Tortorella, Cassidy (assuming the Golden Knights give permission), Kris Knoblauch and others are among the former coaches who could step in if a change needs to be made.
So which coaches could be on the hot seat this season? USA TODAY looks at four possibilities:
New general manager Sunny Mehta kept Keefe on and gave him more scoring depth. As always, the Devils' success depends on Jack Hughes' health. Plus, is the goaltending strong enough? A slow start could spell trouble for Keefe.
Arniel has a built-in excuse for a slow start because award-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck didn't report to the team amid a trade request. But the Jets, even with Hellebuyck, went from the 2024-25 Presidents' Trophy to out of the 2026 playoffs.
Like Keefe, he has a new general manager (Chris MacFarland) who upgraded the team. Brunette showed an 18-point improvement in his second season, but he's in the final year of his contract.
This week, we dive into the big questions surrounding the most surprising result of the Premier League weekend
Before this past weekend, Arsenal had not lost in the Premier League since April. Nine straight league wins had been enough to crown the Gunners as champions at the end of last season and firmly establish them as the team to beat early this season.
Against Brighton on Saturday, though, the team to beat were beaten. Thoroughly.
With two preseason games left to play, the Philadelphia Flyers have officially reached the halfway point of their 2026 training camp, and after the latest round of roster cuts, we have a pretty good idea of where everyone stands now.
Suffering back-to-back blowout losses to Washington and Boston on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, many of the bubble players did themselves no favors.
Many journeymen have already been shipped off to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms' training camp, and prospects like Ty Murchison and Hunter McDonald simply ran out of runway with the shortened training camp and preseason.
As a result, the Flyers' final roster, at least for opening night, is virtually set, with only the likes of Cole Knuble, Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, Helge Grans, Carl Grundstrom, Jacob Gaucher, and Nikita Grebenkin fighting for the last few spots.
With the roster now greatly reduced in size, we can take our first guess at some line combinations, too.
Forwards
Porter Martone - Trevor Zegras - Owen Tippett
Denver Barkey OR Alex Bump - Christian Dvorak - Matvei Michkov
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Travis Konecny
Nikita Grebenkin OR Denver Barkey - Sean Couturier - Noel Acciari
Carl Grundstrom - Jett Luchanko - Cole Knuble
Zach Aston-Reese - Jacob Gaucher - Noah Powell
Nolan Foote - Jack Studnicka - Danila Klimovich
Garrett Wilson - Riley Thompson - Devin Kaplan
Rationale
This is more or less what I expect opening night to look like, depending on Denver Barkey (lower-body) and Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body). Carl Grundstrom, with his speed and versatility, is very clearly the 14th forward if the Flyers choose to go 14-7-2 for their roster distribution.
I don't see a fit for Alex Bump in the bottom-six, so it's top-six or bust in my eyes. His shaky camp thus far leaves his grip on a roster spot tenuous at best, though the injury situation currently works in his favor.
Jett Luchanko has had a quietly strong preseason and training camp, and while he will probably never be a high-flying scorer, he has shown capable of supporting more dynamic wingers with his speed and style of play. Mikael Granlund could be an interesting high-end comparison for him. If any of the centers have to miss time, Luchanko will be on the roster.
In the event of injury, expect Cole Knuble to be one of, if not the first man up. The number of wingers the Flyers have makes it a hard cut, but it's to no fault of his own. I've wondered that, if Barkey has to miss time, the Flyers utilize injured reserve to make a roster spot and give Knuble a few games of experience.
Everyone below that fifth line has been mostly unimpressive or shouldn't see an NHL game short of a calamitous rash of injury, though Noah Powell has raised his stock considerably in the last few weeks. If Powell continues to follow this upwards trajectory, he could be an interesting future fourth-liner with a laser of a shot to contribute some offense.
To this point, nobody has stood out enough, good or bad, to win or lose a spot. David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk have both been spotty defensively, but Jiricek has the superior physical tools and talent, and his inability to pass back and forth from the AHL without requiring waivers works in his favor.
Simon Benoit is, for now, the seventh defenseman, though he has not exactly been impressive this preseason at either end of the ice. Hunter McDonald could usurp him by the end of the season, if not earlier, with a strong run of form in the AHL.
Ditto for Ty Murchison, who had a rough turnover in the loss to the Bruins on Tuesday that lead to a goal. For now, the edge goes to McDonald, whose physicality is virtually unmatched, even at the NHL level.
Objectively, Helge Grans is still alive in the fight for a roster spot, though I feel that Spencer Gill has been the strongest performer of all of the bubble defensemen throughout camp.
