The Suns’ projected numbers reveal a few interesting surprises
As the offseason prepares to come to a close, with training camp starting in a little over a week, we can’t help but continue trying to project what the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns will ultimately become. There are numerous questions about how the offense will function, what a summer of development has done for the young guys, what adjustments the coaching staff has focused on, and whether they can successfully implement new strategies this season.
Project. That’s about all we can really do at this point. And as I was exploring Basketball-Reference, the holy grail for looking at players throughout NBA history, their statistical output, and the marks they’ve left on the game, I stumbled across something. Basketball-Reference has already put together projections for nearly every player in the NBA this upcoming season.
The only players who don’t have projections are rookies, so in the case of the Phoenix Suns, that means Koa Peat. But if you visit the page of nearly any other member of the roster, you’ll find their statistical projections for the upcoming season.
Have no fear. I went through and collected them all for you so we can take a look at what Basketball-Reference expects of the Suns this season. I do the tedious work so you don’t have to!
There is one important thing to keep in mind before we dive in. All of their projections are on a per-36-minute basis. So take them with a grain of salt.
| Player | FG | FGA | 3P | 3PA | FT | FTA | ORB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collin Gillespie | 5.6 | 13.2 | 3.5 | 8.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 16.0 | 0.425 | 0.404 | 0.783 |
| Devin Booker | 8.8 | 19.1 | 2.2 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 0.9 | 4.2 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 26.3 | 0.459 | 0.333 | 0.878 |
| Dillon Brooks | 7.2 | 16.7 | 2.6 | 7.3 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 19.7 | 0.431 | 0.361 | 0.715 |
| Haywood Highsmith | 4 | 8.7 | 1.9 | 4.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 10.9 | 0.463 | 0.394 | 0.812 |
| Jalen Green | 8.5 | 19.6 | 3 | 8.8 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 23.4 | 0.432 | 0.344 | 0.835 |
| Jamaree Bouyea | 6 | 12.9 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 5 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 15 | 0.461 | 0.308 | 0.833 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 5.2 | 12.4 | 2.3 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 3 | 7.7 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 3 | 13.7 | 0.416 | 0.367 | 0.554 |
| Khaman Malauch | 5.5 | 10.4 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 3 | 3.7 | 10.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 14.1 | 0.526 | 0.318 | 0.643 |
| Koby Brea | 6.4 | 14.0 | 3.2 | 8 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 5.6 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2 | 2.8 | 18.2 | 0.459 | 0.407 | 0.855 |
| Luke Kennard | 5.1 | 10.1 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 2 | 14.2 | 0.505 | 0.453 | 0.727 |
| Mark Williams | 7.5 | 12.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 12.3 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 18.7 | 0.624 | 0.362 | 0.798 |
| Miles Bridges | 7.5 | 16.7 | 2.3 | 6.9 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 7.2 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 20.6 | 0.452 | 0.330 | 0.746 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 4.8 | 7.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 8.2 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 4 | 10.8 | 0.63 | 0.345 | 0.513 |
| Pat Spencer | 5.5 | 13.0 | 1.7 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 5.0 | 6.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 14.2 | 0.428 | 0.348 | 0.888 |
| Rasheer Fleming | 5.1 | 11.8 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 14.0 | 0.431 | 0.359 | 0.747 |
| Ryan Dunn | 4.9 | 10.7 | 1.7 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 7.6 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 12.2 | 0.454 | 0.332 | 0.77 |
Okay, I’ve taken it with a grain of salt. Now I want something cleaner, something more tangible, and something that gives us a more realistic idea of how Basketball Reference is projecting these players. Knowing a per-36 statistic is fine, but when you take into account only 3 players who played in 10+ games last season and averaged over 36 minutes per game, it’s somewhat of a dead stat.
So I decided to take this exercise one step further. I used the per-36 projections Basketball Reference has for every member of the Phoenix Suns and normalized their statistical output to the minutes each player averaged last season. Ah, math and Excel. I heart you.
I know this is a flawed way to approach it. Minutes and roles will change, and last season’s playing time isn’t necessarily indicative of what each player will receive this year. Still, it gives us a little more insight into the production Basketball-Reference is projecting based on a workload we’ve actually seen these players handle.
