Dodgers-Yankees game rained out; doubleheader scheduled for Sunday

Jul 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of the field after the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium was postponed. Mandatory...

NEW YORK — Saturday night’s Dodgers-Yankees game was postponed because of rain, setting up a split doubleheader Sunday.

Sunday’s first game is scheduled to begin at 12:35 p.m. Eastern (9:35 a.m. Pacific). The series finale is set for Sunday at 7:20 p.m. Eastern (4:20 p.m. Pacific).

The Dodgers and Yankees are scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday at Yankee Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Dodgers did not immediately announce if the rainout would alter their pitching plan. Initially, Emmet Sheehan was scheduled to start Saturday and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Sunday.

The team will also be allowed to call up an extra player for Sunday because of the doubleheader.

It will be the Dodgers’ first time playing a doubleheader since May 2024, when they got rained out during a visit to the Mets.

Sunday’s first game will be televised on SportsNet LA after originally being slated for Fox’s national broadcast Saturday night. Sunday night’s game will remain on NBC/Peacock.

Weather always figured to loom large during this current East Coast road trip the Dodgers are on — be it rainy forecasts, muggy summer heat or even poor air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke that cleared up just in time for Friday’s series opener at Yankee Stadium. 

After Sunday night’s game, they head to Philadelphia for three games against the Phillies. On Thursday, they will go to Washington for a White House visit to celebrate their 2025 World Series. Next weekend, they wrap the nine-game swing with a series against the Mets. 

Now, they can only hope Saturday’s rainout is the only time their schedule is impacted.

Cubs 6, Twins 2: Kody Clemens and the Rundown Gang

Jul 18, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) tries to make the play on the single hit by Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Twins climbed back to .500, but getting over the hump back to a winning record will have to wait a few more games. Minnesota falls to 49-50 after a decisive win by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs jumped on starter Taj Bradley early, tagging the Twin for five earned runs in the first three innings. A solo shot from Michael Busch gave the Cubs the lead in the first, and a two-run Miguel Amaya double made it 3-1 Cubs in the second, after Kody Clemens had leveled the playing field with a homer of his own.

A pair of walks — two out of three total on Taj’s line — came around to score in the third, making it a 5-1 Chicago lead. Bradley got through five innings, but it was his worst start in weeks, and it handed him his fourth loss of the season. Mike Paredes struck out four in two relief innings, but allowed a walk and a few hits in a messy seventh inning to give the Cubs one more run.

Clemens would homer again in the seventh, the only other Twins tally on the afternoon.

The Twins attempted to rally in the ninth, putting their first two men on, then proceeded to lose two outs on the bases on a Brooks Lee single, as Josh Bell got hung up between third and home, and Brooks Lee was iced trying to retreat to the bag. It would have been nice to have a few plate appearances with the tying run up and nobody out, but hey, they’re professionals. They know a lot better than we do in situations such as.

The loss means tomorrow’s game will be nice and rubbery. We shall see you there!

STUDS:

2B Kody Clemens (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR)

DUDS:

SP Taj Bradley (5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR)

Knicks villain Trae Young fails badly trying to rip Jalen Brunson jersey at Fanatics Fest

Knicks villain Trae Young failed miserably on Saturday trying  to rip reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson’s jersey apart during an appearance Saturday at the Fanatics Fest in Midtown.
Knicks villain Trae Young failed miserably on Saturday trying  to rip reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson's jersey apart during an appearance Saturday at the Fanatics Fest in Midtown.

The only thing that got ripped was this guy’s rep.

Washington Wizards star Trae Young’s magic seemed to fizzle Saturday, when he failed miserably while trying to tear apart a Jalen Brunson jersey during a stunt appearance in Midtown and wound up getting torn up himself on the internet.

The NBA sharpshooter was trying to re-ignite his longtime rivalry with the Knicks and their rabid fanbase at Fanatics Fest with the bid to destroy Brunson’s shirts after walking on stage and apparently reprising some antics he performed in the past while appearing in the WWE, video shows.

But “Big Body Brunson’s” shirt was also apparently too big and strong for Young, who spent close to a half-minute at the Javits Center sports gala futilely trying to rip it in half.

