Touted prospect George Lombard Jr. homers for the Yankees in a big major league debut

NEW YORK — George Lombard Jr. saw a sweeper over the middle of the plate, sent the 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence and made his highly anticipated big league debut even more memorable.

A few hours later, Lombard was exchanging memorabilia with the fans who caught the first home run ball of his career.

After being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier in the day, Lombard gave the Yankees a two-run lead in Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals by hitting a 392-foot solo shot off Hunter Dobbins in the fifth inning.

Lombard rounded the bases as his parents cheered and hugged in the stands. His father, George Lombard Sr., is the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers and a former major league player himself.

“It was really cool,” the younger Lombard said. “Being a close game, it was a big run. So it was probably a moment, a swing, a day I won’t forget.”

The 21-year-old Lombard became the first Yankees shortstop to homer in his major league debut. After the game, the touted prospect met in the hallway outside the clubhouse with the fans who caught the ball. He signed hats and traded a bat for the souvenir ball while posing for pictures.

Lombard was the 14th player in franchise history to hit a home run in his big league debut and first since Jasson Domínguez went deep in his initial plate appearance against Justin Verlander in Houston on Sept. 1, 2023. The group also includes injured captain Aaron Judge (2016) and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (1946).

At 21 years, 63 days old, Lombard became the sixth-youngest Yankees player since 1985 to make his debut and the second-youngest shortstop in that span. Derek Jeter debuted May 29, 1995, in Seattle at 20 years, 337 days.

Lombard also started inning-ending double plays in the second and fifth.

“Obviously, a great first night for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The home run was great. The defense was tremendous.”

In the second, Lombard ranged to his right to field Blaze Jordan’s grounder and made an off-balance throw to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. In the fifth, Lombard ranged to his left, fielded Nathan Church’s grounder behind second base, stepped on the bag and made a clean throw to first baseman Ben Rice.

“It’s one of those plays that you practice,” Lombard said. “I’ve made that play countless times in practice. Just getting to the game and it’s your body kind of takes over.”

Lombard wasn't the only player to make his Yankees debut Tuesday night. Newly acquired outfielder Heliot Ramos went 0 for 4 but made a nice catch in left field with two runners aboard in the sixth. Ramos was obtained from the San Francisco Giants before Monday’s trade deadline.

To make room for Lombard and Ramos, shortstop Anthony Volpe and Domínguez were optioned to Triple-A, where Volpe is expected to see time at second base.

On Monday, general manager Brian Cashman implied the Tigers and Orioles asked for Lombard in potential deals for Tarik Skubal and Adley Rutschman, who were acquired by the Dodgers and Red Sox, respectively.

Lombard, a first-round draft pick by New York in 2023, began this season by hitting .312 in 20 games with Double-A Somerset. After getting promoted to Triple-A, he batted .268 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 56 games.

Lombard’s time in Triple-A was interrupted by a left finger injury that sidelined him for nearly a month. He batted .377 in 14 games after returning and went 4 for 5 with three RBIs in a 13-3 win over Iowa on Sunday.

Ramos joined the Yankees after hitting .264 with nine homers and 34 RBIs in 74 games for the Giants.

“When I first found out about the news I started shaking a little bit because obviously I didn’t know anything else,” Ramos said Tuesday afternoon. “But then I realized, I’m like, man, I’m going to be a New York Yankee. Like, that’s crazy.”

Ramos is expected to get the bulk of his playing time in left field, where he started 64 games for the Giants this season. He did not make any errors in 111 chances after leading National League left fielders with nine errors last year.

Besides adding Lombard and Ramos to the roster, the Yankees promoted Yerry de los Santos from the minors to replace Angel Chivilli in the bullpen.

Chivilli was optioned to Triple-A after allowing three homers in the eighth inning Monday, including Alec Burleson’s third of the game. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 15 appearances for the Yankees, who acquired him from Colorado in January.

In five appearances for the Yankees, de los Santos has a 1.04 ERA.

Surprising Skater At The CN Sports Complex

In the last few years, the Montreal Canadiens training complex in Brossard, the CN Sports Complex, has been quite busy in the summer. It used to be that players wouldn’t be in town until the season was nearly here, but for the last two seasons, Ivan Demidov has stayed in town training hard, and last week he was joined by many of his teammates before Habs fans even began suffering from hockey withdrawal.

This summer, the Russian sensation has been joined by prospect Alexander Zharavosky for a good long while, Lane Hutson dropped in during the Canadiens’ development camp, and goalie Jakub Dobes is already back in town getting ready to enter his first camp as the Canadiens’ top-choice goaltender. On Tuesday morning, though, Demidov had an unusual guest: Utah Mammoth centerman Logan Cooley, who was apparently invited by the Russian winger himself.

Canadiens’ Classic Look Shouldn’t Be Messed With
Canadiens Prospect Will Head Back To Europe
Canadiens’ Prospect Zharovsky Had A Good Summer With Demidov

No, that doesn’t mean the Canadiens are acquiring Cooley; other NHL players have always been welcomed to use the Habs’ training facility in the summer. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang did it last season; Vegas Golden Knights’ Raphael Lavoie did it last week, and former Habs Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno still regularly use the training facility, but seeing Cooley on the ice with Demidov did get some fans dreaming of what could be.

Turns out the pivot is in town because he was attending the Omnium Banque Nationale on Tuesday night, and according to Patrick Guillet, he will be doing a photo shoot for an advertising campaign before heading home. It’s not the first time Cooley skates with a member of the Canadiens’ organization; after all, he is Habs prospect LJ Mooney’s cousin and they both train together in the summer.

Cooley's view last night. Photo credit: Logan Cooley Instagram account
Cooley's view last night. Photo credit: Logan Cooley Instagram account

Cooley was drafted third overall at the 2022 draft, two spots after the Canadiens had claimed Juraj Slafkovsky first overall, and he has developed very well since. In his rookie season, he put up 44 points in 82 games; he followed that up with a 65-point season in his sophomore year, and he had 43 points in just 54 games last season, a 65-point pace over a full 82-game campaign. He’s exactly the kind of player the Canadiens would like to land to unlock Demidov’s full potential, but that’s not happening; Bill Armstrong signed him to an eight-year deal with a $10 million cap hit last October.


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VOTE: Do you consider Jabari Smith Jr. a Rockets draft bust?

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 01: Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.

There’s been a couple lists making their rounds on social media discussing some of the biggest NBA Draft busts of the last 20 years. One of the names that stood out to me was Jabari Smith Jr.

Smith fell to third overall with the Rockets in the 2022 NBA Draft after the Orlando Magic ran a feint and took Paolo Banchero first overall, and then infamously, Smith had not a single play run for him during the Stephen Silas years in Houston. He’s been more involved since Ime Udoka came over, with Smith’s defensive effort and versatility earning him some top minutes for Udoka, but he’s still carrying career averages of just 13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1 block per game. That being said, he’s coming off of the best season of his career, averaging 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1 block. He had a career-high 36.3 percent shooting from deep.

Do you consider Smith a draft bust being that he was regarded as possibly the best player in the draft coming into it in 2022?


Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.

Who won the NBA offseason? Grading all 30 teams for signings, deals and draft

The biggest moves of the NBA offseason, by and large, have been completed.

There are still a few key free agents and moves that need to be made, yes, but the calendar is settling into something of a summer lull. And, not surprisingly, this offseason did not lack monumental moves.

None were bigger than trades that brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat and Jaylen Brown to the 76ers. Joining Brown in Philadelphia, no less, is LeBron James, who will be joining his fourth different team in his 24th NBA season. There’s plenty to sort through.

