These are the Steelers we'd love to see play football in the Olympics
2025 NBA Draft Rumors: Spurs likely to keep No. 2 pick, Draft Combine standouts
This week saw the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, the unofficial start of draft season around the NBA (even if that is almost as year-round as the league itself). Here are the latest news, notes and rumors around the 2025 NBA Draft, taking place June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Spurs likely keep No. 2 pick
The minute the Spurs landed with the No. 2 pick — well, a few minutes after, once everyone got over the shock of the Mavericks getting the top pick — people started drawing a line between Giannis Antetokounmpo and San Antonio. The logic is simple: The Spurs already have De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle at guards so they don't need projected No. 2 pick Dylan Harper out of Rutgers, Antetokounmpo next to Victor Wembanyama make the Spurs instant title contenders, and San Antonio has the additional picks and players to match salary to make a trade that Milwaukee would like.
Just a couple of problems with that. First, Antetokounmpo has yet to ask for a trade out of Milwaukee and may not. His choosing to stay may be the best bet.
Second, the Spurs are leaning toward holding on to the No. 2 pick. Here is what Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote about the Combine in Chicago.
Most of the sources I talk to around the league think the most likely outcome is that the Spurs do just that: Stand pat and pick at No. 2.
If the Spurs keep the pick, they should draft the best player on the board regardless of position. Meaning, take Harper. It's better to have too much talent at one position (a player can always be traded) rather than saying you don't need to draft Michael Jordan because you already have Clyde Drexler. Harper is the clear No. 2 in this class, make him a Spur.
76ers will listen to offers for No. 3
Daryl Morey is open to a trade. Shocking.
That said, Vecenie reports Philadelphia will listen to offers for the No. 3 pick and the right to draft V.J. Edgecombe or Ace Bailey, most likely. This is the smart move by Morey. For Philly, Edgecombe is another smaller guard who would become part of an already small backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, a good fit but not a need. Ace Bailey has upside but is a little more of a project and the Sixers are as win-now as it gets — and considering the Jayson Tatum injury, the 76ers should be aggressive about going for it next season.
It's unclear who it might be, but keep an eye on the No. 3 spot as a potential trade.
Standouts at NBA Draft Combine
From people in Chicago, here are a handful of players who helped their cause.
• VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor. Edgecombe didn't need much help, he was already projected as a top-four pick on most boards, but his athleticism and two-way potential stood out, and he may have put himself solidly above Ace Bailey for the No. 3 spot on a lot of boards.
• Tahaad Pettiford, guard, Auburn. He turned heads with a 42-inch vertical leap and then put up big numbers in the first scrimmage. That caught many people's eyes, but then he struggled in his next scrimmage, tempering the excitement. Still, strong Combine for him.
• Khaman Maluach, center, Duke. In an NBA where more and more teams are looking for big men who can protect the rim and are a vertical threat on pick-and-rolls, Maluach helped himself. He measured at 7'1" barefoot and had a 7'7" wingspan and a 9'6" standing reach — those are the kind of big man numbers NBA teams are looking for, and Maluach fit the role with his combine tests. There are rumors he got a promise from the Raptors at No. 9.
• Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford. The senior big man was the only player to play in the first day of scrimmages, realize how well he played (and helped his cause) and opted out of Day 2. A bubble late-first/early second kind of talent, he showed the shooting and physicality around the rim that might get him to the first round.
The Hockey Show: Panthers looking to finish off Toronto, conference final matchups forming, new coaching hires
It’s been a very busy week in the world of the National Hockey League.
Between the Stanley Cup Playoffs moving toward the conference finals and head coaching and front office vacancies being filled, there was a lot to get to on this week’s episode of The Hockey Show.
Joining hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork to talk some playoff puck was friend of the show Adnan Virk from Prime Monday Night Hockey on Amazon.
First and foremost, the Florida Panthers are on the brink of advancing to their third straight conference final.
After falling behind 0-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their second-round series, Florida has come storming back with three straight wins and can eliminate the Leafs with a Game 6 victory on Friday.
Waiting for the Panthers in round three are the Carolina Hurricanes, the most boring team to ever play hockey. Jokes aside, the Hurricanes are leaning into their identity and hoping for a rematch of the 2023 conference final in which they lost to Florida in four straight.
