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2026 NHL Draft Recap: Sharks Add High-End Talent, Drastically Improve Organizational Depth

The San Jose Sharks were one of the teams to watch heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, and they certainly didn't disappoint.

In the first round, they selected Ivar Stenberg second overall to kick off their weekend. The Swedish winger is projected to make an immediate impact, and could fill a top-six role for the Sharks as soon as this season, especially with William Eklund's departure leaving a hole that Stenberg could easily fill. Stenberg had one of the top performances by an 18 year old in the history of the Swedish Hockey League, a league often known for low offensive production.

BREAKING: Sharks Select Ivar Stenberg With Second Overall Pick in 2026 NHL DraftBREAKING: Sharks Select Ivar Stenberg With Second Overall Pick in 2026 NHL DraftAfter weeks of speculation regarding who Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks would select with the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, we've finally got our answer.

Then, after some tense moments, the Sharks were lucky enough to have one of the top defensemen in the draft drop to them with the ninth overall pick. Keaton Verhoeff, who was at one point ranked as the best defenseman in this draft class, and even potentially a rival for Gavin McKenna to go first overall, was still on the board when Mike Grier's management team sent in their pick. 

Verhoeff had some struggles adapting to the collegiate game, but a large portion of that can be contributed to his age. He played his freshman year at the University of North Dakota as a 17 year old, an impressive feat in its own right. Had Verhoeff stayed in the Western Hockey League, he probably would've been a top-five pick, but instead, the Sharks were able to get an elite prospect with the ninth overall pick.

BREAKING: Sharks Select Keaton Verhoeff With the Ninth Overall Pick in the 2026 NHL DraftBREAKING: Sharks Select Keaton Verhoeff With the Ninth Overall Pick in the 2026 NHL DraftThe San Jose Sharks had no time to rest, as shortly after they selected Ivar Stenberg with the second overall pick, they were back on the clock with the ninth overall selection.

After selecting Verhoeff, Grier started working the phones to move up from the 27th overall pick. Eventually, he struck a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers for the 21st overall pick, just one spot behind the pick they gave to the Buffalo Sabres earlier this month in exchange for Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall selection. 

With their third pick in the first round, the Sharks added their second right-handed defenseman of the night, selecting Ryan Lin from the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. Lin, like Verhoeff, is making the move to the NCAA though, as he'll join the University of Denver this season. Lin likely dropped due to the fact that he's 5-foot-11, as many have said that he has the potential to be the steal of the draft.

LINSANITY: San Jose Sharks Trade Up to the 21st Overall Pick, Select Ryan LinLINSANITY: San Jose Sharks Trade Up to the 21st Overall Pick, Select Ryan LinThe San Jose Sharks have acquired the 21st overall pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for picks 27, 62, and 120 in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Sharks then had a bit of time to relax, as they didn't have another pick until the fourth round. That didn't stop Mike Grier from getting some work done in the meantime though, as he signed forward Zack Ostapchuk to a four-year contract extension while they awaited their first pick on the second day of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Sharks Sign Zack Ostapchuk to Four-Year Contract ExtensionSharks Sign Zack Ostapchuk to Four-Year Contract ExtensionWhile the San Jose Sharks were awaiting their first pick on day two of the 2026 NHL Draft, Mike Grier got some other business taken care of. On Saturday, the Sharks announced that they had signed forward Zack Ostapchuk to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $2.35 million.

The time finally came for the Sharks to make their first pick on Saturday, and they opted to select a goaltender. With the 127th overall pick, the Sharks added Brady Knowling from the United States National Team Development Program. Knowling will be moving around quite a bit in the near future, as he's currently expected to head to the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit for the 2026-27 season before moving to the collegiate ranks, as he's committed to Boston University for the 2027-28 season. 

Sharks Select Brady Knowling With 127th Overall PickSharks Select Brady Knowling With 127th Overall PickAfter a busy day on Friday during the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks had a long wait before they made their first pick on Saturday. When they finally were put on the clock with the 127th overall pick, they selected goaltender Brady Knowling out of the United States National Team Development Program.

