SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Ramón Laureano #5 of the San Diego Padres is caught stealing by Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Petco Park on May 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has become all too common that the San Diego Padres have seen a starter throw at least five or six innings and allow three runs or fewer and it results in a loss. Coming into the season that would have been the dream scenario for a Padres rotation that is missing Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta. That was before the season began when people were discussing a possible MVP season for Fernando Tatis Jr., a breakout season for Jackson Merrill, a return to form from Manny Machado and a full season of Ramon Laureano. All four have struggled mightily at the plate 50-plus games into the season so it is no surprise that the San Diego offense is near the bottom or last in MLB in almost every offensive category.
This was the case Monday afternoon for Padres starter Griffin Canning. He did his part, pitching 6.2 innings allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Unfortunately for San Diego and Canning, two of the three hits the right-hander allowed were home runs and accounted for all three of the runs scored by the Philadelphia Phillies. That was enough offense for the visitors to hand the Padres a 3-0 loss at Petco Park. Canning allowed the first home run to Kyle Schwarber in the top of the first inning which gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Philadelphia pushed the score to 3-0 in the top of the seventh when Brandon Marsh hit a two-run home run with Schwarber on base.
San Diego recorded five hits in the game with two of those coming from Tatis, along with two walks, and Ty France chipped in with two hits as well. The only other “offense” came from Miguel Andujar who had a base hit and a walk. That was it. The Padres outhit the Phillies, but none of their hits made it over the wall or produced any runs — which means Tatis still has ZERO home runs on the season.
All that can be done is to move on to the next game and that is what San Diego will do. The Padres will host the Phillies in the second game of the series today at Petco Park at 6:40 p.m. The anticipation of the Jekyll and Hyde offense will diminish some of the excitement for a Randy Vasquez start but San Diego seems to find a way to win with him on the mound so that is something to look forward to.
Padres News:
Speaking of the San Diego offense, Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball took a look at the possibility of the Padres continuing their success throughout the season — as far as their win/loss record — in spite of their offensive struggles.
With two more hits to open the series against the Phillies, Ty France has 26 hits and has upped his average to .289. He has five home runs, scored 10 runs and has driven in 16 runs. France has also added a stolen base. As good as his offense has been, his defense has been even better, and the former San Diego State Aztec looks happy and comfortable to be back in San Diego.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Washington Nationals pitcher Zack Littell (18) delivers a pitch to the plate during the fourth inning of the Major League Baseball interleague game between the Washington Nationals and Cleveland Guardians on May 25, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Nationals laid down the hammer last night on the Cleveland Guardians, smacking 6 home runs en route to a 10-2 victory, bringing them 1 game over .500 at last. While the bats were the top story, the real hero of the day was Zack Littell, who threw 7 innings of one-run ball after PJ Poulin opened the game, securing the win and giving a day off to a very taxed Nats bullpen. Littell, who had atrocious numbers in April, has looked much sharper in the month of May, not having allowed more than 3 runs in a start this month.
Littell isn’t the only one seeing improvements in the Nats rotation, as in the month of May, Nationals starters as a whole have a 4.21 ERA, good for 19th best in baseball, and much improved from their 5.46 mark in April. Over the last 11 days, it has been even better, as their 3.15 starters’ ERA since May 15th ranks 11th in all of baseball. The offense has carried the weight all season with the most runs scored in the league, and the starting pitching has begun to chip in as well.
Zack Littell…
– Completed 7 innings – Hit 94 mph for the first time this season. – Walked back to the dugout after the 8th and said "Let's give (the bullpen) the day off."
But what about the bullpen? While the improvements haven’t been as drastic as the starters, the bullpen has seen better results as a collective as well, with their 4.59 ERA ranking 25th in baseball, better than their 5.16 mark in April. The improvement has come in part from cutting off subpar arms, but it’s also been a result of some pitchers coming into their own, such as Richard Lovelady, who has done everything from open to close games for the Nats.
Overall, the Nationals have gone from a team ERA of 5.30 and FIP of 5.22 in April to a team ERA of 4.40 and FIP of 4.06 in May. What has led to the newfound success? One of the key variables has been controlling the 3 true outcomes much better. From April to May, the Nats have increased their strikeout rate by 1.8%, cut their walk rate by 2.1%, and dropped their home runs per 9 innings from 1.61 to 1.08. They went from ranking 27th in the league in K-BB% at 9.3% in April to 14th with 13.2% in May, a stark change.
