NEW YORK (AP) — Dallas coach Jason Kidd has been fined $35,000 for public criticism of officiating and using profane language during a media interview, the NBA announced Monday.
Kidd thought Cooper Flagg was fouled when the rookie No. 1 pick drove for a layup and missed with 25 seconds remaining and the Mavericks trailing by two points.
Kidd ended his postgame remarks with an expletive-laden response to a question about criticism the coach has received over using Flagg as a point guard when Flagg had little experience at that position coming into the NBA.
The Lakers’ disappointing Sunday night started off well for one of the team’s best players.
Just before Los Angeles got beaten up 112–100 by the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Luka Dončić received some high praise from Indiana Fevers’ Caitlin Clark.
Caitlin Clark offered up praise for Lakers star Luka Dončić ahead of LA’s Sunday night matchup against the Knicks. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
The WNBA superstar was making her debut as a special contributor for NBC during the “Sunday Night Basketball” pregame show, and when she was asked about an NBA player who she admired, she quickly singled out Dončić.
“Luka’s amazing,” she said. “He’s incredible. I think the way he can not only score the ball, but also the way he passes.”
The Fever guard then complimented Dončić’s ability to toy with defenders despite being “not the fastest” and “not the most athletic.”
“I think that’s something I can certainly learn from,” she said. “I always kind of want to run away from the defense, rather than absorbing the contact and taking up the space that they give me.”
Dončić came close to a triple-double on Sunday night, but the Lakers still lost to the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
Minutes after Clark’s glowing breakdown, Dončić went out and filled up the stat sheet in a way he’s done all season.
In 36 minutes, he recorded 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
The Lakers, though, are now losers of two of their last three, and have another road matchup with the Nets up next on Tuesday.
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ATLANTA (AP) — Tuskegee men's basketball coach Benjy Taylor was handcuffed after intervening in an incident involving his team and members of Morehouse's basketball and football teams over the weekend.
A statement from civil rights attorney Harry Daniels' office said Taylor was concerned about Morehouse football players who “were acting aggressively” toward Tuskegee players and their parents during postgame handshakes on Saturday.
The statement said the football players' presence is prohibited by conference-mandated security protocols. It said after Taylor asked a second officer to enforce those protocols to diffuse the situation, the officer handcuffed him and escorted him from the court.
Though Taylor was not charged, he has hired Daniels and attorneys Gregory Reynald Williams and Gerald Griggs to represent him. The attorneys say they are considering a civil lawsuit.
Daniels said Taylor was right to try to protect his team, and the officer was out of line.
“It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone like this,” Daniels said. “But to do it to a man like Coach Taylor, a highly respected professional and role model, to put him in handcuffs, humiliate him and treat him like a criminal in front of his team, his family and a gym full of fans is absolutely disgusting and they need to be held accountable.”
A statement from Tuskegee president Mark Brown and athletic director Reginald Ruffin said the school leaders were proud of Taylor's commitment to the athletes and the school's values.
“During the events in question, Coach Taylor acted solely out of his fundamental responsibility to protect his student-athletes and staff — particularly in an environment where agreed-upon and customary game‑management and security protocols were not properly carried out," the statement said. "His conduct remained measured, professional, and entirely consistent with the expectations of a head coach entrusted with the safety of his team.”
Morehouse did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Montreal Canadiens visit the Minnesota Wild on Monday, February 2. This exciting matchup featured on Amazon Prime Video consists of two teams in the midst of three-game winning streaks.
My Canadiens vs. Wild predictions and NHL picks suggest a red-hot Jakub Dobes will continue to keep the Canadiens afloat in a jam-packed Atlantic Division.
Canadiens vs Wild prediction
Canadiens vs Wild best bet: Jakub Dobes Over 24.5 Saves (-105)
The Montreal Canadiens are turning to Jakub Dobes to make his fourth consecutive start tonight. He's won the last three, comfortably hitting the Over for saves in each, averaging 31.3 per game.
The Minnesota Wild average nearly 29 shots per game, and Dobes is riding his hottest streak of the season. He made 36 stops in a crucial win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
The Czech native has looked as cool and collected as Jon Cooper did with his Scarface-inspired outfit and cigar during the Stadium Series thriller in Tampa yesterday. Look for him to hit the Over yet again.
He's hit the Over for shots in six consecutive games, totaling 15 SOG. He also has six assists in his last seven games — perhaps indicative of his offensive eagerness.
Meanwhile, captain Nick Suzuki has a whopping 15 assists in his last 14 games and four multi-assist games in his last 10. His 47 helpers this season are good for 10th in the NHL.
Montreal snapped a nine-game losing streak against Minnesota with a 4-3 win on January 20. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Wild.
How to watch Canadiens vs Wild
Location
Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime
Canadiens vs Wild latest injuries
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 29: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball past Ronald Holland II #5 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 29, 2026 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. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Without Devin Booker for the entirety of the week and Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie for parts of it, the Phoenix Suns went 3-1 to finish out their five-game home stand this week, with wins over the Nets, Pistons and Cavs and a loss to the Clippers.
Here are the main questions for Week 15 that we want your thoughts on:
Dillon Brooks not an All-Star
Devin Booker will not have any teammates joining him in the All-Star game this season. Despite some chatter from national pundits about Dillon Brooks being a deserving candidate, he did not make the team.
Brooks, averaging a career-high in points per game with 21.1, is one of the main reasons the Suns have surprised many this season, with his tenacious play and energy, and he just set his career-high with 40 points against the Pistons. Many have lauded him for his impact on the team’s culture, something many questioned about the squad a season ago.
