TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays salutes the crowd before pitching against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning in their MLB game at Rogers Centre on September 27, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is a slow time of year for baseball news, if your team isn’t in the playoffs. MLB doesn’t like teams to make news during the playoffs, because they want the focus to be on the playoff teams, which is fair.
Jameson Taillon is going to have elbow surgery next week. He’s had Tommy John twice but says ‘there is a good chance’ he can get by with the internal brace this time. He’ll be a free agent this off-season, and likely won’t be getting the $18 million he got last year.
And Ross Atkins talked to the press the other day. I used to be interested in the ‘end of season’ questions and answers thing, but I’ve come to realize that they don’t tell you anything. I used to make fun of Alex Anthopoulos talking a lot and saying nothing. I figured he knew the longer he talked the fewer questions he would have to take.
But Ross said all the things you have to say, Ernie Clement isn’t guaranteed the second base job. They are putting together a plan for Vlad. They need to find some power. And they need to find some starting pitchers who can make 30 starts a year. And “everything needs to be assessed”.
Anyway, use the thread to talk about the Wild Card round or the Jays off-season or anything you’d like.
Steph Curry left $20 million on the table when he signed a contract extension with the Warriors this offseason.
Curry signed a two-year, $116 million contract extension, which includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. The veteran guard was eligible to sign a deal worth $136.7 million, but opted to take less in order to give the Warriors more financial breathing room.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry smiles during Media Day at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, September 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In an interview with ABC7 News Bay Area, Curry explained how the conversation with his wife, Ayesha, went when he informed her he would be taking somewhat of a pay cut for his remaining years with Golden State.
“That’s why sometimes I realize like, this is not a real place, the NBA, because I can also say, people like, ‘Oh, you stressed out about the decision and all that,’ and the gratitude and understanding, the numbers we’re talking about, and of course there’s team valuations and the salary cap, max numbers and all,” Curry said.
“It goes back to my very first contract, the $11 million (per season), $44 (million) that I signed. You sign contracts based on information that you have and what you feel like is right.
“And you talked about Ayesha, my family, we, everybody’s on the same page of understanding what I have in front of me in the controllables of playing good basketball, staying with the Golden State Warriors and trying to end this thing the right way.”
Steph Curry on how his conversation with Ayesha went on leaving $20 million on the table for his contract extension:
“That’s why sometimes I realize like, this is not a real place, the NBA, because I can also say, people like, ‘Oh, you stressed out about the decision and all… pic.twitter.com/g6lKgdDYWy
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry poses for a photo during Media Day at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Monday, September 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAyesha Curry (left) and Steph Curry attend the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in New York City. (2026 TheStewartofNY) WireImage
Eight teams remain in the hunt for a World Series title after the conclusion of the wild-card round, with best-of-five matchups on tap to determine which teams make the American and National League Championship Series later this month.
There’s no denying the blockbuster that rocked the NHL on the eve of the season start has impacted both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets. On Tuesday, Kirill Marchenko seemed to be everywhere against the Montreal Canadiens, and he got an assist. On Thursday night, in his first game as a Blue Jacket, Matthew Knies scored two goals, added an assist, and was named the first star of the game.
Unsurprisingly, the blockbuster was discussed at length on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast by Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas. The NHL insider confirmed that Habs GM Kent Hughes tried everything to land Marchenko:
I tried to figure out what Montreal did at the end; I heard that Montreal was trying to be really creative. I think they were trying to involve other teams. I’m not 100% sure whether they were trying to get other teams to get one of these extra Columbus guys, or whether they were trying to take a player from another team and put them in Columbus. Because I just always heard that Columbus wasn’t crazy about what Montreal offered. There were some good players in there, some futures; Columbus didn’t really want futures, and they just never had anything close to Knies. Like, I heard there was another player they were trying to get to Columbus from another team. I thought I knew who that guy was, but the other team has denied it, so I’m still working, Kyle, on who that guy was or who the guys were.
At this stage, this shouldn’t surprise anyone. Hughes said he was very active this summer but didn't manage to close the deal on his main target. Of course, the Canadiens’ GM didn’t confirm who his target was, but with multiple reports identifying Marchenko as the target, it makes sense.
As we mentioned in the hours following the trade, Hughes didn’t come away with the big prize despite trying; Friedman confirmed it came down to the Jackets not wanting what they had to offer. What’s new, however, is that they tried hard to involve other teams to get the Jackets what they wanted, even if it wasn’t from the Habs themselves, but it didn’t work. Still, the insider also confirms that Montreal was one of the most active teams this summer:
Montreal, no question, had been the most serious pursuer all summer. From the moment that Marchenko was potentially available. He’d let the Blue Jackets know he wasn’t going to re-sign there. They were the team that chased the hardest. And word behind the scenes was that he was more than happy to go there. I think that’s one of the most interesting storylines about this whole thing, Kyle: is that word early in July was that he was willing to go to Montreal, but he wasn’t so crazy about Toronto. Somewhere over the summer, that changed.
- Friedman on Marchenko wanting to come to Montreal
That might be a consolation for Habs fans; it's further proof, after Noah Dobson and Chris Kreider, that players want to come to Montreal now. If Marchenko had been free to choose his destination, the Canadiens would likely have been his choice. However, the Blue Jackets were in the driver’s seat, and they handled a difficult situation very well.
Hughes’s back to the drawing board if he wants an impact player, but that may have to wait until the offseason; who knows. With the salary cap rising, though, if a star player becomes an unrestricted free agent, it wouldn’t be a shock if they chose Montreal as a landing spot. The Canadiens have the money, the cap space, and a coach the players love. Until then, the players must do their part: keep winning, because at the end of the day, that’s what will make players chasing a Stanley Cup choose this team. Jason Robertson from the Dallas Stars will be a UFA this summer, and the summer after that, it will be Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers have allowed 13 goals through two games; their goaltending still isn’t sorted out, and neither is their defense. Whether they want it or not, they are slowly but surely pushing McDavid toward the exit.
MESA, AZ - MARCH 23: Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics bats during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on Monday, March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The long offseason is upon us. The A’s have lots to do this offseason. First things first, the team needs to decide on a new General Manager, one that’ll lead the team into Las Vegas and hopefully build a winning playoff team before long. Whoever gets the job will be given the bones of a quality position player group, but with lots to fix on the pitching side of things. It won’t be an overnight fix and the new voice will want to build the team in his or her imagine, but the sooner we pick a person to lead us the better.
