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NBA owners set to vote on new anti-tanking lottery proposals this week. How will that impact trades?

Adam Silver's anti-tanking quest — a dramatic reaction to this year's unique situation with an especially deep draft — comes to a head this week when the NBA owners are scheduled to meet and vote on that latest lottery reform proposal.

That proposal is a modified version of the "3-2-1" proposal put forward last month (named after the number of ping-pong balls a team could get). A number of league front offices have serious concerns about what this will mean in terms of trading draft picks and for the value of picks already traded. This new proposal dramatically flattens the odds of the lottery and expands it to 16 teams — that changes the value of picks that could be traded or picks that already have been. From Mike Vorkunov at The Athletic.

Team executives have predicted that first-round picks would be harder to trade under the new rules, as the 3-2-1 format gives teams higher up in the standings a better chance to land not just a high draft choice but the No. 1 pick...

Earlier this month at the draft combine, some team executives bemoaned that these changes are coming after those picks have been dealt. A majority of the league would be impacted by these after-the-fact changes. In 2027, 14 teams have already traded away control of their first-round picks. In 2028 and 2029 each, only 12 teams control their own first-round picks without any encumbrances, swaps or as part of elaborate waterfall conveyances.

The NBA offseason loves the attention that offseason blockbuster trades generate, but making first-round picks less likely to be traded means it’s harder to put together a deal for someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The value of all those already traded picks and swaps changes under this new "3-2-1" system, which is the latest, further flattening the odds that seems to be the league's only solution to tanking.

As a reminder, here is how the new system would break down:

• Three teams with the worst records: They fall into a poorly-named "relegation zone" and be penalized for their poor performance by only getting two lottery balls, giving them a a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick, and they could fall all the way to 12th in the lottery.
• Teams with the 4-10 worst records: They get three lottery balls and an 8.1% chance at the No. 1 pick.
• Teams that finish as the No. 9 and 10 seeds in each conference will each get two lottery balls and a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick. (If this had been in place this season, Golden State, the LA Clippers, Miami and Charlotte would have had the same odds at getting the No. 1 pick as Washington, Utah and Sacramento.)
• Teams that lose the 7-8 play-in for each conference get one lottery ball, and with it a 2.7% chance of landing the No. 1 pick (this season that would have been Orlando and Phoenix).

The 3-2-1 proposal also grants Commissioner Adam Silver dramatically expanded, unchecked authority to punish teams he perceives as tanking. Again from The Athletic.

"He would be able to fine a team up to $10 million, force them to forfeit or transfer draft picks, reduce lottery odds, change draft positions or suspend team officials, according to league sources."

The NBA owners, so scared of the perception of tanking — even though fans of teams in places like Utah and Washington were good with it for this season to chase the talent they need to win — that they are expected to pass it.

This new system moves the NBA another step away from the very point of having a draft in the first place — to get the worst teams the best incoming players to help balance the talent around the league. For small or mid-market teams, the NBA Draft remains the best — and for some, the only — way to acquire the talent needed to win. Those teams also could trade draft picks to help bring in winning talent, but now those picks' values have changed, and trading them may no longer make sense.

In the league's attempt to refine the system over the past decades, they've moved away from that core idea of helping the struggling teams, and now teams that lose because they just don't have the needed talent are likely to be bad longer. And if the NBA is concerned about fan bases tuning out, having them struggle for years on end with little hope of getting quality players is a good way to do it.

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Max Clark hits second Triple-A homer

Toledo Mud Hens 8, Indianapolis Indians 4 (box)

Toledo won the final game of the series against Indianapolis on Sunday, 8-4, to tie things at three games apiece.

It was a good day for the offense, with Max Clark doubling and homering. Jace Jung did the same, and Max Anderson also doubled. Clark got the scoring started in the first inning with a solo shot to right field. It was a no-doubter into the second deck.

Jung opened the second with a double, and Corey Julks homered right after to make it 3-0.

Meanwhile, Dylan File put together his best start of the season. File only allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out four through five innings. He drew 10 whiffs on 40 swings and touched 96.6 with his fastball. He used six distinct pitches, according to Baseball Savant’s data, and was effective with each of them.

File retired the lineup in order his first time through, but leadoff man Ronny Simon got to him for a double in the fourth. Billy Cook singled in Simon two batters later, but those were the only baserunners File gave up on the day.

Beau Brieske took over in the sixth and erased a leadoff single with a double play, but he walked the next batter and gave up a game-tying home run after that. Woo-Suk Go was much more efficient in the seventh, working around a one-out walk, and that’s when the offense came back to life.

Clark and Anderson hit back-to-back doubles with one out, and Eduardo Valencia stole the RBI train going with a single. Jung capped off the five-run frame with a two-run homer.

Go came back out for the eighth and struck out the side, and Yoniel Curet closed things out in the ninth. Curet gave up a run, but he still got the job done.

Clark: 2-4, 2B (13), HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

Anderson: 2-4, 2B (3), R, RBI, BB

Jung: 2-4, 2B (10), HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI, K

File: 5.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a rare Monday game to open the home series against Columbus, starting at 11:05 a.m. ET.

