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Wolves’ Steve Senior turned down Lakers offer to be Vice President of Basketball Operations

Mar 3, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; A general overall view of the Los Angeles Lakers city edition logo on the court and video board at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

While the Lakers will have plenty of player movement with their roster this summer, there will also likely be a lot of front office movement as well.

The arrival of Mark Walter as owner was always going to lead to filling out the front office. President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka acknowledged that the team would spare no expense to do so during the season. At his exit interview, he revealed the team planned to hire a pair of assistant general managers this summer.

However, there’s another role in the front office that the team was at least looking to fill previously. In an article on Wednesday from Yaron Weitzman of Yahoo Sports, it was revealed that the team offered the role of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations to Timberwolves executive Steve Senior, who turned it down.

Around February, Zaidi started placing calls to agents representing front office and medical personnel to inquire about their clients. Around three months later, the Lakers offered Steve Senior, an assistant general manager for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the job of executive vice president of basketball operations. Senior, who declined to comment, decided to remain with the Timberwolves, according to multiple league sources.

As is often the case with front office figures, Senior is a relatively unknown name. The Wolves hired him in 2022 from the Grizzlies for a role that should sound familiar to Lakers fans.

Senior worked in player development with the Grizzlies and had similar responsibilities, as well as being a video coordinator, with the Knicks.

The role the Lakers were hiring him for was definitely different from the assistant GM roles Pelinka mentioned. That’s good news for fans as it shows that the team is really looking to build out a bigger front office.

The Wolves are a great front office to try to poach talent from as well. They’ve built a team that is a perennial contender in the Western Conference with multiple players developing into quality role players in Minnesota, none more than Jaden McDaniels.

Weitzman notes that it’s unclear if the Lakers are still looking to fill that role, but it would be a surprise if they weren’t. It’s a high enough job title that it could entice some higher-ranking executives in other teams to come over.

This is also the point of having Walter’s billions. Pull out every job title you can think of and hire people accordingly. This is an area where the Lakers are not restricted by the league in their spending and need to flex their muscle.

Even if they were turned down this time, that should not deter them from continuing to make hires.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe headline deep NBA All-Rookie teams

Some years, it's a struggle for voters to find 10 players deserving of making the All-Rookie Teams. Not this year. In fact, it was the opposite problem.

Three players were unanimously chosen to make First Team All-Rookie — Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, as well as Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe — in what was one of the deepest rookie classes in recent memory. Because of that, some quality players who played key minutes for playoff teams, didn't even make the second team.
The All-Rookie Teams shook out like this.

NBA All-Rookie Teams

First Team

Cooper Flagg (Dallas)
Kon Knueppel (Charlotte)
VJ Edgecombe (Philadephia)
Dylan Harper (San Antonio)
Cedric Coward (Memphis)

Second Team

Derik Queen (New Orleans)
Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento)
Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans)
Ace Bailey (Utah)
Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto)

The biggest snub was Hornets' center Ryan Kalkbrenner, but he finished 15 votes (and eight first-team votes) behind Murray-Boyles. Washington's Tre Johnson and Boston's Hugo Gonzalez were the next two vote getters. This is a case where a lot of years any of them would made the second team, but this is a ridiculously deep class.

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Owner of Philadelphia’s iconic Pat’s cheesesteaks forced to work in NY — wearing ‘Philly Sucks’ shirt — after losing Knicks bet

The boss of Philadelphia’s Pat’s King of Steaks wore a “Philly Sucks” T-shirt and worked at a Long Island eatery Wednesday after betting against the red-hot New York Knicks.

Pat’s owner Frank Olivieri worked at cheesesteak joint Dario’s in West Hempstead to make good on a wager he made as the Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers faced off in the Eastern Conference Semifinals — with New York eventually bludgeoning its way to a sweep.

“I’m over here, and I’m having a ball. I’m sweating my butt off in the kitchen, making cheesesteaks,” Pat’s owner Frank Olivieri told The Post, admitting he’s now pulling for New York to finish the job.

Frank Olivieri, the owner of Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia, worked a shift at Dario’s on Long Island to pay off a bet he made against the New York Knicks. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
Oliveri at Dario’s with owners Louis Cretella (left) and Dario Carosi. The Philly fan bet the two diehard Knick supporters that the 76ers would beat New York in the second round of the playoffs. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post

“If they beat the Sixers, they should definitely win the Finals.”

