Rob Pelinka, the Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager, had high praise for Luke Kennard, the NBA team’s newest acquisition.
“Clearly, right now, he’s the game’s best shooter,” Pelinka said to a handful of reporters before Kennard made his Lakers debut in Saturday’s matchup against the Warriors. “When you get to add the best shooter in the game to your group at the deadline, it’s a great opportunity. So, we seized it.”
Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers arrives to the arena before the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Statistically, Pelinka is right. Kennard was shooting 49.7% from beyond the arc this season entering Saturday to lead the NBA.
And for a team that’s struggled with its outside shooting for most of the season, shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc (No. 21 in the league entering Saturday), Kennard will fill a need.
“We just felt like the gravity and space he could create for the group with LeBron (James), or with Luka (Doncic), or Austin (Reaves), just being a reliable guy that could create space, hit big shots in big games and really help us on a playoff run.
“We’ve really been hopeful to see our big three on the court at the same time in terms of Austin Reaves, Luka and LeBron, and we’ve just had limited reps of that,” Pelinka said. “So we’ll be excited when we get that and see what that group could do because we feel like there’s some power in those three players playing together. We felt like adding Luke when those three guys are on the court would actually be really helpful. Just to create some optionality with different lineups, like an all-shooting lineup with Rui (Hachimura) and Luke, and maybe those three guys if you decide to go small in a playoff series.”
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By trading Gabe Vincent and their 2032 second-round pick for Kennard ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, the Lakers maintained their “optionality” for the offseason.
The Lakers can trade three of their first-round draft picks (2026, 2031 and 2033).
They’ll also have five players who’ll become unrestricted free agents in the summer after their contracts expire (James, Hachimura, Kennard, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes).
The Lakers also have three players with player options for 2026-27 (Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart), potentially creating significant cap flexibility for the franchise.
Rob Pelinka, speaking to a handful of beat reporters, on the Lakers' acquisition of Luke Kennard: "I think clearly, right now, he's the game's best shooter. When you get to add the best shooter in the game to your group at the deadline, it's a great opportunity. So, we seized… pic.twitter.com/U6SLT5Ehq6
“It’s clear for all the teams in the league that this dual-apron system is harsh and strict,” Pelinka said. “We felt like creating optionality or having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason. Because there’s some teams that maybe have gotten too deep into the aprons. And I think players, we see around the league, become available when teams get in that position. So, whether it’s through free agency, whether it’s keeping our own players, whether it’s looking around the league for players that are really good that maybe teams are trying to get off salary, we feel like there’ll be so many different ways to complete our roster in the offseason.”
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) handles the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Luke Kennard (4) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. AP
Pelinka said the team was “aggressive” ahead of the trade deadline.
“And one form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short- and long-term future,” he said. “Because it’s hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix but could have implications for the long term where it doesn’t fit into the overall vision you have for the team.
“We were very aggressive. We worked incredibly hard. We evaluated numerous things.”
Pelinka reiterated his belief in the current group’s ability to contend for an NBA title. The Lakers entered Saturday with a 31-19 record despite Doncic, James and Reaves playing alongside each other in only 10 games so far this season.
“We believe in the power of this group,” Pelinka said. “We want to see what this team can do with the rest of the season. I wouldn’t underestimate the power of what a group of brothers can do when they come together for a playoff run. We feel like we have a really good roster, and we want to get healthy and make a run, and that will help us evaluate end-of-the-season stuff, too. We haven’t made any decisions about any of that prematurely.”
LOS ANGELES — In his first media availability with reporters since the sale of the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family to Mark Walter, the franchise’s president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged there will be an expansion of the organization’s front office personnel.
And he mentioned that he and Jeanie Buss, the franchise’s governor and former majority owner, will lead the process in additions to come.
“When Mark bought the team, Jeanie and I did a deep dive with him on sort of the areas he wants to grow, move into and get aggressive,” Pelinka said to a handful of beat reporters ahead of Saturday’s home game against the Golden State Warriors. “And again, looking at the Dodgers and how they built it out has been a great sort of example and North Star. And so we’re still going through that process of how we’ll look in the offseason and what additions we’ll make. But there will be some positive changes and we will build things out, again, led by myself and Jeanie, and with Mark’s support.”
Walter, who’s also the majority of the Dodgers, agreed to terms to buy a majority stake of the Lakers last summer and officially became the majority owner in late October.
The Dodgers have appeared in five World Series and won three, including being reigning back-to-back champions, since Walter and the Guggenheim Baseball Management group Walter leads purchased the franchise in 2012.
“Mark Walter establishes an incredible standard of excellence and he has been really enjoyable to collaborate with,” Pelinka said. “Jeanie and I have had several amazing conversations with him and keep him informed on all the details. And so the three of us are working really, really strongly and well together. And it’s also been great to have sort of outside allies and advocates.
“Looking at the Dodgers and the success they’ve had and what they’ve built over there, and being able to tap into a person like [Dodgers president of baseball operations] Andrew Friedman for best practices. He’s so incredibly smart and has done such an amazing job bringing championships to the Dodgers. To have like another head of another team that you can – whether it’s a roster move, whether it’s a staff move – just someone that you can talk to has been an incredible resource.”
As part of the sale, Buss will remain the Lakers governor for “at least five years”, according to the NBA.
Pelinka and coach JJ Redick also received contract extensions in 2025 before the sale was official, with Pelinka being promoted from vice president of basketball operations to president. Redick’s extension keeps him under contract with the Lakers through the 2029-30 season.
