Latest news with #DraftLottery
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Wings' Lucas Raymond Surges To No. 2 in Under-23 Scoring
The Detroit Red Wings appropriately felt slighted by the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery when they somehow fell back multiple spots and ultimately landed the No. 4 pick despite having posted the worst record of any team since the expansion Atlanta Thrashers of 1999-2000. . The consensus No. 1 overall selection in that season's Draft was forward Alexis Lafreniere, a star with Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Advertisement The visions that danced in the heads of Red Wings fans everywhere of Lafreniere donning the Winged Wheel were dashed when Detroit not only didn't get the first overall pick, but had to watch the New York Rangers, a playoff team, select him. The Red Wings then turned to their Plan B and selected forward Lucas Raymond, who was playing in the Swedish Hockey League with Frölunda HC. And by all reasonable measurements, Detroit's rotten Draft Lottery Luck in 2020 turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. Raymond has become one of the best young players in the NHL after bursting onto the scene as a rookie, along with Moritz Seider, in the 2021-22 season. Advertisement He scored 23 goals with 34 assists in his rookie season, and while he experienced a dip in production known as the dreaded "sophomore slump" that multiple players endure, he roared back immediately. Raymond caught fire in the second half of the 2023-24 season, finishing with 31 goals and 41 assists for a then career-high 72 points. None were bigger than his pair of goals in Detroit's home finale against the Montreal Canadiens to tie the score late in regulation and then give the Red Wings the overtime victory, keeping their postseason hopes alive. His output in the recently-completed 2024-25 NHL season was even higher, scoring 27 goals with 53 assists to set a new career-high in points with 80. Advertisement He was the highest-scoring player in the NHL aged 23 or younger, and he also became the first Swedish-born player aged 23 or younger to reach 80 points since Nicklas Bäckström in 2009-10 with the Washington Capitals. Additionally, Raymond's 254 career points are 61 higher than the 193 career points for Lafreniere, and are the second-most by any active NHL player aged 23 or younger, behind only Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stützle. The Red Wings recognized the special talent that they had on their hands when Raymond was extended for eight years last offseason, and he's in Hockeytown for the long haul. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dallas Mavericks shut Cooper Flagg down after 31-point performance in Vegas Summer League
Just months after torturing their fanbase by trading franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks lucked into winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, earning the first overall pick. Their lotto luck paved the path for the Mavs to select Cooper Flagg out of Duke with the top selection in the draft. Flagg's still waiting to make his official NBA debut, but fans have gotten a chance to see the former Blue Devils superstar in Vegas Summer League, where the 18-year-old has already started two games. Advertisement However, after the new face of the Mavericks' franchise scored 31 points while shooting 10-of-21 from the floor, the team decided to shut Flagg down for the rest of summer league. While it's a bit of a disappointing development, it's the latest sign that Flagg is arriving in the NBA exactly as advertised, as a potential superstar. Plus, the Mavericks don't want to risk an injury to one of their top players in an exhibition matchup. He scored just 10 points in his summer league debut, but the Mavs were clearly more than impressed with what they saw on Saturday, where he broke out for 31 more points. Related: NBA Rookie of the Year 2025-26: Cooper Flagg becomes early frontrunner Related Headlines
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Draft Lottery, explained: Why the White Sox are picking 10th after setting loss record