Among other topics were the Oilers and Hurricanes advancing to their respective conference finals, Ken Holland being hired as the new GM in Los Angeles and a pair of coaching vacancies in Vancouver and Philadelphia being filled.
You can check out the full episode in the video below:
LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA
Panthers Forward Has Powerful Message For Game 6
Panthers Forward Out For Game 6 vs. Maple Leafs
Brad Marchand Says This About Maple Leafs Ahead Of Game 6
Panthers eyeing fourth straight win against Toronto, return trip to conference final
Panthers understand what it takes to close out a playoff series thanks to recent postseason success
Inside the Hudson River Derby: Can NYCFC overcome recent struggles vs. in-form Red Bulls? | The Cooligans
On the latest episode of "The Cooligans," hosts Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros were joined by MLS reporter and analyst Michele Giannone to preview Saturday’s electric matchup and dive deep into both squads’ fortunes.
Kerr calls shifting Warriors' offense away from Steph ‘laughable' idea
Kerr calls shifting Warriors' offense away from Steph ‘laughable' idea originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As long as star Steph Curry takes the floor for the Warriors, don’t expect coach Steve Kerr to change his offensive scheme.
Kerr, speaking to reporters Thursday during exit interviews, made it clear Golden State’s offensive strategy starts and ends with the Chef.
“We have Steph Curry on our team, who is one of the greatest players of all time,” Kerr told reporters. “He’s also maybe the most unique superstar of all time.
“What makes him special is his on-and-off-the-ball prowess. And so the best way to maximize Steph is to put him in pick and roll, and then to have him fly off screens. And I think that’s been proven, you know, over the last decade, how powerful that can be.”
During the 2024-25 NBA season, Curry, a four-time NBA champion, eclipsed the 25,000-career point mark and became the first player in NBA history to record 4,000 made 3-pointers.
Despite his dominancy, the Warriors crashed out of the Western Conference semifinals in large part due to Curry’s unavailability after suffering a left hamstring strain.
It makes sense. The 37-year-old led the team in scoring throughout both the regular season (24.5 points) and the postseason (22.6 points).
So, the idea of Golden State shifting its offensive scheme is nothing short of humorous to the winningest head coach in Warriors’ history.
“He’s our sun. You know, this is a solar system,” Kerr added. “And he’s, you’re not going to duplicate Steph anytime soon.
“So, any talk of, do we need to change our offensive system, to me, is kind of laughable. Like, what? What does that mean? So, let’s not run Steph off screens? Let’s not put Steph in pick and roll? I’m not even sure how to respond to that.”
Kerr recognizes that moving the offensive scheme away from Curry would be an act of betrayal to the organization.
“Honestly, it’s like what we’ve done has been incredibly powerful,” Kerr concluded. “Steph is, again, one of the all time greatest players, playing at the peak of his power. Still, I think, or very close to it.
“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, and anything else would be a disservice to our team.”
Could Cooper Flagg force his way to the Celtics? | The Kevin O'Connor Show
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
On the latest episode of "The Kevin O’Connor Show," Kevin and guest Tom Haberstroh explored the idea of Cooper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 overall pick and Maine native, somehow landing with the Boston Celtics.
As O’Connor revealed, Boston used some of its interview slots at the NBA Draft Combine to meet with Cooper Flagg, as well as Tre Johnson (a projected top-five pick), even though the Celtics hold no pick anywhere near the top of this year’s draft. Teams are limited to 13 interviews at the combine, O'Connor said.
“At the draft combine this week, Tre Johnson openly said the Celtics interviewed him," O'Connor said. "I have multiple sources telling me the Celtics also interviewed Cooper Flagg. Now, this does not mean they’re going to trade up into the top 10, but I do think it’s interesting.”
The Dallas Mavericks own the No. 1 pick this year. But O’Connor and Haberstroh discussed the hypothetical: Would Boston put Jaylen Brown (a recent Finals MVP) on the table to move up for Flagg? What would Dallas say? And would Flagg himself (or his camp) try to “pull an Eli Manning” — refusing to play for the Mavs to land in Boston?
“Boston calls [Dallas GM] Nico [Harrison] and they offer Jaylen Brown. And how many first-round picks is it gonna take? … I just wonder if Dallas and their entire decision-making unit would listen.”
