We have reached the summer doldrums in the NBA — there is no wind filling the sails of teams pushing them toward completing. Put another way: There is no immediate deadline.
For restricted free agents, the real pressure comes when training camps start at the end of September, that's when teams and players have to have a deal. Teams also look at the remaining free agents out there and think, "Why do I have to commit to a deal now? Let's see what the market looks like closer to the start of camp." So we wait. Here is where things stand with the nine biggest-name free agents on the board.
1) Jalen Duran (restricted)
Jalen Duren's situation remains unchanged. He is the best free agent on the board — an All-NBA and All-Star player last season who averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while playing elite defense in the paint — but he and the Pistons remain well apart on a contract extension.
The Pistons are not considering sign-and-trade options, something league sources have told NBC Sports all offseason. ESPN's Anthony Slater echoed that sentiment on the Hoop Collective Podcast: "Detroit has nixed that idea completely."
The question now is money. After a rough playoffs, Duren cost himself money. Detroit reportedly opened with an offer in the mid-$30 million-a-year range (maybe something like five years, $180 million), while Duren is looking for something closer to the same deal Victor Wembanyama just signed (five years, $251 million, a $50 million a year average). Right now, there is little pressure for either side to compromise, but as we move into mid- and late-September, that changes.
Duren can play for the $9.5 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, but that is a massive risk, leaving maybe a couple hundred million dollars on the table.
2) James Harden
Harden opted out of his $42.3 million player option to give the Cavaliers more cap flexibility to upgrade the roster, or more specifically, chase LeBron James. That didn't exactly work out. Now the two sides will eventually come to a deal that sees Harden take a haircut next season but get a longer-term deal worth more total money.
The Cavaliers are currently $35.5 million below the second apron with 13 roster spots filled. Harden will make 14, but again there is no rush as the Cavaliers have poked around a sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga — or just outright signing him for the taxpayer midlevel exception of $6.1 million — which would impact what Cleveland can offer Harden. (Cleveland also was tied at points to a Peyton Watson sign-and-trade but that seems to have cooled down.)
So this is dragging out, with no real pressure to get a deal done.
3) Peyton Watson (restricted)
Denver is stuck, in part because they paid Christian Braun five years, $125 million last summer, then matched the Spencer Jones offer sheet from Oklahoma City. The real issue is that Braun didn't live up to his new deal last season, Watson stepped in and outplayed him, and is now looking for a contract in the same ballpark. Watson earned that, but the Nuggets are currently the only team in the league over the second apron — with an ownership group not known for paying that level of tax — and giving Watson a similar deal would lead to a massive tax bill.
Which is why a sign-and-trade of Watson may be the final outcome, and Denver is open to it. Atlanta, Cleveland, Milwaukee and the LA Clippers are the teams that have reportedly expressed interest. However, the Hawks and Cavaliers have cooled of late because of the asking price (both from Watson and the Nuggets), reports Brett Siegel at ClutchPoints.. The Bucks are hesitant to throw in a first-round pick to get the deal done, reports Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Complicating matters is the second apron. With the Nuggets currently over that line they are limited in what they can take back (it has to be less salary, players can't be aggregated and more). The Clippers reportedly want to offer Derrick Jones Jr. to Denver in a trade, but the apron makes that very difficult.
It's possible Denver just signs Watson, but that means it will have found a trade partner to take on Braun and his contract, or Cameron Johnson and his larger $23.1 million contract.
4) Jonathan Kuminga
Didn't we just do this extended free agency with Jonathan Kuminga last summer?
Atlanta didn't pick up the $23.4 million team option on Kuminga, and he originally was hoping to make in that ballpark again with a new team, but that's not happening. He's going to make considerably less, very possibly on a short-term deal where he will have to prove his worth — not just as a scorer, but as a guy who can fit into a team system and play a role. That was at the core of his clashes with Steve Kerr in Golden State.
Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers have been regularly mentioned as the primary suitors for Kuminga, but neither is offering near what Kuminga wants per year in a new deal, and any sign-and-trade contract has to be for at least three years under the CBA. Which is why Kuminga taking less — maybe the $6.1 million taxpayer mid-level exception from Cleveland — to get a shorter deal that gets him back on the market more quickly might be the answer. Kuminga's athleticism, defense and scoring would help the Lakers or Cavaliers — as long as he played a role.
It feels like next summer, or the one after, we could be right back here with Kuminga.
5) DeMar DeRozan
This is one of those veteran signings that likely happens closer to the start of training camp. There is no urgency now, as teams will choose to keep their options open and not commit until they have to.
Miami and DeRozan have mutual interest, according to multiple reports. Cleveland has been mentioned as another landing spot, as have Denver and Washington. Other teams could jump in the mix close to the start of camp. DeRozan, 36, can help a team off the bench, he averaged 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per game in Sacramento last season.
6) Bennedict Mathurin (restricted)
Mathurin and the Clippers remain apart on a contract, but a lot of things feel up in the air with the Clippers right now as everyone waits for the Aspiration/Kawhi Leonard investigation to take a next step (and the Leonard trade to Toronto to go through). LA wants to re-sign Mathurin, who averaged 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the 26 games he played for them last season after coming over in the Ivica Zubac trade.
The Clippers are open to a sign-and-trade. Detroit called and talked to the Clippers, but that is now dead, reports Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. New Orleans is known to have called. The Clippers would be open to a deal with the Bulls (Isaac Okoro and some second-round picks, Siegel reports), but those talks also seem cold.
Mathurin may just re-sign with the Clippers, the question is the money and years. Mathurin could play for his $8.8 million qualifying offer and become a free agent next offseason, but he'd be leaving money on the table and teams want to pay him. Eventually. This is likely wrapped up closer to training camp.
7) Russell Westbrook
Does Westbrook get signed before the start of training camp? Or is this a case where a team goes into camp and realizes it needs point guard depth (or gets hit with an injury) and reaches out to the future Hall of Famer?
Wherever he lands, Westbrook very likely would be asked to come off the bench (something he did not do in Sacramento a year ago) and play for the minimum, but if he's willing to do that, there will be teams calling. Eventually. Last season with the Kings, he averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, although he is not efficient, is inconsistent and is limited defensively.