Another key variable in the Nats’ improving pitching success has been limiting damage on balls in play, particularly where and how hard balls are hit. The Nats 11.5% barrel rate was the worst in baseball, and reflected in the amount of extra base hit damage they were allowing. In May, that number is down to 9.6%, still 3rd worst in baseball, but a strong improvement from where it was in April. Combined with a 4.4% lower Hard Hit Rate, Nats pitchers are limiting the damage hitters are doing when they do barrel up baseballs.
If the Nats can continue to keep their pitching numbers around the 20th best in baseball, rather than the bottom 3, they have a serious chance to make some noise in the NL this summer, as the offense has continued to hum with zero signs of slowing down. As the front office makes moves such as waiver claims and minor league callups, the pitching staff may continue to get better with more talent in the fray.
Queenslander holds nerve to win 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4
Alex de Minaur into third round after opponent injured
Wildcard Adam Walton has pulled off the biggest victory of his career at the French Open, staying cool in the Paris heat to shock a frazzled Daniil Medvedev for the second time in nine months.
His victory came as Alex de Minaur was given an unexpected but welcome free pass into the last 32 because of an injury to his dangerous second-round opponent.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 20: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game during Game Two of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fraternizing with the Enemy — with the enemy being Cray Allred of the Daily Thunder — continues after the Spurs made the adjustments we were all clamoring for to take a dominant Game 4 win and even the series 2-2. Now, it’s up to the shorthanded Thunder to adjust again in this extended chess match as what is now a best-of-three series heads back to Oklahoma City.
J.R.
The playoffs are filled with ups and downs. Like I said before Sunday’s game, after a loss, you feel like you’ll never win. So the time from Friday night to Sunday afternoon was pretty low for most Spurs fans. You’re staring down the barrel of a potential 1-3 series deficit and you’re doing that knowing that a game-starting 15-point run wasn’t enough to avoid losing by 15.
As Sunday’s game began and the home team ramped up the defense to a pace that’d match the metabolism of a pygmy shrew, my unease decreased, but not much. The Spurs had played well but they didn’t have much separation, and they’d missed 6 free throws in the first half. Even worse, as OKC chipped away at the lead, it started to feel like a replay of Game 3.
Then Wemby hit an immaculate halfcourt shot at the buzzer and suddenly everything changed. Going into the locker room up 12 is a massive difference from going in up just 9, but that wasn’t all. That heave from the logo was more than just a half court shot. It was the validation of the team’s efforts personified in Wemby and represented on the scoreboard. It was a cleansing of doldrums and a declaration of how the second half would go. It was an audacious act of a ferocious fling. That it went in felt predetermined. That it was a swish felt like a miracle.
I asked for the team to make adjustments and they did. The main one being how they reduced/altered the doubles on Shai, which definitely had an effect of forcing other guys to make plays instead of just catching and shooting open jumpers. I expected MD to come out of intermission with an adjustment of his own, but the second half was just more of the same.
Now we’re back where we started with an even series, but after four games, neither team is healthy and that looms large as we head back to OKC. Did Game 4 tell you anything about how the Thunder can play with just one playmaker? What worries you and what gives you hope?
Cray
How was it just two days ago that Spurs fans felt this way?
I’m not bothered that San Antonio ran away with a home win while facing down a 3-1 hole. I’m worried that Oklahoma City couldn’t buy a clean look, pass, or whistle on offense — things their second and third-best playmaker would theoretically help out with if they weren’t both stuck on the injury report. A soleus strain, suffered by Ajay Mitchell in Game 3 has already ruled him out for Game 5. And even if Jalen Williams somehow gets cleared to come back from his fourth hamstring injury in as many months, I would be worried about reinjury every second he played.
Aside from all that misery, I’m taking heart in a 2-2 series, the bounceback capabilities of Shai and the Thunder bench, and the reality that crazy things happen in the playoffs. Shai has always been OKC’s hope, and I still believe. SGA will find a way to look more like himself, even as the sole playmaker. Game 5 will be even more intense for players and fans to head into, as will Game 6 and/or Game 7. Potentially more ups and downs than I can prepare for.
Welcome back to the playoffs, J.R. Do you think we’re going to survive years of this rivalry?
J.R.
It certainly is a place of misery that a fan walks through after a game like that. My wife watched with me last night and she commented on the way the OKC players looked on the bench in the fourth, particularly Holmgren. I had to tell her that Chet looking miserable on the bench wasn’t news because that’s how his face has been all series so far. When he sits, I mean. You’d have to tell me what his face looks like when he plays because it’s like I’ve barely seen it. Is he actually disappearing or is it just me?
