Six years ago, Jim Benning and the Vancouver Canucks used the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft to select Vasily Podkolzin. The Russian winger was playing for Neva St. Petersburg and was the second-ranked International Skater heading into the draft. While hindsight is 20/20, even at the time, there were debates about whether the Canucks selected the right prospect.
Fast forward to today, and the decision to draft Podkolzin remains a haunting moment for the organization. Not only has Podkolzin been traded, but two of the players who were drafted in close proximity to him are thriving in the NHL. Those players are Matthew Boldy and Cole Caufield, who both have hit the 85-point mark this season.
Starting with Boldy, he is the type of winger that Vancouver hoped Podkolzin would develop into. Listed at 6'2", 201 lbs, the 25-year-old has become a force in the offensive zone and this season, has added penalty killing to his tool kit. Drafted two spots behind Podkolzin, Boldy ranks third in goals and assists as well as second in the draft class for points.
As for Caufield, he has developed into one of the best scoring wingers in the NHL. Listed at 5'8", 175 lbs, the 25-year-old is enjoying his first 50-goal campaign and recently surpassed the 300-point mark for his career. Drafted five spots after Podkolzin, Caufield is a great example of why teams should not overlook smaller players, as he ranks first in goals and third in points among 2019 draft picks.
Boldy and Caufield are just two examples in a long list of draft misses for the Canucks from the last decade. While it is not a guarantee that these two players would have vaulted Vancouver into contender status, it is hard to imagine the Canucks being in a similar position as they are now if either were currently on the active roster. With potentially five picks in the top 100 of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Vancouver has the chance to select prospects who will one day hopefully impact the Canucks, just like Boldy and Caufield have for the Minnesota Wild and Montréal Canadiens.
Apr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (13) celebrates after scoring his fiftieth goal of the season during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 26: Manager Oliver Marmol #37 of the St. Louis Cardinals chats with St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on March 26, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox doubled their win total in 2026 by taking two-out-of-three against the Milwaukee Brewers and, realistically, came within a play or two Monday night from sweeping one of the best teams in the National League. They split the first homestand of the year 3-3 and head off to the midwest for a six-game road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins.
Connelly Early won a rotation spot out of Spring Training and has shown no indication that the Red Sox were asking too much for a young pitcher who has six major league starts to his name. He’s lasted 5.1 and 4. 0 innings which hasn’t been the greatest for the bullpen so far, but is mostly what you’d expect from him at this point. He has 10 strikeouts against 4 walks, 8 hits, and 3 runs in his 9.1 innings this season. His cup of coffee in 2025 certainly helped prepare Early to make the rotation this season. And the pitcher he’s facing is a big part of that. Yes, Dustin May, the reinforcement who wasn’t, is a Cardinal. In his two starts May has given up 6 runs in 4.0 innings and 7 runs in 3.1. He’s struck out 7, walked 3, and given up a whopping 17 hits.
Saturday is a national Game of the Week on FOX and features Ranger Suárez making his third start for Boston. The first two have been mostly forgettable. At 4.1 and 4.0 innings and 4 runs allowed in each, he hasn’t shown the talent he did in Philadelphia. Granted the WBC altered his spring and seems to have slowed down his progress so hopefully things will start clicking into place. Kyle Leahy pitched mostly out of the ‘pen before this season with 62 appearances in 2025 and just a single start. In two starts this year he’s totaled 10.0 innings, 6 runs allowed, 5 Ks and 5 BBs. Like May, he’s right-handed, which for the lefty-heavy Sox is always nice to see. Let those bats heat up!
Sunday afternoon the Red Sox send the frustrating Brayan Bello to the mound. Bello needed to pitch more than 3.1 innings in his last appearance. He never quite got into any type of groove and forced Alex Cora to run out a sub-optimal bullpen. Combined with a shaky defense and Boston has lost both of his starts. There were more strikeouts, 5, than you’d expect from Bello but also 4 walks. In, again, just 3.1 innings. Not even a quality start, but simply 5 innings, hopefully no more 2 runs. He figured it out last year in June, maybe he can get into gear a little earlier. Andre Pallante made 31 starts last season but prior to that split his time with the bullpen, peaking at 62 relief appearances back in 2023. In 2025 he posted a 5.31 ERA/4.68 FIP. This season he’s off to a 1.80 ERA but 4.29 FIP start. His two starts this year have gone OK at 5.0 innings apiece with 0 and 2 runs. However, a 5:7 K:BB ratio is something the Sox can exploit with patience. Even Rafaela took a walk last week. Starting, relieving, Pallante has never posted a K:BB greater than 1.96. And in his career he has allowed over a hit per inning.
