LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 19: Amari Bailey #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 19, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Christmas Eve, Baylor sent shockwaves around NCAA by signing 7-foot center James Nnaji, the No. 31 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft who never actually signed an NBA contract. His rights were originally owned by the Detroit Pistons before getting moved to Charlotte. But Nnaji spent time overseas in Spain and, most recently, played with Merkezefendi in Turkey.
However, that opened floodgates for an unprecedented situation: Players who have declared for the NBA Draft … returning back to play college basketball?! Charles Bediako, a 2023 undraftee, soon followed, joining Alabama.
This epidemic even bled into the Mountain West, with former UCLA guard Amari Bailey — who has played 10 NBA games with the Hornets after being a second-round pick in 2023 — scheduled his first recruiting visit to Grand Canyon, even though he will need to receive a waiver granted by the NCAA.
In Bediako’s case, a Tuscaloosa judge recently denied his eligibility. So the NCAA has some guard rails as to who it’s letting in, and evidently shoving out.
But it’s still a big problem, where players are still toeing the line and attempting to revive their careers in an NIL-centric entity.
There are simple solutions to this issue:
For one, the NCAA will have to collectively bargain this eligibility crisis — as well as employ and enforce a modicum of NIL guardrails. When there’s no structure, all direction is lost. And when all direction is lost, all bets are off.
Therein lies the problem: There’s zero leadership. NCAA president Charlie Baker’s just a figurehead. Until there’s real leadership, these problems will persist.
A few of the immediate solutions should be fairly straightforward:
Don’t allow any player back in the NCAA if they declare for the NBA Draft past the college (if they’re in college) or the international deadline
Those dates are two separate dates; Last year’s, for example, the Early Entry deadline for collegiate athletes was May 28, while it was June 15 for international players.
That automatically makes players who were drafted (Nnaji), players who have signed NBA contracts and, thus, who have played NBA games automatically ineligible to return to the NCAA.
If players — like Bailey or Nnaji — are allowed to go through that process while still returning to the NCAA, those Early Entrant deadlines mean absolutely nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. And thus, an incredibly poor precedent is set.
Bailey should not be allowed to return to the NCAA; if you exhaust your eligibility in any way, you shouldn’t be given a second-chance just because your NBA career momentarily flamed out. The same applies to should Nnaji, who literally heard his name called on draft night before playing twice in Summer League.
The NCAA set up some guard rails regarding Bediako. But that’s not enough, and any gray area will likely have to be collectively bargained in the near future. At the end of the day, the NCAA can run, but it can’t hide.
The Jazz are giving NBA fans plenty of reason to tank — sorry, we meant think — that perhaps there are ulterior motives for why they shut down the superstar they just acquired.
Jaren Jackson Jr., who played 48 games with the Grizzlies before being traded to Utah earlier this month, has been shut down for the rest of the season due to upcoming surgery to remove a pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee, the team announced Thursday.
He is expected to make a fully recovery and be cleared far in advance of training camp, per ESPN.
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s season is over. AP
As you can imagine, this caused many folks to roll their eyes since the Jazz have little reason to be competitive for the remainder of the season.
They have a top-eight protected pick for what is considered a deep 2026 NBA Draft, and they own the sixth-worst record entering Thursday.
The Jazz still split the two games, and coach Will Hardy said he had no plans to reinsert them.
Utah is not the only team to be tanking, with the Pacers, Wizards and Kings’ tactics causing some frustration, but Utah isn’t doing much to be beat the allegations.
Jaren Jackson Jr. will be watching games from the bench going forward. NBAE via Getty Images
Jackson played in three games with the team before being shut down, and the Jazz said they discovered the growth during a post-trade MRI exam.
He averaged 24.0 minutes — down from the 30.7 he averaged with the Grizzlies — along with 22.3 points and 4.3 rebounds while guiding the Jazz to a 2-1 record in his two appearances.
Jackson tallied 23 points in 22 minutes in Wednesday’s 121-93 win over the Kings.
“You just have to make an impact when you’re in the game,” Jackson said, according to ESPN. “That’s what you have to focus on. If you focus on when you’re not out there, you’re gonna struggle as a player.”
