Arber Xhekaj could have filed for arbitration, but he chose not to, and that’s likely part of the reason why Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is getting calls about the gritty defenseman. According to BPM Sports and RG.org’s Marco D’Amico, multiple teams have called to enquire about the supersized defenseman. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, the blueliner of Albanian descent brings a special mix of skills to the table but is one of the victims of the congestion at the Habs’ blueline.
Clearly, the organization is aware of what it had in Xhekaj and what he can bring to the table, but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect between what the executives think about the eldest Xhekaj and what the bench boss thinks. While Hughes has always been firm about not wanting to trade him away, Martin St-Louis barely uses him when he dresses him. The big defender didn’t see a single game of action in the third round of the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes, and in his last game against the Buffalo Sabres, he spent only 1:52 on the ice.
While Xhekaj is a great teammate who never complains about the situation, the fact that he didn’t file for arbitration, which means he remains eligible to offer sheets, suggests he’d be willing to go somewhere where he’d see more action. The Canadiens already have four left-shot defensemen signed for the upcoming season in Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble. That’s not even taking into account the fact that Adam Engstrom is knocking on the big league’s door. Matheson, Hutson and Guhle are all signed long-term.
It would be easier for Xhekaj if he were a right-shot rear guard, but he isn’t, and he did look 100% comfortable when the Habs tried to play him on his off-side. Noah Dobson is the only right-shot who’s signed long-term with the Canadiens. The organization hopes that David Reinbacher will be able to graduate to the NHL this season, while Alex Carrier will be playing the last year of his deal. Russian right-shot prospect Bogdan Konyushkov has also been signed this offseason. While he will spend the season in the KHL, the plan is for him to come over afterwards, and he, too, could challenge for a spot in the lineup for the 2027-28 season.
It’s more than likely that Xhekaj’s representatives want to know what the plan is for him in the organization, but they’re not having the conversation with the right people. The GM can sign you to a contract, but he cannot guarantee how much ice time you will get. That’s up to the coach. It’s a tricky situation Xhekaj finds himself in. There’s no doubt that he likes the team and where it’s headed, especially since his brother could soon make the jump to the NHL, but if he thinks about his future as an NHL player, it may be better for him to land on a team that won’t be reluctant to both use and trust him.
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: Declan Carlile #67 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets ready for the game against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena on April 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Last summer we highlighted potential surprise players for the Penguins with a spotlight on Filip Hallander (no), Harrison Brunicke (kinda but not really), Alex Alexeyev (no) and Arturs Silovs (yep). 1.5 out of four is a .375 batting average that would look pretty good in baseball, at least. With hindsight, there were no shortage of players who ended up being major positive surprises like Kindel, Parker Wotherspoon, Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau and Ryan Shea at the top, with the total number impressive performances exceeding expectations stretching all over the lineup. Finding basically a point per game winger in Egor Chinakhov wasn’t one that many had in the sights either at this time last season, showing that the best surprises are ones that aren’t even on the radar ahead of time.
With that in mind, who could be some players that make a major mark on next season? For this, I’m not going to consider Sergei Murashov – most expect he will be in the NHL and while it would be a surprise if he plays at a high level, it’s not exactly out of the range of possibilities that no one would have expected. That’s too easy of a development to see on the horizon to stretch the surprise element. I’m not going to go with Andrei Kuzmenko either, though he might have a large impact on the season since he’s a guy with a 39-goal, 74-point NHL season under his belt. Seeing him producing points when given an opportunity wouldn’t be a shock, even though it would be a nice development if he performs a little better than the general expectation.
Declan Carlile
It isn’t going out on a huge limb to point out that Carlile will have the opportunity to make a big impact, but this is the showcase example of probably the casual fan looking up in the middle of the year and thinking ‘wow who is this guy’. The Penguins have a history of success when it comes to plucking defenders out of obscurity and see their stocks rise as a result, with Wotherspoon and Shea being prime recent examples. Carlile, as one of the few NHL caliber left defenders with the organization, should be in-line for as big of a role as he can handle. His underlying metrics show that he just might have some potential for a Wotherspoon-esque glow up. For a surprise, Carlile would have to slot in as a top-four matchup defender and handle it pretty well. There’s no guarantee that will happen (even though he’s carrying a decent amount of excitement and hope), Carlile has only 46 career games under his belt and has never spent a full season in the NHL at this point. Then again, like Wotherspoon, Carlile could find himself practicing in September with Erik Karlsson – possibly never to surrender that spot for the balance of the season.
Hendrix Lapierre
It seems like Lapierre is very tertiary in the eyes of many right now, nearly forgotten given all the other, flashier acquisitions of the summer. A surprise for him would be getting a jersey consistently and making a positive impact. He’s done that at times in his career already, and he can also play center – a position that isn’t exactly very impressive or settled on the team right now. Not sure this will be a surprise in the vain of finding a 50-point player this season, but considering expectations are pretty low for this player this is more of a ‘buy low’ guess that it won’t be too hard to clear the bar of what most have in mind at the moment. I could see Lapierre being a guy that suddenly you see has played 60+ games and made a couple plays along the way. (Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it’s not like he’ll have to be Kucherov to be a surprise, given the manner he’s mostly thought of on the internet).
Nick Robertson
The Penguins might not get the NHL star Robertson brother, but similar to Lapierre’s case, I think expectations and excitement for the Robertson they did get recently is too far on the low end for where it should be. Despite a lack of ice time and steady progression in Toronto, Nick Robertson has been a productive player. He’s scored 31 goals in the last two seasons, he’s figured a little something out. The Pens are a bit overstocked (for the moment anyways) with a ton of scoring-line wingers like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell to presumably go with Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin, so it’s also a case of wondering just how and where Robertson fits in at the moment. Be it through injury, performance, a trade or some other variable that hasn’t happened yet, here’s to guessing Nick Robertson has a big year for the Penguins. It’s within reason that he scores 20 goals and gets over 40 points without the benefit of a ton of power play time, which just might be surprising the fan base at-large when they look up in January or February and realize that this has become a key player on the squad.
