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What will Chris Sale produce in 2026?

Prior entries:

Chris Sale led Braves pitchers with 3.6 fWAR in 125 2/3 innings of work last year. When the Braves acquired Sale for Vaughn Grissom, they were able to do so because it was perfectly reasonable to assume that Sale would make fewer than ten starts in 2024, given his propensity for both baseball-related and off-field injuries. The guy hurt himself biking to Chipotle in a part of Boston that isn’t very friendly to bikers; you can see why the Red Sox were perhaps eager to move on. Of course, that led to some egg on some faces, as Sale dominated in a 29-start campaign in 2024, winning the NL Cy Young Award in the process.

But then came 2025, and it was time to once again have silly injuries dampen his production — this time as a result of a dive in the ninth inning of a not-that-close game that led to some boinked ribs and Sale missing about a third of the season. Whoops.

Career-to-date, status

Sale’s career is long and storied enough that summarizing it isn’t really gonna help anyone all that much for looking to 2026.

Drafted with the 13th overall pick in 2010, Sale made just 11 minor league appearances before dominating as a reliever for the White Sox in 2010-2011. He then had a crazy-dominant run as a starter from 2012-2018, putting up nearly 40 fWAR in seven seasons, making at least 26 starts in each year, and getting traded to the other Sox team partway through that run. 2019, the first year of a gaudy contract extension, featured somewhat diminished performance, and he hit the shelf with elbow inflammation that prematurely ended his season.

Things then got silly, as the 2020-2023 campaigns featured pneumonia, a pandemic, Tommy John Surgery, a rib stress fracture suffered while throwing batting practice, a finger fracture on a comebacker, the aforementioned wrist-bike-Chipotle incident, and a shoulder problem. Then he got traded to the Braves and issues miraculously disappeared for a season. Yay.

The Braves reworked Sale’s contract when trading for him. Owed $27.5 million in 2024 with a $20 million club option for 2025 at the time of the deal, the Braves changed the terms to a $16 million payout in 2024, a guaranteed $22 million in 2025, and a new club option for $18 million for 2026, which they exercised basically as soon as they were able to this offseason. (The Red Sox also sent cash along with Sale in the trade. For more, have fun reading Cot’s.) Basically, pending any additional extensions, Sale will hit free agency after this season.

Recent performance

Sale was still dominant in 2025, with the big dent on his value being him missing about two months with the rib injury sustained from diving to grab a comebacker. He put up 3.6 fWAR in 125 2/3 innings — that’s a 5.7 fWAR-per-200 innings pace. Sale’s line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) was 57/53/66 in 2024 and 61/67/73 in 2025. So, yeah, he declined — but not by that much. And, as we noted in our player review series, if the two months he missed looked like his performance after returning (64/64/58), his 2025 could’ve looked even more like his 2024.

The question for Sale is more one of durability. He’s already shown the ability to make in-season adjustments to return to dominant performance when he starts slipping (see April 2025 compared to the months afterwards). It’s more just… he’s going to turn 37 right around Opening Day, he’s cleared 150 innings once since 2018, and that one Cy Young campaign aside, he just keeps getting hurt in weird ways.

Forecasting

Same brief disclaimer: once upon a time I built a projection system to try to mirror/get at the workings of Steamer and ZiPS. I called it IWAG. You can figure out what that means, maybe. I’m bringing it back for this series of posts. Here’s Sale, for 2026.

Not too much to say here, if you’ve read the above. There’s a big swing in Sale’s production based on health and availability, which can matter a lot. Hopefully he doesn’t have more incidents in his future, but given that the 2026 Braves are already suffering from the fallout of Ha-Seong Kim vs. a patch of ice, don’t be too optimistic here. That aside, IWAG basically sees 2026 Sale as identical to 2025 Sale on a rate basis.

If you want to chuckle, look at the chart above, then go back to the Ronald Acuña Jr. one of these, then look back at this chart. Alright, so, per IWAG, the Braves’ fortunes rest in large part on how healthy their two best players are. Cool, because they’ve never had issues with keeping guys on the field before… right?

Point is: IWAG has few qualms about Sale being anything other than a standout performer when he’s available. The question is just whether he’s available or not.

IWAG diverges from the other projection systems here. Steamer has Sale at around 4 WAR per 169 innings, more than a win below IWAG’s rate basis point estimate. ZiPS is basically in line with Steamer on a rate basis, with an even lower innings total. They probably know how to account for Sale’s advanced age better than IWAG. In any case, let’s hope Sale stays healthy and available.

Your turn

Alright, I’ve given you the info. Well, some info. You may have your own info. With that, I ask you:

  • Rounded to the nearest fWAR, how much will Chris Sale produce in 2026? (If you ignore this and provide a partial fWAR, I will round it for you, and your scoring will not be based on 1 WAR around your point estimate, but 1 WAR around the rounded number.)
  • How confident are you in your choice? Go with a scale from 1-5, where 3 is “I dunno, reasonably confident,” 5 is certain, and 1 is “I am participating but have no confidence in my choice and don’t want the fact that it will likely be incorrect to affect my place in any theoretical standings all that much.”

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Why a panic move could doom the Knicks

The Knicks responded to their worst skid in recent memory with a 120-66 victory over Brooklyn, snapping a 2-9 stretch that had their fanbase at DEFCON 1. A Karl-Anthony Towns trades, a head coach firing -- nothing was off the table.

While Wednesday’s win won’t cure all their ailments, it was Exhibit A in the argument for not panicking and blowing up the season with a drastic change. As bad as things have looked, an impulsive move could easily make things much worse than they ever really were.

It would help to diagnose the Knicks during this abysmal month, but nobody has come up with a good answer. Part of the reason is that there’s no singular problem, or even group of them -- the entire team has underperformed dramatically.

