SAN FRANCISCO — When Harrison Bader would come to Oracle Park as an opponent, he would head out to center field and watch as balls took random bounces off the bricks and walls in Triples Alley. Bader wouldn’t have to worry much about learning the intricacies, knowing that he would be gone in three or four days.
“Now, I don’t really have the luxury,” he said on a Zoom call Friday night. “I’m definitely going to map out that field as well as I can.”
The Giants know that Bader will quickly get up to speed defensively. A former Gold Glove Award winner, he’ll start in center field, and he’s being counted on to help a bad outfield defense take massive steps in 2026.
Buster Posey confirmed that Harrison Bader will play center field. Tony Vitello and Zack Minasian talked to Jung Hoo Lee, who will move to right field. Posey said he took it well and may still get some reps in CF at times.
Bader could be headed for the bottom third of the lineup, but the Giants certainly don’t view him as a glove-only player. The 31-year-old hit a career-high 17 homers last season and posted a 122 wRC+ easily the highest of his career. On Friday, president of baseball operations Buster Posey said he’s confident there’s “staying power” to the offensive improvements.
Bader feels the same way, in part because he’s fully healthy after adductor surgery in 2023, and in part because he feels his approach has come a long way after nine years in the big leagues.
“I think I just kind of ran with the feel,” he said of last season’s breakthrough. “We also were just doing really good things last year in terms of just understanding what the pitcher is trying to do to us and identifying what his strong suits are and making that our Plan A. I have this old-school coach (from college at the University of Florida) who I can hear his voice in my head … he always said you’ve got to go to the plate looking for what you’re going to get, not what you want to see.
“I think just being adjustable, making box adjustments, trusting your eyes and setting yourself on the track to be successful offensively, if you just repeat that over the course of a season and you remain healthy, which I did last year, you’ll have good results. I’m just going to build off of last year and build off the success and continue to work on all the things that I got exposed to, because nobody is perfect in this game, and I got exposed last year as well. It was a lot of work. It was a day by day process.”
While few free-agent position players choose Oracle Park, Bader actually might be a good fit for the dimensions. He doesn’t have a long track record of above-average success at the plate, and he can be strikeout-heavy at times. However, he’s also a right-handed pull hitter, and the ballpark is much more fair to those types than the Brandon Belts of the world. Bader’s bat speed has increased in recent years, showing physical skills that shouldn’t decline too much over a two-year contract.
Bader also has a good track record in San Francisco, albeit in a small sample size. In 15 career games at Oracle Park, he has a .791 OPS and four homers. While those outfield walls might be tricky, another part of the ballpark has always helped him.
“I think the biggest thing, regardless of the field, is how well you see the baseball,” he said. “For whatever reason, I do happen to see the ball very well (at Oracle Park) because the backdrop is set up very well there, so that certainly helps.”
The Giants believe Bader will be a good fit offensively at Oracle, but that will be determined over two years. There are no doubts about the way he will fit with Tony Vitello’s style, though.
A native of New York, Bader is known as the kind of tough play-with-your-hair-on-fire outfielder that Vitello has loved in the past. He said he has heard good things about his new manager and is confident that he’ll be able to make the transition to MLB.
“I’m excited for him,” Bader said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us all. I just can’t wait to be in the dugout with him, just taking this thing one game at a time, just trying to win after nine innings. That’s it. He has a lot of experience with that at a different level, but the game is the same at every level.
“There’s a little more speed, a little more media, a little more fans, but it’s the same game. He knows how to do it, and I’m excited to be part of his group.”
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins has won each of his past three full starts, posting a .922 save percentage and stopping at least 24 shots in each game.
With Columbus allowing the second-most shots per game (30.6), the Chicago Blackhawks will keep Merzlikins busy on home ice.
The Blackhawks allow the seventh-most shots per game (29.7), while the Blue Jackets generate the third-most (30.3), so I expect Spencer Knight to be busy tonight.
Chicago's tendy has been solid all season, posting a .910 SV%, a 2.59 GAA, and 27.03 goals saved above expected across 36 contests.
Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov has recorded two or more shots in 11 of his past 14 games while logging a monster 25:07 of ice time.
His 6.14 shots per 60 minutes during the run also rank 13th among all regular blueliners, and Chicago is currently allowing the most shots per outing to D-men.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 28: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He took a stepback three and fell because the floor was raised, injuring his ankle. This is an uncommon scenario in the NBA. Typically, the court extends to the point where falling off it would be impossible.
Luka had to go back to the locker room after an apparent leg injury at the edge of the court. pic.twitter.com/QxPvkiE5p0
Luka had to be taken out of the game, but luckily, he was able to return. However, he is now listed as questionable for the Lakers’ upcoming contest against the Wizards due to this ankle injury.
After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick stated that the raised floor was a hazard.
