PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 20: Linebacker Jamar Chaney #49 of the Philadelphia Eagles lines up during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 20, 2010 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is the end of the preseason for the Cincinnati Bengals, who will be on the road Friday night to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. We only have one more game to sit through before the regular season begins.
Expect to see plenty of roster bubble players trying to make their mark. Sometimes it’s important to just get some good plays on tape, even if you ultimately get cut.
So, while these players will be auditioning for their current teams, they are also auditioning for every other team in the NFL. The life of a roster-bubble player is very fickle. Even if they land on the 53-man roster after cuts, they could be cut anytime after that.
This is all before we even talk about practice squads for teams that need to be filled. So much movement will come after this game, and it might be the last time we see these guys on the field for anything other than special teams until next year.
Enjoy the subtle beauty of it, knowing the real thing is right around the corner
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Date/Time: August 28th at 8:00 pm ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
TV Channel: The game will air nationally on CBS. In the Bengals’ home region, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton, and WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst), and AJ Ross (sideline reporter).
Radio Broadcast: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship radio stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530), and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play), Dave Lapham (analyst), and Tony Pike (analyst).
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
Ratzlaff was the Sabres fifth-round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. The young netminder was a tandem goalie in his second season with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, posting an impressive 25-8-1 record, 2.15 GAA, .918 save percentage and played for Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in his draft year.
Who will make up the goal scoring gap left by the departure of Alex Tuch?
The Irma, Alberta native became the primary starter for a rebuilding Thunderbirds squad in 2023-24 and put up more pedestrian numbers (21-26-2, 3.33 GAA, .905 save percentage) and was the third goalie for Team Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Sweden, but did not see action.
In his final season in junior, Ratzlaff finished 23-19-4, with a 3.16 GAA and .910 save%, and in March, the Sabres signed the 21-year-old to a three-year ELC. Last season, the youngster split time with Topias Leinonen as the back to Devon Levi, splitting time almost equally between ECHL Jacksonville and the AHL Amerks.
With Levi dealt to Edmonton, the Sabres added veteran AHLer Matt Villalta in free agency, but it is expected that Leinonen and Ratzlaff will get the lion’s share of the starts in Rochester next season.
On Wednesday night’s episode of The Sick Podcast, Tony Marinaro and Brian Wilde discussed whether Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson would ever win the Norris Trophy. The Global reporter doesn’t believe Hutson will ever win the Norris for one main reason: it’s so hard for small guys to get respect.
While Wilde does have a point about it being hard for small guys to earn respect, especially after both Hutson and Cole Caufield were left off Team USA for the Olympics, when it comes to NHL Trophies, it’s hard for anyone to get respect.
For instance, look at Nick Suzuki: he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy this past season as the league’s top defensive forward, but it took him years to seriously enter the conversation. At times, voters for the few NHL trophies get set in their ways and keep going back to the same players, even when new players are worth considering. The fact that Suzuki finally won that prize in a year when Aleksander Barkov didn’t play and in which he earned high praise from Team Canada coach Jon Cooper is hardly surprising. I’m not saying he shouldn’t have won it, not at all, but I'm wondering whether it would have happened if Barkov had been playing and Cooper hadn't spoken about him at the Olympics.
It wasn’t easy for Suzuki to force his way onto Canada’s lineup, just like it’s not easy for Hutson with Team USA, but there comes a time when a player’s body of work forces the GMs’ hands. Hutson has spent his whole career showing naysayers wrong. He’s probably fought against the “small player” tag from the moment he laced them up, and it lit a fire under him. It’s that same fire that makes him chase opponents relentlessly when he makes a mistake and turns the puck over.
Hutson’s turn will come; it won’t be right away, but it will come. Chances are, though, if you ask him about the possibility of winning the Norris Trophy, he’ll tell you that’s not the one he’s aiming for. The one trophy he and every Canadiens player want is the Stanley Cup, as it should be.
