LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 15: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics drives against B.J. Edwards #50 of the Sacramento Kings in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics finished the regular season portion of Summer League at 3-1 with an 82-76 victory the Sacramento Kings. The wire-to-wire win included a strong defensive effort in the first quarter when the Kings only scored four points, the lowest in SL history. There’s still a shot for Boston to be a playoff team with today’s games still undecided.
Maine on my mind
Earlier in the day, former CelticsBlogger and Spotrac’s Keith Smith reported that Boston had signed Milos Uzan and Tucker DeVries to Exhibit 10 contracts. Tennies are basically non-guaranteed training camp deals that tend to subsequently lead to G League invites to Maine.
Uzan has been particularly impressive throughout this Summer League regular season. Kingston Flemings was the University of Houston’s highest draft pick at #8 to Atlanta, followed by Cenac Jr. to the Cs and Emanuel Sharp to Sacramento, but Uzan has been a pleasant surprise as the lone undrafted Cougar. He had another solid game with 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists last night and could be a good candidate to be the starting point guard up at the Portland Expo.
Milos Uzan, who is joining the Celtics at training camp on an E10, when asked about his conversations with the team and a potential two-way deal:
“My main thought process right now is just to go out in Summer League and compete and see where it goes from there.
“I know I’m going to be at training camp, so I’m just trying to keep getting better and just try to add value to the team,” Uzan said.
What could interesting is the fate of John Tonje. He was included in the trade that sent Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz and played on a two-way contract with the Celtics last season. Now, he’s effectively a free agent after the Celtics didn’t pick up his option last month. He hit 47.4% from 3 heading into the Kings game and made another 3-of-7 against Sacramento.
The 25-year-old is a capable second-side scorer as a spot-up shooter and close-out attacker, but he just lacks the athleticism on defense to hold his ground.
Hugo has been huge
I made this Hugo Gonzalez comp in our CelticsBlog Slack and I think it’s pretty accurate: Austin Reaves. Ridicule and disgust followed the comparison to the Laker. The sophomore still has three more years on his rookie contract while Reaves signed a four-year, $185 million max extension this summer. There’s still some ways to go for Gonzalez, but the tools are there. Hugo is the superior defender (by far) and the Summer League ## turnovers are an eyesore in his SL box score, but he’s on track with Reaves’ development on offense.
His Eurostep and decel have generated 15 trips to the free throw line — remember: Summer League is testing a new rule where one free throw is two points — and he’s dished out 17 assists in three games.
Admittedly, the grift isn’t exactly my favorite part of his game, but if his handle tightens up and his vision focuses, he could be a reliable ball handler in the second unit. That’s a huge development from last year when he was mostly used as a spark off the bench and a versatile defender.
Speak softly and carry a big stick
The marquee signing of this offseason was Mitchell Robinson. The former Knick earned a three-year, $47 million contract in Boston after finishing last season as one of the league’s best offensive rebounders and rim protectors. He’ll join last year’s breakout star Neemias Queta and second unit stalwart Luka Garza in the Celtics center room.
However, in the shadows of the Summer League, Boston is developing the future of their franchise in Amari Williams and Chris Cenac Jr. Williams spent last season in Maine on a two-way contract and he’s signed on again to do the same, but don’t be surprised if he’s converted into a standard deal again by the end of the year.
The prerequisite rebounding and rim protection is there — I swear there are times that Williams seemingly invites a driver to test him only for him to swat their attempt into the first row.
“It calms everybody else down,” SL head coach Amile Jefferson said of playing through Williams. “When you’re able to play off-ball knowing that we have a guy that—his strength is his passing. He’s creative. He can find you. If you move and you’re open, he can get the ball where it needs to go.”
He had three assists to go along with his seven rebounds and two blocks.
Chris Cenac is coming in with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove wrong the 26 teams that passed on him.
"I dropped way lower than I was supposed to in the draft, so I'm coming out, showing everybody what I'm capable of doing and … regretting the decision that they made." pic.twitter.com/ybMvWyGt9K
Cenac Jr. is a different animal. After making that game-tying three in the team’s opener against the Raptors that sent the game into overtime, he missed his next four attempts against Charlotte and Atlanta. Then, last night, he went 1-for-3 against the Kings.
His shot plot at Houston consisted of a heavy diet of mid-range jumpers. Think Chris Bosh or LaMarcus Aldridge. In the pros, that shot might need to migrate out to the three-point line and it looks like it’s already an adjustment that the team has made with him.
“I dropped way lower than I was supposed to in the draft,” Cenac Jr. told ESPN. “So, I’m coming out and showing everybody what I’m capable of doing and [making them regret] the decision that they made.”
Cenac Jr. finished with a strong double-double of 10 & 12.
Fort Myers, FL - February 17: Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow (center) talks to pitcher Brayan Bellow (second from right) and shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela (far right) during spring training at JetBlue Park. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Ceddanne Rafaela didn’t have a particularly impactful All-Star Game performance. But he did get a chance to reconnect with one of his baseball heroes and mentors. Fellow Curacaoan/defensive genius Andruw Jones was also in Philadelphia, and the two met up and talked for well over an hour. “I like everything I see,” Jones said of Ceddanne. “It’s hard to compare people to other people. It’s hard to compare to Ken Griffey Jr. It’s hard to compare to Willie Mays. It’s hard to compare to any great center fielder out there. I like what I see. He’s gonna be a great one.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Ceddy wasn’t the only Red Sox player who had a chance to connect with his countrymen in Philadelphia. When Aroldis Chapman entered the game in the ninth inning, he represented the seventh Cuban to play in the game, which broke a record. 25% of all Cuban big leaguers made it to the All-Star Game, compared to just 5% of big leaguers overall. “Happy and proud to be part of this group,” Chapman said. “That means a lot for us, and also talks about the season the Cubans are having and we are having. Hopefully next year, we get to break the record and bring even more.” (Anthony DiComo, MLB.com)
A few weeks ago, it looked certain that Chapman’s time in Boston would soon be coming to an end. But after a 14-2 run to pull themselves back into the postseason picture, talk of the Red Sox selling at the trade deadline has all but ceased. Now the players are sending the front office a clear message: it’s time to buy. “I believe [Breslow] and everybody in the front office will go out there and get what they think we’re missing,” said Rafaela. “Personally, I believe in the whole group and I believe in what we have. Of course we want everybody to stay together at the trade deadline.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Chapman could have a new (old) bullpen mate soon. Tommy Kahnle, who elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Sox just a few weeks ago, has re-signed with the team. He’ll head to AAA for now. (Chris Mason, MassLive)
So Kahnle may return to the Fenway, but what all about all the players recovering from injury? This notebook contains a rundown of injury news. Trevor Story is “progressing from sports hernia surgery more quickly than expected,” but none of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, or Isiah Kiner-Falefa are swinging bats yet. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Even had the team still been on the path towards selling, they might not have been able to trade Willson Contreras, who has a no-trade clause and is prepared to use it. “The front office knows the answer,” Contreras said when asked if he’d refuse a trade. “I don’t think I’m interested in going anywhere.” (Peter Abraham and Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
McLaren’s fourth change of power unit exceeds regulations
Reigning champion eyes overtaking opportunities
Lando Norris believes he can still be competitive at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, despite a 10-place grid penalty. The defending world champion will nonetheless have his work cut out at Spa after his McLaren team took a new battery for his car, the fourth, one more than is allowed.
