Slowly but surely, West Ham are edging their way to safety. While this battling draw against a Crystal Palace side with their minds elsewhere proved terminal to his former club Wolves as it confirmed their relegation, Nuno Espírito Santo had to be satisfied with a point after Brennan Johnson missed the best chance to boost his former employers Tottenham.
Palace, who have now been involved in eight stalemates this season, were indebted to captain Dean Henderson for producing the save of the night to deny Konstantinos Mavropanos just before half-time, although West Ham struggled to create much else. Nuno will be disappointed not to have stretched their advantage over Tottenham to four points, although their fate remains very much in their hands with David Moyes’s Everton next up on Saturday.
With Steve Kerr’s future up in the air, the Warriors are reportedly considering a larger “organizational reset” if their longtime coach opts not to run it back for a 13th season.
While it remains to be seen who will be coaching Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Co. next season and beyond, there is less uncertainty when it comes to Golden State’s front office.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. will be pulling the levers no matter what direction the Warriors go, according to a report from Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne on Monday. Per ESPN, the Golden State general manager quietly signed an extension earlier this season and has multiple years remaining on the deal.
General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. of the Golden State Warriors talks to the media before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBAE via Getty Images
Dunleavy, 45, is a former Warriors player who took over the top job in the front office when Bob Myers departed in 2022 following Golden State’s fourth championship in eight seasons.
Myers saw the difficult decisions coming down the road, many of which will come to a head for Dunleavy this offseason. Top of mind is Kerr, whose contract expired after their play-in loss to the Suns and spoke openly about whether returning for a 13th season was the right choice for him.
According to ESPN, citing anonymous team sources, Golden State would like Kerr, 60, to commit to a multiyear extension if he does decide to come back.
If Kerr does walk away, like Green believes he will, that could lead to larger changes for what has been the league’s most stable organization since he teamed up with Curry and Green in 2014.
Not only would the Warriors be expected to include several external coaching candidates in their search, they could also look to the college ranks, according to ESPN. Florida’s national championship-winning coach Todd Golden, who previously led the University of San Francisco, is one potential name.
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Within the league, former Pelicans coach Willie Green was mentioned by ESPN as a possibility to return to the Warriors’ staff, where he was an assistant under Kerr from 2016-19.
If the Warriors opt to move forward with what team sources described to ESPN as a potential “organizational reset,” it could involve further changes to the coaching staff and the roster.
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green gestures to head coach Steve Kerr after being assessed a technical foul in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) AP
While Steph Curry stopped short of publicly endorsing Kerr after they were eliminated, he said he wanted “Coach to be happy” and that “he knows how I feel about him.” At the same time, Curry acknowledged Golden State needed to change things up after an injury-riddled 37-45 finish.
“I’ve only been in one locker room for the last 17 years,” he said. “Before you win the title, there’s only like those first two years, you’re building the foundation for what a championship team looks like, even though you have no idea what that really meant, then you accomplish it and everything else is based off of that.
“It’s been that way since 2015. … With how the game is played now, with how fast it is, how young and athletic it is, all those things, we kind of have to put everything on the drawing board and get back to just being competitive every single night.”
Kerr acknowledged after the loss that every coaching job has “an expiration date” and that “sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.” Curry agreed but said he believed Kerr was up to the task.
“You have to adapt and evolve, for sure,” he said. “I think Coach is fully capable of doing that and thinking outside the box as we go. But to his point, your spirit has to be in it. Your mind has to be in it. Your coaching staff. Every dynamic has to be on that journey with you.”
In 2018, the St. Louis Blues made a blockbuster trade to acquire Ryan O’Reilly.
The move paid off greatly for the organization. In his first of five seasons with the Blues, O’Reilly notched career highs in goals (28) and points (77). He also helped the Blues hoist the Stanley Cup, skating as the No. 1 center.
The Blues should have no regrets about making that deal, but if they did, it’s because of the play of former Blues first-round pick Tage Thompson.
