The Islanders threw us a curve as they wrapped up preseason cuts and reassignments by announcing the signing of Logan Stanley as Big Veteran Defenseman. Season-opening rosters are due throughout the NHL today, and certainly Stanley was not on our radar entering the weekend.
There are also several “he’s fine, it’s just maintenance” injury situations as camp winds down, so it seems there are a few moving parts that could linger into the season.
Brayden Schenn and Matthew Schaefer were described as precautionary after “tweak” during preseason, Tony DeAngelo missed for a “maintenance” day, and of course Mathew Barzal missed the whole preseason with his (presumed knee inflammation) but will travel with the team to Toronto where they open the season on Wednesday.
Islanders News
As Stanley stepped in, Isaiah George (thought by some to be poised to grab a roster spot), Cole Eiserman, Kashawn Aitcheson and Vitek Vanecek (if he clears waivers) were assigned to AHL Hamilton. [Isles]
Pete DeBoer said not to read the Stanley signing as disappointment in George’s progress, said it’s part of “the journey.” (Honestly, with all these vets and now Stanley, too, it didn’t look like a top-six job was even available unless George wowed them.) [Newsday | Post]
Stanley was skating with his old junior club awaiting a contract. DeBoer says he doesn’t buy the knock on Stanley’s skating, calling him “light on his feet,” and he likes adding a huge guy who can clear the front of the net, throw hits, fight and “can also play.” [Isles]
7 facts about Stanley, who will wear #8, is 6’7, 231 lbs., 28 years old. [Isles]
Season preview: The Isles, of course, feel they have a good hockey team. [Newsday]
Is that Ondrej Palat-Casey Cizikas-Anthony Duclair trio really gonna be a line? [Post]
Victor Eklund made every case to make the team. [Post]
Elsewhere
SO many players (71) on waivers over the weekend, most of them clearing. [Sportsnet]
Big storylines for the coming season are largely in the East. [NHL]
Once top-ranked James Hagens’ draft fall lit a fire under him. [NHL]
His new captain in Boston is David Pastrnak. [NHL]
One “bold” prediction for each team, though most are not bold. [Athletic]
COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Sergei Murashov #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins attempts to make a save during the second period of the preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on September 24, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Penguins assigned Bill Zonnon, Harrison Brunicke and Joel Blomqvist to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday and placed Blake Lizotte, Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau and Ryan Graves on injured reserve. Pittsburgh must make at least two more roster moves before Monday’s deadline to reach the 23-player limit. [PensBurgh]
With Lizotte and Kindel out in the short term, forward Hendrix Lapierre is looking to capitalize on an opportunity after injuries created a hole in Pittsburgh’s bottom-six. Lapierre, acquired from Washington in the offseason, is competing with several players for a chance to fill the opening at center. [Trib Live]
The Penguins entered training camp with several goaltenders competing for NHL playing time, including Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, giving head coach Dan Muse a problem to solve ahead of the regular season and for the team’s future. [Trib Live]
Murashov continues to make strides after two strong seasons in the AHL, putting himself in position to show his worth in the NHL. [Penguins]
Evgeni Malkin is set to begin his 21st NHL season at age 40, making him the oldest player on the Penguins and one of the oldest Penguins in franchise history. Malkin, who signed a one-year contract extension this offseason, remains part of Pittsburgh’s veteran core alongside Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
David Pastrnak was named the 28th captain of the Boston Bruins, the team announced on Sunday. [Sportsnet]
The Carolina Hurricanes unveiled their Stanley Cup championship rings Sunday during a private ceremony honoring players, coaches and team staff. The rings feature nearly 900 diamonds and rubies and include design elements commemorating the team’s 2026 championship run. [NHL]
\n\n\n\tBOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images\t\n\n
Celtics fans have questions. A lot of them.
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And after the offseason they just had, there’s plenty to talk about.
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Boston has already shown it can build a championship team, but what does this team need to do to get back to the top? Has the roster been built the right way? Which players are going to take the next step? What must change for the Celtics to become a legitimate postseason threat again?
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Those are some of the things I assumed most fans would inquire about. But instead of guessing what’s on the minds of C’s fans, I decided to ask them.
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(Idk if I have the motion for this but) If there are any Celtics questions at all that ya would like to hear my thoughts on feel free to drop them below. Would like to do a video or something on them ⬇️
Q: What do you think the biggest deficiencies are to address for the Celtics to be a serious postseason threat?
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Since Boston’s latest successful run at the prized jewelry in 2024, they have endured multiple disappointing and premature playoff exits. One of the things I believe has plagued them in both years has been their offense and shot making, and a number of things tie into this.
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To start in the simplest form, since the 2013-2014 season, there has only been one team (2021 Milwaukee Bucks) to win the championship while being ranked outside the top five in Field Goal percentage for that year’s playoffs. In caveman terms: the Celtics have to put the ball in the basket at a higher rate than what they’ve done the last two playoffs.
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Last postseason, Boston shot 43.4% from the field, which ranked 13th among the 16 playoff teams. They also struggled at the stripe, slotting in at 13th in free throw percentage as well. Furthermore, they were 15th in catch and shoot field goal percentage (32.9) and dead last in corner three-point percentage at 24. The year before, the Celtics shot 44.3% from the field, which was good for 12th. Conversely, the 2024 championship team shot 47% from the field, which ranked fourth.
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There is always going to be a discussion about the amount of threes Boston takes when they don’t fall even if they are generated properly. In my opinion, the team has struggled to consistently generate the easiest opportunities available on top of that.
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Last postseason, Boston ranked last in rim frequency, dunks, and fouls drawn; second-to-last in points in the paint and steals; 13th in paint touches and points off turnovers; and 11th in fast-break points.
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Here is how the champions have fared in some of these categories since 2020 (Celtics excluded).
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This is not to suggest that ranking highly in these statistical categories is the only way to win. The 24’ Celtics, after all, ranked ninth, 12th, ninth, and sixth, respectively, in those areas, but that team possessed an extraordinary combination of talent, versatility, and shot-making that will be difficult to replicate, and that makes finding easier ways to get buckets even more important for the current Celtics.
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Boston hasn’t been a dominant team in terms of paint points or rim frequency, even during its championship run, and I don’t expect that identity to change. The teams that excelled in those areas had elite interior forces such as Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, making their success in those categories relatively predictable.
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Instead, I believe Boston has a more realistic opportunity to make up ground in three areas: steals, points off turnovers, and fast-break points.
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Boston added Paul George and Mitchell Robinson this offseason, who were two of the best defensive playmakers at their positions last season.
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Paul George : 2.7stls + 6.5 deflections per 100 possessions (both 98th%tile) | 3.5 STOP% (94th%tile)
As I mentioned earlier, Boston has struggled to consistently capitalize on its offensive opportunities, even when the team generates quality looks from three. That disparity was particularly stark in its losses to Philadelphia. Across the Celtics’ four losses, Boston shot just 40% from the field and 27% from three. In their wins, however, those figures climbed to 47% and 41%, respectively.
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In theory, the additions of George and Robinson should help Boston take the ball away more, which in turn can create additional fast-break opportunities. That fits into a broader possession-game philosophy: create extra possessions for the inevitable nights when the shots aren’t falling.
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The Knicks also ranked first in second-chance points last playoffs, with Robinson playing a major role in that success. His presence gives Boston a potential source of high-quality offense, one that doesn’t depend on the team shooting its way out of a slump even though, the quality if threes off offensive rebounds could be great.
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There are certainly more holes you can find in this roster come playoff time, but these were the big ones for me. I think the addition of George helps the fluctuation of 3-point percentage and catch and shoot numbers, being that he has been one of the best spot up wings for a while now. But when those bad nights do come, I trust that the team will create more turnovers than it has in the past to allow them to get easier buckets.
