Leicestershire 155 (Gleeson 6-43) and 191 for 3 dec (Azad 83*, Gleeson 3-57) drew with Lancashire 170

Hassan Azad, with an unbeaten 83, finished as top run scorer in Division Two as the match between Leicestershire and Lancashire ended in a draw at the Fischer County Ground.

Damp areas on the outfield meant play began an hour late, meaning the game had already lost 173 overs to the weather before Leicestershire resumed their second innings on their overnight score of 40 for 1, a lead of 25.

The Foxes immediately lost captain Paul Horton, who had yet to add to his overnight 30 when he was comprehensively cleaned up by a Richard Gleeson delivery which removed both off and middle stumps.

With Azad playing an anchor role, Colin Ackermann came in and went for his shots, hitting eight fours in going to 37 from 47 balls at the interval, but his dismissal for 49, and that of Mark Cosgrove for just two soon afterwards, both edging Gleeson behind the wicket, signalled the end of any likelihood of Leicestershire declaring and offering Lancashire a late run chase.

Azad passed 50 for the eighth time this season, and was closing in on what would have been his fourth hundred and 1,200 runs for the Championship season - he finished with 1,189 - when the rain returned. Gleeson, who picked up six wickets in Leicestershire's first innings, finished with nine wickets in the match and 47 in the season.

Big Picture

It has been ten years since Karachi saw its last ODI. In that time, three World Cups have been staged, a generation has grown up, and the one-day game has been through a revolution. Sure, this is only a tender sapling of a tour, containing only limited-overs fixtures, with 10 Sri Lanka players having refused to travel. But we are at the start of the longest trip an international side has made to Pakistan since 2009, and the PCB hopes that top-flight cricket will really set about putting its roots down in the country this time. Could a home Test series be on the horizon?

It is difficult to put into words how much the resumption of a regular schedule could mean to Pakistan. Whole cities coming alive for matches, packed stadiums gasping at withering spells of fast bowling and spin-bowling wizardry, while tense battles play out in storied venues. Forget Pakistan; cricket needs this. It would also be fitting, of course, if Misbah-ul-Haq, who shepherded Pakistan so masterfully through their nomad years, gets this chance to shape the team's long-ached-for return home.

But perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves. Sri Lanka have sent a substantially weakened team, owing to 10 players' continued doubts over the security situation. Against a side missing the likes of Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews and designated captain Dimuth Karunaratne, the hosts start as strong favourites. What's more important than the runs or wickets, though, is that the tour is on. And that it goes well.

Form guide

Pakistan WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri LankaWWWLW

In the spotlight

The old coach is gone, as are selectors and support staff, but Sarfaraz Ahmed is still around as captain, despite Pakistan's failure to make it to the World Cup semi-finals. But will it be the same old Sarfaraz? Will he still bat in the lower middle order? Will he employ the same tactics? How much will Misbah, in his powerful new avatar, change the way Sarfaraz approaches his job? And after a modest World Cup personally, can Sarfaraz lift himself into good form again?

Sri Lanka's top order is among the most brittle in ODIs at the best of times, and it is the batting that has been most weakened by the withdrawals. Their captain for this series, Lahiru Thirimanne, struggles to make the first-choice XI, for example. Nevertheless, Thirimanne is the most experienced batsman on tour, and if Sri Lanka are to make competitive totals here, he will probably be required to play the sorts of long, measured innings he specialised in at his best.

Team news

It is difficult to predict Sri Lanka's XI, but Nuwan Pradeep may get a game owing to his experience. Lakshan Sandakan, the only specialist spinner in the squad, is also likely to play.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Lahiru Thirimanne (capt), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Avishka Fernando, 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), 5 Oshada Fernando, 6 Shehan Jayasuriya, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan Pradeep

Pakistan batsman Asif Ali played only two World Cup matches, but may get an opportunity in this game. Left-arm seamer Usman Shinwari, who last played an ODI in March, could also get a game.

Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Haris Sohail, 5 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 6 Asif Ali, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Usman Shinwari

Pitch and conditions

It has been raining heavily in the lead-up to the match, which means that there is a chance a wet outfield could frustrate play. When the game does start, a potentially undercooked surface could also be conducive to seam bowling.

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan's most recent ODI in Karachi was also against Sri Lanka, in January 2009.

• Pakistan have won their six most recent (completed) matches against Sri Lanka - a streak that goes back to 2017.

• Thirimanne last captained Sri Lanka in ODIs in 2015, in New Zealand. Sri Lanka won one and lost two matches under his leadership.Babar Azam is ranked 3rd on the ODI batting charts, while Imam-ul-Haq is joint-11th. To find the best-ranking Sri Lanka batsman involved in this series, you have to go all the way down to No. 80 - Avishka Fernando

Quotes

"Since I came back into the team this year and my average has been over 40 and strike rate over 90, if you talk about the stats. I am right up there in the Sri Lanka team. It's about performing when I get the chance. It doesn't matter where I bat - if the team needs me to bat higher up the order I can do that, if the team needs me to bat in the middle, that's up to me to get that challenge and perform."
Sri Lanka captain Lahiru Thirimanne on his recent performances

"Whoever is part of the squad of 16 at the moment are all first-team players. We'll try to get the best 11 playing given the circumstances in every game, but any of them could step up when required."
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed

Even as the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) made history by electing a woman president, a first for state associations, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has ruled that the TNCA's constitution does not comply with the one the BCCI registered last August. Without a certificate of compliance from the CoA, no state association can send a representative to the BCCI elections, which are scheduled for October 23.

The TNCA is one of only two state associations out of the BCCI's 37 members, along with the Haryana Cricket Association, to not comply with the BCCI constitution.

In May, the CoA had laid out a timeline for the state associations to put the nuts and bolts in place in order to carry out elections as per the new BCCI constitution. This week, the CoA revised the deadline for a second time, to October 4, for state associations to wrap up their elections. This was necessitated after several state associations including the TNCA were reluctant to comply with some of the structural reforms that were approved by the Supreme Court based on the recommendations of the RM Lodha Committee.

