Just a few days into the offseason, Duke has already seen two rotation pieces—Nik Khamenia and Darren Harris—enter the transfer portal. What the Blue Devils haven’t heard yet are any decisions regarding the NBA Draft.
Cam Boozer is surely off to be a Top 3 pick. Dame Sarr and Pat Ngongba have challenging stay-or-go decisions to make. But interestingly, most reporters with inside knowledge of the Duke program, including The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, are operating under the assumption that Isaiah Evans will join Boozer in the draft.
Even a couple of years ago this would be a no-brainer decision for Evans, who is consistently projected as a first-round pick and tested the draft waters last season. But things have changed drastically. Case in point: recent reporting from Jeff Goodman stating that top wings in the portal could demand around $3 million dollars this offseason.
The @TheFieldOf68 has polled 10-plus high-major head coaches, assistants and GM's for the following prices that elite (Top 25 guys) portal players will likely command: pic.twitter.com/hzs1Ie3XY9
Even that number could be low, with some reports stating that John Blackwell—one of the top scoring guards in the portal and a potential Duke target—could fetch closer to $5 million.
Goodman’s reporting, coming directly from coaches, is likely more realistic than the reported number for Blackwell (potentially put out by his agent to drive up his asking price). Still, if you split the difference and say a player of Evans’ caliber would demand $4 million in NIL, you’re faced with a fascinating thought experiment.
That sum would exceed the first year of a Rookie Scale NBA contract for any player drafted below 15 overall. By the time you reach the mid 20s—where Evans is most consistently projected—a $4 million NIL payday would dwarf the first year of an NBA contract by more than $1 million dollars.
There are, of course, other factors to consider than the raw dollars. Many players enter the NBA as early as possible so that their second contract—the first chance to get a 9 figure payday—comes in their prime. But many players drafted in Evans’ range don’t even reach that second deal, with a 2018 study finding that the average career for players drafted in the 20s in the first round is much closer to 5 (the maximum length of a Rookie contract) than 10 years. A player like Evans certainly maximizes his career earning potential by entering the NBA as early as possible, but very few hit that ceiling.
There’s also a unique confounding factor to making a draft decision this year—the 2026 Draft is universally viewed as one of the best in recent memory, while the 2027 is seen as much weaker. Were Evans to return to Duke, likely making more money in the 2026-27 season than he would in the NBA, he might also jump up in the 2027 Draft. Moving up from the 25th pick to the 15th pick would be worth millions more over the length of a rookie contract.
Finally, there’s this: college players are now getting paid more than some of their NBA counterparts to play less than half of the games. At Duke, you play those games consistently in front of a national television audience, rather than the local sports networks of your average NBA contest. That’s less wear and tear on your body and an increased potential to build a brand that will yield lucrative endorsements now and into the future.
It’s highly likely this is nothing more than an interesting thought experiment given the various reports on Evans’ status. But more Duke players will face similar decisions like this as the college game continues to change. For college stars, it may soon be the case that—with the notable exception of surefire lottery picks—the best purely financial decision will be to forego the draft as long as possible.
The Calgary Flames are in Denver to take on a Colorado Avalanche team that has only played to the Over in six of their last 25 games.
With both teams dealing with recent departures and/or key injuries, my Flames vs. Avalanche predictions expect that trend to continue.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Thursday, April 9.
Flames vs Avalanche prediction
Flames vs Avalanche best bet: Under 6.5 (-125)
The Colorado Avalanche have been surprisingly generous to Under backers this season, posting an O/U record of 33-42-2.
Five of their past seven games have featured six goals or fewer, including three straight. That may be a common theme down the stretch with offensive dynamo Cale Makar sidelined, not to mention former Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri.
The Flames traded multiple key weapons prior to the deadline (Kadri, Rasmus Andersson) and lost Jonathan Huberdeau to injury, making them more reliant on preventing goals than scoring them.
That sets up well for a reasonably low-scoring matchup.
Flames vs Avalanche same-game parlay
The Flames traded multiple minute-munching defensemen and lost a couple more to injury, opening the door for others to take on expanded roles.
Yan Kuznetsov has blocked multiple shots in 15 of his last 20 games, and two of three since returning from injury, while Olli Maatta has stepped in the way of at least a couple of pucks in seven of his past 10.
Colorado plays fast and shoots a lot, which should create plenty of opportunities for these blueliners to pile up the blocks.
The Colorado Avalanche have hit the Game Total Under in 15 of their last 25 games (+8.70 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Flames vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
SNW, ALT
Flames vs Avalanche latest injuries
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 7: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for the rebound during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A shooting star, seen as a symbol of hope and good luck, is actually just a small piece of rock or meteor burning while entering the Earth’s atmosphere. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves now sidelined for the rest of the regular season, LA’s late push shifts toward searching for any beams of light they can find.
Against OKC on Tuesday, that image shining in the sky was Adou Thiero. The moments gave flashes of a tantalizing athletic two-way wing while also being far enough away to notice the raw skills as a chunk of unmolded clay.
An already shorthanded purple and gold team was also playing without LeBron James. A valiant effort kept it close in the first half before the eventual takeover, as the number one seed led by as many as 41 points.
