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Why Bruins shouldn't trade No. 7 pick in 2025 NHL Draft for veteran help

Why Bruins shouldn't trade No. 7 pick in 2025 NHL Draft for veteran help originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s very hard to win in the NHL, and especially deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, without a legit No. 1 center or at the very least two top-six caliber centers.

We just watched a Stanley Cup Final where the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers put on a scoring clinic — 45 combined goals through six games — with elite centers such as Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading that effort.

The Winnipeg Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy with Mark Scheifele as their top center. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Atlantic Division with Auston Matthews. The Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup title with Jack Eichel as their No. 1 center. The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Nathan MacKinnon, who might be the second-best player in the world. The Carolina Hurricanes have reached the Eastern Conference final two of the last three seasons with Sebastian Aho playing as a No. 1 center.

It’s not a coincidence that pretty much every contending team has an elite player at this position. And it’s not a surprise that the Bruins struggled throughout the 2024-25 season without one.

Sure, the Bruins were able to get by in 2023-24 after the retirements of longtime center duo Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. But those absences finally caught up to the Bruins this past season, and it’s time for the franchise to find its next great center.

Luckily for the Bruins, they have the No. 7 overall pick — their highest first-round selection since 2011 — in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night. The 2025 class is very deep at center, and it’s possible that six or seven centers could be taken in the first 10 picks.

It’s a great opportunity for the Bruins to select a player who can be a top-six center and consistently drive offense for a decade or more. This is why trading the No. 7 pick for a veteran player who can help the Bruins win next season would be a foolish move.

The best way to find No. 1 centers is through the draft. These kinds of players are super expensive to acquire on the trade market and free agency. For example, four of the five-highest salary cap hits last season belonged to centers. Very few No. 1 centers even reach free agency anymore. Teams just don’t let that happen.

The Bruins also don’t have a center prospect who is capable of filling a top-six role anytime soon. Boston’s prospect pool is consistently rated among the worst in the league. For example, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler rated the Bruins No. 30 out of 32 teams in his latest prospect pool rankings back in January.

Matt Poitras and Georgii Merkulov could become NHL regulars, but they are not going to be franchise centers. Veteran Elias Lindholm is being paid like a top-six center, but he did not perform at that level in his debut season with the Bruins.

Several players who could be available at No. 7 in this year’s draft — such as James Hagens, Jake O’Brien, Brady Martin and Roger McQueen — do have the potential to be top-six centers someday.

One argument for trading the No. 7 pick is that the Bruins have a core of players in their primes and the team needs to capitalize on that window. But the Bruins’ franchise pillars — David Pastrnak (29), Charlie McAvoy (27), Jeremy Swayman (26) and Hampus Lindholm (31) — are not old. Only Lindholm is above the age of 30. If the Bruins draft a good center and develop him for a year or two, that player should be ready to make a genuine impact at the NHL level while those aforementioned veterans still have several good years remaining.

Look at the Washington Capitals. They drafted Boston College forward Ryan Leonard with the No. 8 pick in 2023, and less than two years later he was playing for them in the playoffs.

If the Bruins really want to add a veteran forward who can help the team win next season, they should try to use some of their future draft picks in a potential trade. Boston has two first-round picks in 2026 and also could have two in 2027. They also have four second-round picks over the next three drafts, including two this year. They might not need to trade the No. 7 pick to get immediate help.

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The Bruins desperately need a franchise center. The best way to get one is a top-10 draft pick. In a stroke of good luck, the Bruins have one of those picks in a year where lots of center prospects are worthy of a high first-round selection.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the Bruins to add an elite talent at a premium position. Wasting it could be a catastrophic mistake.

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‘Proud and excited’: QPR appoint Julien Stéphan as head coach after Cifuentes exit

  • Frenchman coached Rennes and Strasbourg in Ligue 1

  • QPR say he has a record of creating ‘world-class talent’

Queens Park Rangers have appointed the Frenchman Julien Stéphan as their head coach. The 44-year-old’s arrival comes a day after Martí Cifuentes officially left, having been placed on gardening leave after the penultimate game of the Championship season. Stéphan has worked in Ligue 1 in two spells with his boyhood club, Rennes, with whom he won the Coupe de France in 2019, and one with Strasbourg.

“I feel very proud and excited to join QPR,” Stéphan told the club’s website. “QPR is a historic club with strong values and passionate fans, so I feel honoured. I wanted to come here because I know there’s a lot of passion around the club and around the team, and I feel very lucky to discover that.