This should have given fans more pause before trying to remedy an issue they didn’t understand. Contending teams don’t just collectively fall apart. It would take something that impacted the whole roster. Fatigue and loss of focus post-NBA Cup are likely factors, having impacted previous Cup winners, and judging by the Knicks’ energy in some of these losses.

Many speculated about a chemistry blowup or major disconnect with the coach. Although certain moments looked bleak, the Knicks were without Jalen Brunson for some of these games, and they definitely put in some solid efforts that were in vain.

Even if something was fractured in the locker room, that’s not an unfixable problem. And folks seemed to forget how long the positive bullet points run on this team’s resume in just 11 games of poor play.

They won over 50 games last season and came within two games of the NBA Finals, mounting two major comebacks against the reigning NBA Champions and topping the team that’s now first in the East. Before this fall-off, the Knicks had one of the best point differentials in the league and were handily in the East’s second seed, plus Cup Champions as mentioned.

Even if you didn’t believe in this team's makeup and thought this losing streak meant it was time to blow it up, the potential pivots fans are posing would not turn things around.

Jan 17, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) posts up against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
Jan 17, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) posts up against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. / John Jones-Imagn Images

One was firing Mike Brown, not a year after firing Tom Thibodeau, which was in itself a controversial move. Not giving his replacement a shot to break through his first adversity with the team would be laughable.

What would the move be then? Conduct a coaching search midseason or run with an unproven interim, and make further system tweaks when these changes supposedly disrupted the team in the first place?

Only four NBA teams have won a championship after switching coaches midseason. It’s not impossible, but it’s certainly not prudent. Neither would be trading Towns.

Yes, he’s in the midst of one of his worst seasons and doesn’t look comfortable. But his value is at a low point right now, and he’s already proven his worth when locked in. We’re not a year removed from Towns saving the Knicks’ playoff run with an all-time clutch Game 4 in Detroit and huge Game 3 in Indiana during a strong postseason for the big man.

Even with that, some can’t get behind a defensive core, including Towns and Brunson, or his up-and-down emotions. So be it. But trading Towns when his production is in the pits and everybody’s maneuverability is stymied, is malpractice when New York can just wait for the offseason to make a decision.

At worst, he continues imploding, and you at least have more suitors in the summer. Or he turns it around, and may end up being a slightly better option than a 35-year-old Jrue Holiday or Jerami Grant.

Even with the rough play of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, it’s comical coming up with mock trades for them since they’re still easily two of the best 3-and-D wings you could conceivably play next to Brunson.

Ultimately, there’s too much evidence of this being able to work, and so little of it going this terribly wrong to believe the right move here is the biggest, most drastic one. Luckily, it’s Leon Rose in the front office and not the 22-year-old playing him in 2K, as from all indications it looks like cooler heads are prevailing.

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76ers host Rockets for first matchup of the season

The Philadelphia 76ers split their recent home games against the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns. Now, they’ll look to bounce back against one of the tougher opponents on the schedule in the Houston Rockets.

Houston has put together a unique and dynamic roster. They added a marquee name in Kevin Durant, who is putting up some of the best numbers of his career from both a scoring and efficiency standpoint. But the Rockets’ identity goes beyond Durant. They’ve built a frankly massive team across the board.

Amen Thompson has been starting at point guard, standing at 6-foot-7 with a huge frame. The Rockets have rotated starters depending on matchup and availability, but the core usually includes Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and another big wing such as Tari Eason or Josh Okogie.

Thompson has taken steps as a playmaker, but he’s far from a traditional point guard. And as the starting lineup suggests, this is far from a traditional team. There really hasn’t been a roster constructed quite like this in the modern NBA. Houston has found success overwhelming teams on the glass, creating extra possessions through offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. That’s an area where the Sixers could struggle in this matchup.

On the flip side, that same unconventional makeup has also led to issues. The Rockets have dropped games they probably shouldn’t have, and their offense can bog down and become stagnant at times. The size and inconsistent shooting have allowed teams to crowd Sengun, who doesn’t always have the spacing needed to operate comfortably. Reed Sheppard is an important piece for floor spacing, but inconsistencies on both ends and head coach Ime Udoka’s rotations have kept him from having the impact the team likely hoped for in his second year.

As many know, the Sixers are a guard-centric team that typically plays smaller lineups. That makes this matchup a true clash of opposing roster builds. Tyrese Maxey is coming off a rough stretch, shooting 7-of-25 from the field and struggling in the recent games against Cleveland. This figures to be another tough test, as the Rockets have no shortage of long, physical wing defenders capable of making life difficult for him. On top of that, their size and length can bother him around the rim and shrink driving lanes when help arrives.

This matchup will also test Maxey’s running mates, Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom are likely to return. For Embiid, Sengun presents a physical matchup as a mobile big who can score and create from the perimeter. For George, he’ll likely see plenty of Durant on the other end, which needs little explanation. It’s also likely that Kelly Oubre Jr. sees extended time matched up against the future Hall of Famer.

For the Sixers, Embiid is listed as probable while managing an ankle issue, while George is questionable with knee injury management. Houston will be without Steven Adams, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain, and Fred VanVleet as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear. Aaron Holiday, who has taken on extra minutes in the backcourt, is also questionable heading into this matchup.

The Rockets are a talented team in a crowded Western Conference, and this won’t come easily. Still, if the Sixers can pull it off, it would mark another important win against a legitimate opponent. Beyond that, they need to start taking care of business at home if they want a comfortable path to the postseason. This game could be a chance to finally get things moving in the right direction.

Game Details

When: Thursday, January 22, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

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Giannis Antetokounmpo calls out ‘selfish’ Bucks teammates with trade talk swirling

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts during a game against the Atlanta Hawks, Image 2 shows Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks to pass the ball
Giannis calls out 'selfish' Bucks teammates

It’s starting to sound like Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to rip off the band-aid.

After the Bucks were smashed, 122-102, by the dominant Thunder, Antetokounmpo called out his teammates with an ominous message that may say quite a bit about his future with the team.

