標籤: problem

Okay, I’ll be the one to address the elephant in the New Jersey Devils room.

There is still an obvious problem with Dougie Hamilton. Did you know, the $9 million rescuer who has refused to speak publicly since January?

Yes, same. unfamiliar? More via the Devils Rink Report in the link below.

Additionally, the Devils traded options to bring in center forward Quinn Hughes to fill a void in terms of nuclear tackles.

Elsewhere, the Blueshirts have their eye on the Twins, a free-agent target for the Devils, and Philly’s rookie is earning it.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: In the nuclear option that Sunny Mehta chose to trade Nico Hischier for Quinn Hughes, here are three centers who could fill the void left at center via the Devils trade.

📺 devil’s rink report: As we approach the 2026 NHL Draft and free agency, the elephant in the room has not yet been addressed. The Devils still have a Dougie Hamilton problem. I break it down in the latest clip via Devils Rink Report.

Last week, we went live with immediate reaction after the draft lottery. The full episode can be found here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday!

For podcast listeners, we have officially launched on multiple platforms. Listen to Devil’s Rink Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

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Athletic ($): From the folks at The Athletic, experts believe the Devils should sign a free agent.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: With the New York Rangers’ final pick of the first round, it looks like they are targeting one of the WHL’s two standout twins.

Philly hockey now: One reason the Philadelphia Flyers made a late run and reached the playoffs and then the second round is that they got some unexpected boost. Here’s how the Flyers rookies earned their ice time.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The UFC has removed Colby Covington from its official welterweight rankings, ending his tenure in the top 15 as of 2017.

Covington was removed from the list in the latest edition of the 170-pound rankings released Tuesday, replacing Mike Malott and Yaroslav Amosov in the top 15. This removal brings an end to a situation that has been criticized for years.

In January, UFC CEO Dana White acknowledged that it was strange for Covington to still be ranked 14th in one of the sport’s most competitive divisions, given Covington’s prolonged inactivity. Covington fought only once in each of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. His most recent win was a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024, and his last win came against the now-retired Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

Covington ignored the criticism at the time and focused on his public persona rather than engaging in the substance of the argument. “It doesn’t really matter what Dana White thinks about me,” Covington told reporters in January.

“I’m a world champion. I’m Donald Trump’s favorite fighter. I’m America’s champion. I’m the King of Miami. You can never take those titles away from me. Take me out of those rankings, but whatever happens, I’m still the greatest welterweight. It doesn’t matter what number is next to my name. I know what I’m capable of, and I know I’m still the best fighter and wrestler on planet Earth.”

Despite his self-described status as Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, Covington failed to earn a spot at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, a card for which he had publicly campaigned. He admitted that he was disappointed to miss the event and currently has no definite plans to return to the Octagon.

Covington has also been active outside of the UFC, competing in the Real American Freestyle earlier this year and defeating Dillon Danis by technical fall. He is expected to headline RAF 09 in Dallas on May 30, giving him a competitive outlet while his UFC future remains in limbo. This should also give fight fans hope that the UFC will accelerate the removal of inactive fighters from the rankings going forward.

A new rumor points to the All-Star being the Golden State Warriors’ top target this summer. However, there is one important hurdle that must be overcome first.

After entering the season as a secret contender in the West, injuries to Golden State’s top two players completely derailed their NBA Finals aspirations. Finishing the season with a 37-45 record and missing the playoffs guarantees that change is definitely coming for the Warriors this offseason.

Over the past few weeks, rumors and speculation have been rife that NBA greats like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard will be on the team’s radar. But who’s really at the top of their wish list? A new report has shed new light on that question.

“League sources say the Warriors were the team that most aggressively traded for the Clippers’ Leonard in the final stretch before the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, while the Clippers had already traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac that same week,” Mark Stein reported at Steinline.

Why will Kawhi Leonard be the Warriors’ top target this summer?

The Warriors reportedly made a play for James in a trade a few years ago. He has also been viewed as a top contender if he tests free agency this offseason. Golden State was reportedly very aggressive in looking for an Antetokounmpo trade even before the deadline.

