By now, we’re all used to NBA stars muscling their way to the top of the hobby’s leaderboard, from the courtside-to-cardboard hype of Ant-Man, to record-shattering Goldin gavels for Victor Wembanyama’s Black Shimmer 1-of-1. Well, as of this month, Nikola Jokic can add another notch to his Mile High résumé: the three-time MVP’s 2015-16 Panini Immaculate Collection RPA Logoman just sold for just over $1 million in Goldin’s April Elite Auction, becoming the first Jokic card to crack seven figures.
While Joker, who might become the sixth four-time MVP when the award is announced over the coming weeks, isn’t the only recent MVP getting hobby love, not all most valuable players are, well, quite as valuable.
Here’s how the last five different winners of the Michael Jordan Trophy stack up.
Long before the Joker crossed the seven-figure threshold, the Greek Freak set the modern-day basketball card ceiling when his 2013-14 Panini National Treasures Logoman 1/1 hammered for $1,857,300 at Goldin in September 2021. Giannis briefly held the title of most expensive modern basketball card ever sold, knocking The King off his throne. Other cards have since Topp(sed) it, but the Antetokounmpo still owns the title of having the priciest public sale of any active MVP.
The MVP-podium fixture finally got a hobby valuation to match his trophy case. The original owner waited nearly a decade to cash in at auction, but now they must be feeling like the three-time MVP and NBA champion himself. Well, maybe not after the star center’s first round playoff exit, but you get the idea.
The reigning MVP is the fastest riser on this list. SGA’s 2019 Panini Flawless Logoman Autograph 1/1 sold for $577,300 at Goldin just last month, the first SGA card to ever clear half a million. If the Thunder PG wins back-to-back MVP awards later this month, that price might look like a steal.
The Process delivered a 2022-23 MVP, but the hobby never quite trusted his knees. Embiid’s high-water mark is a 2014-15 National Treasures Logoman, which sold for a paltry (lol) $144,000 in January. Given that he’s the only MVP to never reach the Conference Finals, and that the 6ers didn’t put up much of a fight against the Knicks with what might’ve been his best-ever running mates, we might not see Embiid’s cards come close to his MVPeers.
The Beard’s 2017-18 MVP campaign feels like a lifetime ago, and his cardboard footprint reflects it. The most expensive Harden card ever sold was his 2009-10 Panini National Treasures /99, which sold for nearly $69,000 in 2001. With the Cavs taking both games at home against the Pistons, those looking to collect Harden cards might see some serious movement over the coming weeks. Then again, it looks like nobody stands a chance against his debut team, so a first-ever championship still seems unlikely. Even still, prime Harden was electric.
It’s Not Just MVPs
The gap from Giannis to Harden is more than 20x—but maybe there’s more to it than the player himself. In this case, the throughline seems to be the Logoman. Four of these five MVPs have at least one Logoman patch card in circulation, and the four biggest sales on this list (Giannis, Jokic, SGA, and Embiid) are all Logoman 1/1s. Is Harden’s rookie Logoman still floating around—and, if so, what is the owner doing with it? Was one even made way back in 2009?
Either way, the evidence is clear: An MVP trophy carries you to the upper echelon of the Hobby, but a Logoman gets you to seven figures.
Does Joker have a chance at the MVP or is SGA a lock? Let us know on Mantel.
NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended for the first six games of next season for slashing Buffalo’s Zach Benson.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the ruling Tuesday after holding an in-person hearing at league headquarters in New York on Monday. That gave senior VP of player safety George Parros and Co. the option to suspend McAvoy for six or more games.
McAvoy was ejected for his retaliatory two-handed slash to the right arm of Benson, who seconds earlier tripped him and sent him crashing into the boards. The league called it a “dangerous trip” that was penalized.
The incident came with under two minutes left in the Sabres’ series-clinching victory in the first round of the playoffs on May 1, with the Bruins on the verge of being eliminated.
Benson tripped McAvoy with a slew foot, receiving a two-minute penalty. McAvoy got up and went after Benson with a baseball-swing slash. He received five minutes and a game misconduct.
The defenseman was offered an in-person hearing, giving the NHL Player Safety Department the leeway to suspend him for six games or more.
"All parties agree that this is an intentional and forceful strike delivered to an opponent's body specifically for the purpose of retribution and message sending," Player Safety said in a video explaining the decision.
Player Safety noted that it "is important to note that players are not excused from illegal acts just because of a prior foul by an opponent."