As to what this series will do to us over the years, how can I answer that when I can’t even tell where I’ll be emotionally one game from now! Let’s review the series so far through the lens of my mental and emotional well being. I thought I liked the Spurs chances coming into G1, but while I watched, my body reacted like I’d just jumped into ice cold water. Heart rate through the roof and no hope of controlling it. Spurs win, and I’m on top of the world while ignoring all of the warning signs. After a loss in another close game, I’m convinced that there’s nothing to worry about because SA takes the first at home. After that failed to happen, there’s no hope because OKC took the Spurs’ best punch. Now the series is even and I’m suspecting that there’s not much the Thunder can do because they lack ball handling and initiating. Does any of this seem healthy to you? I guess there’s a reason we’ve shortened the word ‘fanatic’ to fan – it’s so that we can forget its origins are in extremes: a person with an extreme, uncritical, and often irrational enthusiasm or devotion to something.
How is your fanatic’s heart handling this, where do you see room for improvement, and what do you expect from Game 5?
Cray
Chet always looks haggard on the bench, because he throws that frail body around fearlessly. The delay in action due to his bloodied finger is nothing new for OKC fans – we’ve even got a Twitter account dedicated to tracking whether he got hit in the face each game. Holmgren does look extra deflated, but he is playing with incredible energy and impact on defense. Per databaller, he’s been the fourth most frequent Wemby defender these playoffs; outside of racking up fouls, Holmgren has done the best job of any big trusted to guard the alien for more than 25 possessions. He’s done that while also holding the rest of the Spurs rotation players not named Dylan Harper under 50% True Shooting. San Antonio has a 106 offensive rating when Holmgren’s on the court.
What it takes to exert that force on both ends, against these Spurs, is more to blame than any lack of edge or determination from Chet. But it is showing up more on offense. Also nothing new for Thunder fans: wanting Holmgren to attack as a playmaker more when the guard rotation is thin. We were upset that he only bumped his scoring average (17.1ppg on the season) up by 1.2 points when Ajay and JDub were both out in February and March – seeing it drop to 11.3 against the Spurs is…what’s the word…deflating.
I don’t know if it’s realistic to expect him to put the ball on the floor against these guards, but he can at least be a more willing three-point shooter. He’s taking the fewest threes (2.3 per game) of his career, fewer than he has against any other postseason opponent. For a team desperate for points, a little chucking could go a long way. Of course some of that’s the Wemby effect, but there’s no one on OKC with a higher release point to try and get those off aggressively.
I’m done guessing how any game will play out, but I’m predicting we’re going 7. I can only concur with Dr. Wilco’s diagnosis: we are unhealthy fanatics. So I’m staying very up on my blood pressure medication as prescribed by my IRL doctor, and might pop an extra before Game 5.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson sealed New York's Eastern Conference Finals sweep of the Cavaliers with a kiss.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson sealed New York’s Eastern Conference finals sweep of the Cavaliers with a kiss.
After being named the series MVP by a unanimous vote, Brunson and his wife, Ali, embraced in an emotional moment on the court at Rocket Arena, as seen in photos of the pair Monday night.
“I can’t wait to tell Jordyn her dad is going to the NBA Finals,” Ali wrote in an Instagram Story post, including a snapshot of the couple’s 1-year-old daughter, who was sporting a Brunson tee.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks kisses his wife Dr. Ali Marks Brunson in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
Ali, who is a pilates instructor and a licensed doctor of physical therapy, reposted a Knicks flyer announcing Brunson — who scored 15 points in the Knicks’ 130-93 Game 4 clincher — as the 2026 Eastern Conference finals MVP.
She added a crying emoji and heart emojis.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks kisses his wife Dr. Ali Marks Brunson in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
Brunson averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game against Cleveland, while shooting 48.7 percent overall in that series.
Knicks legends, Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Patrick Ewing presented Brunson with the Larry Bird MVP trophy.
Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing present Jalen Brunson with the “Larry Bird” Eastern Conference MVP trophy after defeating the Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the conference finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
The Knicks have won 11 straight games en route to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
“It’s an honor to be here in this city and this organization,” Brunson said in his postgame press conference. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
While there appears to be no rush, the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to search for a new head coach since Craig Berube was fired earlier in the month.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman provided a soft update on where the Maple Leafs stand with coaching candidates, specifically David Carle and Bruce Cassidy.