Here are grades for every NBA team’s offseason:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

Mitchell Robinson is a solid addition. He’ll bolster the low-post defense and will provide a spark without demanding the ball on offense. Can he be dependably available as a starter? That remains to be seen. The bigger problem here was the team’s move to ship Jaylen Brown.

While there were some inefficiencies to Brown’s game, Paul George, at this stage of his career, is not an upgrade. Over the long run, if the Celtics didn’t want to pay Brown, it does make some sense to move him. But does this get Boston any closer to the Knicks, 76ers or the other top teams in the league? The answer is pretty clearly no.

■ Grade: C-

Brooklyn Nets

It stings any time an in-city rival wins a championship. It must’ve really stung when all of New York City erupted when the Knicks snapped a 53-year drought to do so. The Nets, however, still appear a ways away from legitimate contention, even with the trade that brought Julius Randle over from the Timberwolves.

No. 6 overall pick, point guard Mikel Brown Jr., flashed in Summer League play and could be the creator and shot-making combo point guard the Nets have been seeking for some time. Keon Ellis was a decent addition, but the Nets clearly still need a star to threaten in the East. That, or they need their crop of young guards – Brooklyn has five who are 20 years old – to develop.

■ Grade: C+

New York Knicks

It’s tough to be too harsh when they just snapped a 53-year title drought, but New York’s avoidance of the second apron did force the front office to make some tough choices. Namely, the Knicks did not make a push to retain backup center Mitchell Robinson. Though New York replaced him with Andre Drummond, Robinson going to the rival Celtics will sting.

Re-signing Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara retains this core in place and puts the Knicks in a legitimate spot to repeat.

■ Grade: B

Philadelphia 76ers

No team was more aggressive in reshaping its good (though not great) roster than the 76ers. It became clear after the Knicks unceremoniously swept Philadelphia in the conference semifinals that changes were needed. Bob Myers and Mike Gansey turned Paul George’s cumbersome contract into Jaylen Brown, and luring LeBron James suddenly gives the Sixers a potent Starting Five.

It was also smaller, low-cost moves like adding Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope that help round out the roster. Even first-round rookie Labaron Philon Jr. presented significant value at No. 22. Philadelphia should be considered one of the short favorites to win the East. Now this veteran roster just needs to stay healthy.

■ Grade: A

Toronto Raptors

This assessment is wholly incomplete with the conclusion of the Kawhi Leonard investigation hanging in the balance. If Leonard does end up with the Raptors and if he avoids significant discipline, then the trade is a stellar, win-now move. If Toronto is forced to eat any suspension or – even worse – if Leonard’s contract is somehow voided, then Toronto will have waited around for nothing, and its offseason will have been wasted.

■ Grade: B+ (assuming Leonard trade is executed)

Central Division

Chicago Bulls

No incoming rookie shined brighter than No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson, who starred in Summer League with both his perimeter shooting and dominant play down low. Wilson will need some time, but he looks like he could blossom into a legitimate star. He’s also built, with length and fluid athleticism, for the modern NBA.

Elsewhere, low-cost addition of center Nic Claxton Jr. shores up the center spot, and veteran two-guard Norman Powell rounds up the roster quite nicely. The Bulls may not be ready to compete in the East, but they have clear momentum for the future, especially with the solid coaching hire of Tiago Splitter.

■ Grade: A-

Cleveland Cavaliers

It should be no surprise that the Cavs are mostly running it back; the team’s front office more or less hinted at that. Losing out on LeBron James does sting, and forward Mario Hezonja should be considered more of a flyer than anything. James Harden remains unsigned, but that seems mostly because he’s trying to give Cleveland some flexibility in case it should be in position to land another starter.

Could either Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson be available in sign-and-trades? That would certainly boost Cleveland’s grade.

■ Grade: C-

Detroit Pistons

The Jalen Duren contract situation is still lingering over the Pistons – and it may for a while longer. Duren is a restricted free agent, and recent precedent has shown that it’s in the best interest of teams to wait, as the market dries up, further driving a player’s price down.

John Collins was a solid addition, and Detroit needed it after it traded away backup center Isaiah Stewart. Isaiah Joe brings much-needed perimeter shooting. Still, the Pistons need to figure out the future of Duren – and determine what a fair price for him is, after he disappeared in the postseason. Either way, Detroit could probably still use another secondary shot creator.

■ Grade: B-

Indiana Pacers

As they have been since star point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Finals, the Pacers have been in something of a holding pattern. Indiana, like most teams, clearly does not want to creep over apron thresholds, so the offseason was mostly quiet.

The big losses were during the draft lottery, when the No. 5 selection was conveyed to the Clippers in the Ivica Zubac trade. Signings Larry Nance Jr. and Kelly Oubre Jr. are role players, so this is all about Haliburton returning to full health and Zubac being a force down low.

■ Grade: C

Milwaukee Bucks

Any time you lose the greatest player in franchise history, it’s going to be a difficult offseason. It became painfully obvious, however that the Bucks were eventually going to lose Giannis Antetokounmpo. That said, Milwaukee was able to recoup some decent young assets from the Heat. Whether the Bucks extend Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. remains to be seen, but Kel’el Ware has potential and No. 10 overall draft pick Brayden Burries flashed in Summer League, so he could be a nice piece for the future.

■ Grade: B-

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

One of the surprise teams last season, the Hawks focused on adding depth at key positions – and depth with a championship pedigree. The Hawks retain their starting five, but added Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder.

No. 8 overall selection Kingston Flemings gives the Hawks yet another complementary guard, one who can slash to the rim with explosion. Depth was an issue in the postseason, as the bench often underwhelmed. That should no longer be the case.

■ Grade: B+

Charlotte Hornets

These moves were all about resetting culture and establishing a more efficient style of play. Trading away LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are significant departures, but Ball was a high-volume, shoot-first point guard and Bridges’ off-court issues hung over the franchise for some time.

Naz Reid is a solid piece, and the doubling down on Coby White reaffirms Charlotte’s emphasis on perimeter shooting. The Hornets were a surprise in 2025-26. Now it’s up to Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Reid to carry that culture forward.

■ Grade: B

Miami Heat

Losing out on LeBron James certainly stings, but the Heat finally landed the star they had been chasing. And Giannis Antetokounmpo was unquestionably the premier player available this offseason. He’s dynamic in transition and, alongside captain Bam Adebayo, Miami suddenly boasts a dominant defensive frontcourt.

The Heat may still be active in the buyout market if Klay Thompson becomes available, and Bradley Beal is another low-cost option, as shooting continues to be a priority. Second round rookie Ryan Conwell flashed in Summer League and he could find some minutes. Either way, Miami was never competing with its previous roster build. Now with Antetokounmpo, the Heat should be far more interesting in the East.

■ Grade: A-

Orlando Magic

The best move here was probably the coaching change. Former Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney takes over a team whose defensive identity helped lock down opponents. But the lack of consistent perimeter shooting was unsustainable. Despite that, the Magic are essentially running it back.

And while Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are still young and can develop further, adding Nikola Vučević won’t nearly be enough to solve the offense. Sweeney should bring new ideas, but most of the East got significantly better while Orlando still faces big questions.

■ Grade: C-

Washington Wizards

Landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft was the big move in an otherwise uninspiring offseason. AJ Dybantsa does indeed look like he could become a consistent scorer and franchise player, but the $212 million contract Washington gave to Trae Young is a risk. The team also has to determine whether it will pay Anthony Davis.

Either way, the additions of Deandre Ayton and Khris Middleton (who is returning after a brief stint with the Mavericks) won’t elevate the franchise all that much. Now it’s about the availabilities of Young and Davis and the continued development of Dybantsa, Alexandre Sarr, Kyshawn George and the other young Wizards.

