The Dallas Mavericks (19-27) host the Minnesota Timberwolves (28-19) on Wednesday evening. It’s the first game of a back-to-back for the Mavericks; they unexpectedly had three days off when their Sunday game was postponed due to weather. Dallas has won four out of their last five, with the lone loss coming last Saturday to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Timberwolves are on the other side; they lost five in a row before snapping out of it with a Monday win over the Golden State Warriors
Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves
WHAT: Trying to slow down Anthony Edwards
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
Dallas has an annoying injury report, but that’s been the entire stinking year. Cooper Flagg was ruled out due to an ankle injury or injury management, whatever you want to call it. I expect him to play tomorrow. Klay Thompson is out as well with knee soreness. Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, and Dereck Lively are of course out. Anthony Edwards was the only Timberwolf on the injury report of note and he is playing.
This is going to be a close game somehow, I just have zero idea how that actually happens. Naji Marshall’s been given the green light and I expect more of that. PJ Washington needs to string together some decent games too. Dallas is going to have a hard time on the boards but if Ryan Nembhard can get the offense in a flow for the Mavericks, maybe they hang around and surprise the Wolves, who are talented but inconsistent as hell.
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
We don’t know how many more times LeBron James will play in the arena he called home for 11 years. As such, the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled out all the stops to make sure that the current Los Angeles Lakers star knew that what he’s done for the team and community is appreciated.
First, the crowd gave him the loudest ovation during pregame intros, which included a special welcome from the Cavs’ mascot, Moondog.
Then, the Cavs welcomed him back with a tribute video at the first timeout with highlights of his 25-straight point game against the Detroit Pistons in 2007. It was a fitting tribute, given that the current Cavs were sporting the same uniforms the team wore then.
Cavs welcome LeBron back with highlights of his 25-straight point performance against the Pistons in 2007. pic.twitter.com/m5RKXP0rtO
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James has the ability to keep playing the game at a high level, even if his athleticism has taken a notable decline in the last few seasons. Whether or not someone of his caliber wants to keep going if he isn’t able to play at the level he used to remains to be seen. James doesn’t have anything more to prove in this game.
Could Brooklyn Nets swoop in and steal Giannis Antetokounmpo from the New York Knicks … using the Knicks own first round picks? Wouldn’t that be juicy?
Well, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, Dave McMenamin agree there’s indeed a possibility of a Nets offer in the Wednesday edition of their Hoop Collective podcast.“ Windhorst took the lead…
Will the Brooklyn Nets make an offer for Giannis?
No aggregation from Swamp Dragons, clipped straight from the source. Nets have 10 tradable firsts, 11 by draft day.
“I think Brooklyn will seriously consider making an offer,” Windhorstr said, noting the assets Sean Marks & co. have accumulated, particularly draft picks which are likely to the coin of the realm as well as good young players in any deal for the 31-year-old two-time MVP and one Finals MVP. A number of those assets — three remaining unprotected firsts in 2027, 2029 and 2031 as well as an unprotected swap in 2028 — were all part of the Nets haul from the June 2024 trade for Mikal Bridges.
“Brooklyn has 10 tradeable firsts and Michael Porter Jr. and 11 tradeable firsts as of draft night. Do we think Brooklyn will make an offer,” the ESPN’s top NBA insider asked amidst a back-and-forth between the three writers. “I think Brooklyn will seriously consider making an offer.”
Both Bontemps and McMahon agreed with Bontemps offering this: “A top five player becoming available … a lot of things are going to be discussed that you don’t know about and you don’t expect to hear. Players like this do not become available very often and while there are concerns about Giannis out-years on the contract, about his calf, all this stuff at the end of the day, he’s a top five player on the planet and those five players are still going to return big value in a trade.”
All of this was in a roundtable of discussion of which NBA teams would make a move for the near 7-footer who has finally made it clear he wants a new home. as their colleague Shams Charania reported earlier in the day
So far, the Knicks and Miami Heat are seen as the leading candidates, but the Knicks and Bucks tried and failed to come to an agreement during an exclusive trade window last summer. A big impediment was that Leon Rose had traded all those picks (plus two in last year’s draft) and a couple of seconds to Brooklyn in the Mikal Bridges trade. The Nets also have $15.3 million in cap space
Giannis, whose never played for any team other than the Milwaukee Bucks in his 11-year career, is going to be eligible for a five-year, $275 million extension come October no matter who controls his contract with.
