Just eight days earlier, the potential of these Philadelphia 76ers was on full display — they had vanquished their heated rivals from Boston in seven games, sending the Eastern Conference betting favorites home for the summer. The young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe had been fantastic, Paul George was healthy and making big contributions, and a dominant Joel Embiid in the paint made the difference. The vibes could not have been better.
Sunday, the vibes around the 76ers could not have been much worse after they were dominated by the Knicks and swept out of the playoffs. Philadelphia lost the four games in the series by an average of 22.5 points per game (including an ugly 30-point blowout in Game 4 that felt over after the first quarter). Joel Embiid missed a game due to injury and could not push around the Knicks frontcourt like he did the Celtics, and when the Maxey/Edgecombe backcourt was off, as it was in Game 4, things fell apart fast.
The jobs of Morey and head coach Nick Nurse are expected to be evaluated entering the offseason, multiple league sources told The Athletic. As of Sunday's elimination, team sources said ownership has not made final decisions on either and is likely to take a few days to assess before making any major calls...
"Internally, the volatility of this year cannot be ignored heading into the offseason. From a tumultuous trade deadline to late-season frustrations between players and coaches that nearly derailed a shootaround, tension simmered throughout the year. On many nights, the team barely knew who would be available."
The report details tensions between Embiid and the front office, and the frustration that the only move made at the trade deadline was to send away Jared McCain to get under the salary cap (Philly did get the No. 17 pick in this upcoming draft as well, but that's not helping Embiid on the court this season). McCain has thrived in Oklahoma City, including scoring 18 off the bench in a playoff game against the Lakers.
Then there was the tension around whether Embiid would play on April 1 on the road in Washington — Embiid expected to play, the team listed him as out, and the following meeting almost derailed the entire shootaround that day, Jones reports. (Embiid did not play that night.)
All of this was just part of the drama in Philadelphia this season. As Joel Embiid put it:
"So, we just gotta get better from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better."
That has to start with Embiid — he played in 38 games this season and, while he rushed back from an appendectomy to be on the court for the playoffs, still missed a game against the Knicks. Embiid hasn't played in six straight games since December of 2023.
Philadelphia has to decide what to do with a very expensive player who is still elite when he is on the court but can't be counted on to play consistently, even in the playoffs. While the logical step may be to pivot and get younger, building around Maxey (the team's clear best player now) and Edgecombe, it's not that simple — Embiid is almost untradable. He is guaranteed $188.3 million over the next three seasons (the last one is technically a player option, but he's going to pick that up or want to be extended off of it). Paul George is guaranteed $54.1 million next season and has a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28. Because of the health concerns around both of them, the only way to trade the 76ers veterans is to add first-round draft picks or young players as sweeteners in any deal — and it would take more than one pick.
All of that means this core is likely the 76ers core again next season, and likely at least one more after that. If Embiid can't play consistently, how good can the 76ers really be?
That question may fall to a new coach and head of basketball operations, because owner Josh Harris is stepping back and looking at everything.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 10: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by Joc Pederson #3 and Josh Jung #6 following a two run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field on May 10, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Season Record: 19-21
Week Record: 3-3
Series Record: 5-7, 1 split
GAME 35: 4-7 LOSS @ NEW YORK YANKEES GAME 36: 6-1 WIN @ NEW YORK YANKEES GAME 37: 2-9LOSS @ NEW YORK YANKEES
GAME 38: 1-7 LOSS vs CHICAGO CUBS GAME 39: 6-0 WIN vs CHICAGO CUBS GAME 40: 3-0 WIN vs CHICAGO CUBS
So the Rangers pitched 20 innings (and counting) of shoutout innings this weekend. And managed to get some hits with runners in scoring position. All good things that hopefully continue and get the Rangers on a roll.
However, something that has been proven over the last few seasons, something both myself and the Rangers broadcast has pointed out, once Corey Seager gets out of his funk, the rest of the lineup will follow. And his funk is bad.
I believe he had a similar start last year, he turned it around in May and then stayed hot but right now he’s looking lost in most plate appearances.
In the seventh inning of Sunday’s game, the At Bat app popped up a surprising stat for Seager, his wiff rate last season was 27.9% and this year its up to 35.9%. League average is 25.3%. So if you feel like he’s swinging and missing a lot more, you are not wrong. Its especially frustrating and prevalent considering Texas has the lowest chase rate in Spring Training.
Offensive upside? Both Josh Jung and Ezequiel Duran have both figured it out at the plate and have been the most reliable and consistent bats in the lineup.
And maybe playing the Arizona Diamondbacks will trigger some of that magic from the World Series and the team can start turning it around? Here’s hoping at least!
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson is among the most consistent offensive presences in the NHL, and while he came up empty in Game 3, he hasn't gone back-to-back games without a point since early April.
My Ducks vs. Golden Knights predictions expect Carlsson to find his way back on the scoresheet tonight.
Let’s dive in with my NHL picks on Tuesday, May 12.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the game airing on ESPN and Sportsnet.
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5 prediction
Who will win Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5?
Ducks: The Ducks have won the 5-on-5 scoring chance battle 80-59 through four games, and have outchanced the Golden Knights in three of those four games.
Although Carter Hart has played decently, I don’t trust him to hold up against this lethal Anaheim offense.
Ducks vs Golden Knights best bet: Leo Carlsson Over 0.5 points (-170)
The Anaheim Ducks have created plenty of opportunities with Leo Carlsson on the ice, generating 94 shot attempts, 50 scoring chances, and 4.45 expected goals. That has translated to two goals.
Carlsson is a career 14.7% shooter — and plays with great players at 5-on-5 and on the power play — so there’s no reason to expect these looks to continue being wasted.
That’s especially true facing Carter Hart, who posted an .891 SV% and allowed 4.2 more goals than expected during the regular season.
Look for Carlsson, who has been held pointless in consecutive games just twice over the last four months, to get back on the scoresheet in one of the best Ducks vs. Golden Knights player props on the board.
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5 same-game parlay
Troy Terry flies under the radar because of all Anaheim’s terrific young players, but he quietly sits tied for the team lead in points during the playoffs. He leads their forwards in assists, but also trails only Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier in shots.
He’s a dual-threat weapon, and one strongly correlated to Carlsson.
Shea Theodore has blocked multiple shots in eight of 10 playoff games during this run, and has averaged 2.9 along the way. The Ducks play at a fast pace and generate a lot of volume, which helps increase Theodore's floor and ceiling.
Ducks vs Golden Knights SGP
Leo Carlsson Over 0.5 points
Troy Terry Over 0.5 points
Shea Theodore Over 1.5 blocked shots
Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5 goal scorer pick
Cutter Gauthier (+180)
Gauthier has emerged as one of the best and most consistent goal scorers in the NHL. He finds himself in a four-game drought, which is his longest since the calendar flipped to 2026.
He leads the Ducks in shot attempts and scoring chances during this series, a sign he will break through sooner rather than later.
Ducks vs Golden Knights odds for Game 5
Moneyline: Ducks +135 | Golden Knights -155
Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 (-180) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+155)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)
Ducks vs Golden Knights trend
Leo Carlsson has six points over his last six games against Vegas. Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Ducks vs Golden Knights Game 5
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV
Date
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, Sportsnet
Ducks vs Golden Knights latest injuries
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.
