PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 17: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter #24 reacts during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins on June 17th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phillies simply couldn’t wait anymore. After another disastrous outing yesterday afternoon, the Phillies finally decided they’d seen enough and sent the struggling Andrew Painter to Triple-A. It’s been a rocky start to a career for the young right hander to say the least, as he owns a 7.06 ERA across his first 14 big league appearances. He will now try to find his command in Lehigh Valley in the hopes of possibly returning to the rotation later this year.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026 NBA season has officially ended and the New York Knicks were crowned the 2026 NBA Champions. After Game 5, Victor Wembanyama stated, “Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.”
Wemby took some flack on social media for the comment. But mathematically speaking, he was correct.
According to ESPN Analytics, in the 4 games the Spurs lost in the NBA Finals, they had a…
— 91.6% chance of winning Game 1 up 13 points midway thru the 3rd — 72.8% chance of winning Game 2 up 2 points with 1 minute left in the 4th — 99.6% chance of winning Game 4 up 20 points… pic.twitter.com/WkOw0shz7W
“According to ESPN Analytics, in the 4 games the Spurs lost in the NBA Finals, they had a 91% chance of winning Game 1 up 13 midway through the 3rd, 72,8 chance of winning Game 2 up 2 points with 1 minute left in the 4th, a 99.6% chance of winning Game 4 up 20 points, and a 95.4% chance of winning Game 5 up 10 points with 7:54 left in the 4th.”
Obviously, there were problems closing out games which will be a major focus next season. But in three of the four games, the Spurs had over 90% chance of winning during the second half. The Knicks did the impossible while the Spurs did the unthinkable.
FYI: I ordered Midrange Theory By Seth Partnow. It should come next week. For anyone who wants to read and discuss along. Thanks for the suggestion Montreal. I assume zsals is in?
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MANHATTAN, KS - MARCH 08: Joshua Jefferson #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones goes to the basket between defenders David N'Guessan #1 and Coleman Hawkins #33 of the Kansas State Wildcats, in the first half at Bramlage Coliseum on March 8, 2025 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joshua Jefferson provides an instant injection of high-IQ basketball, physical rebounding, and unique frontcourt playmaking. Should the World Champion New York Knicks bite?
Projected Draft Range: Late first to early second round (20–35)
The Numbers
Jefferson is one of the most bizarre and productive frontcourt anomalies in recent college basketball history. He became the first player in Big 12 history to rack up 450+ points, 250+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 70+ steals, and 25+ blocks in a single season. One number to take special note of is the 4.8 assists per game. For a guy built like a linebacker, carrying a 246-pound frame with a 6’10.75″ wingspan, operating as a primary hub of an offense is rare. He posted a 28% assist rate, ranking third among all forwards in college basketball.
Even better, he maintained nearly a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio (4.8 to 2.5), so he isn’t just hurling wild passes out of double teams. Combine that with a robust 1.6 steals per game (an 8.1% steal rate as a junior), and my, my, my, what an analytics darling!
Skills That Pay the Bills
High-Level Processing & Playmaking: Jefferson plays like a point guard trapped in a power forward’s body. He is an exceptional short-roll passer, an elbow handoff hub, and a guy who can grab a defensive rebound and lead the break himself. He drops bounce passes on a dime to cutters and processes defensive rotations a step ahead of everyone else.
Physicality and Functional Strength: At 246 pounds with a rock-solid lower base, Jefferson embraced contact against the collegiate opposition. He carves out position inside effortlessly, converts below-the-rim hooks, and boxes out with discipline, anchoring himself for 7.4 rebounds per game.
Defensive Event Generation: He might not be a vertical rim protector, but has very active hands. He anticipates passing lanes, strips bigs on the block, and triggers fast breaks.
Concerns
Functional Athleticism: The combine confirmed a 27-inch standing vertical and a 33-inch max vertical. He lacks pop and has heavier feet laterally. In space, quicker NBA wings are going to test his lateral agility, and he won’t rescue anyone as a weak-side shot-blocker.
Shooting Hesitancy: While his 3-point stroke ticked up to a respectable 34.5% on 3.1 attempts per game, the film shows a guy who frequently passes up wide-open looks to back down into a contested post-up. Scouts at the combine noted that while his mechanics look sound and tight, his confidence is streaky. A 70% free-throw clip also leaves some questions about his ultimate ceiling as a knockdown spacer.
Age & Ceiling: Turning 24 during his rookie season, Jefferson is an older prospect.