When the Sharks were on the clock again for the 174th overall pick, they didn't have to look far outside of their own organization. They selected San Jose native, and San Jose Junior Sharks alumnus, Jake Gustafson from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Gustafson's father is a high-ranking executive in the Sharks organization, mainly in regards to the San Jose Barracuda, the SAP Center, and Sharks Ice. 

Gustafson, like a few of the previously mentioned prospects, is going to be making the jump to collegiate hockey this season. He's currently committed to join Colorado College for the 2026-27 season after a single campaign in Portland.

Sharks Select Jr. Sharks Alum Jake Gustafson 174th Overall in 2026 NHL DraftSharks Select Jr. Sharks Alum Jake Gustafson 174th Overall in 2026 NHL DraftWith their second pick on Saturday, the San Jose Sharks selected San Jose native, and San Jose Jr. Sharks alumnus, center Jake Gustafson in the sixth round, 174th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Sharks then made history, in multiple ways, with their final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. With the 201st overall pick, the Sharks added 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov to their prospect pool. Karmanov is not only the tallest player to be drafted to the NHL, but he's also the first player from Moldova to be selected in the NHL Draft as well. He's seen as a massive longshot to ever make it to the NHL, but if it somehow does work out, it's hard to imagine a team finding a player with a more impressive frame than Karmanov.

Sharks Select Alexander Karmanov 201st Overall in 2026 NHL DraftSharks Select Alexander Karmanov 201st Overall in 2026 NHL DraftWith their final pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, 201st overall, the San Jose Sharks selected 7-foot-1, 280-pound left-handed Moldovan defenseman Alexander Karmanov. 

It was certainly an interesting draft class for the Sharks. They added some high-end talent on Friday, then added a couple of players with interesting backstories and profiles on Saturday. One thing is certain though, the Sharks entered the weekend with defense, especially right-handed defensemen, being a major weakness in their prospect pool, now it's more of a strength.

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NBA Offseason Trade/Free Agent Rumors 2026: Seven teams eyeing Jaylen Brown, Kawhi to Toronto for Ingram?

We're just a little more than 48 hours before the official start of NBA free agency (although let's be honest, teams have got a lot of their roster-building work done already, including things yet to officially happen). The rumors are flying fast. Here are some of the latest around the NBA.

Seven teams interested in Jaylen Brown

At least seven teams have stepped up with interest in trading for Brown — the Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks and LA Clippers — reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. He also confirms previous reporting that Houston is not in the mix.

Portland comes up a lot in rumors, but they will not put All-Star Deni Avdija in a trade (which also was true around the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors), and to this point have not been willing to put Toumani Camara or Donovan Clingan in the deal, but it likely would take one or both (and more) to get the deal done, Scotto reports. He adds Portland wants to put Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson in the deal.

He also says that talks with the Hornets have cooled and the Clippers were always a long shot.

Raptors talking with Clippers about Leonard

It's been difficult to tell exactly how serious the Clippers are about trading Kawhi Leonard, if at all. Reportedly, owner Steve Ballmer doesn't want to trade him, but if contract extension talks stall out — as they are rumored to be doing — then a trade may be in play.

The Raptors have had "real trade conversations" with the Clippers in the past couple of days, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer. Toronto would like to make the heart of this deal Brandon Ingram for Leonard, but the Clippers are reportedly more interested in RJ Barrett and others. It's all something to watch.

Jokic, Nuggets delay extension talks

Nikola Jokic is extension-eligible this summer. However, just like last summer, the two sides have decided to postpone those talks, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

That does not mean Jokic is considering leaving Denver, he has "reiterated a desire to stay long-term in Denver in recent talks," reports Scotto at Hoopshype. This echoes what Jokic himself made clear at the end of the season.

Both Jokic and Denver realize they have a lot of work to do on the roster to compete with Oklahoma City, San Antonio and the other teams at the top of the West. One priority is re-signing Peyton Watson. Also, a number of Nuggets have been mentioned as possibly being traded, including Christian Braun, Jonas Valančiūnas, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Cam Johnson. We could see Denver take a big swing for a player like Jaylen Brown. Whatever it is, Jokic will be a part of it and the sides will figure out the money later.

Mitchell Robinson talks free agency

Increasingly, it feels like Mitchell Robinson will be the odd man out in New York. There is just no way to bring back the entire roster and meet owner James Dolan's line in the sand of not crossing into the second apron (Robinson alone likely makes enough to put the team over at this point).