Windy and Bontemps discuss the risks involved with that extension.
“Also, if you’re trading for Giannis who’s 31 years old, you’re also trading for the right to pay him $270 million in an extension this fall,” said Windhorst. “If you’re going to do that, you’re going to have to commit to that, do we agree on that?”
“Yes,” agreed Bontemps. “Can’t imagine many teams that would want to take Giannis on for the price it would take to get him that would only want him for a year and a half.”
Windhorst did say
The Nets of course, with the smallest payroll in the league and Joe Tsai and Julia Koch’s deep pockets — a combined net worth approaching $100 billion, wouldn’t likely flinch at Giannis price tag. He currently makes $54.1 million. However, agreeing to the full amount and term of an extension would mean paying him more than $60 million at age 37.
Marks made it clear at the Nets Media Day in September that if they were to defer from their rebuild, there would have to a belief that whoever they acquired would have to dramatically change the franchise’s course, not an incremental move up the standings.
“If you’re going after max level talent, they’ve got to automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of your team. This this can’t be ‘well, let’s go get this and lock ourselves in to being a six or seven seed.” he said. (Emphasis added.)
Windhorst et al didn’t offer any thoughts on whether Antetokounmpo would want to join Brooklyn, particularly since the Nets are currently one of the league’s worst team and he reportedly wants to join a winner. In previous reporting, ESPN and others have suggested that the Bucks front office would try to work with their franchise player to get him to a team he likes. How much patience the front office and new owner would have remains to be seen.
The ESPN trio weren’t the only pundits suggesting Nets interest but the most prominent voice, Jake Fischer, told The SteinLine that he could see the Nets as well as the Hornets and Jazz playing a facilitator roles.
Growing belief that we’ll see Brooklyn, Charlotte and Utah play facilitator in a few of these more complicated frameworks. Sources say Nets, Hornets, Jazz have all been reiterating in ongoing conversations that they’re willing to help grease trades in exchange for draft capital.
The Nets could have as many as 13 firsts going forward, including the 10 tradeable ones, as well as as many as 20 seconds (While the Nets may have more than enough seconds, they could swap out seconds from traditionally good teams like the Lakers and Celtics for picks likely to be higher. The Nets currently have three Laker seconds plus a Celtics second and a Warrior second.)
With the Phoenix Suns exceeding expectations a little more than halfway through the season, many have now started to give them their flowers for a successful season. Dealing with key injuries to guys like Jalen Green and, now, Devin Booker has had this team fighting top-tier teams while limited. Many guys on this roster have had to step up and shine in bigger roles, and one of those guys has been Dillon Brooks.
Brooks, who was a solid third option for the Memphis Grizzlies, was once said to be “under no circumstances” would be brought back. A player who was mocked by fans after a bad playoff series with the Shanghai Sharks then went to Houston and changed his narrative around the league. He is once again trying to rebuild here in the Valley this season, where he has certainly won over the fanbase by storm.
With his infectious energy and the effort this team lacked for years, he has finally built a name for himself in shifting the culture in the Valley. He has done that so well that he has started to get praise from former NBA players, even one of the Valley’s best, Charles Barkley.
Charles Barkley says Dillon Brooks deserves to be an All-Star
“What’s different than what he does than Draymond? What Dillon Brooks is doing for the Phoenix Suns is similar and comparable to what Draymond does for the Warriors when they were rolling, and he was like the third or… pic.twitter.com/hrI41Dkscg
Now what Barkley says in this snippet is fact. Brooks has been the culture shifter here and the perfect puzzle piece to mesh everything. If you need him to go out and get you a game-winning stop, he will. If you need him to be the leading shot taker because four top scorers are out, he can do that. This man is the do-it-all box of fun the fanbase has been salivating for to have on the core, and he is finally here.
Not to mention that Brooks is having a solid year, stats-wise. He is averaging a career-high 20.5 points this season, on a team where he is given more opportunities. Even if he is not close to 40% from three-point land like last year, in a bigger role, he is still shooting just shy of 35%, which is still impressive given his growth as a player. All of that, with 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals, looks like a great resurgence season for the man.
