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The Rangers Vexing Question Of The Month

Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Rangers Grand Letter-Writer, Chris (Foodini) Drury, has made it clear that his super scorer Breadman Panarin will be out there as a pending free agent to be dealt.

Obviously, the thinking is that by making such a fulsome deal, the Rangers will obtain a juicy return, suitable for chasing rainbows and pennies from Heaven.

But wait: shouldn't Drury put his Hope Diamond in storage? What happens if Bready gets toasted with the kind of injury that has Adam Fox somewhere in mothballs?

As Sean McCaffrey points out in Blue Collar Blue Shirt, playing Panarin nowadays, hockey-wise, worse than walking a mile on hot coals.

"It feels like the Rangers are begging for their greatest asset to be victimized by some sort of season-ending injury," says McCaffrey. "If that happens, it would nullify any chances Drury would have to trade him."

Excellent point. Hence the question, should the Rangers give Bready a pre-trade sabbatical? Yes or no, please!

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Steele Hall is the #7 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system!

We have already had several incredibly close voting results in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings, but the race for spot #7 was by far the most ridiculous.

The longer I left the poll open, the more confusing it got. At various points Tuesday, each of Chase Petty, Tyson Lewis, and Steele Hall were the top vote-getters, though it was never more than a two-vote advantage separating the three of them at any point. I let it go long in hopes that someone would run away with the lead, but the opposite ended up happening – at 3:00 PM MT, each had exactly 44 votes cast for them in a three-way tie.

I’d saved my vote, though, and cast it at the last…for Steele Hall, who takes home the #7 spot in this year’s CPR by the slimmest of margins.

Hall, the 1st round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in the 2025 MLB Draft (9th overall), reclassified last year in what was originally slated to be just his junior year at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama, and as a result just turned 18 years of age on July 24th. The Alabama Mr. Baseball projects as a true shortstop defensively with perhaps the best speed in the draft class, though, and the Reds selected him 9th in 2025 because they’d originally scouted him as a guy who – if he stayed in the 2026 Draft as originally planned – had a chance to develop enough to be the #1 overall pick.

He’s already added muscle, as ones do at this time (and with the pressure and direction of being a nine-figure signee of a professional sports team), and the sky is hopefully the limit for him. It’s a testament to the depth in the system right now that he’s only checking in at #7 on the CPR, though it’s going to be quite some time before we see him at the big league level.

Congrats to Steele!

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Solovyov for Puustinen Deal: A Win-Win for Colorado and Pittsburgh

The Colorado Avalanche completed a depth swap with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier Tuesday, acquiring forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for defenseman Ilya Solovyov.

The 23-year-old Solovyov was claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames in October and went on to carve out a modest but dependable role along Colorado’s blue line.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound left-shot defenseman appeared in 16 games, scoring his first career NHL goal on January 10 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, while adding two assists.

Primarily deployed in a bottom-pairing role, Solovyov provided physicality, steady positioning, and a willingness to block shots and play tough in his own end.

Although he was never projected to be an everyday fixture, he proved to be a reliable depth option when injuries tested the Avalanche’s defensive lineup.

We spoke to Ilya Solovyov after he arrived in Colorado from Calgary.

With star defenseman Devon Toews expected to return in the near future and Jack Ahcan poised for a call-up as Toews continues his rehabilitation, the Avalanche found themselves with increased flexibility on the back end—prompting the organization to address a more pressing need elsewhere in the lineup.

Puustinen arrives as a versatile winger capable of playing both the left and right sides. The 5-foot-9, 183-pound forward has spent the entirety of the 2025–26 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 35 games. He also brings NHL experience, having appeared in 52 games with Pittsburgh during the 2023–24 season, where he totaled 20 points. The 26-year-old will report directly to Loveland and join the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate.

On the surface, the transaction appears to be a simple exchange of surplus for need. However, a closer look reveals a calculated move that aligns with the short-and long-term objectives of both organizations. Here’s why this trade makes sense for the Avalanche—and the Penguins.

Solovyov Will Get to Play More in Pittsburgh

The Penguins are navigating a multi-year rebuild under general manager Kyle Dubas, with an emphasis on stockpiling draft picks, developing prospects, and gradually infusing the roster with younger talent. That environment should allow a player like Solovyov to see more consistent ice time, giving him a valuable opportunity to continue sharpening his game at the NHL level.

It’s not that Solovyov failed to perform in Colorado—on the contrary, his play steadily improved. He became more composed with the puck, showed better decision-making under pressure, and flashed an underrated shot from the blue line. Unfortunately for him, the Avalanche are simply loaded with defensive talent, limiting his path to a regular role.

Solovyov had the chance to share the ice with one generational star in Nathan MacKinnon. Now, he’ll have the opportunity to learn from another—MacKinnon’s childhood hero and one of the game’s all-time greats, “The Kid” himself, Sidney Crosby.

Puustinen Fits the Avalanche Identity

Puustinen is a fast, efficient skater with strong short-area acceleration. His first few strides are particularly effective, allowing him to create just enough separation to open passing lanes or slip into soft ice, especially during controlled zone entries and in transition.