Bill Zonnon
Gotta dare to dream on this one, since Zonnon, 20 in October, will just be in his first pro season next year. This could be premature, he’s probably better off being a solid candidate for a surprise in 2027-28. But hey, summer’s the time to live a little. It’s going to be a long season of now 84 games, and the Penguins dressed 25 different forwards last season for one reason or another. For whatever you want to say about them, Pittsburgh is a team that isn’t afraid to call a player up from the AHL and see what he’s got for a game or two. Zonnon took to the AHL like a fish to water by scoring a goal in each of the first three playoff games he played as a pro this spring. He’s got great wheels and a knack for going to the net, and is also a center. Zonnon will have to prove himself in Wilkes and then have the door opened (probably by injuries at the position, stay the thought!) so maybe in some ways it would be nice enough if he’s not seeing NHL action in 2026-27. But as Ben Kindel showed last year, if a player can make a good enough impression and keep making things happen, an NHL look isn’t out of the question.
Mikhail Ilyin
Similar to the Zonnon case, it might be a stretch to figure too strongly on Ilyin getting an opportunity in 2026-27. Like Zonnon, Ilyin also flashed in the AHL playoffs (nine points in 15 games) in basically his first taste of North American hockey after playing five AHL regular season games. The 21-year old was a historically good point-producer at a young age in the KHL, he’s succeeded at every level by showing the playmaking and hockey IQ chops that can’t be denied. It won’t be a surprise to see Ilyin blossom into a pretty good AHL player in 2026-27, it can be easy to try and hope that gets accelerated into some sort of NHL impact. We’ll see, but it’s a name to keep in mind somewhere as a potential candidate for a player that might be able to step up and make a name for himself if the conditions are just right.
See you next time in different uniforms. | Getty Images
The Islanders and NHL offseason news has generally slowed to a crawl, but their former captain had his formal introduction to Salt Lake City media, and we have salary arbitration dates for those who’ve filed around the league.
So there’s that.
Islanders News
7 Things About: Get to know new depth signing Matthew Kessel, who’s 6’3” but doesn’t come off as a big defenseman, really. [Isles]
Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck are both happy to be on the same side in Utah instead of facing each other in New York. [Newsday | Post]
I know you’re on pins and needles, Alex Jefferies’ salary arbitration date is set for July 30. [Puck Pedia]
Elsewhere
One offseason question for each team. The Islanders one is kind of a punt. [Sportsnet]
Post-career care for alumni has long been a priority for Glenn Healy, who announced the NHLPA’s wellness program for any player who’s played a shift in the NHL. [NHL]
Is Elias Pettersson an intriguing buy-low candidate, or expensive damaged goods? [TSN]
John Davidson and Jarmo Kekalainen reunite once again, with the latter bringing the ex-goalie and broadcaster to the Sabres. [NHL]
San Diego, California - April 09: San Diego Padres President of baseball operations A.J. Preller looks on before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The San Diego Padres limped into the All-Star break, but they did gain some momentum winning the last two games of the series against the Toronto Blue Jays to finish the ceremonial first half of the season at .500. There has been a lot of debate about what the Padres should do at the trade deadline in recent weeks. This debate reached a fever pitch after San Diego went on an eight-game losing streak to end June and start July. The worst part of the streak was that five losses were to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are running away with the NL West, and the other three losses were to the Chicago Cubs, who will likely be fighting for playoff position at the end of the season.
The Padres had a successful start to the season and were 11 games over .500 at one point. They have slowly regressed and slid back in the standings thanks in large part to the inept offense and more recently due to abhorrent pitching. These two things combined do not show much promise for a second half turnaround and they speak more to the fact that there is not much to look forward to. San Diego has needs in the lineup and in the rotation and the minor league system lacks prospect capital to address all the needs.
The hope is that Joe Musgrove or Nick Pivetta, and preferably both, could return to the rotation not long after the break, which would allow Padres general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to focus on addressing the needs on offense if he chooses to buy at the deadline. If Musgrove and Pivetta can return and be somewhat effective, they could join Michael King and some duo of Randy Vasquez, when he returns from the IL, Walker Buehler, German Marquez, Griffin Canning, Lucas Giolito, when he returns from the IL, JP Sears and/or Matt Waldron to make up a five-man rotation for the second half. Musgrove and Pivetta have both been throwing bullpens but have not started rehab assignments and there is no timeline for their returns.
The Padres offense has been slowly improving with Manny Machado now hitting above .200 and Jake Cronenworth just below. Fernando Tatis Jr. is still lacking in home runs but has a good average and is always a threat at the plate. Jackson Merrill has been streaky both ways but will hopefully figure it out. Xander Bogaerts started well but has faded lately and perhaps a break during the All-Star week will allow him to rest and recover for the second half. Gavin Sheets has seen his average slowly declining, but he continues to get on base and with Luis Campusano back off the IL the offensive production at the catcher position should improve. Miguel Andujar and Ty France have each had ups and downs this season while Samad Taylor provided some youthful energy to an aging lineup before he too landed on the IL.
Perhaps these are the factors the Friar Faithful considered when casting their vote on the Padres Reacts Survey poll this week on Gaslamp Ball. The fans seem willing to admit defeat and accept that this season is a lost season in San Diego. Whether or not Preller, the coaching staff and the players feel the same way remains to be seen but based on the poll results it would appear the fans are willing to focus on the future.
It easy to say the Padres should look to move pieces at the deadline rather than add, but it is harder to admit it is the right move and even harder to make it happen. San Diego will play 16-games before the deadline after the All-Star break and in that time, the Padres could make the decisions in the first week of August fairly easy. Either way, most if not all of us will be watching.
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LAS VEGAS — Dillon Jones logged zero minutes in the NBA Finals but made his contributions to the title as a pseudo-adviser to coach Mike Brown.
As a member of the 2025 championship Thunder, Jones offered experience in how to deal with the circumstances.