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Five guard, forward fits for Warriors at pick No. 41 in 2025 NBA Draft

Five guard, forward fits for Warriors at pick No. 41 in 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

More than a month has passed since the Warriors’ season ended in the second round of the NBA playoffs. A week later, they already began hosting players at Chase Center on their practice court for pre-draft workouts. 

The Warriors mainly have studied older players with an abundance of college experience for their second-round pick at No. 41 overall. There’s always more to the year-long process behind closed doors. The way the draft has been affected by the changing landscape of college basketball with NIL, though, it would be a major surprise if a player younger than even 22 years old was drafted by the Warriors. 

Trayce Jackson-Davis (No. 57 overall) was 23, and turning 24 in February, when the Warriors drafted him in the second round of the 2023 draft. Quinten Post (No. 52 overall) was even older at 24, and turning 25 in March, last year as the Warriors’ second-round pick.

Hearing a teenager have his name called when the Warriors are on the clock is highly, highly unlikely if they keep the pick and use it. A cheap player that can contribute as a rookie is of major value for a team like the Warriors. 

“It does lend itself to the older guys generally can play sooner than later,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy admitted Monday at Chase Center.

The chaos of the NBA offseason already knocked down the door and has made itself at home. Now that it’s time for the draft to be part of the headlines for two days, here are the five best fits for the Warriors with the 41st pick in the draft.

Sion James, Wing, Duke

He’s the one singular prospect that I wrote about as being the perfect fit for the Warriors, and it will take some serious convincing to change my mind. 

James played four seasons at Tulane, then transferred to Duke as the exact player needed around their trio of freshmen players primed for the top 10 in the draft. Dunleavy laid out the formula Monday of needing defense – point of attack plus rim protectors – and players who can space the floor. James has the size and physicality to jump into an NBA game right now, and he’s only improved as a shooter every season in college. 

An easy comparison is Lu Dort with a lot more college experience. They’re both built like football players who were handed a basketball as a joke just to laugh in everybody else’s face. Dort is listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, was named to the All-Defensive First Team and shot 41.2 percent from three for the champion Oklahoma City Thunder this season after shooting 23.7 percent as a rookie. 

At 22 years old, 23 in December, James played 153 college games. He measured in at the combine at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 217 pounds, was voted to the ACC’s All-Defense Team this season, and after shooting 28 percent from three as a freshman, James was a 41.3 percent 3-point shooter in his one year at Duke.

Koby Brea, SG/Wing, Kentucky

Shooting and scoring dropped off a cliff to end the Warriors’ season with an injured Steph Curry. Adding perhaps the draft’s best pure shooter, outside of Kon Knueppel, could be a good start in fixing that problem. 

Brea doesn’t project to be a two-way player like Klay Thompson was. His athleticism doesn’t jump out, even on highlights. But damn can he shoot it. 

He also has ideal size on the wing as a shooting guard or small forward at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds. Like James, Brea was a five-year player in college. Also like James, his age shouldn’t be a negative for someone who will be 23 in November. This is a smart player who will know how to play his role, and not step outside of it. 

The marksman shot 43.4 percent on threes in his college career, including making 46.5 percent of his threes the past two seasons while putting up six a game.

Micah Peavy, Wing, Georgetown

Peavy is the type of player that would fit a long list of second-round picks that had lasting, solid, impactful careers in the NBA. He’s the glue guy every team wants. 

That was obvious with Peavy’s performance in his first scrimmage at the combine. His team lost by three, yet Peavy was a game-high plus-20 in 23 minutes. Peavy, who turns 24 on July 16, is a versatile wing at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds with the feel and skills to be part of a rotation. The big question is if his 3-point shot was a one-hit wonder. 

After four years in college, one at Texas Tech and three at TCU, Peavy shot 26.7 percent from three. Year by year, he also became a more willing shooter from deep. Then in his fifth college season, Peavy transferred to Georgetown and averaged 17.2 points, put up over four threes a game and made 40 percent of them.

Chaz Lanier, G/Wing, Tennessee

The first three years of Lanier’s college career didn’t amount to numbers of someone who would be on any draft boards. Lanier averaged just 4.2 points per game in that span at Florida Atlantic, and then his breakout came in Year 4. Finally fully entrenched in the starting lineup, was All-A-Sun First Team in 2023-24, averaging 19.7 points while shooting 51 percent from the field, 44 percent from three and 88 percent at the free-throw line. 

