Nike quietly filed a trademark for a logo on Monday for a Los Angeles Lakers player with the last name of James.
Not LeBron. Not this time.
Bronny.
Lakers’ Bronny James controls the ball against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. Getty Images
Apparently, Bronny James, the 21-year-old two-way guard with the Lakers, has his own personal logo — an Old English-style lower-case “b,” stitched together with a white-on-black No. 9.
The 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is currently averaging 9.5 points in 30.9 minutes with the South Bay Lakers in the G-League. His NBA stat line is thinner, but that’s because he mostly appears in garbage time for the Lakers as he continues to develop as a player.
But according to a report by trademark attorney Josh Gerben, Bronny’s brand is growing faster than his NBA career is.
Nike has filed a design trademark request for Bronny James' signature logo.
On the surface, this is not a big deal. People apply for trademarks all the time. In fact, this isn’t even the first time Bronny James has applied for his own trademark.
One user wrote that Bronny James himself should have filed the trademark for the logo, and then leased it out to Nike.
The smart move would been for him to trademark all of his branding himself and then license it to Nike. Not sure why he's letting them 'own it' from the start.
Inside basketball arenas across the country, fans erupt in applause every time Bronny James checks into the game. During Sunday’s 128–104 blowout victory over the Sacramento Kings, Bronny drilled a three in the final minutes, much to the delight of the crowd and LeBron James.
Sure, Bronny isn’t an NBA star yet, and all jokes aside is not in need of his own signature mark at this time. But Nike isn’t betting on Bronny’s box score. It’s betting on legacy, lineage and the gravitational pull of LeBron James.
Maybe one day Bronny James will cash in on that trademark. Maybe he won’t. Either way, Nike is ready.
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Wizards forward Justin Champagnie swoops in for a dunk. | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington Wizards fans adore Justin Champagnie for his gritty effort and impressive rebounding. They’ve also gotten to know Alondes Williams, Kadary Richmond and Skal Labissiere — three players who grinded their way to the NBA and signed with Washington this season.
The one thing all four of those players have in common: They’re represented by Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management. And like his clients, Hazan understands the grind it takes to find success at the NBA level.
Hazan didn’t start with eight NBA players on his client list. Just like he didn’t stumble upon a successful sports agency.
He built his brand through hard work and a New York grit that helped create meaningful relationships with players and general managers alike. That grind made him the youngest agent to sign an NBA player, which was a defining moment in his young career.
“I signed my first NBA player [Elijah Millsap] when I was 20. I’ve built a name for myself by being able to get the borderline guys in the NBA — the two-ways and the 10 days and the G League guys,” Hazan said. “Being able to get those guys to the next level, that’s kind of been my reputation as an agency. Every time players are trying to get back in the NBA, they know they can talk to me and I’ll get it done.”
That persistence led him to Champagnie, another New York native who at the time had played just 41 NBA games — 39 with the Toronto Raptors and two with the Boston Celtics.
Hazan knew Champagnie was an impressive player. He knew the Pitt product had the intangibles of a winning NBA player.
So he got to work. And just three days after the partnership formed, Champagnie signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards, which sparked a year-long surge that led to the 6-foot-6 forward signing a four-year, $9.8 million contract extension in March 2025.
Official: The Washington Wizards have signed @JusChampagnie to a multi-year NBA contract ✍️
It was a defining moment for Hazan, who had just gotten his client paid major money, and for Champagnie, an undrafted free agent who had grinded his way into an NBA rotation and eventually into a multi-million-dollar contract.
“I just felt a sense of relief,” Champagnie said. “It brought tears to my eyes because I’ve worked hard for the past four years to solidify myself in this league, and having that moment come true was a big sigh of relief. [It] just felt amazing.”
Champagnie has only ascended since signing his contract extension. The 24-year-old has been one of Washington’s most consistent contributors, averaging 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in just 19 minutes per game this season.
Hazan said “four or five teams” contacted the Wizards at February’s trade deadline with interest in Champagnie, but Washington wasn’t willing to let him go. And it’s easy to understand why.
Champagnie’s archetype is one contending teams covet. He fights for loose balls like Marcus Smart. He rebounds on both ends like a 6-foot-6 Andre Drummond. And he plays both ways, defending one through four while scoring nearly eight points per game on 49.8% FG.
His path to the league wasn’t the most linear, but he had earned a standard NBA contract. And Hazan couldn’t have been prouder.
“It was a great moment. [Justin] is such a great guy. He’s such a hard worker. I was happy to be a part of that with him,” Hazan said. “He’s put in the hard work, and he earned every bit of that. And he’s still young. We got time for a couple more contracts, bigger ones, God willing.”
Champagnie’s New York ties aligned him with Hazan, but he isn’t the only native New Yorker signed to Hazan Sports Management. Kadary Richmond, a Brooklyn native, is also represented by Hazan.
Champagnie and Richmond grew up together in Brooklyn. They’ve been friends since middle school and even played against each other in high school — Chamagnie at Bishop Loughlin and Richmond at South Shore.
After a five-year collegiate career at Syracuse, Seton Hall and St. John’s, Richmond went undrafted. The 6-foot-5 guard had “several suitors,” but after phone calls with Wizards general manager Will Dawkins and Champagnie, Richmond set his sights on Washington.
“Will got on the phone and said, ‘You see what I did with Justin. We’re gonna do the same thing with Kadary.’ And I went with him, and I think it’s paid off,” Hazan said.
Champagnie attended Richmond’s pre-draft workout with the Wizards and advocated for him to join the organization. The veteran forward told Richmond that Washington was the best spot for his development, and the rookie guard used that advice when he signed a G League deal with the Wizards before later inking a 10-day contract in February.
“I just told [Richmond] to take advantage and keep your foot on the gas,” Champagnie said. “No matter how it looks around you, make sure you take advantage of your opportunity, because coming from where we come from, people don’t get to decide how much this means.”
Champagnie and Richmond’s relationship transcends basketball, but they’re not the only close friends represented by Hazan. That title also belongs to Williams and Labissiere, who spent July on the Orlando Magic’s Summer League squad.
Labissiere, 29, was selected No. 28 in the 2016 NBA Draft. After four NBA seasons, the 6-foot-10 forward was out of the league.
But Labissiere kept working. And after signing with Hazan, he earned his way back into the NBA, ending his four-year hiatus when he signed with the Sacramento Kings.
Labissiere joined the Go-Go before the 2025-26 campaign and earned a 10-day contract, his best game a 13-point showing in Washington’s 116-112 victory over the Kings. His friend and offseason workout partner, Williams, later joined him on a 10-day deal with Washington.
