The team time trial returns as this year’s Tour starts in Barcelona for the first time in race’s history
The first team time trial since 2019, past many of Barcelona’s prime tourist sites – La Rambla, Sagrada Familia – but with a novel format: riders’ times will be taken individually at the uphill finish. So rather than trying to finish four or five riders together, teams will wear out non-climbers early on, then have lighter men peeling off one by one in the finale – replicating the usual approach to a summit finish in a road race. Advance warning: Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma, Remco Evenepoel’s Red Bull, and Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Emirates are masters of this game.
HOEDSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 13: A lion at a wildlife nature park on February 13, 2026 in Hoedspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been 12 hours since the start of free agency, and the biggest news is that a 41-year-old man will take his time to decide on where he plays next. I miss the good old days.
The Knicks’ offseason couldn’t have been calmer to date. New York stood pat to start free agency after inking three players to contract extensions, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change all of a sudden, given the franchise’s self-imposed financial limitations and the impossibility of entering any sort of bidding war.
For those too young, this is what free agency felt like not very long ago.
If the Knicks want to create some flexibility, SNY’s Ian Begley (and everybody else) only sees one solution: trading Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, or Miles McBride, then make a competitive(r) offer to whoever. Even then, Robinson would still need to be the kindest soul on Earth to give New York the discount the franchise would need to bring him back, let alone after seeing the deals signed by other bigs elsewhere in the league (looking at you, Jock).
Speaking of financials, the Knicks appear to have a cost-cutting development plan in place for one of their youngest players. Auf Wiedersehen, sohn!
Given the rumors about a likely reunion between unrestricted free agent Jordan Clarkson and the Knicks, Sports Illustrated’s Steven Simineri questioned his fit with the Knicks after Jose Alvarado’s return. Simineri argues the Knicks may be better served using their remaining roster flexibility on frontcourt depth and wing shooting instead of adding another small guard to it. That’s right, but it’s also slim pickings in FA for the Dolan-led Knicks, so I wouldn’t oppose bringing Clarkson back, along with a big or two.
Coach Mike Brown dropped by the Roomates Show and revealed the most unexpected key contributor to the Knicks’ championship run. Here’s a spoiler-free tease. Can you guess him?
“Throughout the course of this run, I got help with the messaging from different people. I’m gonna tell you guys, you may know this or may not, [he] was fabulous.”
Remember when I told you to save $3 million for a basketball? Well, you can go burn that cash now.
Thanks to PW for letting me now about this, so I can ask you to ramp up your OG Anunoby fandom.
It’s been 23 years since he entered the L, but LeBron James remains as relevant as ever. Out of the blue, James’ future became the biggest story of free agency on Tuesday afternoon as the King declared himself available for all 29 franchises not named the Lakers, and announced his return for (at least) a 24th season in the Association. As much as you might love or hate the possibility of the Knicks landing James, it looks like New York is a mere spectator of the nth LBJ Sweepstakes.
The possibilities are endless this time, as James is seemingly chasing “happiness” over money, but the truth is we can narrow the field down to the Cavaliers (home, sweet home), Olden State (no typo), and Miami (#culture).
Newsday’s Steve Popper argued New York simply has no need to disrupt the championship core by signing LeBron. A sample:
“James deserves the farewell tour he wants. Maybe the Knicks’ biggest concern in this is that James takes his talents to someplace in the Western Conference rather than strengthening one of their competitors in the East. But the work for the Knicks as free agency was approaching Tuesday afternoon was on the fringes of the rotation. No need now to break up a group the rest of the league is chasing.”
If you ask me, and I stated it in yesterday’s post, I’d be down for it as long as he signs a vet-min deal and he’s willing to accept whatever Coach Brown — who he already played for during his first trip to the Finals in Cleveland nearly 20 years ago — demands from him, whether that’s a bench role or being on the court for 48 minutes a pop.
That won’t happen, though, so if you really ask me, then my ultimate flex move for LBJ to go for is signing with the Wizards and outdoing what Michael Jordan did there, which would be akin to a walk in the park for James and would smack the remaining GOAT-debate haters in the face, as meaningless as both MJ’s and LBJ’s time there was and would be.
For the record, the Wizards are my (hugely dark) dark horse to make the Eastern Conference Finals, as I said first when they grabbed AJ Dybantsa. Don’t come later saying I’m a bandwagoner when LeBron puts pen to the capital’s paper.
Now seriously, if you are a franchise owner or GM and you’re reading this and you want LBJ in your team, the very own Rich Paul publicly revealed the key to convince him.
Another blockbuster went down on Tuesday, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Clippers completed a deal to send Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto in exchange for a humongous and nonsensical package including Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a pick swap, and two second-rounders. Add another contender to a long list of Eastern Conference candidates, and check Kento Kato’s breakdown later today to learn how the move impacts the Knicks.
With LeBron’s salary off the books and not planning to spend it on him again, the Lakers have ramped up their FA-market activity and are now linked to everybody and their mother. Marc Stein reported that OAKAAK Quentin Grimes has emerged as one of Los Angeles’ top free-agent targets alongside Sandro Mamukelashvili. Sister site Silver Screen and Roll considers the deals done.
Now, just hours after reports pointed to Detroit letting Jalen Duren go after his demands were considered outrageous, the Pistons are willing to match any and every offer sheet he gets, and they won’t even enter talks for potential sign-and-trade moves. Get your excrement together, folks.
Another former Knickerbocker, Tim Hardaway Jr., is heading to Miami on a $6.5 million deal in what could be the Heat’s biggest signing of the summer.
Shouts out to the Liberty sisters for beating Becky Hammon!
On Monday, the wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field at 15 miles per hour on a hot evening. Not a single home run left the yard.
On Tuesday, the wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field at 19 miles per hour on a hot evening, 92 degrees at game time. Nine home runs – five by the Cubs and four by the Padres – headed to the bleachers (and Waveland!). The wind didn’t actually have much to do with it, as only one of the home runs Tuesday was wind-aided. The Cubs outlasted the Padres 9-7 during this home-run festival, their fourth win in a row and 14th in their last 18 games.
The long balls began on the fifth pitch of the game by Matthew Boyd. Fernando Tatis Jr. deposited that baseball on Waveland:
— Trent Weyermuller 🐻⚾️ (@CubsBallhawk) July 1, 2026
But that’s all the Padres would get in that inning. Boyd set down the next three hitters on just seven pitches.