The main question is, will that be enough? We already saw, with the fan voting, how low Devin Booker ranked on the scale compared to the other Western Conference stars. I know fan voting isn’t all of it, but it seems like an uphill battle, especially with how deep the conference is.
Brooks is an all-star for this team and is a key part of the engine that keeps it going. He deserves it, but so do so many players, and the spots are so limited. That being said, with how many other stars are in this conference, I think he will not get there. But what are your guys’ thoughts?
Lakers forward LeBron James finished with 11 points, five assists and six turnovers against the Cavaliers on Wednesday in Cleveland. (Jason Miller / Getty Images)
Lakers teammates and coaches clapped. LeBron James stared stoically at the video board. Instead of acknowledging the Cleveland crowd showering the Lakers star with applause after a video tribute on Monday, James lifted his jersey over his face.
He wiped his eyes.
More than two decades after the Cavaliers drafted him first overall in 2003, James returned to his hometown and had one of his worst games ever as an opponent in Cleveland. He finished with 11 points, five assists and six turnovers in the Lakers’ 129-99 blowout loss while Luka Doncic shook off a first-quarter injury scare to lead the team with 29 points, five assists and five rebounds.
The Cavaliers (29-26) played a video tribute for James in the first quarter, finishing the montage of his career with the message “Welcome Home.” James clutched the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the final image.
The video tribute played during a tense moment for the Lakers' bench as Doncic had just hobbled off the court with what looked like a serious leg injury. The star guard had slipped off the side of the court and into the Lakers' bench after shooting a fadeaway three-pointer with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter. Doncic was hopping backwards on one leg after he took the shot and fell off the edge of the court. He immediately grabbed at his lower left leg. The Lakers needed to call a timeout for trainers to help Doncic to his feet. He hobbled toward the locker room, putting almost no weight on his left leg.
Cleveland’s home court is raised above the arena floor to accommodate for an ice hockey rink underneath. It’s the only arena in the NBA with the unique set up. Miami Heat guard Dru Smith suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament sprain from slipping off the court in 2023.
Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, returned with 1:32 remaining in the first quarter without any additional braces or wraps on his leg. He finished the first half as the Lakers’ leading scorer with 15 points and five assists, but the team still trailed by two.
The Cavaliers shot a sizzling 53.8% from the field in the second quarter to turn a four-point first-quarter deficit into a two-point halftime lead, 57-55. They made seven of 11 three-pointers in the third quarter and outscored the Lakers by 20 in the frame. James was subbed off midway through the fourth as the rout continued.
James missed a point-blank layup on his first shot. The sigh of disappointment from the packed crowd was almost louder than the polite applause he received when he was introduced in the starting lineup.
The TV outside the visitor's locker room cycled through photos of Lakers players and staff members who have history in Cleveland. Bronny James, who was born in Cleveland while his father played for the Cavaliers, was welcomed with a photo of him sitting on stage during the Cavaliers’ championship celebration in 2016.
His homecoming came with eight points, including two three-pointers and a one-handed dunk.
The Buffalo Sabres should be looking to add to their roster ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. When looking at their current group, it would not hurt for them to add an impactful center to their top nine.
When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle stands out as an interesting potential option to consider.
If the Sabres landed Coyle, they would be adding a veteran two-way forward who chips in offensively, is solid defensively, kills penalties, and provides physicality. He is also capable of playing both center and right wing, which adds to his appeal as a possible target.
In 51 games so far this season with the Blue Jackets, Coyle has recorded 11 goals, 22 assists, 33 points, and 69 hits. With numbers like these, he would be a nice addition to the Sabres' top nine if successfully acquired.
Coyle would also give the Sabres another veteran with plenty of playoff experience and who is known for being a good leader. With this, he could be a good pickup for a Sabres club looking to take that next step and cement themselves as a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron James drives to the basket for a dunk against the New York Knicks on April 14, 2004 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ eight-game “Grammy” trip continued against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. It’s the Lakers’ lone regular-season matchup at Rocket Arena, meaning it could be one of the last NBA games James plays at the arena he used to call home for 11 seasons.
James holds several Cavaliers career regular-season records, including games played (849), points (23,119), assists (6,228), rebounds (6,190), steals (1,376) and triple-doubles (64). Every time he comes back to northeast Ohio, he’s showered with adoration from Cavaliers fans – many of whom hope he’ll play for Cleveland one more time before retiring.