Losing two years of development to injury has hurt his case, though the 2024 second-round pick has shown capable of holding his own.
In our last depth chart, I mused that the Flyers would have Gill stay the entire season in the AHL to develop, but I no longer think it's outright impossible for him to play an NHL game this season if the circumstances necessitate it.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 12: Ryan O'Hearn #29 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are about to complete their best season in a decade, but it’s still far short of their goals to compete for a World Series. Though this year is coming to a close for the Buccos, there are several things they can try to do next season to finally get them over the hump and back into the playoff picture.
Consider a pitching coach change
The rotation of the Pittsburgh Pirates was supposed to be their marquee position group in 2026, but instead it fell as flat a pancake on the griddle. There were too many stretches this season where the Pirates’ starters could not get things going. Ace Paul Skenes was uncharacteristically inconsistent, citing that his involvement in the World Baseball Classic may have hindered his outings during the year.
“Usually, that time of year, you’re kind of ramping up and it’s a little bit slow. You can kind of get onto the slope and find your body,” Skenes said. “One live [batting practice], you’re topping at 97 [mph], and then the next you’re 98, 99. And that wasn’t the case this year. … Looking back, I don’t think that really helped.”
The Carmen Mlodzinski saga did not help matters either, and when it was apparent that he wasn’t going to be in the rotation longterm, he too fell apart. Bubba Chandler did not effectively build on his experiences as a rookie last season to improve this season and was largely average for the Pirates, while veteran Mitch Keller looked outmatched and over the hill throughout the year before landing himself on the IL.
Former Pirates reliever Dan Pleasac critiques Paul Skenes mechanics. And very simply states why he’s having control problems. Question: If it’s this easy. Why aren’t Skenes and overrated pitching coach Bill Murphy make these changes ASAP??? pic.twitter.com/yI8oh1QFvg
The bullpen of course was a disaster all year round too, and only got slightly better after some very aggressive moves at the trade deadline. However, that would prove to be too little too late as the pitching staff began to watch their wheels fall off. First year Pirates’ pitching coach Bill Murphy was not a welcomed addition to the Pirates’ staff, following the organization’s decision to not bring back Oscar Marin. Murphy’s squad blew 16 saves and was all over the place. This group, specifically the starters, is far too talented to have taken such a large step backwards since last season. Perhaps the Pirates would be best suited with another man at the helm of the pitching staff.
Find a consistent presence at catcher
The Pirates have tried, tried and tried again to find their every day catcher for years now. The writing should be more clear than it is, but they really need to think about cutting ties with someone like Henry Davis. Although he’s arguable the best defensive catcher on the team, he’s been and continues to be a liability on offense, to the point where part of the team’s strategy is to get him to bunt instead of pulling balls.
Despite the struggles, General Manager Ben Cherington envisions a future where Davis, Rafael Flores Jr. and Endy Rodriguez are all on the Pirates’ roster and being key contributors .
“We believe all three can be primary catchers on a Major League team,” Cherington said of Davis, Flores and Rodríguez. “The offensive side of Henry’s game hasn’t been at the level we anticipated it would be. It doesn’t mean it won’t get there. We see a guy who’s not striking out, who’s hitting the ball hard and generally making contact. Sometimes guys like that are only an adjustment or two away from putting up much better numbers. We all know the defensive side of his game is a strength.“Flo has come up and really looked like a big piece of the lineup offensively. He’s done some really good things defensively, too. … We see it as a strength going forward. I just hope that group of three continues to challenge each other.”
Now not every catcher is going to be hitting in the .300s like Arizona’s Gabriel Moreno, but Davis hitting .169 is a serious problem. There are enough talented catchers in Major League Baseball these days where there’s no need to keep an anchor attached to your roster. Undoubtedly the organization is trying to at least break even on the former first overall pick, but his defensive prowess might not be enough to keep Davis on as a Bucco.
Remain aggressive on the market
This team is close. At the very least, the Pirates are far closer than they’ve been in a long time. A lot of 2026’s success is a result of last winter. They made a splash trade for Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery and Jake Mangum with Tampa Bay. They signed Ryan O’Hearn to a multi-year contract. It is imperative that the front office keep their feet on the gas pedal and not dial back and settle into old ways.
The Pirates need to add one more above average hitter to their everyday lineup. If they can find another hitter in the trade market or free-agency that can deliver on a 20-25 home run season, that instantly puts the team in a far better situation moving forward. If they can add another veteran presence while also resigning Brandon Lowe, 2027’s squad could enter as one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.
