LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Blake Hinson #25 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Writing this preview, I am in quite the dilemma. I intend to drum up anticipation for the Jazz to play the Spurs this Wednesday at 7:30 PM MDT. However, I do not intend to mislead the reader by making it seem that this game matters more than it does. I’m rooting for each of these players, but smart money says that none will ever play a significant role for the Utah Jazz during their professional basketball career, given that our more established players (Ace Bailey, Darryn Peterson, Cody Williams) have each presumably called it quits (I think there’s a chance Cody plays one more game).
The Spurs have had a relatively successful Las Vegas Summer League so far, with 2 wins and 1 loss. As for players to watch, Carter Bryant would be the big name if ends up playing. I wasn’t as wowed as others by his performance during the Spurs finals run – his defense didn’t slow down Shai as much as some singular defensive possessions would make you think, and the offense was legitimately very debilitating. He has tons of room for improvement, but it will be worrying for the Spurs brass if he has an inefficient game against a unexciting Jazz Summer League squad. Tarris Reed is the other player on this Spurs team that I believe has a chance to play meaningful minutes during this upcoming regular season. Luke Kornet was uninspiring for long stretches during their playoff run, and rebounding was a constant issue. Tarris Reed has the potential to compete for the backup center position from day one. He was drafted 26th overall after an impressive collegiate career at Michigan and UConn. In his senior season, he was one of the best big men in the country and led the Huskies to the National Championship game. Jonas Aidoo has been a strong player on both ends throughout Summer League, and will have his work cut out for him against a mature, NBA-ready big man.
Nevertheless, even if none of the Jazz players have the same pedigree as Bryant or Reed, I believe they each have (varying degrees of) potential to win their uphill battle and eventually carve out a role in the NBA. Blake Hinson showed some serious play-finishing chops to end the 2025-2026 season, with his size combined with his dynamic shooting. He’s disappointed me throughout Summer League so far, but it is to be expected that his playstyle is not the most consistent – it’s a make-or-miss league, and Hinson really relies on making his shots and doesn’t provide much when he isn’t. However, the Jazz are in need of a big forward in the reserves (especially if the regular season version of Cody Williams plays anything like he has in Summer League), and Hinson has time in the system – he has a realistic path to filling a real niche. If the Spurs play Carter Bryant (a big, athletic, disruptive forward defender), he will likely be slotted to guard Hinson – if Blake can get any momentum against Bryant, it would do a lot to confirm that he’s a legitimate NBA player and not just a shooter who got hot at the right time.
One player we won’t be seeing any of is Utah’s newest two-way signing, Trey Alexander. He had a scary fall at the end of the Jazz’s win against the Bulls, which led to him being stretchered off the court in a neck brace. Thankfully, it has been reported that he has been diagnosed with a rib contusion – painful, to be sure, but probably the best case scenario for the circumstances. We will likely have to wait till October to see Trey suit up for a Utah-based team, be it the Jazz or the Stars.
Many people were concerned last night after Trey Alexander was taken off the court on a stretcher and visibly in pain.
The Jazz tell me Alexander has been diagnosed with a left rib contusion.
When analyzing Summer League games, it’s important to know what to look for – outside of the aforementioned Hinson and Alexander, here is one question to answer for each of Jazz’s players who have seen any significant amount of playing time in the Las Vegas Summer League. I’m not sure which will play against the Spurs, but this should cover all our bases.
Max Abmas: Does he have the capability to get to the rim against athletic defenders? It’s a tough outlook for this non-defending, sub 6 foot guard, but he can give himself a punchers chance with consistent paint pressure.
Jonas Aidoo: How will he hang against Tarris Reed, who has about 25 pounds of weight over him?
Tamar Bates: How comfortable is he with the ball in his hands? He’s known for his outside shot and has shown good energy, but can he combine those to attack closeouts or burst out of the pick and roll?
Matthew Cleveland: Can the rangy defender show confidence on his outside shot? In a one-game sample, whether he makes them is less important than how comfortable he appears when taking them.
Eric Dixon: Does the surprisingly agile forward use his weight to create efficient offense? So far, he’s been too quick to settle for tough jump shots.
Anderrson Garcia: How does his defense look in an isolation setting? I’m consistently impressed with his off-ball help and activity on the rebounds, but is he the type of player we can put on a hot opposing scorer?
Hayden Gray: Does he have the capability to get his own shot from the pick-and-roll? I like his decision making on both ends, but he may lack the physical tools to put the necessary pressure on the defense.
Justin Harmon: Nearly the inverse of Gray – can Harmon make plays for others in the pick-and-roll? He’s shown flashes as a shooter, driver, and defender, but he is point guard sized, and will need to playmake if he wants a real role.
Kylor Kelley: Can he be impactful on the glass? In college, he was a dominant shot blocker, but his rebounding always left something to be desired – both are necessary if he wants a role as a rim-runner at the NBA level.
Jaxon Kohler: How is his positioning on defense? He’s strong, and energetic, and has good touch, but I would like some more tape on whether his positive traits actually translate to positive defense.
Bez Mbeng: Is he comfortable dribbling the ball more than 2-3 times? This is a similar story to Harmon – he’s guard sized, and has yet to show consistent guard skills.
Orlando Robinson: How comfortable is he with his outside shot? That was one of the most tantalizing pieces of his profile while back at Fresno State – if he projects as purely a rim-runner, he doesn’t have the necessary athleticism to be too intriguing. However, if the shot is a genuine part of his game, there may be a spot for him.
Cody Williams (a man can dream): Can he be more than “potential” on defense? The length is there, and the strength has obviously progressed, but he rarely accomplishes anything beyond looking like a good defender. If he can be a legitimate difference maker as a big wing on defense, there’s a clear role for him on the regular season team.
What are you looking out for from this best-of-the-rest Jazz Summer League squad in their game against the Spurs? Sound off below!
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards during 2026 NBA Summer League on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama gave NBA fans a good reminder not to overreact to Las Vegas Summer League after the San Antonio Spurs selected him at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wembanyama’s summer league debut was a dud as he finished with nine points on 2-of-13 shooting from the field. It’s safe to say Wemby’s career would turn out just fine after he led the Spurs to the NBA Finals in his third season at age-22.
