The WBBL is back for the twelfth season of the marquee tournament, with the Hobart Hurricanes looking to defend their maiden title.
Wizards at Cavaliers Discussion
CLEVELAND — AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, will make his NBA debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing the first four games with a sprained left ankle.
Brian Keefe said Dybantsa will be on a minutes restriction. He wouldn’t reveal the exact minutes allocation. The 19-year-old forward hasn’t played since he injured his ankle on Oct. 16.
“I’m just excited for him to be on the court,” Brian Keefe said pregame. “This is his first game. I just want him to enjoy it. It’s obviously a great milestone for him and his family. So just excited for him.”
The Wizards are coming off a frustrating loss to a depleted Charlotte Hornets squad that dominated the glass. Washington must improve its rebounding effort against a Cavaliers team that features Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen down low.
With Justin Champagnie sidelined with a fractured right foot, Keefe mentioned Washington’s deep roster as something it’ll lean on.
“We got a deep roster. Different guys will step up,” Keefe said. “Not going to reveal the rotation, but this is what the NBA is about. Guys will get opportunities, and our guys are prepared to step in.”
Injury Report
WAS: Tre Johnson (right achilles soreness), Justin Champagnie (foot fracture), Tristan Vukcevic (hip impingement) and Jamir Watkins (ACL tear) are OUT.
CLE: Khalifa Diop (G League), Nae’Quan Tomlin (back) and Ernest Udeh Jr. (G League) are OUT.
Johnson felt some discomfort in his achilles during his pregame warmup, which is why he’s out tonight, Bullets Forever has learned.
Game information:
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Rocket Arena
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
You can chat about the game in the comments below!
Damian Lillard dishes on return from Achilles injury: ‘I am who I think I am’
Damian Lillard had been in this situation many times before.
With 43.1 seconds remaining and the Trail Blazers up, 132-129, his teammates wanted the ball in his hands. It was Dame Time. It was the type of moment he lives for.
But this shot meant something different.
Lillard had missed all of last season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Pacers in April 2025. A few months later, he was stunningly waived by Milwaukee. It was the lowest point in his career.
Through all of that, Lillard learned something about himself.
“That I am who I think I am,” Lillard told the California Post in an exclusive interview. “Not as far as status, but the way that I operate, how I answer the call. I rise to whatever comes my way. It just showed me that’s really who I am.”
So, when Deni Avdija passed the ball to Lillard, he didn’t hesitate.
He made a pump-fake, shaking Matisse Thybulle. He then stepped behind the 3-point line and fired a 25-foot jumper. The ball swished through the net, sealing a 136-129 win over the Lakers on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old Lillard’s resilience was deeply tested over the last few years.
After requesting a trade from the Trail Blazers, where he spent the first 11 years of his career, he had hoped to land in Miami. But he was unexpectedly dealt to Milwaukee in September 2023.
Lillard was shocked but decided to shake off the disappointment and embrace playing alongside two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on a Bucks team that had championship aspirations.
But things didn’t go as planned.
The injury-riddled Bucks never got past the first round of the playoffs. Antetokounmpo and Lillard only played in four games together over two postseasons.
Lillard’s final game with the Bucks was disastrous. Midway through the first quarter of Game 4 against the Pacers on April 27, 2025, he fell to the floor, grabbing his left lower leg and ankle. It was obvious he had suffered a torn Achilles tendon, an injury infamous for altering stars’ careers.
That’s a scary prospect for any athlete, especially one of the NBA’s top-75 players, who’s a nine-time All-Star and is widely considered one of the best point guards of all time.
When asked if he were worried he’d return as a lesser version of himself, Lillard didn’t hesitate.
“Never a moment I thought that,” Lillard told The Post.
For Lillard, things got worse before they got better. He was cut by the Bucks three months later with two years and $113 million left on his contract. He had suffered one of the most dreaded injuries in the NBA and was without a team.
He had no idea what was next. Would need to wait until he was healthy to workout for teams? Would someone come knocking before then? The uncertainty of it all was dizzying.
But everything came full circle for Lillard. After 2 ½ weeks as a free agent, he re-signed with the Trail Blazers. Lillard was going home. And the franchise was getting back its superstar.
Through everything, Lillard never lost faith in himself.
And so far this season, he has proven himself right.
He’s averaging 21.7 points on 45.2% shooting from the field and a career-high 42.9% from beyond the arc for the Trail Blazers (3-0).
“Pretty much every time he shoots, I think it’s good,” Ja Morant said Tuesday. “I’m pretty much bracing for a celebration every time he shoots. But in the fourth quarter, I’m for sure doing it.”
Things are working out for Lillard.
His team is already turning heads this season.
The Trail Blazers added Morant over the summer to a roster that includes Lillard, two-time champion Jrue Holiday, reigning All-Star Avdija, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara.
If things keep trending in this direction, Lillard could eventually have a shot at winning his first championship. He’s healthy. He’s with his three children, whom he deeply missed while he was in Milwaukee. He’s happy. And he’s looking like himself on the court.
So, when Dame Time struck Tuesday, it was as though no time had passed.
Muscle memory took over.
And all of the angst of the last year seemed like nothing but a distant nightmare, reminding him of how far he has come.
“It’s not like I was looking forward to a Dame Time moment,” Lillard told The Post. “I’m prepared. I’m prepared to do what I’ve got to do. I just want to keep building. I know those moments are going to come. I know those opportunities are going to come. It’s just a matter of me being ready for it.”
Observations after Sixers battle back in 4th quarter to top Pacers
Observations after Sixers battle back in 4th quarter to top Pacers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers emerged victorious from a back-and-forth battle with the Pacers on Wednesday night.
They overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to notch a 114-109 road win and improve to 4-1 on the season. Indiana fell to 2-3.
The Sixers had four players reach the 20-point mark in Tyrese Maxey (27), Joel Embiid (21), Jaylen Brown (20) and Anfernee Simons (20).
LeBron James added 13 points and 10 assists.
Pacers star Pascal Siakam posted 26 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard had 18 points and 14 assists.
The Sixers were down Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Jabari Walker (left knee soreness), Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear).
The Pacers’ absences included Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring tightness/soreness), Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) and T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain).
The Sixers will return home to face the Knicks on Friday night. Here are observations on their comeback win over the Pacers:
Offense doesn’t click right into top gear
The Sixers entered the night with the NBA’s worst offensive rating outside of garbage time, per Cleaning the Glass. They ranked 27th in half-court points per play.
The team’s offense did not have an especially crisp start on Wednesday. The Sixers committed seven turnovers in the first quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. drew an early offensive foul against Maxey, getting a whistle for off-arm contact that displeased his former teammate.
Every Sixer got on the scoreboard in the first four minutes besides VJ Edgecombe, who returned after sitting out the Sixers’ loss Sunday to the Pistons with an abdominal contusion. Embiid’s efficient scoring was an early bright spot. He moved to 3 for 3 from the floor with a smooth fadeaway jumper and looked very comfortable against a shorthanded Pacers center group that featured Jay Huff and Larry Nance Jr.
However, he subbed out after being called for his second foul with 3:21 left in the first quarter. Backup big man Adem Bona also picked up two first-quarter fouls, which led to Dean Wade and James sharing a frontcourt to begin the second period.
Simons breaks out of brief slump
The Sixers missed their first five three-point tries. Simons knocked down their first long-range shot late in the first quarter and followed it up with another triple on the Sixers’ next possession to put his team up 22-17.
He added two more three-balls in the second quarter and finished the game 6 for 10 from deep. After missing the preseason with a hamstring injury and faring well in the Sixers’ opening-night win over the Knicks, Simons had gone just 2 for 13 beyond the arc over his past three games. When he’s on, the 27-year-old combo guard is a serious shooting weapon.
Speaking after the Sixers’ practice Tuesday, Simons didn’t sound concerned at all about his jumper.
“For the most part, I think they’ve been good (looks),” he said. “You can see now how not playing in the preseason has held me back a little bit. … I think it will come with time.”
A Sixer not named Simons finally made a three late in the second quarter when Brown drained a corner jumper. Edgecombe connected from extremely long range to wrap up the first half, sinking a half-court buzzer-beater to give the Sixers a 62-52 lead.
Sixers raise their game in the fourth
The Pacers were vastly superior to the Sixers at the start of the third quarter. Indiana opened the second half with a 17-0 run.
The Sixers dealt with a few unfortunate bounces and ice-cold shooting. Their offensive woes bled into diminished defensive energy. Remarkably, the Sixers had zero points in the third quarter until a James three with 6:05 to go.
Third-quarter trouble was a familiar theme for the Sixers last season. The team’s minus-10.6 net rating in the third was 30th in the league.
The Sixers trailed by 13 points entering the fourth quarter but soon wiped out that deficit. They defended hard, attacked the basket and created a comeback surge.
Simons and James drilled threes and Embiid converted an and-one lefty layup. A pair of Maxey free throws gave the Sixers a 96-94 edge.
The game stayed close in the final minutes. Embiid canned a key turnaround jumper to push the Sixers’ lead to 103-100 and Maxey then snagged a sneak-attack steal.
Maxey took over the game down the stretch. He nailed a clutch step-back three and then buried a catch-and-shoot jumper that essentially sealed the Sixers’ win.
Already, the Sixers have shown the ability to ramp up their collective level of play and battle back into games with heightened second-half urgency. They’d prefer four strong quarters, but the Sixers will be happy with a 4-1 start that’s contained stretches of brilliance.
Heat at Hawks: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread
The Atlanta Hawks (2-2) are hoping to not be the first victim of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat (0-4) in this home matchup.
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT
TV: Peachtree TV (WPCH), Atlanta News First (WANF)
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming:Amazon Prime, NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
Ellis Helps To Erase Sabres Skid, Earns Shutout In San Jose
The Buffalo Sabres needed to a way to get in the win column after losing three straight and a number of narrow losses in the opening month of the season, and goalie Colten Ellis provided that push with a 23-save shutout in a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
The Sabres goalie made an Olen Zellweger second period goal stand up, and Buffalo iced the win with Zach Benson scoring his first of the season late in regulation with Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov pulled for the extra attacker.
“Put (Ellis’ performance) in the excellent category. We mishandled the puck early, about a minute and a half into the game, and he made a great save….making a save like that early, probably helps a goalie.” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “(Colten is) a competitive kid. He’s given us some good hockey games. Today he gave us an excellent game. He made some timely saves at really big moments, that could’ve generated some energy for (San Jose) and he took it away from them.”
Other Sabres Stories
Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL
The victory moved Buffalo into a tie with Detroit for seventh place in the Atlantic at 5-4-3 (13 points), with two games against Anaheim and Los Angeles left on their four-game Western road swing. The question will now be if the Sabres give Ellis another start after a good performance against the Ducks on Thursday. The club has struggled with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen over his five consecutive starts, allowing 30 or more shots in the four of his five straight starts and going 1-1-3.