Knicks villain Trae Young failed miserably on Saturday trying  to rip reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson’s jersey apart during an appearance Saturday at the Fanatics Fest in Midtown. X/@Fanatics

He eventually gave up and tossed the jersey into the crowd.

As expected, Young felt the vitriol of Knicks fans soon after his antics.

“Did he forget his ass is Trae Young?” barked DJ Zullo of the podcast Knicks Film Skool on X

NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson of the champion Knicks was not on the team when Young led the Hawks to a playoff series win over the Knicks in 2021. BACKGRID

Young later claimed it was all in jest.

Trae Young’s bid to rip Brunson’s jersey went nowhere. X/@Fanatics

He posted a video of himself of social media watching highlights of previous performances against the NBA champs, and said “I just be trolling sometimes.” while adding laughing face emojis.

 “Happy for some of my boys over there fr!” he added, while including salute and hands-together-praying emojis.

Young briefly made himself public-enemy No. 1 at Madison Square Garden in 2021 by famously bowing to the crowd while knocking the Knicks out of the playoffs as a star for the Atlanta Hawks.

Dodgers game Saturday against Yankees is postponed because of rain

A view of Yankee Stadium from the upper deck looking toward the outfield.
 (Arturo Holmes / Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ game against the New York Yankees on Saturday in the Bronx was rained out and rescheduled as the first game in a split doubleheader Sunday.

It was the Dodgers’ first postponement of the season.

They are set to play Game 1 at 9:35 a.m. PDT Sunday, followed by Game 2 at 4:20 p.m.

Saturday’s game was originally scheduled to air on Fox at 5:08 p.m. PDT. But with persistent showers in the forecast, the decision to postpone was made official more than three hours before game time.

Dodgers right-hander Emmett Sheehan (4-6, 4.81 ERA) was scheduled to take the mound opposite Yankees lefty Ryan Weathers on Saturday. But the Dodgers shifted their pitching plan after the postponement.

Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, already lined up for Sunday, is set to start the morning game. The Dodgers have not announced their Game 2 starter.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Yankees-Dodgers postponed due to rain, doubleheader set for Sunday

Jul 12, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; General view of the Yankee Stadium facade as storm clouds move in during a rain delay before a game between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Well, hat tip to the powers that be. With storms rolling into New York in a couple hours, MLB has decided to postpone tonight’s Yankees-Dodgers clash. In a move that surprised me, the game will be made up in a split-admission doubleheader tomorrow, sandwiched around the World Cup final at 3pm local time.

If you have tickets for today’s game, they are only eligible for tomorrow’s 12:35pm ET first pitch. That game will be played — the forecast for Sunday looks gorgeous — and then the Stadium will be cleared out to prepare for Sunday Night Baseball, at 7:20pm local time. Yankee manager Aaron Boone indicated shortly after the postponement that there’s a “good chance” the team stands pat with their pitching decisions, meaning its most likely Ryan Weathers starts the first game and we get that Cam Schlittler/Yoshinobu Yamamoto killer in primetime.

If you’re in New York, keep yourselves safe. Parts of Queens are already experiencing flooding and there’s a second round of storms coming. Keep an eye on official public notices, and follow the direction of city officials. If nothing else, all this rain should clear up some of the wildfire smoke issues the city has experienced this week.

See you tomorrow, Yankee fans.

Blackhawks' Connor Bedard agrees to lucrative five-year contract

Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard has a contract in hand as he rehabs from shoulder surgery.

The team announced on Saturday, July 18, that the 2023 No. 1 overall pick has agreed to a five-year, $75 million contract with a $15 million cap hit.

That puts him third in the league behind Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, whose $18 million cap hit came via an offer sheet, and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million).

Bedard, 21, has 203 points in 219 career NHL games with Chicago in three seasons from 2023-26. He set career highs last season with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games.

The only drawback has been injuries. He had surgery on his left shoulder on July 8 after being injured while training in Vancouver and will miss more than a month of the 2026-27 regular season. He injured his other shoulder last season and suffered a broken jaw in his rookie year.

"Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” said Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson. “He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we’re excited for the incredible impact he’ll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.”

Connor Bedard contract details

According to puckpedia.com, Bedard's contract includes five signing bonuses of $9.8 million each. Bedard wears No. 98. The contract is also front-loaded. Here are the details:

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NHL draft: Scouting reports on all 32 first round picks

When does the 2026-27 NHL season begin?

The schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season will officially begin on Sept. 29 with five games on opening night

  • Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
  • New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins
  • Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights
  • Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers

NHL key dates 2026-27

  • July 20: Arbitration hearings begin
  • Sept. 29: Opening night
  • Dec. 18-20: 2026 NHL Global Series Germany (Blackhawks vs. Senators in Dusseldorf)
  • Feb. 6: NHL All-Star Game at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blackhawks' Connor Bedard agrees to lucrative five-year contract

Dodgers-Yankees postponed by Saturday rain

Jul 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of the field after the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium was postponed. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The middle game between the Dodgers and Yankees on Saturday was postponed by rain, and rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Sunday.

The first game on Sunday is scheduled for a 9:35 a.m. PT start, followed by the nightcap on NBC, with Jason Benetti, Orel Hershiser, and Roger Clemens on the exclusive national telecast for the second game.

After SportsNet LA televised Friday’s series opener at Yankee Stadium, there wasn’t going to be a Dodgers game on the network until Tuesday in Philadelphia, with Saturday’s game in New York slated for Fox, followed by Sunday night on NBC, and Monday against the Phillies on ESPN. Now, SportsNet LA will carry the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, followed by NBC and Peacock airing the nightcap at 4:20 p.m. PT.

Pitching plans this weekend were going to be Emmet Sheehan vs. left-hander Ryan Weathers on Saturday, followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Cam Schlittler on Sunday. Yamamoto starts the early game on Sunday now.

This is the first rainout of the season for the Dodgers, who’ve had two previous games delayed by inclement weather, all on the road. The series finale in Washington D.C. against the Nationals on April 5 started two hours, nine minutes late due to rain, and on June 23 against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, the first pitch was delayed by 28 minutes.

Saturday's Yankees-Dodgers game postponed due to expected inclement weather

The Yankees announced that Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers has been postponed due to expected inclement weather.

It will be made up as the first game of a split-admission doubleheader on Sunday, with first pitch set for 12:35 p.m. And the second game of the doubleheader is set for 7:20 p.m.

The originally scheduled 8:08 p.m. first pitch was set to feature a battle between the left-hander Ryan Weathers (4.15 ERA, 1.239 WHIP in 97.2 innings) and right-hander Emmet Sheehan (4.81 ERA, 1.239 WHIP in 82.1 innings).

The scheduled starters for the game originally scheduled for Sunday are a couple of All-Star right-handers: Cam Schlittler (2.05 ERA, 0.944 WHIP in 118.2 innings) for the Yanks and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.85 ERA, 0.913 WHIP in 110.2 innings) for the club that once called Brooklyn their home. 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there's a "good chance" the club will keep the pitching plan the same for Sunday's doubleheader.

New York (54-43) closed the first half of the season with a four-game winning streak, including a sweep in Washington. That put a cap on a terrible run of form that saw the Bronx Bombers suffer a team-wide slump when they dropped 11 of 13 games, including seven straight defeats against Boston and Detroit. 

However, they opened the series with another low-scoring effort, falling 2-1 to Los Angeles (62-36) on Friday night. The back-to-back World Series champions, with a 1.5-game lead for the best record in baseball, entered the break losers of four of their last five games.

Argentina 24-31 England: Nations Championship rugby – as it happened

England survive a chaotic TMO ending to win in Santiago

4 mins. On the next attack Fin Smith floats a beautiful kick towards Freeman’s wing who soars above Carreras to claim it and score.

Who had four minutes on a fight breaking out? Because immediately after the touchdown there’s some afters that Freeman takes exception to which Chessum runs a full 15 metres towards to get involved with.

Continue reading...

Orioles sign Kyle Bradish to five-year extension

Jul 11, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish (38) throws during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Just as tonight’s game with the Houston Astros was beginning, the Orioles announced that they have signed starting pitcher Kyle Bradish to a five-year contract extension. The deal starts with the 2027 season. Bradish had been slated to become a free agent in the 2029 season, so the deal keeps him under team control for an additional three seasons.

Per Jeff Passan, the deal is worth $90 million, but no further breakdown has been released as of yet.