| Player | MPG | FG | FGA | 3P | 3PA | FT | FTA | ORB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collin Gillespie | 28.5 | 4.4 | 10.5 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 12.7 | 0.425 | 0.404 | 0.855 |
| Devin Booker | 33.5 | 8.2 | 17.8 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 6.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 24.5 | 0.459 | 0.333 | 0.878 |
| Dillon Brooks | 30.4 | 6.1 | 14.1 | 2.2 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 16.6 | 0.431 | 0.361 | 0.833 |
| Haywood Highsmith | 13.0 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 0.463 | 0.394 | 0.746 |
| Jalen Green | 25.9 | 6.1 | 14.1 | 2.2 | 6.3 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 16.8 | 0.432 | 0.344 | 0.798 |
| Jamaree Bouyea | 14.0 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 5.8 | 0.461 | 0.308 | 0.715 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 22.5 | 3.3 | 7.8 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 8.6 | 0.416 | 0.367 | 0.727 |
| Khaman Malauch | 8.9 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 0.526 | 0.318 | 0.747 |
| Koby Brea | 7.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 0.459 | 0.407 | 0.812 |
| Luke Kennard | 21.6 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 8.5 | 0.505 | 0.453 | 0.888 |
| Mark Williams | 23.6 | 4.9 | 7.9 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 8.1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 12.3 | 0.624 | 0.362 | 0.783 |
| Miles Bridges | 31.0 | 6.5 | 14.4 | 2 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 6.2 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 17.7 | 0.452 | 0.330 | 0.835 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 22.0 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 0.63 | 0.345 | 0.513 |
| Pat Spencer | 18.6 | 2.8 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 7.3 | 0.428 | 0.348 | 0.77 |
| Rasheer Fleming | 12.2 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 4.7 | 0.431 | 0.359 | 0.643 |
| Ryan Dunn | 19.4 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 6.6 | 0.454 | 0.332 | 0.554 |
I know this isn’t a perfect science. Again, these are projections. They never truly are. There are also individual intricacies that get lost in this process. I don’t believe Khaman Maluach will only play 8.9 minutes per game as he did a season ago, nor do I expect Mark Williams to have much impact when he returns from his labrum injury. Still, the exercise gives us an interesting look at how Basketball Reference views the individual players on this roster.
Based on these projections, the Suns would have six players averaging double figures in scoring each night. Overall, the projections have the Suns shooting 47.5% from the field, 36% from beyond the arc, and 75.6% from the free-throw line. And I can fall in love with those three-point shooting numbers from Gillespie and Kennard.
Perhaps the most interesting projection belongs to Devin Booker. Basketball Reference has him averaging 24.5 points per game, which would be his lowest scoring output since his sophomore season back in 2016-17, while matching his assist production from last year. His three-point percentage mildly increases while his free throw attempts drop from 8.1 last season to 6.9 this season. A question we have to ask ourselves is: What does a stat line of 24.5 and 6.0, with 2.9 turnovers, on 46/33/88 splits mean? To us, to him, and to the team?
Another thing I find interesting is the overall shot diet, and it’s something I’m contemplating monitoring throughout the season. Every week during the season, I write a Suns Weekly, which I’m renaming The Solar Report this season as an homage to my podcast’s original name. Within that, I like to find one statistic to mine and monitor throughout the season. This year, the overall shot diet might be one of them.
What does the balance of this offense actually look like? Based on these projections, the Suns would have five different players averaging more than 10 shot attempts per game. That isn’t necessarily unfamiliar territory. We saw a similar distribution last season. What interests me is where those shots are going. Based on my normalized version of Basketball-Reference’s projections, Miles Bridges would be second on the team with 14.4 field goal attempts per game, while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green would both average 14.1.
Is that the right balance? More importantly, what does balance even look like for this team? That’s something I want to monitor throughout the season. Because with this many players capable of taking double-digit shots on any given night, how those opportunities are distributed could tell us quite a bit about what this offense ultimately becomes.
Again, none of this is gospel. It’s simply another way to look at what this roster could potentially produce. The numbers aren’t telling us what will happen. They’re establishing another baseline for what could happen. Roles will change, minutes will change, injuries and development will blow holes through some of these projections before Thanksgiving. But with training camp around the corner, we’ve officially reached the point where speculation is about to collide with reality. The spreadsheets have had their turn. Now it’s time for basketball to start providing the answers.
Series Preview # 51 : Diamondbacks @ Rockies
The Wild Card Race.
My final prediction in the preseason was that the Diamondbacks would win 85.1 games. With 82 wins, the Diamondbacks could exceed my prediction, which would give me joy. I’d rather be wrong with the Diamondbacks heading to the playoffs.
The Obvious. The Diamondbacks odds of being the third NL Wild Card are small, but non-zero. They need to sweep the final six games (3 games vs Rockies and 3 games vs Padres). And either the Phillies or the Padres need to lose nearly all their games.
The Subtle and Profound. Torey Lovullo’s comments after Sunday’s game were subtle and profound.
“…We know where we are in the standings. There’s not a damn thing we can do about it, other than go out and play our finest game on Tuesday in Colorado.” — Torey Lovullo
The Difference that Matters. Sweeping this series (or not) is the difference that matters.
Rockies Players to Watch.
Former Diamondbacks Jake McCarthy splits his playing time between left field and center field, with a little bit of right field. After a career worst season with the Diamondbacks, with the Rockies his 113 OPS+ is backed up with 15 homers and 80 RBIs. McCarthy’s comments seemed to say his improvement was due to trying to hit line drives to all fields, batting at the top of the lineup, and more consistent at-bats. Two huge difference makers follow:
- His batting performance is better at Coors than Chase. At Coors his OPS was 1.111 in 2025 and .904 inn 2026. At Chase his OPS was .598 in 2025 and .310 in 2026.