Turning to the schedule this offseason, there’s a few critical dates that we should all have on our calendars. A lot of this will obviously depend on the possibility of an impending lockout. If the owners and players can’t agree to a new deal before December 1st (which seems likely), then that’ll throw a huge wrench in the plans of every team in the league, including the A’s. Nothing we can do about that though.
End of the World Series
The day after the Fall Classic is over, the rest of baseball is technically able to begin trades and sign their own players to contracts or extensions. There isn’t usually any big moves or news during this time but it’s always a possibility. Teams and agents can talk to each other during this time, but only the previous team can come to terms with an official contract.
During this time teams and players also need to decide on their options for next season. This year the A’s have a couple decisions to make, both of which should be easy. Jeffrey Springs and Jeff McNeil will both see their options for next year declined, sending them to free agency. On the other side of the coin starter Luis Severino is almost certain to pick up his $22 million option for next year, rejoining the club for a third year.
Five Days After The World Series: Free Agency Begins
Once the shock of the World Series subsides, the rest of the league can begin turning their attention back to their own organizations. Free agents are now able to sign with whoever they want but unlike in other sports there’s not usually a sudden rush of signings. Still, this is the day where any big contract announcement can come at any moment the rest of the winter.
Mid-November: Award Season
Once baseball is over it’s time to start handing out the end-of-year awards. The A’s won’t have anyone take home any trophies this offseason but there might be some honors. Langeliers could win the Silver Slugger for AL catcher even with the missed time. And while he won’t win the award, it’ll be interesting to see where Henry Bolte finishes in Rookie of the Year voting.
Friday, November 20th: Non-tender Deadline
This is a big date for the Athletics this offseason. The team will need to decide which players they want to keep paying, and which they’re comfortable cutting and letting hit the free agent market. Cornerstone guys like Shea Langeliers and Zack Gelof are clearly not going to be non-tendered, but there are players under the knife. Is it time for the A’s to move on from guys like Darell Hernaiz and Joey Estes instead of giving them raises? Lots of decisions to make before this date.
Second Week of December: Winter Meetings
If there is a deal in place, this year’s Winter Meetings would likely take place between December 7th and 10th. During this time there’s lots of deals and trades being made, as well as plenty of groundwork for later deals and trades that come later on. The A’s haven’t been especially active at these meetings and that’d be unlikely to change with a the new GM still likely getting their sea legs under them.
Another event that usually happens during the Winter Meetings is the Draft Lottery. The A’s are tied with the Rockies and Angels for the best odds to win the top pick at 16.5%. The lottery hasn’t gone the Athletics’ way in recent years but they’ve made it work (Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, Jamie Arnold). One way or another there’ll be a lottery, it just may be delayed if there’s no deal.
Last Day of Winter Meetings: Rule 5 Draft
Again, this could be one of the first casualties of a lockout. The 2022 lockout didn’t cost games but delayed the season and the Rule 5 draft was cancelled altogether. That’s an entirely possible outcome again this time around, which is especially disappointing for the teams at the bottom like the A’s. Since we ended the year with one of the worst records the Athletics would have one of the top picks. No guarantee of getting a good player, but the A’s need all the opportunities to add talent and the Rule 5 draft being cancelled would deprive them of one more path to adding a potential piece.
January 15th: International Signing Period Begins
The A’s have always dipped their toes into the international market but have yet to have much success on that front. Lots of teams and players have already come to handshake agreements for contracts but this would be the date they put pen to paper. The A’s will likely have around $7-8 million to spend on a lottery ticket so to speak.
Arbitration deadline: Mid-January
Assuming all goes normally this offseason (a massive hypothetical), the deadline for arbitration-eligible players and teams to file their proposed salary figures is roughly around this time. The A’s have a small arbitration class this year headlined by Langeliers. The other four are Zack Gelof, lefty Hogan Harris, and righty Luis Medina. The A’s should be able to wrap those four contracts up without the need to go to a hearing.
February 9th/10th: Pitchers & Catcher Report
While it hasn’t technically been announced, pitchers and catchers generally arrive to camp 10 days before the first spring training game. That’d mean we’re looking at around February 9th or 10th for when the first players arrive to camp.
February 14th/15th: First full squad workout
Five days later the position players will arrive to camp and the full team will be together for the first time. They’ll be with these guys for the better part of the next seven months.
February 19th: First Spring Training Game
And then we finally get our first game action on the 19th, a Friday afternoon matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Only 140 days to go!
Title rivals bring upgrades to first Grand Prix in Malaysia since 2017 on a demanding but well liked circuit
While the byzantine nomenclature of this weekend’s “Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia” will have Formula One’s statisticians muttering darkly under their breath for years to come, the import of the sport’s return to the Sepang circuit remains all too straightforward at the sharp end. Complicated only perhaps by a Red Bull resurgence and an enthused Max Verstappen, determined to make his mark on the championship run-in.
The return to Malaysia for its first race since 2017 has been welcomed in F1. It is a much-liked circuit among drivers, albeit the high temperatures and humidity make for an enormous physical challenge.
Just over 24 hours before the most eventful and surprising offseason in the history of the Anaheim Ducks/Mighty Ducks of Anaheim was, at long last, scheduled to conclude, general manager Pat Verbeek had one more trick up his sleeve as the team announced on Thursday, the day before the puck was set to drop on their 2026-27 campaign, that they’d signed young defenseman Tristan Luneau (22) to a six-year, $7.2 million AAV contract extension. The contract will go into effect at the start of the 2027-28 season.
Upon the news breaking, the majority of the hockey world understandably questioned Luneau’s merit to earn such a significant payday and Verbeek’s methodology in handing out a contract to someone with Luneau’s experience (or lack thereof).
So, who is Tristan Luneau and why did the Ducks sign him to such a large contract?
“It’s great. I get to play hockey for six more years,” Luneau stated moments after putting pen to paper. “It’s a great moment for me and my family. It’s a group I want to be a part of for a long time, and I believe in what we’re all working for.”
Luneau (53rd in 2022) is four years removed from his draft, when he was selected by the Ducks in the second round. He was a first overall pick in the QMJHL Draft in 2020, selected by Gatineau Olympiques, but a nagging knee injury, repaired following his 2020-21 season, hindered his production in his draft year, where he scored 43 points (12-31=43) in 63 games, causing the talented right-shot defenseman to fall to the second round of the NHL Draft.
The season following his draft (2022-23), he bounced back significantly and scored 83 points (20-63=83) in 65 games and added 17 (2-15=17) in 13 playoff games, earning him QMJHL Defenseman of the Year honors.
The Ducks’ plan for Luneau as it pertained to the next season, 2023-24, was to start him in the NHL and send him to the AHL on a conditioning loan before he was to represent Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships. He sustained an infection in his leg en route to the tournament and was sidelined for the rest of the season while he recovered, and only ended up playing 13 games between the NHL and AHL.