The Milwaukee Bucks are listening to deals for Giannis Antetokounmpo again.
The continuing saga between the franchise and its long-standing superstar reached its latest potential breaking point on Monday, May 11 when ESPN reported the Bucks are seeking trade offers for Antetokounmpo in the aftermath of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery.
Numerous teams are expected to make offers for the two-time MVP, who will enter next season essentially on an expiring contract with one year left on his current agreement and a player option for the 2027-28 season. He'll likely need to be signed to a new max contract extension, which gives Antetokounmpo some control over his destination. Some teams will be the same as at the NBA trade deadline in February, when the Bucks also reportedly fielded interest in Antetokounmpo without making a deal.
Since then, the relationship between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks has become increasingly acrimonious. The team and its star were at odds over his availability at the end of the season when Antetokounmpo was shut down for a knee injury. The dispute, with Antetokounmpo wanting to play, led to a league investigation related to the NBA's player participation policy.
"Sometime over the next six or seven weeks we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us or he's going to play somewhere else," Haslam told reporters on May 6. "And [general manager] Jon [Horst] and Taylor, along with [co-owner] Wes [Edens] and myself, will make that call, and we understand the gravity of that call."
Here's a breakdown of some potential landing spots for Antetokounmpo should the Bucks decide to trade him in the coming weeks:
The Celtics' first-round loss to the 76ers, combined with some confusing postseason comments from Jaylen Brown, have sparked speculation that the Celtics could look to make a big move this offseason for Antetokounmpo involving Brown.
This is TBD with the Cavaliers still in the playoffs. But an unceremonious loss to the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland's former coach (J.B. Bickerstaff) might prompt personnel changes. Evan Mobley fits the mold for the type of player the Bucks will want in return for Antetokounmpo.
The Warriors need a pivot for the closing chapter of Steph Curry's legendary career with Golden State and Antetokounmpo would be the ultimate partner for his final years. It's unclear, however, if they have the assets to get it done since Milwaukee reportedly wants a young foundational piece in return.
The Rockets made a big move last offseason to acquire Kevin Durant and it didn't work as well as the franchise hoped for after this year's first-round playoff exit. If they choose to make another splashy trade for Antetokounmpo, Houston has promising players like Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson who should be appealing to Milwaukee.
The Lakers have historically been known for poaching superstars from other teams and Antetokounmpo would fit the bill, particularly if LeBron James and the franchise part ways in some form this offseason. Would a deal with Austin Reaves and draft picks as the centerpiece be enough, though?
If the Timberwolves can't pull out their Western Conference semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs, might they make another run at Antetokounmpo after reportedly being suitors at the trade deadline? An Antetokounmpo-Anthony Edwards pairing would be dynamic and the Timberwolves have some interesting contracts to deal (Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert).
The Knicks have been linked as a potential destination for Antetokounmpo for years. If they fall short of an NBA title this year, there will be pressure again to make a move for the Bucks star. But a trade package centered around Karl-Anthony Towns or OG Anunoby might not be appealing to Milwaukee.
The Magic could reset their core after a disappointing regular season by trading Paolo Banchero for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Banchero, despite his inconsistencies, has already made the NBA All-Star Game once and would give the Bucks a young piece to build around after a possible Antetokounmpo trade.
The Trail Blazers could be looking to make a splash under new owner Tom Dundon, and they have some intriguing young assets to trade as well as former Antetokounmpo teammates Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo's desire to play for a title contender could complicate this potential option.
The franchise that once traded for the expiring contract of Kawhi Leonard could offer up Scottie Barnes in a potential deal for Antetokounmpo after he took another step forward during the Raptors' first-round exit against the Cavaliers.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Vince Carter represents the Brooklyn Nets during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, that was tough. From disappointed to deflated to defeated to downright embarrassing, at least in terms of immediate fan reaction, the 2026 Draft Lottery is right up there with some of the worst days in recent Nets history … and there’s been some doozies. The effect remains to be seen, but whoosh, that was ug-ly.
As devastating as last year’s drop from No. 6 to No. 8, this year’s slide from No. 3 to No. 6 was worse, not just in terms of the number of slots, but in projected star power. No more speculation about a “franchise-changer” like A.J. Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson or maybe Caleb Wilson embracing Adam Silver adorned with a Nets cap. Things could change by June 23 and beyond. The litany of “franchise-changers” taken after No. 4 in this year’s playoffs starts with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taken at No. 11 and continues on down the line to Jalen Brunson taken at 33rd. But of course, the odds are in favor of a top pick.
More than that: fans thought they “deserved” a high pick because of what they have gone through over the last two-plus years of tanking, starting sometime after the 2024 trade deadline when the Nets decided it was time to go full-on tank. All those losses, all those fan arguments about losing to win, all of it seem to have been for naught. But the aerodynamics of ping pong balls are cruel and unforgiving. Deserved or not, it happened.
How close did they come? Heart-breakingly close, as Brett Siegel tweeted Monday. One ping pong ball away from No. 1…
I was watching the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery again and I discovered that the No. 1 pick was almost in the hands of the Brooklyn Nets.
The 4-2 first two digit combination for the No. 1 pick essentially made it a 50-50 chance for BKN and WAS.
Of course, the Nets may not even pick at No. 6 (or No. 33 or 43 in the second round.) Sean Marks, predictably considering how soon he was asked following the Lottery, was non-committal about a lot of things, but his key takeaway is that “rash decisions” should be avoided … not that that’s his style. It isn’t. In fact, Marks suggested in post-Lottery comments that whatever the Nets do will be driven not just by lottery results, but by the team’s overall youth and their development. Think bigger, he seemed to say! Longer, too?
“Hard to tell,” Marks told reporters after the Lottery when asked about ramifications. “I think it’s all about how these guys develop, right? I don’t think you want to make rash decisions before you’ve seen how they look,”
He also showed optimism that whoever they pick will be a prize addition.
“I think we all know there’s a group in this draft that could be game-changers, but I said could be because you never know,” Marks added. “Every draft there’s a guy who people didn’t quite expect to be [that high] if you do the re-draft. So for us, it’ll still be about having patience. But at the end of the day, we’ve got optionality, we’ve maintained flexibility, we’ve got the cap space and assets. So I think the word would be opportunistic.”
As Marks said, the Nets still have plenty of flexibility with seven players on rookie deals — Noah Clowney, the Flatbush Five and whoever they take in the first round — that off-cited grand total of 33 picks composed of those 13 firsts and 22 seconds plus a couple of swaps. They will also have a lot of cap space. Keith Smith estimates that the total as of now at $47.7 million (up as he notes from $44.6 million because of the lower guarantee for the No. 6 pick compared to the No. 3.)
In fact, on Monday, Siegel also reported the Nets and Jazz, who hold the No. 2 pick, will meet soon to talk trade. Seems unlikely, but no one would be surprised to see the Nets try to move up. They do have 13 firsts, 10 of them tradeable. As one league decision maker not associated with the Nets told ND recently, the only reason that a GM gathers all those firsts is to be “opportunistic” using the same word Marks did. The source added that while he thought that while difficult, moving up is certainly possible.
All that’s good. So is their scouting department, their performance and medical staffs, their development staff, per league sources. Agents and players understand, as one agent, told ND, that their player amenities are among the best in the NBA. And they have Jordi Fernandez and his staff, all of whom just got extensions and raises. Oh yeah, don’t forget New York. Players like to play in the Big Apple, too.
