ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: BJ Upton #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays salutes the fans after hitting his third home run during the game against the Texas Rangers on September 9, 2012 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Charles Sonnenblick/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The American League Championship Series is returning to Tropicana Field and with it, the Rays will bring back another of the franchise’s greatest players to toss out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.
Earlier this postseason, the Rays have already called upon Kevin Kiermaier, Carlos Pena, and Carl Crawford to throw out the first pitch and now they’re bestowing the honor upon BJ Upton.
The Rays drafted BJ Upton with the 2nd overall selection of the 2002 draft. The franchise accelerated Upton through the system and had him make his big league debut just over two years later at just 19-years old. Despite his young age, Upton displayed offensive potential but his defense needed serious improvement.
Upton spent the entirety of the 2005 season and most of the 2006 campaign in Triple-A before making his way to the big league roster for good starting in 2007. With this advancement, Upton found a new home in center field where he showcased plus defense due to his elite speed and arm strength.
Over the next six seasons, Upton would be an above average offensive player and stellar defender. From 2007 through 2012, Upton hit .255/.338/.430 with 113 HR and 217 stolen bases, registering a 110 wRC+ and accruing 22.7 fWAR (3.8 fWAR per season).
Upton was an integral part of the Rays 2008 American League pennant run, providing the team with a historic offensive performance in the postseason as tied the record for most RBI in the ALCS and launched 7 HR during the playoffs. During game two of the 2008 ALCS, it was BJ Upton who lifted the walkoff sacrifice fly that tied the series for the Rays. At the end of the 2012 season, Upton became the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.
Following his departure from the Rays as a free agent following the 2012 season, Upton signed with the Atlanta Braves and eventually played for the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, last playing in 2017 in the San Francisco Giants minor league system; Upton officially retired in 2019.
At the end of play in 2026, Upton currently ranks 5th among Rays position players all-time in fWAR, 6th in homeruns, and 2nd in stolen bases.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The other day a report came out that the Yankees have had interest in Jacob Young for a long time. This report brings up the interesting conversation of whether the Nats should trade their center fielder. On the one hand, the Nats have options to replace Young. However, Young’s defensive ability gives him a higher floor than the likes of Dylan Crews.
The Yankees have “long liked” OF Jacob Young of the Washington Nationals and have talked about him in the past, per Joel Sherman (NY Post).
Young is coming off an excellent 2026 season where he took massive strides offensively. The 27 year old hit .252 with a .708 OPS this season. That is after hitting just .231 with a .583 OPS last season. The biggest reason for Young’s offensive improvements are a change in his approach. Young was looking to do damage this year instead of just slapping the ball on the ground.
We wrote a deep dive article into this approach change during the season. That article looked at his lower ground ball rates, his changing swing path and more. The results speak for themselves though. Young went from an awful hitter to close to an average one. With his defense, a .708 OPS makes him a very valuable player.
The most shocking thing about Young’s season was his power. Heading into the year, Young had only hit 5 career homers. This year alone, Young hit double that. He reached double digits, slamming 10 homers on the season. In a year with a ton of offensive surprises, this power surge was one of the biggest shocks.
Now that we covered that, would it be wise to trade Young? I don’t think Jacob Young should be untouchable or anything, but I’m not sure if I would actively be shopping him. If the Nats do move Young, they would be going all in on Dylan Crews as the center fielder despite not having the results to match his draft pedigree.
In a lot of ways, Young is a Dylan Crews insurance policy. With his defense and newfound offensive competence, Young has a relatively high floor. You know he will provide elite defense if nothing else. Crews is a good defender, but he is not on Young’s level. Based on Crews’ prospect pedigree and his power upside, I still think he has more offensive upside, but I have healthy skepticism about him.
This would be the time to sell high on Young though. It is not a guarantee that his offensive gains will stick, though I personally think at least some of them will. The center field position on the free agent market is also very weak this year after down seasons from Daulton Varsho and Trent Grisham.
That could lead to a perfect storm scenario where a team like the Yankees gives you an offer you can’t refuse. Unless you think you are getting a great deal though, I would just keep Young. He provides relative certainty on a team with a lot of uncertainty. Young also has three more years of team control.
