LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Bogoljub Markovic #23 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 16, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per Jake Fischer, the Milwaukee Bucks have signed Bogoljub Marković, their 2025 second-round draft pick, to a four-year rookie contract, with the news confirmed on the Bucks’ official NBA.com page. According to Fischer, the deal is worth $9.3m and includes a team option in the final season.
After being drafted by the Bucks with the 47th pick in the 2025 draft, Marković spent last season playing for Mega Basket in Serbia’s Adriatic League (ABA), where he averaged 18.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 blocked shot in 31.8 minutes per game. As discussed by Deolu in May, Marković’s play earned him the league’s MVP award, while he also took home the Top Prospect Award for the second year in a row and was named to the “Ideal Starting Five,” Serbia’s form of an All-NBA award.
But this success shouldn’t have come as a complete surprise—Finn urged us all to not give up on Marković after his largely disappointing play during last year’s Summer League with Bucks, citing his self-belief, basketball understanding, shooting, and fluidity as strengths that hold him in good stead, and likening him to Lauri Markkanen. Wouldn’t that be something?
The soon-to-be 21-year-old fits what seems to be Milwaukee’s movement of high-character, driven, and mouldable prospects, who will have every opportunity to improve under the tutelage of Taylor Jenkins, Joe Boylan, the recently added T.J. Ford, and the rest of the coaching staff. Undoubtedly, Marković adds to Milwaukee’s intriguing collection of young talent and provides an additional option at the four spot, alongside Kyle Kuzma and Pete Nance.
Here’s hoping his MVP form in the ABA is a sign of things to come for the Bucks.
Brew Hoop community, how do you feel about Marković signing? Let us know in the comments section below.
More than 50 years after leading the White Sox to the 1972 AL West title, Dick Allen continues to inspire a new generation of fans through the documentary series "My Father, Dick Allen." | (Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Once upon a time, the Chicago White Sox endured a dreadful season, losing more than 100 games, finishing an appalling 42 games out of first place in the division, and drawing less than 500,000 fans all season. From the doldrums, the team ascended from Baseball Hell and re-established the White Sox as a competitive team, leading to a winning season and a reinvigorated fanbase. Sound familiar?
The parallels between the 1972 Chicago White Sox and the current team are many. Still, unlike the roster-wide juggernaut currently working its way into the All-Star Break with a winning record and sole possession of first place, the former team was carried on the back of a single prodigious player.
I had the honor of being invited to a special screening of “My Father, Dick Allen,” a five-part documentary series that chronicles Allen’s life, career, and overdue posthumous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I wasn’t alive for Allen’s baseball career, so I called my dad, a lifelong White Sox fan, and asked what he remembered about him.
“Dick Allen was one of my favorite players!” he answered.
Naturally, I had Dad accompany me to the screening at The Chicago History Museum. After collecting our Cracker Jacks, we fangirled over resident South Side Queen Nancy Faust (as per usual) and sang along quietly to “Rosanna,” by Toto, a classic Nancy tune.
The night was emceed by five-time Emmy-winning broadcaster and living legend Kenny McReynolds, whose profound baseball wisdom was on display in real time. Also in attendance was Allen’s teammate (and seemingly his biggest fan besides McReynolds), Rich “Goose” Gossage. Ferguson Jenkins, who played with Dick in Little Rock for the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league affiliate, The Travelers, was also on the post-screening panel. John Owens, who penned the book “Chili Dog MVP,” which tells the story of the 1972 White Sox and Allen’s impact on the team, and serves as the foundation for the documentary series, was also on the panel along with fellow writer David Fletcher.
The most special guest was Dick Allen Jr., also known as “Doobie,” a nickname affectionately given to him by his father. The story of his father and his life in baseball is told through his eyes, and shortly after the screening began, I learned that Dick Allen, the person, was even more important than Dick Allen, the player.
Yes, Dick Allen, the player, saved the White Sox in 1972, so he, too, is of great importance. His genuine nature, unwillingness to be anyone other than himself, and his pure strength of will are the stuff of legends, and that’s not even mentioning the man’s fabled forearms. As talented as Allen was, the real celebration lies in his lifetime of being himself through the trials and tribulations of a true baseball pioneer.
The screening covered two episodes of the docuseries: first, his early life and the beginning of his baseball career; then, a jump to episode five, covering Allen’s time on the South Side.