India tuned up for their blockbuster showdown with Pakistan at the T20 World Cup with a 93-run hammering of Namibia at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says the league's negotiations over MLB players competing at the 2028 Olympics are with "the institution of the Olympics" and not LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
As Major League Baseball closes in on an agreement for its players to participate in the 2028 Olympics, Commissioner Rob Manfred said the controversy surrounding LA28 chief Casey Wasserman would not impact the league’s final decision.
“Our dealings are not with Casey,” Manfred said Thursday at the MLB owners’ meetings. "Our dealings are with the institution of the Olympics.”
In recently released emails, Wasserman was linked to Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. The board retained a law firm to investigate, the statement said, and the review did not uncover any behavior beyond what was already known: a “single interaction with Epstein” on a plane flight for a humanitarian mission and raunchy emails with Maxwell, both two decades ago, before the “deplorable crimes” of both became public.
“Based on these facts, as well as the strong leadership he has exhibited over the past ten years, Mr. Wasserman should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games,” the committee statement said.
Epstein died by suicide after his indictment on sex trafficking charges in 2019. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021.
Manfred declined to say whether he was concerned that an association with Wasserman could be detrimental for baseball.
“I’m going to pass on that one,” Manfred said. “People much closer to that situation are better to opine on that.”
Mark Attanasio, the Los Angeles-based owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, is a member of the LA28 executive committee. Attanasio said he would let the statement speak for itself.
While baseball is not new to the Olympics, the participation of major leaguers would be. In past Olympics, MLB declined to interrupt its season so its players could travel halfway around the world, and Team USA featured minor leaguers and college players.
MLB players already travel to Los Angeles every summer, and Wasserman has pitched Manfred and MLB owners in a variety of meetings on the benefit of using major leaguers at a time the league is focused on broadening its international appeal.
“What an incredible opportunity to elevate the sport in a city where you have one of the great cathedrals of the sport,” Wasserman told The Times last year. “There is no better chance to tell the global story of baseball than from the Olympics in Los Angeles.
“They understand that. We could have another Dream Team, or two, depending on the countries. That is a vehicle to tell the story of baseball around the world, and that is really powerful.”
MLB and LA28 officials have worked out a tentative timeline under which the All-Star Game would be played in its usual mid-July spot in 2028, most likely in San Francisco, followed by a six-day, six-team Olympic baseball tournament at Dodger Stadium.
“I think people have come to appreciate that the Olympics on U.S. soil is a unique marketing opportunity for the game,” Manfred said Thursday. “We’ve got a lot of players interested in doing it, and I feel pretty good about the idea we’ll get there.”
Are the Dodgers good for baseball?
Outfielder Kyle Tucker adjusts his Dodgers cap during his introductory news conference at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 21. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times)
“I think great teams are always good for baseball,” Manfred said. “I think, with respect to this particular great team, it added to what we have been hearing from fans in a lot of markets for a long time about the competitiveness of the game. But great teams are always good for baseball.”
MLB officials have cited that fan concern repeatedly over the last year, prelude to an expected push for a salary cap. Manfred declined to discuss the owners’ labor strategy but said he expected negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement to begin after opening day and said he would not talk about MLB proposals until they are presented to the players’ union.
The current agreement expires Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected.
Where can you watch the Angels?
Angels star Mike Trout celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros on Sept. 28 in Anaheim. (Wally Skalij / Associated Press)
The Angels already are in spring training, and yet their fans have no idea where to watch their games on television this season.
The Angels have agreed that MLB will provide a streaming option, and a team official confirmed they are still deciding whether to let MLB sell their telecasts to cable and satellite distributors or reinvent what remains of the FanDuel Sports channel already part-owned by the team, with the Kings joining the Angels.
The Angels’ situation is not unique. Three years ago, MLB did not provide broadcast services to any team. Today, amid the collapse of the cable and satellite universe, MLB provides broadcast services to 14 of its 30 teams — 15, if the Angels go that way.
In 2028, Manfred would like to sell national streaming packages, in the hope that more bidders would mean more revenue, a particularly acute need for the teams losing revenue as guaranteed rights fees are cut or eliminated altogether. The challenge: how to convince the Dodgers and other big-market teams to sacrifice their still-lucrative local rights so MLB can sell a 30-team package.
