One of the many talking points of last offseason was Trent Noah and the shot-making ability he brought to the team through summer practices. Kentucky’s point guard at the time, Jaland Lowe, even went to the lengths of saying he was “the best shooter I’ve ever seen.”
But when it got to the season, people didn’t necessarily see it translate to actual gameplay. Noah finished the season averaging 3.0 points per game, on 36% from the field, and 33% from 3-point range for the Harlan County product.
Noah is a guy that Kentucky fans have appreciated sticking around. He wasn’t even recruited by the last set of coaches in Lexington, and then got pursued by Mark Pope as soon as he got the job two offseasons ago, flipped his commitment from South Carolina immediately, and hasn’t looked back. Noah has shown flashes at different points, including in the game against Tennessee his freshman year, when he finished with 11 points.
Heading into his third season, Kentucky fans have high hopes for Noah, hoping he can carve out a role and play significant minutes as he takes a leap. Mark Pope seems to be leading the pack of people who believe that will definitely happen.
In a recent interview with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Pope made sure to point out Noah as someone making noise in summer practices again.
“Probably the guy that’s getting talked about the least that is showing out right now is Trent Noah,” Pope stated. “He is physical, and he can really shoot it. Part of the issue last year was when we lost our point guard spot, and we lost a real creator vibe on our roster. It hurt guys like Trent, who might not manufacture a lot of shots.
“But if shots can be manufactured for him, he’s going to make them all it feels like.”
Who could be the surprise on Kentucky’s roster next year?
Trent Noah will now be moved to more of a shooting guard role, and it will benefit him and those around him tremendously. Kentucky certainly isn’t lacking in the wing/forward positions. Guys like Milan Momcilovic, Justin McBride, Ousmane N’Diaye, Kam Williams, and Braydon Hawthorne will all be fighting for minutes in those roles. Noah will be able to have opportunities to get shots off this year, playing in a backcourt with two elite creators and being a threat to space the floor.
Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins both did their fair share of creating for others last season. Diallo averaged 4.5 assists per game, and Wilkins averaged 4.7 assists per game. That’s not even mentioning a veteran guard in Jerone Morton, who will help with that, and the emerging freshman guard Mason Williams.
Mark Pope also said in the interview that Kentucky currently has six guys who are over 70% in all of their practice reps shooting the ball from the three-point line. Presumably, Trent Noah is one of those six guys, and he may be destined for that big-time leap we have all hoped for heading into year three.
(Original caption) Bill Russell (#6) tied up Walter Dukes long enough to win a jump ball during the first quarter of the NBA all-Star game in Syracuse, New York, January 17th 1961. Charging in are Tom Gola (#15), Cliff Hagan (#16) and Paul Arizin (#11). The West won 153-131. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the 1980s, the NBA, under David Stern, moved to a more star-oriented game, and you can’t really blame him. With guys like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Michael Jordan, to name a few, it was a marketing dream. All those players, and many more, were spectacular.
So when you see the older NBA, the one that reigned until the 1970s, it’s hard to recognize.
Take this clip from the 1961 NBA All-Star Game. This game had historical talents like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and others, and it just doesn’t look the same.
Yet Chamberlain had a 50” vertical, Russell once jumped clean over a defender on a fast break, and Robertson averaged a triple-double.
The priorities were different – flashiness, aka hot-dogging, was discouraged – but you saw signs. Bob Cousy couldn’t go to his left, but his passing vision was as good as anyone in the history of the game.
Elgin Baylor was full of clever fakes and drives, aided by an involuntary twitch that he put to good used.
Still, it wasn’t the same. Tommy Heinsohn, for instance, was a heavy smoker, and that limited his minutes. No one tries to do a powerful, intimidating dunk. Russell and Chamberlain get a few here, but they just drop it in. It’s all very utilitarian.