Robinson talked about the possibility of returning to New York as a free agent during an interview with WGNO (via New York Basketball):

Nobody doubts Robinson wants to return to the Knicks, but a guy who should get a raise off the nearly $13 million he made last season would have to take a steep pay cut to stick around, or the team would have to change its course and go above the second apron.

Lakers interested in Cam Johnson, others

It's no secret the Lakers are looking to upgrade on the wing with two-way players that fit better around Luka Doncic.

That has them considering Denver's Cam Johnson (who reportedly is available via trade) and Cleveland free agent Dean Wade, reports Scotto of HoopsHype.

Johnson would be a one-year tryout for the Lakers, he is on an expiring $23.1 million deal. Johnson is exactly who the Lakers need on paper, but he hasn't always lived up to expectations. He averaged 12.2 points per game in Denver but shot 43% from beyond the arc.

There are several other teams checking in on Johnson's availability, including the Celtics, Heat, Clippers and Magic, Scotto reports. Wade is a high-level defender but is not a positive player on offense.

Other trade, free agency rumors

• Cleveland open to trading Strus, Schroeder. The Cavaliers were already over the second apron of the luxury tax, and now they are trying to negotiate a new long-term deal with James Harden and keep Dean Wade in-house. That could mean trading one or both of Max Strus and Dennis Schroder, reports Scotto of Hoopshype. Strus is set to make $16.7 million next season, and he played in just 12 games last season due to a bone fracture and foot surgery. That said, during the postseason, he showed his two-way wing potential and his value.

• Orlando has waived defensive center Jonathan Isaac, making him a free agent.

• Free agent center Jock Landale reportedly is drawing interest from the Lakers, Hawks, Clippers, 76ers, Cavs, and Bulls.

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Dodgers vs. Padres game chat

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres talk during the seventh inning at Petco Park on June 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Emmet Sheehan faces Michael King as the Dodgers wrap things up in San Diego.

SUNDAY GAME INFO
  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Padres
  • Stadium: Petco Park
  • Time: 1:10 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)

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Lakers had trade talks with Heat about Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles away from Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat during a 117-108 Lakers win at Crypto.com Arena on January 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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 2025 NBAE. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are a ton of things that get discussed and considered for every team during the offseason.

Teams have to consider best- and worst-case scenarios and have a multitude of pathways towards a successful offseason. It’s why Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka is constantly talking about optionality during press conferences, even if fans roll their eyes when he does.

A report by Michael Scotto on HoopsHype on Sunday might have revealed one of LA’s contingency plans in case Austin Reaves left in free agency.

Before Herro joined Milwaukee in the Antetokounmpo trade and the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a four-year, $185 million max deal with Austin Reaves, the Lakers had trade discussions surrounding Herro and Kel’el Ware, which would’ve involved multiple first-round draft picks, league sources told HoopsHype.

With Tyler Herro heading to the Bucks and Reaves set to sign a max contract, this obviously never happened, and LA will keep their starting backcourt together.

Clearly, the best-case scenario was keeping Reaves, and the Lakers pulled it off. Still, it’s good to know they had backup plans just in case.

In another timeline, Herro is paired with Luka Dončić, and the Lakers are hoping that’s enough to win them some games. While it’s unknown if Herro will remain with the Bucks or if this is just a quick stop before another move, it’s unlikely he’ll be a player of interest for the purple and gold.

Kel’el Ware, on the other hand, has remained in Lakers rumors. The team is reportedly still interested, but the Bucks aren’t expected to trade him. From the Lakers’ perspective, acquiring Ware would make sense. He’s a young player with room to grow. He averaged 11.1 points while knocking down 39.5% of his threes this past season.

His scoring ability and 3-point shooting would serve the Lakers well, especially if Luke Kennard leaves in free agency.

Still, it takes two to make a deal, and unless the Bucks change their minds, it won’t happen.

It’s fun to hear about the what-ifs in the basketball world, and even better when they aren’t as good as what actually happened.

While Herro would’ve been fun, the Lakers are better off with Reaves, and they were able to step into their ideal situation with him as their franchise star.