However, last Friday, the court ruled that the TNCA should go ahead with its elections and its results would be subject to the final order it would pass before the BCCI elections. Accordingly, the TNCA conducted its elections where Gurunath was elected unanimously along with other office bearers.

Around the same time, the CoA sent out a non-compliance notice. "The TNCA submitted its constitution on Wednesday. But our legal team has pointed out areas it is not compliant in," Vinod Rai, the CoA chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. "Only compliant state associations can nominate representatives to the BCCI general body. And the person they nominate should not be disqualified [as per the eligibility criteria]."

One of the key reforms as recommended by the Lodha Committee, which is part of the BCCI constitution, concerns former international players finding two seats on the Apex Council. Currently, the new TNCA administration has no cricketer, including in the Apex Council.

RS Ramasaamy, the newly elected TNCA secretary, said the necessary amendments to the state association's constitution, as desired by the CoA, were been looked after by the TNCA's legal team. "We submitted the amended constitution with the Registrar of Societies after which we sent it to the BCCI. But the CoA has said some minor amendments need to be carried out," Ramasaamy said. "That has been sent to the TNCA legal team. But to our knowledge we have complied with almost everything, but there may be one or two minor aberrations which the legal team will advise us on."

Ramasaamy said he was confident the TNCA would be able to send an eligible representative to the BCCI elections.

Ten months before Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in 2017, the death of Pakistan's limited-overs cricket had been pronounced, and who cared what they did with the ashes? Pakistan had spent the summer prancing about England, getting pummelled ODI after another by a team that had just a year earlier failed to make the final eight at the 2015 World Cup.

So how, ten months later, did Pakistan beat that same England side in the semi-final of a Champions Trophy that England were all but nailed on to win?

It sure as heck didn't happen because Pakistan got their domestic act together; the very prospect of that happening, even as the PCB have launched a fresh initiative to restructure the circuit, feels faintly surreal. Four games before they beat India in a final that left fans in the country more gobsmacked than delirious, they had succumbed to a predictably crushing defeat against the same opponents, the perennial faults in their ODI game on full display in Birmingham almost to the point of caricature.

It was supposed to be a turning point, especially when a few months later they whitewashed Sri Lanka to stretch their ODI streak to nine, and Mickey Arthur's promises to have brought Pakistan - sometimes kicking and screaming - into the modern era seemed somehow to have worked, even if it appeared to have happened a little too quickly to be trusted.

That was about as good as it got, though. Pakistan are ranked sixth in the ODI rankings, having failed to qualify for the last four of the recently concluded World Cup and replaced the entire backroom staff as a result. They would win just one ODI against a top eight ODI side in all of 2018, and a 3-2 ODI series loss to South Africa at the start of this year was followed by nine consecutive defeats by Australia and England.

ALSO READ: What do Pakistan expect from coach Misbah?

Since the start of 2018 until before that improbable four-match winning streak at the tail-end of the World Cup, Pakistan had won 11 of 35 completed games, seven of those coming against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. It was reminiscent of the side that barely sneaked into the final automatic qualification spot for the Champions Trophy, not the one that scorched everyone in their path to win it.

The promises that were made, and the ones fans imagined had been made, in those heady days in the summer of 2017, did not come to pass. As such, the tournament became a yardstick to measure performance again, but with no one, not even the coaching staff, having the foggiest idea how they came away with the title, there was no model to replicate. Hasan Ali came into the event almost unknown and walked away as the player of the tournament and the world's best ODI bowler. Shadab Khan's star continued to rise, and in Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan believed they had the modern opener they were robbed of when Sharjeel Khan was banned.

But an innings like the one Fakhar Zaman played in that final was an outlying freak, not a replicable model, certainly not with the technical deficiencies still obvious in the left-hander's game. Yet you get the impression Fakhar still goes out to bat every match with that innings in mind, which is hardly ideal preparation for any game. His is, after all, a game that relies heavily on confidence, and Sarfaraz Ahmed believed Misbah, the man who replaces Arthur, was the right man to instil it.

"Mickey Arthur and Misbah are two very different kinds of people, obviously," Sarfaraz said ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka. "He had his own style of coaching while Misbah has his. Misbah is just in so he'll obviously bring his own philosophy to the role but he's given players the same message. For example, he's told Fakhar Zaman to play his natural game, because that's what he's in the team for."

Hasan Ali has regressed in the last year, too. After 68 wickets at under 21 in his first 33 matches, he has managed just 14 in his last 20, each coming at just under 69 runs per scalp. Sarfaraz's own batting has been under the microscopes, especially with Rizwan breathing down his neck now, while no one is quite sure whether Mohammad Amir, newly retired from Test cricket, will be the spearhead he was at the World Cup, or the struggling journeyman he appeared for the two years prior.

There are bright spots if you squint hard enough, though. Imam-ul-Haq has cemented his name at the top of the order, a position Pakistan found a particularly pesky puzzle for several years. Babar Azam is no longer a batsman with great potential - how many of those have there been in Pakistan - but the first name on the team sheet and one of the best batsmen in the world across formats. Now, he is also Sarfaraz Ahmed's deputy, and Sarfaraz believed he could already rub shoulders with the game's elite.

"Babar Azam can be in that category the [of Smith, Kohli, Root and Williamson] way he is progressing. In truth, he even ranks among them now. If he can keep up his form, he'll begin to be talked among that list by everyone very quickly."

As for Pakistan's own outlook towards the format, Sarfaraz chose to take it one step at a time. "We need to bring consistency to our ODI cricket, and for that, there are a few areas of our game we need to work on. We're going to try to ensure it doesn't ever get to the point where we actually need to be worried about qualifying for the World Cup again."

Nobody could the team, then, of setting their sights too high, but a reminder of what happened when they last tried that is a memory still fresh enough for the players to recoil from. Pakistan haven't become the team they looked like on that heady day at the Oval, but you might want to hold off on the cremation ceremony.

Somerset 203 (Van der Merwe 60, Harmer 5-105) and forfeit drew with Essex 141 (Cook 53, Leach 5-32, van der Merwe 4-41) and 45 for 1 (Cook 30*)

A season we thought might conclude in soggy anti-climax with a title formally decided by a bland announcement over Taunton's public address instead ended with warm handshakes on a sunlit outfield between two teams who had battled it out for the County Championship over the previous five months. As if to ensure that everyone remembered the value of this great title, Essex had to fight for the draw which secured the pennant. It was a glorious and nerve-shredding story, one they will tell often over the next few months in places like Colchester and Ilford. It may get a mention in Bridgwater and Glastonbury as well, although the remembrance will nothing like so as warm.

