BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: An overall photo of 2026 NBA Draft stage before the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Hannah Ally/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In case you missed it, the NBA draft has been turned into a two-day affair since 2024. After a relatively tame day one yesterday, teams are now on the clock for the second round today.
Draft Info
What: 2026 NBA Draft Round 2 When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 @7:00 pm CT Where: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY) TV: ESPN
Wolves Notes
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 13: RoccoZikarsky of Timberwolves warms up before the NBA game 34 between Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors in San Francisco at Chase Center on March 13, 2026 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
What to Expect in Round Two
A year ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves were in the most enviable spot in the second round, holding the first pick. However, the result was an uninspiring thud, as President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, ended up moving down 14 spots, getting two future second picks, and some sweet cash considerations along the way. Rocco Zikarsky was the resulting pick, a relatively mysterious giant. Nothing wrong with that.
The most disappointing part, though, was when Connelly came out and publicly stated post-draft that the second round was difficult for them as it was “largely agent-driven.” This essentially confirmed that the Wolves’ front office wasn’t fully prepared for what unfolded that day.
Will his group be better prepared this year?
After the Randle trade on Monday, Minnesota now holds the 33rd and 59th picks in the second round. I mentioned yesterday that some view second round picks as more valuable asset chips compared to late first round picks. It really comes down to the flexibility of deals that second rounders can sign. They can sign two-way contracts, “Gupta Special” non-guaranteed deals, etc. First rounders, in contrast, are given guaranteed deals for two years plus two more years of team options.
Will Connelly turn these minor assets into some more considerations of the greenback variety? Or will he pull another rabbit out of his hat as he did in 12 years ago, drafting a three-time MVP with the third or 41st pick in the second round?
For reference, some notable players drafted early in the second round in the last five drafts: Ryan Kalkbrenner (34), Kyle Filipowski (32), Ajay Mitchell (38), Jaylen Wells (39), Andrew Nembhard (31), Jaylin Williams (34), Max Christie (35), Herb Jones (35), Ayo Dosunmu (38).
Here are some names of guys from late in the second round: Quinten Post (52), Cam Spencer (53), Ariel Hukporti (58), Jaylen Clark (53), Trayce Jackson-Davis (57), Gui Santos (55), Jabari Walker (57), Sandro Mamukelashvili (54), and Aaron Wiggins (55).
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: AJ Dybantsa poses for a portrait after being drafted by the Washington Wizards during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Happy Wednesday everyone. In case you haven’t heard, the Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. So after one entire month of spamming you this guy’s name (and even a few other prospects), we finally know what the Wizards are moving in with their young roster.
The last time the Wizards selected a No. 1 overall pick, it was in 2010. John Wall was the selection, he was the franchise player, but he was also the first player for Washington’s rebuild at the time. Unlike 2010, the Wizards have been rebuilding for three seasons. They only very recently have acquired two All-Stars in Trae Young (who will be a Wizard for the next four seasons) and Anthony Davis. Now that Dybantsa is in the mix, there’s a lot of optimism right?
First, let’s look at where people put their money. How good do they expect the Wizards to be? Unfortunately, according to FanDuel as of 6 a.m. ET on June 25, 2026, the Wizards are the 11th most likely team to win the Eastern Conference with +20000 odds. Based on that number alone, NBA fans nationwide (and beyond) would say no. They expect the Wizards to still be rebuilding, even if they are no longer expected to be the absolute doormat.
That said, betting markets can’t be the only way we look at this kind of stuff. How do the fans think? Let’s go to the Wizards’ Draft Party last night at The Anthem, a concert venue at The Wharf.
Good morning, here’s how Wizards fans reacted to the No. 1 pick when AJ DYBANTSA WAS SELECTED! (Video from the Wizards’ IG stories) pic.twitter.com/ES0JM3Z3y6
How about the Wizards front office when they called him? (I still wonder how NBA teams get the phone numbers of players … it’s probably an agent phone and it’s probably a scripted call for social media. But still.)
Sometimes, you have to go off of vibes when you’re talking about a “rebuilding” vs. a “contending” era. And my vibes give me a clear answer: Yes, AJ Dybantsa is the player who ends the Wizards’ rebuild. Sure, the Wizards will change their roster over the next few years. Sure, the Wizards are NOT NBA championship contenders. Hell, they probably won’t contend for the Southeast Division in 2026-27 because the Miami Heat (as usual) are bringing in superstars.
But is the worst stretch of Wizards basketball in franchise history over? Do we know WHO the Wizards WILL have five years from now? Yes. And that means the rebuild (at least from a tanking perspective) is finally over.
Jun 4, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) looks back after scoring a run against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
The playoffs are nothing more than a distant dream. But most of us sickos who follow this team aren’t going anywhere. It’s summer, it’s the Red Sox, we’ll be watching.
