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The St. Louis Cardinals send 9 players to the Arizona Fall League

For a very few, the season is not yet over. The Arizona Fall League (AFL) beckons, and the invitations given often present signs of where a player stands in an organization and provide an opportunity for a player to redefine that path. Once seen, not so long ago, as a finishing school for top MiLB prospects, more recent versions have taken on a different cast. The league opens play tomorrow (Oct 3) and runs through mid-November. The Cardinal’s prospects will play for Peoria, teamed with players from the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners.

Over recent years, the players invited have tended younger, no longer right on the cusp of MLB. And the reasons for their assignment vary. Some of the more common scenarios that lead to a player being sent to the AFL:

  • Players who have lost in-season time due to injury, are healthy now and will use the AFL to accumulate innings or plate appearances;
  • Players who have been in the organization long enough that they will be requiring a 40-man roster spot this fall and the team is not 100% sure where they want to go with said player;
  • Players who have interesting tools but haven’t quite developed enough to advance them beyond their level. Often, these players are facing a roster crunch at the next level, and the team needs another look to map out where they project this player.

So, who is all going for the Cardinals? And what is their story. Let’s look.

With slightly less fanfare, that initial post was followed yesterday by:

Tai Peete, CF, AA, Age 21

Tai Peete was acquired from Seattle last off-season in the Brendan Donovan trade. One of the more mercurial prospects in the Cardinal prospect pipeline, Tai carries a 60-grade FV (from Baseball America) with an Extreme risk rating. BA really likes him, ranking him #10. MLB.com has him #17 and Fangraphs at #21. Quite the range.

He is a player still adjusting to a position change (moving from the dirt to CF) but is viewed as above-average out there already. Tai really only played half a season this year, mostly due to injury, across the High-A and AA levels. Even in the crazy offensive environment of the lower minors, he was 16% above average (wRC+ 116). Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Ability to make more contact will define his level of success. For him, the AFL offers the opportunity to round out his playing time.

Sammy Hernandez, C, High-A, Age 22

Sammy Hernandez was acquired from Toronto (for Genesis Cabrera) in the midst of the 2023 season, so it seems like he has been in the system forever. A development project if there ever was one, he has bounced between Low-A (Palm Beach) and High-A (Peoria) for 3 different seasons now. This season was his best and could be considered a least a bit of an offensive break out. His 17% walk rate suggests he is overcoming major plate discipline and swing decision issues that plagued him earlier. The 18% K rate probably confirms that. Carrying a wRC+ of 140 and lots of other gaudy statistics begins to make this look like an offense-first Catcher in the mold of Ivan Herrera. Sammy falls into category#2. He is rule V eligible this winter for both the MLB and MiLB versions of the Rule V draft (not sure if either will happen). His age works in his favor. His presence in the Cardinal system, seemingly deep with catching prospects, does not. If there is a Rule V draft, he will be eligible for the minor league portion, and some smart team likely takes him. I’d put Anaheim at the top of that list. By and large unranked (in a class of ~53 prospects by FG) by prospect evaluators, the AFL assignment lets the club get one more look at him against what portends to be a bit stiffer competition than High-A. Intriguing.

Cade McGee, Util, AA, Age 23

Cade was a 9th round draft pick in the 2024 draft, so he hasn’t been around all that long, so he doesn’t fit the profile of a player needing a 40-man roster spot this winter. He didn’t get 100 games in this year, so they may well be looking at extending his season to get reps in. I listed him as Util because of the distribution of games played by position: C – 24, 2B – 22, 3B – 18, 1B – 18, DH – 14. Versatility is good, but it limits the reps at any one position, and I suspect the AFL may help fill that gap. I note that since moving to Springfield, he has been confined to 3B and 2B. The hit tool looks OK, not much power (not enough for CIF anyway) but still a wRC+ of 115 across two levels. A very late in the season promotion to Springfield (AA) along with this AFL assignment suggest they may be pushing him a bit.

Brandon Clarke, SP, AA, Age 23

Clarke was acquired in the Sonny Gray trade, which appears to have worked out really well for all sides. He is a 2024 draftee, so there are no Rule V considerations here. His season didn’t start until June after off-season arm surgery to address circulation issues, so he fits the AFL assignment category#1 neatly. Brandon fits anywhere between #5 and #16 on the Cardinals prospect list, depending on which pub you go by. BA is least optimistic on him yet grades his FB at 60 and his slider at 70 (not a grade they hand out often). Note: FG rates that slider at 80. Injury and command issues are his stalking issues. Clarke started his season at High-A, finished pitching at AA and went to the Development List just before season’s end, ostensibly to prepare for the AFL. While the AFL isn’t deep enough to be considered a finishing school, it could well be a launch pad for a pitcher like this.

Authors note: I wrote this brief before it was announced that Clarke would undergo minor surgery and not be able to participate in AFL games. I left it in, obviously.

Tekoah Roby, SP, AAA, Age 25

Roby was acquired from Texas in a multi-player deal that saw Stratton and Montgomery go to Texas and Roby, Saggese, King and International Bonus Cash coming to StL. Not a bad return. Prospect rankings on Roby are very tight, ranging from #12 to #14. All of those are certainly discounted due to injury (and recovery concerns). After ascending to AAA in 2025, Roby got hurt and spent the remainder of 2025 and 2026 recovering and rehabbing. He has been pitching for some time on the backfields at Jupiter, facing hitters. The AFL will allow him to get into game action for the first time and likely sets the stage for a return to AAA next year after a normal off-season. So, he is most definitely AFL assignment category#1. He will look to collect innings, work off rust and the typical command issues that come early in the TJ rehab cycle. Proving health will be key as availability has been his biggest liability up to now.