“We’re not playing hard,” Antetokounmpo said postgame after Milwaukee fell to 18-25. “We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together … Our chemistry isn’t there, guys are being selfish. We just don’t get it … and we don’t have enough time.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been clearly frustrated with his supporting case in Milwaukee. Getty Images

It’s not clear exactly who Antetokounmpo is referring to or whether this is simply a blanket statement by the former league MVP, but the comments certainly aren’t what the team wants to hear, given he has flirted with the idea of demanding a trade multiple times over the past year.

Antetokounmpo added that some of his teammates were “trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team.”

The Bucks shot 49 percent Wednesday, but turned the ball over 16 times compared to just eight for the Thunder.

Former Laker Kyle Kuzma went 4-12 and 0-5 from 3-point range in 28 minutes.

“At times, I feel like when we’re down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it’s not going to work,” Antetokounmpo added.

It seems like the wheels are in motion for a potential divorce amid all the trade rumors, although he dismissed the idea of asking out earlier this month.

“There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade,’ ” Antetokounmpo told The Athletic. “That’s not … in … my … nature. OK?”

Kyle Kuzma and the Bucks have struggled this season with an 18-25 record. NBAE via Getty Images

When trades were discussed previously involving Antetokounmpo, it became clear that he wanted to be a Knick.

Perhaps the team wishes they had made the deal to acquire Antetokounmpo given the team’s 3-9 record in its last 12 games and the still-present growing pains under new coach Mike Brown.

Star center Karl-Anthony Towns is in the middle of the worst season of his NBA career, where he is averaging 20.8 points per game, the lowest since his rookie year, and shooting just 46.9 percent from the field, by far the lowest percentage of his career.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t formally demanded a trade at any point, but reporter Brian Windhorst previously added some clarity on what a trade demand would look like.

“It’ll be Giannis instructing the Bucks where he wants to be traded and the Bucks trying to make the best possible deal with that team,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s “Get Up” in December.

Windhorst added that this past summer, Antetokounmpo basically said, “I want to be a Knick,” but it didn’t quite reach a trade demand.

Antetokounmpo during Wednesday’s loss. Getty Images

The Bucks are currently the No. 11 seed in the NBA Eastern Conference and aim to right the ship before the season gets completely away from them.

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5.

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Cody Bellinger’s wife celebrates Yankees return after $162 million free agency signing

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Yankees star Cody Bellinger's wife, Chase Carter, said their family is so excited after he agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal to remain in the Bronx on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Image 2 shows Yankees star Cody Bellinger and his wife Chase Carter, Image 3 shows Cody Bellinger swings through and strikes out for the final out against the against the Toronto Blue Jays as they celebrate their win in Game four of the ALDS in the Bronx, New York, October 8, 2025.
Yankees star Cody Bellinger's wife, Chase Carter, is thrilled that he's staying in the Bronx after agreeing to a five-year, $162.5 million deal on Wednesday.

Yankees star Cody Bellinger’s wife, Chase Carter, is thrilled that he’s staying in the Bronx after agreeing to a five-year, $162.5 million deal Wednesday.

“We are so excited����,” Chase wrote in an Instagram post, including a snapshot of them with their two daughters, Caiden and Cy, taking in fireworks at Yankee Stadium.

Her post was set to the song, “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.

Yankees star Cody Bellinger’s wife, Chase Carter, said their family is so excited after he agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal to remain in the Bronx on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Instagram/Chase Carter Bellinger

“New York Baby,” Chase added in an Instagram Story post.

She also reposted a snapshot by Amy Cole, the wife of Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, which shows them at a Yankees game with Ashley Rodón, the wife of Carlos Rodón, and Reni Meyer-Whalley, the girlfriend of Max Fried.

(L-R) Chase Carter Bellinger, Amy Cole, Ashley Rodón and Reni Meyer-Whalley at a Yankees game. Instagram/Amy Cole
Yankees star Cody Bellinger and his wife Chase Carter. Instagram/Chase Carter Bellinger

“Jan 21st keeps delivering,” Amy wrote.

The Bellinger deal got done after the Yankees made it clear that retaining the 30-year-old was their top priority after he declined a $25 million player option.

Bellinger will return to the outfield with Aaron Judge in right field and Trent Grisham in center field. Grisham is back the Yankees after accepting the $22 million qualifying offer earlier this offseason.

Cody Bellinger swings through and strikes out for the final out against the against the Toronto Blue Jays as they celebrate their win in Game four of the ALDS in the Bronx, New York, October 8, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

The Yankees may now look to trade Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones, who would have been competing for the starting job in left field had Bellinger not returned.

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The Red Sox 40-man roster is packed, but they need room for an infielder

Ranger Suárez is officially a member of the Red Sox. We found this out unofficially last week. Which started raising questions: what about the 40-man roster? Had the team flipped an outfielder or pitcher, possibly with prospects, they would have plenty of room to sign one of the remaining free agents and add that unnamed infielder. Since they did the free agent signing “first” (if there is a trade for an infielder) it meant that the Red Sox needed to open a roster spot. And they did this by trading a 40-man guy for a prospect.

Not that Tristan Gray’s 47 career MLB games makes him a veteran, but Baez has played 51 games a Double A. Transforming the roster spot into a starting pitcher and a catching prospect is nice and all, but what about that infielder?

Chris Cotillo reports that: “This is not a surprise or particularly revelatory, but have heard the Red Sox are, in fact, involved in serious trade talks all over the place when it comes to adding to the positional player group.”

Whether it’s signing Eugenio Suárez or trading for Brendon Donovan the Sox need a roster spot.

We know the Garrets (Crochet and Whitlock), Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Aroldis Chapman, Trevor Story, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Carlos Narvaez aren’t being traded. There are a few others as well that are highly unlikely to be moved. Think Campbell, Oviedo, and probably even Romy Gonzalez.