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Q: Chris Cenac Jr. ceiling and floor player comps?
At 6-foot-11, Cenac showed flashes of an incredibly diverse skill set. He rebounded, protected the rim, defended on the perimeter, knocked down threes, played above the rim as a playfinisher, passed, and created for himself both off the dribble and as a jump shooter. The biggest question is consistency. The flashes are undeniable, and his athleticism should allow a simplified NBA role to raise his floor early in his career. Still, there is a considerable amount of development ahead of him, which is exactly what you would expect from a 19-year-old prospect.
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But the word ceiling means the absolute top of his powers and realistically, the name that keeps popping into my head as a do it all athletic big with self-creation skill is Bam Adebayo.
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The first thing that brought the thought to my head was just how comfortable Cenac looked on those floating/moving mid-range shots Bam has really developed over the years.
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Bam has also developed into an incredibly comfortable ballhandler for a big, particularly as a handoff facilitator and passer. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the rim from virtually anywhere in the half court. I don’t expect Cenac to reach Bam’s level as a passer, but the movement ability he displays with the ball in his hands is legitimate and gives you another intriguing layer to his offensive upside.
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And on the defensive end, it again starts with the foundation of fluid movement and vertical pop. Bam has developed into so much more than just an athletic big, so for Cenac to reach that level, he’ll have to learn the backline communication, positioning, and mental nuances that come with being a high-level defender. When projecting his ceiling, though, I’m expecting him to learn most of those responsibilities. Coupled with this level of athleticism, that combination could be scary.
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Sadly, Cenac reaching his ceiling is far from a guarantee. So, when it comes to his floor, I’ll go with Chicago Bulls big man Jalen Smith. Smith is a really solid rotational big who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds last season while shooting 48/37/74 from the field, in just 20 minutes per game.
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I think Cenac is too talented to completely flame out in the league. His floor, in my eyes, is a player who never fully harnesses his on-ball skills but still develops into a versatile big capable of rebounding, defending multiple positions, and knocking down threes at a respectable clip.
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Q: Do you think Joe will be willing to play the young wings this postseason more than last
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Coach Joe Mazzulla took plenty of heat from the fanbase after last year’s premature playoff exit, and one of the biggest points of confusion was why the young wings who had contributed throughout the regular season didn’t seem to get the same opportunity once the playoffs rolled around.
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In the case of Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr, here are how their minutes differed from regular season to post season.
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The one that hit me the most was Hugo. All regular season long this kid had a certain superpower. No matter how long he sat before he entered a game, he always changed the energy and intensity of it. And in a series where it seemed the Celtics desperately needed an energy boost to just get one more win; his minutes dropped by ten (this is my main point), and he wasn’t called upon in real minutes until game seven.
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In that Game 7, he entered in the second quarter and immediately got the crowd going, making several defensive plays and drawing an offensive foul. He ultimately played 10 minutes in the quarter and was a +7. Then came the second half. He played for just two minutes in the third quarter and never saw the floor in the fourth.
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For Scheierman and Harper Jr though, they got a surprise start in Game 7 but couldn’t catch a rhythm quick enough.
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To give you an answer, I do think Joe will be more willing to play them, or at least the ones most deserving of the opportunity. I thought those guys did enough during the regular season to earn a longer leash, but I also think Joe will learn from that experience. And, ultimately, I expect someone from that group to separate themselves from the pack this season.
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In a press conference sometime after Boston’s season ended, Brad Stevens was asked a very similar question. He explained that none of the young wings had clearly separated themselves from the pack, which made it difficult for Mazzulla to determine who should consistently be in the rotation. Whether I agree with Steven’s sentiment or not, certain matchups may favor one player over another, but overall, I think Mazzulla has learned from what happened last postseason, and a player will solidify themselves.
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Q: Who should start next to White and Paul George on the perimeter?
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For this question, let’s assume Payton Pritchard is coming off the bench. He absolutely deserves to start, but I’ve seen the bench role work really well for him, and I expect that to continue. He’ll still play more minutes than some starters and, more importantly, will be on the floor to close plenty of games.
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So, then that leaves Scheierman, Gonzalez, Sam Hauser, Walsh and Harper Jr.
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Harper Jr. is the most guard-like of the group, boasting one of the NBA’s best height-to-wingspan differentials. He’s a smart, heady player with some real juice on ball, and he showed last season that he can really defend. Most notably in an impressive showing while guarding superstar Kevin Durant. I just don’t think he’s in the mix to start unless injuries to multiple guys occur. I do believe in this player though and have no doubt in his readiness in big games.
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Walsh is the best defender, albeit by a very slight margin over Hugo, as well as the best rebounder and screener of the group. He’s also the tallest and gives you tremendous defensive versatility, much like the others in this group.
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The question with Walsh is on the offensive end. He shot a career-high 38% from three last season, which has been a real bright spot in his development over the years. However, if Boston is looking for that additional wing to earn the consistent starting tag next season, it seems to me that the player needs to be more adept at putting the ball on the floor than Walsh currently is.
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While I think that’s true, Walsh did so well last year in his 20 starts and was a true catalyst in the team going 15-5 in that stretch. Maybe Mazzulla will take that into consideration.
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Sam Hauser has the advantage of seniority, which could help him at least to start the season. Getting into a head coach’s circle of trust is difficult, and given how long Hauser has been in Boston, he could be Mazzulla’s safe option. Hauser is one of the league’s best specialists, particularly as a shooter, but he is also the weakest defender of the five.
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We already know what Hauser can provide, whereas the younger wings offer the possibility of developing something more. But if none of those guys separates themselves from the pack, there’s a very real chance Hauser starts a number of games simply because Mazzulla knows exactly what he’s going to get from him.
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Gonzalez has the most potential and is the guy I want to take the starting spot the most, but I’m not sure when that will happen.
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He has all the intangibles at such a young age and the athleticism to play against most playing styles. A ton of players in the NBA have a motor, but from Day 1 it was evident that Gonzalez’s was one of a kind. The ferociousness and intensity were well on display last season and works in tandem with his other skills to help him be a great on and off ball defender. He can be a chess piece on defense as we saw him guard the likes of Jalen Brunson one game then turn around and matchup with bigs such as Karl Anthony-Towns and Bam Adebayo well.
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González’s summer has given me legitimate intrigue about what his offensive game can eventually become. Between his FIBA run with Spain and his time in Summer League, we saw more of the playmaking and offensive versatility that made him intriguing coming out of Real Madrid. The passing chops were already there in Madrid, but they look more refined now, particularly in his ability to make reads out of pick-and-rolls and create for others. His overall offensive craft also appears to have taken a step forward.
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That said, he still has to prove that those skills can jump against NBA competition when the games actually matter. There are still questions surrounding his shooting consistency and handle, and those will ultimately determine how much of this expanded offensive game translates.
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Which leaves my pick for the starting shooting guard position: Baylor Scheierman. For me, it ultimately comes down to balance. Scheierman offers the best combination of offense, defense, and size at the position right now.
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On offense, he’s a legitimate three-point shooter, a very underrated passer, and someone with plenty of untapped skill and craft as a two-point scorer. Defensively, he can also take on point-of-attack assignments and give you everything he has on that end of the floor. And, like everyone here besides Hauser, he consistently gives maximum effort when crashing both the offensive and defensive glass.
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Q: Not sure if you are that tapped into Maine, but curious if there’s anyone, you’re particularly intrigued by down there that u could see making an impact in Boston eventually?
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I just want to thank you for giving me a quick chance to talk about Amari Williams.
