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As we gear up for the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., there are certain teams that will be particularly intriguing to keep tabs on.

With the Winter Meetings often being a catalyst for Hot Stove action, the spotlight will shine brightly on each of the 30 clubs, but perhaps even brighter on a handful of teams that for various reasons are seen as major players in the free-agent and trade markets.

From clubs with championship aspirations to those holding big trade chips, we asked seven MLB.com writers to each draft an intriguing team heading into the big week ahead:

What theyâ€ve done so far: Not much at all. Itâ€s been a quiet offseason in Philadelphia to this point, but that figures to change soon — either because the Phillies start making moves or they start seeing some of their key targets sign elsewhere.

Why theyâ€re in the spotlight: This is a pivotal offseason for the Phillies. Not only have they come up short in their World Series-or-bust aspirations for the past few years, but they are now tasked with handling the free agency of a trio of key contributors in Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez. The priority is to bring back both Schwarber and Realmuto, while retaining Suárez may be a bit tougher. That said, even if the Phillies somehow brought back all three players, the belief is they still need to do something different entering 2026 after back-to-back NLDS exits. That likely includes a makeover in the outfield that could include moving veteran Nick Castellanos. One way or another, the Phils need to add some firepower — and they want it to be more than just Schwarber.

One move they could make next week: Re-sign Schwarber. It feels as if the Phillies could be at a bit of a standstill until this situation gets worked out. If the club is able to lock in Schwarber, then the front office can pivot to filling out the rest of the roster knowing it at least has Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper back in the fold for next yearâ€s lineup. Of course, as weâ€ve seen the past few years, the Phillies know that alone isnâ€t enough — but itâ€s certainly a good place to start in what figures to become a very busy offseason

Why theyâ€re in the spotlight: After winning their first pennant in 32 years and pushing the World Series to extra innings in Game 7, the Blue Jays have made one thing very clear: They are not satisfied. It has already been an extremely active winter for the American League champions. All indications are that they have no plans of slowing down — and their next move could be the biggest one that any team makes between now and Opening Day.

One move they could make next week: Sign Kyle Tucker. Yes, Toronto still wants to reunite with Bo Bichette, but after landing possibly the best pitcher on the open market, the club is now in hot pursuit of this yearâ€s No. 1 overall free agent. Tucker visited with the Blue Jays at their player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com. After striking out on premier free agents in previous offseasons (Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Juan Soto), the Blue Jays are aiming at the top of the market once more, and considering how aggressive they were with Cease, it would be foolish to doubt their chances of getting a deal done with Tucker. If they do, it would be the centerpiece of an offseason that would likely put the Blue Jays on this list.

Why theyâ€re in the spotlight: The Mets are always in the spotlight given the sky-high expectations in Queens under owner Steve Cohen, who has shown heâ€s willing to spend big to win the franchiseâ€s first World Series championship in 40 years. But the spotlight is even hotter this offseason after New York fell far short of expectations in 2025, missing the postseason after signing superstar Juan Soto to the largest contract in sports history.

One move they could make next week: Sign Kyle Schwarber. It would be a tremendous coup for the Mets to not only add a massive left-handed bat to the lineup but also to poach him, so to speak, from the division-rival Phillies. Schwarber will be going into his age-33 campaign in 2026, and heâ€s coming off a career year in which he smashed an NL-leading 56 home runs (including four in a single game) and drove in a Major League-best 132 runs. If stalwart first baseman Pete Alonso leaves in free agency, Schwarber — who, like Alonso, played in 162 games last season — would be a worthy replacement in the Mets†lineup.

What theyâ€ve done so far: The Braves have been one of the few teams to make multiple notable moves so far this offseason, including re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year deal and trading for utilityman and Gold Glove winner Mauricio Dubón, who could end up being the starting shortstop.