BA scouting grades (pre-injury) say it all: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55

Nate Dohm, SP/RP, AA, Age 23

Dohm was acquired last year from New York in the Ryan Helsley trade. While his current level shows AA, that was a very late season promotion resulting in only one game at the AA level. The rest of the season was spent at High-A Peoria. Nate finished the season on the Development, like Clarke, ostensibly to prepare for the AFL. Nate apears on the FG prospect lists at 34. BA and MLB.com agree, as they do not have them in their Top-30 list. Dohm overall is a 35+ FV, with a 60 grade FB, 50 grade slider and 50 grade command. He is not Rule V eligible this off-season, so he is not AFL assignment category#2 for sure. He got in 25 games, 13 starts and 12 relief appearances for 61 IP, so he ended up a little short on workload, which I imagine they wanted closer to 90 or 100 IP. I suspect the Development Team wants to accumulate more IP but also likely he will workshop some new pitching tools.

Michael Watson, RP, AA, Age 24

Watson came to the Cardinals in 2024 as an unrestricted free agent out of indy ball. He is unranked as a prospect, even on FG’s 53 deep list. He repeated AA this past season after a fairly successful 2025 season across High-A and AA. He is a lefty who is adept at missing bats with a side-arm, mid-tier FB, but lacks command, running a K-BB% at less than 15. His ERA- and FIP- run just slightly better than average for the league he was in. I’d place him in the tweener category — a guy who needs more than the 52.2 IP he got but also needs to show a little more if he wants to make the AAA roster next spring. So, more category#3.

Frank Ellisalt, SP/RP, High-A, Age 24

Ellisalt also came to the Cardinals with Dohm (and Jesus Baez) in the Helsley trade last year. He carries a #47 ranking on the FG prospects list and does not appear on shorter lists. He sports a FB and slider combo both graded at 60 (interesting!), but very poor command. He is not Rule V eligible until next year. Injury derailed his 2026 season and, like Roby, the AFL offers the opportunity to get some competitive pitches in before everyone goes home for the winter. Category#1 on this pitcher. It is good to see he has health back.

Towards the end of November, I’ll provide an update on how these guys did.

Joseph King, RP, AA, Age 25

King was a ninth-round draft pick back in 2022. He has been on the edges of the lengthier FG prospects list and not on anyone else’s top 30. He sports a good FB and power change but struggles with command. This was the first season his BB rate was decent (9.6%), allowing his excellent K rate (30% +) to play. Injuries have played a part, as well, appearing in only 34 games over the past three seasons. Rule V isn’t a concern with him, but making up missed innings is.

Nolan Sparks, RP/SP, AA, Age 24

Sparks was a thirteen-round draft pick in 2024. He does not appear on any prospect lists. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but he strikes out a lot of guys and walks a lot of guys, although this was his first full season. He pitched a few games after being drafted in 2024, pitched in 18 games in 2025 and carried a full load this past season, so catching up on innings doesn’t seem like a big concern. He isn’t eligible for Rule V, so that is not an issue. Since he wasn’t on the original roster, this may be more of a guy assigned to fill out the roster. He seemed to have a prominent role in the AA playoffs. Perhaps they find that 34% K rate at AA intriguing.

In other MiLB news

Also from the Cardinals today,

For those of you that watched, you may remember Curley pitched the game of his life against Springfield in the AA playoffs. He was a 2025 3rd round draft pick for the D-backs. Will likely start the 2027 season in the AA rotation right alongside old friend Daniel Eagan. He will slot in the prospect list at around 30-35. For comparison sake, he was #21 on Arizona’s prospect list. Cardinals end up with four Arizona pitching prospects this year. Martinez for Arenado, Eagen, Santana and Curley for Nootbaar. Not hard to notice yet another young pitcher that does not need 40-man protection.

Last but not least

In the fun category, I present this post.

Of the 24 players selected, 5 of them (5!) are Cardinal prospects. Baez, Gurevitch, Rodriguez, Little Baez and Ragsdale.

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Orioles news: The Division Series matchups are set

Oct 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves infielder Matt Olson (28) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jonathan Bowlan (not pictured) during the seventh inning in game three of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Round 1 of the Orioles-less 2026 postseason is in the books. With the Braves finishing off the Phillies in the sudden-death Game 3 of the Wild Card Series last night, the Division Series matchups are set. Because of MLB’s bizarre decision not to re-seed teams between rounds, the American League pits the teams with the two best records against each other — the Rays and Yankees — while the White Sox take on the Guardians in an AL Central battle. In the NL, the Padres will face the top-ranked Brewers, and the Braves head to L.A. to face the two-time defending champion Dodgers.

Who are you pulling for, Camden Chatters? I’d say there’s only one series where I have a clear favorite, which of course is rooting for the Rays to win (or more accurately, rooting for the Yankees to lose). I have no strong feelings either way about the Guardians and White Sox, but I guess I’d lean toward Cleveland since it’s been nearly 80 years since their last World Series win.

As for the National League, I’d be happy for either the Brewers or the Padres — two teams who have never won a World Series — to make it to the Fall Classic, and in a perfect world they wouldn’t have to face each other until the NLCS. But only one can even advance that far. Each team’s roster is sprinkled with former Orioles — Manny Machado and Austin Hays for San Diego; Joey Ortiz and DL Hall (and Gary Sánchez) for Milwaukee — so pick your favorite. Meanwhile, it’s hard to get excited about the Braves/Dodgers matchup. Hopefully, whoever wins that series will lose swiftly to either the Brewers or Padres in the Championship Series.

Including the Rays, there are three teams still alive in the postseason that have a chance to win their first World Series in franchise history. That would be a cool thing to witness, even if it’s a far cry from the enjoyment we’d get if the Orioles were involved. But because the baseball gods don’t want us to have any fun, I’m sure we’ll just end up with a Dodgers/Yankees World Series that will make everyone want to throw up.

