A new NBA mock draft from ESPN shows the New York Knicks will use their first-round selection in June on a player who is unlikely to make much of an impact next season.

There is a lot of hope and excitement about the Knicks right now. On Tuesday night, they begin their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home and as favorites. Due to their excellent play over the past few weeks, this could be the franchise’s best chance to win an NBA title in decades.

Still, while the organization is hyper-focused on the East Finals, they should also keep some attention on what’s coming next, and that’s the NBA Draft next month. And when it comes to their choice at No. 24 at the June event, ESPN’s Jeremy Wu believes the team will take Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr.

On paper, getting an impact player from an elite team in 2025-26 sounds like a great accomplishment. But according to the draft expert, don’t expect Cenac Jr. to be more than a role player next season.

Will Chris Senac Jr. be Mitchell Robinson’s replacement for the NY Knicks?

Wu wrote, “Cenac measured well at the combine and excelled physically in on-court drills, with good amplitude and mobility for a center that makes him a worthwhile developmental bet.” “He made progress with his tenacity and rebounding in Houston, but is still a ways away from contributing to a winning NBA team.

“Still, his immense size and fluid movement skills give him a chance to carve out an eventual role in the NBA if he can find more offensive identity. There’s probably more rim-protection upside than his worrisome lack of blocks, as he was asked to play conservatively and focus on rebounding as part of Houston’s approach.

For a team that is hoping to win a championship this spring, and compete for more over the next few seasons, using a first-rounder on the prospect who will be the best role player next season is disappointing. However, Wu noted that with backup center Mitchell Robinson leaving in free agency this summer, the Knicks will have to look for a potential replacement.

Robinson is also basically a role player, but a very good player who specialized in certain skills. If Cenac Jr. can be just as meaningful or more in a few years, Knicks fans will be happy with this selection.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Kansas City Royals enter the 2026 season with aspirations of competing for a playoff spot. Now more than 25 games into the season, they are tied for the second-worst record in the American League and seem destined to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline.

Examining the team situation, MLB insider Robert Murray shared his belief that All-Star pitcher Chris Bubick will be traded by the Royals this summer.

READ MORE: MLB Power Rankings Week 4, Royals keep falling

“The Royals are struggling. Bubic is in the final season of his contract. All the ingredients for a potential deadline trade. Bubic’s track record will appeal to teams. A left-hander, he posted a 2.67 ERA in 27 games in 2024. He posted a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts last season. His numbers have declined slightly this season, with a 4.08 ERA in five starts, but he’s allowing less Has hits (six hits per nine innings) and slightly more strikeouts per nine innings (9.1 this season; 9 last season). If the Royals’ decline continues, Bubic is almost certain to be traded.

Robert Murray on whether the Kansas City Royals will trade Kris Bubic

• Chris Bubic contract (Spotrac): $6.15 million salary in 2026, MLB free agent in 2026-27

Bubic, who won’t turn 29 until Aug. 19, earned his first All-Star selection with Kansas City last season. The 6-foot-3 southpaw excelled on the mound in 2025, posting a 2.55 ERA with a 24.4 percent strikeout rate and holding opponents to a .227 batting average in 116.1 innings.

He only pitched 146.2 innings over the past two seasons, but he compiled a 2.58 ERA with a 155-44 K-BB ratio and 7.6 H/9 during that span. In five starts this season, he posted a career-best 6.0 H/9 with a strikeout rate of 25.7 percent. However, he has a 4.08 ERA in 28.2 innings, in which he has allowed more than four runs in a pair of starts.

It seems unlikely that Kansas City will be able to work out a new deal with Bubic this off-season, with the California native set to cash in on MLB free agency this winter. So, barring a dramatic turnaround, it’s reasonable to think Bubic will be one of the starting pitchers moved ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

One notable NFL Draft expert believes the New York Giants could make a very questionable decision with their first pick in tonight’s event.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the first draft of the John Harbaugh era for the Giants. With the No. 5 pick heading into this week’s event, the team has several directions it can go. In various mock drafts since the season ended, Big Blue has been linked to a boatload of five players, including Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love.

