A recap of the 2026 draft class for the Devils: [Devils NHL]
“Alexander Command, the 12th overall pick, highlights the Devils’ draft class, but Mehta selected a few other intriguing prospects in the later rounds. Let’s review the Devils’ 2026 draft class and which prospects you should be most excited about moving forward.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“Mehta’s first draft as GM of a team was one in which cardio merchants were off the table, highly preferring productive players with dynamic qualities and the ability to play with the puck on their stick. I loved it.” [Devils’ Advocates]
Hockey Links
Could we see a Zach Werenski trade?
Nothing imminent, but the Blue Jackets have started listening to teams calling on Zach Werenski, sources confirm. The CBJ are aware that the Norris Trophy winner is unlikely to extend past his deal. No guarantee he’s dealt this summer but Jackets’ best deal could be now versus…
“The Winnipeg Jets are listening to trade offers for Connor Hellebuyck, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Friday. Cheveldayoff, however, would not provide a definitive answer as to whether his franchise goalie has requested a move.” [NHL.com]
Jack Drury gets a five-year deal:
After being acquired by the Predators, Jack Drury has signed a five-year extension, per Chris Johnston. pic.twitter.com/GxxxtQBuiN
“The 2026 NHL draft is complete and there were some truly wonderful moments. From the Ruck twins going together to the Pittsburgh Penguins, to the reaction of Jaxon Cover’s family to the Cayman Islands product being selected with the final pick in the first round, and much more over the course of 224 picks in two days. Now, it is time for draft grades. These marks are about what the teams did with their selections, how they maneuvered the draft board and how much value they gained or left on the board where they picked.” [ESPN]
Julian Champagnie has been a gem. After going undrafted in in 2022, he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers where he played 2 games as well as a handful of games with their G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. He was waived on Valentine’s Day 2023 so the 76ers could allow Mac McClung to participate in the All-Star Dunk Contest.
The 76ers loss was the Spurs gain. He signed on for the remainder of the season and impressed the organization enough to earn a $12M/4-year contract. Since then, Champagnie has gone on to be an essential component of the Spurs success. He now holds franchise record for postseason three-pointers after this season’s Finals run.
On a personal note, my life has been touched by Julian. Last January, my daughter was the Spurs Ball Kid for the MLK Day game between the Spurs and Utah Jazz. When they announced that her favorite player was Champagnie, he heard his name. After the game, he sent Elizabeth the game worn jersey and signed it for her, thanking her for the support.
A couple of nights later I ran into Champagnie at a Spurs event and he shared that he’d never heard his name as a fan favorite. He was touched and his delight was perceptible. He’s approachable, kind, and friendly. That is who Julian is. He engages with folks, and he is genuine. He’s even gone so far as to include the young fans is part of his warm up. You can see him encouraging young fans to shoot and connect in a way uncommon for most star athletes.
Over the season, Champagnie’s press conferences revealed a refreshing level of honesty. From his feelings on going undrafted to the moments after being waived, Champagnie is open about his journey. He’s taken negative moments and persevered. His worldview inspires as he has fused his positive energy and manifested an amazing career and a life of gratitude.
This year he started in 68 regular season games and all 23 playoff games. He continues to shine on the court and his three-point shooting earned him all kinds of accolades and comparisons. The next step will be receiving the payday he deserves.
Perhaps we should cease using the term “undrafted” and just refer to Champagnie’s pre-Spurs days as “undiscovered.” The Spurs and Champagnie are a great match. He’s really had an opportunity to shine in San Antonio. And his fit is undeniable.
Happy birthday, Jules! Here’s to many more celebrations in San Antonio.
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Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) dunks during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Former Kentucky basketball star and fan-favorite Otega Oweh had his dreams come true when he heard his name called in the second round of last week’s NBA draft.
He was taken 41st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, a pick which OKC acquired in a trade with the Miami Heat.
Oweh joins former Wildcats Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace in Oklahoma City, where he’s sure to carve out some playing time on the wing for the 2025 NBA champions.
The creative team at UK Athletics always does a phenomenal job with their work and gave their absolute best effort in putting together an incredible behind-the-scenes look at Oweh’s dream coming true and what Draft Day was like for the former Wildcat.
"Today's the day I've been working and waiting for my whole life."
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 28, 2026
While Oweh could have rolled the dice last summer and turned professional, he decided to commit to one more year at Kentucky to improve his game but also do his best to lead the program as far as he could for one more season.
It’s easy to speak for all of Big Blue Nation in saying that Oweh is loved and will always be appreciated for his two years in Lexington.
Feb 4, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) shoots a free throw during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
The 2026 NBA draft finished on Wednesday, so all the names have been called, and the teams have made their selections. So, now we must do the natural, immediate next step: Look ahead to next year’s draft!
