Sports
Three NBA Teams Closer to a Rebuild Than Fans Realize
Jan 27, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images As the offseason looms, every franchise tussles with an existential question: What direction are we heading? An organizational self-assessment that I describe as the “three R’s of team building” – regroup, retool, or reset? In other words, is your favorite team set to run it back with the usual suspects, re-calibrate with a move or two on the margins, or tear it down and rebuild their identity altogether?
With that in mind, let’s dive into three NBA teams that are closer to the latter than you might think – bearing in mind that the lines between a retool and a rebuild can be blurred depending on the magnitude of a team’s roster upheaval.
Los Angeles Clippers
The NBA Draft Lottery threw the Clippers a sorely needed team-building bone by bestowing them with the No. 5 pick at 48 percent odds. However, they remain one of the more directionally challenged teams in the NBA landscape.
Their rotation consists of an almost 35-year-old Kawhi Leonard fresh off an All-NBA caliber year, 26-year-old Darius Garland whose value as a franchise pillar differs depending on who you ask, as well as a slew of veterans that can help them tread water in the middle of the Western standings. Yanic Konan Niederhauser stands as their only prospect with tangible intrigue. Accordingly, the “where from here?” exercise is wrought with fork-in-the-road decisions.
The mid-lottery is littered with lead guards like Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr. Los Angeles’ front office needs to decide if Darius Garland is their long-term solution at point guard, as onboarding another diminutive creator who needs the ball in his hands brings natural redundancies.
Should they like what they see from the 2026 guard crop, Darius Garland becomes movable. If that domino falls, the dam of the Kawhi Leonard trade market more than likely breaks as well. Lawrence Frank will need to decide between respectability in the medium-term with Garland and Leonard leading the charge, or opting for future-focused asset accumulation.
For a franchise that has relinquished their first-round pick for the next three draft cycles, their ultimate direction will hinge on whether they like what they see from any of the lead guard options at No. 5.
Miami Heat
Nov 17, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) dribbles the basketball against New York Knicks during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images A paragon of competitiveness, Pat Riley and the Miami Heat have won at least 37 games for 18 consecutive seasons. But after four straight play-in appearances, patience may finally be wearing thin. Miami is trapped in a cycle of relative mediocrity that, while admirable, is hard to get excited about going forward.
The Heat were in an eerily similar spot as a borderline Playoff team in the post-LeBron era, until Riley pulled a rabbit out of a hat with the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade. A stroke of genius that would be tough to replicate.
With a veteran cast of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell and a young core of Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, Nikola Jović, plus another lottery pick on the way, they are at somewhat of an impasse where staying the course would amount to yet another tedious pursuit of a .500 record.
Without a clear road map to acquiring top-end talent, don’t be surprised if Riley finally decides to pull strings and scour the open market while dangling every asset at his disposal. A Giannis deal feels unlikely and potentially futile, but maybe lightning could strike twice. After all, Riley feels predisposed to the occasional transactional heist just as we saw with Jimmy Butler and Norman Powell. If star-hunting options are scarce, a roster tear-down with an eye to the future is in the realm of possibility.
Boston Celtics
Mar 4, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) drives to the basket while Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) defends during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Jaylen Brown’s opining on Twitch last week added plenty of fuel to the rumor mill fire, prompting NBA fans to jump in the trade machine left and right. After blowing a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston’s future outlook shifted from rosy to gloomy in a matter of days.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown together are owed more than $110 million annually for the next three years, Derrick White turns 32 in July and struggled mightily in the Playoffs, and their front-line was a glaring pain point. With Brown hinting at loving life as a number one option, his days may be numbered. Re-orienting around Tatum with a soft rebuild, or chasing an alternative co-star to keep pace with Eastern Conference contenders, could be in the cards.
While a lateral move centered around Jaylen Brown in a trade package is not what we traditionally view as a rebuild, it would represent a sea change in the Celtics’ longstanding and well-established identity that completely flips the perception of the roster as we know it.
Sports
Corbin Carroll helps Diamondbacks beat Rockies with 2-homer game
May 17, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) hits a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Corbin Carroll hit two homers and drove in three runs Sunday to help the Arizona Diamondbacks post an 8-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
After a 105-minute weather delay to start the series finale, Michael Soroka (6-2) threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out eight and walking two. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered and Gabriel Moreno had three hits for Arizona, which won its first road series since taking two of three from the Baltimore Orioles from April 13-15.
Michael Lorenzen (2-6) suffered his fourth straight loss for Colorado, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits across 4 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking three. Willi Castro drove in two runs for the Rockies, who dropped their sixth game in eight tries.
Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo worked back-to-back two-out walks in the third before Nolan Arenado’s RBI single put Arizona ahead 1-0. Gurriel followed with a single to double the Diamondbacks’ lead.
After Moreno’s leadoff single in the fourth, Ildemaro Vargas’ RBI base hit pushed the Arizona advantage to 3-0. Carroll then crushed his sixth home run of the season, a 431-foot shot to give the visitors a five-run lead.
The Rockies got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth. TJ Rumfield, Troy Johnston and Castro laced consecutive two-out doubles to trim the deficit to 5-2.
