-23-2, -4.01 units
Reds vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Reds +140 | Padres -160
Run line: Reds +1.5 (-140) | Padres -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-115) | Under 8 (-105)
Reds vs Padres trend
Cincinnati has hit the Over in 15 of the last 23 games (+6.25 units, 24% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Padres.
How to watch Reds vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
Reds.TV, Padres.TV
Reds starting pitcher
Brady Singer (2-6, 5.89 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Michael King (4-5, 3.41 ERA)
Reds vs Padres latest injuries
Reds vs Padres weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - MARCH 13, 2025: Brooks Brannon #71 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates after scoring on a two-run home run hit by Kristian Campbell during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Complex on March 13, 2025 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
For the first part of this game in Rochester (Nationals AAA), the WooSox suffered from a common problem the Red Sox deal with on almost a daily basis; great starting pitching, no runs. Jack Anderson was nearly lights out through the sixth, but the WooSox didn’t provide any run support until the seventh inning. By that point Tyler Samaniego had allowed a two-run shot and the WooSox had another hole to dig themselves out of. But, unlike the Major League squad, the offense could not have come at a more clutch time. First baseman Matt Lloyd drilled the game-tying shot in the ninth to drive in three runs and send this game to extras; Braiden Ward, Matt Thaiss and Kristian Campbell would all do their parts to get two insurance runs, in which Noah Song slammed the door in the bottom of the tenth despite walking two.
Is Franklin Arias or Brooks Brannon doing better as a hitting prospect? Who’s to say, it seemingly varies on the night. Though, I rather enjoy it when they’re both hitting well. They each captured three knocks including a double on the night off the Fightin’ Phils in Lehigh Valley. Anthony Eyanson ran into some walks trouble in the third cutting his night very short, but Lehigh Valley wouldn’t break through until Patrick Halligan’s next inning, and the deficit was too much to cut despite the usual suspects and Johanfran Garcia showing up as well as Caden Rose’s first Double-A home run in the ninth.
By some miracle, Greenville pulled out this game against Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A). A quick glance at Devin Futrell’s line leads to some celebration that he struck out six and didn’t walk anyone but then realization sets in that he allowed two home runs for five runs on eight hits. Tyler Uberstine also wasn’t exactly pristine in his rehab start, allowing four hits of his own. And yet Calvin Bickerstaff righted the ship, because, well, Isaiah Jackson and Ronny Hernandez already helped out enough in the second inning with twin home runs. Not to mention, six Drive batters had multiple total bases. It shouldn’t have had to come to some good late relief pitching. But a win is a win.
Jason Gilman took a rare shelling out of the gate, and the rest of the staff couldn’t really recover from it, though just one Woodpecker (Astros A) run was allowed after the second inning. Adonys Guzman also had a rough night behind the bump, committing three throwing errors. This isn’t to say the RidgeYaks’ offense was absent, just uninspired: the team lacked an extra-base hit on the night, though let’s debunk any claims that the team wasm’t opportunistic, either: three of their five RBI hits came with two outs. Sometimes, that’s juts baseball.
Have a wonderous Wednesday. As in, I wonder how the Red Sox are going to mess up today’s game.
Jun 8, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) throws the ball during the first inning against the Athletics at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Kyle Harrison got rocked Monday night in Las Vegas in a venue where the dimensions resemble your local Little League park, but the stats count nonetheless. Traded by the Red Sox to the Brewers for Caleb Durbin this offseason, the terrible outing — 8 ER in 2.1 IP — boosted his ERA by more than a full point, from 1.57 to 2.72. For a moment at least, it’s a milestone with respect to the Sox, who finally have a starter with a lower ERA than their former prospect: Peyton Tolle, whose 2.70 mark cleans the clock with Kyle’s. Regression, ramshackle stadium, randomness — whatever the reason, Harrison might be coming back to Earth.