As Kentucky Basketball fans, we got to hear two former Wildcats get their names called during the 2026 draft: Jayden Quaintance and Otega Oweh. Now, we look towards next year and talk about which players may be the next to leap to the next level. Hopefully, many players from the 2026-27 team will be selected next year, following what hopes to be a special 2026-27 season.
The name that we are already seeing people believe will be selected highly next year is Malachi Moreno. One Sam Vecenie even went on the record to say he believes Moreno will be drafted in the lottery next year, at pick No. 11.
“On the plus side, Moreno is a good shot-blocker and has potential to be a solid rim protector at 6 feet 11 with a 9-foot-3.5 standing reach,” Vecenie wrote. “Offensively, he’s an excellent passer who averaged 1.8 assists per game and can act as something of a hub at the top of the key because of his comfort with the ball.
“Moreno needs to get stronger and more willing to play with physicality on the interior. He has an immense amount of potential to be the kind of big teams are looking for in the Isaiah Hartenstein mold, but he has work to do to round out his game.”
Moreno went through the draft process this year before ultimately deciding to pull his name out and return to Lexington for his sophomore season. Now, the Bluegrass product will look to make a big splash as a leader and a star for Kentucky next season.
This year’s class of 2026 for the NBA draft was viewed as one of the more elite groups we’ve seen in a while, but next year, not so much. That makes his decision a little easier, on top of certain skills needing work, knowing that it could be a reality that even though he’d be a year older, he would likely get drafted higher than he would have this year.
One other thing that numerous people believe Malachi Moreno could do to help him grow into a great modern big, on top of what he has already sharpened up, is 3-point shooting. Here is a clip from this offseason where Malachi Moreno worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers, and within the clip, you’ll notice some threes being taken.
Will we see a new, more versatile offensive Moreno this upcoming season?
Malachi Moreno getting some work in at the Lakers’ facility. 👀
He has until Wednesday night at 11:59 PM ET to announce if he will return back to CBB or keep his name in the NBA Draft. ⏳ pic.twitter.com/1RV16nJkUF
Kentucky fans know that Moreno was lifted into a role that not many expected him to be in during his true freshman season: the starting center for the team for most of the year. Moreno ended up starting 30 of 36 games last season after showing that he was capable of playing at a high level immediately.
Growing up in Georgetown (KY) as a Wildcat fan, Moreno heard many names called on draft night over the years that once wore the blue and white before him. Now, after many years of working towards this and hearing his teammates get drafted, he will get ready to make his way to the next level following a sophomore campaign in Lexington.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees slides safely into second base past Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers during the game at Yankee Stadium on September 11, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
That series sucked. The last time the Red Sox swept the Yankees in a four-game set was 2018, which was very annoying but in hindsight more understandable because that was legitimately the best team in Boston history (108 wins, 11-3 record in October). They were a powerhouse. These Red Sox doing it when they entered with–no joke–the worst record in the American League is appalling. Awful, awful.
Can’t dwell on it though. Spit it out like an awful drink, cleanse the palate, and move on with Detroit coming to town.
Today on the site, Estevão will preview the upcoming three-game set against the Tigers, Kevin tackles the Rivalry Roundup, and Jonathan celebrates the 138th birthday of a man who was actually a longtime Tiger but also became a Yankee near the end: Bobby Veach. Later, Jonathan will return to run through the Yankeees’ top Trade Deadline priorities as that aspect of the season heats up, Peter breaks down his At-Bat of the Week, and Madison issues the mailbag prompt.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers
Time: 7:05 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Detroit SportsNet
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. Are there any Triple-A promotions you’d consider to try to jolt some life back into the Yankees’ lineup? Or is there so little there at the moment (especially with George Lombard Jr. hurt) that they’re probably best just riding it out at the moment?
2. Now that almost every team has hit the 81-game halfway point of the regular season, which do you think has been the biggest surprise?
Toledo couldn’t finish off the sweep and dropped its first game in a week, 3-1, against Worcester on Sunday.
After 15 runs on Saturday, there wasn’t much offense to speak of for the Mud Hens in this one. Toledo had only five hits, none going for extra bases. Two of those came in the second inning from Eduardo Valencia and Brett Callahan. Tyler Gentry grounded into a double play for the only Mud Hens run of the day.
Brett Callahan with a sharp liner off a lefty that fooled Kristian Campbell in right, though he probably wouldn’t have been able to catch it anyway. pic.twitter.com/dCNR3pktau
Callahan had the only multi-hit day, singling again in the fifth. Andrew Navigato hit safely in the eighth, and Max Anderson got his in the ninth. The WooSox only walked two batters, so it was a pretty boring day on that side of the ball.
It’s a shame because the pitching staff was solid for most of the afternoon. Troy Watson got the start, going five inning and allowing one run on two hits and a walk — a first inning homer was the only real issue. Watson struck out five and left with the score tied 1-1.
