TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 19: Cole Wilcox #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday, September 19, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Alex Zadorozny/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Had the deal not occurred in the early stages of the winter, with the club still reeling from their ALCS exit, Cole Wilcox’s acquisition from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations would’ve delivered a classic Jerry Dipoto quote. Something in the milieu of having had their eyes on Wilcox since his draft day, seeing him as one of the most talented arms available, yadda ft. yadda.
Instead, as I wrote upon his acquisition, Wilcox appears more as tertiary decor for the M’s bullpen pile; 40-man bunting that will remain past Opening Day but is unlikely to be in Seattle for the season’s debut. In the linked blurb, I outlined Wilcox’s growth mechanically from his starting days into a higher-effort, bullpen role. Once a notable feature of the Blake Snell trade that sent that ace from Tampa Bay to San Diego, Wilcox’s post-Tommy John trajectory is a reminder that the big leaguers we see recovering fully from the knife are those who’ve been more fortunate.
Wilcox’s velocity and efficacy has never recovered fully from his 2021 time on the surgeon’s table. His halting performance and health in 2023 and 2024 demonstrated a very different ceiling than his draft day promise, where as Emerson Hancock’s former rotation-mate he secured an ample $3.3 million signing bonus to leave campus early as the 80th pick overall. Now, he’ll be in the bullpen, or even possibly the rotation once again with Hancock, helping the Tacoma Rainiers compete for a Pacific Coast League title while filling a swingman role in the aftermath of Logan Evans taking his turn on the TJ roulette.
This isn’t conclusive for Wilcox. The 26 year old showed promise a season ago, sitting around 96 mph with his sinker as a reliever and making his big league debut with the Rays for a single frame. After an age 25 season with just two appearances in the majors, Eduard Bazardo burst onto the scene with… three more seasons riding the AAA-MLB shuttle between three organizations, throwing 133.1 minor league innings and just 60.0 in the majors. At age 29, Bazardo came into camp last year as a contender for the final spot in the bullpen. It would be, for the first time in his career, a year fully spent as a big leaguer, solidifying himself as a sinker-slider mainstay for the M’s. 40 in 40s are a snapshot, a moment only somewhat more predictive than one we might’ve taken in Chattanooga, TN in 1999 when Wilcox came into this world.
Dodgers executive Lon Rosen, shown at spring training in 2024, will become the Lakers' new president of business operations, the team announced Thursday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
As the Lakers prepare to enter the stretch run of the NBA season, the team announced that Lon Rosen will replace Tim Harris as president of business operations.
Rosen, who has been an executive vice president and chief marketing officer with the Dodgers since 2012 when Mark Walters and Guggenheim Baseball Management purchased the club, worked for the Lakers as an intern while in college and eventually became an executive with the organization in the 1980s.
"For many years, I have seen the impact that Lon has had in our industry," Jeanie Buss, Lakers governor and minority owner, said in a statement released by the team. "Over that time, I have learned that not only is Lon a great person, but he also has a deep understanding of both sports and entertainment and a true feel for where this business is headed.”
Harris announced this week to colleagues that he would be stepping down at the end of this season, according to the team's statement. He was part of the management team that negotiated a $3-billion, 20-year deal with Charter Communications to create Spectrum SportsNet for the Lakers in 2012.
Rosen, who eventually became an agent and sports business leader, helped the Dodgers increase revenue during a period in which they won three World Series championships.
“I’m beyond grateful to Jeanie and Mark for trusting me with this incredible opportunity,” Rosen said in the statement released by the Lakers. “As everyone knows, the economics of the sports business are constantly changing — and they will continue to do so.
“But, at root, my job is a simple one: figuring out how to do right by our employees and our partners while ensuring that the Lakers continue to provide an unparalleled experience for our fans in Los Angeles and around the world. I look forward to working alongside Jeanie, Rob and the whole front-office team to make that happen.”
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 11: A detail shot of a New York Mets London Series 2024 bobblehead during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mets will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 team all season long with some unique giveaways. If you’d like to rock a replica ring from the ‘86 squad, you have to be one of the first 15,000 fans in the ballpark on Saturday, March 28. If clothing is more your style, the team will distribute a 1986 World Champions retro t-shirt on Tuesday, May 26, and a 1986 Retro Jersey on Saturday, July 12. It’s worth noting that the jersey will be given out in a game against the Red Sox, whom the Mets famously defeated to earn their second, and most recent, championship. The Mets will also give out four bobbleheads to celebrate iconic moments from the 1986 team, but these games require a special ticket in order to procure the promo. These are: a Gary Carter bobblehead (Thursday, April 9), a Jesse Orosco bobblehead (Friday, April 24), a Mookie Wilson bobblehead (Tuesday, May 12), and a Ray Knight bobblehead (Sunday, August 2)
Beyond celebrating the 1986 team, the club also has a number of cool bobbleheads that could be yours if you don’t value your time enough and can wait in line two hours before gates to guarantee the promo (side note and opinion of this writer, but all promotions at sporting events should be available to all fans; you purchase a ticket, you get the promo. End rant). The Mets have two unique Juan Soto bobbleheads: One highlighting his 40/30 season on Saturday, April 11, and one baseball card bobblehead on Thursday, June 25. The Mets also have a Mr. Met Unisphere Light Up bobblehead on Saturday, April 25, and a Hello Kitty Bobblehead on June 13 that is sure to be very in-demand. Those promos go to the first 18,000 fans through the gate.