Make no mistake, though. Despite appearances, some of these guys, if you could move them forward in time, would be world-class basketball players. Chamberlain, West, and Robertson in particular could easily succeed today.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 13: Sidney Crosby #87 talks with Bryan Rust #17 and Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game against the St. Louis Blues at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 13, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
With all the amount of player movement the Penguins have made in the few days since we last gave a look at the organization’s depth chart a whirl, let’s look at it again now that the early rush of free agency has concluded.
First line forwards: Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust
Nothing has changed officially, though one wouldn’t be blamed for wondering what bringing in wingers like Andrei Kuzmenko AND Nick Robertson mean for the possible future of players like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell..As it stands, the Rakell/Rust duo have remained in tact in Pittsburgh and remained penciled in as key players for the Pens next year.
Other key NHL forwards: Evgeni Malkin, Egor Chinakhov, Ben Kindel, Andrei Kuzmenko, Tommy Novak
This essentially could be the core of the second and third lines of the team, as it stands today. Perhaps there is more movement to come and some names from this list are still to change. You wouldn’t think that would be Chinakhov or Kindel, but at this point who knows what the future might hold or big swings that the Pens might try to make. Kuzmenko stands in nicely as a Anthony Mantha type option for next season for a veteran secondary scorer, though there are very big shoes to fill there.
‘Fourth’ liners: Connor Dewar, Blake Lizotte
Still the same base of a fourth line is still here. It will be curious to see who gets the first crack at rounding out the line, Soderblom got some looks with Lizotte last season during Lizotte’s injury, so he could be penciled in here reasonably enough. Seeing how much opportunity a young player like Rutger McGroarty or Avery Hayes gets to have a legit shot at sticking out of camp in this spot is already setting up to be a key storyline for the fall.
Fill out forwards (2 lineup spots, 2 more for scratches): Nick Robertson, Elmer Soderblom, Justin Brazeau, Hendrix Lapierre, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen, Filip Hallander, Tristan Broz
Now this is where something is going to have to give. Presumably the Pens acquired Robertson and Lapierre to play them, though neither have the style to be a fit in a defensive fourth line role the way that line has been previously constructed. Soderblom and Brazeau have strong cases to find a spot somewhere in the lineup regularly too, but there just isn’t enough spots currently open compared to the numbers on hand.
Then there’s a batch of young options right on the cusp of being NHL level players who all now look completely blocked out until future injuries occur. All this depth seems to indicate names from this list or from above have to be moved out in order to clear up the jam.
Left Defense: Sam Girard, Declan Carlile, Ilya Solovyov
The left side of the Pens’ defense lost Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea but gained a player in Carlile who is about where Wotherspoon and Shea were in their respective careers 12 months ago as unestablished NHLers with some hopeful elements. This position is still very weak and ideally in need of a quality player to join up. Where and how the Penguins go about finding that, or if they even will be able to do so before the start of the season, who can say. At this point, the possibility looks very real for the less than ideal option of dressing four right handed defenseman going based on roster splits alone from this material on hand.
Right Defense: Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Kaeden Korzcak
The Pens spent over $7 million in cap space in recent days to round out the right side of their defense by trading for Korczak and signing van Riemsdyk as a free agent. That’s good news for them to shore up what once was a weak area, not so much for the immediate NHL outlook for Harrison Brunicke. And it’s also curious that they have four legitimate right shot, right side NHL lineup caliber defenseman at the moment…Whether that foretells a summer trade of someone in this group or a plan to use a right shot on the left side remains to be seen.
Goaltender: Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov/Joel Blomqvist
No change here, as expected Stuart Skinner went onto free agency and the Pens didn’t make any move to replace him with an external option. The big question in net worth watching will unfold over training camp to see what – if anything – that Blomqvist can do in order to win a roster spot for opening day. Based on the track Murashov has been on, it would figure he is comfortably in the pole position for that upcoming battle.