Still, staying ready is the name of the game, and the Lakers need all types of backup plans this summer with the fate of so many of their players being up in the air.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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6/28 Gamethread: Giants vs. Braves

Robbie Ray throwing a pitch.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 23: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Athletics at Oracle Park on June 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s series finale time, and it’s rubber match time, as the San Francisco Giants host the Atlanta Braves.

It’s a battle of Cy Young southpaws. For the Giants, it’s Robbie Ray, who won the award in 2021 in the American League. Ray, a 34-year old two-time All-Star, is making his 17th appearance of the year, and is 6-6 with a 3.70 ERA, a 4.80 FIP, and 80 strikeouts to 42 walks in 87.2 innings. After a rough patch, he’s been exceptional in his last two games, including allowing just an unearned run in eight innings against the Athletics his last time out.

For the Braves, it’s Chris Sale, who won the prestigious pitching award in 2024. Sale, a 37-year old nine-time All-Star, has made 14 starts, and is 8-5 with a 2.14 ERA, a 2.71 FIP, and 99 strikeouts to 21 walks in 84 innings. He allowed two unearned runs in 5.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his last start.

Enjoy the game, everyone.

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Lineups

Giants

  1. Matt Chapman – 3B
  2. Luis Arráez – 2B
  3. Heliot Ramos – DH
  4. Rafael Devers – 1B
  5. Willy Adames – SS
  6. Victor Bericoto – LF
  7. Jung Hoo Lee – RF
  8. Eric Haase – C
  9. Jonah Cox – CF

LHP. Robbie Ray

Braves

  1. Mauricio Dubón – LF
  2. Michael Harris II – CF
  3. Ozzie Albies – 2B
  4. Matt Olson – 1B
  5. Drake Baldwin – DH
  6. Austin Riley – 3B
  7. Joey Bart – C
  8. Eli White – RF
  9. Ha-Seong Kim – SS

LHP. Chris Sale

Game #83

Who: San Francisco Giants (34-48) vs. Atlanta Braves (49-32)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 1:05 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

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Florida Panthers Announce Roster, Dates For 2026 Development Camp

The Florida Panthers have announced the details for the team’s annual development camp.

Generally, the camp takes place in the days following the NHL Draft, and this year will be no different.

Florida’s 2026 Development Camp will begin on Monday at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale and run through Thursday.

This year, the Panthers have invited 24 prospects to participate in D-camp, a group that includes 11 forwards, eight defensemen and five goalies.

Among them are all six of the players Florida selected at this weekend’s NHL Draft in Buffalo: Simas Ignatavicius, Ryder Cali, Jonas Kemps, Vilho Vanhatalo, Cole Zurawski and Louis-Antoine Denault.

You can check out the full roster in the image below: 

Image

All on-ice sessions are open to the public and free to attend, with the ample seating inside the IcePlex coming on a first come, first served basis.

Development camp will consist of four days of ice time. The schedule is as follows:

Monday, June 29: One full group on-ice session from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Tuesday, June 30: One full group on-ice session from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, July 1: One full group on-ice session from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, July 2: One full group on-ice scrimmage from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Are there any players you are excited to see at Florida’s development camp? Let us know in the comments below.

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Were The Canadiens Draft Losers?

Over the weekend at the NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens put emphasis on drafting players of a certain type, big bodies who like to play with grit and physicality. While that’s a big need for the organization, not everyone appreciated what the Habs tried to do. In his latest article analyzing the draft, Scott Wheeler from The Athletic identifies the Tricolore as one of the three teams he dubbed losers of the event.

The journalist notes that he understands the Habs’ desire to add more size and athleticism, but he feels they might have put too much emphasis on it and “chased it a little”. In other words, he feels the players the team selected were taken too high. He labels Gleb Pugachyov as a third-line winger, Cooper Cleaves as an AHLer, Tim Runtso as a potential third-pairing blueliner, Parker Trottier as a fourth-line AHLer, and Brayden Klimpke as organizational depth. It certainly sounds like a harsh prognosis.

Canadiens Fans Shower Gallagher With Gifts
Canadiens Go For Size On Day Two
Update On Gleb Pugachyov And His Potential Impact On The Prospect Pool

If Wheeler didn’t appreciate the latest influx of Canadiens’ prospects, codirectors of scouting Nick Bobrov and Martin Lapointe were certainly pleased with their harvest when they spoke to the media after the draft was finally over on Saturday afternoon.