Why theyâ€re in the spotlight: Atlanta still has major holes to fill, with designated hitter and a solid starting pitcher being the most prominent (assuming shortstop has become less of a priority with the signing of Dubón). The departure of free agent Marcell Ozuna leaves the DH role wide open, while last season’s injury-depleted starting rotation has created a need to significantly bolster that group. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that caused the Braves to miss the postseason for the first time since 2017 — not to mention a stated desire to have a top-five payroll — big moves could be in the offing.

One move they could make next week: The Braves could add a big bat to fill the DH slot and help boost an offense that has struggled for significant portions of the past two seasons (the team’s .717 OPS since May 2024 ranks 15th in MLB). Perhaps they swing a trade for a productive outfielder who can be part of a DH rotation that includes fellow outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jurickson Profar to help keep everyone healthy and fresh. A deal for Atlanta-area native Byron Buxton would do the trick, but any trade involving Buxton is likely a longshot.

What theyâ€ve done so far: The Padres haven’t done much yet, just a couple of minor bullpen moves. With A.J. Preller at the helm, that should make you think that something’s coming. Especially when you consider that the biggest thing to happen to the Padres so far is that they lost Dylan Cease to the Blue Jays in free agency.

Why theyâ€re in the spotlight: This is a playoff team that has to contend with the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers in its division — and also has some pressure to do better after a disappointing Wild Card Series loss to the Cubs in 2025. But to make it back to the postseason for a third straight year in 2026, San Diego probably has to bring in some new players. It isn’t just losing Cease — other key players like Luis Arraez, Michael King and Robert Suarez are free agents. Luckily, Preller and the Padres love making big moves … and lots of them.

One move they could make next week: The Padres’ big needs entering the Winter Meetings are starting pitching (to help replace Cease and potentially King) and a first base/DH-type bat (the Arraez role). Here’s one move that would address the pitching side: signing Tatsuya Imai. Imai’s market is heating up, and some executives expect the NPB star to sign by the end of the Winter Meetings. Preller watched Imai pitch in Japan, and earlier this offseason said the Padres would be “fully prepared” for when the right-hander was posted. And Imai wants to take down the Dodgers. Where better to do that than with their division rivals?

Why theyâ€re in the spotlight: After wallowing in mediocrity from 2022-24, the Red Sox returned to relevance in â€25, buoyed by the additions of Crochet, third baseman Alex Bregman and closer Aroldis Chapman, not to mention the successful debut of top prospect Roman Anthony. Bregman opted out of his deal in November, but with the other three pieces in place, they have a chance to make another significant leap if they push the right buttons this winter. The Gray deal is a start, but with Bregman a free agent and Rafael Devers in San Francisco, the Red Sox have a major void in their lineup to address.

One move they could make next week: Sign Pete Alonso. The Red Sox havenâ€t ruled out a reunion with Bregman, and theyâ€ve also been linked to Kyle Schwarber, Bo Bichette and J.T. Realmuto in free agency. But for a team that needs home run pop, is looking for a right-handed hitter and hasnâ€t been able to figure out first base for a while, Alonso appears to be the perfect fit.

What theyâ€ve done so far: As noted above, they sent Gray to Boston. In return, St. Louis landed 26-year-old righty Richard Fitts, who could earn a spot in the back of the teamâ€s 2026 rotation, and high-upside, 22-year-old lefty Brandon Clarke, who slotted in as their No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

Why theyâ€re in the spotlight: Because that could be just the beginning. With the Gray trade, new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom signaled that St. Louis is truly open for business after a third straight season without a playoff berth. The fact that the Cardinals were willing to send significant cash to Boston bodes well for their ability to figure out a way to move Nolan Arenado, who is still owed $42 million over the next two years. But the Cardinals are not short on potential trade chips. First baseman Willson Contreras has a reasonable contract and a right-handed bat with considerable thump. Brendan Donovan is an OBP machine with defensive versatility. Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson all might intrigue teams in search of left-handed power that canâ€t check that box via the free-agent market. Thereâ€s less on the pitching side, post-Gray, although lefty reliever JoJo Romero has reportedly been drawing interest as well.

