The second that it was clear LaMelo Ball was being traded, this was always going to be the next domino to fall.
White agreed to a deal to return to Charlotte on a three-year, $74 million deal, something first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. This is a fully guaranteed deal with no player or team options.
This is a good deal for both sides. White essentially doubles his salary and moves into starter range money. At the same time, the Hornets get their new point guard — a dynamic shot creator in his own right — at a lower price than Ball, giving them flexibility to add to the roster.
White will be the starting point guard with Kon Knueppel next to him in the backcourt, with Brandon Miller at the three, the just-acquired Nas Reid at the four, and either Moussa Diabate or Ryan Kalkbrenner at the five — that is a good, more rounded lineup than the Hornets had last season, when they won 44 games and made the postseason.
Last season, after being traded at the deadline to Charlotte, White averaged 15.6 points a game off the bench, shooting 39.1% from 3-point range, and dishing out 3 assists a game. His most memorable moment was hitting the 3-pointer in the play-in game against Miami that forced overtime.
White had other potential suitors, including Detroit and maybe Brooklyn (although the Nets get thrown around by agents all the time as a threat because they have cap space, whether they seriously wanted White is another question).
(080211, Boston, MA) fans take cover under anything handy, like pizza boxes and trash bags as the Red Sox take on the Guardians at Fenway Park. Tuesday, August 02, 2011. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill) (Photo by Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Sunday July 9th, 2006 was last day before the All-Star Break. The Red Sox were 53-32 entering that game. First place in the AL East. They won the first two games against the Chicago White Sox 7-2 and 9-6. Up 3-2 in the 9th, closer Jonathan Papelbon came in for the save. He blew it, allowing Chicago to tie the game. The Sox then scored 2 in the 11th inning. Mike Timlin came in and blew the save, allowing 2 runs to tie the game. In the bottom of the 19th, Rudy Seánez, in his third inning of work, allowed a walkoff run. Boston was still in first place but the season had, more or less, ended. The Red Sox would go 33-43 over the remainder of the season and suffer injuries to Trot Nixon, Jason Varitek, Jon Lester, and Jonathan Papelbon. They would finish in third place. 2007 would, of course, still be exciting.
Similarly crushing losses in Colorado are the departing memories as the Sox fly back to Boston to face the first place Yankees. At home. Where they have struggled mightily.
Cam Schlittler once again takes on the Red Sox. In April, Schlittler went 8 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned). In June the Sox got him out of the game in 5.2 innings but he still only allowed 1 earned run. Last time out he struck out 13. Vaunted “draft guy” Chaim Bloom selected Caleb Bolden with the pick right before the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. Bolden currently has s 4.50 ERA for the Portland SeaDogs. He is not in their top 60 prospects according to SoxProspects. He wasn’t that great in college so that’s more on Bloom than on the pitching development program. Connelly Early bounced back from his worst start of the season to hold the Mariners to 1 run in 6.0 innings. In April he allowed 3 runs in 5.1 to the Yankees.
Will Warren hasn’t been bad but hasn’t been great either. This is probably the Sox best chance to prevent a four-game sweep if we want to consider that possibility. He has six starts of fewer than 5.0 innings on the season including two of the last three. He hasn’t faced the Red Sox this season but last year allowed 15 runs in 14.1 innings against Boston. Payton Tolle had a low-strikeout (2) 6.0 inning start where he allowed 3 runs to the Mariners but the Sox only scored one time. He faced NY in his first start of the season when he struck out 11 over 6.0 innings only to have Danny Columbe and Greg Weissert lose the game.
Gerritt Cole is back after missing a season. Will Garrett Crochet return to face him someday? Who can say. Sadly, Cole looks healthy and possibly good. Though the Tigers hit him for 5 runs in 4.1 last time out. He returned in May in two 6.0 inning shutouts. Jake Bennett was the hard luck loser (he didn’t get an L but was denied a W) in the Aroldis Chapman Collapse game. Six shutout innings and 9Ks while not issuing a single walk? More of that, please. A steal by Craig Breslow here.
Not to be confused with Rodan, a foe of Godzilla, Rodón has recovered from his 6 ERA introduction to the Yankees. He missed the start of the season and hasn’t faced the Red Sox thus year. He hasn’t gone more than 6.0 innings and has allowed 3 runs exactly in five of his eight starts. Sonny Gray is coming off a dominant start against the Colorado Rockies going 7.0 innings, allowing 1 run, and striking out 11. Boston won his game in Yankee Stadium on June 5th where he allowd 3 runs in 6.1 innings. The Sox won 7-1 but are missing Ryan Weathers this time around.
Aaron Judge is still out but it hasn’t slowed them down, sadly.
Spencer Jones has come up and hit .220/.324/.356 with 2 home runs and 29 strikeouts in 23 games. Totally irrelevant but Nick Sogard and Spencer Jones are each worth 0.2 bWAR this year and Sogard needed only 12 games.
Cody Bellinger is the most valuable bat by WAR for New York at 3.8. He’s slashing .271/.370/.464 with 11 homers and 10 steals.
In the last 14 days Ben Rice is at just .220/.304/.460 for a .764 OPS. Maybe they catch him in a slump and the lineup becomes a bit less scary. The Red Sox took pitcher Chris Troye (7.20 ERA in Portland this season) in the same round that the Yankees took Rice. Prospects are random. Tanking won’t improve the team any time soon. Better luck will.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Thursday, June 25: Cam Schlittler (1.71 ERA / 2.13 FIP) vs. Connelly Early (3.64 ERA / 4.87 FIP
Friday, June 26: Will Warren (3.45 ERA / 3.36 FIP) vs. Payton Tolle (3.08 ERA / 3.32 FIP)
Saturday, June 27: Garritt Cole (3.62 ERA / 4.25 FIP) vs. Jake Bennett (3.71 ERA / 2.62 FIP)
Sunday, June 28: Carlos Rodón(3.70 ERA / 3.49 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (2.95 ERA / 3.81 FIP)
Re-signing Reaves was one of the Lakers’ biggest priorities during free agency this offseason, and they had to break the bank to get him back.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves decided to stick with the franchise. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves’ longtime girlfriend, Jenna Barber, posted a photo of Reaves laying down in what appeared to be disbelief on a golf course in the wake of receiving the deal from Los Angeles.