Dick and his family grew up in Wampum, Pennsylvania, and by high school, he and his five brothers were already making tracks in sports, both in baseball and basketball. Wampum was integrated, and Allen’s experience growing up hadn’t prepared him for the prejudice and intolerance he’d soon face in his career.
In 1963, Allen became the first African American player on the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers. Although Jackie Robinson paved the way for Black players two decades before Allen was signed, he was still subject to unjust treatment.
Imagine being as talented as Allen and playing unyieldingly with your team, but not being allowed to stay at the same hotel or eat at the same restaurants as your teammates. Through death threats, intimidation, harassment, heckling, and worse, Allen shone. He was voted the International League’s Most Valuable Player.
Allen’s first full season in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies remains one of the most distinguished rookie seasons of all time for any player. He led the MLB in runs, triples, extra-base hits, and total bases, and also in errors, still being green at his new position as third baseman. Here was a man who could adapt to any spot they placed him — a truly elite athlete.
Despite his Rookie of the Year title, Allen still endured worsening adversity. During his time in Philadelphia, which spanned five seasons, he averaged 20 home runs and 90 RBIs per season. His impressive lines in Philly didn’t make his career a walk around the baseball diamond, however.
“When Dad began to speak out against the racism he experienced at the ballpark and in the city of Philadelphia, his situation became worse,” Allen Jr. wrote. “Our family was subjected to some pretty unfortunate things, too, like having trash thrown on our front lawn, or having to hear the nasty boos when we went to the ballpark to watch Dad play. Although he pleaded with the Phillies to trade him to another team, they refused because Dad was their best player. The longer he stayed with the Phillies, the more he spoke out against the racism he experienced.”
Allen had initially withstood verbal jeers and threats, but after speaking out about the racism he’d endured in Philadelphia, it grew worse instead of better. Phillies fans threw fruit, ice, trash, and even flashlight batteries at his head, but the physical abuse wasn’t enough to make him quit. He simply wore his batting helmet when taking his eventual position in left field, like an absolute boss, and challenged the racist abuse with an even louder voice, always trying to shine a light on the truth of his experience.
In 1969, Allen was finally traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and found some respite from the unjust harassment. After time on the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland A’s, he was eventually traded to the Chicago White Sox in December of 1971.
The myth of Allen being “difficult” to work with was perpetuated by the racism he’d had to endure since the start of his career. White Sox manager Chuck Tanner had a special relationship with Allen and nurtured his talent, permanently placing him at first base so he could focus on his offense, which paid off. That year, Allen led the American League in home runs, RBIs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, winning him the AL MVP. That was also the year he single-handedly saved the Chicago White Sox.
The most memorable Allen game in 1972 was the fabled “Chili Dog Game”. During the second game of a doubleheader on June 4, 1972, Dick Allen was called up to the plate to pinch-hit. Tanner had given him the second game of the day to rest, as he’d played in every single game the entire season up to that point. Over 51,000 White Sox fans were in attendance, with standing room only, as fans illegally sat on stairways to catch a glimpse of greatness; more than 8,000 additional fans were unable to gain access to the ballpark. That game broke an 18-year attendance record, and most of the fans were there to witness a piece of Allen’s record-breaking season.
Tanner was saving Allen for late-inning heroics, much to the chagrin of White Sox owner John Allyn, who wanted to give fans of the beloved Allen a show.
It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the White Sox were losing 4-2 to the despised New York Yankees. Tanner was waiting for a couple of runners to be aboard, and the time had come after Beltin’ Bill Melton walked, and Mike Andrews singled. He made the call for Allen.
But he wasn’t ready. Allen was eating a chili dog when he realized that Tanner had summoned him, and he wasn’t being careful, either.
“I had chili all over my shirt, so I put on a new one and a pair of pants with no underclothes,” Allen remembered in an interview.
Allen ambled out with his heavier-than-heavy bat. He took a strike, then a ball, and then proceeded to launch a 370-footer into the stands for the ninth walk-off dinger of his career, winning the game for the South Siders. The electric crowd remained in the stands long after the game was over. And thus, the Chili Dog Game became legend.
Unfortunately, some legends take a long time to be cemented into history. The important part of Allen Jr.’s story lies in his efforts to get his dad inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Regardless of how beloved Allen was by his teammates and those who had the privilege of watching him play, his achievements were muddied by the negative spin the press had put on his career. Despite being the highest-paid player who broke record after record, and despite the deep admiration from his teammates and players from around the league, Allen always had to fight to be seen. In 1994, writer Bill James wrote that Allen “did more to keep his teams from winning than anyone else who ever played Major League Baseball. And if that’s a Hall of Famer, I’m a lug nut.”
