Shohei Ohtani and Japan will look to defend their World Baseball Classic crown in 2026, three years after defeating Team USA in an instant classic of a final, the country's third win in five editions of the international tournament.
Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to clinch that victory, and the now-Dodgers star has earned three more MVP awards and two World Series titles since the famous night in Miami. However, Ohtani won't pitch in the WBC and will just be used as a hitter.
Japan's squad also features MLB All-Stars including Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs) and two top players who are joining MLB this season in sluggers Munetaka Murakami (White Sox) and Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays).
Japan begins pool play in Tokyo on March 6.
Here's a look at Japan's squad for the 2026 WBC:
Japan World Baseball Classic roster
Pitchers
Daichi Ishii
Hiromi Itoh
Yusei Kikuchi
Koki Kitayama
Taisei Makihara
Yuki Matsui
Yuki Matsumoto
Hiroya Miyagi
Taisei Ota
Ryuhei Sotani
Tomoyuki Sugano
Kaima Taira
Hiroto Takahashi
Atsuki Taneichi
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Catchers
Yuhei Nakamura
Seishiro Sakamoto
Kenya Wakatsuki
Infielders
Sosuke Genda
Kaito Kozono
Shugo Maki
Munetaka Murakami
Kazuma Okamoto
Teruaki Sato
Outfielders
Kensuke Kondoh
Shota Morishita
Ukyo Shuto
Masataka Yoshida
Seiya Suzuki
Designated hitters
Shohei Ohtani
Managers and coaches
Hirokazu Ibata (manager)
Makat Kanero (bench coach)
Atsushi Nohmi (pitching coach)
Kazuki Yoshimi (pitching coach)
Yoshiyuki Kamei (first base coach)
Eishin Soyogi (third base coach)
Yoshinori Murata (bullpen coach)
Is Shohei Ohtani pitching in the WBC?
Shohei Ohtani confirmed that he will not pitch in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and will only be used as a hitter. Ohtani returned to the mound for the Dodgers in 2025 after missing all of 2024 as he recovered from an elbow injury – while hitting full time.
If you’re excited about the Jose Alvarado trade, you should thank Guerschon Yabusele.
Late Wednesday night, the Knicks moved Yabusele to Chicago in exchange for Dalen Terry. On Thursday afternoon, they traded Terry and two second-round picks (a 2026 pick and a 2027 pick) to New Orleans.
Why should Yabusele get a "thank you" for the Alvarado deal?
The power forward worked with the Knicks to amend his contract, removing the $5.8 million 2026-27 player option.
This was a crucial detail in the trade. The Bulls don’t do the deal if they have to take on Yabusele’s $5.8 million player option.
Why would Yabusele leave a guaranteed $5.8 million on the table? He wanted to get on the court.
Yabusele has been out of Mike Brown’s rotation for most of the season.
Barring injury, Yabusele wasn’t going to crack the rotation.
If he kept his player option, Yabusele probably would’ve been stuck in New York* for the rest of the year.
(*No team is trading for an out-of-the-rotation player on the books for $5.8 million in 2026-27. The Knicks would’ve had to attach several second-round draft picks to facilitate a Yabusele deal.)
But Yabusele amended his deal and got what he wanted – a chance to play. Chicago is coming out of the trade deadline with a thin front line. Yabusele should get minutes right away. If he plays well, Yabusele should have plenty of NBA suitors in free agency. He will definitely have overseas suitors.
But let’s get back to the Knicks.
In Terry, New York acquired a player entering restricted free agency. So Terry essentially is on an expiring contract. The Knicks used Terry’s contract to seal the Alvarado trade.
They don’t get Terry’s contract without Yabusele waiving his player option.
So if you liked the Knicks' trade for Alvarado, tip your cap to Guerschon Yabusele.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Knicks saved some money at the trade deadline. According to Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron, New York shed around $1 million in its two trades.
That means the Knicks have enough money to sign a free agent. Who will they target? I’m not sure. But it’s worth noting that New York explored the trade market for centers. Maybe they find one in free agency. Maybe they decide to add backcourt depth in the wake of Miles McBride’s injury.