The Knicks Fit
Think of Jefferson as a hybrid connective piece who could be an ideal bench multi-tool. If Mike Brown could deploy Jefferson with the second unit, making as a secondary facilitator from the high post or elbow. He plays with the high-IQ, physical, dive-on-the-floor toughness that we love to see. Jefferson can give you backup power forward minutes, play small-ball center in ultra-specific configurations, and hit the glass hard. At worst? He hangs out in the G-League with Westchester while adjusting his defensive footwork to the pro pace.
NBA Comparison
Best-Case Comparison: James Johnson / Boris Diaw
Median Outcome: Kyle Anderson (Slower-paced, highly intelligent decision-maker who fills the stat sheet without elite verticality)
Low-End Outcome: Grant Williams without the lock-down lateral quickness
The Verdict
Drafting him at 24th seems like a stretch. But at 31st? Go for it.
MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 05: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils tends net during the third period against the Montréal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Montréal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“The New Jersey Devils are reportedly testing the market for veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Finding a trade could be a tricky proposition. He is coming off a down season, he is set to earn $6 million for another two seasons, and he has a 20-team no-trade list. That combination could limit an already narrow list of matches. Whether GM Sunny Mehta can find a deal is anyone’s guess, but here are three destinations that could make sense.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“The New Jersey Devils had a disappointing offseason in 2025. It’s a significant reason why they missed the playoffs this season and why Sunny Mehta is taking over as GM. I don’t want to get fans too excited, but there’s potential for a much busier summer this year. There’s too much riding on next season, and I expect Mehta to make quite a few changes.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“Landing (Jordan) Spence wouldn’t magically fix every defensive shortcoming, but it would give the Devils balance across their pairs. Slide him into a second-pair role, and you suddenly have better depth in transition and on special teams which certainly moves the needle. With the Senators exploring options and Spence’s value still climbing, questions about (Simon) Nemec’s future in New Jersey, and the downgrade in trade protection for (Brenden) Dillon, the timing feels right.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
“The Devils should have options — and appealing ones at that — if there is any smoke to the rumors about shopping Markstrom. The only concern that I have is that there needs to be a legitimate replacement.” [Devils’ Advocates]
Hockey Links
The Leafs and Golden Knights have new coaches:
Jim Hiller has been named the 41st Head Coach in franchise history!
Joseph Woll’s time in Toronto is over. The Leafs have traded Woll and Simon Benoit for Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae and a 2026 third-round pick. pic.twitter.com/WmlqhyqWAg
“There are few teams more process-oriented than the Carolina Hurricanes, so it’s no surprise they finally found themselves hoisting the Stanley Cup this season. But as teams begin their annual tradition of copying the winner, what lessons should they focus on when trying to replicate the success of the Canes? Let’s look into it.” [Daily Faceoff]
“The race to July 1 is on. With the Stanley Cup now handed out to the Carolina Hurricanes, the 31 NHL teams trying to chase them down are entering a critical period for business. They will be digging through a free-agent class that lacks in star power but offers plenty of useful complementary players.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
According to Puckpedia’s Perri Pick Value Calculator, the value difference between those seven first-round draft spots is roughly a mid-second rounder, meaning that Kesselring did not come cheaply to the Sharks.
This, despite just two assists in 34 games and many healthy scratches for Kesselring this past season.
But Kesselring is just 26, enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 campaign with the Utah Mammoth, and is a mobile 6-foot-5 right-hander. There’s not a lot of those in the NHL. That season, Kesselring saw the equivalent of second-unit power play usage and notched seven goals and 29 points, averaging 17:41 a night.
Every Michael Kesselring goal from his last full healthy season in Utah.
It’s not the quantity, but the quality of these goals that’s impressive. This doesn’t highlight the rest of his game, but it’s definitely fun to see what he’s capable of when he finds a lane. #SJSharkspic.twitter.com/xoeAVWWvL0
Can he return to that form…or be better for the Sharks?
“Has top-four potential,” Scout No. 1 said. “Good size, moves well, has some upside.”
There’s a reason why the Sabres wanted Kesselring, along with winger Josh Doan from the Mammoth, in a 2-for-1 swap last summer for point-per-game winger JJ Peterka.
Scout No. 2, however, isn’t as enamored with Kesselring: “Long. Third-pairing, certainly not second-pairing potential. Maybe he kills penalties?”
Per Stathletes, Kesselring had some turnover issues with the Mammoth in 2024-25, sporting a team defense-worst 5-on-5 Neutral Zone Turnovers Per 60. His Pass Completion percentage was also position-worst.
Those numbers were worse in Buffalo.