The Cubs wasted no time getting that run back. With one out, Alex Bregman walked. He was forced at second by Seiya Suzuki, but when Tatis’ throw went into the Padres dugout, Suzuki took second.
That was Bregman’s first home run since June 11 and just his second of the month. Maybe, just maybe, this will begin a good run for him.
The Padres made it 5-3 off Matthew Boyd in the third with another long ball, this one a two-run shot by Manny Machado. That could have been more if not for yet another diving play by Nico [VIDEO].
Swanson had a huge series in New York, didn’t do anything in Milwaukee and now has had two good games against the Padres. Over his last 12 games: .340/373/.830 (16-for-47) with three doubles, a triple, six home runs, 21 (!) RBI, four stolen bases and 12 runs scored. In that span he’s raised his season OPS from .587 to .691.
Boyd allowed two singles leading off the San Diego sixth and was lifted for Javier Assad, who immediately got Xander Bogaerts to hit into a double play, then got another out to end the inning. The Cubs made it 9-3 in the bottom of the inning on PCA’s 18th home run [VIDEO].
Okay, that one needed a bit of help from the wind.
Assad threw a scoreless seventh and then ran out of gas in the eighth. Gavin Sheets smacked a three-run homer and Tatis went deep for the second time to make it 9-7. A walk brought Machado to the plate as the potential tying run. Tyler Ferguson entered the game and struck him out [VIDEO].
The Cubs got two runners on leading off the bottom of the eighth, but could not score.
Ferguson began the ninth inning by getting two fly balls to left. With Merrill coming to bat, Craig Counsell summoned Ryan Rolison to finish things off. It took Rolison just three pitches to get another fly to left to end the game [VIDEO].
For Rolison, it was his first career MLB save. The Cubs have now had 10 different pitchers record saves this year. In addition to Rolison: Daniel Palencia, Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar, Colin Rea, Hoby Milner, Ben Brown, Trent Thornton, Jordan Wicks and Corbin Martin. The leader is still Palencia… with three.
About the Cubs’ five-homer game, from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs had hit three home runs in nine of their 85 games this season before this game. This is their first with more than three.
Last year, they hit at least four in 17 games, eight of them at home. Their longest stretch with no more than three was 36 games.
They went 92 games between four-homer ones in 2024, 80 in 2023, 69 in 2022 and 64 in 2021.
Their last game before this one with at least five homers was the one where they set the franchise record of eight, July 4, 2025 against the Cardinals.
The Cubs thus finish June on a roll. After a rough start to the month they end it with a 16-10 record, and as noted earlier, a four-game winning streak and a 14-4 run. The Brewers also won Tuesday so the Cubs continue to trail them by 5.5 games in the NL Central.
The Cubs will go for a series sweep over the Padres Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field and it’s supposed to be hot and windy again. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Walker Buehler goes for San Diego. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
Jun 29, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson (2) mishandles a ground ball allowing two runs to score in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
The Orioles keep finding ways to beat themselves. This isn’t a hot take or even a fresh one. The book is out on the Baltimore Orioles. There are several talented players, but they will not beat you with sound baseball. They are the opposite of those pesky teams that play the game the right way and sneak out close wins. They are 6-13 in one-run games.
Still, the woeful American League has kept Baltimore within five games of a playoff spot. The third wild card, paired with a potentially desperate Mike Elias, has kept the concept of competing in 2026 alive. There is enough talent to see an above .500 baseball team if you look through the right lense, but it’s growing more difficult by the day.
I can’t manage an optimistic approach right now, but I can point out that several things need to change if this team is going to get hot in the second half. It feels like a cop-out to just say hit better, pitch better, and play better defense, so here’s my best crack at some changes that the team can implement starting today.
Give up the third catcher
Offensive catchers have been described as a “cheat code.” The Orioles have two of them. Both Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo possess legitimate middle-of-the-order bats, and the team routinely pencils them both into the lineup. It’s a luxury to have one catcher that can handle himself at the dish, but having two is extremely rare. On paper, Baltimore should receive a legitimate boost on day games when other teams are forced to implement a traditionally light-hitting backstop.
The Orioles are currently using an additional roster spot on catcher Chadwick Tromp. The Birds were happy to get Tromp back in the organization with Rutschman on the 7-day IL, and the team elected to keep Tromp over Sam Huff.
It’s easy to understand why the Orioles want to provide Rutschman and Basallo extra rest. Baltimore gave Rutschman a breather last night, but Tromp remained on the bench. Basallo is obviously capable of catching when Rutschman gets the day off, and the team could use the roster spot on the recently optioned Jeremiah Jackson or another position player.
Address the issue at third base
I’ve spend an unhealthy amount of time wondering how a healthy Jordan Westburg could help this team, but he’s not walking through that door. Right now, the Orioles only have Coby Mayo and Blaze Alexander for the hot corner. Mayo’s defensive woes have been well documented, but Alexander recently stepped into the spotlight. Alexander’s late error brought boo’s from the crowd on Monday night, and he holds a -4.2 UZR/150 rating at the position this year.
Coby Mayo was always going to be a bat-first baseball player. The corner infielder holds a .295/.368/.721 slash line against left-handed pitching this season. He’s hitting .148/.215/.235 against the righties. It’s fine if the Orioles want a bad defender on the field because of a 1.089 OPS, but they simply have to stop putting Mayo on the field when facing a right-handed pitcher.
I get that Gunnar Henderson doesn’t want to play third base, but he probably doesn’t want to keep losing games either. The Orioles probably do not trust Jackson Holliday’s defense at shortstop either, but it’s time to try something different. Sliding the two infielders to their right would allow Alexander and a recalled Jackson to split time at second.
If the team really is a buyer, they could strike a deal for a third baseman or a shortstop capable of hitting right-handed pitching. There’s no rule that you have to break the bank for a guy like Matt Chapman or wait until the end of July.
Activate Dean Kremer and keep a five-man rotation
The Orioles have forfeited their buffer when it comes to keeping Trey Gibson in the starting rotation. Gibson has pitched like a rookie that’s still figuring things out, and that’s completely reasonable. Craig Albernaz clearly does not trust the rookie to face opponents a third time through the order, and that’s something that really only comes with time.