It had all seemed so simple for Essex. If the showers did not put the game out of its misery, surely their batsmen would, even on a spinners' pitch. Although Nick Browne had been dismissed in the morning session, Alastair Cook and Tom Westley had shepherded their side to 102 for 1 by mid-afternoon. Some people were wondering when the draw could be agreed; other were simply enjoying their last cricket of the summer. Then Cook was caught at short leg by Tom Banton off Jack Leach. A breach, to be sure, but surely nothing much more, we thought. We were wrong.

Over the next 80 minutes or so the rest of the Essex order were swept away by Leach, who finished the innings with 5 for 32, and Roelof van der Merwe, who took 4 for 41. Batsmen came and went like speed-daters with no interest in their partners. Encouraged by the regular fall of wickets, Leach and van der Merwe stuck to tight lines and let the pitch do the rest. It did not fail them. Dan Lawrence was caught in the gully for a second-ball duck; Ravi Bopara was taken at silly point for a single; Westley was caught at slip for a patient 36.

If only two batsmen could have stuck around for an hour there would have been nothing at all to disturb the good folk in Billericay or the Baddows. But no one stuck around. Leach bowled to an 8-1 field and six of those eight were close on the off side. Fielders swarmed around the bat like painted ladies around buddleia. The Essex tail was swept away in a few overs. In all, the visitors lost their last nine wickets for 39 runs in a little less than 19 overs; their last six in a post-tea helter-skelter for 15 runs in 32 balls.

It was wonderful stuff for the Taunton supporters, many of whom glimpsed a miracle. But wait a moment. How could victory be achieved? The answer was simple, obvious and daring. Tom Abell forfeited his side's second innings and left Essex to score 63 in seven minutes plus a minimum of 16 overs in the last hour. Spectators hearing of the drama came to the County Ground wondering if Somerset were to win their first title in the most dramatic fashion possible. They did something similar when Harold Gimblett was batting. They watch cricket at Taunton in the full knowledge that they are passing on a sacred heritage.

At which point in this afternoon's drama, sanity was restored. Calmness re-entered the crease in the shape of Alastair Cook who, if he was as nervous as his captain Ryan ten Doeschate claimed, did not show it. Instead, he made 30 not out in 59 minutes and was one of the very first to know Essex had won the title. It was 5.20pm when Abell offered the draw and Cook accepted with grace. The visitors had given a little thought to winning the game but such things barely mattered a jot when set beside the title. Even the prize money, £583,000, although very useful to any county, paled when set beside the trophy and the pennant.

This is Essex's eighth title since they first won the championship in 1979; no county has won it so frequently in that period. It is also the sixth time Somerset have finished as runners-up this century and the third time in the last four years. Such records are so simple to tap out on a laptop with the County Ground sunk in the darkness of a September evening. And then one considers the joy and sweat, the disappointment and effort, the triumphs and defeats that lie behind them. Then, if you love this game as most of those at Taunton today do, you stop for a while and ponder it all.

Marcus Trescothick fielded as a substitute for the last few overs of this match. He has been a great cricketer and he has now retired. Like Peter Wight, like Sammy Woods, like Peter Roebuck, he will never play in a title-winning Somerset side. All that is left is the respect of his fellow professionals; that was shown when the Essex players formed a guard of honour; all that is left is the unqualified love of Somerset's supporters; all that is left is his own knowledge that he has brought honour illimited to his craft. It will be more than enough.

Perhaps, after all, there are bigger things than trophies. Perhaps the Essex players know that even as they are giving it large on their coach back to Chelmsford. But that will not halt their celebrations for an instant, nor should it. They are most worthy champions. The rest of us are left with memories of a glorious county season. It has offered the pastoral glory of Newclose, the rugged grandeur of Sedbergh and the warmth of so many outgrounds and fine headquarters.

The weather was glorious this afternoon at Taunton and some folk may have thought it the mockery of the gods. After all we had seen those scarlet covers pushed on and off the County Ground far too often over the previous three days. But the sunlight was brighter than it had been throughout the entire match and it was a prelude to a wonderful conclusion to our precious season. Now there is only darkness, many darknesses really; but lighting it all like a lamp is the memory of a summer gone … and the prospect of the new season that will greet us next spring.

As talks continue for a new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players' union, the most dramatic proposal on the table from owners is an expanded regular season to 17 games that could eliminate preseason games in their entirety, sources told ESPN.

The NFL Players Association is not interested in an expanded season, especially without a significant increase in its percentage of the revenue.

In July, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told ESPN's Cameron Wolfe that the idea of a then-discussed 18-game schedule would not be in the players' best interest.

The Athletic first reported the owners' push for a 17-game regular season.

NFL owners had imposed the start of the season as a deadline for a new CBA, and even though the 2019 season is underway without a new deal, sources on both sides believe that important progress has been made and a deal is getting closer.

There even are those who believe that the CBA stands a strong chance of getting done this season, sources told ESPN.

For now, both parties are committed to talking and will resume discussions after Smith finishes his annual visit with each of the 32 NFL teams.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, pitted against each other during talks on the commissioner's contract a couple of years ago, are leading the way to push through a new CBA at some time this season, league sources said.

The current CBA between NFL players and owners expires after the 2020 season.

For the ninth season in a row, ESPN.com is predicting the top players in basketball with NBArank.

Who will be the best player this season? To get the final prediction, we asked our expert panel to vote on pairs of players.

LeBron James vs. Kawhi Leonard. Zion Williamson vs. Luka Doncic. Devin Booker vs. D'Angelo Russell.

We asked, "Which player will be better in 2019-20?" To decide, voters had to consider both the quality and the quantity of each player's contributions to his team's ability to win games in the regular season and postseason.

Here are Nos. 10 to 3. Nos. 1 and 2 drop on Friday.