Triston Casas would be selling very low on potentially a 30-homer guy at a corner. Could they upgrade from Connor Wong? Sure, but he’s not going to get that other player and the organization seems to really like his work with pitchers, which is reason enough to have him as a backup. Masataka Yoshida would need a really special deal to move the contract for talent.

Nate Eaton, David Hamilton, and Nick Sogard are all more valuable to the Red Sox than what they’d bring back in a trade. Same with Jordan Hicks. Or Greg Weissert (who isn’t bad, Weissert is fine. He’s just not getting you an infielder and is a weird throw-in because he’s got a good role). Kyle Harrison is probably in this group as well. He’s a bit like Quinn Priester. He was acquired with lower value and might end up with higher value. His Red Sox time so far doesn’t seem to indicate a big step forward. And after the last few seasons, while the Sox might trade one pitcher for a bat, they are probably not interested in giving up Early/Tolle plus Harrison, since they are all starting rotation options.

Where does that leave us?

Let’s run down the options.

Jake Bennett: they did trade for him for a reason and while that applies to Tristan Gray too, Breslow probably doesn’t want to move another guy he just acquired to clear space.

The prospect pitchers: Payton Tolle/Connelly Early. We know they don’t want to move either of these guys – at least as far as leaks about Ketel Marte discussions can be believed. But could one of them help the major league team solve an infield spot for more than a year?

The outfielders: Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu.

Duran has been the drumbeat all winter. The Mets seemed like a destination, maybe, but acquired Louis Robert Jr. instead. The Cardinals are an awkward fit because turning Donovan into Duran doesn’t really make them better when their window opens again after this rebuild. Duran is 29 and not a free agent for three more years, so he could stick around for a bit. Unless Chaim Bloom thinks maybe Duran has another 8.7 WAR season coming and he could flip him for a king’s ransom at the deadline during that season? Then it’s the Astros and possibly moving Isaac Paredes? He has one fewer year of control than Duran but is a couple years younger.

Wilyer Abreu? His biggest knocks are hitting lefties and getting hurt. And some of the injuries, like falling on the dugout steps, aren’t likely to be recurring issues. He’s the youngest of Duran, Donovan, and Paredes by a couple years. He’s not a free agent until 2030. He’s a Gold Glove fielder. He is, possibly, the best of the players mentioned for swaps here. Maybe there is someone else that has escaped the rumors who could be as valuable an infielder – who is available – and that team needs an outfielder.

That’s nearly the entire 40-man roster and, going guy-by-guy, you can see why the rumor mill has only a few targets. Zack Kelly? Jovani Moran? Patrick Sandoval?

And Craig Breslow says they want to emphasize defense?

This is a very good roster thatm less than a month from Spring Training, is missing either a second or third baseman. Mayer can only play one position at a time. I suppose a Romy Gonzalez-led second base rotation could work? But then if he or Mayer or Eaton struggle or hit the IL the team is back to square one.

At the start of this I thought I might see something there but unless it’s really out of the box, like, Kutter Crawford and Moran or Brayan Bello and David Hamilton (who did attract trade attention last year so there might be suitors out there for some price, if not high) then it really is: (1) trade an outfielder, or (2) trade a pitching prospect.

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Canadiens: Getting A Do-Over Against The Sabres

The Montreal Canadiens will host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at the Bell Centre and will be hoping for a much better performance than the one they delivered in Buffalo one week ago. In what was Jacob Fowler’s 10th and last game before being sent back down to the Laval Rocket in the AHL, Tage Thompson was dominant, scoring a hat trick and adding a pair of assists.

Since that win, the Buffalo outfit has cooled down somewhat, losing its next two games to the Minnesota Wild (5-4 in overtime) and to the Carolina Hurricanes (2-1) before bouncing back with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. They now have a 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games, exactly like the Canadiens. While Buffalo won the last duel between the two sides, Montreal has won seven of the previous 10 contests.

Canadiens’ Defence Corps Having Big Impact
Canadiens’ St-Louis Knows There’s A Big Price To Pay
Canadiens’ Hutson Shines In Big Duel With Rival Hughes

Neither coach has confirmed who will be manning their net yet, but the Canadiens should go back to Samuel Montembeault after Jakub Dobes’ performance against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. The former has a 5-5-0 record against the Sabres, with a 3.04 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage, while the latter has a 2-0-0 record with a 2.00 GAA and a .930 SV.

At the other end of the ice, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has a 1-2-0 record with a 4.54 GAA and a .847 SV, Colten Ellis is 1-0-0 with a 3.01 GAA and a .870 SV and Alex Lyon is 4-3-0 with a 3.14 GAA and a 3.01 SV. Lyon played the Sabres' last game, but he has had the lion’s share of the work this season, featuring in 22 games while Luukkonen has played in 19 and Ellis in 11.

Up front, Brendan Gallagher remains the Canadiens’ most productive player against the Sabres with 24 points in 45 games, but captain Nick Suzuki is slowly catching up; he now has 22 points in just 19 games, while Phillip Danault completes the top-three with 15 points in 26 games. The Habs have four players on a three-game point streak: Suzuki (1-4-5), Cole Caufield (2-4-6), Ivan Demidov (1-3-4), and Lane Hutson (1-6-7).

Meanwhile, Thompson has unsurprisingly become the Sabres’ most productive forward after his five-point night last week. He now has 21 points in 18 games, while Rasmus Dahlin has 20 points in 22 games. The defenseman is also on a six-game point streak (3-4-7). Alex Tuch completes the top three with 19 points in 20 games.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch the game on RDS, TSN2 and MSG-B. Jon McIsaac and Kelly Sutherland will be the referees, and Scott Cherrey and Ryan Daisy will be the linemen. After that game, the Canadiens will next play on the road Saturday night against the Boston Bruins before coming back home for their last homestand before the Olympic break, taking on the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche, who will be wearing their Quebec Nordiques jersey for the game.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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Mets Morning News: Mets acquire their ace in Freddy Peralta

Meet the Mets

The Mets acquired Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers from the Brewers in exchange for Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams.