He mostly spent the next two seasons (2024-25 and 2025-26) developing and playing substantial minutes for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL with two brief stints in the NHL for the Ducks.
Luneau finished his AHL career with 95 points (19-76=95) in 135 games, and prior to signing his contract, he had just four points (2-2=4) in 14 NHL games. So, given his resume, it’s justified for the hockey world to have their collective eyebrows raised when a former second-round pick with 14 games of NHL experience signs a deal like the one he did on Thursday.
Luneau possesses an NHL frame (6-foot-1, 211 pounds) and every on-ice tool to become a No. 1 defenseman. With the puck, he’s strong, elusive, and dynamic. He fends off forecheckers, makes smart, decisive outlets, and can join or lead rushes up ice. In the offensive zone, he fiercely patrols the blueline, activates downhill at will, and smartly gets his heavy shot through traffic with consistency.
On the defensive side of the puck, he’s just as aggressive, displaying tight gaps, knowledge of angles, and an influential, active stick. He’s difficult to gain ice against in the tight areas, and he’s tenacious in front of his net.
Over the past four years, he’s developed and translated his offensive game to every level below the NHL and has put in the work to iron out his defensive game. He’s gained the necessary size, skill, and strength to succeed against the world’s top hockey players. He’s as NHL-ready as a defense prospect has ever been.
Why?
"Signing Tristan to a long-term contract was a priority as we see him as a top-four defenseman for years to come,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek stated in the Ducks’ press release that followed the signing. “Getting the deal done before the season started was a key part of our planning for now and the future."
The Ducks can easily be considered the main character of the 2026 NHL offseason. Following a year where they seemingly put their rebuild in the rearview mirror, an offer sheet to their franchise player, Leo Carlsson, sent shockwaves through the organization and the NHL as a whole.
When all was said and done, the Ducks signed their three highest-profile RFAs coming off ELCs (Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov) to larger contracts than they were anticipating. As a result, they saw a mass exodus of roster players who found new homes over the summer, including Mason McTavish, Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, John Carlsson, Radko Gudas, and Olen Zellweger.
Given the volume of defensive contributors who are now off the roster, only subsidized by the addition of Nick Jensen (36), Luneau, someone whom the front office greatly believes will step in and immediately flourish in a top-four role, now has a clear path toward a breakout season. He’s slated to start the year on the top pair alongside Jackson LaCombe, run the point on the Ducks’ second power play unit, and may even kill penalties.
Since he accepted the job as the Ducks general manager in Feb. 2022, Verbeek has established a reputation as a shrewd negotiator with his team’s RFAs, especially those coming off their ELCs. Past talks with Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Mason McTavish, players once considered part of the Ducks’ future core, extended well into training camp, arguably leading to injuries and/or underwhelming following seasons.
Verbeek seemed to be heading toward similar negotiation timelines with Carlsson, Gauthier, and Mintyukov in 2026, but Carlsson and his representation found a way to quickly end talks when the Philadelphia Flyers signed Carlsson to an earth-shattering five-year offer sheet that carried an AAV of $18 million. Days later, the Ducks signed Mintyukov to a five-year, $7.2 million AAV extension, presumably to avoid a second OS. They matched the offer sheet for Carlsson, but the landscape of their cap sheet and the NHL would continue to feel the ripple effects. One of those ripple effects was signing Gauthier to a six-year, $13.5 million AAV extension just before 2026 training camp.
In his training camp-opening press conference, Verbeek pledged to be more aggressive in signing his RFAs to better avoid another scenario like the one he faced this summer. “I think that we're going to attack, you know, some of our players coming off of their ELCs, be more aggressive in that, start communicating and having more talks sooner,” he said.
“I think when you look at things, just being a little more agile, getting more adaptive, and probably just react a little quicker to situations or just see them,” Verbeek continued.
“There's going to be a lot of different scenarios to manage, and you're going to have to be proactive in all of this stuff. So certainly the variables have changed, and you're going to have to really start taking into account all the different variables that can happen and plan for it.”
Verbeek began to make good on his statement over the course of training camp/preseason when he signed depth center Tim Washe to a four-year, $2.25 million AAV contract extension that will begin at the start of the 2027-28 season.
Luneau’s new contract is further proof of the implementation of Verbeek’s new approach, but to an even more extreme level. Verbeek and the Ducks clearly believe in Luneau’s talent and projection. If he were to head into the 2026-27 season without a contract extension and make the most of the opportunities he’s being given, he’d be due a significantly larger AAV than the $7.2 million per year that he’ll earn between 2027-28 and 2032-33.
It’s a gamble, like every NHL contract that’s signed, and it can be considered an “overcorrection” to a degree, but the price for Luneau was likely never decreasing, and he’s now signed until he’s 29 years old, the majority (or entirety) of his prime. This is the type of gamble on young talent that has traditionally aged well in the modern NHL.
Luneau is now on the radar of those unfamiliar with him and his game, and these are the kind of deals, especially given where the salary cap is projected to be heading, that fans and media crave from NHL front offices: betting on young talent.
Following their 6-2 loss in Game 3 of the Wild Card series in Atlanta last night, Bryce Harper voiced a reality that he, and his teammates, were trying to avoid with one, last, deep playoff run (quotes via MLB.com).
“I’d imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year,” Harper said. “The guys that are leaving this clubhouse. We’ll see.”
Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa and Jose Alvarado are key free agents who are likely to leave. Others could, and should, leave in trades.
It will look different.
One could almost understand why Dave Dombrowski decided to bring back most of a roster that won 95 games, their second straight NL East title, and fell in a very close series to the eventual World Series champions. Many didn’t agree, but there was an argument to be made it was the correct decision.
That argument cannot be made any longer.
The 2026 Phillies got another year older and the team is going backwards. After running out of gas in the 2022 World Series and choking away a return trip by losing Games 6 and 7 of the 2023 NLCS at home, this group failed to get past the NLDS in ‘24 and ‘25, and now lost to a superior Atlanta Braves team in this year’s wild card series.
The reason fans are feeling less anger and more resignation following their three-game loss to the Braves is the realization that the roster simply wasn’t good enough.
They won just 88 games this year, a 7-game drop-off, their +15 run differential, only 7th-best in the National League, meant their expected won-loss record was 83-79.
They were lucky to win even 88.