Ricky Vanasco took over in the sixth and gave up three singles to break the tie. The third drove in both runs and ricocheted off his foot. The training staff checked him out, but Vanasco stayed in the game.
Woo-Suk Go got the seventh and worked around a pair of singles. Jack Little went 1-2-3 in the eighth, but the bats couldn’t make it a competitive finish.
Anderson: 1-4, K
Callahan: 2-4, K
Valencia: 1-2, R, 2 BB
Watson: 5.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 5 K,HR
Coming Up Next:The Mud Hens are at home next week against the Iowa Cubs, starting on Tuesdayat 12:05 p.m. ET.
Erie won in walk-off fashion 6-5 in the 10th inning to finish the series with Binghamton 5-1.
Things got off to a rocky start with Lael Lockhart on the mound. The Rumble Ponies took the lead three batters in thanks to a leadoff double and single through the left side. Lockhart also balked in the first, but he didn’t give up any more runs.
The command was in and out for Lockhart. He plunked the leadoff man in the second, balked again and threw a wild pitch. Again, no runs scored, but it’s not a pretty inning by any means.
Binghamton got to him again in the third with a leadoff walk and an RBI double. Lockhart came back out for the fourth, but he finally got the hook after hitting another batter with two outs.
Fortunately, Chris Meyers tied the game up with a two-run homer. Thayron Liranzo drew the walk right before that.
Meyers had three of Erie’s nine hits on the day, including a go-ahead double in the fifth. This time, the bases were loaded, so Binghamton had to pitch to him. Credit to E.J. Exposito and Seth Stephenson for singling earlier in the inning. Liranzo was hit by a pitch for his second free pass of the day, loading the bags.
Yosber Sanchez and Johan Simon got the SeaWolves through the sixth, recording four and three outs, respectively. Both walked a batter, and Simon gave up a hit. Simon also had two strikeouts to Sanchez’s one, though.
Exposito homered in the sixth to give Erie some valuable insurance. Without that bomb, the SeaWolves don’t make it to extras.
Wandisson Charles got the seventh. He gave up a leadoff double, the runner stole third and Charles went too far inside for a wild pitch and an easy score. Charles was better in the eighth, striking out the side in order.
Tyler Owens couldn’t convert the save — his first blown save of the season. After the first out, Binghamton went single, walk, RBI single to make it a one-run game. Owens got a short chopper to third base, but Exposito didn’t have time for a play at home. He traded a run for an out instead. Tie game.
Erie had the winning run in scoring position in the ninth, but Stephenson and Peyton Graham couldn’t follow up on Joe Campagna’s one-out double.
Eric Silva took the mound in the 10th and almost gave up the go-ahead run, but a great throw from Meyers got to home plate in time for the tag.
Meyers basically won this one for Erie single-handedly. Of course, it was him who came up clutch in the bottom of the 10th with a one-out single to drive Graham in from third base. Walk-off wins are always sweet.
🚨SeaWolves Walk-Off Win🚨
Chris Meyers picks up his 5th RBI of the night with a sharp single through the infield and Erie wins 6-5 in the 10th. @ZachSurdenik on the call. pic.twitter.com/cbPxTIgZ3z
Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are on the road next week against the Akron RubberDucks, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.
Dayton Dragons 10, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)
A rough day on the mound for West Michigan led to a lopsided 10-4 loss against Dayton on Sunday. The Whitecaps and Dragons end the series tied, 3-3.
The day started off nice, with Woody Hadeen walking and Bryce Rainer blasting a two-run homer. Clayton Campbell singled to give the Whitecaps three straight hits, but West Michigan only found four more hits the rest of the game.
Rayner Castillo didn’t have it today. He walked the first three batters he faced to load the bases, and that got the bullpen up and working. Castillo struck out a batter and induced a popout, but the decision was already made to pull him. Jalen Evans took over and immediately gave up a two-run single to tie the game.
Dayton took the lead in the second off Evans, who was arguably worse than Castillo. After getting the first out, Castillo allowed a single, walked two batters and gave up a two-run double. He walked one more before getting out of the inning.
Inohan Paniagua got the third. A bad pickoff attempt turned into a run, and a throwing error from the catcher made it 6-2.
Stephen Hrustich gave the Whitecaps new life in the fourth, hitting a two-run homer to cut the four-run deficit in half.
Stephen Hrustich cranks a 2-run homer to left to get the Whitecaps right back in the game. pic.twitter.com/ZgkqaMR3Am
Eliseo Mota was next out of the bullpen. He worked around a two-out single in the fourth but gave up a leadoff homer int he fifth. Luke Stofel faced the minimum in the sixth, inducing an inning-ending double play to erase a single. He came back out for the seventh and worked around a two-out single, giving the best performance for any Whitecap pitcher on the day.
CJ weins had a rough ninth, walking the bases loaded before recording the first out. A pair of singles brought all three of those baserunners home, and the Whitecaps went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth.