More: 100-51 | 50-31 | 30-11 | LeBron expectations

NBArank: 10 to 3

10. Paul George

• LA Clippers | SF

• Previous rank: 14

• 2019-20 projected RPM wins: 8.3

One big question: How healthy is he? After George required surgeries to repair both shoulders, the Clippers will surely take things slow with him, which could delay how quickly he and Kawhi Leonard become comfortable and adjust to playing with one another. After averaging career highs of 28 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in 2018-19, George will have to get healthy again while learning what his role will be like with Leonard. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

9. Damian Lillard

• Portland Trail Blazers | PG

• Previous rank: 10

• Projected RPM wins: 9.4

One big question: From the moment he entered the league as a mystery guest from Weber State, Lillard established himself as a fearless, durable floor general with an uncommon stage presence. His big-game shot-making rivals any of his contemporaries, and he's a first-rate culture-setter who quietly agreed to a supermax extension over the summer that will keep him in Portland well into his 30s. Lillard has publicly stated that he's uninterested in building a superteam or serving as a recruiter in a league where such machinations are bigger than the game itself. Yet Lillard's independence poses a challenge: Without the concentration of star power present on the rosters of most NBA contenders, how far can Lillard lift the Trail Blazers in an unforgiving Western Conference? -- Kevin Arnovitz

8. Joel Embiid

• Philadelphia 76ers | C

• Previous rank: 9

• Projected RPM wins: 9.1

One big question: Will Embiid hold up for a deep postseason run? A year removed from jumping 23 spots up to No. 9, Embiid receives a slight bump despite an improvement across the board statistically. Playing a career high 34.3 MPG, Embiid dominated when he was on the court, averaging 27.5 points and 13.6 rebounds in 64 games. Battling an illness last spring and having his fitness questioned, Embiid saw his production on both ends of the court decrease in the playoffs, eventually leading to the 76ers falling in the second round. -- Bobby Marks

7. Nikola Jokic

• Denver Nuggets | C

• Previous rank: 12

• Projected RPM wins: 12.1

One big question: Can Jokic make the leap from the superstar to MVP tier? Jokic has finished in the top 10 in real plus-minus (RPM) in every season of his career. He makes his teammates better, utilizing excellent court vision and touch to run the Nuggets' offense from the high post. But for the Nuggets to contend this season, Jokic has to take a more aggressive mindset and raise his game that final level. His ability to do so will determine whether the Nuggets have a legitimate shot at the crown. -- André Snellings

6. Stephen Curry

• Golden State Warriors | PG

• Previous rank: 2

• Projected RPM wins: 13.4

One big question: Just how good can Steph be without Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson (at least for most of the year)? All eyes will be on the former MVP to see how far he can carry the Warriors without as much star power by his side. It will be interesting to see how Steve Kerr manages his star guard's minutes in the beginning of another long season. Curry and the Warriors know it will be a challenge, but they seem energized by the opportunity. -- Nick Friedell

5. Anthony Davis

• Los Angeles Lakers | PF

• Previous rank: 6

• Projected RPM wins: 9.8

One big question: Is he built for May and June basketball? We don't know because we've never seen it. There's no question that Davis is one of the best big men in the game, but it's fair to ask if he's ready to help LeBron James get back to the NBA Finals. Think about it this way: Since Davis entered the league in 2012-13, he's made it to the playoffs only twice -- and past the first round of the playoffs once. In that same time frame, James has missed the Finals only once. -- Kirk Goldsberry

4. James Harden

• Houston Rockets | SG

• Previous rank: 3

• Projected RPM wins: 15.7

One big question: Can Harden be the best player in the world when it matters most? Yes, there will be a regular-season spotlight on how Harden and old buddy Russell Westbrook mesh. But Harden is at the point where he can't really prove anything until late spring. It's way too harsh to label Harden a playoff choker (postseason averages of 28.2 points and 7.0 assists as a Rocket), but the only way he can hush critics is to carry Houston to a title. -- Tim MacMahon

3. LeBron James

• Los Angeles Lakers | SF

• Previous rank: 1

• Projected RPM wins: 11.3

This is the first time since the debut of NBArank before the 2011-12 season that LeBron isn't No. 1. What should we expect from James this season? Our NBA experts dive into that question here.

One big question: How long can he keep it up? Though James' averages of 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists while playing a career-low 35.2 minutes per game last season suggest he is still in dominant form, his VORP (value over replacement player) and PER (player efficiency rating) were both the lowest they've been since his rookie season. If James keeps defying Father Time with some younger talent in Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma to help share the load, L.A. should be a force. If he can't, then the Lakers could have real challenges. -- Dave McMenamin

More: 100-51 | 50-31 | 30-11 | LeBron expectations

I get a lot of tweets.

And they are almost always questions. Whom to start, whom to sit, why am I such an idiot? Though in fairness, the last one is usually just from Field.

But this was different.

It wasn't a question.

It was a statement.

And a request.

@jamespjennings wrote: "Pretty sure this is my last year playing Fantasy Football. Talk me out of it, @matthewberrytmr."

I don't know why, but this tweet really spoke to me. No complaining from Jim, no anger, just defeat. Sadness. As if the fight had been knocked out of him for the final time. But with his last ounce of hope, he reached out. It seemed like he could no longer pull himself up off the mat, but, as he extended a virtual hand, could I?

I called him soon after.

Jim Jennings, it turns out, is a guy with a pretty great life. He'll be 34 next month, happily married to his wife, Ryanne, and they have two great kids: Desmond (8) and Maggie (4). A huge soccer fan, he lives in the small town of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and has a job he loves, working in digital marketing for a yoga tech company.

As far as I could tell during our call, he really has only one problem:

His fantasy football team.

They're 0-3 and that's not the worst part.

The worst part, he told me, is he expected it. His team name, he explained, is Last Place Guaranteed.

It's not an ironic name.

He truly expects to finish last.

Because he always does.

Jim has been playing for a decade now and his teams are always near the bottom and never in the hunt. He doesn't understand why. He's tried everything. He's tried being super-active, constantly tinkering. That didn't work. He's tried being super-casual, just leaving his lineup as is, not making many moves, going with the flow. That didn't work, either.