Norris is fifth in the world championship, 82 points behind the leader, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. He and McLaren have endured a series of failures from their Mercedes power unit this season, including “terminal” issues with the power electronics unit, a part of the battery. One failed in China, one was withdrawn in Japan, repaired but failed at Monaco.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 17: Ryan Jeffers #27 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 17, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rarely at MLB’s trade deadline does a single, obvious player-team match take hold. Any player with substantial value who’s on the market tends to garner interest from across the league, making their landing place a mystery until the 11th hour. But when you cross-reference a thin market at catcher with a small number of teams feeling the need to substantially upgrade at the position mid-season, you can see why sportswriters around the league are shipping Ryan Jeffers to the Yankees.
The Yankees’ catchers have been a black hole at this plate this season. Austin Wells is hitting .155 and his backup coming into the year, J.C. Escarra, has been no better, playing his way back down to Triple-A. As a group, their 44 wRC+ is the worst among any team’s backstops and they’re on pace for an astonishingly low 41 RBI. Even if one of the pair of incumbents can show some signs of life, both are left-handed, making a right-handed platoon partner a clear area of need.
Enter Jeffers. At an offensively stunted position, the 29-year-old has quietly developed into one of the most consistent catchers in the game. He’s slashed .258/.346/.445 since 2023, averaging 22 homers and 78 RBI per 162 games. Among primary catchers over that span, his 122 wRC+ ranks behind only Willson Contreras, Iván Herrera, and Cal Raleigh.
He’s less of a difference-maker behind the plate. He was around the bottom of the league in blocking and throwing out runners last year and below average in framing, an area the Yankees and their catching coordinator, Tanner Swanson, have made a focal point in recent years. While he’s grading out a bit better this year, it’s unclear if that’s a small-sample blip or a product of sustainable improvement.
Jeffers was in the midst of a career year this season, posting a .949 OPS before landing on the IL with a fractured left hamate bone in mid-May. He returned to play in two games before the All-Star break and the early returns were encouraging.
The seven-year veteran is set to hit free agency after the season, making him a true rental. In a normal season, with the Twins hitting the break below .500, he would be a no-brainer to get moved.
Of course, in this year’s AL, things are not that simple. Minnesota is tied with Seattle for the third Wild Card spot and sits just three games behind the White Sox in the AL Central. They’ll be joining a cavalcade of teams faced with the same difficult decision: capitalize on a seller’s market to load up for the future or cash in some chips to fight for a playoff spot now.
There’s also the middle path. As Twins beat writer Matthew Leach suggests, GM Jeremy Zoll may opt to trade some players on expiring contracts while adding big-league talent to help them compete this year. Veteran backstop Victor Caratini filled in capably in Jeffers’ absence, slashing .282/.365/.496 since he went down. His presence on the roster would allow the Twins to move their starter without completely punting at catcher.
Should the Twins elect to move Jeffers, expect the Yankees to be at the front of the line. While his defensive profile does not line up with the team’s preferences at the position, beggars can’t be choosers. His bat from the right side paired with the left-handed Wells, who must be considered a glove-first (if not glove-only) catcher until he proves differently, would be a clear upgrade from Wells backed up by either Escarra or journeyman Ali Sánchez. If the Twins hold onto Jeffers, the pickings could get very slim among right-handed catchers very fast.
The NBA offseason is close to complete. Free agency, minus LeBron James’ next destination, is almost over. The draft has come and gone. A number of elite players, from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Jaylen Brown, have changed teams.
With that said, The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down the league’s landscape, ranking the teams from 1-30.
True title contenders
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
If healthy, the Thunder are the best team. Remember, top guards Ajay Mitchell and Jalen Williams were either significantly limited or out during the Western Conference finals against the Spurs, and that series still went the distance.
A healthy Jalen Williams helps make the Thunder the best team in the NBA, heading into the 2026-27 season, The Post’s Zach Braziller writes. Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
2. New York Knicks
The Knicks are basically running it back following their first title in 53 years — except for replacing Mitchell Robinson with Andre Drummond as Karl-Anthony Towns’ backup. They remain the best team in the Eastern Conference until further notice.
3. San Antonio Spurs
It’s a matter of when — not if — for the Spurs’ next title. The young big three of Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle have dynastic possibilities, and San Antonio made two intriguing first-round picks in Tarris Reed Jr. and Jayden Quaintance to improve its interior depth behind Wembanyama.
4. Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton is back, and so are the Pacers after a nightmarish 19-win campaign. The team that took the Thunder to seven games in the NBA Finals in 2025 will be mostly intact again, aside from Ivica Zubac replacing Myles Turner.
The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, are the No. 2-ranked team in the Post’s Zach Braziller’s 1-30 NBA rankings. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Can play deep into May
5. Toronto Raptors
As long as the Kawhi Leonard trade with the Clippers ultimately goes through, the Raptors have major contending potential. The 35-year-old Leonard is still a star — when healthy — and he joins a quality nucleus featuring Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley.
6. Philadelphia 76ers
It’s easy to see the 76ers having a big year, led by the big four of Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. But there are depth and chemistry questions to be answered for this top-heavy roster.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota had a fascinating offseason headlined by the blockbuster four-team trade that landed the Timberwolves LaMelo Ball and sent Naz Reid to the Hornets. Ball and Anthony Edwards could be terrific together — or a disaster. This is a boom-or-bust roster that no longer includes Julius Randle and will likely feature Jaden McDaniels as a small-ball four.
8. Boston Celtics
The Celtics got better on the interior with the addition of Robinson, but worse on the perimeter after the Brown trade. Jayson Tatum should be able to recapture his superstar form after returning from his torn Achilles tendon last season, but does he have a suitable wingman now that Brown is in Philadelphia?
Jayson Tatum should regain his superstar form next season for the Celtics, The Post’s Zach Braziller writes. Getty Images
9. Atlanta Hawks
Nobody gave the Knicks more issues in the playoffs than the Hawks, who returned their entire young core and had a terrific draft, selecting hard-nosed prospects Kingston Flemings of Houston and Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s.
10. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are basically the same team that couldn’t get out of the first round. After Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, there isn’t much there.
11. Houston Rockets
There is enough talent here to finish in the top half of the West: An All-Star forward (Alperen Sengun), quality point guard (Fred VanVleet), still productive future Hall of Fame wing (Kevin Durant) and on-the-rise young two-way star guard (Amen Thompson).