Despite being in a rebuild – and also the season being so young – the Cardinals have had one of the most successful offenses in 2026. Their 59 runs scored ties them with the Miami Marlins for 6th in the majors. The Red Sox have scored just 44, 7th from the bottom. That’s largely small sample size – the Reds are last in MLB with 38 runs scored and have an 8-5 record. Jordan Walker has 5 home runs on the year with a big start to his age-24 season but that’s their big offensive star so far. Alec Burelson has 10 walks, Ivan Gerrera 12. JJ Wetherholt has 3 stolen bases.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, April 10: Connelly Early (2.89 ERA / 2.97 FIP) vs. Dustin May (15.95 ERA / 6.46 FIP)
Saturday, April 11: Ranger Suárez (8.64 ERA / 6.19 FIP) vs. Kyle Leahy (3.27 ERA / 2.73 FIP)
Sunday, April 12: Brayan Bello (9.00 ERA / 5.69 FIP) vs. Andre Pallante (1.80 ERA / 4.29 FIP)
On the penultimate night of the 2025-26 NBA season, every team is in action, and the Boston Celtics will look to secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans.
Boston’s elite defense should slow down a shorthanded New Orleans offense, and my Pelicans vs. Celtics predictions call for a low-scoring affair at TD Garden.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference tilt on Friday, April 10.
Pelicans vs Celtics prediction
Pelicans vs Celtics best bet: Under 224 (-110)
With just two games remaining in the season, the Boston Celtics’ magic number to clinch the No. 2 seed is 1.
The C’s can fall to the No. 3 seed if they lose out and the New York Knicks win out, making tonight’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans meaningful.
I expect Boston’s defense to be engaged and put the clamps on a shorthanded Pelicans squad.
The Pels’ offense hasn’t lit the world on fire this season. The team ranks 17th overall in points per game (115.4) and 23rd on the road (112.4).
New Orleans ranks 20th in offensive rating overall (113.2) and 111.9 on the road.
New Orleans has hit the Under in 41 of 80 games.
Conversely, Boston sports one of the best defenses in the Association. The Celtics allow the fewest points per game (107) and own the fourth-best defensive rating (111.8).
The C’s also sport the slowest pace, and with a 29-51 mark, they’ve hit the Under at a higher percentage than any other team (63.8%).
New Orleans will be without Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Yves Missi, while key scorer Saddiq Bey is listed as questionable.
Rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen will have to shoulder the load offensively, and my money’s on Boston’s world-class defense locking down a road team led by a pair of rookies.
Pelicans vs Celtics same-game parlay
The Celtics can clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and guarantee home-court advantage through the semifinals.
The Pels are simply playing for pride, but all of their starters are out, and they won’t have enough left in the tank to hang with the Celtics on the road.
The Celtics have covered the spread in two of three games as home favorites of 15+ points.
Neemias Queta recorded a double-double in his last game out, and he’s reached that statistical milestone in three of his last five games.
The big man should feast against a Pelicans frontcourt missing Yves Missi, Zion Williamson, and Karlo Matkovic.
Pelicans vs Celtics SGP
Under 225.5
Celtics -16
Neemias Queta double-double
Our "from downtown" SGP: Baylor Makes Hay!
Derrick White has gone Under this combo line in 11 straight games, but he’s in a great position to buck that trend.
New Orleans’ defense has been poor all season, but the absence of multiple key defenders - especially at the guard position - will open up opportunities for White to score, rebound, and facilitate at a high level.
Baylor Scheierman tied his career high in scoring on Thursday, dropping 20 points in a loss to the New York Knicks.
I’m not chasing that production, but he should have more opportunities to build on this performance with Jayson Tatum out and Jaylen Brown banged up.
Pelicans vs Celtics SGP
Neemias Queta double-double
Derrick White Over 25.5 PRA
Baylor Scheierman Over 18.5 PRA
Pelicans vs Celtics odds
Spread: Pelicans +16 | Celtics -16
Moneyline: Pelicans +850 | Celtics -1400
Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224
Pelicans vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in 35 of their last 50 games (+18.50 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Celtics.