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The unique seven-foot big man is entering his second season after averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks per game in the G League last season. Williams possesses several outlier traits for a player his size, most notably his extraordinary passing vision, pass placement, and ability to handle the ball.
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That combination is what makes him so intriguing, but the areas he needs to prove he can handle, and continue to improve upon, are the more traditional responsibilities of a big man: rebounding, rim protection screen setting, and overall physicality. While he still has a ways to go to be ready for regular minutes, Williams played in several games with the big club versus legitimate competition and impacted them.
The best thing Williams did as a rookie was protect the rim. His most electric night was when he swatted a shot to save the game in Double Overtime vs the Brooklyn Nets. The rebounding still needs work, but knowing that he could play real time as a rookie shows his floor is higher than even I thought.
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Hayden Gray, who is now back in the Celtics program, was someone I kept a close eye on last season for Maine. He led college basketball in steals, and the ball hawking instincts in passing lanes are evident.
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This year I’m excited to see the time Cenac and Dillon Mitchell spend there if any. Another name to look out for is Milos Uzan out of Houston.
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Q: What changed offensively last year for DWhite that drove his efficiency to fall so far?
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Derrick White’s entire offensive profile flipped on its head last season. Let’s take a look at his play types the last two seasons.
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The three primary play types for me are Handler (22.9%), Spot-Up (35.3%), and Transition (15.3%). These percentages represent the share of White’s offensive possessions that came from each particular play type. As you can see, a significant portion of White’s offense came from spotting up rather than operating as the ball-handler.
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Furthermore, in 2025, 6.7 of his 12.6 shot attempts came with zero dribbles.
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Now fast forward to last season and look at how drastic this change is.
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His Handler possessions increased by 10.1%, the Spot up possessions decreased by 8.9%, and he got out in transition 4.5% less.
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All in all, White was used to more than half of his shots coming with a premade advantage from his teammates. He spent most of his time as a play finisher rather than someone on the ball the majority of the time. Until last season.
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I’ve made up a most important number theory for DWhite and the number is 36. My ideal situation for White’s upcoming season is that he gets somewhere in the middle of his Play Finishing percentage the last two years. If we can go from the 30.8% we saw last year up to say 36%, I think the extra load off could get his 3-point percentage back up.
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And it doesn’t have to be the 39% he shot the previous couple years. Maybe just something in the middle of the 33% he shot last year and the 39% marks. What would that number be you might ask?
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36%.
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Q: Have you told Joe or Brad about Amari Williams as PnR ball handler yet?
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No. My life’s mission has not been completed yet.
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If you have any questions, answers, thoughts, or want to see this again, please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments.
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Part one of this series was done in video form. Check it out below!
HOUSTON — Distance from devastation granted Fred VanVleet not just a surgically repaired knee but new clarity. One year removed from tearing his ACL and on the eve of the NBA season, the Houston Rockets point guard appreciates the everyday tasks he once considered minute and mundane. Hell, he joked, he even enjoys media day now.
“I have a whole newfound perspective on this thing that we do here that we call a job and also just life in general,” VanVleet said this month. “I’m just really grateful and excited to be able to get back out there on the court.”
The Rockets bring back their seven main rotation players from last season – including the team’s three top scorers in Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson – plus offseason signings Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. But Houston’s most important additions might actually be the re-addition of VanVleet and backup center Steven Adams.
Following months of recovery and rehabilitation, VanVleet and Adams are primed to return to the court when the Rockets tip off the 2026-27 NBA season in October.
Rockets head athletic trainer Jason Biles told USA TODAY Sports that both players approached the rehab process the same way they approach playing a game.
“Aggressive, steady, consistent. They’re competitive guys. and it really showed in the process,” Biles said. “They want to be back out here. Some guys may have taken even longer time, but they worked really hard to put themselves in this position, and they’re also team guys. They don’t want to let the team down. They want to be a part of it and fulfill their responsibilities.”
How Rockets kept their injured stars 'integrated and connected'
Whenever a player is facing long-term injury rehabilitation, Biles and the Rockets’ team doctors sit down with the player’s personal team and map out a plan. They progress from pain management to restoring mobility and stability, followed by adding strength and, finally, back to basketball.
Early on after his injury, VanVleet rehabbed at the Rockets’ training facility almost every day. During the NBA season, Adams rehabbed with team staff in Houston and with his personal physical therapist in Washington, D.C.
Injured players can feel isolated and unempowered. Biles said the Rockets worked to make sure that Adams and VanVleet, two of Houston’s vital locker room leaders, were around the rest of the team as much as possible during their recoveries.
“I always want them to be integrated and connected,” Biles said. “There are some instances where a guy is going to need some time one-on-one with me that may be separate from the team, but as a general rule, we’re all in this together, and we love for everybody to be around. It offers, especially with those two guys, great teaching points for young guys, and it’s good for them, too. It keeps them feeling like they’re a part of something.”
VanVleet’s case was unique because it was his first long-term injury recovery, and a grueling one. Biles said that ACL rehabilitation has shifted from time-based to performance-based, meaning there’s no concrete timeline for a return. In basketball specifically, it’s important that the injured knee regains as much strength as possible so that both sides of the body are symmetrical.
“The hardest challenge, probably, in ACL rehab is the time that it takes,” Biles said. “It’s just a grind, mentally, because you can imagine having to bring it for 12 months, you expend a lot of mental energy doing that.”
Biles got creative with ways to keep VanVleet engaged in his rehab. He played energizing music during sessions, alternated between indoor and outdoor settings and asked coaches to come up with interesting shooting games. Sometimes, they tried to make shots with a football – whatever kept the vibe fun and light.
Adams’ physical recovery was complicated because problems with the ankle can affect the knees, hips and lower back. But Adams said the key to his process was a mental adjustment.
“You have to kind of redefine what a win looks like,” Adams said. “Usually, when you play basketball, you’re kind of like, ‘Did I do my job well? Did I guard this person correctly? Did I do this many pick-and-roll coverages?’ Blah blah. But for rehab, it’s like, ‘Oh, did I achieve more dorsiflexion today? Was I able to do this many reps of toe movements?’ You know, real boring stuff. But you have to kind of just use those as wins because it’s pretty easy to slip off and feel sorry about yourself.”
Adams said his previous knee injury helped him feel better equipped to tackle the recovery process for his ankle and to be a source of comfort for VanVleet, in his own way.
“My love language is sending like really inappropriate reels or memes,” Adams said. “So I sent him some real rough stuff, but it’s all love.”
Rockets returnees propel expectations
After Houston was eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers from the first round of the 2026 playoffs with VanVleet, Adams and an injured Durant watching from the sidelines, the Rockets are hoping that getting their key players back will make the team whole again.
Their absences last season provided what Rockets general manager Rafael Stone described as a silver lining, forcing young players like Thompson, Şengün, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. to develop new skills and shoulder increased responsibilities. Their returns will allow every player to slide back to his natural position.
“This team was constructed to have me and Steven on the floor, not on the bench, and not in street clothes,” VanVleet said.
VanVleet is a vocal leader and on-ball operator who greases the wheels of the Rockets’ offense. Adams’ screening and offensive rebounding are central to Houston’s physical, glass-gobbling identity – which coach Ime Udoka said the team intends to “quadruple down” on this season.
“When you get Fred and Steven back, two of our more experienced, high-IQ guys, vocal guys, the communication and everything goes up on both ends of the floor,” Udoka said. “We’re all excited. Seeing everybody in the gym playing five-on-five and you can kind of see the new pieces, as well as guys coming back. Steven and Fred looking good out there gives us a lot of optimism.”