Lanier then joined Tennessee for his fifth and final college season, where that same offensive firepower followed him to the Vols. The 23-year-old who will turn 24 in December led Tennessee to the Elite Eight by averaging 18 points per game and shooting 39.5 percent beyond the arc. Lanier in his final two college seasons shot 41.5 percent from long distance while taking essentially eight threes per game. 

There are some defensive questions when it comes to Lanier for a player listed at 6-foot-4. But he rarely came off the floor for one of the top defenses in college basketball, and his 6-foot-9 wingspan and 39-inch max vertical leap gives him the traits that can produce a competent defensive player.

Alijah Martin, G, Florida

Guards Kam Jones and Tamar Bates were both considerations here. In the end, it came down to two players: Martin, or Kentucky big man Amari Williams. 

The Warriors worked out both players, who are 10 inches apart. Williams would be the second straight 7-footer Dunleavy picked in the second round. However, he’s a much different player than Post. 

As seen throughout his rookie year, Post is a stretch-five but has work to do defensively and around the rim, and likely will never be a plus athlete. Williams is not a shooter. He’s a massive shot-blocker and strong rebounder. Most importantly for Steve Kerr, Williams is a really strong player out of the middle. 

Center, as always, will be an incredibly interesting position to watch for the Warriors. They don’t want Draymond Green to start there, but he still will have minutes at center when necessary. They’re high on Post, and like a lot of what Jackson-Davis brings. Kevon Looney still could come back on a veteran minimum, and the Warriors will be active eyeing bigs through other avenues as well. 

So instead, Martin is the pick. He’s only 6-foot-2, but plays way bigger with his 6-foot-8 wingspan. Jerry Stackhouse would be begging Kerr to unleash this Pitbull. Martin is a high-energy super-athlete who was a huge reason why Florida won it all this year. 

After four years at Florida Atlantic where Martin twice was All-CUSA, as well as the 2023 CUSA Tournament MVP, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a fifth-year senior. Martin turns 24 in December, can be in the Gary Payton II role for the Warriors long term, and might offer more offense.

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Giants notes: Justin Verlander notices ‘good sign' amid search for first win

Giants notes: Justin Verlander notices ‘good sign' amid search for first win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — There’s nothing better for a Major League Baseball team than a scheduled off day in the middle of a homestand, but for Justin Verlander, the last few days were without rest. Verlander and his wife, Kate Upton, welcomed their first son last week, and the league’s oldest player flew back from Florida to face the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. Verlander said the last few days have been “really incredible” and “an amazing time” and noted that everyone is healthy and happy. 

“Having a six and a half year old and knowing the journey that’s ahead of me, it’s really incredible and I’m really looking forward to kind of reliving some of those times,” he said Tuesday. 

All is good off the field, but between the white lines, Verlander continues to search. He felt like he took a step in the right direction against the Marlins, but he also gave up three early runs and lasted just five innings while dropping to 0-5 on the 2025 MLB season. Likely the last man to ever have a shot at 300 wins, Verlander instead has to grapple with being the first Giant to ever begin his season with 12 winless starts. 

The rest of the Giants want nothing more than to help his push for 300, but on Tuesday, they managed just five hits in a 4-2 loss. Verlander put the blame on his own shoulders, though. 

“It’s not on them, it’s on me,” Verlander said. “I haven’t put us in a good position. Obviously there were a couple of times early in the year [when I did], but you can’t expect to get many wins when you go out there every time and give up three-plus runs and don’t go deep in the game. That’s where I need to do better, for sure. I plan on it.”

Verlander has completed six innings just four times in 12 starts and has allowed three-plus in six of them, including both since coming off the IL. He said he was pleased with his command on Tuesday and his velocity was a bit better, but there’s still work to be done. 

“Again, it’s just a hit here and there that I need to clean up,” he said. “I’m just kind of finding barrels at the wrong time and I need to be a little bit better, but I think the swings-and-misses and the strikeouts are going up, which is a good sign. My location is getting better. It’s still trending [upward].”

Missed Opportunity

The Giants had just one real opportunity against Cal Quantrill, who entered with a 5.68 ERA. Christian Koss hit a two-run homer and Heliot Ramos doubled with Rafael Devers on first, but Devers was easily thrown out at the plate. Manager Bob Melvin said he didn’t blame third base coach Matt Williams, noting that when the ball got down the line, he was thinking it was a “send” situation too.

“Look, we got five hits tonight,” Melvin said. “You have to try to be aggressive and tie the game.”

