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Fullback has been in good form ahead of Nations Championship
James Slipper out of retirement as replacement loosehead prop
Jock Campbell will start at fullback in his first Test since late 2022 when Australia take on Ireland in their first Nations Championship Test on Saturday.
Campbell played the last of his four Tests in Australia’s first ever loss to Italy in Florence in 2022, but had an impressive season in Super Rugby.
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Guardians 9, Rangers 4
The Los Angeles Lakers' projected starting lineup for the 2026-27 season sparked a debate on race Wednesday, July 1.
The Lakers likely will have three White players in the starting lineup after acquiring center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a trade reported by ESPN.
Kessler is White, as are the Lakers' backcourt duo, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The lineup triggered jokes of "Snowtime," a reference to "Showtime" when the fast-paced Lakers were led by Black stars such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Adbul-Jabbar.
But the Lakers' new projected starting lineup also fueled strong opinions, such as the one shared by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, regarding the team's makeup in a league that is more than 70% Black.
"The Los Angeles Lakers think they going with a bunch of White dudes," he said on the Stephen A. Smith Show Wednesday, July 1. "Your three top players are White dudes? Really? This ain't golf. This ain't baseball. Hell, it ain't even soccer. What y'all think this is? Basketball. …
"You ain't going anywhere being led by three White dudes in today's generation of basketball."
3 WHITE DUDES?! The Lakers Really Think THIS Can Win a Championship?
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 1, 2026
👇 Watch the full episode. Link in the comments. pic.twitter.com/jTQ2vrDV7C
Kenyon Martin, a former No. 1 NBA draft pick who played in the league from 2000 to 2015, also chimed in on how the Lakers will fare with three White players in the starting lineup.
"Y'all lose in the first round (of the playoffs) either way it goes," Martin said on the Gilbert Arenas sport talk show, Gil’s Arena. "You play four White boys, you ain't gonna beat nobody … I want to know what team has been successful with that many on one roster."
On July 1, the Lakers also signed power forward and center Sandro Mamukelashvili, according to ESPN. Depending on on what the Lakers do with Rui Hachimura and other free agents, Mamukelashvili could emerge as a potential fourth White player in the starting lineup.
Debate over the role of race in NBA success has often led to tensions in a league that is drastically different than the overall U.S. population, which identifies as 57% White, according to Census estimates.
Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets' White, Serbian center, won back-to-back NBA MVPs in 2021 and 2022 and was named NBA Finals MVP in 2023, a year when he finished second to Philadelphia 76ers Center Joel Embiid in MVP voting.
Since the turn of the century, Jokic, Steve Nash (2005, 2006) and Dirk Nowitzki (2007) are White players to be named league MVP. Larry Bird (1984-86) was the last White NBA MVP prior to Nash.
Jokic and Nowitzki (2011) are the only White players to be named NBA Finals MVP since Bird won the award in 1984 and 1986.
For its part, the NBA has leaned into issues of social justice and cultural inclusion, a fact that Commissioner Adam Silver addressed in a 2016 interview. "I do feel a particular obligation to focus on the African-American community in that we have a league that is roughly 75 percent African-American," Silver told Andscape. "And I feel part of the obligation comes from the history of this league that I've inherited."
On X, Smith came under attack for allegations of racism.
Wrote one commenter, "Now, if a white journalist said the EXACT same thing about BLACK players, Stephen A Smith would accuse the journalist of racial bias. When do we stop with the identity politics?"
Another commenter wrote, "Skin color don’t win championships, skill does. Stephen A. race-baiting again. Garbage take."
Wrote yet another, "Mr Smith, your race card is showing."
Martin’s comments led to some pushback from Rashad McCants, a former NBA player and co-host on Arenas' show who pointed to the Utah Jazz teams that in the 2000s had a starting lineup featuring two White players, Andrei Kirlenko and Mehmet Okur, with Matt Harping, another key contributor, coming off the bench. Those teams went to the Western Conference Finals once and a the Western Conference semifinals twice.