They were 19th in runs scored, 22nd in OPS and dead last in OPS+. Their team-wide Wins Above Replacement (Fangraphs) among their non-pitchers was just 12.0, 26th in MLB. Only the A’s, Reds, Angels and Rockies got less from their non-pitchers. Those teams finished with 64, 75, 62 and 58 wins, respectively. The two teams ahead of them, the Giants and Mets, won 65 and 74 games. The playoff team closest to the Phillies in this metric were the Braves, whose 17.5 non-pitcher fWAR of 17.5 was 21st. They played terrible defense all season long and lacked athleticism on the bases. They also finished tied for 16th in home runs, with only two players (Schwarber and Harper) finishing with 20 or more. No team hit fewer homers in September.
But the bullpen was also a disaster. Dave Dombrowski tried to do things, like signing Brad Keller to a free agent contract as a set-up man, and added Caleb Killian and Brooks Raley at the trade deadline. Two of those guys got hurt and one was an abject failure. Returning relievers Orion Kerkering and Alvarado became utterly unusable by year’s end, and Jonathan Bowlan ran out of gas. Their 4.43 ERA ranked 21st in baseball, consistently a bottom-10 unit all season.
Still, the Phillies tried to paper their way through October masking all these deficiencies and, had they not frittered away the final week of the season, might have pulled off at least a first round upset in Atlanta.
They would not have needed Zack Wheeler to start Game 162 if the lineup hadn’t gone ice cold. Had Wheeler been able to start Game 1, perhaps Jesus Luzardo could have been employed as a reliever, and Jhoan Duran wouldn’t have been asked to come up with a 50-pitch, two-inning hold/save. Perhaps that Austin Riley homer never happens and the Phils sweep the Braves in two games.
Perhaps Aaron Nola isn’t asked to pitch on two days rest in Game 161. No one can be sure how that affected his performance in Game 3 last night, but it couldn’t have helped. And the Luzardo injury itself came at the worst possible time, forcing Don Mattingly into the Nola decision on the final Saturday of the season, jamming up the roster for the wild card round. Luis Arraez’ injury in the final week also didn’t help, although he was not very impactful during his two months with the Phillies anyway.
Dombrowski cannot fool himself into thinking his team is better than it is. He has a remarkably good starting rotation, and that is a great place to begin to rebuild a roster. The floor is already pretty high when you have Wheeler/Luzardo/Cristopher Sanchez/Andrew Painter as your 1-4. But when you’re sporting a bottom-third bullpen and the 5th-worst group of position players in the entire sport, the numbers on the paper match the psychological need to shake things up.
The players realize it, too. The team needs to be different, and it almost doesn’t matter how it happens at this point.
Dave Dombrowski is not a creative general manager. He doesn’t pull rabbits out of his hat. He’s also not great at building farm systems. Both those areas of weakness have shown up as he’s tried to cobble this roster together. This past year, almost every major move he made failed.
He failed to add a new bat to the lineup, with Bo Bichette signing with New York. He re-signed J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract, then watched as he turned into one of the worst hitting catchers in baseball. The Keller signing was a disaster, although not entirely his fault, and none of his trade deadline acquisitions appeared in the wild card round at all.
So what does he do? What can he do?
Everything should be on the table. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner all cannot be traded without their permission, and it’s unlikely they would give it. But, Dombrowski should be open to it if an offer comes through and the player is intrigued enough to consider moving on. Should they offer one of their big-time starting pitchers for multiple pieces at multiple positions that might help? Bryson Stott may be the best overall position player on the team, but is inconsistent at the plate and has a career .181 batting average and .515 OPS in 142 career post-season plate appearances. He may be the guy most teams ask about in trade conversations.
Brandon Marsh should be traded. Turner should be moved to center field if he can’t be moved (and he can’t). Justin Crawford looks like a solid bench outfielder, but not a big league, everyday starter. The rest of the outfield is an utter mess.
The MLB lockout that will begin on December 1 will delay all these decisions. It’s likely Alex Cora becomes the new manager before that happens (likely right after the World Series), but in terms of player changes, we’re all going to have to wait. And when the season does officially begin, it’ll be a sprint to get things done, with little time for creativity.
The Phillies will be hard-pressed to spend their way to a solvent roster, unless they move on from players who have proven that, together, they are not good enough to get it done.
The psychology of so many playoff defeats together necessitates drastic change. This was actually true last off-season, but Dombrowski didn’t want to hear it.
At least these Phillies gave us one last thrill in Game 2. And at least they made their ending quick and relatively painless with a non-competitive effort in Game 3. No hand-wringing, no what-ifs, just the hard, cold reality that they simply weren’t good enough.
The “fake it until you make it” masquerade simply couldn’t hold up any longer.
In recorded MLB history, no team has ever followed a streak of postseason performances like this, with the same roster largely intact, and gone on to win a World Series afterwards.
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres celebrates at home plate after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during Game One of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well, the playoff field is set and the Red Sox are no longer in it. We’ve got White Sox-Guardians and Yankees-Rays in the American League. Braves-Dodgers and Padres-Brewers in the NL.
So the question is: who are your pulling for to win the World Series? A Brewers or Rays triumph would be a delicious entry into an offseason in which the owners are going to spend months lying about competitive balance. But maybe you want to get weird and pull for the White Sox. Maybe you’re a contrarian who thinks a 28th Yankees ring is what John Henry and FSG deserve.
As or me, the choice is easy. The Padres have been one of the most interesting and fun teams in baseball for years now. They are run by a front office that has been steadfastly dedicated to putting a winning team on a field. They are enthusiastically supported by an engaged fanbase in what is now definitively a baseball town. They’ve got Xander Bogaerts, who is still making magic in October. They’ve got Don. Let’s go, Friars.
Talk about the playoffs and whatever else you want in this space and, as always, be good to one another.
DENVER — For T.J. Hughes, Wednesday night was about more than the Colorado Avalanche opening their season at Ball Arena.
It was the night he finally made his NHL debut.
The former University of Michigan standout showed flashes of why Colorado believes he belongs at hockey's highest level, while also looking like a player experiencing his first NHL game. Hughes was good at times and less so at others — an understandable combination for someone taking his first steps in the league.
Not every rookie walks into the NHL and immediately looks like Wayne Gretzky. Even Auston Matthews, now the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, set an almost impossible standard when he scored four goals in his NHL debut.
Nathan MacKinnon following a two-goal performance and a two-piece combination on Brandt Clarke.
Hughes didn't find the back of the net Wednesday.
But he came close — several times.
The opportunities started early. In the opening period, Hughes nearly converted on a rebound that narrowly missed the net.
A short time later, he found himself with another chance at his first career NHL goal, jamming away at a loose puck in front of Los Angeles Kings goaltender and former Avalanche netminder Darcy Kuemper as he tried to poke it across the goal line.