“Ideally, I’d love to get there,” Manfred said. “I don’t need to get all the way there to accomplish most of what I am thinking about.”
On Thursday, Manfred cited one way he could get close enough: have rival owners vote to expand the number of games — for the Dodgers or anyone else — that would be classified as national rather than local.
“We can take as many games as we want from any club in a national package,” Manfred said, “with a majority vote of the clubs.”
Earlier this week, ESPN released its post-trade-deadline updated power rankings. Houston came in at the number seven spot, slipping one spot from their previously held sixth spot. This puts Houston behind the Thunder, Spurs, and Nuggets in the Western Conference and behind the Pistons, Knicks, and Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
NBA.com cited Houston’s very close win versus the Pacers and two consecutive home losses (Feb 4 versus Boston and February 5 versus Charlotte) as a reason for the demotion in the rankings. Additonally, the inactivity at the trade deadline also played a part as fans and media alike were left confused. Despite this, head coach Ime Udoka and General Manager Rafael Stone still feel confident in this team despite the lack of a traditional starting point guard.
Houston likely would have been ranked lower if not for their win Saturday versus the OKC Thunder, a game where Alperen Sengun had his second tripple-double of the season, and Tari Eason had his best performance of the season, scoring 26 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.
Looking at the stats, the ranking does make sense. Houston ranks ninth in offensive rating at 117.1 and fourth in defense rating at 112.0, according to NBA.com. Houston also still ranks first in offensive rebound percentage, but that may change with the absence of center Steven Adams for the remainder of the season.
It is unclear what will happen after the All-Star Break, as Houston will hopefully get some much-deserved rest. If you want to catch your Houston Rockets during All-Star weekend, make sure to tune into Peacock for Friday’s events along with NBA League Pass, and NBC for Saturday and Sunday’s events. Reed Sheppard will be competing Friday in the Rising Stars game, and Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant will be competing Sunday in the All-Star game, with Sengun playing on Team World and Durant on Team USA
Dec 2, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The Spurs’ reach at All-Star weekend keeps getting wider. With Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out with a calf strain, Commissioner Adam Silver has selected Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox as his injury replacement. In one of the quirks from this USA vs. World format, Fox will replace Norman Powell on Team Stars, and Norman Powell will be moved to Team World to replace Giannis thanks to his Jamaican roots.
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game (Sunday, 2/15, 5pm/et, NBC & Peacock). Fox will join USA Stripes, while Miami Heat guard Norman… pic.twitter.com/Pn98bB69p5
This will be Fox’s second All-Star appearance and first since 2022-23, when he made it as a Sacramento King. This season, he has averaged 19.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 45 games. After questions about his fit in the offseason, he has done a wonderful job of finding a balance between dominating and deferring, knowing when to feed the hot hand and when to take over himself, especially in the clutch.
Joining Fox in the All-Star game will be Victor Wembanyama as a starter for Team World and Mitch Johnson (who just yesterday spoke out about the Spurs only have one All-Star despite having the third best record in the league) as the coach of Team Stripes. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper will be representing the Spurs in the Rising Stars Challenge, and Harper will join his father and brother — Ron Harper, Sr. and Jr., respectively — in the Shooting Stars Challenge. Finally, Carter Bryant will be in the Slam Dunk Contest. The only event the Spurs are not represented in is the Three-Point Contest.
All-Star weekend will take place this weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. You can check out the entire schedule here. Rising Stars will be on Friday, February 13 beginning at 8:00 PM CT on ESPN. Saturday will feature Shooting Stars starting at 4:00 PM CT, followed by the 3-point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest, and finally the All-Star Game on Sunday, beginning at 4:00 PM CT.
Congrats to Fox, and even though it’s as an injury replacement, it’s more than deserved!
The Knicks are completing their roster with an athletic prospect for frontcourt depth.
Jeremy Sochan, a 22-year-old forward, is signing with the team for the remainder of the season, league sources confirm, a move the team believes will provide athletic insurance for their push to the NBA Finals.
At 6-foot-8 and a former ninth-overall pick, Sochan was considered a top prospect while starting as a 2023 All-Rookie selection for the Spurs and carving out an important role during his first three NBA seasons. But Sochan fell out of favor with the team this season, at least partially because of the emergence of rookie forward Carter Bryant, and was waived Wednesday — opening the door for his Knicks arrival.