In other Atlantic Division news, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost winger Kirill Marchenko with a knee injury in a 5-2 loss in Calgary on Monday and on Wednesday it was announced that he will be out week-to-week. Marchenko had 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 14 games.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
Steph Curry's 44 points vs. Timberwolves remind Warriors what could have been
Steph Curry's 44 points vs. Timberwolves remind Warriors what could have been originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
From the outside looking in, the Warriors’ 119-114 win Wednesday night at Target Center was billed more so as Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Jonathan Kuminga than Golden State vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On the one hand, there’s Lendeborg, a 24-year-old playing the role of co-star alongside Steph Curry as a rookie. On the other hand, there’s Kuminga, who’s on his third team in his sixth NBA season, is a week younger than Lendeborg and never was on the type of timeline his counterpart now is for the Warriors.
The two matched up against one another much of the game and had different levels of success. Lendeborg scored 26 points, and his nine rebounds were tied with Draymond Green and Joan Beringer for a game high. But his seven turnovers were a game high, too.
When Kuminga played his first game against the Warriors last season as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, he scored just two points on a lowly 1-of-9 shooting. Kuminga in his second contest against the Warriors, and first in a Timberwolves jersey, scored a team-high 20 points.
Neither was the real story of the night. Curry was for the umpteenth time of his historic career.
His signature Curry Flurry occurred in the third quarter Monday night in Denver when he scored 17 points in eight minutes against the Nuggets. It came a quarter earlier two nights later. Curry in the second quarter against the Timberwolves dropped 19 points in just under nine minutes, going 6 of 10 from the field and 5 of 7 behind the 3-point line.
What made his fingers turning to flames even more impressive was that this stretch came after Curry missed his first four threes and scored only four points in the first quarter. He missed his first 3-point attempt of the second quarter, and then made four straight shots – including three 3-pointers – in about 100 seconds of play.
“The first three threes I shot, all of them felt good,” Curry said to Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on “Warriors Postgame Live.” “I got my feet underneath me, and all you need to do is see one go in. Shooters know that. I kept finding good looks. Got one from deep. It’s just staying in it, staying next-shot mentality. It’s what I pride myself on as well. You got to have a short memory as a shooter, and thankfully got it going.”
A 23-point first half was followed by a 21-point second half for Curry to give him a season-high 44 points. Curry let it fly from long distance and made six threes on 16 attempts. He was 11 of 27 overall, but in unique and unusual fashion, Curry kept getting to the free-throw line.
Curry took 16 free throws and made all 16, giving him his most free throws in a single game without a miss. He’s now a perfect 39 of 39 on free throws this season, and the Warriors are 5-0 all time when Curry shoots at least 16 of them. Speaking of history, Curry set another milestone in Minnesota.
At 38 years old, Curry now has 15 40-point games after turning 35, tying him with LeBron James for the most in NBA history. Michael Jordan is next on the list with 12.
“It’s a blessing, man,” Curry said of his latest feat. “I got reminded today how fortunate I am to still be playing this game at the level that I expect, and when you have nights like these where the body’s feeling good, the ball starts to go in, all the joy comes back and all the work that you put in.
“It’s an incredible list, and the longevity is something that I’m trying to pride myself on, and it’s going well right now.”
What Curry did to the Timberwolves was a reminder of what could have been, and what is still possible with him in a Warriors jersey.
It was a reminder of May 6, 2025, the date that Curry sustained a strained hamstring on this exact court in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals after torching the Timberwolves for 13 points in just under 13 minutes.
The Warriors always have felt they would have won the series with a healthy Curry, and then who knows what happens after that. Facing the Oklahoma City Thunder would have been a daunting task, but OKC needed seven games to beat a hobbled Denver Nuggets team in the semifinals, and seven to beat the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, in which Tyrese Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles in the first quarter of Game 7.
Playing the what-if game is a waste, and the Warriors have moved on. But watch how Curry was moving and scoring on the Timberwolves defense, and take a look around the league.
The Warriors won this game without Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, Gui Santos and Kristaps Porziņģis. Their opponent, the Timberwolves, didn’t have their best player in Anthony Edwards, and they won’t for up to two months.
The Thunder now are without Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace for the foreseeable future. Jaren Jackson Jr. is out for six to eight weeks for the rejuvenated Utah Jazz, the Nuggets look like a mess, and the Western Conference all the sudden isn’t the gauntlet everyone has become accustomed to.
In the East, Haliburton is hurt again, Kawhi Leonard is back on the Toronto Raptors but is out with swelling in his knee, and the Orlando Magic are down two of their top players because of injuries to Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs.
The NBA season is in its second week, and the landscape already is turning upside down. For the Warriors, their timeline is being expedited by the emergence of Lendeborg, and Curry continues to make all possibilities feel plausible.
There’s what could have been, and in Year 18, Curry just reminded everyone what could still be as long as he’s a Warrior.
Senators Place Defenseman On Waivers To Make Room For Probable Chabot Return
The Senators placed defenceman Cameron Crotty on waivers Wednesday afternoon, a move that strongly suggests captain Thomas Chabot is ready to return from injury.
Crotty, the 27-year-old Ottawa native, has appeared in just three games for the Senators this season, recording no points, a plus-one rating and averaging 11 minutes and nine seconds of ice time.
With all the injuries, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound right-shot defenceman probably would have logged even more NHL playing time if not for an illness that briefly landed him on injured reserve.
If Crotty clears waivers Thursday afternoon, he's expected to be assigned to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League, where he'll have an opportunity to play more regularly.
Originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round, 82nd overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft, Crotty played his college hockey at Boston University before turning professional.
Crotty played six games for the Senators last season, collecting his first NHL point. He even made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Carolina Hurricanes last spring.
