The Kings fell to 0-5 to start the 2026-27 NBA season after a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and have found themselves in a deep hole. Despite the rough start, though, it appears that coach Doug Christie’s job is safe.
The winless start created rumblings that Christie is on the hot seat, but according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the franchise has no plans to make any changes, at least in the immediate future.
“Even before Thursday night’s game in New Orleans, a 132-120 loss against the previously 0-4 Pelicans that dropped the Kings to 0-5, there was a growing sense around the league that Christie might already be on the hot seat,” Amick wrote. “Especially if the Kings didn’t find a way to win on this four-game road trip that still includes games against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Yet according to a team source with knowledge of the Kings’ plans, that’s not the case.
“Per the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because these matters aren’t typically discussed publicly, there is an internal belief that Christie deserves a fair chance to be evaluated with a team that is much healthier than this current Kings lot. From Ben Simmons (torn right Achilles tendon, out for the season) to Keegan Murray (left ankle), Maxime Raynaud (right knee) and Dylan Cardwell (left calf), the Kings have been without several players who were expected to play pivotal parts in Christie’s rotation.”
Christie is in his second full season as the Kings’ coach and was tasked with overseeing a rebuild. The Kings have one playoff appearance over the last 20 seasons and came into this season with a young roster. Headlined by rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., second-year big man Maxime Raynaud and veteran big man Domantas Sabonis, the team is still trying to establish a consistent core.
It doesn’t help that the team is dealing with several injuries, with Raynaud sidelined due to a knee injury he sustained in the preseason and guard Ben Simmons out for the season with a torn Achilles. Christie’s leadership has been vital for player development, and the expectation is that when the team gets some guys back, they will find their footing.
Acuff Jr. in particular has shown promise, averaging 24 points, 6.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds through five games. He is coming off his best game of the season to date, scoring 34 points and registering 14 assists in the 132-120 loss to the Pelicans.
The Kings are desperate for a win and hope that their first one comes in their next game against the 5-0 Memphis Grizzlies. Traveling to Memphis, tip-off is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 28: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles against Jordan Hawkins #15 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on October 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2026 has been the year of Jalen Brunson. Shooting Stars champions, Conference Finals MVP, championship, Finals MVP, multiple ESPYs, and numerous media appearances, including Saturday Night Live and an upcoming appearance on his favorite show, Law and Order. But he’s not done yet. On Friday morning, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that the point guard had been named the Professional Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.
Jalen Brunson has been named athlete of the year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association pic.twitter.com/3ifUNTyFkH
The press release released by the association, which consists of 17 members, highlights his incredible performance, ability to deliver in the clutch, and his leadership.
“His skill, his leadership, and his connection to the Philadelphia basketball community all make him a deserving recipient of this honor. He plays his best when the stakes are the highest and has led his teams to championships at every level.” Mike Shute, president of the PSWA, said. “We are pleased to present him with this honor, as he joins a list of past winners such as Carl Lewis, Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain and Mike Schmidt.”
Brunson, who famously played at Villanova, will be honored at the 122nd Annual PSWA Awards Banquet next year on January 11th at the University of Pennsylvania. Funnily enough, the announcement also comes just hours before the Knicks take on the 76ers to kick off the 2026 NBA Cup.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 28: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After handily defeating a shorthanded Magic team, the Raptors are gearing up to square off for the second game of the season series, with more on the line than before.
After mutilating Orlando by 30 points, Toronto should feel confident with them as their first opponent of Group Play, which decides who’s able to enter the seeding of the tournament bracket. The Raptors made the Knockout Round last year, but were defeated in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions, the New York Knicks.
If the Raptors’ last game was any indication, getting back to the Knockout Round looks to be extremely likely this year, as their lineups of opponents will be the Orlando Magic, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons, and finally, the Brooklyn Nets.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 16: John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons goes up for a dunk against Alijah Martin #55 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of a game at Little Caesars Arena on October 16, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The only team in the group that appears to be near the calibre of Toronto in this group is the Detroit Pistons, who have the potential to give the Raptors a lot of trouble with their centre play. Other than that, the Raptors should steamroll the other three matchiups, even without Kawhi Leonard.
Toronto has only two players missing tonight’s game, those being Leonard, and centre Nate Bittle. Bittle is a rookie who has not yet seen NBA playing time, and seeing how he’ll slot into the Raptors’ rotation will be interesting, as Rajaković has noted that “everything is on the table” for players at that position.
Orlando’s injury situation is quite another story. They’re without five players, a number of them starters, most notably Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. Jonathan Isaac is also sidelined, as well as forwards Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson.
While victory is never guaranteed, the Raptors should take this game as an opportunity to bolster their new lineup with Ja’Kobe Walter starting, giving the players more reps with the shooter now that he’s playing an even larger role on the team. As well, this game will hopefully be the one in which Jakob Poeltl is able to demonstrate his capabilities.
His coach has done a lot to stand beside Poeltl throughout a very difficult start to the season for the big man, whose offensive production has plummeted, in large part as a result of his attempting less than two field goals per game this season. Evidently, the team is sticking by their guy, but this means that whatever the reason for Poeltl not taking more shots — coaching schemes, anxiety, or otherwise — needs to be overcome.
Outside of the horrific zero-point showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Scottie Barnes has looked like an All-Star this season, averaging more than 20 points and already having notched his first double-double of the season against the Washington Wizards.
His massive 360 dunk last game has gone viral, with more than 300,000 views on the NBA’s Twitter page alone, and it’s brief moments like these that remind you that Barnes is 25, a two-time All-Star, and in year six of his NBA career. The Raptors have a *guy* that’s not named Kawhi Leonard, who is (excluding the Wolves game) putting together an impressive start to the season.
The Magic game tonight gives the Raptors the opportunity to tighten up their new lineup ahead of a three game road trip mostly in the Western Conference, where the Raps will get their first look at this year’s Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and LA Clippers. Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder made the show “The Rehearsal” before the film “You Can See Everything,” and much like him, the Toronto Raptors will have an opportunity to rehearse before they have to see everything California and Colorado has in store for them.
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 6: Grant Nelson #16 and Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 6, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets have no shortage of young players to develop this season.
Between the Flatbush 5, now in their second season, and their three rookies from June’s NBA draft, Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson, and Tyler Bilodeau, the organization has drafted eight players over the past two years, including seven first-round picks.
Eight of their 15 players on standard NBA contracts remain on their rookie deal. Bilodeau, the second-round rookie, is on a two-way deal, while 2023 first-rounder Noah Clowney, in a prove-it season, is Brooklyn’s eighth NBA player on a rookie contract. (Clowney is younger than Jefferson, Bilodeau and Danny Wolf.)
For the second straight year, the Nets are the NBA’s youngest team with a median age of 24.3 years, and the only team younger than their current squad over the past 25 years was Brooklyn’s group last season.
That youth movement extends beyond the organization’s regular-season roster. About 25 miles east of the Barclays Center, the Nets have another group of young players on Long Island, looking to develop their games and eventually land a consistent role in the NBA.
Bilodeau is a part of that pod alongside fellow two-way player Grant Nelson, who returns for his second season with the organization after patellar tendinitis cut short his 2025-26 campaign. He didn’t even have the opportunity to fully prove his value, as he found himself on a minutes restriction even when he was on the floor.