Realistically, big trades for the No. 1 pick, especially when a generational prospect is available, are rare. But as both hosts note, it only takes a few phone calls — and possibly a little leverage from the player’s side — to kick-start something dramatic.
To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
Former Predators Top Prospect Expected to Sign with Sharks for 2025-26 Season
After playing for one season in his native Russia, former Nashville Predators draft pick Egor Afanasyev may be back stateside in 2025-26.
The 24-year-old, whose deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL was mutually terminated after the 2024-25 season, is now eligible to return to North America and sign with the San Jose Sharks. The Predators traded Afanasyev to San Jose last offseason when he became a restricted free agent, so his rights are still owned by the Sharks.
The Predators selected Afanasyev in the second round (No. 45 overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, and he spent three years in Nashville's system. A steady performer for the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, he had 54 points (27 goals, 27 assists) in 56 games in 2023-24. However, Afanasyev wasn't able to put it together at the NHL level, scoring just one goal in 19 games for the Predators.
Afanasyev's season in Moscow wasn't overly impressive, as he notched just seven goals and 14 assists through 53 games. He became an impact player in the postseason, however, recording four points in six playoff games.
If Anasyev does decide to give it another go with San Jose, he will be waiver-eligible if he doesn't secure a spot on the Sharks' roster.
More Nashville Predators content from The Hockey News
Trotz: Predators are 'Standing Behind' Andrew Brunette Despite 30th-Place Finish
Nashville Predators Draft Odds: NHL Announces Lottery Details
Top Nashville Predators Prospect Joins AHL Affiliate as Postseason Looms
Nashville Predators Assign Two Players to AHL Milwaukee for Calder Cup Playoff Push
WATCH: Nashville Predators' Juuse Saros Reflects on 2024-25 Season
Nashville Predators Sign Defenseman Andreas Englund to One-Year Contract
The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals
The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The NBA‘s final four is set.
The No. 3 New York Knicks will take on the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the No. 1 overall-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves will battle in the Western Conference Finals.
This is the second straight postseason that Indiana and Minnesota, two title-less franchises, have reached the conference finals. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance in the round since 2000 and OKC its first appearance since 2016.
The East Finals feature a rematch from the second round of last year’s playoffs when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Knicks, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Indiana rolled through the first two rounds of this postseason, bouncing both the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.
Tyrese Haliburton and Co. now look to book the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and just second overall. Indiana has lost eight of its nine conference final series.
The Knicks got past the No. 6 Detroit Pistons in a highly competitive six-game series before beating the defending champion No. 2 Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Co. jumped out to a 3-1 series lead as Boston lost star Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles late in Game 4. The Knicks closed out the series with a Game 6 rout, moving them another step closer to their first championship since all the way back in 1973.
While the East’s top two seeds have been eliminated, the NBA-best Thunder are still standing. After sweeping the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, OKC was put to the test in Round 2. A showdown of the top two MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic went to the distance, with the Thunder taking the decisive Game 7 over the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in blowout fashion. The Thunder haven’t won a title since relocating to OKC, with the franchise’s lone championship coming in 1979.
Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, like Indiana, needed just five games to win their two playoff series, taking down the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, who lost Steph Curry to a hamstring injury in Game 1. Minnesota has never made the NBA Finals as it makes a third-ever conference final appearance.
So, when will the conference finals tip off and what’s the schedule? Here’s what to know:
What are the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?
- Eastern Conference Finals: No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 3 Knicks
- Western Conference Finals: No. 6 Timberwolves vs. No. 1 Thunder
Who has home-court advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?
Home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team, which means the Pacers and Wolves will both start the conference finals on the road.
When do the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?
The West Finals begin Tuesday, May 20, followed by the East Finals on Wednesday, May 21.
What is the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals schedule?
- Game 1: Wolves at Thunder — Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Wolves at Thunder — Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 3: Thunder at Wolves — Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 4: Thunder at Wolves — Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 5 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Wolves — Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 7 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where to watch, stream the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals
The West Finals will air across ESPN and ABC. Games will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
What is the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals schedule?
- Game 1: Pacers atKnicks — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 2: Pacers at Knicks — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Knicks at Pacers — Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 4: Knicks at Pacers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 6 (if necessary): Knicks at Pacers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 7 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Where to watch, stream the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals
TNT will broadcast the East Finals, which can also be streamed on TNTDrama.com and the TNT app.