Jan 7, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) reacts after a basket against the LA Clippers during the first half at Madison Square Garden. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
TOUGH NEWS ON DEUCE
McBride had been out for five consecutive games with ankle soreness. He may be out for the rest of the season with a sports hernia. News of McBride’s sports hernia surgery surprised some of his teammates on Thursday. They now have to move forward without one of their most important players.
The trade for Alvarado was not directly connected to the McBride injury. The Knicks had long targeted Alvarado. I believe the deal was getting done regardless of McBride’s status. Now, Alvarado becomes even more important for the Knicks.
‘OFF’ OFFSEASON
The Knicks' offseason signings have not panned out. Yabusele was traded to Chicago. Jordan Clarkson is outside of Brown’s rotation. As noted above, New York did well in offloading Yabusele. But the signings were a miss for Leon Rose and his front office; that same front office, of course, has helped turn the Knicks into a title contender. In my opinion, they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. But their performance in free agency last summer was underwhelming. Clarkson is on a minimum contract. He’s a low-risk signing. But the Knicks used significant resources to sign Yabusele.
If Alvarado helps lead New York to the NBA Finals this spring, no one will care about the 2025 offseason. But if New York fails to reach the Finals, the moves made last summer will be scrutinized.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 01: Chris Boucher #99 of the Boston Celtics reacts after being called for a foul against the Houston Rockets during the second half at the TD Garden on November 01, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz traded for Chris Boucher of the Boston Celtics.
The Boston Celtics are trading Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN.
It was a move with many moving parts that leaked out slowly after it was done. The first, Utah is apparently waiving Chris Boucher.
The Utah Jazz plan to waive Chris Boucher, a league source told @hoopshype. Boucher will have the opportunity to sign with a playoff team and is expected to draw interest. He’s averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in his nine-year NBA career.
To make the deal happen, the Jazz sent Boston John Tonje to make everything work.
The Utah Jazz plan to waive Chris Boucher, a league source told @hoopshype. Boucher will have the opportunity to sign with a playoff team and is expected to draw interest. He’s averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in his nine-year NBA career.
It’s a small move, but a smart one. Utah picks up a trade asset, albeit a small one, for a player who was on the Salt Lake City Stars all season. They make the deal happen because it helps the Celtics with salary cap issues. These are moves that are easy to forget, but they are signs of a front office that is doing its homework and making sure it maximizes all of its assets.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: Duncan Robinson #55 and Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after Robinson made a three-point shot against the Golden State Warriors in the first hald at Chase Center on January 30, 2026 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons did exactly what they projected they would do for months — they decided to forgo a big swing that would cost major assets and instead worked on the edges of the roster to ensure that they were shoring up the biggest weakness on the team — shooting.
They didn’t add Michael Porter Jr., they didn’t make a big swing for Kawhi Leonard at the last minute, and they didn’t move any young core players or the big-salaried locker room presence of Tobias Harris. Instead, they gave one player no longer part of the future a fresh start and added a wing with some size who has historically, but not recently, shown that he can hit perimeter shots.
Here’s a summary of where things stand for the team after the NBA trade deadline:
The players the Pistons acquired:
Kevin Huerter
Dario Saric (likely to be waived)
2026 Pick Swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves (top-19 protected)
The picks and players the Pistons sent out:
Jaden Ivey
What it Means
Jaden Ivey is entering restricted free agency and no longer part of the Pistons’ plans. The writing was on the wall, and he wanted out so he could land somewhere with steady minutes and more offensive responsibility as he looks to get healthy and re-establish himself as a quality young player in the NBA.
He is being replaced by Kevin Huerter, a 6-foot-6 wing who has three inches on Ivey and is a 37% 3-point shooter. He’s struggled mightily this season (31%) and last, but he shoots at volume and will likely be more respected by defenses as a perimeter shooter than Ivey would have been.
The Pistons needed to add some size and stretch to the roster, and Huerter checks those boxes. But he needs to hit his shots, and he needs to shoot at volume. Having a second shooter to play alongside Duncan Robinson or to replace Robinson if you need a slightly better defender without losing the shooting threat.