Links

What do Orioles need to avoid a 3rd straight losing season in 2027? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com

Well, my preferred answer — fire Mike Elias — apparently isn’t happening, so your guess is as good as mine.

Rubbing Some Dirt on It Isn’t Working for the Orioles – FanGraphs

Davy Andrews revisits Craig Albernaz’s criticism of Samuel Basallo for not playing through pain, and points to Gunnar Henderson as an example of why that’s a misguided thing to say. If you can even imagine Craig Albernaz saying something misguided!

How Orioles can clean up defense – School of Roch

Well, my preferred answer — blow up the roster and replace everyone with better players — apparently isn’t happening, so your guess is as good as mine.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three former Orioles were born on this day: outfielder Aaron Hicks (37), infielder José Morban (47), and right-hander Victor Santos (50).

On this date in 2012, Chris Davis tied an Orioles record by homering in his sixth consecutive game, providing the only offense in a 1-0 victory over the Rays. The O’s won despite the Rays’ James Shields throwing a complete game two-hitter with 15 strikeouts, as Miguel González and three Birds relievers kept Tampa Bay off the board.

In 2016, the Orioles clinched a playoff spot on the last day of the season by beating the Yankees, 5-2, in New York. Matt Wieters crushed two home runs in what turned out to be his final regular-season game as an Oriole. Kevin Gausman worked 7.1 strong innings, and Zack Britton got the last five outs to punch the Birds’ ticket to October, sending them to Toronto for the Wild Card Game. I forget what happened after that.

The O’s have also played four postseason games on Oct. 2, three of them victories. In 1996, they beat Cleveland, 7-4, to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Series. The O’s stormed out to a 4-0 advantage by the fifth thanks to a Brady Anderson homer and RBI hits by Hall of Famers Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray, before Cleveland rallied to tie it up. The Orioles broke the deadlock with a three-run eighth inning that featured a fielder’s choice error, an Anderson sac fly, and an RBI single by another Hall of Famer, Roberto Alomar. A crowd of 48,970 was on hand for the festivities at Camden Yards.

In 1997, the Orioles again took a 2-0 lead in the Division Series, this time against Seattle, with their second consecutive 9-3 victory. Anderson homered and drove in three, Harold Baines hit a dinger, and Alomar and Mike Bordick each drove in two runs. That supported a strong effort by starter Scott Erickson, who held a powerful Mariners lineup to three runs in 6.2 innings.

And in 2014, the O’s opened the Division Series with a 12-3 shellacking of the Tigers at Camden Yards. Facing the first of Detroit’s three Cy Young-winning starters, Max Scherzer, the Orioles pounded him for five runs, including homers by Nelson Cruz and J.J. Hardy. Five different O’s batters had multi-hit games and seven drove in at least one run. This was a tense, 4-3 game until the bottom of the eighth, when the O’s exploded for an eight-run inning and sent 12 batters to the plate.

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Phillies News: Elimination, Aaron Nola, John Kruk

Oct 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Derek Hill (not pictured) slides headfirst into third base with a triple against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game three of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The season is over, but daily links continue.

On to said links:

Phillies News:

You may not want an analysis of last night’s events, but here one is.

And one focusing on Aaron Nola.

And the Inquirer’s take. ($)

The best of Kruk (and friends) from the game 3 broadcast. ($)

MLB news

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo has signed an extension.

The rumored plans for a game at Grand Teton National Park will not come to pass.

The Division Series, previewed.

Those who have seen a Jacob Misiorowski pitch up close tell the tale.

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The Brewers Paradox: Baseball’s Salary-Cap Rorschach Test

Today’s guest column is from professors John Cairney and Rick Burton.

Most baseball fans are currently focused on one of two things. If their team is still in the playoffs, they are obsessing over current and possible postseason matchups. If their club was eliminated, they are probably already looking toward 2027.

Almost nobody is thinking about collective bargaining. Almost nobody, except the obvious vested interests—and those of us who study the baseball business. That will change if Major League Baseball shuts down in 2027.

The league and the MLB Players Association have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since May, with the current deal expiring Dec. 1. And perhaps no issue is more consequential—or potentially contentious—than MLB’s proposal for a salary cap and salary floor.

Enter the Milwaukee Brewers, winners of an MLB-best 103 games and, for the fourth consecutive season, the National League Central. And the Crew did it with nothing resembling baseball’s biggest payroll.

Of this, we are certain: The player’s union noticed.

MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer has specifically pointed to the recent success of teams like Milwaukee when challenging MLB’s competitive-balance argument. His point is straightforward: Cap systems don’t guarantee competitive balance, because teams like Milwaukee’s payroll ranking (19th) and Tampa Bay’s (23rd) provide examples of lower-payroll teams keeping up with much richer clubs.

The Brewers and Rays (who won an impressive 98 games) therefore look like particularly compelling exhibits. To channel Dr. Suess, little cats A and B.

If two top teams can consistently win while spending considerably less than baseball’s financial heavyweights, what exactly is the problem a salary cap will supposedly solve?

Clearly, a careful owner doesn’t need to spend the most money to win division crowns. So why prevent billionaires (willing and able to spend lavishly) from opening their wallets for free agents?

Could an objective jury suggest this case should be closed? Not quite.

The Brewers and Rays got us wondering about the other side of the argument. If Milwaukee and Tampa Bay become exhibits for salary cap opponents, what would MLB owners say in response?

We came up with four answers. There are undoubtedly others—and perhaps better ones—but here’s our quartet.

First, four exceptions (we’ve added in little cats C and D with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians) don’t necessarily make the rule. That raises the question of whether this is really about someone’s desire for “competitive balance.”

MLB has explicitly structured its argument around equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcomes. Under that framing, competitive balance doesn’t mean every club should finish 81-81. Why? Because superior scouting, player development, coaching and decision-making all create advantages.

