儘管米西奧羅夫斯基擁有三線投球組合，並且所有投球在跑動值欄中均排名靠前，但米西奧羅夫斯基通過 62% 的時間使用四縫快球取得了成功。當他開始投出令人難以接受的突破球來讓擊球手保持警惕時，事情就變得愚蠢了，但說實話，身高 6 英尺 7 的人的 7.5 英寸延伸僅僅意味著當他釋放球時，他很可能就在擊球手的上方。

我很難相信在賽季結束時，獎項爭奪戰將會以超過少數票數的差距出現。今年 71 局的 1.65 自責分率——已經超越了 100 個三振大關——將比其他任何一場都要好得多。

在正常季節，也許吧。

儘管如此，米西奧羅夫斯基希望在賽季結束時成為該獎項的真正競爭者，這也反映在賠率的緊張程度上。女士們先生們，我們有請客。

說實話，到了頒獎季，這很可能將是桑切斯和米西奧羅夫斯基之間的兩人競爭。即使是這樣，我們也不應該忽視大谷翔平今年在投手丘上所做的事情。

他在 55 局中自責失分率 0.82 也進一步證明了我的主張，即他現在應該在該獎項的賠率競賽中排名第三。順便說一句，如果他有資格的話，這個自責分率將是聯盟中最好的。接下來的問題是道奇隊是否真的會 讓他投得足夠多 才有資格獲得該獎項。

我們正在見證翔平在 2023 賽季後接受肘部手術後重返投手丘的第一個完整賽季中真正特別的事情。到目前為止，他已經超過了去年為道奇隊投球的 47 局。這位雙向明星將對方擊球手的 xBA 控制在 0.186，目前排名第 94 位。這也將是該類別中的職業生涯最佳成績。

Shohei 也透過他完整的四音組合在投手丘上佔據主導地位。除了 44.7% 的四縫線使用率之外，他還能夠將相同的獨特形狀複製到他的清掃器-曲線球組合中，同時還能夠執行毀滅性的分指。

of brighton The recruitment network has once again turned to South America. Athletico Paranaense youngster Joao Cruz is now emerging as a player to keep an eye on ahead of the summer window.

According to information first disseminated by a Brazilian journalist Vinicius FurlanThe Premier League side is one of the clubs showing interest in the 19-year-old midfielder. It is said that a Dutch club is also keeping a close eye on the situation.

The report claims someone inside Brighton’s recruitment department is “very interested” in Joao Cruz. Specifically, this individual works within the club’s structure focused on identifying young talents and emerging prospects abroad.

At this stage, there is no sign of a formal bid. However, the expectation in Brazil is that Joao Cruz may receive an approach during this transfer window, and Athletico may at least consider potential offers.

Who is this gem?

João Cruz is considered one of the more technically gifted academy products of Athletico Paranaense of the 2006 generation. Developed in the club’s youth setup, the midfielder has already attracted attention due to his versatility and quality on the ball.

The Brazilian can operate as a deep-lying midfielder, central playmaker or attacking midfielder. This tactical flexibility is one of the qualities that interests clubs abroad. Joao Cruz is comfortable driving play from deep areas, switching the ball quickly and finding vertical passes through defensive lines.

The other big strength is his shooting ability. He is considered dangerous from distance and regularly takes responsibility for set-pieces, including free-kicks and corners. The midfielder also likes to get to the edge of the box. There, he can either complete moves himself or create chances for teammates.

Beyond the technical side, reports from the Brazilians also highlight their intensity and flexibility. João Cruz has built a reputation for creating decisive moments in youth football and is often described as a player willing to contribute both defensively and creatively throughout the midfield.

Athletico is already debating the player’s future

The discussion about Joao Cruz in Brazil is not just about external interest. It’s also about whether Athletico should really allow him to leave now.

Player has recently lost position. Nevertheless, the tone of the discussion suggests that there are those in and around the club who believe their situation is more complex than abandoning them.

The Brazilian report repeatedly emphasizes that Joao Cruz is still very young and still has qualities that can be developed in the right environment. He is considered versatile enough to operate as a midfielder, attacking midfielder or even in wide roles.

It’s also an acknowledgment that the player may welcome a different challenge after struggling for minutes on their own. Meanwhile, Athletico are said to understand the situation and could consider offers if the market moves forward.

However, the same report raises questions about whether this is the right time to sell.

Squad depth concerns may be difficult to overcome

One of the strongest points raised in Brazil is the lack of depth in Athletico’s current squad.

The argument given by Furlan is that the club is lacking options for an already demanding season. Because of this, allowing more players to leave could be risky. This is especially true when the need for rotation arises in domestic competitions.

The report also mentions other possible departures in the team. There are also questions about whether Athletico can really afford to lose another player without a proper replacement. That argument could still work in Brighton’s favour.

Even observers of Brazil admit that their performance has fluctuated. Nevertheless, the feeling around the player is that there is still significant room for development under the right coaching structure.

At present, the situation appears to remain at a level of keen interest and internal monitoring. Yet the Brazilian are clearly referring to Brighton with growing confidence, and that alone suggests Joao Cruz is firmly on the club’s radar ahead of the next market opportunity.

The Chicago Cubs have been one of the best teams in baseball this season despite having a poor rotation due to injuries. While the Cubs’ lineup is apparently deep enough for the club to be ready to compete, one of Chicago’s hitters may need to be moved this summer to address the rotation.

USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday that with Chicago in the market for a front-line starting pitcher, the front office has “no choice” but to trade infielder Matt Shaw.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 7, see where the Cubs land

Shaw, who is just 24 years old, is also not eligible for arbitration until 2029. He’s making just $804,500 this season and has made great strides. After posting a .226 batting average in his rookie season, Shaw has raised his average to .245 this year with an OPS near .700.

He has decreased his strikeout rate year-to-date (21.5% to 17.5%) and is showing good positional versatility. However, the Cubs’ roster is deep on the position-player side, with Moises Ballesteros, Michael Conforto, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Alex Bregman needing consistent at-bats.

RELATED: Insider names 3 Cubs trade targets

For Chicago, the depth of hitters gives the front office the flexibility to move Shaw. The Cubs may be at an advantage over other suitors because Shaw can contribute immediately at the major-league level, while prospects may never reach the big leagues.

The challenge may be finding the right business partner. The San Francisco Giants may have some starting pitching available (Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle), but they already have Matt Chapman at third base. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are loaded with young hitters in the corner infield.

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

The Aaron Rodgers saga came to an end earlier this weekend with the future Hall of Fame quarterback signing a one-year deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With that matter resolved, the focus now turns to what Pittsburgh does with its two young signal-callers.

Steelers reporter Mark Kaboli Pat McAfee Show Writes that the team has “no expectation” for Will Howard or Drew Elar to play during the 2026 NFL season.

RELATED: Insiders predict who the Steelers starting QB will be in 2027

Prior to Rodgers’ signing, there were reports that the Steelers quarterback competition would be between Howard and Mason Rudolph if the 42-year-old opted to retire. Now that he’s committed to one final season, the dynamics have changed significantly.

The new situation suggests Rudolph will serve as the Steelers’ backup quarterback behind Rodgers for some time. However, training camp could position Allar or Howard for the No. 2 job.

READ MORE: 2026 NFL Power Rankings, see where the Steelers rank

The competition between the two young passers matters because of how the 53-man roster will be constructed. It’s very unlikely that Pittsburgh will keep all four quarterbacks on the roster, so either Howard or Elar will need to perform well enough to overtake Rudolph.

Considering that Allar was the 76th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, he is all set to make the roster. However, since the Steelers’ coaching staff is drafting him solely as a passer, it is extremely unlikely that he will see the field anytime soon outside of preseason action this season.

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

Jimmie Johnson’s racing team Legacy Motor Club is set to expand next year, adding a third charter for the 2027 Cup Series season. With the new seat available, it appears that the team’s search for its wheelman is over.

According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, Legacy’s year-long search for a third chartered driver is “effectively over” and the team is now focusing on 23XI Racing’s Riley Herbst to get behind the wheel in 2027.

Read more: NASCAR prospects whose stock is rising

Riley Herbst, age 27, became a full-time Cup Series driver with 23XI in the No. 35 car last season. He struggled in his rookie year, failing to record a single top 10 finish, while posting one of the worst average starting positions (26.97) and average finishing position (26.39) among full-time Cup drivers.

He has performed much better in 2026. Through 12 races, Herbst’s average starting position (20.25) and average finishing position (22.67) have improved significantly. Herbst earned his first top-10 finish (Daytona 500) since 2023, and he has finished in the top 20 four times this year.

Herbst also brings other qualities that probably have significant importance to the heritage. First of all, he has proven to be an excellent teammate to Tyler Reddick this season through his work in leading Tyler Reddick to victory at Daytona and in the sim.

Equally important for a relatively new team like Legacy, Herbst also brings funding. The Herbst family owns a vast chain of convenience stores, and Driver has a long-term relationship with Monster Energy. Combine all this with the improvements he has made this year, and it is easy to see why he is a top candidate to join the Legacy Motor Club next season.

The domino effect of joining Riley Herbst’s legacy

All of Legacy’s pursuit comes as it secured a third charter in the Cup Series for the 2027 season, creating a domino effect that will impact many top teams. Both 23XI and RFK Racing are affected by the move.

RELATED: Chase Contender Could Lose Chartered Status in 2027

The above charter is leased to RFK this season and is being used for Ryan Preece. RFK is also in a tough spot as all three of its drivers—Preece, Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski—are in contract years. Even if all three drivers are re-signed, there is currently no viable path for the team to acquire a third charter.

Since RFK deals with the loss of a chartered car, 23XI has its own vacancy. Fortunately for the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, NASCAR’s top prospect Corey Haim is set to replace Herbst next season. Widely regarded as the top prospect in NASCAR, Heim’s arrival should give 23XI a chance to establish itself as the third-best team in the Cup Series.

RELATED: When Corey Heim Can Race Full-Time for 23XI Racing

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

chelsea’s The situation regarding Estevao’s injury has not softened, but the player’s camp has not softened either. Both sides are also favoring different recovery paths after the youngster’s World Cup hopes were dashed.

At one level, the disagreement can be explained by urgency. Estevao wanted to keep the possibility of playing for Brazil alive this summer. Chelsea were thinking ahead, wary of rushing the 19-year-old through his recovery from a serious muscle injury after an already rocky start to his first season in England.

now though, The World Cup is gone from the equationBut the divide remains where it was.

Chelsea still in favor of surgery

according to globo esporteChelsea believe surgery would be the best course of action following the forward’s hamstring injury.

The issue was discussed early in the recovery process when Estevao suffered what was described as a serious hamstring injury in Brazil.

Reports vary slightly as to the exact severity, but there has never been any doubt that the injury was significant.

chelsea’s thinking The entire saga has been relatively straightforward.

The club sees Estevao as one of the key parts of their future project and have no interest in taking unnecessary risks with recurring muscle problems at an early stage of his career.

There have already been several absences linked to muscle problems this season alone. This concern partly explains why the club initially leaned toward surgery.

Estevao camp refuses to change course

What’s shocking now is that Estevao and the professionals around him still don’t agree – even with the World Cup no longer on the table.

The report states that the player’s entourage is confident that conservative treatment is the right option and there is no need for surgery.

Previously, it was possible to formulate the Orthodox path as a aggressive effort to beat the clock For the tournament. But that pressure has vanished with Carlo Ancelotti leaving Estevao out of Brazil’s preliminary World Cup list.

And yet the treatment plan remains the same. So it’s no longer about trying to create a miracle recovery for June. There are real differences in medical philosophy and risk assessment between club and player.

Return to London may be important

As we covered earlierEstevao is expected to return to England soon after spending his recent days in Brazil working in Palmeiras’ facilities, where he continues his rehabilitation under a shared structure involving the Chelsea staff and his personal performance team.

The Blues are expected to re-evaluate the player, and this could restart internal discussions about the next step in his treatment. Meanwhile, Estevao seems comfortable continuing with a slower and more conservative approach.

It remains to be seen whether the club will push for surgery again, but their priority clearly has not disappeared. At the same time, the player’s side appears equally determined not to change direction.

Ultimately, one side’s approach is likely to gain strength based on muscle response. But either way, without the pressure of a World Cup timeline, the coming weeks could be quieter publicly but more important clinically.

If the recovery progresses well, the player camp will feel reassured. If setbacks emerge, Chelsea’s caution may seem increasingly justified. At present, neither side seems ready to move forward.

Shohei Ohtani has already had an illustrious career. He has won four MVP awards along with the Rookie of the Year award and two World Series titles. One award he hasn’t won is the Cy Young, yet Ohtani is laying claim to it this year.

The starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers has had a rough start on the mound. He posted an MLB-leading 0.82 ERA entering Thursday’s game. Ohtani also has a ridiculously low 0.82 WHIP in 44 innings. Can that success continue long enough to earn him a National League Cy Young Award?

What changed for Ohtani?

Prior to 2026, the highest Ohtani had ever achieved in Cy Young voting was fourth in 2022 when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. Despite a career 2.83 ERA over seven seasons in MLB, he was never a top-three finisher. This season is his first full year of pitching since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. He made his pitching debut with the Dodgers in June of 2025 and impressed with a 2.87 ERA in 47 innings.