To acquire O’Reilly, the Blues traded Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and Thompson, as well as a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft, to the Buffalo Sabres.
Berglund and Sobotka amounted to nothing more than depth players for the Sabres, and the first-round pick the Sabres acquired turned into Ryan Johnson, a defenseman who has spent most of his professional career in the AHL.
But Thompson has morphed into a superstar, a true No. 1 center who won gold with Team USA at the Olympics and is centering the top line of a Stanley Cup-contending team.
Thompson played just 41 games with the Blues, scoring three goals and nine points, and while it did take Thompson a bit of time to get his feet under him at the NHL level, he’s now a consistent 40-goal scorer with a career high of 47 and a point per game player with a career high of 94 points.
On Sunday, the Sabres hosted their first playoff game in 14 years, but they found themselves down 2-0 late in the third period. That’s when Thompson introduced himself to the post-season.
The 28-year-old found a loose puck behind the Boston Bruins’ net and scored a wrap-around on his backhand to cut the Bruins’ lead in half. Just over three minutes later, Thompson won another puck battle, made a slick move to create space, and ripped a shot past Jeremy Swayman to tie the game and send the KeyBank Center into a frenzy.
A minute later, Mattias Samuelsson gave the Sabres the lead before Thompson once again won a key puck battle and sprung Alex Tuch on a breakaway with the Bruins’ net vacant.
The Sabres pulled off a miraculous comeback in Game 1 to take an early series advantage, which Thompson led.
He finished his first career playoff game with two goals, one assist, two penalty minutes, seven shots on goal, and three hits in 20:01 of ice time. He also finished with a Corsi For percentage of 59.38 percent, an expected goals percentage of 61.23 percent, and a high danger chances percentage of 60 percent at 5-on-5.
Thompson was nothing short of dominant.
Although he was once the 26th overall pick of the Blues in 2016, Thompson was the key part of a deal that helped the Blues hoist the Stanley Cup, and could help the Sabres hoist their own.
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Charlie McAvoy has been a road warrior in recent months, tallying 21 points over his last 20 away games.
While he was held off the scoresheet in Game 1, my Bruins vs. Sabres predictions see McAvoy getting back on track in this one.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Tuesday, April 21.
Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 prediction
Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points (-105)
Charlie McAvoy played 40.5% of Game 1, leading all skaters. The Boston Bruins didn’t generate many chances during his minutes, but score effects played a big part.
The Bruins led from the 10-minute mark of the opening period until there was less than five minutes to go in the third. Boston was trying to see their lead through, which led to a larger focus on defense.
Even if the Bruins get another lead, I don’t think they’ll be as conservative in Game 2.
McAvoy has hit the scoresheet in 20 of his last 23 games following a day of rest. Look for him to make his mark offensively.
Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 same-game parlay
Morgan Geekie averaged 2.2 shots on goal and cleared this line in 65% of his games this season. The only extended lull came when Geekie was playing away from David Pastrnak.
Geekie is back on the top line and scored in Game 1, so his role on Pastrnak’s opposite wing should be solidified.
Josh Doan had two shots on goal and five attempts in Game 1, pushing his Over rate to 85% in home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams.
Doan earned a solid 16 minutes of ice in his first playoff game, so head coach Lindy Ruff clearly trusts him.
Bruins vs Sabres SGP
Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points
Morgan Geekie Over 1.5 shots on goal
Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal
Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 goal scorer pick
Josh Doan (+310)
Doan was a threat in the series opener, generating five shot attempts and a couple of scoring chances on the doorstep. His expected goal output of 0.91 was actually second-highest among all skaters. Jeremy Swayman is very tough to beat from range, so it's best to target players who live in high-danger areas.
Bruins vs Sabres odds for Game 2
Moneyline: Boston +130 | Buffalo -150
Puck line: Boston +1.5 (-190) | Buffalo -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+120) | Under 6.5 (-140)
Bruins vs Sabres trend
Charlie McAvoy has six points over his last six games in Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.
