Karl-Anthony Towns kept his message clear before Tuesday’s game in Boston. Even without progress on a contract extension before the Oct. 20 deadline, he said he wants to remain with the New York Knicks. Speaking ahead of his 29-point outing in a 123–117 loss to the Celtics, Towns said being close to home and family is a major factor in his desire to stay.

“Hell yeah. Hell yeah, I want to stay here,” he said. “Obviously, get a chance to be home, see my family. It means more than the money… I would like it to continue.” He also said the failed extension did not harm his relationship with the front office. “Me, Leon [Rose,] and Gersson [Rosas] and everyone, we’re great. I’ll go have lunch with them right now. We’re good.”

Contract Timeline and Eligibility for Future Extensions

With years remaining on his contract, the Knicks are not pressed to make a decision yet. Counting this season, he has at least two years and roughly $110 million remaining on the four-year, $220.4 million contract he originally signed with Minnesota. He holds a $61 million player option for 2027–28, which means he cannot reach free agency before 2027, and may not enter the market until 2028.

During the recent extension window, Towns was eligible to add two years and $150 million, but no agreement was reached. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, his next extension window opens after the 2026 NBA Finals, when the maximum possible offer would be about four years and $260 million. With years remaining on the current deal, both sides appear comfortable revisiting discussions later.

Adapting to Mike Brown’s System

On the floor, Towns is adjusting to a new structure under Mike Brown. Entering Tuesday’s game, he averaged 21.7 points and 11.9 rebounds while shooting 44.9%, which is his career low for efficiency. His responsibilities differ depending on whether he plays center or power forward. “Totally different system… when I’m 5 or I’m 4, it’s a totally different script for me,” he said. “Trying to impact winning as much as possible.”

As New York works within Brown’s system, the betting market has updated its view of the team. Major sportsbooks list the Knicks among the leading Eastern Conference contenders, with 2026 NBA Championship odds ranging from +900 to +1600. Their season win total is 51.5, with –105 on the Over and –115 on the Under, and early-season performance has supported outlooks aligned with the Over. Towns also appears in player prop previews for points and rebounds, though his MVP odds are +30000, placing him well outside the group of award candidates expected to contend this season.

Last year, he averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds, earned All-Star and All-NBA honors, and helped New York reach its first conference finals since 2000. This season, the Knicks’ 13–6 start and four-game winning streak brought them into second place in the Eastern Conference standings, a run that aligns with their strengthened futures pricing.

Update on Landry Shamet’s Shoulder Injury

The Knicks also received encouraging news about Landry Shamet, who is recovering from a sprained right shoulder suffered on Nov. 22 in Orlando, when the shoulder popped out of its socket. The same shoulder was dislocated during the last preseason, leading to his release before he later re-signed with the team. Shamet is on a non-guaranteed contract, but the Knicks plan to keep him on the roster during his recovery, with a reevaluation planned in about three weeks.

Mikal Bridges described Shamet’s mindset as noticeably stronger compared to last year. “I think just more his spirits,” Bridges said. He explained that last season, Shamet was in good spirits but was facing the pressure of trying to make the team. This year, with a defined role and a higher level of comfort, Bridges said Shamet has “a different type of security” and added that his positive attitude “gives me confidence, gives us all confidence, he’ll be OK and waiting for him to get back.”

Kodai Senga has informed the New York Mets that he would prefer to remain with the organization rather than be traded, according to reporting from The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Though Senga lacks full control over the outcome, his contract — a five-year, $75 million deal signed in December 2022 that includes a 10-team no-trade clause — gives him limited protection as the Mets weigh offseason decisions.

The Mets, valued at $3.2 billion by Forbes, failed to reach the postseason at the end of the 2025 season. They have traded Brandon Nimmo, who joined the organization in 2016, and are exploring the possibility of trading Jeff McNeil.

Performance, Injuries, and Demotion Across Three Seasons

Senga’s first season with the Mets in 2023 included 29 starts, a 12–7 record, a 2.98 ERA, and 202 strikeouts in 166.1 innings. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. His 2023 performance followed 11 seasons with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.

In 2024, he made one regular-season start due to a right shoulder injury and a calf injury. In 2025, he entered the season healthy, then strained his hamstring in June and missed a month. Senga returned to post a 5.90 ERA over nine starts, leading the club to option him to Triple-A in early September — a move he could have rejected under his contract but did not. He stayed in Triple-A for the remainder of the season. In total, he has made 52 starts across his three years in New York.