That speed is backed by data. According to NHL EDGE statistics, Puustinen has been clocked at a top speed of 23.02 miles per hour—just a fraction behind Nathan MacKinnon’s recorded top speed of 23.06 mph. While straight-line speed isn’t the defining element of his game, it underscores his ability to keep pace.

Beyond his skating, Puustinen is well regarded for his work on special teams, particularly on the power play. He may not possess an elite shot, but he compensates with excellent puck awareness and a strong understanding of spacing and rotations. He processes plays quickly, keeps the puck moving, and consistently makes smart, connective decisions that help power-play units stay organized and dangerous.

With that said, Puustinen profiles as a legitimate call-up option heading into the postseason. If head coach Jared Bednar chooses to get creative, deploying him on the second power-play unit would be a low-risk move—one that could quietly pay dividends for a unit that has struggled for much of the season.

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Jaylen Brown added to injury report ahead of Celtics game vs Pacers

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown is on the injury report ahead of the Celtics’ Wednesday night game against the Indiana Pacers, listed as probable with left hamstring tightness. Brown is fresh off a 32-point, 11-rebound night against the Detroit Pistons, where he missed a potential game-winner just hours after being named an All-Star starter for the first time in his career.

Josh Minott, who has missed the last 8 games with a left ankle sprain, continues to be sidelined.

And Jayson Tatum continues to be out as he rehabs a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered 8 months ago. Tatum took the floor for a nearly hour-long workout in front of reporters in Birmingham, Michigan, on Monday morning, as he continues to exhibit good signs of progress.

Payton Pritchard, who missed Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with left ankle soreness, is off the injury report.

The Pacers, meanwhile, will be without Tyrese Haliburton (ruptured Achilles tendon recovery), Obi Toppin (right foot stress fracture), and Bennedict Mathurin (right thumb sprain).

The Pacers and Celtics will match up for the 4th and final time

The Celtics have faced the Pacers three times over the past month, with Boston emerging victorious in two of the three matchups. The Celtics came back from double-digit deficits in back-to-back games against the Pacers in December.

However, last Monday, the Celtics fell to the Pacers 98-96 after a game-winning shot by Pascal Siakam. Brown missed that game as he dealt with back spasms.

The Pacers have been led by Pascal Siakam (23.6 points), Bennedict Mathurin (17.8 points), Andrew Nembard (17.6 points), and Aaron Nesmith (13.4 points).

This season, the Celtics have been led by Jaylen Brown (29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists), Derrick White (17.7 points, 5.4 assists), and Payton Pritchard (16.6 points, 5.3 assists per game).

In January, two Celtics sharpshooters have turned a corner. Sam Hauser is averaging 14.2 points per game, and shooting 46.2% from three, while Anfernee Simons is averaging 16.9 points and shooting 48.7% from three in January.

The Pacers had the fourth-worst net rating in the league (-9.6) and the worst record in the Eastern Conference (10-34). The Pacers have dropped their last two games, while the Celtics are coming off a 2-2 record and a 1-point loss to the Pistons.

The Celtics continue to maintain the East’s second-best record and the NBA’s third-best net rating.

The Celtics and Pacers will face off at 7:30pm on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

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Junis deal official, Hamel DFA’d, Sborz returns

The Texas Rangers have signed relief pitcher Jakob Junis to a one year deal, the team announced today. To make room for Junis on the 40 man roster, the Rangers have designated pitcher Dom Hamel for assignment. In addition, the team has announced that relief pitcher Josh Sborz has been signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to the major league spring training camp.

The news that the Rangers had agreed to terms with Junis on a one year, $4 million deal broke late Sunday. As we discussed in our post yesterday, he’s a soft-tossing righthander with a quality slider, a changeup that was really good last year, and a fastball and sinker that were not so good. Junis started his career as a starter with the Royals, but worked exclusively out of the pen in 2025 for the Guardians, putting up a 2.97 ERA, 3.45 FIP and 4.04 xERA.

I also mentioned in that post that Dom Hamel, Zak Kent and Michael Otanez seemed to be the most likely candidates to get designated for assignment to make room for Junis on the 40 man roster. Hamel, a righthanded pitcher who has put up a 6.27 ERA in AAA over the previous two seasons, and who has one major league appearance (in which he pitched one shutout inning), was claimed on waivers by the Rangers on September 27, 2025 — exactly one week after the Baltimore Orioles had claimed him on waivers from the New York Mets. Kent and Otanez live for another day, and we shall wait and see if Hamel clears waivers or not.

Meanwhile, Josh Sborz will be in camp, looking to show he is healthy again. Sborz was one of the heroes of the 2023 playoffs for Texas, throwing 12 innings and allowing one run over 10 appearances, including closing out the clinching Game 5 of the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was on and off the injured list in 2024, however, and spent all of 2025 on the i.l. after shoulder surgery. Sborz made 12 appearances in the minors on rehab assignments late in 2025, but his velocity wasn’t there, and he ended up getting shut down, with his final appearance coming for Round Rock on August 30.