Still, it’s hard to shake a bad first impression for rookies entering the league. Fans want to think their new players are bound to be stars, or at least dependable role players. When rookies disappoint in summer league, it’s still a bummer even it means basically nothing for the long-term outlook of their career.
Here are the rookies who have underwhelmed in summer league so far. If nothing else, it will be helpful to look back on this list if and when these players become solid contributors to show future rookies that a bad start to summer league isn’t that big of a deal.
Aday Mara, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
Mara was arguably the biggest winner of March Madness, going from a player typically projected in the mid-20s to a surefire lottery pick after Michigan’s national championship run. The Thunder selected him at No. 12 overall, and his rim protection plus high-level passing ability felt like a natural fit for their system. I was on the Mara bandwagon in the predraft process, but during my conversations with front office people and other writers I started to notice that he was perhaps the most polarizing player in the class. Some people viewed him as a low ceiling center who should be a fringe first-round pick, while others had him in the top-10.
Mara has struggled a bit away from Michigan’s amazing infrastructure at the start of his summer league run. He’s only shot 46 percent from the field through his first four games, which is pretty underwhelming for a 7’3 guy. His touch has looked shaky around the rim, and there are moments of passivity defensively. There are positive flashes on the tape too of course, like this overpowering drive and dunk, and some of his signature passing to cutters on the move. I do think it’s fair to question Mara’s scoring utility if he struggles to get deep post position because of a high center of gravity, and there’s no doubt he has to earn his early minutes on the defensive end. I’m not worried, but the Mara skeptics have a little more ammunition after this summer league run.
Dailyn Swain, G, Chicago Bulls
I had a front row seat at the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages, and was surprised to see Dailyn Swain on the court. The combine scrimmages are typically only for fringe draft picks, and by this point Swain had already solidified himself as a mid first-rounder. Even more surprising was that Swain did not play particularly well in a setting where he should have been the best player on the floor, showing a slow and hitchy release on his jumper and looking a bit lost offensively. The Bulls were undeterred and selected Swain at No. 15, but his struggles have continued through his first couple games in summer league.
Swain shot 3-of-10 from the floor in Chicago’s opener in Las Vegas, then shot 0-of-9 from the floor in his second game and 0-of-7 from the floor in the third game. The Bulls have indicated that they see him as a ball handler long-term, but he’s clearly struggled to handle against pressure thus far. That would be less of an issue if Swain had a reliable off-ball game, but right now his jumper looks as broken as ever. The Bulls did Swain no favors with this roster construction, failing to put a dependable point guard next to him that could handle against ball pressure and get him some easier shots. Instead, Swain has admitted he’s overthinking every move on the court. There have been some flashes of the downhill driving that popped this past season at Texas, but for now it’s clear Swain isn’t a point guard and needs to put plenty of work in on fixing his jumper.
Darius Acuff, G, Sacramento Kings
Acuff had a legendary scoring season at Arkansas, but sharp scouts noticed concerns with process on both ends of the floor. The point guard’s shot profile was pretty mid-range heavy, and while his three-point shooting numbers were excellent in the small college sample, they were more concerning if you include the high school data. Acuff’s real questions came on the defensive end, where he didn’t show much effort in addition to having poor tools. These concerns have continued in summer league, where Acuff has posted underwhelming scoring efficiency and ghastly defensive tape while still showing the talent that made him a certain lottery pick.
Acuff hasn’t done anything to show that his NBA defense will be better than the level he showed in college. So far, lazy closeouts, spacey off-ball defense, and a lack of hustle have been all over the tape. It often feels like he’s not actively engaged in the game when his team doesn’t have the ball. There’s going to be a high bar to meet offensively for a guard who is this poor on defense, and Acuff hasn’t been close to it yet. He’s scored 78 points on 82 shots through four games. His decision-making hasn’t been great as a passer either with 18 assists to 14 turnovers. I was way low on Acuff on my mid-season board before he started to win me over by consistently delivering in big games at Arkansas. Will the Kings ever play in any big games while he’s on the team? I hope so, because that fanbase deserves better.
Keaton Wagler, G, Los Angeles Clippers
Wagler hasn’t made anything look easy in summer league. The No. 5 pick has struggled to create separation off the dribble, he hasn’t been a plus with his playmaking, and he’s basically a non-factor on the glass. Wagler’s 8.2 PER is the worst of any top-10 pick through two summer league games despite getting hot in the second half against Utah in his second game. The athletic concerns entering the draft appear to be valid for now. Wagler just doesn’t have a lot of burst as a ball handler, and even some of his effective drives have been pretty ugly. He got dusted by Darryn Peterson on a couple occasions, including on the No. 2 pick’s poster slam where he struggled to get under a screen. With five assists and four turnovers, he looks better suited for shooting guard than point guard at the moment. Wagler has admitted that leaving Illinois’ five-out system has been challenging, and I suspected that would be the case entering the draft. Wagler is naturally going to add muscle to his thin frame as he goes on in the league, and being in an NBA strength and conditioning program should be very good for him long-term. The Clippers can give him both on-ball and off-ball reps this year, and that should be good for his development. When the off-the-dribble shot-making is falling, Wagler looks terrific. He’s far from a finished product, but Clippers fans should still be feeling encouraged long-term.
Christian Anderson, G, Charlotte Hornets
Anderson should have a shot to be Coby White’s backup as a rookie after the Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, but he’s looked pretty far away from being a real contributor during his summer league run. Through three games, Anderson has been unable to catch a rhythm with his shot while struggling with turnovers and not doing much on the defensive end. Anderson had a reputation as one of the draft’s best shooters, but his inability to play to contact inside the arc means he’s settling for a lot of tough pull-up threes right now, which has hurt his scoring efficiency (43.2 percent true shooting). I liked his live-dribble passing at Texas Tech, but the passing windows haven’t been there yet, and it’s resulted in a 6.7 percent assist rate compared to a 20.1 percent turnover rate. Anderson isn’t too big or too athletic, so it’s hard to expect him to be a monster driving to the rim. That means he’s likely going to have to live off tough shots. It’s a good thing the Hornets are one of the best offensive rebounding teams around.