When do the 2025 NBA Finals start?
The NBA Finals will tip off Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 16.
The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals
The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The NBA‘s final four is set.
The No. 3 New York Knicks will take on the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the No. 1 overall-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves will battle in the Western Conference Finals.
This is the second straight postseason that Indiana and Minnesota, two title-less franchises, have reached the conference finals. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance in the round since 2000 and OKC its first appearance since 2016.
The East Finals feature a rematch from the second round of last year’s playoffs when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Knicks, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Indiana rolled through the first two rounds of this postseason, bouncing both the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.
Tyrese Haliburton and Co. now look to book the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and just second overall. Indiana has lost eight of its nine conference final series.
The Knicks got past the No. 6 Detroit Pistons in a highly competitive six-game series before beating the defending champion No. 2 Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Co. jumped out to a 3-1 series lead as Boston lost star Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles late in Game 4. The Knicks closed out the series with a Game 6 rout, moving them another step closer to their first championship since all the way back in 1973.
While the East’s top two seeds have been eliminated, the NBA-best Thunder are still standing. After sweeping the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, OKC was put to the test in Round 2. A showdown of the top two MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic went to the distance, with the Thunder taking the decisive Game 7 over the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in blowout fashion. The Thunder haven’t won a title since relocating to OKC, with the franchise’s lone championship coming in 1979.
Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, like Indiana, needed just five games to win their two playoff series, taking down the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, who lost Steph Curry to a hamstring injury in Game 1. Minnesota has never made the NBA Finals as it makes a third-ever conference final appearance.
So, when will the conference finals tip off and what’s the schedule? Here’s what to know:
What are the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?
- Eastern Conference Finals: No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 3 Knicks
- Western Conference Finals: No. 6 Timberwolves vs. No. 1 Thunder
Who has home-court advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?
Home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team, which means the Pacers and Wolves will both start the conference finals on the road.
When do the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?
The West Finals begin Tuesday, May 20, followed by the East Finals on Wednesday, May 21.
What is the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals schedule?
- Game 1: Wolves at Thunder — Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 2: Wolves at Thunder — Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 3: Thunder at Wolves — Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Game 4: Thunder at Wolves — Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 5 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Wolves — Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 7 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Where to watch, stream the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals
The West Finals will air across ESPN and ABC. Games will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
What is the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals schedule?
- Game 1: Pacers atKnicks — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 2: Pacers at Knicks — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 3: Knicks at Pacers — Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 4: Knicks at Pacers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 5 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 6 (if necessary): Knicks at Pacers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
- Game 7 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Where to watch, stream the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals
TNT will broadcast the East Finals, which can also be streamed on TNTDrama.com and the TNT app.
When do the 2025 NBA Finals start?
The NBA Finals will tip off Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 16.
Warriors commit to one-season quest to win it all with Steph
Warriors commit to one-season quest to win it all with Steph originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Even as younger teams become NBA adults capable of toppling them, the Warriors remain emphatically committed to three veterans who will enter next season averaging 36.4 years of age.
This is a naked attempt to defy NBA history, which is unkind to aging stars. The Warriors are attempting to do it only because Stephen Curry is a hoops unicorn.
“Here’s what I know: We have Steph Curry on our team, who’s one of the greatest players of all time,” coach Steve Kerr said on Friday.
Curry will be 38 years old when the 2026 NBA playoffs begin. Jimmy Butler III turns 36 in September, and Draymond Green will turn 36 next March. No team with such an aging core has won an NBA championship.
“We’re at the point now where you’ve got to have an eye to the future down the road,” general manager Mike Dunleavy said. “But this league is year to year, and especially with the guys that we have, our focus is mostly 90 percent on next season.”
This approach is a one-year pursuit. The last ride, as coined by Curry when Butler was acquired in February, is postponed until the 2025-26 season. The 2026-27 season is on the books, but Dunleavy’s “90 percent” remark removes it from the current equation.
“How do we make this group better? That can come in myriad ways,” Dunleavy said.
It begins with discovering supporting players capable of generating offense. The most reliable such player on Golden State’s current roster is Jonathan Kuminga, a gifted athlete whose spectacular moments don’t always offset his general impact. He’ll be a restricted free agent in June, and there will be outside interest. Remember this that as much as CEO Joe Lacob likes Kuminga, he loves winning in May and June.