Well, Bill, you lugnut, thanks for your lousy non-contribution.
Allen was celebrated as a leader, a cornerstone, a genuine, funny, loving, caring guy who tried his hardest to be the best he could be. He wasn’t just a larger-than-life baseball star. He knew his worth and fought for himself, leaving an example for generations to look up to when they’re struggling with their own self-worth and feel an urge to make themselves smaller to avoid controversy. It wasn’t just his teammates who knew this about him, either. He cared for his family, his rivals, his friends, and his fans, and with profound humility. Yet, the uphill battle to get Allen the spot in the Hall of Fame that he deserved was anything but easy.
Over 50 years after his career ended, Dick Allen was inducted into the Hall of Fame, where he belongs. “My Father, Dick Allen” covers this journey in a reverent, real, and fascinating way. I hope you get the privilege to see it soon.
Dick Allen was always a Hall-of-Fame player, despite the long road to get there. There is so much more to this epic story that I couldn’t cover here, so if you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and pick up “Chili Dog MVP” by John Owens and Dr. David Fletcher. Note:I purchased this book and am not being incentivized to endorse it.
After learning about Allen from those who knew him best, it’s easy to see why he is a fan favorite to this day. In honor of him, and one of his best quotes, I will now accept the inherited mantle of hating the Phillies.
“I’ll play first, third, left. I’ll play anywhere — except Philadelphia.” — Dick Allen Source: The Sporting News (April 11, 1970)
Brandon Pfaadt gave the Snakes everything they could have asked for yesterday. Despite having a modest pitch count limit, Pfaadt spared the bullpen any undue stress. He completed five innings and allowed only one run. Additionally, Max Kepler finally showed up for a game, the first time since joining the Diamondbacks. Now, the Diamondbacks will look to remain perfect against the Giants in 2026, running their streak against the Bay Area team to nine games.
Will the real Zac Gallen please stand up? Sadly, there is a very good chance that we have been seeing the real Zac Gallen. Gallen’s last outing was a mixed bag. Had Torey Lovullo not sent Gallen back out for the seventh inning, he pitches a quality start. But, Gallen’s first inning was atrocious, matched and surpassed by just how bad his abbreviated seventh was. With the Giants reeling and the Diamondbacks enjoying some home cooking, this is the time for Zac Gallen to keep the good times rolling. A strong start from Gallen helps the Diamondbacks with their momentum. It will also keep the Diamondbacks above .500, an important bellwether mark for the upcoming trade deadline.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green #23 battles Memphis Grizzlies' Santi Aldama #7 for a rebound in the second quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
It’s been quite a journey for the Golden State Warriors’ 2030 first-round pick. It first changed hands in the summer of 2023, when the Warriors sent half of their “second timeline” to the Washington Wizards (Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, Patrick Baldwin, Jr.), a 2027 second, and the 2030 first-rounder for whatever was left of Chris Paul’s 38-year-old body.
The pick, protected for selections 1-20 in 2030, settled down in the District of Columbia for the next two seasons as the Wizards slowly traded away their good players for picks, took on other team’s bad contracts for picks, and tanked so effectively that they ended up with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. But when the Wizards decided to disable the tank for the 2026-27 season, the Warriors’ old pick was part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks to the nation’s capital.
Now the protected pick belongs to the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded forward Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for AJ Johnson, two second-rounders, and that 2030 Warriors first. At time, the Warriors were effectively trading a 12-year-old for a 38-year-old, though now that potential pick is probably in his sophomore year of high school. Lest we forget, Dallas also receives the rights to Tarik Biberovic, a 25-year-old Bosniak forward who plays professionally in Turkey.
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks for AJ Johnson, a protected 2030 Warriors first-round pick and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ctrDPu0tcC
The Grizzlies are no strangers to taking on protected Warriors first-rounders. They got the Warriors’ 2024 first for taking on Andre Iguodala’s salary in the summer of 2019, which led to the Dillon Brooks Dynasty in Memphis after the young team pretended to be furious about Iguodala forcing his way to the Miami Heat and the 2020 NBA Finals. Eventually, it simply put the Grizzlies in the Path of Destruction forged by Steph Curry.