The hype around Paul Seixas is fully justified as the 19-year-old bids to end four decades of French disappointment
When you write about the Tour de France for the best part of (deep breath) 40 years, the same themes recur, constantly evolving and mutating. The contorted fortunes of France’s finest cyclists have been a constant narrative since 4 July 1990, when the late Laurent Fignon put foot to tarmac in the feed zone somewhere in the bocage between Avranches and Rouen. It was cold, dank and wet, which given the canicule concerns gripping France at the moment seems like a bit of history in itself.
Fignon had started as one of the favourites, but that was the beginning of the end for “the Professor”. The search for a successor to the five-time winner Bernard Hinault had begun in 1986, the Badger’s retirement year when the ephemeral heir apparent was Jean-François Bernard; 1990 was when the doubts gained pace, intensifying with each passing year and with each potential champion who emerged, went under the spotlight, and eventually crumbled: Richard Virenque, Luc Leblanc, Laurent Jalabert, Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil, Thibaut Pinot.
LeBron James during a a game played at New York’s Madison Square Garden. | ESPN | ABC
As we enter the fourth day of free agency, the best player available remains on the board and is mulling over his options before ultimately announcing his latest decision to the world.
Amid a LeBron James sweepstakes that points mainly toward one of three potential destinations — Golden State, Miami, and Cleveland — a couple of conflicting reports emerged on Thursday involving the New York Knicks and their level of interest in 41-year-old James.
For context, the 41-year-old announced on the verge of free agency that he would leave the Los Angeles Lakers while announcing he’d be back for a 24th season in the NBA.
James informed the Lakers he would keep playing but continue his career elsewhere, ending an eight-year run that included a 2020 championship. According to LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, James’ decision was driven by a desire to compete for a title and finding “happiness” rather than financial considerations. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Paul has received pitches from “a dozen” teams so far.
Before both Jake Fischer and SNY’s Ian Begley chimed in with the latest on the Knicks’ interest or lack of it in LeBron, it was reported that the Philadelphia 76ers have also emerged as a potential option, while teams such as the Denver Nuggets reached out to James, and the Minnesota Timberwolves also expressed interest.
Against that backdrop, Fischer reported that New York could be involved in the sweepstakes.
“The Knicks have shown some interest in LeBron James. That is the word we just got back right now.”
Fischer’s comments suggest the defending champions have at least explored the possibility of adding James, although he didn’t confirm if New York had reached out to the player or Rich Paul at the time.
Shortly after, Begley presented a different view of the Knicks’ stance, first with a post on X and then with a full story on SNY’s website.
“Every time LeBron James hits free agency, the big question around here seems to be: ‘Are the Knicks getting LeBron?’ Begley wrote. ”It happened in 2010, 2014, 2018 and again in 2026. When the most recent report (from Fischer) surfaced, I reached out to people on all sides of the situation.
“I gathered that the Knicks should not be seen as a potential destination for James. The Knicks are very happy with the core of their roster coming off the 2026 NBA title.”
The differing reports leave uncertainty around New York’s level of involvement in the James sweepstakes, which seemed to take a step forward late Thursday when ESPN’s Anthony Slater hinted at the Warriors losing ground on the race for the four-time NBA champion.
“The Warriors, meanwhile, have been given indications from James that they remain on his short list, but team sources have expressed a recent belief that they aren’t necessarily at the top of that short list, as James continues to survey the landscape.”
For now, all we know is that “there is no timetable” for James’ decision, although Charania “has a hunch” that James and Paul will give away “hints along the way here the next few days” regarding his destination of preference.
James averaged 20.9 points per game last season while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. He also contributed 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game and dragged the Lakers all by himself into the second round of the playoffs.
The New Zealander was the right man to take on the job of persuading a group of jaded senior players to play brilliant cricket, but may not suit a rebuild
Wait, what? Four days on, and nothing about the weekend that’s just gone seems to make much sense. It was England’s seventh defeat in nine Tests, and somehow, at the end of it, they’ve lost the last man anyone really wanted to go. Ben Stokes, his own man all the way to the end, has apparently decided he would rather spend his remaining days in the game playing championship cricket for Durham. A man whose career has been marked by copper-bottomed self-conviction has left English cricket facing a whole lot of questions.