Whatever kind of story it is, it is decidedly otherwise not about the Red Sox. It’s fair to judge trades by the outcomes, especially when it comes to trading prospects, but it’s the longer-term view we’re after. That’s when it’s about us, insofar as it ever is. Chris Sale winning the Cy Young? Sure, but even then, am I gonna say a bad word about the guy? No. But a single bad start does not a Boston story make. Or at least not a good one, because apparently it does make for a story, several times over. MassLive did it. So did NESN, which got picked up by (an automated, but widely viewed) MSN. And folks, I just don’t know what we’re doing here anymore. I sure don’t. It’s tautological. If this is the story, this isn’t the story. The story is the Red Sox sucking. Do not wish bad on Kyle Harrison, do not celebrate his down moments and for dog’s sakes, don’t look away from the disaster before us!
Stokes in talks with agent and advisers over his future
Atkinson also left out with Barker and Archer set to play
Joe Root will captain England in next week’s second Test against New Zealand after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out of the squad for breaking the team curfew as they celebrated victory in the first game of the series on Sunday night.
While the England & Wales Cricket Board continue their investigation into that incident Stokes, the team’s full-time captain, is being given some time to consider his future. He is reported to have spent Wednesday in meetings with his agent and advisers debating whether to permanently stand down as captain, or to end his international career completely. He may still choose to do neither, with the former England captain Michael Vaughan having joined those backing him to stay. “Yes, he broke a curfew,” Vaughan said. “Is that a sacking offence as England’s Test captain? I don’t think so. A short suspension would be fine, but this is not a big enough incident over which to lose the captaincy.”
The Calgary Flames hired current head coach Ryan Huska on June 12, 2023, replacing the former Jack Adams Award winner and Alberta native, Darryl Sutter.
Despite not qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs through his first three seasons as an NHL bench boss, Huska has guided the Flames to a 113-105-28 record through 246 games. With a combined 254 points, Calgary has amassed the 25th-highest point total in the past three seasons.
Interestingly, as news breaks that the Los Angeles Kings have hired Peter Laviolette and the Edmonton Oilers are interested in bringing Mike Babcock back to the NHL, the Flames are the only team in the Pacific Division not to have changed coaches at any point in the past three seasons.
Let's take a look at each team and how much the coaching carousel has spun since the Flames hired Huska, ranked by seniority.
Edmonton Oilers
Current Head Coach: Vacant
Despite reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025, with Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers are looking for their third head coach since 2022.
Los Angeles Kings
Current Head Coach: Peter Laviolette (June 9, 2026)
The Kings have qualified for the playoffs for the past five seasons, all first-round losses. Now, they are searching for their fourth head coach since 2020 after relieving D.J. Smith of his interim duties and naming Laviolette as their new head coach.
Vancouver Canucks
Current Head Coach: Manny Malhorta (June 1, 2026)
After plummeting to the bottom of the NHL standings in 2025-26, the Vancouver Canucks cleaned house, replacing their President, General Manager, and, most recently, hiring Manny Malhorta as their bench boss. This upcoming season will mark the third consecutive year with a new coach.
Vegas Golden Knights
Current Head Coach: John Tortorella (March 29, 2026)
The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup with former bench boss Bruce Cassidy, who the team relieved of his duties with only eight games left in the 2025-26 season. The organization brought in John Tortorella, who has guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final.
Anaheim Ducks
Current Head Coach: Joel Quenneville (May 8, 2025)
After several losing campaigns under Dallas Eakins and Greg Cronin, the Anaheim Ducks made a controversial move by bringing in Joel Quenneville last summer. Surprisingly, the Ducks contended for the Pacific Division title for most of the year and advanced to the second round of this year's playoffs.
Seattle Kraken
Current Head Coach: Lane Lambert (May 29, 2025)
Lane Lambert became the third head coach in the Seattle Kraken's five-year history, guiding them to a sixth-place finish in the Pacific Division during his first year.