The send hurt because it ended the inning and left Wilmer Flores, the team RBI leader, on deck. It also appeared that Devers might have been bothered by his tight groin, but Melvin said he’s fine. 

Back in Sac 

Tyler Fitzgerald was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a strikeout in his return to Triple-A. Melvin said before the game that there’s no firm timetable down there; the Giants want Fitzgerald to get his confidence back and they’ll read and react from there. 

Koss started at second on Tuesday and hit his second career homer while having a strong night defensively. The liner had a hang time of just 3.82 seconds before hitting the first row in left; it was the third-shortest hang time on a Giants homer this season. 

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What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more

What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Dallas Mavericks are on the clock.

A new group of young prospects is set to enter the league when the 2025 NBA Draft gets underway. Dallas won the lottery in May with just 1.8% odds, landing first dibs at star Duke prospect Cooper Flagg.

Flagg has been the consensus top prospect of this class for several years, and Dallas getting the first pick right after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers generated plenty of mixed reactions.

But unlike last year’s class, the pool of talent beyond Flagg is much more tantalizing. Flagg also isn’t the only possible top-five Duke pick, while Rutgers may see two top-five picks of its own.

Here’s everything to know as the first round of the draft gets underway:

What time does the NBA Draft start?

The draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 25. It is the second straight year of the event being held over two days. The second round is set for Thursday, June 26, also at 8 p.m. ET.

Where is the NBA Draft?

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, is once again the venue for both days.

Where to watch and stream the NBA Draft online, on TV

The first round on Wednesday will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. ESPN will air the second round on Thursday.

Both rounds will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN mobile app.

What is the NBA Draft order?

Here is the order of the draft entering the first round, via NBA.com:

First round:

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Utah Jazz

6. Washington Wizards

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Brooklyn Nets

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Chicago Bulls

13. Atlanta Hawks 

14. San Antonio Spurs

15. Oklahoma City

16. Memphis Grizzlies

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

18. Washington Wizards

19. Brooklyn Nets

20. Miami Heat

21. Utah Jazz

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. New Orleans Pelicans

24. Oklahoma City Thunder

25. Orlando Magic

26. Brooklyn Nets

27. Brooklyn Nets

28. Boston Celtics

29. Phoenix Suns

30. LA Clippers

The second-round order can be viewed here.

There are usually 60 picks, but the New York Knicks had a second-round pick taken away after an investigation found the team violated the league’s tampering rules when signing Jalen Brunson in 2022.

Who are the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The top prospect is Cooper Flagg of Duke given his frame, skills and potential. He’s a rare blend of ready-now, well-rounded and possible future No. 1 option on a contender.

Beyond Flagg, Rutgers has both Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey in the mix. Harper has the potential to be an elite combo guard given his 6-foot-10 wingspan, though his 33% 3-point shooting will need to improve at the next level. Bailey has the chops to be a star shotmaking forward, but he’ll need to improve defensively while there has been some red flags in regards to canceling pre-draft workouts with teams.

Fellow Duke prospect Kon Knueppel is a plug-and-play 3-point shooter. His versatility will allow him to play in multiple positions, with a sweet shot from deep. There are athleticism concerns defensively, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles that end.

Other possible top-five picks include Baylor G V.J. Edgecombe, Texas G/F Tre Jackson and Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis.

Outside of the top five, potential steals include Duke C Khaman Maluach, Michigan State G Jase Richardson, Duke G/F Tyrese Proctor, Colorado State G/F Nique Clifford, Michigan C Danny Wolf and St. John’s F RJ Luis Jr., among others.

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What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more

What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Dallas Mavericks are on the clock.

A new group of young prospects is set to enter the league when the 2025 NBA Draft gets underway. Dallas won the lottery in May with just 1.8% odds, landing first dibs at star Duke prospect Cooper Flagg.

Flagg has been the consensus top prospect of this class for several years, and Dallas getting the first pick right after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers generated plenty of mixed reactions.

But unlike last year’s class, the pool of talent beyond Flagg is much more tantalizing. Flagg also isn’t the only possible top-five Duke pick, while Rutgers may see two top-five picks of its own.

Here’s everything to know as the first round of the draft gets underway:

What time does the NBA Draft start?

The draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 25. It is the second straight year of the event being held over two days. The second round is set for Thursday, June 26, also at 8 p.m. ET.

Where is the NBA Draft?

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, is once again the venue for both days.

Where to watch and stream the NBA Draft online, on TV

The first round on Wednesday will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. ESPN will air the second round on Thursday.

