NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: DaRon Holmes II celebrates after being drafted 22nd overall by the Phoenix Suns during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s time for the second round of the NBA Draft. Follow along this thread and on @BrightSideSun on X/Twitter for the latest updates and insights on all things Phoenix Suns and the NBA Draft with staff writer Holden Sherman at the Barclays Center covering the event.
9:49 PM EST: Lot of trades, nothing Suns
Draft picks are flying left and right from city to city, but the Phoenix Suns are not involved in any of the deals. The Toronto Raptors are the only team who has their original second rounder.
Just in: The Detroit Pistons are trading C/F Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Pistons clear Stewart's salary and pick up assets while Grizzlies acquire a 25-year-old as a rugged frontcourt piece. pic.twitter.com/V8zbaI5OXr
Houston, Memphis and Brooklyn make their selections with the the first three picks.
7:57 PM EST: Suns did not host Koa Peat for a workout
John Gambadoro has the scoop. Peat was establishing relationships with Phoenix even though they didn’t work him out.
The Suns did not host Koa Peat for a workout due to their draft slot, but they hosted the prospect for a visit on Sunday as they looked to move up, @Gambo987 reports.
Phoenix traded up to draft Peat out of Arizona in the first round on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/2zCruxHM89
— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) June 24, 2026
5:47 PM EST: Don’t expect any Suns picks tonight
After giving up the 47th pick as part of a deal to draft Koa Peat with the 30th pick last night, Arizona Sports insider John Gambadoro does not expect the Suns to make a trade into the second round. Phoenix selected Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea last year with the 31st and 41st picks respectively. This is set to be the first time since 2022 the Suns don’t make a selection in the second round.
More than likely the Suns are done with the NBA draft -they got the player they highly coveted in Koa Peat. They do have some cash left like a little over a million so could poke around but I do NOT see them using any assets to get a second-round pick today.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 08: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after a second half three point basket while playing the Michigan State Spartans at Crisler Arena on March 08, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Draymond Green and Yaxel Lendeborg are different in so many ways. The former is 36 years old, has completed 14 seasons in the NBA, and is putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career; the latter is 23, and just beginning an NBA journey that began on Tuesday, when the Golden State Warriors used the 11th overall pick in the 2026 Draft on him. Green is a basketball lifer who was an All-American in high school and heavily recruited by countless big-name colleges; Lendeborg took to the sport as a teenager, played in junior college, and spent four years at small-name institutions before breaking into the ranks of a big-time D1 school. One chose the Lansing segment of a Michigan rivalry; the other chose the Ann Arbor option.
But for those stock differences, Green and Lendeborg are alike in many ways beyond being employed by the Warriors. They’re both versatile forwards who can do a little bit of everything on the court. Each can pass far better than a player of their size usually does. Both bring a bulldog mentality to the defensive end of the court, where they’re comfortable guarding any player of any size at any position.
And they both can talk a little trash.
Lendeborg, who spent his super senior season at Michigan (where he won the 2026 NCAA championship), has worn No. 23 throughout his career. Green, who spent four seasons at Michigan State, also wears No. 23 (the number has since been retired at his college, and one day will be by the Warriors).
After getting drafted, Lendeborg wasted no time taking a shot at his new teammate and mentor. At his introductory presser, Lendeborg (who will wear No. 1 with the Dubs) was asked if he would be willing to wear his collegiate rival’s gear all year if it meant getting to keep his jersey number.
“Nah. Nah.” the consensus first-team All-American said with a laugh. “I’m not doing that, man. I hate those guys. I only been there for one year, but I definitely hate those guys.”
Lendeborg not only showed his disdain for Michigan State, but got in some smack talk as well, saying, “They can’t really say much, because I went 2-0 against them this year. They’re gonna be little brother to me forever, and I’m not gonna represent the losers ever.”
Yaxel Lendeborg on Michigan State:
“I hate those guys. I went 2-0 against them this year. They’re going to be little brother to me forever” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/YrpVUSuEkL
While those are fighting words, it was clear from Lendeborg’s demeanor that it was some light-hearted trash talk. He kept the playful pokes coming when he liked an Instagram post of someone throwing a punch with the caption, “Draymond Green when he realizes Yaxel went to the same college as Jordan Poole.”
It’s impossible to know how locker room dynamics will play out until we get to see them in action, but this certainly has the makings of a hilarious, good-natured rivalry between Lendeborg and the veteran that he’ll try to emulate on the court. Green, for all his controversies over the year, can (usually) get it as good as he gives it, as his frequent banters with Charles Barkley have proven. Something tells me this isn’t the last we hear from the intrastate rivalry … and something tells me these two are going to get along just fine.