This morning, Mike makes a great case that Nate Eaton of all people is giving us a reason to watch, and that he’s arguably the most interesting player in the lineup right now. The question of what’s interesting about this team is, uhh, interesting. So as we embark on three months of meaningless baseball, what player on this roster intrigues you the most? Who are you tuning in to see every night? Ceddy as he battles to develop into a complete player? Caleb Durbin as he battles to prove he belongs in an MLB starting lineup? One of the young arms?
For me, Payton Tolle is an easy answer, but that only applies every five days. Otherwise it’s Ceddy. I don’t think he’ll ever consistently figure it out at the plate; he’s going to battle his chase rate for his whole life. But I do think he’ll figure it out often enough that he’s going to put up a monster, top-15-player-in-all-of-baseball type season at some point in his career, and I want to be able to say that I saw it coming.
Talk about whatever you want and be good to one another.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 23: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers dives into third base after hitting a triple against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on June 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 6, Marlins 4
This was not a game one was feeling terribly optimistic about beforehand.
And it was a game that the Rangers lost.
It was a winnable game. The offense had three baserunners in the first, and the bases loaded with no one out in the second, and scored just one run.
Combined with the late comeback, which saw Texas bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, it was an opportunity lost.
The middle innings were the Rangers’ downfall.
Cal Quantrill started what was effectively a bullpen game for the Rangers, facing nine batters over two innings and allowing a single run, to former Ranger farmhand, and key piece in the Nathaniel Lowe trade, Heriberto Hernandez.
Hernandez is one of five former Rangers (or Ranger minor leaguers) who is a member of the Marlins, along with John King, Tyler Phillips, Liam Hicks, and the Accountant, Pete Fairbanks.
The funny thing about it is that Miami didn’t acquire any of those players directly from the Rangers. Some other team acquired each of those five players from the Rangers, and then the Marlins ended up getting them for, essentially, nothing.
The Marlins got Phillips from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash. Hicks was a Rule 5 selection, taken from the Tigers. King, Fairbanks and Hernandez were all free agent signings.
King and Hernandez were traded by the Rangers in trades that worked out very well for Texas, and contributed to their World Series title.
Fairbanks and Hicks were traded by the Rangers in trades that did not work out for Texas. The Fairbanks for Nick Solak swap was a coup for the Rays, though the Nathaniel Lowe deal more or less balanced that out.
Hicks was traded, along with Tyler Owens, to the Detroit Tigers at the deadline for Carson Kelly in 2024. The 2024 team finished below .500 and Kelly didn’t play well for the Rangers. That said, the Rangers weren’t going to add Liam Hicks to the 40 man roster that offseason, and so would have been lost to the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft anyway, unless there was something very Tigers-specific that happened once Hicks got to Detroit that wouldn’t have happened if he were playing the final month and a half of the 2024 season with the Roughriders that prompted Miami to want to select him.
Hicks has been a very good 1B/DH/third catcher for the Marlins this season, and you know, the Rangers could use someone like that on their roster right about now.
That said, I don’t think anyone expected Hicks to hit like he has this year (or even last year, when he had a 693 OPS in 390 plate appearances). Certainly Detroit didn’t, or else they wouldn’t have left him exposed in the Rule 5 Draft.
I’d probably be more irked about losing Hicks if he’d been with the Rangers when the Marlins took him in the Rule 5 Draft. I’m not sure that makes sense logically, but then, what’s logical about sports fandom?
Getting back on topic, Quantrill was followed by Jose Corniell, newly called up and making his second major league appearance.
In Corniell’s first major league appearance, in the final game of the 2025 season, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Guardians, and then gave up a walkoff homer in the next inning, resulting in the Rangers going 81-81 instead of 82-80 on the year.
Corniell, I regret to inform you, now has two major league appearances and two “L”s. The second batter he faced, catcher Joe Mack, homered off of him, giving the Marlins the lead.
He then had a Very Unfortunate Fifth Inning. Two outs, a runner at first, Xavier Edwards hits a grounder up the middle that you think is a ball that will be the third out, but instead goes into center for a base hit.
Thus setting the stage for Owen Caissie to thump a ball over the fence in right field for the most momentum shifting play in baseball.
At that stage, it was 5-1, Marlins, and the game felt over. Hernandez doubled and Mack singled to make it 6-1, and this felt like the kind of game that would result in double digit runs being given up and Nicky Lopez pitching the bottom of the eighth.
That didn’t happen, though. Corniell got out of the inning with no more damage being done, allowed a double and got a fly out to start the sixth, and then was replaced by Joe Ross, who went the rest of the way and kept the Marlins off the scoreboard.
And it almost mattered! The Rangers threatened late, got back into the game, could’ve made Joe Ross a hero!
Or, at least, the winning pitcher.
That said, the Rangers played a game in June in the Year of Our Lord 2026, and the three pitchers they used were Cal Quantrill, Jose Corniell, and Joe Ross.
If you were a time-traveler and came back from the past and looked at the box score and saw that, you’d say…
But no, someone killed that fish. You know who you are.