The final hurdle of the rehab process is a battery of return-to-play tests. Biles said the tests look different for each player but generally measure balance, range of motion and how well they can jump, land and cut.
VanVleet has been fully cleared, while Adams had not yet taken his final return-to-play tests as of Sept. 25, according to Biles.
Udoka said the Rockets will probably not allow Adams or VanVleet to play in back-to-back games to start the season, adding that minute restrictions for both players will be determined by how they progress through training camp.
“I’m sure what you guys see won’t be the finished product, but I’m in a really good spot,” VanVleet said. “Being able to play some five-on-five over the last couple weeks, build some strength and some conditioning and things like that. But yeah, considering 12 months ago I wasn’t able to walk at this point in the year, I’d say I’m doing pretty good right now.”
Adams added, “Pretty confident in the position right now, but still got to just take your time with it because there’s one thing getting back from the injury, but then getting to an NBA level, it’s a different ask.”
Biles said he preaches patience to athletes who are returning from a long layoff.
“Give yourself some grace,” he said. “I’ll let them know to be patient but also encourage them to get them to have confidence in the work they’ve already put in, and to trust that process. You keep stacking days and it’s really all about habit formation and bringing it every day. And then next thing you know, the end is in sight and then you’re back to who you want to be on the court.”
VanVleet and Adams return with great expectations placed upon them, but VanVleet doesn’t feel pressure to suddenly fix all the Rockets’ problems.
“I like pressure, so I’m not running from that. It’s not that simple, quite frankly,” he said. “But I think that we will look like a different group and my identity is not tied to the result, but I’m confident that it’ll look better.”
Basketball: NBA Playoffs: Cincinnati Royals Oscar Robertson (14) in action, pass vs Boston Celtics Bill Russell (6) and Tom Sanders (16) at Cincinnati Gardens. Game 4. Cincinnati, OH 3/30/1966 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X11537 )
It’s (mostly) in amazing condition, and, aside from the various great Celtics like Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, and Satch Sanders, you also get to see vintage Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas. Jack Twyman was also on the team, as was Wayne Embry, who would later become a really talented general manager with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He put together a roster with Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, and others, that was talented enough to give Michael Jordan and the Bulls some trouble.
The Royals, now the Sacramento Kings after a befuddling stop as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings (then just the Kansas City Kings), were always undersized, and Russell-led Boston won this game, to tie the series 2-2.
It was a five-game series, and Boston would ultimately go on to win its eighth straight championship, knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3 in the finals.
Welcome to a postseason where virtually every participant is looking over their shoulder, wondering if their two-man rotation can hold up, if their moribund lineup will wake up, if their shaky bullpen can hold up.
Little wonder that in a season that produced the first .500 division champion in major league history that the participant in MLB’s popular bracket challenge will have their flaws. On paper, anyway, one team has far fewer than the rest.
Yet they’re also due for things not to go their way.
With that, ranking MLB’s playoff teams by best chance to win the World Series:
Of course it’s more fun to go faux contrarian and anoint someone else the favorite. We’re not that silly.
For a minute, it seemed the trade for Tarik Skubal was kind of ho-hum. Very quietly, the dude was not quite as dominant as his previous AL Cy Young Award campaigns. But he is locked the hell in again, posting a 33-6 strikeout-walk ratio his last five starts. Simply nobody can match up with Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start a playoff series.
Beyond that, Tyler Glasnow has struck out 49 in his last 34 1/3 innings. Blake Snell has all of October to work his way back into form. And did you check out the September OPS for Teoscar Hernandez (.998), Mookie Betts (1.136) and Kyle Tucker (.919)?
Sho-who? This three-peat would be far less dependent on the great Ohtani.
They were two-and-out in their past two playoff appearances, but now the Rays have graduated beyond the wild-card series and await the Red Sox-Yankees winner. They narrowly won the season series against both clubs and acing this ALDS test might be their stiffest challenge in getting to the World Series.
Like many lower-revenue, highly-analytical clubs, there’s always the question of whether their act will translate to the postseason. Will a club that ranked 22ND in home runs run into enough balls? Will their contact-happy offense keep things moving or prove ineffective against nastier stuff?
And will No. 2 starter Nick Martinez continue his All-Star run, or will his lack of punch (just 109 strikeouts in 180 innings) be a liability?
These are all the question marks. They don’t take away the fact this is a fantastic team, one that’s proven the class of the AL over six months.
No, really, we mean it this time: This, this 2026 season, this is the year for the Brewers.
Don’t look now, but this is the eighth postseason in nine years for the Brewers, a title-less run nearly akin to the ‘90s Braves or the Dodgers from the previous decade. Yet no one openly wonders what’s wrong with the Brewers in October or if they’ll finally get to a World Series, already.
But those diminished expectations come from the lower-revenue, plucky-Midwesterners leitmotif assigned the Brewers. And on the other hand: The more times you get in the tournament, the better your chances of winning.
And these guys have Jacob Misiorowski, impending Cy Young Award winner, ready to unleash from Game 1. Whether they can bridge the gap from Miz to the rest of a pitching staff that will be relied on 2 through 13 is the major question.
Enjoy Misiorowski’s explosive fastball. Then pull up a chair and get to know DL Hall and Shane Drohan and Abner Uribe real well. You’ll be seeing a lot of them and their ability to get outs will likely determine if this 103-win joyride will continue.
If you’re staring at every other postseason game wondering why starters are going two or three or four innings, Yankees games might feel like comfort food.
Even moreso than the Skubal- and Yamamoto-led Dodgers, the Yankees line up four deep in their rotation, with the strident and cocksure Cam Schlittler leading the way in Game 1 against the Red Sox. And then it’s Max Fried, and Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodón, with Will Warren swinging into a handy long guy/spot starter situation. Kind of nice!
Yeah, pitching will have to be their backbone because Aaron Judge almost certainly won’t be around for the wild-card round, or perhaps any stage of these playoffs. Still, despite a fair amount of slug in the lineup and that starting rotation, it will come down to how effective their relievers can be in multiple appearances.
5. Cleveland Guardians
They have one thing the Yankees and Red Sox and Braves do not: A first-round bye. They will need it, as starting pitching is their backbone and any advantage to line up more optimally than their opponent will be cherished.
On top of that, it’s the White Sox-Astros winner that will come out of the chute and face the Guardians, who can hit the survivor with Gavin Williams (239 strikeouts) and Parker Messick () right out of the gate.
Yet it’s the age-old question with Cleveland: Will it slug enough in October? The Guardians rank 27 TH in the majors in homers – only Milwaukee hits fewer among playoff teams – and 26 TH in OPS.
They’re also fairly green: Rookies Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana rank second and third on the team in home runs and Bazzana can provide instant offense with his power and speed. Will the young guys hold up under the playoff pressure at a time their club can’t necessarily rely on three hits in an inning to score runs?
Here they are, folks: The worst offense in the major leagues throughout the month of September. But don’t let them get hot.
Seriously.
For these Phillies, the getting there was by far the hardest part in this, their fifth consecutive postseason trip. They got tantalizingly close to an epic choke job but righted the ship just at the end and now the basic facts of this club remain:
Few teams can match up with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign in their Game 162 clincher – beyond the offense appearing sentient – was Luzardo throwing an inning for the first time since he came up with a balky shoulder three weeks ago. Now, the Phillies’ grand separator – their fantastic starting pitching – is back.
They face a massive obstacle in wild card Game 1: The great Chris Sale. But perhaps their harrowing escape may engender the proper devil-may-care attitude it takes to slay a giant like Sale, a result that would flip that wild-card series on its ear. Then, it’s get the ball to Sanchez for Game 2, escape Atlanta and line up Wheeler and a hopefully whole Luzardo for the NLDS.