It's not that he doesn't know football. He's a die-hard Eagles fan and has followed them forever.

It's not that he doesn't understand fantasy. He has played and won his fantasy baseball league. He did really well in fantasy Premier League as well when he used to play that.

It's just fantasy football.

He's currently in only one league, the "Sideline Syndicate," a 10-team, half-point PPR league with an extra flex and no kicker, with a bunch of his colleagues.

And, he says, "Every week, without fail, I make the wrong move."

It starts at the draft, he tells me. He never gets a high draft pick, so he always feels like he's chasing running backs in the draft and he never gets one of the truly elite ones. And then his in-season roster management always seems to be off.

It's not as if he isn't trying. He really is. He researches and reads. Maybe too much.

"There's just so much information out there," he said, "I read this and then I read that, and I don't know what to do." Head of customer service and league commissioner Page Olver tells him he tinkers too much.

Tinkering too much and just some bad luck certainly seem to be the culprit this season. In Week 1, he left DeSean Jackson (31.4) and Sammy Watkins (42.3 points) on his bench. In Week 2, Last Place Guaranteed lost by a few points as they faced the Patriots defense and their 35-point performance.

And then this past week he lost to Maxx, the eighth-grade son of CEO Todd Wolfenberg.

It's not that he lost to a kid (though that didn't help). It was how he lost. He had started Watkins, who in a game where Patrick Mahomes threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns managed just 64 toothless yards. That his Chris Godwin did nothing while Maxx's Mike Evans went off against him with three touchdowns.

And speaking of tinkering too much, Jim benched Joe Mixon for Raheem Mostert in Week 3, and as he watched former practice-squad guy Jeff Wilson Jr. score two touchdowns instead of his guy, thus killing his comeback hopes, he just lost it.

He was at his tipping point. He was done with Last Place Guaranteed. He was quitting fantasy football.

He just didn't see any way he could win.

Ever.

He's been playing for a decade and he's never won a fantasy football league.

He's never even made the playoffs in a fantasy football league.

His proudest achievement to date was not finishing last this past year, because last place had to clean the company car.

So he was done. Unless, as he tweeted, I could talk him out of it.

And I told him what I will tell everyone out there who is 0-3 or 1-2 and not feeling great about your team. What I will tell anyone who drafted Saquon Barkley or Tyreek Hill. Or those who bypassed production at RB or WR to draft Hunter Henry or O.J. Howard in the fourth or fifth round. Those who regret their early pick of Todd Gurley II or James Conner when Dalvin Cook was just sitting there. Or anyone who is sitting there with a good team, but has had the most points scored against them in his/her league. Or those who listened to some moron on ESPN last week who, ahem, "loved" Stefon Diggs.

I get it.

I totally get it.

I've been there. We all have.

I'm in 16 leagues this year, so I experience some sort of regret or frustration every week. The Bitter Berry puppet on The Fantasy Show on ESPN+ didn't just come out of thin air, you know?

(By the way, 16 is by far the most leagues I've ever played in and for me, with work and kids, it's just way too much. I have to cut way back next year.)

So I feel you, Jim.

But you asked me to talk you out of it, so here goes.

When we spoke on the phone, I asked you what drew you to fantasy football in the first place. You told me it was something fun to do with your buddies in college. That as a Philly fan you used to watch only the Eagles, but that you love football and fantasy has made you much more knowledgeable about the league as a whole and gives you a rooting interest in a lot of other games. You enjoy the work league you are in, the banter and trash talk around the office, the wild trade talks that go on. The way that it gives you an excuse to interact with people in the company that your job normally doesn't bring you in contact with.

Look, fantasy football, specifically season-long fantasy football, isn't just about winning. Sure, it's more fun when we win, but this is for enjoyment. A hobby. A game we play. And often times, it's much more than a game. It's a connective tissue that holds a group together, something that is becoming increasingly difficult these days with every device possible going off at every minute. I've seen it save lives, inspire romance, make strangers into lifelong friends, be an escape, bring out the best in people and redefine what a family means.

It's a secret language and special bond that only those who play the game understand, and it's not easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is.

Which is why the feeling when you've won is so great. You've overcome holdouts and injuries, poor performances and bad schedule luck. You've navigated the waiver wire, traded shrewdly and managed to make a lot more correct start/sit decisions than not. I loved the line in "Avengers: Endgame" where Tony Stark says, "Part of the journey is the end." And I think about that here, Jim. Everything you've gone through is part of the journey. But unlike Tony, you haven't gotten to the end yet. You've just been stuck in the middle too long.

I don't want you to quit. I believe you'll miss the fun and banter of the league at work. And soon, when your kids are a little bit older, you'll find that playing in a league with them is one of the greatest things in the world.

At the start of every fantasy football season, I always make a plea in my Draft-Day Manifesto to invite at least one person who has never played to join a league. I'm trying to increase our numbers, so I definitely don't want to lose one.

And I think the way we accomplish that, the best way I talk you out of it, Jim, is for you to experience winning. So I'm going to do whatever I can to help make that happen. I follow you on Twitter now and my DMs are open to you, 24/7. You told me your only goal was just to not finish last. We are going to aim higher than that.

And the first thing we are doing, dammit, is changing the team name.

Let's get to it.

As always, this is not a start-or-sit column. I don't "love" or "hate" players. I do, however, "love" or "hate" their ESPN projection for PPR leagues. So that's what this is. Players who are "loves" are players I believe will generally meet or exceed their ESPN projections. "Hates" are players I believe will fall short of their ESPN projections. That simple. For specific "this player or that player" questions, please consult my rankings, which are constantly updated all the way through Sunday at kickoff. You also can watch The Fantasy Show on ESPN+, which expanded to four episodes a week this year, and of course Fantasy Football Now, every Sunday morning on ESPN2. Thank you as always to "Thirsty" Kyle Soppe of the 06010 podcast and the Stat-a-pillar from The Fantasy Show on ESPN+, Damian Dabrowski, for their help at various points in this column.

