BOSTON – Zack Wheeler worked so quickly (and efficiently) Tuesday night you’d have thought he was double-parked out in Kenmore Square.
Wheeler led the Phillies to a tight 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. His recipe for success was simple: Get the ball, throw the ball, get back in the dugout.
Nineteen days before his 36th birthday and just shy of eight months after he had surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, Wheeler pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball. He took a shutout into the seventh before the Red Sox nicked him for a run on three singles. Wheeler left the game with one out in the eighth and a runner on first base. Jose Alvarado survived some shaky work by his defense to get out of that inning with the tying run on third.
Jhoan Duran got the final three outs for the save. He recorded the final two outs with two men on base.
The win improved the Phillies to 11-3 under new manager Don Mattingly. Phillies starting pitchers have delivered nine quality starts in those 14 games.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryson Stott both hit balls over the wall for the Phillies. Schwarber homered (No. 17) for the fifth straight game, tying a team record, in the first inning and Stott clubbed a ground-rule double in the second inning for the Phillies’ second run.
The pitching did the rest. It had to because the Phillies’ bats produced just five hits.
Wheeler gave up six hits, all singles. He walked none, hit a batter and struck out four. His economy of pitches was exceptional. He threw eight or fewer pitches in four innings. He needed just 16 pitches to complete the first three innings and 59 to complete the first six. He faced one batter over the minimum over that span, thanks to two double plays.
Wheeler has won both of his career starts in Fenway Park. He’s given up just two runs in 14 1/3 innings in those games.
Given the expectations for the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins heading into the regular season, the fact that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas could include playoff discourse as part of his season-ending press conference Tuesday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry says a lot about what he is building organizationally.
And it looks like the next steps forward are coming into focus as well.
Even though the team made tangible progress this season, Dubas stressed that there is still a "long way to go" for the Penguins to be Stanley Cup contenders to the likes of the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, and others. But, that said, he feels as though it's on him to deliver on that next stage in the process.
"I thought we were a good team, and at times we flirted with becoming very good, but ultimately, we are still well short of where we aspire to be, which is a contender," Dubas said. "That falls on me, and the work to push to get us there will continue."
He added: "Have we made progress? I’d say yes, we have. Are we where we want to be and aspire to be? No, not even close. And the work has continued since the minute that our season has ended and will continue through the summer. That’s what we’ll aim for is to continue to deliver contending championship hockey back to Pittsburgh."
1. Dubas is high on the prospect pool they've put together so far
Half of the press conference consisted of Dubas gushing about the prospects the Penguins already have in their system, many of which the organization believes have bright futures with the Penguins.
I did ask Dubas about - despite the discourse that core talent is usually obtained by selecting high in the draft - whether or not he believes some future pieces of a potential "core" are, indeed, already in their system.
"When it comes to the high end, you look throughout the league now, and everyone here knows it because that's what the Pittsburgh Penguins have always been about: the Penguins have always had high-end talent," Dubas said. "Obviously, there's two very notable first-overall picks, but then it's supplemented by players picked later in the first round or deeper into the draft.
"We have to find it any way that we can. That could be through trade, it could be in free agency, [or in] finding a player that goes undervalued and we're able to get more out of."
But, despite that, he gave some rave reviews for some of the top prospects in the system.
Dubas also touched on defenseman Harrison Brunicke and the progress he's made since training camp. He stressed that they believe his development plan - which included off-ice conditioning, five pre-season games, nine NHL games, five AHL games, and the World Junior Championship before ultimately being sent back to the WHL - ended up working out well for him. He is also impressed that Brunicke is playing on the top pairing for WBS during the Calder Cup Playoffs and that he has been tasked with some of the toughest minutes.
"He can play center, he can play wing. He's been a part of teams that always seem to be winning. He's deeply committed to doing all the small things," Dubas said. "The best thing I've heard in the last couple of weeks is that the American League staff, they told Amanda Kessel that they went to show him the systems on intake when he got there last week after his team had lost in Game 7 to Moncton. And he had been watching every game and studying the systems, and he knew them all himself.
"So it's those types of small, little intangible things that fuel the size, the skating, the habits, the ability to carry the puck, create offense, get to the net."
Clearly, Dubas is happy with the pool of young talent that the Penguins already possess - even if he knows there is more work ahead to pull in big talent.
2. The Penguins still have some work to do in order to become Stanley Cup contenders... but, no, they're not "tearing it down"
One of the biggest points of emphasis in this press conference was the fact that - again - despite the progress the Penguins made this season by making the playoffs and proving they are a "good team," they're still pretty far off from being Stanley Cup contenders.
