Apr 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors’ all-time leader in games played, minutes, played, and points scored, will not be making his way back to Toronto, after all. DeRozan parted way with the Kings and there was wild speculation as to where he might end up. Rumours abounded that he was destined for a return to the 6ix, or perhaps headed to Miami, but in a cruel twist of irony, he is going to join the team that the Raptors beat for the 2019 Championship to play alongside Stephen Curry, as DeRozan enters his 17th season in the league.
Free Agent and Six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan has agreed to a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, his agent Aaron Goodwin of @GoodwinSports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4EoouhEgKE
Shams Charania reported the news today on August 13th, conveying information from DeRozan’s agent. The 8.4 million dollars is far from the veteran’s minimum, but is a far cry from the more than 24 million he earned last year. This will be his lowest earning year since the 2012-13 season when he was on the Raptors.
This fresh start for DeRozan will see him stay in his home state of California, close to his native Los Angeles. While I personally believe that it’ll be good for the shooting guard to be both close to his roots and in a new city, it stings that we won’t see him play in Toronto at this juncture. Am I blaming the Kawhi uncertainty for this? Yes, and no. I don’t think it helped the Raptors’ position that they don’t have any clear idea of whether or not they’ll have a starting small forward in Leonard this season, but regardless, I didn’t see DeRozan playing a massive role in Toronto — at most, leading the bench mob — so it certainly makes sense that the wing would be happier in some different pastures.
While it’s currently unknown what type of role he’ll play in Golden State, the Warriors are indeed in need of some veteran presence and a baseline level of competency, considering how rough things were last year when Stephen Curry was out, a disadvantage even more pronounced now that Jimmy Butler remains out with a torn ACL. It’s likely that DeRozan will be in a starting role, one where he’ll be able to play off against Curry, his best teammate in years, and certainly his most pedigreed co-star.
I’d like to see DeMar get back to a 20+ppg form on the Warriors, even if he’s not with us. I think legacy is what comes to mind the most in the latter years of NBA stars, so I wish DeRozan the best in the twilight years, even if they’re not in the red and black.
Cleveland has been flirting with a sign-and-trade for either Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson, but they needed more cap space to bring one of them (or anyone else of note) in, as well as re-sign James Harden. Which leads us to Friday's news.
Charlotte will be Schroeder's 12th NBA team, tied for second most in league history (Ish Smith is at 13). Charlotte's head of basketball operations, Jeff Peterson, has a long history with Schroeder dating back to when both were in Atlanta at the same time.
The Cavaliers free up about $6.8 million in cap space in this deal, reports Keith Smith of Spotrac, putting them approximately $29.6 million below the first apron of the luxury tax (and by extension about $40.3 million below the second apron). That's still not enough room to trade for Watson or Kuminga and re-sign Harden, so either Max Struss' salary will have to go out in any deal, or he would be traded elsewhere (Mann also could be moved again). Cleveland has more options now.
Cleveland has remained in contact with Harden and his camp throughout the summer, Charania notes. Harden opted out of his $42.3 million player option for this season to give the franchise room to chase players like LeBron James (who chose Philadelphia), or make a move for a player like Watson or Kuminga. Harden will re-sign with Cleveland for less per year but more total money across the multi-year contract.
The Hornets moved on from LaMelo Ball this offseason, now have Coby White running the point and were looking for a steady backup for him (Mann was not that guy). Schroeder will step in and be solid, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.9 assists per game last season, splitting time between Sacramento and Cleveland.
Schroeder is a force in FIBA games (under international rules) and has played for the German national team this offseason as it works to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 14: Matthew Liberatore #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after being removed from the game against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field on August 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Matthew Liberatore was his best self Friday afternoon as the St. Louis Cardinals entered the gauntlet of Wrigley Field to play the Cubs for the start of a crucial weekend series. The problem was that Cubs starter Clay Holmes was even better. The first 2/3 of the game was a scoreless and nearly hitless duel. Wheels would start to come off for the Cardinals in that last third of the game, though.
There are no offensive highlights to share with you from the first half of the game. However, there were a couple of defensive gems provided by the middle infield of the Cardinals. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong was robbed by Masyn Winn. ROBBED!
The very next batter Suzuki was also denied base access, this time by future Gold Glove second baseman JJ Wetherholt. ROBBED AGAIN!
The Cubs would threaten to break through the scoring drought in the bottom of the 6th inning when Liberatore handed out a leadoff walk to Taylor. Dansby Swanson singled to center which gave Chicago runners at first and third with no outs. Matthew was able to get PCA to foul out to third for the first out, but that would be the end of Liberatore’s strong outing Friday. George Soriano was brought in to face Suzuki. During his at-bat, Swanson stole second giving the Cubs two runners in scoring position. The stolen base wouldn’t matter as Suzuki connected on an 88 mph changeup as it cleared the wall in left field traveling 390 feet and giving Chicago a 3-0 lead.
The Chicago Cubs 6th inning wasn’t over yet as Soriano followed the Suzuki homer with a walk to Alex Bregman and a single to Michael Busch still with just one out. Fortunately, JJ Wetherholt and Masyn Winn combined on a double play on a grounder from Nico Hoerner to end the inning with the damage already being done. The final stat line for Matthew Liberatore would look less impressive than the eye test where he looked extremely sharp for the first 5 innings. Matthew tossed 5 1/3 innings striking out 6 and only walking 1, but those 2 earned runs that crossed the plate along with the 1 Soriano was responsible for were a killer.
Peter Strzelecki handled the Cubs in the bottom of the 7th after the Cardinals failed to generate an offensive threat in the top of the inning. He pitched around an infield single by Carson Kelly to keep Chicago from adding to their lead. Ryan Zeferjahn was the Cubs solution for the top of the 8th inning. He struck out Masyn Winn, but Bryan Torres managed to pull a single into right field to give St. Louis a tiny bit of hope. José Fermín fought through a tough at-bat to draw a walk to give the Cardinals runners at first and second with just one out and the potential tying run coming up. César Prieto was that potential tying run, but all he could manage was a flyout to center for the second out. That brought up JJ Wetherholt who has had a solid season against Chicago pitching. Could he come up with a clutch hit? Nope. JJ struckout to end the Cardinals 8th. Wetherholt was 0-4 Friday.