One move they could make next week: While an Arenado deal might have to wait for top free-agent third basemen to come off the board, one could imagine a Donovan deal coming to fruition more quickly if Bloom gets an offer he likes for one of the hottest names on the trade market. St. Louis is under no obligation to move a player under club control for two more seasons, but there is reason to be opportunistic here, especially with a top prospect, infielder JJ Wetherholt, knocking on the door.

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James has been designated by the team for assignment with its G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.

Less than 48 hours after father LeBron James made his season debut against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in a 140-126 victory, Bronny has been sent back to the G League. Father and son got one more game together and combined for 14 points against the Jazz. The elder James missed the first 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign while he was dealing with sciatica. In his first game of the year, LeBron finished with 11 points, 12 assists, 3 rebounds and made 2 of 3 attempts from 3-point range.

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Bronny has played in 10 of the Lakers†first 15 games this season and even started one. His minutes have nearly doubled in Year 2, averaging 11.1 minutes per game while averaging 2.1 points and 1.8 assists.

LeBron practiced with the South Bay Lakers on his ramp-up to making his season debut Tuesday night. Now, Bronny will essentially replace his father with the G League squad, although heâ€ll get a lot more run while there. In 11 G League appearances last season, Bronny averaged 21.9 points, 5.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

Senior is giving that word a whole new meaning in NBA terms as he embarks on his record 23rd NBA season. LeBron is coming off a year where he averaged the fewest points (24.4) since his rookie year way back in 2003-04. Now, James is back riding alongside Luka DonÄić in hopes of making one more deep playoff run with the Lakers.

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The Lakers are off to a hot start despite LeBron missing the first month of the season. Los Angeles is 11-4 and had won 10 games without James in the lineup. L.A. currently sits in fourth place in a crowded Western Conference. They have another game against the Jazz on Sunday and then meet the Clippers on Tuesday on NBC.

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Wimbledonâ€s battle to build 39 new grass courts on a nearby golf course has taken a fresh twist after local residents were granted permission to take a judicial review case to the court of appeal.

Last year the All England Club (AELTC) was given approval by Jules Pipe, the London deputy mayor for planning and regeneration, to build the courts on what used to be Wimbledon Park Golf Club – a decision that was then endorsed in the high court on 21 July. However, the Save Wimbledon Park pressure group challenged that verdict and on Monday it was announced that Lord Justice Holgate had granted a judicial review of the courtâ€s decision.

Explaining the reasons for granting the order, Holgate wrote that: “The grounds of appeal are arguable with a real prospect of success. The case law on scheme benefits, deliverability, relevance, material considerations and irrationality merits review.â€

SWP maintains that the expansion plans will create a “tennis industrial complexâ€, which will damage the environment and has failed to properly listen to the community. It is also fighting its legal battle with the All England Club on two other fronts, including a separate court case in January, where a judge will consider the possibility that the golf course could be subject to a “statutory trust†and thus be reserved for public recreation.

It is also considering whether to go to court to challenge a “restrictive covenant†given by the AELTC committee in 1993 in which it promised never to develop the land.

“This is a David and Goliath struggle,†Save Wimbledon Park said in a statement. “The AELTC is a rich and well-connected corporate developer which has worked for decades to take over a substantial part of this highly protected public Park for its own purposes.â€

Christopher Coombe, a local lawyer who opposes the plans, added: “SWP has never been anti-tennis. We believe that it is high time for the AELTC to recognise the raft of legal and principled problems with its proposals and sit down and talk constructively with SWP and the local community.â€

However, the All England Club remains confident that its expansion plans, which would triple the size of its grounds, will go ahead despite this latest stumbling block. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We are confident that the court of appeal will ultimately judge that the high court made the correct decision in upholding the Greater London Authorityâ€s grant of planning permission for a development that will enable us to deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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“Our plans will create a permanent home for the Wimbledon qualifying competition but crucially they also deliver 27 acres of beautiful new parkland for local people to enjoy, providing the public access to green space that has been used as a private members golf club for more than 100 years.â€

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Carlos Beltranreceived the call earlier this week.

