by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/13/2026 Photo by Chris Schwegler via Getty Images/ NBAE 1. Washington Wizards Darryn Peterson, Kansas, Guard So pick #1 and I'm already making waves but not only do I think Peterson is a much better fit in Washington than A.J. but has as much potential too. Peterson has been scrutinized because he "lost explosiveness in college" but I see it as a minor setback year for an amazing athlete who can get a bucket anywhere. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/12/2026 Photo by Katie Morrison via MassLive Since becoming interim Manager of the Boston Red Sox on April 25th, Chad Tracy has brought the Red Sox to a 7-6 record including a series sweep of the Detroit Tigers. After a day off on Monday and a series against the Phillies in Boston about to begin, It's time to examine the brief but telling stint of Chad Tracy as Red Sox Manager and what impact he's had in the wake of Cora's firing. Alex Cora is

Photo: Braden Daley/AP After months of projections, debates, scouting reports, tank-watch drama and suspense, the order is set. The 2026 NBA Draft picture is no longer a guessing game, at least not when it comes to where each team will be picking. Now comes the fun part: figuring out which young star fits best with the franchises hoping to change their future overnight. With the lottery teams locked into place and the No. 1 pick officially belonging to Washington, the clock t

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/11/2026 Photo by Ishika Samant via Getty Images Sean Strickland vs 2Nassourdine Imavov Zak Drapeau - Strickland has defied the odds again and become only the 2nd two-time Middleweight champion. There are a number of fighters who could challenge Strickland first, including the former champion Du Plessis, who beat Strickland twice, but I think I'm giving Imavov the shot first. In a would-be rematch three years in the making, Nasso

Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award celebrates a unique kind of star—usually a guy who's underrated but changes the course of games without hearing their name in the starting lineup. Some award winners were instant offense, and others became foundational pieces on championship contenders, proving that impact isn’t limited to the staring lineup. But not every Sixth Man carried the same impact. Some winners put up buckets on average teams, while other

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/8/2026 Graphic by UFC via UFC.com In our Fight Night Della Maddalena vs Prates Predictions which you can find here, Zak went 4-2 in picks with 1 method for 5 points. Matt went 6-0 in picks with 5 methods for 11 points. Points To Date: Zak: 80 (55-32) Matt: 87 (56-31) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 5/6 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CKhamzat Chimaev vs 3Sean Strickland (Chimaev -600) Zak Drapeau - Sean Stric

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/8/2026 Photo by Pamela Smith via Imagn images 1. A.J. Dybantsa Small Forward BYU 6'9" - 210 lbs. Archetype- Very Athletic, Mid Range Forward Anytime I grade a propsect in any sport, it comes down to two things: Upside potential and their potential floor. In my eyes, Dybantsa has the best upside potential of anyone in this class. With an elite frame of a Small Forward, great athleticism, good ball handling and a silky jump shot that could beco

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/6/2026 2Spurs vs 6Timberwolves MIN Lead 1-0 Photo by Ronald Cortes via Getty Images Series Odds: SA -205 Game 2 Odds: SA -10 The series between the Spurs and Timberwolves should be the most exciting of all 4 2nd round matchups. With two of the premier stars of the league in Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama facing off, it should also be the most watched and media covered as well. The Spurs were heavy favorites to win the series and move on

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/5/2026 Photo by Ed Mulholland/ Zuffa LLC Carlos Prates vs WINNER of Makhachev vs Garry Matt Hylen - I mean, is Carlos Prates unbelievable or what?! Prates put on a perfect performance against a formidable opponent, making JDM look like an amateur in the octagon. Based on his résumé, finishing streak, and overall elite skill on the feet, Prates deserves nothing less than a title shot at this point. With that said, he will likely

Photo: Michael Hickey/GettyImages The NBA Draft Lottery is one of the strangest nights on the league calendar. No games are played, no shots are taken, and yet, the bounce of a few ping-pong balls can alter the future of an entire franchise. That date is soon approaching, and it will determine picks in a class loaded with insane talent. The Wizards, Pacers and Nets own the top odds, but as history has shown, lottery night rarely goes exactly as expected. For every team involv