3️⃣3️⃣ HRs this season for Brandon Lowe! 9️⃣6️⃣ HRs at home this season (! NEW FRANCHISE RECORD!) pic.twitter.com/T9s8DRk95S
Not to mention this young core is already looking like one that with enough time can grow into something very exciting. Konnor Griffin could be a generational superstar, Esmerlyn Valdez has emerged as a serious power threat at the plate, and Nick Gonzales quietly performed far beyond expectations in 2026. This is not the time for the Pirates to blow things up or to stay stagnant. With one or two more pieces, this team can build off of this season accordingly and take this platform to the next level in 2027.
What do yinz think the Pirates should do to get over the hump? Let us know in the comments!
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) smiles before the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on September 22, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Game three of the Pittsburgh Penguins preseason slate is scheduled for later this evening as they head west to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. This will be the first of two road preseason games, with the second coming on Saturday in the preseason finale. Most importantly, the countdown to the regular season is now under a week with the Penguins set to take on the Philadelphia Flyers in just six days time. Until then, it’s roster battles galore as the preseason moves along.
Pens Points…
Tonight’s roster in Columbus doesn’t feature any of the big names, but given who will be making the trip, it will make for some interesting position battles to keep an eye on. Sergei Murashov is the only goalie of note chosen for the game so expect him to get all 60 minutes of action. [Pensburgh]
A good chunk of the Penguins opening night lineup is already set, but there are a few spots still on offer with more bodies competing for those spots than are available. Through two preseason games, some players have made a better case than others to grab one of those openings. [Pensburgh]
A handful of players we know will not be making the roster were cut from camp on Wednesday, though none were a surprise. Six players, all defensemen, were sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while fellow defenseman and 2026 draft pick Tomas Galvas was loaned back to his Czech club. [Pensburgh]
Another notable cut from the training camp roster was goaltender Taylor Gauthier. The longtime ECHL goalie with the Wheeling Nailers will be placed on waivers and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. [Trib Live]
Kaeden Korczak will be one of the new faces in a Penguins uniform this season after being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights. Still only 25 years old, Korczak is hoping to make an immediate impact with the Penguins and show he was worth taking the risk. [Penguins]
It’s starting to feel like now or never for Rutger McGroarty and he’s very aware the clock is ticking. Coming off a year where he battled injury but had a solid AHL campaign, the young forward is ready to prove he belongs as a full time NHL player. [PPG]
Another situation where you could say it’s now or never for the player is defenseman Owen Pickering. Drafted in the same first round as McGroarty, Pickering knows he has to make a statement and show he can play consistently at the highest level. [Trib Live]
NHL News and Notes…
One of the most controversial moves across the NHL this offseason was the Edmonton Oilers hire of Mike Babcock as the team’s new head coach. When asked his opinion on the matter, Oilers legend Mark Messier was not afraid to mince words on where he stands. [ESPN]
There’s going to be predictions made for every team as the season nears, some plausible and some going out on a limb. Doesn’t matter which team you are, they’re all hoping to make the good predictions come true. [Bleacher Report]
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during the singing of the national anthem prior to Game 1 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, October 14, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I do feel a little bad for Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon. Yes, Tuesday’s nightcap rendered yesterday’s Yankees/Rays game largely irrelevant, but these guys are still playing for pride out there. Rice zoomed into a tie for the American League lead in homers, joining a trio of others at 41, and McMahon showed signs of life with the bat for the first time in what’s felt like ages, driving in a run with a single before curling a grand slam around the right-field foul pole. The Yankees are so desperate for something from third base that they’re probably going to give the inexperienced Anthony Volpe a look in at least a one or two of these final few games; McMahon needed to show signs of life.
But no, none of the game stories from the Yankees’ 9-2 win on Wednesday matter much. So, Aaron Judge. On Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone said that he didn’t expect the captain to be available for the Wild Card Series. Pretty reasonable, considering that almost all calf strains take a few weeks to recover from and he only hit the IL effective September 17th. However, the man wants to play in the Wild Card Series even with a busted calf! In fact, he disputes that the strain that Boone described as “moderate” is not exactly, well, moderate. “What’s moderate for others is not moderate for me,” he essentially says.
In Yankee days of yore, conflict between players, managers, and the front office was far from unusual. They didn’t call it “the Bronx Zoo” because of Sparky Lyle’s sometimes-walruslike mustache (though it was luxurious). Compared to both then and what you occasionally see in other leagues, it’s nothing. In the post-Derek Jeter vanillassance days though, this is what passes for acrimony. And at minimum, it is a storyline to follow as Tuesday’s Game 1 of the Wild Card Series creeps closer.