How to watch Bruins vs Sabres Game 2
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
“You’ve got to look at what’s there,” Nurse said following his team’s practice at Harvard University. “Obviously, it was pretty painful to watch. There were a lot of things that we didn’t do very well and a lot of things out of character. So it was long. Lots to look at, lots to talk about.”
Entering the playoffs, multiple Sixers had highlighted the importance of “attention to detail.” The team had a rough Sunday in that regard.
The Sixers’ defense was nowhere near its disruptive best and Boston’s star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 51 points before subbing out for the non-competitive fourth quarter.
“It was more so a lot of miscommunications, not being on the same page altogether,” Quentin Grimes said. “Nothing crazy, but we’ve just got to be on the same page for 48 minutes. … We watched that and we’ve got a good feel for how can play tomorrow.”
“It’s a make-or-miss league,” Justin Edwards said. “The basketball Gods weren’t on our side. I expect them to be on our side tomorrow.”
While greater precision with Nurse’s schemes and sharper in-game adjustments will be necessary Tuesday, some of the Sixers’ problems in Game 1 were obviously intangible.
Andre Drummond believes the team will have a better, more focused collective mindset in Game 2.
“Take some pressure off ourselves,” Drummond said. “I think we were so excited to be out there that we made little mistakes we normally wouldn’t make. We were hesitant on shots that we normally aren’t hesitant taking. Not that anybody’s nervous or scared, I think we’re just so excited to have made it this far and be a part of something bigger than ourselves compared to what happened last year. I think just those jitters kind of took over.
“So I think we’re going to be fine. … A lot of the mistakes we made, we can control. So just be prepared. We watched film for a little while today, so we understand what needs to be changed and we’re ready to go.”
The Sixers’ hope is that their thorough review of Game 1 leads to a much different Game 2 performance.
“We needed that,” Drummond said. “We could’ve just come here, walked through our sets and prepared for tomorrow. But I think physically watching what we did to kind of beat ourselves, things we could’ve done better and could’ve done more … it was very long and very detailed. There’s a lot of things we wrote on the board that we need to do tomorrow.
“I think we’re ready, I think we’re prepared. … Regardless of what the score was, I think we needed to get that game under our belt to kind of feel what the atmosphere is going to be, and I think we’ll be fine.”
The latest on Embiid
On the injury front, Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) was still the one player listed as out for either side going into Game 2. The Celtics listed Ron Harper Jr. as probable with a right ankle sprain.
A Sixers official said Monday that Embiid has started a strength and conditioning program post-surgery in Philadelphia. He had the procedure on April 9 and was back around his teammates for the first time last Wednesday when the Sixers won their play-in tournament game vs. the Magic.
It wouldn’t be the Stanley Cup Playoffs without the Florida Panthers showing up on TV, right?
That is the reality that we’re living in, and people should just get used to it.
Despite the Panthers missing out on qualifying for the postseason this year due to the injury issue we’ve mentioned once or twice, fans tuning in to the opening weekend of the playoffs were treated to a new commercial featuring two of the most popular Panthers players around!
Mutual life insurance and financial services company MassMutual has done an excellent job in recent years putting out some very entertaining ads starring NHL players.
The commercial features Panthers forwards Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, with the two providing some sound investment advice to a young autograph-seeking fan.
You can check out the video below:
For those Cats fans with sharp eyes, they may have noticed the spot took place inside Florida’s new practice facility, the Baptist Health IcePlex, in Fort Lauderdale, where it was filmed earlier this season.
Let us know in the comments what you think of the new spot, which is titled, “It’s Never Too Soon to Think About Your Future,” and where it ranks among the MassMutual hierarchy of ads featuring NHL players.
Photo caption: Dec 29, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) and center Sam Bennett (9) celebrate his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jeff Romance-Imagn Images)
Swashbuckling batter Tilak Varma hit his maiden IPL century to lead Mumbai Indians to just their second win of the campaign as they hammered Gujarat Titans by 99 runs on Monday.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 05: Jonathan India #6 of the Kansas City Royals in action during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Kauffman Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the midst of a seven-game losing streak, the Royals added injury to insult on Monday. The team announced second baseman Jonathan India has been placed on the Injured List with a left-shoulder subluxation. The team has called up Nick Loftin from Omaha to replace him.
