The Yankees are shaking things up in their front office.
While GM Brian Cashman has already confirmed that he will be sticking around in the Bronx on a new deal, the club will not be renewing the contracts of Omar Minaya or Brian Sabean, per Jon Heyman of the NY Post.
Both served as special assistants to Cashman during their time with the organization.
Minaya joined the Yanks during the 2023 offseason, two years after wrapping up his third stint with the Mets.
The long-time baseball executive worked his way up to the GM role on the other side of town, then returned to them as a special assistant to Sandy Alderson, before taking his talents to the Bronx.
Sabean began his involvement in baseball as a scout for the Yanks in 1985, and after a long tenure with the Giants that saw him eventually bumped up to the head man role, he returned to the Big Apple in 2023.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 30: Adem Bona #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers falls on top of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers beat the Knicks on Friday…
…meaning they are 2-0 in the head-to-head matchup. That’s it, that’s all it means. No parade down Broad Street.
Here’s what we heard coming out of Cheesesteak Arena.
"We're competitive when we need to be & that's why all the games that we're in we have a chance down the stretch. Trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is going to be huge because we're not doing that right now"
“I don’t look it as a statement game. It’s the next game in front of us. Obviously, it’s a [NBA] Cup game and you always want to push yourself to have an opportunity to try and win something. This means taking a step toward that goal.
“But I just want to get a little better every time we play. These guys really hurt us in transition last game. Our transition defense right now stinks. But it’s gotten a little better. Tonight, it will be tested. Obviously Jaylen is not playing and he’s one of the best in transition. You look at little things and you hope to get better at the little things while getting a win.”
On the Knicks allowing Philadelphia to attack the paint too easily:
“They were getting in our paint left and right, right and left, and it was really, really easy doing it.”
On the Knicks forcing difficult plays instead of executing simple offense:
“It’s been going on all year. Like, we’re trying to hit a home run every time we get the ball. And we have to hit singles. We can’t hit a home run. We gotta hit singles offensively and then if our play breaks down, we have to move. There’s too many times where we have too many guys trying to iso and the other four guys sitting there and staring at the ball a whole possession.”
On the Knicks improving their turnover management in the second half:
“We did a better job with our turnovers (in the second half). But more importantly, we reacted better when we turned the ball over and we had five turnovers for six points (against).”
On the Knicks failing to maintain their focus throughout an entire game:
“Against a good team on the road, if you let go of those things in a half, you’re in trouble. And so somehow some way we have to be cognizant of doing this stuff for 48 minutes, which we’re not doing right now.
“Tonight it was the first half and it was almost like [we thought] we’re just gonna show up and go hoop and not do the little things that we need to do to go get a win.”
On the importance of executing the fundamentals consistently:
“It’s a little thing here, a little thing there, a little thing there. … We’re competitive when we need to be and that’s why all of our games that we’re in we have a chance down the stretch, but trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is gonna be huge for us because we’re not doing it right now.”
On LeBron James making decisive plays against the Knicks:
“[LeBron’s] a great player, and when you have a great player out there, with his ability, he’s gonna make plays, and he made big plays down the stretch. It’s the NBA, and it’s not surprising when a guy like Maxey or LeBron or Jalen makes a big play. You just hope that it doesn’t come down to that all the time.”
On Ernie Johnson’s retirement announcement and his impact on NBA coverage:
“I’d like to give a quick shoutout to Ernie Johnson. I don’t know him well. Obviously I know him from the TV. I try not to watch a lot of basketball shows because it gets me too high or gets me too low. But their show is one that I always get good laughs at.
“Just from afar, Ernie seems like he’s a big time human being. And the little bit I know about his story, it’s fascinating. He will be sorely missed, not only from the fans out there and other media members, but I know from a coaching standpoint too in keeping everything light and enjoyable and all that other stuff.
“So I hope you have a heck of a year, Ernie. We’re gonna all miss you, but thanks for doing what you do to make people smile everyday.”
"There's been plenty of times we learned from being down what we can do. In that same game we made adjustments. I think we played decent in the second half. Took care of the ball better, played better defense. You've got to put a full 48 minutes together"
On the Knicks’ careless turnovers and hesitant decision-making:
“Just a little careless. And sometimes it can be us being hesitant as well, wanting to make the right play, but they’re also not trying to turn over, and then it’s just a little late to our decision-making. It could be a lot of things, but obviously, we got to clean it up.”
On Josh Hart’s fatigue excuse six games into the season:
“Josh said he feels the fatigue? Well, Josh is old as s–t, so.”
On the Knicks needing to learn from their losses and stop relying on comebacks:
“I’ve said in the past that it’s always important to learn from wins. Obviously, you learn from losses, as well. There have been plenty of times that we’ve learned from being down. In those same games, we’ve made adjustments to where we weren’t down anymore and came back and won the game. Obviously, we have to understand what we need to do. It’s starting the game that way. I think that has to be our biggest point of emphasis going forward.
“I thought we played decent in the second half, took care of the ball better, played better defense, but we have to put a full 48 minutes together.”
"All I can think about is we're now six games in. We haven't shown our best. We haven't played our best. We've got to find a way to be that magical team we were last year at a more consistent pace. Lightning don't strike twice. We've got to be that team now"
On the Knicks lacking energy against Philadelphia:
“Today we played like a team that was on the end of a road trip. We gotta find that gear. We gotta find that energy.
“We picked up the pace in the second half, but what makes this team special is doing it for 48 minutes. We didn’t do that tonight. We put ourselves in a bad spot, and give credit to the team over there. They hit the shots when they needed to. We just got to execute at a higher level.”
On escaping the Knicks’ offensive struggles too late against the 76ers:
“I thought we did a great job in that fourth quarter of finding that gear, like you said, just kind of getting out of the quicksand. To do that puts us in a position where you gotta make some magic happen, and we just didn’t have enough magic tonight.”
On the challenge of facing LeBron James and the 76ers:
“They’re a great team. Obviously, you have arguably the greatest player of all time. We’ve got to bring our best. We’ve got to execute at a high level. And we’ve got to continue to use these games as a learning experience.”
"We all feel the fatigue. We've got to fight through it. 6 games in, but we have to find a way to make sure we get our bodies ready to play every day"
On the Knicks’ stagnant offense and lack of movement:
“It’s a new year. I think we’re trying to work our way into the season. But I think the flow’s tougher. Sometimes the ball is stagnant, I think that’s a little bit from fatigue and not a mental thing. You know what the other team is doing, and physically you’re trying to get your body to get to that point. So I think that that’s part of it. We got to be more deliberate with cuts and movements. And taking care of the ball.”
On the Knicks feeling fatigued after playing three games in four nights:
“We all feel the fatigue. So we got to fight through it. Six games in. So we got to find a way to make sure we get our bodies ready to play every day. I think mentally we’re there. We just gotta find it physically.”
On the Knicks needing to execute more consistently:
“We gotta find a way to execute better. And do that continuously.”
On why the Knicks keep falling behind by double digits before attempting comebacks:
“I wish I could tell you that one. If I could tell you that one, and the reason why, then maybe it would stop happening. I think we all have a great will to win. I think sometimes it takes us a little longer to find a game, whether that’s the flow, fatigue, whatever it is.