Igor Chernyshov's role with the 2026-27 San Jose Sharks seemed set in stone heading into the offseason; a strong conclusion to the 2025-26 campaign made it seem that he was a shoo-in to make the opening night roster. The additions of Ivar Stenberg and Mason Marchment have put that in jeopardy now, but if he does make the opening night roster, Chernyshov has the chance to become one of the Sharks' top offensive producers.
During the 2025-26 season, which is officially considered Chernyshov's rookie season since he played more than 25 games, the Russian winger scored nine goals and 10 assists for a total of 19 points in 28 games. While it is a much smaller sample size than others behind him, Chernyshov's points-per-game rate was actually the fifth-highest on the Sharks last season, as he beat out players like Tyler Toffoli, Collin Graf, and Kiefer Sherwood.
At 20 years of age, it seems clear that Chernyshov is ready for the NHL. However, to get the most out of him, the Sharks would likely want to use him in a top-six role, rather than sticking him in more of a grit-and-grind style of bottom-six role. He could probably thrive in both, given his 6-foot-2 frame, but it would certainly be less than ideal to limit his scoring talent.
In order for Chernyshov to get a top-six role, though, he'd have to beat out two of Stenberg, Marchment, Will Smith, Collin Graf, Sherwood, and Tyler Toffoli. Given Smith's clear chemistry with Macklin Celebrini, it's safe to say that the Sharks aren't moving him off of their top line.
Stenberg, Marchment, and Graf are the likely frontrunners for the remaining top-six roles outside of Chernyshov. As a result, it will be difficult for Chernyshov to lock himself into a top-six role, but it's far from impossible. If he's able to impress Ryan Warsofsky enough to earn a key job, especially the first-line slot alongside Smith and Celebrini, we could potentially see the 20-year-old dominate the NHL in his first full season.
In a full 84-game season, Chernyshov would be on pace for 27 goals if he maintains the same goal-scoring rate he had last season. After factoring in his assist numbers, Chernyshov could launch himself into the 60-point range, which would make him one of the Sharks' highest offensive producers.
It's far from guaranteed that Chernyshov would be able to maintain the same pace over the course of a full season, but it seems that he's earned that chance to do so. If he runs with it, the Sharks could benefit massively.
Connor Hellebuyck has finally said publicly what Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets have apparently known for months. He wants out.
The longtime Jets goaltender released a statement Thursday confirming that he privately requested a trade several months ago, ending any remaining uncertainty surrounding his future in Winnipeg.
Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA Today
“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade,” Hellebuyck shared in a statement through his agent Ray Petkau. “I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.”
But perhaps the most important part of Hellebuyck's statement wasn't the confirmation of the trade request, but rather his explanation for why he chose to make it public now.
“With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request,” he said. “My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.”
Connor Hellebuyck on Oct 9, 2023:
"I'm ready to be a Jet for life and bring a Cup to this city. I truly believe that we can get it done here."
The timing is definitely very important. For months, the Jets and Hellebuyck had managed to keep the situation relatively private despite widespread speculation about the three-time Vezina Trophy winner's future.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged in late June that Winnipeg was listening to offers for Hellebuyck but stopped short of confirming whether his franchise goaltender had actually requested a trade.
“Certainly, as an organization we're going to listen,” Cheveldayoff said at the time, adding that conversations held during exit meetings would remain private.
Now, Hellebuyck has removed any ambiguity. He wants to be traded, the Jets have apparently known that for several months and, with September approaching, no deal has materialized. And from what sources have gathered, that hasn't been for a lack of discussion.
The Buffalo Sabres emerged as a serious potential destination around the NHL Draft in June. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported at the time that the two clubs had discussed a Hellebuyck trade and that the goaltender would have been willing to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a move to Buffalo.
Those discussions ultimately stalled and more than two months later, Hellebuyck remains a Jet.
