Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hits a three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning of Game 4 of the NLCS. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
After striking out in his first at-bat Thursday night, Ohtani delivered the kind of moment the Dodgers had been waiting for all October, unloading on a down-and-in cutter from ex-Dodger Dustin May to give the Dodgers an early 4-0 lead in their elimination game.
The 428-foot drive marked Ohtani’s first home run since Aug. 18 –– snapping an MLB career-long 25-game homer drought.
It was also accompanied by a rare show of raw emotion from the 32-year-old slugger, who flung his bat, raised his arms and then looked back toward the dugout with a scream as he skipped up the first base line.
After returning to the bench, he remained fired up while exchanging high fives with his teammates.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hits a three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers. Wally Skalij for the CA PostLos Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani hits a three-run home run. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
Thursday marked the first time this postseason Ohtani had hit leadoff –– having been dropped from his customary spot amid a dreadful slump over the last couple months while battling right arm and left knee injuries.
However, manager Dave Roberts was encouraged by the swings Ohtani had taken in batting practice in recent days, as well as a Game 3 performance in which he reached base three times and roped a 113 mph single –– his hardest-hit ball since June –– in his final at-bat of the night.
Thus, with the team’s season on the line in the face of a three-games-to-none series deficit, Roberts decided to put Ohtani back at the top of the batting order.
The superstar immediately paid off the decision, giving the Dodgers true momentum for the first time in this NLCS.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been waiting for the moment when Connor Bedard scored a goal assisted by Patrick Kane. It came in the first period of his first game back, as Kane assisted on Bedard's first goal of the season.
The goal was on the power play, a 5-on-3, and Tyler Bertuzzi also collected an assist. In addition to being special because it was Bedard's first as captain and his first goal assisted by Kane, it also made USA Hockey history.
Kane's assist was the 895th of his incredible Hall of Fame career, and that passed Phil Housley for the most by an American-born forward. Kane already has a ton of American hockey records, and this one is another on a long list.
and with that assist, Patrick Kane takes the top spot for 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻-𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 in the NHL ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Y8LyB8OJ9Q
The goal put the Blackhawks up 1-0 as they look to build momentum now that the team is healthy with Connor Bedard in the lineup. This won't be the last goal that Bedard and Kane combine to score over the next two seasons.
When the puck entered the net, you can see that Kane was genuinely impressed with Bedard's shot, but it's equally as impressive that he is now the all-time greatest assist man in the history of Americans playing in the NHL.
Tyler Bertuzzi also reached a personal milestone with his assist on the goal. It was the 200th in his NHL career. All sorts of milestones are happening at the United Center.
with the assist to Connor Bedard's goal, Tyler Bertuzzi notches 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬!! pic.twitter.com/d3MjK4nLmM
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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
AMARILLO, TX - AUGUST 12: Avery Owusu-Asiedu #25 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles high fives teammate Jansel Luis #10 after scoring during the game between the Midland RockHounds and the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Hodgetown on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by Elisa Chavez/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Introduction
Instead of continuing with the next installment of the 2026 prospect all-star series, I’m going to shift gears this week. Instead, we’re going to talk about some prospects that I have heard quite a few people write off for various reason, or just outright dismiss.
Some of that is justified, but some of it completely misses the mark. Often it is either way too harsh or it’s just way too early to call said player a non-prospect when some of these guys are still younger than the average NCAA player. A lot of the criticisms lacks the context of what the player has done in the past, what their season looks like relative to past performance and the league they’re in.
In a world full of negativity and the most pessimistic takes, I am proponent of finding reasons to be optimistic, even if there aren’t many Will it always work out for these players? Most likely not, but there is always just as much of chance for a well regarded prospect who’s been doing well to randomly flame out, for many different reasons.
For once I will not be excluding players who have appeared in the major leagues this season, so the players discussed today range from Low A ball all the way up to the guys on the bubble of the 26 man roster.
