CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 23: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball while guarded by Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets in the second quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on December 23, 2024 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. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Note: I’m writing this preview before the Houston Rockets take on the Boston Celtics. I’m also writing this well ahead of the NBA trade deadline, which is Thursday at 2pm CT. So if you’re wondering why I’m not talking about how the Rockets have traded for prime Hakeem Olajuwon or whatever, you have your answer.
The Charlotte Hornets have won seven straight games and are looking for their first 8-game winning streak since 2000. They are the only team in American sports (non-football category) to not own a winning streak of 8 games or more this millenium.
Tonight, they’ll have a great shot at it since the Rockets will be on a back-to-back (and therefore be without Tari Eason and/or Dorian Finney-Smith) while Charlotte comes in well-rested having not played since Monday.
Charlotte has Brandon Miller starting to make “The Leap,” an underrated point guard in LaMelo Ball (how can a guy be underrated when he’s on a max deal?), rookie contributors Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner, and savvy veteran Grant Williams. Moussa Diabate patrols the middle, but the Hornets like the gang rebound like Houston. In their most recent game against the Pelicans, six players grabbed at least seven rebounds. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like that before.
Head coach linked with new role after Rugby World Cup
‘I’ve not signed a contract,’ says Scot before Italy clash
Gregor Townsend has claimed reports he is to take over at Newcastle after the 2027 World Cup is an attempt to “disrupt” Scotland before the Six Nations.
The 52-year-old last year took on a consultancy role with Red Bull, who own Newcastle and it was reported on Thursday that Townsend will take charge of the Prem club when his contract with Scotland expires after next year’s World Cup in Australia.
This post is part of a series of daily questions that we’ll ask the community here at Amazin’ Avenue throughout the month of February. We hope you find the questions engaging and that our prompts can spark some fun conversations in the comments. We’ll see you there and plan to have staff chiming in, too.
Which Mets prospect will take the biggest step forward in 2026?
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 18: David Fry #6 of the Cleveland Guardians bats against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on September 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians will need some help from players whose performance dipped in 2025 to make a playoff run this year… Will they get it?
Will it be David Fry who went from a 129 wRC+ to a 63 wRC+?
Will it be Stuart Fairchild who went from a 116 wRC+ against LHP to an 88 wRC+ against LHP?
Will it be Tanner Bibee who went from a 3.47 ERA to a 4.24 ERA?
Or will it be Tim Herrin who went from a 1.92 ERA to a 4.85 ERA?
What say you, Guardians fans? Who is our comeback player of the year when we look back on the 2026 season?
The Montreal Canadiens were playing their last game before the Olympic break on Wednesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, and Martin St-Louis decided to give Samuel Montembeault a start for the first time in two weeks, despite Jakub Dobes’ recent form. It was a gutsy decision from the coach, given the fact that Dobes hadn’t lost in regulation in 10 games and that the Canadiens desperately needed the two points.
A Tough Start
The Habs looked like they weren’t ready for puck drop, but thankfully, Montembeault was. He made several big saves in the first few minutes, and while he did give up a goal just six minutes in, it must be said that the Jets were on a power play at the time, and that there was nothing the goaltender could have done on that shot. Furthermore, that goal stemmed from a Phillip Danault mistake on the penalty kill; he had a golden opportunity to clear the zone, but he tried to clear it down the middle, right where the Jets defenseman was.
The Bécancour native stopped two odd-man rushes in the first frame alone, and it was because of his ability to weather the storm, making 12 stops, that the Canadiens didn’t find themselves in a bigger hole.
He was also able to shut the door for the rest of the game, making 37 saves on the 38 shots he faced for a .973 save percentage. After what he has gone through so far this season, this performance will allow him to head into the break with a positive mindset.
Taming One Of Their Demons
The Canadiens have struggled all season in the second period, so much so that before the game, they had a minus-10 differential in the middle stanza, while the Jets were plus-four, but it didn’t look like it on Wednesday night. The Habs scored two goals in 1:16 to take a 3-1 lead over the Jets.
Josh Anderson found the back of the net first, with a perfect deflection off a Jayden Struble shot after five minutes of play, and then Lane Hutson scored one of his most impressive goals of the season off an Anderson pass. The power forward’s feed was behind the defenseman, who caught the pass on his backhand, pivoted while skating towards the net, and scored short side high up on a Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck.
As for Montembeault, he added another 13 saves to his tally, keeping the Jets at bay and allowing the Canadiens to go back to the dressing room with a 3-1 lead with 20 minutes to go.
The Veterans Stood Up
When the Jets came out strong in the first frame, it was the veteran line of Danault, Anderson and Gallagher who stood up and turned the tide. The three veterans combined for seven points and were a constant pain in the Jets’ side. Danault won 12 of the 18 draws he took, Anderson registered the go-ahead goal early in the second, and Gallagher delivered the gut punch that sent the Jets down crashing early in the third frame.
While many analysts were talking about players’ heads being either in Milan for those who are heading to the Olympics and on holiday for the others, the trio was completely focused on the task at hand.