Pretenders
12. Los Angeles Lakers
It is now Luka Doncic’s team, after LeBron James’ departure. The Lakers have spent a lot this offseason already in bringing back Austin Reaves ($180 million) and signing Walker Kessler ($130M), Quentin Grimes ($60M) and Sandro Mamukelashvili ($52M). But those moves aren’t going to scare the Thunder or the Spurs.
With the departure of LeBron James, the Lakers are Luka Doncic’s team now. Getty Images
13. Miami Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo is now in South Beach, joining Bam Adebayo. That duo doesn’t have much help — Tim Hardaway Jr. and Andrew Wiggins aren’t difference makers — and it would be a stretch for the Heat to be considered a legitimate contender.
14. Detroit Pistons
It wasn’t so long ago the Pistons were favored to reach the NBA Finals. Now, after a playoff flop and an underwhelming offseason so far, Detroit may not even be in the top four of the East.
15. Orlando Magic
The Magic seemed primed to upset the top seed in the first round before Franz Wagner suffered an ill-timed calf injury. Orlando didn’t let that deter them from making a change at coach, hiring highly regarded Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney to replace Jamahl Mosley. That was the big change for the Magic.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland’s offseason is all about bringing back LeBron James. They let valuable forward Dean Wade walk in free agency and haven’t done much to upgrade after they were swept out of the Eastern Conference finals by the Knicks.
Play-in potential
17. Phoenix Suns
The additions of Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard provide offensive oomph, and the Suns also retained center Mark Williams along with guards Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie.
Former Hornet Miles Bridges will bring some more offensive punch to the Suns. AP
18. Portland Trail Blazers
Ja Morant and Damian Lillard are now part of the same backcourt mix that also includes Shaedon Sharpe. Deni Avdija is coming off a breakout season (24.2 points, 6.7 assists) and Donovan Clingan has shown potential as a rim-protecting court-spacer in the middle. Potentially fun team.
19. Utah Jazz
After four straight losing seasons, Utah may be ready to at least contend for a playoff berth. The second overall pick in the draft, Darryn Peterson, has superstar potential, and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen could be dynamite together in the frontcourt.
20. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte improved its frontcourt with the addition of Naz Reid, but got worse at point guard in losing LaMelo Ball. The Hornets, coming off their first winning season in four years, are betting big on Coby White to fill that void.
21. Washington Wizards
Say this for the Wizards: They’ll at least be worth checking out. Experienced veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis are joined by the No. 1 overall pick in AJ Dybantsa. Will this result in Washington’s first winning season since 2017-18? It can’t be discounted.
No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa makes the Wizards a team to watch this season, writes the Post’s Zach Braziller. NBAE via Getty Images
22. Golden State Warriors
Like the Cavaliers, the Warriors’ offseason hinges on LeBron James. Steph Curry and Draymond Green aren’t getting any younger, and Golden State hasn’t done anything so far to add to a 37-win team.
23. Dallas Mavericks
The big moves in Dallas aren’t player-related. They included hiring Masai Ujiri as the new team president and bringing in Michigan’s Dusty May as new head coach.
Enjoy the lottery
24. New Orleans Pelicans
How long do Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson remain in New Orleans? The Pelicans have two trade chips that could land them a ton of draft picks.
Zion Williamson’s long-term future with the Pelicans remains up in the air. Getty Images
25. Chicago Bulls
Top draft pick Caleb Wilson has been one of the stars of the NBA Summer League, an exciting young forward who the Bulls and new coach Tiago Splitter hope to build around.
26. Brooklyn Nets
A starting five of Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Day’Ron Sharpe, Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. is intriguing, and sure beats the tanking rosters general manager Sean Marks has given Nets fans the last two seasons.
27. Sacramento Kings
The Kings have reached the playoffs just once in the last 20 years, and have lost at least 50 games 10 times in that span. Expect the losing to continue next year.
28. Memphis Grizzlies
This is now Cameron Boozer’s team. The third overall draft pick is the face of the franchise after it sent Ja Morant to Portland. Patience will be required.
29. Los Angeles Clippers
After a decade and a half of contention, the Clippers are rebuilding. Hey, at least the Intuit Dome is cool.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are rebuilding after sending Antetokounmpo to Miami, ending what felt like an eternity of rumors involving the two-time MVP’s future. Get used to the lottery, Milwaukee.
That said, Stevens has to stay alert. The bigger judgment of the Brown trade won’t come until we see how Stevens maximizes the assets acquired. That is unlikely to be decided this summer.
But there are still a few other items to attend to, including …
The Payton Pritchard extension
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Payton Pritchard will be eligible for a three-year extension worth up to \$67 million starting in October.
Pritchard is eligible for a three-year extension at up to $67 million starting in October. Both sides should seemingly be motivated to get a deal done.
For the Celtics, Pritchard’s four-year, $30 million extension has made him maybe the best value contract in the NBA. From Sixth Man of the Year on championship-level teams to thriving in a starting role last year, Pritchard is performing well beyond the $7.8 million (4.7 percent of the cap) that he’ll earn this season (and the $8.3 million he’s scheduled to earn in 2027-28). The bump to an average annual value of $22.3 million rewards Pritchard for his current impact and banks on his continuing to be an impact player on title-hunting teams through Jayson Tatum’s prime.
For Pritchard, an extension would be a chance to finally cash in after earning just under $25 million over the first six years of his NBA career. His current deal will take him through his age-30 season. He could wait through the 2025-26 season with hopes of tacking on an extra year of guaranteed money — with the very real chance that he’ll put up some glitzy numbers this year after the Celtics moved on from Brown.
Alas, the history of small guards suggests that guaranteed money shouldn’t be messed with. Pritchard would still have a chance to earn another decent-money deal when this potential extension expired after the 2030-31 season.
The Jordan Walsh extension
David Butler II-Imagn Images
Jordan Walsh should be one of Boston’s most motivated players for the 2026-27 season.
Jordan Walsh, still only 22 years old, is entering the final year of a rookie contract that will pay him what’s currently a team-low $2.4 million this season. He becomes extension eligible on July 20. Walsh’s playing time was inconsistent last year, though he had stretches where rival players were gushing about his potential to be one of the most impactful wing defenders in the league.
Walsh could bet on himself knowing that increased opportunity without Brown around might drive his price tag up next summer. The Celtics are also overflowing with long, defensive-minded wings, and Walsh will have to decide if — like Ron Harper Jr. to start this summer — there’s a long-term number that Boston could entice him with now.
A Walsh who is playing for his next contract might produce the most motivated player for the 2026-27 season.
Filling out the roster
The Celtics currently stand at 14 roster players after waiving Dalano Banton before the start of Summer League. The team has often entered seasons with an open roster spot to maximize flexibility and can do the necessary money juggling before the finish line of the season.