Jansel Luis
Bats/Throws: S/R Position: 3B/SS/(2B?) Height/Weight 6’0″ / 170 Born: March 6, 2005 in San Pedro de Macoris, DR
The jump to AA is the second hardest in professional baseball and just because you’re playing in one of the most hitter friendly ballparks in one of the most hitter friendly leagues, doesn’t mean that jump is going to be any easier. Jansel Luis learned that himself the hard way in 2026. In the past talent evaluators had pointed out the erratic nature of the switch hitting middle infielder’s approach at the plate, and combined with facing much tougher pitching, lead to a down year at the plate.
In a career high 109 games, Luis hit just 270/315/.444 with 16 hrs, in addition to successfully swiping 26 bases in 30 attempts. While that sounds like acceptable production from a 2B/SS/3B, that works out to a rather meager and below average 76 wRC+ and .335 wOBA. As a switch hitter though, that doesn’t tell the whole story about Luis’ season. As a LHB against LHP Luis hit 288/.327/.485 with an .813 OPS, but as a RHB against LHP, he hit a paltry .222/.284/.326 .with a 610 OPS.
A few interesting pieces of trivia came up in the midst of my research for this article. The first one is the fact that for some reason, Luis took a lone plate appearance against left handed pitching as a left handed batter, and in that at-bat he hit a grand slam. In addition, Luis also had three plate appearances as a right handed batter against right handed pitching, going 1 for 3 with a single. Assuming this is correct information and not a data entry error, could this suggest that Jansel Luis might be better off dropping the switch hitting and consider hitting exclusively from the left side? Clearly in a season where things weren’t going well on one side of the plate, Luis was willing to experiment and try something different.
As a 21 year old in Double-A having his first real career setback, that’s really not that bad of a seasonn all things considered. He’s likely to start the year in Double-A, but with a good spring he very well might get back on track enough to start the year in Triple-A Reno. Considering he’s still relatively young though, the Diamondbacks have no reason to rush him, so the former seems like a likely outcome in my opinion.
instead started 85 of his 109 games at third base, 19 at shortstop, and the rest at DH.
Cristofer Torin
Bats/Throws: R/R Position: SS Height/Weight 5’9″ / 155 Born: May 26, 2005 in Acarigua, Venezuela
Cristofer Torin has been linked in my mind with Jansel Luis since the beginning of their professional career, as both signed as international amateur free agents in January of 2022. Since then, they’ve played at every level together, with Torin usually at shortstop and Luis at second or third base. Both players also had impressive 2025 season, and both players struggled at the plate in 2026 playing in Amarillo. Despite the fact that Torin has never gotten quite the same level of glowing praise as Luis has as a prospect, the former has always stood out to me more, even though the latter has much louder tools.
In 2026, Cristofer Torin played in 118 games, all with Amarillo in the Double-A level Texas League. In those 118 games, Torin put up a triple slash line of .281/.344/.440 with a .350 wOBA and an 85 wRC+. His 16 home runs actually matches his career total entering 2026, though his 12 successful stolen bases in 18 attempts is a career low, as was his 8.1% walk percentage. His 11.2% strikeout percentage is the third lowest of his career, and the lowest since 2023. Torin also put up the second lowest batting average on balls in play of his career (.291 BABIP) which was significantly lower than his career average, which suggests to me that a lot of Torin’s ‘down’ season was the result of bad luck. Torin’s defense is some of the best of any player in the D’backs farm system, so much so that I wouldn’t even really call this a bad season. An 85 wRC+ from a shortstop with plus plus defense is still going to provide positive Wins Above Replacement, so I am not all that worried about Torin’s future, and I expect him to be able to make the adjustments he needs to return to offensive form next season.
