EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: (L-R) President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers speak to the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on May 12, 2026 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nobody asked us to care about what the Los Angeles Lakers are doing this offseason. But as a seasoned scribe here in Dub Nation, I believe in knowing your enemies. Not in a weird, paranoid way, but like in a “the Lakers were the best team in the Pacific Division last season, what are they up to now” kind of fashion.
So consider this your official Lakers draft debrief. You’re welcome!
Then they traded up for Cameron Carr out of Baylor with the 24th pick. A 6’5″ wing with a 7’0.75″ wingspan, a 42.5-inch vertical, and 37% three-point shooting in his breakout college season. Carr is the athletic, switchable, sky-above-the-rim threat that next to Luka Doncic could be a real scary proposition.
Here’s what should make Dub Nation raise an eyebrow; this is apparently exactly what the Lakers were looking for. But don’t take my word for, just ask our blog buddy Silver Screen and Roll who wrote an article about Carr entitled “The Lakers drafted the exact archetype they need in Cameron Carr”:
They seem to now have a type. Similar to Adou Thiero, the 36th overall selection last year, Carr is a freakish athlete with a standout highlight reel dunk package. He showed that athletic pop off at the combine, posting a max vertical leap of 42.5”, tied for second overall. Carr measured out at 6’4.5 and 184 pounds, with a long 7’0.75” wingspan and an 8’8” standing reach. Offensively, he’s the prototypical modern NBA-level wing teams are looking for, living with baskets at the rim or behind the 3-point line with tantalizing fluidity.
He leverages his physical traits in a multitude of ways. One is as a monster finisher in transition, showcasing as one of the best vertical threat wings in the draft, a tailor-made athletic fit next to the playmaking savant Luka, who’s had success with similar players like the high flyer Derick Jones Jr.
A 6-foot-5 high flyer running the wing in transition or cutting backdoor in the dunker spot? With Luka and Austin Reaves drawing the eyes of the defense, Carr flying around and slamming thunderous dunks could be massive momentum shifts.
The Dubs missed the playoffs last year and are trying to sharpen their identity; meanwhile the Lakers went to the second round last year even with Luka and Reaves down. They beat Houston in the first round before OKC sent them home with a flurry of brooms, and now they’re coming back looking to build on those championship aspirations.
Gilbert Arenas strictly questions the logic behind the Lakers drafting Cameron Carr.
"A 6'4" lob threat doesn’t exist"
"I'm going to be your biggest fan and hater at the same time"
Gilbert Arenas isn't fully sold on the Lakers' latest draft move. While he likes Cameron Carr as… pic.twitter.com/KyKlIpIFp4
Now let’s be balanced about this, because Dub Nation doesn’t do blind panic. Carr fell to the 24th spot for a reason; I don’t think he’s coming in to win rookie of the year and terrorize the league immediately. The Lakers still have more King-sized roster questions to answer this summer. But the direction is set and they know who they want to be: more athletic, more dynamic, more in your face. Golden State needs to have an answer ready because the Lake Show isn’t waiting for the stumbling dynasty from the Bay to figure it out.
Keep your friends close, Dub Nation. Keep your Pacific Division rivals in your group chat, your timeline, and your scouting report. They’re absolutely coming for this division and Golden State will be right in their way.
June 29, 2016, will forever remain a big day in NHL history. On that day, two blockbuster trades took place, and one NHL star announced he would be remaining with the only team he ever played for. At 3:34 PM, the New Jersey Devils announced that they had acquired Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers in return for Adam Larsson, and just 20 minutes later, the Montreal Canadiens announced that they had acquired blueliner Shea Weber from the Nashville Predators in exchange for P.K. Subban. Just three minutes later, news came that Steven Stamkos had signed a new contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In Montreal, the second announcement took the spotlight. While Subban will always remain a polarizing figure with Canadiens’ fans, there is no denying that when he played for the Habs, he was an extremely entertaining player. Not only because of his persona, but because of his playing style. He was one of the few players of the Carey Price era who were first and foremost about offense. When he took flight in his own zone and carried the puck to the other end of the ice, the Bell Centre would buzz with excitement. When Lane Hutson started his career with the Habs, he was the first defenseman since Subban to generate that kind of buzz with his exciting manoeuvres all over the ice.