The Lakers made several front office/scouting terminations earlier in the season, including firing Joey and Jesse Buss, Jeanie’s younger siblings. In addition to having ownership stakes in the franchise, Joey Buss was the organization’s vice president of research and development, while Jesse was an assistant general manager and director of scouting.
Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, with the latter being the Dodgers former general manager and current special advisor, began advisory roles with the Lakers in the fall.
“Just their draft process and sort of how they’ve established their farm system is amazing,” Pelinka said of how the Lakers can learn from the Dodgers’ success. “There’s best practices in that as we evolve and get better going forward in those areas. And then just the way they’ve sort of built out their front office, how deep it is. There is no expense they’ll spare in being the best sort of front office in the world. And you could just see that in the way they operate. And we’ve done a really good job here, Jeanie’s been incredibly supportive, but I think now we’ll have an opportunity just with extra resources that Mark brings to build it out and become even better. So that’s going to be an exciting thing for us in the offseason that Jeanie and I will lead. And we’re excited about that.”
In addition to the new ownership change, Pelinka also addressed the addition of Luke Kennard ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, calling Kennard, “the game’s best shooter.”
With the Lakers having one standard roster spot open, they can sign a free agent or convert one of their two-way players to a standard contract.
“We are in sort of active conversations with some players that are available now, doing our due diligence,” Pelinka said. “Players down the road could come in through the buyout market. So we are evaluating that 15th roster spot and at some point probably will likely fill it.”
Jun 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second base Nolan Gorman (16) celebrates his home run with shortstop Masyn Winn (0) against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
It happened. It stinks, but it happened. The St. Louis Cardinals are in full rebuild (as evidenced by FanDuel’s 69.5 win total), but that reality has sunk in enough that fans seem to embrace the idea of growing pains with the young, but talented roster.
With the trade of Brendan Donovan, who it looked like was going to be heading to Jupiter with the team before the three-team deal with the Mariners, the Cardinals projected starting lineup has a total of three hitters over the age of 27, with one of them being the oft and currently injured Lars Nootbaar. That leaves Alec Burleson and Pedro Pages as the elders of the clubhouse as the team searches for their next leader on and off the field. Burly and Pages both have just over three years of MLB experience, so the team that we see taking the field at Busch next year will likely be learning the big league game together. Now that Donnie is in Seattle and the roster is complete outside of the rumored righty power outfielder, it seems like a fair time to see how that trade impacts the lineup to start the 2026 season. In case you missed it, I had Redbird Farmhands and Aidan Gray from Redbirds on the Arch, as well as Tampa Bay Rays contributor Roman Rodriguez on my podcast to discuss the trade from those sides.
Who’s on second? And third? And DHing? And playing the outfield? All questions the Cardinals must answer in 2026
According to FanGraphs, the starting nine for the Cardinals are 28-years-old or under, with Lars Nootbaar being the eldest of the group. The outfielder’s health is a problem of its own, but I guess until we hear any update on his health, we have to trust Bloom and expect that Noot will be healthy and at the top of the order. Interestingly, this FanGraphs projection also points out how the entire lineup consists of homegrown talent, with five of the nine starters being selected in the first and second round. For as much grief as Mozeliak gets, that entire projected lineup was acquired during his reign, and its not like these players are bottom of the barrel major leaguers. The vast majority of them, if not all, would be likely find a major league taker if the Cardinals were to simply cut these players loose like certain Cardinals “fan” social media accounts imply.
So with the departures of lineup fixtures Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras, what does the Cardinals Opening Day lineup look like as of early February? This is probably easier to predict the players involved than it is to guess the starting five in the rotation at this moment, but the order in which these players hit is likely to be up for conversation for much of the season’s first half. The FanGraphs projection has Pedro Pages starting at catcher with Ivan Herrera at DH. While I think this could be a real possibility at some point during the year, I think it is more likely that Oli Marmol will stick to his word and allow Herrera the chance to start 3-4 times per week at the start of the season.
The other defensive question comes at second and third base, with each of Nolan Gorman and Rookie of the Year co-favorite JJ Wetherholt as the likeliest outcomes at those spots. Where they spend most of their time will again be a talking point, but it seems like Wetherholt has been spending most of his time, as well as being most comfortable, at second base. Hopefully, the Cardinals will not want to tweak with position alignment too much in Wetherholt’s rookie season, as we have seen what learning new positions in the bigs as well as adjusting to major league pitching at the same time can do to the beginning of a career. Because of this, Gorman will probably switch back to his natural spot at the hot corner, despite below-average marks there after bouncing back to third base at times last season.
Speaking of positions, I get irked at times when people just suggest that so and so should try the outfield or first base. While it is likely that these high level athletes can handle it, I see too many suggestions in-season for someone like Herrera to “try first base” while having a total of six appearances at any level at the position. I do believe that he is athletic enough to figure out how to play first, or even be a potential fit in the outfield, but again, we need to remain focused on one thing at a time and right now, I see that primary focus as offensive production for basically every person in the order.
The adoption of the designated hitter by the NL on a full-time basis was one I was against for the majority of my baseball life, but as I got older and the game changed, whether we like it or not, getting rid of pitchers (like myself) at the plate made the most sense for the league. What I have found interesting, though, is that the days of the big, beefy, bomber at DH seems to be gone and the NL has been slower to adopt to the DH spot being a position for homers and/or extending careers of those power hitters. According to FanGraphs sortable DH data from 2022 through the 2025 season, nine of the top 15 teams are AL teams when sorted by offensive value, because somehow defensive value is a DH measure available on the site.
