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Which NFL draft rumors are you buying this year, and which are nothingburgers? Barely one week separates us from the 2026 NFL Draft, and that is good news because it feels like we are barely going to make it.So much has happened (Tua Tagovailoa is a Falcon!) and not happened (Maxx Crosby is still a Raider!) that getting through the draft feels necessary at this point. It will help the waters fully and finally calm across the NFL and close out (for the most part) the roster construction period.It will probably be quite the ride to get to the end, though.What kind of quarterback room are the Raiders going to have?Since we last spoke, the Las Vegas Raiders adjusted their quarterback room. Obviously they are expected to do it again with the No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza as well.Kirk Cousins sort of feels like the perfect player to have ahead of Mendoza. The Atlanta experience likely helped Kirk understand his new place in the league as a backup and mentor to a younger signal-caller, and Mendoza seems like the perfect one to live and operate under his wing.It was always going to be fascinating to see what kind of situation Klint Kubiak developed with the Raiders. It feels like he’s off to a strong start.I don’t think there’s going to be anything unique happening with this room. I believe the addition of Kirk Cousins is nothing more than an insurance policy if Mendoza is not ready to lead the team right out of the gate. Cousins has not looked great since his Achilles tear and leaving the Vikings, but he’s still better than the majority of backups and gives the Raiders a relatively high floor at the position.In comparison to what they got out of Geno Smith in 2025, this is a huge upgrade. Now let’s see how they approach protecting their quarterback and upgrading the offense around him after the first round this year.Which draft rumor are you buying?This is such a weird class in that there aren’t many players seen as the consensus top guy at their position this year. One murmur I’m buying is that Georgia’s Monroe Freeling has the opportunity to be the first offensive tackle off the board, over the likes of Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Spencer Fano (Utah).Freeling is a very prototypical tackle at 6’7” and 315 pounds with excellent athleticism. He’s the picture of an NFL tackle and it feels like teams are very willing to overlook his small sample of starting experience in college.Do I think that’s smart? Not necessarily, but what do I know? I’m just a guy who writes the sweetest NFL column in the whole world.So much of the discussion around this class has been about how it is a little less impressive in some respects. In this respect I fully and totally buy that teams near the top are looking to trade out.I particularly buy this when it comes to squads like the Titans and Cardinals. They are not close enough to contending in 2026 so it makes sense for them to accrue more capital to set themselves up for when the opportunity is more closely in front of them.I definitely buy that someone outside of the top 10 is going to want to move up.Which draft rumor are you selling?It feels kind of impossible for AJ Brown to get traded at this point in my opinion. Why would Howie Roseman do it now? What would the benefit be?I suppose the answer to this is that the Eagles first acquired Brown during the NFL draft so anything is possible in that sense. It would just be tugging at a thread that they should leave alone for the Eagles to do this now in my mind. I still see very little to gain from their perspective.There’s been a recent story being published around the media landscape that involves Miami edge rusher prospect Rueben Bain Jr. being a part of a fatal car accident in 2024. It’s being plastered just about everywhere despite the matter essentially being moved on from by all parties involved way before this draft season. The thought now is that Bain will see his draft stock fall because that’s usually what happens in these cases that happen so close to the draft, but when the family of the person who lost their life comes out and says they did not want the story published because they would prefer to move on, that tells me it’s as much of a nothingburger as something like this can get. It’s a very, very unfortunate story but it should not have any bearing on when Bain ultimately gets picked next week.Will the draft completely change any team?Given the lack of quarterbacks beyond Mendoza I don’t think anybody is going to be seriously transformed after the draft. That is simply the way that professional football works.It is hard to capture lightning in a bottle, and even if you do that doesn’t necessarily mean your fortunes completely shift on a dime. Everyone is chasing the Seattle Seahawks these days and I don’t know that any one team is a draft away from everything being right in front of them.Looking across the NFL landscape with the draft just a week and a half away, I have to say no. The closest team to doing such a thing, in my opinion, is the Raiders who spent a ton of money on their defense in free agency and have the number one pick. With the majority of their cap space being spent on that side of the ball, I would not be surprised if they really leaned into the offense during the draft, essentially building that side from the jump with (presumably) Fernando Mendoza as their quarterback of the future.By the start of the 2026 regular season, the Raiders should look quite, quite different than on opening day last year. #NFL #draft #rumors #buying #year #nothingburgers

Which NFL draft rumors are you buying this year, and which are nothingburgers?