Eventually, that pick found its way to Washington after being involved in trades for Marcus Smart, Jrue Holiday, Deni Avdija, and Kristaps Porzingis. The draft is a flat circle. The pick eventually turned into Carlton Kaleel Carrington III, better known as “Bub,” who will known be mentored by noted veteran leader Trae Young.
The 2030 pick will only convey to Memphis if it lands between No. 21 and No. 30, in which case it becomes a Warriors second-rounder. That’s good business from the Dubs front office, considering Steph Curry will turn 42 that season. The Grizzlies have a giant stockpile of picks after trading Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson, Jr. in the last 12 months, so the Dubs’ beloved pick may be relocating a few more times before draft night 2030.
In other ex-Warriors news, Harrison “The Black Falcon” Barnes re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs, Andrew Wiggins opted-in to his player option and signed an extension with the Miami Heat, Buddy Hield surprisingly had his $9.7M option picked up by the Atlanta Hawks, and Nico Mannion received a qualifying offer from the Warriors while currently unemployed in the Italian league. Forever Warrior Justinian Jessup is under contract with Bayern Munich through 2028.
July has arrived, which means the NBA Summer League is right around the corner.
Former Huskies Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr.’s will both start early in the California Classic, taking place from July 3-6. The main NBA Summer League will be in Las Vegas from July 9-19.
Karaban’s Sacramento Kings and Reed’s Spurs are in the field along with the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat. The two UConn rookies are set to make their Summer League debuts this holiday weekend.
Sacramento Kings’ California Classic schedule:
Saturday, July 4 vs Brooklyn Nets at 5:00 PM ET
Sunday, July 5 vs Golden State Warriors Blue at 5:00 PM ET
Monday, July 6 vs Milwaukee Bucks at 10:00 PM ET
San Antonio Spurs’ schedule:
Friday, July 3 vs Miami Heat at 8:00 PM ET
Monday, July 6 vs Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 PM ET
With the draft over and the players now in their new cities, Karaban and Reed Jr. have had a chance to reflect on their journey from high school to college and the pros.
In Sacramento, GM Scott Perry mentioned basketball IQ as a separator as well as Karaban’s elite shooting and connecting ability along with winning mentality. He also shared that he observed a UConn practice, saying anyone coming out of that program is “battle-tested.”
Sacramento Kings GM Scott Perry on Alex Karaban:
"Alex Karaban was one of the most accomplished players in college basketball. He's the winningest player of all time in UConn Huskies history. That says a lot. 2 time National Champion. So he brings a winning pedigree; he's an… pic.twitter.com/HcPXDpOrVu
Karaban will immediately bring the winning DNA that a team like Sacramento needs. The Kings last won the NBA title in 1951 when they were the Rochester Royals, and have only made the playoffs twice since 2006.
Karaban credited Dan Hurley for his development as a player, noting that he will bring the same mentality to the Kings.
Alex Karaban: Coach Hurley, he changed my life. I wouldn't be here without him… Those practices, the daily habits that we had every single day, those core values that he instilled in me are something I want to carry over to this organization."
With No. 11 being retired, AK chose No. 33 after fellow Massachusetts legend Larry Bird. That number was last worn for the Kings by Jake LaRavia in 2025.
Alex Karaban on choosing #33 as his jersey number on the Sacramento Kings:
"Coach Hurley called me Larry Bird a lot, so I had to go with 33." 😂😂
Over in San Antonio, Reed was introduced just a few days after the draft and got to work immediately.
“The first thing I noticed is the game is a lot faster than college. We played a little bit slow at UConn, but here it is just fast-paced, fast-tempo.” He described the game as one where you have to be on high alert on the defensive end and not get caught for a defensive three-second violation.
Lars Eller's brief time in Ottawa is officially over. On the first day of 2026 free agency, the veteran centre signed a one-year, $850,000 deal with the Florida Panthers. Eller also has the potential for $250,000 in performance bonuses, mostly based on games played.
Eller will be reunited with Brady Tkachuk, his teammate in Ottawa this season, though the two parted ways with the team in very different ways. Eller honoured his contract and left in free agency. With two years left on his deal, Tkachuk requested a trade after the season, and 10 days ago, the Senators accommodated him.
Steve Warne talked about the free agent status of Claude Giroux.
With 6 points in his first 12 games, Eller got off to a fine start with the Senators. But he ran into some nagging injuries and had only had nine points over the next 56 games.
Eller finished the season with 15 points, 50 hits, 33 blocked shots and 67 shots on net. He played in all four playoff games for the Senators but averaged less than 9 minutes of ice time per game. His highlight this year was probably the opportunity to play at the Olympics in Milan with Team Denmark.