With his three points, Gallagher is now the 26th-highest scorer in Canadiens’ history with 483 points. The 33-year-old can now set his sights on Vincent Damphousse, who’s 25th, but it won’t be easy to catch him since he’s on 498 points. The diminutive winger is also 14th overall in goals and 38th overall in assists.
After many injury-plagued seasons, he played all 82 games last season and has not missed a game so far this year. He has now skated in 891 games with the Canadiens and will soon overtake Patrice Brisebois, who is in 13th place in all-time games played with the Sainte-Flanelle with 896. If he stays healthy, the veteran could reach 1,000 games before the end of his contract since the regular season will have 84 games starting in 2026-27.
With this 5-1 win, the Canadiens moved into second place in the Atlantic Division, at least momentarily. On Thursday, while the Habs will all be heading out on holiday or to the Olympics, the Buffalo Sabres will be taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins, meaning that when the league shuts down for the break, the Sabres and the Habs will have played the same number of games.
It looked like a trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs was unlikely for the Maple Leafs as they entered their four-game West Coast road trip last week. They had just lost five straight at home and were eight points out of a playoff spot.
It got worse when they lost to the Seattle Kraken last Thursday; Toronto then was 10 points out of the final wild-card spot. That's when reports surfaced that the Maple Leafs might lean towards being sellers as they approach the March 6 trade deadline, which makes a lot of sense.
Toronto was free-falling in the standings, losing game after game. It felt like their season was slowly — and surely — in jeopardy, and that their consecutive playoff streak (the longest in the NHL) was coming to an end.
However, after wins against the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers, Toronto is sitting in a different position. They're now six points out of the final wild-card spot, currently held by the Boston Bruins.
"We talked about coming out of the break, we've got to be prepared and ready to go because we've got, obviously, some catching up to do here," said head coach Craig Berube on Tuesday night after their win in Edmonton.
"But three wins going on the break is a good boost for our team, and I'm proud of our team, the way they competed on this road trip."
All of this begs the question: Where do the Maple Leafs go from here?
The case for being sellers
I think we could all agree that the Maple Leafs have gotten beaten up on the trade front in recent years.
The Fraser Minten-Brandon Carlo deal with the Bruins is one example of that (though Carlo's game is on an upward trajectory as of late). I think you could say the same with paying the Philadelphia Flyers a first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin for Scott Laughton.
Now, Laughton and Carlo are important to the Maple Leafs' makeup, but many believe it was an overpay for those two in particular. I would agree, to a degree (we'll save that for another day).
Toronto, though, could recoup some of those lost assets ahead of this year's deadline if they decide their season is over.
They've got a few trade chips in unrestricted free agents, like Bobby McMann, whose 19 goals are one off matching a career-high set last season. Laughton is also a UFA at the end of this season.
Those two in particular (McMann, especially) could bring back a decent return.
McMann's a strong, powerful skater who can score and is cheap at a cap hit of $1.35 million. Laughton is a faceoff magician and an incredible teammate. If they're calling it quits on the season, the Maple Leafs need to capitalize on an investment.
Carlo and Simon Benoit have also surfaced as players that Toronto could move to regain some draft capital.
A retool for the Maple Leafs would be approved by most if they remain outside of a playoff spot.
But in their current position in the standings, could they wait a little longer after the Olympic break to decide on the season? They must have several alternative options if things go south, or north.
But apparently not.
TSN's Chris Johnston reported on Wednesday that the Maple Leafs' stance on the trade front hasn't changed, despite inching closer to the second wild-card spot in the East.
"From the Brad Treliving side of things, the Leafs' front office, they've started garnering and engaging in what their players are worth on the market," Johnston reported.
"I don't expect a three-game winning streak, and even perhaps if it extends beyond the break, where the Leafs win a couple games out of the break, I don't believe that's going to alter what this front office wants to do...
"I think the Leafs are going to get a good sense over the break, in terms of what the value is for (their players) is on the market, monitor those decisions. And as we get closer to March 6, I do still think you're going to see the Leafs sell, to some degree."
The case for staying in the playoff race
If you're a Maple Leafs fan, this could likely be what you want.
And I don't blame anyone for wanting Toronto to try to remain in the playoff picture.
This season, more than ever, feels wide open. Aside from the Colorado Avalanche, there are no real sure bets to win the Stanley Cup. Don't get me wrong, there are some strong teams, like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars.
However, I believe that, when all the chips are down, Toronto still has dangerous enough players to hang with those teams. The same goes for them against the Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings, all of whom sit higher than the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division.
The playoffs are a different animal, though.
Keep in mind, Toronto's season has featured some pretty big highs and lows, which is why I'd say if you still have belief, you're not entirely wrong for it.
They lost Anthony Stolarz for a few months, but Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby held down the fort. Thesame occurred on defense with Carlo during the months he was out. They're also currently without Dakota Joshua (lacerated kidney) and Chris Tanev (groin) — both important players in the grand scheme.
