SAN DIEGO - JULY 13; Tim Lincecum #55 has his hand raised by Marco Scutaro #19 of the San Francisco Giants after throwing a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 13, 2013 in San Diego, California (Photo by Andy Hayt/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are in the middle of a new feature for May that I’m calling the “12 Days of Mays-mas” because I won’t be around for this week, and I want to leave you guys with some fun things to watch while I’m gone.
For the seventh day of Mays-mas, I thought we would continue in our series of no-hitters and revisit Tim Lincecum’s first no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in 2013. This one was on the road, and it was a blood bath on both ends, with the Giants scoring nine runs and taking the stress off early and Lincecum himself dealing and crushing the hopes and dreams of Padres players hoping to not get embarrassed.
I know we revisit this one fairly often, but honestly can you ever really watch these too many times? (I will make an attempt to give it a good long rest before we do these again, I promise.)
In the meantime, grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy!
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants are off today, but they will welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to Oracle Park tomorrow to begin a three-game series.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 05: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox jumps in defensive position in the third inning during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
At the end of last week, Thomas Nestico made the following post and caught many Red Sox fans off guard:
Yes, that’s the Boston Red Sox up near the top of the teams leaderboard in Defensive Runs Saved, and you know what, I don’t think it’s a fluke.
Up until the last handful of days, the quality of the Red Sox defense has been easy to ignore for several reasons. They include, but are not limited to:
The Red Sox leading the American League in errors during each of the last three seasons before 2026.
The Red Sox starting off 2026 with the most errors in the AL again over the first couple of weeks (before really cleaning it up of late).
The team’s dreadful 9-17 record over the first 26 games overshadowing any finer details.
Roman Anthony getting the yips for the first few series of the year and having a few bad throws go viral.
Caleb Durbin’s ice cold bat out of the gate obscuring the fact that this dude can really play some defense.
Understandably, the vibes weren’t great. But now we’re a week into May, and with the dust settling, the metrics under the hood don’t just look good, they look really, really good. So good in fact that if the Red Sox can get the top of this rotation healthy with Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray in the coming weeks, their whole run prevention philosophy just might pay dividends.
Let’s take a more detailed look at what these Defensive Runs Saved figures look like for the ten Red Sox players with the most defensive innings logged so far in 2026 (going into Wednesday night’s game):
Several things jump out here, so let’s take a quick trip around the diamond and understand how the Red Sox might be this good defensively.
First up (and most complex), Roman Anthony — because against all odds, I think the yips or whatever was going on with his throws earlier in the year are actually working to his advantage now. (God I love baseball!) His problem isn’t arm strength (that actually grades out as a weapon with an 89.9mph velocity average), his issue was either mechanical or in his head, leading to a handful of throws so bad they went viral.
However, Roman’s good throws are actually really good. So you’re left with a situation where teams saw the few horrendous throws earlier in the year and wanted to pick on him. But what they’ve actually done in the process is give him more opportunities to throw guys outs, and he’s taken advantage of that, with two assists in one series against the Blue Jays last week. You want a guy that’s impossible to scout against? I give you a left fielder who throws a 35 foot worm burner one week and then nails you from 200 feet away the next.
At the same time, Anthony also makes tremendous reads on the ball off the bat and takes very efficient routes when tracking down fly balls. So even though he’s not the fastest guy in the world and doesn’t make many flashy highlight plays with the leather, he gets to way more balls than you’d otherwise think at first glace. You know how he’s really good at reading a ball out of a pitcher’s hand and therefore knows how to work a bunch of walks at the plate? Well, that’s his superpower all over the diamond. His initial reads are so good that in just 65 career starts in the outfield over both the 2025 and 2026 seasons (37 in right and 35 in left) he’s already racked up a +13 Defensive Runs Saved total.
Is the metric overrating his defense some? Almost certainly yes! But when it comes to the question of whether he’s an above average defensive outfielder, it almost doesn’t matter because anybody who lands this far on the positive side of the spectrum in so few games is good. It’s just a matter of how good when all the details fill in over time. This is a big part of the reason why I was so concerned in early April when he started throwing the ball away. Anthony’s career ceiling is so much higher as an above average defensive outfield as opposed to getting pinned to DH.
Then we have Wilyer Abreu. In his case, we can just go straight to the video for from last night.
This is a prime example of how the Red Sox run prevention strategy can totally alter a game. They ended up pitching a shutout, but if this ball falls in, it’s at least 2-0 and probably 3-0 Detroit in just the second inning.
Great DRS numbers are one thing, but when you see it in practice, working to propel the team to wins on the field, it’s something to get extremely excited about. Abreu is getting it done.
Elsewhere, Caleb Durbin’s been fantastic defensively, and the more you see him work his glove magic, the more you realize it’s not a fluke. In fact, the biggest threat to losing his defense is his bat potentially being so terrible you just can’t afford to keep him in the lineup every day. However, he’s started to hit a tad more lately, and if that’s a sign of things to come, it again bodes well for the Red Sox defense long-term.
On the other infield corner, you have Willson Contreras, who has been as good as the Red Sox could have hoped for at the position. Even if he’s not going to be this good going forward, the former catcher again has enough innings at first base now to know you’re at least going to get some brand of plus defense here as well.
Then from there, you have what I think might be the most exciting part of the calculus. Ceddanne Rafaela and Marcelo Mayer haven’t even hit their defensive strides yet. We know how good Rafaela can be in center, and he hasn’t shown that yet in 2026. Mayer meanwhile can play anywhere in the infield and make it look smooth as butter. While his 2026 numbers don’t jump out in limited innings at second base yet, I’m confident that he’ll not only improve there, but that he’s also capable to taking the reigns from Trevor Story at shortstop at some point. If that happens, you then also potentially improve Trevor Story’s defense with a move to second base, where he was excellent in 2022.
In other words, so much of the momentum driving the Red Sox production in the Defensive Runs Saved department has been on the corners (Durbin, Contreras, Anthony and Abreu), but between Rafaela in center and a swap between Mayer and Story that feels like it needs to come at some point this season, the Red Sox can actually unlock a whole additional level of defense right up the middle of the diamond they haven’t really displayed yet.