The new, full Pistons roster
Cade Cunningham
Duncan Robinson
Ausar Thompson
Tobias Harris
Jalen Duren
Isaiah Stewart
Ron Holland
Kevin Huerter
Javonte Green
Daniss Jenkins (two-way)
Caris LeVert
Paul Reed
Marcus Sasser
Chaz Lanier
Bobi Klintman
Dario Saric
Tolu Smith (two-way)
Wendell Moore (two-way)
Though nothing is official yet, in the next day or so, the Pistons are expected to waive Dario Saric to create the roster room necessary to sign Daniss Jenkins to a standard NBA contract.
Pistons draft picks remaining
2026 1st (best of Minnesota Timberwolves or Detroit Pistons if Minnesota picks lands between 20-30).
2027 1st
2028 1st
2029 1st
2030 1st
2031 1st
2032 1st
The Pistons also own 15 future second-round picks between 2026-32.
Should the Pistons look for additional help in the buyout market?
The Pistons’ roster is full so adding any additional players would require releasing someone already on the roster. That would likely mean letting go of a developmental player such as Bobi Klintman, rookie Chaz Lanier, or Marcus Sasser, who is buried on the depth chart.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 4: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 4, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans Date: February 6th, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CST Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
With the trade deadline officially in the rearview mirror, we can finally stop living in the “refresh the webpage“ portion of the season and look at what the Timberwolves actually are for the stretch run.
And the answer is: they’re the same Wolves we’ve been watching all year, only now with one important twist. The Giannis-to-Minnesota smoke? No fire. No blockbuster. No franchise-altering earthquake. Instead, Tim Connelly went with the kind of move you make when you believe your roster is good enough to win in May and you’re just trying to sand down the one spot that keeps making the chair wobble.
So: out goes Mike Conley Jr., shipped to Chicago for cash considerations in an ending that’s a little sad, a little cold, and also kind of inevitable for a veteran whose role had already shifted this season. Then the bigger practical move: the Wolves send Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and some second-round picks to the Bulls for Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips. Not sexy. Not headline-grabbing. But it’s a real, adult trade deadline decision: add a functional ball-handler who can actually survive minutes in a playoff game.
And then, almost like the basketball gods were testing whether Minnesota could handle a week without spiraling, this team finally did the thing that’s been haunting them for more than two decades: they won in Toronto.
Twenty-two years. A curse that was old enough to buy a drink and play craps in Vegas.
And of course it didn’t come easy. It wasn’t a clean wire-to-wire “take care of business” win. It was Minnesota doing the Minnesota thing: sloppy stretches, casual defense, the deficit ballooning to 18 in the third quarter, the team treating the first 36 minutes like a scrimmage and then trying to win the game in the last 12.
But then the fourth quarter arrived, the screws finally tightened, and the Wolves actually guarded. Anthony Edwards threw on the hero cape, made the big plays, and Minnesota stole the game on the Raptors’ home floor. And afterwards Ant dropped the kind of quote that’s going to live in Wolves lore forever: Minnesota hadn’t won north of the border since Bruce Lee died. Which is both completely unhinged and also… kind of perfect? That’s the exact tone of a franchise trying to exorcise demons.
Which brings us to the next opponent: the Pelicans.
And this is where Wolves fans start making that face. The one where you’re happy, but you’re also bracing for impact. Because the Wolves’ toughest opponent this season hasn’t been OKC or San Antonio or Houston. It’s been the mirror. It’s been the version of themselves that decides effort is optional, that defense is something you can turn on late, that “we’ll figure it out in the fourth” is a personality trait instead of a red flag.
New Orleans is the exact kind of team you can play down to. The exact kind of team you can let hang around. The exact kind of game that becomes dangerous if you treat it like a glorified scrimmage, especially because we’ve already seen this matchup nearly go sideways. The first time these teams met in New Orleans, the Wolves needed overtime to escape. That’s not “easy win.” That’s “you got taken to the brink by a team you’re supposed to handle.”
And so, this game has become a professionalism test. Do the Wolves actually want to climb the standings, or do they want to keep wasting weeks?
And with that question in mind, here are the keys.