Both rounds will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN mobile app.

What is the NBA Draft order?

Here is the order of the draft entering the first round, via NBA.com:

First round:

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Utah Jazz

6. Washington Wizards

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Brooklyn Nets

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Chicago Bulls

13. Atlanta Hawks 

14. San Antonio Spurs

15. Oklahoma City

16. Memphis Grizzlies

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

18. Washington Wizards

19. Brooklyn Nets

20. Miami Heat

21. Utah Jazz

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. New Orleans Pelicans

24. Oklahoma City Thunder

25. Orlando Magic

26. Brooklyn Nets

27. Brooklyn Nets

28. Boston Celtics

29. Phoenix Suns

30. LA Clippers

The second-round order can be viewed here.

There are usually 60 picks, but the New York Knicks had a second-round pick taken away after an investigation found the team violated the league’s tampering rules when signing Jalen Brunson in 2022.

Who are the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The top prospect is Cooper Flagg of Duke given his frame, skills and potential. He’s a rare blend of ready-now, well-rounded and possible future No. 1 option on a contender.

Beyond Flagg, Rutgers has both Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey in the mix. Harper has the potential to be an elite combo guard given his 6-foot-10 wingspan, though his 33% 3-point shooting will need to improve at the next level. Bailey has the chops to be a star shotmaking forward, but he’ll need to improve defensively while there has been some red flags in regards to canceling pre-draft workouts with teams.

Fellow Duke prospect Kon Knueppel is a plug-and-play 3-point shooter. His versatility will allow him to play in multiple positions, with a sweet shot from deep. There are athleticism concerns defensively, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles that end.

Other possible top-five picks include Baylor G V.J. Edgecombe, Texas G/F Tre Jackson and Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis.

Outside of the top five, potential steals include Duke C Khaman Maluach, Michigan State G Jase Richardson, Duke G/F Tyrese Proctor, Colorado State G/F Nique Clifford, Michigan C Danny Wolf and St. John’s F RJ Luis Jr., among others.

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Spear and loathing: 20 years since tackle on Brian O’Driscoll that changed rugby

Mealamu and Umaga’s slam-dunking of the Lions captain was typical of the game’s wild west years but it proved a watershed – and the hurt still lingers

Brian O’Driscoll is sick of talking about it. Tana Umaga says anyone still asking needs to put it behind them. But here we are, 20 years to the day since the tackle that ties them together – and people do still want to talk about it.

That moment – in the first minute of the first Test of the Lions series against New Zealand – still pops up on TikTok and YouTube feeds, still sparks arguments on Reddit threads, still leads hour-long podcasts when players reminisce about how they saw it. And it still inspires articles like this one, long after the men involved have made up and moved on.

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Kyrie Irving reportedly to opt-out of current contract, re-sign with Dallas for three years, $119 million

This was expected. After the Luka Doncic trade, Dallas was going to go all-in on the Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis pairing, and neither Irving's ACL tear nor winning the Draft Lottery and the rights to select Cooper Flagg would change that.

Irving is going to opt out of his $43.9 million contract for next season and will re-sign with the Mavericks for three years, $119 million, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. The final year of the deal is a player option. It's a contract very similar to the one he signed three years ago in Brooklyn.

Irving's salary next season will be less than what he opted out of, enough to move the Mavericks below the second tax apron. It can open up the use of the $5.7 taxpayer's midlevel exception this summer.

Irving's extension likely would have been for more if he had not torn his ACL last season, an injury expected to keep him out for most, if not all, of next season (Dallas is optimistic he will return next season). Whether he returns or not, this injury does not alter the Mavericks' commitment to the path they are on for the next few years.

Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game last season. Once healthy, Irving could be paired in a starting lineup with Klay Thompson at the two, Flagg and Davis as the forwards, and Dereck Lively II at center — a quality starting five that could make noise in the West if everything clicks. Flagg gives Dallas a bridge to the future in a few years, after the Irving and Davis era runs its course.

In the short term, the Mavericks are looking at Dennis Schroder, Chris Paul, D'Angelo Russell and other short-term fill-ins at the point while Irving heals.

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Extreme heat forces Yankees' Aaron Boone to cut Carlos Rodon's start short in loss to Reds

The Yankees dropped their second straight to the Reds on Tuesday night, but there were questions on a decision by skipper Aaron Boone that needed addressing.