The Yankees will have until early Tuesday to finalize their roster. So is there a world where it even makes sense to put Judge on there, even if he’s compromised? Despite the man’s insistence, I think that it is safe to say there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that he’s going to be in tip-top shape, let alone manning his customary right field. But could it still make sense to throw him on there?
It’s a tough situation because if this was another year, then there might be a possibility to hide him at DH, even if he can’t run (which: no, don’t try that Aaron). Even with his pal Giancarlo Stanton injured and trying for his own long-shot bid, the DH spot is occupied by a legitimate option. Ben Rice is tied for the AL home run lead and is fairly locked in there Luis García Jr. and Paul Goldschmidt sharing time at first base in a platoon-ish role. Rice is Rice, García has 27 homers against righties, and Goldy has a .990 OPS against southpaws. Obviously, healthy Judge is better than all of them, but that’s not who we have. As much as I like the guy, it’d be foolish to start the guy who most recently hit .174 off the IL with K’s in over half his at-bats over any of them. I really believe that.
There is one possibility where it could maybe work. Judge can’t start, sorry. He might have merit as a pinch-hit option, lurking in the background for the Red Sox to consider in any late-game moment. By the numbers, no, he wouldn’t be much of a challenge. And yet it’s extremely difficult for pitchers to square that thought with staring down No. 99 in the batter’s box. It’s harder than one would think to simply throw strikes, let alone when a three-time MVP is hitting. Even the threat of him looming on the bench could mess with the right coach’s strategy.
So suppose you buy into this. Is there roster space for him? I think it might get tight if we’re in later round, but one could squint and see it for the best-of-three Wild Card Series. You really don’t need that many pitchers if you have three real starters. And even if you throw in the three most reliable relievers (David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick) as well as both the fourth and fifth starter and some flyers on other arms, you’ll still be covered. The bench is bigger and teams sometimes even carry a third catcher for this. Is this wild card of Judge being intimidating in the box and on the bench worth the trade-off for a designated pinch-runner, extra utilityman, or a J.C. Escarra cameo? Maybe. Maybe.
The concern is that playing it too fast and loose with these gambles could have consequences on Judge’s 2027 if this turns into something really bad (and the soleus muscle is a tough one). The man’s not young at this point in baseball terms. The safest path is indeed probably just to tell him to take it easy. He won’t, but that’s why tough decisions have to get made. Although everyone wants to have their Kirk Gibson Pinch-Hit Moment, far more often than not, it’s just not in the cards.
What do you think?
Today on the site, Madison will run through the Rivalry Roundup as we officially bid farewell to one particular nemesis from last year. Nick will argue why potentially missing Judge for the Wild Card Series shouldn’t doom the Yanks, Jonathan will celebrate the birthday of a South Side fan favorite who closed out his career in the Bronx, and Peter will break down some excellent work from Carlos Rodón for his Sequence of the Week.
David Robinson #50, Center for the San Antonio Spurs prepares to shoot a free throw during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2nd December 1994 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Portland Trail Blazers won the game 104 - 92. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
David Robinson was never supposed to be a star. A high school nerd, Robinson was one of the last great sleepers. His college coach, Paul Evans, recruited him to Navy because he was 6-6 and had big feet.
Seriously. He thought Robinson’s feet suggested that he was going to grow some more, and at the time, Navy had a height limit. Getting a taller player in would have been a real coup.
He never expected to get a 7-1 Hall of Famer, but that’s what Robinson turned into.
He soon emerged as a surprise talent at Navy, and in 1986, only Duke kept the Middies from the Final Four, knocking Navy out in the Elite Eight.
In the NBA, he went toe-to-toe with players like Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Ultimately, he also played on the Dream Team and won two NBA championships before having his #50 retired by the San Antonio Spurs.
Later, his son Justin became a preferred walk-on at Duke, where he was a fan favorite and was emerging as a critical player for the Blue Devils just as Covid hit.
It’s a question at the center of too many bad internet debates. “I bet you don’t even play ball.”
Does that matter?
Where is the line? Is the worth of an opinion weighed by the level of basketball? A D1 rec league player is allowed to comment on the NBA, but D3 is out?
It’s an ad hominem. The opinion is independent of the opinion holder. Still, we plebeians ought to remember that we don’t always know. There’s something strange, optically, about a high school social studies teacher publicly declaring that an NBA head coach ought to have one more season to prove his worth. Yet, here goes:
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka should only have one more season to prove his worth.
Rockets’ Ime Udoka has been a strong coach
It won’t be an unpopular opinion in these quarters!
You guys really, really don’t like Udoka. Opinions vary, yes, but the consensus leans heavily in one direction.