■ Grade: C+

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets looked old and slow in their first round loss against the Timberwolves, and tight cap constraints have limited Denver’s ability to improve. The Nuggets did re-sign forward Spencer Jones, who emerged late last season, but it put the Nuggets over the second apron after the Thunder shrewdly signed him to an offer sheet.

Now, Denver faces a tough reality: it may have to trade away a key veteran – someone like Aaron Gordon, perhaps – if it wants to re-sign Peyton Watson, a promising, two-way forward who is only 23. Watson is a restricted free agent, but teams know the dire salary cap situation facing Denver. So if the Nuggets are forced to deal Watson in a sign-and-trade, they’re operating from a position of low leverage. This is the problem when stuck in the second apron.

■ Grade: D+

Minnesota Timberwolves

This was all about providing another ball-handling and shot-creating outlet for Anthony Edwards. The biggest hurdle facing Minnesota has been how teams in the playoffs forced Edwards to be stellar. Put another way: his supporting cast failed to deliver consistent scoring.

Now with Donte DiVincenzo set to miss most (if not all of the 2026-27 season), the Timberwolves are wagering that LaMelo Ball can be that outlet to relieve pressure off of Edwards. Naz Reid is a more significant loss than Julius Randle, who was dealt mostly to clear cap space, but the re-signing of Ayo Dosunmu and emergence of Jayden McDaniels hint to bigger roles.

■ Grade: B

Oklahoma City Thunder

It’s tough to doubt Sam Presti, but the Thunder had to make a few tough decisions. They did retain center Isaiah Hartenstein, a key part of their identity. Oklahoma City also aced the draft by adding 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara at No. 12 and the much-needed shooting of Bennett Stirtz at No. 16 – both of which shore up weaknesses (and also are direct moves to compete against the Spurs).

But the Thunder had to clear cap space by unloading Luguentz Dort (to the Hawks), Aaron Wiggins (Hawks) and Isaiah Joe (Pistons). They are significant losses. But no team has been better at developing its homegrown talent than the Thunder, who still have promising, young players from previous draft classes.

Presti even made a sly move that forced the Nuggets into the second apron when the Thunder extended an offer sheet with Denver forward Spencer Jones. The Nuggets matched it and now face massive limitations and tax penalties.

■ Grade: B+

Portland Trail Blazers

They were the only team to fail to make a single pick in a draft loaded with talent, so the big move was the trade for two-time All-Star Ja Morant. Pairing him next to Damian Lillard masks some of Morant’s shooting inadequacies. Morant is still 26 years old and comes relatively cheap, so if he can be reliably available, this could be a sneaky good move. There’s just a lot of uncertainty.

Micah Nori is well respected as a coach, but his one-year contract is unconventional. Possible relocation is looming over the franchise, but Portland has a glut of guards between Lillard, Morant, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, which may suggest more moves to come.

■ Grade: C+

Utah Jazz

Considering they were unlikely to pay Walker Kessler, Danny Ainge and the Jazz did recoup some serious draft capital in the sign-and-trade that shipped him to the Lakers. Jaxon Hayes is a low-cost option, but Utah didn’t really need to do too much to the roster, after its midseason trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.

Landing Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick suddenly gives the Jazz a very interesting roster, one that could potentially surprise next season. Utah was always rebuilding for the future. The time to compete has now arrived.

■ Grade: A-

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors

Regrettably, there’s nothing worse in the NBA than a team without a clear direction. The Warriors are caught in the middle of rebuilding for the future but retaining a bunch of aging veterans, none bigger than Stephen Curry. And now that Golden State lost out on the Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James sweepstakes, this franchise is deep in purgatory.

The Warriors are the only team in the league to fail to add a player either in a trade or free agency. No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who was named Summer League MVP, is a solid, plug-and-play rookie and he somewhat saves the offseason. Either way, Curry deserves far better.

■ Grade: F

Los Angeles Clippers

The mandate was clear for the Clippers: after entering last season as the oldest team in NBA history, they needed to get younger. Los Angeles has done that, but the lingering uncertainty of the Kawhi Leonard trade to the Raptors is hanging over the franchise. The problem with this, too, is that if the trade falls through for whatever reason, it’s so late in the offseason that the Clippers will have to scramble to save face.

The main addition from that trade, Brandon Ingram, will get the chance to lead, but No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler is a balanced play maker at guard and could blossom into a star.

■ Grade: C+ (assuming Leonard trade is executed)

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers, frankly, are a tricky team to project simply because there are so many new pieces to factor in. This is a completely different roster, though it is one that is now built around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton are solid, role playing additions, but for this offseason to be considered a success, the Lakers will need center Walker Kessler to justify the first-round draft picks and $130 million contract the team gave him in the sign-and-trade.

Center was a position of need, and Dončić tends to do well with a rim-running big. But is Los Angeles any closer to legitimately competing for a championship? That’s unclear, and it will likely take a decent chunk of season for all the new players to assimilate, anyway.

■ Grade: C

Phoenix Suns

The big move was the one that shipped Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale for Miles Bridges, who should immediately enter the starting lineup and provide some scoring and rebounding at the power forward slot. During his introductory press conference, Bridges took accountability for his off-court past, so he’ll have to follow through.

It was an otherwise quiet offseason for Phoenix, which took Koa Peat at No. 30 in the draft. Peat might need more time to develop, but the key for the Suns will be if they can get more out of center Mark Williams, who was fine, if unspectacular, last season.

■ Grade: C

Sacramento Kings

The Kings tied for the worst record in the Western Conference and still have not addressed some of their bloated contracts. They did waive DeMar DeRozan, but have yet to figure out whether they can move or buy out Zach LaVine. It’s also unclear, after he was a name frequently thrown around in recent trade cycles, whether Domantas Sabonis figures to be a long-term fixture on this team.

The saving grace here is rookie No. 7 overall selection Darius Acuff Jr., who is a promising player at a position of need, albeit one with defensive weaknesses. Sacramento feels like a team without a clear direction. The Kings need to figure that out quickly.

■ Grade: D

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

It may take some years, but the Mavericks are retooling. Hiring Dusty May away from Michigan is an interesting choice; May doesn’t have any experience coaching in the pros, though he should be able to bring out improvements in Cooper Flagg’s game.

With the addition of Santi Aldama, the Mavericks now have superb height. Dallas will try to revive the career of 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, and No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. may have been a reach, though he did play for May during the Wolverines’ NCAA title run. Kyrie Irving should return, so he’ll provide much needed-play making, easing pressure off of Flagg. This entire offseason was all about building around the 19 year old NBA Rookie of the Year.

■ Grade: B

Houston Rockets

It appears the Rockets believed that a healthy Fred VanVleet would’ve solved their offensive issues. Kevin Durant was tasked with far too much shot creation, and the team could never find a capable replacement to initiate offense. VanVleet, 32, should return from his torn ACL, but Houston didn’t do enough to shore up the point guard position.

The Rockets may be banking on Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson to refine their play-making skills, but there was also some awkward tension in the locker room. If left unresolved, it could implode Houston’s chances.

■ Grade: C-

Memphis Grizzlies

With a couple of key moves, the Grizzlies looked to change the guard. Memphis finally found a trade partner for Ja Morant, and No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer is a polished, plug-and-play forward who embodies a winning culture. Alongside Zach Edey, Boozer won’t face as much pressure to be a rim protector.

Memphis otherwise aced the draft with Karim Lopez at No. 21 and Richie Saunders at No. 32, and the move to get backup center Isaiah Stewart further bolstered the frontcourt. The Grizzlies are young, but are clearly emphasizing efficiency. It’s a nice change for a franchise that needed a reset.

■ Grade: B+

New Orleans Pelicans

This was a 26-win team that won just one of its last 10 games in the season. And yet, the Pelicans barely made any moves. Granted, New Orleans did suffer some key injuries, so the full return of Dejounte Murray could stabilize the team’s performance. But the Pelicans didn’t have a first-round pick after their 2025 trade for Derik Queen, and the lone signing was for reserve guard Kobe Bufkin.