And a major part of that, Dubas said, is that they have to improve defensively - and that they intend to address that this summer.
"When we’re looking at the group as we transition moving ahead, I think, as a whole, defensively, we still continue to give up a lot both in terms of what we’re expected to give up and in terms of what we actually gave up," Dubas said. "Both were in the bottom-10 in the league, and it was a massive topic amongst [head coach Dan Muse] and me throughout the year, but more importantly in the last couple of weeks since we’ve been out. And it is the major focus as we head into the offseason.
"Really, it’s the area that we have to improve upon the most if we’re going to continue to make strides and push the team back into being a contender."
Sam Girard (front) and Kris Letang are two blueliners with uncertain futures heading into next season for the Penguins. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
"You look at all the other teams around the division, and you measure yourself up against them day in and day out," Dubas said. "Carolina, they're obviously the class of the division right now, they won the division by 15 or 16 points, and they haven't lost a playoff game. We're not close to that, so that's what we have to push to get to be at that stage where they're at, going to the Eastern Conference Final. They've obviously been at it for a long time now, 10-plus years.
"But that's what we have to work to get to. And until we get to that point — and I think even when you get there, you're happy only for a few minutes and then you start to worry about what's coming up behind."
So, if they're still that far off of contention, it makes sense to sell off veterans and go younger now, right? Well, not necessarily. And that brings us to the final point of emphasis from Dubas's presser.
There were multiple references in this press conference to Dubas heavily exploring the trade market this summer. Sure, he mentioned deals in the "Chinakhov mold," which definitely makes sense for where they're at and where they want to go. Those options would be more cost-effective, even if there is inherent risk.
But that's not the only thing he said. And there is one portion that stood out in particular:
“I think what we really lack are those players in their later 20s that are really true difference makers. Or mid-20s, late 20s, that are true difference makers," Dubas said. "I think if you’re one of those players that’s a free agent or your situation in your spot is not going well and you have some control, you can look at us and see very clearly that you’re going to be supported by a great coaching staff that gets the most out of players. But you’ll also have young players that are going to push from behind and older players that are going to set the tone.
“I think Pittsburgh, for all that it is as a city, a sports city, it’s a great place to play, a great place to grow and have a family. But also, I think in terms of the sporting side, for us on the hockey side, I think it should be one of, if not the most, appealing places to any player that has a choice in those matters. We’ll investigate all those as we go into the summer."
I don't know about you, but that sure sounds like a sales pitch to me.
And with some bigger names who fit that mold rumored to, potentially, be on the trade block this summer - such as Stars superstar Jason Robertson (26 years old), Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (28), St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (26), and Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (24) - could Dubas and the Penguins be pitching to those guys directly?
It's quite possible, and the Penguins have plenty of draft capital, cap space, and tradeable assets to work with. They would have to build out quite a big package in comparison to those other teams, but in the end, they have flexibility in terms of "tacking on" in trade packages that other organizations don't.
Dubas is confident in the young players the Penguins are already developing. But he recognizes that returning to sustainable contention will require both homegrown talent and the willingness to swing big when opportunity arises.
"I think if we're going to take really big steps next year that [are] sustainable, it's going to be by using the cap space that we have, but [also] the assets that we have, the draft picks, the prospects, etc, to go and acquire somebody," Dubas said. "Is that going to be possible? We're sure going to find out. But I'm being open with you because that's the path ahead.
"We don't have a mirage in our view, in the office, that next year all these young guys are going to magically all hit. They're prospects for a reason. Some of them are going to reach their potential. Some of them are going to go beyond their potential. But you don't know if some of them are. We've amassed a good quantity there. We have to see which ones can develop into true quality guys, and then we have to use that to just supplement, really, on the proven players in their mid 20s, late 20s, that we know what we're getting. I think that's the area where we'll be able to take steps."
In conclusion: Buckle up, Penguins' fans. This could be a pretty fun summer.
The Buffalo Sabres appear to be making some significant lineup changes for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final against the Montreal Canadiens after two straight losses in which they have been outscored 11-3.
At the morning skate at the Bell Centre, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was in the starter’s goal, 20-year-old rookie Konsta Helenius skated on the third line in between Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn, and veteran Luke Schenn took the place on the bottom pairing with Conor Timmins. Ryan McLeod shifted to the fourth line with Jordan Greenway and Beck Malenstyn, and Sam Carrick skated as an extra forward after getting slugged by Montreal defenseman Arber Xhekaj.
