Mar 29, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) handles the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Hawks remained busy on deadline day. After getting a strong last month from their offseason guard acquisition, Luke Kennard is now on the move to the Western Conference. This from Shams Charania of ESPN:
The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.
Kennard is shooting a league-leading 49.7% from three after taking criticism for his passivity to begin his stint with the Hawks this season. In comes Gabe Vincent, a forgotten man in Los Angeles who broke out with the Miami Heat during their most recent run to the NBA Finals.
Vincent makes $500,000 more than Kennard ($11 million) in salary, but both player’s deals are up after this season. This move seems primarily motivated by picking up the Lakers’ 2032 second-round pick.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks requested waivers on injured center Duop Reath on Thursday, four days after he was acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Hawks sent forward Vit Krejci to Portland on Sunday in exchange for Reath and second-round draft picks in 2027 and 2030.
Reath hasn’t played since Jan. 18. He underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot last week and is expected to miss the rest of the season after averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds.
The Hawks made another move on Wednesday when they acquired center Jock Landale from the Utah Jazz for cash considerations. Landale was traded to Atlanta one day after being traded from Memphis to Utah as part of an eight-player trade.
Landale, 30, averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 45 games, including 25 starts, for Memphis.
On Wednesday night, Atlanta traded center Kristaps Porzingis to Golden State in exchange for forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield.
There is one place we have talked about a lot in passing when discussing the Washington Nationals coaching hires. That place is Driveline Baseball. So many of the Nats new coaches have ties to the famed baseball lab. I wanted to do a deeper dive on Driveline and talk about why so many Nats coaches are coming from there.
In short, Driveline is an incubator for some of the brightest young baseball minds out there. Paul Toboni clearly wanted to build a staff full of bright young minds, so Driveline is a great place to look. ESPN actually did a great profile on Driveline last week which was a great read. It dug into how Driveline is trying to change the game for hitters.
I spent two days in Arizona last week with 22-year-old White Sox catcher Edgar Quero as he went through Driveline’s hitting program for the first time.
Driveline Baseball emerged as the place to go for players who wanted to improve their game. It was founded by Kyle Boddy back in 2007, but did not really emerge as the place to be until about a decade later. As the Moneyball era evolved into the Statcast era, Driveline was the place to be, especially for pitchers.
It was where pitchers went if they wanted to increase velocity or learn new pitches. Driveline’s state of the art cameras and high level instructors help players learn more about their bodies. If they have a mechanical flaw that costs them velocity, Driveline will fix it. If they need to overhaul their arsenal, Driveline will show them new pitch grips. A good example of the ladder is Luis Severino, who totally overhauled his arsenal which helped him get a big contract.
New Nationals pitching coach Simon Mathews actually worked at Driveline for a bit. He was also involved in another similar pitching lab. After doing that, he found his way into pro ball. He was a rehab specialist for the Reds before becoming their assistant pitching coach last year. After a year of being an assistant, he took the pitching coach job with the Nats.
Mathews is far from the only Nats coach to have Driveline connections. Minor League pitching coach Luke Dziados also came from Driveline. However, the Nats went even more Driveline heavy on the hitting side. While Driveline started as mostly a pitching lab, they have been changing the game for hitting development lately as documented in the ESPN story.
With that in mind, the Nats took two of Driveline’s top hitting minds. The first guy I want to discuss is Travis Fitta, who is now an assistant hitting coach in AAA. Earlier this offseason, before he was hired by the Nats, Fitta was working with Jacob Young. Driveline put out a really cool video of their session together.
"That was so unbelievably insane. But that's like such a good athletic movement." Washington Nationals center fielder Jacob Young joins Hitting Coordinator Travis Fitta in this swing design. Full video on YouTube ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6uLnluCQgS
Fitta’s main emphasis was trying to translate the athleticism Young has on the field to his hitting. The way he talks about hitting is so impressive and high level. It is so scientific which really interests me. Young seems to be leaving a lot of meat on the bone from a biomechanics standpoint, and Fitta was trying to fix that. His specialty is optimizing these players’ swings.
I think this will be very helpful for Nats in the MLB and in the minors. One guy that stands out to me that Fitta will be working with is Yohandy Morales. The former second round pick has so much raw power, but his swing is not optimized. He hardly ever pulls the ball and hits it on the ground a lot. This tells me that Morales is not on time consistently due to his swing. Hopefully Fitta can change that.
At the MLB level, Andrew Aydt was added as an assistant hitting coach. Aydt was the assistant director of hitting at Driveline and helped players like Ivan Herrera take the next steps in their development. Now, he will get the chance to work with the likes of James Wood, Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile every day.