But more people cited the Boston Celtics, who won the 1986 NBA title. The team's starting lineup included three White players: Larry Bird, Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers' new starting lineup sparks debate over race's role in NBA success
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani-fueled Japan craze has reached another level as fans are already trying to cash in on Thursday’s One Piece Night giveaway by selling cards they do not even have yet.
With the Dodgers set to host the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night at 6:40 p.m., eBay is already filled with listings for the exclusive “Monkey D. Luffy DON!!”
promotional card that will be handed out at the game.
The card is already being listed for as much as nearly $900, while some sellers are advertising PSA 10 presale versions for more than $3,500 despite the giveaway not taking place until first pitch.
Those eye-popping prices may seem outrageous, but last year’s promotion suggests they are not entirely far-fetched.
Completed eBay sales show PSA 10 copies of the “2025 Dodgers x One Piece Night Monkey D. Luffy” promotional card selling for more than $4,000, with multiple cards changing hands between roughly $4,000 and $4,600.
The free stadium giveaway has quickly become one of the hottest modern collectibles on the secondary market.
The booming resale market is the latest example of the “Shohei Ohtani Effect” transforming the Dodgers into Japan’s baseball team.
Since signing Ohtani, along with fellow Japanese stars Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers have secured more than 20 Japanese corporate sponsors.
The unprecedented wave of partnerships has helped push the club’s annual sponsorship revenue beyond $200 million, making Los Angeles the first Major League Baseball franchise to reach that milestone.
The collaboration also highlights the Dodgers’ growing ties to Japanese pop culture.
One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda, debuted as a manga in July 1997 before its anime adaptation launched in 1999.
The franchise remains one of Japan’s biggest entertainment properties, while its live action adaptation debuted in 2023 and has released two seasons on Netflix.
The Dodgers first teamed up with One Piece for a promotional night in 2025.
The first 52,000 ticketed fans through the gates will receive an exclusive “Monkey D. Luffy DON!!” trading card along with a co-branded Straw Hat.
Fans attending the game can also visit Centerfield Plaza for One Piece themed festivities, including a life-sized trading card display, photo opportunities and a special drone show before the game.
James Wiseman didn’t have a lot of luck in the NBA. He got drafted in Dec. 2020 and missed most of his first preseason when he got COVID. He injured his wrist and missed a month, then tore his meniscus near the end of his rookie season, which led to his missing the entirety of his sophomore season. During his third season, the Warriors traded him to the Detroit Pistons, a team that had four other centers, three of them his age.
He looked like he’d get a fresh start with the Indiana Pacers, only to tear his Achilles five minutes into his first game of the season. Wiseman would watch his team go to the NBA Finals with him out injured for the second time in five NBA seasons. He came back and played four games for the Pacers last season, only to be waived in favor of Warriors Summer League sensation/three-time dunk champion Mac McClung.
Now, his agent Misko Raznatovic, has declared that Wiseman will be continuing his career in Europe.
The move closes another chapter in the Warriors’ infamous “two timelines” approach to building their roster around unexpected lottery picks in 2020 and 2021. That in itself was justifiable, even if the team’s selections could have been better.
Wiseman was an intriguing raw talent who barely played college basketball, who ended up in a situation where injuries, safety protocols, and the competitiveness of his own team all conspired to stunt his development. Jonathan Kuminga was traded midway through his fifth season to the Atlanta Hawks, who passed on his option for 2026-27. Moses Moody was a solid selection for a No. 14 pick who suffered a horrific knee injury last season.
There were more issues with the Warriors doubling down and adding three more rookies to the 2022-23 team, but in short, not trading the No. 28 pick that became Patrick Baldwin, Jr. was indefensible at the time and even more ridiculous in hindsight.