On the positive side, Quantrill, Corniell and Ross allowed the rest of the bullpen to have the day off. Jakob Junis and Robby Ahlstrom were probably not available after pitching the previous two days, and Jacob Latz had thrown 31 pitches the day before and so ideally would not have been used, which meant the Rangers’ pen was pretty thin for the game to start with.
The offense had opportunities, but did little with them until it was late. An underwhelming 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. That’s not going to win you many games.
A pair of singles in the first were followed up by a Brandon Nimmo double play ball. Josh Jung walked to put runners on the corners, but an Ezequiel Duran pop out ended things.
The second featured an Alejandro Osuna single, a Jarred Kelenic walk, and a Kyle Higashioka bunt single to load the bases with no one out. And with offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez coming to the plate, we were feeling good.
We were getting hyped. We were getting crunk. We were on fleek.
Lopez did get a run home, on a U3 groundout that put runners on second and third. Osuna was thrown out at home on a Pederson fielder’s choice for the second out, and Wyatt Langford flew out to end the inning and lead ominous posts about how the Rangers were going to regret their misses opportunities.
Texas did a whole bunch of nothing until the late innings, after Sandy Alcantara left the game. Brandon Nimmo homered to start the eighth to make it 6-2. Then in the ninth, against the Accountant, whose debits and credits have been out of balance this season, Pederson hit a two out homer, Langford reached on a HBP, and Nimmo tripled…
And suddenly it was 6-4! And Josh Jung, who has been great this season, was at the plate as the tying run!
Alas, twas not to be. Jung flew out. The game was over. The Rangers had lost.
Cal Quantrill reached 95.7 mph with his fastball. Jose Corniell topped out at 95.9 mph with his fastball. Joe Ross’s fastball touched 95.2 mph.
Brandon Nimmo had a 110.5 mph triple and a 105.9 mph home run. Joc Pederson’s homer was 106.7 mph. Kyle Higashioka had a 103.8 mph groundout. Ezequiel Duran had a 101.6 mph ground out. Josh Jung had a 101.1 mph groundout, a 101.0 mph groundout and a 100.0 mph groundout, with his ninth inning fly out being 97.1 mph.
Since moving back into the rotation, Sean Manaea has a 3.18 ERA in 11.1 innings while striking out 11
Following the conclusion of their series against the Cubs on Thursday, the Mets host the Phillies for a three-game series
Today's Lineups
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METS
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: Ryan O'Hearn #29 of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks to the dugout before the game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on June 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates made waves in the offseason when they signed Ryan O’Hearn to a 2-year $29 million contract in January. That signing was the largest ever handed out to a free-agent hitter in franchise history and was the first free-agent signed to a multi year contract by the club in a decade. Despite the big splash signing that it was at the time and what the left-handed hitter has done to this point in the season, O’Hearn finds himself on the outside looking in with regards to All-Star voting.
O’Hearn has quietly been exactly what the Pirates needed for their young team. O’Hearn provides a veteran presence for what is a very young clubhouse and has gracefully embraced that role since signing with Pittsburgh. Although his role in the clubhouse is usually attached to a player that’s over the hill, this couldn’t be further from the truth in the case of O’Hearn.
Ryan O'Hearn makes another nice catch in RF to rob Julio Rodriguez of extra bases pic.twitter.com/SwMhbrNRi2
Not only does O’Hearn provide the steady mindset as a veteran player off the field, he also provides that on the field. The 32-year-old lefty has been one of the consistent performers in manager Don Kelly’s lineup that has completely transformed this offense. 2025 saw Pittsburgh as bottom dwellers for homers and runs scored, but 2026 has seen the club completely flip the script and suddenly the bats have awakened. O’Hearn has been a catalyst in that way. It hasn’t been flashy or over the top, but it’s been a steady driving force. On the year O’Hearn is slashing .274/.333/.447 with a .780 OPS. At the plate O’Hearn has gathered 11 homers, 65 total hits and 41 RBIs. He knocked in a career high six runs against the Athletics on June, 17.
Despite the model of consistency that O’Hearn has been, he finds himself not in the top percentage of players receiving All-Star votes. He’s made significant impacts for the team at first base, right field and as a designated hitter, but still is not receiving the votes that teammates like Oneil Cruz (outfield) and Spencer Horwitz (first base) are receiving. Even with the time Cruz has spent on the injured list, he’s still in the top 20 of votes for outfielders while O’Hearn is nowhere to be seen.
O’Hearn has been named to the All-Star team once in his career. Last season as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, O’Hearn was named to the American League All-Star team as the starting designated hitter. O’Hearn is currently on pace to replicate those same numbers that made him an All-Star just a season ago.
At the time of his signing, Kelly was very impressed with O’Hearn’s career path and said he could be a game changer for the Pirates.
“The resiliency that he showed in that moment of going from being DFA’d to starting in the All-Star Game, that’s what Pittsburgh is all about, is that toughness and that grit,” Kelly said. “Really excited to add him to the organization.”
