NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-08-04 21:35:44
'Mutual agreement': Luke Doncic's ex-fiancée asks L.A. court to withdraw child support request
Luka Doncic‘s former fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, requested Monday that the petition for child support she filed in March in Los Angeles Superior Court be dismissed, according to court documents obtained by The Times.
“I am withdrawing my Petition for Child Support with the specific intention of resolving this matter amicably and by a mutual agreement which is in the best interests of our children,” Goltes wrote in the filing.
The Lakers superstar proposed to Goltes, a fashion and fitness model, three years ago. They met as children in their native Slovenia and started dating as teenagers in 2016. Their daughters — Gabriela, 2, and Olivia, seven months — live with Goltes in Slovenia.
Doncic has spent the offseason in Slovenia and will host a four-day minicamp for the entire Lakers team later this month in his hometown of Ljubljana, which will include workouts, golf and sightseeing ahead of training camp. The guard — who led the NBA in scoring with an average of 33.5 points a game last season — even offered to pay the team’s travel costs.
Goltes, 28, sought child support and attorney fees from Doncic, 27, following an incident that occurred shortly after Olivia was born at Kranj Maternity Hospital on Dec. 6, 2025, in Slovenia. Doncic missed games against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics to be present at the birth.
Goltes objected to Doncic’s desire to bring Gabriela back to the United States with him when he joined the Lakers in Philadelphia to play the 76ers on Dec. 7. Goltes called the police, but officers “did not detect any elements of a criminal offense or misdemeanor,” according to a report viewed by ESPN.
The couple broke off their engagement shortly thereafter. Goltes deleted photos of her and Doncic from her Instagram account and Doncic acknowledged that they had separated. He filed an injunction with a Slovenian court in February seeking immediate contact with his daughters, ESPN reported.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement,” Doncic said in March. “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness, and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”
Doncic posted a photo on social media of Olivia wearing a pink sweater with a heart emoji covering her face. In his first game back, he inscribed a G and O with a heart on his shoes.
“I got to see my daughter again, my newborn,” he said upon his return. “Coming back, it was kind of hard to leave them behind. But it’s a job, so I got to do it.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Indiana Fever get bad injury news ahead of Aces game
Indiana Fever center Damiris Dantas is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus on Monday. Dantas, who signed a two-year contract with the Fever in the offseason, has seen inconsistent minutes over the past few months but was nonetheless one of Indiana’s backup frontcourt options.
Now, Indiana will have a more short-handed frontcourt rotation.
The Fever lose one of their most veteran players in Damiris Dantas
Damiris Dantas has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another backup big option at her disposal. Now, an already-limited campaign has been cut short.
Because she was already playing a more limited role than expected, the absence won’t impact Indiana’s day-to-day rotation as much.
Nonetheless, Dantas is one of the most veteran players on the roster; the 33-year-old holds career averages of 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 272 career games in 12 seasons. She’s played for the Fever since 2024, but previously suited up for the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream, and was someone who Stephanie White could turn to in a pinch.
Now, with Dantas out for the season, the burden will continue to fall on Makayla Timpson, who is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.
Aliyah Boston continues to hold down the fort in the frontcourt
The good news for Indiana is that they have one of the best bigs in the league anchoring the frontcourt: Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Boston has averaged 26.8 minutes per game, and Timpson has played the majority of her backup minutes.
The Fever may look to sign an additional big to bolster the rotation in the wake of Dantas’s absence. While Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant roles, Indiana may want to sign another center to a rest-of-season contract.
The Fever are 19-11 and coming off a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Next up, they’ll face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, August 6th.
Canadiens’ Classic Look Shouldn’t Be Messed With
In a feature article, The Athletic’s staff wrote a piece focusing on one jersey each NHL team should bring back, but there were two exceptions. The writers explained that the Utah Mammoth hadn’t had time to wear that many jerseys and the only one they had worn aside from their current one was the “painfully generic” one that had Utah written on the front. They looked just like the PWHL initial jerseys, and it’s quite understandable that nobody wants to bring that back. The other exception? The league’s most storied franchise, the Montreal Canadiens.
Unlike the Mammoth, the Canadiens have worn a lot of different jerseys, but none has come close to their now-regular jersey, which has a classic look and is a sign of respect to the oldest franchise in the league. During their centennial year, the Habs wore six different jerseys: a blue one featuring a simple C, a red and green one which had a C in a maple leaf, the barbershop one, which had red, white and blue stripes, a maple leaf and a C, a red, white and blue one with a C that contained an A, and two more which are closer to the current look.