Altoona Curve 8, Erie SeaWolves 6 (box)

Erie dropped the series against Altoona 4-3 on Sunday with an 8-6 loss.

A brutal 6-run third inning all but doomed the SeaWolves. Sean Hunley was cruising until a one-out walk and catcher’s interference put two men on base. A double started the bleeding, and it was hard to stop from there. Hunley exited the game after hitting the next batter, but Yosber Sanchez didn’t fare much better.

Sanchez gave up a pair of RBI singles to the first batters he faced, and a bases-clearing double made it 6-0 before the end of the inning.

Erie answered with two runs in the top of the fourth, courtesy of Andrew Jenkins, who tripled in John Peck (reached on error) and Justice Bigbie (walk).

Lael Lockhart kept Altoona at bay for three innings of no-hit work. Unfortunately, Erie didn’t do anything significant offensively during that period.

The SeaWolves added another two runs in the seventh. Jenkins started off a string of four straight singles, followed by Peyton Graham, E.J. Exposito and Bennet Lee, who got the RBI. Brett Callahan drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.

Lockhart left the game after that, and his replacement, Tyler Owens, immediately got into trouble with a one-out double. A disengagement violation moved the runner over to third, and an RBI single made it a three-run game, whic his significant because Erie wasn’t done scoring.

Thayron Liranzo led off the eighth with a single, and Altoona’s pitching staff walked the next three batters to bring him across. Exposito drove in another run with a sacrifice fly, which would have been the tying run if not for Owens’ troubles. Either way, Lee grounded into a double play after that, so the comeback was dead anyway.

Johan Simon got the eighth. He hit the first two batters he faced and gave up an RBI single before getting yanked. Moises Rodriguez got cleanup duty.

Liranzo: 1-5, R, 3 K

Jenkins: 2-3, 3B (2), R, 2 RBI, BB

Callahan: 2-4, RBI

Lockhart: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: Erie is at home next week against the Chesapeake Baysox, starting Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. ET.

South Bend Cubs 5, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)

West Michigan finished its series against South Bend with a 5-4 loss, the fifth-straight defeat for the 14-31 Whitecaps.

This was a weird one for West Michigan. The Whitecaps only had one hit and two baserunners through six innings and four hits on the day, but a four-run seventh inning gave them a brief lead.

Jackson Strong had two of those base knocks, including an RBI single in that eventful seventh inning. Samuel Gil drove in the second run, and Strong scored the tying run on a ball thrown into center field by the catcher. Luke Shliger got the go-ahead, pinch-hit RBI with a base hit into left field, and everyone was happy for a bit.

Let’s rewind, though, because it’s a miracle West Michigan wasn’t trailing by a lot more at that point. Gabriel Reyes walked SEVEN batters in his 4 1/3 innings of work, and somehow only two of them scored. A pair of double plays and two clutch bases-loaded flyouts got Reyes there, but there’s still no excuse for seven free passes.

Reyes gave up a pair of runs in the first inning after a leadoff error from Cristian Santana at third and (you guessed it) a walk set him for a rough opening frame. South Bend didn’t score its third run until the fifth, when Carlos Lequerica took over with a runner on base. A two-out double brought that one around.

Okay, back to that brief lead in the seventh. Ethan Sloan relieved Lequerica in the top of the seventh and worked around a leadoff base hit and one-out walk, but the long inning didn’t do him any favors. A pair of one-out singles set up a two-run single, and just like that the Whitecaps are losing again…

West Michigan blew all of its energy in the seventh, so a quick eighth inning kept the momentum on South Bend’s side. Bryce Rainer struck out for a third time on the day with Ricardo Hurtado on base to send the game to the ninth.

CJ Weins worked around a leadoff single in the top of the ninth, but there was no magic in the bottom half of the inning. West Michigan went down 1-2-3 to take the loss. Womp womp.

Rainer: 0-4, 3 K

Shliger: 1-1, RBI

Reyes: 4.1 IP, H, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: West Michigan is in Lansing next week, starting Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. ET.

(F/5) Bradenton Marauders 3, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)

What was supposed to be 14 innings of baseball down in Lakeland ended up being just five, which is probably a good thing since the Flying Tigers were getting no-hit. Despite the 2-1 loss on Sunday, Lakeland still won the series 3-2, with the rest of the doubleheader cancelled due to wet grounds.

Even though Lakeland had no hits through the five innings played in this game, the Flying Tigers led for a bit. An error, hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, and a wild pitch brought Jesus Pinto home for a 1-0 lead.

Caleb Leys got the start, but he only went three innings. Three hits and no runs is a good day, but three walks led to a high-ish pitch count of 68. Jose Guzman took over in the fourth and immediately gave up runs. The inning went: leadoff double, single, popout, three-run homer.

Preston Howey got the fifth. He retired all four batters he faced, and then the rain came. Oh, well.

Leys: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: Lakeland is in Palm Beach next week, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. I’ll be at some of the games for some live coverage, so stay tuned!