Austin Reaves’ reaction to the four-year, $185 million contract he received from the Lakers.
As if this photo wasn’t proof enough, a June 24 article from ESPN’s Shams Charania conveyed the emotions that Reaves felt upon signing this deal.
“Great relief,” a source close to Reaves told Charania regarding how the star guard felt upon getting this deal.
With Reaves’ deal done, the Lakers’ focus now turns to LeBron James. NBAE via Getty Images
Perhaps the reason for Reaves’ relief is that he nearly would have had no choice but to join another team, given the offers he was set to receive.
Charania conveyed this with a June 24 X post that noted the Detroit Pistons were planning to offer Reaves a maximum-level salary, which is ultimately what led the Lakers to step up their offer and keep Reaves around, as they were nervous they’d lose him.
Reaves was expected to receive free-agent interest from multiple teams — such as Detroit — on maximum-level salary, so the Lakers stepped up on Wednesday to lock in their homegrown talent. Reaves went from undrafted to a two-way player — to making the Lakers roster and now… https://t.co/gft1J4pThc
Reaves has spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers and clearly considers LA home. That’s why it’s no surprise to see and hear about his relief that the Lakers matched the contract he would have received from other teams including Detroit, thus making his decision to stick around an easy one.
May 10, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Mets infielder Marcus Semien against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
In what seems almost comically timed after an all-time terrible performance on his souvenir jersey night, Marcus Semien hit the Injured List with a left hip flexor strain. In his place, the Mets are calling up Ronny Mauricio, who was just activated yesterday after a stint on the IL with a thumb injury.
To replace the now traded David Peterson on the active roster, Daniel Duarte is joining the club. And in one final move (for now), Jonathan Pintaro was returned to Syracuse after acting as the 27th man during yesterday’s painful doubleheader.
Duarte has thrown five scoreless innings so far for the Mets this year, striking out three and allowing one hit and one walk.
Semien had a truly terrible night in the field in Game 2 of the doubleheader, misplaying a number of balls beyond just the two errors he was charged with; for a player known for his defense, this was an especially embarrassing performance.
Mauricio will likely get many of the second base reps until Semien’s return, while the also newly reinstated Francisco Lindor holds down shortstop, allowing Bo Bichette to play third base. Brett Baty will likely play some second base in Semien’s stead as well.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 13: Graham Ike #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts during the first half against the UCLA Bruins at Climate Pledge Arena on December 13, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors have signed Gonzaga undrafted free agent forward Graham Ike to an Exhibit 10 contract, per the Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team. Ike was actually ranked higher in Sam Vecenie’s draft rankings for The Athletic than Warriors second-round pick Lajae Jones (70 vs. 99). Exhibit 10 deals are non-guaranteed but include small bonuses (less than $100,000) designed to incentive players to join a team’s G-League affiliate when they likely do not make the team. Exhibit 10 contracts primarily function to help NBA teams fill out their rosters, which expand to 21 in the offseason for summer league and the preseason. Each team is allowed up to six Exhibit 10 contracts. They may be converted to a two-way deal prior to the start of the regular season as well.
Ike was one of the most productive players in college basketball last season, averaging 19.9 points (leading the West Coast Conference), 8.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on 56.3%/33.8%/79.7% shooting in 31.2 minutes per game (31 games). Ike was the best player on a Gonzaga team that finished the season ranked 18th in the country with a 31-4 record and a West Coast Conference championship. Ike was named an AP and NABC third-team All-American.
Ike began his collegiate career back in the 2020-21 season at Wyoming. A knee injury had hampered his recruitment and kept him sidelined early in the year, but he was immediately a quality rotation player across 11 games once he was able to play. As a sophomore, he led Wyoming in scoring (19.5 points per game) and rebounding (9.6 rebounds per game).
A leg injury led Ike to take an injury redshirt for the entire 2022-23 season and enter the transfer portal, were he landed at Gonzaga. He immediately slotted into the Bulldogs starting lineup, where he remained for the next three seasons. Over his college career, Ike averaged 17.6 points and 7.8 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game on 56.8%/34.8%/76.5% shooting.
The biggest question facing Ike is how his game will translate to the NBA, where scouts worry he may be a tweener wing/big caught in no man’s land (think Eric Paschall), lacking the creation ability to score against stronger & more athletic NBA defenders without the refined post game to handle responsibilities as a five. As Vecenie wrote in his draft guide about Ike, “Massive, long post player who needs to change play style for NBA.”
With that said, there’s a lot to like about Ike’s potential fit with the Warriors, who currently have an open two-way spot next to Malevy Leons and LJ Cryer. Ike will be 24 in August and has an impressive frame. At the combine he measured 6’9.75” barefoot with a wingspan north of 7’5” at around 250 lbs. In fact, his combine measurements closest comp, according to DraftExpress is Steven Adams.
Ike’s path to an NBA career will be much easier if he is a viable three-point shooter at the next level. His free-throw efficiency (79.6% on 451 attempts at Gonzaga) demonstrates he has some touch on his shot, but he never attempted a three per game before this past season (when he shot 33.8% on 71 attempts).
With the Warriors re-signing Al Horford, likely re-signing Kristaps Porzingis, they will need young depth at center next season. With a guard and wing already filling two-way contracts, Ike could be the early favorite to take the third and final spot if second-round pick Lajae Jones is going to be an immediate member of the Warriors roster.
Jun 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) throws to first base to attempt to force out Chicago Cubs infielder Dansby Swanson (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Over the past two weeks the Jays are 6-5. The offense has scored 4.3 runs per game, a little better than the 4.1 they’ve averaged this year.
Hot
Andrés Giménez: Started 10 of 11. Hit .313/.343/.500 with 1 home runs, 3 doubles, with 3 RBI, 0 walk and 7 strikeouts.
His RISP numbers are continuing to drop .667 OPS now on the season, four weeks ago it was .973 and we were told how great he was with RISP. Now he’s hitting about the same with RISP or not. Still excellent defense. FanGraphs has him +8 outs above average, which is 8th in the MLB. Now if he could hit like he has the last two weeks and play that defense, we’d really have something.