Hughes kept battling for the puck before taking a hard cross-check from Kings captain Drew Doughty. The hit ultimately helped turn a 5-on-4 power play into a 5-on-3, and Nathan MacKinnon made Los Angeles pay, finding the back of the net for Colorado's second power-play goal of the night.
The Avalanche scored four times with the man advantage, but Hughes' first goal would have to wait.
MacKinnon wasn't concerned.
“He played well,” MacKinnon said. “He had a couple good looks. It’s really hard to play your first game, especially sometimes getting a hat trick early. There’s a lot of pressure, a lot of hype, so I think he’ll continue to settle in.”
MacKinnon also pointed to Hughes' maturity and commitment away from the ice.
“He’s a mature guy and a great guy, and such a committed player on and off the ice,” MacKinnon said. “So, you know, chemistry hopefully will develop here.”
That chemistry will come with time, as will Hughes' adjustment to the speed of the NHL.
You could see that adjustment taking place early Wednesday.
At times, Hughes looked just a fraction behind the play. In the first period, he found himself in position for a one-timer but was a step too slow getting his body fully into the shot, resulting in an awkward deflection.
At Michigan and later with the Colorado Eagles, Hughes routinely stood out as one of the more dynamic players on the ice. He produced 14 points in 17 games during the Eagles' Calder Cup playoff run last season.
The NHL, though, is another level. The time and space Hughes was accustomed to finding simply aren't there as often.
That's the biggest adjustment Bednar expects him to make.
“What he’s going to work on is getting used to the pace of play and the size and the strength of guys,” Bednar said. “That was a whole different level of intensity tonight.”
Bednar isn't asking Hughes to reinvent his game. Instead, he expects the young forward to learn how to make the same decisions he has always made, only faster.
“I like the habits he plays with,” Bednar said. “But just getting used to the pace, the intensity, the size and strength of the guys, how quickly time and space disappears. So the decision-making and thinking, yeah, it’s going to be that.”
Hughes also got an immediate lesson in what can happen when those decisions don't come quickly enough.
Colorado scored four power-play goals Wednesday, but the Avalanche also surrendered two shorthanded markers. One came after Hughes had his stick lifted by Joel Armia while trying to exit the defensive zone.
Armia turned the turnover into a break the other way and beat Mackenzie Blackwood, giving Los Angeles a free score and Hughes a costly lesson about the consequences of a mistake at this level.
Still, Bednar saw plenty to like.
“He’s a really intelligent player,” Bednar said. “I have full confidence he can do that. I thought his game was good. It was good. You could tell he’s learning and thinking, and it’ll become more instinctual for him as it goes on.”
That was perhaps the best way to describe Hughes' debut.
There were mistakes, and there were moments when the game appeared to move a little faster than he wanted it to. But there were also plenty of flashes — the scoring chances around the net, the willingness to battle for loose pucks and the offensive instincts that repeatedly put him in position to make something happen.
“He makes a poor play tonight,” Bednar said, “and it’s just a matter of time before we get that out of his game.”
The first NHL goal will have to wait.
For Hughes, though, the more important milestone was already accomplished.
He made it to the NHL.
Now comes the process of figuring out how to stay there.
A few notes from the first three days of Knicks training camp:
BACKUP PLAN
The Knicks are looking at Drew Eubanks, James Wiseman and Tony Bradley as potential third center options during training camp.
I didn’t get the sense that there was a clear favorite heading in to camp. Before training camp, the team told some potential free agents that it was looking for a big man on the younger side. I don’t think this disqualifies Eubanks (29), Bradley (28) or Wiseman (25).
Head coach Mike Brown was asked about both Wiseman and Bradley during training camp news conferences and offered praise for both players.
BROWN ON WISEMAN, WHOM HE COACHED AT GOLDEN STATE
"Fantastic human being, fantastic young man…. Good to see him in the gym. When you’re that long and that athletic, with skill - he has skill - there’s a place for you in this league. Sometimes it takes the right moment, the right team, the right situation, all that stuff, to be able to fit someplace and grow. We have a lot of great guys in camp that have potential of impacting us in a lot of different ways throughout the course of the year. He’s definitely one of the many guys that we have that we’re excited about."
BROWN ON BRADLEY
"We’re looking for bigs. Tony’s a veteran guy that’s still in his prime and has a good feel for the game, knows how to play the game the right way and he’s hurt us in the past. To be honest, when a guy hurts you in the past, you tend to remember him more than others. So to be able to add him to camp was a positive for us because again, I said this last year, (Karl-Anthony Towns) has one of the most (challenging positions) out of everybody because I want to move him around when I play him at center. I want to play him at power forward; (when he’s at) power forward 1-4 is interchangeable. Same with OG (Anunoby). OG we put him at the 5 last year. We probably will do it a little bit more this year as well.
"But to be able to do that, you’ve gotta have enough centers around on the team, so having Tony here with his skill set and feel is definitely a blessing because we’re looking at that position heavily."
The Knicks can also trade for a third center later in the season. On the wings, I think John Konchar had a solid chance to make the opening night roster before he had to leave training camp due to personal issues. Maybe that creates a lane for Bruce Brown Jr. or Ochai Agbaji? In order to keep a veteran center and veteran wing on the regular season roster, the Knicks would have to trade one of their players on NBA deals. They’d have to do this because they are not going to spend above the second apron in team salary, according to owner James Dolan. If they changed course and decided to spend above the second apron, the Knicks would have the roster spots available to keep both a veteran big and veteran wing without making a trade.
The decision to stay below the second apron gave the Knicks very little chance of retaining Mitchell Robinson.
The Knicks made it clear they will miss Robinson but also are bullish on new backup center Andre Drummond.
"We’re not expecting Andre to come in and be Mitch or impact the game in a lot of different ways than Mitch did,” Brown said this week. “Just be yourself and everybody else has to step up and box out a little harder and come across earlier to help stop the penetration sooner, all those things that will make us a top level team. We can all do a little bit better together."
Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Tony Bradley (13) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) and center Mitchell Robinson (23) during the third quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
EXTENSION APPREHENSION?
It seems unlikely at this point that the Knicks will agree to extensions with Towns, Josh Hart or Miles McBride before the regular season. There is clearly a gap between what the Knicks are offering Towns and what he’s looking for. Logically, the Knicks need to figure out Towns’ situation before they can address Hart or McBride. The club’s immediate financial future is impacted greatly by Towns’ $61 million player option for 2027-28. If he agreed to an extension, Towns would presumably decline the extension and have a lower annual salary for 2027-28.