Where does Wiseman go? There’s a lot of teams in Europe, though the pronouncement from Wiseman’s agent almost feels like he’s posting a want ad for his client, who is still only 25 years old. Another high-potential, low-results Warriors draft pick, Anthony Randolph, went on to win a championship with Real Madrid alongside Luka Doncic, and a EuroBasket title with Doncic on the Slovenian national team.
Wiseman deserves a fresh start, free from expectations and bad memories of the NBA. He’s still seven feet tall! And if he does find a home across the pond, he should see if his new team also has a place for Jonathan Kuminga in a few years.
I think it’s time to chat again about Eric Hartman. The Braves’ now top prospect completed a 20 HR, 30 SB season on July 1st, through 71 games of his season. He was also ranked the 25th prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America and it’s getting easier every day to see him in the top 10 by the offseason. This is simply a hugely valuable prospect coming from a 20th round pick just two years ago and the back end of the organizational top 30 as recently as March. While he’s only at high-A (probably not for long) and still has work to do on his game, he has rapidly become a potential superstar on the position-player side for an organization that desperately needed talent on that hitting side and has got it this year from not only Hartman.
Braves News
Veteran national reporter Bob Nightengale reported that the Braves are favorites to trade for perhaps the best pitcher in the world, Tarik Skubal according to rival executives. This doesn’t mean a ton to me, but its fun to consider.
One of Atlanta’s top prospects, Cam Caminiti will represent Atlanta in the MLB Futures Game during All-Star weekend.
MLB News
Baseball America dropped their mid-season update to their top 100 prospects list.
MLBPA released a series of proposals for the new CBA, as negotiations continue to occur very rapidly and publicly.
The Orioles and Nationals made their first trade since Washington moved from Montreal.
The Giants are placing star Matt Chapman on the IL, but expect it to be a short stint.
A’s DH Brent Rooker will get knee surgery, ending his season.
Rangers’ star Corey Seager is hitting the IL with a back issue.
The NBA is just two days into its 2026 free agency period and there’s already been plenty of movement.
Big trades and free agent agreements have already started to shift the direction of the league for the upcoming season.
LeBron James made it clear that he’s leaving the Lakers and exploring other options, while the Eastern Conference has already gotten stronger with the LA Clippers trading Kawhi Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors.
The Lakers replenished their roster with a flurry of news on Wednesday, July 1, agreeing to deals with four players, including Walker Kessler following a trade for the big man with the Utah Jazz.
But the biggest news on Wednesday happened out East, as Jaylen Brown’s time with the Boston Celtics concluded when he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Here’s a look at the latest odds for each team to win the 2027 NBA championship:
Odds via BetMGM as of 10:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 1
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are 76ers now title contenders? Early odds to win 2027 NBA championship
The Spurs, which didn’t seem to be preparing to make any major moves in the offseason, made a solid if not necessarily exciting addition. San Antonio agreed to a two-year, $31 million deal with free agent forward Tobias Harris using their full non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception.
The signing raises some questions about the starting lineup and how the rotation will shake up, but it also brings something the 2025/26 Spurs lacked: a floor-raiser that should bring stability to some units without taking anything away from a team that already had a sky-high ceiling.
Harris, 33, is a known commodity. The veteran was never a star, even when he was compensated as one, but he has clear strengths and not many significant weaknesses. His career averages of 16 points and six rebounds on solid shooting splits paint an accurate picture of the type of production he offers. At this stage of his career, his scoring is not what it used to be in his prime, but he’s someone who can hit an open three, score against mismatches from midrange and at the bucket, and keep the ball moving. Defensively, he’s not a stopper but uses his size and remaining athleticism well against forwards and has enough mobility to not be a sieve in the perimeter. He’s also a good rebounder and a durable player, appearing in under 60 games just twice, in his first two seasons, while playing 70 or more in nine of his 15 years in the league. In other words, a solid all-around contributor.