Luukkonen has not played since Game 2 of the series against Boston, after allowing four goals in the first two periods, one from center ice on a Morgan Geekie dump-in and another from Viktor Arvidsson 16 seconds into the third period. The 27-year-old Finn went 22-9-3, with a 2.52 GAA, and .910 save percentage in 35 games during the regular season, but is 1-1, with a 4.19 GAA, and .825 save % in the playoffs.
Montreal has won the depth battle so far in the series with Buffalo
Head coach Lindy Ruff was cagey at the media availability on Tuesday, not confirming any potential lineup juggling, but said that the addition of Helenius was to inject some offense into his forward group. The 20-year-old scored nearly a point-per-game in his second season with the AHL Rochester Americans, and three points in the Amerks first round loss to the Toronto Marlies. Schenn has played 58 playoff games with six different clubs and won two Stanley Cups, and may be inserted into the lineup as a physical presence after the shenanigans that occurred during and after the loss.
Ruff may be looking for something to snap the Sabres out of their current funk, similar to what Minnesota did by switching back to Jesper Wallstedt in Game 3 against Colorado, and what the Avalanche did by shifting to MacKenzie Blackwood after Scott Wedgewood had started the first seven playoff games.
In league discipline news, Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn was fined $3,515.63, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for running into Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes in the second period on Sunday. Xhekaj was also fined $3385.42 for his right cross to the jaw of Carrick. The NHL finally came down with their ruling on Boston’s Charlie McAvoy, for his high sticking incident with Zach Benson. The Department of Player Safety has suspended McAvoy six games.
By now, we’re all used to NBA stars muscling their way to the top of the hobby’s leaderboard, from the courtside-to-cardboard hype of Ant-Man, to record-shattering Goldin gavels for Victor Wembanyama’s Black Shimmer 1-of-1. Well, as of this month, Nikola Jokic can add another notch to his Mile High résumé: the three-time MVP’s 2015-16 Panini Immaculate Collection RPA Logoman just sold for just over $1 million in Goldin’s April Elite Auction, becoming the first Jokic card to crack seven figures.
While Joker, who might become the sixth four-time MVP when the award is announced over the coming weeks, isn’t the only recent MVP getting hobby love, not all most valuable players are, well, quite as valuable.
Here’s how the last five different winners of the Michael Jordan Trophy stack up.
Long before the Joker crossed the seven-figure threshold, the Greek Freak set the modern-day basketball card ceiling when his 2013-14 Panini National Treasures Logoman 1/1 hammered for $1,857,300 at Goldin in September 2021. Giannis briefly held the title of most expensive modern basketball card ever sold, knocking The King off his throne. Other cards have since Topp(sed) it, but the Antetokounmpo still owns the title of having the priciest public sale of any active MVP.
The MVP-podium fixture finally got a hobby valuation to match his trophy case. The original owner waited nearly a decade to cash in at auction, but now they must be feeling like the three-time MVP and NBA champion himself. Well, maybe not after the star center’s first round playoff exit, but you get the idea.
The reigning MVP is the fastest riser on this list. SGA’s 2019 Panini Flawless Logoman Autograph 1/1 sold for $577,300 at Goldin just last month, the first SGA card to ever clear half a million. If the Thunder PG wins back-to-back MVP awards later this month, that price might look like a steal.
The Process delivered a 2022-23 MVP, but the hobby never quite trusted his knees. Embiid’s high-water mark is a 2014-15 National Treasures Logoman, which sold for a paltry (lol) $144,000 in January. Given that he’s the only MVP to never reach the Conference Finals, and that the 6ers didn’t put up much of a fight against the Knicks with what might’ve been his best-ever running mates, we might not see Embiid’s cards come close to his MVPeers.
The Beard’s 2017-18 MVP campaign feels like a lifetime ago, and his cardboard footprint reflects it. The most expensive Harden card ever sold was his 2009-10 Panini National Treasures /99, which sold for nearly $69,000 in 2001. With the Cavs taking both games at home against the Pistons, those looking to collect Harden cards might see some serious movement over the coming weeks. Then again, it looks like nobody stands a chance against his debut team, so a first-ever championship still seems unlikely. Even still, prime Harden was electric.
It’s Not Just MVPs
The gap from Giannis to Harden is more than 20x—but maybe there’s more to it than the player himself. In this case, the throughline seems to be the Logoman. Four of these five MVPs have at least one Logoman patch card in circulation, and the four biggest sales on this list (Giannis, Jokic, SGA, and Embiid) are all Logoman 1/1s. Is Harden’s rookie Logoman still floating around—and, if so, what is the owner doing with it? Was one even made way back in 2009?