May 22, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Mauricio Dubon (14) hits an RBI single against the Washington Nationals in the tenth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The struggle has become apparent for this Atlanta Braves team, who are currently on a three-game losing streak. The name of the game is to score early and not let up…of course, pitching will have to do a pretty solid job as well to keep the San Diego Padres from finishing what they started in Tuesday night’s matchup.
Let’s take a look at these lineups for the series finale.
In today’s Baldwin-less lineup, Mauricio Dubón is leading off and playing left field with Ha-Seong Kim– who’s averaging .500 against San Diego’s JP Sears in his two total past at-bats– will be batting in the ninth hole while taking over shortstop for the night.
Jorge Mateo has returned as DH and is hoping for better production since his last three-hitless outings. As for the remainder of the lineup, well, let’s just say, they have a big advantage against San Diego’s lefty, and would be amiss not to take it.
As for the Padres, with Sears on the mound, after recently being called up from Triple-A, due to Lucas Giolito being placed on the 15-day IL (right elbow inflammation), he’s looking for the offense to hold it down, in case the Braves decide to take advantage of the 56 runs and 28 walks he’s earned so far this season in the minors.
Ty France, who has an OPS of .535 but a .176 batting average against Pérez, will be taking over first base and batting seventh in the lineup. And Manny Machado moved up to the third slot, currently averaging a .350 and 1.030 OPS against the Braves’ lefty.
The battle of the lefties, starting tonight at 8:40 p.m. EDT. The Braves are hoping to avoid a sweep, but will need to show an immediate change in the way they’ve been approaching this series if they want to see any glimpse of hope. They failed to salvage the opportunity in extra innings on Tuesday; therefore, they’ll need to play with a chip on their shoulder to turn things around.
Jun 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The offense is killing it right now despite losing the best three hitters from last season for varying lengths of time. In June it is the young guys carrying the load. Jac Caglianone’s wRC+ this month is 232! Carter Jensen is at 122. It has been fun to watch. If only this had started in April or May this year might have turned into something. They have won six of nine and gotten back to 12 games below five hundred. Today they can lock in a series win against a Tampa Bay team that has been one of the best in the American League.
Today it will be Noah Cameron and Griffin Jax facing off. Cameron is coming off of two consecutive sub-par starts where he has given up 15 hits in 9 1/3 innings. Overall, his strike out and walk rates are better than last season, but the results have not been as good or consistent. Jax has a tidy 3.67 ERA on the season but peripherals that say he cannot keep that. Hopefully today is a mean reversion day for him and the Royals can keep the wins a coming.
Bobby Witt Jr. is out again. That is the fifth consecutive day and there was a day off too. Maybe 10-day IL makes some sense at this point?
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: Pitcher Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates fields the ball and throws to first base to get the out of Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics in the bottom of the third inning at Sutter Health Park on June 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking for revenge after a tough 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners last night at PNC Park.
The Pirates held a 2-1 lead going into the seventh inning, but a pair of runs surrendered by Mitch Keller off of a home run from Cole Young did the Buccos in.
Tonight, the Pirates will hand the ball to Braxton Ashcraft, who is continuing to build off of an impressive season. Ashcroft is fresh off a win in his last start against the Athletics on June 17. He pitched six innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out seven batters in a 12-4 victory. The Pirates are 9-6 in games where Ashcraft starts, which is a good sign going into their game against the Mariners.
On the flip side, Bryan Woo is starting for the Mariners. In his last start on June 18 against the Baltimore Orioles, he pitched seven innings, giving up no earned runs and striking out nine in a 3-0 victory. Woo has gone five or more innings in each of his last four starts, suggesting that he could be in for the long haul once again.
Woo might not be playing at the All-Star level he was at a year ago, but he provides a tough matchup for the Pirates tonight.
Mexico has sustained a big fan base for basketball for decades now but never had its own homegrown star to latch on to. That is, until Lopez, 19, caught attention while playing with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL over the past two seasons, essentially guaranteeing that he would be taken in this year’s draft.
Karim Lopez shakes hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during the 2026 NBA Draft. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura Lopez speaks with ESPN after being taken in the 2026 NBA Draft. NBAE via Getty Images
He and his family’s reaction to being selected by the Pistons (who then traded Lopez’s draft rights to the Grizzlies) was one of the best moments from Tuesday’s first round. One moment during his post-draft interview segment with ESPN went viral.