That made comments from Jets captain Adam Lowry particularly interesting this week. “I expect him to come to camp,” Lowry told The Athletic. “I expect him to prove he’s the best goalie in the world.”
Lowry added that all indications were that Hellebuyck remained a Jet and that the team was approaching the situation accordingly. Three days later, Hellebuyck publicly confirmed he wants to leave.
His decision to go public doesn't necessarily mean a trade is imminent. Hellebuyck remains under contract for another five seasons at an $8.5-million cap hit and possesses a full no-movement clause, giving both the player and the Jets significant control over where this goes next.
But the public statement most definitely changes the dynamic. Until Thursday, Winnipeg could continue working quietly and, if the right offer didn't emerge, proceed toward training camp with Hellebuyck still atop its depth chart.
Hellebuyck has now made it clear that isn't his preferred outcome. The motivation behind the request shouldn't come as an enormous surprise, either.
Following Winnipeg's disappointing 2025-26 season, Hellebuyck was candid about his frustration with the direction of the club. After experiencing Olympic success with the United States earlier in the year, the Jets stumbled badly and missed the postseason one year after winning the Presidents' Trophy.
The 33-year-old is entering the latter stages of his prime and has accomplished virtually everything an NHL goaltender can individually. What remains missing is the Stanley Cup - something he has told reporters from Day 1 is his ultimate goal.
By initially keeping his request private, Hellebuyck gave Cheveldayoff months to explore the market without publicly diminishing Winnipeg's leverage. But now in announcing it, he has effectively put a clock on the situation. Training camp is approaching. His position hasn't changed. And after months of waiting quietly, Hellebuyck apparently decided it was time everyone knew exactly where he stood.
The projected second line for the Los Angeles Kings are Erik Haula, Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello. Here’s how each forward will rank based on expected production for next season.
3. Erik Haula
For now, Haula is projected to be in the second line, but that is not his official role. Haula is more of a middle six forward than a consistent second line center.
Haula primarily spent most of his time on the third line last season with the Nashville Predators. This season, the Kings are expected to bring up Haula to the second line to manage the defensive responsibilities.
Even if Haula secures the role as the second line center, he will take a back seat on offense. Fiala and Zuccarello have both recorded over 60 points per season four times in their careers. Haula has never scored 60 points in a season once.
Regardless of what line Haula spends most of his time on ice, he won’t have the statistics of Fiala and Zuccarello. Therefore, Haula will be the number three forward, if he actually gets the time with the second line unit.
2. Mats Zuccarello
Compared to the other two forwards in this projected unit, Zuccarello racked up the most points last season. Despite Zuccarello having the most points in 2026, that will likely change this upcoming season.
Zuccarello may not have the most points from this unit, he should still have the most assists. Zuccarello has five straight seasons with at least 35 points or more; neither Fiala nor Haula currently holds that streak.
Back in 2022, Zuccarello played for the Minnesota Wild with Fiala and Fiala had the better numbers. Despite Zuccarello playing first line and Fiala playing third line, Fiala had 85 points while Zuccarello only had 79 points.
From the following three seasons in 2023-2025, Fiala had more points in each of those seasons. Consistently, Fiala was shown to be the better goalscorer and racked up more total points. The odds are that will happen again, because Fiala is already implemented in the Los Angeles system.
1. Kevin Fiala
Fiala is projected to be the point leader on the second line due to his scoring ability. In Fiala’s career, he has recorded over 30 goals seven times, while Zuccarello has only done that three times.
During Fiala and Zuccarello’s tenure in Minnesota, Fiala was top three in most goals every season in 2020-2022. Zuccarello never made the top three once across this span. This resulted in Fiala having more total points than Zuccarello in each of those seasons.
In the four seasons after his time with the Wild, Fiala put up more goals in Los Angeles than Zuccarello did in Minnesota. Fiala was in the top four in goals and even in the top two twice for the Kings from 2023-2026.
