In a showdown of All-Star NBA centers, it was Alperen Sengun's day as he outdueled Nikola Jokic and was the key reason Turkiye handed Serbia its first loss of EuroBasket, 95-90, in what was the highest level of play we have seen so far in the tournament.
With that win, Turkiye remains undefeated and takes Group A, while Serbia falls to 4-1 and second in the group.
Two other teams punched their tickets on Wednesday for the knockout round and the final 16 of EuroBasket.
In a straight-up win-or-go-home game from Group A, Portugal got 15 points from Celtics center Neemias Queta and then were able to hang on after he was ejected in the third quarter to beat Estonia 68-65. In Group B, Montenegro needed only to beat winless Great Britain to advance, but the British earned the win instead, creating a three-way tie at 1-4 for the final knockout round spot. Based on point differential, Sweden – led by Miami's Pelle Larsson — advances to the next round.
With that, four of the Round of 16 knockout games are set, all to be played on Saturday:
Turkiye vs. Sweden Serbia vs. Finland Latvia vs. Lithuania Portugal vs. Germany
The most star-studded game of those four will see Jokic and a deep Serbian side taking on Utah's Lauri Markkanen — who has been a force in this tournament — and Finland.
There are two remaining spots in the round of 16 from Group C, and they will be set on Thursday.
Mets reliever Ryan Helsley had another rough outing in Wednesday's loss to the Tigers, giving up a three-run home run in the seventh inning to put Detroit up for good, 6-2.
The former two-time All-Star closer's ERA has ballooned to 11.45 over 14 appearances with New York since being acquired at the trade deadline from St. Louis. Overall, he's given up 14 earned runs in just 11.0 IP.
It's hard to make sense of Helsley's performances since joining the Mets, as he was pitching to a 3.00 ERA over 36 appearances with the Cardinals. Even manager Carlos Mendoza is confused by the poor outings, but the team will continue to look for answers to solve the right-hander's struggles.
"Yeah, I mean that's the frustrating part here," Mendoza said. "This is a guy, you look up and it's 102 [mph] and they continue to take some really good swings. Then the way they're taking the breaking ball, too. And I don't think it's tipping-related; he's made some adjustments.
"Talking to Hef [Jeremy Hefner], how do we help this guy? Because right now we're not doing it. When you got that type of stuff and they keep hitting it, something's going on here."
Mendoza pointed out that some of Helsley's issues come from not getting the right amount of elevation on his fastballs. The home run to Kerry Carpenter was a 100 mph fastball low and inside, allowing the lefty to turn on it with a 106.3 mph exit velocity and send it into the right field stands.
"I think for me, that's the biggest thing, his ability to elevate the fastball," Mendoza said. "We saw it again today, that homer there is a fastball in the power zone for the lefties. When he's effective, when he's at his best, he's able to elevate the fastball and right now we're not doing that."
Helsley said it's tough to figure out what's wrong when "everything's falling," but he knows he has to keep working when given the chance to pitch.
"Just trying anything and everything," Helsley said. "Feels like [I] make a good pitch and it gets hit and then mistakes obviously get hit as well. Seems like everything's falling. Obviously can't walk guys and got to compete out there. Just keep trying to get after it when I'm out there."
The reliever then noted that he needs to "get back to the basics" to improve his pitch execution.
"Yeah, I would say it's been OK, could probably be a little better," Helsley said. "Feels like guys are swinging at 100 like it's 91 right now, so when you feel like you got to be perfect out there, it's not a good thing. Just trying to get back to the basics and start at square one. Try to get back to form and be myself and help the team win."
"A few things, I'm trying to work on it all," Helsley said. "Obviously, the hands have changed and the positioning has changed. It's felt pretty good, honestly, overall. I didn't love it at first and I think obviously the more I do it, the more I get comfortable with it."
Mendoza thought today's situation, with the Mets down 3-2 in the seventh, would have been a good spot for Helsley to right his previous outings. He still believes in him going forward and shot down any notion that pitching in New York has anything to do with his issues.