We know that defense is special. In the last three seasons, PCA is the only center fielder with more outs above average than Young. He gets insane jumps which make tough plays look easy. Young also has the flair for the dramatic, making some of the best catches you will ever see at the wall including this insane play against the Marlins.
Jacob Young WHAT A PLAY to scale the wall and turn the double play!
If the Nats were to trade Young to the Yankees, I would want the package to be centered around one of the Bronx Bombers young arms. An arm like Elmer Rodriguez or Ben Hess would make sense. If the Nats wanted to make a bigger trade that involved Young and some other pieces, they would look to acquire Will Warren or Ryan Weathers.
Getting Warren or Weathers in a deal involving Young would be something I would like. It would really set up the rotation nicely and bring certainty. The Yankees have a lot of pitching, but they could use outfield help. Of course, the Yankees are not the only team that could trade for Young. The Astros, Reds, Orioles and Rangers are other clubs that could use a center fielder.
Overall, I would be open to the idea of trading Young, but I would have to be very moved by the offer. Young’s defense and high floor are something I value. He is also a very positive figure in the locker room. Those things make him someone I would like to keep around, but he is not untouchable by any means.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 13: A general view of Tropicana Field during Game Two of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue today with Game 6 of the American League Championship series between the visiting Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have taken a 3-2 series lead, so the Guardians are in a must-win situation. We’ll see if they do.
As of the time this is being written, the Guardians have not yet announced a starting pitcher to take on Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta. Tonight’s game starts at 5:08 p.m. PT and will air on TBS/HBO Max, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.
Personally, I’m rooting for the Guardians today. I would love to see this series go a full seven games so that the Milwaukee Brewers get to face a tired opponent, as I am rooting for them because they eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Dalton Knecht #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter of a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, Jake Fischer reported the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks “held exploratory trade discussions” around a deal that would send Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee and Jericho Sims to Los Angeles to solve Los Angeles’ roster crunch ahead of the regular season starting Tuesday.
Marc Stein reinforced that notion, indicating Sims is perhaps not the Lakers’ lone target as they seek front-court help and look to trim the roster from 16 players down to 15.
“The Lakers spent the weekend trying to find a workable trade to ship out Dalton Knecht and maybe even bring back a big man — such as Milwaukee’s Jericho Sims as Jake revealed in his Thursday piece — to shave their roster from 16 guaranteed contracts to 15,” Stein wrote. “If no trade can be found, they’ll have to waive Knecht (or someone else) by the cut-down buzzer.”
After delighting early in his rookie season, including a 37-point outburst against the Utah Jazz, and even starting a handful of games, Knecht saw his playing time dwindle as he ultimately fell out of the 2024-25 playoff rotation. Last season, he received another crack at rotation minutes but struggled mightily and became a non-factor by year’s end, logging just 107 minutes from February onward, including the playoffs.
Knecht’s primary allure out of college was his jumper but he’s been merely a good outside shooter in the NBA, converting 36.8% of his 3s through two seasons. His lack of strength and lateral mobility severely hinders his defense while he’s not a threat as a passer or off-the-dribble scorer. His rigid offensive skill-set and detrimental defense have understandably prevented him from carving out a consistent role with the Lakers. He’d have to be a truly elite shooter to mitigate his shortcomings elsewhere and that’s not been the case.
Knecht was not a second-round flier or late-first gamble. He was selected 17th overall in 2024. Him not panning out is a sharp indictment of the Lakers’ front office. Knecht joined Jalen Hood-Schifino as one of Los Angeles’s two top-20 selections since 2020 and neither has established themselves as legitimate contributors during their rookie contracts. Both picks represent team-building failures and reasons the Lakers haven’t been actual title contenders over that span.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 16: Tyler Herro #11of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against he Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 16, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.
Well, now that all five Bucks preseason games are in the rearview—with the team going 2-3—we wanted to revisit fans’ optimism levels heading into the season proper. Look, I think we all know this year won’t be filled with sunshine and rainbows, and we need to adjust our expectations accordingly, but it’s still worth comparing how we felt before any games were played with how we feel now. There were certainly some bright spots, including:
Brayden Burries looking as advertised, and Nate Ament showing more than expected (before he was sidelined with an ankle injury)
Ryan Rollins appearing ready to take another step
Encouraging signs from Taylor Jenkins—both tactically and rhetorically—with clear directives bucking trends of the Doc Rivers teams
However, there were also some disappointing aspects, including:
The team, in general, looking bad in stretches (and not just because they were at a talent deficit)
Kel’el Ware, a prized return from the Giannis trade, having some concerning moments/games
A few other veterans looking pretty poor in spots (Trent, Kuzma, and even Turner occasionally)
So tell us, has your level of optimism changed after five preseason games?
DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 25: Santi Aldama #34 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas at American Airlines Center. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are just a few short days away from the start of the 2026-2027 NBA season. The Mavericks wrapped their preseason slate with a somewhat dismal 1-3 record, but the silver lining is that they welcomed back Kyrie Irving (who looked very much like the player we remember) and suffered no new injuries in the process.
No new injuries does not mean the Mavericks are truly at full strength, of course. Dereck Lively remains sidelined and likely will be for the foreseeable future. Joining him is newly acquired Santi Aldama. Aldama had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee back on March 17 when he was still a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. That ended his season early and resulted in an absence from which he has still not returned. He sat out all four preseason games.
Strangely, there has been relatively little news regarding Aldama’s timetable for return despite the fact he figures on being a significant contributor. Now on the eve of the season, Mike Curtis reports a small update
Santi Aldama (right knee surgery) remains without a timetable to return. Dusty May said he "doesn't know yet" if he'll play in Wednesday's season opener against the #Rockets.
Head coach Dusty May said “he doesn’t know yet” if Aldama will be available for Wednesday night’s season opener. The comment is straightforward, yet somewhat puzzling. Wednesday is mere days away at this point, so the comment seems to suggest a return is imminent, even if not for the season opener. May was earlier quoted as saying Aldama was “getting much, much closer” after a solid practice, and he is roughly seven months to the day removed from surgery.
The Mavericks have played injury news very close to the vest under the new regime of Masai Ujiri, Mike Schmitz and May, so we are in somewhat uncharted territory of how to truly read this messaging. Nonetheless, and at the expense of assuming too much, it seems irresponsible for May to suggest favorable progress and a potential return as soon as this week if Aldama is in fact weeks (or more) away.
Aldama is a seven-foot stretch big that should be able to add a meaningful dynamic to the Mavericks on both sides of the ball. Having him back and at full health is critical to the Mavs’ success this season, especially with Lively expected to be out for an extended period. While we can only speculate on the exact return date for Aldama, the facts seem to suggest that it will be sooner than later.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: Aaron Wiggins #2 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Naji Marshall #3 of the Dallas Mavericks during a preseason game at American Airlines Center on October 16, 2026 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is the second of a series of roundtable questions I’m asking the staff here at Peachtree Hoops about the Hawks this upcoming season. The second question: who will have the biggest breakout performance and why?
Wes: For me, Aaron Wiggins has a chance to shine in a featured bench role. The Thunder were so deep that Wiggins often ended up on the fringe of the rotation, but he has legitimate creation ability off the bounce and a good enough, though shaky, feel to be a CJ McCollum-lite bucket getter.
I think he’ll be a better team defender and passer than McCollum, however, and play in the screen, move and quick decision offense that Quin Snyder has set up. He’s just 27, the same age as Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s breakout last season. Maybe, just maybe, the Hawks can make it three straight Most Improved Player award winners.
Garrett: I’m going with Aaron Wiggins. The Hawks have shown what they can do when players get the right opportunity — just ask Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I think Wiggins could be the next player to benefit from that environment. He has the tools to flourish in Quin Snyder’s system, and I like the idea of him becoming a dependable sixth man who provides a spark on both ends.
Graham: A couple Hawks spring to mind. I would agree with the sentiment that Aaron Wiggins has an opportunity to really excel here with Atlanta. There should be ample opportunities for corner threes for him here, and he shot 48% in the right corner from three. If he can swing his left corner threes up from 30% this season he becomes another three-point option for Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and Dyson Daniels to kick out to the corner to.
But in the interest of something different – prior to his injury – I would have enjoyed to see how Mo Gueye’s development would have looked like this season. Gueye’s improved touch from three-point range in addition to his length and athleticism are still interesting elements to monitor this season. I don’t have anything more to really add; I was just really looking forward to seeing more Mo Gueye.