Peralta is the ace the team had been missing and might be the final piece in a busy offseason.

Bo Bichette was formally introduced at Citi Field, and he is confident he can handle moving to third base this season. He’s also very excited to play in New York and hopes he can help the team win the World Series he was oh-so-close to last year.

David Stearns is pleased with his new-look infield and the defense they bring to the team.

Even before the addition of Peralta, Stearns’s methodical plan for this offseason was coming together.

The team signed veteran reliever Luis García to a one-year deal.

This year’s Hall of Fame results could help David Wright’s case in future ballots.

Around the National League East

Andruw Jones is headed to the Hall of Fame to join quite a few of his teammates from the ‘90s Braves teams.

Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski discussed how close the team was to signing Bo Bichette, and The Good Phight appreciated his honesty.

The three former Nationals on the Hall of Fame ballot all fell off after one year of eligibility.

Around Major League Baseball

The Yankees reportedly re-signed Cody Bellinger to a five-year deal worth $162.5 million.

The Red Sox acquired minor league catcher Nate Baez from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for infielder Tristan Gray.

Yoán Moncada is heading back to the Angels on a one-year, $4 million contract.

Buster Posey headlines the players joining the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2027.

Baseball America released its list of the top 100 prospects for the 2026 season.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

On the latest episode of Flushing is Burning, Grace Carbone discussed the Bo Bichette signing.

Should Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos stay or go writes Linus Lawrence.

Mitch Voit came in at number 11 on Steve Sypa’s prospect list.

Missed the Bichette press conference? Brian Salvatore summarized it for you!

How does Luis Robert Jr. fit in the Mets’ lineup?

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1997, the Mets acquired Bernard Gilkey from the Cardinals.

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Our Hall of Poll Results

The BBWAA has released the results of their vote. Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones made the cut and will join Jeff Kent as new members of the Hall of Fame

Chase Utley (59.1%), Andy Pettitte (48.5), Félix Hernández (46.1) and Álex Rodríguez (40.0) were the closest to line without getting over.

Not getting 5% of the vote and falling off the ballot are Ryan Braun, Edwin Encarnacion (1.4), Shin-Soo Choo, Matt Kemp, Hunter Pence, Rick Portcello, Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis, Gio Gonzales, Homie Kendrick and Daniel Murphy (the last three getting zero votes).

Manny Ramirez also drops off the ball as it was his tenth chance. He had his highest vote total, 38.8, which was still well short. He’ll be on the Contemporary Era Committee Ballot in 2028 (but by then they will be calling it different name). We would have voted him in.

Jones gets in despite spousal assault charges in 2012, when he choked and threatened to kill his wife. Beltrán gets in despite being involved in the Astros cheating scandal.

We had our own polls (though I forgot to add the poll to the Andruw Jones post, not the first mistake I’ve ever made). Dale Murphy (from the Contemporary ballot, who I think is a much better choice than Jeff Kent, we did polls for the ones on that ballot too) and Manny Ramirez. We had Delgado very close to the line.

We also had Barry Bonds and Felix Hernandez very close to the which I like. I think Bonds should be in the Hall and Felix was the top pitcher in baseball for a number of years there.

Don Mattingly, on the other hand isn’t a Hall of Famer, in my world, but I’ve been wrong before. Beltran did far worse with us than with the Writers. I don’t see him as a Hall of Famer.

And we were much smarter on Jeff Kent than the Contemporary Committee.

Here are our votes:

Whoops, I see I missed out Dustin Pedroia (must be my personal dislike), he got 29.8

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NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, January 22: Go Robo Go

Eight games are on the National Hockey League slate this evening. My NHL player props for the action will include Jason Robertson, Lane Hutson, and Andrei Svechnikov. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Thursday, January 22.   

Best NHL player prop bets today

PlayerBet99
Stars Robertson Over 3.5 SOG<<+125>>
Canadiens Hutson Over 0.5 assists<<-150>>
Hurricanes Svechnikov anytime goal<<+170>>

Get a first bet encore up to $800 — no BET99 promo code neededGet a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Thursday, January 22

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Jason Robertson Over 3.5 shots on goal

+125 at BET99

Jason Robertson may have been snubbed from Team USA for the Olympics, but there is no question he’s a superstar for the Dallas Stars. The veteran has scored 29 goals and tallied 29 assists this season, and he’s averaging 3.70 SOG per contest. 

The 26-year-old just registered nine shots on target on Tuesday's victory over the Bruins, where he scored twice. Robertson is averaging just 2.6 SOG in January, but he’s up against the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, who are allowing the second-most shots on net in the NHL. 

The Stars are also on the road, and Robertson averages 3.81 SOG per night away from the American Airlines Center. 

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Victory+, FDSN Ohio

Prop #2: Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists

-150 at BET99

Lane Hutson hasn’t missed a beat in Year 2, scoring nine goals and compiling 43 assists. 

The reigning Calder Trophy winner has notched six helpers in his last three appearances, cashing the Over in each game. He tallied an assist against the Wild on Tuesday, and he also had three helpers last Saturday. 

The Montreal Canadiens are at home tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. Hutson has 18 helpers at the Bell Centre, and he has two assists in two meetings with Buffalo this season.

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: MSG-B, Bell Centre

Prop #3: Andrei Svechnikov anytime goal

+170 at BET99

The Carolina Hurricanes have lots of offensive weapons, and Andrei Svechnikov is up there with the best. The 25-year-old has netted 15 goals in 2025-26, and he’s fired home seven goals in January. 

Svechnikov is riding a three-game scoring streak. He found the back of the net on Monday after bagging a hat-trick last Saturday. Carolina welcomes the Chicago Blackhawks to town tonight, and the Russian has done a lot of his damage at home. 