Their defense isn’t just good; it has the chance to be above average everywhere. And the deeper we get into the season, the more this is going to matter as game-saving defensive plays are often contagious. If what’s going on under the hood is remotely real, it’s only a matter of time before the Red Sox start stealing a bunch of games with their gloves.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Ethan Anderson #57 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Norfolk’s offense did some good things in the losing effort. José Barrero hit two home runs, bringing his season total to six. Creed Willems added a two-run shot, which was also his sixth round-tripper of the year. The only other RBI came from Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and the aforementioned RBI. The rest of the Norfolk lineup was rather quiet. The team struck out 12 times and had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position.
But that would have been enough to win if not for a late collapse from the bullpen that saw them allow five runs in game’s final two innings. Six different Tides pitchers took the mound. Cameron Weston started and allowed two runs on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Yaqui Rivera followed with one run allowed and four strikeouts over his 2.2 frames. Andrew Magno recorded two outs without allowing a baserunner. Nick Raquet is where the wheels started to fall off. He gave up two runs in his two innings, and then Cameron Foster was handed the loss by giving up three runs and recording just two outs. Hans Crouse came on to retire the final batter of the ninth.
This was a seriously impressive showing from the Baysox lineup. They scored more runs than they had hits because they were so darn efficient with runners on base. The club went 9-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left just three runners on base all game. Home runs also helped. Five different Baysox hit home runs and all of them came with runners on base. Anderson De Los Santos hit a three-run shot. Carter Young smacked a two-run dong. Frederick Becosme drove in two with his homer. Ethan Anderson had an Earl Weaver special. And Tavian Josenberg had two RBI on his first long ball of the year. It’s a lovely box score to skim through.
The pitchers, overall, did well too. Sebastian Gongora went six innings and allowed just one run while striking out seven. His season ERA is down to 3.62 on the year, and he has now struck out 35 batters over 27.1 innings. The lefty could be one worth watching. Juan Rojas had a tough day, allowing three runs in his lone inning of work, but it was also just his second appearance at Double-A. Eric Torres closed out the win with two scoreless frames.
High-A: Frederick Keys 11, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) 5
Here’s another big scoreline from an Orioles affiliate. Frederick collected those 11 runs on 15 hits and three walks, and they went 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Ike Irish continued to rake, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, a walk, a stolen base, four runs scored, and two RBI. Him and his 1.055 OPS might be ready for another challenge soon. Not to be outdone, Wehiwa Aloy may have been even better on this day. The shortstop was a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, a homer, a walk, one run scored, and four RBI. Victor Figueroa added a double and two RBI while Colin Yeaman hit his first career home run.
It was a mixed bag on the mound. JT Quinn, the starter, gave up two runs (one earned) while walking five and striking out two in his three innings of work. Eccel Correa earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings in which he struck out four batters. Keagan Gillies recorded four outs without allowing a run, three of those came via strikeout. Chandler Marsh allowed two runs over 1.1 innings. And then Braeden Sloan coughed up a run in the ninth.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Salem Ridge Yaks (Red Sox) 4
Caden Hunter turned in one of the better pitching performances of the day. He tossed four scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and a walk while striking out six. J.D. Hennen was charged with just one earned run, but the Ridge Yaks scored all four runs of the game against him. That is a reflection of the messy game that the Shorebirds played. They made four errors and uncorked three wild pitches. After that, though, it was smooth sailing. Kenny Leiner, Bradley Brehmer, and Riley Cooper combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings and close out the win.
Raylin Ramos led the offensive effort for Delmarva. He went 2-for-4 as the DH, stealing a base and driving in a run in the process. Braylon Whitaker and Félix Amparo also had two hits each. Amparo added a steal, an RBI, and two runs scored. Jose Perez’s double was the team’s only extra-base hit of the day.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: Antonio Senzatela #49 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 24, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Colorado Rockies defeated the New York Mets 4-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The slow decline in the prominence of the starting pitcher in baseball has been in full swing for decades. In the place of hurlers that would routinely throw every pitch of a game when called upon has come an increasingly large carousel of single-inning (or less) relievers.
The prevailing strategy throughout the league can be summed up like this: fewer pitches per pitcher, but more effort per pitch. Whatever you or I think about the aesthetics of this change, it has seen widespread adoption from MLB teams with the understanding that it gives them the best chance to win each game.
At the start of play on Thursday, the Rockies have had 20 relief appearances that lasted more than two innings. Only the Washington Nationals with 18 such appearances come close to matching this total. The Rockies are on pace to feature a reliever going more than two innings in 120 games this year, which would break the previous record of 116 set by the fledgling 1977 Seattle Mariners (one of only four teams with over 100 such relief appearances).
Unsurprisingly, the Nationals (173.1) and Rockies (170.0) also lead the league in total relief innings pitched this season. At first glance, this would seem to indicate that both teams have similarly used bullpens, but there is something that separates the two: While the Nationals are middle-of-the pack in terms of total number of relief appearances, the Rockies are tied for the fewest in the league.
The Rockies are leaning on their bullpen as a group just as much as anyone, but the shape of that usage is different. They have specifically stacked their bullpen with long-relief arms that are pitching more innings per appearance, but making fewer appearances.
One could assume that this was purely a byproduct of Chase Dollander essentially being used as a starting pitcher without getting that designation officially because he was paired with an opener. The Rockies, however, have so far had five different pitchers throw more than two innings in a game that they entered as a reliever:
Chase Dollander (six times)
Antonio Senzatela (four times)
Tanner Gordon (four times)
Zach Agnos (four times)
Valente Bellozo (two times)
That’s just the Rockies major league team. The same strategy is also being employed in Albuquerque.
Isotopes Keegan Thompson, Carson Palmquist (No. 19 PuRP), Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP), Parker Mushinski, Patrick Weigel, and Collin Baumgartner have had two-plus-inning relief appearances more than once so far this season. This means that if/when the major league pitching staff becomes depleted, either from injuries or trades, there is a surplus of longrelief capable arms ready to be called up.