The first of them is whether Brendon McCullum is really the right man to try to rebuild this England team in the years ahead.
Brown, who was drafted out of California in 2016, was coming off one of his best individual seasons and finished sixth in the regular season MVP voting.
He had fallen out of favor with the organization in recent weeks and had been the subject of trade rumors.
Brown was reportedly offered to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Celtics' bid to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. Instead, Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami Heat, leaving Brown and the Celtics in an awkward spot.
Brown didn’t believe the initial reports that he was being traded to Philadelphia and stated that he took a trip to the Celtics’ facility Wednesday evening.
“I went up to the facility, my key card got rejected," Brown said during the stream. "I just wanted to see if it was real. Packed me up, bro.”
Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games played this past season.
"The journey starts now," Brown said on the stream. "I've already been hitting the guys about how to get in the gym; I know what it takes to build that camaraderie and chemistry.
"... There's going to be ups and downs. … It be like that. It takes uncomfortable conversations, it takes chemistry, it takes brotherhood. It takes all of that."
He's also started building that level of community with new teammates VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.
Brown told Edgecombe that he was "a fan of his game" before calling Maxey and telling him "we got work to do."
Jaylen Brown calls VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey back on stream. Both sound excited to be working with JB.
Brown told VJ Edgecombe he's "a fan of his game" and told Maxey "we got work to do". pic.twitter.com/rUPaFc6nFV
One of the uncomfortable conversations that Brown was talking about may include one with Joel Embiid.
In May, Brown went on his stream to vent following the Boston Celtics’ 109-100 loss to the 76ers.
Brown said Embiid was one of the best big men in the league before saying Embiid was also a flopper.
He also explained that he had to wear a back brace because he was dealing with back pain after having to guard Embiid and the size difference between the two players. Brown is listed at 223 pounds. Embiid is listed at 270 pounds.
Brown had been critical of the officiating during the regular season and believes it played a role in how things were called during the postseason.
Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors smiles before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 26, 2021 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Kyle Lowry is reportedly set to retire next week at a special event in Toronto, the city most closely associated with his 20-year career in the NBA.
But Lowry didn’t appear to be happy that the news leaked ahead of time.
Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported on Thursday that Lowry was going to sign a one day contract with the Raptors in order to retire as a member of the organization during a press conference on July 7.
Kyle Lowry smiles before the Raptors’ win over the Cavaliers on April 26, 2021 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. NBAE via Getty Images
The Raptors have billed the event as a “monumental moment” for the franchise, according to the report.
Grange’s report didn’t sit well with Lowry, who took to social media to criticize his announcement being usurped by the Sportsnet report.
“Wait for the word to come from me, not someone else!!! Smh,” he wrote in an Instagram Story post on Thursday.
The star point guard did not make any other comments besides that.
Lowry didn’t deny that he was retiring in his social media post on Thursday, which seemed to be a response to the Sportsnet report.
The report also indicated that Lowry would be given additional honors during the 2026-27 season, with the expectation being that he will have his No. 7 jersey retired into the rafters of Scotiabank Arena.
Kyle Lowry looks on during the Raptors’ win over the Lakers on May 2, 2021 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Lowry’s number would join the only other Raptor to be bestowed the honor, Vince Carter.
Lowry suited up for the Raptors from 2012-13 through 2020-21, averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting 42.5 percent from the field during his tenure north of the border.
His time in Toronto included helping the franchise win its first NBA championship in 2019 and he was part of the gold medal-winning Team USA squad at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Lowry will retire as the franchise’s career leader in assists, steals, three-pointers made and playoff games won.