"I wouldn't say New York, this guy is a closer," Mendoza said. "Closers, especially when you're that good... Whether it's New York, St. Louis, whatever the case might be, big league players are going to go through stretches where it's hard. But I wouldn't put it on New York, this guy's built for it."
Starter Clay Holmes, who also struggled over 4.2 IP on Wednesday, spoke from experience as a closer about Helsley's rough stretch and expressed his and the team's belief in him.
"I've been traded midseason, I've been a closer, I've had a lot of success there, had some failures there," Holmes said. "I mean, there's a lot that goes with all this stuff. Especially moving teams, moving roles. You're in a playoff chase. There's a lot that goes on there. The game's never as easy as it is. When you add some of those things, there are times you may not be your best.
"I think we all have a lot of confidence in Ryan. Obviously, his stuff's still there, he has the makeup, he has the work ethic. You've got to keep moving forward and keep believing in yourself and finding ways to get better... Like I said, he has the makeup, he's putting the work in, he wants it. Guys like that, you can see him coming out the other end really good. It's just times like this can get rough."
There was no doubt about it: despite picking up a one-game suspension hours prior to first pitch, Giants infielder Matt Chapman was going to do whatever it took to play on Wednesday night at Coors Field.
An appeal later, Chapman was eligible to play, which he did in grand style, hitting two home runs that powered San Francisco to a 10-8 win and a sweep of the Colorado Rockies.
In other words, it was Chapman’s revenge game.
“It’s obviously unfortunate that I have to get suspended probably, but I wanted to appeal it to see what we can do,” Chapman told reporters after the Giants’ win. “I want to be out there and help this team no matter what.
“Every game is super important for us, so the fact that I was able to be out there and make an impact is huge.”
"I want to be out there and help this team no matter what."
Chapman’s second home run came after San Francisco had retaken Colorado’s 5-4 lead. It was his second multi-home run game this season and the 14th of his career.
The Giants, now four games behind the New York Mets in the National League wild-card race, have homered in a San Francisco era-record 17 straight games.
Finally, the bats undeniably are hot for Chapman and Co.
“It’s good. Better late than never, I guess, right? It’s been a lot of fun,” Chapman added.
“We obviously hit a rough patch, but I feel like we’re coming into our own right now and playing good baseball. We’re just trying to keep it rolling.”
A final verdict on Chapman’s suspension has yet to be made, but in the meantime, there’s no doubt the Giants will need him as they look to keep their postseason dream alive.
Jordan Hicks had a rough couple of months to start the season with San Francisco. He switched coasts in the Rafael Devers trade, yet the change of scenery didn’t help. In his first month with his new team, the right-handed reliever had a 4.91 ERA a 1.636 WHIP.
Yet Hicks felt encouraged after something clicked in Houston. He told reporters that he’d “take some ownership, throw the pitch I know is right and have that conviction.”
Nearly a month later, that new approach has not helped.
Hicks was called upon to replace Brennan Bernardino with two outs in the top of the first on Wednesday night at Fenway Park, a planned bullpen game for Alex Cora’s team after winning the first two games of the series against the visiting Cleveland Guardians. With Cleveland already up 1-0 and with a runner on first base, Hicks actually came through with a strikeout to end the inning, needing just three pitches to retire Jhonkensy Noel.
It was a positive step, but the good feelings were short-lived.
With Hicks being sent back out for the second inning, Bo Naylor led off with a double before No. 7 hitter Gabriel Arias sent a 414-foot homer flying over the left field wall.
C.J. Kayfus then followed that one with a ground-rule double to right, and then No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio singled.
Both of the runners left on base by Hicks scored, giving him the ugliest of final lines: four hits, four runs (all earned) in just 1/3 of an inning.
(Of note: Cleveland entered the game with an MLB-worst .224 team batting average, scoring the fourth-fewest runs in baseball this season while ranking second-to-last in team OPS.)
On a night when the Red Sox could have used an emotional lift after learning that Roman Anthony is likely out of the rest of the season with an oblique strain, Hicks’ outing ensured that the team — and the home fans — would be in for a long, painful evening. After taking a 7-1 lead in the second inning, the Guardians went on to win 8-1.