#Rockies President of Baseball Ops Paul DePodesta addresses the bullpen and how it’s been one of his biggest takeaways from his first season working at elevation pic.twitter.com/sAXLeEr1s1
The thinking is pretty obvious: For a team that plays at elevation that lacks a rotation of aces able to go seven every night, the bullpen being composed of one-inning flamethrowers that empty the tank on every pitch leads to extreme second-half swoons. We’ve seen this exact story play out seemingly every year recently where the bullpen will come out the gates looking incredible in April, lead the league in usage, and then fall off a cliff by mid-summer. For evidence one need look no further than Jake Bird’s 2023, Victor Vodnik’s 2024, or Seth Halvorsen’s 2025.
By leaning into arms that pitch less frequently but longer when they do, the hope seems to be that the wear and tear of the same number of innings will be reduced. This could be through either more rest days or simply the idea that pitchers will naturally pace themselves and throw with less max effort if they know they are expected to be out there for longer outings.
Will this work? We won’t know until the grind of the season has had a chance to settle in on this new look bullpen. It is, however, just nice to see the organization genuinely trying new things instead of being content to fail in the same way every year.
The Isotopes keep raking. All of Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP), Blaine Crim, Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), Chad Stevens, and Drew Avans had multiple hits including home runs from Stevens and Avans. Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) only had a single hit… but that was because he worked a walk in all four of his other plate appearances. On the mound no one truly stood out, the closest being Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) who struck out three in two scoreless relief innings, but as a group Erasmo Ramírez, Mason Green, Herrera, and Blas Castaño combined to only allow two runs on six hits.
This was the Dyan Jorge game as he reached base four times and stole two bases on three attempts. Otherwise the offense was relatively quiet other than a double and a stolen base from Roc Riggio (No. 14 PuRP). Blake Adams was the bulk reliever, coming in after the opener Sam Weatherly, and didn’t allow an earned run over 5.1 innings. Ultimately it came down to a sacrifice fly bringing home a zombie runner in the bottom of the tenth inning that sealed the deal for the Rumble Ponies.
A tight affair that ended with a walk off RBI single from Roynier Hernandez in the ninth. To start, Jordy Vargas (No. 21 PuRP) took the ball and set the town with 5.2 innings of one run ball before handing it over to Bryan Perez and Fisher Jameson to finish out the remaining 4.1 innings. Almost everyone in the lineup reached base at least once but it was Jacob Humphrey (two for three with a stolen base) and the aforementioned Roynier Hernandez (three for four with a walk) that were the difference makers.
The Grizzlies had an all around poor showing in this one. On the mound Austin Newton allowed six earned runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings and it only got worse after that when Manuel Olivares walked four and allowed three hits over 1.1 innings and Austin Emener “closed out” the game with another three runs over two innings. In terms of the lineup, while Carlos Renzullo had a nice day at the plate with two hits and a walk, the only runs were accounted for by a two run shot from Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) to go along with his three strike outs.
This is an in-depth piece by Eli Whitney that features a wide ranging interview with Karros. It covers everything from the differences between him and his dad, his love of third base, and his dreams of bringing October baseball to Denver. It’s a fantastic interview that I cannot recommend enough.
Chase Dollander’s hot start to the season is starting to be noticed by media outside of the Rockies direct orbit. Jim Bowden places him amongst young stars like Cam Schlittler and Jacob Misiorowski as one of the burgeoning aces throughout the league. The particular insights aren’t new to folks who frequent Purple Row, but it is nice to see this start to percolate to the general baseball public.
Thomas Harding talks to Juan Mejia about the adjustments he’s making that are leading to his success early in the season. It’s interesting to see the coaching staff be able to help him through the growing pains of competing at the major league level, especially considering Mejia is one of the few true max-effort short relief options in the Rockies current bullpen.
PITTSBURGH, PA - 2003: Edgar Renteria of the St. Louis Cardinals holds his bat after batting against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a Major League Baseball game at PNC Park in 2003 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cardinals had found their replacement for Ozzie Smith, but you don’t actually want to be the guy who replaces the legend. You want to be the guy after that. Poor Royce Clayton, who had to follow his childhood idol, and was perfectly cromulent, but he wasn’t Ozzie Smith. Targeted for free agency and with the Cardinals looking for a new direction, they traded Clayton (along with Todd Stottlemyre) at the deadline in 1998. It was a good trade. They received a couple years of Fernando Tatis senior, later traded for a package that included Steve Kline, and Darren Oliver, who had his best season as a starter in 1999.
But this was not a Brendan Donovan got traded and JJ Wetherholt was ready to step in situation. They Cardinals did not have an in-house replacement for Clayton. Their first choice was Barry Larkin, who was apparently unhappy, because the Reds had just traded Bret Boone, and Larkin was promised the Reds would build around him and Larkin. I think it had less to do with Boone, who honestly wasn’t that good at the time, and more as Larkin puts it: “I feel as if I’m being held hostage by a team with no immediate plans to be competitive.”
Larkin had a no-trade clause, but was willing to be traded to five teams, which included the Cardinals. That’s interesting because the Cardinals did not have a particularly good 90s and didn’t have a good 1999 season either, although Larkin would have helped. But I’ll give some credit to Jim Bowden, who didn’t seem to usually make smart moves. He held out for JD Drew and Rick Ankiel. Larkin had one great year and one good year left, so that would have been a bad trade by the Cardinals. Walt Jocketty thought so too.
So they pivoted. And this is really why I’m writing the article. Because there are a few confusing aspects of the Edgar Renteria trade that followed. It’s the kind of trade that reveals how different front offices operated as it pertained to value than today’s game. The structure of that trade would not get made today. Decisions made prior to that trade would not get made today either.
And it starts with Braden Looper. Looper was the 3rd overall pick in the 1996 MLB Draft out of Wichita State University. Highest draft pick the Cardinals have ever had. And they drafted him that high knowing, essentially, that he would be a reliever. I mean they envisioned a closer, but still. What is the absolute highest round a team will draft someone knowing they will be a reliever now? We all knew the Cardinals would convert Tanner Franklin to starting specifically because of how high he was drafted and he was drafted 72nd. Looper was the THIRD OVERALL PICK.