The Mets didn’t forget all you kids out there, because they lined up some child-friendly promos. The first 5,000 kids 12 and under at the Sunday, March 29 game on Opening Weekend will get a 5-borough race kids puzzle, which seems to suggest the popular race is returning in 2026. There is also a Crayola “Color Your Own Mrs. Met” Bobblehead on Sunday, June 14, which also goes to the first 5,000 kids at the game.
All fans in attendance to Opening Day will get a magnetic schedule (I suppose the Mets heard my pleas in one specific instance). Beyond that, probably the most unique and creative giveaway is the “Bobby Valentine Disguise” promo, which goes to the first 15,000 fans at the Friday, May 29 game against the Marlins. There’s also a soccer jersey (Thursday, June 11), a Mets purse (Monday, June 22), a Mets chain necklace (Tuesday, June 23), a Marcus Semien replica jersey (Wednesday, June 24), and a Pride Night sleeveless jersey (Friday, June 26).
Aug 9, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals guest coach Yadier Molina (4) looks on from the dugout during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
One of the biggest non-player questions St. Louis Cardinals fans have as the 2026 season is about to begin is what will Yadier Molina’s real role be with the team. We’re starting to get answers and it appears his impact with the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals team will be greater than the past which could be a crucial part of the team’s ongoing rebuild.
It was nearly a month ago that I shared the news that the St. Louis Cardinals had hired Yadier Molina as a Special Assistant to President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom. This was the same title Yadi received in December of 2023 when then POBO John Mozeliak brought him back into the organization, but his visibility then was scarce. There are signs that this new era of Yadi will be different as he just told KMOV in St. Louis that he would be in the dugout for 2 or 3 series in St. Louis this year and then he would head to the minor leagues to help the young catchers in their development. I have not heard him specify exactly how much time he’ll spend with the minor league catchers.
There is no doubt that Yadier Molina imparting his knowledge into young Cardinals catching prospects like Rainiel Rodriguez could be the key to the team developing the next leader behind the plate. The newest MLB prospect rankings said that Rodriguez has thrown out at least 30% of the base stealing attempts against him and you’d have to believe that Yadi can help him increase that number. Pitch framing is another skill set that Rainiel needs to improve.
From what I’ve heard Yadi say during his time at Spring Training over the past week is he believes the St. Louis Cardinals have the talent they need even if they don’t have the recognizable names. He said his goal is nothing less than helping the Cardinals win the World Series again. Most believe that’s nothing but a daydream for the 2026 season, but Molina’s influence on all of the young Cardinals will be a key element in helping the organization bring back the winning mindset that is required for a future playoff-contending St. Louis club.
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 4: The sneakers worn by Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 4, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Brusdar Graterol #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws on the field during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Brusdar Graterol pitch in an actual game. And it’s going to be a little while longer too, as manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Wednesday at Camelback Ranch that the Dodgers reliever won’t be ready to open the regular season.
“With Brusdar, he’s shown that we can count on him in the biggest of spots. We just gotta get him up to the velocity. It’s an intentionally slow build up,” Roberts said Wednesday. “He’s not going to start the season [active].”
We’ve talked before about how opening day is just one of 186 days on the regular season schedule, and on a Dodgers team with postseason aspirations they basically plan for seven months instead of six. Last year, for instance, the Dodgers tied their franchise record with 40 pitchers used, but only four were active for the entire regular season — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, and Jack Dreyer.
But it still has to be disheartening for Graterol, who also had shoulder trouble and a hamstring injury in 2024 that limited him to only 10 games between the regular season and postseason that year, only pitching a combined 9 2/3 innings over the last two seasons.
Graterol with his five years, 167 days of major league service time will be a free agent after this season. But he enters his launch season with 190 2/3 career innings. Weirdly, that almost exactly matches Dustin May (191 2/3) heading into last season with similar service time. May though was a starter and after two Tommy John surgeries was able to pitch 132 1/3 innings in 2025, more than any two of his previous seasons combined heading into the open market.
Phillips will also be a free agent at the end of the season, and will have less of a runway into free agency, as he’s not expected back before the All-Star break. He has a little more bulk stats under his belt at this point with 252 innings and 46 saves (45 of them with the Dodgers).
Graterol will still have time to put together his 2026 season, even if the build-up to get there is methodical.
Goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White give Vitor Pereira a winning start as Forest head coach
I was at Dyche’s final game in charge and Omari Hutchinson was underwhelming, to say the least. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to the new regime.
Pereira: “Today is three days working. but working to play in a way to try short communications, be very clear. Today I hope that I see my team play organised with tactical organisation, and be able to express themselves, play with courage and a mentality to win.”