LuJames Groover
Bats/Throws: R/R Position: 3B/1B/DH Height/Weight 6’2″ / 215 Born: April 16, 2002 in East Point, GA, USA
LuJames Groover spent 15 games in the major leagues in 2026, largely playing out of position at first base instead of third where he had spent the majority of his professional career, and never really looked like he had the chance to get comfortable at the plate or in the field. Is it really a surprise then that he hit just .167/.259/.271 with a very anemic looking 245 wOBA, 286 xwOBA, and a 51 wRC+? Groover was perfectly fine in AAA, putting up a .305/.389/.436 triple slash with a 102 wRC+. The real cause for concern in Groover’s future is the lack of power and expected SLG % that is 100 points lower than it was in reality, which brings his xwOBA down to .304 from his .375 wOBA.
Groover is going to need to make some somewhat significant changes this winter and spring to both his swing and his approach at the plate, to unlock a lot more power. If he’s going to be shifted down the defensive spectrum to first or DH, he just doesn’t have the power to be an average hitter at either position. He’s significantly improved his defense at third base, and I do think he can stick there, but his time in MLB in 2026 shows he just not ready yet. Calling him a bust after only fifteen games is absolutely ridiculous though, and he thinks we’ll need a full season worth of games to get a fair read on Groover as a prospect
Druw Jones
Bats/Throws: R/R Position: CF Height/Weight 6’2″ / 180lbs Born: November 28, 2003 in Atlanta, GA
This is going to be the most controversial inclusion in this article, because I know the vast majority of D’Backs fans reading this have already labled Jones a bust and think he has absolutely no chance at a future in the big leagues. While I agree that he hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations set by being the son of a Hall of famer, on top of being the second overall draft pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, I think Jones might still have a future in the big leagues and I wouldn’t label him a total bust just yet.
You might wonder why I exactly I would say that, but there’s a few reasons why. The first and foremost reason is that as one of the best defensive outfield prospect I’ve ever seen, Jones really doesn’t need to hit much to land a gig in the major leagues as a late defensive replacement and fourth outfielder. The fact that he’s a plus runner and a credible stolen base threat, stealing a career high 38 bases in 49 attempts, gives him an opportunity to also be pinch runner. Yeah that’s not exactly exciting, but tell that to Terrence Gore, who had two world series rings in spite of only 74 career regular season at bats.
Now getting to my main point, while Jones 2026 season wasn’t great, and there are still some major red flags, he looked significantly better in the second half of the season, putting up a triple slash of .288/.341/.407 compared to the .252/.380/.338 he put up in the first half. He also had some really hot stretches, especially in June when he put up a .368/.489/.500 triple slash in 21 games that month, as well as in September when he hit .356/.408/.533 in 12 games. Jones’ worth month by far was in May, when he hit .200/.333/.240 in 22 games. The .573 OPS he put up in may is quite a bit lower than the .640 OPS he put up in August, his next worst month. I think his season would look a lot better if May was more in line with the rest of the year.
Conclusion
That’s it for today! Do you agree or disagree with my evaluations? Which player that I didn’t write about do you think we shouldn’t be giving up on just yet? Which players do you think we should be giving up on after 2026? Let me know in the comments below!
Ohtani spoke with manager Dave Roberts earlier this week about staying in the lineup despite a prolonged slump.
The decision paid off: this was his first home run in 116 plate appearances. He had not hit a home run since a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Aug. 18.
The Dodgers star sent the ball 428 feet into right center field, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead in Game 4.
The Dodgers are in a must-win situation, entering the game having lost the first three games of the NLCS against the Brewers.
Ohtani, the designated hitter, has not been healthy for a good portion of the 2026 season. He’s been dealing with knee inflammation and biceps discomfort. The injuries have limited his time as a pitcher; he hasn’t pitched at all since July 3 due to his injuries and he's not expected to pitch during the postseason.
The Yankees are expected to extend a one-year qualifying offer to closer David Bednar, but not infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., ahead of this winter's upcoming free agency period, according to a report from The New York Post's Jon Heyman.