When Marc Bergevin traded the blueliner to the Preds, Subban had spent seven seasons in Montreal, skating in 434 games, putting up 278 points, and winning the James Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman after the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. In 42 games that season, he put up 38 points. In his final season in Montreal, the flashy rearguard put up 51 points in 68 games as his season ended early because of an injury suffered in what would turn out to be his final game as a Hab on March 10, 2016, against the Buffalo Sabres. He had spent 29:55 on the ice before being taken off the ice on a stretcher following a collision with Alexei Emelin. Needless to say, that wasn’t how he had pictured his time with the Canadiens ending.
Subban would play only six more seasons in the NHL, three with the Predators and three with the New Jersey Devils, before retiring. As for Shea Weber, he played just five seasons with the Canadiens before being forced to retire by injuries. In his five years in Montreal, Weber only skated in 275 games out of a possible 373 games and put up 146 points, including 58 goals.
Weber had a rugged style of play and could land some game-altering hits on opponents all over the ice, providing a much more physical presence than Subban ever did, a style better suited to the Bergevin brand of hockey. The big defenseman also had a booming shot from the blueline, which became the Canadiens’ default play on the power play. While Weber could never lead the Canadiens to their 25th Stanley Cup conquest, he did captain them to the Stanley Cup final in his final season, in 2020-21. Although no one knew back then, when the Lightning beat the Canadiens in five games, the curtain fell on Weber’s career. He played with a torn meniscus, a broken ankle, torn thumb tendons, and a torn groin. It was when Weber was left unprotected for the expansion draft that doubts about his future surfaced, before the GM announced in October 2021 that he would sit out the season and may never play again. Which unfortunately turned out to be true.
In the end, the trade that promised to alter both franchises for years to come saw both players retire earlier than anyone thought, but both athletes will forever hold a special place in Canadiens’ fans hearts; one for being a rare offensive bright spot and giving so much to the city and the other for getting the Habs nearer to the Cup than they had been since 1993, when they won their 24th.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 07: Day'ron Sharpe #20 of the Brooklyn Nets plays against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets are bringing back both Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott on two-year deals, according to reports Monday morning by Shams Charania and Mike Scotto. The team also exercised its team option on Malachi Smith, but the deal was totally non-guaranteed.
Sharpe will sign a two-year, $20 million deal, apparently without options, while Minott will sign a two-year, $9 million deal with the second year a team option. The two, aged 24 and 23, respectively, are seen as building blocks in the Nets continuing rebuild. At the moment, Sharpe, who is one of the league leaders in rebound percentage, seems likely to replace the departed Nic Claxton as the Nets starting center while Minott will join the rotation upfront.
Scotto was first with the Sharpe signing, while Shams had Minott first…
Breaking: The Brooklyn Nets plan to sign Day’Ron Sharpe to a two-year deal worth roughly $20 million, sources told @hoopshype. Sharpe has impressed Brooklyn and is expected to have a bigger role this season. Agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of @AMRAgency finalized the deal. pic.twitter.com/YzOx3ROeYU
Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott intends to sign a new two-year, $9 million to return to the franchise, with a team option in second season, sources tell ESPN. The Nets declined Minott’s team option to clear the way for a new contract. pic.twitter.com/9HlXrdo91Z
The Nets had a deadline of Monday to exercise team options on both — Sharpe for $6.3 million and Minott for $2.6 million — but chose instead to sign the two players to multi-year deals with significant raises. Sharpe was drafted by the Nets in 2021 while Minott was acquired from the Celtics in a salary dump at the trade deadline last February in return for $110,000 in cash considerations, the minimum permitted under the CBA.
The actual signings won’t come until after July 6.
There had been some speculation that the two, along with Ziaire Williams and Malachi Smith, would have their team options declined so that Sean Marks & co. could have more salary cap space to pursue other, bigger free agents starting Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Instead, the Nets took care of their own first while still retaining significant space. Williams had his team option, also for $6.3 million, declined and his future with the organization remains murky. The Nets could sign him later in free agency, but Dan Woike of The Athletic reported Sunday night that is hometown team, the L.A. Lakers may have interest.