Starter Carlos Rodon pitched six scoreless innings, and with the Yankees up 3-0 and the southpaw at just 88 pitches, it seemed like an obvious decision to have Rodon pitch the seventh. However, Boone had Jonathan Loaisiga start the inning and the bullpen imploded, allowing the tying three runs and the winning runs in the 11th of their 5-4 loss.

Boone was asked about the decision after the game and pointed to the weather's effect on his starter as the reason.

"Once he came out, I knew he was kinda done on a 100-degree night like that," Boone explained. "[Spencer] Steer had a pretty good at-bat on him his last time. I felt like he was done there."

Steer was set to lead off the seventh and he doubled against Rodon in the fourth, one of the only instances where the left-hander had to pitch around trouble on Tuesday. But despite Boone's explanation about matchups, it was the heat in Cincinnati that really did Rodon in; it was 91 degrees at first pitch, which is the Yankees starter confirmed when he spoke with the media after the game.

"Usually I’m going back out, kind of thing, but I was huffing and puffing a little bit," Rodon said. "...most situations I want the ball, but I could tell, I was gassed. They had some good at-bats, and some long at-bats. Just one of those days where the energy was coming out of me quick.”

Rodon said that during warmer games, he sometimes has to expend more energy, especially in the later innings. Loaisiga was pulled from his relief appearance because the heat was getting to him too, according to Boone.

The longtime Yankees manager said Loaisiga was under the weather on Monday but was good enough to pitch Tuesday. However, that energy reserve was depleted thanks to the heat and was "wiped out."

"I don’t like making excuses for stuff like that. It was one of those situations where you leave it to my guys and unfortunately, we didn’t get it done today," Rodon said. "I trust everybody in the bullpen to go out there and execute. It was just one of those days where they swung the bat well later on, we made a run at it late and it was an exciting baseball game."

Of course, the weather affects both teams, and the Yankees bullpen and lack of execution in extra innings did the team in. Tuesday's loss was the fifth this year where the team had a lead at the start of the seventh inning or later, which is the most in MLB. They have also dropped nine of their last 12 games, which has caused their strong AL East division lead to dwindle. With the Rays' win, the Yankees' lead in the division is just one game.

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Christian Moore's two homers help Angels rally to beat Red Sox

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) is greeted by Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe as Angels right fielder Mike Trout greets Angels second baseman Christian Moore (4) after the final out of the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Monday, June 23, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
From left, Zach Neto, Logan O'Hoppe, Mike Trout and Christian Moore of the Angels congregate after the ninth inning. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

Drenched in frigid electric-blue energy drink, Christian Moore still couldn’t believe where he was — and what he had just done.

Exactly a year ago Tuesday, the 22-year-old from Brooklyn was atop the biggest stage of college baseball, winning the Men's College World Series in Omaha as the Teneeseee Volunteers' star slugger. Now the Angels' top prospect — their top selection in the 2024 MLB Draft — forged a moment to remember.

Mike Trout wasn’t the hero. It wasn’t Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe or any of the power bats in the Angels’ lineup. Moore provided the game-changing — and game-winning — swings that powered the Angels to a 3-2, 10-inning victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

Down 1-0 in the eighth inning, Moore walloped a home run over the left field wall, flinging his bat into the air like a big-league regular who had done it dozens of times before — not just for his second career home run.

He didn’t know he hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the 10th inning. Moore didn’t know that the ball cleared the yellow line on the right-field wall as he hustled into third base as if he just had a tying triple. The excited rookie second baseman wagged his tongue back and forth at the Angels dugout in celebration.

When Moore — who laughed about how cold the cooler full of liquid and ice was postgame — looked up at third-base umpire Chris Segal, the youngest-tenured Angel didn’t know what to think when he saw Segal’s finger circle the air, signaling a home run.

“I didn't believe it — I was kind of scared to get off the base,” Moore said. “But the umpire, he made it pretty serious that it was a home run, so I was like, ‘I'm gonna take your word for it and go celebrate with my boys.’ ”

Moore’s boys, easily his senior, couldn’t be more proud of their rookie second baseman, stunning their American League East foes with his second and third career home runs, shooting the Angels into potential postseason contention, just a game under .500 — at 39-40 — and 2 ½ games out of an AL wild-card spot.

Read more:Angels manager Ron Washington out indefinitely because of health issues

“It's huge, man,” said starting pitcher Tyler Anderson. “To see guys like that coming up and contributing in big ways on offense and defense, is huge and super valuable.”

Shortstop Neto added: “Special player. Watching that was pretty cool. He's going to be here for a long time.”