Asa Newell is also someone I’m really interested to see in Year 2; he had a really encouraging touch from three and could roll to the rim, but it just became harder to play him as the Hawks began to zone in on an automatic playoff berth. Jalen Johnson was in a similar boat in his rookie season, and now I wonder if Newell may follow a similar step in Year 2 where he gets real minutes this season. If he does, I expect him to be productive.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford #2 hits the ball during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers on September 23rd, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
There are two questions about how we assess Justin Crawford’s rookie season. How is he impacting a club that intended to contend for a World Series title in 2026? And does his rookie season, even if it wasn’t perfect, show a player that can stick on the roster for 2027 and beyond?
Since the Phillies have not had many rookie position players to get significant playing time during this run, we have to go back to Bryson Stott’s 2022 season for a second. It wasn’t some great year. He had an 84 wRC+ for the season and looked ok at shortstop but not enough to stick there. But there were generally positive signs, he finished with 1.3 fWAR, and as the year went on he improved more and more with facing major league arms.
Justin Crawford’s rookie season was… not like that.
In a Phillies outfield that faced significant questions as the season went on, Justin Crawford played against right-handed pitching. It never quite got to the point it with Andrew Painter where he needed a AAA stint despite no other alternatives. Whether it was Adolis Garcia’s ineffectiveness at the plate, Brandon Marsh’s second half, or trotting out players like Gabriel Rincones jr, Felix Reyes, and Otto Kemp, Crawford was never the biggest question mark they had. In the month of August, he was the best thing going for them in the outfield.
His raw athleticism stood out on a team without a lot of it. He stole 17 bases, showed off a couple of bunt hits as time went on, and he sometimes showed off plus range in center field. There will be questions asked later about how often this stuff actually needs to happen but there are a few moments where he looked the part.
What went wrong
This is where it gets tough to separate what the Phillies needed him to be in 2026 and how to project him moving forward.
Objectively speaking, the Phillies needed better play in center field. He had an 80 wRC+ with concerning trends. Crawford’s swing and approach are polarizing but it just didn’t translate to the big leagues. He had a 57.5% groundball rate and carried a .317 BABIP in spite of it. The put it on the ground and win with your legs approach only goes so far in an age where infield defense is more important to teams than ever.
He did not walk nearly enough to make the profile work. He also didn’t hit for any power, which isn’t surprising given how often he is smacking the ball into the ground but a .089 ISO is not good enough.
The overall offensive profile doesn’t show enough proof of concept to expect much improvement over time without significant changes. He needs to hit more line drives and to walk more. Doing both of those things will better unlock his baserunning potential as well. No, I’m not asking Justin Crawford to try and hit 40 home runs but he does require significant changes. Changes the Phillies may not be willing to make.
Some of this would be a lot easier to justify if the defense was strong. Crawford graded out as one of the worst defensive center fielders in baseball. He ranked 27th in Defensive Runs Saved among 29 outfielders with at least 500 innings in center field. He finished 25th in Outs Above Average in the same set.
He just did not get consistent jumps or good enough routes. He has great speed but so does nearly every center fielder in 2026 so the technical issues are harder to handle.
Just taking a look at one play, Crawford took a banana route on this line drive hit by Brett Baty. This is a play every center fielder has to make, probably without a slide at all. He has to trap it in his glove.
If you want to look at it metrically, it had a 95% catch probability according to BaseballSavant.
Given how bad the Phillies were defensively, it’s not just Trea Turner who warrants a position change but if Justin Crawford is going to be on the Phillies in 2027, it should probably be in left field.
Final grade: C-?
I don’t feel great about it but I will grade on a curve because he is a rookie and it is just hard.
To me, the concern is in the numbers from his 2026 season but just looking at the bigger picture, what ceiling here can Justin Crawford actually obtain? That question just seems hard to answer because he just didn’t do enough well or put together enough underlying trends to feel good about.
Without significant changes that are different than anything he did in the minor leagues or in 2026 with the Phillies, this doesn’t look like a player to keep around long-term. Or even in 2027.