Plenty of teams are interested in forward Trey Murphy III, and New Orleans is insisting on getting what it deems fair value. That’s commendable, but it’s also a risk, if Murphy’s value does decline. Either way, while the Pelicans do have some nice young pieces, questions about roster construction and availability won’t go away.

■ Grade: D

San Antonio Spurs

When San Antonio was at its best last season, it was knocking down perimeter shots and using Victor Wembanyama and its speedy guards to attack the paint. When the Spurs were at their worst, they fell in love with the 3.

Adding Tobias Harris gives the Spurs another capable shooter so he will certainly help. The key for San Antonio, though, is encouraging the continued development of its very young stars.

■ Grade: B-

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won the NBA offseason? Grading all 30 teams for signings, deals and draft

Banner Years: 1960, it’s Celtics vs. Hawks again, plus Wilt arrives

Boston Celtics' player Bill Russell hooks a shot during the NBA championship's final game in 1960 against the Saint Louis Hawks.

NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.

The regular season

Something old and something new were the top stories in the NBA’s 1959-60 season, and both of them affected the Boston Celtics.

The “something old” was yet another meeting in the Finals with the St. Louis Hawks – the third time in four years.

“Something new” came in the form of a 7-foot-1, 275-pound goliath named Wilt Chamberlain, who some observers feared would take over the league. “Can Basketball Survive Chamberlain?” was the title of one magazine article. These proved to be overreactions, but to be fair, the NBA had never seen anyone like “Wilt the Stilt.”

Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia 76ers gets his shot blocked by Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a 1960 NBA game at the Boston Garden. Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Chamberlain was a native of Philadelphia who spent three years at the University of Kansas, but left school his senior year to play for (and get paid by) the Harlem Globetrotters. That situation enabled the Philadelphia Warriors to claim Wilt as their territorial pick (he went to high school in Philly!) in the 1959 Draft.

With eight teams in the league and the Warriors then being in the East, that meant Boston would face Wilt 13 times during the regular season. The Celtics won eight of those, although they didn’t exactly stop “The Big Dipper.” Chamberlain scored 39 or better nine times, and in one of Philly’s five wins tallied 53 points and 29 rebounds while being guarded by defensive king Bill Russell.

For the season, Chamberlain topped the league with 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds per game. He was named Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year as the Warriors finished 49-26.

That still wasn’t enough to surpass Boston. The league had increased from 72 games to 75, and the Celtics raised their win total from 52 the previous season to 59, a new league all-time high. And it turned out these rivals would also meet in the postseason Eastern finals.

Eastern playoffs

The Celtics earned a bye for the first round best-of-three while the Warriors knocked off Syracuse, 2-1. Philadelphia brought more than just Chamberlain to the table. They had forward Paul Arizin, a two-time league scoring leader; point guard and twice the league assists leader Guy Rodgers; and high-scoring forward Tom Gola. All are in the Hall of Fame today.

In Game 1, Chamberlain scored 42, but Russell countered with 30 rebounds. The Celtics led by 13 after one quarter and held off Philly the rest of the way. The Warriors evened the series in Game 2 behind Arizin’s 30 points. Game 3 was Russell’s night, with game-highs of 26 points and 39 rebounds, while Chamberlain scored just 12 points, and the Celtics cruised, 120-90.

In Game 4, Boston built a 16-point lead after one quarter and held it all the way to a 3-1 series lead. And just when the Celts were ready to close it, Chamberlain dominated with 50 and 35 as Philly roared back with a 21-point win on the parquet.

Still ahead 3-2, the Celtics returned to hostile Convention Hall in Philadelphia. Rodgers had been ice cold early in the series, but on this night he heated up with 31 points. With 11 seconds left, Rodgers was fouled and had two free throws with the score tied. He missed both. At the other end, the Celtics missed their shot, but Tommy Heinsohn stunned everyone by tipping in the series winner at the buzzer. During his announcing career, Tommy often reminisced about that night when he shut up 12,000 Philadelphia fans.

Since that first meeting of Russell vs. Wilt, basketball observers have debated which megastar was better, and why. That topic will be addressed here later in this series; meanwhile, here’s a preview:

NBA Finals

In two previous NBA Finals versus St. Louis, Bill Russell had twice been the difference-maker: once for the Celtics in winning their first championship, and once for the Hawks, caused by his absence due to injury. Russell was healthy for this rubber match, which could determine which team “won” the draft day trade back in 1956.

Russell was a force in this series, leading everyone in rebounds in each of the seven games played. He set a Finals record with 40 boards (plus 21 points) in game 2 in Boston – which the Celtics lost by 10. These teams knew each other so well, it seemed that either one could win a game regardless of the location, the crowd, the refs, the schedule, anything.

Bill Russell (#6) in the middle of Game 7 action vs. the St. Louis Hawks. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This Finals seesawed each game, Boston going up one followed by St. Louis tying the series. The Celtics could have wrapped up the title in Game 6 on the road, but Cliff Hagan (one of the players traded for Russell) poured in 36 points. The Hawks used a 36-12 third quarter to build a 90-64 lead, only to see the Cs almost steal it with a 38-15 fourth quarter comeback. Nevertheless, it was back to Boston for yet another Game 7.

Turning point

After an even first quarter, Boston’s running game and balanced scoring resulted in a 41-23 second quarter margin and a 17-point halftime lead. The Celtics finished Game 7 with the five players tallying between 18 and 24 points.

It was over when…

Both teams essentially traded baskets for the entire second half, which the Celtics were happy to do. Final score: 122-103. Banner #3 was in hand.

Notable facts and stats

  • Bob Cousy scored 19 points and dished out 14 assists. Bill Russell collected 22 points and 35 rebounds.
  • For the third time in four years, Tommy Heinsohn led Boston in scoring overall during the Finals.
  • Si Green, the player chosen first overall by Rochester when they weren’t interested in Russell, played for St. Louis and averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists in seven games.

Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1960-61 season and the road to winning Banner #4.

Historic magnolia tree from Atlanta’s Ponce de Leon Park toppled in storm

A historical photograph from the City of Atlanta, Georgia. Artist unknown, 1949 (Photo by Pierce Archive LLC/Buyenlarge via Getty Images) | Buyenlarge via Getty Images

Before the Braves moved to Atlanta from Milwaukee in 1966, the minor league Atlanta Crackers called Atlanta home for most of the century. Their park, as well as that of the Atlanta Black Crackers of the Negro Leagues, was Ponce de Leon Park located just east of downtown Atlanta.

In the outfield at “Poncey” was a majestic magnolia tree that was as iconic as the park itself. The final season of full-time baseball there was 1964, and the stadium – which was across the street from the Sears building now known as Ponce City Market – was demolished in favor of a shopping center. Then, when that shopping center was replaced with the current retail development, one constant remained: the magnolia.

Nestled between that retail center and the re-developed rail lines called the Atlanta BeltLine, the tree was a living monument to baseball in Atlanta.

That was until August 3, 2026, when storms that rolled through Atlanta felled the magnolia, as seen in this post by long-time Atlanta sportscaster and journalist Jeff Hullinger.

Most of you reading this may not be aware of Ponce de Leon Park – or if you are, it is from stories of parents or grandparents or friends or relatives who visited the park that also hosted Georgia Tech football games and other events. If you have spent time in this area of Atlanta in the last 10-15 years, you are aware that it has seen massive redevelopment with an influx of residential and commercial development.

But with fading baseball lore, sickos of the sport would often go there to get a moment of historical retrospection standing between the branches of a tree that saw baseball and Atlanta in a different era, a different time, but with the same grand game.