Perhaps my eyes don’t work so well. I’m not as low on Udoka. I think he’s, at a minimum, a top-15 coach in the NBA:
But creeping into the upper half isn’t a sound approach to job security as an NBA head coach.
We should all agree that Udoka is a strong defensive coach. There’s been some dispute over the extent to which he relies on lineups to bolster that defense. It’s been argued that if he can’t scheme around Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard, his defensive success is less about acumen and more about putting good defenders on the floor.
It could also be argued that God his -or-her self could not design a scheme that protects Sengun and Sheppard at the same time. Udoka has proven his ability to maximize Sengun on that end of the floor. His inability to draw blood from a stone should not discredit his ability to smelt iron from one.
It’s Udoka’s offensive know-how that’s rightly questioned; however, the numbers do not support that line of questioning. In Udoka’s two seasons at the helm, the Rockets ranked twelfth (114.9) and eighth (117.5) in Offensive Rating.
So, on paper, the question becomes “What are we even talking about?” Udoka has hovered around a top-ten offense in two consecutive seasons, and a top-five defense in each (sixth in 2024-25, fifth in 2025-26). If that’s enough to get his seat hot, almost every coach in the NBA should be developing back problems from constantly standing.
So what are we doing?
Rockets’ Ime Udoka’s seat should be getting hot
For Udoka critics, it’s less about the offensive results and more about the process.
Last year’s 36.3% Offensive Rebounding % was the highest in the NBA by a country mile. The gap between Houston and the second-place Portland Trail Blazers (33.2%) was roughly the same as the gap between the Blazers and the eighth-ranked Charlotte Hornets (30.8%).
In 2024-25, the recipe was rebounding and turnover repression – in the vernacular of the youth, “possession maxxing”. Last year, Fred VanVleet was out, but Kevin Durant replaced Jalen Green offensively, so the recipe was tweaked – more turnovers, but better shots, and the same offensive rebounding dominance.
In theory, 2026-27 could combine the best of both worlds. The Rockets will be formidable:
But if they don’t escape the first round, it’s a moot point.
That’s the real reality of Udoka’s situation. If a coach is eliminated in the first round in three straight seasons, the “why” is less relevant than the “what” – you fire them.
Those process-focused critics will argue that Udoka’s approach is not playoff-viable. The data is on their side, although the causation is unclear. It could easily be argued that other variables have hurt the Rockets’ playoff success.
In 2024-25, it made sense for an aging dynasty to beat an unproven upstart. The Rockets ran into the Warriors, triggering PTSD for every Rockets fan who was not born roughly yesterday.
Last year was both simpler and more complicated. Durant played one game. That’s worth noting, but injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves mitigate that excuse. Getting beat by Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart was a bad look. At least Smart is a Rocket now:
So prepare yourself for his shooting regression.
What if everyone had been healthy? Could Houston have exploited Reaves defensively to such an extent as to offset his offensive ability? Would Doncic have carried the day, or would Durant overcome him down the stretch? We don’t know; we can’t know; we won’t know.
Here’s what we do know: Udoka has one more season. It doesn’t matter where you land on him. It doesn’t matter if his offensive approach has playoff viability.
Frankly, his iso-heavy approach, paired with an insistence that his team outworks the other team, feels more playoff-friendly than some kind of elaborate system anyway, but if it doesn’t yield playoff results, it doesn’t matter. When you lose in the first round for three consecutive seasons, you lose your job:
The Golden State Warriors enter the 2026-27 season as an afterthought to some but are one of the more profound sleeper teams in the league. Golden State returns with practically the same roster from last season, only adding their 2026 draft picks and a couple free agent signings.
The Warriors battled extensive injuries throughout the previous season and managed to sneak into the NBA Play-In Tournament, but failed to make the playoffs, losing in an elimination game for the No. 8-seed to the Phoenix Suns. It was just the second time since their 2022 championship that they missed the postseason which brought questions whether it was the last dance.
With an eerily similar roster, Golden State are putting emphasis on team-chemistry but they remain one of the deadlier threats on one contingency – maintaining health. Jimmy Butler missed 44 games with a torn ACL injury last season, while Moses Moody is recovering from a patellar tendon tear in his left knee that caused him to miss the final 22 games. Curry was out 27 games last year with jumper's knee. They answered questions at center by acquiring versatile big man Kristaps Porzingis in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, but he played on minute-restrictions as he recovered from earlier injuries and illness. Still, his natural fit, and the need to fill the position, was every reason for the Warriors to sign him to an extension this offseason.
Golden State has perennial "what-if" potential and there's belief within the organization that – if healthy – there is a path to a championship.
