Washington Wizards player Trae Young, center, watches from the bench during a game against the Houston Rockets on March 2 at Capital One Arena. (Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
The four-time All Star has, however, already been ejected from a game as a member of the team.
That happened Monday night, three days before Young's expected debut for the team that acquired him in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 7. He has not played in an NBA game since Dec. 27 because of knee and quadriceps injuries.
Earlier on Monday, Young posted a video on Instagram that showed him in Wizards gear and ended with "3/5" on the screen, indicating the date Washington hosts the Utah Jazz later this week. Before his team's game against the Houston Rockets on Monday night, Wizards coach Brian Keefe said Young was trending toward being able to play in the Utah game.
Still, Young was in street clothes and watching the Rockets-Wizards game on the bench at Capital One Arena. During the third quarter, Houston’s Tari Eason shoved Washington’s Jamir Watkins to the floor, an incident that did not draw a whistle from the referees.
A few seconds later, after a foul was called on Eason for a different incident involving Watkins, Young stepped onto the court while yelling at referee Jacyn Goble apparently over the previous no-call against Eason. Goble called a technical foul on Young, then spoke with crew chief Tony Brothers and umpire Marat Kogut.
Brothers then announced that the technical foul had been called on Young for running onto the court and that Young had been ejected from the game. Eason also was ejected.
Young gave high fives to fans as he left toward the locker room. He did not speak to reporters after the Wizards' 123-118 loss but joked about his ejection on X.
"Don’t expect me to get ejected too many more times D.C.," Young wrote, adding a crying-with-laughter emoji, "but I’m definitely bringing that energy & competitiveness when I’m back for my brothers!"
After the game, Keefe praised Young for having his fellow player's back.
“I think he was just sticking up for his teammates, which I thought was great," Keefe told reporters. "Obviously, the refs missed a call in which our guy got knocked down, and I loved how our teammates stuck with him. So, whatever happened in that moment, I was actually proud of him because he stuck up for his teammates and I really care about that type of stuff.”
Keefe added that it's an example of the type of engagement Young has shown since he's joined the team.
“It’s nothing that he’s not been doing the whole time since he’s been here," Keefe said. "He’s talking to everybody in every timeout. He sees so much. He has so much stuff to share. He’s completely engaged in the whole game. So I am not surprised that he stood up [for] his teammates. That’s the type of guy he is, and we’re lucky to have him.”
The Brooklyn Nets will try to break an eight-game losing streak as they visit the Miami Heat tonight.
Miami is playing better since the return of one of its star players, which is why I’m taking the home team to cover in my Nets vs. Heat predictions.
Let’s break down this matchup and see how bettors should approach it with my free NBA picks for Tuesday, March 3.
Nets vs Heat prediction
Nets vs Heat best bet: Heat -13 (-110)
The Miami Heat have won four of their last six games and are 6-3 against the spread in their last nine.
That’s more than enough to give them a leg up on the hapless Brooklyn Nets, who have lost eight in a row and only covered once in that span, losing five games by double figures.
The Heat have Tyler Herro (21.0 points per game) back in the lineup, further widening the talent gap between these teams. Brooklyn is by far the lowest-scoring team in the league (107.0 PPG) and won’t be able to keep up with Miami tonight.
Nets vs Heat same-game parlay
One reason I like the Heat to win in a blowout tonight is Herro's recent return, who should play a big role for Miami tonight. I’ll take Herro to hit the Over on both his points and assists totals, as he’s averaging 21 PPG and has dished out at least six assists in three of his last four games.
Nets vs Heat SGP
Heat -13
Tyler Herro Over 20.5 points
Tyler Herro Over 3.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: The Heat Go Big
Along with my bets on Herro, I’m going to target two other Miami players to hit their props to bring in a long-shot SGP. That means taking Bam Adebayo to record his third straight double-double, along with picking Kel’el Ware to hit at least one 3-pointer, something the big man has done in eight straight games.
Nets vs Heat SGP
Heat -13
Tyler Herro Over 20.5 points
Tyler Herro Over 3.5 assists
Bam Adebayo double-double
Kel'el Ware Over 0.5 made threes
Nets vs Heat odds
Spread: Nets +13 (-110) | Heat -13 (-110)
Moneyline: Nets +525 | Heat -750
Over/Under: Over 226 (-110) | Under 226 (-110)
Nets vs Heat betting trend to know
Brooklyn is 1-7 ATS in its last eight games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Heat.
How to watch Nets vs Heat
Location
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
YES, FDSN Sun
Nets vs Heat latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s college basketball for Week 17 of the season:
Brayden Burries, No. 2 Arizona
The 6-foot-4 freshman guard is the first player to earn AP national player of the week honors twice this season after a stellar two-game stretch. Burries led the Wildcats to at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title by averaging 22.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He scored 24 points with four assists in an 87-80 win at Baylor. He followed up with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in an 84-61 win over No. 14 Kansas. Burries was named player of the week in Week 13 and gives Arizona three player of the week honors after fellow freshman Koa Peat earned it the opening week of the season.
Runner-up
Mikey Lewis, No. 21 Saint Mary’s. The 6-3 sophomore had 31 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal in Saturday’s 70-59 win over No. 12 Gonzaga to give the Gaels a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season crown. He made 10 of 21 shots from the floor and 7 of 13 from 3 in the game. Lewis also had 21 points and seven assists in Wednesday’s win against Santa Clara to help the Gaels close the week on an eight-game win streak.