Admittedly, our two exhibits have been exceptionally good at all of them. But that leads to a different interpretation of the success. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay may demonstrate that superbly run smaller-market organizations can overcome an annual financial/salary disadvantage.

But that doesn’t mean the disadvantage doesn’t exist.

Indeed, the Brewers, Rays, ChiSox and Guardians (they of the absolute lowest salary payroll) could be evidence for both sides at once. The union can say, “See, you don’t need a cap to compete.”

The owners respond with, “See how exceptionally well you have to operate a club without the resources of the wealthy.” Milwaukee, Tampa, Cleveland and Chicago prove the financial gap can be overcome—not that it doesn’t matter.

Second, building a winner and sustaining one aren’t necessarily the same thing. The Brewers and Rays have been unquestionably successful for multiple years. But two questions linger. Can they keep their rosters together as their best players become increasingly expensive? And come mid-October, can either club win the big prize?

MLB has made player retention a central part of its competitive-balance case, arguing smaller-market teams should have greater ability to retain the stars they develop rather than eventually losing them to clubs with greater financial resources.

Then there is October. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay have never won a World Series (and Cleveland hasn’t won since 1948). Indeed, Kansas City in 2015 remains the last small-market club to win the World Series.

That doesn’t prove a salary cap is necessary. Far from it. But it does point out a conundrum: Is possessing sufficient resources to compete over 162 games the same thing as possessing sufficient talent to continually assemble and win the Series?

The answer may be yes and no. This October will undoubtedly add interesting data points.

Third, perhaps big payrolls aren’t really about buying wins but more about the consequences of being wrong. This may be the most interesting argument, because one lingering “Moneyball” habit is thinking about payroll in terms of efficiency.

We can measure how many wins an organization purchased for each dollar spent. But can a 103-win team disappear from October in three games? Why, yes, they can. In fact, in 2001, the Seattle Mariners won a record 116 games and promptly lost the American League pennant to the Yankees in five.

This is the advantage of what Purple Row’s Renee Dechert, drawing on Pedro Moura, calls “optionality”: Better resources give teams more ways to respond when things go wrong. Wealth doesn’t guarantee better decisions. It makes bad ones easier to survive.

We think that insight leads to a broader question. Perhaps baseball’s financial imbalance isn’t simply about the unequal ability to purchase talent. Maybe it’s also about the unequal cost of failure.

Consider two teams that each make a $30 million mistake. A wealthy club can absorb it, find a replacement and try again. For a club operating closer to Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee or Tampa’s payroll, the same mistake consumes a far greater share of its resources—and leaves far less room to recover.

Money therefore may not buy certainty, but it may fund resilience.

If that postulation is true, the competitive-balance question changes subtly: Are wealthier clubs better positioned to survive the inevitable mistakes and misfortunes involved in trying to win it all?

The extraordinary efficiency of the 2026 Brewers and Rays doesn’t necessarily answer that question, but it may actually help illuminate it.

Finally, we think when the smoke clears what fans will see is that MLB’s owners aren’t proposing just a ceiling. They’re also proposing a floor. The league’s initial proposal would establish a $245.3 million salary cap and a $171.2 million salary floor in 2027.

Based on 2026 Opening Day payrolls, the Washington Post reported eight clubs would have needed to reduce payroll. But 12 would’ve been required to spend more. The Brewers, Rays, Guardians and the surprising Sox were four of them.

That turns the Milwaukee-Tampa example on its head. The owners’ response could be: Exactly.

Milwaukee has constructed one of baseball’s best teams while spending approximately $131 million. Imagine an economic system that required the Brewers to put another $40 million into that roster while simultaneously reducing the spending advantage enjoyed by baseball’s richest clubs. The numbers are even crazier for the Rays and White Sox. They’re positively insane for the Guardians.

That, in turn, invites an equally powerful response from the players. Why does accomplishing the first objective require the second?

The MLBPA’s proposal points toward another solution: Greater revenue sharing, coupled with penalties for clubs failing to meet minimum payroll benchmarks or invest revenue-sharing proceeds in players.

So, if Milwaukee can build baseball’s best team at its current payroll, why prevent the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets or anyone else from paying players what they believe they are worth? Why not strengthen revenue sharing and require lower-spending clubs to invest more in players—without imposing a ceiling?

And suddenly the Brewers, Rays, Guardians and Sox aren’t evidence for either side so much as evidence of how complicated the question is.

Competitive balance can mean comparable payrolls, chances of reaching October or the financial capacity to survive mistakes. Those are not the same thing.

Milwaukee, Tampa, Cleveland and Chicago will undoubtedly be part of the bargaining conversation despite their status as lesser cats. But despite the attention their success receives, how much should four exceptional teams really tell us about the economics of an entire league? Perhaps not much. Or, possibly, too much.

Then again, high-stakes labor negotiations are rarely won—or lost—on economic evidence alone. They’re often determined by brutal strategies and tactics requiring unwanted compromise or “couldn’t stand the pain” submission.

John Cairney is the dean of the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. Rick Burton is Syracuse University’s David Falk Emeritus Professor of Sport Management and former commissioner of Australia’s National Basketball League.

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DitD & Open Post – 10/2/26: Stick Tossing Edition

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 1: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils scores the game winning goal during the overtime period of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 1, 2026, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

A delightful start to the campaign! Jack Hughes finished off an overtime win as the Devils took Thursday’s season opener 3-2. [Devils NHL]

Here we go!

