PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 07: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with teammates in the dugout after a solo home against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the firest inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pirates have had a handful of big name free agent signings in the offseason. The Bucs signed players like Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’hearn, Marcell Ozuna and Gregory Soto to name a few. Who has been the most impactful free agent signing so far for the Bucs ?
To me, the obvious pick for most impactful free agent has been Brandon Lowe. Lowe was not a free agent signing, as he was a part of a three-team trade, but was still a move made in the offseason so we are counting it here. Lowe was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, and he leads the team in home runs with 10 and is third on the team in RBIs with 23. Oneil Cruz is first on the team with 28 RBIs, while Ryan O’hearn is second with 25.
It has been a long time since Pittsburgh has had a second baseman who can hit for serious power, and Lowe is doing just that.
The veteran second basemen went on an absolute tear in their last series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lowe had five hits in two games played in Arizona. He also hit two home runs in the series, with both of them coming in the first inning. Those home runs were a huge reason why the Pirates won two out of three against Arizona, securing a 1-0 and 4-2 wins.
Pittsburgh is now 21-17 on the season, and that early success is because of the Pittsburgh offense. The Pirates had one of the worst offenses last year, but the addition of Lowe specifically has turned them into more of a power team this year.
That is surprising too, because everyone thought that O’hearn and Ozuna would be the additions that would bring the power, but really it has been the opposite. Lowe’s power has been so nice, especially in the top of that lineup. Having Lowe bat second in the lineup behind Cruz and in front of Bryan Reynolds is the best lineup decision in my opinion.
We have talked a lot about his offense, but his defense has been really solid too so far. His veteran presence has also been important especially with Pittsburgh still having a younger lineup and team. The Pirates will need Brandon Lowe to continue to play well if Pittsburgh wants to contend in what is the most competitive decision in baseball.
Comment below who you think has been the most impactful acquisition from the offseason so far for the Pirates.
The Philadelphia Flyers have had the worst power play in the NHL for three of the last four seasons, and now it has single-handedly cost them a crucial playoff game at home. Things can't continue this way.
In 2023-24, the Flyers had the 32nd-ranked power play. Then Matvei Michkov came over and led the team, tied with Travis Konecny in both categories, in power play goals and assists. They still finished 2024-25 with the 30th-ranked power play.
After that disappointment, Flyers general manager Danny Briere went out and added the uber-talented Trevor Zegras via trade, and he racked up 23 power play points with Konecny and Michkov chipping in 14 and 12, respectively.
Michkov, despite remaining similarly productive in drastically reduced ice time, has been separated from Konecny on Zegras for much of the season.
Together, that trio has played just 55:15 together on the power play this season, while Zegras and Konecny without Michkov have played 113:97, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Now, while the numbers do not indicate that they generate more chances as a trio (relatively the same, but with more chances against), it does tell us that head coach Rick Tocchet and the coaching staff saw something they didn't like and completely abandoned it.
The same was true when Michkov started the season on a line with Sean Couturier and Konecny, which lasted a total of 60 minutes, and when Couturier was a top-six center only to be reduced to a fourth-line center.
The Flyers are predisposed to outright turning their backs on things that aren't working, rather than fixing them.
They changed coaching staffs and they added players, and yet the result remains the same year after year. How can this be?
It's worth noting, too, that the power play quarterback has been a constant revolving door.
There has been little to no continuity with Jamie Drysdale, Cam York, Rasmus Ristolainen, Travis Sanheim, Emil Andrae, and even Egor Zamula getting opportunities at various points in time over the last few seasons.
It's the only position the Flyers have not addressed on the power play, and it's a position all the best teams in the NHL have elite options for.
Tocchet admitted Thursday night after Game 3 that the Flyers are using players on the power play that would not ordinarily be playing power play minutes.
Michkov, sitting on the two-defenseman second unit, took a back seat to Tyson Foerster, who has no points in nine playoff games, Christian Dvorak, and Denver Barkey.
Nine players saw more power play ice time than the former No. 7 overall pick.
Waiting in the wings is defenseman David Jiricek, who was acquired for Bobby Brink at the NHL trade deadline.
Jiricek, 22, is a former top draft pick himself with a booming shot and strong passing chops.
But, does he have to earn his power play time with good defending, something that's completely unrelated? Would it be unfair to the Flyers players who have been with the team all year and got them to this point? Can they trust him to not turn the puck over, even though the idea is to let your talent go out there and score?
To successfully answer these questions, the Flyers must change their philosophies behind the power play, whether it's wingers playing their weak sides instead of strong sides, their personnel (Michkov), or risk assessment.
Baseball is full of statistical oddities, but the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008 and 2009 had one of the strangest name coincidences in franchise history. Enter Brian Barden and Brian Barton.
Both were born in California. Both were born in April. Both were trying to find their footing in the big leagues at the exact same time—often on the same roster.
In this week’s episode of Random Cardinal of the Week, Jim Plaza dives into the overlapping careers of these two players who flashed brilliance before fading into baseball trivia.
In this episode, we discuss:
The 2008 Rule 5 Draft pick that cost the Cardinals a fan favorite (So Taguchi).
Brian Barden’s blistering April 2009 that saw him named NL Rookie of the Month.
The “switch” that happened between the two Brians during Spring Training.
The surprising link between Brian Barden and World Series hero David Freese.
Whether you remember them as the future of the Cardinals’ infield or just as a confusing duo in the box score, we’re breaking down the full “Two Brians” saga. Unfortunately, the quick stay in the majors made it more difficult to find relevant pictures and highlights, so the YouTube video is a little bare on the visual this week. Either way, we hope you have been enjoying this weekly segment and are always welcome to feedback!
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning at Nationals Park on May 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thanks to an offensive outburst by Keibert Ruiz, which included 2 doubles and a solo shot, the Nationals beat the Twins 7-5 to secure the series win and an even 3-3 homestand. The win brought their record on the year to 18-20, good for sole possession of second place in the NL East and 2 wins shy of the .500 mark. They’ll have an opportunity to climb over the .500 mark with a three-game set in Miami against the Marlins, who are in the midst of a 4 game losing streak.