Betting Markets Adjust to Injuries and Roster Changes

Sportsbooks recalibrated their outlook on the Mets following their 2025 performance and midseason trades. DraftKings currently lists New York at +1500 to win the 2026 World Series and +600 to win the National League. FanDuel has them at +1100 for the World Series; BetMGM posts +1400. For comparison, PointsBet opened the Mets at +700 for the 2025 title before the season unraveled.

Senga’s individual futures followed a similar arc. He opened 2025 around +2800 for the NL Cy Young Award and remained in that range in the early evaluations. After the June hamstring strain and uneven return, his odds slipped dramatically, falling to +10000 by late September. He now appears near 110–1 in updated listings. He also surfaces at +5000 in Comeback Player of the Year markets.

Trade Conditions and Impact on Rotation Options

Senga’s no-trade clause narrows the Mets’ options, and his 2024–25 injury history has tempered the aggressiveness of potential suitors. The team removed him from the rotation in September while still attempting to stay in the postseason race, an indication of internal concern.

If Senga remains, the projected rotation includes Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson alongside him. McLean retains minor-league options but is expected to hold a rotation spot after his 2025 performance. Manaea, Holmes, and Peterson lack options but have bullpen experience, giving the Mets flexibility. The club could consider moving one of those arms, though none is likely to bring back a return matching Senga’s upside, and Manaea’s contract and 2025 results may limit market interest.

Cody Bellinger’s first season with the New York Yankees delivered production that positioned him as one of the team’s most valuable players. Over 152 games, he recorded 29 home runs, an .813 OPS, and 5.1 wins above replacement. The Yankees used him in left field beside Trent Grisham throughout the postseason, showing confidence in the defensive alignment.

The situation changed when Bellinger opted out of the final year of the contract he originally signed with the Chicago Cubs. His free agency introduced immediate questions regarding roster structure, payroll capacity, and market competition for a player with proven value in multiple cities.

Yankees’ Stated Payroll Limits

MLB.com reporter Bryan Hoch explained that the Yankees “say they have limits,” and if another team offers more years or larger financial terms, Bellinger could sign elsewhere. He added that Scott Boras rarely accelerates negotiations and that this situation has the signs of one that extends into December as teams compete for a left-handed power bat with plus defense in center field.

Financial context increases the uncertainty. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said it would be “ideal” to spend less than last season’s $319 million payroll. Spotrac currently places the club’s projected luxury-tax payroll above $280 million after arbitration salaries. If Bellinger’s market reaches the $30–35 million range annually, the team may decide to step back from a prolonged bidding battle.

Sportsbook Odds Respond to Bellinger’s Free Agency

Sports betting markets adjusted quickly once Bellinger entered free agency. Player-specific futures for 2026 were removed on major sportsbooks until his next team is confirmed, shifting attention toward “next team” odds.

Sportsbook Review published a set of odds listing the Yankees at +450, Any Other Team at +550, Chicago Cubs at +650, and Seattle Mariners at +700. Heavy.com reported that BetOnline’s market placed the New York Mets at +250, Houston Astros at +350, and the Cubs at +450, showing a different ordering of contenders. Action Network reported that DraftKings posted early odds involving “two of his former teams,” indicating that more than one familiar destination remained in consideration.

Bellinger’s free agency affected larger futures markets as well. DraftKings opened 2026 World Series odds with the Los Angeles Dodgers at +370 and the Yankees at +750, which appeared again in an ESPN odds table using DraftKings data. Oddschecker recorded Yankees futures between +700 and +850, depending on the sportsbook.

Bellinger’s Value and the Yankees’ Offseason Needs

Hoch explained that Bellinger has already succeeded in major markets—Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York—and that his performance history gives pursuing teams confidence. He also pointed out that the Yankees have needs in multiple areas, which may limit their ability to commit to a top-end contract.

Bellinger’s offensive profile remained strong in 2025 with a .272/.334/.480 line, well-suited for Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch. His defensive range and adaptability gave the Yankees stability across outfield alignments. His comfort level in New York was visible on August 13, 2025, when he hit a solo home run in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium.

Why a Reunion Fits the Yankees’ Objectives

Despite payroll limits, the Yankees continue to show clear interest in bringing Cody Bellinger back. After Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer, several observers viewed the situation through the lens of reduced outfield urgency. MLB.com’s Brian Murphy addressed that directly, writing, “Trent Grisham’s acceptance of the qualifying offer solidifies two of the three outfield spots and releases the pressure the Yankees might have felt to acquire another outfielder this winter.”