On the other hand, Zuccarello only made the top four in goals twice. He also was never top three in goals for the Wild in the last four seasons.
Los Angeles has relied on Fiala to be the best scoring option on the second line ever since he’s been there. That will not change with Zuccarello coming to town since Fiala has shown to be a better goalscorer. Fiala is the number one option and the best player on the second line for the Kings.
Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell hauls in an 88-yard touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts in September 2025. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Rams never found a way to consistently deploy speedy receiver Tutu Atwell. But they apparently can’t quit him.
On Thursday, the Rams traded second-year running back Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Atwell, the team announced.
Hunter, 24, was a 2025 fourth-round draft pick from Auburn. He played in five games as a rookie, all on special teams. On a Super Bowl-favorite team that includes Kyren Williams, Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers, who is also a special teams ace, Hunter was not going to play unless there were a series of injuries.
Rams running back Jarquez Hunter carries the ball during a preseason win over the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium on Aug. 22. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Atwell, who will turn 27 in October, was selected by the Rams in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Louisville. He was sidelined much of his rookie season because of a shoulder injury, and was subsequently used sparingly the next three seasons. In 2024, he caught a career-best 42 passes for 562 yards.
Before the 2025 season, the Rams signed Atwell to a one-year, $10-million contract. But with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams getting the majority of targets, Atwell caught only six passes for 192 yards, 88 coming on a winning touchdown pass play against the Indianapolis Colts.
In March, Atwell signed a one-year, $1.4-million contract with the Dolphins, according to Sportrac.com.
Atwell joins a receiver corps that includes Nacua, Adams, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, rookie CJ Daniels and Xavier Smith, who was the punt returner last season.
So the trade might also turn out to be a cautionary preemptive move if the NFL determines Nacua violated the league’s personal-conduct policy and suspends him. Nacua is the defendant in a civil lawsuit that stems from a New Year’s Eve incident during which he allegedly made an antisemitic statement at a dinner and bit a woman while riding in a vehicle.
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 14: Tutu Atwell #5 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atwell was drafted by the Rams in the second round of the 2021 draft, but was allowed to leave in free agency after a disappointing 2025 campaign in which he was paid $10 million for six catches. He signed with Miami as a free agent, but apparently that did not go well enough for him to stick.
Before 2026 properly begins, Atwell is back with the Rams as Hunter heads towards his new home.
Trade: Dolphins traded WR Tutu Atwell back to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for RB Jarquez Hunter, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/S7jKSAlXCa
Atwell spent five years with the Rams — mostly up and down — before he headed to Miami.
It was the fifth season that really hurt the most, as Atwell was targeted 15 times despite the eight-figure salary that Les Snead paid him to stay in L.A. By trading for his return, the Rams seem to believe that he’ll be in a better personnel situation in 2026 than he was dealt in 2025.
For Hunter, he was taken by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but was never able to beat out Ronnie Rivers for the team’s depth role behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. McVay endorsed Rivers as a player he “trusts” and the coach clearly didn’t see any ways to use Hunter moving forward. Despite his strong performance in the preseason, Hunter has not cleared a role on a team with two starting quality backs.
With the Rams trading for Atwell, he seems like a sure thing to make the roster, so who will the Rams let go in his place? Because it did not seem like Hunter was going to make the 53-man roster at all. Could this be bad news for C.J. Daniels?
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck went public on Thursday in confirming he's asked the Winnipeg Jets to trade him.
In a statement released by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck said he made the request several months ago and “tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options.”
Hellebuyck said he felt it was important to go public because training camp is fast approaching. Camps are set to open in roughly three weeks.
“My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family,” Hellebuyck said. “(I) hope a resolution can be reached soon.”
Hellebuyck, 33, has played his entire NHL career with the Jets and was voted MVP in the 2024-25 season. He backstopped the U.S. to the gold medal at the Olympics in February.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged he's been working to trade the player, but otherwise had no update.