Auston Matthews is back to being himself. William Nylander is flying. And if their win against Edmonton taught us anything, it's that when the Maple Leafs play like a team, they're still a robust hockey club.
It's still okay have hope in them; it's what being a fan is all about.
Remember, too, that the Olympic break could do some damage to teams, whether it's injuries or decelerating a club's hot streak. There are definitely a couple of teams in each conference that are riding the high of a strong season.
"I don't know about it," said Berube on whether the almost three-week break could throw some teams into a rut.
"I mean, listen, the Olympics are going to have a lot to say about that, in my opinion. Coming out of the Olympics, you never know what happens, injuries and all that sort of thing.
"But we can't worry about that. We've got to make sure we're prepared and we get the work in when we get back to work and get ready to go again. Right out of the break, we've got two tough opponents in Florida."
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 26: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres handles the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12, 68 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Buffalo Sabres (32-18-6, 70 points, 3rd place Atlantic Division)
When: 7:00 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and MSG-B, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The path for most of the players is an enviable one to spend some time with their families in tropical confines during the NHL’s three-week Olympic break that starts after tonight. The Pens don’t play again until three weeks from tonight at home against New Jersey (Feb 26) leaving for a lot of R&R in the future for most of the team.
Opponent Track: The Sabres have slowed down recently, if ever-so-slightly. They’ve traded wins and losses in the last four outings (beating LA, losing to Montreal, beating Florida and losing to Tampa [OT]) and are 6-2-2 in their last 10. That’s pretty decent, but then again they were 8-2-0 in the prior 10 game stretch and 8-3-0 before that. Since Thanksgiving, Buffalo’s 23-8-2 record is the best in the NHL.
Season Series: The Penguins won 4-2 back on November 26th, dropping Buffalo to 29th place in the NHL with a 9-10-4 record. That wasn’t quite rock bottom for the Sabres (they would lose 5-0 to NJ in the next game) but it was close. After tonight’s game, Buffalo makes one more trip to Pittsburgh on March 5th to close out the three-game season series.
Hidden Stat: Pittsburgh has points in five-straight road games (4-0-1) and are 7-1-1 in their last nine road games, per Pens PR.
Getting to know the Sabres
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Josh Doan – Noah Ostlund – Konsta Helenius
Isak Rosen – Tyson Kozak – Brock Malenstyn
DEFENSEMEN
Mattias Samuelsson / Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram / Owen Power
Zach Metsa / Jacob Bryson
Goalies: Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis
Potential scratches: Zach Benson, Jordan Greenway, Michael Kesselring
Norris, who last played on Jan 14, was nearing a return. It remains unknown as of now if he’ll be able to comeback for this last game before the break or if they will keep him to the side until afterwards.
The break is coming at a good time for Buffalo, Benson and Greenway are also dealing with injuries and starting goalie Luukkonen unfortunately had to pull away from Team Finland due to his injury.
The man dubbed the ‘Lyon King’ has been instrumental in Buffalo’s turn of play. Alex Lyon is 11-1-0 with a 2.08 GAA and .930 save% since December 7th when the Sabres started making their big turnaround. Ellis played on Tuesday against Tampa, so presumably the net will be Lyon’s tonight.
Many others, of course, have been stepping up too. Thompson has 36 points (17G+19A) in the last 28 games. Dahlin (10G+19A) has been amazing as well. McLeod (6G+20A) has been stacking up points. Tuch (13G+11A) in his last 27 is playing his way into a big ticket in his contract year.
It’s a big shame that Norris (who has played 8, 50, 56 and now 19 games this season) can’t stay off the IR. His talent is right there but his availability has not allowed him to unlock it.
Key to the game: Which offense comes through?
This game features the two hottest offenses since Christmas, with Pittsburgh and Buffalo tied at exactly 4.05 goals/game. The better question could be reversed for which defense and goaltending can stand up to those offenses but it does stand to reason that the winning team is going to need (at least) four goals tonight.
Another key will be the first period. The Penguins are tops in the NHL with 28 total goals in the first periods since Christmas, the Sabres aren’t far behind with 26. Pittsburgh has been stingier by only allowing 11 first period goals, compared to 20 by Buffalo. A strong first is a great base to have for the rest of the game, the Penguins can’t rest on that alone since Buffalo has been great in the second periods (outscoring opponents by a combined score of 26-13). As a result, the Sabres have only been trailing in one game out of their last 20 after the second period mark.
A troubling statistical outlook shows the Sabres as a team that gets stronger as the game goes along (29 third period goals). The third has been the weakest for the Pens, giving up 20 goals. This likely will not be a comfortable game if the Pens are clinging to a late lead, but that situation is often times better than the alternative.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Brett Kulak / Ryan Shea
Ilya Solovyov / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Rutger McGroarty, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves
IR: Kris Letang, Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones (suspended), Jack St. Ivany
The Penguins had an off day yesterday as they finish out this stretch.
