James is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 41-year-old’s decision was shocking given James had already won NBA championships with two of the four finalists in the sweepstakes: the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in an NBA free agency stunner. AP
But according to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Joel Embiid was also a “heavy figure” in recruiting James. The 76ers big man kept in contact with James throughout his unique free agency process and reportedly vowed to get his body in playing shape, per Jones.
Philadelphia was aggressive in its recruitment process for LeBron as he was essentially the missing piece for a title run.
The 76ers were never regarded as the favorite in the sweepstakes for James, but the veteran began to view the team in a different light once the team acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. It was the blockbuster trade that propelled Philadelphia to the forefront of James’ list.
Joel Embiid played a central role in recruiting LeBron James to the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
As he shared on social media, James believes joining the 76ers would make the organization a championship team. On paper, the new look Philadelphia squad will certainly be a lethal powerhouse in the East.
Philadelphia now boasts a starting five including James, Embiid, Maxey, Brown and VJ Edgecombe.
Tyrese Maxey spent the last five offseasons working out with LeBron James. Now, the pair will be teammates in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty Images
The already illustrious legacy for James can reach new levels by bringing an NBA championship to Philadelphia. It has been 43 years since the city last won an NBA Championship, headlined by Dr. J and Moses Malone.
The superstar has brought a title to every franchise he’s played for — will he do it again?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 6: Jorge Mateo #2 of the Atlanta Braves stands at third base during the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When you are trying to chase down several other teams in the playoff race, and games between now and the trade deadline are running short, every series feels big. This weekend’s clash with the Atlanta Braves is no different. Our very own John Beers provided a run down of the matchup earlier today.
The Orioles lineup lacks some bite without Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, but they put up a fight against the Red Sox earlier in the week, which included snapping their rivals’ 15-game winning streak. A win for the Orioles tonight will make it two in a row for them, en route to another streak of their own.
They have the right pitcher on the mound to make it happen. The Orioles have won each of Trevor Rogers’ last five starts. The lefty has done a lot of the heavy lifting, allowing three total runs across 30.2 innings in that stretch. That translates to a 0.88 ERA. Pretty good!
Grant Holmes, the Braves starter, allowed three runs in his last start alone. So, the momentum is with Rogers. Holmes is a good pitcher, though. He just doesn’t tend to go very deep into a game. The last time he threw more than five innings in an appearance came seven starts ago on June 3rd.
It’s worth noting that Dylan Beavers will bat leadoff in this one. That’s the first time he has had that role this season and just the third time he has ever done it as a big leaguer. Tony Mansolino used him atop the order twice in late September last year. The outfielder is batting .462 over his last five games, including a 2-for-4 performance in the finale with Boston. Craig Albernaz has been more willing to change the lineup to find something that clicks. Beavers makes just as much sense as anyone else right now.
LeBron James had heard the pitches, studied the rosters and decided the 76ers gave him the best chance to chase another championship.
Before he could say yes, however, he needed approval from the people whose lives would be affected most.
Shams Charania says LeBron James needed family approval before choosing Philadelphia, a move that could split the family across three cities. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“The last step was getting the family all on board and talking to everyone, from Savannah, Zhuri, Bronny James, who’s playing for the Lakers, to Bryce James at Arizona,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said.
That family meeting was more than a courtesy.
LeBron James’ family has been present for most of the defining moments of his career, especially in Los Angeles. Getty Images
LeBron James’ daughter, Zhuri, weighed heavily in his decision. Instagram/@lebronjames
James previously revealed that he pulled his daughter aside before making his decision public. He told her he would not return to the Lakers and acknowledged that playing elsewhere would mean spending less time at home.
“I pulled her to the side and I was like, ‘Baby, I’m letting you know. I don’t want you to hear from nobody else, but I won’t be playing for the Lakers next year. I will be playing somewhere else,'” James recalled.