Some Nationals coaching news: Washington is planning to hire Andrew Aydt as its assistant hitting coach, per sources.
Aydt serves as the assistant director of hitting for Driveline Baseball.
After looking at Driveline, and the kind of people they attract, it is easy to see why Paul Toboni is poaching their employees. They are full of young people who are at the cutting edge of baseball. That certainly fits the Toboni ethos of creating a player development monster.
Toboni wants the Nats to be a place to be for young, up and coming minds. It is only natural then that he is poaching from Driveline, which is currently the place to be for those people. The Nationals will be all in on things like adding pitches or making data backed swing changes. That should really excite you if you are a Nats fan.
For players that want to improve their game, Driveline is the place to go. You can only go to Driveline in the offseason though. Toboni is bringing Driveline into the organization so players can improve their games in season. The Drivelineification of the Washington Nationals is very exciting and will be something to watch this season in the MLB and on the farm.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers finally made a move at the trade deadline on Thursday morning, joining the madness that began earlier in the week.
A host of big name free agents have been moved, all in fairly surprising deals, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is still on the board. As we count down the final hours until the deadline, here’s a place for everyone to react to the news around the league while we keep you updated on the other deals across the NBA.
The Mavs get a real point guard just in time to tank
After spending most the year trying to win and not having a point guard, the Mavs traded away AD, are trying to tank and have a point guard now.
The Charlotte Hornets are trading Tyus Jones to the Dallas Mavericks for Malaki Branham, sources tell ESPN. Mavericks have had interest in Jones this season and get him today. Hornets open up a $7 million trade exception.
A former baby Laker is on his way to the East as the Clippers continue their teardown. Surely, the deal will be for nothing more than Mike Muscala. I will never forgive you, Magic.
Also, the protections on the 2026 first round pick are wild.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eu6KtWgA9j
No matter how bad things get for the Lakers, just know you’re not Philly, who spends each trade deadline shedding salaries and picks to get under the luxury tax.
The Philadelphia 76ers are trading Eric Gordon and a 2032 second-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources tell ESPN. This gives the 76ers the flexibility to complete conversion of two-way Dominick Barlow.
Looking to open up roster space to sign their two-way standout, the Nuggets dumped Hunter Tyson and a pick to the Nets for a future second.
The Denver Nuggets are trading Hunter Tyson and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for the lesser favorable of a Clippers/Hawks 2026 second, sources tell ESPN. Denver creates an open roster spot for the buyout market and gets out of the luxury tax.
Denver Nuggets will convert swingman Spencer Jones from a two-way contract to a standard contract, league sources tell me. The rookie has had a standout campaign. pic.twitter.com/MGTan23xZq
The Pelicans are trading Jose Alvarado to the Knicks, giving the Knicks some guard depth. For New Orleans, they will have some extra cash, draft picks and Dalen Terry.
The Knicks are sending Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash to the Pelicans for Alvarado, sources said. https://t.co/Dqb6As7uAI
After a ton of rumors and hoopla, Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be traded. He will remain in Milwaukee, and we’ll see what happens with him in the summer.
The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other trades, sources tell ESPN.
Minnesota has been in search of a guard for most of the season and eventually found one in Chicago — where they were hoarding them — in Ayo Dosunmu.
Minnesota traded Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks to Chicago for Dosunmu and Julian Phillips, sources said. https://t.co/bVhLA9Sb3f
After a breakout Olympics and strong season with the Sixers last year, Yabusele was a bit of a flop in New York, leading to the Knicks trading him to Chicago.
The New York Knicks are trading Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls for Dalen Terry, sources tell ESPN.
Former Jalen Hood-Schifino teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis went from promising rookie season to out of the rotation before being moved to the Raptors on Wednesday.
The Golden State Warriors have traded center Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a 2026 second-round pick via the Lakers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6T94OzpLhQ
The long national nightmare finally ended on Wednesday evening with the Warriors packaging Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield for Kristaps Porzingis, an interesting move for Golden State if the big man is healthy.
BREAKING: The Golden State Warriors are trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eqNWwCupEZ
American baseball player Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays, March 10th 1981. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are going to be (trying) to ask a ‘Question of the Day’ to get a discussion going.
Today’s question is “Which year permanently changed how you watch baseball?”
Hmmmm that’s a tough one for me. I’ve watched baseball my whole life. I guess the change came when Bill James started publishing his ‘Baseball Abstracts’ in the 1980s and, around the same time, started noticing Earl Weaver, and how he managed differently than other managers.