Kazuma Okamoto: Started 11 of the 11 games. Hit .289/.400/.684 with 3 double, 4 home runs, 11 RBI, 6 walks, and 12 strikeouts.
He’s been amazing. And his defense looks fine. Fangraphs has him at a -1 outs above average. I think it will come up some. The play last night was terrible. Apparently he expect the throw to come from the catchers, not from the pitcher. I don’t know if it was a language thing or just a misunderstanding. I hate pickoff plays at second or third. I don’t understand the point. Pickoffs at first have enough errors to make any value you get out of it a wash, but I’m sure that at second and third, it is a negative value to the defense.
Davis Schneider: Played in 9 games, starting 7. Hit .250/.280/.583 with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
Maybe the time in Buffalo did do him well. Not many walked in the last two weeks but 4 extra base hits. And the team likes his defense in the outfield more than Sanchez’s. I’m not sure, FanGraphs has him at a -2 outs above average in the outfield (limited inning), Sanchez at a -6, in three times the innings. I guess they have a point, but it is close. Neither will be getting a Gold Glove anytime soon. But I wouldn’t be against giving Davis more playing time against RHP.
Daulton Varsho: Started 4 games. Hit .389/.421/.833, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 1 walks, 5 strikeouts and 2 steals.
Just four games, but they have been four very good games.
George Springer: Started all 11 games,. Hit .302/.404/.535 with 1 double, 3 home runs, 7 RBI, 7 walks and 9 strikeouts, with 3 steals and 0 caught.
Nice to see him hitting. The problem, when you have started the season poorly, no one notices when you start hitting. They talk about having him play outfield, but I don’t really think that’s a great idea. Of course, we have several guys who should DH.
Nathan Lukes: He’s played in all 12 games, starting 10. Hit .270/.289/.486 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 3 RBI, 3 walk and 8 strikeouts.
Not very hot, but hitting well. Good bat, good defense, not all that much to complain about. He isn’t hitting lefties at all, but that’s very limited at bats.
Yohendrick Pinango: Played in 6 games, starting 4. Hit .143/.294/.286 with 2 double, 0 RBI, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
And now he’s in Buffalo. He’ll be back.
Cold
Ernie Clement: Played in 9 games, starting 7. Hit .188/.212/.219 with 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walks and 4 strikeouts. And a caught stealing.
Started 6 games at second, 1 at short and played short in a couple of other games. He’s been dealing with a hip injury of some sort, which would make it tough to hit. Hopefully it will improve soon.
Brandon Valenzuela: Started 4 games. Hit .250/.333/.313 with 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts.
He threw out 1 of 2 base stealers. Cold is a little unfair, but his .646 OPS isn’t great, in very few at bats.
Vladimir Guerrero: Started 9 of 11. Hit .243/.256/.351 with 1 double, 1 home run, 6 RBI, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. And 1 steal.
He’s looked worse in the last couple of weeks, not even talking walks, which he’s always been able to do. He had one hard hit ball, yesterday 100.3 mph line out the opposite way that Baseball Savant had as a .700 expected BA, but that was his only hard hit ball on the day. And nothing hit hard the day before either.
Jesús Sánchez: Started 7 games. Hit .130/.259/.174 with 1 doubles, 0 RBI, 3 walks and 9 strikeouts.
He’s had a bad couple of weeks in all ways. Seems to have lost his starting job in the outfield, because his fielding is so bad. He should DH. The two weeks before these two, he hit great. I wonder if the defensive issues are following him to the plate. He hasn’t always been this bad defensively. We were told that they are working with him.
Myles Straw: Played in 10 games, 5 starts. Hit .158/.227/.211 with 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts..
One of a number of guys not hitting well.
Alejandro Kirk: Played in 8 games, starting 7. Hit .222/.267/.259 with 1 double, 4 RBI, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.
14 steals against, no caught steal. He hasn’t been great since coming back.
Yohendrick Pinango: Played in 6 games, starting 4. Hit .143/.294/.286 with 2 double, 0 RBI, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
And now he’s in Buffalo. He’ll be back.
IL
Anthony Santander: Might get into a game before the end of the season. Who knows..
Addison Barger: He is to meet with ‘Blue Jays staff’ because ‘some soreness has crept in. Hopefully it is nothing. If they decide he’s ok, he’ll start a rehab assignment.
The move resets the Timberwolves' supporting cast around Edwards after the team fell short of the Western Conference finals for the first time in three years this past season. But it's also perhaps the biggest risk yet for this Minnesota front office considering the franchise is in the midst of its best run of seasons ever.
Here's a closer look at what the Timberwolves roster will look like after the LaMelo Ball trade and the 2026 NBA Draft, as well as how Ball fits with Edwards and the players still on Minnesota's roster:
How LaMelo Ball fits with Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have been in search of an upgrade at point guard and a better sidekick for Edwards since he elevated into one of the NBA's best players. Ball, in theory, could fill those gaps and work interchangeably with Edwards.
Ball can be the playmaker Edwards hasn't had to relieve defensive pressure in high-leverage halfcourt situations. Edwards' strengths as a passer and on-ball defender (and the presence of Gobert) will, in turn, give Ball more open 3-point shots and allow Minnesota to hide Ball on defense.
There are, of course, injury and maturity concerns involving Ball. He played in more than 70 games for the first time since 2021-22 season last year with the Hornets. Perhaps not coincidentally, 2021-22 and 2025-26 are the only seasons in which Charlotte finished with an above .500 record with Ball.
But Ball also had 30 points and 10 assists in Charlotte's 127-126 play-in victory, including the game-winning layup in overtime. If Minnesota can rein in Ball's shot selection and decision-making, he and Edwards are capable of becoming the best backcourt in the league. Maybe Ball is inclined to be more disciplined more often on an established contender.
This could also completely backfire, though, for a couple reasons. For one, the Timberwolves are sacrificing some depth to make these offseason moves work under the NBA salary cap. There's also the pressure and ego that must be sorted through when two young players who've likely never shared the same backcourt with someone this good before come together for the first time.
What the Timberwolves roster looks like now
The trade to acquire Ball, in addition to the trade that sent Julius Randle from Minnesota to the Brooklyn Nets that preceded this move, has restructured the pecking order of the Timberwolves' roster below Edwards.
Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu will join Edwards, Ball and Gobert as the featured players on the team. The Timberwolves agreed to a five-year, $112-million contract with Dosunmu following the Randle trade. The team acquired Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls at last February's trade deadline.
Here's a breakdown of the Timberwolves roster after the LaMelo Ball trade
G LaMelo Ball
G Anthony Edwards
G Donte DiVincenzo
G Isaiah Evans**
G Bones Hyland*
G Mike Conley*
G Jaylen Clark*
G/F Ayo Dosunmu
G/F Terrance Shannon Jr.
F Jaden McDaniels
F Trey Kaufman-Renn**
F Joe Ingles*
F Kyle Anderson*
F Julian Phillips^
F/C Joan Beringer
C Rudy Gobert
G Zyon Pullin*^
F Enrique Freeman*^
C Rocco Zikarsky*^
*pending free agent; ^team option for 2026-27 season; *^two-way contract; **2026 NBA Draft pick
LaMelo Ball contract details
Ball has three years and more than $130 million remaining on the five-year, $203.9 max rookie extension he signed with the Hornets in 2023. He is also eligible to sign a two-year extension with the Timberwolves worth an additional $119 million beginning next month.
LaMelo Ball stats
Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 36.8% from 3-point range and 40.7% from the floor during the 2025-26 season.
The Winnipeg Jets may be about to lose one of their own without receiving anything in return with Ville Heinola, the Finnish defenseman selected by Winnipeg in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, is entering the offseason as a Group-6 unrestricted free agent.
This means he is free to sign with any team in the league when the market opens next Wednesday. For an organization that has watched Heinola develop patiently over seven professional seasons, the prospect of losing him without compensation is a situation the front office will be eager to avoid.
Group-6 free agency is among the lesser known classifications in the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman broke down all six groups on his 32 podcast this week for those unfamiliar with how Heinola arrived at this crossroads.
The six groups cover players finishing entry-level contracts, traditional restricted free agents like Jason Robertson and Connor Bedard, the widely understood unrestricted free agents, players who have competed overseas and were never drafted or signed in North America like Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub, a fifth category involving players with ten or more professional seasons or those meeting a specific salary threshold, which Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas noted is quite rare, and finally the sixth group, which is where Heinola lands.
A Group-6 unrestricted free agent is defined as a player who is 25 years of age or older as of June 30th of the expiring contract year, has played fewer than 80 career NHL games, and has completed three or more professional seasons.
The 25-year-old appeared in just five games with the Jets this past season, recording no points at the NHL level, while spending the bulk of his year with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL, where he posted three goals and 18 assists for 21 points in 44 games. Those numbers add to an already impressive AHL resume.
Over seven seasons with the Moose, Heinola has accumulated 124 points in 198 games, establishing himself as one of the more productive defensemen in franchise history at that level. At the NHL level, the production has been harder to come by with 12 points in 58 career games across six seasons, largely due to limited opportunity rather than a lack of ability.
That lack of opportunity may ultimately be what drives Heinola out of Winnipeg. As a Group-6 unrestricted free agent, he holds all the leverage and will have no shortage of suitors among teams willing to give him the consistent top-league deployment that has eluded him in Manitoba. For a player of his caliber and age, the desire to find a situation where he can finally stick in an NHL lineup full time is entirely understandable.
The Jets did bring Heinola up towards the end of this past season, a move that could be read as a final audition or a genuine attempt to reintegrate him into the big league club ahead of a potential re-signing. Whether that late-season callup translates into a new deal remains to be seen, but Winnipeg will need to move quickly. The clock runs out on Wednesday, and if the Jets cannot offer Heinola what he is looking for in terms of both contract and opportunity, another organization almost certainly will.
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Sam, an American bald eagle from the Cincinnati Zoo, takes flight before the first inning during a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, May 19, 2023, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
I wasn’t planning on starting the column discussing a Minnesota Timberwolves trade, let alone one involving LaMelo Ball, but here we are. YIK broke the news (at least to me) in the comments section, so kudos to him for staying on top of it. Better salute one of us than Shams, you know what I’m saying? Spoiler: the Wolves package is ludicrous.
Anyway, Kento Kato covered the news while I was working on this, and he has a delicious summary of the trade impact in the NBA as well as the Knicks going forward. If you ask me, I’m cool with removing a threat from the East (the Hornets were looking good at the start of last season and LaMelo was a big part of that) and sending him to the West so it’s now a four-team war for the rights to Western Conference finals, not to mention the actual Finals.
This just in: ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says it’s 51/49 for Mitchell Robinson to return to New York. We have you covered. Check out the latest here.
Now starting for good, with the man who helped build the title Knicks, Brock Aller… welcome to another Knicks draft! Four trades, a bunch of second-round picks, extra cap flexibility, cash, and somehow the rights to Melvin Ajinca again. The man treats draft night like it’s 2KGM with God Mode turned on.
Before we move forward, keep Melvin Ajinca’s name in mind. You’ll need it for an extraordinary feature I have dropping later today.
International Knicks superstar Jack Kayil doesn’t sound interested in becoming another overseas stash. Quotables in the Bulletin.
“My plan is to stay here and get into the organization and keep growing with them.”
Freshest Knicks superstar Tyler Nickel, meanwhile, claimed to be “delusional” last January. And I love it.
If you somehow haven’t listened to Leon Rose’s appearance on the Roommates Show yet, make some time for it today. This felt like Christmas in June, and Rose touched a whole lot of topics from Jalen and Mikal trades, the firing of Thibs and why he chose Brown, how the Knicks FO operates, and plenty of other saucy stuff. Check it out asap.
Newsday’s Steve Popper wrote an interesting piece on the Knicks’ second-apron situation, and one question is at the front of Popper’s mind: Why did James Dolan publicly reveal the team’s financial intentions before free agency even began? Here’s a bit of what he wrote, but check out the full post.
“The first question is why would (Dolan) go public about this when the Knicks have masked their intentions so well for years? If the Knicks intend to stick to this plan then it basically sets the price for the Knicks free agents, meaning if a team intends on making an offer for Robinson, they would know just how far the Knicks could go to remain under the second apron. But the deeper question is why are the Knicks so determined to remain under the second apron?
