DALLAS (AP) The Dallas Mavericks hired Mike Schmitz as general manager on Friday, naming the Portland Trail Blazers' assistant GM to his new role three days after introducing Masai Ujiri as team president and alternate governor.The announcement gives Schmitz the title Nico Harrison held until he was fired in November, nine months after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that backfired badly on the franchise.The Mavericks said Schmitz would oversee day-to-day management and strategic alignment in the club's basketball operations department.The move comes with Dallas still not having provided any clarity on the future roles of Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi. They were named co-interim GMs when Harrison was fired and engineered the trade of Anthony Davis, the centerpiece acquired by Dallas in the Doncic deal, to Washington.Schmitz and the Nigerian-raised Ujiri have strong ties to Africa. Schmitz has spent time working on youth basketball development in Ujiri's homeland and has served as an assistant coach with the Ugandan national team.Schmitz joined the Trail Blazers in 2022 after spending five years as a draft analyst at ESPN.I have tremendous respect for Masai, this ownership group and the vision they have for the future of the franchise, Schmitz said. I'm excited to get to work alongside the talented people already in place and help build a championship-caliber organization.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

TAMPA, Fla. The parallel was already easy to make for Rueben Bain Jr. A consensus All-American who wreaked havoc at the front of a University of Miami defense but fell unexpectedly and landed in the middle of the first round with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? That was Bain two weeks ago, when the Buccaneers were thrilled to get him at No. 15, but it also happened 31 years ago. So, when Bain arrived at Bucs rookie minicamp on Thursday wearing a black retro Warren Sapp No. 99 jersey, it was a nostalgic nod to a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but also a reminder of how confident he is, and how excited his new team is about the potential they see in him. "He's got an old soul, so to speak," coach Todd Bowles said at the podium after Bain's first practice Friday afternoon. "He understands his lineage. He understands the guys who came before him. They've got a lot of great players down at the University of Miami ... he understands how to pay homage to the guys that came before him down there and he's tried to pattern his game like that. He's a very smart player, not just a tough player. He understands what he's walking into and what he wants to be." And as Bain was fitted with his first NFL helmet, he made a video call to Sapp, who he knew from his Hurricane days, showing a real connection between one of the best players in Bucs history and the franchise's future. "It was a full-circle moment," Bain said at the podium on Friday, sharing he had traded texts with Sapp when he got drafted as the older 'Cane reminded him that Tampa was "his city." But Bain didn't go out and buy a Sapp throwback. This was an old jersey, older than Bain himself, as one of his friends in Miami sent him a pic of the Sapp jersey "in the back of his closet." There was already a no-nonsense vibe to Bain from draft night, when after waiting longer than most anyone expected him to hear his name called, he walked past an NFL selfie mirror set up for draft picks, grabbing the Bucs hat set out for him without even breaking stride. On Friday, given the chance to step on an NFL practice field for the first time, wearing his own new No. 3 jersey, Bain relented and allowed himself to smile and enjoy the excitement of a new chapter in his football career. "I've been on Cloud Nine ever since I walked in," said Bain, who had 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in helping Miami to the national championship game last season. "Just enjoying the process, enjoying where I'm at. I'm happy. I'm where I'm supposed to be. I'm with my friends and my team, I'm home. I can't complain about anything." The Bucs were elated to have Bain fall to them at 15, as edge rusher has been a major need for them and a catalyst in Bowles' attacking defense. Tampa Bay also hadn't drafted a player from Miami in Jason Licht's first 12 years as general manager, but he took two, in Bain and nickel defensive back Keionte Scott in the fourth round, hoping to import the toughness and aura from their college success. "I love that he's very unique, where he's got a great blend of power and athleticism," Licht said on draft night. "He can bend, he's got get-off, he's very powerful, he's got very explosive not just athleticism, but powerful hands, powerful strength and he plays very edgy. He plays with a chip on his shoulder." Bain was viewed as one of the top edge rushers in the 2026 draft in the lead-up to the event, with several mock drafts projecting him to be a top-10 pick. Our draft analyst, Rob Rang, had him at No. 7 on his big board, placing third among edge rushers. Rang gave the Buccaneers an A-minus grade for the pick, and Tampa a B grade for its overall draft haul due to the selection. However, Bain faced criticism about his arms being shorter than most pass rushers at 30 and 7/8 inches "Mike Tyson had short arms, too," Licht said the night he drafted him but the Bucs trusted the dominance they saw on tape in his three seasons at Miami, totaling 20.5 sacks, one more than Sapp finished with as a defensive tackle for the Hurricanes. They don't need him to be Sapp, who helped Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl in the 2002 season during a run of seven straight Pro Bowl nods. But Bain has an excitement of his own a much-needed positivity for a team that lost seven of its last nine games last season to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Two franchise icons are gone in linebacker Lavonte David, who retired, and receiver Mike Evans, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, so the Buccaneers needed a new face and source of optimism. This week is the first step for Bain, getting to know his fellow rookies before he soon begins work with the full team, trying to earn their respect and trust entering a season where the Bucs are still the odds-on favorite to win the NFC South. Bain made headlines with someone else's jersey, but it might not be long before fans are wearing his No. 3 in the stands. "It was a sense of pride," Bain said of his decision to pay tribute to Sapp. "I feel like it speaks on the brotherhood we have at the University of Miami, and it speaks on the amount of pride I've got where I'm at right now."