The Kings would be open to a reunion, reports ESPN’s Anthony Slater, but rookie Darius Acuff will be the starter in Sacramento and Westbrook would be his backup and play more of a mentor role.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 07: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with Chase DeLauter #24 after hitting a home run against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at Rate Field on August 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TORONTO, ON - July 19 Starter Trey Yesavage (39) of the Blue Jays pitches in the 5th inning.The Toronto Blue Jays lost 3-3 to the Chicago White Sox at the Rogers Centre in MLB baseball actionJuly 19 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
There is a little bit of news from the Jays:
Trey Yesavage had surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee. They are not saying he is out for the season (but I would be amazed if he came back this year). If they don’t make a move towards getting into the playoffs, I can’t see any reason to rush him.
Jameson Taillon has right forearm tendinitis. I remember Bill James having this weird thing about insisting it should be spelled tendonitis. As you get older it is always good to fixate on weird things.
Chase Lee is back in his spot.
And Spencer Arrighetti is unlikely to be back anytime soon.
Simeon Woods Richardson and a handful of others are options to fill Taillon’s spot.
Kazuma Okamoto has been removed from tonight’s lineup again. I can imagine it would be tough to swing the bat with the thumping his knee took.
That has caused a lot of movement in the lineup, that was posted like this:
I’m interested in moving Bateman into center, when Straw was originally there. I’d love to hear the wherefore and the why, one of my favorite Gordon Lightfoot songs.
I’m interested in seeing how the umpires will manage to award a run to the Red Sox tonight. They used a lot of imagination yesterday.
The Chicago Blackhawks made a handful of impactful additions to their group over the summer. There are veterans and young players ready to come together to try to get this team back into playoff contention.
Part of getting the Hawks on the rise will be players reaching and perhaps exceeding expectations. Development in certain areas will naturally help them progress.
The team will have an even greater chance of climbing the standings if certain members have comeback seasons. These three, in particular, are expected to have a big bounce-back in 2026-27.
Teuvo Teravainen
Teuvo Teravainen was signed to be a veteran point producer for the Chicago Blackhawks. He has had his moments, but the organization would admit that they expect more out of him.
Teravainen had 53 points in his final season with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he followed that up with 58 in his return to Chicago. 2025-26 is when he fell off as he had 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 75 games played. Defensively, he is not good enough to make up for his lack of offensive production.
At 31 years old, Teuvo Teravainen could have a lot of good years left as an NHL player, but he would like to have a bounce-back year in terms of points. Part of it will have to do with his role on the team, but he has the talent to have a better showing than he did one year ago, regardless of what line he's on.
The Blackhawks are a deeper team at forward after some additions made this summer, which almost guarantees a solid running mate to play with Teravainen. It also means that they won't dress players who don't contribute, so there is incentive for him to get back on track.
Artyom Levshunov
Artyom Levshunov will instill a lot more confidence in people if he has a great bounce-back year in 2026-27. In his first full NHL season, things didn't go the way he would have liked.
There were times when his speed and skills were on full display, but they were mostly dulled by bad decision-making and a clear need for development.
A lot of pedigree exists within Levshunov, being a former second overall pick (2024). He has dominated in other leagues before, but he is still waiting for it all to come together in the National Hockey League.
Levshunov scored his first two career NHL goals in 2025-26, and he had 22 assists for 24 points. It's not terrible for a rookie defenseman, but another level can be reached if he continues to mature.
Entering his third season post-draft season, he has a lot to accomplish. The tools are there for him to be an offensive contributor, but he has to get the other parts of his game to a winning level.
Arvid Soderblom
Arvid Soderblom is the one who may find himself looking for a new hockey home quickly if he doesn't have a bounce-back season.
In 2025-26, Soderblom was Spencer Knight's full-time backup and didn't perform the way he wanted to on most nights. There were some good moments, but the entire body of work doesn't guarantee him the backup role beyond his contract ending in July of 2027.
Soderblom went 8-13-3 with one shutout, a 3.80 goals-against average, and an .880 save percentage. The record was mostly because the team was bad, and all of his stats can partially be blamed on that, but he knows he must be better.
Part of the struggle for Soderblom is the fact that Drew Commesso is coming up quickly. Commesso has been great at every stop, including a handful of NHL appearances in 2025-26 when injuries/illness popped up. For Soderblom to keep his job this year and be an NHL goalie next year, a huge performance will be needed from him in the upcoming campaign.
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 31: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are taking their talents to South Beach as they take on the Miami Marlins in the first game of a three-game set this week at loanDepot Park.
Paul Skenes is on the mound for the Pirates, and he’s coming off a loss in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers on August 5. Skenes pitched five innings, giving up two hits and three earned runs, as the Bucs lost 4-2 against the first-place team in the NL Central at American Family Field.
Skenes started against the Marlins when they visited PNC Park back in June. He went six innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs, in an identical 4-2 loss. The hope is that fortunes turn around for Skenes as he looks for his first win since July 19.
Eury Pérez is drawing the start for the Marlins. Pérez is 5-9 with a 3.61 ERA so far this season in 20 starts. In his last appearance on August 5 against the Atlanta Braves, he went five innings, giving up seven hits and four runs in a 4-1 loss at Truist Park. He is looking for his first win since July 5 when he beat the Athletics on the road.
Location: loanDepot Park, Miami, FL
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Paul Skenes (9-10, 3.96 ERA) vs. Eury Pérez (5-9, 3.61 ERA)
BD community, this is your gameday thread for today’s game. Chime off in the comments section below.
nba schedule drop lakers knicks lebron james jalen brunson
Adam Silver and Co., we tip our hat to you.
The schedule for opening night and Christmas were released Tuesday and there’s no shortage of juicy storylines to anticipate while we’re stuck in the doldrums of August.
Here are our seven takeaways from the first batch of games that have been posted.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Monday, June 8, 2026. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
1. Heck yes on LeBron James and the 76ers vs. the Knicks on opening night
It’s the greatest team in the league versus one of the greatest players of all-time. It’s James facing the team he would’ve joined in free agency if they hadn’t won a championship. It’s the Knicks receiving their rings in front of James, who moved across the country from his family in pursuit of his fifth title in his unprecedented 24th NBA season.
It’s the face of the league versus a guy who had to claw his way into the national consciousness in Jalen Bruson. It’s the team atop the mountain versus the team with the best chances of usurping their spot. It’s a team that oozes chemistry versus a team that’s desperate to build it.
It’s Madison Square Garden. It’s New York. It’s…why do we have to wait so long for this?
2. A conspicuous absence on opening night
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a call during the second half against the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago. (Icon Sportswire) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Opening night features the following slate: Celtics vs. Pistons, Knicks vs. 76ers and Thunder vs. Spurs.