While Wednesday's news isn't good for the hometown boy, it does suggest that Chabot is ready to return to face the LA Kings on Thursday night.
Chabot has been out since suffering an upper-body injury during the Senators' 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on October 17. He's appeared in seven games this season, recording four points, along with a plus-five rating.
He opened the season with a goal and an assist in the Senators' 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, his first game since being named the club's new captain.
Chabot is coming off an injury-shortened 2025-26 season where he had 31 points in 57 games. While Jake Sanderson has emerged as the Senators' top defenceman, Chabot remains one of their most important players. .
The Senators have managed to get by during Chabot's absence, as they have with all their injuries this season. They're still without starting goalie Linus Ullmark, winger William Eklund, and as of Tuesday night, Warren Foegele, who suffered a knee injury in Vegas.
If Chabot returns on Thursday in LA, it'll be the first time all season the Sens have had their top six defensemen all healthy on the same night.
Naturally, that will allow the D to settle back in with partners, ice time and matchups that are more familiar and appropriate.
With the way the Sens' season is going injury-wise, it may not be long before Crotty is needed again. So, from that perspective, it's important to get him back playing again. Crotty hasn't suited up in almost two weeks and the return to Belleville will at least allow him to get back to playing meaningful minutes.
But now there are several roster issues at hand.
Will Crotty get claimed by another NHL club?
Which defenseman heads to the press box on Thursday? Sanderson, Chabot, Zub, Spence, and Kleven are all locked in. So either Olympian Nikolas Matinpalo or former first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk will have to come out.
And how will they replace Foegele? Will it be Hayden Hodgson or will someone from Belleville get called up for a look?
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
More Headlines at The Hockey News Ottawa:
- How Brady Tkachuk's In-Game Chirp Motivated The Senators Last Week
- Senators Assign Veteran Forward To Belleville After Recovering From Injury
- Michael Andlauer Provides Update On Senators' LeBreton Flats Arena Plans
- Burakovsky And Ersson Address Their Very Slow Starts In Ottawa
Lakers agree to two-way deal with center Lawson Lovering
In need of center depth after an underwhelming start from Kevon Looney, the Lakers have gone the route of a two-way signing for potential help.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers have agreed to a two-way contract with Lawson Lovering, a big man who spent last season with the Grizzlies, splitting time with the parent club and their G League affiliate.
To free up a two-way roster spot, the team is waiving AK Okereke.
Lovering played just two NBA games with the Grizzlies, the better of which being an 11-point, 11-rebound showing in a late-February win over the Jazz. That came while on a 10-day contract which the Grizzlies did not re-up after it expired.
In 30 games with the Memphis Hustle, Lovering averaged 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 59.2% from the field. He did not take a three and was 25-61 (41%) at the free throw line.
Lovering signed a training camp deal with the Grizzlies before being waived. The Lakers swooped him up before he could rejoin their G League roster.
Okereke was always the likeliest of the Lakers’ two-way signings to be cut. A project player, he didn’t flash nearly as much in Summer League or during limited preseason minutes. Lovering also has the makings of being a project player, but he also fills more of a need.
While the Lakers need a backup center, the trade market likely won’t offer a solution in the near future. Signing him doesn’t mean he’ll automatically play, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for the team to try something.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
Walker Kessler took responsibility for the Lakers’ poor defense vs. Blazers
After a stingy showing to open the year against the Golden State Warriors last week, the Los Angeles Lakers have increasingly struggled defensively and reached an early season nadir Tuesday night when they allowed 136 points to the Portland Trail Blazers, good for a 132.0 defensive rating (fourth percentile among all 2026-27 performances, per Cleaning the Glass).
Following the team’s dismal performance, its interior anchor, Walker Kessler, held himself accountable and didn’t think he set the tone necessary for everyone else.
“I got to personally be a lot better on the defensive side. I pride myself on kind of being the leader on the defense and I didn’t perform tonight,” Kessler told reporters. “But we’ll figure it out … It’s a good learning point because our offense looks good. Scoring almost 130 points is pretty efficient, but we shouldn’t have lost scoring 130. Giving up almost 140 is not acceptable.”
While Kessler occasionally struggled with his pick-and-roll positioning and rotations against Portland’s dynamic attack (No. 1 in offensive rating thus far!), plenty of other Lakers labored in their efforts to contain the ball on the perimeter or properly execute help responsibilities. More often than not, the Blazers broke through the initial line of defense and thrust Los Angeles into rotation for open 3s or finishes inside.
Head coach JJ Redick recognized these issues and believes it’s something everyone involved can learn from to be better.
“We just got broken down a lot. I thought the game plan discipline, [know your personnel] discipline wasn’t where it needs to be,” Redick said postgame. “I think sometimes, early in the season, these are good learning lessons that we can all apply both as coaches and as players. How can we teach the scheme better?”
Although the back-to-back nature of Wednesday’s game may complicate things, the Clippers’ 20th-ranked offense shouldn’t present as grueling of a test for the Lakers. Regardless, this matchup is still a chance to bounce back and rectify some of Tuesday’s recurring problems that ultimately sunk them in their first loss of the season. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.
Free agent hitters who might fit the Giants’ new hitting profile
Yesterday, The Athletic put out a list ranking the top 40 free agents with predictions on where each will land. The San Francisco Giants were mentioned at least a few times, and the most prominent one was probably Brandon Lowe, who had a tremendous power season in Pittsburgh (35 homers) to go with a triple slash of .260/.331/.493 (121 wRC+) — gosh, the Tampa Bay Rays could’ve used a hitter like him in the World Series. Anyway, rather than examine all the times the Giants were mentioned, it got me thinking about which hitters the team could target.