Here are James’ 11 greatest moments with the Cavaliers:
NBA debut
There have not been many NBA debuts as anticipated as James’.
How did he respond to the hype? By exceeding expectations – which became a common theme in James’ career after being the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft.
James stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in his debut on Oct. 29, 2003. And even though the Cavaliers lost to the Kings, James provided early glimpses of what he’d become in his legendary career.
LeBron James looks on against the Washington Wizards during the NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2006 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. NBAE via Getty Images
First 50-piece
One of the highlights from James’ second season was his first 50-point game, when he finished with 56 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a loss to the Raptors on March 20, 2005.
James made the first of 21 consecutive All-Star and All-NBA teams after his second season.
Playoff debut
James led the Cavaliers to their first playoff appearance in eight years in his third season.
He not only impressed in his playoff debut, recording a triple-double (32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists), but the Cavaliers also won their first-round series against the Wizards in six games.
LeBron James makes the game-winning shot against the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 NBA Playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
25 straight
Against a Pistons team looking to make its third NBA Finals in four years and competing in its fifth consecutive Eastern Conference finals, James put on a performance for the ages.
In a pivotal Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills, James scored 25 straight points for the Cavaliers – and 29 of the team’s final 30 points, including a go-ahead layup with three seconds left in double overtime – to secure the win. He finished with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Game 5, with the Cavaliers winning Game 6 to clinch their first NBA Finals berth in franchise history.
Franchise leading scorer
James has been the NBA’s all-time leading scorer for nearly three years after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Feb. 7, 2023.
But nearly 15 years prior, he became the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer at 23 years old, passing Brad Daugherty, in a March 21, 2008, win over the Raptors.
James averaged 30 points per game during the 2007-08 season.
Redeem team
He may not have been in a Cavaliers uniform during the achievement, but James won the first of his three Olympic gold medals as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, also known as the “Redeem Team.”
LeBron James celebrates a basket against the Indiana Pacers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 1, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
First MVP
After leading the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 66-16 record during the 2008-2009 season, James received his first NBA MVP.
James has been named the league’s MVP four times, including twice with the Cavaliers (2008-09, 2009-10).
First playoff buzzer-beater
James’ first buzzer-beating game-winner in the playoffs was in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference finals, when he knocked down a 3-pointer as time expired over Hedo Türkoğlu to secure a one-point win.
Four of James’ five playoff buzzer-beaters came while playing for the Cavaliers.
Leading way in 2015 NBA Finals
It may not have led to the Cavaliers’ first NBA championship – that came a year later – but James led Cleveland to its first Finals wins in franchise history while leading a short-handed Cavaliers team that was without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
James averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the championship series the Cavaliers lost in six games to the Warriors.
LeBron James is congratulated by his teammates as he holds the Larry O’Brien trophy after defeating the Golden State Warriors, 93-89, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sunday, June 19, 2016. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Cavaliers’ first NBA title
The Chasedown block on Andre Iguodala.
Averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, 3.5 steals and three blocked shots in Games 5 and 6.
Leading the first 3-1 comeback in Finals history.
James not only led the Cavaliers to their NBA title over the Warriors in 2016, ending Cleveland’s 52-year professional sports title drought, but did so in a way he felt made him “the greatest player of all time.”
2018 Finals, Game 1
The game is remembered for George Hill missing a go-ahead free throw, and J.R. Smith dribbling out the clock to force overtime in a game the Warriors eventually won.
But James’ performance in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals was an instant classic: 51 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
“Oh man, that’s above my pay grade,” Atkinson said when asked whether he’s conceptualized coaching James.
“I know what he means to this community and this organization. I do know that. After that, my focus is on this roster and trying to improve this team that we have.”
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Atkinson doesn’t know what it’s like to coach a James-led team, but he does have experience coaching against them. Atkinson has been on coaching staffs that have gone up against James in either the playoffs or the Olympics five times. Atkinson’s team hasn’t won any of those matchups. Most recently, that includes the 2024 Olympics when Atkinson served as an assistant coach for the French men’s national basketball team.