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Phil Neville leaves Portland Timbers after admitting results did not match expectations

  • Team sit 13th in MLS’s West Conference

  • Neville thanks club and fans after departure

Phil Neville is no longer in charge of the Portland Timbers after they announced they had “mutually parted ways” with their head coach.

“In my nearly two decades of owning and operating the Portland Timbers, there are very few people I have enjoyed working with more than Phil Neville,” said Timbers owner Merritt Paulson. “Phil has outstanding leadership qualities and a boundless sense of positivity even in the face of adversity. I cannot thank Phil enough for his tireless dedication to this club and the Portland community, which he and his family truly embraced.”

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Senators Will Reportedly Add Another Alternate Jersey Next Season

It looks like Senators fans will have another alternate jersey to look forward to next season. 

Icethetics, the excellent YouTube channel by Chris Smith, reported on Sunday in its latest Jersey Watch episode that all 32 teams will be adding an extra alternate jersey for the 2026-27 season.

This rollout by Fanatics will apparently be called NHL Hometown Remix Jerseys, and according to Smith, two designs have leaked out already.

Smith says the Florida Panthers will roll with the NHL's first pink jerseys, featuring the team's secondary sunset logo on the front. The New York Islanders will bring back the old sea captain uniforms, the ones with the patch on the front that's often referred to as the Captain Highliner logo.

There have been no leaks or even hints yet as to what Fanatics has planned for the Senators' version of the Hometown Remix jersey, and frankly, it seems like a pretty quick turnaround. The Sens just rolled out their new red third jerseys last September.

Those were also leaked out in the offseason.

The new reds have a splash of black at the shoulders and waist, with metallic gold striping. They were pretty sharp, but from a distance and on television, the lack of contrast made the numbers very hard to identify.

The Senators also toyed with black helmets to go with their white road jerseys a few times this season. Those seemed to draw mixed reviews among fans.

Icethetics says the remix jerseys are likely to be hockey's answer to City Connect in baseball, produced by Nike. An example of that was the Blue Jays' dark blue jerseys with the city's skyline and CN Tower on the front.

According to NHLUniforms.com, the Senators have tinkered with their uniforms 17 times before, including special event jerseys like the 2014 Heritage Classic and the NHL 100 Classic.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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Anaheim Ducks Offseason Dilemma: Right Shot Defensemen

The Anaheim Ducks continued their climb out of their elongated rebuild and ended the NHL’s third-longest playoff drought in 2025-26 (eight years).

They won their first series in nine years to open the playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, but were ousted by the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the second round.

The Ducks’ front office, led by general manager Pat Verbeek, will face a catalog of decisions in the 2026 offseason that will shape the future of their contending window, which has just been kicked wide open.

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Dilemma: Second Line Center

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Several of those decisions will pertain to the right side of their blueline, as three key veteran defensemen will all see their contracts with the Ducks expire on July 1.

This spring, Jacob Trouba (32), John Carlson (36), and Radko Gudas (35) made up the Ducks’ right side of their defense corps for the franchise’s very first playoff game since 2018. All three are set to become UFAs on July 1, leaving Drew Helleson (25), Ian Moore (24), and Tristan Luneau (22) as the organization’s only right-shot defensemen with NHL experience under contract for the 2026-27 season.

Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images

Jacob Trouba

Of the three UFA veterans, Trouba seems to have the inside track on a potential extension due to his impact and fit since he was acquired in Dec. 2024, along with his role as the blueline’s top penalty killer and partner to #1 defenseman Jackson LaCombe.

Trouba arrived at his exit interview on May 15 with his hair in a bun and relayed that he intended to let it grow until he signed a contract extension.

“Until I sign. That was the promise at the start of the year,” Trouba said. “It was going ’til I sign an extension, and it’s still going.”

“We’ll see where it goes, I guess,” Trouba continued. “I’ve never been through the free agency situation, so I don’t know if I’ll have a lot of answers right now, and we’ll see where it goes.”

When asked if there had been any extension discussions to that point, Trouba responded by saying, “A little bit at the deadline. Didn’t get very far.”

“That’s something that I’ll always, no matter how this whole thing plays out, be appreciative of Pat and the organization,” Trouba said. “(They) took a chance on me when I was down, and I was certainly down.

“Finishing out that last year (in New York) was tough. Coming back this year, I had a lot to prove to myself, and I thought I did a good job of playing hockey again, and I’m pretty proud of that.”

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Radko Gudas

Radko Gudas signed a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks on July 1, 2023, and was announced as the team’s ninth captain in franchise history on Sept. 19, 2024, ahead of the 2024-25 season. The Ducks had spent the prior two seasons without a captain, following their long run with franchise legend Ryan Getzlaf wearing the “C” in Anaheim.

He provided a physical presence on the ice, leading by example by playing as hard as he could every shift, and he was the first player to answer media questions after difficult losses.

Gudas sustained various injuries during his time in Anaheim, including an ankle sprain that kept him out of all but two of the Ducks’ final ten games of the regular season and all but their first playoff game against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.