Peter Strzelecki remained in the game to deal with the Cubs in the bottom of the 8th inning, too. He allowed a one-out double to Suzuki and also a two-out walk to Bregman to give Chicago runners at first and second for one more scoring chance. Fortunately, Strzelecki got Hoerner to ground out to keep St. Louis within 3 runs.
The St. Louis Cardinals top of the 9th inning would start with Iván Herrera. He would face Cubs reliever Jacob Webb who he would rip a single off of. Alec Burleson was next and he grounded into a fielder’s choice where Swanson and Bregman forced Herrera at second for the first out. It was Jordan Walker’s turn next. He quickly struck out on three pitches. Last hope for the good guys was Nathan Church. He flew out to end the game as the Cubs grabbed the victory.
It’s game 2 of the weekend series tomorrow as the St. Louis Cardinals battle the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field Saturday afternoon. Cardinals will give the ball to Michael McGreevy while the Chicago Cubs will start Matthew Boyd. First pitch is set for 1:20pm central time with the game broadcast available through Cardinals.tv.
Mark Vientos was back at Citi Field ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Nationals.
Vientos has been building his way back up at the team facility in Port St. Lucie.
Back in the Big Apple, though, interim manager Andy Green said the team is encouraged by Vientos' progress.
“He looks really good,” he said. “He’s hitting, he’s progressing -- it’s good to see him bouncing around, taking groundballs and hitting, so he’s moving right along.”
Despite the positive progression, the Mets still don’t have a timeline for a return to game action.
Vientos, of course, has been sidelined since fracturing his right hand on a Michael Wacha hit-by-pitch during a game in the beginning of July.
The slugger had been in the midst of another disappointing season at the time.
His struggles on both sides of the ball mainly relegated him to the short-side of a platoon with Jared Young at first base in the weeks leading up to the injury.
Vientos was hitting .211 with just 20 XBH’s and a .644 OPS across 73 games.
Young, meanwhile, has taken hold of the bulk of the playing time against both righties and lefties in his absence so it'll be interesting to see exactly how Vientos will be used upon his return.
Valeri Nichushkin knows better than most what the Colorado Avalanche looked like at their peak.
He was there when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022. He played through a broken foot to help finish the job. Seven years later, he is leaving Denver — and his comments about the Avalanche's aging core are impossible to ignore.
Speaking with RB Sport, Nichushkin admitted he hasn't had much time to process the trade to Columbus.
“Honestly, I haven’t had time to think about it yet,” Nichushkin said. “I stayed in America because of family circumstances, and then when I came to Russia, I was getting settled.”
Leaving Denver will be an adjustment for Nichushkin after seven years in the city.
“I knew every street,” he said. “Now everything will be new. I’ll have to find a new place to live. But there’s nothing terrible about it. I’ll adapt.”
The hockey side of the move, however, doesn't concern him nearly as much.
Some have viewed Nichushkin going from Colorado to Columbus as a clear step backward, considering the Avalanche remain a Stanley Cup contender while the Blue Jackets are still trying to establish themselves as a consistent playoff team.
Nichushkin doesn't necessarily see it that way.
“At first glance, perhaps it looks that way,” he said. “But on the other hand, Colorado is now already one of the oldest teams in the league.”
Then came the comparison that really puts Colorado's evolution into perspective.
“When we won the Cup, we were in the top five youngest teams,” Nichushkin said.
That is a significant observation coming from someone who was right in the middle of that championship run.
The Avalanche's core has aged considerably since 2022. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and the veteran foundation that helped Colorado dominate the NHL are still among the league's best, but the roster is no longer the young group that Nichushkin remembers from the Stanley Cup run.
And Nichushkin doesn't believe that automatically means Colorado is headed in the wrong direction.
“There are very good players in Columbus, a good balance,” he said, pointing specifically to Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko. “And that's how it happens in the NHL: a couple of trades — and everything can change very quickly.”
Nichushkin knows what he's talking about when it comes to Colorado's championship window.
He was instrumental in the Avalanche's 2022 title run, scoring nine goals and six assists in 20 playoff games as Colorado went 16-4 and captured the Stanley Cup. He also played through a broken foot late in the postseason, showcasing the toughness that made him such a valuable part of the team.
Nichushkin finished his Colorado playoff career with 27 goals and 13 assists for 40 points in 74 games.
He finished his final regular season with the Avalanche with 49 points, scoring 17 goals and adding 32 assists in 72 games. He then recorded four points in 12 playoff games.
Colorado officially traded Nichushkin to Columbus on June 25, receiving a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2028. That 2026 second-round selection ultimately became Egor Shilov.
For Nichushkin, the trade offers the chance to take on a larger role.
“There is an opportunity to get a more interesting playing role there,” he said.
For Colorado, meanwhile, his comments offer an interesting reminder of how quickly a championship roster can change.
The Avalanche are still built around elite players and still expect to compete for the Stanley Cup. But according to one of the players who helped deliver their last championship, the team has entered a very different stage.
The young Avalanche that Nichushkin helped lead to the top of the NHL are gone.
But can Colorado rebound from last year's disappointment of getting swept?
The New Jersey Devils are a couple of weeks away from having training camp to prepare for what they hope is a bounce-back season.
Part of that will be making sure the young players feel good about themselves as they look to take the next step in their careers.
Not every prospect is going to play pro hockey in 2026-27. Some of them will be in college, some of them will play major junior, and a handful will be in pro leagues across North America and Europe.
With some of the graduations the New Jersey Devils have had over the last handful of years, they are no longer seen as a team with a top-10 farm system. However, there are some good players that the organization feels can be impactful down the line.
With the off-season winding down, this is a quick look at their top-ten prospects:
1. Mikhail Yegorov - G
Unless Nico Daws starts to truly dominate in 2026-27, the New Jersey Devils don't have their future goalie on their NHL roster. In the system, however, they have Mikhail Yegorov, who may end up being a star one day.
Whenever a goalie is a franchise's top prospect, they clearly have a ton of faith that they will one day see him in the crease at the NHL level.