Nate Ament, F, Milwaukee Bucks
While Brayden Burries has been arguably the most impressive rookie at summer league thus far, the Bucks’ other lottery pick Nate Ament hasn’t looked very assertive or effective. Ament has only scored 21 points in 65 minutes, and just doesn’t seem very comfortable getting into his shot yet. He knocked down a couple threes against the Suns, and focusing on spacing the floor and making an impact on defense is probably his best path forward early in his career. Ament has the frame to be a good defender in time, but he’s just not there yet. His awareness is pretty poor right now, and he can struggle with physicality. As long as Ament is a good three-point shooter, he’ll have some immediate utility on offense, and his defense should improve in time as the Bucks continue to beef him up. Until then, just enjoy the Brayden Burries show, Bucks fans.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: There has been some speculation about the Suns possibly trading Jalen Green for Dejounte Murray. What is your opinion of this idea?
zenzino: This one doesn’t irritate me like some other ideas. I still say ‘pass’, though.
I know people are hard up for a point guard. But I think Murray is as much a shooting guard as a point guard and he peaked in the 21-22 season. 33% career from 3 and around 30% the last two seasons. He’s five years older than Green, coming off of a torn Achilles.
This would probably be a 1-for-1 trade. Green’s trade value has never been lower because of an injury season. It would definitely be a ‘buy high, sell low’ situation. This seems like a mid-season trade instead of an off-season trade.
We’ve only seen a glimpse of what a fully healthy Jalen Green can do. I’m not ready to write him off yet. I remember the East Coast road swing when Green & Book were scoring 70+ per game.
Let’s get 50 games where the team is healthy as possible and see what happens. Last season was the only season of Green’s entire career he’s missed a significant number of games so I wouldn’t be surprised if he played all 82 this season. If we’re getting close to the trade deadline and it’s obviously not working with Green, then a trade like this (with added picks) would be understandable.
The Suns included Camara in a trade as an afterthought and now we have a heavy ‘what might have been’ sigh every time we play Portland. I don’t want to watch Jalen Green highlights in a Grizzlies uniform without first giving him a chance here.
And, for the love…, can we please stop trading with the Wizards, Hornets, and Pelicans? How about getting some Thunder or Celtics players?
Ashton: So when I see a question like t I am wondering if Rod is pulling a fast one. He pulled it off social media or SI, things of that nature to create another thought exercise. It turns out I did not have to go far on the search engines to find a top result. This site’s own Bruce Veliz opined on this topic two months ago.
Thanks Bruce! I didn’t have to use AI (I would not anyway in writing), and Mr. Veliz states he would not do it. That link should cover analytics.
Well, count me in on not trading. My main problem with Green was his injuries and not really getting the correct game sample size if he could be an initiator on offense along with Booker. I am not a “johnny-come-lately” (I am not James Cagney either – let’s just see how old some of these posters are) type of person looking for the next shiny toy, so let’s see what he can do with a healthy season in a stable rotation. Yes, Jalen Green is trade bait in some comments, but why? He deserves another season.
OldAz: I get that Green is positionally too similar to Booker, and just about any good player who is more of a PG is going to be a rumored target by Suns fans. That being said, can we stop floating or latching onto proposed trades of a player half a decade older and coming off major injuries that have cost him almost 2 seasons? That team trading said player with recent injury issues might just know something the Suns don’t.
On the other hand, for those who REALLY want to see Jalen Green traded, at least Murray was back for 14 games at the end of last season and did look good for a player coming back from an Achilles injury, an injury others have recovered well from. His previous injury (fractured hand) is a totally different part of the body and seems more like a freak injury. Despite the age difference and not really seeing Green at full strength last season, I guess I could be talked into liking this one IF the Suns were able to do a full and independent assessment of his recovery and future prognosis from the Achilles injury.
Rod: At 30, and coming off a bad injury that sidelined him for almost all of last season, I’d definitely say no to this one. I will say that a fully healthy Dejounte Murray would likely be a better fit for this team than Green but it would take New Orleans throwing in at least a couple of unprotected 1st round picks as part of the deal to get me to seriously consider it…which I seriously doubt they would do. It makes a little sense as Murray would likely be a better fit next to Booker, but there are too many negatives attached to Murray to make it a good trade for the Suns.
Q2: How do you think the Suns SHOULD manage the center rotation and minutes for Mark Williams, Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro this season?
zenzino: I think it should be a fairly even split between Mark and Oso as starters based on matchups. Managing minutes is key for MW, and Oso showed that he is a workable starting center in most instances.
As an overly simplified example, I’d start MW against teams with longer centers and Oso against more physical centers. Obviously, there are more factors to determine matchups, but you get the picture. Playing 60-65 games is fine for MW as long as the coach decides which games and not injuries.
We’ll know a little more about Man Man’s progress after Summer League and pre-season (he looked good in the first game). Like everyone else, I’d love to see him get a lot more playing time this season and be a solid part of the backup rotation. If he’s ready. Unlike many people here, I am trusting the coaching staff to determine that. A big reason Ott was hired was his experience in developing young players. If Man Man is not playing much, it’s because he’s not ready.
We tend to think of MW as the vet. While he has been in the league four years to Oso’s two, he’s only played 23 more NBA games (166 vs 143). While tenure matters, as you can learn a lot just by being around professional players and coaches, it’s still easy to forget that our center rotation is very young. I expect all three of them to get better.
The small ball haters should be prepared to hate. I see a fair amount of small ball happening this season with Bridges and maybe even Sheer at the 5 for significant stretches.
Ashton: I think it was already settled that Mark Williams does not do back-to-back games. But he is the starter in an NBA market starved for trying to find back-up centers. They are at a premium, and I consider Mark Williams to fill that role on most other teams. And let’s face it, he will need his minutes reduced to avoid injury.
Which leads us to Oso and KM. Maluach has a lot to prove in Summer League, and judging by the first game against Portland, I thought he did well. Especially if KM and Peat develop a rapport.