Doug Moe, Head Coach for the Denver Nuggets points his finger as a signal during the NBA Midwest Division basketball game against the Seattle SuperSonics on 6th April 1990 at the McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado, United States. The Denver Nuggets won the game 119 - 103. (Photo by Damian Strohmeyer/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier this week, we got the sad news that former basketball player and coach Doug Moe passed away at the age of 87. Moe is probably best known as the coach of several NBA teams, most notably the Denver Nuggets in the 1980s. His Denver teams played a remarkably fast paced, motion offense, regularly scoring more than 120+ points per game. He was a fairly successful coach too, as his teams made the playoffs in nine of the 10 years he was in Denver, advancing to the conference finals in 1985.
Long before his coaching career, Moe was a player. In fact, he was a player at UNC who seemed to be on his way to great things before circumstances got in the way.
Moe came out of Brooklyn, he was part of the Frank McGuire/NYC pipeline, and began playing for the Tar Heels in the 1958-59 season. He fully broke out the following year, averaging a double double with 16.8 points and a team-leading 11.3 rebounds per game. Finally in 1960-61, he put up a remarkable 20.4 points and 14.0 rebounds a game, for which he was voted an All-American by several of the different voting bodies that hand out that honor.
However, later it was revealed that prior to the 1960-61 season, he had accepted $75 to take a meeting with some people who were looking to fix games. Unlike teammate Lou Brown, who set up the meeting, Moe was never implicated for anything beyond taking the meeting, never mind throwing games, but the damage was done. He was suspended from the university, and the resulting scandal led to McGuire losing his coaching gig at UNC. That, of course, led to Dean Smith getting the gig, so that worked out at least.
Meanwhile, Moe himself got blackballed from the NBA for his part, leading to him spending his playing career in the ABA. He got his start in coaching there as well, eventually coming over to the NBA following the merger. After his Nuggets’ stint, his last head coaching gig came with the 76ers in 1992-93. He mostly walked away from coaching after that, but did later return to the Nuggets as a consultant and assistant coach.
The way his UNC tenure ended makes things a little awkward for the school itself to celebrate him too much. However, Doug Moe was a very good basketball player for the Tar Heels, and that shouldn’t be forgotten.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors poses for a portrait on February 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the second half of the season set to begin Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors are expected to debut their newest addition, big man Kristaps Porzingis. The 7-foot-2 center was acquired ahead of the NBA trade deadline from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. While he wasn’t healthy enough to suit up immediately after the trade, Porzingis said on Wednesday he is feeling good and is “ready to go” ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Boston Celtics.
Kristaps Porzingis said he’s “back at it” tomorrow vs Celtics. Team listing him as questionable so he didn’t want to say for certain, but it’s clear he plans to make his Warriors debut.
The All-Star Break gave Porzingis the opportunity to scrimmage with the team and get acclimated with his new teammates. As he begins adjusting to his new role, his early impressions of the Warriors’ system were positive, highlighting the offense’s freedom and simplicity.
"I like the offense. I like the simplicity and the freedom. That's the hardest to guard."
On paper, Porzingis fits right in with the Warriors as a floor-spacing big that can also be used as a lob threat. He’s averaging 17.1 points per game this season while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three-point line.
Although Stephen Curry has already been ruled out as he continues to manage runner’s knee, Porzingis’ debut gives Golden State a new focal point for the time being as they look to make a push in the second half of the season.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, February 19th:
Prior to the break, Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed optimism that the swelling and pain in Curry’s right knee would calm and he’d perhaps get clearance for Thursday night. But Curry returned to the facility Wednesday night and told the training staff his “runner’s knee” didn’t feel quite ready to participate in a live scrimmage.
“Just wasn’t where he needed to be,” Kerr said. “It’s unfortunate. We’ll have an update tomorrow after he goes through his time with the training staff.”
The Warriors are a bit like the Heat in that a really positive rating for their front office relies quite a bit on history that’s getting further and further away. Complicating matters for Golden State: they’ve dealt with brain drain that Miami hasn’t. Bob Myers, Jerry West and Travis Schlenk, all important figures from Golden State’s rise, are gone. We’re now almost three seasons into Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s tenure, and not much has been accomplished. The signature move was the Jimmy Butler trade, and it by and large worked as intended. A torn ACL, though, all but ended any hopes they had of contending this season.
Otherwise? The past few years have mostly been disappointing.
“I just don't think that this is something that you can just allow people to decide what they wanna decide because it involves so many other people including people that you have to go to war with"
That last part about the timing of it all is worth unpacking, as there has been chatter among rival teams for months now that the league was delaying its announcement for the sake of salvaging All-Star Weekend. Yet until the ruling comes, the Clippers’ every move will continue to be analyzed by league folks and fans alike.
Did they give president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank a lucrative and lengthy extension months ago as a preemptive battening of the hatches? Was the Ivica Zubac deal with the Indiana Pacers perhaps motivated by the desire to secure first-round draft picks in case the Clippers have to forfeit draft picks? Did James Harden want to get out of Dodge, err, Inglewood (and off to the Cleveland Cavaliers) in part because of the chaos that might be coming around the bend? This is the sort of stuff that has been bandied about for some time now, and which will be interesting to revisit when clarity finally comes.