“Connor has been open with us about his desire for a change. He has been an important part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for many years, and we have tremendous respect for what he has accomplished here,” Cheveldayoff said in a statement released by the team. “While we continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time.”
Trade rumors swirled about Hellebuyck in late June around the draft, but nothing came to fruition. The Michigan native missed time because of injury and had a career-worst .895 save percentage last season as Winnipeg underachieved expectations and missed the playoffs.
But his track record and body of work are among the best at the position over the past decade. His 345 wins, 2.58 goals-against average and .916 save percentage since entering the league in 2015 are second only to Tampa Bay two-time Stanley Cup champion Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Hellebuyck has not enjoyed the same postseason success as Vasilevskiy and the Lightning. He's 24-34, with the Jets only making it past the second round and into the Western Conference final once, back in 2018.
He signed an eight-year, $59.5 million extension with Winnipeg in October 2023. He's under contract through 2031 at a salary cap hit of $8.5 million.
“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there,” Hellebuyck said. “I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career.”
The Golden State Valkyries have owned this matchup with three straight wins over New York, but the Liberty return to Barclays Center tonight eager to flip the script.
Low-scoring battles have been the story across all six all-time meetings, and our Valkyries vs. Liberty predictions and WNBA picks are riding the Under once again.
We're backing New York to snap the skid on home court—pushed over the finish line by another monster performance on the glass from Jonquel Jones on Thursday, Aug. 27.
UPDATE: Added Jonquel Jones prop!
Valkyries vs Liberty prediction
Valkyries vs Liberty best bet: Under 162.5 -105
The New York Liberty have allowed just 81.9 ppg at home, good for third-best in the WNBA. The Golden State Valkyries have been even stingier on the road, allowing the fewest ppg at a paltry 76.1.
New York allows only 43% shooting at home, and Golden State allows just 41.2% on the road.
The Liberty slow things down at home, sporting the ninth-ranked pace at Barclays Center compared to the sixth-ranked pace across all other venues. The Valkyries are the slowest-paced team in the league overall and on the road.
That all adds up to yet another low-scoring matchup between these teams, and I'd play it down to 160.5.
New York’s offense gives it the advantage. The Liberty are scoring 88.7 ppg at home compared to the Valkyries’ 81.7 ppg on the road. Golden State is 4-10 ATS with a rest disadvantage, and playing its third game in four days will cause noticeable fatigue.
Jonquel Jones has gone for 24+ points + rebounds in six of her last nine healthy appearances, including four of five at home. At 6’6, she’s got a clear size advantage over the GSV frontcourt, and she tuned them up for 28 in her last matchup.
Jones has recorded 16 double-doubles this season, hitting that milestone in 10 of 18 home games. She’s averaging 10.6 boards at home compared to just 7.9 on the road.
The Valkyries sport a 67% rebound percentage on the road, good for fifth-worst in the WNBA, and Jones can take advantage on the offensive glass.
Her 10.6 boards at home rank third in the league, and her 2.3 offensive boards are 10th. She’s double-doubled in three of her last four at home and five of her last six healthy games overall.
Zak Hanshew's 2026 Transparency Record
Best bet: 30-36, -8.8 units
SGP: 7-59, -22 units
Player prop: 18-22, -6.42 units
Valkyries vs Liberty odds
Spread: Valkyries +2.5 | Liberty -2.5
Moneyline: Valkyries +120 | Liberty -142
Over/Under: Over 162.5 | Under 162.5
Valkyries vs Liberty trend
The Valkyries and Liberty have cashed the Under in all six meetings. Find more WNBA betting trends.
How to watch Valkyries vs Liberty
Location
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Date
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Valkyries vs Liberty latest injuries
Valkyries: No key injuries to report. Liberty: Satou Sabally (Out). Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
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.