Yegorov played in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers for a while before landing at Boston University in the middle of the 2024-25 season. He appeared in 18 games for them and lit the NCAA on fire with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
The Terriers rode that wave all the way to the Frozen Four. In front of him was a great team, but he really stole the show.
2025-26 wasn't quite as strong, but still good. The team in front was much weaker, but Yegorov would tell you he'd like to be better than the 2.73 goals against and .904 save percentage that he had.
When Yegorv eventually turns pro, he is likely to get some run in the AHL before coming to the NHL. By then, the organization would love for his skills to be defined enough to make an impact as a future pillar within the franchise.
2. Anton Silayev - D
The New Jersey Devils took a risk when they selected Anton Silayev with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. They likely would go in a different direction with the benefit of hindsight, but that doesn't mean that Silayev isn't a noteworthy prospect.
Silayev will play in the NHL, and it could be as soon as this upcoming season. He is a big, mean defenseman who keeps his opponents away from high-danger scoring areas with regularity.
There isn't much offense in his game, but as a middle-pair defender, he can make an impact by being very difficult to play against while other guys are relied on for breakout passes/offensive contribution.
3. Alexander Command - C
The New Jersey Devils selected Alexander Command with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He is a young prospect within the organization and has a lot of development to do.
Command is a center who puts heavy emphasis on playing a 200-foot game, which would obviously translate to winning hockey in the NHL if he were to ever bring his game there with his full potential.
If he ever reaches the heights of being a high-end third line center behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, with a lot of similarities to Hischier, the Devils will have gotten the player they wanted when they drafted him.
He will never have to carry the load offensively or defensively, but he could if needed, which is exactly what the Devils will need out of their long-term 3C.
4. Lenni Hämeenaho - RW
Lenni Hameenaho just finished his first pro season in North America, split between the NHL and AHL. He is sure to graduate off this list by the start of the 2027-28 season.
Hameenaho was a key force for Finland in their World Championships win, so he should enter training camp confident and ready for more.
5. Seamus Casey - D
When Seamus Casey was dominating games at the University of Michigan, there were high hopes for him at the NHL level. Then, he had a strong 14-game stretch to begin his NHL debut in 2024-25, which heightened expectations even more.
Casey dealt with some injuries and inconsistencies in 2025-26, which has lowered his stock a little bit. He only appeared in 31 games, and 29 of them were in the AHL. Now, he has to work his way back up with good play in 2026-27.
Those key high-end skills are still there, which gives him hope; he just has to put them to good use on the ice early and often.
6. Matias Vanhanen - LW
Matias Vanhanen was incredible for Everett en route to a Memorial Cup runner-up finish. Now, he is going to head to Boston College where he is looking to get bigger, stronger, and faster.
If Vanhanen makes it to the NHL, it will likely be as a play-making forward who adds some offensive depth to a lineup. There is work to be done physically, but his ceiling would find him in the NHL.
7. Nikita Shcherbakov - D
The New Jersey Devils selected big defenseman Nikita Scherbakov with a second round pick (44th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft.
This player has a lot of development left to go, as he spent most of 2025-26 in Russia's second-tier league behind the KHL. Still, you can't teach a defenseman to be 6'5", which gives him an advantage when it comes to pushing to become an NHL-caliber defender.
Some believe that Scherbakov has another level to his game that he could get to offensively, because he doesn't give much at this time, but the Devils should be focused on him becoming a great defensive defenseman with the ceiling of a shutdown third-pair guy.
8. Conrad Fondrk - C
Conrad Fondrk was a second round pick (50th overall) by the New Jersey Devils in 2025. He was with the United States National Team Development Program in his draft year before spending his D+1 year with Boston University.
Frondrk has seen his stock fall as his offensive numbers that he was capable of putting up have been declining year over year. It was a disappointing 2025-26 season at BU, and this is his chance to bounce back and show why he was a second-round pick.
Another lackluster year with the Terriers likely gets him bumped out of the top ten by this time next year.
9. Shane Lachance - LW
The New Jersey Devils landed former BU captain Shane Lachance for bridging a trade between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins back in 2025. Now, he is in New Jersey's system, trying to climb the ranks.
Over the course of his pre-NHL career, Lachance has shown the ability to create chances for himself and his teammates. Every team he's been on seems to outshoot their opponents when he is on the ice. That is a tool that could help him become a middle-six forward on a good team.
Being a captain of a top NCAA program like Boston University is no joke either. That level of leadership capability is sought after in NHL locker rooms.
Lachance did play in 62 games for the Utica Comets in 2025-26 and scored 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points. He made his NHL debut, as well, but he didn't have any points in his one game.
Unless Lachance dominates training camp and the preseason, he will likely begin the year in Utica, but don't be surprised if he plays some NHL games in 2026-27.
10. Étienne Morin - D
Etienne Morin was a part of the package that New Jersey received in the Simon Nemec trade that they made with the Calgary Flames earlier this off-season. Now, he is a hopeful NHL prospect hoping to make his way up the ranks in New Jersey's system.
Morin was a second round pick by the Flames (48th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. He is a 21 year old defenseman.
In 2025-26, Morin was a bit disappointing in the AHL for the Flames. They gave up on him and let him go to get Nemec, and now he is a project for the Devils. The two first round picks were New Jersey's top acquisition for Nemec, but Morin could turn into something if they work with him.
It is the offensive upside from the back-end that makes Morin worthy of another look. He has incredible puck skills, but it didn't translate to more than 1 goal and 7 assists during the 2025-26 season.
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Colombian Emilia Arango handed Venus Williams a 14th straight loss dating to July of last year, defeating the fading seven-time grand slam champion who is currently ranked 615th in 66 minutes by 6-2, 6-2 at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters.
The 46-year-old Williams was given a wild card entry at an event where she reached a semi-final a dozen years ago. She has played and lost 11 times this season while competing on organizer free entries.
The stage is set for the Atlanta Braves to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Let’s take a look at the rosters.
Drake Baldwin is back in the leading spot and playing catcher. And hey! Look who’s batting in the ninth hole: Jim Jarvis is geared up for shortstop.