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving will miss the season to allow himself additional time to fully heal from the torn ACL he suffered last March. Irving will make his return for the 2026–27 season. pic.twitter.com/hfqAiRTPP4
So how high can the Warriors rise, and how far can they fall? For me, the answer is boring: I think they’re stuck in the play-in tournament. I could see them rising one spot to have the top seed in the tourney, or falling to the last spot.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors embrace prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Chase Center on January 30, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors return to action tonight, kicking off the 27-game second “half” with a home matchup against the Boston Celtics. The good news is that the Warriors should be quite well rested … they didn’t have a single player lace up their sneakers at the busy All-Star weekend. The bad news is that the rest doesn’t seem to have helped those in the infirmary. Steph Curry, who had been hoping to return before the break, has been ruled out for Thursday’s game, and it’s a little ominous — coach Steve Kerr has said that Curry might be headed for yet another MRI.
Despite all that, tonight’s game at the Chase Center is must-see TV for Dubs fans who are starved for hoops after a week without meaningful games … and for anyone invested in where the Warriors will end up in the standings. There’s no shortage of storylines to pay attention to as the Warriors get back on the court, but here are the eight biggest questions that will be answered over the next two months.
How does Kristaps Porziņģis fit?
The Warriors didn’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they still made a significant addition at the NBA trade deadline. In two separate deals made to facilitate each other, the Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, while receiving Kristaps Porziņģis and a second-round draft pick.
Porziņģis, who was an All-Star in 2018, is on the final year of a two-year, $60 million deal that hasn’t aged particularly well … he’s only played in 59 games over the course of that contract, and has been traded twice. Yet it seems unlikely that the Warriors acquired him merely to be a rental who would reach free agency and seek out the next opportunity. Sure, there were some other long-term benefits of the trade for Golden State — they rid themselves of the final two years and nearly $20 million on Hield’s contract, and grabbed a late draft pick — but the primary goal of the trade was to acquire Porziņģis.
That’s not to say that the Warriors have already made up their mind that they’ll re-sign Porziņģis this summer (though they certainly can, as they acquired his Bird rights in the trade). But it does mean that they’re open to it and curious about it.
With the Warriors no longer harboring dreams of contention following Jimmy Butler III’s ACL tear, watching how Porziņģis fits with his new squad is the biggest storyline for the rest of the season. In theory, the 30-year old Latvian is a great fit with the team. He’s one of the tallest players in the NBA, at 7’2, and his wingspan is outrageous. Despite that daunting size, he’s a fluid player who moves well and has good athleticism, and is a career 36.6% shooter from deep … and 38.7% over the last four years. He’s a very strong defensive player, and can be a force on offense.
But there are always questions about how new players will fit in Kerr’s system, and alongside Curry, and that’s doubly true for big men. Can Porziņģis make the right reads and decisions, and can he make them quickly? Will he understand his role, set big screens, and fit the defensive scheme? An enormous, athletic, slick-shooting stretch five with strong defense feels like the perfect fit on offense next to Curry, and on defense next to Draymond Green, but you never know until you see it.
Perhaps more importantly is the question of whether or not Porziņģis, who has played just 17 games this year, can get healthy and stay healthy. He only played 42 games last year, and has hit the 60-game mark just once since the 2016-17 season. How he looks on the court — and how often he’s on it — may determine whether his 2026 stint with the Warriors is a blip on his Basketball-Reference page, or the start of a long journey.
How will Gui Santos, Will Richard, and Pat Spencer fare with larger roles?
Butler’s injury and the deadline trades opened up playing time for a lot of players, but specifically for three. With forwards Butler and Kuminga no longer suiting up, Gui Santos has slid into a large role, with Kerr saying that the Brazilian is likely to stay in the starting lineup going forward. With Hield gone, playing time has opened up for Richard to be one of the primary backcourt players off the bench. And with the team clearing some cap space and two roster spots, they were able to give Spencer a guaranteed contract, right as he exhausted his two-way contract playing time.
All three players have shown great things throughout the season, and all three have had moments where their inexperience is on full display. They now get nearly 30 games, with more leash than ever before, to prove that they can be not just intriguing players, but key rotation pieces on a good basketball team.
Richard is under contract for next season, but Spencer is not, and Santos has a team option. It seems certain that at least two of the trio will be on next year’s roster, and probable that all three will. But it’s audition time for each one: not just for a future roster spot, but for a more permanent role moving forward.
Is Steve Kerr enjoying himself?
After the shorthanded Warriors used a furious late rally to beat the Phoenix Suns two weeks ago, I commented on Bluesky that Kerr was “living his dream now.” It was mostly a joke, but not entirely. Kerr looked happy and rejuvenated. He admitted after the game that the win felt like a championship victory.
There’s no doubt that Kerr enjoys playing with a scrappy team of underdogs who hustle hard and buy into his philosophies, but that can only take you so far when you’re as competitive as he is. And while the Warriors can fill that role now, they can’t next year, when they’ll be anticipating the (eventual) return of Butler, while trying to push Curry’s championship window open once again.