However, Thursday night got even more exciting for Giants fans last week when the team somehow managed to acquire the 10th overall pick from the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for disgruntled three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence. The G-Men now have two picks in the top 10, and there is new speculation over who they might take with that second selection.

One name that has come up frequently in recent conversations is Arizona State wide receiver, Jordan Tyson. A player who impressed in his open workout last week. Still, while some believe he could be the best receiver in this year’s class, he was projected to fall out of the top 15 for a few weeks due to injury concerns and declining issues last season.

Could the New York Giants use the No. 5 pick on Jordan Tyson?

But taking him 10th overall could still be a smart risk because of his high upside. However, during an appearance rich eisen show This week, ESPN draft expert Matt Miller suggested the Giants could use their pick five on Tyson when asked about a potential surprise in Round 1.

Miller said, “I think it would be surprising. Where the Giants get on the clock, and whether it’s you guys, or you know, Mel Kiper and those guys talking about it, and you’re running through all the options of these defensive players, and they call out Jordan Tyson.”

Tyson is a very talented player, but there are good reasons to be concerned about his durability at the next level. Selecting him at age 10 may be a reach, but a worthwhile risk. There’s no point in taking a player originally expected to go in the top five at pick 15 when Harbaugh and the front office have the luxury of picking again at 10.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

A notable NFL mock draft suggests the Los Angeles Rams will make one of the biggest trades of the 2026 event for a player considered the best at his position.

After falling just short of reaching the Super Bowl earlier this year, the Rams’ brain trust is motivated to finish the story in 2026. And why not? They will bring back most of the same roster, including reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

However, they made some notable changes the following season to overcome division rivals and defending league champions, the Seattle Seahawks. They made a blockbuster trade for Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Trent McDuffie. Then added his teammate Jaylen Watson in free agency. His aggressiveness has earned him the praise of rival officials.

Now, they will look for more players who can contribute in this week’s NFL Draft. They have one less selection in the first round after giving up their selection at 29th overall in the McDuffie trade. However, they still have the 13th overall pick. At that spot, they should be able to get a very good player. But there are rumors that they may not be enough.

Could the Los Angeles Rams trade up in the draft for Cornell Tate?

Maybe that’s why The Athletic’s Rams reporter Nate Atkins predicted a bold move in the outlet’s latest NFL mock draft that would have them give up the Nos. 13 and 61 picks and a 2027 fifth-rounder this week.

Atkins wrote, “The Rams are often trying to reach the top 10, but often have to go very far to achieve it.” “This year is different. They move from No. 13 to No. 6 to pursue potential receiver run backs. Carnell Tate is an option in this draft who projects as a future No. 1 pick without injury concerns. And that matters if the Rams are unsure about paying Puka Nakua.”

Atkins mentions that if Makai Lemon were still available at pick 13, he believes the Rams would remain in that slot. But receivers can blow up from that board to the back end of the top 10. This trade would bring to L.A. the player draft evaluators consider the most NFL-ready receiver at the moment.

Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract. After two Pro Bowl appearances in three seasons, re-signing him would seem like a no-brainer. However, the ongoing civil lawsuit and erratic behavior off the field over the past six months has raised some doubts over whether he can be invested in in the long term. The 24-year-old recently completed treatment at a holistic care and rehabilitation facility to deal with his recent internal troubles.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

With eight selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals will soon add a group of youth to the roster. It all starts on April 23, where the Bengals have the 10th overall pick in the first round, and fans have spent the last few months speculating who might be joining Cincinnati.

recently, athleticBengals insider, Paul Dehner Jr. made his prediction. As many other analysts have predicted in the Bengals mock, Dehner predicted that Cincinnati would add to their secondary by making Tennessee cornerback, Jermod McCoy, the tenth overall pick in the first round.