Weeks after Labissiere’s breakout performance, Williams scored 25 points on 9-for-11 FG in the Wizards’ 131-118 win over the Indiana Pacers. Both players had grinded their way to the NBA, so it was only right that they shared breakout performances on the same roster in the same season.
“It felt amazing to finally be back on an NBA court and show everyone what I’ve been working on all summer,” Williams said. “[Skal and I] built chemistry by being with each other all summer. Playing with each other and playing against each other built chemistry, and I value that knowing the player Skal is. It boosted my skills as a point guard.”
Hazan’s reaction to those scoring outputs was that of an unsurprised agent who had seen firsthand the grind and sacrifice his clients made to reach the highest level of professional basketball. And with four clients succeeding in Washington, those close relationships, combined with an unrelenting drive to be great, have paid dividends.
“They’re working on their own things, but they’re all working together,” Hazan said. “It’s galvanized everyone. And now you see them all together [in Washington]. It’s really an amazing thing.”
The calendar flipping to March means that it is crunch time in fantasy basketball. For those looking to solidify their seeding or make a late run for a playoff spot, there isn't much room for patience when crafting lineups.
Let's look at some players whose fantasy fortunes have shifted recently, for better and for worse.
While Sheppard cooled off a bit in the Rockets' February 28 loss to the Heat, scoring 14 points and two straight outings with at least 20, he rebounded nicely in the team's March 2 win over the Wizards. The second-year guard finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists, six steals, two blocks and four three-pointers, playing 42 of a possible 48 minutes.
The Rockets not having the injured Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) propelled Sheppard into the starting lineup, and he's taken advantage of the opportunity. Over the past week, he has averaged 20.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.5 steals, 1.3 blocks and 5.0 three-pointers in just over 35 minutes per game. The only negative for Sheppard is that he's likely to return to the bench soon, as Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said he'll go back to his usual starting lineup when Smith returns. And that could be on Thursday against the Warriors.
Jaden McDaniels
While one of his Timberwolves starters has struggled recently, McDaniels has not. He's scored at least 19 points in three of his last four games, most recently recording 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field in a March 1 win over the Nuggets. Over his last five, the versatile wing has averaged 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers while shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 86.7 percent from the foul line.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 2, 2026
As good as he is defensively, the key for McDaniels, who's rostered in 48 percent of Yahoo! leagues, is to remain aggressive on offense. When that happens, he and the Timberwolves benefit.
Moussa Diabaté
The Hornets center returned from a four-game suspension on February 24, and he has provided very good value as the team's starting center. Over his last three games, Diabaté has averaged 12.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 31.3 minutes while shooting 84.2 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the foul line. While his game isn't particularly flashy, Diabaté has a clear understanding of where he's at his best. And the steady improvement made by Charlotte's playmakers hasn't hurt, either.
STOCK DOWN
Julius Randle
Having gotten off to an excellent start to the season, the Timberwolves forward has struggled since the All-Star break. In five games, four of which Minnesota has won, he's averaged 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 three-pointers while shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 76.0 percent from the foul line. There isn't much for fantasy managers to worry about regarding Randle's playing time or place within the Timberwolves. That said, this is a bad time for him to have his least productive five-game stretch of the season.
Deandre Ayton
While Ayton was solid in his most recent outing, scoring 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting in a March 1 win over the Kings, he has not been very productive since the All-Star break. Over his last six games, the 7-footer has averaged 9.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 24.3 minutes. Playing on a team where he's no higher than fourth in the offensive pecking order when everyone is healthy has clearly been an issue for Ayton, who said last week that "he's no Clint Capela" in protesting his role.
The fact of the matter is that the Lakers, and fantasy managers, would be better served if Ayton were to play like the younger version of Capela moving forward.
Derik Queen
A fixture in the Pelicans' starting lineup from mid-November through the All-Star break, the rookie center was demoted to the bench last week. An issue for Queen throughout the season has been his defense, especially when sharing the floor with Zion Williamson. Eventually, interim head coach James Borrego decided that Queen needed to come off the bench, with DeAndre Jordan serving as the starting center.
Queen did have a productive outing in the Pelicans' March 1 loss to the Clippers, but he has averaged 10.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21.2 minutes over his last five games. While those aren't terrible averages, the decrease in playing time lowers the rookie's fantasy ceiling considerably.
The Spurs (43-17) finish their East Coast road trip in Philadelphia to take on the 76ers (33-27) at 8 PM Eastern on Peacock. This is the first of two meetings between the Spurs and 76ers.
San Antonio had its 11-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in New York against the Knicks (114-89). The Spurs went a perfect 11-0 in February, but started March out 0-1. San Antonio finished February with the NBA's No. 2 ranked offensive and defensive net rating, plus the fifth-best rebounding percentage.
Philadelphia had its three-game winning streak snapped with a loss at Boston on Sunday (114-98). The 76ers are 6-6 in the last 12 games and have been on the road in four of the past five games. Since February has started, the 76ers have had only two home games. In February, Philly finished ranked 15th and 18th in offensive and defensive net rating, but eighth in turnover percentage.
The Spurs are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference sitting 3.0 games behind the Thunder and 5.5 games ahead of the Nuggets. The 76ers are in the sixth and final spot of the Eastern Conference playoffs, but only 1.5 spots ahead of the Magic and Heat before Philadelphia falls into hosting a play-in game.
Let’s take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Spurs at 76ers
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Time: 8 PM EST
Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: Peacock
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Game Odds: Spurs at 76ers
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs (-310), Philadelphia 76ers (+250)
Spread: Spurs -8.5 (-105)
Total: 232.5 points
This game opened Spurs -7.5 with the Total set at 231.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Spurs at 76ers
San Antonio Spurs
PG De'Aaron Fox
SG Stephon Castle
SF Devin Vassell
PF Julian Champganie
C Victor Wembanyama
Philadelphia 76ers
PG Brandin Podziemski
SG De’Anthony Melton
SF Moses Moody
PF Gui Santos
C Draymond Green
Injury Report: Clippers at Warriors
San Antonio Spurs
Mason Plumlee (reconditioning)is OUT for tonight’s game
David Jones Garcia (ankle) is OUT for tonight’s game
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid (oblique) is listed as OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Spurs at 76ers
San Antonio is 33-26-2 ATS, ranking 5th-best
San Antonio is 17-14-1 ATS as the road team
San Antonio is 8-9-1 ATS as a road favorite
San Antonio is 36-25 to the Under, ranking 5th-best
San Antonio is 19-13 to the Under as the road team, ranking 7th-best
San Antonio is 9-9 to the Under as the road favorite
Philadelphia is 33-27 ATS, ranking 8th-best
Philadelphia is 14-17 ATS as the home team
Philadelphia is 5-5 ATS as a home underdog
Philadelphia is 32-28 to the Over, ranking 4th-best
Philadelphia is 17-14 to the Over as the home team, ranking 6th-best and 5-5 as a home underdog
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Spurs and 76ers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Spurs’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Spurs -8.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 232.5
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Adam Fantilli(16), Kirill Marchenko(21-PPG,22-GWG), Sean Monahan(11-SHG), and Mathieu Olivier(9) scored the goals for Columbus in a wild game at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 27 of 31 Rangers shots to help the Jackets pick up a much-needed two points.