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits by the court before a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The largest fish in the rumor sea has to be discussed, right? Well, that is what we will do today in this edition of Suns Trade Verdict. The noise has gotten too loud, not only from the Bucks but also from fans clamoring for this to be the time to strike for the superstar.
The trade timeline for Giannis has accelerated, and Phoenix could be a PRIME destination for the Greek Freak to land 👀
We're discussing what links the all-time great to the Suns, and what it would take to get him here ⬇️
So how does this even start? Well, for years, it felt like this saga had gone on, with Antetokounmpo potentially leaving, but it hasn’t been as clear as it is now. With the team failing to trade him in the offseason and making roster changes to persuade him to stay, it does not seem to be working.
Word from the Bucks is that they would like to get this deal done before the draft, and Shams Charania of ESPN has already got the ball rolling on that with his latest update.
The Milwaukee Bucks are open for business on trade calls and offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo entering the NBA combine and over six weeks away from the draft, sources told ESPN.
How can we get this done, and would Phoenix be interested in something like this? Let’s explore those thoughts.
How could this get done?
For Phoenix, getting to a max player contract is going to take a lot of guys going out. With the Suns not having much draft capital either (2027 first, the least of UTA/CLE/MIN, and their own 2033, which isn’t tradable until after the draft), they’re in a pickle. Especially if the other 28 franchises around the league also have offers lined up.
This leads me to believe it would take a massive haul to get it done. The Bucks had interest in Jalen Green around the trade deadline. Could they value him as a young piece for a retool/rebuild? The Suns also have the former lottery pick Khaman Malauch and the 31st pick, Rasheer Fleming. Could they be used as young assets to compensate for the limited draft capital the Suns have?
The Milwaukee Bucks continue to seek help on the offensive end and have shown interest in Jalen Green, per @BrettSiegelNBA
“…the Bucks recently made calls to the Phoenix Suns, checking in on the availability of Jalen Green, sources said. However, the Suns are not interested in… pic.twitter.com/0WqC6h2NYO
Those are the questions the Suns have to ask when evaluating a deal for Antetokounmpo. He is owed 121M over the next two years, with a near-$63 million player option next year, he would expect. The 31-year-old is also looking for a long-term extension and would need to be committed to the team before signing one.
To get this deal done, though, the Suns would have to send either Jalen Green with Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, or Dillon Brooks to make the money work. Then, with the addition of two young players like Ryan Dunn, Khaman Malauch, Rasheer Fleming, or Oso Ighodaro, it could be done. The Suns would have to take back the Anteokumpo bros, too, which is the price to pay.
Which would most likely get done?
Since the Suns want to extend Dillon Brooks, I think it is unlikely they move off of him in this trade. Therefore, it leaves either the deal involving Royce or Grayson to get this one across the finish line.
“You get what you deserve in life. Dillon deserves everything he’s gotten. He’s earned it.”
Mat Ishbia spoke glowingly of Dillon Brooks, his persona, and why he’s excited for him to continue to be a part of this franchise. pic.twitter.com/zsRcON7usC
In the deal with Royce, they are taking back more money, making it harder to resign the free agents that they would need to make this move worth it. The decision on this one needs to involve both Jalen Green and Grayson Allen.
Allen may not end up going back to Milwaukee, as this trade could expand, but for now, he goes back with the young talent the Suns have and all their draft capital. This would certainly push the Suns to go all-in on a Booker + Antetokounmpo duo, with supporting pieces in Gillespie, Goodwin, Brooks, and O’Neale to help as well. Even if that is the case, is it the best move?
Why does it not get done?
Suns
Given their situation, you would think maintaining this steady growth is the way for the Suns, but ownership may think otherwise. Even if he preached continuity at the end-of-year presser, we all know some change will come with Mat Ishbia at the helm. We also know he wants to capitalize on this Devin Booker window, stating he will bring a championship to the Valley. That says to me that if the right star is available and the Suns can acquire him, they will go after him, but is that Giannis?
Suns Owner Mat Ishbia on Devin Booker:
"I'll ride into a fire with Devin Booker and I'll do it proudly…Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player." ✊
The fit would be seamless, as he would fill the vacant power forward spot this team is searching for. Not to mention his fit alongside Booker in the pick-and-roll, with his physical presence in the paint, are all there. He would solve most of the issues this team ran into this season, and by giving up four players who barely played or were injured, you could see how this makes so much sense.
If you plug Giannis into last year’s team, where does that get them? Definitely a higher seed than seven and potentially even in an Eastern Conference finals. That is where the intrigue deeply vomes from, and I see that, but there are also some concerns.
