標籤: significant

Tottenham Hotspur That has given impetus to the pursuit of the signature of Nicolo Fagioli from Fiorentina this summer.

Corriere dello Sport director Ivan Zazzaroni has insisted that Spurs remain interested in the 25-year-old. In comments released by Fiorentina News.

tottenham overhaul

Tottenham are expected to make massive changes to their squad this summer after avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

Roberto De Zerbi may demand significant changes to his squad, with improving midfielders likely to be one of his priorities.

Reports have already linked him with a move for Nicolo Fagioli. A report from last month Said Tottenham were keen. Then, a separate report stated that the Spurs were Leading toward a deal this summer.

A third report today states that Tottenham are a team to keep an eye on when it comes to Fagioli’s future. Fiorentina have already set an asking price of €25-30m ahead of summer interest.

tottenham encouraged

Now Zazzaroni has encouraged him to take a step forward. He revealed that Fabio Paratici is putting the entire Fiorentina squad up for sale this summer.

“Everyone at Fiorentina is transferable, first of all Keane,” he said on Radio Bruno.

“Fagioli is the most interesting player. And, in fact, Tottenham were keeping a close eye on him, but there is still no offer.

“I hope the transfer market will match Grosso’s demands. Paratici will have to combine his choices with the new coach’s ideas. I expect a significant change in the Viola’s starting eleven.”

This suggests that Tottenham can make a deal if they want to this summer. It appears that Fiorentina will put Nicolo Fagioli and other key players up for sale at the right price.

And with his former director of football Fabio Paratici, who is also in charge at Florence, negotiations should not prove too difficult. However, first they have to make an offer.

Tottenham Hotspur AC Milan emerged as a surprise candidate to sign Santiago Jimenez in the summer.

The Mexico international has not performed well since joining the Serie A side from Feyenoord in January 2025. He rejected Nottingham Forest to move to San Siro.

Tottenham could offer the striker an escape route after a disastrous spell in Italy. In the second half of last season he scored six goals and three assists in 19 matches.

However, the 25-year-old has failed to impress this season as he has failed to find the back of the net in the league. he finished with a goal [in Coppa Italia against US Lecce in September] And three assists in 18 matches.

Jiménez suffered an ankle injury last November and only returned to action in March. However, he continued to struggle when given minutes in recent months.

Last month, Sports Witness Covered claims from Italy That his injury prevented his move to Sunderland in January. there are black cats reportedly looking at On to the next window.

Tottenham keen on frontman

Mexican you can Report that ‘Santiago Jimenez could leave AC Milan for Tottenham.’

He is focused on representing his country and El Tri at the World Cup to be hosted by the United States.

TUDN analyst David Feitelson highlights an update on the Spurs shared by the channel’s reporter Tito Villa.

After the tournament, the frontman does not rule out making a major change in his career. According to Villa, the former Feyenoord man is ‘thinking of leaving’ San Siro and could head to England.

Jimenez is attracting interest from the Premier League and Spurs in particular. The move to the north London club would ‘represent a significant change’ in his career.

Both the player and Roberto De Zerbi had a very poor season. He struggled with injury and poor form, while Tottenham managed to avoid relegation. So, it is surprising that Spurs are looking at him.

Loan deal likely for Spurs

There is no mention of whether Santiago Jimenez wants to go on loan or a permanent transfer.

AC Milan know it will be difficult to recoup a large part of the €32m fee invested to buy him.

The Italian club may grant a loan with an option to buy, in order to improve its value.

transfer market The Mexican is valued at €20m, with a contract until 2029.

liverpool Inter Milan remain interested in Denzel Dumfries after failing to sign him in the winter market.

On April 8th, we broadcast news The Premier League side are keen to sign the right-back.

Later that month, Sport Witness Covered claims from Italy The player’s father Boris was unhappy with the failed move to Liverpool in January. He is managing the 30-year-old and working to help his son achieve a ‘dream’ move to the Premier League.

The representative has asked agents and intermediaries to help the Inter Milan star move to England. The Reds could help the 30-year-old fulfill his dream summer.