So how has Ohtani never won the award before? However, his biggest strength has also been his biggest weakness. Ohtani’s ability to be a two-way player has made him a unicorn of an athlete. But that kind of game also costs money. This has divided his attention between hitting and pitching rather than allowing him to concentrate on either one of them.

Ohtani has always been talented at both, but it’s no surprise that his best hitting seasons came when he couldn’t pitch. The year he was rehabilitating from Tommy John, Ohtani wrote the first 50-50 season in MLB history. It was arguably the greatest offensive season ever. That season he concentrated only on hitting and defied all expectations.

It is no surprise that the same holds true in 2026. For the first time in his career, Ohtani has decided not to hit in the games he plays. It’s turning out incredibly well so far. Although he has had a rough offensive start, hitting .240/.370/.427, his pitching has been excellent.

The underlying metrics are somehow even better

It’s easy to attribute Ohtani’s hot start to good luck, and part of it certainly is. his era is excess His lower than expected ERA, although the expected mark is still incredibly good at 2.17. The same goes for his .182 expected batting average. So luck is definitely a factor to some extent. But, overall, Ohtani’s pitching run value has increased from the 85th percentile (2023) to the 97th percentile (2026). What is the reason behind this change?

The biggest change has come in his speed. Since his Tommy John surgery, the pace has really picked up considerably. In 2023, Ohtani’s two primary pitches were his sweeper and four-seam fastball. Both averaged 83.7 and 96.8 mph, respectively. In 2026? He is using his four-seamer more frequently and has added nearly two miles of distance to it while averaging 98.0 mph. The sweeper also moved up, averaging 84.9 mph. These are, by far, Ohtani’s two most valuable pitches.

Ohtani is also scoring good marks in underlying statistics like Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). That metric ensures that pitchers are graded only based on outcomes they control (strikeouts, walks, home runs, and hits-by-pitch). In that stat, Ohtani posted a 2.52 FIP with an xFIP of 3.11. Even though his chase percentage is low (30.9 percent), his whiff percentage is in the 89th percentile at 32.0 percent. The ability to make bats miss has worked wonders for Ohtani.

The question is whether luck will favor him or not. ERA- and FIP- (metrics that adjust ERA and FIP by park and league where 100 is average and lower is better) have historically been solid ways to analyze pitching. So far in 2026, Ohtani has boasted a 24 ERA—and 60 FIP—for the best and seventh-best marks in the league, respectively. Skill-Interactive ERA (SIERA), a statistic that predicts future ERA, paints an even better picture of Ohtani’s ability. He has averaged 2.95 points, good for 11th-best mark in MLB.

Shohei Ohtani: King of the Shutout

Ohtani has four shutout starts so far this year. The strangest thing is that he has accomplished this in only seven starts. This has been a big part of his historically low ERA. Tonight, Ohtani added to that by throwing seven shutout innings against the division-rival San Francisco Giants. He scattered four hits and two walks throughout the outing, but neither of them were for extra bases.

The long and short of it is that Ohtani has dominated on the mound this season in a way he never has before. honestly it’s a way No one Have ever done it before. If Ohtani continues to pitch at this level, despite stiff competition from players like Nolan McLean, Jakub Misiorowski and Paul Skenes, he should be able to take home the NL Cy Young Award. only time will tell.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young No. 1 overall. He has improved each season since, and so has the Panthers’ record, going from 2-14 to 4-8, 8-8 and making the playoffs.

A big reason for Young’s continued improvement is that the Panthers have continued to improve the foundation around him. This includes spending more than $100 million on the offensive line. The Panthers also invested first-round picks in back-to-back drafts on wide receivers Xavier Leggett and Tetaroa McMillan.

The Panthers used their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on an offensive tackle, but Carolina also invested a third-round pick on Tennessee wideout Chris Brazell. Still, some believe the Panthers should not add to their corps of pass-catchers.

recently, Sports IllustratedEva Geitheim urged the Panthers to consider signing free agent tight end Darren Waller.

Waller retired for the 2024 season, but surprisingly returned and joined the Miami Dolphins in 2025. Waller, who turns 34 in September, could potentially help a team like the Panthers even after recording a respectable 283 yards and six touchdowns in just three starts and nine appearances.

The one-time Pro Bowler has made no suggestion that he’s headed back into retirement this offseason, and with training camp around the corner, there could be more activity on his front soon.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings: From the NFL’s worst starting QBs to the best

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

然而，事情不僅如此。

事實上，他的變速一如既往地邪惡。這種獨特的投球極大地提高了他讓擊球手輕鬆擊球的能力。作為克利夫蘭體系中的新秀，他並不一定會被忽視，但他沒有 90 年代的速度或任何可以擊倒擊球手的投球，他沒有得到他應得的關注。

我想我們都同意，那些日子現在已經過去了。

戴維斯馬丁 （白襪隊）+6000

自從白襪球迷宣稱自己擁有美國聯盟最好的投手之一以來，已經過了一年半的時間。進入2026年，戴維斯馬丁正在盡最大努力嘗試代表南區參加這樣的比賽。

這位 29 歲的球員目前獲得賽揚獎的賠率在美國聯盟排名第 17，但我認為，如果他為一支正在爭奪季後賽席位的球隊投球，這些賠率會小得多。幸運的是，這些獎項並不是基於團隊表現，或至少不應該如此。

馬丁在 2025 賽季結束後，打破了他在 2022 年創下的職業生涯最高局數 63.1 局。在上賽季的 142.4 局中，他的自責分率為 4.10，並在 26 場比賽（25 場先發）中累積了 1.3 fWAR。

今年，根據 FanGraphs 的數據，馬丁在投手 fWAR 中排名第三，僅次於施利特勒和克里斯托弗桑切斯。馬丁 1.62 的自責分率在棒球界排名第二，僅次於施利特勒。從他的開局到賽季，我覺得最令人印象深刻的是他 5.2% 的 BB 率，在聯盟中排名第 91%，這也是他在 5 月如此成功的一個重要原因。

看，我提到像賽揚獎這樣的獎項通常不是基於團隊的整體表現。本文的目的是強調在斯庫巴爾受傷後這個獎項的開放程度有多大。由於聯盟中存在如此多的波動，提及馬丁作為潛在的獲獎者不應該受到真正的比賽粉絲的反對。

brentford Now know that it is becoming a very real race for Issa Doumbia. And Sporting aren’t really hiding their intentions anymore.

The Venezia midfielder has had a huge season in Italy. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 37 appearances. He has helped Venezia gain promotion back to Serie A. So it is natural that he has made himself one of the most talked about midfielders in the country.

That rise has attracted the attention of many clubs across Europe. However, The Brentford name will continue As one of the English sides was seriously interested in the position.

The problem for them is that sporting is moving fast.

Sporting is working hard for Doumbia

according to to ballThe Portuguese side have already moved beyond simple interest and made a concrete contract offer to the player.

Now the financial details have also come out. The newspaper reports that Sporting are offering Doumbia a five-year contract worth €100,000 (£85,600) a month after tax until 2031.

The New Day’s famous WWE run – featuring Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods – unexpectedly ended this weekend.

Over the past 12 years, The New Day has built a reputation as one of the greatest teams in WWE history. With Big E, Kingston and Woods won WWE tag team gold 12 times, including a 483-day reign as champions. Kingston and Big E had massive singles success while still together when they won the World Championship.

However, that era is officially over. According to reports from Fightful and BodySlam.net, both Kingston and Woods have “mutually decided to part ways with WWE.” This suggests that neither man’s contract had expired, and both of them may have requested their release from the company where they became future Hall of Famers.

Over the years, this pair’s level of relevance hasn’t been the same, and aside from the downside last year and their 12th title fight, the move makes sense for both sides. Being released leaves them free to do whatever they want outside the company, and letting them walk helps fuel rumors of WWE moving towards a younger roster.

Young Bucks vs New Day dream match in 2026?

Following their exit, the dream match wrestling fans have wanted for years is now a possibility: The New Day vs. The Young Bucks.

Long before AEW and while they were in NJPW, the Bucks and New Day had public moments together over their shared love of video games. However, because they were in rival promotions, no matches were even close to happening in recent years except for rumors of the Bucks joining WWE.

While reports have suggested that Tony Khan no longer wants to sign former WWE stars, it would be surprising if they are not brought to AEW. Signing a former WWE Champion and one of the greatest tag teams of all time so they can promote a big tag dream match seems too good to resist for die-hard wrestling fan Khan.

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

儘管特雷楊在交易截止日期前被華盛頓巫師隊交易，但在亞特蘭大老鷹隊對陣紐約尼克隊的七戰四勝系列賽第一場比賽中，特雷楊仍然在人們的歡呼聲中聽到了他的名字。布倫森以 113-102 擊敗老鷹隊，並在麥迪遜廣場花園尼克斯隊球迷的吶喊聲下，在首輪系列賽中以 1-0 領先。

尼克隊 粉絲的吶喊聲爆發 根據 SM 亮點 X（以前稱為 Twitter）報道，在第四季度末，可以透過電視廣播清楚地聽到。

「F*** 特雷楊，」尼克球迷高呼。

尼克球迷高呼：

“操特雷·楊”

絕對不需要的流浪者 pic.twitter.com/4XtRCFGhcu

— SM 亮點 (@SMHighlights1) 2026 年 4 月 19 日

特雷楊在被交易到巫師隊之前整個職業生涯都效力於老鷹隊，但在布倫森和尼克斯隊最終以 11 分戰勝老鷹隊的比賽中，特雷楊陷入了困境。

傑倫布倫森透露了他如何在尼克隊獲勝時保持冷靜

尼克隊全明星賈倫布倫森在對陣老鷹隊的比賽中在第一節拿下 19 分，得到全場最高的 28 分，為此他受到了尼克斯隊主教練邁克布朗的讚揚。獲勝後，布倫森反思 他的快速啟動 在對陣老鷹隊的開場比賽中。

「第一節開局不錯。球要進了。有點節奏，」布倫森說。 「顯然，在比賽中，事情可能會起起落落。只要找到一種方法來保持冷靜，並仍然努力影響比賽，我覺得我所做的足以讓我們今晚獲勝。”

「我只是找到了一種保持冷靜的方法，並且仍然試圖影響比賽，我覺得我所做的足以讓我們今晚獲勝。」 💪

賈倫布倫森分析了他在對陣老鷹隊的第一場比賽中拿下 28 分的表現🗣️ pic.twitter.com/V5XMPivOgh

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 2026 年 4 月 19 日

布倫森在場上22投9中，其中三分球4投3中。他還貢獻了7次助攻、5個籃板和1次阻攻。

The Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. They did so on Wednesday with a dominant 5-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ilya Protas and Clay Stevenson all returned after being called up by the Capitals. He helped Hershey clinch a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive season and first under head coach Derek King.

Miroshnichenko recorded his 13th goal of the season on the power play with one assist, while Protas finished with two assists. Protas has 64 points in 67 games, which leads all AHL rookies and is sixth in the league. Meanwhile, Miroshnichenko now has 100 career AHL points.

Stevenson started in net a day after stopping 27 of 28 shots to help the Capitals defeat Columbus. He played even better with 32 saves on 33 shots in the Bears’ win.

Corey Schueneman and Matt Strome, Dylan’s younger brother, also contributed goals for Hershey. Then, in the third period, Alexander Suzdalev and Sam Bitton both recorded empty-netters to seal the victory.

Unfortunately, Bogdan Trineyev suffered an upper body injury in the second period and did not return. It’s bad enough that the Bears were already missing some key players in the lineup.

With the win, Hershey improved to 31–30–6–3 and is currently in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. They have two games left to decide who their first round opponent will be.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

It seems that despite the big risks, the Carolina Panthers don’t want to waste their starting quarterback in 2026.

When the Panthers made Bryce Young the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, the organization had high hopes that they might have a future star. However, his rookie season was forgettable as the team went 2–14 in his debut, as he posted a 59.8 completion percentage, 34.1 quarterback rating and 11 interceptions to 11 touchdowns.

The former Alabama star was sidelined early in his sophomore season, but eventually worked his way back into a starting role and showed some signs of development. The 2025 campaign showed more development under head coach Dave Canales as Young had the highest completion percentage (63.6%), yards (3,011), and touchdowns (23) in his career.

Still, while those were the best single-season numbers of his career, his completion percentage was 23rd, yards were 21st, and touchdowns were 14th best in the NFL. While he was better for the Panthers in 2025, he was still a middling or poor starting QB compared to the rest of the league.

That’s why it makes sense that the Panthers have not yet picked up his fifth-year option, which would be worth $25.9 million. With a strong QB class in the 2027 NFL Draft, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to prove he could be a further development.

Carolina Panthers will soon pick up Bryce Young’s fifth-year option

But it seems the Panthers would rather take the risk of having the average QB make $25 million next year rather than risk having to compete for Young’s services in free agency.

On Tuesday, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said that after the draft, he plans to negotiate with Bryce Young about picking up his fifth-year option. “Once the draft is over, we’ll definitely move forward,” Morgan told the media. “Obviously, the player isn’t in the building yet. … We’ll get this done as soon as he gets back in the building.”

If Young can take another step forward in 2026, the Panthers could have a good QB at a reasonable rate next year. However, if he disappoints and potentially opts out, they will have the highest-paid backup in the NFL.

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

chelsea’s The ongoing relationship with River Plate is beginning to feel less like isolated scouting missions and more like a continuous open line between the two clubs.

From candy page To santiago beltranFrom Ian Subiabre To Alejandro Garnacho Links keep popping up in the background, connections gathering. And now, young defender Lautaro Rivero is right in the middle of that conversation again.