If James does decide to retire this summer he will need to take a significant pay cut to play for the Warriors. While they will have more assets to offer this offseason, if their original trade package wasn’t enough to convince the Milwaukee Bucks in February, will it really be enough in a few months?

Leonard brings a lot of risk. But there is a real possibility that his contract could be voided, and he may be more willing than James to take a discounted rate to play for a contender. Or the Clippers may want to trade him. The cost to acquire the seven-time All-Star would be much lower than that of Antetokounmpo due to Leonard’s age and long injury history.

Considering how hard they were going after him before the trade deadline, it would make a lot of sense for Leonard to be the Warriors’ top target in the offseason. However, Steen noted a major obstacle in the pursuit of Leonard or any experienced star.

He wrote, “However, whether the Warriors re-emerge as a contender will depend on whether Steve Kerr returns as Golden State’s coach after 12 seasons.” “If Kerr is rehired as the coach of this team, it would be a very strong signal that the Warriors will try to assemble at least one more season of experienced players around Stephen Curry to try to compete. Conversely, if the two sides part ways, it could signal the beginning of a real Bay Area overhaul.”

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

armory are one of the clubs pursuing IMT Belgrade’s Vasilije Novizic for the summer.

The Gunners’ immediate focus is on their efforts to win the Premier League and reach the Champions League semi-finals by beating Sporting.

This has not stopped Arsenal from looking at potential targets for both the first team and their academy.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been keeping a close eye on the Serbian market for young talent in recent weeks.

On March 2, Game Witness Covered claims from Italy Arsenal have made an offer for 17-year-old Vasilije Kostov.

At the end of that month, we news broadcast from serbia Supporting the north London club’s desire to sign a young player from Red Star Belgrade. He is not the only young Serbian talent on the Premier League side’s agenda.

Arsenal keen on IMT Belgrade’s young star

directly Now report that Mikel Arteta’s side are likely to sign Vasilije Novizic.

The 17-year-old left the academy of FK Kosmet Leposavik for FK Olej as a free agent in July 2023. A year later, he left FK Olej again as a free agent, and transferred to IMT Belgrade.

After making his first-team debut last season, the defensive midfielder has already made 52 appearances. This includes 27 appearances this season, scoring eight goals and four assists.

His league statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 27
• Start: 25
• Total minutes: 2,321
• Minutes per game: 86
• Interceptions per game: 1.1
• Tackles per game: 2.0
• Balls recovered per game: 4.3
• Clearance per game: 0.7
• Duels won per game: 4.0

The Serbia U19 international has also captained his side on a few occasions this season.

His rapid rise, performances and potential have attracted interest from Arsenal, Red Star Belgrade and TSG Hoffenheim. IMT Belgrade has already rejected the latter two offers of €5 million each.

Red Star Belgrade are not giving up and have made him their top target for the summer. However, the Serbian champions will have to be wary of the Gunners, who have overtaken them in the transfer race.

DirectNow report Arsenal have no objection to offering €7m for the youngster. Their plan is to sign the contract and send him on loan to a club where he will enjoy playing regularly.

Contract, price and agent information

Vasilije Novizic will turn 18 in May, making him eligible for a move to the UK in the summer.

His contract expires in 2027, and transfer market He is worth €3.5 million. Serbian agency, Family Football, owned by agent Rade Dunjić, represents the young midfielder.

On this week’s SmackDown, WWE fans were treated to one of the most disappointing performances in decades. After weeks of hype about a mystery man who was pushing WWE Undisputed Title contender Randy Orton to dark places so he could win the belt at WrestleMania 42, fans of the company were disappointed to learn that that man was… Pat McAfee.

Leading up to the expected revelations, industry veterans who had unique relationships with Orton or his WrestleMania opponent, Cody Rhodes, were named in speculation about the mystery caller. Greats like Ric Flair, The Rock, “Cowboy” Bob Orton and even Shane McMahon. Instead, WWE fans got McAfee. Sometimes analyst and wrestler, who is more known for his podcast and NFL career.