Honorable mention
Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Alabama; Nick Martinelli, Northwestern; Seth Trimble, North Carolina.
Keep an eye on
Ty Harper, Oral Roberts. The 6-3 guard scored 47 points in a win over Denver on Thursday. Harper made 12 of 24 shots from the floor, and hit all 21 of his free throws to break the Summit League record. He followed with 27 points in a win at Kansas City on Thursday. The senior leads ORU with 17.9 points per game heading into this week's Summit League tournament.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 28: Johann Grünloh #17 and Thijs de Ridder #28 of the Virginia Cavaliers defend Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the Brooklyn Nets inch closer to finishing their season with one of their season objectives — top-three NBA Draft lottery odds — it’s time to put on our wishful-thinking cap and look ahead.
Assuming Brooklyn lands near the top of the board, there will be no shortage of intriguing prospects.
But the Nets already have intriguing prospects.
What they need is a franchise changer, someone who can lead them out of the league’s bottom tier and make becoming a Net feel appealing to an available star for the first time since the Big Three era.
“Identity” is a common cliché tossed around when discussing young teams trying to establish themselves. But even if teams don’t formally sit down and define it, having a strong organizational culture has an impact on everything.
That’s why, depending on where the Nets land, the highest-rated player available might not automatically be the best fit for a rebuilding team still figuring itself out. Sean Marks & co. take high character very, very seriously when assessing prospects.
An unhappy star can derail a takeoff before the seatbelt sign even turns off. And after the time this franchise has invested in starting over, Marks cannot afford to miss.
At this stage of the process, you’d have to think Brooklyn’s guy has to be Duke’s Cameron Boozer, a two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year who is having one of the best analytical collegiate seasons of all time and checks other boxes as well.
He leads the country in Player Efficiency Rating, Offensive Box Plus/Minus, Box Plus/Minus, Win Shares per 40 minutes and total Win Shares. His 19.82 BPM and 13.31 OBPM are the second-highest marks posted since 2010-11, trailing only Zion Williamson’s 2018-19 run, which is about as elite a comparison as it gets.
Through 29 games, the freshman power forward is averaging 22.5 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and 1.8 steals.
Drafting four guards and a forward who operates like one in the 2025 NBA Draft doesn’t lock Brooklyn into targeting the frontcourt. The Nets will tell you it’s always about BPA, best player available. But it does matter when you’re sketching out the future.
At 6’10” and 250 pounds, with an uncanny playmaking ability from the 4, the 18-year-old offers size that creates offense instead of slowing it down.
He plays advanced for his age, physically and mentally, like someone who already knows exactly what he’s good at and how to lean into it.
“Cam is never satisfied, I think that’s the great thing about him,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said. “He’ll find something from tonight’s game, I’m sure, where he’s pissed at, he didn’t do as well, even though he had 32 (points), nine (rebounds) and four (assists). That’s what makes him special. I think when your best player is that way, it becomes contagious and have a big effect on the rest of the group.”
While his skillset should translate quickly to the NBA, some of the bully-ball stuff, lowering a shoulder into a defender’s chest and carving out space at the rim, probably won’t be as easy against grown men.
Still, that doesn’t mean he’s limited. He’s just taking what’s easiest right now. He can get downhill and finish with either hand, score on the block, face up and knock down a jumper, and even slide into catch-and-shoot threes off movement. The foundation is all there.
Then, there’s the intangible: Boozer is the son of Carlos Boozer who played for four teams in a 15-year NBA career, twice being named to the NBA All-Star team and once to an All-NBA berth. He also won gold as part of the 2008 USA dream team in the Olympics and an NCAA championship. That has to matter. Cameron has a unique resource in pursuing his NBA dream.
What about the others at the top of everyone’s draft board. Darryn Peterson has seen his stock drop because of concerns related to nagging injuries and reliability and one decision-maker told ND this week that A.J. Dybantsa may not be the guy to “set your culture” because of maturity issues. As has been reported, the player the Nets take in the draft will likely be a big part of the draw for a superstar.
Brooklyn’s two most promising young pieces this season have come from backcourt backgrounds — Egor Demin and Nolan Traoré. Demin has already emerged as one of the top young 3-point shooters in the NBA, while Traoré is learning how to properly channel his explosiveness and use his speed to control tempo instead of just playing fast.
With two rising young talents in their backcourt, Boozer can slide in and form a dynamic two-man game with either to carve up defenses for the near future.
Whether lottery luck puts Brooklyn in a chance to immediately draft him, the Nets have options.
They control 10 first-round picks over the next five years, the second-largest asset pool in the league, 13 over the next seven. If they decide to move up, unlike last year, they have enough draft capital to make another rebuilding team at least pick up the phone.
Sitting around and waiting for a player of his caliber to fall into their lap isn’t a safe bet by any means.
If this rebuild is really about getting the plane off the ground and keeping it there, then this is the pick.
The Montreal Canadiens will travel way south — and way west — to visit the San Jose Sharks tonight. These two young, exciting teams will meet for the first time this season.
My Canadiens vs. Sharks predictions expect Cole Caufield to stay on his torrid pace as he pushes to become the first Montreal player to reach 50 goals since 1989-90.
