Buffalo Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated in his comments at the season-ending media availability last month that at the top of his agenda was to work on extensions for defenseman Bowen Byram and winger Zach Benson. A report this week from TSN’s Darren Dreger indicated that one of those items may be more difficult than expected, as Byram’s name has begun circulating in trade speculation, but ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported on Friday that the Sabres are working on a long-term extension for Benson.
The 21-year-old winger is coming off an impressive nine-point performance in the playoffs after his third NHL season, and according to Weekes, the Sabres are looking to sign him to a seven-year deal in excess of $7 million per season, similar to what the club inked linemate Josh Doan to during the season. Benson is a restricted free agent this summer and has played the third-most games of any player selected at the 2023 NHL Draft (only Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli have played more).
"We locked up Josh early, because we saw the character, the competitiveness, and potential for a leadership role long to the future." Kekalainen said. "(Zach is a) true core piece that fills all the boxes, maybe not the height, (but) everything else. The way he plays, how he's just relentless, a dog on the bone. I can't say enough good things about Zach Benson. He's got skill, he's got hockey sense, he's got instincts. He's relentless, he's a competitor."
Thoughts on the Michael Kesselring trade to San Jose
The Sabres enter the summer with just under $12 million in available cap space, with Benson, and forward Peyton Krebs as restricted free agents and wingers Alex Tuch and Beck Malenstyn as unrestricted free agents.The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun all reported last week that there is a significant gap between the Sabres and Tuch on a new deal.
The 30-year-old is expected to draw the most attention on July 1 and is reportedly looking for more than $10 million per season on a long-term deal. With the Sabres limited cap space this summer, if they lock up Benson to an extension, it would likely mean the end of any chance of re-signing Tuch, unless they clear out other contracts to make room.
Buffalo could facilitate some return for Tuch, by trading him his negotiating rights before the start of free agency or doing a sign-and-trade at or around the NHL Draft, as Toronto did with Tampa Bay defenseman Darren Raddysh on Friday, but that would likely result in a mid-round pick, as the Lightning got for the pending free-agent blueliner.
The Knicks just finished off a season in which they ended a 53-year long championship drought by hoisting the Larry O'Brian Trophy after beating the San Antonio Spurs, 4-1.
They'll now look to defend their title next year and will do so by adding some young talent to the roster in this year's NBA Draft. New York owns the No. 24 pick, as well as the No. 31 pick (via the Washington Wizards) and the No. 55 pick.
So, here's what the draft experts have the Knicks doing in the first round.
Lopez possesses a powerful, yoked frame and projects as a big-bodied forward who can, in theory, be a three-and-D threat. Both the jumper and the defense are a work in progress, but the good thing for the Knicks is that they have time to wait to see if the potential can turn into production. New York would be a strong landing spot because Lopez wouldn't be overextended.
The Knicks hadn't even enjoyed their championship parade yet when team governor James Dolan warned of possible spending restrictions this summer. If Mitchell Robinson didn't feel like a major flight risk in the afterglow of that title run, the bouncy big fella sure feels like one now.
Frontcourt reinforcements might be a must here, in other words, and Cenac could intrigue for the possibility of filling multiple roles within it. He lacks polish (with his skills and his approach), but he has big man size and swingman fluidity, so with the right amount of patience, he could handle minutes at the 4 and the 5 with ease.
The Knicks have prioritized scrappy, high-motor players capable of winning the possession battle through rebounds and turnovers like Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie.
The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz and should intrigue teams in this range, who may like the high assist-to-turnover ratio he recorded (2.3) last season.
Veesaar's perimeter shooting and sheer size should give him a path to rotation minutes relatively early and have put him in play for first-round teams that need depth at center. The Knicks are a team that probably will look at bigs, whether at this spot or later, with Robinson a pending free agent.
The Knicks also have the No. 31 pick, giving them bookend picks on this next range of the draft and a pathway to adding two potential rotation players in a cost-effective way -- a highly important task as they work to sustain a contending roster.
Congratulations to Knicks fans for winning the championship! Robinson grabbed a clutch offensive rebound in the closing moments of the game, but he’s a free agent this offseason so the Knicks may need to replace him. Peat's bloodline is so loaded with offensive linemen that it's almost funny he ended up playing basketball. His father played nine NFL seasons. His uncle was a Pro Bowl tackle. Two brothers played college ball on the line. And you can absolutely see it in how he plays: powerful, physical, relentless, and it genuinely takes something special to stop him from getting to where he wants to go.
He opened the season with a 30-point game against defending champion Florida and backed it up as one of Arizona's best players all year on its way to the Final Four. Since Peat can’t shoot yet, it’ll be important that he’s paired with a floor-spacing center like Karl-Anthony Towns. Or he could serve as a small-ball center in switchable lineups. So even though Peat entered the year with top-10 hopes, it might be a blessing in disguise for him to fall to the end of the first round.
That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.
So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.
“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”
After the recent trade with the Maple Leafs, the Flyers have only four picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said June 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.
“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”
“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).
“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”
Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.
Next up:
Brooks Rogowski
Position: Center Height: 6-foot-7 Weight: 235 Shoots: Right Team: Oshawa
Scouting report
The massive pivot uses his frame and length to be a disruptive role player. He’ll make life difficult on the opponent by setting up in front of the net and being opportunistic offensively. He also moves well for his size.