Rainer: 1-3, HR (8), R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Hrustich: 1-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI
Campbell: 2-4, 2 K
Stofel: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are at home next week against the Lake County Captains, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.
Despite losing the series, 4-2, the Lakeland Flying Tigers ended the week in Daytona on a good note, with a 3-1 win over the Tortugas.
Connor Fenlong made his organizational debut after being signed on Friday out of the American Association Independent League. He previously pitched in the Kansas City farm system, making it up to High-A in 2024 before being released.
Fenlong gave Lakeland 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, working around five hits and a walk while striking out eight. It’s a shame he couldn’t get one more out to qualify for the win, but the numbers are solid.
The Flying Tigers only had one hit through the first three innings, but they broke through in the fourth to score all three of their runs. Edian Espinal led off with a single, Nick Dumesnil also singled and Hunter Dobbins crushed a three-run homer.
Hunter Dobbins mashes a 2-out, 3-run homer to left to put Lakeland on top in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/Byd6IvUv1g
Xiomer Guacache finished out the fifth for Fenlong, stranding the bases loaded. Guacache worked around a two-out double in the sixth before turning it over Luke Hoskins in the seventh. Hoskins walked a batter, but there was no harm done.
Bryce Alewin went 1 2/3 innings, but Lakeland brought in Jan Caraballo with two on and two outs in the ninth. Caraballo gave up the first run of the day and walked a batter before getting the final out.
Great work from the bullpen today, but it was kind of a boring game. Still, a W is a W.
Yost: 0-4, BB, 2 K
Dobbins: 1-4, HR (5), R, 3 RBI, 2 K
Espinal: 2-4, R, K
Fenlong: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K
Coming up Next: The Flying Tigers are at home next week against the Palm Beach Cardinals, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 27: (L-R) Markus Ruck, 39th overall of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Liam Ruck, 22nd overall of the Pittsburgh Penguins, pose for a photo during Day Two of the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center on June 27, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Over the weekend, the Pittsburgh Penguins added six new prospects to the organization at the 2026 NHL Draft. Those prospects will not have to wait long to make an impression on the fans in Pittsburgh as they make their way to the city this week to take part in the Penguins annual development camp set to open today at the team’s UPMC Lemieux facility in Cranberry.
Which of the draftees will be in attendance at development camp has yet to be announced, but the Ruck twins Liam (22nd overall) and Markus (39th overall) are both expected to participate. They will be joining 22 others who were previously announced by the Penguins, including defenseman Jake Livanavage who signed as a college free agent in April and made his NHL debut in the final game of the season against the St. Louis Blues.
Other prospects on the development camp roster for this week include forwards Will Horcoff* (2025 24th overall; University of Michigan) and Travis Hayes (2025 105th overall, brother to Avery Hayes), defensemen Peyton Kettles (2025 39th overall) and Quinn Beauchesne (2025 148th overall, Boston College commit), and goaltender Gabriel D’Aigle (2025 84th overall).
All full camp roster, minus 2026 draft picks and any late additions, can be found here, courtesy the Penguins. There is expected to be a full development camp roster released once the final skaters have been confirmed by the team.
As for the development camp schedule, action begins bright and early on Monday morning and runs through Friday, with four days of practice on and off the ice for the prospects, all culminating in a tournament set for Friday between the participants.
You can find the full schedule from the team’s website below.
All sessions are held at the UPMC Lemieux team facility in Cranberry. Each session is open to the public and is free of charge to attend so if you’re itching for some Penguins hockey, consider heading up to Cranberry to see the prospects in action because it will be your last chance to see live hockey in Pittsburgh until September.
Development camp serves as an opportunity for fans to see and learn about some of the prospects in the Penguins system, especially the new players drafted this past weekend. There will be some well deserved buzz surrounding the Ruck twins, but it will also be a showcase for players like Jake Livanavage to put on a show and make an early case to push for an NHL roster spot.
The team announced prospects including 2025 first round pick Will Horcoff and Melvin Fernstrom will not take part in on ice activity due to undisclosed injuries.
So if you have some free time this week, maybe consider on spending some of that time at UPMC Cranberry to check in on the talent in the Penguins system that got a new infusion of prospects from the draft over the weekend and see what lies in store for the franchise in the future.
The Toronto Blue Jays are on the verge of a disastrous 10-game homestand, now losers of six in a row with old friend Bo Bichette and the directionless New York Mets coming to town.
Yet Vladimir Guerrero's failings at Rogers Centre have been a seasonlong affair.
With the season more than halfway over and the calendar flipping to July, Guerrero has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season - a span of 42 games and 181 plate appearances. His home slugging percentage is .300, down from .436 a year ago, while he's hit just seven home runs overall with an adjusted OPS of 94.