The question becomes: is Kerr still enjoying this? It’s no secret that he is not under contract for next season. And while it’s also no secret that Kerr and Joe Lacob have not always seen eye to eye, Curry is the most powerful voice at 1 Warriors Way, and he has made his stance crystal clear: he doesn’t want to play for anyone else. That stance is strong enough that it will force Lacob to always have an offer on the table for Kerr; but no stance of Curry’s is strong enough to control Kerr’s desires. If he’s no longer enjoying himself, then this may be the final run. But if he looks as rejuvenated in the final months as he did in that win against Phoenix, you can bank on him returning to the Bay for a 13th season.
Can Seth Curry get healthy and prove himself?
The younger Curry’s season has quietly been one of the saddest parts of the year. At long last, the Curry brothers were united on the same team, and would get to share the court. But due to cap restrictions, the Warriors didn’t add Seth until December, and he played in just two games before suffering an injury that has sidelined him since. Worse yet, Steph was injured for the two games that Seth played in … so we still haven’t seen them on the court together.
While injuries are a persistent concern with Seth, he still looks the part of a player who could play a key role in the rotation. With Hield now in Atlanta, the Warriors are shockingly thin in terms of shooting depth, and Seth — a career 43.3% marksman from deep — can help with that. If he can get on the court and show that he fits in the system, he could play himself into a contract for next year, too.
Can they play well enough for next year?
Right now, the game plan for next season looks shockingly similar to what ended up being the course of last season: become a good enough team that adding Butler at the All-Star break can push them into contention.
It arguably did in 2024-25, when the Warriors beat the No. 2 seeded Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and were picked by many to topple the Minnesota Timberwolves in the semifinals before Curry suffered an injury that he never returned from.
Now they’ll try to do the same in 2026-27. Instead of getting Butler by trade, the Warriors can expect the six-time All-Star to return from his ACL injury sometime in January or February. In order for that to be as impactful as it was last year, the Dubs will need to be in a place where Butler’s presence can push them over the edge.
The next two months don’t count towards next year’s standings, but they will give the Warriors a sneak peek into next year. They simply need to be a team that can have a winning record without Butler if they want his return to nudge them into the realm of contention. If the Warriors look lost and hopeless over the rest of the regular season, then Mike Dunleavy Jr. will enter the offseason knowing he needs to make a sizable change before opening night. If they comfortably post a winning record between now and the end of the year, then they’ll have confidence that they only need to do a little tinkering, and then sit back and wait for Jimmy.
How consistent is Moses Moody?
It’s been a little bit of an up-and-down year for Moody. He’s spent most of the year looking like a solid rotation piece who should probably be coming off the bench on a good team. He’s spent some of the year looking like a high-quality starter who should get 30+ minutes every night. He’s spent some of the year looking like he belongs at the back of the bench.
Moody has two years and $26 million remaining on his contract after this season. Is he part of the next winning Warriors team? Or is that a contract they should be looking to move this offseason to facilitate more impactful moves? The Warriors have seen his talent on full display, but now they need to see if he can bring it consistently, in all phases of the game. It could shape the offseason.
Will Steph Curry’s injuries linger?
Injuries are nothing new to Curry, but lately they’ve become less severe and more varied. He’s been relegated to street clothes on a few different occasions this year, with various ailments. The latest issue, a case of runner’s knee, has been lingering. Curry had hoped to return before the All-Star break, but was then ruled out for the team’s final few games, and the All-Star Game as well. Worse yet, he won’t be on the court tonight, and may be headed for an MRI.
There’s only so much that we can learn about Curry’s 2026-27 health over the next two months. But needless to say, if he the current injury lingers — or if a few more pop up — it will be cause for concern as to whether or not he can stay healthy enough next year to lead the Dubs back into contention.
What rumors and reports pop up?
When the year began, no one expected the Warriors to trade for Antetokounmpo. But as the deadline approached, suddenly it started to feel like a distinct possibility. In the NBA, things are only off the table until they’re put on it; and they can be put on it very quickly.
There will be rumors about LeBron James having interest in joining forces with Curry and Green, two of the players he most respects in the league. Perhaps Kevin Durant, who already seems to be falling out of favor with the Rockets, will again be on the trading block and this time the Warriors won’t care about whether or not he wants to come back. Nikola Jokić is nearing free agency. The league can’t go more than a few months without a star surprisingly expressing that they’re no longer happy on their team. The Antetokounmpo rumors will certainly pop back up.
Nothing that big is even remotely likely to happen, but life moves fast in the NBA. Nobody thought James Harden was on the trading block a few weeks ago until a move was made. Heck, Luka Dončić was viewed as untouchable until a Shams Charania tweet was fired off one Saturday night last year.
The Warriors go big game hunting. If there’s actually any big game to hunt, it could control the shape of the summer.
MILAN (AP) — The U.S. women's hockey team delivered an Olympic comeback for the ages by beating Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday.
With her team trailing 1-0, American captain Hilary Knight forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot with 2:04 remaining in regulation.
Megan Keller then scored 4:07 into overtime to hand the U.S. its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey.
It was the seventh time the two powerhouses faced off for Olympic gold since women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Nagano Games. In the 2022 Beijing final, Canada beat the Americans in the final.