“‘I won’t be home all the time. And you may not have an answer right now. You can give me an answer now. We can wait; we can write it down. I just want to know how you felt about it because you mean a lot to me. Me being away from you means a lot.’ So, the family portion is a big thing, too.”
James decided to leave the Lakers to pursue an NBA title with the 76ers. Getty Images
James has always made his family part of his basketball journey. He spent years talking about his dream of playing alongside Bronny before the two finally became teammates in LA. Savannah and their children have also been present for nearly every major career milestone, including his record-breaking night as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Philadelphia will make that closeness harder to maintain.
LeBron James’ family is on board with his decision to play for the 76ers. Getty Images
James will now play across the country from Bronny, while Bryce remains in Tucson. Savannah and Zhuri have not publicly indicated whether they will relocate, creating the possibility the family keeps Los Angeles as its primary home while James lives in Philadelphia during the season.
James’ two-year, $8 million deal was ultimately about basketball happiness and one more championship opportunity.
Getting his family comfortable with the sacrifice appears to have been the final — and most important —part of the decision.
Jul 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) hits a single in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (49-54) vs. Kansas City Royals (43-61)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Tarik Skubal (6-5, 2.83 ERA) vs. RHP Beck Way (1-0, 3.22 ERA)
There’s no rest for the wood bats as the run of 17 games in 17 days out of the All-Star break continues for the Atlanta Braves as they kick off a three-game series at Baltimore Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Grant Holmes gets the start for Atlanta, while Baltimore counters with Trevor Rogers.
Follow along as the Braves look to continue to re-extend their NL East lead, which is back up to 4.5 games behind a 5-2 start to the second half paired with the Phillies dropping series to the Mets and Dodgers.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 22: Tony Vitello #23 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after being ejected during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 22, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The “phantom push” ruling in Wednesday’s loss to the Kansas City Royals derailed the team’s momentum and led to a five-run rally and an eventual San Francisco Giants loss. While it’s true that the umpires should have reviewed the call, and likely that said review would not have ruled the oversliding Vinnie Pasquantino out, what stood out was the performance of manager Tony Vitello, who ended up drawing his third ejection of the season in the 5-4 loss.
It was an unusual ejection. Vitello’s ire was correctly aimed at second base umpire Mike Estabrook, but he was thrown out of the game by third base umpire Lance Barrett. Dave Flemming said Barrett “talks to players like they’re his children,” and perhaps that’s especially true for the handsome and youthful Tony V.
Tony Vitello got ejected after arguing one of the worst calls you'll see all year pic.twitter.com/nnsFzJI5Sa
But Vitello didn’t get his money’s worth. He wasn’t especially vehement in his arguments, getting rung while he was heading to the dugout. No dirt was kicked, no equipment was thrown, no umpire’s parentage was called into question. Instead, Vitello simply got bounced, Landen Roupp got out of rhythm, and the Giants lost a fifth straight game.
You can make a strong case that as the manager of a 42-60 team, only two games better than the worst team in baseball, Vitello isn’t getting ejected enough. It’s been a season full of weird calls and strange decisions. Rafael Devers was the only person on the field to notice he hit a home run in Seattle on Saturday. The team vacillates wildly between under-managing and over-managing. Vitello failed to challenge a play in April where TJ Friedl dropped a Luis Arraez liner, though I would not call it a “freaking disgrace.”
This is a freaking disgrace and needs to be called out!
After reading Rule 5.09(a)(1), I do not believe TJ Friedl caught this ball. If a player drops the ball upon falling, it is not a catch.
What's worse, he would have known he dropped it, yet chose not to make that clear… pic.twitter.com/IuM3lRWLGX
Vitello needs to be angrier about how bad his team is playing. It really doesn’t matter to the outcome of a game if the manager gets thrown out. Hell, it might improve these Giants. But what a managerial ejection often does is snap a team out of complacency. He’s got three ejections so far, which is far down the list of rookie managers in history.