But the obvious answer is that Oso as next off the bench. There is no way to determine minutes due to who plays or not due to injury or rest management or even if a small-ball lineup is utilized. So, let’s go with this in a normal rotation:
Mark Williams: 27 minutes per game (normal health)
Oso Ighorado: 13 minutes per game
Maluach: Rest of the minutes to continue his development in either garbage time, rest management, small rotations, or injury. This one is too hard to set for actual minutes
OldAz: In the first couple Summer League games, KM looks bigger and more under control. I just wonder how much of this is a product of the Summer League competition. To me, Williams is the clear starter this season but should be limited to 20-25 minutes a game to keep him healthy over the long haul. KM should also get as many minutes as he shows he is ready for (again up to 25 or so a game).
The center position is physical and demanding, and we want the Suns center to play fast and with sustained energy, so keeping these minutes on the low end of that range is a good thing. This leaves very few minutes for Oso, which I am A-OK with. There are places that his defensive energy helps, as well as his offensive facilitation. However, I would much rather see him get a few minutes trying to fit on the floor as a PF with KM (since KM can shoot from deep a bit). IMO, if the Suns are playing Oso more than 15 minutes a game as the center, they are in for a very long season.
Rod: I just hope that Ott will be flexible with his center rotation this season, adjusting it game-to-game. Of course, Williams should start (for now), but both Oso and Khaman should be getting minutes in almost every game to keep Mark’s wear and tear down to a minimum. With Oso and Khaman, who gets the bulk of the bench minutes should be determined on which one is having the best night on the court and/or the best fit against the competition.
Two things Ott should always keep in mind are that Khaman needs the reps and Mark needs to keep his minutes down. Sooner or later, one of the three will likely be moved, but until then, I believe they can find minutes for all three even though a three-player rotation at one position isn’t generally viewed as optimal.
Q3: What are your thoughts on Ryan Dunn’s probable role this coming season?
zenzino: This one is tough. Unlike Oso, Dunn didn’t show much progress last year from his rookie year. Which is not to say we won’t see a jump this season. Progress is rarely linear.
However, Rod posted a graphic in the Feed last week showing the net ratings of various lineups. Dunn was in the two highest ones (so was GA, btw). So he has that going for him.
Dunn is not a good generalist, so he needs to be a specialist. If he can’t get his 3-point shot going, he should concentrate on rebounding, defense, and getting downhill. I’ve always thought he should do more slashing and be a lob threat, as much as he loves to throw it down.
If he built his identity around something like rebounding, for example, whenever the team is getting beat on the boards, the coach will think, ‘we need Dunn out there to get rebounds.’
I think he is really going to have to fight for minutes. If Highsmith is fully healthy (like he should be), he is a more experienced defender and a much better 3-point shooter.
In order to get regular minutes, Dunn may need to be the Swiss Army knife and adjust what he can do within his skill set to what the team needs done.
Ashton: Not much. This guy has been like the invisible man to me, to the point that I forget he is on the roster. He was originally drafted by the Nuggets in a complicated 2024 draft trade that flipped him to the Suns with the expectation of a defensive role. And I will say this again, as I have said at that time, there should be no expectations of an Anthony Guy Bennett (former Virginia coach) led defense that develops 3 and D wings in college. They are just defense, no threes.
I am still having a hard time seeing his role. Sure, since we just talked about MPG in Q2, Dunn has averaged north of 19 minutes. His three-point shooting percentage is enough to ask for Grayson Allen back. Defensively? Okay, not bad but not earth-shattering. I will salute that he never seems to be injured on the Suns squad.
But if I read that Dunn was shipped out in a future trade, I would not cry a dry wash river.
OldAz: After a promising rookie season, Dunn just never found his footing with the new defensive scheme last season. That is where Dunn must turn things around to make any significant impact this season. I know his shot is still inconsistent, but his form is not bad, so I still think that is a confidence thing. The best way for him to gain confidence and earn playing time is to fit in and make an impact defensively and on the boards. Triggering fast breaks is also the best way to get into rhythm and gain confidence offensively.
However, with Brooks, Bridges, and Fleming in front of him, the presence of veteran options like Highsmith, along with Ott’s willingness to play smaller wings (Goodwin, or sliding Green or Book to that wing spot for extended minutes), Dunn will have to earn any playing time he gets. Swapping Allen and O’Neale for only 1 player in his way for minutes did very little to help Dunn IMO, as his path to more playing time is 100% on him to perform.
Honestly, I think it is more likely that even if he performs well early, he will be talked about all season as one to include in a deal at the trade deadline to fill whatever Phoenix’s biggest need turns out to be.
Rod: At this moment, I would say that Dunn’s role on the team is trying to carve out a role in the rotation this fall. With the new roster additions, competition for minutes is going to be fierce. So far, Dunn’s been an up-and-down player without a lot of consistency…especially on the offensive side of the court. His defense has been good but not stellar; at best, he’s been a streaky three-point shooter, his ball handling is fair but not really good enough in traffic for him to drive through traffic….sigh.
It sounds like I don’t like the guy, but that’s not the case. He puts in the effort on the court and has a great attitude, but that’s just not enough to get consistent rotation minutes in the NBA…not on a good team. Unless he makes some significant progress in at least one aspect of his game this season, I see his role being a deep depth (3rd string) bench player.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“The three-pointer is something good but it’s not my main focus…really it’s just the icing on the cake.” – Khaman Maluach
“I always play with a chip on my shoulder.” – Khaman Maluach
Suns Trivia/History
On July 14, 2004, the Suns signed unrestricted free agent point guard Steve Nash to a six-year, $66 million deal to bring their former 1996 1st round draft pick home after trading him to Dallas in 1998 for Pat Garrity, Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells and a 1999 1st round draft pick.
On July 14, 2009, the Suns signed Channing Frye as a free agent. Frye would play 4 seasons with the Suns, averaging 14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 38.8% from three on 6.3 attempts. In the summer of 2012, Frye was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, which necessitated him sitting out the entire 2012-13 season while undergoing medical treatment for his condition. Frye’s treatment was successful, and the following season he returned to the Suns’ active roster, playing in all 82 regular season games for the only time in his 13-year NBA career as he helped the rebuilding Suns finish with a surprising 48-34 record, just falling short of making the playoffs in an extremely strong Western Conference.