He’s scored 12 of his 17 goals in Raleigh, and the Blackhawks aren’t exactly an elite defensive team.

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ESPN+, HULU

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

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Dodgers News – Kyle Tucker ‘quiet’ addition to All-Star team

On Wednesday, the Dodgers made the Kyle Tucker signing official and held a press conference to welcome the newest Dodger.

Tucker, a seemingly quiet guy, joins a team full of larger-than-life players, including the Best Player on the Planet. The outfielder is now second only to Shohei Ohtani on the Dodgers payroll and is now also ‘just one of the guys’ in a lineup full of Guys.

Manager Dave Roberts indicated on Wednesday that while final decisions have not been made, he intends to tuck Kyle into either the second or third in the batting order. He also said that Tucker will play right field, while Teoscar Hernandez will move over to play left.

The Dodgers did what they felt they had to do to shore up their outfield, their only real weakness. The Dodgers made a more appealing pitch to the biggest free agent on the market, and who wouldn’t want to join the team that just won back-to-back World Series and don’t have much in a change in personnel to run it back a third time?

“I mean, this lineup is pretty good regardless” of his place in it, Tucker said. “I’m excited to be a part of the group and just try and pick the brains of the guys in the clubhouse and see what makes them better. And you know, they might do stuff that I might not do and vice versa, and we can just kind of build each other up.”

Tucker said all the right words in his presser on Wednesday, an awe shucks take on joining a burgeoning dynasty, as Mirjam Swanson states so well in her article.

Bill Plunkett expands on this in his article, how Tucker was the perfect guy to round out the 2026 Dodgers.

“Throughout the offseason we’ve talked a lot about how high the talent bar was of this current club, and how there’d only be a few available players that we felt would be real needle-movers when it comes to bringing another championship to Los Angeles,” General Manager Brandon Gomes said. “Kyle Tucker is at the very top of that group, and one of the most complete players in all of baseball.”

Tucker joins Andy Pages as the only position player under the age of 30, but just barely at the age of 29. It’s obvious that the Dodgers are making the most of their window with this core team, and are determined to be the most recent team to win three World Series in a row.

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Fomer Maple Leafs Forward Alex Steeves Earns Two-Year Contract Extension With Boston Bruins

Alex Steeves always felt he was destined for more when it came to his professional hockey career. When he departed the Toronto Maple Leafs' organization last summer for the Boston Bruins, he was able to turn the page from a lack of opportunity and turned it into a win with his new home.

Steeves was rewarded for his efforts this season with a new two-year extension worth $1.625 million per season that will kick in at the beginning of the 2026-27 season.

In 33 games with the Bruins this season, Steeves has eight goals and six assists. Although he started this year with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, Steeves was called up early in the year and was essentially told early on to get a place to live full-time in Boston because he wasn't going back down to the minors.

The Leafs signed Steeves in 2021, straight after his college days were over at the University of Notre Dame. Over four years, he dominated with the Toronto Marlies, where he currently holds the all-time franchise records for goals (105) and points (2016).

But frustration set in when Steeves was rarely called up to the Leafs, playing just 14 NHL games during his four-year tenure. 

It seemed inevitable that the Steeves would leave the organization, which he was able to do as a Group 6 UFA at age 25 due to not enough games played at the NHL level, but enough years as a professional. Had he been called up a little more often, the Leafs could have squeezed at least another year of the player's rights. And perhaps he wouldn't have left if he could have crafted a full-time NHL role.

Steeves exacted revenge against his former club, scoring his first goal with the Bruins against the Leafs as part of a 5-3 win on November 11.

Primarily playing on the third line with former Leafs teammate Fraser Minten, Steeves has shown some added grit to his game, with 117 hits this season and has earned the trust from new head coach Marco Sturm. The raise is nearly double the $850,000 he signed on a one-way deal with the Bruins back in July.

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The Stats Behind Game #49: Canucks 4, Capitals 3

Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. 

Despite defeating Washington, the Capitals had the stronger night from an analytics perspective. The Canucks were outchanced at even-strength by a count of 28-20 while also losing the even-strength high-danger scoring chances battle 14-9. In the end, though, Vancouver found a way to snap their 11-game winning streak, as they outscored Washington 4-1 at even strength. 

As for the heatmap, it shows the Canucks willingness to get pucks on net from everywhere in the zone. On the flip side, there were a couple of defensive breakdowns in front of the crease, which is where the Capitals scored their goals from. While it wasn't a perfect game, Vancouver will take it as they picked up their fifth home win of the season. 

Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals, January 21, 2026, Natural Stat Trick
Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals, January 21, 2026, Natural Stat Trick

To wrap this game up, the line of Liam Öhgren, Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland dominated their matchups all night. During their 9:37 together, the trio outshot the opposition 7-2 and won the scoring chances battle 8-0. The question moving forward is, can these three develop some chemistry and produce similar performances the rest of the season? 

Jan 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger (53) shoots around Washington Capitals forward Ethen Frank (53) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jan 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger (53) shoots around Washington Capitals forward Ethen Frank (53) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Canucks homestand continues on Friday when the New Jersey Devils visit Rogers Arena. Vancouver picked up the win the last time these two teams met earlier this season. Game time is set for 7:00 pm PT.   

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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How the Suns pulled off the NBA’s most shocking turnaround

The Phoenix Suns were completely screwed. The franchise’s all-in moves for Kevin Durant at the 2023 trade deadline and Bradley Beal to begin the 2024 offseason had backfired in epic fashion, resulting in just one playoff series win (with Durant only) before a first-round sweep and lottery appearance forced a hard pivot. The Suns had no choice but to trade Durant last summer coming off a 36-win season, and they followed it by waiving-and-stretching Beal, which put $19.4 million of dead money on their books for the next five years. In addition to putting themselves in a cap crunch, the Suns also didn’t have any draft ammunition without control of their first-round pick until 2032.