In addition to playing for the Raptors, Lowry played for the Rockets, Grizzlies Heat and 76ers.
Jul 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) pitches to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 17: Goga Bitadze #35 of the Orlando Magic goes up for the rebound during the game against the Charlotte Hornets during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz came out of the Walker Kessler trade with a fresh new collection of trade assets and a nice TPE (traded player exception) that could be in the $15-$16M range. That means they can use the TPE to make a trade for a player that makes that amount of money, or less, and not have to send any players. It may be that other teams would want to get players instead of just picks, but this TPE, along with the Jazz’s group of young player contracts, gives the Jazz a lot of options. For this article, here are some players that Utah could target with their TPE and use picks to bring onto the team.
Khaman Maluach
I loved Khaman Maluach in the draft with his combination of size, athleticism, and upside. In college, he showed the impressive size, mobility, and athleticism that made him a top-ten pick. In the NBA, the Suns have not trusted putting him on the floor, and he’s spent a lot of time in the G-League developing. In the G-League, Maluach has averaged 15.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game.
Because of Utah’s TPE, they could trade one of their picks to the Suns, with whom they already have a relationship, without having to move any players. The Suns might want one of Utah’s young assets like Brice Sensabaugh or Kyle Filipowski, but Khaman Maluach would be a great gamble.
Now, the Suns might not want to get rid of the massive Sudanese center, but if they have any sort of willingness to move on from him, Utah should jump on that right away.
Kel’el Ware
Ware was a core part of the Giannis trade to the Miami Heat. He’s a young prospect but will be up for a new contract next season. Utah would find itself in the same boat as it was this season with Walker Kessler, but might be more willing to pay Ware, given his potential. Ware is the stretch center teams look for when building the coveted 5-out offense. Ware is not the consistent, high-level defender the likes of Chet Holmgren or a healthy Kristaps Porzingis are, but he has shown signs. Would the Bucks like to improve the return on Giannis by trading Ware for a Jazz pick? It’s not clear if the Bucks are done or what exactly their plan is now that Giannis has moved on.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 14: Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ware could be the stretch center that could unlock everything the Jazz are doing. The only issue is the contract. As I said, Ware may garner a lot of interest in the upcoming restricted free agency. Utah could be in the same boat they were just in with Kessler. But if Utah can turn Ware into something special, a player that is the keystone of a 5-out offense that decimates opposing defenses, he would be worth the money that Kessler wasn’t.
Goga Bitadze
Bitadze’s raw stats may not blow you away (career: 5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists at around 15 minutes per game). He’s also a player who comes off the bench. But if you look at the advanced stats with Bitadze, they jump off the page. At Dunksandthrees.com, Bitadze is elite at two things: scoring efficiently and blocking shots.
Bitadze is a veteran center who has proven effective off the bench. Would he sustain his play in a starting role, playing 28 minutes a night? He could be a wildly effective player for Utah and one that could do everything Kessler did, but at a much more reasonable cost.
All of these options would take a trade from Utah, and the cost might be more than Utah is willing to pay. The reality is that if the Lakers could have made these trades, they likely would have already done them. But if the Lakers were dead set on Kessler, a player they’ve been linked to for years, maybe the Jazz can make one of these moves happen?
It’s worth diving into, and the Jazz likely already have an idea of these players’ availability. But if I were the Jazz, I would be watching these players closely as the season goes along. You never know when one of these teams will make a move to fill a need the Jazz might be able to meet.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 12: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on October 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen Brown didn’t wait very long before speaking up.
Within 24 hours of being traded by the Boston Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers, Brown returned to his FCHWPO Twitch stream and opened up on Thursday night. From the trade itself to Celtics teammates to his experience in Boston over the last 10 years, Brown offered his transparency once again on his livestream.
Following a decade-long run that included a championship, two trips to the NBA Finals, and six trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, Brown’s time in Boston is officially over. The Celtics acquired Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round selections from Philadelphia in exchange for Brown, intensifying the anticipation for his next stream.