On Wednesday, Jeanie Buss, through her attorney Adam Streisand, filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court asking the judge to block a vote by Jeanie's five siblings to sell the family's remaining shares of the Lakers, something detailed in multiple reports. The petition challenges the vote's legality, calls her siblings "devious," and says they have been plotting to remove Jeanie as the team governor.
The Buss family still owns 17.8% of the Lakers through a trust involving all six siblings: Johnny, Jim, Janie, Joey, Jesse and Jeanie. Among that group, Joey, Janie and Jeanie are the three co-trustees. Every one of the children of Jerry Buss had a role with the franchise, but that changed over the years and especially after the sale to Mark Walter, with Jeanie locked in as team governor as part of the sale contract but the other siblings ultimately being pushed out of an active role. For example,
The five other siblings voted to exercise a tag-along clause and join Walter's sale of the iconic basketball franchise to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, a deal made at a $12.5 billion valuation. That would have the Buss family stake worth $2.2 billion, or a little more than $370 million each.
The five siblings believe all they need to force the sale is four total votes and two-thirds of the co-trustees, which they have.
Buss' petition challenges that through five causes of action. Those include referencing a 2017 court order, when Jeanie was in a power struggle with Jim (who had been the GM of the team but Jeanie fired, to the cheers of Lakers fans) and Johnnie, an order that "requires the trustees to take all actions reasonably available to ensure Jeanie's appointment as Controlling Owner." She also says the trust requires her to keep control of the team as governor, and to fill that role NBA bylaws require at least a 15% ownership stake (and Jeanie represents the Buss trust in that sense).
This all feels like an episode of "Succession." Over the years, Jeanie has overseen, or at least kept her position, while every other family member has been forced out, at times directly by her hand. Jeanie enjoys her position as team governor and, in many ways, is still the face of the franchise her father built into one of the largest global sports brands — she doesn't want to give it up. Would the other siblings like to force her out for personal reasons? Maybe that's part of the motivation, but also $370 million is a lot of money.
This drama is not expected to impact the sale of the Lakers from Walker to Kushner and Isner. The likely biggest winners in all this drama will be the lawyers.
Even after a 53-win season and a first-round victory without Luka Dončić, the Lakers braintrust determined it was time to scrap the roster and start over.
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka’s highly anticipated 2026 summer with space and flexibility arrived. Players with massive roles last season left unceremoniously in free agency, leaving behind vital positions to be filled, and hopefully upgraded.
The roster now completely orbits around the planets of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Two on-ball offensive dynamos who are league-wide leaders in shot creation volume, finishing first in total points scored per game as a duo.
One of the key starting shoes left to fill around them is for a two-way scorer and connective piece. LA identified that guy this summer as Quentin Grimes.
Listed at 6’5 and 207 pounds, Grimes will oscillate between positions one through three. LA inked him to a four-year, $60 million contract with a player option, making him the fourth highest-paid player on the team behind Luka, Reaves, and big man addition Walker Kessler. The deal would indicate he’s locked in as the fourth starter.
All the numbers and evidence point to Grimes flourishing next to LA’s backcourt. An elite and fearless spot-up shooter with a quick release, he’s a hand-in-glove fit next to high-level shot creators by popping to open space with tangible force and isn’t bashful with his attempts.
In the clip below, the Sixers run their stack action, a staple of the Lakers offense under head coach JJ Redick. It involves two screeners in a vertical alignment coming up for the ball handler. Grimes operates as the second screener, setting the back pick and pops out for the quick three.
Philly would run Grimes off numerous actions as the catalyst for their half-court offense. He shot 38.3% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season and the 1.13 points per possession on spot-ups put him in the 71st percentile. That percentage jumped to 45.8% in the playoffs in 11 games, leading the Sixers.
The shooting gravity lets Grimes do what he does best: turn into a rim seeker. He uses power dribbles and physicality to force his way against closeouts and aggressive defense.
In the clip below, he collects a dribble handoff. His defender is up pressuring the ball, leading to Grimes powering past him and finishing through contact.