“We have to do a better job of finding the game early, making it easy and then not relying on double-digit comebacks because it’s taxing.”
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse says LeBron James has been good so far all season, but tonight was his best game. pic.twitter.com/0YWemLAudP
“He’s been good, but tonight, I thought that was his best game for sure. I thought he was good all the way through tonight. I thought he got some downhill stuff. He used his size and knocked them around a little bit for some layups. I thought he obviously pushed the ball and got us organized. I thought he was a little quicker to make some decisions to shoot the 3-ball as well. And then, he obviously made those couple of big plays down the stretch.”
Amar'e Stoudemire on why #Knicks have gotten off to a slow start after championship season:
"I think what we most have to look at is that when you win a championship, especially in New York, you have all these different opportunities off the court that take place. You're filming…
On how New York’s off-court opportunities can distract players after winning a championship:
“When you win a championship, especially in New York, you have all these different opportunities off the court that take place. You’re filming commercials, you’re having these different shows, you’re doing these different things. All these events are happening.
“You’ve got to try to narrow it back down and lock in on basketball because playing in New York, you can get a little bit taken away from the sport with all the activities that go along with being in New York City. But you have to now try to narrow it down back to basketball. Key in, lock in on basketball. Make it the main priority and build out from there.”
On why the Knicks deserved to celebrate their championship throughout the offseason:
“That’s normal. That’s a part of human nature, man. You win a championship for the New York Knicks. You kidding me? After 53 years, you gotta enjoy that. You will never be the first one to win it after 53 years ever again.
“So that energy, you have to capitalize on it. It’s just a matter of now being able to kind of channel that and now focus on basketball and lock in a little bit more.”
On whether the Knicks’ slow start is concerning:
“I’m not concerned. When you are the champions, man, every target is at your back. Every team’s gunning for you, so it’s tough to kind of get off to a great start the following year. I’m not concerned. I think it’s a matter of just kind of locking in and focusing a little bit more, and they’ll be okay.”
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Daniel Duarte #54 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Things were looking pretty bleak for Daniel Duarte in the spring of 2024. He battled his way onto the Minnesota Twins roster before an elbow injury sidelined him for the rest of ’24 and all of 2025.
Whether playing for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic or being a surprisingly good piece of the New York Mets bullpen, Duarte’s career rebounded nicely in 2026.
Duarte signed a minor league deal with the Mets in the winter, then made two appearances with Mexico in the WBC, including a shutdown inning against Team USA. Duarte walked Bobby Witt Jr., then retired superstars Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and Kyle Schwarber in order.
The right-hander proved his WBC performance wasn’t a fluke, posting his best season in the big leagues by far. He got the call to the Mets after 12 solid appearances for Triple-A Syracuse to start the season. He then rattled off seven consecutive scoreless appearances for New York. Duarte also had a separate streak of nine straight scoreless appearances, remaining effective for most of the summer when he got his chances with the big-league club.
Duarte posted a career high in strikeout rate (26.8%), hard-hit rate (24.3%), and xERA (2.88). His year ended with a hamstring injury in September, long after the Mets’ season had gone down the drain. Still, his was somewhat of a bright spot in an otherwise disastrous year. Especially considering he wasn’t a big part of the team’s plans heading into the season.
Thanks to his ‘26 season, Duarte has likely flipped that script and should be a part of the team’s bullpen picture in 2027.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 20: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with teammate Hunter Goodman #15 after hitting an inside the park home run in the first inning during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The World Series is over, and the hot stove is about to be cranked up.
As previously discussed, the Colorado Rockies have plenty to sort through on their 40-man roster. With a potential lockout looming, they might have less than a month to conduct much of their offseason business.
DePodesta has indicated that the front office intends to approach this offseason aggressively. This time, they’ll enter November with their staff in place and a full year of organizational evaluations behind them.
Hunter Goodman and Jake McCarthy have received plenty of national attention as trade candidates. Both could bring back significant talent, but neither ranks particularly high among the players I expect Colorado to move.
Trade value and trade likelihood aren’t necessarily the same thing.
The trade board
Trade Outlook
Players
Most likely to be moved
Zac Veen, Jordan Beck, Willi Castro, Adael Amador, Jimmy Herget, Brennan Bernardino, Juan Mejía
Possible
Jake McCarthy, Jaden Hill, Zach Agnos
Unlikely
Hunter Goodman, Mickey Moniak, Connor Norby, Ezequiel Tovar, Nick Frasso, Mark Manfredi, Ryan Feltner, Tanner Gordon, Sean Sullivan
These are my predictions for players who have reached the majors, not reports of player availability. I don’t expect everyone in the top group to be traded. Prospects are discussed separately below.
What’s a 40-home-run catcher worth?
Hunter Goodman followed a 31-homer season in 2025 with 41 in 2026, giving Colorado a two-time All-Star catcher under team control through 2029.
But what’s he worth?
Oakland received five players, including Atlanta’s top prospect Kyle Muller, in the three-team trade that sent Sean Murphy to the Braves in December 2022. Kansas City received pitchers Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek when it traded Freddy Fermin to San Diego in 2025.
Murphy was a Gold Glove winner with an established offensive track record, while Fermin’s appeal leaned more heavily on defense. Both offered more value behind the plate than Goodman has demonstrated, but neither came close to matching his offensive production.
Finding a comparable offseason trade involving a 40-home-run hitter is even more difficult. The most recent example I could find was Giancarlo Stanton, who hit 59 home runs in 2017 before being traded to the Yankees that winter. His enormous contract and no-trade clause, however, made that a very different transaction.
For Goodman, I’d expect Colorado to demand an established, controllable starting pitcher with top-of-the-rotation potential and additional young talent. An entirely prospect-based package would need to be exceptional.
Trading Goodman would remove Colorado’s most dangerous power hitter with no obvious replacement behind the plate or in the lineup.
His production might simply be more valuable in Colorado than anything another organization is willing to surrender. For that reason, I don’t expect Goodman to be traded this offseason.
More valuable in Colorado?
Jake McCarthy hit .291/.334/.475 with 15 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 2026. He’s affordable, athletic and capable of playing all three outfield positions, although his range in center and throwing arm present limitations.
Would another team view him as an everyday outfielder who can hit near the top of the lineup, or a fourth outfielder better suited to the bench?
Colorado saw the former for much of 2026. But his stronger numbers at Coors Field and defensive limitations could affect his value elsewhere.
Mickey Moniak presents a similar question. He improved from -8 Outs Above Average in 2025 to roughly average defensively in 2026 while continuing to provide left-handed power.
His .195/.225/.379 second half raises questions about how much of that offense he’d reproduce elsewhere. Colorado also signed him to a two-year extension in August.
I’d listen on both, but I suspect Colorado’s asking price would be higher than most teams are willing to pay.
Something’s gotta give
Colorado has more infielders than obvious places to play them.
Willi Castro hit .260/.331/.417 with 15 home runs in 2026, offering versatility and insurance behind Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop.
Adael Amador, primarily a second baseman, finished strong with a .277/.362/.482 line in 27 major-league games.