Jeremy Sochan Getty Images
A league source said Sochan is expected to arrive in New York on Monday and will be available for the first game after the All-Star break, which is Thursday at home against the Pistons. The idea of playing for a contender with veteran leadership was an important factor toward choosing the Knicks, per a league source.
The hope is that he provides two-way depth on the wing and frontcourt.
However, there are questions of why it didn’t work in San Antonio. A league source familiar with the situation explained Sochan was neither good enough as a shooter or defender this season, and expressed skepticism the Baylor product would figure it out.
The Knicks certainly believe he will. They targeted Sochan before the trade deadline last week but couldn’t convince the Spurs to take Guerschon Yabusele in exchange.
And in the end, it worked for team president Leon Rose.
Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) drives in against Dallas Mavericks guard AJ Johnson. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Knicks essentially swapped out Yabusele for Jose Alvarado, largely because Yabusele surprisingly agreed to drop his $5.8 million player option for next season. There’s speculation that Yabusele, who is from France, has already secured a lucrative deal overseas, offsetting at least some of the money he gave up to facilitate a trade away from the Knicks.
Shedding Yabusele for Alvarado freed up enough cap space for the Knicks to immediately sign a free agent, which Thursday became Sochan on a minimum contract.
Born in Oklahoma to a Polish mother, Sochan became the youngest member of Poland’s national team during the 2022 EuroBasket qualifiers. He showed early promise with the Spurs — along with colorful hair dye choices — and averaged over 11 points in each of his first three seasons, starting in 149 of his first 184 appearances.
But there wasn’t much growth on his 3-point shot — he’s shooting just 25.7 percent from deep this season — and he reportedly desired an opportunity for more playing time.
When the Knicks are healthy, there aren’t many minutes available — at least not the 25-plus that Sochan averaged his first three seasons in San Antonio. New York has OG Anunoby and Josh Hart eating up the most among the forwards, with Mitchell Robinson and rookie Mo Diawara as the frontcourt backups.
But there is room for another big forward, especially when there are injuries involved. Anunoby, for instance, has missed four consecutive games with a toe injury, which pushed Diawara into a larger role while averaging 21.5 minutes during that stretch before the All-Star break.
Diawara has been tremendous in his 3-and-D role — better than most expected from a second-round rookie — but Sochan does carry more experience with greater ballhandling capabilities. He also further removes disappointing first-round pick Pacôme Dadiet from the possibility of playing.
With that said, it’s hard to imagine Diawara being supplanted in the rotation while he’s stacking up such positive performances. The Frenchman has nailed treys at a 41.3 percent clip this season.
“He’s young, he’s raw, he needs the experience. But he’s someone who’s good defensively. And he’s an even better shooter than I thought,” Hart said Wednesday about Diawara, who had just scored 14 points with five boards in a blowout win over the Sixers. “I always thought it looked good, but now it’s going in. Being able to get him in the pocket, he’s a good decision maker in the pocket, athletic, can finish at the rim, get guys involved. So I love where he’s at. He’s continuing to work. I think he can be really good.”
Sochan also has upside. He’s just two years older than Diawara with three more years of NBA experience. His addition gives the Knicks a full roster of 15 players with standard contracts and a new look in the frontcourt.
This isn't a surprise, Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed the last eight Milwaukee Bucks games with a strained calf. However, he had hoped to make it back for the All-Star Game in Los Angeles and play for the World Team, where fans had voted him a starter.
It's officially not happening, Antetokounmpo has been ruled out for the All-Star Game. San Antonio guard De'Aaron Fox has been named as his replacement, the league announced.
Fox will play for the USA Stars team. Because Antetokounmpo was to play for the World Team, Miami's Norman Powell, who has ties to Jamaica, has been moved to the World Team.
This is Fox's second All-Star Game appearance. He is averaging 19.4 points and 6.3 assists per game for the Spurs, who sit as the No. 2 seed in the West. Fox will join Victor Wembanyama and coach Mitch Johnson in representing the Spurs during All-Star weekend.