This could've been disaster!
First Period - SOG 10-4 Columbus - CBJ Goals Fantilli, Marchenko
Adam Fantilli got the party started at MSG when he tipped a puck by Igor Shesterkin to collect his 16th goal of the season. The goal came with 14:10 left in the first period. Kirill Marchenko sent a beautiful pass to Fantilli, who was in on Shesterkin's left and had no chance at saving it.
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 3, 2026
The rest of the first period was fairly ho-hum with a lot of back and forth between the two teams. Each team had a few chances, but nothing significant.
The Rangers were called for Unsportsmanlike conduct with 5:25 left in the first period. The power play represents their first power play since last Thursday against the Boston Bruins. For the last couple of days, Rick Bowness has mentioned to the media that he's shocked the Jackets haven't earned a power play.
Kirill Marchenko wasted no time putting the Jackets up 2-0 when he launched a rocket from Shesterkin's right side. The puck was tipped by a Ranger defenseman on its way in, but no one will argue about how they go in.
The Jackets would take a two-goal lead into the first intermission. Kirill Marchenko mentioned how nice it was to actually have a power play.
The Rangers were held without a shot for over 13 minutes of the first period.
Second Period - SOG 11-9 Rangers - CBJ Goals Monahan, Olivier
Boone Jenner gave NYR a power play when he was called for tripping Matthew Robertson at 2:14 of the first. J.T. Miller scored a goal, but it was looked at for goalie interference. After a quick review, it was determined that there was goalie interference, and the goal would be disallowed.
Just seconds after the Ranger goal was called back, Sean Monahan would rip a shot through Shesterkin's five hole to push the score to 3-0 in favor of Columbus. It was the 4th shorthanded goal for Columbus this season.
Mathieu Olivier ripped a one-time off the right post and passed Igor Shesterkin to make it 4-0 with 11:54 left in the second period. At this point, the Blue Jackets are scoring at will and in all situations.
The Rangers were pushing hard to this point, but just couldn't get anything by Elvis.
Third Period - SOG 16-7 Rangers - No CBJ Goals
Vladislav Gavrikov scored just 30 seconds into the third period to spoil Elvis's shutout bid.
Gabe Perreault scored just 24 seconds later after Denton Mateychuk coughed up a puck in the defensive zone, giving Perreault a prime opportunity.
The Blue Jackets, to this point in the third period, were under siege by New York. After the second NYR goal, Rick Bowness called his time out to settle everything down. You could see him telling his team to "calm down" and to "breathe."
The next 8 minutes still made everyone watching nervous, but they withstood the Ranger onslaught and had their own chances on Shesterkin.
Will Borgen scored on a delayed penalty to cut the lead to 4-3. They're absolutely falling apart at this point, and there's nothing the Jackets can really do about it, as the Rangers are pummeling them in possession and physically.
Gabe Perreault scored his 2nd goal of the game at 15:14 of the third to complete the Blue Jackets' collapse.
After being outshot 16-7 in the third period and outscored 4-0, the two teams would go into overtime.
In overtime, Kirill Marchenko scored his second goal of the game to avoid a loss that would've been absolutely devastating to this team. A loss after leading 4-0 in the third period is unacceptable.
Final Stats
CBJ APP
Player Stats
Adam Fantilli scored his 16th goal of the season. He now has 4 goals in 5 games at MSG.
Kirill Marchenko scored his 21st and 22nd goals and picked up his 28th assist.
Sean Monahan scored his 11th goal of the season while shorthanded.
Mathieu Olivier scored his 9th goal.
Denton Mateychuk recorded his 14th assist of the season.
Ivan Provorov picked up his 15th assist.
Charlie Coyle got his 29th and 30th assists.
Damon Severson recorded his 18th and 19th assists.
Isac Lundeström won 50% of his faceoffs.
Team Stats
The Jackets went 1-for-1 on the power play.
The Columbus PK stopped both of the Ranger man advantages.
Columbus won 50% of the faceoffs - 33/66
The Blue Jackets had 15 hits and 19 blocks.
NextUpFor Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back at home on Tuesday to face the Nashville Predators.
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Never mind their 28-2 record or their No. 2 national ranking or the fact they just donned championship shirts after winning the nation’s toughest conference, a Big 12 that absorbed the exits of Texas and Oklahoma a few years ago and rebuilt its basketball product into a beast, thanks to the addition of schools like Arizona.
“I’m super proud of these guys,” coach Tommy Lloyd said on ESPN after the win. “They’ve been on a mission all year.”
Mission accomplished so far, but teams are remembered for what they do after all the regular-season hardware gets awarded.
Lute Olson’s 2001 Wildcats remain the last Arizona team to make the Final Four.
The stats and the achievements of these Wildcats are all very impressive, worthy of a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed no matter what happens in the Big 12 Tournament. You’ll find no team more battle-tested, but you don’t need an elephant’s memory to remember Arizona has ventured down this path before without it ending in a Final Four.
Can Arizona shake March Madness history of past quarter-century?
Eleven times in the previous 24 seasons, Arizona earned a No. 4 seed or better in the NCAA Tournament. None of those teams reached the Final Four.
If flashbacks of those burnouts loom in your mind, you’ll understandably approach these Wildcats cautiously when it’s time to put pen to paper on your bracket in a couple of weeks.
And yet if you shove all that history out of your mind, you’ll see a coach who’s ascending, and a team that plays as tough of defense as anyone this side of Duke and Michigan.
You’ll see a squad more balanced than the Dukies, who’re fueled by the sensational Cameron Boozer but whose scoring punch doesn’t go nearly so deep as Arizona’s. Either Boozer or sidekick Isaiah Evans has led Duke in scoring in each of the past 24 games.