There were also a few Winter and Heritage classic jerseys; the ones they wore in 2003 against the Edmonton Oilers and in 2011 against the Calgary Flames weren’t special, but their 2016 one against the Boston Bruins was a slick one. It was white with a big blue stripe between two small red stripes, featured a white C with an H inside in a vintage font, and had the planet on the sleeve stripes. Their first game wearing it was a 5-1 domination of the Bruins in Foxboro and will always bring nice memories back to Canadiens’ fans.
Then there was the one the Habs wore for the NHL 100th anniversary and in which they lost 3-0 against the Ottawa Senators. The performance was atrocious, but the jersey was slick, with an added silver stripe on the sleeves featuring the years in which the Habs won the Stanley Cup.
Of course, Montreal took part in the NHL’s retro reverse trend, putting out a bright blue jersey for the first year, which was actually quite pleasing to the eye, but didn’t bring them much joy. As nice as the jerseys were, they had to wait for their fifth game wearing them to finally get a 5-4 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks, and then their last game with the blue jersey had to be postponed because of the COVID protocol.
Finally, last AND least, the famous baby blue jerseys the Canadiens wore in the second year of the retro reverse trend. Those were a tribute to Montreal’s defunct MLB team, the Montreal Expos, but the Habs really struggled to find success wearing them, with Martin St-Louis even saying:
I think the hockey gods- I mean, this is an historical franchise (and) the guys who wore those jerseys 50 years ago, red and white, are looking down and saying: 'What are you guys doing? We probably get what we deserve, based on how historical this franchise is. I don’t know what next year will bring, but I hope it’s not those jerseys.
The coach’s dislike came from the fact that in their first seven games wearing the alternate jersey, the Habs had a 0-6-1 record. They finally managed to break the curse with a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders in their eighth game wearing the powder blue jersey, but nobody in their right mind would want to bring them back; it’s bad enough that second mascot Metal wears one.
Personally, I wouldn’t be against bringing back the 2016 Winter Classic jersey, and the first retro reverse might have been a close second had it not been for all the losses it led the Canadiens to.
Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.
Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
Boston Celtics Daily Links 8/4/26
HeraldCeltics’ Jordan Walsh dishes on chats with Paul George, new contract and LeBron-to-Philly
CelticsBlog Ron Harper Jr. talks new contract, giving Paul George his number, and more
Banner Years: 1959, the eight-peat begins in Boston
NBA draft rules would leave Dillon Mitchell’s Celtics rights uncertain
Celtics Reacts Survey: would you rather with Curry, AD, or KD
What NBA team improved the most this offseason?
CLNS Media Report: Celtics Rookie Dillon Mitchell Could Return to College Basketball
Top 3 Celtics Under Most Pressure Next Season
NESNThis Simple Mitchell Robinson Play Shows How Celtics’ New Center Breaks Teams
We Now Know How Jaylen Brown Really Feels After Shocking Celtics-76ers Trade
Mass LiveFormer Celtics guard will not get buyout despite Sixers speculation
Jaylen Brown makes bold statement after being ‘disrespected’
Celtics draft pick could return to college because of new NCAA rule
Celtics WireThe Celtics need to extend point guard Payton Pritchard
Ron Harper Jr. reveals when long-term future with Celtics felt possible
To Joe Mazzulla, narratives matter to Boston Celtics success
Celtics history: Shaq signs, Parish leaves, Archibald trade; Risen passes
Former Celtics star Jaylen Brown finds new motivation in trade to 76ers
Internet could not be more wrong about Stephen Curry, Celtics
Report: Celtics could see 2nd-round pick Dillon Mitchell return to NCAAs
The AthleticJaylen Brown on playing with LeBron James: ‘What an opportunity that is’
NBA disputes study that links Achilles injuries to increased playing time
Hardwood Houdini Despite playoff doubts, Celtics still have highest regular season floor in the East
Celtics are making a huge mistake if their starting lineup plans are true
Celtics may have given up exactly what they were searching for this summer
Jaylen Brown isn’t hiding his feelings about Celtics after Philly move
Jaylen Brown just put a 76ers jersey on for the first time and it was gross
Celtics are quite fortunate LeBron James chose 76ers over Heat