Antetokounmpo was the third player voted a starter by fans, but is now out of the All-Star Game due to injuries, joining Stephen Curry (knee) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain).
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game tips off at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15, on both NBC and Peacock.
All-Star Game format
This year, the NBA All-Star Game returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock — and it falls right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. That was a perfect setup for the first-of-its-kind All-Star Game format, a USA vs. World showdown that fans and players have been asking for.
The 24 All-Star players have been divided into three teams, two USA teams — USA Stripes and USA Stars — and one World Team. Those three teams will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games, each team playing at least two games.
At the end of the round-robin, the two top teams will play a championship game (the fourth 12-minute game of the day) for the title. (If there is a tie, it comes down to point differential.)
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, an earlier time than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Every moment of All-Star Weekend — the Rising Stars challenge on Friday. (Feb. 13), All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest (Feb. 14), as well as the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, a time earlier than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
The Dodgers' Kiké Hernández throws to second base to complete a double play to close out Game 6 of the World Series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Kiké Hernández agreed to a one-year, $4.5-million deal with the Dodgers Thursday, with the popular utilityman taking to his Instagram account to announce his return.
“What else did you expect?!!! 3 in a row has a nice ring to it,” he wrote, accompanied by a picture of him at the parade celebration last year.
In a video posted on the Dodgers' Instagram account, the three-time World Series champion apologized to fans for taking so long to re-sign, and jokingly put the blame on Andrew Freidman, the team's president of baseball operations.
“There’s no other place I would rather be than here,” he added.
Hernández repaired a torn extensor tender in his left elbow after the season, which will cause him to miss next month's World Baseball Classic and the start of the 2026 season. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander Evan Phillips — whom the Dodgers signed to a one-year deal on Wednesday — was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continues to rehab from the Tommy John surgery he had last June.
The 34-year-old Hernández hit .203 with an on-base percentage of .255 and .366 slugging percentage in 256 regular season plate appearances, with 10 home runs in 92 games last season.
His splits between regular season and the postseason, however, are significantly different. In 103 career playoff games, Hernández carries a .826 on-base plus slugging percentage, a .272 batting average and a .486 slugging percentage.
During the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he played every game, mostly in left field. In Game 6, Hernández’s catch and throw to Miguel Rojas at second sealed the Dodgers' 3-1 victory to force a Game 7.
During DodgerFest, Rojas spoke to reporters about the importance of Hernández’s presence in the Dodgers' pursuit to become the first back-to-back-to-back champions since the New York Yankees in 2000. He compared his impact on the team to Scottie Pippen with the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls.
In other moves, the team announced third baseman Max Muncy received a one-year contract extension that will pay him $7 million in 2027 and has a $10-million club option for 2028. Muncy, whose current deal was set to expire after the 2026 season, is the Dodgers' longest-tenured player and enters his ninth season with the team. And Anthony Banda, who was designated for assignment last week by the Dodgers, was traded to the Minnesota Twins for international bonus pool money.
Feb 18, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Gomes talks with manager Dave Roberts (30) during spring training at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Here is every transaction for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the entire 2026 season, starting with the first day of spring training through the end of the team’s postseason run.
We will keep track of every single transaction involving the 40-man roster here, including players getting called up or sent down to the minor leagues, as well as signings, trades, waiver claims, getting designated for assignment, or released.
Also here will be every injured list stint, though we will also tract all the IL moves in their own post. We’ll also have another post that keeps track of minor league options, with a limit of five times a player can be optioned to the minors beginning after opening day.
Aug 12, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore (52) pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals revealed their new Spring Training facilities by turning the camera over to Matthew Liberatore for their tour with a creative play on words.
As pitchers and catchers have now reported to Jupiter, Florida, Matthew Liberatore and a lone camera person gave a tour of what the new training facilities are like.
The walkthrough included 6 or 7 new covered batting cages, pitching machines, weight room areas including outdoor options and the multi-purpose field for ground ball work. The new performance center is impressive with both minor league and major league areas intertwined. The saunas and hyperbaric chambers are state of the art and the brand new food room is stocked with what Matthew says are healthy food options.
According to the Sports Business Journal, the St. Louis Cardinals invested $108 million dollars for these new Spring Training places. I fully expect there will be ample references to that being greater than the St. Louis Cardinals payroll for the coming season.