If Sborz is healthy and his velocity returns, that would be a big boost for a Ranger team that is currently looking thin in the bullpen for 2026. Those are a couple of big “if”s, however, and shoulder issues can be very difficult to return from.

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Solanke leads Tottenham past 10-man Dortmund to offer relief for Frank

It was a contender for shock result of the season. Nobody had given Tottenham any hope after the Premier League disaster here against West Ham on Saturday, one which came coated in vitriol for Thomas Frank. The fans had demanded his immediate removal as the manager, only for him to stagger on.

The execution was stayed. But here were Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga’s second-placed team, who had lost only three games all season, to apply the final cut.

Continue reading...
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Roster Moves: Martin Pospisil Rejoins Flames, Hunt Assigned

The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that forward Martin Pospisil has rejoined the club following a brief conditioning assignment with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

Pospisil joined the Wranglers on January 13 to continue his recovery after sustaining an injury during the preseason. The Slovak forward appeared in two games with Calgary’s AHL affiliate.

The injury had sidelined Pospisil since the preseason, when he was hurt in a matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. His return marks an important step forward for both the player and the Flames as the regular season continues.

Internationally, Pospisil is expected to represent Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, further underscoring his successful progression back to full health.

Pospisil could make his regular-season debut with the Flames as early as Wednesday, when Calgary hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

To make room on the roster, the Flames also announced that Dryden Hunt has been reassigned to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

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Cardinals Legend Jim Edmonds’ Hall Snub Should Worry Arenado

This is the day when the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be announcing the results of this year’s ballots. It’s another reminder of how St. Louis Cardinals legend Jim Edmonds should have been given more consideration than he received. I also think it could mean Nolan Arenado’s future enshrinement is anything but a sure thing.

It’s been 10 years now since Jim Edmonds had his one and only year on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. It was 2016 when he received only 2.5% of the vote which resulted in his name not being carried over for future consideration. Why such a low support total? It certainly didn’t help that 2016 was the year that Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were on the ballot. I also remember a lot of chatter about how Jim didn’t have enough career home runs or hits to merit entry into the Hall. That shortsightedness overlooks a career rich with other metrics which should have earned Edmonds more serious consideration. Here are some numbers to digest:

393 HR

903 OPS

132 OPS+

60.4 WAR,

8 Gold Gloves,

4-time All-Star

From 2000 through 2004, Jim Edmonds was one of the most impactful players in Major League Baseball. He was one of the game’s best center fielders in history and also had many iconic regular season and playoff moments including the 2004 walk-off winner against the Astros plus his game-saving catch in game 7.

I understand that the National Baseball Hall of Fame has to maintain standards so the ballot doesn’t become a glut of players, but allowing a player of Jim Edmonds caliber to appear on one ballot and disappear with no other consideration feels wrong. Yes, he still has a chance at the Hall thanks to the Eras Committee, but I believe Jim would have fared better on subsequent regular Hall ballots if allowed the chance.

Jim Edmonds exclusion to this point makes me wonder if Nolan Arenado will run into the same barriers when his playing time is done. Nolan has an elite resume of defensive awards and recognition as the best at his position for many years, but also lacks the big hit and home run totals. I realize there’s no perfect way to enshrine players in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but Jim Edmonds is one of the St. Louis Cardinals greats that has sadly fallen through the cracks and Nolan Arenado could face a similar unfair future after his career is complete.

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Washington Nationals claim utility man Mickey Gasper, DFA Andry Lara

Paul Toboni and the Washington Nationals made an interesting move on the waiver wire this afternoon. They claimed utility-man Mickey Gasper from the Twins and DFA’d Andry Lara to make room for him on the 40-man roster. While Gasper is 30 and has not had success at the MLB level yet, it is easy to see why he was claimed.

The Newest Nat:

Mickey Gasper can play all over the field. In 45 games for the Twins last year, Gasper played catcher, DH, first base, second base and left field. Talk about a wild mix of positions. He was pretty abysmal at the plate last year, but if the bat comes around, he could be the perfect bench piece.

Gasper has proven he can hit at the AAA level. In each of the last two seasons, he has posted OPS numbers above .900 in the minors. He has been unable to translate that to the MLB, with a .133 average in 113 career AB’s. However, the Nats seem like they are willing to give him a shot.

That versatility alone makes him an interesting flier. Gasper also does some nice things at the plate, at least at the AAA level. He is a patient hitter who does not strike out much, something that actually carried over to the MLB. The quality of contact was not good in the MLB, but he has shown power at the AAA level.

At 30, there is a pretty good chance that Gasper is just a quad-A guy, but it is worth taking a flier. He has two option years remaining, so if he is not producing in the MLB, he can be quality depth in the minors. Gasper can also fill in at so many positions, which makes him an easy player to have on stand by.

Surprise DFA:

The Nats corresponding move was also interesting. They DFA’d former top prospect Andry Lara. The right handed pitcher was a prized international free agent pickup back in 2019. He received a $1.25 million bonus, a very high mark for a pitcher. Lara was a name to watch in the system for years, but never quite put it together. 