He also stated during his exit interview that an injury he sustained a couple of years ago had still been lingering, adding to the reasoning for his absence through the final 11 games of the Ducks’ playoff run.

“Yeah, still dealing with that (the ankle),” Gudas said. “Since the injury I had a couple of years ago, it’s been still lingering throughout the whole time I was here, and we didn’t like the way it looked.”

Gudas has logged 885 games in his NHL career, adding 58 career playoff games. One wouldn’t be blamed for questioning how much he has left in the tank or questioning if he’d prefer to play his last professional games in his native Czechia.

“Yeah, we talked a few times,” Gudas said on whether he’s had contract discussions with the Ducks’ front office. “There’s so many aspects, so many options. I’ve definitely really enjoyed my time here, and I’m open to anything. So, we’re going to have a few of these conversations over the next few weeks. I think we need the season to calm down and see where the whole team’s going to head. So, there’s still lots of time.”

“Wearing the ‘C’ for the Ducks is one of the biggest prides I had in my professional career, being able to represent a club that’s doing this well and striving for greatness and having the opportunity to work with all of these guys here, and being the leader,” Gudas said on seeing his captaincy through.

“It was one of the biggest honors of my career. I have a very soft spot for Anaheim after these few years here, and if there’s a chance for me staying here, I’m open to do that…It would be a shame to say I don’t want to be part of a group that’s getting better every day. So, definitely it’s something that I would like, too.”

Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images
Griffin Hooper-Imagn Images

John Carlson

The Ducks put the nail in the coffin of their long rebuild when they acquired veteran rental defenseman John Carlson in exchange for a conditional first-round pick and a third-round pick at the 2026 trade deadline, the type of move rebuilding teams do not make.

Verbeek stated at the time of the trade that he intended to see how Carlson integrated into the roster and potentially pursue an extension following the season.

Carlson took on a massive role immediately on the Ducks’ blueline, down the stretch of the regular season, and into the playoffs, averaging 24:11 TOI per game and featuring on both special teams units.

He played the majority of his minutes alongside young left-shot defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (10th overall in 2022), aiding the talented youngster, whom the organization spent a valuable asset on, toward becoming an impact top-four contributor.

Various speculations on Carlson’s preferences have been made since the Ducks’ season came to an end nearly two weeks ago. Pondering has led some to postulate that his preference would be to return to the East Coast, as he was born in Massachusetts, played his minor hockey in New Jersey, and played the first 16+ seasons of his NHL career in Washington DC.

“That’s the part of it I don’t have answers for right now,” Carlson said during his exit interview. “I certainly loved it here, and there’s a lot of moving parts to that to properly answer the question. But I’ve loved my time. It’s a special place here, for sure, with extraordinary talent and a really bright future. So, that is certainly attractive to anyone, not just myself.

Carlson went on to state that there hadn't been extension talks to that point and that when it comes to potentially re-signing, he’s “open, for sure. There’s no bones about that.”

There’s belief that his immediate production after joining Anaheim, scoring 14 points (4-10=14) in 16 regular season games before adding six (0-6=6) in 12 playoff games, will lead to the AAV on his next contract to remain at his previous $8 million number or even eclipse it.

Building for Continued Success

With young right-shot talent (Moore, Helleson, Luneau) approaching or entering their prime NHL years on the blueline and more on the way in the form of Noah Warren, the Ducks front office is at a point where they have to decide how they want ice time divvied up between them next season, who they’ll want to attempt to bring back, the cost of doing so, and potentially adding via free agency or trade.

Gazing around the league, the majority of top defensemen have a complementary “running mate” opposite them on their team’s respective top pair. Identifying that player for blossoming star Jackson LaCombe could unlock his true potential and afford the Ducks an elite pair on their backend, an aspect necessary for winning Stanley Cups.

Finding LaCombe the Brock Faber to his Quinn Hughes, the Devon Toews to his Cale Makar, Brayden McNabb to his Shea Theodore, etc., may be a priority for the Ducks this offseason.

With the internal options mentioned, the potential of bringing back any number of their three current players on expiring deals, names projected on the UFA market like Rasmus Andersson and Connor Murphy, and names on various speculative “trade boards” like Dougie Hamilton and Colton Parayko, Verbeek has an abundance of puzzle pieces, options, and routes to take in an effort to build a contending blueline for the 2026-27 season.

For a team that struggled greatly to defend in all areas throughout the course of the regular season and playoffs, how Verbeek decides to build the right side of their blueline will be vital towards rounding out the Ducks’ overall game.

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Spurs vs. Thunder player grades: Wembanyama and Castle shine in Game Four win

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs hits a buzzer beater three point shot during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The stakes were high for the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four. At risk of going down 3-1, the Spurs needed to respond to a disappointing loss in Game Three. They followed up the loss with a blowout 103-83 win to tie the Western Conference Finals at 2-2.

It was one of the Spurs’ best defensive performances of the playoffs. They held the Oklahoma City Thunder to 33% shooting from the field and 18% shooting from three. They forced 20 turnovers in the win. Victor Wembanyama spearheaded the win with a dominant two-way performance. He will lead our player grades for Game Four.