Of the six NL teams cracking the top half, all six have been in the playoffs since the adoption of the DH, but the drop off in value from the top five to the next 10 is exponentially greater. For example, the Phillies rank 4th with a 131.2 value, while the Cardinals come in at 13th with a 32.1 value. The other three at the top are Yankees (261.6), Dodgers (171.6), and Astros (143.1). The Cardinals have not settled on one player being the everyday DH, typically using a rotation for players to get half days off. Personally, I think that they could have (the options are limited now), used the DH spot to invest in a Kyle Schwarber-lite and find someone who can hit 30+ homers to actually inject some life into the lineup while not blocking youngsters on the defensive side.
Back to the lineup. With Donnie gone, we can change our pencil to erasable pen that Wetherholt will be ticketed for St. Louis out of Spring Training. I fully expect him to break camp with the team, but I also want to be fair to him, the organization, and make sure to not get too far ahead like we did for Walker, Scott, Carlson, and so on, and so on…
The leadoff spot will be up for grabs if Nootbaar is not ready for the opener, and the in-house options look like Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II as the table setter. VSII has the gamebreaking speed to cause chaos, as long as he can fine tune his approach to get on base more often in 2026. He has spent nearly his entire major league career sitting in the ninth spot, the other, and potentially more likely outcome for Scott. Winn has been the leadoff man in 112 of his 316 games, with 62 games in the second spot, and another 61 hitting ninth. So far, hitting first has been a struggle for Winn due to his aggressiveness at the plate, but his refined approach, maturity, and health could make him an electric player to start the offense for the Cardinals. He has shown more patience in the minors, but asking for a walk rate approaching 10% may be a difficult task for Winn, and I would personally rather have him swing away than be passive at the plate because I believe he has some more power and speed potential that he is still hoping to unlock. I did see Wetherholt mentioned as possible in the comments, but I would be surprised if his debut season was spent at the top of the order until he proves himself at the big league level.
Two through four are going to be the engine of the order, just like most quality teams. In some order, I would expect Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, and then my pick to click for this year, Nolan Gorman. I understand those that have jumped off the Gorm train years ago, as I have been close, but I think this year is truly the season the organization learns who he will be. Yes, Gorman has the second-most career at-bats on the roster, but those 1500+ appearances have been unevenly spread over four strange seasons for the infielder. The pop is there in potential for all three of these middle of the order players, but we have yet to see sustained power numbers that could make the trio push for 90+ homers on the year. If we can approach that (75-80 this year), much of my offseason negativity towards the lack of home runs the Cardinals have had in their lineup for much of the 2020s, where they are 21st in homers and 16th in slug.
The bottom-third of the order is where we will probably have to wait and see Wetherholt, and with Marmol’s desire to go lefty/righty, his spot could be determined by wherever Burleson and Gorman end up. If Burly or Gorm end up hitting fourth over Herrera, we could see Wetherholt pushed down to sixth for whoever fills the DH spot, assuming Herrera is slotting in behind the plate. The lack of answer at DH could be a reason why Marmol would hesitate to start the Panamanian at catcher regularly, especially with Pedro Pages available to handle the pitching staff albeit with a needed progression on offense. That will be a probable outcome when Herrera needs a day or struggles defensively, but until then, we might see a mix of Gorman, Thomas Saggese, and Jose Fermin mixing in as the full-time hitter. Both Saggese and Fermin offer positional versatility, so they could also give Gorm and/or Wetherholt a needed day in the field and swap spots. Neither player, though, possesses the power potential expected from a DH, but both profile strong enough offensively to work their way into regular at-bats in this season of evaluation.
If Noot is healthy, this is also where Masyn Winn can slot in. As a six or seven hitter, Winn could find a way to tap into his offensive potential if the guys in front of him do their job. There will absolutely be extended period of lineup growing pains this season, but from watching the team nearly everyday, I feel like the lineup could be an underrated part of the Cardinals, while understanding that the low expectations is due to the overall lack of experience and production to this point. I believe, that a year of seasoning for the other nine in the lineup around Wetherholt, we have the potential of seeing leaps across the order, including who I see hitting eighth in Jordan Walker.
Had Bloom made good on his wishlist of wanting a power righty in the outfield, that could have spelled more trouble for Walker than Noot or Scott. As things stand, though, everyday right fielder makes the most sense, like it or not, for Walker and the Cardinals. Because of his mismanagement to start his career, Walker has just one minor league option season remaining and I would be shocked if the Cardinals burned that option in a year meant for runway and opportunity. As is the case in most offseasons, we have heard positive reviews on Walker’s work ethic and his positivity that he is going to turn a corner in 2026. If he is able to match the ZiPS projections set for him by Dan Szymborski, Walker would put up a .232 batting average with 14 homers and a much reduced K-rate. According to the site, this would put Walker at an 88 wRC+ for the season, still below-average but a massive jump from his bummer 66 wRC+ he put up last season. That type of production, along with gains in the stolen base and fielding departments, would do well for Walker’s confidence and future in the league.
The rest of the lineup could set up Victor Scott II in the nine hole, unless he gets a shot to prove his value at the top of the order sans Noot. We have heard about the adjustments he has made to his offensive approach, and hopefully those show up in the box score. Scott has set his goal at 70 stolen bases this season, but he needs to find ways to get on base more consistently for that to happen. With him hitting ninth with a walk or single having the potential to turn into a double really quickly, his presence anywhere in the order could do a lot to get the offense moving.