It was abundantly evident during the postseason that the Warriors need a lot more shooting/scoring and a bit more size, in that order. Once Curry went down with a strained hamstring in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, the offense was reduced to Buddy Hield’s fickle shot and not much else.
“But you could see, when Steph went out, the lack of shooting was an issue,” Kerr conceded. “And that impacted Draymond, it impacted Jimmy, impacted JK. Those are things that we have to figure out for sure.”
Figuring it out requires making shooters/scorers a priority, which is not something the Warriors have done in recent years. The biggest blown opportunity was 2018, when they selected Jacob Evans when Jalen Brunson, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Trent Jr. were still on the board.
It was 14 years ago that the Warriors last drafted an NBA-level shooter, and Klay Thompson was essential to four title teams before leaving for the Dallas Mavericks last summer. Dunleavy brought in Hield, a logical move insofar as he has similar skills.
Meanwhile, so many shooters have populated rosters across the NBA that most teams space the floor with at least four. Some, like the Eastern Conference finalist Indiana Pacers and defending champion Boston Celtics, are deep enough to play five-out, with everyone a threat from deep.
In a starting lineup featuring Butler and Green, who can make 3-pointers but don’t stretch a defense, the Warriors can play no more than three such threats. This is another perk of having Curry. It’s also another example of Golden State’s defiance, this one about the current trend rather than league history.
“It’s playing to your strengths, right?” Dunleavy said. “There are multiple ways to skin a cat. I think people complain about the homogeneousness of the NBA, so to speak, where everybody’s spacing is out and playing high pick-and-roll and shooting a bunch of threes and all that.
“I like that we can do things differently, obviously with Steph, he’s such a unique player and creates so much gravity. But Jimmy and Draymond are unique in their own rights. Jimmy’s ability to get to the line, it’s a highly efficient way to score and get to the basket and those things. We’ve got ways to be a really good offense, but it’s just maybe not as traditional in 2025 as some of these other clubs.”
Which is fine – if someone can score effectively from multiple levels. The last Warriors draft pick with that quality was Jordan Poole, selected in 2019. Essential to the team’s success in the 2022 playoffs that ended with a championship, he was traded to the Washington Wizards two years ago and has not been replaced.
Poole at his best could replicate some of what makes Curry special – and was even quicker off the dribble.
It’s not a coincidence that the Warriors reached the top when Curry had a sidekick who was capable of scaring defenses with shooting/scoring. So, it’s reasonable to put that need at the top of the offseason list.
“The biggest thing, who we’re trying to acquire or draft or sign, is how much does that player make us better,” Dunleavy said. “And from there, what all are we giving up? We’re good giving up whatever it takes.”
This offseason amounts to a roll of the dice for 2025-26. The Warriors know their core is exceptional but needs a better supporting cast. It’s up to the front office to find that. And, yes, Kuminga might be the chip in such a deal.
Winning a championship around Curry/Butler/Green will require a superb addition, or at least two very good ones.
The relatively old 2014 Spurs won it all with 38-year-old Tim Duncan, 36-year-old Manu Ginobili and 32-year-old Tony Parker.
But they had 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard, who was voted NBA Finals MVP.
A 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard is not walking through the Chase Center doors.
LA Galaxy give Greg Vanney multi-year extension amid historic winless skid
- Vanney given extension despite brutal start to season
- Galaxy have gone 13 straight games without a win
Countering speculation that Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney might be relieved of his duties following a brutal start to the season, the club instead signed the 50-year-old to a contract extension.
According to the Athletic, Vanney’s extension is for three years through the 2028 season and will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in MLS – highest among those who don’t also have sporting director duties. The actual financial terms were not reported.
Continue reading...Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Colt Keith, Zebby Matthews & Matt Shaw
FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
Colt Keith (1B/2B Tigers) - Rostered in 19% of Yahoo leagues
It’s already been quite the up-and-down season for Keith. He found out with the Gleyber Torres signing in December that he was going to be playing first base this year, and he seemed a little stronger this spring, pounding a couple of balls harder than anything he hit in the majors last year or in Triple-A in 2023. Then he found himself back at second base just three games into the season because of an injury to Torres. Meanwhile, he got off to a bizarre start at the plate in which he seemed afraid to swing the bat. Through nine games, he was 4-for-23 with 12 walks. Torres returned, and Keith’s playing time dwindled; he sat out four out of five games at one point, and it seemed like a stint in Triple-A might be in the offing. Instead, Keith got back into the lineup, slugged his first homer on Apr. 30 and has since hit .316/.395/.658 with four homers and just six strikeouts in 43 plate appearances.