Here we go:

Quarterbacks I love in Week 4

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. Eagles; ESPN projection: 18.2 points): For people worried about Rodgers, please remember he has played Chicago, Minnesota and Denver, three very tough defenses. Things should get a lot better Thursday night against an Eagles secondary that has given up at least 320 passing yards six times in its past 10 games, including to Case Keenum and Matt Ryan this season. The Eagles have a good run defense, so the way to attack them is through the air, where only three teams in the NFL have given up more passing yards per game than the Birds. By the way, want a fun weird note that means nothing? Rodgers has four games of four or more TD passes in Week 4 during his career (no other week can claim that).

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams (vs. Buccaneers; ESPN projection: 17.6 points): Forget "road Ben," have you met "home Jared"? Goff's weird home/road splits have been very Roethlisberger-esque since the start of 2018. Goff has scored 18-plus fantasy points nine times, and eight of them have come at home. During that stretch, he averages 24.4 PPG at home and just 13.3 PPG on the road. Goff was on the "hate" list last week -- and he did, in fact, finish below his ESPN projection -- because of his struggles with pressure. Well, even with the efforts of NFL sack leader Shaquil Barrett, the Bucs still create pressure at a below-average rate this season despite blitzing at the third-highest rate. Todd Bowles has done a good job with this defense, especially when you consider what he has to work with, but it won't be enough on Sunday and Goff will pick up where Danny Dimes left off last week.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants (vs. Redskins; ESPN projection: 18.3 points): Speaking of Danny Dimes, the good times should keep rolling in his home debut as a starter against my Redskins team that has allowed all three QBs they have faced this season to complete better than 70% of their passes with three touchdown passes. Playing aggressively (9.45 air yards per target), Jones looked like the real deal despite playing 61.7% of his offensive snaps in Week 3 without Saquon Barkley (for those worried his production might falter without his star running back). I love this stat: There have been only six QBs in the past 15 years to have a game with at least 330 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns: Aaron Rodgers (twice), Deshaun Watson, Drew Brees, Michael Vick, Russell Wilson ... and Danny Dimes in his NFL starting debut.

Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers (vs. Texans; ESPN projection: 15.3 points): A top-seven QB in each of his starts in the NFL, Allen's results should have the Panthers encouraging Cam Newton to take as long as possible to come back from injury. Allen was only one of three QBs last week to average 8-plus air yards per pass attempt while being on target with at least 86% of his passes (Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan were the other two), and now he gets a nice matchup against a Texans squad that allows opponents to complete 70.5% of passes (seventh highest) and is bottom 10 in passing yards allowed.

Others receiving votes: Matthew Stafford, who quietly has six touchdowns in three games, will certainly have to keep throwing to keep up with the Chiefs on Sunday in a game with the highest over/under of the week. ... If T.Y. Hilton plays, I expect Jacoby Brissett to be usable against a Raiders team that gives up 9.2 yards per pass attempt (third highest) and creates pressure at the lowest rate in the NFL. ... It has most certainly not been pretty, but don't look now, the 11th-best QB in fantasy through three weeks is ... wait for it ... Case Keenum. Now, Keenum didn't practice Wednesday, so stay tuned, but whoever is under center for the Skins on Sunday should put up points against a Giants defense that just resurrected Jameis Winston.

Quarterbacks I hate in Week 4

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (vs. Patriots; ESPN projection: 16.9 points): Currently the ninth-best QB in fantasy, Allen has a real test on his hands Sunday against a Patriots defense that has yet to give up a TD pass and leads the NFL with six interceptions. In addition to the tough matchup, volume could be an issue, as New England ranks second in time of possession this season. And that's important because volume is one of things helping Allen this season. The Bills rank fifth in time of possession, allowing Allen to rank third in QB opportunities (pass attempts + rush attempts).

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (at Ravens; ESPN projection: 15.2 points): It has been bad. No two ways about it. Mayfield is the first player since 2007 to throw at least 35 passes without throwing multiple touchdown passes in each of his team's first three games to open a season. I love him as a player and believe he will eventually get it turned around, but it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. The Ravens are top five in both blitz and pressure percentage this season, and as anyone who saw Mayfield run around behind that shaky offensive against the Rams on Sunday night knows he struggles under pressure. In their past 23 home games, the Ravens have given up only 11.8 fantasy PPG to QBs. Gimme the under on an already-low 15.2.

Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Rams; ESPN projection: 16.6 points): The Winston giveth, the Winston taketh away. Hope I'm wrong, but this feels like a bad Winston week. A cross-country trip to face a Rams team that has the fifth-lowest completion percentage against (57.8%), the fourth-fewest yards per pass attempt (5.84) and is one of three teams yet to allow multiple TD passes in a game (New England and Green Bay being the others). Given Winston's penchant for turnovers and a leaky offensive line, I expect Wade Phillips to be aggressive going after Winston. The Rams' ranking of third best in terms of fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs appears to be safe for another week.

Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (vs. Vikings; ESPN projection: 13.9 points): It's one thing to be solid against my Redskins, it's another thing entirely against the Vikings. Minnesota is seventh or better in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per catch, deep completion percentage against, preventing yards after the catch and scoring defense. Trubisky averaged 12.5 points against the Vikings last season and that was thanks to 23.6% of his points coming with his legs. He's not running this season so far and I'm not even starting him in my deep, two-QB league.

Running backs I love in Week 4

Mark Ingram II, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Browns; ESPN projection: 14.7 points): A no-brainer start, I'm taking the over on his already-high projection. Already with five rushing scores this season, Ingram is averaging 5.98 yards per carry in Baltimore's high-octane offense. Derrick Henry, another bruising back without much passing-game involvement, abused the Browns in Week 1 to the tune of 28 points. With the Ravens as a touchdown favorite at home, I like Ingram's chances for a nice game as Baltimore salts it away in the second half.

James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Bengals; ESPN projection: 16.6 points): The 25th-best running back in fantasy so far, Conner has been a massive disappointment to those who drafted him in the first round (raises hand). And while the Steelers' offense is still figuring how to operate in the Mason Rudolph era, things get a lot better for Conner on Monday night at home against the Bengals, a bottom-seven defense this season in terms of scoring, yards per play, rush yards allowed and yards per carry. Cincy also allows the sixth-most yards per carry before first contact, something that should help boost Conner behind the (oddly) struggling offensive line of Pittsburgh.

Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks (at Cardinals; ESPN projection: 14.1 points): Another recent disappointment, this is a bit risky, as Rashaad Penny might come back this week and if Carson has one more fumble he might never get on the field again. That said, Carson never fumbled in college and lost only two in the NFL prior to this season, so I believe the issue can be corrected. Against a Cardinals team that has given up the fourth-most red zone drives this season, expect Carson to get into the end zone against Arizona's 30th-ranked run defense and with the Seahawks a 4.5-point road favorite.

Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Raiders; ESPN projection: 14.9 points): Featuring one of the best offensive lines in football and wanting to ease Jacoby Brissett into his new role, the Colts have become the league's fourth-run-heaviest offense this season. With T.Y. Hilton probably at less than 100 percent, expect the Colts to lean on Mack, who already leads the NFL in rushing attempts. The Raiders are 11th worst in the NFL in most fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs and are 7-point underdogs on the road.

Others receiving votes: Given how strong Buffalo is against the run and the Patriots' loss of James Develin, this feels like a James White game against the Bills. White is averaging 15.9 points per game against the Bills in his past three, and Buffalo is one of only four teams in the NFL to have already allowed multiple receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs. ... I'm as surprised as you are, but Carlos Hyde has been responsible for more than 70% of the Texans' running back carries this season. He has some flex appeal in what should be a close game against Carolina's bottom-eight run defense. ... With Melvin Gordon probably back as the starter in Week 5 for the Chargers, this is the last week for Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson to ball out. Ekeler's a no-brainer of course, but Jackson should be flex-worthy for the Saquon Barkley managers who missed the rush to get Wayne Gallman. The Dolphins have been run on a league-high 115 times this season, resulting in a league-high six rushing TDs while giving up 5.43 yards per carry (second highest). As a 15.5-point favorite, the Bolts will have plenty of junk time in the second half for Jackson to get some work.

Running backs I hate in Week 4

Sony Michel, New England Patriots (at Bills; ESPN projection: 9.0 points): As we discussed on the Fantasy Focus Football podcast earlier this week and mentioned above in the James White section, the loss of fullback James Develin really hurts Michel here, which is not good considering his struggles already this season. He has been the worst RB after first contact this season (0.73 yards per carry after first contact) and just 15.6% of his carries have gained at least five yards this season, dead last of the 38 RBs with at least 25 carries. Also, he has yet to catch a pass this season and the Patriots are using Rex Burkhead a lot more, in addition to White. Add to that the Bills' eighth-best run defense and the low projected total for this one (42 points), and it's easy to see why he's projected for just 9.0 points. I'm not going under that, because there's always a chance he falls into the end zone, but I'm looking for other options if possible this week.

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears (at Vikings; ESPN projection: 12.1 points): Given his uneven usage so far this season, it's hard to get excited about him against the Vikings. Minnesota has put at least seven men in the box for 70% of opponent rushes this season (NFL average: 56.4%). That is among the reasons the Vikes are seventh in rush TD percentage (one TD on 70 carries), eighth in yards per play allowed and ninth in fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. He's a cross-your-fingers-and-hope flex play in Week 4.

Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Titans; ESPN projection: 13.6 points): He got all the work in Week 3 after Ito Smith left early because of a concussion and neither Brian Hill nor Qadree Ollison active, but given the first two weeks he's unlikely to get that amount of work again. He did look better last week, I'll give him that, but I want the under on 13.6 facing a Titans team that has given up only one rushing TD on 74 attempts (1.35%) this season. Despite facing Nick Chubb, Marlon Mack and Leonard Fournette this season, the Titans are still 10th best in terms of fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.

Pass catchers I love in Week 4

Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers (vs. Eagles; ESPN projection: 16.7 points): Obviously anyone who has him is starting him, but putting this here to say that if you have him, don't panic (he's still getting a 26% target share). And if you don't have him, your last chance to buy low is likely between when you read this and kickoff Thursday night. The Packers have played Chicago, Minnesota and Denver. The schedule gets easier, starting Thursday night against a Philly team has allowed the fourth-most passing yards (881) and has allowed at least 24 points in all three games this season.

Terry McLaurin, Washington Redskins (at Giants; ESPN projection: 13.4 points): Michael Thomas. Odell Beckham Jr. DeAndre Hopkins. Sorry, just naming some of the players with fewer fantasy points than McLaurin, the first player in NFL history with five catches and a receiving TD in each of his first three NFL games. He has a 50% end zone target share and a 30% red zone target share on a team that will continue to have to throw while in negative game script (Washington is passing 78.8% of the time when trailing, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL). No team has been worse against the pass this season than the Giants.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (at Steelers; ESPN projection: 14.4 points): Death, taxes and you start your slot receivers against the Steelers. Boyd now has three straight games with at least 10 targets (he had just three 10-target games all of 2018) and he ranks fourth in receptions through three weeks. Opponents are 35-for-40 for 530 yards and 4 TDs to the slot vs. the Steelers this season, and as a road underdog with a struggling run game, expect Cincy to keep throwing on Monday night.

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (at Cardinals; ESPN projection: 15.4 points): A legit WR1 now, Lockett continues his fantasy rock star ways getting to face a Cardinals team that has allowed the second-most slot completions and is tied for the most slot touchdowns allowed this season. Opponents have thrown deep on the Cardinals 31 times (second most), cashing in with four deep TDs (third most). Giddy up.

Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders (at Colts; ESPN projection: 13 points): Across all positions, only Keenan Allen has more receptions this season than Waller the Baller. A top-three tight end play for me (over Mark Andrews and Zach Ertz) this week, he should be in your flex if you happen to have Kelce or Engram. Waller is receiving an insane target share (30.2%) and averaging 10-10.5 yards per catch in all three games this season. This is a great matchup against a banged-up Colts secondary that allows the sixth-most points to tight ends, and a game in which the Raiders should be trailing.