The rookie contributed to the early competitiveness. He immediately began flying around the floor after checking in. Watch as he rises for the impressive offensive rebound in the clip below, tracking it down and snatching it away from seven-foot Isaiah Hartenstein.
On the extra possession, Thiero cuts behind and attempts to finish over the top of the big man. He draws two of his ten free throws on the night. Getting to the line is one thing. Converting is another, as he finished 5-10 from the charity stripe, an example of both the potential and the unmolded clay.
His two field goals made were a spot-up 3-pointer and a double pump dunk off a baseline cut. The jumper is still as shaky as it was when he was drafted out of Arkansas. The swish on one was evened out by hitting the side of the backboard on the other.
Thiero took just three 3-pointers all season, but did shoot 9-14 during his South Bay tenure. It’s a small sample, but something the team hopes will translate next season.
The dunks are extremely fun to watch and help reverberate the hype around Thiero. Everything in between still needs clear work as the lack of creativity around the rim in traffic leads to turnovers or rushed decisions.
On defense, he flashed the potential of strong on-ball chops by leveraging that 220-pound frame and 6’4” height with a 7-foot wingspan. Watch below as he closes out on Lu Dort, a candidate for the strongest player in the association, absorbing the body blow and forcing a turnover.
He got impressive stops on the MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and first-time All-Star Chet Holmgren during the contest. As with most young players, those defensive wins are tempered by losses on certain possessions and by being out of sync with the team’s strategy on that end.
“The starting point for him has got to be playing hard, banshee mentality, all of those things, and I think he showed some signs of that in the G,” Redick said. “For him to be an NBA rotation player, it’s got to be every single night, every single possession, and that’s what we’re building for. And then obviously the skill work. He’s had a lot of trouble finishing this year, but we’re confident with his athleticism, he’ll build in his counters when he can’t dunk it. He’s going to end up being a really good player.”
It was a career high in minutes for Thiero against OKC, touching 20 minutes for the first time in his rookie season, a mark that Redick noted was “right at his minutes restriction” postgame. Thiero has dealt with constant injuries all season with a perfect representation of that being getting elbowed by Holmgren in the second quarter, leading to eight stitches.
That didn’t stop him from returning to the game. He gave Laker fans another look at one of the few bright spots in a blowout loss. He is a shooting star they are wishing on for better health next season.
“I’ve built confidence for sure, going out there and being able to still do a couple of the things that I usually do,” Thiero said. “Helps me definitely believe I belong. I can definitely do more of these things, so just trying to build that confidence a little bit more.”
The Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets wrap up a three-game series at Citi Field on Thursday night.
New York had a four-game win streak snapped yesterday but my Diamondbacks vs. Mets predictions expect the home side to bounce back with a strong start from Nolan McLean.
Here are my best free MLB picks for this NL clash on April 9.
Who will win Diamondbacks vs Mets today: Mets run line -1.5 (+145)
Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has allowed eight hits and one run through 12 frames. However, he had an ugly 5.02 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP in 39 starts over the previous two years, so expect major regression.
The New York Mets are giving the pill to Nolan McLean who is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. In 10 MLB starts going back to last season, McLean has a 2.16 ERA with a .189 OBA and 69 punchouts through 58 1/3 innings.
With the Mets also boasting better hitting metrics, I'm playing the run line.
COVERS INTEL: McLean has a six-pitch arsenal that features a devastating sinker, a sweeper and curveball with elite movement, and a four-seamer that hits 98 mph.
Diamondbacks vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+117)
The Mets have balance from 1-9 in their lineup and despite the absence of Juan Soto have been making good contact. Over the last week, they are batting .284 while slugging .405.
I expect them to have success against Rodriguez and an Arizona bullpen that is projected to be one of the worst in baseball. That has me leaning towards the Over 7.5.
Rohit Ponnaiya's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-4, -1.88
Over/Under bets: 3-1, +1.75
Diamondbacks vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Arizona +150 | New York -156
Run line: Arizona +1.5 (-150) | New York -1.5 (+144)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+117) | Under 7.5 (-122)
Diamondbacks vs Mets trend
The Mets have covered the Run Line in 13 of their last 25 games (+3.55 Units / 13% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Mets.
How to watch Diamondbacks vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, NY
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
ARID, SNY
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Eduardo Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (1-0, 2.61 ERA)
Diamondbacks vs Mets latest injuries
Diamondbacks vs Mets weather
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Canucks vs Kings best bet: Filip Hronek Over 0.5 assists (+115)
Filip Hronek has been the Vancouver Canucks’ top facilitator this season, leading the team with 38 helpers. Twenty of those assists have come on the road, and the Czech native has cashed the Over in four of his last five appearances.
Hronek has already notched four assists in April, and he’s also hit the Over in three contests in a row on the road. Hronek also plays on PP1 with the likes of Marco Rossi, Brock Boeser, and Elias Pettersson, three of the team’s best finishers.
Six of his last seven assists were on the power play, and the Kings are struggling immensely without a man, ranking 30th in power-play kill percentage.
Canucks vs Kings same-game parlay
Jake DeBrusk had a quiet night against Vegas on Tuesday with just one SOG, but he did cash the Over in six of his previous seven games before that. DeBrusk is averaging 2.61 SOG per contest this season.
Los Angeles is 11th in SOG allowed, but they just gave up 31 shots on target to the Predators, and DeBrusk has cashed the Over in three of his last four road outings.