Unfortunately, the Orioles are out of time. Gibson could use the reps, and Kyle Bradish could probably use an extra day of rest every once and awhile, but the team needs its best five guys taking the ball every five days. Kremer should return from the injured list this week, and Gibson should probably return to Norfolk’s starting rotation.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 29: Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber #12 hits the ball during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburg Pirates on June 29th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kyle Schwarber has more home runs than anyone else in baseball this season. If you are surprised by this, you are probably also shocked on a daily basis by things like the sky being blue or your stove being hot. It must be nice, one supposes, to have such an vast capacity for wonder.
But even those of us who have a somewhat more reasonable capacity for it can do some wondering. We know that Kyle Schwarber is one of the finest home run hitters of his generation. We know that he strikes fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers, cowardly and superstitious lot that they are. But we do not yet know if he will hit 500 home runs. He currently stands at 370. Someday, in a bittersweet moment that will not be recognized for what it is until it has past, he will hit his last. That is certain. The number assigned to that final round tripper, however, is uncertain.
Today’s question is: Will Kyle Schwarber hit 500 home runs before he retires?
Fans celebrate outside of Wrigley Fieldin Chicago, on November 2, 2016. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The City of Chicago holds deep pride in its sports teams. This is despite the fact that each franchise within the City has had a history of inconsistent success, at best.
However, if anyone has been paying attention recently, Chicago sports may be on the verge of a renaissance.
As we all know, the Chicago Bears have a talented young team that threatened an NFC Championship berth for the first time since 2010.
The Chicago Bulls have found an exciting Head Coach and General Manager combo to help lead a young/talented roster that recently added fourth overall pick, Caleb Wilson.
The Chicago Cubs are on track to make a second consecutive postseason, with one of the most electric young players in Pete Crow-Armstrong leading the charge.
The Chicago White Sox have surprised many by leading the AL Central 90 games into the season, sporting an exciting young core of Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, and Munetaka Murakami.
The Chicago Blackhawks continue to stockpile talent, and have improved their record in each of the last two seasons and have playoff aspirations in 2026/27 during Connor Bedard’s age 21(!) season.
The Chicago Sky have been wheeling and dealing, turning over the roster dramatically after down years, and despite a poor record (and injuries) in 2026, a core of Kamilla Cardoso, Gabriela Jaquez, and Rickea Jackson looks promising.
The Chicago Fire sits third in the MLS standings through 14 contests, led by Hugo Cuypers’ 13 goals.
The Chicago Stars have had a difficult 2026 season after finishing last in the league in 2025. They currently have a 3-9 record.
Of the 8 professional sports teams in Chicago, an argument could be made for 7 of them having their arrow pointing up. Which got me thinking – could Chicago sports be a few years away from multiple championship contenders?
Which Chicago sports franchise will win a championship next?
This is a Chicago Bears blog, and I truly think that the Bears are poised to win a championship next among these teams. However, I am going to zag and make an argument for the….Chicago Bulls?
Look – I will take any and all grief thrown my way for choosing one of the two Jerry Reinsdorf franchises. Reinsdorf, the owner of the White Sox (until 2029-2033 when Justin Ishbia plans to take over) and Bulls, is not known for prioritizing winning, or more accurately put – spending.
With that said, his franchises have won in the past despite him, so while he may not be a reason they win, he is also not a complete roadblock either. As long as there are butts in seats…
My reason for choosing the Bulls is simple: the NBA is fully of parity at the moment. No other league can come close to sporting the distinction of 8 different teams in the last 8 years. The reason to me is clear – there aren’t any megastars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Michael Jordan to dominate the league, but an abundance of Stars to compete.
So the likes of Jalen Brunson, SGA, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic, etc. are all excellent players, but they aren’t top 10 all time. This means that if the Bulls can find a “Star” level talent, they could quickly ascend to championship contention.
I think Caleb Wilson could be that “Star”.
Just a few weeks ago, Draymond Green (maybe not the most authoritative voice in the league) said Wilson’s floor is “Kevin Garnett”. We should all take this with a heaping pile of salt, but still, it shows what Wilson could be capable of. He’s young, motivated (I see you Dayo), has prototypical size, and is wildly talented. If he puts it all together, he could be a top-five player in the NBA before his third season. I am not going to bet against a highly drafted Tarheel in Chicago.
So, while my head says that the Bears are building a sustainable and competitive team that will absolutely compete for a Super Bowl, I think the Bulls could have a shortcut to the Larry O’Brien trophy on their team.
Let me know if I’m stupid, blind, ignorant, or otherwise in the comments, please.
Now it’s your turn! Who do you think will be the next Chicago franchise to win a championship? Sound off in the comments!
The New Jersey Devils are in an interesting off-season. They finished in the bottom third of the league, but they must operate as if they are a playoff lock. Injuries to top players last year cut their season short, but they have an opportunity to bounce back.
After Jack Hughes scored the Golden Goal in February, his game was taken to another level in the NHL games that followed. When he is healthy, he is one of the best players in the league.
Sunny Mehta, who is currently in his first offseason as an NHL General Manager, has to make some additions to the roster. The Devils have already announced their qualifying offers to a handful of players, but they have also let a few go.
Other teams around the league let a couple of good players go, and the Devils could consider one or multiple of them to take a flier on someone who could help provide depth:
Philipp Kurashev
Philipp Kurashev had a career year the one time he was linemates with Connor Bedard. During the 2023-24 season, he had 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points. He hasn’t had more than 20 points in a season since.
After 7 goals and 13 assists for 20 points on the nose with the San Jose Sharks in 2025-26, he is on the market after being non-tendered. As a depth option up front, the Devils make sense.
Kurashev is a Swiss-born player, which would make him the 4th on New Jersey’s roster, including Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler. If anyone could re-unlock some of his production in a bottom-six role for cheap, it’s the team with three of his countrymen there.
Matias Maccelli
Matias Maccelli is a solid offensive depth piece on a team, as he proved on a lousy Maple Leafs team in 2025-26. In 71 games with Toronto in his first year, he had 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points.
Maccelli isn't going to be a guy who is out there in all situations, but he can provide some secondary scoring to complement the top guys on the team. After being let go by the Maple Leafs, he will be a cheap option for New Jersey (or any team that goes to sign him).
Philip Tomasino
Philip Tomasino is a forward who has spent time in the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins organizations. After being a first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, things haven't panned out the way he thought.
He only played in 9 NHL games last season, and he collected one assist. A good reason for New Jersey to get involved with him is that he can improve the Utica Comets.