Despite the sport's payroll discrepancies, parity is an important part of Major League Baseball. There hasn't been a repeat champion since the turn of the millennium. That's a feature, not a bug. Luxury tax penalties attempt to keep spending in check, teams have six years to build around young stars, and organizations are rewarded for losing expensive free agents. This extends to the MLB Draft, where the worst teams in the league are equipped with the picks and bonus pools to acquire top prospects. Advertisement However, beginning in 2023, the Collective Bargaining Agreement implemented the MLB Draft Lottery, adding uncertainty to the event and encouraging teams to compete. During the 2025 MLB Draft, which begins on Sunday, no team will suffer more from the Lottery than the Chicago White Sox. How does the MLB Draft Lottery work? The Lottery determines who will make the first six picks in the first round. All 18 non-playoff teams are initially eligible, with the three worst teams in the league, by record, sharing the same 16.5% chance at the No. 1 pick. This looks to discourage tanking by ensuring teams aren't guaranteed the class's top prospect by having the fewest wins. Next, teams that would have picked from fourth to 18th before the Lottery each have a decreasing chance at picking first. Advertisement Three other rules shape the Lottery. Teams paying into the league's revenue-sharing program cannot have lottery picks in back-to-back seasons Teams receiving revenue sharing cannot receive a top-six pick in three consecutive seasons Teams that fall into either category cannot pick higher than No. 10 That's where the White Sox, fresh off setting the modern-era loss record (41-121), come in. Because Chicago pays into revenue sharing and had a Lottery pick in 2024, taking pitcher Hagen Smith at No. 5, it was ineligible to receive one in 2025. MORE: Mariners' Bryan Woo nearly no-hit Yankees by relying on one pitch Instead, the White Sox will make the 10th selection on Sunday. That comes with the 14th-biggest draft pool, per Baseball America. Each slot carries a pre-determined value, and the sum of them creates a team's pool. Teams with more money to spend can lure higher-caliber prospects down the board with promises of a lucrative bonus, so losing out on the first pick has real ramifications. Advertisement The Athletics suffered a similar penalty after having two top-six selections in 2023 and 2024 while receiving revenue-sharing payments. They will pick 11th on Sunday. Since those two teams were ruled ineligible, the aforementioned odds were adjusted, giving each of the remaining 16 teams a slightly better chance at ecstasy. Chicago will have its rightful first pick in the other 19 rounds. Instead of the White Sox, the Washington Nationals (and interim general manager Mike DeBartolo) will have the No. 1 pick, followed by the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Advertisement Fans can watch the first three rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft on ESPN and MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET. MORE MLB NEWS
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johnathan Rodríguez's two-run single
Anaheim Ducks Draft Preview: Dark Horse Options at 10 Overall The 2025 NHL Draft is now just days away, and the Anaheim Ducks hold the tenth overall selection after dropping two spots, as they had the eighth-best odds of winning the Draft Lottery. Along with their top pick to be made on Friday, they have eight more picks spread throughout rounds 2-7 on Saturday. 1:00 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
New York Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Who could Pistons target in second round? Maxime Raynaud leads NBA Draft wish list
The Detroit Pistons have become synonymous with the NBA Draft Lottery since 2010. They've had a top-14 pick for 11 of the last 15 years. Since 2020, the Pistons have had at least a top-seven selection in each draft. But Wednesday night's first round concluded without Detroit drafting a player for the first time since 2018. In that 2018 season, the Pistons chose Bruce Brown at No. 42 with their lone pick. Now, Detroit owns the 37th pick after watching a night full of prospects go off the board to opposing teams. Advertisement So, who should the Pistons be eyeing on night two of the draft? While Trajan Langdon, Detroit's president of basketball operations, said earlier this week the Pistons wanted the best available player, he was sure to mention 'size for position is important.' Here are seven available prospects who fit that mold. As the draft was approaching, Raynaud was a player whose name picked up a lot of steam, so I wasn't sure he'd make it to the second round. Raynaud offers length no one on Detroit's roster currently possesses, was a legitimate 3-point shooter last season and is arguably the most versatile offensive player on this list given his size. For as versatile as Raynaud is, the Pistons aren't drafting for a starter with pick No. 37. He'd likely have time to develop his game while trying to earn a spot in J.B. Bickerstaff's rotation. While Raynaud's 7-foot frame offers plenty of benefits on the hardwood, that same size leads to natural drawbacks as well. At his size, Raynaud would likely have difficulty guarding the perimeter if he were switched onto a smaller player, and he isn't the most athletic. Two traits that are common for someone of his height, while also