Stefan Bondy wrote a similar column for the NY Post and echoed the same thoughts Popper floated after speaking with league sources. According to Bondy, plenty of people around the NBA believe ownership will ultimately be convinced to spend because the championship window is simply too valuable to just break the core over a few million dollars. We all agree, don’t we?
The Lakers and the Kings keep being mentioned as the main suitors for Mitchell Robinson if he hits free agency, and the Knicks indeed refuse to get into the second apron. Current Kings and former Knicks GM Scott Perry might have something to do with Sacto’s links. We have plenty of great thoughts and discussions going on in the comments section here. Go chime in!
I am no capologist, so I won’t be judging Spike Lee’s Joint idea to bring back all three of Mitch, Shamet, and Jose. Thoughts?
“I think there is one way to re-sign all three of Robinson, Shamet and Jose with some but not a lot of discount. Jose opts in at $4.5 million. He will then be extended at a reasonable price. Shamet re-signs starting at just under $6 million. This is probably around his market value, maybe a small discount.
“Here’s the doozey: Mitch re-signs to a five-year, $50 million deal. With 8% raises, this allows you start his contract at $8.5 million. If you assume his market is somewhere around two years, $30 million, then it essentially matches that and then gives 3 years and $20 million starting in his age 30/31 season. I’m not sure it’s a wise decision—he’d be getting paid $11.5 million in year 5 as a 32/33 year old Mitch… but it might be the best combination of staying under the apron and keeping this team together.
This scenario, plus trading Pacome and signing the second-round picks (Nickel and Kayil) to two-year rookie minimum deals would get you in a hair under the second apron with 14 players. Plus, the Pacome TPE would mean you would be able to trade for a Vet minimum at the deadline
New York Magazine dropped an outstanding Jalen Brunson feature on Wednesday. It’s packed with little stories about JB and a bunch of fresh post-championship quotes, which honestly makes it all a thousand times better. Funny nugget: Brunson talks about sleeping through Lionel Messi’s World Cup hat trick and being mad about it. Check it out to know all about that and a whole lot more.
Speaking of Rick Brunson, the old man keeps messing around with his son. Across multiple interviews this week, RB again said that 1) Patrick Ewing remains the greatest Knick ever, 2) Jalen still has years to go before entering that conversation, and 3) Prime Derrick Rose would vaporize his own son in a one-on-one game. If you’re too young to know, please don’t skip D-Rose’s MVP mixtape.
Barack Obama appeared on All The Smoke (how far we’ve gone folks…) and spent plenty of time praising the champs, from OG to Brunson.
“I’m trying to think of a better series from somebody who’s never been an All-Star, and it’s hard to think of one, right? Through the whole playoffs, he was just a rock.”
Windhorst nearly lost it discussing a hypothetical scenario about a Lakers-Cavaliers trade that would flip LeBron James for Jarrett Allen in a sign-and-trade. The Lakers would “kill” for Allen and that deal, he believes. I do, too.
Boston continues having an incredibly normal week. Jaylen Brown called ESPN “unethical,” singled out Stephen A. Smith by name, and defended his previous comments about last season.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, meanwhile, doubled down on his information regarding Brown’s future in Boston, which isn’t nearly as settled as Brad Stevens publicly suggested after the Giannis trade left the C’s and Brown in the cold. Sister site CelticsBlog is already publishing mock trades. Here’s one of them:
“A potential pick: Boston gets Kawhi Leonard and the Pacers 2029 first round pick, unprotected. Los Angeles gets Jaylen Brown.”
Jeremy Schneider of NJ.com was joined by Jerry Carino to discuss KAT’s path from middle school to hosting the Larry O’Brien trophy, his evolution as a player, his most personal side, and what makes him an all-time all-New Jersey basketball hooper.
That’s probably enough internet for one day. The draft is in the rearview mirror, and free agency is almost here, with the first item on the to-do list being Jose Alvarado’s player-option decision.
Never a dull offseason around these parts, whether we’re champs or chumps.
The Mets have placed second baseman Marcus Semien on the 10-day IL with a hip flexor strain.
Infielder Ronny Mauricio, who was just activated and assigned to Triple-A on Wednesday, has been recalled from Syracuse.
Additionally, right-handed reliever Daniel Duarte has been recalled, while Jonathan Pintaro, who served as Wednesday's 27th man, has been returned to Syracuse.
Semien played all of Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs, committing two of the Mets' six errors as a team.
"It’s always going to be attention to detail with defense," Semien explained. "First step was not great on the first [error]. Seems like when I’m trying to pick the ball up and rush, the throw isn’t good. I feel like it’s a play that I could have saved and got the out and I didn’t. Those ones hurt.
"Pop-up, same thing, drifted to the ball. The wind was a little funky out there, and just took my eyes off the ball. Those are plays that I want to make, plays that I want to make tomorrow to help us win."
Acquired this offseason in the trade that sent Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers, Semien has struggled offensively, hitting .214 with a 71 OPS+.
Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Miami (FL) Hurricanes guard Tru Washington (10) with the ball as Louisville Cardinals guard Isaac McKneely (10) and Louisville Cardinals guard J'vonne Hadley (1) defend in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Two members of the 2025-26 Louisville men’s basketball team have inked NBA contracts after going undrafted.
J’Vonne Hadley has signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Miami Heat, which selected Hadley’s former teammate Ryan Conwell 37th overall Wednesday night. Exhibit-10 contracts are one-year, non-guaranteed deals typically given to undrafted free agents who will compete for roster spots at the NBA’s Summer League.
Isaac McKneely, another starter from the 2025-26 squad, has signed the same type of deal with the Atlanta Hawks.
Louisville fans are going to have more reasons to tune into Summer League play next month than they have in several years.
Best of luck to both Isaac and J’Vonne on the next steps in their basketball journeys.
WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 11: Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets looks on prior to NHL action against the Philadelphia Flyers at Canada Life Centre on April 11, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The NHL has been buckwild ever since the Brady Tkachuk trade to Florida dropped over the weekend. Seemingly everyone in the league is trying to get their ducks in a row ahead of the draft, not only projecting what they need right now — but reading the writing on the wall for where they will be in a few year’s time.