#1: Take it seriously from the opening tip, not from the eight-minute mark of the fourth. The Pelicans are bad enough that Minnesota can beat them while playing a B-minus game… but only if they don’t spend three quarters spotting them confidence. This is where the Wolves have repeatedly gotten themselves in trouble: they play with half-energy, they let the other team feel comfortable, and suddenly you’re in a possession game late where randomness can steal it from you. Minnesota needs to come out like a team that just learned a hard lesson in Memphis and Toronto. They need to win the 50–50 balls, get to rebounds like they matter, and play like they understand that there’s no such thing as a “quality loss” out West. If the Wolves set the tone early, New Orleans doesn’t have the horsepower to keep up.
#2: The perimeter defense has to show up. It’s incredible how different this team looks when the guards and wings actually treat point-of-attack defense like a job requirement. When Donte, Jaden, and Jaylen Clark are hunting, getting into bodies, cutting off lanes, and closing out with urgency, the Wolves become a miserable team to play. When they’re lazy, it turns into the same movie every time: blow-bys, scrambling rotations, Rudy cleaning up messes until he can’t, and a parade to the rim that makes the opponent look better than they are. The Wolves flipped the switch in Toronto’s fourth quarter. Great. Now do it for 48 minutes at home. The Pelicans can’t keep pace unless Minnesota gifts them easy stuff.
#3: Punish them with size. Gone are the Jonas Valančiūnas days for New Orleans, but don’t mistake that for “no interior threat.” Rookie Derik Queen gave Minnesota problems in the earlier matchups because he played hard, he competed on the glass, and he didn’t act like he was supposed to be impressed by the Wolves’ bigs. Rudy, Julius, and Naz can’t let a rookie outwork them again, not on their floor. This is where Minnesota should be able to build separation: win the rebound battle, create second-chance points, and turn New Orleans’ misses into demoralizing possessions where the Wolves get a putback, then a lob, then another offensive board. The Wolves have the bodies to make this a paint-nightmare for the Pelicans. They have to actually use them.
#4: Keep the ball moving. This is the trap game trap: you see a lesser opponent, and suddenly everybody wants to “get theirs.” Ant starts hunting highlights. Julius starts trying to bully through three guys. Possessions get sticky. The ball stops. And before you know it, you’ve turned a comfortable game into a grind because you’re playing exactly the kind of isolation basketball that lets an inferior team hang around. The Wolves need to push pace, and keep the offense from devolving into “my turn, your turn.” Make the Pelicans guard multiple actions. Let the open threes come from movement, not from heat-check ego.
#5: Be professionals, because the schedule is finally giving you oxygen, and you can’t waste it. This is the broader point. February has been set up pretty nicely for Minnesota. The deadline drama is over. The roster is what it is. The standings are tight enough that a two-week heater changes your life. But the Wolves have to stop acting like the season is something they can turn on whenever they feel like it. This game at Target Center against one of the weaker teams in the conference is exactly the kind of win a serious team banks without drama. And it starts with Ant and Randle setting the tone. If they come out locked in, everyone follows. If they come out casual, everyone follows that too. That’s what leadership is, for better or worse.
And here’s the thing: nobody’s coming to save them now. No Giannis cavalry. No deadline miracle. No external fix. The trade smoke is gone, the reality is here, and the reality is this roster has enough talent to make a real run.
But talent doesn’t win games by itself, not for this team. Not in this conference. Not with this many standings landmines.
So beat the Pelicans. Take the points. Stack the win. Keep climbing. Because if Minnesota is serious about turning Toronto into a turning point instead of a fun trivia answer, it starts with the simplest, least glamorous thing in the NBA:
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 2: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during Round 1, Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 2, 2021 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a much more interesting NBA Trade Deadline than Utah Jazz fans ever expected. The trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. has signaled a clear shift toward a more winning focus next season.
Here’s a summary of where things stand for the team after the NBA trade deadline:
The players and picks the Jazz acquired:
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Vince Williams Jr.
John Konchar
Jock Landale (traded)
Lonzo Ball (waived)
Chris Boucher (waived)
2028 Cleveland Cavaliers second-round pick
2032 Cleveland Cavaliers second-round pick
Cash considerations (from the Thunder for rights to Balsa Koprivica)
The picks and players the Jazz sent out:
2027 most favorable first-round pick of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah. Jazz will keep the second most favorable
2027 Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick (top-4 protected)
2031 Phoenix Suns first-round pick (unprotected)
Walter Clayton Jr.