However, does the Nets poor performance on the court, the lack of anyone approaching a star let alone a superstar and oh, yes, bad luck, hurt them? Is this place cursed, is Barclays Center a haunted house? some fans were asking just before 4:00 p.m. ET Sunday. And that was before news that the Nets came within a ping pong ball of winning it all!
We try to steer clear of conspiracy theories and those who promote them (mostly an aggrieved, disagreeable lot) but there has been a litany of events like Sunday’s. In fact, there was, among the NBA media Sunday afternoon and evening, a generalized concern for the Nets and their fans, suggesting that the “basketball gods” abandoned them, etc.
Said Jake Fischer on The Stein Line:
Sunday’s foremost lottery loser, on this scorecard, was my home-borough Brooklyn Nets.
Tsai was the only owner in the drawing room and visibly disappointed when the Nets fell from No. 3 to No. 6. They are now firmly out of the top tier of this draft and just as visibly lacking a young Face of the Franchise type to be, say, their answer to Detroit’s Cade Cunningham.
The Athletic’s John Hollinger:
As for Brooklyn … yikes. In the wake of what looks like a fairly disastrous 2025 draft (the Nets used five first-round picks, but only two look anything like a rotation player so far), they needed help from the lottery gods ahead of a 2027 season where they owe an unprotected first-round pick swap to a likely playoff team in Houston.
Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor:
The most talent-starved team in the league was let down by the basketball gods. While they will still get a quality player at No. 6 — likely a star guard like Darius Acuff Jr. or Keaton Wagler — but it’s not the guy or the lottery luck they were hoping for.
Brooklyn is on track to struggle again next year, and with the coming new “3-2-1″ lottery system, their chances of adding that elite talent just got longer.
Sam Quinn, in response to former ND writer Billy Reinhardt, went even further back…
It's sad how true this is. Like they lost a championship favorite over a pandemic. https://t.co/aDg3yNCM8l
Fans of course went a LOT further than Quinn, O’Connor, Hollinger or Fischer! Throughout social media, there were discussions that boiled down to “why can’t we have good things?” But mostly, the sentiment was harsher, more, worrisome. It centered on the question, “why do I put myself through this?” Exorcists and free lance wiccan could have done a nice business at Barclays Center if it had been open.
Whether you agree or disagree with pundit assessments, no one wants to feel cursed. That’s worse than unlucky or even incompetent. It means you’ve forsaken logic as well as hope. And no we don’t want to get too philosophical here. It is after all basketball. But the depth of fan pain was very real (and it should be noted is a concern at the team’s highest levels.) We’re less worried about prospective free agents. Money matters more than any real or imagined hex.
So how do Joe Tsai, who as Fischer reported was among the deflated, and Sean Marks, who was as ever forward looking in his post-Lottery comments — at least publicly, turn things around and not just with picks and signings but with some encouragement of the fan base? We’re sure there will be meetings.
Winning, of course, cures everything in sports (unless you’re from Philly where, despite reports, it is never sunny … ask their fans.) Can the Brooklyn Nets win enough games next season to counter said curse? You’d have to be an optimist to think that at the moment. But things change fast in sports and particularly in basketball. The coach is very good and he knows after two years of tanking, he has no other priorities but winning. Players develop and surprise and while next year’s team may not be the youngest NBA team in 20 years, it will be young and presumably hungry.
It would also be helpful if someone on the Nets roster had just a little touch of star quality, you know, someone whose name and face you could splatter all over Brooklyn and online, on TV. Face of the Franchise! We don’t know if there is a “star” box for scouts to check but maybe there should be, at least this year. (Hello, Darius Acuff?)
We also believe that the removal of the tanking ethos will help. Tanking in our opinion makes for an insular locker room, particularly with so many fans cheering for losses and excoriating fellow fans to do the same. It becomes “us vs. them,” with the “them” an expanded universe. The locker room by all accounts was positive despite everything, a credit to Jordi.
Maybe Mr. Whammy has a “reverse the curse” in his hex toolbox.
But in the end, we got nothin’ to guarantee success at ending real or presumed curses. Fandom is irrational exuberance, former Nets executive Irina Pavlova used to say (paraphrasing a former Federal Reserve chairman about the stock market.) You have to decide whether you want to be a fan and how far to go how brave you want to be. And of course, fandom isn’t just about the team’s performance. It’s about the collegiality, friends, family, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters.
Indeed, a FOX Sports study, backed now by Harvard researchers, reported Monday, suggested that collegiality is underrated, that whether you’re high on a winning streak or low on a lottery selection, you’re part of a community from which you draw support. From Sportico.
“What we find is that regardless of the fan base in question, whether they’re perennial losers or in the middle of a dynastic run, there really is no measurable effect on the wellness outcomes that we see,” Ben Valenta of FOX told Sportico. “Effectively what fandom is, is you’re going on an emotional ride with other people, and whether you’re celebrating or commiserating, it doesn’t really actually matter. What matters is the connectivity that results from the engagement.”
“Emotional?” Oh yeah! So, ALL of that said, we hope to see you next October in Brooklyn to root for the home team. Screw the curse!! What else we got? We got each other.
Draft Sleeper of the Week
We could profile one of the guards in that No. 5 to No. 8 range or beyond to Nate Ament, the 6’10” Tennessee forward/wing or Karim Lopez, the 6’9” Mexican power forward who played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian League. (Among some fans, Lopez is this year’s avatar for failed lottery luck, just like last year’s was Kon Knueppel. How’d that work out?)
Nah, Lucas Kaplan has already done some of that Monday and there will be plenty of time as the spring turns to summer and all of them find their way to the HSS Training Center.
Instead, we’re going with a projected second round pick. Luigi Suigo (pronounced SWEE-go) is a 7’3” Italian center who plays for Serbian powerhouse and NBA feeder Mega Basket. We’ve noticed him getting attention at the two spots where the Nets pick in the second round, again Nos. 33 and 43. He’s 19 so at big raw but as his highlights for this season show, there’s some talent lurking there.
He is huge. At the 2025 Basketball Without Borders, he measured 7’3″ barefoot with a 9’6″ standing reach and a 7’4” wingspan. He has a 19.25″ standing vertical and a 27″ max vertical.
Suigo is all about big man fundamentals: pick and roll, put backs, passing, shot blocking and some shot making.
“I’m a center. I play also as a 4,” he said. “The main thing I can do, for me, is shooting threes. I can play in post-up, catch lobs. On defense, I can switch with everyone, and I block and rebound…
“[Victor] Wembanyama. I want to be like him one day. I want to play like him,” Suigo said. “I watch Wemby, [Kristaps] Porzingis, [Karl-Anthony Towns], also [Nikola] Jokic, but he’s too slow for me, he’s not my type of player, but I like to watch him.”
Always like a little ambition. And while we’ve seen him projected to the Nets at No. 33 and 43, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports has him going in the first round as high as No. 24 to the Knicks.