This is not at all new. As we covered in NovemberChelsea were already keeping an eye on the centre-back. However, the latest update from Argentina suggests that things may go further than simple surveillance.

Chelsea are now pushing for Rivero

report from argentina It is claimed that Chelsea are now pushing to sign Lautaro Rivero, with Bayern Munich also involved.

The main detail is time. The idea is to try to secure an agreement after the World Cup, pointing towards a strategic approach rather than an immediate move.

This is what we have been seeing at Chelsea for some time now. They track in advance, position themselves and then attack when the moment is right.

The River Plate, for its part, does not stand still.

River is already preparing for life after Rio

In recent weeks, especially after comments, the situation of Lautaro Rivero has been closely linked to that of Ian Subiabre We previously covered Hernan Castillo.

He clarified that Nadi is already ready to depart. He mentioned both Ian Subiabre and Lautaro Rivero as “very possible exits” in the summer.

He also revealed that the club is planning financially around those exits, expecting a combined income of around €25m-€30m (£21.7m-£26.1m).

This gives us a working framework. If Tottenham’s approach to Subiabre With reports in the region of €12m-€14m (£10.4m-£12.2m) being discussed, this puts Rivero in a similar bracket, even if no exact figure has been confirmed.

More importantly, Rivers is already acting on that expectation.

The club is pushing to bring back Facundo Medina, with Coudet identifying the Argentina international as a priority target. This does not happen alone. It looks like preparation.

Why does Chelsea keep circling the river?

Chelsea’s repeated involvement here is not accidental. They have formed a clear pattern in South America. Identify talent early, stay close to the situation, and be ready when circumstances are favorable – contract pressure, playing time, or an internal desire to sell.

Meanwhile, River Plate is one of the most active exporters of young talent in the region. So it is natural that paths keep crossing. We recently covered the conversation To make it an official partnership.

Rivero fits Chelsea’s profile. He is young, already integrated into senior football, has a great opportunity for development and has an attainable fee compared to the European market.

At the same time, the presence of Bayern Munich in the conversation increases the level of race.

But although Rivers don’t seem desperate to sell immediately, they are clearly preparing for it. Discussion of post-World Cup deals suggests this could drag on into the summer rather than be resolved quickly.

For Chelsea, this might actually be ideal. They have been here before also. Be patient, maintain contact and move forward when the window opens properly.

With both Rivero and Subiabre expected to attract serious bids, River Plate could be headed for a major reshuffle.

And if that happens, Chelsea will definitely be involved somewhere in the middle.

The Los Angeles Lakers will have some big decisions to make this offseason regarding the potential future of LeBron James and looming Austin Reaves in free agency. However, the NBA rumors floating around right now are reportedly focused on another deal the team wants to make.

According to Jovan Buha, the Lakers are going to “shop” guard Dalton Knecht throughout the summer. While it’s unclear how much interest there will be in the former first-round pick, Los Angeles will scour the league for potential options.

• Dalton Knecht Stats (2025-26): 4.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.6 pts per game, 30.4% 3pts

Knecht, who will turn 25 later this month, played just 515 total minutes in 50 games during the regular season. He made his lone start on November 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers, recording 8 points with 4 rebounds in 23 minutes of action. He has played more than 20 minutes only five times this season and the last time that happened was on November 15.

He has not been a part of the Lakers rotation for over a month. He played 16 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs on February 10 in a 136–108 loss. Even including that action, Knecht has played an average of just 4.5 minutes per game in 16 games since January 15.

• Dalton Knecht Contract (Spottrack): $4.201 million cap hit (2026–27), $6.452 million club option for 2027–28 season, RFA in 2028

That’s a steep drop for the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht showed flashes of promise as a rookie, averaging 1.6 three-pointers per game while shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc and averaging 9.1 ppg. However, it’s worth noting that the majority of that production came in his first 19 games, when he shot 43.9 percent from the perimeter and averaged 2.5 three-pointers and 12.2 PPG.

Knecht has achieved limited value as a perimeter scorer since then, and the 6-foot-6 forward is widely viewed as one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Given how expensive he has proven to be for the Lakers, it’s hard to see his trade value being very high this summer.

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

Last year, the New Orleans Saints believed they found their franchise quarterback by selecting Tyler Shaw in the second round. This time, the 2026 NFL Draft offers an opportunity to supplement Shaw with more weapons to help him succeed, or possibly help boost a Brandon Staley-led defense that is respectably ranked 16th in points allowed. In an ideal world, the Saints would accomplish both.

While the Saints have a total of eight selections heading into the three-day event, all eyes are focused on what New Orleans will do with the eighth overall selection. Whether it’s a receiver, pass-rusher, or someone else, it’s clear the Saints will have a chance to add blue-chip talent.

Recently, ESPN’s Matt Bowen identified the perfect fit for a top-20 prospect. In doing so, he identified star pass-rusher Reuben Benn Jr. as the ideal man for the Saints.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that Benn, who is viewed as a potential top-five pick, will even be available when the Saints are on the clock. However, there is no doubt that Benn can provide the pass-rush spark that New Orleans desperately needs, especially with Cameron Jordan still unsigned in free agency.

Ben is an ultra-athletic edge rusher who has the elite ability to bend and outmaneuver opponents. But it’s not just Gumby on edge; Despite having short arms, he has proven to be an effective run-stopper. He’ll be an impact player on all three downs, and he’s exactly the type of player the Saints should consider at No. 8, if he’s still available.

RELATED: New Orleans Saints could release Pro Bowl player

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

從形狀的角度來看，滑塊和指關節曲線基本上保持不變，而Cease本賽季迄今為止對後者的投擲稍稍用力（+1.7英里/小時）。兩個投球之前都取得了非常好的成績，尤其是塞斯的陀螺滑塊，他會告訴你這是他最好的投球。因此，看到這方面沒有太大變化也就不足為奇了。

然後我們引入了完全改進的變速。現在，要理解為什麼這是一個如此巨大的發展，你必須了解塞斯作為投手的工作原理。

他是一個天生的旋後肌，這意味著，作為一個投手，他會自然地旋轉前臂，因此手掌在釋放時向上/向內，從而產生手套側的運動。這種「旋後偏向」會導致高旋轉、大範圍的投球，如曲球和滑球，但也會導致開發良好的沉降球、變速球和分離球的困難。

在這段與 Rob Friedman（投手忍者）合作的影片中，可以追溯到幾年前，Cease 討論了他當時極其緩慢的變速，以及想要學習 Kevin Gausman 分流器的握力。後來他放棄了這個想法，因為他在投球時始終無法正確握住握桿並內旋。

It will be difficult for Verona to retain Manchester City’s Vitor Reis beyond this season.

The 20-year-old moved to Europe for the first time when the Premier League club signed him from Brazilian side Palmeiras in January 2025.

Pep Guardiola limited him to just one minute of league action in the second half of last season as he made just four appearances for Manchester City.

Due to his restricted role the Etihad club sent the centre-back on a season-long loan to Verona in August 2025.

The move went well as he enjoyed regular games under Mitchell. He has played 2,477 minutes in 27 matches so far for the La Liga side.

His league statistics per game are as follows.

• Intercept: 0.7
• Tackle: 1.2
• Recovered balls: 2.9
• Dribbled past: 0.3
• Approval: 6.0
• Blocked Shots: 1.2
• Duel won: 4.6

His performance rewarded The call came for the first time from Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti for this international break. it came as a surprise According to their country’s media.

Manchester City has not decided yet

Tuesday’s edition of sports world There is a report on where Vitor Reis could play after this season.

A few months ago, there was a real option for the Spanish club to extend the defender’s stay but now it is an ‘increasingly difficult objective’. This is due to the player’s ‘remarkable growth’ at Verona.

Pep Guardiola had initial doubts over his inclusion in his plans this season, resulting in a loan move.

His ‘scenario has changed’ and his status has gone higher after the latest call.

South American is no more ‘Promising young player, but a centre-back who is starting to establish himself among the elite.’ This is why the Catalan club is finding it difficult to extend his stay.

Manchester City could decide to include Reus in Guardiola’s plans next season, and if not, let him join a club with ‘more competitive demands’ than Verona.

Despite the complex task, Mitchell’s team will not give up attempting to keep hold of the Manchester City player.

Contract, price and agent information

Vitor Reis’ value did not improve from a loan move to Verona. transfer market Let’s say he’s valued at €30m, which is the same since his transfer to Manchester City.

His contract at Etihad expires in 2029. P&P Sport Management, headed by agent Federico Pastorello, is looking after the player’s interests. The representative will have to make a decision on his client’s future in the summer.

The Cleveland Browns are in the midst of an organizational overhaul. They have already moved on from two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski and hired Todd Monken to replace him. Despite having three QBs on the roster, the Browns also do not have a franchise quarterback.

Still, to properly evaluate Cleveland’s quarterback situation, they may want to strengthen the foundation around him. Whether it’s offensive line, pass-catcher, or both, Brown has a lot of unproven upside. They also have two first-round picks, one or possibly two of which could be used at respective positions.

However, recently, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski had another idea. Why not try to trade for a proven talent who is already an NFL veteran? He suggests that the Browns trade wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to the Jaguars.

While trading for Thomas, a one-time Pro Bowler who is still only 23 years old, might seem like an ideal solution in Cleveland, there is no guarantee Jacksonville wants to trade him. In fact, more reports suggest that the 23rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft isn’t actually even available.

Thomas started 14 games last season, recording 707 receiving yards and two touchdowns. A year ago, Thomas started all 17 games while recording 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. If he can get back to that level of production, Thomas could emerge as Cleveland’s new alpha receiver, forming a strong tandem with Jerry Jeudy.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: End of March edition

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

AFC Bournemouth’s multi-club structure is starting to show more clear signs on the ground, with the activity in Portugal offering a useful glimpse of how the club is aligning players and coaching pathways.

At Moreense FC, two Bournemouth U21 players are currently working with the first team under manager Vasco Botelho da Costa. The pair – forward Jonny Day and centre-back Harold Williams – have been integrated into training during a period where the Portuguese side have struggled with a number of injuries.

That temporary step serves an immediate purpose. Moreirense is lacking in key areas including central defense and attack, and the extra bodies help maintain the intensity of training ahead of his return to league action.

However, the move also reflects something more deliberate.

The network is working in both directions

Bournemouth’s ownership group has already established a clear relationship with Moreirense. That link is now being used in a practical way, giving young players experience of the senior football environment outside England.

At the same time, it places those players directly under the guidance of a coach which is increasingly relevant to Bournemouth’s long-term thinking.

As reported in Portugal to ballTraining arrangements come through a shared structure between the clubs. Yet the broader picture shows that a system is being actively tested rather than simply existing on paper.

For Bournemouth, it provides a controlled environment to develop talent while strengthening internal relationships in their network.

Vasco Botelho remains the key figure

Vasco Botelho da Costa remains at the center of this relationship. As we covered earlierBournemouth reportedly view the Portuguese coach as a possible future option. The hope is that he can enter the frame for this role within a season or two.

His profile explains why. After starting out in Estoril’s youth setup, Botelho stepped into senior management with União de Leiria in 2022/23 and won the third division title. He then guided FC Alverca to promotion to the Primeira Liga in 2024/25.

Now working within Bournemouth’s wider structure at Morensey, he is gaining experience that matches closely with the club’s ecosystem.

What does this mean for Bournemouth

There is no immediate suggestion of change around Andoni Ierola. Nevertheless, Bournemouth’s approach appears to be increasingly structured.

Through their network they are not only developing players but also introducing potential future coaches to their methods and talent pool.

By placing academy players under Botelho’s supervision, Bournemouth creates a two-way evaluation process. The coach works with his players while the club learns more about his methods in a live environment.

This is a small detail in isolation. Still, in the context of his broader plan, it looks like another step toward a clearly delineated future.

Newcastle United youngster Antonito Cordero has found himself the subject of a few post transfer snipes following his move to St James’ Park last summer.

where do snips come from Málaga TodayWho covers Cadiz tech today. They are less than impressed with the forward after his recent appearance against Málaga.

newcastle summer move

Antonito Cordero joined Newcastle United on a free transfer in the summer, amid interest from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

With a growing reputation following his time at Málaga he headed to England, where the 19-year-old had established himself as a key player and a firm fan favourite.

Therefore, there was much consternation about his move to Newcastle. The Spanish side, in particular, were unhappy to miss out on the fee, while the player received a large wage transfer from the Magpies.

As a result, there has been a general feeling of jubilation while the forward has struggled since his exit. He was sent to Westerlo on loan last summer but returned in January to be sent to Cadiz.

positivity is decreasing

The youngster hasn’t really impressed there yet, notching a goal or assist in LaLiga2 so far. This includes the 3-0 defeat to Málaga last weekend. According to Málaga Today his performance in that game hardly inspired the Cadiz press.

He says the 19-year-old ‘still has a way to go’ as his current performances are forcing him to ‘slow down’ his storytelling. Instead, they are focusing on objective facts.

And on that front, his impact on the team is ‘far from justifying the hype’ surrounding him. So far, results from the Newcastle United loanee have been ‘unimpeachable’. There are no goals, no assists and no obvious leaps in quality. As a result, the scope for patience is beginning to diminish.

It seems the Newcastle youngster is failing to make a positive impact. Now sending local press snipes.