Now, both teams have put up similar numbers against each other’s pitcher, with all reaching above .500 OPS and over a .235 batting average. Both Chris Sale and Arizona’s Brandon Pfaddt are coming off successful stints in their past three games and have continued to show consistency landing their pitches in the zone.
Tonight will just be a matter of which team will show up the best.
Runs will be tough to come by tonight, as Seattle walks into Houston as +105 underdogs on Polymarket.
George Kirby and Peter Lambert go head-to-head, and we're leaning on their large sample size in this matchup as part of our Mariners vs. Astros predictions.
Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 14, and grow that bankroll before the weekend.
Who will win Mariners vs Astros today: Mariners (+105)
With 184 plate appearances under his belt, I'm tapping George Kirby to get the job done and cash us as a live underdog at Polymarket.
Over that span, the Houston Astros own just a .250 xBA and .286 xwOBA, while walking at just a 2.7% rate against the Seattle Mariners ace, giving us plenty to work with.
On the other side, Randy Arozarena (.251 xBA) and Julio Rodriguez (.358 xBA) are a combined 5-for-10 with a home run against Peter Lambert — let's ride this duo to the bank.
COVERS INTEL: One of the main reasons to feel warm and cozy about Mariners moneyline is Yordan Alvarez's numbers against Kirby. Over 22 at-bats, Alvarez is rocking a 29% K rate with just four hits to his name.
Mariners vs Astros Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-121)
Runs are going to be few and far between with this pitching matchup.
While Lambert doesn't have as large a sample size in this matchup as Kirby, he has still done a great job of suppressing runs here. Across 42 plate appearances, the right-hander is striking out this Mariners team at a 33% clip, limiting them to a .187 xBA.
Between these two pitchers, we should sail comfortably Under this number. I'd play this up to -130 at Polymarket.
Mariners vs Astros home run prediction: Julio Rodriguez (+474)
Rodriguez has the most success out of everyone on the Mariners against Lambert. The three-time All-Star is 3-for-5 with an xSLG of .942 in his small sample size.
It also helps that Daikin Park has given up the fifth-most homers in all of baseball. Rodriguez has found his power stroke, too, hitting a long ball in three of his last eight games.
Dustin Saracini's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-6, -3.26 units
Over/Under bets: 4-5, -1.80 units
Mariners vs Astros weather
Daikan Park features a retractable roof, so the weather will not affect game conditions tonight.
Mariners vs Astros odds
Moneyline: Mariners (+105) | Astros (-113)
Run line: Mariners +1.5 (-186) | Astros -1.5 (+178)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-121)
Mariners vs Astros trend
The Under is 7-1-1 in the Mariners' last nine games against teams with a winning record. Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Astros.
How to watch Mariners vs Astros and game info
Location
Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Date
Friday, Aug. 14, 2026
First pitch
8:10 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, Space City HN
Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby (8-9, 3.68 ERA)
Astros starting pitcher
Peter Lambert (8-6, 3.09 ERA)
Mariners vs Astros latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
There is a difference between a prospect hoping to make the NHL and a prospect who believes he belongs there.
Tij Iginla sounds like the latter.
After a season in which he finally stayed healthy and continued to make meaningful strides, Iginla isn't approaching the 2026-27 season wondering whether he's ready for the next step.
He's approaching it with a much simpler objective: make the Utah Mammoth.
“I think I’m ready,” Iginla said during Utah’s development camp. “I’m looking forward to a big summer of training and pushing myself hard in the gym, but I feel ready.”
That confidence isn't coming out of nowhere.
Iginla, Utah's first-ever draft selection, has now spent two years inside the organization's system. More importantly, he finally put together a healthy season and believes the experience helped him add another layer to his game.
He doesn't point to one dramatic adjustment that suddenly transformed him. His improvement has come through the accumulation of smaller details — changes in his skating, movement and decision-making that can eventually turn a promising prospect into an NHL player.
He's even spent part of his offseason skating alongside Gavin McKenna, giving him another opportunity to study the subtle differences that separate elite players from everyone else.
“I'm just trying to keep adding those little details to my game,” Iginla said.
Now comes the biggest test.
Iginla's goal isn't simply to have another impressive development camp or show well during the preseason. He wants to arrive at training camp in September and force Utah to make a difficult decision.
“My goal is definitely to make the team,” he said.
That makes Iginla one of the most logical candidates to crack the opening night lineup.
But there is another prospect who could make the Mammoth's final decisions considerably more complicated.
Don't Forget About Dmitri Simashev
While Iginla may have the clearest path among Utah's prospects, Dmitri Simashev could be the dark horse who forces his way into the conversation.
The 21-year-old defenseman has already had a taste of the NHL, appearing in 28 games for Utah last season. But his most encouraging work came in Tucson, where he emerged as a legitimate offensive contributor and finished with 35 points in 40 AHL games.
That production matters because Simashev isn't simply trying to prove he can survive at the NHL level anymore.
He's trying to prove he belongs there permanently.
With Utah's defensive depth leaving a potential opening on the third pairing, Simashev enters training camp with a legitimate opportunity to claim a full-time job. His size, mobility and ability to contribute offensively give him a different path to the roster than Iginla, but the underlying question is the same:
Who is ready to stop being a prospect and become an NHL player?
That makes Simashev a fascinating wild card.
Still, Iginla has something Simashev doesn't: the chance to directly address an area of the lineup with his offensive skill set and potentially force his way into a forward group that has room for a young player to emerge.
And he isn't waiting for an invitation.
During development camp, Iginla played with the urgency of someone who understood that every opportunity matters. He attacked drills, competed hard and eventually scored a hat trick during the scrimmage.
Of course, nobody earns an NHL roster spot in July.
But that wasn't really the point.
Iginla wanted the organization to see that he's coming for a job.
“No one is making the team out of development camp,” he acknowledged. “But the goal coming in here is to plant that seed.”
That seed has now been planted.
When training camp arrives, Iginla will have a chance to turn it into something much bigger.
Utah is entering another important stage of its development, and the Mammoth need their young players to begin pushing established NHLers for jobs.
