The 2025-26 NBA season is almost here, and with it comes my position-by-position fantasy basketball tiers, starting with the guards. This guide is points-league focused but includes insights for category formats as well. 

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

Let’s kick it off with two players who will drive much of the MVP conversation this season. 

Editor’s note: Players are listed based on their primary position from last season or projected role this year.

Tier 1 — The Fantasy pillars 

• Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Luka Dončić: Luka enters his first full Lakers season healthy and in shape, ready to deliver close to a nightly 30-point triple-double. Even in a down year, he dropped 28-8-8. His blend of usage, shot volume and all-around production makes him one of the safest fantasy picks available. With efficiency improvements and better conditioning, he could push for a top-three finish across formats.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: SGA and Luka were the only guards to average over 50 FPPG last season. After a legendary season finishing as the scoring leader, MVP, Finals MVP and champion, SGA’s floor is top five across all formats.

Tier 2 — Elite anchors 

• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

• Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

• James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Anthony Edwards: Edwards continues his ascent as Minnesota’s offensive centerpiece, combining highlight-reel finishes with steady statistical growth. His scoring is already elite, but his rebounds and assists have begun to rise, too. With another leap in efficiency, Edwards could join Tier 1 next season.

Cade Cunningham: There’s a chance Cunningham can sneak into the elites. He averaged 48 FPPG last season, so another leap forward for him and the Pistons in a weaker Eastern Conference can push him into 50 FPPG territory.

Devin Booker: The only thing preventing Booker from being a savage offensively is a possible late-season tank. I don’t see it happening, so expect Booker to put up top-tier points and assist numbers.

Trae Young: Trae’s elite assists and scoring floor make him one of the best points-league guards. Turnovers and poor shooting don’t impact his value as much, so bank on him being one of the few players getting at least 24 points and 10 assists a night.

Tyrese Maxey: I’m higher on Maxey than the consensus. Maxey posted the sixth-most FPPG among guards last year. Those numbers are going up with Joel Embiid and Paul George undoubtedly missing games.

Tier 3 — Established stars 

• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

• De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

• Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

Stephen Curry: I’d draft Curry higher in category leagues than points because his 3s and high FT% are more statistically relevant. Still, he’ll likely be a top-10 scorer in the NBA who also generates enough counting stats elsewhere to warrant an early pick in points leagues.

De’Aaron Fox: Fox gets a full offseason to prepare to play with Victor Wembanyama, so an uptick in assists as the primary creator elevates his value. He finished in the top 10 in FPPG among guards last season, averaging 41 FPPG.

Jalen Brunson: The engine for the Knicks has one of the safest floors for a guard. He’ll likely go in the first three rounds of drafts, but be aware that the minutes are likely to dip under new HC Mike Brown. 

LaMelo Ball: Injuries always hold him back, and it’s reflected in his ADP. When healthy, though, Ball is capable of being a top-10 scorer amongst guards in FPPG. 

Tier 4 — High-upside starters 

• Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

• Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

• Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets

• Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic

• Derrick White, Boston Celtics

• Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

Ja Morant: Few guards are as explosive as Morant, capable of putting up 25/7/5 lines on any given night. The risk is obvious — injuries and off-court issues — but the reward is massive if he plays 65+ games. He’s a swing pick with league-winning upside. He’s way better for points formats since you can ignore the poor FT shooting, turnovers and lack of 3s.

Josh Giddey: He inked a new contract, plus was one of three players to average at least 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game last year. The other two? Luka and Nikola Jokić. Giddey can push for over 40 FPPG this year.

Amen Thompson: With Jalen Green gone, Thompson steps into a bigger role in Houston’s offense. His rebounding and defensive stocks make him an unusual fantasy guard with multi-category upside. If his jumper stabilizes, it’ll more than justify a third-round selection, even for points leagues.