Each offseason, teams are eligible to offer their impending free agents a one-year contract extension equal to the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players in MLB. This offseason, the one-year qualifying offer will be worth $23.15 million.
Bednar, 32, just wrapped up his first full season in pinstripes. He posted 35 saves in 2026, trailing only Tampa Bay's Bryan Baker, Cleveland's Cade Smith, St. Louis's Riley O'Brien, and San Diego's Mason Miller (Bednar tied with Boston's Aroldis Chapman and Toronto's Louis Varland).
His 2.47 ERA and 1.038 WHIP were the stellar marks of a true shutdown closer, punching out 76 batters across 69.1 IP.
Meanwhile, Chisholm, 28, had an up-and-down 2026 season. Jazz grades out extremely well on the basepaths (41 stolen bases) and defensively at second base, but gained a reputation for the odd baserunning gaffe and fielding error.
At the plate, Jazz followed up a 2025 season in which he hit 31 home runs (earning him the Silver Slugger award) with just 19 this time around, as his batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage all ticked downward to a .231/.312/.399 slash line.
Looking at players under team control entering 2027, a resurgent Anthony Volpe, having learned to play second base, stands out as a potential replacement for Chisholm, as well as other infielders capable of playing the position: Jose Caballero and Luis Garcia.
Last offseason, the Yankees extended the qualifying offer to Trent Grisham. The 29-year-old outfielder opted to accept the one-year, $22.025 million extension rather than test the free agent market for a multi-year contract. Grisham regressed mightily year-over-year, as his WAR plummeted from 3.5 to 0.6 and his OPS from .811 to .703.
Grisham is now expected to hit the open market this offseason, alongside 1B Paul Goldschmidt, INF Amed Rosario, and relief pitchers Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, and Ryan Yarbrough.
The Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League have signed goaltender James Reimer to a professional tryout contract.
With Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury and Joonas Korpisalo’s lower-body injury that’s expected to keep him out for one month, the New York Rangers’ goaltending depth suddenly became thin at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Dylan Garand and Spencer Martin, both called up by the Rangers, left the Wolf Pack with Callum Tung and Gabriel Carriere at the goaltending position.
The addition of Reimer provides the Rangers with more goaltending depth and a potential backup option for Garand until Korpisalo is activated from injured reserve, if the team decides to call him up in place of Martin.
Reimer has 16 years of NHL experience playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators.
The 38-year-old goaltender most recently played for the Senators during the 2025-26 season, recording a 7-4-2 record, a .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average.
The Brewers have won three straight games to push the Dodgers to the edge, and most people believe the back-to-back World Series champions are finished this October.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) stands with teammates ahead of Game 3 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
“The Dodgers have been a major disappointment, and I just think it’s one of those dynasties ending,” Votto said on “Foul Territory.”
"The Dodgers have been a major disappointment, and I just think it's one of those dynasties ending."@JoeyVotto questions how the Dodgers pivot if they fall to the Brewers. Could a semi-rebuild be forthcoming? pic.twitter.com/w5SM5E6O3n
If the Dodgers get swept by the Brewers in four games, several questions regarding the franchise’s future need to be addressed.
While the quest of a three-peat has largely dominated narratives surrounding the juggernaut this season, an early exit in the postseason could propel the next steps for the organization as the pinnacle focus of the offseason.
The Dodgers will have to address the direction of the organization after a disappointing 2026 season. With an aging roster, the Dodgers will likely look to get younger.
Veterans with expiring contracts may not return, and the front office will likely be active in trading or acquiring new faces if the Dodgers look to orchestrate a semi-rebuild this winter.
One thing is clear, it was always championship or bust with the Dodgers this year.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Kiké Hernández warms up prior to Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series, AP Photo/Gregory BullLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks to the media ahead of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Already this week, amid the team's dreadful 0-5-3 start to the 2026-27 campaign, it has been reported that many clubs around the NHL have been calling the Philadelphia Flyers for trade talks, presumably looking to buy low from the Eastern Conference's only winless team.