San Jose Sharks
Current Head Coach: Ryan Warsofsky (June 13, 2024)
Ryan Warsofky is the second-longest tenured coach in the Pacific Division, having guided the San Jose Sharks since the start of the 2024-25 season. Despite a 59-85-20 record over two seasons, Warsofky has Macklin Celebrini in his lineup, giving him a bona fide superstar. If he stays the course, the Sharks will be a playoff team in no time.
Calgary Flames
Current Head Coach: Ryan Huska (June 13, 2023)
Barring any further coaching changes, Huska will enter the 2026-27 season as the eighth-longest-tenured coach in the NHL. The seven coaches ahead of him, Jon Cooper (2013), Jared Bednar (2016), Rod Brind'Amour (2018), Martin St. Louis (2022), Paul Maurice (2022), Spencer Carbery (2023), and Andrew Brunette (2023), have all guided their clubs to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Huska is now the lone exception, making 2026-27 a potentially pivotal season for both the coach and the Flames organization.
Considering Calgary inked Huska to a two-year extension in October 2025, he's set to guide the club through its rebuild, while pushing core players like Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, and Zayne Parekh for career-defining performances for a shot at qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Steve Ott is sticking around for at least a couple more years.
The 43-year-old former assistant/associate coach of the St. Louis Blues who was sent to Springfield of the American Hockey League to become head coach of the Thunderbirds last season, has signed a two-year contract to remain in that position, the Blues announced on Wednesday morning.
The contract will run through the 2027-28 season.
Ott became the fifth coach in Thunderbirds history when he replaced Steve Konowalchuk on Jan. 19 when the Thunderbirds were 13-18-6 and helped them go 19-14-2 down the stretch to reach the playoffs, where they made it as the sixth seed from the Atlantic Division and upset third-seeded Charlotte in three games of a best-of-3 series, then taking down top overall seed Providence in four games of a best-of-5 to reach the division final, ultimately losing to No. 2-seed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a fifth and deciding game.
"It's a great opportunity for myself," Ott said after being named to the position, "but not only that, I get to stay in an organization that I truly love. To help develop our young guys with the development side of coaching, it's really exciting for myself. It's a great opportunity.
"... When you get asked to take that opportunity, I look at it as a big honor. It's not an easy lift for everybody. It's a situation I love obviously being a part of the NHL club, but to stay here and be a part of the growing of the future, it's a job I don't take light or easy."
There's been some speculation that Ott could be under consideration for one of the head coaching openings in the NHL but has opted instead to remain in the St. Louis organization to get some more seasoning as a head coach and better prepare himself should an NHL organization come calling for a job in the near future.
Ott joined the Blues as a player in the 2013-14 season and played 122 games with the organization before signing as an assistant coach for the 2017-18 season and was promoted to associate coach in June of 2024, holding that title for nearly two seasons.
The Blues were 350-244-74 (.588 points-percentage) in the regular season with Ott behind the bench and made four appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs, including winning the Cup in 2018-19, just his second season as a coach.
Ott played in 848 NHL games from 2002-17 and had 288 points (109 goals, 179 assists) and 1,555 penalty minutes.
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.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: Caleb Wilson #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on prior to the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. Wilson will miss the game due to injury. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The exercise of comparing draft prospects has driven me nuts for years. For a time, seemingly every wing with a good vertical was the next Michael Jordan. Tall kid who can dribble? The Next Magic. White forward who can shoot? Larry Bird.
In this draft, AJ Dybantsa has been comped to Tracy McGrady and Andrew Wiggins, who are basically nothing alike. There’s a draft site out there that lists Dybantsa’s comps as McGrady and…Scottie Pippen? What?
Darryn Peterson’s NBA comp, according to this site is Devin Booker. Maybe?
Cam Boozer got Al Horford, which might make sense if Horford had been a big-time scorer with top-shelf three-point shooting.
Caleb Wilson, who could theoretically be a Wizards target in a trade down scenario, was tagged with Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Bosh, who once again were not very similar as players.