Rogowski was limited to 46 games this season because of some injuries, but he put up 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 46 games for Oshawa. He had nine multi-point games. His minus-24 rating came on a Generals team that finished last in the OHL and owned a minus-96 goal differential.
The 17-year-old opened some eyes with his effectiveness on Team USA at the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship, a tournament that ended last month. Rogowski had three assists and a plus-4 rating in four games.
“The thing with him was I actually liked him the best at the U-18s,” Daily Faceoff associate editor and prospect analyst Steven Ellis said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He was a fourth-line center at that tournament. I think that was where he really started to show that when he’s in a fourth-line role, he can overwhelm guys, he can go out there and take space away, push guys around. He has got the big frame obviously — 6-foot-7 and, like, 2-bazillion pounds. He’s a heavy dude.”
Rogowski, who turns 18 next week, probably has a ceiling of a third-line center in the NHL. He’s not expected to be a scorer at the next level, so his upside is not as high. But his sheer size and mobility could give him a real solid career.
“He really showed he can be a prototypical fourth-line center who can actually move pretty well, he can bully guys,” Ellis said. “He’s not necessarily a mean player, but he can be if he needs to and he has got a long reach.
“It seems like a fourth-line center is kind of where he is and that’s partly why I don’t really have him highly rated. I think he’s going to play a lot of games in the NHL, which is why he’s at least a second-round pick. But I don’t think he’s a first-round talent, that’s my concern.”
Those selections may make Rogowski a little less appealing to the Flyers.
But if the Flyers wanted to continue with an imposing look down the middle, Rogowski would bolster that theme. The Flyers would have a ton of size with Rogowski, Nesbitt, Gard and Jack Berglund, a 2024 second-rounder.
However, Rogowski might project as a fourth-liner in the NHL. It’s possible the Flyers would like more potential at No. 21. If anything, perhaps they could aim for him by trading up in the second round. And that’s if Rogowski falls into the Day 2 action.
Kyle Schwarber currently leads the big leagues in home runs with 25, and while he's only gone deep twice in his last 12 games, there's reason to believe No. 26 is around the corner.
Schwarber is consistently getting under the baseball, and he's up against Freddy Peralta tonight. The righty has allowed 1.26 HR/9 over his last five appearances, and Schwarber has taken Peralta yard twice in 15 at-bats.
He's homered four times over his last six games and six times across his previous 12 contests. The Chicago Cubs star carries a mind-boggling .640 ISO in the last week into today's matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The matchup isn't overwhelmingly favorable, but Crow-Armstrong is squaring up everything right now and generating the type of contact that can overcome even solid pitching.
I'll play this pick up to +400.
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, Sportsnet
Home run pick: Bryan Reynolds (+379)
Bryan Reynolds is tearing the cover off the baseball right now, carrying a .571 ISO and 29.4% barrel rate over his last six games. His average exit velocity during that span sits at 98.1 mph, and Reynolds has gone deep three times over the last week. Tonight's matchup only adds to the appeal.
Reynolds will face Tomoyuki Sugano at Coors Field, where the ball tends to carry due to the high elevation. The right-hander has allowed 1.80 home runs per nine innings across his last two starts while surrendering a 38.5% hard-hit rate. He's also struggled immensely against left-handed hitters, allowing 2.27 home runs per nine innings.
Lock this one in. I'll play this pick up to +300.
Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Rockies.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 10-66, -17.58 units
Today’s HR parlay
Kyle Schwarber
Bet Now +8703
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Bryan Reynolds
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Philadelphia Phillies look to get back into the win column tonight when they send Cristopher Sanchez to the mound against the New York Mets.
Both clubs have been near the bottom of the barrel offensively over the past month, but Sanchez gives the hosts the edge in our MLB odds.
I’m taking Philadelphia in my Mets vs. Phillies predictions and free MLB picks in what should be a low-scoring contest on Saturday, June 20.
Who will win Mets vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-190)
It’s early, but Cristopher Sanchez is already making his case for the NL Cy Young. In fact, he is FanGraphs’ current favorite to win the award.
The Philadelphia Phillies starter ranks in the 99th percentile in pitching run value while boasting a stingy 2.95 xERA and .222 xBA. Sanchez also ranks second in the majors in strikeouts (116) thanks to his nasty changeup.
The New York Mets are 23rd in runs scored (102) as well as batting average (.235) over the last 30 days. They’ll look even worse against Sanchez as the team is collectively hitting .238 against southpaws.
Mets vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-110)
The Mets (102; 23rd) and Phillies (99; 24th) both rank near the bottom of the MLB in runs scored over the last 30 days, and I’m expecting both starters to have the upper hand tonight.
Mets starter Freddy Peralta has historically had success vs. the Phillies lineup, with only Bryce Harper (3-for-14; .214) and Edmundo Sosa (2-for-5; .400) batting better than .200 vs. the right-hander.
Unsurprisingly, the Under has cashed in each of Sanchez’s last seven starts.
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 2-1, +0.71 units
Over/Under bets: 1-2, -1.12 units
Mets vs Phillies weather
Notes on the weather and its impact.
Mets vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: New York +170 | Philadelphia -178
Run line: New York +1.5 (-122) | Philadelphia -1.5 (+117)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-104) | Under 7.5 (-100)
Mets vs Phillies trend
The Mets are just 2-9 as the road underdog this season, the second-worst win percentage in the majors. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Phillies.