Do you think Brooks should have been an All-Star? Why or why not?
Another Signature Win
Phoenix beat the Pistons last week in dominant fashion, 114-96. Along with Brooks’ aforementioned 40-piece, the team out-rebounded Detroit 47-37 and limited them to 20.7% shooting from three. Phoenix beat both the East and West’s one seeds in January and beat the Pistons without Devin Booker or Jalen Green in the lineup.
Whenever the Pistons got close, the Suns responded quickly by forcing Cade Cunningham into bad shots and hitting timely baskets and getting to the free throw line consistently.
Does a win like the team’s against Detroit make you confident that the Suns can compete with the West’s best come playoff time, independent of seeding?
The Trade Deadline is Almost Here
It appears the Suns won’t be making many moves this trade season, at least according to Suns Owner Mat Ishbia’s appearance on the Zach Lowe Show last week.
Phoenix has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, and if they dealt a key member of the rotation even for a better player, they risk the chance of changing the dynamic that has helped them be on a 49-win pace. While Nick Richards’ name has been floated as someone who could be dealt to help the team cut salary, he’s been out of the rotation for a few months.
If you were the GM of the Suns this week, would you be looking to make any moves or keep the roster as is?
For more questions on the Suns follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content after every game.
Dillon Brooks with his second-straight 26-point night, doing so on 15 shots. Brooks struggled with his shot for most of the team's road trip.
Seventh in the series.Today we look at the Cubs’veteran second baseman.
28-year-old Nico Hoerner, two-time Gold Glover, potential .300 hitter, team leader, is entering the last year of his contract. Odds favor his retention but probably not by much — there are a lot of wheels spinning.
Many fans would prefer that Dansby Swanson, subject of the previous profile, be moved somehow, and Nico installed at short, with Matt Shaw or a reasonable equivalent taking over at second. That’s somewhat more unlikely.
The Cubs would do a deal, at least theoretically, but are floating high demands for Hoerner’s services, and rightly so. Hoerner doesn’t hit for much power, instead preferring the high-average, contact-bat presence, which suits his skillset admirably. He could play in any era of baseball. He’s a ‘gamer,’ who ‘always shows up when the chips are down,’ almost to the degree that he’s taken for granted, and some writers have it that he is underappreciated nationally.
In seven seasons, three of which were partial campaigns, Hoerner has amassed a decent 21.8 bWAR (20 fWAR), bolstered by his excellent defense and baserunning. He has 6.2 and 5.5 bWAR seasons in his trophy case, but he has yet to appear in the Midsummer Classic.
Nico should be a perennial all-star. That he isn’t lends weight to those writerly complaints. Maybe it isn’t just a narrative.
Hopefully it doesn’t happen with another team. Hoerner could keep this production level well into his thirties, perhaps slowing some but adding a little thump to his plate presence.
Unless the Cubs really dial down the budget for 2027, someone is going to have to beat him out to take over his spot. Matt Shaw likely has the talent to do it, but he’ll have to demonstrate.
With Swanson, Hoerner, Alex Bregman and Michael Busch, the Cubs have perhaps the best defensive infield in the majors. They should be right up there offensively, with three of the four players regularly topping 20 homers and Hoerner flirting with .300, which is a difficult number to dial up these days. He’s penciled in to lead off against left-handers in our current understanding, and that will help promote that, along with allowing him to score even more runs and maybe up his OBP some more as well.
NEW YORK - MAY 21: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees attempts to complete a double play against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on May 20, 2010 in the Bronx borough of Manhattan. The Rays defeated the Yankees 8 to 6. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images) | Getty Images
How do you negotiate a contract with THE star player?
Not a star player, not a guy you love having around, but the face of the club and indeed arguably at the time the face of baseball itself? How do you negotiate while at the same time attempting to secure personal control over the sport’s most valuable organization?
These were the questions Brian Cashman was forced to grapple with after the 2010 season, when the Captain, Derek Jeter, was a free agent for the first time in his career. George Steinbrenner’s passing the year before meant control of the team went to Hal and Hank, George’s sons, but neither brother really operated — or in Hal’s case, continues to operate — with the same kind of fire, for better and worse. Randy Levine and the other lizards in the executive suites held various roles of course, but Cashman was in the thick of making the Yankees his team, and picking a very public fight with the fifth or sixth most important player in team history was one part of establishing that control.
Derek Jeter Signing Date: December 7, 2010 Contract: 3 years, $51,000,000
It would be a little silly of me to recap Jeter’s career before he hit free agency, since most anyone reading this can probably recite it chapter and verse. The key leadup to the signing started in 2009, where the then-35 year old put up a 6.7 fWAR season, finishing third in AL MVP voting, winning the AL Hank Aaron Award, getting named SI Sportsman of the Year, and of course winning his fifth World Series with the club. It would be the last truly great season for Jeter, and despite an All-Star nod and Gold Glove in 2010, that campaign would be his worst since 1996.
Hitting coach Kevin Long was instrumental in adjusting Jeter’s stride, and down the stretch he managed to his .342 in his final 80 PAs. But the writing was on the wall — at 36, The Captain no longer was who he once had been as his 10-year extension came to a close. That said, he was still The Captain.
Jeter’s reputation as a defender had outpaced his actual ability for the vast majority of his career, but by this time it was public knowledge, written about and indeed commented on by Cashman, who after the signing admitted Derek may be ticketed for the outfield to play out the remainder of his career. With all that in context, the Yankee GM went public with the free agent process, advising Jeter through the media that he would be wise to entertain offers from all bidders.