The revelations led to confusion inside the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, and online scorn. Which includes thousands more dislikes than likes on YouTube for videos at this time. What made this surprise even more strange is the reason for all this.

The popular podcaster complained about the weak product and lack of violent, adult, gritty elements of the Attitude Era and said the company needed to move on from the 46-year-old Orton because Rhodes is a poor leader, and why the product is not what it should be.

Over the past year there has been some criticism from fans regarding Rhodes, his character, and his specific role. There is a degree of truth in what McAfee said on SmackDown. However, his return highlights a much bigger problem. This is WWE and their parent company TKO’s celebrity worship on the Road to WrestleMania.

IWC case against Pat McAfee and Cody Rhodes

In 2024, there was no hotter performer in the industry than Cody Rhodes. His journey to finish the story at WrestleMania 40 took the business by storm and made the event a historic success. He filled the void left by John Cena, but not without the divisive reactions from fans.

However, “The American Nightmare” has lost popularity with some fans over the past year. They’re tired of being the mainstays in the WWE Title picture, as well as their long reigns. Furthermore, he often lacks the edge that made him a superstar in 2023 and 2024 as he looks like this generation’s version of Cena. But is it really all on Rhodes?

He’s the QB1, especially as fellow top star Roman Reigns has a part-time schedule. In the end, WWE is still a business, and he’s putting butts in seats. Despite disappointingly high ticket prices, the company is still doing well with their faces. Certainly, he has the right to have his say in his story, but the blame for the opposition put forward to the WWE Champion should be placed squarely on the head of creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque and his team. A good face needs a lot of great heels.

Rhodes chose not to face Drew McIntyre several times over the past few months. Nor did they have any say on the rest of the show or other frustrations with the product, as McAfee noted in his statement. Like the QB1 of an NFL team, he has taken the blame for concerns over which he has no control. Yet, instead of improving the product, WWE is pushing a different strategy that has gotten out of control.

Why is WWE’s celebrity worship getting out of control?

Celebrity appearances in WWE are nothing new. That crossover of stars from other industries has often been very helpful to the brand. Like Cyndi Lauper in the 1980s, Mike Tyson in the late 1990s, and Bad Bunny in recent years. Those names draw extra attention to the product and possibly new fans.

However, the company is starting to move much further towards that instead of focusing on making its content as strong as it was a few years ago. And this overindulgence may be something imposed on the decision makers by their bosses at TKO.

According to a new report, McAfee’s unexpected return to join the Orton and Rhodes storyline was pushed forward by TKO. Many believe that CEO Ari Emanuel is a big fan of McAfee and is trying to turn him into a movie star.

It was speculated in the past that TKO may also have been a driving force in The Rock making a random return at last year’s Elimination Chamber, but never returned to finish his role in John Cena’s heel turn. Similarly, hip-hop superstar Travis Scott was in that story, but turned into an unbelievable celebrity flake who made just one more appearance and then disappeared.

Recent WWE Celebrity Appearances: Jelly Roll, Lil Yachty, Cardi B, iShowspeed, Sexy Redd, Pat McAfee

Still, there are other examples of overuse by celebrities that have nothing to do with TKO. GRAMMY winner Jelly Roll appeared in five disturbing segments on SmackDown last week. Including winning over Kit Wilson in a singles match and hitting him with an RKO at the end of the broadcast.

Rapper Lil Yachty served as the guest sidekick to rising star Trick Williams on this week’s SmackDown. IShowSpeed ​​was on WWE Raw this week, accidentally helped The Vision win the tag titles, and is expected to be in a six-man tag match at WrestleMania this month.

There are also rumors that NFL legend Tom Brady could also appear at WrestleMania this year to continue a bizarre rivalry with Logan Paul. Rapper Sexy Redd will make another appearance for NXT this weekend, and Cardi B hosted SummerSlam in August. Furthermore, due to his fame outside WWE, McAfee is back again.

WWE’s over-reliance on celebrity appearances is getting out of control. And in a wonderful irony, McAfee has shed further light on – although it was not his goal – how this has become a much bigger problem than Rhodes’s. At a time when WWE has its largest roster ever, wasting TV time and valuable spots in major storylines on celebs instead of current or veteran talent is not Rhodes’ fault and is a symptom of a larger problem.

