Good morning, sports enthusiasts, and happy Thursday! With Super Bowl weekend fast approaching, there’s plenty to cover today. Yesterday featured some big moves in the NBA and NHL, the Phoenix Open kicked off, and there was another major signing in the MLB free agency market.
Here are the top five headlines you need to know today:
Anthony Davis traded from the Mavericks to the Wizards. Davis’ rocky stint with Dallas ended Wednesday when he was moved to Washington in a surprising deal. In return, Dallas acquired Khris Middleton and two future first-round draft picks. However, those picks may not be as valuable as they seem, which partly explains Dallas’ uneven return in the trade. Still, Dallas came out better than Washington in this exchange.
The Los Angeles Kings acquired star winger Artemi Panarin from the Rangers. It was only a matter of time before New York parted ways with Panarin, and the Kings secured him by giving up a conditional third-round pick and promising prospect Liam Greentree. The deal was a clear win for Los Angeles, bringing an elite playmaker they’ve lacked for years. The Rangers, on the other hand, barely earned a passing grade on this trade.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be out until at least the All-Star break. The Thunder’s reigning MVP has been dealing with abdominal tightness and is expected to miss their remaining five games before the break. Fortunately, he remains on track to play in 65 games this season.
Framber Valdez agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers. Just days before pitchers and catchers report, Detroit bolstered its starting rotation by investing in Valdez, one of the best starters recently, with a 3.23 ERA since 2020. Despite his groundball dominance, some concerns kept Valdez available longer on the market.
Top NHL draft prospect Gavin McKenna faces felony assault charges. The Penn State standout, projected to be a top-two pick in 2026, allegedly broke someone’s jaw during a bar fight at State University. McKenna now faces aggravated assault and simple assault charges, stemming from an incident that occurred hours after an outdoor game against Michigan State.
A Closer Look: Rethinking the Davis-Doncic Trade
Mavericks fans have been on a wild journey over recent years—from reaching the NBA Finals to trading away their star, Luka Doncic, and then moving players acquired in return. Big trades often highlight clear winners and losers.
According to analyst Jack Maloney, former Mavericks GM Nico Harrison ended up on the losing side after trading Doncic for Davis, who played just 29 of 83 games last season due to health issues—the very reason Harrison cited for trading Doncic. Despite the initial upset, moving on from Davis could be positive for Dallas, allowing them to rebuild around Cooper Flag as the franchise’s new face.
As NBA trade news continues to break, especially regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, stay tuned for the latest updates.
Preview: The WM Phoenix Open
Super Bowl week also means it’s time for the Phoenix Open, one of golf’s most thrilling tournaments, featuring a $9.6 million prize purse. Scotty Scheffler, with a strong record at TPC Scottsdale including two wins and several top finishes, enters as the favorite, with odds of 23/10 according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Patrick McDonald praises Scheffler’s consistent separation from the competition this season, highlighting his arsenal of wins across prominent courses.
Additionally, the PGA of America recently announced Terry Clark as its new CEO, succeeding Derek Sprague, who retired in January.
Super Bowl LX Insights from Pete Prisco
With Super Bowl LX just days away, it’s time for predictions. Pete Prisco, known for his accurate television picks all season, is set to share his take on the Seahawks vs. Patriots matchup. His key insight: Seattle’s defense will pose major challenges for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, emphasizing their league-best run defense and disruptive pass rush.
Colleague John Breech also weighed in with his prediction, both agreeing broadly on the outcome though expecting a different style of game.
What to Watch on Thursday
- Olympics: USA vs. Czech Republic (Women’s) at 10:40 a.m. on the U.S. Network
- College Basketball: Penn State vs. No. 2 Michigan (Men’s) at 6:30 p.m. on FS1
- Mississippi State vs. South Carolina (Women’s) at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network
- No. 17 Duke vs. No. 6 Louisville (Women’s) at 7 p.m. on ESPN
- Minnesota vs. No. 10 Iowa (Women’s) at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network
- No. 5 Texas vs. No. 4 LSU (Women’s) at 9 p.m. on ESPN
- No. 13 Ole Miss vs. No. 21 Alabama (Women’s) at 9 p.m. on SEC Network
- NFL Honors at 9 p.m. on NBC
Fan Take: The Anthony Davis trade marks a significant turning point for Dallas, potentially reshaping the future of their franchise around more stable, durable players like Cooper Flag. For basketball fans, this is a crucial moment—trades of this magnitude can redefine team identities and shift the league’s competitive balance in unexpected ways.