And the Blue Jays - after finally reaching .500 following a month in the red - dipped right back underwater following a four-game sweep by the Texas Rangers - an outcome that may have significant ramifications come season's end.
"It's no secret we're going to need Vlad," Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters Sunday, June 28, "if we want to be good."
The defending division and AL champs are now 10 1/2 games behind East-leading Tampa Bay and 9 1/2 behind the Yankees. At 39-45, they are deep in the thicket of mediocrity in the AL - Texas passed them just this weekend - and tumbled four spots to No. 20 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
You wonder if Temporary Adult In The Room John Mozeliak will hire a GM before the lockout or if the owner will save a few bucks with the industry shuttered.
UNITED STATES - MAY 08: Willis Reed of the Knicks (foreground) and Wilt Chamberlain of the Lakers as time runs out in game at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Dan Farrell/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) | NY Daily News via Getty Images
New York Knicks legend Willis Reed is most famous for courageously taking the court in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals despite a very serious leg injury, and scoring the first two baskets.
However, there was much more to him than that.
At 6-10 and 240, by the standards of his day, he was a big, powerful center. And to be clear, he was a big, powerful center.
In 1970, the Finals went to seven games, but Reed battled Wilt Chamberlain on relatively even terms until his injury.
Like Bill Russell, Reed was born in Louisiana, about 35 miles away from Russell’s hometown. And like Russell, he grew up in a racist environment that forced him to learn to be relentlessly tough.
He was always a tier below Chamberlain, Russell, Nate Thurmond and, later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talent-wise, but his will and his desire made him the equal of all of them. He remains the archetypal Knick to this day, largely because of games like this.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: DeAndre Jordan #9 and Kevon Looney #55 of the New Orleans Pelicans warm up before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 03, 2026 in Sacramento, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With free agency a few hours away, the New York Knicks are seemingly working on contingency plans already, given the inevitable departure of their best pending free agent in backup center Mitchell Robinson.
With the growing league-wide expectation that Robinson will depart in free agency, if only because of the stupid financial restrictions James Dolan has placed on the front office’s operations, the Knicks can’t just sit idle and hope for Ariel Hukporti to make a leap and turn into a beast.
According to NBA reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Knicks are among the teams with interest in Kevon Looney, who is set to hit unrestricted free agency at 6 p.m. ET on June 30.
Looney has an $8 million team option in his two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, but, according to Chris Haynes, the franchise will decline it, effectively making the three-time NBA champion an unrestricted free agent.
As is obvious, the report links New York’s pursuit of Looney directly to Robinson’s situation and expected exit, noting that the Knicks’ level of interest in any veteran center will depend on how free agency unfolds for Robinson, even though his departure looks set in stone now. The Celtics, per the same two, are also looking to make Looney their “first splash in free agency.”
“If Robinson does, in fact, depart New York amid the Knicks’ well-chronicled financial constraints as the dreaded second apron closes in, sources say that the newly crowned champions are expected to try to bring on a veteran center with plenty of playoff experience: Former Warriors big man Kevon Looney.
“It’s believed that Looney is also on Boston’s list of center targets, which is likewise known to feature former Celtics big man Robert Williams III. Yet don’t forget that Knicks coach Mike Brown has a pre-existing relationship with Looney thanks to their time together in Golden State.” — Marc Stein and Jake Fischer
Already 30 years old, Looney spent a decade with the Golden State Warriors and won three titles with the Dubs—one of them as the starting center—before joining New Orleans before last season. Too bad for Looney, his role diminished significantly, with the veteran only appearing in 21 regular-season games and missing the playoffs entirely.
Looney averaged 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds with the Pels last season while logging 14.7 minutes of playing time, but he can easily be considered one of the best backup bigs this free agent cycle as a reliable rebounder and screen-setter with a veteran presence.
On top of that, there’s a legit connection between Looney and Knicks head coach Mike Brown, who worked with Looney in Golden State during the latter’s time there as an assistant coach.
We all know by now that the Knicks are unlikely to retain Robinson, largely due to owner James Dolan’s refusal to cross the second apron, and the aftermath of such a decision is already being felt in New York. The franchise traded out of the first round of last week’s draft and avoided adding salary to their books in all sorts of ways. The Knicks have only re-signed Jose Alvarado and Mo Diawara to manageable, low-money deals, preparing for what’s coming.
With Mitch on his way out, and as things stand before the start of free agency, the Knicks do not have any depth center signed for the upcoming season. Among their pending free agents, only Ariel Hukporti seems capable of filling one of the bench spots, but it’s a bit of a stretch to trust him to take over Robinson’s sixth-man role, considering what we’ve seen from him up to now.
In any case, there’s simply no way that, even if New York brings back Huk, they get into next season with a two-man center rotation alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and no third-string backup to use in case of emergency.
According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger and his BORD$ estimations, Looney is worth around $4.1 million, although he envisions the veteran signing a minimum deal.