Bradish is the second member of the starting rotation to be signed to a long-term deal this year. Shane Baz signed a five-year, $68 million contract close to Opening Day. While Orioles’ GM Mike Elias has stated that he believes Baz has top-of-the-rotation stuff, Bradish has proven his.

Drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, Bradish was traded to the Orioles for Dylan Bundy in December 2019. He made his Major League debut in 2022 and made 23 starts with a 4.90 ERA. He broke out in 2023, with a 2.90 ERA over 30 starts for the AL East champions. He was off to a great start in 2024 before having to undergo Tommy John surgery in June.

Bradish has had some ups and downs this season, but has still shown his ace-like stuff at times. Overall, he has a 3.61 ERA in 19 starts this season.

The five-year contract will take Bradish through his 34th birthday.

BREAKING NEWS: Connor Bedard And Blackhawks Agree To 5 Year Extension

On Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have come to a contract extension with forward Connor Bedard. It will carry a cap hit of $15 million per season over the five years. 

This contract has been a hot topic, especially with the recent offer-sheet drama that has taken place in the NHL. Based on that, this contract is a bit of a bargain. 

Bedard is being paid partially for what he has proven in the NHL with the Blackhawks, but also because of what the future holds for him. As a former first overall pick in the draft, there are expectations that he is going to be a top-flight superstar. 

In 219 games played, Bedard has 75 goals and 128 assists for 203 points. He had somewhat of a breakout in 2025-26, as he scored 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games played. 

Bedard is currently injured, as he just had shoulder surgery last week. He is expected to recover over the next four months, which gives him a mid-November target for a return. By that point, he will be hoping to provide a boost to the team that only he can. 

For the player and the team, this is a great deal. Bedard is one of the highest paid players in the NHL, and the Blackhawks technically got him below market value. Together, they have five years to take their rebuild to the next level. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest newsgame-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Report Suggests Yzerman's Delay in Naming Larkin Captain After Zetterberg Retired May Have Fueled Rift

As the Detroit Red Wings continue to navigate the ongoing Dylan Larkin trade request saga, more and more reports are starting to back up the notion that a rift developed between the local Michigan native and organizational leader Steve Yzerman.

One report from reliable MLive reporter Ansar Khan suggested that shortly after Henrik Zetterberg retired, the wait from 2018 to 2020 to name a new captain was an intentional choice by Yzerman. 

Khan noted he believes the decision to hold off on naming Larkin captain for those two seasons shook him. It was only two seasons that the Red Wings went without a captain, but it may have felt like a much longer stretch to Larkin.

It's been quite some time since any official statement has come from Larkin's camp regarding the trade request and it's starting to feel like a shift is coming.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest newsgame-day coverage, and player features.

The hockey world was stunned in early June when NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that captain Dylan Larkin, coming off a career-high 34-goal season, had requested a trade.

A list of preferred destinations soon emerged, with Larkin naming the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers as teams he'd consider waiving his no-trade clause for, before reports later added the Dallas Stars to the list as well.

Plenty of holes have been poked in Larkin's list and the difficulty each team would face in acquiring him.

The Panthers have very little cap space to work with, while the Golden Knights and Wild are thin on high-end prospects and draft capital. Even the Stars, Larkin's more recent addition to the list, face similar issues in putting together a workable offer.

A trade involving Larkin looks even more uncertain now that Yzerman has reportedly stepped down from his role as Red Wings general manager and vice president of hockey operations. 

He will move into more of a senior advisory role going forward, with Detroit now searching for a new voice in the GM chair, a change that could open the door to a rebuilt relationship between Larkin and the front office.

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Do Timberwolves Fans Even Want LeBron?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics) | Getty Images for Fanatics

The NBA calendar has officially entered its quiet season. The draft is over. Most of the fireworks of free agency have already gone off. Las Vegas Summer League is winding down. Outside of the occasional contract signing or end-of-the-roster move, the league typically settles into a boring stretch. In other words, it’s the dead zone.

Unless, of course, you’re one of the handful of franchises still waiting on LeBron James. Ever since LeBron informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning in purple and gold, the league has been engulfed in a second version of “The Decision.” There hasn’t been an hour-long ESPN special (at least not yet), but the speculation has reached an almost comical level. Every podcast has an opinion. Every television analyst has “sources.” Every former player has a theory. If someone has a microphone and a social media account, chances are they’ve already explained why LeBron should definitely head to their preferred destination.