“This is a big season for the Devils. It’s more or less playoffs or bust. The talent is there for them to return to postseason play, especially with a murky Metropolitan Division, but they need to prove it. Can the Devils finally live up to expectations and deliver the goods?” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

Hockey Links

Goalie goal alert:

Not a great look:

“NHL commissioner Gary Bettman believes that no-trade clauses are no longer being used as ‘originally intended,’ and instead, players are using them to force moves to specific teams after requesting a trade.” [ESPN]

On the Quinn Hughes question in Minnesota: “This year is really important,” Guerin said. “Every year is really important, but the steps we’ve taken over the last five or six years to get where we are now — it’s been a lot of work from everybody involved. Put it like this: We can’t waste years. You can’t waste years.” [The Athletic ($)]

We’re just throwing around money these days:

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Open Thread: Spurs release promotional schedule

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Mariachi Los Soberanos perform with Mascot The Coyote of the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs on June 5, 2026 at 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(Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

There are 41 Spurs home games…but one is being played Paris and three are being played in Austin, so make that 37 home games here in San Antonio. While that seems like a lot, it isn’t. Not for a season as exciting as this one promises to be. So we’re going to all want to get there as often as possible.

Since the drafting of Victor Wembanyama, demand for tickets has risen significantly, which means prices for tickets have also risen. Add in parking, food, and drinks, and it’s not just a whimsical night out, it is an event. And the Spurs have added themes to some nights to level up the revelry.

For those of us who appreciate the swag, the Spurs have also spiced up their schedule with a ton of theme gear and some giveaways. They recently released the 2026-2027 Promotional Offers.

T-shirts, hats, heritage jerseys, and the annual “ugly sweater” are all on the calendar. There are still nights honoring military and veterans, which not only reflects San Antonio as Military City, U.S.A., but maintains the relationship the organization has with USAA. Last season the Spurs had individualized evenings set aside for various branches of the military. Be on the look out for additions over the course of the season.

Box Out Cancer Night, always a hit with fans, takes place on March 31st this year.

Nights dedicated to celebrating Filipino, Hispanic, French*, Mexican and Black heritage not only highlight the vast backgrounds of the team members, but the multicultural diversity of the city. There is no mention of a Native American Heritage Night, something Jacob Tobey and Lindy Waters III piloted last season.

*It is unclear from the wording if it is “French Heritage” or Harry Potter French Heritage.“ I can only imagine it is two separate themes, as Harry Potter French Heritage must have a very narrow scope.

The Spurs have foregone their long-standing Star Wars Night for Space Jam. They have also scaled back Peanuts and sesame Street while keeping Barbie and Hello Kitty.

No matter what you are into, there is a night for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Faith and Family, Pride, School Employees, and Dia De Los Muertos are all on the schedule this season.

So head on out to the Frost bank Center and cheer on your Spurs this season.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Aleksander Barkov injury update as Panthers star leaves with leg injury

The Florida Panthers will learn on Friday, Oct. 2 how long captain Aleksander Barkov will be out after he left the ice with an apparent injury to his left leg.

Barkov had missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering injuries to his ACL and MCL in his right knee during training camp.

"It's not related to his injury last year at all," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after the 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, Oct. 1. "So we'll have a good idea by (Friday) afternoon."

Barkov went down awkwardly on his left leg during a board battle in the second period. He got up and immediately went to the dressing room, limping and throwing off his glove in anger. He didn't return to the game.

Barkov's injury last season was one of many that derailed the Panthers as they missed the playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

Gustav Forsling, who scored in overtime in the Panthers' opening win, missed Thursday's game. Maurice said he's day-to-day and there's a good chance he could return for Florida's next game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aleksander Barkov injury update as Panthers star leaves with leg injury

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Heat vibes, Alpha Sixers, Doncic domination? Top storylines for NBA preseason

NBA training camps are in full swing, and the first preseason game is nearly upon us.

The Miami Heat will head to Quebec City, Canada, to face the Toronto Raptors Saturday, Oct. 3. Both teams have been revamped, with Miami pulling off the blockbuster to land star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Toronto reunited with Kawhi Leonard.

Those are just two of the teams to have undergone massive changes, and they’re not even the ones that had the most seismic offseason; the Philadelphia 76ers went all-in on their championship window and added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

While it’s safe to expect veterans to play limited minutes during preseason games, here are five storylines I’m tracking as we inch closer to the 2026-27 NBA regular season:

The vibes are seemingly high in Miami, but how will the Heat offense actually look?

New addition Klay Thompson took the team out on a boat to cruise around Biscayne Bay. Earlier in the month, captain Bam Adebayo and point guard Davion Mitchell organized a players-only week of training they started calling “pain camp,” for all the cardio work they did. Players have said all the right things.

By all accounts, the vibes around the new-look Heat are high. But what will their play look like, in practice? One thing that struck me from the early footage coming from their camp at Florida Atlantic was the pace. Miami led the league last season in that stat, generating 104.22 possessions per 48 minutes. And now with Antetokounmpo, that emphasis on fastbreak offense should only intensify; Antetokounmpo ranked second in the NBA with 5.5 fast break points per game. Antetokounmpo sucks in the defense when he attacks in transition, and his vision allows him to find open shooters.

I expect the Heat to continue to play fast, and I expect Antetokounmpo to put up huge assist numbers, if he stays healthy. The big question here is whether Miami’s shooting holds up and whether it can sustain this style for an entire season.

2026-27 SCHEDULE: 10 matchups we can't wait to watch this season

It’s Luka’s team now. Can he lead the Lakers to the top of the West?

The Los Angeles offense, at times last season, looked rather disjointed, particularly when both Luka Dončić and LeBron James were on the floor at the same time.

Both are players who thrive when the ball is in their hands, and both are among the game’s best passers. The issue, then, became: what was one supposed do when the other had the ball? Most often, the player without the ball was relegated to standing off to the side, away from the action.

But now with James moving onto the 76ers, the bulk of Los Angeles’ play-making will fall to him. Last season, Dončić led the NBA in usage rate (36.8%), or the number of possessions that end with that player taking a shot or committing a turnover. Dončić also ranked sixth in assist percentage (38.7%), or the rate of teammate field goals a player assisted while on the floor – among all players with at least 50 games.