McCoy is considered the second-best cornerback in the 2026 draft class. Nevertheless, he missed the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL, and he is still viewed as a lock for the first round. It makes one wonder whether he would have been classified as the best cornerback if McCoy had not suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Either way, it shows that the film McCoy put on tape at Oregon State in 2023 and Tennessee in 2024 is strong enough for NFL evaluators to remain very high on his pro prospects. McCoy recorded two interceptions in his first season and four interceptions in his second season. There’s certainly more to come in the NFL, and Cincinnati could be an ideal landing spot for the 6-foot-1, 188-pound corner.

RELATED: Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowler campaign for blockbuster trade involving All-Pro

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

Eddie Hearn has made another strong statement about the heavyweight division, this time outlining a clear path for Anthony Joshua’s return. Speaking to FightHubTV, the Matchroom boxing promoter said Joshua could face Deontay Wilder ahead of a planned bout with Tyson Fury in late 2026.

The comments come as Joshua continues to recover from a serious car accident in Nigeria in late 2025. He is working through rehabilitation and recently resumed light training. Hearn’s comments set up a possible schedule that includes a return fight, which would be followed by one of the biggest bouts in modern heavyweight boxing.

Eddie Hearn outlines Anthony Joshua’s comeback plan

Hearn explained that Joshua will need a fight before he can step into the ring with Fury. He pointed to the time Joshua spent away from boxing due to injury and recovery.

“We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury because AJ is recovering from the accident, he’s rehabbing his body etc,” Hearn said. “We’ll have Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fighter and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury in December.”

Joshua has not fought since the accident which injured his ribs and required several months of physical therapy. His return to full training is scheduled for 2026 gradually. Hearn’s plan reflects a structured approach, starting with a fight against a known opponent before moving to a bigger event.

Hearn predicts quick stoppage against Deontay Wilder

Hearn also made a clear prediction of how the fight between Joshua and Wilder will end. He said Joshua would stop Wilder within three rounds.

Hearn said, “They sent your soul into retirement. I was sitting there in the front row.” “Well, I respect Wilder, and I think he looked a lot better. But let me tell you because I was six feet away… Anthony Joshua will go through Deontay Wilder within three rounds.”

Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champion, remains active in the division. He is known for his knockout power and has scored several stoppage victories during his career. According to Hearn, his recent performances have seen adjustments in pace and timing.

This fight could lead to Joshua vs. Fury

The fight between Joshua and Wilder will carry extra significance because of their history. The two fighters have been linked for years, but past negotiations did not lead to a fight. Issues relating to purse division and promotion terms delayed any agreement during their championship run.

If the fight takes place in 2026, it would serve as an important step towards a meeting with Fury. Joshua and Fury have also been linked to a potential matchup for several years, but scheduling and other factors have prevented it from happening.

Hearn’s timeline suggests Joshua could return in the summer, face Wilder and then move on to fight Fury in December. Fury remains one of the leading names in the heavyweight division, and a bout with Joshua would be a huge event.

Wilder’s participation will depend on the terms of the agreement between the two camps. They have topped the division and faced major opponents over the last decade. The outcome of any proposed fight will dictate the direction of the heavyweight scene.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

The Dallas Cowboys wasted little time this offseason before placing the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, ensuring that the All-Pro wideout could not reach the open market. The focus now turns to how long he’ll stay in Dallas and whether or not he’ll stay this summer.

Regarding this situation, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote that he believed it was “likely” for Pickens to eventually sign a one-year franchise tender and play the 2026 NFL season as a contract year.

RELATED: Dallas Cowboys make three Max Crosby trade offers

After being acquired by Dallas last offseason, Pickens enjoyed the best season of his career. The 6-foot-3 wide receiver earned second-team All-Pro honors after setting personal bests in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine). ^{He had five 100-yard games and scored a touchdown in eight different contests.}

Pickens, who turned 25 in early March, played in all 17 games and largely shrugged off concerns about his maturity and consistency. He proved he could produce both as a No. 1 receiver when CeeDee Lamb was sidelined and as a secondary target when his fellow All-Pro wideout was on the field.