Mantha has been red hot lately, almost a shame the break is coming up to stop his recent tear. It’ll be interesting to see how the Pens’ productive second line stacks up against a Buffalo team that can roll two solid defensive pairs in the matchup category there.
The Spurs have one more home game in San Antonio before they head into the All-Star Weekend followed by their annual Rodeo Roadtrip.
The Silver & Black have kept busy off the court with a series of community events.
On Tuesday, Spurs Sports & Entertainment, alongside San Antonio Sports, Behind the Whistle, and local school districts, hosted the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Leadership Summit at Frost Bank Center.
700 female high school athletes from across Bexar County participated in a panel discussion.
The crowd received a visit from Spurs shooting guard Stanley Umude, a Warren High School alum.
Later that afternoon, Spurs rookie Carter Bryant hosted the fourth annual “Spurs Math Hoops Live” program, presented by Whataburger. Fourth and fifth grade students from Essence Preparatory Public School, Eloise Japhet Elementary School, and Herman Hirsch Elementary School participated in Spurs Math Hoops, a comprehensive community program, featuring a basketball board game, mobile app and curriculum that teaches students fundamental math skills through the game of basketball.
The Spurs Math Hoops program was featured on a global scale with local San Antonio participant Camila Ramirez competing in an international championship in Paris as part of The 2025 NBA Paris Games.
Spurs are in Dallas this evening before heading home to host the Mavs on Saturday. They don’t play in the Frost Bank Center again until March 5th when they host Eastern Conference top seeded Detroit Pistons.
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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 1, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a franchise-altering trade on Wednesday, officially moving on from another franchise-altering trade that took place just over a year ago. Gone is Anthony Davis, and with him the last remnants of Nico Harrison’s ill-fated vision.
Davis and the cap relief his departure affords the Mavericks is rightfully the headline, however there are also four new faces headed to Dallas. On the surface, their value is in said cap relief, as three of the four are expiring contracts after this season. That said, the Mavericks front office may have plans for some or all of these players beyond this offseason. We’ll take a look at who is coming to Dallas, their season stats, contract status and how they may fit long-term.
Khris Middleton
Stats Summary: 10.3 Points, 3.9 Rebounds, 3.3 Assists per game – 34 games played
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent after 2025-26 season
The number 39 pick in the 2012 Draft spent most of his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he won the 2021 NBA Championship. Middleton was a big part of the Bucks’ success, playing the role of Robin to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Batman. He also has an Olympic Gold Medal to his name.
At age 34 and playing Cooper Flagg’s most ideal position, Middleton is unlikely to be a long-term Maverick. One has to figure a chance to sign on with a contender this offseason is appealing to him, plus he does not fit the Mavs’ rebuild timeline. With Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington alongside Flagg, he is not first in line for the forward positions either. Still, even if he lasts only half of a season in Dallas, he could still bring valuable mentorship to Flagg and a veteran presence in general.
Malaki Branham
4.6 Points, 1.6 Rebounds, 0.8 Assists per game – 28 games played
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent after 2025-26 season
The number 20 pick in the 2022 Draft is a lesser known quantity. He logged decent minutes in his first two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, then saw a drop-off in year three before joining the Washington Wizards this year. He hits the three ball at a solid 37.8% clip and his draft profile suggested he was a capable three-level scorer coming into the league.
Branham gives the Mavs plenty of flexibility. He certainly fits the Flagg timeline at just 22-years old and it will cost Dallas nothing to give him some burn. He has proven capable of at least dropping 10 points per game given the chance, and is essentially a zero-risk player for Dallas. They can see how he pans out and either walk away or commit to him, likely for cheap, if they like what they see.
A.J. Johnson
2.8 Points, 1.2 Rebounds, 0.9 Assists per game – 25 games played
Contract Status: Under contract through 2026-27 season; team option for 2027-28 season
The number 23 pick in the 2024 Draft just turned 21-years old at the start of December. His road to the NBA was unique in that he committed to the University of Texas, then instead opted to go to the NBL before the Bucks drafted him. Standing 6’5” he has the length to defend on the perimeter but will need to fill out his 160-pound frame to endure the rigors of NBA life.
Like Branham, Johnson is a low-risk player who is certainly on the Flagg timeline. He averaged 9.1 points per game last season, but is raw any way you look at it with less-than-ideal shooting efficiency (36.8% overall; 27% from deep). Being under contract should give the Mavs some time to figure out what they have, with minimal financial impact on their bigger plans.
Marvin Bagley III
10.1 Points, 5.7 Rebounds, 1.5 Assists per game – 38 games played
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent after 2025-26 season
The number 2 pick in the 2018 Draft is the most intriguing acquisition of the four. Bagley came into the league with plenty of hype but did not live up to the expectations of his draft status. His NBA career has spanned the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, none of whom were particularly good for any consistent stretch during his respective tenures, so it will be interesting to see how he may fit with a rebuilding Dallas team.