Later, Scotto also reported that Smith, 26, will have his team option of $2.1 million exercised, all of which is non-guaranteed…
The Brooklyn Nets will exercise the $2.15 million team option on Malachi Smith, which is fully non-guaranteed for the 2026-27 season, league sources told @hoopshype. Smith averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for Brooklyn last season.
As Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron tweeted not long after the Shams and Scotto reports, the Nets are likely to use the MLE or cap space to sign Minott, rather than Bird Rights. He also put the Nets workable cap space at about $36 million, the third highest in the NBA this summer. (The Nets also have $3.9 million available from last season that could be used by Tuesday.)
Brooklyn Nets salary cap situation after re-signing Day'Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott.
Minott doesn't have enough Non Bird rights to get two years, $9 million, so his contract goes into cap space or room mid-level exception.
In either event, the Nets should be a big player in free agency.
The Nets are introducing their three rookies — Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau — this afternoon at a media availability in Brooklyn. Sean Marks is likely to get questions on the signings as well.
"If Draymond Green opts out of that contract, I will just point out he's represented by the same agency as LeBron James – Klutch Sports," NBA reporter Brian Windhorst said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Monday, June 29. "... If Draymond opts out of that contract, it opens the window for the Warriors to maneuver and offer a free agent. Maybe it's LeBron, maybe it's someone else."
The anticipation is that Golden State and Green will begin negotiating terms for a new contract extension based on how the team's pursuit of James goes. Though Green and James had a memorable encounter during the 2016 NBA Finals, in which a flagrant foul by Green led to a one-game suspension, the two have since developed a friendship off the court and share the same representation.
Green will be entering his 15th NBA season in 2026-27 and averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebound and 5.5 assists per game for the Warriors this past season. The team failed to make it out of the Western Conference play-in tournament this past season, with injuries to Butler and Stephen Curry contributing to the struggles.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr and Curry are returning and the franchise selected Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft last week. Who else joins them in the Bay Area next season is suddenly a topic of great intrigue for the entire league.
The Boston Bruins, for the first time since 2023, did not make a first-round pick.
They entered the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday with the No. 23 overall pick, but they traded it as part of a package to acquire left wing JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth.
The B’s ended up making seven picks by the end of Saturday.
Let’s look at a couple key takeaways from Boston’s 2026 draft class:
JJ Peterka gamble was worth taking
The odds of the Bruins drafting and developing a player as talented or better than JJ Peterka with the No. 23 overall pick was low. Therefore, trading for the speedy top-six left wing and giving up the No. 23 pick and the Panthers’ 2028 first-rounder (top-10 protected) was a risk worth taking.
Peterka is dangerous off the rush and should be a consistent 30-goal scorer in Boston, especially if he plays alongside David Pastrnak.
“He’s got an elite shot,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told reporters Friday night. “Probably gives us another look on the elbows in a power-play situation. His power-play minutes dipped a little bit last year. His 5-on-5 production has been really good. Plays both wings. Could probably play with a couple different types of centers, help drive a line, but also complement the better guys in situations that we’re certainly trying to improve.”
Peterka is only 24 years old, too, so he can help the B’s win now and be part of the team’s next core. He’s also signed through 2029-30 with a reasonable salary cap hit of $7.7 million.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
JJ Peterka has scored 25-plus goals in three straight seasons.
Taking goalie in second round was bold
The Bruins need more forwards with speed and skill, and there’s a severe lack of high-end talent on the blue line in their prospect pool (more on that below). So it was surprising that Boston decided to take Russian goalie Yury Ivanov with the No. 56 overall pick in the second round.
The B’s were well-aware of these rankings, but they like Ivanov’s potential.
“Certainly we’re cognizant of the public lists and what’s out there, but for us, we’ve got to look at the attributes and value the players the way we value them. We had the opportunity to watch him play live a number of times,” Bruins director of amateu scouting Ryan Nadeau told reporters Saturday. “We watched him on video, we tracked him. Certainly as the year went on, we got a little bit more excited about his game…We’re just really excited about where his game could get to.”