Suigo has said he wants to be the Italian Wemby and, at 7-foot-3 with passing feel and shooting touch, you can see why a teenager might put that out into the universe. Suigo lacks the handle and self-creation chops to ever be the best player on a team, but his dynamic skills as a passer, shooter, and lob threat layer cleanly on top of baseline center duties as a screener, finisher, and rim protector. Becoming the Italian Marc Gasol is a more realistic goal, and would still be an excellent outcome. Sounds like a perfect fit for the Celtics system.
There’s some suggestion that if he isn’t projected in the first round, he is likely to go the collegiate route. He has heavy interest from Villanova and North Carolina, among others.
Another draft analyst, Ersen Demir wrote in a lengthy analysis of his positives and negatives that Suigo would be best served getting picked “high in the 30s.”
It’s better for Suigo to bet on himself and declare for the draft now and likely be selected high in the 30s in the second round. That’ll help him to stick around at a program for two years, develop and fight for a second deal shortly after that. The long term potential is tremendous. But he’s still young and can make a move to play college ball.
Final Note
For all the gnashing of teeth going on Sunday, the Nets did not have the worst of it … by a long stretch. No one can touch the Indiana Pacers in that category, well other than the Pelicans and Bucks.
The Pacers lost their selection to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the trade sending center Ivica Zubac to Indiana, as Kevin O’Connor noted. The Pacers, who finished with the second worst regular season and had the second best odds, would have kept their pick had it been among the top four selections — and they had a 52% chance of getting there. But the Clippers kept the pick if it fell within the No. 5 through No. 9 selections…. and it did dropping to No. 5. Worse, that was Indiana’s only pick in either round. So they want from having the second best chances at the overall No. 1 to one of two teams without a pick, joining Portland in that distinction.
The GM even apologized…
I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember – this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient.
And in a related move, the Pelicans oft-criticized move to trade for Derek Queen in last year’s Draft was ultimately disastrous.
The Pels moved up 10 spots last June so they could take Derek Queen at No. 13. It took some doing as O’Connor noted. During last year’s Finals, the Pelicans traded an unprotected 2026 Pacers first back to Indiana for the 23rd pick in last year’s draft. Then on Draft Night, a few days later, they packaged the Pacers pick along with their own 2026 first (with a Bucks swap attached) to move up.
The Pacers pick they gave up? That landed at fifth as noted, and it’s now the Clippers’ pick. The Pelicans’ own pick landed at eighth, and is now property of the Hawks.
When you tally it all up, New Orleans surrendered the fifth and eighth picks this year to draft Queen with the 13th pick last year. Five plus eight equals 13, so it couldn’t have happened any other way.
Finally, there was the Milwaukee Bucks whose woes were different. On the same day his daughter once again sat on the lottery dias, the New York Post broke a story about how the Bucks principal owner Wes Edens, had been the subject of a blackmail attempt by a “Chinese divorcee’” with whom he had had an affair.
So it can always be worse … and no one is talking about curses in those cities.
The combination of the NBA Draft Lottery setting the order for the NBA Draft (and the value of the picks), along with executives from every team gathering in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine, is always the spark that lights the NBA offseason trade and free agency markets on fire.
That is happening this week in Chicago, and the biggest rumor out of the Windy City is the least surprising.
Bucks listening to Antetokounmpo offers
This was expected, but ESPN’s Shams Charania made it official. Milwaukee listened to trade offers back at the February trade deadline, but sources from other teams told NBC Sports then that it felt more like Bucks GM Jon Horst was gauging the trade market, not seriously looking for a deal. He and ownership wanted to wait until the offseason, when more teams and better offers would (theoretically) be on the table.
While the Bucks are still open to the idea of trading for another star, which inspires Antetokounmpo to sign an extension and stay in Milwaukee, most teams around the league expect the two-time MVP and NBA champion to be traded — and a deal to be done before the NBA Draft, which is what co-owner Jimmy Haslam expects. From Charania:
There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo's services, and ownership and front office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said.
One of the reasons to hold out until the summer to trade Antetokounmpo was to get teams that had a disappointing playoff run — Houston, Orlando, Boston — to seriously consider jumping the mix, as well as a couple of teams still playing but with questions, including the Lakers and Cavaliers.
Waiting into the summer also gave Antetokounmpo more leverage in where he might be traded — he has just one guaranteed season left on his contract (followed by a player option), and he can tell a team he does not want to play for that he will not re-sign with them. While Antetokounmpo's camp is tight-lipped, the feeling in league circles is that he wants to stay in the East and play for a team he can elevate to contender status.
"The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved, and where will he sign long term?" one source with direct involvement in the situation told ESPN.
Expect a flood of Antetokounmpo rumors over the next month, but the Bucks will be wise to be patient and wait until closer to the draft — when that deadline forces teams to put their best offers on the table — before making a call.
"I can just say the lottery results will have no impact on the approach moving forward with Ja Morant. They're going to try to find a home for Ja Morant regardless of where they ended up in the lottery."
The challenge in finding a trade for Morant is the combination of his salary — two years and $87 million guaranteed — and limited availability due to injuries and suspensions. Morant is coming off a season in which he played in just 20 games, largely due to an elbow injury, and hasn't played in 65 games since his rookie season. That said, he is a dynamic talent who is just 26 years old. One rumor laid out by Jake Fischer at The Stein Line is that the Grizzlies package Morant with the No. 3 pick in this draft to bring back a superstar.
There are teams interested in Morant, but the Grizzlies are not going to get the draft-pick hauls they received when trading Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr.
Will Kawhi Leonard hit market?
The basketball gods smiled on the Clippers and gave them the No. 5 pick in the draft (via the Indiana Pacers, part of the Ivica Zubac trade. That high pick, plus the trade that brought them Darius Garland at the trade deadline (for James Harden), gives the Clippers a foothold in a retooling.
However, the potential fallout from the Aspiration scandal — a league investigation into whether the Clippers used former team sponsor Aspiration to circumvent the salary cap and get more money to Kawhi Leonard — has everything feeling on hold for LA. That includes Leonard's future with the Clippers, another point ESPN’s MacMahon explained well on the Hoop Collective podcast.
"We'll see what happens with Aspiration. Assuming they are allowed to attempt to negotiate an extension, I believe the intention is to try to negotiate an extension with Kawhi Leonard. But 'negotiate' is a key word there. It's not just like, 'Hey, can you take just a little slight haircut from maxes?' And so, depending on how that goes, there's a world where Kawhi could be on the block this summer, too."
League sources that have spoken to NBC Sports expect the league to bring a hammer down on the Clippers — the loss of draft picks, an eight-figure fine, and very possibly a suspension for owner Steve Ballmer. However, a voiding of Leonard's contract is not on that list because it's not really a punishment — the Clippers would be happy to have his $50.3 million off their books as they retool, and it would make Leonard a free agent who would then sign a massive contract with another team, so he doesn't lose that much either.
Leonard is coming off a season where he almost certainly makes an All-NBA team after playing in 65 games, averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 assists per game, plus playing elite defense. Leonard is also entering the final year of his contract and the Clippers would love to re-sign him, but at a lower price than he's making right now (and on a far more tradable contract). The Warriors are reportedly among the teams interested if Leonard hits the market. But that remains an "if."
Wizards open to trading No. 1 pick
Maybe the fastest track to a GM getting fired is blowing the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Enter the Washington Wizards, who were the lottery's big winner and have that No. 1 pick. They will at least listen to offers for the top pick and the rights to e AJ Dybantsa, something both Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line report (with Fischer talking to Wizards president Michael Winger.
