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No. 1 vs. No. 2: AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson Summer League showdown gave fans show they wanted

LAS VEGAS — Fans filled the Thomas & Mack Center wanting a show. No. 1 vs. No. 2 — AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson — from the most heralded draft class in a decade (at least), going head to head. Fans wanted to see if these two were worth the hype.

The fans got what they wanted.

It wasn't always efficient — they shot a combined 13-of-36 — and both showed things they needed to work on (Peterson had eight turnovers, Dybantsa was 0-of-5 from 3-point range). However, fans who came to see if these guys could live up to the hype were not disappointed.

Dybantsa was the best player on the floor and finished with a game-high 27 points. However, what stood out — what will translate to the NBA and make him a force — is his fluid athleticism. He's graceful, but he was blowing past guys, and his ability to get downhill at his size is impressive — he just glides. It's not to say he can't be physical, but this isn't like watching a Jalen Brunson drive. This feels effortless.

He also had some impressive finishes at the rim — he is a tough shot maker, and it showed.

What was new, the part of his game that was not there a year ago, was Dybants's passing skills.

Dybantsa was comfortable with the ball in his hands, and for large parts of the game he was bringing the ball up and initiating the offense. It was effective; however, how much he will get to do that during the regular season is a question when they have Trae Young running the point.

Peterson had a rougher night. In the Salt Lake Summer League, he was completely under control when Memphis blitzed him and upped its ball pressure, but the Wizards' ball pressure threw Peterson off his game.

“We lost (92-88 Washington win), so it probably worked a little bit, but I'm expecting it," Peterson said. "Good to get used to it now, play against it now, and just growth."

Peterson seemed to be pressing a little in a showdown game, which led to a slow start, but he eventually found his rhythm. Ultimately, he showed his potential.

Peterson's young Sacramento running mate Ace Bailey remained out with a slight calf strain suffered in the first game of the Salt Lake City Summer League.

Dybantsa's young Washington running mate was there, last season's No. 6 pick Tre Johnson. He lived up to his reputation as a player who never saw a shot he didn't like, scoring 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting and taking very few passes. When Johnson got the ball he was looking to go up.

Never read too much into a Summer League game, but in the end Dybantsa and Peterson gave the fans what they wanted — a show. And flashes of the players they can be in a few years.

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‘He keeps getting better’: Kohli returns to sprinkle stardust on England v India ODI series

Now based in London and gaining respite from relentless attention at home, Indian legend still has the form and aura that make him the main attraction

In a sporting summer that is challenging even the most voracious appetites, the one-day international series between England and India that gets under way next Tuesday could be viewed as the wafer-thin mint that tips people over the edge.

But for all that 50-over cricket is on the retreat, and its World Cup is still 15 months away, it is worth loosening the belt a further notch or two for this one. Virat Kohli will be back smouldering in blue for the tourists, in what will probably be the last chance to watch one of the all-time greats bat in this country.

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Taking Wing: Jay Harry

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 30: A batting helmet with the Toronto Blue Jays logo seen during the eighth inning at Target Field on April 30, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Blue Jays 7-1. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When the Jays dumped Trevor Richards on the Twins at the 2024 deadline, the return was an infielder who’d signed a way under slot deal in the sixth round of the previous year’s draft out of the decided non-baseball hotbed of Penn State University by the name of Jay Harry. Baseball America ranked him 426th among draft eligible prospects that year and promptly never wrote about him again. After the trade, Fangraphs’ rated him the 87th best prospect dealt at the deadline and described his likely peak as “a utility guy for a weak Double-A team.” Which is harsh, perhaps, but looked about right as his OPS last season, split between A+ and AA, started with a five.

I’m writing about him here, so you can guess that things have improved. And indeed they have, to the tune of a .327/.368/.591 line split between New Hampshire and Buffalo that makes Harry one of the best 40 or so hitters in the upper minors this season.

So what’s happened here? Harry was an ultra-contact-oriented hitter in college, with a swing geared just to try to poke line drives through the infield. You can see that approach carry over to his first taste of pro ball after the draft, where he struck out just 6.8% of the time in A ball but failed to generate much impact. His contact rate dropped, though, from 85% that season to 76% during his time with the Twins organization in 2024 and then 71% after his trade to the Blue Jays. At the same time he showed a little bit of game power, going from 1 home run in 129 PA in his draft season to 12 in 448 in ‘24. Last year he seems to have been caught in between, bringing his contact back to 77% but losing almost all of his impact. In 2026, his contact rate remains at 77%, but all of the power production has returned and then some. Normally with a left in New Hampshire, you can write some power jumps off as the product of park factors, but a) he was awful in the same park last season, and b) he’s hit even better since moving up to Buffalo.

On video, you can see his swing change a little over the course of the last three years, going from a very upright setup with almost no hand load and the bat starting upright in 2024 to a bit deeper of a load and more angle in 2025. His 2026 swing is back closer to 2024, very upright and with his hands starting out front to give him a super short path to the ball. These are all subtle differences, though, and I don’t see evidence that he’s reinvented his swing.

There are a couple of other changes to note. First, he’s just swinging a lot. He’s always been aggressive, but his 59.5% rate this season is among the highest in the league and would be in the top five in the majors. That’s resulted in a collapse in his walk rate, although without much change in his strikeouts.