Barely one week separates us from the 2026 NFL Draft, and that is good news because it feels like we are barely going to make it.

So much has happened (Tua Tagovailoa is a Falcon!) and not happened (Maxx Crosby is still a Raider!) that getting through the draft feels necessary at this point. It will help the waters fully and finally calm across the NFL and close out (for the most part) the roster construction period.

It will probably be quite the ride to get to the end, though.

What kind of quarterback room are the Raiders going to have?

Since we last spoke, the Las Vegas Raiders adjusted their quarterback room. Obviously they are expected to do it again with the No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza as well.

Kirk Cousins sort of feels like the perfect player to have ahead of Mendoza. The Atlanta experience likely helped Kirk understand his new place in the league as a backup and mentor to a younger signal-caller, and Mendoza seems like the perfect one to live and operate under his wing.

It was always going to be fascinating to see what kind of situation Klint Kubiak developed with the Raiders. It feels like he’s off to a strong start.

I don’t think there’s going to be anything unique happening with this room. I believe the addition of Kirk Cousins is nothing more than an insurance policy if Mendoza is not ready to lead the team right out of the gate. Cousins has not looked great since his Achilles tear and leaving the Vikings, but he’s still better than the majority of backups and gives the Raiders a relatively high floor at the position.

In comparison to what they got out of Geno Smith in 2025, this is a huge upgrade. Now let’s see how they approach protecting their quarterback and upgrading the offense around him after the first round this year.

Which draft rumor are you buying?

This is such a weird class in that there aren’t many players seen as the consensus top guy at their position this year. One murmur I’m buying is that Georgia’s Monroe Freeling has the opportunity to be the first offensive tackle off the board, over the likes of Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Spencer Fano (Utah).

Freeling is a very prototypical tackle at 6’7” and 315 pounds with excellent athleticism. He’s the picture of an NFL tackle and it feels like teams are very willing to overlook his small sample of starting experience in college.

Do I think that’s smart? Not necessarily, but what do I know? I’m just a guy who writes the sweetest NFL column in the whole world.

So much of the discussion around this class has been about how it is a little less impressive in some respects. In this respect I fully and totally buy that teams near the top are looking to trade out.

I particularly buy this when it comes to squads like the Titans and Cardinals. They are not close enough to contending in 2026 so it makes sense for them to accrue more capital to set themselves up for when the opportunity is more closely in front of them.

I definitely buy that someone outside of the top 10 is going to want to move up.

Which draft rumor are you selling?

It feels kind of impossible for AJ Brown to get traded at this point in my opinion. Why would Howie Roseman do it now? What would the benefit be?

I suppose the answer to this is that the Eagles first acquired Brown during the NFL draft so anything is possible in that sense. It would just be tugging at a thread that they should leave alone for the Eagles to do this now in my mind. I still see very little to gain from their perspective.

There’s been a recent story being published around the media landscape that involves Miami edge rusher prospect Rueben Bain Jr. being a part of a fatal car accident in 2024. It’s being plastered just about everywhere despite the matter essentially being moved on from by all parties involved way before this draft season. The thought now is that Bain will see his draft stock fall because that’s usually what happens in these cases that happen so close to the draft, but when the family of the person who lost their life comes out and says they did not want the story published because they would prefer to move on, that tells me it’s as much of a nothingburger as something like this can get. It’s a very, very unfortunate story but it should not have any bearing on when Bain ultimately gets picked next week.

Will the draft completely change any team?

Given the lack of quarterbacks beyond Mendoza I don’t think anybody is going to be seriously transformed after the draft. That is simply the way that professional football works.

It is hard to capture lightning in a bottle, and even if you do that doesn’t necessarily mean your fortunes completely shift on a dime. Everyone is chasing the Seattle Seahawks these days and I don’t know that any one team is a draft away from everything being right in front of them.