Brown not only sought his young player’s counsel, he implemented at least one suggestion by making the Knicks rewatch their Game 3 loss to the Spurs.
The Thunder did something similar for motivation a year prior when Jones was a reserve guard.
“With coach, honestly, it speaks a lot to just him more than me and whatever I had to say,” Jones said Monday after he helped the summer league squad defeat the Pistons 86-75. “The fact that he would even approach me and have a conversation with me or even ask me to help in any way. … I just think it speaks to him more than me — his humility to hear everybody out in the building. And I’m just glad I was able to help the team in any way.”
Dillon Jones dribbling the ball for the New York Knicks during an NBA Summer League game. NBAE via Getty Images
Jones said the idea to rewatch Game 3 came up in “organic conversations” with Brown.
“Nothing specific. Just conversations me and coach had,” Jones said. “And we were just talking about different things, and it came up in an organic conversation. It wasn’t like I was just sitting home plotting on what to say or anything like that. … These things — you try different things all the time. You never know what works and what doesn’t. I’m glad I was able to help the team.”
Dillon Jones and Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a championship celebration. GC Images
Jones is now fighting for a training camp invite.
Mohamed Diawara (left ring finger injury) and Pacôme Dadiet (right foot soreness) both sat Monday, but the Knicks didn’t miss them — riding rookie Jack Kayil to their first summer league win.
Kayil, a second-round pick who played last season in Germany, dropped a team-high 19 points with three steals in 29 minutes.
“Very talented kid. Super gifted,” Jones said. “One thing I appreciate with him — obviously, he wasn’t available early in summer league but when he came in the group, he knew what was going on, he understood what was going on. I think that speaks to his upbringing and coming up in Europe. Very talented kid. … He’s not going there trying to overshadow. … He’s got a bright future.”
Kayil arrived late to summer league because of a contract dispute with his German club. He said he doesn’t want to be stashed overseas this season.
Another free agent center is off the board.
Or is he?
Jonas Valanciunas appeared to push back on an overseas report that he finalized a deal to sign with Lithuanian squad BC Zalgiris, posting on social media with laughing emojis, “You wake up and see that everything has been decided for you, don’t need to do anything myself. Thank you, reporters.”
Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas dribbles the basketball during a game against Italy. IPA / SplashNews.com
Still, Valanciunas’ signing with Zalgiris — while maybe not finalized — remains expected, according to BasketNews.
Valanciunas, 34, is a free agent after being waived by the Nuggets. He’s reportedly targeted by the Knicks, who are thin at center with only Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond on the roster.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Yang Hansen #16 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 13, 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A 10:30 NBA Summer League tipoff is for the real sickos.
Did you decide to be a normal person and go to bed instead of watching the Minnesota Timberwolves second to last Las Vegas affair? No problem.
With Joan Beringer sitting out his second consecutive game with back tightness, it was another game in which the production was going to need to spread out among a couple guys that could vye for some minutes at the end of the bench this upcoming season. Because of that, there are a handful of things I kept an eye on in this game.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Rocco Zikarsky #44 of the Minnesota Timberwolves blocks the shot of Giovanni Emejuru #17 of the Denver Nuggets during a 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
1.) Can Rocco Zikarsky show me anything? The 7’4 sophomore had an extremely disappointing Summer League heading into Monday. Lacking presence defensively at the rim and shooting 27% from the field (14% three), it would be easy to head into the season feeling discouraged about where Zikarsky is at, even though he isn’t in line for consistent minutes.
2.) Could Isaiah Stewart see a few go down? One of the best shooters in the draft, Stewart had a rocky debut, going 0-9 from deep. He joined the Wolves quite literally on the fly (he was unable to practice with the team until the trade that brought him to Minnesota was approved), so perhaps some comfortability could make him seem a little more at home in his second game.
3.) Zyon Pullin has been the Wolves best player by a mile, outside of perhaps the sole game Beringer was a part of in which he shined. Is he able to stay consistent and further cement himself as the emergency point guard on the bench for the Wolves this season?
Zikarsky went on to answer the call in the early stages. Finally finding his stroke from deep. he hit his first two threes and was able to free himself up rolling to the basket. Showing some of his offensive potential, it’s abundantly clear he still has a long way to go defensively. Finishing the first half with a team-high 10 points, he also struggled mightily to rebound the basketball, even while being he tallest person on the floor. Facing off against a big in Portland’s Yang Hansen, someone perhaps a little closer to getting consistent NBA minutes, Zikarsky was a team-low minus 20 in the first half. He ended the game with 18 points on 13 shots, and would do him to well to stack a couple of these perofrmances.
Stewart continued his struggles, following up his 0-fer performance from deep on Saturday night without registering a field goal on Monday (finished with two points coming at the free throw line). It’s impossible to bury Evans with how little time he has had to understand the Wolves’ offense, but an assertive performance in the Summer League finale would go a long way. He’s getting nice looks and moving well without the ball…now he just needs to see a couple go in, as many young players do in order to find some confidence.
The only obvious takeaway from this game is that Pullin is the only borderline rotation player on this team. He continues to show a pretty complete skillset as a guard, but could play with a bit more pace and have a little more confidence in his jumper. That said, his willingness to get downhill is something the organization clearly likes about him.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 14, 2026
Pullin wrapped the game with a 16 point double double and finished with a positive plus-minus. He also showed good effort defensively and looks to be someone that the Wolves development staff can continue to mold should his number be called at some point if needed. He came into Monday night as a top 10 scorer so far in Las Vegas, and did nothing to slow his confidence.
One for the Road
Trey Kaufman-Renn was impressive, and someone you could tell was a four-year college player. His floater was extremely effective, and made him a good pick and roll partner with Pullin. His physicality down low allowed him to rebound the ball well too, and he flashed some ability to playmake from the posts. It’s not inevitable, but I could see him in an NBA rotation eventually with some of the already-baked traits he has, while having a clear ceiling.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 14, 2026
Up Next
The Wolves will wrap up Summer League on Wednesday with a date with the Indiana Pacers. It remains to be seen if Beringer will be held back for precautionary reasons in the finale, or make it a pair of appearances in Las Vegas to go with his excellent first game of the Wolves tour.