The Marlins have been led offensively by a pair of middle infielders in Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards in 2026, who have a 143 and 145 wRC+, respectively. Like the Nats, the Marlins lineup is extremely young, with none of their usual starting 9 hitters being over the age of 28. On the pitching side, they are led by a mix of former top prospects, journeymen, and a former Cy Young winner, and the result has been a respectable 4.09 ERA on the year as a club.
Friday – 7:10 PM EST
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (3-1, 2.27 ERA)
MIA: LHP Robby Snelling (Major League Debut)
Despite throwing 6 innings and allowing 0 earned runs last time out, Griffin earned the loss due to some unearned runs in the first inning and the Nats’ offense failing to get going. He’s been a monster for the Nats every 5 days, and will look to keep it going against a young Marlins lineup.
Robby Snelling, one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, will make his major league debut tonight against the Nats, a left-handed heavy lineup. Acquired from the Padres for reliever Tanner Scott in 2024, Snelling had a 1.86 ERA in Triple-A this season and will now get his first crack at the big leagues.
Saturday – 4:10 PM EST
WSH: Zack Littell (1-4, 7.24 ERA)
MIA: RHP Janson Junk (2-3, 2.82 ERA)
Littell was effective in his last outing after PJ Poulin opened the game, throwing 3 2/3 innings of 1-run ball. The best the Nats can hope for out of Littell is to get through the order twice unscathed, before handing it off to Mitchell Parker to pitch the bulk of the innings.
A 22nd-rounder in 2017 by the Yankees, Junk has turned himself into an effective starter in Miami, with a 4.17 ERA in 21 outings in 2025 and a 2.82 ERA in 7 starts in 2026. He’s allowed just 1 run in his last 3 starts, so the Nats are catching him in the middle of a hot stretch.
Sunday – 12:15 PM EST
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (1-2, 4.15 ERA)
MIA: RHP Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 4.01 ERA)
After back-to-back 10-strikeout starts against the Braves and Mets, Cavalli took a step back in his outing against the Twins, allowing 3 runs over 4 innings and walking more batters than he struck out. When Cavalli has his command, he’s a tough guy to get runs off, so hopefully he has a feel for his stuff on Sunday in Miami.
Alcantara’s season has been a mixed bag so far, as he’s been brilliant in 6 of his 8 starts, going deep in the outings and limiting damage, but in 2 of them, he has allowed 7 runs, including last time out against the Orioles. Hopefully, the Nats get the bad version of Alcantara on Sunday and can drop a 7-spot of their own.
The Cubs’ starting rotation has actually done pretty well in 2026, considering they lost Cade Horton for the season after two starts, and now are missing Matthew Boyd with an injury for the second time this year (and Boyd has a 6.00 ERA in five starts in 2026).
The team’s 3.77 starting pitcher ERA ranks seventh among all teams, which is really pretty good considering the injuries. Colin Rea and Javier Assad have done a good job as fill-ins, and Ben Brown will get a chance at a start tonight.
Clearly, Jed Hoyer will be looking for starting pitching help going forward, particularly as we approach the trade deadline. But that’s two months away and most teams aren’t going to trade a quality starter in early May.
One starter who might become available somewhat soon is Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta.
The Mets are off to a terrible start, currently tied with the Giants for MLB’s worst record at 14-23. They’ve had injury issues and some of the changes they made in the offseason simply haven’t worked. They stand 11.5 games behind the first-place Braves just 37 games into the season.
Would the Mets trade Peralta now? Possibly not; there have been teams that started this poorly who have made the postseason, though it seems unlikely. The Mets lost 12 in a row last month, including being swept by the Cubs, and no team that has had that long a losing streak has ever made the postseason. So maybe they’d be open to a trade now, instead of waiting until the deadline.
Peralta is a pending free agent who turns 30 next month. He’s been consistently good throughout his career and has been so this year as well, entering Friday’s action with a 3.12 ERA and 1.200 WHIP, with just four home runs allowed in 43.1 innings. He’s made at least 30 starts each of the last three years and seems durable. And, Cubs manager Craig Counsell managed Peralta for six years in Milwaukee, so he’s quite familiar with the right-hander.
Also, Peralta is making $8 million this year, so he could likely easily fit into Hoyer’s budget.
Now, what would the Cubs have to give the Mets to get Peralta?
Apr 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Tim Hill (41) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
This past offseason, many Yankees fans grew anxious as Cody Bellinger remained unsigned and the club’s only outside addition appeared to be Ryan Weathers. These were the days before the “run it back Yankees” became the reality surrounding the roster construction for 2026. Even after signing Bellinger and making a few additional moves, many felt the team did not do enough to go all in for a chance to finally capitalize on Aaron Judge’s championship window.
Most of the frustration centered around the team not addressing third base, finding a right-handed backup catcher, or fortifying the bullpen. That bullpen, mind you, had just lost the previous off-season’s prized closer acquisition from the Brewers in Devin Williams, as well as Luke Weaver, the former Cardinals castoff turned bullpen staple of the past few seasons, as they both headed across town to Queens.
How could a team with championship aspirations seemingly not address losing two high-leverage relievers from the previous year? Before the season, Brian Cashman pointed toward last summer’s trade deadline acquisitions of David Bednar and Camilo Doval as part of the organization’s reasoning for staying relatively quiet. Sure, those high-profile trade acquisitions bring traditional high-octane stuff to the late innings, but there’s another player who has been even more instrumental in stabilizing the Yankee ‘pen, and his name is Tim Hill.
Hill’s performance during the 2026 season has been nothing short of spectacular and has helped buoy the bullpen while the unit struggled through parts of early April. Now just over a month into the season, the Yankees entered Thursday with the sixth-best bullpen ERA in baseball at 3.35 across 129 innings pitched.