On its own that’s pretty standard, but this wasn’t a standard free agency case. Jeter had advised his agent not to seek out other offers, that he was a Yankee and was going to stay one. Despite giving up nearly all leverage, Derek’s camp was frustrated on multiple occasions by Cashman and Co. stonewalling during negotiations, and public reports that Jeter’s “salary demands” were “greedy.” When Jeter asked Cashman point-blank who he’d rather have at the six, he replied “Troy Tulowitzki,” as the Colorado shortstop was in his mid-twenties prime. It’s interesting to sit with all this reporting 15 years on, knowing what we know about aging curves, but also trying to imagine what it would be like for an older Aaron Judge to be a looming free agent.
There are players who you back up the Brink’s truck for, but those guys tend not to be in the mid-to-late 30s. There are players who you extend for as long as you can, but Jeter was already in decline and getting worse. Then there are players who you never want to see wearing any other jersey, and The Captain is perhaps the ur-example of this — a final season wearing a Reds or Royals uniform would have left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.
While that maelstrom of circumstances was always going to make for a complicated free agency, Cashman’s consolidation of control only made things more difficult. The organization today is built almost entirely in the GM’s interest, and by all accounts he will remain functionally in charge of the Yankees until he doesn’t want to be anymore. The groundwork for that level of control started to be laid in the waning days of Joe Torre’s managerial tenure, but really came about as Hal and Hank began signing the checks.
Brian Cashman is not the worst GM in baseball—he is not even in the bottom half—but he does have some tells. When he really wants someone, the Yankees tend to get him, like the successful pursuit of Gerrit Cole in December 2019. When he really doesn’t, it’s a flat take-or-leave offer, the kind given to Robinson Canó (or in the case of Gleyber Torres, no offer at all). Given all that, it’s not impossible to conclude that Cashman would have preferred Jeter to walk, holding firm at three years and $45 million. He would eventually concede another six million total, plus an option year, but it took in-person meetings with Hal and Jeter’s camp before those wounds closed up.
While they did close, it always felt like those wounds scabbed over instead of fully healing. Despite joining the 3,000 Hit Club in July 2011, Jeter was largely middling and hurt. He responded with a very nice 2012 that saw him lead the league in hits with 216, albeit while not being quite the productive forced that he was in 2009. And of course he ended the season as painfully — physically and emotionally — as you can, with a late-season bone bruise leading to a broken ankle in extra innings of Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit.
Jeter would never again play in the postseason. The Yankees were swept, and his injury recovery carried over into various ailments that limited his 2013 to just 17 games. That year was an October-less farewell tour for longtime teammate Mariano Rivera, and Jeter followed suit with his own somber swan song in 2014 after signing a final one-year deal. The ultimate team player, the perfect interviewer, Jeter was naturally frosty and closed off to the media and his superiors within the organization, but that feeling grew in his final years. I don’t think he ever really got over the perceived disrespect, nor did he ever maintain a relationship with Cashman the way he did with Torre or George Steinbrenner.
In the end, both sides ended up being right. Derek Jeter should have never played for any team other than the Yankees, and he never did. Cashman was also pretty on point in seeing the decline coming, even if he probably didn’t imagine quite how bad that final 2014 season would be. Overall, it was an impossible position for Cashman and Jeter, but they managed to pull out a solution.
I think Derek Jeter has been very skilled in crafting his public persona, certainly in a way his contemporaries like Alex Rodriguez couldn’t. I’m also not the biggest fan of Brian Cashman as a person. It would have sucked an incredible amount to see those last, great moments of Jeter’s career, the 3,000th hit, that final walk-off, happen anywhere else. In the end, they happened in the Bronx.
See more of the “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series here.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24: A Colorado Rockies ball bag on the field during batting practice prior to a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** | Getty Images
The off-season is speeding by, and before you know it, there will be baseball games to play.
The Colorado Rockies will have pitchers and catchers report to their complex in Arizona on February 12th with the first full squad workout occurring shortly after. By the end of the month, spring training will be in full swing with the World Baseball Classic and the 2026 regular season visible on the horizon!
While we wait for the baseball world to awaken in the spring, it’s time once again to dip into our mailbox and answer questions from our readers here at Purple Row.
When are the Monforts going to sell the team to the Penners so I can start supporting the Rockies again? — Sherwyn in Aurora
When is the Walmart family going to buy the Rockies? — Michael in Canal Winchester
“Will the Rockies be sold?” is a common question we get here at Purple Row, both in our comments and on our social media feeds. These two particular questions focus on the Rockies being sold to the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, which purchased the Denver Broncos NFL team from the Pat Bowlen Trust in 2022.
The sale gave the Broncos one of the richest ownership groups in professional sports and helped the team escape a post-Super Bowl 50 era that saw a miserable quarterback and head coaching carousel, seven consecutive losing seasons, and an eight-season playoff drought. It was the worst stretch of football in Broncos history since the franchise put up 13 straight losing seasons from their founding as an AFL team in 1960 through 1972.
The Broncos now appear to have found their franchise quarterback in Bo Nix and have made the post-season in back-to-back years, including making it all the way to the AFC Championship this season.
That all sounds very appealing! The Rockies have been mired in their own stretch of awful baseball with seven consecutive losing seasons, three consecutive seasons with 100 or more losses, and their historically miserable 2025 season that ended with a 43-119 record.