In the fifth, Gurriel connected on his first homer of the season to push the lead to four. Moreno then singled, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Brett Sullivan’s throwing error before Jose Fernandez’s single extended Arizona’s lead back to five.
Blas Castano relieved Lorenzen after 101 pitches.
Castano allowed Carroll’s second homer of the game in the sixth, this time a 448-foot solo shot.
Against Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt in the bottom of the eighth, Hunter Goodman singled, Rumfield was hit by a pitch and Johnston walked to load the bases with no outs. Castro’s sac fly and Jake McCarthy’s RBI single cut the Rockies’ deficit to 8-4.
Taylor Clarke then replaced Pfaadt and allowed Kyle Karros’ RBI single and Sullivan’s sac fly, pulling Colorado within two.
Paul Sewald threw a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save in 11 attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hat trick gives Hany Mukhtar milestone, Nashville another victory
May 17, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) celebrates with forward Warren Madrigal (41), midfielder Bryan Acosta (6) and midfielder Ahmed Qasem (37) after scoring a goal against Los Angeles Football Club during the second half at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images Hany Mukhtar logged a hat trick and Brian Schwake made seven saves as Nashville SC held off visiting LAFC 3-2 on Sunday night.
Mukhtar’s second goal, which came off a bending free kick from the left side of the box in the 21st minute for a 2-0 Nashville lead, was his 100th goal across all competitions in his seven years with the franchise.
His third goal in the 59th minute also came off a free kick from 25 yards out in the field’s middle. Muhktar drilled it to the upper right corner, just out of reach of goalie Thomas Hasal.
That goal came in handy when Denis Bouanga pulled one back in the 68th minute via Son Heung-Min’s corner kick. Bouanga, standing near the left post, flicked the ball just inside the woodwork.
However, Schwake came up big throughout the match, withstanding LAFC’s fierce attacks often enough to help his team get the result. LAFC (6-5-3, 21 points) owned a 22-8 advantage in shots and a 9-4 margin in shots on frame but couldn’t translate it into a result
Nashville (9-1-3, 30 points) leaned on Schwake at the end. Ryan Hollingshead had a great chance to equalize in the 89th minute on a point-blank shot but Schwake denied him with his left arm.
The match was billed prior to its start as one between two of the league’s top sides. LAFC was just 2-4-2 since a 4-0-1 start but is still considered one of the most talented teams in the league, while Nashville entered as the league’s only unbeaten team at home.
After the first 10 minutes, when Nashville seemed a bit tentative, the hosts it cracked the code in the 13th on a smart counterattack. Warren Madrigal teed up Muhktar on the right side of the box and he beat Hasal low to the left corner.
Nashville appeared poised for a rout after Muhktar’s second marker but LAFC responded in the 22nd minute when Bouanga zipped a pass to David Martinez at the goal mouth for a tap-in tally.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Gavin Sheets (2 homers), Padres dominate Mariners
May 17, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Gavin Sheets (30) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Gavin Sheets hit two home runs and Lucas Giolito combined with two relievers on a one-hitter in his San Diego debut as the Padres defeated the host Seattle Mariners 8-3 on Sunday, sweeping the season-long, six-game Vedder Cup series.
Mariners top prospect Colt Emerson was called up from Triple-A Tacoma (Wash.) earlier in the day when Brendan Donovan (strained left groin) went on the 10-day injured list. Emerson played third base and batted ninth, going 0-for-2 with a walk and scored a run in his MLB debut.
Seattle’s only hit was Luke Raley’s one-out grounder into right field for a single in the second inning.
Giolito, signed as a free agent by the Padres on April 22, allowed one hit and no runs through the first five innings. He had an extended stretch on the bench as San Diego scored five times in the top of the sixth to take a 7-0 lead.
By the time Giolito returned to the mound, he lost his command, walking the first three batters in the bottom of the inning. Left-hander Yuki Matsui replaced Giolito and walked Josh Naylor with the bases loaded before Randy Arozarena and pinch hitter Rob Refsnyder added sacrifice flies to pull the Mariners within 7-3.
Giolito (1-0) was charged with three runs on one hit in five-plus innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out three.
Matsui and Bradgley Rodriguez both pitched two hitless innings of relief.
Sheets hit a solo homer in the first inning and a two-run shot in the sixth, both to right off George Kirby (5-3), and added a run-scoring double in the seventh.
The Padres made it 2-0 in the fifth as Xander Bogaerts drew a lead-off walk, stole second and third and scored on former Mariner Ty France’s two-out single to right.
San Diego pulled away in the sixth as, with one out, Miguel Andujar doubled, Sheets homered and Manny Machado doubled. An out later, Jackson Merrill doubled to make it 5-0 and chase Kirby.
Reliever Cooper Criswell walked Ramon Laureano and threw a wild pitch, advancing the runners to second and third. France lined a two-run single to center for a 7-0 advantage.
Kirby allowed six runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out six. Kirby dropped to 0-3 in three career starts against San Diego with an 10.50 ERA.
Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford left after four innings after being hit by a Giolito pitch in his right triceps.
–Field Level Media
Corbin Carroll helps Diamondbacks beat Rockies with 2-homer game
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