Taylor Hendricks
Kyle Anderson
Georges Niang
John Tonje
Jock Landale (traded to Atlanta for cash considerations)
Lonzo Ball (waived)
Chris Boucher (waived)
The new, full Jazz roster
Keyonte George
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Lauri Markkanen
Ace Bailey
Walker Kessler
Cody Williams
Isaiah Collier
Vince Williams Jr.
John Konchar
Kyle Filipowski
Brice Sensabaugh
Svi Mykhailiuk
Jusuf Nurkic
Kevin Love
Elijah Harkless (two-way)
Oscar Tshiebwe (two-way)
Jazz draft picks remaining
2026 own first-round pick (top-8 protected. If outside of top-8, goes to Thunder)
2027 second most favorable first-round pick between Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah, the other goes to Phoenix
2028 own first-round pick or swap with Cleveland if more favorable
2029 own first-round pick + most favorable between Cleveland/Minnesota if the Minnesota pick is from 6-30, the least favorable of the three goes to the Charlotte Hornets. If the Minnesota pick is 1-5, Utah gets the most favorable of their pick and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ pick. The other goes to the Charlotte Hornets.
2030 own first-round pick
2031 own first-round pick
2032 own first-round pick
How well did the Jazz do this trade deadline? Let your voice be heard in the comments.
Here are some other things to consider…
Should the Jazz target anyone in the buyout market?
What does a contract for Walker Kessler look like this summer?
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 28: Kevin Huerter #13 of Chicago Bulls arrives to the arena before the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 28, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons made one move near the trade deadline — adding Kevin Huerter for Jaden Ivey — but you could say they were one of the least aggressive teams in the Eastern Conference. You certainly can’t say the same about the Washington Wizards, who have traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis in the past month. Of course, neither of those players is expected to play much, if at all, this season, as Washington spends one more season tanking before taking basketball seriously again. The Pistons will at least get to see Huerter suit up, and hopefully, he starts hitting 3s at a rate akin to his years with Atlanta. Detroit certainly needs him to. The Wizards are losing, and they don’t want to win, so let’s hope Detroit makes quick work of them tonight. They will have to do it without Tobias Harris, who is sitting out to rest an ailing hip. It’s almost like Detroit maybe should have traded for a legit backup power forward. Alas.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons -14.5
Arsenal need energy from home crowd, Florian Wirtz has found his groove and Liam Rosenior deserves respect
Daniel Farke is understood to have wanted a new goalkeeper during the January transfer window but the Leeds board failed to oblige. Might that decision ultimately cost the club their Premier League status? It will be interesting to see whether Farke recalls the recently dropped former Lyon goalkeeper, Lucas Perri, or keeps faith with Karl Darlow against Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on Friday night. Darlow, formerly second choice at Newcastle, struggled with crosses when Arsenal won 4-0 in West Yorkshire last Saturday and may approach a quintessential relegation six-pointer against Forest with dented confidence. What about Illan Meslier? Previously a star under Marcelo Bielsa, a keeper once hyped as France’s future No 1 has been demoted to third choice and has been discussing a potential move to Besiktas before Friday’s transfer deadline in Turkey. Talks only began after Leeds rejected a bid for Perri from Besiktas last week. Time will tell if that was that the right decision. Louise Taylor
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 23: The Colorado Rockies logo on the warm up circle before the MLB spring training baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies on February 23, 2024 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Pitchers and catchers report exactly one week from today with the rest of the squad following right behind them on Tuesday, February 17. Today, the Colorado Rockies announced their 2026 non-roster invitees.
They have chosen to invite eight pitchers and 12 position players, and 11 of the NRI’s joined the Rockies from different organizations. Below is a full list of the Rockies’ non-roster invitees, their PuRPs rankings (if applicable), and/or which organization they were part of last season.
Workouts start next week, but the first game isn’t until February 20. Which of these players are you most surprised to see? Are there any players you think were snubbed? Let us know in the comments!