“With his size, he already played in the KHL, he’s already played against men, so I think he’ll be ready faster than others for sure, said Lapointe of first-round pick Pugachyov. This guy is a unicorn we love the way he plays, shift in, shift out. The details in his game, at his age is rare. So, to be playing in the KHL and blocking shots and diving to block shots, backchecking hard, finishing his checks on the forecheck, bringing pucks to the net. I mean, that’s what you wish for in a player. We feel, this guy was the guy that we needed, and he was there and I feel lucky to have him.
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The way Lapointe describes Pugachyov, he sounds like the kind of player who can do what Juraj Slafkovsky does, but with more aggression and enthusiasm. He has accepted his role and knows that’s what’s expected of him while it took Martin St-Louis years to make Slafkovsky understand that the Canadiens needed him to get involved physically in puck battles and retrieval on the forecheck.

When the first-round pick spoke to the media, he said through his translator, Sam Shore, that he had known both Ivan Demidov and Alexander Zharovsky for years, adding he was excited to form the “Russian Three” with them, so to speak. It’s true that they could form quite an impressive line with a gritty winger in Pugachyov, a more skillful one in Zharovsky and a star in the making in Demidov, but someone would have to play center. Even if they weren’t forming a line, though, it would certainly feel good for them to have so many Russians on the team. Right-shot defenseman Bogdan Konyushkov could also join the fold eventually.

Bobrov and Lapointe also seemed rather hopeful that their first-round pick could potentially arrive early on this side of the pond:

“Yes, there are two years left, but you know, his agent [Dan Milstein] is very good at negotiating, said Bobrov. So we’ll leave it to Dan to do it. It’s flexible enough so that a lot of different situations can unfold. He knows what he is doing, and it’s all about making sure the kid is ready to come over at the right time. It’s a big change, so we have to be mindful of timing on a number of different fronts.”
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As for the fact that the team made a conscious effort to get bigger and they're picking a lot of blueliners, Bobrov explained:

Well, the defensemen are always in demand, and we always talk about different buckets and which ones are full and which ones are becoming empty. So we know where the best fishing holes are, as we say, and it’s different draft to draft […] in this case, it just so happened that the defenders were the best players, you know, at particular spots, and obviously, you want to create more organizational depth in each position. Every organization needs that depth, and we happen to have pretty good depth right now; it never hurts to have a deeper pool. We felt that with each individual we addressed something. Timmy Runtso is more offensive, more flashy, I guess. Cooper Cleaves is more stay-at-home, mature, big, and defends, and Brayden Klimpke is a puck mover, an elite skater. So we felt those three at the right spots were the way to go, and you can never have enough ds.
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Fans will have an opportunity to see what this latest crop of prospects brings in the coming days, as the Canadiens’ development camp kicks off on June 30th with physical testing, followed by two days of on-ice sessions, including scrimmages on Thursday. As always, it will take place at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, and those who wish to watch are welcome to do so. Bobrov and Lapointe appeared optimistic that their picks over the weekend would be able to attend. Was Wheeler right in calling the Canadiens draft losers? Fans will have an opportunity to make up their own minds in the coming days and years…

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Braves vs. Giants Chat and Discussion: Chris Sale vs. Robbie Ray

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 26: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Friday, June 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

First pitch for today’s series finale in San Francisco is at 4:05 pm ET.

Game Notes

Pitching matchup

Lineups

ICYMI

Carlos2 news:Carlos Santana and Carlos Carrasco signed to MiLB deals

Hartman hype train: Grant McAuley’s conversation with Rome Emperor and Braves top prospecct Eric Hartman, who homered again this afternoon

All-Star voting: Five Braves advanced to round 2 voting, which starts tomorrow

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Lakers rumors roundup: Interest in Cam Johnson, Peyton Watson, Dean Wade

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 14: Guard Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles into the defense of forward Cameron Johnson #23 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the draft in the rearview mirror, the weekend has signaled the change in focus to free agency. Officially, things get underway on Tuesday. Unofficially, the rumors are coming in hot and fast.