Pittsburgh and O’Hearn seem to already be a match made in heaven as he really seems bought in to changing the organization and delivering a winner to the city. Even if he doesn’t make it on the National League’s All-Star roster, O’Hearn has more than impressed to this point as a Pirate and could end up being one of those special signings that the Buccos have made in recent history. O’Hearn has made his confidence in the team known since the minute he was signed.
“I couldn’t be anymore excited to be a Pirate,” O’Hearn said. “I love the stadium, I love the city, what it’s about. I did my research before I made a decision, and it’s a team that can pitch and just seemed like one or two pieces away from being a legit contender.”
The Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres completed a borderline blockbuster trade. Chicago sent the 4th & 45th overall picks, along with Louis Crevier, to Buffalo in exchange for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway.
Byram is an incredible defenseman who comes to Chicago hoping to be their number one. He feels that after a career year, it is time for him to get the ice time and paycheck that he deserves. With Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power already established in Buffalo, Byram felt overshadowed.
As a Blackhawk, Byram will be the number one guy on defense. On most nights, he will lead the team in time on ice, and should be their top offensive producer from the back-end. The team will be better with him on it.
The catch is that Byram has one year left on his deal, which carries a cap hit of $6.25 million. After that, he will require a substantial pay upgrade on a long-term extension. His salary will likely double. He is just 25 years old, which means he has some great hockey ahead of him, but it will still be a hard contract to live up to.
Jordan Greenway is not a game-changer. He will be a fourth-line option for Jeff Blashill, bringing a physical presence to the game, but you can't point to him as a reason the team will be better.
Early in the life of the trade, it has the makings of a legitimate disaster for the Chicago Blackhawks. They gave up a top-five pick and a second-round pick, along with a solid defenseman in Louis Crevier, for Bowen Byram without an extension and a fourth-line forward.
The outlook of the trade will improve if they get Byram signed, but there will also be worry about it becoming an albatross. They gave up a lot, including their most valuable asset, and Connor Bedard still has a huge hole on his wing.
In the likely event that they are unable to get Bedard a true top-line winger, that will make it four years in a row to start his career. That's terrible asset management.
Byram is a really good player, and the Blackhawks should have taken him 3rd overall in 2019, but this is a massive overpay for him 7 years later.
Blackhawks Trade Grade: D+
The trade grade will become a C if Byram signs a fair extension, and it will become an A if he is the true number one defenseman that the Blackhawks need for a large portion of the Connor Bedard era. For now, there are way too many question marks.
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Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver under the board showing the 2026 NBA draft first round results at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Though the stakes weren’t as high as recent drafts for the San Antonio Spurs, it was a consequential one due to the glaring roster holes revealed during the recently concluded NBA Finals loss. They made an attempt to address them last night by drafting two big, defensive-minded centers using their own pick at 20th and trading for the Denver Nuggets 26th pick:
26th selection (via trade with Denver) Tarris Reed, Jr. (UConn) – 6’11” 265 lb.
Below is a review of the entire first round, but first, a few quick observations:
Gratitude: That the Giannis trade happened (no more speculation on the sports networks and interwebs, AND we only have to play that team twice a season!)
It was really nice to have them formally introduce the entire draft class (well, the ones that they anticipated would go in this first round) in alphabetical order by last name from A-Z before the festivities began.
Did not realize that University of Houston’s Chris Cenac, Jr.’s last name was pronounced “SEH-NACK“.”
Santa Clara’s Allen Graves came in noticeably trimmer than what his highlights showed.
And now onto the picks! (For the Spurs-specific comparisons, the following players were not eligible for actual considerations: Tim Duncan, Victor Wembanyama, and Manu Ginobili.)
OBSERVATION: This pick was traded to Memphis, and then ultimately ended up in Detroit. Memphis received the 21st pick and 5 future second round draft picks.
UNOFFICIAL PLAYER COMP: Non-Spurs: Right-handed Jalen Brunson (throwing my keyboard out the window) / Spurs: Taller Patty Mills
OBSERVATION: This pick was part of the previous complicated trade and ultimately went to Memphis – essentially cementing Ja Morant’s departure.
UNOFFICIAL PLAYER COMP: Non-Spurs: (ancestrally) Eduardo Najera / (stylistically) Ricky Rubio / Spurs: what they thought Kyle Anderson would turn out to be
OBSERVATION: San Antonio sent Denver a 2026 second round pick (and 2 future seconds) for the UConn big man. The fact that they went after Reed instead of Alex Karaban was an eye-opener.
OBSERVATION: This selection went to Brooklyn as part of the trade featuring Julius Randle earlier in the week. It is really cool to see when players not featured in the draft room come straight out of the crowd like Jefferson did.
UNOFFICIAL PLAYER COMP: Non-Spurs: Domantas Sabonis / Spurs: late career Rudy Gay
Cenac started 36 games for a Houston team that finished with a 30-7 record and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
One of the most glaring roster weaknesses for the Celtics coming into the offseason was a lack of frontcourt depth and talent. Cenac has an exciting skill set and can play power forward or center.
Here’s a breakdown of what Celtics fans need to know about the team’s newest rookie.
