Cooper Flagg hasn't even played a summer league game, and we're turning our attention to the 2026 NBA Draft. Who might go in next year's first round?
Super League could expand to 14 teams in 2026 but crucial vote awaits
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Super League could expand to 14 teams as early as next year if a strategic review led by the Rugby Football League’s interim chair, Nigel Wood, can convince the existing 12 teams that expansion is financially viable for 2026.
Wood, the governing body’s former chief executive who was brought back earlier this year after clubs decided he should lead a review that would scrutinise all aspects of the professional game in the United Kingdom.
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Australian cricket great Ian Healy has taken aim at national batting coach Michael Di Venuto, claiming the top six has “regressed” under his tutelage.
2025 NBA Draft Grades for every team in the second round
The list of NBA legends who slid to the second round is extensive: Nikola Jokic, Jalen Brunson, Draymond Green, Khris Middleton make up some of the recent names, and if you want to go back there's Manu Ginobili, Lou Williams, Marc Gasol and many more.
The 2025 NBA Draft will feature some breakout names in the second round — or, at least, solid rotation players — as well as some fan favorites and two-way guys trying to make the cut. Let's grade these picks (and note, my grading in this round is more gentle and on a curve compared to the first round; expectations are relatively low and with that the misses are not painful like missing in the lottery).
(Check out the grades for the first round picks here.)
Boston Celtics: B-
Amari Williams (46), Max Shulga (57 via trade with Orlando)
Williams is big — literally at 6'11" and 255 pounds — and is physically strong. However, what catches scouts' eyes is his high-level passing, especially from the high post. The challenge is he's on the lower end of the NBA athleticism scale, meaning he's not a great shot blocker and defensively would get dragged into pick-and-rolls and hunted. He also doesn't stretch the floor with his shooting. He likely ends up on a two-way contract or in the G-League and will have to prove he has more than just his passing.
Taking a chance on a shooter is always a good thing. Shulga is a Ukrainian-born 6'4" guard who played in Spain and then spent five years in college, most recently at VCU. Last season, he shot 38.7% from 3 and was at 41.5% two seasons ago. The question with Shulga is if he can defend well enough to stick in the league (scouts were split on his defense and how big an impediment it is). He's reportedly going to be on a two-way contract as he tries to prove he can defend his position.
Charlotte Hornets: B+
Sion James (33), Ryan Kalkbrenner (34)
James is a 6'5" senior guard who was part of Duke's run to the Final Four last season, and he played four seasons at Tulane before that. He's a quality defender and makes good decisions, things that should translate to the next level. The question is his offense and specifically his jumper (which improved every year and he shot 41.3% from 3 at Duke last season). Those numbers look good, but he was a low usage player, not just on a stacked Duke team, but relatively at Tulane before that. He has to prove he can be enough of a scoring threat at the next level to stay on the court.
Kalkbrenner is another senior the Hornets hope can help give them minutes starting this season. The 7'2" center was a defensive force at Creighton and averaged 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game. He's a drop-coverage rim protector who, by NBA standards, is not athletic, which means he could struggle in space. Plus there are questions about his shooting outside 10 feet. Still, for a team that just traded away Mark Williams yesterday, there are backup center minutes to be had.
Chicago Bulls: C
Lachlan Olbrich (55, via trade with Lakers)
He's a 6'9 center who played one season at UC Riverside before returning to his native Australia to play for the Illawarra Hawks. He has an excellent feel for the game and plays with a high IQ. Scouts like his game but question his NBA fit. Olbrich is undersized and would struggle to play as a center in the NBA — he couldn't defend other fives — but he doesn't have much shooting range, so he would struggle to play the four. Likely a draft-and-stash guy who keeps playing in the NBL, and the Bulls see if he can develop a respectable outside shot.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B+
Tyrese Proctor (49), Saliou Niang (58)
Proctor is a potential steal of a pick at 49. He became a high-level shooter in his three years at Duke, last season knocking down 40.5% of his 3-pointers. The 6'4" guard isn't an explosive athlete and doesn't have the game to be an NBA point guard, but he could be a 3&D combo guard if he can put on some muscle — he's skinny and that hurts him on defense. Still, a lot to like with this pick, especially in this spot.