Bagley will turn 27-years old in March, so he doesn’t have the youth of Branham and Johnson, but it’s difficult to categorize him as “too old.” He may not be in his prime when Flagg is, but it’s unreasonable to expect the team to surround Flagg with 20-year olds and hope for the best. Bagley could easily be a longer-term fit in Dallas and the Mavs are in a good position to see where they can go with him. If Daniel Gafford ends up being traded in the next few hours, Bagley could be a built-in replacement (they have similar numbers, but Bagley is happy to put up the occasional shot from downtown). If Gafford sticks around and Dereck Lively’s injury history proves dubious, Dallas won’t be totally strapped. If Gafford and Lively are the answer going forward, Bagley can play some power forward as part of a deep group of bigs, or he can simply walk or be part of a sign-and-trade. Like the others, Bagley affords the Mavs a lot of flexibility they didn’t have on Wednesday morning.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
CHINA - 2024/06/21: In this photo illustration, the American National Basketball Association (NBA) men's professional basketball league logo seen displayed on a smartphone with an economic stock exchange index graph in the background. (Photo Illustration by Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Today is the day. Trade deadline day. The one we circle on the calendar and quietly count toward from the moment the season tips off.
What makes the NBA different is how much movement lives around this moment. And this year, it feels louder. It’s more alive than it has been in a while. Almost like teams finally cracked the code on the apron rules and the cap math, with front offices working overtime to build scenarios that actually function within the margins.
The movement has been constant. Anthony Davis ends up in Washington alongside Trae Young. Jonathan Kuminga finally finds a new home in Atlanta. Chicago, a franchise that usually plays this time of year conservatively, has gone full chaos mode, spinning off moves that leave you squinting at the transaction wire trying to figure out the why. James Harden is now in Cleveland. Dario Saric has been traded twice. Jock Landale too.
Here is the contrast. This kind of activity usually waits for the final hours. The panic. The scramble. The last-minute leverage plays. Instead, teams got out in front of it. They moved early. They acted decisively. And it has turned deadline week into something more than a countdown.
It has turned it into an entertaining spectacle.
But there is one team that has stayed quiet. One team with very little smoke, very few whispers, and almost no real traction in the rumor mill. That team is the Phoenix Suns.
I think everyone knows where I land on this. I do not need a big shake-up. Frankly, I am tired of them. A midseason reset is not something I believe this team needs, and it feels like the organization sees it the same way. What the Suns have right now is rare. It’s chemistry. It’s buy in. It’s defensive intensity and relentless effort. Around the league, teams are trying to manufacture that. Phoenix already has it.
That is the contrast. When you have something that is hard to replicate, you do not tip the boat. You do not make a trade simply for the sake of making a trade. Especially when you are still developing young players who need runway, not disruption. The Suns have given them that. And it shows.
Could they trim some payroll? Sure. Nick Richards moving makes logical sense on paper, even if it risks thinning the center depth and possibly biting them later. That is the kind of move that fits.
Today tells us what this team is going to look like for the rest of the season. Yes, the buyout market is coming. It always does. But rarely does it move needles in any meaningful way. It is conversation fuel, not an earthquake.
So now we wait. We watch. Notifications on. Refresh buttons working overtime. Waiting to see if any madness breaks through the calm.
Welcome to trade deadline day, my friends. One of the best days on the NBA calendar.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 31: Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 3-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This intro was originally going to be about how the Pirates were having an interesting offseason after being connected to Kyle Schwarber earlier this winter and with Ken Rosenthal saying they were making an aggressive push for Framber Valdez yesterday. Then the Tigers went and signed Valdez, so the Pirates offseason of “No Paul, we’re really, REALLY trying! We swear!” continues.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros pitches in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on September 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
There are now 49 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. That’s seven weeks from today that we’ll be back to real baseball. I’m not so sure we’ll be rid of the snow piles by then. WBC pitchers and catchers are four days away from reporting, with the rest of the pitchers and catchers arriving a day later. The first exhibition game is 15 days from today. It’s all getting close.
The last big starting pitching free agent question got settled last night. The Orioles are not the winners in the Framber Valdez derby. We may never know how seriously they competed. What we do know is that ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Detroit Tigers are the team that’s landed Valdez on a three-year deal that will pay $115 million. That is a $38.3 million per year contract, a record for a left-handed starting pitcher, although the present day value will be less once deferrals (currently not reported) are calculated. In addition, Valdez has an opt-out after the second year of the deal.
Now that the Valdez business is resolved and the Orioles know he’s not coming here, should they try to pivot to a different remaining starting pitcher? I’ve been on the “Valdez or bust” train for a while, not so much because I was enthused about Valdez as because I just don’t think any of these other dudes are going to be the difference-makers that would be worth paying them $15+ million or whatever only to displace Dean Kremer from the rotation. Mike Elias might feel differently. So might you.
A second, obvious question arises: Should the Orioles have made an offer that would have been preferable to Valdez than this one? It’s hard to say what that might have been; maybe a deal with no deferrals, maybe one with an opt-out after just one single season. That’s a heck of a lot of money and it’s tough for any pitcher to really live up to that in even the best of circumstances. Valdez, as has been mentioned frequently through the offseason, is already 32 so there’s the question of how much he’ll decline, if any, through this contract.