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

A great option for Kansas and Arkansas to replace their top players who just entered the college basketball transfer portal. However, he may not be available for much longer.

Both the Jayhawks and Razorbacks were among the top 25 teams in the nation during the 2025–26 season. Although they have several good players on their roster, neither team is as strong without top stars Darrin Peterson and Darius Acuff, Jr.

The guard duo were among the best players in the country this year, which is why – to the dismay of Kansas and Arkansas fans – both of them could be selected in the first 10 picks of June’s NBA Draft. It will be very difficult to replace his numbers next season. However, a fantastic option has just entered the transfer portal.

This week, Sienna star Gavin Doty told the Times Union that he plans to enter the portal. The sophomore took another significant developmental step in his game last season. Leading the program in points (18.0), and was second in rebounds (6.9), assists (2.2), and steals (1.3). Under the guidance of Bill Self or John Calipari, he could become a national star next season.

Gavin Doty may follow his Siena coach to Syracuse

Both Kansas and Arkansas have the financial resources to attract Doty to their schools next season. Especially with the books coming out in Peterson and Acuff, Jr.’s name, image and likeness. Plus, playing for legendary coaches would be attractive to any player in the country, and they could certainly develop Doughty into an NBA prospect.

However, as tempting as a trip to Kansas or Arkansas would be for the Sienna product, there’s a very good chance Doty heads to Syracuse this spring. This may surprise many college basketball fans, but he has a good reason for going to the Orange. His coach for the past two seasons, Gerry McNamara, is doing the same job at Syracuse after becoming a star for the program in the early 2000s.

Players have loyalty to coaches they believe have made them better and it cannot be denied that McNamara is doing a strong job with Doty. While the opportunities may be greater at Kansas and Arkansas, the second-year student will be assured of being the focal point at Syracuse immediately next year. Plus, the move will keep him in upstate New York.

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

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has been on loan at Barcelona since last summer.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has now explained the reason for the forward’s recent struggles.

The England international left Manchester United for the first time to join Aston Villa on loan in January 2025.

Unai Emery was keen to extend his stay as he had no future at Old Trafford. However, Rashford pressed for a move to Barcelona in July 2025.

He scored 10 goals and made 13 assists in 38 appearances in all competitions for Flick, operating primarily on the left wing and occasionally as a number 9. Below are his statistics per game in La Liga.

• expected goal [season]:5.84
• expected assistance [season]: 3.74
• Main pass: 1.6
• Shots on target: 1.0
• Successful dribble: 0.9

The La Liga winners have a €30m clause to buy Rashford and their sporting director, Deco already confirmed purchase option.

Manchester United claim Amid Rashford’s struggles

Since January, the Manchester United-owned player has made six appearances and failed to assist or score. Earlier this week, Sport Witness broadcast news Barca’s decision to retain him will depend on his performance until the end of the season.

The latest claims from the UK state that Manchester United will not offer a discount on the €30m asking price. If Barca decide not to offer the same amount, Rashford would have to return to the Premier League team.

Saturday edition of sports world trusts him and insists that the Catalan club intend to buy him, as long as the fee and salary fit into their financial fair play limits.

The Red Devils player needs to start performing well and will have a new chance against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

Before the match, Flick was attending the pre-match press conference uncheck Has released his comments.

He played 79 minutes in the last four La Liga matches and Flick was asked why Rashford did not play more minutes.

“Marcus had some problems in the last few days and we took care of him. Now he is 100% recovered.” He said.

Barça have 12 matches until the end of the season and that will increase if they cross Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. Flick wants Rashford and all the other players to stay ahead of the busy schedule after the international break.

“We need all the players until the end, and we don’t know what will happen after that. There is still time. There is the World Cup. I believe in my players. Cancelo, Rashford, Gerrard… they give us quality. And so do the others. We will talk at the end and see what happens.” Flick explained.

Manchester United is waiting for Barcelona’s decision

Rashford’s contract with the English club expires in 2028, and transfer market He is worth €40 million.