The Mets announced on Thursday evening that the outfielder will be inducted into the team Hall of Fame next season, along with Bobby Valentine and Lee Mazzilli as part of their first class since 2023.

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SNYâ€s Chelsea Sherrod met up with Beltran in an exclusive one-on-one interview to discuss the honor prior to Saturday night’s Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico Showdown at Citi Field.

“First of all, Iâ€m super,†he said. “I feel that itâ€s a confirmation of all the effort that you put in as a player. In the seven years that I was here, thereâ€s no doubt I went through ups and down, but at the end of the day, when I look at the numbers, I feel proud.

“Being able to be accepted into any team Hall of Fame is a beautiful thing, so Iâ€m super happy and grateful for the opportunity.â€

Beltran doesnâ€t know what to expect as far as his emotions when the big day comes, but heâ€s hoping to be able to keep things in check so he can deliver a good speech for the fans, his family, and his teammates.

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The slugger had many memorable moments during his seven-year stint in orange and blue, but some of his favorites came during the 2006 campaign, which was one of his best with the club.

“Going to the playoffs was a beautiful moment,†he said. “I was also able to win my first Gold Glove with the Mets; being able to receive that call was an incredible thing because I worked so hard in Kansas City to try to win and never won it — I got to experience that and a lot of other good things with the Mets.â€

Some of those good things include five All-Star appearances, two more Gold Gloves, and a pair of Silver Sluggers.

Beltran also slashed .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs, 208 doubles, 559 RBI, 551 runs scored, and 100 stolen bases during his time with the Mets.

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AEW/Lee South

FTR defeated JetSpeed, the Young Bucks, and Jurassic Express in a four-way tag match during “AEW Dynamite,” securing a shot at the World Tag Team Championship held by Brodido at AEW Full Gear.Â

FTR and JetSpeed got things started with Mike Bailey and Dax Harwood in the ring, but before long Jack Perry tagged into the match via Harwood. However, the structure fell apart shortly after with all four teams in the ring fighting, and FTR and the Young Bucks then working together to isolate Kevin Knight in the ring – Harwood had remained the legal man opposite Knight, who was forced to tag Perry back into things.

The Bucks and FTR worked together to take out Perry and Luchasaurus, but then Cash Wheeler attacked Matt Jackson for FTR to turn on the Bucks, and the proceeding skirmish leaving all four teams on the ground. Knight came close to winning the match with a near-fall pin attempt on Luchasaurus, with Bailey clearing the rest of the field on the outside, and then had to make his own near-fall after kicking out of the BTE Trigger. But he was ultimately on the losing end of things after taking a Shatter Machine for FTR to get the pinfall win.Â

FTR will now face the Tag Team Champions for the first time in a traditional two-on-two match since their 30-minute time limit draw in August, with FTR having been the ones pinned at Forbidden Door for Brodido to capture the titles at Forbidden Door.Â

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Image credit:
Mookie Betts (Photo via Getty Images)

Heading into the 2025 World Series, one thing is clear: Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is the Lord of the Rings among active players.

Betts has starred for three World Series winners—the 2018 Red Sox, 2020 Dodgers and 2024 Dodgers—with a chance to make it four this year if his Dodgers defeat the Blue Jays.

But if Toronto pulls off the World Series upset, then Blue Jays righthander Max Scherzer can match Betts with three rings. He previously won the World Series with the 2019 Nationals and 2023 Rangers.

Betts and Scherzer are both locks for Cooperstown, as is Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman in all likelihood. Freeman has played for two World Series winners—the 2021 Braves and 2024 Dodgers—and could add a third ring this year.

Betts, Freeman and Scherzer arenâ€t the only players vying for another World Series championship. In this post, we count the rings for active players.

We used the following criteria:

• An active player is one who appeared in at least one MLB game in 2025
• A player is credited with a ring if he appears in at least one regular season game for a World Series winner, even if he is injured for the postseason.

