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Celtics roster reset: Breakdown of contracts, free agents entering offseason

Celtics roster reset: Breakdown of contracts, free agents entering offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

As was the case with the previous five NBA champions, the Boston Celtics were unable to defend their title after falling to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday.

Losing superstar forward Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles in Game 4 of the series was a huge blow to Boston’s chances of repeating as champs. The injury also could have a significant impact on how the C’s approach the upcoming offseason.

The Celtics have a very expensive roster as a team in the second apron. It would behoove the Celtics to get under the second apron and give themselves some more financial and roster flexibility. Achieving that would require shedding some salary.

It’s too early to tell which players could be moved, but it seems unlikely that the Celtics bring back nearly their entire roster for the second straight summer.

Here’s what our Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg wrote earlier this week:

“The Celtics are already committed to $228 million in contracts next season. They are nearly $20 million over the second apron, and that’s before addressing a pair of free-agents-to-be in Al Horford and Luke Kornet. The team is currently projected to have a $238 million luxury tax bill, which would push the team closer to a half billion total spend if the roster was maintained.”

Here’s a full breakdown of the Celtics’ contract situations and free agents heading into the offseason:

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Under contract in 2025-26

  • Jayson Tatum: $54.1 million (contract expires after 2028-29, includes player option for 2029-30)
  • Jaylen Brown: $53.3 million (expires after 2028-29)
  • Jrue Holiday: $32.4 million (expires after 2026-27, player option for 2027-28)
  • Kristaps Porzingis: $30.7 million (expires after 2025-26)
  • Derrick White: $28.1 million (expires after 2027-28, player option for 2028-29)
  • Sam Hauser: $10 million (expires after 2028-29)
  • Payton Pritchard: $7.2 million (expires after 2027-28)
  • Baylor Scheierman: $2.6 million (expires after 2025-26, team options for 2026-27 and 2027-28)
  • Xavier Tillman: $2.5 million (expires 2025-26)
  • Neemias Queta: $2.3 million (expires after 2026-27)
  • Jordan Walsh: $2.2 million (expires after 2025-26, team option for 2026-27)

The Celtics spent huge money to sign Jayson Tatum and Derrick White to multi-year extensions last offseason. Tatum’s supermax contract was the richest in league history at the time.

This offseason should be a little quieter in regards to large extensions, and that’s because the team’s best players are all under contract for at least two more seasons, with the exception of Porzingis. The veteran center is entering the final year of his deal.

Celtics teammates Payton Pritchard and Jaylen BrownPaul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard could shoulder a bigger offensive load next season while Tatum is out.

Team option for 2025-26

  • JD Davison: $2.3 million

Davison, Boston’s second-round pick in 2022, won the 2024-25 G League MVP award this past season for the Maine Celtics. He also played in 16 NBA games this season. If the Celtics make some changes in the offseason, that could open up a larger role for Davison in 2025-26.

Restricted free agents

  • Drew Peterson

Peterson played in 25 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 7.4 minutes per game. He excelled in the G League, averaging 20 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists over 15 games for Maine.

Unrestricted free agents

Al HorfordPetre Thomas-Imagn Images
Will Al Horford stay in Boston for his 19th NBA season?
  • Al Horford
  • Luke Kornet
  • Torrey Craig

Al Horford is 37 years old but remains a valuable player for Boston as a good outside shooter, a strong defender and the team’s best leader. Bringing him back on a team-friendly deal would be a great outcome for the Celtics.

Kornet has emerged as an essential big man off the bench who plays his role very well. He’s also highly effective in the pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum, who has praised Kornet on several occasions. Kornet is great for team morale, too. Re-signing him should be a priority.

Craig was acquired at the trade deadline back in February. He didn’t have much of a role for Boston, but he could provide some depth, outside shooting and perimeter defense if brought back. Tatum’s injury could give Craig a slightly larger role.

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Will RFA Fabian Zetterlund Get Paid On His San Jose Numbers Or The Ones In Ottawa?