With a slew of rumors coming in quick and fast, here’s a roundup of a handful of them from Sunday.

Helping Nuggets with Cam Johnson trade?

The Lakers’ cap space can become really an asset for the Lakers to help teams get out of cap hell, but how much appetite would they have if the team they help is a Western Conference foe?

On Sunday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Lakers are among the teams interested in Cam Johnson, the Nuggets sharpshooter expected to be moved this offseason.

Meanwhile, as the Nuggets navigate getting below the second apron, sharpshooting forward Cam Johnson has drawn trade interest from several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, and Orlando Magic, league sources told HoopsHype. The 30-year-old forward shot career-highs from the field (.480) and beyond the arc (.430), and is on an expiring $23.06 million contract for the upcoming season.

Denver is attempting to shed salary to keep Peyton Watson — more on him later — and Johnson’s large salary is perhaps the easiest to trade as an expiring contract. However, that’s a lot of money for the Lakers to take onto the books, even if they have cap space.

Would they prefer to take on Johnson’s salary, or simply go after Watson?

Chasing Peyton Watson

The Lakers and Watson have been linked for some time. As one of the top wings on the market, albeit as a restricted free agent, it makes sense why the Lakers would go after him.

However, as Marc Stein recently reported on his Substack, it would take a pretty big offer to lure him away from the Nuggets.

The same most certainly goes for Denver and Peyton Watson. The Nuggets have been signaling for months that they plan to match any offer sheet for Watson … to the point that sources say it would take an offer sheet in the $30 million range in order for Denver to balk at re-signing him.

The Lakers and Bulls are two teams that have been mentioned as potential Watson suitors going back to February’s trade deadline.

The Lakers have the potential to create that much cap space, but are they willing to assign that much space to an offer sheet for multiple days?

Watson fills a need and is a young player. There are lots of pros for signing him. But to lure away a free agent from their incumbent team, they’ll have to overpay. Is Watson worth overpaying for?

Role player free agents

Not every free agent the Lakers are linked with is a standout player. LA has done well in recent years to hit on the role players or undervalued free agents on the market.

This season, they have been linked to a pair of players via Scotto’s aforementioned piece, first being Dean Wade from the Cavs.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade is expected to have various suitors in free agency, including the Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, and Portland Trail Blazers, league sources told HoopsHype.

Last season in Cleveland, Wade averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He shot 43.9% from the field and 36.2% from the 3-point line.

Along those same lines, the Lakers have also reportedly expressed interest in Jock Landale as well.

Jock Landale has become an intriguing stretch-five heading into free agency, shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point range over the past two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks.

Landale, 30, is expected to have a strong market, including interest from the Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype. Expect the Australian center to command offers north of the bi-annual exception in free agency.

Landale averaged 10.6 points across 27 games, to go along with the 38.8% 3-point shooting mentioned by Scotto. He also grabbed 5.7 rebounds per game.

Neither would be a big addition to the roster, but both could have potential roles with the team.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Game Thread #84: A’s at Angels

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 23: Aaron Civale #45 of the Athletics pitches in the bottom of the first inning. against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on June 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There appears to be no game thread, so here’s one…

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Yankees-Red Sox rivalry takes over Sunday Night Baseball — How to watch for free

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A baseball player in a gray uniform and New York Yankees helmet swings a bat, hitting a baseball, Image 2 shows Boston Red Sox player Jarren Duran stands on the field wearing his batting helmet and holding a bat

One of baseball’s most historic rivalries has completely belonged to the home team this weekend, as the Boston Red Sox welcome the New York Yankees to Fenway Park tonight, June 28, for the fourth and final game of the series

Looking to secure a rare four-game sweep over their bitter rivals, the Red Sox have relied on stellar pitching and timely hitting to completely stifle New York’s offense over the first three contests.

The series kicked off on June 25 with Boston setting the tone in a 6-3 victory, capitalizing on early mistakes by the Bronx Bombers. The momentum continued on June 26 as the Red Sox cruised to a dominant 6-1 win.

yankees vs. Red Sox: what to know
  • When: June 28, 7:20 p.m. ET
  • Where: Fenway Park (Boston, Massachusetts)
  • Channel: NBC
  • Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)

Yesterday, Boston rookie left-hander Jake Bennett held onto a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and was backed by a leadoff home run from Masataka Yoshida and a solo shot from Anthony Seigler. The Red Sox locked up a 4–1 victory, making the Yankees the first team to drop three consecutive games at Fenway Park this season.