Interestingly, Málaga seems to remain silent. In fact message from there before the match Was one of affection.

🇧🇷Alan Elias | Newcastle United prepare offer + exclusive details

💵 Magpies planning ‘unique’ approach
❌ Source reveals that Napoli have not been offered
➡️How are things right now…https://t.co/dLLTskDYdI #nufc #SSCinapoli

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 24 March 2026

Brighton & Hove Albion are again looking to South America for defensive talent, and Lautaro Rivero is now emerging as a name to watch.

The 22-year-old River Plate centre-back is yet to make the headlines in Europe. However, his recent performance suggests that he is moving quickly in that direction.

A left-footed defender, Rivero has begun to establish himself at the senior level after returning from a loan spell at Central Córdoba. He was a midfielder during his youth academy days, so his abilities with the ball caught everyone’s attention. Since then, he has become a more regular presence under Marcelo Gallardo.

His profile matches what Brighton often target. He is comfortable on the ball, tactically aware and developing within a structured system.

Defensive Profile and Underlying Numbers

Rivero’s data from the current campaign reinforces that notion.

He averages 1.59 interceptions per 90 minutes, which puts him in a strong percentage for reading the game. Additionally, he has recorded 1.94 tackles per 90 and 3.87 clearances, showing solid defensive involvement without being overly aggressive.

The important thing is that he has not made a single mistake for a shot or a goal so far. This suggests a level of composure and decision making which is important for a player at the very beginning of his top level career.

In the air, he wins 2.16 duels per 90, which again indicates reliability rather than dominance.

However, his extraordinary numbers came in possession. Rivero averages over 60 passes per 90 minutes, with a completion rate of 86%. These figures place them among the most active distributors on the team and underline their role in the construction stages.

This combination points to a defender who is more positional and controlled than offensive – a profile often favored by Brighton’s recruitment model.

Brighton’s interest begins to take shape

Against that backdrop, reports from Argentina suggest that Brighton have already started looking behind the scenes.

Journalist Sebastian Srur have said that Rivero’s representative – specifically the same agent as Enzo Fernandez – is currently in England. According to him, Brighton is “Try, ask, investigate… say whatever you want.” Regarding the protector.

Sarur stopped short of confirming the formal bid. Nevertheless, the tone indicates preliminary groundwork rather than passive interest.

He also said Rivero has a €100m (£86.5m) release clause, although this has been described as largely symbolic and designed to strengthen River Plate’s negotiating position.

As things stand, the expectation is that interest may increase heading into the summer window, especially if its current levels continue.

A profile that fits Brighton’s model

Brighton have built a reputation for identifying defenders before they reach full market value. Rivero appears to fit that strategy.

It’s not a finished product yet. The amount of his duels remains moderate, and he still needs to prove himself at a consistently high level. Yet his composure, passing output and defensive reads provide a strong foundation.

If Brighton are indeed laying the groundwork now, it will follow a familiar pattern. Move early, build relationships and establish yourself before wider European competition arrives.

What happens next may depend less on whether interest is present or not, and more on how quickly it turns into something concrete.

🇧🇷 Special: Alvaro Montoro ‼️

➡️Brighton interest texter meets financial crisis
➡️ #BHAFC The official saw them against Gremio
➡️ Traveled to Porto Alegre especially for Montoro
➡️ Pedro Reinert explains the situation in Brazil…https://t.co/jLvcE1ZoHR

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 19 March 2026

The Washington Wizards face the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night and Trae Young is once again at the center of the injury report. He has been officially listed as out due to a right quad contusion, putting the Wizards’ key guard in focus as the team tries to break a brutal 13-game losing streak.

The Wizards enter the matchup at 16-52, No. 14 in the Eastern Conference, with their season essentially out of reach. Meanwhile, the Pistons are 49-19, ranked No. 3 in the West, looking to win consecutive games. Here’s everything we know from the injury report regarding Trae Young and his game status vs. the Pistons.

Even in limited action this season, Young has remained productive. In 15 games, he averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds. He’s also shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 82.5 percent from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Young has continued to run the offense and create opportunities for his teammates. However, Washington is still struggling to find stability on both ends.

Without him, the Wizards lose a primary playmaker. They face even less margin for error. That challenge only increases against a surging Detroit team.

Trae Young’s injury status vs. Pistons

What makes Young’s absence particularly glaring is the Wizards’ injury report. Bilal Koulibaly (foot) and Alex Sarr (toe) are both questionable, while Anthony Davis, Keyshawn George and Cam Whitmore are all out. D’Angelo Russell is not with the team and Leaky Black is also out of the team.

On the other hand, the Pistons are also struggling with injuries. Cade Cunningham (back) and Isaiah Stewart (calf) are out, while several players are unavailable due to G League assignments. Still, Detroit has maintained strong momentum behind its depth and execution.

Washington is simply trying to stop the decline. Detroit wants to stay sharp and stack wins. So when the question comes whether Trae Young is playing against the Pistons tonight, the answer is no. He has been officially dismissed. His absence adds another challenge for a Wizards team searching for answers. The season is also ending.

Washington Wizards star guard Trae Young has been busy this past year. The four-time All-Star announced that he has taken on the role of assistant general manager for Oklahoma men’s basketball in March 2025, the program for which he played as a freshman in the 2017–18 season. He pledged to donate $1 million to the program and help with both high school and transfer portal prospect evaluations, fundraising and player contract negotiations.

Since then, Young has rehabilitated his quad and knee injuries, as well as uprooted his life. The Atlanta Hawks traded the 27-year-old to the Wizards in January, marking the first time he has changed teams since the Hawks drafted him at No. 5 overall in 2018. He has only played five games since then due to injury, but he is still effective for his new team.

Young is averaging 15.2 points on 59.5% shooting (42.9% 3-point) with 6.2 assists against 2.6 turnovers in 20.8 minutes. The former All-NBA honoree most recently sat out Monday’s 125-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors with a quad contusion and will not play Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.

Additionally, Young has signed a new partnership with Sling TV for March Madness once the 2026 NCAA Tournament begins. The promotion, titled “When Underdogs Win, You Win”, offers fans a 1-day Sling Pass for $1 if any player from the 12 to 16 seed advances to the Sweet Sixteen in the men’s or women’s tournament. To qualify, fans must purchase a 1, 3 or 7-day pass between Thursday and Sunday. No. 12 High Point’s 83-82 win over No. 5 Wisconsin in the first round is its first major upset of the year.

Young is a suitable promotional partner, as he played for No. 10 Oklahoma against No. 7 Rhode Island in the first round of the 2018 tournament. The Sooners lost 83–78 despite the 2018 NCAA scoring champion and assist leader having 28 points (9-18 FG, 3-9 3-point) and seven assists, ending his collegiate playing career.

Oklahoma was the first team eliminated from the tournament field this season, the first with Young as assistant general manager. The Sooners went 8–3 in their final 11 games in the SEC, which sent 10 teams to March Madness, but it was not enough. The program qualifies as an “underdog” as it has never won a national title and has won only two tournament games since 2018.

Young spoke with ClutchPoints about this, his advice for NCAA Tournament players, fellow Wizards and 2012 NCAA champion Anthony Davis, and more on Wednesday.

Trae Young Q&A

Joshua Valdez: So first of all, who have your eyes set on this year’s March Madness? Can a Dalit run?

Trae Young: Oh, I just don’t have a team. There are some guys and some teams that I look at. I mean, that’s a lot of underdogs. But a lot of the good teams are really good, and certainly even the weaker teams have to come along to pull off some upsets.

Comment: Young singled out High Point, No. 14 North Dakota State and No. 13 Miami (OH) women’s team as underdogs who could make the Sweet Sixteen on his Instagram.

Joshua Valdez: Speaking of underdogs, how did your partnership with Sling TV come about?

Trae Young: Yeah, I mean, I think that was a part of it. We talked, and I feel like growing up being an underdog and just partnering with Sling and doing this, and especially during March Madness, giving people a chance to get more involved, I think it was a no-brainer. So that’s really great.

Joshua Valdez: What do you think is special about the tournament?

Trae Young: I just think it feels like a one-game tournament. This is what makes the anticipation for each game so exciting, as the underdogs can win the game on any given night, so you always have to be prepared as you want to see upsets.

Joshua Valdez: Obviously, you played at OU for a year. How have you grown as a player and a person since being there?

Trae Young: Just understanding that you have to take every moment seriously and you never know when you will get that next moment again. Going into college, I thought I would get a few chances at tournaments, but unfortunately I only had one. Being able to only play one game in the tournament sucked, but experiencing the spirit of March Madness was crazy.

Joshua Valdez: Based on your experience, what advice do you have for players heading into March Madness this year?

Trae Young: Never take the moment for granted, be as prepared as you can be, and just go out there and enjoy. Lead by doing your best, don’t look ahead and think about what’s going to happen in the future, but just be present in the present. ‘Cause you never know when your last game will be in the tournament.

Joshua Valdez: Going back to OU for a second, I know you’ve been helping them as an assistant GM. How’s it going so far?

Trae Young: Really good, really good. It is sad that we were the first team that could not make it to the tournament. And I really felt like we should have done that, especially the way we finished the season and the number of games we won on this tough schedule. But it was good. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to make it this year, but that’s okay. We will be back.

Joshua Valdez: Anything behind the scenes of college basketball or anything new you’ve learned about the game since you took on this role?

Trae Young: I mean, these players are getting paid. These players are getting paid these days. I think it’s a different thing and you have to find kids that are willing to work. I mean, you want to find kids who are here for the love of the game more than the money. This is one of my main things. That’s the difference between when I was in school and now.

Joshua Valdez: Finally, you’re now on the Wizards with Anthony Davis. Obviously, he was a collegiate star who went on to achieve great things in the NBA, just like you. He hasn’t played with you guys yet, but what’s it like being around him?

Trae Young: Yeah, I mean, obviously, he’s really good. Eddie has been great so far. He has a lot of knowledge of basketball and has seen a lot of the game, especially winning a championship as a freshman at the college level. [at Kentucky]And all the accolades she has earned over the years. It’s definitely nice to have a guy in the locker room that you can look at and understand what he brings every night, because you’ve seen what he’s done on TV and over the years.

Trae Young has been a pleasant addition to the Washington Wizards. The former fifth overall pick was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to DC during the trade deadline this season. Unfortunately, Young suffered an injury during the Wizards’ game against the Golden State Warriors. After suffering an injury to his lower body, the point guard has been ruled out of the game due to a quad contusion.

More coming soon.

The Montreal Canadiens were in Ottawa on Wednesday night, facing a Senators team looking to make the Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Moments before puck drop it was announced that Cole Caufield would be forced to leave the game due to the flu. Caufield was used sparingly in the third period of Tuesday night’s win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As a result, Alex Texier returned to the first line, playing alongside Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkowski.

It should also be noted that rookie Jacob Fowler was given the start by the Canadiens, and he was a big part of the youth movement that led to the 3-2 win. Fowler stopped 29 of 31 shots sent his way to ensure the victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

strong start

The Canadiens started the game on the right foot, culminating with Juraj Slafkowski’s 24th goal of the year just one minute into the first period.

It was Slafkowski’s 164th career point, the most by a Canadiens player before turning 22 in franchise history. Some may suggest that this is an easy feat since you started playing in the NHL at the age of 18, but it is quite a difficult thing to quickly learn while playing in the best hockey league on earth.

Talking about young players, rookie Ivan Demidov recorded his 50th point of the season in this sequence.

Juraj Slafkowski worked ahead of time! 🚨 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/zCTJpkYJYR

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 11 March 2026

senators respond

Josh Anderson plays a rough-and-tumble style of hockey that is guaranteed to come with a certain amount of time spent in the sin bin, but he has made a habit of taking penalties at bad times this season, and to make matters worse, they are almost always the epitome of unnecessary ones.

There’s no doubt that the lack of consistency in umpiring makes life more difficult for a player like Andersen, but the Canadiens can’t afford to be among the most penalized teams in the league, and the fact that Andersen is a repeat offender can’t be ignored.

With that in mind, the Senators tied the game late in the first period while Anderson was in the box for roughing. This proved to be a turning point when it came to Montreal’s ability to control the flow of the game.

I immediately knew it was a good goal 🤷‍♂️#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/bZs4BtEdjl

– Ottawa Senators (@Senators) 12 March 2026

Habs fans will be quick to tell you that Tim Stützle takes dives more often than a duckling learning to hunt, but he’s a very good hockey player, and he absolutely loves playing against Montreal.

He’s also highly efficient, and doesn’t need any help from his opponents to score, but the Canadiens still gave him a hand on Wednesday with minimal defensive coverage and incredibly soft clearing attempts.

To Alexander Carrier’s credit, despite the fumble before Ottawa’s goal, it must be said that the Habs forward blitzed the zone rather than supporting his defencemen, or offering good outlet options.

Tim Stützle can’t stop, and won’t stop 🔥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/h0zPnPgY7G

– Ottawa Senators (@Senators) 12 March 2026

Crowded Threesome

It would be hard for you to argue that Saint-Louis has made a lot of bad decisions this year, but their lack of enthusiasm for Texier is a bit odd, especially since there are several players in the lineup who don’t perform as well offensively as the Frenchman.

Texier has done everything possible to earn his ice time, including some much-needed offense while dealing with a complete lack of consistency from a usage standpoint.

On that note, Texier tied the game for the Canadiens with a very strong individual effort late in the second period.