Mar 15, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators forward Fabian Zetterlund (20) warms up before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Fabian Zetterlund has only been an Ottawa Senator for a couple of months, and he’s already asking the club for a raise. That wouldn’t fly in a normal workplace, but that’s how it goes in the NHL when you bring in a pending restricted free agent at the trade deadline.

The Senators acquired Zetterlund, minor league centre Tristen Robins, and a 2025 fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for winger Noah Gregor, centre Zack Ostapchuk, and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

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Zetterlund’s current contract expires on July 1st, and he’ll be seeking an upgrade from the $1.45 million he earned over the past two seasons. He has a decent case: he led the Sharks in goals in 2023–24 with 24 tallies and 44 points. He was on a similar pace this season before the trade to Ottawa, where things got… well, a little more fourth-liney.

Coming to a new team can be a little awkward at first, but it sounds like the transition for Zetterlund was relatively easy.

“I would say it's been great,” Zetterlund said. “It felt like I stepped into a big, big family and yeah, it's been great. I mean, the group is so tight and so close with each other, so it was easy for me. Even hockey-wise didn't go that well at the beginning, but I felt comfortable when I learned the system more and more.”

Fans who recall the pesky NHL playing career of Claude Lemieux, who’s now a player agent, would never think of him as a guy who brings people together. But he’s the agent for both Zetterlund and Tim Stützle, so it’s quite likely Lemieux asked Stützle to take the new guy under his wing.

Why 2024-25 Was The Best Season Yet For Senators Centre Tim StützleWhy 2024-25 Was The Best Season Yet For Senators Centre Tim StützleOttawa Senators centre Tim Stützle just enjoyed the best season of his NHL career.

“Yeah, (Stützle) reached out right away and told me I could live with him,” Zetterlund said. “And yeah, it was an easy, easy choice. And we had a lot of fun together. It just made when I came here so much easier. He showed me around everything, so yeah, it's just great to have a guy like that.”

Zetterlund says he would love to return to the Senators this season, but he clammed up when he was asked at the season-end media availability whether there has been any contract talks.

“No. You can talk to Steve (Staios).”

Translation: not touching that one with a ten-foot composite stick.

Staios and Lemieux occasionally butted heads as players, and it’s possible they’ll do so again while trying to agree on Zetterlund’s worth this summer. Lemieux is likely to be after a deal that reflects his client’s stats and performance with the Sharks, the worst team in the NHL the past two years.

In San Jose, Zetterlund played in the top six, frequently making calls on the “Lund Line” with Mikael Granlund and William Eklund. Last season, he played almost 19 minutes a night. This season, almost 17 minutes.

But on a superior team in Ottawa, his path to top-six minutes was often blocked. Zetterlund got some games up there but also frequently played on the fourth line. So, in 20 games with the Sens, he had just 2 goals and 5 points, and his ice time with the Senators was just over 14 minutes a night.

That said, he's quick, has a lethal release, and based on his Instagram workouts, he can deadlift a Zamboni.

A lot will depend on other moves Staios makes this summer, but one thing’s for sure: Staios will be negotiating based on Zetterlund’s value in Ottawa, not in San Jose. And unless Zetterlund breaks into the top six regularly, getting the minutes he needs to repeat those California stats will be a challenge.

With Zetterlund under club control for two more years, Staios has the upper hand. He’d probably like to get a deal done at around $2 million or under, but Lemieux will look at the recent contracts signed by Ridly Greig ($3.25M) and Shane Pinto ($3.75M) and want to be in that salary range, especially since Zetterlund had more points than both of those players last season.

Will The Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To An Extension This Summer?Will The Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To An Extension This Summer?Shane Pinto is eligible for a contract extension this summer. As with every deal, the Ottawa Senators would like to be sure they're getting what they pay for.

But the difference is this: Staios probably has more of a desire to keep Greig and Pinto happy because they're likely to be part of the long-term solution here, while the jury is still out on Zetterlund, who isn’t a UFA until 2027.