Indian opener KL Rahul made history, becoming the first-ever player to score 1,000 runs or more for three different Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.

SportsLine's model reveals its San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Game 3 picks

Fran Garcia And Camavinga To Start | 4-4-2 Real Madrid Predicted Lineup Vs BarcelonaReal Madrid will lock horns with Barcelona at the Nou Camp this Sunday night as they look to earn a good result on their travels in La Liga. Los Blancos managed to secure a solid 2-0 win away at Espanyol earlier this month, which should give them some confidence going into this clash.Alvaro Arbeloa will set his men up in a 4-4-2 formation and is expected to make a few changes to his first XI for this game. Fran Garcia, Eduardo Camavinga and Gonzalo Garcia could all get a chance to shine from the start of this Clasico.4-4-2 Real Madrid Predicted Lineup To Face BarcelonaDefenceThibaut Courtois will keep his spot in between the sticks for the Madrid giants as he looks to keep a clean sheet on the road in La Liga. Antonio Rudiger will operate alongside Dean Huijsen at the centre of the Real Madrid backline as they try to keep the Barcelona attackers quiet throughout the game.Trent Alexander-Arnold will get the opportunity to impress as the right-back, while Fran Garcia looks to put in a solid performance on the other side as the left-back. Both of them will have to perform their defensive duties well before trying to support their teammates in the final third.David Alaba will offer cover for the defensive positions on the bench.BARCELONA, SPAIN MAY 03: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid sat on the floor during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at RCDE Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)MidfieldEduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham will operate as Arbeloas central midfielders. Their main job would be to make life tough for the home side in the middle of the park and engineer some decent chances in the final third.Thiago Pitarch Pinar could fill in as the left-sided wide player, while Brahim Diaz looks to put his pace to good use on the right flank. Both of them will get the license to get in behind the Barca backline at every chance they can get.Cesar Palacios and Franco Mastantuono will be named on the bench and might come on to influence the game in the second 45 minutes if required.AttackVinicius Jr. and Gonzalo Garcia will spearhead Real Madrids attack up top. Both of them need to link up well in and around the opponents penalty area if they want to get their names on the scoresheet this weekend.

Can't make it to a FIFA World Cup 2026 match? Soccer fans now have a chance to experience the stadium energy. FOX Sports and Cosm have teamed up to bring select live matches to Cosm venues throughout the tournament. Cosms 40 total matches will be broadcast at their immersive entertainment venues across Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta. For fans, Cosm's 87-foot-diameter, 12K+ LED domes will bring the in-match atmosphere to life. To kick off their coverage, Cosm will broadcast 11 group stage matches, including all three of the United States group stage matches against Paraguay, Trkiye and Australia and the tournaments opening match of Mexico vs. South Africa live from Mexico City on June 11. Following the group stages, Cosm will transition into the majority of the knockout stages, and will close out their coverage with all Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals matches and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, live from East Rutherford, NJ. on Sunday, July 19. For the largest World Cup to date, spanning across 37 days, 104 matches and 48 qualified teams, Cosm and FOX Sports have come together to deliver what could be a historic tournament. Could Cosm help capture what could be Lionel Messis and Cristiano Ronaldos final World Cups? How will Spain do with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal coming off an injury? Will USA successfully advance out of the group stage? Cosms shared reality experience will help fans across the country dive into the largest sporting event in the World this summer. A full schedule of the 11 Group Stage matches to be shown at Cosm in Shared Reality can be found below.

Kris Knoblauch's job is under serious threat as the Edmonton Oilers brace for a sweeping offseason overhaul. With McDavid and Draisaitl openly voicing frustration after a shocking first-round exit, major coaching and front office changes are coming.

SportsLine's model reveals its Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres picks for their 2026 Stanley Cup playoff Game 2 matchup on Friday