Niang is an Italian wing with physical gifts who had some big moments for Trento in his native country. However, his shooting and ball handling are not NBA-ready yet. Niang is likely to be a draft-and-stash player who will remain in Europe.
Detroit Pistons: B+
Chaz Lanier (37)
Detroit needs more shooting (who doesn't?) and that's what makes Lanier a good pick in the second round. He shot 39.5% from 3 last season for Tennessee, and the 6'4" guard is a good movement shooter. The challenge is everything else, he's not a great defender or playmaker. He has to prove he can round out his game a little, but at this point in the second round taking a shooter is a good call, that's always a skill in demand.
Golden State Warriors: B
Alex Toohey (52, via trade with Phoenix), Will Richard (56, via trade with Memphis)
Toohey is a native Australian who played last season with Sydney and proved to be an impressive wing defender at 6'8", and he has a good feel for the game. The question for him (like many in the second round) is, can he shoot well enough to stay on the floor? He hit just 30.2% of his 3-pointers last season in Sydney. Taking him deep in the second round, it's a good bet to see if he can develop that skill (possibly as a draft-and-stash who stays in the NBL another year or more).
Richard is a 6'3" guard who is good at a lot of things but doesn't have an NBA-level skill at one thing. Those guys tend not to make the cut, but the Warriors might give him a two-way and see if something pans out, which is a solid use of the 56th pick.
Indiana Pacers: B
Kam Jones (38, trade with Spurs), Taelon Peter (54)
Jones is a perfect example of what second-round picks can be. Jones is older, 23, and is an experienced high-level playmaker who averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists a game last season at Marquette. He's in the second round for a reason; he's not an explosive athlete, and he shot just 31.1% from three-point range last season. However, he's a steady lead ball handler and floor general, which makes him a solid pickup in the second round, especially for a team looking to fill some point guard minutes next season.
Taelon Peter, a 6'4" guard who shot the ball well for Liberty, but he came off the bench for the Flames in all but two games. He was not highly regarded on many draft boards, but the Pacers liked his shooting ability enough to take a chance on him at the end of the second round.
LA Clippers: B
Kobe Sanders (50)
The 6'7" wing averaged 15.8 points a game at Nevada last season, shooting 34.2% from beyond the arc, and he is especially impressive on pull-up jumpers. Sanders earned his way here, playing well enough at the Portsmouth Invitational to get an NBA Draft Combine invite, where he impressed the Clippers enough to take a chance on him. There are questions about whether his athleticism is at an NBA level, but he is likely to receive a two-way contract and have the opportunity to prove himself.
Los Angeles Lakers: A-
Adou Thiero (36, trade from Minnesota)
The Lakers want to get deeper and more athletic on the wing and Thiero checks those boxes, so LA moved up from 55 to get him. Thiero might be the best athlete in the draft (either round) and has good size at 6'6" with a 7-foot wingspan, he's an excellent defender and he plays hard. Lakers fans are going to like him. He can attack the rim, but if he's really going to make an impact in the NBA he has to improve his jumper (25.6% last season at Auburn).
Memphis Grizzlies B
Javon Small (48), Jahmai Mashack (59 via trade with Rockets, others)
Small, a West Virginia guard, had the potential to be a backup playmaking guard in the NBA. At 6'1", he is undersized for his role (insert your own play off his name joke here), but he's the kind of hard-working, scrappy player that coaches and fans love. It's a good roll of the dice here by Memphis in the back half of the second round.
Mashack, a 6'5" guard from Tennessee, becomes Mr. Irrelevant as the last pick in the draft (but so was Isaiah Thomas and he had a quality NBA career). Mashack's strength lies in being an elite defender, one of the best in the draft (period, both days). If he can develop enough of a shot and some handles, he will have a role in the NBA, but right now he's got work to do on the offensive end.
Milwaukee Bucks: B+
Bogoljub Markovic (47)
Tell me if this sounds familiar: A Serbian big man who has some interesting offensive skills but serious questions about his defense. The 6'11" big averaged 13.9 points and 6.9 rebounds a game, and was both a shooter and a quality playmaker for Mega in the Adriatic League. If he's going to stick with the Bucks, he needs him to play better defense, but this is a quality pickup at 47.
