All articles tagged with #drafting
Carolina’s 2026 Cup Final run shows a blueprint built on patience, smart pivots, and a homegrown core: instead of chasing a blockbuster trade, the Hurricanes developed depth, pivoted when a big move didn’t pan out by retooling around Logan Stankoven, trusted Rod Brind’Amour and Frederik Andersen to steady the lineup, and leaned on seven 20+ goal scorers to fuel a deep, balanced team.
Tanking is a false promise; history shows championships come from savvy drafting and trades rather than losing to improve lottery odds. None of the last 20 Finals MVPs was drafted in the top four, and in the past six years players like SGA, Jaylen Brown, Jokic, Curry, Giannis—and even LeBron James via free agency—have demonstrated that elite teams win through smart acquisitions and development, not tanking. The Thunder’s tanking approach under Sam Presti is a notable outlier. For the Knicks, the takeaway is clear: avoid chasing losses and focus on smart drafting and trades instead.
Ryan Blaney discusses being compared to Dale Earnhardt and shares insights on drafting techniques learned from Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski at tracks that require drafting skills.
The San Jose Sharks selected star center Michael Misa with the No. 2 pick and goalie Josh Ravensbergen with the No. 30 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, passing on trade offers including one for star defenseman Noah Dobson, highlighting their confidence in Misa's potential as a first-line NHL player.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's successful rebuild, marked by strategic trades, smart drafting, and patience, led to their NBA championship victory, serving as a model for other Pittsburgh teams like the Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers, which could benefit from similar boldness and focus on player development.
A recent discussion on the Performance Process podcast with Alex Dowsett raised the question of whether it's easier to draft behind an aerodynamically optimized cyclist or one with less aerodynamic efficiency. Surprising results from CFD simulations by Nablaflow's CEO Luca Oggiano revealed that it is marginally easier to draft behind a more aerodynamic rider, contrary to the common assumption that a less aerodynamic rider would provide a better draft. The simulations showed that a following rider experiences less drag behind an aerodynamically optimized lead rider, saving more watts compared to drafting behind a less aerodynamic lead rider. The study also found that the aerodynamics of the drafting rider can affect the lead rider's required effort, with different configurations leading to varying watt savings. The findings highlight the complex nature of aerodynamics in cycling and suggest that maintaining a closer distance to the rider in front remains the most effective way to maximize drafting benefits.
The Atlanta Braves clinched their sixth consecutive National League East title, becoming the first MLB team this season to secure their division. Despite significant changes to their roster since winning the World Series in 2021, the Braves have remained dominant and are now considered the favorites to win it all. Their sustained excellence can be attributed to shrewd drafting, lopsided trades with the Oakland Athletics, and a pre-existing core of talented players.