Charlie Monfort has been a part of the Rockies ownership group since 1992, with his brother Dick joining him shortly thereafter. The Monforts purchased the controlling stakes from the late Jerry McMorris in 2005 and have remained the organization’s primary owners ever since.
There have been rumors that Stan Kroenke—owner of Kroenke Sports Entertainment, the Denver Nuggets, and the Colorado Avalanche—offered to buy the team in the past, but nothing substantiated.
With that out of the way, I might as well tear off the bandage now.
The Monforts are never going to sell the Colorado Rockies. Not to the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group. Not to anyone. If your Rockies fandom is solely dependent on ownership changing, you may as well pick another team at this point.
There have been no signs that Dick and Charlie Monfort would be willing to sell the team. Although Charlie Monfort has largely stepped away from the Rockies’ day-to-day, Dick Monfort remains the chairman and CEO.
The main hope for Rockies fans is that Dick Monfort—known for being meddlesome—would take a step back from daily baseball operations and let someone else take charge. For what it’s worth, that appears to be what’s happening. Monfort’s eldest son Walker was promoted to executive vice president mid-season last year, and he has since brought in an entirely new and expanded front office, new executives, and a revamped coaching staff.
With the Monfort family firmly at the helm of the Rockies organization with no indication of a sale in the pipeline. What do you think the team can do outside of heavy spending to become a playoff caliber ball club? The rebuild doesn’t seem plausible with our farm system and players often leaving / getting dealt as they are peaking. I don’t believe coaching is the difference, it seems as though they need a “Moneyball” type discovery to be competitive.— Chris in Lone Tree
You’re right that this team will never be heavy spenders like the Los Angeles Dodgers or the New York Mets. The Monforts simply don’t have the revenue or the capital. They will never be able to defer over a billion dollars in contract money or sign multiple free agent super stars.
With that being said, small- and mid-market teams can be competitive, playoff-caliber ball clubs. They just have to do everything else right when it comes to baseball operations: drafting, developing, and making both smart and cost-effective free agent moves.
The Rockies have historically not been good at any of these things. That’s where this rebuild truly starts, and it’s far too early to write the whole thing off as implausible.
So far, the organization is doing all of the right things. The entire coaching staff has been revamped—especially the pitching and player development side of things. Coaching is a tremendous difference maker, especially when they are young, innovative, and bought in to the idea of making baseball at altitude work. Meanwhile, Walker Monfort has also brought in a new and expanded front office, and that front office is working on evaluation and deployment of better resources throughout the farm system.
The front office also has to evaluate the talent within the system. The Rockies historically have held on to prospects and players for too long, even if they don’t fit into the vision of the organization or no longer have peak value. We have evidence that this is changing with the team letting go of several former top prospects—most notably Drew Romo—this off-season.
The Rockies have done things too poorly for too long. This is a from-the-ashes rebuild and we’re only just getting started. The 2026 season is about building a foundation and making incremental improvements to avoid repeating the 2025 season. It won’t be for several years until things start to fully come together.
What positon is Condon going to play in 2026? — Firedinger in Greenville
My understanding is that the Rockies view Charlie Condon solely as a first baseman moving forward.
Prior to the draft, Condon only played one season of third base at the University of Georgia in 2024 while the less defensively versatile Corey Collins—eventually drafted by the Mets—enjoyed a stupendous season at first. In 2023 he played mostly first base and outfield.
Condon played third base and left field in his professional debut with the High-A Spokane Indians in 2024, but it’s clear moving forward that the Rockies are prioritizing first base. In 2025 he played first base in 74 of the 99 games he appeared in, with ten appearances as a designated hitter, 11 in left field, and only five at third base. When Condon attended the Arizona Fall League, he played exclusively at first base.
While Condon is a versatile enough defender, he is still a bat-first prospect and his glove profiles best for first base.
Do you have a favorite piece of Rockies memorabilia? I just got a signed Chris Nelson ball at Rockies Fest that’s my new favorite addition to mine 🙂 — AB303 in Denver
I got some of the other Purple Row writers to chime in on this!
Evan Lang: “I own a lot of Rockies memorabilia, but my favorite is a Todd Helton autographed baseball from the 1998 season that my dad gave me when I was a kid. It was my first ever autographed item.”
Sam Bradfield: “I have a signed Ryan McMahon drawstring backpack from when he won the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby in 2016. I didn’t have a baseball or anything, so I asked him to sign my bag and he did.”
Skyler Timmins: “I have the ticket stub of my Dad’s first Rockies game in 1993. It was a rain check for August 20 against the New York Mets that was played as part of a doubleheader the next day, Rockies won 8-6.”
Renee Dechert: “I have two things. I got one of the original @ Rockies purple t-shirts, and I have a ball Jordan Beck fouled into the press box.”
Whitecaps manager Tony Cappuccilli high fives players before Opening Night on Friday, April, 4, at LMCU Ballpark. | Adam Vander Kooy/Holland Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After claiming the Detroit Tigers first Midwest League title since 2015 as manager of the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps, Tony Cappuccilli is moving on up. The Tigers parted ways with long-time minor league coach and manager, Andrew Graham, following the 2025 season. Cappuccilli will take over the Double-A Erie SeaWolves from Graham in 2026. The move gives players contiunity as many of his Whitecaps will be advancing in the toughest jump in competition in the minor leagues.