He’s also pulling the ball a lot less often, 39% of the time down from an extreme 55-56% rate the previous two seasons. Normally you’d expect that to come with less power production, as hitters typically do their damage to the pull side. As we’ve seen, though, the effect for Harry has been the opposite. We don’t have comparative StatCast data, because A+ and AA don’t make that info public, but we can see that since the promotion to Buffalo he’s running a 90.0mph average exit velocity and a 41% hard hit rate, both of which are above average. His max exit velocity is 107.2, though, which is well below average. He might best that once he has more than 68 batted ball events in the register, but it seems like the scouting reports that noted a lack of raw power are still correct and that he’s doing this by just maximizing what he does have.

This is all a bit puzzling. Harry’s swing decisions appear worse, but he’s not making any less contact. He’s pulling the ball less, but producing more power. My best guess is that he’s just gone back to what’s comfortable. He’s ultra-aggressive on pitches inside, pulling the ball where he can but not forcing everything to the pull side. He’s using the swing that feels right to him, and trusting his strength to generate enough power.

Lacking a clear change that drive the breakout, I remain skeptical of how real it is. That said, you have to pay attention to the results, especially as players get close to the majors. Jay Harry isn’t likely to take the big leagues by storm, but his performance this year makes it easy to imagine him getting to the big leagues at all, which is a dramatic change in the course of three months. He can play all over (mostly short in the minors, but he’s not an everyday calibre glove there by big league standards), he gets the bat on the ball, and when he does there’s a chance he’ll do something with it. That’s not nothing. At the very least, I don’t think he’d have trouble cracking any AA lineup out there.

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Player Grades: Recapping the Mavericks vs. the Warriors: Summer League Edition

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Morez Johnson #14 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on July 9, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Our in-season Grades coverage typically does not apply for Summer League games, but getting to see the Dallas Mavericks take on the Golden State Warriors in person alongside other members of the Mavs Moneyball staff makes for a special exception.

The vibe and atmosphere of Summer League games are definitely unique and special, and simply put, a lot of fun. Getting a glimpse of players that will certainly see playing time next season, as well as some potential diamond-in-the-rough members of the roster is a fun experience.

Grading someone like Ryan Nembhard with 60 games of NBA experience, against someone like Sergio De Larrea with zero games of NBA experience doesn’t quite jibe, so we’ll take a different approach this time around.

Let’s get to the grades!

Ryan Nembhard: Satisfactory

15 PTS / 3 REB / 11 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 35 MIN

Nembhard did what you would expect from him after watching him play on the big stage last year. His shot was a little rusty with a 6-for-15 showing, pulled down largely by a 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. To his credit, he was the only Maverick to post a double-double and he managed to dish a team high (by far)11 assists for a team that only shot 43% overall.

Sergio De Larrea: Needs Improvement

9 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 29 MIN

This grade may seem a touch harsh for a young player who was in Spain about a week ago, who then came overseas to play with a team full of strangers. In other words, he put up a nice well-rounded stat line under what were surely stressful circumstances. The “Needs Improvement” was largely due to two factors. First, he was 3-for-14 from the field and 1-for-9 from deep, with many misses looking especially bad – but so be it; first game a few days after arriving in the country. Second, his handle does not look NBA-ready. Again, this adjustment for him can’t be understated, but he definitely struggled in this department. The good news is he showed real flashes at different spots during the game.

Morez Johnson, Jr.: Exceptional

27 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 2 BLK – 26 MIN

Johnson was an absolute beast who put together an excellent game. He was arguably the best player on the floor for either team. At one point I turned to fellow Mavs Moneyball staffer, Matt Martinez, and commented that Johnson appeared to be on a slightly different level than most of the other players. You could tell he had a good court sense, positioned himself well, rotated well, and just simply appeared NBA-ready. The only knock on his game was seven fouls (in Summer League, each player is allowed more than six fouls), but even that spoke to his willingness to play defense and help on rotations. I fully expect he will clean that up. Johnson showed up in a big way and Mavs’ fans should be excited for what he can bring.

Tobi Lawal: Meets Expectations

5 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 14 MIN

The “Meets Expectations” grade here is a bit loaded, as those very expectations are subjective. He bricked two of the three three-point attempts he took, bringing his overall shooting to 2-for-6, but had a solid game in limited minutes. There is raw talent that can certainly be harnessed into a serviceable (or better?) NBA player. He showed some defensive chops and demonstrated some high-flying freakish athleticism. Whether his ceiling is a player like Moussa Cisse, Dereck Lively, or beyond, is yet to be determined, but there is definitely something there.

John Poulakidas: Satisfactory

14 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN

Poulakidas did what he does, and that is shoot. He didn’t do it especially well (5-for-15 overall; 4-for-12 from deep), but adjusting for Summer League and the squad of unfamiliars he was playing with, we can afford him the benefit of the doubt. There isn’t much to say about his game, but it was at the very least solid as he showed he remains the player he was last season.

Vsevolod Ishchenko: To Be Determined

7 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 27 MIN

I simply can’t come up with a better grade for Ishchenko, as he was a bit of an enigma. Watching the game live, it felt like he had a much bigger impact than the box score would indicate. He seemed a little less bulky than he appeared to me in photos, and he was a bit timid – like De Larrea, to be expected under the circumstances of having arrived in a new country to play with strangers mere days ago. He definitely did not strike me as a player who is years away from seeing NBA minutes; it seems he will improve simply by way of adjusting to a lot of change, and that leaves me feeling hopeful.