Canadiens vs Sharks best bet: Cole Caufield anytime goalscorer (+120)
Since January 15, no player has scored more than Cole Caufield.
The Montreal Canadiens forward has 14 goals in his last 12 games and has found the back of the net three times in two games since the NHL returned to action. A focal point of the Habs’ top six, Caufield now draws a San Jose Sharks squad that allows the third-most goals in the league.
It's the perfect matchup for Caufield to light the lamp at least once.
Canadiens vs Sharks same-game parlay
Speaking of red-hot Habs players, Noah Dobson has seen a notable uptick in offense recently. The Montreal defenceman has nine points in his last seven games, eight of which were at even strength.
The Canadiens and Sharks rank 24th and 30th in goals allowed, respectively. Additionally, Montreal boasts the fourth-best offense in the league. Both meetings last season went Over, with the Habs emerging victorious in both.
The Canadiens have won four consecutive games in San Jose, dating back to October 2021. San Jose hasn't beaten Montreal at home since the 2018-19 season. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sharks.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sharks
Location
SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN2, NBCS-California
Canadiens vs Sharks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Today we look at the Cubs’new left-handed reliever.
Hoby Milner came to the Cubs as a free agent after spending a year as a Texas Ranger, where he had a little success, as he has had during a long career, previously with the Phillies, Rays, and Brewers. His ERA and peripherals weren’t so great, early in his career, but he seems to have righted the ship and has been dependable for years. Lifetime, he’s 13-9, 3.82 in 341 innings, in which he has logged 321 strikeouts, issued 94 bases on balls, and opponents have hit a rather high .252 against his offerings.
He throws a lot of ground balls. In 2025, his pitches resulted in 9 GIDP and he has 33 all-time. He’s a middle-reliever-type with a lot of holds on his baseball card. He’s likely to make the Opening Day roster and alternate with Caleb Thielbar.
Milner’s lifetime bWAR is 1.1 (2.8 fWAR). He signed a one-year, $3.75 million contract this past December. Milner is 35, 6’3”, 187. Projections have him throwing 60 innings with an ERA around 4.00 and three wins. He has four pitches, relying heavily on his sweeper and sinker, with a changeup and four-seamer worked into the mix.
His results the last few years have been pretty consistent, though nothing to write home about. But the Cubs love guys like Milner, ostensibly because the longtime vets deal with playoff pressure better than others, and have more predictable outcomes.
We’ll see. It’s always possible that a player at his age drops off. But Milner looks good to go right now. He’s got some good funk. We need the funk. Give us the funk.
FRISCO, TX - MAY 21: Kade Morris #9 of the Midland RockHounds pitches during the game between the Midland RockHounds and the Frisco RoughRiders at Riders Field on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Homero Amador/Minor League Baseball)
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
We’ve officially finished the top-20 prospects in the Athletics system. This was where we were planning to end this series but due to high demand and a few weeks left until Opening Day, we’re set to continue our CPL for at least around five rounds of voting. So get ready for a few more votes!
The player that rounds out the top-20 prospects in the system according to A’s fans is righty Kade Morris. The 23-year-old was the return piece the A’s received back in exchange for former All-Star Paul Blackburn. He just wrapped up his first full season in the Athletics’ system, first beginning at Double-A and pitching well there before a promotion to the final stop in the minors. His time with the Aviators went a bit tougher than his time in Midland but hopefully a full year at Triple-A can further his development. Like many of the names on our CPL Morris could be an option for the A’s as soon as this upcoming season.
We have our first reliever taking a spot among the nominees as right-hander Eduarniel Nunez gets the nod to replace Morris in the next round of voting. One of the return pieces the A’s got back from the Padres in exchange for Mason Miller and JP Sears, Nunez comes with a big fastball and wicked slider than should make him a force in the backend of the bullpen… if he can learn to harness his two-pitch repertoire. If he can manage to do that the A’s could have their future closer already on hand.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Time to vote for the 19th-best in the system everyone. Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
Pitching exclusively out of the stretch, Núñez has the goal to blow both of his pitches past batters, starting with a 97-99 mph heater that has touched as high as 101.4 mph in front of Statcast this season. It’s pure velo over movement here, and Núñez gets minimal extension under six feet (allowing batters to see the fastball a little longer), but it’s still enough to make for an uncomfortable at-bat. The Dominican Republic native’s upper-80s slider is an even better pitch, getting good depth while still being thrown hard, and it’s posted whiff and chase rates above 40 percent in the Minors during Núñez’s time in the San Diego system. Plenty of left-handed hitters have been fooled by the breaking ball too, but without a quality changeup, Núñez has drastic handedness splits.
Núñez’s desire to show explosive stuff can lead to inconsistencies in his delivery, and while his control numbers were much-improved with the Padres, he’s still likely to have issues locating routinely in the Majors. But there’s no doubt his electric arsenal is a quality find for a big league bullpen.
Causey thrives with a fastball that hovers around 90 mph, but that’s because he has a funky sidearm delivery that helps him get crazy movement and deception with his arsenal. Causey excelled in his first full pro season, posting a 1.72 ERA across High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He’s a fast mover with a different look that could add to the Royals’ bullpen in the coming years.
Causey began the year with a sinker, changeup and sweeper, but he added a four-seam fastball this season to help him at the top of the zone. After years of working on adding a cutter, Causey finally found something that works with the four-seamer.