The Bruins have plenty of depth in net. Jeremy Swayman was a Vezina Trophy finalist this past season and is only 27 years old. His contract runs through the 2031-32 season. Michael DiPietro is coming off a fantastic campaign for the AHL’s Providence Bruins in which he went 34-8-1 with a .930 save percentage. He’s also just 27 and deserves a chance at the backup job in Boston at some point.
Even if the point of the Ivanov pick was to give Boston depth at the position well into the future, it felt odd to use the Bruins’ most valuable pick in this draft (after trading No. 23 overall on Friday) on a player who might not step onto the TD Garden ice for many more years.
In fairness, the Bruins develop goalies better than most teams, but they had much more glaring roster needs to address in Round 2.
Bruins waited too long to take a defenseman
The No. 1 weakness in the Bruins’ prospect pool is a lack of skilled defensemen. If you look at their top 10 prospects, Frederic Brunet is the only defenseman who would make the list, and he’s not a slam dunk to have a successful NHL career.
The Bruins didn’t take a defenseman in this draft until the fifth round. They selected Jacob Vandeven at No. 157 overall. It was another reach.
Vandeven does have an intriguing skill set and physical profile. He became a full-time defenseman this past season. He’s 6-foot-6 and 207 pounds, and he does bring some offensive ability to the ice. There’s definitely some potential there.
But when blue line depth is a major weakness in your prospect pool and you don’t take a defenseman until Round 5 (and then again in Round 7), that’s not a great outcome.
Zero centers drafted
The Bruins have made a strong effort in recent seasons to find a top-six center through the draft. They selected James Hagens at No. 7 overall in the first round last year, as well as his Boston College teammate Dean Letourneau in Round 1 in 2024. Both players had fantastic 2025-26 seasons for the Eagles.
In total, the Bruins drafted four centers in 2025, two in 2024, two in 2023 and three in 2022. So it wasn’t too surprising that the B’s focused on other positions this year.
Early grades are not promising
Here’s a roundup of Bruins draft class grades. They haven’t received high marks so far.
“After trading its first-round pick, Boston was limited in what it could walk away with. Nils Bartholdsson in the third round brings some interesting traits, and I liked Oscar Olsson where the Bruins got him. I could see one depth player emerging, or Yuri Ivanov getting some games as a backup goalie.”
“Acquiring a proven NHL player is almost always better than taking a chance with a draft pick. JJ Peterka is who the Bruins opted for, sending a first-round pick to Utah in the deal. Yuri Ivanov is a very young goaltender who is going to take time but has solid NHL potential. Oscar Olsson is a decent bet in the fourth round with potential.
“The Bruins might not get any NHL players from their draft class, but using their first pick as part of a package to acquire a proven talent is good business for where the team is in its competitive window.”
“Yuri Ivanov may have carried Spartak Moskva to the MHL finals, but our team didn’t believe much in his upside due to play-reading and postural issues, giving him late-round value. Boston is banking on athleticism with that selection.
“For our staff, their most exciting pick was Roberto Leonardo Henriquez, who we ranked at No. 71 and went 170th. The dynamic-skating goaltender became a high-end puck stopper in the USHL, and has the tools to be an undersized NHL tandem-level goalie.”
(Click the link above for St-Louis’ full analysis)
Bruins still in good shape for future drafts
The Bruins own all of their future first-round picks, and they’ll also get a 2027 or 2028 first-round pick from the Maple Leafs to complete the Brandon Carlo trade.
They also picked up an extra fourth-rounder in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The B’s sent the Penguins a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall) for a 2026 sixth-rounder (No. 170 overall) and the Winnipeg Jets’ 2027 fourth-rounder.
Apr 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) celebrates his three-point basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
Ahead of free agency beginning on Tuesday, the Raptors’ centre has elected to test the market after turning down his 2.8 million dollar option, as per Shams Charania. Mamukelashvili was a core part of Toronto’s frontcourt in the 2025-26 season, where the big man posted averages of 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 stocks, playing 80 games and earning Sixth Man of the Year votes.
The forward is entering his sixth season in the NBA, and could be a hot commodity for those looking to add a floor spacing backup big to their roster. With Toronto in active talks to acquire Kawhi Leonard, keeping Mamu could be a priority to ensure roster cohesion if the Clippers demand Collin Murray-Boyles as part of such a trade. As the Raptors have also been linked to Myles Turner, what exactly the Raptors will offer to keep Mamu is potentially dependent on other desired acquisitions in free agency.