Elias Pettersson is averaging 1.73 SOG this season, and he’s averaging exactly 1.5 SOG against the Kings this season.
The Swede has hit the Over in two of his last four on the road, and again, this Kings penalty kill is poor. If the Canucks get a few power plays, Pettersson can easily collect a couple of SOG with the man advantage alone.
The Vancouver Canucks have hit the 2P Game Total Over in 6 of their last 10 games (+6.05 Units / 54% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Kings.
How to watch Canucks vs Kings
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Puck drop
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
SNP, FDSN-W
Canucks vs Kings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s average salary rose 3.4% on opening day to a record $5.34 million, according to a study by The Associated Press, and the New York Mets topped spending at the season’s start for the fourth straight year.
Mets outfielder Juan Soto is the highest-paid player for the second consecutive season at $61.9 million and was followed by New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger at $42.5 million.
Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler and Mets third baseman Bo Bichette tied for third at $42 million. Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was fifth at $40.2 million, just ahead of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge at $40 million.
The Mets’ payroll of $352.2 million was just below the record $355.4 million they set in 2023 and up from $322.6 million last year. The Mets’ total is more than five times that of Cleveland, the lowest-spending team at $62.3 million.
The two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers were second at $316.6 million, down from $319.5 million last year. The Dodgers’ total would be $395.2 million if deals for nine players with deferred money had not been discounted to present-day value. The Mets have deals with deferred money with just three players and their total would be $360 million without discounting.
MLB’s average of $5,335,966 increased from $5,160,245 at the start of last season and has risen 28% under the five-year collective bargaining agreement that expires in December, an average of 5.6% annually.
The top five spenders were unchanged from last year, with the Yankees third ($297.2 million), followed by Philadelphia ($282 million) and Toronto ($269 million).
Six clubs had $250 million payrolls, up from four; and 10 teams had $200 million payrolls, an increase from nine.
Eight teams were under $100 million, up from five.
Detroit had the biggest increase, up $64.2 million to $206.7 million after signing pitcher Framber Valdez, re-signing Gleyber Torres with a qualifying offer and giving a big raise to ace Tarik Skubal via arbitration. Atlanta increased by $44.1 million, and the Chicago Cubs, Toronto and the Mets by just under $30 million.
Minnesota slashed payroll by $46.3 million from opening day last year to $96.5 million.
St. Louis cut its opening day payroll from $141.5 million to $100.4 million. The Cardinals’ spending includes $44 million it is paying Arizona and Boston as part of trades to get rid of Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, plus just under $3.4 million to Arenado as the present-day value of a $6 million assignment bonus that originally had been deferred money owed in his contract and remains payable by the Cardinals in 2040 and ’41.
Other teams with big cuts included the Guardians ($40.2 million), Texas ($37.3 million) and Washington ($23.3 million).
Payrolls include the 942 players on opening day rosters and injured lists. They do not include players on the restricted list such as Cleveland pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar and Philadelphia outfielder Johan Rojas.
They also don’t reflect players who started the season assigned to minor league teams such as Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim and Toronto pitcher Yariel Rodríguez.
Baseball’s median salary, the point at which an equal number of players are above and below, rose to $1.4 million from $1.35 million and remained below the record high of $1.65 million at the start of 2015. Active rosters expanded to 26 players in 2021.
Average and median salaries decline over the course of the season as veterans are released and replaced by younger players making closer to the minimum. MLB calculated the 2025 final average at $4.61 million and the players’ association at $4.72 million.
There were 519 players earning $1 million or more, at 55% the same as last year.
Nineteen players earned $30 million or more, an increase of four; 74 were at $20 million, up from 66; and 168 at $10 million, down from 177.
Thirty-one players made the $780,000 minimum.
The top 50 players make 30% of the salaries, up from 29% in the prior two years, and the top 100 earn 49%, up from 48% last year.
The AP’s figures include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. Payroll figures factor in adjustments for cash transactions in trades, signing bonuses that are the responsibility of the club agreeing to the contract, option buyouts and termination pay for released players.
MLB’s payrolls are based on 40-man rosters and fluctuate each day depending on roster moves.
The Houston Rockets still have a chance to catch the Denver Nuggets for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to move into the East’s No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
How to Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets
The playoff scenarios on the line Thursday night are not that thrilling, but there are games that will have big impacts on the final seeding. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
Boston clinches the No. 2 seed in the East and the Atlantic Division crown with a win over the Knicks. Boston is going to be the No. 2 seed and the Atlantic Division champ regardless — it would have to lose out and New York would have to win out to flip that — but it all can become official tonight.
Games to Watch
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass
Toronto is one of five teams in the East that can finish anywhere from No. 5 to No. 9, with just two games separating them. Toronto currently sits as the No. 6 seed, avoiding the play-in, but it needs wins to stay there and this is a critical one. Miami is likely to be the No. 10 seed, but it has a chance to climb a spot or two if it wins out. The Heat had a players-only meeting after their last loss, we'll see if that has any impact tonight.
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video
While Boston can lock up the No. 2 seed, this game matters more to the Knicks, which is now just half a game up on Cleveland, which sits fourth in the East. This game is a potential second-round playoff showdown, however, if Boston wins on the road it becomes much more possible it is not and Cleveland would jump up to third in the East by season's end.
Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass
Both teams are in a playoff chase and need wins. Philadelphia is currently eighth in the East but could finish anywhere from fifth to 10th depending on how the final three games shake out — the 76ers desperately need wins. Houston appears headed for a 4/5 showdown with the shorthanded Lakers in the first round, though it could finish as high as third (which would require an unlikely collapse by Denver). The Rockets need a couple wins down the stretch to have home court against the Lakers in the first round, the teams are currently tied.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 21: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on August 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Athletics defeated the Twins 8-3. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s announced a roster move on Thursday morning. The club has recalled right-hander Jack Perkins while optioning righty reliever Michael Kelly to Triple-A:
The A's have recalled RHP Jack Perkins from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned RHP Michael Kelly to Las Vegas.
It looks like the club has settled on Perkins taking the rotation spot that was vacated by Luis Morales earlier this week. Perkins, who came into camp vying for a spot in the season-opening rotation, had a decent spring but was always a long shot to jump over someone else for a spot. Instead he began his season in Las Vegas with the Aviators, with whom he made three relief appearances lasting a total of just seven innings of work.
That means he’s likely going to be on a short pitch limit at least in the early going. It’s being speculated that he’ll work with JT Ginn, with one or the other piggybacking off the other. We’ll see how it works on Friday against the Mets.
To make room on the roster the club demoted right-handed reliever Michael Kelly to Triple-A. Kelly, who had been viewed as a potential late-game option for manager Mark Kotsay in the bullpen, has had a tough start to his season, allowing runs in three of his four appearances. The club needed a spot on the active roster for Perkins and Kelly drew the short stick this time. We’ll almost certainly be seeing him again later this season. For now he heads to Las Vegas to work on his stuff and staying ready for when the A’s need another arm in the ‘pen.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels right-hander Robert Stephenson will miss the 2026 season after having ligament and flexor tendon repair surgery on his right elbow.
It is the continuation of injury woes for Stephenson, who was expected to be one of the team’s top relievers after signing a three-year, $33 million deal in January 2024. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing an ulnar collateral ligament repair with an internal brace in May 2024.
Stephenson was limited to 12 games in 2025 after he was diagnosed with a stretched biceps nerve.
Stephenson, 33, had a setback in spring training after attempting to pitch through thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms he experienced in the offseason.
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki told MLB.com before an 8-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves that Stephenson’s latest setback was heartbreaking.
“This guy wants to pitch, this guy wants to be good,” Suzuki said. “Up until he had that setback in spring training, he was in a good spot mentally. He was excited, he was happy to be back on the mound. So this is heartbreaking.”
Stephenson, who made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2016, has a 4.69 ERA in nine seasons.
There are only four days remaining in the NBA regular season. Enjoy them.
Sure, we wine and moan about the half-assed efforts, mixed motivations, and full-on tanking during the home stretch, but with that chaos comes edges.
Soon enough, we’ll only have a handful of postseason games to pick from each day, and those odds will be far less forgiving than these final days of the schedule.
I make the most of this scattered late-season slate with my best NBA player props and NBA picks below.
The Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat for the second time in three days tonight. Toronto is clinging to the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and needs another impressive win, following Tuesday’s 121-95 squash.
R.J. Barrett was one of five Raptors to score in double figures, but Thursday’s prop pick singles out his playmaking.
The small forward finished with only two assists in that last meeting, marking just the third time in the past nine games Barrett hasn’t dished out four or more assists.
He and others had to pick up the ball-handling slack left by Immanuel Quickley’s recent injury. Quickley returned Tuesday but logged limited minutes, so Toronto still needs more playmaking from the likes of Barrett.
He registered seven potential assists against Miami last time out and averaged 6.6 potential dimes over the previous nine outings. The Heat have nosedived down the defensive rankings in recent months and have allowed 28.6 assists per game since the All-Star break (22nd).
Assist projections for Barrett all sit north of the 3.5 O/U, with the majority of models at four dimes with a ceiling flirting with five.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FDSN-Sun, SportsNet
Prop #2: Alperen Sengun to record a double-double
+100 at bet365
I originally had Joel Embiid staying Under his points total in this game, but he was ruled out due to an emergency appendectomy.
The news hit while I was grocery shopping and prompted an early checkout and sprint back to the desk to update my NBA props. This brings me to Alperen Sengun.
The Houston Rockets' big man catches a break without Embiid in action tonight. The Philadelphia 76ers' defense declines without their center in the middle and also has a tougher time cleaning the glass.
Sengun is coming off a 12-point, 14-rebound effort against Phoenix and faces a much softer interior from Philadelphia, which will rely on the old bones of Andre Drummond and reserve Adem Bona to plug the massive gap left by Embiid’s illness.
His 34 double-doubles this season are tied for eighth in the NBA, and Sengun finished with 13 points and eight rebounds with Embiid in action when these teams last met in January.
Projections have Sengun well clear of 10 points, and his rebounding forecasts range from 8.9 to 10.8 boards versus the Sixers tonight.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, NBCS-Philadelphia
Prop #3: Mikel Bridges Over 12.5 points
+100 at bet365
The New York Knicks are guarding the No. 3 seed in the East in these final games of the season. The Knicks stay in MSG for all three closing contests and may get a gift from the Boston Celtics, who could rest a slew of starters tonight due to a back-to-back squeeze.