Yankees vs. Red Sox start time

Tonight’s nationally broadcast Yankees vs. Red Sox game on Sunday Night Baseball is scheduled to start at 7:20 p.m. ET.

How to watch Yankees vs. Red Sox for free

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching sports live for free — the five-day free trial of both its its MySports and MyNews genre packs includes NBC. When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $.99/month for your first two months and gain access to 20+ live sports or news channels, depending on the pack you choose.

TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE

You can also stream Sunday Night Baseball with a subscription to Peacock, which costs $16.99/month after a seven-day free trial.

Yankees vs. Red Sox pitchers

Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.70 ERA) starts for the Yankees. Former Yankee Sonny Gray (9-1, 2.95 ERA) will be on the mound for the Red Sox.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

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Darryn Peterson wants to honor Lakers legend: ‘He played both sides of the ball’

When Jazz rookie Darryn Peterson recently met with the Utah media, he wasn’t shy to admit who his idol is.

Peterson, who starred for the University of Kansas, was asked about how his defensive skill set will follow his offensive skills. He said he wasn’t too worried about it and said he hopes to be like his idol, Kobe Bryant.

“I’m a Kobe guy; he played both sides of the ball,” Peterson said. “That’s my idol. So I’m trying to lock down on defense.”

Kobe Bryant played “both sides of the ball,” Peterson said. Anthony J. Causi

Peterson was selected second overall in the 2026 NBA Draft after playing one season at Kansas, where he averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 24 games.

“I would like to say I can be a lockdown defender. Obviously, I haven’t guarded the best in the world yet, but I’m willing to take this challenge. [A] 6-10 wingspan, that can help me a bit,” Peterson said. “Just my effort. I might not be the fastest guy, or quickest guy, but my effort, I will be able to take out some of that.”

Peterson’s stats aren’t comparable to Bryant’s, of course, because Peterson only played one season of college basketball. Bryant had a 20-year Hall of Fame career.

However, similarities exist. Peterson averaged 3.5 defensive rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. In his career, Bryant averaged 4.1 defensive rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

Jazz guard Darryn Peterson calls Kobe Bryant his idol. NBAE via Getty Images

Peterson, a 6-5 guard who weighs 205 pounds, and Bryant had similar measurables. Bryant was 6-6 and weighed 212.

Bryant had what he called “Mamba Mentality,” meaning he didn’t care who he went up against; in his eyes, he felt like he was the best player on the court. Peterson tries to emulate that, too.

During his NBA career, Bryant was a five-time champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP and league MVP in 2008. He led the league in scoring in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

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Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres hits an RBI single during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on June 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Los Angeles Dodgers (53-30) at San Diego Padres (43-38), June 28, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Jaylen Brown goes off on ‘AI hoops’ after claim he’s ‘the seventh-best player on a team’

Jaylen Brown continues to be in trade rumors following a career season.
Jaylen Brown continues to be in trade rumors following a career season.

Basketball’s war on analytics permeated social media again this weekend.

And this time, possibly soon-to-be-traded Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown took center stage, seizing on dismissive comments made about him from an anonymous NBA front office source.

The comment was reported (but not endorsed) by ESPN front office Insider and former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks.

“There’s mixed feelings about him when you talk to teams,” Marks said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “The analytics of Jaylen Brown is not good … I had one, not an executive, but an analytics guy say, ‘Yeah, we view him as the seventh-best player on a team.’ I was like, ‘Holy crap.’”

Jaylen Brown continues to be in trade rumors following a career season. Boston Globe via Getty Images

Brown, justifiably so, did not take kindly to the comment.

“Analytics nowadays used to discredit and control narratives – Roll the ball out none of these guys better than me on both ends who does he work for,” he said, which began a series of tweets.

“Nobody has won more combined regular season and playoff games since I entered the league 10 years ago,” Brown continued.

Since Brown was selected No. 3 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, which even then surprised some observers, Brown has 523 regular season and playoff wins combined among the games he has played.