Jun 20, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) watches from the dugout in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Sportsnet: Let’s start with the worst news. Prior to Sunday’s series finale against Boston, manager Aaron Boone revealed there is no timetable for re-imaging injured slugger and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge’s ribs. I guess the good news is that Boone mentioned Judge is doing some work in the weight room and has ramped from when he initially went on the IL in early June. Having Judge nowhere near returning is less than ideal. Entering Sunday night, the offense had thrice managed at least four runs in its last 10 games, winning all of them. They lost each of the other seven. With last night in the books, we can also note that they’ve been no-hit through four in each of the last three games (with Sonny Gray going 7.1 hitless last night).
Come back healthy, Cap. We need ya.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: Speaking of offensive ineptitude, Ben Rice is going through it the last little while. In his last six contests prior to Sunday night, Rice was 2-for-23 with a .174 OPS. Those figures only got worse with an 0-for-4 as the Red Sox finished their four-game sweep. Boone noted that Rice is pressing at the plate, saying “No doubt he’s grinding a little bit right now… there’s going to be weeks where it’s not easy, where you go through it a little bit.”
Baseball is hard, so it shouldn’t be a shock that even someone as good as Rice is slumping. Hopefully he figures it out sooner rather than later.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): Austin Wells has not figured it out. On the eve of Sunday’s finale against Boston, the Yankee backstop is, by one measure (wRC+), the worst qualified hitter in all of baseball. His .510 OPS is the worst by a Yankee since 1975. But, if you want reason to hope, Wells and the Yankees think it is there. Wells noted he felt more comfortable in the batter’s box Saturday than he has in a while. Moreover, in June, his groundball rate is decreasing, perhaps indicating desired contact. Gerrit Cole also spoke to what Wells bring as a defensive-minded backstop. With Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Trent Grisham all hurt and Rice scuffling, Wells being even a league-average hitter would be a giant boost to the offense.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Ziaire Williams #1 of the Brooklyn Nets gestures during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center on April 03, 2026 in New York City. 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 Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets on Sunday declined their $6.25 million team option on Ziaire Williams, making him an unrestricted free agent and calling into question his future in Brooklyn. While, the Nets could re-sign him, there’s also a possibility that he could sign elsewhere and Brooklyn would lose him for nothing.
Indeed, not long after the news broke, there was report out of Los Angeles that the Lakers may have interest in the 6’9″ small forward who Jordi Fernandez used as a 3-and-D forward last season.
Mike Scotto was first with the news…
The Brooklyn Nets will decline their $6.25 million team option on Ziaire Williams, league sources told @hoopshype. The 24-year-old forward averaged 10.2 points in 56 games played for Brooklyn last season. Williams will become an unrestricted free agent. pic.twitter.com/OkQe5sfU7T
The Nets signed Williams — along with Day’Ron Sharpe — to identical two-year $12.5 million deals last summer, each with a team option for the second year at $6.25 million. While the Nets and Sharpe mutually decided on Saturday to extend the decision on his team option through Monday, suggesting perhaps the two sides were working on an extension, there was no such agreement with Williams.
Seen in the best light for the California native, the team could simply be preserving cap space to add to its flexibility prior to the start of free agency Tuesday when teams can start talking to free agents on other teams. One they dealt with other issues, they could return and sign him using Bird Rights or work him into the $9.4 million MLE the Nets are likely to have. In the worst light, it means the team will be moving on from him.
Yossi Gozlan explained the Nets cap situation in a tweet Sunday…
Brooklyn Nets salary cap situation after declining the team option of Ziaire Williams.
They project with $40 million in cap space pre-Randle trade, an increase of $6.25 million.
Although he finished with a career high 10.2 points and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes last season, he displayed inconsistency and early in the season it led to him getting a DNP for a game. In late November, Jordi Fernandez kept him out of game in hopes of encouraging him to more consistent and show more energy. The Nets coach was public in his reasoning.
When asked if he would play the next game, Fernandez was non-committal.
“It’s a very abstract question because I just talked to him and didn’t play him last game,” Fernández told Brian Lewis. “So if — whenever he has the next opportunity to play — he consistently does it, then we will see if I was successful or not. If not, it’s not on him; it’s on me to try to find ways for him to perform consistently.
“Energy is not a subjective thing. … What we need is his ball pressure to be elite, his deflections to be elite, his pick-and-roll defense to be elite, his iso defense to be elite. … Last year, he was above average, one of the top players in the NBA. We need that to be the same or better because I know he can do it.”
Following that decision, Williams played with more consistency. Assuming he returns to Brooklyn, he’s likely to once again back up Michael Porter Jr. at small forward or the newly acquired Julius Randle at power forward. The Nets have a number of young forwards as well, including Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and perhaps even first round pick Joshua Jefferson. None are at Williams defensive level.