Here's a breakdown of the Golden State Warriors' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
C Quinten Post (free agent, Warriors decline offer)
F Pat Spencer (free agent)
Biggest question entering training camp
Can the Warriors remain healthy enough to compete?
The Warriors have a variety of questions to answer: will rookie Yaxel Lendeborg have an immediate impact? will Brandin Podziemski get a new contract? how will new additions fit-in? how consistent can this supporting cast be? However none of those questions the Golden States faces are larger than the question of their health. Last year, despite all the setbacks, they managed to squeak into the Play-In tournament. The likelihood of aging superstars being 100% by April takes some luck, simply put. If the Warriors are healthy, you can place them on the court with anyone and there's belief they have a chance to win.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Stephen Curry
G Jimmy Butler (ACL) - Expected by early 2027
F Yaxel Lendborg
F Draymond Green
C Kristaps Porzingis
Rotation players
G Brandon Williams
G Brandin Podziemski
G Gary Payton II
G De'Anthony Melton
F Gui Santos
F Georges Niang
C Charles Bassey
C Al Horford
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Warriors have potential to be in the mix for a Western Conference postseason berth on the strength of returning players and building on team chemistry. But first they have to get there through enduring a grueling 82-game season that's already starting without key guys, Butler and Moody. It expected that Curry will do what he's capable of doing, even still at 38. The Warriors will only go as far as Curry can take them but their focus will be on everyone else. How guys acclimate to Kerr's system, where else offensive production comes from and the little details defensively is how success will appear in the Bay Area. In the meantime, getting – and staying – healthy is the Warriors' No. 1 priority.
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How will LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga reshape Minnesota’s offense?
In the past three seasons, the Timberwolves have reached the conference finals twice. Last year, they failed to get out of the second round. Each time, the opposing team did the same thing: they threw extra bodies and double teams at Anthony Edwards, forcing him to be more of a facilitator than a pure scorer. Minnesota’s other players, however, could never generate enough offense to propel the Timberwolves through. Now, Edwards will have other outlets who can create offense, most notably LaMelo Ball, who should take over ball-handling duties. Ball can also create his own shot, though he was a high-volume option in Charlotte. Here, he’ll need to be more selective, and free agent addition Jonathan Kuminga is another threat who can slash to the rim. Both players are defensive liabilities, though the Timberwolves have enough in Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels to mask those deficiencies. The big question, however, lies on offense, and whether Ball and Kuminga (and guard Ayo Dosunmu, who shined in the playoffs) can take enough pressure off of Edwards.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G LaMelo Ball
G Anthony Edwards
F Jonathan Kuminga
F Jaden McDaniels
C Rudy Gobert
Rotation players
G Ayo Dosunmu
G Terrence Shannon Jr.
F Joan Beringer
G Donte DiVincenzo (injured)
G Isaiah Evans
G Bones Hyland
F Cody Williams
F Enrique Freeman
C Rocco Zikarsky
F Jaylen Clark
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team taking chances to break through. Look for Minnesota to scheme up ways for LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu to get easy offense. In theory, that should allow Anthony Edwards to both conserve energy and pick his spots. Furthermore, if teams continue to double Edwards, that should give him plenty of viable options to knock down shots. Minnesota’s defense may take a bit of a step back, but an increase in shooting productivity makes the Timberwolves an interesting team to watch. But with the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and other teams looming in the West, the path won’t be easy. The Timberwolves do deserve some credit, however, for understanding they needed to make tweaks to stay competitive, especially if they were unwilling to pay Julius Randle. One role that remains up for grabs is sixth man, where Naz Reid had shined. Could that become a spot for Dosunmu? Or, perhaps Kuminga, if he becomes a reserve? Either way, the Timberwolves will need a spark off the bench.
Information in this article was imported automatically into a template written and reviewed by a USA TODAY Sports editor. You can send feedback using this form.
After making the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons — but failing to get past the second round in each of those trips — the Sixers overhauled their front office and roster to seriously contend for an NBA championship.
Will this superteam gel, and is it built to win a title?
If there was one team that went all-in this offseason, it was the 76ers, who made massive splashes with their trade for five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown and their signing of NBA icon LeBron James. And with that, suddenly, the Sixers have the best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference, from top to bottom. The issue with superteams is that players are forced to sacrifice and alter their traditional styles of play. That might mean Brown taking on a far smaller usage share, or James limiting his jumpshot attempts in favor of play-making. The reality is that there may be a learning curve and period of assimilation. To be clear: this is a good problem for coach Nick Nurse and the Sixers to have. But expectations — both internal and external — will be sky-high, as these moves were clearly made to deliver a championship, which would be Philadelphia’s first in 44 years. The other question lingering within this larger question is whether star center and former MVP Joel Embiid, who has played just 96 of a possible 246 games (39%) across the last three seasons, can stay healthy.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Tyrese Maxey
G VJ Edgecombe
F Jaylen Brown
F LeBron James
C Joel Embiid
Rotation players
F Dean Wade
G Anfernee Simons
G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
G Labaron Philon Jr.