He is still the 22nd ranked prospect for Pipeline, but dropped out of the BA top 30. It looked like he had turned a corner in 2024, posting a 3.34 ERA in High-A and Double-A as a 21 year old. However, he had a dismal year in 2025. Lara posted a 7.55 ERA in 56 minor league innings, allowing 74 hits. 

Due to the Nats lack of pitching depth, he was forced into action at the MLB level for 9 games. He was even worse, posting an 8.79 ERA in 14.1 innings, allowing 27 hits. Lara was just not ready for prime time.

Toboni clearly did not see him as worthy of a 40 man spot, despite only being 23 years old. Honestly, it makes sense to me. Lara does not have a ton of upside or a high floor. He has a nice slider, but that is his only real standout trait besides youth. Lara would come back to the Nats organization if he goes unclaimed, which is the likely path here.

The reality of baseball can come at you quickly, and we saw that with Lara. I am interested to see how much run Gasper gets and how he is deployed. He is probably just a quad-A guy, but the versatility intrigues me.

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NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder retake No. 1 with Pistons, Spurs right on their heels

This week's NBA Power Rankings were pushed back a day due to a busy Martin Luther King Day on NBC Sports, but here we are with a new — but very familiar — team on top of the mountain.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(36-8, last week No. 2)
The Thunder looked like their inevitable selves again last week with 20+ point wins over the Spurs, Rockets and Cavaliers (and we're going to say the Miami nightlife remains undefeated for their one-off loss). The Thunder will have to get by again without Jalen Williams for a few weeks due to a hamstring issue, but that was the case at the start of the season when OKC was 24-1, so no big worries there. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unquestionably was always going to be an All-Star starter, and expect the coaches to put Chet Holmgren in as an All-Star reserve.

2. Detroit Pistons

(31-10, last week No. 1)
Cade Cunningham is a deserving All-Star Game starter and probably should have gotten a shout-out in our midseason MVP rankings. Detroit's defense holding the Celtics in check on MLK Day — nine blocked shots and keeping the Celtics under 40% shooting — solidified its standing atop the Eastern Conference (that 5.5-game lead the Pistons have will be tough for any team to make up). That win and cushion also are why Detroit can be patient at the trade deadline and look for the right deal — a high-level secondary ball handler to put next to Cunningham — and if the right one is not there, keep its powder dry until the offseason.

3. San Antonio Spurs

(30-13, last week No. 4)
Victor Wembanyama earned his first All-Star Game start (of what will be many), then went out and celebrated by dropping 33 and 10 on the Utah Jazz. He may be the lone Spurs representative in Los Angeles this year, but starting in 2027 expect a couple of Spurs players to regularly make that team.

4. Houston Rockets

(25-15, last week No. 8)
The Rockets snapped out of their little midseason slump last week, winning 3-of-4 (and the one loss was to OKC), but after an ugly loss to the Thunder it's fair to ask if this team is genuinely the contender we thought it might be earlier in the season? Are the Rockets too reliant on Kevin Durant for offense? Houston did not get an All-Star Game starter, but Alperen Sengun and Durant should be locks to make the game as reserves selected by the coaches.

5. Boston Celtics

(26-16, last week No. 5)
Jayson Tatum did a one-hour workout in front of the media this week, showcasing how he is getting closer to a return this season (although after the All-Star break still seems the most likely timeframe). That was followed by a hard-fought one-point loss by Boston to East-leading Detroit, and it's easy to start drawing the line to the Celtics as a contender to come out of the East. Actually making that work with their center situation — as hard as Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are playing — is a lot more difficult (and why Boston is active on the trade market looking for a big). Jaylen Brown is a deserving All-Star Game starter and at midseason sits fourth in my MVP voting.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

(27-16, last week No. 3)
I don't like the word "snub" for an All-Star starter because, without a doubt, Anthony Edwards will be an All-Star (and likely start on one of the three teams in this year's USA vs. World format). That said, Edwards was a starter on my ballot (same with many media voters) and I can see why Julius Randle was sticking up for his teammate. Minnesota takes a step back in these rankings after losses to the Rockets and Spurs last week, but the schedule softens with 3-of-5 against below-.500 teams and the other two against the now-shorthanded Warriors.

7. Phoenix Suns

(26-17, last week No. 6)
Devin Booker remains the heart of the Suns, which we were reminded of when he sat out a loss to Detroit last week. The Suns are 1-3 in games he misses this season and have a -0.9 net rating when he is off the court (but are +5.6 when he is on the court). All of which is going to get interesting when the coaches' votes for All-Star Game reserves are announced Feb. 1, and Booker is on the bubble in the deep West, with an ASG snub a real possibility.

8. Denver Nuggets

(29-14, last week No. 9)
The Nuggets are now 7-4 while Nikola Jokic is sidelined with a knee injury, which is why Jamal Murray should be a lock to make his first All-Star Game as a reserve (as voted by the coaches). Jokic himself was selected as an All-Star Game starter by the fan vote, and he is expected to be healthy by next month (it looks like an end-of-the-month return, according to reports). Peyton Watson continues to make himself more and more money with his play while Jokic is out. Watson's playmaking skills have made a giant leap this season.