The most ejections ever recorded by a first-year manager is a tie between Roger Bresnahan in 1909 and Johnny Evers in 1913, both of whom got kicked out 10 times in just 154 games. Evers’ legendary double-play partner, the high-strung Joe Tinker, got tossed out of seven games in 1913 in his own first season as a skipper. Completing the triumvirate, Frank Chance got ejected only 15 times in 11 seasons as a manager, maxing out at three in 1914.
Many of the top rookie ejection seasons happened before World War I, when many managers doubled as players, increasing the opportunities for conflicts. The game was also significantly more contentious. For example. when Bresnahan argued with home plate umpire Bill Klem at the end of a 1911, Klem punched him out. Does that count as an ejection? Sadly the record books don’t say.
The modern leader is 2022 National League champion David Bell, who got kicked out of eight games in 2019, which is pretty impressive given the more genteel nature of today’s game. Eight is the Giants’ franchise record for a rookie manager, achieved by Bill Rigney in 1956. John McGraw is easily the Giants’ all-time ejection king, racking up 121 ejections and hitting 11 in a season twice.
Other notably argumentative rookie manager include Burleigh Grimes, who was kicked out of nine games in 1937. Cal Ripken, Sr. was ejected eight times in his first season with the Baltimore Orioles in 1987, a year where his son Cal Ripken, Jr. only sat for eight innings. In 1978, George Bamberger led the Milwaukee Brewers to 93 wins, their first winning season in history, but didn’t make it to the end of seven of those contests.
Whitey Herzog got tossed six times in 1973, even though he got fired after 138 games. It didn’t stop him from going on to a Hall of Fame career. In modern times, Rick Renteria was ejected six times in 2014 and Larry Rothschild inaugurated the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays in 1998 with six ejections.
Bobby Cox is the all-time Ejection King of baseball, and he showed that potential early by being sent to the showers four times in 1978. He got thrown out of six games in 1980 but didn’t start putting up double-digit ejection numbers until the late 90’s with the Atlanta Braves, maxing out with 11 at age 60 in 2001. In a 30-year career, Cox never went a single season without getting tossed and had just one season with only one: The strike-shortened 1994 season. Fittingly, he finished with 162 ejections, a whole season’s worth.
Vitello was hired thanks to the focus he showed at Tennessee when it came to process and preparation. That’s why we’re attacking a video of Cox’s ejections during his prime, so Vitello can study the game tape to bone up on the fundamentals of umpire arguing, which include:
Violating personal space
Profanity
Hand gestures
Bench jockeying
Giving ‘em the business
There are 60 games to go in the season and we are confident that Tony V. can get kicked out of at least three of them. Other teams may push the Giants around, but he shouldn’t let those dastardly umpires do it, too.
On Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks introduced Patrick Kane at a press-conference held at Blackhawks Ice Center. This came just one day after announcing that he was back on a two-year deal with an average annual value of $8 million.
Kane talked about a wide variety of topics based on questions that were presented to him, but there was one recurring theme.
He wanted to make it abundantly clear that he is not coming back for some legacy "ride off into the sunset" reason. He wants to win, he wants to play at a high level, and he wants to help the young players take that next step.
"Obviously the story is great, coming back to Chicago and being a Blackhawk again," Kane said. "But most importantly, it was about coming to a team where I think I can fit in well, a team that's on the rise."
Well, Kane is certainly going to fit in well. You could let him play right wing with any of Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, or Frank Nazar, and he would perform. He is also going to play a key role in them improving their bottom-five power play from a year ago.
Kane is well aware that his coming back is a wonderful piece of nostalgia. He is one of the greatest Blackhawks ever, and he is returning after a couple of years away. It is a feel-good story for a Chicago legend. However, nobody involved in the deal getting done would have gone through with it if that were the only benefit.
"It’s not like I’m coming back home to ride off into the sunset," Kane said. "I want to be a big player here and help the team win."