Dumfries was part of the Nerazzurri team that won the title this season. He played 28 matches and scored five goals and two assists.

Liverpool working on summer deal

The Netherlands international will soon join the national team for the World Cup. Behind the scenes, the Anfield club are trying to secure his services.

is according to fcinternewsAnd their title states ‘Two important expressions of interest from abroad’.

In the report, they have mentioned Liverpool and Barcelona as their suitors and both clubs are interested in signing Denzel Dumfries.

Arne Slot’s side and the La Liga winners contacted his representatives to inform him of their desire to sign him. Barcelona could make a move if Jules Kounde were to move elsewhere for a big fee.

The Dutchman’s future will likely be decided after the World Cup, which will also give him an opportunity to showcase his qualities.

He is happy at San Siro, but his €25m release clause makes him an attractive prospect in the transfer market. This clause will come into effect in July and hence, Dumfries changing clubs after the World Cup cannot be ruled out.

Contract, price and agent information

Denzel Dumfries is under contract until 2028 and his value, as per transfer marketIs €25m.

The Inter Milan star’s father Boris Dumfries is now looking after his interest and future.

His agent is keen to take him to England and that would give Liverpool an edge over Barcelona in the transfer battle. Unlike the Spanish giants, the Reds have no prerequisites to sign him.

celtic Frosinone were interested in signing Fares Ghedjemis in January. Their decision to reject the move has now paid off.

sports witness Actively covered the approach of the hoops towards the end of the window. Celtic made an offer that seemed to have convinced the Serie B club, but the player himself decided to stay and help Frosinone return to the Italian top-flight.

That objective has now been achieved, with the Canarini having secured second place in Serie B.

Ghedjemis led the league by scoring 15 times. He has been particularly impressive in 2026, finding the net nine times. He scored in a 5–0 win over Mantova at the weekend, helping them achieve promotion.

Player was never keen on Celtic

Frosinone general manager Pietro Doronzo has spoken to Radio Sportiva about his club’s return to Serie A. The situation with Gedzemis was a typical subject, with the Italian appearing very grateful that the player stayed despite having the chance to leave.

He said- relayed by tuttomerkatoweb: : “In January, there was a real possibility that Gedzemis would leave: Celtic made a very important offer. President Stirpe, despite knowing how important he was to us, wanted to consult the boy, reiterating that Frosinone is not a prison.”

Doronzo explained the player’s stance and how that determination has now paid off.

“The player responded clearly: “I want to be here to win the championship. It was a risk to turn down that offer, but the President’s courage and the boy’s determination were rewarded. Today, Gedzemis has doubled in value, and his performance has been key to our ascent.

Celtic may no longer have a chance

Fares Gedzemis’ decision ended Celtic’s chance of signing the 23-year-old Algerian, who has now reached a new level.

Doronzo himself has confirmed that the winger’s value has doubled, which could now attract clubs from the Premier League and Serie A, with the chance to further impress at the World Cup.

Guedjamis is an Algerian international and looks set to continue his form in the summer. This would further damage Celtic’s chances of making a move for him, even if Frosinone were open to a sale.

The Edmonton Oilers haven’t had it this season.

After two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances, Connor McDavid and company didn’t have the same excitement as in previous playoff runs as their 2025-26 season came to a heartbreaking halt. Now, general manager Stan Bowman faces difficult challenges in upgrading the Oilers roster with limited cap space and expendable assets before next season.

Whether you like it or not, changes must happen. McDavid made no secret of his displeasure, and Bowman and management should heed his warning if the franchise hopes to remain a Stanley Cup contender.

1. Take a moment to breathe

Logic needs to rule the day in oil country. Oilers management couldn’t react quickly to its latest heartbreak. Instead, the argument for meaningful change must be at the forefront.

They don’t need to throw out the baby with the bathwater because the core of the team is solid. Leon Draisaitl, Zack Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are vital to the success of this club. However, the problem is not the main one in Edmonton.

Management must look at salaries, player usage, statistics, analytics and coaches’ feedback to make the right decisions.