How to watch Pelicans vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Pelicans+, NBC Sports Boston
Pelicans vs Celtics latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
EL SEGUNDO, CA - APRIL 3: Kobe Bufkin #6 of the South Bay Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during the 2026 G League Playoffs Semifinals on April 3, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the playoffs fast approaching and the Lakers dealing with key injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, they will be opening up a roster spot by reportedly waiving Kobe Bufkin.
Shams Charania of ESPN was the first to report the move, and the team made it official shortly after.
Bufkin played in just 16 games for the purple and gold, and only logged 10-plus minutes in four of them. His best performance was in a loss against the Spurs back in February.
In that contest, he scored seven points. Bufkin was originally signed to the Lakers due to his stellar play with South Bay. In the G League, he averaged 24.7 points and 3.6 assists per game. That level of production never happened for him during his stint with the main team.
Now that Bufkin has been waived, the Lakers have an open roster spot.
Lakers are waiving Kobe Bufkin, a team source confirms to the Athletic. Lakers will evaluate players this weekend to add someone to playoff roster.
The Lakers have just two games left in their NBA season, but will be playing in the playoffs and need as many playable players as possible. They can only sign players who were free agents as of March 1, so the pool of players they can add to their postseason roster is limited.
Perhaps a veteran point guard like Chris Paul can join the roster? Paul signed with the Clippers last summer and had a nasty breakup with the other LA team. He was ultimately traded to Toronto and waived by the Raptors.
He announced retirement shortly after being waived, but a postseason run with the Lakers might be the kind of opportunity he’d be excited to take. Paul is playoff-eligible, so this is a possibility that makes sense for all involved.
While the player the Lakers will add is unknown, what is certain is that another move is coming. If Los Angeles waived a player this late into the season when they are already shorthanded, then they clearly have someone in mind that can help the team win now.
The Denver Nuggets host the Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA action on Friday night.
My Thunder vs. Nuggets predictions are fading an OKC side that is resting almost its entire starting rotation.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference clash on April 10.
Thunder vs Nuggets prediction
Thunder vs Nuggets best bet: Thunder team total Under 110.5 (-120)
The Oklahoma City Thunder have given most of their rotation players the night off after clinching the No. 1 seed. Four starters, including MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are ruled out along with several key bench players.
OKC has just eight players available, with three of them on two-way contracts. Their best offensive player will likely be Lu Dort, who shoots 38.7% from the floor.
This game could be ugly, and since we don't know who will suit up for Denver, I'll fade OKC on its team total.
Thunder vs Nuggets same-game parlay
The Nuggets still have something to play for, since they currently have the No. 3 seed, but are just one game ahead of the Lakers and Rockets.
Expect them to play at least a few of their starters in an effort to win, although they could rest them in the second half if they build a big lead. That has me laying the points on the 1H spread.
Jamal Murray is questionable due to a shoulder impingement. That said, the guard dropped 26 points on Wednesday, and books have released player props for him.
I'll back him to eclipse 22.5 points, with this leg simply being canceled if he doesn't play.
Thunder vs Nuggets SGP
Thunder team total Under 110.5
Nuggets -6.5 1H
Jamal Murray Over 22.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Denver domination
If Jokic and Murray suit up, this game could get out of hand. So lets take a swing on Denver winning big if that's the case.
That involves backing Jokic and Murray on their points and assists props, which will be easy numbers to clear against the Thunder "B team."
Thunder vs Nuggets SGP
Nuggets -12
Nikola Jokic Over 23.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 assists
Jamal Murray Over 22.5 points
Jamal Murray Over 6.5 assists
Thunder vs Nuggets odds
Spread: Thunder +12 | Nuggets -12
Moneyline: Thunder +400 | Nuggets -550
Over/Under: Over 231.5 | Under 231.5
Thunder vs Nuggets betting trend to know
The Nuggets have hit the Moneyline in 29 of their last 45 games (+12.95 Units / 7% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Thunder vs Nuggets
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Oklahoma, Altitude
Thunder vs Nuggets latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 30: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park on August 30, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB:
Spencer Arrighetti was dealing in what should be his last start for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys before joining the Houston Astros:
Spencer Arrighetti, new father of twins, went 6 innings of 2 run ball for the Space Cowboys tonight.