When I ranked the league’s worst long-term outlooks coming into the season, I put Phoenix at No. 2 and openly wondered why they weren’t interesting in trading Devin Booker.

The Suns could have had a life vest for their future this summer, but they were too delusional to take it. Phoenix’s most prudent move would have been trading Devin Booker, and trying to recoup some of their own first-round picks that they’ve traded away. Instead, Booker signed an extension that will pay him $75 million once it kicks in for the 2028-29 season. It just feels very unlikely they can build a good team around him in the West while not owning any of their first-round picks.

Vegas didn’t believe in the retooled Suns either, putting their over/under at 30.5 wins entering the season.

Fast forward through the first half of the first year without Durant and Beal, and Phoenix has made me and their other skeptics look very stupid. The Suns are 27-17 and would make the playoffs in the West without needing to go through the play-in if the season ended today. After starting the year at No. 25 in my initial power rankings, Phoenix now cracks the top-10. The Suns are the most pleasant surprise in the league, and they’ve given their fans something to cheer for when everyone else wrote off their next half-decade.

How has Phoenix pulled off the best turnaround of the season? Let’s count the ways.

The Suns nailed their Kevin Durant trade

It felt like the Suns didn’t have any leverage when they went to trade Durant over the summer, because a) the whole league knew he was on the block, b) he was about to turn 37 years old, and c) he was on an expiring contract. Without a bidding war, the Rockets were able to land KD without giving back anyone of note from their young core or either of the future first-round picks they possessed from Phoenix. How could the Suns do that deal without at least landing Reed Sheppard? That was one of my complaints in giving Phoenix a D grade for the trade.

Whoops. It’s clear now that the Suns did very well in the Durant trade, and it’s part of what set them up for success this year and possibly beyond. The Suns checked every box in the trade:

  1. They got a win-now veteran starter in Dillon Brooks, who gave them both the volume three-point shooting and competitive edge defensively that they needed
  2. They got a young player with upside in Jalen Green, who could benefit from a change of scenery and wasn’t on the books that long even if it felt like he was a little overpaid
  3. They got a long-term upside play with the No. 10 overall pick, which they used to swing on Duke center Khaman Maluach, who I had ranked No. 3 overall in the class

Three assets, one that could help immediately, one that aided their short-term future, and one that aided their long term future. Green has barely even played this year as he’s dealt with a lingering hamstring strain, and Maluach is essentially getting a redshirt year in the G League. Despite two of the three players contributing nothing so far, it was still a great for Phoenix that has a chance to pay off even bigger in the future.

The Suns nailed their coaching hire

Mat Ishbia demanded a head coach with championship experience from the moment he took over the Suns. After needing to fire Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer in the three years to begin his tenure, Ishbia allowed in his front office to go the other way with the hiring on Jordan Ott.

Ott had no previous head coaching experience and had never been a player. At 40 years old, he was most recently on staff the Cleveland Cavaliers under Kenny Atkinson, but his main qualification for the Suns seemed to be that he went to Michigan State.

Ott has obviously been outstanding through the first half of this season, and should be the runaway favorite for NBA Coach of the Year. Ott’s schematic brilliance has been on display in raising the Phoenix defense from No. 28 to No. 4 in just one year, but he’s also done a great job getting everyone to buy into their role to create an egoless team of role players around Booker.

The Suns nailed their fringe roster moves

Collin Gillespie was a two-time Big East Player of the Year and All-American at Villanova who went undrafted because he didn’t have the size, athleticism, or rim scoring teams look for in a point guard. The Suns originally signed him to a two-way deal in the summer of 2024, and he looked good enough in 33 games last year that Phoenix decided to give him a guaranteed one-year minimum deal for this season.

Gillespie has rewarded their faith by turning into one of the league’s best development stories this year with a +2.9 EPM grades out in the 92nd percentile of all players. Gillespie still doesn’t finish at the rim, but he’s become a 42 percent three-point shooter, a solid passer, and a menace defensively who ranks No. 16 in the league in steal percentage. Before the season, everyone wondered how Phoenix would find a point guard next to Booker, and Gillespie has given them everything they needed.

Jordan Goodwin has been another awesome find. The Suns claimed him after he was waived by the Lakers, and he’s emerged as one of the league’s best defensive pests this season. Goodwin is No. 4 in the league in steal percentage and No. 6 in steals per 100 possessions right now. Ott has also empowered him to jack threes at every opportunity, going from 6.2 to 9.7 three-point attempts per 100 possessions over the last year. Goodwin is knocking them down at a 35 percent clip so far, which is great for him.

Add in solid contributions from 2024 second-round pick Oso Ighodaro and current two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea, and the Suns changed their entire outlook this season by most the making of every fringe roster signing.

The Suns crush the offensive glass while still getting back in transition

The conventional wisdom that said crashing the offensive glass came at the cost of getting back in transition defensively is dead, and the Suns are the best proof. Phoenix ranks No. 6 in the league in offensive rebound rate and No. 5 in points allowed in transition per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass.

The Suns have not adopted the double big mentality of many teams, choosing to play with 6’6 Royce O’Neale and 6’7 Dillon Brooks next to center Mark Williams. Phoenix has been able to chase the long rebounds that come from their missed threes with a smaller lineup, and they can get back quicker defensively.

Phoenix was terrible in both areas last year, finishing No. 23 in offensive rebound rate and No. 27 in transition defense. This more than anything is the best example of Ott’s genius at work.

The Suns have maximized every ounce of defensive potential

Durant felt like the Suns’ best defender last year. That’s a huge problem. By trading him, the Suns put a bunch of defensive-minded players around Devin Booker who could do the dirty work and help win the possession battle.