As a quick reminder, player grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.

Victor Wembanyama

31 minutes, 33 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, 11-for-22 shooting, 3-for-7 threes, +29

San Antonio needed a herculean effort from Wembanyama, and they got one. He came out swinging, contesting shots around the rim and scoring at the basket over tough defense. Wemby did everything to try to get his offense going, even throwing the ball off the backboard to himself multiple times in an attempt to create an easier shot.

His biggest moment came right before halftime, when he waved off multiple San Antonio guards to heave a half-court buzzer beater. Was this shot purely luck or a manifestation of his basketball greatness? I’ll leave that up to you. Either way, it was another dominant performance in a memorable playoff run.

Grade: A

De’Aaron Fox

31 minutes, 12 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, 5-for-13 shooting, 1-for-2 threes, -3

Fox is a tough grade. On one hand, he isn’t shooting the ball well enough. His scoring impact has been significantly limited since his ankle injury. On the other hand, Fox has been doing everything else he needs to do to help the Spurs win. He’s competed defensively, even in tough matchups like when he’s switched onto Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In Game Four, he had 10 rebounds and 5 assists without any turnovers. San Antonio will need his scoring to come around eventually. Until then, having the veteran guard chip in everywhere else on the court will be enough to help them win.

Grade: B

Stephon Castle

30 minutes, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 5-for-11 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, +25

Castle was excellent in the pick-and-roll in Game Four. He was patient, didn’t force it, and made some great reads. He threw lobs to Wembanyama and finished at the rim. He hit a tough contested three-pointer as the Spurs made their run. He didn’t have the type of offensive game that would blow you away, but he played a smart, controlled game. He did a much better job guarding Gilgeous-Alexander. He was disciplined and fought through every screen to keep up with him in the half-court.

It feels like Castle’s performance from here on out will be a major factor that decides the series. With the Spurs being +162 underdogs in Game Five on FanDuel, Castle will need to once again play well on both ends to upset the Thunder.

Grade: B+

Julian Champagnie

29 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 foul, 1-for-7 shooting, 0-for-5 threes, +/- 0

Champagnie isn’t hitting shots right now, which is a huge problem for the Spurs’ offense. Even open looks aren’t falling at the moment. He was much better defensively in Game Four, but his impact on that end doesn’t make up for his lack of offense on the other end. This series is going to get even tighter from here. Wasting good possessions by missing wide-open threes could sink the Spurs in the long run.

Grade: C–

Devin Vassell

33 minutes, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3-for-7 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, +27

Vasell has arguably been one of the Spurs’ best players in this series. He continues to hit timely shots, and his defense has been incredible. His block on Jared McCain under the basket was one of the best defensive plays of the game. Vassell is locked in on both ends and has established himself as an important piece for the Spurs’ championship hopes.

Grade: B+

Dylan Harper

21 minutes, 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 2-for-4 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +25

Harper was great defensively in Game Four. It wasn’t a loud performance by any means, but when he was tasked with guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, he held his own. He made some great contests on shooters as well. His motor was running on high on that end, despite struggling through an injury. Speaking of that injury, Harper continued to struggle getting into the paint, as he clearly has lost some power in his lower half. Hopefully, more rest will get him ready for Game Five.

Grade: B

Keldon Johnson

18 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-for-12 shooting, 0-for-4 threes, +7

Johnson brought energy off the bench, but tried to do way too much offensively. He got tunnel vision and made some bad mistakes on his drives. Johnson could afford to let some things come to him within the offensive flow. Right now, what he is doing isn’t working.

Grade: C–

Luke Kornet

13 minutes, 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 foul, 3-for-4 shooting, –9

The nuns have blessed Kornet, and perhaps the Spurs for the rest of the series. Call it divine intervention or just improved play from Kornet. He was solid protecting the paint when Wembanyama needed a rest. He did a lot of good work tapping the ball to other players on the boards to create extra opportunities. It’s still hard for the Spurs to stay afloat when he is in the game, but perhaps Game Four was a sign of a turnaround for San Antonio’s backup big man.

Grade: B

Harrison Barnes

16 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 0-for-4 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, +13

Barnes didn’t hit shots off the bench, but he brought a lot of energy and toughness to the game. He hustled after every offensive rebound and got to the free-throw line by playing physical offense. In the Game Three player grades post, we talked about Barnes needing a spot in the rotation. He may have earned himself more minutes moving forward.

Grade: B

Carter Bryant

7 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 0-for-1 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, -10

Bryant got an earful from Mitch Johnson after making a few too many mistakes late in the game. He hasn’t been able to defend without fouling and is forcing things offensively. It’s hard to play him right now with the stakes being so high. It’s hard not to feel bad for Bryant, who is genuinely trying to make a positive impact with his energy and athleticism. Right now, it’s just not being channeled in a way that will lead to winning playoff games.

Grade: C-

Jordan McLaughlin

4 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1-for-2 shooting, 1-for-2 threes, -1

McLaughlin is a garbage-time all-star. Grabbed a tough offensive rebound and hit a three in transition.