Mamukelashvili is only 26 years old, and fits the timeline centred around Scottie Barnes’ development well. As an experienced journeyman, Mamu has found a high level of success in Toronto, and is a very important player in their roster considering the current state of their big man rotation. I am of the opinion that Mamu is very much worth bringing back, with a bump in pay to acknowledge the quality of his contribution, but that financial flexibility must be taken into consideration when attempting to put together a team that can go even deeper into the playoffs. As well, he is undersized for a centre, and for a team that is built around a point guard in a power forward’s body, the reality of the Raptors’ need to get bigger should also be taken into consideration.
May 16, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Buffalo Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn (29) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Sabres re-signed checking-line forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract on Monday, retaining the player two days before he was eligible to hit the free agent market.
The average salary of $2.9 million more than doubles the $1.35 million Malenstyn made in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo. And it represents the value the 28-year-old brought to the team in a secondary role.
Last year, Malenstyn set a Sabres’ single-season record with 282 hits and finished second on the team with 75 blocked shots. He scored a career-high seven goals as part of a 14-point season.
The sixth-year NHL player spent his first four seasons in Washington and was acquired by Buffalo in a trade that sent a second-round pick to the Capitals at the 2024 draft.
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers have a new hurdle in their pursuit of a starting center for next year’s team.
Last year’s starter, Deandre Ayton, has reportedly picked up his player option, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton is opting into his $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/YCEkd3wgmj
This move is far from a shock. It was reported earlier that Ayton was expected to pick up his player option. Now the Lakers have the option to keep Ayton or move him to bring in another player.
As a starter last year, he had his fair share of ups and downs. In many clutch-time games, he was benched for Jaxson Hayes. However, the good moments certainly outweighed the bad.
He averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds and started in all 72 games he played. One of his best performances in the regular season came in a win over the Spurs. In that contest, Ayton had 22 points, 10 rebounds and outplayed Victor Wembanyama.
His play declined in the second round against the Thunder. Ayton averaged just 7.3 points and his minutes dipped to 24.6 per game.
Considering how openly the Lakers have been looking for a top center, it seems unlikely that Ayton will remain around. Perhaps he could be a backup option on the team, but he almost certainly won’t be the starter next season and, given his contract, wouldn’t be too hard to move in a trade.
The Knicks have already paraded through the Canyon of Heroes following their NBA title win, but now the streets of Manhattan will get even more Knicks flavor.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of transportation have announced that temporary street signs will be going up in Manhattan on Monday to honor each member of the Knicks 2025-26 championship squad.
“This championship is bigger than basketball. It represents what our city is capable of when the odds are stacked against us. For as long as we live, every New Yorker will remember the feeling of our city coming together — not because of tragedy or adversity, but out of joy and happiness,” saidMayor Mamdani. “This championship belongs to every fan who packed our parks and plazas and every neighbor who high-fived a stranger after another impossible comeback. These street signs are a tribute to the players who delivered the championship generations of fans waited their whole lives to see and the city that stood behind them every step of the way. Long after the confetti is gone, New Yorkers will be able to walk these streets and remember the team that brought our city so much joy. Knicks in five.”
The signs, which will stay in place for four weeks, will run along Sixth and Seventh Avenues.
Here are the exact locations:
· Sixth Avenue and West Houston Street– Jordan Clarkson No. 00 · Sixth Avenue and Bleeker Street – Dillon Jones No. 1 · Sixth Avenue and Minetta Lane –Miles “Deuce” McBride No. 2 · Sixth Avenue and West 3 Street – Josh Hart No.3 · Sixth Avenue and West 4 Street – Pacôme Dadiet No. 4 · Sixth Avenue and Washington Place – Jose Alvarado No. 5 · Sixth Avenue and West 8 Street– OG Anunoby No. 8 · Sixth Avenue and West 9 Street – Kevin McCullar Jr. No. 9 · Seventh Avenue South and West 11 Street– Jalen BrunsonNo. 11 · Seventh Avenue and West 13 Street – Tyler KolekNo. 13 · Seventh Avenue and West 20 Street – Jeremy SochanNo. 20 · Seventh Avenue and West 23 Street – Mitchell RobinsonNo. 23 · Seventh Avenue and West 25 Street– Mikal Bridges No. 25 · Seventh Avenue and West 32 Street– Karl-Anthony Towns No.32 · Sixth Avenue and West 44 Street – Landry Shamet No. 44 · Seventh Avenue and West 50 Street – Trey Jemison III No. 50 · Seventh Avenue and West 51 Street – Mohamed Diawara No. 51 · Seventh Avenue and West 55 Street – Ariel Hukporti No.55
Mike and Dan recap the Islanders picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, look ahead to a shallow free agency pool and bring forth a new, delusional Master Leaf Theatre.