At Long Island’s Media Day on Thursday ahead of their November 6 opener, both Bilodeau and Nelson spoke with NetsDaily about their development and what it will take to eventually establish themselves as contributors with Brooklyn. As two-way players, Nelson and Bilodeau can each play up to 50 NBA games.
Bilodeau told us that he’s already seen growth since Summer League, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
“I feel like I’ve improved so much since Summer League,” the second-round rookie said. “I think a big improvement of mine has been defensively, trusting myself a little more, and getting used to guarding the perimeter. I didn’t do much of that last year.”
That’s encouraging, because the biggest concern regarding Bilodeau’s game entering the draft was his defense. At 6’9” and 230 pounds, he certainly has the frame to be a serviceable option on that end of the floor, but as he alluded to, there wasn’t much of an emphasis on him guarding the perimeter during his final year at UCLA.
The shooting ability is there. During his final NCAA season with the Bruins, he shot a whopping 46.4% from deep, topping this year’s draft class and leading all Big 10 players. His defense, though, was the main reason he fell to Brooklyn with the No. 43 overall pick.
More importantly, though, the Nets already have enough young players who need the ball in their hands, and that’s not the best path for a second-rounder to find minutes, especially on Brooklyn’s current squad.
Much of his attention seems to be going towards improving as an all-around player.
“Really, I feel like just improving on all aspects of my game,” he said.
Bilodeau also acknowledged that the transition from college basketball to the professional level will come with some adjustments to his play style.
“It’s a different game,” the UCLA product said. “The NBA is a different game, so I think making that transition from college to this level means just working on all those things.
While he’s with Long Island, Bilodeau should have plenty of opportunites to work through those adjustments and become a more well-rounded player. Long Island and Brooklyn operate with an eerily similar system and terminology, making it much easier for players to transition from the NBA to the G League. That’s especially valuable for a young player like Bilodeau.
“We’re one group. We’re one organization. Jordi [Fernández] preaches it all the time. We’re a club. We have a club system here, basically,” Long Island’s first-year head coach Shawn Swords told ND on Thursday.
The same goes for Nelson. While he is in a different spot, having already spent a year with the organization, their goals remain the same: eventually prove their worth on the NBA floor.
While injuries hampered Nelson last year, he spent much of his rehabilitation working on his shooting mechanics, in particular, which he discussed at Brooklyn’s Media Day last month.
Speaking with ND at Long Island’s Media Day, the Alabama product explained why he emphasized growing that facet of his game.
“I think it’s extremely important with the direction that the game has been going in,” he said. “I mean, I think it’s just adding another part to my game, being versatile in that way. Most bigs can shoot now. So being able to do that, I think it will definitely help me out in my career.”
At 7’0”, Nelson is a fascinating player, largely because of his size and athleticism. Now, his shooting could become an asset, too.
Up in Brooklyn, the Nets lack an established rim protector and established interior defense. Nelson has an opportunity to make an impression in those areas, especially with his size and mobility. His mindset, though, remains to continue developing on Long Island. The goal, however, is NBA minutes.
“Obviously, I’m trying to do what I can here in Long Island to become the best player I can be. And hopefully get some minutes with Brooklyn,” The 24-year-old Nelson told ND.
Nelson still knows that there’s room for improvement. At the end of the day, he’s on a two-way deal for a reason: to keep growing and blossoming as a player.
“I’m not the player that I want to be yet,” he said.
That’s also the mentality Long Island’s general manager Matt MacDonald and the organization are looking for in their players, whether they’re on assignments, two-way guys, or standard G League players.
“We work hard here; we want good people,” he said on Thursday. “We want guys that are talented and have a chance to get to the next level.”
There’s plenty of basketball ahead for both Nelson and Bilodeau, but they also have plenty to prove. As the Nets continue building toward the future, discovering diamonds in the rough like these players highlights the true value of an organization’s development system, and Brooklyn has a strong reputation for theirs.
Long Island opens its season on November 6 in Greensboro before its home opener on the 13th vs. the College Paek Skyhawks.
Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger was free to sign with any team for a large portion of the 2025-26 offseason, until he inked a five-year, $162.5-million deal with a full no-trade clause and opt-outs after the 2027 and ’28 seasons.
Despite missing about a month in the summer with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Bellinger gave his team a solid, steady season even without some of the thunder he provided in his debut campaign in the Bronx in 2025.
Bellinger posted a solid 3.5 fWAR in 132 games, but his home run tally went from 29 to 17 from 2025 to 2026, and his slugging percentage fell from .480 to .429. Still, he was good enough to help the Bombers make the postseason in a frustrating year for the offense.
2027 Contract Status: Under contract (five years, $162.5 million from 2026 to 2030)
Bellinger might have struggled to leave his mark in the power department this year, but he offered one of the most well-rounded lines you will see in a season in which the Yankees finished in the middle of the pack with a 101 wRC+, ranked 14th. That is very valuable, even if it might seem boring to some. Still, we know Bellinger is capable of much more, which is why he didn’t quite get an A in our report cards.
The good news for the Yankees is that even if he slipped a bit in comparison to his excellent 2023 and 2025 campaigns (the former in Chicago as a member of the Cubs, the latter in the Bronx), he seems to have settled on a much higher floor than his forgettable 2021-22 stretch in LA. That’s promising for a team that just made a sizable investment on the player.
Acting as the Yankees’ left fielder most of the time, Bellinger scored and drove in 73 runs, doubled 25 times, and even pitched in with 12 steals, besides the 17 round-trippers. He racked up most of his value on the field, though. Bellinger impressed defensively in 2026, which earned him a Gold Glove nomination. If he wins, it would be his second award after the one he obtained in 2019.
The 31-year-old didn’t show any signs of slowing down as a defender and led all MLB left fielders with +21 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), showcased some impressive range (+6 OAA), and uncorked throws at an average speed of 93.3 mph, ranking in the 94th percentile of the league. It was probably Bellinger’s most impressive campaign with the glove, which is certainly noteworthy.
To sum up, the Yankees had an above-average hitter and an elite fielder in Bellinger, and there are reasons to believe his offense could bounce back next year. While his 21st percentile bat speed left a lot to be desired, he squares up the ball in the most ideal angles, as his 88th percentile LA Sweet-Spot% of 38.2 indicates. He was also significantly above-average in other metrics such as squared-up percentage (91st percentile), expected xwOBA (70th percentile), and expected batting average (82nd percentile), among others.
Bellinger is no longer the star he was in 2017-19. That player is long gone. However, he has found ways to keep contributing and remains a solid player as he heads into his early and mid-thirties.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres is taken out of the game by manager Craig Stammen of the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning in game two of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was disappointing news for San Diego Padres fans, but it was expected. It was announced on Thursday that starter Michael King declined his player option and will become a free agent for the second consecutive season. The right-hander had a solid bounce back season after his 2025 season was hampered by injury. There was thought that the injury concerns as well as his draft pick compensation by way of the qualifying offer limited his earning potential on the open market.
While King’s decision would not be considered a surprise in any regard, it still caused concern for the Friar Faithful because he is now arguably the second best starting option on the market behind only Tarik Skubal. That means he will receive a pay raise of some sort, but it seems like the length of the contract is what will be important to the 32-year-old. King had two years and $53 million left on his former contract with the Padres had he opted in to that deal. He would have had another chance to opt out following the 2027 season, so it does not appear the dollar amount was the deciding factor in his case.