Minnesota Timberwolves: B
Rocco Zikarsky (45)
The Australian is 7'3" and would be the third-tallest player in the NBA next season (behind Wemby and Edey). Zikarsky moves well for a man his size and it's easy to project him as a rim-running, paint-protecting big man at the NBA level. He's also 18 and still a project at this point. This is a long-play by the Timberwolves and don't be surprised if he stays in Australia and the NBL for another year or two before coming over.
New Orleans Pelicans: B
Micah Peavy (40, trade with Wizards)
Peavy is a high-level defender as a 6'6" wing who had a breakout offensive season at Georgetown, averaging 17.2 points a game and shooting 40% last season. Scouts tend to be skeptical of guys making big offensive leaps, but as a fifth-year senior, this one seems real enough, and if it is, he can be an NBA-level rotation player. Solid pickup here by the Pelicans.
New York Knicks B-
Mohamed Diawara (51)
Spike Lee hung out in the Barclays Center to watch this pick, a player the Knicks almost certainly stash overseas for a year or two more. Diawara is a 20-year-old wing with impressive athleticism and a 7'4" wingspan but still finding his way playing for Cholet Basket in France. Late in the second round, the Knicks rolled the dice on a long-term play that may not have thrilled Spike Lee, but was the respectable pick.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B
Brooks Barnhizer (44)
The Northwestern graduate is 6'5" with a 6'11" wingspan who plays a very high IQ game. While he's impressive and disruptive defensively, he has work to do on the offensive end to be NBA-ready, especially with his catch-and-shoot jumper. The Thunder are not exactly flush with open roster spots, so Barnhizer may have to earn his way to OKC through a two-way contract. That said, he fits the mold of a Thunder player.
Orlando Magic: A-
Noah Penda (32, via trade with Boston)
Penda is going to fit right in with the Magic's style of play: He's a 6'8" forward who is an outstanding defender who has shown some playmaking skills. He's a glue guy. Penda showed a lot of promise at the age of 20, playing for Le Mans in his native France. Like many second-rounders, there are questions about his shot, but this is a strong second-round pick.
Philadelphia 76ers: B
Johni Broome (35)
Broome was the SEC Player of the Year, the 6'9" big man from Auburn was one of the best players in college basketball last season. He also might fit into the long line of very good college players whose games don't transfer to the NBA. He's a 6'9" center who is good at a lot of things but may not have that one elite NBA skill. There are a lot of questions, but this is a good bet in the second round.
Phoenix Suns: A-
Rasheer Fleming (31, via Minnesota trade), Koby Brea (41, via Golden State trade)
Phoenix wanted Fleming and made a series of trades through the day Thursday to secure the No. 31 pick from Minnesota, giving them the chance to draft the 6'8" 3&D forward from St. Joseph's. He's athletic, has a 7'5" wingspan, can defend, and shot 39% from 3 this past season. It feels like there's a very good chance he'll play minutes for the Suns next season.
Brea might be the best catch-and-shoot player in this draft, and at 6'5" he has good size to be an NBA wing. However, his defense and pretty much every part of his game other than shooting needs a lot of work. Still, at 41, this is not a bad spot to take a risk.
Sacramento Kings: B
Maxime Raynaud (42)
This is a steal of a pick this deep in the second round, some scouts made the case that the 7-foot stretch five could/should have been taken on the first night of the draft. He brings offensive skills to the table as a center, averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season for Stanford, while shooting 34.7% from 3-point range. The question is, can he be good enough defensively to stay on the floor, even as a backup? If he can hold his own on that end, this is a quality pick.
Toronto Raptors: B
Alijah Martin (39)
Martin is a fifth-year senior who transferred to Florida and helped the Gators win a national title last season. The 6'1" guard is one of the best defenders in the class, is a high-level athlete, and on offense he averaged 14.4 points a game. If he were a couple of inches taller, he likely would be a first-round pick, but as it is, he could be a solid backup for Toronto.
Utah Jazz: B
John Tonje (53)
After playing at Colorado State and Missouri, in his senior year at Wisconsin Tonje became the Badgers' Mr. Everything and a fan favorite. He plays with a lot of force, does not shy away from contact, and averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. He shot 38.8% from beyond the arc last season. The concerns are at the other end of the floor and his ability to defend. He played six years of college and will be 24 next season, so what the Jazz see is what they get, but at No. 53 Tonje is a good gamble.