The Islanders didn’t make any big splashes in Buffalo but didn’t come away as one of the draft’s big losers, either. By focusing on defensemen – highlighted by first round pick Malte Gustafsson, who sounds like a Swedish clone of Adam Pelech – they went the safest route possible. Which is fine, but hardly sexy. And while some fans wonder why so many of their defensive prospects shoot from the same side, the fact is there’s no guarantee any of these guys make the big club any time soon. We also discuss Matthew Schaefer’s entertaining performance at this draft and the re-signing of Tony DeAngelo to another safe, fine deal.
In the second half, we talk about some free agents we could see (and would rather not see) the Islanders take a run at. None of these older guys deserve any kind of term, but some might be helpful on shorter, more frontloaded deals. We also look at how some teams in the Metro Division got much better over the weekend, which is never not annoying, and serve up a Master Leaf Theatre that not only boosts the Boys in Blue and White but also changes the trajectory of the NHL and every American player in it. Cancel those plane tickets to Florida, fam.
Luke Fox really let his galaxy brain do the walking on this one.
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Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka insists that there are holes in his roster that need to be filled.
The Maple Leafs seem to improve on paper, especially with the addition of defenseman Darren Raddysh, as well as drafting Gavin McKenna first overall in the 2026 NHL draft.
The first overall pick revealed that he received a text message from Patrick Kane after he was drafted. It was a particularly neat moment for McKenna because not only is that an idol of his, but one player whom he's modelled part of his game after.
"He's who I grew up watching," McKenna said after he was drafted. "I don't know if it was all the YouTube highlights that kind of made me play like him. But, yeah, he's someone I always watched, and just how creative he was and how smart he was. Someone that's just, I don't know, he kind of rubbed off on me, I guess."
With all the talk about Kane, a future Hall of Famer, the veteran right winger is available on the free-agent market this summer.
So, would the three-time Stanley Cup champion, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and Hart Trophy winner make a good fit with Toronto?
There's no doubt that he'd have an impact with some of the young players on the Leafs, specifically McKenna, as well as 21-year-old Easton Cowan. In that sense alone, he'd be a great veteran leader who knows how to be successful in the NHL.
To add to the leadership that the 37-year-old Kane would bring to the roster, he's still a talented and effective player.
In his third season with the Detroit Red Wings this past year, Kane finished fifth on the team in scoring, putting up 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games. His 0.85 points-per-game average was an improvement from the 2024-25 season.
That should allow the Maple Leafs to compete for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Not to mention, there will still be scoring depth in the bottom six with the likes of Cowan, Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli (if the latter two are re-signed).
Ultimately, with the talent and youth to support Kane in case his age begins to show, the only issue that could present itself is who wears the No. 88 between him and Nylander.
It should be noted that Kane coming in would add another left-handed shooter to Toronto's forward group, a group that only has one right-handed player on the projected roster.
However, the longtime member of the Chicago Blackhawks didn't cost a whole lot against the salary cap on his previous contract. Kane signed a one-year contract at $3 million with the Red Wings. He signed three one-year deals during his tenure with Detroit.
His cap hit last season was lower than that of players like Maccelli, Dakota Joshua and Max Domi. Furthermore, ignoring the players with expiring contracts, a $3-million cap hit for Kane would rank 13th on Toronto's main roster.
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The Nets are retaining two key players after initially declining their club options, bringing back center Day'Ron Sharpe and forward Josh Minott on new deals, per multiple reports.