Hicks entered the game with a 6.38 ERA since joining the Red Sox. That ERA is now up to 8.20. His WHIP with the Red Sox is at 1.982.
Including his 13 appearances with the Giants, his ERA sits at 6.95 on the year.
Clearly, the “dominant late-inning reliever” that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow welcomed back in June has not panned out for the Red Sox.
To a large extent, that should have been expected. Despite elite velocity, Hicks has never fulfilled the dreams that numerous GMs have had for him in the big leagues. From 2018-23, he made 212 appearances and posted a 3.85 ERA with a 1.299 WHIP. His strikeout totals were high, but so were his walk totals.
Regardless, the Giants gave Hicks a four-year deal in free agency in 2024, reportedly outbidding Boston for the reliever’s services. Yet just a year later, after Hicks had compiled a 5-12 record, 4.83 ERA and 1.478 WHIP, the Giants were comfortable shipping him to Boston in the Devers deal.
It’s most likely his inclusion in that franchise-altering trade and the two years left on his contract that have kept Hicks on the roster to this point. He hasn’t pitched like a big league pitcher, and as the season has gone on, he’s made it increasingly clear that Alex Cora can’t trust him in any big moments … or even, apparently, in the second inning of a 1-0 game.
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani waits on deck during the first inning of Tuesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)
The Dodgers have had an illness running through their clubhouse lately.
And on Wednesday, it forced an alteration in their pitching plans.
While Shohei Ohtani was in the Dodgers’ lineup as designated hitter for their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the two-way star was scratched from his scheduled pitching start at PNC Park after feeling “under the weather” the past few days, according to manager Dave Roberts.
“When you’re sick and potentially dehydrated, the tax of pitching in a game wasn’t worth it,” Roberts said.
Instead, Emmet Sheehan will take the mound for Wednesday’s game, while Ohtani’s next pitching appearance will be pushed to “sometime this weekend” against the Baltimore Orioles.
“Just to give him a few more days to recover,” Roberts said.
Ohtani’s sickness certainly didn’t seem to hamper him at the plate Tuesday, when he had two doubles and a career-high 120 mph exit velocity on a solo home run — his 46th of the season and 100th as a Dodger.
However, Roberts said Ohtani’s pregame catch play on Tuesday was cut short, and that the risk of overexerting the reigning National League MVP by having him make a full-length start Wednesday wasn’t worth it.
“The toll of taking four or five at-bats versus pitching five innings, there’s no comparison,” Roberts said.
Ohtani’s symptoms have included chest and sinus "stuff" as well as “a deep cough,” Roberts added.
Several other Dodgers players have dealt with similar issues recently. Max Muncy was so sick last week, the team sent him home to rest and delayed the start of his minor-league rehab assignment to this week.
“We’re trying to manage it,” Roberts said. “But there are guys that are just not feeling great right now.”
Roki Sasaki unlikely to rejoin Dodgers this season
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws in the outfield at Dodger Stadium before a game in July. (Eric Thayer / Associated Press)
When rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki began a rehab assignment last month, in an attempt to return from a shoulder injury that cost him most of his debut MLB season, Roberts said the calculus would be simple for the Japanese phenom.
If he performed like one of the Dodgers’ best 13 pitchers, they’d find a spot for him on the big-league roster. If not, they wouldn’t.
After four triple-A outings, the latter has become the somber reality for the 23-year-old right-hander. And now, his chances of rejoining the big-league roster this season look all but dashed.
On Tuesday, Sasaki once again underwhelmed with the club’s Oklahoma City affiliate, giving up four runs (on a pair of first-inning two-run homers) in a five-inning, two-walk, two-strikeout performance. His fastball, which was advertised as a 100 mph weapon when he signed with the Dodgers this offseason, dipped back down to a 94.4 mph average. Overall, he now has a 7.07 ERA during his recent rehab stint. And on Wednesday, Roberts said there are no plans for Sasaki to rejoin the major-league team for now.
“The performance, the stuff hasn’t been there," Roberts said. "Against triple-A hitters, you would expect more."
Sasaki, of course, still figures to be a key piece in the Dodgers’ long-term pitching plans.
