Not sure how I feel about the chances of a Smash direct considering the Hero gameplay was pretty much a direct in everything but name since he wanted to try a new format, but hmm.
...But where the heck do Otters and Sabi come into play and what's a starling/what does that have to do with Geno?
So the big thing that has been consistent is Jon from GameXplain always posts pictures of otters before a Direct. Usually within a week 1/2 to three weeks time. (coming up on three weeks this weekend).
Sabi's NoA source has been known, to the private geno discord, to post picture hints. The first was a blue crab, hinting at Links Awakening (first enemy you see in the game). Next was the Puzzle witch. Sabi laughed at it so they posted a literal bear and bird picture, hinting at Banjo-Kazooie.
Those hints have come to fruition within a week to 3 weeks time.
The Starling picture was posted 3 weeks ago (exactly from tomorrow). No one knows what it could mean, but it is confirmed by the guy to be a hint (and not pertaining to Hero)
So some of us did not know what sort of bird it was until someone went 'Thats a European Starling!'
With how out there this picture is, some of us looked to the bird being the meaning behind the hint. So Starling...Star - ling.
Ling being a diminutive of small or tiny (earthling, youngling, etc). So a tiny star...thats what we got. Kind of looks good without the Mii Costume coming back!