This site says comps for Darius Acuff Jr., the last player FanDuel says has a chance to be the number one pick in the draft, are Tim Hardaway and Damian Lillard, which…I guess? I mean, they’re both smaller guards, but Hardaway played more of a PG role — lower usage, more steals — and didn’t shoot as well. Lillard played in an era where more rigid roles were dying out and did more scoring along with playmaking. And he shot better than Hardaway.
Anyway, I’m a stat dork, so I modified the statistical doppelganger machine I made for NBA players and deployed it on Ye Olde Draft Analyzer (YODA), my stat-based draft prospect evaluation tool. Now, the doppelganger machine doesn’t work quite as well on draft prospects, but I’m still asking it to work with YODA and give us who they think are the top NBA comps for the five theoretical possible Wizards draft picks at number one.
AJ Dybantsa | F | BYU
Is AJ Dybantsa’s best NBA comparison really Blake Griffin? | Getty Images
Top Comp: Blake Griffin. Interesting because one of the first things that jumps off the screen is a difference — Griffin was a big-time rebounder at Oklahoma (17.3 per 40 minutes) and Dybantsa is not. But, the usage, scoring, overall efficiency, and steals are close. Both had superb verticals, as well.
Runners-Up:
Michael Beasley — impressive college player (also grabbed many more rebounds than Dybantsa) who scored in bunches. Crashed and burned in the NBA.
Brandon Ingram — lower usage and not as efficient or productive overall as Dybantsa, but similar scoring forward profile.
Darryn Peterson | G | Kansas
Is Darryn Peterson more like Kyrie Irving or Devin Booker? | Getty Images
Top Comp: Kyrie Irving. Not what I was expecting. But as I eyeball the numbers, I see similar scoring (though Irving was more efficient), steals and blocks. Peterson did more rebounding. Irving did more playmaking. Both missed significant chunks of the season due to injury or health issues.
Runners-Up:
Jalen Suggs — psychotic competitor who keeps hurting himself by attempting to make plays with complete disregard to his health and safety.
Jalen Green — similar pattern of production
Cam Boozer | F | Duke
Which comp feels more right for Cam Boozer, Anthony Davis or Kevin Love? | Getty Images
Top Comp: Anthony Davis. Worth mention that basically no one in the database shows up as a strong statistical comp for Boozer. He’s a unique conglomeration of hyper-efficient, high-volume scoring, plus elite rebounding. Davis was a dominating defender with similar efficiency on lower volume. He blocked lots more shots than Boozer. Boozer got more assists. Overall YODA score was pretty similar — both have grades in YODA consistent with being the number one pick in nearly any draft I’ve evaluated.
Runners-Up:
Marvin Bagley III — This guy was so good at Duke that a number of teams had him rated ahead of Luka Doncic.
Kevin Love — This one feels the most right. Love was accused of lacking the athleticism to be an effective NBA player. He ended up a five-time All-Star and two-time second team All-NBA. He’d likely have tallied more of each if he hadn’t played for a dumpster-fire franchise. Seriously, one season he was the only member of the Minnesota Timberwolves with an above average PPA. The Wizards should be so lucky.
Caleb Wilson | F | North Carolina
The Machines look at Caleb Wilson and see the next Kevin Love. | Getty Images
Top Comp: Kevin Love. Which doesn’t feel right at all. Except, the numbers are reasonably similar. Love was the more prolific and accurate three-point shooter, but the rebounding, assists, blocks, turnovers, fouls, scoring and overall efficiency are pretty close. Wilson generated more steals. Fascinating.
Runners-Up:
Blake Griffin. Again. I’m starting to wonder if the doppelganger machine and YODA are just hitting ctrl+c over and over. But…when I look at the numbers, it makes some sense — Love and Griffin were fairly similar, so if a guy is similar to one, he’s similar to the other.
Victor Wembanyama — There are some definite differences. The Machines are picking up similar usage, poor three-point shooting (Wemby shot 27.2% from deep in the season he entered the NBA Draft), rebounding, and scoring. Wemby was less efficient and higher usage, and he blocked a lot more shots. There overall YODA scores are very close — Wemby’s season in France wasn’t mind-blowingly great. He still had a score consistent with being the top pick in most drafts, as does Wilson.