9. Golden State Warriors

(25-19, last week No. 15)
Jimmy Butler going down for the season with a torn ACL is brutal — he averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists a game, and the Warriors have been 9.2 points per 100 possessions better with Butler on the court. The timing could not have been worse, this is a Warriors team that had found its stride, won four in a row and 12-of-16, and was starting to look like a dangerous team in the deep West. This could force Steve Kerr to put Jonathan Kuminga back in the rotation, and one way or another, all of it will impact and inform the Warriors' actions heading into the trade deadline.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers

(24-20, last week No. 11)
Cleveland continues to be the most confounding team in the NBA this season — are they the team that lost to the Jazz last week, or the one that picked up a couple of quality wins over the 76ers (that first win might have been the Cavs most complete game). Going into the season, some of us thought the Cavaliers were contenders (*raises hand*), but the MLK Day blowout loss to the Thunder is a reminder of just how far away from that goal this team is, and if the postseason started today, Cleveland would be in the play-in. Donovan Mitchell was not named an All-Star Game starter but is a lock to make it as a reserve.

11. New York Knicks

(25-18, last week No. 7)
This has evolved from the kind of little midseason slump every team goes through into a full-blown identity crisis. The Knicks have dropped five in a row and 9-of-11, and it was evident on MLK Day (when they got crushed by Dallas) that this is a team searching to figure out who it is — they have not seemed to fully buy into what Mike Brown is preaching. Deuce McBride said postgame Monday that he thought it was complacency, that this team had so much success last season and at the start of this season that guys got comfortable and need to snap out of it. Maybe, but it feels like more than that. Whatever is going on, the Knicks need to figure it out quickly, because they are just 1.5 games out of the No. 2 seed and 1.5 games out of the play-in, given how bunched up the East is in the middle.

12. Philadelphia 76ers

(23-18, last week No. 13)
Tyrese Maxey is a deserving All-Star Game starter, averaging 30.2 points per game. The fact that he was held to 36 points total across two losses to Cleveland last week is a reminder of how much this team needs him to be that All-Star player nightly, while there is other impressive talent on the roster, the 76ers go as Maxey goes most nights. Good tests for the Sixers at home this week against the Suns, Rockets and Knicks.

13. Toronto Raptors

(25-19, last week No. 10)
The Raptors sit as the No. 4 seed in the East, and with that when the All-Star Game reserves are announced Feb. 1, Scottie Barnes should be among them. However, getting two players (specifically Brandon Ingram) feels like a reach, especially considering Toronto is 2-4 in its last six games and is now just 1.5 games out of the play-in. The Raptors are 0-1 to start a five-game road trip through the West.

14. Los Angeles Lakers

(25-16, last week No. 12)
Luka Doncic led all of fan voting and is a deserving All-Star Game starter, and he is third on my midseason MVP ballot. He is not the big All-Star Game question, however, it's LeBron James, his 21-year streak of being selected as an ASG starter has ended. Moreover, it feels unlikely that the coaches will select him as a reserve for the game either. The All-Star Game without the NBA's biggest brand and name feels weird, so will Adam Silver give him a special designation to get in? The Lakers have played well this year, 13-8 on the road, which is good because they start their eight-game Grammys road trip (when that show kicks them out of Staples) on Tuesday night in Denver.

15. Los Angeles Clippers

(19-23, last week No. 16)
On one hand, this ranking feels too low for the NBA's hottest team, winners of six in a row and 13-of-15 (a streak that started when coach Tyronn Lue set the goal of this being a .500 team by the end of the season, following a 6-21 start). What gives us pause is Kawhi Leonard being sent home from the team's current road trip with knee irritation. The reports say it's not that serious, but anything with Leonard's knees is concerning.

16. Portland Trail Blazers

(22-22, last week No. 18)
The fans voted Deni Avdija in as the fifth starter from the Western Conference for the All-Star Game, but the player and media votes ultimately gave that spot to Victor Wembanyama. He may not start, but Avdija should be a lock to be an All-Star reserve picked by the coaches. Speaking of All-Star Weekend, if I could pick one person who has to do the Dunk Contest, it would be Shaedon Sharpe.

17. Orlando Magic

(23-19, last week No. 14)
Franz Wagner returned to the Magic lineup after missing 16 games, just in time for the game in his native Germany, although he looked understandably rusty in that Berlin game (6-of-16 from the floor). Wagner is also the answer to who would have represented the Magic in the All-Star Game next month if he had stayed healthy, he missed just too many games. Of course, what we're all going to remember from the Magic's trip to Europe was Anthony Black dunking on four guys in Berlin — this will be tough to beat as the Dunk of the Year.