The bet came as Dario’s and other spots temporarily banned “Philly cheesesteaks” from their menus, with the restaurants owner and Knicks season ticket holder Louis Cretella rebranding their sandwich the “Philly sucks” cheesesteak.

The name went out on DoorDash menus on its way to going viral. It eventually caught the attention of Olivieri, whose family takes credit for inventing the cheesesteak. He placed the bet with Cretella while Philly was down 2-0 in the series, hopeful the perennial underdog would rise from the canvas.

“We’re used to saying ‘maybe next year,” Olivieri woefully said.

Dario’s changed the name of their cheesesteak to the “Philly sucks” cheesesteak to support the Knicks during the series. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
Oliveri had to don a “Philly Sucks” shirt during his shift at Dario’s. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post

But he showed nothing but brotherly love while keeping his word after a mid-day ride up I-95.

“He’s been a real gentleman since he got here. We’ve been busting his chops for at least an hour,” Cretella said. “He just takes it in stride, laughs, keeps going.”

Olivieri even invited the staff down to his Jersey Shore house and couldn’t help but be happy inside the Long Island spot, which was packed with Knicks faithful.

“I’ve cooked for presidents … this was the best event I’ve ever done,” he said.

Dario’s sold close to 200 cheesesteaks for the three hours while Olivieri was slicing away, making both Pat’s and Dario’s style steaks: cheese whiz for true Philly style and Cooper sharp cheese for LI’s finest.

“This is one of the wildest lunch rushes we’ve ever had,” said Cretella. “Energy for the Knicks is off the chart.”

Adelphi professor Zachary Pournazari, who first heard about the “Philly Sucks” steak in The Post, risked being late to administer a final because he had to have one while sporting a Jalen Brunson jersey.

“We have the Philly fans bringing their culture here, it’s nice being able to enjoy their culture – just like how we got to enjoy the four-game series against them,” he said with a cheek-to-cheek smile. “Any student wearing a Knicks jersey gets a bonus point today.” 

College professor Zachary Pournazari (in Brunson jersey) risked being late to a final exam to get his cheesesteak. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
Oliveri preps a Philly cheesesteak — which his family claims to have invented. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
A crowd of hungry Knicks fans wait for the orders on Wednesday. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post

He’s not the only academic with a running case of Knicks fever — especially after the squad took a 1-0 series lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 115-104 overtime barnburner Tuesday night.

Daniel McCabe, principal of Nesaquake Middle School in Saint James, is jamming the classrooms with hoop dreams.

The diehard changed his the building’s front sign, which usually posts uplifting messages, to read “let’s go Knicks” earlier in the playoffs. 

Nesaquake Middle School principal Daniel McCade wears Knicks gear with a student. Obtained by NYPost
McCabe changed the school’s sign to support the team. Obtained by NYPost

“Bus drivers have given the thumbs up … but when parents come on and go is when we’re getting the ‘let’s go Knicks chants,’” said McCabe, a dedicated fan who has been wearing at least four different jerseys to school on game days.

Students were so excited they had McCabe do one better this week with the sign, changing the message to “GO NY GO NY GO” as a nod to the team’s iconic theme song.

McCabe also declared a blue-and-orange spirit day for Thursday, when the Knicks are set to play Game 2 against Cleveland.

Ralph G. Reed Middle School’s Superintendent Dr. Sharon A. Dungee and principal Anthony Coggiano sportt Knicks gear with a student. Obtained by NYPost

“The dress code is rock your absolute best Knicks attire. Nesaquake is bringing the hype,” said McCabe, who is educating kids on his own heroes, the legendary players of the 1990s like John Starks and Patrik Ewing. 

“The kids and the faculty and staff are getting into it. The energy in the hallways right now is louder than Madison Square Garden.”

The Central Islip district held a similar energetic spirit day on Tuesday ahead of game one. 

That evening, superintendent – and super fan – Dr. Sharon Dungee was “running to her office” while splitting her time between a budget vote and the game 1 thriller.

“It’s been long overdue,” she said. “We’re really excited.”

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Zach Thornton’s Mets journey begins with tribute to his paralyzed dad

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Mets rookie Zach Thornton sends a kiss to his dad Paul in the stands ahead of his MLB debut, Image 2 shows Paul Thornton, who checked himself out of rehab to attend his son's first MLB start, threw a thumbs-up to Zach

Zach Thornton’s MLB career began with a touching father-son moment — but it was no ordinary one.