Some have drawn lines between Carle and the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche are on the brink of being swept by the Golden Knights, and there have been suggestions that Carle could be eyeing an eventual coaching change in Colorado.
Friedman was even asked about that on Donnie & Dhali. But keeping focus on the Maple Leafs, Friedman reported that he thinks Toronto is interested in him.
"I think everybody's trying to gauge what the possibility is really," he said. "I do think Toronto wants to make Carle at least think about them, and see if they can do that."
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Knicks fans were partying like it was 1999 on Monday night.
After making the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years by winning 11 straight playoff games, the players are still in awe of their faithful — and perhaps unique — fans.
“Knicks fans are a specific species of human that should be studied,” Knicks bench player Landry Shamet said on “Inside the NBA” after the 130-93 Game 4 win. “It’s special, man. They’re crazy. They’re crazy. They fly out to Cleveland on Monday. They’re everywhere. They take over arenas. Everywhere you walk in the city, that’s what you hear. The buzz is unbelievable. You could try and explain what’s going on in New York right now for Knicks fans but good luck. It’s different. Knicks fans are different.”
Knicks fans go wild on the streets of New York City on Monday night. NY Post
Fans even climbed onto anything they could find as MSG looked more like a zoo than a sports arena after the New York Liberty vs. Portland Fire game Monday night.
Knicks fans were even getting arrested as they climbed onto street signs with chaos unfolding at every turn on the city streets.
It wasn’t just on the streets, either, as opposing teams were imploring their ticket holders not to sell their seats to Knicks fans for playoff home games.
To no avail, though, as Knicks chants echoed in the road buildings throughout the playoffs, but especially in Philadelphia and Cleveland.
Knicks fans were being arrested on the streets at one point.
Shamet’s name was even being chanted on the streets at one point, as the role-playing wing could do no wrong for the Knicks down the stretch of Game 1 and throughout the Eastern Conference finals.
The reserve wing who couldn’t get off the bench for much of the playoffs last year when Tom Thibodeau was the coach was on an incredible heater versus the Cavaliers, going 11-for-12 from 3-point range (91.6 percent).
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The Knicks will look to stay hot as the Spurs and Thunder beat each other up in the Western Conference finals, with the teams tied at 2-2 entering Tuesday’s Game 5.
The NBA Finals don’t begin until June 3, giving the Knicks nine days’ rest between series.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer shoots the ball during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One of the great things about the NBA Draft process is the gamesmanship and skullduggery. If somebody wanted, say, BYU star AJ Dybantsa, that team might plant doubts about his workouts or attitude, hoping to push him down the draft order.
Unless you get a crack at Shaquille O’Neal or Hakeem Olajuwon, where there’s no doubt who will go first, it always happens. It doesn’t always work, but somebody always does it. Sun Tzu would have loved the NBA Draft.
We’re not at all sure what’s happening with Cameron Boozer, but something is bubbling away. People are suggesting all sorts of things. There are subtle suggestions that the Washington Wizards might opt for him with #1. There are accounts that Utah may take him with the #2 pick.
This much is indisputable: Dybantsa’s family has moved to Utah and apparently quite likes living there. Dybantsa has said a couple of things that indicate he would like to stay in Utah. That would probably happen if Washington takes Boozer with the #1 pick.
And it’s worth remembering that Oklahoma City has a ton of draft picks that will devalue if they don’t make a trade to move up in the draft or at least move them further into the future.
OKC is a real wild card. If they decided that they wanted, let’s say, Boozer, they could work a trade with either Memphis or Chicago and send them a huge collection of future picks.
Barring that, the current wisdom is that Boozer will go either #3 to Memphis or at #4 to Chicago, but it doesn’t appear to be written in stone just yet.
As the old saying goes, it’s usually the team that loses four games by a combined 77 points that actually is the one that should have emerged triumphant.
James Harden reacted defiantly Monday night to a question about “how much better” the Knicks are than the Cavaliers after they completed their four-game sweep.
“I can’t even answer that question, honestly. Yeah, I don’t think we had a chance as far as our best shot from a standpoint of the circumstances,” Harden said after the 130-93 home loss. “Obviously, they dominated us 4-0, but I don’t know if I can necessarily answer that question because, genuinely, I do feel we are the better team. But series-wise didn’t show it, so tough question to answer.”
James Harden and the Cavaliers got swept. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
It’s one thing to hear this kind of refrain from a player after a close series with games that went down to the wire, but the Cavaliers lost each contest by at least 11 points. They couldn’t even stay within striking distance at home and lost by 37 on their home court in an elimination game.