- He increased his percentage of fast swings (swings greater than 75 MPH). Per Baseball Savant, the percentage of fast swings increased from 7.8% in 2025 to 15.4% in 2026. That’s nearly double!
“I think it’s getting back to what makes me good. I think last year I sort of got away from doing what I do well. I think that’s being competitive on a daily basis. When I reflect on last year, I think a lot of at-bats ended in a pop-out or just early, weak contact. I’m trying to hit as many line drives around the field as possible. I’m sure the big outfield of Coors (Field) does help.” — Jake McCarthy
Pitching Matchups.
Announced Diamondbacks Pitchers (as of Monday morning):
Michael Soroka. In his latest start, he allowed 1 earned run in 5 innings.
Merrill Kelly. In his latest start, which was against the Marlins, he allowed 3 earned runs in 4.2 innings. However, the Marlins scored an unearned run, and one run was the margin of victory for the Marlins.
Eduardo Rodriguez. In his latest start, which was against the Yankees, he allowed 7 earned runs (5 of which were in the first inning) in 5.1 innings. How well he fares in the first inning will be an early indicator of the Diamondbacks winning chances.
Announced Rockies Starters (as of Monday morning):
Kyle Freeland. In his latest start, be allowed 1 earned run in 5 innings.
Mason Adams. In his latest start, which was against the Padres, he allowed 6 earned runs in 4.1 innings. Six runs was the margin of victory for the Padres.
Not yet announced.
Game start times follow:
Tuesday, 5:40 PM MST.
Wednesday, 5:40 PM MST.
Thursday, 12:10 PM MST.
Mets LHP prospect Jonathan Santucci named Eastern League All-Star
Mets prospect Jonathan Santucci capped his fantastic season by being named an Eastern League All-Star on Monday.
Santucci continued climbing his way through the system this year.
The left-hander started the season pitching with Double-A Binghamton before working his way into Syracuse’s starting rotation down the stretch.
Before his promotion he led the Double-A level in strikeouts (120), was fifth in ERA (3.57), eighth in innings pitched (90.2), and eighth in WHIP (1.24).
He struggled to the tune of a 5.24 ERA after joining Syracuse, but held his opponent to two runs or fewer in three of his last five outings of the season.
Overall, Santucci led all minor league pitchers with 163 strikeouts, marking the second straight year a Mets pitching prospect accomplished the feat (Jonah Tong).
The 23-year-old former second-round pick out of Duke is the second-ranked prospect and top-ranked pitching prospect on SNY’s midseason Top 30 list.
According to SNY’s Joe DeMayo, Santucci looks the part of a mid-rotation starter who should enter the Mets’ rotation mix some time next season.
Giants call up Bo Davidson, activate Marcelo Mayer
There are only six games left in a truly miserable San Francisco Giants season, but there’s finally some good news: those six games just got a lot more interesting. On Monday afternoon, before kicking off their penultimate series of the season, the Giants announced that two thrilling youngsters are headed to the team: infielder Marcelo Mayer and outfielder Bo Davidson.
Both players are also jumping straight into the lineup. Mayer, who was activated off of the 10-Day Injured List, will serve as the designated hitter, while Davidson, who had his contract purchased from AAA Sacramento, will be in right field.
For Mayer, it will be his organizational debut. The 23-year old lefty, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft, joined the Giants at this year’s trade deadline, in exchange for lefty reliever Erik Miller and outfield prospect Carlos Gutierrez. Widely considered a top-20 prospect in all of baseball a year ago, Mayer struggled during two stints in the Majors with the Boston Red Sox, hitting .223/.278/.346 (71 wRC+) in 70 games. But he has all the potential in the world, was a successful hitter at every level of the Minor Leagues, is still extremely young, and is a very talented defensive player.
Mayer was on the Injured List when the Giants acquired him, and shortly after began a rehab assignment. Unfortunately he had a setback fairly quickly, and was shut down. He now returns to the Giants without having made a second rehab appearance, and hasn’t played in a game since August 18. Hopefully we get to see him play some second base before the season ends, as he’ll likely be playing there a lot next season.
As for Davidson, he gets to cap a brilliant year with an MLB debut. The 24-year old lefty slugger has been one of the best stories in the Giants organization in recent history, as he rose from an undrafted free agent out of a junior college, to one of the top prospects in the system (and on top 100 lists), and now to a Major Leaguer.
Davidson, who plays quality defense, has good speed, and displays strong contact skills, but whose real calling card is his power, split the season between AA Richmond and AAA Sacramento, and dominated each level. He was an All-Star in the AA Eastern League, where he posted an .861 OPS and a 122 wRC+, and then took it to a whole new level in the AAA Pacific Coast League, where he finished the year with a .923 OPS and a 138 wRC+. Across the two levels, Davidson hit an organization-leading 29 home runs in 125 games.