In this week’s Injury Report, Ronald Acuña Jr. took his next step towards a return as he began a minor league rehab assignment on Monday. Kyle Harrison has downplayed the elbow soreness that landed him on the injured list to end the first half. And A’s slugger Nick Kurtz has been sidelined with a thumb strain. All that and more as we cover all of the latest relevant injury news around baseball.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (hamstring)
Acuña began a minor league rehab assignment on Monday in the Florida Complex League, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He’ll be there this week while all teams are on break to get a few games in before potentially returning when the Braves resume play on Friday at home against the Rangers. At worst, we’re looking at a return by next week. Acuña has been out of action since June 10 with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, the second occurrence of the injury this season after a hamstring strain forced him to miss some time in May. The 28-year-old outfielder has been limited to 53 games this season, hitting .251/.373/.421 with seven homers, 31 runs scored, 22 RBI, and 15 steals.
Harrison told reporters following his last start on July 8 that he had been dealing with some soreness on the outside of his left elbow for a couple of weeks. It went just four innings in that one after lasting just 2 2/3 in his previous start. The next day, Harrison was placed on the 15-day injured list with left forearm tightness. Hopefully, with the extra rest over the All-Star break, he won’t have to miss more than a start or two. Harrison did provide an update over the weekend, stating that he was feeling much better and “not too worried” about the injury. The 24-year-old left-hander has enjoyed a breakout season through the first half, posting a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts over 83 2/3 innings.
Nick Kurtz (thumb)
Kurtz was originally pulled from last Wednesday’s contest against the Tigers with an illness, though there was some speculation after he appeared to jam his hand in the first inning. He returned to the lineup on Thursday, then held out on Friday with a right thumb capsule strain before ultimately landing on the 10-day injured list. The injury will sideline Kurtz for the All-Star game, as he could be facing a multi-week absence. The 23-year-old slugger has followed up an impressive rookie campaign with an excellent first half, slashing .266/.405/.497 with 20 homers, 61 runs scored, 66 RBI, and seven steals across 412 plate appearances.
Zack Gelof (knee)
Gelof has had some pretty bad luck to end the first half. He spent a minimum stint on the injured list with a lacerated hand after getting his hand stepped on in late June, then returned only to injure his knee crashing into the outfield wall. He was pulled from Thursday’s contest after the play and placed on the 10-day injured list with just a knee laceration. The hope is that this is another minimum stay and he could return when he’s first eligible on Monday.
Konnor Griffin (finger)
Griffin was diagnosed with a torn tendon in his left ring finger last week, an injury he sustained while making a diving catch against the Nationals on July 5. The injury will keep him out for an extended time, as he’ll need a split for six weeks, then another 2-4 weeks before he can return. A two-month absence at this juncture significantly limits the impact he can make for fantasy purposes. The 20-year-old shortstop has had a promising start to his career, hitting .276/.332/.404 with five homers and 20 steals over 59 games. In a procedural move, the team shifted him to the 60-day injured list and acquired Jacob Gonzalez in a trade with the White Sox to shore up their infield depth.
Blaze Alexander (hand)
Alexander is set to miss some extended time after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left hand following a hit by a pitch on Sunday against the Royals. A typical timeline for a hand fracture would put him back around late August. The 27-year-old infielder has been excellent for the Orioles this season, hitting .312/.368/.439 with four homers and nine steals across 246 plate appearances. Baltimore will likely recall an infielder from Triple-A Norfolk, but Alexander’s absence could open more playing time for Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson.
Nick Lodolo (blister)
The blister issues that delayed Lodolo's season debut until May have resurfaced. He was removed in the sixth inning against the Cubs on Saturday with a blister on his left index finger. Lodolo’s blister problems date back to 2023. The team placed him on the 15-day injured list with no timeline and will have to wait until it fully heals before proceeding, hopefully mitigating the risk of setbacks. The injury has to play a factor in his struggles this season, with a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 62 2/3 innings.
Zac Gallen (elbow)
Gallen was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday with right elbow inflammation and subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list. There’s no clear timeline for a return. It’s an unfortunate setback for Gallen in what has been a disastrous season. The 30-year-old right-hander has been among the worst qualified starters, with a 6.34 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 98 innings.
Gleyber Torres (oblique)
Torres began a minor league rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI in his first game action since landing on the 10-day injured list in mid-June with a left oblique strain. He also played five innings in the field. It appears Torres could be activated shortly after the All-Star break to join the Tigers' lineup.
For the 10th straight draft, the San Diego Padres took a prep athlete in the first round of the MLB draft, with six of those previous picks also being pitchers. RHP Coleman Borthwick, 18, out of South Walton High School in Florida, will join LHP Kash Mayfield and LHP Kruz Schoolcraft in the Padres system as teenage gambles in the draft.
After choosing a prep shortstop in the second round, the Padres finished day one with college players, a right-handed pitcher, a catcher, and an outfielder.
In his Zoom conference with the media after the first day of the draft, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller was joined by scouting director Chris Kemp to discuss their thinking with their first five picks and detail how they will be worked into the system.
First round pick Borthwick, in a zoom conference with the media after his selection, detailed his thinking on how he will achieve his goal of being a major league pitcher for the Padres.
“Velocity is great – it’s a great thing to have. But the thing that’s going to get you to the big leagues – is being a competitor, learning to throw strikes while being durable.
“My two-seam is an A-plus. That’s one of my plus-plus pitches that I love to use. It gets early, week contact, nobody can really barrel it, and it’s a pitch I can throw wherever I want. I can pretty much put all my pitches wherever I want, and that’s something that kind of separates me.”
The big right hander has already committed to signing and his first-round slot guarantees him $4,224,700. Don’t be surprised to see him on a roster in the near future.
Day 2 of Padres draft
Day 2 of the draft was covered live on MLB.com as well as the MLB app, with Jonathon Mayo and Jim Callis providing commentary on the draftees with their computers and notes in front of them. This is the first draft with live commentary during the second day, and it allowed some information on players that might not have a lot available on scouting sites.