Acquired in the Victor Vodnik trade, Norby hit .302/.387/.457 in 40 games with Colorado. His right-handed bat and ability to play first, second and third give the Rockies more options than Amador does. I’d be surprised if DePodesta and Byrnes moved Norby before getting a longer look.
Tovar’s age, contract and defensive ability also make a trade unlikely despite his difficult offensive season.
That leaves Castro and Amador.
Of the two, Amador seems more expendable. Castro might have the broader market. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them is moved this offseason.
A change of scenery
Zac Veen and Jordan Beck were once among Colorado’s most promising prospects. Neither has established himself in the majors.
Veen earned Pacific Coast League MVP honors after hitting .327/.402/.635 with 24 home runs at Triple-A, although consistent contact remains a concern. With Colorado’s crowded outfield, his resurgence might present an opportunity to trade him while his value is rising.
Beck’s season was considerably less encouraging. After hitting 16 home runs with 19 stolen bases in 2025, he managed just one homer and a .552 OPS in 2026.
But former top prospects can retain trade value. Miami dealt JJ Bleday to Oakland for A.J. Puk in 2023, while Atlanta acquired Chris Sale and cash from Boston for Vaughn Grissom.
Neither is a direct comparison, but both demonstrate that struggling young hitters can still interest other organizations.
Veen might be the more attractive trade piece, while Beck could benefit more from a fresh opportunity. There’s a good chance one of them is playing elsewhere in 2027.
Plenty of bullpen options
Colorado needs pitching, but that doesn’t mean every pitcher should be retained.
Brennan Bernardino posted a 2.81 ERA in 64 innings in 2026. He’s left-handed, inexpensive and under team control through 2029. At 34, he could be more valuable to a contender seeking immediate bullpen help.
Jimmy Herget is a tougher sell. The 33-year-old struggled to a 5.70 ERA after posting a 2.48 mark over 83.1 innings in 2025.
Juan Mejía and Jaden Hill present another decision. Both pitchers are 26 and averaged around 97 mph with their fastballs in 2026, but finished with ERAs above 5.00. Both struggled with walks but showed promise with their secondary pitches.
Mejía posted a 3.96 ERA in 2025, and Colorado has seen more of him in the majors, making him my more likely trade candidate.
Zach Agnos covered 91 innings in 2026, although his 5.93 ERA and limited strikeout production make a significant return difficult to envision.
Ryan Feltner, Tanner Gordon and Sean Sullivan also seem unlikely to draw much trade interest following disappointing 2026 seasons. All three have starting potential, although their long-term roles could ultimately be in the bullpen.
Meanwhile, Nick Frasso and Mark Manfredi were acquired at the deadline, making another immediate trade seem unlikely. Manfredi came over in the Antonio Senzatela deal, while Frasso and Landyn Vidourek were acquired for Seth Halvorsen.
Halvorsen hadn’t consistently produced strong results, but his exceptional fastball was enough to attract a worthwhile return. It’s a reminder that potential can carry real trade value, even when the results haven’t followed.
With several bullpen options available, I expect Colorado to move an arm or two this offseason.
What about the prospects?
Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP) is perhaps the most intriguing name.
With TJ Rumfield established at first base and questions about Condon’s defensive home, Colorado could consider using his power to acquire pitching. It would take a substantial return, but Condon could headline such a deal.
Sterlin Thompson (No. 16 PuRP) offers another possibility after posting a .475 on-base percentage and 1.005 OPS at Triple-A before reaching the majors. His approach at the plate could make him attractive as part of a larger trade.
Further down the system, Colorado has several intriguing young position-player prospects, including Roldy Brito (No. 3 PuRP), Cristian Arguelles (No. 5 PuRP) and Wilder Dalis (No. 10 PuRP). Brito is ranked No. 52 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, and any of the three could be included as part of a larger trade package.
I’d be far more surprised to see the Rockies move Ethan Holliday (No. 1 PuRP) or Tyler Bell (No. 4 PuRP). Ranked No. 23 and No. 62, respectively, on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, both are recovering from injuries.
As a general rule, I’m skeptical that DePodesta and Byrnes would trade recent draft picks before seeing a full professional season. I also don’t expect Colorado to trade from its minor-league starting pitching depth, including Logan Reddemann (No. 9 PuRP), Brody Brecht (No. 14 PuRP), Jackson Cox (No. 11 PuRP), Jack Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP), and J.B. Middleton (No. 22 PuRP).
I’m assuming most of Colorado’s trades this offseason will be aimed at acquiring pitching.
Staying put
Kyle Karros, Cole Carrigg and TJ Rumfield are young, controllable players who appear to fit Colorado’s longer-term plans.
Rumfield hit .300/.390/.453 over 155 games in 2026 and is a Gold Glove finalist at first base. Carrigg posted an .818 OPS with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 93 games, while Karros paired excellent third-base defense with 13 homers and a .347 on-base percentage.
There’s also little reason to trade Chase Dollander, Mason Adams or Gabriel Hughes.
Dollander averaged 98.9 mph with his fastball in 2026 and posted a 3.89 ERA over 44 innings. Adams recorded 31 strikeouts in 29 innings while working with a six-pitch mix. Hughes struggled to a 6.33 ERA, but his 3.92 expected ERA and ability to limit hard contact offer reasons for optimism.
All three are young, controllable starting pitchers with encouraging underlying numbers. Given Colorado’s need for rotation help, I’d expect the Rockies to continue developing them rather than entertain moving any of them.
Who’s actually going?
I expect the Rockies to be active over the next month with trades involving their outfield, infield or bullpen depth.
And knowing how DePodesta and Byrnes have operated so far, I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull off a deal or two that nobody saw coming.
With December 1 approaching, there is no time to waste.
So, who would you move, who would you keep, and where have I gotten it completely wrong?
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 24: Michael Arroyo #96 of the Seattle Mariners throws during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello everyone and happy Halloween!
As we get the weekend started, here’s what you need to know from the baseball world.
Washington State University unveiled a new John Olerud statue at their baseball field. I think perhaps they could have captured his likeness a bit more favorably.
Christine Wren, a Seattle native and the first-ever full time female baseball umpire, died at the age of 78.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 30: Manager Pat Murphy #49 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates during the Champions Celebration Parade and Rally at American Family Insurance Amphitheater on October 30, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brewers simply hit on pitching. They strike guys out. They had 18 guys throw at least 20 innings. The league average strikeout rate in 2026 was 22.1 percent. The Brewers had 13 of those 18 above league average. The Royals also had 18 pitchers throw at least 20 innings. Four of them had a better-than-average strikeout rate. One of them was Cole Ragans and one was Kris Bubic. I suppose the Royals could sign Bubic, but it’s not anything I’d predict and Ragans won’t be a factor until midseason at best. It’s not even about the walks as much as the strikeouts. Eight of the 18 Brewers walked more than league average. It was 10 for the Royals, which isn’t all that different. The Royals need more strikeouts.
A couple of stray World Series thoughts as we process a long winter (and probably spring) ahead…
I felt the similarities between the Brewers and the 2015 Royals in that both teams played a form of what I’ve taken to call Total Baseball in that they do just about everything right. Strong starting pitching? Check. A selfless move-the-line batting order? Uh-huh. A lockdown bullpen? For sure. Clutch hits, including home runs? Yep. Hell, both teams check the box with salt of the earth managers who are refreshingly honest.