Utica is in need of some skill to help them have a bounce-back season. They need to surround any young players on the team with quality veterans, and Tomasino can fit that bill as far as an AHL player.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 03, 2026 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following a bounceback season in Los Angeles, Marcus Smart is set to earn a bit more money on his next contract. Unfortunately, it won’t be with the Lakers.
After opting out of his contract on Monday, Smart has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Houston Rockets, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Free agent guard Marcus Smart has agreed on a two-year, $13 million deal with the Houston Rockets, plus a player option for the second season, sources tell ESPN. The former Defensive Player of the Year reunites with Ime Udoka for significant opportunity in the Rockets backcourt. pic.twitter.com/NzfArD8zbF
The fairly modest value of this contract makes this a tough one to swallow for fans. Smart was a culture-setter for the team last season and losing him for just $13 million over two seasons feels like an insignificant amount in the NBA.
Perhaps the Lakers know more about his medicals than the fans do or perhaps they are just interested in a different or younger type of player next season. LA won in the long run last season after seeing a valued role player go to Houston and immediately become a bad contract, but this one doesn’t feel the same.
Smart worked his way into becoming one of the key pieces of the Lakers last season. After starting the year on the bench, Smart quickly moved his way into the starting lineup and became an integral part.
He ended up playing 62 games, more than he played in the last two seasons combined, and averaged 9.3 points and 3 assists per game. After battling injuries the last two years, Smart was more durable and showed up in the big moments.
Never was that more apparent than in the postseason. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sidelined, Smart stepped up and played a huge part in the Lakers knocking off the Rockets in the first round. In 10 games, he averaged 12.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
In a bit of irony, it was the Rockets’ interest that first surfaced, making it clear he would opt out of his contract. It was a bit of a lose-lose situation for the Lakers with this contract as Smart would either play well and opt out or not play well and the team would be stuck with him in a second season.
LeBron James made 487 appearances during his eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers [Getty Images]
At the start of the 1997-98 season, then Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson told his players that it would be their last as the dynasty that dominated the NBA throughout their decade.
With NBA titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997, Jackson set out to complete a second three-peat with a squad spearheaded by the trio of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
Jackson labelled that season the Last Dance, which would later become the name of a popular Netflix documentary framed around that historic campaign.
The Bulls would win a sixth championship with Jackson, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman all then leaving Chicago.
Almost three decades later, and another of the NBA's all-time greats. LeBron James, is facing similar territory himself with his own last dance.
On Tuesday, the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 22-time All-Star announced he will be departing the Los Angeles Lakers after an eight-year stay.
At 41, James' next move is likely to be his NBA swansong but how did we get here and where could he next be playing?
LeBron's Lakers legacy
The first season of LeBron James and Anthony Davis together at the Los Angeles Lakers saw them end a 10-year wait to win the NBA Championship [Getty Images]
Between 2000 and 2010, the Lakers were one of the most dominant sides in the NBA. They won a three-peat between 2000 and 2002, finished runners up in 2004 and 2008 and then went back-to-back with titles in 2009 and 2010.
But by the time James had signed for them in 2018 following the end of his second spell with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers had gone five straight years without reaching the play-offs.
The latter two of those were the first Lakers seasons since 1995-96 without legend Kobe Bryant, who had spent two decades and his entire NBA career in Los Angeles prior to his 2016 retirement.
There was a need for a talisman and a change of fortunes for the Lakers and in time, with James at the helm, they got exactly that.
Year one saw an improvement for the Lakers after a poor start to the season, but a groin injury sustained by James kept him sidelined for 17 matches. That run would prove costly as the Lakers fell 11 wins short of the play-offs.
The 2019-20 season would prove to be the turning point in a deeply emotional time for those connected to the Lakers on and off the court.
The arrival of centre Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans and a positional switch for James to make him full-time point guard would ultimately prove fruitful.
James pledged after Bryant's death to continue Kobe's legacy and months later, LeBron would do exactly that by delivering Los Angeles with its first NBA title in a decade.
James would be named the finals MVP for that series and in doing so, won over Lakers fans who had been longing for a hero following years of, at best, mediocrity.
While the Lakers have not won an NBA championship since, they have been a regular play-off side ever since and there was further success in the NBA Cup in 2023, during which James was named MVP.
He might not have left the trophy-laden success at the Lakers he will have wished for, but he departs having put the Los Angeles franchise back to where their reputation compels them to be.
Lakers exit inevitable but desire for more remains
Bronny James (left) has made 79 appearances for the Los Angeles Lakers since his 2024 arrival [Getty Images]
When James' contract with the Lakers was coming to an end in the summer of 2024, there was much speculation around whether he would stick with them and extend his stay, twist and move elsewhere, or stop playing altogether.
That summer did coincide with his son Bronny entering the NBA draft. The Lakers picked Bronny with one of the final selections of the second round.
Less than a fortnight later, James signed a two-year extension with the second year being optional.
The 2024-25 season led to not only LeBron and Bronny becoming the first father and son duo to play together in the NBA, but also the Lakers benefitting from one of the NBA's most surprising ever trade deals.
Both players were of stardust quality, but Doncic is six years younger and someone who the Lakers could pin their long-term future on, knowing James would inevitably depart at some stage.
Last season, the Lakers looked at their best for some time. Hopes of a deep run in the play-offs were dashed by a Doncic injury, but the Slovenian did finish as the regular season scoring champion for the second time in three years.
With James missing a quarter of the regular season, Doncic proved there could be life after LeBron. And therefore time now feels right for a James departure.
Where next for James?
Steph Curry and LeBron James were part of the United States team to win gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris [Getty Images]
Now to the fun part. What next for LeBron?
At 41, it would be surprising if this summer's switch is not the last of a career that started with the Cavaliers in 2003.
With career earnings from basketball alone thought be north of half a billion dollars, money may not necessarily be the motive for his next move.
A player of James' calibre, even at his age, rarely becomes available at what will be a likely affordable contract but the veteran, given his timeline, is surely going to want to move to a contending team to try and add to his four NBA titles.
Like the Cavs, another of James' former teams in the Miami Heat have also been suggested as a potential home.
A return to Florida would form a formidable starting five alongside fellow new signing and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and centre Bam Adebayo.
Given the Heat traded key members of their squad away to land Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, a player of James' of calibre would add further scoring power and experience with Miami a team focused on a quick rebuild towards a title push.
Cleveland have been on an upwards trajectory with four straight visits to the play-offs, but have lacked the ability to go on a deep post-season run.