Grade: Incomplete

Lindy Waters III

4 minutes, 1 assist, +1

It was another cardio game for Waters. He didn’t do much in his limited time.

Grade: Incomplete

Kelly Olynyk

4 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 3 steals, 1-for-3 shooting, 1-for-2 threes, +1

Olynyk was making defensive plays like crazy in garbage time, grabbing 3 steals. He also knocked down a three-pointer on offense.

Grade: Incomplete

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Cole Ragans to be “shut down for a couple days” after rehab outing

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals exits the game after being injured during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Royals will shut down starting pitcher Cole Ragans for a few days after he experienced discomfort with his elbow in his rehab start for Omaha. Manager Matt Quatraro addressed the setback with the media today, telling them, “He did not recover well from his start, so he’s gonna be shut down for a couple days.”

Quatraro said that Ragans experienced the same elbow symptoms he experienced in his last MLB start. The team will shut him down from throwing and reevaluate after a few days.

Ragans started on Saturday for the Storm Chasers and made 68 pitches over 4.1 innings, giving up just one run on a solo home run with a walk and three strikeouts. He last pitched for the Royals on May 6 when he went just three innings against the Guardians.

Ragans had struggled this year with a 4.84 ERA in eight starts, with 45 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. His walk rate has spiked signficantly, to 5.9 per-nine-innings this season. Injuries have plagued him during his career – he has twice undergone Tommy John surgery and he missed three months last year with a rotator cuff injury.

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Lakers hire rocket scientist, per report. Will team get a boost?

The Los Angeles Lakers have hired a rocket scientist, according to ESPN.

There is no evidence he actually will be building rockets, although apparently his aerospace skills do translate to basketball.

The scientist, Rohan Ramadas, has been hired to serve as an assistant general manager under Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka.

Ramadas worked last as vice president of strategy and operations for the New Orleans Pelicans.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent 12 years with The Aerospace Corporation.

ESPN quoted a Pelicans source as saying of Ramadas, "He's a literal rocket scientist."

In September 2024, Ramadas joined the Pelicans as Senior Director of Analytics and Innovation, according to his LinkedIn profile, which indicates he was promoted to the strategy and operations position a year ago.

With the Pelicans, Ramadas implemented AI and coded models to aid the front office, according to ESPN, which reported he will be focused on similar responsibilities for the Lakers that he had with the Pelicans.

The Lakers are expected to hire another assistant general manager, with the staff expanding a year after Mark Walter, majority owner of the Dodgers, bought the Lakers for $10 billion. And maybe it really does take a rocket scientist for the franchise to win its first NBA title since 2020 and 18th overall.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers hire rocket scientist with AI, analytics skills, per report

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Lakers hire former Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas as assistant general manager

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: An overall view of the arena court before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game Four on May 11, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Lakers look to have made their first of two assistant general manager hires.

On Monday morning, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Lakers had hired Rohan Ramadas. Previously, Ramadas served as the Pelicans’ vice president of strategy and operations.

Dave McMenamin of ESPN provided a bit more insight into Ramadas’ past prior to even joining the Pelicans in an article on Monday as well.

After graduating from the University of Southern California, Ramadas spent more than a decade with the Aerospace Corporation before his first opportunity in the NBA with New Orleans.

“He’s a literal rocket scientist,” a Pelicans source told ESPN.

While working for the Pelicans, Ramadas implemented AI and coded models to aid the front office, the source told ESPN.

Pelinka gave some insight into the roles of two general managers during his exit interview. One position was going to be focused on “pro scouting, draft scouting, player development,” while the other was going to be “cap, analytics and data.” Given the little we know about Ramadas from McMenamin’s article and his previous job title, this definitely looks to be the latter of the two roles.

While it shouldn’t be surprising given his roles, there isn’t a lot out there about Ramadas during his time with the Pelicans. All that’s really been reported or released is that he was elevated to the role of Senior Director of Analytics and Innovation with New Orleans in 2024.

Here’s what they had to say about Ramadas in that press release:

Ramadas enters his eighth season with New Orleans, his first full-time season after spending seven years as an analytics consultant. Prior to working with the Pelicans, Ramadas was a draft analyst with the Miami Heat in 2016-17. Ramadas has spent the past twelve years supporting the Aerospace Corporation, U.S. Space Force, and NASA as a rocket guidance, navigation, control, and mission design engineer. A native of Cupertino, CA, Ramadas holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in astronautical engineering from the University of Southern California.

However much or little is known about Ramadas, his hiring is another sign of the makeover the front office is going to undergo this summer. Importantly, it’s an outside voice coming in, which is a rarity in this front office.

It’s a sign of what is to come with the Lakers and should lead to excitement about the future.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Marlins vs Blue Jays Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez has been hitting the ball well, and with Janson Junk on the mound for the Miami Marlins, the matchup should favor the slugger to keep his bat hot tonight.

Read on to see why in my Marlins vs. Blue Jays predictions and MLB picks on Monday, May 25. 