Manchester United will be anxiously waiting to see whether Barca will offer €30m to buy him. If not, he will return to Old Trafford, and the Red Devils will have to decide his future in the summer.

🇧🇷Casemiro | It won’t end until it’s over…

⚠️ From Brazil: Second thoughts on Manchester United
➡️ Possibility of surprise renewal talks
📈 Recent form has helped
❌ Brazil refuses to return
📉 Have to accept less salaryhttps://t.co/nT440VyTF8 #free

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 21 March 2026

Douglas Luiz has had a productive time at Aston Villa so far but his permanent stay in Birmingham is likely to depend on one major factor.

The Brazilian failed to really make an impression during his loan spell at Nottingham Forest, leading to a move to the Villans soon after.

Juventus, desperate for a breakaway, loaned him to Aston Villa and also gave Unai Emery’s team an option to buy.

So far this season, the midfielder has played seven times in the Premier League, having already logged nearly 500 minutes. He had even fewer minutes during his time at the City Ground, which shows how much better things are now.

Now, tutomercatoweb Have looked at situations that could lead to his permanent transfer to Villa Park.

Emery key to Douglas Luiz’s future

The outlet is confident that if Unai Emery stays at Aston Villa, the Brazilian midfielder will also join on a permanent basis.

There has been a very good relationship between the two for some time now. Douglas Luiz was key for the Spaniard during his first spell before moving to Turin. It is no surprise that his best performances are coming again under Emery and it is getting his career back on track.

Secondly, there is also the condition of Aston Villa’s qualification for the Champions League. Failure to make this may cast doubt on the deal.

Aston Villa happy with purchase option

TMW believe Unai Emery’s side are happy with the €25m purchase option present in the deal. They are also satisfied about the €3m bonus that will be paid if Douglas Luiz continues to impress.

The €25m is payable over three financial years and this could really help Aston Villa when it comes to amortizing the amount.

These terms were agreed in January and will allow Juve to recoup the amount initially paid for the 27-year-old in 2024.

This is a slight departure from what Tuttosport reported last week. sports witness Raised claims that it was certain the Midlands club would ask for a waiver from the Bianconeri.

Deal will help Juventus and Aston Villa

Douglas Luiz returning to Birmingham permanently would help all parties involved.

He is happy again at Aston Villa and is close to his best. That was not the case at Juventus, where he looked like a shadow of himself tactically and physically.

The Bianconeri deal for the player was worth around €50m. Their best attempt to make as much as possible from his departure is a return to the Premier League.

Furthermore, Aston Villa need a viable backup for Boubacar Kamara, who has faced regular injury concerns. Douglas Luiz is showing that he is capable of much more and efforts should be made to keep him at the club.

🇪🇸 Andres Garcia and Kosta Nedeljkovic | La Liga club wants to sign 2 players from Aston Villa
➡️Be careful with financial mattershttps://t.co/BnGNRHPdpy

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 18 March 2026

The LA Clippers have been one of the best teams in the league since mid-December, but have faltered with a few losses of late as injuries have mounted. Kawhi Leonard is currently out with a sprained left ankle and now the franchise will be without its sixth player in Benedict Mathurin.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Clippers announced that Mathurin would miss Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a right toe injury. Mathurin will not play in any of the three games during this Clippers road trip as he continues to receive treatment for an injured toe.

Mathurin played 34 minutes off the bench in Monday night’s loss against the San Antonio Spurs, and finished with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals on 5 of 12 shooting.

After the game, reporters in the locker room said that Mathurin was seen walking a little strangely.

In addition to Mathurin’s three-game absence, the Clippers have listed both Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland as questionable for Wednesday night’s game against the Pelicans, the first game of a back-to-back set in New Orleans for the Clippers.

This stretch would culminate in a second five-seven of the month for the Clippers, who also played one game to start March.

After climbing from a 6-21 start to the regular season to 34-32, the Clippers have now lost two straight games and must find ways to remain in the ever-competitive Western Conference. As of Wednesday morning, the Clippers will be just one game ahead of the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors and just 1.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Clippers currently lead their season series against the Warriors 2–1 with one game remaining, while they lead their season series against the Trail Blazers 2–0 with two more games remaining. In fact, the final two games of the season for the Clippers are against the Blazers on April 10 and against the Warriors on April 12.