The Flyers have been hit with a swath of injuries early, too, which never helps things, especially when two top-four defensemen, Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen, are out, along with top-six winger Travis Konecny.
All the early adversity aside, the Flyers and their front office are not ready to pull the plug on the season, nor are they ready to begin selling off any quantity of their many struggling players.
But for as long as the winless slide continues, the Flyers will keep getting calls from other NHL teams, and one player, in particular, seems to be a hot commodity around the league.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, in a recent article for Sportsnet, rival clubs are pondering the possibility of getting 24-year-old winger Tyson Foerster from the Flyers in a trade.
"While vultures circle the Philadelphia Flyers amid their franchise-worst start, rival teams have been wondering: Is there any way we could get our hands on Tyson Foerster? He seems to be on a list of untouchables. Really impressive player," Seravalli wrote.
Foerster, the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2020 draft, has one more year on his current contract remaining at a $3.75 million cap hit before his eight-year, $56.8 million extension ($7.1 million AAV) kicks in on July 1.
Tyson Foerster's big contract extension with the Flyers will kick in on July 1. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
Notably, Foerster does not have trade protection of any kind until the 2029-30 season, when he'll have a modified no-trade clause that permits him a 10-team no-trade list.
Until then, the Flyers can, of course, trade Foerster wherever and whenever they want to, but as Seravalli noted, the Flyers still consider the 6-foot-2 winger untouchable, even with his injury history and recent struggles.
Foerster played just 29 regular season games for the Flyers last season, dealing with upper-body injuries at the start and middle of the season, and while the 24-year-old scored 13 times in those 19 games, Foerster has just two goals - his only two points - in his last 18 games played, including the playoffs, at the time of this writing.
Such struggles before and after a lucrative contract extension could conceivably give any team a bit of reason for pause, though the Flyers, according to Seravalli's latest, are holding strong on the promising winger.
In an ideal world, by now the Lakers would’ve already gotten at least one look at what their team would look like with close to their full roster available.
But that’s not the situation the Lakers find themselves in entering Friday’s preseason finale against the Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.
It’s also not a matter that coach JJ Redick is worrying about, with his team primed to getting closer to being whole before the games start to matter in the standings next week.
“Can’t control it, so it’s not even a concern,” the Lakers coach said. “Play the guys you can play.”
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts to play in the first half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. AP
Thursday provided optimism that the Lakers will have more guys available to play in their final exhibition after multiple key players sat out the previous four games.
Ziaire Williams is trending in the right direction after dealing with left foot swelling, fully participating in Thursday’s practice after sitting out the previous three exhibitions.
Luka Doncic also fully participated after getting the night off against the Warriors on Tuesday.
Which means the Lakers could have their preferred starting lineup available against the Nuggets for the first time this preseason.
But even with a healthier roster, the Lakers still need to show they can improve in two key areas before the Oct. 21 regular-season opener against the Warriors: defensive rebounding and ball security.
Both have been areas of struggle over the last couple of weeks.
Which is why it was a significant focus of Thursday’s practice.
“I’d like us to do a better job taking care of the basketball, and I’d like us to do a better job on the defensive glass,” Redick said. “Those two things, showing improvement there, showing a heightened awareness offensively of being organized with certain groups, and the heightened awareness of not playing in a crowd and just making a simple play.
“And then defensively, we did three different box-out drills [on Thursday] at practice; it’s a point of emphasis going forward.”
It’s clear why those areas are being emphasized.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Walker Kessler (14) high fives a teammate during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers had the third-worst defensive rebounding rate (63.1%) and second-worst turnover rate (24.1%) among all teams that’ve played in the preseason entering Thursday.
They emphasized reducing their turnovers before playing the Warriors this week but recorded 30 giveaways.