Here’s everything he touched on:
The trade
Brown didn’t get into the details behind the trade, but did offer a brief assessment of how the entire process went down from his perspective. Reports, both from Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix and The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, claimed Brown never approached the Celtics and requested a trade this offseason — leaving plenty of room for speculation.
Tapped into the online space, Brown also acknowledged the pushback that Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has faced, and will likely continue to face, in the aftermath of the trade.
“I wasn’t thrilled with the amount of respect I was shown during this process,” Brown said. “I think there was a bit of a lack of respect. I think it was fine at one point, and then out of nowhere, things just kind of went left. I think Brad is probably getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn’t thrilled the way he facilitated some of the conversations.”
Brown, however, noted his belief that there are surrounding details behind the trade he’s still unaware of, claiming “there’s more to it,” several times on stream.
“I just wish that the more to it could’ve been explained to me. Because if the more to it was explained to me, I think I would’ve understood. I thought I earned respect enough to get that explanation, but obviously I was wrong. Hey, but that’s life. We move on.”
Stevens helped introduce Brown to the NBA as then-head coach of the Celtics back in 2016, when Boston selected him third overall in the draft. Stevens coached Brown through the first five seasons of his career.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 10: Jaylen Brown #7 and Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics talk before Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Wizards during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Communication with now-former Celtics teammates following the trade
Several members of last season’s Celtics reached out to Brown after hearing about the trade.
Brown was contacted by various youngsters, labeled “unproven” by Stevens during last year’s media day and ahead of the regular season. Brown expressed his gratitude for their words.
“I’ve already talked to some of the guys,” Brown revealed. “Some of the guys have already reached out from the Celtics and stuff like that. Some of the young guys, so I appreciate them. Because it was an honor this year. It still was my favorite season so far.”
For the first time in his career, Brown got a look at the driver’s seat as the undisputed No. 1. It was additionally challenging after Celtics ownership and the front office tore apart its previously-star-studded roster by moving on from pieces such as Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. But Brown never wavered.
Instead, he took the challenge head-on and elevated himself, the team, and a handful of guys in Boston’s locker room — several of whom made sure to let Brown know what his efforts meant to them.
“The guys that I was able to build with, those guys that reached out to me, just told me — Neemy (Queta), Luka (Garza), all those guys told me ‘It was a pleasure to play with you, and I appreciate everything that you helped with.’ So that’s the stuff that gives you more motivation to keep going. So I’m grateful, and it was a pleasure. If this was my last year as a Celtic, this was an awesome year.”
FS1’s Colin Cowherd’s “smartest guy in the room” comment
FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd said league sources relayed intel to him regarding Brown, suggesting the 29-year-old has a “smartest guy in every room he’s in” complex comparable to a “disease.”
“One executive told me this was always a little bit of Jaylen Brown’s personality,” Cowherd reported. “Kind of the smartest guy in the room, and livestreaming and throwing it out there — that’s just not a good space. It used to be nothing good happens at three in the morning. Nothing good happens when pro athletes stream.”
In response, Brown cleared the air on that very perception.
“Personally, I think intelligence is relative,” Brown clarified. “There’s different forms of what intelligence looks like — creative, divergence, there’s being able to adapt. There’s so many different forms of intelligence. Whatever you value is whatever you value. I never told nobody, ‘Look, I’m the smartest person in the room.’ That may be how they took it.”
While attending the University of California, Berkeley, during his lone collegiate season, Brown took graduate-level courses before receiving an internship opportunity at NASA. Even as a professional athlete, Brown remained invested in education. He became the youngest person ever to give a lecture at Harvard University, then served as a Director’s Fellow at the MIT Media Lab during his time in Boston.
In the most humble way possible, Brown felt the need to “keep it buck” when it came to this topic Cowherd brought to light.