He did start games at first, but barely. He signed late in the 1996 season, so he didn’t pitch in his draft year. This wasn’t for modern reasons like saving his arm, the draft pick signing deadline was VERY late in the season and a lot of the high picks used all of that time to come to an agreement. He started 12 games at High A in 1997, wasn’t particularly impressive, and then they converted him to reliever. After 12 starts. They promoted him to AA and also moved him to the bullpen at the same time. He honestly still wasn’t that good.
So of course, he made the team out of spring training in 1998. They gave him all of 4 games before they sent him to Memphis. All of this is impossible to wrap my head around. They used a high draft pick and immediately converted him to relief. And with not very good minor league stats and not even at AAA, he made the majors, and they were so confident in this decision that he got demoted after 4 games. He actually struck out 25% of the batters he faced, which is like 30% nowadays, but gave up 4 runs (2 were not earned). He spent the rest of the year in Memphis.
He’s not the only weird part of that trade. Looper wasn’t actually the highest rated prospect in the trade. Which doesn’t sound that weird when I describe Looper the player, but he was the 23rd best prospect in Baseball America. There was no doubt he was a reliever when they ranked him. It is not strange that there was a more valuable prospect than him, but somehow the player ranked above him was weirder.
Pablo Ozuna was the #8 prospect in baseball when this trade was made according to Baseball America. Walt Jocketty got extremely lucky on this one. The Cardinals had signed Ozuna at 16-years-old in 1996 out of the Dominican Republic and if you go to his stats page, you will notice he was not actually 16 in 1996. He could have graduated college in 1996. He was actually 22-years-old.
This was not known at the time of the trade. As far as anybody knew, Ozuna was about to be 19 in 1999. He had just batted .357 in Low A and had stolen 62 bases. In reality, he was 23-years-old and also he got caught stealing 26 times. Which is a horrible success rate. And I guess teams didn’t learn what a good success rate was, because he was allowed to be a bad base stealer for his whole career.
So we have the #8 prospect in baseball and the #23 prospect in baseball, but it was a magic act. It was a soon-to-be 24-year-old who hadn’t played above A ball and a relief pitcher. There was a third player involved, but he had to be considered a throw-in. I can’t imagine this guy had real value then. Armando Almanza was a soon-to-be 26-year-old left-handed relief pitcher with swing-and-miss stuff but spotty control who hadn’t actually pitched in the majors yet.
For two relief pitchers, one of whom is barely a prospect, and a super old for his level infielder who is bad at stealing bases, the Cardinals received four years of 22-year-old shortstop who had 3.5 fWAR as a 19-year-old and then kind of underwhelmed in his next two seasons. You could not ask for a better trade or a better acquisition for the future.
Baseball Prospectus, weirdly obsessed with him maybe being a year younger than he said (it’s mentioned in SIX of their yearly profiles), said this about Renteria: “Good comparisons would be Barry Larkin or Alan Trammell: the power should keep getting better; he’ll take a few more walks and have a shot at an MVP award someday. While he isn’t an ideal leadoff man, the Cardinals don’t have many alternatives.”
Didn’t quite work out that way, although he did have a couple All-Star caliber seasons. After 1999, the Cardinals signed him to a four-year extension with two club options. They picked up his 2004 option, but confusingly apparently the 2005 option was voided because they waited too long to pick up the 2004 option. If anybody has any information on that, I would love to know. I have not heard that one in baseball before. David Eckstein ended up being better than Renteria in 2005, so it worked out, but I definitely would have done one more year with Renteria. They tried to sign him in free agency too, so this wasn’t a no interest situation.
Anyway, this is a perfect Walt Jocketty trade and also… a very lucky Walt Jocketty trade. I really doubt he knew Pablo Ozuna was older than he said. Ozuna’s real age was revealed in 2002 thanks to the September 11th attacks, when foreign-born players had to show their birth certificate to apply for a work visa. Nearly 300 players saw their birthdays change from this. Overnight Ozuna was four years older and a utility player, not a highly touted prospect. And he also did draft Looper 3rd overall, so it’s not like he didn’t agree with the consensus that relievers could be very valuable.
But I will also say for a guy who was known for trading for veterans, our past looks a lot different if he decides to trade for Barry Larkin. Renteria was, mostly, not as good as you remember, because his bat wasn’t very good in his Cardinals tenure – the run environment then was crazy in the steroid era – however he did peak more in line with when the Cardinals were genuine title contenders. Larkin had already peaked, although he did have a peak season left in 1999, but that wouldn’t have made the Cardinals a playoff team.
More importantly, they held onto JD Drew who later net the Cardinals Adam Wainwright. Imagine that alternate history where the Cardinals get Larkin! He would have pivoted, but it is very difficult to imagine the last 25 years going as well as they did if they made that Larkin trade.
With Sonny Gray returning to the rotation last night and Ranger Suarez (hopefully?) avoiding a trip to the IL, it’s time to stop and reassess what’s the best version of the Red Sox rotation going forward.
Garrett Crochet last pitched on April 25th and would be eligible to come off the IL as soon as next Tuesday (although there are reports that he won’t be ready that quickly). Regardless of the exact date, the Red Sox are on track to get Crochet, Suarez, and Gray back as the top three guys in the rotation by the second half of the month, which means we might have a good debate on who should be the No. 4 and No. 5 guys soon.
Is it just Payton Tolle and Connelly Early and that’s the end of the conversation? Does Bello get more shots as the bulk guy? Does Jake Bennett impress with his opportunity? The next handful of days could make a huge difference for everybody.
Talk about this and whatever else you’d like in this thread here, and as always, be good to one another!
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 3: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“I’m just not getting the calls,” Mitchell said afterward. “I don’t know why. I don’t flop, maybe that’s why. … It’s frustrating a little bit because I’m such a dynamic driver.”
Mitchell is a dynamic driver, or at least, he has been. For various reasons, he hasn’t been able to showcase that this postseason.
Through eight playoff games, Mitchell is taking just 22% of his shots in the restricted area (40th percentile). For comparison, he attempted 24% of his shots there in the regular season (54th percentile) and 30% there last postseason (74th percentile).