6 IP 4 H 2 ER 1 BB 7 K
He won’t be pitching in the Mariners series obviously. He could be lined up for Colorado in Houston though. pic.twitter.com/jjJOSJHz9A
Has ABS finally made the strike zone fair for Jose Altuve?
for his entire career, Jose Altuve has had to fight off an unfairly high strike zone. Until the ABS zone redefinition, that is. On the smallest hitter in the majors suddenly finding himself in a fair fight up in the zone @baseballprohttps://t.co/KdzqaJsjRN
Flashback April 10, 1947. Jackie Robinson is officially a Brooklyn Dodger.
Today In 1947: Branch Rickey issues a historic press release: "The Brooklyn Dodgers today purchased the contract of Jackie Roosevelt Robinson from the Montreal Royals. He will report immediately." #MLB#Baseball#Historypic.twitter.com/in209fKq5k
Fun fact about Dodgers Stadium the day it opened from Vin Scully:
Today In 1962: The Los Angeles #Dodgers hosted their first Opening Day at Dodger Stadium! The great Vin Scully talks about how the team had to use vegetable dye to make the grass look green! #MLB#Baseball#Historypic.twitter.com/j1TVMb2gtw
Tigers finally retired Josh Bell, but Riley Greene and Parker Meadows had a nasty collision running down his fly ball. Cart is on the field for Meadows along with medical personnel. pic.twitter.com/pUBcWw9w5A
"There's a lot of concern for him. When we got out to him, it looked like he bit his lip or the inside of his mouth. There was a lot of blood and he was pretty out of it. We are going to get him checked out for everything. But this one worries me." pic.twitter.com/i2cMCpqwAS
Jones, who’s been calling games for ESPN for 36 years, will leave the network before the playoffs, The Athletic reported Friday.
His last broadcast will be Sunday’s Celtics-Magic game at 6 p.m.
Mark Jones has been with ESPN since 1990, mostly doing play-by-play for the network’s NBA coverage. NBAE via Getty Images
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that Jones left by choice, though it’s unclear why.
Jackson added that ESPN said Jones could’ve stayed, and he is not expected to retire, per The Athletic.
ESPN also released a statement Friday about Jones’ departure.
“Mark has made an enduring impact at ESPN since 1990, serving as a signature voice primarily within our NBA and college football coverage and across nearly all of our platforms,” ESPN said in the statement. “We’re grateful for Mark’s countless contributions and we wish him continued success.”
Jones had been with ESPN since 1990, mostly calling NBA and college football games.
At one point in his career, he was ESPN’s No. 2 NBA voice behind the iconic Mike Breen. That allowed him to fill in and call two NBA Finals games when Breen came down with COVID in 2022.
Since then, though, he’s been leapfrogged by the likes of Dave Pasch and Ryan Ruocco on ESPN’s depth chart.
Jones — a former NYU basketball player — started his broadcasting journey following his playing career ending in 1986.
Mark Jones will not retire following his departure from ESPN, which will come after his final game on Sunday. NBAE via Getty Images
He first began as an anchor for The Sports Network in his home country of Canada, hosting the Toronto Blue Jays magazine show until 1990.
His time at ESPN began after that stint as the host of “NBA Today,” a weekly show. He eventually moved his way up to play-by-play duties, where recently he’s been paired with analysts like Jay Bilas, Doris Burke and Jon Barry on ESPN’s coverage. He even briefly called games for the Sacramento Kings.
Jones also made appearances on ESPN’s college football coverage, working with analyst Louis Riddick. He often called Pac-12 late games prior to the conference’s realignment in 2024.
He’s also called men’s and women’s college basketball, WNBA and NHL games over the course of his career.
Now, Jones will look for the next stop of his lengthy career.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 31: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics react against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 31, 2025 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics will be without several key players when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Jayson Tatum (right Achilles injury management) is sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back, while Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis) is questionable.
Jayson Tatum is OUT tonight on the second night of a back-to-back
Sam Hauser (back spasm), Derrick White (right knee contusion) and Neemias Queta (toe sprain) are PROBABLE
Jaylen Brown is QUESTIONABLE with left Achilles tendinitis
Tatum is currently not playing back-to-backs as he returns from an Achilles injury, and opted to play on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in order to overcome that mental hurdle. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in a 112-106 loss to the Knicks.
