The NHL fined Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen $5,000 on Friday for cross-checking the Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.
Rantanen cross-checked Kaprizov early in the third period on Thursday night and was assessed a minor roughing penalty. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
It was the Stars' second cross-checking fine of the series. Captain Jamie Benn was fined $2,604.17 on Wednesday for a check on Ryan Hartman in Game 5.
The Wild beat the Stars 5-2 in Game 6 to advance to the second round against the Colorado Avalanche.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 27: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the eighth inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, April 27, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last fall, the Mariners fell one win short of winning the first American League pennant in club history. They returned this spring with high expectations, bringing back first baseman Josh Naylor and trading for on-base machine Brendan Donovan. They dropped 15 of their first 25 games, but are starting to heat up, winning six of their last seven games.
Kansas City Royals (12-19) vs. Seattle Mariners (16-16) at T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Donovan has been out since April 18 with a groin injury but is expected to return to action this weekend. The former Cardinals infielder is justifying the big trade so far, hitting .304/.437/.518 with three home runs in his first 18 games with the Mariners. Cal “Big Dumper” Raleigh is not hitting home runs at the same rate as last year, when he lead the league with 60 home runs, but he is also heating up with five home runs in his last nine games.
J.P. Crawford has the fifth-best walk rate in baseball at 18.8 percent. Josh Naylor has the highest pop-up rate in baseball at 27 percent. He stole a career-high 30 bases last year, and is 4-of-6 in steal attempts this year. Luke Raley is hitting .283/.340/.630 in home games.
Bryan Woo was an All-Star for the first time last year, earning Cy Young votes after putting up a 2.94 ERA in 30 starts. He had his worst start of the year his last time out, giving up seven runs and four dingers in three innings against the Cardinals. He throws a 95 mph fastball half the time, mixing in a sinker, sweeper, slider, and occasionally a change.
Emerson Hancock has yet to make 20 starts in a season in his career, but he may be having a breakthrough this year at age 27. He tossed six no-hit innings in his first start of the year, and has yet to give up more than three runs in an outing. He is right behind Woo with the sixth-lowest walk rate in baseball.
Luis Castillo is starting to show signs of rust at age 33. He gave up seven runs in his last start with a noticeable drop in velocity, leaving questions on what to do with him when Bryce Miller returns to the rotation. Bobby Witt Jr. is just 1-for-16 (.063) against Luis Castillo in his career.
Note that Friday night’s game will air exclusively on Apple TV with Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst), and Heidi Watney (on-field reporter) on the call.
The Mariners have the third-best bullpen ERA at 3.31. Andrés Muñoz has the sixth-best strikeout rate in baseball. He has converted six of seven saves this year, and five of the eight runs he has given up this year came in one outing. Matt Brash has yet to give up an earned run this year, and opponents are hitting just .091 against him, but left his last outing on Wednesday with side discomfort. Jose A. Ferrer has a reverse split this year, with lefties hitting .375 against him.
The Mariners are still expected to be one of the leading contenders for a pennant this season, with a strong pitching staff, a lockdown closer, and one of the best home run hitters in baseball. The Royals need to get back on track, but they missed an opportunity to take a series in Sacramento, and it doesn’t get any easier in Seattle.
May 22, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros mascot Orbit waves a flag in center field after the final out against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
After going 1-2 against the Toronto Blue Jays, the so-called “Chad Sox” sit at .500 four games into their 135-game season. After sweeping the Red Sox at the start of the March, things have not gone well for Houston. Their record stood at 5-2 then, and is now just 12-20 to Boston’s 12-19. Hey, the Sox are the better team in this matchup! The Astros have suffered an 8-game losing streak to get to this level, like the Mets and the Phillies. Boston meanwhile has achieved their record without a long steak but merely through frustrating play in four-game (or so) cycles.
With the Red Sox sitting 7 games under .500, they need to get as many wins as possible against the (other) struggling teams. A dropped series against the Blue Jays looms large. The sweep at the hands of the Astros looms large further back. The loss of Garrett Crochet for at least two weeks means they need to hold things together for 15 days, hopefully claw a couple games back, and then try and go on a run when their ace returns.
The Red Sox are likely to call up Jake Bennett. The 6’6” southpaw was acquired from the Washington Nationals for Luis Perales. SoxProspects describes him as a “[p]otential backend starter. Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.” Although in five starts (21.0 innings) he’s put up a 0.86 ERA for the WooSox. And he’s had several months working with the Boston pitching think tank. He missed 2024 with Tommy John Surgery and has improved as he’s gotten further away from that setback. SoxProspects Andrew Parker has a bit more on the likely Friday starter.
The Friday starter we do know is Houston’s Mike Burrows. A right-hander, Burrows has been up and down this season. His season ERA is north of six. Of course when he faced Boston on April 1, he allowed just 2 runs over 5.0 innings. He’s struck out 33 and walked 12 over 31.2 innings. He also held the Yankees to 2 runs in 5.0 last time out so who can say what offenses are good.
Spencer Arrighetti is a right-hander who has made three starts this season. Over 18 innings he’s held the Rockies, Guardians, and Yankees to a total of 4 runs combined. Plus 21 strikeouts and 9 walks. Luckily the stopper, Connelly Early, is paired against him. Early is coming off a 6.2 inning win against the Orioles. The initial Chad Sox game. His only runs allowed were two solo shots.