Looking across the NFL landscape with the draft just a week and a half away, I have to say no. The closest team to doing such a thing, in my opinion, is the Raiders who spent a ton of money on their defense in free agency and have the number one pick. With the majority of their cap space being spent on that side of the ball, I would not be surprised if they really leaned into the offense during the draft, essentially building that side from the jump with (presumably) Fernando Mendoza as their quarterback of the future.

By the start of the 2026 regular season, the Raiders should look quite, quite different than on opening day last year.

#NFL #draft #rumors #buying #year #nothingburgers

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Barely one week separates us from the 2026 NFL Draft, and that is good news because it feels like we are barely going to make it.

So much has happened (Tua Tagovailoa is a Falcon!) and not happened (Maxx Crosby is still a Raider!) that getting through the draft feels necessary at this point. It will help the waters fully and finally calm across the NFL and close out (for the most part) the roster construction period.

It will probably be quite the ride to get to the end, though.

What kind of quarterback room are the Raiders going to have?

Since we last spoke, the Las Vegas Raiders adjusted their quarterback room. Obviously they are expected to do it again with the No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza as well.

Kirk Cousins sort of feels like the perfect player to have ahead of Mendoza. The Atlanta experience likely helped Kirk understand his new place in the league as a backup and mentor to a younger signal-caller, and Mendoza seems like the perfect one to live and operate under his wing.

It was always going to be fascinating to see what kind of situation Klint Kubiak developed with the Raiders. It feels like he’s off to a strong start.

I don’t think there’s going to be anything unique happening with this room. I believe the addition of Kirk Cousins is nothing more than an insurance policy if Mendoza is not ready to lead the team right out of the gate. Cousins has not looked great since his Achilles tear and leaving the Vikings, but he’s still better than the majority of backups and gives the Raiders a relatively high floor at the position.

In comparison to what they got out of Geno Smith in 2025, this is a huge upgrade. Now let’s see how they approach protecting their quarterback and upgrading the offense around him after the first round this year.

Which draft rumor are you buying?

This is such a weird class in that there aren’t many players seen as the consensus top guy at their position this year. One murmur I’m buying is that Georgia’s Monroe Freeling has the opportunity to be the first offensive tackle off the board, over the likes of Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Spencer Fano (Utah).

Freeling is a very prototypical tackle at 6’7” and 315 pounds with excellent athleticism. He’s the picture of an NFL tackle and it feels like teams are very willing to overlook his small sample of starting experience in college.

Do I think that’s smart? Not necessarily, but what do I know? I’m just a guy who writes the sweetest NFL column in the whole world.

So much of the discussion around this class has been about how it is a little less impressive in some respects. In this respect I fully and totally buy that teams near the top are looking to trade out.

I particularly buy this when it comes to squads like the Titans and Cardinals. They are not close enough to contending in 2026 so it makes sense for them to accrue more capital to set themselves up for when the opportunity is more closely in front of them.

I definitely buy that someone outside of the top 10 is going to want to move up.

Which draft rumor are you selling?

It feels kind of impossible for AJ Brown to get traded at this point in my opinion. Why would Howie Roseman do it now? What would the benefit be?

I suppose the answer to this is that the Eagles first acquired Brown during the NFL draft so anything is possible in that sense. It would just be tugging at a thread that they should leave alone for the Eagles to do this now in my mind. I still see very little to gain from their perspective.

There’s been a recent story being published around the media landscape that involves Miami edge rusher prospect Rueben Bain Jr. being a part of a fatal car accident in 2024. It’s being plastered just about everywhere despite the matter essentially being moved on from by all parties involved way before this draft season. The thought now is that Bain will see his draft stock fall because that’s usually what happens in these cases that happen so close to the draft, but when the family of the person who lost their life comes out and says they did not want the story published because they would prefer to move on, that tells me it’s as much of a nothingburger as something like this can get. It’s a very, very unfortunate story but it should not have any bearing on when Bain ultimately gets picked next week.

Will the draft completely change any team?

Given the lack of quarterbacks beyond Mendoza I don’t think anybody is going to be seriously transformed after the draft. That is simply the way that professional football works.

It is hard to capture lightning in a bottle, and even if you do that doesn’t necessarily mean your fortunes completely shift on a dime. Everyone is chasing the Seattle Seahawks these days and I don’t know that any one team is a draft away from everything being right in front of them.