When asked what it meant to be the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of an NBA draft, Lopez, who was sitting with his family, had to collect his emotions for a moment before saying, “Well, it’s just super special honestly to be here. I’m blessed. And, yeah. I have no words,” per an X post from “SportsCenter.” He was visibly emotional and wiping away tears while trying to get what little words he had out.
Karim Lopez wiping away tears while speaking with ESPN after being taken in the 2026 NBA Draft. X/@SportsCenterKarim Lopez shows off the inside of his jacket after becoming the first Mexican-born player to be taken in the first round of an NBA draft. X/@SportsCenter
"It's just super special honestly to be here. I'm blessed. I have no words."
Karim Lopez speaks on how it feels to be the first Mexican-born player ever selected in the first round of the NBA draft pic.twitter.com/m7ZsjgFXXs
Lopez then showed the inside of his jacket, which included the Mexican flag and several other homages to Mexican culture.
He was then asked why he wanted to include the Mexican flag on his jacket and said, “I just wanted to represent my culture, represent where I’m from, represent my faith. And just represent myself, basically. Show the people who I am.”
Even though Lopez has his entire NBA career ahead of him, he’s already seen as a hero by his home country. And while that will create some pressure, it also means Lopez will have a huge support system as he embarks on this journey.
The Nashville Predators have acquired center Jack Drury from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade that includes forwards Zach L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov.
In the trade, the Predators are getting Drury, a 2029 third-round pick, and forward Chase Bradley. The Avalanche are getting Svechkov and L'Heureux, both former first-round picks by the Predators.
Drury, 26, was drafted in the second round (No. 42 overall) in 2018 by the Carolina Hurricanes. After three seasons with the Hurricanes, he was traded to the Avalanche in 2025 as part of the deal that sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina.
In 268 games, Drury has 30 goals, 52 assists while averaging 12:56 ice time per game. He's an excellent face-off winner, winning more than 57% of his draws in his career.
Seen as more of a defensive player, he was the Avalanche's third-line center. He often played with Ross Colton, whom the Predators acquired from the Avalanche on June 16.
The Predators' new general manager, Chris MacFarland, came over from the Avalanche.
Drury just completed a two-year, $3.45 million contract signed in 2024. He is a restricted free agent and is due a qualifying offer of at least $1.65 million, which was his salary last season.
NHL teams must submit qualifying offers to RFAs by July 1. According to Puck Pedia, the Predators have $25 million in cap space.The Predators are sending two former first-round picks in Svechkov and L'Heureux. Svechkov was taken 19th overall in 2021, and had 12 goals and 22 assists in 122 games. L'Heureux was taken eight picks later at No. 27 — he scored nine goals and 11 assists in 87 games.
Despite being high draft picks, the two never developed into anything more than role players for Nashville.
Bradley, 24, has played two games for the Avalanche, but is mostly an American Hockey League player at this point. He had nine goals and three assists in 42 games for the Colorado Eagles last season.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
Per Baseball Reference, the two best starting pitchers (and two of the three most valuable overall members) on the Milwaukee Brewers are ace Jacob Misiorowski and lefty Kyle Harrison. The Cincinnati Reds managed to dodge facing either one of them during this series in Great American Ball Park, yet here they are on the cusp of being swept (again) by their division rivals.
(Are they even still rivals at this juncture?)
A loss this evening would sink Cincinnati to 5 games under .500 for the first time all season. They’re already sporting a comically awful 2-15 record against NL Central opponents this season. And unlike recent series, they can’t even hand the ball to ace Chase Burns in the final game of a series to help them salvage it.
Instead, they’ll hand it to Rhett Lowder, who yielded a pair of homers and 4 ER in 5.1 IP his last time out against the New York Yankees. The Reds, if they’re to go anywhere this season, simply must get more out of their 2023 1st round pick tonight and going forward.
Milwaukee will send swingman Shane Drohan to the mound to start tonight. He has alternated between the bullpen and starting rotation often this year, though each of his most recent four appearances have come as a starter. He’s a lefty, too, so manager Terry Francona has stacked his lineup accordingly to begin (including with Dane Myers, of all folks, batting in the #3 spot in the order).
First pitch is slated for 7:10 PM ET. Here’s how the Reds will line up to start:
If there is any good Reds news at the moment, it’s that they didn’t immediately make a roster move to place Nick Lodolo on the IL after his pitching wrist was hit by a 107 mph comebacker last night. Hopefully that’s an indication that they think he’ll emerge from that scary incident mostly OK, though it remains to be seen whether he’ll need to have a start pushed back, or not.