Either way, the evidence is clear: An MVP trophy carries you to the upper echelon of the Hobby, but a Logoman gets you to seven figures.
Does Joker have a chance at the MVP or is SGA a lock? Let us know on Mantel.
NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has been suspended for the first six games of next season for slashing Buffalo’s Zach Benson.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the ruling Tuesday after holding an in-person hearing at league headquarters in New York on Monday. That gave senior VP of player safety George Parros and Co. the option to suspend McAvoy for six or more games.
McAvoy was ejected for his retaliatory two-handed slash to the right arm of Benson, who seconds earlier tripped him and sent him crashing into the boards. The league called it a “dangerous trip” that was penalized.
The incident came with under two minutes left in the Sabres’ series-clinching victory in the first round of the playoffs on May 1, with the Bruins on the verge of being eliminated.
Benson tripped McAvoy with a slew foot, receiving a two-minute penalty. McAvoy got up and went after Benson with a baseball-swing slash. He received five minutes and a game misconduct.
The defenseman was offered an in-person hearing, giving the NHL Player Safety Department the leeway to suspend him for six games or more.
"All parties agree that this is an intentional and forceful strike delivered to an opponent's body specifically for the purpose of retribution and message sending," Player Safety said in a video explaining the decision.
Player Safety noted that it "is important to note that players are not excused from illegal acts just because of a prior foul by an opponent."
David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza provided Mets injury updates prior to Tuesday’s game against the Tigers…
Good news on Lindor
Francisco Lindor is feeling better, and he’s shed the boot on his left foot as he continues recovering from a calf strain.
Lindor is set to undergo a follow-up MRI within the next few days.
From that point, Stearns said that the team will get opinions from their doctors so they can start mapping out what a return to play looks like.
“We won’t know until we see the results of the MRI,” he said. “We need to get it over the next 48 hours or so and once we get that, we’ll get our doctors to map out a plan.”
Stearns also said the team isn’t concerned that Lindor’s injury could impact his Achilles.
The star shortstop has been on the IL since April 23.
Robert Jr. not progressing as planned
While both Stearns and Mendoza emphasized that A.J. Ewing’s call-up had nothing to do with Luis Robert Jr’s timeline, they didn’t have a positive update on the injured outfielder.
Robert hasn't been progressing as hoped, and he continues to deal with discomfort in his lower back.
“He’s still showing some symptoms there,” Mendoza explained.
The team hasn’t gotten any indication that surgery could be required, but they are consulting with additional specialists.
Robert received an injection upon landing on the IL two weeks ago, and the Mets said at the time that they didn’t expect him to miss much more than the minimum.
They do not have an update on his timeline, as of now.
Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco (11) stands in the on deck during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. / D. Ross Cameron - Imagn Images
Polanco’s ankle still symptomatic
The Mets will be without Jorge Polanco a bit longer as well, as he continues recovering from bursitis in his Achilles.
Stearns said Polanco’s ankle continues to show signs, and they have to get it asymptomatic before he can work his way back into the lineup.
“We have good days and then it flares up,” he said. “We need to get the ankle asymptomatic so we know he can go out on a daily basis, run the bases freely, and we’re not there yet.”
The team is currently following protocols put forward by specialists in that area, who have not recommended shutting Polanco down completely.
The veteran began the season but quickly developed the issue.
He played just two games at 1B, then was in and out of the lineup as the DH before landing on the IL on April 18.
Polanco resumed baseball activities over the past few weeks, but hasn’t been able to take the next step in his recovery, with the issue continuing to flare up.
Next step for A.J. Minter
The left-hander doesn’t appear far off from resuming his rehab assignment after completing a successful bullpen session on Tuesday at Citi Field.
Minter is expected to toss at least one more bullpen later this week.
He’ll then head to the minors to continue building up, but could be back up with the big league club before long.
Stearns said a two-to-three-week timeline is about right.
Minter, of course, wasn’t too far off from making his return to the Mets' bullpen before left hip discomfort caused him to pause his rehab last week.
He’d allowed just three runs (one earned) over eight appearances, at the time.