The early season passivity seems mostly gone for Keith now. His average exit velocity this month is 88.9 mph, putting him on track for the best month of his career. He came in at 84.5 mph in April, easily his worst mark since debuting at the beginning of last year. He’s probably not going to keep up his homer pace of the last couple of weeks, but he’ll keep adding more singles and doubles. Statcast thinks he’s been particularly unlucky in that regard; he’s hitting .222 and slugging .361 this season, but Statcast gives him a .270 xBA and a .466 xSLG.
The lack of home run and steal potential here caps Keith’s fantasy upside, but he’s hitting third for a Tigers team that’s currently scoring a whole bunch of runs. His playing time against lefties remains a bit iffy, but that will change with consistent production, and there’s really no reason Keith can’t produce consistently. He makes ample contact, he hits line drives and he uses all fields. With his middle-infield eligibility intact, there’s enough here to help fantasy teams.
Zebby Matthews (SP Twins) - Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues
This time, it’s actually happening. The Twins surprisingly picked David Festa over Matthews for the rotation when Pablo López got hurt last month, but it’ll be Matthews getting his shot now after Simeon Woods Richardson was demoted to Triple-A. He’s slated to make his season debut Sunday against the Brewers after going 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA and a 38/9 K/BB over 32 2/3 innings in seven starts for St. Paul.
Matthews opened up in Triple-A despite looking like one of the Twins’ top five starters this spring. To be fair, he was pretty well shelled in his major league debut last year, going 1-4 with a 6.69 ERA in nine starts, but even then, he had a 43/11 K/BB in 37 2/3 innings. His fastball velocity is currently about 1.5 mph better than it was in the second half of last year, putting him at 96.5 mph on average. His cutter is up around 92 mph, making it a better weapon against lefties, and his slider will get him strikeouts against righties.
The big problem for Matthews last season was the home run ball. He’s been an above average groundball pitcher in the minors, but that wasn’t the case in his first tour of the American League. One imagines he’ll fare better now with a little more velocity in the tank. Never one to walk many batters, he should have a strong WHIP even if he doesn’t excel in terms of ERA, and there’s a good chance he’ll be a useful mixed-league starter right out of the gate here.
Matt Shaw (3B Cubs) - Rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues
It’s not going to be long before Shaw gets his second chance with the Cubs. After homering twice Thursday, the 23-year-old is batting .344/.440/.641 with four homers and five steals in his last 17 games for Triple-A Iowa, and it’s not like anyone has stepped up in his absence. Jon Berti is currently getting most of the starts at third for the Cubs, and he’s batting .222/.282/.250 in 78 plate appearances.
While Shaw’s first major league stint wasn’t very impressive, he doesn’t need to be the Cubs’ savior. He’s not the most consistent power threat, but he’s a fine all-around hitter. He doesn’t often chase bad pitches, and he drives fastballs and breaking balls alike. It’d be nice if pulled balls over the fence more frequently, but that’s coming. In the meantime, he should hit for a decent enough average and give the Cubs an OBP boost at the bottom of the lineup.
What makes Shaw particularly intriguing in fantasy leagues is his basstealing ability. He didn’t attempt any steals in his 18 major league games at the beginning of the season, but he’s 5-for-5 since returning to Triple-A. He was 31-for-42 in his 121 minor league games last season. Even though he’s unlikely to approach that kind of pace in the majors, just a handful of steals can make the difference in whether a guy is worth using in shallow leagues. Shaw should be when his next opportunity comes.
Waiver Wire Quick Hits
- As many injuries as they’ve dealt with, it’s a little crazy that the Brewers still haven’t found room for Jacob Misiorowski in their rotation, but that’s going to have to change soon. The 23-year-old has been the best pitcher in the International League, going 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA and a 59/19 K/BB in 49 1/3 innings, and he just hit 103 mph in his last outing Thursday. The command probably isn’t there for him to pitch deep into games in the majors, but he’s definitely earned a look.
- The Phillies have four games in Coors and three in Sacramento next week. Meanwhile, Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh are rostered in five and three percent of Yahoo leagues, respectively. They both make for excellent one-week additions.