India has continued his struggles from last year, hitting just .167/.310/.313 in 17 games this year. He has just one hit since April 6, going 1-for-20 over that time. He also suffered a left shoulder subluxation last June, and missed a game in the Atlanta series with a shoulder injury.
Loftin was up earlier this year and hit 2-for-9 (.222) with two walks and a double. The 27-year-old utility player hit .303/.385/.455 in nine games with Omaha.
Mar 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) greets outfielder Taylor Ward (3) and shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
The Orioles made the playoffs in 2024, had high expectations in 2025 only to crash and burn with a losing record. That sounds a bit familiar. They’re off to a decent start this year, but have dropped five of six recently, including three of four on this road trip.
Baltimore Orioles (10-12) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-15) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
The Orioles have the 11th-best walk rate, but the second-highest strikeout rate. As a team, they are are hitting just .201/.295/.316 on the road this year. Baltimore paid a steep price to acquire Taylor Ward, but it has paid off as he leads the league with 11 doubles. Gunnar Henderson is a .299/.360/.478 hitter in 18 career games against the Royals. Big free agent signing Pete Alonso has just two home runs in 23 games. He has never hit fewer than four home runs in a month in which he has played at least 20 games.
Samuel Basallo signed an eight-year, $67 million deal in his first week in the big leagues, but has only hit .157 in 47 MLB games. Baltimore signed Leody Taveras and Jeremiah Jackson off the scrap heap, and both have performed early in the season. The Orioles are missing Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Tyler O’Neill, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad, and Ryan Mountcastle to injury.
Kyle Bradish has appeared in just 14 games over 2024-25, after having Tommy John surgery. His 94 mph fastball has been very hittable – opponents are hitting .583 against it this year. But he does not throw it much, instead relying on a sinker, slider, and curve.
Shane Baz has also had an injury-filled past, but made a career-high 31 starts for Tampa Bay before they traded him to the Orioles this past off-season. He signed a five-year, $68 million deal with Baltimore, but is still looking for his first win of the year. Last year he struggled in Tampa Bay’s minor league park, but did much better with a 3.86 ERA in 15 road starts.
Chris Bassitt pitched in the World Series last year for the Blue Jays, posting a 3.92 ERA in 170.1 innings in the regular season. He signed with Baltimore in the offseason and has had mixed results, but tossed five shutout innings in his last start against the Guardians. He has a sinker in heavy rotation, generating a 46 percent groundball rate last year.
Ryan Helsley was disastrous at the end of last season with the Mets, but has resurrected his career with the Orioles, going 6-for-6 in save opportunities so far. The Orioles rely on a bullpen full of young, unproven no-namers, but they are getting results. They have the lowest rate of inherited runners to score in baseball at just 13 percent, and their 3.57 bullpen ERA is tenth in baseball.
The Royals need a win badly, but even a banged-up Orioles squad will prove to be a challenge. It is still April, but it’s getting late early. The Royals need a successful homestand to right the ship, and they need to start winning now.
The Ottawa Senators can’t seem to catch a break in the injury department, particularly on their blue line.
As they prepared for Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, NC, they learned that Tyler Kleven would not be available. It was hoped he might be ready to play in the event Artem Zub cannot.
Zub was injured in Game 1 after delivering a big hit on Carolina forward Seth Jarvis and did not return. He wasn't at practice on Monday and the Senators have described him as a game-time decision.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss the keys to victory in the Sens-'Canes series.
Kleven has been skating in recent days while wearing a full face shield at practice. He hasn’t played since April 2, when he took a puck to the face in a 4–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Dennis Gilbert was also rattled in Game 1 after taking a hit from behind into the boards. The initial concern was that he had aggravated the shoulder injury he suffered back in March, but he managed to stay in the game and finish.