Before Moore’s monumental at-bats in the eighth and 10th innings — making him the first Angels player to have each of his first three home runs be of the tying or go-ahead variety in the seventh inning or later — the Angels ran into a buzzsaw. He also became the first player in MLB history to hit a tying home run and a walk-off home run with his team trailing while also driving in all of his team's runs.

Boston southpaw Garrett Crochet scorched through them Tuesday night, striking out 10 across seven scoreless innings. The 6-foot-6 Red Sox ace fired high-90s heat with success a day after Walker Buehler struggled to keep the Angels off the basepaths.

The Angel Stadium crowd attempted to will a rally into existence in the seventh inning, cheering loudly as the heart of the Angels’ lineup hit after Trout worked a leadoff walk. Crochet dispatched the Angels back to the dugout, inducing pinch-hitter Travis d’Arnaud to pop out and hold a 1-0 lead.

It would take one more Angels better before Moore stepped up to the plate in the eighth. Moore, who struck out twice against Crochet earlier in the game, tied the score with his solo homer off of relief pitcher Greg Weissert, not only changing the energy in the stadium — but the final result in the process.

“I think that's just believing in us, understanding that we can score a run or two at any moment, and just believing in our guys,” Moore said. “The game's not over ever.”

Angels acting manager Ray Montgomery said Moore brings a “youthful exuberance” to the clubhouse. Whether it was an over-the-shoulder catch Monday or his home run heroics Tuesday, the rookie is finding his way into big plays, big moments and playing time.

“[Hitting coach Johnny Washington] said 'He's either part of the solution or part of the problem,' ” Montgomery said, “and I think he's a big part of the solution.... He's going to be a big key for us — tonight, tomorrow, and every day after it.”

The Angels’ bullpen, which has emerged as one of the best in baseball during June to the tune of a 2.91 earned-run average entering Tuesday’s game, shut down the Red Sox (40-41) after Montgomery pulled Anderson from the game after 4 ⅔ innings and 82 pitches.

Reid Detmers gave up the only run (unearned) out of the bullpen, the 10th inning single from Marcelo Mayer to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.

Anderson — flummoxed as he watched Montgomery come to the mound as he called on right-hander Connor Brogdon from the bullpen — has only finished the fifth inning twice in his last five starts. Despite the short start Tuesday, the outing was arguably his best in that span, striking out five and walking two, while giving up one run and two hits.

“Obviously, as a starter, you want to go deeper into games,” Anderson said. “But, man, our bullpen is just unbelievable. Kudos to those guys for coming and shutting it down and keeping it there.”

Angels closer Kenley Jansen, who left Monday’s game with shoulder cramps after throwing a few pitches below 90 mph, returned Tuesday and tossed a scoreless ninth. Neto, on the other hand, caused an injury scare when he left Tuesday’s game in the ninth after short-arming a throw, airmailing first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr.

After a short talk with Montgomery and the team trainer, he walked to the dugout. Montgomery said postgame that Neto’s removal was precautionary and due to an eighth-inning slide on a stolen base attempt where the shortstop jammed his right shoulder.

Neto said he probably should have pulled himself from the game and will undergo an MRI and further testing Wednesday morning.

“There's a time and place to be a hero,” Neto said, referring to his aggravated shoulder.

But for the Angels on Tuesday night, it was Moore’s opportunity to be the hero. A day he and Angel fans will remember — when he found the right place at the right time, twice.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Latest on Panthers pending free agents, ripple effect from Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad

We are less than a week away from the start of NHL Free Agency.

When July 1st arrives, we’ll find out where many of the league’s top unrestricted free agents will sign their next contracts.

That group of UFAs include a trio of Florida Panthers, each who have played key roles in the team’s recent Stanley Cup success.

They are forwards Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Bennett is fresh off his amazing run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping Florida win the historic trophy while earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

During Florida’s first days after winning the Cup, Bennett made a few public statements indicting his intention to stay with the Panthers, and it sounds like both sides are making progress toward making that happen.

Look for Bennett to take a deal in the range of $8 million per season, give or take, over an eight-year deal.

Marchand is also reportedly looking for some term on his next deal.

He was very happy in South Florida after being traded to the Panthers at the Trade Deadline and proved to be one of their best contributors during the playoffs.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Marchand may be working to obtain a multi-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) in the range of $5-$6 million.

What does that mean for Ekblad?

Well, Florida only has $19 million in cap space for next season.

If both Bennett and Marchand take the lower end of those figures, it would still leave less money for Ekblad than what he was paid on his last contract.