Sunday, the Astros get to be the TBD team while the Red Sox send Ranger Suárez to the mound. Suárez was the bright spot for the Red Sox pitching against Toronto, throwing 8.0 scoreless, 1-hit, 10 strikeout innings in Canada. Aside from the outing against the Yankees, he’s been on a roll for the last month. Against the Jays, Tigers, and Cardinals he tossed 22 scoreless innings. A little more of that and some help from the bats and this looks like the game Boston has the best chance of winning. Of course, his season debut was against these Astros and was a 4.1 inning, 4 run outing.
Yordan Alvarez is hitting .356 with 12 home runs.
Former potential trade target and bad defender Isaac Paredes is at .253/.339/.384 with 3 homers.
Jose Altuve is buzzing along with a .250/.349/.393 slash line.
Christian Walker has bounced back after a rough 2025 for a .300/.371/.564 performance.
Overall, the Astros are struggling and hopefully that continues for a least three more days, if not months.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, May 1: Mike Burrows (6.25 ERA / 5.14 FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)
Saturday, May 2: Spencer Arrighetti (2.00 ERA / 3.67 FIP) vs. Connelly Early (2.84 ERA / 4.60 FIP)
Sunday, May 3: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Ranger Suárez (3.09 ERA / 3.35 FIP)
The Michigan Wolverines’ baseball team got off to a slow start in Big Ten play thanks to a front-loaded schedule, but they are now one of the best teams in the conference. Michigan is currently 27-17 overall and 12-9 in Big Ten play. After a 1-5 start to conference play, the Wolverines have won their last five series, and every remaining opponent is behind them in the standings.
Next up: Maryland on the road.
Getting to know Maryland
Maryland is struggling this season, currently sitting with a 22-23 overall record and a 6-15 mark in Big Ten play. Despite the poor record, Maryland has a pretty strong lineup offensively. The Terrapins currently have five players hitting above .300 — Brayden Martin, Ty Kaunas, David Mendez, Paul Jones II and Jordan Crosland.
Martin leads the team with an exceptional .361 batting average. He doesn’t hit for a ton of power — he has just two homers on the year — but he has driven in 33 runs. Meanwhile, Kaunas is hitting .315 and has some more pop in the bat, as he has launched five homers and knocked in 37 RBIs.
Mendez is certainly one of the best bats in this lineup, as he is tied for first on the team with the most RBIs at 38. He also has seven long balls on the year and is hitting .312. Jones has good pop as well, as he has hit six homers and 31 RBIs so far this season to go along with his .306 average.
Perhaps the most dangerous bat in the Maryland lineup is Crosland. He is leading the Terrapins this season with 10 homers, and he is tied with Mendez for most RBIs with 38. He is currently hitting .305.
The Terrapins have done a solid job scoring runs this year, but pitching hasn’t been able to hold up. It’s hard to pinpoint who Michigan will face on the mound this weekend, but it is likely that two of the three starters will be Lance Williams and Nic Morlang.
Morlang has the most starts this season for Maryland (10), pitching 35.2 innings while giving up 30 earned runs on 54 hits (7.57 ERA). There are a couple other players with more starts than Williams, but somehow Williams’ 7.43 ERA is the best that Maryland has among pitchers who have consistently started this year. He has pitched 46 innings and has given up 38 earned runs on 53 hits. That should tell you how much Maryland has struggled this season when it comes to finding consistent pitching.
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
While the Sixers went into their round one series against the Boston Celtics not knowing whether Joel Embiid would be available for it, they did have something they haven’t in their previous three playoff matchups against Boston: wings to throw at their stars.
Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. possess enough length, speed and strength to hang with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Not having formidable defenders to throw at those two is what’s made Boston a matchup nightmare in years past, and that difference is a big part of what’s helped the Sixers come back to even up the series at 3-3.
The big adjustment the Sixers have made defensively is cutting down on over helping. Fewer double teams on drives has given the Celtics fewer opportunities to kick out to open threes. That starts with being able to stay in front of your man 1-on-1, and George has done a phenomenal job leading that effort.
“Those two guys are great wings and he’s got a battle every possession,” Nick Nurse said of George after Game 6. “They’re scoring, they are, but he’s making them really work for it.”
When asked specifically how they’ve been able to limit the drive and kicks, George didn’t want to give anything away — that’s for Boston to figure out watching film. He did get into the challenges of guarding the Jays and what he’s trying to do against them.
“Jayson and JB is as good as it gets,” George said. “They’re going to make tough shots, they’re going to challenge me, they’re gonna make me look bad at moments, they’re gonna embarrass me at moments, but I enjoy the matches, I enjoy the challenges. My whole career, I’ve always been excited on the defensive end.”
That excitement has been noticed by his teammates throughout the series. After Game 6, Tyrese Maxey said that George has been a great voice and leader in the locker room.
“Once he came back from his 25 games [suspension] he had a mission,” Maxey said, “and I think he’s accomplishing that mission, and he’s been really good. And we appreciate him and appreciate his sacrifice. He’s done a great job.”
Not only has George’s defense given the Sixers a fighting chance since the beginning of the series, but he’s helped unlock the offense as his shot continues to fall. He had his highest scoring game of the series, dropping 23 in Game 6, thanks in large part to going 5-of-9 from three-point range.
After the game, Nurse said he felt he’s seen George get more confident offensively every game of the series. They very much needed that to be the case after George only attempted eight shots in Game 1.