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 22, 2026: Henry Bolte #16 of the Athletics hits an RBI single during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Hohokam Stadium on March 22, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Athletics announced a bunch of roster moves on Tuesday afternoon in the lead up to their series with the Cardinals kicking off:
That’s a lot of moves for one day. The biggest news is the promotion of Henry Bolte. One of the organization’s very top prospects, the former 2nd-round pick has absolutely demolished Triple-A pitching this season and will be rewarded with his first call up to the major leagues. With Denzel Clarke on the IL and Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler struggling, there is a clear and open path for Bolte to make an impression and make it so he never has to return to the minor leagues.
The other big news is the Wilson injury. After injuring his shoulder this weekend we saw the runner-up in last year’s AL ROTY voting in a sling so this placement isn’t exactly a surprise. It does sound as though it’s not a worst-case scenario for him as it’s to his non-throwing shoulder but the team will surely be cautious with their young infielder. There’s no set timetable for his return but it’s going to be at least a month before we see him suit up again. In the mean time expect to see plenty of Darell Hernaiz at shortstop for the Athletics.
The team is also bringing up infielder Michael Stefanic to help bolster the team’s depth on the dirt. The 30-year-old has spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues with the Angels and Blue Jays. He joined the A’s on a minor league deal this offseason and he’s slashed .250/351/.355 with a pair of long balls and a trio of steals for the Aviators. He has some experience at shortstop but hasn’t played there this season, getting most of his playing time at second and third base. He’s a depth piece for Mark Kotsay at this point but the A’s need bodies with Max Muncy and Jacob Wilson out of action.
The A’s weren’t done there. To make room for Stefanic on the roster the team demoted third baseman Brett Harris. The shine has worn off Harris as he’s struggled in his limited opportunities in the big leagues. He only got four at bats this year for the A’s and didn’t record a hit in those chances. For now he’ll return to Las Vegas and continue to try working on his game and force the team to give him another chance later this year.
And finally wrapping up the roster moves today, the team needed to create 40-man roster space and reliever Eduarniel Nuñez was the casualty. The flame throwing right-hander came over in the Mason Miller trade with the Padres last year but struggled in his time with the Athletics. Those struggles have continued this year as he’s allowed 7 runs in just over 11 innings of work. The A’s made him a part of the return for Miller so it’d be disappointing to see the team move on after less than a calendar year. Hopefully the team can sneak him through waivers unclaimed and get him back into the Las Vegas bullpen, but we’ll just have to wait and see if another team is more interested.
It’s rare that one moment in a game can end an entire season.
But for frustrated fans of Lakers Nation, they’re taking out their anger on head coach JJ Redick.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick is being questioned following a late-game decision that helped result in the Lakers season ending Monday night.NBAE via Getty Images Lakers head coach JJ Redick is being questioned following a late-game decision that helped result in the Lakers season ending Monday night.AP
With 12.2 seconds remaining in Game 4, the Lakers were trailing 113-110 when Redick called a timeout. As the Lakers broke the huddle, it made sense to see LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart take the court.
However, it was that fifth player that had everyone in the arena — including the announcers — questioning what was going on.
Maxi Kleber — the same Maxi Kleber who spent the previous 47 minutes and 48 seconds of game time sitting on the bench — took off his warmups and trotted out to take his place among the four others.
Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura — who 25 points on 4-of-8 from three, including a four-point play a minute earlier — took Kleber’s spot on the bench.
Rui Hachimura in 2026 playoffs:
33-58 3PT (56.9%)
Not on the floor for Lakers' possession needing a 3.
JJ Redick watched Rui Hachimura do this and sat him on the bench in the final seconds pic.twitter.com/tQsy00Cn0Y
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) May 12, 2026
In the end, Reaves got a good look at a deep three — off a screen by Kleber — that clanged off the rim and ended the Lakers season.
It’s understandable why fans are mad at Redick regarding the move, but in a way it make a lot of sense.
Realistically, the ball was going to be shot by either James or Reaves. Kennard, who led the league after knocking down 47.8% of his threes, had to be out there as a decoy at the very least. Smart has a knack for knocking down big shot so his spot made sense.
Leaving Rui Hachimura out of the game in this moment makes zero sense.
He was having a phenomenal night and completely earned the right to be on the floor—maybe even taking the last shot.
It then came down to Hachimura, who was going to be the fourth option at best, or Kleber, a much better screen-setter. Considering that role was going to be a screener at the most, Kleber made a lot of sense and Redick got it right.
It might not be what Lakers fans want to hear, but Redick has earned the benefit of the doubt after another impressive season.
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits by the court before a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The largest fish in the rumor sea has to be discussed, right? Well, that is what we will do today in this edition of Suns Trade Verdict. The noise has gotten too loud, not only from the Bucks but also from fans clamoring for this to be the time to strike for the superstar.