Dillon Mitchell NCAA ruling makes losing John Tonje even worse for Celtics
Dillon Mitchell’s college return isn’t a total disaster for Celtics, but it hurts
Celtics went against the grain by sticking with Joe Mazzulla
Chowder and ChampionsCeltics may surprisingly be on verge of missing out on Dillon Mitchell’s development
CLNS Media/YouTubeRon Harper Jr. TRADED Jerseys Numbers with Paul George | Celtics Camp Interview
Rookie Dillon Mitchell Could Play for St. John’s Instead of Boston | Celtics Daily
The Big LeadCeltics’ Jayson Tatum projected to get big minutes workload next season, per insider
HeavyCeltics Rookie Could Make Stunning Decision After NBA Draft
Jaylen Brown Makes Feelings Clear After Blockbuster Celtics Trade
Celtics Get Bad News on Rumored Reunion With 2024 NBA Champion
Celtics’ Jordan Walsh Breaks Silence on Jaylen Brown Trade
Celtics’ Ron Harper Jr. Makes Unexpected Move After Paul George Trade
KOAA 5/YouTubeNBA champion Derrick White, who attended UCCS, hosts basketball camp in Colorado Springs
Basketball Network “He’s basically going to have to be their Derrick White” – Bill Simmons says Jaylen Brown is the fourth-most important player on the Philadelphia 76ers
Fadeaway World 4 Stars The Celtics Should Target If Stephen Curry Isn’t Available In A Trade
Hoops WireNBA’s second apron is functioning like a hard cap for most teams
Athlon SportsCeltics Rookie Could Return to College Basketball Before First NBA Season
Bleacher ReportNBA Responds to Study That Relates Heavy Workloads to Achilles Injuries
1 Word to Describe Every Team’s 2026 NBA Offseason
Essentially Sports22-Year-Old Breakout Star’s Return to College Leaves NBA Team’s Final Roster Spot in Limbo
Barstool Sports Jaylen Brown Wants The Entire Sixers Team To Go Skydiving If They Win A Championship, Which Would Be The Last Game The Sixers Ever Win
Clutch Points Celtics’ Jordan Walsh opens up on missing Jaylen Brown as team plane seatmate
Celtics RoundtableWould the Boston Celtics Lose Dillon Mitchell if He Went Back to College?
Boston Celtics Vaunted ‘Big 3’ to Reunite For Special Reason
Fan RecapCeltics Fans May Not Love Brad Stevens Next Move After Brown
The Sporting NewsJaylen Brown admits he felt disrespected by people he thought were on his side
HITC ‘I’m about to’ – Jaylen Brown explains how LeBron James’ 76ers signing will help with his hairline
SI .comBoston Celtics Roster: Contracts, Salaries, Options and Depth Chart
NBC SportsNBA pushes back on small study suggesting spike in workloads before NBA player Achilles tears
Draymond Green, Klay Thompson respond to Kevin Durant’s Warriors–76ers comparison
In today’s Dub Hub:
- Draymond Green, Klay Thompson respond to Kevin Durant’s viral Instagram comment comparing the new-look 76ers to the Warriors team he joined in 2016.
- Will Richard aims to be a more vocal leader entering his second season with the Warriors.
- WNBA announces the Cleveland Sirens as the league’s newest expansion team.
When LeBron James made his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, it quickly made them one of the NBA’s newest superteams. The revamped roster now features James alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, giving Philadelphia one of the most star-studded lineups in the league.
Of course, whenever high-profile team-ups occur, fans naturally point back to when Kevin Durant “broke the NBA” by joining a Golden State Warriors team in 2016 featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala all in their Warriors primes.
So, when Durant took the conversation to Instagram, his comments about James’ new-look 76ers being more talented on paper than the Warriors team he joined quickly went viral and attracted attention from both of his former Golden State teammates, Thompson and Green.
While the exchange appeared to be all in good fun, it serves as another reminder of the legacy of Golden State’s dynasty. Nearly a decade later, the Durant-era Warriors remain the benchmark for every NBA superteam, and any comparison to that historic roster is almost guaranteed to spark some debate.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, August 4th:
Warriors News:
Klay Thompson objects to being used in Kevin Durant’s Warriors-76ers comparison | The Athletic
“Ain’t close,” Durant wrote in reply to an Instagram comment comparing the talent level of the newly formed 76ers with the 2016-17 Warriors team he left Oklahoma City to join. “Joel [Embiid] MVP, recently. Jaylen Brown, recent Finals MVP, Tyrese Maxey, All-Star in the last 3 years. We all know what Bron does.
“Klay Thompson never an MVP candidate in nothing, 22 (points per game).”