Of those 129 innings, Hill has pitched 14.1 of them in 16 games, entering Thursday. So far on the season the thirty-six-year-old journeyman has posted a 1.26 ERA and had allowed zero of his nine inherited runners to score (he finally let an inherited runner cross home plate against the Rangers on Thursday afternoon). This is the type of performance that is expected from big ticket relievers, not a cheap, soft tossing lefty. So how has Hill been so successful?
Since he was released in 2024 by the White Sox and claimed by the Yankees, Hill has seen the organization’s pitching lab significantly alter his pitch usage. Prior to joining the Yankees, Hill threw his four-seam fastball roughly 30 percent of the time while in Kansas City and closer to 50 percent on average in San Diego. That number dropped to 13.7 percent last season and fell even further to just 8.1 percent in 2026.
Instead, the Yankees have leaned heavily into Hill’s sinker. This season, the pitch accounts for more than 80 percent of his offerings. Before arriving in New York, the highest sinker usage rate of Hill’s career came in 2022 with the Padres when he threw it 54.5 percent of the time.
Besides throwing his sinker more, Hill has upped the usage of his slider. After trending downward for several seasons, the pitch now accounts for 11.9 percent of his arsenal. The slider is also coming in roughly eight miles per hour slower than it did last season, giving it more sweeping action and further disrupting hitters’ timing.
Hill also does an excellent job keeping his release point on all three of these pitches very consistent, making them even more deceptive to the hitter. The results have been dramatic. Hill currently has the highest groundball rate of his career at 79.1 percent.
Opponents have been hitting the ball hard off Hill with an average exit velocity of 91.5 mph. For reference, the league average is 87.7 mph. But much of that contact comes in the form of sharply hit groundballs rather than dangerous lift. That can be seen in Hill’s tiny 2.3 percent barrel rate and -9.2 launch angle.
The Yankees have increasingly emphasized the sinker and deception, and several pitchers on the staff have reaped the rewards. Hill’s profile fits that mold perfectly. While he is not the modern-day flamethrower, he offers a change of pace from a unique arm slot and has become a trusted option out of the pen for Aaron Boone.
In addition to posting incredible numbers, Hill was also the recipient of the 2025 Tony Conigliaro Award from the Boston Red Sox. The award recognizes a big leaguer who “has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage.”
Yesterday, Tim Hill received the 2025 Tony Conigliaro Award, which recognizes a “Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of Tony C."
Adversity has followed Hill throughout much of his life. He lost his father to colon cancer during his sophomore year of high school in 2007. Then, after being selected in the 2014 MLB Draft, Hill was diagnosed with Lynch syndrome and Stage 3 colon cancer during spring training in 2015 at just 25 years old. He underwent surgery, radiation, and eight months of chemotherapy while facing a projected five-year survival rate between 65 and 75 percent.
I am sure Tim Hill’s baseball career has not gone exactly as he once scripted it in his dreams. It certainly has not followed a conventional path, but it has produced another story that simply makes you want to cheer for the guy.
As the summer unfolds, I expect the Yankees to do their due diligence on every available high-leverage relief pitcher ahead of the trade deadline. As we all know, you can never have too much pitching, and Cashman has never been afraid to make a move if he believes the value is right. However, the efforts and success of players like Hill allow the organization to approach those decisions deliberately rather than out of necessity or panic as it continues chasing championship number 28.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 09: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 09, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Knicks 112-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Due diligence. That’s part of the administrative side of the offseason game, and that’s what we’re doing as we walk through the free agent landscape this summer. Maybe this is something you skim past and never think about again. Maybe it becomes useful ammo at a cocktail party when another fan starts talking about how badly they want Devin Booker. You can counter with one of the names from this list of free agent shooting guards.
Quite honestly, the Phoenix Suns don’t need another shooting guard. They’re already investing $93.4 million into that position next season. Unless they become desperate for the 14th or 15th guy on the bench to fill that specific role, a lot of the names below don’t carry much appeal.
We’re still going to look at them because that’s the point of this exercise. Position by position, working through the market and laying out who is available this offseason. Without further ado, here is the list of unrestricted free agents at the shooting guard position, per Spotrac.
Player
Age
YOE
Prev Team
Prev AAV
Type
C.J. McCollum
34.6
12
ATL
$32,000,000
UFA / Bird
Anfernee Simons
26.8
7
CHI
$25,000,000
UFA / Bird
Norman Powell
32.9
10
MIA
$18,000,000
UFA / Bird
Kevin Huerter
27.7
7
DET
$16,250,000
UFA / Bird
Matisse Thybulle
29.2
6
POR
$11,025,000
UFA / Bird
Luke Kennard
29.8
8
LAL
$11,000,000
UFA / Non-Bird
Quentin Grimes
25.9
4
PHI
$8,741,209
UFA / Bird
Jett Howard
22.6
2
ORL
$5,793,195
UFA / Bird
Jordan Clarkson
33.9
11
NYK
$3,634,153
UFA / Non-Bird
Garrett Temple
39.9
15
TOR
$3,634,153
UFA / Bird
Tim Hardaway Jr.
34.1
12
DEN
$3,634,153
UFA / Non-Bird
Landry Shamet
29.1
7
NYK
$3,080,921
UFA / Bird
Josh Okogie
27.7
7
HOU
$3,080,921
UFA / Non-Bird
Bruce Brown Jr.
29.7
7
DEN
$3,080,921
UFA / Non-Bird
Amir Coffey
28.8
6
PHX
$2,874,436
UFA / Non-Bird
Javonte Green
32.8
6
DET
$2,874,436
UFA / Non-Bird
Seth Curry
35.7
12
GSW
$2,777,830
UFA / Non-Bird
Blake Wesley
23.1
3
POR
$2,378,870
UFA / Non-Bird
Bryce McGowens
23.4
3
NOP
$2,081,293
UFA / Non-Bird
Cameron Thomas
24.5
4
MIL
$905,366
UFA / Non-Bird
Well, that was an underwhelming list, wasn’t it? As underwhelming as a Schlitz, ammiright?