Since arriving in a trade from the Indiana Pacers in early February, Benedict Mathurin has been a star in his role as the sixth man for the Clippers. In his 16 appearances with his new team so far, Mathurin has averaged 19.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game for the Clippers, while shooting 43.3 percent from the floor.

In the first half of the season, sports witness Kept a close eye on the situation of Brighton loanee Ivan Ferguson.

During his tenure at AS Roma, the striker’s fitness has been a constant cause of concern. There was anger at the club regarding his weight issues.

Ferguson also played for Ireland despite injury and this did not impress many at Roma. Consideration was being made to send him back to Amex.

Now, similar issues are resurfacing for the Brighton player, who has not played in Serie A since January 10.

Ferguson is asking for fitness help

romanist The report states that the 21-year-old player’s injury concerns are increasing.

As a result, he has been ‘almost forgotten’ in Rome. Despite him being assigned a personal training routine, things have not changed for the better.

Now Ferguson has asked for help from Brighton. He recently flew to England to speak to doctors at the Seagulls about his injuries. The Ireland international wanted to assess all possible scenarios and find out if he might need surgery.

That possibility has been ruled out but it will just depend on whether he improves.

Notably, Ferguson is reported to be in an ‘extremely critical’ condition. This has left him out of Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad, which has seen the player suffer four different ankle sprains this season.

From bad to worse for the Brighton player

Earlier in the season, the striker had faced adaptation issues under Gasperini. He started well but did not score in a game against Cremonese until late November.

That never proved enough. Now, Roma have Donyal Malen and he is thriving playing forward.

This suggests that Ferguson’s time at Roma is already over and injuries have ended any chances of his revival. This is quite unfortunate as Gasperini usually gives more advantage to attackers who perform poorly. Now, fitness problems have become a pattern for the Ireland international.

Spanish side Mallorca are hoping that Ciel Larkin can continue to shine at Southampton, so they can get rid of him permanently.

This is according to Ultima Hora. The Spanish outlet has today covered the striker and Mallorca’s hopes of securing a permanent move from Southampton this summer.

He points out that it is never easy to leave Mallorca on loan, as the Spanish club does not have a particularly good record on that front.

This season, four players have left on similar deals, and none have yet ‘developed or relaunched’ their careers away from the island.

southampton hopes

Larin is actually on his second loan after struggling with Feyenoord. He canceled his deal there to join Southampton.

Mallorca was happy to do so, and were focused on securing the best possible deal with the Saints, while keeping an eye on the future. This is because Larín’s presence significantly hinders the work of sporting director Pablo Ortales.

Larin is on a high salary at the Spanish club, and they also have ‘arrears arrears’ on him. Those are both issues they want to resolve in the summer transfer window.

Southampton have an option to purchase and at San Moix, they hope the Saints will exercise it for the 30-year-old. This will, in fact, be the solution to a big headache for them.

Luckily, it looks like Larin has achieved success. He has two goals in three games so far, one more than he managed in limited minutes with Feyenoord.

Saints in the playoffs?

It is a positive start that has made Mallorca hopeful of a permanent deal. They don’t want the 30-year-old back.

whether southampton The utilization of his section remains to be seen. This will depend on Larin’s performance but also on what division they are in next season.

the saints are 10^th Currently but just two points outside the top six so the race is far from over. A strong finish to the campaign could lead them to sign the Canadien permanently. That’s certainly what Mallorca wants to happen.

The Los Angeles Lakers were certainly lucky to get Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade that continues to be talked about around the association. However, the Lakers have already built their roster with Anthony Davis in mind that L.A. hasn’t yet been able to surround Doncic with the pieces he needs to make a championship charge.

Currently, the Lakers sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, and they have glaring roster deficiencies that they were not able to address before the trade deadline. Their defense is missing a lot of pieces to help cover for Doncic and Austin Reaves’ shortcomings on that side of the ball.