Star power of Boozer’s magnitude is a feature, not a bug, in March Madness. Still, how can you not be drawn to an Arizona team so balanced it got 10 points and 15 rebounds from sixth man Tobe Awaka against Iowa State? You get to Awaka after a starting five that each averages in double-digits scoring.
Arizona 'going to be scary' in NCAA Tournament
To hear Arizona's Jaden Bradley tell it after this destruction of Iowa State, the Wildcats are “going to be scary” at the season’s crescendo.
Yeah, sure, but we all still remember those 2022 Wildcats who earned a No. 1 seed and then bowed out in the Sweet 16.
Well, that team didn’t have a veteran point guard as good as Bradley. Old guards win in March, or did you forget Walter Clayton Jr.?
Bradley kept cooking with 17 points against Iowa State. He’s right, the Wildcats are plenty scary, especially when they defend like they did against the Cyclones.
Iowa State’s season-best scorers Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic will be ready to face anyone but Arizona in the NCAA Tournament. They combined for 4-of-25 shooting, a byproduct of Arizona's nasty defense.
As ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla put it afterward, Lloyd “wants to pulverize you.”
Well, he’s got the squad to do just that.
Two days after pulverizing Kansas, the Wildcats punished Iowa State.
These aren’t chump opponents, either. Kansas and Iowa State are the caliber of teams Arizona might face in the Sweet 16, the round where the Wildcats got booted in three of the past four seasons.
Now, here's Arizona, marching toward another lofty seed, looking like just the type of team you’d confidently mark into the Final Four in your office bracket pool, if you weren’t so haunted by past brackets busted.
“This team," Lloyd said, "has a chance to do something special."
Past Arizona teams had that chance, too, and failed to deliver. Those teams weren’t quite so balanced, so proven, so “scary” as this one. So scary, in fact, you might just want to cast history aside and start writing down Arizona when that bracket comes out.
The Chicago Blackhawks made their first trade of the deadline season. They sent Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a second-round pick in 2028. Chicago also retained 50% of Murphy’s cap hit, which likely played a key role in getting a good draft pick out of the Oilers.
Now, the Hawks have an extra asset to use in the future, however they choose, and the Oilers landed a solid penalty-killing defensive defenseman. Now that General Manager Kyle Davidson made one move, more are expected in the coming days.
There are five more Blackhawks players who are considered to be candidates as Friday’s trade deadline approaches. These players could follow Nick Foligno out the door:
Jason Dickinson
Jason Dickinson is the forward most likely to move. He is a veteran center who wins face-offs, defends well, and scores timely goals. Although nobody would ever mistake Dickinson for an offensive player over being a defensive-minded guy, he has shown the ability to chip in at a high-end third-line level.
Dickinson also brings a fair amount of leadership qualities to a locker room. He is not afraid to stick up for teammates, play tough, and speak to the media when the time calls.
There are plenty of playoff teams with a two-headed monster down the middle that would love to fill in the third-line center spot. If he needed to play on the fourth line, a team would really be flexing its muscles.
Nick Foligno
Over the weekend, Nick Foligno said that the Blackhawks needed depth scoring to help out Connor Bedard. He came out in the next game and scored a goal, which played a big role in the Hawks getting the win.
That is the act of a good hockey captain. Although he is a bottom-six forward at this stage of his career, Foligno has qualities that make him a valuable teammate both on and off the ice.
Foligno has been a captain in two NHL markets. Although he won’t be a captain wherever he goes, he will join the leadership group right away because he’s that type of person. Contenders need guys like that beyond the guys wearing letters on their sweaters.
Matt Grzelcyk
Matt Grzelcyk could be traded because he’s a pending unrestricted free agent. He could also not be because of the fact that teams might not give up much to get him. A third-pair offensive defenseman isn’t going to be worth high-end draft capital when better players are out there.
There are always guys like Grzelcyk, however, who move for little to nothing at the deadline. A playoff-bound team may see Grzelcyk as someone worth having around in case their number one offensive guy gets hurt.
If Grzelcyk does stay in Chicago beyond the deadline, he will be the oldest of the defensemen by far. With Connor Murphy gone, it’s an even younger bunch based on average age.
Ilya Mikheyev
Ilya Mikheyev is the player on the Blackhawks who is in trade rumors, but should probably just be extended. Having one solid veteran forward who can kill penalties, be hard to play against, and make smart hockey decisions can be hard to find.
In addition to being one of the best penalty killers in the league, Mikheyev is good for 15-20 goals a season. All of them will be at even strength, too, because he barely gets power-play ice time. He knows his role, and he executes it flawlessly.
Kevin Korchinski
Kevin Korchinski wasn’t truly on anyone’s radar until Elliotte Friedman mentioned his name on his podcast. Elliotte doesn’t mention names for no reason. You can assume that Korchinski is at least on the block.
Unlike the other players on this list, Korchinski is not a pending free agent. He is a younger player who is still considered a prospect to some. His problem is that he’s been incredible in the AHL but lackluster in all of his NHL stints.
The things that Korchinski does well, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov also do well, if not better. Rinzel and Levshunov are also better defensively, which sets Korchinski behind.
Another team may take a chance on a former 7th overall pick with all of the talent in the world, especially a defenseman. It is unclear what a trade involving Korchinski may look like, but his name is among the few who could be on the move from this team. A change of scenery could be good for all involved parties.
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If the Philadelphia Flyers were hoping to come away from Friday's NHL trade deadline with a haul, the latest Edmonton Oilers trade poured some cold water on that.
On Monday, the Oilers swung an important trade for their Stanley Cup contention hopes, sending a 2028 second-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Connor Murphy at 50% salary retention.
Murphy, 32, has one year remaining on his contract at a $4.4 million cap hit, so he's a pure rental for the Oilers for the cost of just $2.2 million after Chicago's retention.
For the Flyers, that doesn't bode well for Rasmus Ristolainen's trade value coming into Friday.
Ristolainen, 31, has two years remaining, including this one, on his contract at a $5.5 million cap hit, so his extra year of term won't offer contending teams the flexibility they might need, like Edmonton did.
And, while both Murphy and Ristolainen are 6-foot-4 right-handers, Murphy has not suffered a season-ending injury two years in a row.
Despite not having those question marks, carrying a cheaper salary, and coming with no strings attached, Murphy's value was still just a second-round pick two drafts away.
It's been long said that the Flyers desire a first-round pick or player/prospect equivalent in exchange for their defenseman, but the current market now indicates this won't be the case.
Based on Edmonton's trade for Murphy, Colorado sending Girard to Pittsburgh for Kulak was more or less a throw-in to make the deal work.