Sandy Alomar would be a recognizable name in baseball circles if for no other reason than he fathered two major leaguers – his namesake Sandy, who caught in the bigs for almost two decades, and Hall of Famer Roberto, who also won a pair of World Series championships with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The elder Sandy had a major league career of his own though, one that included a brief stop in New York for a couple of seasons. He was gone before the Yankees broke a long World Series drought in 1977, but Alomar’s tenure in the Bronx did enable him to experience postseason baseball for the one and only time in his career.
Santos Alomar Conde Born: October 19, 1943 (Salinas, Puerto Rico) Died: October 13, 2025 (Salinas, Puerto Rico) Yankees Tenure: 1974-76
In 1973, Sandy Alomar was 29 years old, playing for the California Angels, his fifth club since he debuted with the Milwaukee Braves in 1964. To that point, his durability was his claim to fame. By September, he’d appeared in 648 consecutive games. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken leg while turning a double play against the Chicago White Sox. That broken leg snapped his iron man streak. It also changed the trajectory of his career.
That offseason, the Angels brought in Denny Doyle from Philadelphia to man the keystone, relegating Alomar to a utility role for the Angels. That lasted until July 8, 1974, when the Yankees purchased his contract from California.
Alomar quickly acclimated to New York, hitting .269 for the Yankees in 1974. Unfortunately, the Yanks finished two games back of the pennant-winning Orioles, so instead of playing October baseball, Alomar returned to Puerto Rico as he did every winter to play ball there.
Alomar got off to a very slow start in ’75. By late July, he’d been mired in a four-month slump. Murray Chass wrote for the New York Times that:
“…physically he doesn’t really resemble Rip Van Winkle. For a while, though, it seemed as if the Yankee second baseman might challenge the Sleepy Hollow napper for the New York State sleeping title.”
But Alomar started to come out of his funk and carried a hot stick into August. Over a nine-game stretch that culminated in a three-hit, two-stolen base performance on August 7th, Alomar went 13-for-34 (.382), raising his batting average 23 points, safely above the Mendoza Line at .217.
Alas, there was no playoff baseball in ’75 either. The Yanks finished the season 12 games back of the Red Sox, who went on to lose an all-time great World Series to The Big Red Machine, depriving Alomar of playoff baseball yet again.
The 1976 season saw Willie Randolph come into his own as the Yankees’ second baseman. Accordingly, Alomar once again found himself the utility man. For the ’76 Yanks, Alomar played all over the field. He neither pitched nor caught but otherwise manned every position on the diamond. And the ’76 Yankees won the pennant, their first since 1964. For the first and ultimately only time in his career, Sandy Alomar got to play October baseball. He pinch-hit in Game 4 of the ALCS, flying out to end a Yankee loss to Kansas City. It was the only playoff plate appearance of his career.
He did have the best seat in the house though for Chris Chambliss’ famous pennant-winning home run in Game 5. Having pinch-run for DH Carlos May earlier in the game, Alomar was in the on-deck circle when Chambliss propelled the Yankees to the World Series.
Alomar did not appear in the World Series, which the Yankees lost to the Reds, who notched their second consecutive title.
That was it for Alomar in pinstripes. In February 1977, the Yankees dealt him to the Rangers in a deal that brought Brian Doyle and Greg Pryor to New York. Alomar played two seasons for the Rangers before they released him, ultimately ending his major league career. Baseball was not done with Alomar, however. He coached the Puerto Rican national team from 1979-1984 and, obviously, had two sons who went on to long and distinguished major league careers.
Sandy Alomar died less than a week before his 82nd birthday, on October 13, 2025, in his hometown in Puerto Rico.
Sandy Alomar was not a Yankee for long. But his stay in the Big Apple allowed him his sole taste of MLB postseason baseball, though his time came to end a year too early for him to win a championship. Happy birthday to the patriarch of one of baseball’s most famous families.
DALLAS, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 25: Moussa Cisse #30 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for portraits at Mavericks Media Day at American Airlines Center on September 25, 2026 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s no secret that backup center is currently the biggest question mark for the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster, a situation exacerbated by Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles injury. As Mike Gansey surveys the NBA landscape for a solution, one name that has come up is current Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse. Per reporting from Marc Stein:
“If Cissé were to be waived Monday and then clear waivers Wednesday, I’m also told that the 76ers and Lakers would have strong interest in signing him to a two-way deal even though neither team currently has a two-way opening.”