The trade timeline for Giannis has accelerated, and Phoenix could be a PRIME destination for the Greek Freak to land 👀
We're discussing what links the all-time great to the Suns, and what it would take to get him here ⬇️
So how does this even start? Well, for years, it felt like this saga had gone on, with Antetokounmpo potentially leaving, but it hasn’t been as clear as it is now. With the team failing to trade him in the offseason and making roster changes to persuade him to stay, it does not seem to be working.
Word from the Bucks is that they would like to get this deal done before the draft, and Shams Charania of ESPN has already got the ball rolling on that with his latest update.
The Milwaukee Bucks are open for business on trade calls and offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo entering the NBA combine and over six weeks away from the draft, sources told ESPN.
How can we get this done, and would Phoenix be interested in something like this? Let’s explore those thoughts.
How could this get done?
For Phoenix, getting to a max player contract is going to take a lot of guys going out. With the Suns not having much draft capital either (2027 first, the least of UTA/CLE/MIN, and their own 2033, which isn’t tradable until after the draft), they’re in a pickle. Especially if the other 28 franchises around the league also have offers lined up.
This leads me to believe it would take a massive haul to get it done. The Bucks had interest in Jalen Green around the trade deadline. Could they value him as a young piece for a retool/rebuild? The Suns also have the former lottery pick Khaman Malauch and the 31st pick, Rasheer Fleming. Could they be used as young assets to compensate for the limited draft capital the Suns have?
The Milwaukee Bucks continue to seek help on the offensive end and have shown interest in Jalen Green, per @BrettSiegelNBA
“…the Bucks recently made calls to the Phoenix Suns, checking in on the availability of Jalen Green, sources said. However, the Suns are not interested in… pic.twitter.com/0WqC6h2NYO
Those are the questions the Suns have to ask when evaluating a deal for Antetokounmpo. He is owed 121M over the next two years, with a near-$63 million player option next year, he would expect. The 31-year-old is also looking for a long-term extension and would need to be committed to the team before signing one.
To get this deal done, though, the Suns would have to send either Jalen Green with Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, or Dillon Brooks to make the money work. Then, with the addition of two young players like Ryan Dunn, Khaman Malauch, Rasheer Fleming, or Oso Ighodaro, it could be done. The Suns would have to take back the Anteokumpo bros, too, which is the price to pay.
Which would most likely get done?
Since the Suns want to extend Dillon Brooks, I think it is unlikely they move off of him in this trade. Therefore, it leaves either the deal involving Royce or Grayson to get this one across the finish line.
“You get what you deserve in life. Dillon deserves everything he’s gotten. He’s earned it.”
Mat Ishbia spoke glowingly of Dillon Brooks, his persona, and why he’s excited for him to continue to be a part of this franchise. pic.twitter.com/zsRcON7usC
In the deal with Royce, they are taking back more money, making it harder to resign the free agents that they would need to make this move worth it. The decision on this one needs to involve both Jalen Green and Grayson Allen.
Allen may not end up going back to Milwaukee, as this trade could expand, but for now, he goes back with the young talent the Suns have and all their draft capital. This would certainly push the Suns to go all-in on a Booker + Antetokounmpo duo, with supporting pieces in Gillespie, Goodwin, Brooks, and O’Neale to help as well. Even if that is the case, is it the best move?
Why does it not get done?
Suns
Given their situation, you would think maintaining this steady growth is the way for the Suns, but ownership may think otherwise. Even if he preached continuity at the end-of-year presser, we all know some change will come with Mat Ishbia at the helm. We also know he wants to capitalize on this Devin Booker window, stating he will bring a championship to the Valley. That says to me that if the right star is available and the Suns can acquire him, they will go after him, but is that Giannis?
Suns Owner Mat Ishbia on Devin Booker:
"I'll ride into a fire with Devin Booker and I'll do it proudly…Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player." ✊
The fit would be seamless, as he would fill the vacant power forward spot this team is searching for. Not to mention his fit alongside Booker in the pick-and-roll, with his physical presence in the paint, are all there. He would solve most of the issues this team ran into this season, and by giving up four players who barely played or were injured, you could see how this makes so much sense.
If you plug Giannis into last year’s team, where does that get them? Definitely a higher seed than seven and potentially even in an Eastern Conference finals. That is where the intrigue deeply vomes from, and I see that, but there are also some concerns.
He is 31 and has had some serious injuries as of late. Multiple calf injuries and having to be held out this season (even if he was healthy) prove there is some weirdness around it. He is not getting younger either, and even though Booker is around the same age and doing the same, I’d rather not sacrifice a 4-year window for a 2-year one.