This is considered an exceptionally deep draft, so if there is a player the Wizards might like a few slots down the draft board, and the package to give up No. 1 was big enough, they would consider it, according to reports. Mannix suggests Utah, which has the No. 2 pick and would love to keep BYU's AJ Dybantsa in state, might be open to a deal swapping picks. Winger told Fischer the Wizards are not entering this draft looking for their "savior" but rather a player to add to Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and the rest of what should already be an improved roster.
Washington may listen to offers, but if they make a deal they are not dropping out of the top three or four slots in this draft, they are not about to just trade the No. 1 pick and get out entirely. That's how a GM gets fired.
Oct 15, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez (29) throws in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners during game three of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images | John Froschauer-Imagn Images
It’s been a rough season for Lauer. As Tom noted, his velocity is down. for a while that could be attributed to the stomch flu he suffered in early April, but that was a month ago and in his most recent outing he was still a mile per hour off his average from last year. For a guy who didn’t have great stuff at his best, losing a little edge is a problem. It’s been confounded by some location issues. If he makes it through waivers, hopefully he’s able to work in Buffalo and rediscover his form from last season, but I suspect we’ve seen the last of him in a Blue Jays uniform.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, was DFA’d back in the winter. He’s been effective as a 1-2 inning reliever for the Bisons, with a few more walks than you’d like but an excellent strikeout rate. He’s de-emphasized his fastballs and leaned harder on his splitter, throwing either that or the slider 70% of the time. Hopefully that translates to the majors, as Rodrigez has been a pretty disappointing singing after a lot of hope when he came over from Japan.
In other news, Addison Barger is officially on the IL. That’s hardly a surprise after it was announced this morning that he was getting an MRI on his elbow. No actual new information on the injury has been reported. Coming up in his place is Yohendrick Piñango. The Venezuelan rookie made an impression in his first call up this season, striking out just three times in 27 PA and posting excellent contact numbers and strong exit velocities. The latter haven’t translated into MLB power yet as he struggles to get the ball in the air with authority, but all the tools are there to hope that he can replace most of what Barger would offer offensively even if he can’t match his defense.
Yankees shortstopJose Caballero is out of Monday night’s lineup against the Baltimore Orioles due to a right middle finger injury.
Caballero told reporters in Baltimore that he hurt the finger diving back into first base in Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. While Caballero will undergo an MRI, he does not believe the finger is fractured and doesn’t believe he’ll need to go on the IL.
Manager Aaron Boone later said that Caballero will return to New York after Monday's game to meet with team doctors, saying that that while Caballero has hit, he has not yet thrown a ball.
Max Scheumann will start at shortstop for the Yankees on Monday, hitting eighth in the order.
The 29-year-old Caballero is slashing .259/.320/.400 this season with four home runs and 13 RBI.
While it doesn’t sound like Caballero will need to hit the IL, that scenario would certainly make things interesting with fellow shortstop Anthony Volpe, who was optioned to Triple-A at the end of his rehab assignment for offseason shoulder surgery.
Winnipeg Jets - Feb. 27 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 8 - Jared Clinton
C+ | RANK: 19TH
THE JETS’ SUCCESS in Winnipeg has been built on a draft-and-development foundation. For instance, of the 25 players on the team’s 2018 Western Conference-finalist roster, a dozen came up through the organization. But while homegrown roster players still number in the double digits, consistent playoff appearances have masked the fact that Winnipeg is in a development drought. Only one Jets draft choice from the past eight years – Cole Perfetti, 10th overall in 2020 – has played a regular role in the NHL lineup. Entering 2026, no Jets pick since Perfetti has played more than 13 NHL games in Winnipeg.
5-YEAR TREND
1 SASCHA BOUMEDIENNE
D, 19, 6-2, 183
Boston University (HE)
30–2–8–10–12
2025 draft, 28th overall
OVERALL54
Boumedienne thrived while playing major WJC minutes for Sweden. And he found pay dirt when it mattered, notching the gold medal-winning goal. His maturity is what catches the eye. He makes smart reads and gets pucks through to the net, and director of player development Jimmy Roy said Boumedienne’s puck retrievals are “elite already.” He’s just a minor contributor on the scoresheet at BU, but his performance for Sweden provided evidence there’s potential for more.
FW25 | new NHL | 2028-29
2 BRAYDEN YAGER
C, 21, 6-0, 170
Manitoba (AHL)
43–6–11–17–8
Trade (Pit), Aug. 22, 2024
OVERALL57
A wicked shot makes Yager lethal in the offensive zone, and he also has the ability to wheel with the puck. Now, the challenge is learning to capitalize on fewer opportunities and do the dirty work that separates talented junior players from those who make the NHL. Essential to Yager’s development is learning to have patience with the puck, create separation and win battles. “He’s getting the puck to the middle and getting shots off quicker,” said Roy. “He’s learning the pro game.”
FW25 | No. 1 NHL | 2026-27
3 BRAD LAMBERT
C, 22, 6-2, 180
Manitoba (AHL)
29–6–7–13–18
2022 draft, 30th overall
OVERALL93
A precipitous drop in Lambert’s AHL production last season didn’t worry the Jets, and he began the season pencilled in for middle-six NHL duty. Often, though, Lambert was the odd man out, and he wound up back in the AHL – and his output is again stagnating. There are attributes to love – skating, puckhandling and playmaking ability chief among them – but Lambert’s hurdle is discovering ways to become effective and impact games when he’s not finding his way onto the scoresheet.
FW25 | No. 2 NHL | 2026-27
4 ELIAS SALOMONSSON
D, 21, 6-2, 189
Manitoba (AHL)
29–1–9–10–10
2022 draft, 55th overall
Salomonsson can motor and change directions on a dime. But spending last season in the AHL paid dividends, as the Swedish product – neither big nor stout – learned to handle the physicality inherent to the smaller-ice North American game. He also exhibits the beauty of simplicity. “He keeps the game simple, keeps the puck going forward and doesn’t overcomplicate it,” Roy said. “He’s learning a bit on the speed of the game and strength of the players at the NHL level, but I see why people are excited about him.”
FW25 | No. 5 NHL | 2027-28
5 NIKITA CHIBRIKOV
LW, 23, 5-11, 193
Manitoba (AHL)
28–2–4–6–10
2021 draft, 50th overall
Chibrikov looked set to take a step forward as a bottom-six NHL buzz saw, but a stumble out of the gates will inevitably lead to concerns. It is important to keep in mind, however, that Chibrikov missed the majority of the back half of 2024-25 with an injury. The long rehabilitation and recovery process surely contributed to the slow start. He’s come into his own in the AHL as the season continued, and the Jets believe in his abilities – as evidenced by the fact they inked Chibrikov to a two-year extension.
FW25 | No. 3 NHL | 2026-27
6 COLBY BARLOW
RW, 21, 6-1, 194
Manitoba (AHL)
40–3–5–8–14
2023 draft, 18th overall
Pure shooter with a lethal release. Working hard to improve explosiveness.
7 ALFONS FREIJ
D, 20, 6-1, 198
Timra (SHL)
33–1–2–3–6
2024 draft, 37th overall
Smooth skater got stronger on his feet. Learning to move the puck quicker.