At 37, he's either going to continue being a fourth-liner in Florida or a part-time player.
Tkachuk won't be the only familiar face from Ottawa. The Danish veteran played briefly in Ottawa with Donovan Sebrango before the Panthers claimed the young defenceman off waivers from the Senators back in October.
As it happens, Sebrango also signed up for another tour of duty with Florida on Wednesday. The Panthers didn't give Sebrango a qualifying offer, which made him a UFA. But after Florida made Sebrango an NHL semi-regular for the first time in his career, there was still interest in returning.
Sebrango played 40 games with Florida this season (0 goals, 8 assists), so according to THN's David Dwork, they signed him to a one-year deal.
Florida also signed former Senator Boko Imama on Wednesday, and on Tuesday, they acquired forward Angus Crookshank in the Jacob Markstrom deal.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:
It seems fair since the Swift-Kelce party has taken over the Knicks' home, Madison Square Garden, for the nuptials. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns all made the list, which is reportedly more than 1,000 strong. The Knicks did not return a message looking to confirm the report.
Swift was there for the Knicks' big moment, so it's a little fair play.
She was courtside for two Knicks playoff wins this spring, including their miracle comeback from 29 points down to win Game 4 of the NBA Finals by a point. She and Kelce, an Ohio native, also showed up on the road when the Knicks took on the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
She was there for one of the Knicks' biggest moments and they are invited to be there for hers − if they RSVP'd in time. The reports said it was unclear if the players accepted.
Reports on the wedding, which have not been confirmed by the couple's representatives, have the Garden being transformed for the wedding with Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw among the names rumored to perform. The guest list runs deep into Hollywood, too, with Selena Gomez, Mariska Hargitay and Gigi Hadid among those expected, plus a contingent of Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs teammates.
While the Philadelphia Flyers did very little on Day 1 of NHL free agency, they still have a few irons in the fire that could make or break this important period for the team.
Earlier Wednesday, the Flyers failed to pull off a trade for Mavrik Bourque, leaving them mostly stranded when it came to acquiring a right-shot center with positional versatility.
Signing Noel Acciari helped, but he is 34 years old and a stopgap who will be used exclusively in a fourth-line role by the Flyers.
One player the Flyers are interested in, with at least more upside than Acciari, is former captain Claude Giroux, who is a free agent at the time of this writing without a new contract from the Ottawa Senators.
"We've had some discussions. I can't say much more than that. We've had some discussions, we're looking at everything. At the moment, yeah, there's nothing imminent," Flyers general manager Danny Briere said of Giroux and defenseman John Carlson at his free agency press conference Wednesday.
A few questions later, Briere opened up a bit more on the topic of Giroux.
The Flyers boss was asked which side opened up dialogue first: Giroux's side, or the Flyers' side?
Briere tried to maintain his stoicisim, but his smile told it all in the end.
I don't even, I don't even know. I don't remember," Briere said with a grin.
As reported by myself, Pierre Lebrun, and others, the Flyers have interest in bringing back Giroux, and it of course takes two to tango and get a deal done.
Giroux would have to choose the Flyers over a potential return to his hometown Senators or a last-ditch bid to win a Stanley Cup with a contender, and the Flyers would have to sell their former talisman on a top-nine role suitable for his talents, farewell tour notwithstanding.
Whatever comes next could determine the Flyers' fate for the 2026-27 season.
Jun 20, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn (35) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Well, the A’s have one final chance to get a W against the reigning champion Dodgers after dropping the first two games of the series. Neither loss was especially close so now the A’s will have to do a complete 180 if they want to salvage a single game against our Southern California rivals. Hopefully they can end the series with a win and notch their 41st of the season.
Taking the ball today for the good guys will be right-handed J.T. Ginn. The righty comes into tonight’s contest with a solid 3.15 ERA on the year, good for 7th in the American League. He hasn’t been quite as dominant his last two trips to the mound but he posted solid enough starts against the Angels that he could have earned a pair of wins. Instead he split those contests. With the All-Star Game quickly approaching Ginn probably needs a couple more strong starts to really put himself into the middle of the debate when it comes to the pitching staff for the Junior Circuit in this year’s Midsummer Classic. Can Ginn conquer a mighty Dodgers lineup that has put up 18 runs in the first two games against our A’s?