If extensions are not signed before the season starts, I’m sure Towns, Hart and McBride will maintain the same approach to their job. But, as Hart noted, it’s only natural for contract uncertainty to impact a player’s life on or off the court.
"Once the season starts (and if no extension is reached), I’ll probably have that mentality of 'I don’t really wanna deal with this, I want to try and focus on playing the season.' (But) I’m sure there will probably be a little extra weight to the jersey," Hart said this week. "You don’t know the certainty of your situation and obviously it affects home life. There are certain things that you might want to do, but you’re like ‘I can’t, because I have no idea what the situation will be in two months, three months, four months, in a year, if I’m gonna be here or not.’ You don’t know. But hopefully, like I said, I’m a Knick, I’d love to be a Knick and I love the city."
"…At the end of the day, we’re humans and I think what sometimes gets lost is that we are people, that we all have lives and things that we have to deal with and fix," Hart said in response to a separate question later in his interview. "I wish I could sit there and say it wouldn’t have any weight or any bearing, but you never know. Some people can handle it great and some people can really struggle with it and that can kill their performance. I hope it gets done, but we’ll see." Unless the Knicks decide to exceed the second apron in team salary, it will be difficult for the club to extend all three of Towns, Hart and McBride.
To illustrate this, let’s use $75 million as a combined annual salary for the first year of Towns and Hart extensions. With this number, the Knicks would have roughly $13-$14 million in second apron space to offer McBride.
But the bigger hurdle, in my view, is the 2028-29 season.
Let’s say Jalen Brunson signs a max extension that starts in 2028-29. If you take Brunson’s deal and combine it with a total $75-$80 million in extensions for Towns and Hart, the Knicks would have around $10 million under the second apron for either McBride or another player. This number doesn’t account for an extension for OG Anunoby. Anunoby would be eligible for an extension. And obviously, that $10 million is certainly below McBride’s market value. So the Knicks have to navigate a tough situation with these extensions if they want to remain below the second apron in team salary.
To date, not much has changed on the Knicks’ side: they think very highly of Towns and want him to be a Knick for a long time. The Knicks, in earlier negotiations, offered Towns a contract with a starting number of between $45-$50 million, as SNY reported. I don’t know if they have or haven’t increased their offers to Towns. Again, everything here is based on the Knicks’ commitment to staying under the second apron.
BIGGER ROLE FOR OG?
If you’re reading this, you already know that OG Anunoby played at an incredibly high level in the playoffs. He shot 49 percent from beyond the arc across all four rounds.
Brown was effusive when asked about Anunoby’s shooting this week.
The coach said Anunoby is "not Steph (Curry) or Klay (Thompson)-level, but he's like the next tier. He's way better what I thought. His confidence is really high."
A look at the postseason numbers leads to an interesting question: will Anunoby supplant Towns as the Knicks’ clear No. 2 option on offense?
Anunoby’s usage and shots were steady across the regular season and postseason. Towns’ usage and shots dropped noticeably in the playoffs. In the Finals, Towns was preoccupied with defending Victor Wembenyama, which he did masterfully. But if Anunoby’s shooting can carry over to this regular season, it will be interesting to see if there is a shift in the Knicks’ hierarchy. Maybe Anunoby becomes New York’s No. 2 option behind Brunson?
Towns is obviously a brilliant offensive player, so this wouldn’t be about anything he can or can’t do on that end of the floor. It’s moreso about Anunoby’s growth. Brown this week mentioned the possibility of Anunoby and Mikal Bridges playing in more pick-and-roll in the coming season. He also mentioned how Anunoby’s jab step – while not exactly lightning-quick – was effective.
Given all of this, it’s worth keeping an eye on New York’s offensive hierarchy early in the season.
HART HURTING
Josh Hart will deal with intermittent pain in his shooting hand for the rest of his career. He explained on Thursday why he’ll delay surgery to repair his right finger until after retirement. When asked about it, Hart said he still has to deal with pain in the finger/hand.
"Some days it'll be it'll be good. Some days it'll hurt to catch the ball. It just, it varies. I wish I could tell you when I wake up, what's gonna be good, what's gonna be bad. But yeah, I mean, somedays it’s good like a regular functioning finger. And other days it hurts to just close my hand, to make a fist," he said.
This is obviously something the Knicks will monitor all season. Last year, Hart and the team’s approach worked well. Hart shot a career-high 41 percent from beyond the arc and hit 40 percent of his threes in the NBA Finals. Brown has been impressed by Hart – and the coaches/trainers around him – for the way they’ve handled the hand injury.
"It just shows to he is…he's tough; he's tough," Brown said this week. "But more importantly, there’s dedication there to wanting to be a great shooter, and you’ve got to put (in work to reach that level). And he puts in the work, even though his fingers bothering him, and even though it's a little crooked, you know, he's putting in the work to get it right. And, you know, (Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton) and the rest of the coaches are helping him out, and it shows. He can shoot at a high level with the dedication he has in the first place (and with assistance from the Knicks staff)."
BROOKLYN, NY - SEPTEMBER 28: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day at the Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Patience is a rare currency in NBA training camps. Yet, at HSS Training Center in Sunset Park, the Brooklyn Nets have plenty of it when it comes to Mikel Brown Jr.
The sixth overall pick rolled his left ankle working out before the start of camp. On Media Day, Sean Marks mentioned that he isn’t expecting him to miss “considerable time at all.” That’s a sigh of relief compared to September 2025, when the Nets revealed that eighth overall pick Egor Demin would miss time due to a left plantar fascia tear that at one point had put him in a wheelchair.
As for Brown Jr., it’s becoming obvious the 20-year-old is very eager to get on the floor, but as he continues his recovery, the Nets’ performance team is taking a cautious approach. He has resumed light on-court work, but he hasn’t been cleared for full-contact work as Brooklyn prepares for its preseason opener against Charlotte on Tuesday.
“Yeah, as of right now they’re just telling me you could get back moving a little bit, really just trying to get the strengthening it up back,” Brown said at Thursday’s practice. “I mean, I am back on the court moving. That’s all I’m really worried about right now. I’m just taking it one step at a time.”
For any rookie, the mental adjustment to rehab is often harder than the physical one. The organization hasn’t provided a firm timetable for his debut. Brown Jr. acknowledged the learning curve required to yield to the medical staff – something worth getting used to in Brooklyn.
“I feel like I have no choice but to be patient,” Brown Jr. said. “I want to be out there so bad, but they’ve just been emphasizing to me, ‘Let’s take our time with this stuff and get you back 100 percent,’ which me, I’m trying to play as soon as possible. So really just attacking this rehab, focusing on stuff that I can control.”