2. Who will be the next Corey Perry or Evander Kane?

Confidence is a great medicine, but so is arrogance. The Oilers’ confidence is a quiet confidence. It’s the fire that burns in McDavid’s eyes that heralds a new display of speed and skill that hasn’t been seen yet.

Swagger, on the other hand, is the approach pioneered by legends like Corey Perry and Evander Kane. Who brought the swagger for the Oilers this year?

For all intents and purposes, it was missing. How do they get it back? Who can they add to the roster that brings that element? Does this mean promoting Ike Howard to full-time NHL duty? Or do they need to trade for this kind of player?

3. Bring back Connor Ingram

Even with his playoff disappointment, Connor Ingram was a pleasant addition.

Acquired via trade early in the year, he finished with respectable numbers. In 32 games, he had a 16–10–3 record with a 2.60 goals-against average (GAA), .899 save percentage (SV%), and two shutouts.

Additionally, of the goaltending trio the Oilers finished the season with, he was the only one with an expected positive goals-against average. In other words, Ingram was the only goaltender to make more saves than the average NHL goaltender.

The Oilers need more of this, not less.

4. One way or another, Tristan Jerry has to go

Whether it’s via trade or buy-out, Tristan Jarry may not start next season with the Oilers. They don’t need another inconsistent goalkeeper, whose attitude may or may not always be right. The Oilers need someone who is consistent, without big peaks or cavernous valleys. Just consistent league-average goaltending.

According to Hockey Reference, the league average GAA and SV% in 2025–26 were 2.88 and .896, respectively. That’s who Ingram was this year. Now, they just need to find another one.

5. Add a top-six forward

For Oilers fans and pundits, many of these items feel like déjà vu. Sadly, this is no exception.

The Oilers have been searching for the perfect top-six forward for years. Unfortunately, they’ve settled for less than game-changing talent. This needs to end.

At the end of the season, Matt Savoie showed great promise in a senior role. Ike Howard is also waiting in the wings with a profile of a top-six forward.

Will these youngsters secure a place in the top six? Or, will the organization look for an external addition? A rationale should be given for any choice. Regardless of direction, they must make their choice and then act immediately.

6. Darnell Nurse Wake Up Call

Many Oilers fans are calling for Darnell Nurse to be traded. The truth of the matter is that any business related to it is very difficult to complete right now. After the 2026–27 regular season, their no-trade clause changes to a 10-team no-trade list.

There is no such thing as a perfect player. However, the Oilers need Nurse to be a better player than he has shown recently.

Before the nurse leaves for the offseason, she should be given an ultimatum. He either lives up to the coach’s expectations, or eats popcorn in the press box.

This is a win-win situation for the oilers. Either Nurse’s performance comes back or she spends so much time in the press box that she demands a trade. And if Nurse is in the press box, it means another defender has come in his place.

Either way, that conversation must happen.

7. Take a long and hard look at Chris Knoblauch

Is Chris Knoblauch the right coach for the Oilers? He was Jeff Jackson’s choice to lead the Oilers to a championship. But, is it still the right choice?

Management and coaching need to be on the same page. Also, a coach can only do the best with what he has. There must be coordination in roster creation and deployment; If they aren’t, someone has to go.

Let’s be honest, Knoblauch is a great coach. They have won 135 of 233 regular season games. In the playoffs, he has led the Oilers to 31 wins in 53 games.

The question with Knoblauch isn’t whether he’s a good coach or not. The question is can they win a Stanley Cup with him. If the answer is yes then keep it. If the answer is no, cut bait and hire someone else.

The Oilers can’t afford to have another season like this. To make sure that doesn’t happen, they need to answer these questions. Until then, hockey fans in Canada can enjoy the Montreal Canadiens’ run.

Caleb Kearney is a freelance journalist and writer who covers the Edmonton Oilers for SportsNut. Caleb Kearney Read More About Caleb Kearney

Romelu Lukaku has been accused of showing a lack of gratitude towards Antonio Conte as relations soured at Napoli.

Journalist Massimo Brambati, Via tutto napoli, Not impressed with the Belgian striker’s behavior over the past few weeks. He believes Lukaku should be grateful to Conte for landing him an “important contract” chelsea.