On July 18, 1999, Joe Proski, the Phoenix Suns’ only trainer in its history to that point, retired, following 32 years with the franchise, 40 years in professional sports, and 41 years as a trainer. His career spanned 2,789 games, including playoffs.
On July 18, 2001, due largely to being charged with domestic abuse of his wife, the Suns traded 3-time All-Star Jason Kidd (and Chris Dudley) to the New Jersey Nets for Stephon Marbury, Johnny Newman and Soumaila Samake. Marbury would play 3 seasons for the Suns, averaging 21.3 points and 8.1 assists per game, although the Suns would only make it to the playoffs once in those three seasons and were eliminated in the 1st round by San Antonio 4-2. In 2004, the Suns would trade Marbury, Anfernee Hardaway and Cezary Trybański to the New York Knicks for Howard Eisley, Maciej Lampe, Antonio McDyess, Charlie Ward, Milos Vujanic and two first-round draft picks. Shortly after that, the Suns traded those 2 1st round picks to the Utah Jazz in a salary dumping move. One of those picks was later used to select one-time All-Star Gordon Hayward.
On July 19, 2001, the Phoenix Suns re-signed Dan Majerle to a one-year, $1 million contract. Seven years earlier, Majerle was traded to Cleveland for John “Hot Rod” Williams, a move the Colangelos later regretted. Majerle would play one final season in the NBA and retire as a Sun.
On July 19, 2017, Brandon Knight suffered a torn ACL while playing pickup basketball in Florida. The news broke a week later on July 25, while hitting the papers for the first time on July 26. Knight would miss the entire 2017-18 season and never play for Phoenix again.
Important Future Dates
July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas July 15 – Suns vs. Pistons 3:00 PM (local), 6:00 PM (ET) ESPNU The Suns will play a fifth game based on the results of their first four. Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 05: A general view of the MLB 2026 All Star Game Logo during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Athletics on May 5, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are officially in the dead zone of the All-Star break, so I thought today we could discuss some of our favorite All-Star Game related memories. They don’t have to be specific to the San Francisco Giants, goodness knows the pickings have been slim on that front for a while. But mine is, at least.
I think my favorite All-Star memory is from the 2016 season, when Brandon Belt was in the running for the last fan vote (or whatever they were calling it back then). Myself and several other members of the McCoven were working overtime to solicit votes from the wider baseball community. This was back when you used to be able to vote with hashtags on social media, so every post mattered.
The winner was expected to be announced on a Saturday, when I already had tickets to the Giants game that day. It was also the NBA Finals, if I remember correctly, so it was a crazy time to be coming back to the bay for a visit.
The night before, I had scheduled an obnoxious amount of social media posts to publish throughout the morning, because I wasn’t going to be around to do it manually and I needed to get those precious, precious votes cast any way I could.
I had actually just boarded the ferry in Vallejo when Belt was announced as the winner of that vote for the National League. Man, there was no better place to be than on the water, beer in hand, and surrounded by celebrating Giants fans. And getting to be there in person for that game, where they announced that Belt would be on the All-Star team for the first and only time, will always be one of my favorite memories.
Jul 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker (43) reacts with Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) after getting the win after the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Rays — rightfully so, given their dominance in the American League thus far — had a strong showing at the All-Star Game this week, chief among them Junior Caminero.
Home Run Derby
At still 23-years young, which I feel the broadcasts should have mentioned even more often than they frequently did, returned to the Home Run Derby he placed second in last year, and in the opening round belted 13 homeruns — only 12 of which counted after some umpiring worthy of the FIFA World Cup when his final belted longball was not recognized of having wrapped around the foul pole down the left field line — as the Rays third baseman boasted the quickest and clearly strongest swing of the Derby, per the HitFX making the rounds on twitter throughout the Netflix live event. Nine of his homeruns travelled over 420 feet, and he maxed out his exit velocity as an astonishing 116 mph.
Caminero was easily on to the second round in a Derby full of new limiting rules that seemed destined to shorten the Derby to an hour long affair with just 20 swings allowed per athlete in the opening round, and with that number decreasing in later rounds, but like many under pundits I shouldn’t have worried. It was a strong showing for MLB.
Despite being one of the last players to hit in the opening round, Caminero was perplexingly asked to step up first in the second round when other players benefitting from an hour’s rest, a decision so strange I suspected the cameras to cut to Gianni Infantino sitting between Rob Manfred and Mohammed bin Salman.
The Home Run Derby is a test of endurance, and Caminero stepped up courageously despite the lack of rest, and proceeded to belt 5 of 15 over the fence in Philadelphia, including a 491 foot moonshot that would be the longest longball of the night.
It was not enough to stave off eventual winner, St. Louis’s Jordan Walker, whose winnings from the tournament purse would outweigh his own annual salary, and who also benefitted from some good fortune ripped from the World Cup headlines, as his pitcher mistakenly grabbed one of the regular baseballs — as opposed to the infamous magenta magic balls that represent the final opportunity for competitors — on his Derby winning blast.
Caminero was the starting third baseman on the following night in a night full of pomp and circumstance to honor America’s 250th birthday, my favorite being a giant document mirroring the Declaration of Independence that each starter signed as they were announced on the field. In the DRB slack chat during the game, Brett Rutherford agreed on the hilarity given the document was being signed by, “a bunch of dudes who aren’t American,” to which I responded: “Neither were any of the signatories at that moment if you think about it.”
Caminero would bat the runners around in his first plate appearance, and then suffer another cruel twist of fate in his second at bat when National League pitcher Pat O’Brien — a relatively surprising pitcher to be selected in the first hour given the notoriety up and down Dave Roberts’s bench — ran a fastball up and in on Caminero, striking him in the hand.
Good news for Junior Caminero! X-rays came back negative for the Rays slugger pic.twitter.com/TrmD1GCvag
Caminero held his composure well, then sprinted to the dugout where x-rays were announced as negative for any fractures. Per Enrique Rojas of ESPN, translated from Spanish, “Junior Caminero said he’s fine, that he had a big scare, that the pitcher called him to apologize, and that he plans to play on Friday, when the Rays’ season resumes.”