Over the 16 players selected by the Padres on day 2 of the draft, 14 were college level and two were prep athletes. A somewhat surprising development for a team that normally values young talent with high upside. Signing prep athletes away from their college commitments can be expensive so it appears the Padres focused on college players to save poll money for the more costly signs.
Rounds 5-10
The Padres drafted No. 157 in the 5th round and chose Kansas St. RHP James Guyette, 21, who is unranked by MLB.com.
Callis gave a quick scouting report on the 6-foot-3, 215-pound power arm that highlighted his 92-94 mph sinking fastball that peaks at 97 mph and a low-80s slider. He also has a quality, low-80s changeup that misses barrels. In 79.1 innings, he had 105 strikeouts to 35 walks in 16 games/15 starts.
In the 6th round, pick No. 186, the Padres drafted Arizona St. righty-hitting shortstop Nu’u Contrades. The 23-year-old had a .366/.434/.762 batting line with 21 homers and 61 RBI in his senior year. A compact 5-foot-10 and 180-pound, Contrades is ranked No. 251 by Baseball America and No. 225 by MLB.com.
Always a fly-ball hitter, his power numbers climbed this past season. He is a free-swinger who had 28 strikeouts in 228 plate appearances over the season. A solid runner, Contrades can also play second base and third base. MLB rates him as a better second baseman going forward, but he has versatility.
The Padres drafted infielder Joe Tiroly, 21, out of Virginia St. in the 7th round with pick No. 215. At 6-f00t and 200 pounds, Tiroly played both second and third base with a .319/.408/.576 batting line while hitting 16 homers with 66 RBI.
Not a speedy runner, Tiroly had a foot injury for a good part of the early season and played through using a boot between games. The right-handed hitter could profile better as a third baseman going forward, but would need to maintain a power stroke.
For the 8th round and pick No. 245, the Padres selected LHP Sean Fitzpatrick out of Arizona St. The 23-year-old, 6-foot, 175-pound reliever features a 90-93 mph fastball and has swing-and-miss in his game. He is not ranked in the draft boards, and the Padres draft room provided the evaluation to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pick No. 275, in the 9th round, was LHP Benjamin Stubbs out of Troy University. The 22-year-old reliever features a low-90s fastball and showcases swing-and-miss ability per the Padres draft room (Jeff Sanders’ draft report).
The 10th round pick, at No. 305, is catcher Augie Lopez out of USC. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed hitting sophomore punched a .278/.364/.590 line with 19 homers and 57 RBI.
Rounds 11-20
After the 10th round the slot system is complete. The assigned values for those picks equals the Padres bonus pool. If they don’t use the total allowed for the slot, then that money can be used to pay another player.
Paying above slot can be used to lure a player away from a college commitment. Teams can negotiate contracts with picks in the 11-20 rounds but the top allowed is $150,000. Any overage of that amount is applied to the bonus pool for the team. Any money saved in the first ten rounds can be used to pay a player in the lower rounds.
Round 11, pick No. 335, is first baseman Chris McHugh out of North Carolina St. The right-handed hitting infielder, 6-foot-3 and 215-pound, played first base, DH, and left field for NC St.
Round 12, pick No. 365 is LHP Rob Evans, 22, out of the University of Miami. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound starter pitched in 16 games/15 starts over 87.2 innings with a 10-3 record and 3.29 ERA with 98 strikeouts to 31 walks.
Round 13, pick No. 395 is outfielder Michael Smith Jr., out of Dayton (Ohio). At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds the right-handed hitter totaled a .332/.502/.588 line with 10 homers and 56 RBI with 43 strikeouts and 47 walks. He also stole 38 bases in 53 games and 261 plate appearances.
Round 14, pick No. 425 is RHP Ty Brachill out of High Point University (N.C.). In 15 starts he posted an 11-2 record with a 3.59 ERA, 81 strikeouts, 24 walks in 90.1 innings.
Round 15, pick No. 455 is shortstop Ryan Kucherak out of Northwestern. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound infielder bats right handed and has solid power and plus speed. He hit .295/.390/.521 with 10 homers and 39 RBI with 59 strikeouts and 27 walks in 51 games and 224 plate appearances.
Round 16, pick No. 485 is RHP Albert Roblez out of Oregon State. Only 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds, the reliever has a 2-1 record and 1.50 ERA with 14 saves and 53 strikeouts to 13 walks in 24 games and 30 IP.
Round 17, pick No. 515 is RHP Denton Lord. Another prep pitcher out of the same school as first round pick Coleman Borthwick, the 18-year-old is another towering power pitcher. At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, the starter is ranked No. 133 by Baseball America and No. 80 by MLB.com. He has a commitment to Mississippi State and is not considered signable. It is not unusual for a team to take a flyer on a player late in the draft if they think they have a chance to use their bonus money to tempt the player to sign with a team.
Lord features a high-90s fastball with heavy sink as well as a high-70s curve that is working toward a plus pitch. He has a changeup that he hasn’t needed to use much at the high school level.
Round 18, pick No. 575 is LHP Chris Downs out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds the Padres show their penchant for drafting a lot of very large pitchers into the organization. He profiles as a back-end reliever but has a 5.71 ERA with two saves in 58.1 IP with 56 strikeouts and 22 walks.
Round 20, pick No. 605 is outfielder Ezekiel Zion out of Campo Verde High School in Arizona. The right handed bat is committed to South Montana CC and is 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds at 18-years-old. He is the second prep player drafted by the Padres on Day 2. Their draft class totaled four prep players and 16 college players.
As is the case in years past, the Padres will be active in signing undrafted free agents and it usually begins the same day as the ending of the draft. There is a UDFA tracker on Baseball America’s website that will list all the players signed that are hoping to begin their professional careers.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Koa Peat #18 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the basketball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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
Former Arizona Wildcats Brayden Burries and Koa Peat faced off for the first time as competitors in the NBA Summer League on Monday night.