If that doesn’t sound too exhilarating, it’s understandable. The offseason has featured big, shocking trades involving stars and, in general, offers the possibility to dream about underrated signings that change the fortune of teams lucky or smart enough to find hidden gems. In that context, adding a soon-to-be 34-year-old forward who disappointed when a franchise bet highly on him and can be accurately described as steady if you are a fan of his game and uninteresting if you aren’t, can be considered disappointing. The mystery box is always more alluraing that an adequate prize, and the offseason is a time of endless opportunities until a team actually makes its moves and reality sets in. It’s fine to look at Harris as the big addition the Spurs made and be simply content instead of thrilled. He’s just not that exciting.
The thing is, these Spurs didn’t really need more excitement. Victor Wembanyama and the guards provide plenty of that. What a team that, at its best, can beat anyone while being exhilarating to watch needed was to not go through so many surprisingly low moments in which they look too young, too nonchalant, too predictable, or too confused to stop opponent runs or avoid falling into holes. San Antonio had arguably the highest ceiling out of any group in the NBA last season, as their trip to the Finals and the sizable leads they held in each game proved. The star power was definitely there. The problem was their low floor; they lacked steadiness during stretches, and that often got them in trouble. And in that area, a player like Harris can absolutely help, as he has done for most of the teams he’s played for in his career.
One of San Antonio’s issues was defensive rebounding. Harris is well above average in that area, performing well individually both in the regular season and the playoffs. Untimely turnovers were also an issue at times for the Silver and Black, and Harris is not a mistake-prone player. Occasionally, the offense would stall out, with limited players ending up with the ball in their hands late in the clock. Harris is not by any measure an offensive engine, as evidenced by the Pistons’ struggles to create good looks when Cade Cunningham didn’t have the ball, but he can bail out the odd possession as a pick-and-roll ball handler or post scorer. He has the size and strength defensively to survive against most forwards, and he knows when to direct his man towards a help defender, both qualities that some of the Spurs’ power forwards lacked at times. He’s a more reliable version of what the Silver and Black had, essentially.
The only area in which his addition brings uncertainty is in the rotation. How big will his role be, and what will happen to the other players who share his position? There is a serious logjam now in the frontcourt that could prove challenging to solve. The 96 guard minutes should be split mostly between De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, with Devin Vassell getting the remaining scraps. But what happens with the small forward and power forward minutes? Do Vassell and Julian Champagnie continue to start, or does one of them sit to make room for Harris, who has started for practically his entire career? And how does the playing time get split? There are 96 minutes to spread around between Vassell, Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and Harris. Someone is going to have a smaller role than they are used to, and it will be up to Mitch Johnson to figure out how to keep everyone happy.
What a great problem to have. With a couple of roster spots left to fill, the Spurs appear to have too many viable regular-season rotation players already and have added a proven playoff performer who averaged 18 and 7 for a second-round team last postseason. Whether he starts, which seems likely, or comes off the bench, Harris will be there when Mitch Johnson needs someone who will, more often than not, provide the production expected of him.
Normally, additions are judged by how much better a team is at its peak with them on the court. With Harris, that framework doesn’t really work because the best version of the Spurs didn’t have much room to grow beyond the internal development of their young superstars. What San Antonio needed was someone who was steady enough to help them avoid their worst version, and Harris seems like the perfect man for the job.
The Vegas Golden Knights entered the offseason with a decision to make regarding their goaltending.
Akira Schmid, who led the team in starts, wins, save percentage, and shutouts, was a pending Restricted Free Agent. And to keep him, the Golden Knights wouldn’t just have to come to terms with him on a new contract— they’d also have to move out one of the other goaltenders on their roster. would have to move out one of the other goaltenders on their roster.
Because Schmid led the team in every statistic, questions arose about Adin Hill and his future in Las Vegas. Hill backstopped the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup just three years ago, but after a down year in which he posted a career-worst .871 save percentage, his value has never been lower.
Moving Hill would be complicated, as he has a 10-team no-trade list. But he’s set to make $6.25 million for the next five seasons, and the Golden Knights are always looking to shed salary.