That’s a dramatic drop, and one we saw come into play in Game 1 against Detroit.
Nine of Mitchell’s 19 shots came in the paint, but only one was in the restricted area.
Here’s a look at eight of his nine shot attempts in the paint (his field goal three minutes into the game isn’t available on nba.com). In six of the eight attempts below, you’ll notice that he either shies away from contact or quickly gets the shot up before contact can be made with defender. That’s why most of these come in the five to 10-foot range, and not at the rim itself.
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You can get to the line without getting to the rim. James Harden did an excellent job of this in Game 1 as he had nine free-throw attempts. But you still have to be intentional about how you attack for that to happen. Harden, even though he’s lost a step, isn’t afraid to initiate contact and be the aggressor. That, more than anything, is why he’s consistently gotten to the line throughout his career.
Not getting to the rim or basket is also reflective of the Cavs’ lack of spacing overall. Cleveland’s defense needs the trio of Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen (or at least Wade and Allen) to be passable. Having two or three players that teams are okay with ignoring on the perimeter clogs driving lanes and leads to turnover issues.
At the same time, there’s no getting around that in matchups against wing-heavy teams. They need their oversized frontcourt out there to be competitive. The Cavs are just gambling that their star backcourt can figure things out enough offensively. So far, they haven’t been able to, at least not consistently.
This has all resulted in what has been a disappointing postseason run for Mitchell.
The scoring hasn’t been there in either volume or efficiency. He currently has his second-lowest points per game in his playoff career (23.1) on his second-lowest efficiency since coming to Cleveland (49.5 effective field-goal percentage).
That has laid bare some of the other flaws in his game. If Mitchell isn’t scoring, his lack of ability as a rebounder, defender, or playmaker means he’s simply not positively impacting winning. As a result, the Cavs have been -3.2 points per 100 possessions better in the playoffs when he’s off the court compared to when he’s on. That’s the complete opposite of what we’ve seen from Mitchell since his time in Cleveland.
There are many reasons why the Cavs went seven games against a less talented Toronto Raptors team and dropped Game 1 against Detroit. However, none more than the fact that Mitchell can’t get to the basket and, by extension, the line like we’ve come to expect. If he’s not doing that, the scoring isn’t going to be at the volume or efficiency this team needs, even if these issues aren’t entirely his fault.
If Mitchell or the team can’t figure out how to get him easy looks inside, the offseason will be here far too early for the Cavs. This team can’t survive Mitchell not playing as an All-NBA level scorer.
Former Australia batter has worked at Durham since 2018
New selector expected to have final say on squads
Marcus North, the former Australia middle order batter, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the new England men’s selector, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.
The 46-year-old has worked as director of cricket at Durham since 2018 and was among those interviewed for the equivalent role with England four years ago – only to miss out to Rob Key in the final stages of the process.
The answer, if the headline and picture haven’t given the game away, is a certain Ollie Robinson. Yep, the same seamer who has been overlooked by England since February 2024 on account of not being fit enough for the demands of the job.
Who will win Guardians vs Royals today: Royals moneyline (-135)
Seth Lugo has been one of the best starters in the American League this season.
He’s recorded five quality starts in seven outings with a 2.68 ERA and a 99th-percentile breaking ball that the Cleveland Guardians' below-average offense is ill-equipped to handle.
Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Kansas City Royals with a .387 xwOBA and 50.4% hard-hit rate, while Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi has allowed hard contact all season, resulting in a 6.56 ERA.
With the pitching advantage firmly in Kansas City's favor, the Royals are worth backing on the moneyline and run line.
Guardians vs Royals Over/Under pick: Under 9 (+102)
The Guardians and Royals rank 21st and 22nd in wRC+, respectively, and Cleveland's lineup has been even worse against right-handed pitching, posting a 91 wRC+ on the season.
Neither offense has shown the ability to generate consistent run support, with both clubs sitting below the league average in OBP, SLG, and ISO.
These two offenses have combined to go Under in seven of their last 10 head-to-head matchups, and a total of nine runs is simply too generous for two of the more anemic lineups in the American League.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 5-10, -4.05 units
Over/Under bets: 6-7, -2.30 units
Guardians vs Royals odds
Moneyline: Guardians +127 | Royals -133
Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-156) | Royals -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+104) | Under 9.5 (-108)
Guardians vs Royals trend
The Kansas City Royals have hit the Game Total Under in 24 of their last 40 games (+6.65 Units / 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Royals.
How to watch Guardians vs Royals and game info
Location
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
Guardians.TV, Royals.TV
Guardians starting pitcher
Slade Cecconi (1-4, 6.56 ERA)
Royals starting pitcher
Seth Lugo (1-1, 2.68 ERA)
Guardians vs Royals latest injuries
Guardians vs Royals weather
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After what seemed like a very long wait for everyone in town, well, in both towns, the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres finally kicked off in the state of New York on Wednesday night. As expected, there was plenty of speed, plenty of skills, and plenty of attacking play.
Martin St-Louis wasted no time in showing that he wanted to get his top line back together, having Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky take the series’ opening faceoff. It didn’t exactly start the way the coach would have hoped, but throughout the first period, it was easy to see that the line felt more at ease than it did against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Canadiens’ sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson didn’t have the kind of start he would have liked to this series. After just 30 seconds of play, he found himself heading to the penalty box after he was unable to spot a puck that had taken a weird bounce and ended up having to trip Zach Benson.
Four minutes later, he lost his footing at the red line, allowing the same Benson to take off with the puck and create a three-on-one, which led to the first goal of the series. The winger fed Josh Doan on the doorstep of Jakub Dobes’ net, and it was an easy tap-in.
A little over nine minutes later, Hutson had a front row view of the Sabres’ second goal scored on the power play as he was part of the penalty killing unit that was beaten.
In the second period, as the Canadiens were trapped in their own zone, Hutson was caught on the ice for two consecutive shifts of over two minutes. As energetic as he is, even he has his limits, and he was lucky not to be called for holding at the end of his second long shift, as he was holding on to his man for dear life.