So, you want to trade for Witt? Well, this is what it would take. Or something like it, anyway.
Tolle? He’s a potential ace-caliber lefty who still has five years of club control left. Abreu? He’s a Gold Glover with 20-homer power who still has three years of club control left. Arias? He’s the best prospect in the American League. Gonzales? He’s not on Arias’ level, yet he might be Boston’s best pure hitting prospect.
In their third consecutive win, the Warriors erased a 25-point first-half deficit and prevailed by 17, setting the NBA’s shot-clock era (1954) record for the largest margin of victory after trailing by 20-plus points in the first quarter (h/t to the Associated Press’ Josh Dubow).
Biggest margin of victory in shot-clock era for team that trailed by 20+ points at end of 1st quarter: Warriors 112-95 vs Lakers, tonight (down 23) Warriors 124-110 vs Bulls, 3/4/1976 (down 23) Timberwolves 131-118 vs Pacers, 12/21/2007 (down 20)
The 1975-76 Warriors, led by Rick Barry, Phil Smith and Jamaal Wilkes, previously held the record with a 14-point win over the Chicago Bulls on March 4, 1976.
On Friday, Luka Doncic was on a mission to send a message to Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, and the Lakers star did that, dropping 21 first-quarter points to pace Los Angeles to a staggering 38-15 lead after the first 12 minutes.
But the Warriors flipped the script — literally — in the second quarter, responding with their own 38-15 quarter, sending the game to halftime tied at 53.
In the second half, Steph Curry and the Warriors clamped down on the Lakers, outscoring them 59-42 to run away with a blowout win, an outcome that seemed impossible after the first quarter.
“Luka had an unbelievable first quarter,” Curry told reporters after the game. “He looked very determined coming into the night. Our offense got stagnant, turnovers the first four or five minutes were just deflating. But we had a lot of chatter at the end of the first quarter about how we were supposed to respond, and it was kind of cool to see the second unit, and just the overall execution on both ends in the second quarter.
“We turned them over a good amount, got in transition, got better spacing so we could move the ball and get open threes, and a couple shots started to go to flip the score like we did at the half and hold them under 95 after a 38-point first quarter is pretty impressive from everybody.”
The Warriors look to keep the momentum going when they host the 1-4 LA Clippers on Sunday at Chase Center.
Dub Nation’s blood pressure might appreciate an easier path to victory.
At the start of the fifth day in Cape Town, the contest was set up beautifully: 288 for Australia to chase, a day in which to do it, on a surface that had been sporting but allowed batters to flourish when set. A kettle and a cup of tea later, Australia were ripped open by Kagiso Rabada and gobbled up by Simon Harmer, losing two wickets in the first over, four in the first hour and seven by lunch. Two putrid batting displays back to back, their 99 all out in what should have been an easy draw in Gqeberha, then 111 all out here to lose the match, the series and the world No 1 ranking.
During one of Australia’s great former humiliations, the 47 all out on this same ground in 2011, one of the piquant notes was that a young Nathan Lyon top scored from No 11. Fifteen years later, having worked his way up one spot in the batting order, he did so again with 33 not out. That bravery through the second session, taking over from Cameron Green to join captain Pat Cummins, who defended for nearly 30 overs, underlines how dire the rest of the side was. The third-highest score was extras with 16.
The Sixers will be down at least two stars Saturday night when they finish their back-to-back.
The team listed both Joel Embiid (right foot plantar fascia injury management) and LeBron James (low back sciatica management) as out for its matchup with the Hornets at Spectrum Center. Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear) are also sidelined.
Both Embiid and James also sat out one leg of the 5-1 Sixers’ first back-to-back. Embiid has averaged 35.2 minutes through five games. The seven-time All-Star’s career high is 34.6 during his 2022-23 MVP season. James had his best performance so far as a Sixer in the team’s win Friday night over the Knicks, scoring 20 points and coming one rebound and two assists short of a triple-double.
The Sixers listed three players as questionable on their initial afternoon injury report in Jaylen Brown, Jabari Walker and Tacko Fall.
Brown and Walker each have a knee injury officially classified as “left patellar tendinopathy.” Brown missed his first game as a Sixer on Friday. Fall has a left quadriceps injury. The big man on a two-way contract hasn’t yet been available in either the preseason or regular season, but he’s been nearing a green light to play.
The 3-3 Hornets won’t have Kon Knueppel (left hamstring strain), Coby White (left calf strain) and Grant Williams (right hamstring strain).
With free agency underway, speculation surrounding ace left-hander Tarik Skubal will morph into actual negotiations, as a handful of teams look to land him.
In addition to the Mets and Dodgers, there are a bunch of other teams who have a need for Skubal and a potential willingness to spend what it takes to get him.
The Angels, finally close to being free of meddling owner Arte Moreno, will have new owner Stan Kroenke (and his estimated $27.6 billion net worth) officially taking over in early 2027, pending MLB approval. While the Angels could conceivably go after Skubal, it's fair to wonder how open he would be to signing there given the ownership transition, unsettled situations at GM and manager, and the fact that they haven't had a winning season since 2015.
The Cubs have a need and ownership with deep pockets, but also must rebuild almost their entire starting rotation -- with Clay Holmes, Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, and Shota Imanaga all free agents. Given how much pitching they need to add, would they be comfortable spending big on Skubal?
The upstart White Sox could also make sense for Skubal, but the biggest free agent contract they've ever given out is the five-year, $75 million deal they signed Andrew Benintendi to in 2023. So Chicago inking Skubal would relatively shocking.
Skubal's first team, the Tigers, are obviously a fit. But they lowballed him when it came to extension offers before he was traded.
The Yankees could always go nuts and add another ace to their elite rotation, but that seems unlikely given their current deals to starting pitchers Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon, as well as other big contracts on the books for Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger. Hal Steinbrenner's recent comments about being in favor of a salary cap should also be considered here.
Could the Red Sox, Blue Jays, or Padres try for Skubal? Maybe. But this really does seem like something that could come down to the Mets and Dodgers.
While the Dodgers are swimming in cash, owner Mark Walterhas been accused of insurance fraud, recently sold his majority stake in the Lakers, and has been attempting to sell the Sparks. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is loaded with starting pitching options and could be reluctant to hand a megadeal to Skubal -- even if Walter's finances don't become a major issue.
With all that to consider, how seriously should the Mets pursue Skubal? Here are the pros and cons...
Aug 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning at Comerica Park. / Lon Horwedel - Imagn Images
PROS
Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, having posted a 2.47 ERA (2.42 FIP) and 0.92 WHIP with 757 strikeouts in 626.1 innings (a strikeout rate of 10.9 per nine) in 103 starts since 2023, which was his age-26 season.
For the Tigers and Dodgers in 2026, Skubal had a 2.72 ERA (2.51 FIP) and 0.96 WHIP while fanning 186 batters in 158.2 innings over 26 starts.
Skubal's arsenal is electric, with him primarily featuring a four-seam fastball that averaged 96.8 mph this past season, as well as a dominant changeup, sinker, and slider.