C Adem Bona
C Ariel Hukporti
F Dominick Barlow
F Justin Edwards
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team that is making a push for a championship. The 76ers are all-in and will have to incorporate new star players Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. It will also be interesting to see how Tyrese Maxey’s role changes with all this; in the games Embiid missed last season, Maxey took on a massive offensive responsibility. As long as the Sixers embrace movement and sharing the ball, the offense should prove to be incredibly difficult to defend. The issue for Philadelphia will be on the other side of the court; the 76ers may struggle to defend opposing offenses. Another thing the 76ers should do is limit the regular-season workloads of James and Embiid, the latter of whom seemingly has worked to get in excellent shape this offseason. Philadelphia may very well end up with the top seed in the East. The real test will be what the Sixers do in the postseason.
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The Detroit Pistons were an overwhelming success last season, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. But a discouraging playoff exit in the conference semifinals and an unnerving offseason have tempered expectations heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
There are lingering questions after the Pistons couldn't replicate their regular-season performance in the playoffs as to whether the roster is good enough to match or even approach what they did a season ago, reaching 60 wins for the first time in 20 years. Duren's status looms large for the franchise's trajectory, but Detroit should remain a dangerous threat in the Eastern Conference as long as Cunningham is healthy.
Here's a breakdown of the Detroit Pistons' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Can the Pistons find common ground with Jalen Duren?
Jalen Duren's playoff performance last year failed to match his breakthrough 2025-26 regular season and that dynamic has complicated contract extension negotiations with the Pistons. Duren is a restricted free agent who, as of Sept. 17, had yet to even sign a qualifying offer from Detroit, with reports indicating mutual interest with the Sacramento Kings. The Pistons are taking an understandable approach with Duren given his limitations, but their ceiling this season and beyond is considerably lower without their All-Star center.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Cade Cunningham
G Isaiah Joe
G Ausar Thompson
F John Collins
C Jalen Duren
Rotation players
G Daniss Jenkins
G Duncan Robinson
G/F Kevin Huerter
F Ron Holland III
F Taurean Prince
C Paul Reed
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Pistons have the fifth-best NBA title odds among Eastern Conference teams entering the preseason, but there remain doubts about whether their offseason moves improved the team enough. Cunningham's emergence as one of the league's best players gives this team a high floor and should keep Detroit among the top six in the East. Advancing past the conference semifinals this year will depend on how the front office sorts out its differences with Duren and whether Joe or Collins emerges as a viable third option.
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Paolo Banchero hit an overtime game-winner in Brooklyn in January. Three months later he dropped 38 points on 14-for-25 shooting in a Game 7, and the Orlando Magic still lost by 22.
That gap, between what Banchero can do alone and what happens when nobody else shows up, cost coach Jamahl Mosley his job.
Orlando let Mosley go in May and hired Sean Sweeney, who arrived with a defensive reputation and a mandate to fix an offense that has finished 19th or worse in efficiency three consecutive years. Then the Magic did essentially nothing else. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said in the spring that the summer would be quiet, and it was. Nikola Vucevic came back on a minimum deal. Jonathan Isaac and Jevon Carter re-signed on minimums. Moritz Wagner left. That's the offseason.
Weltman's position is that Orlando was a top-five defensive and top-10 offensive team when healthy, and that the roster already contains everything it needs.
Here's a breakdown of the Orlando Magic's offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Orlando shot 39.7% from the field across seven playoff games against the Pistons and scored 97.7 points per game in that series. Five players in the rotation were top-eight draft picks, and Banchero's 53% career effective field goal percentage is lower than every top-five pick taken since 2018 except Cooper Flagg. Sweeney inherits the best young defensive personnel in the East and a shot diet that has never once worked in a playoff game. He has one summer of tape and no new players to blame.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Jalen Suggs
G Desmond Bane
F Franz Wagner
F Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
Rotation players
G Anthony Black
G Jase Richardson
F Tristan da Silva
F Noah Penda
C Goga Bitadze
C Nikola Vucevic
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Health is the bet. Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have each missed significant time in back-to-back seasons, and Suggs has admitted his playing style is part of why. The Suggs-Bane-Wagner-Banchero-Carter group was a plus-13.5 in 272 minutes last season, including the postseason, which is both encouraging and a reminder of how rarely they were all upright at once.