As Hullinger noted in his post, the magnolia that was 462-feet from home plate was in play as the reconstructed ballpark Spiller Field – the original Ponce de Leon Park had burned in 1923 – was built around the trees. The stadium was re-named back to Ponce de Leon Park in 1934 when the team’s owner, for whom the re-build stadium was named, sold the team.

Famously, the legendary “500-mile home run” was hit at Poncey in 1954 when Crackers’ slugger Bob Montag hit a home run that landed in a coal car of a train passing on the rail line and ended up in Nashville, TN, before being found and returned to Montag.

Legend also has it that Babe Ruth hit a home run even further – with the Bambino also hitting one into a coal car that ended up in Joplin, MO. That 700+ mile home run may be more lore than truth. But Ruth and Braves Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews were two players to have hit balls that got caught in the branches of the in-play magnolia.

Ironic how trees and baseball are connected as the crack of the bat couldn’t be possible with out ash or hickory trees. In a time with trees are seemingly being cut down without care, it was a thunderstorm brought down a magnolia that thousands of people walked by daily and likely never know how significant that old magnolia was.

Who is the Yankees’ biggest X-factor down the stretch?

NEW YORK - APRIL 04: Xavier Nady #22 of the New York Yankees at bat against the Chicago Cubs during their game on April 4, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, last night was a blast, wasn’t it? The only nitpick I have is that I’d have liked more offense than a couple solo shots, but Ryan Weathers was great, David Bednar was nails in relief, Jazz Chisholm Jr. provided the pop, and—oh yeah—the Yankees’ youngest shortstop since Derek Jeter looked years beyond his age (which is younger than this very website). As the late Stuart Scott would say, George Lombard Jr. was cool as the other side of the pillow in his MLB debut, making excellent plays on defense and even making his first career hit a 392-foot homer. That’s the dream, isn’t it?

So where does one go from here? It’s baseball, so you know the answer: right back to the grind. The Yankees have a series to hopefully win against the Cardinals tonight, with Lombard back in the lineup at the six. There’s no rest yet for the weary on this long stretch of games on 13 consecutive days, though they will at least have an offday tomorrow. The Rays and Red Sox both just keep winning, too, so the Yanks can’t take a beat just yet.

For today’s question, we’re falling back a bit on an old cliché: X-factors. Yeah, yeah, they’re a little silly, but they’re fun to consider. The definition is in the eye of the beholder, but generally, it’s not someone (or something) that you would typically expect to be decider. It’s too easy to say that Aaron Judge’s health and recovery from his rib injury are the biggest X-factor in the Yankees’ 2026 fate. Although it may literally be true, it’s not the spirit of the exercise!

I’ll get us started. This is just a gut instinct that I’m coming up with while writing this, but two guys who keep popping up in my head are Paul Blackburn and Clarke Schmidt. It’s no secret that the Yankees have given a lot of bullpen work to David Bednar, Brent Headrick, and Fernando Cruz late in ballgames throughout 2026. Headrick and Cruz rank second and fifth in the majors in most games pitched with 58 and 54, respectively, and Bednar leads MLB with 42 games finished across his 46 appearances.

The trio needs a little breathing room, and though the Yankees perhaps regrettably stood pat on bullpen aid at the Trade Deadline, Blackburn has helped provide it in recent months as he’s ascended the pecking order, transforming from a middle/long relief option to someone now accustomed to short relief himself. His potential has been apparent, and it’s vital that he keeps it up. Schmidt keeps coming to mind as well as a former starter who can be a boon to the bullpen once his Tommy John surgery rehab is complete. The 2024 playoff rotation member has already said that he doesn’t have time to come back to start, but that he’s hopeful of returning to the mound in the big-league bullpen this year. Schmidt has pitched in relief earlier in his career, too, so it’s not a totally unfamiliar role.

Now, it’s not wise to count on someone coming back from Tommy John, especially since Schmidt’s procedure was done just 13 months ago. Setbacks happen all the time, and this is also Schmidt’s second Tommy John. It’s very possible that he doesn’t pitch in 2026, or that he throws a few innings and isn’t that good, so they nip it in the bud and have him focus on 2027. Schmidt is getting closer to a rehab assignment though, so for now, let’s dream. (And if it doesn’t work out, then Blackburn can be the X-factor on his own.)


Today on the site, we’ll have Jeff, Jeremy, and Sam write up our post-Trade Deadline/monthly check-ins on the NL East, NL Central, and NL West, respectively. Sam will also write up the birthday of the owner who made them the Yankees perhaps more than anyone else: Jacob Ruppert. Madison will tackle the Rivalry Roundup, and Peter will discuss a pair of excellent trips to the dish by José Caballero and Ryan McMahon for our At-Bat of the Week feature.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Time: 7:05 p.m. EST

TV: Amazon Prime Video, Cardinals.TV

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

The Cleveland Sirens want you to ‘Hear the Call’ as they prepare to join the WNBA in 2028

Allison Howard introduces the Cleveland Sirens. | Getty Images

You only get one chance at a first impression, and the WNBA franchise coming to Cleveland in 2028 made a splash on Tuesday, revealing the name of their expansion team: Sirens.

The announcement came at an event held in Rocket Arena, the team’s future home, which would’ve made it perfect had the organization chosen to revive the name of Cleveland’s original WNBA team, the Rockers, which existed from 1997 to 2003. Former Rockers, such as Janice Braxton, were in attendance, however, to inaugurate this new are of women’s professional basketball in Cleveland.

And the Sirens are here to make some noise.

Sirens president of business operations Allison Howard discussed the team’s name and logo, explaining the rationale for both:

The siren is very powerful, unapologetic, relentless, and we see the siren as the epitome of power, but also the best teammate.

Even from the logo, you can feel this energy, this thunderous passion. And you look at the siren’s face; it’s menacing. It’s fearful. You see the power even just in those features. And then with the hair, there’s the five distinctive waves. Those, of course, will represent our five players out on the court as well as our five Great Lakes.

It wasn’t just inside the Rocket Arena where the Sirens made their splash.

It extended to social media with a hype video. Braxton did the voice-over, with her prose syncing perfectly to images as music from Billie Eilish’s song “You Should See Me in a Crown” played throughout.

Whenever names, logos and/or jerseys are are revealed for new teams, two responses generally emerge.

One will be filled with excitement and enthusiasm, and the other will be nothing but caustic criticism. Overall, the Cleveland Sirens received an overwhelmingly positive response from the WNBA world.

Tuesday, will be forever etched in Cleveland basketball history. But there’s still some darkness overshadowing the return of the W to Northeast Ohio.

The Rockers were here, but they didn’t last. What’s going to make this time different?

Well, for starters, the Sirens are establishing their own identity by clearly separating themselves from the NBA’s Cavaliers. The colors, logos and slogans are not at all similar. The Sirens are their own team and will approach things their way.

Things seem to be off to a great start for the Sirens.

They have reportedly sold 9,000 deposits for season tickets, and with the interest surrounding the new name and logo, that number will undoubtedly go up between now and when they begin play in 2028.

The WNBA has seen tremendous growth in recent years, resulting in expansion teams like the Golden State Valkyries, Toronto Tempo, and Portland Fire having success early on, proving the league is in a great place.

The Sirens will ride that WNBA wave, and when they land in 2028, the plan is for them to stay for good this time. So far, things are going swimmingly.

How the ABA changed basketball forever: Dr J, George Gervin and the league that dared to be different

The Spurs’ George Gervin (left) boxes out the Pacers’ George McGinnis during a 1975 ABA playoff game in Indianapolis.Photograph: Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

After practice, George Gervin wanted to go home. He was a rookie playing for the Virginia Squires of the upstart American Basketball Association, and the sleek, Detroit-born hooper didn’t yet know what being a pro quite meant. He didn’t know that the real workouts often started after practice. But his teammate Julius “Dr J” Erving quickly showed him the ropes.