Murphy presented a direct argument for a reunion, stating, “A reunion with Bellinger just makes so much sense.” He supported that view by pointing to Bellinger’s performance at Yankee Stadium, writing, “He absolutely loved hitting at Yankee Stadium, with 18 homers and a .302/.365/.544 slash line over 337 plate appearances in the Bronx.”

Murphy also described the value Bellinger brings, adding, “However, Bellinger’s athleticism and versatility are just as important, if not more so, than his bat for the Yankees.”

On August 9, 1988, Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. As the NHL’s most prominent player at the time, his move surprised people throughout the sport.

Gretzky’s arrival in LA set off ripple effects across the sport, from new U.S. franchises and rising youth participation to increased national coverage and, eventually, stronger interest in hockey among sports bettors.

How Gretzky Shifted National Attention to Los Angeles

Gretzky’s arrival placed the NHL in a much larger media spotlight. The Kings, who previously received limited attention compared to other Los Angeles teams, became a major sports story across the country. His presence brought regular national television coverage and raised interest well beyond traditional hockey areas.

Los Angeles’ entertainment industry also played a part. Celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone, Tom Hanks, and Goldie Hawn regularly attended Kings games, and Gretzky’s wife, actress Janet Jones, further anchored him in the Hollywood spotlight. Gretzky later described the experience by recalling how surprising it was to see so many well-known actors at their games and how this attention brought a different kind of visibility to the sport.

The Kings also scheduled numerous preseason games in cities without NHL teams. These games introduced professional hockey to new regions, where many people already recognized Gretzky and compared his standing to athletes like Michael Jordan.

Expansion and the Arrival of New NHL Franchises

When the trade occurred, the NHL had 21 teams, and the Kings were the only American team located west of Minnesota. After Gretzky joined the Kings, interest in the sport spread across several regions — a period that saw the creation of new franchises:

• San Jose Sharks (1991–92)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (1992–93)
• Florida Panthers (1993–94)
• Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–94)

By 2013, 23 out of 30 NHL teams were based in the United States. A total of 10 U.S. franchises were created or relocated after the trade, and five of those teams won the Stanley Cup: the Kings, Ducks, Hurricanes, Lightning, and Avalanche.

According to documented details, teams such as the Ducks, Panthers, and Coyotes likely would not have existed in the 1990s without the increased interest caused by Gretzky’s move. His arrival also contributed to NHL success in areas where the league had not succeeded in earlier attempts, including the Bay Area and Denver.

Gretzky described the growth of fan support in California by recalling a night when the Kings drew 18,500 fans, and the Ducks drew 17,000, resulting in a total of 35,000 people attending NHL games in the state on the same evening. He said that this moment showed how far hockey in California had progressed and that his move to Los Angeles had come at an ideal time.

California’s Participation Boom and the Rise of New NHL Talent

Before 1988, California had produced five NHL players. As participation increased, the number grew to 27, including first-round draft picks Jonathon Blum (2007), Beau Bennett (2010), and Emerson Etem (2010).

Participation numbers show the growth clearly:

• 1990–91: 4,483 players
• 1995–96: 15,537 players — a 221.7% increase during Gretzky’s final season in Los Angeles
• 2009–10: 20,204 players

Growth extended across the country. Between 1991 and 2010, 15 states recorded hockey participation increases of 150% or more, including:

• Texas: 1,156.8%
• Florida: 804.7%
• North Carolina: 502.6%

In the 2000s, NHL teams drafted 564 American-born players, the highest total of any decade. Many of these players developed during the years influenced by Gretzky’s presence in Los Angeles.

International competition also showed the reach of this growth. At the 2010 World Junior Championships, the U.S. roster included 10 players from nontraditional hockey states. At the 2013 World Junior Championships in Russia, the American team featured players from 13 different states, including strong performances from Rocco Grimaldi of California and Seth Jones of Texas.

National Broadcasting Growth After the Trade

The NHL’s expanded presence in major American markets helped secure a significant media agreement. In 2011, the league signed a 10-year, $2 billion television contract with NBC Sports. The deal relied on the growing interest in markets such as Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Phoenix, markets strengthened by the surge that followed the Gretzky trade.

Sports Betting Expansion Connected to Hockey’s Rising Popularity

Sports betting expanded after the May 2018 Supreme Court decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The ruling allowed states to legalize sports gambling. Many states have enacted laws permitting and regulating sports betting, with additional states expected to follow.

As betting became more common, hockey attracted more bettors. The NHL formed partnerships with sportsbooks and betting companies that provided data, technology, and a range of wagering options — all of which created new revenue sources and increased fan engagement across the league.