An exit from Napoli looks likely

It appears that Romelu Lukaku is destined to leave Napoli at some point this summer after a major falling out with the club’s hierarchy.

He was the star as they won the Serie A title last season but injury problems have limited his appearances on the field this season.

The striker then suffered a major shock last month when he decided to remain in Belgium to follow a personal rehabilitation plan. This was against Napoli’s wishes. The Italian champions had ordered the Belgian to return to them for treatment.

Lukaku has now been ruled out of the Napoli squad until the end of the season. He is certain to be sold in the summer transfer window if Napoli can find a buyer. Brambatti is not impressed, saying Lukaku has shown a lack of gratitude towards Antonio Conte.

He added, “Is his relationship with Conte ruined? There is no gratitude in football.”

“Lukaku is very grateful to Conte. After a fluctuating season at Roma he wanted him at Napoli, but above all, he relaunched him at Inter, allowing him to secure an important contract at Chelsea.

“At Inter, he told me that Lukaku was not always impeccable in managing his diet, so Conte was important for his development.”

what happens next?

It will certainly be interesting what happens with Romelu Lukaku this summer. At the age of 32, his career is not over yet.

But at least it can be said that the Belgian player has a long injury history. And getting kicked out of clubs has now become a specialty for him.

The issue is the latest for Napoli, having caused problems at most of his previous clubs, including Chelsea. Would any club really want to take a risk on him? The answer, probably, will be no.

And now his relationship with Antonio Conte has also deteriorated, he can’t even trust the Italian to save him. His agent has also ruled out a return to Everton. It looks like the future will be tough for the striker.

newcastle united The fans have been accused of causing “significant disruption” in Barcelona, ​​leading to sweeping changes to how such crowds are dealt with in the future.

El Periodico reports that Barcelona is studying a plan To control ‘goons’ as local residents complain about the impact it has on their lives.

New crowd control plans

Barcelona City Council yesterday approved the development of a plan to ensure safety and ‘harmonious coexistence’ in public spaces, as well as minimize the harm caused by the arrival of large groups of ‘fanatic fans’ to sporting events.

The focus is particularly on Barcelona and their European games at the Camp Nou. The new proposal presented by Barcelona en Comú aims to create a ‘preventive protocol’ for such occasions.

“Barcelona has sporting events that put pressure on the city, and often, the city has to bear the brunt of the consequences,” *Communes* observed party councilman Jordi Rabasa.

Newcastle United in the firing line

Newcastle United travel to Barcelona on the 18th^th The march has been presented as a prime example of why change is necessary.

10,000 Newcastle fans arrived in the city for that game, causing unrest and disruption, which Rabassa wanted to prevent.

“Most people arrived without tickets, resulting in exceptionally high concentrations of people in the areas around Plaça Real and La Rambla,” The councilman noted.

“In affected neighbourhoods, this means an inability to relax, streets and squares are overcrowded and extremely dirty, and residents have great difficulty moving around normally.

“Residents are fed up with people urinating at the entrances of their building. They can no longer tolerate the shouting and filth. This is what happens whenever an incident like this happens.” Rabasa expressed his condolences.

measures against goons

He was supported by Jordi Martí. He drew attention to the persistent issues surrounding the Camp Nou. Newcastle United fans have again found themselves in the crosshairs.

“Following the serious disruption caused by Newcastle supporters, we asked how many fines had been issued under the new Citizenship Ordinance. The response we received was that they had done everything *but* enforce the ordinance,” He said.

Now various plans are being made for the future. These include traffic flow measures, widening footpaths and agreements with local bars not to sell drinks in glass bottles.

There may also be a focus on businesses running ‘special promotions’ on match days. Rabasa then raised the topic of ‘goons’ and called for the need to “move towards a more preventive approach”.

Overall, he wants a sense of shared responsibility between the city and the club.

common european complaints

From the outside the complaints seem a bit ridiculous.

It seems Barcelona are happy to build a 105,000-seat stadium to accommodate rival fans. They are happy with the money they bring in, but also don’t want the consequences.

While it is fair that local people and councilors may be tired, they may also want to think deeply about the long-term benefits of treating every fan like a criminal, all the time.