Final Thoughts

This was day one of a squad of guys who have zero NBA minutes under their belt. With all things considered, it was a lot of fun and there were a lot of flashes of what many of these players could become. Where De Larrea may have felt a bit disappointing (again, I think we can afford him a good amount of grace), Johnson was spectacular. There is fun to be had with these guys and we’ll hopefully see more of it on Saturday night.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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Merrill the Mainstay: Dbacks 3, Padres 1

Jul 9, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

With their backs against the wall after 2 very disappointing losses, veteran Merrill Kelly stepped up into the roll this team needed him to so very badly and put this team on his back Thursday night. Kelly was dominant for 7 innings and the offense did just enough to finish the series with the Padres with a split.

As I mentioned, Kelly really looked like the vintage Merrill Kelly we know and love tonight as he gave this team length going 7 innings and needing just 94 pitches while allowing just a single run in the second inning and striking out 6 Padres batters.  As the game went on, Kelly was able to make big pitches and get some key double plays in big spots. He just seemed to get more and more comfortable as the game went on, and if Kelly has indeed regained his vintage form, that would be so huge for this team.

Paul Sewald also did a great job of coming in in the 9th and slamming the door in dominant fashion striking out Fernando Tatis Jr and Xander Bogarts. He is now 21 for 22 on the season for save opportunities. I definitely didn’t see this level of success coming, but I am so glad to see it. Not only has it been huge for this team to have a stopper at the backend, but you love to see good things happen to good people and Paul is about as good as they come.

On the offensive side, the Dbacks were able to get all 3 of their runs in the middle innings scoring a run in the 4th, 5th, and 6th. Geraldo Perdomo scored Tommy Troy in the 5th with an RBI single. Nolan Arenado inched closer to the 2,000 hit mark golfing a pitch about a foot below the strike zone over the left field fence for his 11th home run of the season. The offense did just enough tonight.

All in all, you definitely need to see this offense score more runs if they are going to go on the run this team needs to go on. Especially when you head to LA to face the Dodgers tomorrow and you are a game under .500. However, It was really good to see Merrill Kelly regain his form tonight and allow his team to win. The Dbacks need to get hot and get hot quickly heading into LA, and what a better time to do so?

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Former Avalanche First-Round Pick Gets Another Chance With Nashville

Chris MacFarland has spent much of his first offseason in Nashville surrounding himself with familiar faces, whether that's acquiring former Colorado Avalanche players or adding personnel from his old organization. Earlier this week, he continued that trend by bringing back another player with Avalanche ties.

The Nashville Predators re-signed defenseman Justin Barron to a one-year, $1.575 million contract, giving the former Colorado first-round pick another opportunity to establish himself on Nashville's blue line.

The 24-year-old Barron was a restricted free agent after appearing in 52 games for the Predators last season, recording nine assists while averaging 14:15 of ice time. He also finished with 60 blocked shots after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in December 2024 in exchange for defenseman Alexandre Carrier.

"Justin Barron is a 24-year-old, right-handed defenseman who we feel still has growth in his game," Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chris MacFarland said in a team release. "He can skate and has a lot of physical tools. We're looking forward to seeing him at our training camp in September."

For Avalanche fans, Barron's name is forever linked to one of the biggest trades in franchise history.

Colorado selected the defenseman with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, and he spent most of the next two seasons developing with the AHL's Colorado Eagles, where he recorded six goals and 18 assists in 50 games. He also made two NHL appearances before being included, along with a 2024 second-round pick, in the March 2022 trade that brought Artturi Lehkonen to Denver.

That deal became one of the defining moves of Colorado's Stanley Cup run. Lehkonen scored the overtime winner that completed the Avalanche's sweep of the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final before netting the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Barron eventually found his footing in Montreal, posting consecutive double-digit point seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24 despite playing fewer than 50 games in each campaign. His production slowed to one point in 17 games to begin the 2024-25 season before he was traded to Nashville, where he rebounded with 12 points in 45 contests after the deal.

Defensive consistency has remained the biggest question mark throughout Barron's NHL career. Across 208 games with the Avalanche, Canadiens and Predators, he has recorded 18 goals and 34 assists for 52 points but has yet to finish a season with a positive plus-minus rating, posting a career minus-27.

His underlying numbers paint a mixed picture. Barron ranked third among Predators defensemen with 60 blocked shots last season and led the group in blocked shots per 60 minutes (4.86). He also finished third among Nashville blueliners in hits. On the other hand, his four takeaways were the fewest on the team.

The one-year contract gives Barron another chance to carve out a larger role in Nashville while providing MacFarland with additional depth on the right side entering the 2026-27 season.

Barron has appeared in 208 regular-season NHL games but has yet to make his Stanley Cup Playoff debut. He is also the younger brother of Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron.

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Willi Castro homers early, but Rockies offense falls silent in 8-2 loss to Giants

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Willi Castro #3 of the Colorado Rockies hits a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning at Oracle Park on July 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Oracle Park continues to be a difficult venue for the Colorado Rockies, as the offense faltered in an 8-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night. The Rockies have now lost seven straight in San Francisco as the Giants put away a close game with a late-game rally.

An inconsistent start for Feltner

The woes of pitching at Oracle Park stung Ryan Feltner once again as he labored through 4.1 innings. From the start of the game, it was apparent that Feltner didn’t have the command he had shown over his last couple of outings. Despite long at-bats and big misses on his pitches, Feltner was able to mitigate trouble early on, however.

After retiring the first two batters he faced in the first inning, breakout star Casey Schmitt hit a solo home run to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead. Feltner then worked around two walks in the second inning and delivered a 1-2-3 third.