“I tell people I’ve just been gifted to score and be able to have a smoothness on the offensive end,” George said, “but defensively, I’ve always appreciated that side of the ball.”
The max contract the Sixers doled out has opened George up to a lot of criticism. The knock being that on the best version of this team, he’s a souped-up role player. Game 6 showed that when he, along with Maxey and Embiid, are rolling, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“When I first came here, I told them I’ll get the stops that we need,” George said. “I was more than fine coming here to be the third option and allowing those guys to be themselves offensively.”
Between a 24-win season and a 3-1 series deficit, it took a long time for the Sixers’ signing of George to bear any fruit. There’s still no guarantee they complete the comeback and have a playoff series win to show for it.
But even if the Celtics prevail, George has at least shown to be the player the Sixers paid for two summers ago.
The Philadelphia 76ers have clamped down on the Boston Celtics the past two games, keeping Boston from the offensive glass while getting in the shorts of the C’s star players.
No matter what, the Celtics have a bad habit of sticking to their 3-point plan, and they’re dying on the perimeter. With Joel Embiid beating up Boston inside, Game 7 is going to be a lot closer than oddsmakers expect.
SGP leg #2: Kelly Oubre Over 9.5 points
Kelly Oubre Jr. is doing it all on both ends for the Sixers in this series. Not only is he guarding Boston’s best, but the versatile forward has shown flashes of offense as well.
Oubre has dropped 10+ points on the Celtics in four of the first six games and is coming off a 14-point performance, with projections calling for at least 13 points in Game 7.
SGP leg #3: Joel Embiid Over 4.5 assists
Embiid’s return has flipped this series on its ear. The 76ers center is exposing Boston’s lack of depth inside, and when the Celtics do send double teams, the seven-time All-Star is finding cutters and open shooters.
He’s dished out 22 total assists on 30 potential dimes through three games and will continue to serve as a conduit for the Sixers on Saturday.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his 76ers vs Celtics predictions for Game 7.
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In the midst of a Knicks beatdown, Mitchell Robinson wanted to administer one of his own.
The Knicks center was ejected in the second quarter of Thursday’s 140-89 massacre for going after Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, and video taken from the stands at State Farm Arena in Atlanta is even more chaotic than what viewers saw on TV.
Robinson tried to fight through anyone and everyone on the court, using every last inch of his 7-foot, 240-pound frame to muscle his way toward Daniel in a scene that did a number on a crowd with a heavy Knicks fan bent.
The alternate angle of this Knicks-Hawks fight is WILD.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 1, 2026
“Oh my god,” one onlooker said before letting out a scream. “I’m terrified.”
Other simply cheered for some sign of life from a Hawks team on the wrong side of a 72-22 score.
The entanglement with Robinson and Daniel began with 4:39 left in the first half, following OG Anunoby’s free throw that made it a 50-point lead.
Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu tried to separate Robinson from Daniels, with Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson trying to hold his big man back as things moved toward the stands.
One official took a tumble, and Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson isolated Robinson before things went too far and spilled off the court.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson #23, fighting with Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels #5, in the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostKnicks center Mitchell Robinson #23, fighting with Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels #5, in the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The brouhaha did not reach the crowd, though. If it had the NBA would be taking a closer look at things, according to The Post’s Stefan Bondy.
That’s a sigh of relief for the Knicks, who can take some solace in knowing the league has one fewer thing to take into account for potential punitive measures.
“It’s tough because when you’re up that big, stuff happens,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “If somebody feels like something that shouldn’t happen to them happened, it’s hard to keep your composure in that moment.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 7: Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks, AJ Green #20, Andre Jackson Jr. #44 and Dave Joerger of the Milwaukee Bucks talk during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 7, 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
With apologies to Thanasis and Alex, the final edition of our pop quiz series focuses on the Bucks’ gaggle of off-ball guards/wings to round out the roster. Aside from Ryan, you’d be hard-pressed to say the other four met or exceeded expectations, and at least one fell well short of them. Here’s hoping for better results next here from whichever of this crew remains in Milwaukee.
On the one hand, Green broke Ray Allen’s franchise record for made threes in a single season. On the other, it wasn’t until the Bucks were truly out of the race that Dairy Bird really showed up. Prior to the season’s final month, he shot .417/.407/.810, just 9.7 PPG on 6.9 3PA/game. He averaged 13.0 PPG with .445/.457/.950 on 8.1 3PA/game thereafter, highlighted by a career-high 35 points on April 10th. That’s production the Bucks really could have used in January or early March, as they tried to claw back into the play-in conversation amid Giannis injuries. AJG missed only four games and started 68, but after looking the part in 2024–25, he appears much less like an NBA starting guard today. That has a lot to do with his regression as a defender: the prior two years, he flashed really solid on-ball D, despite struggling a fair bit with team coverage (chalk that up to inexperience, maybe). He provided next to nothing on that end this season, which was a huge disappointment in my eyes. The only strides I really saw him make were as a playmaker: even if 1.9 APG looks like nothing, he had four-plus dimes a dozen times in 2025–26, up from seven the year prior.
I don’t think anyone expected much from Harris, who many speculated would take on the Pat Connaughton break-in-case-of-emergency veteran role. At first, he scarcely played while the team wasn’t ravaged by injuries, but down the stretch, he played even less often, with just 13 appearances and 11 DNPs after February 1st. He too dealt with minor injuries during that span. However, he had several nice games in the first half, usually providing solid perimeter defense even at age 31, plus the occasional three. He hit double figures just once on November 14th. I would say he did what was expected of him as a deeper reserve on a minimum deal. Can’t ask for much anyway.