I started looking at the differences among managers (back when each manager had their own way of doing things, one of the things I miss about the old days). Billy Martin would pick four starting pitchers and ride them hard (and, of course, fight with everyone). It would work for a season or two, but then the workload would catch up with them. Of course, Martin knew that he wasn’t going to last long in any job, so why should he worry about the health of his players?
Whitey Herzog built his teams to make the most of the home field. In KC, his team played on a very fast artificial turf and a huge outfield. He used fast outfielders who could cut off balls before they got to the track and, of course, could round the bases when their hits made it to the track. Fly balls died before reaching the wall, so power wasn’t high on his priorities.
Around the same time, the Blue Jays were assembling a young, talented roster, and I found myself enjoying watching them develop before my eyes. Watching Bell, Moseby, Barfield, Mulliniks, Whitt, Stieb and all would make a fan out of anyone.
Anyway, the point of this wasn’t for me to answer the question; it was for you guys to do it. Tell us what year permanently changed how you watch baseball?
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 17: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Toronto Raptors warms up ahead of their NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Scotiabank Arena on October 17, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We know that’s not very edifying on trade deadline day, but as of Thursday morning with four hours or so to go, it’s where we’re at. The front office has finalized the trade they worked out with the the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers and created the roster space needed for Ochai Agbaji by waiving Haywood Highsmith who the Nets acquired in the summer from Miami but never played for the Brooklyn.
Teams are allowed 15 standard deals (and three two-ways) and with the Agbaji deal, they were looking at 16 standard spots. So someone had to go. The most rumored candidate was Cam Thomas who the Nets left behind in New York, citing personal reasons, when they flew to Orlando for Friday’s game with the Magic. But the 24-year-old remains on the Nets roster.
Before the move, pundits were suggesting that there were various ways for the Nets to move forward on the particulars. Although the initial issue is now solved, what Kevin Pelton and Erik Slater wrote Thursday morning could still have relevance later in the day if the Nets need to make other moves.
As ESPN’s Kevin Pelton notes in his trade grades Thursday morning, the Nets could expand the multi-team deal and work out something a little more complicated using their room MLE. (Pelton gave the Nets a B.)
This is the start of Brooklyn using its position as the only NBA team with appreciable cap space to take on contracts for draft picks. Getting Agbaji leaves the Nets about $9 million below the cap, now less than teams can add using the taxpayer midlevel exception, though they could take on a bigger contract by sending back a smaller one (such as Agbaji’s) or exhaust their space and then use their room midlevel exception to add more salary.
Similarly, Erik Slater wrote this about the possibilities in his trade grade. (Slater gave the Nets an A-)
The Nets can take Agbaji into their $15.3 million in cap space. They could also use their cap space in other salary-dump moves, then absorb the Raptors guard into the $8.8 million room mid-level exception.
The Nets of course have been trying to move Thomas, with his cooperation, since the summer, and could still. But his trade value still seems low. Mike Scotto reported Wednesday that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks had some interest but Aryan Bhullar reported Thursday the Cavs have lost that interest…
League sources say Cleveland had registered interest in Brooklyn guard Cam Thomas prior to Lonzo Ball being routed to Utah, with Milwaukee continuing to be viewed as the strongest suitor for Thomas.
No less of a source than Brian Windhorst has predicted the Nets will be active today. How long will we have to wait? Not long, obviously, 3:00 p.m. ET, no further.
The Celtics began trade deadline week by sending Anfernee Simons to the Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vučević in a significant move for the short term and potentially setting up long-term flexibility for the franchise as they attempt to return to contention. The move, or any others that happen ahead of 3 p.m. on Thursday, will all face an uphill battle in stacking up with some of the most significant moves in franchise history.
Boston built its championship teams through trades as much as they did in the draft, and certainly more than in free agency, where they didn’t strike on a star in his prime until Al Horford in 2016. The Celtics build the Bill Russell and Larry Bird dynasties through shrewd moves, and returned to championship status in 2008 through a pair of blockbuster deals for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s arrivals to Boston came through picks acquired in the Paul Pierce and Garnett deal with the Nets.
CLNS Media’s Nick Gelso counted down the top trades in Celtics history ahead of Thursday’s deadline and settled on five that stood apart from any others.
The Bill Russell draft trade
Celtics receive No. 2 overall pick in the 1956 draft (Bill Russell)
St. Louis Hawks receive Ed MaCauley and Cliff Hagan
The Celtics used their territorial pick in 1956 to select Tommy Heinsohn, and they originally received the 13th overall selection in the draft. Red Auerbach and Celtics owner Walter A. Brown famously angled to prevent the Rochester Royals from selecting Bill Russell by offering guaranteed performances from the Ice Capades. Rochester balked at paying Russell, took Sihugo Green, and the Celtics drafted Russell, pairing him with Heinsohn and K.C. Jones, who they took at 13 as Russell’s teammate from San Francisco. All three made the Basketball Hall-of-Fame and won eight championships together, Russell securing 11 for the franchise while impacting the style of NBA play, solidifying the Celtics’ franchise identity and paving the way for generations of Black players by challenging institutional racism.