While players like Victor Bericoto, Turner Hill, Drew Gilbert, and Jonah Cox have put forth impressive auditions this year, it’s very possible that the Giants traded Heliot Ramos in large part because they were confident that Davidson could be an everyday player next year.
Since Davidson was going to need to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft in the offseason, it made sense for the Giants to roster him and give him a little taste of the Majors before 2027.
For as exciting as the additions of Mayer and Davidson are, they come with a cost: they are replacing first baseman Bryce Eldridge and outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, whose seasons are presumably over. Eldridge is being placed on the 7-Day Concussion List, retroactive to September 18, though Tony Vitello said it’s unlikely that he’ll play again this year. Lee is headed to the 10-Day Injured List with a groin contusion, which officially ends his season.
With Lee’s injury, only Christian Koss and Landen Roupp remain from the Opening Day roster. Pretty wild!
To make space on the 40-man roster for Davidson, the Giants designated reliever Philip Abner for assignment.
Latest NBA news, rumors: Clippers name interim team governor; Jalen Duren, Pistons still at impasse
Things are starting to ramp back up around the NBA. Players are working out with teammates and teams are making a lot of moves, but most of those are Exhibit 10 training camp contracts to stack the franchise's G League roster. Still, there is news of note, and that starts with the LA Clippers.
Clippers name John Gibson interim Governor
Rather than promote from within, the Clippers have gone outside the organization and named Los Angeles-based attorney John S. Gibson interim Chief Executive Officer and Governor. He steps into the roles formerly filled by team owner Steve Ballmer and head of business operations Gillian Zucker, both of whom the NBA suspended for a year for circumventing the salary cap to get Kawhi Leonard more money.
"I am honored to take on this responsibility and grateful for the opportunity to serve an organization I have supported for many years," Gibson said in a statement. "The Clippers have talented players, coaches, and staff, an extraordinary home in Intuit Dome, and passionate Clipper Nation fans who, like me, care deeply about this team. My focus will be on supporting our people, providing steady leadership, and helping the organization continue moving forward."
Gibson is a partner at the law firm DLA Piper in Los Angeles and a long-time Clippers season ticket holder. He also represented the Clippers during the Donald Sterling ownership court battle. Expect more caretaker for a year, a guy who will set some best-practice business guidelines for the future but is not there to shake things up.
The Clippers also officially announced the expected, that General Manager Trent Redden will oversee basketball operations for six months until Lawrence Frank is off of his suspension.
Pistons, Duren still at an impasse
Seven days from the start of training camp and the Pistons and All-NBA center Jalen Duren remain at an impasse. While the sides are talking, they reportedly aren't close to a deal.
ESPN’s Shams Charania said on NBA Today that "it's highly up in the air and questionable as to whether (Duren) will be reporting and showing up to media day in just seven days." He also said the Pistons' latest offer is five years, $200 million.
If that is true, it shows how this is more about Duren not feeling respected by the organization than it is pure money — although Houston giving Amen Thompson five years, $208 million likely raised the bar a little. As Charania notes, a year ago the Pistons came to Duren with a hard $20 million a year average take-it-or-leave-it offer, and that is where the tension started. He turned that down and proved he was worth more than that — how much more (after a rough playoff run) is part of the question. The other part is how he feels the organization has treated him, which plays into this. It's now about more than money, although at the end of the day, can Duren really leave that contract on the table and play for a $9.6 million qualifying offer?
Hawks’ Henri Veesaar tears ACL
This sucks.
Henri Veesaar — coming off a breakout year at North Carolina where he averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game — was a first-round talent who slid all the way to No. 52 last June because his agents steered him to a team where he could get a standard NBA contract. He got that in Atlanta at four years, $9.6 million (the first two years are guaranteed).
Veesaar tore his ACL in a workout on Sept. 15 and will miss the entire upcoming season recovering after surgery next month, Atlanta announced. This is a real blow for the Estonian big man, and also tough on Atlanta's frontcourt depth, with Mouhamed Gueye missing the start of the season due to a fractured foot that required surgery.
Mavericks expected to sign Dwight Powell
Reserve center Dwight Powell has played the last 12 seasons in Dallas, and is now expected to play one more, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Well, probably. Powell is expected to sign a non-guaranteed deal with the team that gives the Mavericks flexibility if Powell were injured or something else occurred. That said, Powell was in Santa Monica with many of the Dallas Mavericks last week in a series of workouts organized by Kyrie Irving.
Powell doesn't have a big impact on the court at age 35 (3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 63 appearances last season), but he may be more valuable to a young team as a mentor who shows players how to be professional and has a strong work ethic.
Pistons executive Michael Blackstone talks cancer
If you read one thing today, it should be Pistons executive vice president of basketball operations Michael Blackstone sitting down with Hunter Patterson of The Athletic to talk about Blackstone's battle against Stage 4 lung cancer. Blackstone was diagnosed in 2023 but is speaking out now to urge people to see their doctor if they are feeling unexplained aches and pains. That's how he found out.