Washington Wizards: B
Jamir Watkins (43)
Another older player — Watkins will be 24 by the time Summer League tips off — taken in the second round in hopes he can step in and help now. He's a strong defender who stood out at the NBA Draft Combine on that end, he could contribute defensively right now to the Wizards. Is his offense good enough to keep him on the court? He averaged 18.4 points a game for Florida State last season, but teams aren't sold. The Wizards made their bet and at 43 it's not a bad one.
Florida Panthers 2025 NHL Draft primer
The 2025 NHL entry draft is upon us.
This year, the league went with a decentralized draft, meaning the management from each NHL team is back at their respective facilities.
All the draft picks, however, will be at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California, where they’ll hear their name called and walk across the stage with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Your Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers are not expected to be one of the busier teams at the draft, at least in terms of selecting players.
As of Thursday night, Florida held only five selections at this year’s draft.
That number was a six on Thursday morning, but Florida flipped a fifth-round pick, 160th overall, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for goaltender Daniil Tarasov.
None of Florida’s picks are in the first three rounds, as the team has flipped many of its future assets to build the Stanley Cup Champions they’ve become over the past few seasons.
Here is where Florida will be picking on Saturday, barring any additional trades.
Round 4: 112th Overall
Round 4: 128th Overall
Round 5: 129th Overall
Round 6: 192nd Overall
Round 7: 224th Overall
For those wondering where the rest of Florida’s selections from this year’s draft have gone, here’s a quick refresher.
Round 1: 32nd Overall – to Calgary in the Matthew Tkachuk trade.
Round 2: 64th Overall – to Toronto, via Boston in trade that sent the Bruins’ 2024 second-round pick to Florida. The Panthers used the selection, No. 58 overall, on Linus Eriksson.
Round 3: 96th Overall – to Ottawa as part of the Vladimir Tarasenko trade.
Considering both players acquired in those trades went on to help Florida win Stanley Cups, it's probably safe to say they're considered as wins in Pantherland.
Round 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft is set to begin Friday at 7 p.m. ET and air nationally on ESPN.
On Saturday, NHL Network will air Rounds 2-7, which begin at 12 p.m. ET.
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Judge, Ohtani elected to start in All-Star Game as top vote-getters
NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge were the first players picked for the July 15 All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park, elected as starters by fans on Thursday.
Judge led the major leagues with 4,012,983 votes in the first round of fan balloting and the outfielder was picked for his seventh American League start in eight All-Star Games, though he missed the 2023 game because of a sprained right big toe. He also was the leading vote-getter during the first phase in 2022 and last year.
Ohtani topped the NL and was second in the big leagues with 3,967,668 votes, becoming the first designated hitter to start in five straight All-Star Games.
The pair were selected under rules that began in 2022 and give starting spots to the top vote-getter in each league in the first phase of online voting, which began June 4 and ended Thursday. Two finalists at every other position advanced to the second phase, which runs from noon EDT on Monday to noon EDT on July 2. Votes from the first phase do not carry over.
An individual can vote once per 24-hour period.
Remaining starters will be announced on July 2. Pitchers and reserves will be revealed on July 6.
Seven players from the World Series champion Dodgers advanced to the second phase along with three each from the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets, and two apiece from the Cleveland Guardians, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
AL finalists:
Catcher: Alejandro Kirk, Cal Raleigh
First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Second Base: Jackson Holliday, Gleyber Torres
Third Base: Alex Bregman, José Ramírez
Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Bobby Witt Jr.
Designated Hitter: Ryan O’Hearn, Ben Rice
Outfield: Javier Báez, Riley Greene, Steven Kwan, Mike Trout
NL finalists
Catcher: Carson Kelly, Will Smith
First Base: Pete Alonso, Freddie Freeman
Second Base: Tommy Edman, Ketel Marte
Third Base: Manny Machado, Max Muncy
Shortstop: Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor
Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong, Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker
Blackhawks Are Okay Missing Out On Matthew Schaefer
Over the current Chicago Blackhawks rebuild, they have drafted and developed a lot of great young defensemen. This is an important position to have depth, and Kyle Davidson has hammered that point home with his decision-making.