Are the Blackhawks good enough to be a playoff team now that Kane is there? It is hard to say. The Central Division is very top-heavy with the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and Utah Mammoth, but the rest could go in a variety of different orders. At this point, every team sees itself as a potential playoff threat.
The elephant in the room is Connor Bedard's injury. With or without Kane, it set the Blackhawks back when he had to have shoulder surgery. He is aiming to come back in mid-November, but he is going to try incredibly hard to be back before that. The Kane news fired him up, and that will force him to work extra hard on coming back as quickly as possible.
If Patrick Kane can help them stay afloat while Bedard is on the shelf, and they can turn on the gas once he returns, the Blackhawks will be in much better shape. He will also help them in the long term by implementing some of his on-ice wisdom into the young players. His motivation to be great and help those around him be great makes this an impactful signing already.
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Oct 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger (47) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
I remember, when I was young and playing sports, the parents, who we called coaches, said ‘give 110%’. Well, you can’t/shouldn’t do it all the time. You go all out, you are likely to injury something,
Addison Barger is going to have season ending elbow surgery. He’ll either have Tommy John or an internal brace surgery. Either way, he’s likely to be out until the start of the 2027 season. If it is Tommy John, he’ll likely miss the first part of the season.
Apparently, his elbow had been bothering him for a while, then he threw that 101.2 mph throw to get Jorge Soler at the plate on May 9th.
After making nearly $53 million with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, James accepted a two-year contract worth the veteran minimum. The decision allowed Philadelphia – which already has two of the NBA's eight highest-paid players for 2026-27 in Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown – to be able to afford the 41-year-old superstar.
James' new deal with the 76ers will be worth just under $8 million over two years. He is set to make just under $3.9 million in the first year of his contract, which will mark the least he has earned during a single NBA season, coming in just short of the $4.02 million he made during his rookie season in 2003-04.
Just how cheap is James' deal for his first season in Philadelphia? A total of 292 NBA players will be making more than him during the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, making James one of the best values league-wide.
Here's what to know about James' contract and where it ranks league-wide:
Full list of players making more than LeBron James for 2026-27 season
Below is a full look at the list of players who will make more than LeBron James during the 2026-27 NBA season, according to data from Basketball Reference.
Of course, one of the reasons James was able to take such a massive pay cut is because he has already made a boatload of money during his career.
Across his first 23 NBA seasons, James has made nearly $581.4 million in on-court earnings, per Spotrac.com. A majority of those earnings came across his eight years with the Lakers, during which he made $347.5 million.
James also has numerous lucrative endorsement deals off the court, including with Nike and AT&T, among others.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 27: President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge, Darryn Peterson #22, and Governor Ryan Smith of the Utah Jazz smile while talking to the media during a press conference 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
The offseason isn’t technically over – we’re all waiting on pins and needles for the Mario Hezonja decision – but the transactions have slowed substantially, and it looks like the Jazz have the majority of their roster set for the 2026-2027 season. We’ve consistently been told that this past season was the last in terms of tanking in Salt Lake, so high expectations were placed on the offseason – what would the Jazz do to finalize the roster destined to lead the organization back into relevancy?
For the most part, the national media has been favorable to the choices the Ainges and co. have made thus far. Here’s a quick round-up of the grades the Jazz have been assigned for their offseason moves;
ESPN: A
Bleacher Report: A
The Athletic: B+
CBS Sports: B+
NBC Sports: B
These publications tended to applaud Utah’s selection of Darryn Peterson and the return they received for Walker Kessler, but those who assigned a lower grade worried that losing Kessler will be an unfillable hole for a team trying to be formidable this coming season.
However, these huge websites that cover the league as a whole sometimes struggle to accurately understand the minutia of a teams offseason, which is understandable – it’s impossible to watch every game for every team, so a perfect comprehension of how important Jusuf Nurkic is in Will Hardy’s offense may be difficult to achieve.