In 2026, Skubal's stuff unsurprisingly rated near the top of the league, with his overall pitching run value in the 97th percentile. When it comes to how hitters performed against each pitch, none of Skubal's offerings resulted in a slugging percentage higher than .373 (or an xSLG higher than .372). Meanwhile, his vaunted changeup had an absurd whiff percentage of 46.9.
Looking at Skubal's other metrics, literally all of them except for extension were between well above average and elite this past season, including his xERA, average exit velocity against, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage -- which was in the 99th percentile. While Skubal is overpowering, he also has elite command, posting BB/9 rates of 1.6 or lower each of the last four seasons.
When it comes to fit, the Mets have a glaring need for Skubal or another pitcher who is a legitimate ace. But Skubal is the only true ace who is available. Putting him atop a rotation that should also include Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and perhaps another external addition, would be a game-changer for New York.
Looking elsewhere on the free agent market for other potential big-ticket additions, there really aren't many. Starting pitchers Michael King and Clay Holmes could be pricey in terms of average annual value, but won't get the kind of lengthy deal Skubal could command. Teruaki Sato, who is being posted by his Japanese club, could get a relatively big deal. But even if the Mets sign Skubal, they would theoretically be able to add Sato and/or another legitimate starting pitcher. So there's no reason to be hesitant.
While the Mets already have roughly $281 million committed to the payroll for the 2027 season (if Bo Bichette opts in), they are going to get serious relief after next season, with Sean Manaea ($22 million), Jorge Polanco ($20 million), and Kodai Senga ($15 million) coming off the books. Also off the books will be the $6 million the club is still paying Luke Weaver for 2027 following his trade to the Pirates. Then, ahead of the 2029 season, the Mets have roughly $90 million set to come off, reducing their overall obligations to around $106 million.
Given the coming payroll relief and the influx of young, relatively inexpensive players (including McLean, Scott, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, and Zac Thornton), the Mets are in strong position to absorb the kind of massive payroll obligation Skubal's contract will be.
There's also the fact that David Stearns seems to be in a make-or-break offseason, and could certainly use a bold and potentially tenure-defining move over the next few months -- even if it might come with some prodding from owner Steve Cohen.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
CONS
The biggest concern when it comes to a megadeal for Skubal or any other pitcher revolves around health.
Skubal's 2026 campaign was briefly interrupted by NanoScope surgery on his pitching elbow that kept him out of action from April 30 through June 13. But he continued to be dominant upon his return. After having a 2.70 ERA (2.11 FIP) over his first seven starts, Skubal had a 2.73 ERA (2.66 FIP) in the 19 starts he made post-surgery, with 10 of them coming after he was dealt to the Dodgers at the trade deadline.
While Skubal seems to be out of the woods, he has had serious elbow issues in the past. Skubal had Tommy John surgery while in college in 2017 and underwent flexor tendon surgery in August of 2022. If he eventually needs to have a second Tommy John surgery, it's fair to wonder what kind of pitcher he would be on the other side of it.
Even if Skubal avoids a catastrophic injury during the length of his next contract, he'll be facing an uphill battle to live up to it simply because of the amount of long-term deals for starting pitchers that have gone haywire.
For every long-term, big-money deal to a pitcher 29 or older that works out (Max Scherzer's seven-year deal with the Nationals looks incredible in retrospect, and the Yankees' deal for Max Fried is aging well), you can point to a whole bunch that didn't or currently aren't (Patrick Corbin, Jacob deGrom, Jordan Zimmermann, Felix Hernandez, Corbin Burnes).
Putting Skubal's potential health and performance to the side for a second, it's probably generally wise to avoid deals for starting pitchers that could go as high as his -- an eight-year deal for around $350 million wouldn't be surprising.
There's also the pending expiration of the CBA and expected lockout to consider. But there are two reasons why that shouldn't be as big of a deal as some are making it. For one, it's hard to believe the players will bend on a salary cap. Even if they do, any cap would take years to implement, which means it would somewhat disingenuous for any team to cite labor uncertainty as a reason for not pursuing Skubal or other players.
VERDICT
Sign him.
Ahead of his age-30 season, it feels probable that Skubal's contract will not soar into the stratosphere when it comes to years. As is noted above, an eight-year deal would be reasonable and end when Skubal is 37 years old. Maybe the Mets could go even higher with the average annual value in order to get it down to six or seven years, which would obviously be more in line with Stearns' philosophy -- even if it would still require him to go outside his comfort zone.
Either way, the stars seem to be aligning for the Mets to make a strong push for Skubal. They need to close the deal.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game during the Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving wrecked the Rockets in the fourth quarter, scoring 25 of their combined 68 points down the stretch as the Mavericks completed the comeback.
Here is what head coach Dusty May, as well as the dynamic duo had to say in their postgame press conference.
Dusty May
Opening statement
I don’t know the rest of the league well enough other than film, but I can’t imagine that there’s too many teams tougher than the Rockets. I thought, especially in the second half, when the shots are going in, and you’re in a rhythm, and things are going well, you can match the other team’s physicality and intensity. When they aren’t going in, some teams just can’t do it. I thought late, some guys that weren’t having their best game stepped up and grabbed big rebounds.
Obviously, our two guys, they just made play after play, but so many other possessions jump out. Gafford’s blocks at the rim were huge. P.J.’s rebounds in traffic late. I think he got three in the last three minutes, and we needed all of them. Obviously, Zacc in the second half. Caleb Martin, back the last couple games from injury, has shown what he is — a winning player. On to the next.
What has clicked since for the team since the season-opening blowout loss to the Rockets?
I thought our effort was good. There didn’t seem to be any leak-outs — guys that weren’t in the fight. I thought we were in the fight. We took care of the ball better. We had 17 [turnovers], and that’s still better than game one. But it seemed like most of our turnovers, other than a couple of just, we had numbers and we just kind of threw it to the wrong guy. A lot of them seem to be dead-ball turnovers, which is an improvement. This is Houston. They’re tough to play against.
On Kyrie Irving’s build-up back into form:
If you just saw how much he puts into this game, and that factors into being on a young team, and bringing it every day and helping the group find solutions to problems and doing it in the manner in which he does it, I mean, it’s incredible. That’s why his stat line, 35 [points], 9 [assists], and four [rebounds], that looks great. It’s obviously impressive, but his leadership and his grace with his teammates is even more impressive to me.
How rare is it for a 19-year-old to do the things that Cooper Flagg is doing, especially at the end of games?
What a problem, where you’re in a pickle where two guys like that just have it going, and you just got to kind of rotate between putting the ball in each other’s hands, and knowing that they’re going to make the plays. So obviously, what a luxury for us. And once again, they both trust their teammates. When Houston put two on the ball, and they were determined to take it out of their hands, they continued to trust and trust and trust. And then those reps and that experience, those guys handled it better. I think we hit more, Gaff more in the short roll than we have every, all the including preseason, the games we played Houston combined. And that’s a sign of finding, you know, having some answers, but also the trust factor that Coop and Kyrie have with their teammates.
What are you most proud of with this team?