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After the Rockies took the lead in the top of the fourth, the Giants answered back with another home run, this time courtesy of Bryce Eldridge, to tie the game. Feltner rebounded to escape the inning without further damage, but his luck was starting to run out.

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Trouble would finally catch up to Feltner in the fifth inning as the Giants found some lucky swings. Catcher Drew Cavanaugh led off the inning with a towering single that bounced off the right-field wall. Heliot Ramos then chopped a ball on the infield grass for another hit. That set the table for Luis Arraez to reach up and tuck a ball down the right-field line for an RBI double to give the Giants a 3-2 lead.

Feltner would then walk Schmitt to load the bases and Rafael Devers followed up with a single to keep the bases loaded and extend the lead by one run. Feltner then got Willy Adames to pop up on the infield for the first out of the inning but it signaled the end of his night. Victor Vodnik entered and got the next two batters to leave the bases loaded and close the book on Feltner.

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The Rockies starter allowed four runs on six hits as he allowed four walks and had just three strikeouts. He threw 92 pitches and had 53 strikes, but found success with five groundouts. The Giants mainly took advantage of missed locations and the lapse in command to drive him from the game.

After the game, manager Warren Schaeffer said, “Felt looked like he didn’t have much feel for the ball early on; the command was a little shaky. But he reeled it in a little bit, battled through it and kind of held them at bay for a little while.”

Can’t fully wise up to Whisenhunt and company

The Rockies, on the other hand, struggled to piece together their offense against Giants starter Carson Whisenhunt.

The first opportunity of the game for the Rockies came in the third inning with two outs. Braxton Fulford narrowly missed a home run to center field as the ball hit off the wall. Jake McCarthy and Kyle Karros each drew walks to load the bases. Cole Carrigg then launched a ball to deep center field but didn’t get enough of it as it was caught on the warning track.

The following inning, Hunter Goodman singled to lead off and was followed by a walk to TJ Rumfield. Unfortunately, Tyler Freeman bounced into a double play that moved Goodman to third base. In danger of spoiling another scoring opportunity, Willi Castro came through with a two-run home run that gave the Rockies a short-lived 2-1 lead at the time.

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Through 5.2 innings, the left-hander held Colorado to two runs on three hits with four strikeouts while also allowing four walks. The Rockies made plenty of contact, but he was able to induce enough mis-hit balls to leave with a lead after 87 pitches, 57 of which were strikes.

“I thought [Whisenhunt] attacked the strike zone well today,” said Schaeffer. “He kept us off balance.”

The Giants’ bullpen kept the Rockies in check as well. After the fourth inning, the Rockies only had one baserunner and no hits until Rumfield and Freeman both singled in the ninth inning. Colorado ended up with five total hits but struck out nine times while drawing four walks. They also went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Giants tack on late

The bullpen, which has been excellent of late, picked up some slack after Feltner’s early departure. After Vodnik escaped that fifth inning, he fired a quick sixth, ending his night with three strikeouts and just one hit allowed.

Looking to save some arms, the Rockies turned to rookie TJ Shook for a solid seventh inning. However, things started to unravel for him after he retired the first two batters of the eighth. Arraez singled, Schmitt doubled in the run, and then scored on a double for Devers to give the Giants a 6-2 lead. Adames then hit a two-run home run to break the game open 8-2.

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Vodnik and Shook combined for six strikeouts, but Shook’s six hits allowed proved the most detrimental as the Rockies couldn’t close the gap in the ninth, suffering the loss.

Up next

The Rockies and Giants continue the series with the second game on Friday. Tanner Gordon (0-2, 6.95 ERA) takes the mound for the Rockies while the Giants send out Robbie Ray (8-6, 3.45 ERA).

First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 pm MDT.

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Steph Curry, Jaylen Brown share thoughts on possibility of playing with LeBron James

LeBron James' next destination remains the biggest uncertainty ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season as he continues to explore free agency.

The 41-year-old, the best free agent still available, spent the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers but informed the team he would not be returning.

While some Lakers teammates, such as Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić, thanked James for the time they shared, other teams and players have begun making their pitch to James.

Several teams interested in signing James have been able to send a voice note to James, via his agent Rich Paul, making their pitch, according to ESPN’s Sham Charania.

The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers have all been considered suitors for the all-time leading scorer.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry was out at the American Century Championship golf event in Nevada on Thursday, July 9, when he was asked about potentially playing with James.

"The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game? Raise our floor, our competitiveness this year. There’s good golf in the Bay,” Curry said.

James has been seen on social media spending a lot of time on the golf course early this summer.

Jaylen Brown of the 76ers also mentioned James while making an appearance on IShowSpeed's Twitch live stream while attending the World Cup game between France and Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Brown was seen telling Speed to pitch James: “You have to tell LeBron that he has to pull up.”

“LeBron, pull up to Philly,” Speed said. “Think about it. LeBron. Jaylen Brown.”

James is expected to continue to take his time before coming to a decision. He has spent part of his summer in Cleveland.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steph Curry, Jaylen Brown share thoughts on possibility of playing with LeBron James

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Lakers vs. Thunder Summer League Preview: Starting off against top competition

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: William Hickey #66 and Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a basket in the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Lakers will begin the second leg of their Summer League stint in Las Vegas against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. This will be the first game of a back-to-back as they take on the Dallas Mavericks the following day.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 7 p.m. PT, July 10

Where: Thomas & Mack Center

Watch: Prime Video

The Lakers will be challenged right away in their first game in Las Vegas against the Thunder. Assuming both teams field their complete rosters, Los Angeles will see OKC’s top pick, Aday Mara, as well as Bennett Stirtz, who was taken at No. 16 in this year’s NBA Draft.