8 KEVIN HE
LW, 19, 6-0, 182
Flint (OHL)
48–33–30–63–18
2024 draft, 109th overall
Workmanlike attitude aids skill. Will benefit from high-stakes environment in Flint.
9 ZACH NEHRING
RW, 20, 6-5, 201
Western Michigan (NCHC)
28–5–12–17–8
2023 draft, 82nd overall
Understands how to optimize massive frame to win battles and create offense.
10 KIERON WALTON
LW, 19, 6-6, 227
Peterborough (OHL)
48–34–37–71–18
2024 draft, 187th overall
Power-forward size with playmaker’s toolbox. Got taste of AHL last season.
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Detroit Red Wings - Feb. 27 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 8 - Bob Duff
B+ | RANK: 7TH
DURING HIS SEVEN years as Detroit GM, Steve Yzerman has preached patience. Now, there is clear evidence that patience is paying dividends. With the Wings challenging for top spot in the Atlantic, much of Yzerman’s draft pool is showing the way. Moritz Seider (sixth overall in 2019) looks like Norris Trophy material. He skates on the top defense pairing with fellow first-rounder Simon Edvinsson (sixth in ’21). Left winger Lucas Raymond (fourth in ’20) leads the team in scoring. Rookies Axel Sandin-Pellikka (17th in ’23) and Emmitt Finnie (201st in ’23) have fit in seamlessly.
5-YEAR TREND
1 NATE DANIELSON
C, 21, 6-2, 197
Grand Rapids (AHL)
17–3–11–14–4
2023 draft, 9th overall
OVERALL 13
In a 28-game NHL taste, Danielson displayed that his 200-foot player description was applicable. But he also looked overmatched at times against some NHL centers. The Wings believe he has more offensive upside. “We’ve given him a good run here where he’s had some good nights,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “We want him to continue the offensive trajectory we think is in him. And we couldn’t put him in spots right now on our team where he could really push for that.”
FW25 | No. 2 NHL | 2026-27
2 MICHAEL BRANDSEGG-NYGARD
RW, 20, 6-1, 210
Grand Rapids (AHL)
42–8–18–26–24
2024 draft, 15th overall
OVERALL 33
The big winger earned an NHL spot out of camp, and he showed qualities that will make him valuable. He averaged a team-leading 14.99 hits per 60 during his nine-game stint. At the same time, his offensive output was just one assist. Not wanting his confidence to waver, the Wings sent ‘MBN’ to the AHL to help his offensive game evolve. “He was doing a good job in a lot of areas,” McLellan said. “He was good in the tight game, tight quarters, and very physical. His shot is really good.”
FW25 | No. 4 NHL | 2026-27
3 TREY AUGUSTINE
G, 21, 6-1, 194
Michigan State (Big Ten)
20–6–0, 1.96, .932
2023 draft, 41st overall
OVERALL 37
Augustine’s a two-time WJC champion and a 2026 nominee for the Richter and Hobey Baker Awards. At 19, he played in the World Championship. He plays a controlled game with calmness and wisdom beyond his years. While there are concerns about his size, the Wings love his competitiveness. “He’s got a great demeanor,” assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said. “He’s got a calm, cool demeanor, but he’s competitive. That fire burns inside him.”
FW25 | No. 3 NHL | 2028-29
4 CARTER BEAR
LW, 19, 6-0, 177
Everett (WHL)
40–27–29–56–40
2025 draft, 13th overall
OVERALL 41
The Wings rolled the dice a bit on Bear, who entered the NHL draft coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. He’s at 100 percent now. After returning to Everett following the WJC, he scored five goals in six games. He has a knack for getting his shot off and does exemplary work with the puck in tight quarters. “He’s an outstanding player but still a bit of a boy,” McLellan said. Once he grows into his body and adapts to the pace of the NHL, the Wings envision him in a power-forward-style role.
FW25 | new NHL | 2028-29
5 SEBASTIAN COSSA
G, 23, 6-7, 220
Grand Rapids (AHL)
21–4–2, 1.92, .930
2021 draft, 15th overall
OVERALL 87
Cossa is the epitome of the patient ‘Yzerplan’ paying off. The Wings are allowing him to overripen in the AHL, where he’s been one of the league’s best for the past two seasons. This year, he’s the No. 1 on a team that’s threatening to break AHL points records. The consistency is now there. “I’ve learned some things the past year by myself, experience-wise, talking to mental coaches and just trying to find ways to bounce back when you do go in those slumps,” Cossa said.
Relentlessly competitive with offensive touch. Plays like a bulldozer on skates.
7 DMITRI BUCHELNIKOV
LW, 22, 5-10, 170
CSKA Moscow (KHL)
32–11–10–21–6
2022 draft, 52nd overall
A gifted combination of finisher and playmaker. Had shoulder surgery in November.
8 MAX PLANTE
C, 20, 5-11, 180
Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
30–20–21–41–17
2024 draft, 47th overall
Elite playmaker with exceptional passing touch. Son of former NHLer Derek Plante.
9 ANTON JOHANSSON
D, 21, 6-4, 196
Leksand (SHL)
35–2–9–11–39
2022 draft, 105th overall
Passionate, driven, competitive defender with a physical edge to his game.
10 WILLIAM WALLINDER
D, 23, 6-5, 210
Grand Rapids (AHL)
46–1–13–14–19
2020 draft, 32nd overall
Mobile, puck-moving D-man lacks physical element. Projects as third-pair option.
21-AND-UNDER NHLERS | MARCO KASPER, C, 21; AXEL SANDIN-PELLIKKA, D, 20; EMMITT FINNIE, C, 20
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May 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after striking out during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
At the conclusion of play on April 28th, the day of the follow-up question, the Dodgers dropped to 20-10 over their first 30 games, representing a 108-win pace that exceeded the most optimistic projections from the entire staff.
However, in our staff prediction article, I said 92 wins, which was by far the most conservative prediction.
Truthfully, my final answer was a bit different from what I was originally thinking. When mapping out the year, I was originally thinking 90 wins and potentially finishing second in the division, but didn’t think that amount would be good enough for the 2-seed, hence the slight bump.
At no point did I consider a “I’m going to eat duck mea culpa,” because I saw this team at the conclusion of last year, what it had done during the offseason, and what it was doing to start the year. Long offseasons to old clubs eventually write a check that eventually comes due.
This team could go 116-46 and romp to 11-0 in the postseason as the top seed. But that outcome would require both everything going right and the naysayers being right about the competitive balance of the sport. When this team coasted last year, it was rough to watch – until October. Assuming good health, I expect more of the same. The Dodgers will romp in October beating the Seattle Mariners in five largely uncompetitive games to the enraged howls of the league. (Emphasis added.)
Therefore, I figured there would be a correction in the overall record at some point. At the conclusion of play on May 10, the Dodgers are now 24-16 and are now on a 97.2-win pace. Ouch.
After all, losing two of three to the lowly San Francisco Giants, who are now slinking back to town for the last games until September 18th, was as giant (ha!) a red flag as one would wave this season. The Rockies and Cardinals have pluck. The Giants are turning into a soap opera, which would be funny under different circumstances.