“I’m going to ask him tonight if he orchestrated those last plays against us in the gold medal game,” Atkinson said. “I have a feeling he did.”
Even though James has lost a step athletically, he hasn’t tactically. That has allowed him to continue being an All-NBA caliber player into his 40s.
Whether or not the Cavs pursue James in the off-season or earlier remains to be seen. What we do know is that James’s current head coach, JJ Redick, hasn’t found a downside in coaching someone of James’s stature.
“I haven’t found it challenging,” Reddick said of James.
“At age 41, in his 23rd season, he loves new challenges. What we tried to do as a coaching staff is challenge him in different ways. That could be three-point volume or getting more transition opportunities for our team. It could be very specific stuff like that. It could be continuing to be a fantastic leader. … To me, it hasn’t been hard to coach him. You just have to kind of understand what he needs and then coach him that way.”
For now, Atkinson will continue to coach against James. Whether or not that changes in the future remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Atkinson isn’t taking games like Wednesday’s for granted.
“This is the best,” Atkinson said of this game. “You’re playing agianst LeBron and Luka (Doncic). These are the fun games with LeBron. I mean, you never know how many times you get to compete in the same arena.”
The Warriors have made it known to the Bucks that they are willing to offer a Jonathan Kuminga/Jimmy Butler-headlined package with draft picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell @SIChrisMannixhttps://t.co/Kve6z871is
NBA trade rumors: Warriors updates on possible Giannis move
ESPN's Brian Windhorst believes the Warriors could have a promising offer, as they also own all of their picks.
He compared their assets to Oklahoma City nearly a decade when they traded Paul George and Russell Westbrook for picks and said "everyone else is gonna have to try to beat a strong Golden State offer if it comes."
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo "is ready for a new home ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline" and he added that he thinks Milwaukee is "more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline."
"Everyone else is gonna have to try to beat a strong Golden State offer [for Giannis] if it comes."@WindhorstESPN explains why the Warriors would be a major player if Giannis ever becomes available 👀 pic.twitter.com/jgRPEt3iP1
Kuminga, 23, was drafted by the Warriors with the No. 7th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. He has one-year (team option) remaining after this season after signing a two-year, $46.8 million deal with the Warriors on Sept. 30, 2025.
Butler, 36, arrived in the Bay Area from Miami nearly a year ago on Feb. 6, 2025, as a result of a five-team trade that sent Detroit Pistons' Kenyon Martin Jr. and a 2028 second round pick to the Utah Jazz for Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III and a 2031 second round pick.
That same day, Butler signed a two-year, $110.96 million contract extension with Golden State.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contract
Antetokounmpo, a 10-time All-Star, signed a three-year, $175.37 million veteran contract extension with Milwaukee on Oct. 23, 2023.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dealt a rough hand this season. Injuries have already caused them to deploy more starting lineups than all of last season. And while they still don’t have Darius Garland or Max Strus, they will at least get a few rotational players back in the lineup tonight with De’Andre Hunter and Sam Merrill.
Merrill has been dealing with a hand injury since earlier in the season. He’s been banged up multiple times this year, but it hasn’t stopped Merrill from having the best start to a season of his career. He’s averaging 13.8 points while shooting a red-hot 45.5% from deep on 7.8 attempts per game.
Hunter, on the other hand, hasn’t been as hot. He’s struggled to find his rhythym this season, shooting a career-low 30.6% from downtown and fitting out more than he’s fit in. Some knee soreness throughout the year hasn’t helped. Hopefully, Hunter can put it together now that he’s back in the lineup.
This was a positive update for Hunter and Merrill. Sadly, it wasn’t all good news for the Cavs. There are no updates for Strus or Garland — and we learned of another Evan Mobley calf strain yesterday. Mobley missed nearly two weeks with a calf injury in December and has suffered another strain to the same leg.
Mobley is expected to be re-evaluated in 1-3 weeks. He’s historically been a fast healer, but calf injuries are no joke in today’s NBA. I don’t expect the Cavs to push their luck or gamble with fate when it comes to Mobley’s latest injury.
Cleveland has their longest road trip of the season coming up after tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. They’ll travel West, playing against the Suns, Trail Blazers, Kings, and Clippers. They return home for a game against the Washington Wizards before the All-Star break.
In yet another incredibly tight vote, it was Big Sugar who emerged victorious!