There’s a notable omission, eh?
The Lakers have played on opening night seven straight years before James left in free agency this summer. That speaks volumes about James’ star power. The 17-time championship Lakers are the darlings of the league, sitting in one of the biggest media markets. They have Luka Doncic, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season. But without James, none of that mattered. They didn’t secure one of the league’s most coveted windows.
3. Thunder vs. Spurs should be fun
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks for an opening during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. (Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post) Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs left us stunned when they eliminated the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in a thrilling seven-game series. The Thunder were the reigning champions at the time. They had reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. No one expected the Spurs to rise that quickly.
The joke’s on us.
Wembanyama has proven that the league is his for the taking. He’s only 22. He’s already smashing through glass ceilings. This will be Gilgeous-Alexander’s turn to respond.
4. Lakers fans better give LeBron the love he deserves on Christmas
LeBron James will play the Lakers on Christmas, the team with which he spent the longest consecutive stretch of his career in eight seasons.
James put the Lakers back on the map. He snapped a six-season playoff drought. He led them to their first championship in 10 years in 2020. He carried them to two Western Conference Finals appearances.
This will be Lakers fans’ chance to show him their appreciation.
While it’s clear they never connected with James on the same level as superstars who spent their entire careers in Los Angeles, such as Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, James made the franchise relevant again. This will be their opportunity to thank him.
5. Here’s to guessing Wembanyama plays out of his mind against the Knicks
The anguish was painted all over Wembanyama’s face after his Spurs were eliminated by the Knicks in the Finals. The Spurs blew too many fourth quarter leads. They made too many critical mistakes down the stretch.
One can only imagine how many times Game 4 has played through his head, you know, when the Spurs squandered a 29-point lead to fall to the Knicks, 107-106.
Wembanyama has vowed to be better. He has acknowledged he has a lot to learn. When he plays the Knicks next, watch out. It’s no secret how much he wants this. He deeply cares. He’s going to be out for a vengeance.
6. There’s a “what if’ with the Warriors
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts on the court during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Robert Sabo for NY Post) Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Warriors aren’t playing on opening night for the second time since 2019. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of all time and even though he’s turning 39 next season, he’s still one of the best players in the league.
So why isn’t the league’s modern day dynasty playing on that coveted day?
It’s clear they’re not championship contenders. Now, if James had gone to the Warriors, things would’ve been very different. Curry and James would’ve been must-watch television, regardless of whether they were competing in June. They won a gold medal together at the 2024 Olympic Games, with James winning MVP of the tournament and Curry stealing the show in the final few games. If they had teamed up again, it would’ve meant an entire season of wide grins and shimmies and incredible basketball.
It’s hard not to think…what if.
7. Glad we get to watch Ant on Christmas
Sure, Gilgeous-Alexander is the MVP. And Wembanyama is the future face of the league. But Anthony Edwards has something else going for him.
He’s the most charismatic guy in the NBA.
Edwards and his Timberwolves will play the Thunder on Christmas. That means we get to spend the holiday watching one of the most fun guys in the league. Edwards isn’t only a thrilling scorer, he’s a Class 1A trash talker.
Gilgeous-Alexander likes to let his game do the talking.
The Yankees are looking forward to getting their big three sluggers -- Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton -- back before the end of the season, and manager Aaron Boone shed some light on the order of returns, at least what the team is seeing so far.
Speaking with the media ahead of the Yankees' series opener with the Mariners, including the Daily News' Gary Phillips, Boone was asked whether they expect the order of returns to be Bellinger, Stanton and Judge. The Yankees skipper said that's "probably" the order.
Bellinger (left hamstring strain) was placed on the IL back on July 26. The diagnosis was a Grade 2 strain, so the team expects a 4-to-6-week stint on the IL. Boone said Tuesday that the All-Star outfielder is not "too far off" but is still dealing with some tightness.
Bellinger was slashing .259/.350/.420 with an OPS of .770 to go along with his 11 home runs and 53 RBI across 102 games this season.
As for Stanton, Boone said there's "a chance" that the slugger will need a rehab assignment. Stanton was placed on the IL with a right calf strain in late April. The slugger reinjured his calf in June, pushing his recovery time back.
Stanton has only managed 24 games, hitting three home runs and driving in 14 runs while slashing .256/.302/.422 with a .724 OPS.
However, Stanton has been doing more baseball activities of late, including running the bases before Tuesday's game.
Well, Judge has begun "light activity" as he recovers from a right rib stress fracture that has kept him out of action since May 31. Judge told reporters on Aug. 5 that he still expects to play this season.
With how carefully the Yankees have handled Judge's injury, a return prior to September doesn't seem likely. Four weeks from Bellinger's 4-6-week timeline puts him at around Aug. 23.
Carlos Rodon rehab
Boone confirmed that the southpaw will need at least one more rehab start. And that start will come Thursday, Aug. 13, with Double-A Somerset.
Rodon tossed 2.2 innings (48 pitches) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre back on Aug. 8. In that start, Rodon allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four batters.
With a full rotation, it's unclear how the Yankees will handle Rodon's return, but Boone previously threw out the idea that Rodon could be a piggyback situation when he pitches in the big leagues as he continues to build back up.
Kervin Castro lands on IL
Ahead of Tuesday's series opener, the Yankees placed Castro (right elbow neuritis) on the 15-day IL and called up right-hander Bradley Hanner.
Castro has appeared in five games with the Yankees this season, pitching to a 1.42 ERA while striking out eight batters across 6.1 innings pitched. Hanner, 27, has pitched to a 2.10 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in his 40 appearances with Scranton this season. Whenever he gets into a game, it'll be Hanner's major league debut.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on April 04, 2025 in San Francisco, 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 Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They’ll be stocking the luxury suites and personal wine cellars of the Chase Center with milk and cookies again this year. For the 14th season in a row, Steph Curry and Draymond Green will be working on Christmas Day, as the Golden State Warriors host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the final game of the NBA’s annual December 25th basketball marathon.
The NBA generally tries to showcase the best possible matchups and its biggest stars for the annual event, and for over a decade, that’s meant Steph Curry and the Warriors. Curry himself is 5-7 on Christmas, averaging 18.1 points, though the Dubs have gone 3-0 in Curry-era games where the Baby-Faced Assassin sits.