While the Thunder remain stacked with talent, the Lakers have quality players as well. Lakers rookie Cameron Carr played very well at the California Classic. This is Carr’s time to shine, and if he plays well in Las Vegas, the entire NBA world will be discussing him this weekend.

LA will also feature other young players, such as Adou Thiero. He didn’t play in Summer League last year since he was recovering from knee surgery, but now he’s healthy and available.

He had an up-and-down California Classic, showing signs of brilliance but also some questionable performances.

Both Carr and Thiero left the California Classic with minor injuries. Thiero was dealing with a wrist injury, and Carr had problems with his toe, but Lakers coach Ty Abbott said both will be ready to go on Friday.

Beyond this duo, Lakers fans should be keeping an eye on how the two-way players Chris Mañon, AK Okereke and Peter Suder do.

In a competition like this, it’s not at the level of a typical NBA game. But it is a good test for young players.

Ideally, they all play well, no one gets hurt and the Lakers like what they see from their young core. The Thunder should provide a good test for them on Friday night. Here’s hoping they ace it in Las Vegas.

Notes and Updates

  • There are no injuries to report at this time.
  • The Lakers play back-to-back games this weekend and also have at least two other contests in Las Vegas.
  • If they win their games and advance, they’ll be playing in the semifinals next weekend.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

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SummerKnicks Game Preview: Knicks vs. Nets, July 10, 2026

Jun 2, 2026; San Antonio, TX, USA; New York Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara (51) practices during media day for the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

The brief hiatus from basketball has ended, and it is time to put on your best basketball-watching attire and enjoy some Knicks Summer League play in Las Vegas.

After the wild ride that was the 2026 NBA Playoffs and the ultimate high of the Knicks bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to New York, it is important to reset the evaluators and remember what mid-July basketball means. These games are not about raw shooting percentages or final scores. Sloppy play and chaos become the norm when a roster is put together in a week. Instead, the focus should steer towards processing speed, offensive set execution, and general defensive awareness.

By leading the Knicks to a championship, Mike Brown has solidified his status as a top NBA coach. Earning a spot on Brown’s rotation involves defensive discipline, aggressive closeouts, and making intelligent extra passes.

Here is what to watch for as the Knicks take on their cross-town rivals.

With New York’s veteran core taking the summer to bask in championship glory, Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara should see massive usage. For the summer, this team is theirs. The goal here is clear. The coaching staff needs to see Dadiet’s ability to create his own separation and effectively initiate offense against set defenses. For Diawara, the focus is defense. Coaches will want to see if he can consistently disrupt passing lanes and quickly switch onto smaller guards.

Friday’s game also marks our first look at second-round selections, Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel. Kayil’s addition to the roster is a last-minute surprise, as many of us expected him to remain overseas. For Kayil, the intrigue lives in his physical and intellectual approach to the guard position. Keep an eye on how he uses his solid frame to handle pick-and-roll coverages. Possessing advanced playmaking instincts, the real test will be whether he can find consistency with his outside shot. The key aspects of Nickel’s game to keep an eye on are his off-ball movement, floor spacing, and defensive mechanics. His success shooting the basketball is well documented, but how is he with the other pieces that make a complete player?

Of course, one cannot ignore Tyler Kolek’s absence from the roster. This is a major statement by New York’s front office and coaching staff. Keeping Kolek away from the often-disorganized Summer League play suggests that the staff views him as a finished enough product to enjoy a little more vacation time.

The Nets are bringing a “loaded” young group to Vegas. They are set to feature the 2025 draft selections heavily: Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. The tactical challenge New York will face immediately is Egor Demin. Demonstrating a bounty of aggressiveness, Demin showcased his ability to attack the paint during the California Classic. If this continues, the Knicks’ interior defensive rotations will be tested right from the beginning. New York will face a different test on the perimeter. Brooklyn’s #6 overall pick, Mikel Brown Jr., should be the focal point of most of the Nets’ offensive sets. Brown should put the Knicks’ perimeter defenders to work early. The wings need to stay glued to him while also collapsing effectively when Demin drives into the paint. If New York can force Brooklyn’s role players to beat them, they are doing their jobs correctly.

Game Details

  • Date: Friday, July 10
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
  • Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
  • How to Watch: Amazon Prime / Gotham
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Cubs Minor League Wrap: Iowa routs the Saints, 21-7

PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 21: Jonathon Long #91 of the Chicago Cubs runs to first base during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Cubs signed left-hander Josh Fleming and assigned him to Triple-A Iowa.

Iowa right-hander Andrew Wantz went to the development list.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs condemned the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 21-7. Or maybe the Hawkeyes beat the Gopher by two touchdowns.

Josh Fleming made his Cubs debut and allowed two runs on four hits over four innings. Fleming walked two and struck out two.

Corbin Martin came on to pitch the fifth inning. The first batter he faced hit a solo home run, but he retired the next three in order. That was enough for the official scorer to award Martin the win.

DH Christian Bethancourt hit two home runs tonight. The first was a solo home run in the fourth inning and the second one was a three-run home run in the eighth off a position player. (Those were the only three runs not scored off a real pitcher.) Bethancourt now has 11 home runs this season. He finished the night 3 for 5 with a double and the two home runs. He also walked once. Bethancourt had five overall RBI and scored three times.