The Flyers, winners of three straight at the time of this writing, may just opt to keep Ristolainen if this is the market for him and re-assess once again in the offseason, much to the chagrin of fans eagerly awaiting a true rebuild.
Aside from Owen Tippett, who has historically generated a good amount of trade buzz himself, the Flyers don't have much to sell ahead of the trade deadline this year.
Christian Dvorak was tied down and rewarded with a five-year contract, and depth forwards like Nick Deslauriers, Garnet Hathaway, and Carl Grundstrom more than likely won't be worth the squeeze for contenders.
That could leave the Flyers in a bind over the course of the next three days.
Unless something drastic changes, it appears unlikely that Scott Laughton will be a Toronto Maple Leafs player once the NHL trade deadline comes to a close on Friday.
According to TSN's Chris Johnston on Monday morning, Laughton's days in Toronto could be numbered as the Maple Leafs fall further and further out of the playoff picture.
"It feels that way," Johnston said. "And look, I think some of this will depend on where the offers end up, but look at what Scott Laughton is. When he was traded, ironically, by the Philadelphia Flyers to Toronto, they kept half of his salary at that point in time.
"So the Leafs are in a situation now where they're able to retain further salary potential in a trade, and so you'd be getting a fourth line centerman — who could maybe play a little bit up the lineup, we haven't seen that a lot in Toronto — and at a bargain basement price.
"I think that's really important for teams ahead of this deadline."
Johnston did say, however, that Laughton, a pending unrestricted free agent like Bobby McMann, could still re-sign with Toronto if both sides can come to a resolution.
"At this point, it does seem as though his desires, in terms of the next contract, exceed what Toronto's willing to pay," Johnston continued. "But we're still in that point where one phone call, one conversation, one change of stance can change the direction of things."
The Maple Leafs acquired Laughton from the Flyers at last season's trade deadline in exchange for Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional 2027 first-round pick. Since joining his hometown team, the 31-year-old has scored 10 goals and 16 points in 63 games.
One year later, he finds himself in the same predicament.
"It's hard. We have a veteran team, though. I think you show up to work every day and you put your best foot forward," said Laughton about the trade deadline, before Toronto's game against the Flyers.
"We're all still here, right? It's not up to us. It's out of our control. Everyone's in their own situation, has to deal with their own things. But you have to come on the ice and be a unit together.
"It's hard sometimes, but at the end of the day, you're in the NHL and one of the best franchises. It's a very humbling opportunity to play here and it's a special place."
Laughton is one of several Maple Leafs in trade rumors. Other players include McMann as well as defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who, on Monday, also expressed his desire to remain in Toronto.
The Oakville, Ontario-born forward centered the Maple Leafs' fourth line on Monday night, with Easton Cowan and Steven Lorentz on his wings. He had two shots and registered 11:51 of ice time in the shootout loss.
Laughton's current cap hit is $1.5 million, and that can be lowered further if the Maple Leafs retain salary in a trade.
"I've loved it here and I've loved my time (as a Maple Leaf). That's all I really can control," Laughton said. "I don't get into conversations too much. I'm a Leaf and that's where I want to be. We'll see where it goes."
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 1: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks smiles during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 1, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ll admit it: I was skeptical when the Hawks acquired a guy who didn’t exactly endear himself to four-time championship head coach Steve Kerr. But clearly, sometimes a change in scenery is all you really need.
Or maybe the Warriors just didn’t know what they had.
Jonathan Kuminga was drafted seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, and the original plan was for him to help guide the Golden State Warriors into a new era once the core dynasty players aged out.
Well, that didn’t quite happen — and to the great benefit of these Atlanta Hawks.
Since arriving here at the trade deadline, in just three games (albeit against the tanking Wizards and the Blazers minus Deni Avdija), Jonathan Kuminga has given fans something to believe in with this team. In 26.7 minutes per game, he’s averaging 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest while shooting 68/56/77 in the traditional shooting triple slash (a blistering 79% true shooting percentage).
And it hasn’t been one-way impact. He’s been a big contributor on defense as well with the team a +43 in his 80 court minutes so far.
There were concerns with his unwillingness to move the ball in a system that encourages quick decision making. Well, that concern has been assuaged with his sharp passing and good decision making so far. His 10-assist to eight-turnover ratio far undersells how easy he’s moved the ball so far and how well he’s seeing the floor.
After the missed corner three last time out against Portland, Kuminga hustles for the rebound in the video below. With the Blazers trying to reset their defense, he finds Landale for an easy dunk:
There were also concerns with his style of play on offense for a guy whose best attribute is getting into the restricted area. But so far, Kuminga has attacked the rim and been rewarded for his efforts.
Out of his 64 points scored, 32 of them are from the painted area and another 17 are off free throws after getting fouled. That means that 49-of-64 points or 77% of his scoring is coming from his downhill pressure.
From the beginning of the season until February 23, the day before Kuminga’s debut for the Hawks, the team was 27th in free throw rate (a ratio of free throw attempts to field goal attempts) at 0.232. Kuminga has a career free throw rate of 0.364 — and through three games, it’s a sky-high 0.710 here. That’s been a huge shot in the arm for a Quin Snyder team that wants to drive and kick more and more.
Additionally, the other 15 points are from his 5-for-9 (56%) performance from three-point land. He’s a career 33% three-point shooter, so I don’t expect this accuracy to continue, but his willingness to let it fly will certainly endear himself to the current coaching staff.
There were even concerns with his ability to fit in a team defense that needs forwards and centers alike to contribute to keeping opponents out of the restricted area. Well, he’s looked very engaged on that end, with five steals and a block so far.
Look at him slide his puppies in the clip below. And he finishes the possession with a tough close out on Jerami Grant:
In this next one, Kuminga sinks into the paint as the low man on defense. He gets off a clean weakside block on Tristan Vukcevic that starts a break the other way:
And here, he stays attached with his man, Grant again, while keeping eyes on the driving Jrue Holiday. But when he notices Holiday get too deep under the rim without a good outlet, Kuminga peels over to the relocating Blake Wesley and intercepts the pass:
The Hawks have struggled against physical teams like the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors this year. They’ve gotten pushed around on the boards and outmuscled on drives more times than I can count.
The front office responded by beefing up at the deadline. First, was picking up the 6-foot-11, 255-pound Jock Landale for free (minus a bit of cash money). Now comes in a 6-foot-7, 225-point forward who has no problem mixing it up when need be. And the team has responded with a fun brand of basketball in the past month.
Finally.
Sometimes, it’s best to not overthink things. Jonathan Kuminga possesses a level of athleticism, power, and open court pace that you can’t teach. There was always lottery talent there, even if it didn’t shine as much in the Bay Area as many had hoped.