Brown has missed three games in the past two weeks due to Achilles soreness, but said he was not concerned about the injury long-term.
“Nah, everybody’s dealing with something — just some soreness,” Brown said in Atlanta in late March. “Definitely want to make sure you stay healthy as much as possible & you don’t want to risk anything, but it’ll be fine going forward.”
In addition to Tatum and Brown both potentially being sidelined, Sam Hauser (low back spasm), Derrick White (right knee contusion), and Neemias Queta (toe sprain) are all on the injury report and listed as probable to play. All three players were on the injury report ahead of Thursday’s Celtics-Knicks game, but all ultimately played.
Of note, White is two blocks away from becoming the first player in NBA history to record 200 three-pointers and 100 blocks in a single season — though he hasn’t recorded a block in four straight games for the first time all season.
With the Celtics shorthanded, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh will likely both continue to see increased run. Scheierman is coming off a career night in which he exploded for 20 points on 7-8 shooting, 18 of which came in the second half. And Walsh has fully returned to the rotation over the past two weeks, starting on Thursday night in place of Jaylen Brown.
The Pelicans are 26-54 and have the 11th-best record in the Western Conference. They’ll be without several key players: Dejounte Murray (left hand contusion), Zion Williamson (right knee injury management), Trey Murphy III (right ankle sprain), Yves Missi (right hand sprain), Bryce McGowens (right small toe fracture), Karlo Matkovic (low back injury management), Herbert Jones (rest), and Saddiq Bey (rest).
Friday’s game actually has seeding implications for the Celtics
The Celtics (54-26) currently have a two-game lead in the standings and need to win one of their next two games to secure the No. 2 seed. They face the Pelicans on Friday, and the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
The Knicks (52-28) face the Toronto Hornets on Friday and the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. If they drop one of those games, the Celtics will automatically secure the No. 2 seed, regardless of the Celtics’ outcomes over the next two games.
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Jalen Duren
No award this season has me flipping my vote back-and-forth between two players like Most Improved, because both Duren and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have great cases. I lean toward Duren because of his significantly improved play on both sides of the ball without some dramatic change of role or situation — he just got better, and the Pistons are not the No. 1 seed in the East without that leap. His handle got better, and that meant not only was he creating his own shot now, but his turnovers fell way down. He's become a paint protector of a high order on defense. Also, Duren showed real leadership, and when Cade Cunningham went out at the end of the season, he had the Pistons going 8-3. All that said, the case for NAW is equally compelling (our other writers will get more into his case).
One pet peeve: The argument that NAW "gets closer to the spirit of the award" — I detest that line of reasoning. For me, the idea that the Most Improved Player award is supposed to highlight a player who wasn't a high pick is crap. This is not the "we thought you were mid/sucked, but you're actually good" award; this is supposed to go to the most improved player. Period. I am considering having Victor Wembanyama on my ballot for that reason.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
The odds-on favorite for MIP, NAW has reinvented his game in year 7 on his fourth team. His 9.4 to 20.4 PPG increase, on career-best efficiency and in only 7.9 more minutes per game, is the third-highest scoring increase of the last 25 years.
He remains an elite defender (third in the NBA for turnovers forced) and his offensive evolution is a key reason why Atlanta, the defining play-in tournament team of our generation, will likely finish in the East's top 6.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Jalen Johnson's continued emergence as a star is the biggest reason the Hawks have improved this season, but Alexander-Walker's growth isn't far behind. He's got nine 30-point games to his credit this season, and he boasts career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers. Alexander-Walker has always been a plus defender; his emergence offensively has changed the equation for the Hawks.
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Ryan Rollins
I'm not sure anybody can explain the exact criteria for Most Improved Player. Is it Stephon Castle turning into a legit max contract player? Is it Nickeil Alexander-Walker becoming an offensive force for Atlanta? I'm gonna choose to honor Ryan Rollins going from a player who was waived by one of the worst teams in basketball to being a legit starting point guard in the NBA. Rollins went from 6.2 points per game to 17.1 points per game. From 1.9 assists to 5.6 assists. He more than doubled his minutes per game. The was the main offensive weapon for the Bucks for stretches of the season. I'm just not sure anybody improved their overall standing in the NBA more than Rollins this year.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 4: Carmen Mlodzinski #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field looking to grab a win.
Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Bucs Dugout is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
The commenting system was updated during the summer. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.