Ajax keeps hanging on in Milwaukee despite his fewest minutes since his rookie campaign. Believe it or not, this was the first time he shot worse than 37% from deep in a season, and it’s not as if his volume has ever changed. He continues to be a void on offense without showing any of the ball-handling and facilitation acumen he developed on UConn’s 2023 national championship team. So it’s up to him to prove his worth on defense, and he didn’t hang his hat on that either. He fell out of favor with Doc last season, but maybe Taylor Jenkins thinks he can take whatever defensive skills Jackson has left and create an actual NBA player. I’m not betting on it.
Ah, finally something positive. I admit, Ryan deeply unimpressed me last summer league, and also didn’t stand out in limited preseason action. So I was nonplussed by Milwaukee’s decision to ink him on a two-way in late February. Looks like I was wrong about him, as the 27-year-old journeyman (he spent six seasons at three universities!) might just belong after all. Sure, it’s just 11 games, but the shot is definitely there, and he appears to have a bit more variety to his game than Green, the similarly-sized shooter he was naturally compared to. Ryan seriously popped in April with four games over 20+ and was in double-digits for eight of his 11 appearances. His two-way contract continues next season, and who knows, maybe the Bucks found themselves yet another rotation player not taking up a standard roster spot.
I saved the worst for last. GTJ famously started slowly in 2024–25 but, after being benched in early November, was great the remainder of the year, culminating in a sensational Pacers series. He was probably Milwaukee’s second-best player for those five games, so fans were thrilled when he took a Non-Bird raise to stay put last offseason. Once again, he kind of started slowly, but unlike last year, he never broke out of it. His best two-game stretch was probably Milwaukee’s 2-0 start out of the gate, because he shot just 37.4% over his next 19 games, taking us to the end of November. His shooting numbers sank further as we entered 2026, and after the season’s midpoint, he was generally out of the rotation. But a shoutout for 36 points in a loss to the Clippers on March 29th. That came during an eight-game stretch where he averaged 12.8 PPG on .450/.463/.625 shooting. Like Green, where was this when the games actually mattered?
Tantalising totals
(1) Green established a new career-best in assists against Miami in November. How many, and what was his previous best?
Click to reveal answer
Eight, topping six from December 2024.
(2) True or false: Jackson also set a career-high in assists this season.
Click to reveal answer
True, on March 23rd.
(3) In 11 games, Ryan topped which three former All-Stars in FG% and 3P%, all of whom played fewer than 20 games?
Click to reveal answer
Trae Young (15 GP), DeJounte Murray (14), and Jayson Tatum (16). He was just 2.3% shy of overtaking Domantas Sabonis (19) in FG%. He also was no more than 3.6 PPG away from all but Tatum.
Atypically advanced
(1) True or false: Trent’s 3PAr (three-point attempt rate) was higher in 2024–25 than in 2025–26.
Click to reveal answer
False: he took a career-high 72.3% of his shots from deep, shattering the previous high from last year at 65.9%
(2) According to Cleaning The Glass, Harris’ assist-to-usage ratio of 1.23 led the team. Whose was higher: Harris’ or James Harden’s?
Click to reveal answer
Harris’. Harden was at 1.11.
Obscure optics
(1) Trent’s notorious plus-minus issues resulted in a -9.2 net rating, per CTG. What two-time All-Star was just 0.2 points per 100 possessions better?
Click to reveal answer
Brandon Ingram. Trent’s net was also better than Isaiah Stewart’s and Bruce Brown’s!
How did you fare? Share your score in the comments, and don’t forget to drop your thoughts along with it—which stat stands out?
Here are some of the latest rumors flying around the league.
Anthony Davis traded again?
At last February's trade deadline, the Washington Wizards made a couple of bold moves to put former All-Stars around their young core, trading for Trae Young and Anthony Davis. With them (and another high draft pick), one could see a path to respectability for the Wizards, who have not made the playoffs the past five years (and only once in the last eight).
However, Davis may not be around for the long haul, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
"I do think there's a good chance that he may end up somewhere else by the time next season starts"@ChrisBHaynes gives the latest on the future of Anthony Davis with the Wizards
Haynes is saying that Davis likely wants to compete at a higher level than the Wizards are expected to next season. Maybe. However, trading him is something else entirely. Davis is a Wizard because the Dallas Mavericks didn't want to pay him — Davis is owed $58.5 million next season with a player option for the following year, and he's looking for an extension. That's a lot of money for a player with a lengthy injury history, with that, the trade market for AD is not exactly going to be robust. Despite the fact that when he has been on the court in recent years, he's looked like the All-NBA version of himself.
Lakers reportedly expected to keep Kennard
Luke Kennard is a free agent this summer. After coming to the Lakers via a trade with Atlanta, he averaged 9 points a game and shot 44.8% from 3-point range — he is the second-best shooter in the league right now. In the playoffs, forced into an expanded role due to the injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, he has averaged 14.4 points and 3 assists a game (although his numbers dropped way off in that series as the Rockets started to focus on him, then Reaves returned, he had just one point in Game 5).
"It is increasingly anticipated leaguewide that the Lakers will want to retain the recently acquired Luke Kennard after his strong first-round series against Houston."