That seems to be the tone of Rabasa and company here, and it won’t work well for long.

Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings lost starting safety Cam Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. The former fourth-round pick spent another excellent season with the Colts, recording a career-high four interceptions.

This offseason, the Vikings released franchise icon Harrison Smith. The potential future Hall of Famer turned 37 in February, and he’s considering retirement after starting the last 14 seasons. The Vikings did not add any safety in free agency, nor did they draft one last year.

Needless to say, safety is one of the team’s top needs even if Smith decides to return for a 15th season, as his playing future is certainly limited. However, the Vikings are likely to address this position in the 2026 NFL Draft, where they have nine selections, including the 18th overall choice in the first round.

Recently, ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller sat down with local KSTP Vikings insider Darren ‘Doogie’ Wolfson. In doing so, Miller expressed his belief that the Vikings will address their “significant need” at safety in either Round 1 or Round 2 in the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Vikings have the 49th overall selection.

“I think Minnesota has a serious need at the safety spot, it seems like it will be addressed if not in Round 1, then very early in Round 2.”

It’s good to be back to work after a solid family vacation. Today we caught up with ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller. our share #Vikings Link to the focused chat and all 11 minutes below:https://t.co/GsIIoJhqqL pic.twitter.com/39IvbuxB24

– Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) 9 April 2026

The way Miller described it – “very early in Round 2” it almost makes one wonder if the Vikings are potentially aiming to trade up from the 49th overall pick, or possibly trade down from No. 18 to get the protection they want. Either way, expect an injection of youth into defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ secondary come draft weekend.

RELATED: Minnesota Vikings defensive prospect engages in ‘statement workout’

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

AS Saint-Étienne are hoping watford To sign Pierre Acqua permanently in the summer.

The Ligue 2 side, following a poor run of results, allowed the midfielder to move on loan to Watford in the winter market.

In August 2024, he joined Saint-Étienne from Sunderland with an option to buy initially set at €7m. At the time, they were in Ligue 1, and had performed regularly in the previous season.

The French club dropped out of the top division but moved up nonetheless and made their stay permanent using the stream.

This clearly did not please the 24-year-old, who refused to train with Saint-Étienne. Last September, Sports Witness broadcast news He is considering terminating his contract unilaterally.

However, he did not make the move, allowing his parent club to loan him to the Championship team in February.

He waited several weeks to make his debut for the Hornets.

Two months ago, Sports Witness Covered claims from France It will take time for him to get minutes. Before moving to Vicarage Road, he last made a competitive appearance in May 2025.

The situation is improving in Watford

Pierre Acqua made his debut for the English club in a 2–0 league defeat to Ipswich Town in February. Since then, Edward Still has given him minutes and the player has begun to gain prominence in recent weeks.

His championship statistics are as follows:

• Appearances: 7
• Start: 3
• Total minutes: 280
• Minutes per game: 40

As a player continues to start more games toward the end of the season his average minutes will improve.

green peopleA website that dedicates its coverage to the French club has a report on a possible exit for the next window.

The former Sunderland man’s recent improvement at Watford has pleased Saint-Étienne. He is hoping to make his stay permanent by using Still’s €7m buyout clause.

If this happens, it would provide the ‘significant financial benefit’ that the French club is looking for.

Our Opinion: Hornets can request transfer waiver

As of now, it is unclear whether Watford want to retain Pierre Acqua and if they do, whether they are willing to pay €7m.

If the decision is made to retain the midfielder, the Hornets can certainly try to reduce the price.

It is known that he has no future at Saint-Étienne, and the Championship club could take advantage of this to bring down the final price. This will happen only if Watford decides to buy him.

Ever since Joshua Zirkzee joined Manchester United, things have looked increasingly uncertain for them. The Dutchman could eventually seal his departure in the summer, with discussions already underway.

In December and January, sports witness AS Roma’s interest in the striker was closely covered.

They were interested in an initial loan with an option to buy the deal. Manchester United, on the other hand, were only seeking a permanent transfer or loan with an obligation to buy.

Roma could never meet these demands, even though Zirkzee had already agreed personal terms on a switch.