The ball now lies squarely in the court of new San Diego owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. They have said since their opening press conference they are committed to bringing a World Series title to San Diego and with King opting out they now have a chance to literally put their money where the mouths are. There is the unknown of the new ownership, which creates an uneasy feeling among the Friar Faithful. Will Feliciano and Jones spend? If they do spend, to what level? The Padres have an exclusive five day window to negotiate with King before he can talk with the remaining MLB teams. It would be quite the statement if he never gets the chance to do so.
San Diego has seen its fair share of bad contracts with long years and big money, but King has shown what he can do and more important what he is willing to do. He started playoff games in 2026 and earned a playoff save with two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Championship. King has said he wants to be in San Diego, so the two have mutual interest. How authentic that is will be seen in the coming days and potentially weeks or months.
Padres News:
Kyle Hart had some bright spots in 2026, but he was not as consistent as he or the team would have liked. How did Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball grade his season? Read his breakdown here.
Xander Bogaerts has shown to be the warning for long-term, big money contracts as he failed to live up to that commitment once again in San Diego. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looks at what the Friar Faithful should expect from Bogaerts going forward.
So the Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions and it will be fascinating to see if their contact-hitting, hustling, fundamentally sound style of play influences other teams this offseason, especially with a free agent class that is largely lacking in star power.
The more pressing question, of course, is when we’ll see baseball again.
A lockout on Dec. 1 is a virtual certainty, and the owners' rabid desire for a salary cap is expected to make for a long standoff in collective bargaining negotiations that could stretch into February, March, April…who knows how long.
All of which could also make for a busy November, with at least some teams likely to sign free agents before the lockout and before any potential changes that could make it more penal to add payroll.
Super-agent Scott Boras is already pushing that narrative publicly, and will be trying hard to get a deal done with Tarik Skubal before the sport goes dark.
So with that, here are my predictions for where 10 of the top free agents (actually 11, thanks to a bonus double-entry for the Mets) will sign.
10. ADRIAN MOREJON: PHILLIES
The Phillies have been trying for years, with little success, to build a bullpen that won’t fall apart in the biggest moments, most notably the postseason.
They have a dominant closer now in Jhoan Duran, but need another big piece like Morejon, one of the best left-handed relievers in the game in recent years with the Padres.
Morejon has nasty stuff. He averaged 99.4 mph with his fastball last season, struck out 106 hitters in 86 innings, and ranked in the 99th percentile of MLB pitchers, via Statcast, in chase percentage and soft contact. He’s only 27, turning 28 in February.
9. SEIYA SUZUKI: BLUE JAYS
In a free agent class short on impact hitters, Suzuki could be the best value on the board. He consistently put up good numbers with the Chicago Cubs the last five years, hitting 26 home runs in 2026 with 31 doubles, a .270 batting average and an .841 OPS, and he plays solid defense in right field featuring a very strong arm.
The Jays, meanwhile, need to make some type of splash after falling off badly following their 2025 World Series season. Suzuki would fit in nicely in right field and perhaps offer lineup protection for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming off his subpar season.
/ Imagn Images via Reuters Connect/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
8. JAZZ CHISHOLM JR.: PHILLIES
After getting outbid for Luis Arraez -- more on that later -- their trade pickup last August, I think the Phillies will convince themselves that a team with an aging core could benefit from the athleticism and speed Chisholm would provide at second base.
And maybe they would be right, as Chisholm's ability remains enticing at least on the surface. Even in a down year with the Yankees, he stole 41 bases and hit 19 home runs, admittedly a long way from the 50-50-year he predicted back in February, but still productive.
On the other hand, signing Chisholm might be a mistake if he plays with the same lack of awareness he did with the Yanks last season, whether it be making that ill-advised throw on a DP turn in the postseason or playing second base with a lollipop in his mouth.
In any case, the dichotomy between talent and awareness will make it fascinating to see just what Chisholm's market is in the coming weeks. The only near-certainty is the Yankees won’t re-sign him.
7. BRANDON LOWE: RED SOX
Lowe is one of the more underrated players in the game, coming off a very good season as the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he mashed to the tune of 35 home runs and 29 doubles, and hit .260 with a .493 slugging percentage and an .824 OPS.
Lowe was good defensively as well, ranking in the 96th percentile in defensive run value, via Statcast.
The Red Sox are at least one impact bat away from getting over the hump in the postseason, as demonstrated against the Yankees in the Wild Card Series. Lowe could be that guy for them.
6. FREDDY PERALTA: PADRES
It might be tempting for the Mets to take another shot with Peralta, after he rediscovered his dominance with the Tampa Bay Rays post-trade deadline, but that’s way too much of a gamble.
It didn’t work with the Mets for a reason, whether it was a failure on the part of the coaches to figure out his mechanics or Peralta underperforming under high expectations in New York, or some combination of those factors.
But I do believe he’ll be pursued heavily, and the Padres desperately need more quality pitching if they’re ever going to get through the postseason and win a championship -- especially if Michael King leaves as a free agent this time.
May 17, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Ryan Jeffers (27) celebrates his solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fifth inning at Target Field. / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
5. RYAN JEFFERS: YANKEES
Here’s another chance for the Yankees to make themselves a more well-rounded team, adding one of the better offensive catchers in the game.
Jeffers, who turns 30 next June, has put up above-average OPS+ numbers for the last four seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Injuries limited him to 92 games in 2026, but he had his best offensive season, hitting .256 with a .416 slugging percentage and an .814 OPS.
Scouts consider him to be slightly below-average defensively but not a butcher behind the plate. He hits right-handed, so the Yanks could still give Austin Wells a decent number of at-bats against right-handed pitching.
4. LUIS ARRAEZ: YANKEES
This feels like a move the Yanks really need to make. For a team that strikes out too much and never seems to get enough timely hitting in the postseason, Arraez offers an obvious solution as perhaps the best pure contact hitter in the majors.
And he improved his defense dramatically last season, ranking high in various defensive metrics as a second baseman. That, plus his bat, makes him a better option at the position than Anthony Volpe.
Arraez, who sports a .316 career batting average, also added some slug to his contact bat, with a career-high .419 slugging percentage to go with hitting .310 last season. And he only struck out 28 times in 655 plate appearances, putting him in the 100th percentile among all major leaguers in strikeout and swing-and-miss percentage.
The Yankees seemingly have to try something different in October to win their first championship since 2009. Arraez, who turns 30 in April, is an intriguing option.
Teruaki Sato / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
3. TERUAKI SATO: METS
Sato is a bit of a gamble, with his high strikeout total, but he was the Triple Crown winner in Japan this year, making enough contact to hit .307 with big power, and offers the most potential impact of any position player on the market.
David Stearns scouted him in person, as he did Munetaka Murakami last year. He was scared off, as was just about every MLB team, by Murakami’s strikeouts, but may be more convinced to sign Sato after Murakami put up big power numbers with the Chicago White Sox.
Sato has mostly been a third baseman who would presumably be asked to move to first base, and after all the problems the Mets had playing non-first basemen at the position last year, it's not a perfect fit. But his bat is worth the gamble, with a safety net of sorts in the possibility of Bo Bichette moving to first if necessary.