Volatile team, these Red Sox. As if it wasn’t enough getting their possible Hall of Fame manager fired only to run off a 15-game winning streak, win 21 of 25 in July and clinch the No. 2 wild card going away, now the Red Sox loom as the most mysterious club this postseason.
Can they topple the Yankees? Will Payton Tolle end up a national folk hero? Can Willson Contreras swing a bat after getting hit on the hand late in the year? Will Roman Anthony take to October or fold? Can Ceddanne Rafaela stay healthy?
Will Chad Tracy stay on point managing his first postseason games?
Yeah. These guys can win it all or go two-and-out against the Yankees.
Can you win a World Series back-to-front? In other words, can the game’s deepest bullpen be the bulwark of a championship team?
The Padres may find out. Trade acquisitions Robbie Ray and Casey Mize were hit hard after their arrivals in San Diego, hardly alleviating the pressure on a Mason Miller-led unit that can only hope the Rays and Michael Kings and Walker Buehlers of the world can deliver them a lead.
The good news: No offense has been hotter since the All-Star break: The Padres are second to the Cubs in slugging, first in batting average (.269) and third in runs. Their wild-card series should be a doozy in an activated Petco Park.
Yet Adrian Morejon and Bradgley Rodriguez and Miller have a way of quieting things down in the late innings. Whether they have the wherewithal to last all October is another question.
9. Atlanta Braves
Simply, no path is tougher: Phillies, followed by Dodgers followed by, probably, the Brewers. If they get to the World Series by toppling Sanchez and Misorowski and Skubal and Yamamoto, more power to them.
But it’s a significant ask, particularly when the pitching thins out after Sale and recently acquired Tyler Mahle. Keep an eye on recently activated reliever Robert Suarez. If he and closer Raisel Iglesias can make it a seven-inning game, the Braves will be tough.
Like the Braves, it’s a long road, one that begins at Petco Park in a rematch of last year’s wild card series. Can the Cubs hammer their way to the World Series?
That would certainly run counter to the notion that great starting pitching needs to get you there. We’re not entirely sure an amalgam of Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd and Clay Holmes will cower many opposing lineups.
The Cubs ranked 18th with a 4.27 rotation ERA and while the weaker arms are marginalized in the postseason, it’s hard to win without a true bell cow. Yet with Alex Bregman, pending MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong and a built-for-postseason hitter like Nico Hoerner, the games will not lack for excitement.
Sorry: You finish .500, you get punished in the rankings.
The Astros have a chance to turn the playoffs on their ear, should they make a deep run while getting in with a subpar record and avoiding the beasts of the AL East until the ALCS thanks to the format. Folks will be screaming mad if they’re still around while two of the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays have gone home.
Yet the Astros seem to thrive on wearing the black hat. They also have homefield advantage in the wild-card series, where their lineup that led the majors in home runs will take aim at the Crawford Boxes.
They’re not expected to do much. And if they do, you’ll probably hear about it.
Somebody’s gotta be No. 12 and at the risk of being accused of hating fun, we need to drop the White Sox here. They are a fantastic story, even without any papal blessings. The world really does need to get familiar with Tristan Peters and Sam Antonacci and Miguel Vargas, who have dazzled the South Side all summer and revived a sagging franchise.
It’s just real hard to envision them pitching enough to seriously threaten for the AL pennant. Yet if they can sneak away with two wins in Houston, they’ll be plenty familiar with the Guardinas, who would await in an all-AL Central ALDS.
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 22: Clint Capela #30 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 22, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you happen to have spent a certain amount of you life as foolishly as I have, writing about the Rockets, you, too, might have a sense that certain Rockets players are “yours” in a sense. It’s silly, I know, but the sense of it is very present. One of those players is Clint Capela. I liked him from the start, and I think he’ll probably never get the correct assessment of his career, which to me is “a star in his role”.
He’s also one of several Rockets non American bigs who looked absolutely fantastic in terms of his stats and advanced measures, but seemed to garner little general draft interest (joining Alperen Sengun in that). Leading to one of my rules of drafting, which is, if a foreign big has amazing predictive stats, and will come cheap in a draft, just draft him. The other is, the rule for guards is “spray and pray” or, rather, draft a lot of them, you never know which one really can do things at the NBA level. Even just a decent guard, cheap, is a very valuable player in the NBA.
Anyhow, to Clint Capela. It seems like the comings and goings of Capela have marked significant milestones for the Rockets. The drafting of Capela back in 2014, was a decisive moment for the Rockets, even if nobody much knew it at the time. He’d be the perfect center partner for James Harden (find me one in all Harden’s wanderings he’s done better with) and also a very fine defensive center, and especially, rebounder. When Capela became the starter, the Harden Rockets really took off.
The trade of Capela, to Atlanta, in the 2020-21 season really marked the end of the Rockets ambitions as a serious title contender. There are intellectual reasons for the move, I suppose, but doubling down on Russell Westbrook never really worked for any team.
The return of Capela, through no fault of Clint’s, marked another watershed, in my mind, as it exposed flaws in both the front office and coaching. Hard capping a team in the summer is, well, a smug lawyerly thing to do. Let me explain. Law types are most often not the “adjust on the fly, finger tip feel for the moment” types. They are bad at improv for the most part. At their best, they’re thoughtful, and try to plan for contingencies. So contracts lawyer Rafael Stone had a lovely team in the off season of 2025. All tidy and ready to go. Then Fred VanVleet got hurt and Stone…froze? Chose to give up? Was hard capped by his “perfect lawyerly construction” of a team in the off season?
Then there’s Ime Udoka. Stone thoughtfully provided the Rockets with three playable centers, two of whom, Capela and Adams are in the top ten, ALL TIME, in offensive rebounding rates. When one center, Adams, completely unshockingly, got hurt early the season, you’d think the move would be just slot in Clint Capela. That’s exactly what Ime Udoka didn’t do. This despite the metrics of Capela in the few minutes he played (926) holding up well, career wise.
But you know, the vibes were wrong. Capela was heavier than his usual playing weight, and couldn’t move like the Baby Deer of old. If you’re a Vibes Coach, who just does stuff like not play shooters when the team absolutely needs a three, because of the vibes, then that means Capela is just bad. Play his way into shape? Figure out who he needs to play with to be effective, because he’s still grabbing boards like a demon? Nope. Absolutely not, unless forced to do so.
Capela said at Media Day that he’d dropped 4% off his total body fat number. That means he probably looks better in a uniform and can move better. So he’ll probably play more, right? Who knows? I certainly don’t. If Clint does play, expect roughly a repeat of last season (per36): 11pts/13rbs (6.2 offensive)/2ast/1.4blk/2.4stl if not a shade better, due to better conditioning than Clint had in Atlanta.
That looks like a great stat line for a backup center to me, but vibes, bro, vibes.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 19: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during sixth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 19, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees will hand the ball to Cam Schlittler in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, the team announced Sunday. After reportedly considering opening their playoff run with Max Fried on the hill, they instead chose their presumptive Cy Young Award winner. “He wants the ball, and he’s ready to go,” manager Aaron Boone said simply. Fried is now lined up to start Game 2, with Gerrit Cole in wait should a Game 3 be needed.
Daily News | Gary Phillips: ($) Despite his hopes of returning for this week’s Wild Card Series, Aaron Judge has not engaged in baseball activities since injuring his calf on September 16th. “I know he was on the treadmill a little bit yesterday, so not a whole lot yet,” said Boone of his star’s progress. Judge and his manager did not see eye to eye when discussing his injury last week, with the Yankees captain pushing back on the idea that he would not be ready for the first round.