Darius Acuff Jr. | G | Arkansas
Should the Wizards draft Darius Acuff Jr., who The Machines say might be the next John Wall. | Getty Images
Top Comp: John Wall. This makes some sense considering they were both coached by John Calipari, who’s still running the dribble drive motion system he used when Wall played for him at Kentucky. There are differences — Acuff was lots more efficient — especially from three-point range. The other stats are pretty similar — Wall had some rebounds, but assists, free throw attempts, and fouls were about the same. Wall produced more blocks and steals, as well as more turnovers. Still, it all tallies up to similar YODA scores — top 3-5 in most drafts, top pick in a few.
Runners-Up:
Ty Lawson — Superb shooter and playmaker, who played at North Carolina. He had some quality performances in the NBA, though is career got derailed by some personal issues.
Derrick Rose — Hmm, another Calipari guy. Have The Machines figured it out?
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 8: NBA referee Tony Brothers #25 looks on during the game between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Pretty unprofessional, huh?”
Wolves coach Chris Finch sat behind a table in the Target Center media room after a 115-108 Game 3 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. Clearly ready to get something off his chest, he was asked about a second-half mid-court conflict with veteran NBA official Tony Brothers.
Wanting to call a timeout and reorganize his group, he felt as though Brothers disregarded his job and ignored him.
He let him know that. Brothers took exception.
Instead of a typical technical foul and a warning issued to go back to the bench, the grizzled crew chief took things a step further…quite literally.
“He clearly heard me,” Finch said when recounting the situation of asking for a timeout and getting ignored. “It almost cost us a turnover…he lost it.”
Following a six-point loss in which the Wolves were -12 in the free-throw disparity, and a game that saw plenty of stoppages, you might think that the website you’re reading this on prequalifies this piece to be a “the refs cost the Wolves the series” soliloquy.
Not quite. Much of the Wolves’ free-throw discrepancy throughout the series came from a tentativeness in attacking the basket after saying they would be unrelenting in doing so after Game 1.
However, when themes keep coming up from multiple people who are given a microphone around the league, one thing to me remains relatively common. Including Castle himself recently, talking about selling contact and the trend in doing so around the league.
Stephon Castle:
"I sell calls too sometimes. I mean I can't lie. I think we talk to the refs a lot, especially me in particular but most of the times they're right" pic.twitter.com/y4YPNZuneS
That doesn’t count some of the playoff tangents we’ve had, including tenured veteran Devin Booker going out of his way after Game 2 of the Phoenix Suns’ series with Oklahoma City to call James Williams out BY NAME.
Whoa…. Devin Booker just WENT OFF on the NBA refs right now in the post game press conference:
"It's definitely something that has to be looked at. I heard (Alex) Caruso tell them to call the tech and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name,… pic.twitter.com/lfc7UBBue5
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 23, 2026
There are plenty of examples of frustration with NBA officiating. Perhaps brought to its peak when the Oklahoma City Thunder played a series against a Los Angeles Lakers team that always has millions of eyes on it and a fanbase not afraid to speak its mind, questions and tension between fans, players, coaches, and those instructed to keep the game together have reached a point where the NBA simply has two options.
1). Completely ignore the situation – The worst option. This pisses fans off more who clearly want answers to why games are so different from a flow perspective on a nightly basis
2). Address the issue with changes – I’ll talk about this soon, but I believe there are a couple of clear-cut, subtle ways in which the NBA can make the game easier on its officials while making a game already played a rapid pace more fun to watch.
So, blog boy, what issues could be smoothed over that could be the cure-all, if you know so much?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 25: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns talks with referee Tyler Ford #39 during the second half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 121-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stop Discouraging Pace
It’s truly underrated how much faster the NBA has gotten over the last 20 years.
In the 2011-12 regular season, the Sacramento Kings led the NBA with a PACE metric of 97.3 (the number of possessions a team uses per game).
This past season, the slowest team in PACE was the Boston Celtics, with a metric of…97.7.