Zhuang relies heavily on his four-seam fastball, which can touch 95 mph but normally hovers in the 90-93 range. He also throws a low-80s split-finger offering with good diving action. His arsenal is rounded out by a low-80s slider, a mid-70s curveball with good bend and a low-80s changeup.
Zhuang does have a history of injuries, which brings some real concern as to whether he can hold up as a starter despite having the necessary pitch mix for the role. He can command it well, as evidenced by his low walk numbers. For now, the A’s are enjoying watching the rise of the man many in the organization have nicknamed ‘Z-Man.’ He is firmly on their prospect radar, and his age could actually help him move up quickly if the success continues.
In some ways, Turley is the same player he was post-high school, a veritable toolshed with some concerns about him using those tools consistently. He might have had as much raw power as anyone in his Draft class, with some scouts hanging a 70 on it. He can drive the ball for extra bases anywhere with prodigious home run pop thanks to outstanding bat speed, and he was showing more ability to hit the ball out the other way this spring. There has long been the question about whether he’ll hit enough to get to that power. He had a 36 percent miss rate in 2024 with the Beavers, leading to a 27.3 percent strikeout rate, and while he’s improved those rates this season, including his propensity to chase breaking stuff, the swing-and-miss is still a concern. He does draw a ton of walks to help offset that.
Turley has above-average speed, though he hasn’t used it to be a basestealing threat. His athleticism does help him in the outfield, where his easily plus arm is also an asset. He’s played more left field than anywhere else and he should fit nicely as a corner outfielder in pro ball.
Tur is 26 but only signed with the A’s before the 2023 season after several seasons pitching in the Serie Nacional in Cuba. He started almost all of last year, going from High A to Triple A, although I think he’s a straight reliever. He comes straight over the top, sitting 96 with some ride along with a 55 splitter and a low-90s cutter that doesn’t miss many bats. The slider is fringy and he’s very north-south because of the arm slot. He could pitch in the big-league bullpen right now.
* * *
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 1: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After feeling like Jarrett Allen was being wasted with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the start of the season, Allen saw an uptick of involvement around the trade deadline. This turned into a whole month of Allen seizing opportunities and showing a level of aggression we haven’t seen since his All-Star campaign in 2021-22.
It only feels right that in this first edition of Fear the Sword’s player of the week, we celebrate the fro and praise the campaign he is putting together.
Average player grade last week: A
Stats last week: 22.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in four games last week.
Standout performance: 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists in OT loss to the Detroit Pistons on 2/27/2026.
Frankly, when I was thinking of other players in contention for this award, there was no argument for anyone other than Allen. He’s been on a different level for the better part of a month plus.
Does anybody realize Jarrett Allen was maybe quite literally the best player in the NBA for February?https://t.co/00PY3dPtb1 has their catchall player value stat stat — PIE or Player Impact Estimate.
Last week he quelled any concerns regarding whether the month of February was going to be a fleeting memory or something of substance.
Allen’s peaks in his career have come frequently enough that fans aren’t surprised but more disappointed that they don’t translate to sustained aggression and success. While the arrival of James Harden has certainly gotten Allen more involved, his production came about before the Harden addition.
It was almost a month ago that Allen posted a 40-point game against the Portland Trail Blazers. From there, it was a different Allen for the Cavaliers. The level of involvement from Allen is tied to a winning formula as the Cavaliers are 11-2 when Allen scores 20+ points in this season.
This is because when Allen is active and engaged, he is about as dynamic of a pick-and-roll player as there is in the league. When active in the restricted area, he can also put his touch and vision on display as well.
Against Detroit, it felt like the full display of what a difference an engaged Allen does for Cleveland. The Cavaliers entered that game against Detroit without their star backcourt of Harden and Donovan Mitchell. In the past, this would have been a death knell for the offense. However, Allen stepped up to the call against the Pistons.
Allen played well against one of the best defensive bigs in the league, Jalen Duran. He was the tone setter for the Cavaliers. Allen was getting to the rack early and often against Detroit to the point where when Allen had the ball Detroit’s defense was crashing to meet him around the rim.
Allen was unfazed by the extra defensive attention as he finished 9-10 inside the paint, scoring 25 points, shooting overall 10-12 on the night. That level of scoring, combined with nine rebounds and four assists, would have led the Cavaliers to an impressive victory if not for the team making poor decisions down the stretch.
The talent for Allen has always been there; the level of engagement and enforcement has been what has waivered at times.
The attitude shift in Allen changes the identity of the Cavaliers as much as the acquisition of Harden. Allen has had multiple narratives in the past dangled over his head questioning his toughness. If this version of Allen comes with the Cavaliers into the postseason that is a game-changer for this team.
On behalf of Fear the Sword, Jarrett Allen, your award is in the mail.
With the World Baseball Classic on the near horizon, teams are plugging lineup holes left and right.
These factors directly influence my MLB picks for Tuesday, March 3, which include the Cleveland Guardians among a trio of moneyline selections.
Spring Training predictions for March 3
Pick
Odds
SD moneyline
-105
CLE moneyline
-115
LAA moneyline
+115
Pick #1: Padres moneyline
Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. are off for the World Baseball Classic, but the San Diego Padres are still the superior team compared to the Chicago White Sox.
Nick Pivetta clears Sean Newcomb between the starters, and Jackson Merrill is still a better hitter than anyone in Chicago's lineup.