It seems that the league agrees with Redick. According to an article by Joe Vardon of The Athletic, the NBA and the Cavs are seeking solutions to prevent other players from being injured like this.
“While improvements have been made to the arena floor over the years to address this issue, the NBA and the Cavaliers are revisiting the situation given the incident last night,” a league spokesperson said Thursday night.
This isn’t the first time this season Luka has dealt with a floor causing him problems. Dončić complained about the NBA Cup court being slippery and the Lakers sent it for repairs. LA never played on that floor again.
It’s unfortunate that it took Luka almost getting seriously injured to resolve this issue, but if it means no other player has to deal with this, then something good came out of this situation.
Further in Vardon’s piece, he provided some more details on the talks the Cavs have had with the NBA regarding their court.
The discussions Thursday between the league and the Cavs were taken up mutually, a league spokesperson said. Earlier Thursday, a Cavs spokesman told The Athletic, “The basketball court layout and design at Rocket Arena is fully compliant with NBA rules and has been in place for [20-plus] years, with ongoing collaboration and regular evaluation between our organization, the league and independent flooring experts to support player safety and performance. We constantly evaluate every aspect of the arena to ensure the highest standards of fan experience are achieved and (the) safest environment for players, team members, performers and guests is maintained.”
While the court may follow the rules, that doesn’t mean it’s safe enough. Clearly, it’s very easy for a player to fall off as Luka did. When you watch the play, it’s not like he was pushed or made a ridiculous move that is uncommon in a basketball game.
These guys are playing a sport and injury risk is always possible. But a court shouldn’t be a reason for increased danger. This needs to get fixed, and it appears that’s going to happen sooner rather than later.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 18: Tyler Glasnow #31 and Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers try Japanese snacks in the dugout prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Yuki Taguchi/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Part of the spring training ritual is figuring out which pitchers are a little behind the curve, and who might not be ready for the start of the season. It’s inevitable and happens with every team.
This shouldn’t be a surprise with Snell, a classic excellent-when-healthy pitcher who rarely pitches a full season. He has pitched at least 130 innings twice in his 10 major league seasons (2018, 2023), and won a Cy Young Award in both years.
Don’t take this as a knock on Snell. The Dodgers knew what they were getting into when they signed Snell to a five-year contract. Just like they knew who they were getting when they traded for and extended Tyler Glasnow, who has pitched 100 innings three times in his 10 seasons. Both Snell and Glasnow were healthy down the stretch last season and into October, and the Dodgers rode their rotation to a second straight championship.
Last year was the idealization of the Dodgers’ annual goal, to have the big names all healthy in October. This strategy also requires the depth necessary to fill in the gaps for the six months of the regular season. To that end, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman on the Dodgers Territory podcast Thursday said of the 2026 roster, “It’s the deepest and best collection of arms I’ve ever been around.”
Gavin Stone and River Ryan are back after rehabbing from surgeries and missing all of 2025. Justin Wrobleski and Ben Casparius have pitched in hybrid roles in the majors, and could start if needed. Landon Knack has another year of options to fill in when called upon.
If recent history is any guide, the Dodgers will need all of these pitchers, and likely more, in 2026.
Dustin May and Clayton Kershaw were second and third on the 2025 Dodgers in innings pitched during the regular season. May was dealt at the trade deadline, and Kershaw pitched only twice in 17 postseason games. In 2024, Stone and Glasnow were the only Dodgers to top 90 innings and neither were available in the postseason.
At least seven Dodgers pitchers have started 10 games in each of the last five seasons, and at least 10 Dodgers have started five games in each of the last four seasons. In each of the last two years, only two Dodgers started 20 games during the regular season.
Year
Starters
20 starts
10 starts
5 starts
Top 6 starts
2025
17
2
7
11
116
2024
17
2
8
10
112
2023
17
4
8
10
111
2022
12
4
7
10
131
2021
19
3
7
8
128
Those current top six on the 2026 depth chart combined for 93 starts last season. In the last five seasons, the most the top six starters combined for is 131 starts, with an average of 120 starts per year. That still leaves a lot of other starts to account for. But the Dodgers are used to that.
Finding the right value on a Friday night slate is all about identifying trends and mismatches before the market catches up. For this January 30 lineup, I’ve put together a three-leg moneyline parlay that balances momentum with favorable matchups.
My NBA picks start at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are looking to capitalize on their home-court advantage against the Blazers. From there, we head to the Bayou for a Southwest Division showdown between the Pelicans and Grizzlies, before wrapping things up in Phoenix, where the Suns will try to extend their current winning streak to three games.
This parlay has been BOOSTED from +598 to +708 by our friends at bet365.