Last year’s Suns were No. 28 in defensive rating under Budenholzer. This year’s Suns are No. 4 in defensive rating under Ott. Aside from fixing the transition defense, the biggest adjustment has been empowering his team to hunt for more steals even if it means getting called for fouls. The Suns have gone from No. 28 to No. 3 in defensive turnover percentage, with both Goodwin and Gillespie turning into steals monsters. All the steals have helped the transition frequency significantly increase as well, and transition scoring is always more efficient than halfcourt scoring.

Opponents are only shooting 34.6 percent from three against Phoenix this year, so maybe they have some shooting luck on their side. Still, it has to be exhausting to play against a team that plays so physically defensively and always hunts the ball. I don’t think it’s all shooting luck.

The Suns are no joke

Building around Booker without cap space or future draft capital seemed like an impossible task for the Suns. Instead, they’ve pulled it off by targeting role players who could go all-out defensively and try to get extra possessions on the offensive glass. Booker has been a solid contributor to a great defense, and offensively he’s done well to get more easy baskets at the foul line even during a year when he’s not shooting the ball well from deep.

Just about every move the Suns made worked out. Trading two late first-round picks for Mark Williams was a fantastic move to add rim protection and rebounding, though he’ll need to be resigned in restricted free agency. Keeping Grayson Allen and O’Neale instead of trading them for Jonathan Kuminga (which the Warriors reportedly turned down) was hugely beneficial. Ryan Dunn and Ighodaro are late round draft hits who don’t need the ball to impact winning. Everything revolves around Booker, and he’s making a big impact (89th percentile EPM) despite a brutal 49.7 percent effective field goal percentage. Just imagine how this looks when Booker’s shots start falling, and Jalen Green’s microwave scoring becomes a full-time part of the lineup.

The next step will be harder to take for the Suns with their draft and cap sheet limitations. The easiest path to leveling up is unleashing Maluach. I still see a super long interior scorer and paint protector who will be able to eventually hit shots from the three-point line. Resigning Gillespie is also a must, and integrating Green without sacrificing too much of the defense will be a tough needle to thread as well.

I was so, so wrong about the Suns. There’s nothing wrong with being a plucky mid-table playoff team, and Phoenix has already achieved that. After successfully pulling off a retooling with very little flexibility, it would be foolish to think another step is impossible. The Suns had to get everything right to avoid a doomed future, and they actually did it.

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A breakdown of Cooper Flagg and Luka Doncic’s first 41 games with the Mavericks

Cooper Flagg played in the 41st game of his rookie season on Monday against the New York Knicks. I recently compared Flagg’s first 41 games to those of the last ten number one overall picks, and figured why stop there. How does Flagg’s first half-season stack up against Luka Doncic’s?

Doncic wasn’t the number one overall pick in 2018, but it’s been obvious for a while that he should have been. It’s incredible to think that not only DeAndre Ayton, but Marvin Bagley Jr., and (technically) Trae Young were selected ahead of Doncic.

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping Flagg’s career mirrors that of Doncic’s, if not better. The only thing we have to compare right now, though, are the two young stars’ first 41 games, so let’s take a look at how they look next to each other.

Luka Doncic

43% FG, 37% 3P, 20/6.7/5, 1.1 steals, .3 blocks

Totals: 822 points, 275 rebounds, 207 assists, 46 steals, 11 blocks, 98 3P made

Doncic’s highest scoring game in the first half of his rookie season came against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 28th, 2018. But his best game was probably a week earlier, on December 20th, against the Los Angeles Clippers. Doncic put up 32 points, four rebounds, five assists, and four steals in that game.

Meanwhile, Flagg’s highest scoring game in the first half of his rookie season is also his best game. On December 15th, 2025 against the Utah Jazz, Flagg notched 42 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal. Here’s what Flagg’s first 41 games looks like:

Cooper Flagg

48% FG, 29% 3P, 18.8/6.3/4.1, 1.3 steals, .8 blocks

Totals: 770 points, 257 rebounds, 170 assists, 52 steals, 32 blocks, 40 3PM

Flagg measures up to Doncic’s first 41 games pretty well! That’s encouraging for everyone rooting for Flagg to live up to that number one overall pick label.

Each rookie enters a completely different situation when they’re drafted. Some join well-run, competitive teams with a clearly defined role. Some enter rebuilds that are complete tear-downs. Others are dropped into absolute messes.

Doncic came into a more stable situation. His first game he started alongside veterans Wes Matthews and DeAndre Jordan, with J.J. Barea and Devin Harris coming off the bench. Dirk Nowitzki began the year injured and wouldn’t join the lineup until 27 games into the season, but he was there to guide Doncic as he adapted to the NBA.

That’s not to say everything was perfect for Doncic as he navigated those first 41 games. There were some issues with veterans freezing him out during games, and he had issues with head coach Rick Carlisle. But it went about as well as you could hope for an introduction to the NBA.

Flagg has dealt with a situation that’s much more murky, at least off the court. The Mavericks came into the season with a poorly constructed roster. With a lack of established point guards to get the talent-laden front court the ball, the likelihood of Dallas struggling was high. That alone was going to make things rough on Flagg.

Head coach Jason Kidd resorted to playing Flagg at point guard early in the season, and it didn’t go well. Thankfully that experiment was abandoned and the Mavericks’ rookie was moved to a more natural position at forward. Kidd found a guard rotation of Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard that’s been serviceable, and Flagg has benefitted greatly.

Flagg also joined a franchise in the midst of a front office mess. Just 11 games into Flagg’s rookie season, Nico Harrison was rightfully fired for trading one of the top five players in the NBA for one of the most injured in Anthony Davis. Since joining the Mavericks, Davis hasn’t played more than five consecutive games.

The sporadic availability of Davis, coupled with the tinkering Kidd has had to do with the lineup haven’t made things easy on the court for Flagg. Still, he’s pushed through and put up numbers that are comparable to Doncic and some of the best number one overall draft picks of the last decade. There’s still a whole second half of the season to play, but the Mavericks and their fans should feel great about the trajectory he’s on so early in his career.