The Mets left-hander blew a kiss to his dad, Paul, who was watching from the stands, as the rookie took the mound to face the Nationals in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

The sentimental moment is all the more touching with Paul having vowed to attend the game earlier in the week — and checking out of Chicago’s Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where he spent the last month learning how to walk again after a botched spinal surgery, according to The Athletic.

Mets rookie Zach Thornton sends a kiss to his dad, Paul, in the stands ahead of his MLB debut. SNY
Paul Thornton, who checked himself out of rehab to attend his son’s first MLB start, threw a thumbs-up to Zach. SNY

“It was go and be a dad and support a young man in Zach or take care of my health,” Paul told the outlet. “The doctors at Shirley Ryan assured me that my health was in good hands and that they felt as though I could do it. So it really made my decision very easy.

“To be honest, as a dad, I’m not going to miss this,” he added.

Zach, 24, pitched to a 3.16 ERA in the minors this season, earning himself a call-up after Clay Holmes went on the injured list with a fractured fibula.

With his dad in the stands in a wheelchair along with his mom Julie on his side, the family clapped as Zach — a wispy 6-foot-3, 170-pound hurler — struck out Washington’s Dylan Crews for his first major league K.

It’s hard to believe because of course we’re like, ‘What? This is happening already?'” Julie told SNY’s Steve Gelbs during Wednesday’s game broadcast. “But yeah, so much pride. He’s been an underdog, and I just feel like he’s gone through so much, so it’s just so fun. Just a prideful moment.”

Paul, a track coach at the University of Kansas and a former athlete at St. Olaf, had surgery on April 2 to remove a tumor from his spine. The procedure ended early when he began to bleed and lost feeling in his lower body, per The Athletic.

The elder Thornton has documented his rehab on social media, and he’ll get an extra special update to make after the whirlwind start to the week — one the Mets have played a very big role in.

“Being called up is one thing, and that’s a special thing,” Paul told Gelbs.

“But given a situation which we have had, and the support that the Mets have provided Zach over the last couple months has been nothing short of awesome. It makes a lot more of a special thing.”

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Why Victor Wembanyama hates Chet Holmgren so much

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 18, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.

If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.

Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.

The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all

Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.

The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.

Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.

Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA

Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.

Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.

Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this season

The Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.

The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.

The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.

Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.

The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater

The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.

View Link

Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.

This tweet summed it up perfectly:

This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:

After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.

Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.

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Missed chances haunt White Sox in 5-4 loss to Mariners

SEATTLE, WA - MAY 20: Chase Meidroth #10 of the Chicago White Sox rounds the bases in the six inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Connor Jalbert/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Chase Meidroth races around second after Tristan Peters lodged a double in the wall during the sixth inning. Moments later, the Sox watched another scoring chance vanish. | (Connor Jalbert/Getty Images)

The White Sox spent the afternoon tripping over their own shoelaces. They outhit Seattle 11-7 but still dropped the rubber match. Eleven strikeouts, 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, nine left on base. All that traffic, and nothing to show for it.

It was the kind of game that keeps rebuilding clubs awake at night — enough traffic to win, not enough execution to finish the job.

The omens were bad from the jump. In the top of the second, the Mariners practically handed the Sox a gift when Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Jarred Kelenic drew three straight walks to open the inning. Bases loaded, nobody out, and a golden opportunity to seize momentum. Instead, Tristan Peters whiffs, and Drew Romo rolled into an inning-killing double play. Just like that, the Good Guys come away with a big fat zero.

Seattle immediately made them pay.

After Randy Arozarena got plunked in the bottom of the frame and swiped second, Dominic Canzone smacked a double down the first base line to plate the game’s first run and put the Mariners ahead, 1-0.

The Sox answered in the third. Sam Antonacci punched a one-out single, then stole second after Munetaka Murakami flew out. Andrew Benintendi followed with an RBI single to center to knot things up at 1-1.

But Seattle kept the screws on Sean Burke, whose rough stretch continued. In the fourth, Arozarena worked a leadoff walk, stole second again, and eventually came around when Patrick Wisdom ripped a two-out double to left, giving the Mariners a 2-1 lead.

Chicago clawed back once more in the fifth. Luisangel Acuña and Antonacci opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Murakami delivered with an RBI knock to plate Acuña and tie the game at 2-2.