Robert Parish and Kevin McHale draft trades
Celtics receive Robert Parish and the No. 3 overall pick (Kevin McHale)
Warriors receive the No. 1 (Joe Barry Carroll) and No. 13 (Rickey Brown) overall picks
The Celtics entered the 1980 draft with the top pick despite going 61-21 in the previous season because they dealt Bob McAdoo to Detroit in September, 1979 for two first round picks. One of them became the top pick, which they traded back to No. 3 from and selected Kevin McHale while acquiring Warriors veteran Robert Parish. Parish joined Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell in the front court and immediately won the 1981 championship with McHale thriving off the bench immediately as a rookie. That core won again in 1984 before McHale moved into the starting lineup in 1986 as part of arguably the greatest team in franchise history. Bird, McHale and Parish played together through 1992, McHale retired in 1993 and Parish departed for Charlotte after 1994. The original Big Three teams went 690-294, won three championships and lost the Finals in 1985 and 1987.
Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett trades
Celtics receive Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and No. 35 overall pick (Glen Davis)
Timberwolves receive Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, 2009 first round pick (Wayne Ellington) and Minnesota’s own first (Jonny Flynn)
The Celtics went 24-58 in 2007 through injuries and with Greg Oden and Kevin Durant looming as two generational prospects atop the draft, Boston received poor lottery luck and fell to the No. 5 overall pick. A relatively new ownership group led by Wyc Grousbeck and Steph Pagliuca alongside Danny Ainge pivoted, and traded the pick for Ray Allen to appease Paul Pierce, with his future with Boston growing tenuous across several uneven seasons. The Celtics and Timberwolves also almost pulled off a blockbuster to bring Kevin Garnett to Boston, and revisited talks one month later to secure one of the best players in the NBA and form a new Big Three. Pierce, Allen and Garnett alongside young guard Rajon Rondo and big man Kendrick Perkins won 66 games, an NBA record 42-win turnaround on their way to the championship. They raced to a 27-2 start in 2009 before Garnett fell with a knee injury, returning to the Finals in 2010 and blowing a 3-2 lead to the Lakers. Boston returned to the East Finals in 2012, losing in seven games, before Allen departed for the rival Heat in controversial fashion. Pierce and Garnett reached the playoffs once more in 2013, losing in six games to the Knicks in the first round.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett trade to the Nets
Celtics receive Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, 2014 (James Young), 2016 (Jaylen Brown), 2017 (Jayson Tatum) and 2018 first round picks
Nets receive Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry.
The Celtics decided to rebuild following the 2013 season, trading Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn to appease a franchise hoping to make a splash after their move from New Jersey to New York City. Boston also allowed Doc Rivers to go to the Clippers that offseason, paving the way for Danny Ainge to hire Brad Stevens as head coach. The Nets’ Billy King added extra draft compensation, including a pick swap that became Jayson Tatum in 2017 and a 2018 first the team later used to acquire Kyrie Irving. Boston also drafted Jaylen Brown with the 2016 Nets pick. Brooklyn lost Pierce in free agency to the Wizards after only one season then traded Garnett to Minnesota in 2014-15, falling into a string of losing seasons that vaulted the Celtics back into contention in the East.
Jayson Tatum draft night trade
Celtics receive No. 3 overall pick (Jayson Tatum) and a 2019 first round pick (Romeo Langford).
76ers receive No. 1 overall pick (Markelle Fultz)
The Nets won the 2017 NBA Draft lottery, allowing the Celtics to move up to the No. 1 pick with their swap from the Pierce and Garnett trade. Many speculated that they’d select consensus top prospect Markelle Fultz from Washington, but Ainge focused on Duke’s Jayson Tatum, feeling comfortable about his chances to still select Tatum third overall if they passed up on Fultz. The Celtics, during the week leading up to the draft, traded back to third overall and while the deal itself didn’t return any substantial assets, Ainge’s decision to take Tatum over Fultz, who’s no longer in the NBA after eight seasons, established the core that’d reach the 2022 NBA Finals and win the franchise’s first championship in 2024. Tatum made six straight All-Star teams, four straight All-NBA First Teams and emerged as one of the best players in the NBA and Celtics history before tearing his Achilles during the 2025 playoffs. He’s signed with Boston through at least the 2028-29 season and is expected to return to the floor sometime in 2026 alongside Jaylen Brown, who’s also signed through 2029.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 27: A general view of an Oakland Athletics logo and hat before the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 27, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
We’re almost done with our top-10 prospects! Shortstop Edgar Montero has won the fan vote for the eighth-best prospect in the farm system. An international signee just last year, the switch-hitting shortstop is a well-rounded batter in the box and has made huge strides on defense, so much so that the A’s are reportedly planning to continue developing him at shortstop even though scouts believe that as the 19-year-old gets older he’ll need to move to third base. The A’s have some serious talent at shortstop coming up the pipeline, and that’s without even counting the recently-extended Jacob Wilson.