The league almost always opens the holiday slate with a game at Madison Square Garden, a rare place where there’s a guaranteed rabid sellout crowd for a noon game on Christmas. This season, they’re making it an NBA Finals rematch, with the Knicks hosting Harrison “The Black Falcon” Barnes and the rest of the San Antonio Spurs. Tobias Harris fans are pumped!
The Boston Celtics host the Miami Heat in the next game, an intense rivalry that shouldn’t change even with Jaylen Brown gone and Giannis Antetokounmpo in South Beach. The annual LeBron James game has his new tea, the Philadelphia 76ers, visiting his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers, which could feature the first time an NBA player even dunks on his own son!
Just kidding, Bronny isn’t going to play.
Then two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in what could be a fun rivalry game but is also slated in the East Coast dinner/West Coast nap slot, traditionally the place reserved for the small-market yuletide game.
Why does Curry underperform on Santa’s big day, scoring 6.7 points below his career averages? It might be the level of competition, as the Warriors tend to be matched up against other powerhouses on the holiday. It could be that Curry tires himself out wrapping presents for four children, not to mention whatever he gets for Ayesha, Dell, Sonia, Sydel, Damion Lee, David Lee, Kent Bazemore, Gary Payton II, Doc Rivers, Mark Jackson, and the rest of the extended Curry clan. Or perhaps it’s the crushing disappointment of knowing that his annual Christmas wish of the Warriors getting him help is once again not going to come true.
We like to think that Curry simply gets too excited about the holiday, finding it hard to fall asleep or snooze past dawn, and thus plays sleep-deprived every Christmas. By contrast, Dec. 25 happens long after the horse racing season ends, so Nikola Jokic won’t be distracted at all by his true favorite sport. And Canadian Jamal Murray should be a calm, cool, and collected since he’s more pumped about all the Boxing Day hockey waiting for him the next day.
Nuggets! Warriors! Christmas! Don’t fall into a turkey coma before it’s over!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 29: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Stephen Curry #30 and Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 29, 2024 in New York City. The Warriors defeated the Knicks 110-99. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re deep in the offseason and, well … the Golden State Warriors still really haven’t done anything. Seems like a good time for a mailbag. The community had some great questions!
Warriorrallis: How to save the NBA
I ain’t streaming sporting events so likely a mute point as my sports fandom is likely nearing its end
On court/screen animation is annoying as hell
The kersey’s are going the way of NASCAR
The NBA, like NASCAR, is in a fantastic place economically. The jersey patches are ugly, the court advertisements are distracting, and it’s infuriating that you have to subscribe to 17 different streaming platforms to watch every game. But the sport is reaching more fans than ever before and making more money than ever before. I don’t think it’s particularly in need of saving, even if it’s at times frustrating.
NorthStateWarrior530: Is this roster better than their record last season would suggest?
Talent wise, absolutely. There’s no way that you can look at a team with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler III, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porziņģis, and a solid bench, with Steve Kerr coaching it, and think the true talent level is 37 wins. But the annual question with the Warriors is: how healthy can they be to actualize the talent that’s on the roster?
If the question is, “Will they win more games than last year?” then I’m still saying “yes,” though. Sure, Butler and Moses Moody are going to play fewer games this season than last, but they’ll have a full season of Porziņģis, and even with his many health issues, he should far exceed the 15 games he played with Golden State a year ago. More importantly, Curry should play more than 43 games this year … and, as a reminder, the team went 24-19 when Curry played last year, and 13-26 when he didn’t.
So yeah. Even with Butler’s injury, I think this roster is better than a 37-45 team … there are just abounding questions about actualizing that.
NorthStateWarrior530: Is 2nd place in the Pacific Division a realistic expectation? With the Clippers clearly sinking to the bottom and the Kings with their general ineptitude, it’s really a 3-way race to the top of the Pacific Division between the Suns, Warriors, and Lakers. I imagine the Lakers will be at the top, but is Bridges really that much of a difference maker for the Suns?
Perhaps this is me being overly semantic, but I would change the word “expectation” to “goal.” The Lakers, Suns, and Warriors could shake out in any combination, and heck, the Clippers could even get into that group depending on how the Kawhi Leonard situation shakes out.
I’m skeptical that Miles Bridges will make a big difference on the Suns (other than making them the easiest team in the league to hate), but Phoenix did win eight more games than the Dubs last season. The goal should be to finish ahead of the Suns — and maybe even the Lakers, depending on how the post-LeBron era goes — but I’m not sure if it’s an expectation, per se. It should be close, though. I would predict Golden State to finish second, but I’m always a little higher on the Warriors than I should be.
ScottWarrior: 1. where do you think JK will end up next season and for how much? 2. Given the Warriors admitted not really contending, just playing hard and with dignity, do you think it is safe to assume they are not going to do any trades during the season? 3. What two teams in the East are you looking forward to see playing against each other next season? 4. What Warriors player will be discussed the most on this blog next season?
Thank you for your answers. Feel free to answer as few or as many as you want, but if other people don’t have much to ask, I may get lucky to see all my questions answered.
I always appreciate the great questions, ScottWarrior! Let’s take them in order…
I think Jonathan Kuminga ends up on the Lakers. That’s where the bulk of the smoke has been, and I tend to believe that, more often than not, things get resolved where the smoke is wafting. Especially since there aren’t exactly teams lining up to sign JK. The Lakers also make the most sense, both for the team and for Kuminga. From LA’s standpoint, they’re in desperate need of athleticism and someone who can replace Rui Hachimura; from Kuminga’s standpoint, there’s a clear opening in the starting lineup and limited options on the bench, meaning he has an avenue towards the playing time he covets.
The biggest hold up has been, as it was last year, a disagreement between Kuminga’s camp and the rest of the basketball world with regards to what he’s worth. Last year Kuminga and his agent held out and won that disagreement, due to Golden State’s unique situation. This year? I don’t think they win, and will have to settle for a modest contract.
One of the big issues, though, is that the Lakers don’t have the cap space to sign Kuminga outright, and would likely have to execute a sign-and-trade. But sign-and-trades have to be for a minimum of three years. It’s a little hard to imagine anyone agreeing with Kuminga on what a fair value over the life of a three-year deal would be. So I’d expect something in the $8-12 million annually range, with opt-outs so that Kuminga can once again test a market that his agent seems eternally convinced will materialize.
As for your second question, Golden State’s openness to making a midseason trade will, I think, depend on two huge facters: how they’re playing, and who is available. The Dubs are open about not being a contending team right now, but getting back to contention as quickly as possible is always the goal. They might be content to go into the season aiming for the back end of the playoffs (what other option do they have?), but they’re not giving up on contending while Curry and Butler are still around.