Burke’s afternoon ended shortly after. He walked Jhonny Pereda to begin the bottom of the fifth, then hit Cole Young before Julio Rodríguez packed the sacks with a single. Antonacci bailed him out with a nice play on a Josh Naylor fly, and then Arozarena popped up, but Will Venable had seen enough and pulled the plug anyway.

Sean Newcomb came on and cleaned up his mess, preserving the tie and salvaging Burke’s line: 4 2⁄3 innings, four hits, two runs, three walks, five strikeouts.

However, it was the sixth inning that may have been the game’s defining moment. Meidroth led off with a single, and after Kelenic struck out, Peters ripped a ground-rule double that got lodged in the wall down the line. Runners at second and third, one out, another massive chance. Then came the kind of mistake that young, agressive teams make: Meidroth got caught in a rundown breaking toward home during Romo’s at-bat, erasing the lead runner before González grounded out harmlessly. Another golden ticket, shredded.

Seattle finally broke things open in the seventh. Pereda ambushed a Newcomb pitch for a leadoff solo shot to make it 3-2, and after Rodríguez doubled, Venable waved in Jordan Hicks to face Arozarena.

It did not go well.

After getting ahead with strike one, Hicks grooved one over the plate, and Arozarena didn’t miss. Two-run bomb, 5-2 Seattle, just like that.

But the Sox still had chances.

Eighth inning, Sox still breathing. Meidroth and Kelenic single, Peters reaches on a throwing error, and Meidroth scores. Miguel Vargas drew a pinch-hit walk, two on, two out. Edgar Quero, hero last Sunday, comes up as the tying run — swings through strike three — threat over.

Brandon Eisert handled the eighth at least, kept things tidy in the bottom half, tossing a quick inning and even picking off Emerson after issuing him a walk.

Ninth inning, last gasp. Randal Grichuk jumps the first pitch for a pinch-hit homer to right. Sox within one, and the dugout has a flicker of life.

Then, poof, the bats disappeared.

Three straight strikeouts. Ballgame.

So went the afternoon for the South Siders: traffic everywhere, timely hits nowhere.

Even after the loss, the Sox are 25-24, still above water and 2 1/2 games back, depending on what Cleveland does against Detroit. Off day Thursday, then they’ll head to San Francisco for three. Time to forget this one ever happened.

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Cavs at Knicks Game 2: How to watch, odds, and injury report

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had many demoralizing playoff losses in the past four seasons. Game 1 against the New York Knicks was among the worst.

After proving through 40 minutes that they’re more than ready for the bright lights of the conference finals and a road game at Madison Square Garden, they reverted to their old ways. The offense got stagnant. The defense left much to be desired. And questionable coaching decisions cost them.

Fortunately for the Cavs, they have a chance to put that all behind them. The goal at the start of the series was to split one of the first two on the road. Bouncing back and winning on Thursday wouldn’t erase the mistakes of Game 1, but it would get them into the driver’s seat of the series with the action shifting to Cleveland for Game 3.

We’ll see if this Cavs team can put that bad loss behind them.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) at New York Knicks (1-0)

Where: Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

When: Thur., May 21 at 8 PM

TV: ESPN

Point spread: Knicks -6.5

Cavs injury report: None

Knicks injury report: None

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Knicks expected starting lineup: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns

Previous matchup: The Cavaliers coughed up a 21-point fourth-quarter lead.

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive RatingDefensive RatingNet Rating
Cavs118.9 (8th)115 (15th)+3.9 (9th)
Knicks120.2 (4th)114.2 (10th)+6 (6th)
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Former Flyers Forward Named AHL Player of the Year

On Tuesday, the AHL announced that former Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakob Pelletier was named the AHL Player of the Year, putting the exclamation point on the best pro season of his career thus far.

Pelletier, still just 25 years old, erupted for 28 goals, 49 assists, and 77 points in 62 games for the AHL Syracuse Crunch this season, establishing new career-highs across the board while leading the entire league in scoring, making him an easy choice for AHL Player of the Year.

In four Calder Cup playoff games, Pelletier added a goal and four assists, and he got to play in five NHL games for the Tampa Bay Lightning this season as well.