Here’s how the A’s will lineup for tonight’s series finale:
Typical top of the order for the A’s right now; DH Shea leadoff, Kurtz behind him, followed by Colby Thomas and Jonah Heim (tonight’s catcher).
Infield prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer gets his first start at the hot corner tonight in place of Max Muncy, who heads to the bench. And he’ll also rise up the batting order to the fifth spot. Butler and Bolte are behind him, followed by the middle infield duo of Jeff McNeil and Alika Williams.
The A’s are getting a bit lucky tonight regarding the Dodgers’ starting pitcher plans. It was originally going to be superstar Shohei Ohtani on the bump for Los Angeles this evening, but with them cruising to the postseason they’ve decided to push his start back, giving him an extra breather during the course of a long season he has double duties. Instead it’ll be a bullpen game for the Dodgers, so hopefully A’s batters have done some homework on the LA relief corps. Lefty Jack Dreyer will start things off for LA, likely only for the first inning.
And the Dodgers’ starting nine this evening:
Updated lineup:
Ohtani DH Pages CF Freeman 1B Muncy 3B Tucker RF Edman LF Freeland 2B Rojas SS Robinson C Dreyer P https://t.co/UlBcs54qNP
Looks like the A’s are getting another break. After originally being penciled into tonight’s starting lineup Mookie Betts will instead head to the bench, giving veteran Miguel Rojas the start at shortstop in the series finale. Still plenty of dangerous hitters in the lineup but at least Ginn will have one less bat to worry about.
Getting desperate. Can we finally end the skid and get a big bounce back victory to wrap the series? Time to find out. Let’s go A’s!
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 24: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 24, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Through streaming tears and a quivering bottom lip, I gazed at Shams Charania’s latest release in the great dance we call free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers had realized my greatest horror: they overpaid for Walker Kessler, and the Utah Jazz would not be matching their offer sheet.
Now who’s going to be the UCCU Jazzman?
July 1st, 2026;
Dear Diary — er, MANLY Diary,
Oh Diary, he said he loved me. He said I was the only one for him. Even when we argued, he made an Instagram post just for me! He promised that I would always be in his heart, but when that silicon bimbo from Los Angeles flaunted her wares around, his eyes turned to dollar signs.
The pain! The agony! He said we would be together forever, but I guess she can give you something I never could: regret.
Don’t come crawling back to me when she doesn’t give you a ring. Don’t beg for my forgiveness when you realize I was the best you would ever have. I have a new boy now. His name is Jaxson; he spells his name with an X and an S, and he is always nice to his partners.
See you never!!!
And that is all I care to share from my personal record of the day.
Sincerely, I believed it would be the end of the world if the Utah Jazz lost Walker Kessler in restricted free agency. And to lose Kessler to the Lakers, of all teams, is an especially bitter gulp of offseason medicine. And while Jaxson Hayes isn’t the answer for Utah’s center needs (heh, welcome to Utah!), acquiring Los Angeles’ entire draft future in a sign-and-trade is a generous spoonful of sugar.
But as we step away from Kessler, it’s becoming fairly clear that Walker didn’t want to play in Utah as badly as he claimed on Instagram:
“I’ve seen what’s being said, and I want it to be clear that I have always wanted to be here — I love this city, these fans, my teammates, my coaches — that’s real to me. You don’t grow roots where you don’t want to be”.
Money was the wedge between Utah and Kessler, and it always had been. Kessler and his team touted him as one of basketball’s best shot-blockers and rebounders, and he deserves to be paid as one of the league’s premier centers. The Jazz conceded that point, but couldn’t possibly weigh down their cap sheet for a player who had never been an All-Star or All-Defense honoree, and had only played in 61% of all possible games since joining the team.
It came down to paying for Walker Kessler or paying for the idea of Walker Kessler, and Los Angeles is the Mecca of ideas.
The wildest development in this entire saga is the fact that with California’s steeper income tax rate, Kessler will be pocketing less than he would have if he had accepted Utah’s final offer. That communicates to me one of the following two possibilities:
Walker Kessler and his team are financially illiterate
It’s clear that this couple was better off splitting up. And though we’ll all miss Kessler here in Salt Lake City, the pair just couldn’t see eye to eye when it mattered most.
But at least the Lakers are finally doomed, right?
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
On today’s episode, Leo Sun returns to the pod with Ryan Eichten to recap the Minnesota Timberwolves’ offseason as NBA Free Agency opens.
— Was the Julius Randle era in Minnesota a failure? The Wolves won three playoff series with Randle, but ultimately had to salary dump him after a poor series against the San Antonio Spurs.