Cubs agree to minor league deal with struggling right-hander Kenta Maeda
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with Kenta Maeda, giving the struggling right-hander another chance to regain his form.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed the deal before Friday’s game against the White Sox.
The 37-year-old Maeda had a 7.88 ERA in seven relief appearances for Detroit before he was designated for assignment on May 1. He went 3-7 with a 6.09 ERA in 17 starts and 12 relief appearances in his first year with the Tigers after agreeing to a $24 million, two-year contract in November 2023.
“I think it’s a player that you got to have a constant conversation with, and see where we can maybe make some adjustments and see where he’s at,” Counsell said.
Maeda made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, going 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA in 32 starts. He went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts for Minnesota during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, finishing second in AL Cy Young Award balloting.
Maeda, who missed the 2022 season because of Tommy John surgery, is 68-56 with a 4.20 ERA in 226 major league games, including 172 starts.
The NL Central-leading Cubs have three key starting pitchers on the injured list. Shota Imanaga has a mild left hamstring strain, and Javier Assad has an oblique issue. Justin Steele is out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury.
Imanaga got hurt during a 4-0 loss at Milwaukee on May 4. Counsell said the team wants to get through this weekend before laying out a plan for Imanaga’s return.
“For now, we’re just continuing to throw,” Counsell said. “He’s kind of having a high day, a medium day, a low day throwing, but continuing to throw every day on that kind of rotational cycle.”
The Cubs also are playing without left fielder Ian Happ, who is on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain. The three-time Gold Glove winner got hurt on a swing last week.
“I think tomorrow is kind of a bigger day to see where we’re at with Ian, because obviously we have to progress towards hitting if we’re talking about (activating him on) Tuesday,” Counsell said.
'A lot of gratitude and gratefulness to get back.' Clayton Kershaw reflects on 2025 return
Last year could have been a storybook ending.
Had Clayton Kershaw been healthy, he likely would have been part of the Dodgers’ postseason rotation. He would have given them badly needed innings during their run to a World Series championship. And, in Year 17 of his future Hall of Fame career, he could have ridden off into the sunset, having little else to prove after playing an integral role on two championship teams.
“Yeah, if I was able to be a part of last year’s run and win a World Series and get to go out like that, that would have been really cool,” Kershaw said recently, contemplating what might have been if only he was available to pitch last October. “But I wasn’t. And it was still really fun to be part of. But it made it easier to want to come back, for sure.”
Back again, Kershaw is set to make his season debut for the Dodgers on Saturday after spending the first two months of the campaign recovering from offseason surgeries to address toe and knee injuries that sidelined him for the team’s title-winning trek through the playoffs last year.
Read more:Hernández: Hyeseong Kim has arrived, and the Dodgers need to make sure he's here to stay
Unlike previous offseasons, when the now 37-year-old Kershaw seemed to give retirement more serious thought, the three-time Cy Young Award winner made his mind up quickly last fall. Even before the Dodgers won their second championship in the last five years, he knew he wanted to pitch in 2025. After making just seven starts in 2024 with a 4.50 ERA, and missing the stretch run of the season when his long bothersome toe injury finally became too much, he didn’t want his career to end with him as a spectator, able only to cheer from the dugout as the Dodgers went on to win the World Series without him.
“For me, just getting back out on the mound is a big first step,” Kershaw said, ahead of what will be his first big-league outing since Aug. 30 of last year. “And then it's the rest of the season, obviously. But just making it through Saturday and getting back out there is what I've thought about so far."
To get to this point, the 18-year veteran had to endure a grueling offseason.
Days after the Dodgers’ World Series parade, Kershaw had two surgical operations: One on his left knee, where he had suffered a torn meniscus; and another on his left foot to address arthritis, a bone spur on his big toe and, most seriously, a ruptured plantar plate.
Read more:Shohei Ohtani homers twice, Dalton Rushing has strong debut as Dodgers rout Athletics
“If someone asked me, ‘What all did they do to your foot?’ I don’t know if I can answer all the way, but I know it’s not been fun,” Kershaw said, underscoring the complicated nature of a foot surgery, in particular, that he noted “only one or two baseball players” have had before.