Most likely, both sides split the difference: a short-term deal around $2.5 million. It’s a nice bump for Zetterlund and gives Ottawa flexibility in case he turns into more than just a depth scorer with great quads.

If Zetterlund works his way into core player status, there’s plenty of time to revisit things in a year or two.

Steve Warne, Site Editor
The Hockey News - Ottawa 
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What we learned as Flores' monster game fuels Giants' win vs. Athletics

What we learned as Flores' monster game fuels Giants' win vs. Athletics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Goodbye Bay Bridge Series, hello … Highway 80 Series?

Friday marked the beginning of a new era for the Giants and their former intra-market rivals, the artists previously known as the Oakland Athletics.

The Green and Gold paid their first visit to Oracle Park since their move to West Sacramento, and while the rivalry doesn’t have nearly the same significance it once did, even as recently as last year, the atmosphere still resembled that neighborly rivalry.

It started with the two aces on the mound, as Logan Webb squared off against Athletics (22-23) lefty JP Sears (L, 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K’s), who Wilmer Flores made pay for one mistake early in the game.

Here are three takeaways from the Giants’ 9-1 win that improved their record to 26-19:

If Nobody’s Got Me …

Bases loaded. No outs. Flores at the plate. Based on how his 2025 MLB season has gone, you can probably guess what happened next.

The Giants’ RBI leader, who now is tied with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the MLB lead (41), drove in San Francisco’s first eight runs of the game. Yes, you read that correctly.

First, with a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning.

Oh, but he was just getting started.

Already with four RBI on the night, Flores came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, with one out and runners on first and second, and lined his second homer of the game, and ninth this season, just over the left field wall for RBI five, six and seven on the night.

Just when you thought he was finished …

With the Giants leading 7-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Flores launched a solo shot to left for his third homer and eighth RBI of the game.

Through the Giants’ first 45 games this season, Flores is on a 147-RBI pace, which, simply put, is nowhere near realistic for what the veteran utility man ultimately will finish with.

However, if you were to tell the Giants before the season started that Flores would bat .266 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI, for the entire year, they would be thrilled. Let alone in less than two months.

All that production for $3.5 million this season.

The Usual Home Cookin’

Webb (W, 8 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K’s) is off to the best start of his MLB career and has continued to dominate at home. In four starts at Oracle Park this season, Webb has surrendered two earned runs in 28 1/3 innings pitched.

If the season ended today, Webb’s Strikeouts Per Nine Innings (10.6) this season, prior to Friday’s start, would be the highest of his seven-year career.

He was nothing short of excellent on Friday night, which, impressively, is par for the course for him when pitching at the friendly confines.

He would have been the biggest storyline of the night, if not for Flores.

Odes To The East Bay

The Giants are embracing the East Bay baseball fans whose team up-rooted from Oakland this offseason.

Oracle Park’s lively “415” section in right-center field now has a banner that includes the iconic San Francisco area code plus “510,” an East Bay Area code, which, not-so-coincidentally, is home to the Oakland Coliseum.

The East Bay acknowledgement didn’t stop there, either. In between inning early in the game, members of the Pioneer League’s Oakland Ballers organization were shown on the video board with public address announcer Carolyn McArdle saying: “Thank you for keeping baseball in Oakland alive.”

It’s fair to assume some A’s fans might harbor some resentment toward the Giants for certain off-the-field ballpark-related factors, but if there are fans of the Green and Gold looking to call Oracle Park their baseball home in the near future, it’s clear the Giants will embrace them.

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Yankees Notes: Aaron Boone expects 'creativity' from fans during Juan Soto's reunion

The most anticipated Subway Series in recent memory has less to do with a pair of first-place crosstown rivals and more to do with Juan Soto's return to the Bronx. For the first time as a member of the Mets, the superstar slugger will face his former club on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, in a matchup that should deliver ample drama to both fan bases.