Because he signed as an international free agent, the team was able to secure him for six seasons of control at the cost of only a $6.5 million signing bonus. In time, they remain hopeful he can realize his potential as a possible MLB ace.
This year, however, has become a lost cause.
In eight MLB starts at the beginning of the season, Sasaki suffered from a lack of velocity and wild command while posting a 4.72 ERA in 34 1/3 innings. The theory then was that his nagging shoulder injury was partially to blame. But lately, Sasaki has continued to struggle even after returning to what Roberts said was 100% health.
“Roki has gone through a lot this year, and he still has a ton of talent,” Roberts said. “We just want to see more.”
The Dodgers certainly don’t need Sasaki to make a World Series run. They currently have six starting pitching options on the big-league roster, and a bullpen that is getting closer to full health thanks to this week’s activation of Michael Kopech and the expected returns of Alex Vesia (who will begin his own rehab assignment with Oklahoma City on Wednesday) and Brock Stewart later this month. Brusdar Graterol could also be a late-season option after missing all of this year recovering from shoulder surgery, but his outlook remains unclear.
“The bar is high right now, because we’re in a pennant race,” Roberts said.
Still, when Sasaki arrived as a much-hyped (albeit still-developing) prospect in the offseason, the idea was that he could immediately contribute in the big leagues.
Instead, his fastball is still lacking life, his performances remain inconsistent, and his plan for the rest of this season is up in the air. Roberts said the organization is set to “huddle together and figure out what’s best for Roki and how we can get the most out of him."
“To warrant pitching on our staff right now, there’s got to be urgency on his part and really dominant performance,” Roberts added. “That’s the level of where we’re at.”
Kawhi Leonard had a $28 million endorsement deal with a now bankrupt environmental startup where he did no work, essentially a "no-show job," for a company Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had made a $50 million investment in, per an investigation from Pablo Torre Finds Out (PTFO), reported Wednesday on his podcast. That investigation claims the Clippers tried to circumvent the salary cap with this deal.
"We are aware of this morning's media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation," NBA spokesman Mike Bass told NBC Sports.
That company in question was called Aspiration, a "green bank" whose model was to do large amounts of tree planting to gain carbon credits for its corporate clients. Aspiration had a long list of celebrity endorsements including Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr. and Drake. Leonard agreed to his endorsement deal in 2021; however, the deal was not made public and Leonard never made an appearance or so much as a social media post for Aspiration, PTFO reports.
In 2021, prior to Leonard's endorsement deal (but after Leonard signed a four-year, $176 million contract extension to stay in Los Angeles), Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration. The company became a founding partner in the Clippers' then-under-construction new home, the Intuit Dome. Ballmer often emphasized his plans to make the arena a green building.
Torre's reporting works to connect Ballmer's donation and Leonard's endorsement deal through internal documents and comments from multiple Aspiration employees, alleging a functional workaround for the NBA's salary cap — something that would bring the wrath of the league down on the Clippers, if true.
One source, described by PTFO as a former Aspiration finance employee, said: "We went through a litany of really, really top-tier name contracts. And then, 'Oh, by the way, we also have a marketing deal with Kawhi Leonard' — and that if I had any questions about it, essentially don't, because it was to circumvent the salary cap." Leonard's deal with Aspiration gave him the ability to reject anything he didn't want to do for the company with no consequences, PTFO reported.
The Clippers vehemently deny all the accusations, stating that neither Ballmer nor the Clippers had ties to Leonard's endorsement deal. They also state that the team severed ties with Aspiration after the company failed to fulfill its end of the agreement with the team and Intuit Dome.
The Clippers sent this statement to NBC Sports:
"Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false. The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022–23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations. Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government instituted its investigation. The team and Mr. Ballmer stand ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can."
It is unknown — or, at the very least, has not been proven — whether Ballmer had direct knowledge of Leonard's endorsement contract with Aspiration.
While all of this with the Clippers was going on, Aspiration and its business model were falling apart. A federal investigation into Aspiration and its eventual bankruptcy led to co-founder Joe Sanberg pleading guilty two weeks ago to defrauding investors of more than $248 million. That investigation is ongoing, as is the bankruptcy. In that bankruptcy, the Clippers, Forum Entertainment (another Ballmer company, this one for a popular concert venue about a mile from the Intuit Dome) and Leonard's LLC are the three largest creditors, The Athletic reports.