The Celtics have obvious motivation to once again duck the luxury tax, which would reset current repeater penalties and allow the team to splurge more freely over the next two summers.
Second-round draft pick Dillon Mitchell has played well enough at Summer League to make it a conversation about whether the team should simply roster him now. Boston has typically started their second-round picks on two-way deals, though many have earned in-season promotions by the end of their rookie campaigns.
Boston has two two-way slots available, with only Amari Williams inked to one of three available deals. Mitchell and John Tonje would seemingly be favorites to earn those spots, at least based on Summer League returns.
Milos Uzan and Tucker DeVries have signed training camp deals with Boston, per Spotrac. The Celtics would likely prefer to funnel them to Maine as affiliated players if they don’t find roster opportunities with other teams out of camp.
Any other deals out there?
While August tends to be a dead period for NBA transactions, it’s also the time that teams start taking a harder look at where their rosters stand before players start rolling in for the ramp to training camp.
The Celtics should feel confident about where the roster stands at the moment. The addition of Mitchell Robinson shored up the team’s biggest area of need this offseason and delivered a key contributor from a rival (and title) team. The Celtics’ roster is well balanced with the additions of Mike Conley and Paul George. Boston’s current depth chart:
Ball-handlers: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Mike Conley
Wings & Swings: Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Sam Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Jordan Walsh
Bigs: Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Luka Garza, Chris Cenac Jr.
Two-way: Amari Williams, TBD x 2
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Celtics’ signing of Mitchell Robinson addressed their glaring need for frontcourt depth.
The Celtics are well-stocked at wings and swings. We suspect Boston will tread cautiously with playing time for both Conley and George, allowing younger players to continue to get necessary reps.
We’d also suspect that the team would wait until the season to make decisions on any areas of need. Hauser’s name will perpetually dance in trade speculation because of Boston’s depth and his manageable cap number. But his 3-point output could continue to be vital for a team that might double down on attempts from deep, especially with Robinson now on board to help track the misfires.
The big question — whenever the next opportunity presents itself — is whether Boston can utilize available salaries and its beefed-up collection of future picks to get in whenever the next disgruntled player hits the market.
Every season, a superstar balks at their situation. Boston has the necessary pieces — and, ahem, optionality — to at least entertain any pursuit.
Club options by end of October
The Celtics have until the end of October (when the 2026-27 season will have already started) to trigger the club options on draftees Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman. That’s just a formality for rookie deals. Scheierman is extension eligible next summer.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Bruce Thornton #2 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Houston Rockets second round guard Bruce Thornton has played pretty well through three NBA Summer League Games in which the Rockets have gone 2-1. Thornton has averaged 20.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game, shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from three-point range.
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Game 1 vs. Denver Nuggets: 27 points (7-18 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 7-7 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
Game 2 vs. Toronto Raptors: 17 points (6-17 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals.
Game 3 vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 18 points (5-9 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 3-5 FT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals
So what we’re asking you to do is give Thornton a grade for the Summer League so far.
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with results.
The NHL released its 2026-27 regular-season schedule Thursday as the league expands its campaign from 82 to 84 games.
San Jose will open the season at home against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 1 at SAP Center. The Sharks swept the Panthers 2-0 in their 2025-26 regular-season series.
The Sharks will stay at home to host the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 3.
San Jose’s first road game is Oct. 5 against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.
The Sharks have two six-game road trips — one within the first two weeks of the season — and two five-game road trips. Additionally, they’ll have a seven-game homestand in late January through mid-February.
San Jose will end its campaign with a three-game homestand: against the St Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild and the Anahaim Ducks for the regular-season finale.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Morez Johnson #14 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks, or at least the summer version of themselves, knocked off Cam Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night to win their first game of the Las Vegas Summer League. As the old adage goes, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and that should be true of any grandiose Summer League takes from Dallas’ first three games.
Nonetheless, after attending the Mavericks’ first game in Vegas and loosely watching the last two, there are at least some big picture thoughts that I think could matter as we get closer to the NBA’s regular season.
The rooks have impressed far more than the sophomores
It’s not like Dallas was in a position where they needed a second-year guy to come to Vegas and show that they’re too good for Summer League. Cooper Flagg showed plenty enough last year in route to winning Rookie of the Year to avoid playing in Vegas again. The Mavericks did, however, bring each of their three two-way contract players to Vegas, and the results have been mixed at best.
Ryan Nembhard was legitimately terrible against the Lakers on Saturday night, with five turnovers complimenting his 3-for-11 night from the floor. John Poulakidas has been fine, albeit the shot has been a bit uninspiring after yet another 1-for-4 showing against Memphis on Monday. And then there’s Tyler Smith, who received a DNP – coaches decision on Monday against the Grizzlies after playing just 28 combined minutes in the first two contests.
Meanwhile, Morez Johnson Jr. had 27 points in game one, Sergio de Larrea just dropped 16 points and 12 assists in the win over Memphis, Tobi Lawal is doing some fun athletic stuff, and Seva Ishchenko has been better than I thought in his three games of action. That juxtaposition leaves Dallas in an interesting spot as they evaluate what the end of the roster will look like.
Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio de Larrea two-man actions should be a bench-group staple
One of the more intriguing things about the first two games was seeing the synergy of the Mavericks two first round selections. In game one against the Warriors, Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio de Larrea hooked up for a couple of excellent possessions, with Johnson Jr. slipping a screen and de Larrea throwing an excellent pass, resulting in nice finishes at the rim.
Lo mejor de SERGIO DE LARREA en su estreno en la Summer League con los @dallasmavs 💫🇪🇸
🔹9 puntos 🔹6 rebotes 🔹5 asistencias 🔹1 robo 🔹1 tapón
As Sergio continued to get increasingly comfortable, you saw the best of him against Memphis. Twelve assists against that Memphis group is quite salty! De Larrea showed off his vision and passing creativity, throwing several pinpoint lobs for dunks. Of course, as the pair learns to scale this into the NBA there will be some challenges. But as an early return, I like the idea of this two-man tandem alongside Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
Seva Ishchenko isn’t ready for the NBA… yet
I’m actually more impressed with Ishchenko after the first week in Vegas than I thought! He’s been a pleasant surprise to watch, as he hasn’t been as overwhelmed athletically as many have feared. Granted, it’s been very hit or miss on that, but on the whole, he’s fit in quite nicely.
— FLOOR and CEILING (Wilko) (@wilkomcv) July 11, 2026
Another year or two of seasoning for The Big Lebowski would do him very well. The Mavericks should be angling for him to end up in a stronger European league than where he was last year, playing for Lokomotiv in Russia. Ishchenko needs to get stronger, which will help him overcome the issues he’s had finishing at the rim during the first week of Summer League. But there have been glimpses of what the vision there is. Here’s to hoping the Mavs can play the long game here.