I'm less sure about that. It's certainly possible, but the buzz around the Lakers is that they will only be able to keep one of Kennard or Rui Hachimura, who are both free agents. While there are variables around how this plays out — Does LeBron James return and at what price tag? Is new owner Mark Walter more open to paying the tax? — if the choice is Kennard or Hachimura, look for the Lakers to lean Hachimura, who is a better defender and more versatile because of his size.
Suns to extend Devin Brooks
Devin Brooks helped change the culture in Phoenix. He had a career year and was one of the key reasons the Suns made the playoffs instead of landing in the lottery, where most of us projected them to be before the season.
"The Suns, I'm told, indeed want to secure a long-term stay for Brooks after his role in establishing them as the West's foremost regular season surprise team, but sources say that Phoenix is also mindful of the fact that an extension would kick in for Brooks' age-32 season since there is currently only one season left on his contract in 2026-27 at $21 million. The max extension that Brooks can command is a four-year deal in the $125 million range but the expectation is that a new deal will not reach that upper threshold."
Expect it to get done.
While we're talking Suns, you can end the Devin Booker trade rumors now.
Suns team owner Mat Ishbia said Devin Booker "is not getting traded" when asked about Booker's status.
Peyton Watson emerged as a key part of the Denver Nuggets' rotation this season. Part of the reason the Nuggets are off to Cancun (or Serbia to watch horse races) is because Watson could not play in the postseason due to a hamstring injury. Watson averaged 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, shot 41.1% from 3-point range and played quality defense on the wing this season.
Watson is a restricted free agent this summer and Denver is expected to retain him, but the Lakers, Bulls and Nets are looking at him and considering trying to poach him, Fischer reports at the Stein Line.
Why Watson might be available is that bringing him back — re-signed or matching an offer — sends the Nuggets well above the second tax apron, and this is a team where ownership is allergic to the tax. A team with cap space — the Lakers, Nets and Bulls all have that — could come in with a big offer and dare the Nuggets to match.
What is CJ McCollum’s market?
CJ McCollum boosted his stock in Atlanta, averaging 18.7 points per game and shooting 35.7% from beyond the arc in the regular season, then in the playoffs became the tough shot-maker the Hawks needed, averaging 22.2 points per game, including some clutch buckets.
McCollum also is a free agent. It's unclear whether the Hawks will bring him back, despite how good he was for them. If they end up with the No. 7 or No. 8 pick in the draft (there is a 55.4% chance they do, this is the Pelican's pick that they traded to move up and get Derik Queen), then do they want to pay the veteran guard, too? Here is what John Hollinger wrote at The Athletic.
I canvassed a few execs on his likely value during my recent travels, and most seemed to think one or two years at slightly above the midlevel exception was a fair ballpark (i.e., two years and $35 million to $40 million). However, with tanking now verboten [pending the NBA's new rules], a one-year balloon deal from a struggling cap-room team like the Chicago Bulls or Brooklyn Nets can't be ruled out.
McCollum showed this season he still has value in the league, and the veteran is going to help some team out next season. The question is, which one?
Bulls front office
It's sounding more and more like Minnesota's No. 2 man, general manager Matt Lloyd, will get the job, listening to league buzz out of Chicago. However, Michael Scotto at Hoopshype writes that "Atlanta Hawks Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham, and Detroit Pistons Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey have garnered palpable buzz within league circles."
Scotto also adds this interesting note: "If the Bulls hire Lloyd as an executive, Timberwolves lead assistant coach Micah Nori would be a strong candidate for Chicago's head coaching vacancy, league sources told HoopsHype."
One other thing about the Minnesota front office: While Dallas might like to chase the Timberwolves' head of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, Minnesota is not expected to give Dallas permission to talk to him, Marc Stein reports at The Stein Line.
The league announced the 73 prospects who received invitations to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, which should provide plenty of helpful data.
Scouts and executives learn official measurements and athletic testing as as how players perform during interviews and scrimmages. But additionally, the invitation list alone lends helpful context to how evaluators around the league view this draft class.
Invitations are sent based on votes from each team in the NBA, who select which players they want to get a closer look at before the draft.
Players who did not receive an invite to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine may still earn their way to participation via the NBA G League Draft Combine, which begins two days before.
Full 2026 NBA Draft Combine List
This list is sorted based on consensus rankings from trusted mock drafts and big boards.
AJ Dybantsa
Darryn Peterson
Cameron Boozer
Caleb Wilson
Keaton Wagler
Darius Acuff Jr.
Kingston Flemings
Mikel Brown Jr.
Brayden Burries
Yaxel Lendeborg
Labaron Philon
Nate Ament
Aday Mara
Hannes Steinbach
Jayden Quaintance
Karim Lopez
Cameron Carr
Bennett Stirtz
Christian Anderson
Koa Peat
Dailyn Swain
Morez Johnson Jr.
Chris Cenac Jr
Amari Allen
Ebuka Okorie
Isaiah Evans
Allen Graves
Joshua Jefferson
Henri Veesaar
Meleek Thomas
Tyler Tanner
Tounde Yessoufou
Tarris Reed Jr.