Shots go up quicker. Teams move faster. And for some reason, games could not go any slower.
It’s simple. Refs are having a hard time making the right call with a game moving as fast as it is, and the fear of getting every call right tends to send them to the monitor more than they should. Furthermore, the amount of time spent at the monitor for simple calls like an out-of-bounds play, flagrant, or goaltend is painstaking.
Adam Silver has come out and said the NBA plans to augment this with an AI officiating system for calls like this. I’m not sure AI is necessarily the answer here, but could something similar to what the NFL has with the sky judge be implemented here? Perhaps a 10-second stoppage in play if the call is extremely questionable to hear from a sky judge, or additional official watching 2-3 different angles in Seacaucus that can call this out?
With gambling culture becoming rampant, I understand officials wearing an earpiece can be shady, but it’s better than what we have now.
Adam Silver says the NBA will implement an AI automated system to review calls.
Imagine games that aren’t completely smeared with reviews. Where up and down basketball is back. Go back and watch a few games from the early 2010s. The contrast to now is so unbelievably stark in a good way.
Now take that, hit the 1.5x fast forward, and get an idea of what the potential of this league could be. These players are awesome, and I don’t need 100% accuracy on out-of-bounds calls and weak flagrant calls in exchange for what could be a far more entertaining product.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MARCH 05: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls talks with referee Josh Tiven #58 during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Bulls defeated the Suns 105-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We Can’t Get Rid of “Grifting”, But There Are Steps to Take
You know those fouls at the baseline that get called all the time?
Where a team has no other shot against good defense, so they drive from the elbow to the baseline, try and catch the defender at a bad angle, and completely fall backwards, hoisting the ball up in a situation where it’s surely not going to go in, but it gets called a shooting foul anyway?
It seems to happen all of the time, and more often than not, they award the out-of-control player. Finch has said it before, and my main gripe matches it. For some reason, out-of-control players are being awarded more than ever now. Fall on a fast break? Sure. Fall on a drive? You got it.
Fouls like the one I laid out could be given the rip-through treatment, as always, being a foul on the floor. There’s no intent to actually score the ball during game action with the embellishment of contact, and it’s obvious it’s a move players practice because they know it’s a cheap way to get to the line if the shot clock is breaking down.
A simple way for something like that to not get the rip through treatment? Playing through the content to show actual scoring intent.
The baseline fallaway is just one example. So many times, a defender could be in complete control while the offensive player is not, and the latter will tend to get rewarded. It might be a place that the league is at, but seeing more play-ons through marginal contact and making things like the above fouls on the floor could be ways to curb what’s happening and also prevent further stoppages.
All in all, I don’t want something like this to take away what’s shaping up to be an awesome finals, and frankly, a finals that’s being officiated extremely well with plenty of contact.
But where we’re at can’t continue to happen. It ruined the discourse of the playoffs this year, it’s slowly ruining the NBA product, and giving a bad example for youth hoopers on what to build their game around.
Is Adam Silver the right guy to figure out? I’m not sure, but man, do I sure hope he is. Basketball can’t keep getting played and talked about like this at the highest level.
Fans, players, coaches, and organizations are clearly getting tired of it. Hell, I’m sure refs are too. Now it’s time for those who run the league to show they are, too.
PISCATAWAY, NJ - CIRCA 1980: Darrell Griffith #35 of the Utah Jazz drives on Mike Newlin #14 of the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game circa 1980 at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey. Griffith played for the Jazz from 1980-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Jazz are lined up to select 2nd overall in the upcoming NBA Draft, and this is a unique position for the franchise. They have finished with a losing record in only 18 of their 52 seasons in the league, and in those rare losing seasons, they are rarely subsequently blessed with a high draft selection – only 1 time in the 42 year history of the draft lottery have the Jazz jumped above their expected placement. Ever since the days of Stockton, Malone, and Sloan, the Jazz have not been bad and they have not been lucky. With this upcoming 2nd overall pick, Utah needs a star.