The 2019 first-round pick was let go by the Flyers last offseason after a short stint in Philadelphia that saw him score three goals, five assists, and eight points in 25 games in place of the traded Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost, playing in a limited role for then-Flyers coaches John Tortorella and Brad Shaw.

Free to sign with any NHL team after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Flyers, Pelletier inked a three-year pact with the Lightning, giving the perennial Stanley Cup contenders some depth and some young upside - two things they badly needed.

Flyers Trade Target: Devon LeviFlyers Trade Target: Devon LeviThe Philadelphia Flyers can buy low on a goalie prospect with potential and trade for Devon Levi, who is on his way off the Buffalo Sabres.

The 5-foot-9 winger could have had a role to play in Philadelphia with the Flyers again this season when Tyson Foerster missed time with two different injuries, but Denver Barkey and Alex Bump stepped up in their first professional seasons instead.

At the same time, though, given that Pelletier played almost exclusively in the AHL again this season, we can point to a weak Lehigh Valley Phantoms team that probably could have used some upgrades.

For instance, journeyman Lane Pederson finished as the Phantoms' leading scorer with 23 goals, 25 assists, and 48 points in 63 games, while Pelletier trumped that total with just his 49 assists.

Also consider that Anthony Richard, the team's second-highest scorer, just left for Switzerland, and Bump and Barkey, seventh and 14th, respectively, on the team in scoring, graduated to the NHL.

Alexis Gendron, who was traded to the Boston Bruins organization midseason, had a modest 10 goals, 12 assists, and 22 points himself.

That's all to say that the Flyers lost a lot of firepower over the course of the season, which culminated in an early end to the year for prospects like Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, Hunter McDonald, Aleksei Kolosov, Carson Bjarnason, Jack Berglund, and Cole Knuble.

In the end, Pelletier bet on himself and signed elsewhere, and now he's a bonafide AHL star, at the very least.

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Measuring the Hobby Impact of Major NBA Playoff Moments

Measuring the Hobby Impact of Major NBA Playoff Moments

If I put “LeBron James” in quotes, at least half of you can hear the meme I’m referencing. The King is The King for a reason, after all.

But with the NBA’s Conference Finals featuring a new generation of stars, and superstars, we’re getting an idea of how the Hobby is reacting to the passing of the torch. If the eBay search bar is any indication of who’s heating up, who’s hot, and who just helped someone retire, there are few players more valuable than the one and only Victor Wembanyama.

Fresh off of his 41-point, 24-rebound, 3-block masterpiece in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, a winning performance that handed the Oklahoma City Thunder their first loss of the entire postseason (!), the hobby has responded accordingly to Wemby’s otherworldlyness: On May 18, “Victor Wembanyama” was searched for more than 5,300 times per hour on eBay.

While the Alien is leading the charge, he’s somehow not the most-searched player on eBay this postseason. Take a look at the data provided by eBay below:

The Playoff Search Leaderboard

From the start of the NBA Playoffs (April 18) through May 17, the top-five most-searched NBA players on eBay are: 

  1. Cooper Flagg: This year’s #1 draft pick…whose Dallas Mavericks haven’t played a single playoff game this season after finishing with just 26 wins. That’s what winning ROY will do for you. 
  2. Victor Wembanyama: He’s got next, and all 29 other teams should be terrified.
  3. LeBron James: The Lakers’ run ended early, thanks in part to Luka Doncic’s injury, but The King’s gravitational pull on the hobby did not.
  4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: The reigning, and now back-to-back, MVP, who just put up a real stinker in Game 1 against Wemby, and will be looking for redemption in Game 2.
  5. Anthony Edwards: The Ant-Man might not’ve been able to get it done against the Spurs, but his playoff performances further bolstered Minny’s hope for the future.

On the team side, the San Antonio Spurs led the league in eBay searches from May 1-17, with the Detroit Pistons (shoutout Cade and them) and the New York Knicks (my goodness, Brunson) rounding out the top three. 

The Moments That Moved the Market

Sometimes a stat line is louder than a series, and it appears that a few stellar playoff performances sent search bars into orbit:

  • April 25: Ayo Dosunmu’s 43 off the bench in the Wolves’ 112-96 Game 4 win over the Nuggets spiked searches for the new Minnesota guard more than 25x the prior week’s daily average, the biggest single-game spike of the postseason.
  • April 30: OG Anunoby’s 29 points that helped closed the door on the Raptors in Round 1’s Game 6 cranked his eBay traffic up 180% vs. the prior week.
  • May 17: Donovan Mitchell dragging the Cavaliers past the #1-seed Pistons and into the Eastern Conference Finals pushed Spida’s search rate 80% above his prior-week average.
  • May 17: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s second straight MVP more than doubled (+100%) his daily search rate vs. the week before, on the same night Wemby led his team to victory over the Thunder.