A move back to his home state of Ohio, should he play at forward, would form a strong starting line-up with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, one that would not lack talent or experience.
The Golden State Warriors are another team reportedly considering a move.
James and Steph Curry looked at home playing alongside one another during the United States' Olympic gold win in Paris two summers ago. They too are in need of a injection of quality after their worst season since 2019-20 last term.
Also linked are the Minnesota Timberwolves. They already have one of the league's new stars in Anthony Edwards who James also played with at the last Olympics.
They have reached the final four of the Western Conference in three straight seasons, but have never reached the NBA finals.
James remains a box office figure, on and off court. The coming weeks and months of deliberation over his future will cause considerable fanfare, let alone when he plays in new colours this autumn.
The Hall of Fame Indexwas first published in 201o. It had been in the works for nearly a decade at that point. The whole point was to establish a systematic way of looking at Hall of Fame candidates and those already in the Hall of Fame. At its best, it measures fitness for the Hall of Fame and aims to put players into groups with other similar players so we can compare them.
The sequel was published in 2020. It obviously updated numbers for players that were currently active, but also adjusted the formula as we got more information. One of the key things in statistical analysis is that we are always learning something new. The formula is similar to JAWS, but has a couple of key differences. First, it combines baseball-reference.com WAR and Fangraphs.com WAR into one number. I do that for two main reasons. First and foremost, the more data the better in most instances. It gives us a cross-section of what keen sabermetric minds feel about a player.
The second reason is that there is always an intellectual divide on these things. The old formulas included win shares, but since Bill James retired, there is no longer an update on current win shares, so that one has been dropped from the formula. Like JAWS, the index includes a peak value element. However, the peak value is made up of ten seasons. I have gotten push back on this and the push back is perfectly reasonable. I chose ten years because you need to play at least ten years to get into the Hall of Fame and ten years gives you slightly more data than the seven years that JAWS brings.
That is important distinction because I do not profile any players until they have been in the league for at least ten seasons. So, as we compare Alex Bregman to his contemporaries, there are five third baseman that make the list. I will not speak for Jay Jaffe (the creator of JAWS) but the index was never meant to rank order players. It was meant to place players into groups with other similar players so that we can directly compare them using other means. I have done this before with Bregman, but since we are at the midway point of the 2026 season, it is a good time to revisit it.
BWAR
FWAR
BWAR10
FWAR10
Index
Jose Ramirez
60.1
59.9
54.8
55.9
230.7
Manny Machado
61.3
57.6
52.9
49.5
221.3
Nolan Arenado
59.2
52.5
53.0
48.5
211.0
Alex Bregman
45.1
49.5
44.1
43.2
176.9
Matt Chapman
44.5
36.3
44.5
36.3
161.6
It’s at this point where I feel the need to reiterate the idea that the index was not meant to rank order players. I would argue that Ramirez is better because he is still trending up where Machado seems to be spinning his wheels, but the numbers by themselves do not prove he is better. They show he is slightly more fit for Cooperstown and that is an important distinction. It is the other tests that will show who is actually better.
As for Bregman, these scores are meant to peg him historically so that we can talk about his career in the proper context. Ironically, he is most similar to another well-known third baseman that finished his career with the Cubs. Ron Cey finished with a higher career value than Bregman, but Bregman is still going. When the dust settles they will probably sit right next to each other and almost look like the same player.
I should point out that Chapman is officially in his tenth season, so anything he does for the remainder of the year will be added to the career and peak value categories. So, he is also close to Bregman in terms of value. If you read the Altuve article, you know we will look at offensive numbers, fielding numbers, MVP voting, and playoff numbers to give us an idea of who might belong and who might not.
Offensive Numbers
OPS+
rOBA
Rbaser
ROV
OW%
Jose Ramirez
130
.369
49
.327
.658
Manny Machado
122
.353
1
.291
.574
Nolan Arenado
118
.362
-3
.295
.606
Alex Bregman
130
.363
-5
.308
.631
Matt Chapman
118
.340
7
.290
.558
I really invite you to read the Altuve article from Monday for a help with the statistical breakdowns. To put it in simple terms, rOBA can be compared to on base percentage and ROV can be compared to batting average. They both include both on base and slugging elements, but in terms of what is good or not good, they are fairly easy to interpret that way. Even without the explanation, we can clearly see that these guys are all fairly similar for the most part.
In a historical context this makes things challenging. How many Hall of Famers should an era have at any one position? If you are the fifth best third baseman from an era are you really a Hall of Famer? That’s a nuanced and difficult question to answer. Each period has strong positions and weak positions. We saw that second base is relatively shallow at the moment. We will see on Friday that shortstop is similar to third base in terms of depth. So far, none of these guys is really distinguishing themselves as above the rest. Ramirez comes closest in some categories, but we will need to look at fielding first.
Fielding Numbers
Rfield
DRS
OAA
FRV
Jose Ramirez
34
36
57
43
Manny Machado
93
93
25
23
Nolan Arenado
172
172
113
94
Alex Bregman
34
36
57
43
Matt Chapman
121
121
71
64
Perceptive people will notice one thing immediately: Rfield and DRS are basically the same. It’s because they are the same. Why do we include both? BWAR officially bases the fielding part of the formula on Rfield. If you go to Fangraphs, you will see defensive runs saved (DRS), outs above average (OAA), and fielding run value (FRV). Those two numbers are usually lower because they are more recent and have some seasons missing, but also because they are compiled differently. FWAR is built using OAA and FRV and not DRS.
I’ve made no bones about the fact that I refuse to take sides in the debate over which metric is best. All three are designed by people far smarter than me. What we can see in a general sense is that all of these guys are considered to be at least above average with the glove. Arenado and Chapman are clearly head and shoulders above the other three.
Arenado is likely in the finishing stages of his career, so his defensive value will be fairly fixed. Chapman is still close to the prime of his career, so he still could add some value on the back end. Similarly, Ramirez is also closer to his prime, so he could add some value there as well. As an analyst, I would stay these numbers tend to put Arenado’s career in a much different light.
MVP Voting
Voting
BWAR
Diff
Top
Jose Ramirez
37
29
8
1
Manny Machado
26
26
0
0
Nolan Arenado
26
33
-7
1
Alex Bregman
12
15
-3
0
Matt Chapman
7
15
-8
0
The MVP points test is important for two reasons. First, it is a different way of expressing peak value. It answers the question of whether a player was ever the best player in the league. According to BWAR, Bregman and Arenado led the league once in BWAR. Neither won an MVP. That spills us into the second reason why this test is valuable. It shows us the difference between how a player was perceived and how he actually performed. Four of the five third basemen here were under-appreciated.