Anybody above the Jordan Clarkson line probably isn’t even worth considering. Most of those players are attached to teams that hold their Bird rights, and if those organizations want to keep investing in them, they will. There is no need for the Phoenix Suns to invest more roster capital at this position, and if they do, it should be for a veteran minimum contracted player.
Side note: I didn’t realize Clarkson was almost 34.
Once you get below that Clarkson line, you start seeing names that make a little more sense. Is that Landry Shamet?! Our old friend Josh Okogie? And hey, the man who bet on himself, Cam Thomas. Should’ve taken the RFA extension offer from the Nets, buddy.
Amir Coffey feels like the obvious target for the Suns to bring back. They traded for him because of the versatility, the ability to hit the three, and the defensive flexibility. Spotrac lists him as a shooting guard; he’s really more of a wing defender. I’d expect Phoenix to bring him back for depth and continuity purposes. Outside of that, there really aren’t many players on this list that feel like realistic targets. The Suns already have plenty of guard depth.
We’ll move on to the small forwards next. Is there anybody here that interests you? Let us know in the comments below.
SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 01: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates in the dugout during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday, May 1, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Emma Steinberg/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mariners finally showed some life against a really tough opponent, handing the Braves their first series loss of the season earlier this week. All three games were incredibly close affairs as you would expect in a series between two playoff contenders. Seattle now embarks on a seven-game road trip and the beginning of a stretch of 13 straight games without an off day. Despite possessing a record two games below .500, the M’s are still in fine position in the standings because it seems like no other team in the American League actually wants to win — there are just four teams with winning records currently and the Mariners are in possession of a Wild Card berth with their 18-20 record.
The White Sox have made some quick progress in their rebuild after losing more than 100 games in three straight seasons. It’s easy to improve after losing a record 121 games like they did in 2024, but the forward progress this year has been shocking. The team was the surprising landing spot for Munetaka Murakami this offseason and their crop of young prospects have already started to make big impacts in the majors. After a bit of a slow start to the season, Chicago is 11-7 over its last 18 games. Even though they’re in a pretty favorable spot in the standings — third in the AL Central and just half a game out of a Wild Card spot — I don’t think this team is suddenly a contender this year, but they’re definitely a lot closer to breaking out of their rebuilding cycle than expected.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Sam Antonacci
LF
L
74
9.5%
8.1%
0.148
126
Munetaka Murakami
1B
L
160
34.4%
17.5%
0.328
153
Miguel Vargas
3B
R
159
17.0%
16.4%
0.208
119
Colson Montgomery
SS
L
154
28.6%
9.7%
0.258
127
Chase Meidroth
2B
R
153
24.2%
10.5%
0.098
108
Andrew Benintendi
DH
L
121
33.1%
5.8%
0.135
74
Jarred Kelenic (MiLB)
RF
L
104
28.8%
18.3%
0.262
98
Tristan Peters
CF
L
89
24.7%
6.7%
0.038
78
Drew Romo (MiLB)
C
S
68
26.5%
10.3%
0.263
137
I think there are a bunch of teams who really regret missing out on Murakami this offseason now that they’ve seen what he can do against MLB pitching. Yes, the contact issues are still present — he’s running 34.4% strikeout rate and a 58.9% contact rate — but his walk rate has been surprisingly robust and the power is obviously big enough to play. He’s currently second in the majors with 14 home runs. He’s not the only power hitter in the middle of this lineup either. Colson Montgomery made a splash last summer, blasting 21 home runs in just 71 games after being called up in July. He’s hit another nine to start this year and is playing solid defense at shortstop to boot. Miguel Vargas is the other youngster showing some real progress this season. Pushed off the fringe of the Dodgers roster a few years ago, he’s been able to establish himself with regular playing time in Chicago. He’s got an excellent approach at the plate and hits the ball hard enough to run an above average batting line at third base.
Jarred Kelenic deserves a mention as well. He was recalled from Triple-A last week after Everson Pereira was sidelined with an injury. Kelenic couldn’t establish himself in the two years he spent in Atlanta and signed a minor league deal with the White Sox this offseason. Still just 26 years old, his issues are still the same as ever: trouble making consistent contact.
Sean Burke showed some flashes of promise in his first full season in the big leagues last year. His 4.22 ERA was perfectly acceptable for a rebuilding Chicago club, though his 4.92 FIP wasn’t nearly as encouraging. Still, there was a stretch in May and June where he ran a 3.33 ERA and a 4.06 FIP across nine starts. Things are looking up for Burke this year. He’s dramatically improved his command and cut his walk rate by more than half, down to 5.1%. He doesn’t strike out that many guys, but simply reducing the amount of traffic on the bases has helped him dramatically improve his topline results.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Anthony Kay
30
14.0%
10.5%
15.4%
39.2%
5.70
6.41
Luis Castillo
34.1
19.4%
8.1%
8.7%
33.0%
6.29
4.25
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
38.2%
35.2%
95.8
91
57
72
0.491
Sinker
13.4%
44.0%
95.1
114
Cutter
24.1%
18.7%
90.9
99
91
158
0.421
Changeup
22.3%
0.0%
85.7
109
Slider
2.0%
2.2%
84.6
109
Sweeper
20.3%
45.1%
82.8
109
78
97
0.323
After a few years of riding the Triple-A shuttle for the Blue Jays, Anthony Kay signed a two-year deal with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of NBP. He excelled in Japan and returned to the US this offseason, signing a two-year deal with Chicago. He developed a sinker and a sweeper overseas, giving him a much deeper repertoire to keep batters off balance. Unfortunately, that revamped arsenal hasn’t helped him find much success against batters this year. The stuff models really like his sinker and a few of his secondary pitches, but he’s throwing a thoroughly mediocre four-seam fastball 30% of the time right now. That pitch is getting absolutely crushed. He simply isn’t working deep enough into counts to properly utilize his secondary pitches, his strike out rate has cratered to just 14.0%, and his ERA and FIP are both approaching six.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Davis Martin