However: “The Stein Line has learned, however, that Cissé is a real candidate to be claimed off waived in the event he is let go. Chicago, sources say, has interest in the high-energy big man. I’m told Atlanta also has interest even though the Hawks don’t currently have an open standard spot.”
Obviously, there are a few if-then’s in play here. The Mavericks would need to waive Cisse, no one would have to pick him up off waivers (something Stein thinks would happen), and he would need to select Philadelphia as his two-way spot destination (something I think would have a good chance of happening given the relatively clear path to some playing time).
On Monday, it became increasingly less likely Dallas would be waiving Cisse, as they instead released veteran Dwight Powell.
The Dallas Mavericks are waiving veteran center Dwight Powell, sources tell ESPN.
So I wouldn’t be ordering those Cisse custom black Iverson-era jerseys just yet. Still, the 6-foot-11, 24-year-old is highly athletic and fits the rim-running, shot blocker role the Sixers are looking for in a backup. He’s a name to keep an eye on over the next few days.
More broadly looking at the center position, Philadelphia has a few options at the moment. Joel Embiid is healthy and ready to start on opening night against the New York Knicks. The team also feels good about Adem Bona returning from his foot injury to take the floor after missing the entire preseason. Bona recently had this to say to reporters about making his way back to the court the last few weeks:
“Mentally, it’s been great. I’ve been able to come back. Getting back out there, working with the team. I’ve had amazing practices with the team. It’s been great. I’m feeling good and excited to get back out there on the court. It’s been going good so far.”
He added the following on his availability for the opener:
“Yeah. It’s going to come down to the coaches and the medical staff, but I’m just day to day and I’m excited for (Tuesday) night.”
With Jabari Walker and Dean Wade (though he’s also banged up) available as small-ball five options in certain situations, the Sixers appear set as long as everyone is healthy. For games where Embiid is sitting due to load management on a back-to-back, we would expect recent two-way signing Tacko Fall to assume some minutes. The Sixers have five back-to-backs prior to Dec. 4.
Dec. 4 is a significant date because given the pro-rated nature minimum signings against the salary cap, that is when the team would be able to fill the 15th roster spot with a free agent center option and still remain under the salary cap apron. Kevin Love is one name mentioned often due to the LeBron connection. Another option would be to trade for someone making around the minimum, with Justin Edwards a salary-match candidate with a $2.4 million contract this season and a team option next season that would effectively operate as an expiring. Philadelphia could certainly go the trade route with Cisse, for example.
Undoubtedly, the Sixers would like to have more confident options at their disposal. However, given the strength of the rest of the roster, there are certainly worse problems a team could have heading into a season. We know the front office will continue to monitor the market and look for the best path forward in the days and weeks ahead.
For two or three years now, it’s been standard to nod approvingly at how well-run Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are, and to move on. What else is there to say? It’s true, of course – these are sides who have made the most of relatively limited resources. But there’s also an underlying assumption in the designation: that these are clubs who have no higher aspiration, that their limit is earning praise for upper mid-table finishes.
This season, perhaps, offers an opportunity to change that. Other than Arsenal, every major club is undergoing significant transition. Manchester City may have started the season with seven straight wins, but there’s every chance the punishment for their multiple breaches of Premier League regulations takes them out of the race for the top five. In that context, why shouldn’t one of those efficient smaller sides qualify for the Champions League?
The Rangers’ first potential reinforcement has arrived.
Veteran center Luke Glendening signed a professional tryout agreement with the Blueshirts on Monday, The Post first reported. The signing comes on the heels of fourth-line center Joe Veleno going on long-term injured reserve for three to three-and-a-half months with a lower-body injury.
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The 37-year-old Glendening played for the Devils and Flyers last season. After turning a PTO into a one-year contract in Newark, the Devils waived Glendening in March and he was claimed by Philadelphia.
He posted two goals, seven assists and a 52.9 faceoff win percentage in 70 games between the two clubs.
A veteran of over 930 games, Glendening spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career playing for his home team, the Red Wings. He has since made stops in Dallas, Tampa Bay, New Jersey and Philly.
As of this season, a mid-season PTO lasts for a maximum of 10 days under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Players aren’t allowed to play in games.
The Rangers have signed Luke Glendening to a PTO. NHLI via Getty Images
If another NHL team makes a contract offer during the PTO, his team has a right of first refusal to match the contract within 48 hours.