With 36 votes out of 124 responses in this round, big right-hander Zach Maxwell claimed the plurality, narrowly topping the likes of Leo Balcazar (34 votes) and Aaron Watson (29 votes) – with the latter two holding slim leads of their own at various points during the open voting window.
Maxwell – who throws 102 mph, created the Mississippi River by dragging his axe, and dug the Great Lakes with his footprints – made it to the actual Cincinnati Reds during the 2025 season, the 25 year old product of Georgia Tech tossing 10.0 innings and allowing 5 ER with 13 K in that time. He’s the owner of an impressive 13.1 K/9 across 143 appearances at the minor league level, and will enter spring camp in Goodyear, Arizona vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The Yankees' everyday lineup is basically complete with the re-signing of Cody Bellinger, but that leaves the fate of youngsters Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones up in the air.
Before Bellinger's signing, manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman talked up the possibility of either Dominguez or Jones fighting for a spot in left field, but that has now changed.
During a Zoom news conference with the media on Wednesday, Boone was asked about the outlook of Dominguez and Jones after the signing of Bellinger, and the Yankees skipper was blunt.
"The reality is that [the outlook] does change," Boone said. "We got Cody right back in the center of the mix and [Trent Grisham] back. That maybe complicates some things for them, but we also know what potentially outstanding players they are going to be in this league."
Aaron Judge is the stalwart in right field and after Grisham accepted the qualifying offer earlier this offseason, center field is locked up. Bellinger was the last piece of the puzzle for the starting outfield, and now that it's filled, playing time for Dominguez or Jones will be limited. However, Boone made sure to point out there are a lot of days between Wednesday and Opening Day, and things can change.
Injuries and performance during spring training could change a team's calculations, especially with what each youngster brings to the table. Dominguez spent the season on the roster and appeared in 123 games where he had his ups and downs. He slashed .257/.331/.388 with an OPS of .719 to go along with his 10 home runs and 47 RBI, and 23 stolen bases.
Boone praised Dominguez's major league experience as well as Jones' 2025 minor league season. The young slugger had his best season as a pro. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Jones slashed .274/.362/.571 with an OPS of .932. His 35 home runs and 80 RBI across 116 games opened the eyes of the Yankees organization.
And while that doesn't seem to be the case anymore, there will always be a chance in the future.
"You start predicting the future too early and things change in a hurry," Boone said. "One of the things why we love Belli so much, too, is the versatility he brings. Whether it’s early on in the season, next year, wherever they may be, someone carves out an opportunity for themselves, Belli is that true versatile player that could be really successful all over the diamond. We’ll see how everything plays out. The reality is that we have a lot of great players and Jasson and Spencer are a part of that."
The pending Rangers sell-off is really about to take off now.
Two days after making their first retooling trade of the regular season, the Rangers held leading scorer Artemi Panarin out of Wednesday’s road game against the Islanders for “roster management,” The Post’s Mollie Walker reported about an hour before puck drop. The star winger will not play in the team’s final four games before the NHL’s upcoming break next week.
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General manager Chris Drury informed Panarin before his Jan. 16 letter to fans that the 34-year-old — a pending unrestricted free agent after his seven-year, $81 million deal signed as a free agent in 2019 expires this summer — would not be re-signed by the organization after extension talks went nowhere and they had “extremely candid” conversations.
“It’s hard to say how I feel. I’m still confused, but the GM decided to go in a different direction. I’m OK with that,” while promising “to give 100 percent in every game,” Panarin said earlier this month after the news became public.
Panarin must approve any trade because of a full no-movement clause.
Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller also are among those with no-movement clauses, but more deals are sure to follow ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, with the Rangers entering Wednesday’s game with the worst record in the Eastern Conference. But NHL rosters will be frozen from Feb. 4 through the Olympic break.
Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin waits for the puck to drop against the Bruins. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We are not going to stand pat — a shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team. This is not a rebuild,” Drury wrote in his letter. “This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects. We will target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed and a winning pedigree with a focus on obtaining young players, draft picks and cap space to allow us flexibility moving forward.”
Drury already has made one trade this week, sending veteran defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders for a 2026 third-round pick, meaning his first two games with his new team will come against the team that just traded him. The teams also will meet in the second half of back-to-back games Thursday night at the Garden.
Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates against the Boston Bruins. Getty Images
Panarin leads the Rangers with 57 points in 57 games this season, and his 19 goals rank second on the team behind Zibanejad’s 21. He also recently had a 10-game point streak with five goals and 18 points but the Rangers entered with just three wins over their previous 14 games (3-9-2) under first-year coach Mike Sullivan to fall out of playoff contention. They also missed the playoffs one year ago under since-fired coach Peter Laviolette.
Soucy said Wednesday morning that he and his former teammates knew trades likely were on the way, but that Drury did him “a favor” allowing his young family to remain in the New York area with Monday’s deal to the Islanders.
“Obviously with the Rangers I kind of knew some trades were coming,” said Soucy, who was acquired by the Rangers from Vancouver before last year’s deadline. “This one just kind of made sense with obviously my family and stuff, we don’t have to uproot. We can stick [in Westchester] where we are now, so it kind of made sense there.
“I guess it just showed where both teams are, really. And I think it’s just that Drury kind of did me a favor of not wanting to shift my family, like last year, where I was kind of across the country, with my wife and kids. We have a newborn right now, so it’s nice to not have to move houses right now. So I appreciate Chris kind of making that work for me.”
Now, Drury must also work with Panarin and perhaps others on a preferred destination.
Braden Schneider finds himself in an awfully similar spot to the one K’Andre Miller did last year.
Entering the 2024-25 campaign, Miller and the Rangers had still not agreed to a long-term contract extension, with his future still in flux.
Selected in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Miller quickly rose up the ranks of Rangers prospects and given his skillsets, playing a physically-minded game, while also having the capabilities of a strong puck-moving defensemen, expectations were high for Miller.
Those expectations grew even further when Miller recorded 43 points during the 2023-24 season, as it seemed he would only continue to ascend.
However, it didn’t quite work out that way. Over his final two years with the Blueshirts, Miller’s point totals decreased and his inconsistent defensive game also brought up concerns.
Entering the 2025 offseason, Miller was still without a contract extension, and the red flags shown in Miller’s game made Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury reluctant to give the young defenseman a long-term commitment.
Ultimately, the Rangers sent Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes in a sign-and-trade deal, and he signed an 8-year $60 million contract with the Hurricanes.
Now, Schneider could find himself in the same boat, if history were to repeat itself.
Schneider was also a highly touted prospect, with the Rangers selecting him with the 19th overall pick in the 2020 Draft.
It didn’t take long for Schneider to make waves in the NHL, playing 43 games for the Rangers during the 2021-22 campaign.
Through his first three NHL seasons, Schneider showed flashes of potential in a third-pairing role.
In 2024, Schneider signed a two-year, $4.4 million bridge deal with the Rangers. The hope was that he would eventually blossom into a reliable top-four defenseman for the Blueshirts.
Similar to Miller, Schneider hasn’t taken that next leap that the organization had anticipated, specifically this year where he’s struggled in a top-four role when the opportunity has been presented, while his defensive woes are becoming more and more prevalent, indicative of his -15 plus/minus rating (the worst of his NHL career).
In Drury’s recent letter issued outlining the team’s plan to retool the roster, he states that fans may have to say “goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years” and you have to wonder if that includes Schneider.
The 24-year-old defenseman is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and will likely seek a long-term contract, which the Rangers may be reluctant to succumb to a long-term commitment, given Schneider’s underwhelming year thus far.
Schneider’s age, on top of the heavy style of play that he brings to the table, makes him a valuable trade committee, should opposing teams be enticed to pursue him.
Unlike most of the Rangers’ premier players, Schneider does not hold a no-move or no-trade clause in his current contract, which makes him easier to move.
Since what many are calling the Letter 2.0 was released, Schneider’s name has been the subject of trade rumors, and that speculation only continues to pick up steam.
“One name I did hear a little bit about today, knowing I was coming on here and calling around, aside from the obvious ones, was Schneider,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said. “I think that for a defenseman who's a bit heavier, there's always interest in that kind of a player, and I think there is some in him, and the Rangers may have a decision to make."
The Rangers do indeed have a decision on their hands regarding Schneider’s future, and that decision could very well be made before the March 6th NHL Trade Deadline.