This series simply did not come down to one shot or one play.
And even if Harden wants to point to Sam Merrill’s potential game-winning shot going halfway down and then rimming out, the Cavaliers were still below a 22-point lead in that game, and then got outscored by 11 points in overtime in one of the biggest choke jobs in NBA playoff history.
Much in the same way that coach Kenny Atkinson’s comment about the Cavaliers being ahead in the series advanced on analytics, Harden’s comments seem tone deaf considering the series outcome.
Harden may actually have been the one who gave the Cavaliers the best chance to show they were the better team in Game 1 when he was isolated against eventual Finals MVP Brunson with Cleveland nursing a big lead, but Brunson kept targeting him and scoring at will.
The 36-year-old, who famously has never reached the NBA Finals, averaged 16 points per game in the series and went out with a whimper, scoring 12 points on 2-for-8 shooting and 0-for-6 in Game 4.
He pointed to shot-making as the difference in the series, while adding that he felt he did “pretty good” in his first postseason with Cleveland after being acquired in a midseason trade.
James Harden and the Cavaliers were swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. NBAE via Getty Images
Harden has a contract option and said he wants to remain in Cleveland.
“They made shots, some open and some just tough shots,” Harden said.
The New York Knicks completed their sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to their first NBA Finals since the 1998-99 season, when they lost in five games to the San Antonio Spurs.
To put things in perspective, the New York Islanders were five years into their 23-season playoff series win drought at the time, coming off a 24-48-9-1 season, tied for the second-worst record in the NHL.
This was also Mike Milbury's final season as the team's head coach.
Following an 11-game winless streak, he stepped away from the bench to focus solely on his role as general manager, handing the coaching reins to Bill Stewart, who took over on January 21, 1999.
The Islanders’ leading point scorer was Robert Reichel, who had 56 points in 70 games before being dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes on March 20, 1999, for then-21-year-old Brad Isbister and a 1999 third-round pick.
Other notable Islanders from that season included Žigmund Pálffy, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings during the 1999 offseason, and Zdeno Chara, who was in the second of four seasons during his initial stint with the Islanders.
At the time, Roberto Luongo and Mike Rupp were also prospects in the Islanders’ system, though both would be with new franchises by the 2000 offseason.
The Knicks will now face either the reigning NBA Finals champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in a 1999 rematch.
After the New York Knicks advanced to the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani seized the moment to take a playful jab at the Cleveland Cavaliers on social media, reflecting the city's excitement in the team’s historic run in 27 years.
Just minutes after the Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, completing a decisive 4-0 series sweep, Mamdani tweeted a clever message: “I’d like to report a sweep,” tagging New York’s Department of Sanitation.
The department quickly joined in the fun, replying, “Clean up in Cleveland!!” The playful exchange captured the city’s jubilant mood as fans celebrated the Knicks’ dominant performance and their long-awaited return to the NBA’s biggest stage.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) May 26, 2026
Mamdani, a well-known Knicks supporter, was spotted at Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden, cheering on the team alongside fellow fans.
It's been a big week for Mamdani's favorite sports teams with Arsenal clinching its first English Premier League title since 2004, also set to play on May 30 in the UEFA Champions League final.
Before the Toronto Maple Leafs decided on hiring John Chayka and Mats Sundin as the GM and senior executive advisor of hockey operations, respectively, MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley conducted his search to find new leadership in the franchise's front office.
Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger was one of the candidates who was interviewed for a role in the organization's hockey operations department.
As a guest on TSN's OverDrive, Pronger explained the process of meeting with the Maple Leafs and what his conversation with Pelley was like, as well as with Neil Glasberg, who led the firm that supplied candidates for MLSE.
"Just had a good, frank conversation about the team, about the direction, my thoughts on what they needed, in the front office and on the ice, with respect to the players," Pronger said on OverDrive
Pronger does have some experience as an executive in the NHL. Beginning in 2017-18, he was a senior advisor for the Florida Panthers for three seasons, which is similar to the role Sundin has with the Leafs now. Pronger was also named senior VP of hockey operations in 2019-20, and hasn't had a role since, according to eliteprospects.com.
After a conversation with Pelley and Glasberg that lasted about a couple of hours, Toronto obviously didn't go through with hiring Pronger.
"I got good feedback on my conversation with them, but they were going in a different direction," Pronger said.
The former Stanley Cup champion with the Anaheim Ducks was asked about the Maple Leafs' defense in comparison to the teams remaining in the playoffs, including the Vegas Golden Knights and the Montreal Canadiens.