44
25.4%
4.7%
4.9%
38.6%
1.64
2.46
Logan Gilbert
44
23.2%
5.4%
15.4%
36.7%
4.30
4.43
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
21.8%
28.9%
94.0
96
111
102
0.356
Sinker
20.2%
11.5%
92.8
86
Cutter
10.3%
19.5%
89.6
89
105
82
0.468
Changeup
10.7%
21.4%
90.1
86
45
85
0.356
Curveball
5.8%
14.3%
82.1
91
Slider
31.3%
4.4%
87.1
95
Davis Martin has quietly led the White Sox rotation with a 1.64 ERA and 2.46 FIP in seven starts this year. He’s improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio from 2.17 to 5.38 this year, adding more than eight points to his strikeout rate while simultaneously cutting his walk rate to 4.7%. He’s added a cutter to his pitch mix this year, giving him six weapons to use against opposing batters. None of them stand out individually in the stuff models, but his slider looks like one of the nastiest pitches in baseball right now. The whiff rate on that breaking ball is 59.6%, the second highest whiff rate on a slider in baseball. Opposing batters are running a sub-.200 wOBA against his three secondary pitches, and a plus-.300 wOBA against his three fastball variations. The problem is that batters have been struggling to identify his pitches — his called strike rate is up 3.5 points this year — so even if they’re making good contact against his fastballs, they’re just as likely to whiff or mishit one of his secondary offerings.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Athletics
19-18
0.514
—
-10
L-W-L-L-W
Mariners
18-20
0.474
1.5
+4
L-L-W-L-W
Rangers
17-20
0.459
2.0
-6
L-L-L-W-L
Astros
15-23
0.395
4.5
-37
W-W-L-W-L
Angels
15-23
0.395
4.5
-14
W-L-L-W-W
The Athletics managed to avoid a sweep in Philadelphia with a 12-1 blowout win yesterday. They head to Baltimore this weekend looking to maintain their grip on the AL West lead. The Rangers lost their series in New York against the Yankees and will return home to face the red-hot Cubs this weekend. The blows just keep coming for the Astros: Carlos Correa has been sidelined for the season with an ankle injury suffered on Tuesday. Houston wound up losing its series against the Dodgers and will head to Cincinnati this weekend.
Apr 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Mickey Moniak (22) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
What if before the season, I told you that a former Phillie would be leading the National League in OPS come the second week of May? You’d probably assume that Nick Castellanos was having some sort of revenge season out in San Diego, right?
Well, don’t worry. Nicky is batting .183 and playing his usual bad brand of defense out West. However, Mickey Moniak is absolutely crushing it in Colorado.
Mickey Moniak currently owns the leagues longest active hit streak at 17 games. He gained a full 0.5 fWAR against the best team in baseball:
Against the Braves: 4/9 3 HR .784 wOBA 403 wRC+
He hits FA in 2028. Does DePodesta move him at the deadline and for how much? pic.twitter.com/apXEIuKvgs
— Baseball Unstitched (@BaseUnstitched) May 5, 2026
Most of you probably know the story: The Phillies had the top pick of the 2016 draft, and there were no obvious standout prospects to take. So, they took a chance on a high school outfielder, with hopes that he could develop major league power and defense. He didn’t amaze anyone in the minors, but slowly progressed through the system, and made his major league debut in 2020.
He struggled in the minors but looked poised to start the 2022 season as the Phillies’ centerfielder before suffering an injury on the last day of Spring Training. He couldn’t regain his hitting form after returning from the injury and the Phillies shipped him to the Angels in exchange for Noah Syndergaard.
He underwhelmed in Los Angeles and didn’t make the team out of Spring Training in 2025. The Rockies, who were barely even attempting to field a major league team decided to take a chance on him.
In 2025, despite being regarded as one of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball, his bat showed some life in the thin Colorado air, and he hit 24 home runs. He’s shown even more life this season, with a .318/.367/.700 slash line.
Obviously, he’s unlikely to continue hitting at this pace, and he’s definitely benefitting from playing in Colorado, since his road OPS is almost .500 points lower than it is at Coors Field. But for now, it’s a nice story to see him finally experience success after being such a disappointment.
The funny thing is: If you told Phillies’ management back in 2016 that Moniak might be in Philadelphia for the 2026 All-Star Game, they’d probably be thrilled.
#Rockies' Mickey Moniak is playing like the All-Star the Phillies envisioned when they drafted him No. 1 https://t.co/Ly8tL1Z1Tr
Last week’s answer: The 2012 Phillies’ first visit to Marlins Park ended with them getting swept. The three losing pitchers were Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Joe Blanton. Nobody was able to name two of the three.
This week’s question: On August 23, 1993, the Rockies earned their second ever win in Philadelphia, behind a home run by what former Phillie?
Non-Phillies thought
It didn’t take long for the optimism around the Sixers and Flyers to fade. The Flyers look completely outmatched by the Carolina Hurricane, and the Sixers have spent the first two games of their series against the Knicks looking like they used up all their energy against the Celtics. (To be fair, a 48-hour turnaround after an intense game seven is kind of tough.)
When the Sixers vs. Knicks series began, I had optimism that the Sixers’ home games wouldn’t be taken over by Knicks fans like they were in 2024. The fans were mostly checked out on that year’s team, while people seemed pumped about this year’s team after beating the Celtics. But falling into an 0-2 hole likely changed the math, and unfortunately, I expect there to be a very healthy contingent of Knicks fans in the building.
NEWS: Surge in inventory on @TickPick for Game 3 and Game 4 in Philadelphia after Knicks take 2-0 series lead
Game 3: 2.1K tickets before series ➡️ 3.4K tickets now
Game 4: 2K tickets before series ➡️ 5K tickets now
A home series against the Rockies should allow the Phillies to continue their recent run of hot play. The key to the turnaround has been that the starting pitching – Andrew Painter aside – has met expectations lately.