The 2025 Whitecaps were one of the greatest teams in Midwest League history, compiling a ridiculous 92-39 record. In the first half they had the advantage of stacking Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, and Josue Briceño at the top of the order, giving them the best trio of hitters in the whole league. However, they didn’t miss a beat when those players graduated to Double-A Erie, nor even after the Tigers traded away two of their most valuable pitchers in RHP Josh Randall and lefty reliever Micah Ashman at the trade deadline.
Players seem to respond very well to Cappuccilli and his staff, and his style seems to align more with the Tigers overall development philosophies these days, whereas Graham had been around the org for almost two full decades, with some sources suggesting he may have been a little out of step with the new front office. Of course after 16 years coaching and managing in the Tigers’ system, maybe it was just time to do other things. Graham was the Florida State League’s Manager of the Year in 2023, so it’s not like he didn’t have success.
Either way, players like Briceño and other 2026 Whitecaps will form the bulk of Cappuccilli’s roster in Erie, and the Tigers appear to believe that consistent voice and longer term relationship with the coaching staff could benefit their players. We’ll have to see if either of McGonigle or Clark seems any more Double-A time to start the year. It seems unlikely in McGonigle’s case at least.
Moving up to take over the Whitecaps will be Rene Rivera, who won the Florida State League title last year in his first season managing the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Salvador Paniagua, who coached the Complex League Tigers to a title last year as well, moves up to manage the Flying Tigers in Rivera’s place. Stalwart coach and manager, and former Tigers’ catcher, Brayan Pena, will manage the FCL Tigers in the Complex League this season.
Gabe Alvarez remains the manager of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, with both hitting coaches Mike Hessman and Francisco Contreras returning, along with pitching coach Doug Bochtler.
Marco Yepez and Sandy Acevedo will manage the Tigers two Dominican Summer League rosters.
Of note is the fact that each full season team away from the main Lakeland complex has a bulked up coaching staff these days, along with their athletic trainers, a strength and conditioning coach, and a dietician as well.
We’re still waiting to hear who will replace Gabe Ribas as the Tigers Director of Pitching in the system. There was some thought that Bochtler might be considered for that role, but it’s also possible that Bochtler would prefer to remain in the dugout, working with the same group of guys, rather than handling overall development plans for the whole organization’s worth of pitchers. That open role is the biggest job in the organization to fill this offseason, and spring camp is getting close, so presumably we’ll have an answer soon.
We've named our @MiLB, Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League coaching and support staffs for Tigers affiliates for the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/YzX6wZMjFW
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Xavier Isaac #23 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two run game tying homerun in the top of the sixth inning during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee County Sports Complex on March 16, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Isaac had his season cut short large-in-part due to the discovery of a brain tumor, disrupting an otherwise great start to the season that duplicated his cup of coffee in Double-A as a 20-year old, despite some minor arm injuries along the way. He has the best power projection in the system, and if he can hold his own for a full season in 2026 — particularly against southpaws, which is somewhat of a concern — the former first round pick (29th overall, 2021) could see his status restored near the top of the Rays prospect rankings.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
Isaac made a surge this poll, and even convinced some voters to change their stance on down-ballot players, in order to ensure he made it onto the list by one vote. A new player getting a vote this time around was Urbina. Testers was a bit unclear, so I’m adding Brayden Taylor. Please get your suggestions in for the next prospect profile to be added!
Candidates
Caden Bodine, C 22 | S/R| 5’10” | 200 A (BAL) | .326/.408/.349 (133 wRC+) 49 PA, 0 HR, 0 SB, 5 BB, 8 K
Drafted 30th overall in 2025, Bodine was acquired in the Shane Baz trade. He profiles as a relatively safe prospect thanks to 60 grade bat-to-ball skills, and comfortably-plus blocking and receiving behind the plate. There is some concern that his smaller frame limits him to fringe power, but those concerns are off-set by solid plate discipline from both sides of the plate; his sweeter swing is left handed. All catching prospects will see their value proposition shift with the challenge system, but his defensive actions, leadership, and receiving give him real value, projecting him as a solid major league contributor.
Slater de Brun, OF 18 | L/L | 5’10” | 187
Drafted 37th overall in 2025, through a draft pick traded by the Rays, de Brun was essentially re-acquired in the Shane Baz trade. Like many Rays outfield prospects he’s not expected to develop much power, but compensates with an ability to hit to all fields, and has the benefit of years to develop. His hit tool rates plus thanks to a quick, compact swing, and his double-plus speed elevates both his baserunning and range in center; he has a solid arm and can stick long term. The key to his development will be improving pitch selection to maximize his power potential. Despite not yet playing in a pro game, he’s a good bet to skip the complex league and debut in Charleston this season.
Homer Bush Jr. 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Nathan Flewelling, C 19 | L/R | 6’2” | 200 A | .229/.393/.336 (126 wRC+) 439 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 20.3% BB, 27.6% K A+ | 22 PA, 4 H, 5 BB, 6 K
The 94th overall pick from 2024, Flewelling made his debut at 18 years young and caught a full season (75 C, 26 DH), plus a five game cup of coffee (3 C, 2 DH). Taking the longview, he could grow into 50-60 grade power with 50 grade defense, which makes him one to follow. His plus zone awareness at the plate offsets his lagging contact, and most importantly for the position his ability to call games and frame pitches are already plus. A strong season with the bat at High-A could vault him into Top-100 consideration.