We have a new nominee and that player is right-handed pitcher Cole Miller. The former 4th-rounder missed his first professional season after undergoing Tommy John surgery soon after signing an above-slot bonus to join the A’s and forgo college. In his first taste of the pro ranks Miller did not disappoint as he showed his plus-fastball and improving secondary offerings. The righty is way down on the farm and won’t be an impact in the next couple of years but if things break right he could become one of the team’s better pitching prospects down the line. Just need to coach him up this coming year and we could see an aggressive promotion.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Which A’s prospect do the fans believe is the ninth-best player in the system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
White’s right-handed power is legitimate and he can hit the ball a long way to all fields thanks to his strength and bat speed. He might be known for his home run totals but he’s a better overall hitter than people think, finding the barrel consistently and limiting strikeouts. His knack for contact can lead to him expanding his strike zone, but he doesn’t swing and miss very often.
It will be White’s bat that carries him to the big leagues. He’s a well-below-average runner who likely lacks the range and tools to stick at third base, where he toiled as a sophomore and junior, earning praise for playing through a shoulder injury at LSU in 2023. He’s likely headed to first base long term, which could give the A’s a glut of serious offensive talent between him and first-rounder Nick Kurtz.
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing with tremendous balance. His power stands out, as he clubbed 45 home runs as a high schooler. He is considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph and sits around 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though that offering will probably require some fine-tuning. Having only been pitching with regularity for less than two years, Morii’s arm is relatively fresh as he enters the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop, but some evaluators see a possibility of moving to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out. While scouts see Morii’s long-term future in the batter’s box, the A’s plan on giving him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, with excitement already building over his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of the next great players out of Japan.
Taylor shows the potential to become a plus hitter in terms of both average and power while controlling the strike zone. A left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength, he hits the ball extremely hard and generates power to all fields. He likes to swing the bat but has cut down on his chases this spring. He makes consistent contact and has no problems handling breaking pitches.
The majority of Taylor’s value will come from his offensive production. His speed, arm strength and defensive instincts all grade as fringy, which will limit him to a corner outfield spot in pro ball.
The A’s believe Echavarria’s stuff played better than the overall numbers might suggest. His fastball reached 98 mph and sat 95-96 with good ride up in the zone. The issue was struggling to command his arsenal when he would fall behind in counts. His mid-80s slider flashes plus, and his upper-80s changeup continues to improve. He also throws a two-seamer in the 92-93 mph range. He clearly dealt with some control issues, but the A’s are not at all sounding the alarm, instead patiently working with the teenager on adjustments.
Echavarria profiles as a starter for the long-term with his 6-foot-1 frame and sound delivery. Previously having shown an ability to consistently throw all of his offerings for strikes prior to the Draft, he will continue to work to rediscover that control in his second season of pro ball.
The A’s were working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller prior to his injury. His electric fastball ticked up to 96 mph in high school and displayed excellent movement down in the zone. The mid-80s slider is a hard breaker and was showing signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup showed some potential as an average third pitch.
There was real excitement within the organization for Miller’s professional debut. His three-pitch mix and large 6-foot-6 frame give off the potential of a workhorse-type starting pitcher in the big leagues. The A’s also loved the competitiveness they saw from him on the mound while scouting him. After an unfortunate delay, he finally got his first opportunity to make an impression this summer.
* * *
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay m
The Lakers acquired guard Luke Kennard from the Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)
The Lakers made a deal around the margins when they acquired sharpshooter Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick on Thursday morning, according to people with knowledge of the deal not authorized to discuss it publicly.
The Lakers like the idea that Kennard’s shooting can create space on the court for Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who just returned to play Tuesday night at Brooklyn after missing 19 games because of a left calf strain.
Kennard, a 6-foot-5 guard, is shooting an NBA-best 49.7% from three-point range with the Hawks this season over 46 games, all off the bench. He has shot 44.2% from three-point range during his nine-year career.