This list is populated largely with 2024 Dodgers, with some who also played for the 2020 team.

The two exceptions are Max Scherzer, who is outlined above, and Blue Jays DH George Springer, who won the World Series previously with the 2017 Astros. A Blue Jays win would grant Scherzer his third ring and Springer his second.

The following Dodgers players appeared in a regular season game for the 2020, 2024 and 2025 teams. A win this year would give them three rings.

• Mookie Betts, SS
• Max Muncy, 3B
• Clayton Kershaw, LHP
• Will Smith, C
• Enrique Hernandez, UT
• Blake Treinen, RP
• Chris Taylor, UT (released in May)

The following Dodgers players appeared in a regular season game for the 2024 and 2025 teams. A win this year would give them two rings.

• Shohei Ohtani, DH/RHP
• Freddie Freeman, 1B (also won with 2021 Braves)
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP
• Tyler Glasnow, RHP (did not play in 2024 postseason)
• Andy Pages, OF
• Tommy Edman, 2B
• Alex Vesia, RP
• Ben Casparius, RP
• Anthony Banda, RP
• Miguel Rojas, SS
• Justin Wrobleski, LHP
• Michael Kopech, RP (not on postseason roster)
• Edgardo Henriquez, RP (not on postseason roster)
• Bobby Miller, RHP (not on postseason roster)
• Landon Knack, RHP (not on postseason roster)

Note: RHP Tony Gonsolin appeared for the 2020 and 2025 Dodgers, while OF Teoscar Hernandez starred for the 2024 Dodgers and also played for the 2017 Astros, though he did not appear in the postseason for the World Series winners.

Five of the players on the list below played for the World Series-champion 2017 and 2022 Astros: Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yuli Gurriel, Lance McCullers Jr. and Justin Verlander.

Remember the criteria: At least one MLB game in 2025 and at least one regular season appearance for a team that ultimately won the World Series, whether the player was integral to success or a footnote to a great season.

Scott Alexander, LHP, Giants
2015 Royals, 2020 Dodgers

Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Austin Barnes, C, Dodgers
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Alex Bregman, 3B, Red Sox
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Xander Bogaerts, SS, Padres
2013 Red Sox, 2018 Red Sox

Ryan Brasier, RHP, Cubs
2018 Red Sox, 2024 Dodgers

Walker Buehler, RHP, Phillies
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Red Sox
2016 Cubs, 2023 Rangers

Carl Edwards Jr., RHP, Rangers
2016 Cubs, 2021 Braves

Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers
2018 Red Sox, 2023 Rangers

Yuli Gurriel, 1B, Padres
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Jason Heyward, OF, Padres
2016 Cubs, 2024 Dodgers

Sandy Leon, C, Braves
2018 Red Sox, 2023 Rangers

Gavin Lux, UT, Reds
2020 Dodgers, 2024 Dodgers

Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Astros
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

Charlie Morton, RHP, Tigers
2017 Astros, 2021 Braves

Joc Pederson, OF, Rangers
2020 Dodgers, 2021 Braves

Corey Seager, SS, Rangers
2020 Dodgers, 2023 Rangers

Jorge Soler, OF, Angels
2016 Cubs, 2021 Braves

Hunter Strickland, RHP, Angels
2014 Giants, 2019 Nationals

Christian Vazquez, C, Twins
2018 Red Sox, 2022 Astros

Justin Verlander, RHP, Giants
2017 Astros, 2022 Astros

According to this wonderful Baseball-Reference resource, a total of 17 players whose careers transpired entirely in the Wild Card Era, since 1994, have appeared in the World Series for a champion at least three times.

Five Rings

• Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte all starred for the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009 Yankees championship teams.

Four Rings

• Jorge Posada appeared in the postseason for four Yankees champions but didnâ€t appear in the 1996 postseason. Orlando Hernandez played for the 1998 through 2000 Yankees champions and then the 2005 White Sox.

Three Rings

— This tier is comprised mostly of 2010, 2012 and 2014 Giants players: Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval and relievers Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo.