Inthe past few days we’ve seen the Buffalo Sabres make a flurry of moves, the Captials landing Jordan Kyrou, and the Senators move their No. 9 pick to bolster their lines, but some of the biggest rumors are still floating around with the draft on the horizon. Let’s dive into the whispers going on around hockey and determine which make sense, and which just don’t hold any water.
NOT BUYING IT: Connor Bedard trade rumors
The Blackhawks are biting their nails trying to get this Connor Bedard extension done before he’s poised to become a restricted free agent in July, but at no point am I buying the idea that Chicago might trade him — no matter how ugly the negotiations get.
Sure, Bedard notoriously hates losing and wants to see the Blackhawks improve, but there’s just not a landing spot that makes sense on a contender right now. He could theoretically go to a mid-tier playoff team like Utah or Buffalo, but those teams neither have the assets, nor the desire to sink all their energy into taking on a player who is still developing his NHL game. That means the teams most likely to make a deal, like the Maple Leafs, Canucks, or Red Wings, more or less put Bedard in the exact spot he’s in right now, trying to win.
The best move for Chicago now is to get the deal done, and I think they will — even if it means breaking the bank for a player his age. This is a big market, a burgeoning star, and a team that unquestionably has a lot of work to do, but seems willing to make some deals to improve now (see Bowen Byram) while also having a deep pipeline of players down the road.
BUYING IT: Hurricanes shopping Alexander Nikishin
The Stanley Cup Champions have the deepest prospect pool of any elite team in the NHL, and they know it. It was assumed that the Canes would look to re-up Nikishin long term, but there have been some murmurs that his agents are looking for a contract much larger than Carolina is comfortable with after one year in the league.
Ultimately, we have a case where Nikishin is a 3rd line defenseman inside the Hurricanes, but would be a top four guy on most other teams. That, paired with his youth mean there will be plenty of suitors out there. The Canes can run their “next man up” philosophy from inside the system without losing that much, largely because Ke’Andre Miller was a breakout star for them last year.
Nikishin will be traded ahead of the NHL Draft, and I think it’s going to be part of a big time deal.
NOT BUYING IT: Connor Hellebuyck to the Panthers
There seems to be a fundamental disconnect between what Florida would like to do what they can do, and what they’re willing to do. There is absolutely no scenario that involves the Panthers getting Connor Hellebuyck without giving up established talent on their roster right now. None, zero, zilch.
Florida gave up everything they had left to get Brady Tkachuk in terms of not messing with the roster, meaning the only player who could really spur a package for Hellebuyck is Anton Lundell, whom the Panthers have said is a non-starter (which is correct). Lundell is one of their few young, future pieces who will be with the team in six or seven years time, and without a prospect pool it’s too rich going all in on a goaltender upgrade.
There’s also an element to this where people are overvaluing Hellebuyck too much right now. He’s coming off a down year, is signed to a massive extension, and really isn’t worth what’s left on the deal unless you think the 2025-26 season was an abberation and not the start of regression. Florida is smarter than going all-in here.
BUYING IT: The Devils making a spash with No. 12
The New Jersey Devils are desperate to get back into playoff contention and be in win-now mode while Jack Hughes is still in his prime, and there’s a lot of chatter about their $13M in cap space paired with the No. 12 overall pick.
This feels like the prime opportunity to make some noise in the trade market, and I can’t help but think that Jason Robertson of the Stars makes a ton of sense in a sign-and-trade scenario. Dallas would like to retain their scoring wing, but are locked in cap hell right now that they can’t escape without gutting their core. This is the payment for the Mikko Rantanen deal, and they will likely lose Robertson as a result.
New Jersey would be a great landing spot for scoring, and the No. 12 pick would give the Stars a prospect to build up for the future. If not Robertson, then look for someone like Matthew Knies of Toronto who would also make sense here.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Caleb Wilson after he is drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in 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 Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I already gave out instant grades for the first round, and handed out my winners and losers of the draft. Now, it’s time to grade every team’s full haul. The grades here take both the first and second rounds into consideration, and are largely based off my final big board.
Most of the teams this year did pretty well. There were no super head-scratching decisions like the Yang Hansen pick last season. This was a good draft, and I think a lot of teams are leaving it happy. Let’s get into our full team grades.
Atlanta Hawks
Grade: A
The decision to take Kingston Flemings at No. 8 earned an A grade from me. He’s really smart and tough and athletic, and I think he plays bigger than size on both ends of the floor. Zuby Ejiofor wasn’t my favorite pick at No. 23, but he should add value as a nonsense big man who plays with force and brings some impressive connective passing traits. I can’t believe Henri Veesaar fell to the late second round. He was considered a late first rounder on my board. That’s great value, and I also think he’s the type of spacing big that can work well with both Flemings and Ejiofor. The Hawks did great.
Boston Celtics
Grade: A
Chris Cenac Jr. feels like a classic boom-or-bust prospect. He feels raw in several aspects of the game, but especially in terms of his awareness on both ends. That’s okay as long as Boston is committed to developing him. Cenac has a great frame and a sweet jump shot, and it’s hard to find both of those in a young big man. Dillon Mitchell fits the mold of a Celtics’ value play: he’s long and explosive, and they can unleash him as a defender, rebounder, and play finisher. Boston didn’t have much to work with, but they got good value with both their picks.
Brooklyn Nets
Grade: A-
The Nets redeemed themselves after an underwhelming draft last year. Mikel Brown Jr. is a boom-or-bust point guard prospect, but I’m buying him for his pull-up shooting, creative playmaking, and rim attacking despite his other concerns. Joshua Jefferson was a nice pick at No. 28 too as a forward with real dribble-pass-shoot utility. Both of these players are in a good position to develop under Jordi Fernandez, who is one of the best young head coaches in the game. Tyler Bilodeau is a spacing forward who doesn’t do much for me, but the Nets still had a nice draft.
Charlotte Hornets
Grade: B
The Hornets are going to jack a lot of threes as a team led by LaMelo Ball, and now they have Hannes Steinbach hunting the offensive rebounds. Steinbach is an absolute maniac on the offensive glass, and I think he’s a really good offensive big in general. I’m not sure if he’s a four or a five, and I think he may be best in a twin towers look, but I like the idea of unleashing him within an already powerful Charlotte offense. Christian Anderson was a fine pick at No. 18 too even if he wasn’t my favorite. He has a case as the best shooter in the draft, and that’s always worth adding. I really do not like the LaMelo Ball trade for Charlotte, but we’ll see how it works out for them.