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 4: Jericho Sims #00, Andre Jackson Jr. #44, Giannis Antetokounmpo #34, Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43, and Kevin Porter Jr. #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks stand for the national anthem prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 4, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
“Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” is the phrase Jon Horst must be saying after all the rage bait from the national media desperately begging the Milwaukee Bucks to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the Bucks have gotten through the trade deadline with they’re superstar still in Milwaukee and a few new faces.
Here’s a summary of where things stand for the team after the NBA trade deadline:
2026 first (will receive the less favorable of their pick and the Pelicans’)
2026 second from Utah (only if pick 55 or later)
2028 first (will receive the less favorable between theirs, Portland’s, and Washington’s)
2030 first (will receive least favorable between theirs and Portland’s)
2031 first
2032 first
Now that the cloud of Giannis departure rumors is gone for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see what the Bucks do for the remainder of the season. Do you believe they push for a playoff spot or try to improve their draft lottery odds?
The Six Nations is under way and already a couple of things are crystal clear. It is going to take a seriously good team to beat France in Paris in this year’s championship and watching them attack will be an absolute treat. Ireland were not so much beaten as outplayed by opponents who will be even more dangerous with a dry ball at their disposal.
Never mind the argument about brief in-game adverts during ITV’s coverage. Irish fans would probably have preferred a total 80-minute blackout or, failing that, an entire evening of cookery programming. Instead those back at home had to watch the visitors being repeatedly sliced and diced by seemingly ravenous hosts. Talk about eating your greens.
In an NCAA affidavit filed on Thursday, Feb. 5 in Tuscaloosa County (Alabama) Circuit Court, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey asked the court to side with the NCAA’s eligibility rules and rule against Bediako.
“I respectfully ask the Court to uphold the NCAA eligibility rules challenged in this case, which are essential to the integrity of college sports, to the educational mission they serve, and to the opportunities they provide for current and future student-athletes,” Sankey wrote in the affidavit.
After playing 82 games across three seasons in the G League, Bediako, who played for Alabama from 2021-23, was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA on Jan. 21 by Judge James Roberts Jr. that made him immediately eligible.
Since his legal victory, Bediako has played in four games for the Crimson Tide, averaging 9.5 points, five rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Alabama has gone 2-2 in those games, dropping them from the top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Roberts, an Alabama donor, has since recused himself from Bediako’s eligibility case. Bediako’s next hearing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6, one day before the Crimson Tide play on the road against archrival Auburn. The hearing will be heard by Judge Daniel Pruet.
The NCAA is arguing that Bediako’s multiple professional contracts he signed since leaving Alabama after the 2022-23 season make him ineligible to return to the sport, according to the organization’s longstanding eligibility rules.
Sankey agrees with the NCAA’s stance, writing in the affidavit that the rules are “grounded in the principle that college athletics are reserved for current college athletes who are actively pursuing a degree while also participating in college sports and for future college athletes who seek to benefit from the unique educational, athletic, and leadership opportunities provided through college sports.”
Sankey added that granting Bediako eligibility could “open the door to undermining fundamental principles.”
Bediako’s return to college basketball comes during a period of substantial and rapid change in the sport. The 7-footer is one of several former G League players who have been added to a college roster for this season, though Bediako’s the only one who previously played on a Division I team. Former European professional players have joined teams across the country, as well.
In a message posted on social media, Darren Heitner, one of Bediako's representatives, said the NCAA has contradicted its own rules by granting eligibility to players like Santa Clara's Thierry Darlan and BYU's Abdullah Ahmed, both of whom played in the G League, and Baylor's James Nnaji, who played professionally in Europe and was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft.
"These waivers demonstrate selective enforcement, undermining Sankey's assertion that inconsistent application fuels disruption," Heitner wrote. "Courts in similar cases have highlighted such inconsistencies as evidence of arbitrary decision-making. Also, Sankey's reliance on outdated principles of amateurism and academic integration is not aligned with the current realities of college athletes and the proliferation of NIL deals."
Heitner added that the affidavit is "littered with conclusory statements that are not tied to specific facts or data."
Greg Sankey's emphasis on the need for consistent application of eligibility rules to avoid disruption in college sports is contradicted by the NCAA's own recent practices.