“Doc would say, ‘Hey, young fella! Where you going? Me and you ain’t done!’” Gervin tells the Guardian. “Me and him would play one-on-one after practice. It was beautiful, probably one of the most beautiful experiences I had as a young pro.”

Today, Gervin is remembered as being one of basketball’s great scorers. Known as the Iceman, his finger roll is still studied by the best in the game. A Hall of Famer, Gervin led the National Basketball Association in scoring four out of five years from 1978 to 1982. But before that, he was considered damaged goods.

A fistfight in college saddled Gervin with a bad reputation. And though he averaged nearly 30 points per game for Eastern Michigan University as a sophomore in college, he was not an NBA prospect. So, he played a year in the CBA before earning a tryout in the ABA.

Still thought of as a subpar league in the 1970s, the fledgling ABA was hoping to force a merger with the more established NBA. The ABA needed all the talent it could get, so guys like Gervin got a shot. Gervin wasn’t drafted – instead, he impressed in his tryout and the Squires signed him. “Because I shot the ball well,” Gervin remembers.

Turns out, the ABA was just the step the scoring wing needed. “I came in a little young, inexperienced,” Gervin says. “Coming into a world that I needed to have some kind of guidance.” But those one-on-one games between the Iceman and Dr J proved to be beneficial for both mind and body.

“He’d throw me the ball and say, ‘Me and you are playing one-on-one,’” Gervin says. “At the same time, he wasn’t really competing against me. He was getting me ready. Seeing what I was made of. I tell him today that I owe him. Because he helped build my self-confidence and self-esteem. He helped me understand I had the ability to play in the league.”

Fifty years after the ABA merged with the NBA, ending the upstart league’s nine-year run, players like Gervin remain living reminders of its enduring influence. The merger, finalized in the summer of 1976, brought only four ABA franchises into the NBA, but many of the league’s innovations – and some of its brightest stars – would permanently reshape professional basketball.

Even now, Gervin and Erving remain close friends. Their paths have crossed countless times since those one-on-one practices in Virginia. But one day that especially stands out is 27 January 1976 – the day of the first modern pro basketball dunk contest.

The ABA, which was founded in the late 1960s as a rival to the NBA, soon became known as the more flamboyant and fun of the two. Though it didn’t have the national TV contracts and history the NBA did, what the ABA offered fans was high-flying dunks, a red-white-and-blue basketball, the three-point shot, and fashion out the wazoo, from muttonchop sideburns to afros. And no one symbolized the ABA’s cultural heft quite like Dr J.

A star on and off the court, Erving and the ABA made history on that January night in 1976. With no money for a half-time performer at the ABA All-Star game, officials organized a dunk contest, which featured, among others, Erving, Gervin, and leaper David Thompson. In the end, it was Dr J who won the trophy, flying from the free-throw line like Superman.

“Awful!” says Gervin, laughing, thinking about the contest. “I was awful! I couldn’t beat them. You’re going into a contest knowing you can’t win. I knew I couldn’t beat David Thompson or Doc. So, it was just being a part of the show. I was brave enough to accept defeat – part of something that was bigger than I ever thought.”

Julius Erving made history in winning the 1976 ABA slam dunk contest.

Still, despite the lack of hope to win, Gervin knew his name attached to the contest would draw eyeballs, even if he wasn’t known as a creative dunker as his peers. “I’m thankful that I said OK,” he says. “The game is basically entertainment. Being ABA, that’s what we were all about – entertaining.”

The NBA in the early 1970s was largely resistant to change. So, the ABA took on the job of pushing the game forward. Though the NBA did have high-wattage players like Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and others, it was nevertheless known as being slower, stodgier.

It also didn’t allow underclassmen to join its ranks – until Spencer Haywood.

Despite the NBA’s self-imposed four-year rule, the ABA drafted the 1968 Olympic gold medalist before he’d graduated from college. And Haywood, whose mother was working in poverty picking cotton in Mississippi, suited up. As a first-year player, he won both the Rookie of the Year and MVP trophies in Denver. His success opened the doors for other underclassmen like Ralph Simpson.

“Spencer and I played high school ball together in Detroit,” Simpson tells the Guardian. In college, Simpson starred for a season at Michigan State, averaging nearly 30 points. But then his father had a heart-attack and got sick. “Spencer said, ‘Well, why don’t you come out here with me.’ We didn’t have any money and things were getting kind of hard. I wanted to stay at school, but I got offered a little money and that’s how I got to Denver.”

A sweet-scoring swingman with a knack for rebounding, Simpson became a five-time ABA All-Star playing for coaches like Hall of Famer Larry Brown. “The ABA gave us a chance to develop,” says Simpson, who is also the father of Grammy-winning artist India Arie. “I probably wasn’t ready to play in the NBA, but after a year or two, I started to develop.”

Thompson was one of Simpson’s teammates in Denver. And Simpson was with his friend at the 1976 dunk contest. “I told Julius I thought David would beat him!” Simpson remembers. “But I think David got a little nervous looking at Dr. J and his status. Going into the last round, David was leading and missed a 360-degree dunk. And Julius—he didn’t miss any.”

Dr J capped the competition with that leaping dunk from the foul line. “Julius ended up winning it, taking off from the free-throw line,” says Simpson, with a laugh. “I thought his foot was on the line. But I wouldn’t tell Julius that! He’d get mad, probably.”

The ABA’s restless existence meant teams came and went, from the Miami Floridians, the San Diego Conquistadors and other oddball franchises. But if the teams were fleeting, the personalities were unforgettable. Every season seemed to introduce another larger-than-life figure, from the troubled Marvin “Bad News” Barnes to the politically minded Warren Jabali.

But Simpson remembers the strong camaraderie the league offered its workforce. Players were friends, despite the heated competitions. “Warren Jabali, he taught me a lot when he was in Denver for those two years,” Simpson says. “He probably was the best all-around guard.”

Jabali was a fire hydrant of a man. He was also militant in his political convictions. Simpson remembers going to an All-Star game in Virginia. The hotel they stayed at required the ABA players to room in the basement. “Warren really got upset about it and wanted us to boycott,” Simpson says. “We didn’t end up boycotting, but the owners got ahold of it, and when we got back to Denver, they cut Warren.”

Jabali later moved to Africa, phoning Simpson just before his plane took off to offer some last words of praise before the journey. “He told me, ‘Ralph, you’re the best one-on-one player in the ABA,’” Simpson says. “That came out of his mouth. That was exciing to me, he knew ball.”

In the summer of 1976, some 50 years ago, the ABA merged with NBA. Four of the remaining seven ABA teams were absorbed – the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, New York Nets and Denver Nuggets. Simpson says part of the condition of Denver’s acceptance into the NBA was that he be shipped to Detroit to play for the Pistons. Whether that’s fact, he also says one of the greatest thrills of his career was putting on his hometown uniform.

“That brought tears to my eyes,” Simpson says. “I saw up in the stands, my dad was crying, too.”

For Gervin, the 1976 merger between the ABA and NBA was ultimately good. While there were downsides – dozens of players were left without jobs – pro basketball benefited from the union. The ABA had put people like Gervin and Simpson on the big stage, but after the merger, there was still more to prove on the hardwood. “We played with chips on our shoulder,” Gervin says. “We played to let the NBA fans know that we were for real and that we could play.”

But it worked. Among the 24 roster spots at the NBA All-Star game in 1977, just a year after the merger, half were filled by former ABA players, including Erving, Gervin, Thompson, and more. “I think that’s an indication of we wasn’t lying,” says Gervin.