Zuby Ejiofor
Alex Karaban
Juke Harris
Luigi Suigo
Milan Momcilovic
Rueben Chinyelu
Sergio De Larrea
Ryan Conwell
Braden Smith
Flory Bidunga
Jaden Bradley
Richie Saunders
Trevon Brazile
Bruce Thornton
Malachi Moreno
Baba Miller
Ugonna Onyenso
Billy Richmond III
Izaiyah Nelson
Emanuel Sharp
Keyshawn Hall
Milos Uzan
Ja'Kobi Gillespie
Otega Oweh
Kylan Boswell
Matt Able
Maliq Brown
Jeremy Fears Jr.
Tyler Bilodeau
Tyler Nickel
Nick Martinelli
Dillon Mitchell
Andrej Stojakovic
Felix Okpara
Tobi Lawal
Jack Kayil
John Blackwell
Nick Boyd
Peter Suder
Tobe Awaka
Biggest snubs from 2026 NBA Draft Combine
Collegiate prospects who declared as as early entry candidates or have remaining eligibility have until May 27 to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft if they wish to play in the NCAA next season. Players who did not receive NBA Draft Combine invitations are more likely to return to college.
SENIORS:
Tamin Lipsey
Rafael Castro
Malik Reneau
Duke Miles
Lamar Wilkerson
Quadir Copeland
Nate Bittle
Jaron Pierre Jr.
Jalen Washington
Robert McCray V
Elijah Mahi
Ernest Udeh Jr.
Jaden Henley
Trey Kaufman-Renn
Tre White
Malique Ewin
Darrion Williams
Josh Omojafo
Cade Tyson
William Kyle III
Oscar Cluff
Kashie Natt
Donovan Dent
Joseph Pinion
Tucker DeVries
Day Day Thomas
B.J. Edwards
Carson Cooper
Tre Carroll
KeShawn Murphy
Jaylin Sellers
Donovan Atwell
AJ Storr
Boopie Miller
Mark Mitchell
Seth Trimble
MJ Collins
Lajae Jones
Anthony Roy
Zach Cleveland
EARLY ENTRY CANDIDATES:
Alex Samodurov
Elliot Cadeau
Acaden Lewis
Cruz Davis
Jacob Cofie
Vsevolod Ishchenko
Bassala Bagayoko
Finley Bizjack
Isiah Harwell
Paulius Murauskas
Mohammad Amini
Pavle Bačko
Francesco Ferrari
Keanu Dawes
Colby Garland
Anton Bonke
Eian Elmer
Dennis Parker Jr.
Sebastian Rancik
Aiden Tobiason
Rowan Brumbaugh
Kennard Davis
Gabe Dynes
Shane Blakeney
LeJuan Watts
Bryson Tucker
When is the 2026 NBA Draft Combine?
The 2026 NBA Draft Combine is held in Chicago at Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis.
The NBA G League Combine is from May 8 until May 10. The NBA Draft Combine is May 10 until May 17.
Five-on-five scrimmages typically broadcast on ESPN on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Jack Adams Award for the NHL's coach of the year has an Eastern Conference flair in 2025-26.
The three finalists are the Tampa Bay Lightning's Jon Cooper, Pittsburgh Penguins' Dan Muse and Buffalo Sabres' Lindy Ruff. The award is voted on by NHL broadcasters and the winner will be announced at a later date.
Cooper and Ruff are veteran coaches and Muse is a first-year NHL head coach. Cooper extended the Lightning's playoff streak amid trying circumstances and Muse and Ruff ended their teams' playoff droughts, 14 seasons in Ruff's case.
Here's what to know about the Jack Adams Award finalists and the rollout for announcements for the NHL's major awards.
Jack Adams Award finalists
Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning: Cooper led Tampa Bay (106 points) to its ninth consecutive playoff berth.. He became the second-fastest head coach in league history to reach 600 career wins (1,005 games), behind only Scotty Bowman (1,002). Cooper, 58, a three-time finalist has never won.
Dan Muse, Pittsburgh Penguins: Muse led Pittsburgh (98 points) to second-place in the Metropolitan Division and its first playoff berth since 2021-22. His 41 wins were tied for the third-most by a Penguins head coach in their first season with the team. Muse, 43, is vying to become the first rookie head coach to win the trophy since Patrick Roy in 2013-14.
Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres: Ruff, in the second season of his second stint behind the Buffalo bench, guided the Sabres (109 points) to their first playoff berth since 2010-11 and first division title since 2009-10. Buffalo posted a 30-point improvement over 2024-25 to rise from 26th to fourth in the overall league standings. Ruff, 66, is a Jack Adams Award finalist for the fifth time and won in 2005-06.
Who will win the Jack Adams Award?
Cooper has never won before, so that might have worked in his favor, especially since the Lightning's Victor Hedman, Brayden Point and Ryan McDonagh missed significant time.
Jack Adams snub
No quibbling with the three finalists, but Marco Sturm could also make the list. He helped the Bruins quickly get back to the playoffs in his first season in Boston. The team finished with 100 points.
NHL awards finalists announcement schedule
Tuesday, April 28: Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player): Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid.
Wednesday, April 29: Vezina Trophy (goaltender): Ilya Sorokin, Jeremy Swayman, Andrei Vasilevskiy
Thursday, April 30: Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship): Cole Caufield, Anze Kopitar, Jake Sanderson
Friday, May 1: Jack Adams Award (coach): Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, Lindy Ruff
Monday, May 4: Masterton Trophy (perseverance)
Tuesday, May 5: Calder Trophy (rookie)
Wednesday, May 6: Selke Trophy (defensive forward)
Thursday, May 7: Norris Trophy (defenseman)
Friday, May 8: Hart Trophy (MVP)
Monday, May 11: Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (impact on community, culture or society)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Alperen Sengun (28) of Rockets in action against LeBron James (23) of Lakers during the NBA playoffs game 5 between Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets at the Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
You can’t fake desperate.