Alex Texier has 8 goals and 11 assists in 32 games #GoHabsGoWhile he averages less than 13 minutes per game when he is not a healthy scratch. pic.twitter.com/1Cvrf5Zu2U

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 12 March 2026

cardiac children

With the game tied 2-2, the Habs displayed great speed in transition, which was the biggest advantage of having a smooth skater like Alex Newhook in the lineup.

By scoring the go-ahead goal, Demidov tied Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Seneca for the most points by a rookie this season with 51 points.

This marked the 13th consecutive game in which the Canadiens scored at least three goals.

Great speed in transition gave Ivan Demidov his 51st point of the season.#GoHabsGo Are ahead 3-2. pic.twitter.com/VTJ1f5oK5D

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 12 March 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Saturday facing the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Atlanta Hawks are on a seven-game winning streak and are trying to make the playoffs with just over a month remaining in the season. This is a unique situation for the Hawks, as they are able to compete this season, while also having a chance to acquire the top pick in this year’s NBA Draft after acquiring the rights to the New Orleans Pelicans’ pick.

If the Pelicans don’t have a great record, the lottery odds could be in the Hawks’ favor, and they could add a top prospect to a team that already has a bright future.

In the latest ESPN mock draft, their pick landing at No. 6, and they have the Hawks selecting Illinois point guard Keaton Wagler.

Jeremy Wu wrote, “Wagler’s unexpected rise from off-the-radar recruit to Big Ten Freshman of the Year has given him a chance to be the second guard off the board.” “His size at his position – 6-foot-6 – 3-point shooting (41%) and impeccable playmaking puts him ahead of the curve developmentally.

“Gaining strength to navigate the paint better and becoming a better defender are also long-term keys. He is the least dynamic athlete at guard in this group, but the blueprint is in place for him to become an NBA backcourt fixture.”

The Hawks are moving on from a dynamic point guard in Trae Young this season, they need to find a way to add to that position this offseason, and Wagler could be a start. The big thing for Wagler is that he is 6’6 inches tall and can shoot the three ball in a row.

The Hawks are already a team that shoots the ball a lot, and his defensive ability could help him fit in immediately. While he may not be the hottest guard in the draft, he has everything the Hawks need in a guard.

After years of becoming an NBA star in Atlanta, Trae Young recently made his Washington Wizards debut as fans anticipate a new era of basketball. Coupled with a young, talented lineup that includes three top-10 NBA draft picks and now the sky could be the limit for the Young-led Wizards. While making his Washington debut, Young used a pair of perfectly matching Air Jordan 40s to compliment his new threads.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

Not only was this the debut for Young in a Wizards uniform, but it also officially marked his second season under the Jordan Brand Jumpman. Endorsing the Air Jordan 39 last season, Trae Young debuted the latest Air Jordan 40 silhouette, which was loved by stars like Orlando’s Paolo Banchero and Miami’s Bam Adebayo. Young notably left Adidas in 2024 after releasing three eponymous signature silhouettes with the brand.

Launching in July 2025, the Air Jordan 40 is the newest and most updated iteration of the longest-running signature sneaker line in history. Designed with all the technologies that were not available to Michael Jordan during his playing days, the Jordan 40 is meant to represent the elite talent of the modern game.

Trae Young’s Air Jordan 40 PE

Trae Young makes his Wizards debut with the “Metallic Copper” Air Jordan 40. pic.twitter.com/QzKS1nZ98q

– B/R Kicks (@brkicks) 6 March 2026

New city, new style.

Trae Young makes his Wizards debut in the “Copper” Air Jordan 40. pic.twitter.com/wf2f2s8bgh

– SLAM Kicks (@SLAMKicks) 6 March 2026

In recent years, the Washington Wizards have made a concerted effort to return their classic gold jerseys from the 2006–2009 season. Giving fans a taste of nostalgia, the franchise announced that the uniform will return in the form of the 25-26 Nike City Edition kit and it has already been seen several times. Trae Young made his Wizards debut with a classic uniform, matching the gleaming gold uniform with an all-copper Air Jordan 40.

The “Metallic Copper” Air Jordan 40 features a shiny copper leather upper, contrasted by a flat black sole and black laces. The colorway was launched by Jordan Brand but quickly sold out due to high demand, but the shoes are available in the aftermarket at close to their original retail price.

As far as Trae Young is concerned, we’ll wait to see what new Jordan Brand sneakers he’s able to pull from the catalog during his new visit to Washington.

在亚特兰大成为 NBA 球星多年后，特雷·杨最近在华盛顿奇才队首次亮相，同时开创了球迷希望的篮球新时代。再加上年轻、有才华的阵容，其中包括三名NBA前十选秀权，天空可能是现在由杨领导的奇才队的极限。在华盛顿首秀中，Young 穿着一双完美搭配的 Air Jordan 40 来强调他的新风格。

查看我们的运动鞋新闻，了解更多即将发布的产品和重大内容！

这不仅是杨身着奇才队队服的首秀，也正式标志着他在 Jordan Brand 的 Jumpman 手下的第二个赛季。继上赛季青睐 Air Jordan 39 后，Trae Young 推出了最新的 Air Jordan 40 鞋款，受到奥兰多队的保罗·班切罗 (Paolo Banchero) 和迈阿密队的巴姆·阿德巴约 (Bam Adebayo) 等球星的青睐。值得注意的是，在与阿迪达斯发布了三款同名签名鞋款后，杨于 2024 年离开了阿迪达斯。

Air Jordan 40 于 2025 年 7 月推出，是历史上运行时间最长的签名运动鞋系列的最新版本。 Jordan 40 融合了迈克尔·乔丹 (Michael Jordan) 球员时期所没有的所有技术，旨在代表现代运动的精英人才。

特雷·杨的 Air Jordan 40 PE

特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 穿着“金属铜”Air Jordan 40 首次亮相奇才队 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QzKS1nZ98q

— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) 2026 年 3 月 6 日

新城市，新色彩。

特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 穿着“Copper” Air Jordan 40 首次亮相奇才队。 pic.twitter.com/wf2f2s8bgh

— SLAM 踢 (@SLAMKicks) 2026 年 3 月 6 日

近年来，华盛顿奇才队齐心协力，找回了2006-2009赛季的经典金色球衣。为了给球迷带来怀旧之情，球队宣布球衣将以 25-26 耐克城市版球衣的形式回归，并且已经出现过多次。特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 在奇才队的首秀中穿着经典队服，与闪亮的金色队服搭配全铜 Air Jordan 40。

“金属铜”Air Jordan 40 鞋面采用闪亮的铜色皮革，与黑色平底和黑色鞋带形成鲜明对比。该配色由 Jordan Brand 推出，但由于需求量大而很快售罄，但售后市场上该鞋款的售价接近其原零售价。

至于特雷·杨 (Trae Young)，我们将拭目以待，看看他在华盛顿的新旅程中能够从目录中挑选出哪些新款 Jordan Brand 运动鞋。

Manchester United are being linked with a possible move for Andre SantosReports from the Brazilian suggest the midfielder could attract interest in the summer window despite yet to establish himself at Chelsea.

According to Brazilian outlet NT VascanosThe 21-year-old is well-liked at Stamford Bridge but is not considered untouchable. As a result, major European clubs are keeping an eye on his situation ahead of the next transfer window.

Manchester United are mentioned as the main candidates who are currently keeping a close eye on the midfielder. Meanwhile, Juventus are also said to follow the development.

Current situation at Chelsea

The claims come at an interesting moment in Andre Santos’ season. Under manager Liam Rosenior, the Brazilian has begun to earn regular minutes has become a more visible part Chelsea’s midfield structure.

Rosenior has already worked with him at RC Strasbourg, where the midfielder enjoyed one of the best spells of his young career. That connection has helped them Settle into a deeper role at Chelsea.

Despite the increased involvement, the report insists Chelsea will still consider offers if the right offer comes along this summer.

According to reports from Brazil, Santos’ market value is currently around €40m – around £34m – depending on speculation. transfer market.

Why does this matter to Manchester United?

From Manchester United’s perspective, it would make sense to monitor Santos. The Brazilian remains one of the more interesting young midfielders to emerge from Brazil in recent years.

With Casemiro set to leave, Andri could play a key role at Old Trafford. At 21, he offers long-term benefits while still gaining experience in European football.

The presence of Juventus in the picture also suggests that the situation could develop into a wider European race if Chelsea agrees to negotiate.

There is also a secondary angle in Brazil. Santos came through the academy at Vasco da Gama. This means that if he is sold the Rio de Janeiro club would be entitled to a 2.5% solidarity payment. So a transfer in the region of €40m (£34m) would generate a useful bonus for his former side.

what happens next

For now, the story appears to be in the early monitoring stage rather than advanced conversations. Chelsea still control the player’s future and he continues to get minutes under Rosenior.

However, with Manchester United and Juventus reportedly keeping a close eye, Andre Santos could become another young Premier League midfielder to attract widespread European attention as the summer window approaches.

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is often praised for his roster-building skills, always keeping his team in contention. In recent years, we have seen the Eagles add several impact guards through the NFL Draft.

However they have built such a strong unit that now other teams are coming for what Philadelphia has built.

According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Eagles are also receiving trade calls for starting defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

“With defensive tackle Jordan Davis now extended, Philly will also have to consider whether to extend running back Jalen Carter, who is eligible for a new deal,” Fowler wrote. “I’m told Philly has received trade calls regarding Carter.”

The two-time Pro Bowler’s contract is only for one more season. However, the Eagles can always pick up a fifth-year option on the former No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

As Fowler mentioned, fellow Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis recently signed a three-year, $78 million contract, worth an average of $26 million per year. Carter’s fifth-year option will give him a salary of $27 million in 2027.

The Eagles may be reaching the point where their star defensive tackle tandem becomes too rich for their blood. Or, perhaps teams are willing to trade for one of the team’s cornerstones, hoping they can snag a 24-year-old player who may still have more room for development in his future.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 projections ahead of NFL free agency

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

亚历克斯·萨尔和特雷·杨在华盛顿奇才队即将对阵新奥尔良鹈鹕队的比赛中得到了关于他们伤病状况的积极消息。

杨正在经历他 NBA 职业生涯的第八个赛季，这是他在奇才队的第一个赛季。他在亚特兰大老鹰队开始了 2025-26 赛季，之后他们将他交易到华盛顿以换取 CJ 麦科勒姆和科里·基斯珀特。这位四次入选全明星的球员于 3 月 5 日对阵犹他爵士队的比赛中首次亮相奇才队。

至于萨尔，作为2024年NBA选秀的榜眼秀，他正在经历职业生涯的第二年。上赛季入选最佳新秀阵容，他已经进步成为轮换阵容中的关键一员。

据记者乔什·瓦尔迪兹报道，华盛顿在周六发布了最新报告，两名球员都得到了最新的伤病情况。虽然安东尼·戴维斯和凯肖恩·乔治等人仍然缺席，但杨和萨尔没有出现任何伤病或疾病。

“特雷·杨和亚历克斯·萨尔明天将在新奥尔良👀，”瓦尔迪兹写道。

奇才队特雷·杨的未来是什么

对于奇才队来说，得到两名明星球员是个好消息，因为特雷·杨和亚历克斯·萨尔将可以参加对阵鹈鹕队的比赛。

杨在奇才首秀中出场19分钟，9投4中得到12分和6次助攻。作为联盟的二年级生，萨尔已经取得了显着的进步，本赛季场均得到17.2分和7.8个篮板。

华盛顿本赛季战绩为16胜46负，在东部积分榜上排名第13位。他们领先于布鲁克林篮网队和印第安纳步行者队，落后于芝加哥公牛队和密尔沃基雄鹿队。

经历了七连败后，奇才队将继续为美国东部时间 3 月 8 日晚上 7 点对阵鹈鹕队的比赛做准备。此后，他们将继续在客场迎战迈阿密热火队，比赛时间为美国东部时间 3 月 10 日晚上 7:30。

Alex Sarr and Trae Young received positive news regarding their injury statuses for the Washington Wizards’ upcoming matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Young is in the eighth season of his NBA career, his first with the Wizards. He began the 2025–26 campaign with the Atlanta Hawks before they traded him to Washington in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The four-time All-Star made his Wizards debut on March 5 against the Utah Jazz.

As far as Sarr is concerned, he is going through the second year of his career as the second overall selection of the 2024 NBA Draft. Making the All-Rookie team last season, he has improved to become a key player in the rotation.

According to reporter Josh Valdez, both players got updates on their injuries as Washington released its latest report on Saturday. While guys like Anthony Davis and Keyshawn George are out, Young and Sarr are not on the report due to any injuries or illnesses.

“Trae Young and Alex Sarr yesterday in New Orleans 👀,” Valdez wrote.

Trae Young, what’s next for the Wizards

It is great news for the Wizards to include two of their star players as Trae Young and Alex Sir will be available to play against the Pelicans.

Young played 19 minutes in his Wizards debut, scoring 12 points and six assists on 4 of 9 shooting from the field. Sarr has made significant progress as a sophomore in the league, averaging 17.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season.

Washington has a 16–46 record on the season and is in 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers while trailing the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.

After seven consecutive losses, the Wizards will continue preparing for their matchup against the Pelicans on March 8 at 7 PM ET. After that, they’ll remain on the road as they face the Miami Heat on March 10 at 7:30 PM ET.