Simashev could make the race more intriguing
But if one Utah prospect is most likely to make the opening night roster, Iginla has already made a compelling case that it should be him.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 16: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns ties his shoes before the game against the Boston Celtics on March 16, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s NBA 2K ranking conversation time once again. Nothing gets the juices flowing quite like debating where Devin Booker ranks in a video game, does it?
Last week, we talked about how NBA 2K completely missed the mark when it came to Booker’s midrange shooting, which is arguably his most elite trait as a player. The game gave him an 86 rating there, the same rating it assigned to his three-point shooting, which is certainly not something he does at an elite level.
Now, as NBA 2K continues rolling out its top 100 players, we finally know where Booker stands in the overall hierarchy of the league. I’ll also note that only one other Phoenix Suns player made the top 100, and that’s Dillon Brooks, who came in at No. 84 and as an 82 overall. So that gives you a pretty good idea of how the game makers currently view the Suns. Miles Bridges and Jalen Green didn’t even crack the top 100.
But Booker? He comes in at an overall rating of 91.
There’s always going to be a conversation about where Book ranks among the elite players in the NBA. I’ve consistently said that he qualifies as a star, not a superstar. I believe there are roughly 8 to 12 superstars in the league at any given time based on skill set, the ability to take over games, the ability to win games, and the ability to elevate both themselves and those around them when the moments get tough.
Booker, to me, is a star. That puts him somewhere after that top 12 range, probably between 13 and 25. And that lines up pretty closely with where NBA 2K has him. Booker is ranked the 19th-best player in the NBA, which I actually think is pretty reasonable and realistic. He’s certainly capable of being the alpha on a team and has proven in the past that he can be the best player on a contender.
He also possesses the ability to elevate himself back into that superstar conversation and potentially back into the top 10. He simply didn’t play at that level last season. My assumption is that the rankings are built largely on what happened last year, with a little projection toward what could happen next season.
Some people might view No. 19 as disrespectful. I think it’s pretty spot on. Which is surprising, because I also think NBA 2K completely botched other aspects of his ratings. But in terms of where Booker currently stands in the overall NBA hierarchy, No. 19 feels about right.
And that’s probably the proper perspective to have with Booker entering next season. No. 19 isn’t an insult, nor is it a permanent address. It’s a reflection of where his game currently sits after a season that didn’t meet the standard he previously established. The opportunity to climb is there. If Booker wants to move back into that top 10 conversation, the formula is fairly simple. Play more efficiently, win more games, and make NBA 2K adjust accordingly.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 12: Zac Veen #13 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates while running the bases after hitting a two run home run during the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 12, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 6-4. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This week, we asked the community to vote on who they thought the Rockies would call up next. Apparently, the Baseball Gods were listening because when we first asked, 53% of folks thought Zac Veen would be called up.
Then, on Tuesday, we asked once again who the Rockies would call up but changed the answers to reflect Veen’s promotion.
35% voted that Adael Amador would be called up next.
As fate would have it, Kyle Karros unfortunately suffered a concussion during Tuesday’s game after a nasty collision with Ezequiel Tovar, which forced the Rockies to make another roster move. This time, Amador was indeed called up to take his place.
Oddly enough, this also happened in June when we asked the same question, and 24 hours later Cole Carrigg was promoted, so we had to pivot our survey choices.
Now, we’re not saying we have any kind of sway with the Rockies… but apparently this poll was a good promotion predictor!
With that in mind, who do you think will be called up next?
AKRON, OHIO - MAY 26, 2026: Bo Davidson #5 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels bats during the third inning against the Akron RubberDucks at 7 17 Credit Union Park on May 26, 2026 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
A busy day for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates on Thursday, with all six teams that are still in-season in action. Let’s dive into it!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
AAA Sacramento (66-48)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 4-3 Box score
There was big news in this game: Marcelo Mayer was beginning his rehab assignment. Mayer, the former top-15 overall prospect (as recently as last year!) whom the Giants acquired from the Red Sox at the deadline, made his organizational debut on Thursday, playing second base. And he wasted no time making an impression.
Mayer struck out in his first at-bat — understandable given that he hadn’t played in a game in about 3 weeks. But in his 2nd at-bat? He smoked an absolutely gorgeous home run. He drew a walk in his 3rd plate appearance, before exiting the game. We’ll call that a smashing success and quite an introduction!
The Giants will need to ramp up Mayer to full games before bringing him to San Francisco, but it’s safe to say that his AAA stint won’t be long at all. He’ll be back in the Majors soon enough.
While Mayer was the big news — and certainly a star in his own right — the biggest star was left fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL), who is really starting to find his groove in AAA after a very slow start. A day after hitting his 1st AAA homer, Davidson was back at it again, hitting a brilliant 4-5 with a 2-run blast and 3 total runs knocked in.
Davidson’s hits were, in order: a 102.1-mph single, a 103.3-mph homer, a 97.2-mph single, and a 104.2-mph single. What a delight those numbers are! The lefty now has hit safely in 6 of his last 7 games, with 5 extra-base knocks in that time. It seems he’s starting to figure things out!
Also a nice game for center fielder Scott Bandura, who hit 2-4 with a walk and a stolen base. Bandura continues to excel in AAA following a slow start to his tenure after an early-season promotion. He’s up to an .832 OPS and a 119 wRC+ with the River Cats, and sure feels like a near-lock to be a Rule 5 protection this winter.
A rough day on the mound for LHP Matt Wilkinson, who was struggling to find both the strike zone and fool hitters. Wilkinson needed 101 pitches to make it through 5 innings, while only throwing 58 of them for strikes, which resulted in 4 walks. Tugboat gave up 5 hits in those 5 innings, and 4 of the 5 were doubles which, along with the walks, tagged him for 3 runs. Perhaps most damning, though, was that he only had 1 strikeout on the day, and had just 8 swing-throughs on his 101 pitches.
It’s been a stellar year for Wilkinson, whom the Giants acquired in the Patrick Bailey trade back in May. But questions abound about his ability to miss bats and get outs at higher levels given his low velocity, as his fastball is averaging just 89.9 mph in AAA. Interestingly, his fastball has still been his most successful pitch in the Pacific Coast League, but it has a terrifying hard hit rate of 50.7%. In all, it’s a 5.15 ERA and a 5.40 FIP for the burly southpaw.