— How cautious should the Wolves be about LaMelo Ball’s health? The Charlotte Hornets limited Ball to just 28 minutes per game, which allowed him to play in 72 games, his most since the 2021-22 season in which Ball made his lone All-Star appearance. Before that, Ball had only played in 105 games the previous three seasons.
— Should the Timberwolves start Jaden McDaniels at power forward and Ayo Dosunmu at small forward, or should they look to add another player in a trade? McDaniels has shown the ability to play the four, but come the Playoffs, that lineup might prove not to have enough size.
— Do the Wolves need to commit to playing Jaylen Clark at least 15 minutes per game after signing him to a three-year, $10 million contract? Clark has been in and out of the rotation during his two healthy seasons with the Wolves and now may be set for more permanent playing time.
— With Ball now on the team and Randle not, the Timberwolves roster makes a lot more sense for Gobert. Minnesota can better involve Gobert in the offense with Ball’s playmaking while better spreading the floor.
— Tim Connelly has made several moves that have not worked out in recent years, including the trades of Rob Dillingham and Karl-Anthony Towns two seasons ago, but the trade for Ball ties everything together and gives the Wolves a much better outlook moving forward.
Going up against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Peralta lasted just four innings, allowing five runs in the Mets' 9-3 loss up in Toronto. The outing raised Peralta's ERA to 4.81 and WHIP to 1.416 and continued his disappointing season with the Mets.
The Mets traded for Peralta this past offseason, hoping he'd be the ace of the staff. What they got has been an inconsistent starter, and someone who has not pitched anywhere close to the 2.70 ERA, 1.075 WHIP ace the Brewers had a season ago.
For Wednesday's start, specifically, Peralta's fastball command was just not there. He walked three batters, the most he's allowed since the six-walk start against the Yankees on May 17, and when he did find the zone, the Jays were all over it.
"I know we all want him to go out there and dominate like we believe he can," interim manager Andy Green said after the game. "For us, it’s just a matter of getting the fastball where he knows he wins. He’s been winning there for a long time in the big leagues. And he knows how he’s good, why he’s good and we all know it. It’s just a matter of going out there and executing.”
“At some point, I can’t tell if I lose the command a little bit, but I think everything starts with the walk with the first hitter of the inning," Peralta said of his fastball command. "The plan was good. It just…it happens. I can’t control it, I just need to be better, execute better. Have to check and see what’s going on. I’ve been getting some work with people I need to work with. Just have to put everything together and wait for the best."
Peralta was visibly frustrated on the mound and in the dugout during the game. When he dialed up his fastball to 99 mph to get the final out in the first inning and limit the damage to just one run, Peralta could be seen talking to himself and clenching his fists.
He was asked after the game how he was feeling, and the right-hander was candid.
"Not good," Peralta said. "I don’t feel good, but just try to come back and make the adjustment."
Peralta was asked if he feels this is the roughest stretch of his career, and he answered: "probably, yes."
What's especially frustrating for Peralta is that his velocity, the movement of his pitches and his mechanics are right where it needs to be, but he can't explain what's happening to him.
"I understand the game, and all that. But sometimes what I do is my best every day. I prepare to have success, but sometimes," Peralta said before pausing. "It’s crazy is the word I can describe it right now."
Peralta is in the final year of his contract and could potentially be a trade piece if the Mets decide to become sellers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline. But if the Mets go down that route and hope to get a decent return, they need Peralta to become more consistent.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 24: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field on June 24, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies have had a rough go so far in the series against the Miami Marlins. Pitching has been hit particularly hard, giving up 24 runs over the firsttwo games of the series. Entering game three, the Rockies will look to get back on track behind their veteran starting pitcher.
Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.50 ERA) makes his 15th start of the season for the Rockies. Freeland gave up a lot of contact in his last start against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field. Freeland grinded out six innings, giving up six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and one walk on 81 pitches. Boston was aggressive against Freeland and continued to string together hits and did damage with a pair of home runs. He gave up six runs in three of his five starts in June while working at least five innings each time. Since returning from his shoulder injury on April 28, he has given up six or more runs in a start seven times. He has historically done well against the Marlins, owning a 3.80 ERA over 10 appearances, but the Marlins this season are a contact-heavy team, which could prove troublesome for the veteran lefty.