Two Rays pitchers would be called upon later in the Classic, starting with Nick Martinez — making his first All-Star Game appearance just shy of his 36th birthday, a well earned honor for a veteran who has stepped in as a leader in the Rays clubhouse.
Martinez’s clean appearance helped the American League rack up 15 strikeouts on the night, a feat that was not missed by Martinez postgame:
“Obviously not easy to do,” said Rays starter Nick Martinez, who threw a 1-2-3 fifth. “Hat’s off to these guys, and I’ve got a lot of guys to thank for speeding them up so that I could use my changeup.” [mlb.com]
Rays closer Bryan Baker would be called upon to close out the four-nil victory worthy yet again of a World Cup result, facing the final two batters of the game, and who’d quipped previously that he was accustomed to spending his time on the beach during the All-Star Break.
I would be remiss to not mention the joy I felt seeing any Rays pitcher find success in this stadium, which has haunted me since 2008’s painful World Series loss that hurt all the more for the sting of unfairness and poor weather that haunted those games in Pennsylvania.
Baker’s battery mate was former teammate Adley Rutschman, which led to some appreciative perspective from the Rays reliever post game, and which adds necessary perspective. For some of the players in this game it’s yet another honor for one of the game’s best (it was Mike Trout’s 12th appearance this summer), but for others it’s a once-in-a-lifetime honor. Both are moments to be savored.
Bryan Baker: “We were both saying how much we miss each other and how fun it is to get to work with each other. I said, this could possibly be my last All-Star Game. He’s probably going to come to a lot more, so I’m really going to enjoy this one." https://t.co/MfRH7eI0EE
Post game, Rays co-owner and CEO Ken Babby took to twitter to add fuel to the fire building for a new Rays stadium, which must be a requirement for the Rays to someday host the All-Star Game, given that this franchise remains the only one to never receive that honor.
With all eyes on the @MLB All-Star game tonight, all of us @RaysBaseball are committed to bring this moment to Tampa Bay. Let’s make this dream our reality. Let’s make this happen! pic.twitter.com/kBTzqMG7ki
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 14: Ian Cole #28 of the Utah Mammoth scores a third-period goal during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Utah Mammoth at Delta Center on March 14, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Eli Rehmer/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Keeping some tabs on the comings and goings by former members of the Penguins this offseason.
We’ll start off with the most recent group of players that officially departed this offseason.
Noel Acciari (Flyers, 2 years, $2.8m cap hit): Acciari getting a better contract than Connor Dewar reinforces the notion the Pens got a good deal there.
Ryan Shea ($4.0m AAV, five years) is Edmonton bound to help fill in for Darnell Nurse.
Connor Clifton is shipping off to Boston, the organization he played for from 2017-23. They drop pretty decent coin to him in a two-year deal worth $2.25 million.
Stuart Skinner will be waiting in the wings for whatever happens with the Connor Hellebuyck situation to help provide depth to Winnipeg after signing a two-year contract with a $2.75 million cap hit.
—
For some others whose stints ended a while ago:
Ian Cole, 37, left the Penguins in 2018 after winning two Cups. He’s played for seven teams since then, well let’s make it eight. Chicago grabs Cole for a one-year deal worth $4 million. Shockingly long career for Cole, who keeps finding employment and plugging along.
Speaking of defensemen working on impressively long careers, Erik Gudbranson is sticking around with Columbus on a one-year deal for 2026-27 at $1,75 million. Similarly, Jamie Oleksiak jumps over to Vancouver for two years at a $5.0 million AAV (we sure that Jim Rutherford isn’t still in control there?)
Injuries limited Teddy Blueger to only 35 games last year, but a hot-streak helped him tie his career-high in goals (nine) when he did play. That plus a reputation for solid two-way play was enough to get a two-year contract with a $2.5 million AAV to help with whatever is going on in Toronto these days.
Veteran Conor Sheary is headed back to Buffalo, where he played from 2018-20 on a one-year deal for the minimum ($850k). Sheary is coming off a somewhat successful season with the Rangers (7G+11A in 62 games) after playing most of the previous season in the AHL.
Lars Eller is also at the ‘play for minimum’ stage of his career at age 37 and joined up with Florida.
Vladislav Kolyachonok might end up in the AHL making NHL money this year, but credit to him for getting a one-way contract from the Devils after only playing 13 NHL games last season.
Two-way contracts
The following players will be fighting for a roster spot and getting that NHL-level salary in their paycheck.
Jansen Harkins is taking his game to Tampa’s organization on a one-year deal. Harkins spent the last two seasons in Anaheim.
Acciari going to Philadelphia made some headlines, another former Penguin semi-cult hero will join him there, Zach Aston-Reese. Aston-Reese spent 27 games in the AHL last year and 27 with NHL Columbus, looks like he’ll have a chance to stick on the fringe of the Flyer roster or get some games as a potential injury call-up.
Like Aston-Reese, Vinnie Hinostroza got a two-year commitment, from the Colorado Avalanache in his case.
Phil Tomasino caught on with Ottawa with a one-year, two-way contract. Sam Lafferty and Boko Imama will bring their efforts in the same division to Florida.
Sam Poulin is headed back to Quebec with a one-year deal with the Canadiens that will likely have him playing for AHL Laval.
Still looking
These players are not yet signed and remain as free agents
Anthony Mantha, interestingly enough, is still out there on the free agent market awaiting to join up with a new team. So too is Michael Bunting, coming off a season where he scored 31 points in 61 games with Nashville, then didn’t make much of an impact on a deadline trade to Dallas (three points in 14 total games).
There was some talk that Detroit might re-sign David Perron, yet it hasn’t been finalized.
Matt Grzelcyk turned a tryout into a contract with Chicago last season, he might have to go that route again this fall with a new team.
Vegas announced they weren’t going to bring back Reilly Smith, the 35-year old will have to find a new spot or could be looking at the end of his playing days. Jeff Petry, 38, is another veteran who might be at the end of the line this cycle. The situation looks the same for 39-year old Ryan Reaves, who is just 38 games from getting to 1,000 in his career.
Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes and Tanner Pearson are all out there too, as is P.O. Joseph who wasn’t qualified by Vancouver.