It is the latest example of Durant seemingly using James’ decision to form a superteam in Philadelphia in pursuit of another championship to validate his own much-criticized move to the 73-win Warriors after Golden State eliminated his Thunder in the previous Western Conference finals.
Will Richard finds voice as leader during Warriors’ NBA Summer League title run | NBC Sports Bay Area
“This was a great opportunity for me to find my voice on the team,” Richard told reporters. “That’s not just talking and all that but leading by example. Making sure I’m coming here doing the right things and being a voice where the coaches can connect to the players.”
Instead of going outside of himself throughout summer league, Richard expanded on his role and jumped into bigger shoes after a year of learning from all-time greats. His services will be needed even more in Year 2, and the Warriors should be able to rely on him even more with confidence in his game and his communication.
Brandin Podziemski debuts new haircut
NBA News:
Chris Bosh cautions Wemby on blood clots: ‘Take your medicine’ | ESPN
Bosh is cautioning Wembanyama not to take his health and quick return for granted. In February, Bosh had a clotting emergency that nearly killed him.
“Yeah, I had an episode in January. I almost dropped dead, pretty much, and came back to life. I’m not joking. I had another pulmonary embolism,” he told HoopsHype.com. “You just got to deal with it for the rest of your life. I thought I was past it. I am not.”
WNBA introduces new expansion team called the Cleveland Sirens
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
More of the same: Warriors agree to one-year deal with Gary Payton II
Already 33, limited, and with an extensive injury history, Payton only further solidifies Golden State’s attempt to run it back with the 37-win 2025-26 roster. A perplexing approach given the team’s struggles and age. Nevertheless, Payton is a favorite of head coach Steve Kerr and face of the franchise Steph Curry.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Stokes decoded: his concerns for Joe Root and hopes for ‘great man’ Stephen Fleming | Ali Martin
What England’s former captain did – and didn’t – say in two-hour podcast interview with his old teammates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler
Over the course of two hours chatting to his old friends Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler on their podcast, Ben Stokes sounded at peace with his decision to retire from England duty five weeks ago. Dare we say it, refreshed and ready to go again.
Beyond playing for Durham and in franchise cricket, Stokes is “definitely” retired, however, and there was not even a hint of a possible U-turn when the home Ashes rolls around next summer. Nor, given his character, was this first interview since calling it a day ever going to be one stuffed with regret.
Continue reading...Which Laker could make the jump this season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country.
The Lakers have fully embraced a youth movement.
They accomplished their mission of acquiring players in the same age range as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves as Kevon Looney is the only player over 30 on the roster.
While youth is ideal, as it means players are closer to their prime and better able to withstand the grueling NBA season, it also comes with drawbacks. Plenty of Lakers are unproven, especially on the back end of the roster.
The four names that come to mind are Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr, Zaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. The upside for LA is that all are low-risk and high-reward.
Realistically, none are currently being counted on to play major minutes, and the player with the biggest contract from this quartet is Carr, who is making $3.3 million this year. If any of them can outpace their deals, then LA could not only gain a rotation player but have one at a bargain.
So, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we ask, which player is most likely to outperform their contract?
As a member of Carr Island before he was even on the Lakers, I feel like he has to be the top choice. He’s a three-level scorer and displayed that throughout at Baylor, averaging 18.9 points while shooting 49.4% from the field, 37.4% from deep and 80.1% from the free throw line.
While he hasn’t played in an NBA game yet, he was elite in the Las Vegas Summer League. Carr looked too good for that level of competition, averaging 18 points per game. While Summer League isn’t the best indicator of how one will play at the next level, how he scored mattered.
Carr showed that he can handle the ball a bit and create. He scored off-ball from the wing as well, which is likely the role he’ll play with the main team. His defensive play was equally encouraging. Carr has good size and used it well, averaging 0.8 blocks per game.
While Carr has no NBA experience yet, that also makes him a huge x-factor. No one knows how good he’ll be. So far, he’s played well in the moments he’s gotten this summer and has said all the right things.
If what little we’ve seen from Carr translates well, then he can absolutely find himself having a role in the rotation as a rookie. With how difficult it is to build rosters under the apron restrictions, having players like that is huge for teams.
But Thiero, Williams and Thybulle will also get their chances to step up. So, if you think they are more likely to outperform their deals, cast your vote that way. And as always, feel free to explain your rationale in the comment section below.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
Looking back at the week where the Washington Nationals season went off the rails
In baseball, we talk about the grind of a 162 game season, and how you can never get too high or too low. Those words usually ring true across a long season. However, seasons can still crumble very quickly, and that is exactly what happened to the Nats last week.