“Offensive vision is very average,” Scout No. 3 said. “He can get busy with the puck sometimes but wouldn’t consider him careless.”
This scout came in on the middle about Kesselring: “Ideally, he’s a bottom-pairing guy, but there is upside.”
What does he like?
“Big, mobile, and has a decent puck game with a heavy shot,” Scout No. 3 said. “Two-way guy for me. Can play on a second power play unit.”
Kesselring did lead Utah blueliners with 150 shots in 2024-25. And according to Stathletes, he paced this position in 5-on-5 Stretch Carries Per 60, which are puck carries of 30-or-more feet, along with Carries Leading to Shots, his or off his pass.
So Kesselring has clear ability with lugging and distributing the puck, but also must learn to be more reliable with it.
Defensively, Kesselring did lead that Mammoth defense in 5-on-5 Puck Battles Won Per 60, so he’s effective with his size.
All three scouts agree that Kesselring should be an improvement for what was a below-average Sharks defensive corps last season.
“He’s a clear upgrade over what they had last year,” Scout No. 3 said. “Makes them better, for sure.”
How much better?
Scout No. 3 thinks that Kesselring circa 2024-25 would’ve been San Jose’s third-best defenseman last year, behind Dmitry Orlov and Mario Ferraro, and ahead of John Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, Sam Dickinson, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and company.
That’s faint praise.
But the Sharks have just two blueliners signed right now, Orlov and Dickinson, and now, a pair of RFA’s in Kesselring and Mukhamadullin.
So this is Kesselring’s chance to establish himself as an everyday NHL player…or not. Just don’t expect him to change the complexion of a San Jose defense that needs lots more help. He’s a very good gamble, that’s all.
“Like the player. Fills a need for the Sharks,” Scout No. 3 said. “Still has a good amount of upside.”
We’re just a few days away from the NBA Draft, and there are multiple storylines headed into Monday.
Will AJ Dybantsa go #1? What will the Oklahoma City Thunder do with two picks in the top 20? Will one of the teams in the top 5 trade out?
But another notable storyline headed into the draft is Jayden Quaintance, who is seeing his stock continue to fall. Some mock drafts have the former Wildcat falling as low as 25th overall after once being viewed as a near-certain lottery pick.
24 players received a green-room invite for the draft, and Quaintance was notably left off the list.
Jeremy Woo from ESPN has Quaintance going 25th to the Los Angeles Lakers, and noted the questions about Quaintance’s medicals could cause teams to pass on him.
“He is unanimously viewed as a first-round talent and is drawing consideration as high as the teens, but where he ends up might be predicated on how team doctors individually view his case,” Woo wrote.
The potential is certainly there for Quaintance to come in and be a strong rim protector off the bat, with the ability to be a lob threat on the offensive end. His defensive ability and potential could be enough for a team to take a chance earlier in the first round, but it looks like Quaintance might have to wait a little bit to hear his name called if things continue at this pace.
Tweet of the Day
J Batt will make $3 million a year as the AD at Kentucky and UK agreed to pay his buyout at Michigan State
He will be one of the four highest paid ADs in the country
Rangers fans, we asked for your views on the departure of Danny Rohl and appointment of Derek McInnes as manager.
Here's what some of you said:
Heather: A true, dyed in the wool Rangers man. McInnes is in the mould of the great Walter Smith. I haven't been this excited for a Rangers team or season in years. Bring on the 2026/27 season.
Kenneth: Well he won't last long at Rangers as it's a different club, team and a different set of expectations. Rangers are expected to win, Hearts try to play to win. I doubt he will last till Christmas. He will be sacked because it's Rangers.
Matthew: Perfect appointment. He feels like the exact thing we've been missing, and his Scottish and Rangers identity is something we've been crying out for. He has proven in Scottish football that he can get the best out of his players, and that he is tactically astute. The most optimistic I've been in a long time.
John: Thanks to Rohl for his work and efforts. He appeared to be a good man and wish him well on his development. We now have a Scottish manager and a Rangers man. I personally would like to see a squad with a heavy Scottish core, the difficulty is offloading those who are surplus to our requirements. If this can be done, we will have a trimmer squad and the means to focus expenditure. Cannot wait.
Michael: Definitely the right man for the job and hopefully an appointment the fans will be patient with. I think he will hit the ground running but with so many squad changes needed, there could still be early issues but McInnes will get it right given a few transfer windows
Dave: The third manager in 12 months, time for someone to be given a good run at it. Lower the expectations of instant success and build a good team. Only then can Rangers hope to make a realistic challenge. I think McInnes could be the man to do it.