Desmond Bane: Bane is a solid 30-35 FPPG scorer, but he’ll be in a new environment, playing alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. I prefer Bane in category leagues, but he’ll have the counting stats to warrant a pick around the fourth or fifth round. 

Tier 5 — Solid starters 

• Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns

• Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

• Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

• Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans

• Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings

• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

• Coby White, Chicago Bulls

• Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets

• Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics

Jalen Green: Green gets a huge bump after getting traded to the Suns. Volume is king for points leagues and he’ll get plenty of opportunities as the secondary option to Booker. He’s much better for points than category leagues.

Cam Thomas: Thomas still hasn’t signed his qualifying offer with the Nets. We’ll have to wait and see how long his contract situation plays out. Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. are going to have a ton of scoring opportunities playing for Brooklyn.

Darius Garland: Garland should be a tier higher, but he underwent surgery on his toe in June with a recovery timeline of 4-5 months. I don’t expect to see him in uniform until November. When fully healthy, he should average north of 35 FPPG. 

Dyson Daniels: The NBA’s Most Improved Player took a massive step forward last season. However, Jalen Johnson was hurt for the majority of the season, and the team wasn’t as equipped as it is now. I’m expecting some regression despite Daniels averaging 37 FPPG in 2024-25.

Fred VanVleet: FVV loses value in points leagues because his 3s, steals and FT% don’t carry as much weight. Still, he’s a useful PG capable of putting up at least 30 FPPG.

Tier 6 — Last, clear every-night starters 

• Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors

• Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

• Jalen Suggs, Orlando Mag

• Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

• CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards

• Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

• Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers

• Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers

• Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

Immanuel Quickley: Quickley is looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled campaign. He averaged 31 FPPG when he played, so it’s something to build off of playing with Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl. 

Andrew Nembhard: Nembhard is one of my favorite breakout candidates with Tyrese Haliburton being ruled out for the season. His skill set fits better with category leagues, but I’d also consider getting shares in points leagues. 

CJ McCollum: McCollum’s ADP is just outside the top 100 over the past seven days on Yahoo. He’s becoming a value, especially for points leagues. I think he’ll play a lot of minutes for the Wizards until a mid-season trade likely sends him to a contender.

Shaedon Sharpe: Sharpe’s athleticism pops every night, and he’s starting to find consistency as a scorer. Portland is giving him freedom to develop, which means more usage. He’s on the verge of becoming a 20-point scorer in this League. 

Tier 7 — Reliable rotational assets

• Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

• Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

• D’Angelo Russell, Dallas Mavericks

• Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

• Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

• Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors

• Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls

• Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat

• Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz

• Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers

• Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Keyonte George: George had growing pains last year, but his court vision and scoring style — reminiscent of Jordan Clarkson — make him worth the gamble. If his efficiency stabilizes, he could jump to Tier 6 quickly.

Brandin Podziemski: Podziemski is one of the rare guards who rebounds like a forward. Golden State trusts him with meaningful minutes, which ensures a solid floor. If Curry misses time, his value skyrockets.

Stephon Castle: Castle will start at SG and offers some nice counting-stat potential heading into his second NBA season. He’s a better asset for points leagues because his efficiency and lack of 3s remain an issue. 

Davion Mitchell: Once he was traded to the Heat last year, he was finally able to carve out a meaningful role. His defense is infectious and he looked far more comfortable shooting the ball and acting as a primary facilitator than he did with the Kings and Raptors. He’s one of my sleepers whom I’ll be selecting in the later rounds of drafts.

Tier 8 — Upside watchlist

• Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

• Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

• Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

• Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards

• Anthony Black, Orlando Magic

• VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

• Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards

Scoot Henderson: Henderson’s early career journey has been volatile. Bringing in Jrue Holiday likely puts him back on the bench. Perhaps a sixth-man role could pan out. Either way, he’s better for points leagues than category if he continues getting 27 minutes a night.