Last Monday, the Nats were coming off a monster series win against a fellow Wild Card contender in the D-Backs. Now, it was on to the last place Blue Jays. The best offense in baseball would be facing the best pitcher in Nats history in Max Scherzer, but a very diminished version of Mad Max. It was supposed to be a passing of the torch night. However, since the Nats let a laboring Scherzer off the hook, things have gone off the rails.
Since last Monday, the Nats are 1-7, going from one game back of the NL Wild Card to 5.5 games back. Such a promising season has gone so wrong so very quickly. Even if this is the beginning of a limp towards the finish line, it is important to remember that this season is still very likely to be a success. Key pieces such as CJ Abrams, James Wood and Cade Cavalli took major steps. They also got great production out of Curtis Mead, Luis Garcia Jr. and Foster Griffin before selling high on that trio.
That does not make this collapse out of playoff contention any less painful though. The most ironic thing is that the Nats greatest strength was the thing that did them in this weekend. Sure, the pitching and defense has not been stellar, but the biggest reason for this collapse has been the lack of offense, particularly with runners in scoring position.
They have been truly dreadful with ducks on the pond lately and it is why this offense has only scored more than 4 runs once in the last 8 games. Guys like James Wood and Keibert Ruiz picked bad times to start slumping. The offense has also really felt the loss of Curtis Mead, who was arguably the best clutch hitter on the team.
The slide started against the Blue Jays, but it was the Braves series that really did them in. These Nats have been a great road team all season, but they laid an egg in the 4 game set at Truist Park. The experienced Braves totally outplayed the Nats, who did not look ready for the moment. It was a comprehensive beatdown.
As the noise surrounding the trade deadline grew, this Nats team just seemed to shrink. The now departed Griffin basically admitted that the past week has been tough on him with the trade rumors surrounding him. It sure seemed like he was not the only one struggling with that pressure.
When the Nats needed to rise to the occasion, they buckled. That is why Paul Toboni ended up selling. He can talk all he wants about how he believes in this team, but he threw in the towel at the deadline. With how the last week went, it is tough to blame him. For Toboni to buy, this team needed to show something and they did not.
Based on this quote, this was clearly a tough decision for Toboni, and he wanted to wait as long as he could to see which direction he would go. However, this past week made the decision less difficult. It was clear that Toboni knew that this organization needed more pitching depth and with the team falling out of the race, selling off pieces was the way to accomplish this.
I do think Toboni envisions this team competing for the playoffs next season (assuming there is one). Most of the pieces he got back in these returns are players that can contribute in 2027. A lot of them are role players, especially in the bullpen, but that is exactly what the Nats need. People have been asking what this season would be like if the Nats had an average bullpen. With this stockpile of arms, Toboni is trying to build that average, and eventually very good bullpen.
When the dust settled, the Nats got a lot deeper on the mound as an organization. However, they lost several of the main drivers of what made them great this season. Abrams and Wood remain, but that supporting cast is very diminished. Toboni is betting that he can continue to develop bats the way he did with Garcia and Mead.
The first game after the deadline showed us what the reality of the rest of this year may look like. This offense is not as explosive, but the bullpen sure is leaky. Derek Hill’s grand slam was the final nail in the coffin of the Nats playoff hopes. It was another bullpen meltdown combined with a lack of fight after they fell behind, as well as plenty of missed chances.
This season was a step in the right direction, but the Nats are going to have to build off this. That means ownership and the front office will need to be aggressive this offseason. With ownership, I am not that confident in this. Hopefully they spend, but I will have to see it to believe it.
It has been a mostly fun season, but we got a real reality check last week. This team still needs to make plenty of improvements and the core players still need another year to mature. Hopefully this season was just the start of something special because it has been the best season of Nats baseball in a while.
Ron Harper Jr. talks new contract, giving Paul George his number, and more
BOSTON — Ron Harper Jr. vividly remembers what it was like to be a little kid attending basketball camps and hoping to meet an NBA player. So, on Tuesday afternoon, when he was the guest of honor at the Junior Celtics Academy, it was a full-circle moment.
The 26-year-old Celtic guard answered a litany of questions from the kids in attendance, competed in knockout games, and partook in drills.
All of it came just a few weeks after he signed his first multi-year NBA contract, a 4-year, $14 million extension that gave him his first long-term assurance he’ll be in the league.