The Seattle Kraken’s off-season is underway, and while the Vegas Golden Knights fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Finals, it felt like a good time to launch a new series: Did you know?
This collection will feature articles about the Seattle Kraken, with facts, stories, and interesting tidbits fans may not know—or remember.
The past five seasons have produced several memorable moments. But the most interesting statistic is that, before the inaugural season even kicked off, the team had retired a jersey number.
The number that hangs in the rafters at the Climate Pledge Arena is 32.
The story behind the retired number is that Kraken fans made 32,000 ticket deposits on the team's first day of existence. The team honored its fans by placing the number in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena before its inaugural game.
At the time, Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke shared a message with fans before the first game.
"You did it. And we will never, ever forget," Leiweke said to NHL.com. "And tonight, we will retire the number 32. We will never forget what you've done. We will always be reminded that jersey flies from the rafters of this beautiful arena, and we honor you."
The Kraken went on to lose 4-2 to the Vancouver Canucks in their home opener, after falling 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights in their first NHL game.
The number not only represents the fanbase but also reflects that the Seattle Kraken are the 32nd team in the National Hockey League, added in 2021-22.
In the last five seasons, the team made the playoffs once, in 2022-23.
Number 32 remains in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena, though it was never worn by a Kraken player.
Leiweke had one more message for Kraken fans on that historic day: “Let’s go, Kraken!”
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in the third period during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 26, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Kris Letang Born: April 27, 1987 (Age 39 season) Height: 6’ 0” Weight: 199 pounds Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Shoots: Right Draft: Third round, 2005 NHL Draft, No. 62 overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins 2025-26 Statistics: 74 games played, three goals, 31 assists, 34 total points, minus-4 Contract Status: Two years remaining on a six-year. $36.6 million contract with $6.1 million salary cap number
Story of the Season
Letang is the one member of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ big three that has really started to show signs of age and slowing down.
While Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were still big-time contributors in 2025-26 and providing the Penguins with great value with their contracts, Letang simply did not. He has lost a step in his game and has not yet really adjusted to that, still having moments where he tries to play the way he did at his peak. It is not a good combination. While there were still some moments and individual games where Letang could put everything together and play like Kris Letang, those moments were few and far between.
The good news: Some of those moments came in extremely clutch situations, scoring overtime game-winning goals against both the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets to help give the Penguins key points in their push for a playoff spot against teams they were competing with in the playoff race. The game-winning goal against Columbus in late November capped off a two-goal third period comeback win for the Penguins that was one of their best wins of the season (and also one of their two multiple goal come-from-behind wins in Columbus this season).
Letang had a solid start to the season in October, recording six points with a plus-8 rating in his first 12 games of the season. He also had a solid December with nine points in 14 games. But his November and March were both especially bad, both offensively and in terms of giving up goals, and played a big role in his overall down numbers for the season.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 11 defensemen on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
There is not a lot to love here about Letang’s perfomrance.
He did not score a single goal during 5-on-5 play, saw a serious drop in his playmaking with the assists, and was no longer an overly effective player in terms of driving position.
Making things even worse, he seemed to be the common denominator for a lot of his partner’s struggles.
Sam Girard was significantly better and more productive when he was not paired with Letang.
Ryan Shea was significantly better and more productive when he was not paired with Letang.
The only defenseman that seemed to have any meaningful success with Letang this season was Brett Kulak in their 278 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey together.
In other words, the 2025-26 season was finally the season that Kris Letang played like the player that his harshest critics always thought that he was. It only took 18 years, but it happened.
Charts n’at
This chart speaks to the above that the decline has been real for Letang. His decade+ days of being a quality No. 1 defenseman are a memory and his WAR ranking and offensive impact has been in sharp decline lately.
However, not all hope is gone. Letang can still move the puck within the offensive zone really well to create shot and chance assists. He is good with in-zone offense once the puck gets that far. Being so low in exit success rates with the inability to carry the puck as well as failing to deny entries and prevent chances defensively shows some areas that have become drastically limited for Letang in the aging process. He also somehow managed to score zero 5v5 goals this season, a bit of an anomaly considering he’s scored 4-10 5v5 goals each season since coming back from next surgery in 2017.
Even at an older age, Letang’s skating and burst is still reasonably good relative to the rest of the league. As a notorious workout/fitness freak, there’s no doubt that Letang is doing all that he can to keep his body in as top of shape as possible. Gotta give him a lot of credit for that, and all his endless work in the gym has certainly paid off to help him keep some power in his skating, even late in his career.