Peat and the Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 95-88 in Las Vegas. Burries led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Peat was second in scoring for Phoenix with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
At the half, both players were already in double figures with Burries scoring 12 and Peat 11. Phoenix now stands at 2-1 in the summer league and Milwaukee is winless at 0-3.
In Burries’ first game he scored 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He followed it up with a 26-point performance in the next game on 9-of-16 shooting and went 4 of 5 from behind the arc.
Burries was taken No. 10 overall by the Bucks in last month’s 2026 NBA Draft, while Peat went taken 30th overall to the Suns. Before becoming pros they helped get Arizona back to the Final Four for the first time since 2001 and showed why they were selected in the first round. They were the sixth and seventh players drafted from Arizona in the Tommy Lloyd era.
This is the only scheduled matchup of former Wildcats facing off during Summer League play, though depending on final overall records there could possibly be another matchup down the road.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 13: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jordan Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and wore the top of his jersey splayed open as he dug in for his final Home Run Derby swing.
The picture of Cardinals cool, Walker chased down Kyle Schwarber, shut up a rambunctious Philly crowd and introduced himself to a much wider baseball world.
Walker used six swings to swat six homers, besting Schwarber in a dramatic final round that silenced all those boo birds and made him the first St. Louis Cardinal to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night.
Schwarber hit 11 homers during his 15-swing turn in the final round. Philly fans, who jeered everyone but Schwarber and Bryce Harper throughout the night, quietly headed toward the exits when Walker’s winning shot soared over the left field wall.
“I was once told you don’t boo nobodies,” Walker said. “So it feels pretty good.”
The 24-year-old Walker sported the Derby champions' chain, slipped on a leather jacket and still wore his batting gloves as he broke down what it took to take down Schwarber on his home turf.
“My thought was Philly is brutal,” Walker said. "I mean, honestly. But I think it’s pretty special because they love their players and that’s what you want from your home, like, where you play. I mean, I’d never hear people cheer so loud for, like, Schwarber and Harper. And those guys did their thing, for sure.
“But, you know, I can’t hate them, because that’s their guy, so I just got to play the game.”
Walker played a pretty great game in the first half for the Cardinals.
Walker is a first-time All-Star and having a breakout season in St. Louis. He already has a career-high 22 homers this season after struggling with a combined 11 over the previous two years.
Those final six in Philly all flying high with Iron Man on his bat are now stamped on the Derby highlight reel.
His cap backward just like Hall of Famer and Derby great Ken Griffey Jr., Walker celebrated with his family immediately on the field. His father rejoiced in recalling how Walker started hitting long home runs when he was 6 years old.
“When things got tough, they were always there in my corner to talk to them about it,” Walker said of his family. “They kept the energy levels high. They kept the feelings high.”
He fulfilled this childhood dream in striking fashion. Walker hit his seventh homer with two swings remaining and his eighth on the next swing to earn bonus swings. Needing to hit four straight homers to win, the right-handed Jordan knocked one off the top of the center field fence 401 feet away. He reached 10 homers and Philly fans booed with all their might, only for Jordan to finish the sensational surge and celebrate as fireworks shot off around him.
"You can’t say enough about how he was able to kind of slow the moment down, too, and lock it in,” said Schwarber, a Derby runner-up for the second time. “All of our fans were we’re raring and trying to will me to it.”
MLB ditched its timed clock this season and returned to a swing format, with each hitter continuing to swing if he went deep on his final one.
The extra time between swings gave hitters time to track their home runs — and Philly a smidge more time to unleash those throaty boos at Contreras and Walker.
Each player had 20 swings in the first round and the top four advanced. Hitters were seeded for the second round, where No. 1 faces 4 and 2 meets 3.
Each player got 15 swings in the second round, with batters homering on their final swings continuing until not homering.
Boston’s Willson Contreras, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, New York's Ben Rice and Kansas City's Jac Caglianone, and Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami also participated.
Phillies fans were wildly optimistic that Schwarber and Harper could somehow reach the final and crown the franchise's third Derby champion.
Harper hit only eight in the first round and was the final slugger to try and advance. Schwarber could only watch as Harper failed to join him. Schwarber, then with the Chicago Cubs, made the finals in 2018 at Nationals Park before losing to Harper when he played with the Nationals.
Schwarber and Harper — the first pair of teammates to participate in the Derby since 2018 — received roaring ovations when famed ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced them ahead of the competition.
As for the other six sluggers in the field, all wearing their home jerseys with red, white and blue uniform numbers?
Yeah, they were about booed out of the ballpark, with the loudest jeers saved for Rice. He gamely laughed as he walked out of his Liberty Bell entrance.
Harper — who said earlier Monday this would be his last Derby — waved his arms and exhorted the crowd to get louder as he walked to the home plate platform placed at second base. Harper about broke the ring ropes as he shook them like a pro wrestler, and the Philly crowd went bonkers for the star known as The Showman.
The ball-shagging kids in the outfield were even booed.
The Derby’s public address announcer implored the fans to cheer during some quiet stretches when homers — non-Phillies edition — were hit.
The fans did get a rise when Caglianone smoked one into Ryan Howard territory into the third deck in right field. Contreras socked ’em into the rarified air of the left field upper deck. One homer cleared the last row of stands in that section and bounced off the concourse in front of a bar. His 490-footer was the longest of the first round.
This was the first Home Run Derby and All-Star Game held at Citizens Bank Park since it opened in 2004 and the first derby in Philadelphia since Barry Bonds outslugged Mark McGwire in 1996 to win an afternoon event in front of thousands of empty seats at Veterans Stadium.
This derby was sold out and aired on Netflix for the first time, with the streamer getting into the game this season with a three-event package. Netflix already aired the opening night game, and the third attraction is the Field of Dreams game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 13.
CJ McCollum “wasn’t surprised” by the Knicks’ first championship in 53 years.
The Hawks guard says he told OG Anunoby they could win it all during the first round of the playoffs, despite Atlanta winning the first two games of the series.