I’ve already rundown thepitching market, but rather than make a tiered analysis of the entire free agent group expected to be available, I thought I’d zero in on players who made it through what I think is a pretty reasonable filter, just based on what we’ve learned from this season of Buster Posey’s President of Baseball Operations tenure: contact! The team craves contact! The lineup wants the hit tool, and it’s willing to sacrifice walks for them.
At first, I thought that put Lowe at a disadvantage with a .260 batting average, but the Giants hit just .245 as a team and the sport hit .244; AND, even in that famous May through July stretchwhere the Giants had the 7th-best offense in MLB, they hit .256/.316/.434, so, it’s not like they’re necessarily focused on Luis Arraez types. So, let’s set the bar at .256 and be scrutinize the position mix a little bit. I think the Giants are set at first, short, third, center and right field. Casey Schmitt and Marcelo Mayer are definitely answers for second base (and left field, in the case of Schmitt), but let’s consider those spots upgradeable, with the upgrade pushing one of these two into a firm position. And, just for fun, since Daniel Susac will be optionable in 2027, I included a catcher.
And before you stomp into the comments to declare that only you see the wisdom in the Giants aiming to lose another 97 games, please note that there’s no reason for the Giants to do that. They’ve somehow managed to improve their farm system despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars to produce one of the worst professional sports teams in the world today that’s a total disgrace to the fans in the actual city where they play. Yes, it’s improbable for a team to buy a 20-win improvement, but I’d rather the Giants spend their money on baseball talent. And, who knows, maybe it’s not about buying 20 wins. It’s about buying 7 or 8 and expecting some dead cat bounces and some gradual improvements from the younger players — you know, the same plan as this season lol.
Randy Arozarena — RHH/LF/32
2026: .281/.381/.484, 10.1 BB%, 21.6 K% (151 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
A teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrible outfield defender (-5 Outs Above Average, -11.7 Defensive Runs Above Average) who posted a career year heading into free agency for the first time. This is a classic STAY AWAY free agent hitter profile of a guy who elevated himself in a platform season but is also on the wrong side of 30. The Giants used to be tempted by these types of guys all the time.
On the other hand, Arozarena is energetic and a quality hitter. Sort of like a potential best case scenario for Heliot Ramos. But the prior three seasons (which included being traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle) show a player not far off from the contract run of 2026: .237/.343/.413, 10.8 BB%, 25.7 K%, 120 wRc+. He will absolutely cost the team a win over the full season because of that terrible defense (he’s averaged -11 Defensive Runs in every full season of his career), but his bat makes up for it.
If you put him in left, then Schmitt and Mayer become the second base duo or middle infield backups. Arozarena would be the best of the group that’s only Jung Hoo Lee, Jonah Cox, technically Harrison Bader, Scott Bandura, Turner Hill, Grant McCray, etc.
Still, a Scott Boras client and someone whom Boras-connected media figure Jim Bowden predicts will get a 5 year, $124 million deal (or in that range). I don’t think the Giants would pony up $25 million annually for a hitter who has been 20% better than the league average for his career. He would be a good addition at the right price, and I don’t think that’s necessarily the right price for the Giants.
Mauricio Dubon — RHH/LF-CF-SS-2B-3B/32
2026: .276/.321/.399, 5.7 BB%, 11.8 K%, (99 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Position player depth
Compared to Arozarena, the Giants could spend significantly less to get Dubon (Bowden projects 2 years, $16 million) for similar value (both 2+ fWAR players). He is a lot of batting average with little power (career .118 ISO). A scrappy underdog utility guy who is a plus defender up the middle — +17.1 Defensive Runs Above Average, +19 OAA in Houston last season; +6 in Atlanta this year and that’s with most of the value coming from shortstop and center — might be the kind of veteran steadying force Tony Vitello could use if the injuries pile up again.
The depth chart analysis gets a little trickier because he does sort of rain on Jonah Cox’s parade, since he can play second and center. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Cox struck out 65 times in 169 PA (38.5 K%), Casey Schmitt is often hurt, and Marcelo Mayer has yet to prove himself. Even though all the Giants’ top prospects are middle infielders, again, it’s Dubon’s versatility that adds the value and makes him a good fit. Not as a big offseason move, but as a potentially important one — especially if the Giants fail to upgrade their pitching staff’s stuff and rely again on dudes who pitch to contact.
Seiya Suzuki — RHH/RF/32
2026: .270/.368/.473, 12.8 BB%, 24.4 K% (134 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
Probably because the Cubs’ outfield was pretty amazing, Suzuki’s defense numbers this year look great. He’s +5 Outs Above Average and 88th percentile in outfield defense. He’s got some speed (63rd percentile sprint), but mainly, he has a lot of power from the right side. His .204 ISO ranked 33rd among qualified MLB hitters (just slightly ahead of Arozarena’s .203), so, you’d get heaps of power on top of the average.
Again, because of free agency, he’s on the wrong side of 30, and the projected 5-year deal for $120 million takes him to his age-37 season. Not advisable for a team like the Giants, but he’s closer to 30% above the league average. He’s more like a 3.5-win player to Arozarena’s 2+, so, if you had to choose between just those two guys, Suzuki makes more sense if the money’s about the same.
Also, except for Petco Park (.691), Suzuki has a .760 or better OPS in all the NL West parks. He’s only played right field in his MLB career, so imagine flipping Jung Hoo Lee to left to put Suzuki in right with Cox/Dubon/Gilbert in center.