While there's no reason to doubt Soto's ability to ignore the outside noise and also produce with heightened expectations this weekend, only time will tell how he'll be received by the sold-out crowds. When he steps into the batter's box and travels out to right field, there'll be far more jeers than cheers. It's the new reality.

The Mets already have a win over the Yankees in 2025, if counting the historic free-agent sweepstakes for Soto. But regardless of what unfolds in the three-game set, Yankees manager Aaron Boone only hopes the attention directed toward his former slugger doesn't cross any lines.

"It'll be interesting. I'm sure there'll be some creativity in there," Boone said on Friday afternoon. "The biggest thing is, I just want everyone to come have a good time and be safe and not take things too far... This year is unique, obviously because of all the news and storylines around Juan the last couple years. So you understand that ratchets up the intensity of it. Both teams playing well, in first place. Mendy is over there now... It always feels like a big deal. There's been some really good series with them..."

This iteration of the Subway Series doesn't lack storylines. Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso currently rank atop the AL and NL leaderboards in RBI. Francisco Lindor recently became the first shortstop to cross the 50-WAR threshold since Derek Jeter. Max Fried and Kodai Senga have resembled staff aces with league-leading ERAs nearing 1.00. The Big Apple stars are shining.

But the main attraction is undoubtedly Soto, who's poised to have a breakout series against old teammates and justify his status as baseball's highest-paid player. After a stellar 2024 season in pinstripes, he's now a lifetime .283 hitter at Yankee Stadium who's also posted 24 home runs and 18 doubles (83 games).

The missing piece to a bullpen puzzle?

The Yankees finally welcomed back a valuable reliever to their bullpen on Friday, as right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga was taken off the injured list after a lengthy recovery from season-ending elbow surgery last spring.

Loaisiga, who re-signed with New York this past offseason on a one-year deal that includes a 2026 club option, has the potential to be a high-leverage option for a bullpen that began the 2025 campaign with some trust issues. The 30-year-old made six rehab appearances across two minor league levels, allowing just one run across 7.1 innings.

"I'm excited to get him back. He's looked really, really good -- really from February, when he was throwing bullpens and lives," Boone said. "The ramp-up has been really good. Very in line with what a full spring would've looked like. I feel like he's throwing the ball really well. We'll be careful with him here, the first couple of weeks. Making sure we build him successfully. But really excited the way he's throwing the ball and what he can mean to our pen."

The hope is that Loaisiga rediscovers the dominance he flashed back in 2021, when he posted a 2.17 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 57 appearances (70.2 innings). Any success he achieves will be contingent upon his health; however, he was limited to just four innings in 2024 and 17 games in 2023 due to elbow and shoulder ailments.

Latest injury updates on Chisholm and Cabrera

Jazz Chisholm Jr. doesn't believe he'll spend much more time on the shelf with his high-grade oblique injury. The veteran infielder was seen fielding grounders on Friday afternoon and later told Greg Joyce of the New York Post that he could possibly return in 10 days.

When asked about Chisholm's recovery timeline, Boone didn't express the same level of optimism. But the team is pleased with his progress and considers his ramp-up efforts "encouraging." Chisholm, who's hitting a lowly .181 this season, last played on April 29.

As for utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, who fractured his ankle on a slide at home plate against the Mariners earlier this week, he isn't expected to make a late-season comeback, according to Boone. But an official ruling won't be made until doctors further evaluate him in the coming days.

An end-of-week trade

The Yankees parted ways with a left-handed reliever on Friday, as they traded veteran Rob Zastryzny to the Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. The 33-year-old appeared in nine games for Milwaukee last season, posting a sharp 1.11 ERA across 7.1 innings of work, but didn't make a single appearance for New York. He's spent all of 2025 in the minors.

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Oilers Next Opponent Revealed On One Of These Days

Edmonton Oilers Waiting For The Winner Of Stars vs Jets (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

EDMONTON – It’s only a matter of time.

The Edmonton Oilers' hardest (and easiest) part right now is waiting—waiting, waiting, waiting.