Mikal Bridges has been excellent against the rival Celtics this season, putting up efforts of 12, 14, and 35 points in three meetings. He’s an erratic scorer who runs hot and cold but appears be getting warm at the right time.
Bridges is averaging more than 14 points per game over his last eight outings while shooting 50% from the field in that span.
The Celtics could be without as many as four starters and opt to limit Jayson Tatum in the first of back-to-back games. Boston has climbed from a +3.5 underdog to +4.5, with that market move hinting the C’s plans for tonight.
Bridges projections all sit north of 13 points with a ceiling of 14.5. That could be even bigger if Boston rolls out a makeshift lineup and lies down for the Knicks.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have almost reached the end of the NBA regular season, which concludes on Sunday. There isn’t a ton of drama in these last few days of the regular season, as it is known which teams have clinched spots in the playoffs or play-in games.
The only bit of intrigue left comes from the Eastern Conference, where three teams sit less than two games behind in moving out of a play-in game spot and into the top six in the conference, which would guarantee them a spot in the actual playoffs.
Currently, seven former Ohio State players are on NBA rosters. Three of those players are playing for teams that will be a part of the NBA postseason, while the other four are on the worst teams in the league this year.
For those that are playing on teams occupying the bottom of the NBA standings, it isn’t all bad news, as the failings of their teams have allowed them to see more playing time than they might otherwise have had if their squads had been in playoff position.
Since we are so close to the end of the regular season, now feels like a good time to give an update on how the year has gone for those Buckeyes in the NBA, and what might lie ahead for those former Ohio State players who will be in the postseason this year.
Mike Conley – Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite playing a career-low 18.2 minutes per game, the last couple of months have been a bit of a wild ride for the former Ohio State guard.
Prior to the trade in early February, Conley was traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade. A day later, Conley was then shipped by the Bulls to Charlotte with Coby White. The following day, Conley was waived by the Hornets, and after clearing waivers, he resigned with the Timberwolves on Feb. 17.
Minnesota will likely enter the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, as with three games left to play, they are three games behind the Lakers and Rockets. The veteran looks like he is playing his best basketball of the season at the right time.
After entering April with three games this season where he scored at least 10 points, Conley has reached double digits in scoring in two of the three games he has played this month. The former Buckeye is finding his rhythm from behind the arc, going 9-16 from three-point range this month.
The 11 points he scored on Sunday against Charlotte were the first time he scored at least 10 points in a game since Nov. 19.
While Conley isn’t going to see a ton of time on the floor these days, he will undoubtedly be ready when his number is called for Minnesota in the playoffs. To go along with the star power Anthony Edwards brings to the table, Conley has the calming veteran influence that a team that is looking to get over the hump and finally make the NBA Finals brings to the table.
Brice Sensabaugh – Utah Jazz
The most exciting former Ohio State player in the NBA this season has been Brice Sensabaugh, who is averaging 14.9 points per game in just 23.6 minutes per game. Sensabaugh has seen his time on the court tick up throughout the season since he is playing for the Utah Jazz, who are actively trying to be the worst team in the NBA.
The Jazz have already had tanking allegations levied against them, and are currently tied with the Sacramento Kings for the worst record in the Western Conference.
When he has been given time on the court, Sensabaugh has been a scoring machine. After scoring 34 points in 43 minutes against Oklahoma City on Sunday, he now has four games this season with at least 30 points.
Following March, when he averaged 20.8 points per game, Sensabaugh is averaging 25 points per game through the four games he has played in April. Sensabaugh has been on fire from three-point range this month, hitting six triples in two of the four games in April.
It’s hard to say if Sensabaugh is a part of Utah’s long-term plans, since a lot of the future for the Jazz likely depends on where they land in the draft lottery. Judging by how he didn’t see much playing time earlier in the season when Utah was closer to fully healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former Buckeye traded in the offseason, since there likely won’t be enough playing time next season to justify the Jazz keeping Sensabaugh.
Jae’Sean Tate – Houston Rockets
Another Buckeye who will join Conley in the playoffs is Jae’Sean Tate of the Houston Rockets. Judging by how little he has played during the regular season, it’s only likely that Tate will see the court in a blowout or if Houston suffers a number of injuries.
So far this season, Tate has appeared in 44 games, where he is averaging 8.4 minutes per game and 2.6 points per game.
Since Houston has clinched a spot in the playoffs, Tate has been used a little more in April, registering 33 minutes across those games. On April 3 against Utah, Tate finished with seven points against Utah, which is only bettered this year by the eight points he scored in an early February game against Indiana.
Much like Conley, Tate could be valuable in the postseason since he is a veteran. Tate is in his sixth season in the NBA, so he knows he could be called upon at any time. If Tate gets on the floor in the playoffs, expect him to give everything he has to help Kevin Durant and the Rockets make a run at the title.
Jamison Battle – Toronto Raptors
The third former Buckeye playing for a playoff team this year is Jamison Battle. The Toronto Raptors are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, but are just a game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. As long as the Raptors don’t fall below sixth place, they’ll avoid the play-in tournament that starts next week.