If you’re looking to slow down the Trail Blazers’ offense, it starts with Deni Avdija—and that’s where OG Anunoby becomes a major asset. Avdija relies on his size and strength to bully smaller defenders and get downhill, but that approach won’t work against Anunoby, who can match his physicality step for step. It’s simply a brutal matchup for Avdija.
On the other end of the floor, the Knicks can also exploit Donovan Clingan. While Clingan is an elite rim protector, he’ll struggle to defend Karl-Anthony Towns on the perimeter. If Clingan is consistently pulled out of the paint to guard KAT, the lane opens up for Jalen Brunson to operate. There’s a lot of juice at -280, but given these matchup edges, this number should be even shorter—closer to -345.
The Memphis Grizzlies are +125 on the moneyline on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans, and at that price point, I’m hitting the button, as I believe they should be trading closer to a -115 favorite.
The injury report is long for the Grizzlies, but as long as Jaren Jackson Jr. is on the floor, they’re in good shape in this matchup. JJJ is someone who can move his feet against Zion Williamson and meet him at the rim to protect it. Not only do the Grizzlies have a defender for Zion, but the wingspan of Vince Williams Jr. and the length of Jaylen Wells could also be disruptive to Trey Murphy’s shooting.
The wrong team is favored in this matchup—give me the Grizzlies on the moneyline.
+708 BOOSTED ML PARLAY 📈@JonMetler breaks down all three legs 🗣️🗣️
The Phoenix Suns will be without Devin Booker, but let’s not overlook the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers are also missing key pieces in Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. While this is the second night of a back-to-back for Phoenix, both games are at home, and their win over Detroit was so comfortable that Khaman Maluach logged minutes—hardly a taxing outing for the starters.
Defensively, the Suns can throw Dillon Brooks at Donovan Mitchell and rely on Mark Williams to anchor the paint to match Jarrett Allen’s vertical presence. Brooks guarding Mitchell is a very different look when Garland isn’t there to help initiate the offense. Given all of that, I believe this line should be closer to +120, which is why I’m backing the Suns.
The Toronto Raptors came home from a productive road trip only to fall into a classic letdown spot against the New York Knicks.
They’ll look to get back on track when they head to Orlando to face the Magic. Injuries and uneven play have held Orlando back this season, leaving the Magic just two games over .500 — yet they still enter as slight home favorites.
My Raptors vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks break down why the Raptors will get back to roaring in this Eastern Conference clash, set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Kia Center in Orlando.
Raptors vs Magic prediction
Raptors vs Magic best bet: Raptors moneyline (+105)
The Toronto Raptors saw their winning streak snapped by the New York Knicks on Wednesday, but the team has played well overall.
They won the last four games of a West Coast road trip, including a win over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re eighth in the NBA in defensive rating, and have gone 10-4 ATS as a road underdog this season.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic are struggling. They have the sixth-worst net rating in January, and it’s clear they are missing Franz Wagner.
Brandon Ingram and Co. will lock down the Magic and get back in the win column.
Raptors vs Magic same-game parlay
Ingram is having a solid first season with the Raptors, and tonight I want to focus on his playmaking ability. He's averaged 4.2 assists over his last nine games, recording four or more dimes in six of those outings.
Orlando is a strong defensive team, and their game plan figures to involve getting the ball out of Ingram’s hands.
Then there is Jalen Suggs. The Magic guard is just 2-for-16 from three in his three games since his return from injury and now faces a Raptors team that allows the second-lowest opponent 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA.
Raptors vs Magic SGP
Raptors moneyline
Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
Jalen Suggs Under 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dino Dimes
The Raptors have the sixth-highest assist rate this month, while the Magic rank 19th in opponent assists per possession during the same period.
Raptors vs Magic SGP
Immanuel Quickley Over 5.5 assists
Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
Collin Murray-Boyles Over 2.5 assists
Raptors vs Magic odds
Spread: Raptors +1.5 | Magic -1.5
Moneyline: Raptors +105 | Magic -125
Over/Under: Over 219.5 | Under 219.5
Raptors vs Magic betting trend to know
The Raptors have hit the moneyline in 23 of their last 40 away games (+11.75 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Magic.
How to watch Raptors vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Friday, January 30, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, ESPN
Raptors vs Magic latest injuries
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The Detroit Red Wings’ trade priorities recently came into focus after TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the team is actively searching for a second-line center and a top-four defenseman. With a number of players available at both positions, it will be fascinating to see which path Detroit ultimately chooses.
Detroit could pursue veteran options at each spot, allowing them to part with fewer assets, add short-term help, and avoid blocking future prospects from reaching the NHL. Alternatively, they could package those prospects in a blockbuster deal to land a long-term solution capable of anchoring the second-line center role for years to come.
With that in mind, we’ve identified several potential targets GM Steve Yzerman could explore, breaking down the expected cost, age, and potential impact each player could bring to Detroit.