“Just like a bunch of new guys,” Quentin Grimes said of the Lakers’ ball security issues. “You don’t know where guys might cut, guys might spot up, you don’t know guys’ tendencies right now. Like some guys play in certain preseason games, some guys don’t, but it’s getting those reps in with each other, figuring out where guys like the ball, where they don’t cut when you got the ball, stuff like that. So guys are just trying to figure out a rhythm, but once we get that rhythm and the spacing and stuff like that, it’ll calm down, for sure.”
Walker Kessler’s return helped on the defensive glass against the Warriors — at least for the first half that he played before sitting out the second half.
Having Williams, the Lakers’ second-tallest player at 6-foot-10, should also help.
“It just takes all five of us to gang rebound,” Williams said. “Especially when [Kessler’s] not in. We just gotta do a better job of just wanting it a little bit more. We’ll get there.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 14: Jamaree Bouyea #17 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 14, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the NBA season beginning in five days, the Phoenix Suns are narrowing down who the final members of their regular-season roster will be, and it appears they’ve likely decided on who the last standard roster spot is going to, according to Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro.
Based on what I have heard and the way he has played Jamaree Bouyea will earn the 14th roster spot for the Phoenix Suns. Bouyea had 15 points (7-11 FG, 1-2 3Ptr), eight assists, four rebounds and one steal in 28 minutes last night. I do not expect the Suns to fill the 15th…
27-year-old Jamaree Bouyea is in line to stay on the roster after a strong end to last season and a noteworthy preseason. Even though the team can roster 15 players on standard deals, Gambadoro reports they will likely use the flexibility they have for a few of the two-way players they signed this offseason and stay at 14. This means the Suns will most likely cut Haywood Highsmith, who is currently on a non-guaranteed deal.
The 6’2” guard from the University of San Francisco had the best season of his NBA career last year, reaching career highs in points per game and games played. After the team waived Cole Anthony in March, Bouyea’s contract was converted from a two-way to a standard deal.
Known for his quickness, Suns fans saw Bouyea in spurts last season, with his playing time increasing as the season went on. His development into a full-time NBA player is one that team owner Mat Ishbia has lauded as an example of the team’s ability to develop players who’ve been with other teams and can fly under the public’s radar.
While no formal cuts have been made yet and no decisions have been formally announced, expect a slew of announcements on the final roster after tomorrow’s game against the Utah Jazz, their last game of the preseason.
The Suns’ season tips off next Wednesday, October 21st, at 7:00 pm Arizona time when they head to Portland to face the Trailblazers.
Lakers coach JJ Redick and Luka Doncic believe the team could compete for a championship this season.
But is that realistic?
In the Western Conference alone, there’s a Goliath-sized impediment.
You know, the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama who carried the Spurs to the NBA Finals last postseason before his team blew double-digit leads in four of its five games against the eventual-champion Knicks. Wembanyama, who’s next in line to become the face of the league after LeBron James retires, spent all summer stewing — and plotting.
There’s also a well-established impediment.
You know, two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the Thunder to a championship in 2025 and is now chomping at the bit to carry his team back to the Finals after the Spurs stunned Oklahoma City in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
The thing with this Lakers team is that their championship hurdles will be as much external as internal.
There are nine new players, including Walker Kessler, who’s going to be an integral part of the Big 3 alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves. There are questions around the team’s perimeter defense. It’s going to take time for everyone to build chemistry. To jell.
Walker Kessler #14 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers smile during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Not only do the Lakers have to worry about everyone else. But they have to worry about themselves. What’s their identity?
Redick raised eyebrows when he claimed ahead of media day that he was confident the Lakers would develop into a championship-level team this season.
When asked at Thursday’s practice why he believes that, he didn’t hesitate.
“I think that every season,” Redick said. “Unless somebody blatantly tells me that we’re not trying to win, I think that every year. That’s why I say I’m confident. I said the same thing last year for all of January and February that we were going to figure it out at some point, and we did. And then we had some injuries.”