Kennard is averaging 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He is shooting 53.8% from the field.
He might not be the defender the Lakers were hoping to get, but Kennard’s ability to hit open shots was seen as a positive, sources told The Times.
The Lakers are not expected to make any more moves today — the NBA deadline for deals is noon PST — and instead look to make a big splash this summer when they have more resources available.
The Lakers will have about $60 million in salary-cap space this summer and three first-round picks in 2026, 2031 and 2032 they could use to sweeten potential trade offers.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — A BYU sports team was the target of a derogatory chant in an opponent's venue for at least the fourth time in a year, and the Big 12 again announced that the conference is looking into the matter.
Kevin Young, coach of the 16th-ranked Cougars men's basketball team, said after a 99-92 loss at Oklahoma State on Wednesday night that he heard “F The Mormons” chants coming out of the student section.
“It's a great win for Oklahoma State University. Their fans should be proud," he said. "It would be great if some class was warranted in there as well. I've got four small kids at home. I'm a Mormon. When I go home, they're going to ask me about it, same way as they asked me about it last year at Arizona. There's just too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that. We've got enough problems in our world without going at people's religion and beliefs and whether it's in vogue or not.”
BYU is the flagship school for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.
OSU President Jim Hess said in a statement that any behavior that targets or demeans others has no place at his school.
“The Cowboy Code calls us to treat others with respect and dignity, and we are reviewing what occurred and will address any violations of our standards of conduct appropriately,” Hess said. "Oklahoma State University values the relationship we have with BYU and deeply respects their community and their faith. I have reached out to BYU leadership directly to express our commitment to upholding the standards we expect from our community. We will continue to work with our students and fans to ensure that the atmosphere at our events reflects the values of the Cowboy family.”
The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from BYU.
Last February, Arizona apologized after the school said some fans participated in an “unacceptable chant” following the basketball team’s 96-95 loss to BYU in Tucson. According to online video, fans could be heard yelling a profane phrase directed at Mormons as the teams were leaving the court.
In September, Colorado apologized and was fined $50,000 by the Big 12 after football fans directed expletives and religious slurs at Mormons during a 24-21 loss to the Cougars in Boulder. In November, Cincinnati apologized for football fans' anti-Mormon chants during a 26-14 loss to BYU in Ohio.
In a statement Thursday, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said the conference is investigating what happened in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Wednesday night.
“All parties have been notified,” he said. “The Conference has zero tolerance for behavior of this nature and will address the matter in accordance with Big 12 sportsmanship policies.”
Young said only four or five of his players are Mormon.
“I understand what we represent. Even for a guy like AJ, that stuff is unwarranted. Like I said, man, I try to talk to our guys about being examples in the world, why we can use basketball to really just bring people together and not tear people apart. It's something we talk about a lot. It's just disappointing.
“I hope someone prints that, I hope it's in bold on someone's publication and just try to maybe together as a society we can just help the world kind of move forward and not divide each other with hate and things that are really nonsensical.”
Feb 4, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) drives to the basket past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Brooks Barnhizer (23) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Coming off a win against the Orlando Magic, the Spurs faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder for the fifth time this season. Before the game, it was announced that OKC’s starting five, plus some key rotation players, would be out due to their respective injuries. Stephon Castle returned after missing Sunday’s win versus Orlando, but Dylan Harper was ruled out due to an ankle injury. After dominating the first quarter 39-26, the Spurs led by as much as 22. As they took a 15-point lead into halftime, the Spurs came out sluggish to start the third. They allowed multiple OKC runs and struggled to drain a three. They missed 12 consecutive threes and allowed OKC to cut their deficit to just four points in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, the Spurs finally buckled down and closed out the OKC B-Team 116-106.
Keldon Johnson dropped a team-high 25 points (10-17 FG, 4-8 3PT), six rebounds, two assists, and a block. KJ was the first one off the bench in the first and quickly went to work. He dropped 12 points in the first quarter and dropped 12 in the third. The 12 he scored in the third was all consecutive. He provided the much-needed scoring punch off the bench, just like he has all season. Once again, KJ for 6MOTY.
KJ IS EN FUEGO! KJ drained four threes, including this laser from the top of the key!
Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 22 points (9-16 FG) and 14 rebounds to go along with two assists and two blocks. Wemby scored and got to the foul line repeatedly. However, he struggled from the foul line and shot three of eight. Nonetheless, Wemby’s impact was prevalent on the glass and on defense. His presence is so menacing that Isaiah Joe beat him to the rim but quickly threw his layup attempt off the backboard to a bit, Wemby, into goaltending it. Fortunately, Wemby did not fall for it. Look for him to get his focus back at the foul line.