Sharpe's deal will be for two years and $20 million, while Minott will sign a two-year contract for $9 million, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Sharpe, 24, averaged a career-high 18.7 minutes per game this past season, scoring 8.7 points and grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game.
Minott, 23, also averaged a career-high in minutes during the 2025-26 campaign, playing 17.0 minutes per contest as he split the year between the Celtics and Nets.
After being acquired by Brooklyn in February, Minott averaged 10.8 points per game.
Via Shams Charania of ESPN, NBA veteran Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges for gambling. The charges relate to a sports betting scheme that allegedly included point shaving and prop bets
Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, has shared the news of the indictment to ESPN. Beasley is expected to voluntarily surrender to authorities this week.
A first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets in 2016, Beasley most recently played for the Detroit Pistons, during the 2024-25 season. Last year, he played professionally in Puerto Rico.
Both the NBA and Major League Baseball have had scandals involving the active manipulation of performances and/or the sharing of inside information for betting purposes.
To date, the NFL has yet to deal with such a controversy.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 27: Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons reacts in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena on April 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Malik Beasley’s NBA career is over.
Nine-year NBA veteran Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges for gambling related to a sports betting scheme, such as point shaving and prop bets, his attorney Steve Haney tells ESPN. The government is coordinating a voluntary surrender of Beasley this week.
The one-time Detroit Piston set a franchise-record 319 made threes in the 2024-2025 season and was looking at a large payday. He ranks seventh in most threes made in any season in NBA history. Detroit apparently rescinded an offer of three years and $42 million once they were notified of an investigation.
Beasley, along with NBA veteran Ed Davis, were teammates during their time together on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis allegedly collaborated with Beasley four separate times while Malik was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Beasley apparently lost millions of dollars while gambling and Davis loaned him money, and this betting scheme was a way for Beasley to work off his debts.
It’s a terribly sad situation all around, but any hopes of Beasley returning to Detroit can finally be put to rest. For comparison, Jontay Porter, former NBA player who pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy to commit wire fraud, is expected to face three-to-four years in prison with a maximum sentence of 20 years. I would imagine Beasley is looking at a similar sentence, if not harsher.
Mar 25, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) during the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
In the latest chapter of the Kawhi Leonard trade saga, the Clippers’ forward has supposedly knocked the San Antonio Spurs out of the equation, and as per Shams Charania, the only contender for a non Los Angeles trade would be the Toronto Raptors.
Previously, Jake Fischer had reported that this was a two-horse race between the Spurs and the Raptors if a trade were to occur, but now, it looks like Kawhi’s preferences have changed circumstances. Charania clarified that the Clippers had, at this point, not offered Kawhi a “long term extension”, which the Raptors have indicated interest in doing. This would make all the difference in trade talks, as the forward, with one year left on his contract, would likely be a part of a sign and trade with the Raptors.
The situation is developing quickly, as over the weekend, an initial round of negotiations occurred between the Raptors and the Clippers as the two teams attempted to work out a mutually beneficial agreement. Charania noted that the Clippers are attempting to inject more youth into their team, part of what prompts this potential departure from the Leonard era in Los Angeles. The Clippers’ bevy of big names have departed over recent years, with Russell Westbrook, Paul George, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac all being traded by, or independently departing from, the Clippers, leaving Leonard as the final star left from before the 2025-26 season.
Mar 25, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles (12) during the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
While the Raptors have indicated an interest in forming a trade package around Ingram, the Clippers’ are apparently interested in a much more valuable piece to the Raptors. Tomer Azarly for ClutchPoints reported that the Clippers would instead be interested in Collin Murray-Boyles in a trade with Toronto, seeking not only the All-Rookie talent, but potentially draft capital as part of compensation for parting with the two-time Finals MVP.
With the Clippers seemingly less than enthused at the prospect of trading for Brandon Ingram, it remains to be seen what a potential trade package for Leonard would look like, which would allow both parties to be satisfied. The Raptors giving up Murray-Boyles would be a blow to their roster construction, with Jakob Poeltl’s injury history and the team’s general lack of frontcourt depth. The Raptors have not offered the sophomore up, but it remains to be seen what players and picks could be bundled together in an enticing trade package.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