Anyway, go win a baseball game, Reds. It would really make a lot of very, very disappointed people happy for a few minutes.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Jake Burger #21 of the Texas Rangers catches fly ball hit by Esteury Ruiz #3 of the Miami Marlins in the eight inning at loanDepot park on June 24, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Saul Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Marlins 4, Rangers 2
The Rangers did not win the series in Miami.
They did not win the series in Miami despite some excellent work from Jacob deGrom.
Jacob deGrom ended up taking the loss in the game due to allowing a pair of runs and leaving the game with the team down 2-1. Its unfortunate, because he pitched really, really well.
deGrom is not vintage deGrom. He’s not “best pitcher in baseball” Jacob deGrom any more. But he’s still awfully damn good.
Like Kumar Rocker on Monday, deGrom threw the slider for about half of his pitches. And like Rocker, he missed a bunch of bats with it, generating swings and misses on 12 of the 25 sliders that the Marlins swung at, out of 45 sliders total.
Unlike Rocker, deGrom has a fastball and a changeup that can also miss bats. He got whiffs on 9 of 15 swings on his fastball and 3 of the 5 swings the Marlins attempted on his changeup.
In all, that’s 24 swings and misses, tied for the 6th most in MLB this season. He racked up 8 strikeouts in all.
Unfortunately, deGrom also issued a pair of walks in the game. One of them, a leadoff walk to Otto Lopez to start the fourth, came around to score on a two out Griffin Conine double. The other, which came with no one out in the fifth, put Owen Caissie, who had a leadoff single to start the inning, at second. Caissie came around to score on a Xavier Edwards one out single after a sac bunt.
That Edwards single was the only hit with a runner in scoring position today. The Rangers were 0 for 1 with runners in scoring position, the Marlins were 1 for 5.
deGrom allowed just four hits in the game — three singles and the Conine double. They came at inopportune times, though, and with a Ranger lineup that, well, only had one at bat with runners in scoring position all game, deGrom needed to be close to perfect for the Rangers to win.
Cole Winn gave up a two run homer in the eighth to turn a one run game into a three run game, which ended up being all the more lamentable when the Rangers scored in the top of the ninth.
Winn’s ERA is now up to 6.38 on the season.
Last year, Winn’s 1.51 ERA was belied by his 4.19 xERA and 3.90 FIP. He’s doing the opposite this year, with a 4.35 FIP and an xERA that won’t be updated until tomorrow, but is, I’m pretty sure, less than 6.38.
Still, the real problem was the lack of offense. The Rangers scored twice, on a Wyatt Langford solo homer and Joc Pederson’s solo shot in the ninth off of Pete Fairbanks. That Pederson shot makes you want to metaphorically shake your fist at Winn for allowing the two runs in the eighth, but then, maybe Fairbanks doesn’t challenge Pederson if its just a one run game, pitches him more cautiously.
The Rangers got just four other hits in the game, all singles, one of them by Wyatt Langford. They drew no walks. They also sent four batters more than the minimum to the plate because Nick Lopez, who had one of the hits, was caught stealing, and Ezequiel Duran, who hit into a fielder’s choice after a Jake Burger infield single, got picked off first to end the inning.
Langford did successfully steal a base, and that’s good and all, but Meat Loaf’s song wasn’t called “One Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.”
There was some bad luck for the Rangers on balls in play. Brandon Nimmo had a couple of blasts that qualified as “barrels” by the Statcast measure, each of which went 390+ feet, but both of which were caught. Justin Foscue, pinch hitting for Lopez to start the sixth, crushed a line drive off of former Ranger John King that, a little to the left or right, could have been a double, but instead was caught for an out by former Ranger Heriberto Hernandez.
But even taking that into account, the bats let the team down on Wednesday.
Maybe the much awaited return of Corey Seager, expected to be in the opener against Toronto on Thursday, will provide a shot in the arm.
Jacob deGrom topped out at 98.9 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.4 mph. Tyler Alexander hit 92.1 mph with the one fastball he threw. Cole Winn touched 95.9 mph with his fastball. Robby Ahlstrom’s sinker maxed out at 93.4 mph.
Wyatt Langford’s homer was 106.5 mph off the bat, and he had a 100.5 mph single. Justin Foscue had a 105.8 mph fly out. Joc Pederson had a 103.9 mph ground out and a 102.0 mph home run. Brandon Nimmo had a 103.8 mph fly out (that would have been a homer in 10 of 30 major league parks) and a 100.5 mph fly out.
The Colorado Avalanche have moved on from Jack Drury after contract extension talks repeatedly stalled during the regular season, trading the 25-year-old center to the Nashville Predators in a multi-piece deal on Wednesday.