"The reason I'm talking about it now versus the past three years is because time is basically all I have now, right? Time is what matters...
"If I didn't pay attention to the discomfort I was having and ask a very innocent question, I wouldn't be here right now. It was already Stage 4 when we found it; it had already gone too far."
Check out the entire story. And heed his advice.
Who will be the A's next general manager? Three candidates for the job
The Athletics, currently 61-95, are just a week away from completing their fifth consecutive season with a losing record, but their biggest problem currently is addressing the vacancy at general manager.
The A's have been searching for a permanent replacement in the front office for over a month since parting ways with longtime general manager David Forst, who spent 27 seasons with the franchise, on Aug. 7.
The team would like to fulfill the vacancy before the season ends next week.
Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein was put in place in the interim while the search prolongs. It's not going to happen in the blink of an eye, but it is reflective of the state of the team overall - there are major holes that need to be filled.
"David has been an integral part of the A's and our success for nearly three decades," team owner John Fisher said in a statement. "His leadership, dedication, and commitment to this team have helped shape our baseball operations department and position us for the future. We are grateful for everything David has done for our organization."
A's organization in discord?
It's natural to wonder what happened with Forst, 50, after nearly three decades with the team.
There was allegedly internal disagreement. According to USA TODAY Sports baseball columnist Bob Nightengale, Forst was in the final year of his contract and didn't want to relocate to Las Vegas in 2028 when the organization moves from its temporary home in West Sacramento.
The A's are on pace for one of their worst finishes in the last five years with just five losses away from the centennial mark and six games remaining. They sit fourth in the AL West.
The Athletics, who made wholesale firings on their minor-league development staff, also aren’t done yet. While the search for a general manager is on, a search might soon be on for a new coach. Nightengale reported rumblings around the league that skipper Mark Kotsay could be on the way out.
However, he added that Kotsay has a contract through 2028, when the A's are expected to make their move to Las Vegas.
Kotsay could manage the club for a season in Las Vegas and see from there. Overall, his job is considered safe. The current focus is on the vacant general manager position.
A's candidates for general manager
Here's who the A's have contacted about the position:
Mike Rizzo, Washington Nationals former general manager
Mike Rizzo recently had a formal interview with the Athletics for their vacant GM position, according to Nightengale.
Rizzo would be a strong candidate for the A's. He helped build the Washington Nationals into a powerhouse. Rizzo's tenure in Washington, which began in 2006, was highlighted by the 2019 World Series championship.
Rizzo was fired by the Nationals during the 2025 season after a rough start and not having seen success since their covenant 2019 season. Under Rizzo, the Nationals made five playoff appearances and won four division titles, one National League pennant and one World Series title.
But it's not a foregone conclusion that Rizzo would choose the A's. He's also expected to have strong interest from the Houston Astros, who also have a vacancy at general manager. The 'Stros won't begin their interview process until their season concludes.
Billy Owens, Athletics assistant general manager, director of player personnel
The Athletics have also looked internally for their next general manager. The A's interviewed their current assistant general manager and director of player personnel Billy Owens.
Owens has spent 28 years with the organization after starting as a scout and minor league hitting coach in 1999.
His longstanding tenure with the franchise gives him strong consideration. If Owens is promoted, he would become the first Black general manager in the history of the organization.
James Click, Toronto Blue Jays vice president of baseball strategy
Another candidate the A's are looking at is James Click, vice president of baseball strategy with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Click is considered a strong candidate and has held his capacity with the Blue Jays since 2023.
Prior to the Blue Jays, he spent three seasons with the Houston Astros as their general manager. Click came in as the successor to Jeff Luhnow in 2020. Click is credited with success in Houston, having helped put the team together that won the 2022 World Series.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will be the A's next general manager? Three candidates for the job
Atlanta Braves off day chat and discussion: September 21
Welcome to the last off day of the 2026 regular season.
I very much enjoyed putting a little Braves logo emoji status at work today as a nod to yesterday’s division-clinching win. Any similar displays? Let’s hear ‘em.
Tonight’s Action
With the NL East champs resting after sweeping and celebrating, there’s only three other games you can tune into tonight if you’re craving baseball. It is mostly eliminated teams playing each other for some exercise and for a strong regular season finish: Nationals at Tigers and Twins at Giants. But storms are derailing an important matchup for the AL wild card picture: the Orioles and Blue Jays are 5 and 3 games back of the last WC spot, respectively. But they’re set to start shortly at Camden Yards.
ICYMI
Some good reads and fun Feed prompts for your evening, courtesy of the BP staff, including Demetrius with some optimism on how this resilient team could fare in the weeks to come (Braves’ division-clinching resiliency could pay off in Postseason), Ivan’s deep numbers-based dive on a truly bizarre team and season (This is the weirdest Braves team I’ve seen), and the imminent return of Robert Suarez per AA.