"When you have no-move clauses, and limited no-trade clauses and all the rest of that, you have to find the perfect fit," he said. "It's one thing to move off a player, but what is coming back? You still got to fill holes."
Pronger further expressed that the makeup of the Maple Leafs' D-core is inadequate, and he believes Toronto's blueline needs an overhaul to some degree.
They got to get faster on the back end, they got to get more puck-movers," Pronger explained. "If you want to play an up-tempo, offensive game, you've got to have defensemen that can transition the puck and get it up the ice quick, get retrievals quicker… there's a lot that kind of goes into the nuances of the transition game."
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during the first half against the UConn Huskies in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Reports have emerged that the Suns would like to trade into the first round. John Doehass at Bright Side of the Sun also proposed five potential trades for the 17th, 26th, 29th, 30th, and 31st picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. I have written several articles in the past looking at who the Suns might acquire with the 47th pick in the second round. Some of the players I identified previously have risen in mock drafts to become potential first round draft picks, including Henri Veesaar, Ebuka Okorie, Joshua Jefferson, and Zuby Ejiofor.
However, my previous analyses didn’t look at players I thought had no chance of falling to 47, particularly players showing up routinely in the late teens. Therefore, I’m putting together three articles over the next few days that will look at three classes of players that I haven’t already covered: guys whom the Suns should look at if they have the 17th pick, ones who will be available at 26 (but probably not by 29), and late first/early second (29-31) prospects.
I looked at and statistically analyzed 16 of the top mock drafts to identify who the Suns should focus on at each of these three draft areas. The players listed here all meet a team need: I did not include players who play positions or roles the Suns already have filled (shooting guard, small forward, centers who can’t shoot the three).
Prospects at 17
The players in this section are ones who realistically might be there at 17, which would happen if the Suns traded with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently possess the 12th and 17th picks. There’s almost no chance they’d still be around at 26. This includes four players: Hannes Steinbach, Morez Johnson, Jr., Bennett Stirtz, and Chris Cenac Jr. If the Suns are set on acquiring an athletic power forward, and Morez, Jr. is off the board, Chris Cenac would still be a good consolation prize at 17, given there’s only modest odds (17%) he’ll still be available at 26.
Morez Johnson, Jr. (Michigan, Sophomore, PF)
Morez Johnson Jr. is a physically imposing, high-motor big man and key anchor for the Michigan Wolverines. Standing 6’9” barefoot with an elite 7’3″ wingspan and weighing 250 pounds, he possesses excellent lateral mobility and defensive switchability.
Defensive Versatility: Possesses the rare ability to switch 1-through-5. His nimble footwork and core strength allow him to contain smaller, quicker guards on the perimeter.
Rebounding: An elite, high-effort rebounder who controls the glass through determined positioning, length, and strength.
Interior Offense: Highly efficient finisher around the rim, operating as an excellent lob threat and playing well above the rim. He also projects as a high-quality screener who rolls effectively in pick-and-roll.
High Motor: Known as the “heart and soul” of his team, bringing consistent energy, toughness, and defensive instincts to every possession.
Weaknesses
Offensive Hub Limitations: He does not possess a true perimeter scoring package yet. He rarely attempts jump shots and relies primarily on put-backs, lobs, and interior dump-offs rather than self-creation.
Raw Passing & Playmaking: His playmaking upside remains limited, often forcing turnovers or lacking playmaking vision when forced to distribute from the high post.
Undersized Center Profile: While his wingspan allows him to play bigger, he still lacks the pure height of a traditional back-to-the-basket NBA center, meaning he will need to rely heavily on his leaping and positioning to protect the rim.
Draft Range
Between 12 and 25, with an average of 17.4 and a median of 17. 55% chance he will still be available at 17.
Why the Suns Should Take a Look
I’m not going to lie: of all the players I’ve looked at in the draft so far, Morez Jr. is the one I’d most like to see land on the Suns. He ticks all the boxes: absolutely killed it on the measurements, vertical athleticism, and agility at the combine. He’s done well against the top competition in the nation. Shoots the three well, and his high free-throw percentage suggests that he will get even better.
Young enough that substantial improvement is possible. He’s “got that dawg in him” metaphorically, and is “aligned” with the hustle and heart that underlie the team concept of the Suns. The only tepid criticisms I can offer are that he’s still raw enough that he won’t immediately come in and lead the Suns to the second round, but he’s also instantly the team’s starting power forward.