Andrew Agozzino has ventured onto play in Switzerland next season
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers arrives to the arena before the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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
Most bad first impressions are our own fault.
Maybe you spilled a drink on someone. Forgot their name five seconds after hearing it. Tried a joke that landed somewhere beneath the Earth’s crust.
Paul George doesn’t get that luxury.
In a few months, he’ll walk into an arena full of people who have already decided they don’t like what he represents before he has even checked into his first game.
Paul George has already done one smart thing as a Celtic. He waived a $3.9 million trade bonus that would have added to Boston’s cap burden, giving the front office a little more breathing room before he ever put on the uniform.
Nice gesture. Thoughtful. Team-friendly. Good optics.
But something tells me the waived trade bonus will be completely forgotten the first time George appears on the injury report with right knee soreness.
The first few days after the Jaylen Brown trade belonged to anger, confusion and what felt like a 500% increase in Google searches for “optionality.” Jaylen had been here for a decade, won a championship and built enough memories that his eventual return will probably require tissues and an extra commercial break.
The shock is wearing off. The F-minus trade grades have been filed, sports radio has mostly stopped trying to fire Brad before lunch, and Summer League clips have started washing over us like a deeply needed shower.
Celtics fans are beginning to look at this roster and ask the colder question that eventually follows every emotional transaction: Did this trade make the team better?
George is the only part of this trade that can lace up sneakers.
Draft picks can hide inside future seasons. Optionality can spend the summer hiding behind Brad Stevens at a press conference. A shorter contract cannot miss an open three or get beaten backdoor. But Parquet P has to take the floor in front of 19,000 people and turn Brad’s crossed fingers and future assets into actual basketball.
That is a hard first impression anywhere.
In Boston, it’s meeting-your-Lakers-fan-father-in-law difficult.
Boston will grade the player before the plan
So far, the Celtics have been careful about how they describe George.
Brad Stevens did not pitch him as a one-for-one replacement for Brown. He talked instead about the total package: George, draft capital, a shorter contract and the flexibility to keep shaping the roster.
That is probably the fairest way to discuss the trade. Brown brought force, durability and years of chemistry with Jayson Tatum. George brings something different, and intentionally so. The Celtics believe those differences can fit into the team they are building now.
Celtics fans will be grading with a red pen.
George’s first quiet night will not be treated as one. It will become an audit.
Four missed jumpers in the first half? Here comes the return of the trade grades.
A maintenance day in November? Someone will post Jaylen’s 2025-26 season minutes before the coffee finishes brewing.
A bad game against Philadelphia? NBC Sports Boston may as well cut to the 2031 first-round pick sleeping peacefully in its crib.
The new plan also includes Mitchell Robinson, future picks, a larger role for Payton Pritchard and whatever Boston can pull from its young group.
Boston didn’t trade Jaylen for Paul George. They traded Jaylen for an entirely different idea of how to build a roster. George just happens to be the face on the front of the package.
Brad Stevens said multiple times that "optionality" was gained by trading Jaylen Brown. A question was asked about how trading for Paul George, who makes similar money for just one less season, provides that.
He is also 36, carries a long injury history and is stepping into the space once occupied by a player woven deeply enough into the city that October 24 is officially Jaylen Brown Day.
George’s reputation will follow him, too. None of his stops since Indiana ended the way those fanbases hoped.
That is how players start collecting narratives. Every injury becomes proof they’re washed. Every playoff loss becomes evidence they cannot win. Every podcast episode becomes another reason to question whether basketball still comes first.
Paul Hudrick, who covered George during his two seasons in Philadelphia, pushed back on that perception during a recent CelticsBlog Feed Q&A.
Hudrick described a player who may have pushed his body too far during a miserable first season in Philadelphia. George played through knee, groin and finger injuries, took injections to stay on the floor for a 24-win team and stopped recording his podcast.
More than anything, Hudrick came away impressed by George as a leader. During his suspension last season, he could still practice with the team and would often finish sessions playing one-on-one against younger teammates and giving them pointers. When Philadelphia’s lost season turned into a parade of 10-day contracts, Hudrick overheard George introduce himself to one new arrival and give him his phone number.
A future Hall of Famer did not have to make himself available to a guy whose contract might expire before the road trip ended. George did anyway.
He also remained accountable to the media and appeared to understand the responsibility that came with his contract. None of that repairs his knee or guarantees he will stay healthy, but it rounds out the person Boston is bringing into a locker room filled with young players who will suddenly be asked to do more.
Boston tends to appreciate that level of investment in a team. Still, George’s effort will need to be visible from the balcony.
A deflection into the third row will help. So will making the extra pass or defending someone bigger than him in a game the Celtics need to win, which Celtics fans consider to be all of them. George does not need to arrive declaring that Boston is his city now. If you’re reading this, Paul, please do not do that.
He needs to make a few winning plays and let the Garden reach its own conclusion.
The useful version of Paul George still fits
The Celtics did not trade for the Paul George who finished third in MVP voting in 2019.
If Boston spends next season trying to locate him, someone should unplug Brad’s brain and force a hard reboot.
The encouraging part is that the Celtics may not need anything close to that version.
Hudrick described the best current version of George as an elite 3-and-D player who can occasionally create offense. The burst that once made George a genuine star may never fully return, and George himself has acknowledged that uncertainty. But Hudrick was impressed by how well he still defended Tatum and Brown during the playoffs (too soon?), and said George’s off-ball defense remained elite throughout his time in Philadelphia, even when injuries limited him elsewhere.
That player has a locker waiting for him in Boston.
The fit starts with shooting. George is a career 38.4% shooter from three and, as fellow staff writer Jacob Issenberg noted, has made 41.3% of his catch-and-shoot threes over the past nine seasons. That creates a very different decision for defenses when Tatum drives or Derrick White gets into the paint. Leaving George alone is still dangerous, even if the rest of his game no longer looks like it did in Indiana.
He’s also perfectly comfortable operating without dominating the ball. Philadelphia used him alongside Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe. The best stretches came when George accepted a supporting role, defended, spaced the floor and occasionally took control of a young, bench-heavy unit.
Boston does not need another player fighting Tatum for the steering wheel. Someone who knows when to take it for a few exits? Yes please.