The clear takeaway is that the hobby is chasing moments more than anything else.  A 40-20 outburst in San Antonio, a closeout-game 29 in Toronto, a 43-bomb off the bench in Denver, every one of them moved the eBay needle. The names that help their teams win in the playoffs win the hobby, and with the NBA Finals just a few weeks away, we could see cards from Wemby, Brunson, Spida, and Shai reach insane new heights.

In the meantime, make sure to use Mantel’s SLAM score to monitor the liquidity of your collection throughout the Playoffs.

Who are you buying ahead of the NBA Championship? Let us know on Mantel.

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De'Aaron Fox injury update: Why Spurs guard is out for Game 2 vs. Thunder

The San Antonio Spurs stole Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder in clutch fashion, without perhaps their most clutch player.

De'Aaron Fox didn't suit up in Game 1, missing the contest with right ankle soreness. That didn't slow the Spurs down, as they leaned on superstar Victor Wembanyama, who put on a playoff performance for the ages with 41 points, 24 rebounds, and 3 blocks as he led San Antonio to a 122-115 double-overtime victory.

The Spurs will need Wembanyama to have a repeat performance and continued additional contributions from guys like Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie. Because, for the second straight game, the Spurs will be without Fox.

According to the league's 7:45 p.m. ET injury report, Fox is out for Game 2 versus the Thunder with right ankle soreness. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had said that Fox would be a "game-time decision," according to San Antonio Express-News reporter Tom Orsborn.

"Pretty (much) status quo moving forward, I believe. Regardless of if he plays the games or not, this will be just kind of the world we live in," the coach said of the All-Star guard being listed as questionable.

Fox has played 11 postseason games through the first two rounds for San Antonio. He's averaged 18.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists on 48.6% field goal shooting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: De'Aaron Fox injury update, status for Spurs vs Thunder Game 2

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It’s time for Playoff Basketball: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Game 2

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 18: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for the rebound during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 18, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites, especially sites of the opposing team. Be polite and don’t insult your hosts.

I just don’t have words to describe what happened in Game 1. Well, I actually did, because I wrote the final score article for that game that was published shortly after it ended, but words just don’t do the experience of having watched the game justice. Seeing greatness develop in front of your eyes is something so rare and pure that it can bring a pure joy that’s ineffable and indescribable. I’ve had more important things happen to me in my life, but the intensity of watching an athlete transcend our expectations of what a human can do is a pure joy to watch, and the miracle of sports is that you can feel like you’re a part of it by just being a fan. It’s not often that a single person can lift an entire city, but we saw that happen on Monday night when Wembanyama hit the miracle shot that tied the game late in the first overtime, a shot that made the improbable victory possible.

It’s almost unfair that there’s another game so soon, a little less than 48 hours after the double overtime classic that put the Spurs up 1-0 over the Thunder. There are a lot of factors that might explain why OKC was in position to lose Game 1: They had a lot of rust after their first and second round sweeps over inferior competition, they were adjusting to a lineup change with JDub returning from injury, and mostly because nobody on the Thunder played particularly well besides Alex Caruso, who played the game of his life in the loss. Perhaps the real reason could be that the young Spurs were better prepared mentally and physically by a rugged first two rounds of the playoffs, the leadership of their young coach, and the confidence and swagger of the best player in the world, Victor Wembanyama, along with a supporting cast that were perfectly prepared to perform under pressure.

The Spurs have a chance to press the advantage tonight and open up an almost insurmountable 2-0 lead before going home for two games in the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs team has to be tired tonight, with Wembanyama logging almost 50 minutes and Harper and Castle not far behind, while the Thunder is more rested because they relied on a deeper roster. De’Aaron Fox is listed as questionable on the injury report with right ankle soreness, which is the same status he had before Monday’s game before he was ruled out. Hopefully he can return tonight at full strength to give the marathon players from Monday a little more rest. Carter Bryant did a great job defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Monday, and he could get even more run tonight. Lindy Waters III has only played in garbage time in the playoffs, but he’s got a deadly shot, and he could do well against his former team tonight. I look forward to Mitch Johnson adding some more wrinkles to the plan as the Spurs aren’t satisfied with one win in OKC and try to keep the pressure on. LETS GO SPURS!