It’s also likely that Thomas Chabot is far less than 100 percent after his early return from the forearm surgery he had last month.
If Zub cannot go on Monday night, Nikolas Matinpalo will likely move into the top four, alongside Jake Sanderson, and Lassi Thomson would likely draw back into the lineup after appearing in five games for Ottawa between April 7 and 15.
But the Senators also have the option of using their 2024 seventh-overall pick, Carter Yakemchuk, who was called up on Sunday after the Belleville Senators’ season came to a close.
Yakemchuk finished the year with 40 points in 54 games, second-best among AHL rookie defencemen. He made his NHL debut in Detroit last month, recording a goal and an assist in a big win over the Red Wings that may have marked a turning point in Ottawa’s season.
But Carolina's smothering forecheck, putting the heat on Thomas Chabot and Jordan Spence, helped lead to the only two goals in the game. So this may not be the time or place for the 20-year-old.
Yakemchuk was called up on Sunday alongside forwards Tyler Boucher, Xavier Bourgault, Graeme Clarke, Arthur Kaliyev and Oscar Pettersson, a group that will serve as the club’s black aces.
Despite the injury concern, the bigger issue at hand is scoring. After being shut out 2–0 in Game 1, generating more chances will be paramount in Game 2 against a stifling, well-coached Carolina D.
Quick update, hot off the presses: if you can't score, nothing else matters.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. TV: Sportsnet, CBC and TVAS.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
BRIDGEPORT, CT -- On Oct. 22, New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche relieved goaltending coach Piero Greco of his duties with Ilya Sorokin struggling out of the gate.
Darche then elevated Bridgeport Islanders goaltending coach Sergei Naumov to the NHL squad, someone who Sorokin had known quite well from their days in the KHL.
Naumov joined Bridgeport for the 2024-25 season with an NHL gig more of a when, not an if, given his experience with Sorokin.
After the goalie coach change, the Islanders said that Chris Terreri, the organization's Director of Goaltending, would take Sergei's Bridgeport responsibilities.
However, when on hand for Bridgeport's practice on Monday, I saw a familiar face working with their goaltenders: Cory Schneider.
The now 40-year-old former NHL goaltender, who finished his 13-year playing career with the Islanders before moving into media with MSG Networks and the NHL Network, has been serving as Bridgeport's goalie coach since Naumovs promotion, per the team. It's not an official title, but that's the job he's serving.
Cory Schneider is Bridgeport’s goalie coach, filling Sergei Naumovs role after Sergei was elevated to #Isles.
Terreri still holds his role with the organization.
It's not uncommon to see former Islanders players remain with the organization.
Johnny Boychuk and Dennis Seidenberg both work in player development -- so does Marty Reasoner -- with Eric Cairns the organization's Director of Player Development.
Schneider was a workhorse during his career, playing 410 regular-season games, going 171-159-58, with a 2.43 GAA and a .918 SV%. He also knows what it takes to reach the NHL level and stick, and what it's like to overcome a major injury — hip surgery — to get back to living the dream.
Schneider had to wait 758 days before getting back to the NHL, playing his first and final game with the Islanders, the final game of his career, stopping 24 of 27 in a 4-3 win over his former team, the New Jersey Devils, on Apr. 3, 2022.
It must have been a cool experience for Schneider to be on the ice with Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who is working his way back from two knee procedures.
Bridgeport has veteran backstop, Marcus Hogberg, along with youngsters Henrik Tikkanen and Josh Kotai. There's no question that Schneider will have a positive impact on their development, regardless of how long he holds this position.
Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Trevor Martin (83) poses for a photo during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Prior to their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, the Tampa Bay Rays are calling up right-handed pitcher Trevor Martin from Triple-A Durham.
Martin, 25, was the Rays 3rd round selection in the 2022 draft. During his collegiate days, Martin was a closer for Oklahoma State but the Rays tried him as a starting pitcher for the first few years of his development. Martin easily dismantled hitters in the lower levels but Double-A was too much of a challenge and he was converted back into a reliever last season. This year, Martin has made seven appearances for Triple-A Durham and has yet to allow an earned run over 9.1 IP, registering a 26.8 K% and 14.6 BB% against 41 hitters faced.