How to watch Mets vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Saturday, June 20, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Mets starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (5-5, 3.90 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (8-3, 1.82 ERA)
Mets vs Phillies latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The St. Louis Blues could be active on the trade market this off-season, looking to offload veterans while bringing in younger talent.
Earlier, we covered which players may have played their final games in St. Louis and identified some possible destinations for them.
But if they do finally make those long-talked-about moves, who could they look to acquire with those players or the assets they receive? With the Blues’ desire to get younger and more skilled, we’ll take a look at three under-25 players the Blues could explore trades for.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthew Knies has been surfacing in the rumor mill, and while Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka mentioned that they aren’t actively looking to move him, they are willing to listen to offers.
The Blues could be a team that makes a play for Knies. His 6-foot-3, 232-pound frame is imposing, and he has no fear using his weight to win puck battles and get to the front of the net. In 2025-26, the 23-year-old posted 23 goals and 66 points in 79 games despite dealing with an injury for a large chunk of the season.
Knies is the perfect top-six winger, able to play big minutes at even strength, the power play, and the penalty kill. It would take a lot to pry Knies out of Toronto, but the Blues have veterans like Jordan Kyrou and Colton Parayko who could help facilitate a deal.
The Anaheim Ducks took a big step forward this season, but Mason McTavish didn’t. Following a difficult season that started with a contract dispute, McTavish could be on the move out of Anaheim.
The Ducks will likely look for experienced players to improve their chances of a long playoff run. Although McTavish’s 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games weren’t all too impressive, there is still belief that a new environment can help him find his game again.
Determining McTavish’s value is difficult. Despite the poor numbers, he’s still just 23 years old, plays as a center, and boasts a 6-foot-1, 219-pound frame.
Following another career season in offensive production, Bowen Byram seems to be coming into his own. Yet, the Buffalo Sabres are once again willing to gauge the market on the 25-year-old defender.
Byram finished the 2025-26 season with 11 goals and 42 points in 82 games, the second consecutive season in which he’s played 82 games. Injuries held Byram back early in his career, but he is healthy now and is thriving. He averaged over 22:00 of time for the second consecutive season and was a key part of the Sabres’ success in the playoffs, scoring four goals and seven points in 13 games.
Byram is a 6-foot-1, left-handed defenseman who flies around the ice, makes excellent breakout passes, and has improved defensively, becoming an all-around defender. Byram has one season remaining on his contract before becoming a UFA, and reports indicate he is seeking a major pay raise.
If the Blues feel they can work out an extension with Byram, icing Philip Broberg and Bowen Byram on the left side of their defense provides a foundation to build from the back.
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DETROIT, MI - JUNE 21: New president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the press conference on June 21, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It feels like the league is waiting for the Giannis Antetokounmpo shoe to drop before the rest of the transactions can get started, so why not try to put together an offseason plan? There’s no way my 5’10” frame can fill Trajan’s Langdon’s shoes at his height of 6’4”, but I’ll do my best.
Pre-Draft
With the recent news that Detroit may be a third-team to help facilitate the Giannis deal between Milwaukee and Miami, I’m going to get in on the action. With Miami not wanting to extend Herro and Milwaukee looking to send him elsewhere, I’m happy to bring him to Detroit – for the right price.
This trade needs to be done before the draft since Miami’s pick at 13 will most likely be sent to Milwaukee, but I’m not giving up assets for a player that neither team wants. If I’m doing you the favor of taking on that player, you can have expiring contracts. Detroit does have two Milwaukee seconds – one in 2027 and one in 2029 – that the Bucks could ask in return that I would be willing to throw in if needed.
TRADE (without all the other details of a Giannis trade):
Pistons send out:
Duncan Robinson ($16.8 million)
Caris LeVert ($14.1 million)
2027 Milwaukee second and/or 2029 Milwaukee second
Pistons receive:
Tyler Herro ($31 million)
Tyler Herro instantly becomes the best scorer Cade Cunningham has ever played next to throughout his career. Herro would instantly become the #2 option on offense and JB Bickerstaff could stagger Cade and Herro so one of them is on the court at all times. I believe both Cade and Jalen Duren would help Herro be the best offensive version of himself, similar to his All-Star season two years ago when he averaged 24 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting 38% from deep on almost nine attempts per game. His defense and availability are certainly legitimate question marks, but his offense is not. While he’ll be an unrestricted free agent with one year left on his deal, Detroit holds his Bird Rights if they want to re-sign him next summer while being over the cap.
Draft
Shoutout to DBB’s very own Wes Davenport for selling me on this guy.
I’m staying put at #21 and I’m selecting Joshua Jefferson from Iowa State.
Jefferson is listed at 6’9” and 240 pounds and he’ll turn 23 years old this November. He is a four-year college player with his first two years at Saint Mary’s before playing his final two years at Iowa State. During his senior season with the Cyclones, Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. My player comparison for him is a bigger Draymond Green.
I’m a huge fan of high-IQ basketball players and Jefferson’s IQ is sky high on both ends of the floor. I’m a huge fan of guys that want to make the right play. I want guys that want to give up a good shot of their own to find a great shot for a teammate, and Jefferson certainly does that. His best skillset may be his IQ, but his passing isn’t far behind. Trajan Langdon said he wants to find additional playmaking, so why not find it from a point-forward at pick 21?