“It was great,” Harper Jr. said. “It just felt really rewarding — a team that I have a lot of respect for, a team that I want to play for for a long time. So, for that to be able to happen in a city like this, playing for a team like the Boston Celtics, I’m honored, and I’m ready to put the work in.”
It was a long journey to get here: Harper Jr. joined the Celtics for the 2024 and 2025 training camps, and began last year on a training camp deal with Boston. He was one of five players competing for the team’s final two-way spot, a battle he ultimately won. On the Maine Celtics, he quickly established himself as one of the G-League’s best all-around players. By February, he was spending nearly all of his time with the parent club.
A February 4th game between the Celtics and the Houston Rockets served as an inflection point in Harper’s season; he started for the first time in his career, guarded Rockets star Kevin Durant, and showed himself — and the world — he belonged. It’s a game that Joe Mazzulla has pointed to as well in that it showcased Harper’s readiness and preparation.
“The first time I really played meaningful minutes was when I started in Houston, and that kind of came to be because of the Anfernee trade, and it happened all really fast,” Harper said. “But I feel like after that game where I started and I played all those minutes, and I played well, I felt like after that point I felt like I’d be a real contributor to this team and a part of bringing this team back to the championship. So, that’s something I look forward to doing next year.”
Notably, he also got a surprise start in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, something that meant a lot: “It shows that they believe in me at the highest level, with it all on the line.”
Still, he entered the offseason a free agent, uncertain about whether he’d get a long-term commitment from Boston.
But on June 27th, he officially agreed to a contract that served as the culmination of years of hard work.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity; that they believe in me, that they want me here long-term,” Harper said. “It’s just motivation to keep on getting better and keep proving them right. So that’s something I look forward to doing.”
It will be an uphill climb for rotation minutes in Boston
Ron Harper Jr. will be one of several Celtics wings competing for minutes next season, a list that includes Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Sam Hauser.
He emphasized that the healthy competition for on-court opportunities never gets in the way of the players’ support for one another.
“That’s the beautiful thing about being on the Celtics,” he said. “We all care about each other. We all want each other to succeed, no matter what it looks like. It’s a lot of guys competing for minutes, but also pushing each other to get better. So we’re just worried about being great teammates, pushing each other to get better, and going about it in the right way.”
Next year, Harper’s training camp experience will start a bit differently than it has the previous two Octobers. That’s because Jaylen Brown, who grew to be one of Harper’s mentors, will no longer be on the roster.
“Obviously sad to see him go — a guy that I’ve grown close to in my time at the Celtics across two training camps and a full season, a guy that I have a lot of respect for, and a guy that still trusted me when I was still on an Exhibit-10,” he said. “So I remember the message he’s sharing with me, the motivation he’s given me, and the advice he’s given me. And it sucks to see him go. This is a business more than anything, so I wish him luck in the future — except when he plays us.”
Though Brown is gone, Harper will get to team up with Paul George, a player whom he grew up watching on TV. He hasn’t yet crossed paths with George in Boston, but the two are already bound by the fact that Harper gave George jersey No. 13, which he wore last year. Harper will wear instead No. 8, and he said that the number swap benefited “both parties.”
“We don’t got to get into the exact details,” Harper Jr said with a smile. “About an hour after the trade, I got a phone call saying he wanted the number, so me and him were able to work it out. We’ll have some funny conversations about that for sure. But I’m happy that he’s able to get back to his number, get back to PG-13 for sure.”
In the meantime, the former Rutgers star is spending most of his summer at the facility, where he and many of his teammates are already preparing for the year ahead.
“Just the easiest place for me to work out, stay around the coaches,” Harper said. “I feel like they have a really good plan for me. So just sticking with what they got, they got prepared for me, just showing up every day. And I’ve been here, whether it’s been an optional week or mandatory week — I try to be in Boston the most as I possibly could.”
He knows the Celtics believe in him, and he’s working tirelessly to show the world why.
“They like my versatility on the offensive and defensive end, my ability to play on and off the ball, my ability to guard — so just looking forward to showcasing all those talents.”
Tarik Skubal & other Dodgers number 29s
Jonathan Hernández pitched the final two innings of the Dodgers’ loss on Monday night at Wrigley Field, the eighth time in 13 appearances this year he’s finished off a game, most of them lopsided scores.
What was notable was Hernández wearing number 26 on Monday, after getting called back up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. That was different from earlier this season, when he wore 29. But the Dodgers added Sunday added a two-time Cy Young Award winner in Tarik Skubal, and 29 is the only number he’s ever worn in the major leagues.