At this point, the starting nine looks mostly set with defensive alignment and slots in the order left to be settled upon. Heading into Spring Training, I admit that I’ll be more focused on the games than I have in the past with a lineup that had veterans entrenched into positions or a roster without much turnover. The pitching may be the ultimate competition in Jupiter, but the lineup construction will be an extensive story that likely won’t be settled upon when the team heads north.
SELF PROMO OF THE WEEK
I already linked the Cardinals on My Time where I spoke with the fellas from Redbirds on the Arch and Roman, the Tampa Bay Rays contributor. For those that followed COMT on your podcast platform of choice, I have merged with Redbird Rundown so all future pods will be posted there. Link to RR Spotify.
This week’s Random Cardinal of the Week featured the pitcher who threw the last no-hitter for St. Louis. I know this audience knows that without researching, but he is pretty random.
Finally, Redbird Rundown discussed the Donovan trade, Cardinals TV (where I go off on National broadcasts and MLB layoffs), and a short segment during February pointing out lesser known Black Cardinals during Black History Month. This goes live at 6pm on YouTube and audio.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves runs to first base after hitting a two-run homer to score himself and Matt Olson in the first inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is some video out there of Ronald Acuña playing second base. There’s also footage of Acuña crushing a pitch while swinging left handed. How bananas would it be to see him play 162 games as a switch-hitting second baseman? Ivan ran the numbers, and he said that he would be worth approximately 3700 WAR doing that in 2026. Honestly, right field and designated hitter is fine, Ronnie. Please take care of that lower body.
Spring Training is the time of year to see players trying out some different things. So which Braves players will play out of position this Spring? I would be curious to see Eli White playing some second base. I don’t think they see him as an infielder, but he might have to play there to make it as the last or second to last guy on the bench. There might be some center field in the future for John Gil. I don’t if we’ll see it this early in his career, though.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 26: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees hits a two run home run in the third inning against Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles during their game at Yankee Stadium on September 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After finishing last in the AL East division in 2025, this offseason the Orioles have set to work re-building. They added power to the lineup in the form of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, a lockdown ninth inning in closer Ryan Helsley, and two starter signings, Shane Baz and Zach Eflin, to steady the rotation, although many feel they’re still missing an ace.
But how do these moves stack up with the rest of the competition? The AL East is always a behemoth, and several competitors have made noteworthy moves.
NYY: Last season, the Yankees finished 94-68 and lost to Toronto in the ALDS. This offseason, they re-signed Cody Bellinger and brought back Trent Grisham, plus they’ve got closer David Bednar solidifying their bullpen after last year’s trade deadline pickup.
TOR: The Blue Jays made it to the World Series and missed a championship by inches. Since then, they’ve loaded up on pitching with Dylan Cease (seven years, $210 million), Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers, and they also added power in the form of slugger Kazuma Okamoto.
BOS: After finishing third in the division last year, the Red Sox have gone big on pitching, signing Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million deal and trading for Sonny Gray to pair with Garrett Crochet.
TBR: Tampa Bay finished in fourth place last season, two games ahead of the Orioles, and they’ve made a lot of minor moves this offseason. They shipped out starter Shane Baz to the Orioles for four prospects, unloaded second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and lefty reliever Mason Montgomery, traded outfielder Josh Lowe to the Angels and acquired second baseman Gavin Lux from the Reds in a three-team swap, along with veteran outfielders Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley and left-hander Steven Matz.
So where do the O’s slot in in this group? I’d say third feels about right to me—good enough for a wild card push, but trailing the loaded Blue Jays and steady Yankees. Then again, maybe Alonso mashes 45 homers and the rotation exceeds expectations.
What’s your ranking, Camden Chat? Tell us in the comments.
Jun 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies hall of fame pitcher Jim Bunting (right) and outfielder Dick Allen react after Bunting threw out the first pitch before game against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. Bunting pitched a perfect game on Father's Day, June 21, 1964. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
At some point in our lives, we decided to descend into some kind of loathing. We decided to pledge our undying allegiance to a team that would simultaneously break our hearts and fill them with love at the same time.
We decided to become a Phillies fan.
But when was it? What was the year that changed how you watch the Phillies? There had to have been a time when the team did something that made you fundamentally change how you take in the team. For some of an older age, 1964 is going to leave scars forever. Mention 1993 to a bunch of fans and pain will almost immediately scramble their brains.
At some point, there was a year in which something flipped. What year was it?
Feb 7, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Chet Holmgren (7) defends during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets were facing and Oklahoma City Thunder squad missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as Jalen Williams and Ajay Wilson, but a win is a win, and the Rockets needed one to get back on track. Alperen Sengun finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks to lead the Rockets with his second triple double of the season. He was 6-for-12 from the floor and also really had things going as a facilitator.
Houston was led on scoring, however, by Tari Eason, who finished with 26 points, 8 boards and 3 steals. The Rockets wisely kept Eason out of trade talks, as they look for an extension after the season, when Eason will be a restricted free agent. Eason was 5-for-13 from three, and when he’s playing well, the Rockets are a better team. They need him playing — Eason has only played in 60 percent of his possible games as a Rocket.
Kevin Durant was just 6-for-10 shooting for 20 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, a steal and a block. The Rockets are also a better team when Durant isn’t shooting the ball 20-plus times, and that played itself out here against the Thunder, though there were some clutch Durant moments down the stretch, including a shot that out the Rockets up six with just a minute left in the game. This is how the Rockets need to operate. Team ball the whole way, and then let KD close it out.