Dallas will explore contract negotiations with him this summer, but it could prove complicated. The Jackson Smith-Njigba contract extension ($42.15 million average annual value) and Puka Nakua’s impending extension will push the prices of wide receivers even higher.

While Pickens will likely play on the $27.298 million franchise tag, which is fully guaranteed, there is also hope he could stick around during training camp and this saga could extend into August. He will almost certainly suit up for the Cowboys next season, but there remains a lot of doubt about his long-term future in Dallas.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A new mock draft from one of the top experts for the event believes the Kansas City Chiefs will use the first of their two picks in Round 1 of next month’s event on a controversial prospect in this year’s class.

As we pass the midpoint of March, we get even closer to the biggest event of April, the 2026 NFL Draft. After a rare losing season in 2025, the Chiefs’ selection next month becomes even more important. And after making a big trade this offseason that sent Trent McDuffie back to the Los Angeles Rams, including another first-round pick this year, Kansas City has a chance to get two top-30 prospects.

But who will the Chiefs select with their valuable pick at No. 9? There has been a lot of speculation about who they would take, and they would be wise to go after the best cornerback available to replace the All-Pro they just traded. He has also been linked to Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiah Love. The player teams around the NFL are praying they don’t fall for.

Could the Chiefs select Reuben Benn Jr. at No. 9?

Well, according to ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, he expects general manager Brett Veach to go in a different direction. In his latest mock draft, Draft Guru projects the Chiefs to select Miami star Reuben Benn Jr.

The Hurricanes defensive end became a controversial figure during the NFL Combine last month when it was revealed that his average arm length was 30 7/8 inches. There hasn’t been a player with fewer weapons in Round 1 of the draft since the Philadelphia Eagles used the 15th overall pick on fellow Miami alumnus Jerome McDougald in 2003. The length of his arm was 31 3/8 inches.

McDougald was a notable draft bust of that year’s class and played only four seasons in the NFL. Nevertheless, Kipper believes that Chiefs cannot afford to miss the chance to select Bane if he is still on board and they are at No.9.

He wrote, “It will be very difficult to overtake Ben at this position. Despite 30⅞-inch arms, which caused quite a stir at the combine, Ben dominates the sideline.” “He easily finds ways to get to the QB, whether it’s his speed, power or intelligence. Last season he had 71 pressures with 9.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss.”

Star pass rusher Chris Jones has shown clear signs of age-related decline over the past few seasons. While he and Benn play different positions, the Chiefs need to start planning for life after Jones and develop a new top pass rusher. Ben can be that player.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane Van Gisbergen’s streak of five consecutive road course wins ended last Sunday at Circuit of the Americas, where he finished second to Tyler Reddick. Viewed by some as the best road-course driver in NASCAR history, he may soon get a challenger.

In the latest episode of “Actions Detrimental” coming from COTA, Denny Hamlin shared his belief that Van Gisbergen’s “road course supremacy” will soon be shared by 19-year-old Cup Series driver Connor Zylisch.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin Praises Another Driver for Great Road Course Improvement

“I think SVG is going to keep company in the road-course dominance bracket. It appears Zylisch is really, really there… I mean he’s already got to pass the race craft and build speed… As the weekend went on, he got better and faster. I think we’re going to be talking about him, certainly for a handful of races here where we’re racing left and right. Will turn.”

Denny Hamlin on Conor Zylisch’s ability to challenge street driving, Shane van Gisbergen

Heading into the NASCAR schedule at Phoenix this weekend, Zylisch has the fifth-fewest points (37) among full-time drivers in the Cup Series. That doesn’t tell the whole story about how well the rookie has been driving the No. 88 car this season for Trackhouse Racing.