Not having the high bid here is justifiable, I’d say. But also that’s making a bet on this group forming a competitive rotation until at least July: Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Cade Povich, Brandon Young, Trey Gibson, or some unforeseen miracle or disaster player. This is a bet that could pay off. It is also a bet that could fail spectacularly in a way that will leave people asking of Elias, “What did you think would happen, you idiot?” I would be wondering, at that point, if David Rubenstein was starting to move in the direction of being one of those people.
“What did you think would happen, you idiot?” was the basic result for the 2025 Orioles. The bet that they were good enough to muddle along until July and then address needs by trade failed hard.
For this year, Elias is also betting on dingers from Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward plus bounce-backs from the many disappointing hitters returning from last year’s Orioles. He’s betting on Rookie of the Year-competing performance from either or both of Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers. He’s betting on being able to make it with a bullpen of Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge, and a bunch of guys nobody cares all that much about at this moment. Some of these bets feel better than others right now.
Against this backdrop, the biggest thing the Orioles had going on yesterday is that they announced the non-roster invitees to spring training. All players on the 40-man roster are automatically included for spring training, with non-roster invites making up the rest. Many of these were reported through the offseason when the players involved signed minor league deals that come with big league spring training invites. The team announced the following 30 non-roster invites yesterday afternoon:
Pitchers (14)
LHP Luis De León
LHP Andrew Magno
LHP Eric Torres
LHP Josh Walker
RHP Jeisson Cabrera
RHP Hans Crouse
RHP Nestor German
RHP Trey Gibson
RHP Keagan Gillies
RHP Richard Guasch
RHP Jean Carlos Henriquez
RHP Enoli Paredes
RHP Albert Suárez
RHP Levi Wells
RHP Cameron Weston
Of these, prospects who will hopefully do something interesting are: De León, German, Gibson, and Wells. One never knows who might go from spring training afterthought to a key player on the roster; not too long ago, Ryan O’Hearn was one such spring training invite. I follow Orioles news very closely and I have never seen the name Richard Guasch before in my life.
Catchers (5)
Ethan Anderson
Silas Ardoin
Maverick Handley
Sam Huff
Creed Willems
You need a lot of catchers early in camp because there are also a lot of pitchers and somebody’s got to catch the five-wide bullpen sessions. I think Ardoin could end up as an occasional third catcher if he shows enough. Anderson and Willems are different flavors of prospect who can hope to get a little attention in the early days of camp.
Infielders (6)
José Barrero
Payton Eeles
Aron Estrada
Ryan Noda
Willy Vasquez
Luis Vázquez
It’s too late for you to claim your spot as the Aron Estrada hype train conductor, because that’s me, but there’s still plenty of room for you to get on board. You might recall Eeles from being acquired earlier this offseason for Alex Jackson. Notably, Eeles is listed at 5’5”.
Outfielders (4)
Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Jud Fabian
Jhonkensy Noel
Will Robertson
Bradfield, in particular, will probably get some chances to play in early spring road games where many of the regular players stay back in Sarasota.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
FanGraphs projections for the 2026 Orioles make one thing clear (The Baltimore Banner) Jon Meoli notes that the narrow gap between the Orioles and other AL East teams means that any improvement could be worth quite a lot. Valdez, we now know, will not be that improvement.
Top prospects among Orioles non-roster invitees (Orioles.com) Jake Rill’s rundown of the non-roster guys focuses on a few who are prospects worth following. It will be nice if those guys can put themselves on the radar for later in the season.
Fans in Frederick excited about Keys return (Baltimore Baseball) The Keys are an Orioles affiliate once again! I’m excited because driving to Frederick is better than driving to Aberdeen. Although I’ll probably still never do it.
How Baltimore is melting mountains of snow (The Baltimore Banner) This article is more about things happening on the Ravens end of the Camden Yards sports complex than the Orioles end, but nonetheless, that is a lot of snow in Lot O and apparently it needs to be gone by March 7.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Nothing of particular note has happened on February 5 in Orioles history. With Valdez off the board, we can probably figure this is not going to change today.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2014 reliever Ryan Webb, 2002 reliever Chris Brock, and 1996-98 infielder/Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar. Today is Alomar’s 58th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you as well! Your birthday buddies for today include: tire magnate John Boyd Dunlop (1840), auto engineer André Citroën (1878), author William S. Burroughs (1914), baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron (1934), artist H. R. Giger (1940), and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (1985).
On this day in history…
In 1901, J. P. Morgan officially incorporated the U. S. Steel corporation.
In 1918, American aerial gunner Stephen W. Thompson shot down a German plane, the first recognized aerial victory for someone in the U.S. military. Thompson was serving as the gunner for a French plane.
In 1945, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his vow to return to Manila.
In 1971, the Apollo 14 mission landed on the moon, with astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell walking on the surface. Shepard bookended a career that began with his being the first American in space with his command on this mission.