Still, Hutson finished the game with five shots on goal, more than anyone else on the team, and three blocked shots.
Can’t Forget About The Backcheck
St-Louis likes his team to play hard on the forecheck, but with an opponent as speedy as the Sabres are, you have to be careful. Get caught with too many players too deep, and they will make you pay. Pinch at the wrong time? They will make you pay as well.
Buffalo goes from defence to attack in a matter of seconds, and they won’t wait for you. St-Louis has often spoken about the need to play the game that’s in front of you, and that’s going to be even more important in this series. Unnecessary risks should be avoided when playing against a side that feeds on odd-man rush opportunities.
Dach Attack
With the Canadiens down 4-1 late in the second frame, Kirby Down came up clutch to give the Canadiens a bit of hope after Zach Bolduc put him through on a Tage Thompson turnover. He took the first shot, which Alex Lyon stopped, but, as he fell on the ice, Dach took his own rebound and backhanded it past the Sabres' goalie.
At a time when the Canadiens were struggling to create much of anything, the big forward really came through to allow the Habs to go back to the dressing room with a bit of optimism.
It set up Montreal for a good third period, which they dominated in shots 11-1, but they were unable to solve Lyon. The Sabres took a 2-1 series lead despite being outshot 28-16. After their Game 7 win over Tampa, though, the Canadiens can hardly complain about that. The two teams will be back at it on Friday at 7:00 PM for Game 2.
Yeah, the Philadelphia Flyers may still be alive and well in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the NHL draft is still important for them taking a rebuilder and making it a well-oiled machine in the long run.
When we talk about the Flyers, the center position is the one that comes up most often, due to the team's lack of overall talent at the position.
With Jett Luchanko, Jack Berglund, Heikki Ruohonen, Jack Nesbitt, and Cole Knuble in the fold, depth isn't an issue. But it's unclear if any of those names will develop into a top-six pivot that can match or exceed the impact and offensive production of Trevor Zegras.
One position in the Flyers organization that lacks both depth and talent, though, is left defense.
The Flyers do currently boast a capable NHL top-four with Travis Sanheim and Cam York leading the way, but they don't have a premium offensive defenseman like many of the Stanley Cup contenders do.
York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae were all drafted to be those types of players, but have settled in at the NHL level as analytics darlings who are positives in transition.
And behind York and Andrae on the left, the Flyers don't have much youth coming their way.
Hunter McDonald is a pending restricted free agent, and Ty Murchison may be capable of becoming a bottom-pair guy to replace the aging Nick Seeler. These prospects are solid for their playstyles, but not inspiring or exciting.
Fortunately, we are here to solve that with our first Flyers mock draft, getting ahead of the offseason early, as we are used to this time of year.
At the time of this writing, Tankathon has the Flyers drafting defenseman Xavier Villeneuve with the 21st overall pick; I concur with this selection.
With the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...
Xavier Villeneuve, left-shot defenseman, 5-foot-11, 157 pounds, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
The Flyers have missed out on undersized dynamo defenders before. Everyone passed on Lane Hutson in 2022, and the Flyers went with Luchanko ahead of Zeev Buium in 2024.
Now that they won't be in a position to select any of the top centers (or forwards in general), they should feel comfortable again going with the best talent available.
Villeneuve, 18, has been regarded as a top-10 talent, but his size, of course, is a major detractor. It also doesn't help that the Canadian blueliner was limited to just 37 QMJHL games this season, missing nearly three months due to injury.
At the end of the day, though, Villeneuve has 18 goals and 100 points in his last 98 regular season games, and he added 14 points in 17 playoff games for the Armada upon his return.
The Flyers should already be familiar with this player, given that 2024 second-round pick Spencer Gill played with Villeneuve this season, although he dealt with a significant injury of his own.
Gill, 19, is a 6-foot-4 right-shot who added 10 points in 17 playoff contests, and I think these two could be an interesting pairing down the road.
Villeneuve is a bit on the older side for this class, too, as he turns 19 in September, so it won't be long before he's in the pro ranks with Gill.
And if the Flyers can land him in the 20s this summer? They are going to be a scary team to play against in the coming years in many different ways.
May 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Game 1 went down to the wire, the Spurs lost on a missed Champagnie buzzer beater. Afterwards, there was no heads hung, no self deprication, just an urgency to watch film and make the necessary adjustments before heading into Game 2.
Matthew Tynan of Corporate Knowledge reported that Spurs legend Gregg Popovich sat in on the film sessions. Victor Wembanyama referenced Pop in his post game presser, mentioning “you’re never as good as you think when you win and you’re never as bad as you think when you lose.”
Whatever was deciphered from the analysis of Game 1, the Spurs know that had to come out swinging. And that’s exactly what they did.
The Spurs defense stiffled the Timberwolves, limiting them to 17 first quarter points and just 35 at the half, giving the Silver & Black a 24 point advantage.
Two minutes into the second half, the Spurs expanded their lead to 29 points. By then, Wembanyama, Castle, and Fox each had scored 14 points. The balanced distribution shaped the team’s attack as they continued to dominate Minnesota.
Anthony Edwards, coming off the bench for the second game in a row, was limited to 12 points in his twenty-four minutes.
Julian Champagnie, who went scoreless in the first half, hit four three-pointers in the third quarter as the Spurs shut down Minnesota.
Early in the fourth quarter the Spurs lead grew to 40 and both teams emptied their benches. Jordan McLaughlin and Kelly Olynyk played the final 10 minutes of regulation. Lindy Waters III joined them with 8:23 left in the game. Even Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee got in on the action relieving Carter Bryant anfd Harrison Barnes for the final 3:12.
Afterwards, head coach Mitch Johnson praised the team’s defensive “consistency, physicality, and contact” adding that the team was ready for tonight’s game despite losing home court advantage.
The team now heads to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday night. They will need to carry the win without resting on their laurels. As visitors, they’ll have an arena against them. Although they faced the Trail Blazers in Portland, the Minnesota crowd will be even more vocal and uninviting. They now need to prepare for the challenge ahead.