Washington DC – The Washington Wizards lost 122-112 at home to the Utah Jazz on Thursday, but it was a perfect night for the franchise. Between star guard Trae Young’s Wizards debut, tank standings and rookie big man Julian “JuJu” Reese’s historic outing, there was a lot to like.

Head coach Brian Keefe spoke openly about Young’s on-court leadership after the game.

“People love it, they generate energy and confidence for their teammates,” he said. “There’s an energy he plays with, the unselfishness he plays with, that thing is contagious. You can feel it with our passing. He’s a scorer too, but his unselfishness… that’s the thing I really believe is contagious. The ball was moving around well and I was really happy with that.”

According to Keefe, eight of Washington’s 10 players dished out multiple assists and eight scored in double figures. The only one who didn’t do so was guard Jaden Hardy, who recorded four points (1-7 FG, 1-4 3-point) with one assist in 11 minutes.

Young finished with 12 points (4-9 FG, 1-5 3-point) with six assists, two rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes, but the excitement he brought to Capital One Arena couldn’t be measured by the box score. The 27-year-old, many among the 17,689 fans, was left screaming for his first bucket, a behind the back fake pass Another drive, another three, and more highlights.

Try Young Wizards Debut Highlights

12 points – 6 assists (19 minutes) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dkrxtygMwK

– WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) 6 March 2026

Young is on a minutes restriction as he recovers from knee and quad injuries that limited him to just 10 games played for the Atlanta Hawks this season before being traded to the Wizards on Jan. 7, but Thursday still showed why the latter team acquired him. The four-time All-Star’s ability to get to the rim and create open looks for teammates has been foreign to Washington since the John Wall era, outside of Russell Westbrook’s tenure with the team in 2020-21. Instead of a committee approach at point guard, the squad finally has an engine.

Along with big men Alex Sarr (hamstring) and Anthony Davis (finger), Young primarily set up the other guards for three-point attempts. The former All-NBA honoree assisted two-way forward Leakey Black, third-year guard Bilal Quibly, rookie guard Trey Johnson (twice), and second-year guard Bub Carrington on long-range buckets. Overall, he was responsible for 29 points.

At the same time, the Wizards still lost to the Jazz, who were without starters such as forward Lauri Markkanen (hip), forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), and guard Keyonte George (ankle). This gives them more relief to tank in the standings, as they have the fourth-worst record (16-46) while Utah is fifth-worst (19-44). Washington would have to finish with a bottom-four record this summer to be guaranteed to retain their top-eight protected lottery selection.

Plus, the team is now just one game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers, who are tied for second-worst. Finishing second worst would guarantee selection in the top six, while finishing third worst would guarantee selection in the top seven, and so on.

For now, Wizards fans can enjoy finally having a star player in the lineup again before the franchise focuses on winning games next season and beyond.

JuJu Reese makes the most of Wizards’ opportunities

With Davis out since the beginning of January, Washington did not have much depth after sending Marvin Bagley to the Dallas Mavericks in the Davis deal on February 4. Sir has not played since a 132-101 loss to the Miami Heat on Feb. 8, and backup seven-footer Tristan Vukcevic (thigh) has not played since a 134-125 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

Enter Reese. The Wizards signed the Baltimore native to a two-way contract on Saturday and thrust him into the starting center role for Monday’s 123-118 home loss to the Houston Rockets, his NBA debut. He started again in a 126-109 loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday and had 18 points (5-7 FG), 20 rebounds (10 offensive), two assists and a block in 38 minutes on Thursday. His rebounds were the most by any rookie this season and the most by any Washington rookie since Tom Gugliotta (20) against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 29, 1993. Additionally, her sister Angel Reese was the youngest WNBA player to record more than 18 points and more than 10 offensive rebounds in a game last season, and she is the youngest NBA player to do so this season.

JuJu told ClutchPoints his impressions of the Wizards organization after the game.

I asked JuJu Reese his first impressions of the Wizards:

“Great team, great organization. Great for developing guys. A lot of guys have come here who are good players and make a lot of money, they told me that right away. Just try to maximize your talent…” pic.twitter.com/oPz6sJp3gh

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 6 March 2026

“Great team, great organization. Great for developing guys,” the former Maryland Terrapin said. “There are a lot of people who come here who are good players and make a lot of money, they told me that right away. Just try to maximize your talent…”

Since general manager Will Dawkins and president Michael Winger took over in 2023, Washington’s development program has built a foundation of young talent led by Sarr, second-year wing Kishawn George (UCL), Johnson, Coulibaly and Carrington. Reese will need more than one historic game against another tanking team to be a part of that long-term group, but if he continues to perform like this he’ll give the front office something to think about.

Next up for the Wizards is a road date with the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

周四晚上，特雷·杨在华盛顿特区的第一资本球馆为华盛顿奇才队首次亮相，有人刚刚抢走了人们的注意力

这不是别人，正是芝加哥天空队明星前锋安吉尔·里斯的弟弟朱利安·里斯。

朱利安·里斯 (Julian Reese) 在 NBA 的第三场比赛中就以一项历史性的壮举引人注目，他以 5/7 的投篮命中率拿下 18 分，并抢下令人瞠目结舌的 20 个篮板（其中 10 个防守篮板和 10 个进攻篮板）。尽管球队以112-122输给了来访的爵士队，但他还在38分钟的上场时间内贡献了两次助攻和一次抢断。

十多年过去了，直到周四，奇才队的一名球员能够在一场比赛中至少抢下 10 个防守篮板和 10 个进攻篮板。

“他是自 2010 年 1 月 30 日安托万·贾米森以来第一位在一场比赛中拿下 10 个进攻篮板和 10 个防守篮板的奇才队球员，”ESPN Insights 在 X（前身为 Twitter）上的社交媒体帖子中分享道。

2010年1月30日，贾米森在主场以106-96战胜纽约尼克斯队的比赛中拿下21分和23个篮板。他得到12个防守篮板，另外11个篮板来自进攻端。

朱利安在对阵爵士队时的篮板球表现确实符合里斯的表现。她的姐姐也因其篮板球能力而闻名。在 WNBA 的前两个赛季，安吉尔在 64 场比赛中场均贡献 12.9 个篮板。

朱利安是马里兰水龟队篮球项目的产物，二月份与奇才队签订了双向合同。除非朱利安被征召加入发展联盟，否则他将希望在周日在路易斯安那州新奥尔良的冰沙国王中心对阵新奥尔良鹈鹕队的比赛中保持自己的势头。

Trae Young finally made his long-awaited debut for the Washington Wizards during Thursday night’s clash with the Utah Jazz.

Young is in the eighth season of his NBA career, his first with the Wizards. He began the 2025–26 campaign with the Atlanta Hawks before they traded him to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

Injuries have limited Young’s availability this season, appearing in only 10 games while he was with the Hawks. When healthy, he stands out as one of the league’s best guards, shining with his playmaking and shooting skills.

Washington remained patient during Young’s recovery, as he eventually played his first game against Utah. It didn’t take long for him to score his first bucket, driving to the rim to loft a shot off the glass and put it past the hoop.

Trae Young scores his first point as a member of the Wizards ♂️🪄

pic.twitter.com/v5eywUHRUv

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026

Trae Young, how the Wizards played against the Jazz

Trae Young shined in his Wizards debut, but it was not enough as they lost to the Jazz 122–112.

Seven players, including Young, scored in double figures for Washington in the loss. His debut ended after 19 minutes of action, finishing with a stat line of 12 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals. He shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 1 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. Julian Reese led the way with 18 points and 20 rebounds, Bilal Coulibaly came next with 17 points and three steals, Leaky Black had 16 points and three rebounds, Trey Johnson put up 15 points and eight rebounds, while Will Riley added 13 points and three assists. Meanwhile, Anthony Gill contributed with 10 points and three rebounds.

Washington fell to a 16–46 record on the season and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers while trailing the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.

After suffering seven consecutive losses, the Wizards will be looking to bounce back in their next match. They are on the road when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on March 8th at 7pm ET.

The Washington Wizards are set to host the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Is Trae Young going to make his Wizards debut tonight?

Young was transferred from the Atlanta Hawks to the Wizards before the 2026 trade deadline. However, he has yet to make his debut with Washington, as the All-Star guard is dealing with a knee injury that has kept him out of action since late December.

Here’s everything we know about Trae Young’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Jazz.

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Trae Young’s injury status vs. Jazz

Trae Young is not listed on the NBA injury report and is expected to make his Wizards debut tonight against the Jazz.

The Wizards hope Young and Anthony Davis can lead the team to a postseason run next year. Although Davis is still out due to injury, the next few weeks of the 2025–26 season will give Young a chance to get comfortable with his new team.

At 16-45 and 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, Washington is not going to contend this year. Still, the future is interesting for magicians.

When it comes to the question of whether Trae Young is playing tonight against the Jazz, the answer is yes.

magicians injury report

The Wizards have eight players listed on the injury report.

• Anthony Gill (illness): doubtful
• Anthony Davis (sprained left finger): Out
• Kishawn George (left elbow sprain): Out
• D’Angelo Russell (not with team): Out
• Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain): Out
• Tristan Vukcevic (left thigh injury): Out
• Jameer Watkins (sprained left ankle): Out
• Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis): out

The Jazz played a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, which they lost 106–102. With Thursday’s contest representing the second consecutive contest for Utah, the Jazz have not released their injury report as of the writing of this story.

在一场威胁较小但同样有趣的现代 NBA 争吵中，帕特里克·贝弗利和前亚特兰大老鹰队的护身符特雷·杨在过去几个月里一直在互相争斗，主要是在社交媒体上。最初关于 NBA 全明星赛表现的争论很快升级为全面的争吵，贝弗利质疑特雷的职业道德以及他与队友是否相处融洽。

现在，在杨转会华盛顿奇才队近两个月后，贝弗利对杨进行了不那么微妙的挖苦，质疑为什么这位两届全明星球员不受竞争球队的青睐。

等等等等。看看发生了什么？哇哦，好吧，我想我没有错！！为什么一支有竞争力的球队不想要他？为什么ATL要交易特许经营权？

PatBev™️ https://t.co/ZZABXXnbEv

— 帕特里克·贝弗利 (@patbev21) 2026 年 3 月 5 日

“等等。看看发生了什么？哇哦，好吧，我想我没有错！！为什么一支有竞争力的球队不想要他？为什么 ATL 交易特许经营权？PatBev™️，他在 X 上写道。

当然，上个休赛期球队的薪资空间很小，据报道杨也希望成为他的新球队的焦点，这两点都可能是他转会奇才队的一个因素。不管怎样，贝弗利显然迟到了，他在转会几周后就发表了这样的挖苦言论，尽管他由于右膝扭伤和股四头肌瘀伤还没有打过一场比赛。

当贝弗利声称特雷的季后赛履历并不能证明他所积累的超级明星地位时，双方的争吵就开始了。杨在他的 7 个 NBA 赛季中 3 次进入季后赛，并随老鹰队进入 2021 年东部决赛。此前他在季后赛场均贡献28.8分和9.5次助攻。

贝弗利更进一步，质疑杨在联盟中的领导声誉。他表示，由于杨周围的环境，与老鹰队相关的球员和工作人员已经被调动或替换，这使得这位亚特兰大后卫整个职业生涯中一直伴随着的叙述再次出现。

这位奇才队球星在一段近 12 分钟的 YouTube 视频中进行了反击。不管怎样，贝弗利甚至将杨称为“教练杀手”，声称与他相关的教练、队友和前台人员经常被替换，据《The Athletic》报道。

虽然老鹰队确实经历过领导层的轮换，包括主教练劳埃德·皮尔斯和内特·麦克米兰，但该组织的不稳定并不仅仅归因于其明星球员。此外，27 岁的杨仍在摸索中，并且有足够的时间让批评他的人闭嘴，而贝弗利无疑走在了前面。

In a less dangerous but equally entertaining modern NBA beef, Patrick Beverley and former Atlanta Hawks talisman Trae Young have been taking shots at each other for the past few months, mostly on social media. What started as a debate about tryouts at the NBA All-Star Game soon turned full-blown, with Beverley questioning Trae’s work ethic and whether he matched up with his teammates.

Now, about two months after Young made the move to the Washington Wizards, Beverley posted a not-so-subtle dig at Young, questioning why the two-time All-Star wasn’t wanted by competing teams.

wait. Look look what happened?? Oh ok I guess I wasn’t wrong!! And why didn’t a competing team want him? And why did ATL trade the franchise?

PatBev™️ https://t.co/ZZABXXnbEv

-Patrick Beverly (@patbev21) 5 March 2026

“Wait, wait. Guess what happened?? Okay, I guess I wasn’t wrong!! And why didn’t a competing team want him? And why did ATL trade the franchise? PatBev™️,” he wrote on Twitter.

Of course, teams were dealing with minimal cap space last offseason and Young also reportedly wanted to be the focal point of his new team, both of which could have been a factor in his move to the Wizards. Regardless, Beverley was clearly late to the party and posted this comment a few weeks after the move, even though he has yet to play a game due to a right knee sprain and quadriceps strain.

The controversy began when Beverley claimed that Trae’s postseason resume was not commensurate with the superstardom he had earned. Young has reached the playoffs three times in his seven NBA seasons, reaching the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals with the Hawks. This came after averaging 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game in the playoffs.