Cenac has an intriguing skill set at just 19 years old, and he improved a lot during his freshman season.
“He’s raw. That’s the first thing we have to mention,” CBS Sports’ Isaac Trotter said on NBC Sports Boston’s draft show Tuesday night. “He could only play (for Houston coach Kelvin Sampson) if he rebounded. Rebounding is literally the lifeblood of that program, and he was one of the best rebounders in this class. I put him up there near the top. He rebounds outside of his area, he chases offensive rebounds, he was a high-motor player all the time.”
Cenac also has the ability to shoot 3-pointers or attack from the midrange.
“I think what Boston’s idea here is — he has great measurables at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan,” Trotter added. “He plays really hard, so you don’t have to teach effort. He can stretch the floor. He made over 30 3-pointers this season and took a bunch of pull-up jumpers.”
Cenac played a little too much on the perimeter for Houston and didn’t get to the basket enough offensively, but with the athleticism and size he brings to the floor, the Celtics should be able to correct those weaknesses.
“Just a good young player, energetic, plays hard,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said after making the pick. “Excellent athlete, long, fits a position of need. Some things that we were a little short on this year from an athletic perspective, I think with this size and his strength.”
Can he make an impact right away?
Unless injuries crush the Celtics’ frontcourt depth, Cenac probably won’t be a consistent part of the rotation during the 2026-27 campaign.
He’s only 19 years old and needs to develop in a lot of ways, including adding some strength and muscle to his frame.
“I hope we’re good enough that it’s hard for any 19-year-old to come in here and be good right out of the gate,” Stevens admitted Tuesday night.
The Celtics, to their credit, have done a good job developing centers of late. They turned Neemias Queta into a Most Improved Player Award candidate and a legitimate starter. Luke Kornet made a meaningful impact in his time in Boston. Luka Garza had a productive 2025-26 season, too.
Cenac also should benefit from not being thrown into the fire too early. He should be able to develop his skill set at a pace that’s best for him and not be rushed.
“With his size and his length, when you play in the program he’s played for, he’s been taught well and been held to a high standard,” Stevens said. “I like that and he’ll undoubtedly come here and be eager … he’s got a lot to learn.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets walks to the dugout after he was removed from a game against the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning at Citi Field on June 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets lost their third-straight game, falling 9-6 to the Cubs despite a small ninth inning rally. Kodai Senga gave up seven runs in 3.2 innings, giving up two home runs and walking five batters.
The 2026 SNY Kidcaster joined the booth for last night’s game, and SNY released his audition tape.
Christian Scott is slated to pitch a game this weekend against the Phillies, as he’s set to be activated from the injured list.
Luis Robert Jr. has resumed baseball activities, taking a full batting practice as he ramps up his running progression.
The Freddy Peralta deal has been nothing less than a total dud for the Mets.
Francisco Lindor appears to be on the verge of a return to the Mets, and it could be as early as today, as after last night’s rehab game the Mets were internally discussing whether to activate him today.
The Mets claimed Jared Oliva off waivers from the Giants and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse.
David Stearns was asked when the cutoff is for them to decide whether the Mets will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, and the answer was: the trade deadline.
Laura Albanese asked whether David Stearns is up to the task of putting together a winning Mets roster.
Juan Soto came out of last night’s game after his back “locked up,” but he’s currently considered day-to-day.
Nolan McLean will start the first game of today’s doubleheader, while Sean Manaea will be on the mound for the second game.
Around the National League East
The Marlins held on despite a late game rally by Texas to beat the Rangers 6-4. Owen Caissie drove in three runs on a fifth inning home run.
The Phillies won a 14-9 slugfest against the Nationals. Edmundo Sosa drove in five of the Phillies’ runs, hitting a two-run double and a two-run home run during the game.
The Padres walked off the Braves in the tenth inning, winning 7-6. Raisel Iglesias gave up the winning run on a Manny Machado single that drove in Jackson Merrill.
Around Major League Baseball
MLB’s latest CBA proposal included potentially radical changes to the domestic draft and a hypothetical international draft, ones which would harm the majority of incoming players.
David Schoenfield listed the biggest strengths for the current top playoff contenders.
Rob Manfred wrote in a letter that the Giants’ guidance to the players who wrote Bible verses on their Pride caps was “not clear.”
The Brewers released Luis Rengifo, who began the season as their primary third baseman.
Officially halfway through the baseball season, there are some takeaways from a finally significant sample size.
The third annual East-West Classic was held on Friday at Rickwood Field, with some big names converging for the yearly matchup.
The Twins have stated they have “no plans” to trade All-Star centerfielder Byron Buxton.
After an inquiry, MLB has cleared Dr. Neal ElAttrache of any wrongdoing.
Aaron Boone was not pleased by Jazz Chisholm Jr. playing second baseman with a lollipop in his mouth.
Jun 23, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Jr. Ritchie (60) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves have had a difficult week out West and dropped the series to the San Diego Padres after Tuesday’s 7-6 loss. In walk-off fashion, the Braves fell to 48-30 and watched the division lead dwindle to 5.5 games.