Associated Press: The Yankees’ season ended at Game 161, with a rainout Sunday that will not be made up. This weekend’s nor’easter caused Saturday’s game to be rescheduled to Friday, but with the playoffs looming there was no time to reschedule Sunday’s affair. With a win in that game, they would have been the first franchise in history to finish with the same record (94-67) in three straight seasons. The Yankees had played 162 games in all non-shortened seasons since 2002.
Playbill | Meg Masseron: A revival of Damn Yankees is coming to Broadway, with Neil Patrick Harris set to star. Previews will begin on March 24, 2027, the day before the Yankees are set to start their season. The production was announced Sunday at a press conference at Yankee Stadium.
The B’s gave up two first-round picks to get the speedy German forward.
It sounds like Peterka wasn’t the only talented young forward the Bruins had interest in over the offseason.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported last week on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Bruins made a trade offer for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko. Friedman didn’t specify when the offer was made or which trade assets were involved.
“Montreal, everybody knows about, the Islanders I mentioned a couple pods ago,” Friedman said. “Toronto I think has really tried to keep their interest secret, but it’s kind of seeped out. I think Winnipeg at one point kind of looked into it.
“I heard Boston made an offer at one point. I had some people say Vegas, I had some other people say they weren’t sure it was Vegas. I have to think Seattle is around this. They’ve really been looking at trying to grab a top-end player and they could make this deal.”
Marchenko is 26 years old and will be a restricted free agent when his current contract expires after the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Marchenko and the Blue Jackets haven’t been able to reach an extension, and when recently asked about his future in Columbus, the veteran forward was non-committal.
Kirill Marchenko was asked if he wants to play hockey in Columbus.
“I want to play hockey. It’s all I can say right now.”
Should the Bruins pursue Marchenko via trade? He would be a good fit offensively.
It should be noted that we don’t know if the Bruins made this reported Marchenko offer before or after the Peterka trade with Utah. It’s possible they wouldn’t want to part with the assets needed to get Marchenko after giving up two first-rounders for Peterka.
But the B’s still need additional top-six forwards. Marchenko remains in the early stages of his prime, so he could help the team contend with its current veteran core (David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, etc.) and what could be the next core (James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Peterka, etc.).
Marchenko is an impressive offensive player. He has scored 21-plus goals in each of his four NHL seasons. He posted career highs in goals (31) and assists (47) in 79 games during the 2024-25 campaign. He scored 27 goals with 40 assists in 76 games last season. He has not been surrounded with a lot of high-end talent in Columbus, so it would be fair to assume that on a better team, such as the Bruins, he could score 30-plus goals and post 70-plus points pretty consistently.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Marchenko has very good size at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.
The cost to get Marchenko would likely be massive, especially if a bunch of teams have interest. The B’s still have all of their own first-round picks in upcoming drafts, plus an unprotected Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder in 2027 or 2028. Boston’s prospect pool was ranked 19th in the league by The Athletic in March, and young players such as Matt Poitras and Mason Lohrei still have upside. Would Columbus have interest in Pavel Zacha? He’s entering the final year of his contract and can become a UFA next summer.
What kind of assets would the Blue Jackets be looking for?
“We don’t want draft picks and prospects,” Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told The Athletic. “We want the best player possible to replace him.”
Marchenko is not a center, and you could certainly argue that if the Bruins are going to spend their remaining premium trade assets on an impact player, then it should be for a No. 1 or No. 2 center, or perhaps a top-four defenseman. If a team does trade for Marchenko, signing him to an extension wouldn’t be cheap, either. But the salary cap is expected to rise quite a bit in future seasons, and the B’s don’t really have any burdensome contracts on their books (aside from Elias Lindholm’s deal).
Hagens or Minten could eventually slide into a top-six center role some point soon. In fact, Minten might be a top-six center on Opening Night depending on how the lineup shakes out.
The bottom line is the Bruins desperately need more high-end offensive players to take some of the scoring burden off Pastrnak. Marchenko can score goals and play a physical brand of hockey. He’s also just 26. He’s the type of player worth taking a chance on. The Bruins need to be aggressive to maximize the Pastrnak/McAvoy/Swayman core’s window to win.
After meeting their media obligations Monday morning, the Warriors will depart for the airport for a flight to Hawaii. They will stay on Oahu for six days. It is not a vacation. Rather, this is the first chance for the Warriors to study their reality and instill belief that they can regain NBA relevancy. Though they’re not expected to reach their once-exalted status, training camp should provide a glimpse of their path to escape mediocrity.
Golden State is a team of many questions, its fortunes largely conditional, to be dictated by the answers.
Steve Kerr took nearly a full year to decide if he wanted to remain head coach. Resident superstar Stephen Curry, confronting down Father Time, has signed a contract extension but continues to surveil the organization’s activity for upcoming developments. Kerr and Curry will be tuned into the training-camp vibes and seeking preliminary clues.
As Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody rehab on the sideline, dreaming of returning to a team with more wins than losses, here are five defining questions looming above the 2026-27 Warriors:
5) Will Draymond Green make the adjustment rightfully requested by Kerr?
Green began last season by saying he felt healthy and, at 35, believed he still could make the impact he did earlier in his career. Then came the season. He committed at least four turnovers in the first half, including a season-high eight in a loss at Portland. His decision-making improved in the second half, with assist totals remaining constant while turnovers decreased.
Kerr during the season pulled away some of Green’s playmaking duties, and is seeking a further reduction for this season. He wants Draymond to rediscover his 3-point shooting stroke. He shot 32.6 percent from deep last season, 32.5 percent the year before.
Green in 2023-24 shot a career-high 39.5 percent from deep, and that accuracy and greatly please the head coach and benefit Golden State’s offense.
All indications are that Green is willing to alter his game. To shoot and make more triples. He believes he can do it; he shot 45 percent from the right corner last season.
4) Can De’Anthony Melton be the best Curry sidekick since prime Klay Thompson?
Thompson’s ability as a scorer and defender made him the perfect backcourt partner for Curry. Klay’s departure after the 2023-24 season left the Warriors seeking someone who could replicate their synergy.
Which led them to the Buddy Hield/De’Anthony Melton combo as free agents.
Hield was a Sixth Man option, and the Warriors liked Melton’s two-way ability. It was a risky signing, as Melton was coming off a season in which he missed 44 games, mostly with lower back problems. He played only six games with Golden State in 2024-25 before sustaining a torn left ACL.
Melton spent the summer of 2024 rehabbing his back and the summer of 2025 rehabbing his knee. The summer of 2026 was his healthiest since the summer 2023.
The absence of rehab should lead to an impressive camp for Melton. With Curry in his corner, he might be able to give the Warriors something close to what they once had.
3) Can Yaxel Lendeborg make the kind of impact that puts minds at ease?
With Butler out for much of the season, the Warriors could use a wing who can score, create, pass and attack the rim. Enter Lendeborg, the 6-foot-9 forward who possesses skills in all four areas.
Yes, he’s a rookie. Yes, he’s built more like a power forward. Yes, his impressive showing in Summer League was, well, Summer League.The Warriors believe much of what they saw in Summer League can be carried into the NBA regular season. Lendeborg is no typical rookie. He has 190 games of junior college and Division I experience, turns 24 on Wednesday and exhibits promising positional versatility.
While it’s unlikely that Lendeborg will be a lockdown defender, Golden State certainly needs his offense. Kerr has indicated that the rookie will get a chance to start, and one look at the roster explains why. He’s the most natural fit to join Green at forward.
Lendeborg will have an opportunity to plant his flag in camp.
2) Will Kristaps Porziņģis look and feel healthy enough to inspire confidence he can play two-thirds of an 82-game schedule?