RHP Braxton Roxby continued his recent tear, as he pitched 2 nearly perfect innings, giving up just a hit batter while recording 5 of the 6 outs by way of strikes. Despite those 5 strikeouts, he threw just 20 pitches! Absolutely absurd efficiency. Roxby, a 27-year old who came to the Giants in the Taylor Rogers trade, had a rough start to the year, but has been lights out for a few months now. He had an 11.00 ERA after his 1st May appearance, but since then has pitched 43 innings and allowed just 28 hits, 14 walks, and 10 earned runs, with 39 strikeouts. He’s down to a 3.63 ERA on the year, albeit with a 4.90 FIP.
RHP Eric Cerantola had far and away his best outing since joining the organization, as he struck out all 3 batters he faced. He’s been struggling a bit lately, but he has some excellent strikeout stuff.
Just as Davidson was showing off his prospect status in AAA, shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) was doing the same in AA. Last year’s 1st-round pick has adapted to life in the Eastern League brilliantly following a promotion last month, but yesterday was his best day yet. The lefty from Tennessee was an on-base machine, hitting 3-4 with not 1, but 2 triples, plus a double and a walk. The only stains on an otherwise perfect day were a strikeout and a caught stealing.
Gavin Kilen drilled 3 XBHs for Richmond tonight. Now hitting .330 in Double-A
Kilen appears to have put his development in overdrive. You hope for players to come close to matching their numbers at lower levels as they move up the Minor League chain, yet Kilen has improved his across the line from his 1st half performance in High-A. His average is up (.282 to .330). His on-base percentage is up (.350 to .375). His slugging percentage is up (.462 to .527). His isolated slugging is up (.179 to .198). His OPS is up (.811 to .902). His wRC+ is up (114 to 133). His stolen bases are up (0 to 1, so technically true!).
The only things that haven’t improved are his strikeout and walk rates, which have both worsened by what amounts to a rounding error. It’s been a sensational adjustment to AA and, if he keeps this up, he’ll likely start the 2027 Minor League season in AAA, with an eye towards an MLB debut.
A pair of 3-hit days for prospects who have struggled to find hits, as second baseman Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL) and first baseman Sabin Ceballos both hit 3-5. Ahuna, a 4th-round pick in 2023, and Ceballos, a 3rd-round pick in 2023 (by the Braves) both have strong defensive chops and flash some good power, but are struggling to collect hits. The 24-year old Ahuna, who also stole 2 bases in this game, has just a .227 average and a 30.3% strikeout rate in his AA debut, leading to a .691 OPS and a 90 wRC+. Ceballos, who turns 24 in a few days and is in his 2nd AA campaign, has a lowly .222 average despite just an 18.2% strikeout rate. He has a .726 OPS and a 100 wRC+ on the year.
A really excellent start for RHP Yunior Marte (No. 25 CPL), who was overpowering for 5 innings. Marte needed a lot of pitches (97) to get through those 5 innings, but otherwise was sensational, giving up just 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run, while striking out 7 batters. What an outing!
Marte, who turned 23 over the weekend, has been hot and cold since getting promoted to AA at the start of June, and has a 4.32 ERA and a 4.20 FIP. He’s still allowing too many hits and homers (though none of the latter in this game), but he has 10.0 strikeouts to 3.2 walks per 9 innings, and those are stellar numbers for someone as young and electric as he is.
RHP Ben Peterson pitched brilliantly as well, giving up a walk and no hits in 1.1 scoreless innings, with 3 strikeouts. The 24-year old UDFA, who is in his 2nd season, has just a 4.00 ERA and a 4.84 FIP since getting promoted to AA, but has racked up 31 strikeouts in just 18 innings.
High-A Eugene (66-44)
Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops (Mariners) 9-1 Box score
The hottest hitter in the system is staying hot! Yes, it was another lovely day for center fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL), who just won’t stop hitting the ball over the fence. Diaz only hit 1-5 in this game, but he didn’t strike out, he stole a base, and he smashed a lovely solo home run.
💣 2️⃣0️⃣ 💣
Lisbel Diaz is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. His 20th NWL HR extends his hitting streak to 14 games.#RootedHerepic.twitter.com/P8v5Xp9SO5
It was the Diaz’s 4th home run in his last 5 games, his 5th in his last 7, and his farm-leading 23rd big fly of the season. He has a staggering .795 slugging percentage in August, after a .635 mark in July. Not bad for a center fielder who, having just turned 21, is about 2.5 years younger than his average peer in the Northwest League.
The lack of walks — he’s drawn just 12 with Eugene, in nearly 350 plate appearances — are keeping his wRC+ down, but it’s still a 113 mark to accompany his .839 OPS, with some really solid defense and 9 stolen bases (though he’s been caught 7 times). But Diaz has really been a different beast entirely since the summer rolled around: since June 28 (a stretch that includes 6 games with Low-A San Jose), the Cuban has hit 50-150 with 14 home runs, 1 triple, 8 doubles, 7 walks, and just 24 strikeouts. He probbly should be getting a little bit more attention!
A trio of other hitters also had lovely games: left fielder Zander Darby hit 3-4 with a double, a stolen base, and a strikeout, boosting his OPS to .823 and his wRC+ to 117; shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) went 3-5 with a strikeout, raising his OPS to .844 and his wRC+ to 123; and catcher Onil Perez hit 2-4 with a double and a strikeout, and now has a .726 OPS and a 92 wRC+.
For all of Diaz’s brilliance, the star of the day came on the mound, where LHP Henry LaLane made his second appearance with the organization. A 6’7 22-year old who came to the Giants in the Heliot Ramos trade a few weeks ago, LaLane is a massively intriguing talent, and that was on display Thursday, when he really shut down Hillsboro’s lineup. LaLane went 6 innings into this game, while throwing just 83 pitches, and gave up less than a baserunner per inning, ceding just 4 hits (all singles), 1 walk, and 1 run. It’s pretty clear from those numbers that hitters were not at all comfortable against him, and it certainly looked that way.