JR Ritchie started last night’s game, and it was another underwhelming outing for the rookie. He allowed four runs in five innings, struck out seven, and issued four walks. Offensively, the Atlanta lineup tallied nine hits, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with the lackluster pitching.
The Braves try to avoid the sweep tonight at 8:40 ET.
More Braves News:
Reliever Robert Suarez is dealing with forearm soreness, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.
Prior to the season, there were plenty of concerns about the starting rotation. As of mid-May, those concerns are emerging again.
Here is a scouting report on Gio Rojas, a pitcher out of Florida who has been linked to the Braves.
The 2026 draft class is loaded with talent. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Winners
The tanking teams
After a season that featured multiple teams participating in the most egregious display of tanking in NBA history, Adam Silver responded by implementing new rules that will supposedly stop the tactic. However, those rules will not go into effect until next season, which means the biggest losers were the biggest winners on draft night.
The Washington Wizards (AJ Dybantsa), Utah Jazz (Darryn Peterson), Memphis Grizzlies (Cameron Boozer), and Chicago Bulls (Caleb Wilson) picked up generational players in what is considered the deepest draft in years. Among the teams who won by tanking, the Wizards stand out – they are poised to improve significantly after drafting Dybantsa No 1 overall. Adding Dybantsa as the centerpiece on a team that features two former All-NBA picks, Trae Young and Anthony Davis, could lead to the Wizards making the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
The Jalen Brunson Effect
After leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, Brunson proved that shifty guards with a knack for scoring can anchor title-contending teams. In an era where 3-and-D wings were previously considered the gold standard, Brunson’s feats may have reshaped the NBA: six guards were selected in the top 10 of this year’s draft.
Peterson, Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr, Darius Acuff Jr, Kingston Flemings, and Brayden Burries are all aggressive guards who, like Brunson, can take over in the fourth quarter and dictate the outcome of games in critical moments.
Peterson will battle Dybantsa for rookie of the year honors and garner more attention for the often-forgotten Jazz. Brown (Brooklyn Nets) and Acuff (Sacramento Kings) will have multiple explosive scoring nights. And Wagler (LA Clippers) and Flemings (Atlanta Hawks) will be essential lead guards as their teams fight for playoff positions.
The new big men of the Thunder and Spurs
Big men Aday Mara, Jayden Quaintance, and Tarris Reed Jr are set to play key roles as the Thunder and Spurs aim for a title run. Mara (7ft 3in) will attempt to solve the Thunder’s glaring inability to stop Victor Wembanyama.
On the Spurs’ end, Wembanyama appeared fatigued at times while battling the physicality of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson in the NBA finals. The Spurs’ backup center, Luke Kornet, failed to stabilize the team during the non-Wemby minutes.
Quaintance (6ft 10in) and Reed (6ft 11in) will allow Wembanyama to play more minutes at power forward, freeing the Frenchman to utilize his overall skillset. And the Thunder will hope that Mara’s pairing with Chet Holmgren becomes Wembanyama’s kryptonite.
Losers
Labaron Philon Jr
In some cases, a player can lose by entering the draft a year too early or too late. If Philon had entered the 2025 draft, he probably would have been selected as a late lottery pick or mid-first rounder.
The highly-skilled guard from Alabama averaged 22 points a game and erupted for 35 points against Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. However, Philon fell to the Philadelphia 76ers at No 22 because an abundance of elite guards were present in this year’s draft.
Philon would be a starter on most NBA lottery teams. Instead, he will begin his career behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the Sixers.
Dusty May’s first draft
In 24 hours, Dusty May was announced as the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, and his former Michigan player Morez Johnson Jr was drafted by the Mavs. Johnson is an enforcer who will do the dirty work in the paint next to the versatile Cooper Flagg.
Although there’s a feelgood story here somewhere, drafting Johnson at No 9 appears to be an overreach.
Johnson was projected to be a mid-first round selection, with the ceiling of a high-value role player. With Kyrie Irving returning from injury, the Mavs should have drafted a high-scoring guard such as Burries or Dailyn Swain.
Blockbuster moments
One of the most intriguing aspects of past NBA drafts was the drama of the unexpected. At any moment, a shocking blockbuster trade could change the landscape of the league while becoming fodder for a desperate news cycle.
This year’s draft lacked the suspense and intensity of moments such as Kobe Bryant being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Lakers; the Philadelphia 76ers trading Jayson Tatum to the Boston Celtics for Markelle Fultz; and the Atlanta Hawks trading Luka Dončić to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young.
But while this year’s draft lacked intrigue and controversy, the overall talent will be analyzed for years to come.