Nazem Kadri
Recent reports indicate that Nazem Kadri has informed the Calgary Flames he would be open to a trade. The 35-year-old center has often been a driving force on an inconsistent Flames roster, and when deployed full-time in a top-six role, he has consistently delivered. Kadri has settled in as a reliable 60 to 70 point producer with upside that can still reach the 80 point range.
While he is significantly older than many of the other options on the market, Kadri fits the profile of a short-term second-line center Detroit could target. He is a player who can contribute immediately without blocking the path for future prospects and would provide steady production for the next two to three seasons.
Kadri has three years remaining on his contract after this season, carrying a $7 million cap hit. While the rising salary cap may soften that number over time, declining production in later years could still make the deal difficult to justify. As a result, Calgary would likely need to retain salary, or Detroit could look to expand the deal beyond Kadri alone.
With the Red Wings also seeking defensive depth, defenseman Zach Whitecloud stands out as a logical add-on. Acquired by the Flames in the Rasmus Andersson deal, Whitecloud has begun to draw interest around the league. The 29-year-old carries a very team-friendly $2.75 million cap hit for the next three seasons and profiles as a dependable top-four option.
Since joining Calgary, Whitecloud has been logging heavy minutes, averaging between 23 and 25 per game through his first five contests. During that stretch, he has been on the ice for two goals for and three against while recording an assist. Including Whitecloud in a larger Kadri deal would allow Detroit to address two major needs at once and eliminate the need for a secondary move.
Insiders have reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets are receiving significant interest in Charlie Coyle, and for good reason. The 33-year-old veteran center has been a steady presence for 16 NHL seasons, experiencing both highs and lows throughout his career. Coyle established himself as a consistent 45 to 60 point producer during his final seasons with the Boston Bruins before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
Now in his first season with Columbus, Coyle has begun to rediscover his form. He has recorded 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 52 games and is on pace to surpass the 55 point mark for just the third time in his career. That level of production could draw strong interest from teams that view him as a legitimate second-line center option.
Unlike a potential Nazem Kadri deal, Coyle is unlikely to be packaged with a defenseman. However, he is slightly younger and is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a $5.25 million cap hit. That status could make him a riskier but lower cost acquisition, as he could choose to test free agency this July.
One possible solution would be for Detroit to acquire Coyle with an extension already in place, allowing him to serve as the Red Wings’ second-line center this season and next before eventually transitioning into a bottom-six role as the contract progresses.
At the right price point, Coyle could provide Detroit with a longer-term solution negotiated directly with both the player and the team, making him a meaningful addition for years to come.
The primary concern would be avoiding a repeat of the Andrew Copp or J.T. Compher situations, where value and role become misaligned. However, by controlling the terms of Coyle’s next contract, the Red Wings may be able to mitigate that risk.
The biggest and most high-profile option on the board is an obvious one in St. Louis Blues star center Robert Thomas. At just 26 years old, Thomas has firmly established himself as one of the league’s top young centers, producing consistently in the 75 to 80 point range while posting strong two-way numbers and handling heavy minutes on a largely underwhelming Blues roster.
Selected 20th overall by St. Louis in the 2017 NHL Draft, Thomas has not only met expectations but exceeded them. If the Blues were to move him, it would require a significant return. Acquiring a young, near point-per-game center would be extremely costly, but it also represents the clearest path for Detroit to add a true impact player capable of accelerating the team’s push toward contention. It would easily be the most expensive option on this list.
There is also the possibility of St. Louis including a defenseman in a larger deal, as the Blues have explored moving veteran blueliner Justin Faulk. The 33-year-old defenseman brings extensive top-four experience and could serve as a stabilizing presence in a young Red Wings locker room, similar to the role Ben Chiarot has grown into.
A package featuring both Thomas and Faulk would undoubtedly cost Detroit a combination of high draft picks and top prospects. However, among NHL teams, the Red Wings are one of the few organizations with the assets to construct a deal that St. Louis would seriously consider. The remaining question is whether Detroit is willing to be aggressive enough to pull the trigger on a move of this magnitude.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 18: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryder Ryan (72) delivers a pitch during an MLB game against the Seattle Mariners on August 18, 2024 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Dodgers this week signed Ryder Ryan to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to spring training, per multiple reports. The pitcher if he makes the majors would earn a salary of $800,000, per both Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic and Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Ryan pitched parts of two seasons in the majors, in 2023 with the Seattle Mariners and in 2024 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, putting up a combined 5.40 ERA in 16 relief appearances, with 19 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 2/3 innings. In 2025, Ryan had a 4.73 ERA in 42 games for Triple-A Indianapolis, with 61 strikeouts and 38 walks in 72 1/3 innings.
He turns 31 in May.
I buried the lede a little bit here, as Ryan is the older brother River Ryan, who debuted with the Dodgers with four starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Ryan missed all of the 2025 season, and is part of the Dodgers rotation depth mix heading into 2026.