It seemed like the Golden Knights answered all of the questions about the direction they’d take with their goaltending when they traded Schmid to the Florida Panthers on Monday. And if there were any remaining doubts, general manager Kelly McCrimmon left no room for interpretation when he spoke with the media following day one of Free Agency.
“My opinion is that you need two good goalies,” said McCrimmon on Wednesday. “You set out on September 1st, and if you’re hoping to play in the Stanley Cup Final, you’re going to play 104, 105 hockey games. You need two goaltenders to get through that.
“I think we have a great tandem,” McCrimmon continued. “I think Adin is gonna bounce back; I think he’s a good goalie who had a tough season. We need him to revert to form, and we expect that he will. Carter made a great impression, getting us straight to the Stanley Cup Final. So, I think we’re in good shape at that position.”
Jaylen Brown may have to say sorry to Joel Embiid for comments he made on a Twitch stream this offseason, now that the two will be teammates in Philadelphia.
Following the news that Brown was being traded to the 76ers as part of a blockbuster deal that sent Paul George to the Celtics, a clip from earlier this year of Brown calling Embiid a flopper resurfaced on social media.
The clip was from a livestream that took place just after the Sixers eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs in the first round.
Jaylen Brown called Joel Embiid a flopper in multiple live stream water Boston lost to Philadelphia…
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) July 1, 2026
Now, they’re teammates
Thoughts?pic.twitter.com/cRQ1vChYvg
“This is my personal opinion on basketball, some of ya’ll might disagree, but argue with your grandma,” he said in the clip. “Flopping has ruined our game. Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in f–king basketball history. Flops. He know it. This ain’t breaking news. It is what it is. Ya’ll can clip it up. Like I said, ya’ll can post it on these paid accounts…whatever.”
People seemed to take his words at face value and clipped the comments, and now they’ve come back to haunt Brown a bit as he heads to a new team.
While the comments now look a bit foolhardy, it’s unlikely to create any real issues, and Embiid is sure to welcome the help as the 76ers try to bounce back after being knocked out of the postseason by the Knicks in a sweep that included Xfinity Mobile Arena being taken over by Knicks fans.
Brown is coming off a regular season in which he had a career-best 28.7 points per game, while adding 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games for the Celtics.
The trade came after Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens spoke highly of Brown in the face of rumors the team was interested in moving him.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Stevens said in late June. “I’m never going to predict the future. Every indication, everything I think about, over the last few years, has been building around those guys.
“You never know. But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate and a great person to be around.”
Josh Hart said what many were thinking as the NBA offseason shakes up the Eastern Conference.
On Wednesday, the Knicks star and NBA champion took to X to share his thoughts.
“This East offseason is crazy,” Hart posted to his X account.
Crazy indeed. On Wednesday, the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
After much speculation surrounding his future in Boston, where he won an NBA title in 2024, Brown has a new home, and it’s with a rival team in the East.
Much of the chatter around Brown came after the Celtics missed out on Giannis Antentokoumpo, who was dealt to the Heat from the Bucks for a haul of players and picks.
Another story out of the East was Hart’s now ex-teammate Mitchell Robinson, who is heading to Boston in free agency.
Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He had been the longest-tenured Knick and spent eight years with the organization.
Robinson bid the Knicks farewell on his Instagram account on Wednesday.
“New York Knicks fans and the whole Knicks organization, the past 8 years have been the highlight of my life. I can’t thank you guys enough for the journey and opportunities. I know it’s a lot of emotions going around trust me I feel it myself but I will always have love for where it all started! I love you and will miss you. Once a Knick always a Knick,” Robinson said.
It’s only Day 2 of NBA free agency, so surely there is a lot more to come from around the league.
The Dallas Mavericks “emerged as the leading suitor” to trade for the services of Detroit Pistons backup guard Marcus Sasser on Tuesday, according to a report.
A day later, reports are that the deal to acquire Sasser is all but done and will be completed on Wednesday as soon as the offseason trade moratorium is lifted.