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 5/5/2026 Photo Credits to NBA via NBA.com staff When is the Draft Lottery? The NBA Draft Lottery will begin at 3:00 pm EST on Sunday, May 10th. The NBA Playoffs will be in full swing as Game 4 between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers will start just 30 minutes after Lottery coverage starts. With the NBA Draft's First Round set to start on June 23rd, the Lottery begins NBA Draft season. The Lottery will also be a prelude to the NBA Draf

by Sportz Nation - 5/4/2026 2026 Review The Celtics miraculous 2026 season has come to an end with a Game 7 loss to the 76ers after initially leading the series 3-2. To start the season being predicted to miss the playoffs, then become the #2 seed in the East and Favorite to win the Eastern Conference Finals, all before getting heartbroken in the First Round has been a roller coaster of a year for Boston. And yet, there is still a lot of hope for this team. Photo by Matt Ston

Graphic found at mightytips.com After what has seemed like forever, Formula One is finally back and in full swing for what is round 4 of the 2026 season. Rumors swirled around all throughout the "spring break" regarding upgrades and pace progression, and boy did they not disappoint. McLaren were one of three teams who have really stepped things up since we last saw racing in Japan. After finishing 1-2 in Sprint Qualifying, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were able to secure th

The NBA Draft is right around the corner, and following another MVP performance from Nikola Jokic, you have to wonder how important it really is to chase high picks when player development, smart scouting, and the right system can turn overlooked talent into the best player in the world. Jokic has set the blueprint for what a second rounder can do, but just how many great talents slid through the cracks on draft night because teams slept on them? Since 1947, every draft class

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 5/1/2026 Photo by Ed Mulholland/ Zuffa LLC In our Fight Night Sterling v Zalal Predictions which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 1 method for 4 points. Matt went 4-2 in picks with4 methods for 8 points. Points To Date: Zak: 75 (51-30) Matt: 76 (50-31) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 4/30 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1Jack Della Maddelena vs 5Carlos Prates (Prates -120) Zak Drapeau - I am so ready

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 4/27/2026 Photo by WJ/ Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Caleb Lomu Tackle Utah Pick: #28 Lomu is an athletic Tackle with good size and room to grow even more muscle on his frame. As Utah's Left Tackle for the past two seasons, Lomu was a better pass blocker than run blocker and was also named to the 2024 Academic All-Big 12 team as well. As the Patriots depth chart stands, Campbell and Moses are better off at Tackle in 2026. Lomu is athletic and

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 4/27/2026 Photo by Sue Ogrocki/ Associated Press 1. New York Jets The Jets and the Giants had the best classes of all to me but I think the Jets just topped their cross-town rivals. With 4 picks in the Top-50, the Jets hit home runs with all of them including filling the 3 biggest needs of the team. David Bailey will be a force on the Edge for years to come. D'Angelo Ponds is a feisty leader on the outside or at slot corner. Then you get two dyn

Photo Credit: Reed Smith/USAToday The 2016 NBA Draft feels close enough to remember clearly, yet just far enough away to judge honestly. The class was led by young prospects with tremendous upside, from franchise saviors to reliable role players. Now, with ten years of NBA evidence in the books, the picture looks very different. Some players became All-Stars, some exceeded every projection, and others notably never quite became what fans hoped they would be. Now we have years

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 4/27/2026 Photo by Jeff Bottari/ Zuffa LLC Aljamain Sterling vs WINNER of Lopes vs Garcia Zak Drapeau - Aljo has now won 2 in a row and is likely one win away from being in line for a title shot. With Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia being another fight for a Top-5 billing at Featherweight on the White House card, this seems like a fitting opponent for the former champion at 135. With Evloev getting the likely next shot, it would be l

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 4/23/2026 Graphic by The Sporting News 1. Miami Dolphins Jeremiah Smith - WR Ohio State Jeremiah Smith is the best wide receiver prospect I've ever seen and the best player in this class. Seeing as Malik Willis just got a contract before the 2026 season, the Dolphins should get him a #1 weapon rather than enter the Quarterback sweepstakes which means this pick will likely be traded for come next April for a team trying to get... 2. New York Jets