River Ryan was at Glendale Recreation Center on Thursday in a Dodgers community outing, and talked about his brother’s signing. From Blake Williams at Dodger Blue:
“I’m excited to get out to big league camp and be on the same team again,” River Ryan said. “The last time we were on the same team was in high school, so it’s been a long time. But it’s really cool to be on a team like the Dodgers with your brother.”
When Ryder Ryan made his major league debut in August 2023 with the Mariners, the Dodgers allowed River — then in Double-A Tulsa — to travel to Seattle to see his brother’s debut in person. Eleven months later, the Pirates allowed Ryder to go to Los Angeles to see River’s major league debut at Dodger Stadium, along with several members of the family.
“It was truly a blessing to have all them make it out. Their support has been unbelievable throughout my entire career, starting when I was little,” River Ryan said after his major league debut. “I’m extremely happy they were able to make it here.”
Should the elder Ryan reach the majors with the Dodgers, he still has one option year remaining, having used options in 2023 and 2024.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 17: Martín Pérez #54 of the Chicago White Sox throws a pitch during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rate Field on September 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, it’s not really a solution to a perceived need for additional heft in the starting pitching department, but it’s a move anyway:
The Braves and LHP Martin Perez have agreed to a Minor League deal, sources tell @JustBB_Media.
Perez, 35 in April, pitched to a 3.54 ERA in 56 IP with the White Sox in 2025. Owns a career 4.41 ERA over 14 seasons. Was an All Star with the Rangers in 2022.
A 14-year MLB veteran, the Venezuelan left-hander has 17.1 career fWAR across over 1,630 career innings. His career pitching line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) is 100/103/107 — basically a fourth-ish starter over the arc of a decade and a half. That said, Perez had a career year in 2022 (3.9 fWAR on a 74/81/96 line), but has fallen on hard times since. He’s thrown 332 2/3 innings after that season, never exceeding 0.8 fWAR in a season, and with a moribund 104/115/114 line, which is basically fifth starter territory. He’s pitched for four different teams in that span, and missed a bunch of time last season due to a (gulp) shoulder strain.
Given that he’s aging, Perez having the worst xFIP- of his career last season isn’t really surprising. His success generally relies on not getting smashed by HR/FB, but he doesn’t seem to have any propensity for actually limiting homers (groundball pitchers often have high HR/FB rates because the fly balls they allow are crushed at a greater rate). The Braves probably don’t need to be adding additional risk exposure via HR/FB rate given what happened last year, but they’re probably not going to rely on Perez all that much anyway.
On the plus side, Perez is a sinker-changeup-cutter guy who showed good command of the first two last year. If he carries that over and stops relying on his cutter so much (as it has been consistently crushed in 2022), there may be something there. For now, though, this is just pure depth — just amassed in the offseason, as opposed to in a panic a la the Carlos Carrascos and Cal Quantrills of yesteryear.
Friday night is more than alright for NBA player props, with nine games on the slate giving bettors plenty to work with.
I’ve locked in my three favorite plays for tonight, including Brandon Ingram handing out dimes against the Magic and Shaedon Sharpe continuing to be a thorn in the Knicks’ side.
Brandon Ingram is enjoying a solid first season with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 21.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. For tonight’s matchup against the Orlando Magic, the focus shifts to his playmaking.
Ingram has averaged 4.2 assists over his last nine games, recording four or more dimes in six of those outings.
Orlando is a strong defensive team, and their game plan figures to involve getting the ball out of Ingram’s hands. He logged four assists the last time these teams met back in December, and I love him to reach that mark again tonight.
The Blazers guard is averaging 22.9 points while shooting 39.3% from beyond the arc over his last 12 games, and I’m backing Sharpe to deliver another strong showing against the New York Knicks.
New York has been inconsistent all season, due in part to shaky perimeter defense. The Knicks allow the sixth-most 3-pointers per game and surrender the most points per game to opposing guards.
With that in mind, Sharpe is well-positioned to clear this line for the ninth time in his last 13 games.
The Brooklyn Nets appear to have something special in Egor Demin. The BYU rookie is averaging 13.1 points per game while shooting an eye-popping 43.9% from beyond the arc over his last 18 outings.
Demin has knocked down three or more triples in 11 of those games, and there’s little reason to expect that trend to slow against the Utah Jazz.
Utah owns arguably the worst defense in the NBA, ranking dead last in both defensive rating and opponent points per game.
It should come as no surprise that the Jazz's perimeter defense has been just as porous, sitting last in opponent-made threes per game.
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The NBA and the Cleveland Cavaliers are meeting this week to discuss the raised court at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
This is the latest chapter in a long-running issue, one that has jumped back into the headlines after Luka Doncic tweaked his ankle while falling off it after a shot this week.