Since that failed transfer, things haven’t changed much for the forward. Now, Napoli are attempting to land him.

discussion is going on

of napolimagazine Emanuele Cammarotto have reported on the 24-year-old who Napoli manager Antonio Conte really likes.

Moise Kean along with Joshua Zirkzee is the Italian’s priority for the summer, and a deal is already being done.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna is believed to have had ‘important discussions’ with Zirkzee’s squad over a summer transfer. At the moment, Manchester United are demanding a fee of €40m to let the striker leave.

Meanwhile, Napoli are optimistic about their chances of getting a waiver. They have to study the deal closely before taking a formal approach. There is also optimism that there may be more developments on this front soon.

Napoli could be ideal for Zirkzee

There may only be one proven striker in Antonio’s team next season. Romelu Lukaku is likely to leave and Lorenzo Lucca also has no future at Naples. This is why Joshua Zirkzee could become an important signing, with the player likely to get regular playing time at Napoli.

That has not been the case at Manchester United, where he has not made a single start in 2026. He also had an injury issue at the beginning of the year which derailed his progress. Michael Carrick has also used Brian Mbuemo as a striker in the absence of Benjamin Cesco.

It says everything about Zirkzee, who must now be desperate to leave Old Trafford.

Ecuador manager Sebastian Becca has confirmed Sunderland’s Nilsson Angulo will return to the Premier League squad.

On 2 February, the winger left Anderlecht to secure a permanent transfer to the Stadium of Light for €17.3m.

He scored 10 goals and 11 assists in 94 appearances for Anderlecht, of which seven goals and eight assists came this season. The 22-year-old’s performances and potential for the Belgian club convinced Sunderland to take a bet on him.

There there was a lot of excitement On visiting Sunderland in Ecuador. However, he has yet to score or contribute an assist for the Black Cats in 347 minutes in six matches, and some of his Premier League statistics are as follows.

• Appearances: 5
• Start: 3
• minutes: 264
• Minutes per game: 53
• Key passes per game: 0.4
• Shots on goal per game: 0.4

Angulo last made his appearance in the Black Cats’ FA Cup defeat to Port Vale. Due to injury he had to miss the last two matches.

However, this did not stop the national team manager from including him in the squad for this international break.

Sunderland player’s injury a blow to Ecuador

On Thursday, Sebastian Bekases spoke at a press conference teleamazonas Nilsson Angulo has issued his comments.

The attacker and Independiente del Valle’s Patrick Mercado will both miss Ecuador’s next two fixtures due to injuries and the manager spoke about their absence.

“These are significant losses. The rest are fit and healthy.” He said.

Teleamazonas report that the former Anderlecht man will leave the national team camp on Friday and return to Sunderland, where he will work on his recovery from a ‘muscle strain’.

bolavip Claim Bekes’ decision to call up Angulo was ‘completely surprising’ as he was already injured. They termed it a ‘controversial move’, although the coach had called up injured players on several occasions in the past.

Meanwhile, the Sunderland man’s immediate focus will be on recovering and regaining his form with Regis Le Bris’s side ahead of the World Cup.

Ecuador squad and fixtures for the March international break

There are two friendly matches against the national team

• Morocco, March 27
• Netherlands, March 31

Sebastian Bekas’s squad for these two matches:

goalkeeper: David Cabezas, Gonzalo Valle, Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez

defenders: Angelo Preciado, Felix Torres, Jackson Porrozo, Joel Ordonez, Jose Hurtado, Leonardo Realpe, Pervis Estupinan, Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho

midfielder: Alan Franco, Alan Minda, Anthony Valencia, Bryan Ramirez, Denil Castillo, Gonzalo Plata, Janner Corozo, John Yeboah, Jordy Alcívar, Kendry Páez, Moises Caicedo, Pedro Vite, Yaimar Medina

Ahead: Ener Valencia, Jeremy Arevalo, John Mercado, Jordi Caicedo, Kevin Rodriguez, Leonardo Campana

🇵🇹Louis Hemir | Sunderland loanee suffers blow after disciplinary issue comes to lighthttps://t.co/7DbND0GJkZ #safc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 17 March 2026

With the 2025-26 season almost over, the Dallas Mavericks look forward to the 2026 NBA Draft. With the organization hoping to acquire young talent for the roster in the offseason, CEO Rick Welts explains why the upcoming draft is so important for the franchise.