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Miami Heat during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Anyone claiming to know what Bilal Coulibaly will be is either lying or delusional. Through three NBA seasons, one number stands out: 68. That’s how many games he’s missed — 27.6% of Wizards games since they traded up to draft him seventh overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
A few other numbers jump off the screen — 49.7% on two-point field goal attempts, 31.3% on threes, and 73.4% from the free throw line. All solidly below average.
But that’s topline stuff and not necessarily the whole story. That he’s missed 68 games is fact. How many he would have missed if the team hadn’t been trying to lose is an open question. My guess is it would have been a lot less, but it’s unprovable.
Bilal Coulibaly might be great. He might also be no more than a defensive specialist. He has much to prove next season. | Getty Images
During his short career, Coulibaly has gained a reputation as a good defender, though it’s worth mention the team has been no better at slowing opposing offenses when he’s been on the floor. The “young players sometimes take some time” for their on/off stats to start matching up with their box score numbers factor may apply, as does the context that he’s had to share the floor with truly horrendous defensive teammates. That said, he made some strides towards being more disruptive this season — see upticks in his per possession steals and blocks. Perhaps positive signals for the future.
To call his offensive game a “project” would be an insult to projects. He’s shot poorly, struggled to finish in traffic, and been hampered by iffy ball handling skills. And, he also improved pretty significantly this season.
For example, over his first 20 games this season, Coulibaly’s offensive rating (points produced per 100 individual possessions) was 99. League average this season was above 115. Over his final 36 games played, his offensive rating was 111. Still a bit below average but also significant improvement.
The eye test was similarly inconclusive. I noted across multiple games later in the season that Coulibaly was more assertive offensively, that he was driving more frequently, and that opponents were having difficulty staying in front of him when decided to attack. He also had more than a few…interesting…attempts to score inside. Sometimes he used his vertical leap and long arms to go over defenders, others he did that weird slow-down Euro-step thing and blew the shot, and still others he threw up wild shots that had no chance (a few of which actually dropped).
Over his final 17 games, he shot 38.1% from three-point range, which might mean something. It was only 76 total attempts though, so there’s nothing conclusive. It might mean his shooting truly improved. It might also mean he was on something of a heater.
Coulibaly’s overall trend is clear from the PPA Performance EKG below. Like teammate Kyshawn George, he started great and cratered. But then Coulibaly steadily improved the rest of the way. Over his first 20 games, Coulibaly’s PPA was 72 (in PPA, average is 100 and higher is better). Over his last 20: 125.
Now, 125 isn’t great. It’s solidly above average, though. He also had multiple above-average 10-game stints, including two with a PPA of 150 or better. A significant factor in both stretches were outlandishly good games (above 400 PPA scores), so apply the appropriate measure of salt.
On the other hand, Coulibaly’s rolling season PPA hit a replacement level 47 (close enough — replacement level in PPA is 45) after his 13th game. He notched a 118 the rest of the way. Again, not great but not bad either.
If it feels like I’m veering from one extreme to the other here, it’s because I am. And that’s because it’s what the data is saying. In my Consistency Index, Coulibaly scored an astronomical 123 this season. A lower score means more consistency.
His great and awful games came in near equal measure. He had 11 200+ PPA games (20%) and 10 that scored in the negative. He had 19 games with a 150 or better, and 15 with a 45 or lower.
I was very much in favor of drafting Coulibaly before the Wizards selected him. I liked the move to get him on draft day. Zach Lowe’s Nerf gun to my head, I’d guess he’s going to be pretty good. But it’s mostly a guess and a hunch. His overall production has improved each season…and there’s enough really bad games to give me doubts.
He’s eligible for an extension this summer, which the Wizards would be certifiably nuts to give him, unless it’s a deal like the one Deni Avdija signed. Which Coulibaly would be certifiably nuts to sign. A big year next season could be lucrative for him.
At minimum, I think Coulibaly can be a defensive specialist. If the shooting comes around, he could be a highly valuable three-and-D type. If he develops an overall offensive package, he could be a star. It’s fascinating how little is sure with him after three NBA seasons.
After exceeding expectations during the regular season, the Boston Celtics ultimately fell short, underperforming in a seven-game series loss to the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.
The disappointing end to the season brings renewed scrutiny to the roster, but it also shifts attention to the organization’s financial positioning. Last offseason’s tax-saving moves now provide the Celtics with added flexibility as they approach a consequential summer.
The Celtics’ decision to trade Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis started a wave of deals driven by cutting costs. Holiday was on a contract that carried a 2025–26 cap hit of about $32.4 million, while Porzingis was set to earn just over $30 million in the final year of his deal. Boston was able to execute additional roster moves both in the offseason and ahead of the trade deadline, ultimately maneuvering itself below the luxury tax line and out of both apron thresholds.
Those moves have given Boston multiple avenues to pursue free agents and execute trades with significantly fewer restrictions. By dropping below the first apron, the Celtics gained access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, valued at just over $15 million and usable either on a single player or divided among multiple signings, an advantage unavailable to teams operating above the apron thresholds, where exceptions are far more limited. In addition, Boston still retains several trade exceptions (TPEs), further enhancing its ability to absorb salary in future deals without matching outgoing contracts. The chart below illustrates this newfound roster-building flexibility in greater detail.
With all that being said, one area where many fans believe improvement is still needed is at the center position.
Neemias Queta enjoyed a breakthrough regular season in his first year as a full-time starter, emerging as a steady interior presence and finishing fourth in the NBA’s Most Improved Player voting. However, once the playoffs arrived, we saw him really struggle to stay on the court. He did close the season out on a good note with a monster Game 7.
Luka Garza effectively showed everyone that he can be a serviceable big in this league after not playing much at all with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the playoffs though, his impact wasn’t the same and only averaged eight minutes per night.
Nikola Vucevic never quite got in a sustained groove in green and while he had some moments vs Philly, not playing a single second in Game 7 may impact his free agency decision.