Brandon Lowe — LHH/2B/32
2026: .260/.331/.493, 9.5 BB%, 28.8 K% (121 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Infield depth
There’s probably a version of this post that makes more sense because I break this down by position. With Casey Schmitt and Marcelo Mayer (and, to a lesser extent, Jonah Cox and Gavin Kilen) in mind, the second base group of free agents worth discussing is made up of Luis Arraez, Jazz Chisholm, and Brandon Lowe. All left-handed hitters, by the way.
Yes, Lowe has played some outfield (160 innings in LF, 171 innings in RF) as well as 1B (155 innings), but he’s basically a second baseman (6,148 innings). He’s also the oldest of the entire bunch of names I’ve mentioned in this blurb. He also has the most power (66 home runs the past two seasons).
But like Arozarena, he really picked it up a notch in his final season before free agency. It wasn’t his career year (that was 2021: 39 homers, 136 wRC+ in 615 PA), but it was his best since 2021. It was also a career high in games played (150).
Meanwhile, Chisholm had a down year offensively (98 wRc+; career: 108) but his defense was still great, putting him in the zone of the 3.5-4 fWAR player he has been throughout his career. He’s also the youngest of this bunch (29) and steals a lot of bases (171 in 716 career games). He’s just a .245 career hitter and he doesn’t need Ron Washington’s tutelage to improve his defense, but he’s like Arozarena in that he’s a charismatic, fun personality type to add to the mix and coming off a down year there might be some value to be had.
Or, the Giants could just reunite with Luis Arraez. The only real problem with that is he’s basically second base and first base, that batting average, while good, is basically it. He can be about as valuable as Chisholm.
If you add any of these players, then Casey Schmitt becomes the de facto left fielder, which I think is probably for the best. He can also be a great fill-in for Matt Chapman for when he gets hurt (as he is entering his IL era).
Austin Hays — RHH/LF/32
2026 season:.280/.305/.400, 3.8 BB%, 25.7 K% (93 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
He actually ended the season with the Padres and hit .316/.344/.456 in 26 games (61 PA). I mention this because, for his career, he’s a .263/.313/.434 hitter (105 wRC+). His career ISO of .171 is just a bit above the league average over the span of his career. The White Sox signed him to a 1-year, $6 million deal before the season and wound up releasing him due to lots of time missed with leg injuries. This would be the depthiest of depth moves for a team that ignored Hays once already in favor of Will Brennan and Jared Oliva. But he fits the contact approach, has been a decent defender at times (according to Statcast) when healthy and has meaningful MLB experience (86 HR in 720 games, All-Star in 2023).
TJ Friedl — LHH/CF-LF/31
2026 season:.172/.255/.255, 8.1 BB%, 23.2 K% (43 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Outfield depth
The diminutive (5’8”) Pleasanton native got MVP votes in 2023 and heading into 2026 had a career slash of .257/.344/.414, a 9.5 BB% and 15.9% strikeout rate (108 wRC+). He’s an okay defender with not as much speed as you’d think — fast, but not elite — and his career batted ball profile is suboptimal: 86.9 career exit velocity. The Reds DFA’d him in September.
But I keep looking at that batting average and that low strikeout rate and I wonder if Hunter Mense could come up with a plan for him and if his age-31 season on the horizon might create a situation where the Giants could get him for a year and for not very much… just to see if there’s something in there they could unlock. Like Hays, it’s some really good MLB experience. It’s not like the Giants need a lot of experience at every position, but this post isn’t advocating for the Giants to get every player mentioned. Like, if they only added Friedl to the hitting group, you could see the reasons why and projected a modest success because of them.
Ryan Jeffers — RHH/C/30
2026 season: .256/.353/.461, 12.5 BB%, 17.9 K% (128 wRC+)
What area of the roster would he improve: Catching depth
Now, I’m inclined to believe that Buster Posey can size up a catcher just by looking him in the eye, so, maybe he’s already passed judgment on Ryan Jeffers. But just from an offensive standpoint, he would backstop the lineup in so many ways. Over the past 4 seasons, he’s been about 20% better than the league average albeit in a part-time role (429 games, 1,632 plate appearances). As a catcher, that’s really important. His time as a DH is less important, given the Devers-Eldridge of it all.
But Bowden’s blurb speaks to the downside risk of signing him:
On the defensive side, he’s an average pitch blocker but doesn’t control the running game well.
I would think that if you’re a catcher you have to be able to do one of those things really well and, ideally, be at least “okay” doing the other thing. Susac, for example, is 29th percentile in Blocks Above Average, but 80+ percentile for all of Statcast’s other catching metrics (CS Above Avg, Framing, Pop Time). In 2026, Jeffers was 51st in Blocks, third percentile in CS Above Avg, 37th in Framing, and 33 in Pop Time. Even the blocking number is an illusion because it had never been that high before in his career. Unless the team felt like it could coach up some element of his defense, I fear that his inclusion on this list is a folly on my part.
But what do you think? Should the Giants aim for 95 losses and hope for many more? Or, expect that most of the same hitting group will be as good (for the veterans) or better (for the developing players) if left mostly intact and not worry so much about bringing veteran hitters into the group? Do you think that I’ve misinterpreted that Giants’ emphasis on batting average? What players would you suggest who don’t need to be traded for?
Detroit Could Take Low-Risk, High-Reward Shot at Former First Round Pick Reportedly Available
In recent days, the Washington Capitals have reportedly been shopping forward Ivan Miroshnichenko and the Detroit Red Wings may be interested.
The 20th overall pick in 2022, who has been off to a slow start to his NHL season with six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 55 games. At 22, Miroshnichenko has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, despite seeing his role grow as high as the top line in Washington, but he has still been unable to break through with one goal but no assists through three games this season.