'FEELS LIKE HE'S NOT HERE': Bronny James adjusts to Lakers' life without LeBron

Being as ball-dominant as Dončić is (and being as talented as he is when he initiates actions), I suspect both those figures will be even higher this season. I also suspect that, if healthy, Dončić will play his way into the Most Valuable Player conversation even more so than he has in recent seasons.

Shooting guard Austin Reaves is the other play-maker for the Lakers, and one who should excel even further when Dončić takes a blow on the bench. But when both are on the floor, expect Dončić to be the one to orchestrate everything.

I’m not worried about alphas or top dogs in Philadelphia. But Nick Nurse has some work to do.

During 76ers media day, when asked who the “alpha” would be on the roster, newly acquired All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown wasn’t having any of it. “Next question,” he said, with sober indifference.

I understand why the question was asked, but I think framing this team in that way is flawed. This isn’t LeBron James willing the 2017-18 Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. This isn’t Brown taking on the biggest role of his career last season while Jayson Tatum was out, recovering from an Achilles tendon tear. It’s not Tyrese Maxey carrying the Sixers two seasons ago as Philadelphia contended with debilitating injuries.

The reality is this team doesn’t need to worry about alphas or No. 1s, and if that’s where the discourse ever goes to, coach Nick Nurse will have failed. Top to bottom, this Sixers team is as talented as it has been in decades. This is Philadelphia’s best shot to win a title in the Joel Embiid-Maxey window.

The task at hand is to get the new faces (and old, too) to buy into a team mentality that foregoes individual accolades in favor of collective success. In practical matters, James, Brown, Maxey and Embiid may see their scoring averages dip a touch. I think that would be a good sign that things are working. As long as this team stays healthy, and as long as they share the ball, a championship should be within reach.

'NO INSTANT OATMEAL': Why sacrifice is key to 76ers' title aspirations

Young Spurs seem loose and confident. Can San Antonio learn from last year’s disappointment?

San Antonio’s stars may be young, but they appear to have embraced trolling, to a certain degree. In an interview with GQ, Stephon Castle downplayed the energy at Madison Square Garden during the Finals, calling the first game “underwhelming.” For the most part, I think this is a good thing. I would want my players to be confident and bold.

But talk is just talk, and the real test here is whether the Spurs can become the first team since the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors to win a title the season after losing the NBA Finals.

It will come down to the continued development of Victor Wembanyama, Castle, Dylan Harper and how veteran De’Aaron Fox bounces back from an uneven Finals. But more than anything, the Spurs need to learn from their loss against the Knicks, when they couldn’t close out games because they stopped attacking the paint, became too passive and fell in love with a 3-point shot that wasn’t dropping.

'ABSOLUTELY NOT': Wembanyama takes strong stand against promoting sports betting

I think two teams are lurking. Both could be Finals-worthy

It seems like no one is talking about the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton is back and healthy, and if not for his Achilles tendon that snapped in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, we might be talking about them in a very different way. The roster has changed somewhat. And while I think Indiana will continue to miss Myles Turner’s perimeter shooting, I actually think Ivica Zubac is an excellent fit with Haliburton’s passing ability. But there’s still a lot to work out, so the preseason will be telling to see how the Pacers gel with Zubac providing rim protection, defensive rebounding and rim running.

PACERS: Tyrese Haliburton declares himself '100%' healthy for season

Out West, I think it’s the Minnesota Timberwolves who are flying a bit under the radar, overshadowed by the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. But with LaMelo Ball in place, Anthony Edwards finally has another player who can both create his own shot and initiate actions. This should take a huge burden off of Edwards, and it should make Minnesota more consistent against better defenses in the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heat vibes, Alpha Sixers, Doncic domination? Top storylines for NBA preseason

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NBA preseason tips off with Heat vs Raptors: 2026-27 key dates, schedule

The NBA's preseason schedule is set to begin, and the first game could be a showcase for the blockbuster moves that shook up the league this offseason.

Every team in the league returned to the court this week for the start of training camps, and the opening exhibition game of the 2026-27 season is slated for Saturday, Oct. 3 with an NBA Canada game featuring the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat in Quebec City.

Though the availability of star players remains to be determined, it could be the first opportunity to see Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Heat jersey and the return of Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors. Both Antetokounmpo and Leonard were acquired via high-profile trades in recent months.

Preseason action continues on Sunday, Oct. 4 when the Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Clippers in Honolulu and the Utah Jazz take on the Denver Nuggets in Boulder, Colorado.

Here's a breakdown of the NBA's preseason schedule, as well as key dates on the league calendar heading into the 2026-27 season:

When does the NBA preseason begin?

The preseason begins Saturday, Oct. 3 with an NBA Canada game when the Miami Heat face the Toronto Raptors in Quebec City.

When are the next NBA preseason games?

The preseason continues Sunday, Oct. 4 with two games: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers in Honolulu and Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets in Boulder, Colorado.

Full NBA preseason schedule

The NBA preseason runs from Oct. 3 through Oct. 16. Click here for the full schedule.

When does the NBA regular season begin?

The 2026-27 regular season begins on Tuesday, Oct. 20 with three games, including an afternoon tilt between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. That matchup will be followed by an evening doubleheader when LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visit the reigning champion New York Knicks and the Spurs host the Thunder in a Western Conference Finals rematch.

NBA OPENING WEEK: Ranking all the national TV games from worst to first

  • Tuesday, Oct. 20: Celtics at Pistons, 3 p.m. ET | NBC | Peacock
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20: 76ers at Knicks, 7 p.m. ET | NBC | Peacock
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20: Thunder at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET | NBC | Peacock

Stream all three NBA opening day games on Peacock

When does the NBA Cup begin?