Shortstop Scott Kingery went back-to-back with Bethancourt in the fourth for his third home run on the season. Kingery went 1 for 6.

Left fielder Jonathan Long is putting his early-season struggles behind him and tonight he was a perfect 5 for 5 with a walk, two doubles and his tenth home run on the year. The home run came with the bases empty in the sixth. Long scored five runs and drove in two. Long is hitting .382 with three home runs so far in eight games in July.

Everyone in the lineup had at least two hits or a home run. Right fielder Brett Bateman went 3 for 6 with a double and a steal. He scored three times and drove in one.

First baseman BJ Murray went 3 for 5 with a walk. He scored three runs and drove home three. Murray is now hitting .334 with a .429 OBP on the season.

Second baseman James Triantos was 3 for 5 with a double and a walk. He drove in two and scored one run.

Third baseman Owen Miller doubled twice in a 2 for 5 effort. He had three RBI and scored twice.

Catcher Moisés Ballesteros was 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and drove in four.

Center fielder Chas McCormick was 2 for 6 with one run scored.

Bethancourt’s home run off a real pitcher.

Kingery goes back-to-back.

Mo Baller’s two-run double.

Jonathon Long’s tenth home run this year.

A great 3-6-3 double play.

Long doubles.

BJ Murray just missed a home run.

Bateman doubles off a lefty.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were extinguished by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 11-2.

Nick Dean started and kept the Shuckers scoreless for the first 1.1 innings. Did did not allow a hit. He walked one and struck out two.

After Kenyi Perez tossed 2.2 scoreless innings in relief of Dean, Yenrri Rojas came on to pitch the fifth. Rojas got through the fifth OK, but then he couldn’t find the plate, gave up four runs in the sixth and he got the loss.

The final line on Rojas was four runs on just one hit over 1.2 innings. Rojas walked four and struck out four. Three of the four runs came after Rojas exited for Tyler Schlaffer, who gave up a grand slam to top overall prospect Jesús Made.

The Smokies managed just four hits. Shortstop Ed Howard had two of them, including a solo home run in the eighth inning. It was Howard’s second home run this year. Howard was 2 for 3.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs creamed the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 9-1.

Kevin Valdez gave the Cubs four strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits. Valdez struck out three and walked one.

Luis Rujano pitched the fifth and sixth inning, retired all six batters he faced and got the win because Valdez didn’t go five. Rujano struck out two.

Third baseman Matt Halbach went 3 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored one run and drove in one.

Second baseman Michael Hallquist was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Hallquist scored twice and had one RBI.

Right fielder Miguel Useche was 2 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He scored one run.

Shortstop Angel Cepeda showing off his arm.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were tabled by the Fredericksburg Nationals, 6-3.

Starter Emilio Ramos only allowed one run on three hits over three innings, but that was enough to earn the loss. Ramos walked two and struck out three.

Shortstop Derniche Valdez didn’t hit a home run tonight, but he did go 2 for 4 with a double. Valdez scored twice.

Third baseman Ludwing Espinoza, in his first game for the Birds since April, was 3 for 5.

Right fielder Eli Lovich was 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk.

Left fielder Ethan Conrad, in his Pelicans debut, was 0 for 5 with two strikeouts. Hey, it was a better debut than Kris Bryant’s first game with Boise way back when.

Highlights.

ACL Cubs

Lost to the Angels, 3-2.

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From The Hockey News Archives: No Town Like Motown

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No Town Like Motown - December 4, 2007 - Vol. 61, Issue 11 - Ken Campbell

NO, WE DON’T HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE RED WINGS.

But thanks so much for asking.

Last season, we anointed Ken Holland as the No. 1 GM in the league. A couple of issues back, we came to the determination the Wings have the premier defense corps in the NHL this season.

And now this. Hey, if the skate fits…

After an exhaustive study of each of the NHL’s 30 organizations, we can say with confidence the Red Wings are the No. 1 franchise in the league and it isn’t even close. In our examination of nine on- and off-ice criteria focused primarily on the past five seasons, the Wings not only finished first in the NHL, but the gap between themselves and the second-place Ottawa Senators was bigger than the chasm between any other two teams in the league.

That was the case when we ranked the league’s GMs and came up with Holland, and the NHL’s blueline corps and also settled on the Red Wings. It wasn’t even close, as evidenced by the fact that when we ranked Detroit’s defense corps No. 1, we said, “it’s not even close.” When we picked Holland as the top GM in the league, we quoted a fellow NHL executive as saying, “To me, Ken Holland is the best GM in hockey and there’s nobody even close to him.”

But what makes the Red Wings so dominant in a league that has been overrun by parity? They have not won a Stanley Cup since 2002, but that’s one more than 25 other teams in the league have won in that time span. Simply put, the Wings are very strong in every organizational aspect. They’ve been perennial playoff contenders; been dominant in the regular season; have one of the best ownerships and front offices in the league; have drafted relatively well considering their dearth of high draft picks; their franchise value is high; and, until this season, their attendance has been among the most robust in the NHL.

They are, if you will, the model franchise. They have managed to be a powerhouse with an unlimited budget and unlike some other big-market teams, have yet to become a casualty of the salary cap. They continue to develop solid, if not spectacular players and their late-round picks – such as Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and (maybe one day) Niklas Kronwall – have proven to be major home runs.