BD community, this is your thread for today’s game against the Cubs. Enjoy!
The Miami Heat waived guard Terry Rozier, who has been on league-mandated leave since October amid a federal illegal sports betting investigation, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday.
Key Takeaways
The Heat traded for Rozier about nine-and-a-half months after the incident in question.
The NBA did not find evidence of any wrongdoing by Rozier.
A pro sports bettor won all 30 of their prop bets involving Rozier for more than $13,000.
Rozier, 32, has been away from the Heat since his FBI arrest Oct. 23. He had been under investigation by the NBA from the season’s onset.
The NBA’s investigation concluded without finding evidence that Rozier had violated league rules. However, the league insisted after Rozier’s arrest that it did not “clear” him of wrongdoing.
Rozier’s arrest came as a surprise to the NBA. FBI director Kash Patel, who worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Eastern District of New York, Homeland Security Investigations, and local New York law enforcement officials, said there were “tens of million of dollars in theft, in fraud, in robbery” between Rozier, former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, all of whom were arrested on the same day.
Rozier has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He pleaded not guilty in federal court Dec. 8 and was released on $3-million bail.
His attorney, Jim Trusty, also issued a statement to CNN last November, saying his client “looks forward to winning this fight.”
“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing (Rozier) to self surrender they opted for a photo op,” Trusty wrote. “They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing.”
Incident in question
Rozier’s charges stem from a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023.
The NBA was alerted to suspicious betting activity related to Rozier’s prop betting lines, or wagers that dealt with his individual performance, but did not directly relate to the outcome of the game.
Sportsbooks mostly set Rozier’s prop odds around 21.5 points, six assists, and four rebounds that night. Rozier removed himself from the game with a foot issue after nine minutes and 36 seconds of playing time, finishing with five points, four rebounds, and two assists.
The incident initially flew under the radar since the Hornets were well out of the playoff picture. Rozier also did not play in another game during the 2022-23 season, making it seem as if Charlotte had shut down the veteran guard for the year.
The incident was seen in a new light in January 2025 when ESPN’s David Purdum reported that a professional sports bettor went 30-for-30 with prop bets exceeding $13,000 in combined value, all of which targeted Rozier. The bets were placed in a 46-minute window at Caesars Sportsbook in Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi, and resulted in $13,017.70 in winnings.
“It's unfortunate that he's a big name in sports and is having to endure all this,” Trusty said after the report, per ESPN. “My hope and expectation is that at some point that they'll be done with their investigation and will be professional enough to let us know that it's 100% over and that they reached the same conclusion that was reached in 2023.”
Innocent until proven guilty
Rozier's former Louisville head coach and current St. John’s bench boss, Rick Pitino, said he does not believe it is in Rozier’s character to participate in an illegal gambling scheme.
“It’s not like him,” Pitino said on “Dan Dakich Unfiltered” in November. “I love Terry. I texted him: ‘Terry, if I can be of any help. I love you, son. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please get a hold of me.’”
Rozier was traded to the Heat for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 lottery-protected first-rounder that will convert to an unprotected 2028 first-round selection if it doesn’t convey. He made 95 appearances for the franchise, averaging 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s last regular season meetup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.
By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.
For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, April 10.
Thunder vs Nuggets computer picks for April 10
Thunder
Nuggets
Williams o14.5 points -105
Murray u22.5 points -120
McCain o3.5 3-pointers +125
Jokic u13.5 rebounds -110
McCain o19.5 points -120
Gordon o2.5 assists -130
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Thunder computer picks
Kenrich Williams Over 14.5 points (-105)
Projection: 15.1 points
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this matchup as the league’s second-highest scoring offense over their last 10 games.