Highlights
Tanger calls game in his 1,200th 🙌
With his game winner, Kris Letang has the second-most overtime goals by a defenseman in NHL history (13). pic.twitter.com/Kmj5AaISX1
The two biggest questions regarding Letang are whether or not he can rebound in any way this season and find a way to be productive in a smaller role, and whether or not he will actually be on the team next season?
Letang has always seemed like the most likely of the big three to play elsewhere, and the Penguins might be open to moving him and his contract if the opportunity presents itself. That does not seem likely for a variety of reasons, ranging from Letang having a full no-movement clause and having the ability to veto any trade he does not want, as well as the fact there simply may not be a huge market for a 39-year-old defenseman counting more than $6 million per season against the salary cap and coming off arguably the worst season of his career.
Ideal 2026-27
It still seems likely that Letang will be a Penguin, but he is going to need to adjust his style of play and his role is going to need to change. He does not need to be the focal point of the defense or be the player pushing the pace of play, mostly because he does not really possess the skating or skills to do that anymore. If he can play an 18-minute per night role in more sheltered situations, while chipping in the occasional 5-on-5 goal, there might still be something here that they can use. He just needs to know his limitations. The Penguins also need to know his limitations.
Bottom line
Letang is a giant in Penguins history and one of the best, most important players to play for the franchise. There may have been a handful of better defensemen to briefly play for the Penguins (Paul Coffey, for example), but Letang has had the greatest career of any Penguins defensemen with the Penguins. He has won three Stanley Cups here, scoring a game-winning goal in a Stanley Cup clinching game, and consistently been one of the best overall defensemen in the NHL. He is a borderline Hall of Famer. All of that will always be important, even if he is not that version of himself at this stage of his career.
But AI hasn't wavered in terms of the top of the 2026 draft class. Since the draft lottery was conducted last month, and the Wizards, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies wound up with the top three picks, Microsoft Copilot's AI chatbot has consistently churned out the same prospects for those first three choices when prompted by USA TODAY Sports.
The same is not true for most picks outside of the top four prospects (Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson). There was again a shift in selections made in the first AI mock draft since the conclusion of the NBA Finals, particularly in the latter half of the first half, based on the latest intel.
Here's a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, including the chatbot's reasoning for making each first-round pick:
USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot AI to generate a mock draft for the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft featuring only players eligible this year now that the NBA draft withdrawal deadline passed for college players. The chatbot was asked to base its selections on current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as the latest intel on team needs, prospect analysis, pre-draft workouts and the most up-to-date draft withdrawal news.
Note:AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot needed additional prompts after several picks were inaccurately assigned to teams.The average mock draft pick referenced for each player was compiled by USA TODAY Sports using 13 of the latest mock drafts from national websites around the country, including USA TODAY.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Average mock draft pick: 1
AI analysis: "A franchise-caliber scoring wing with elite shot creation tools, Dybantsa gives Washington the highest ceiling player in the class."
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Average mock draft pick: 2
AI analysis: "A dynamic lead guard with two-way upside, Peterson offers Utah a primary initiator to build around long term."
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, Duke
Average mock draft pick: 3
AI analysis: "Boozer’s polished offensive game and physicality make him a plug-and-play frontcourt centerpiece."
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Average mock draft pick: 4
AI analysis: "Wilson’s defensive versatility and upside swing potential fits a Chicago team in talent acquisition mode."
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Average mock draft pick: 6
AI analysis: "Acuff brings explosive scoring and on-ball creation as a potential franchise point guard in a high-leverage slot."
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Average mock draft pick: 7
AI analysis: "Brown’s scoring burst and rising pre-draft momentum make him one of the top offensive guard bets."
7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, Houston
Average mock draft pick: 8
AI analysis: "With multiple guards in the same tier, Flemings gives Sacramento a high-upside playmaker without needing to trade up."
8. Atlanta Hawks: Nate Ament, Tennessee
Average mock draft pick: 10
AI analysis: "Ament’s size, shot creation and upside fit cleanly next to Jalen Johnson as Atlanta prioritizes building around versatile forwards and wing-driven offense."
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, Arizona
Average mock draft pick: 9
AI analysis: "Burries adds perimeter scoring and secondary playmaking to complement Cooper Flagg as Dallas reshapes its offensive hierarchy."
Rochester Red Wings 6, Toledo Mud Hens 5 (F/11)(box)
The Mud Hens battled through a bullpen game only to run out of pitching in the 11th inning, losing via walkoff to the Red Wings.
Woo-Suk Go got the start and went two innings. He surrendered a pair of runs on four hits and a walk, striking out five.