Skubal adds star power to the number 29 for the Dodgers, something the team hasn’t seen wearing the number since third baseman Adrian Beltré. In between, it’s fun to look back at the most recent numbers 29 with the team, a wonderful collection of remembering some guys.
In reverse chronological order:
- Pitcher Jonathan Hernández (2026)
- Pitcher Michael Grove (2024)
- Catcher Austin Wynns (2023)
- Pitcher Dylan Covey (2023)
- Outfielder Billy McKinney (2021)
- Infielder Andy Burns (2021)
- First base coach George Lombard (2018-19)
- Pitcher Scott Kazmir (2016-17)
- Third base coach Tim Wallach (2013-15)
- Pitcher Ted Lilly (2010-13)
- Pitcher Jason Schmit (2007-09)
- First baseman James Loney (2006)
- First base coach Mariano Duncan (2006)
- Hitting coach Tim Wallach (2005)
- Third baseman Adrian Beltré (1998-2004)
NL Wild Card Race and Trade Deadline Impacts
Inspiration.
The Diamondbacks are above .500 and I’m excited that they could play in the postseason. At the same time, many starting pitchers are on the injured list, and there is delay in the return of Corbin Burnes. Also, performance at first base, left field, and center field are weak. Despite limited resources, how will the Diamondbacks improve their chances at the trade deadline?
The Diamondbacks are contending for a Wild Card.
If the season ended today, the Diamondbacks would be a Wild Card in the playoffs.
Looking at the other contenders, since the All Star break the Diamondbacks have played very well against them, which is a positive for tiebreakers, if there are ties at the end of the season.
The following table compares the standings of the Diamondbacks and other contenders for the NL Wild Cards. Also, it shows the games between the Diamondbacks and those teams since the All Star break – the results of games played and the dates of future games.
In summary, the Diamondbacks are on track and strongly contending.
Acquisitions made impacts.
Instead of looking at every trade and acquisition, the first step was determine the biggest needs/opportunities of each team in the race. Acquisitions (in July and August) that filled those needs would likely impact the Wild Card race. The following table shows which needs were addressed (or not). It excluded players in the minors. A subjective evaluation of the impact on the Wild Card race is shown in the last column.
Pirates. My view is that the Pirates are doing everything they can to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Camilo Doval (relief pitcher) and Jacob Gonzalez (playing shortstop) will make a positive impact. Luke Weaver, who was a starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks from 2019 to 2022), was acquired as a relief pitcher with a career best ERA of 1.84. Despite not adding a starting pitcher, my view is they added two wins down the stretch of the Wild Card race.
Phillies. The Phillies made a solid improvement at second base by acquiring Luis Arraez. His batting is much better than Bryson Stott (OPS+ 127 vs 93). His defense at second base is much better (11 OAA vs 6 OAA). In addition, the Phillies acquired relief pitchers Caleb Kilian and Brooks Raley. My view is they added two wins down the stretch in the Wild Card race.
Padres. The Padres acquired twostarting pitchers, Robbie Ray and Casey Mize. Ray pitched for the Diamondbacks for 6 seasons (2015 to 2020). In the next season (2021), he won the Cy Young. And Mize is having a career best season. My view is they added three wins down the stretch in the Wild Card race.
Nationals. The Nationals added Connelly Early (starting pitcher who should be off the injured list by late August), Tom Cosgrove & Yovanny Cruz (relief pitchers), and some pitching prospects. In September, their rotation will likely be at its peak.
On the other hand, the Nationals traded away two of their best batters (Curtis Mead with OPS+ of 134, and Luis Garcia Jr. with OPS+ of 137). In addition they traded away Foster Griffin for four pitching prospects. My take is that the overall impact is near zero.
The Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks need a starting pitcher, a left handed bat (either at first base or the outfield), and a relief pitcher (the recent collapse of Paul Sewald adds an exclamation point).
“There’s been a lot of conversation around a bunch of different stuff. So we’re mostly in the starting pitching/bat market. Some in the reliever market, just to stay involved in that.” — Mike Hazen
August will be difficult for the Diamondbacks. In August, they will play two teams contending for a NL Wild Card (Padres and Cubs), plus two first place teams (Dodgers and Braves). Although every win counts the same, my view is the most important series is with the Padres. The reason is that winning that 4-game series would make the most impact in keeping the Diamondbacks in a Wild Card position.