NBA insider Jake Fischer was the first to report the development, which only really bubbles to the surface of the conversation surrounding the team since the Mavericks desperately need help at guard as free agency kicks into gear. Marc Stein confirmed the deal with additional details on Wednesday.
Sasser grew up in the Dallas area and attended Red Oak High School, just south of Dallas, from 2015-2019. He starred at the University of Houston under defensive-minded head coach Kelvin Sampson after that. His homecoming will also give Sasser more of an opportunity to see consistent minutes than he got in his first three years in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons.
It wasn’t immediately made clear what the Pistons would get from the Mavericks for Sasser, but with Detroit reportedly in the market for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe, both the Sasser and the previously reported Santi Aldama trades could end up lumped into a multi-team deal to help the Pistons get there.
Sasser was limited to just 38 games during the 2025-26 season and played just 12 minutes per game, after playing more than 19 minutes per game during his rookie year in 2023-24. He has shot right at 40% from 3-point range the last two seasons, though.
He hustles and he defends, like all good Kelvin Sampson products do. His right hip started bothering him during training camp before the start of last year and kept him out about a third of the year, before the hip issue resurfaced in March.
Still, listening to Pistons fans talk about him, you get the sense that this guy is worth at least an extended look. There’s at least something there. He was, after all, drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was initially thought of as a guy who would do a little more than average five points and two assists per game.
Dallas may be just the kind of landing spot a guy like Sasser needs. If he’s healthy, he should get minutes. He should get the opportunity to make an impression.
When the Winnipeg Jets selected Ville Heinola with the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, they believed they had landed one of the game's brightest young defencemen.
On Wednesday, that chapter officially came to an end as the unrestricted free agent officially locked in on a one-year, one-way contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. Thus ending a seven-year tenure in Winnipeg that never came anywhere near close to matching the promise of its beginning.
For the Golden Knights, it's a low-risk opportunity to uncover untapped potential. For the Jets, it's another reminder of a development story that never quite made sense.
The most puzzling part of Heinola's career in Winnipeg is that the organization initially appeared completely sold on him.
As an 18-year-old, Heinola not only cracked the Jets' opening-night roster in 2019, but immediately became a trusted contributor. He averaged nearly 20 minutes per game during his first eight NHL contests, saw power-play time and produced five points. Along the way, he became the first player born in the 21st century to record both an NHL point and an NHL goal.
At that point it was a diamond found in the rough, a needle in a haystack. Likely something that was looking to be a long-term NHL fit between the player and the Jets.
But like Sami Niku and others before him, things just didn't seem to work out between the player and the Jets.
Despite repeatedly demonstrating his offensive instincts and puck-moving ability, Heinola never received another extended opportunity in Winnipeg. He bounced between the Jets and Manitoba Moose, where he consistently produced at nearly a point every other game from the blueline, only to find himself back in the minors or watching from the press box whenever the NHL roster became healthy.
The Jets didn't simply prioritize established veterans over Heinola. They routinely found opportunities for others.
Whether it was Logan Stanley, Colin Miller, Haydn Fleury or a revolving cast of depth defencemen, Winnipeg continually leaned toward experience or size while Heinola waited for another chance that just didn't come his way.
To be fair, circumstances weren't always on the organization's side.
Just as Heinola appeared poised to finally secure a full-time role entering the 2023-24 season, disaster struck. A fractured ankle suffered during training camp required surgery and wiped out what many believed would be his breakthrough campaign. Complications during his recovery only delayed his return further.
Those injuries undoubtedly altered his trajectory, but they don't explain why a player who looked NHL-ready at 18 finished his Jets career with just 58 regular-season games.
Yes, read that again: 58 NHL games over his seven years in town.
When he was first called into action, the Jets trusted him enough to play nearly 20 minutes a night. Years later, after dominating stretches in the American Hockey League and gaining additional experience, those same opportunities never materialized again. It seemed as though Heinola's leash actually became shorter, not longer with experience/age.