Luka Doncic has gone back to the Lakers locker room after appearing to injure his foot stepping back on this shot attempt:pic.twitter.com/uakOseB1GX
Doncic went to the locker room after the fall but returned and played in that game, though he is questionable for Friday's Lakers game in Washington due to an ankle injury. He, however, got off lucky compared to others, including Dru Smith, who fell off the court and tore his ACL in 2023. There have been multiple injuries and complaints by teams over the years, but the court is in compliance with league rules, a Cavaliers spokesman told The Athletic.
Raised courts are uncommon, usually only seen by fans at the NCAA Final Four (games held in football stadiums). The Cavaliers have the only raised court in the NBA, up about 10 inches — on a rubber mat and then wood blocks on top of that — to prevent condensation from the ice below the playing surface. The Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse is also home to the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The NBA is again involved, but as Vardon explains, the fixes are either partial or expensive, or both. Cleveland could expand the size of the wood flooring so that all the courtside seats would be on top of it and the drop off would be further away from the court. Cleveland could reduce the height or eliminate the wood blocks, then keep the building much colder to prevent any melting or condensation. All of that likely will be discussed, but whether any meaningful action takes place remains to be seen. While the drop-off has been reduced, it is still there and still causing injuries.
Ilya Solovyov appears to be settling in seamlessly with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman recorded his first point with his new team Thursday night as the Penguins rolled to a 6–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena. After a quiet start, Pittsburgh broke the game open late in the first period, scoring six unanswered goals to take firm control.
Solovyov factored into the fifth of those goals. With the Penguins holding a 4–1 lead and the game slipping further out of reach, Solovyov took a pass from Anthony Mantha and quickly set up Ryan Shea for a blistering one-timer from the right circle that beat Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Söderblom.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Avalanche made their first trade of the season, sending Solovyov to the Penguins in exchange for 26-year-old right winger Valtteri Puustinen and Pittsburgh’s 2026 seventh-round draft pick.
Solovyov was claimed off waivers in October and went on to appear in 16 games for Colorado this season, recording one goal and two assists. Prior to the deal, he served as one of the Avalanche’s six healthy defensemen and most recently saw action in an Avs uniform on January 19 against the Washington Capitals, a game that Colorado won 5-2.
Not that the two are related, but since the Solovyov trade, the Avalanche have managed just one win. Colorado is 1–3–1 over its last five games as the team inches closer to the Olympic break.
Puustinen, 26, last appeared in the NHL during the 2024–25 season, playing in 13 games and recording three points. He posted five goals and 20 points in 52 games the previous season.
This year, Puustinen has seven goals and 26 points in 39 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Since joining the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, he has recorded one point in three games.
The Benefits
If Puustinen earns a call-up to the NHL, he could provide a much-needed boost to what has been a sluggish Avalanche power play this season. The 26-year-old is an elite skater and a standout backchecker, skills that could be a significant asset for Colorado.
The Avalanche currently rank fourth-worst in the league on the man advantage, converting at just 15.7 percent. Only the Calgary Flames (15.5 percent), Philadelphia Flyers (15.5 percent), and Utah Mammoth (15.0 percent) rank lower.
Additionally, Colorado has allowed an NHL-leading nine shorthanded goals this season, with most coming on 2-on-1 rushes — situations that Puustinen is known for breaking up effectively.
From Solovyov’s perspective, the trade to Pittsburgh offers a major benefit: ice time. While he isn’t a bad player, he didn’t stand out enough on a stacked Avalanche roster. On a rebuilding team like the Penguins, he now has the opportunity to develop more fully. In Friday’s game against Chicago, Solovyov logged nearly 17 minutes of ice time, close to his season-high of 17:49, set on January 8 during Colorado’s 8–2 win over the Ottawa Senators. For the season, however, his average ice time with the Avalanche was much lower at 11:34.
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing. When Solovyov scored his first-career NHL goal.
Overall, the trade appears to benefit both teams in different ways. Colorado could eventually see an upgrade on the power play, while Solovyov gains the ice time and responsibility he likely would not have received in Colorado, especially with Devon Toews expected to return from his upper-body injury.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Landry Shamet #44, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Tyler Kolek #13, and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks celebrate during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The pendulum swings back and forth, as the Knicks have now won four games in a row after a brutal start to the new year.
The team’s post-Thibodeau hangover looked real, as Mike Brown hung his hat on the offensive side of things. The strategy worked – until it didn’t. After another brutal loss at home to the Dallas Mavericks, Captain Brunson called a players-only meeting.
This was the state of affairs just 10 days ago. Bleak.
Are tensions rising for the New York Knicks? 🤔 @ramonashelburne gives us an inside look on what happened after their loss against the Mavericks 👀 pic.twitter.com/1MDEIk0pwG
Since then, the tide has truly turned. New York has rattled off four straight, and encouragingly, it’s been New York’s defense leading the charge. The team has held their last four opponents to 66, 109, 87, and 92 points, respectively.