FanGraphs ranked Martin as the Rays 42nd best prospect entering the 2025 season and they had this to say regarding the young hurler,
Martin hasn’t sustained his peak 2022 velo and was more 90-94 with his fastball in 2024, but plus vertical break and above-average extension help enable a fastball-heavy approach despite that middling velo. Aside from his curveball, which has movement that pairs with his heater, Martin doesn’t have a secondary pitch that’s performing at an average or better level.
Mason Englert heads to the Injured List with right forearm tightness. The 26-year old has thrown in 9 games for the Rays already this season, registering a 7.11 ERA | 4.77 FIP with a 16.7 K% & 6.7 BB% over 12.2 IP.
In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred recent free agent signing Michael Grove, to the 60-day Injured List.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Brady Basso #66 of the Athletics pitches during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s announced a small roster move on Monday morning hours before their series with Seattle kicks off. The team is bringing up left-hander Brady Basso to the big league squad for the first time this season, while optioning out right-hander Mason Barnett back to Triple-A:
Basso provides manager Mark Kotsay with another left-handed option out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old began the season in Triple-A with the Aviators in the ‘pen but has gotten hit hard in six appearances. He’s sporting an ugly 9.45 ERA but has had some success in the past before. Let’s hope he can figure it out at the big league level or if his struggles will continue.
Barnett meanwhile returns to Vegas after spending just a couple days with the big league team. The right-handed starter made just one relief appearance for the A’s this weekend, pitching two innings without allowing a run. He’ll now return to Vegas and likely resume his starting responsibilities until the A’s need another arm again. Maybe next time he gets brought back up he’ll actually get a starting assignment or two.
Mar 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
In case you need reminding, go ahead and rewatch Sunday’s game to see how much the Sixers miss Joel Embiid when he’s out.
The team looked hopeless without the big fella, getting crushed by the Boston Celtics 123-91 in Game 1 Sunday. Sure, the Celtics are the favorites to get out of the East and Nick Nurse didn’t seem to have any answers for anything Joe Mazzulla was doing, but Embiid’s absence was undeniably felt.
Adem Bona and Andre Drummond struggled mightily on both ends of the floor. Bona couldn’t finish anything at the rim and got into early foul trouble. Drummond yet again couldn’t keep up with Neemias Queta and also got into early foul trouble. Dominick Barlow had to play some five and didn’t find any success, either.
Like it or not, the Sixers are stuck in this Embiid limbo, praying there’s any chance he can return for this series. The team is only as good as his health allows them to be — which obviously hasn’t been good for nearly his entire career. Trading him isn’t likely to help the franchise now or in the future. It’s frustrating, but there really aren’t many alternatives other than getting serious about building a roster that can at least withstand his absences.
Embiid’s three-year extension kicks in next season, when he’ll make (an estimated) $57.9 million. That number goes up to $62.6 million in 2027-28. He then has a player option for the 2028-29 season at $67.2 million. Put yourself in the shoes of another general manager — as great as Embiid is when he plays, are you giving up real assets for that cap hit and sorted injury history? Of course you aren’t.
Think about Daryl Morey’s history here as well. He won’t salary dump players, for better or worse. He did so immediately upon his arrival with Al Horford in a move that absolutely had to happen. Since then, he’s held on to players like Ben Simmons and James Harden, despite their desires to be traded. This is a guy who held on to Tobias Harris for the entirety of his contract because he couldn’t get positive value in return. To think he would happily hand over picks to get off Embiid’s contract isn’t based in reality.
Of course, there’s a non-zero chance Morey isn’t running things this offseason. So, you’re then expecting the next executive to trade a guy in Embiid who is a franchise icon and, again, attach assets to do it. It would be the defining move of the next executive’s tenure. That’s a lot of weight to put on a potential Morey successor.
And take into account what the team looks like post-Embiid salary dump. It’s doubtful the players they receive in return will offer any type of upgrade. Those guys are likely to be salary dumps in their own right. Maybe a player like a Nicolas Batum will sneak in the deal like in the Harden trade, but how much better does that make this version of the Sixers? They’ll also have less picks to build for the future, hurting any future team-building around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Again, there’s no great solution here. The best and most logical step is to fortify the center position behind Embiid. The Sixers have done well on the margins in so many other areas. Their inability to find just a decent backup big or two, knowing Embiid’s injury history, is mind-boggling.
Bona is fine as a backup playing 15-20 minutes a night while he continues to develop, but the team needs more. With respect to Drummond, who is giving the Sixers everything he can right now, an upgrade is needed. You don’t need a world-beater, just a big who can do the basics — set good screens, roll to the rim and finish, rebound and protect the rim. There are centers who fit this mold you can acquire without needing premium trade assets or money. Johni Broome is here, but it still could be beneficial to bring in another young big after the 23-year-old rookie couldn’t get minutes before suffering a meniscus injury.
The Sixers couldn’t be in a stranger spot. Embiid is likely too good to salary dump, but can’t be relied upon to stay healthy through a playoff run. There’s no perfect answer, but the team can do better starting this offseason.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith (36) its congratulated by Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) following the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 18, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Astros come to town tonight, looking to get back on track, while the Guardians look to continue their strong start with another series win.
The Astros are 8-15 and third in wRC+ at 122, ninth in Baserunning Runs Above Average at 1.2, 21st in Defense at -5.4, last in starting pitcher ERA at 6.34 (4.59 FIP), and 24th in bullpen ERA at 5.21 ((4.26 FIP).
The Guardians are 13-10 and 17th in wRC+ at 100, 25th in Baserunning Runs Above Average at -1.5, ninth in Defense at -0.2, fourth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.10 (3.93 FIP), and 29th in bullpen ERA at 6.18 ERA (5.39 FIP).
On paper, looks like the Guardians need to hope the past couple games of bullpen improvement can hang around, then they will have a good chance of keeping that Astros’ offense in check. Putting the ball in play a good bit should help as the Houston defense looks bad, so far. It’s tough to read TOO much into trends for another couple weeks, at least, but surface level, the Guardians have a clear path to take this series.
MATCHUPS: Game One, Monday, 6:10PM ET: Slade Cecconi, RHP 5.03 ERA (4.50 SIERA) vs. Spencer Arrighetti, RHP 1.50 ERA (3.28 SIERA). Game Two, Tuesday, 6:10PM ET: Parker Messick, LHP 1.05 ERA (3.23 SIERA) vs. Ryan Weiss, RHP 4.91 ERA (7.18 SIERA). Game Three, Wednesday, 1:10PM ET: Tanner Bibee, RHP 4.81 ERA (3.96 SIERA) vs. Peter Lambert, RHP 7.20 ERA (2.15 SIERA).
This will be a big series for the Guardians to show that they are more of an alpha team in the AL than the Astros. The Astros are reeling… (Mortal Kombat voice) FINISH THEM.
Also, Jose Ramirez’s official countdown to 300 homers/300 steals: 9 homers left, 3 steals left.
Glossary:
wRC+ – Weighted Runs Created Plus – A measure of determining a player’s run production value while controlling for park effects. 100 is league average.
Baserunning Runs Above Average – A metric including stolen base value, double-play avoidance, and taking extra bases to determine how many runs above average a team is on the basepaths
Defense – This stat gives you how many runs above average a team’s defenders save their team, adjusted for positional value (i.e. a catcher has far more defensive value for a team than a first baseman).
FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching. Essentially, ERA weighted by factors a pitcher can control (strikeouts, walks and homers) while eliminating as much as possible the effects of a good or bad defense.
SIERA – A metric to determine a pitcher’s true ERA based on strikeout rate, walk rate, and quality of batted-balls given up. This number is similar to ERA (3 and under is excellent) in determining player performance.