The Marlins will send out right-handed starter Max Meyer (9-0, 2.60 ERA) for his 18th start of the year. Meyer has been excellent for the Marlins this season with his consistent dominance on the mound. He allowed just six runs in 30.1 innings over the course of five June starts. His last outing came in St. Louis, where he tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits. He will typically give up a couple of walks, but generally pounds the zone and will collect strikeouts. He has just one game this season where he struck out fewer than five batters. He has made three starts against the Rockies in his career, posting a 6.60 ERA over 15 innings. In his lone start at Coors Field, he allowed five runs over five innings.
July 1 marked the official start of the new league year in the NBA with the start of free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to improve after a 2025-26 season which saw them finish in first place in the Pacific Division and advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs before getting bounced by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Of course, next year marks the start of a new era for the team. LeBron James is not returning to the team, which leaves a pretty massive hole in their frontcourt. That said, although the new league year has only been active for a day, the Lakers have already made efforts to address their needs.
Los Angeles traded for Utah center Walker Kessler, sending unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 as well as two first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 in order to bring him to the city of angels.
But that wasn't the only deal the Lakers made today.
The Lakers also signed former Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to a fully guaranteed four-year, $52 million deal with a player option for the fourth year as well as two guards, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton.
Everyone knows that this organization can make a massive trade or convince a big-time free agent to join them on a moment's notice. With that in mind, here is a full list of the Lakers' offseason transactions.
Lakers trade for center Walker Kessler (two first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps)
Walker Kessler stats:
Kessler played in just five games for the Jazz in 2025-26, sidelined for most of the year with a shoulder injury. In his last full season, Kessler averaged over 11 points per game and actually led the league in offensive rebounds per game with 4.6.
Lakers sign Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four-year, $52 million deal
Sandro Mamukelashvili stats:
Mamukelashvili played in 80 games for the Raptors, providing crucial minutes off the bench for a team that massively exceeded expectations during the regular season. He averaged 11.2 points per game on 52.3% shooting while grabbing 4.9 boards per game. Mamukelashvili's efforts last season earned him tenth place in Sixth Man of the Year award voting.
Lakers sign Quentin Grimes to a four-year, $60 million deal
Quentin Grimes stats:
Grimes worked primarily as an off-the-bench scoring option for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 13.4 points per game on 45% shooting. Grimes endured one of the worst 3-point shooting performances of his career last season, shooting a career-low 33.4% from beyond the arc. That said, he has shot over 38% from deep in three of his five seasons in the league, so a bounce-back is expected.
Lakers sign Collin Sexton to a two-year, $19 million deal
Collin Sexton stats:
Sexton is an elite scorer, but struggles with playmaking and inconsistent defense. That said, he's great at what he does, which is getting buckets. Last year, he averaged 15.4 points per game during his time with the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls. He did that with an effective field goal percentage over 55%, thanks in large part to his lethal 3-point ability, where he's shot over 40% each of the last two seasons.
Will LeBron James return to Lakers for 2026-27?
James will not return to the Lakers next season. Reports indicate that James informed the Lakers of his decision to go elsewhere on June 30.
James is now open to signing with other teams going into his 24th season.
Brown had been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks, reported to have been offered to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Celtics' bid to land Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Brown is coming off one of his best individual seasons, finishing sixth in the regular season MVP voting.
He was asked to take on the starring role for a good portion of the season while co-star Jayson Tatum was kept away from live-game action for nearly 300 days due to an Achilles tendon rupture suffered in the 2025 playoffs. Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games played this past season.
What may be most shocking is that the Celtics traded Brown to another Eastern Conference team, let alone a longtime, Atlantic Division rival.
Brown has clashed with the 76ers for years, including in recent months when Philly successfully eliminated Boston in Game 7 of their opening-round series in early May.
The Sixers managed to get younger at the position by adding the 29-year-old Brown. He also adds championship experience and the ability to play on the biggest stage, earning NBA Finals MVP in 2024.
Philadelphia also boosts its chances to come out of the Eastern Conference, placing Brown in a starting lineup alongside Embiid, V.J. Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
Grade: B+
Boston Celtics
Boston did receive a haul of draft picks, but the trade is an overall miss. Not only do the Celtics add a player (George) with injury concerns to the roster, but they also missed out on a chance to get younger for the upcoming season.
General manager Brad Stevens and the Celtics didn't acquire a younger talent like Edgecombe, who was impressive as a rookie this past season. Edgecombe finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting.
George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 37 games played this past season. He missed part of the season after being hit with a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.