Famed collegiate icon, best-in-the-world level shooter, explosive athlete, and ferocious competitive fire – if I told Jazz fans we’d be picking a guy with these attributes at #2, they’d be ecstatic, regardless of whether the prospect’s first name is Darryn, AJ, or Cam. While it doesn’t seem that any of those guys check all 4 boxes, Forty-six years ago to the day Jazz fans were blessed with a player who did – Darrell Griffith, the sole #2 overall pick in the franchises history, was selected to bring winning and excitement to a team that hadn’t yet given the new home fans in Utah something to care about. Clearly, he succeeded, as his #35 jersey hanging in the Delta Center’s rafters indicate. The history of the Jazz and the 2nd pick starts and ends with Darrell Griffith, but who is he? Today, in honor of the fast approaching future and the nostalgia of the past, we’ll study Griffith’s career and diagnose whether Dr. Dunkenstein was the right pick for Utah’s sole #2 selection in the history of the franchise.
Pre-NBA: Louisville Legend
UNITED STATES – MARCH 24: College Basketball: NCAA Final Four, Louisville Darrell Griffith (35) victorious, getting carried off court by team after winning game vs UCLA, Indianapolis, IN 3/24/1980 (Photo by Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X24328 TK2)
Almost from the day he was born, Griffith was a phenom – it’s reported that he began dunking at the age of 10 by launching himself off the walls of his family garage, which his brother Michael speculates built up the leg muscles necessary to propel him 48 inches in the air at his peak. Griffith’s youthful successes (state championships in the basketball-crazed state of Kentucky, high school All-American in 1975) convinced the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels that he was the real deal, and they offered him a contract if he skipped college and went professional right away. For context, the 1975 Colonels were no joke – they featured stars Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore, and that year won the ABA championship. Instead, after a high profile recruiting period, Griffith ended up at the hometown University of Louisville.
Griffith took his time to reach the heights expected from such a dominant high school force, but once he reached his senior season, he was nigh-unstoppable at the collegiate level. Winning the Wooden award and Louisville’s first ever National Championship, Dr. Dunkenstein finished a storybook college career – home town kid who had to overcome adversity before becoming a historically great NCAA player. Steep professional expectations accompany a man this accomplished at the amateur level, so when the Jazz selected him at #2 overall in the 1980 NBA draft, they did so with the hope that this was the player to ignite a fire under Salt Lake City and lead the team to their first EVER winning season (the franchise’s record to this point was 39 wins while they were still stationed in New Orleans).
NBA: The Doctor Is In
PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1980: Darrell Griffith #35 of the Utah Jazz shoots over Maurice Cheeks #10 of the Philadelphia 76ers during an NBA basketball game circa 1980 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Griffith played for the Jazz from 1980-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Griffith didn’t immediately contribute to much more success on the court (24 wins in 1980 to 28 in his first season in 1981) but he wasted no time getting acclimated to the NBA. Averaging 20 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, Griffith narrowly won the 1981 Rookie of the Year award by a single vote over now-obscure Blazers point guard Kelvin Ransey (Basketball Reference lists Ransey’s nickname as Mrs. Butterworth which took me aback, but Ransey himself says his true nickname, Butter, was coined by Mychal Thompson because his game was “rich and thick”).
In terms of accolades, Griffith is unimpressive after his rookie year – despite 4 out of his first 5 years featuring scoring averages over 20 points per game, Griffith never earned All-Star honors. This is not due to lack of popularity among the voters, however – once the Jazz quit their losing ways (their first winning record with Griffith occurred in 1983-84), Darrell began receiving some of the most votes of Western Conference guards, placing 5th in 1984 and 4th in 1985. If he were ever to be an All-Star, it would’ve been 1985 – the Jazz had a respectable record, Griffith had his highest scoring year, and Rickey Green took a small step back so the votes for Utah guards were less dispersed. However, even though the fans were taken with him, the coaches deciding the bench were not, and he was passed up for Norm Nixon and Rolando Blackman.