We look like a team that, you know, obviously, when things weren’t going well, you know, when I watch these games just to see how our bench is about each other. And I want to shout out Dereck Lively. He’s a big part of that. His energy is contagious, and he’s got such a positive spirit to him. But yeah, just the fact that we look like a group trying to find a way to win together, no matter what it looks like. They’re playing the game in front of them, and they’re doing it as a unit.
How did Daniel Gafford rebound after getting hurt late?
I thought he was — early on — he was having his worst game of the year. And he’s been really good for us. And the second half was just another level. I mean, when you’re able to block those attempts at the rim, usually it starts a break going the other way, but those are energizing, momentum-changing plays. And off the top of my head, I can remember several. And then to step up and knock down the free throws at the biggest moment. Just made winning play after winning play.
On Irving’s big second half:
I mean, don’t overcomplicate it. Just get the right matchup on him and let him go to work. And like I said, when he’s playing that efficiently, shooting the ball, and he’s finding his teammates, and those are leading to hockey assists or regular assists, it’s just, you know, don’t overcomplicate it.
How much does Flagg factor into how to get Irving the space he needs to operate?
When you go back and look at it, one of them would screen the other one. One of them would cut to get some attention off the other one. And also, it’s just tough to go when you’re in a tight game with probably six minutes left of a one-possession game, for one guy to do it over and over and over and over and over. It’s taxing. And then the defense that they have to play and exert the energy they have to exert on the other end — for those guys to be able to share that load and have two guys who just are closers like they are — there’s several layers to it. But, you know, that makes you feel good, very confident going into close games.
On the moment team president Masai Ujiri and May shared in the tunnel after the game:
Masai Ujiri and Dusty May share a moment after the Mavericks’ big win over the Rockets. pic.twitter.com/xOiKjwyWZy
You know, obviously I have a ton of respect for Masai, and he’s been a great sounding board, and I’ve probably asked him too many questions just as I learned — as myself and staff were trying to learn this organization and whatnot. And so it was just a little joke that I made, but just very, very appreciative of the team that front office has put together. We’re deep, we’re young, we have great character more than anything else. I haven’t been around very many teams, but this group feels like a very, very special group of human beings first, and they’re working like crazy to get better at basketball.
What makes character so important, and how doe sit align with winning teams?
You know, I don’t want to go into all that, but the teams that, whether things are going well or whether they’re going poorly, simply get to the next thing, the next practice, the next game, the next possession, those are usually the teams that are standing longer than they probably should have otherwise.
What went into the decision of not activating Naji Marshall?
He hasn’t practiced. … It looks like he’s dropped weight, he hasn’t practiced yet and we thought if we can get through this one without Naji, then he’s got two days to get his body back right, get his conditioning and then be ready to play well Monday. We needed him tonight. I mean, it was a tough decision not to throw him out there, but we just thought for our team and for him, just give it until Monday. He was down with the illness.
Cooper Flagg
How much has your confidence grown in the 75 games you’ve now played in your NBA career?
It’s grown a ton. Just being confident, getting to my spots and living with the result. That’s something I talked about last year, and it’s going to continue to be a thing. All the great players are able to just get to their spots and raise up and knock them down. So that’s all I’m trying to do — just get to my spots, and we’ll live with outcome.
Have you talked to Irving about those moments where you just know the ball is going in when it leaves your hand?
I talked to him a lot about it last year. Trying to learn from him — the mental side, but I think more and more, as we’ve gone to this year, just being able to see it in person and on the court from him and being able to learn from the experience has been really cool, too.
How would you describe what you and Irving were able to accomplish on the floor together?
I thought, like I said, just playing off each other really well. He was able to go on runs and be a very vocal leader with the ball in his hands. I was able to come in, be able to contribute in a very similar way, and it kind of just made the game easier for each other, and I thought that was really, really good.
How comforting is it to have another co-star on the roster?
That was great. We have a lot of stars. Guys are being stars in their roles, and I think that’s what we’re seeing. We’ve started to get a couple wins here early. It’s just guys really just sacrificing and being a star in their role. Guys like Zacc, P.J., Gaff, those guys are all stars in their roles, and they’re vital to our success, but it’s felt great to have [Irving] out there, someone that puts the ball in the basket better than the best of them.
On teammates’ performances in the win:
Gaff … never backed down from the challenge. He’s always there protecting the paint, getting the rebounds. I mean, that’s a big team. So I think just down the stretch, him blocking out and helping us grab some rebounds was huge. PJ, same thing, just a physical defender. He’ll knock down his open shots, but I think just the work he did, rebounding the ball down the stretch for us was huge. Caleb, I thought, was really big tonight, and what he did defensively and just rebounding. Zacc has been really good all year — just getting into [passing] lanes, getting deflections, steals, blocks, being all over the place. So yeah, those guys, they’re vital to our success, for sure.
Where have you grown the most as a player since last season?
I just think the confidence is continuing to grow and grow, and I feel like I’m just more comfortable at this point. Having a year of learning all my peers, earning their respect is a big thing for me. And I feel like at this point, it feels comfortable. And I know where I want to get to and what I want to do get there.
What were you able to take from playing in so many clutch games a year ago?
Just being comfortable. You need those game experiences. There’s nothing like it. You know, the crowd loud, everybody excited, coming down. There’s a lot of mental things that you can do to affect a game like that down the stretch. So just learn from that last year, and try to put it to use.
What has Dereck Lively’s energy been like on the bench as he continues to recuperate?
It’s been great. Live has been one of the loudest people on the bench every single night. And you can tell he’s really just itching to get back out there. But just what he’s done from the sidelines and the energy and the positivity that he’s brought to our team has been incredible. And he’s definitely been a big part.
What about [Lively’s] game makes you excited for him to join the active roster?
I think in just the small time that I was able to play with Live last year — his defensive versatility. I mean, a lot like Gaff, just holding down the paint. Being a really big presence, shot blocker, and a lob threat. So that’s a really good screen. So he sees the game at a high level too. So I think a lot of people underrate that about Live. And I’m excited to get back out there with him eventually. And people will be able to see how he sees the game and can affect it.
What’s the key to you and [Irving] divvying things up? Is it based on the opposing defense?
I mean, it’s not a perfect formula. And obviously, I think we’re still working out a lot of the kinks and figuring out how we can help each other best. And there’s been a lot of moments where we realize that we can help each other more out there on the court together. So there’s been a lot of learning experiences. And it’s been a pleasure to be able to play alongside him and learn from him out there. But yeah, I think there’s still more and more that we can do to help each other, alleviate some pressure, and continue to just learn how to play together. And make it easier for one another.
Kyrie Irving
First question muffled:
Kyrie: 35 PTS (26 in 2H) 9 AST Coop: 33 PTS (18 in 2H) 6 AST
Which part? The good stuff, or stuff at halftime where it looks like we probably didn’t give our best effort because of who was in the lineup? And it’s just art of war kind of thing. Just psychologically when Alperen Sengun’s out and then Reed’s out, we have a whole game plan for them. And then we kind of take our foot off the gas pedal a little bit. So we just had to readjust. It’s a human element of it. But when you’re in competition, you can’t do that. And I feel like we picked it up after halftime and just had a few conversations with some guys. And we all agreed. We weren’t playing our best basketball. And in order to be considered the best in this league, you got to bring the energy every single night. You got to bring the physicality. And you’re going against an undefeated team that’s very confident, playing well. They’ve had a few games down the stretch where they’ve been able to pull out some tough wins. And I think tonight was our time to prove that against them. Preseason went how it went. We’ve been talking about how we’re playing them eight times in the first 20 games. But I think it’s just a great learning experience for us. To be able to go down the stretch and just win.