Looking across the NFL landscape with the draft just a week and a half away, I have to say no. The closest team to doing such a thing, in my opinion, is the Raiders who spent a ton of money on their defense in free agency and have the number one pick. With the majority of their cap space being spent on that side of the ball, I would not be surprised if they really leaned into the offense during the draft, essentially building that side from the jump with (presumably) Fernando Mendoza as their quarterback of the future.

By the start of the 2026 regular season, the Raiders should look quite, quite different than on opening day last year.

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Shubhankar Sharma wins inaugural edition of Boulders Classic <div id="content-body-70873897" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Shubhankar Sharma fired a five-under 67 to secure his seventh DP World PGTI title at the inaugural Boulders Classic on Friday.</p><p>Having started his final round with a seven-shot cushion at 20-under, he closed with a five-under 67, featuring six birdies and a lone bogey, to take home the trophy and Rs. 15 lakh in prize money.</p><p>The 29-year-old was in commanding form all week, finishing at a record 25-under 263, a dominant eight shots clear of the field. His total also set a new benchmark for the lowest aggregate score in PGTI history.</p><p>The victory ended a long wait for Shubhankar. It is his first win on the tour since the McLeod Russel Tour Championship in Kolkata in December 2017. It is also his first professional title worldwide in over eight years, his last coming at the Maybank Championship in February 2018.</p><p>His 25-under total surpassed the previous record of 24-under 264, jointly held by Anirban Lahiri (2010), Rashid Khan (2019), Akshay Sharma (2020), and Manu Gandas (2022).</p><p>Rashid Khan, Angad Cheema, and local lad Mohd. Azhar finished tied for second at 17-under 271, eight strokes adrift of Sharma. Khalin Joshi, who triumphed in Visakhapatnam last week, finished tied 12th (10-under 278) with Saptak Talwar, the current PGTI Order of Merit leader.</p><div class="fact-box"><h5 class="main-title"> The results: </h5><p> 1. Shubhankar Sharma (25-under 263) </p><p> 2. Mohd. Azhar, Rashid Khan, Angad Cheema (17-under 271) </p><p> 5. Ajeetesh Sandhu (16-under 272) </p><p> 6. Ravi Kumar, Tanapat Pichaikool, Vishesh Sharma (13-under 255) </p><p> 9. Manu Gandas, Divyanshu Bajaj, Anshul Kabthiyal (11-under 277) </p><p> 12. Khalin H. Joshi, Saptak Talwar (10-under 278) </p><p> 14. Abhinav Lohan, Om Prakash Chouhan (9-under 279) </p></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 17, 2026</p></div> #Shubhankar #Sharma #wins #inaugural #edition #Boulders #Classic