The Phillies rotation through April 26 (9-19): 5.80 ERA (30th in MLB) .307 BAA (30th) .838 OPS (30th) .380 BABIP (30th) 1.64 WHIP (30th)
From April 28 through last night (7-1): 1.53 ERA (1st) .199 BAA (1st) .525 OPS (1st) .282 BABIP (11th) 0.94 WHIP (1st)
The Rockies have a mediocre offense – 16th in runs scored overall, 21st in road games – so the Phillies’ starting trio of Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Cristopher Sanchez should be able to turn in strong outings.
I’m less certain about the Phillies’ bullpen. Jhoan Duran looked shaky in his return from the IL, but the hope is that was just him getting readjusted. The bigger question is do they have a late inning lefthanded reliever they can depend on? With both Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks struggling mightily, who do they call upon if they have to face Moniak in the late innings? (There’s something I didn’t expect to be writing before the season.) Will Tim Mayza become their primary setup lefty? (Something else I didn’t expect to write.)
Someone needs to assert themselves, because I don’t want to spend the entire season holding my breath in the seventh and eighth innings.
Two games in four days in Oklahoma City have the Lakers quickly trailing 2-0 in the series, a daunting deficit, considering the opponent they are facing and the fact that history is not on their side. The team that wins the first two of a series advances 92% of the time.
Building on Game 1, Game 2 followed a similar script. LA kept it close while holding the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to another modest night. OKC’s shot-making took over in the fourth to take another double-digit win.
An important change between the two games came by way of Austin Reaves’ play. In just his fourth game back from a Grade 2 oblique strain, he found his offensive rhythm for a Lakers team in critical need of it.
After a nightmare Game 1 on Tuesday where Reaves finished 3-16 from the field for eight points, he surpassed that total in the first half on Thursday with 13. He ended the night putting up 31 points on 10-16 from the field and six assists, surpassing his previous playoff career high of 23.
Reaves’ first two shots had shades of the previous matchups, overpenetrating and getting blocked by stingy rim protectors in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. He eventually settled into his offense, finding rhythm and patience in the pick-and-roll.
The Thunder play drop coverage with their bigs, while their guards aggressively chase the offensive playmaker over the screen. One of the shots available against that defense is the pull-up in the mid-range.
Watch below as the Lakers run their Spain action — the big man screening on the ball receives a back screen from an off-ball player. Luke Kennard, setting the Spain screen, ghosts while Jaxson Hayes rolls hard to the rim.
Reaves navigates around the screen and gets the foul on Cason Wallace with the basket.
To address some of the issues, the Lakers made one key adjustment by running more actions with LeBron James as the main screener. It not only took one of their elite defensive bigs out of the on-ball action, but got LeBron going downhill while involving their two best players in the play.
Watch below as they run the action at the top of the key with shooters spaced and a big man in the dunker spot. Reaves comes around the LeBron screen, whose roll forces Hartenstein to tag and opens Hayes for the floater to put the Lakers up a point at the half.
They ran it again to start the third quarter, getting Reaves downhill for his patented floater.
Reaves and LeBron combined for half of the Lakers’ points and assists but had eight of the 20 turnovers.
Another key shot necessary against this coverage is the pull-up 3-pointer. Watch as Reaves comes off the screen from Deandre Ayton with the big man dropped back. He takes advantage of the open space and knocks down the shot.
Coming into this game, Reaves was just two for his last 17 before hitting 3-6 on Thursday.
“I thought he did a good job touching the paint,” head coach J.J Redick said postgame. “Those touch shots were there tonight. Got some good looks from three. Played a solid game. Obviously, he had five turnovers, but everyone in our team had turnovers.”
While there are no moral victories in the playoffs, nothing short of a win was more important than getting Reaves’ offense going as the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4. The Thunder won the first two battles, but the Lakers are hoping to win the war by finally getting their star guard back on track.
While the NBA Playoffs might be unpredictable to the masses, BetMGM bettors are wallowing in money following several six-figure wins on Thursday.
According to BetMGM’s John Ewing, more than $700,000 was claimed in select spread bets from yesterday’s playoff matchups.
Key Takeaways
BetMGM reported a series of nine ascending spread bets, all worth at least $20,000, on Thursday.
The largest individual payout was $110,000 for a $100,000 wager on the Pistons at -4.5 (+110).
The Thunder have a 62% implied chance to win the championship.
At least one bettor put their money where their mouth was, supporting the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of their ongoing series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The first in the series of bets was headlined by a $100,000 wager on the Pistons to cover a 4.5-point spread at +110 odds. The full breakdown is shown below.
$50,000 on Pistons +1.5 (-190) $35,000 on Pistons -1.5 (-150) $20,000 on Pistons -2.5 (-130) $20,000 on Pistons -3.5 (-102) $100,000 on Pistons -4.5 (+110)
The user’s confidence paid off as the Pistons stormed ahead to a 2-0 series lead. Cade Cunnignham dropped 25 points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort, while Donovan Mitchell’s 31 points and six rebounds weren’t enough to overcome a 10-point disaster by James Harden.
The $225,000 in total spread bets that were submitted resulted in a $419,641.58 payout, or $194,641.58 in profit.
A little over two hours after the Pistons wagers were reported, Ewing shared that another $190,000 in Thunder tickets had been accepted. Once again, the bold bettor was on the money.
A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $190,000 on the @okcthunder to cover in Game 2:
$100,000 on Thunder -9.5 (-230) $50,000 on Thunder -11.5 (-165) $20,000 on Thunder -12.5 (-145) $20,000 on Thunder -13.5 (-140)
The Thunder logged their second straight 18-point victory over the Lakers as three OKC members scored at least 20 points. Austin Reaves had 31 points in a losing effort scarred by controversial refereeing decisions.
PrizePicks, who is a OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE NBA is calling out the refs for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder
The winning bets produced a $291,860.10 payout and $101,860.10 in profit.
Altogether, BetMGM paid $711,501.68 total and $296,501.68 in profit to the holder(s) of the tickets. It is unclear if the bets were placed by the same or different individuals.