When the Montreal Canadiens were manhandled by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, it was obvious they could have used more grit and physicality and needed more balance on the blueline. To truly contend, Martin St-Louis needs a defense corps he can trust and to spread ice time across. Overplaying the likes of Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson can work in the regular season, but deep in the playoffs, when everyone is playing through bumps and bruises, there needs to be more players the bench boss can rely on.
Arber Xhekaj didn’t play a single game against the Hurricanes in the third round. St-Louis preferred to use Jayden Struble, which shouldn’t have surprised anyone since the coach gives him more ice time than Xhekaj. While he may trust Struble more, the fact is that the Canadiens really could have used Xhekaj’s physicality in that series.
St-Louis has often said that he doesn’t want his players to take themselves out of the play by chasing the big hit, and while that’s something number 72 was often guilty of in previous years, he tidied up that side of his game this past season. That wasn’t enough to really earn him the pilot’s trust on the back end, though, and with Josh Anderson out of the lineup with an illness and Alexandre Texier injured, the blueliner made it clear he’d be willing to play on the wing if the team needed him to.
On March 29, St-Louis took him up on the offer and played him on the fourth line against the Hurricanes. The Canadiens won that game 3-1 with Xhekaj skating on the fourth line with Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher. The winger for the day spent 5:11 on the ice across six shifts and didn’t look out of place, landing five hits and blocking one shot.
The Sainte-Flanelle have a congested blueline, and they need some sandpaper up front. If Xhekaj gets into a fight and must sit for five minutes, it’s easier to handle if he’s a fourth-line winger than if he is on the blueline, especially if there’s another defenseman in the box.
At 25, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenseman would no doubt like to establish himself as a regular NHLer rather than a fringe player who needs to sit every now and then, alternating with fellow blueliner Struble. This would also open the door for Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher to enter the rotation.
So far this offseason, Kent Hughes has been unable to get some outside help to improve his roster, but if the Canadiens manage to reach a new deal with Xhekaj, moving him up front might address two of their big issues: getting tougher and having a more balanced blueline that the coach trusts and can spread the ice time more evenly. It worked for Dustin Byfuglien and the Chicago Blackhawks back in the day; why couldn’t it work for the Habs? Of course, Xhekaj won’t end up on the first line as Byfuglien did with Jonathan Toews and Patrik Kane, but a transition to the fourth line would still help the Canadiens.
It could also be interesting to see what a line featuring the Xhekaj brothers would look like in the NHL, but it would certainly bring a lot of physicality and grit. If training camp starts without the Canadiens getting any outside help, this is an idea worth exploring for the Habs.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Brandon Marsh #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies signs a replica Declaration of Independence lineup card during player introductions prior to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The fun of All-Star week has concluded and it’s time for real business to start up again. The Phillies will open the unofficial second half of the season tonight when they take on the New York Mets. Aaron Nola will be on the mound against Christian Scott of the Mets for the primetime game on ESPN.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize, left, talks to pitcher Tarik Skubal in the dugout during the seventh inning against Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Note: This piece was written before the Brewers traded for Lance McCullers Jr. on Wednesday. Ultimately, I don’t believe the Brewers are putting much stock in the oft-injured and otherwise ineffective McCullers as a person to do much besides eat a few innings, so I don’t think that trade materially changes any approach that I suggest they might take below.
Welcome back to the trade deadline primer series here at Brew Crew Ball. In part one, we examined the team’s needs — which, of course, have changed completely since I wrote that piece two weeks ago — and looked at the landscape across the league to see who might be selling (another fool’s errand to do with a month remaining to the deadline). In part two last week, we looked at potential targets that could bolster the Brewers’ bullpen.
Today, the focus is the starting rotation. Since I first wrote the initial piece of this series, Brandon Woodruff got injured and received ominous news that makes it sound like he won’t be pitching again this season. Kyle Harrison was placed on the IL, and while everyone is saying the right things to make us believe it’ll be a short stint that’s geared more toward rest than anything else, the term “forearm tightness” is never something you want to hear.
The point is, the Brewers’ desire for starting pitching is very likely a bigger priority today than it was two weeks ago.
The way I see it, there are two ways the Brewers could go about targeting starting pitching at this deadline, so I’m going to structure this piece a little differently than I did the relief pitcher article. Here, I’m going to break things into two different categories. The first group we’ll look at would be splashier moves aimed at raising the ceiling for the team’s postseason rotation — players who the Brewers would expect to make a start or two in a playoff series. The second (and larger) group is what I’d consider “innings eaters” — players who would maybe would not be expected to start in the playoffs barring injury, but who would be able to capably take some innings and pressure off of the younger starters throughout the rest of the season, thus keeping those arms fresh for the stretch run.
I’ll also try to not just discuss the players themselves, but also how realistic (or not) it might be that the Brewers could or would acquire them.
The Postseason Ceiling-Raisers
Let’s get the big one out of the way first.
Tarik Skubal is a free agent after the season. He has won the Cy Young Award in the American League each of the last two seasons. The assumption is that the Tigers will not be able to afford to keep him. Detroit is 44-52 and in fourth place in the abysmal AL Central.
Since the AL is so bad, the Tigers aren’t completely out of it, and they have played good baseball in July. But they’re still not good, and Skubal, even as a two-month rental, could net them a fortune. While I’m not sure that adding a very tip-top of the rotation arm should be the Brewers’ highest priority, the simple fact is that there isn’t really another player on Skubal’s level that’s expected to move at this deadline (at any position), and there’s certainly no reason why you wouldn’t want to add a guy like Skubal if you were trying to win the World Series.
There are some questions about his health. Skubal missed a few weeks earlier this season to get loose bodies removed from his elbow, but he’s been solid in six starts since coming off the injured list and while his numbers aren’t as good as they have been the last two years, he’s still clearly one of the best pitchers in the league.
A challenge here is that it is assumed that the Dodgers will be in on Skubal. Their top four prospects are all outfielders, three of them are at the same level in the minor leagues, and all four are ranked No. 31 or higher in MLB Pipeline’s top 100. They don’t really need them all, and it would seem logical that they’d be willing to build a package around one of them for the right piece.
The Brewers likely can’t beat a Dodgers offer unless they include Jesús Made (not happening) or Luis Peña (whose trade value may have taken a dip given how much time he’s missed this season). Would the Brewers be willing to part with Peña (and probably at least one more of their top 10 prospects, probably two) for two months and a postseason with Skubal? It doesn’t seem like the type of move this front office would make, particularly since even with Skubal, the Brewers would still be heavy underdogs in a series against LA. Likelihood: 2/10.
Another top-line trade target who has been talked about frequently this season is Minnesota’s Joe Ryan. Ryan, unlike Skubal, is under control next season (he has a mutual option, but if it’s declined, he just goes back to arbitration). Ryan isn’t Skubal, but he’s a really good pitcher: over the past three seasons, he has a 3.33 ERA/3.39 FIP, he’s been mostly healthy, and he’s made two All-Star Games (including this season).