Six games left! This year has flown by. The floor is yours for reminiscing, predictions, questions, and anything else on your mind. I leave you with one of the best videos coming out of yesterday’s clubhouse shenanigans (outside of everything Brent Suter).
St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Series Preview
I don’t know about you, but I already miss baseball even though there are still two series to go. For the St. Louis Cardinals, those final 6 games of the 2026 campaign will be completed on the road with the first stop being in Pittsburgh starting Tuesday night. There’s little at stake other than pride, but there are some individual player achievements that are possible for St. Louis.
Scheduled Starting Pitchers
Tuesday night – Andre Pallante (RHP 12-7, 3.70 ERA, 104 SO) vs Jared Jones (RHP 4-6, 4.17 ERA, 109 SO)
Wednesday night – Matthew Liberatore (LHP 5-14, 5.36 ERA, 148 SO) vs TBD
Thursday – Kyle Leahy (RHP 10-5, 3.65 ERA, 129 SO) vs Paul Skenes (RHP 10-11, 3.91 ERA, 192 SO)
Pittsburgh Pirates Jared Jones has won 2 of his last 3 starts, but his most recent outing on September 16 was a no-decision against the Brewers as he threw 5 innings allowing 7 hits and 3 earned runs. Paul Skenes has only won 1 of his last 3 starts and his most recent was not memorable as he allowed 6 hits and 5 earned runs on September 18 as he threw 6 innings and got no decision.
Players to Watch According to MLB.com
Second baseman Brandon Lowe leads the Pirates with 33 home runs and 93 RBI’s.
Centerfielder Oneil Cruz has 20 homers and 67 RBI’s with a .280 batting average.
First baseman Ryan O’Hearn has 18 homers, 73 RBI’s and a .264 average.
Left fielder Bryan Reynolds has 17 home runs, 71 RBI’s and a .262 average.
Right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez has 17 homers, 47 RBI’s and a .247 average.
It’s not breaking news that the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals will not be bothered with playoff baseball in October, but there are individual achievements still within reach. As of this writing, Alec Burleson leads the National League in RBI’s with 111, but Sal Stewart is right on his heels with 110. Pete Crow-Armstrong trails both of them with 105. Jordan Walker has been stuck at 28 home runs and hasn’t launched a long ball since September 1 against the Dodgers. I would love to see him get a couple more to make the 30 home run plateau, but even more would like to see him return to the swing decisions of early 2026 Jordan Walker and not 2025 Jordan Walker. JJ Wetherholt has 17 home runs, but Pittsburgh is his hometown area and he loves hitting at PNC Park. It’s not crazy to think he could reach the 20 home run mark before this season is over next weekend.
As we enter the final 6 games of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals are 3 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates and have the same record as the Miami Marlins. The Washington Nationals only trail St. Louis by 3 games. The Cardinals need to win 5 of the final 6 games to end the season with a .500 record. That seems unlikely with a weekend trip to Milwaukee waiting for the Cardinals, but dominating the Pittsburgh Pirates in their own park would at least give them a fighting chance. We’ll see how that goes starting Tuesday night.
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Lakers over the roster limit; Ranking options to become compliant per NBA rules
With the Lakers opening training camp in a week, storylines from the last few months will be brought back to the forefront of conversations.
How will superstar guard Luka Doncic lead the franchise after it decided to fully entrench itself in an era guided by him?
Will the Lakers’ offseason roster reconstruction – which included the departure of LeBron James after eight seasons in Los Angeles and addition of nine players over the last three months – provide the desired results?
Will Walker Kessler live up to the investment the Lakers made to acquire him?
Will Austin Reaves be ready to be the true No. 2 behind Doncic?
The answers to some of these questions won’t be known until the end of the 2026-27 season. Others may take even longer to answer.
But the next month will provide clarity on one front: What will the Lakers do to become compliant with the league’s roster rules?
When the Lakers signed Matisse Thybulle to a veteran’s minimum contract (one year, $3.3 million) in late July, to deal put the team at 16 players signed to guaranteed standard NBA contracts – one more than the league permits during the regular season.
Since the signing, there’s been a focus on what route the Lakers will choose to trim its roster down to a maximum of 15 players before the regular season starts in mid-October.
And with training camp around the corner, and the start of the season four weeks away, the decision will be back at the forefront of conversations.
Which route would best serve the Lakers?
Player-for-pick trade
If this option was available for the Lakers, the belief is they would’ve already pulled the trigger on the move by now.
With Jaden Hardy, Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt being the players who are most likely expected to be traded or waived, the question becomes whether any team would be willing to send out a draft pick to acquire any of them.
It’s clear that isn’t the case.
Remember: The Lakers received a pair of second-round picks from the Wizards when they traded Deandre Ayton to Washington despite both Hardy and Ayton essentially being on expiring contracts.
Vanderbilt’s contract status ($12.4 million this season; $13.3 million player option for 2027-28) and Knecht’s diminished role make it unlikely the Lakers would be able to acquire even a second-round pick for either player on their own.