Yankees news: George Lombard Jr. homers in debut, told to be himself

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 04: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees smiles after hitting his first career home run during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium on August 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

MLB.com | Brendan Samson: Yesterday was a very cool moment for the Lombard family, as George Jr. made his MLB debut for the Bombers, his younger brother, Jacob, also made his professional debut for the Marlins’ Low-A affiliate. While Mom and Dad Lombard were going to Florida to see Jacob’s debut, they quickly pivoted (with Jacob’s encouragement) after news of the older brother’s MLB debut broke. Even cooler for the family is that both brothers homered yesterday, and while their parents only got to see George’s in person, cameras did catch them watching the younger brother’s bomb on their cell phone.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch, Jared Greenspan: The organization’s message to their top prospect after his call-up and ahead of his debut was quite simple: “Go be you.” George Lombard Jr. has seen success at every level he’s been, easily earning the Yankees’ top prospect title, and it’s easy to see why. They don’t want him to change anything, just do what he does best and they think success will come. If Monday night was any indication, he’s all ready for the challenge. With a big blast for his first major league hit and a few smooth defensive plays at shortstop, there could be big things in his future.

NJ.com | Adam Zagoria: Anthony Volpe has some things to work on as its clear that he needs to improve his game if he wants to have a future with this team. In order to help his value, the Yankees are planning to get some reps in at second base while he’s in the minors, following his demotion. Aaron Boone spoke about both his and Jasson Domínguez’s demotions and how they were difficult conversations, but opportunities for them to work on things and refine their game so they might be able to earn another shot in the majors.

MLB.com | Jared Greenspan: Heliot Ramos was at the gym for a quick workout when he found out he had been traded to the Yankees. His phone was in his locker but he looked up at the TV in the gym and found out he’s coming east to New York. Even though he had a hitless debut, Ramos talked about how cool it is to wear the pinstripes and how he’s willing to play whatever role is necessary in order to help the club. While not the flashiest acquisition, it’s still nice to see players who want to be here and hopefully a change of scenery will help him find some success.

*(Credit to Matt Ferenchick for today’s home page title)

Tyler Nickel situation emerges as Knicks shape 2026-27 roster

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New York Knicks found a couple of promising young players in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft one day after moving entirely out of the first round to preserve some cap space and avoid stepping into second-apron territory.

Both Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel topped expectations last month during the Summer League, potentially giving the Knicks two inexpensive prospects (one likely bound for a standard contract, the other for a two-way deal) while the franchise operates under owner James Dolan’s second-apron mandate.

Obviously, with the roster still needing to be fully filled before the start of the regular season and the limitations imposed by beloved Dolan, both rookies’ immediate NBA futures were always uncertain, to say the least. New York could offer either or both players two-way contracts to preserve the roster spot and save some money, and on top of that, it’s always been reported that while Kayil wants to remain in America, he’s likely going to be stashed overseas in Germany for another season.

Now, however, the Knicks might have a Tyler Nickel situation right when the rookie looked like a lock for one of the final roster spots and off-the-bench, deep-rotation minutes.

According to CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter, the No. 47 overall pick is “expected to explore” returning to college rather than beginning his professional career with the Knicks during the 2026-27 season. Emphasis mine:

“Former Purdue All-American Braden Smith is not considering a return to college basketball in the fallout of Friday’s injunction that cleared a path for a fifth year of collegiate eligibility for the Class of 2022, his representatives at Priority Sports told CBS Sports.

“Smith was the No. 38 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, who traded his draft rights to the Indiana Pacers. He is one of five second-round picks who have not signed a rookie contract yet, joining BYU’s Richie Saunders (No. 32 to the Memphis Grizzlies), Vanderbilt’s Tyler Nickel (No. 47 to the New York Knicks), St. John’s Dillon Mitchell (No. 40 to the Boston Celtics) and Florida State’s Lajae Jones (No. 54 to the Golden State Warriors). Nickel and Mitchell are expected to explore their college options, but Smith’s record-setting career is over.”

Hours before Trotter’s report emerged, Nickel already did something intriguing by posting (now deleted, captured below) a single thinking emoji on X.

The possibility follows a recent legal ruling allowing players to compete for five college seasons. Nickel already entered the NCAA’s transfer portal in April and could reportedly earn more through name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities back in college than he would on a two-way contract.

The Nashville Post estimates Nickel’s NIL valuation between $1 million and $1.4 million, and it’s fair to say that Nickel strengthened his case to either get a bigger NIL deal or snatch a roster spot with the Knicks following his performances at the Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds while making 41.3% of his three-point attempts.

Nickel’s quick release and shooting ability gave him a clearer path toward an NBA role than many second-round selections, and he showcased exactly that skill set in Vegas to the surprise of no one, seemingly paving his way to the pros if all went (it could still go) according to plan. The fact that Nickel performed better than expected defensively during those hot exhibition games also helped his case.

While a return to college would not cost New York his rights (the Knicks have a year to negotiate with the player and sign him, starting to count from draft day), it could leave the Knicks without one of their two latest draft picks next season, or two if Kayil indeed returns to Germany.

Ex-Bucks find new homes

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 1: Andre Jackson Jr. #44 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 1, 2023 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In separate deals, Andre Jackson Jr. and Cole Anthony have agreed to terms with new teams, with A-Jax heading north of the border to the Toronto Raptors and Anthony travelling across the pond to Australia’s Melbourne United.

Per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Jackson is heading to the Raptors in an attempt to prolong his NBA career after failing to establish himself with the Bucks over the last three seasons.

A second-round pick in 2023, Jackson projected as an athletic wing stopper for the Bucks and a position was there for the taking. But despite his stifling defence in the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Final against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and some occasional highlight plays—rumour has it his putback dunk against the Kings still reverberates in Sacramento—he just wasn’t able to put it together in Milwaukee. In total, he played 172 games for the Bucks, averaging 2.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 1.0 APG in 11.4 MPG.

On the other hand, Cole Anthony, last season’s reserve point guard for the Bucks—at least to start the season—has signed with Melbourne United in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), per a release from the team. According to the release, Anthony is thrilled about his new adventure:

I’m super excited to begin this journey with Melbourne United. This is a great opportunity to continue growing as a player and compete for a championship. I’m ready to get to work and can’t wait to represent the club and meet the fans!

Drafted 15th overall in 2020 by the Orlando Magic, Anthony was a welcome signing by the Bucks last offseason after negotiating a buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies. With Milwaukee, he played 35 games—all off the bench—averaging 6.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 15.1 MPG. He was particularly effective in the opening week and a half of the season, with standout games in wins against the Toronto Raptors (23 points, seven assists) and the Golden State Warriors (16 points, two assists).

But Anthony couldn’t maintain his form and his minutes dwindled. In February, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Amir Coffey in a three-team deal that brought Ousmane Dieng to the Bucks. Just 22 days later, he was waived.

While Jackson will likely have to earn a roster spot with the Raptors and Anthony has had to leave the NBA to continue his career, they’ll forever hold a place in Bucks history.

All the best, fellas.


While Anthony’s exit from the NBA points to Jon Horst’s continued masterwork as a trader—the Bucks clearly got back the best player in that deal—Jackson’s Raptors lifeline raises another question about his drafting resume. Agree?

Doubts grow over Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open defence after latest withdrawal

  • World No 2 pulls out of ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati

  • Spaniard has been sidelined since April with ongoing wrist injury

Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open due to an ⁠ongoing wrist injury, casting fresh doubts over the Spaniard’s fitness ahead of his ⁠US Open title ⁠defence this ​month.

The seven-times Grand Slam champion has been sidelined since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open second round in April ⁠but had been set to return at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, which he won last ⁠year.