He’s incredibly strong, can switch defensively, and even shows the potential to be a tertiary ball handler. Jefferson’s biggest question mark is his shooting as his final year of 34.5% from deep on 3.1 attempts per game were both career-highs throughout his college journey, but his form looks good. There’s enough there that I feel confident Fred Vinson can turn him into a catch-and-shoot threat quickly. I believe he’s ready for NBA minutes today.
NBA Free Agency
While it’s possible Detroit can use their NTMLE of $15 million on free agents like Coby White, CJ McCollum, Ayo Dosunmu, or Anfernee Simons, I’m convinced that those kind of guys can get more money on the open market. The good news is you could still absorb a player into the NTLME via trade so that’s how I plan to use it.
TRADE:
Pistons receive:
Isaiah Joe ($11.3 million)
Thunder receive:
2027 DET second
2030 DET second
Isaiah Joe instantly becomes the Duncan Robinson replacement off the bench. He’s under contract for two more years at $11.3 million each year. Joe is on the outside of the OKC rotation, but he has played in 71 or more games the past four seasons while shooting more than 41% from deep throughout that same time frame. This sure seems like a Trajan Langdon type of guy based on his shooting and availability.
OKC does this deal because they already have 15 players on their roster, they have two first round draft picks, and the rookie-max extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are set to begin. This deal saves them $11 million and opens up a roster spot while getting two seconds in return. Detroit would have roughly $3.7 million left of the MLE.
Next…
TRADE:
Pistons receive:
Naz Reid ($23.3 million)
Timberwolves receive:
Marcus Sasser ($5.2 million)
Isaiah Stewart ($15 million)
2027 unprotected Detroit first
I will admit that I’m a pusher of Naz Reid propaganda, but man, I would love him in Detroit. I think this is a great pivot if Trey Murphy III is too expensive to get.
Naz is listed at 6’9” and 260 pounds and can play both PF and C. We could finally see Ausar Thompson playing next to a stretch big again since Mike Muscala left the team a few years ago. Reid is still only 26 years old and has played in 77 or more games in each of the past three seasons. He received 6MOY votes in each of those seasons and I think it’s time he gets promoted to the starting lineup. Naz is shooting 37.1% from deep in his career and attempted a career-high 5.8 threes in back-to-back seasons. Just like Isaiah Joe, this feels like a Trajan guy – someone who’s always available and always consistent from deep. Call me crazy, but I’d define Naz as a ball-handler, too.
Minnesota does this deal because they are EXPENSIVE. This deal saves them $3.1 million in salary, yet Naz is only their 5th most costly player behind Edwards, Gobert, Randle, and McDaniels. Both Sasser and Stewart can be expiring deals to get off of Naz’s long term money of 4-yr/$104m left, while Sass can offer them some needed guard play and a duo of Gobert/Stew gives them the best defensive big combo in the NBA. As great as Trey Murphy III’s contract is, Naz’s deal is pretty good, too.
I believe Minnesota would rather move Julius Randle, but I’m not sure any team wants to take on his remaining 2-yr/$69m without assets attached. They could keep Stew the following year on his team option and Stew could play C next to Randle or PF next to Gobert in spurts. The 2027 Detroit first-rounder could eventually help them land a starting PG to play next to Edwards.
Detroit’s Free Agents
I’m bringing back Javonte Green, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren. Green can get another minimum deal. With Jefferson planning on being my Tobias replacement at some point, I’d sign Tobias to a two-year deal worth $20 million including a team-option in the second year.
I’m signing Jalen Duren to a five-year $200 million contract. If Duren gets the same percentage of the cap as Alperen Şengün, who got a 5-yr/$185 million deal starting last season, it would equal 5-yr/$197 million, so a $200 million deal feels fair for both sides.
I’m also extending Ausar Thompson to a five-year $150 million deal. I’ve heard a potential deal for AT being similar to what Jalen Suggs or Dyson Daniels got. Daniels starts a 4-yr/$100m contract this year and Suggs is on his second year of a 5-yr/$150 million deal. I’d be happy pushing Ausar up to $160 million total if needed.
I would not be surprised if Daniss Jenkins’ and Paul Reed’s deals are restructured to get them under contract for multiple years as well.
2026-2027 Roster
PG: Cade Cunningham | Tyler Herro |Daniss Jenkins
SG: Tyler Herro | Isaiah Joe | Javonte Green
SF: Ausar Thompson | Ron Holland | Tobias Harris
PF: Naz Reid | Tobias Harris | Joshua Jefferson
C: Jalen Duren | Naz Reid | Paul Reed
—————
Don’t stress, Trajan – I did the work for you!
What’re your thoughts at my attempt at an offseason, DBB? What changes would you make?
Papa Towns take a shot at some Father’s Day Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Why do you think New York City fell in love with your son Karl-Anthony?
A: Because he’s humble, caring, loving. And he wanted to bring something to New York that they’ve been thirsting for 53 years. When he puts on that jersey, he knew every time he put it on he was representing his mother, the city, and he wanted to give them a chance to be where they were yesterday.
Q: What is the most memorable Father’s Day you’ve had with KAT?
A: Ready for this? It’s gonna be this Sunday, being a part of my son winning an NBA championship.