W3MBY! Wemby gets Cason Wallace up in the air and snatches back his dribble for the open stepback trey!
De’Aaron Fox dropped a double-double: 15 points and 10 assists to go along with four rebounds, three steals, and a block. D-Fox was a playmaker on both ends. He dished out dimes and created points off turnovers with his pickpocketing. He also made five shots and made five free throws. One shot in particular stopped a cold streak for the Spurs in the fourth quarter, sparking new life into the offense. Look for him to continue sharing the playmaking load with Steph.
The Fox and the Alien! After Wemby blocks Kenrich Williams’ three-point attempt, D-Fox crosses half court and immediately lobs it to Wemby for the alley-oop connection!
Stephon Castle returned from injury and dropped 14 points, four assists, three rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Steph was everywhere on defense. He was in the passing lanes like D-Fox, and he also had a few highlight swats. On offense, he battled and slashed in the paint with a dose of midranges. He’s still working on taking care of the ball, but his stature as a tall guard continues to make him a strong two-way player.
HIGH FLYER! Steph catches the lob from D-Fox and rises higher than Wallace for the one-handed jam!
Carter Bryant dropped 11 points, five rebounds, two steals, and an assist in 13 minutes off the bench. CB came off the bench and made an immediate impact. He was aggressive on both ends: using his length to defend at a high level and even knocking down three threes. Ever since the Jeremy Sochan trade rumors, CB’s playing time has grown consistently. Look for the rookie to continue to show off his raw athleticism for the rest of the season, especially after this high putback slam!
All in all, this was on the verge of becoming an embarrassing collapse. With OKC not playing most of its key players, the Spurs should have taken care of business earlier than the fourth quarter. It goes back to a pattern for this young team still figuring out how to close out opponents. Despite the collapses, they still find themselves 34-16 and second in the West. Hopefully, the energy they saved will appear in their quick turnaround in Dallas with a hopeful return of Harper.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs travel to Dallas on a SEGABABA to take on the Mavericks at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on KENS.
Apr 15, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A detail of the uniform of Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The people have spoken and Juneiker Caceres is our No. 17 Cleveland Guardians prospect for 2026. Caceres crushed the competition with 42.4% of the vote, running away from the likes of Yorman Gomez (14.1%), Andrew Walters (11.1%), Austin Peterson (10.1%), Josh Hartle (9.1%) and Jacob Cozart (8.1%).
Caceres was signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela for $350,000 in 2024. He made his debut later that year and immediately made an impact in the Dominican Summer League, obliterating baseballs to the tune of a .340/.425/.504 slash at age 16, good for an elite 140 wRC+ while walking more than he struck out.
He carried that momentum to his United States debut in 2025, beginning the year in the Arizona Complex League. Caceres showed no signs of slowing down and in fact improved upon many of his numbers, slugging his first three career home runs and slashing .289/.419/.469 over 40 games while walking 16.9% of the time and striking out 11.3% of the time, good for another elite 139 wRC+.
When the ACL season ended, Cleveland felt obligated to see what the young stud could do at full-season ball and he was shipped to Single-A Lynchburg.
His immediate impact was electric. In Caceres’ first four games at Lynchburg, he had a multi-hit effort in each game, going 8-for-16 with a home run, three doubles, a hit by pitch and a stolen base, almost earning player of the week status.
His pace slowed down over the next 26 games, but he still finished 2025 with an above average 103 wRC+ over 30 games at Single-A — at just 17 years old.
No one has zipped through Cleveland’s system at such a young age in recent memory. Caceres is yet another outfielder worth getting excited about and he could still continue to grow into his 5-foot-10 frame. Look for him to begin the 2026 season repeating at Single-A, but if he hits like he has been, he could be a fast mover yet again.
Now, it’s time to determine who is number 18 in the Guardians’ loaded farm system and you now have a whopping 10 players to choose from! Your options are below:
Impressed at the complex league, then hit the ground running in a late season promotion to Single-A before running out of steam late in his age-17 season. Loaded with potential.
One of Cleveland’s top performers in the Arizona Complex League in 2025. Undersized, but makes solid contact and doesn’t strike out often. Earned a small taste of full-season ball at the end of the year.
Acquired from the Mets in a trade for international bonus cash, Gomez lit up Single-A in his age-19 season, then improved his walk and strikeout numbers after being promoted to High-A.
Venezuelan prospect who broke out in with increased velocity in 2025, putting up nearly identical numbers at both High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. Gomez was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster.
Earned a cup of coffee in Cleveland last season after an average year at Triple-A at age 23. Impressed with five runs scored in just six games played with the Guardians.