Colorado sent Drury, forward Chase Bradley, and a third-round pick to Nashville in exchange for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux.
The 23-year-old Svechkov arrives in Colorado after spending last season split between Nashville and AHL Milwaukee, where he played 70 NHL games and recorded 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists). While his offensive production didn’t jump from his rookie season total, he showed steady usage in a bottom-six role and reached the 100-game NHL milestone in January.
The offensive upside behind Svechkov is a huge plus in this deal for Colorado. Credit: James Carey Lauder - Imagn Images
Originally a first-round pick (19th overall) by the Predators in 2021, Svechkov has 122 NHL games under his belt and 34 career points. He also brings significant AHL and international experience, including a productive run with Milwaukee and a strong playoff track record in the minors.
L’Heureux, also 23, adds a different dimension to Colorado’s forward group as a hard-charging, physical winger. A 2021 first-round pick (27th overall), he split last season between Nashville and AHL Milwaukee, appearing in 25 NHL games while also producing 28 points in the minors. His style profile aligns with the type of “Mason Marchment”-type power winger The Hockey News has previously suggested the Avalanche target—an energetic, heavy game forward capable of disrupting play and shifting momentum.
However, L’Heureux also carries a well-documented disciplinary history across multiple levels. During his time in the QMJHL, AHL, and NHL, he has been suspended on several occasions for on-ice infractions, including a 10-game ban for an incident involving contact with a fan during his junior career. While he acknowledged in 2023 that he needed to tighten up that aspect of his game, additional suspensions followed the next season. Most recently, L’Heureux was suspended three games in January 2025 for slew-footing Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon. In total, he has been suspended 12 times across his career and has missed 42 games as a result.
For the Avalanche, the move marks another adjustment to a forward group that has been in flux throughout the offseason. Drury, who played 115 games in Colorado after being acquired from Carolina in January 2025, put up 36 points in a bottom-six role but became a trade candidate after extension talks failed to progress.
Bradley, a college free-agent signing in 2024, appeared in two NHL games with the Avalanche and spent most of his time developing in the organization’s pipeline.
Drury was an incredible depth player for the Avalanche, but his financial demands couldn't be met. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing - Imagn Images
Drury was acquired by Colorado in January 2025 and quickly settled into a depth role down the middle, providing reliable minutes in a bottom-six capacity. However, with extension negotiations failing to gain traction throughout the season, Colorado ultimately opted to move the pending asset rather than risk losing him for nothing in the future.
Across 115 games with the Avalanche from 2024–26, Drury produced 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) and established himself as a reliable two-way center, posting a 57.7 percent faceoff win rate along with 82 blocked shots and 74 hits.
The Knicks are taking a swing on another French wing.
As part of a wide-ranging four-team deal involving the Mavericks, Suns and Lakers that sent New York’s No. 24 pick to Los Angeles, the Knicks acquired the rights to Melvin Ajinca from Dallas.
The 6-foot-8 forward was selected No. 51 overall by the Knicks in 2024 before being dealt to the Mavericks on draft night as part of the trade that brought Ariel Hukporti to the Big Apple.
Now, after two more years overseas, Ajinca, who turns 22 on Friday, is a part of the franchise again.
Melvin Ajinca, of LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne in action during the EuroLeague Regular Season on April 10, 2026 in Villeurbanne, France. Euroleague Basketball via Getty
Ajinca, who was touted for his shooting and 3-and-D potential during the draft process, averaged 6.0 points in 17.6 minutes per game during EuroLeague play last season for LDLC Asvel.
He first jumped onto the NBA radar during the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, where he averaged 19.3 points and helped lead France to the gold medal game.
In the deal for Ajinca, the Knicks also acquired the No. 47 pick in this week’s draft and four additional future second-round picks.
The Ajinca acquisition adds to what has become a growing collection of young French players for the Knicks.
In 2024, the Knicks selected Pacôme Dadiet with the 25th overall pick out of France. Dadiet has appeared in 47 games over two seasons as a developmental wing.
The Knicks own the right to Melvin Ajinca again. Euroleague Basketball via Getty
During last year’s draft, the Knicks took Mohamed Diawara in the late second round, a move that quickly paid dividends with the Paris native logging 69 games while averaging 3.6 points and shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc.
The Leafs are slated to kick off this week’s 2026 NHL Draft by making the franchise’s third-ever No. 1 overall selection. Toronto moved up from fifth to first in last month’s draft lottery, and the Original Six club is expected to use the top pick on Penn State winger Gavin McKenna.