If the Warriors overachieve and are comfortably above .500 in January as they prepare for Butler’s return, then they’ll be hitting the trade market hard. If a disgruntled star becomes available, they’ll make a run … as they did for LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and LeBron James. But I certainly wouldn’t expect any notable trades.
Great question about Eastern Conference matchups. From a theatrical standpoint, the Philadelphia 76ers vs. the Boston Celtics will be the most must-watch games of the season. Two of the best teams in the East, already rivals, both fully revamped for a contending year, and you add in the Jaylen Brown storyline? Might as well get Netfliux there for the documentary.
From a pure basketball standpoint, though, I think I’m most curious about watching the Sixers face the Miami Heat. Seeing how those teams match up against each other is going to be absolutely fascinating, if we’re ever lucky enough to watch them play when everyone is healthy.
And finally, the player that will be discussed most on Golden State of Mind this year: Brandin Podziemski. Between the inconsistent play, the personality that has stans and haters alike, and the large payday that he is coveting (and likely to receive), there will be no shortage of talking points for Podz this year. The discourse will run wild!
greg156: do you see curry, green or even klay embracing a ginobili-type future (2027-28+) where they sign for peanuts, come off the bench, play 15-20’ and help the team go forward?
Klay yes, Draymond maybe, Steph no.
It’s taken a while for Klay Thompson to get there … his final year with the Warriors was awkward, as was his first with the Mavericks. But last year he started to embrace a smaller role. He started just eight games, and played fewer than 22 minutes per night. His performance, admittedly, was quite poor, but his attitude wasn’t. Klay is the epitome of a basketball lover: every chance he gets, he gushes about how much he loves to play basketball. It’s all he wants to do.
There’s a stark contrast there between he and the other two. Green and Curry have wives, kids, and countless ventures outside of basketball. Klay? He’s basketball first, second, and, now that Rocco is sadly no longer with us, third. There aren’t many players in sports who have made the type of money and amassed the type of accolades that these three have, who still want to squeeze every last drop of basketball out of their life that they can … but I suspect Klay is one of them. He’s the guy who’s still going to be playing pickup at 60. If there’s a ball and a court, he’s lacing up his Antas and hooping … and if someone’s willing to pay him some money to do it, all the better.
Green is a maybe because he’s already trending towards that role. During the brief period where it looked like Kuminga was breaking out, Draymond embraced a bench role. A dip in minutes is not going to come without a few fights with Kerr, but Green is pretty aware of his limitations. I don’t think he’s going to hold on for as long as he can, but he’s enough of a team player to take a smaller role if it means getting to keep competing, especially with Curry.
As for Steph? I just don’t see it. He’s climbed too high on the mountain to have any interest in the view from basecamp. It’s not easy to go from being arguably the best player in the league, and a top-10 all-time player, to someone who comes off the bench for 15-20 minutes. Even if the ego can handle it, the competitive juices often can’t.
And even setting that aside, Curry is a family man with numerous business ventures, more money than anyone will ever know what to do with, philanthropic foundations, and a potential career in golf awaiting him. He’s not gonna waste any years trying to hang on to a career that’s slipping away.
Hamster Ball: 1) There is a contingent of people who want to start the rebuild now vs just running it back each year. I don’t see Lacob trading Steph, unless Steph requests it. So, for fun, let’s say next year Steph signs for 4 million a year, just like LeBron did this year. What moves could the Warriors then do to make it a contending team?
2) Warrior fans are really spoiled. Most years, there is some sort of hope that the Dubs can do a deep run in the playoffs. However, this season, it is harder to come up with a reason to believe. The Dubs only won 37 games in a season where many teams were tanking and are running it back with an old squad. Give us a reason to believe in this team next year.
That hypothetical is fun! The Warriors would have basically no money on the books … Butler and Green will also have reached free agency, while Porziņģis’ deal is only partially guaranteed for $3 million. Golden State’s books will basically be Moody ($13.4 million), Yaxel Lendeborg ($6.4 million) and whatever Podziemski potentially signs for (if he does). So basically, in this hypothetical, the Warriors can throw a bag at absolutely anybody.
Which brings us to the critical part: who is available? Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić can both opt out of the final years of their deals, but, even if they do, it will likely be to sign an extension with their current teams. Those two would represent the surefire way to contention, but it seems deeply unlikely that they would sign with Golden State. Could they sign two players from the next bucket, which includes Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Paul George, and Karl-Anthony Towns (all but Leonard also have player options they’d have to opt out of)?
Probably the best way to get something done would be to have a poor season, get a decent draft pick, and trade a haul of picks + Podziemski for a star, and then sign one other high-caliber player. A lot easier said than done.
As for a reason to believe in the team next year, well … the biggest reason for belief is to look at how good they were at the end of the 2024-25 season. From the time that Butler debuted on February 8, 2025, until the end of the regular season, the Warriors were third in the NBA in both record (23-8) and garbage time adjusted net rating (+9.5), per Cleaning The Glass. They were second in the West in both cases, behind only the eventual champion Thunder. They beat the No. 2 seeded Rockets in the postseason and, had Curry not suffered an injury, likely would have made the Western Conference Finals.
That core is still here, and now they’ve added Porziņģis, with hopes that Lendeborg can be a difference-maker. The cold water, of course, is that Curry, Green, and Butler are all two years older, and Butler is no guarantee to be the same player post-ACL tear. But on paper, this team is more talented than one that spent two months being one of the three-best teams in the NBA. It will take a lot of things going right for that to materialize, but there’s something in there worth dreaming on.
FringyLooneyTic: With his “runner’s knees,” do you think it is likely that Curry will make it to the playoffs this year? ALSO: Has everybody forgotten that Draymond Green suffered a lower back injury during the 2021-22 NBA season involving a herniated disc at his L5-S1 vertebrae levels, which irritated his sciatic nerve and caused severe calf weakness and leg pain? It seems quite likely that all this speculation about team-building is for naught, with players who are likely to NOT be available for a full season load.
Well, I don’t think you’re breaking any news here, FringyLooneyTic. Even if people have forgotten the specificity of Green’s injury during the championship run, no one is laboring under the disillusion that Green, Curry, Butler, Porziņģis, or Al Horford are young players with sterling health histories. The Warriors will almost surely have multiple players miss significant time this year. How much time — and which players — will answer your question about returning to the playoffs.
oaklandwarrior1: What’s going on with Demar Derozan? Was he never a target for the Warriors even after the Lebron strike out? Is he too expensive? He seems to be just what we need – a secondary scoring threat.