Today, we’ll be setting aside the national consensus to grade every single Utah move (trades, signing, draft picks, everything) this offseason from a Jazz fan’s perspective, before assigning a cumulative grade for this pivotal offseason.
June 23 – Selected Darryn Peterson at #2: A+
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While selecting Darryn Peterson at #2 wasn’t some novel idea, the Jazz still deserve tons of credit for sealing the deal and choosing the best player on the board. It required a bit of luck and more than a bit of credit given to the late-season Sacramento Kings, but jumping up to #2 and having the opportunity to put a truly special prospect in Utah-Purple is the type of move that immediately changes the trajectory of a franchise. All of the team building moves from the course of the rebuild (selecting Keyonte George, trading for Jaren Jackson Jr., and all of the tanking) post hoc bumps to their letter grades, because, with Darryn, they were all justified – trust was given to a process that, in hindsight, looks to be genius.
June 29 – Signed Jusuf Nurkic to a 2 year, 22 million dollar contract: A
MIAMI, FL – FEBRUARY 9: Jusuf Nurkic #30 of the Utah Jazz smiles during the game against the Miami Heat on February 9, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This is, by my money, the most underrated and underdiscussed move of the offseason. There was about a week in June where I was sure that Jusuf would prove to be too expensive for Utah to retain – after rehabilitating his career, he would collect his payday and potentially finish his career on some bottom feeder with extra cash. However, Jusuf proved he was being honest in saying the Jazz have been the best organization he’s played for in his 12 year career by resigning on a rather team-friendly deal. The Jazz have a roster built on crisp off-ball movement – Peterson, Bailey, Markkanen, and Jackson are all best being set up by a creator – and Nurkic proved to be the perfect fit for this system, averaging a career high in assists per game with 4.8. Utah couldn’t afford to lose this level of passer, and ensured their offense will continue to run smoothly in 2027 by bringing back the Bosnian Beast. While there’s a chance that this past year was only a temporary blip from the downward trend that it appeared Nurkic was on, this deal was a huge win for a team in need of playmaking and (after the Kessler trade) big man depth.
July 1 – Signed Jaxson Hayes to a 2 year, 12 million dollar contract (2nd year team option): C
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I understand both the upsides and downsides of the Jaxson Hayes signing. In theory, he fills an archetype that the Jazz need – he’s big and athletic and offers a much different look at center than the Jusuf Nurkic minutes. However, the jury is still out on if he is an actual positive of an NBA player, or if Luka Doncic, perhaps the best player in the league at making big men look better than they are, transformed Hayes into a legitimate center through sheer tyranny of will. Additionally, while I think it is near impossible to give a final verdict on a player’s character without knowing them personally, Hayes’ off-the-court actions are an undeniable aspect of the package a team gets when they bring him in, and it is a stain that I’d rather not have on the Jazz. I expect Hayes eats up regular season minutes without doing too much harm, which is valuable enough…and hopefully all we’re asking him to do; things could look ugly if Hayes is playing a real role in the playoffs.
July 3 – Signed Tamar Bates to a two-way contract: B+
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 15: Tamar Bates #0 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on July 15, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The marginal transactions, while important (champions are built off of strong moves at the margins), are often harder to grade. Just how positive can I be towards a signing of a player that will likely never play meaningful minutes for the franchise? Ultimately, I decided to grade transactions relative to their contract tier and corresponding talent pool – even though it’s a strong possibility that Bates never becomes a household name while playing in Utah, compared to the other players they could’ve signed for this two-way slot, it is still a relative win. I like Bates quite a bit – he’s long, he shoots, he moves with the fluidity of a pro – so even though his natural position (shooting guard) is probably the most stacked on the team, meaning that playing time is exceptionally unlikely, he’s still a net positive signing on a two-way contract.