Tracking the NBA playoff odds
Both the Pistons and Lakers were favored to win Games 1 and 2 at home. With both now up 2-0, they are unsurprisingly huge favorites to close out their series and advance to the Conference Finals.
The Thunder were the largest second-round favorites in the playoff bracket. They are now -10000 (99% implied chance) in odds to advance, while the Lakers are +1800 (5.3% chance).
The Pistons are a much longer -450, comparatively speaking, although they still have a 81.8% chance to advance. The Cavaliers are +340 (22.7% chance).
Elsewhere around the league, the San Antonio Spurs are -4.5 favorites entering Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with their series tied, 1-1. They’re also -325 (76.5% chance) to win the series despite dropping Game 1 as a 10.5-point favorite at home. The Timberwolves are +250 (28.6% chance) to win the series.
The Knicks, the second-largest favorite of the second round with -1200 series odds (7.7% chance), are 1.5-point underdogs in a road Game 3 on Friday night. Joel Embiid, who played in Game 1 but missed Game 2, is questionable.
NBA Finals odds picture
BetMGM has the Thunder leading NBA Finals odds at -165 (62.3% chance). The Spurs (+325), Knicks (+800), and Pistons (+1500) are the only teams with odds shorter than +5000.
While the Thunder are the clear-cut favorites, they still face a tall task getting out of the Western Conference. They are 6-0 against the Lakers across the regular and postseason, but they were only 2-2 against the Timberwolves and 1-4 against the Spurs.
Health concerns that had Darryn Peterson yo-yoing in and out of the Kansas lineup last season may have cost him being the No. 1 pick (that and a strong AJ Dybantsa season). Of particular concern were the early exits due to a mysterious cramping issue — several times during the season, Peterson checked himself out of games early due to cramping. Including against Dybantsa and BYU.
"I'd never taken it before [going to college]," Peterson said. "But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high. So, they said when I dosed [a process of increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement], it must've made the levels unsafe."
Creatine is a popular supplement of a naturally occurring amino acid, with research finding it can help add and maintain muscle mass, improve performance in high-level athletes, and support injury prevention and recovery. There is anecdotal evidence that very high levels of creatine (often with some dehydration) can lead to cramping, but studies have not yet verified that.
Peterson talked with ESPN about being hospitalized in September with intense full-body cramping during a particularly strenuous preseason workout — and that experience had him concerned all season about a repeat of that moment.
It's not an accident that Peterson, by nature a reserved person, spoke publicly in the run-up to the draft, trying to address a major concern about him. Scouts and front office personnel have told NBC Sports they were not overly concerned about Peterson's health issues, but all said they wanted to see the results of the medical evaluations that will take place at the NBA Draft Combine in a couple of weeks.
Peterson, a 6'5" combo guard, is seen by scouts as an elite shot creator and finisher who averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game, shooting 32.8% from 3-point range. What scouts said they really wanted to see from him was whether his explosive first step and quickness were back to what they remembered from his final season in high school.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 19: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder sits on the bench between the third and fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Paycom Center on December 19, 2022 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. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are plenty of things that didn’t go LA’s way in this contest. The Lakers had far too many turnovers with 21, multiple bench players didn’t give the team much, and Deandre Ayton struggled, scoring just three points in 27 minutes of play.
However, after the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick focused on a stretch in the third quarter when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat and the Thunder went on a game-defining run.
“I talked about it a little bit yesterday, them being +9 in the non-Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) minutes and then in the second half, we just got blitzed. 32-14 [run], seven turnovers, they shot 14 free throws during that stretch. We’ll look at lineups, we’ll look at everything. Try to figure out how to be better in those minutes.”
After SGA’s reckless foul on Austin Reaves was deemed a flagrant, he was at foul No. 4 and was forced to sit. Reaves took three free throws and knocked them all down to give LA a five-point lead, their largest advantage of the night.
Instead of the Lakers taking advantage of OKC playing without their best player, it was the Thunder who went on a run.
Lugentz Dort knocked down a three, Chet Holmgren had an emphatic dunk, and when Jared McCain came into the game, he was an injection of offense, scoring eight points in five minutes.
A five-point Lakers lead turned into a 13-point deficit. In the fourth, SGA checked back in and had a double-digit advantage in hand. And when you put MVP in that kind of position in his house, he’s going to win.
As Redick mentioned, they will have to look at these non-SGA minutes and figure out how to win them. The Lakers have done a great job of limiting Shai, but role players like McCain are looking like stars against LA.
Clearly, they haven’t found a balance between slowing down OKC’s superstar while not letting other players take over the game.
Still, there’s time. This series is 2-0, but it’s first to four. With the Lakers coming back home to LA, Redick has to tinker with his lineups so he can concoct a winning formula. so that the next time his team is in an advantageous situation, they can capitalize on it.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Labaron Philon #0 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a three point basket against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are officially at the six-week mark from the NBA Draft, and this weekend will be one of the biggest hinge points of the entire offseason. After the draft lottery, teams will be able to shape their boards and start the wheeling and dealing that is sure to come. Before that is decided on Sunday, we decided to run one final pre-lottery mock draft for your Dallas Mavericks. Here’s how it went.
1. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP) – Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yes, this is indeed the pick that the Mavericks lost via coinflip. Yes, if this were to happen, I would turn into the Joker. Peterson immediately injects some juice into a guard room that desperately needs some revitalization.
2. Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa (F, BYU)
Even dropping to second, the Wizards are able to select a player who is at the top of many draft boards. AJ is the type of volume scorer that will help deliver Washington some juice next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
3. Indiana Pacers – Cam Boozer (F, Duke)
Indiana gets to land the player they were after all along at third overall. Boozer is the type of high floor player that Indiana would covet on a team that is looking to win immediately.
4. Golden State Warriors – Caleb Wilson (F, North Carolina)
Let the conspiracy theories begin! If the Dubs were to jump here, drafting Wilson is like drafting a Draymond Green starter pack, just way more wholesome and a much better athlete.