Now he’s playing his game — and that joy has been infectious.
The Hawks have blown out three straight opponents, with the latest a highlight dunkfest for Kuminga. It doesn’t take long to notice that he’s displaying a level of excitement to be playing the game of basketball and getting a new start in Atlanta:
And the greater NBA world is even taking notice. This from NBA insider Brian Windhorst on ESPN’s NBA Today:
In retrospect, there was really only upside when the Hawks made this move in the dead of night the evening before the trade deadline. When the cost is just an illness-stricken 30-year-old center who has only managed to play one game (in a blowout loss) for his new team, the Golden State Warriors, it’s already clear that the trade is a big win for Atlanta — even if ‘JK’ comes back to Earth a bit.
The Hawks experimented for a few minutes with both he and Jalen Johnson sharing the floor, and I suspect we’ll see more of that given the collective talent level. But there also may be a possible skillset overlap to look into in these lineups.
These next 20-plus games will be an interesting showcase to evaluate his fit, and that means it’s entirely possible he plays his way into a long-term future here.
At the end of this season, the Hawks own a $24.3 million team option on his contract. That ultimately means there’s no reason for him to walk in free agency unless the team chooses to part ways. Either you work out a trade, an extension, or merely pick up the option and figure things out during the 2026-27 season.
These past few games have been fun, but we truly need a bigger sample size against better teams to declare the trade an absolute heist. Still, the early returns have been everything we would have wanted and more.
It’s a little too early to say I was way off base, but I promise I will happily eat my words if Kuminga continues to play well enough to force the Hawks to keep him in their plans.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 24, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
With Devin Booker returning tonight, expect a different starting lineup than the one the Phoenix Suns have been deploying the past few games amid all their injuries. Collin Gillespie will be running the point guard position as he has been the past three-plus months, Booker will be next to him in the backcourt, Mark Williams will be at center, and Royce O’Neale will be the team’s power forward.
The question is who will be playing the small forward position.
Grayson Allen has solidified his position as the team’s bench scorer, something he continued to do amid the team’s injuries, so it will come down to Ryan Dunn or Jalen Green.
Both have started the last few games, with Dunn having his first set of back-to-back double-digit scoring games since November, and Green has continued to struggle since coming back from his hamstring injury. The 24-year-old is averaging a career low 13 points per game on career low efficiency from the field, three, and free throw line. He’s especially struggled in his last four games, shooting 28% from the field and 15% from three.
While he did hit a buzzer-beating three against the Orlando Magic, it’s been a struggle lately for the fifth-year guard.
One of the key pieces the Suns acquired when they dealt Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets back in the offseason, Green has one of the highest upsides out of any player on the Phoenix roster. Coming into the season, Green was the only player outside of Devin Booker on the Suns to average at least 20 points per game for an entire season, and he did it twice in his first four seasons, including last year, where he was the leading scorer on a Houston Rockets team that was the second seed in the Western Conference.
He had a 38-point playoff game in his second-career playoff game. Amid all his defensive struggles, inefficiency problems, and size, he has the potential to have a big offensive game like few can on the Phoenix Suns. With the team lacking draft capital for the foreseeable future and carrying few young players on the roster, Green’s progression remains a vital part of the Suns’ future. While Dunn is also one of the team’s few young players, Dunn does not have the offensive potential that Green does, and has been given ample opportunities throughout his two seasons to prove himself and not done so consistently. Green has not been given that opportunity yet with the Suns.
Green has only played 12 games this season. When he returned from his hamstring injury, he re-injured it. Then, when he returned, he quickly had a few more absences due to injury. It’s fair to wonder how his conditioning has impacted his play, given how inconsistently he’s been in the lineup, as Jordan Ott spoke about recently. The question is, should he be playing more with the starters or the reserves? You decide.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins checks Marat Khusnutdinov #92 of the Boston Bruins in the first period at the TD Garden on January 11, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (31-15-13, 75 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Boston Bruins (33-21-5, 71 points, 5th place Atlantic Division)
When: 7:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Streaming on ESPN+, local broadcasts on SN-PT and NESN
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins are back home later this week for a three-game homestand, which starts Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, continues Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers and wraps up with a Sunday rematch against the Bruins.
Opponent Track: After heading into the Olympic break with back-to-back shootout losses, the Bruins have split their schedule since between a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets and a 3-1 loss in Philadelphia.
Season Series: Joonas Korpisalo earned a 27-save, 1-0 shutout win against the Penguins the last time these two teams met on Jan. 11 at TD Garden.
Hidden Stat: The Bruins have claimed 10 straight wins at TD Garden, marking the franchise’s longest home win streak since the 2022-23 season.
Getting to know the Bruins
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Marat Khusnutdinov – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson
Michael Eyssimont – Fraser Minten – Morgan Geekie
Tanner Jeannot – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic
DEFENSEMEN
Jonathan Aspirot / Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm / Mason Lohrei
Nikita Zadorov / Henri Jokirharju
Goalies: Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo
Potential scratches: Alex Steeves, Andrew Peeke, Jordan Harris
Injured Reserve: Dans Locmelis
The Bruins were riding an eight-game point streak, dating back to before the Olympic break, before dropping a 3-1 decision to the Flyers on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha, both sidelined ahead of the Olympic break with upper-body injuries, are back to anchor the Bruins’ top two lines.
Morgan Geekie just tied a career high with 33 goals, and he’s done it in just 58 games this season.
The Bruins’ top defenseman, Charlie McAvoy, is riding a nine-game point streak dating all the way back to Jan. 22.
The penalty kill has been a weakness this season for the Bruins, who are heading into this matchup ranked 27th in the NHL with a 76.7 percent PK rate. The team reportedly made some significant changes to the unit after the Olympic break, per The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa. Since then— albeit in a small sample size— the Bruins PK has been perfect, going 1-for-1 against the Blue Jackets and 3-for-3 against the Flyers last week.
The Bruins are in the market for a “top-six forward and a right-shot defenseman” at the trade deadline, according to a recent report from The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta. They’re reportedly dangling AHL forward Matthew Poitras as a potential trade piece, per Pagnotta.
Here’s a look at the Eastern Conference playoff race as of Monday night, per NHL.com. The Bruins are just two points up on the race for the final Wild Card spot in the East, although they have three games in hand on the Washington Capitals for the spot.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Avery Hayes – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs, Stuart Skinner played yesterday
Potential Scratches: Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Ilya Solovyov
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
Not much news from Monday. As of Monday, Evgeni Malkin was set to have a talk with Penguins management about a potential extension “in the next day or two,” per The Athletic’s Josh Yohe.