McKenna, an 18-year-old from Whitehorse, Canada, ranked second in the nation in points per game (1.46) in his freshman season with the Nittany Lions, tallying 15 goals and 36 assists. Other top prospects expected to hear their names called early include OHL defenseman Chase Reid, OHL center Caleb Malhotra and SHL winger Ivar Stenberg.
The San Jose Sharks also moved up in the order via the lottery, rising from ninth to second. It’s the third consecutive draft in which San Jose holds a top-two selection, after taking Macklin Celebrini at No. 1 in 2024 and Michael Misa at No. 2 last year.
The Eklund trade provides the Sharks with a pair of top 10 picks, in addition to the No. 27 selection. San Jose is one of several teams with multiple first-rounders, along with the Vancouver Canucks (Nos. 3 and 24), Sabres (Nos. 4 and 20), New York Rangers (Nos. 5 and 26), Calgary Flames (Nos. 6 and 30), St. Louis Blues (Nos. 11, 15, 16 and 29), and Senators (Nos. 25 and 32).
As the event nears, here’s what to know about this year’s NHL draft:
When is the NHL draft?
The draft takes place from Friday, June 26 to Saturday, June 27. Round 1 is Friday followed by the remainder of the draft Saturday.
What time does the NHL draft start?
The draft begins Friday at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT and resumes Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT.
Where is the NHL draft being held?
KeyBank Center, home of the Sabres, in Buffalo, New York, is the site of this year’s draft.
Austin Reaves is the ultimate homegrown success story in a city that loves Hollywood narratives.
He went from being a country bumpkin who grew up in Newark, Ark., amid a population of fewer than 2,000 people to becoming a star in a global metropolis.
Austin Reaves intends to sign a 4-year, $185M maximum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a great story. Things have worked out beautifully for Reaves, who’s a rising star and is genuinely as likeable as he appears on TV. But it’s fair to ask … can the Lakers win a championship with over $100 million a season going to him and Luka Doncic for the next several years?
In other words, was it smart for the Lakers to spend that much money when they desperately need to build out their roster?
He’s on the verge of becoming an All-Star-caliber player. When he and Doncic share the court, their chemistry is undeniable. Doncic loves him. And other teams were willing to pay top dollar for him, including Detroit.
Does this mean the Lakers need to spend the rest of the offseason acquiring defenders and shooters around them? Yes. Do they desperately need a rim protector? Yes. But was spending that type of money on Reaves the right call? Yes.
The sticker value is shocking, especially considering Reaves will earn more next season ($41.3 million) than guys like Jalen Brunson ($37.7 million) and Tyrese Maxey ($40.7 million).
But the Lakers made the right call. Not only is Reaves a great player, but he’s the Lakers’ glue.
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Reaves’ contract will be the highest ever for an undrafted NBA player. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves is coming off a breakout season. He announced his meteoric rise with back-to-back 51- and 41-point performances in the first few games.
He helped the Lakers jump to a 15-4 start while LeBron James missed the first 14 games because of sciatica. He was arguably the best No. 2 offensive option in the league.
He was pivotal in the Lakers’ 16-2 run last spring. One of the biggest highlights of the season happened during that stretch when he purposely missed a free throw, caught his rebound and made a jumper to force overtime in the Lakers’ 127-125 win over the Nuggets on March 14.
Reaves and Doncic looked so good during a three-game stretch over that period that the basketball world even began questioning whether the Lakers were better without James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all-time.
Reaves was one of three players to average at least 20 points, five assists and 1 steal while having a true shooting percentage of at least 62% last season. The others? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. And Reaves did it while sharing the ball with Doncic and James.
This was a no-brainer for the Lakers. They had no choice. They couldn’t risk losing Reaves.
Reaves is set to make $41.3M in 26-27; $44.6M in 27-28; $47.9M in 28-29; and $51.2M (player option) in 29-30. Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
Not when he skyrocketed into being so reliable on offense. Not when he grew into such a great complement for Doncic. And especially not after it became clear that he’s one of Doncic’s lifelines in Los Angeles.
Aside from the tangibles of how well those two play together, there’s another reason retaining Reaves was of paramount importance.
Reaves makes Doncic feel at home in Los Angeles. They tease each other. They joke with one another. They’ve become brothers who show their affection for one another through loving jabs.
Reaves is a great player. He has what he describes as “delirious confidence.” He’s fearless. But he’s also a chemistry generator in human form.