Whether it’s Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Louis Crevier, or Wyatt Kaiser, amongst others, there are plenty of bright spots at this position within the organization.
For this reason, the Blackhawks aren’t in a bad spot because the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery didn’t go their way. The number one pick is likely going to be Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman from the Erie Otters.
Schaefer is an incredibly skilled player, but he only played in less than half of Erie’s season this past year due to injury. In 17 games, he had 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points. It’s great production, it’s just unfortunate that he wasn’t able to play for his entire draft year. The sample size isn't enough to consider him a flawless prospect.
Will the New York Islanders look past that and still take him with the first overall pick? Likely. If they don’t, he surely won’t get past the San Jose Sharks, who need a high-end defensive prospect as bad as any team in the league.
One of the young forwards available is much better suited for the Blackhawks, who are lacking organizational depth up front. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar could be stars, Oliver Moore is a great player, and more are coming. However, another star-level prospect like the first two forwards mentioned makes more sense for Chicago than another skilled defenseman.
Even if one of Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, James Hagens, Porter Martone, or Caleb Desnoyers is selected by Chicago, but they aren't as impactful as Schaefer, it could still be a win for the Blackhawks, who desperately need more scoring in the long term.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
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Blade Tidwell expected to join Mets for Pirates series: report
The Mets are going to look to their farm system to find an arm to replace Griffin Canning.
According to The Athletic's Will Sammon, the Mets are expected to call up Blade Tidwell on Friday. Sammon notes that Tidwell was slated to start Thursday's game for Triple-A Syracuse but the game was postponed due to rain. Tidwell will meet the team in Pittsburgh as the Mets get set for a three-game series against the Pirates. There could be other moves coming as well.
Canning left Thursday's win against the Braves with what the Mets call an ankle injury, but it's suspected the right-hander suffered an Achilles injury and they are just waiting for the results of an MRI to confirm.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game that he's confident the other pitchers in the rotation and in the minors will "step up" in Canning's absence.
“Guys will step up,” he said. “Our mentality is what do we need to do today. I’m confident in the guys we have in that room. I’m confident that the guys who will come up are going to give us opportunities to win baseball games, and we’ll continue to do so.”
Tidwell has just two big league starts with the Mets this season. He allowed six runs in 3.2 innings against the Cardinals back on May 4 and then allowed two runs in 3.2 innings in Philadelphia last weekend.
In 13 games (11 starts) with Syracuse, Tiwell has pitched to a 4-4 record and a 4.76 ERA but has 73 strikeouts over 62.1 innings pitched.
2025 NBA Draft: Hunter Sallis, Vlad Goldin among top undrafted prospects
While hearing one's name called is the heavily preferred route to the NBA, there are only so many available slots. For the 2025 edition, there were 59 picks, and many accomplished players went undrafted. Below is a quick look at the top 10 players not selected and where they're headed as undrafted free agents.
1. G Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
After playing two seasons at Gonzaga, Sallis transferred and took on a far more significant role at Wake Forest. During his final season, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 three-pointers per game, shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 80.4 percent from the foul line. While Sallis did not provide much value as a three-point shooter, making 27.7 percent of his attempts in 2024-25, there's prior evidence that he can.
During his first season at Wake Forest, the guard shot 40.5 percent from deep on 5.4 attempts per game. Had Sallis entered the 2024 draft, there's a strong likelihood he would have been selected. The decreased accuracy from three was likely a factor in him not being drafted on Thursday, but he agreed to a two-way deal with the 76ers shortly after the draft concluded.
2. C Vladislav Golden, Michigan
Goldin enjoyed a storied collegiate run, first appearing for Texas Tech and then joining FAU, where he was part of the team's Cinderella run to the 2023 Final Four. Rather than going to the NBA, Goldin returned to college last season, following head coach Dusty May to Michigan as a grad transfer. The 7-foot, 253-pound center averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 61/33/73 splits.
His size gives him upside as an interior scorer and rebounder, but he can be even better on offense if he can further develop his three-point shot. Goldin has agreed to a two-way contract with the Heat, who already have Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware, but there may be a need for additional depth in the frontcourt.