The Russian left winger could slot into Detroit's top six, where he could experiment in roles alongside Emmitt Finnie and Alex DeBrincat, or with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.
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Risk would be minimal adding Miroshnichenko as he carries a very manageable $925,000 cap hit this season and next, so he shouldn't cost much to acquire, and if it doesn't work out, Detroit could part ways with him without much trouble.
The Red Wings would not be alone in their interest. Several teams have reportedly already inquired about Miroshnichenko, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.
Detroit would be joining a loaded group and may have to outbid others for a chance to land him, but if successful could find a cheap solution and key piece to their lineup.
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Justin Champagnie suffers right foot fracture
Washington Wizards wing Justin Champagnie underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot, The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported Wednesday.
The Wizards hope Champagnie will return by the All-Star break, according to Robbins. The All-Star break is scheduled for Feb. 19-24, 2027.
Pacers forward Obi Toppin fractured his right foot on Oct. 31 last season. He underwent surgery and returned on Feb. 26. Former Lakers forward Maxi Kleber fractured his foot on Jan. 25, 2025, and returned April 30, 2025 — 95 days after suffering his injury.
Champagnie injured his foot late in the first quarter of Monday’s 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He attempted to play through it, but the injury overruled that determination. The 6-foot-7 wing intentionally fouled to stop the game and hobbled to the Wizards bench, where Khris Middleton and a team staffer helped him to the locker room.
“[Justin] is going to recover, and whatever he’s going through, we’re going to be right there with him, and he’s going to be right there with us throughout his recovery,” Trae Young said. “We’re going to make sure he’s right. We’ll hold down the fort while he’s gone.”
The Wizards quickly ruled him out with a right foot injury. Champagnie was one of Washington’s best players through the first three games.
Washington was a +36 with him on the floor and a -30 with him off. through the first three games He tallied 11 points and 14 rebounds and was a +18 in the team’s win over the Bulls.
The Suns’ new-look lineup is making life harder for Booker
You know what sucks about NBA scheduling? And stop me if you’ve heard me complain about NBA scheduling before… The Suns played Monday night, and they don’t play again until Friday against the Denver Nuggets. By the time that date finally rolls around, the Suns will be the only team in the league with only 3 games played. Would’ve been nice to have a Wednesday game tonight, wouldn’t it? But instead, we’ll get some weird, wonky stretch of five games in seven nights later in the season to make up for it.
Because of all that time off, combined with the fact that Devin Booker scored only three points on 1-of-7 shooting against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, we’re left sitting around overanalyzing his performance. Questioning his body language at the end of the game. We’re so bored, we’re hitting up our local trade machines to pass the time. That can be a dangerous thing…
I could never cover football for this exact reason. You get one game a week, then you have to wait an entire week for another, leaving you to sit there and stew over everything that went wrong the previous Sunday. Seeing as I’ve spent the past couple of days doing exactly that, watching Booker footage over and over again, I figured it was time to put my thoughts together on the debacle.
I’ll start by acknowledging one simple fact. I don’t believe I’m somebody who coddles our superstar, primarily because, in my opinion, he hasn’t been a superstar over the past few seasons. That’s not a knock on Devin Booker, personally or professionally. It’s the reality of where he currently stands within the NBA landscape. We’re talking about a player who hasn’t won a playoff game since 2023 and failed to make an All-NBA team since 2023-24. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by suggesting that Devin Booker isn’t currently among the league’s premier players.
That’s not to say he doesn’t possess the ability to be one, because we’ve seen what he’s capable of throughout his career. He has a unique skill set, is an elite midrange scorer, and can pour in points with the best of them. We literally just witnessed this, as evidenced by his 43-point performance against the Golden State Warriors last Saturday. But consistency is what defines superstardom. It’s the ability to rise above the competition at every turn, or, in the case of Monday night’s game against Oklahoma City, to rise above three defenders at once.
“I’ve got to look at it back,” Booker stated after Monday’s loss when asked how he’ll evaluate his performance. “Shoot over three people?”
Yeah, based on that footage, I see why all the body-language doctors out there are writing prescriptions.
It’s troubling to see Booker go 1-of-7 against the Thunder, especially when you consider that two games earlier against the Portland Trail Blazers, he didn’t attempt a single three-pointer. While the Suns were getting their asses handed to them, their best (and highest compensated) player didn’t attempt a shot from beyond the arc, the very shot that could have helped his team get back into the game. That still befuddles me.
When you combine those performances with his postgame body language while sitting on the bench looking visibly distraught, and the fact that he didn’t appear willing to force the issue offensively, it catches your attention.
I don’t care what opposing defenses are doing to Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Jalen Brunson. Those guys are going to get their shots up regardless of what the opposition throws at them. If they see a triple team coming, they’re going to find a way to get that shot off before the triple team arrives.
In the same breath, I can understand what Booker was attempting to do against Oklahoma City. This is a team that historically, and especially as we witnessed in last year’s postseason, has done an excellent job of game planning to get the ball out of his hands. Their entire objective is to force the rest of the Suns to beat them, and when you consider that Phoenix has surrounded one of the best midrange talents in the game with a roster lacking reliable spot-up three-point shooters, that objective becomes even easier to accomplish. We miss you, Grayson.
When you watch this compilation from Kellan Olson, you can see Booker fighting to get open, finding his spots, and creating opportunities. But it’s the defense imposing its will rather than Booker imposing his.
So what does he do instead? He goes into Point Book mode, recognizing that Oklahoma City is selling out to take him out of the game and relying on his teammates to pick up the slack. To his credit, he finished with seven assists and zero turnovers.