Grimes averaged 6.6 drives per game, finishing at 53.6%. It’s a welcome number for the Lakers, who, with LeBron James exiting, have a pressing need for downhill attackers.
He excels as a cutter, using athleticism to fly in for lobs or creative layup finishes. He has good court awareness, often getting sharp cuts when defenders are ball-watching, like the one below.
With 3.3 assists per game, he’s shown to be a willing passer and has a good feel for hitting weakside shooters or teammates at the rim. Grimes is at his best playing off of stars while taking advantage of compromised defenses. Where he gets in trouble is his propensity to over-dribble. While the catch-and-shoot numbers are elite, his pull-up shooting is quite the opposite.
He shot just 24% on his off-the-dribble 3-pointers last year and the shot selection can leave much to be desired. Still, he’s shown he can shoulder the volume if it’s there and produce, even if it’s not hyper efficient.
He put up 21.9 points per game in 28 games for an injury-riddled Sixer team to close out the 2024-2025 season. He has a mid-range fadeaway he relies on and can get a shot up consistently with a high release point.
Where Grimes will carry heavy responsibility is on the defensive end. The starters, and the roster as a whole with the Kuminga situation now finalized, don’t have a bevy of point-of-attack defenders. Grimes’s offensive strengths translate well to the defensive end.
His physicality and athletic frame allow him to guard up or down. He’s a ball hawk when locked in and has quick hands for unsuspecting ball handlers while being a solid screen navigator who doesn’t get shoved off easily.
In their seven-game series win over the Boston Celtics, Grimes matched up with Jaylen Brown. Watch below as he stays attached on the initial down screen. He gets a deflection, picks up the star full court and forces a difficult shot at the end of the clock.
The defensive numbers point to an impact player on that end. Grimes gave up just 0.81 points per possession in isolation defense, placing him in the 75th percentile. He surrendered just 0.85 points per possession as the guard defender in ball screens.
He can get overmatched at times against the bigger predator wings around the league with this size and likely not who you want to be your main on-ball defender against the likes of the best superstars in the league. That being said, he’s a solid option whose aggressive style should pair well next to the erasing rim protection nature of Kessler
A bonus is the previous connection and familiarity with Luka. The two played together for 228 minutes in 21 games in Dallas, posting a +11.1 net rating.
While not the exact two-way wing front offices and fans dream about, Grimes brings a high floor, much-needed athletic play and should fit seamlessly into LA’s rotation next season as a vital starting piece in their hopeful playoff run.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 8: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium on August 8, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cardinals will try to salvage their series against the Orioles in a Thursday afternoon contest at Busch Stadium. St. Louis has not formally announced their starter as of this moment, but Oli Marmol has indicated it will likely be a bullpen game for the Cardinals starting with Gordon Graceffo. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country.
Earlier this week I asked you which of the Wild Card contenders you’d rather see the Cubs face in that round, presuming the Cubs are in it (and hopefully the top Wild Card and host a series).
Here’s how you responded:
The choice here was overwhelmingly for the Diamondbacks — who just took two of three from the Cubs in Phoenix. Of course, one of those wins was due to a Cubs bullpen meltdown and the other could have been affected by the non-balk call in the sixth inning of the third game.
At this writing the Diamondbacks are out of the Wild Card picture, one game behind the Padres, who inhabit the third wild-card spot. The Phillies are second, two games behind the Cubs, and so if these positions held the rest of the year, the Cubs would host the Phillies for a best-of-three at Wrigley Field.
Of course, it’s still possible — though more of a long shot now — that the Cubs could overtake the Brewers for the NL Central title. It’s also possible that the Phillies, who trail the Braves by 4.5 games in the NL East, could win that division, pushing Atlanta into a wild-card spot. Since Phillies manager Rob Thomson was fired after a 9-19 start, interim manager Don Mattingly has managed them to a 65-41 record. That’s second in MLB over that span, behind only the Brewers.