One additional side note. The St. Louis Cardinals just released the Spring Training broadcast schedule.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 31: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks and Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs hug after the game on December 31, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, Jeremy Sochan intends to sign with the Knicks, turning some pre-trade-deadline chatter into an actual addition for the team.
Free agent forward Jeremy Sochan plans to sign with the New York Knicks after he clears waivers, his agent Deirunas Visockas of Gersh Sports tells ESPN. Sochan had 10 interested suitors after being released from the Spurs on Wednesday and landed on the Knicks as his new team. pic.twitter.com/F2dVt3ivEx
Sochan, at least from a visual standpoint, pulls off the Dennis Rodman look to a T. The hair, the tattoos, even the now former No. 10 Spurs uniform all felt like a deliberate nod to the original chaos artist. On first glance, the resemblance was hard to ignore. But that is where the parallels with the seven time rebounding champion and Hall of Famer begin to fade.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 7: Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during a NBA preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder October 7, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty ImagesDENVER – MAY 2: Dennis Rodman #10 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during Game 3, Round 1 of the 1995 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets on May 2, 1995 in Denver, Colorado. 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 1995 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Sochan is not inhaling rebounds at a historic rate or flirting with 20 point explosions on a random Tuesday. What he does bring is disruption with intent. He guards across positions, welcomes physical matchups, and takes on the assignments most players would rather sidestep. He will switch onto guards without panic, wrestle with bigger forwards without complaint, and live in the uncomfortable spaces of a possession. It is the kind of work that rarely trends but consistently earns equity inside a locker room.
As the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Sochan averaged roughly 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in about 26 minutes per game, carving out a consistent role right away. The following season, his responsibility expanded. He hovered around 11 to 12 points per night again, bumped his rebounding closer to the 6 per game range, and increased his assists to over 3 per contest while playing nearly 30 minutes a night. It was not star level production, but it was well rounded and indicative of a player being trusted with real usage.
By 2024 to 25, the numbers held in a similar band, around 11 points, 6 rebounds, and a couple of assists per game, though his minutes fluctuated as San Antonio reshaped its rotation. This season, before being waived, his role shrank dramatically. In just under 13 minutes per game across 28 appearances, his counting stats dipped accordingly. On a per minute basis, however, his profile has remained relatively consistent: moderate scoring, solid rebounding for a combo forward, and enough passing to keep the ball moving.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JANUARY 15: Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 15, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Sharon Chi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over the span of his first four seasons in San Antonio, Sochan logged minutes at both forward spots, slid over to small ball center. At 6 foot 8 and 230 pounds, he even opened last season as the Spurs’ starting point guard. He was entrusted with initiating the offense, bringing the ball up against pressure, and organizing half court sets like a lead guard.
For a team like the Knicks, that elasticity carries weight. In an era where playoff series are chess matches and defensive switching is currency, a player who can guard multiple positions and slide across lineup constructions functions as insurance.
Would he walk in and flip a rotation on its head overnight? Unlikely. He is not that kind of acquisition. But for a team with championship aspirations and a recent history of injuries across the lineup, the value calculation shifts.
Adding a player who willingly takes on defensive assignments, rebounds his area, and gives a coaching staff the freedom to tinker with matchups has real utility over the grind of a season and into a playoff series. Depth is not just about bodies. It is about flexibility when things inevitably go sideways.
If all else fails, the Knicks could at least roll out a Jeremy Sochan wig giveaway night, adding a few bold new shades to the usual blue and orange in the stands.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 16: Warming Bernabel #25 of the Colorado Rockies reacts during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, August 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Every year, teams have non-roster invites to Spring Training. They are a mixture of prospects who are not on the 40-man roster and veterans trying to fight their way on to the roster. The Nats have found some gems among their pool of NRI’s the past couple years. In 2024, Jesse Winker was a non-roster invite and last year Brad Lord made the team out of camp as an NRI.
This year the Nats have 62 total players at camp, which is on the bigger side. The NRI’s range from prospects, to journeymen, to familiar faces who have been DFA’d lately. While most of these guys will not make the roster and head to the Minor Leagues, one or two of these players are likely to stick.