18. Miami Heat

(22-21, last week No. 20)
Fans may be sleeping on what a great season Bam Adebayo is having (he may not even make the All-Star team). He's averaging 17 points and 9.7 rebounds a game — and had 29 in a win over the Suns and 30 helping beat the Thunder last week — all while playing at a First Team All-Defense level. That quality win over Oklahoma City last week came as part of a 2-3 stretch against good teams over .500. While the Heat are on the road for the next 5-of-6, the schedule does soften up.

19. Charlotte Hornets

(16-27, last week No. 22)
Charlotte has the best offense in the NBA over the last five games (a 130.8 offensive rating), which led them to impressive wins on the road against the Lakers and Nuggets. There is not going to be a Hornet on the All-Star team this season, but we can get enough Kon Knuppel — he will be in Friday's Rising Stars challenge during All-Star weekend, but let's get him in the 3-point shooting contest on Saturday night as well.

20. Chicago Bulls

(20-22, last week No. 21)
Chicago sits locked into the Bulls Postseason Invitational the Play-In Tournament, as they keep their heads above water, alternating between wins and losses. That could change this week with a tough stretch of games against the red-hot Clippers, plus the Timberwolves and Celtics. As for the Bulls highlighted during All-Star weekend, will Windy City Bulls guard Mac McClung defend his Dunk Contest win again? Josh Giddey has a chance to be an All-Star reserve, but the only lock might be Matas Buzelis in Friday's Rising Stars game.

21. Dallas Mavericks

(18-26, last week No. 24)
Klay Thompson has found his groove again, shooting 24-of-47 (51.1%) from 3-point range in his previous five games, and not so coincidentally the Mavs are 4-1 in those five games despite both Cooper Flagg and Daniel Gafford missing time in there with injuries. Dallas is pretty good at home (13-11) but struggling on the road (5-15). That's good news for a Mavericks team with 6-of-8 coming up at home, but by the second week of February, a six-game road trip starts.

22. Milwaukee Bucks

(18-24, last week No. 17)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a deserving All-Star Game starter, averaging an efficient 28.8 points per game (64.7% shooting). For my money, he should be somewhere on everyone's MVP ballot if he reaches the 65-game threshold (he can only miss three more games all season and still qualify). That said, the Bucks are just 5-5 since Antetokounmpo's return from injury and they have yet to even climb back into the play-in in the East, with the non-Antetokounmpo minutes dragging them down. Which is why the team is trying to be so active as the trade deadline approaches.

23. Memphis Grizzlies

(18-23, last week No. 23)
Ja Morant looked good in his return to the court in London, with 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting plus 13 assists in the Grizzlies' win over the Magic. If Memphis wants to trade Morant at the deadline, they will need a lot more of that to entice teams, who right now are looking at his injury history, the nearly $87 million he is owed the next two seasons, and concerns about how his game is aging and are not offering much in trade packages. Morant being with the Grizzlies until the offseason is very possible, league sources suggested to NBC Sports.

24. Atlanta Hawks

(20-25, last week No. 19)
Atlanta is now 2-4 since the Trae Young trade. In the five games CJ McCollum has played since coming over to the Hawks, he is averaging 17 points per game but is shooting just 40.3% overall and 18.5% from beyond the arc. While the Hawks may be struggling, Jalen Johnson should be an All-Star Game reserve, full stop. He's earned it.

25. Sacramento Kings

(12-31, last week No. 29)
Sacramento had a four-game win streak going until they ran into the "buzzsaw" that is Portland on Sunday. Domantas Sabonis returned over the weekend, just in time to be showcased some before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5. The Kings will need him and their other veterans being showcased — Zach Lavine, DeMar DeRozan — as they head into a tough stretch of the schedule over the next couple of weeks.

26. Brooklyn Nets

(12-29, last week No. 25)
He's on the bubble, but I have Michael Porter Jr. as an All-Star Game reserve for the East. What is most likely going to keep him out of the ASG in Los Angeles? Getting traded to a team in the West — Porter remains one of the most likely players to be dealt before the NBA trade deadline. Porter has missed a few games recently, but that is more about Brooklyn tanking than any health concerns.

27. Utah Jazz

(14-29, last week No. 27)
While Lauri Markkanen deserves to be in the All-Star Game as a reserve, the struggles of the Jazz this season likely keep him on the outside looking in. Utah is 0-9 this season in games Markkanen has missed, and expect that number to climb as Utah makes sure it's well-positioned heading into the NBA Draft Lottery again this year.

28. Indiana Pacers

(10-34, last week No. 28)
The Pacers won 4 of 5 and showed some real grit in wins against the Heat and Celtics last week (even if Boston rested Brown for that game). That said, Indiana is 0-2 to start a five-game road trip and it doesn't get easier with Boston and Oklahoma City up next.

29. New Orleans Pelicans

(10-35, last week No. 30)
Expect some more Zion Williamson trade rumors to fly around in the run-up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline, like the latest one about teams speculating the Wizards would do it "if the price was right." Which is code for "if the Wizards can get a steal of a trade they'll take a chance on him." Joe Dumars is not going to sell that low. If Zion gets traded, it's far more likely in the offseason. Trey Murphy went under the radar with one of the best shots you will see this season.