Marlins vs Blue Jays predictions

Marlins vs Blue Jays best bet: Jesus Sanchez Over 0.5 hits (-145)

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez has been red-hot, eclipsing his hits total in 10 of his last 12 games, posting a .433 batting average in this stretch.

With a little extra motivation, taking on a Miami Marlins team that traded him last season, I expect him to keep his hot streak alive, especially with Janson Junk on the mound. 

Junk has struggled mightily over his last three starts, giving up 19 runs on 25 hits. This can be chalked up to a pedestrian fastball that ranks in the 45th percentile in velocity, as well as a putrid 18.7% whiff rate that ranks in the ninth percentile.

The righty regularly gets squared up, and Sanchez is batting just under .300 against right-handers.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Sanchez ranks in the 92nd percentile in expected batting average this season.

Marlins vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

Trey Yesavage has gone Over tonight’s 5.5 strikeout total in four straight starts, averaging 6.5 per. I expect him to do it again against a team with a 33% strikeout rate against the splitter, Yesavage’s put-away pitch.  

Overall, the Jays will win by multiple runs. There’s a lot of juice in the Jays’ moneyline, but the run line still has value as they’ve covered it in four of their last five victories.

Additionally, the pitching matchup should allow Toronto to keep Miami at bay while putting up offense against Junk.

Marlins vs Blue Jays SGP

  • Jesus Sanchez Over 0.5 hits
  • Trey Yesavage Over 5.5 strikeouts
  • Blue Jays -1.5
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

Marlins vs Blue Jays home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+450)

The Jays offense has picked up recently, but we’re still waiting on consistent power, so we’ll make this a half-unit wager. 

Junk has surrendered six home runs over his last four starts and gives up fairly hard contact to lefties, who have 17 extra-base hits off him for a .888 opponents' OPS. 

The lefty in the Jays lineup I’m banking on to homer tonight is Daulton Varsho, who owns a 59% hard-hit rate against the four-seamer, which Junk throws most often to lefties.

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 24-27, +1.55 units
  • SGPs: 10-41, -0.6 units
  • HR picks: 8-41, +1.65 units

Marlins vs Blue Jays odds

  • Moneyline: Miami +140 | Toronto -160
  • Run line: Miami +1.5 (-150) | Toronto -1.5 (+130)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)

Marlins vs Blue Jays trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 9 of their last 10 games (+7.90 Units / 68% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Marlins vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Marlins vs Blue Jays and game info

LocationRogers Centre, Toronto, ON
DateMonday, May 25, 2026
First pitch7:07 p.m. ET
TVMarlins.TV, Sportsnet 1
Marlins starting pitcherJanson Junk
(2-5, 5.07 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcherTrey Yesavage
(2-1, 1.07 ERA)

Marlins vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Marlins vs Blue Jays weather

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Dodgers attempt to improve offense at home

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits for a pitch in the third inning during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With mirroring campaigns on either side of the spectrum, the Dodgers and Rockies meet at Dodger Stadium on Memorial Day. The home side aims to carry on the momentum from an outstanding road trip that saw them win seven of nine, taking two of three from the Brewers and Padres, and sweeping the Angels.

While as a team the Dodgers thrived away from home, Emmet Sheehan didn’t have the best of times in his game, even if the Dodgers ended up beating San Diego 5-4. All four of the Padres’ runs came against Sheehan courtesy of a couple of long balls as their lineup made him grind, though it was his shortest outing since his 2026 debut, when Sheehan failed to complete four innings against the Diamondbacks.

Sheehan will face one of the more harmless offenses away from home in the big leagues, a nice segue to touch on the stark difference between what the Dodgers’ lineup has produced away from Dodger Stadium and at home. As the visiting club, the Dodgers have a 128 wRC+, while 28 of the other 30 teams sit at 115 or below. Playing in front of their fans, the Dodgers rank a respectable but unimpressive 11th in wRC+ (107).

Facing the Rockies, the Dodgers have the ideal opponent to juice those home stats—Tyler Gordon will be the starter for Colorado, having allowed a two-homer game to Dalton Rushing the last time he faced the NL West leaders and reigning champs.

Monday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Rockies
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
  • Start time: 6:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Nick Lodolo leads Reds into series opener against Mets in New York

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 18: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It’s been an unfortunate yet somewhat predictable start to Nick Lodolo’s 2026 season since he missed over a month while dealing with blister issues. It forced him to tweak the way he approaches batters, looking at times to avoid throwing his slider too much and risking a recurrence of the problem. He also, obviously, missed a lot of time he’d otherwise have been building up to his best at the start of what was viewed as a crucial season for him, especially with Hunter Greene on the sidelines for months.

So far, he’s yielded 12 earned runs in just 15 IP across a trio of starts, though at times in his start on May 18th against the Phillies he looked a bit more like his old self. Still, he’s been plagued with the exact same problem as the entirety of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff as a whole this year, as he’s walked an uncharacteristic 9 batters against just 11 Ks in that time.

