Dodgers president Andrew Friedman confirms Shohei Ohtani will pitch again in 2027 after avoiding offseason surgery, but Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke argues his two‑way workload is unsustainable. Citing Ohtani’s 2026 slump—an 8‑2 record, 1.79 ERA in 14 starts and a dip to .275/.30/81 with the bat—Plaschke suggests the club should either pull him from the mound permanently or consider trading him if he refuses. The piece reviews Ohtani’s unique development in Japan, his MLB milestones, and the $700 million contract that underpins his value, highlighting the tension between his dual‑role brilliance and recent injury‑driven decline.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick wanted Walker Kessler to play with relentless energy. In his first regular season game wearing a Lakers jersey, Kessler already displayed that mentality during the team’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers star had already recorded 10 dunks by the end of the third quarter. […]
The post Lakers’ Walker Kessler pulls off wild feat last done by Shaq with 1-man dunkfest appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Dodgers president Andrew Friedman confirms Shohei Ohtani avoids surgery on his knee and biceps and will be fully healthy for Spring Training, returning to a two‑way role in 2027. The front office still weighs possible workload limits after Ohtani’s injury‑marred second half, which saw him miss September and pitch only through early July. Reliever Will Klein undergoes a minor elbow procedure to remove bone chips but should be ready for Spring Training; he logged a career‑high 41⅔ innings with a 3.67 ERA in 2025. Friedman also says the entire coaching staff, including Dave Roberts and bench coach Danny Lehmann, will return for the 2027 season.
Lakers forward Adou Thiero, who impressed in preseason as a potential 3-and-D contributor, will miss a few days after developing left‑knee effusion—the same knee that delayed his rookie start. Coach JJ Redick confirms Thiero is day‑to‑day and will be shut down briefly before ramping back up. The injury forced Thiero out of the final two preseason games, and the team will closely monitor his recurring knee issues as he aims for a strong sophomore season.
Dalton Knecht could be an interesting option for the 76ers thanks to his connection with LeBron and his sharpshooting.
Lakers greats Robert Horry and James Worthy sit down with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson to dissect Shaquille O’Neal’s landmark 1996 free‑agency move, argue that Horry’s seven rings merit Hall‑of‑Fame induction, and discuss the shifting value of championships in today’s player‑empowerment era. Horry also jokes about a modern‑day Sam Cassell replacement and predicts the Houston Rockets will out‑perform the Los Angeles Lakers in the upcoming season, citing team cohesiveness. The interview blends nostalgia with current NBA trends, offering insider perspectives on free‑agency precedent, ring culture, and future team prospects.
The NBA season has only just begun, yet players are already making headlines for heated exchanges on the court. That was also the case in today’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors game, as Luka Doncic and Yaxel Lendeborg found themselves in a tense confrontation. During the second quarter, Doncic and Lendeborg were spotted […]
The post Lakers’ Luka Doncic gets into it with Yaxel Lendeborg in heated moment appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Arizona Cardinals, sitting 2‑4 and out of the NFC playoff race, are weighing a trade for edge‑rusher Josh Sweat before the deadline. NFL insider Jeremy Fowler says the Dallas Cowboys, also 2‑4, are the frontrunner, seeking Sweat’s pass‑rush skill to boost their defense, while Green Bay also shows interest but may wait for Micah Parsons’ return. Sweat has logged 14 tackles and two sacks in six games, and the Cardinals must decide if his on‑field value outweighs potential draft capital amid a down season.
Luka Doncic is claiming the leadership mantle now for the Los Angeles Lakers. That now means getting on the bad side of rivals like the Golden State Warriors too. Doncic did just that right in front of GSW newcomer Yaxel Lendeborg. Doncic pulled off the wild sequence to end the first half. He heaved the […]
The post Lakers’ Luka Doncic nails halfcourt shot then taunts Yaxel Lendeborg in wild ending to half appeared first on ClutchPoints .
It didn't take long for Luka Dončić and Yaxel Lendeborg to turn the 2026-27 season chippy.
Austin Reaves has seen plenty of changes during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, and now he’s offering some advice to the team’s newest arrivals. The 28-year-old enters the 2026–27 season as the longest-tenured player on the Lakers’ roster, despite only joining the franchise as an undrafted free agent in 2021. With nine new […]
The post Austin Reaves Sends Message to Lakers’ New Arrivals appeared first on Basketball Forever .
Luka Doncic is coming off another dominant season, but Draymond Green believes the Lakers superstar is running out of time to win his first NBA MVP award. The four-time NBA champion made a bold prediction about Doncic’s future during a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show, suggesting the 2026–27 campaign could be his final […]
The post Draymond Green Makes Prediction About Luka Doncic Future appeared first on Basketball Forever .
Arizona's Week 6 hero got "slimed" with special honors after scoring all of the Cardinals' points and kicking a game-winning field goal against the Rams.