Welts said the Mavericks are aiming to add more than one prospect in the draft who they plan on playing for the team for a long time. Dallas is projected to be a top 10 pick and could potentially add more draft capital before the draft begins.

“This is going to be a really important draft for us because we’ll be picking up at least a few players that will probably be a part of our roster for a long time,” Welts said.

Dallas is gearing up for a busy offseason. Ideally before the 2026 NBA Draft, the Mavericks need to find a new general manager to replace Nico Harrison. Depending on how the draft goes, it could determine other moves the club makes in free agency or trades.

With a 23-47 record and 12 games remaining on the schedule, the Mavericks are well back in the play-in tournament mix. They’re technically not out yet, but the trajectory for the team is to miss the playoffs altogether. If so, it would be the second consecutive campaign where Dallas fails to reach the postseason.

We’ll see how the postseason plays out for the Mavericks. Depending on the steps taken by the club, they could change things. Especially considering that Cooper Flagg will be going into his second year, and Kyrie Irving is expected to return from injury. Add in an exciting prospect, and you have an attractive roster for next season.

MIAMI – As Miami Heat star Tyler Herro returned from his rib injury with a dominant 128-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, there’s no denying the guard has given the team a big boost. The Heat are looking to maximize their lineup now that Herro is in the mix, as chemistry appears to be building between the star and rookie Kasparus Jaksionis.

There are a couple of guys on the team who still haven’t figured out how much time Herro has missed, as he’s been absent not only 15 games prior to Friday’s win, but 45 games total with a myriad of issues. The saving grace is that the rookie Jacusionis is getting extended minutes at some point, either off the bench or in the starting lineup.

Since January 15 against the Boston Celtics, Jaksionis has recorded double-digit minutes in every game, showing the trust he has built with head coach Erik Spoelstra. On Friday, with both Herro and Jacusionis on the floor, there was a strong one-two punch in the backcourt as the rookie put the star in spots to score, also drawing the attention of Spoelstra, who saw a “rapport” blossoming.

“Obviously, we haven’t seen a lot of them, just because of availability, but the skill level, the talent, the offensive talent, just without spending a ton of time with them, you can see how the synergy could be,” Spoelstra said before the team took on the Grizzlies on Saturday night. “Kaas [Jakucionis] Is a playwright. He plays with speed, he wants to kick the ball forward, he wants to get the ball to people almost to a fault, and you could see that last night, he was looking for Tyler like every time.

Erik Spoelstra last night when Tyler Herro and Kaspars Jaksionis were on the court together: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/j6YsK8eKpl

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 21 February 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra talks Kasparus Jaksionis’ improvement

While Jaksionis has some unique attributes for the Heat, as he was drafted with the 20th overall pick in the last NBA Draft, he gives the team a true point guard with potentially elite play-making abilities, an ideal the roster is looking for.

At just 19 years old, there’s no denying the raw talent, however, as Jacusionis is recording consistent minutes, averaging 22.7 minutes so far in February. His improvement from his first season has been noticeable, with even Spoelstra talking about the Illinois product’s “work ethic.”

“So I’m excited about the prospects, but Kass continues to get better,” Spoelstra said. “If you look at where he was in summer league compared to where he is now, it’s really a credit to his work ethic. He spent a lot of time with Coach Quinn and all the pre-practice and post-practice sessions. You know, he’s improved a lot. He’s earned it.”

It remains to be seen what Jakusionis’ role looks like with the team getting healthy, though with Davion Mitchell missing Saturday’s game due to a head ailment, the rookie will also get a start over Herro as the team manages minutes following the star’s injury. Nevertheless, Herro led the Heat throughout the game with 24 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field and two of four from deep.

At any rate, the team is looking for continuity, as prior to Saturday’s tilt hosting Memphis, the team was 30-27, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Next, the Heat move on to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.