After one season at Ohio State, Jamison Battle is now in his second season with the Toronto Raptors. Following a rookie season where he started 10 games and averaged 17.7 minutes per game, Battle has seen his minutes cut to 8.7 per game during the 2025-26 season. Along with his dip in minutes, Battle is only averaging 3.2 points per game this season.
Battle’s best game in 2026 came last month against Utah when he recorded 17 points, which has only been topped by the 20 points he scored on Oct. 31 against Cleveland. So far in April, Battle has appeared in three games, but has only registered nine minutes of playing time during those contests.
Don’t expect Battle to be on the court much once the playoffs hit, since Toronto looks to have its rotation set.
E.J. Liddell – Brooklyn Nets
One former Ohio State player who looks like they are going to have a strong close to the regular season is E.J. Liddell. After he was taken in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Liddell suffered a knee injury, which kept him on the sidelines during the 2022-23 season.
Following the tough start to his NBA career, Liddell has struggled to find traction, appearing in just 20 games over the next two seasons.
Although Liddell has only played in 23 games this year, he has at least recorded the first two starts of his professional career. Entering April, Liddell had scored 55 points this season for the Nets. In two games this month, Liddell has registered 36 points, with his season high coming on Tuesday night when he finished with 21 points against Milwaukee.
It’s unlikely Liddell’s future lies with Brooklyn, since the Nets likely don’t have an idea of what they are doing going forward. At least the strong close to the regular season for Liddell might entice other teams to take a chance on the former Buckeye, since he is still pretty young and talented.
Micah Potter – Indiana Pacers
Despite Potter opting to transfer to Wisconsin to close out his college basketball career after starting his career at Ohio State, we’ll update you on how his season is going.
Since Indiana’s year has been a mess after Tyrese Haliburton was injured during the NBA Finals last season, Potter has seen more playing time as the end of the season has drawn closer. The big man has played in 44 games, averaging 9.4 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Potter is coming off one of his best performances of the season, recording a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday against Cleveland. The double-double was the fourth of the season for Potter. The only higher-scoring output Potter has registered this season came in February when he finished with 23 points against Philadelphia.
The future for Indiana isn’t clear since so much hinges on Haliburton returning to the court healthy last year. Also, the Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. With how Potter has been able to provide solid production when called on throughout his four seasons in the league, a team will likely pick up the former Buckeye and Badger if Indiana decides not to bring him back next season.
D’Angelo Russell – Washington Wizards
There isn’t a lot to report on the former Ohio State guard, since he hasn’t played since Jan. 10, when he was still with the Dallas Mavericks.
Russell was packaged with Anthony Davis in the trade that sent them to the Washington Wizards. Neither player has suited up for the Wizards, who currently have the worst record in the NBA. Russell will finish the season averaging 10.2 points per game in the 26 contests he appeared in.
Finding value in fantasy drafts is essential to win a league title. While some of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball will be more productive in their expected roles, others will take full advantage of new opportunities.
Whether that's through a change in scenery or injuries to other players, those who exceed expectations are capable of delivering fantasy managers a league title. Below are some of the biggest surprises in fantasy basketball this season.
Coming off of a 2024-25 season in which he was one of the NBA's best reserves, Alexander-Walker appeared likely to take on a similar role after his move from Minnesota to Atlanta. Then, Trae Young suffered a knee injury during the Hawks' fifth game of the season, and Alexander-Walker has been a fixture in the starting lineup ever since. For the season, he's averaged 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.2 three-pointers per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 90.2 percent from the foul line.
Alexander-Walker began the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks; he'll end it as a player providing third-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. And from a non-fantasy standpoint, he's the betting favorite to win Most Improved Player honors.
C Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Despite his scoring and rebounding averages taking a hit last season in comparison to his 2023-24 numbers, Duren was expected to provide consistent fantasy value in the middle for the Pistons this season. However, few may have expected the leap that the fourth-year center made as a scorer. Earning his first All-Star Game appearance, Duren has averaged a career-best 19.5 points per game on 64.9 percent shooting from the field and 74.4 percent shooting from the foul line. Add in the rebounding prowess, and Duren has provided reliable top-50 fantasy value.
F OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
There was a sense that first-year head coach Mike Brown's offensive approach would benefit the Knicks' wings, as it put the ball in their hands more often. And Anunoby made the most of his opportunities. In 65 games, he has averaged 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.4 three-pointers, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Beginning the season with a Yahoo! ADP outside of the top-60, Anunoby has been ranked comfortably within the top-50 for most of this season.
C Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP in the eighties, Clingan has provided top-50 fantasy value in his second NBA season. In 75 games, the 7-foot-2 center has averaged 12.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers, shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 67.5 percent from the foul line.
Emerging as one of the best centers to roster for those willing to punt free-throw percentage, Clingan's willingness to attempt shots from the perimeter is worth watching. After attempting 49 three-pointers as a rookie, he's made 80 this season, shooting 33.8 percent. That isn't an elite percentage, but Clingan has the potential to make the three-pointer a reliable aspect of his game as he continues to develop.
G Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
While Damian Lillard's Achilles tendon rupture and subsequent departure from Milwaukee opened the door for Rollins to compete for minutes this season, few fantasy managers expected him to be as valuable as he would become. A starter in 67 of the 74 games he has appeared in, Rollins has averaged 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 three-pointers while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 79.6 percent from the foul line.