And much like trying to break down the 2-3 zone, something the Suns were unsuccessful in doing Monday night, the solution requires his teammates to start knocking down shots. If they do, the defense has to adjust, opening up opportunities for Booker to operate. But his teammates didn’t. Booker ended the game with a team-high 13 potential assists.
Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Jalen Green combined to shoot 6-of-23 from beyond the arc, a miserable 26%. Sure, they combined for 56 points, but they did so on 43.2% shooting on 44 shot attempts. Scoring continues to be a struggle for this Suns team, especially when opposing defenses can dictate where the ball goes and who gets to shoot it.
By the end of the game, Booker’s body language appeared to be that of somebody who was exhausted and frustrated with the outcome, his own performance included. At least that’s my interpretation. You’re out there battling an opponent that eliminated you from the playoffs the year before, and they’re successfully taking you out of your game, forcing you away from your preferred spots and making every possession a struggle. And when you look around for somebody to help alleviate that pressure, nobody is efficiently stepping up.
Look at the notes Barstool’s Sam Vecenie had on Miles Bridges and Jalen Green following this game:
I hate everything about what this Phoenix team has done to its starting lineup. They were without Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro tonight, so Maluach had to start. But really, the problem here is that Jalen Green and Miles Bridges are the antithesis of what made this team fun last year. They were so selfless and played for one another on defense last season. They moved the ball quicker and made better decisions. This group doesn’t do that with the starters. Coming into tonight, Phoenix’s starters had a negative-35.5 net rating and tonight might make that slightly better, but not much better. They got their ass kicked.
Green’s stat line looks about as good as it could. He had 20 points, four assists, four rebounds, only one turnover and shot 8 for 13 from the field. I wouldn’t say that he played poorly, but I didn’t love his game. I counted at least five possessions where he brought the ball up the court and shot the ball without passing, one of which was a pretty egregious one at the start of the second half where Phoenix clearly set up a Spain/stack action with Maluach and Booker, and Green just rejected the screen, drove to the rim, overpenetrated, and got stripped by McCain. Midway through the first, he had another no-pass possession where he settled for a contested midrange shot with 15 seconds left on the shot clock without trying to create anything for his teammates. When Green keeps it simple, attacking driving lanes when they come available as a slasher with his athleticism, taking open catch-and-shoot 3s, and cuts to the rim, he’s an effective player. He can attack mismatches well. The problem is when he tries to isolate or play in ball-screens against high-level defenses or defenders. He also doesn’t process it quickly enough and holds the ball too long upon catching it, allowing rotating defenses to catch up while he surveys. I don’t think he’s a fit with Devin Booker in the starting lineup.
Bridges was even worse largely because he can’t defend anyone. He gets caught in no-man’s land in help way to often. He can’t move his feet quickly enough on defense to deal with guards in switches. He ends up having to play too passively and is too far off of them, allowing them to get space and time to shoot. He also isn’t a good enough shooter to take advantage of when he’s open. He’s made 33 percent from 3 over his last four years, and only has one year in his career over 35 percent despite taking six per game over the last six years. He did a nice job moving without the ball, particularly in some moments where OKC was in zone coverage. Again, he had 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The box score looks great. He did not play well.
My real issue with everything Phoenix is doing here with this group is that none of it is in service of accentuating Devin Booker or the scheme Jordan Ott found success with last season. Gillespie makes life easier for Booker by spacing the court, being an aggressive point-of-attack defender, and making good decisions. Goodwin and Brooks take really tough matchups on defense and are physical. Ighodaro was out tonight, but he moves the ball quickly. But Green and Bridges just have not looked like a fit at all. Maybe it gets better as the season continues, but their careers to this point would not suggest it.
Um. Yikes?
If I’m Devin Booker, I’m frustrated too. You’re a star in your prime, hoping that the organization is doing everything it can to build a competitive team around you. Not by trying to buy a championship by surrounding you with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but by finding a way to construct a roster around you while navigating a difficult dead cap situation. And so far, it doesn’t look good. The connectivity doesn’t exist, the chemistry is flawed, and the schemes aren’t working.
I can understand the blanket statements from the fan base expressing frustration that Booker should be able to rise above everything happening around him. He’s the $57 million man, and scoring three points is unacceptable. I understand exactly where you’re coming from because, on the surface, I concur. But when I dig a little deeper, I see a player who wants some help around him. Defenders who actually defend. Rebounders who actually rebound. Shooters who actually shoot. Is that too much to ask?
Devin Booker had the body language of somebody who recognizes that the road ahead is going to be long and difficult, and that the only way this team can remain competitive is if he goes out there and scores 43 points every night. That’s something a younger player might embrace, but on Friday, Booker turns 30. And sure, that’s what the contract is for. I get it. But that doesn’t make things any easier when the roster that’s been constructed around you, albeit incredibly early in the season, has been an utter catastrophe thus far.
Booker deserves criticism for Monday night. Three points from your franchise player is unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances. But expecting him to overcome every deficiency around him isn’t a sustainable formula for winning basketball. The Suns need to find ways to make his life easier, and that responsibility belongs to the players, the coaching staff, and the front office. Booker needs to be better. So does everybody around him. Because if this is what turning 30 looks like in Phoenix, it’s going to be a long damn season.
‘I’m not a doctor’: Aussie rift rumour lingers as Renshaw responds to Smith report, Marnus future
Matt Renshaw declared after Australia’s strongest batting performance on this South African tour that he is neither a doctor nor a curator. But he confirmed his status as Australia’s incumbent opener and clearly remains a very loyal mate.