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Bauers powers Brewers to 8-4 series finale win over Cardinals

Jul 9, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Jake Bauers (9) dives and avoids the tag from St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jose Fermin (15) during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Box Score

For the first time since the first half of Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Brewers took the first lead of the game early on and never looked back. Backed by Logan Henderson’s stellar first start since May 22, Jake Bauers had the decisive three-run home run in the top of the third inning to carry the Crew to an 8-4 win.

In a rare five-game series, the Brewers went into Busch Stadium and showcased a little bit of everything from comebacks to dominant pitching. And, for the first time since July 2008, the Brewers won four games in St. Louis, pushing themselves 18 games above .500.

Henderson came out firing in the bottom of the first inning as he struck out two of the top four hitters in the Cardinals lineup in Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson.

In the top of the second inning, the offense was jump-started by Bauers with a single to center field. After a wild pitch sent Bauers to second base, Andrew Vaughn then grounded into a fielder’s choice. During the play, Bauers pulled off an acrobatic move to prevent himself from being tagged out as the lead runner.

Because of the “Okie-Doke” move (name of the acrobatic play per Bauers in a postgame interview), Sal Frelick drove in the first run of the game to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. Then, almost instantly, Cooper Pratt added another run with a base hit up the middle to extend their lead to 2-0. Pratt continues his hot stretch at the plate as he now has nine hits over his last 22 at-bats with four RBIs and six walks.

After Henderson’s clean 1-2-3 second inning, Garrett Mitchell and Jackson Chourio set the Brewers up for another big inning. Brice Turang drove in his first RBI of the game with a base hit himself to extend the Brewers lead to 3-0. A couple of batters later, Andrew Pallante missed with a curveball up to Bauers, and he ripped it to right field for a three-run home run to further extend the Brewer lead to 6-0.

Henderson continued to dominate in his first outing since returning from the injured list, as he retired 10 batters in a row before giving up a double to Burleson to give the Cardinals life. After a groundout from Walker, Lars Nootbaar singled on a base hit to center to put the Cardinals on the board for the first time tonight to make it 6-1.

After Henderson’s first blip on the radar in the bottom of the fourth inning, he hit JJ Wetherholt to lead off the bottom of the sixth, snapping a mini streak of four batters set down in a row. He then struck out Iván Herrera before walking Burleson, signaling the end of his return to the Brewers rotation.

Replacing Henderson was Chad Patrick, who instantly gave up a three-run home run to Walker, cutting the Brewers’ lead down to 6-4. That was the lone blemish on the night for Patrick as he settled in, retiring the next five batters he faced.

In an attempt to re-extend the lead, Turang homered to lead off the top of the seventh inning to center field to make it 7-4.

Aaron Ashby came in for relief in the bottom of the eighth inning, where he looked to end his streak of stressful outings. That did not happen tonight, as he allowed a base hit to Wetherholt and walked Herrera with no outs. Having to face the tying run at the plate for the rest of the way put fans and the players alike on edge, but Ashby prevailed as he forced a groundout to Burleson, struck out Walker, and got Nootbaar to pop out.

Team Venezuela helped add an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Chourio doubled to open the inning and William Contreras hit a sac fly — aided by aggressive baserunning and a nice slide by Chourio — to push the Brewers’ lead to 8-4.

Bauers, Frelick, Pratt, Turang, and Chourio each finished with a pair of hits as part of a balanced offensive attack tonight, with the Crew finishing with 11 hits and three walks as a team. Henderson worked 5 1/3 innings in his start, striking out four and allowing three runs, while Patrick, Ashby, and Abner Uribe were effective in relief to lock this one up.

The Brewers finish their time in St. Louis this season going 5-2 and 8-2 overall. They’ll have one final series against the Redbirds in Milwaukee to close out the season. Milwaukee is set to finish their long road trip in Pittsburgh, as they visit the Pirates for the first time this season. Tomorrow night will be the start of the final series before the All-Star Break as the Brewers face off against the Pirates, with first pitch at 5:40 p.m.

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Utah Jazz vs Washington Wizards recap: Darryn Peterson is only a man

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 6: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz reacts after getting hit in the jaw against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of a 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game at the Jon M Huntsman Center on July 6, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s on nights like these that I’m reminded of the ravine that divides the NBA from all other levels of basketball. This Summer League tilt was sloppy on both sides, and not many fringe players earned an NBA contract tonight, by the looks of it.

This matchup has always been about the number-one pick AJ Dybantsa and the number-two pick Darryn Peterson. Rivals since high school, these two are in an eternal struggle for the designation of being “number-one”. They wanted to be the best in their high school class. They wanted to be the first off the board in the NBA Draft. Rest assured, these two will be battling for Rookie of the Year honors by the season’s end.

Both stars were fully aware of the magnitude of this game, and both wanted to be the first to strike in the Thomas and Mack Center.

Dybantsa took his first touch all the way to the basket and forced up an off-kilter shot that missed everything.

Peterson took the ball the other way and forced up a top-of-the-key three-pointer that missed badly.

Dybantsa quickly picked up the slack, flipping an under-and-around lay-in and following that up with a good leading bounce pass through traffic to find a cutting teammate.

From there, the 1-2 combo settled in and let the game flow around them.

For the first time in a Utah Jazz uniform, Darryn Peterson walked among mortal men as a commoner. He had a very slow start in his Las Vegas debut, opening the night 0-for-3 from the floor and even whiffing on his first all-or-nothing foul shot. His steps were hurried, and he stood unstable before his first trip to the bench. Not quite so infallible outside of the mountain air in Salt Lake City.