In 2025, I thought there was virtually no reason apart from being lost on a three-hour tour or everyone ending up in a hospital after an ill-fated caper that the Dodgers would win fewer than 100 games in the regular season. And lo and behold, they did with aplomb. It ultimately worked out in the end, by the skin of everyone’s teeth, a bunch of overmanaging by the Blue Jays (Game 3), and a bunch of baserunning blunders by the Blue Jays (Games 3, 6, 7), but a win is a win. But fool me twice? Never.
“Anytime you can add a guy to your lineup that is arguably better against same-side pitching — there’s really no holes in what he does offensively. Really balanced splits, versus right, versus left, incredible decision making, really good bat-to-ball skills,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday. “Just the way that will kind of complement and help further round out our offense, something we thought that would be significant in terms of the odds increasing on our championship quest.”
I keep waiting for the person described to show up, because I am getting the oddest and most ironic sense of deja vu so far in 2026. Eric Stephen added that “[s]ince the start of 2021, Tucker is one of only four major league hitters with an isolated power — slugging percentage minus batting average — .200 or above combined with a strikeout rate of 16 percent or lower, along with fellow star players Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and José Ramírez.“
Tucker has not come close to his statistical pedigree in his first 40 games with the team. In fact, Tucker was essentially signed to replace Michael Conforto, who has since signed as a fourth outfielder with the Chicago Cubs. Those with weak constitutions should look away from the following comparison:
Tucker (39 games) .6 WAR, 36 for 145, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 3 SB, .248/.343/.393
Michael Conforto (23 games) .6 WAR, 16 for 55, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .364/.473/.659
Yes, the Dodgers were pigs, but the team seemed to forget that pigs are usually the first things slaughtered when winter comes. Ask the Phillies and the Mets about what happens when one does not plan for winter. But it’s not time to panic yet.
We don’t have a time machine (and if we did, unlimited rice pudding, among other things, would be the order of the day), so one can just look over the archives for the source of the Dodgers’ current woes.
“Play like the back of your baseball card.”
At times, the current Dodgers look less like a team and more like a collection of geriatric mercenaries, riding high on their own success. I remember the dark days of September 2025, and I am seeing some awful similarities. I am unsure how a team can look this gassed in May, but age catches up with everyone, and this topic will likely be revisited in the coming months.
Perhaps I’m being too subtle. So let’s rip the bandage off using one of my favorite films of the past fifteen years: 2013’s Rush with Daniel Brühl as the late racing legend Niki Lauda. Replace the word “Ferrari” with “Dodgers offense,” and I think you get 99% of the way there.
The Dodgers’ 2026 offense was sold as an offensive juggernaut. The rotation has been dynamite so far in 2026, but like the 2024 NLDS San Diego Padres, if you don’t score, you cannot win.
Unlike the Mets, who seem hellbent on proving that money does not buy victory, and the Phillies, who somehow ran it back after trying not to, failing to the point their most recent manager was fired, only for Don Mattingly to somehow be put in charge, and time is a flat circle, I can understand why everyone was hyping the Dodgers to romp in 2026 based on the names assembled.
Admittedly, some days, yes, the offense lives up to the hype. However, lately, the offense has been more fickle than an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogli — spends more time in the shop than on the road. But the time for roster construction is long past.
To paraphrase Dodgers’ color man Orel Hershiser, a majority of the Dodgers are not hitting like the back of their baseball cards either due to injury or ineffectiveness, using stats as current as of the start of play on May 10th to demonstrate the point:
Miguel Rojas: .2 WAR, 24 games, 15 for 58, 5 R, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 8 K, .259/.302/.362, 89 OPS+
Alex Call: .7 WAR, 18 games, 12 for 39, 8 R, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 8 BB, 6 K, .308/.438/.410, 145 OPS+
Santiago Espinal: -.3 WAR, 20 games, 3 R, 6 for 32, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 5 K, .188/.188/.250, 24 OPS+
So far, Ohtani (181 OPS+ in 2025), Freeman (143 OPS+), Smith (153 OPS+), Tucker (144 OPS+), Rojas (101 OPS+), and T. Hernandez (104 OPS+) have not matched their production from last year. Expecting the superhuman from Ohtani and Freeman may be unfair, but remember that 100 OPS+ is average, and the 2026 Dodgers were not built to be average.
To play Devil’s Advocate for a moment, Mookie Betts has only played in eight games so far in 2026. Also, Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández have yet to play in 2026. Maybe the time has come to find more at-bats for Alex Call and Dalton Rushing and maybe give Ohtani more rest, which is a subject for another day. Now that Freeland has been optioned, Kim will need to continue to produce.
When your offensive attack is being led by Andy Pages and a soon-to-be-36-year-old Max Muncy, either the pair is playing out of their minds (admittedly, Pages is), some of the usual suspects need to step it up, or maybe the orthodoxy of the lineup needs to be tossed aside in lieu of the available personnel.
If the team is not striking out as much, why is the offense misfiring as much as it is? In part, too many double plays.
Watching the Dodgers in St. Louis gave me a sobering thought: how is a team that is trying to hit the ball into the air hitting so many weak ground balls? In the two games I was present for, the Dodgers hit into eight mind-numbing double plays over 18 innings. While it might not be time to call for the culling of the hitting coaches, it does beg the question of what is going on.
The Dodgers hit into only 108 double plays in 2025 (slightly worse than the league average of 104), slightly up from the 99 double plays they hit into in 2024 (slightly better than the league average of 108).
So far, the Dodgers’ offense in 2026 might as well be sponsored by Doublemint Gum, because they are hitting into twin killings at an alarming rate. Only the Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers, and Pittsburgh Pirates have hit into more double plays than the Dodgers in 2026.
In 40 games so far, the Dodgers have hit into 34 double plays, in 40 games with Freeman (6) and Teoscar (5) leading the way. If trends hold, the 2026 Dodgers are on pace to hit into 138 double plays (rounded up from 137.7), which would easily be the worst mark of the championship run.
The Dodgers now face a floundering opponent, without their best starter, at home, while in another stretch of consecutive games without a day off until a week from Thursday. In theory, the Dodgers should romp, but theory only gets you so far.
The Philadelphia Flyers may be picking later in the NHL draft than we've become accustomed to over the last few years, but that doesn't mean they can't still select an impact player.
Of course, the Flyers' draft strategy has come under fire in recent years, mostly due to high-profile choices like selecting Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko, and Jack Nesbitt with first-round picks over the last three drafts.
The common argument with those players is that the Flyers drafted for need and specific traits, rather than the best or most talented player available to them.
Size is one of the most frequent traits we see this Flyers regime draft for; Nesbitt, Jack Berglund, Spencer Gill, Carter Amico, Porter Martone, Austin Moline, and Shane Vansaghi are all good examples.
So, now that the Flyers will be picking 21st this year, the pool of talent in the draft is considerably less voluminous than it would be in, say, the top 10.
They have no dynamic centers or defensemen coming up through the prospect pipeline, so they have to nail this pick.
Unfortunately, an early NHL mock draft from Corey Pronman of The Athletic goes in the opposite direction.
At 21, Pronman has the Flyers going with Casey Mutryn, whose profile won't move the needle for Philadelphia. Here's why:
"Philadelphia loves hard-nosed, competitive players, making Mutryn a very natural fit for their organizational identity," Pronman says of Mutryn.
"He’s a hardworking, physical 6-foot-3 winger who plays at an NHL tempo and has some offensive touch, too. He complements the skill the Flyers have in their forward group."