For the record, he was fanning hitters at a 9.0 K/9 just last year with a stellar 1.8 BB/9. The Reds, quite frankly. aren’t going to go anywhere in 2026 if he can’t rediscover something close to that form.

He’ll get another shot to find it on Monday in New York as the Reds begin a series against the sputtering New York Mets. The Reds will do so with a rested staff, too, having had Thursday, Friday, and Sunday off thanks to scheduling and some weather postponements.

The Mets, meanwhile, will roll out burgeoning ace Nolan McLean, who has looked mostly brilliant through his first 58.0 IP of the season.

First pitch in the series opener is set for 4:10 PM ET.

Here’s how the Reds will line up for the opener, with Blake Dunn continuing to get run at leadoff and in CF, Eugenio Suarez in the lineup at DH, and hopefully a big pile of runs baked into it:

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Two Potential NHL Trade Fits For Sabres' Michael Kesselring

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring will be a trade candidate to watch this off-season. With the Sabres having limited cap space and Kesselring struggling to find his fit in Buffalo, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they moved him this summer. This is especially so when noting that he is a pending restricted free agent.

If the Sabres end up making Kesselring available this off-season, keep an eye on these two teams as potential landing spots for the big right-shot defenseman. 

Boston Bruins 

The Hockey News' Russell Macias recently argued that the Bruins would be a great fit for Kesselring, and it is easy to understand why. The Bruins desperately need to improve the right side of their blueline, and acquiring Kesselring could help them do just that if he bounced back in Boston. When looking at the Bruins' roster, he could slot nicely on their second pairing and their penalty kill. 

Edmonton Oilers

Could the Oilers look to reunite with Kesselring, who was once in their prospect pool, this off-season? The possibility should not be ruled out. The right side of the Oilers' blueline could use a boost, and this will be only more of the case if they do not re-sign pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) Connor Murphy. Due to this, the possibility of Edmonton targeting Kesselring should not be ruled out. 

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Bet Our Knicks vs Cavaliers Parlay — Boosted at bet365 for Tonight's Game 4!

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The New York Knicks have continued their dominance in the Eastern Conference Finals, jumping out to a 3-0 series lead.

I expect New York to rely on a Brunson/KAT combo to finish off Cleveland in Game 4, and my best Knicks vs. Cavaliers parlay for tonight's matchup leans directly into that tandem.

Best of all, my Knicks/Cavs SGP has been BOOSTED by our friends at bet365 — see why we're all going to be yelling "BING BONG" by the time the game ends.

Knicks vs Cavaliers parlay for Game 4

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Knicks moneyline

Karl-Anthony Towns 20+ points

Jalen Brunson 7+ assists

+500 strong+550/strong

SGP leg no. 1: Knicks moneyline

Under Tom Thibodeau, it always felt like the New York Knicks would mess around in potential closeout games and let teams back into a series.

That hasn’t been their identity under Mike Brown during these NBA Playoffs.

The Knicks closed out the Atlanta Hawks by 51 points and the Philadelphia 76ers by 30 points in elimination games — considering the Cleveland Cavaliers' backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can’t consistently defend, there’s nothing tactically that suggests Cleveland won’t suffer the same fate as the Hawks and Sixers.

SGP leg no. 2: Karl-Anthony Towns 20+ points

The Cavs are in full desperation mode, trailing 3-0 and constantly searching for defensive answers. So far, nothing has worked. Jalen Brunson has either exploded as a scorer or carved them up as a playmaker, including a 14-assist performance earlier in the series. That’s why I think Karl-Anthony Towns is positioned to benefit most from Cleveland’s likely adjustments in Game 4. The Cavaliers can’t aggressively help off the wings in the Brunson-Towns two-man game, as OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have consistently punished rotating defenses with catch-and-shoot opportunities created by Brunson. That should push Cleveland toward a more aggressive drop coverage with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, forcing them to concede more open perimeter looks to Towns.

SGP leg no. 3: Jalen Brunson 7+ assists

The Brunson assist prop in the SGP is meant to work directly in tandem with the KAT points prop because I think we’ll see a higher-than-usual number of potential assists from Brunson to Towns. I believe the Cavaliers will use their bigs in a deep drop coverage to slow down Brunson, while limiting the amount of help coming from the wings. If that’s the case, it will be on Brunson to find Towns as an open shooter, and I'd be shocked if Towns clears 20-plus points without multiple baskets coming directly off passes from Brunson.

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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Milwaukee Brewers Monday

SACRAMENTO, CA - MAY 13: Matthew Liberatore #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After a Sunday rainout in Cincinnati, the St. Louis Cardinals will battle the Milwaukee Brewers Monday afternoon. It would be tempting to say that the Cardinals are fighting the Brewers for first place in the NL Central, but this is supposed to just be a development year, so I won’t say what all of us are thinking. The Sunday rainout allowed St. Louis to reset their rotation which is what they hoped to achieve with the callup of Brycen Mautz on Sunday. It appears the the Cardinals will start Matthew Liberatore Monday against the Brewers as they’ll put Jacob Misiorowski on the mound. First pitch scheduled for 1:10pm in American Family Field.

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