Chicago Bulls
Grade: A-
Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain were fantastic picks to start off the Bulls’ new era with Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter. Wilson was a no-brainer pick at No. 4 as a ridiculously explosive athlete who can make game-changing plays at both ends of the floor. Swain is a nasty slasher for a 6’7 wing who can create paint touches out of thin air with a tight handle and some daring crossovers on the way to the rim. I hate that the Bulls traded their No. 38 pick during a rebuild. I’ll change my tune if Kam Jones — who I liked last year — turns into anything, but his rookie season was so discouraging that it felt like he was probably getting cut in Indiana. Same old Bulls even with a new front office when it comes to the second round, and it turned an A into an A- for me.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Grade: A
Meleek Thomas is awesome value at No. 34. The Cavs traded down from No. 29 and still landed him. Thomas comes from the Lou Williams school of walking buckets, and I actually think he’s a little feistier defensively than most players in that mold. His three-level scoring will be nice for Cleveland to have off the bench.
Dallas Mavericks
Grade: B+
Morez Johnson might have been the biggest surprise of the first round, but it’s a pick that also makes a lot of sense. Dallas just hired his college coach Dusty May, and Johnson was the youngest and most versatile defender of Michigan’s three lottery picks. The Mavs also added Sergio De Larrea, a tall playmaking guard who can shoot but needs to get stronger and fix his turnover issues. Second rounder Tobi Lawal is a super athlete, but probably not an NBA player in my view.
Denver Nuggets
Grade: B
The Nuggets traded out of the first round, but still came away with a couple interesting prospects in Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins. Brazile is theoretically a great fit next to Nikola Jokic as a bouncy big with shooting ability who can finish plays above the rim. Hopkins is a big forward who remade himself from a bucket-getter to a defender after he tore his ACL in college. I’m optimistic on the Brazile fit, and I think Hopkins has a chance to make the team.
Detroit Pistons
Grade: A
Ebuka Okorie was one of my favorite picks of the first round. He’s lightning quick with the ball in his hands and can give Detroit some advantage creation they just didn’t have on the roster outside of Cade Cunningham bully ball. The Pistons’ second round pick Ugonna Onyenso was also one of my favorites in that range. He’s a phenomenal rim protector. I’m not sure if Onyenso can do anything on offense, but he has an elite skill, and that should help him have a pro career.
Golden State Warriors
Grade: A
Yaxel Lendeborg was one of my favorite picks in the draft. He was fifth on my board, and the Warriors got him at No. 11. Beyond that, he’s a perfect fit for what they need, giving them a do-it-all, two-way forward for Steph Curry’s twilight years who should be ready to rock from day one. I have no takes on second rounder Lajae Jones, sorry.
Houston Rockets
Grade: A
Trading up for Bruce Thornton was brilliant. He was a first round talent on my board, and he gives the Rockets another ball handler, which they desperately needed. Thornton put up 66 percent true shooting as a senior at Ohio State, which is an elite number for a rim-running center, let alone a 6’2 point guard who can’t dunk. He’s awesome. Houston also signed Quadir Copeland and Oscar Cluff as two of the best undrafted free agents. Good work, Rockets.
Indiana Pacers
Grade: C
I didn’t like the Pacers’ Ivicia Zubac trade when it happened, and it came back to bite them. It’s wild they still owe another unprotected first rounder for him after giving up a top-5 pick this year. The Pacers nabbed Braden Smith in the second round. He was a college legend, but my gut says he’s too small to play in the NBA. We’ll see.
Los Angeles Clippers
Grade: B
The analytical models love Keaton Wagler, but I worry he falls below the threshold of NBA athleticism needed for a lead guard. I like him more on the ball than off the ball, so we’ll see how he fits with Darius Garland. Baba Miller was a cool second round pick. He moves really well for such a big forward and took a nice leap in production this past season.
Los Angeles Lakers
Grade: B-
Cam Carr is a knockdown shooter with ++ length for a wing, but I worry he’s pretty one dimensional. I don’t like his defensive projection, and in my view he doesn’t add much as a ball handler or playmaker.
Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: A+
If you read this website, you know Boozer was my No. 1 player in the class. I think he’s a future superstar. Getting him at No. 3 is the single best pick of the draft. Karim Lopez didn’t do too much for me as Memphis’ second first round selection. Richie Saunders is a really great shooter with athleticism, but he’s a 25-year-old rookie who will probably miss this season recovering from a torn ACL. I still like Saunders’ chances of contributing eventually, but this draft is all about Boozer.
Miami Heat
Grade: B
The Heat traded their No. 13 overall pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and walked away from this draft with only Ryan Conwell. Conwell is known for his three-point shooting, and Miami is going to need it with a thin roster around Giannis and Bam Adebayo right now. The Heat are always uncovering diamonds in the rough. They need Conwell to be another one.
Milwaukee Bucks
Grade: C
I thought the Bucks did as well as possible in the Giannis trade, but I don’t love their decisions with their two lottery picks to begin a new era. Brayden Burries is solid everywhere but special nowhere. I do think he complements Ryan Rollins pretty well in the backcourt, but I don’t think he has the upside needed for a top-10 pick. That’s just me. Nate Ament projects as someone with upside, but I don’t see it. He’s not very athletic, his defense was super disappointing at Tennessee, and his outside shooting was pretty poor, too. I want good things for the Bucks after the Giannis trade, so I hope I’m wrong.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Grade: B-
The Wolves traded out of the first round for the right to salary dump a good player in Julius Randle. I did not like that move for Minnesota. I’ve always been a big LaMelo Ball fan, so I’m more bullish on that trade. Minnesota leaves the draft with a good outside shooter in Isaiah Evans and a crafty interior scorer in Trey Kaufman-Renn as second round picks. Both are fine.
New Orleans Pelicans
Grade: B-
I liked watching Jaron Pierre at SMU. Not bad for a late second round flier.