2. MICHAEL KING AND CLAY HOLMES: METS
We know Stearns is all about value. I believe he’ll convince Steve Cohen there is more value in signing two front-of-the-rotation starters such as King and Holmes than paying for Tarik Skubal alone.
And certainly there is an argument to be made for that. Holmes was outstanding for the Mets last season before a line drive broke his fibula before he was eventually traded at the deadline, while King showed both dominance and durability in pitching a career-high 185 innings with the Padres.
The counter to that is neither is as good as Skubal at his best -- yet they’re good enough to win a championship with the right pieces around them. And neither is likely to command the type of long-term deal it will take to sign Skubal.
If you say the best plan is for the Mets to sign Skubal plus either King or Holmes, well, yes, absolutely. But realistically that may be too much even for Cohen, especially if the Mets intend to add to their bullpen and position player group.
Also notable is that because King was given a qualifying offer last winter before re-signing with the Padres, and Holmes was traded this season, neither can be given a qualifying offer, meaning that signing them wouldn’t cost the Mets any draft picks.
Finally, I think Stearns likes the idea of bringing Holmes back after trading him for Jefferson Rojas, an enticing prospect. It’s making the most of an asset, a good look for a president of baseball operations who is all too aware about the need to win over disenchanted Mets fans.
1. TARIK SKUBAL: CUBS
After a quick exit in the postseason, the Cubs have more than $100 million coming off their payroll, a glaring need for an ace, and the added incentive of knowing their neighbors to the north, the rival Brewers, just won the World Series.
All of which I believe will add up to them outbidding the Mets, the Dodgers, and anybody else who pursues Skubal, even if it means going to eight years at $45 million or so per season.
Cohen, of course, will only be outbid if he chooses to draw a line on what he’ll pay, but I believe Stearns will convince him to do just that.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks “3 Standouts From The Game.” In this recurring series, The Hockey News’ Canucks team will do a deep dive into three standouts from Vancouver’s last game. This article will focus on the Canucks’ most recent 3–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
Forward Elias Pettersson
Coming off a strong game on Tuesday night that saw him log two assists, Elias Pettersson had himself yet another solid effort against the Sharks. He finished the game with an assist, three shots, and one block. The forward also registered his team’s lead in scoring chances-for with 18 on the night, also allowing only four against (tied for the third lowest on Vancouver).
Pettersson’s most noticeable play on Thursday was undoubtedly his assist on Drew O’Connor’s game-opening goal. The forward made a strong effort to keep the puck within the blueline by tipping the puck between his own skates while facing pressure from two Sharks and then lobbing it at the Sharks’ net. O’Connor was able to pounce on the rebound by driving hard to the net.
Liam Öhgren
After finding the back of the net against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, Liam Öhgren scored once again on Thursday against the Sharks. This was the first time in his NHL career that the forward has scored in back-to-back games, with Öhgren now vaulting up to a tie for second on his team in scoring after three games without a goal.
Öhgren also managed to get some first-unit power-play time, though this took place due to Brock Boeser missing some playing time after blocking a shot. He played a total of 13:21 minutes and logged three shots on goal.
Tom Willander
While he didn’t end up on the scoresheet, Tom Willander put together a strong effort against the Sharks. In his 19:55 minutes on the ice, the defenceman registered three shots on goal, two blocks, and one hit. He also ended up skating a shift that saw him on the ice for over three minutes during the second period.
Willander also managed to put up a fair number of scoring chances of his own, helping advance play into the O-zone by carrying it in or even testing out shots from the blueline. His five high-danger scoring chances-for were tied for the second-most on the Canucks.
Oct 29, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Michael Misa (77) and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) fight for the puck during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Dear Camden Chatters, today is my last day as a writer for this blog. I’ve been writing here since the 2019 season, though I was a fan way before that. I definitely won’t stop being a fan of this site, but I’m hanging up my cleats as a writer today.
I want to say thanks. Back in 2014, when Adam Jones circled Oriole Park carrying the AL East Champions flag after the team clinched, then pied a bunch of people in the face, I felt a real urge to share the joy somewhere. Same, too, with the Delmon Young double—could you believe how noisy the stadium was? Same, a few years later, when John Means pitched a no-hitter. And when the O’s won the division title in 2023 and Gunnar Henderson was named Rookie of the Year. And many others. Those moments are special because you have people to share them with, like this community.
I loved being a part of it as a writer. Now, I won’t deny that I wasn’t always a good writer. There have been some very bad takes on my part in seven years. I thought utility superman Stevie Wilkerson should get regular playing time. I believed in the Shintaro Fujinami reclamation project. I got on the Spenser Watkins bandwagon, if such a thing even existed.
There were times it was hard to write, because the on-field product sucked. I did a whole piece on whether the 2021 Orioles, who finished 52-110, were the worst O’s team in history. (They have a strong claim. Maikel Franco played a bunch, we tried to fix Matt Harvey, and Pat Valaika was an infield fixture. Blech.)
The team never did win a single playoff game while I was a writer here. I’ve been frustrated by some of the recent changes I’ve seen. I hope the term “liftoff” is soon forgotten, because if it’s remembered, I think it will be ironically, meaning the Orioles will continue to be bad. I wish Heston Kjerstad had panned out. I wish the team hadn’t traded Trey Mancini, or Ramón Urías, and especially not Adley Rutschman this year, I don’t care what the return was. Brandon Hyde getting fired in May 2025 felt like a real admission of internal chaos, and so many internal changes this offseason suggest this remains true.
But even so, it’s always made me happy to write about baseball. In my day job, I teach law and write long articles with 400 footnotes. Do people enjoy reading them? I hope someone does, but writing about baseball is another thing altogether.
I love telling a good story, and baseball is full of them. In seven seasons, I got to recap some great moments. There was a 6-3 win on Camden Yards’ 30th anniversary, a day that saw Brooks Robinson, Mike Mussina and Eddie Murray all come back to town. More recently, I wrote about Colton Cowser’s ridiculous home-run robbing catch, maybe the best thing I’ve seen him do in his whole career. I got to pay homage to backup catcher James McCann getting hit in the nose with a fastball, then staying in the game. I recapped Kyle Bradish’s first start back from Tommy John surgery and his MLB debut years before. Speaking of debuts, Gunnar Henderson homered in his, and Adley Rutschman’s was a 6-1 loss to the Rays where he hit a triple. I can still remember getting chills from the way he introduced himself.
I’d always get a zing of happiness when people admitted to enjoying my writing here. One time, O’s announcer Kevin Brown actually DM’d the site because he’d appreciated a piece I did comparing Renato Núñez, Anthony Santander, and Pedro Severino’s offensive adjustments. That was cool. Recapping a team win was always great, because all the comments were so happy.
The last couple seasons have been frustrating, sniffing the playoffs without quite getting there. But there are lots of reasons for hope, too. I’m excited to see Samuel Basallo grow into himself, and to watch Pete Alonso continue to hit tanks. (I didn’t expect to like the Polar Bear so much, but I was wrong. What a leader he’s been.) I like Dylan Beavers, and hope he has a good offensive year in 2027. Same with Coby Mayo, who really found something down the stretch. I think a healthy Jackson Holliday will be dangerous. There are some interesting arms on the farm right now, which definitely wasn’t true in 2019. Luis de León, Joseph Dzierwa, Anthony Eyanson and Boston Bateman are a few I’m really excited about.