The real games don’t begin until October 21 with preseason games beginning next Tuesday and running through October 14. The Nets aren’t going to risk Brown Jr. getting more injured over practice — whether he likes it or not. But this will also be Brooklyn’s second preseason in which its highest-drafted prospect will miss some time in training camp due to injury. Demin played only one preseason game last year.
“I mean, that’s up to the performance staff,” Brown said when asked if he expects to play in the preseason. “I’m just doing what I can to get back on the court as of right now.”
Keon Ellis Stock Rising Early in Camp
While Brown’s on-court debut is on pause, another backcourt piece is making noise. Keon Ellis has turned heads early in training camp with his defensive intensity and perimeter shooting. When asked which teammate has made the strongest impression during the opening slate of practices, veteran forward Michael Porter Jr. didn’t hesitate.
“Keon has been hooping these first [few] days,” Porter Jr. noted. “He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid.”
Ellis, known for his relentless point-of-attack defense and efficient floor-spacing, provides the exact operational pace head coach Jordi Fernández is preaching: quick choices, defensive versatility, and zero wasted motion.
Closing Out The Work Week
Fernández shifted the team’s workload on Thursday, making it a non-contact practice.
“When you’re tired, you can lose it easily,” Fernández explained. “And [Thursday] being a non-contact session and a session that it’s more mental with the film and the walk-throughs and installing new things, your brain needs to be there. It was very positive like an active recovery where you still need to advance… It was a great day. And then [Friday], it’s going to be a big high-load game day with a lot of playing. And players, they love to play, so they’re excited about tomorrow.”
The fast-paced scrimmages have also served as a testing ground for lineup experimenting. Interestingly, Fernández has kept veteran forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle on opposite sides during scrimmages, using the early portion of camp to evaluate different lineups.
With Charlotte coming to town next week, Brooklyn’s mix of developmental patience and physical evaluation is officially underway.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Dean Wade #45 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the 2026-2027 NBA season just right around the corner, the Sixers are at the forefront of conversation and intrigue for the upcoming campaign.
Most of the focus is centered around the acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and how they will fit amongst the trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. While the star-studded first five will have to shoulder most of the responsibility on this team, the depth and production from the Sixers’ bench unit will be a major swing factor in how this team contends both throughout the regular season and postseason. So that raises the question. Do the Sixers have enough depth?
The Backcourt
This is the most quality backcourt depth the Sixers have had in recent memory. The trio of Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should provide the Sixers with plenty of ball handling, shooting and scoring punch off the bench.
Simons joins the Sixers after signing a two-year, $12-million contract with a second-year player-option this summer. Simons is coming off a season where he appeared in 55 games between Boston and Chicago, where he was traded before the deadline in exchange for Nikola Vucevic and draft compensation. Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, while shooting 44% from the field, 39% from threeand just shy of 90% from the foul line. The skill that is going to prove most valuable for this Sixers team is his shooting ability. On top of his 39% from three, Simons attempted a career high 9.9 threes per 36 minutes. His ability to shoot off the catch, off the dribble and off movement is going to be huge for providing space and gravity across many lineups next to the Sixers stars. Simons also has the ability to go off on his own at any given time and be the primary focal point offensively for a bench unit.
Philon, the Sixers’ first-round pick in June’s NBA draft, is a perfect guard to blend in with this team. He’s immediately the Sixers’ second-best passer on the perimeter aside from LeBron James and an elite pick-and-roll operator who is also more than capable of scoring in isolation from all three levels. Philon has the skillset to play both with the ball in his hands or off the ball next to other primary creators — an ability he showed throughout his time in college at Alabama and in high school at Link Academy.
Philon, similarly to Simons, has the ability to be the primary engine of your second unit offense, with even more playmaking juice than Simons provides. He’s also able to fit next to either Maxey or Edgecombe in the backcourt as well playing a tertiary role as a secondary creator or spot-up guy alongside Brown, Embiid and James. Philon is also an excellent transition player which plays right into what is likely to be a major part of the Sixers identity given how Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown and James are four of the most dangerous transition players in the sport. Philon was a steal for the Sixers in the 2026 draft, and his scalability is going to provide the Sixers with a significant jolt in their backcourt off the bench.
Labaron Philon efficient from all three levels. Don’t be surprised if he is in 6th man of the year conversations immediately. pic.twitter.com/6JiYe8PTln
Caldwell-Pope, more famously referred to as “KCP,” is no stranger to playing a 3-and-D role supplementing star-laden lineups. The two-time NBA champion and fellow Klutch sport client won a title alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis in L.A. during the NBA bubble as well as with the Denver Nuggets in 2023 next to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. While Caldwell-Pope is not quite the elite 3-and-D role player he was in his prime, now entering year 14 and his age 33 season, KCP still should be able to provide adequate defense and spacing off the bench and his championship experience and championship level chemistry that’s already established with James won’t hurt either.
Two-way contract guys Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert could provide some value as well if the team runs into some injuries or there’s some heavy rest nights for the Sixers primary players. Love is a microwave scorer capable of having big offensive outburst. Rupert is more of a defense-first guard/wing with standout length and a high motor who is an excellent rebounder.
The Frontcourt
The Sixers’ biggest offseason acquisition prior to the trade for Brown and the free agency acquisition of James was them inking former Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade to a four-year, $38-million deal. Wade was penciled in as the Sixers starting power forward prior to the addition of James later on in free agency. Wade is a quintessential 3-and-D forward whose versatile defense is going to be a major chess piece for the Sixers.
I’d expect Wade to lead the Sixers bench in minutes played and time played alongside the Sixers starters. His ability to guard both up and down the lineup from small guards to larger forwards will make him an important piece on the board for the Sixers. I would expect Wade will spend a lot of his time checking opposing team’s primary scoring options. He’s also a phenomenal offensive rebounder who will win extra possessions and space from three. Wade upping his three-point volume should be a point of emphasis for him this year as he is going to get plenty of open looks playing next to the Sixers stars.
Dominick Barlow was a revelation for the Sixers during the 2025-2026 season. Barlow, who started the season on a two-way contract, went on to start 59 games and play 24 minutes a night. His defense, motor and overall activity on both ends made him a key role player on a playoff team last season. Barlow, who spent most of this offseason reworking his jump shot in an effort to become a better three-point shooter, could prove to be a vital role player for the Sixers again this season.
His cutting ability and open court athleticism theoretically fits very nicely alongside the Sixers stars, in particular LeBron James, who is one of the best in the world at finding cutters. Lineups that featured Barlow at the power forward spot next to Joel Embiid were among the most efficient lineups for the Sixers last season. If Barlow can improve his outside shooting, he becomes an even more valuable and fittable piece into the Sixers’ puzzle.