By now, the list has become familiar. The Cleveland Cavaliers. The Golden State Warriors. The Miami Heat. The Philadelphia 76ers.

…and, somehow, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The fact that Minnesota isn’t just being mentioned as a longshot but consistently appears among the five primary destinations says something about how dramatically this franchise’s reputation has changed. Ten years ago, the idea of LeBron James voluntarily choosing Minnesota would’ve been treated like satire. Fifteen years ago it would’ve been grounds for a wellness check.

Today? It’s an actual conversation. Whether it ultimately happens is another matter entirely.

The fascinating part is that nobody seems to know where James is leaning. LeBron and Rich Paul have kept this process remarkably quiet. Every day brings another report, another rumor, another anonymous executive claiming to have “heard something,” only for a contradictory report to emerge a few hours later.

At this point, even the biggest names in NBA reporting feel less like insiders and more like amateur meteorologists standing outside with their finger in the air trying to determine which way the wind is blowing. One forecast says sunny. The next says thunderstorms. Then somebody announces a tornado warning.

Meanwhile, LeBron hasn’t said a word.

What has made this saga especially interesting from a Minnesota perspective is the number of respected basketball voices who have openly connected James to the Timberwolves. This isn’t just Wolves fans talking themselves into a fantasy because it’s July and there isn’t much else happening. Max Kellerman has repeatedly argued that Minnesota makes tremendous basketball sense. On his and Rich Paul’s Game Over podcast, Kellerman laid out the basketball fit in detail, explaining why the Wolves offer one of the most complete situations available.

Even more interesting was hearing Kendrick Perkins make essentially the same case on that very show. Perkins broke down how pairing Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball’s offense and Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels’ defense with LeBron would immediately create one of the league’s most dangerous cores and potentially give James his best opportunity to chase a fifth championship while becoming the first player in NBA history to win titles with four different franchises.

Even good ol’ Boogie Cousins added his own support during a Summer League interview. Suddenly it wasn’t just one person throwing out Minnesota as a dark horse. It became a legitimate basketball discussion.

Then franchise great and team ambassador, Kevin Garnett made a convincing argument why LeBron should absolutely choose to come to Minnesota…

…oh wait. He did the opposite.

Come on, KG.

If anyone was going to publicly campaign for LeBron to finish his career in Minnesota, you’d think it would’ve been the greatest player in franchise history. Instead, Wolves fans were left watching everyone else make the case while Garnett remained notably absent from the recruiting effort.

Still, the momentum surrounding Minnesota hasn’t disappeared. If anything, the waiting has only intensified because it sounds like this decision may finally be approaching its conclusion.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reportedly encouraged James to make his decision sooner rather than later so the league can finalize its schedule. That’s understandable. Wherever LeBron lands instantly becomes appointment television. Opening Night, Christmas Day, and every other marquee slot on the calendar depends on knowing where the biggest star of his generation will be playing.

The schedule can’t really be completed until LeBron picks a jersey. The basketball world is essentially sitting in an airport terminal waiting for one delayed flight, and judging by the latest SB Nation Reacts poll, Wolves fans are hoping that flight lands squarely in Minneapolis.

An overwhelming 88 percent of respondents said they want LeBron to choose Minnesota.

That number honestly surprised me. Not because the basketball fit doesn’t make sense (it absolutely does), but because LeBron has never exactly been universally beloved in Timberwolves circles. Like every fan base, Wolves fans have spent years rolling their eyes at some of the theatrics. The media circus. The carefully orchestrated announcements. The endless conversation that somehow always circles back to LeBron himself. This latest free agency saga is just another example. The entire league has essentially paused while everyone waits for one player to decide where he’ll spend the twilight of his career.

That isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but basketball has a funny way of making old grudges disappear. Because while opinions about LeBron the personality may vary, opinions about LeBron the basketball player are much harder to argue. He remains one of the two or three most influential figures the NBA has ever produced. Michael Jordan sits alone in terms of global impact, but LeBron is firmly in that next chair. His arrival instantly changes how a franchise is perceived. National television schedules shift. Free agents pay attention. Championship expectations become real rather than theoretical.