Game Prediction:

Tonight’s game goes to an incredible 6 overtimes, with Wembanyama logging over 60 minutes and scoring 65 points as the Spurs win 154-153 with after all of the Thunder starters foul out. Tomorrow, there will be an epidemic of Spurs flu, as many Texas establishments will have to curtail business when most of their staff calls in sick.

San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Conference Championship Round, Game 2
May 20, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: NBC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

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Dodgers on Deck: Friday, May 22 at Brewers

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws on the field prior to a Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers go from playing one recent postseason opponent to battling another recent playoff foe, heading from San Diego to play the Brewers beginning Friday night in Milwaukee, in a rematch of last year’s National League Championship Series.

In 2025 the Dodgers and Brewers faced off in two different times. They played two series over two weeks surrounding the All-Star break, and Milwaukee swept all six games, winning by a combined score of 31-16. Then came the NLCS when Dodgers pitching was on a heater, holding the Brewers to exactly one run in all four games. Los Angeles only scored 15 total runs in the series, but that was enough for a pennant-winning sweep.

Justin Wrobleski gets the ball in the series opener on Friday night, rookie right-hander Logan Henderson on the mound for Milwaukee making his 10th major league start.

Friday game info
  • Teams: Dodgers at Brewers
  • Ballpark: American Family Field, Milwaukee
  • Time: 4:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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NBA All-Rookie 1st team: Flagg, Knueppel, Edgecombe, Harper and Coward

NEW YORK (AP) — Dallas' Cooper Flagg, Charlotte's Kon Knueppel and Philadelphia's VJ Edgecombe were unanimous first-team selections for the NBA's All-Rookie team, which was unveiled Wednesday night.

Also making first-team All-Rookie: San Antonio's Dylan Harper and Memphis' Cedric Coward. Harper also appeared on all 100 ballots, with 93 first-team nods and seven second-team votes.

Those five players were also the only ones to get votes in the Rookie of the Year balloting, where Flagg edged Knueppel for top honors.

The All-Rookie second team included New Orleans' Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, Utah's Ace Bailey, Sacramento's Maxime Reynaud and Toronto's Collin Murray-Boyles.

The NBA will announce the All-Defensive team on Friday and the All-NBA team on Sunday, with Coach of the Year set to be announced Tuesday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

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Los Angeles Lakers rumors: Is LA eyeing Peyton Watson?

It's the offseason for most NBA teams, where everything means something — but a lot of the time, nothing at all. However, that's not going to stop conversation and cease speculation about player movement and team transactions.

The latest conjecture features a usual culprit: the Los Angeles Lakers.

It's a running joke that every player is rumored to be on the Lakers' radar, but after the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade in February 2025, it's almost seems as if nothing is off the table and anything can happen.

So, when restricted free agent Peyton Watson appeared at the Lakers practice facility for Klutch Sports Pro Day workouts, speculation among fans began, hoping the 23-year-old might sign with the purple and gold.

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GAME BLOG: Western Conference Final Golden Knights V. Avalanche, Game 1

Welcome to Ball Arena! Stay tuned for all of the action!

First Period

The Avalanche dictated the pace of play for the early going of the opening period. Although there weren't a ton of shots on goal, we saw several players get involved in the physical side of the game early. 

At the 6:27 mark, Wedgewood came up with an outstanding save on a 2-on-1 rush before Tomas Hertl tried to fire in the rebound from his knees, but missed the net. 

On the subsequent faceoff, Nathan MacKinnon won the draw, but Devon Toews mishandled the puck behind the net resulting in a turnover to Jack Eichel, who was turned away by Wedgewood on a pair of shots before the puck was cleared.

Colorado killed a penalty after Brent Burns was sent to the box for hooking Vegas forward Brandon Saad at 9:02. 

With 4:45 to go in the period, Logan O'Connor received a pass just past the red line and penetrated the Golden Knights defensive zone before putting on the brakes and firing a wrister, but it dinged off the left post, and the game remained at a 0-0 deadlock. 

At the end of one, the game remained scoreless, and both teams accrued 10 shots on goal. 

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