The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup begins Wednesday, Oct. 30 group play featuring 10 games. Group play concludes on Friday, Nov. 27.

2026 NBA Cup schedule

  • Group play begins: Wednesday, Oct. 30
  • Group play concludes: Friday, Nov. 27
  • Quarterfinals: Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5
  • Semifinals: Tuesday, Dec. 8 and/or Wednesday, Dec. 9
  • Final: Friday, Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

When is the NBA trade deadline?

The trade deadline for the 2026-27 NBA season is Thursday, Feb. 11.

When is the NBA All-Star break?

The All-Star break for this season will run from Feb. 19 through Feb. 24.

When is the 2027 NBA All-Star Game?

NBA All-Star weekend is Feb. 19-21 in Phoenix. The 76th NBA All-Star Game will take place at Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, on Sunday, Feb. 21.

When does the NBA regular season end?

The 2026-27 season ends Sunday, April 11 with a full slate of 15 games.

When does the NBA postseason begin?

The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament runs from Tuesday, April 13 through Friday, April 16. This will be followed by the 2027 NBA playoffs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA preseason tips off with Heat vs Raptors: 2026-27 key dates, schedule

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Pens Points: Lizotte suffers injury as Kindel nears return

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Blake Lizotte #46 of the Pittsburgh Penguins handles the puck during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on September 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…

Penguins center Blake Lizotte missed practice Thursday while being evaluated for a lower-body injury, just one day after returning from injured reserve in Pittsburgh’s 7-0 season-opening win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Center Ben Kindel, meanwhile, returned to practice in a full-contact jersey and participated in line rushes, signaling he could be nearing a return from his lower-body injury. [PensBurgh]

The Penguins assigned forward Rutger McGroarty to their American Hockey League affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, on Thursday afternoon. [Trib Live]

The Penguins’ makeshift third line of Filip Hallander, Ville Koivunen and Hendrix Lapierre provided a major spark in Wednesday’s win, with each player scoring a goal. The trio was assembled because of injuries and absences, but their strong chemistry and offensive contributions could give Pittsburgh more options as the season begins. [Trib Live]

Penguins head coach Dan Muse and defenseman Erik Karlsson toured U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock as part of the team’s new partnership with the company, which became Pittsburgh’s official helmet partner for the 2026-27 season. [Penguins]

News and notes from around the NHL…

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the recent increase in players requesting trades despite having no-movement clauses is not good for players, teams or fans. [Sportsnet]

The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenseman Tristan Luneau to a six-year contract extension worth $43.2 million. [Associated Press via TSN]

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman returned to the lineup Thursday night for the first time since stepping away from the team in March to address his mental health. [Associated Press]

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says there remains no timeline for a Connor Hellebuyck trade. [TSN]

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Islanders News: Darche on summer, Duclair on target

Heeeyyyy, we remember you. | NHLI via Getty Images

Good morning and happy Friday, the New York Islanders are last in the Metro.

Islanders News

  • Pierre LeBrun talks to Mathieu Darche on chasing Kirll Marchenko, the DeBoer hiring, and more. “It might look like we didn’t do much this summer, but it’s not because we didn’t try. And I don’t want to do anything reckless.“ [Athletic]
  • How do the Isles use Mat Barzal whenever he returns? [Newsday]
  • After one game, Anthony Duclair “appears to be capable,” to steal a Rasin’ Arizona line. [Post]

Elsewhere

Last night’s scores included the Jack Hughes getting the Devils the win in overtime after he objected to a mid-game question from AJ Mleczko about bubble wrap and plastic utensils (he was reportedly injured during a team dinner last season). [NHL]

  • Igor Shesterkin has tied his buddy Ilya Sorokin in career goals, having shot into the empty net against the Lightning. Asked about Sorokin’s goal (which was a Nashville own goal), Shesterkin said, “this one counts!” [NHL]
  • Returning from a seasonlong injury, Aleksander Barkov left the Panthers-Sharks game after an awkward fall along the boards. [Sportsnet]
  • Gary Bettman is not a fan of the NTC-wielding trade-request trend. [Sportsnet]
  • Matthew Knies scored three points in his Columbus debut. [NHL]
  • The ugly Putin stain on “absolutely shallow and borderline dismissive” Ovechkin’s legacy. [Athletic]
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MMBets: The Chicago Bulls start fresh in the Caleb Wilson era

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 26: Chicago Bulls first round draft picks Caleb Wilson (right) and Dailyn Swain (left) pose for a portrait after a press conference at Advocate Center on June 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The once proud franchise known as the Chicago Bulls has been in the wilderness for a decade now. There have been many issues in Windy City, but perhaps their biggest fault is them not picking a direction. For far too many years, the Bulls spent their season finishing between 35 and 40 wins, finishing right on the fringes of the playoffs, and either getting spanked in the first round or picking late in the lottery. It’s hard to improve when, as a franchise, your ethos is being too good to stink while also being too bad to be actually good.

Enter last year’s Bulls, who finally decided to pick a direction after the All-Star Break. That direction was down, so tank commander Donovan and the group of guys they pulled out of the morning run on the Blacktop courts at Jackson Park lost many games down the stretch. Heck, even the tanking Mavericks couldn’t help but beat them by a million in game 82. Of course, that loss put the Bulls into a coin flip for ninth in the lottery, which they went on to win. Naturally, they then jumped into the top four of the draft. Quite the turn of events!

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After the summer, the Bulls look dramatically different and there is no confusion about what the goal is. They want to build a winner around Caleb Wilson, and this year is the start of making that dream a reality.