Redick’s not wrong.
He kept insisting that Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James would work out their kinks. Those words seemed empty at times. But eventually they shape-shifted and came together, going on a 16-2 run last spring before Doncic suffered a strained hamstring and Reaves suffered a strained oblique on April 2.
During that time, Doncic looked like the NBA’s best player, regularly delivering stunning 40-point performances. Reaves looked like an All-Star. And James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all time, wholeheartedly committed to becoming the team’s third offensive option.
Redick has his work cut out for him again.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick attends a news conference before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
Can Walker become an All-Defense-caliber player? Can Redick unlock the potential of guys like Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr, Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and Matisse Thybulle?
Redick has a way of getting through to players.
He got James to agree to be the third option for the first time in his then-23-season career. He helped Luke Kennard transform into an ephemeral star in the first round of the playoffs against the Rockets when Doncic and Reaves were sidelined. He got the best out of defensive juggernaut Marcus Smart.
It’s not far-fetched that he could work wonders with this team. It’s not out of the question that he could make them believe they’ve arrived. It’s not absurd that they could buy into the idea that their time is now.
The Lakers have arguably the best player in the league in Doncic. They have a lot of talent. They have a great coach.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Luka Doncic, right, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa defends and head coach Doug Christie watches during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
But they also have holes, such as proven starting forwards and a reliable backup center. There’s a lot of questions around them. They have a lot to prove. Especially against teams that already have most things figured out.
The Thunder have been atop the league together. The Spurs tasted victory before letting it drop out of their mouths like a dog rejecting a healthy snack.
The Lakers are seemingly behind.
But they could get there.
Now, being a championship-level team doesn’t necessarily mean walking away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. That’s not what Redick is saying. There are too many variables there.
“Being a championship-level team or being a — I don’t like the word ‘contender’ — but being a team that can make a run and can play in the playoffs and can play different ways in the playoffs, those things take time, and it doesn’t mean you’re going to be in the NBA Finals,” Redick said. “It’s just not the way this works, particularly with the way the playoffs work in terms of just matchups and what you can exploit and what you can’t exploit versus certain teams. But I think because of our talent, because of our fit, because of our depth, I really like our team.”
Redick thinks the Lakers could be elite.
They could make the league nervous. If things go right, they could become a threat. They could really be in the mix.
LA has already been actively exploring trade avenues for Jarred Vanderbilt, but have reportedly had no luck in their efforts. As Opening Night quickly approaches, the Lakers are looking to trade Dalton Knecht before the season begins.
The Lakers’ roster crunch doesn’t bode well for Dalton Knecht. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reported the latest on the Lakers’ roster battle.
“[Dalton Knecht] will not be apart of this roster long-term,” Siegel said.
Vanderbilt and Knecht have been the odd men out for a while as the new look Lakers embark on the Luka Doncic era. But it appears the Lakers are running out of options in their attempts to part ways with the former, who is currently owed $12 million as Vanderbilt is in the final year of a four-year, $48 million deal.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors. NBAE via Getty ImagesLos Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks to the media during a press conference. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Lakers have traded Knecht before in February 2025. Knecht was sent to Charlotte in exchange for center Mark Williams before the trade was rescinded.
Since the trade, Knecht has been a non-factor on the court. The Lakers had high hopes for the small forward as the team selected him with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Knecht has shown flashes of brilliance in the purple and gold, particularly during his breakout rookie year where he averaged 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in the final nine games of November 2024. But his confidence seems to have vanished since the Lakers attempted to trade him to the Hornets.
Now, the Lakers are actively looking to find Knecht a better opportunity elsewhere with an inevitable roster crunch looming.
The Vancouver Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs have made a trade. Vancouver has sent forward Aatu Räty to Toronto in exchange for forwards Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan. At the time of the trade, Buhr was assigned to the ECHL, while Quillan had been playing in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.