Knicks defensive rating rankings this year:
First 15 games: 18th (114.8 DEF RTG) Next 10 games: 3rd (110.9) Next 16 games: 29th (120.6) Last 6 games: 1st (98.3)
Average offensive rating ranking of their last 6 opponents is 22nd, but still…progress. We know they can do it.
Yes, it’s a small sample size, and yes, the four games weren’t against championship contenders, but the Knicks hadn’t shown the ability to win games this way until now. Defense had been the biggest issue so far this season, but a new identity could be taking shape. They’ve been killing it on the glass. They’ve shown toughness on both sides of the floor. It feels like a relic of seasons prior.
What’s changed? Well, it’s no coincidence that Landry Shamet replacing Jordan Clarkson in the rotation has led to tangible change in the bench unit. Similarly, KAT has been averaging less than 25 minutes a contest across these last four games. And OG Anunoby has been locked back in, averaging three stocks per game across the same stretch.
It’s trade deadline season, and if the new year slide continued, we’d be having much different conversations right now. Yet as a whole, the Knicks’ mindset seems to have shifted. This has been a uniform shift from the bottom to the top, with both players and coaches changing their approach to gameday.
With the Blazers on tap tonight at home, New York is in a good position to stretch their streak to five as they battle for the two seed in the East. Let’s see if they can keep the good vibes going tonight.
Apr 5, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Mike Muscala (57) makes the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Welcome back to the second and final part of Finding the Muscala, where we search for low-cost backup big options in response to the larger trade rumors surrounding the Celtics in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
As a refresher, we’re not explicitly in the search for the next Mike Muscala specifically, but rather a trade that reaches high on the Muscala Meter (not real or quantifiable) of being low-cost and significantly lower-risk than, say, any trade involving the contract of Anfernee Simons and a selection of first round picks.
The first part featuring Marvin Bagley, Jalen Smith and Nick Richards, led to some productive and engaging conversations in the comments, so thank you to all the MuscalApologists (working title) for contributing to this short series.
This wasn’t done in the previous Muscala piece, but with today’s three bigs, we’re ordering their contract values in descending order, starting with a higher-priced backup big that might require a slightly bigger deal to acquire.
Let’s jump in and talk backups.
Goga Bitadze
Entering the season on Year 2 of his 3-year, $25 million deal signed with Orlando, Goga Bitadze has been a valued bench piece for the Magic since he signed there in February 2023. The Magic have been stuck in neutral during that time under head coach Jamahl Mosley, and something tells me they’re a smart pick for a roster shakeup during the deadline.
Bitadze, only 26 and in his eighth NBA season, is a hulking 6’10”, 250-pound center that may not impose his will on offense as much as you’d envision from a player of his size and mobility, but he has still carved out a career as a rock solid rim protector and rebounder.
His game isn’t without its caveats though. He’s a non-shooter, a surprisingly unimpactful screener and a non-factor as a playmaker/ball-mover.
Bitadze’s rim protecting ability has held serious weight to his time on the floor these past few seasons for the defensive-minded Magic, but it seems his offensive limitations are factoring into his way out the door.
On Monday and Wednesday this week, he was a coach’s decision DNP, with Orlando instead opting for the recently-returned Mo Wagner’s offensive skillset behind Wendell Carter Jr.
For Boston, while not the perfect fit for his lack of versatility, Bitadze does fill a need and does so on a reasonable contract (though one that gives him significantly more than current starter Neemias Queta).
When it comes to actually considering a hypothetical trade, we had a similar discussion in the last part in regards to Bulls big man Jalen Smith, who has a comparable contract to Bitadze’s that would require a conversation that goes a little further than a package surrounding Xavier Tillman or Chris Boucher’s expiring deals.
To acquire Goga in a two-team deal, it would take giving up Sam Hauser, and that’s a hard sell for a large majority of the fanbase, and probably Brad Stevens, even if it brings in a helpful player at a position of need. For Orlando, a team that is 28th in 3-point shooting efficiency this season, that’d be a pretty major boon for them.
But to add even further to the discussion, that one-for-one swap wouldn’t be possible on Orlando’s end since they are a hard-capped first apron team. They’d need to add a little something extra to get that deal over the hump, something like the rookie-scale contract of second-round French prospect Noah Penda, who has impressed in limited minutes as a capable shooting threat and versatile 6’7” defender.
This would be an interesting proposition for both sides, filling needs for both teams in a mid-sized trade that sends off two talented veterans and one prospect to new homes.
Andre Drummond
Outside of a Jalen Springer-sized trade or a draft day pick swap, would the Philadelphia 76ers really be looking to deal directly with a conference rival concerning their best rebounder?