With the sides playing 3-on-3 in overtime, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Claire Thompson. Driving to the net, Keller got off a backhander that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens.
Kristin O’Neill scored a short-handed goal for Canada in the second period.
Earlier Thursday, Alina Muller scored the bronze medal-winning goal in overtime in Switzerland’s 2-1 victory over Sweden. It came 12 years after Muller scored the clinching goal to deliver the Swiss their first Olympic medal in women’s hockey — a bronze at the 2014 Sochi Games.
Jordan Stolz stunned in 1,500 meters
U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz’s late push wasn’t enough.
The American star settled for silver in the 1,500 meters, missing a chance to secure a third gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games.
China’s Ning Zhongyan won Thursday’s race in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 41.98 seconds. The 21-year-old Stolz, who won gold medals in the 500 and 1,000 at these Games, crossed 0.77 seconds later.
As Stolz glided by, hands on his knees, Ning raised his country’s flag aloft with both hands and started a victory lap.
Stolz, a Wisconsin native, will participate in the mass start on Saturday.
Dutch skater Kjeld Nuis, who won the 1,500 at the past two Olympics, took bronze.
Eileen Gu advances to halfpipe final despite fall
Defending Olympic champion Eileen Gu shook off a fall during her opening run to advance to Saturday's final in freeski halfpipe. The 22-year-old Gu was born in the United States and competes for China.
She clipped the lip of the halfpipe on the third trick of her first run, knocking her left ski off and sending her skittering to the bottom of the course.
That set up a pressure-packed second attempt that run earned 86.50 points, good enough to place fifth among the 12 skiers who advanced to the final.
The Americans, skipped by Tabitha Peterson, beat Switzerland 7-6 in a match that went to an extra end. The teams will square off again in Friday’s semifinals.
Peterson threw the decisive rock and her teammates swept it into position, just a hair closer to the button than the Swiss’ nearest stone.
Canada beat South Korea 10-7 and will play Sweden on Friday.
Brook Lopez is not the defensive stalwart he once was, and even at his peak, he was not necessarily quick enough to keep up with Jokic. Asking Kawhi Leonard to slow the Serbian would deplete the Clippers’ best offensive threat.
Jokic’s physicality should abuse Los Angeles. He is simply too much of a mismatch against this version of the Clippers’ roster.
Nuggets vs Clippers same-game parlay
With Jokic dominating the Clippers inside and on the glass, he should set a tone that leads to a cover of this modest spread.
Nuggets vs Clippers SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Nuggets -4.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Turn it up, Kawhi
Kawhi Leonard is playing the best basketball of his Clippers tenure, as seen for a moment in the All-Star Game.
Nuggets vs Clippers SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Kawhi Leonard Over 27.5 points
Nuggets -4.5
Nuggets vs Clippers odds
Spread: Nuggets -4.5 | Clippers +4.5
Moneyline: Nuggets -190 | Clippers +160
Over/Under: Over 226 | Under 226
Nuggets vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Nuggets are 2-0 both outright and against the spread against the Clippers this season, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by a combined 25 points in those two games. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Clippers.
How to watch Nuggets vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
ALT, FDSN SC
Nuggets vs Clippers latest injuries
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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - FEBRUARY 03: Cameron Payne, #15 of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in action during the EuroLeague Regular Season Round 26 match between Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at Menora Mivtachim Arena on February 03, 2026 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Seffi Magriso/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
It’s no surprise the Sixers were targeting a guard on the open market after the trade deadline.
The team sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies with no NBA players coming back to Philly. With Quentin Grimes missing two games with an illness before the All-Star break, the Sixers’ lack of depth at guard was exposed.
While names like Lonzo Ball and D’Angelo Russell were thrown out there, the Sixers ultimately decided to bring back a familiar face in Cameron Payne. The 31-year-old was playing in Serbia for Partizan when he got word of the Sixers’ interest a few days ago.
His agent warned him things could move quickly from there.
“It actually happened really fast,” Payne said at the Sixers practice facility Wednesday. “[My agent] told me, ‘It’s going to happen pretty fast, so you might want to pack.‘”
Payne is no stranger to these types of twists and turns. He was the 14th overall pick in 2015 out of Murray State by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency early in his career. He was traded to the Chicago Bulls, spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and even played two games in China in 2019.
He was able to resurrect his career with the Phoenix Suns, helping that team reach the Finals in 2020-21. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24 and was traded (along with a second-round pick) to the Sixers for Patrick Beverley. He gave the Sixers some solid minutes down the stretch and into the playoffs, parlaying that into a contract with the New York Knicks in 2024-25.
The Knicks moved on and Payne was in camp with the Indiana Pacers ahead of the 2025-26 season. He didn’t make the opening night roster and was waived. Instead of sitting around waiting for his next opportunity, Payne made the decision to go overseas.
As Payne learned, if you’re playing basketball somewhere in the world, the NBA will still have eyes on you.
“I told my agent this morning, I was like, ‘I don’t know how I keep finding a way to get back [the the NBA],‘” Payne said. “But I guess the NBA is still watching. If you still take your game seriously and do the right things, play the right way, they’re still looking.”