To receive top-50 production from a player likely added off the waiver wire during a solid opening month of the season is the kind of transaction that can win fantasy managers a league title.
C Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics
Even with Queta's solid showing for Portugal at EuroBasket just before the start of this season, some questioned if he could separate himself from the competition for the starting center job in Boston. The 7-footer did so, starting 73 of the 74 games that he's appeared in.
Queta heads into the postseason with career-best averages in points (10.3), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.6), steals (0.8) and blocks (1.3) while shooting 65.1 percent from the field and 69.9 percent from the foul line. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks, Queta has provided reliable top-100 value in his first NBA season as a starter.
G Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns
Gillespie's fantasy value took a hit during the latter stages of this season thanks to a shooting slump, but that does not erase the work done to earn a consistent role in Phoenix. A starter in 57 of his 79 games, the third-year guard has averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.9 three-pointers, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 87.4 percent from the foul line. "Villain Jr." carved out a consistent role for himself, and the timing could not be better, as Gillespie will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
F Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans
Sent to New Orleans as part of a three-team deal headlined by CJ McCollum, Bey has enjoyed a career year after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign rehabbing from a torn ACL. In 72 games, starting 64, he has averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the foul line.
Bey took advantage of opportunities that came about due to injury to other Pelicans rotation players, locking down a spot in the starting lineup. As a result, a player who was not on the radar of most fantasy managers will end the season providing top-100 value.
Honorable Mention (they were good before the injuries hit)
F Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
While the expectation of many was that Porter's numbers would receive a boost in Brooklyn, few expected him to be close to a top-25 player before his season came to a premature end in mid-March. Fantasy managers in most leagues could not benefit during their playoff rounds, but that doesn't erase the fact that Porter averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers.
G Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
There were questions heading into the season about whether George was the right point guard to lead the Jazz into the future. Not anymore. In 54 games, he averaged career-highs in points, assists and steals, and his field-goal percentage jumped from 39.1 percent in 2024-25 to 45.6 percent this season. It will be interesting to see how George's fantasy value will be affected by Utah's improved rotation in 2026-27.
C Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
While Sarr finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting last season, the production did not pick up until after the All-Star break. He made notable strides in Year 2, with his averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks all improving. Sarr's improved strength allowed him to spend more time in the paint, which helped increase his impact on both ends of the floor, and his fantasy value increased as well.
Oct 10, 2008; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers celebrates with first base coach Davey Lopes after hitting a single driving in two runs in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
There will be a few baseball obituaries about Davey Lopes written in the coming days, most of them better written than this. Going over the full career of Lopes as it pertains to his playing days would require me talking about his days with the Dodgers, days in which he was part of a hated rivalry between them and the Phillies. Perhaps his most infamous moment as a member of the Dodgers playing against the Phillies came on a play in the 1977 playoffs, where he was incorrectly called safe on a bang-bang play in the ninth inning of Game 3 of that NLCS.
He was out, but the decision to not bring in a substitute for Greg Luzinski was arguably as critical, but I digress.
Lopes’ real impact with the Phillies came during his coaching career with the team from 2007-2010, where he transformed that team into a terror on the bases. It’s one of the parts of the game that isn’t as noticeable with its impact on the field compared to hitting, pitching or fielding, but it can still be something that takes good team into a different territory. It’s what happened with the Phillies during that time period and Lopes was the conductor.
Being a good coach means you make players better. A lot of times, that might show up on the field right before our eyes. If a hitter that was struggling turns his game around under the tutelage of a new voice, the hitting coach gets the credit. We’ve seen what happens when a pitching coach has his finger on the pulse of a staff when it comes to Caleb Cotham as he has become one of the better pitching coaches in the game. Heck, even Bobby Dickerson has somehow made Alec Bohm into something resembling an average fielder.
It’s those other guys, the infield coaches, outfield coaches, guys like Dickerson, that improvement sometimes isn’t truly seen on pages of data. When it comes to Lopes, his impact on the team’s running game was undeniable. During his tenure with the team, the Phillies were the best baserunning team in baseball. It showed up in the traditional stats like stolen bases, where Lopes’ expertise in analyzing the opposing pitchers made them the most efficient team around (84% success rate). It also showed up in the other things that make baserunners good. Fangraphs tracks different advanced baserunning stats with their publicly available information. The Phillies of 2007-2010 were the best in several of these categories, including wSB (stolen bases and caught stealing runs above average – 43.8), speed score (5.3) and baserunning runs (77.5).
It’s no coincidence that in the years after Lopes left, the team fell to the middle of the pack. His being let go had an impact on the team. Of course, the team during this time had several baserunners that excelled at the skill in Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth to name a few. Sometimes, it helps having better clay to mold from, but almost to a man, Lopes was given a lot of credit for helping them improve in an underrated facet of the game.
The Phillies of that time period gave the city its first extended taste of championship baseball in nearly 30 years. It culminated in a world championship in 2008 that saw all parts come together in a glorious run. Lopes was an important part of that team.
In 2024, Javier Assad ascended from swingman to the Cub rotation and made 29 starts in a very effective season. Between injuries and other options emerging in 2025 he was an afterthought. Tuesday night, he was summoned from Iowa to fill one big hole in the Cub rotation.