Back in 2019, when Leonard first came to the Clippers after helping lead the Raptors to a title, there were multiple reports that Leonard's adviser, business partner and uncle, Dennis Robertson, made unreasonable requests such as sponsorship deals, a house, a plane on call, and more — all of which would have violated the CBA. (The Lakers reportedly felt they got played in their Leonard pursuit.) The NBA investigated the matter but found no wrongdoing on the part of the Clippers. That case was several years before and is not directly tied to this investigation.
While many of this year's most notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed, there are still some veterans who remain on the market. Among the most recognizable UFAs who are still available is former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson.
Johnson just completed his 17th NHL season, where he started the year with the Flyers. In 22 games this past season for Philly, he recorded one goal, three points, and 40 hits. He then was traded back to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. In 14 games with the Avs following the move, he recorded one goal, one assist, and a plus-4 rating.
Overall, at this stage of his career, Johnson is more of a depth defenseman. While this is the case, it is fair to wonder if he could get at least a professional tryout (PTO) if he elects to continue his playing career. The 2006 first-overall pick has over 1,000 games of NHL experience, and he could be a good veteran for a team to bring in to help mentor their younger players.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what happens with Johnson from here. In 39 games over two seasons with the Flyers, he recorded three goals, six points, and 90 hits.
Flyers Forward Should Build Off Strong YearPhiladelphia Flyers forward Noah Cates was undoubtedly a bright spot from the Metropolitan Division club's 2024-25 season. In 78 games on the year for the Flyers, the 2017 fifth-round pick scored a career-high 16 goals and recorded 37 points. This was after he posted six goals and 18 points in 59 games during the 2023-24 campaign, so he took a big step forward with his play.
Former Florida Panther Scott Gomez will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2025 alongside Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Tara Mounsey and Bruce Bennett.
"The collection of talent that is part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is truly remarkable," said Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey. "Their extraordinary contributions have positively impacted our game and continue to do so today."
Gomez, a native of Anchorage, Ala., played 1076 games in the NHL, scoring 181 goals and 756 points. The former 27th overall pick of the 1998 NHL Draft was a pure playmaker, winning two Stanley Cups and a Calder Trophy in his NHL career.
Gomez was unable to win any international tournaments with Team USA, but starred in several events. He featured in two World Junior Championships and finished the tournament with the most assists in 1999. Additionally, Gomez was a key figure in the Americans' squad in the 2004 World Cup and the 2006 Olympics.
The now 45-year-old wasn't with the Panthers for a very long time, playing just one season and recording two goals and 12 points in 46 games, but provided veteran leadership to a young team that was near the bottom of the NHL.
SAN FRANCISCO — Given how historically bad the Colorado Rockies have been this year, every series at Coors Field has felt like a borderline must-sweep for MLB playoff hopefuls. But for the Giants this week, there was no doubt.
They needed to take all three in Denver to keep their playoff hopes alive and they did, capping an energetic and surprisingly interesting series with a 10-8 win on Wednesday.
The Giants have won 10 of 11 and they crept a game closer to the postseason race a few hours after the New York Mets lost in Detroit. They have won four consecutive series for the first time all season, choosing a hell of a time to do so.
The charge in the finale was led by Matt Chapman, who homered twice on the same day he found out that he has been suspended for one game for his role in Tuesday’s benches-clearing incident. Chapman is appealing and likely will try to kick that can down the road as long as possible. Right now, the Giants are playing like a team that’ll need him through the final game of the season.
They’ll head to St. Louis just four games behind the Mets in the wild-card race, although New York does hold the tiebreaker, so it’s essentially a five-game deficit with 22 to go. They’re also just five games behind the slumping San Diego Padres, although again, the Giants would need to finish a game up because they don’t own the tiebreaker.