“This one was painful,” he added, contrasting it to the relatively straightforward shoulder procedure he had the previous offseason. “It was like, ‘Oh, this is what people talk about when they talk about bad surgeries.’”
The worst part was the recovery, with Kershaw spending the better part of the next two months on crutches or in a walking boot.
“Trying to be on crutches and have four kids, it’s not easy,” he said. “Your offseason is supposed to be like, where you’re around and get to help more. And those first six weeks, I wasn’t much help. So it’s kind of a helpless feeling. And I don’t sit still well in general. So it was a hard process.”
Still, Kershaw’s commitment to come back never wavered. He was into a throwing program by the start of spring training. He began a minor-league rehab stint in the middle of April. And he posted a 2.57 ERA in five rehab starts, feeling he’d “turned the corner” with his foot over the last couple outings.
“Those last few rehab starts, I was more concerned about throwing well and getting guys out than I was [about] how my foot felt or anything like that,” he said. “So I think that was a good sign for me physically. And now, it's just a process of figuring out how to get guys out consistently again and perform. That's a much better place to be than seeing if you're hurt."
Exactly how Kershaw will fare back in the big leagues is an unknown. During his rehab stint, his fastball sat in the upper-80 mph range, a few ticks down from the already diminished velocity he’d had in recent seasons. He struck out only 16 batters in 21 innings, relying more on command and an ability to induce soft contact to navigate his way through starts.
On the other hand, Kershaw’s arm is as healthy as it’s been in years, now 17 months removed from his 2023 shoulder surgery. Even without eye-popping stuff last year, he proved to be competitive, owning a 3.72 ERA before leaving his Aug. 30 start early when his toe flared up. And simply having him back in the rotation will come as a boon for the Dodgers, who have been shorthanded recently with fellow starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki all nursing shoulder injuries.
“It's a big shot in the arm,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Clayton has worked really hard to get healthy, and the bar is high for him, you know. He doesn't want to just come back to be active. He wants to come back and help us win baseball games and be good. And so I know he's excited to contribute.”
In a break from his typically stoic facade, that excitement was evident from Kershaw all week. Except when reflecting upon the departure of teammate and close friend Austin Barnes, Kershaw was smiling almost everywhere he went around the ballpark in recent days. “Is that unusual?” he deadpanned when a reporter noted the observation Thursday. He also downplayed his pursuit of 3,000 career strikeouts — he is just 32 Ks away from becoming the 20th member of the illustrious statistical club — in favor of amplifying the gratitude he felt about simply pitching in the majors once again.
“I think when you haven't done something for a long time, and you realize that you miss it — you miss competing, you miss being a part of the team and contributing — there's a lot of gratitude and gratefulness to get back to that point,” Kershaw said. “I definitely feel that. Now, if I go out there and don't pitch good, it's gonna go away real fast. So there's a performance aspect of it, too. But I think for now, sitting on the other side of it, just super excited and grateful to get to go back out there again."
When asked if he ever planned on hanging it up, Kershaw then laughed.
Read more:Mookie Betts makes A's pay for intentional walk to Shohei Ohtani in Dodgers' win
"Somebody will tell me to retire at some point, I'm sure,” he said.
But, after finishing last season injured and grinding through a long rehab this winter, that point is not now, not yet.
Eighteen years later, Kershaw still feels he has more to give.
“At the end of the day, you just want to be a contributing factor to the Dodgers,” he said. “You don't want to just be on the sidelines. So I'm excited to get back to that."
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NHL Playoffs: Failure To Capital-ize Will Come Back To Haunt Washington
Everything about the Washington Capitals in 2024-25 was a feel-good story. Until, of course, they ran into the buzzsaw known as the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Capitals' vaunted offense dried up, and they bowed out meekly, scoring just six non-empty-net goals in five games against a red-hot Frederik Andersen.
It was an enormous missed opportunity for the Capitals, who almost certainly will not have the confluence of great mojo they experienced this season ever again.
The off-season moves made by then-GM Brian MacLellan all worked out wonderfully, and almost every player on the roster had a career year. Alex Ovechkin chased, and passed, Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record, which brought a focus on both the Capitals and the NHL.
But what now? Logic would suggest that there's no way all those players are going to outperform their career numbers again. Some might, but not all of them. A regression looks to be in the cards here. The only question is how dramatic and quick it is.
Watch today's video column for more.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
Promo image credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images