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Mariners visit Rock Bottom in 8-0 loss to Tigers

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 29: SpongeBob SquarePants delivers the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the San Diego Padres and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Friday, August 29, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by James Vigil/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

How tough am I? How tough am I? I watched that entire Mariners game… with the audio on.

The Mariners couldn’t cut it at the Salty Spittoon on Tuesday, losing to the Tigers 8-0 in the first game following the trade deadline. Emerson Hancock pitched fine but had some poor defense behind him. Seranthnoy Domínguez made his Mariners debut and got shelled. The lineup posted a big ol’ zero. Maybe they should try Weenie Hut Juniors instead. The Mariners had the gall to implode on SpongeBob Night at the ballpark. If you see a link in the writing that follows, give it a click if you wish to sing along.

Have you finished those errands? 

This was the first game after the trade deadline, allowing the Mariners to unveil what they’ve been working on the last few weeks. It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for, in other words. Taylor Ward and Domínguez joined the team. Jhonny Pereda made the trip up I-5 to replace Mitch Garver, who was let go along with Rob Refsnyder. Even Brendan Donovan returned from his latest trip to the injured list. This felt like a good opportunity for a reset. It was not.

Keep going, you’re good

The Tigers did most of their damage in the third. Zach McKinstry doubled to lead off the inning and made his way to third on a groundout. Gleyber Torres then hit a big chopper to short. Colt Emerson reached up to snag it, then fired home to nab McKinstry at the plate. It was a nice play!

But this was an inning that just wouldn’t end. Dillon Dingler slapped a hard single past a diving Emerson at short to put two on with two out. Riley Greene hit a broken-bat slow roller to Emerson again, who ranged so far to his right that he had to backhand the ball and make a crossbody throw. Unfortunately, it was a poorly aimed crossbody throw, sailing weast of first and into foul territory, allowing the first run to score. Colt Keith dropped a looping single into right field to plate two more and make the game 3-0. It was still early, but this already felt enough like the 2026 Mariners that I started watching SpongeBob videos instead

Hi, how are ya

Hancock would eventually give up a legitimate run on a solo shot to Greene in the fifth. Otherwise, Hancock was fine. He threw six innings, struck out six and kept the hard contact to a minimum. It was a perfectly normal start.

Greetings, from Apple World

The game was still 4-0 in the ninth, and Dan Wilson saw fit to bring in Domínguez for a no-pressure debut. He got shelled. Domínguez walked the first batter then gave up a single. After an out, he gave up a three-run homer to Gleyber Torres. Then he immediately gave up another homer to Dingler. After another single and another walk, his night was done.

That’s not my wallet

The Mariners would have lost this one no matter how many runs they gave up. They scored zero. It wasn’t the absolute worst performance of the year, but only because there’s been a lot of competition. They picked up just four hits — all singles — and three walks without ever really threatening. In fact, they picked up only two hard hit balls all night, as Troy Melton ate everything in sight. They couldn’t lay off the hook (it was a splitter but let me have this one). The Mariners tepid deadline was largely an acknowledgement that they won’t go anywhere if their existing starts step up. They still seem to be in denial of their identities. Not even Ward could get them going, with an 0-for in his debut.

Tax exemption

Colt Emerson struck out swinging in the fourth on a fastball at eye level, which is the type of thing people say to mean “high”, but this one was literally at eye level. Not to pick on the kid, but this was a bit avant garde.

Sorry, I don’t speak Italian

Dominic Canzone hit a single in the first inning. 

Nosferatu

The Mariners won’t have to worry about the Hash-Slinging Slasher in game two because the Tigers traded him to the Dodgers. Instead, they’ll face Drew Anderson. 

I remember chocolate

Mariners 50 is this weekend, and the team is certainly making a big deal of it. There was a dramatic reveal earlier in the day that Alex Rodriguez will show his face. Dae Ho Lee threw out the first pitch of the game. Jay Buhner and Lou Piniella are in town. The team announced it will air Friday’s home run derby. It’s going to be a celebration of sorts

The stars at night are dull and dim

Both Texas teams won tonight. The Mariners are back in third

It’s OK, Rocky, you go when you feel like it

I keep waiting for this team to get going. There’s been several opportunities for a narrative shift, between the All-Star Break, a clutch homer, the calendar flipping to August, the return home, the deadline, etc. But the magic conch shell has yet grant permission. It seems they’re content to go at their own pace. Maybe it’s time to put this season to rest. There’s always next year.

In his Dodgers debut, Tarik Skubal inherits baseball's bullseye

CHICAGO — The first fans booed Tarik Skubal at 6:22 p.m. CT, as he jogged on the outfield grass in front of the visitor's bullpen at Wrigley Field. They booed him again, and louder than any of his new teammates, when the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup was announced. They booed more as Skubal stepped to the mound for his first start with a team, which also doubled as his first career start inside the "Friendly Confines."

The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner was officially a villain, and he already knew it’s a feeling that will become familiar.

“I plan on pitching in front of those atmospheres for the rest of the season,” Skubal said. "I actually haven’t made a home start in the postseason. They’ve all been on the road. I’ve pitched in pretty good environments and I’d say that’s up there with any of those postseason starts.”

The result of Skubal’s debut as a Dodger – a 5-1 Cubs win on Tuesday, Aug. 4 – wasn’t as significant as the sensation everyone involved left with once this highly anticipated regular-season game was over. The potential presented by Skubal’s overwhelming power, as well as the perils of being an overwhelming favorite, were on display for a sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 and a national television audience.  

If this Los Angeles team is indeed ruining baseball en route to a third straight World Series championship and perhaps a lockout, it’ll only do so after taking the entire sport’s best shot. 

“Everyone can’t play here for the Dodgers,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the pressure. 

There is a target on these Dodgers unlike their past two predecessors that won titles, and it got bigger when they acquired the best pitcher in baseball. That reality confronted Skubal almost as soon as he walked inside Wrigley Field on Tuesday, even though he’s now another superstar on a roster filled with them.

A plane flew around the stadium a few hours before first pitch carrying a banner that read, “The Dodgers ruined baseball.” It was sponsored by Underdog Sports, a daily fantasy sports and predictions market operator. There was just one problem: The banner was upside down. 

Skubal said he struggled to fall asleep Monday night. “It felt like my major league debut,” he explained. Roberts admitted before the game that Skubal "just wants to get this first one out of the way.”

“Yeah, it’s 1 of 162 but I do think Tarik Skubal making a start for the Dodgers is a big deal for baseball,” Roberts said of the moment.

So then Skubal struck out Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong looking with a 99 mph fastball to start the game. A solo home run by Dansby Swanson was the lone hit of substance he allowed before the sixth inning, even though his strike rate was the lowest it had been in three years. Then came a sequence seemingly set up for Skubal’s first fist-pumping, adrenaline-fueled celebration in a Dodgers uniform. 

He had nearly escaped his only jam when he fired a four-seam fastball at the top of the strike zone that Nico Hoerner hit directly into the dirt. The ball traveled just one foot in the air, according to the official scorer, but then bounced so high into the Chicago night that Hoerner had nearly reached first base by the time it settled into the glove of Dodgers infielder Tommy Edman. A run scored, a 1-1 stalemate was broken, and the Cubs held on to deliver a fifth consecutive defeat for the Dodgers.

Skubal finished having pitched six innings and given up two runs on four hits, with six strikeouts, in his first game with the Dodgers. He was on the hook for the loss, but "there’s nothing he really throws that you can hit hard,” Hoerner said with a laugh.

That, of course, is why the Dodgers traded for Skubal. It's why he could command $400 million as a free agent after this season.

It's also why nobody is ready to make this easy on them.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In his Dodgers debut, Tarik Skubal inherits baseball's bullseye