Harrison entered the season as Baseball America’s top pitcher in the system thanks to a cleaned up delivery and high heat. He ran into some bumps in the road by running up his pitch count against batters, but he still made it over 100 innings in 22 starts. A power pitcher through and through, his hard slider flirts with cutter classification and could evolve into two distinct pitches down the road. It will be interesting to see how his change up plays as he’s challenged at higher levels, but for now he has premium stuff and the upside of a rotation anchor. (video)
Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Brendan Summerhill, OF 22 | L/R | 6’3” | 200 A | .333/.429/.444 (160 wRC+) 42 PA, 0 HR, 5 SB, 6 BB, 5 K
Following an All-Star performance at the Cape Cod summer league, Summerhill exhibited some of the best bat-to-ball skills in NCAA as a junior at Arizona. His draft stock took a minor hit due to injury (broken hand from from punching a cooler) and was drafted 42nd overall, but Summerhill rebounded well with a dominant stop at Charleston to finish the year. Summerhill has plus barrel control, allowing for a high-contact approach for his long swing. He has plus speed as well, which provides a chance to stick in center. Evaluators would like to see more power to complete a five-tool profile. Even if the power doesn’t materialize, it’s an above average contributor’s projection.
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Jose Urbina, RHP 20 | 6’3” | 180 A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB
Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.
This is a Senators team that has had the Penguins' number as of late, winning eight of the last 10 games between the two teams. One of those eight wins came back on Dec. 18, a 4-0 shutout in Ottawa. The Penguins haven't beaten the Senators in regulation since Jan. 20, 2023, when they won 4-1 at home.
The Senators have won three in a row heading into this game, and two of those wins came against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. They have outscored their opponents 16-4 during this three-game winning streak.
Offense hasn't been the issue for the Senators this year. They rank ninth in goals per game (3.33) and, according to MoneyPuck, have the third-best 5v5 expected goals percentage in the league (54.7%). They just can't get saves and have gotten the worst goaltending in the league this year.
Linus Ullmark will start in goal for the Senators on Monday, and while his numbers are down this year (2.89 goals-against average and .884 save percentage), he has played very well against the Penguins during his career. He is 7-0-0 against the Penguins with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
Tim Stutzle is having another great year for the Senators, compiling 25 goals and 57 points in 54 games. Drake Batherson has also been great with 19 goals and 46 points in 51 games, ditto for Jake Sanderson, who has 10 goals and 44 points in 54 games.
The Penguins will go with the same lineup that they had on Saturday against the New York Rangers. Arturs Silovs will start in goal after he backed up Stuart Skinner for that game.
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Brazeau
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
McGroarty-Kindel-Mantha
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Kulak-Shea
Solovyov-Clifton
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
Nov 7, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Cleveland Guardians general manager Mike Chernoff speaks to the media during the MLB General Manager's Meetings at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
This is an article to politely ask Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti and General Manager Mike Chernoff to stop repeating a new talking point they have offered to media twice, now. If you’re wondering why I am writing this… well, they haven’t done anything else for us to talk about, so blame them.
Speaking of not doing anything, Guardians’ front office obviously knew when they emerged from their mid-December to mid-January winter’s nap, they would be asked why they did nothing to address an offense that ranked 28th in MLB in 2025… aside from re-signing Austin Hedges, who is the worst hitter in MLB since his debut among players with similar plate appearance numbers. I have to say, addressing this issue would be a challenge for the most skilled of communicators. They obviously cannot tell the truth, which is very clearly that they have been given instructions to limit the amount of money the team has committed for 2026 and 2027, given the likelihood of a lockout producing a shortened or canceled season in 2027, resulting in reduced revenues for a team that is – apparently (?) – strapped for cash.
So, one approach they have both attempted is to emphasize that the team doesn’t want to sign someone who will block their younger players. Ok. Brayan Rocchio, Juan Brito, Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, C.J. Kayfus and George Valera need a clear runway to prove themselves as major leaguers. For sure, the team will not, then, leave any of these players in Columbus until May or June to gain an extra year of team control/avoid super-2 issues. Surely. But, aside from that, any Guardians’ fan with access to FanGraphs knows that the team is STILL missing some right-handed thump, and, someone who can competently play centerfield, hopefully a right-handed hitter.
Antonetti and Chernoff have responded to the latter concern saying that even though they have made competitive offers for right-handed outfielders who can play centerfield, they have just been too gosh darn honest with those players, letting them know they will have to platoon, and those players have chosen to play elsewhere with better chances of increased playing time. Leaving aside the fact that at least one of these players would have chosen to compete for time in Cleveland if offered more MONEY to do so, I guess we are supposed to admire our front office for their exemplary honesty. Surely, they’ve always been upfront and forthright with players and fans and never had to hide any motivations the team might have that conflict with their interests. Surely. Props to them. Ok.
“Prior to the 2022 baseball season what Major League free agents did the Cleveland Guardians sign? …Why am I bringing that up? Those are not the names everyone is talking about. Both 2022 and ’24 we won the Central Division finding young players opportunities. In 2022, we chose not to sign the Eddie Rosarios of the year.””
And here’s Chernoff:
“We won the (Central Division) title in 2022 and 2024, I’ll give you 100 bucks if you can name the free agents (hitters) we signed.”
Coincidentally, Antonetti, whose wallet is apparently a bit tighter than Chernoff’s, ended up paying CtC’s own Tommy Pecoraro that $20 for giving the answer that in 2022 the Guardians signed Bryan Shaw and Luke Maile. As Tommy has pointed out, Antonetti has now paid him more than he has any major league free agent outfielders this offseason. For 2024, the answer was Austin Hedges and Ben Lively (Terry Pluto wrote that it was Ramon Laureano, who was an arbitration signing, but ANYWHOO…).