The Hens turned the tables pretty quickly. In the top of the fourth, Max Anderson led off with a walk and Eduardo Valencia doubled him to third with one out. Anderson scored on a Trei Cruz ground out, and Corey Julks singled in Valencia to tie the game.
In the fifth, Jace Jung led off with his 11th homer and two batters later, Cal Stevenson followed suit for a 4-2 lead.
Unfortunately the offense ran out of steam after that, and the bullpen leaked a run in the sixth and Matt Seelinger blew the save in the bottom of the ninth.
In the 10th, with Tyler Gentry starting at second base, Cal Stevenson flew out to right field, allowing Gentry to tag and take third, where he’d score on a wild pitch. That was all they’d get, and Seelinger couldn’t prevent the run in the bottom half. The Hens failed to push across a run in the 11th, and Gentry had to pitch, allowing a walkoff single on a 37 mph slider.
Jung: 2-4, R, RBI, HR, K
Valencia: 2-4, R, 2B, BB
Go: 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K
Coming Up Next: The series is tied up heading into a 6:45 p.m. ET start on Thurday.
Former Tigers prospect Josh Randall spun a solid game against the SeaWolves on Wednesday, while Lael Lockhart Jr.’s outing fell apart late and the bullpen collapsed.
The SeaWolves did strike first, as singles from Justice Bigbie, Izaac Pacheco, and Aaron Antonini produced a run in the second inning.
Meanwhile, Lockhart rolled through the first three innings without much trouble, but he allowed a solo shot in the fourth and then three more runs in the fifth. Chris Meyers answered back with his third home run in his last three games in the sixth, but Wandisson Charles allowed two runs in the bottom half for a 6-2 lead.
Chris Meyers’ power surge continues with a rocket of a solo home run to right. It’s his 3rd straight game with a homer, and it left his bat at 113 MPH. pic.twitter.com/Ec6Z5MPcHS
In the seventh, the SeaWolves made a bigger push as Antonini led off with a double and scored on a one-out triple to the wall in center from Brett Callahan. John Peck doubled in Callahan to make it a 6-4 game, but that was all they’d get.
Meyers doubled and scored in the eighth, and Peck tripled and scored on a Bigbie ground out in the top of the ninth, but Tyler Owens gave up a run in the seventh and then four runs in the eighth as the Senators pulled away.
Peck: 3-5, R, RBI, 2B, 3B, K
Meyers: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR, 2 BB
Callahan: 2-5, R, RBI, 3B, K
Pacheco: 1-3, 2 BB, 2 K
Lockhart (L, 1-1): 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: The series is tied, with first pitch on Thursday set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
West Michigan Whitecaps vs. Lansing Lugnuts (cancelled)
They were washed out in West Michigan on Wednesday and the game cancelled. It’s a 6:45 p.m. ET start on Thurday night.
Dunedin Blue Jays 9, Lakeland Flying Tigers 5 (box)
The Flying Tigers swung the bats pretty well on Wednesday, but the pitching wasn’t there as the Blue Jays made it two in a row.
Cash Kuiper got the start, and he gave up a run in the first and two more in the third. In the bottom of the second, Anibal Salas and Jack Goodman singled and both scored on Hunter Dobbins triple. Jordan Yost was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a Nick Dumesnil single in the third.
So it was all tied up at that point and stayed that way until the sixth when Salas smoked a drive over the right field wall for his fifth home run.
Anibal Salas with a missile over the wall in right to give Lakeland a 4-3 lead. It’s his 5th home run of the year, and it left his bat at 111 MPH and traveled 406 feet. pic.twitter.com/ywve3FvIAZ
Unfortunately, in the seventh Antonio Florida and then Jan Carabello combined to surrender five runs as the Blue Jays seized control for good.
Beau Ankeney added a solo shot, his eighth on the year, in the eighth inning. Jatnk Diaz was wild in the ninth and gave up a run before this one ended.
Salas: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR, K
Kuiper: 3.1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: They’ll match up again at 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday.
Jun 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher David Bednar (53) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Things are going well for the Yankees right now, all things considered. Even though the team is without their top hitter in Aaron Judge and one of their top pitchers in Max Fried, alongside a few other regulars in the lineup that could really be helping them out. Despite this, they’re sitting in first place in the AL East with the best record in the AL overall and have won four straight and eight of their last ten games. The team is rallying much like the 2019 team did when they were besieged by injuries, and they’ve gotten key improvements from some early slumpers.