Griffith still had a spot during the ‘84 and ‘85 All-Star Weekends, however – he participated in the first two NBA Slam Dunk Competitions. I’ve attached tape from his 1984 4th place finish below; watch it for Griffith, for the beautiful green Jazz jerseys, or for an interesting moment in history when the Dunk Contest featured 4 legitimate stars (Griffith, Dr. J, Dominique Wilkins, Larry Nance).
Griffith wasn’t only a dunker, as he also pioneered the three point shot during its early years in the NBA. For one glorious offseason (1985), before Larry Bird took hold of the honor, a Jazzman held the all-time three-pointers made record, after Griffith paced the league in 3PM for two straight seasons. To this day, Darrell Griffith and Mike Dunleavy Sr. are the two players in NBA history to have led the league in three-pointers made and three-point percentage – Griffith was decidedly not a one-trick pony.
However, both of those tricks suffered after Griffith’s successful 1984-85 season. Very soon before the ‘85-86 season, Griffith broke his foot during a pickup game in his hometown Louisville, and missed the entire year during his recovery. After coming back, Griffith wasn’t quite the same – he lost a few inches off of his mythical 48 inch vertical, and even more importantly, he lost efficiency. He was a part of a fun 1988-89 team (first 50 win squad in franchise history!), starting in the backcourt with a young John Stockton, but he wasn’t anywhere near the almost-All-Star of yesteryear, retiring just 2 years later at the age of 32. Still, Griffith ended his career a Jazz-lifer, and an interesting one at that; he functioned as a bridge between eras, starting his career as a key piece of Adrian Dantley teams, and ending it as a veteran presence for a young Stockton and Malone.
Post-NBA Conclusion: Once a Jazzman, Always a Jazzman
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 23: Darrell Griffith and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz share his dunk contest trophy with the crowd at vivint.SmartHome Arena on February 23, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 23: on February 23, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Post retirement, Griffith faded softly from the limelight. He returned to a town that named his childhood street after him (“Darrell Griffith Way, AKA Dr. Dunkenstein Way”!) and now works as an ambassador and community outreach specialist for his alma mater. Regarding the Jazz, he made a rare appearance in Salt Lake City as he presented a rookie Donovan Mitchell with his 2018 Dunk Contest trophy, a contest in which Donovan paid an electrifying tribute to Griffith by donning his jersey for one of his dunks (reportedly, one of Griffith’s ACTUAL jerseys, from the archives). Griffith acted as a mentor for Donovan before Spida was ever drafted to the Jazz, with the two of them meeting during Donovan’s time at the house that Darrell built.
While history suggests that Kevin McHale, the 3rd pick in 1980, would’ve been the right one for the Jazz, one should not use that to discredit Darrell Griffith’s legacy with the franchise. Griffith brought excitement and genuine star power to Utah’s first NBA team (even if that was never reflected with All-Star appearances), and could’ve been a key third star into the 90s if not for a series of unfortunate injuries. Even with his career falling apart, he never abandoned ship – he played every game of his professional career wearing the Jazz’s purple and green. We can all hope that the franchise’s upcoming #2 overall pick will have better luck against the injury bug and perhaps be a better defender (Griffith tried hypno-therapy as a last-ditch effort to improve on that end), but we can’t ask for much more in terms of talent and loyalty. So far, the Jazz are 1/1 on their selections at #2 – if they can get that hit rate to 2/2, the Jazz are set to begin one of the most exciting eras in franchise history.
Have any favorite Griffith stories that I didn’t touch on? Sound off below!
Predators Should Take A Chance On Patrik Laine This SummerNashville’s search for an elite finisher could find its match in the former 40-goal scorer, offering a high-upside gamble to ignite the power play and top-six.
Predators Could Capitalize On The Dylan Larkin Trade MarketGeneral Manager Chris McFarland could jumpstart Nashville’s rebuild by flipping Steven Stamkos to a contender, leveraging a chaotic trade market to maximize returns and reshape the roster. 
COVERS INTEL:
