It’s especially unfortunate when the person getting duped does so on a public forum and for something that was best left said in private.
This is what happened to five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.
An AI-generated UCLA volleyball player responding to a question about her favorite position. (X/@itslolamelone).
The father of Spurs star Dylan Harper and Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. fell victim to an AI-generated video of a woman appearing to be a UCLA volleyball player.
In the video, the AI woman, who goes by Lola Melone, was asked, “What’s your favorite position?”
Former Chicago Bulls player Ron Harper points from his seat during a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 13, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Reverse cowgirl,” the AI woman responded, before being told that the question was about volleyball positions, not sex positions.
The clip went viral and caught Harper’s attention, who responded, “You said it…”.
Despite numerous comments telling Harper that he fell for an AI video, his comment (which now has over 820,000 views) is still up on X nearly 16 hours later.
Harper won three of his five championships with the Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, then won his final two with the Lakers in 2000 and 2001.
Ron Harper falls for an AI-generated video of a volleyball player on Twitter/X. pic.twitter.com/qIB5fgvoct
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 11: Josuar Gonzalez #2 of the San Francisco Giants looks on during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List is off and running, and in the coming weeks and months we’ll have so much to debate and argue over as we collectively rank the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization. But those debates and arguments have not started yet, because the opening chapter of this exercise was, as expected, a one-man show.
Yes, to the surprise of no one, shortstop Josuar González has been voted the No. 1 prospect in the Giants organization. That was never really a question. What is a question is: will he be the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball at some point this year?
González, who was No. 2 on last year’s CPL, had a dream 2026 season. After dominating the Dominican Summer League in his rookie campaign in 2025, the switch-hitter came to the states this season, and the only thing that could slow him down was his body, as he suffered a few injury setbacks.
The hyper-athletic González, who turned 19 earlier this month, opened the year in the Arizona Complex League, where he hit .343/.451/.515 for a .966 OPS and a 139 wRC+ in 30 games. He ended the year with Low-A San Jose where, despite being three years younger than the average hitter in the league, he somehow improved his performance, hitting .357/.444/.566 for a 1.010 OPS and a 151 wRC+ in 31 games. Across the two levels, he hit five home runs in 275 plate appearances, and had 26 total extra-base hits.
It was a year in which González, who will likely start his age-19 season in High-A, showed off all the tools. His bat-to-ball skills were phenomenal, and he posted exit velocities that would make plenty of Major Leaguers jealous. He controlled the strike zone brilliantly, with a 14.9% walk rate and just a 20.0% strikeout rate across the two levels. He swiped 21 bases in 27 attempts and solidified himself as not just the best defensive shortstop in the system, but one of the best in Minor League Baseball. And he did it all while being the type of athlete — fast, strong, explosive, and twitchy — that just feels like a star in the making. With González, the stats suggest that he’s one of the best prospects in baseball … but if you watch him, you’re somehow left feeling like the stats aren’t capturing just how good he is.
The only questions for González are if he can maintain this performance as he climbs the Minors, and if he can stay healthy. If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then you’re looking at a player who should be a unanimous top-10 prospect this time next year. When the Giants signed him out of the Dominican Republic last year, there were some pie in the sky comparisons to Francisco Lindor; two seasons later, those comps are looking far less outlandish than they initially did.
Now that I’ve got you all itching for the Minor League season to return, let’s add to our list. Picking the No. 1 prospect might have been easy, but chosing No. 2 will not be! As a reminder, voting now takes place in the comment section.
Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.
No. 2 prospect nominees
JacobBresnahan — 21.4-year old LHP — 2.92 ERA/4.32 FIP in High-A (98.2 IP); 5.06 ERA/3.60 FIP in AA (16 IP)
BoDavidson — 24.3-year old OF — .861 OPS/122 wRC+ in AA (315 PA); .923 OPS/138 wRC+ in AAA (234 PA); .714 OPS/100 wRC+ in MLB (22 PA)
JacksonFlora — 21.5-year old RHP — 0.00 ERA/3.41 FIP in Low-A (1 IP); great numbers in a small sample in the playoffs (Low-A and AA)
LuisHernández — 17.10-year old SS — .917 OPS/117 wRC+ in the ACL (228 PA); .594 OPS/48 wRC+ in Low-A (98 PA)
JhonnyLevel — 19.6-year old SS — .968 OPS/134 wRC+ in Low-A (217 PA); .836 OPS/119 wRC+ in High-A (331 PA)
RamonMarquez — 21.1-year old RHP — 1.86 ERA/2.67 FIP in Low-A (29 IP); 2.48 ERA/2.45 FIP in High-A (40 IP)
Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page.All stats are from the 2026 season.
Oct 19, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Richie Palacios’ weak ground ball to secondbase officially ended the season for the Tampa Bay Rays and thus begins the months long offseason as team works to prepare its roster for the 2027 season.
The day after the World Series ended, players signed just for the 2026 season had their contracts officially expire and thus becoming free agents. The Tampa Bay Rays only had three players on their 40-man roster fall under this category: Gavin Lux, Jorge Mateo, and Freddy Peralta.
November 1st – GG
The Rawlings Gold Glove winners are announced. The Rays have two finalists this year: Chandler Simpson in left field and Taylor Walls at shortstop.
November 2nd – QO
Teams will have the opportunity to extend Qualifying Offers to their free agents. The Rays are not able to do this as Freddy Peralta was a trade acquisition, meaning he is ineligble to receive a qualifying offer.
The date is also the deadline for teams and players to make decisions on options in their contracts, whether to opt-out or to opt-in to their 2027 terms. The Rays have several players who fit this category: Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez, Taylor Walls, and Cedric Mullins. Walls is different the other three though as the Rays would still retain team control over the Gold Glove finalist should they decline his option. The two sides would have to agree on a 2027 salary or head to arbitration.
Starting at 5pm, free agency officially begins and players are free to sign with whomever they desire.
November 6th – PG
The Platinum Glove award is handed out to the best overall defender from each league. Kevin Kiermaier (2015) is the only player in Rays history to receive the honor.
November 8th – AFL
The Arizona Fall League Fall Star Game will be held. One of the Rays top prospects, catcher Nathan Flewelling may be on the roster.
November 9th – ROY
The Rookie of the Year winners are announced. The Rays only have Victor Mesa Jr who could receive some support but isn’t likely to place among the top candidates.
November 10th – MOY
The Manager of the Year winners are announced. Kevin Cash is considered a strong favorite, although Will Venable of the Chicago White Sox is a heavy contendor.
November 11th – CY
The Cy Young award winners are announced. Drew Rasmussen is likely to receive some support but isn’t considered a favorite to win.
November 12th – MVP
The Most Valuable Players from both leagues are announced. Junior Caminero made a late season surge but will likely fall short of the coveted prize. He still might rank as the highest MVP candidate in franchise history though.
November 16th -HOF
The Hall of Fame ballot for the class of 2027 is unveiled. BBWAA writers will have until the end of December to decide their votes. Former Rays that could be on the ballot include Wilson Ramos, Asdrubal Cabrera, Wade Davis, and Scott Kazmir.
November 17th – R5 & SS
It’s the final day for teams to make add players from within their organization to the 40-man roster and thus protect them from the Rule-5 draft that will be held during the Winter Meetings. The Rays have often been very busy on this deadline and it has resulted in the team making trades. Most notably, the Rays acquired Junior Caminero for Tobias Myers due to this deadline in 2021.
Additional move: #Rays trade RH Tobias Myers to Cleveland #Guardians for INF Junior Caminero
Speaking of Junior Caminero, MLB will give out the Silver Sluggers on this date. Caminero is likely to receive one for his season at third base. Liam Hicks is also a possibility for his season.
The date is also the deadline for players to accept or decline their Qualifying Offers.
November 20th – ARB
This is the date for teams to officially offer contracts to all of their arbitration eligible players. The Rays roster currently has 17 players who the team could hold onto for the 2027 season but that list may be whittled down over the next several weeks. Should the Rays choose to not offer these players a contract, they will be non-tendered and become free agents.
December 2nd – CBA
The MLB CBA expires and a potential lockout begins. Should a lockout happen, the rest of the MLB offseason will be in a state of flux. Everything between the players and the teams completely freezes until a new CBA can be agreed upon. The last lockout began in December 2021 and lasted until March 10th, 2022.
December 7-9th – WM
If the offseason isn’t halted by a lockout then the MLB Winter Meetings will be held during these days in San Diego. The Meetings are usually the most exciting few days of the offseason as teams meet up to discuss franchise altering trade or record breaking free agency contracts.
December 9th – R5D
The Rule 5 draft. Team can select players from other organizations who are not on their 40-man rosters that have been with the teams for four or five years depending on if they were high school or college draftees. The Rays have had some success recently with the selection of Kevin Kelly; they were also considering snagging Liam Hicks during the 2024 Rule 5 draft.
December 15th – INT’L
The 2026 international signing period comes to a close.
January 8th – ARB
The file and trial deadline for teams and players to reach an agreement before heading to arbitration.
January 15th – INT’L
The 2027 international signing period begins.
January 19th – HOF
The 2027 Hall of Fame inductees are announced.
Feruary 9th – P&C
Pitchers and catchers officially report for Spring Training
We’re one step closer to getting Kam Williams back on the court for Kentucky Basketball.
With the regular season only four days away, Mark Pope spoke with the media and provided an overall positive update on the junior wing.
“For him, it’s day-to-day. We’re operating under such extreme caution that it’s going to be when he’s ready,” said Pope of Williams. “I don’t expect to see him touch the floor on Tuesday. That’s for sure. And then we’ll kind of go day by day.
“We’re in a little bit of terrain where anytime you have a Jones fracture, and you have a setback like you did, you just have to operate with extreme caution. That’s the space we’re operating in. So, we’re going to require every light to be green before we put him on the court for a game.”
Williams will bring an immediate impact once he hits the floor in the blue and white. Pope believes Williams will be a piece they can add to the team without adjustments and will bring a boost right away. “As this team grows, at some point Kam’s going to jump in and he’s going to give us another huge boost.”
We won’t see the 6-foot-7 forward in the season opener, but optimism continues to grow every day that we’ll get to see him pretty soon.
Following the Manhattan opener, Kentucky will host James Madison in Rupp Arena three days later; could that be Williams’ season debut? The game after that will be the following Tuesday, November 10, against the Kansas Jayhawks in Chicago, Illinois. That game under the bright lights would be quite the first game back, but it feels like one of those games may line up for Williams’ return to the hardwood.
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All any team can do is beat the teams in front of them. It has been fortuitous for the Buffalo Sabres, in the midst of their struggles to start the season, that their schedule took them to California to face two struggling talented clubs in the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, and the Los Angeles Kings, who won their first home game against Ottawa on Thursday.
Buffalo followed up a win over the Sharks in which they clinged to a 1-0 lead until Zach Benson’s empty-net goal with a chaotic 7-6 victory over the Ducks at the Honda Center. The Sabres continued their trend of falling behind, trailing 3-1 in the first period after surrendering a pair of power play goals, but rallied with six straight goals, including a natural hat trick from Tage Thompson.
With Colten Ellis winning the last two games, is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's place as goalie of the future in question?
The Sabres came dangerously close to blowing a four-goal lead, as Cutter Gauthier, Tristan Luneau, and Beckett Sennecke narrowed the lead to one, but the Ducks ran out of time to score the equalizer on Colten Ellis, who made a sprawling save with seconds remaining to preserve his second straight victory.
“I didn’t like the way we started the game, I didn’t like our discipline for the type of penalties we took early, but then you’ve got to like the middle 50 minutes, you’ve got to like the fact that our power play scored a couple,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “All you need to do is concentrate on playing good defense, and you are going to get more offense. Your rush coverage, read where guys are going, we’re better than that.”
The win moved Buffalo to 6-4-3 and into a tie with Detroit and the NY Rangers, just one point behind Florida for the second Eastern Conference wildcard spot. Sam Carrick returned to the lineup and had an assist on Tyson Kozak’s first period goal, taking the place of injured rookie Konsta Helenius.
Helenius sustained an upper-body injury in San Jose on Tuesday, and was sent back to Buffalo to be evaluated.
One of the newest names to hit the trade rumour mill is Washington Capitals winger Ivan Miroshnichenko. The 22-year-old has struggled to get ice time with the Capitals and has dressed for just three games this season. Initially drafted 20th overall in 2022, it appears that the best option at this point is for Washington to find Miroshnichenko a new home.
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Vancouver Canucks are one of the teams reportedly interested in Miroshnichenko. As for Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff, he reported the price being "at least a first-round pick." The question now is whether the Canucks should send the Capitals at least a first-round pick for Miroshnichenko.
The short answer is no. While Miroshnichenko is a talented young player, Vancouver is not in a position to send a first-round pick and potentially another asset for a player who has struggled in the NHL. For reference, the Russian winger has played 55 games so far in his career and recorded 14 points.
Now, in Miroshnichenko's defence, he hasn't been given many opportunities in the NHL either. He has spent the majority of the last four years in the AHL and has yet to play more than 22 NHL games in a season. That said, he has yet to show Washington he's earned a full-time spot in the lineup, which is why the situation has unfolded as it has.
Ultimately, while Miroshnichenko fits the Canucks' current rebuild timeline, the price of at least a first-rounder is too high. If he were a 20-year-old defender or center, the conversation would be different, but unfortunately, that is not the case. In the end, at this stage of the rebuild, Ryan Johnson and his team should be focused on acquiring as many picks as possible, rather than trading them away.
Mar 16, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson (43) and forward Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) celebrate Wilson’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
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There hasn’t been a lot for Jordan Ott and the Phoenix Suns to hang their hat on after stumbling out of the gate in the 2026-27 season, and the Rebellion’s greatest warrior has been on a milk carton since the Suns’ forgettable series against the Thunder.
A young leader desperate to find a counter to the overpowering weaponry of the Western Conference sends out a desperate plea for points, shots, and leadership, and a little bit of give of shit. But Obi “1” goes by Obi “15” now, and after his performance against the undermanned Thunder team, we can probably just call him Ben. A veteran who has come through many battles, from opening skirmishes of the bubble, to the Suns in 4 offensive, to the ill-conceived Bay of Bradley Beal that set back 19 million dollars through the 29 season. Our boy is tested, but possibly tiring. Luckily, the Suns have on their roster a new hope who, with the right tutor, time, and developmental plan, has the potential to wield a power even greater than Ben’s.
To be upfront, I haven’t exactly been pushing the pom-poms for Jalen Green since his arrival in the Valley as a player Houston was trying to discard after drafting him with the second overall pick. In the offseason, I wrote about five possible trades for Jalen Green, and if pressed, I could probably find another ten.
His contract size, youth, and potential make for a lot of exciting possibilities for mock trades. I, like almost every Phoenix Suns fan I’ve interacted with, was devastated when the Suns were forced to trade Kevin Durant and when that trade went through Brooks was the player the Suns wanted, and Jalen Green is the player the Rockets forced the Suns to take but since his explosive defensive effort in the play in win against Golden State to his early improvements in efficiency on offense my heart is beginning to thaw towards Jalen Green. Now, everyone wants him gone or thinks he should come off the bench. I don’t see that for Jalen Green, but if I don’t like what the Suns see for Jalen Green.
Jalen Green needs to make better decisions when he’s driving to the hoop. Jalen Green doesn’t need to be turned into a point guard or become a facilitator. One of these goals is asking Jalen Green to be a better Jalen Green. It improves Jalen’s efficiency, reduces turnovers, and makes the Suns harder to defend. The other goal is asking Jalen Green to be a different Jalen Green. It increases his cognitive load, puts him in spaces where he feels uncertain, and limits his impact as a scorer.
Jalen Green is an Uber-athlete. Regardless of the sport, when a team has an elite athlete, they can only fully utilize that athlete’s athleticism when they play instinctively. The more the Suns ask Jalen Green to process, the less they are going to get out of his explosiveness. The Sun’s have rostered themselves into a corner where they are going to need to ask players to sacrifice and to take on different roles than the roles they’ve previously played but they really need to reflect on who they are asking to sacrifice, and what they are potentially losing.
Ben can’t fight this war alone. Even in the ancient battles, Obi “1” had heroes standing next to him. Elite warriors. All-stars. All-time greats. Those Suns are gone, chased into retirement, or traded away to the dark side, but the question remains. How can the Suns put a second all-star around Devin Booker?
He almost had one last year, and the Book and Brooks tandem provided a stellar Cinderella season when hope was non-existent. The Villain’s star is dimming and was never quite bright enough to guide the Suns to the promised land of postseason success. The Villain is great, but Jalen Green’s light burns brighter. It’s not particularly close.
Skim the Suns’ roster and tell me who the second all-star could be? All fingers have to land on Jalen Green, who has the burst to collapse even the best defenses and could be one of the premier advantage creators in the NBA if he could figure out what to do when he gets in the lane. Jalen needs to improve his decision-making if he wants to take a step towards an all-star bid, but the good news is that Jalen wants to learn. Jalen wants to get better. Jalen wants to be legendary, and he does it with a smile while the Twitterati knife him in the back like it’s March in Ancient Rome.
What has Jalen Green done to deserve the outrage of a desperate fanbase? Nothing short of being a great teammate, accepting a clearly miscast role as the primary facilitator, and seeking out a Suns legend to help him try and get there.
And get there, he might. If the Suns let him be the player he’s supposed to be. Now, let me clear up some misconceptions about Jalen Green and his role on this Suns team.
Devin Booker is the point guard, and Jalen Green is the shooting guard when they share the floor together. Devin Booker could best serve this team by taking on the CP3 to Green’s Young Booker. Cp3 had the ball all game, but he knew when to pick his spots to score. Booker is having trouble with top defenses like the Thunder camping out on his midrange spots, ready to swipe the ball out of his hands. Let the young legs of Jalen Green drive into the gauntlet. Allow Booker to utilize his basketball IQ and gravity to get the Suns into the right positions. Focus your developmental efforts on teaching Green how to read the defense better on drives. Cut down the turnovers, pump up the open shots. Then, when the ball gets kicked out, it’s a pass away from getting it to Devin Booker to attack a defense in rotation, rather than finding Bridges, Brooks, or Green for a contested step-back. Allow Jalen Green to be the engine of the offense, and Devin Booker to be the steering wheel.
The Suns don’t have the money to sign a bona fide all-star or the trade capital to acquire one if they want to keep Book, so if they want to win a playoff series, they are going to need to create one. That player on the team with an all-star ceiling Jalen Green. If the Suns are serious about making this roster work, Jalen Green needs to be their new SG1. There’s no other path.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to right the ship. This is not a sentence I ever thought I’d be typing after such a promising 3-0 start to the 2026-27 season.
Now sitting at 3-2, the Wolves welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to the Target Center for Minnesota’s second consecutive home game and Western Conference matchup of the season. Wednesday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors did not go as planned, though there were some signs of life in the second half that will ideally give the team some hope in the early throes of Anthony Edwards’ absence.
This is, of course, not to say that there are not issues for the Wolves to clean up. The increasingly fraught temperament of the fanbase could use a decisive victory over a far-inferior team to boost morale after two consecutive close losses. The pressure of the much-esteemed NBA Cup aside, the Clippers could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Friday will be my first game in the Target Center this season. Here are a few things I’m going to be looking out for.
C’mon, Do Something (Rudy Gobert)
I can think of a few clips that summarize Rudy Gobert’s performance over the last few games, but none seem more apropos than Nathan Fielder’s line: “I hope you’re hungry…for nothing.”
While he’s not known for his offense, Gobert is routinely among the league’s leaders in field goal percentage. Just last season he led the league by shooting 68.2% from the floor. That makes his zero for 13 shooting over the last two games all the more appalling.
It’s not like Rudy has had close misses, either. He’s throwing up layups that don’t even hit the rim. He’s launching three-pointers like he’s Karl-Anthony Towns. I excused his game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because he contributed a whopping 20 rebounds, but on Wednesday against the Warriors, he was a complete nonfactor. It feels like Gobert is beginning to lose the plot, and he needs to turn it around quickly if the Timberwolves are going to have a chance to stay afloat.
The only proven rim protection that Los Angeles offers comes in the well-aged body of Brook Lopez. Gobert is no spring chicken himself, though if there were ever a game for him to assert himself offensively it would be this one.
I’d mentioned in my last recap following the Cavaliers that backup center Joan Beringer was making a case for more minutes and that they would likely come at the expense of Trey Lyles as the season drags on. If Gobert does not contribute positively, expect the noise surrounding his playing time to grow.
LaMelo needs to Ball
I write a lighthearted headline for this section, but I maintain a serious point: LaMelo Ball needs to be better.
Ball, like Gobert, started this season hot but has cooled off over the last two games. The highlight plays are less enchanting when they do not contribute to winning. While Ball is racking up close to his usual assist numbers (6.6 per game), he’s currently averaging a career high in turnovers (3.8, also in the 2023-24 season) and a career low in points (13.4).
I’ll stop short of saying the trade naysayers were right – there is a lot of season left. Ball was not brought to the Timberwolves to be the guy, but with the void of Edwards hovering over the roster like a Halloween spectre Ball has to be the guy. It’s not like Minnesota doesn’t have other guys that can put the ball in the hoop, but Ball is the orchestrator of this team. With Ant out, the team will go as he goes. This is his time to prove something.
If Ball wants to rewrite his career narrative of not being a winning player, he has the next two months to produce wins and helm a team culture that showcases itself as sustainable and positive. There can’t be more arguments with Gobert on the sideline. There cannot be more silly turnovers in clutch situations. Ball has to become a more efficient scorer and limit his turnovers; he has to play like the veteran he is.
Against the Clippers, former Wolves legend Kris Dunn is likely to give Ball fits. Dunn plays a physical and aggressive defensive game, and if Ball lets that pressure get to him he may be in for another poor performance. The onus will be on Ball to remain composure and take care of the basketball.
Freedom and flair are inherently woven into Ball’s playstyle. If he can find more of a balance between the qualities that make him great and ones that are more up-to-par with the professional game, he will lead the Wolves to success over the next two months.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 25: Rudy Gobert #27 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Live Up to the Hype
Multiple things have been working against Minnesota over the last two games: Ball and Gobert have executed poorly, the free-throw shooting has been abysmal, and the team looks like it hasn’t been able to close out clutch games.
Perhaps lost in the discourse about the two game losing streak (Edwards injury news aside) is that the Timberwolves have already played a ton of games this year. After Wednesday night’s matchup against the Warriors concluded, the Wolves had played five games in just seven days. That’s a busy start to a fresh season that has seen plenty of injuries accrue league-wide. It is fair to speculate that fatigue may have been playing a role in the recent performances.
With still legitimate championship aspirations, Minnesota cannot afford to have sluggish and tired halves like the first half of the game against Golden State. Fatigue can be an explanation, though it cannot be an excuse. With as deep as the Wolves bench is supposed to be, Chris Finch needs to be more attentive to rotating guys through the lineup in order to keep players fresh. This two-game homestand will do wonders for the team’s rest, though the results need to be shown in the win column.
As previously mentioned, there were signs of life in the second half against the Warriors. Finch deployed Jaylen Clark to stop the nuclear performance of Stephen Curry to great success (+8 in just seven minutes of play). Beringer had another efficient game with seven points (three for three shooting) and 10 rebounds in just 19 minutes of play. Bones Hyland had an efficient night scoring the basketball with 13 points (four for seven from the field, three for six 3P) in just 16 minutes of play. Hell, even Trey Lyles finished the game at a +7 across his 21 minutes. It’s not all doom and gloom.
For a Timberwolves team that is braggadocious about depth and roster flexibility, they have two months to prove that they can live up to this billing. They’ve gotten some tough losses out of the way.
As Calvin’s (from Calvin & Hobbes) dad would say, these losses build character. Now it’s time to put that character to work.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: The Washington Nationals celebrate beating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game 7 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, October 30, 2019. (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Right now, the Brewers are having a parade for their first ever World Series title. This time seven years ago, it was the 2019 Nationals who forever put their names in the baseball history books. Late on the evening of October 30th, 2019, Daniel Hudson struck out Michael Brantley to give the Nats their first World Series championship.
7 YEARS AGO TODAY 🏆❤️
19-31. Five elimination games. One unforgettable championship.
October 30, 2019. The Nationals finished the fight.
As Nationals fans, I am sure most of you remember exactly where you were in that moment. For me, I was an 18 year old in the basement with my family, jumping up and down as my favorite team finally got over the hump. That night, we walked around Georgetown where there were honking cars and people celebrating in the streets. It was a truly beautiful moment that brought the city together.
This was a very interesting point in my life as well. As some of you know, I was battling cancer in 2019, and undergoing chemotherapy. Despite that, I was healthy enough to celebrate and even go to many of the games. My doctors gave me time off of the stronger drugs, so I could be present for that moment in Nats history.
This is not meant to be a sob story, just more context about what that moment meant to me. That team provided me with joy in a very difficult part of my life. October 30th, 2019 was one of the greatest days of my life, up there with when I rang the bell at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and when I got this job to write about the Nats for Federal Baseball.
I did not go to Houston for game 7, but I went to the Wild Card game, and several of the World Series games. Those World Series games were amazing experiences despite the fact we lost every home game. Getting to share that with my family is a blessing I will never forget.
The game itself was such a tense and exhilarating contest. After the 6th inning, you were beginning to get this helpless feeling. I knew the Nats were not out of it, because the 2019 Nationals were never out of a game. However, Zack Greinke was rolling and the Astros were an elite team themselves.
That 2019 Nats team was impossible to kill though. In the 7th inning, the Nats struck. Anthony Rendon got things started as he did so many times that year. He took Greinke deep to cut the lead in half and get the boys on the board. His legacy outside of DC is pretty tarnished, but Nats fans will always remember how amazing Rendon was. He was so clutch and the moment was never too big for him.
Following a Juan Soto walk, Greinke was surprisingly done. It felt like a quick trigger at the time, and it did not work out for the Astros. As we all know, Howie Kendrick delivered the most memorable clang of my lifetime and gave the Nats a lead they would never relinquish.
𝙊𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵, 36 year old 𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙚 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠 hit his iconic two-run home run off the right-field 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙚 in the top of the 7th inning of Game 7 of the @MLB 2019 World Series.
That night was the peak of Nats baseball, and I truly hope we can get back to that one day. In that moment, the capital of the United States was the capital of the baseball world. After falling short so many times in the 2010’s, the Nats finally got over the hump.
The likes of Rendon, Kendrick, Juan Soto, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Trea Turner, Sean Doolittle, Daniel Hudson and everyone else on that roster will be heroes forever. It was a season that I will never forget, and I don’t think any Nats fans will. There were so many magical moments, and when the dust settled, the Washington Nationals were on top of the baseball world.
October 30th, 2019 is a date that will live in glory for the rest of my days. Baseball was my first love, and when I was at a difficult moment in my life, baseball made things so much easier. I have been cancer free for over 5 years now, and still follow the Nats as closely as ever.
Now that I have told my story about October 30th, I want you guys to share as well. What are your memories about the Nats winning the World Series? How did you celebrate and react when the Nationals won it all? This is a special day for all Nats fans. Hopefully this is not the last World Series title we see!
The Sacramento Kings are off to a 0-5 start to the season, with a bottom-five offense and defense, and the second-worst net rating in the league (-15.7).
Does that mean coach Doug Christie is in trouble? Is his seat starting to get warm? No. Not even a little, according to reporting from Sam Amick at The Athletic.
Per the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because these matters aren't typically discussed publicly, there is an internal belief that Christie deserves a fair chance to be evaluated with a team that is much healthier than this current Kings lot.
On one hand, injuries certainly have hit the Kings. Maybe the most significant one, flying a little under the radar, is Keegan Murray being out with an ankle issue (the one he had operated on last May). There is also en Simmons (out for the season with a torn right Achilles, backup center Maxime Raynaud (knee) and Dylan Cardwell (calf).
On the other hand, Christie has now coached 138 Kings games across three seasons, at this point you know what you have in your coach. The other reality is that Christie reportedly has been a favorite of owner Vivek Ranadive and members of his family, who have influential positions in the organization.
The Kings were never going to win a lot of games this season with this roster, the question is whether Christie can develop young players like Darius Acuff Jr., who is putting up numbers, including 34 in a loss Thursday. He's just not been efficient doing it, shooting 37.4% on the season.
34 POINTS, 14 DIMES FOR DARIUS ACUFF JR. TONIGHT
▪️ Fourth teenager in NBA history to record 30/10, joining LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Stephon Marbury ▪️ First Kings rookie to record 30/10 since Kenny Smith (1988) ▪️ Ties Tyreke Evans (2010) for the Kings rookie scoring… pic.twitter.com/KAVDJqApW4
The other question: Is Christie building a culture that can maximize this team when they do add more talent and improve the roster? Has that happened yet?
Christie is going to get plenty of time to figure that out.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 24: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets smiles during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on October 24, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Throughout Kevin Durant’s illustrious career, every team he’s been on has depended on him to win games. Durant is a former MVP, scoring champion, 18-time All-Star, and two-time NBA champion. With a resume like that, it is obvious he’s been, if not the best player on the team, then one of the top two wherever he’s played.
From entering the league with the Seattle Supersonics, who later moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder, to the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and now the Houston Rockets, Durant has carried the weight of the NBA on his shoulders. Even though it didn’t always end with a championship, Durant has been one of, if not the most consistent, players every season.
In fact, Durant has shot 50-40-80 every season since the 2011-12 season with the Thunder. That level of excellence comes with a lot of pressure. Over his 19 previous seasons, Durant has finished each season taking 17 shots or more a game except for one: his first year with the Warriors, who, of course, had players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
What makes Durant special is that he never needed to take a lot of shots to impact a game. As mentioned earlier, when you are as efficient as Durant, you can have the same impact taking only 12 shots in a game as most players taking 20.
Of course, the more shots you take, the more energy you have to use to get open and get to your spot on the court. No matter how great a player you are, it takes a toll on you throughout a season, especially as you get closer to the end of your career.
When Durant first came to the Rockets as part of a blockbuster trade during the 2025 offseason, he expected he wouldn’t have to take on as much responsibility as he did with the Phoenix Suns. Those plans changed when the Rockets learned right before the season that their point guard, Fred VanVleet, had suffered a major injury before training camp.
That forced both Alperen Sengun and Durant to take on more playmaking responsibilities throughout the season. As the season went on, teams began to double, sometimes triple, Durant as soon as he crossed half-court and received the ball, which put a lot of pressure on him to create offense for the Rockets.
That also led to a stagnant offense at times, where defenses dared other players to beat them, and his teammates couldn’t take advantage of four-on-three situations after Durant gave up the ball. Since Durant had to be the main cog on the offensive end, he also played the second most minutes in the NBA last season, something Ime Udoka didn’t want to happen, but the lack of playmaking left him no choice. At times, Udoka could not hide his frustration.
“Take a 37 year old out the game for two minutes and you lose a 13 point lead an 11-0 run that’s what went wrong.” pic.twitter.com/qinjugXIDB
This season, however, that has not been the case; even though it has only been Kevin Durant taking a career low in field goal attempts, and that is perfect for the Rockets, in five games, Durant has not had to be the Rocket initiating the offense every play or scoring 30-plus points for them to secure a victory.
Kevin Durant is taking a career low in field goal attempts, and that is perfect for the Rockets
The Rockets are off to their best start in over a decade, and a big part of that is the balance this year’s team has across the board. Sengun is off to the best start of his career, Jabari Smith has continued to improve in his fifth season, Amen Thompson is playing at an All-Star level, and, most importantly, Fred VanVleet is back at point guard, letting everyone slide back into their natural positions on the court.
So far through five games, Durant is taking only 12.6 shots a game, which is by far a career low, but the Rockets are still 5-0 because his teammates have stepped up from the above-mentioned starters to the role players like Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, and Bogdan Boganovich.
That doesn’t even include Marcus Smart, the Rockets’ other offseason addition, who has played only one game so far this season and will provide another ball-handling guard who can initiate the offense. Fewer responsibilities affect several areas for Durant.
Durant is currently able to play fewer minutes; he is averaging 34.4 minutes, two fewer than last season. It also lets him focus more energy on the defensive end, where he has been the Rockets’ best shot blocker so far this season.
That’s not to say Durant won’t have games where he takes 25 shots or even over, but they don’t need that every night. Some may feel that Durant has to be the leading scorer or take the most shots because he is Kevin Durant, but Durant and the Rockets understand that if they want to bring the first NBA Championship back to Houston since 1995, they need everyone to raise their game so that Durant doesn’t always have to be “The Guy”.
Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder hit hundreds for hosts
Australia face last-day chase to clinch Test and the series
It would be unfair to say that Australia let a winning position slip on the fourth day of the third Test at Cape Town, only because that would undersell how Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder prised it away. Australia’s vaunted four bowlers, owners of 1,674 wickets at day’s beginning, could only raise that to 1678 by day’s end. In the process, a lead of 40 became 287. South Africa had been 40 for 4 in the first innings at Gqeberha and bounced back to win; they were effectively 40 for 4 in the third innings here, and now have a great chance to do the same.
The unlikely basis was Rickelton, a franchise circuiteer who spends most of his year smiting runs or keeping wicket in 20-over blocks. In this series he was monstered in Durban by Josh Hazlewood, out for 0 and 2 while pinch-hitting as an opener, then made scant impression down the order with 31 in Gqeherha. He looked like a modern cricketer become anachronism in this ancient form.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tarik Skubal was the prize of the trade deadline, and will be a highly sought-after belle of the ball during free agency. He won American League Cy Young Awards in both 2024 and 2025 with the Detroit Tigers, then won a record $30 million decision in salary arbitration last winter.
After a strong season for both the Tigers and Dodgers, Skubal’s next salary will almost certainly exceed that $30 million. But what kind of contract might the left-hander receive this offseason?
But Skubal is likely looking for a contract longer than three years, so let’s look at a few more recent longer deals on the high end of the market.
Pitcher
Team
Age
Years
Avg. salary
Jacob deGrom
Rangers
35
2023-27
$37 million
Blake Snell
Dodgers
32
2025-29
$36.4 million
Gerrit Cole
Yankees
29
2020-28
$36 million
Stephen Strasburg
Nationals
31
2020-26
$35 million
Corbin Burnes
Diamondbacks
30
2025-30
$35 million
Two Cy Young Awards were already on the mantel for Jacob deGrom by the time he was a free agent, but injuries cut into his final two years with the Mets before reaching free agency. Skubal missed six weeks this past season after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, and has pitched six full seasons in the majors. Here are the final six years before free agency for Skubal and deGrom
It looks like deGrom has the edge in production, though was hurt by making only 26 starts over his final two years with the Mets. Plus, deGrom was five years older than Skubal is now, so it would be reasonable for him to seek a contract larger than the five years, $185 million deGrom got four offseasons ago.
The real question might be how much will Skubal’s 2026 surgery impact his free agency. He missed six weeks but was also quite productive in his 26 starts. He also had flexor tendon surgery that limited him to 36 total starts between 2022-23 with Detroit.
Blake Snell has an extensive injury history, and like deGrom and Skubal, also has two Cy Young Awards to his credit. When he first free agency, after the 2023 season he was coming directly off the second of his Cy Young seasons. Snell then was one year older than Skubal is now, so let’s look at their previous six seasons before free agency, which also includes both Snell Cy Young years (2018, 2023):
Snell still had almost no market to speak of two offseasons ago, and he settled for a two-year, $62 million deal with the Giants and opted out after one season in San Francisco.
It’s Snell’s five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers that is more of a thing for Skubal to shoot for than anything, but a market will have to develop. And the pending lockout adds a layer of uncertainty that at the very least might make Skubal have to wait a while before he finds his next deal.
Today’s question is how many years and guaranteed dollars do you think Tarik Skubal will sign for as a free agent this offseason?