San Diego has the better bullpen, too, so I'll take the Friars as slight underdogs on a line that feels like an overcorrection.
Pick #2: Guardians moneyline
In the reverse sense, I actually buy into the Dodgers' absences being more of a problem. For one, Shohei Ohtani is with Team Japan, prepping for the World Baseball Classic. And while they aren't at the WBC, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Kyle Tucker are not scheduled to start this afternoon.
None of Los Angeles' top hitting prospects — namely Dalton Rushing, Mike Sirota, Zyhir Hope, or Josue De Paula — are in the lineup, either.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians are trotting out a lineup that could mirror a regular-season batting order, complete with Jose Ramirez in the three-hole. This line should move toward Cleveland.
Pick #3: Angels moneyline
Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo could be a legitimate ace, and he gives his team the eye-test edge vs. the Los Angeles Angels and starter George Klassen (his upside is intriguing, though).
But Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh are in the WBC, taking away Seattle's two biggest weapons. While the Angels are far from fearsome, especially sans Mike Trout, +115 offers enough cushion to elevate them above a shorthanded Mariners squad.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
At the NBA trade deadline, the Sixers only subtracted from their roster. They moved Jared McCain and Eric Gordon and received no NBA player in return.
Daryl Morey was asked at his post-deadline presser if he believed in his team’s depth:
“We feel like we’re a deep team. Again, people might not agree, but we do feel like a deep team. In fact, there are many people who are writing that we’re a deep team, so it wasn’t just our opinion. … You for sure always want more good players than bad players. We still have two roster spots. We’ll see what those are still to come.”
The team used the open roster spots and luxury tax savings to sign Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker — two guys who were already here — and plucked Cameron Payne back from overseas. Nobody expected the team to add a star at the deadline, but any upgrade would’ve been welcomed — especially by the team’s franchise player of the last decade.
Instead, the Sixers’ lack of depth, scoring, shooting and rebounding have haunted them time and time again. It might be what ultimately costs them a guaranteed playoff spot.
Coming into the season, nobody knew what to expect from Joel Embiid and Paul George. Their absences were already been baked into any team-building designs this past offseason. At this very website, we essentially said we thought anything Embiid and/or George would provide this season would be gravy.
Still, the team came into the season with second-year big Adem Bona, veteran Andre Drummond and rookie second-rounder Johni Broome as the only true fives on the roster behind Embiid. Maybe the team believed Broome, who was a heavily experienced and accomplished college player, could contribute right away. And with the way Drummond started the season, the Sixers got away with it … until they didn’t.
No backup center is going to come close to matching Embiid’s production, but the Sixers are lacking stability at the position.
Drummond took a nasty fall in Brooklyn in late November. Prior to that, he’d been giving the Sixers almost starter-caliber minutes when Embiid was sidelined. Though he didn’t miss any time, Drummond’s play has declined. Since Nov. 29, his numbers are down across the board. He was clearly supplanted by Bona for the primary backup role. While Bona is plenty promising, he’s still inexperienced, which shows at times. As for Broome, he never came close to cracking the lineup and had surgery to repair a torn meniscus this past weekend.
Drummond’s inability to contain Neemias Queta, a nice player who looked like prime Dwight Howard Sunday night, was alarming. The veteran big is one of the best rebounders in NBA history, but Queta was able to get 10 offensive rebounds by himself. The Celtics had 19 as a team. It’s a season-long pattern as the Sixers sit 20th in the league in rebounding. Conversely, Boston is sixth.
Here’s another depressing stat: McCain scored more points Sunday than Quentin Grimes and Payne combined. Like Drummond, Grimes got off a tremendous start, but his production has fallen off a cliff. He showed signs of life coming out of the All-Star break, but scored just 14 points combined over his last two games. As for Payne, he’s coming into a difficult spot. He’s had to adjust to time differences, a different league and new teammates. We’ve yet to see him provide much, but that’s sort of to be expected, at least right away.
Some were quick to point to Tyrese Maxey jacking up 34 shots as a reason for the team’s loss to the Celtics. While it was clear Maxey was pressing and forcing things in the first half, the question becomes, who would you rather take the shots? VJ Edgecombe took 21. Kelly Oubre Jr., who didn’t have one of his best nights, took 10. Should they be running more actions to get Drummond threes? Should they let Barlow run point forward? With all due respect to those players, Maxey’s hyper-aggressiveness is sort of necessary on nights like that because of the roster construction. The common factor for most Sixers’ wins without Embiid has been big Maxey nights.
Of course, if you want to complain about the offensive sets the team is running, it’s hard to quibble with that.
Sure, Oubre can have the occasional 20-point night and Grimes has done it in the past, but there needs to be other options. Right now, the Sixers boast one of the worst benches in the NBA. They’re 28th in points and threes per game from their reserves.
Outside of Maxey and Edgecombe, the Sixers don’t take or make enough threes. It’s something Nurse has sort of brushed off here, but in the modern NBA, you have to take high-volume threes. They took 31 threes Sunday — 22 combined from Maxey and Edgecombe. Drummond was the only other guy to take at least four. The Celtics jacked up 49 triples with seven guys putting at least four up. The Sixers are 20th in the NBA in threes per game. Boston is second. Which team would you rather be?
The Celtics, despite missing Jayson Tatum all season, are second in the East with guys like Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez giving them meaningful minutes while being on minimum contracts. They also acquired veteran big man Nikola Vucevic at the deadline.