As evidenced by multiple eligibility grants, the NCAA has waived similar rules for former professional… https://t.co/J9heRpP8JN
Bediako has become a source of perpetual controversy since his first game back. Several high-profile coaches have blasted the development, including Michigan State's Tom Izzo, who described it as "utterly ridiculous." During a 100-77 loss at reigning national champion Florida, Gators fans chanted "G League dropout" at him throughout the game.
Sankey’s input to the Bediako case comes as several of his conference’s schools are engaged in high-profile eligibility battles, including Mississippi (with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss) and Tennessee (with quarterback Joey Aguilar).
Artemi Panarin is pictured during the Rangers' Jan. 26 game against the Bruins.
Artemi Panarin admits he had his sights set on Hollywood, insisting Thursday that he “didn’t want to go anywhere else” after it was clear he would not be re-signed by the Rangers.
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One day after agreeing to waive his no-movement clause with the Blueshirts to facilitate a trade to Los Angeles, Panarin said he “tried to find a team for myself that was where I wanted to be.”
That new team is the Kings, who signed the potential free agent to a two-year contract extension worth $22 million after sending forward prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional draft pick to the Rangers.
“Six-and-a-half seasons is a pretty long time [to be in New York]. … A lot of good memories, a couple [Eastern] Conference finals. It was a great group of guys,” Panarin told reporters Thursday on a Zoom call. “I was pretty proud to wear [the Rangers’] jersey. And thank you to the fans. I have to make a video, actually.”
Artemi Panarin is pictured during the Rangers’ Jan. 26 game against the Bruins. Charles Wenzelberg
The 34-year-old Panarin stressed that due to his wife and two children, he “didn’t want to be rented for a couple months, then go somewhere else” in free agency.
“I don’t know if I should say [this], but I feel like the [Rangers’] contract offer said, like, ‘We’re not sure if we want you or not,’ ” Panarin said.
Panarin, the Rangers’ leading scorer in each of his seven seasons with the team, said he sought and received an endorsement of the Kings from Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who played in Los Angeles for parts of the previous three seasons.
Trojans big man Trayce Jackson-Davis cuts down his piece of the net after Center Grove won the Johnson County tournament title Monday night at Edinburgh. Dw6h7gxwsaaokdy
Several former Indiana high school boys basketball players were on the move this week with the impending NBA trade deadline on Thursday afternoon.
Few states do a better job of sending talent to the professional ranks than Indiana, so it’s not surprising that so many players found themselves on new teams. It became a bit of a running joke as Thursday wore on, with more and more talent from the Hoosier State popping up in trade news.
Here’s who was moved:
Eric Gordon, North Central High School – Indianapolis
From Philadelphia 76ers to Memphis Grizzlies
Gordon, who’s been in the NBA since 2008, starred at Indiana for one season under head coach Kelvin Sampson. It’ll be interesting to see where his career goes from here as one of the oldest active players in the league.
Mike Conley Jr., Lawrence North High School – Indianapolis
From Minnesota Timberwolves to Charlotte Hornets (waived)
Conley starred at Lawrence North alongside Greg Oden before the two took their talents to Ohio State and Thad Matta. Like Gordon, it’ll be interesting to see where Conley goes from here after being waived by the Hornets.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Park Tudor/La Lumiere – Indianapolis/La Porte
From Memphis Grizzlies to Utah Jazz
Jackson Jr. was sent to the Jazz as the Grizzlies undergo what looks to be a franchise rebuild. With plenty of younger stars in Utah, it’ll be interesting to see how Jackson fits into that mix.
Jaden Ivey, Marian High School/La Lumiere – Mishawaka/La Porte
From Detroit Pistons to Memphis Grizzlies
Ivey spent two seasons starring at Purdue and developing before being selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. He’ll look for a fresh start in Chicago as he looks to fit into a rotation that figures to feature plenty of talent in the backcourt.
Trayce Jackson Davis, Center Grove High School – Greenwood
From Golden State Warriors to Toronto Raptors
Jackson-Davis spent four seasons starring at Indiana before being selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He was a rotational piece with Golden State and battled for minutes in the frontcourt, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of chance he’ll be given with the Raptors.
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