The one-year contract Glendening signed with the Devils last year was worth the league minimum of $775,000. This season, the league minimum is $850,000.
On Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, LeBron James will make his regular-season debut for the Sixers and begin his record 24th NBA season. Philadelphia is his fourth franchise and fifth NBA stint, counting his two runs in Cleveland.
It’s happening.
This season will bring the obvious milestones and memorable performances. It will also bring smaller moments that help tell the story of James’ time in Philadelphia. The LeBron Log will keep track of both.
Check back throughout the season for new entries. For now, let’s get started with No. 1.
TEAM DEBUTS
Tuesday’s setting carries its own twist.
James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin at Sixers media day that he had “visions” of playing at Madison Square Garden and finishing his career there. The Knicks’ championship changed those plans.
Instead, James will begin his Philadelphia chapter from the visiting locker room while New York raises its championship banner.
Few road arenas have treated him better. James owns a 24-9 record in 33 games at Madison Square Garden, averaging 28.2 points, 7.4 assists and 6.9 rebounds.
His previous debut games with new teams and stints have not gone nearly as well.
Oct. 29, 2003: Cavaliers at Kings
An 18-year-old James recorded 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in his first NBA game. He shot 12 of 20 from the floor, but Sacramento won, 106-92.
Oct. 26, 2010: Heat at Celtics
The highly anticipated debut of Miami’s James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh trio began in Boston. James scored 31 points, but the Celtics held off the Heat, 88-80.
Oct. 30, 2014: Knicks at Cavaliers
This is the closest parallel to Tuesday.
James’ return to Cleveland produced a deafening reception and enormous expectations. The Knicks spoiled the homecoming. James finished with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and eight turnovers as New York won, 95-90.
Oct. 18, 2018: Lakers at Trail Blazers
James opened his Lakers career with 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Portland still handed Los Angeles a 128-119 loss.
That makes four previous stint debuts and four losses. James averaged 24.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists across those games.
Tuesday gives him his first opportunity to win one. The same franchise that spoiled his Cleveland return will stand in his way again.
TAKING CHARGE
Friday’s preseason finale offered an early example of the smaller moments worth tracking throughout James’ first season in Philadelphia.
With 8:56 remaining in the third quarter and the Sixers leading the Celtics, 69-62, Luka Garza missed a three-pointer. Ron Harper Jr. grabbed the offensive rebound before the ball returned to Garza.
James established position outside the restricted area and absorbed the contact from the 6-foot-10, 243-pound center. The whistle blew for a charge, and the Sixers’ bench erupted.
There was more behind the celebration than one preseason possession.
Maxey said the Sixers had encountered a similar situation during practice. Adem Bona rolled toward the basket with James waiting in his path, but the 41-year-old moved aside. James assured his teammates that he would take the contact once they played an actual game.
“We don’t want Bona running Bron over,” Maxey joked.
James kept his word, putting his body in front of a center during the Sixers’ final exhibition game.
The moment also stood out to 20-year-old rookie Labaron Philon.
“Everybody jumped up off the bench and was pretty happy for him that a guy really that old was still putting his body on the line for us in a preseason game,” Philon said. “That really tells it all. … I hope he can bring that to Tuesday and for the rest of the season. I want to see some more of those.”
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT
James appeared on a SLAM cover before he played a minute in the NBA.
In August 2002, James and fellow high school star Sebastian Telfair shared the cover of SLAM 62. The issue was titled “The Takeover,” and its cover predicted that the two teenagers were about to rule the basketball world.
More than 24 years later, James is back on the cover.
The Sixers star fronts SLAM 265 in his new No. 23 uniform. The cover reads, “This is my last run. Part II,” followed by the title, “Leaving the Legacy.”
The standard edition costs $13.99. It is the first of five covers for SLAM’s December 2026/January 2027 issue and includes 82 pages and a pullout poster.
SLAM also opened a 48-hour ordering window for a $65 Orange Metal version. It will remain available through Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. Each copy will be numbered, and 24 customers will randomly receive an even rarer Platinum Metal edition instead. A $125 Gold Metal version, limited to 94 copies, has already sold out.
With injuries quickly beginning to pile up, the Philadelphia Flyers have turned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, tapping two exciting forward prospects for NHL call-ups ahead of Monday night's game against the Colorado Avalanche.