30. Washington Wizards

(10-32, last week No. 26)
When the Wizards traded for Trae Young we said not to expect to see him in many games as Washington is focused on keeping its pick and being in a good spot entering the draft. Unsurprisingly, the team announced that he will be out through at least the All-Star break, recovering from knee and thigh issues. It's worked just as planned the Wizards have dropped six straight. Washington could end up with a lot of players in the All-Star Friday Night Rising Stars game: Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington all deserve a spot.

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Konecny gives Flyers a performance like he's ‘tired of losing'

Konecny gives Flyers a performance like he's ‘tired of losing' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Back in September, with the Flyers a week into training camp, Rick Tocchet was asked about Travis Konecny’s potential to drive the team’s rebuild forward.

The new head coach had noticed Konecny’s desire to start winning in Philadelphia.

“He’s a super kid, he has got a lot of leadership qualities, he knows there’s another level of that,” Tocchet said. “And he’s tired of losing, so he’s pissed.”

Konecny on Monday night definitely looked like a player that was fed up with losing. He spearheaded a road win that snapped the Flyers’ season-worst six-game skid. The 28-year-old winger scored both goals in a 2-1 decision over the Golden Knights, a team that came in on a seven-game winning streak.

For a second straight game, Konecny put the Flyers ahead 1-0 in the first period. Falling behind has been a major issue for the Flyers. They’ve faced a 1-0 deficit 32 times in 48 games.

But Konecny has gotten them started recently.

Then, in the third period of a 1-1 game, with the Flyers trying to fend off another Vegas power play, Konecny struck on the penalty kill. It was his 11th shorthanded goal over the last four seasons. Only the Panthers’ Sam Reinhart has more in that span with 13.

Konecny has 11 multi-point efforts this season. The Flyers have gone 10-1-0 in those games. With 17 goals and 26 assists in 47 games, Konecny is on pace to finish with his second straight season of 70-plus points.

That probably won’t mean much to him, though, if the Flyers miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season. The alternate captain is in his 10th season with the Flyers. He has been to the playoffs twice.

“He knows there’s a process of getting there,” Tocchet said in September. “He has bought in, he has worked extremely hard in practice. You can tell that he’s setting a pace. … He’s a big part of this.”

The Flyers entered Tuesday three points back of the Penguins for third place in a tight Metropolitan Division race.

If Konecny keeps playing like he did Monday night, he might drive the Flyers into the playoffs. He sure looked like a guy that wants it, a guy that has seen too many seasons defined by losing streaks.

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William Nylander Misses Another Maple Leafs Practice With Injury, Other Lineup Notes Ahead Of Game Against Red Wings

As of this moment, it appears unlikely that the Toronto Maple Leafs will get William Nylander back for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Nylander has missed the last two games after re-aggravating a groin issue on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto's second-last game of their latest road trip.

The forward was absent from practice on Tuesday afternoon, with head coach Craig Berube noting there's "nothing new" on Nylander's status.

"I mean, he's still doing his rehab and stuff off the ice, nothing on the ice yet," added Berube. "I don't have a timeline when he'll be on the ice."

The 29-year-old initially missed six straight games with the injury, which he picked up against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 27, before returning to the Maple Leafs' lineup on Jan. 10 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Nylander dressed for three more games after Vancouver, but left after playing just 2:17 against the Golden Knights. (He scored a goal and an assist before exiting the game.)

Despite missing 12 of Toronto's 49 games this season, Nylander still leads the Maple Leafs in points. His 17 goals and 38 points in 37 games are five more than John Tavares, who sits second in team scoring with 18 goals and 43 points in 49 games.

Toronto has eight more games until the Olympics, which Nylander will be playing in for Team Sweden.

Maple Leafs Reveal Groin Injury For William Nylander, Could He Miss The Olympics?Maple Leafs Reveal Groin Injury For William Nylander, Could He Miss The Olympics?With Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube revealing that William Nylander is sidelined by a recurring groin injury, the focus now shifts to whether the superstar can recover in time for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Other Practice Notes

Matthew Knies took another maintenance day on Tuesday after registering an assist and 19:11 of ice time in Toronto's 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He's been dealing with an undisclosed lower-body injury since before the Christmas break.

Despite missing Tuesday's practice, Berube expects Knies to play on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

"Talking to him today, he felt better, which is good news," said Berube.

'It's Been Honestly Sh**ty': Matthew Knies Continues to Play Through A Lower-Body Injury That Will Only Get Better With Rest'It's Been Honestly Sh**ty': Matthew Knies Continues to Play Through A Lower-Body Injury That Will Only Get Better With RestMatthew Knies sustained a lower-body injury in training camp, and the ailment has not gotten any better. The Leafs may be forced to make a hard decision to rest him at some point.

Troy Stecher also missed practice due to maintenance after playing 16:24 against the Wild, but "should be good to go tomorrow," Berube added.

As for who'll start against the Red Wings — after each goalie played on Monday against the Wild — that remains to be seen.