We’ll see what’s in store for this team. It’s a time of transition, but that’s exciting. We don’t need more of 2025 and 2026, frankly, and I think the front office has got the message.
For me, this is it for blogging, for now, but I’ll never stop being a fan, of the Orioles or this blog, and will continue to lurk around this place. Thanks to this community of baseball fans with a shared love for Baltimore. It’s a great online space, and it’s been so much fun. I’m grateful. Here’s to many more wins next season.
Shortly after spinning a handful of trade deadline deals this past summer, bringing in a bevy of intriguing prospects while bolstering the Mets' farm system, head of baseball operations David Stearns was not shy about the possibility that some of those recently-acquired prospects could be quickly turned around as part of other deals that help New York.
That doesn't mean the Mets are in a rush to trade any of them, but the infusion of talent into their system likely makes it easier to swing an impact trade or two.
And given New York's plethora of infield options who are close to the majors (including Jefferson Rojas, Mitch Voit, and Émilien Pitre), it's not outlandish to think Stearns could deal from that relative glut in an effort to improve the team elsewhere -- perhaps in the starting rotation.
With offseason moving and shaking beginning soon, there's every reason to believe there will be a free agent and trade frenzy over the next month with the lockout looming on Dec. 1 when the CBA expires. So the Mets, and every other team, could be in a race to that theoretical deadline.
Here are the five players the Mets should have highest on their list of trade targets, ranked:
5. Hunter Brown, RHP
Brown is at No. 5 instead of the very top of this list simply because the Astros don't have to be in a rush to trade him. Set to enter his age-28 season in 2027, Brown is under team control via arbitration for two more years. And he's still very inexpensive, expected to make roughly $8 million next season.
But while the Astros can take their time if they so choose, there are a few reasons why dealing Brown this offseason could make sense.
For one, Houston is in a period of transition, currently searching for replacements for outgoing GM Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada. Meanwhile, despite winning the putrid AL West in 2026 with a record of 81-81, the arrow is pointing down for the Astros. Jeremy Peña will be a free agent after 2027, Yordan Alvarez will be a free agent after 2028, the high-priced Carlos Correa can't stay healthy, and Jose Altuve (who will turn 37 years old next May) seems to be running out of gas.
There's also the fact that (with the exception of Altuve) Houston has typically been unable or unwilling to extend its stars, as was the case relatively recently with Gerrit Cole and George Springer, who both walked as free agents.
Adding all of that up, it could be smart for Houston to start retooling for the future.
And if the Astros decide to dangle Brown, who has emerged as a legitimate frontline starter over the last three seasons, the Mets should race to the phone.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (41) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field / Isaiah J. Downing - Imagn Images
4. Joe Ryan, RHP
Ryan was a buzzy name attached to the Mets last offseason, and could be again this time around.
With Ryan almost certainly set to depart Minnesota via free agency after 2027 (there is a mutual option for 2028 worth $13 million that he would likely only accept if his season is derailed by injury or poor performance), it would behoove the Twins to trade him this offseason.
One thing to note, though, is that the Twins actually became buyers at the 2026 deadline even though they were under .500 (56-57) and 4.0 games back in the mediocre AL Central on Aug. 3. So it's possible they simply roll the dice again in a still-underwhelming division and try to win.
If they don't, Ryan -- who has a 3.79 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 rate across six big league seasons -- could be one of the most intriguing names on the trade market.
For the Mets, he would be a strong fit in the middle of a rotation that is expected to include Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, and could feature a legitimate ace at the top -- with a Skubal signing a possibility.
3. George Kirby, RHP
When you look at the Mariners' starting rotation depth chart, which features Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Kade Anderson, Bryce Miller, and Emerson Hancock, it makes sense why people are looking at Seattle as a potentially big player on the trade market this winter.
As far as Kirby, he has backslid a bit since putting up very strong seasons from 2022 to 2024 in what were his first three years in the league. In 2026, while posting a career-worst 4.33 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, the value of Kirby's stuff also regressed in a big way. But it wasn't due to a loss in velocity, as Kirby's four-seam fastball averaged a career-high 96.7 mph. It also seemingly wasn't an issue with his extension off the mound (something that hampered Freddy Peralta during his time with the Mets).
Kirby's elite command (his walk rates in 2023 and 2024 were 0.9 and 1.1, respectively) has also become simply very good.
But the tools are still there for Kirby, who will earn roughly $10 million in 2027 via arbitration and is under team control through 2028.
An undeniable plus is that Kirby is a New York native who grew up in Rye, so he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the market.
Oct 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) reacts in the sixth inning in game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
2. Drew Rasmussen, RHP
The Rays hold a $20 million option on Rasmussen for the 2027 season, but Tampa has typically traded their higher-priced players ahead of free agency -- as they did recently with Tyler Glasnow and Brandon Lowe. So they could theoretically pick up Rasmussen's option and then deal him.
Perhaps their run to the World Series changes the calculus with Rasmussen. If it doesn't, he would be one of the most sought-after pitchers available.
There will always be some lingering concern about Rasmussen's health given that he has had multiple serious elbow surgeries, including an internal brace procedure that kept him out for most of 2023 and 2024.
But when Rasmussen is healthy, he's one of the best pitchers in the sport. And he's been healthy the last two seasons, throwing a combined 322 regular season innings for the Rays while posting a 2.71 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while striking out 301 batters and allowing just 241 hits.
Rasmussen, who will be entering his age-31 season in 2027, would give the Mets a true ace to slide in atop their rotation.
1. Logan Gilbert, RHP
Yes, every top target is a starting pitcher.
With Gilbert set for free agency after the 2027 season, it's possible the Mariners are more motivated to move him than Kirby.
Gilbert, 29, has been an inning-eating machine for Seattle, tossing 185.2 or more innings four of the last five seasons.
In 2026, he posted a 3.73 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while striking out 205 batters and allowing only 153 hits across 186 innings spanning 32 starts. His advanced metrics were also mostly in the red, including xERA, xBA, chase percentage, and extension.
Like Kirby, Gilbert's arsenal is expansive, though he is especially reliant on his four-seam fastball and slider.
Gilbert might not have quite the upside of Rasmussen, but could be a safer bet due to his mostly clean injury history.
On Friday, Oct. 30 the team will celebrate its championship – Commissioner's Trophy in tow – with a parade beginning at 10 a.m. local time (11 ET). The parade route will start on Wisconsin Avenue and weave its way through downtown Milwaukee before concluding on the lakefront at Henry Maier Festival Park for a rally that in all likelihood with be rollicking.
There will be a variety of ways to watch the championship parade, either on MLB Network, or streaming on YouTube, MLB+, MLB.TV, Brewers.TV or Brewers.com.
The Milwaukee Brewers World Series championship parade begins at 10 a.m. CT (11 ET) on Friday, Oct. 30 in downtown Milwaukee.
How to watch the Brewers parade
Fans who can't attend the Brewers championship parade in Milwaukee can stream the celebration for free on Brewers.com. The parade also will be available on MLB Network, Brewers.TV, MLB.TV and MLB+.