“I wasn’t surprised they won. I actually told OG [Anunoby] at the free-throw line, ‘I think you guys can win the championship,’” McCollum said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
CJ McCollum reflects on loss to Knicks in NBA Playoffs. @SiriusXMNBA/X
“Looking at their roster, how they were playing, meshing, and their focus and intensity, I saw a team capable of making a deep run.”
McCollum said the entire Hawks team realized how good the Knicks were during the series, highlighting their shot-making and Jalen Brunson.
Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds across 19 games in the 2026 playoffs.
McCollum, who became a Knicks villain during the series, continued, saying the Knicks made perfect adjustments offensively to combat the Hawks, which was a valuable lesson to take out of a first-round matchup.
OG Anunoby of the Knicks. ZUMAPRESS.com
“We pushed them to the limit, I’m sure they appreciated the fact that we tested them and got them ready,” McCollum said.
He said sometimes teams can glide to the later rounds of the playoffs because of their talent, but crumble once they face a team of equal skill.
“[The Knicks] figured something out. We pushed them to the limit”
CJ McCollum reflects on the Hawks’ series loss to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs with @termineradio, @jumpshot8, and Ryan McDonough.
The Knicks certainly did not glide through the first round, fumbling their homecourt advantage with a Game 2 loss to the Hawks at the Garden.
Then, they fell behind in the series 2-1, when McCollum drained a clutch jumper in Atlanta.
The Knicks were forced to make the adjustments for Game 4, but three straight wins propelled them into a historical playoff run.
The New York Knicks celebrate with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs. AP Photo/Darren Abate
They went on to win the NBA Finals with just one loss in the final three rounds.
“I’m not saying this is the greatest team ever. If they win these next two games, this is one of the greatest runs in playoff history,” Charles Barkley said on “Inside the NBA” before the Knicks beat the Spurs. “It’s one of the greatest runs. You have to give them their props.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Matt Cleveland #99 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on July 13, 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Vegas has not been kind to Utah before their game against Chicago, and their game against Chicago was not kind to those who decided to tune in and watch. This is the stat to best exemplify the struggle it was to get through this game – there were 54 fouls combined between both teams in 40 minutes of gameplay, which is 1.35 fouls every single minute, or a foul about every 45 seconds (although I am rarely heralded for my skills as a mathematician). This isn’t even an indictment on the officials – I couldn’t complain about most of the calls themselves as much as I could complain that the players were acting so recklessly. When the teams weren’t fouling, they were turning the ball over or missing shots; there were 39 turnovers between the teams, and they shot a combined 32% from the field.
While I just shifted some of the blame for the stinted gameplay away from the officials, it wasn’t just the players contributing to the tough watch – it was easy to tell that both the referees and even the announcers were going through an auditional Summer League as well. Erroneous flagrant reviews and long-winded conversations about horoscopes, combined with the obviously poor basketball, made it clear this game was a learning period for everyone.
However, no matter the ugliness of the gameplay and presentation, the Jazz finally came away with a win. They outscored the Bulls in each of the 4 quarters, and it never did feel too close. Utah was able to maintain consistent momentum by incessantly stealing the ball from Chicago – Hayden Grey and Trey Alexander ended the game with 4 and 6 steals, respectively.
The story of the day was obviously intended to be the battle between the #2 and #4 overall picks, but with Darryn Peterson resting on the bench, Caleb Wilson was set to star. He was largely a disappointment for the first 3 quarters of the game – his free throws weren’t dropping, his defensive motor waxed and waned (I think his 5 blocks overstate his defensive impact by just a bit), and he struggled to make his presence felt consistently on the offensive end. In the 4th quarter, however, he began to catch fire, scoring the majority of his points which were emphasized by the arena-electrifying dunk below.
Jonas Aidoo continued to impress on both ends for this Jazz Summer League squad. He’s clearly the best defensive anchor on the team, even if he did get detonated upon by Caleb Wilson. Additionally, he really impressed me with his hands on a few of his catches today – a lot of the offense is based upon a simple screen-and-roll, and he was able to take advantage by grabbing some genuinely difficult pocket passes. I wouldn’t hate a reallocation of our two-way contract spots that gives Aidoo a spot on the regular season team in 2026-2027. While he likely isn’t the level of player Jaxson Hayes or Mo Bamba are right now, the difference might be marginal and, with the younger Aidoo, there is still some room for improvement.
Hayden Gray also really impressed me, even if the box score was less-than-exceptional. Only 2 points and 5 assists, but it was clear that the offense ran much cleaner when he was the one at the top of the court running the show. Additionally, he was game-changing on the defensive end, where his 4 steals were LOUD – it seemed that the announcers couldn’t stop talking about how proactive Gray was in the passing lanes, and their praise was justified. While I’d like a more experienced third string ball-handler, Gray has shown me enough on both ends to the point that I wouldn’t hate keeping him around.
The mood of the win was dampened near the end of the 4th quarter. After what seemed to be an ordinary and completely commonplace foul by Caleb Wilson on a drive to the hoop, Trey Alexander collapsed behind the basket and had to be stretchered off the court in a neck-brace. I can’t see how his neck could’ve been injured on this play (video linked below), so if there are any doctors who regular SLCDunk, please explain below what might’ve happened to Utah’s newest two-way player. The play is especially scary due to the fact that it’s hard to diagnose with the naked eye, so prayers up for Trey.
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber was scripted to be the homecoming king of this Home Run Derby. Instead, he was powerless to stop a little magenta baseball from sailing out of Citizens Bank Park, again and again and again.
And Jordan Walker joined Bryce Harper in the very exclusive club of pulling the rug out from Schwarber in a Home Run Derby.
Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals slugger enjoying a breakthrough season, put on one of the greatest clutch displays ever in this Derby, needing to cash in on his last swing – and then two more after that – to match Schwarber’s 11 home runs in the final.
Instead, Walker hit four in a row to win it, becoming the first Cardinal to win a Home Run Derby after future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols failed in three tries to do so.