LaLane only had 2 strikeouts, which is uncharacteristic, and certainly nothing to worry about. He’s certainly had no issue with strikeouts on the year, as he has 105 in 88.2 innings on the year. His starts are becoming must-watch TV, and even though he’s spent most of the year in Low-A, it seems likely that he’ll be in AA when the 2027 season opens up.
RHP Ubert Mejias had a nice game, allowing just 1 walk in 2 no-hit innings, with a strikeout. Mejias, a 25-year old, has a pretty hilarious profile through 11 appearances since getting promoted. He is absolutely brilliant from a strikeout and walk perspective, but awful from a hits standpoint: in 25.1 innings with the Emeralds, he’s registered 29 strikeouts with just 5 walks … but allowed 35 hits, including 6 home runs.
Low-A San Jose (61-50)
San Jose Giants beat the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) 5-0 Box score
A fantastic pitching performance in this one, by a trio of pitchers who have been having fairly difficult years: RHPs Ben Bybee and Dylan Carter, and LHP Ricardo Estrada.
Bybee, last year’s 8th-round pick, got the start and had one of his best outings of the season, giving up just 3 hits and 1 walk in 4.1 scoreless frames, while striking out 3 batters. That was quite a nice bounce back, after he gave up 4 runs in 4 innings with 0 strikeouts in his prior start. Bybee has had a tough debut year, with a 4.96 ERA and a 5.41 FIP, and he’s only striking out 7.4 batters per 9 innings.
Estrada pitched next, and struck out 5 batters in 3.2 innings, while allowing just 2 hits, 1 walk, and 0 runs. That came after 9 runs in just 1 inning his last time out! Other than that blowup outing, Estrada has been much better lately. After posting an 11.70 ERA in April, Estrada settled into a 2.86 May ERA, a 2.53 June ERA, and a 1.77 July ERA. That tough month and his last outing are still really impacting his overall numbers, though, as he has a 4.48 ERA and a 5.99 FIP.
Finishing it out was Carter, an undrafted free agent last year who retired all 3 batters he faced. Carter only has a 5.65 ERA and a 5.14 FIP, but this was his 3rd straight outing without an earned run.
Strong days for the top prospects in San Jose, as second baseman Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) and shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) both had strong games. González, who has thoroughly dominated the Cal League during his short stint, hit 1-4 with a triple and a walk, while Hernández, who has struggled adapting to the new level, went 2-5 with a strikeout.
González, an 18-year old switch-hitter, has a 1.014 OPS and a 151 wRC+ through 13 games at the level, while Hernández, a 17-year old right-hander, has a .599 OPS and a 48 wRC+ through 15 games.
Right fielder Tanner Mally continues to look oh so comfortable, as he hit 2-4 with a double. The righty, who turns 22 next week, is still the only player from the team’s 2026 draft class who has debuted. The 17th-rounder has hit safely in all 6 games as a pro, going 10-23 with 3 extra-base hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Quite a first impression!
DSL Giants Black beat the DSL Rockies 9-7 Box score
Bit of a funny start from RHP Simon Colmenares, a 20-year old from Venezuela in his 2nd season. For better and for worse, Colmenares barely let anybody put the ball in play: he pitched 4.1 innings and struck out 7 batters without allowing a single hit … but also walked 4 batters and hit 2, which ultimately put 2 runs on his ledger. That’s been quite an issue for Colmenares, as he’s allowed 21 walks and 8 hit batters in 35.1 innings this year, en route to a 7.64 ERA and a 6.13 FIP.
Right fielder Rainer Espinoza, who turns 18 next week, is starting to find his groove, as he hit 3-4 with a double. Espinoza, who had a solid debut season last year, has been limited to just 9 games due to injury, and in the 1st 7 of those 9, he hit just 1-18 with 0 extra-base hits. But this nice game came after smashing a home run on Tuesday, so he’s moving in the right direction!
17-year old shortstop Joniel Hernandez, one of the stars of the deadline deals for the Giants, hit 2-5 with a stolen base and a strikeout, giving him a .941 OPS, a 126 wRC+, and 9 stolen bases in his debut season. Catcher Luis Padron, a lefty in his debut season who turns 17 next week, went 0-2 but drew 2 walks and stole 2 bases. Through 14 career games, he has an .850 OPS, a 104 wRC+, and 3 stolen bases.
Dominican Summer League Orange (28-23)
DSL Giants Orange beat the DSL Pirates Black 8-1 (7 innings) Box score
It was a very DSL game, as highlighted by the fact that the Giants Orange squad scored 8 runs in 7 innings without a single extra-base hit. That’s not easy to do at other levels!
The star on offense was shortstop Israel Alfonse, a 17-year old who started his debut season on the 60-Day IL, but recently debuted. The left-handed hitter from the DR hit 3-4 in this game, with a stolen base, and through 5 career outings is 6-16 with 1 home run, 4 strikeouts, and 2 stolen bases. Not a bad beginning to his career!
A nice outing from 20-year old RHP Frainer Mejias, who tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with 1 hit and 3 strikeouts. It was Mejias’ 4th straight game without allowing a run, and during that time he’s thrown 3.2 innings and given up just 2 hits and 1 walk, with 5 strikeouts. That said, he has just a 4.71 ERA and a 7.05 FIP on the year, and this is his 4th pro season.
Home run tracker
23 — Lisbel Diaz — [20 in High-A; 3 in Low-A] 21 — Bo Davidson — [2 in AAA; 19 in AA] 4 — Marcelo Mayer — [3 in MLB; 1 in AAA]
Friday schedule
Sacramento: 7:05 p.m. PT at Las Vegas (SP: TBD) Richmond: 4:00 p.m. PT at Harrisburg (SP: Charlie McDaniel) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Hillsboro (SP: Niko Mazza) San Jose: 7:00 p.m. PT vs. Fresno (SP: TBD)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 20: Tre Mann #23 of the Charlotte Hornets drives by Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of a basketball game at Spectrum Center on February 20, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade Dennis Schroder and cash to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for 6’4” guard Tre Mann.
Mann is 25 years old and has played five seasons in the NBA, including a stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists last year for Charlotte.