Q: What are your plans?
A: I don’t need any plans. You know what my plans were? The parade yesterday, sitting there crying, emotional, seeing my son hold that trophy — something I dreamed it would happen one day, and to see it fulfilled, he don’t have to do anything for me Father’s Day. He just did it. Seeing him fulfill his mother’s dream and me being a part of his dream … I’m good.
The father and son celebrate the Knicks’ championship. NBAE via Getty Images
Q: What was the highlight of the parade for you?
A: The highlight of the parade was watching my son finally hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. It was emotional for me because it was always a dream of his mother for him to play for the Knicks in a season. It was not only his dream of being an NBA champion, but his mother’s dream. The whole thing was beautiful, but watching him walk out of City Hall with the trophy up high, that’s when it hit me that he was a champion. It was a day I’ll never forget. When he walked down the steps, it really hit me that my son had reached the pinnacle of the basketball world.
Q: What was it like on the float?
A: The float was a beautiful thing, because over the years, you watch all these other teams go down the Canyon of Heroes, but to know that this was a parade for the New York Knicks basketball program that never had a parade, and knowing that the whole city was honoring us, it was so emotional. And to see all these old players that played for the Knicks, it was so emotional that they could finally be part of a parade. And it was a parade for the entire Knick unit over the years, it wasn’t just for us. And to see all of them come back, it was a great moment to be on that float and look behind me and see all of those former players who made the program what it was be a part of the biggest Knick celebration for basketball. … You could see the joy in their face, as in our players … a family reunion.
Q: What were your emotions on the float with your son?
A: I was crying and hugging him, saying, “Thank you for being yourself, and giving me a chance to be here, experiencing this moment with you. You made this possible for all of us, and I say, thank you, son. I love you, and you earned this day.”
Q: He looked like he was having quite a fun time.
A: Best day of his life. Besides getting engaged to Jordyn [Woods].
Q: You were doing a lot of crying during the parade.
A: You don’t know emotional it is seeing confetti coming down on your kid, and people showing your kid the love, the respect, saying thank you for giving us the championship we’ve been waiting for for 53 years. I’m getting emotional now even talking about it. As a father, you only want the best for your child [daughters Malaika and Lachelle, and son Brandon]. When you’re on that float, and you look up, and you see that confetti coming down, it’s very emotional … Because they only do that for heroes. Imagine them seeing your son as a hero to the city.
Q: You lost your wife Jacqueline “Jackie” Cruz-Towns, and Karl-Anthony his mother, to COVID in 2020. Tell me about the two of you that day.
A: She was his mom and I lost my partner. I was more worried about his emotional state because that was his everything. Just know that he had to make a decision to let her go [from life support]. It was very hard. I hugged him and I told him, “Don’t worry, I will ride with you until the day I die. You’re never gonna be alone, I’ll be there for you all the time. I know how hard it is for you, but she always told you no matter what to be strong.” … This championship healed him a lot. He was able to release a lot of the stuff that he couldn’t see emotionally, but he released it to everybody, let them know that his mother is there, he could feel her presence. You don’t forget it, the feeling never leaves you, but you have to be strong and move on, and I think that this championship and her being there healed him in a way that he really needed this to move forward.
A: His mother was a ray of sunshine in his world … a very hard-nosed, driven, outspoken, straightforward, straight shooter. Out of any Spanish mom, don’t mess with her kids. You better come correct, because she will defend her kids to the end. She fought for every right for all her kids. She was a great woman.
Q: What was it like when the Knicks traded for your son right before the 2024-25 season?
A: Knowing that we had been somewhere [Minnesota] for nine years, it was like we were moving, so I was emotional, but at the same time it’s part of the business. I was more worried about how he felt. As a dad, you always want to support your son. As long as he was OK, I was OK. But we really weren’t going to a new area, we were just going home [Piscataway, N.J.], because we were going back to the East Coast and we were from here anyway.
Q: You were in Minneapolis for the whole nine years with him?
A: Every basketball season I spent with him, yes.
Q: What were those nine years?
A: Cold! You know what, I call it probably the best years with me and my son because we were always there and we bonded. Every basketball season I was out there for all the games, just like the Knicks this year. I went to every game for the last two years. It was a chance for us to just do father-son time. When his mom passed away I just wanted to spend more time with him just for his emotional and mental state, make sure he had somebody there he could always talk to if he ever felt like he needed someone there.
Q: What kind of child was he?
A: I call him a perfectionist. Everything had to be right. He always was reading, he always was knowledgeable and stuff, and he was very, very on point, so when you talk to him you have to have all your facts because he already knew what the right answer would be. To this day he’s the same way.
Q: How else would you describe your son?
A: Extremely humble. He takes everything to heart. He wants the best for everyone. He just wants to be a friend to you. He’s not arrogant, none of that. He’s down to earth. He’s relatable to anybody, it don’t matter who you are.
Q: Best piece of advice you ever gave him?
A: Be yourself. Make all your own decisions. Don’t let anybody make answers and decisions on your life for you, Be your own man.
Q: Describe the day he won his first state championship in high school.
A: Magical moment. He wanted to leave high school knowing that he had played on the No. 1 team in the state, and that night, I’ll never forget in Trenton, they pulled it off.
Karl Towns Sr. at the Knicks’ championship parade. NBAE via Getty Images
Q: His decision to go to Kentucky.