The points are weighted more heavily the higher in the MVP standings you finish. Baseball-reference also does us a solid by enumerating how many times a player finished in the top ten in BWAR. In his landmark book “Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame,” Bill James asks a series of questions. Usually it starts with how often you are the best player on your team? How often were you the best player at your position? Were you ever the best player in the league?
Answering no to any of those questions is not an automatic no. For instance, Tony Perez was never the best player on those Big Red Machine Reds teams, but fans and analysts alike would agree they aren’t who they were without him. However, an answer of yes in Bregman and Arenado’s case is a feather in their cap. It is another check mark on a spreadsheet of questions you ask if someone is trying to get into the Hall of Fame.
Postseason Numbers
PA
SLASH
HR
Runs
RBI
SB
Jose Ramirez
190
.234/.316/.365
4
17
19
2
Manny Machado
218
.209/.259/.423
12
23
27
1
Nolan Arenado
35
.152/.143/.242
1
3
3
0
Alex Bregman
447
.239/.349/.442
19
63
55
3
Matt Chapman
26
.273/.346/.318
0
0
1
0
The spreadsheet motif fits here. I have a hard time taking anyone knocking Arenado based on 35 plate appearances seriously. He does not check the postseason success box. Chapman doesn’t either even those his numbers are not awful. Postseason performance is a function of opportunity and we could say Bregman has made the most of his opportunity. At least we could say he has done more with his opportunity than any of these players did.
Postseason success is a tiebreaker. If you aren’t sure where to go on a player then the success in the playoffs can push him over the top. Bregman is not a borderline Hall of Famer yet. He could be depending on what he does for the next few seasons in Chicago. If he finds his way into the neighborhood where Ramirez, Machado, and Arenado are swimming then his postseason numbers will help considerably.
Alex Bregman is closest to Matt Williams and Larry Gardner historically. Who is Larry Gardner you ask? If you have to ask then that tells you Bregman is not quite there yet. He will likely be close to the likes of Toby Harrah and Josh Donaldson at the end of the season. That’s good, but not quite good enough. If he throws a few more three or four win seasons on the board then we can start talking. Like everything else, it will all depend on how he ages.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 31: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round 1, Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 31, 2021 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are moving beyond the “deconstruction” phase, and look poised to make moves toward a playoff run. And given the news about them not being willing to let Anthony Davis go in a trade? That tracks.
In addition, the Wizards are interested in acquiring former Washington star Russell Westbrook, according to Marc Stein. Westbrook is an unrestricted free agent. He last played for the Wizards in 2020-21, where he led Washington to their last playoff berth in 2021, averaging a triple double.
If Westbrook were to sign with the Wizards, he would likely be a backup to Trae Young. Still, Westbrook can score, rebound and assist like crazy. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game last season.
Would you like to see Westbrook back with the Wizards? Let us know in the comments below.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 10: Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat greets Kevin Love #42 before the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 10, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Yesterday, you were asked a simple question, youth or experience? It’s an age-old debate, one that cuts to the core of your roster-building philosophy. But the answer is simple: it’s both.
Having hit the reset button by trading the best player in franchise history, the Milwaukee Bucks are no longer the veteran-heavy team that they once were. In addition to losing Giannis, the Bucks no longer have Bobby Portis, and the days of those two, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jrue Holiday suddenly feel like eons ago. Yet, even amidst that version of the team, the Bucks brought in vet after vet—George Hill, Wes Matthews, Joe Ingles, and a million other pros, who helped set the tone and knew how to win. And while it’s somewhat refreshing to start a new chapter in Bucks’ history with an infusion of youth and potential, Taylor Jenkins and his staff can’t raise them alone. For that, Milwaukee needs vets too. The right ones.
While they didn’t capture ultimate glory, the Bucks should take a leaf out of the San Antonio Spurs’ book. Yes, it was their youth—Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper—who drove their success, but they were supported by carefully selected veteran leaders. In fact, Marc J. Spears recently penned a piece on Bismack Biyombo, dubbing him the “perfect mentor” for Wembanyama.
But it doesn’t stop there. 14-year pro Harrison Barnes—once himself the prized young stud on a championship-winning team—was also a guiding force, as were Kelly Olynyk, acquired in a trade that sent a pair of 22-year-olds and a second-round pick to the Washington Wizards last July, and Mason Plumlee, who the Spurs signed in February after waiving Jeremy Sochan. Barnes notwithstanding, these sorts of players typically don’t play much—if at all—but they are pivotal in the development of young players; there’s a distinct difference between coaching and mentoring. Young players need both.
As things stands, which may very well be different by the time you read this, the Bucks have just four players 30 years of age or older: Myles Turner (30), Kyle Kuzma (31), Taurean Prince (32)—who somewhat surprisingly opted into his player option after the Giannis trade—and Gary Harris—who picked his up before it. Of course, there’s no guarantee that any of these guys are around for the entirety of this season and at least a couple of them don’t fit the culture-setting archetype a rebuilding team needs (I’ll let you be the judge on who).
All that said, here are some veteran targets the Bucks should look at in free agency:
Bigs
Kevon Looney
With the New Orleans Pelicans expected to decline their team option on him, Looney could return to his birth city and provide invaluable leadership and championship habits. He certainly has the adoration of his former coach, Steve Kerr, who raved about Looney’s leadership back in 2022:
Loon is incredible. This guy has so much wisdom. He’s so quiet that if you don’t pay attention, you may not realize that he has become the moral compass of our team. He’s a special human being. Special. And he was a key instrument in everything that we’ve had going the last week to try to get things back on track. I’ll ride with Loon forever. This is a special man.
Kevin Love
A former All-Star and All NBA player, Love has embraced a role as a veteran leader, most recently with the Utah Jazz. Prior to this, he served as a mentor to none other than Milwaukee’s newest big, Kel’el Ware, for which he received high praise from coach Erik Spoelstra:
A lot of vets don’t really want to accept that kind of role and that kind of transition and he has been able to do that gracefully. Those kind of guys are really necessary in this league. I wish there were more vets that would embrace that because with a younger league I think you do need that kind of mentorship, guys that can still do it, that can still play but then have that emotional stability to also pave room for a guy like Ware and Jovic.