Of course, it’s impossible to count out any team with Doncic and LeBron James either way. Still, James acknowledged that the Lakers are dealing with the same issues as they have in years past, even though Doncic is now his co-star instead of Davis.

“We’re playing good ball sometimes, but the number one important thing for us is health. We finally got healthy with AR coming back and then Luka went down with the hamstring. So that’s going to be most important for our team. And it’s been that way for our team the last couple of years,” James said on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast.

The Lakers’ injury problems keep them from getting into a more consistent rhythm

Every game seems like a dogfight for the Lakers, as their defensive limitations force them to constantly outshoot their opponents. Against lockdown defensive teams, the Purple and Gold have struggled, especially with Doncic, Reeves and James in and out of the lineup.

“We’re not set up to the point where we have a lot of room for error or, like, when Eddie was on the team. When Eddie goes down it’s like, crap. We don’t have enough to pick him up. When Luka goes down you know it’s crap, it’s Luka. AR was down, but it was tough for us,” James said.

NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and with it, you get time to sit back and relax for NBA players. They also respond to the media and weigh in on issues facing the NBA today. One of the biggest issues facing the NBA that players were surveyed on was tanking, and the same applies to player participation. But one player said the prevalence of alcohol is another issue that needs to be discussed.

Every year, The Athletic surveys every player heading into NBA All-Star Weekend and asks them questions across the board. This year, they asked what was the biggest problem facing the NBA, and the answers ranged from players competing to injuries to tanking, but one player said the biggest problem was excessive alcohol at games.

This answer came from Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington. “Maybe they’re selling too much alcohol at the games,” said Carrington, who attended a Rising Stars game. “They keep spreading it on the court. You have to stop the game to wipe it off.”

The Athletic even noted that Carrington’s answer was his favorite of the weekend. Carrington joined the Rising Stars program as an injury replacement. Carrington replaced fellow Wizards sophomore Alex Sarr on Team T-Mac. Sarr was unable to participate due to a right hamstring strain.

The biggest concern for the players was injuries. Jaylon Tyson of the Cleveland Cavaliers said that the perception of injuries around the league was not good.

“I think the biggest problem right now is the perception that people don’t want to play,” Tyson said. “Guys are working hard every day to be able to go on the court, but unfortunately, our bodies aren’t robots, so we can’t go out there and play. We have to be healthy to go out there to play.”

It’s also worth noting that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said ‘every possible measure’ to prevent tanking is on the table.
The NBA commissioner also addressed an expected discussion on expansion next month and said relocating any teams is not being considered.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game was an overall success for Adam Silver, the players, and their fans. The NBA also invited more than 200 content creators, which it described as “the broadest creator footprint ever,” welcoming a whole new set of problems into their world.

There was precedent for the participation of global creators. This year’s annual Super Bowl-week content recently aired. comedians like jimmy kimmel liveGuillermo Rodriguez has been connecting superstars to national audiences at NBA Finals media availability for years. However, with respect to media coverage in today’s digital age, the NBA needs to stop reacting to streamers and return to its roots as one of society’s most influential cultural forces.

The answer is to consider journalism and content creation as separate. Players will fear additional content-creation media availability in the same way they feared the introduction of in-game interviews on television. Historically, leagues have found ways to force players to make sacrifices to help grow audiences.

As print culture dies out in favor of video or online platforms with character limits, discussions about anything from sports to politics have become increasingly irrational. The convenience of instant messages is undeniable. But it cannot be separated from the context which is often lost in online posts. This is especially relevant to platforms like X, which limit characters and encourage contention.

The equation of journalistic work with content creation, whether entertaining or not, is dangerous for fans. The NBA led the way globally in responding to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although sports reporting is not as urgent as a public health issue, the league can again lead the way globally by setting an important standard. The NBA is grateful for the example it sets for its fans to work and lead in this unprecedented era of content and information.

The NBA has pitted creators against reporters, causing real harm to fans.