James loved him as soon as he entered the Lakers’ locker room. Doncic gravitated toward him. Heck, even Steve Kerr saw it when he coached Reaves during the World Cup. “You can tell that everybody loves playing with him,” Kerr said, adding that’s a rare quality.
Reaves played at an All-Star level this past season when he averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game on 36% shooting from deep. NBAE via Getty Images
For the Lakers, retaining Reaves was a must. They needed to do whatever it took. And his monster contract won’t interfere with their cap space. They’ll be able to spend their about $50 million and then go over the cap to re-sign him.
In other words, they can still load the roster with defensive-minded players. They can still get shooters. They can still try to plug their holes to compete with the Thunder and Spurs in the very crowded Western Conference.
For the Lakers, retaining Reaves was their top priority this offseason. He’s a difference-maker on and off the court. He’s essential to what they’re trying to build. Is he the best two-way player in the league? No. But is he an offensive wizard whose impact extends beyond what box scores can measure? Undeniably.
It’s one of the most wild ascensions we’ve seen.
He has gone from being a no-name guy to one of the most important players on the league’s second-winningest franchise with 17 NBA championships to its name.
He has gone from clawing his way into the league to becoming the 30th-highest average paid NBA player.
And he deserves every penny of it.
Reaves averaged 32.0 points per game in six October games (including a 51-point performance against the Kings) and 26.9 points per game in 10 November games. Getty Images
Doncic wants him. The Lakers need him. And they still have enough money to build out their roster.
Reaves, you’ve been in Los Angeles for a while.
But you’ve officially become the ultimate Hollywood tale.
While the Philadelphia Flyers may have stood by as other NHL teams kicked off a massive trade frenzy, their first big deal may be coming sooner than later.
Much like the Simon Nemec trade earlier in the week, teams know that the Flyers will eventually have to make a decision on defense, and all signs point to Philadelphia finally cashing in on a renewed Rasmus Ristolainen.
According to The Fourth Period and NHL Network NHL insider David Pagnotta, the "Flyers remain engaged in trade talks involving RD Rasmus Ristolainen. There are multiple teams, including Ottawa, in pursuit."
A Senators trade is beginning to feel inevitable, given the long-standing links connecting Ristolainen to the Senators.
Plus, it was previously reported that the Flyers have varying degrees of interest in Senators centers Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, and Ridly Greig, with the Flyers having the most interest in Pinto of the three.
With the amount of wheeling and dealing the Senators have done, starting with the Brady Tkachuk deal, it would certainly seem that they are open to any and all change that would benefit them going forward.
The Flyers, meanwhile, have David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk pushing for roster spots on the right side of the defense, and we all know that they badly need an upgrade at center.
Both Cozens and Pinto are right-shot centers who could make a free agent like Luke Glendening redundant and take over his matchup reps in the faceoff circle for head coach Rick Tocchet.
If the Flyers choose to turn elsewhere at center, such as Anaheim's Mason McTavish, it's worth noting that the Senators also have the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft that they can use to start up a trade package.
Leading up to the NHL trade deadline, it was also reported that the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings had interest in trading for Ristolainen.
In any event, it is increasingly likely a Ristolainen trade will finally come to fruition on or before Friday's draft.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros and Blue Jays will play the rubber match of this 3-game series tonight at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
RHP Mike Burrows (3-8) will make the start for the Astros vs. Jays RHP Trey Yesavage (3-3).
Both of tonight’s starters are facing their opponent for the 1st time in their young careers.
ROAD TRIPPIN: Tonight is the 3rd game of a 7-game road trip for the Astros, during which they will visit TOR (3G) and DET (4G), respectively.
Road Success: The Astros are 11-7 in their last 3 road trips combined.
They have posted a 17-13 record on the road since going 1-9 on their 1st road trip of the 2026 season.
Road Raking: The Astros are 1st in the AL in road batting avg. at .253.
They also rank 2nd in road HR (56), SLG (.422) and OPS (.748) and 3rd in road OBP (.337).
ASTROS-BLUE JAYS: The Astros were 4-2 vs. TOR in 2025 (3-0 at home, 1-2 at TOR).
After tonight’s game, the two clubs will next meet for a 3-game series, Aug. 3-5 at Daikin Park.
Recent Success: The Astros have won 7 of 10 and 9 of their last 13 vs. TOR.
ABOUT BURROWS: RHP Mike Burrows will make his club-leading 15th start of the season tonight and the 1st of his career vs. TOR.
Tonight will be his 1st start since June 13 at KC.
Following that start, he made 1 relief appearance, which was on June 19 vs. CLE, hurling a scoreless 9th inning in the Astros 9-3 win (threw 7 pitches, all strikes).