weighing 250 pounds. Raynaud is the most intriguing prospect Detroit may have a chance of snagging, but don't be surprised if Raynaud doesn't make it to No. 37 as well. Of all the players listed, Fleming has the most unique body type. Although he's 6-8 barefoot, he has a massive 7-foot-5 wingspan. While Fleming was primarily utilized as more of a big at Saint Joseph's, he shot nearly 40 percent on just about five 3-point attempts per game, which shows he can spread the floor. For as much offensive potential as Fleming has, the focus Bickerstaff requires on the defensive end could foster growth that leads to Fleming becoming a formidable defender as well. Advertisement Fleming is still a raw talent who hasn't shown a ton of shot creation ability for himself or others. But, if he's in the right system with the right coaches around him, Fleming seems to be a player who could also find his way into an NBA rotation within the next few seasons. Kalkbrenner joins Raynaud as the only other player on this list at least 7-feet tall. Where Kalkbrenner varies from Raynaud most is the defensive side of the ball, where Kalkbrenner blocked the third-most shots of any player in Division I basketball last season. Kalkbrenner can occasionally step out and knock down triples like Raynaud, but he's usually more tethered to the paint. It should also be noted that Kalkbrenner averaged the second-most points on this list on the best efficiency by a wide margin. He could eventually serve as a solid rotational big for Detroit who offers more rim protection than any Piston not named Isaiah Stewart. While Kalkbrenner could be a nice fit for Detroit, he's another player I wouldn't be surprised to see taken before the Pistons' pick comes around. Not only is Marković the only international player on the list, but he's also the youngest. He's still only 19, although he'll be turning 20 on July 12. Which means Marković offers a blend of height and youthfulness that Raynaud and Kalkbrenner don't. Marković also differs from Ryanaud and Kalkbrenner thanks to his ability to put the ball on the floor. While Raynaud and Kalkbrenner can both occasionally handle if need be, Marković is a legit forward as opposed to a big like the other two. The biggest challenge for Marković at the next level will be his weight and strength. Though he's nearly a 7-footer, he only weighs 190 pounds. Which means while Marković might offer a different playstyle than Raynaud and Kalkbrenner, both players outweigh Marković by about 60 pounds. Marković possesses intriguing tools, especially offensively, but he'll need to add weight and gain strength in a hurry to be effective. Advertisement Of the guards remaining, Jones has the potential to be the best fit long term. He's a lefty guard who has a real feel for the game, and he's progressed in each of his seasons at Marquette. Jones has a knack for getting to the basket and is a crafty finisher around the rim, although he isn't much of a high flyer. Jones had the worst 3-point shooting season of his career last year, although he still made about 31 percent on just over six attempts per game. While that may not be the best on paper, he's a 36.6 career shooter from long range and he's had two seasons at Marquette shooting at least 39 percent from deep. If he's available, he could be a respectable option for the Pistons as a backup guard. Dixon is the oldest player on this list. I know the older a prospect is, the less attractive they become based on potential. But Dixon, to me, is an older prospect worthy of serious consideration. He's shooting over 40 percent from deep on over seven attempts this season, and has been hovering around 35 percent from long range over his last three seasons. Defensively, Dixon could face challenges at the next level due to his lack of athleticism and lateral quickness. Dixon was listed at 265 while at Villanova, so trimming weight could bode well for his overall athleticism. Dixon is one of the more risky picks given his age and not being a clear-cut position in the NBA, but he's worth at least taking a hard look at. Not only is Brea the best shooter on this list, but he was arguably one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation last season. Though he averaged only 11.6 points, he did so on 47/43.5/91.4 shooting splits — not far off from the ever-so-coveted 50/40/90 shooting splits the league's best shooters desire. Advertisement Brea has a 6-foot-6 frame without shoes and a skill set, although relatively limited, that's always sought out in the association. He's also not the most athletic and doesn't have great lateral quickness, so Brea will see a learning curve on the defensive end next season. But Brea's ability to shoot the ball is so lethal, he might find that skill buys him time to improve defensively.