Mookie Betts is at this tier, as are David Ortiz (2004 Red Sox, 2007 Red Sox, 2013 Red Sox), Jon Lester (2007 Red Sox, 2013 Red Sox, 2016 Cubs) and John Lackey (2002 Angels, 2013 Red Sox, 2016 Cubs).

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As the Knicks and Nets enter their 2025-26 seasons on entirely opposite trajectories, the conference around them has taken a major step back. Multiple stars hurt or departed, few clear contenders in sight, and Brooklyn doesn’t even have much tanking competition.

Let’s dive into the Atlantic Division as a whole to see how they measure up to each other and a weakened Eastern Conference.

New York Knicks

Projected starters: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson

Offseason additions: Mike Browntaking over as head coach for Tom Thibodeau, Jordan Clarkson, Geurschon Yabusele,

Offseason departures: Precious Achiuwa

The Knicks face a depleted East after winning 51 games and finishing second last season, sporting a relatively unchanged on-court roster outside of some badly needed added depth. The big question for the regular season is how quickly and effectively the Knicks adopt their new system under their new head coach.

Philadelphia 76ers

Projected starters: Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Joel Embiid

Offseason additions: VJ Edgecombe, Trendon Watford

Offseason departures:Yabusele

Philly is this season’s ultimate anomaly, with possibilities ranging from the high lottery to the Finals. Step one, as always for this team, is health, as their big three of Maxey, George and Embiid only shared the court for 15 games and under 300 minutes last year.

Just playing together and building chemistry would elevate them on talent alone above much of the East, but if they want to make real noise in the playoffs they’ll need a lot more to go right. Most expect bad luck or bad construction (no bigs, small wings) to derail this team long before that, but in a frail East, you can’t ignore this squad’s upside.

May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) walks off the court after losing to the New York Knicks in game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / © Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Boston Celtics

Projected starters: Anfernee Simons, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta

Offseason additions: Simons

Offseason departures: Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horfordand Luke Kornet

What a difference a year makes. One season removed from a championship, the Celtics sold their team, lost to the Knicks, lost their star player for the year and blew the team up in a soft reset.

It’s a skeleton crew compared to what they had, but don’t doubt the mettle and makeup of this team. Brown is still a high-level All-Star in his own right, Simons is a scoring marvel who finally gets a chance in a winning culture, and White and Payton Pritchard are still very much here.

They likely can’t compete too deep in the playoffs, but they’ll be a constant annoyance during the regular season and a “crap, really?” matchup in the Play-In and/or first round. However, one big question coming in is how quickly Brown can recover from a preseason hamstring injury.

Toronto Raptors

Projected starters: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl

Offseason additions: Collin-Murray Boyles

The team of everybody’s favorite ex-Knicks, New York’s partner in lawfare and colleague in the Andrea Bargnani trade, your Toronto Raptors. They may snatch Philly’s “anomaly” belt quickly, boasting a talented but odd-fitting group of hungry young players vying for the playoffs.

Their big splash came last season when they traded for an injured Ingram; now we get to see him in action alongside this core of prospects, for which this is a pivotal year. The oddsmakers and experts don’t expect much more than a hearty Play-In threat, with a much more variable floor.

Brooklyn Nets

Projected starters: Egor Demin, Cam Thomas, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton

Offseason additions: Haywood Highsmith, Kobe Bufkin, five first-round draft picks

Offseason departures: Cam Johnson

Has Sean Marks “Jordi-proofed” (as per The Ringer’s Zach Lowe) this team adequately enough? The ultimate goal clearly isn’t winning, and running an entire point guard rotation out of rookies is one way to keep from that, but put good coaching and good talent together, and you run some risk.

There’s much more at play here, of course. Thomas is in a contract year for an organization that doesn’t want him. Many of these veterans could be shipped via trade, and everybody wants to see one of these prospects blow up.

Any way you run it, don’t expect Brooklyn to threaten the division or conference.