Burrows was acquired by the Astros from the Pirates this off-season as part of a three-team, six-player trade in which the Astros sent OF Jacob Melton and minor league RHP Anderson Brito to the Rays, while the Rays sent IF Brandon Lowe, OF Jake Mangum and LHP Mason Montgomery to the Pirates.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP: The Astros came out on top of a see-saw battle with the Blue Jays yesterday, winning 9-7 in 11 innings.
Joey Loperfido delivered the big blow vs. his former club with a 3-run HR in the top of the 11th to break a 6-6 tie.
RHP Logan VanWey hurled the final 2.0 innings of the game to earn his 1st ML victory (2.0 IP, 1 R,0 ER).
The Astros trailed, 6-4, after 8.0 innings but rallied for 2 runs in the top of the 9th to stay alive.
A sac fly by Cam Smith in that 9th tied it at 6-6.
The game included plenty of offense, including home runs in 3 consecutive AB’s in the 4th inning by Yainer Diaz, Cam Smith and Taylor Trammell.
The Astros tallied 15 hits overall with 4 HR and 2 doubles.
THREE TIMES A CHARM!: Yesterday’s game marked the 8th time in franchise history that the Astros have homered in 3 consecutive plate appearances.
The last time was in a 4-3 win vs. TEX on July 19, 2019.
Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez went back-to-back-to-back in the 3rd inning of that game, all vs. LHP Mike Minor.
CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are 15-10 in 2-run games, 8-4 in 1-run games and 4-4 in extra innings.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: Over the last month(May 21-June 23), the Astros are 18-12 (.600), which is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span.
RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 5 of 7 and 7 of their last 11 games.
HISTORIC HOMERS: Per Elias, Yordan Alvarez’ 25 HR are tied for the 3rd-most in franchise history through the club’s 1st 81 games.
The record for HR through the club’s 1st 81 games is 27, set by Lance Berkman in 2002.
Most HR thru 81 Team Games 27 – L. Berkman, 2002 26 – J. Bagwell, 1994 & 1999 25 – Yordan Alvarez, 2026
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid 1st half to his season, currently leading all of baseball with a 1.076 OPS.
Additionally, he leads the AL in batting avg. (.325), SLG (.640), OBP (.436) and TB (185), is T-1st in HR (25) and T-2nd in RBI (56).
Alvarez, who was the AL Player of the Month for May, is hitting .397 (29×73) in June with 5 HR and 17 RBI with a 1.152 OPS (.494 OBP/.658 SLG).
ALL-STAR VOTING: Yordan Alvarez leads all AL DH’s in All-Star voting, per MLB’s update yesterday.
His 1,974,459 votes rank 2nd in the AL and 3rd overall in the Majors.
ROCKIN AT ROGERS: In his last 16 games at Rogers Centre, Yordan Alvarez has 7 HR and 16 RBI and is hitting .389 (21×54) in that span with an .852 SLG and a 1.359 OPS.
PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has been one of the best in the AL, posting a 2.82 clip (41ER/131IP) in that span…the Astros are 21-15 since May 15.
OKERT’S 0’S: LHP Steven Okert has not allowed a run in his last 16.0 innings, which is the longest scoreless streak by an Astros hurler this season.
His streak, which spans 13 apps., is the longest cons. inning scoreless streak since RHP AJ Blubaugh recorded 22.1 cons. scoreless innings from Aug. 23, 2025-March 26, 2026.
HADERADE: In his 9 appearances since coming of the IL on June 3, opponents are just 2×29 off LHP Josh Hader.
Hader has posted a 1.00 ERA (1ER/9IP) and is 5-for-5 in save opportunities (.069 opp. avg., .033 WHIP).
THE LAMMA!: RHP Peter Lambert’s 4 wins since May 24 are tied for tops in the AL in that span.
In his 6 starts in the time frame, he is 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA (Astros are 5-1 in those starts)
TAPPING FOR SUCCESS: Astros batters have won an MLB-best 56 ABS challenges and lead the Majors in challenge success rate (60%).
Isaac Paredes (9-for-9) has the most successful challenges in the Majors without losing one.
Jose Altuve has been successful on 14-of-19 challenges (74%), ranking 2nd in the Majors in successful challenges.
ROSTER MOVE: Effective today, the Astros have recalled LHP Colton Gordon from Triple A Sugar Land.
RHP Logan VanWey was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land following yesterday’s game.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, June 24, 6:07 p.m. CT
Location: Rodgers Centre, Toronto, ON
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