Vucevic gives Sweeney a backup center who can shoot, which Orlando badly needed and got for the minimum.
Nothing else about this team changed. The Magic are running back a 45-win roster with a rookie head coach in a conference that added two former NBA Finals MVPs during the summer.
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The core is filled with compelling young pieces, with Boozer joined by recent first-round picks Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Jerami Grant, who arrived via the Morant trade, as well as returning guard Ty Jerome give Memphis some experience and should help avoid finishing in the Western Conference cellar.
Though this team isn't expected to be a contender, there's intrigue that this rebuild could come together quicker than expected.
Here's a breakdown of the Memphis Grizzlies' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
The Grizzlies’ 2024 first-round pick has been an effective anchor in the paint when healthy, and Memphis drafted Boozer, in part, because of his potential long-term fit alongside the 7-foot-3 Edey. But the 24-year old from Purdue played in just 11 games due to a lingering foot injury that required a second surgery in March. How quickly the Grizzlies’ rebuilding plans take shape depends on Edey’s availability and whether the double-double he averaged last year is sustainable over an entire season.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Ty Jerome
G Cedric Coward
F Jerami Grant
F Cameron Boozer
C Zach Edey
Rotation players
G Scotty Pippen Jr.
G/F Jaylen Wells
F Karim Lopez
F/C Quinten Post
C Isaiah Stewart
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Memphis Grizzlies are a candidate to exceed expectations and challenge for a postseason berth in the West if their young core can come together quickly this season. The full-time return of Jerome, as well as the consistent presence of Edey and the health of guard Scotty Pippen Jr., are crucial for the team's chances of approaching a .500 record. The bet here is the Memphis front office's strong draft track record pays off again, and this group is battling for one of the final play-in spots by the end of this season.
Aaron Judge speaks to Yankees Manager, Aaron Boone, during batting practice at the stadium, Wednesday, October 2, 2019. Yankees Practice | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
ESPN | Jorge Castillo: From the man himself! Aaron Judge spoke on the record with ESPN ahead of last night’s game and said he intends to be in the lineup for next week’s Wild Card Series, and in the postgame, he sounded displeased with manager Aaron Boone describing his calf strain as “moderate.” For whatever it’s worth, Meredith Marakovits of the YES Network said on the telecast last night that this actually wasn’t all that dissimilar from what Judge was saying over the weekend in Arizona; the difference is that this came after Boone’s comments on Tuesday, when he said he wasn’t expecting Judge to return by then.
The Yankee captain is eligible to come off the IL in the season finale on Sunday versus Baltimore, but after the team spent most of the early part of the week downplaying expectations of him appearing in the first round of the postseason…both sides can’t be right.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees have a little under a week to round out how they want to approach the Wild Card Series, and the first two questions pertain to the roles of Anthony Volpe and Ryan McMahon seem to be getting slightly clearer. Volpe was taking grounders at third ahead of Wednesday’s game with the Rays, and Mac has gradually placed himself in the near-unplayable category (big night at the plate last night notwithstanding). Volpe’s never been at third before as a pro, and it’s fair to question whether he has the arm strength, but he’s hit better than McMahon since returning and the Yankees need runs.
Also in this article: Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t given up on contributing to the 2026 playoff run just yet. He and Trent Grisham were working out on the field at Double-A Somerset. Grisham’s eyeing the Wild Card Series to get back from his hamstring injury, but Stanton is at least trying to make himself a pinch-hit option.
New York Post | Matt Ehalt: Garrett Crochet has dominated the Yankees since coming over to Boston, but the lefty hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since April 25th of this year. The rehabbing southpaw is hitting 96 in bullpens though, and while he likely won’t start for the Red Sox in the Wild Card round, it’s entirely possible Boston has one of the more overpowering arms in baseball ready to go in the bullpen.
FanGraphs | Michael Baumann: The Yankees spent more of the year without Aaron Judge than with him, and will play at least the first round of the postseason without him as well. Losing the game’s best hitter would hurt any team but New York especially seems to struggle in a Judge-less offense, scoring a full run less per game when he’s IL’d against when he’s in the lineup. Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger now face outsized pressure next week, as often the only two representative hitters on the club should Judge not actually return.
CBS Sports | Todd Feurer: A melancholy happy trails to Don Cooper, best known for spending 33 seasons as a coach with the White Sox organization including 18 as the MLB pitching coach, up through 2020. Cooper also spent part of the 1985 campaign on the mound for the Yankees, and took home a World Series ring on the South Side in 2005. Don Cooper was 70 years old.