Oddly, Thomson did almost exactly that in 2022, taking over a 22-29 team from Joe Girardi and managing them to a 65-46 finish, a Wild Card, and a World Series berth against the Astros.
The 2026 regular season ends four weeks from Sunday. Should be an interesting ride.
Here are the results from the two national questions asked in the SB Nation Reacts survey this week.
I’m surprised this number is that low. The Wild Card races and Wild Card series have definitely been good for the game, in my opinion. And I will guarantee you this: When MLB expands to 32 teams — and it likely will, sometime early in the next decade — that’ll mean 16 teams in the postseason. You might think that’s too many, but it is going to happen.
This does seem likely, with the Diamondbacks, Cardinals and Marlins out. The Padres were in first place in the NL West after defeating the Dodgers May 18, with a 29-18 record. From then through July 23 they went 21-35 and fell to 15 games out of first place. But since then they are 22-9, the best record in MLB over that span. As noted above, they’re currently in that third Wild Card spot, though only a game ahead of Arizona. Those two clubs meet once more, the final three games of the regular season in San Diego. The teams have split 10 games thus far in 2026. Could be a… wild (card)… finish!
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 08: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, May 8, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
When the Braves took a series against the Dodgers in May by winning consecutive 7-2 contests after dropping the first game, it was an unexpected but welcome surprise amid an incredible two-month run of performance for the squad. With the Braves winning the first two games of this series against the Dodgers amid something resembling a groggy slide, they’ve pulled off the unexpected and might be righting their careening ship a bit. Among the particularly gladdening things in last night’s game was that the team busted out of a long offensive funk — it had played seven straight games with a teamwide xwOBA below league average (and most of those games were well, well below league average), but then busted out with a .472 mark in yesterday’s win. That .472 was the team’s third-highest of the season, and its highest since April 10.
Possible signs of resurgence aside, this game offers quite a lot of intrigue in its own right. For one, the Braves haven’t swept the Dodgers since May of 2013. For another, it’s a second consecutive “Chris Sale pitches against another ace” matchup. Last week, it was Sale versus pitching fWAR leader Jacob Misiorowski. This time, he’ll square off against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is currently 11th in MLB in pitching fWAR (Sale is sixth).
Now in his third season stateside, Yamamoto’s stats are a bit off his stellar 2025 campaign (60/70/74 ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-), but still very good: 63/76/80. He’s been durable and consistent. Impressively, Yamamoto hasn’t had back-to-back starts with an FIP- above 100 this year, and it’s only happened in terms of xFIP- once. Generally dominant, he hasn’t really been blown up this year — sometimes there are not-so-great peripherals starts, but he makes do. So, this will be a tough nut to crack for the Braves.
But, Chris Sale is also a tough nut to crack. He enters tonight’s start with basically video game numbers for a starter: 53/54/65, and 4.9 fWAR in “just” 135 innings. It’s been pretty much a repeat of his 2024 Cy Young-winning campaign so far, with only the context that Misiorowski and Cristopher Sanchez are destroying hitters even more lingering out in the atmosphere.
The Braves have squared off against Yamamoto twice. They faced him back in 2024 in a 9-0 shellacking where Yamamoto departed after four innings with just a 1-0 lead and a 3/2 K/BB ratio. Then, he carved up the ineffectual 2025 version of the club in a close, 2-1 game in which the Dodgers prevailed. On the flip side, the Dodgers have seen Sale a fair bit over the last three years. They won the game he started against them in Los Angeles earlier this year, despite Sale pitching really well. They also knocked him around in 2025 as part of that season-opening disastrous road trip. Sale also beat them in September 2024 with a good start.
So, expect to see good pitching… and probably something crazy (which may be the absence of good pitching) given the way the first two games of this series have gone.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, August 27, 7:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV/Streaming: BravesVision
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
COVERS INTEL: New York’s defense comes alive at home, as the team sports the 