Stranger things have happened, and right now the Giants certainly are feeling dangerous. Here are three things to know from the final night at Coors this season …
Unlikely Record-Breakers
If you look at the lineup, it’s not necessarily a huge surprise that this group became the first in San Francisco Giants history to homer in 17 consecutive games. Rafael Devers already has 30 homers and Willy Adames looks like he’ll be next. Chapman’s two got him to 20 and Heliot Ramos could get there, too. There’s a good amount of power out there every day.
But … if you remember July and early August, this makes absolutely no sense.
The Giants put themselves in a deep hole by going 2-13 over a span of 15 home games right before and after the MLB trade deadline, and over that stretch they homered in back-to-back games just once. For weeks, they had trouble just scoring a second run most nights, and now they’re taking turns rounding the bases. During this streak, they’ve gotten homers from 12 different players.
The Giants are just two games away from tying the franchise record, set by the 1947 club in New York. That group got a 51-homer season from Hall of Famer Johnny Mize and had three other players hit at least 29.
Tip Your Cap
During the Farhan Zaidi years, the Giants gained a reputation for finding gold where others saw a pile of rocks. But the reality is that they were doing a great job with minor league free agents and older flyers long before Zaidi was hired. They have continued to do well in the first year under Buster Posey and Zack Minasian, who formerly headed their pro scouting department, giving him an intimate knowledge of other organizations.
Dom Smith is the best example this year, but recently, the Giants have gotten good work from Joel Peguero, a 28-year-old who signed in the offseason. Peguero recorded four outs Wednesday and has thrown nine scoreless innings since debuting in San Diego last month. He topped out at 101.5 mph in the thin Denver air.
JT Brubaker contributed two scoreless innings on Wednesday — helping to settle things down after the Rockies rallied — before running into trouble with one out in the ninth. Ryan Walker entered to finish it off.
It’s a team effort when you find unexpected help, and Posey and Minasian lean heavily on assistant GM Jeremy Shelley, who has a strong reputation when it comes to digging up unlikely contributors. The analytics and pro scouting groups deserve a lot of credit, too.
Rough for Ray
Left-hander Robbie Ray started to walk off the mound in the bottom of the fifth, thinking a strikeout had held a 4-1 lead. He didn’t get the call and he ended up not making it out of the inning.
Ray was charged with five runs — four earned — in 4 2/3 innings. Coors, man.
He struck out eight, which moved him back into the top 10 in the NL. Teammate Logan Webb currently ranks second in the league in strikeouts to Zack Wheeler, who is done for the year.
Ray dealt with tough luck, but he should still be relatively happy with the night. His fastball velocity had been down in recent starts but he maxed out at 95.8 mph on Wednesday.
Red Wings prospect Shai Buium reflects on his journey from NCAA champion to AHL standout in exclusive interview with The Hockey News.
On Wednesday afternoon, The Hockey News had an exclusive sit-down interview with Red Wings prospect Shai Buium. The San Diego native is looking to make an impact at upcoming training camp and potentially push for a main roster spot.
Before being selected in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Buium was a standout defenseman at the University of Denver, recording 14 goals and 61 assists for 75 points with a +61 rating in 120 games across three seasons. His collegiate career was very successful as he was a part of two National Championship wins with the Pioneers in 2022 and 2024.
Shai Buium(2nd round’21 for Denver) picks up an assist 🍏 on the goal that gives Denver the lead in the national championship game. #LGRW
While spending his off-season in sunny California, Buium noted that his goal for the season is to continue growing as a player and become a true difference maker wherever he plays.
“I'm always going to training camp thinking in the back of my mind, I want to make it a hard decision for them to send me down to the AHL obviously,” Buium explained “Goals for the season, largely to be the best player on the Griffins, best defenseman on the Griffins, and try to work my way up to the NHL and just keep developing my game so when I get to the NHL I'm ready to go."
Buium’s confidence in his game is noticeable by his peers as Griffins Assistant Coach Brian Lashoff noted Buium is one of the players to watch for the Griffins heading into next season. Buium noted that he appreciated his coach’s comments and that to hear things like that from his coach and a former longtime pro defenseman is very flattering but noted there’s “still a lot of work to do.”