Secondly, the extension is a big ask for this team. One that was just in cap hell and barely escaped by the skin of their teeth. They are still going to pay for the Bradley Beal stretch-and-waive until 2030, and that dead money will creep up on them. Building a roster with that dead money is already a hard obstacle, and it will only be more difficult with two max contracts on the books.
Lastly, and certainly not least, is the package the Suns have. With Giannis available, all 28 other franchises will also try to do this deal. Now, some will obviously bow out as Giannis will not want to go there, but that does not mean Milwaukee will accept a bad deal. It will have to be a happy mediuma nd Giannis has expressed wanting to stay out East as well.
This severely limits the Sun’s ability to pull off this deal if their trade package cannot compare, and they are not on his destinations list.
Many say the Suns will be on that list, but only time will tell.
I think the Bucks, in this situation, try to milk the Suns out of everything they have. Since other teams like Boston or Cleveland have better players to offer in Jaylen Brown or Evan Mobley, it will be hard for the Suns to match some of these offers. This leaves the Bucks looking at the Suns’ package and trying to force both young players, Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.
The Boston Celtics are known to have interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo and could be a potential landing spot, per @sam_amick
“Even the Celtics, who have the ‘Two Jays’ back now and look fully capable of winning it all, are known to have interest and are discussed in league… pic.twitter.com/PaCqfidyPn
The Cavaliers reportedly contacted the Bucks about a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Milwaukee wanted Evan Mobley and all of their available first-round picks, per @JakeLFischer
“The Cavaliers, league sources say, contacted the Bucks about Giannis before the… pic.twitter.com/vk7cYhhcEw
It also depends on which path the Bucks see themselves taking in the future. Will they look to strip it down, fully rebuild, and invest in youth, or would they rather get a star to stay relevant? If they want to go with the Suns package, it becomes more appealing because it includes three players under 25 to build around, potentially.
That being said, I do not think the Bucks do this deal unless Giannis puts his foot down and says, “Trade me to Phoenix.” Even if Fleming, Maluach, and Green have the potential to be something, I do not know if it entices the Bucks enough.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, every day, my thoughts about the situation change as we learn more. Truly, the duo would be unstoppable and prove to be one of the best, but in a star-studded Western Conference, how far is that? Is that truly Finals runs, or is it Western Conference Finals runs? That is where I think patience is key, waiting for Fleming and Malauch to be ready to really commit to winning with this squad.
As many of you saw this weekend, John also discussed this situation. Here is his article, in case you missed it, with his thoughts.
PHOENIX — The walks were piling up, homers flying out of the ballpark, runs racing across the plate.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had seen enough.
A manager who prefers one-on-one meetings with his players called Arizona’s entire starting rotation into his office for a one-way conversation.
Hearing what their manager said — throw strikes, essentially — was something the starters already knew, but the reinforced message kicked off the best run by the Diamondbacks’ rotation in nine years.
“That was his message, just to remind us that we’re really good and what we’re going through right now is not who we are,” Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly said.
It was ugly.
The Diamondbacks had a few decent starts here and there the first month of the season, but the blowups started coming with more regularity.
Instead of throwing strikes and letting hitters put the ball in play, the Diamondbacks were being too fine with their pitches or trying to get strikeouts. The walks started racking up and with those came big innings — lots of big innings.
Through the first 33 games of the season, Arizona’s starters had the worst ERA in baseball at 5.42 as the Diamondbacks dropped 4 1/2 games out of first in the NL West barely a month into the season.
Lovullo made the rare decision to meet with all his starters during a May 1-3 series at the Cubs and the results — whether he had anything to do with it or not — have been impressive.
With Michael Soroka’s gem against Texas on Monday night, Arizona’s starters have had seven straight starts of at least six innings, longest active streak in the majors and the Diamondbacks’ best since 2017. They currently have four straight starts of at least six innings with one or fewer runs and four or less hits for the fifth time in franchise history, first since 2019.
“I probably had 1% to do with that,” Lovullo said. “I just created awareness, just told them this is what I’m seeing, go out there and reverse it. Figure out how to pitch deep into games, execute and put balls into play. I said what I said and I’m proud of the way they’ve been getting after it.”
It’s been an impressive run.
Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona’s steadiest pitcher, kicked it off by allowing two hits in seven scoreless innings in a win over the Pirates on May 5. The left-hander backed it up by limiting the Mets to one run on four hits in a career-best 8 1/3 innings on Sunday.