The Cavs accomplish a few goals here.
First, they get off of Schroder’s $14.8 million contract. Something they’ve been looking to achieve all summer. Charlotte has been linked to Cleveland throughout the process as a team that both has the cap space to absorb Schroder, but could also use his veteran experience on the bench.
Trading Schroder has been on Cleveland’s checklist. They need financial flexibility more than they need a backup point guard. It was assumed that the Cavs might need to attach a pick to Schroder just to get off of his deal.
Getting off of Schroder’s deal without giving up a pick and while receiving an asset in return is a better outcome than expected.
The Cavs save $6.8 million by trading for Mann. They push themselves $29 million under the first apron and $42 million below the second apron.
This gives the Cavs enough wiggle room to pursue Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson on the sign-and-trade market while also keeping space for James Harden to return to Cleveland on a team-friendly deal.
Mann comes with flaws. He shot just 36% from the floor last season and 32% from downtown. That’s a huge concern for a backcourt player in 2026. His athleticism can only make up for so much.
There is reason to believe in Mann’s development. He has shot better from deep in previous seasons, including a 40% season just a year ago. He’ll get better opportunities in Cleveland and might even slot in as a point-of-attack defender.
Then, of course, there’s the potential that Mann doesn’t even suit up for Cleveland.
The Cavs remain engaged in talks for Watson and Kuminga. Mann may factor into this as a trade chip or someone who could be stretched and waived to clear up additional cap space.
Cleveland’s next move is unknown. For now, they’ve taken the first step towards making other things happen. Buckle up and prepare for more.
lakers advice bob iger josh kushner magic johnson jeanie buss mark walter
Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner have some big decisions to make.
They’re now the proud owners of one of the most heralded teams in sports, the 17-time champion Los Angeles Lakers, whom they bought from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion on Wednesday morning.
It’s unclear what their plan is yet, but here’s some advice for the new leaders of the darling franchise of the NBA.
1. Surround yourself with experienced people whom you trust
ESPN’s Joshua Kushner and Disney’s CEO Bob Iger are all smiles as Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays against Taylor Fritz of USA during the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in Queen, New York. (JASON SZENES) JASON SZENES/ NY POST
While Walter had the blueprint on how to turn a franchise into a success after helping the Dodgers win three World Series titles after purchasing the team in 2012, Iger and Kushner lack that playbook.
Iger is the former CEO of Disney. Kushner is a venture capitalist. They need help. They need trusted advisors.
It remains to be seen whether they can build that trust with Lakers’ president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, who overhauled the Lakers’ roster this summer around Luka Doncic. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith floated the idea of pursuing Bob Myers, who helped the Warriors become the league’s modern-day dynasty before becoming the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment.
Iger and Kushner need to figure out who they respect and trust, and they need to heavily rely on that person, regardless of whether they make a change or keep the status quo.
2. Make Luka Doncic happy
Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers hold hands during a time out in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
The last 18 months have been disorienting for Doncic. He was shockingly traded to the Lakers in February 2025, and has already experienced two ownership changes with his new franchise.
The 27-year-old superstar, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season, deserves a bit of stability, eh?
Doncic is highly motivated to win his first championship after being dealt by the Mavericks, with whom he thought he’d spend his entire career. He had a major say in the personnel changes this summer. And he needs to feel as though the Lakers have a clear direction and a plan to put him on a course to win a title.
It’s now Iger’s and Kushner’s job to make that happen ahead of Doncic’s player option for the 2028-29 season.
3. Keep JJ Redick
Redick is the ultimate basketball sicko. He’s obsessed. After losses, he has acknowledged that he goes into a dark basement and rewatches games ad nauseam.
The players like him. And he’s the first coach to have back-to-back 50-win seasons since Phil Jackson did so in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
The Lakers hired Redick in 2024 even though he didn’t have any prior professional coaching experience. He has since proven that he has an elite combination of a high basketball IQ and the ability to get through to players. That’s a rare find.
4. Honor Walter’s arrangement with Jeanie Buss
Mark Walter, left, a majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jeanie Buss, minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, talk as the Lakers play the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
After Walter bought the Lakers from the Buss family following their 47-year run as the head of the franchise, he assured Buss that she’d remain governor for at least five years.
Apparently, that deal will remain in place.
“We have every intention to honor the agreement that was made between Mark and Jeanie,” Iger told the California Post’s Khobi Price. “If things change, they’ll change. But we’re going into this with enormous respect and appreciation for who she is and what she represents in the organization.”
There’s an eyebrow-raising caveat there.
But make no mistake: Iger would be wise to keep Buss on board. She is Laker basketball. She watched her father transform the franchise into one of the most successful and fun organizations in sports. She then took the reins and helped the team win a title in 2020. She has relationships. Institutional knowledge. Experience. She’s beloved by fans. Keep her.
5. Go after Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson speaks to reporters prior to an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. Johnson abruptly quit as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, citing his desire to return to the simpler life he enjoyed as a wealthy businessman and beloved former player before taking charge of the franchise just over two years ago. (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP
The Lakers need to infuse an organization that has only won one championship in the last 16 years with some of its old magic.
Who better to do that than Magic himself?
If they brought him on as an advisor, they could seamlessly help bridge the old and new orders.
Johnson previously served as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations before stunningly stepping down in April 2019 because of a front-office culture he deemed toxic. Johnson and Pelinka have since mended fences.
Johnson won five championships with the Lakers. He could play an important role in helping steer the Lakers, as well as helping teach Doncic how to climb the mountaintop.
6. Keep building out the data and analytics departments
Walter and Co. had overhauled the Lakers’ front office and were strongly emphasizing the need to improve their data and analytics departments so they could make the sharpest decisions in the draft and free agency.
He did the same in baseball to splendid success.
Iger and Kushner should forge ahead on that path.
The Lakers needed to modernize. Under Walter, the Lakers were building a biomechanics lab, new movement labs and a recovery lab.
The Lakers’ new owners should make sure the team has all of the resources on and off the court to return to greatness.
COVERS INTEL: One of the main reasons to feel warm and cozy about Mariners moneyline is 