So, yes, another winger is not going to cut it for the Flyers, and Mutryn is certainly not the most talented one available at this point in Pronman's mock.
Adam Novotny and Nikita Klepov are well ahead in that aspect, and defensemen like Ryan Lin, Juho Piiparinen, and Xavier Villeneuve would all be superior choices on the back end.
Centers like Ilia Morozov and Brooks Rogowski would make more sense, too.
The Flyers have already done plenty well drafting for size up front. Martone is already an NHL contributor, and Berglund, Nesbitt, and Vansaghi will be soon, too.
They also still have 23-year-old Nikita Grebenkin, so four of these five forwards are bottom-six contributors at the NHL level, with Martone the obvious exclusion.
Nick Seeler isn't getting any younger and Emil Andrae looks to be on his way out, so the Flyers need to reinforce the left side of their defense at some point.
They also aren't getting much offense from two of their smaller defenders in Cam York and Jamie Drysdale, so that's another problem that needs solving at some point.
David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk could be solutions, but that's an added responsibility on top of simply developing into reliable NHL defensemen.
If the Flyers were wise, they would leave Pronman's thinking in the past and grab the most dynamic talent available to them in 2026.
The 2026 NBA Draft lottery has come and gone, so that means now comes the fun part: mock drafts.
The Kings, who finished the 2025-26 NBA season with a 22-60 record, lost a tie-breaking coin flip that would have given them the No. 4 slot in the lottery — which ultimately turned into the No. 2 pick for the Utah Jazz — and dropped two spots to the No. 7 selection.
As for the Warriors, they were projected to get the No. 11 pick and that’s exactly what the team received after a 37-45 campaign. With Steve Kerr returning to lead the charge, it’ll be interesting to see what the team whether the team uses the pick as trade-bait or not, but for now, here are some of the projected picks if the team keeps the selection.
“Flemings’ explosive speed and winning intangibles swayed NBA executives this season, and he projects as a lead playmaker who puts downhill pressure on defenses and should also add value as a defender. The continued progression of his jump shot is key for him and something he’ll need to demonstrate effectively in team workouts, but he got positive results at Houston (38.7% from 3, 84.5% from the line) and has shown growth already in that area.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“The top player in a thin international prospect class, Lopez has a chance to help himself in pre-draft workouts, where teams will gain a better sense of his physical traits and skill level coming off a positive year in the NBL. Showing progress as a perimeter shooter in those settings would help his case to sneak into the top 10.”
“Flemings is an elite athlete who can get a piece of the paint on demand, rise up explosively at the rim, get to his pull-up at virtually any time, and be solid on the defensive end. His swing skill is his shooting, and if it holds up, then he too has legit star-type outcomes. In Sacramento, Flemings will have an opportunity to earn the starting point guard job from day one.”
Warriors (No. 11): Aday Mara, C, Michigan
“Mara kept getting better as the college season went on and ultimately led Michigan to a national championship. At 7-foot-3, he’s a giant, even by NBA standards, and a tremendous rim protector. He’s also got sneaky mobility, good hands, real passing ability, and provides vertical spacing. With Steve Kerr returning next season, the Warriors’ style of play will be staying largely the same, and Mara’s facilitating ability fits that.”
“The Kings need a potential star like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. in this class. …He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but is one of the most exciting offensive prospects in recent memory.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“Lopez had a low usage rate and played few minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas.”
“Flemings has potential to use his speed and athleticism on offense and defense to make an impact — which is how Fox was described as a young player. The Kings need to find a young player with All-Star potential, and Flemings might be that player as he joins some young players who showed potential to be rotational pieces in the NBA.”
— Jason Jones
Warriors (No. 11):Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
“The big man fills a lot of gaps for the Warriors. He can shoot from the outside, he has length and he comes from a Michigan team that just won a national title. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. He should be able to play well off the space Stephen Curry creates (shouldn’t everybody?) while providing a stabilizing presence on both ends.”
“Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. He is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who’s been in the league for a decade. He emerged as a freshman as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker. The question that follows every undersized guard into the draft is whether the brilliance survives contact with bigger, longer, faster defenders.”
Warriors (No. 11): Karim Lopez (Mexico), SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers
“Lopez is the best basketball prospect Mexico has ever produced. He left Hermosillo at 14 to play professionally in Barcelona, then at 17 moved to Auckland, New Zealand, where he shined for two years in the NBL Next Stars program. He checks a lot of boxes with his excellent physical tools, a hardnosed approach, and a well-rounded ability to defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and a blossoming shot.”
“Acuff was a revelation for the Razorbacks this season, thriving despite his being smaller with 23.5 points and 6.4 assists on 48% shooting. The league is seemingly moving away from small-ish guards, but Acuff might just have the poise and pace to blow away expectations anyways.”
“Flemings is the quintessential Houston guard and was consistent throughout conference play in the Big 12. In the month of January he averaged 19.8 points, and 6.3 assists and had a 42-point game against Texas Tech. He’s a tough two-way player who gets to his spots and shoots well off the dribble.”
Warriors (No. 11):Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
“Lendeborg was a buzzy name coming out of last year’s draft combine and his decision to return to school paid off in a big way while helping Michigan win a national title. He has great size as an interior player and moves well for his size.”
‘It’s going to be really hard … but how fun would that be?’
Bradley is in field for this week’s PGA Championship
Keegan Bradley still reflects on the pain of captaining the United States to a home Ryder Cup defeat last year but says he would love to make the 2027 team as a player.
Bradley took full responsibility as his USA side endured a chastening first two days at Bethpage Black last September, slipping to a record 11.5-4.5 deficit, before a valiant fightback fell short.
Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Domingo Gonzalez (46) during spring training photo day. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Over the weekend in Chicago, Ryan Divish reported that Domingo González was present in the visiting clubhouse in case José A. Ferrer’s wife went into delivery. Ferrer stuck around, working out of a bases loaded jam on Sunday unscathed, but he did not end up making the trip to Houston with the rest of the squad.
Should González appear in a game the next few days, he will be making his Major League debut, and would be the third Mariner to do so after fellow righties Alex Hoppe and Nick Davila. The 26-year-old was claimed off waivers from Atlanta last August, and survived the offseason roster churn before being optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. He’s been off to a strong start in his first Pacific Coast League action, tossing 15 innings of 1.80/2.60 ERA/FIP ball, and has issued just two walks alongside a tidy 50% ground ball rate. Seattle is González’s third org, having played in affiliated ball since 2018 when he was signed by the Pirates out of the Dominican Republic, and as you may have heard, we love a debut at Lookout Landing.
As for Ferrer, the M’s will have their workhorse reliever sidelined for most, if not all of the upcoming series. Acquired in December for catcher Harry Ford in a much-discoursed-about trade, he’s led the Mariners’ bullpen corps in appearances and innings pitched at 21 and 20, respectively. Despite falling victim to some tough BABIP luck early on, his 1.80/2.42 FIP have proven to be quite dependable. He’s also worn quite a few hats in the first six weeks of the season – especially with Andrés Muñoz scuffling and Matt Brash and Gabe Speier down – whether that’s filling in at closer, getting that third out against a tough lefty hitter, or covering multiple innings. We at LL congratulate Ferrer and his family on the arrival of their child.