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Jarace Walker #5 of the Indiana Pacers fouls DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings on a shot with Jay Huff #32 of the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on March 10, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Kelley L Cox/Getty Images)Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS Just two days stand between the Indiana Pacers and their offseason-defining date. May 10 is the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, and the Pacers have a 52.1% chance of keeping their first-round draft pick.If the lottery places the Pacers top selection inside the first four slots, Indiana will keep that draft pick. If it falls to fifth or sixth, the only other possible outcomes, it will be sent to the Los Angeles Clippers as a part of the trade that netted the Pacers center Ivica Zubac.We were trying to protect our upside at the top of the draft mostly, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said of the trade and draft pick protections in February. The Pacers would also have kept the first rounder if it landed between 10 and 30, but that became irrelevant after the Pacers ended the season poorly.Now, the team has roughly a coin flip chance to hang on to their high draft selection this season. They have an offseason plan for any draft lottery outcome, but a top pick would be preferred. Any direction the Pacers go this summer will be determined by their lottery fate.Buchanan had much more to say about the Pacers offseason during a recent interview on The Ride with JMV on 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis. When we made the trade, we knew there was risk involved just as there is in any other trade. But with the draft pick involved, youve got to look at the finances of the situation and the scenario where you keep the pick, the scenario where we lose the pick. We felt that both scenarios provided opportunities to help our team be better next year, he said. The Pacers eyes toward championship contention right now made the trade worth it, even with the draft-related risk. We feel like we have a team [that] Were in that [Contention] mix when were healthy.What will the Pacers do to stay contenders?Buchanan admitted that while long-term thinking is generally prudent, the Pacers have a window right now with Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam on the roster. They want to go for it. Losing the top-four pick would hurt, but there are other opportunities for the team to get better.Should we lose the pick, theres other opportunities to improve our team through free agency. We still have trades. We gain a pick that we can use in the future for a trade. We felt like theres a way to improve our team either way with whatever the ping pong balls, however they fall for us. Were not putting all of our eggs into one basket, that 'Hey, if we dont keep this pick, its doom and gloom, [thinking], because its not, Buchanan said. Because theres other windows and other doors that open with that opportunity. If we do get the pick, obviously its a great opportunity to add a young player to this team. The core of it comes down to, Ivica [Zubac] is a great player. Weve been a big believer, a big fan of him for a long time. This team has shown that its capable of doing some really special things, and we were missing a starting center that we felt could keep us in that mix.Buchanan and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle have discussed the two directions the Pacers offseason could take. One is more draft focused, with the teams major addition obviously being a top-four pick in that case. The other way Indiana could go is into free agency. Thats far more likely if they lose their first-round selection. They could use various salary cap exceptions to add talent in that reality, though the roster would still be expensive and near the luxury tax or first apron.But if the team isnt providing lip service about their belief that they have a contention window right now, they shouldnt care as much about those spending barriers. Rather, they should be focused on adding to the team, and in particular replacing some key roles theyve lost in the last few seasons.Kevin Pritchard speaks during a news conference Monday, May 1, 2017, in Indianapolis. Larry Bird resigned from his position as Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations. Pritchard is assuming Bird's position. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)ASSOCIATED PRESSWhile the Pacers core remains intact, some of their better reserves have either taken deals elsewhere or been traded across the last few seasons. Zubac replaced Myles Turner, but since the Pacers first made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023-24, theyve also lost the likes of Jalen Smith, Isaiah Jackson, Bennedict Mathurin, Doug McDermott, and Thomas Bryant. Along the way, most of those departures made sense for one reason or another Jackson and Mathurin were traded as matching salary for Zubac, as an example. But the Pacers depth, a superpower in recent campaigns, has slowly dripped away.That influences their needs in the offseason. Can I say health? Does that count as a need? Buchanan joked when asked about what the Pacers need next season. To his point: The Pacers had the second-most games lost due to injury and the most salary lost in player absences.In terms of actual roster needs, Buchanan identified a few. The departure of Mathurin created a big hole for the teams second unit, and they have some other questions to answer.I think one thing this season revealed for us is the need for some scoring off our bench Probably from the wing position. Losing (Mathurin), you lose some of that. But I think this team, we have some depth. We still have some holes to fill, Buchanan began. Some of the projected top-four picks in the upcoming draft could fill that role, as could a free agent acquired using some of the Mid-Level Exception.Most of the Pacers rotation seems fairly set. Their starting five from the 2025 NBA Finals minus Turner, plus Zubac seems fairly set. T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin have obvious roles off the bench. A draft pick could be in the mix, as could one or both of Ben Sheppard and Jarace Walker.On the interior, Jay Huff currently projects to be the Pacers backup center. Buchanan did mention that position as a possible spot to look at in the offseason.I think you look at maybe the five position, do we have a backup center we feel comfortable with? We had (Huff) and (Micah Potter), both had good moments this year. Do we feel good about that position? Buchanan wondered. Huffs production given his contract is solid, and hes never played with Haliburton. But his first season in Indiana was certainly up and down.Buchanan also mused about the depth of the wing position on his roster, a natural thought with Johnny Furphy injured and Kobe Brown entering free agency. He also mentioned reserve point guard as a possible need the Pacers cycled through many players in that role during the 2025-26 campaign.Some of the teams needs may be filled by internal candidates. And they wont have a ton of spending power in the offseason. But they will look to make improvements as contenders, and theyll explore every avenue to make it happen. Including, yes, trading their first-round pick if the right opportunity appears.Youve got to consider everything. If you have a pick up there, youre looking at obviously who are the players on the board to pick from, Buchanan began. But if we can find another player or multiple assets that help us with this team to try to compete for a championship, were going to consider everything on that.While there will be top-end stability for the Pacers, the offseason could come with changes to the rotation. How those changes look will be determined at Sundays draft lottery.This article was originally published on Forbes.com