With the possibility of needing additional depth in the frontcourt, here are three bigs the Celtics could target who should realistically fall within their range of acquisition.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 5: Day'ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets leaves the game in the fourth quarter during the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on March 5, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Peter Joneleit/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sharpe is a physical, high-motor 24-year-old center who brings value primarily through rebounding, interior efficiency, and effort-based play. Standing around 6’9″ with a strong, wide frame, he operates as a traditional big who does most of his work in the paint. Offensively, he’s good around the rim, scoring mainly on putbacks, dump-offs, and short-roll opportunities rather than self-created looks.
His most defining skill is his elite offensive rebounding, where his instincts, positioning, and persistence consistently generate second-chance opportunities. Sharpe rebounded 15.8% of his teammates misses putting him in the 92nd percentile. He also shows underrated passing ability for a center, making quick, unselfish decisions out of the short roll or after securing rebounds, which helps keep the offense flowing. His 2.3 rim assists and 10.2 potential assists per 100 possessions rank in the 90th percentile.
Sharpe may also have a case for possessing some of the best hands among centers when it comes to disrupting passing lanes, based on his production last season. He recorded 6.5 deflections per 100 possessions ranking in the 100th percentile for his position, while his 2.9 steals per 100 possessions placed him in the 99th percentile, underscoring his unusual activity and instincts on the defensive end for a player of his size.
Day’Ron Sharpe is currently on a $6.2 million team option that the Brooklyn Nets are widely expected to exercise, meaning Boston would likely need to part with assets to acquire him. Given that prior interest has already been established, it would not be surprising to see Brad Stevens revisit those discussions and explore a potential deal.
Robert Williams
7pts | 7rebs | 1.5blks | 71/39/60 | 59 games
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 14: Robert Williams III #35 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Suns 114-110. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Old friend Robert Williams just produced his healthiest and best season since being traded from the Celtics.
Rob is still an elite defensive center whose impact is defined by his rim protection, vertical athleticism, and instinctive play on the back line. At around 6’9″ with a long wingspan and exceptional explosiveness, he plays much bigger than his height, functioning as a true defensive anchor when healthy. Williams is one of the league’s premier shot blockers, combining timing, anticipation, and leaping ability to alter or erase shots both at the rim and as a help defender. His defensive versatility stands out as well. At his peak, he has shown the ability to play a roaming “free safety” role, reading the floor, jumping passing lanes, and covering teammates while still recovering to protect the rim.
This season Rob averaged 4.1 blocks per 100 possessions, which ranked in the 98th percentile. Even when he’s not just blocking shots, he’s defending the rim well as opponents shot 14% worse at the rim when he defended it (92nd percentile).
Offensively, Williams operates almost entirely within the flow of the game, thriving as a low-usage, high-efficiency finisher. He scores primarily on lobs, putbacks, and dump-off passes, using his vertical spacing to pressure defenses without needing touches called for him. There have been many flashes this year of his athleticism looking close to the 2022 version of him. He is also a very underrated passer for a center, particularly from the high post or on quick reads out of short rolls, which helps facilitate ball movement. Rob is also starting to stretch out his shooting range, but I don’t think that’ll be a big factor in his impact.
The primary concern with Robert Williams III has long been, and likely will remain, his health. However, he is coming off a strong season and reinforced his value with an impressive playoff showing against the San Antonio Spurs, where he averaged 10 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. That performance has almost certainly elevated his market as he enters unrestricted free agency.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 07: Jock Landale #31 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers during a game at State Farm Arena on March 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jock Landale, 30, is known for his physical play, high motor, and fundamentally sound offensive game. Standing around 6’11” he primarily plays as a center, using his size and strength to battle in the paint while also showing enough mobility to operate effectively in modern, up-tempo systems.
Offensively, Landale offers the most versatility of the three options listed. He possesses soft touch in the paint, allowing him to score efficiently with a variety of finishes, including hooks and floaters. That same touch has gradually extended beyond the interior as his career has progressed, developing into a credible perimeter threat. This past season with the Atlanta Hawks, he averaged a career-high 2.8 three-point attempts per game while converting an impressive 38.3 percent, further underscoring his offensive range.
As with the other two bigs mentioned, Landale is also an underrated passer at the five. That’s no coincidence as recent Boston Celtics frontcourt players have consistently shown an ability to facilitate at some level. In Boston’s system, it’s essential that the center can make quick, accurate reads to capitalize on the frequent two-on-one and three-on-two advantages the team creates.
While he has the most offensive game out of the three, Landale offers the least defensively. Landale is a fundamentally sound but physically limited defender whose effectiveness comes more from positioning, effort, and awareness than from elite tools. He does have solid strength though and can hold his ground reasonably well against traditional post-up bigs and does a respectable job of contesting without fouling. He plays with good discipline, understands team defensive concepts, and is generally in the right place, which allows him to function within a structured system. He’s not going to block a ton of shots and doesn’t provide a ton of versatility from what I’ve seen, but he could be a nice change of pace offensive center that can hopefully knock down some shots.
Landale will enter unrestricted free agency this summer after by far his most productive season in the league. I do believe he garners interest from some teams, but the price shouldn’t be out of Boston’s range.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 18: Karlo Matkovic #17 of the New Orleans Pelicans walks backcourt during the first half of a game Los Angeles Clippers at Smoothie King Center on March 18, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
25-year-old Croatian big Karlo Matkovic has been someone I’ve looked at for the Celtics for some time now. Matković is a mobile, athletic big who offers an intriguing blend of energy, defensive activity, and developing offensive skill. Standing around 6’10” with good length and fluid movement, he runs the floor well and plays with a high motor, making him effective in transition and as a rim runner. Offensively, most of his work is done around the basket shooting 81.7% in the restricted area, but he has shown the ability to shoot from the outside. Matkovic shot 42% from deep this season with New Orleans only 1.5 attempts.
Defensively, he stands out more using his mobility and timing to contest shots, protect the rim, and switch onto the perimeter in short bursts. While still raw in terms of strength and overall polish, Matkovic’s athleticism and defensive versatility give him upside as a modern rotation big who can impact the game without needing the ball.
The Pelicans have a pending decision to make on Matkovic with his team’s option looming, but there is a slight chance they don’t pick him up as they look to develop Derik Quenn and Yves Missi who are younger options.
COVERS INTEL: 