The center position is an issue. The lack of scoring punch and shooting off the bench is an issue. Rebounding is an evergreen issue. With no reinforcements acquired at the deadline, the likely only way for the Sixers to remedy these problems is for Embiid and George to play.
Both should (hopefully) be ready to roll for the postseason. The issue could be getting there.
The Philadelphia Flyers are certainly a team to watch leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. With the Flyers currently being on the wrong side of the playoff line, it is possible that they could end up making some changes to their roster.
Rasmus Ristolainen is the player on the Flyers who has been creating the most chatter as a trade candidate. While this is the case, another notable Flyer is being viewed as a player to watch.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Kevin Kurz predicted that the Flyers would trade forward Bobby Brink ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
"At 24 years old and still on the upswing, Brink isn’t the kind of player rebuilding teams tend to deal. But the Flyers are deep at wing, and have another, Porter Martone, on the way, perhaps as soon as the end of this season. Moving Brink, maybe for some help at center or in goal, would also allow Flyers coach Rick Tocchet the option of putting Matvei Michkov back on the right wing for the final six weeks," Kurz wrote.
There is no question that the Flyers have a lot of depth on the wing, so it could make sense for them to deal Brink. This is especially so if the skilled winger could be used in a trade package to help improve the Flyers' roster elsewhere.
Yet, trading Brink would also come with some risk. At just 24 years old, Brink undoubtedly has the potential to get better as he continues to gain more experience. He is also in the middle of a solid year for the Flyers, as he has scored a career-high 13 goals and recorded 26 points in 54 games.
It will be interesting to see what the Flyers do with Brink from here, but he is standing out as a trade candidate to watch.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics takes the field during player introductions before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Sutter Health Park on March 31, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A day ago, there was cause for concern and/or curiosity depending on your perspective of the Sacramento Athletics. Today, the same is true, but inverted in its perspective as we shift from the fearsome and frightening young position player core of the new A’s onto their highly suspect pitching staff.
In their first season in Sacramento, the pitcher-friendly-for-AAA confines proved hitter friendly for the grown-ups. Favorable-enough dimensions, along with a scorching, dry climate, made Sutter Health Park a nightmare for pitchers. Home runs flew freely, hits landed and skimmed swiftly, and while reliable dimensions kept triples in check and we’ll want a multi-year sample for precision, the stage was largely a launching pad.
That made sledding difficult for RHP Luis Severino and an A’s pitching staff built on the cheap that performed accordingly. A 4.71/4.66/4.58 ERA/FIP/xFIP led Sacramento to just 8.6 fWAR in 2026 as a pitching staff and 8.2 bWAR, good for 27th and 25th in MLB respectively. No club induced fewer groundballs than the Athletics, a move that eventually had some clarity thanks to Denzel Clarke’s amazing range, but largely seemed to serve them ill in a small, hitting-happy home.
Few of these numbers moved in the ideal direction when bullpen ace RHP Mason Miller was traded at the deadline, and while the bullpen remains a relative strength, this club is still surprisingly upside-allergic in the rotation.
Notable Transactions
Out: LHP Sean Newcomb, RHP José Leclerc, LHP T.J. McFarland, RHP, Scott McGough In: RHP Aaron Civale, RHP Mark Leiter Jr., RHP Scott Barlow, RHP Nick Anderson, RHP Brooks Kriske, RHP Wander Suero Italics = Minor League Deals with Spring Training Invite
The Rotation
If those moves don’t rattle your bones, do not adjust your dial. Sacramento added just one starter to a rotation that was worst in the American League by fWAR at 5.9, ahead of only the near-historic Rockies. Their rotation was neither good nor diligent, mustering just 808.1 innings (25th in MLB) against the Mariners 882.1 IP (4th), more than eight entire games-worth shunted onto their bullpen. That was satisfactory in Sac-Town, as the club shipped off LHP JP Sears at the deadline along with Miller, working in a motley conveyer belt of ill-fated arms.
Player
Age
Throws
IP
K/BB
ERA
FIP
WAR
Luis Severino
32
R
181
2.54
4.48
4.42
2.1
Jeffrey Springs
33
L
171
2.71
4.38
4.49
2.1
Aaron Civale
31
R
130
2.73
4.64
4.58
1.4
Jacob Lopez
28
L
131
2.59
4.17
4.27
1.8
Luis Morales
23
R
119
2.24
4.46
4.54
1.1
Luis Medina
27
R
92
1.98
4.58
4.50
0.6
To his credit, RHP Luis Severino signed to be the ace of this collective and delivered a second-straight decent campaign. For the park he pitched in, an ERA and FIP beginning with 4 is only so damning. Behind him, however, Jeffrey Springs pitched like an hourly employee whose boss is conspiring to avoid having to give them health insurance, mustering just 158.1 innings in 30 starts and failing to reach the awards-qualifying threshold. Only 28 year old LHP Jacob Lopez, whose potential back half breakout was curtailed by a left elbow strain that’s still slowing his ramp up this spring, showed a serious stride in the right direction.