Consolidation trade
This is the likeliest trade scenario for the Lakers to get down to 15 players.
A 2-for-1 involving two of Hardy, Knecht and/or Vanderbilt, and a team with at least one open roster spot and a player on an expiring contract, would get the Lakers at the 15 players they need to be at by mid-October.
There’s a chance they’d still be able to acquire an asset such as a second-round pick this way.
But even if they didn’t, this scenario would make them roster compliant and maintain future financial flexibility.
Waiving player
The least desirable option – outside of a trade that adds money onto the team’s salary cap for future seasons – would be outright waiving a player on an expiring deal, such as Hardy or Knecht.
It would put the Lakers at 15 players.
But it would also mean they’d have to eat the dead money for the rest of the season since the deadline to waive a player and use the stretch provision on their current-season salary passed last month.
Preseason Gamethread: Sabres @ Penguins
Talk about the preseason game with Pens fans here!
Game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh locally (and ESPN+ out of market) and is available via audio on the internet/radio from 105.9 The X.
Tampa Bay Rays bring back city name, gray jerseys for road uniforms
It's a new dawn for the Tampa Bay Rays.
On Monday, Sept. 21, the Rays revealed new road uniforms that bridge the past with the present.
The Rays are bringing back their road grays after shelving them in 2022 and are putting "Tampa Bay" and the ray logo back on the front of a primary jersey for the first time since 2007. That year was when the franchise rebranded and dropped "Devil" from their team name. There's a blue to yellow ombré that brings a sunshine feel to the uniform and pays further tribute to their history.
Team representatives said they want to be intentional about representing the Florida city they've called home since joining the MLB in 1998. The Rays came under new ownership last summer when a group led by Patrick Zalupski bought the team from Stuart Sternberg for a reported $1.7 billion. There has been an emphasis on commitment to Tampa Bay, including plans for a new stadium in the city.
"These uniforms celebrate our long-term commitment to Tampa Bay," Ken Babby, Rays Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement. "As our team travels the country, we do so with tremendous admiration for our home. Tampa Bay is always in our hearts and that's why we will wear it across our chest."
Elsewhere in the league, the Athletics received criticism for leaving Oakland and are in the process of moving to Las Vegas.
In March, the Rays asked fans for input on what they hope for in new uniforms and they listened to the feedback.
"We are particularly proud that our fans helped choose this design, and we love the fact they want the baseball world to see 'Tampa Bay' when we play on the road," Babby continued.
The road grays replace the Rays' current road uniforms, which are a navy jersey with "Rays" on the front.
Besides on the jerseys, the ombré, which harkens back to the Devil Rays days, also appears on "TB," which originated in 1998, on the team's hats and batting helmets. The original black backdrop is swapped for the team's current navy base.
The Rays will debut the uniform on Tuesday, Sept. 22 during the second game of a double header against the New York Yankees.
The news comes weeks after Tampa Bay became the first team in the MLB to clinch a playoff spot this year. They did so with a walk-off home run from Junior Caminero to beat the Houston Astros. The Rays currently lead the American League with a 95-60 record.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tampa Bay Rays bring back city name, gray jerseys for road uniforms
Window tightens for Shohei Ohtani to get ready for playoffs
Shohei Ohtani’s swing is among the most dangerous in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers will have only five games to get it ready for the playoffs, barring any setbacks.
There have been many of them for Ohtani, who’s missed the past 12 games while dealing with issues to his left knee and right biceps. He’s expected to be back in the Dodgers' lineup in the team's upcoming series against the San Diego Padres. There will be only five games left in the regular season.
Because of Ohtani’s lingering knee issues, the Dodgers have shut him down from pitching. But they’d still like him to bat – and a swing that has generated a team-leading 30 home runs this season and 263 over the last six seasons.
In his last 24 games before going on the injured reserve list, however, Ohtani hit .198 (19-for-96) with 34 strikeouts.
It raises a premature, although not outrageous, question involving the four-time MVP: At some point, in some cases, might the Dodgers be better off with Ohtani out of the lineup?
Precious at-bats
The Dodgers haven’t had enough pitchers to throw him live batting practice, and so he’s been hitting off the Trajekt, a machine that simulates real pitchers. And so those final five regular-season games – two against the Padres and three against the San Francisco Giants – because even more critical.
"I do think that when he's activated, it's going to be the best physical place he's been in in quite some time,’’ said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
So we’ll see if feeling good translates into swinging well for Ohtani.
The Dodgers have managed to win despite missing their MVP designated hitter. Ohtani’s missed 15 of the Dodgers’ last 16 games, and the team has gone 13-3 without him. In six of those games, the Dodgers won by two or fewer runs.
The Dodgers, who clinched a playoff berth by winning the NL West crown, have a four-game lead on the Atlanta Braves to clinch a first-round bye. Los Angeles is two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the No. 1 season and homefield advantage through the NL playoffs.