A random Orioles trivia question
I received a book of Orioles trivia for Christmas. I’ll ask a question in this space every time it’s my turn until I run out of questions or forget to ask one. If you are replying early in the day, please be polite and give your answer in spoiler text so that others arriving later have an opportunity to participate.
In 2005, I joined the Orioles and immediately went on an 11-game hitting streak. Who am I?
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on February 5. Have a safe Thursday.
BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Skiers from host Italy still trying to secure starting spots led the second downhill training session at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday and Austria’s Daniel Hemetsberger crashed.
Mattia Casse posted the fastest time but missed a gate midway down. Teammates Florian Schieder and Giovanni Franzoni were second and third, respectively.
Franzoni, the breakout star of the Italian team who recently won the downhill in Kitzbuhel, Austria, already has a starting spot, along with Dominik Paris, who holds the Bormio record with seven World Cup victories. Casse, Schieder and Christof Innerhofer — who was seventh — are vying for the last two spots.
Favorites like Marco Odermatt and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, the American who led the opening session Wednesday, tested only portions of the Stelvio course and otherwise stood up out of their tuck positions.
Hemetsberger lost control midway down, got spun around and crashed through a gate — causing his helmet to pop off. He then hit the safety nets at high speed. He quickly got back up but was holding his face and nose area.
A third and final training session is scheduled for Friday before the downhill race on Saturday awards the first Alpine skiing medal of the Games.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 31: Dalen Terry #7 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 31, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have a trade!
Leon Rose might not have had the midseason blockbuster up his sleeve (OG Anunoby) or added an impact bench player (Derrick Rose, Josh Hart), but he almost always makes a move. In his six seasons now as Knicks president of basketball operations, he has made a midseason move in all six:
2020-21: Traded Dennis Smith Jr. and 2021 2nd for Derrick Rose 2021-22: Traded Kevin Knox and a conditional CHA 1st for Cam Reddish 2022-23: Traded Cam Reddish (and more) for Josh Hart 2023-24: Traded Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett for OG Anunoby 2024-25: Traded Jericho Sims for Delon Wright
Yes, some of these are bigger than others, but the Knicks made a move, nevertheless.
Per Shams Charania, the Knicks are trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls in a straight-up, 1-for-1 deal for fourth-year wing Dalen Terry. There are no draft picks involved.
The New York Knicks are trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls for Dalen Terry, sources tell ESPN.
The move ends a frustrating Knicks tenure for Yabusele, who went from a celebrated offseason acquisition following his career revival for the horrid 76ers last season to a pariah. He showed up in camp overweight and visibly played slower than he did in Philly or even in Eurobasket. In 41 games, he averaged just 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds on 39.3% from the field and 29.4% from three. His best game as a Knick? When he scored 11 against the Jazz in a 34-point blowout.
Yabusele’s contract had been a holdup as the Knicks attempted to swing deals for a number of bench players like Jose Alvarado, Yves Missi, and Jeremy Sochan. Yabusele has a player option for 2026-27 worth $5.7 million, making him a negative asset. It’s gotten so bad crumbs are being left on social media, and he’s flirting with overseas opportunities in Greece and Israel.
But now, he’s off the books. It was widely assumed that the Knicks would need to part with some of the little draft capital they have left to move Yabusele in any fashion, but that does not seem to be the case. This opens up extra salary for the 2026 offseason, giving the Knicks a better chance to retain Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson in free agency. The Knicks are now projected to have $21.3 million in space under the second apron in the offseason, albeit with six roster spots to fill.
Terry was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Bulls, and the Arizona product has struggled to break through in Chicago, despite the hopeless mediocrity the team has been in. He’s started just seven games and has averaged just 11.1 minutes a night for his career, but has taken a big step forward in one aspect: three-point shooting.
The 23-year-old has never been known for his shooting, but he’s at 41.3% in a small sample size this season. He had seen an improved role as of late due to injuries and has taken advantage, averaging 7.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 48% from the field and 55% from deep in his last four games.
Terry stands at 6’6” and is not a big, lanky wing, but he is taller than several rotation options and could get some minutes in a Josh Hart role, similar to what two-way wing Kevin McCullar Jr. has been getting when Hart is in street clothes. There’s a chance he could play a role, but he currently exists as emergency depth.
While fans will wake up Thursday morning assuming that this is the one and only move, there is a chance that Terry is redirected elsewhere. While the CBA normally restricts immediately flipping players, it is possible if the player’s salary is not aggregated. If the Knicks are still interested in Alvarado, for example, they can do a 1-for-1 trade while adding second-rounders as sweeteners.
This trade does, however, restrict the Knicks from acquiring another player making more than his $5.4 million salary. For that reason, Pacome Dadiet and other low-salary players can likely breathe a sigh of relief.
As for the buyout market, if no other move is made, this does nothing. The team will save approximately $38,000 from this move and will be able to sign a 15th player… three days earlier, on March 30. That basically does nothing.