Andre Drummond
The NBA’s preeminent rebounder for the best part of his career—and, yes, he’s still that good on the boards—Drummond’s physicality and “impeccable vibes” would be a welcome addition to the Bucks’ frontcourt.
Forwards
Jeff Green
“Uncle Jeff” has been in the league so long he once played for the Seattle Supersonics. He’s spent the last three seasons with the Houston Rockets and is a committed veteran presence, telling Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson that “it’s my duty and my job now to pass those teachings along to the young guys.”
Nicholas Batum
With the Los Angeles Clippers declining their team option on Batum, he’s now an unrestricted free agent and would be a near-ideal mentor for fellow Frenchman and recently resigned Ousmane Dieng, who has long drawn comparisons to him.
Khris Middleton
Look, it won’t happen, but what a fitting way this would be to send Khash off into the sunset. Once a young wing with upside, Khris could come full-circle to guide Nate Ament and the Bucks into their next era of success. A bloke can dream, right?
Guards
Mike Conley
Conley would be the ultimate veteran at guard, a high-character leader who can still play important minutes—just look at how he contributed in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he’s far more likely to stay in Minnesota or go to a contender.
Jevon Carter
At just 30 years old, Carter is a young vet, but has experience in Milwaukee and plays the tough, gritty defence that Jenkins will want from all of his players. Carter’s efforts weren’t lost on Orlando Magic teammate Desmond Bane, who spoke highly about his winning habits:
He’s a hard worker and cares about winning. When you work hard, and the only thing on your mind is winning, it’s hard not to respect people like that. I think he has come in and given us exactly what we needed.
Garrett Temple
Despite only once averaging over more than 8.4 PPG, Temple has played 16 years in the NBA. That doesn’t happen by accident. In fact, seven years ago, Temple was being praised for his leadership, earning him the nickname “President” with the Brooklyn Nets. It’s a role he embraces too:
I’ve honestly kind of been that on every team I’ve been on since Sacramento. I take pride in that. The coaches let me know they want me to have that role, which is something I don’t take for granted. I want to make sure I go out there night-in and night-out and in practice and play the right way, try to be a pro. That’s the biggest thing is show these young guys how to be pros. Talent plus professionalism makes for great careers, makes for long careers.
Doesn’t he know it?
What do you think, Brew Hoopers, should the Bucks pursue one of these veteran leaders, or are their current veterans fit for the job? Check out the NBA’s Free Agent Tracker for other potential fits and share your thoughts in the comments.
EDMONTON, CANADA OCTOBER 25: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers is pursued by Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game at Rogers Place on October 25, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NHL’s free agency market opens up at 12 noon. The Penguins, by signals from Kyle Dubas, aren’t in a hurry to make a big splash in the free agent market.
“We’ll stay after it, for sure,” Dubas said. “But it might not be the one gigantic-type transaction. We’ll try to stay active on those, but it might be more of a brick-by-boring-brick style.”
That applies to July 1, as Dubas doesn’t want to make the mistake of being too aggressive.
“I try to learn from the past, and we’ll try to steer clear of that,” Dubas said. “Rather than just doing something for the sake of doing it, I’d rather come here and say, ‘Yeah, we aspire to do it and the options weren’t there.’ So, we’ve had to check down and continue to build it up the way that we have.”
That’s probably for the best when taking into account that this year’s class of free agents isn’t the best, and plenty of teams have a lot of salary cap space with the recent increases. That adds up to a bad combination.
Sought out some opinions on what NHL free agency will look like tomorrow.
One prediction: "Never in the history of the NHL will so much money be spent on such little talent." https://t.co/YuNH9urp3p
Jason Robertson: Wants Dallas to budge. Don’t see it now. My guess is they go to arbitration. Unless Yzerman decides he’s the best option for Larkin.
Not sure if some, including Dubas, have completely given up hope for finding a way to wrangle Jason Robertson into Pittsburgh, but it doesn’t look very likely. If he files for arbitration then offer sheets are off the table and he’ll be getting a one-year contract with the Stars. Dallas could always still trade him at some point in the next year but that has already proven difficult with the player’s reluctance to sign a long-term contract with a team like Seattle.
Darnell Nurse: Pittsburgh wanted Edmonton to take back a contract. The Oilers didn’t like whatever was presented to them. Philadelphia’s had a challenge putting all of the different pieces together in and out. Boston’s shown interest, but that’s also about what has to go out to make it work. I believe the Sharks are very interested, but Nurse remains east-focused as I write this.
This makes perfect sense, if the Pens and Oilers even want to have a conversation about sending Nurse and his $9.25 million cap hit for four years to Pittsburgh, Edmonton taking Ryan Graves ($4.5mx3) is an unavoidable starting point. Graves’ involvement in a Nurse trade just has to happen for the Penguins to even consider going forward with negotiations. The Oilers don’t have to accept that condition and can go look for a different trade fit as a result, which looks like is exactly what is playing out in real time. That makes for a natural conclusion to the trade rumors around Nurse and the Penguins; neither side has to jump through hoops that they don’t want to and an acceptable trade match for both teams on this deal might be out of grasp.
Alexander Nikishin: A lot of interest. Carolina will hold until they get what they want, which includes a player. Rangers are believed to have offered a first and another pick. But that didn’t do it. Heavy competition, with many asking: what does he want on his next deal? Can’t sign an offer sheet.
Nikishin fits the age range and position the Penguins need the most, but the price to acquire will be very high. Difficult to see Pittsburgh engaging and coming out on a top in a bidding war in this area.
Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver. These teams were all around Noel Acciari, Erik Haula, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Colton Sissons (Nashville reunion?), Kevin Stenlund
Noel Acciari’s potential suitors could be among this group. Seems like a lot of ex-Penguins end up migrating to Utah, worth watching to see if that happens again or he ends up somewhere else. Hopefully not Philadelphia..
Stuart Skinner: If Hellebuyck is traded, Winnipeg makes the most sense. Otherwise, I’d take a shot if I was the Mammoth. They need to lighten Karel Vejmelka’s load.
Utah traded for and signed Sebastian Cossa, so I’m not sure where Skinner would fit into the mix for them with Vejmelka also signed for next year. But this will be interesting to see if Skinner doesn’t end up signing today that perhaps could mean he’s waiting to see how the dust settles with other situations like Hellebuyck’s before he can find his next spot. Sergei Bobrovsky is out there as a big fish, and Florida is apparently booked up by acquiring Jacob Markstrom (and Akira Schmid), so there currently aren’t too many teams looking for a 1/1A goalie like Skinner at the moment until something else changes to create an opening.