Seeing Räty traded is not unexpected. The 23-year-old center had been a healthy scratch multiple times this season and cleared waivers on Thursday. The return, however, is intriguing, as Vancouver was able to pick up two 24-year-old forwards.
Starting with Buhr, he wrapped up his NCAA career last year and has made the jump to pro. He was assigned to the ECHL and is waiting for the season to start. Buhr, who is from North Vancouver, was over a point per game last year with Union College and made his AHL debut with the Marlies last season where he recorded two assists in five games.
Buhr's game revolves around physicality. He is listed at 6'2", 205 lbs, and can use his size to not just throw hits, but win board battles at a high rate. Buhr is also a decent skater and, based on his time in the NCAA, isn't shy about shooting the puck.
As for Quillan, he already has some experience in the NHL. He has played 24 games for the Maple Leafs, where he has scored one goal and recorded two assists. Before making the jump to the pro level, Quillan spent three years at Quinnipiac University and also had a stop in the BCHL with the Penticton Vees.
Quillan projects as a bottom-six forward who has decent speed and plays a physical brand of hockey. Over his 24 NHL games, he has recorded 47 hits and won 42.0% of his faceoffs. Quillan is listed at 6'1", 204 lbs, and was part of Toronto's Calder Cup victory in 2026.
Ultimately, this is an intriguing bet by Ryan Johnson. Both Buhr and Quillan have potential, but also need to be re-signed at the end of the campaign. Overall, it will be interesting to see how both develop and whether either gets called up later this season.
Sep 25, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jacob Quillan (26) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-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.
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detail view of helmets in the Los Angeles Dodgers dugout before game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the Milwaukee Brewers at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers have one more game to try and ensure they have at least one more game.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on April 7, 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
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — On the eve of their final preseason game against the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers are more concerned with getting healthy than using it as a dress rehearsal.
The Lakers have been shuffling through different lineups and players through the first four games, but haven’t gotten a clear look at their full revamped roster.
“Can’t control it, so it’s not even a concern. Play the guys who can play,” JJ Redick told reporters after practice on Thursday. “We would have loved to have gotten looks with everybody healthy and everybody good to go. But we also have to be smart with an 82-game season.”
Redick added that the decrease to five preseason games has been a blessing in disguise because it afforded Los Angeles double the amount of preseason practice time compared to seasons prior, which is more beneficial when integrating a bunch of new players.
It has also allowed more time for players to heal from injuries, which has been a storyline of these preseason.
Collin Sexton hasn’t suited up for a game and, though his status for Friday’s game against Denver is still up in the air, Redick says he is making good progress toward playing on opening night. Sexton has been dealing with what Redick labeled a lower body/leg injury. Sexton was seen in practice Thursday with his calf taped up.
Los Angeles’ struggles without a tertiary ballhandler have been evident all preseason, and that’s exactly where Sexton slots in.
Ziaire Williams, who played in only the Lakers’ first preseason game, was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. He told reporters that he was dealing with some swelling in his left foot, but that it all looks good now.
“Good,” Williams said on how he’s feeling. “It’s up to the staff now. I’m in good hands. They’ve been taking care of me. See how we feel. But yeah, it’s up to them. I’m ready to go as long as they say I am.”
Redick also noted Adou Thiero was a limited participant in practice, but that it’s just a maintenance thing for him. Cameron Carr was out on Thursday. We last heard that he was dealing with a contusion of some sorts, but haven’t been given much clarity on it.
Other than that, Redick says everyone else appears to be good to go. Asked how important it is to have as many people healthy as possible for their final preseason game, Redick said he doesn’t care about that and is more focused on getting everyone as healthy as possible for the season opener.
“It’s important, just to get game reps together, but health is key,” Williams said. “If you can’t go, you just can’t. It’s not the end of the world. … It’s not worth [it] to risk your body for a game that doesn’t count and then be out for the real game. We have a great staff who’s leading us in the right direction.”