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It’s easy for them to wait because of wanting their team to be as healthy as possible before engaging in the second half of their playoff run. To get the best out of Connor McDavid, Corey Perry, Stuart Skinner, Leon Draisaitl, Jake Walman, and Evan Bouchard, being healthy is important.

Not to mention the eventual return of Calvin Pickard and Mattias Ekholm.

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At the time of this writing, the hardest part of waiting is knowing who they will play against next. They know it will be the Winnipeg Jets or Dallas Stars. But they don’t know where or when.

Stars vs Jets Remaining Schedule

However, there is light at the end of this tunnel. The Oilers will know who they are playing very soon. Here is the schedule for Games 6 and 7 of the Jets and Stars’ series.

Game 6: May 17th (Saturday) - Winnipeg at Dallas - 6:00 PM Mountain Time

Game 7: May 19th (Monday) - Dallas at Winnipeg - 5:30 PM Mountain Time

There are a three different potential outcomes from the final games of this series:

Scenario 1: The Stars win Game 6, they go on to play the Oilers.

Scenario 2: The Jets win Game 6 but lose Game 7. Stars go on to play the Oilers.

Scenario 3: The Jets win Game 6 & 7. The Jets go on to play the Oilers.

The Oilers have a higher probability of playing the Stars in the Western Conference Series. However, the Jets could still pull off something miraculous and win the series.

It’s not over, till it’s over. Until then, wait, wait, wait.

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Golden Knights' Pending Free Agent Hoping To Stay In Vegas

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) warms up before game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Reilly Smith is coming to the end of a three-year, $5M contract he signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, but maintains he wants to remain a Golden Knight. 

The team held their end-of-season press conferences today, two days after the Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the second round. The conclusion of the offseason brings new questions and challenges for the players and coaches, but more importantly, the management staff. 

Heading into the offseason, the Golden Knights roster six UFAs and three RFAs. One of those six UFAs includes Smith, a long-time Golden Knight whom they traded in the offseason after winning the Stanley Cup. The move was purely for salary cap reasons, and when the right moment occurred, the franchise reacquired the 34-year-old. Upon returning, Smith fit in like a glove. He and William Karlsson renewed their electric chemistry on the penalty kill and at 5-on-5, and Smith went on to score three goals and 11 points in 21 regular season games.

He chipped in an additional three goals and four points in 11 postseason games, maintaining his attentiveness to the defensive side of the puck. His best seasons have come while wearing the Golden Knights crest, and he isn't all that ready to move on. 

"If there's an opportunity to stay here, that would be great," said Smith. "I think the best hockey I've played in my career has been wearing this jersey."

He went on to mention how much he loves the city and how his family loves it too. The Mimico, On., native has played 919 career games, closing in on 1000, mentioning he'd love to achieve that in Vegas.

"I would like to play 1000 games in my career, and to do it in this jersey would mean a lot."

The Golden Knights fell short of their goal, and Smith knows that, but when he looks around the locker room, the possibility of making another run still exists in his eyes. 

"It was a fun few months, but it obviously wasn’t where we wanted to go. I think you need a lot of things to go right to challenge for the Stanley Cup. We just fell short."

At his age and where his production currently sits, Smith won't earn anywhere close to his current $5M salary, but cutting his salary under $2M will keep him on a cost-efficient contract and allow the Golden Knights to seek upgrades to their roster with the additional cap space. 

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Watch Kuminga, Lacob joke around on jumbotron at Valkyries game

Watch Kuminga, Lacob joke around on jumbotron at Valkyries game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It will be a very interesting offseason for Jonathan Kuminga — but that wasn’t on his mind Friday night.

The Warriors forward was one of several Golden State players sitting courtside at the Valkyries’ 2025 WNBA season opener at Chase Center, but he was the only one next to team CEO Joe Lacob — and both appeared to be in good spirits when they were shown on the jumbotron during the game.

Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent in June, and there’s sure to be plenty of interest in the 22-year-old from other NBA teams after his strong Western Conference semifinals showing. While Kuminga can sign with another team this summer, the Warriors have the option to match any offer to keep him.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters Friday that Golden State wants Kuminga to return, but acknowledged it’s a “two-way street” — AKA, if the price is right.

But even as that fact and reports of the Warriors exploring sign-and-trade options for Kuminga were prevalent, the Golden State star and the team owner were all smiles Friday despite the Valkyries’ 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Other players in attendance included Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, as well as coach Steve Kerr, who certainly received the loudest ovation of the night.

With the Warriors’ season officially over after they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, contract negotiations and talks can hold off for the time being.

Friday night was about celebrating the Bay’s new WNBA team. It’s Valkyries season now.

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Watch Kuminga, Lacob joke around on jumbotron at Valkyries game

Watch Kuminga, Lacob joke around on jumbotron at Valkyries game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It will be a very interesting offseason for Jonathan Kuminga — but that wasn’t on his mind Friday night.

The Warriors forward was one of several Golden State players sitting courtside at the Valkyries’ 2025 WNBA season opener at Chase Center, but he was the only one next to team CEO Joe Lacob — and both appeared to be in good spirits when they were shown on the jumbotron during the game.

Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent in June, and there’s sure to be plenty of interest in the 22-year-old from other NBA teams after his strong Western Conference semifinals showing. While Kuminga can sign with another team this summer, the Warriors have the option to match any offer to keep him.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters Friday that Golden State wants Kuminga to return, but acknowledged it’s a “two-way street” — AKA, if the price is right.

But even as that fact and reports of the Warriors exploring sign-and-trade options for Kuminga were prevalent, the Golden State star and the team owner were all smiles Friday despite the Valkyries’ 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Other players in attendance included Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, as well as coach Steve Kerr who certainly received the loudest ovation of the night.

With the Warriors’ season officially over after they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, contract negotiations and talks can hold off for the time being. Friday night was for celebrating the Bay’s new WNBA team, and it’s Valkyries season now.

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Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened

Marc Cucurella’s second-half goal settled Chelsea nerves as they returned to the top four with victory over the Europa League finalists

“‘We will retain Amorim even if we do not win the Big Vase’ (more alarming when they play Spurs) is not a statement that boosts someone’s confidence, does it?” says Krishnamoorthy V. “What must one old Scot be thinking these days? Should he come back for an encore?”

He’s probably thinking: ‘You think this lot are bad, you should have seen my team in 1989-90.’ I can’t get away from the fact that, had modern values prevailed in the late 1980s, Alex Ferguson would have won precisely no trophies at Manchester United, and he’d probably still be plain old Alex Ferguson. We’ve all gone mad. I went mad in 2006 so I can’t really criticise anyone.

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Pep Guardiola hits out over Premier League game 72 hours after Cup final

  • Manchester City manager frustrated by fixture moving
  • ‘We have been fighting these situations for nine years’

Pep Guardiola has taken a swipe at the Premier League for scheduling Manchester City’s penultimate fixture of the season, against Bournemouth on Tuesday, 72 hours after Saturday’s FA Cup final meeting with Crystal Palace.

City are involved in an incredibly tight race for Champions League qualification and, as such, Bournemouth’s visit to the Etihad Stadium is an important one. Asked if his preference would be for it to take place on Wednesday or Thursday instead, Guardiola said: “Definitely. Tottenham played against Aston Villa on Friday ahead of the Europa League final [on Wednesday]. Good decision, I’m not being sarcastic. The Premier League made a good decision, very good.

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How The Maple Leafs Can Win Game 6 After All – And Still Lose Game 7

At the beginning of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, this writer picked the Toronto Maple Leafs to beat the Florida Panthers in seven games. 

While the Maple Leafs still can make that prediction accurate with a win in Game 6 Friday in Florida, the way the Maple Leafs played in Game 5 – or more to the point, the way they did not play in that game – we’re now of the opinion the Leafs will lose in seven games.