Barlow off ball movement, cutting, ability to run the floor are going to fit great with LeBron. https://t.co/hRvuOTI79K
Jabari Walker and Justin Edwards are likely to serve as deeper bench reserves in the Sixers frontcourt. Walker’s rebounding ability on both ends allows him to provide value in that context while also being capable of knocking down an open corner three. Continued improvement as a shooter and defender will be needed for Walker to carve out more of a role. Edwards should be a plug-and-play fit whenever needed as another 3-and-D wing. Edwards will have to show more consistency to warrant a consistent role on this iteration of the Sixers. Improvements in screen navigation on the defensive end would go a long way in helping Edward’s case for more minutes. Edwards is also capable of getting hot from distance as we’ve seen several times over the last couple of seasons.
The biggest question mark for the Sixers depth chart heading into the season is the backup center position. Adem Bona is likely to serve as the Sixers primary backup center to start the season, and he has had his moments throughout his first couple of seasons in the NBA. Bona should benefit greatly when playing alongside James as Bona is an excellent runner of the floor and lob threat who will be better optimized playing with a passer like LeBron. Bona has had his struggles defending bigger players in the low post and with rebounding as he is a bit undersized for a center and does not have the best hands. I expect Bona to provide minutes in the regular season and his defensive versatility to shine more in a better equipped Sixers lineup.
Ariel Hukporti is the Sixers other true backup center option after coming over from the New York Knicks in the offseason by way of free agency. Hukporti saw limited minutes for the Knicks over the last two seasons playing nine minutes a game over 79 contest the past two years. He’s a quality rebounder and provides a bit more size than Bona does at the center spot. Hukporti is known to be an excellent screener which serves him well as he will likely be setting a lot of ball screens for the Sixers ball handlers. I would also expect the Sixers to deploy quite a bit of “small ball” at the 5 with guys like Wade, Barlow and James playing in that spot and alongside each other across the frontcourt and leaning into the versatility that their forward positions provide.
If there is a spot that I could see the Sixers looking to upgrade before the trade deadline it would be the backup center spot as we know how valuable that position is behind Joel Embiid.
Adem Bona really did it ALL for Türkiye (including making a three-pointer) 🫣🇹🇷
The most underdiscussed and underappreciated part of the Sixers offseason was the improvements made to their second unit. I’m bullish on what the Sixers bench will be able to provide for this team and the quality of depth as a whole — something us Sixers fans have not often experienced with this team. Helps when you can sign the greatest player of all time to a vet minimum contract.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Miguel Rojas #72 of the Los Angeles Dodgers swings during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two teams in the NL East battled it out over a three-game stretch to see who would be lucky enough to get in the Dodgers’ way. Ultimately, the Atlanta Braves got the best of the Philadelphia Phillies in a three-game Wild Card series, and the stage is set for a 2021 NLCS rematch beginning on Saturday in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers have thrice previously experienced a first-round bye, having come away successful only once. Once again, the team has taken this time to prepare for the quest of a third consecutive championship. For some players, such as Miguel Rojas, he has used this time to study for the U.S. citizenship test, as well as reflect on what could be his final postseason run, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“I feel like I wouldn’t play for another team that is not the Dodgers. That’s something that I have control over,” Rojas said. “You have to meet with the organization and know what their plans are for the future and all that, and see if you fit in on the plans. … That’s the reason why I feel like this might be it, and at the same time, I don’t want to be a distraction to the whole group for what we want to accomplish.”
The Dodgers have two options for which player could serve as the team’s left-handed bat off the bench, those being outfielder Josue De Paula and catcher Dalton Rushing. It’s still a toss-up as to whom the Dodgers will pick, but, as Jack Harris of the California Post notes, it’d be a surprise to not see the 21-year-old outfielder’s name on the postseason roster come Saturday.
At this point, though, it would be a surprise if the 21-year-old slugger wasn’t active for the best-of-five series.
“He’s just a special hitter,” manager Dave Roberts said last week. “[His skill set] lines up in the postseason. And no moment is going to be too big for that kid.”
The last time the Dodgers faced against Atlanta in October, their quest for a repeat came to a scratching halt after a six-game series, with the latter laughing their way to a World Series win over the Houston Astros. Once again, the Dodgers have the upper hand on paper, and they are well aware that they have a target on their backs, writes Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.
John Kruk, Phillies announcer overtook John Kruk, national announcer for a moment Thursday night.
After Bryce Harper whiffed on a two-strike offering in the eighth inning of Philadelphia’s 6-2 loss in Game 3, the ball scooted away from catcher Drake Baldwin.
Harper did not immediately realize that he could run, though, and proceeded to bend down to begin taking off his shin guard — and then saw his mistake.
John Kruk: "RUN!"
Bryce Harper was slow to get out of the box, not realizing strike three had gotten away.
“Run!” Kruk said on the NBC broadcast before Harper began lightly jogging to first base.
Play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian continued: “Ball gets away from Baldwin. Harper didn’t realize it until rather late in the game and is unable to take advantage.”
Harper would be thrown out at first to end the eighth inning, and three outs later the Phillies’ offseason officially began earlier than anyone on the team would have liked.
While the odds of reaching on such a play are low, Yankees rookie Spencer Jones did so Wednesday night against the Red Sox and helped turn Game 2 into a blowout win.
After he fanned against lefty Garrett Crochet, the ball got away from Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman and Jones ran hard to first base, just beating the throw in a 2-1 game.
The Yankees ultimately scored six runs in the inning to take an 8-1 lead and all but end the Red Sox season, with the opportunistic play looming large.
Harper finally realizes the ball got away from catcher Drake Baldwin. @awfulannouncing/X
The Phillies had no such luck and now enter the offseason with plenty of question marks about this group’s ceiling.
Since losing to the Astros in the 2022 World Series, the NL East squad has bowed out in the NLCS, NLDS, NLDS and now the wild-card round in successive years.
The lineup is top-heavy, with Harper and Kyle Schwarber as the anchors, but both will be in their age-34 seasons next year.
John Kruk, CJ Nitkowski and Matt Vasgersian, commentators for NBC Sports, pose for a photo prior to game two of the National League Wild Card Series between the Phillies and the Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Sept. 30, 2026. Getty Images
Shortstop Trea Turner is already regressing and under contract for seven more seasons, and some of the team’s younger players have not developed as expected.
The team is expected to move on from manager Don Mattingly and replaced him with former Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was fired earlier this year.
Kruk is a color analyst for the team’s NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcasts and is known for his colorful stories after his 10-season career that featured six with the franchise.