According to a league source, one player the Lakers could take a look at in free agency is Brooklyn small forward Zaire Williams, who had his team option declined by the Nets on Sunday. The Lakers have desires to get younger and more athletic on the wing, and Williams is coming off back-to-back seasons in Brooklyn where he averaged more than 10 points and shot better than 34 percent from 3-point range.
The Nets declined his $6.25 million option for next season while dealing with a roster crunch.
The bet for the Lakers would be that at 6-9 with a nearly 40-inch vertical leap, that Williams could be an impact defensive player with room for growth on the offensive side of the ball. He has fans inside the Lakers’ facility.
There are local connections too — Williams was a teammate of Bronny James at Sierra Canyon.
Williams is one of four players with team options. As noted, Sharpe also has a $6.25 team option. In addition, Josh Minott, acquired from the Celtics at the deadline, has a $2.5 million option and Malachi Smith, called up from Long Island late in the season has a $1.1 million option.
With Sean Marks facing the media Monday afternoon, he’s likely to be fielding questions the team options as well as introducing the team’s three draft picks.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 27: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz talks to the media during the Utah Jazz press conference introducing Darryn Peterson at Zions Bank Basketball Center on June 27, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When we think of a type, we’re usually thinking of the type of person we’d like to date. For many of us, it’s finding literally anyone who treats us nicely, is okay with a little heft in the middle, and can put up with an unhealthy obsession with Jazz basketball (sobs softly).
But this is a basketball article! And when we’re talking about types, we’re talking about NBA players. More specifically, we’re talking about Danny Ainge’s type. Let’s take a look at some of the most well-known players Ainge picked, traded for, or didn’t trade, and see if there’s a trend.
Paul Pierce
Pierce was drafted in 1998, obviously before Ainge arrived as the General Manager in 2003. Pierce was on some disastrous Rick Pitino teams before Ainge arrived. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Ainge in his time with the Jazz, it’s that he holds onto winning talent. Or, at the very least, won’t trade that talent unless he receives the right value for a player. There were multiple times that Ainge could have traded Pierce, but he made sure to keep him and then made him the cornerstone when he traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
Pierce was a clutch scoring wing with size who was a cornerstone of everything the Celtics did on their way to a title run. He was also a solid defender who helped contribute to elite Celtic defenses.
Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett
The name of the game here is talent, and that’s what Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen brought to the Celtics. Allen is considered one of the greatest shooters of all time, but was an athlete who guarded his yard. Kevin Garnett was an elite defensive center who won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2008. Garnett was also a talented offensive player who could score in a variety of ways on the offensive end.
With Pierce, Allen, and Garnett, we’re starting to see a trend. Talent is the name of the game, and Ainge will clearly side with talent. And not just one-sided talent, but two-way talent. If you’re an elite offensive player, you’d better be able to defend. If you’re a defense-first prospect, you have to be capable of scoring in the offense. Perhaps this is pretty obvious, but it is clear that Ainge is willing to bet on players who show the talent he knows can lead to wins.
Rajon Rondo
Ainge drafted Rondo the year before trading for Garnett and Allen. Rondo had impressive size, defense, and playmaking despite an underwhelming jumper. Ainge knew the value of Rondo, and when trade talks were happening to bring over Allen and Garnett, he made sure to keep him.
Like the prospects before, Rondo was an elite defensive guard who had a high IQ on offense and was an elite point guard. Rondo might not have worked in this current NBA era with how teams might guard him, but in that era, he was able to be enough of a threat that he was able to overcome his flaws.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown
The Js, as they’re called in Boston, are two elite two-way wings in Boston. Tatum, before the injury, was a top-ten player in the league and was the engine of an elite Celtics offense. He’s also a high-level defender willing to guard whatever assignment is given him. Jaylen Brown was an elite athlete when he was drafted and developed into an elite offensive player, making him one of the best two-way wings in the league.
If you could ever point to a “type” for Ainge, it would be these two. Both ooze talent on both sides of the ball, and both are ferocious competitors who will do whatever it takes to win. If you wanted to describe the Ainge type, the easiest way to do it would be to simply say, “Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.”
Does Darryn Peterson fit the type?
This is probably an easy answer, but here is the long version. When you watch Darryn Peterson’s tape, it screams talent. On offense, he can do everything literally. He has a silky jumper that he can get off with a viper-quick release. He scores at all levels and in all ways with a savant-level touch and understanding of how to put the ball in the basket. His handle is underrated, along with his ability to make every pass. On defense, he was one of the best defensive prospects among the top prospects in the draft. His stocks (steals+blocks) are great, and he has the potential to be an elite defender with his 6’10” wingspan.
Basically, Darryn Peterson is an ELITE jumbo guard prospect who will play both sides of the ball. And in reality, defense is the only slight question the Jazz might have. Don’t believe me, this was the most important message Danny Ainge wanted to send to Peterson when he talked to him.