Perhaps Heinola simply wasn't destined to become the top-four defenceman many projected on draft day.
That's entirely possible. But that's also what makes this story frustrating for the team, managerial staff, coaches, fans and the player himself. The Jets never truly found out.
Rather than giving their former first-round pick 40 or 50 consecutive NHL games to determine exactly what they had, Heinola spent years in hockey's version of limbo—too good for the American Hockey League, yet never trusted long enough in the National Hockey League to establish himself.
In all fairness, Heinola was a press box regular, despite his clear talents. Now it is Vegas' turn to figure out his place.
The Golden Knights have built a reputation for identifying overlooked talent and putting players in positions to succeed. At 25 years old, Heinola still possesses the skating, vision and puck-moving ability that made him a first-round selection. If he finds a regular role, few around the league will be surprised. He has always lacked size, but really hasn't made that an issue anywhere - except for its perceived issue in Winnipeg.
If Heinola carves out a meaningful NHL career in Vegas, the conversation won't simply be about a player who needed a change of scenery. It will instead be about a talented first-round pick whose greatest opportunity never came with the team that drafted him.
Hello, July. Hello, elusive win No. 50. Hello and safe travels to Mexico, English World Cup fan contingent. Braves Country, there was a lot to like about tonight’s 5-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.
But first, the wink heard ‘round the world.
The offense would eventually come alive late after being pretty dormant (again), but for seven whole innings, the Braves’ lead was courtesy of Ozzie Albies. Ozzie is more than worthy of being this year’s starting second baseman for the NL at the All-Star game. Our petit sparkplug deserves the world.
Ozzie was doing it all himself versus starter Michael McGreevy, starting with an RBI double in the first to drive in Drake Baldwin. We don’t talk about what else happened there because Ozzie then made up for it with a go-ahead solo homer in the third inning to make it 2-1 Braves.
And thus the score would stay for the majority of the game.
This was a sorely needed outing for Reynaldo López. He was fired up as he left the mound for the final time tonight, and rightfully so. Giving us a sense of deja vu, he had yet another shaky first inning. He gave up a ground rule double to Iván Herrera, who would come home to score on a Jordan Walker single. But he held the Cardinals to those two hits in his five innings of work. The only other baserunner allowed was JJ Wetherholt, who worked a walk in the top of the third. The velocity returned, the locations were better, and he ended the night with six strikeouts. It was a beautiful glimpse of the Reynaldo we’ve been missing.
And thankfully, we can appreciate the outing all the more since they didn’t succumb to the temptation of having him go back out for the sixth after throwing 69 pitches. The call to the bullpen was to bring in the D’s: Didier Fuentes was sandwiched between our two lefty Dylans, and all three threw perfect innings to preserve the slim one-run lead.
Michael McGreevy got Chris Sale’d by his offense: pitching a quality start, but being charged with the loss. He departed after six innings of two-run ball and was followed by Max Rajcic, who worked around two walks to keep the score 2-1. But reliever Justin Bruihl was not so lucky. Facing the top of the order, he walked Drake Baldwin and Ozzie reached on a fielding error by Blaze Jordan. Matt Olson’s flyout allowed Baldwin to advance to third. Michael Harris II then came through with an RBI single for a much-needed insurance run.
Gordon Graceffo came in to get the remaining two outs and immediately allowed an inherited run to score as Mauricio Dubón hit a sacrifice bunt sans the sacrifice. Cue the Ozzie wink.
Dominic Smith wanted in on the action and singled to right, but Jordan Walker made an unbelievable throw to cut down Harris II at the plate. This allowed Dubie to get to third.
Friends, rejoice. Your eyes do not deceive you – that’s is Austin Riley at the plate in the highlight below. And he does hit an RBI single to make it 5-1 Braves.
While it was no longer a save situation in the ninth, he was up, so Raisel Iglesias jogged out and promptly slammed the door. Braves, and I cannot emphasize this enough, win.