While Zylisch finished 33rd in the Daytona 500, he was actually running third on Lap 85 when the car spun slightly and was then involved in a major wreck. The following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Zylisch was sixth on the restart on Lap 93 and eighth on Lap 135 before falling back to 30th after getting stuck behind some debris.

RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings after COTA, see where SVG and Denny Hamlin land

However, the real standout performance came last week at COTA. The No. 88 car struggled in practice and qualifying, resulting in the team starting 25th on Sunday. To his credit, Zilisch made his way into the top 10 at the start of Stage 2. Unfortunately for Trackhouse, he spun in Turn 1 at the start of Stage 2 after being dumped by Daniel Suarez while passing the field No. 88 as it sat sideways.

Remarkably, Zylisch once again moved through the field with one of the fastest cars of the day. Unfortunately, misfortune struck him again in the final stages. In the same Turn 1 with 17 laps to go, Hamlin caused Zillisch’s second spinout when the No. 11 spun into the back of William Byron and effectively pushed the No. 24 into the other cars, resulting in Zillisch’s car spinning.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin predicts how Tyler Reddick finishes in the regular season

Zillisch suddenly found himself back in 32nd place with only 16 laps remaining. He was looking at the possibility of finishing outside the top 30 for the third consecutive race. Instead, he showed his mastercraft on the road courses by maneuvering through the field and moving up to 24th with 10 laps to go, moving up to 17th on the final lap and ultimately finishing the day in 14th.

By the end of the day, Zilisch had made 56 passes throughout the race and finished the day with a more respectable 23 points. He was one of the most impressive drivers so far at COTA on Sunday, showing that he was the only driver at any level last season who could consistently keep pace with SVG on road courses.

The 19-year-old is showcasing his magical skills on the roadways, which can only be matched by someone who is 36 years old and has much more driving experience. Given the year-to-year improvement SVG has shown on ovals since the start of last season, Zylisch’s career trajectory could make him one of the best drivers in NASCAR in just a few years. Until then, he’ll battle SVG to become the best road-course driver in NASCAR this season and beyond.

READ MORE: NASCAR Odds 4 Picks This Week Including Phoenix, Denny Hamlin

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Liverpool midfielder Alexis McAllister has admitted that he currently considers Spain ahead of Argentina, just weeks before the finals and the next World Cup.

talking to terms and conditions In Argentina, the 27-year-old was asked about the clash with Spain at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on March 27. The match will pit the Copa America winners against the reigning European champions.

Despite Argentina being the reigning world champions, Liverpool players have not shied away from praising their opponents. “Today, I see Spain above us,” McAllister said while assessing the balance of power.

Spain come in as Euro winners and are in strong form, according to the midfielder. In his view, this makes them serious contenders not only for the Finalsima but also for the World Cup.

Liverpool player chose Spain and France as his favorite

McAllister went even further when discussing the broader international picture. He placed Spain and France at the top of the global hierarchy, while supporting Argentina to compete at the highest level.

“I think Spain and France are the two best teams and we are there too.” he explained.

France, under Kylian Mbappe, continues to pose a threat in major tournaments. Meanwhile, Spain’s recent resurgence under Luis de la Fuente has strengthened his credentials.

Focusing specifically on the Finalsima, the Liverpool midfielder predicted a tough competition.

“They have very good players, they are in a very good moment, and the finalsima will be complex. We believe and we will move forward,” He added.

Key to club and country

For Liverpool, McAllister’s comments underline the level at which their midfielder is operating. He is not only a key figure at Anfield but also central to Argentina’s plans at major tournaments.

However, the March international break would once again see him travel long distances before returning to club duties. With the Premier League typically being an intense race, Arne Slott will be hoping his player comes back sharp and injury free.

Additionally, McAllister’s calm and analytical tone reflects the mentality that Liverpool fans have come to appreciate. There is no complacency despite Argentina being world champions. Instead, there is clarity and competitive edge.

If Spain and France are indeed the benchmark, the Liverpool midfielder is putting himself – and his country – right in the middle of the conversation among the global elite.