Payne enjoyed the experience with Partizan. He said the environment is a little wild — almost college-like. “It was lit, man,” he said. The other thing he got to do there was be the focal point of an offense, something he hadn’t been able to do since college. It was an opportunity and responsibility he didn’t take lightly.
While nobody will be asking that of him with the Sixers, they could certainly use a guard off the bench. Tyrese Maxey leads the NBA in minutes per game by a healthy margin. VJ Edgecombe leads all rookies in minutes — also by a healthy margin. Payne can play alongside either guy while giving the duo some rest during the final 28 games of the season.
Nick Nurse made it known that Payne will get minutes — in part to help his electric backcourt get to the postseason as fresh as possible.
“He can eat into some of those minutes to get those guys off the floor, for sure,” Nurse said. “And I would imagine down the stretch there’ll be games where he’ll play super huge minutes, too, when those two guys …. the workload gets [high] we can throw him in there in certain games, and he’s capable of doing that.”
If nothing else, Payne provides stability. The team knows what he is and what he brings to the table every night, something you couldn’t say about the Sixers’ guards off the bench this season.
“We know him,” Nurse said. “Veteran ball-handler. Guy who’s played in some big games. I think we’ve seen Cam provide some speed, energy, three-point shooting, run some pick-and-roll, get some layups here and there. … He looked like he’s in a really good rhythm. He’s been playing at a pretty high level over there.”
Payne has been in these spots. He knows what it takes to succeed, whether he’s playing big minutes or barely leaving the bench.
“I just always say ‘be you,’” Payne said. “Don’t ever change for anybody. Just be yourself.”
In 31 games for the Sixers back in 2023-24, Payne shot 38.2% from three and averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. If that’s what the team gets now — on top of the energy he brings to the table — it’ll be a shrewd signing.
The number one reason the Athletics suffered a fourth straight losing season last year was run prevention. Both the starting rotation and bullpen struggled, particularly at home in Sacramento. But it wasn’t solely the pitchers’ fault. The A’s finished 2025 with -34 defensive runs saved — the fifth-worst mark in MLB — and committed 88 errors, tied for eighth most in the league.
The team’s young core group of hitters took a major step forward offensively last season, cementing the team’s lineup as one of the most exciting to watch this year. Nevertheless, if the A’s want to return to the playoffs for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, the team must display vastly improved defense to complement its offensive excellence.
In the first couple months of last season, it felt like a circus every time former A’s outfielder JJ Bleday (-19 DRS, -30 career) tried to catch a fly ball or line drive in center field. The year before, Bleday was serviceable playing that tough position, yet last year he regressed in all facets of the game.
Eventually, the A’s had enough of his mishaps and replaced him with top prospect Denzel Clarke, who proceeded to make highlight-reel catches and home run robberies nearly every game he played. Lawrence Butler also showed he can play that position if needed, although he is better suited to right field due to his strong but often inaccurate arm. Tyler Soderstrom has left field locked down for the next several years following his seamless transition last season from first base to left field. Soderstrom became a Gold Glove finalist, a miraculous achievement given that he had never played outfield before in his professional career.
The numbers made it clear that the A’s defensive shortcomings weren’t confined to one position group. The infield additionally contributed to the struggles, as several young regulars continued learning the nuances of their positions.
First baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson finished first and second in the American League Rookie of the Year race because of their offensive performances. Nevertheless, both need to improve defensively. Kurtz trained this offseason on improving his defense, specifically catching pop-ups, while Wilson has room to get better if he can improve his range to convert more balls put in play into outs. Jeff McNeil will be at least average at second base and then the A’s third baseman will be decided in spring training. If the A’s want to prioritize defense, Brett Harris is the best option, whereas Max Muncy is the most dynamic offensive player in the mix.
Will Kurtz or Wilson have a better defensive season this year? Do you think the A’s move Wilson off shortstop when Leo De Vries is ready? If so, is he a better fit at second base or third base? Finally, what teamwide defensive strategies should the A’s employ this season to gain an edge?
The Lakers were relatively quiet at the trade deadline aside from swapping Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard. That’s in part because their proximity to their first-apron hard cap (less than $1.5 million away) limited what they could do.
That shouldn’t be the case this offseason.
The Lakers have long been projected to boast max or near-max cap room and the trade deadline did not change that. Because both Vincent and Kennard are on expiring contracts, that trade had no bearing on the Lakers’ outlook beyond this year.
That was undoubtedly intentional. With LeBron James’ future still very much up in the air, the Lakers are keeping their options open.
That isn’t the case for every team that was initially projected to be a factor in the 2026 free-agent market. The Washington Wizards were initially projected to have $80-plus million in cap space this offseason, but they spent it all in “pre-agency” by acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis ahead of the trade deadline. The Utah Jazz blew through theirs as well by acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. while the L.A. Clippers made a pair of trades that suggests Kawhi Leonard could be next to go this offseason.
Keith Smith of Spotrac now projects only three teams to have significant cap space this offseason, plus/minus the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. The Lakers are leading the way.