Carson Benge has an .856 OPS with two homers, one triple, and seven runs scored over his last eight games. Dating back to April 23, Benge is hitting .295/.351/.467 (.818 OPS) with eight homers in 55 games
Luke Weaver hasn't allowed a run since April 30, a span of 18 appearances during which he has given up 10 hits in 20 innings while walking four and striking out 25
Nolan McLean has a 1.64 ERA in 22.0 innings over his last four starts
Today's Lineups
CUBS
METS
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Carson Benge, RF
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A.J. Ewing, CF
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Bo Bichette, SS
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Jared Young, 1B
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Francisco Alvarez, DH
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Brett Baty, 3B
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Marcus Semien, 2B
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MJ Melendez, LF
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Luis Torrens, C
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The Richard Jefferson Comedy Tour won’t be making its way across America anytime soon.
The ESPN analyst turned a discussion about broadcast teammate Jay Williams’ 2002 draft night experience and the motorcycle accident that changed his life into a cringe-fest segment with two jokes that absolutely bombed.
After Kevin Neghandi asked Williams about why he received such a loud ovation after being drafted in New York by the Bulls with the No. 2 pick, with Williams joking that most folks who attended Duke lived in New York and New Jersey, Jefferson made things uncomfortable.
“Well, they also didn’t see the future coming, so they were cheering kind of pre-empt — sorry, I apologize,” Jefferson said while indirectly referencing Williams’ career-altering motorcycle accident in 2003 .
“Wow,” Williams responded flatly.
Williams lasted just one season in the NBA due to the multiple injuries he suffered in a horrific motorcycle accident in 2003, with the Bulls cutting him due to the injuries and him violating his contract.
He referred to the accident as “the day I almost died” — per CBS — in his autobiography, “Life is not an Accident: A Memoir of Reinvention.”
Smith, a veteran from “Inside the NBA,” tried to steer the conversation back into normalcy.
Jefferson’s jokes about Williams’ career didn’t land. @awfulannouncing/X
He complimented how Williams had been an “unbelievable talent” whose career trajectory would have been different if he “didn’t like motorcycles,” a remark that landed well with Williams.
Williams said, “Yes, that’s on record. I wrote a book about it.”
And that’s when Jefferson got himself in trouble again.
Williams is one of the biggest “What ifs?” in Bulls history. NBAE via Getty Images
He first offered a Jim Halpert-esque moment by seemingly looking toward a side camera before attempting another joke.
“I guess everybody that goes to Duke isn’t that smart,” he said, which resulted in Smith putting his head down and going, “Ohh.”
Williams didn’t seem to like Jefferson’s remarks. @awfulannouncing/X
Jefferson, realizing his routine wasn’t hitting the right chords, tried to defend himself.
“What? He wrote a book about it, I’m agreeing with him,” Jefferson said.
Smith then referenced the book line before realizing they should move on, saying, “But, anyway” to mercifully move on from the Jefferson comedy hour.
It shows how segments such as those contrast to when Jefferson is behind the mic with Mike Breen and Tim Legler for NBA Finals games, where there is better chemistry and fewer spontaneous moments.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 12: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Former New York Knick Charles Oakley and rap artist Ice Cube attend a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Knicks at Barclays Center on Sunday, Mar. 12, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets defeated the Knicks 120-112. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Day one of the NBA Draft is in the books…
…and oh, shocker, there was a trade down completed by the Knickerbockers!
Here’s the latest batch of quotes in what is likely going to become a dying Bulletin, at least throughout the dry summer.
On the meaning of New York to the NBA and the Knicks’ title:
“No one understands—besides y’all—the weight that that wearing that jersey has sometimes. And, you know, we kind of talk around it and dance around it, but New York is a special place, but there’s a lot of pressure when you put that jersey on. So we want to thank you and celebrate you (Carmelo Anthony) a little bit, man, for laying the foundation, but also, you know, talking to us during it.”
Jalen Brunson has published a children’s book called ‘Jalen Plays It All’ 🧡 💙 pic.twitter.com/OwUdM24C55
“I’m beyond happy to share that JALEN PLAYS IT ALL, written by me and illustrated by the incredible [Neely Daggett], will be released (next year) by Feiwel & Friends. This children’s book is a story about discovering that success doesn’t happen overnight. There are mistakes, setbacks, and moments when giving up may feel easier than pushing forward. And while basketball was always at the center of my journey, every sport I played helped build the habits, character, and work ethic that made me who I am.”
😳 EXCLUSIVE: Charles Oakley blasts "coward" Patrick Ewing, says relationship is beyond repair. pic.twitter.com/xErznILYZP
“Patrick (Ewing) always been like that. He never stood up for nobody. Even when they offered him the D-League job, I said something. And the coldest thing out of this all, I took a case for Patrick on an airplane. Put that out there. I took a case from him. Ask any teammate, Chris Childs, Charles, Allen, John, they might not say nothing, but I took a case to better his self. And this happened to me, he don’t say nothing.”
On Jalen Brunson vs. Patrick Ewing as the Knicks’ GOAT:
“Brunson is a better Knicks than Patrick.”
On Dolan supposedly blocking his appearances on the Roomates Show and elsewhere:
“I was supposed to be on the Roommate podcast. I get a call the day before. They said, ‘We have to cancel you.’ And then three weeks later, guess who was on there? Dolan. Dolan. I was shooting a commercial right across from the Garden and Cafe 31, and something else. We shot for one day, the next day, somebody said we had to shut it down. We had permission and everything. So he bullying me around the city, too.”