Others receiving votes: It's always awkward talking about the Thursday night game, because many people read this column Friday, and when you whiff on the Thursday night game and people are reading it Friday already seeing a brutal pick, it's like ... ughhhhhhhhhh. But YOLO. You know I'm on Rodgers and Adams tonight, so gimme some Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who seems to have clearly won the WR2 job for the Pack. The Eagles are tied with the Redskins for most TD passes of 40 or more yards allowed this season (three), and MVS is responsible for the only two GB receptions of 40-plus yards this season. He's been targeted on 25.3% of routes thus far. ... You know I'm a Kyle Allen believer, so it makes sense I'm on DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel as WR3s with upside against the Texans' pass defense, which ranks in the lower third of the league. ... Devin Smith was on the field for 91% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps last week, only Patrick Mahomes has more deep touchdown passes this year than Dak Prescott, and the Saints are allowing the third-most yards per play this season. ... Will Dissly is the only tight end with multiple end zone receptions this season, he is available in 48% of ESPN leagues and faces an Arizona team that has allowed five touchdowns to tight ends in three games.

Pass-catchers I hate in Week 4

Josh Gordon, New England Patriots (at Bills; ESPN projection: 12.8 points): So far this season, the Patriots have had 72.7% of snaps with 3 or more WRs on the field. And going three-wide seems to be hurting Gordon's opportunities. New England has three deep touchdowns this season (more than 15 yards downfield), and they've gone to Phillip Dorsett and Antonio Brown. The Bills have the fifth-lowest opponent deep completion rate (31.3%), and in Gordon's career as a Patriot more than half of his fantasy points have come via the deep ball.

John Brown, Buffalo Bills (vs. Patriots; ESPN projection: 10.9 points): At least I'm consistent. Josh Allen is on the hate list this week, so it stands to reason I believe his No. 1 target will fall below expectations. With an expected shadow from Stephon Gilmore, it's hard to see a big game from Brown. Opponents are just 5-for-27 when throwing deep against New England this season with 0 TDs and 3 INTs.

DJ Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Denver; ESPN projection: 11.4 points): Chark is the No. 8 wide receiver in fantasy through three weeks, but I'm taking the under on the road against the Broncos. Denver is tied for the fifth-fewest red zone drives allowed this season, and touchdowns have been a big part of Chark's fantasy value to this point. Chark will likely see a decent amount of Chris Harris Jr. in this one, too. I love Gardner Minshew as much as the next mustache, but I'm taking the under for his favorite receiver.

Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints (vs. Cowboys; ESPN projection: 7.5 points): A funny thing happened on the way to becoming the next coming of Jimmy Graham. Cook has just five catches in three games and he has zero red zone targets. His 12.2% target share is just 16th among tight ends and, oh yeah, he lost his starting QB to injury. The Cowboys aren't a terrible matchup, but nothing about the QB play or Cook's usage so far this season can make you feel anything other than nervous.

Matthew Berry -- the Talented Mr. Roto -- had Jim pick up Danny Dimes and start him this week. Just so you know whom we are all rooting for.

The New Orleans Pelicans have hired Teresa Weatherspoon and AJ Diggs as two-way player development coaches, the team announced Thursday.

Weatherspoon and Diggs will work with the Pelicans' two-way players, currently guard Josh Gray and forward Zylan Cheatham, and accompany their transfers to and from the G League.

Weatherspoon, 53, who recently served as director of player and franchise development for the WNBA's New York Liberty, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September.

She becomes the second WNBA legend to join the team this offseason. The Pelicans hired Swin Cash to be the vice president of basketball operations and team development in June. Cash and Weatherspoon worked together with the Liberty in the front office in recent years.

Weatherspoon was an inaugural member of the Liberty and also played for the Los Angeles Sparks. She also was head coach at Louisiana Tech.

As a player at Louisiana Tech, Weatherspoon led the team to the national championship in 1988, winning the Wade Trophy as the player of the year. She also was a member of the Olympic gold medal team in 1988.

She played internationally before the WNBA launched in 1997. As a member of the Liberty, she hit a memorable half-court shot to force a deciding Game 3 of the 1999 WNBA Finals against Houston.

Diggs played college basketball at California from 2000 to 2004, appearing in 116 games before playing briefly in the G League.

WASHINGTON -- For years, the Wizards would head into a season with proclamations from players, management or ownership -- if not all three -- about how many wins they were hoping for or how deep a playoff run they thought possible.

New general manager Tommy Sheppard outlined a different definition of success Thursday, saying 2019-20 is "all about player development."

After all, the club is coming off a 32-50 record, has a mostly reworked roster and will be without injured All-Star point guard John Wall for the foreseeable future. Sheppard took the GM job on an interim basis when Ernie Grunfeld was fired late last season. After running free agency and the draft, Sheppard was given the permanent post in July.

His task is to rebuild, although his word of choice is "revitalize."

Sheppard said watching and measuring players and helping them improve over the course of the season is his chief aim for now.

"It's not just by a stat sheet. It's all the things that you're asked to do on the floor," Sheppard said at a news conference. "Are you able to go out there, execute consistently, and we see you improve the things that we're asking you to do? We're asking players to be stars in their role, essentially, right?

"You get some guys that ... the only time the ball's coming to you is the end of the shot clock. So we're asking you to set great screens. We're asking you to be a selfless help-side defender. We can evaluate that to see if you're doing those things. I think those are areas that we're going to evaluate and watch the roster get better."

With training camp to open next week, Sheppard said he has not heard from shooting guard Bradley Beal about the contract extension he has been offered. Beal has until Oct. 21 to accept it. If not, he is under contract for two more seasons.

Wall is out for most, if not all, of the season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon -- Sheppard said the NBA has not ruled on whether Washington can use a disabled player exception -- leaving Beal as the team's unquestioned best player and leader.

"Really excited to see what Bradley Beal does this season," Sheppard said. "He's a tremendous cornerstone of this franchise. We're very blessed to have him."

Sheppard offered some updates on injured players:

• First-round draft pick Rui Hachimura, who left Japan's World Cup team early because of knee discomfort, is "in good shape" and "didn't leave the court" when players held a pickup game for more than an hour Wednesday.

• Isaiah Thomas, who had surgery on his left thumb last week, is out of a cast and wearing a splint; he'll sit out the entire preseason and the start of the regular season.

• C.J. Miles, whose left foot was operated on for a stress fracture in July, took shots Thursday and was on the court for more than an hour.