Ryan Shea: Had a really good year. Heard Lightning really liked him. But they also have their eyes on Werenski and John Carlson, if he doesnt sign in Carolina. Good player.
Tampa has a lot of plates in the air with potentially Werenski and Carlson, Shea’s next spot will be one to track today too. Friedman also mentioned that San Jose is looking to add a defenseman today, that might not be a bad spot to pull up to as a team on the rise over the next 3-4 years for a player like Shea.
Offer sheets: Last year, the Hurricanes threatened the Oilers (who signed Evan Bouchard) and the Rangers (who acquiesced and traded them K’Andre Miller). I think they’re considering doing it again. I have a theory, but I’m too chicken to say it. I also believe Seattle is considering it, as they basically created an offer-sheet trade for Jason Robertson, if he’d taken their cash. I also believe Mavrik Bourque is another potential target. I don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up, but there’s lots of noise out there.
The Penguins, or another NHL team, could offer up to $4.775 million for Bourque and only have to surrender a 2027 second round draft pick if Dallas elects not to match, and that amount could put them in an uncomfortable spot should Robertson head for arbitration. Pittsburgh has two second rounders in 2027 (their own, plus the Rangers) and then three more second rounders coming up in 2028. The Pens certainly have the ammo on hand to force Dallas’ position, if they want to get into that lane. They might have to move quickly to see if Bourque would even sign with them if a team like Carolina is potentially lurking as a consideration.
—
Overall, for the Penguins, we’ll see if they dip into the bargain bin for any free agent signings or look to the trade market to reshape their team. Since many/most the Dubas moves (like yesterday’s trade of Parker Wotherspoon) usually come completely out of left field, there could yet be fireworks for the Pens if they decide to keep flipping NHL players around at the start of the free agency period. Whether that means a bigger names like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust or smaller pieces like Tommy Novak and Justin Brazeau remains to be seen.
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 30: Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo-home run in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 30, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets beat the Blue Jays 3-0 behind a dominant pitching performance by Nolan McLean, who struck out seven batters in six scoreless innings.
The Mets signed Christopher Morel to a minor league contract after his release by the Marlins last Friday.
John Harper dealt a midseason grade to the Mets defense, and in a surprise to no one, he didn’t give them high marks.
Clay Holmes will throw a bullpen session in the coming days, which puts him ahead of schedule in his recovery process (and could provide him with more value on the trade market).
The Mets need to take special care with the mental fortitude of their young players in the midst of a lost season.
Steve Gelbs reviewed the Rogers Centre hot dog as part of his Let’s Be Frank series, and he gave it a number right down the middle.
Nolan McLean threw a curveball last night that seemed genuinely unreal by the numbers.
McLean’s start was one of his best all year, and he’s been looking better on the whole as of late.
Luis Robert Jr. began his rehab assignment in Syracuse last night, playing five innings in center field and going 1-for-2 with a walk.
Around the National League East
The benches cleared during the Nationals game against the Red Sox after Willson Contreras struck out and was told by Cade Cavalli to “sit down, boy!”
The Nationals ended up handily defeating the Red Sox 8-1. Cavalli went seven innings, allowing a single unearned run, giving up one hit, and striking out thirteen batters.
The Phillies dominated the Pirates 8-0. Cristopher Sánchez spun another gem, going seven scoreless innings while giving up three hits and two walks while striking out nine.
The Braves were bested by the Cardinals 5-3. Martín Pérez gave up four runs in five innings, allowing five hits and walking three batters.
The Marlins humiliated the Rockies 14-3. Griffin Conine and Xavier Edwards each collected four hits, as Conine drove in two runs and Edwards drove in one.
Around Major League Baseball
Harborfield native Sean Keys’ power propelled him to the majors, and he got the start at first for the Blue Jays last night.
The Dodgers’ plans ahead of the trade deadline aren’t focused on Tarik Skubal or major league talent generally, but improving their minor league depth.
The Red Sox have found themselves back in the playoff race, thanks in no small part to the general quality (or lack thereof) of teams in the American League.
MLB and the MLBPA have donated $1 million to Venezuelan earthquake relief efforts.
WAR has become a top statistic within baseball, to the chagrin of some fans, but there are some changes it must make to keep from harming certain players in pre-arbitration pools and awards voting.
MLB has lost its bid to trademark the phrase “play ball” as the phrase was deemed too commonplace.
The first competitor in this year’s Home Run Derby is the red-hot Junior Caminero.
Aaron Judge is a “couple weeks” away from re-imaging on his fractured rib, putting him closer to the latter end of the original four-to-six week timeline.
Shohei Ohtani’s next start has been pushed back to Friday against the Padres, in an attempt to give him more rest between starts.
Brandon Nimmo will likely avoid the injured list after suffering an AC joint sprain.
Cam Schlittler gave up six earned runs in the worst start of his young career.
Jacob deGrom looked like his vintage self in a Rangers win over the Guardians.
Apr 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) moves to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) during the first half in game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets are wasting no time in 2026 NBA Free Agency. According to reports, they have signed away former Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart to a two-year, $13 million deal. Smart is already familiar with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka from their time together in Boston.
The 32-year-old Smart is coming off of a season in which he averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Lakers, and he gave the Rockets absolute fits in their first round playoff series this past season. He was also the plus-minus leader for the Lakers on the year.
The 6’3″ guard won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and has long been thought of as one of the league’s premier defenders on the perimeter.
However, he’s not likely to do much for Houston’s need for shooting, averaging just 38.9 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from deep for his career.
Smart will give Houston another guard off of the bench and for Fred VanVleet insurance, though Smart is hardly the floor general that VanVleet is. It also brings into question how many minutes Reed Sheppard will receive this upcoming season, with VanVleet back and now Smart in the fold. Udoka’s disdain for playing Sheppard is obvious, even though the Rockets were unequivocally better with him on the floor.
Smart hasn’t averaged over 30 minutes a night since 2023, so he’s not going to be taking a ton of minutes, but anything Smart plays will likely be taking away from Reed. Although I am curious to see what the Rockets look like with Smart and Sheppard playing together.
Anyway, with the Bogdan Bogdanovich signing and now Smart, the Rockets have added shooting (Bogdanovich) and now defense (Smart) to their guard rotation.
Tell what you think of these signings in the comments.