One such area that the team has gotten a boost from has been the back of the bullpen, with David Bednar having not allowed a single run since exactly a month ago on May 18th. The Yankee closer has gotten into eight appearances since then, pitching 8.2 scoreless innings and striking out 11 while walking three and giving up four hits. His ERA has gone from north of five to a more stable 3.64 mark in the meantime, and outside of his multi-inning outing on June 8th Bednar has only been pushed into 20 pitches or more once during this stretch. The only knock you could give against his performance is that only three of these outings have been save opportunities, with one seeing Bednar enter in a tie game and the rest being big leads, but Bednar has converted all three of those saves and he earned the win in that tie game that went into extras.
The bullpen has been the weak spot of the roster all season, and Bednar’s sharp form would be a welcome reprieve from sweating out the Houdini acts he’s put the team through in the first couple of months on top of the other pain points in the ‘pen. One nice stretch of play might not be enough to shake the memories of Bednar’s tightrope act though, especially when shades of it could be seen in his last outing against Toronto when he was set up with a five-run lead but made it a little hairy with two loud pieces of contact to put runners on second and third. Bednar escaped that jam without any damage of course, but had that been a tighter contest I think it’s fair to say we’d all have been sweating as soon as the inning led off with a hit. On top of that, Bednar has only been put into back-to-back games twice during this run, and the second time it occurred is where the drama could’ve kicked off had the offense not erupted in the top of the inning.
There’s still a fair amount of pitchers in the bullpen that cause stress every time they take the mound this season, but as of late Bednar hasn’t been one of them. The team will be looking for reinforcements over the course of the next month or two, and the ‘pen is a prime candidate to see a couple of new faces, but Bednar’s recent play should keep him firmly in control of the closer’s role. Should the team be comfortable with that and look to add to their bridge to Bednar, or should they still consider swinging big for an arm that could step into the role should Bednar get into a funk again? Let us know what you think.
Before the Yankees go for the sweep tonight, we’ve got a full slate of stuff going on here. Josh starts us off with a look at the new AL MVP landscape with Aaron Judge all but guaranteed to fall short this time and Shohei Ohtani over in the NL now. Then Matt covers the Rivalry Roundup with the Rays crucially getting swept by the Dodgers, Jeff wishes one-time Yankee Félix Heredia a happy birthday, and Jonathan examines Gerrit Cole’s first five starts of the season to see how the former Cy Young winner has adapted post-Tommy John. John makes the case for Jasson Domínguez to hit leadoff for the Yankees, and Sam outlines what success would look like for Spencer Jones’ rookie season to round things out.
VALENCIA, SPAIN - APRIL 30: Sergio de Larrea of Valencia Basket gestures during the EuroLeague Play Off Game 2 match between Valencia Basket and Panathinaikos Aktor Athens at Roig Arena on April 30, 2026 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo By Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
The NBA Draft is barreling closer to us. The Cleveland Cavaliers have the 29th pick in this year’s draft. Let’s take a look at who the experts have them taking in our latest mock draft roundup.
Kevin O’Connor’s latest mock draft has the Cavs opting for the 6’5” 20-year-old out of Spain. O’Connor writes:
Keon Ellis and Dean Wade will be free agents this summer, and Max Strus will be in one year. It may be time for the Cavaliers to get a wing — one with more skill — in the developmental pipeline alongside Jaylon Tyson. De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.
De Larrea played 28 league games for Valencia this past season. He averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 assists, and three rebounds per game in 18.3 minutes per outing. He did this on .443/.407/.833 shooting splits.
The question here is fit. The Cavs need more options on the wing — no one will argue with that — but they preferably need ones that are 6’7” or over. The Cavs have plenty of undersized wings that are naturally shooting guards, but can shift up to the three. They don’t have anyone whose best position is the three. Even Wade, their starting small forward in the playoffs, is best suited to play a different position.
De Larrea could be the best prospect available at this spot, but it’s fair to wonder whether this team needs another undersized wing.
After making a strong case for himself by putting up three 20-plus-point games in the NCAA tournament, Reed has built momentum on the workout circuit and is trending toward the late first round. His mix of length, physical heft, rebounding instincts and offensive skill make him an appealing plug-and-play role player, and he should appeal to contending teams.
Frontcourt depth is an obvious area of need for the Cavs as they try to maximize their current window, making this an intriguing fit.
Reed averaged 14.7 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 60.7% from the field for the Huskies.
Having another big would be incredibly useful. The Cavs haven’t really had a competent third center in the Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley era. Reed could be the answer, although it’s fair to point out that he wouldn’t be the cleanest fit.