He is 31 and has had some serious injuries as of late. Multiple calf injuries and having to be held out this season (even if he was healthy) prove there is some weirdness around it. He is not getting younger either, and even though Booker is around the same age and doing the same, I’d rather not sacrifice a 4-year window for a 2-year one.
Secondly, the extension is a big ask for this team. One that was just in cap hell and barely escaped by the skin of their teeth. They are still going to pay for the Bradley Beal stretch-and-waive until 2030, and that dead money will creep up on them. Building a roster with that dead money is already a hard obstacle, and it will only be more difficult with two max contracts on the books.
Lastly, and certainly not least, is the package the Suns have. With Giannis available, all 28 other franchises will also try to do this deal. Now, some will obviously bow out as Giannis will not want to go there, but that does not mean Milwaukee will accept a bad deal. It will have to be a happy mediuma nd Giannis has expressed wanting to stay out East as well.
This severely limits the Sun’s ability to pull off this deal if their trade package cannot compare, and they are not on his destinations list.
Many say the Suns will be on that list, but only time will tell.
I think the Bucks, in this situation, try to milk the Suns out of everything they have. Since other teams like Boston or Cleveland have better players to offer in Jaylen Brown or Evan Mobley, it will be hard for the Suns to match some of these offers. This leaves the Bucks looking at the Suns’ package and trying to force both young players, Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.
The Boston Celtics are known to have interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo and could be a potential landing spot, per @sam_amick
“Even the Celtics, who have the ‘Two Jays’ back now and look fully capable of winning it all, are known to have interest and are discussed in league… pic.twitter.com/PaCqfidyPn
The Cavaliers reportedly contacted the Bucks about a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Milwaukee wanted Evan Mobley and all of their available first-round picks, per @JakeLFischer
“The Cavaliers, league sources say, contacted the Bucks about Giannis before the… pic.twitter.com/vk7cYhhcEw
It also depends on which path the Bucks see themselves taking in the future. Will they look to strip it down, fully rebuild, and invest in youth, or would they rather get a star to stay relevant? If they want to go with the Suns package, it becomes more appealing because it includes three players under 25 to build around, potentially.
That being said, I do not think the Bucks do this deal unless Giannis puts his foot down and says, “Trade me to Phoenix.” Even if Fleming, Maluach, and Green have the potential to be something, I do not know if it entices the Bucks enough.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, every day, my thoughts about the situation change as we learn more. Truly, the duo would be unstoppable and prove to be one of the best, but in a star-studded Western Conference, how far is that? Is that truly Finals runs, or is it Western Conference Finals runs? That is where I think patience is key, waiting for Fleming and Malauch to be ready to really commit to winning with this squad.
As many of you saw this weekend, John also discussed this situation. Here is his article, in case you missed it, with his thoughts.
PHOENIX — The walks were piling up, homers flying out of the ballpark, runs racing across the plate.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had seen enough.
A manager who prefers one-on-one meetings with his players called Arizona’s entire starting rotation into his office for a one-way conversation.
Hearing what their manager said — throw strikes, essentially — was something the starters already knew, but the reinforced message kicked off the best run by the Diamondbacks’ rotation in nine years.
“That was his message, just to remind us that we’re really good and what we’re going through right now is not who we are,” Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly said.
It was ugly.
The Diamondbacks had a few decent starts here and there the first month of the season, but the blowups started coming with more regularity.
Instead of throwing strikes and letting hitters put the ball in play, the Diamondbacks were being too fine with their pitches or trying to get strikeouts. The walks started racking up and with those came big innings — lots of big innings.
Through the first 33 games of the season, Arizona’s starters had the worst ERA in baseball at 5.42 as the Diamondbacks dropped 4 1/2 games out of first in the NL West barely a month into the season.
Lovullo made the rare decision to meet with all his starters during a May 1-3 series at the Cubs and the results — whether he had anything to do with it or not — have been impressive.
With Michael Soroka’s gem against Texas on Monday night, Arizona’s starters have had seven straight starts of at least six innings, longest active streak in the majors and the Diamondbacks’ best since 2017. They currently have four straight starts of at least six innings with one or fewer runs and four or less hits for the fifth time in franchise history, first since 2019.
“I probably had 1% to do with that,” Lovullo said. “I just created awareness, just told them this is what I’m seeing, go out there and reverse it. Figure out how to pitch deep into games, execute and put balls into play. I said what I said and I’m proud of the way they’ve been getting after it.”