DeMar DeRozan would definitely be a huge addition for the Warriors. He’s not exactly the prototypical Kerr-ball player — he scores mostly in isolation, isn’t a good three-point shooter, and isn’t much on the defensive side of the ball — but the Dubs are desperate for scoring, especially while Butler is sidelined.
That said, these things usually work very slowly. DeRozan is in no rush, because finances aren’t really an issue here. When players are bought out, they sign for either the minimum or whatever the amount they forfeited in the buyout is, which is always a small amount. Unlike other free agents, DeRozan isn’t trying to create a bidding war or needing to pounce on a team that has cap space. He can basically pick from any team that wants his services.
Which means the Warriors have to convince him to join them, which I’d guess they’ve started the groundwork for. But so often, these types of players wait until deep in the offseason, just in case something changes. If DeRozan has a team he’d like to play for but they don’t need him, it would behoove him to wait a month or so, in case that team has a player suffer a serious injury. I would guess that DeRozan is chasing an opportunity to compete for a championship, and thus will look at other teams before turning to the Dubs.
Cosmo4gsw: How would you define a successful season for the Warriors?
I just want everyone to get along and have a good time. That seems successful enough to me.
Jokes aside, I think two things need to happen for the season to be successful: they need to be reasonably competitive, and they need to show signs that point to being even more competitive in 2027-28 when, critically, Curry, Green, and Butler will all be a year older … and, as things currently stand, headed for free agency.
On the competitive front, that means making the playoffs and having a competitive showing. I don’t think going 40-42, winning in the play-in tournament, and getting swept in the first round is a successful season. Being the fifth or sixth seed and having a competitive first-round series? Now we’re at least getting somewhere.
On the looking-forward front, that can occur in a few ways. The most straightforward path to envision is that Lendeborg looks like a slam dunk pick. Remember, once upon a time Klay Thompson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were No. 11 picks, too. The Warriors are expecting Lendeborg to be a quality role player, but if he’s a whole lot more? Well, that’s setting the table for future years.
It also could come from Podziemski taking a big step forward, or the team acquiring a star at the deadline. But those are the keys to success: put up a good fight this year, while leaving no doubt that next year will be even better.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Cubs are 20-7 in their last 27 road games, making their season record 34-26, for a winning percentage of .567. In the past 80 seasons, the Cubs have finished better than .567 on the road only twice: .593 in 2015 (48-33) and .575 in 2016 (46-34-1). From 2017-25, they were .480 (324-351), including .519 last year (42-39). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WINNING BIG: In 41 of the Cubs’ 69 wins, 59.4 percent, their final margin of victory was their largest lead of the game. Twenty of the 41 have come during their current 35-16 surge. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SCORING FIRST: The Cubs have scored first in 56 of their 119 games. In 53 of the games, 44.5 percent, the first run has been scored in the first inning: 27 times by the Cubs and 26 by their opponent. They Cubs are 21-6 when they did it and 9-17 when their opponent did. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Shōta Imanaga continues his excellent run of starts. Last seven: 1.77 ERA, 1.180 WHIP, only six walks and five home runs in 40.2 innings.
He faced the Nationals at Wrigley Field March 29 and allowed four runs in five innings, striking out seven. Of course, that game was played in 59-degree temps, far different conditions than are expected tonight. Also, Joey Wiemer, who went 3-for-3 including a home run that day, isn’t on the Nats anymore.
I’m expecting Shōta’s great pitching to continue.
Jake Irvin missed two months with a shoulder issue and has made two starts since his return. He held the Phillies to two runs in 5.2 innings in his last outing Aug. 5.
He was Imanaga’s opponent in that March 29 game and held the Cubs to two runs in five innings. Both runs were solo homers, by Ian Happ and Alex Bregman.
Interesting note about that March 29 game — of the five Cubs pitchers who appeared in that game, only one — Imanaga — is currently on the active roster. (The others: Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Hoby Milner and Daniel Palencia.)
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 24: Paul Sewald #38 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after the Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 7 of the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country.
Paul Sewald was designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday, likely ending the reliever’s tenure with the team. On the broadest level, his time here was nothing special. He pitched 107 times in the regular season for Arizona, posting an underwhelming 4.95 ERA. The resulting 86 ERA+ is more or less the same as the likes of Mark Melancon or Matt Peacock, players who are probably no more than footnotes in franchise history. Sewald is certainly not going to see his number retired by Arizona. But a couple of things likely elevate Paul’s place in the record, higher than those pitchers.
Firstly, he was a closer, reaching double digits for the D-backs in saves in three separate seasons. The only pitcher with more such campaigns is Jose Valverde’s four. He became only the sixth man to reach fifty saves for Arizona, and you have to go back a full decade to find the last to do so – Brad Ziegler in 2016. When he first arrived here, at the 2023 trade deadline, the D-backs had three different pitchers with at least seven saves – none of who reached even ten. He stabilized the position down the stretch run, saving 13 games in 15 opportunities, and was key as the Diamondbacks reached the post-season for the first time in six years.
Then there was his post-season exploits. There’s a good argument that, without Sewald, Arizona does not win the NL pennant. Through the end of the Championship Series in Philadelphia he pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk, while striking out eleven. Of the D-backs’ nine wins to that point, Paul saved six of them and got the win in another. None were likely more crucial than games 3+4 of the NLCS, after Arizona had lost the first two. In the first, he came into a game tied 1-1 in the ninth, and put up a zero before Ketel Marte’s walk-off. The next night, he came in to preserve a one-run lead, and fanned Brandon Marsh, Jake Cave and Trea Turner.
But the 2023 playoffs then showed the worst of Sewald. In game 1 of the World Series, a two-run lead in the ninth inning evaporated off the bat of Corey Seager. And in game 5, a 1-0 deficit became an unsurmountable 5-0 one, after Sewald coughed up four runs in only 20 pitches, becoming the last Arizona pitcher to throw in the post-season to this date. A World Series ERA of 27.00 illustrated how, even in a profession known for volatility, Sewald seemed particularly mercurial. We saw that again in 2024. Through the end of June, he was perfect as a closer, on a streak of 17 scoreless outings, and with a 0.54 (!) ERA. He didn’t reach the end of July, after a month where he allowed 12 earned runs in 10 innings.