Isn’t that exactly what we’ve come to see from this core group of Leafs? We’re probably going to see them win Game 6, just to give their long-suffering fans some hope. But if they can extend the series, it would be just like these Leafs to lose another Game 7.

To be sure, there are things the Maple Leafs can do to win their next two games – things we saw in Games 1 and 2, when they beat the Panthers to establish a 2-0 series lead.

For one thing, the Leafs established their offensive presence early in the games. 

In Game 1, Toronto outshot Florida 14-3 in the first period and had a 2-0 lead 12:51 into the opening frame, eventually winning the contest 5-4. In Game 2, after the Panthers scored the first goal of the game, the Leafs answered back to tie it and built a 3-2 lead in an eventual 4-3 Toronto win.

Those performances gave Leafs fans hope that this year would be different, that the Buds would somehow get to the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2002. But those hopes have evaporated after Florida roared back to win the next three games, outscoring the Leafs 13-5. 

Aaron Ekblad and John Tavares (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

While there wasn’t always a connection between the number of shots on net the two teams were putting up – Toronto matched Florida in Game 5 with 32 shots apiece in the game that ended with a demoralizing 6-1 drubbing – it was the quality of shots that told the story. 

Indeed, the Panthers were far superior when it came to limiting Toronto shots to the periphery, preventing second and third follow-up scoring opportunities, and allowing Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to build confidence in allowing only one goal in Games 4 and 5 combined.

And now, because of their inability to close out the series, the Maple Leafs are tasked with the near-impossible challenge of winning two games in a row yet again in this series. That’s why we’re seriously skeptical that, even if Toronto does win Game 6, they’ll eliminate the Panthers in a Game 7. Far more likely is the possibility that the Leafs either lose Game 6 or lay an egg in Game 7. 

NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On The Maple Leafs, Golden Knights And AvalancheNHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On The Maple Leafs, Golden Knights And AvalancheA crushing 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their second-round series has the Toronto Maple Leafs facing elimination on Friday. 

If the Buds do fail to come back and win this series, the anger among Leafs fans will be hellacious and justified, and major roster changes will follow this summer. At the beginning of the season, Leafs players and management knew the stakes that were in play – get out of the second round, or get out of town – so there’s no sense of surprise that the mix of talent could change drastically for Toronto this summer.

It feels that bleak for Leafs fans, and while stranger things have happened than a Leafs comeback in this showdown, the likelihood that an era is coming to an end for the Blue and White is unmistakable.

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Carlos Mendoza provides update on injured Mets starters Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea

Prior to Friday’s Subway Series opener in the Bronx, Carlos Mendoza provided updates on two of the Mets’ injured starters...

Frankie Montas 

Montas was scheduled to throw a live bullpen session this afternoon in Brooklyn -- but the skipper had no update on how that went. 

If everything goes well, the right-hander is expected to throw another bullpen session on Tuesday with the Cyclones. The team will go from there and see if he is ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment. 

Montas landed on the shelf with a lat injury he suffered during his first bullpen session in spring training. 

The 32-year-old pitched to a 4.84 ERA last season with the Reds and Brewers, but it’ll be interesting to see if he can regain the dominance he showed early in his career with the Athletics after working with the Mets’ pitching lab. 

Sean Manaea

Manaea is a bit behind Montas, but he continues to progress

After making it through Thursday afternoon’s bullpen session okay, the southpaw is expected to throw another one later this weekend in the Bronx, and then the team will mix in some up-downs before he faces live hitters.  

Manaea was initially expected to be back from his right oblique strain before Montas, but he experienced some discomfort while ramping up, which caused him to be shut down for two more weeks. 

While he still has a ways to go, it’s encouraging to see him trending in the right direction. 

The 33-year-old made some midseason tweaks to his mechanics and provided the Mets the top of the rotation arm they badly needed last season, pitching to a 3.47 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while losing a career-high 181 innings.

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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.