It’s been an impressive run.
Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona’s steadiest pitcher, kicked it off by allowing two hits in seven scoreless innings in a win over the Pirates on May 5. The left-hander backed it up by limiting the Mets to one run on four hits in a career-best 8 1/3 innings on Sunday.
Soroka lost a 1-0 pitcher’s duel with Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes despite allowing a run in 6 1/3 innings, but beat the Rangers 1-0 Monday night by allowing three singles over 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Following six-inning starts by Zac Gallen and Ryne Nelson, Kelly had his best start of the season against the Mets on Saturday.
Relying on a few tweaks in his mechanics, the right-hander allowed a run on three hits in seven innings after 19 earned runs over 13 2/3 innings his previous three starts. Kelly’s impressive start kicked off Arizona’s current three-game winning streak and earned him hugs and high-fives in the dugout after his day was done.
“It’s bittersweet; you feel like the kid who finally passed the test,” Kelly said. “You feel like the kid who’s been getting F’s all the time and finally got an A. It feels a lot better coming off the mound knowing you gave your team a chance to win.”
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers added to their outfield depth by acquiring Alek Thomas in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Thomas was batting just .181 with two homers and 10 RBIs when he was designated for assignment by Arizona last week. But the speedy Thomas is a solid defender, and he could be used by Los Angeles as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch runner.
The Dodgers sent outfield prospect Jose Requena to the Diamondbacks. To make room for Thomas on the 40-man roster, outfielder Michael Siani was designated for assignment.
Thomas was selected by Arizona in the second round of the 2018 amateur draft. He made his major league debut in 2022.
Thomas had his share of big moments with the Diamondbacks, particularly during the team’s run to the 2023 World Series. He hit four homers during the postseason, including a tying two-run shot against the Phillies in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series.
The 26-year-old Thomas is a .230 hitter with 31 homers, 143 RBIs and 28 steals in 448 career games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins should be looking to add to their roster this off-season after taking a nice step in the right direction during the 2025-26 season. One of their top needs is more defensive depth.
When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents, one player who the Penguins should consider making a push for is Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley.
If the Penguins signed Stanley, they would be bringing in a hard-nosed, 6-foot-7 defenseman who showed this season that he is capable of providing some offense from the point. In 76 games this regular-season split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres, he had nine goals, 17 assists, 26 points, 110 hits, and 128 penalty minutes. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a solid pickup for the Penguins.
Stanley's age also adds to his appeal. This is because the 2016 first-round pick is turning only 28 later this month. With this, Stanley is right in his prime and would be a strong fit on a team that is focused on the future, like the Penguins.
If the Penguins signed Stanley, he would be a strong fit on their bottom pairing and on their penalty kill. However, he could move up Pittsburgh's lineup if needed due to his versatility.
It will be interesting to see if the Penguins sign Stanley, but the fit looks strong on paper.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball against Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been pointed out to me that you wild and crazy kids are using the MMB Lounge thread to also talk playoffs and perhaps we should have a distinct discussion post for that.
I couldn’t agree more.
So here we are. The Oklahoma City Thunder have advanced as of this writing, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0. The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves are tied 2-2. The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are deadlocked at 2-2 as well. The Knicks swept the 76ers 4-0 in their match up.
I have no preference who wins either open series. I think the Spurs playing the Thunder would be better basketball, but also think the Spurs losing to the Wolves is funny. The East is ugly but if I had to choose a winner to advance, I’d go Pistons.
I am curious to read what you all have learned about how this season of basketball has played out and what Dallas needs to do next to get back into playoff contention.
TORONTO, ON - MAY 11: Agent 00 delivers the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Monday, May 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Peter Sarellas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
There isn’t much for news today.
Jake Bloss pitched for the first time this year, after UCL surgery a year ago. He threw 2.1 innings, with four strikeouts. He allowed 2 hits, with no walks and no runs, pitching in the FCL. We could use him now, but it will be late June before he’ll be an option for the Blue Jays.
It looks like Max Scherzer would be the first of the injured pitchers, he had cortisone injections, one in his thumb yesterday, so he won’t be throwing for a few days. And Shane Bieber is to throw a bullpen session today. It will be June before he can help the Jays. José Berríos is meeting with a doctor about the changes in his latest MRI.
The Jays have an off-day Thursday, so they won’t need a fifth starter until May 19th. I thought Spencer Miles did a great job, the other day, I’d lean to seeing if he can be stretched out beyond three innings.