He left as a free agent at the end of the year, and given the July cloud, his return to the team in 2026 was something of a surprise. He was cheap enough, at $1.5 million, and won the role of closer out of spring training – to the concern of many. Initially, Paul was seen as a bridge until established arms Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk were healthy. We’re still awaiting Martinez, and Puk won’t be back at all. Sewald kept plugging away and outperformed many, far more expensive closers. He had 22 saves at the break, a total passed only twice in Arizona history. Again, July proved the unkindest month and he was relieved of duties by the end of it once more.
A brief stint in low-leverage situations proved unsuccessful, and with the team needing a long reliever, Paul was found to be surplus to requirements. But, overall, looking at the entirety of his tenure back to July 2023, how do you rate Sewald’s time in Arizona? Do you look at the mediocre ERA and see a pitcher who was lucky to get as many saves as he did? Or do you weigh the run to the World Series in 2023 and see a man who got the job done, almost whenever the team needed it most? That’s what the poll below is for – as usual, feel free to explain your decision in the comments.
The Los Angeles Clippers took one big step in addressing that problem when news broke that they had signed 7’5″ center Jamarion Sharp to a two-way contract.
Jamarion Sharp of the Toronto Raptors shoots a free throw during a game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. NBAE via Getty Images
Sharp played college basketball for John A. Logan College, Western Kentucky, and Ole Miss, with his final collegiate season being the 2023-24 campaign.
He wasn’t selected in the 2024 NBA Draft but joined the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Summer League team. he then spent that 2024 season and the 2025 season after it playing for the Texas Legends, who are the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2025–2026 season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts on the court during a foul shot in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Sharp averaged a staggering 3.9 blocks per game that season (leading the G League), along with 7.3 rebounds per game in 24.9 minutes per game. But Sharp also showed elite offensive efficiency, as his 71.2% field goal percentage also led the league.
Sharp spent the 2026 NBA Summer League with the Toronto Raptors before the Clippers signed him.
Granted, Wemby’s elite ability isn’t just owed to his height. It’s his height combined with his guard-level skills, excellent shooting, and world-class athleticism. Therefore, Sharp (who doesn’t have any of those other traits) can’t be expected to stop Wemby just because he’s taller.
But having a guy who is taller than Wemby certainly doesn’t hurt when trying to slow him down. It also means the first Spurs vs. Clippers matchup this season will be must-see TV.
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Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is one of the nicest human beings you’ll ever meet. During his playing days, Nowitzki was always a fierce competitor, but he still found a way to be nice and respectful toward most guys he played against. According to one former NBA player, that aspect of Nowitzki’s game used to make him mad due to the conflicting mind games it created.
On a recent episode of the Roadtrippin podcast, Channing Frye was asked this question by a fan: In your 14-year career as a player, who pissed you off the most on the court, and what did he do to piss you off? Frye’s answer probably wasn’t what the fan was expecting.
“Probably Dirk,” Frye said. “Because he’s so damn nice. … I watched a lot of Dirk. I loved his game. He was just unguardable. I mean, it was literally like, ‘What am I gonna do?’ He’s an inch taller than me and shoots the way he does. He was smart. He’s a big dude, strong. I mean, it was just like, ‘God, I’m so tired of having to guard this guy.’ And I was like, ‘What are you gonna do?’ And then he’d be the nicest guy, and I’d be like, ‘Shut up, Dirk… I hate that you’re nice and I like you. You’re a good dude… and you just gave me 40.”
Nowitzki may not have been mean to anybody verbally or physically most of the time, but he was certainly mean to a lot of people in the form of bucket-getting. One glaring example that sticks out to me is after Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals, when Nowitzki, despite battling a 102-degree fever, pushed through and helped the Mavs tie the series at 2-2. Afterward, Miami Heat stars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were seen mocking Nowitzki’s sickness with fake coughing in the American Airlines Center hallways.
Nowitzki never showed any visible anger from that incident; He simply stayed the course, continued to torch Miami, and got the last laugh by winning the championship in six games on the Heat’s home court. I’m sure that pissed D-Wade and LeBron off too.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium on August 04, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final stretch of the Major League Baseball season is upon us, and the race for division titles and better seeding within the postseason is as important as ever. For the Yankees, the goal is not just to catch the Tampa Bay Rays, who sit six games above them in first place, but also to fend off the Boston Red Sox, who have surged back into the American League East race. The Yankees’ archrivals are two games back for second place in the AL East, and every game from now until the final day of the regular season matters for potential postseason positioning.
With how important every game is, it also stands that every pitch is extremely important. MLB’s Automated Balls and Strikes system has allowed the players to take some power into their own hands and challenge pitches they believe were called wrong. A batter, catcher, or in a rare case, the pitcher, can challenge, and it has been somewhat of a revelation and, in some instances, a game-saving measure for teams. So with the end of the regular season fast approaching and divisional races tightening up, who should the Yankees constrict on challenges, and who should they trust when their hand taps the top of their helmet?
Top Three:
Aaron Judge (+4.5, 6/8 challenges)
José Caballero (+3.5, 14/24 challenges)
Ryan McMahon (+3.0, 4/5 challenges)
Before starting an analysis of these three, it’s worth mentioning that Aaron Judge isn’t actually number one in the top three. In fact, he’s second. In first place is Max Schuemann, who last played for the Yankees on August 1st against the Chicago White Sox before being sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre outright just two days later. He has a Net Overturns For (a metric that measures how many more or fewer umpire calls a player or team successfully gets overturned compared to what an average player would expect when facing identical pitch locations/game situations) of 4.8 and won seven of the nine challenges he put into play for the 40 games he was up with the big club. However, seeing as he’s not with the major league club currently, it was worth a mention, but the focus is on those who play every day.
It’s not a surprise to see Aaron Judge at the top of this list. He’s the best player on the Yankees, he’s one of the best players in MLB, and even though he’s been hurt for a while, he is confident that he can return to the lineup and make a sizeable impact. And, as Yankees fans have seen since Judge’s meteoric rise, the guy knows his strike zone. With his stature, he almost has no other choice. Out of the eight challenges he used when at the plate, he won six of them, and all of the challenges came at the bottom part of the zone.
When Judge taps his helmet, an occurrence that doesn’t happen very often, even though he gets questionable calls in other areas than the bottom of the strike zone, it’s worth paying attention to. He commands the batter’s box, and he knows his strike zone better than anyone.