Jabari Smith Jr. had another good game, and he seems to be breaking out of his slump a little bit. Jabari finished with 22 points, 10 boards, a steal and a block, as well as played some pretty good defense. The guy is painfully streaky player, which is not out of the ordinary for a 22-year-old. I still see the vision with Jabari, though I’ve admittedly been on the Smith train since the beginning, so I may be biased, but it’s certainly not yet time to give up on his long-term success.
Reed Sheppard finished with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals, rounding out every Rockets starter in double figures, though he continues to struggle from three, going just 1-for-4. The Rockets got very little from their bench, as Houston’s previously vaunted depth has taken a huge hit. The Rockets got 11 total bench points, with 8 coming from JD Davison. Who’s going to provide scoring punch off of the bench for Houston right now?
That’s an issue for another day, however, as the Rockets are back on the winning track in the meantime, moving to 32-19 on the season. The Rockets will be back in action on Tuesday against the L.A. Clippers, as they play back-to-back nights in H-town before the break.
The Toronto Raptors continue their homestand when they welcome the skidding Indiana Pacers to Scotiabank Arena this afternoon.
Scottie Barnes continues to pile up the points and rebounds, and I’ll explain why he’s due for another double-double in my Pacers vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks below.
Pacers vs Raptors prediction
Pacers vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes to record a double-double (+130)
Scottie Barnes had a quiet game in Thursday’s win against the Bulls with just 13 points and six rebounds, but that was an outlier in what’s been a strong season for the Toronto Raptors forward.
Barnes has been a jack of all trades for the Raptors with 23 double-doubles this season — 11th most in the NBA and the fifth most among forwards.
The 24-year-old has claimed three double-doubles in his last six contests and should be able to add another to his total this afternoon vs. a struggling Indiana Pacers team.
Not only do the Pacers rank 24th in points allowed per game (118.4), but they’re also 27th in opponent rebounds per contest (46.9).
Barnes, who leads the Raptors with 8.3 rpg this year, will be even more integral on the glass with center Jakob Poeltl listed as questionable with a back issue. Look for him to dominate the Pacers on the scoreboard and on the glass.
Pacers vs Raptors same-game parlay
Brandon Ingram is fresh off a 33-point outing on Thursday and has gone Over 23.5 points in four of his last five contests. The Raps forward is poised for a big game vs. a weak Pacers defense.
Toronto is a big favorite this afternoon, and for good reason. The Pacers are in the midst of a three-game skid and lost by 14 points to the Raptors three weeks ago.
Pacers vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes to record a double-double
Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
Raptors moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Barnes & Noble
If the Raps are going to win big today, they’ll need help from all around the lineup. Sandro Mamukelashvili has provided plenty of scoring off the bench, averaging 11.4 ppg this season while dropping Over 10.5 points in three straight and eight of his last 11.
Pacers vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes to record a double-double
Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
Sandro Mamukelashvili Over 10.5 points
Raptors -8.5
Pacers vs Raptors odds
Spread: Pacers +8.5 | Raptors -8.5
Moneyline: Pacers +270 | Raptors -340
Over/Under: Over 225 | Under 225
Pacers vs Raptors betting trend to know
The Raptors are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 head-to-head meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Raptors.
How to watch Pacers vs Raptors
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Tip-off
3:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Indiana, Sportsnet
Pacers vs Raptors latest injuries
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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 24: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket as Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics plays defense during the game on October 24, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In a far too early matinee, the Knicks (33*-19) face the Celtics (34-18) at TD Garden. This is a matchup of two Eastern Conference heavyweights, although the Knicks more resemble a boxer at the end of a fight—bloodied, swollen-eyed, with at least two sprained ankles.
On December 2, 2025, Boston defeated New York 123-117, with Jaylen Brown scoring 42 points for the Celtics and Mikal Bridges topping the Knicks with 35 points. Q: Was that the smudged jersey game? Answer below!
Boston holds the league’s second-best offensive rating at 121, the seventh-best defensive rating at 113.4, and scores 115.6 points per game. Brown averages 29.5 points per game and shoots 36% from deep. Derrick White averages 17.4 points per game and shoots 32% from downtown, while Payton Pritchard averages 17.3 points per game and shoots 37% from downstairs. Newly acquired veteran center Nikola Vucevic averages 11 points and grabs 12 rebounds per game.
Boston’s likely starting five is Sam Hauser (39% 3P), Luka Garza (46% 3P), Neemias Queta (8.4 RPG), Brown, and White.
The good news for us is that this promises to be Jose Alvarado’s debut for the Knicks. Otherwise, yikes. New York lists Karl-Anthony Towns (eye laceration), Josh Hart (ankle), and OG Anunoby (toe) as questionable. And of course, Deuce McBride is out indefinitely due to hernia surgery. The villains list Sam Hauser as questionable due to a back problem. So they’ll be mostly full strength. Sigh.
ESPN gives New York a 42% chance to win. Fair ’nuff. This beat-up club was clobbered by Detroit on Friday, not even 48 hours ago. The Knicks must neutralize Brown and control the rebounds to pull off the road upset. With KAT and OG uncertain and Hart suffering, this early affair could be a toss-off on the road to a get-well All-Star break. A win would fill our sails with the certainty that even banged up, our boys can defeat one of our toughest conference rivals. A loss? Don’t sweat it too much.
A: Google tells me that the Jaylen SmudgeGame was played on October 24. During the third quarter, when Brown swiped his head across Anunoby’s midsection, a mysterious dark residue from Brown’s dome transferred to Anunoby’s kit. Shoe polish, we believe. Lest we forget a moment of Boston embarrassment!