What was the difference for you in scoring 26 of your 35 points in the second half?
I think my communication and also my aggression and just starting the third quarter off at a very high level. Especially pushing in transition and getting the ball above half court, over half court before 21 seconds or 20 seconds, whether it was a miss or a make. And just paying attention to the details on the defensive end. They’re always looking to catch you sleeping. Amen’s always looking to catch you sleeping on the offensive glass while he’s crashing. KD’s always looking to be around the basketball when they’re kind of going through their possessions where they haven’t scored in a minute. And Ime does a great job of letting Fred just free flow into the offense as well as Marcus Smart. And just learning throughout the minutes and possessions through the games. Just some of their cues that they’re mentioning to each other. Some of their nonverbal communication — their eyes, their eye fakes. They continue to press you and press you and press you and wear you down. I felt like we had to kind of take that energy and reverse it on them. And just make sure they played on their heels and they were trying to get up quick shots. And we were just playing with the offensive verve that we needed to.
What does tonight mean after the long injury absence?
It was incredibly special. I’m obviously, you know, it’s the in-season tournament. You know, depending on which team you play against, some teams are taking it serious, some teams aren’t. But I think there’s a good kind of pressure environment to have early in the season where it wasn’t just about me playing well or Cooper playing well. We really needed to have possessions where they mattered. And guys were, you know, making the right plays or weren’t making the right plays, and we just had to learn from it. So we’re going to be in a lot of games like this, you know, down the stretch throughout the year. I don’t know when, but hopefully we can get some 20-point wins where we don’t have to go into it. But when we’re going into some, you know, end-of-game things, we got to be able to be sharp, be focused. And I felt like we were able to do that. And the guys were really leaning on me for some emotional support, some verbal communication. And I feel like I offered that. And I also just was confident within the game. Like, we just had to break over that hump. We were within seven points, and it was five points, and it was 10, and it was nine. It’s just — we had to break that seal off. And I felt like we did it with our defense and also just having smart possessions on the offensive end.
On the chemistry between Flagg and himself down the stretch:
It’s beautiful to watch, you know, whether the ball’s in my hands or the ball’s in his hands. You know, it’s just in terms of our selection of shots. He’s going to get into the paint. I’m going to be an outside perimeter threat. He can be an outside perimeter threat. I can get in the paint. But I think overall, our teammates trusting us to be able to make the right plays. And then, you know, honestly, just in reality, since just having a teenager out there, you know, making these tough shots and getting and-ones and being as clutch as anyone I’ve seen, it’s just amazing to be a part of. And it does take some pressure off of me to be able to make plays down the stretch. And I think that’s what makes it beautiful to watch and experience. And we’re still growing. I think he said it best. You know, we still have a level that we want to get to, a higher level. And we’re going to continue to push each other to do so. And we obviously know the external chatter as well about the 15-year age gap and what we can accomplish and how we’re going to mesh. And I think we kind of throw that out the window and just really focus on what we can control, which is our effort and how we treat each other. You know, he’s a very diverse threat. I’m a very diverse threat. And we just play off each other well.
Evaluating Flagg’s development 75 games into his NBA career:
Yeah, I always speak on his competitive nature. It’s very rare. I mean, you obviously have guys that are very talented, do a lot of great things athletically. But that competitive nature and that drive to want to be the best, to want to win ball games, to want to do the little things — that has to come from and within. And I think he exudes it. Sometimes you look at him, he looks tired, and he makes an outstanding play, a block, or he hits a tough layup or he throws a lob. It just helps settle us win. And whenever we’re out there on the offensive perimeter, we’re able to identify what our match-ups are and be smart about it. So I think his IQ and his competitive nature has put him in this spot today. And I think the pressure really bothers him. He has a great supporting cast around him, including myself, a veteran, where he could look to me, and there hasn’t been too many concepts or too many things in games I haven’t seen. So I know he’s relatively new to us. He’s no longer a rookie, so we don’t have to treat him like that. But we give him his respect as he continues to earn it. And that’s what the NBA is about.
At what point in your career did the clutch shot become kind of an unconscious thing?
I mean, it probably for me started in fifth grade, to be honest with you. I think that my dad put the ball in my hands very young, and I had to earn my teammates’ trust. And I think on every team, obviously I play different roles, but when everybody’s looking at you to shoot the shots or looking to another teammate to shoot the shots, and you’ve earned it. And you got to earn it in practice. You got to earn it in the way you work on your game, and then you got to show it in the big-time moments. And you got to deal with the emotional up and down of making missing. That’s it. So the clutch gene can be developed, or it’s innate, or both.
On Risacher’s impact on the team:
Yeah. I mean, I think the practices that we’ve had, the preseason that we had, I can’t necessarily use the word surprised like everyone else in terms of his effort and what he’s been able to do. He’s right on track in terms of being a young player in this league and establishing himself and really proving himself. And it’s tough being a number one pick and having the franchise pressure on you, and then now being in a new environment and having to develop or accept a new role. And I think he’s done it fabulously. And when you’re around other talented players and high-level players, you’re going to have to adjust and you’re going to have to adapt. He started in the starting lineup in preseason, and he’s adjusted to coming off the bench, first guy off the bench at times, which helps us. So I think the selfless approach that he’s taken has been very mature of him. But we’re going to need him to do other things. And depending on health, God willing, we all stay healthy. But if we don’t, then there’s going to be times where he’s going to be in the starting lineup, and he’s going to be asked to do more. And I think he’ll be able to step up to the plate. But right now in his role, he’s superstar in it, just being able to get the stocks, be able to push and transition. He’s the fastest player on the court during every single game. It’s beautiful to watch somebody like that, just like a gazelle going up and down the court and beating bigs, beating wings. And it helps us a lot when we’re trying to make a push. And those little plays that don’t slip on the stats sheet is what he’s become great at.
On hitting shots over bigger defenders like Jabari Smith Jr.:
I mean, it’s a great feeling when you know the work translates into the games. It was the first four games, five games. I really felt like my body has been in a good place. But there’s more that I can get out of my instincts. There’s more that I can unlock in my game. There’s more of an attack mindset. There’ll be times I’m out in the perimeter. I’m not really cutting, or I’m not really active. And I just don’t want to be stagnant on those possessions. And even when the possessions change from offense to defense, I really want to be able to push myself. And that just comes with reps and comes with rhythm and also making the choice to get out and run despite just maybe some of the mental fatigue or physical fatigue. And just not thinking about like, hey, how do I feel right now? It just should be about playing tonight. And just playing the possessions out. And that’s probably the first game out of the last four where I felt like I was just playing out the basketball game by possessions, IQ, without thinking about like, all right, how does my leg feel, or how do I feel physically?
How do you feel after playing 35 minutes?