Caballero won’t be in the lineup as consistently anymore with the coming of 21-year-old George Lombard Jr., but in the at-bats that he will get, he loves to challenge. Fortunately, he’s good at it too. His 24 challenges are a team high, and at a 58 percent win rate, he’s doing about as much as he can in the box. Sixty-seven percent of Caballero’s pitch challenges are considered reasonable according to Baseball Savant, so while he doesn’t always get it right, most of them are within the margin of error to understand why he may think a ball is a strike or vice versa.
A name that many might not expect to be on here is Ryan McMahon. He’s not an above-average hitter (and never has been). His 82 OPS+ this season could be the lowest of his career in a year when he plays more than 100 games, but that hasn’t stopped him from challenging the strike zone when necessary. He has quietly had the highest success rate of anyone on the Yankees with five or more challenges. However, the caveat is that, while he’s successful, he doesn’t challenge often. Five is not a high number relatively speaking. He sits tied for 11th in challenge attempts, and of the seven players lower than him, three of them have only one challenge and two have two. So, for Yankees fans it might be worth remembering that McMahon doesn’t use the challenge system often, but when he does, he’s usually correct.
Bottom Three:
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (-4.8, 7/21 challenges)
Paul Goldschmidt (-4.4, 1/6 challenges)
Cody Bellinger (-3.9, 1/7 challenges)
The feeling has been consistent regarding Chisholm’s work at the plate this season. He came into the year talking about a goal of reaching the 50-50 mark, and to this point, he only has 17 home runs, a slash line of .216/.295/.396, and an OPS+ of 92. His work in the field has been strong, at the very least. His 10 OAA at second base is the 10th best among all major league players and third amongst second basemen (JJ Wetherholt for St. Louis has 22 OAA and Luis Arraez, now with Philadelphia following a stint in San Francisco, leads him). However, the work at the plate has been subpar, and it’s not just the box score numbers; it’s the challenge numbers too.
Chisholm has been the worst Yankee all season long at challenging pitches. He sits with a 33 percent correct challenge rate, and while that’s not the lowest number on the team, he’s also challenged 21 times, the second-most on the team. According to Baseball Savant, Chisholm hasn’t challenged pitches that would be considered reasonable to challenge. Of 23 opportunities he had according to the model, he only challenged eight times, good for 38 percent.
Goldschmidt’s presence is a little less of a problem now that the Yankees found Luis Garcia Jr. to take over his role at first base. When he was in the lineup, he was still hitting at an above-average level, so the lack of successful challenges has less of a bad taste. The same could even be said for Bellinger, who is having another excellent year, but is still dealing with the hamstring injury that has left him out of the lineup since July 26th. He appears to be on a faster track than anticipated, and having him back in the lineup would do wonders for the Yankees’ offense. But his challenges to this point in 2026, even though there have only been eight, have not helped the Bombers get the offense moving or continue to move forward.
Bellinger’s challenge numbers are a bit of a concern considering just how important a cog in the Yankees’ offense he is. He has challenged seven times in 2026 and has only won once. For the most part, his challenges have come on the outside of the zone, and the pitches he’s challenging are so tight that they have low challenge probabilities. But Bellinger challenges them with the confidence that they are balls, and unfortunately, they have all ended up as strikes. So, for Yankees fans watching a Bellinger at-bat, look for opposing pitchers to linger on the outside of the zone, not just because that’s a hard place for any player to create power from. Still, it’s also a potential spot for Bellinger to make a mistake and waste a challenge.
Writing this article without mentioning Austin Wells would be an oversight, too. His challenges behind the dish have helped Yankees pitchers out of multiple jams, and while his season at the plate isn’t going well at all, of his 96 challenges, he has had 59 correct, good for a 61 percent correct rate. That puts Wells 12th-best amongst catchers with 55 or more challenges. So, while trusting him at the plate may be a foregone conclusion, Wells has still been strong behind it, and a tap of the helmet from him shouldn’t be much of a worry for Yankees fans.
The Yankees need their big guns not just to hit the ball well, but to use their challenges effectively. And while some of them have completed that mission so far this season, there are some players in the everyday lineup who need to fine-tune their understanding of how strike zones are going to be called, and, more importantly, when to use challenges in a given game. The postseason is called tighter, and there’s less room for error, so a World Series-winning team will take full advantage of the ABs, but it is also disciplined with its usage.
Angels pitcher Luke Murphy speaks with pitching coach Mike Maddux, second from left, during a game last month. (William Liang / Associated Press)
The Angels fired pitching coach Mike Maddux and two other major league pitching coaches Tuesday, the latest decision in interim general manager John Mozeliak’s aggressive push to revitalize the moribund franchise.
One week after trading eight players off the major league roster to launch a long-overdue rebuilding effort, Mozeliak fired Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott and bullpen coach Dom Chiti.
The Angels have a 4.53 earned-run average, ranking 24th among the 30 major league teams. They lead the majors in walks, and they have blown 20 of 36 save opportunities. They posted a 4.89 ERA last season, ranking 28th.
The Angels have the worst record in the major leagues and are on pace for the first 100-loss season in franchise history. Their hitters have fared no better than their pitchers: The Angels rank 26th in the majors in runs scored.
The interim pitching coach, Tim Leveque, will be the Angels’ sixth in seven years.
The contract of manager Kurt Suzuki expires at the end of the season. If the Angels hire a new manager for next season, he would become the team’s sixth manager in eight years.
When Mozeliak joined the Angels in June, he said he had told Suzuki and the coaches “they’re all fine for this year.”
In a statement Tuesday, Mozeliak said: “After spending time discussing with Kurt where we are as a coaching staff and where we want to go in the future, we felt it was best to make a change. With seven weeks remaining, we plan to use this time to evaluate what additional steps are needed to elevate our entire pitching program and best position us for success moving forward.”
Maddux, a pitching coach for five major league teams, and Scott each was in his first season in Anaheim. Chiti is a longtime associate of Perry Minasian, fired as the Angels’ general manager in June.
The interim pitching coach: Leveque, the Angels’ double-A pitching coach and a longtime pitching instructor under Mozeliak with the St. Louis Cardinals. The interim bullpen coach: Michael Wuertz, the Angels’ assistant minor league pitching coordinator.
Mozeliak said last week that he had yet to discuss with the Angels owner Arte Moreno and team president Molly Jolly whether he would continue as the Angels’ top baseball operations official, although many baseball insiders believe he would like to do so. The Angels have committed only to filling that position by the end of the season.