On Sunday, the Flyers made an interesting roster move, shorting themselves a healthy forward by sending center Jack Studnicka down to the AHL and re-calling defenseman Hunter McDonald, rather than another forward, while also placing Cam York on injured reserve and assigning Helge Grans to the Phantoms.
To solve the puzzle, though, the Flyers made the state of the roster clearer on Monday, as they re-called wingers Alex Bump and Cole Knuble from the Phantoms, filling the two vacant roster spots left by the demotions of Studnicka and Grans.
Bump and Knuble are both expected to play against the Avalanche on Monday night, with the latter in line to make his NHL debut having just over a dozen games of professional experience.
Knuble, 22, has a goal, three assists, and four points in six AHL games this season, featuring as a top-line winger for John Snowden's Phantoms.
Bump, who started the season on the Flyers' roster, has scored a goal in each of the five AHL games he's played this season, erupting for a total of seven goals, an assist, and eight points.
The 22-year-old last played for the Flyers in their third game of the season, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 3. Prior to that, though, Bump had been benched by Tocchet in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 1.
But, with Travis Konecny still on injured reserve and Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster nursing upper-body injuries, the Flyers are in desperate need of healthy wingers with scoring talent, and they've made their moves, replacing Studnicka.
It is also currently unclear if Sean Couturier will play against Colorado on Monday, which could make for even more opportunities for Bump and Knuble if the Flyers' captain has to sit out.
With the Flyers getting hit hard by injuries, Bump, Knuble, Jacob Gaucher and Hunter McDonald were called up. Rick Tocchet said there’s a “good possibility” Bump and Knuble play Monday when the Flyers host the Avalanche at Xfinity Mobile Arena (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). It’s uncertain if Gaucher or McDonald will play.
For Knuble, it would be his NHL debut. And a pretty cool one. He’ll be playing for the team he grew up watching. His father Mike Knuble played 338 career regular-season games for the Flyers over two stints with the club.
“I’ve been a fan of this team my whole life,” Knuble said Monday after morning skate, “so I think it’s extra special.”
Some of his childhood was spent at this arena.
“I probably remember the family lounge more and playing mini sticks with my brother,” Knuble said. “But I remember little things — Peco power play was around, so all of that stuff.”
Knuble has been a riser in the Flyers’ system. The 22-year-old forward had a strong camp and preseason. With the Phantoms, he had a goal, three assists and 19 shots in six games.
“I’m going to bring energy and compete,” Knuble said. “I’m going to be moving every shift.”
Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche are in town. Colorado is scoring 4.50 goals per game.
Bump scored a blistering seven goals (two of them empty-netters) in five games with Lehigh Valley. He also collected an assist and fired 27 shots.
“Try to make it hard on them to keep me down there,” Bump said.
The 22-year-old winger was scoreless with four shots for the Flyers.
“Building the confidence again,” Bump said. “I think I kind of got away from my game up here, so I think it was good for me to go back down and just kind of find it and play freely.”
On the Flyers’ injury front, Travis Konecny (lower body), Owen Tippett (upper body), Rasmus Ristolainen (left hand) and Cam York (upper body) have been ruled out against Colorado.
Sean Couturier and Tyson Foerster are game-time decisions. Both missed practice Sunday, but they tested things out on the ice at Monday’s optional skate. Couturier is banged up but could be good to go. Foerster, though, did not look real comfortable testing out his right hand.
The 24-year-old winger blocked a shot in the Flyers’ 3-1 win Saturday night over the Senators. At one point Monday, he left morning skate, but he then returned for some more work.
Tyson Foerster testing out his right hand. He took a shot there last game and missed practice Sunday.
After this, he talked to the trainer. He shook his head slightly, doesn’t look like it feels great for him. He ended up leaving skate just now. pic.twitter.com/YwgSrMmfM7
The Flyers (1-6-3) have a tall order against the Avalanche (5-2-1), a high-powered team that’s scoring 4.50 goals per game.
“The best way against that team is you’ve got to protect the middle of the ice and you’ve got to be aggressive,” Tocchet said. “You play Colorado or these teams, you don’t back up. It’s the opposite, you want to be aggressive, you want to squash a play.”