In just his second season, Jacob Misiorowski compiled a season for the ages that includes a World Series and a likely Cy Young Award.
So how's the 24-year-old handling the Brewers parade?
"This is amazing. This is awesome. It's so much fun," Misiorowski said. "It's awesome to have this city behind us, and celebrate with us. It means a lot to these fans, so it's amazing.
"This is the pinnacle. This is what you play for, so it's a lot of fun."
When asked if he's slept at all, Miz laughed.
"No not at all. Yeah, we're running on probably two, three hours."
Smiling through it all, can't believe this is his life 🤩
Contreras won the World Series MVP for hitting .381 with four RBIs against the Rays, along with throwing out four would-be base stealers.
Brewers jumping off bus celebrating in front of Bob Uecker mural
11:45 AM ET, October 30 2026
The Brewers' buses are stopping and and players taking selfies with Bob Uecker's mural in the background. Players are jumping off the buses, including Jake Bauers while holding the Commissioner's Trophy, and slapping hands with tear-filled fans.
The Uecker mural was unveiled in June and created by local artist Mauricio Ramirez.
It's been a whirlwind few days for the Brewers, who clinched their first World Series championship Wednesday, took the Commissioner's Trophy to Lambeau Field for the Packers' Thursday Night Football game against the Panthers, and are now celebrating their title with their fans in Milwaukee on Friday.
And outfielder Sal Frelick's voice is is a little worse for the wear, but he's not slowing down.
"I'm on top of the world," said Frelick, as he held the Commissioner's Trophy while hyping up the fans from one of the buses. "It doesn't get any better. Look at these people, man. This is just, it's so special."
Wednesday: Brewers win World Series Thursday: Lambeau Leap Friday: Parade of Champions
The sausage costumes do appear at the grounds for other music festivals, but this appearance for the World Series rally met extra enthusiasm from the crowd.
"Always excellent," Talbot, a Milwaukee native, said upon the sausages’ debut.
Talbot secured some tickets to the amphitheater stage for the rally on the Brewers’ official page.
"I got them on the primary market, or whatever they have to call that now," he chided, grimacing at the resale prices some other fans were left with. — Caden Perry, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Bob Uecker tribute after Brewers World Series win
11:23 AM ET, October 30 2026
After the Brewers finished off their first World Series, Fox shared a tribute they put together soundtracking Bob Uecker's iconic voice and calls with 2026 Brewers action.
The Milwaukee Brewers not only won the World Series for the first time, but they're among the greatest stories and baseball teams in recent memory.
Brewer Nation can relive the glory of this season for the ages through commemorative books, page prints and special editions from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, whose sportswriters and photographers have covered the team every day from spring training in Arizona to the final out of the World Series in Florida.
Do you need tickets for Brewers championship rally?
10:00 AM ET, October 30 2026
Tickets are not required to enter the general grounds at Henry Maier Festival Park. Admission is free and first come, first served until the grounds reach capacity.
Fans who want a seat for the championship rally speeches inside the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, though, must have a separate ticket. Fans without amphitheater tickets can still watch the speeches on video boards throughout the festival grounds.
Where is the Brewers championship rally?
09:30 AM ET, October 30 2026
The Brewers championship rally will be held at Henry Maier Festival Park, the Summerfest grounds, following the parade. Gates open at 8 a.m. CT (9 ET) on Friday, two hours before the parade begins, and festivities are scheduled to continue until 3 p.m.
The celebration will include Brewers alumni, live music, food and beverages, championship merchandise and large video screens showing the parade and rally.
What is Brewers World Series parade route?
09:00 AM ET, October 30 2026
The Brewers championship parade starts at N. 4th Street and W. Wisconsin Avenue before traveling east on Wisconsin Avenue. The route then turns north on Jefferson Street, east on Mason Street, south on Jackson Street and east on Chicago Street before finishing at Henry Maier Festival Park.
The route also passes the Bob Uecker mural, where a special telecast location is planned.
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Two chill surfers unknowingly struck gold when they met Knicks star Jalen Brunson through a mutual friend while on the Jersey Shore in the summer of 2022.
These two chill surfers picked the right time to ride the Jalen Brunson wave.
Twin brothers Alex and Mike Faherty, who grew up in Spring Lake on the Jersey Shore, founded Faherty Brand in 2013 and have turned it into a $300 million success.
Things took a turn when they met Brunson through a mutual friend while at the Jersey Shore in the summer of 2022.
Mike Faherty, Jalen Brunson and Alex Faherty wearing the Brunson x The Magic in the Work collection. Faherty Brand
The pair and Brunson — who spent a portion of his childhood in South Jersey and has a home in Margate — hit it off and the company, which is inspired by the brothers’ coastal upbringing, signed the point guard as a brand ambassador not long after he inked his first deal with the Knicks in July 2022.
That came after Brunson spent his first four NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks primarily as Luka Doncic’s backup. Since coming to New York, Brunson has become one of the biggest stars in the league.
“I’m a huge lifetime Knick fan and when the Knicks signed Jalen, we knew that he was going to be such a difference maker to the team,” Alex, who is the CEO of Faherty Brand, said in an interview with The Post.
“[Before working with Brunson] we’d been thinking about and talking about… that it would be great to sort get our inroads into sport because my brother and I are lifetime athletes and Villanova fans.”
Brunson won two NCAA national championships with Villanova in 2016 and ’18 before heading to the NBA.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
Alex played football at Yale and went on to work in private equity. Mike, a former Division III basketball player at Washington University, was a fashion designer for Ralph Lauren.
Their respective knowledge in finance and fashion was a solid foundation for the brand.
Alex explained that he and Mike, who is the brand and chief creative officer, bonded with Brunson over sports and their love of New York.
“[Brunson] knew the [Faherty] brand and liked the gear,” Alex said, adding that their families have also gotten along well. “For both of us, we wanted to get to know each other first.. where it’s not just this transactional thing, it’s also friendship. I think it was a great fit.
Larry Johnson, Alex Faherty and Jalen Brunson on the set of a commercial for Faherty Brand. Faherty Brand
“… We’ve had some fun content shoots and Jalen and Mike have had a 3-point contest and obviously Jalen wins every time.”
Things quickly progressed into a successful business relationship across three NBA seasons.
During that time Brunson has become the king of New York after he helped the Knicks capture the NBA title for the first time in 53 years.
Brunson unanimously won the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after the Knicks won four of five against the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Faherty Brand made Knicks playoff gear throughout the team’s historic run — and decided before the NBA Finals to pull the trigger on championship gear, which quickly sold out.
Entering their fourth year as partners, Alex explained that Brunson is involved in the details of his Faherty tunnel fits, among other pieces he gives approval for.
“[People don’t realize] how funny Jalen is,” Alex said. “He’s a fun guy to be around. We did a commercial with him where he was the employee of the month at a Faherty store and [Knicks alum] Larry Johnson was a part of it too. It came out great, we cut it right before playoffs.
“… He’s definitely become more fashionable and he’s giving his input on things he wants to wear in the tunnel. We’re one of the brands that he talks to for that. And we want to be making sure we design the right beanie for him every year, because that’s his go-to look.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks talks to the media after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NBAE via Getty Images
“We do graphic tees and hoodies with his saying on it, and he approves all of it. He’s very hands on with making sure he likes it.”