Cason Wallace: Wallace thrives as a low-mistake, high-efficiency rotation guard. OKC trusts him in high-leverage minutes, which locks in his role. I think we’ll see his role expand this season, making him a fantasy asset in more category leagues than points leagues.

Tre Johnson: Outside of Cooper Flagg, Johnson has a legitimate shot at Rookie of the Year. The injury to Bilal Coulibaly should expedite his fantasy impact as well. 

Rob Dillingham: The second-year guard looked great at Summer League. Mike Conley is getting older and Nickeil Alexander-Walker left in free agency, so they’ll need Dillingham’s speed and scoring punch off the bench. He’s a bucket who will emerge as a points league guy this year. 

Tier 9 — Deep-league bench guys and streamers 

• Russell Westbrook III, Free agent

• Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota Timberwolves

• T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers

• Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

• Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers

• Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks

• Collin Sexton, Charlotte Hornets

• Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Caris LeVert, Detroit Pistons

The 2025-26 NBA season is almost here, and with it comes my position-by-position fantasy basketball tiers, starting with the guards. This guide is points-league focused but includes insights for category formats as well. 

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

Let’s kick it off with two players who will drive much of the MVP conversation this season. 

Editor’s note: Players are listed based on their primary position from last season or projected role this year.

Tier 1 — The Fantasy pillars 

• Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Luka Dončić: Luka enters his first full Lakers season healthy and in shape, ready to deliver close to a nightly 30-point triple-double. Even in a down year, he dropped 28-8-8. His blend of usage, shot volume and all-around production makes him one of the safest fantasy picks available. With efficiency improvements and better conditioning, he could push for a top-three finish across formats.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: SGA and Luka were the only guards to average over 50 FPPG last season. After a legendary season finishing as the scoring leader, MVP, Finals MVP and champion, SGA’s floor is top five across all formats.

Tier 2 — Elite anchors 

• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

• Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

• James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Anthony Edwards: Edwards continues his ascent as Minnesota’s offensive centerpiece, combining highlight-reel finishes with steady statistical growth. His scoring is already elite, but his rebounds and assists have begun to rise, too. With another leap in efficiency, Edwards could join Tier 1 next season.

Cade Cunningham: There’s a chance Cunningham can sneak into the elites. He averaged 48 FPPG last season, so another leap forward for him and the Pistons in a weaker Eastern Conference can push him into 50 FPPG territory.

Devin Booker: The only thing preventing Booker from being a savage offensively is a possible late-season tank. I don’t see it happening, so expect Booker to put up top-tier points and assist numbers.

Trae Young: Trae’s elite assists and scoring floor make him one of the best points-league guards. Turnovers and poor shooting don’t impact his value as much, so bank on him being one of the few players getting at least 24 points and 10 assists a night.

Tyrese Maxey: I’m higher on Maxey than the consensus. Maxey posted the sixth-most FPPG among guards last year. Those numbers are going up with Joel Embiid and Paul George undoubtedly missing games.

Tier 3 — Established stars 

• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

• De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

• Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

Stephen Curry: I’d draft Curry higher in category leagues than points because his 3s and high FT% are more statistically relevant. Still, he’ll likely be a top-10 scorer in the NBA who also generates enough counting stats elsewhere to warrant an early pick in points leagues.

De’Aaron Fox: Fox gets a full offseason to prepare to play with Victor Wembanyama, so an uptick in assists as the primary creator elevates his value. He finished in the top 10 in FPPG among guards last season, averaging 41 FPPG.

Jalen Brunson: The engine for the Knicks has one of the safest floors for a guard. He’ll likely go in the first three rounds of drafts, but be aware that the minutes are likely to dip under new HC Mike Brown. 

LaMelo Ball: Injuries always hold him back, and it’s reflected in his ADP. When healthy, though, Ball is capable of being a top-10 scorer amongst guards in FPPG. 