I wanted to go over a few of the players who have the best chance of making the team. The battle for the first base position will be one of the biggest stories this spring. There will be a few NRI’s who are battling for that first base position. Warming Bernabel, Matt Mervis and Yohandy Morales all have a chance to win at least a share of the first base job with a strong spring.
The first player I want to discuss is Morales. He was the Nats second round pick in 2023, and is a fairly well regarded prospect. However, his stock has been slowly dipping the past couple of years due to some red flags in his profile. In college, he played third base, but has made the move to first now. Naturally, sliding down the defensive spectrum hurts.
However, the biggest concerns stem from his bat. Morales has huge raw power, but his batted ball profile and his whiff issues are concerning. Last year, he hit the ball on the ground over 50% of the time and struck out over 30% of the time in AAA. Morales had a good start to the year in AA, but the move up to Triple-A saw mixed results.
He still has a chance to make the team with a big spring though. I am very interested to see if he is helped by the new hitting coaches. Scouts have been worried about Morales’ swing mechanics and hopefully the new staff can clean them up. He was highly productive in the Puerto Rican Winter League and in the Caribbean Series, but the level of competition there is not the highest. Still, we got a glimpse of his raw power.
Yohandy Morales is on a heater.
The Nats 2023 second rounder crushed a 445 foot homer in the Caribbean Series semifinals and finished winter ball hitting .395 in Puerto Rico.
Morales is a player I will be watching closely. There are a few players who are ahead of him in the race for first base at the moment. However, Morales may have more upside than anyone. It is far from a given, but he is a breakout candidate.
Matt Mervis and Warming Bernabel are two minor league free agents the Nats signed this offseason. Both will have a chance to win the 1B job this spring. There is a chance Bernabel and Mervis could be platoon partners if both impress this spring.
Bernabel became a bit of a cult hero for a horrid Rockies team after a hot start to his MLB career in late July. The 23 year old was hitting .500 with 3 homers in his first week as a big leaguer. However, he came crashing down to earth. Bernabel ended the season with a .252 average and .698 OPS.
He still has some interesting traits though. Bernabel makes a lot of contact and hits the ball in the air a lot. He only struck out 17.1% of the time and pulled the ball in the air over 20% of the time. Both of those numbers are above average. This gives him a path to some offensive production.
I truly hope Warming Bernabel has a Joey Meneses-like breakout with the Nationals. pic.twitter.com/Ak2W7yZx7j
However, Bernabel does not hit the ball very hard and chases a lot. That is not a great combination, especially for a first baseman. Maybe Bernabel can be a platoon bat at first base, but his upside is not very high. However, he is still very young and provides quality depth.
Matt Mervis is a very different profile from Bernabel. He is your stereotypical left handed slugger at the first base position. Mervis has big time power and has shown it throughout his minor league career, with over 100 MILB homers. However, his hitting in the minors has not translated to MLB production.
Mervis, who is from Washington, DC, grew up a Nats fan. It would be a cool story if he could play for his hometown team. He said he grew up idolizing Ryan Zimmerman. Mervis looked like he was finally breaking through with the Marlins last April. He hit 7 homers in April and posted an .848 OPS.
Matt Mervis hit 7 HR with an .848 OPS across 68 at-bats in April. The Nats still believe. pic.twitter.com/DTEtmxUX1j
After a disastrous May, he lost his job and was eventually DFA’d. He will look to make it back to the big leagues this year. Mervis has big power, but he also has big swing and miss issues. He struck out 37.3% of the time last year. While it would be a cool story, Mervis seems like your standard Quad-A slugger.
There is one non-first baseman I want to take a look at and that is Orelvis Martinez. He is a true wild card, with a ton of upside but a low floor. A few years ago, the 24 year old Martinez was a top 100 prospect for the Blue Jays. His massive power and ability to stick on the infield made him highly touted.
He hit at least 28 homers in the minors every year from 2021 to 2023, where he steadily climbed the ranks. Some of those homers were truly majestic shots. Martinez has plus, maybe even plus-plus raw power and it shows up in games.