Today’s lineup against the lefty. Andrés Giménez gets the day off despite the two home runs yesterday. Giménez doesn’t hit lefties well and has been nursing an sore hamstring. I got an email saying Andrés had the best day at the plate of any MLB player yesterday.
Sooner or later some of the other guys are going to have to start hitting.
Lakers coach JJ Redick talks with LeBron James along the sideline during Game 4 against the Thunder on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
There was a moment when the Lakers were humming along near the end of the NBA's regular season, when they went 16-2 in the month of March as Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James found their groove together as a dynamic threesome.
But on April 2 at Oklahoma City, Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain) went down with injuries and it was left to James to lead the group.
James did, leading the Lakers past the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Reaves joined James in Game 5 of that series and the two of them led the charge into the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder, a series in which Los Angeles got swept, 4-0.
Through it all, Doncic was and still is the center of the Lakers’ universe.
So with James and Reaves looking at free agency, Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said Tuesday at the team’s exit interviews that the organization wants both players back to team up with Doncic.
James, 41 and in his 23rd season, made $52.6 million last season but will be a free agent this offseason, when he can retire, return to the Lakers or play for another team.
“I think in terms of LeBron, we probably haven't seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he's honored the game. He's given so much to his teammates, to this organization,” Pelinka said. “And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back. And I think the first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are.
"Does he want to play another year in the NBA? And that'll be, as he said to you guys last night, family time [and] I think time with his inner circle. And we just want to honor that for him. Of course, any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster. That's a blessing in itself just with what he does.”
Reaves is expected to opt out of his contract that will pay him $14.8 million next season and become a free agent. The Lakers can pay Reaves the most, a maximum deal of $241 million over five years, with a starting salary of about $41.5 million next season. Reaves could sign with another team that has cap space, but that deal would be for four years and about $178 million.
"He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker,” Pelinka said. “And we feel the same way. We want his odyssey to continue to unfold in the purple and gold. As you know, there's rules and timing to all of that, but I think both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to work something out where he continues his prolific career here."
The Lakers have their star in Doncic and will collaborate with him going forward.
He led the NBA in scoring (33.5 points per game), was third in assists (8.3) and was a most valuable player candidate.
Doncic, who missed the last five regular-season games and all of the playoffs, signed a three-year extension last summer for $165 million.
The Lakers want to build on that.
“He's an incredible partner,” Pelinka said of Doncic. “His basketball IQ on the court is something we get to see as fans. [Lakers coach] JJ [Redick]) and I get to see his basketball knowledge in terms of other players in the league and the way he wants to play and who he wants to play with.
"His knowledge-base is vast and so those collaborations with him are really inspirational. He also does it in a way that he wants to do his job great, and he wants to let JJ do his job great and let me do my job great. So, they really are productive conversations through that lens.”
Several notable players, including former UConn star Tarris Reed Jr., will participate in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine five-on-five scrimmages.
While these scrimmages do not include big stars or players projected to hear their name called at the top of the draft next month at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, there is typically first-round talent broadcast on national TV for fans to watch and for front offices to evaluate.
The most interesting players are often the ones who declared as early entry candidates because if they perform well, they can skyrocket on draft boards (like Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams did in 2022) or return to college and make more money in the modern NIL era.
Here’s how the NBA draft combine scrimmage pool breaks down entering this week based on consensus rankings across major draft boards.
Early entry candidates with collegiate eligibility remaining
These players have the most on the line because they will use feedback to determine whether they return to school or stay in the draft. Kentucky big man Malachi Moreno, who is also an early entry candidate, was originally included on scrimmage rosters but opted not to participate.
Potential first round picks
Cameron Carr (Baylor)
Dailyn Swain (Texas)
Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt)
Potential early-to-mid second round picks
Rueben Chinyelu (Florida)
Flory Bidunga (Kansas → Louisville)
Billy Richmond III (Arkansas)
Potential mid-to-late second round picks
Matthew Able (NC State → North Carolina)
Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State)
John Blackwell (Wisconsin → Duke)
Jacob Cofie (USC)
Players who could play their way into guaranteed long-term deals
These players are ranked relatively near the first-round cutoff and can potentially move up with especially strong showings during scrimmage reps. They fall between No. 30 and No. 50 on the consensus rankings. Guaranteed contracts are signed if a player is picked in the first round and sometimes negotiated for early second-round picks, too.
Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn)
Ryan Conwell (Louisville)
Braden Smith (Purdue)
Trevon Brazile (Arkansas)
Jaden Bradley (Arizona)
Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia)
Baba Miller (Cincinnati)
Izaiyah Nelson (South Florida)
Notable second-round prospects to watch closely
These players have shown occasional NBA traits and are being evaluated on whether they can translate into consistent roles. They fall between No. 50 and No. 65 on the consensus rankings.
Otega Oweh (Kentucky)
Bruce Thornton (Ohio State)
Emanuel Sharp (Houston)
Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee)
Keyshawn Hall (Auburn)
Milos Uzan (Houston)
Maliq Brown (Duke)
Rafael Castro (George Washington)
Dillon Mitchell (Texas)
Tyler Nickel (Vanderbilt)
Under-the-radar names to know
These players are currently outside most consensus rankings but earned combine invites and could raise their profiles this week. These players rank beyond No. 65 on consensus rankings.
Nick Martinelli (Northwestern)
Tobi Lawal (Virginia Tech)
Kylan Boswell (Illinois)
Felix Okpara (Tennessee)
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue)
Peter Suder (Miami Ohio)
Bryce Hopkins (St. John's)
Nick Boyd (Wisconsin)
Aaron Nkrumah (Tennessee State)
How to watch the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages
The 2026 NBA Draft Combine scrimmages are on Wednesday, May 13, at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and on Thursday, May 14, at 2 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Shotaro Morii #18 of the Athletics bats during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The biggest name in baseball right now is Shohei Ohtani, the two-way star for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But could the next big name in baseball be a three-way player?
Shotaro Morii is hoping to be that next big name, and the young prospect embarks on his journey tonight with the Athletics’ Single-A affiliate in Stockton. But what makes Morii different is the fact that he’ll be pitching, hitting, and playing the field for the Stockton Ports.
Morii signed with the Athletics in January of 2025, signing at age 18 for just over $1.5 million. That was the largest bonus ever for a Japanese amateur player outside of Nippon Professional Baseball.
The plan for Morii is to appear in three or four games each week as a hitter, either as the designated hitter or as Stockton’s second baseman. Then on Thursdays, Morii will take to the mound, starting with one inning of work and slowly building up to three innings per appearance.
In addition, the Ports plan for Morii to rest on Fridays, and throw bullpen sessions on Saturday.
“He is attempting to do something that is very difficult,” A’s farm director Ed Sprague said. “His offensive game is ahead of his pitching, but he has a great arm and is committed to doing both. I think he could have stayed at shortstop for a while if he just played on one side of the ball, but we both felt like second base would lessen the workload.”
Morii appeared in 43 games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League last season, where he slashed .258/.399/.384 with three home runs. This year in four games in the ACL Morii slashed .308/.385/.742.
He also made one appearance as a pitcher in the ACL this year, facing four batters and striking out two while allowing just one hit.
Here’s Morii from last summer in the ACL, showing quick hands through the zone at the plate:
Here’s a base hit from Shotaro Morii last summer in the Arizona Complex League 🎥⬇️
“He has been hampered with some minor injuries to start his career, so we will take it slow as he progresses to pitching and playing a position in the pro game,” Sprague said. “We are excited to see him get out to an affiliate and get started.”
The Montreal Canadiens are facing off against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 4 on Tuesday. The Habs will be looking to stay hot after winning each of their last two games against Buffalo in a dominating fashion.
With the Canadiens having the Sabres' number right now, Buffalo is understandably making some notable changes to their roster in Game 4. Konsta Helenius and Luke Schenn will be in the lineup for the Sabres, while Sam Carrick and Logan Stanley are being scratched.
The Sabres will also be going with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as their starting goalie over Alex Lyon.
Helenius is the Sabres' best prospect, so it is notable that he will be playing in Game 4. In his first nine NHL games this season with Buffalo, the 2024 first-round pick recorded one goal and four points.
Seeing Schenn entering the lineup for the Sabres is definitely notable as well. The 36-year-old blueliner has yet to play a game this post-season for the Sabres, but will now be getting his first chance to in Game 4.
Seeing the Sabres make a change between the pipes is not necessarily surprising. Lyon allowed five goals on 36 shots against the Canadiens in Game 3, so Luukkonen will now be looking to help the Sabres get things back on track.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs square off in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Timberwolves won Game 4 114-109 to even the series 2-2 after Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was ejected. Wembanyama will be back for Game 5, but Spurs guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper are questionable.
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs
May 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) and pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) slap hands after winning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