3. G Dink Pate, Mexico City
The 6-foot-8 Pate went the G League route, beginning with the 2023-24 season as part of G League Ignite. That team's disbandment led to Pate joining the Mexico City Capitanes, where he averaged 10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 34 starts. While the Texas native boasts plus athleticism, he needs to grow as a shooter, with Pate shooting 26 percent from three and 58 percent from the foul line last season.
The combination of size and athleticism makes him an attractive wing prospect, but Pate has a long way to go as a shooter. As of late Thursday night, he had not agreed to a two-way deal, but Pate may be worth the risk for a team willing to wait on his development.
4. F/C Eric Dixon, Villanova
Regarding individual numbers, Dixon is one of the most productive players in Villanova program history. The 6-foot-8 forward/center led the nation in scoring as a senior, earning All-America honors and a first-team All-Big East selection.
Dixon averaged 23.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.9 three-pointers per game while recording 45.1/40.7/81.3 shooting splits. While undersized for the NBA level, Dixon's improvements as a shooter may translate. He's agreed to a two-way contract with the Lakers, making for an intriguing option if Dixon can defend fours on the perimeter.
5. C Viktor Lakhin, Clemson
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center from Russia played three seasons at Cincinnati before transferring to Clemson ahead of the 2024-25 season. In 34 games, he recorded averages of 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.5 blocks and 0.7 three-pointers in 23.6 minutes, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 69.6 percent from the foul line.
Lahkin improved as a finisher and facilitator during his lone season at Clemson and was also an effective rim protector. However, he must improve his lateral mobility and strength in preparation for the NBA game. While yet to agree to a contract, it would be unsurprising if a team signed Lakhin to participate in Summer League play next month.
6. G Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
The younger brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, Ryan spent two seasons at Creighton before following in Andrew's footsteps and transferring to Gonzaga. As a senior, the 6-foot point guard led the nation in assists, averaging 9.8 per game while also accounting for 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 three-pointers. Nembhard averaged only 2.7 three-point attempts per game this past season, but the accuracy was there, as he shot 40.4 percent from beyond the arc.
While the lack of size may lead to some overlooking him, Nembhard's ability as a playmaker and improved perimeter shooter have put him on the NBA radar. He's been signed to a two-way deal by the Mavericks, which could be an interesting spot depending on how Dallas addresses the point guard position in free agency. Expecting Nembhard to crack the rotation would be unrealistic given the contract, but Kyrie Irving (knee) will miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 season.
7. G Chucky Hepburn, Louisville
After spending three seasons at Wisconsin, Hepburn transferred to Louisville and was a key contributor for the Cardinals in 2024-25. He earned All-ACC honors and averaged 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.4 steals (tops in the ACC) and 1.9 three-pointers per game. Hepburn shot 43.2 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the foul line. While the perimeter shot needs some work, Hepburn's foul shooting suggests he has room to develop.
He's capable of impacting the two-man game and as a defender, but Hepburn will need to improve as a shooter and clean up the turnovers (3.0 per game in 2024-25). Hepburn agreed to a two-way deal with the Raptors, who were much-improved defensively during the second half of last season. While the defensive ability and playmaking opened the door for Hepburn, his chances of sticking will likely hinge on the perimeter shot.
8. F RJ Luis Jr., St. John's
While St. John's coach Rick Pitino loaded up on transfers ahead of his second season with the program, his best player was among the few returnees. Luis, who played one season at UMass before transferring to St. John's, was one of the best players in college basketball in 2024-25. In 35 games, he averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers, shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 74.7 percent from the foul line.
In addition to being named Big East Player of the Year, the versatile Luis was a consensus All-American. Many projected him as a second-round pick, but his name was not called on Thursday. The good news for Luis is that he was able to land a two-way deal with the rebuilding Jazz. Utah did add Ace Bailey in the first round, but overall, the team has an uninspiring wing rotation. Also, the team has been willing to give two-way players and G League contributors opportunities to show what they can do during this rebuild. That may bode well for Luis.
9. G Mark Sears, Alabama
After two seasons at Ohio, Sears transferred to Alabama and flourished under head coach Nate Oates. A two-time All-American, the 6-foot point guard averaged 18.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.4 three-pointers per game in 2024-25. Sears shot 40.3 percent from the field, a decrease of 10 percentage points compared to the 2023-24 season, and his effective field goal percentage dropped by 11 percentage points to 49.4. Along with his size, the decrease in efficiency is a concern.