Would the 29-year-old former first overall selection be willing to take a pay cut on what could be the last big deal of his career?

In addition to the three aforementioned players, Florida has several others who played key roles in their Stanley Cup win who are also set to be UFAs next week.

They are Nate Schmidt, Tomas Nosek, Nico Sturm and Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Mackie Samoskevich will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Point being, the Panthers have more than a few holes to fill ahead of next season and they need to have enough money to do so.

One final thing to keep in mind is that Florida doesn’t have to be under the cap until Opening Night.

We’ll see how things play out over the coming days.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Jun 4, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

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What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more

What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Dallas Mavericks are on the clock.

A new group of young prospects is set to enter the league when the 2025 NBA Draft gets underway. Dallas won the lottery in May with just 1.8% odds, landing first dibs at star Duke prospect Cooper Flagg.

Flagg has been the consensus top prospect of this class for several years, and Dallas getting the first pick right after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers generated plenty of mixed reactions.

But unlike last year’s class, the pool of talent beyond Flagg is much more tantalizing. Flagg also isn’t the only possible top-five Duke pick, while Rutgers may see two top-five picks of its own.

Here’s everything to know as the first round of the draft gets underway:

What time does the NBA Draft start?

The draft will begin at 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, June 25. It is the second straight year of the event being held over two days. The second round is set for Thursday, June 26, also at 5 p.m. PT.

Where is the NBA Draft?

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, is once again the venue for both days.

Where to watch and stream the NBA Draft online, on TV

The first round on Wednesday will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. ESPN will air the second round on Thursday.

Both rounds will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN mobile app.

What is the NBA Draft order?

Here is the order of the draft entering the first round, via NBA.com:

First round:

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Utah Jazz

6. Washington Wizards

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Brooklyn Nets

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Chicago Bulls

13. Atlanta Hawks 

14. San Antonio Spurs

15. Oklahoma City

16. Memphis Grizzlies

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

18. Washington Wizards

19. Brooklyn Nets

20. Miami Heat

21. Utah Jazz

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. New Orleans Pelicans

24. Oklahoma City Thunder

25. Orlando Magic

26. Brooklyn Nets

27. Brooklyn Nets

28. Boston Celtics

29. Phoenix Suns

30. LA Clippers

The second-round order can be viewed here.

There are usually 60 picks, but the New York Knicks had a second-round pick taken away after an investigation found the team violated the league’s tampering rules when signing Jalen Brunson in 2022.

Who are the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The top prospect is Cooper Flagg of Duke given his frame, skills and potential. He’s a rare blend of ready-now, well-rounded and possible future No. 1 option on a contender.

Beyond Flagg, Rutgers has both Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey in the mix. Harper has the potential to be an elite combo guard given his 6-foot-10 wingspan, though his 33% 3-point shooting will need to improve at the next level. Bailey has the chops to be a star shotmaking forward, but he’ll need to improve defensively while there has been some red flags in regards to canceling pre-draft workouts with teams.

Fellow Duke prospect Kon Knueppel is a plug-and-play 3-point shooter. His versatility will allow him to play in multiple positions, with a sweet shot from deep. There are athleticism concerns defensively, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles that end.

Other possible top-five picks include Baylor G V.J. Edgecombe, Texas G/F Tre Jackson and Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis.

Outside of the top five, potential steals include Duke C Khaman Maluach, Michigan State G Jase Richardson, Duke G/F Tyrese Proctor, Colorado State G/F Nique Clifford, Michigan C Danny Wolf and St. John’s F RJ Luis Jr., among others.

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Mets calling up RHP Jonathan Pintaro to bolster bullpen: report

With the Mets in need of bullpen help, the team is calling up one of their young right-handers.

Jonathan Pintaro is getting the call to the show, according to The Athletics' Will Sammon. The 27-year-old right-hander was just promoted to Triple-A from Binghamton this week, but had not taken the mound for Syracuse before this sudden promotion.

Pintaro has been solid for the Mets' Double-A affiliate this season. In 11 starts (42.1 IP), Pintaro has pitched to a 3.40 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP with 57 strikeouts. In his three starts this month, Pintaro has allowed just two runs over 12 innings pitched. As Sammon notes, although Pintaro has only started games this season, he's expected to offer the Mets bullpen help.

In Tuesday's loss to the Braves, the Mets used five relievers after Frankie Montas pitched five scoreless innings. That comes a day after the team used four relievers in Monday's loss to Atlanta.