The thing is, though, the Twins are not remotely out of postseason position, even while they are under .500. They don’t look like a good team but they’re only three games back of the third Wild Card in the AL. Their owner also appears to want to compete and doesn’t seem happy with the sell-off his brother oversaw last year. My guess is convincing the Twins to trade Ryan would require a significant overpay for a player that already would’ve demanded a huge prospect package; I don’t think there would be much discernible difference between the cost for Ryan and the cost for Skubal. Plus, the Twins are surely less motivated to make a move than Detroit is even if that package is available. Likelihood: 1/10.
There is another Tigers pitcher who is having an excellent season who is an impending free agent: former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize. It has taken Mize a while to become a good major league pitcher — after a promising rookie season in 2021, he missed most of the next two years when he needed Tommy John surgery. After two seasons as a roughly league-average starter after his return, Mize has found it in 2026 at age 29 to the tune of a 2.79 ERA and even more impressive 2.69 FIP in 14 starts.
From a financial perspective, Mize is quite cheap — his full season salary in 2026 is just $6.15 million — so that could be something that makes him attractive to the Brewers. He’s also got far less of a track record as a good player than either Skubal or Ryan, so while the prospect cost would be significant, it would surely be more palatable. Mize will be a popular target, should the Tigers sell, but he seems far more realistic to me than either of the two guys mentioned above. Likelihood: 4/10
Let’s talk about the next two in tandem. I don’t know if anyone has any idea what the Angels are going to do at this trade deadline; they’re working with interim general manager John Mozeliak, and while they are clearly bad, they also seem to think that “next year is our year,” so I’m skeptical they’ll trade anyone who isn’t a free agent after the season.
If they do entertain that possibility, though, there are two pitchers on their squad who are both 27 and both under control for two more years after this one who would both be intriguing pickups. The first is Reid Detmers, the No. 10 overall pick in 2020 and a former top 30 prospect. Detmers’ major league career thus far has been a roller coaster. As has become the Angels’ M.O., he probably debuted too early — he was barely 22 when he first arrived in the big leagues in 2021. He wasn’t bad in 2022 and 2023, but he wasn’t particularly good, either, and things went sideways in 2024 when he had a 6.70 ERA in 87 innings. Last season, Detmers pitched out of the bullpen, and while his surface-level stats weren’t great, there was some promising stuff under the hood.
That has continued this season. In a return to the rotation, Detmers has a 4.39 ERA — that’s slightly worse than league average — but his FIP is 3.36, and he’s got good peripherals with 10.2 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9. He’s also been quite durable, with 108 2/3 innings pitched as of the All-Star break.
The other interesting Angels pitcher was a big story in the season’s first month but has since cooled. José Soriano allowed just one run through his first six starts of the season — his ERA after six games and 37 2/3 innings was 0.24. Since then, Soriano hasn’t been all that good — he has a 5.15 ERA and 4.89 FIP in 73 1/3 innings across 14 starts since April 28. But I’ve long eyed Soriano as a potential Brewers target because he has certain traits that they value: he throws hard (96.8-mph average fastball velocity), gets ground balls (91st percentile), and has a lot of extension (78th percentile).
I imagine that because of these players’ relative youth, team control, and their high-ish profiles, the cost would be very high. There’s also the fact that no one knows what the Angels are going to do, and if I had to guess, I’d say that they’re going to make anyone who might help beyond this season more-or-less untouchable (even if it’s a dumb stance). Likelihood: 1/10.
What about Toronto’s Kevin Gausman? He’s in the last year of a five-year, $110 million deal signed before the 2022 season, and while he’s got a 4.33 ERA (105 ERA+), his peripherals are very much in line with what he’s done the last couple of seasons. Gausman isn’t as good as he was when he got Cy Young votes each year from 2021-23, but he’s still a solid pitcher who never gets hurt (at least 174 innings each year since 2020) and pitched very well for the Blue Jays in the postseason last year (a 2.93 ERA in 30 2/3 innings across six starts). It’s definitely an open question as to whether the defending American League champs would be willing to sell (they’re just 45-51 but only 2.5 games back in the Wild Card race), but if they do, Gausman is an obvious candidate. Likelihood: 4/10.
One last person that I’ll dedicate some actual time to is someone who is not having a good season, but who would surely get Brewers fans buzzing: Freddy Peralta. Things haven’t gone well for Peralta as a Met, though his peripherals aren’t all that far off what they were during his 2023-24 seasons in Milwaukee. The big concern here is that Peralta’s strikeouts have dipped — his 9.0 K/9 is the lowest of his career, and just the second time he’s ever been in single digits (9.9 in 2022).
The Mets should be willing to deal Peralta. He’s a free agent after the season, and given how poorly things have gone, you’d imagine they’re going to let him hit the open market rather than try to work out an extension before other teams get a crack at him. (They could also be curious to see if he bounces back after the All-Star break.) The optics of trading Peralta back to the Brewers — likely for quite a bit less than they gave up for him — would not be good for an already beleaguered front office. But if they can get something for him, they should. From the Brewers’ side, they may see a player they’re familiar with who they think they can get right, and even if they can’t, he would certainly fit the “innings eater” mold, as he’s been one of the more durable starters in the league over the last four seasons (and it’s not like he’s a disaster this season or anything). Likelihood: 3/10.
Finally, I’m going to zip through a few other potential but, in my opinion, extremely unlikely targets who fit the “ceiling-raiser” type.
San Francisco’s Logan Webb would surely command a king’s ransom if he were available; he’s been one of the best pitchers in the league for basically six years, he’s not 30 yet, and he’s got two more years of team control at an entirely reasonable $18 million a year. We haven’t really gotten any indication that San Francisco is interested in a multi-year rebuild, but if they do think they will go that way, they should absolutely dangle Webb, whose numbers are down a little but are still quite good.
I don’t see the Reds trading within the division really under any circumstances, but especially not when it’s a player who could help the Brewers beat them again next year. But if there were a world where Nick Lodolo was available to the Brewers, I’d be interested, even though his season has been inconsistent.
I suppose we should mention a third Tiger, Jack Flaherty, who is also a free agent after the season. He’s having an OK season, but he’s walking more batters than you’d like and he’s also been inconsistent over the last several years. The other thing with Flaherty is that he’s making a ton of money this season, $32 million, so the Brewers would probably want Detroit to pay some of that down.
Speaking of Detroit, Keider Montero and Troy Melton are both intriguing, but given that neither has even reached arbitration, I suspect the Tigers will hold them for the future, especially if any or all of Skubal, Mize, and Flaherty go. Somebody has to pitch. (Framber Valdez, another Tiger, makes too much money to be a Brewers target.)
There’s a lot of noise around Sonny Gray, who would probably be on the move if the Red Sox sell. Gray, though, has a full no-trade clause and there has been a lot of noise regarding Atlanta, so I don’t see a match with the Brewers.