Chicago Bulls: Over/Under 29.5 wins (-115/-110)

To win Central Division: 65/1
To win Eastern Conference: 175/1
To win Finals: 1000/1

Last season: 31-51, 12th in the Eastern Conference

Key additions: Caleb Wilson (4th pick in 2026 Draft), Dailyn Swain (15th pick in 2026 Draft), Norm Powell (via Miami), Nic Claxton (via Brooklyn)

Key losses: When you’re terrible, no one is a key loss

Coaching change: Billy Donovan OUT (now lead assistant in San Antonio), Tiago Splitter IN (via Portland)

To be honest, the Bulls new front office did some nice work this offseason. Obviously, the two rookies are headliners for the organization. But beyond that, Claxton is a fun piece to work with at center, especially after years of the Nikola Vucevic experience. Norm Powell and Buddy Hield should be nice vets to have around for this team. Plus, internal development from Matas Buzelis should have fans excited for a Wilson/Buzelis pairing for years to come. And hey, Noa Essengue grew again and, just maybe, is better at the game of basketball.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 10: Tiago Splitter and Dailyn Swain #5 of the Chicago Bulls look on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

What can’t be overlooked here is the cultural shift that happened in one offseason. With Brysen Graham heading up basketball ops and Tiago Splitter at head coach, there are actual adults in the room. Combine that with a young core of Wilson, Buzelis and Swain, there’s actually something worth getting excited about in Chicago. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but I’m bullish on the Bulls.

Prediction: over 29.5 wins (-115)

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Bernie’s Dugout Open Thread: 10/2-10/8

Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers are set to begin their quest to the World Series this weekend as they have home-field advantage throughout the postseason, starting with the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, who took down the Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series this week.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread:

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 10/2/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees reacts after a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a glorious playoff win against the Red Sox, the Yankees basked in a glorious offday. In a parallel universe, we may have been sweating out a do-or-die Game 3 against Boston, but in this universe, the Yankees left no doubt, pounding their rivals and giving themselves a chance to enjoy a full reset before this titanic ALDS clash with Tampa Bay. The Rays will be even more rested, but I’m sure the Yankees aren’t concerned with that; they’re rolling into the next round with the wind at their backs, an offense that’s suddenly clicking supporting a league-leading pitching staff.

On the site today, you can catch Andrew’s rundown of the Game 3 clash between the Phillies and the Braves, as well as Jonathan’s entry in the Yankee Birthday series, highlighting pitcher Spec Shea. Also, Andres implores the Yankees not to deploy Trent Grisham in center field, while Madison delivers the answers to this week’s mailbag.

Today’s Matchup:

Offday.

Questions/Prompts:

1. Who would you lean towards for the Game 1 start against the Rays?

2. Did any of the outcomes or performances of the four Wild Card Series particularly surprise you?

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Rockets must not overpay for Kyrie Irving

Some NBA players develop a reputation that supersedes their actual on-court impact.

Aging millennial fans will remember Nick Van Exel. Random example: it could have been Rod Strickland. Perhaps it should be Tracy McGrady, but let’s avoid that collective trauma.

The memories are visceral. Van Exel was a joy. He was so talented, but never especially impactful.

Van Exel was ball dominant. He made bad decisions. He wasn’t much of a defender. He was one of the most fun players in the NBA to watch, until he was on your team.

Kyrie Irving has a similar mythology. He’s much better than Van Exel, don’t get me wrong. Irving impacts winning, but somehow, his immense talent outpaces his actual production anyway. He is on an extremely small list of the most skillful basketball players in NBA history.

It’s a matter of scale. In his prime, Van Exel was one of the fifteen-or-so most talented players in the NBA, but he was a fringe top-50 guy at best. Irving is…what? One of the one, two, or three most talented basketball players of his generation? But he’s likely never been a true top-ten player.

The Houston Rockets have been linked to Irving in trade rumors. Sure, they’re linked to just about everyone, but given Rafael Stone’s love of a good bargain, this one feels different.

But should he go after him?

Rockets regularly linked to Kyrie Irving

There’s a temptation to answer with yes, simply for the sake of having an excuse to watch Irving more often without being reminded that Cooper Flagg is yet another future MVP candidate who isn’t on the Houston Rockets.

Yet, that’s not a good reason to advocate for a player acquisition. So, I’ll cop out instead. The Rockets should be interested in Irving at the right price.

When we last saw Irving healthy, he was mostly the same player he’d been throughout most of his career. His 3.4 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) fell short of the 7.7 mark he posted in 2019-20 (wait: Was Irving a top ten player?), but he still scored 24.7 points per game with a very solid 59.4% True Shooting %.

He also makes sound conceptual sense for the Rockets. Insulate two of the best shot creators of their generation in Irving and Durant with a murderer’s row of defensive wings. It also helps that they have long-standing chemistry (although who knows what their personal relationship looks like, given that they’re both, let’s say, interesting guys). Finally, it also helps that they’re both logical partners for Alperen Sengun, given their elite three-point gravity.

There are immediate basketball downsides, but they shouldn’t be enough to dissuade Rafael Stone. Irving will be earmarked for a starting position that will present an obstacle for Reed Sheppard, but Fred VanVleet is already there.

The broader implications are more concerning. Even in 2024-25, Irving managed to suit up for just 50 games. He couldn’t play last year. Will he even get on the floor?

It’s a real concern, but it’s also the reason why Irving’s trade value ought to be relatively low. So, without further ado, here’s my price:

Fred VanVleet, Clint Capela, and the Rockets’ 2028 first-round pick, top five protected.

Take it or leave it, Mavericks fans. The Rockets should protect their pick against abject disaster. If something goes so poorly that they’re picking in the top five in two summers, there’s a reasonable chance it’s at least partly on Irving’s shoulders.

Perhaps that’s not enough. If so, the Mavericks can keep Irving. He’s injury-prone, infamously troubled, and a Rockets team without a clear franchise player moving forward would do well to keep their picks anyway:

But dear God, is the guy talented.