Isaiah Stewart, Aaron Gordon, and Patrick Patterson
Hannes Steinbach (Washington, Freshman, PF)
Hannes Steinbach is a highly coveted 2026 NBA Draft prospect and elite rebounding big man. Following a stellar freshman season at Washington, the 6’10.25″ (barefoot) 248-pound forward averaged 18.5 points and a nation-leading 11.8 rebounds per game, solidifying his status as a probable lottery or first-round selection.
Elite Rebounding: His rebounding is widely considered the best in the 2026 draft class. Averaging 11.8 boards (including an elite 4.2 offensive), he pairs an aggressive motor with a massive wingspan and remarkably large hands to secure the ball at its apex.
Soft Touch & Catch Radius: Steinbach catches almost everything thrown his way and is an exceptionally efficient finisher inside. He converts at a high rate on hook shots, push runners, and leaners.
Fluid Movement: He runs the floor effortlessly for a big man. He handles the ball well in transition, allowing him to snake around defenders and face up in space.
Weaknesses
Rim Protection: He relies more on positioning and energy than explosive vertical leaping. His low block rate raises slight concerns about his ability to function as a traditional, heavy-minute rim-protecting center.
Defensive Versatility: Translating his interior presence to the next level requires proving he can either anchor the paint or effectively slide over to defend the power forward position in modern, switch-heavy lineups.
Draft Range
Between 11 and 29, with an average of 16.3 and a median of 15. There is a 44% chance he will still be available at 17 if the Suns pick there.
Why the Suns Should Take a Look
The Suns really don’t have a reliable PF/C who can both rebound, defend, and space the floor. It’s not hard to imagine slotting Steinbach in alongside Fleming, Williams, Oso, or Maluach. He’s a much better positional defender than Sabonis, and there’s a strong chance his three-point percentage will continue to improve.
His athleticism and measurements are excellent, but not elite like Cenac, Johnson, Jr., and Brazile. The biggest red flag is that aside from rebounding, none of his stats show him to have any elite skills. He’s above average in many, below average in only one (defensive rating, which is a red flag), but the best players need more than one elite skill.
All in all, Steinbach looks to have the tools, size, and athleticism to carve out a long NBA career.
NBA Comparisons
Domatis Sabonis with a three-point shot. Nikola Vučević, Drew Gooden. Worst case: Frank Kaminsky
Bennett Stirtz (Iowa, Senior, PG/SG)
Bennett Stirtz is a crafty, highly efficient 6’4” 184-pound guard known for his elite basketball IQ, outstanding shooting, and steady playmaking. Originally a standout at the Division II level who transferred to Drake before finishing his college career in Iowa, Stirtz profiles as a high-floor, plug-and-play rotational guard.
Elite Shooting: A deadeye marksman who is especially dangerous in catch-and-shoot scenarios. He creates separation comfortably using a lethal step-back jumper and shows deep range.
High-Level Decision Making: Possesses a phenomenal assist-to-turnover ratio. He is a calculated pick-and-roll orchestrator who plays at his own pace and rarely forces bad shots.
Crafty Finisher: Though he relies more on touch and angles than raw vertical athleticism, he is incredibly efficient scoring in the paint. He utilizes a high-arcing floater and scores well with either hand.
Off-Ball Intelligence: Excels at relocating for open looks and reading defender habits, making him a dangerous cutter.
Weaknesses
Physical Profile: Firmly average by NBA standards in terms of vertical and horizontal athleticism. He does not blow past defenders and is mostly a below-the-rim player.
Defensive Questions: Stirtz’s lack of elite length or lateral quickness can lead to struggles when isolated against quicker NBA guards.
Shot Creation Against Elite Size: Against top-tier, long-armed defenders, he can occasionally struggle to get his shot off or finish inside the arc without drawing fouls.
Draft Range
Between 17 and 28, with an average of 21.1 and a median of 19. There is an 88% chance he will still be available at 17 if the Suns pick there.
Why the Suns Should Take a Look
There is strong consensus that Stirtz is a mid-to-late first round pick, and 10 out of 16 mocks have him going in the late teens. He’s a great shooter, a slightly above-average athlete according to combine results, and has a great basketball IQ. The downsides are his defense, rebounding, and fit with the current roster. He also seems to lack a skill or quality you can point to that is elite rather than just “very good” (like his shooting, particularly from the corner).