Soroka lost a 1-0 pitcher’s duel with Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes despite allowing a run in 6 1/3 innings, but beat the Rangers 1-0 Monday night by allowing three singles over 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Following six-inning starts by Zac Gallen and Ryne Nelson, Kelly had his best start of the season against the Mets on Saturday.
Relying on a few tweaks in his mechanics, the right-hander allowed a run on three hits in seven innings after 19 earned runs over 13 2/3 innings his previous three starts. Kelly’s impressive start kicked off Arizona’s current three-game winning streak and earned him hugs and high-fives in the dugout after his day was done.
“It’s bittersweet; you feel like the kid who finally passed the test,” Kelly said. “You feel like the kid who’s been getting F’s all the time and finally got an A. It feels a lot better coming off the mound knowing you gave your team a chance to win.”
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers added to their outfield depth by acquiring Alek Thomas in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Thomas was batting just .181 with two homers and 10 RBIs when he was designated for assignment by Arizona last week. But the speedy Thomas is a solid defender, and he could be used by Los Angeles as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch runner.
The Dodgers sent outfield prospect Jose Requena to the Diamondbacks. To make room for Thomas on the 40-man roster, outfielder Michael Siani was designated for assignment.
Thomas was selected by Arizona in the second round of the 2018 amateur draft. He made his major league debut in 2022.
Thomas had his share of big moments with the Diamondbacks, particularly during the team’s run to the 2023 World Series. He hit four homers during the postseason, including a tying two-run shot against the Phillies in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series.
The 26-year-old Thomas is a .230 hitter with 31 homers, 143 RBIs and 28 steals in 448 career games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins should be looking to add to their roster this off-season after taking a nice step in the right direction during the 2025-26 season. One of their top needs is more defensive depth.
When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents, one player who the Penguins should consider making a push for is Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley.
If the Penguins signed Stanley, they would be bringing in a hard-nosed, 6-foot-7 defenseman who showed this season that he is capable of providing some offense from the point. In 76 games this regular-season split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres, he had nine goals, 17 assists, 26 points, 110 hits, and 128 penalty minutes. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a solid pickup for the Penguins.
Stanley's age also adds to his appeal. This is because the 2016 first-round pick is turning only 28 later this month. With this, Stanley is right in his prime and would be a strong fit on a team that is focused on the future, like the Penguins.
If the Penguins signed Stanley, he would be a strong fit on their bottom pairing and on their penalty kill. However, he could move up Pittsburgh's lineup if needed due to his versatility.
It will be interesting to see if the Penguins sign Stanley, but the fit looks strong on paper.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball against Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been pointed out to me that you wild and crazy kids are using the MMB Lounge thread to also talk playoffs and perhaps we should have a distinct discussion post for that.
I couldn’t agree more.
So here we are. The Oklahoma City Thunder have advanced as of this writing, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0. The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves are tied 2-2. The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are deadlocked at 2-2 as well. The Knicks swept the 76ers 4-0 in their match up.
I have no preference who wins either open series. I think the Spurs playing the Thunder would be better basketball, but also think the Spurs losing to the Wolves is funny. The East is ugly but if I had to choose a winner to advance, I’d go Pistons.
I am curious to read what you all have learned about how this season of basketball has played out and what Dallas needs to do next to get back into playoff contention.
His NBA career began as the No. 21 overall pick in 2019 out of Gonzaga. Clarke proved to be a strong rotation piece for the Grizzlies in his first three seasons until a series of injuries limited his on-court contributions.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NBAE via Getty Images
In October 2022, he inked a four-year, $52 million contract extension with Memphis, but his season ended early due to a torn left Achilles in March 2023.
That injury and a lengthy recovery process kept Clarke to just six games during the 2023-24 season.
In the following season, he played 64 games before sustaining a high-grade PCL injury in his right knee.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 17, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images
As a result, Clarke missed the start of the 2025-26 season and returned for two games in December before a right calf injury put him on the shelf again.
“Just keep playing basketball,” Clarke said in December of his plans after coming back from his knee injury. “I’m kind of used to just expecting nothing else. I can jump higher than I did last year, according to the trainers. I’m feeling good. Just keep working and everything is going to come together nicely.”
Memphis announced on March 24 that the Vancouver native would not return for the remainder of the season.
He was facing charges of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit and improper passing.
Per TMZ, the case was still open before his death on Monday.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies dives for a loose ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 30, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images
“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Tuesday. “As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization.”
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