Tier 4 — High-upside starters 

• Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

• Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

• Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets

• Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic

• Derrick White, Boston Celtics

• Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

Ja Morant: Few guards are as explosive as Morant, capable of putting up 25/7/5 lines on any given night. The risk is obvious — injuries and off-court issues — but the reward is massive if he plays 65+ games. He’s a swing pick with league-winning upside. He’s way better for points formats since you can ignore the poor FT shooting, turnovers and lack of 3s.

Josh Giddey: He inked a new contract, plus was one of three players to average at least 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game last year. The other two? Luka and Nikola Jokić. Giddey can push for over 40 FPPG this year.

Amen Thompson: With Jalen Green gone, Thompson steps into a bigger role in Houston’s offense. His rebounding and defensive stocks make him an unusual fantasy guard with multi-category upside. If his jumper stabilizes, it’ll more than justify a third-round selection, even for points leagues.

Desmond Bane: Bane is a solid 30-35 FPPG scorer, but he’ll be in a new environment, playing alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. I prefer Bane in category leagues, but he’ll have the counting stats to warrant a pick around the fourth or fifth round. 

Tier 5 — Solid starters 

• Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns

• Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

• Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

• Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans

• Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings

• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

• Coby White, Chicago Bulls

• Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets

• Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics

Jalen Green: Green gets a huge bump after getting traded to the Suns. Volume is king for points leagues and he’ll get plenty of opportunities as the secondary option to Booker. He’s much better for points than category leagues.

Cam Thomas: Thomas still hasn’t signed his qualifying offer with the Nets. We’ll have to wait and see how long his contract situation plays out. Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. are going to have a ton of scoring opportunities playing for Brooklyn.

Darius Garland: Garland should be a tier higher, but he underwent surgery on his toe in June with a recovery timeline of 4-5 months. I don’t expect to see him in uniform until November. When fully healthy, he should average north of 35 FPPG. 

Dyson Daniels: The NBA’s Most Improved Player took a massive step forward last season. However, Jalen Johnson was hurt for the majority of the season, and the team wasn’t as equipped as it is now. I’m expecting some regression despite Daniels averaging 37 FPPG in 2024-25.

Fred VanVleet: FVV loses value in points leagues because his 3s, steals and FT% don’t carry as much weight. Still, he’s a useful PG capable of putting up at least 30 FPPG.

Tier 6 — Last, clear every-night starters 

• Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors

• Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

• Jalen Suggs, Orlando Mag

• Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

• CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards

• Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

• Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers

• Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers

• Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

Immanuel Quickley: Quickley is looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled campaign. He averaged 31 FPPG when he played, so it’s something to build off of playing with Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl. 

Andrew Nembhard: Nembhard is one of my favorite breakout candidates with Tyrese Haliburton being ruled out for the season. His skill set fits better with category leagues, but I’d also consider getting shares in points leagues. 

CJ McCollum: McCollum’s ADP is just outside the top 100 over the past seven days on Yahoo. He’s becoming a value, especially for points leagues. I think he’ll play a lot of minutes for the Wizards until a mid-season trade likely sends him to a contender.

Shaedon Sharpe: Sharpe’s athleticism pops every night, and he’s starting to find consistency as a scorer. Portland is giving him freedom to develop, which means more usage. He’s on the verge of becoming a 20-point scorer in this League. 

Tier 7 — Reliable rotational assets

• Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

• Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

• D’Angelo Russell, Dallas Mavericks

• Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

• Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

• Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors

• Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls

• Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat

• Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz

• Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers

• Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Keyonte George: George had growing pains last year, but his court vision and scoring style — reminiscent of Jordan Clarkson — make him worth the gamble. If his efficiency stabilizes, he could jump to Tier 6 quickly.

Brandin Podziemski: Podziemski is one of the rare guards who rebounds like a forward. Golden State trusts him with meaningful minutes, which ensures a solid floor. If Curry misses time, his value skyrockets.

Stephon Castle: Castle will start at SG and offers some nice counting-stat potential heading into his second NBA season. He’s a better asset for points leagues because his efficiency and lack of 3s remain an issue. 