For a franchise like Minnesota, one that spent decades wandering through the NBA wilderness, that kind of validation would be impossible to ignore.

The comments LeBron himself made this week only added more fuel to the speculation. Speaking during Fanatics Fest in New York City, James hinted that the clues about his next destination have already been placed out in the open.

Read into that however you’d like. Personally? I’m choosing to believe the Instagram photo of LeBron relaxing on a boat while several Wolves emojis conveniently appeared alongside the post was exactly the clue he was talking about.

Do I know that’s true? Absolutely not.

Do I care? Also no.

It’s the middle of July. The regular season is still months away. Let us have a little fun. Because if LeBron actually chose Minnesota, it would immediately become one of the defining moments in franchise history.

It would validate everything this organization has built under Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore, and Tim Connelly. It would represent another enormous vote of confidence in Anthony Edwards, not just as an All-NBA player, but as someone worthy of becoming the face of a championship contender alongside one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. It would instantly elevate Minnesota from “interesting contender” to one of the premier attractions in professional basketball.

Most importantly, it would signal that the Timberwolves are no longer viewed as basketball Siberia, but rather as a destination. That would be a remarkable transformation for a franchise that spent much of its existence simply hoping competent players would want to stay.

Now, I hear the other side. The twelve percent of Wolves fans who voted “no” aren’t crazy. Some simply don’t enjoy everything that comes with LeBron: The constant spotlight, the nonstop media coverage, and the inevitable circus that follows him everywhere he goes. Those concerns are legitimate, but if James ultimately decides that Minnesota is where he wants to spend the final chapter of his career, it would be impossible to ignore what that decision represents.

It would mean one of the greatest players in basketball history looked around the NBA landscape and concluded that the Timberwolves gave him his best chance to compete. Think about how unbelievable that sentence would’ve sounded even five years ago.

So if the impossible actually becomes reality, the lingering frustrations of the past probably need to stay exactly where they belong… in the past.

Because what would matter most isn’t everything LeBron has done elsewhere. It would be what his decision says about what the Timberwolves have become.

Until then, all anyone can do is wait.

Wait for the announcement. Wait for the schedule. Wait for the notification that could completely alter the trajectory of this franchise.

For now, the NBA’s quiet season continues. But somewhere, one decision still has the power to turn a sleepy July into the biggest day in modern Timberwolves history.


The Timberwolves 2027 Championship odds still sit at +2200, at FanDuel Sportsbook – the same as last week. If you think LeBron James is coming to the Twin Cities, now is the time to get in on that action!

Sandoval takes the bump for Saturday afternoon bout vs. Rays

Jul 9, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Patrick Sandoval (43) throws the ball against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

UPDATE

We have a ballgame to play!

OLDER

And so the weather affects this one!

Patrick Sandoval makes his Fenway Park debut for the Red Sox as the squad looks to keep this thing going! If…the weather decides to cooperate.

⚾️ Time: 4:10pm — Fenway Park, Boston, MA

📺 TV: NESN

📻 Radio: WEEI

MLB Draft Recap: 2026

Oregon pitcher Cal Scolari throws a pitch as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Howdy, y’all? If you weren’t aware, the MLB Draft was this past weekend, and we had a good number of players get drafted. So, I thought I’d throw together a quick little recap of our newest #ProDucks. So, without further ado, here we go!

Round 3, Pick 103: SS Ryan Cooney, selected by the Toronto Bluejays

Round 5, Pick 137: P Cal Scolari, selected by the Chicago Whitesox

Round 6, Pick 187: SS Maddox Molony, selected by the Detroit Tigers

Round 8, Pick 253, P Miles Gosztola, selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers

Round 10, Pick 313, P Devin Bell, also selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers

Round 15, Pick 448, 3B Drew Smith, selected by the San Francisco Giants

Round 19, Pick 556, OF Jack Brooks, selected by the Washington Nationals

So, there we have it. Seven new Ducks into the MLB system, adding to the four from last year, and five in 2024. Which player do you think will have the best shot at making the MLB? Let us know down in the comments!

And, as always, ‘Sco Ducks!