They should also benefit from an uptick in pace, drawing the Denver Nuggets, who rank ninth in tempo across the past 25 games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet williams Now at bet365!/span
Jared McCain Over 3.5 3-pointers (+125)
Projection: 3.7 3-pointers
The Thunder have played as the eighth-most aggressive team from beyond the arc over the past five games, creating a favorable setup for Jared McCain to capitalize from deep.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet mccain Now at bet365!/span
Jared McCain Over 19.5 points (-120)
Projection: 20.7 points
McCain is averaging 12.4 points per game across his last 10 road outings (4.3 higher than his overall mark away from home this season) and with an uptick in minutes, he’ll have every chance to elevate his production and rise to the occasion.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet mccain Now at bet365!/span
Nuggets computer picks
Jamal Murray Under 22.5 points (-120)
Projection: 21.6 points
The Thunder have operated at the 10th-slowest pace in the league over their last five road games, which should limit overall possessions for the Nuggets and work against Jamal Murray clearing this scoring line, especially after he’s fallen short in five of his last 10 games at a 22.5-point number.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet murray Now at bet365!/span
Nikola Jokic Under 13.5 rebounds (-110)
Projection: 13.2 rebounds
The Nuggets rank as the third-worst offensive rebounding team at home over their last 25 games, putting added pressure on Nikola Jokić to clean up the glass against the Oklahoma City Thunder—but even with that role, he could fall just short of this number after going Under in two of his last 10 games at a 13.5 rebound line.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet jokic Now at bet365!/span
Aaron Gordon Over 2.5 assists (-130)
Projection: 2.8 assists
The Nuggets have operated at the ninth-fastest pace in the league over their last 25 games, which should create added playmaking opportunities for Aaron Gordon against a different Thunder rotation.
After clearing this 2.5 assists line in six of his last 10 outings, he’s in a strong spot to get Over once again.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet gordon Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Thunder vs Nuggets tonight
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Oklahoma, Altitude
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) hits an rbi single during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Seattle Mariners didn’t need a copy of Cal Raleigh’s MVP-caliber 2025 to repeat as AL West champions this year. What they *will* need is not to repeat his frigid first foray in the big leagues back in 2021. Hard as it may be to remember (or, all too easy after the first two weeks of this season), Raleigh hit a brick wall in his first big league taste. He went .180/.223/.309 in his first 148 plate appearances across 47 games, a grisly 46 wRC+ with an unseemly 35.1% strikeout rate while walking just seven times in the bigs that year. It wasn’t until his 2022 return that Raleigh solidified himself as a star, in Seattle and then across the sport. Now, those expectations loom even larger, with the Big Dumper mucked up and mired in a .143/.236/.245 over his first 55 PAs this year, a 51 wRC+, and a funny-but-not-ha-ha-funny bad 38.2% punchout rate. He’s hit just one round-tripper, for goodness sake.
So what’s eating the Big Dumper?
Home Run Derby hangover delayed by two-thirds a year? Randy Arozarena’s secret hexes? Insufficient gumption?
All good answers, but color me skeptical. Two weeks offers less data than necessary for many statistical stabilizations. But something we can see and quantify is Raleigh’s literal process at the plate – his swing. With advancements in data tracking and cameras, MLB and Baseball Savant can track and publicize the bat tracking data for each pitch and swing. What I’ve seen this spring has gone from troublesome to troubleshooting, and I believe in the near future to be trouble-shedding.
In eliminating culprits, there seems not to be something physically awry for Raleigh. His average bat speed is in keeping with a season ago, give or take a half tick at 74.7 mph. That’s a strong score, on the higher end of the league as befits Raleigh’s strength and emphasis on elevating pitches with damaging intent. So far as we can measure, Raleigh hasn’t massively altered his mechanics or setup pre-pitch, leaving us scrapping for answers. The best indication I’ve found, beyond the sheer variability of an inch different in contact, stems from an overly uppercut swing, an issue so fundamental to his craft that he began addressing it in the time it took me to put together this article.
Statcast measures swings in a few ways. There’s the vertical angle at which the hitter is impacting the ball at contact (e.g. uppercut to flat or even downswing) which Savant calls “Attack Angle.” Correspondingly, there’s the horizontal angle, which determines the direction into the field the ball is hit (e.g. a bloop single against a yanked laser double) which is “Attack Direction.” Combining those and the speed of the swing allows us to measure the angle of the bat’s path relative to the ground, which Savant judges in the final 40 milliseconds before contact/crossing the path of the pitch to determine “Swing Path Tilt.” Their explainer, data, and visuals are quite good in my estimation, for instance allowing Ryan to recently write on bat speed as it relates to variable temperature for FanGraphs.