The Philadelphia Flyers are intensifying trade talks for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a 23‑year‑old Swedish blueliner who remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. With his contract deadline looming on Dec. 1, Edvinsson has voiced a desire to leave Detroit, while interim GM Shawn Horcoff publicly denies trade interest. Yet sources on DFO Insider reveal that up to ten clubs—including Boston, St. Louis, Seattle, Nashville, and the Flyers—are actively pursuing him, with the Flyers repeatedly highlighted as a frontrunner. Edvinsson posted 9 goals and 25 points in 72 games last season, and analysts suggest a hefty package akin to past deals (Dobson, Sergachev, Byram, Nemec) would be required. The escalating saga could reshape the Flyers’ blue‑line ahead of the 2026‑27 season.
The Suns start rookie center Khaman Maluich, the 10th overall pick, in their season opener after Mark Williams' shoulder surgery sidelines the veteran. The Trail Blazers field Damian Lillard and Ja Morant against Phoenix, while the Lakers start Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle, moving Quentin Grimes to the bench. Coach JJ Redick reports injury updates: Cameron Carr (oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (knee swelling) are day‑to‑day, and Collin Sexton sits out with a calf issue. Minnesota extends Jaden McDaniels with a one‑year deal, and the Thunder lock Cason Wallace into a five‑year, $134 million rookie extension featuring a 5% trade kicker.
The better Anthony Davis plays, the less pressure will be on AJ Dybantsa.
After a sweep by the Brewers ended the Dodgers' three‑peat hopes, Andrew Friedman says the 2027 offseason will be “business as usual” financially, barring any CBA changes. Despite federal inquiries into Mark Walter’s insurance investments, the franchise plans to stay competitive, focusing on retaining ace pitcher Tarik Skubal—who could command a historic $400 million deal—and shoring up the bullpen with Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips. With a projected payroll near $388 million and a $430.7 million competitive‑balance tax estimate, L.A. expects to keep its star‑filled lineup—Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and others—while possibly moving on from Teoscar Hernández.
Ahead of the Lakers’ season opener, coach JJ Redick reflects on LeBron James’ departure, saying the biggest thing he misses is LeBron’s daily consistency—showing up in the weight room and setting a reliable tone. With James now signed in Philadelphia (a 106‑100 debut win over the Knicks), Los Angeles pivots to Luka Dončić and new additions like Walker Kessler and Quentin Grimes. Redick emphasizes the intangible habit of a 24‑year veteran that’s hard to replace as the Lakers face a wounded Warriors squad at Crypto.com Arena.
Jake Fischer reports that former Lakers wing Dalton Knecht, a 2024 first‑round pick, is drawing two‑way contract interest from the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors—the only teams with an open two‑way slot. The Kings, still retooling after Ben Simmons' season‑ending Achilles tear, are also weighing point guard Sean Pedulla and 2025 second‑rounder Micah Peavy. Fischer notes Kevin Porter Jr. received Nuggets interest before being waived, and suggests Dwight Powell could return to the Mavericks while Pat Connaughton may rejoin the Hornets later in the season.
Although LeBron James and Kobe Bryant never played together for the Lakers, they were central figures in the GOAT debate for years. Some fans hated James because Bryant was the clear favorite for many. Years later, things have changed. Luka Doncic is the new face of the Lakers, and he has no one to compete […]
The post Austin Reaves Addresses Lakers Fans’ Treatment of LeBron vs Luka Doncic Amid Lakers Star’s Retirement Desire appeared first on EssentiallySports .
The Sacramento Kings open the 2026‑27 NBA season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 10:30 PM ET in the Intuit Dome. The game airs on NBC Sports California (and its Plus feed) and streams live on Fubo (free trial available). Both teams come off contrasting preseason finishes: the Kings dropped their final exhibition 126‑97 to the Spurs, while the Clippers beat the Nuggets 122‑110. Key players to watch include Kings forward Precious Achiuwa and Clippers forward John Collins, with recent stand‑outs such as Zach LaVine (19 points) for Sacramento and Rui Hachimura (16 points) for LA.
The 2026-27 NBA season is finally here, and the Los Angeles Lakers will open the year at home against the Golden State Warriors. The regular season began on Tuesday, while the Lakers opener is on Wednesday. It was the first time in nine years that the Lakers were not featured on the NBA’s official opening […]
The post 3 Los Angeles Lakers bold predictions as Luka Doncic replaces LeBron James as face of franchise appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Las Vegas Raiders face a growing vulnerable Los Angeles Rams team on Sunday. LA will roll without star wide receiver Davante Adams and, as of Wednesday, defensive tackle Kobie Turner. But the Raiders’ Brock Bowers is battling injuries too. So Vegas and head coach Klint Kubiak decided to limit him during Wednesday practice, with […]
The post Raiders’ Brock Bowers managing hamstring, calf injuries before Rams game appeared first on ClutchPoints .
49ers The 49ers beat the Commanders 23-17 in Week 6’s Monday Night game after holding a 20-3 lead at one point. Veteran TE George Kittle thinks they would’ve lost the game if they were playing a more efficient opponent. “When you’re up 20-3 and you can’t shut the door on a team that has been […]
The post NFC Notes: Sam Darnold, George Kittle, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks appeared first on NFLTradeRumors.co .
The Warriors and Lakers headline the second night of action in the 2026-27 NBA regular season.