However, Sears can be a factor offensively, especially when put in positions where he can play downhill. The former Alabama point guard agreed to a two-way deal with the Bucks, who will play most of next season without Damian Lillard (Achilles). Also, Kevin Porter Jr. will be an unrestricted free agent. On paper, Sears is unlikely to be in a position to play rotation minutes. However, with the Giannis Antetokounmpo conversations from outside the organization, who knows what will happen once the dust settles after free agency?
10. F Grant Nelson, Alabama
The 6-foot-10 Nelson played three seasons at North Dakota State before transferring to Alabama ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. He provided the Crimson Tide with offensive versatility in the frontcourt, but there is work to be done on the perimeter shot. In 37 games last season, Nelson averaged 11.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.2 blocks and 0.6 three-pointers. Nelson shot 52.2 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from three and 66.7 percent from the foul line.
While a solid defender, there's still room for growth, especially in the two-man game. Nelson's ability to consistently knock down perimeter shots will be a key factor as he looks to establish himself as a pro. If he can do that, he can be a steal in this draft class. Nelson is joining the rebuilding Nets on a two-way deal, and while Brooklyn is rebuilding, they also have five first-round picks to work into the fold.
NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-06-27 09:10:58
Mets overcoming adversity is nothing new as team recaptures first place in NL East
The baseball season is long and the Mets know how to navigate the ups and downs all too well.
After losing 2-of-3 to the Phillies over the weekend, and then the first two of their four-game set with the Braves earlier this week, it felt like the sky was falling for the Mets. They were losing pitchers to injury, the once-daunted bullpen has shown kinks in its armor and the offense remained inconsistent. But how easy a couple of wins can turn things around.
The team entered play on Thursday, capping off a 10-game stretch against the Braves and Phillies, with a 2-7 record and losing their months-long grasp of the NL East in the process. Manager Carlos Mendoza and the rest of the team continued to preach patience, and it appears to be paying off.
With their back-to-back wins to split the series with the Braves -- including an impressive 4-0 win on Thursday night -- the Mets have hopped over the Phillies to recapture first place in the division.
While the Astros, who swept the Phillies this week, had their part to play, the Mets continued not to let the rough patch get to them because they knew it would turn around.
“We’re a resilient bunch and we stick together," Pete Alonso said after the game. "Losing is never great, losing stinks…how this group has handled adversity has always been great. A lot of these guys came from the same group that came from 11 games under last year and found a way to win games when they mattered most. There’s a lot of belief in this group, there’s a lot of talent in this room.
"Sometimes you get got, it’s the big leagues, you can lose on any given night because the talent is great, especially against two quality, in-division rivals. Happens….collectively it’s a learning experience and we’ll get better from it."
Alonso's three hits helped propel a Mets offense that has often squandered chances to put up runs. But they didn't on Thursday, even if they were on the cusp of doing so. In the fourth inning, Alonso's single put runners on first and third with no outs. Jeff McNeil flew out, unable to score Juan Soto from third and Tyrone Taylor was down in the count 0-2, but the outfielder lofted a long fly ball to give the Mets the lead. A lead they would not relinquish.
"Continue to stay in the fight. The one thing I keep saying is as long as we keep creating traffic, we’re going to come through," Mendoza said. "A lot of good at-bats, especially with two outs -- overall, as long as we’re creating traffic, we have a lot of good hitters. They’ll come through for us."
While the win was great, the Mets lost another starting pitcher due to injury on Thursday. Griffin Canning seemingly suffered an Achilles injury on a non-contact play, making him the third starter to be lost to injury this month (Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill).
Despite the string of bad injury luck, Mendoza remains confident in his group because he saw their resilience last year and it remains the same this season.
"Goes to show you that those guys are up for the challenge, whatever comes at you," Mendoza said. "It happens every year, how you’re going to handle it and how you’ll respond. With Senga and Megill ... guys will step up. Guys will come from the minor leagues. We just got to stick together and take it one day at a time….today is the most important day.