Davion Mitchell: Once he was traded to the Heat last year, he was finally able to carve out a meaningful role. His defense is infectious and he looked far more comfortable shooting the ball and acting as a primary facilitator than he did with the Kings and Raptors. He’s one of my sleepers whom I’ll be selecting in the later rounds of drafts.

Tier 8 — Upside watchlist

• Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

• Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

• Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

• Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards

• Anthony Black, Orlando Magic

• VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

• Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards

Scoot Henderson: Henderson’s early career journey has been volatile. Bringing in Jrue Holiday likely puts him back on the bench. Perhaps a sixth-man role could pan out. Either way, he’s better for points leagues than category if he continues getting 27 minutes a night.

Cason Wallace: Wallace thrives as a low-mistake, high-efficiency rotation guard. OKC trusts him in high-leverage minutes, which locks in his role. I think we’ll see his role expand this season, making him a fantasy asset in more category leagues than points leagues.

Tre Johnson: Outside of Cooper Flagg, Johnson has a legitimate shot at Rookie of the Year. The injury to Bilal Coulibaly should expedite his fantasy impact as well. 

Rob Dillingham: The second-year guard looked great at Summer League. Mike Conley is getting older and Nickeil Alexander-Walker left in free agency, so they’ll need Dillingham’s speed and scoring punch off the bench. He’s a bucket who will emerge as a points league guy this year. 

Tier 9 — Deep-league bench guys and streamers 

• Russell Westbrook III, Free agent

• Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota Timberwolves

• T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers

• Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

• Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers

• Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks

• Collin Sexton, Charlotte Hornets

• Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Caris LeVert, Detroit Pistons

Don’t be surprised if your Blueshirts find a diamond on their training camp ice. Granted, it’s a longshot, but Vinnie Vegas will tell you that longshots do come in.

My personal favorite as the 14-carat gold find happens to be 22-year-old Scott Morrow from – coincidence-coincidence – Chris Drury’s state, Connecticut. But The Maven will get to Morrow in a moment.

First I must tell you a quick story about how I – personally – discovered Hall of Famer Brad Park. Well, sort of “discovered” him.

This was Park’s first training camp in September 1968 and he was so far from making the big club I’d say it was about 99-1 against him. I mean nobody knew this kid.

Rangers‘ Centennial celebration by honoring those who’ve made the franchise the historic, living legend that it has become.

You know the rest. Brad emerged as the best Rangers defenseman since Harry Howell and better for sure on offense. Hamilton bounced around but never came near All-Star calibre as Francis had hoped.

If Sir Park could excuse himself from his parents to begin a Hall of Fame career, who’s to say Scott Morrow of Darien, Conncticut won’t fool everyone – especially the Carolina Hurricanes who dumped Morrow on Chris Drury’s lap – and become a latter-day Park.

Hey, it could happen. And if you don’t believe The Maven, the estimable, worthy and personable Brad Park will gladly underline my point.

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Padres play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

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5 things to watch

Get on my back for a piggyback ride

On Tuesday night, the Mets are going to do something that has been bandied about for a while.

Clay Holmes will get the start, with Sean Manaea expected to piggyback him.

With Holmes — who is well past his previous high for innings in a season — having pitched more than 5.0 innings just once in his last nine starts, using him as an opener of sorts makes all the sense in the world.

As far as Manaea, having him be the pitcher who comes on in relief is sensible since he has experience pitching out of the bullpen and has fared well his first time through the order this season — holding the opposition to a .703 OPS (that OPS rises to .811 the second time through and 1.071 the third time through).

With Holmes and Manaea pitching on the same day, the Mets could either go to a five-man rotation of sorts (with David Peterson, Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Nolan McLean following) or possibly insert Kodai Senga back in the next time through. Senga was strong in his first start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

The offense is still searching for it

While the Mets won on Sunday, snapping their losing streak in the process, the offense was still largely absent.