New York Knicks
Grade: B-
The Knicks added some future second round picks in multiple deals before walking away with Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel. Kayil is a German guard who was previously committed to Gonzaga, and he seems like a fine long-term bet who likely won’t touch an NBA court any time soon. Nickel is a stretch forward who was pretty good at Vanderbilt. I’d be shocked if either of these guys become rotation pieces in the next couple years.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: A
Sam Presti killed it again. I was high on both Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, and they perfectly fit what the Thunder needed. Mara is a 7’3 giant whose drop coverage will be made more effective with the dogs OKC has at the point of attack. His passing is also special, and I can’t wait to watch him throw full-court touchdowns to the Thunder’s athletes on the wing. Stirtz adds the shooting and playmaking the Thunder desperately needed last year when SGA went to the bench. Otega Oweh is a decent 3-and-D bet in the second round, too. The Thunder are so good at this.
Orlando Magic
Grade: B
Izaiyah Nelson really caught my eye towards the end of the college season. He’s a bit undersized for a big, but he has an appealing combination of length, explosiveness, and motor. He’s a really good rebounder, but right now he can’t shoot at all, and I feel like he’s going to need to develop that area of his game to really stick.
Philadelphia 76ers
Grade: A-
Labaron Philon is great value at No. 22 even if the 76ers had bigger needs in the front court. That Jared McCain trade everyone ripped Philly for ended up working out pretty okay.
Phoenix Suns
Grade: B+
Koa Peat won four high school state championships in Arizona, then helped the Arizona Wildcats reach the Final Four during his one-and-done season. It’s pretty cool that he’s still in the state. Peat can’t shoot at all, but his vertical athleticism and passing at his size could make him a solid role player down the line.
Portland Trail Blazers
Grade: Inc.
The Blazers did not make a draft pick this year.
Sacramento Kings
Grade: C
I would have preferred Kingston Flemings over Darius Acuff for the Kings at No. 7, but the team clearly loved the Arkansas guard and had been circling him for months. Let’s see if they’re right. Alex Karaban wasn’t a first round talent in my book, but the Kings traded up to get him at No. 29. The one pick I did like from the Kings was Emanuel Sharp, who was an excellent 3-and-D style guard at Houston the last three years. This haul will be defined by the Acuff pick. He’ll probably put up big numbers while Sacramento loses a lot of games for most of his career.
San Antonio Spurs
Grade: A-
The Spurs obviously wanted to add beef in the draft, and they got a lot of it. Jayden Quaintance is worth the risk to me. I thought he’d be a top-5 pick coming into the season, but he barely played after trying to return from a torn ACL. JQ could be a monster defensively. I have no idea how he contributes on offense outside of lobs and offensive rebounds, but that’s perfectly fine if he’s an elite defensive big. I didn’t really see the vision with Tarris Reed as a first round pick, but he’s another big body who can eat inside. Maliq Brown is yet another big man who adds defensive toughness and versatility. Ja’Kobi Gillespie is a nice pick-up too as a tiny guard who chucks threes and defends bigger than his size. Quaintance, Gillespie, and Brown is a great haul even if I’m not huge on Reed.
Toronto Raptors
Grade: B+
Allen Graves! What a story, and what a player. I laughed out loud when the Raptors made this pick if only because he’s exactly like most of the other guys on this team. Graves’ defensive playmaking is his calling card, and if he can figure out how to maintain his aggression while cutting back on his fouls, he could go down as a steal. The difference between Graves and the other 6’8 Raptors is that the Santa Clara product can actually shoot. Jaden Bradley is fine for a No. 50 overall pick, but I’d be surprised if he carves out an NBA career (that goes for any No. 50 overall pick I suppose).
Utah Jazz
Grade: B+
I always thought Darryn Peterson was a great fit in Utah. I still think the Jazz passed on the best player in the draft in Cam Boozer, but Peterson was second on my board, and should be a high-level shooter and defender in the backcourt. If he regains his high school explosiveness, the Jazz could be nasty pretty soon.
Washington Wizards
Grade: B+
A.J. Dybantsa has fantastic shot-creation ability for a wing his size. I had him third on my board, but he has the ability to make me look stupid if he eventually leads the league in scoring and starts to take some pride in his defense. I do not love his fit next to Trae Young, but that’s more a Trae Young problem.
The Lakers have agreed to terms on a two-way contract with former Miami (OH) guard Peter Suder.
The agreement, which was first reported by HoopsHype of the USA Today Network and shared by his agency Edge Sports International, came immediately after Suder wasn’t selected in the 2026 NBA draft.
The Lakers have agreed to terms on a two-way contract with former Miami (OH) guard Peter Suder. Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesThe 6-foot-5 combo guard shot 54.6% from the field, including 59.7% on 2-pointrs and 42.1% on 3-pointers, in 2025-26. Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Suder averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4 assists in his final season with the RedHawks, helping Miami clinch its first regular-season conference championship in 21 years after the RedHawks’ perfect 31-0 regular season, which included 18-0 in conference games.
The 6-foot-5 combo guard shot 54.6% from the field, including 59.7% on 2-pointrs and 42.1% on 3-pointers, in 2025-26.
He won the 2026 MAC Player of the Year, Miami’s first Conference Player of the Year since Michael Bramos in 2008-09, and led the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
Suder was a two-time All-MAC first team honoree after transferring from Bellarmine, where he spent his first two college seasons.
If Pittsburgh Penguins' fans are hoping for GM and POHO Kyle Dubas to be active leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday, it appears the first domino may have fallen.
Well, even if the domino isn't quite as big as some were hoping for.
On Thursday, the Penguins acquired the rights to restricted free agent forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Lapierre, 24, was previously on a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Capitals last season, and he spent parts of four NHL seasons with Washington.
Selected 22nd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Capitals, Lapierre has yet to fully find his footing at the NHL level. In those four NHL seasons with Washington, he has recorded 13 goals and 47 points in 158 games.
The 6-foot, 195-pound center really put himself on the map with an impressive showing at the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he amassed three goals and 11 points in just five games. He has puck skills, scrappiness, and the creativity to open some eyes, but he hasn't quite been able to put it all together at the NHL level.
The Penguins can now extend a qualifying offer to Lapierre, which must be done by Jun. 30 - as is the case with their other restricted free agents in Egor Chinakhov, Ville Koivunen, Arturs Silovs, Alexander Alexeyev, and Joel Blomqvist.