"Same thing we saw last year, the same we saw in spring training when guys went down this month, this past 10-12 days with injuries, not getting results. And how steady, how consistently they stay throughout. There’s no panic, but at the same time, there’s a sense of urgency to get better, how to get out of this stretch. Little by little, we continue to do the things we need to do, and obviously we have to be healthy. As far as the group goes, they’re consistent, they’re resilient, they have grit, they compete and they have fun."
The Mets will look to continue their winning ways when they head to Pittsburgh for three games this weekend against the 32-50 Pirates. If they take care of business, their stay atop of the NL East will be longer.
4 Changes In The Reported New CBA That Will Affect The Penguins
It appears that the NHL and NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) have managed to avoid a major labor dispute starting in the 2026-27 season.
According to a report by Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) extension has been agreed upon in principle by both parties, although nothing official has been signed yet. And with that extension comes some big changes for the NHL.
And these changes could also affect the Pittsburgh Penguins - as well as many other teams - in a pretty significant way.
Here are some of the changes and how each could be consequential for Pittsburgh looking ahead.
Longer season, shorter pre-season
With this change, the NHL regular season will expand to 84 games, and the pre-season will be reduced to four games.
Because of these changes, the regular season will begin at the end of September, teams will play all divisional opponents four times and all other conference opponents three times (with the home-and-away split with the opposing conference still intact), and players will play in less meaningless "warmup" hockey.
How does this affect the Penguins? For one, NHL veterans with 100-plus games will not be able to play in more than two pre-season games, meaning guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin won't be seen much prior to the start of the regular season.
Also, the Penguins haven't fared all that well against the Metropolitan Division in recent years, posting a pedestrian 32-31-15 record against divisional opponents over the last three non-playoff seasons. That figure only looks to be worse next season, as Pittsburgh isn't exactly a buyer right now.
Maximum contracts capped even more
Back in 2013, the maximum term for NHL contracts was reduced to eight years. Now, it has been reduced even further. Contract extensions for players with their current teams will be capped at seven years, while free agent contracts will max out at six.
While this is clearly a move - as a whole - designed to prevent NHL GMs from going nuts with dollars and term, it will also help prevent buyouts and give star players more opportunities on the open market to cash in.
This could be a good thing for a team like Pittsburgh since they are in the midst of a rebuild. If they were to make a splash in free agency in 2026 - as many think is the plan - it would help them in the sense that if they committed long-term to a bigger name, it wouldn't hurt them as much in the long run if things don't go as planned.
Free agency should be more exciting, which should bode well for a team like the Penguins, who will not be obligated to long-term extensions for anyone on their current roster for the next several seasons and will have plenty of free cap to spend starting in 2026.
No more playoff LTIR loophole
This is, potentially, a big deal for a team like Pittsburgh, who is in sell mode.
As it is now, teams with a bigger contract on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) prior to the trade deadline can load up on talent - so long as the player on LTIR doesn't play for the remainder of the regular season - to use in a non-capped playoff run.
Well, that's, reportedly, no longer the case. With the new CBA, a team's lineup must be cap-compliant for every game during the playoffs. This means that even if teams stockpile talent before the trade deadline and their roster isn't cap-compliant heading into the playoffs, the lineup they put on the ice has to be.
As a result, there may be more teams looking to dump salary by deadline day - which is a good thing for the Penguins. Pittsburgh will be able to take on some of those salary dumps for more picks and assets, which is only a good thing for a team trying to rebuild its prospect pool.
Rotating EBUGS a thing of the past
A fun NHL tradition appears to be coming to an end.
Teams will no longer be able to have a random emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) for any given game. Now, they will have to house a full-time EBUG, officially ending the tradition of seeing whether not Arnold Slick from Turtle "Crick" would get to go from beer league on Friday night to an NHL rink on Saturday.
The reason this could affect the Penguins? Well, they are likely to keep Mike Chiasson around to fill that role, as he has for Penguins' home games for years. However, it also opens the door for a team to, essentially, carry a thir goaltender - and the Penguins have a lot of goaltending in their system.
It's unclear at this point whether or not different people can rotate in and out of the EBUG slot and if there are limits in relation to the NHL roster. Nonethless, it should make goaltending battles more interesting going forward.
For a more comprehensive breakdown of the reported new CBA, click here.
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Feature image credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images