Michael King is a solid pitcher and of all the starters on the Padres, he is by far the most desirable in a trade. The issue is money: King has player options in each of the next two seasons worth $25 million a year. Would the Brewers be willing to potentially take on $50 million in new money to acquire King?
A common name in trade discussions for over a year now has been Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner who is having a good bounce-back year after Tommy John in 2024 and a down season in his first year back. But the Marlins are too good to sell at this point, I think; the surprise team in the NL this year is right in the thick of it, and Alcantara is likely off the block.
There has been some talk that the Mariners would be willing to move one of their starters, as they essentially have six guys who would be in most teams’ top three. But the most likely candidate is the expensive and maybe-not-that-good-anymore Luis Castillo (he’s been a bit better over the last month but is still a net negative on the season), and the Mariners are definitely a team trying to win this season; their needs — a high-leverage reliever and a right-handed hitter — align too closely with the Brewers’ needs to make this a match that works.
The last one to mention in this section: All-Star Eduardo Rodríguez is having a very nice season for Arizona. But there’s a huge gap between his 2.25 ERA and his 4.00 FIP that gives me pause, and he’s not cheap either, with two more years at $20 million each. Rodríguez also has a limited no-trade clause, which he famously invoked when the Dodgers thought they were trading for him at the 2023 deadline. I don’t see this one as much of a possibility.
The Innings Eaters
Okay, so that was a whole bunch of starting pitchers who, were the Brewers to acquire any of them, would be expected to play a real role in a postseason starting rotation. But what if the Brewers aim lower? What if they’re just looking for someone to competently cover a bunch of innings between now and the end of the season so that players like Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison can get enough rest that they’re ready to go full speed in the postseason?
That invites a much larger player pool. These guys wouldn’t be the most exciting acquisitions, but they could certainly play a role. I’m not going to give likelihood ratings here, but I’ll comment on availability when I need to.
Looking back at Cincinnati, Brady Singer is an acquisition that didn’t really work out for them. His numbers this season aren’t very good, and he’ll be a free agent after the season. But what Singer can offer is durability: he has made at least 24 starters every year since 2021 and has thrown over 150 innings in each of the last four seasons. He’s not going to win you many games by himself, but if you’re just looking for a guy who can keep you in it, he’s not a bad choice.
One semi-intriguing option hasn’t pitched since May 15 but could be back by the time we reach the deadline, and that’s the Mets’ Clay Holmes. This is a move that might have a higher ceiling than just “innings eater,” as Holmes was an above-average starter last season and a good reliever for several years before that. But the Brewers would certainly want some guarantee of health before making the move. There’s also murkiness over next season: Holmes holds a $12 million player option for 2027.
Another Met, Sean Manaea, is making way too much money ($22 million this year and next) for a mediocre pitcher. He started the year in long relief, but he’s been solid since returning to the rotation in mid-June. If the Mets ate some of the contract, I could see it, but there’s no way the Brewers would do this if they had to pay the whole contract.
San Francisco has couple of veteran pitchers, Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle, who are both free agents after the season. Mahle’s surface numbers are poor, but the peripherals are a bit better, and he’s been decent at times. Ray is the opposite: the 2021 AL Cy Young winner has good surface-level numbers, but the peripherals are bad. Either could work if expectations are low.
The Royals have a few pitchers who could conceivably be involved in something. Seth Lugo makes too much money to be any sort of realistic target. Michael Wacha has a $14 million club option next season and has been solid, if not spectacular, this season — he’d be one of the higher-end “innings eater” types, but he might be good enough to tempt a new manager to use him in the playoff rotation, which I’m not sure would be good.
Kris Bubic could’ve been an interesting target — he’s a free agent after the season and was an All-Star last year — but he just had a setback in rehab from a shoulder injury, and he probably won’t be ready by the deadline.
There are a few Baltimore pitchers who might be worth sniffing around. Trevor Rogers was excellent in 2025 but hasn’t been nearly as good this year; he’ll be a free agent after the season. Dean Kremer missed two-and-a-half months this year with a strained quad, and he’s only made four starts, but last year’s version was a perfectly fine back-of-rotation starter, and he’s got another year of control. Kyle Bradish has two more years of control, but while he’s healthy this season he’s had injury problems in the past. His value is also low right now, so Baltimore might want to hold him to see if they can get it back up.
Might a team try to buy low on Boston’s Brayan Bello? He’s had a horrible season and was sent back to the minor leagues for most of the last month until returning right before the break. He’s not cheap, with three years and an option remaining all at about $9 million on a big extension he signed prior to the 2024 season. It would be a risky project.
San Diego’s Walker Buehler obviously has some experience, but there’s not a lot to like, there. Also on the Padres, Griffin Canning has been a bit unlucky but walks too many batters. I wouldn’t be excited about Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen, but if all you’re looking for is innings, he could handle it.
Arizona’s Michael Soroka has pitched well this season when he’s been healthy, but he’s currently on the injured list with a glute issue. He should be back before the deadline and might be an interesting pickup. A bigger name on that same club but one who seems to be broken is Zac Gallen, who is a free agent after the season but is making a LOT of money this year. He’s just been getting demolished; not sure what happened to him.
Wrapping up
Kyle Harrison’s availability moving forward is likely to be the biggest influence on what the Brewers do at the trade deadline. If the Brewers think (or know) that Harrison is fine but just needs a little rest, then you might see them pick up an innings eater type who, if needed, could throw a few innings in the postseason — think about a version of Jose Quintana from 2025.
But if the Brewers are worried about Harrison — or Misiorowski, for that matter — making it to the end of the season at full effectiveness, they might — and maybe should — make a more aggressive move.
If they’re aggressive, the names that make the most sense to me are Casey Mize, Kevin Gausman, or — as wild as it might seem — Freddy Peralta. If they go the other route and look for someone to fill in toward the back of the rotation, I could see Tyler Mahle or Michael Lorenzen as options. If they’re looking to thread the needle and going for a pitcher who is more of a question but has a bit of upside, I wouldn’t be shocked by a move for Clay Holmes, Michael Soroka, or Trevor Rogers.
The Skubal move just doesn’t feel right to me right now. The aging Dodgers can’t keep this up forever, and while they’ll surely keep replenishing, the Brewers might think they’ll be a little closer in a year or two, at which point they’ll make an all-in move or two. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but this is a fairly deliberate front office who has put a lot of faith in building from within. Getting a player for such a short period of time who won’t even make them the league’s favorite just doesn’t feel like a Matt Arnold move.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 27 Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes to the basket while guarded by Luke Kornet #40 of the Boston Celtics second quarter of a game at TD Garden on February 27, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday Luke Kornet celebrated his 31st birthday. But what I had not realized was that Tobias Harris also had a birthday. He turned 34.