This is a very small move, but one that Leon Rose has thrived with on the margins to keep flexibility. This move was undoubtedly made with offseason flexibility in mind, but don’t rule out one more deal involving Terry before the deadline at 3 PM.
Apr 7, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts during player introductions before the game against the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
As a Pittsburgh Pirates fan who is younger than 50-years-old, there has not been a lot of marquee moments from the club in my lifetime. While it was incredible watching the Pirates return to the postseason and earn an NL Wild Card win over the rival Cincinnati Reds, I’ve gotta say it just wasn’t enough. After that brief run of success that the team had in the early 2010’s, the organization dismantled the core of players that I grew up loving. It was devastating watching Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte be traded away, and for a long time, it was hard to watch the Pirates at all.
My love for baseball was reignited by becoming a writer for Bucs Dugout in September of 2022, but 2023 is the year that permanently changed how I watch baseball. With my first professional writing job came a new responsibility to follow baseball as closely as possible, which in a way is not a responsibility at all. Getting to write about baseball and cover the Pittsburgh Pirates was like a dream come true, and while it was shaky at first, it has become one of the greatest joys in my life.
At the turn of the New Year in 2023, it felt like Pittsburgh was turning back the clock by signing McCutchen to a one-year deal and officially reuniting the best Pirate of the 21st century with the city that he became a star in. Driving through the city at the time and seeing the signs donning the simple but powerful phrase “He’s back” was incredible. Getting to have a second chance at seeing my favorite Pirate back in Pittsburgh was an incredible way to start 2023.
At the time, Pittsburgh had so many exciting up and coming players to pay attention to as well. I was very pumped for the tandem of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and then shortstop Oneil Cruz, citing them as a combo that could be as exciting in baseball as Ghostface Killah and Raekwon the Chef are in hip-hop. I was very high on one of the best pitching prospects in Pittsburgh’s system, Quinn Priester, and raced home from work to see him make his debut in July of that year. Endy Rodriguez had yet to make his MLB debut but was impressing in the Minor Leagues, and Luis Ortiz was still just an exciting starter and not under FBI indictment for rigging pitches. Needless to say, I didn’t and still do not have a crystal ball.
Looking back, the team as a whole was not that good. The Pirates finished with a 78-86 season, which had them at fourth in the NL Central, but at least it was not another 100-loss season. All things considered, it was an improvement. Even though the team finished poorly, there were some fun milestones that were fun to write about and watch throughout the season. McCutchen recorded his 2000th hit that year as fans got a fond glimpse of the past by the way he turned back the clock for the Buccos. Fans also got a glimpse into the future, as Pittsburgh selected pitcher Paul Skenes first overall in the 2023 draft. It took very little time for fans to see how impactful a draft pick of that magnitude would be, as Skenes made his MLB the very next season. I hope and pray that the Pirates don’t mess that up.
Although I was excited to have ‘Cutch back in Pittsburgh, it ultimately didn’t result in anything for the Pirates other than having a childhood favorite back on the squad. They didn’t make the postseason, they didn’t play in any high stakes games and they finished right where many expected them to. Despite my hometown team not performing very well, I got to watch my nation’s team on the biggest stage in the most exciting contest I’ve ever witnessed as a baseball fan.
The 2023 World Baseball Classic set the sport ablaze. For the first time in the tournament’s history, it really felt like every country that participated was bringing their absolute best, and for Team USA that was a very exciting time. I was in the middle of my enlistment in the Air Force and having always had immense love and pride for my country, I was dialed in when the WBC games started. Team USA had a mythical Avengers-like lineup. Mike Trout served as the team’s captain and primary recruiter. Trout brought on fellow All-Stars like Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber and even then Pirate David Bednar.
Team USA was stacked, but so was the rest of the competition. In the quarterfinal game against Venezuela, the Americans were on the ropes down by two in the eighth inning. Team USA had the bases loaded when Trea Turner came to the plate. With an 0-2 count Turner turns on an 86mph pitch that soared over the wall for a team USA grand slam. That single hit is one of the greatest highlights I have ever seen as a sports fan. Team USA would eventually go on to lose to Team Japan in the finals, but that game had all the ingredients that make up a good heavyweight slug fest. It was baseball at the highest level on the world stage with America coming up just short, but make no mistake we will be back.
As a kid, I grew up loving playing baseball in the backyard and on my neighborhood teams. I grew up loving the fun Pittsburgh teams that brought a buzz for baseball back to the Steel City. I hated watching those teams be dismantled, and I had a hard time with not loving playing the game anymore as a high schooler. As an adult and a young Airman away from my friends and family, I fell back in love with baseball by getting to write about it and be reconnected to the game and community that I grew up loving. That’s the beauty of baseball. At the end of the day it’s just a game, but it’s a game that means so much to so many people for so many reasons. 2023 was just another year for the Pirates, but for me it changed how I watch and enjoy baseball for the rest of my life.
Tell us in the comments, what year permanently changed the way you watched baseball.