The Warriors were thrilled that Porziņģis, after what amounted to a 10-week audition for both sides, scanned unrestricted free agency and decided to return. His contract basically extends the two-way audition for a full season.
The term “full season” is utterly conditional regarding Porziņģis. He missed 50 games last season, 40 the season before that. The causes or his absences are sometimes mysterious due to contradictory explanations. Porzingis late last season expressed full faith in Dr. Rick Celebrini, the team’s vice president of player health and performance. If Celebrini and his crew can squeeze more than 50 games out of Porzingis, give the doc a bonus. Sixty games would be amazing.
Porzingis was acquired after Butler sustained his season-ending injury and played scant minutes alongside Curry. Steph and KP, will be the primary determinants for at least the first quarter of the season. If they’re good together, it should translate to victories.
1) Will Curry look good enough for everyone to exhale?
After missing nine weeks last season with runner’s knee, there have been adjustments to Curry’s fabled conditioning program. The changes are an attempt to minimize the likelihood of recurrence while maintaining optimal fitness. There is lingering concern, though, because runner’s knee can become chronic.
As often as Celebrini’s eyes glance toward Porziņģis during and after practice, they also will study Curry’s gait. There will be no less scrutiny among his teammates, the coaching staff and the front office.
Curry has expressed confidence that his revamped conditioning program will allow him to play at a high level on a regular basis. It’s a given that he will have occasional rest nights, as will the other vets on the roster.
The mere thought of Curry missing significant time puts a knot in the team’s collective gut. He’s the team’s touchstone, the essence of the offense and the root of all confidence. His presence on the court allows everyone to breathe.
Sep 24, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks to a media after a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While the Lakers have spoken about expanding the front office, only announcing the major moves leaves it unclear how much is happening behind the scenes.
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka offered a peek behind the curtain of the hirings the franchise has made this offseason while speaking to the media on Thursday.
“Super appreciative of the support of Jeanie [Buss] and ownership to build out and we’ve added over 15 people in the front office to various positions,” Pelinka said. “[We’ve] really built out our strategy and analytics department, have hired two assistant general managers. [We] have more to do and we’re actually continuing to do that.
“Then in terms of player services, as JJ said, we’ve really rebuilt our entire sort of player experience and player development arm. And with that comes new equipment and new recovery and modalities, and we’ve worked with our training department to do that.”
The franchise also hired Rohan Ramadas and Eric Amsler as new assistant general managers. The former will focus on the analytics and strategy side, which Pelinka alluded to, while Amsler comes over from the Heat after being the vice president of player personnel in Miami.
After clearing house of its scouting department last year, the Lakers are planning on building it out more now under Amsler’s guidance.
“I think you guys saw we hired Eric Amsler, who was two decades with the Heat, to kind of see over our player personnel, our draft scouting, our G-League scouting, and NBA scouting,” Pelinka said. “So, we’re going to be adding more scouts in those departments. That’s just one example of a sort of a vertical that will continue to build.”
The catch is that it’s unlikely any of these hirings will be made public. So, again, we’ll have to assume the Lakers are doing the work and, hopefully, see the results in improved scouting in the months to come.
FRISCO, TX - SEPTEMBER 06: David Hagaman #31 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles looks on during the game between the Amarillo Sod Poodles and the Frisco RoughRiders at Riders Field on Sunday, September 6, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Charisma Jones/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Introduction
With the regular season now over for both Major League and Minor League Baseball, I think now would a be good time take a look at the best individual performance at each position in the Diamondbacks farm system. For the sake of the reader and my own sanity, we’re going to look at just the starting battery and infield corner positions today, otherwise this would be a very long read.
Before I do that, I want to congratulate the D’Backs Double-A affiliate, the Amarillo Sod Poodles, on winning the Texas League Championship. Winning a championship is great for the development of the younger players on the team, especially those who might not have had the best individual season this year. That said, about half the players mentioned in the next few articles will be players on that team.
Starting Pitcher
David Hagaman is the clear and obvious answer for the best starting pitcher in the Diamondbacks farm system in 2026, and the pitcher most likely to actually be named the Dbacks MILB pitcher of the year. There really isn’t much competition, especially knowing the context behind the numbers.
Hagaman, who was acquired in last summer’s Merrill Kelly trade, started the year assigned to high-A Hillsboro in the pitcher friendly confines of the Northwestern League. Across 15 games, Hagaman put up 71⅓ innings with a 3.03 ERA, 4.10 FIP, and 4.15 xFIP. Adjusted for the League that works out to a very impressive 61 ERA- and a slightly less impressive 84 FIP-. His 10.85 strikeouts per nine innings and 28% strikeout percentage are very impressive as well. That alone might not be enough to make him pitcher of the year, but what he did after being promoted to Double-A Amarillo, in the much more hitter friendly Texas League that cemented him as the organization’s pitcher of the year.
Hagaman started seven games, putting up 35 ⅓ innings with a 2.55 ERA, a 3.22 FIP, and a 3.79 xFIP. His strikeout percentage went up to 32.4% and 11.72 strikeouts per nine innings. He also walked less batters, going from 10.7% to 8.5%. In the hitter friendly Texas league, that translates to a 43 ERA- and a 75 ERA-. Hagaman did struggle with walks though in his post season outing in the Texas League division series and the championship to a lesser extent. It’ll be interesting to see if he returns to Double-A next season, gets promoted to Triple-A Reno, or possibly even has a chance at making his MLB debut with a strong showing in spring training. My first article going in depth on Dbacks pitching prospects has a scouting report if you’re interested in reading more about him, which you can read here.
Catcher
Gabriel Moreno has won the NL batting title, which I’m pointing out now because it really helps show just how strong the Diamondbacks organization is right now at the catching position from top to bottom, and how many of them had very good seasons this year, which is how this turned into another multi part series.
The Dbacks reinforced that position of strength after using their first round pick on a well regarded college catcher, Ryder Helfrick, who went on to have a solid professional debut in the Low A level California League. Despite putting up a solid triple slash line of .245/.327/.521 with a 104 wRC+ in just 24 games, that’s just 24 games, so he’s not the All Star here.
Jhosep Villarroel put up eye popping numbers in his 47 games this summer, but he’s also a 17 year old in the Dominican Summmer League, so you have to take these number with a massive grain of salt, which is why he’s not my All-Star but another honorable mention. That said his numbers are REALLY good, it’s just a small sample size and he’s very young. Combined between the two Dbacks DSL teams he hit .303/.500/.485 with a .493 wOBA and a 148 OPS+. Villarroel will almost certainly make his stateside debut with either the ACL Dbacks or Visalia Rawhide next season, which will give us a much better chance to evaluate him as a prospect.
It’s also not Alberto Barriga, who tore up the pitcher friendly Northwestern League for 40 games, hitting 259/.345/.490 with a 113 wRC+. The reason he’s not is that he struggled in the extremely hitter friendly Texas League after being being promoted, hittng just 237/301/362 with .302 wOBA and 55 wRC+ in 57 Games. He’s one of the players mentioned in the intro who I think will benefit a lot from the experience gained in Amarillo’s championship run. Barriga’s probably the most unique of the catching prospects here, so I am really looking forward to seeing how he adjust next season.
Ivan Luciano has a very solid argument based on his above average play in 2026. Luciano spent the majority (85 games) of the season in Visalia, where he hit 264/.375/.441 with .372 wOBA and a 109 wRC+. In the 12 games in Hillsboro after being promoted, he hit .279/.380/.465 with a .383 wOBA and 122 WRC+. Combined across the two levels, Luciano put up a solidly above average tripleslash of .266/.376/.444 with a .374 wOBA and 111 wRC+. One of his teammates (at the beginning of the season) has a much stronger argument based on his numbers, and that’s Carlos Virahonda.