Game Details
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 Time: 12:30 PM ET Place: TD Garden, Boston, MA TV: ABC / ESPN Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
The struggling Miami Heat try to shake a recent funk when they visit the capital city on Super Bowl Sunday to take on the Washington Wizards.
The Wiz are clearly happy to tank, but is Miami able to take that win? My Heat vs. Wizards predictions and NBA picks expect what the books expect: a comfortable Heat win.
Heat vs Wizards prediction
Heat vs Wizards best bet: Heat -11 (-110)
The Washington Wizards played last night and got ripped 127-113 by the Nets. They're just 3-5 against the spread playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
Defense continues to be a problem for the Wizards, who rank second-last in the NBA in points allowed at 122 per contest.
This roster is a little in shambles, too. Most notably, leading scorer Alex Sarr (ankle) and leading set-up man Kyshawn George (knee) missed yesterday's game and are a game-time decision. They are two of nine players who currently occupy the injured list, with seven sitting out against the Nets.
The Miami Heat are a cool 4-2 ATS as a road favorite, but leading scorer Norman Powell (hand) and Bam Adebayo (hip) are on the injured list and listed as game-time decisions.
The Heat are a Top-10 scoring defense, but they haven’t looked it lately. They’ve lost four of their last six, and have surrendered at least 125 points in three of those losses.
Miami has won four of the last five head-to-head matchups, and all of them have been blowouts, winning by 12+ points in each. The Wiz won the last game they played, though, surviving a 1-point win.
Normally, I’d lean on the home team and the points, but this Washington team feels like a compilation of promising talent that can’t be woven together by injured stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
Heat vs Wizards same-game parlay
The good news is that the books have Powell listed in the props, which means he must be close to returning. He’s coming off a 24-point game against New Orleans, and Powell has gone for 20+ in three straight games.
Alex Sarr will do damage for the Wiz against this struggling Miami defense that could be without Adebayo.
Heat vs Wizards SGP
Heat -11
Norman Powell Over 22.5 points
Alex Sarr Over 16.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Sarr strikes on Super Bowl Sunday!
Keyonte George has lost his jumper in February, shooting just 1-for-5 from 3-point range over three games. Miami isn’t the exact get-right team, as they’re sixth in the league in 3-point shooting defense.
Miami guard Davion Mitchell has had 7+ assists just four times in the last 11 games, and while he’s had 8+ assists in back-to-back games against the Wizards, that’s too small a sample size to put some money on.
Heat vs Wizards SGP
Heat -11
Norman Powell Over 22.5 points
Alex Sarr Over 16.5 points
Keyonte George Under 1.5 threes
Davion Mitchell Under 6.5 assists
Heat vs Wizards odds
Spread: Heat -11 | Wizards +11
Moneyline: Heat -474 | Wizards +380
Over/Under: Over 235.5 | Under 235.5
Heat vs Wizards betting trend to know
The Wizards have lost 40 of their last 41 games on the second night of a back-to-back. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Wizards.
How to watch Heat vs Wizards
Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Tip-off
2:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Sun, Monumental SN
Heat vs Wizards latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: Mark Canha #19, Terrance Gore #4 and Tyler Naquin #25 of the New York Mets celebrate the win over the Washington Nationals during game two of a double header at Citi Field on October 04, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The New York Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 8-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com ran down the Mets’ biggest questions heading into spring training, including whether Carson Benge will break camp.
Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes were among the pitchers to throw batting practice in yesterday’s workout at Port St. Lucie.
Around the National League East
The Phillies signed free agent reliever Lou Trivino to a minor league deal.
Atlanta Braves pitcher Hurston Waldrep had his jersey retired Friday night at his alma mater Thomasville High School.
Mark Bowman gave his thoughts about seven Braves players and what their 2026 seasons may look like.
Around Major League Baseball
Former major league outfielder and stolen base specialist Terrance Gore tragically passed away at the age of 34, we learned yesterday. Gore was a member of the back-to-back AL champion and 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals, as well as a member of the 2022 Mets, who were the final team he played for in his eight-season big league career.
José Ramos is likely to begin 2026 in Triple-A Syracuse, but he may have a role to play on the team this season given the Mets’ thin outfield depth, wrote Chris McShane in the season preview for the 25-year-old.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1994, the Mets signed Rey Ordóñez. He went on to win three consecutive Gold Gloves from 1997 to 1999.
The White Sox may not have a seat at the adults’ table when it comes to offseason trades or signings, but GM Chris Getz has been active. The coaching staff was revamped and front office bolstered. And the discount shopping and bottom-feeding that have become trademarks of 2020s Jerry Reinsdorf clubs has continued.
To what end, however? Is Getz merely shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic, or building a team not just pointed to the future but possibly able to surprise the AL Central this summer?
Seemingly there are more, and better, major-leaguers on the roster heading into 2026 as opposed to one year ago. But looking at the roster position-by-position, the improvement could be less concrete and more mirage; entire chunks of the roster (outfield, pitching) might be taking a step back in 2026.
Has Getz done enough — or is this just another season of have-not White Sox fans watching the haves feast?
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 21: Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the first inning during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
There are now 46 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. Much closer than that is when WBC pitchers and catchers will report, because that’s tomorrow. It is, famously, only a day away.
If you are still wondering whether the Orioles have another starting pitching move in them before this season begins, so are pretty much all of the professionals. As you’ll see in today’s stories below, there is a lot of thinking about the rotation. It’s not much of a surprise. This is the thing everyone has been wondering about all offseason and it’s still a big question mark. Is getting Shane Baz and reuniting with Zach Eflin going to be enough? It’s fair to wonder!