According to the league, creators were “deeply integrated” into All-Star Weekend, playing “active roles in All-Star events through on-court participation, broadcast roles and behind-the-scenes access.” They are real factors in terms of revenue generation for the development of sports and empowering teams and boosting the sports economy. But they don’t have the responsibility to their audiences that journalists do.

TikTokers are beholden to standards of accuracy or fairness, but not in the way an NBA beat reporter is. Content creators entertain audiences, which is a fundamental principle of the game itself. But they don’t investigate and share information with audiences the way journalists should.

Detroit Pistons reporter Omari Sankofa II was unable to ask questions of all three All-Star representatives from the Motor City. This was simply due to an easily preventable scheduling snafu in which the availability of Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham and JB Bickerstaff were planned simultaneously. When so many players and coaches have to field questions from so many media members, the overlap is understandable. But it’s important to recognize that fans suffer the most from that setup.

The league scheduled JB, Duren and Cade all during the same 10-minute availability window. Cade was in the interview room down the hall, not able to meet him in time. Guess they didn’t think any local Piston Beat writer would want to talk to those three

– Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) 14 February 2026

Reporters, especially local ones, have long been the best way for fans to follow their team during the season. Influencers and content creators are warmly welcome to join the conversation, providing both current and potential fans with an entertaining perspective on their favorite—or new favorite—athletes. But this cannot continue at the cost of silencing journalists.

Creators should be welcomed in the NBA world, but not at the expense of journalism

In some rare cases, those journalists are literally being muted. When the NBA announced its impressive plans, New York Knicks reporter James L. Edwards III shared an anecdote related to the NBA Cup. The reporter missed the opportunity to ask a legitimate final question because a content creator made a jersey for a Knicks player and asked him to sign it.

During the NBA Cup, we (the media) were trying to interview a player for our job and a content creator intervened, pulled a Knicks player’s jersey out of his pocket and asked him to sign it. He got the last question. https://t.co/16ZqmYvwne

– James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) 10 February 2026

While it may be tempting to call these journalists crazy and move on, the fact is that their job is to serve fans by investigating and sharing the truth. The league’s growing involvement with sportsbooks and prediction markets underscores the need for that kind of journalism.

While the cultural half-life of information is getting shorter, some data points are still much more important than others. But the NBA doesn’t have to choose between them. They should show creators how important they are by providing their media availability. Some hilarious content created over All-Star Weekend revealed that NBA stars are prone to doing all kinds of weird things. But making TikToks during a job interview doesn’t have to be one of them.

Seeing Stephen Curry wearing a pair of signature shoes usually involves his own brand, but the Golden State Warriors superstar decided to shake things up during NBA All-Star weekend in San Francisco.

Curry was seen wearing a “Gold Medal” edition of the AE 1 Low, which is the signature sneaker of Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. It was a game-changer moment that left the normally confident Edwards feeling like a starstruck teenager on the sidelines.

Edwards has never been shy about his admiration for the greatest shooter of all time. He called Curry the GOAT, though he did it with a classic Edwards twist. “Goat Curry… He doesn’t know it but he’s actually me, his alternate ego is me.”

“Curry the Goat… He doesn’t know it but he’s actually me, his alter ego is me.”

Anthony Edwards’ reaction to Steph Curry’s kick for NBA All-Star Media Day

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/SP9YaLbs7o

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Anthony Edwards is also a favorite of the players. He loves to joke with stars ranging from LeBron to KD and many more, a glimpse of which fans got to see during the Olympics.

In fact, the relationship between the two also dates back to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they helped Team USA win the gold medal. During a game against the Warriors last year, Edwards was seen breaking league protocol by hiding his phone on the bench to take photos of Curry wearing his kicks.

Edwards admitted that he feels like a kid again, noting that he has grown up wearing Curry’s shoes since middle school and even attended Curry’s basketball camp before coming to the league.

Seeing the four-time champion lace up his signature line was a big moment for Edwards, especially since Curry is currently navigating a high-profile sneaker free agency.

While the actual All-Star Game featuring the new Team USA vs. Team World format is still hours away, the viral moment involving AE1 Lowes has already stolen the show. For Edwards, seeing a player he idolized wearing his gear solidified the “alter ego” story he likes to pursue.