The Rockets have had their season on the line in the last two games, and they’ve played like it. Houston dominated in a blowout win in Game 4 and then came to LA and won a close contest in Game 5.
Now, entering Game 6, it’s the Lakers who have to feel a bit nervous. A 3-0 lead has now shriveled away, and if Los Angeles doesn’t win, then we’ll have a Game 7 and the Lakers would be flirting with the most embarrassing series loss in the history of the sport.
Everyone, including the players, is well aware of the severity of the situation.
“We got to play desperate,” Marcus Smart said after the Game 5 loss. “Every possession matters for us and we really got to literally go out there and be ready to die. That was it. When I was on the other end, that was our motto…We have to be the desperate team. We know they’re going to come in in their place and be very desperate, very confident and we gotta be able to have to be able to respond in a good way with it.”
Despite how dire things have been for the Lakers, they still have the advantage in this series. They need to win just one game and the Rockets need two victories to end things. LA needs to use that advantage and channel the same desperation and urgency the Rockets have been playing with and get this series over with.
“We got to play like our backs against the wall, right, Smart said. “We knew this was going to be a tough series. I think everybody knew that and it’s turned out to be exactly what we expected. Now the fun begins.”
Smart might have a different view on what’s fun than Lakers fans do, but let’s hope he can have his fun and win this game and the Lakers can spend the rest of the weekend preparing for a second-round series against the Thunder.
While there can clearly be frustration that a sweep has turned into a tight series, at this point, all that matters is getting to that fourth win over the Rockets.
“We don’t have a lot of time to dwell on it,” LeBron James said. “I mean, you can give yourself tonight, a little bit tomorrow, but sh-t, once we get on that plane and head down to Houston, we got to forget about it and understand what we’re going for. It’s going to be even harder, man. Like every game is harder. It’s so hard to close out a team in the postseason to win a series and this is our first time doing it as a unit. We’ll see what we got.”
The time is now for the Lakers to raise their intensity and be the team that closes out their opponent.
The last time Los Angeles has done this was in 2023, so we’ll see if this iteration of the Lakers has what it takes to finish the job.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium on April 28, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A look back at the first baseball month of the season, with all of April plus five days of March.
March/April stats
20-11 record 167 runs scored (5.39 per game, 4th in MLB) 101 runs allowed (3.26 per game 1st in MLB) .715 pythagorean win percentage (22-9)
The usual caveat
For most of baseball history, the season ran from April to September, but over time the schedule has expanded on both ends, now regularly starting in March and ending in October. This year’s opening day — regular opening day, not counting any special international trips — of March 25 was the earliest start to a season in major league history.
Those loose ends at both ends of the schedule leads to oddities in splits, such that April numbers will also include March. Same for September, which will also include the few games in October as well. So while we might say “April” here at times, just know it also includes March.
The Dodgers’ first-ever game in March came way back in 1998, and in their history have now played 33 regular season March games. They won four of five March games to open this season, and are 24-9 (.727).
For starters
Even without Blake Snell — who started the season on the injured list with shoulder fatigue and is two minor league starts into a rehab assignment — the Dodgers rotation carried the staff in the first month of the season, and provided a stable base, much like the final two months of 2025 plus the postseason.
Dodgers starters in April averaged 5.85 innings per start, tops in the majors, the the rotation was second in ERA (2.83) and xERA (3.51), and fifth in strikeout-minus-walk rate (15.8 percent). The Dodgers got 20 starts lasting at least six innings, .. 4 (Tigers, Royals, Mariners 16) more than any other team.
Shohei Ohtani, who has lasted six innings in all five of his starts, has a 0.60 ERA and 2.23 xERA, both of which are best in the National League among pitchers with at least 30 innings. He finished the month one inning shy of qualifying for the leaderboard. Same for Justin Wrobleski, who has a 1.50 ERA in his 30 innings, including two runs allowed in 26 innings in his four starts.
Tyler Glasnow is off to an excellent start with a 2.56 ERA and 2.40 xERA in a team-leading 38 2/3 innings, with 47 strikeouts.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a 2.87 ERA and 4.02 xERA in his six starts and 37 2/3 innings, but also only has two wins as the Dodgers have scored 11 total runs with him still in the game.
Powering up
Max Muncy was the Dodgers’ best hitter in the first month of the season, hitting .287/.374/.594 and ranking third in the National League in both OPS (.968) and wRC+ (166). Muncy led the team with 23 runs scored, matching May 2019 and May 2021 for his most runs in a month in his career.
In 2025, Muncy famously did not hit a home run until the final day of April, but this year got off to a much hotter start, leading the team with nine home runs so far. The first eight of those home runs were solo shots, and Muncy’s 11 runs batted in are tied for the fewest in any month in baseball history with at least nine home runs, along with Spencer Torkelson in August 2023 with the Detroit Tigers.
Andy Pages was the only Dodger to play all 31 games in April, including 30 starts. He led the team in hits (36) and runs batted in (25), all while hitting .321/.366/.518 with a 145 wRC+ and holding down the fort in center field.