Acquired from Pittsburghin the Spencer Horwitz trade, Hartle was one of Cleveland’s most successful starting pitchers in its minor league system in 2025. Stands 6-foot-6, but doesn’t have a ton of velocity.
Absolutely dominated Double-A to begin 2025 looking well on his way to repeating his tremendous 2024 season, but then struggled after an early-season promotion to Triple-A. Remains on the 40-man roster.
Gabriel Rodriguez, SS (Age 18) 2025 (ACL) 122 PA, .294/.393/.402, 1 HR, 11 SB, 12.3 BB%, 18.9 K%, 116 wRC+
One of Cleveland’s top recent international signings, Rodriguez put up strong offensive numbers in his stateside debut in his age-18 season in 2025. Expected to transition to full-season ball this year.
Walters maintains his rookie status due to limited MLB appearances because of an injury in 2025. If he returns at 100%, he’ll once again be a factor in the back end of Cleveland’s vaunted bullpen.
Our list so far: 1. Chase DeLauter, LHH OF 2. Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B 3. Parker Messick, LHP 4. Ralphy Velazquez, LHH 1B/RF 5. Angel Genao, SH SS 6. Braylon Doughty, RHP 7. Cooper Ingle, LHH C 8. Khal Stephen, RHP 9. Juan Brito, SH 2B/1B/RF/3B 10. Jaison Chourio, SH OF 11. Kahlil Watson, LHH OF 12. Daniel Espino, RHP 13. George Valera, LHH OF 14. Jace LaViolette, LHH OF 15. Joey Oakie, RHP 16. Alfonsin Rosario, RHH OF 17. Juneiker Caceres, LHH OF
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 03: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on February 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For better or for worse, it seems as though the Minnesota Timberwolves have pivoted their focus from the Giannis Antetokuonmpo sweepstakes and filled an immediate need.
Tim Connelly and company have struck a deal with the Chicago Bulls to bring in Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second round picks.
So here’s the final deal, per sources: Wolves get Ayo Dosunmu, Julian Phillips.
Bulls get: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, four seconds
A crafty scoring guard that fills a desperate need on Chris Finch’s bench, Dosunmu is averaging 15 points on 51% shooting and 45% from three. He gets to the basketball effectively and collapses defenses, which is something the Wolves desperately need. In last year’s playoffs, Anthony Edwards seemed to be the only player on the team able to do so, causing coach Chris Finch to turn to Dosunmu’s fellow Illinois basketball alum in Terrence Shannon Jr. to try and help Edwards out there.
Dosunmu’s shooting percentage by area | 3 Steps Basket
Another important piece of the trade, and Bobby Marks explains, is getting Dosunmu’s bird rights heading into free agency this offseason. Without them, it would have been extremely difficult to re-sign him.
Pre-free agency strikes again with Minnesota acquiring soon to be free agent Ayo Dosunmu.
Without the trade, it would have been highly unlikely Minnesota could have signed him as a free agent.
Minnesota now inherits his bird rights, allowing them to exceed the cap in a new…
Outside of the Giannis chatter that had been so persistent and was clearly impacting the team on the floor, the Wolves had a glaring hole on the bench for scoring and making a move at the deadline was a must in order to keep its status as a contender.
This also signals a move off of the Rob Dillingham experiment, and allows the former top-10 pick of the Wolves to go to a team where he will get more playing time and more offensive leash.
Dillingham shined in moments during his rookie season, but a clear regression this year and failure to crack the rotation in the minutes he was given signaled that an exit might be imminent.
Also included in the trade is former second round pick Leonard Miller. A promising athlete coming from G League Ignite, Miller too was unable to crack the rotation in his three years in Minnesota. Perhaps a change of scenery more minutes will do both players well on their way out.
Here’s a look at the current roster situation as it stands:
DURHAM, NC - SEPTEMBER 23: Brad Stevens smiles during USA Basketball Press Conference on September 23, 2025 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Steven Harrison/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It has already been an eventful few days leading up to the NBA trade deadline. Will the Boston Celtics be making any additional moves today? What other moves will reshape the landscape across the NBA?
This is an open thread to share your ideas, pass along rumors, and most importantly to react to the news as it happens. There’s nothing quite like the deadline for following along online and reacting in real time to all the changes.
Will Giannis be moved? Are the Celtics making any other moves? What about buyout guys? How do all the moves impact the overall standings for the rest of the year? Are there any future moves you could see happening in the Summer?
You are also welcome to post interesting or significant updates in The Feed and keep the conversation going there as well. Of course if anything big happens with the Celtics, we’ll have a dedicated post up for that.