A: He had settled down to Rutgers, Duke, Seton Hall, North Carolina State and another one. I think that the decision to go to Kentucky was a little bit better being that he played on the national team for Cal [John Calipari]. He wanted the challenge of having a chance to get to the next level. My wife loved Kentucky. Duke was in it, but she didn’t like the fact that he had to walk across campus.
Q: He played for the Dominican National team when he was 16.
A: He will not play for another team but the Dominican team because the Dominican team is his bond with his mother.
Q: What was draft day like in 2015?
A: Magical moment. Knowing that we were sitting there knowing that Minnesota was gonna have the first pick. He had a great workout in Minnesota. I’ll never forget it. [Kevin] Garnett and everybody watched him, and just to hear his name called first — after all those years of playing in high school, college, all the great players around the country, to know that they felt that you were the No. 1 pick in the draft, you can never take that away from him. He will always be considered a No. 1 pick for the rest of his life.
Q: Your son’s first NBA game.
A: Los Angeles Lakers in L.A. The thing I recall was watching him get his first basket as an NBA player, he made a steal and dunked. It’s the most vivid memory because as a father, you never ever think your son’s gonna make it to the NBA. Once you score one basket in the NBA you’re officially in the record books. I knew when he made that basket, his name was gonna be etched in the books forever.
Q: What were your emotions when you were cut by the Knicks.
A: I wasn’t cut, I got hurt, so I didn’t go to attend the camp. My ankle, unfortunately, I got injured. It hurt, but what was I gonna do? It wasn’t meant to be. God has different plans for everybody. And the plan came out to be my son was supposed to play for the Knicks and win a championship.
Q: His first game as a Knick.
A: Magical moment. Because to me it was the moment — it was a full circle thing. It didn’t happen to me, it happened to him. But to know that when he walked out there in that uniform that night he represented … and this was his mother always wanted him to be — represent the New York Knicks and play in New York. To me it was an emotional night because he fulfilled her dream. She wasn’t here … but she was here. Because she’s part of him. It was a moment I’ll always remember. And she told him, “One day you’re gonna play for New York and win a championship.” It was a magical moment for everybody to see him come out in his first game in a Knick uniform.
Q: Near the end of Game 5 in San Antonio, your emotions.
A: I was right across from him, I looked at him, and the first thing he did was look up to the sky to his mom and said, “We did it!”
Q: And when you first saw him when the game ended?
A: We hugged, and I said, “She would be so proud of you right now.” … He said, “She’s here.”And you know what I told him? “I know.”
Karl Towns Sr. (l) and Karl-Anthony Towns (r) after the Knicks’ Game 2 win in the Finals. Getty Images
Q: As a 6-foot-5 power forward, what kind of a player were you at what was then Monmouth College in the mid-1980s?
A: I was a double-double — I [regularly] had 10 points, 13 rebounds. … He mastered it in a way I didn’t. He definitely gets a lot of rebounds because he’s always reading the ball. I had to go get it, he maneuvers his way to get it. He’s a way better scorer than I was. I was a brute. He’s a gifted scorer. I was an opportunity scorer.
Q: You were a Knicks fan growing up. Did you go to the Garden?
A: Never had an opportunity to go to the Garden. My parents didn’t have the money to send us back then — they were trying to take care of four kids. I didn’t start going to the Garden until I got in college.
Q: Did you take your son to the Garden?
A: My son ended up taking me to the Garden, how ’bout that?
Q: Do you remember the 1985 draft lottery when the Knicks got Patrick [Ewing]?
A: Yes I do. The year he got drafted to the pros, I played him [in college[. They [Georgetown] beat us by 50 points [actually 85-53]. We were just happy to be on the floor with these guys.
Q: What was it like trying to guard him?
A: We lost by 50, what does that say? They laughed at me, but I had a 40-inch vertical so we jumped center, he didn’t know that. So I beat him on the tip.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: My wife, my mother, my brother Kenny.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Love and Basketball.”
Q: Favorite actors.”
A: Denzel Washington. Spike Lee.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Sandra Bullock.
Q: Favorite entertainer?
A: Michael Jackson.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Spaghetti and sausage.
Karl Towns Sr. next to Jordyn Woods during the 2026 NBA playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Q: What stands out to you about KAT’s on-court mentality?
A: Pinpoint. Magic [Johnson] was always his idol. You could see out there he’s always navigating like a GPS system, he’s trying to make the right decision, right pass. I’m awed by some of the passes that he can get through to his players.
Q: Jalen Brunson.
A: Great player, great teammate. Call ’em Batman and Robin. I love the kid. The kid plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played. Plays hard, plays to win, he’s a great leader and a great person.
Q: What did you like best about these Knicks?
A: That nobody cared who starred, they just wanted to win.
Q: As a longtime high school coach, why do you appreciate Mike Brown?
A: Because he came in with a plan and it was fulfilled. And he’s a coach’s coach. Respected the players, listened. Great dude.
Q: What do you know about KAT’s fiancé Jordyn’s designer bag?
A: That it was a lucky charm. Her collection is one of the best collections that I’ve seen because everything is about today’s woman. When the bag started winning games, she had to have it. But I think the bag is going into retirement now. The bag did its job. You don’t want to overdo it. I’m happy for her because the bag was something that became inspirational to a lot of people.