They mustered just two runs over the first nine innings, with Pete Alonso‘s walk-off homer accounting for three runs in the 10th.

But there were some good signs over the weekend, including Francisco Alvarez‘s big series (four hits, including a homer), Francisco Lindor reaching base five times, and Brandon Nimmo smacking a homer on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Juan Soto continued to mash, crushing his 40th homer of the season.

New York will not have an easy assignment against the Padres’ starting pitching, with San Diego sending out Michael King on Tuesday, Nick Pivetta on Wednesday, and Randy Vasquez on Thursday.

How will Jonah Tong bounce back?

It was a start to forget for Tong this past Friday, when he allowed six runs on four hits and three walks while failing to escape the first inning.

While Tong had serious issues with his control on Friday, he was also very unfortunate with the balls that were put in play.

That included the soft single that kept the inning going with two outs when he was one strike away from escaping unscathed. 

Unlike his first and second starts, things snowballed for Tong on Friday. And for the first time, he looked a bit out of sorts.

He is expected to get the ball in Thursday’s series finale. 

The out of town scoreboard

With 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Mets enter Monday’s day off with a 1.5 game lead over the Giants for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

New York is 2.0 games up on the Diamondbacks, and 2.5 games ahead of the Reds.

The Mets hold the tiebreaker over the Giants by virtue of winning the season series, while the Reds hold the tiebreaker over the Mets. The tiebreaker between the Mets and Diamondbacks is TBD, and will likely be based on intradivision record since the two clubs split the season series.

As the Mets face the Padres this week, the Giants and D-backs play eachother in Arizona while the Reds travel to St. Louis to play the Cardinals. 

Padres are in a comfortable spot

San Diego enters this series trailing the Dodgers by 2.5 games (three in the loss column) for first place in the NL West, while holding the second Wild Card spot.

The Padres are 5.0 games ahead of the Mets for the third Wild Card, and 3.5 games (four losses) behind the Cubs for the first Wild Card.

So the very likely scenario is that they stay right where they are, which would mean getting the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and traveling to Chicago for the three-game Wild Card series.

How that motivates them for the remainder of the regular season remains to be seen.

San Diego is 6-4 over its last 10 games, which has all but cemented their playoff spot. 

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

Soto has been carrying the Mets for over a month

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson was solid his last time out, limiting the Phillies to three runs in 5.0 innings while striking out eight

Which Padres player will be a thorn in the Mets’ side?

Luis Arraez

The pesky Arraez has six hits in his last 13 at-bats

Suns reportedly included Royce O’Neale in Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade offer originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors had an opportunity to trade one of their young players for a proven, sharpshooting wing this offseason, but opted not to.

Golden State, while fielding sign-and-trade offers for restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga this summer, rejected an offer from the Phoenix Suns that included veteran forward Royce O’Neale and second-round compensation, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported in a story on Monday, citing sources.

The Warriors reportedly also turned down an offer from the Sacramento Kings that included guard Malik Monk and a future first-round pick.

The 32-year-old O’Neale, who signed with the Utah Jazz as an undrafted free agent in 2017 after playing two years overseas, spent five seasons in Utah before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 and later the Suns in Feb. 2024.

In eight seasons, O’Neale has averaged 7.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on 42.6-percent shooting from the field and an impressive 38.5 percent from 3-point range in 26.2 minutes per game.

While Kuminga’s ceiling — and potentially his current floor — undoubtedly is higher than O’Neale’s, the veteran forward could have provided Golden State a reliable sharpshooter and defender off the bench had the Warriors accepted the Suns’ offer.

Instead, Golden State since has halted all sign-and-trade discussions with interested teams, and it appears the Warriors and Kuminga ultimately will have to settle for a temporary solution that keeps the young forward under contract at least for the 2025-26 NBA season.

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