Faherty Brand is a $300 million business with more than 95 stores throughout the country, including 14 brick-and-mortars in the New York-metro area, and one in France, as well as a robust online business.
“The Jalen collection that we do, the ‘Magic is in the Work’ collection, has been a huge hit,” Alex said. “… It was a way for us to take, you know, some of our more fashionable styles and incorporate vintage NBA into it. Obviously there’s so much team gear out there and a lot of it looks the same. So we really wanted to take our premium higher-end fabrics and styles and bring it into the NBA.”
Alex emphasized that the company had longevity because his family helped get it off the ground.
In the early stages of the business, Alex’s wife, Kerry, oversaw impact initiatives, and the twins’ mother, Ninie, designed the interiors of the brand’s stores.
“My mom’s retired now, and my wife is an advisor,” Alex said, adding that Mike designs their stores. “Mike and I kind of run it day to day.”
The business has outgrown the brothers in a good way, and they now have employees across the country.
Faherty now has a full NBA license, due partly to the success of a strong relationship with Brunson.
The brand will be launching products featuring 16 other NBA teams this year after starting with just a local license with the Knicks four years ago.
Faherty recently obtained a Rangers license.
They also just launched a partnership with the Giants for an exclusive collection at MetLife Stadium on game days, and it’s available in tri-state Faherty stores.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 9: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets celebrates after hitting a three-run RBI double in the fourth inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 9, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On this date in 2015, David Wright blasted the first World Series home run in Citi Field history to help propel the Mets to a 9-3 victory over the Royals in Game 3.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every time the Knicks take the floor in the 2026-27 season, they will do so as the hunted. They won just about every prize you could win last season, meaning they’ll never get a game without a bit of edge from an opponent.
Things won’t truly get real until the postseason for the real title defense, but the Knicks did hang a second banner to hang forever at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
That’s right. It’s time for the NBA Cup.
Last year, as an appetizer for June’s dramatics, the Knicks went 3-1 in group play, ultimately winning East Group C via head-to-head tiebreaker. They then took down the Raptors in Toronto, the Magic in Vegas, and came back from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take home the NBA Cup after consecutive years of losing in the quarterfinals.
This year, they’ll face by far their hardest path to getting out of group play for the fourth consecutive year. Adam Silver has stacked the deck with a ridiculously competitive Group B that will be a war to get through. Even the wild card, which the Knicks have used to advance in the past, will be tough with likely few opportunities to run up the point differential.
Still, the Knicks are champs until they aren’t, even in a midseason tournament. Let’s meet the contenders:
East Group B
Philadelphia 76ers (10/30, 7:30, Prime Video)
Tonight’s Cup opener in the City of Brotherly Love will be the Knicks’ second crack at the makeshift superteam that bested them on Opening Night in a back-and-forth affair.
The Sixers are one of those teams that I question how seriously they’re going to take the NBA Cup. Sure, there are some big measuring-stick games in this group, but with a lineup that they will be heavily load-managing throughout the season, one wonders if they’re going to take a condensed calendar that will require additional travel and even an extra game at the end of it. We saw how it burned out the Knicks last year.
To start the year, Philly is 4-1 with a very strange combination of a mediocre offense and… the best defense in basketball? What sense does that make? They’ve been healthy, only missing Joel Embiid and LeBron James for a single game on the dueling ends of a back-to-back. Despite playing Embiid for 39 minutes on Wednesday, he’s not on the injury report for Friday night.
While the Knicks might not care about the Cup anymore, it would behoove them to get revenge on Opening Night and not have to wait until February for another crack at these guys. We saw it with Detroit last year; the last thing we need is a year-long narrative of one team having our number.
Indiana Pacers (11/13, 7:00, Prime Video)
When the Knicks played the Pacers last season, it didn’t feel like the vibe of a rekindled rivalry between two teams that had played in consecutive postseasons. That was because Indiana was taking a voluntary gap year while Tyrese Haliburton rehabbed from an Achilles tear, managing injuries all season long and slipping to 19-63. Thankfully, it wasn’t rewarded in the lottery when they slipped to No. 5 and gave the pick to the Clippers.
That trade with the Clips did get them a certified big man that will swallow up boards in Ivica Zubac, someone who will be a tough cookie for Karl-Anthony Towns when these two teams finally face off in a heated atmosphere for the first time in almost two years.
The only problem? It doesn’t sound like Haliburton will be at the party.
He recently suffered a hamstring injury that will leave him out for at least two weeks. This game was just 16 days after that diagnosis, meaning the odds are slim that he’ll return based on what we know right now. That’ll diminish what we see, but we’re all aware of what Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell can do for this team.
Indiana’s started the year off to an uneven 2-3 start, but Nembhard and Pascal Siakam are more than capable of shouldering the load in the coming weeks. I doubt they’ll be as special offensively as we’ve been accustomed to seeing without Haliburton, but they won’t be a pushover.
Going undefeated in this group will be hard, so this might be the Knicks’ best chance to pad their point differential. But to do that, the Knicks will need a full 48 minutes.
Cleveland Cavaliers (11/25, 7:30, MSG)
There are plenty of playoff rematches in this group. One of them is this Eastern Conference rematch the day before Thanksgiving at MSG, the site of the soul-crushing Game 1 comeback that killed the Cavs.
They’re off to an interesting 3-2 start, one that involves getting out to big leads every game, only to choke them immediately. They blew a 29-point lead to Philly, nearly blew a 20-point lead to Brooklyn, and had to rally late to beat Washington. The vibes are low there, if not just because nobody trusts Kenny Atkinson and James Harden has been abhorrent to start the year.
It’s hard to get a read on this game because the regular-season Knicks and the playoff Knicks are entirely different. It’s a team you expect to win, but we’re far enough out that we need to see what the situations look like.
Miami Heat (11/27, 7:00, Prime Video)
The Knicks’ 0-3 start got heavily publicized, but the Heat’s 0-4 start somehow made bigger waves after the massive offseason trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The fit just looks clunky. He’s too similar to Bam Adebayo both offensively and defensively, which pushes Miami’s longest-tenured player to the periphery. That just can’t happen when your other scoring options are Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins. The defense will round into form (maybe?), but this is just a bleak offensive outlook.
That said, they could match up well against the Knicks, given their lack of size.
OG Anunoby and Towns are good, but they can’t play all game. Towns especially is extremely prone to getting in foul trouble, which is a disaster against Giannis. James Wiseman and/or Andre Drummond will be crucial to negating their paint advantage enough for the Knicks’ clear shooting advantage.
If this game is meaningful after good enough results in the first three games, it’s not a place I think the Knicks can get point differential out of. They’d need to just need a win. Beating Erik Spoelstra’s crew in Miami has always been hard for this crew.
The Rest of the East
Group A
Pistons Raptors Magic Bucks Nets
This could be a friskily fun group.
The Pistons are 4-1 with just that lone loss to the Knicks and feel like the favorite here. As we saw on Tuesday, things can get spooky outside of Cade Cunningham, and they’re without Jalen Duren for at least the first game, but Paul Reed has been more than capable in his absence.