Beverley went even further, questioning Young’s leadership reputation in the league. He suggested that players and staff associated with the Hawks organization were transferred or replaced due to the environment surrounding Young, reviving the narrative that has followed the Atlanta guard throughout his career.

The Wizards star responded in a nearly 12-minute YouTube video. Despite this, according to The Athletic, Beverley went further and even labeled Young a “coach killer”, claiming that coaches, teammates and front-office personnel associated with him are often replaced.

While the Hawks have indeed cycled through leadership, including head coaches Lloyd Pierce and Nate McMillan, the organization’s instability was not due to its star player alone. Plus, at 27, Young is still learning the ropes and has had plenty of time to silence his critics, with Beverley undoubtedly at the forefront of that line.

Washington, DC – One of the Washington Wizards’ most dramatic games of the season was a 123-118 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday, which included a Trae Young ejection. But third-year guard Bilal Coulibaly’s season-high 23 points (9-16, 5-7 3-point) were the most important aspect of the night for Washington’s development.

The 21-year-old player told ClutchPoints after the game What has helped him improve? Recently his shooting took place.

Bilal Coulibaly scored a season-high 23 points tonight and went 5 of 7 from deep. His shot has improved significantly recently, and he attributes it to getting more reps and finding his rhythm. The oft-injured guard has been in the lineup consistently since late January, having… pic.twitter.com/EbxySnQcwl

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 3 March 2026

“Just getting more reps, being out there more,” he said. “Finding my rhythm, and yeah, just my thing.”

Koulibaly’s recent increase in shooting efficiency has coincided with his healthiest stretch of the season. The 6-foot-7-inch, 195-pound player has appeared in 15 of the Wizards’ last 16 games after missing multiple contests in each month from October through January. He struggled offensively throughout the postseason, topping out with a 41.7% field goal clip in January and a 29.6% 3-point clip in November. However, he posted a 46% field goal clip (33.3% 3-point) in February.

Head coach Brian Keefe was asked if the improvement was due to more reps or any specific changes such as his shooting form.

He said, “I’m not going to go into that specifically, but you know, he’s diligent about his craft, he’s working on specific things.” “It’s really intentional, and you have to put time into it, and he’s doing it all.”

While Keefe kept the details to himself, Coulibaly’s look now looks more effortless than ever. For example, the shot of the original Frenchman in this practice clip from October 18 was disjointed, because he didn’t always release the ball At the top of his jump.

After practice, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly hit three shots. Coulibaly continued to work after suffering a thumb injury at the EuroBasket. pic.twitter.com/xVcoVyCm8d

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 18 October 2025

However, Monday’s game was a different story. The clip below shows Coulibaly shooting with fluid motion And without a hitch, when he hit an off-dribble three after letting the ball go at the top of his jump.

Four triples in the first half for Bilal

📊 14 PTS | 4 pm 3 pm pic.twitter.com/Q5d76aewLj

– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) 3 March 2026

The eye test shows that Coulibaly has made necessary changes to his mechanics, which could change the direction of his career. At this point, the two-time Rising Star has established himself as a defensive specialist with supreme athleticism, as he is known for explosive dunks. But his field goal clip has decreased each season, as he posted a 43.5% mark as a rookie before dropping to 42.1% last year and 41.9% this year. Additionally, his three-point percentage as a rookie dropped from 34.6 last season to 28.1, and this year he is at 30.4%. This has made him a liability offensively.

Injuries have played a role, as Koulibaly was shut down in March 2024 with a right wrist fracture and then again last March with a hamstring strain. Additionally, the 2023 No. 7 overall pick had thumb surgery in September after tearing a ligament while playing for France at EuroBasket, causing him to miss the first four games of the season. He also had other minor illnesses due to which he lost time.

It’s difficult for a player to settle into a rhythm and improve when he’s constantly injured, but if Koulibaly continues to stay healthy and efficient offensively, he’ll make a strong case as a long-term player ahead of his first extension-eligible offseason.

Young, who will make his Wizards debut on Thursday at home against the Utah Jazz, should get more open looks than Coulibaly because of his offensive intensity. If the latter player takes advantage of the opportunity, he could finish the season with a career-best shooting percentage.

Trae Young, Kevin Durant headline fun Wizards-Rockets contest

Young (knee/quad) didn’t play Monday, but he made his presence known when he was ejected for walking the floor in street clothes while Washington rookie Jameer Watkins and Houston forward Tari Eason got into an altercation. Youth was stuck For Watkins, as Eason had pushed him to the ground moments earlier.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Fans cheered Young as he entered the tunnel, and after the game he posted about the incident on social media.

He added, “Don’t expect me to be out in DC that many times.. but I’ll definitely bring that energy and competitiveness when I come back for my brothers.”

Although Young broke the rules by taking the court as a passive player, it showed that he cared about his teammates. Additionally, the former All-NBA honoree announced via social media on Tuesday that he will not be suspended before Thursday’s start.

Additionally, Rockets superstar and D.C.-area native Kevin Durant recorded 30 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3-point) with seven rebounds in 37 minutes on his homecoming night. The 37-year-old also became irritated with second-year Wizards guard Bub Carrington as the two talked trash before pushing Carrington back at the end of the game. The latter player then fell to the ground and Durant faced a technical foul.

However, the future Hall of Famer held no grudge against Washington. it was seemed to be giving signals Second-year Wizards wing Keyshawn George postgame via On SI’s Lachard Binkley.

KD loves basketball. Even after playing 37 minutes, he is still giving the other team’s youngsters pointers that they can use for the rest of their careers. pic.twitter.com/HvUUvyak7m

– Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) 3 March 2026

Durant also said he is “excited for the hometown team”, now that youth and star big man Anthony Davis is in the district via Carita Park of Double Take Sports. Wizards fans haven’t had much to get excited about in recent years, but the team’s young core combined with their new stars and whoever they draft in the lottery this summer gives them a chance to be competitive next season and beyond.

Although Trae Young has not played a game for the Wizards yet thrown out during Lost 123-118 to the Rockets last night. Late in the third quarter of the game, there was a brief skirmish between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason that led to the game being stopped. While Young did not involve himself on the field, he walked off the court as it was happening, causing him to be ejected.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Although ejections do occur from time to time and are used as both punishment and deterrent to prevent situations from escalating, it is not every night that a passive player is ejected. It is also rare for a player who is not a good fit for a team to be dropped. As a result, questions arose as to whether Young would be punished for the ejection. According to NBA insider Mark Spears, he’s in the clear.

“I’ve been told that no further discipline is expected from the league office for Washington’s Trae Young after he was ejected for ‘running on the court’ in Monday night’s game against Houston,” Stein said. He said Young’s highly anticipated debut as a member of the Wizards will come Thursday when the team faces the Utah Jazz.

Young has only played 10 games this season due to injury, but is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists as well as one steal per game.

The Atlanta Hawks essentially hit the reset button when they traded franchise cornerstone Trae Young to the Washington Wizards at the deadline. It’s clear they plan to build around their youth like rising star Jalen Johnson. And their other deadline trade for Jonathan Kuminga solidifies their direction. According to NBA insider Jake Fisher, the name of the game for the Hawks is to identify potential young talent, which they hope to do with the signing of Keyshawn Gilbert to a two-way contract roster spot.

With the Hawks signing Keyshawn Gilbert, all three two-way contract spots on their roster have been filled. The Hawks had an open spot after converting Caleb Houston’s two-way to a standard deal. Gilbert joins Christian Koloko and Raze Dennis as the Hawks’ two-way contract players.

Gilbert is on a new term with the Wizards as part of a 10-day contract. During that period, he appeared in three games, at a rate of approximately 16 minutes per game. He averaged 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 50 percent from 2-point range and 100 percent from the free-throw line.

His best game came in his first game with the Wizards, even though they lost to the Brooklyn Nets. He finished with a well-rounded stat line of four points, three rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots in a little over 28 minutes. He went a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Gilbert joined the Wizards for training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract. He was waived before the start of the season, and was playing for their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go’s.

The Trae Young era has already begun for the Washington Wizards – sort of.

Young has yet to see action on the field as a Wizard, but now he’s part of the story of Monday night’s game between his Wizards and the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena in Washington.

That’s when he was surprisingly ejected from the contest amid a heated moment on the court between Washington guard Jameer Watkins and Rockets forward Tari Eason in the third quarter.

Apparently, Young, who was not in uniform, entered the courtroom, while Watkins and Eason joined him.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Due to lower body (knee and quad) injuries, the 27-year-old Young has not been eligible for games with the Wizards since Washington acquired him via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in January in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

But he is close to debuting with Washington. He is reportedly expected to play his first game as a Wizard this coming Thursday in a home game against the Utah Jazz.

Although the Wizards are literally headed for the lottery, that obviously won’t stop the former Oklahoma Sooners star from playing this week. That said, Young is unlikely to get heavy minutes immediately in his return, as he needs more time to shake off the rust amid a lengthy absence from the court.

Young has only played 10 games so far this season, during which he has averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds, while shooting just 41.5 percent from the field.

The Washington Wizards pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the trade deadline when they acquired star point guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks. Young has yet to make his Wizards debut as he continues to recover from injury, but that’s about to change this week.

Trae Young is on track to return from injury and make his Wizards debut on Thursday for the team’s home game against the Utah Jazz, the star guard announced via his podcast, ‘From the Point.’ Young had been battling knee injuries this season, and was already sidelined when the Hawks traded him.

Young has been limited to only 10 games this season, and the last time he suited up for the Dawgs was on December 27 when he played a little more than 31 minutes in the Hawks’ loss against the New York Knicks. Since then he has missed 29 consecutive games.

In the 10 games that Young appeared in this season, he averaged 19.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.0 steals, including 41.5 percent shooting from the field, 30.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 86.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Young played his entire career so far with the Hawks. Now in his eighth season in the NBA, the four-time All-Star is hoping to be part of the Wizards’ turnaround after a rebuilding few years.

Young wasn’t the only big acquisition the Wizards made at the deadline. The team also acquired star big man Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks, who complemented Young with an elite threat in the paint and around the basket. With the Wizards’ current young core, the team appears poised to take a step forward next season.

The Buffalo Bills often came close to a Super Bowl appearance under Sean McDermott. Unlocking Josh Allen’s elite level of performance as NFL MVP certainly helped. Yet, despite seven consecutive playoff appearances, the Bills were not able to reach the promised berth, leading to McDermott’s dismissal after nine seasons as head coach.

Now the Bills are moving forward with a new leadership group, starting with recently promoted Brandon Beane and first-year head coach Joe Brady, who was promoted from offensive coordinator. One of the top items on Buffalo’s agenda should be strengthening the team’s receiving corps, which was clearly something McDermott would love to see as well.

Recently, ESPN’s NFL analysts Dan Graziano and Ben Solak came up with a list of the best 15 players who could hit the trade block this offseason. In doing so, he named Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. as a potential trade candidate. Nevertheless, when listing teams for which Thomas could be suited, he also listed the Bills in addition to the Patriots, Steelers and Raiders.

If the Bills are willing to part with some valuable draft picks (possibly no less than a second-round pick plus change), perhaps they could pry Thomas out of Jacksonville. He appears to be an ideal fit for the receiver the Bills were looking for when they selected Keon Coleman with the 33rd overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Coleman is 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, but the 22-year-old has compiled only 67 receptions for 960 yards and 8 touchdowns in two seasons in Buffalo. Meanwhile, Thomas is 6-foot-2, 209 pounds and the 23-year-old has compiled 135 receptions for 1,989 yards and 12 touchdowns since becoming the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

RELATED: 5 Best Mike Evans Free Agency Landing Spots

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

The Washington Wizards are counting on Trae Young to help lead them through their painfully long rebuild, but even before they acquired him in a trade last January, the four-time All-Star point guard breathed new life into the Atlanta Hawks. Although the union ultimately worked its way out and both sides agreed it was time to part ways, Young was responsible for many exciting moments at State Farm Arena. He formally received the flowers on Tuesday night.

Before facing the Wizards, the Hawks played a nice tribute video to the 2021-22 All-NBA Third-Team selection, which included some of his greatest shots, nutmegging Kevin Durant in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game and, of course, his famous bow at Madison Square Garden after eliminating the New York Knicks in the playoffs. The fans filled the building with applause and gratitude. Young reciprocated the love, but she still needed some time to get over her feelings after returning home.

He moved to the X following Washington’s 119–98 loss. “Still gathering my thoughts,” posted the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. “My love for Atlanta is eternal.”

Young is still sidelined with an MCL sprain and quadriceps injury, so he got a chance to enjoy the crowd’s applause throughout the evening. The 2024-25 assists champion is dedicated to helping the Wizards compete in the East moving forward, but he will always be tied to ATL.

Trae Young led the team to an incredible trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022, a feat the Hawks have achieved only once since moving to Atlanta in 1968. He is also the all-time franchise leader in 3-pointers (1,295) and assists (4,837). City is optimistic for this new era of Hoops, but it is clearly grateful for the heavy workload that the No. 3 took on during his eight years with the team.

And he clearly feels the same way. After this moment of closure, both sides will now turn the page on what they hope will be a promising chapter in their respective NBA journeys.

Before the trade deadline, the Atlanta Hawks decided to move on by trading former face of the franchise Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Young was often injured this season and was not very productive when healthy, but the Hawks decided they would rather get some value for him rather than give him a big contract moving forward.

It also allows the Hawks to transition to a defense-first identity, with the team handing the keys to the franchise to rising star Jalen Johnson. But Young’s departure was so sudden that everyone didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.