“In sports, no offense to everybody in sports, but the bar is f*cking low. The bar isn’t that high, so I think that’s what people need to take into consideration.”
Boston, MA – June 17: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown hoists the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy at the end of Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Community initiatives in Boston
One of the most difficult parts of bidding Brown farewell from Boston is what he meant off the court.
Brown made himself accessible to the city. He turned himself into a Bostonian, and it wasn’t just because of his talent as a basketball player. He visited schools, offered a voice to the disadvantaged communities, and backed up his social advocacy after signing a $304 million supermax contract, investing in Boston’s entrepreneurship and education — aimed at tackling the racial wealth disparity gap.
He launched his nonprofit, Boston XChange, shortly after signing the deal and ensured those efforts won’t be leaving the city, even as he moves on to Philadelphia.
“I appreciate all the fans. I appreciate all the supporters. The family that I’ve met in the city of Boston. I still got obligations here. I got Bridge coming up. I’ll be here. This week, I’ll be doing some community stuff that I still am committed to, and I look forward to doing more stuff with Boston XChange, with the 7uice Foundation, empowering the entrepreneurs in the city, which I already have started. We’re gonna continue to do that.”
Brown credited his grandmother, Dianne Varnado, for his deep involvement as a community leader.
“I’m a community guy. I got that from my grandmother. My grandmother taught me how to just dive into the community — she was a social worker, so it’s just in me.”
Brown added: “To the community of Boston, I will never forget the years. I grew up here. I’m 29 years old. I’ll be 30. I spent a third of my life here. So, I’m looking forward to what’s next, but I’m also appreciative of the past, and the people that I’ve met, and the community. I love you.”
Message to Philadelphia
Brown made sure to reserve time for those in Philadelphia.
Suiting up for a different team for the first time in his career, Brown says he’s ready to embrace Sixers culture next.
“I’m excited for what’s to come next,” Brown said. “It’s bittersweet. I think Philadelphia has a history of being a strong city, being a tough-nosed city. So I’m looking forward to that because I don’t want no special treatment. I don’t want no handouts. I don’t need no extra privilege. Not to say y’all were gonna give me that anyway, but I plan on earning my respect one day at a time by putting in the work.”
Brown has faced the Sixers in 57 total games throughout his Celtics tenure, which included four postseason run-ins. He was a vital part of the Boston-Philadelphia rivalry, frequently going at it with Sixers star center Joel Embiid on the court. So the change of scenery will take a little getting used to, Brown admitted.
“For the last 10 years, I’ve been programmed to hate Philadelphia. From the history to the history of the rivalry to the playoff battles, all of the above, the process. I’ve been programmed to be like, ‘Man, f*ck the process,’ so it’s funny now I gotta reverse engineer. That’s the part that’s gonna take some time, but I’ll be ready to go.”
It's been a little over a year since the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Jordan Charron in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Everyone knows how much Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas loves the Soo Greyhounds, and when he saw an opportunity to take a member from that team, he didn't hesitate.
Charron compiled 10 goals and 21 points in 48 games with the Greyhounds before he was drafted. He showcased a wicked release and some solid skating during his draft year, leading the Penguins to select him with the 154th overall pick.
He came to development camp last year, and while you can't take too much away from it, you could tell that he was above some of the other prospects that were there.
His development continued at the Soo for the 2025-26 season, and he broke out in a big way, finishing the season with 25 goals and 47 points in 66 games. There were times during the season when nobody could slow him down.
He spoke about his growth during the year at Penguins' development camp this week.
"Coming back to my second year, just being stronger and faster, I think just coming back for that second year gave me more confidence and kinda gave me some idea what the league was about," Charron said. "I kinda grew into my lower body and tried owning the puck in the corners more, tried to be a bigger guy on the forecheck, disrupt pucks, and I think I did that really well."
Charron is also super excited to be back at Penguins' development camp and is having a blast.