Q: They’re engaged now. Do you think she reminds your son of his mother?
A: Absolutely — loving, caring, humble, dedicated, she’s by his side, she’s there for him just like his mother was. She’s been his rock.
Q: Do you think these guys can win it again next year?
A: Absolutely. Because you know what they built a lot of teams don’t have? A bond. Once you taste it, it’s hard to let it go.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 15: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Globe Life Field on June 15, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for June 20, 2026 against the San Diego Padres: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Walker Buehler for the Padres.
Texas will look to build on last night’s win against San Diego. They will be doing so with MacKenzie Gore making the start instead of Nathan Eovaldi, who has been scratched due to knee soreness. Jarred Kelenic gets his first start as a Ranger.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Langford — CF
Nimmo — RF
Duran — SS
Kelenic — LF
Burger — 1B
Lopez — 2B
Higashioka — C
3:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -131 favorites.
BRONX, NY - MAY 19: New York Yankees Pitcher Will Warren (29) delivers a pitch during the first inning of a Major League Baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees on May 19, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cam Schlittler shoved on center stage in the series opener against the Reds, tallying a career-high 13 strikeouts in his six shutout innings. His start along with early home runs by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice carried the day as the Yankees opened the final series of a long home stand with a 5-0 victory. We’ll see if Will Warren can follow the example set by his rotation mate on what is shaping up to be a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Stadium.
Warren hasn’t looked as sharp over his last seven starts as he did in his first seven. While he’s done well to limit walks and home runs, he has a habit of letting a single inning spiral particularly when an error is made behind him. In those situations he tends to become predictable with too many in-zone fastballs and the result is he often gives up a string of base knocks. He has failed to complete five innings in his last two starts and the Yankees will be hoping for a little more length tonight. In the aggregate, he certainly looks like an improved pitcher from last season, with a 7-1 record in 14 starts posting a 3.47 ERA (121 ERA+), 3.33 FIP, and 76 strikeouts in 72.2 innings.
Andrew Abbott has been the Reds’ second-best starter behind Chase Burns with Hunter Greene still on the IL. He’s faced the Yankees once in his career, holding them to a run on three hits and four walks in the Bronx on July 3, 2024. His four-seamer was one of the best in MLB last year accruing 15 Statcast Runs above average on account of precise command rather than velocity (92.7 mph average). This year, he has been one of the best starters at preventing the opposition from pulling the ball in the air as he lives low in the zone with most of his pitches. He throws the fastball about half the time, using the sweeper as his main put-away pitch against righties while reserving the changeup and curveball almost exclusively for lefties. In 15 starts, Abbott is 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA (111 ERA+), 4.79 FIP, and 58 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.
The Yankees make a handful of changes to their lineup with a southpaw on the mound. José Caballero comes in to play left field, moving Cody Bellinger to center and Spencer Jones to the bench. Lefty killer Amed Rosario gets the start over Ryan McMahon at third while Ali Sánchez replace J.C. Escarra behind the plate.
The Reds meanwhile make just a pair of changes to the lineup that got shut out last night. Noelvi Marte gets the start in right, which moves Spencer Steer to first, Sal Stewart to third, and Eugenio Suárez to the bench following his three strikeouts last night. Old friend Jose Trevino starts behind the dish in place of Tyler Stephenson.
Jun 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; The American and Canadian flags are seen above the scoreboard during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
So yesterday didn’t go to plan. The Cubs treated Kevin Gausman like a nine-man Qatari soccer team, dissipating the good vibes from the sweep of the Red Sox. But it’s a new day. Patrick Corbin (2-3, 4.57) is no great shakes at this point in his career, but I think he can give us more than we got yesterday. The offense should be able to score more than two off Colin Rea (5-5, 5.35).
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 09: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton (52) pitches during the first inning of a regular season Major League Baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers on June 9, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks on the court at Madison Square Garden.
The Celtics would love to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it’s not going to be that easy.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said previously that the team would like to have the superstar’s future resolved before the NBA draft, which is now just three days away.
And while the Celtics are interested in adding the two-time MVP, new reporting suggests that Boston and Milwaukee are not exactly on the same page.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that “if Boston had its way,” the Celtics would nab Antetokounmpo, 31, by simply sending Jaylen Brown the other way in a one-for-one swap.
The Celtics are interested in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
However, Amick added that it’s “unclear” whether the Bucks would want to build around the 29-year-old Brown, and said it’s “widely believed” that further players and/or picks would be required in an Antetokounmpo trade.
It is also said that the 2021 Finals MVP would be comfortable signing an extension with Boston.
Nonetheless, the Bucks will want to find a resolution to Antetokounmpo’s situation soon amid continued speculation and innuendo from his side.
While he has yet to publicly demand a trade, he reportedly approached the Bucks for a trade on at least two occasions this past season.
The Bucks also held some brief talks with the Knicks over a potential Antetokounmpo trade last summer, ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported.
Milwaukee decided to hold onto the Future Hall of Famer past this season’s trade deadline, despite the team being out of contention, but the organization has now found itself “underwhelmed” by the offers on its table, Amick reported, citing anonymous executives.
Boston would be happy to send Jaylen Brown the other way, but it’s unclear if such a package would appeal to the Bucks NBAE via Getty Images
The Heat are also reportedly interested in Antetokounmpo.