Chernoff, also, in a mind-blowing quote (to me), told Pluto, “We don’t play (try to sign) top tier free agents.” Um… is he allowed to say that? Does MLB PA have some sort of grievance here to file about a team that receives revenue sharing openly saying they simply are not going to sign top-tier free agents? I honestly don’t know.
I realize that Antonetti and Chernoff are working in the perfect market to try this… junk… to be polite. The media isn’t going to push back hard on this (with apologies to Zack Meisel of the Athletic, who does push back, and Paul Hoynes, who will occasionally make a run at resisting the company narrative) and it’s not going to be discussed AT ALL on sports radio airwaves who would prefer to spend discuss the drama around the Browns’ defensive coordinator than the only superstar in Cleveland history who has taken a huge paycut to make sure he can play an entire Hall of Fame Career in this city.
The Guardians’ brass are using 2022 and 2024 as their examples, presumably because the team made playoff runs in both years. I wonder why they aren’t using 2016 when they made a World Series run? Could it be because their signings of veteran stopgaps Mike Napoli and Rajai Davis as well as trades of numerous top prospects for Andrew Miller ended up propelling that run? No one should expect their favorite team to hit on every veteran signing. However, when there is a hole on the roster, small market teams should – at the very least – target affordable veterans to fill that hole and raise the floor of a roster that has playoff potential. Sometimes, you hit on Napoli and Davis (and even Juan Uribe was helpful in giving a young Jose Ramirez confidence in 2016). Sometimes you don’t. But it needs to be attempted.
It’s, frankly, condescending to expect that fans can’t remember signings like Mike Zunino, Cam Gallagher, Josh Bell and Luke Maile. The most rabid fans among us spend all offseason futilely HOPING for some kind of activity and start immediately trying to imagine how these kind of additions might turn out to be brilliant moves. Additionally, bringing up how inconsequential these moves are is an odd choice given that the teams of 2022 and 2024 did not win a pennant or a title. What if you’d actually spend some money, Chris? What if you’d signed someone who made an all-star team and led us to another win or two in the playoffs, Mike? Even the casual fans would remember that player’s name. Hey… maybe we should try that instead of these cute little trivia contests? I am completely open to a Rhys Hoskins or Randal Grichuk late offseason Hail Mary to simply increase this team’s floor against LHP by even the tiniest bit.
But, hey, my writers can always use some extra money. So, go ahead with this PR campaign of asking about your pitiful attempts to dabble in free agency, I guess. It’s not like I am going to change their feelings with another blog post. Thank goodness we have Jose Ramirez, and I am now going to go back to being excited about seeing the exciting young players they have in the organization in 2026. I sincerely hope that this gambit on internal development pays off for the team and they can laugh at this article and others for years to come. No one will be happier than I will if that happens. But, running the lowest payroll in MLB and touting your track record of getting the most out of the least is a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for ‘em.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Elton Brand, Daryl Morey, and Head Coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2025 in at Chicago, Illinois at McCormick Convention Center. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA trade deadline is this Thursday. What direction the Sixers will go is anyone’s guess. They can throw themselves into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes or simply do some housekeeping to make sure Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker get standard deals. Simply ducking the luxury tax would apparently not sit well Joel Embiid.
What do you want to see? What do you not want to see? Is there a specific player or position you think the team should target? Hit me with your thoughts and questions below.
Also, I’m going to leave this pinned to the front of the site through the deadline so we can keep the conversation going.
The Chicago Blackhawks have played against every team in the NHL this season at least once, except for the San Jose Sharks. That will change on Monday night with a match set to take place at the United Center.
The San Jose Sharks are 27-22-4, which is a record (58 points) keeping them on the playoff bubble. At 21-25-9, the Blackhawks are 7 points behind them. Although each team has been in the bottom five over the last several years, there has been steady improvement shown by both.
Bedard vs Celebrini
This is a matchup between two of the NHL’s brightest young stars. Connor Bedard was the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, while Macklin Celebrini went first one year later at the 2024 NHL Draft. These two are compared for a variety of reasons. With that said, this matchup is much more than two young stars going head-to-head.
The San Jose Sharks do rely on Celebrini a lot in terms of their offensive production. He currently has 79 points, which is good for fourth in the entire NHL. The next closest Sharks player is Will Smith with 38. This will get him in Hart Trophy conversations if they do end up making the playoffs.
Smith-Celebrini-Toffoli
Eklund-Wennberg-Graf
Regenda-Misa-Kurashev
Goodrow-Gaudette-Reaves
Orlov-Liljegren
Ferraro-Mukhamadullin
Dickinson-Desharnais
Askarov
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to see Yaroslav Askarov in San Jose's net, who is another good young goalie trying to make his way as an elite player in the league.
Outside of Celebrini and Smith, other young skaters like William Eklund, Michael Misa, and Sam Dickinson are there forming what promises to be a great core for a long time. Veterans like Tyler Toffoli, Alex Wennberg, and Dmitri Orlov are there for support as well. It's a good group that's only going to get better as the years go on.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks will still be without Nick Foligno for this game. He is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, although he skated with the team at practice on Sunday.
Nazar-Bedard-Bertuzzi
Teravainen-Greene-Burakovsky
Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Slaggert-Moore-Dach
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Rinzel
Grzelcyk-Murphy
Knight
Spencer Knight will start in goal for Chicago, as each team will go with their young up-and-coming star goalies. Sam Lafferty is the healthy scratch up front, and Artyom Levshunov will continue his development program, keeping him out of the lineup.
Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar have started to gain some chemistry together at even strength. In this game, they will be with Tyler Bertuzzi. With Landon Slaggert and Colton Dach on Oliver Moore's wing, they will form an energy line.
Jeff Blashill is continuing to evaluate what he has in Moore, who has shown versatility in terms of where he is in the lineup and what position he plays.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT.
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter of a game at Fiserv Forum on November 02, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, everyone. The NBA trade deadline is days away. That means we’re going to be covering every rumor, no matter how obscure, for the rest of the week.
Today, I want to unpack the pros and cons of the Cleveland Cavaliers hypothetically trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
If you’re wondering how or if this type of move is possible, I’d suggest reading Jackson’s breakdown from yesterday. To cut to the chase, here are the three deals he included:
With those offers in mind, let’s get into the nuance of making a move this drastic.
Pro: Massive Talent
The best player in the Eastern Conference would play for Cleveland. That’s pretty straightforward.
Cavs fans know better than anyone that sometimes simply having the best player on the floor is enough to win you a game, series, or even the championship. Giannis might not be as dominant as LeBron James was, but in a wide-open Eastern Conference, one could assume that all he needs is a decent supporting cast to trample his way back to the NBA Finals.
Cleveland would have a stronger supporting cast than Milwaukee, no matter which deal they go with. Antetokounmpo’s star power would either be flanked by a combination of Mitchell and Mobley—or Mitchell, Allen, and Garland. Either way, that’s a minimum of three All-Star caliber players in the starting lineup.
The rest of the rotation would still be strong, too. The Cavs would be keeping Sam Merrill (and/or Max Strus), Keon Ellis, Dean Wade, and Dennis Schroder. I’d imagine they fight tooth and nail to keep Tyson, as well. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Tyson was considered untouchable. He’s the type of player you don’t give up so easily.
All of this to say, Cleveland gets an MVP and bona fide superstar in Antetokounmpo. A player who is capable of elevating his performance in the playoffs and meeting all their needs for size and shot creation. You can argue that Giannis is enough to make up for the loss of Allen and Garland on his own. And, he might be better currently than Mobley ever will be.
Circling back to my first point, the Cavs wouldn’t just be getting the best player in the deal; they’d be gaining the best player in the conference. That’s historically a good sign.
Con: A few Cautionary Tales
Big swings can lead to embarrassing misses. We haven’t seen a team win a championship after making a homerun swing since the Los Angeles Lakers won with Anthony Davis in the 2020 Bubble.
Seriously, those massive “all-in” moves haven’t been paying off for anyone else.
The Oklahoma City Thunder built their championship roster from the ground up with smart drafting and small moves on the margins. The Boston Celtics did the same, tinkering with trades for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, but never selling the farm or letting go of the J’s.
The Denver Nuggets followed the same formula. They didn’t panic and trade Jamal Murray. Instead, they gave that group enough time to grow together, while making ancillary moves to improve the supporting cast until they finally broke through in 2023.
And then there’s the 2021 Bucks, who kept their group together despite multiple failures before winning the title over the Phoenix Suns. It wasn’t until the Bucks gave up on that core (maybe justifiably) that everything truly collapsed.
Now think of the teams that have taken big swings during this same stretch.
The Brooklyn Nets whiffed on their big three of Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant. The Suns would later make a similar mistake, coming up woefully short on a big three of their own.
Milwaukee, as mentioned, traded for Damian Lillard before realizing how valuable Holiday’s defense actually was. The Dallas Mavericks… well, I don’t really know what the Mavericks were thinking when they traded Luka Doncic. That one’s on them.
My point is, each of the last five champions stuck to their guns. This is true for most championship teams if you comb back through NBA history. Seismic changes rarely pay off. And, it’s even more unlikely that a massive move at the trade deadline works in your favor.
Relating this to the Cavs, they may already have the talent to win a championship. Kneecapping their future for a 31-year-old star who relies heavily on his athleticism could be a short-sighted and unnecessary move.
For example, let’s say they include Mobley and Tyson in the deal. Two young stars with loads of potential in exchange for an aging Antetokounmpo (with mounting injuries). That’s the type of move that lends itself to immense criticism a few years down the line if it doesn’t work out. A self-inflicted, franchise-altering error is something you should work hard to avoid.
Championship squads might shuffle the deck, but they don’t throw away the cards and start a brand new game. The NBA’s landscape has changed enough that being a top-heavy squad isn’t going to cut it. You need depth, continuity, and admittedly, a whole lot of luck. Cleveland would be seriously testing their luck with an overhaul at the deadline.
Conclusion:
I can’t fault anyone who wants to trade for Antetokounmpo. Hell, I wouldn’t exactly be complaining if #34 was wearing a Cavs jersey. It’s not hard to get excited about a player of his caliber joining the roster.
The packages required for Antetokounmpo aren’t unreasonable. But they are loaded with the potential to backfire. Mobley looks like he’ll be a DPOY, All-NBA candidate for the next 10 years. Garland has been one of the league’s best floor generals when healthy. Allen just put up 40 points and 17 rebounds in 30 minutes. Does Cleveland need to give up one (or multiple) of those players for a star who could be a short-term rental (either due to health or free agency)?
It takes guts to win a championship. While I highlighted the dangers of putting all your chips in the middle, it’s still true that every title team took risks. The question is whether or not you believe the Cavs need to take that risk at this point in their timeline.