While adding Civale is a variation of stability, it’s surprising for an A’s club that would be well-served to figure out what they’ve got in reserve. Both Luis M’s have upper-90s heaters and at best a general sense of what direction it’s headed, making them uncomfortable at-bats but also uneven starters. Walk-heavy appearances seem on the docket for this group once again, which is incentivized to identify which of their younger hurlers can coalesce into a rotation mainstay. This is hardly an impossibility, but Sacramento has a decided lack of upside at the top of their rotation and very little floor on the back end, particularly in 2026.
The Bullpen
No major additions shouldn’t shock anyone with familiarity to the A’s organization, although bringing in Leiter and Barlow at least indicated an understanding that a path to contention runs through a standout pen for these A’s. Without Miller and Newcomb, however, an A’s bullpen that was dynamite down the stretch in 2026 will need to pull fresh rabbits from their Kelly green caps.
Role
Player
Age
Throws
IP
K/BB
ERA
FIP
WAR
Closer?
Hogan Harris
29
L
66
2.09
4.18
4.33
0.1
Closer?
Justin Sterner
29
R
65
2.72
4.15
4.28
0.4
Closer?
Mark Leiter Jr.
35
R
64
2.66
3.99
3.98
0.6
Middle
Michael Kelly
33
R
60
1.98
4.37
4.56
-0.1
Middle
Scott Barlow
33
R
54
2.10
4.25
4.22
0.2
Middle
Elvis Alvarado
27
R
58
2.18
4.19
4.36
0.1
Middle
Brady Basso
28
L
50
2.75
4.01
4.10
0.1
Swing
Jack Perkins
26
R
40
2.62
3.82
3.87
0.1
While much of the historical ‘pen is optionable, it’s likely the Athletics mix in some long relief work in earnest given what they’re working with in the rotation. Their 40-man roster contains a medley of early and mid-20s swingmen like Gunnar Hoglund, J.T. Ginn, Joey Estes, and Jack Perkins. Featured on the Chinese Taipei roster in the WBC this week, Sacramento may also see work from 25 year old righty Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang, a durable righty who matches much of this cohort in their peculiar fit as a contact-focused, fly ball pitcher. They’ll need to see a repeat of the brilliant stretches Justin Sterner put together in 2025 for their pluckiness to push into playoff performance, but it’s less fantasy and merely an off-balance coin flip.
These Athletics aren’t too far off their spot a season ago on the hill, and it’s likely to be their Achilles heel. Still, the early half of the season is liable to feature plenty of fervent efforts to identify 1-2 rotation locks and another couple bullpen breakouts, in the way a franchise like the A’s is choosing to gamble on with a still-longshot playoff pathway. Plucky can mean you’ve got unexpected feistiness. It can also mean you’re just plucked.
The Royals made a move — and it could reshape the lineup.
In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco break down the Kansas City Royals’ signing of Starling Marte, analyzing how his bat fits into the lineup and what it means for roster construction moving forward. The hosts explore Marte’s versatility against both left- and right-handed pitching, the ripple effects for players like Nick Lofton and Tyler Tolbert, and why this addition could bring much-needed stability to the outfield.
Beyond roster mechanics, the conversation expands into broader MLB topics, including insights from a fan survey on betting’s growing presence in baseball and whether a salary cap system would improve competitive balance. The episode blends player evaluation, team-building philosophy, and league-wide economics — all while keeping the focus on how the Royals can position themselves for success this season.
As always, Jacob and Jeremy close with light-hearted movie and anime reviews, balancing sharp baseball analysis with personality and perspective.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 02: Bryce Harper #24 of Team USA looks on during a workout at Papago Park Sports Complex on March 02, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve heard from Bryce Harper a lot this off-season.
He’s been active on Instagram, talking about blood ozonation and wearing “Not Elite” T-shirts. He’s held court in Clearwater discussing Dave Dombrowski’s now-famous post-season comments, and he’s been on podcasts like “Bussin’ the Boys” and, on Monday, ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show.
After an off-season stewing over Dombrowski’s assessment of a 2025 campaign that was pretty good but, sorry Bryce, not elite, Harper appears eager to shove an entire off-season of frustration up everyone’s noses.
This is all for the good. Ever since Harper signed with the Phillies ahead of the 2019 season, the roster has been designed around one guiding principle.
The offense flows through him.
He is the superstar. He is the straw that stirs the drink. He is the MVP candidate, the future Hall of Famer, the anchor, the man who performs best in the game’s biggest moments.
Except, he wasn’t that last season. It was noticeable. Try to think back on the “big” Bryce Harper moments from 2025. One doesn’t leap to mind, does it?
Harper was a very good player last season, worth a little over 3 wins while missing 30+ games in the middle of the season with an injury. That’s fine production from your second or third-best player, but the Phillies have relied on Harper to be the face of the franchise and its best player.
Last year, that person was Kyle Schwarber.
It feels like, this year, Bryce Harper wants to re-take his place atop the Phillies’ food chain.
Harper, Schwarber and 13 of their teammates are preparing to play in this week’s World Baseball Classic, an Olympics-like tournament featuring the very best players in the world playing for their home countries. Over the next two weeks, baseball fans will be fortunate to watch some baseball that matters, games that will crackle with drama, intensity, and emotion.
What better way for Harper to begin his redemption arc than to have a monster World Baseball Classic?
Harper homered in his final spring at-bat with the Phillies before leaving for the WBC, and over the years has generally stepped up in situations like this. The Orlando Arcia Game in the 2023 NLDS, the entirety of the ‘22 postseason, grand slams and 9th inning bombs in the biggest moments, those are his calling cards. And now he has the opportunity to make everyone forget about a tumultuous off-season by owning the WBC.