Ever hear the sound of 43,000 ticked-off people?
It sounds like nothing at all, and that was perhaps Walker’s greatest accomplishment on this Monday, July 13, hearing the thunderous boos of Citizens Bank Park, turning on an electric smile, relaxing and pasting baseballs easily into the crowd.
The throng grew quieter with every moon shot. And Walker couldn’t get mad at the hate, because he knew it was just love for their guys.
“My first thought was, Philly’s brutal,” says Walker. “I think it’s pretty special because they love all their players. That’s what you want from your home crowd. I’d never heard people cheer so loud for Schwarber and Harper. Those guys did their thing.
“I can’t hate ‘em. I just gotta play the game.”
That he did, with every home run in the finals traveling between 407 and 452 feet. Absolute bombs, more than enough to get the attention of Schwarber, who’s blasted 88 home runs, most in the major leagues, since the start of the 2025 season.
“He was hitting some laser beams. I’m hitting these little fly balls out,” says Schwarber, “and he’s hitting laser beams.”
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Schwarber and Harper, the two Phillies, were practically anointed to win this thing. They were announced last when the streaming service announced the participants. The crowd roared. It was all setting up.
Instead, Harper flamed out in the first round.
In the final, Schwarber put up 11. And then, powerless, as Walker finished his round with four straight homers and five in his final six swings.
“I didn’t ever think I had it won,” says Schwarber, “because I know anything can happen. Especially when it gets down to that last ball, right?
“You get to that last ball. It was three to tie, and he went four to win. You tip your hat to him.”
Not unlike 2018, when Harper, then a Washington National, unleashed a furious rally as the clock counted down to nudge Schwarber by one home run in the finals. So Schwarber was on the wrong side of the equation as both the visiting villain and the hometown hero.
Tough beat.
The scenario salvaged what was a generally underwhelming Home Run Derby. The format change – a limited amount of swings instead of batting against a clock – had its upside, but also drained the tension from most of the competition.
If a guy needs seven homers to tie and has eight swings left, well, we know how that round is gonna end, right?
And the streaming service that took over broadcast rights was only a little better than its opening-night abomination. They trotted out Will Ferrell and Luke Wilson and a Third Guy that perhaps the youth were more familiar with, adding a dash of humor and a sea of schlock to the pregame.
Had Schwarber and Harper both bowed out in the semifinals – and that nearly happened – this would have been a disaster, a finals playing out while most of the 43,000 fans filed out disgruntled.
Instead, Schwarber and Walker added some spice to it, and Walker actually did hit three and then four in a row to win.
“I think I just had fun, no matter what. Every round I said, have a good time,” says Walker. “As a kid growing up, my favorite thing to do is hitting home runs. There’s a competition dedicated to it.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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
With some key guys out, the Milwaukee Bucks undoubtedly played their best game thus far in Vegas but lost 95-88 to the Phoenix Suns. Yet again, Brayden Burries starred for the Bucks with 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while Khaman Maluach led the Suns with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.
I expected a bunch of guys in street clothes for this one, given it was a back-to-back—and there were some in Cormac Ryan and Kasparas Jakucionis—but luckily, Brayden Burries and Nate Ament suited up; Kam Jones also got his first minutes in Vegas. The first quarter was low-scoring and even throughout. Koa Peat was throwing his big body around for the Suns, while Burries and Pete Nance were doing most of the work early for the Bucks. Milwaukee went on a 5-2 run to close the quarter via a Burries three and a majestic layup by my fellow countryman Luke Travers to grab a 22-19 lead after one.
The Suns had a great start to the second quarter, with the 7’2” second-year man Khaman Maluach asserting his dominance on the interior; before long, Phoenix had grabbed a 30-26 edge. The Bucks tried to make Ament more of a primary ball-handler, and it wasn’t pretty, as he turned it over a few times after getting outmuscled. Koby Brea—who had been struggling mightily through Summer League—nailed his second three to extend the Suns’ lead to nine, 35-26, about halfway through the second, but that was immediately matched by a transition bomb from Ament to open his account. The Bucks made a few charges to reduce the deficit to ~six points, but the Suns’ Darius Brown made two timely threes to stretch it back out each time. Finally, the run stuck, with Markovic and Burries leading an end-of-quarter sprint to have the Bucks down just one, 45-44, at the half.
Both teams were trading blows early in the second half, with Burries nailing a step-back three over his college teammate Koa Peat to open the third—joking with Peat after he made it—followed by another Darius Brown triple. Then, the floodgates finally opened for Bogi, who nailed his third and fourth triples of the game after struggling all week—Bucks up 53-51 in the opening minutes. Some great flashes by Ament followed: he took the first bump from the more experienced Brea but powered through to get fouled under the hoop; then, he nailed his second transition three of the night a possession later, followed by a strong drive to the hoop to draw another foul; Bucks up 60-57 with six minutes left in the third. The next few minutes were very uneventful, but with Burries, Bogi, Jones, Nance, and Ament all off the floor to end the quarter, the Suns closed on a 12-0 run to lead 69-60 after three.
BJ Boston’s personal 5-0 run to start the quarter, followed by a Kam Jones’ and-one, had the Bucks down just four in the early stages. Minutes later, Boston answered Brea’s triple with another bomb of his own, Nance nailed the floater, and we were all tied up at 75 with just over six minutes left. The Suns went on a 6-0 run, but the Bucks answered right back with a 5-0 run. Blow for blow. Rasheer Fleming nailed the roll-replace wing three, and Burries came down for the fancy and-one around Maluach. Some great on-ball pressure from Ament forced Peat into a turnover, leading to a transition Euro-step by Burries to put Milwaukee up 1 as Phoenix called a timeout; the Bucks were hyped. Unfortunately, the Suns responded with an 8-2 burst—including two massive threes by Brea—to take a 92-87 lead late, and that was the game.
Stat That Stood Out
Koby Brea’s six triples really hurt the Bucks. Brea had struggled mightily before this game, and they let him feel good about himself.
Eric Samulski
James Schiano