Brown added, “Analytics have / are ruining the game we playing AI hoops.”

Marks replied to Brown’s initial tweet, saying, “But what wasn’t posted was the 2m of saying I’m not an analytics person but an eye test guy. That I would want Jaylen Brown on my team. That you impact winning (191-80 in the last 4 years), is a top-10 player and would help any team looking to win a championship. That part of course didn’t make it. But that’s the media in 2026.”

Brown quipped, “State Your Source,” in a quote tweet, referencing a shirt he wore during the 2024 Celtics parade, commemorating the team’s first title since 2008.

This exchange also follows a back-and-forth from earlier in the week in which Brown referred to ESPN as “unethical” while singling out Stephen A Smith, in particular, which obviously got a reply from the opinionated long-time First Take host.

Brown continues to surface in trade rumors this offseason and was the Celtics’ leading trade chip in their failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, which saw the former two-time MVP dealt to the Miami Heat on June 22.

Boston’s asking price for the 2024 Finals MVP is reportedly very high, while Brown is coming off his best individual season, which was mostly without Jayson Tatum, who missed significant time due to Achilles surgery.

Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season, all career-highs, while earning his fifth overall and fourth straight All-Star nod.

Brown also finished sixth in MVP voting last year and earned his second All-NBA nod, taking home Second Team honors, all while leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed.

Brown also has a looming contract question. The two-way wing is set to make north of $57 million and $61 million over the next two seasons, while raking in just under $65 million in 2028-29.

He is eligible for a two-year extension worth $142 million on top of that.

Boston was upset by the Philadelphia 76ers in last year’s playoffs, where the Celtics squandered a 3-1 first-round lead, and Tatum was forced to miss Game 7 at home due to injury.

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Charlotte reportedly trades Miles Bridges, picks to Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale pick

Despite finishing with the most wins they had in a decade, the Charlotte Hornets wanted to move on from the LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges era. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns wanted wing depth and had their eye on Charlotte's Miles Bridges for a couple of years.

Now the two sides have reached a trade, first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN:

• Phoenix receives: Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick (the worst of Utah's, Minnesota's and Cleveland's), and a 2027 second-round pick
• Charlotte receives: Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and an unprotected 2033 first-round pick.

This trade is not a shock, the Suns' interest in Bridges — a Michigan State alum, as is owner Mat Ishbia's penchant — is well known, and he should be an upgrade on the wing. Bridges is set to make $22.8 million in this, the final year of his current contract, but he is extension eligible and that deal likely follows, according to reporting out of Phoenix. The Suns are also looking to add a backup two guard to replace Allen.

This trade also saves the Suns about $6.2 million in salary, which could translate into $30 million in luxury tax penalty savings (and it's possible they could reduce that bill further).

It also means no player selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft is still with their original team (Bridges was the final one).

This is a great trade for the Hornets. They already have Brandon Miller at the three, now they add depth behind him and Kon Knueppel, and they get a very valuable unprotected 2033 pick. Allen averaged 16.5 points a game shooting 34.9% from 3-point range in Phoenix, while O'Neal averaged 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game, and was a plus defender on the perimeter, primarily as a starter in Phoenix. It's worth noting that Charlotte had been open to getting out of the Bridges business for some time.

Also, do not be surprised if this trade is ultimately added to the Ball-to-Timberwolves trade. Minnesota has a hole at the three and could want O'Neal or Josh Green (part of the LaMelo trade) to join them as part of an expanded trade.

It's an interesting move for Phoenix, which just got more athletic on the wing but at the cost of a couple of its best shooters. There is a logical fit on the court, Phoenix could use what Bridges brings in athleticism, but it also puts a lot on the re-signed Collin Gillespi and Jordan Goodwin next season.

The Bridges trade will also lead to pushback from some fans on another front: Bridges was arrested, charged, and ultimately pled no contest in a domestic violence case. The arrest was four years ago for assaulting Mychelle Johnson in front of their two children (she posted the hospital report and brutal details on social media). While some charges were ultimately dropped, he pled no contest to a felony domestic violence charge and was given three years probation. Some in the Phoenix fan base will question whether owner Mat Ishbia is trying to raise the Suns’ culture if this is who the team trades for.