Tuesday night, Hawks visit Young with Wizards finally got it His well-deserved public farewell. The Hawks released a tribute video to Young, to which the multiple-time All-Star reacted emotionally.

Via ClutchPoints beat reporter Malik Brown and Hawks.com reporter Kevin Chouinard:

Trae Young Tribute Video + Trae’s Reaction pic.twitter.com/ZHXl8v715a

– Malik Brown (@_MalikATL) 25 February 2026

Trae Young reacts to his tribute video pic.twitter.com/mJ2xF5H6eT

– Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) 25 February 2026

Young played some of his best basketball for the Hawks, and the city of Atlanta adopted him as one of their own. It may not have worked out for Young in the end in Atlanta, but that doesn’t take away from anything he’s done for the team in his seven and a half seasons with the team.

Trae Young, Hawks make fresh start

The Hawks got a fresh start, but so did Young. Young has long been scapegoated for his defensive shortcomings, but in the nation’s capital, he’ll get more help than ever, especially once Anthony Davis gets healthy.

It wasn’t an easy decision for the Hawks to lose Young, but Johnson’s emergence as a point forward and the team’s improved depth could bode well for their future – especially when they have a potential top-five pick in this year’s draft.

With the NBA playoffs far out of reach and the NBA Draft Lottery the only scoreboard that matters, Will Hardy has transferred his message to the young Utah Jazz roster. Forget rigid scripts. Think for yourself. The Jazz want their players to be decision-makers, independent thinkers who are able to direct their own careers. Speaking after the All-Star break, Hardy presented a philosophy that stands in stark contrast to the hyper-structured world of modern NBA player development.

The Jazz, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with one of the league’s worst records, are succumbing to the realities of a rebuild. Victory is rare. Minutes are plentiful for the young core. They need to figure out who has the ability to gain control instead of just following orders.

“With all of our young players, we’re encouraging them to be independent thinkers about their careers, about their development,” Hardy said. “It’s about who they want to be as a person, where they want to be as a player, because I think in today’s world, we have a lot of personal trainers. We have strength coaches, and the staff has grown up as well.”

The alternative, Hardy warned, is a dangerous inaction.

“So it can be easier for the players,” Hardy admitted, “if they want, check their phone, look at the schedule that’s set out for them. They come into the facility and take what they should be taking for breakfast. We say here are the vitamins you should be taking. They go into the weight room, and it’s two sets of something with eight reps each. We go on the court and tell them where to shoot. They can go all day without having to make decisions for themselves.”

Hardy believes that hand-to-hand existence poses a long-term risk. One day, the structure disappears. Come free agency, a trade means joining a new team, or life after basketball will have to be considered. The players discover that they never learned to pilot their ship.

“It can be a slippery slope,” Hardy said, “because there will come a day when they realize they have no control over what they’re doing.”

Hardy was careful not to suggest a single solution. He acknowledged that agency is not something every young player is ready to embrace immediately.

“I think it’s a case-by-case basis, but we have to encourage all of our athletes to think about it,” Hardy shared. “As you move along in your process, some people may feel like taking on that agency. Some people may not want to take on that agency because they’re not sure what to do with it.”

In a season defined by accusations of tanking (earlier this month the Jazz were fined $500,000 by the NBA for resting healthy players, which the league deemed harmful), Hardy’s approach has doubled as both practical and philosophical. With little to lose in the standings, franchises can afford to experiment, fail and adjust players on their own terms. The goal is not to produce more losses, but to create more self-reliant professionals who will eventually thrive when the franchise fights again.

It remains to be seen whether every player embraces the freedom. Hardy acknowledged that some people would crave the comfort of a printed program. However, in a rebuild where the future is more important than the present, the Jazz are betting that the people who step up and make their own decisions will be the ones who will matter most when the tank eventually ends.

Led by Myles Garrett and coordinated by Jim Schwartz, the Cleveland Browns have developed a reputation for effective defense. While Cleveland has not been able to post enough wins, their defense has helped keep the Browns in many games.

Only, now that Kevin Stefanski has been fired and Todd Monken has been hired, Schwartz will not return in 2026. Now, it turns out that not one of the Browns’ young Pro Bowl defenders is expected to return. In fact, he is not expected to ever play football again.

According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is “doubtful to return to the field of play.”

Koramoa’s neck injury occurred on October 27, 2024, against the Ravens, where he was involved in a brutal collision with 6-foot-2, 252-pound running back Derrick Henry. He was coming off a Pro Bowl year, but this injury ended his season after eight games. Koramoah, 26, has not played a snap since.

The Browns have already prepared for JOK’s absence by selecting Carson Schwesinger with the 33rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 22-year-old linebacker earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after a stellar season in which he recorded 156 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.

If this is the end of the road for Koramoah, he will have made $18.06 million over his four-year NFL career.

RELATED: Cleveland Browns become ‘preferred landing spot’ for dual-threat QB

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

In an unexpected comment, one of MLB’s best pitchers urged the Atlanta Braves to sign nine-year veteran Lucas Giolito.

Despite finishing 76-86 last year, there is legitimate excitement about the Braves for the 2026 season. Many believe that Ronald Acuña Jr. can be an MVP candidate again. They brought back impressive veteran Ha-seong Kim. All-Star closer Robert Suarez was added, and Spencer Strider will be another year removed from UCL surgery.

Strider and ace Chris Sale were drafted to lead a rotation that had the potential to become one of the best in the league. However, that group suffered massive losses last week. Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach are both expected to miss the majority of the 2026 season due to surgery on their pitching elbows.

While the Braves still have solid pitching depth, they are looking to the free agent market for potential options to fill Waldrep and Schwellenbach’s spots in the rotation. One player who has been linked to Atlanta is one-time All-Star Lucas Giolito.

The 31-year-old had a good season for the Boston Red Sox in 2025 after missing all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery. Yet, for some reason, he remains a free agent with a week-old spring training available to teams around the league.

Garrett Crockett leads Braves to sign Lucas Giolito

Well, his 2025 teammate Garrett Crockett believes that should end there, and claimed this week that the Braves are a “pretty obvious” spot where he should land.

“It doesn’t mean anything special. However, it’s been that way for a while,” Crochet told the media on Saturday when asked about Giolito still being available. “The middle of the market gets messed up on both the position player and pitching side and once the season starts either the signings end or what have you.”

He added, “…a lot of people never understand it here. The people who have, have stayed here for some reason in the past. I don’t think just because we’re being super analytical, we should look at it any different.” “When you look at depth, you’re looking at guys who are experienced and have done it, not guys who can do it. That’s not depth. It’s just another possibility.”

Giolito went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA and struck out 121 batters in 145 innings last season.

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

華盛頓奇才隊是本賽季 NBA 中最有趣的球隊之一，但這並不是因為他們在球場上的表現。相反，他們的交易使他們成為聯盟的話題。

上個月，華盛頓從亞特蘭大老鷹隊用CJ·麥科勒姆和科里·基斯珀特換來了特雷·楊，這位久經考驗的全明星球員的進攻風格和防守能力受到了嚴重質疑。然後本週，奇才隊交易了達拉斯小牛隊經常受傷的大個子安東尼·戴維斯，這筆交易將多名球員、兩個首輪選秀權和三個第二輪選秀權送到了達拉斯。

由於這兩筆交易都擁有才華橫溢但又存在缺陷的球員，因此人們正在將這兩筆交易進行相互比較，但 ESPN NBA 內部人士布萊恩·溫德霍斯特 (Brian Windhorst) 表示，兩者之間存在很大差異。

“這絕對不是 [the same trade]”溫德霍斯特在《The Hoop Collective》中回應蒂姆·邦坦普斯時說道。“我們知道特雷·楊有一份合同 [agreement with the Wizards]。我不會那樣做的。我們對安東尼·戴維斯一無所知。因此，如果他獲得續約，那麼我會重新評估。

“他們不同意延長這筆交易……我相當肯定他們不同意與他續約，而特雷·楊的事情，他們給了他老眨眼。”

雖然雙方在休賽期之前都無法正式簽署符合楊可能希望的條款的續約合同，但溫德霍斯特的評估可能是正確的，因為華盛頓在談判這名後衛的交易時，承諾在休賽期與他簽下一份重要協議。楊與老鷹隊簽訂的五年期價值 2.15 億美元的合同正處於第四個賽季，他擁有價值 4900 萬美元的球員選項，他可以在夏天行使或拒絕。

至於比楊大五歲的戴維斯，他在 2023 年與洛杉磯湖人隊簽下一份為期三年、價值 1.754 億美元的續約合同，目前正處於第一個賽季。去年2月，小牛隊在臭名昭著的盧卡·東契奇交易中得到了他，但由於傷病，他只打了29場比賽，這對戴維斯來說是很常見的情況。

戴維斯可以在 2027 年成為一名不受限制的自由球員，儘管目前還不清楚 34 歲且有嚴重傷病史的他是否會拒絕 6280 萬美元的球員選項。

如果楊和戴維斯能夠保持健康，而且重要的是，與此同時，奇才隊可能會成為東部聯盟中一支強大的球隊。華盛頓已經擁有眾多年輕有前途的球員，當然可以從戴維斯的雙向能力以及楊聞名的進攻組織中受益。

奇才隊（13勝36負）今晚將在客場迎戰東部頂級球隊底特律活塞隊。

卡羅萊納黑豹隊是上個 NFL 賽季的一支令人驚訝的球隊。他們以 8 勝 9 負的戰績進入季后賽，但在季后賽中以 34 比 31 輸給了洛杉磯公羊隊。儘管對黑豹隊的期望仍然很低，但他們進入季后賽很大程度上是因為布萊斯·楊在中鋒位置上的進步，展示了他對卡羅來納州整體的價值。

楊出現在最新一集的“帕特·邁克菲秀”中，並表示他一直在努力在 NFL 中成長和進步。他表示，每個人在NFL都有自己的旅程，當誤差幅度如此之小時，就可能導致許多不同的結果。

上賽季，楊打出了職業生涯最好的賽季。他傳球推進 3,011 碼，達陣 23 次，被攔截 11 次，傳球成功率 63.6%。這標誌著楊第一次展示了他作為 NFL 四分衛的真正潛力。

在回應他的批評者以及他們可能早早放棄他和他在黑豹隊的時光時，楊說：“我個人，或者我們作為一個團隊，都不太關注外界的噪音。我也是體育迷，所以我感謝任何有意見的人。這意味著他們關心和支持，我很感激。但對我們來說，我們只能專注於手頭的任務，專注於我們自己，以及我們在球隊中所做的事情。”我很欣賞這個挑戰。 ”

這個賽季是一次突破，但遠非完美。黑豹隊仍然以 8 勝 9 負的戰績結束比賽，並失去了多次獨自鎖定國聯南區的機會。他們之所以進入季后賽是因為獵鷹隊在第 18 週擊敗了聖徒隊。

黑豹隊也有很多才華橫溢的球員可以圍繞布萊斯·楊進行打造。兩個最大的球員是邊路的特泰羅亞·麥克米蘭和後場的里科·道德爾。麥克米蘭作為楊最喜歡的外接手度過了一個精彩的新秀賽季，道德爾則成為後場的新首發。

在馬修·斯塔福德 (Matthew Stafford) 早早觸地普卡納庫亞 (Puka Nacua) 後，卡羅萊納黑豹隊 (Carolina Panthers) 看起來已經做好了迎接漫長夜晚的準備。但事實證明，布萊斯·楊和杰倫·科克在美國銀行體育場內“繼續衝擊”。

卡羅萊納將兩位數的大比分落後變成了20-17。然後楊將球深深地傳給了科克，將這次接球變成了史詩般的 52 碼推進。

這次接球就跑最終導致查巴·哈伯德在內線得分，達陣得分。

黑豹領先！

Chuba Hubbard 親自帶球進入達陣區 😤

pic.twitter.com/ATZSIDV4b9

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 1 月 11 日

卡羅來納州在比賽中首次取得領先。黑豹隊在最後時刻面對公羊隊10分的優勢，取得了高潮。

布萊斯·楊/杰倫·科克聯手後，公羊隊對陣黑豹隊迎來了新的轉折

公羊隊在凱倫·威廉姆斯的帶領下在第四節重新奪回比分。但普卡·納庫亞永遠不可能做到這一點……甚至沒有接住傳球。

納庫亞在一次關鍵的達陣區傳球中扮演了封閉防守後衛的角色。斯塔福德似乎正在為他本場比賽的第二次攔截做好準備。然而，這位全職業外接手卻罕見地被斷球。

在公羊隊在卡羅萊納紅區內面對第二和第六場比賽后，威廉姆斯繼續在幾場比賽中擊球。

凱倫·威廉姆斯 (Kyren Williams) 憑藉這一達陣讓公羊隊在第四節後期取得領先 🔥

pic.twitter.com/X9mc6vXtDn

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 1 月 11 日

比賽還剩不到八分鐘時，公羊隊以 27-24 反超。隨後，洛杉磯隊對楊和黑豹隊的進攻進行了一次大三出局，迫使棄踢隊出局。

斯塔福德在納庫亞的比賽中進一步發揮了作用——在三名不同的後衛附近接住了一次精彩的接球。那次比賽消耗了 16 碼，但也導致多名黑豹隊球員在碰撞後搖晃。

比賽還剩不到 6 分 05 秒時，公羊隊領先。