The biggest question I have with Stirtz is his fit next to Booker. The general opinion is he’s a tweener guard who can play either position, but he’s not a true point guard, and may be better suited to a secondary initiator role. How close is this to Gillespie? Jalen Green? It’s hard to say, but the Suns should be wary of adding what amounts to a 5th shooting guard to the roster behind Booker, Green, Goodwin, and Allen.
NBA Comparisons
Payton Pritchard, Landry Shamet, and Jeff Hornacek
Chris Cenac (Houston, Freshman, PF/C)
Chris Cenac Jr. is an elite, modern frontcourt prospect. Standing 6’11” with an impressive 7’5″ wingspan, the former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, where he is projected as a first-round selection.
Physical Profile & Mobility: Cenac possesses rare athletic fluidity for a 6’11” big man. He runs the floor with long strides in transition, boasts a 37-inch vertical leap, and possesses excellent second-jump capabilities.
At-Rim & Roll Finishing: He is highly efficient as a play-finisher, placing in the 97th percentile in at-rim efficiency. He serves as an elite lob threat and frequently capitalizes on weakside putbacks, logging an impressive 9.8% offensive rebounding percentage.
Stretch Potential: Unlike traditional rim-bound bigs, Cenac displays a clean, smooth, and repeatable shooting motion. Shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc on notable volume provides an intriguing foundation as a pick-and-pop floor spacer.
Rebounding Production: He has a natural knack for tracking the ball off the rim. He led Houston in rebounding as a freshman—becoming the first freshman to do so for the program since 2012—and recorded standout double-doubles, including a 17-point, 17-rebound showing against Kansas.
Weaknesses
Physicality & Post Strength: Despite a 240-pound frame, Cenac can play tentatively when absorbing contact in the paint. Stronger, more physical low-post centers occasionally out-muscled and pushed him out of position during his collegiate tenure.
Interior Defense Discipline: While his perimeter switchability and footwork allow him to contest wings effectively on the outside, his interior paint protection is an ongoing work in progress. He has a tendency to bite on pump fakes and pick up premature fouls.
Offensive Creation: He is primarily a complementary, off-the-ball scorer. When forced to create his own shot in isolation, he can become overly reliant on settling for difficult mid-range jumpers rather than attacking the rim.
Draft Range
Between 16 and 32, with an average of 21.9 and a median of 22. There is an 17% chance he will still be available at 17 if the Suns pick there.
Why the Suns Should Take a Look
Cenac projects as an athletic PF/C with a reach and wingspan nearly identical to Rasheer Fleming, but better hops and agility. He’s only a freshman, and projects well as a rebounder and defender. He shot 33.3% from three in college and did well in the three-point star drill at the NBA draft combine. However, his corner three numbers there left a lot to be desired (near the bottom at 9 of 25).
However, he’s still very raw, and the nuances of the game are still coming to him. He doesn’t really move the ball well (his assist numbers are abysmal, and his low turnover rate is because he doesn’t pass much either), and he doesn’t move well with the ball. Even more than Fleming, he’s a long-term investment for whatever franchise picks him. If he by some chance falls to 26, he’s fallen and likely won’t fall much further. The Suns seem to be taking a more patient approach now, and Chris Cenac would be a great insurance policy on the development of Fleming and provide some depth and versatility at PF/C.
However, between Cenac, Steinbach, and Morez, I would pick Morez over Steinbach, which is why Chris Cenac fell to this tier.
NBA Comparisons
Jaren Jackson Jr., Naz Reid, and Kel’el Ware
Coming tomorrow, players available if the Suns were to trade up into the 26th pick with the Denver Nuggets.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: AJ Dybantsa looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Thanks to some lottery luck, the Washington Wizards own the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft for the first time in 16 years.
John Wall, the team’s top selection in 2010, was considered by many as the consensus No. 1 pick. So it came as no surprise when Washington made Wall the franchise’s centerpiece.
Sixteen years later, Washington is faced with a more complex situation surrounding their choice at No. 1.
Will it be AJ Dybantsa, the high-flying BYU product who led college basketball in scoring with 25.5 points per game and is currently -390 to be the No. 1 pick, according to FanDuel Sportsbook?
Does Washington instead opt for the draft class’s top guard prospect in Darryn Peterson, Kansas’s talented scorer who averaged 20.2 points per game on 38.2% 3PT as a freshman? Or will the Wizards surprise everyone by selecting Cameron Boozer, the 2026 Naismith Men’s College Basketball Player of the Year who some have labeled the top prospect in the 2026 draft class?
Below is an overview of which prospect several NBA Draft experts believe the Wizards will select at No. 1.