After drafting five (!!!) players in the first-round last year, the Nets still have no one worth building around. Enter Wagler, who is the best lead guard in the class. Head coach Jordi Fernandez should have a great time working with him.
6. Utah Jazz – Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)
This was either going to be Brown Jr. or Flemings, but we’re going to give them Mikel here due to some real upside that is available here. Brown Jr. could easily be one of the three or four best players in the class if he medically clears, with a special combination of size and skill.
7. Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I get the sense that Acuff is at the top of the Kings board regardless, so landing him at seven is just some extra value on the pick.
If there’s a team here that could do something funky, it’s Memphis, whose front office is known to be a bit different in their process. However, Flemings is too good to pass up in our opinion.
From here on through pick 18, be on trade alert. Most of these teams have multiple first round picks, and many of them do not necessarily need to take two players. The wheeling and dealing should start here.
9. Dallas Mavericks – Labaron Philon (G, Alabama)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Falling outside the top eight is a real disappointment for the Mavericks, as there is a pretty good tier drop from Flemings to whoever is next. Philon played in a pro-style system at Alabama, so he is very familiar with the pace and space game. However, if this were to happen, I’d be trying to trade back a few spots and pick up an asset, as Philon should still be available later in the lottery.
10. Chicago Bulls – Aday Mara (C, Michigan)
If anyone can crack the top eight here, I think it could be Mara. Mara is a force on the interior, deterring shots and drives in a way that no one else could in college. He also has a nice touch and great playmaking chops offensively, which will help drive his value.
Burries is such a solid option for a Bucks team that will look to stabilize itself under Taylor Jenkins. This is a player who shot 56% on two’s, nearly 40% from deep and was an unbelievable rebounder for a guard. Burries will be in play for Dallas as well.
The Thunder don’t necessarily have a huge need as of yet, but if you peek around the corner you can see the potential roster turnover coming. OKC will likely not pay Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, and drafting Yaxel will immediately provide them a replacement option.
13. Miami Heat – Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)
There are many needs for this Heat team, but finding serviceable forward play should be towards the top of the list. Swain is an excellent slasher who showed some shot making upside at Texas.
14. Charlotte Hornets – Jayden Quaintance (C, Kentucky)
If healthy, JQ is one of the best prospects in this class. Landing in Charlotte with a medical staff that has been able to get LaMelo Ball healthy would be a big win for Quaintance, who played just four games this year.
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR) – Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After landing Mara earlier, the Bulls continue to bolster their front court by taking a big swing on Ament. Prior to the season, Ament was a top five talent. That’s still in there somewhere, it’ll just be up to the Bulls to get it out of him.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX) – Allen Graves (F, Santa Clara)
Graves is an advanced stats demon, making him a likely favorite among a very analytical Grizzlies front office. The sweet shooting big would be a great get for Memphis.
If we drafted Hartenstein’s replacement with Yaxel, this is Lu Dort’s replacement. Carr is a very good offensive player with solid defensive chops. He’ll get groomed nicely in OKC.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL) – Bennett Stirtz (G, Iowa)
(Photo by Jack Dempsey/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Charlotte could use a steady hand both with and behind LaMelo Ball, and Stirtz would be that. He is a floor general with some additional self-creation pop. Stirtz was excellent at the rim, shooting 72% in the restricted area this season.
19. Toronto Raptors – Hannes Steinbach (F/C, Washington)
After pushing Cleveland to seven games, the Raptors can examine where they need to go from here. The fatal flaw in that series, beyond injuries to Ingram and Quickley, was the center spot. Collin Murray-Boyles was awesome, but they had nothing beyond him. Steinbach would immediately provide help on the glass and some offensive pop.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL) – Morez Johnson Jr. (F, Michigan)
This was either going to be Morez or Karim Lopez, but we will give the Spurs a Michigan man. Johnson was excellent for the Wolverines, playing alongside Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg. He’ll use that to play alongside Wembanyama, which would create a truly terrifying front court.
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN) – Ebuka Okorie (G, Stanford)
(Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Okorie has been a favorite of draft twitter for a while now. He is a bit small at 6’2”, but the man is an absolute microwave. This added pop would help Cade Cunningham in a major way, allowing another creator on the floor that has to be respected. Detroit is also uniquely created to cover for a small guard with their defensive structure.
The Sixers are able to take a guy at 22 who has lottery potential. That’s good value for a team that desperately needs help on the wing.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland) – Chris Cenac Jr. (F, Houston)
After selecting Darryn Peterson first overall, Atlanta gets to bolster their front court with a tenacious rebounder in Cenac. A lineup that includes Jalen Johnson, Cenac and Onyeka Okongwu is awfully scary!
24. New York Knicks – Meleek Thomas (G, Arkansas)
The Knicks guard room is truly terrible, so taking Thomas here is a good get. Playing next to Acuff, he’s already shown he can play nicely off of a small guard. He can use that to play off of Brunson.
25. Los Angeles Lakers – Tarris Reed Jr. (C, UConn)
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers desperately need athleticism, which Tarris can certainly provide. This is a very smart player that has already played in a pro system with Hurley.
26. Denver Nuggets – Koa Peat (F, Arizona)
So, you’re scared by Aaron Gordon not being able to play in games that matter? Well, why not draft the closest thing to him in Peat. Koa is an unreal athlete that just needs to hone his skill a bit, and playing next to Jokic while learning from AG is a good start in doing that.
27. Boston Celtics – Luigi Suigo (C, Spain/Mega Superbet)
Boston needs a big and are just arrogant enough to reach on Luigi, who is a 7’4” mountain of a man. If he doesn’t go pro, expect to see him in college next year.
Tanner is one of my favorite players in the class. While sitting at just 6’0” tall, Tanner is a great on-ball initiator who has no issues creating for others or getting his own buckets. Minnesota has a glaring guard need, and this helps fix that.
Cleveland is a confounding situation, as the Harden and Mitchell duo finds itself down 0-2 to Detroit. We’ll give them Tounde, who is a great defender that has untapped potential on the offensive end.