Carlos Virahonda started the year with 48 games in Visalia in which he hit .273/.359 /.508 .383 wOBA and 115 wRC+. He was then promoted to High A Hillsboro and in 50 games, and a in much more pitcher friendly league, where he’d hit .272/.393/.468 with a .391 wOBA and a 127 wRC+. He’d then finish his season playing in four games with Double A Amarillo, where he’d go 4 for 15 with a pair of doubles and a homerun, while getting plunked three times to give him a .267/.389/.600 and a 134 wC+. In 108 games combined across all three levels, Virahonda hit .272/.377/.493 with 18 HRS, a .388 wOBA and a 122 wRC+. To cap it all off, he also had a fantastic post season with Amarillo, playing a key role offensively.
If you’d like to read a more in depth look at the catchers, check out this article from earlier this season.
Third Base
Danny Serretti could have easily been an all-star at second base, but he had slightly more innings as a third baseman. There also really aren’t any other obvious candidates at the position, unlike second base which is just as stacked as catcher, so we’re sticking Serretti here. I had an article focused on Serretti’s background prior to this season, which you can read here if you are so interested.
Serreti spent a lot of time going back and forth between Amarillo and Reno, even coming back to play a key role in Amarillo’s championship. In 74 games in Amarillo he hit 272/.418/.510 with a .413 wOBA and a 124 WRC+. In 35 games in Reno, he hit .316/.421/.513 with a .419 wOBA a .357 xWOBA, and a 129 wRC+. His walk percentage fell slightly from 17.8% to 14.9%, but I’d attribute that to the higher batting average, which is backed up by his strikeout percentage staying within .3% of each other, with Serretti striking out 22.4% in Amarillo and 22.7% in Reno. As a whole, Serretti finished his season hitting 287/419/.511 with 19 homeruns, 11 stolen bases, a .415 wOBA and a 126 wRC+ in 109 games.
The only other third baseman in the same ballpark (at times literally) was LuJames Groover, who was above average in Reno but struggled at the MLB level in 2026.
First Base
Finally, at least for this week, we have another position with a single clear and obvious choice.
Manuel Pena broke out in a big way in 2026, hitting 26 homeruns in 61 games with Amarillo, while also putting up a triple slash line of .311/354/.673 with a robust .428 wOBA and 134 wRC+ in the first half of the season . After being promoted to Reno he’d cool down significantly, but overall in 112 games he would hit .305/.345/.555 with a 108 wRC+ with 31 HRs. The only other first baseman who had better numbers in the Dbacks farm system were Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear and I don’t think anyone reading this wants to hear more about either player.
That’s it for now! Next time, I’ll look at the middle infield and outfielders.
Today’s guest columnist is Chris Koras, partner and head of sports at Working Capital Partners.
In December 2022, I flew to the Dominican Republic to break a year-long contract stalemate. Our firm represented Rafael Devers. The Boston Red Sox had sent ownership and front-office executives to settle the negotiation directly with the player, hoping relationship leverage would carry the economics. It moved nothing.
We ended the negotiation in writing. Devers would play the season and enter free agency. Days later, facing the credible threat of losing a third consecutive star on the eve of ticket sales opening, Boston moved, agreeing to a record $331 million deal. It worked for one reason: Devers could afford the outcome he was threatening, and the Red Sox could not. Resolve is credible only when you can survive your own threat.
While an individual superstar can force a club’s hand in an isolated free-agency window, the landscape for league-wide labor disputes has fundamentally shifted. Over the past three years, ownership has built a systemic financial wall designed specifically to neutralize that exact leverage across an entire union.
Every negotiation ends at someone’s limit. MLB players are about to go looking for ownership’s, but the ground beneath that search has moved. Ownership wants a salary cap to give clubs long-term certainty over their largest cost. Buyers underwrite predictable margins at higher multiples than volatile ones. The cap is the prize.
Franchise valuations track those long-term economics over on-field performance. Stan Kroenke agreed to buy a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Angels at a record $4 billion valuation—a price that held despite a decade of losing seasons. In modern baseball, parity is a public position; valuation is a fiduciary commitment.
The institutional capital driving those valuations has arrived faster than the market realizes, operating on two distinct fronts: asset equity and debt insulation. Since MLB admitted private equity in 2019, firms including Arctos Partners, Sixth Street and Sportsology have taken minority stakes across 18 of the 30 teams.
Crucially, structures have matured past equity into standing credit facilities. Ares Management lent directly to the San Diego Padres, while Yankee Global Enterprises recently completed a $2.6 billion financing agreement with Apollo Sports Capital to refinance debt and buy out limited partners—all with the December labor expiration and cap proposals already public.
Institutional buyers price a work stoppage as a routine discount rather than a reason to walk away. When a lockout hits, a team’s operating cash flow goes dark, but an owner’s liquidity remains intact through standing institutional bids and private debt.
This insulation changes how ownership calculates risk. A lost or shortened season is a one-time expense, absorbed once. A structural salary cap recurs annually and is capitalized permanently into franchise value at a high multiple. The MLB Players Association estimates the league’s proposed cap changes would cost players over $500 million annually. Applied across 30 franchises trading at revenue multiples, the resulting equity appreciation runs into the tens of billions.
Trading a temporary delay in multibillion-dollar media rights for a permanent reduction in labor costs is a straightforward corporate calculation. The downside got cheaper because it is temporary; the upside got larger because it is permanent.
The players approach this lockout with far less financial architecture. While the MLBPA’s $415 million reserve is impressive compared with the $171 million held prior to the last labor fight, the distinction between the two sides remains structural. A union reserve is a savings account that amortizes—drawn down by legal fees, operations and support for members until it is gone. Ownership’s capital position revolves. It is a bank.
To weaponize this advantage, the 30 clubs have withheld roughly $75 million each in central-fund distributions, amassing a $2 billion liquidity holdback. Conversely, the players’ obligations remain individual, unfinanced and absorbed across 1,200 separate household clocks. A mortgage or tuition payment due in January is paid by an individual household, whether the stadium gates are open or locked.
When traditional lenders decline a career without conventional collateral, alternative capital fills the void—often on terms heavily stacked against young players. Fernando Tatis Jr. took $2 million from Big League Advance as a teenage minor leaguer in exchange for 10% of his future major league earnings, a stake worth $34 million after his contract extension. A judge recently upheld that agreement. When the vast majority of minor leaguers never reach the majors, the arithmetic clears only when the terms on the few who do are punitive enough to fund the rest. Through a long winter, more young players will be forced to sell off pieces of their future just to stay afloat.
Ownership is bringing an institutional balance sheet to a labor fight. Sixty years of union solidarity will be tested by an opponent that no longer needs a baseball season to survive its own demands.
Labor must modernize its financial architecture to counteract this evolution. Relying purely on cash reserves is no longer viable when ownership utilizes revolving institutional liquidity. To retain leverage at the bargaining table, players must establish contemporary financial counterweights, such as union-backed credit lines secured by collective IP and licensing rights, player-driven liquidity funds offering non-dilutive capital to protect younger players from predatory arrangements, and syndicated loan structures to help players maintain household finances through extended work stoppages.
Baseball’s labor pool cannot meet modern Wall Street tactics with a 1970s financial strategy; creating institutional liquidity is essential to preserving player leverage.
Chris Koras is partner and head of sports at Working Capital Partners. He was previously head of baseball at Klutch Sports and an executive at REP1, where he represented the firm’s capital partner, led the baseball division and oversaw its player negotiation operations. During his tenure, REP1 negotiated billions in player contracts and completed a successful sale of the firm.