What I’m going to focus on is Swing Path Tilt, or just “tilt,” as it combines our pertinent measures here. Raleigh has a steeper-than-average tilt to his swing, with around a 33-35 degree tilt over the past two years between his lefty and righty swings. It’s slowly gotten steeper since 2023, when he was around a 31 degree angle. MLB average is 32 degrees, with the lowest end of the spectrum – a.k.a. the flattest swing – being a trio of Rays: C Nick Fortes (19°), 3B/SS Junior Caminero (23°), and Yandy Díaz (24°). On the high end are OF Riley Greene of the Tigers (43°) and Dodgers regulars 1B Freddie Freeman (42°) and OF Andy Pages (41°), noted upper-cutters. Intuitively, these are some good hitters and some middling ones – there’s not one “perfect” swing path for everyone, and these numbers are impacted by the physical traits of each hitter, the location of the pitch, and enough other factors to make this hard to gauge.
At this season’s outset, Cal was employing a steeper, more uppercut swing than ever before. It’s not clear that this was intentional, and we’re talking about a few dozen swings, but through the first week of the season Raleigh was around a 38°-40° tilt. That looks like this:
Here we can observe the obvious: pitch location has a huge role on all these factors. A key component of Cal’s MVP-caliber season in 2025 was his knack for scooping pitches at the bottom of the zone or below with his steep uppercut and elevating them into the outfield grass or bleachers. So teams adjusted. He’s gotten a steady diet of elevated fastballs and cutters+sweepers in on his hands since late last year, putting the ball where an uppercut either means a swing-and-a-miss or a sawed-off handle. The Guardians and Yankees did this quite effectively, and Raleigh’s initial use of a steeper uppercut ran into issues galore.
Here’s an example of Raleigh a year ago, on a near-identical pitch to that Tanner Bibee offering from the first image and link:
This isn’t everything, but it is Raleigh at his most locked in. June of last year, Cal ran a 191 wRC+ and 1.088 OPS, striking out just 18.6% of the time and following his torrid May with more meteoric play. If I could, I would tie a bow here and say that this is the issue. The Big Dumper needs to dip and rip just a skosh less and boom: problem solved. In fact, over the past several games, this is what he’s doing, with Cal already flattening his swing incrementally by Attack Angle and Swing Path Tilt back towards his norms from a year ago. I do think this is the right move, as such a steep uppercut on elevated offerings especially is a recipe for hard times.
But baseball players aren’t just protractors. Raleigh has struggled because he’s been doing several things poorly. He’s chased pitches more than he did a year ago through this tiny, two week sample. On pitches in the zone, he’s whiffed WAY more. He’s made just 67.1% in-zone contact, down from 81.2% last year – and 69.0% vs. 84.9% on pitches over the heart of the plate. It’s not that Raleigh needs to just make more contact of any sort (and there are players for whom that’s a good goal). He needs better contact, better timing, and better pitch selection. Piece of cake, right?
I suspect the shift to recalibrate his swing path back towards where it was in 2025 is part of that wise correction, but this is the difficulty of drawing conclusions and prescribing adjustments off of 13 games. The clip above (from the game on April 7) isn’t Raleigh looking fully Cal-ibrated, but it looks back in the ballpark of the player Seattle expects to be the heartbeat of their offense. To get back to hitting it out of the ballpark, starting in the ballpark is where he’ll need to be.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 08: Taylor Ward #3 and Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on April 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Only a few days ago, the Orioles were limping into a cold road series against the White Sox, looking like they were going to be weighed down by problems they could not solve early in the season the same as last year. What if their woes had continued against the White Sox? What then? With those concerns in mind, in this week’s survey, I asked O’s fans to think about whether the team would be able to get back to .500 this month, something they never did in April 2025 or beyond.
The question was decisively answered before I could even share the results with you since the Orioles went ahead and swept the White Sox in the three-game set played Monday through Wednesday. O’s fans may not have expected it to happen already, but an overwhelming majority expected the team to at least get back to .500 by the end of this month:
Between the time I sent off this question to the survey guy and when I shared it with you, the Orioles had already gotten one of the three needed wins. They picked up the other two on the way to the road sweep.
It must be said that the Orioles did not look particularly good in any of those games and were probably fortunate to get a three-game sweep. There are problems to be solved. At least for now, if they can minimize the damage while they are trying to solve those problems, that should help the team avoid the problem they had last year of falling into an early hole from which there was no chance to recover.
Everybody in the AL East is dealing with problems early on, even the Yankees. Just avoid falling too far behind to catch up. Hopefully the Orioles can continue in the right direction in this weekend’s series against the Giants, who are also scuffling early on.
Thunder
Nuggets