Ideally, you’d want a third big who could play alongside both Allen and Mobley. For a big to be able to do that, they would need to be able to space the floor offensively. Reed doesn’t do that. He’s taken just seven triples in 136 college games. And as a 58.2% free-throw shooter, it doesn’t seem like this is an untapped skill.
Reed is a good and talented player. He just might not be the most ideal archetype for a backup big, which is becoming a theme in this latest round of mock drafts.
Jonathan Wasserman also has the Cavs taking De Larrea. Wasserman writes:
Sergio de Larrea is currently producing for Valencia in the EuroLeague playoffs, which is why he couldn’t attend the combine.
He’s now put together consecutive years of accurate three-point shooting and strong playmaking rates, and is sure to draw first-round consideration.
Shooting and playmaking are things the Cavs could use. This may be the best bet from a talent perspective. However, it would be nice if the Cavs had more people on the roster between 6’7” and 6’9”.
As of now, it seems like momentum is picking up for De Larrea to be the Cavs’ selection late in the first round.
I read something recently quoting somebody else who said your favorite World Cup (the soccer version) is the one that happens when you’re about 8-13 years old or so, because it’s when things still feel magical but before you grasp how cynical and corrupt FIFA is and how the world is in general.
All that aside, if you appreciate soccer at all, then the World Cup — even this bloated, peace-prize-for-toddler-favors version — is still fun as hell, for the coming together of cultures sharing party moments in celebration of a stupid game. Scots taking over Fenway Park, Uzbeks bouncing in a small group surrounded by tens of thousands of Colombians. A DR Congo fan standing still for the entirety of each match. Tourney favorite Spain running into Cabo Verde having its 2010 Jaro Halak moment. Jerry Jones keeling over somewhere, hopefully. (No?)
It will for sure pacify me until the NHL draft and free agency begins, at least.
There’s not a whole lot of news on that front just yet, but it’s coming, surely.
(P.S. Thanks to all for the encouraging words on Bear and the fun nerding out on handedness in Wednesday’s thread.)
Islanders News
Hockey’s just around the corner! Sort of not really but kind of. The prospect camp Blue-White scrimmage is on July 1, and maybe Gavin McKenna will be there after we trade Bailey, Donovan and a 5th to get him. [Isles]
Elsewhere
The Knights have hired their latest coach, promoting their AHL guy. [NHL]
And in their benevolence, they actually allowed fired coach Bruce Cassidy to talk to one team. [Sportsnet]
However, that team was the Maple Leafs, who just hired former Kings coach (and Isles assistant) Jim Hiller. Son of Bourne talks himself into thinking that’s a fine hire. [Sportsnet]
Hiller vows to make the Leafs fun again. [Sportsnet]
TRADE: Buffalo moved up from 27 to 20 in the draft by sending Michael Kesselring to San Jose. [NHL]
Jamie Langenbrunner joins the Predators’ new front office. [TSN]
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The NBA championship celebrations are nowhere near over, as New York Knicks will take part in a time-honored NYC tradition for the first time in franchise history.
A ticker-tape parade will be thrown in honor of the champs up downtown NYC’s iconic Canyon of Heroes, where many other championship teams have been celebrated throughout the year. It could end up being the largest in the city’s history.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the parade‘s date shortly after Game 5’s final buzzer on Saturday. In a later press release, the mayor said, “We have dreamed of this moment for generations. This Thursday, our city will rise to the occasion.”
Some celebrity row mainstays, like Spike Lee and Ben Stiller (who confirmed to Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart that he and HBO are working together on a documentary about this season), will be in attendance as well.
Following the parade, the team will receive the keys to the city from Mayor Mamdani in a ceremony at City Hall. The TV voice of the Knicks, Mike Breen, will emcee the ceremony; Alicia Keys is set to close it out with a performance of “Empire State of Mind.”
When is the NY Knicks championship parade? What time does the Knicks parade start at?
Today’s (June 18) Knicks ticker-tape championship parade is expected to begin around 10 a.m. ET.
Knicks championship parade TV channels
If you live in the New York area, you can watch coverage of the Knicks ticker-tape parade on all local news networks — CBS New York, NBC New York, FOX 5 and ABC7 New York — in addition to the Knicks’ TV home, MSG Network.
How to watch the NY Knicks championship parade for free
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching TV live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes all of the local news and sports networks like MSG as part of its 125+ channels.
TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
If you live outside of the New York area, you can tune in to the Knicks championship parade using the NBC New York News channel with a Peacock Premium Plus ($16.99/month) subscription.
Knicks championship parade route
The Knicks championship parade will start around Battery Park and travel about one mile north up Broadway. The parade will end at City Hall, where a ceremony will take place afterward.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