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images | Getty Images
There is nothing like a first-time winner.
Earlier this week the Milwaukee Brewers won the World Series and in the process earned the franchise’s first-ever championship. The Brewers are winners forever now and have the 2026 team to thank for that.
But just because it was this year’s club that crossed that threshold hardly means that elite baseball hasn’t been played in Milwaukee before. We are talking about one of Major League Baseball’s most prolific franchises that simply did not have the thing that many people believe you have to have.
Once upon a time Milwaukee boasted the thing in the big leagues at the time in Prince Fielder. Watching Brewers legends like Fielder live through this team’s experience from their perspective was interesting for baseball fans everywhere, and on Friday morning I was able to talk to him about that and a host of other things (including his once-upon-a-time commitment to play college baseball for Pat Murphy’s Arizona State Sun Devils).
At both the beginning and end of our conversation I asked Prince about this year’s team and about something he specifically said about them throughout the run. Prince was on local news and was asked about his contributions to the Brewers and how he was a part of the group who helped lay the foundation for what they just became. He, respectfully, told the interviewer that he had nothing to do with this year’s team. He said he obviously played a role with the franchise, but that he had his time and this time belonged to this year’s group.
It isn’t often that you see such powerful perspective like that in sports. It takes a high level of humility to be able to reach that point and I was really impressed with Prince’s thoughts for that reason. Near the end of our interview I wanted to know what he would take away from this whole run given his unique mindset and he said that he’ll recall how nice it was to be regarded by everyone as it unfolded. He said he appreciated the sentiment from Brewers fans, baseball fans at large really, and how they connected what he did during his time with the franchise to what Pat Murphy’s group just accomplished.
Memories are a powerful thing in sports and Prince helped a lot of fans create some new ones on Friday as the Brewers celebrated their title. He teamed up with Budweiser to help distribute some truly one-of-one pieces of memorabilia… this stuff is unreal.
Budweiser is launching MemoraBEERlia, an exclusive limited-edition collection of exactly 150 collectibles crafted from MLB authenticated 2026 World Series items, celebrating the brand’s 150th anniversary and the crowning of a first-time champion.
Budweiser will also host a celebratory “First Taste of Victory” event on parade day in Milwaukee. Legendary player Prince Fielder will join Milwaukee fans 21+ to celebrate the historic moment by raising a Budweiser to the newly crowned champions.
For fans 21+, to celebrate Milwaukee’s victory, Budweiser is creating Championship Tap Handles, featuring MLB-authenticated pieces of 2026 World Series baseballs woven into the tap handle, World Series Base Coasters, featuring MLB-authenticated pieces of game-used 2026 World Series bases, and Celebration Pint Glasses, created with MLB-authenticated pieces of Budweiser championship bottles used in the 2026 MLB World Series locker room celebration. Fans 21+ will have a chance to enter on Instagram, Facebook, X or TikTok using #BudMemoraBEERlia #Sweepstakes now through November 5.
Fans 21+ can enter now through November 5 on Instagram, Facebook, X or TikTok using #BudMemoraBEERlia #Sweepstakes.
Imagine being a part of that and grabbing something from Prince Fielder himself. You would never forget it.
Thankfully Prince knows that nobody will ever forget him either.
Jun 6, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement (22) celebrates in the dugout with team mates after scoring a run against the Baltimore Orioles in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With eight Jays who have declared free agency (I wonder how many do it like Michael Scott declared bankruptcy?), I thought we would take a look at the 40-man roster as it is.
Pitchers (21)
Spencer Arrighetti
José Berríos (60-day IL)
Jake Bloss (60-day IL)
Dylan Cease
Brendan Cellucci
Chad Dallas
Braydon Fisher
Mason Fluharty
Bowden Francis (60-day IL)
John Klein
Chase Lee
Brendon Little
Spencer Miles
Cody Ponce
José Rodríguez
Tyler Rogers
José Soriano
Ricky Tiedemann
CJ Van Eyk
Louis Varland
Trey Yesavage
Catchers (3)
Alejandro Kirk
Shawn Ross
Brandon Valenzuela
Infielders (6)
Ernie Whitt
Andrés Giménez
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Charles McAdoo
Kazuma Okamoto
Josh Smith
Outfielders (8)
Addison Barger (60-day IL)
Brett Bateman
Jonatan Clase (60-day IL)
Nathan Lukes
Yohendrick Piñango
Anthony Santander (60-day IL)
Davis Schneider
Myles Straw
DH (1)
Sean Keys
That adds up to 39.
The players on the 60-day IL aren’t on the 40-man roster yet, but will have to be added in a couple of days.
And they have a club option to decide on with Myles Straw. My guess is they will decline it, but try to sign him to a cheaper deal.
And, of course, some will be DFAed when they need roster space. And some minor leaguers will have to be added to protect them from the Rule 5 draft (if there is one).
They will also have some decisions on players without options: Jonatan Clase, Brendon Little, and Jake Bloss. Well, Ernie Clements as well. And, the veterans, of course, Vlad, Kirk, Santander, Giménez, Cease, Berríos, Straw, and Rogers can’t be optioned.
By the time baseball rolls around again, presuming it does start again, the roster will look a fair bit different. It would be fun to guess how many of these 39 will still be on the 40-man opening day.