"I'll make that decision tomorrow," Berube stated. "I haven't made that decision yet, so I've got to talk to the goalie coach and the goalies yet."

Projected lineup against the Red Wings:

McMann - Matthews - Domi
Maccelli - Tavares - Knies
Cowan - Roy - Robertson
Lorentz - Laughton - Jarnkrok

Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Ekman-Larsson
Benoit - Stecher

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Washington Nationals fans should not forget about LHP Alex Clemmey

One of the more underdiscussed prospects in the Nationals system is Alex Clemmey. In a way, this makes sense. He is not one of the Nats top 3 prospects and his year pretty much went according to plan in 2025. Clemmey is who we thought he was, an electric arm that can dominate when he is in the zone. Staying in the zone is the big question though.

Clemmey’s stats were very strong in his first full season in the Nats organization. In 116.2 minor league innings, Clemmey posted a 3.47 ERA with 136 strikeouts. He was particularly dominant in High-A, where he posted a 2.47 ERA. Double-A proved to be a challenge in his first few starts, but he finished the season with three strong outings.

Clemmey only turned 20 in July and was seen as a raw prospect, so reaching Double-A at all is impressive. There is still plenty of work to do, but Clemmey is ahead of schedule and is one of the few Nats top prospects to have a positive year in 2025. Clemmey showed he can be durable and effective as a young pitcher. He also made some strides in his game.

The biggest stride he made was with his pitch mix. Before last year, Clemmey was almost exclusively a 4-seam fastball/slider guy. However, he brought two effective new offerings to the table this year. The first one is a sinker that he uses to get ground balls. Using two fastballs has become a bit of a trend, and it is something Clemmey has decided to do.

However, his biggest development was with his changeup. Before this year, he barely threw one and had little for the pitch. He took a massive step in the right direction with the pitch in 2025. Baseball America noted that he was much more comfortable throwing the pitch and it has above average potential. They gave the pitch a 55 grade, much better than the 40 grade from MLB Pipeline.

When Clemmey is on his game, he can be absolutely filthy. He is a 6’6 lefty with a deceptive delivery, a lower arm slot and nasty stuff. Clemmey is just tough for hitters to pick up, especially lefties, who hit .198 against him. At his best, Alex Clemmey is a buzz saw.

There is one pretty serious drawback for Clemmey, and it is the walks. Last season, Clemmey walked 14.4% of hitters. That is an improvement from his 16.1% mark from 2024, but still not good enough. Even when he was dominating in High-A, the walks were an issue. In fact, he walked 15.9% of hitters at the High-A level last year. If he wants to remain a starter, that number needs to come down closer to 10 or 11%. 

He does not need to be Greg Maddux, but he needs to be in the zone more. When he got to Double-A, he clearly got told to throw it in the zone more, but the results were not great. While his walks went down to under 10%, he became much more hittable. Clemmey will always need to find that balance. It is why a lot of scouts think Clemmey will be a reliever.

If he ends up in the bullpen, Clemmey has the chance to be a lights out reliever. As a starter, Clemmey sits in the 92-96 MPH range. However, he has more in the tank and I think he could be a 96-97 guy in a bullpen role. At just 20 years old, the Nats should give him the runway to start, but the reliever option gives him a nice fallback.

Getting an arm like this in exchange for Lane Thomas was a really nice move by Mike Rizzo. He had his flaws, but finding fun talent at the trade deadline was not one of them. Clemmey could end up being one final present from Rizzo to the organization.

This season will be an important one for Clemmey. Developing command is tougher than teaching a new pitch or adding velocity, but we have seen guys learn to throw more strikes. Hopefully the new regime can help Clemmey make strides with his command. If he can throw more strikes, watch out because the sky is the limit.

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Breaking: Colorado trades Ilya Solovyov to Pittsburgh

The Colorado Avalanche have officially made their first trade of the season, sending defenseman Ilya Solovyov to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for 26-year-old right wing Valtteri Puustinen, and Pittsburgh’s 2026 7th round draft pick as well.

Solovyov has played 16 games for the Avs up until this point, with two assists and one goal. The one goal being his first career NHL goal, which came against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 10. With Solovyov now being traded, the Avs are suddenly short a defenseman on their roster, which means a call-up will likely be coming ahead of Colorado’s game tomorrow against the Anaheim Ducks as Devon Toews is skating but not yet ready to play.

Valtteri Puustinen was a former seventh round pick in 2019 has not played a game in the NHL this season but has 66 career games with Pittsburgh. This season he has played 35 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL so far. In that time, he’s picked up seven goals and 19 assists, which is some perfectly fine production. He’s been a good producer in the AHL over his career so if nothing else this is a move to fortify the Colorado Eagles. It remains to be seen if Puustinen will stay in the AHL after this move as the Avalanche do not have the services of depth forward Joel Kiviranta yet either.

Obviously, this is a pretty small trade on the whole, but still the first one that the Avs have made this season, nonetheless. There is no salary cap impact even if the Avs recall their new forward. With the Olympics coming up in just over two weeks, we might see more trades happen before then, now that Colorado’s started making some moves.