Ohtani two ways
That guy with the 0.60 ERA in 30 innings on the mound, Shohei Ohtani, had a down month at the plate for him, but relative to the rest of baseball he’s still quite productive on offense, hitting .273/.406/.491 with a 144 wRC+ and six home runs.
He batted 139 times in March/April and faced 119 batters as a pitcher. His 258 combined plate appearances made this the second-busiest month of Ohtani’s career, trailing only the 268 PA in September/October 2022. As a way to get some semblance of rest, in two of Ohtani’s pitching starts so far he did not hit.
Fizzling final week
While the Dodgers are at or near the top of most offensive statistics — their 126 wRC+ is tops in the majors — their end to April left a lot to be desired, following a 15-4 start with a 5-7 finish. In the final nine games of the month, the Dodgers scored three or fewer runs five times. They lost two one-run games to the Marlins to finish off the month, a series in which the Dodgers trailed entering the ninth inning in all three games.
“We’ve kinda been going through it as a group,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman, who hit .259/.328/.414 with a 107 wRC+ in the first month. “As an offense, the last few games haven’t been where we wanted to be.”
Kyle Tucker had a walk-off single to win Monday’s game, but was otherwise underwhelming in his first month with the Dodgers, hitting just .241/.331/.371 with a 100 wRC+.
The month ahead
The Dodgers play 28 games in May, with three Thursdays off, and have a stretch of 13 game days in a row from May 8-20. Thirteen of those games are at Dodger Stadium, with 15 road games. After playing nine interleague games in March/April, the Dodgers in May play six games against American League teams — at Astros from May 4-6 and at Angels from May 15-17.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 04: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates with Dillon Brooks #3 after Booker put up the game-winning three-point shot during the final moments of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 108-105. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The season is over, and with it comes a clearer perspective on who this team is, what it accomplished, and how the hierarchy settles. That naturally leads to one of the more enjoyable exercises we do at the beginning and end of every season.
SunsRank.
It is the process of building out the roster and figuring out who the best players are. It is subjective by design, and that is what makes it work. What stands out every time is the shift, where we started, where we landed, and how much can change over the course of a season.
In years past, it was a straight list. Rank them one through however many and call it a day. This season, the approach evolved. It became tier-based. Group the players first, define the buckets, then sort within them. It is cleaner, easier to digest, and creates better conversations. A compartmentalized approach that allows everyone to weigh in on where players belong within the structure that fits their impact.
So, utilizing the same logic that we did at the beginning of the season, here are the four tiers that players on the Phoenix Suns fall into:
Tier 1: The Cornerstones
These are the players the franchise rests on, the names etched into the season’s story before the first tip. They set the tone, and if the Suns succeed, it’s because these players delivered.
Tier 2: The Pillars
Not quite cornerstones, but strong enough to hold weight. These are the stabilizers, the players who give structure to the roster. If they rise, the ceiling rises.
Tier 3: The Wild Cards
Players who could swing the season one way or another. Their roles aren’t fixed, their impact is unpredictable, and that volatility makes them fascinating.
Tier 4: The Depth Pieces
The supporting cast. The ones who fill minutes, plug gaps, and sometimes win a game or two that no one expects. They may not grab headlines, but every season leans on players like these.
Where did we land before the season began? Based on results from the community and our writing team, here is where the Preseason SunsRank 2025-26 landed:
#
BRIGHT SIDE COMMUNITY RANK
BRIGHT SIDE WRITERS CONSENSUS RANK
1
Devin Booker
Devin Booker
2
Jalen Green
Jalen Green
3
Mark Williams
Dillon Brooks
4
Dillon Brooks
Mark Williams
5
Ryan Dunn
Grayson Allen
6
Grayson Allen
Ryan Dunn
7
Royce O’Neale
Royce O’Neale
8
Collin Gillespie
Collin Gillespie
9
Nigel Hayes-Davis
Nick Richards
10
Oso Ighodaro
Oso Ighodaro
11
Rasheer Fleming
Nigel Hayes-Davis
12
Khaman Maluach
Khaman Maluach
13
Koby Brea
Jordan Goodwin
14
Nick Richards
Rasheer Fleming
15
Jordan Goodwin
Koby Brea
16
Jared Butler
Isaiah Livers
17
Isaiah Livers
Jared Butler
18
CJ Huntley
CJ Huntley
Wow. Looking back at that list is wild, isn’t it? Early-season perception drove much of where players landed. The Bright Side community had Jordan Goodwin 15th. The writers had him 13th. It will be fascinating to see where he ends up after this exercise. And we sure did overvalue NHD, didn’t we?
Now comes the fun part. This is where you go through the roster, in alphabetical order by last name, and decide who belongs in which tier. Drop your thoughts in the comments. Who was easy? Who gave you trouble? Who sits right on that line? Because there are a few that live there.
Once we have the tiers set, we move to the next phase. Ranking within them. That is how SunsRank takes shape, building toward a full 1 through 18 when you include the two-way players. It is a process. It is a conversation. It is a thought exercise I look forward to every time, because defining “best” is never universal. Everyone values something different. What drives you? Leadership, production, or impact on winning? Price for value paid, cultural significance, or grit? There are many factors and how to define who is better than who.
Our writing team is working through their rankings behind the scenes as well. Once it is complete, we will share everything, just like we always do. Transparency matters. If something stands out, we will have our writers explain their thought process. And we expect the same from you in the comments.
Appreciate you taking the time to be part of it. Let’s begin SunsRank.