The other thing that Jazz fans should be excited about is how well Danny Ainge does spotting talent at the top of the draft. FanDuel has Darryn Peterson with the second-best odds at winning Rookie of the Year. With how well Danny Ainge picks players, that might be an easy bet.
It did not go as well as he had hoped, though, with a crucial fielding error giving way to a pair of runs early on the way to the Yankees’ crushing 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Cabrera went 0-for-3 while laying down a sacrifice bunt that keyed the Yankees’ two-run top of the 10th.
But his fielding error at third base loomed large in the fourth inning.
With a runner on first and one out in a scoreless game, Carlos Rodón got Willson Contreras to hit a hard grounder to third. Cabrera bobbled it and by the time he threw over to first, it was too late.
One out later, the Yankees should have been out of the inning, but instead Caleb Durbin came up next and hit a two-run single in what became a 37-pitch inning for Rodón, a big reason why he only lasted five innings.
The Yankees defense had let them down Thursday night, committing four errors, and then came back to bite them again Sunday.
“When we’re not scoring, we just didn’t play clean enough here this weekend,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Cabrera was making his season debut after being called up from Triple-A on Wednesday as an injury replacement for Ryan McMahon.
Oswaldo Cabrera is pictured June 25 before the Yankees’ game against the Red Sox. MLB Photos via Getty Images
It was his first major league game since fracturing his left ankle and sustaining ligament damage on an awkward slide home in a brutal scene in Seattle.
“He’s worked incredibly hard to overcome a really tough injury,” Boone said before the game. “He’s done it with grace and class and hard work, all while being Oswaldo, which is one of those people that makes the room better when he’s around.”
Longtime lefty killer Amed Rosario was in the lineup Sunday against righty Sonny Gray — breaking up his no-hitter in the eighth inning — putting a spotlight on his platoon splits that are the reverse of what he has done for his career.
Entering Sunday, the right-handed-hitting Rosario was batting .280 with an .842 OPS in 53 plate appearances against righties and .218 with a .665 OPS in 86 plate appearances against lefties.
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For his career, he was batting .263 with a .671 OPS against righties and .293 with a .791 OPS against lefties.
“Small sample, that’s what I make of it,” Boone said. “He’s going to kill lefties, I feel like.”
If we played it out another thousand at-bats, I think that would show itself. That said, I think he more than holds his own against righties, too. I feel like he’s a good hitter.”
Trent Grisham (right hamstring strain) is likely to start a rehab assignment Tuesday, which could last only one or two games before he rejoins the Yankees during this upcoming homestand.
He ran the bases again before Sunday’s game at Fenway Park, completing a weekend full of baseball activities.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 27: Jordan Clarkson #00 reacts with Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on December 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a few days of hearing increasing whispers about the future (or rather a lack of it) of Mitchell Robinson in New York, but outside of that, we’ve talked more about cap machinations, draft-day trades, and all sorts of other things about what or what not to do following James Dolan’s second-apron mandate.
Well, with free agency opening on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET and just a few hours left for the market to get going, we’re starting to get more reports and information about the rest of the Knicks’ crop of free agents, including veteran guard Jordan Clarkson.
According to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, in an out-of-the-blue column posted on Sunday, Clarkson remains a legitimate candidate to return to New York despite the Knicks’ tough financial situation.
“Even with a mandate to avoid the second apron, I’ve heard Jordan Clarkson remains a possibility to re-sign with Knicks. Can’t rule out that reunion,” Bondy reported.
At the end of the day, Clarkson’s case to return is likely shaped by both role and cost.
Even with mandate to avoid second apron, I've heard Jordan Clarkson remains a possibility to re-sign with Knicks. Can't rule out that reunion.
Already 34, Clarkson signed a one-year minimum deal worth $2.3 million last offseason and is expected to command a similar contract this summer. With the Knicks having just around $14 million to fill four roster spots (two of those might go to the recently-drafted second-round rookies) after re-signing Mo Diawara and Jose Alvarado, bringing back Clarkson at something around $2.5 million wouldn’t disrupt the cap structure at all.
Clarkson’s first season in New York was uneven, to say the least. Clarkson appeared in 72 regular-season games, yes, but he averaged career lows of 8.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists while falling in and out of the rotation. As the veteran he is, however, JC was a strong presence in the locker room, stayed patient, and contributed during the postseason, appearing in 18 postseason games and playing a role in the NBA Finals as the Knicks secured their first title since 1973.
If Robinson (nearly guaranteed to leave) and Landry Shamet (likely to sign a big deal elsewhere) depart in free agency, the Knicks would retain their financial flexibility, although they’d definitely be losing their sixth and seventh/eighth-best players, both of them key rotational pieces.
In that scenario, Clarkson could return on another minimum deal and instantly become one of the best and most proven performers on the Knicks roster, pending further free-agent signings or trades for players under contract.