I feel great. It was great to build up to this moment. I think thinking about how we were talking about the minutes restriction in the first game versus Houston and how it was kind of controlling my internal frustration. But I trust our coaching staff. I trust our medical staff in being able to develop a great dialogue and getting to this point and just takes patience. And I’m going to enjoy it, but also give myself a lot of grace as I’m continuing to get better throughout the season.
On May’s coaching style:
Well, I’ll keep it short because I don’t want any of these other coaches around the league to get jealous. But he’s a great guy, in terms of, I’m not trying to give away all his sauce and stuff like that. He’s a great guy in terms of being able to identify what skill sets he has on his team. He’s done that very early. He’s very confrontational in terms of what he wants out of you. And I think it helps in terms of just establishing our concepts and what we need to do game-to-game and preparation-wise. He’s a big preparation guy, which I appreciate as well.
What does the NBA Cup mean to the team?
I mean, we have a chance to bring, or have an opportunity to bring home a trophy in the first part of the season. And we know who’s in our group. And we know what’s in front of us. And we just got taken one game at a time. But I think when I first answered this question a few years ago about the in-season tournament. I wasn’t that excited about it, just like other veterans or other guys in the league. But I think I understand the concept now in terms of what it means for a fandom of basketball and also for the franchise. And just getting your legs up underneath you. I think we saw the Knicks last year going against the San Antonio Spurs. And we saw that in the finals. So there is some correlation to playing well early in the season and picking it up and then being able to have some early success, and that lead to [big things] later down the line.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 17, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks host the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in the final game of the Bucks’ three-game home stand, which saw them notch their first victory of the season against the Pacers before getting blown out by the Rockets. Tonight, Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs roll into town fresh off a road loss in Atlanta, so they’ll be extra hungry. The Cavaliers are 3-2 so far this season, having gone unbeaten at home and winless on the road, a streak they hope ends tonight.
The Task Ahead
Despite being undefeated at home, the Cavaliers’ season has been mixed so far. Their offense is posting 114.1 points per 100 possessions, ranking 10th in the NBA. The defense, however, allows 113.4 points per 100 possessions, ranking 16th. This inability to gel on both ends is partly due to the offseason roster shake-up and, most notably, the need to integrate Peyton Watson. While Watson obviously isn’t solely responsible for the entire team’s misgivings, the Cavs still haven’t got what they paid for. Against Minnesota on Monday, Watson recorded four blocks and three steals in a close OT win over the Timberwolves. Great! He also went 0/5 from three and is shooting just 14.3% from deep this season. In Cleveland’s loss to Atlanta, Watson recorded just four points. This underscores how crucial Watson’s success will be for Cleveland’s success this season.
Therefore, a key matchup in this game will rest on the wings. If Watson can impose his will on Jaime Jaquez Jr. and use his athleticism to close out effectively and defend, the Bucks may find themselves on the wrong end of another blowout. Jaquez, though, has shown some considerable skill this year putting the ball on the ground to create when he needs to—and at his best, can even get elite defenders to bite on his fake-outs—so it will be a battle between IQ and athleticism on the wings. Another factor to watch is how well both teams move the ball. The Cavaliers and Bucks both rank in the bottom-10 in assist percentage this year, so whoever finds their rhythm first can take control early.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Clean injury report.
Rockets:
Nae’Qwan Tomlin: out (low back pain)
Jaylon Tyson: out (ankle sprain)
Meleek Thomas: questionable (ankle inflammation)
Player to Watch
Jarrett Allen is off to yet another highly efficient and effective start to the season. His usage rate is down, but his true shooting and rim protection numbers are up. Allen’s scoring opportunities, however, have decreased this year due to Cleveland’s lack of wing creation. If the Cavs can get more perimeter production from their wings, it would draw defenders out and allow Allen to feast in the paint. Myles Turner, for all of his flaws, has been solid defensively, so if anyone can pressure Allen at the rim, it is him. However, if the Bucks’ bigs are pulled out of the paint to guard on the perimeter, it could spell a big night for Allen down low.
Ryan Rollins has a bounce-back game. I predict Rollins will score above 20 points and shoot above 50% from the field. Plus, I expect at least six assists and a strong defensive performance.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 14: Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. congratulates Cam Caminiti, first round draft pick for the Atlanta Braves,2 at the 2024 MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum on July 14, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No one really asked me, but MLB allegedly polled baseball fans about a salary cap. They were apparently all for it. I’m gonna need to see their voting sample, but in the meantime I’m curious about who on the owners’ side is supporting this. The players, of course, don’t want this. But since it’s the offseason now and we have lots of time to talk about it, I started asking myself which of the owners really wants this and where it’s coming from.
Do you think the Yankees or Dodgers really want a cap, or even remotely care? Ten years ago, the Yankees made a profit on 400 million dollars. I’m curious where they are now if the pre-covid-bucks-era total was so high. The Dodgers clearly don’t care. I’m not sure the Braves are interested either way. I think the Braves’ mindset on salaries is well known at this point.
Looking near the bottom of the ledger, do the Rays really need a cap and floor? They’re already over there counting cards on a level that I don’t want anything to do with them on transactions. The Brewers pretty well have their core almost locked in. The Athletics of not Oakland or Sacramento or Las Vegas ought to have higher income streams soon. Are we flipping everything upside down for the likes of Angels and Rockies?
Does it even make sense to have a floor? If you’re building the farm successfully your going to have cheap talent for three to five years at least. The salary will stay muted for a while, because of baseball antiquated process of underpaying young players while overpaying the older ones. So do we block prospects so you can pay 25 million a year on an aging second baseman?
Speaking of overpaying some infielders, Mets owner Steve Cohen isn’t hurting. I did see a quote from him, saying that his thoughts are just to do what the other owners want to do and figure out 2028 from there. Which other owners is he talking about?
The only this makes sense is that the owners and Rob Manfred wants to standardize the costs and revenues of MLB ownership. If you are looking to purchase a company, one of the first questions is what will it cost to run and what kind of profits they can bring in. Manfred is in the process of bringing teams’ TV contract into his house. They’ve already lined up ESPN, Netflix, and the other major streaming outlets as partners. The next step is to standardize the costs, which are chiefly labor and stadium construction upkeep. They have been very successful getting local governments to chip on stadiums (stadia?), so check that box. Next would be forcing player salaries into a tight band, so they can know those costs are.
MLB is looking to add two new franchises. Also, some current owners may be looking to cash in on the high valuations. And even if they don’t sell, they may be able to report a higher number to banks and be able to borrow money against the value of the team. I’m not saying they are doing that now, but they do it in a lot of other industries.
Sorry we’re 500 plus words into this and I’ve been asking questions to the universe but not you all. So which owners really want a salary cap? I just know I’d be cooler if they didn’t. Or maybe they don’t really want it and are floating this as leverage to get other things like more playoff games that they barely have to pay the players to get.
How will Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace fare today? Here is what to know, including kick-off time, TV channels and live stream options
After back-to-back wins over Coventry City and Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur can prove they have turned a corner by making it three successive victories against a struggling Crystal Palace side at home.
Roberto De Zerbi is seemingly getting through to his players, but Spurs’ progress still feels fragile. Anything less than three points Saturday would create a sense that Tottenham are still struggling to shake off the trouble of the last two seasons.