On the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, we discussed whether the World Baseball Classic is a litmus test for Harper’s 2026 season (FOLLOW the show on Spotify below!).
How important is it for Bryce Harper to have a big World Baseball Classic? Is it a litmus test for what we'll see in 2026? We discussed on an all NEW Hittin' Season! @WHYY
Of course, a red-hot WBC for Harper does not necessarily mean a hot start to the regular season with the Phillies. As was mentioned in the video, Trea Turner (who surprisingly wasn’t asked to play for Team USA this time around) had a WBC for the ages in 2023, his first season in Philadelphia.
Turner hit five home runs in that WBC. He then started his Phils career by hitting .235/.290/.368 over the first four months and 107 games until the standing ovation that turned around his season on August 4.
And to be fair to Harper, a subpar WBC would not necessarily mean we’re in for another non-elite campaign from him this year. These are, after all, exhibition games. In early March, players are normally still getting their bodies ready for the regular season and are nowhere near at the top of their game at this point.
Harper’s inclusion in the WBC could not have been more opportune. Perhaps getting him out of Clearwater, away from the humdrum monotony of spring training baseball, is just what he needs. Getting his competitive juices flowing now could be very good for his state of mind, an outlet for his frustrations. If that’s the case, pity the poor pitchers who will be trying to get him out, including some of his own teammates in Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and, yes, Aaron Nola, who is pitching for Team Italy.
While I’m sure they would be angry at themselves for giving up big hits to Harper over the next two weeks, somewhere inside they would secretly be happy to see their biggest star having a star turn at the WBC.
Bryce Harper does not need to have a monster World Baseball Classic in order for his 2026 season to be a bigger success, and if he struggles, it doesn’t necessarily portend disaster.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics hits an two run home run during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park on September 28, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics have been a franchise full of turmoil on and off the field for some time now. The 2025 campaign saw the organization play its home games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, its first of at least three seasons after leaving Oakland in search of a new home in Las Vegas.
However, not only did the 2025 season bring the entire organization some new scenery, but it also brought a host of changes that carried over into the offseason as they added a few new faces that could help grow a supporting cast of characters hoping to put this franchise back on the map once again.
The Athletics
2025 record: 76-86 (4th, AL West) 2026 FanGraphs projection: 80-82 (4th, AL West)
Last season, the finish for the Athletics still wasn’t as high as fans of the team would have liked it to be. And, most importantly, they’ll be without a couple of players that were headliners for their roster after selling at the deadline, but there are some names around the roster that could elevate the stature of the A’s and put them in contention for the middle of the road in the AL West.
First, when it comes to what will be missing completely from the Athletics, the biggest loss is Mason Miller. Every baseball fan knows the kind of arm he brings out of the bullpen, and after pitching in 38 games for the A’s last season, he was traded to the Padres in July. His 1.0 fWAR was tied for fourth among all A’s pitchers last season despite only pitching about half the year in the team’s uniform, and losing a fastball that averages 101.2 on the gun is as detrimental as any loss a club can get — at least in the short-term.*
*Nineteen-year-old shortstop Leo De Vries was the best prospect moved at last year’s deadline and his stock has only inflated since then. He’s only played 21 games above A-ball, but stay tuned. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus had him ranked as a top-five prospect in the game.
But with that loss — and the loss of another relief pitcher in Sean Newcomb, who was tied in fWAR with Miller after last season and has since moved to the White Sox — comes a few additions, albeit fewer than what baseball fans saw last season from the Athletics’ front office.
The most notable name of the new additions is Jeff McNeil, the former second baseman for the Mets. With a huge overhaul coming in Queens, including the movement of other players like Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz, McNeil was just another casualty and was traded to the A’s for right-hander Yordan Rodriguez. But the A’s also added veteran starting pitcher Aaron Civale, utilityman Andy Ibañez, and reliever Scott Barlow.
The Athletics, though, added those pieces to support the real prizes in their lineup: Brent Rooker, who was still an excellent hitter in 2025 following an absolutely absurd 2024 season at the plate; Shea Langeliers, who was re-signed to a one-year contract after finishing second on the team in fWAR with 3.9 and a wRC+ of 132; and first baseman Nick Kurtz, the player who made the biggest storylines last year, including winning the AL Rookie of the Year award and a Silver Slugger. He was the first rookie in MLB history to hit four homers in one game, tying a big-league record for a player of any age.
One of the biggest questions for the A’s heading into 2026 is: Can Kurtz recreate his fantastic season from last year and help propel this offense to higher levels than might be projected for them? At 22 years old and a hulking 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, Kurtz slashed .290/.383/.619 for an OPS of 1.002 and a wRC+ of 170 in 117 games played. In his 489 plate appearances, he smashed 36 home runs while being the designated hitter and first baseman when called upon. He even finished 12th in the AL MVP vote.
There are some names that could help the Athletics inch closer to where they desire to be. However, it’s going to take a more prominent offseason (and, as everyone knows, more spending) to put them back fully on the map. They have an OK group of hitters who are looking to help a somewhat unknown pitching staff meet or perform above expectations and maybe even climb back into the talk of .500 or above in an AL West division that is not easy to maneuver around.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
SD moneyline
CLE moneyline
LAA moneyline