A few milestones potentially on the table tonight: Rickard Rakell is three assists short of 300, Sam Girard is two assists shy of 200 and Kris Letang is one point back from No. 800.
Per Pens PR: Only the Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights have more 20-goal scorers than in Pittsburgh, where Sidney Crosby, Anthony Mantha and Bryan Rust have each reached the threshold this season.
Another fun fact from Pens PR: the Pens’ fourth line of Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte has been on the ice for seven 5v5 goals against, the fewest of any forward line that has been together for at least 250 minutes at even strength this season.
The Pens’ Sunday win over the Vegas Golden Knights boosted their MoneyPuck playoff odds to 89.4 percent heading into Tuesday.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 9: Johan Rojas #18 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after getting hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on July 9, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 10-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SARASOTA, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Trey Gibson (88) of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the New York Yankees on February 20, 2026 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The Orioles, after their first day off, are back in action this afternoon for an exhibition game against Team Netherlands, tuning up for the World Baseball Classic. The Netherlands roster includes notable current and former big leaguers Xander Bogaerts, Ozzie Albies, Jurickson Profar, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Didi Gregorius, along with former O’s catcher Chadwick Tromp and former Orioles minor leaguer (and brother of Jonathan) Sharlon Schoop. Sadly, this game, which sounds like the most interesting of the Orioles’ entire spring, won’t be televised anywhere.
In other news, MLB.com became the latest major prospect publication to unveil its ranking of the top 30 Orioles prospects. Like all the other lists published so far, Samuel Basallo is at the top, and like almost all of the others, Dylan Beavers and Nate George are right behind him. Among other prospects, Enrique Bradfield Jr. has slipped in the Orioles’ ranking, dropping from fourth place on MLB’s list last season to 10th this year, but his speed remains tantalizing enough to earn the maximum 80 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. This just in: he’s fast.
What strikes me about this top-30 list is just how much pitching is on it. While there are only three pitchers ranked in the top 10 (Luis De León at #4, Trey Gibson #5, and Esteban Mejia #8), it’s extremely pitcher heavy after that, with hurlers ranking at every spot from #11 to #17. That’s an interesting change from the recent past. In previous seasons, even when the Orioles regularly had one of the best farm systems in baseball, position players far outweighed pitchers in their rankings. In MLB’s list two years ago, the O’s didn’t have any pitchers ranked among their top eight. In both 2023 and 2024, they had only three pitchers among their top 15 prospects.
It’s no secret that the Orioles haven’t been great at developing pitching in the Mike Elias era, but things could be starting to change. Last year’s trade-deadline selloff infused the organization with young pitching talent, including Boston Bateman (#11), Juaron Watts-Brown (#16), and Tyson Neighbors (#17). A pair of 2025-drafted pitchers also show up on this list in Joseph Dzierwa (#14) and JT Quinn (#21).
The Orioles, of course, still have to nurture and develop these young arms into capable big league-ready pitchers, which is no easy feat. Just witness the rocky arrivals of their previous two top pitching prospects, Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott. Not all of these pitching prospects are going to amount to something. But the Orioles have got more pitching depth than they’ve had in years, so the odds are that some of these guys will break through even if others falter.
Dare we say it? The Orioles might finally be ready to grow the arms.
I’m still of the opinion that the Coby Mayo at third base experiment will be a disaster, but there’s no turning back now. I don’t think another third baseman is going to materialize out of thin air, so good luck to Coby.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Six former Orioles were born on this day, and if you’ve heard of more than two of them, you’re a true Orioles sicko. They include 2019 one-gamer José Rondón (32), 2020 three-gamer Dilson Herrera (also 32), 1998 nine-gamer Bobby Muñoz (58), and the late righty Francisco de la Rosa (b. 1966, d. 2011), who pitched two games in 1991. Two birthday boys with more extensive Orioles experience are former closer Jorge Julio (47) and the late righty Jesse Jefferson (b. 1949, d. 2011).
March 3 has historically been a slow day for Orioles news. The only transaction the O’s have ever made on this date was in 2018, when they signed infielder Danny Valencia to a minor league deal. The veteran had played for the Orioles five years earlier and posted an .888 OPS in part-time duty, but his return engagement to Baltimore didn’t turn out as well. Valencia OPSed .723 in 78 games for the historically terrible 2018 Orioles before they released him in mid-August.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Nathan Church #27 of the St. Louis Cardinals catches a fly ball against the New York Mets during the fourth inning of a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’re ready to analyze performance and results, so am I. The first 10 games of Spring Training are a really bad barometer for that, and moreso an exercise in futility. So, until we can really dig into the fun stuff, I figured it would be a good time to share some thoughts on how I see the NL Central shaking out over the regular season. With Manager Oliver Marmol signed to a brand new 2-year contract extension, it would be a good time to point out that the Cardinals have won 11 more games than their expected Win-Loss total over the last 2 seasons. I expect that this trend will continue in the 2026 season. Will it be enough to keep them respectable, relevant, and interesting? We’ll see!
5th – St. Louis Cardinals
Let me be clear, I don’t think this is a 100-loss team, but they might lose 90. If they wound up 72-90, would anyone really be shocked at that outcome? Neither would I; that’s not to say this season can’t still be filled with a lot of interesting storylines and more interesting development from young players to provide a clearer picture for 2027 and beyond. If this were not to be the case, as I outlined in my article last week, several big question marks would have to be answered in the affirmative for them to really propel themselves beyond the cellar of the 2026 NL Central.
I’m intrigued by the rotation and the number of MLB-ready arms there are that can step in and throw meaningful innings for this team. I’m eager to see what type of steps forward Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, and Victor Scott take. I think JJ Wetherholt is going to solidify the 2nd base position and will hold it down in St. Louis for the next decade plus. I think that any of O’Brien, Romero, or Svanson can lock down games for the Cardinals at the back end of games based on matchups. There is a 90th percentile outcome where they contend for a Wild Card spot, seeing as how it’s never been easier for a team to make the postseason thanks to the expanded format.
The reduction of proven production from this roster in Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, Sony Gray, Nolan Arenado, and others lowers the floor of this team to a place where Cardinals fans 30 years old and younger just simply aren’t accustomed to and that leaves open the greater possibility that the floor could fall out from under them and go sideways while not knowing how to get it back on the rails.