Moves made at the NBA trade deadline vaporized a lot of 2026 potential cap space. Here are the teams I now project to have cap space this offseason:
That seems good. Is that good? (Just don’t spend it all on a 34-year-old Paul George. Take it from a Sixers fan.)
The Lakers’ 2026-27 cap sheet
The Lakers have two major variables to confront this offseason: LeBron’s future and Austin Reaves’ free agency. The good news is that until they re-sign Reaves, their cap sheet is relatively clean at the moment.
Luka Dončić will begin the three-year max extension he signed this past August, which will start at 30% of whatever next year’s salary cap ends up being. Based on the current $166 million cap projection, Dončić’s new deal would start at $49.8 million.
For now, Dončić is the only Lakers player under contract for next season who’s earning more than $15 million. Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht ($4.2 million) and Adou Thiero ($2.2 million) are the only four other players on guaranteed contracts, while nearly $1.26 million of Bronny James’ $2.3 million salary is guaranteed.
The Lakers will also enter the offseason with a $20.9 million cap hold on their books for Reaves. As we’ve covered before, the Lakers will presumably try to follow the same blueprint the Philadelphia 76ers used with Tyrese Maxey to take advantage of his below-market cap hold. They’ll spend the rest of their cap space first, then re-sign him via Bird rights even though that will push them over the salary cap.
Between Dončić, Vanderbilt, LaRavia, Knecht, Thiero, the guaranteed portion of Bronny’s contract and Reaves’ cap hold, the Lakers will be entering the offseason with $96.7 million in guaranteed salary on their books.
Player
2026-27 Salary
Luka Dončić
$49,800,000
Austin Reaves (cap hold)
$20,906,361
Jarred Vanderbilt
$12,428,571
Jake LaRavia
$6,000,000
Dalton Knecht
$4,201,080
Bronny James
$2,296,271 ($1,258,873 guaranteed)
Adou Thiero
$2,150,917
TOTAL (GUARANTEED)
$96,745,802
That doesn’t mean they’ll have nearly $70 million of cap space to spend, though.
For one, they’ll have an incomplete roster charge of roughly $1.36 million for every open roster spot below 12. Even if they fully guarantee Bronny’s contract, they’d have $6.8 million of incomplete roster charges on their books until they filled those spots.
The bigger swing factors are Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, who have $5.4 million and $8.1 million player options for next season, respectively. They also have a $2.5 million team option on Kobe Bufkin, which they figure to decline to maximize their financial flexibility.
Assuming the Lakers do decline their team option on Bufkin, here’s how much cap space they’re projected to have depending on what Ayton and Smart do with their respective player options.
Both decline: $61.4 million
Smart picks up, Ayton declines: $57.1 million
Ayton picks up, Smart declines: $54.7 million
Both pick up: $50.3 million
All of those figures would require the Lakers to renounce the rights to all of their free agents other than Reaves, including LeBron and Rui Hachimura. They also don’t factor in whichever first-round pick the Lakers land this summer.
The Lakers’ free-agency outlook
Based on the current $166 million cap projection for 2026-27, a max contract for someone with 0-6 years of NBA experience would start at $41.5 million, someone with 7-9 years of NBA experience (like Luka) would start at $49.8 million and someone with 10 or more years of NBA experience would start at $58.1 million.
That makes James the first domino that must fall for the Lakers. Until they either re-sign him or renounce his free-agent rights, they won’t have any cap space whatsoever.
If the Lakers do clear $50-plus million in space, they’ve already discussed going after Andrew Wiggins, Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, among others, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. He mentioned Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade as other possible candidates who fit the Lakers’ need for more long-range shooters and defenders.
After the trade deadline, general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters that the Lakers had been “aggressive” in conversations, but they decided to prioritize their long-term future.
“I would say we were aggressive,” Pelinka said. “And one form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short- and long-term future, that’s like being aggressive even though you end up doing nothing. Because it’s hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix but could have implications for the long-term where it doesn’t fit into the overall vision you have for the team.”
If the Lakers look to maximize their financial flexibility, there’s a wide range of possible outcomes this offseason. The NBA has become even more unpredictable in the second-apron era, as teams are more desperate than ever to dump overpaid stars (or former stars) on massive contracts.
The Wizards acquired both Young and Davis for pennies on the dollar ahead of this year’s trade deadline. The Memphis Grizzlies were reportedly eager to offload Ja Morant as well, but they couldn’t find a taker even after trading Jackson to Utah.
Pelinka believes the Lakers might be able to take advantage of other teams this offseason that are looking to dump contracts for whatever reason.
“Knowing that there’s an unintended consequence when a new system comes into place — teams kind of learn their way through it — we felt like creating optionality or having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason,” Pelinka told reporters. “Because there’s some teams that maybe have gotten too deep into the aprons. And I think players, we see around the league, that become available when teams get in that position.”
“Whether it’s through free agency, whether it’s keeping our own players, whether it’s looking around the league for players that are really good that maybe teams are trying to get off salary, we feel like there’ll be so many different ways to complete our roster in the offseason.”
The Lakers have a megastar in Dončić and a unique amount of potential cap space for a title hopeful this offseason. This summer will go a long way toward determining how well they can build a championship contender around Luka over the next few years.