The Raptors are also 4-1, but have a much bleaker outlook without Kawhi Leonard for the next few weeks. Their viability in this group will rely on Scottie Barnes’ offensive consistency. He’s gone from dropping 25 to dropping… zero at times. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley look good!
Orlando is 1-3 with their lone win over the Knicks, but they’re going to be without Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero for the foreseeable future. This will likely not be their year after a trip to the semifinals last year.
The same can be said for the Bucks, who are just very underwhelming with Kyle Kuzma-led hoops. The Nets will put up a big fight with Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. capable of going off for 30 a night, but they’re not good enough defensively nor deep enough to have a real shot.
Group C
Celtics Hawks Hornets Bulls Wizards
The Celtics will be the definitive favorite to come out of the group, especially with Jayson Tatum looking like an early MVP candidate. Their three-point shooting is enough to carry them through a regular season, but can they figure out what’s up with Mitchell Robinson? He looks like a shell of himself.
Atlanta ran back most of the group that pushed the Knicks to six games last year, but added a bunch of defense in Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins. They’re healthy, play with enough grit, and have the talent to sneak their way into the knockout round.
The Hornets are… better off without LaMelo? Despite injuries knocking out Kon Knueppel and Coby White, they’ve looked impressive to start the year under a new nucleus of Naz Reid and Brandon Miller. With Knueppel due back for the bulk of NBA Cup play, could their dynamic offense get them back in the saddle?
As we saw in a scare on Wednesday night, the Bulls have the ability to be frisky. Caleb Wilson has shown signs of brilliance, Norm Powell can score 35 on any given night, and they’ve gotten some damn good shot quality even if they aren’t always falling. They probably won’t do much, but in a four-game sample, anything is possible.
The Wizards have their Big 3 healthy: AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis, but they haven’t played enough to tell if they’re a true threat. I lean no, as of now.
A Quick West Check
West Group A
Nuggets Rockets Suns Mavericks Jazz
There are a lot of good teams in this group, but the Rockets look by far the best to start the year. If they stay healthy, they should have no problem. Dallas can steal some games with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, but the outlook for the Suns and Jazz is bleaker. Utah’s injury bug is killing them, as Jaren Jackson Jr. will miss all of group play.
West Group B
Thunder Timberwolves Clippers Pelicans Grizzlies
Are… are the Grizzlies the favorite? They’re 5-0 entering group play, while the two contenders in this group will be without key pieces. Anthony Edwards is likely done until the New Year, as is Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams for OKC. The Clippers and Pelicans are two of the worst teams in basketball, so the unlikely underdog in Memphis might actually do this.
West Group C
Spurs Lakers Blazers Warriors Kings
There’s a clear hierarchy here. The Spurs are the favorites; the Lakers are a Luka Doncic explosion away from winning this whole damn thing; the Blazers are extremely frisky and could make noise, and both the Warriors and Kings are dead in the water. O/U 100 FGA for Darius Acuff Jr. in group play.
Predictions
East Group A: Give me the Pistons to win the group and the Raptors to come in second, but miss the wild card.
East Group B: The Knicks will not defend their cup title. There’s so much intensity with every game, not just in this group but league-wide, as the hunted. This feels like something that the regular-season merchants will succeed with, so congrats to the Cavs. This group will be cannibalized, so no wild card here
East Group C: Boston is the easy pick to win the group, but I see the Hornets somehow finding a way to steal the wild card. They’ll win a game against the Bulls by 40 and pad the point differential with that offense, especially with Knueppel back.
West Group A: The Rockets are a unit right now.
West Group B: I don’t know what way this is going to go with how diminished OKC is. Screw it, lt’s go with the Grizzlies.
West Group C: Spurs win the group, Blazers take the wild card via tiebreaker over the Lakers after a thrilling overtime win.
Quarterfinals: In the East, the No. 1 seed Pistons grind down the plucky Hornets at home, while the Cavs stun the Celtics in Boston due to three-point variance. In the West, the top-seeded Rockets blow out the Blazers in Houston, while the Spurs host and beat the Thunder.
Semifinals: The Pistons and Cavs fight hard in a big playoff rematch, but it goes the same way with the Cavs going to the finals. Meanwhile, the Rockets take down the Spurs at home.
Finals: At Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Cavs will be able to operate with an essential home game. Unfortunately, as usual, the lights will be too bright. The Rockets win the 2026 NBA Cup, with Fred VanVleet scoring NBA Cup MVP.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 21: A general view of empty stands is seen ahead of the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Series is over. There will be no baseball played today. There will be no baseball played tomorrow. And sadly, we have no idea when Major League Baseball will be restart again, if at all, in 2027.
Usually, this is where we turn to the famous Rogers Hornsby quote:
“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”
But that depressing reality doesn’t quite capture the mood this year. There’s no guarantee spring will bring us relief from the hellscape the owners are about to unleash. So instead, I’m just angry. Angry at the owners, angry that the sport I love is about to do unspeakable levels of damage to itself, and angry that we have no idea what things are going to look like on the backside of this completely unnecessary carnage.
Back in 1994, baseball lost eight months of action from the time the strike ensued in August all the way through Opening Day in 1995, which was delayed until late April. With Covid, we technically went nine months without baseball as the season didn’t start until July, but the offseason leading up to it was relatively normal, and we even had spring training games start on time.
Over the last 150 years, nothing has disrupted an MLB season like this looming lockout could. Not World Wars, not the Great Depression, and not even the infancy of the sport back in the late 1800s. Since the Western Frontier closed, we’ve never gone more than nine months without a professional baseball game. Today marks the beginning of a stretch that could end that fact. We’re sailing straight into a sea of uncertainty.
What we do know is that the Milwaukee Brewers — The smallest market in the sport — just won the World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays, who ooze overachievement an on annual basis. And yet, the owners are preparing to shut down everything down over the guise of competitive balance. They could not be more full of shit!
At least now, after the way this October unfolded, we can get a little bit more serious: The real reason the owners want a cap is because they need a line on a graph to go up. Nothing more, nothing less. Valuations of franchises tend to be much higher when you get to put a limit on how much you pay the guys who make your product magical, and since baseball has and always will reflect the American reality, we now get to sit back and watch as a small group of billionaires prepare to make life worse for everybody else.
And along those lines, there’s something else that has me very concerned. We as a society don’t compromise on much of anything anymore. Two sides dig in, never abandon hardline positions, and nothing gets done while everything crumbles around us. Is there any reason to believe this impending lockout will be any different? The owners have made it pretty clear they’re not going to budge unless they get a cap. The players meanwhile have always seen a cap as a nonstarter. Even if we didn’t live in the most unproductive debate environment in American history, it’s hard to see how this ends without one side emerging completely victorious.
There’s either going to be a cap, or there’s not. Baseball will either be changed forever when we resume, or we’ll be rebuilding the current structure and way of things when it’s time to pick up the pieces. I don’t see much of an in-between, but then again I don’t see much of anything right now as we stare into an apocopic abyss.
All I know for sure is that I’m angry right now, and it’s hard for me to direct that anger at any place other than the owners. The wonderful story of what the Milwaukee Brewers just did juxtaposed with what these jackals are about to do is deeply poignant at this hour, and with no more baseball games to distract us from the impending tsunami, I’m dreading just how ugly this is about to get.