4th – Cincinnati Reds
Manager Terry Francona’s squad did just enough to sneak past the drowning New York Mets last season to get into the playoffs and earn the honor of preparing the Dodgers for the actual contenders in the National League. Led by one of the most exciting players in baseball, Elly De La Cruz, the Reds front office did very little in the way of adding to their team in a way that moves the needle. A full season of top prospects, Sal Stewart and Chase Burns, will likely raise their floor a bit, and the additions of Eugenio Suarez, JJ Bleday, and Dane Meyers to the offense are all that Nick Krall and Co. really accomplished. They also brought back closer Emilio Pagan and added relievers Pierce Johnson and Caleb Ferguson to a somewhat underrated group, including Tony Santillian and Graham Ashcraft. Unclear if they will all be able to repeat the strides they made last season.
Between Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, and Chase Burns thats one of the better starting rotations in the NL. Health is the biggest question mark I have with that group, and I will bet against them all making it through 2026 unscathed. They have a little depth behind those 5 in Chase Petty and Rhett Lowder. Ultimately, I just think the Reds don’t have enough offensively and in the bullpen to get them to the playoffs in what I think will be a very competitive NL Central.
3rd – Milwaukee Brewers
Speaking of teams that were run over by the World Champion Dodgers, the Milwaukee Brewers land in 3rd place for me. Back-to-back NL Manager of the Year Pat Murphy leads a scrappy Brewers team that plays the game the right way and always seems to outperform expectations. Which would seemingly make this spot in the division an absurd prediction and one bound to be proven wrong.
However, the loss of Freddy Peralta is one that will not only impact their performance on the field but also the culture they had cultivated in Milwaukee. Brandon Woodruff is back after accepting the QO, and rookie All-Star flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski had some up and down moments in the 2nd half of the season as MLB teams were able to adjust after seeing a little bit more of him. Quinn Priester, Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson, and Brandon Sproat round out the back half of the rotation and should provide some level of consistency in the rotation.
Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe at the back end of games bring big-time gas on the mound, and the rest of the ragtag group of no-name relievers that Milwaukee always features will somehow find a way to be better than expected. If that duo can remain healthy at the back end of games, I expect Milwaukee will have one of the better bullpens statistically speaking.
An offense led by All-Star Christian Yelich, up-and-coming outfielder Jackson Chourio, Catcher William Contreras, platinum glove-winning 2nd baseman Brice Turang, and breakout primed first basemen Andrew Vaughn, Milwaukee will be a multi-faceted attack offensively capable of scoring runs and winning in a variety of ways. Even after the departures of Caleb Durbin and Issac Collins, the offense still figures to be one that will give the opposition fits all summer long.
2nd – Pittsburgh Pirates
No longer interm Manager Don Kelly leads a group that had one of the most productive and interesting offseasons in recent memory. With the additions of All-Star 2B Brandon Lowe, All-Star 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn, and former All-Star DH Marcell Ozuna, OF Jhostnyxon Garcia, and OF Jake Mangum, the Pirates were able to address their biggest deficiency, and that was scoring runs. You include the possibility of Phenom top prospect Konnor Griffin in that group, and you don’t have to squint to see their offense being substantially improved.
Adding to the group of Bryan Reynolds, Oneill Cruz, and Spencer Horwitz from 2025, the Pirates will also feature a bench with defensive capabilities to help the pitching staff lock down games late between Nick Gonzales, Jared Triolo, and the aforementioned Jake Mangum and Jhostnyxon Garcia.
A pitching staff anchored by generational talent and reigning Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes, the rest of the league will also have to contend with Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, the return of Jared Jones, and Braxton Ashcraft. Top prospects Hunter Barco and Thomas Harrington will be waiting in the wings if and when anyone from the rotation blows a tire and needs a spell on the IL.
The bullpen will be a formidable group led by breakout reliever Dennis Santana and veteran lefty flame thrower Gregory Soto. The Pirates also acquired lefty fireballer Mason Montgomery (whom I wrote the Cardinals should have acquired at the beginning of the offseason). I think this bullpen is one of the more underrated heading into the 2026 season, and I won’t be surprised if they wind up being a big part of why they have success in 2026.
1st – Chicago Cubs
I hate it. It’s gross. I want to pour gasoline on myself and light a match. The Chicago Cubs made a very smart decision by bringing in Alex Bregman. He has the experience, the leadership, the slow heartbeat in big moments, the proven track record; he’s everything Chicago needed last postseason. Craig Counsell enters his 3rd season at the helm of the Chicago Cubs, and nationally they’re considered the near consensus favorite to win the division.
Will MLB teams continue to exploit PCA’s offensive shortcomings? Can Carson Kelly repeat his breakout season? Those will be interesting questions to follow. The Cubs are exceptional on both sides of the ball with the best up the middle defense in baseball between Swanson, Hoerner, and the aforementioned PCA. They’ve got strong corner presences in Alex Bregman, Michael Busch, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki. They added Michael Conforto on a minor league deal this spring, and he is someone who had the largest disparity between wOBA and xwOBA last season. Moises Ballesteros is a gifted young offensive catcher who profiles more as a DH long-term, who should add to the gross amount of offensive depth they boast.
The rotation I’m a little more skeptical of. Their position group should be propped up by a really strong defense behind it. All-Star Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, newly acquired Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Rookie sensation Cade Horton are a capable group who will be helped by the midseason return of Justin Steele. The rotation depth behind those 6 includes Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, Jaxon Wiggins, Javier Assad, and Colin Rea.
The Bullpen includes Phil Maton coming off a stellar 2025, underrated reliever Hunter Harvey, lefty Caleb Thielbar, submarine lefty Hoby Milner, and fire baller Daniel Palencia shutting the door at the end of games. A stacked group of relievers that all offer unique looks and pitch shapes that should surely give opposing teams fits to get into any type of rhythm late in games.
The rotation is my biggest question mark, but they have so much depth behind them, and the presence of the defense should prop up most lackluster performances that that group may have. It’s hard to find any true deficiencies on paper. The Cubs should stack up against any NL contender once postseason play rolls around, and it will be miserable and envious to watch it from afar all season long.
Our focus this season will understandably be to overanalyze every Cardinals decision, but I wanted to zoom the lens out to the NL Central and how I am forecasting the 2026 season. I think the 2026 will be highly contested, and I think that it will offer more twists and turns than most fans are expecting. I’m extremely anxious to see it play out, even if that means the Cardinals wind up being fodder in a majority of the contests. Still, we’re a little over 3 weeks away from getting this started again, and I’m ready to watch it all unfold with you all for another season! Let me know what you’re thinking and what order you see the division finishing in. Might be fun to look back on at season’s end to see how close (or not) some of us were.
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