After hitting 17 homers in 74 AAA games in 2024, and making his MLB debut, disaster struck. Martinez was popped for steroid use, and suspended 80 games. He was a shell of himself when he came back in 2025, hitting just .176 with 13 homers in 99 AAA games. Was he a product of steroids, or was it just a down year?
The Nats seem interested to find out, as they gave him a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Martinez can play second or third base at an adequate level. He has also been good against left handed pitching in his career. If Martinez has a good spring, he has a small chance of winning a platoon role. A pairing of Garcia and Martinez at second base could be interesting.
It is likely that he starts the season in AAA and looks to rebuild his stock. I would not be surprised at all if we saw Martinez in the MLB at some point this year. If last year was truly just a blip on the radar, the Nats could be getting a steal.
Those guys are the ones most likely to make the team, but there are a few other notable NRI’s to shout out. Andry Lara, Shinnosuke Ogasawara, Riley Adams and Trey Lipscomb were all DFA’d this offseason, but managed to clear waivers unclaimed. They were all invited to camp. A few of these guys have a chance to play a role at some point this year, but are unlikely to break camp.
Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora are the Nats two best pitching prospects, and both got invited to camp. However, neither will pitch because they are injured. Sykora had Tommy John Surgery and Susana had Lat Surgery. Other notable prospects at camp include Seaver King, Andrew Pinckney and Caleb Lomavita.
There are also a few grizzled vets in the mix. Tres Barrera and Trevor Gott were Nats at one point. Now, they are looking for one last shot and are at big league camp. Sergio Alcantara is another veteran looking to catch on.
The position player side is more interesting this year, but guys like Zach Penrod and Bryce Montes De Oca are intriguing. Overall, this is a fun group and there are plenty of guys we will see on the roster at some point this season.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone began his Thursday media availability by announcing that starting pitcher Cam Schlittler is dealing with inflammation in his mid-back.
Per Boone, the Yankees will keep the right-hander off the mound for a few days, but he will otherwise continue to throw as usual.
Boone said this is something the Yankees are "trying to stay ahead of."
"[We] wanna make sure we don’t turn this into something else,' the manager said. "He’s felt a little tweak here and there, but he’s been doing his lives. He’s one of the guys who has already done two ups in lives, so I don’t think it will slow him that much, but we just want to make sure we don’t turn it into something else."
Schlittler said he first felt something in his back, while also mentioning his lat area, a few weeks ago, but described it as "just some minor stuff," and he's fully confident it won't affect his prep for the regular season.
"Zero, I’d say," Schlittler answered when asked about his concern level. "It’s early and I’ve been dealing with it for a little bit, so just want to make sure I’m on top of it and ready for Opening Day and that week in San Fran."
The 25-year-old Schlittler was a revelation for the Yankees last season, his first year in the majors. Schlittler started 14 games, pitching to a 2.96 ERA with 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He was also outstanding in his two playoff starts, posting a 1.26 postseason ERA.
With Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), Carlos Rodon (cleanup procedure for loose bodies and bone spurs), and Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John surgery) all recovering from their respective surgeries and not likely to be ready to go by Opening Day, Schlittler figures to be a crucial piece in the rotation, along with lefty Max Fried and fellow righty Luis Gil.
"Obviously, we’re very excited about him and expect him to be a key part of our rotation," Boone said, "and still expect that from the jump."
The Knicks are adding some intriguing depth, with forward Jeremy Sochan planning to sign a contract for the remainder of the season once he clears waivers, his agent told Shams Charania of ESPN.
Sochan, 22, was recently waived by the Spurs after they failed to move him ahead of the trade deadline.
The Knicks and Spurs discussed a potential Sochan trade before the deadline but did not gain much traction, reports SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.
A former lottery pick, Sochan has averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists during his first three-plus NBA seasons.
He was a key contributor for San Antonio over his first three campaigns, but his playing time diminished this season.
Sochan averaged just 12.8 minutes per game this season for the Spurs after averaging 25.3 minutes per game during the 2024-25 campaign.
For the Knicks, Sochan will give head coach Mike Brown a rotation option with upside.
New York has been undermanned recently, with OG Anunoby missing the last four games due to a toe injury and Deuce McBride potentially out until the playoffs due to a sports hernia.
The Knicks have also been without Mitchell Robinson from time to time because of workload management.