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We’re just three games into the preseason, but it’s been a transformative stretch for the Knicks as they build up the foundations of their restructured offense under new head coach Mike Brown.

A primary reason for hiring him was to diversify and maximize an offense that finished top five last season, but steadily declined into the playoffs and stagnated too often by admission of the players running it.

We won’t see the final results until months from now, and even early returns should be taken with a grain of salt, given the undertaking of installing a new read-and-react system in a low-stakes preseason environment. Still, we can start to spot the big differences and how that might inform what this team looks like, fully formed.

Here are three major ways this Knicks offense is different from prior iterations.

Three-point emphasis

Brown wants 40 three-pointers per game out of these Knicks, a mark well above their previous 34.1 average and one met by only four other teams during the 2024-25 season. New York is currently on pace this preseason, averaging 44 behind a revamped shot diet.

A big focus for them this training camp has been getting two feet in the paint to collapse the defense and create catch-and-shoot opportunities for shooters. The Knicks have been doing more of this thanks to increased ball and player movement, pace, and cutting down on mid-range shots.

All of their top scorers have aligned early shot diets with these principles. Out of the 32 shots Jalen Brunson has taken this preseason, only two have come from the mid-range — ditto for Karl-Anthony Towns (1 of 19), OG Anunoby (1 of 15) and even Mikal Bridges(1 for 26).

The Knicks will probably want to get a little more out of the paint and free throw line, but this is probably just a preseason thing. We’ll see how stringent these changes remain, how the personnel adjusts, and how much it boosts the offense once we’re well into the regular season.

Oct 9, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts as he talks with center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden. / John Jones-Imagn Images

Freelance fundamentals

One thing that looks to be consistent with last year’s approach is a reliance on freelanced offense, or trusting the talent on the court to make the right reads without relying on too many canned plays. However, where the 2025 Knicks could stagnate in their approach — often simplifying to a pet pindown or weave to get Brunson the ball in pick-and-roll or isolation — this year promises increased motion and sharing to generate looks.

Brown mentioned running no set plays in the Knicks’ most recent win, in an effort to familiarize them with the new system. Two major tenants of the approach are spacing principles and emphasis on movement.

New York is trying to be more diligent with spacing the floor by keeping players spread and in motion behind the arc, while also being smarter about how they cut into the paint. There were times last season when guys would be bunched up in the same corner, or cutting into each other on a drive. Hyperfocusing on the right positioning with no plays running should help deter those mistakes.

The other piece is increased player movement, including a ton of quick-hit dribble hand-offs, give-and-gos, and weak-side cuts and flares to keep the opportunities flowing with no set being run. There also seems to be an informal dribble or isolation limit, as the ball is moving much freer than in years past.

Quicker pace

This change has been a little tougher to gauge on the eye test and by the numbers. Partially from preseason obfuscation, partially because this might be the biggest new adjustment for New York’s top players, and partially because it’s not as simple. Increased pace means more fast breaks and quicker shots.

Some of the changes have been more subtle — like Brown preaching for guys to spread out to the corners as quick as possible semi-transition, which we’re seeing the beginnings of. But the results may not look like what some expect right away.

The Knicks won’t be turning into seven seconds or less anytime soon and probably at all, but they’re trying to get more leak-outs in transition, make space for trailers, and even get into their halfcourt stuff much quicker, which may bring the biggest impact.

A big issue with last season’s offense was just taking six seconds to cross halfcourt and another eight to finally begin the action. It happened often.

Again, drawing any concrete conclusions from these early games is a fruitless exercise, but they’ve given us a real look into the core tenants Brown has been preaching for this new-look offense all training camp. It may take some time to fully realize, but we can see the building blocks starting to emerge.

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This Saturday, WWE returns to Perth, Australia for the 2025 iteration of Crown Jewel, with five matches officially confirmed for the card. Among them, WWE star Natalya is most excited for the final faceoff between John Cena and AJ Styles. As a long-time advocate and pioneer in women’s wrestling, however, she’s also looking forward to the tag team match pitting four of WWE’s best females on opposite sides.