July 3 – Signed Josh Okogie to a 2 year, 12 million dollar contract: A-
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 1: Josh Okogie #20 of the Houston Rockets looks to pass the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I have my doubts about Josh Okogie – his shooting is volatile, he offers nothing on the ball, and he’s too short to reliably be our answer against bigger wings defensively. However, you can’t complain too much when you obtain a necessary archetype (non-stop hustler who defends tenaciously and has some nasty to his game) on a short term, low risk deal. Okogie isn’t a perfect player, but he still started nearly half the contests for a Rockets team that won 52 games. I lowered the grade a bit because the Jazz have such an overflow of players of his position (Svi, Konchar, and Brice all already had reasonable cases to be the backup shooting guard), but this deal is a big-time win for the Jazz either way.
July 7 – Signed Trey Alexander to a two-way contract: A-
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 12: Trey Alexander #15 of the Utah Jazz reacts after play against the LA Clippers in the third quarter of a game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We weren’t able to see much of Alexander in Summer League before his unfortunate injury, which has tainted the deal a bit, but, nonetheless, the Jazz once again made a good choice in selecting a player for a two-way slot. Alexander isn’t the most explosive point guard, and he’s had a habit of over dribbling all the way back to his time at Creighton, but he’s been exceptionally productive in the G-League, fills a position of need, and is immediately one of the better passers on the roster. This is a low risk signing of a player who is likely one injury to either Keyonte or Collier away from getting real minutes (I hope you’re all knocking on wood).
July 8 – Traded Walker Kessler to the Lakers for 2 1st-round picks and 2 1st-round pick swaps: A
DALLAS, TX – JANUARY 17: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz arrives to the arena before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 17, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The word surrounding Kessler and the Jazz before the trade was that the Jazz wanted him and needed him and were going to keep him no matter what. But, when the Lakers sent the Jazz brass their sign-and-trade offer, they proved once and for all that everyone has a price. Utah ultimately came away like bandits – they saved money for when the young core starts demanding their big contracts and got paid immense amounts of draft capital to do it. Don’t mistake me, the Jazz will be substantially worse for it this coming season – the Kessler and JJJ front court was poised to finally fix the team’s defensive woes, and it looked like Kessler was ready to make an offensive jump after his first 6 games of the 2025-2026 season. It hurts to lose him, no doubt about it; that’s what keeps this move from being an A+. However, with this trade, the Jazz are having their cake (being relevant this year) and eating it too (maintaining future flexibility). Kessler was good, but this was the right move.
July 10 – Signed Mo Bamba to a 2 year, 7.2 million, partially guaranteed contract: A-
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 4: Mo Bamba #11 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 4, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Again, let me clarify – the A- grade I gave to this signing isn’t anywhere close to as impactful to the Kessler trade, which received an A. However, I’m grading this deals relative to what they are, and what this deal is is a a low risk, partially guaranteed bet on a toolsy center who has now spent his fair share of time practicing in Coach Hardy’s system. I’m not sold on Mo Bamba as a legitimate player quite yet, but the structure of the deal is so team-friendly that you can’t get very mad. Bamba has been coming in and out of the Jazz system for a while, and hopefully in that time he has gained a solid understanding of what Hardy asks for from his players. The best case scenario is Bamba finally makes it all click, and is a perfectly acceptable backup center on a steal of a contract. He has the tools to make it work… but that may be all he has. Still, the worst case scenario is the Jazz move on, being no worse for wear, and still have multiple options at the backup center spot. The move is low-stakes, and could be end up being a real win on the margins. The Jazz keep making bets on this player; let’s see if this one works out.
Final Grade: A
At the end of the day, it looks like the national media generally got it right. Each of the Jazz big-time moves (or moves involving players that will be or would’ve been playoff players) were big-time wins – Jusuf is back on a team-friendly contract, Kessler is gone but you couldn’t have asked for more in terms of the return, and obtaining Peterson is such a home-run than maybe nothing else this past month will end up mattering at all. On the margins, the Jazz continued their shrewd ways, crafting deals that, for the most part, filled holes and don’t hurt our long-term books. While I wish more emphasis was placed on obtaining a backup ball handler, the Jazz still built a roster that is worthy of their first season in years with genuine expectations placed upon it. Finally, finally, they have something to compete for, and this offseason shows that the front office understands the gravity of that situation.