Lashoff and Griffins Head Coach Dan Watson noted in previous interviews with The Hockey News that Buium progressed as the season went along with Lashoff explaining that towards the end of the season, he trusted him with “big minutes” in key situations. The 22-year-old defenseman finished with a pair of goals and 23 assists for 25 goals through 67 games played. He described the transition from the NCAA to the AHL as “a little more systematic” and that the talent in the league was evident from the start.
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) March 4, 2025
“Everybody's really good, like the fourth line through the first line, everyone's a good player, everyone's got good sticks, everyone knows how to use their body well, so just maneuvering through that and just learning the game, it's a little bit quicker,” Buium said “Pucks are going to the net, you have to be really good at box outs, in the corners, just little things that you maybe get away with sometimes in college, if you're maybe being lazy, or you're out of position, you can't be out of position in pro hockey."
Buium attributed his style of play to being a two-way defenseman that can transition well and move the puck while also not trying to model his game too much after one specific player.
"Not gonna lie, I don't like to model my game after specific guys. I just like to watch the best guys in the NHL and just pick things from them,” Buium stated “You go watch [Jaccob] Slavin and how good he is defensively, and then you go pick up things from a more offensive defenseman and then you learn those things in the ozone and their transition play but just try to pick up things from everybody.”
If he can continue his steady progression and turn into one of the most impactful defenseman on the Griffins like he hopes, Buium could get a look on the Red Wings main roster. Detroit finished bottom 12 in defense last season and with a young player that is hungry, looking to make an impact, he could make a lasting impression with bench boss Todd McLellan and carve himself out a role.
Buium finished off the interview by showing admiration towards the University of Denver during his time there when asked about some of his favourite moments as a Pioneer.
“Oh, it was super fun obviously, you're playing hockey with some of your best friends you made in school and winning championships, there's nothing better,” Buium explained “Had the best, best times of my life playing hockey there, I got to play a year with my brother, win a championship with him, so I’m really grateful for that part of my life."
From a brief chat with Buium, he comes across as a fun-loving Californian who simply wants to play hockey, excel at it, and spend quality time with the people he cares about when off the ice. In the off-season, he explained he enjoys golfing, after recently picking it up as a hobby, and relaxing on California beaches with “good people that can have good conversations.” Based on even a short interaction, it’s easy to see why Detroit fans should be excited to cheer him on and hope he makes a strong impact on the franchise.
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In three seasons with the Predators, Evangelista has emerged as a potential future star of this organization, putting up 32 points in 68 games last season at 22-23 years old.
Evangelista's representation and Trotz have most likely spent the better part of these last 55 days trying to figure out a contract that would work for everyone. On July 1, following the opening of free agency, Trotz commented on the status of Evangelista's contract negotiations.
While all of this has been centered on Evangelista, rightfully so, throughout the summer, there has been a growing narrative about the Predators' front office.
Brady Skjei and Nic Hague's contracts were ranked as two of the worst in the league. The Predators were ranked 30th out of 32 in the NHL's contract efficiency rankings, and the Predators' front office confidence was ranked 31st with a "D-" rating.
With the Predators taking an elongated amount of time to re-sign Evangelista, a player they highly value, the front office could be in hot water before the puck drops.
The issue that's seemingly repeated is that they are either signing older players to long contracts or generally bigger players to big contracts.
The two big splashes from last season's free agency, Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos, were both signed to long contracts as players in their mid-30s.
Marchessault was unable to figure out a deal in Vegas as the Golden Knights didn't want a five-year contract with Marchessault being 38 years old by the time it expired.
Skjei and even Juuse Saros' contract came under fire due to their ages and decline in production. One Athletic article even pointed out Nashville's decision to prioritize extended Saros over developing Yaroslav Askarov, who was traded to the San Jose Sharks as an 11th overall pick in 2020.
This summer, the Predators traded for Nicolas Hague, a bottom-two defenseman from the Golden Knights, and signed him to a 4-year, $5.5 million contract, with the expectation he'll play in the Predators' top defensive pairing.
From the outside, it looked like another case of the Predators just signing a player that was "big" with Hague having a 6-feet-6-inch, 230-pound build.