Statistically, it was another strong season for him as he notched 27.6 points per game to go along with 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in just 36 games.
But the roster was lacking in talent around him and finished just 32-50 before getting the No. 10 pick in the NBA draft lottery.
Brown, meanwhile, finished sixth in MVP voting as he led the Celtics to a strong season with Jayson Tatum missing most of the season due to injury.
But there are suggestions that Brown, 29, may finally want to lead his own team.
The Philadelphia Flyers have a history of targeting players they covet when the time is right, and they would be wise to do so again this summer.
At this point, it is no secret that the Flyers would like to add a No. 1 center, or even a top-six one, to start with.
But, at the same time, it is public knowledge that the Flyers also want to upgrade on defense, and one of their long-standing trade targets at the position is mired in trade rumors... again.
On Thursday, TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger reported that multiple teams were engaging the Buffalo Sabres in trade talks for defenseman Bowen Byram, who has one year remaining on his contract at a $6.25 million cap hit.
Byram, 25, is due for a big raise, and the Sabres, who need to pay players like Zach Benson while already having Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, and Mattias Samuelsson at left defense, may not be inclined to give it.
The former No. 4 overall pick just played 82 games for the second year in a row, seemingly putting the health issues that plagued him early in his career behind him.
It helps, too, that Byram just had a career-high 11 goals, 31 assists, and 42 points, as well as seven points in 13 playoff games.
Seven of Byram's points came on the power play, though it's worth noting that he largely takes a backseat to Dahlin in that role.
With the Flyers, the opportunity would be much greater.
The Flyers have worked diligently to clear wasted cap space from their books, and while they do need to still re-sign and extend Dan Vladar, Trevor Zegras, and Jamie Drysdale, they have more than enough money to sign Byram long-term, too.
Still just 25, Byram could very well command north of $10 million on his next contract, and while the Flyers wouldn't just hand him that without seeing him play first, there is plenty of potential for them to bet on.
With any young player, you are betting on what they will be, not what they are.
(Evolving-Hockey)
If Byram has the potential to score 20 goals and 60 points with No. 1 or No. 2 minutes behind Travis Sanheim, and with adequate power play ice time, that is a worthy bargain for the Flyers.
For those worried about Byram's actual defending, the buccaneering rearguard has actually developed into a perfectly fine defender in the same way Drysdale has.
As we see in Evolving-Hockey's data above, Byram's work shorthanded could improve, but Flyers assistant coach Todd Reirden did fantastic work with a rather uninspiring group last season. Byram only adds more potential to the cupboard.
The Sabres may require a winger to replace pending free agent Alex Tuch, and/or a defenseman to replace Byram at a lesser cost.
Flyers like Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett, and Rasmus Ristolainen, to name a few, would hypothetically fit the bill to varying degrees.
The Flyers already once tried to get Byram, when they offered Cutter Gauthier to the Colorado Avalanche 1-for-1, but now, several years on, seems like the right time to finally make it happen.
Sean Newcomb gets the nod as an opener this afternoon. | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Last night was a little bit of a clunker. You wouldn’t know it from the one-run, 4-3 final score, but it did sting just a little more than usual, because it felt like those are the types of games this White Sox team has been improbably winning all season. But I suppose the operative word there is improbable. The 32-19 record they posted from April 17th to June 14th works out to a .627 winning percentage. I love this team as much as the rest of us, but they’re not a .600 club just yet. Games like yesterday were bound to happen with a bit more frequency than they have been.
The Sox had their chances to win yesterday’s game. They put a baserunner on against Tarik Skubal in all five innings he pitched, a rare feat against a back-to-back Cy Young winner with a sub-1.000 WHIP over his last 600 innings. They loaded the bases with one out in a tie game against him, and came away with nothing. Skubal doesn’t even give teams the chance to get there, most of the time. If you fail to capitalize in the rare moments in which he does, you’re probably not going to win. They took a lead in the back half of a game and their piecemeal bullpen just couldn’t hold it. There are some pitchers you can only give so many high leverage innings to before it bites you.
Sean Newcomb is being given the ball to start this one, and as far as I can tell about an hour and a half before first pitch, we’re not entirely clear on who will be working behind him as a bulk man. This is the rotation spot previously occupied by Noah Schultz, and though last Monday’s off day allowed them to skip it their last time through the rotation, they’ll have to find an alternate option today.
Given the mystery, I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at the fact that Grant Taylor hasn’t emerged from the bullpen in nearly a week.
Taylor has pitched two innings in four of his last five appearances, and his innings total is still on pace to check in a little below their stated preseason goal of 100 for the year. I could be completely wrong, but if Will Venable thinks he can get two innings out of Sean Newcomb — a pretty reasonable proposition, given how he’s pitched lately and the quality of Detroit’s lineup—then I suspect this may be the day we get to see Taylor try at a third inning of work. Let’s just see what happens.
We’ve got an early one today, as first pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. CT at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. You know, Comerica might be a big corporation like any other sponsor, but at least they have a long history in Detroit and the Ilitch family hasn’t sold those naming rights out from under them to UltraCryptoMaxx LLC like the rest of the world. Boy is the bar low, huh? Anyhow, if you want to join us, broadcasts are available on CHSN (TV) and WMVP AM 1000 (radio), like always!
Kyle Schwarber
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Bryan Reynolds
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