Framber Valdez being signed and officially clearing away the top of the starting pitching market has not resulted in any movement among pitchers who are going to sign for less money. Take your pick out of Chris Bassitt, Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, and Justin Verlander. Or if you’re like me, don’t take your pick out of them. Unless there’s an injury we don’t know about, I’ll take my chances with who is here already.
Probably it would have been better to sign one of the above guys than Zach Eflin, but Mike Elias had other ideas on how to best build the rotation for this year. He’s made some savvy moves in his time but there are also times where he does something where just about any idiot could figure that’s not going to work out and sure enough, it doesn’t work out. We’ll see which of these categories the reunion with Eflin fits into.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Position preview: Will Orioles starting rotation get one more splash? (The Baltimore Sun) The question remains even now that Framber Valdez has been gone for a few days. Are they going to do something now that they’ve missed out on all the big free agents? The answer is no until it suddenly changes to yes.
Five key topics to follow as Orioles head to camp (Orioles.com) Beat writer Jake Rill’s first question is in the same vein as the previous: Is the rotation mix finalized? What happens with Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo is also a question.
Shane Baz is an increasingly important part of the Orioles rotation (The Baltimore Banner) It is not reassuring to have this written about a guy who had a 4.87 ERA last year. A lot is riding on that disastrous home split getting resolved by getting out of a weird minor league stadium.
Orioles beat Keegan Akin in arbitration case (ESPN) Akin is set for a $2,975,000 salary instead of the $3,375,000 for which he argued. You may be among those Orioles fans who are not particularly interested in seeing him on the roster at any price.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 2008, the Orioles traded Erik Bedard to the Mariners for five players. Adam Jones was the fantastic find in the trade, as he went on to be a great Oriole. Chris Tillman had some good years here as well, and George Sherrill made an impression before being traded as well. Bedard put up 3.1 bWAR with the Mariners in the years of control that Seattle acquired.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2009-11 outfielder Félix Pie, 1974 infielder Bob Oliver, and 1955-56 outfielder Hoot Evers.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: mathematician Daniel Bernoulli (1700), author Jules Verne (1828), chemist Dmitri Mendeleev (1834), actor James Dean (1931), actor Seth Green (1974), actress Cecily Strong (1984), and surfer Bethany Hamilton (1990).
On this day in history…
In 1837, the Senate selected Richard Johnson as a vice president to President Martin Van Buren. This is the only time the Constitutional provision for the Senate to choose a vice president has been employed.
In 1904, a Japanese assault against the Russian forces controlling Port Arthur marked the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War, a conflict ultimately won decisively by Japan, to the shock of many in Europe.
In 1960, Hollywood’s Walk of Fame was inaugurated. The first star actually placed the following month belonged to Stanley Kramer, with nearly 1,500 being placed in the first year of existence.
A random Orioles trivia question
I received a little book of Orioles trivia questions for Christmas. I’ll ask a question each time it’s my turn in this space until I either forget or run out of questions. My book has multiple choice answers, but you don’t get those because it would just be too easy.
Which player led the 1970 World Series champion Orioles in batting average during the regular season?(300 PA minimum)
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on February 8. Have a safe Sunday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after pitching the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Super Bowl Sunday, bringing an end to another exciting football season and leaving a small gap between the end of the NFL season and the beginning of spring training.
As the Dodgers prepare to once again defend their title, they do so without a concrete plan for the starting rotation. While the quartet of All-Stars remains a fixture, the final one to two spots are seemingly up for grabs, and one pitcher looking to make an impact as a starter will be Roki Sasaki.
Sasaki’s first season in the big leagues was a mixed bag, scuffling through eight starts before landing on the injured list. Once he came back in late September, he became the Dodgers’ go-to bullpen option late in postseason games as a dynamic force in relief.
For Sasaki to truly get his shot as a starter, Dave Roberts insisted that Sasaki develop an effective third pitch to compliment his fastball and splitter, as Dylan Hernandez of the California Post notes that the right-hander has been working on incorporating a cutter and a two-seamer.
“For me,” Roberts said, “he needs to develop a third pitch.”
In response to this, Sasaki said today that he is working on a cutter and two-seamer. https://t.co/mVr7Rw8dUX
With just five days until pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch, Sasaki posted a video to his Instagram of himself warming up on the mound of the University of Arizona’s baseball field.
Links
Manny Randhawa of MLB.com writes about former Dodgers second baseman Steve Sax’s collaboration with sports artist Opie Otterstad, and how they both have found a way to honor Sax’s late son, John, through digitized art.
“The NFT has what’s called a utility attached to it,” Steve said. “And that utility is that everybody who owns one, we’re going to become a team. And every year, we’re going to have an event where we all get together and everyone’s going to give their input on what we should do the next year to raise money for the foundation… This is how we can honor my son,” Steve said. “And that is so important to me.”
Former outfielder Terrance Gore passed away on Saturday at the age of 34. The speedster appeared in a combined 112 regular season games across parts of eight regular seasons, helping win titles with the Kansas City Royals in 2015, the Dodgers in 2020 and the Atlanta Braves in 2021. Former Royals general manager Dayton Moore reflected on Gore as a beloved teammate, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com.