Guerschon Yabusele: «Cuando estuve en los Knicks, si hubiéramos movido el balón como hacía el Real Madrid, habríamos acabado primeros»https://t.co/i02rh8NOUi
“Well, actually, I will never say no. I will never say no. But where, uh, it has to be clarified is that for me today, it is the NBA first. Why? Very simple. Uh, if the NBA, I do not go back there this summer, let’s say, I think it is going to be finished. We all agree. I do not think I would have a second chance to be able to go back.”
On his frustration with his lack of playing time in New York:
“The games go on, the games go on, and well, I still do not play. I still do not play. And sometimes, zero minutes, sometimes… And me, there, actually, it hit me, where I say to myself, ‘Ah, but I feel like I am in Boston, actually.’ When I look at Boston, we are in 2026, and it was ten years ago. It hit me. I said to myself, ‘Damn, ten years. A ton of things have happened, you know, since then, and I am still getting zero minutes. It is not possible.’ The frustration was there. I would go home, I did not know what to do anymore. I said to myself, ‘But it is not possible. I am not going to go back into that for the whole season.’ And I signed there for two years. And I say to myself, ‘He signed for three years or four years, the coach. I am not going to not play for two years.’”
On publicly admitting being wrong about Jalen Brunson:
“I was wrong. I was wrong. My opinion was wrong.”
On Jalen Brunson proving history wrong:
“Jalen, all he did was prove history wrong. He proves he’s an outlier, so you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas, and I thought he played brilliantly, especially down the stretch. I mean, he was that 1A dude.”
On initially refusing to apologize for her wrong opinion:
“But apologize… I’m never gonna apologize for having an opinion. That’s what ESPN pays me for.”
On Brunson’s place in Knicks history:
“Let me just piss off Knicks fans again and say, I think he’s the greatest Knick ever. Give them something else to talk about… I’ve always been a Jalen Brunson fan. I was a fan of his at Villanova, in Dallas and why this comment went off the rails, I have no idea, because it was clearly a historical and analytical take.”
"If we expand, at least, we're thinking 28/29 season. The only two cities, at the moment, we're looking at are Las Vegas and Seattle. We haven't had a vote on it, it's not a foregone conclusion, but we're in the process of talking…"
“We’ll never go back to where we were. We ended up in a situation where fans of teams were actually rooting for their teams to be bad. It was particularly bad this year, I think, because of the perceived depth of (the 2026 NBA) Draft.”
On why the league changed course:
“It just caught up with us over the years. It was a practice by a very few teams over time where they could genuinely say they were rebuilding. Every team in all sports is focused on analytics, and everyone — sort of the guardrails went off — and said there’s an advantage if you’re not really good, to be really bad, and it doesn’t work to be in the middle. So once roughly a third of our teams were acting under those incentives, everyone came together, and I would say it was agreement across the league from every constituent group, but most importantly, our fans.”
On evaluating the new system before making further changes:
“Part of the agreement with the teams was that this system would be in place for three years. In essence, it’s grandfathered in. We all agree that would give us an opportunity to assess how this is working, and also look at some other approaches, which we thought, in fairness, the teams needed to be built in over time. But most importantly, we will not be returning to a system where there is an incentive to be bad.”
On NBA expansion:
“If we were to expand, most likely in the 2028-29 season, I bet that’s when they would come into the league, but no decisions have been made yet. What we’ve made clear to our teams, we’ve at least specifically said it’s Las Vegas and Seattle. We’re looking at some other great cities that are interested in having franchises. We’re focused on those two right now. We could decide ultimately to go to new cities. One or two bids are being solicited at this time. The groups are coming together, talking to bankers, talking to the league office, and I think what we’ve said, in fairness to everyone, let’s make a decision by the end of this calendar year, at the latest.”
On the timeline for expansion:
“If we expand, at least, we’re thinking ’28-29 season. The only two cities, at the moment, we’re looking at are Las Vegas and Seattle. We haven’t had a vote on it, it’s not a foregone conclusion, but we’re in the process of talking to groups that are interested in getting an expansion team in those two cities.”
On the possibility of adding one, two, or no teams:
“We’re currently looking at two teams, but what we’ve said is it’s possible we won’t expand at all, and we could expand to just one market. But we’re officially looking at both those markets right now.”
On conference realignment after the expansion:
“We’ll want to likely even out the conferences, so there will be some movement then.”
It took me a while, but I finally found the video of the fat slob riding the train with the stolen Knicks garbage can.
“It feels like a homecoming. It’s a chance for us to appreciate people who have written the soundtrack to the city. I’m just so happy to see many of them getting their due; you cannot disentangle those songs from our own stories and memories as New Yorkers.”
Rick Brunson got some explaining to do because he did play in the Philippines in 1998 😂 pic.twitter.com/FK3bmFIxbh