“I love the story that the girls are telling,” Natalya said on “Busted Open Radio.” “It’s very intriguing. Besides Maxxine versus Becky, I’m loving this Asuka, Kairi, IYO, Rhea storyline because it’s got so many layers to it. Kairi, I think will be the standout character of all of it because she’s become very fascinating to me. She’s torn between these friendships and she doesn’t know where she stands. She loves IYO, but she’s loyal to Asuka. It’s just cool. You see this different partnership between Rhea and IYO, that they’ve been very organically brought together.”

At Crown Jewel, IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley will take on Asuka and Kairi Sane. For several weeks, Asuka became increasingly agitated with SKY’s growing bond to Ripley, so much so that she warned Ripley to stay away from “The Genius of the Sky.” Ripley, of course, refused to give in, as did SKY, causing Asuka to attack them both and Sane to appear conflicted.

According to Asuka, SKY owes her success to her as “The Empress of Tomorrow” had acted as her mentor in Japan before they all joined WWE. SKY, while acknowledging that, still then created a wall between herself and Asuka, leading to a tag team match being announced for Crown Jewel.

Cena & Styles Dance For The Final Time

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Elsewhere at Crown Jewel, former rivals AJ Styles and John Cena will meet once more in a singles match, with the latter having just five dates left on his retirement tour. According to Natalya, Styles is definitely among the candidates for discussions regarding the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time, especially given his in-ring skills and passion both during and before his time in WWE. Meanwhile, Cena remains on the same level as a certain baseball legend.

“We got a lot of wrestling influence in this house, but we really think, TJ [Wilson] really thinks AJ’s in that conversation of one of the best to ever do it,” Natalya said. “Then, of course, you have John Cena. He’s been talked about as being the Babe Ruth of professional wrestling. It’s coming down to the wire of some of his last matches. So I want to see what magic John and AJ are going to do, especially in that big setting with that big fight feel. I think it’s going to be exciting. I think AJ is going to bring out the very best in John.”

Much like the past, Styles has publicly exclaimed his eagerness to beat up Cena. Unlike the past, though, both he and Cena are babyfaces this time, with fans already divided on who they’re rooting for.Â

Cena and Styles’ last one-on-one encounter took place on the February 27, 2018 episode of “WWE SmackDown.” Cena emerged victorious. This go-around, Natalya believes Styles will force Cena to step up.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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CM Punk has confirmed that he will be making the trip to Perth, Australia, for the go-home episode of Monday Night Raw ahead of the Crown Jewel premium live event. In a post to his Instagram story, Punk thanked the fans in Dallas for their support during this past week’s Raw and announced his intention to be at the show next week that will take place in Perth following Crown Jewel.

This past Monday’s Raw saw a verbal confrontation between the three men who most recently challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk, LA Knight, and Jey Uso. Punk, who was making his first appearance since his victory at Wrestlepalooza, was interrupted by Knight, who claimed he was the rightful number one contender. Jey Uso then joined the fray, stating that he was still owed a one-on-one rematch for the title. The segment escalated into a brawl that saw Jimmy Uso get involved, and it ultimately led to a tag team main event pitting Punk and Knight against The Usos.

The match was a combustible one, with the makeshift team of Punk and Knight struggling to get on the same page. The finish saw Punk hit Jey Uso with a GTS, but Knight tagged himself in and stole the pinfall victory. The animosity between all four men, and the underlying tension between the recently reunited Usos, has created a volatile situation at the top of the Raw roster. With all of these stars now heading to Perth for Crown Jewel, the go-home episode of Raw is poised to be an explosive one.

The Crown Jewel premium live event, which takes place on Saturday, October 11, from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, will feature several matches. The show is headlined by two champion vs. champion encounters, with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes taking on World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, and Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer facing WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton. The card also features the final encounter between John Cena and AJ Styles. CM Punk does not currently have a match scheduled for the event.

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