At-bats figure to become even more precious as the playoffs begin.
Ohtani might have to earn them.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Window tightens for Shohei Ohtani to get ready for playoffs
Doc Rivers played one season for the Clippers. He may be LA's GOAT
Hall of Fame coach Doc Rivers is officially calling it quits from coaching, but the NBA lifer will still be around the league in a familiar capacity.
Rivers will join NBC Sports as a NBA game analyst, where he will continue to display his knowledge and expertise of more than 40 years in the league as a player and coach.
The veteran broadcaster will be seen across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN, the NBA announced on Monday, Sept. 21.
“I loved playing the game, I loved coaching it, and I’ve always loved talking about it,” Rivers said in a statement. “I have great memories working with NBC, and I’m excited to be back and share my perspective alongside such a talented team. This season should be a lot of fun. I can’t wait.”
Doc Rivers' extensive NBA resumé
Rivers was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1983 NBA Draft with the 31st overall pick in the second round. He went to play 14 NBA seasons and earned an All-Star selection in 1988, playing with the Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs before hanging up the jersey.
Three years later, Rivers stepped back into the league, this time with a suit and clipboard as he coached the Orlando Magic from 1999 to 2003, winning Coach of the Year in 2000. He then agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics, where Rivers won his first and only NBA championship in 2008.
He went on to coach one of his former teams, leading Clippers from 2013 to 2020 and becoming the winningest coach in franchise history.
He spent the final years of his coaching career with the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks before his retirement.
Rivers is highly regarded for his 2008 NBA title in Boston, but what he was able to accomplish in Los Angeles could make him the greatest Clipper of all time. Consider this:
Is Doc Rivers the greatest Clipper of all time?
Well before Rivers was named one of the NBA's "15 Greatest NBA Coaches," he played for the Clippers in 1991 following a draft day trade for the No. 9 overall pick in that year's draft, which became Stacey Augmon. Rivers was the Clippers' starting point guard and led them to their first winning season and playoff appearance in Los Angeles at 45-37, a 14-win differential from the previous season. As the Clippers, the franchise had only tallied one winning season prior to Rivers' arrival, their inaugural 1978-79 campaign in San Diego.
Rivers averaged 10.9 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals in 59 games played. He was traded in the offseason to the Knicks just before the start of the 1992-93 season. But it wouldn't be the last time Rivers was a significant part of the Clippers organization.
Decades after he'd been traded from the Clippers, Rivers became their head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations. The Clippers traded for Rivers in 2013, sending the Celtics an unprotected 2015 NBA first-round draft pick in a rare coaching transaction.
Rivers didn't win a championship like he did with Boston, but he helped turn Los Angeles into a perennial playoff team throughout his tenure. For the first time in history, the Clippers were considered the better basketball team in L.A. while under Rivers' direction. In his seven seasons, the Clippers only missed the playoffs once.
Rivers has the best record of among all Clippers coaches with an overall 356-208 record and a .631 winning percentage. Other coaches on that listed include Vinny Del Negro, Mike Dunleavy, Tyronn Lue and Jack Ramsay.
The Clippers are the only NBA franchise that hasn't retired a player's number. There is no jersey hanging in the rafters for Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, Elton Brand, Darius Miles, Lamar Odom, Norm Nixon or Danny Manning.
Maybe, just maybe the Clippers will consider No. 25 – or No. 356.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Doc Rivers played one season for the Clippers. He may be LA's GOAT
Howie Rose’s daughter shares heartwarming ‘full circle’ moment in last game for beloved Mets broadcaster
Howie Rose’s final broadcast wasn’t just an emotional one for the beloved Mets voice, it was for his family too.
His daughter Alyssa took to social media on Monday to thank “everyone who made yesterday the most special day of the Rose family’s life,” while also sharing the surprise significance of Francisco Lindor being the final Mets player to bat in Rose’s broadcast career.
“One thing about the Mets that is indisputable is that they’re a family organization. If you love the Mets, it’s because of a connection to someone special in your family. That came so full circle for me yesterday,” Alyssa wrote on X. “I was born in July, obviously, during baseball season. At some point on the day I was born, my dad called into the station to tell them his daughter was born. During the game, they played ‘My Girl’ on the air.
“Of all of the final At Bats my dad could have called, for it to be Lindor, whose walk up song is, as well know, ‘My Girl’, it was clear that wasn’t a coincidence. That was the universe’s way of reminding me that for my dad and me, it all starts and ends with me being his girl and it all starts and ends with the New York Mets.”
She ended the post by saying, “See you in 2027, Citi Field,” alluding to the planned ceremony to honor her father that will take place next season after inclement weather on Sunday forced it to be postponed.
Rose announced prior to the start of the 2026 MLB season that he would be stepping away from the microphone in September, ending a Mets tenure that started in 1996 when he began calling the team’s games on television.
During the course of his broadcast career, he had also served as a Rangers radio broadcaster and the TV voice of the Islanders.