Probably not, however, according to 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey, they are at least open to the idea of moving their valued backup big. The Sixers are $7 million above the allowable threshold to avoid being taxed and around $1 million away from being a first-apron team according to Pompey, and a move off Drummond’s expiring $5 million contract without a player in return would certain aid in their quest to avoid that tax.
Could the right draft asset cocktail be enough to sway the Sixers? Unlikely, but it’s worth exploring because Drummond’s skillset and extremely favorable expiring contract is about as close to an ideal deadline acquisition as Boston is going to find in its search through the lower-level marketplace.
Drummond is, and has always been, a phenomenal rebounder, and this season has been no different. He’s been the ideal spot starter for Joel Embiid, a very solid backup when Embiid is available, and, surprisingly, a capable 3-point shooter for the first time in his career (36% on 1.3 attempts per game). In 20 minutes a night, Drummond gives Philly 7 points on 50% shooting, 9 rebounds and a block per game.
This season, the data backs up the eye test, Drummond is simply outstanding on the glass, rating near the very top of most rebounding metrics on both ends of the floor
Defensively, Drummond’s strength and size gives the team a primary defender for the game’s more physically imposing interior bullies that Boston has struggled with up to this point in the season.
Drummond is an excellent backup center, and the Sixers know that. Philly currently enlists second-year UCLA product Adem Bona as their third center, meaning they’d be sacrificing some serious depth unless they take a player back or make another move (Kelly Oubre Jr. was also mentioned by Pompey as a possible trade candidate).
Is the tax-evading effort worth it to provide Boston with the exact type of backup big they’d want to add to their frontcourt stable? It’d take some convincing, and some valued second round draft capital, but the fact that Brad Stevens and Daryl Morey have come to an agreement before at least means a conversation is possible, and worth the 406 words it took to discuss it.
Kevin Love
We didn’t use the word “scrounging” in the first Muscala headline just for fun.
We are foraging across the NBA big man marketplace here, and this is the trade equivalent to sticking our hand in the bottom of a Walmart DVD bargain bin. We shouldn’t be surprised to pull out something we may not find sense or value in. But even if it’s some obscure John Wayne western we’ve never heard of, the price tag says $2, so what’s the harm in talking about it?
And I’ll say it, even at the ripe old age of 37, Kevin Love is still a pretty interesting player to watch. And dare I say, a contributor in certain facets.
Love is sort of the NBA equivalent to George Clooney. Once a bankable star, Clooney is rarely seen and hardly mentioned these days, yet you’ll randomly spot him grizzled and gray in a Nespresso Super Bowl commercial and think “Yep, Clooney’s still got it.”
You watch a few current K-Love clips at his best and tell me you don’t see at least a fundamentally sound past-his-prime star that’s career is on the cusp of fading out into a planetary nebula.
Love is spending the season in Utah surrounded by one of the league’s younger rosters embarking on a patient rebuild, yet he is still finding his way into minutes. Consider this, on a team that has modest frontcourt depth despite the early-season loss of Walker Kessler, Love’s 457 minutes on the floor double the minutes of Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman combined.
So while we’re not talking about a sizable upgrade, we are talking about a 17-year vet that is still finding a spot in an NBA rotation. That’s not nothing.That’s a playable deep bench addition.
Love is at his best when the ball is touching and leaving his hand in one fell swoop. His 40% 3-point catch-and-shoot efficiency on 3.3 attempts per game is his best since the 2017-18 season in Cleveland where he shot 41% on five attempts.
The current version of Love does two things particularly well: he’s a capable movement shooter and a productive rebounder. All other impact areas are either neutral or outright negatives, but in those two areas, he can help an NBA team in some capacity.
We’ve seen Luka Garza take a leap in confidence and efficiency as a pick-and-pop threat, giving Boston one big that can actually stretch the floor. For a team that loves active screeners, Spain pick-and-rolls and flare screens, an additional shooter with size would add some value to the deep bench options at Joe Mazzulla’s disposal, while also adding another energetic fighter on the glass.
Love has implemented himself well into Utah’s roster this season, a far cry from his final days in Cleveland when their Big 3 disbanded, and it seems he’s embraced his veteran role in a way that makes him an unlikely buyout candidate.
It’s funny to think how the 2014 “Summer of Love” set social media ablaze when Love was spotted at a Red Sox game shaking hands with Rajon Rondo, indicating hope of another major star acquisition heading to Boston. That never materialized, but maybe before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, just nine days before Valentine’s Day, the Celtics will finally get their shot at Love.
Elvis Merzlikins Over 23.5 saves
Spencer Knight Over 25.5 saves
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Portland Trail Blazers vs 
New Orleans Pelicans
Cleveland Cavaliers vs 
Brandon Ingram
Egor Demin