In 2025, Colin Rea was signed for a swingman role but filled a large hole in the Cub rotation that arose when Justin Steele was lost to an elbow injury. In 2026, the Cubs obtained even more depth and on top of Assad starting in Iowa, Rea was relegated to long reliever. Another elbow injury and a (hopefully) much less significant injury to 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd opened two spots in the rotation.
Assad re-emerged on Tuesday and gave the Cubs a huge lift with a very strong start, just missing six innings and a quality start (by definition). On Wednesday it was Rea’s turn to re-emerge. And re-emerge he did. He followed Assad’s script and pitched what felt like a real quality start. At just five innings, it doesn’t meet the accepted statistical definition. With two hits, two walks and just one run, it was an awfully effective one.
It can never be said enough. You just can’t ever have too much pitching depth. Hopefully, Matthew Boyd comes back strong and Justin Steele also finds his way back to being an effective pitcher for this team. None of us are ever going to be fully comfortable with a rotation that includes Rea and Assad as well as Jameson Taillon and Shōta Imanaga. Each of them has been a mixed bag in the early going. Never quit adding. In some bizarro world where there aren’t enough innings to go around, there are always at least half a dozen teams willing to part with real talent for a quality pitcher.
On the other side of the ball, this is the best the Cub offense has looked over a two-day period. It isn’t just 15 runs in two games (just one better than they had in games 1 and 2). It was 15 runs in two days that felt like maybe it could have been 20 or more. They still left a number of runners on base and had a handful of fly balls that died at the warning track.
On Tuesday, the primary weapons were Alex Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong with three hits apiece. On Wednesday, it was Nico Hoerner with three hits and two more by Carson Kelly. Even Michael Conforto chipped in a timely double that scored three runs. On Friday, Seiya Suzuki should return to the lineup and make the lineup a little bit deeper.
It’ll be interesting to see who heads out with Seiya back. Scott Kingery has gotten just two appearances and no plate appearances so far, but is the most obvious player to play center field if/when you finally rest Pete Crow-Armstrong. Kingery hasn’t had regular playing time since the 2020 season and at 32, isn’t particularly a valuable piece. Dylan Carlson has four plate appearances over three games. I can’t see anyone other than the two of them going. I know a lot of people will expect Conforto to go. While I do wonder how productive his bat will be when it gets much less playing time, he has shown a bit of value at the plate in this series. I’d drop Kingery and figure out center when you need it later on. Conforto is the left-handed bench bat at this time.
It was good to see Conforto produce while Ian Happ was out of the lineup a couple of days. It was so rare to get any production out of the bench in 2025. Maybe he and the non-playing catcher give the Cubs a couple of good bench options, at least at the plate, as well as Matt Shaw who should head to the bench.
Hello .500, old friend. It’s been, what? Three days since we last saw you?
Let’s look at the results from this one.
Three Positives:
Nico Hoerner. Three hits, two runs, two runs driven in. Professional hitter. Team leader in RBI? Who’d believe?
Colin Rea. Another big lift for the pitching staff. Quietly, the Cubs starters are putting together a decent run of games and providing some length. He didn’t get run support until the fifth inning.
Carson Kelly had a pair of hits, one a double, and scored a run.
Game 12, April 8: Cubs 6, Rays 2 (6-6)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Michael Conforto (.156). 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Hero: Colin Rea (.123). 5 IP, 20 BF, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K (W 1-0)
WPA Play of the Game: Michael Conforto batted with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth inning, the game tied at one. He hit a double into the right center field gap, not missing a homer by much. The throw back to the infield was wild as was the throw to the plate and the Cubs netted three runs and a runner on third. (.183)
*Rays Play of the Game: Jonny DeLuca led off the third inning with a single while the Rays were down only one. (.044)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 11 Winner: Javier Assad received 178 out of 190 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Edward Cabrera +6
Nico Hoerner +5 (+1 this game)
Hoby Milner/Ian Happ/Colin Rea +4 (Rea +2 this game)
Matt Shaw -6 (-1)
Phil Maton -6
Alex Bregman -7 (-3)
Up Next: An off day Thursday and then the Cubs return to Wrigley Field to face the Pirates. The Pirates have been a bit of an early surprise and have won seven of 10 after dropping the first two games of the season and looking sloppy doing it. The Pirates are 4-2 at home and 3-0 against teams under .500. So they are still needing to show that they can win away from home and against good teams. I still think the Cubs are ultimately one of the good ones.
Shōta Imanaga (0-1, 4.50, 10 IP) gets the start for the Cubs. He looked better on Sunday in his second start of the year. He’s 2-0 with 0.35 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates. 27-year-old Carmen Mlodzinski will start for the Pirates. I can’t help shedding a tear for a future game between Carmen and Milwaukee’s opening day starter. Keyboards will be broken. Carmen was a compensatory pick for the Pirates in the 2020 draft (31st overall) out of South Carolina. Carmen has no decisions yet and a 4.00 ERA in nine innings of work. In parts of four seasons, he’s made 111 appearances, 19 of them starts with a 3.28 ERA.
COVERS INTEL: McLean has a six-pitch arsenal that features a devastating sinker, a sweeper and curveball with elite movement, and a four-seamer that hits 98 mph.
R.J. Barrett
Alperen Sengun
Mikal Bridges
Raphielle Johnson