Harris just signed with the Spurs on July 6, a week after the window opened on June 30. Harris also made The Ringer’s most recently updated Top 100 players, giving the Spurs a commanding eight players on the list.
Harris brings a veteran presence to the Spurs as well as placing more size (6’8” and 230 lbs.) and experience at the power forward position. There’s a solid chance he will be starting alongside Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Devin Vassell, fresh off their Race for Seis title run. A starting five of top 100 players backed by Dylan Harper, Julian Champagnie, Sixth Man Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, Harrison Barnes, and the aforementioned Kornet raises the Spurs level a notch going into the 2026-27 season.
Will that notch be enough to get them past OKC and over the hump that led to their Finals loss against the New York Knicks? Only time will tell.
Harris started in 63 games for the top eastern Conference seeded Detroit Pistons last season. He averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.92 steals in 27.7 minutes per game. Harris helped propel the Pistons back to the postseason and win their first playoff series since 2008. If he can do the same for the Silver & Black, a new dynasty could be on the horizon.
Happy birthday, Tobias. May all your birthday wishes come true.
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Jun 23, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Harry S. Truman may have said that the “S” doesn’t mean anything, but it’s likely he was just trolling the media. In fact, the “S” stands for two names: his grandfathers Shipp Truman and Solomon Young.
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
Most planets rotate on their axis in an anti-clockwise motion. However, Venus rotates clockwise in retrograde once every 243 Earth days.
Sudan has the most pyramids out of any country.
One of the mind-boggling fun facts: The plentiest pyramids in the world is not in Egypt! Instead, the record belongs to Sudan with 255 pyramids – which is twice the amount of the pyramids in Egypt.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 08: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton (52) is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after being releived during a regular season Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and the Detroit Tigers on July 8, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Following the developmental path of Detroit Tigers’ starting pitcher Troy Melton has been a pretty fascinating ride. Watching him improve in 2024, it was pretty clear that he would become a factor in 2025 if he could avoid the plague of pitcher injuries in the Tigers’ system, and so it went. However, during his mixed work as a starter and reliever down the stretch and in the postseason, his ability to handle left-handed hitters was the question determining his long-term future as a starting pitcher. This year, the 25-year-old Melton has found the answer, but it’s not the pitch we were expecting.
Last fall, I wrote about Melton’s splitter being the defining factor in locking down left-handed hitters, and argued that the cutter either had to get a lot better or be ditched entirely. Melton has chosen the first of those paths. He was good overall in his rookie season, and pitched pretty impressively in the postseason as well. Left-handers weren’t a huge problem for him, but they hit him quite a bit better than right-handers, and more specifically, Melton struggled to strike out left-handed hitters.
He managed a meager 14.2 percent K-rate against lefties in 2025. He struck out 26.2 percent of right-handed hitters. That was all fine in a relief role, but to really become a dominant starting pitcher, he was going to have to get a lot more whiffs against left-handed batters in particular. The .191 BABIP he ran against lefties just wasn’t going to hold up, especially as a full-time starter.
The answer, I assumed, lie in his split-finger fastball. Typically the development of a changeup or splitter is the key to limiting damage and getting whiffs against opposite handed hitters. Melton’s fourseam-slider combo wasn’t really going to get it done. Melton has gone another direction, turning his cutter into a monster weapon against hitters on either side of the plate.
In 2025, Melton threw the cutter just 10.8 percent of the time, regardless of which batter’s box the hitter was in. In 2026, that rate is up to 20.1 percent.
Against lefties, he uses the cutter 19.5 percent of the time. He’ll mix in the splitter (12.1%)and curveball (8.1%) sparingly against them, accounting for about 20 percent of his pitches to lefties combined. The slider is used 18.3 percent of the time against lefties, while the majority of the work is still handled by his fourseam fastball, which he throws 40.8 percent of the time.
So he’s still using a pretty deep mix against left-handed hitters, but the cutter is certainly playing a lot bigger role than it did in 2025. It’s also suddenly become a much better pitch in recent weeks. In 2025 he averaged 90.9 mph with it. He’s added a full tick of velo this season, but lately he’s really found the feel with it and is throwing it even harder, even topping 95 mph repeatedly in late June and July. Since June 15, the cutter is averaging 92.5 mph. There are only about 30 pitchers in the major leagues who average 92.5 mph with a cutter, and many of them are relievers.
Melton is getting a 23.9 percent whiff rate, which is nothing special, but hitters have posted a meager .158 wOBA against the pitch. The expected wOBA is just .196, so he isn’t just getting lucky here either.
The effect here is to give him a pitch between his relatively straight fourseamer that has average ride but a good angle to the top of the zone, and the slider he breaks off to back foot left-handers. Hitters have had a really hard time distinguishing between the slider and the cutter, and the result is that his slider went from a 23.1 percent whiff rate in 2025, with a big chunk of that coming as a reliever, to a 31.3 percent whiff rate in 2026.
I mean, deal with this thing after seeing the heater and knowing the wipeout slider is lurking.
Melton now has three pitches that he can work with to his gloveside, tying up left-handed hitters. They are doing nothing against him, hitting just .157. The one fly in the ointment is that when lefties do connect on his fourseam fastball, they’re crushing it, but the rise of the cutter-slider combo means they’re getting less fastballs, and a lot less obvious fastballs, no matter the count. Overall they’re striking out a lot more, and putting the ball in play weakly for the most part.
Right-handed hitters are doing even worse, and the cutter is a big part of that too as hitters have to look for two different hard breaking balls. The cutter looks like the fourseamer and breaks away late. Once they’ve seen that, there is less certainty for hitters when they see the slider come out of his hand. It could be the cutter, or it could be the slider, and they have to swing just as the latter disappears down and away for whiffs. The slider’s performance continues to improve as the cutter becomes more effective. Melton really has them on the horns of a dilemma trying to discern between the two breaking balls while knowing they could get 97-98 mph at the top of the zone with big-time extension helping it play up.
This is rapidly becoming a really deep mix of pitches for Troy Melton, and while his ERA looked unsustainable early on after his return to the rotation in late May, the stuff and underlying performance is rapidly catching up to the results, making the whole package look far more sustainable. We can still hope Melton gets more comfortable and consistent with the splitter, because it gives him another pitch beyond the fourseamer, curveball, and the occasional curveball that he can use armside, generating even more whiffs from lefties.
Overall, Melton still needed to punch out more hitters to turn himself into a top shelf, frontline starter that can lead a rotation. But with the amped up cutter, he’s now well on his way. He barely struck anyone out as he returned to the rotation in May, but he managed contact, didn’t walk hitters, and was somewhat fortunate. In June, his overall strikeout rate was just 22.1 percent but he was still limiting the traffic on the bases and occasionally giving up homers, but never a rally. In July, since he added more velo to the cutter? His strikeout rate through two starts in July in now 36.4 percent. You have to love the trendline there.
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