Maybe the problem really was June… only time will tell. In addition to a month-opening victory, López’s great start and the bullpen usage here means they were able to stay away from Hurston Waldrep, who could make the start in tomorrow’s rubber match / series finale. But that’s a tomorrow problem. For tonight, just enjoy this win. We really needed it.
Sometimes, we build something up in our mind for weeks or months or years, and then the moment comes, and it's over in a flash. The Lakers' summer of 2026 felt like that.
Before Luka Doncic fell into their laps and gave a direction to a roster retooling, the Lakers were pointing to the summer of 2026. That was when their books would be clean, they would have some draft picks to trade and they could take a big swing. The summer of 2026 was when the Lakers would reshape the roster for the future.
Then everything happened in a span of an hour on Wednesday — a blockbuster trade, a rapid succession of free agent signings — and with that, the Lakers have pushed all their chips into the middle of the table, going all-in on what happened in that hour. This is their core.
The foundation for that magical hour was laid in two steps. First, the Lakers re-signed secondary shot creator, fan favorite and Doncic's friend Austin Reaves to a four-year, $184.8 million extension. That was more than the Lakers had hoped to spend, but Detroit was lurking with a max offer, so to keep Reaves that was the price.
The second step was finalized Tuesday when LeBron James made official something that had felt like it was coming since before Christmas — he would not be returning to the Lakers. The exit of someone who brought the Lakers back to relevance and earned them banner No. 17is underappreciated by too many of the team's fans, but it also was time — and the Lakers needed the cap space his exit created.
Then, in the span of 45 minutes, the Lakers changed everything.
First, the Lakers traded for Walker Kessler, the 24-year-old, 7'2" center that everyone around the league expected the Jazz would hold on to long-term. However, the lure of essentially four first-round picks — two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033) and two first-round pick swaps (2028 and 2030) — was too much for Utah to pass up.
Kessler is exactly the kind of force at the rim that the Lakers need on both ends of the court. Most importantly, Kessler is a high-level shot blocker — and the Lakers are going to need that with Doncic and Reaves out on the perimeter. Kessler has averaged 2.4 blocked shots per game over his career, and he is one of the few centers who will block shots with either hand.
Walker Kessler block reel
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) June 30, 2026
Who should prioritize him in free agency? pic.twitter.com/8BnzmnvFaZ
He is also a big body who sets a good pick, rolls hard to the rim, and knows how to finish. Consider how good Luka Doncic has made players like Daniel Gafford and Deandre Ayton look at points, and now imagine how that looks for a high-level finisher like Kessler.
Kessler is someone the Lakers fans can truly rally around after spending years trying to talk themselves into Deandre Ayton or Christian Wood or whoever the Lakers rolled out at the five.
While the basketball world was still reeling from the Kessler trade, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka sprang into action and signed three free agents: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton.
• Mamukelashvili is a 6'9" power forward who shot 38.9% from 3-point range last season. He spaces the floor and is coming off a quality season in Toronto, where he earned Sixth Man of the Year votes. (It wouldn't be surprising if he ends up a starter.)
• Quentin Grimes brings the kind of two-way, defense on the perimeter play — and grit — the Lakers need. And he is ready to come to Los Angeles.
— Quentin Grimes (@qdotgrimes) July 1, 2026
• Collin Sexton is a bucket getter, and that matters. The Lakers were 29th in the NBA in bench scoring last season, 29.3 points per game, and Sexton will step that up.
This is the Lakers' core.
The Lakers emptied the treasure chest to buy this team — they have nothing left. The only draft picks they can trade are a 2032 first-round swap and a 2033 second-rounder. That's it.
They are about to get expensive, too. There won't be a ton of flexibility.
Doncic has proven he can lead a team to the NBA Finals. Reaves and Kessler are now part of the core but have yet to truly be tested in the playoffs. This is a nice group of role players, but can JJ Redick bring them all together?
There are a lot of questions, but the Lakers have done what they promised in 2026 — they have taken a home run swing. Now we'll see if they connect.