“I’m more worried about getting through August than what happens at the end of August and September. August is going to be particularly challenging for us with no off-days and probably the toughest run of games we’re going to have all year.” — Mike Hazen
The Diamondbacks added left-handed batter Lars Nootbaar, who plays in the outfield. This season, his batting is much better against right-handed pitchers (.737 OPS vs .483 OPS). He will likely play in left field.
My view is that the Diamondbacks added one win down the stretch in the Wild Card race.
Cardinals. My view is that the Cardinals were the team that did the least to improve their team prior to the trade deadline. My view is that they missed chances to improve their chances of reaching this season’s playoffs.
Summary.
The Diamondbacks are strongly contending for one of the NL Wild Cards. August will be challenging. Although they met only one of their needs, they improved their chances in the race by acquiring Lars Nootbaar at the trade deadline.
Although they did not acquire a starting pitcher, the Pirates did a lot to meet their needs and make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Although they did not acquire a starting pitcher, the Phillies made solid improvement in their team to ensure they retain their position as a Wild Card team.
Starting pitching was the primary need (perhaps the only need) for the Padres. It was impressive that they acquired two starting pitchers. They are strong contenders for the third Wild Card in the NL.
The Nationals addressed their pitching needs by trading away two of their top batters. And they traded away a relief pitcher for four prospects. The net impact may be zero.
Of the contenders for a NL Wild Card, the Cardinals did the least to improve their team prior to the trade deadline.
Grant Holmes on the hill for the Braves in series opener vs. the Miami Marlins
Your new and improved* Braves are here. Fifty games left in the 2026 regular season. Let’s get after it.
*your mileage may vary based on your trade deadline opinions.
August started off in sweet and sweep-y fashion – the Washington Nationals entered the series a game over .500 and left two games under. The Braves are now rocking their first five-game win streak since April.
A new NL East challenger arrives at Truist Park, and they’re going to be looking to cause some chaos. The Miami Marlins (58-55) are tied with San Diego to be just two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies AND Arizona Diamondbacks for a Wild Card berth.
It’s up to Grant Holmes to set the tone to start the series off right. We had hoped that by this time, Holmes (6-4, 3.88 ERA) would have made the official transition from the starting rotation to an incredible long-relief option in the bullpen. But this hasn’t come to pass. In July, Holmes completed five innings in 4/5 games started (and went 4.2 innings in the last one). His best by far was versus the Pirates on July 8, where he only allowed three hits and no runs. He’s looking to bounce back from his worst one, which was the most recent: in the 4.2 innings pitched against the Nationals on July 30, he allowed five hits including three (thankfully solo) homers. Grant hasn’t pitched six innings since June 3.
In his last time out facing Miami in mid-April, Holmes was lifted after four innings after a combination of three hits and two walks led to three runs. The Fish with the most at-bats against Holmes are Xavier Edwards (1-for-8) and Kyle Stowers (0-for-6).
The Marlins will counter with the right-hander Ryan Gusto (0-2, 5.31 ERA). Gusto has split time between the starting role and as a reliever, with eight outings as the former and five as the latter. He had started almost exclusively in the month of June before being optioned, and seemingly eased back in in the bullpen after being recalled on July 9. He made his longest start of the year with this final line against Philadelphia on July 29 by going five… but the rest of the final line? 9 H, 6 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, and 3 K.
Gusto faced the Braves twice last season in August, and was the losing pitcher for both in lopsided 7-1 and 12-1 Braves victories. He was tagged for three and nine earned runs in those, respectively. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II are tied with the most at-bats against him six. Ozzie and Matt Olson have homered off him.
First pitch is at 7:15 pm ET.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, August 4, 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision, Gray TV
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
Royals Review Reacts Survey – Grade the trade deadline
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Royals fans and fans across the country.
The trade deadline has passed and with it, most any reason to follow the Royals for the remainder of the year. They don’t have any high-level prospects to get excited about seeing, so it’s mostly going to be about trudging through the muck of the final third of the season and hoping to spot some diamonds in the rough.
Before we get there, though, we should take some time to look at how the Royals did at the trade deadline. We’ve got writeups of each of the trades individually, and Matthew Lamar wrote up some individual grades for the trades as well, so give those a look and then come back here and vote for how you think the Royals did overall. Keeping in mind that even if each individual trade looks good, you might still grade them poorly for not making very many of them.
Don’t forget to sign up for e-mails if you want to be notified to vote in more polls like this one!