What have been your favorite moves of the offseason? Least favorite? Sound off below!
DENVER, CO - JULY 22: Luis Garcia Jr. #2 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his two run home run with Nasim Nunez #26 in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is the biggest series the Nationals have had in many years. They square off with a direct Wild Card competitor in the Diamondbacks. This is going to be a major test for the Nats, but also a monster opportunity. These next 10 days will tell us so much about the direction of this team.
With a lefty on the mound for the Snakes, the Nats have a righty heavy lineup. However, Luis Garcia Jr. will remain at first base, but hit 8th. Daylen Lile gets the day off as James Wood, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews make up the outfield. Harry Ford will get the start behind the dish. Carson Palmquist will be the opener for Zack Littell tonight.
The D-Backs are red hot right now and riding high. Their top two of Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll are very dangerous. Gabriel Moreno is also having a great year behind the plate. Nolan Arenado has had a late career resurgence as well. We will also see veteran Max Kepler for the first time. Eduardo Rodriguez is having a great season, and will be on the mound tonight.
Get ready for some massive games at Nationals Park! This is such a monster series for this group. They have not been good at home, but this would be a great time to change that. This series could springboard the Nats towards a big playoff push. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox and George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays stand on first in the first inning at Fenway Park on June 16, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The last time the Sox faced the Jays, the standings and this team looked WAY different. Can that help the Red Sox revive a win streak or will they start to regress at the hands of Toronto?
Jun 25, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
It’s been a bit of a janky week for Yankee baseball, with a pair of rain-induced doubleheaders and a scheduled offday in the past six. We return to what is hopefully normal programming today, with the Bombers coming into Philadelphia for a three-game set against the second-place Phillies.
It’s Cam Bump Day, as the ace Cam Schlittler looks to pull himself over the 4.0 fWAR mark if he can really strut on the Phils tonight. I’ve remarked a number of times this year how Cam will variate between “real good” and “meh” starts this year, with a handful of dominant performances and only one real stinker in the mix. His last outing was certainly in the “meh” column, as the Dodgers were able to chase him before the end of the fifth last Sunday.
I need to do the math on this, but it feels like because Cam throws so many pitches in the zone, he’s most vulnerable against teams that make contact and offer at pitches in-zone. The Phillies boast the sixth-highest strikeout rate in baseball and the 10th-highest Z-Swing percentage, along with the 16th-best Z-Contact rate. To me that sounds like this should be a good matchup for Schlittler’s game plan, but Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are still who they are.
Jesús Luzardo, who is still just 28 despite me feeling like I’ve heard his name for 15 years, goes for Philly. After a five-win season of his own last year, he’s returned that pace and then some in 2026, making the All-Star team with a 3.43 ERA and 2.90 FIP, led by a sparkling ability to keep the ball in the park. The Yankees have managed to induce some immediate regression in other homer-suppressing pitchers this year, if they can manage that tonight they’ll set themselves up well for a win.
Do note this game is on AppleTV+. I wish it were not.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 23: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres hits a two-run home run in the eighth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Thursday, July 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Cole Carter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
San Diego Padres (50-53) at Miami Marlins (52-51), July 24, 2026, 4:10 p.m. PST
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – LF
Juan Soto – DH
Bo Bichette – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Carson Benge – RF
Luis Robert – CF
Jared Young – 1B
Marcus Semien – 2B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Sean Manaea – LHP
Dodgers lineup
Shohei Ohtani – DH
Andy Pages – CF
Tommy Edman – 3B
Freddie Freeman – 1B
Mookie Betts – SS
Miguel Rojas – 2B
Kyle Tucker – RF
Teoscar Hernández – LF
Dalton Rushing – C
Roki Sasaki – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10pm EDT TV: WPIX Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