"Yeah, it's my second year back, and it just feels good," Charron said. "Good to see the guys again, my other draft pick guys too, and meet some new guys in the organization, and it's been really fun."
Charron is set to attend the University of Massachusetts at the end of his junior career after flipping his commitment to that school earlier this year.
"I think meeting them and going to the campus, I kinda fell in love," Charron said. "The food there is really good, they're one of the best in the country, so I kinda fell in love with that, and I love to eat. Even with the staff, they really made me feel comfortable, and I love how they play the style of hockey they have there, and I think I'm going to do really well there and try to make the NHL."
Charron will look to finish development camp in style on Friday when he plays in the development camp tournament. It's set to start at noon ET and will take place at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
Chris MacFarland has officially been the Nashville Predators' general manager for one month, and needless to say, he has been rapidly changing the look of this roster.
From his first day on the job, he made one thing clear: he wanted to reshape the roster to address areas of need. He has done that, but there is still more work to be done. However, before we look at what else could be done, let's look at what moves he has already made in his short time as GM.
MacFarland's First Month on the Job:
June 5th: Hired Rob Blake as executive vice president of hockey operations.
June 16th: Traded Magnus Chrona & 2 picks to the Colorado Avalanche for Ross Colton & Isak Posch.
June 24th: Traded Fyodor Svechkov & Zach L'Heureux to the Avalanche in exchange for Jack Drury, Chase Bradley and a 3rd round pick in 2029.
June 26th: Traded 2 second-round picks to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 1st-round pick.
June 27th: Traded Massimo Rizzo & a 5th round pick to the New York Rangers for Adam Edstrom.
June 29th: Traded a 3rd round pick in 2029 to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Nils Höglander.
July 1st: Traded a 2nd round pick in 2027 and a 3rd round pick in 2028 to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Mavrik Bourque & Ilya Lyubushkin
July 1st: Signed Alex Kerfoot to a two-year, $7 million contract.
July 1st: Re-signed Drury to a five-year, $22 million contract.
Needless to say, MacFarland has been one of the most active GMs in the last month, if not the most active. There are going to be more moves given that they have an abundance of forwards. Now the question remains, who will he move next?
When the most recent report surfaced, I reached out to people on all sides of the situation.
I gathered that the Knicks should not be seen as a potential destination for James.
The Knicks are very happy with the core of their roster coming off the 2026 NBA title.
James is reportedly looking for happiness when choosing his next destination.
The Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers and Sixers are reportedly among the teams with serious interest in James.
What about the Knicks?
Even if they had strong interest in James, wouldn’t it be a bit strange if LeBron chose to sign with a team that just won the NBA title?
The narrative of winning again in Cleveland/Miami or playing with Steph Curry is much more appealing than playing in New York.
Besides playing home games at an arena he loves, what’s the pull for James?
For all of the reasons noted above, I think LeBron-to-the-Knicks can be put to bed in 2026.
MITCH DIDN’T DITCH
Mitchell Robinson posted something vague about his departure from the Knicks. He said he wanted to be in New York and noted that he hoped the "truth" about the situation would be revealed.
It's unclear what, specifically, Robinson is referencing.
But it’s clear that he wanted to be back in New York. He said as much in an interview with a local TV station in Louisiana.
Once the Knicks re-signed Landry Shamet, it became nearly impossible for them to re-sign Robinson and remain under the second apron.
So what happens next?
The Knicks, according to HoopsHype, had interest in Marvin Bagley before he signed with Denver. According to NBA TV, the Knicks have been trying to trade for Yves Missi; New Orleans has not shown interest in moving the young big man.
Andre Drummond and Kevon Looney are among the available free agents. The Knicks could eschew free agency and instead look to acquire a big man via trade.
Of course, letting Robinson leave for nothing isn’t ideal from a roster management perspective.
But Leon Rose and his front office have obviously earned the trust of the fan base at this point.
Replacing Robinson will be the next challenge for Rose and his group.