“There have been very few players who can take over a baseball game,” said former Royals general manager Dayton Moore, the architect of the 2014-15 postseason teams. “That’s exactly what he did. He became a fan favorite. He was beloved by his teammates. And he was just fearless and impactful on the bases but also off the field.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time NBA MVP. Photograph: Aaron Gash/AP
Couldn’t he have just started a podcast? “The Internet is full of opinions. I decided it was time to make some of my own,” Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the four best basketball players in the world, posted in a statement announcing that he was joining the prediction market Kalshi as a shareholder. “We all on Kalshi now.”
We are not, but doesn’t the tone sum it up? The universe’s ineffable forces have clearly decided that the ubiquity of sports betting companies is insufficient. There must be new companies, with which you can bet on any outcome – Kalshi competitor Polymarket has hosted markets tied to geopolitical outcomes, including scenarios related to Israel and Gaza, for instance – that incentivize people to treat life’s most important avenues as trivially as a sports game. Kalshi and Polymarket are prediction platforms rather than traditional betting companies. Users effectively bet (or “trade”) against others on the platform about the outcome of events, from familiar wagers such as the result of a sporting event, to the obscure, such as the color of a politician’s suit at an election appearance. Kalshi has enjoyed plenty of freedom under the second Donald Trump administration, and Donald Trump Jr is a “strategic advisor” for them and Polymarket. A Kalshi outcome taking bets until recently was “Giannis Antetokounmpo’s next team?” as rumors swirled that the two-time NBA MVP was about to leave the Milwaukee Bucks. Antetokounmpo will be involved in marketing and publicity for Kalshi, and is forbidden from trading on markets related to the NBA. The move is also in step with the NBA’s rules – players are allowed to endorse betting companies as long as they don’t gamble on the league itself. But that hasn’t prevented scores of fans across Instagram and Reddit, and media members on Twitter, from expressing their displeasure at the move and insisting there is a conflict of interest.
Antetokounmpo seems to be fine with the deal though, and would have you know that jumping in bed with Kalshi is no more complicated than holding some opinions. For Antetokounmpo, a multimillionaire inking a deal with thiscompany, whose CEO recently said, “the long-term vision is to financialize everything and create a trading asset out of any difference of opinion,” rather than just about any other company, is apparently no big deal. Nor is the fact that a significant part of Kalshi’s trades are on sports outcomes, and Antetokounmpo is a professional athlete. “We all on Kalshi now.” We are apparently also all in hell.
Antetokounmpo has done a fine job ruining what had been a stellar approval rating. He spurred the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA title in 2021, emerging as a new face of the league. The next year, the Bucks made a respectable run at a title defense by losing to the Boston Celtics in the conference semi-finals in seven games. Game 7 was an unfortunate blowout, but Antetokounmpo put up more staggering numbers across the series. The Bucks were in a good place.
Since, though, they can’t stop exiting the playoffs in the first round. The Bucks are 21-29 so far this season; they’ll be lucky to even make the playoffs. Antetokounmpo has played some brilliant basketball but also suffered two non-contact calf injuries, keeping him out of games and making him the latest NBA star on Achilles Watch. Giannis is 31, and barring LeBron James-esque longevity, closer to the end of his career than the beginning. It is obvious to everybody that any winning he does from here on out will have to come on a team besides the Bucks.
The past several weeks have seen Antetokounmpo waffle between acknowledging this, which in conjunction with his agent shopping him around to other teams suggested he was on his way out, and acting insulted at the idea that he would leave. It was all very confusing and suggested that Antetokounmpo knew he had to go but didn’t want to be the bad guy.
The uncertainty behind Antetokounmpo’s future was almost certainly down to legitimate basketball reasons: teams’ willingness to trade or how much the Bucks wanted to keep their superstar. And, in any case, Antetokounmpo is forbidden from trading on the NBA with Kalshi. But perception trumps reality among NBA fans. And now it is impossible for many of them to reflect on Antetokounmpo’s future without his Kalshi stock front of mind. Every time Giannis turns in a performance, or even a play, that deviates from expectations, it may raise suspicion over whether he was trying to move Kalshi’s prediction lines. Or others could speculate he whipped up rumors of a trade so that gamblers would flock to Kelshi to bet on his future.
But perhaps what’s perhaps most depressing is that Antetokounmpo isn’t a remarkable case here. This news comes at a time when James is a DraftKings ambassador and Kevin Durant cashes checks from FanDuel. When watching a big game, regardless of league, odds are you won’t be able to avoid a deluge of over-under lines and parlays from commentators and social media accounts. Prior to joining ESPN, the NBA’s foremost news-breaker Shams Charania unintentionally moved a betting line with a misleading tweet while co-hosting a show for FanDuel. Many NBA-focused outlets – notably The Ringer and its large fleet of podcasts – are sponsored by a betting company, which could create a conflict of interest even in the coverage of gambling scandals. League commissioner Adam Silver has given tepid quotes in favor of more regulation but has largely welcomed sports gambling since arguing for its legalization in the New York Times in 2014. Then there are even more serious incidents. At the start of the season, the Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier was arrested for allegedly using inside information about NBA players to manipulate prop bets.The NBA is infested with betting companies and ripe for yet another scandal.
Wagering away your life savings has never been easier: just reach into your back pocket, open a fiercely addictive app striving for your attention, and click away. But gambling has become so ubiquitous that we decided somewhere along the way that this problem doesn’t matter, or is better ignored. The secondary problem with rampantly available gambling is the incentivization of rigging outcomes, and the constant suspicion even in absence of a scandal. Sports are meaningful enough to define the lives of players and fans alike, but all that love and time rests on the strength of the idea that what we are watching is real. It’s never been so easy to lose the faith, and Antetokounmpo’s latest deal has only made the whole mess worse.