AJ claimed the first quarter, dicing up the defense with fadeaways, dribble chains, and this vicious, inhumane slam that will dominate your social media feed for the next day or so.

Washington set the tone for some — should we say physical — defense out on the perimeter, and the officials gave the Wizards liberty to reside in Peterson’s chest for the majority of the game. The number-two pick couldn’t get himself into a rhythm as he’d step out of bounds, dribble off his foot, and sputter under the heat of the Wizards’ aggressive double-team scheme.

They were incredibly handsy from end to end, frustrating Jazz ball handlers as the whistles piled up at the other end.

AJ Dybantsa lives at the foul stripe — that’s his superpower — and he has since his days at BYU, where he led the nation in foul shots taken per game. Perfectly within his idiom, Dybantsa was 6-of-7 from the foul stripe — keeping in mind the experimental do-or-die free throw rule. Considering how much more physical the Wizards played at the defensive end, it’s a mystery how the Wizards managed to reside in the comfort of the bonus for the entire first half.

Neither player was efficient from the floor, but Dybantsa won the first half of this marquee matchup.

Dybantsa finished the first half with 19 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

Peterson lagged behind with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and a pair of dimes.

The lead shrank to single digits, and what appeared to be a blowout in the first half — Washington led by as much as 20 — rapidly drew tighter in the second half. It had become a two-possession game before the clock hit 0:00 in the third quarter.

Both stars lived up to the bill in this one, clearly displaying their individual talents despite their efficiency not leaping off the box score.

Peterson’s tendency to cough up possession has to get straightened out. He’ll be a target for his whole career, so learning to handle and exploit on-ball pressure will be critical to maximize his effectiveness and keep his teammates involved.

Cody Williams stole the show a bit for the Jazz, despite a rocky opening to the night. Though he struggled to stop Dybantsa on the defensive end, he notched 16 points on great efficiency (6-11, 2-3 3PT) plus 5 rebounds. He’s not a ball-handler, despite the Jazz’s wishes, but thrived on a newly added stepback mid-range jumper tonight.

Dybantsa had a strong night, finishing with 27 points on 7-for-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.

The Wizards ultimately won this game behind the strength of their NBA guys, Tre Johnson and Will Reily, who combined for 41 to pair with Dybantsa’s 27. They also strongly benefited from Jamir Watkins, Darryn Peterson’s assignment fouling a grand total of 9 times (not a typo).

Peterson likewise fouled 9 times in this one, an ugly blemish on what was an unsteady night for the rookie. He finished with 24 points on 6-18 shooting and 2-7 from three-point land (thanks to a bank-shot heave at the final horn). Dybantsa will be crowned the winner of this head-to-head with Peterson thanks to better highlights and the team win, but neither player dominated, despite what X will likely tell you.

Washington defeats Utah with a final score of 92-88.

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.

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Wizards vs. Jazz final score: Dybantsa dominates as Washington wins, 92-88

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards looks to pass the ball as Cody Williams #5 of the Utah Jazz plays defense during the game during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

AJ Dybantsa made his Wizards debut as Washington defeated the Utah Jazz 92-88 to open 2026 Las Vegas Summer League play.

The Wizards’ starting lineup — Will Riley, Tre Johnson, Dybantsa, Jamir Watkins and Felix Okpara — was comprised of all five of their selections from the previous two NBA Drafts.

Riley opened the game at point guard, while Dybantsa played on the wing and Okpara manned the paint. 

Johnson scored from all three levels for a quick nine points on 3-3 FG. He ended the half with 18 points on 7-11 FG and finished the game with 26 points.

Dybantsa’s first points came off a contested reverse layup. A minute later, he got to his spot and drilled an and-1 mid-range jumper. Then came the boom.

Washington’s No. 1 pick got into the lane and posterized a Jazz defender, flexing as the crowd inside Thomas & Mack Center rose to its feet.

Dybantsa flashed his elite first step and relentless rim pressure while drawing contact at will. He ended the first half with 17 points on 4-12 FG.

Watkins assumed the Darryn Peterson assignment and defended him well. The second-year wing, who recently signed a two-way contract, held Peterson to just 6-for-18 FG, 2-for-7 3PT and eight turnovers. He committed 9 fouls (the Summer League foul limit is 10), but overall, his defense made Peterson work for every point.

Dybantsa shook off a quiet start to the third quarter with a pair of impressive finishes, the first a one-legged mid-range jumper as the shot clock expired. The next was an acrobatic, English-filled layup that came off a tough drive.

The BYU product missed all five of his 3-point field goals. And despite creating impressive separation on a few turnaround jumpers, he left most of those short as well.

But as far as Summer League debuts go, it appears Dybantsa’s couldn’t have gone much better. He finished with 27 points — tied for the most by a No. 1 pick in their Las Vegas Summer League debut — seven rebounds and two steals on 7-for-18 FG.

Dybantsa exited the game with one minute remaining with what he called “leg soreness,” but he said on the ESPN broadcast he is okay.

NBA Summer League’s new rule limits free-throw attempts to just one shot, no matter the type of shooting foul or bonus situation. Dybantsa shot 7-for-8 from the line, but if standard rules applied, he would’ve attempted a whopping 15 free throws.

Will Riley used a mean spin move and an and-1 finish to propel the Wizards to a narrow victory. He finished with 17 points on 5-for-12 FG.