The Evangelista situation may be the tipping point, or even just the water coming right up to the brink of the pot.
If he truly signifies that he wants to leave, the Predators will have his rights as a restricted free agent and will be able to dictate where he goes. At that point, the saving grace of the front office would be to bring in a player who his either equivalent to Evangelista or better.
If this deal gets done, great. It'll likely be a contract that is either two or three years.
However, that does leave a bittersweet taste of "why did it take the Predators this long to sign him?"
This is a player that Trotz had called "the future," but it had taken over two months to strike a deal?
This is a major crossroads that the Predators are at when it comes to front office confidence.
It is not known whether Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, left, was aware of or played a role in facilitating an employment agreement between Aspiration Partners and Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. (Getty Images)
The Clippers forcefully denied allegations detailed in a podcast published on Wednesday that a discredited global tree-planting company paid Kawhi Leonard $28 million to pad the star forward's contract and skirt the NBA salary cap. However, the NBA told The Times that it will start an investigation.
Investigative journalist Pablo Torre of the Athletic said during "Pablo Finds Out" that he reviewed numerous documents and conducted interviews with former employees of Aspiration Partners, the sustainability services firm that recently declared bankruptcy. Co-founder Joseph Sanberg agreed to plead guilty Aug. 21 to a scheme to defraud investors and lenders of more than $248 million.
During Aspiration's bankruptcy proceedings, documents emerged citing KL2 Aspire as a creditor owed $7 million, one of four yearly payments of that amount agreed upon in a 2022 contract. KL2 is a limited liability company that names Leonard — whose jersey number is 2 — as its manager.
Aspiration was partially funded by a $50-million investment from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. It is not known whether Ballmer was aware of or played a role in facilitating the employment agreement between Aspiration and Leonard.
Torre revealed during the podcast that he did not find evidence of any marketing or endorsement work done by Leonard for Aspiration. The only connection he found between the player and the company came in a 2023 tweet by the Clippers that read, "Happy Birthday, Kawhi! For every comment/retweet, @Aspiration will plant one tree for Kawhi's birthday!"
The NBA said in a statement to The Times that "we are aware of this morning’s media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation.” However, the Clippers told The Times that they could prove that Torre's allegations are false.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration,” the Clippers statement said. “Any contrary assertion is provably false: The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations.
"Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government instituted its investigation. The team and Mr. Ballmer stand ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can.”
A former Aspiration finance department employee whose voice was modulated on Torre's podcast said that when they noticed the shockingly large fee paid to Leonard, they were told that, "If I had any questions about it, essentially don’t because it was to circumvent the salary cap, LOL. There was lots of LOL when things were shared.”
Other celebrities paid to endorse Aspiration and its tree-planting operation included Robert Downey Jr., Leonardo DiCaprio and Drake. The finance department employee said none of them received anything close to the payment given to Leonard.
"Every other celebrity endorsement combined would not have met even a quarter of Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement,” the employee said.
Leonard joined the Clippers in July 2019 on a three-year, $103-million contract after leading the Toronto Raptors to the NBA title. He re-upped for four years and $176.3 million in 2021, then signed a three-year, $153-million extension last year.
When the Clippers landed Leonard in 2019, the NBA was stunned: In a matter of hours, the Clippers had traded for Paul George and signed Leonard, outmaneuvering the Lakers and other suitors.
Suspicions were raised that Ballmer had somehow circumvented the salary cap and compensated Leonard with more than just the max NBA contract. However, the NBA investigated Leonard’s advisor Dennis Robertson — also known as Uncle Dennis — and determined the Clippers had not granted Leonard impermissible benefits.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is adamantly opposed to a team doing an end run around the salary cap with creative under-the-table payments to players, perhaps contributing to the swift acknowledgment that the accusations concerning Leonard have triggered a league investigation.
Under the terms of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, the Clippers could be fined up to $4.5 million and stripped of a first-round draft pick for a first offense if they were found to have circumvented the salary cap.
Six years later, the deal for George and signing of Leonard are viewed in a different light because the Clippers never advanced to the NBA Finals and this season, the team watched assets they surrendered to acquire George — including league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to the championship.