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Deadspin | Hornets seek 1st playoff berth in 10 years in play-in game at Magic <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28064390.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28064390.jpg" alt="NBA: Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Jan 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives the ball past Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (93) in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>For the Charlotte Hornets, winning Friday night’s play-in game and earning the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference would cement the 2025-26 season as one of the most successful campaigns in recent franchise history.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Even with a win Friday, the Orlando Magic will have a lot more work to do to meet their expectations.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The Hornets and Magic will meet to determine the last piece of the Eastern Conference postseason field Friday night, when Charlotte visits Orlando in a battle of Southeast Division rivals.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The winner Friday will earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and advance to a first-round series against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons which is slated to begin Sunday night.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The Hornets, who finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record, advanced to the final round of the play-in when LaMelo Bell hit the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime to lift host Charlotte past the 10th-place Miami Heat, 127-126, in the first elimination play-in game Tuesday night.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The Magic, which finished eighth in the East with a 45-37 record, fell into the elimination play-in game after losing to the host Philadelphia 76ers, 109-97, on Wednesday night, </p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>The frantic and controversial win over the Heat continued a breakout season for the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 – by far the longest drought in the NBA. </p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>Coby White forced overtime by draining a 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds left for the Hornets, who survived Tyler Herro’s errant 3-pointer at the buzzer. </p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>Charlotte squandered a five-point lead in the final 26 seconds of the extra session before Ball – who was fined $35,000 on Wednesday for what was assessed upon review as a flagrant 2 foul on Bam Adebayo that forced the Heat star from the game in the second quarter – scored the winning points.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Miles Bridges blocked a layup by Davion Mitchell at the buzzer, after which Ball capped his expensive night by uttering a profanity during a live interview. The 24-year-old was also fined $25,000 for the profanity.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>“At the end of the day, execution is not always going to be perfect,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said. “But I think that these guys find a way to stick with it and not give in sometimes when things aren’t going well or not going your way.”</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Things have not gone the way the Magic anticipated when they began the season as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Orlando won just four more games than last season despite the addition of Desmond Bane, who played all 82 games, and the return to the lineup of Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, who missed a combined 83 games in 2024-25.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>The Magic, who are attempting to make the playoffs for the third straight season, squandered an opportunity to earn home court against Philadelphia by falling to the Celtics – who sat their top seven scorers – in Sunday’s regular season finale. Orlando shot 39.6% from the field in the loss.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Orlando then shot 40.7% on Wednesday – the first time the Magic has shot below 41% in back-to-back games since consecutive losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers from Jan. 24-26.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>“You live with the result and come out Friday in front of the home crowd and go get a win,” Banchero said. “That’s all you can do. Shots didn’t fall, but you can’t be discouraged. We’ve got another game coming up real soon.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-16"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Hornets #seek #1st #playoff #berth #years #playin #game #Magic

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The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.

Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.

Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.

Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.

This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.

Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27

I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.

Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.

Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.

Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.

Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.

Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone.

#Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players">Illinois looks like No. 1 in men’s college basketball preseason rankings after retaining top players The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone. #Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.

Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.

Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.

Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.

This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.

Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27

I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.

Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.

Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.

Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.

Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.

Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone.

#Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players">Illinois looks like No. 1 in men’s college basketball preseason rankings after retaining top players

The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.

Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.

Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.

Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.

This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.

Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27

I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.

Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.

Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.

Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.

Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.

Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone.

#Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.

Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.

Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.

Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.

The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.

ALSO READ | Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season

Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.

The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.

The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.

ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw

The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.

Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.

Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive">IFL 2025-26: Chanmari thrashes Namdhari to keep top-six hopes alive Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.ALSO READ | Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of seasonChanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 drawThe side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.Published on Apr 17, 2026 #IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive

Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season

Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.

The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.

The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.

ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw

The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.

Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.

Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive">IFL 2025-26: Chanmari thrashes Namdhari to keep top-six hopes alive

Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.

Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.

Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.

Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.

The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.

ALSO READ | Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season

Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.

The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.

The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.

ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw

The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.

Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.

Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive

Bam Adebayo scored 83 points during the Miami’s Heat’s 150-129 triumph over the Washington Wizards on March 10. Two nights later Miami coach Erik Spoelstra used part of a press conference to defend the team’s decision to keep Adebayo on the court late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards, long after the outcome had been decided.

Some of Spoelstra’s comments unwittingly shined a light on a much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.

“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”

Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.

Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.

Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.

Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.

“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”

Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.

One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.

How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.

Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.

If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior.

#NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com">Why the NBA Must Fix Its Draft System to Stop Tanking | Deadspin.com Bam Adebayo scored 83 points during the Miami’s Heat’s 150-129 triumph over the Washington Wizards on March 10. Two nights later Miami coach Erik Spoelstra used part of a press conference to defend the team’s decision to keep Adebayo on the court late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards, long after the outcome had been decided.Some of Spoelstra’s comments unwittingly shined a light on a much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior. #NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com

much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.

“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”

Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.

Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.

Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.

Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.

“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”

Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.

One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.

How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.

Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.

If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior.

#NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com">Why the NBA Must Fix Its Draft System to Stop Tanking | Deadspin.com

Bam Adebayo scored 83 points during the Miami’s Heat’s 150-129 triumph over the Washington Wizards on March 10. Two nights later Miami coach Erik Spoelstra used part of a press conference to defend the team’s decision to keep Adebayo on the court late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards, long after the outcome had been decided.

Some of Spoelstra’s comments unwittingly shined a light on a much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.

“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”

Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.

Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.

Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.

Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.

“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”

Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.

One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.

How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.

Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.

If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior.

#NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com

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