Forget the 1A + 1B conversations. Tatum is the unquestioned first option, while White and Pritchard will handle more creation. George shouldn’t require 20 shots or an offense built around his preferred elbow touches. He can move between roles depending on the lineup.
Most nights, Boston can ask him to space the floor, disrupt passing lanes and occasionally rescue a possession after the offense has spent 18 seconds wandering around without a plan. We know those possessions well.
Boston also finished fourth in defensive rating last season despite ranking 29th in forcing turnovers, an area where George could immediately help. As Nate Moskowitz highlighted, George graded in the 93rd percentile at his position in defensive turnover impact while averaging 1.7 steals and 4.1 deflections per game.
Nobody should read “93rd percentile” and start fitting him for Gary Payton’s handcuffs. They have Tatum, White, Hugo González and other younger legs for the exhausting assignments. But George can work as a help defender, read the floor and punish the careless pass Boston too often watched sail harmlessly through the lane last season.
There is also something appealing about plugging him into a system that should not ask him to drag an offense through February.
The Celtics won 56 games despite playing most of the season without Tatum. Joe Mazzulla could probably coax 48 regular-season wins out of five shooters, a folding chair and one deeply committed second-round pick. They have enough depth to manage George’s minutes, skip back-to-backs when needed à la Al Horford and resist treating every road game in Charlotte like a referendum on toughness.
Boston can ask less of George. Sadly, it cannot make him younger.
The knee remains the biggest concern. Hudrick said George did not look right until after his suspension last season, and even then, the old burst never fully returned. The glass-half-full take is that he finished the season healthy, did not need another procedure and should have a normal offseason of training.
Normal would be a great start.
The Garden does not believe in grace periods
First impressions are funny. Some people meet their future spouse and know immediately they’re the one. Others spend six months finding them annoying before realizing they are the best thing that ever happened to them.
Celtics fans generally give you somewhere between six possessions and halftime before making up their minds.
George could play well for three weeks, miss one nationally televised game against New York and find himself on trial in Boston Common by midnight. One strong quarter against Philadelphia could turn the Garden into a revival meeting. One bad quarter could swing it right back. The opinion changes will be violent and deeply unserious.
George’s job is to help Boston win, not make anyone forget Brown.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 28: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers defends Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
That means defending, spacing the floor and being healthy when it matters. The Celtics cannot ask him to replace Brown’s force, become the Energy Shifter™ and play 70 games. They need the player Hudrick described: useful, competitive and still capable of reminding everyone why he made nine All-Star teams.
First impressions are often remembered as cleaner than they really were. The spilled drink becomes a funny story. The person you could not stand somehow ends up beside you ten years later, insisting you hit it off immediately.
George may win Boston over quickly, or he may spend half the season trying to get the stain out of his shirt.
Either way, the Garden will begin making up its mind about 18 seconds into his first shift.
One of the hot topics swirling around social media right now is the debate over the superiority between future Hall of Famers Patrick Kane and Evgeni Malkin.
Kane and Malkin are still active, but neither is in the prime of their careers, which is where they became legends of the game.
Most of Kane's stardom came as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, but he did have a couple of months with the New York Rangers before the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.
Malkin has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he was one of the most important pieces to a modern-day dynasty, which is also something that Kane can say about his career.
Each of these two stars won the Stanley Cup three times and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP once each.
Both Kane and Malkin had legendary supporting casts, including stars like Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Kristopher Letang, among many others.
As forwards, they drove their own lines. At even strength, Kane never played with Toews, and Malkin never played with Crosby. Plenty of damage was done as duos on the power play, but even-strength play-driving was all theirs.
Malkin is a center, and Kane is a wing, but playing on the wing never stopped Kane from driving play like a centerman who simply doesn't take face-offs. Nobody ever confused him with being the complementary piece on a line.
Looking at individual awards, Malkin has Kane beat. They each won the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) and the aforementioned Conn Smythe, along with three Cups, but Malkin has two Hart Trophies as league MVP to Kane's one. Malkin has also led the league in scoring (Art Ross Trophy) twice, whereas Kane has only once.
As far as production during the regular season, they have both been prolific. Kane has 508 goals and 892 assists for 1400 points in 1369 games played. That's an average of 1.02 points per game. Malkin has 1407 points in 1269 games played, good for 1.11 points per game on average.
When it comes to aging, both of them have been up and down with their production in recent years. Malkin did manage to have a point per game season in 2025-26 as he scored 19 goals with 42 assists for 61 points in 56 games played. He would have pushed for 90 points if he kept that pace over the full 82.
As for Kane, who also dealt with some missed time in 2025-26, he had 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games played. Kane was on a much worse team, but the production was certainly lower than that of Malkin.
Heading into 2026-27, both of them are expecting to have a similar level of production, coming within a couple of points of being a point-per-game player. Malkin will play center on a decent Pittsburgh team, while Kane is still deciding on his next hockey home, which could also impact his totals.
The Verdict:
There is no denying Patrick Kane's flashiness. His hands are as mesmerizing as any player in NHL history, especially in his prime. He had a swagger in his game unmatched by pretty much every other player in the league. Every kid playing hockey from 2010 to 2020 wanted to be like "Showtime".
If the question is based on legacy, Kane is the winner. He changed the way forwards who are undersized are viewed by scouts, and themselves. Young kids know they can make it if they are supremely skilled, like Kane was, regardless of their height or weight.
Patrick Kane also has the pedigree of being the greatest American-born player of all time. Part of that is the weaker history that USA Hockey has compared to Russian (Soviet Union) hockey, but part of it is Kane being an excellent product of the United States.
All of those kids who wanted to be like Kane respect and look up to him in a way that very few NHL players are ever viewed. The impact on the overall sport of hockey was greater for Kane.
Despite this, Evgeni Malkin has been the better overall player, despite the lesser legacy. Although Malkin never won any Selke Trophies, he was certainly better defensively than Kane. He also slightly outproduced him over the course of his career and edged him in awards, even if it was barely.
Still, neither the Chicago Blackhawks nor the Pittsburgh Penguins would make a trade one-for-one because they each got what they needed out of their superstars. Both Kane and Malkin will be Hall of Famers with their numbers retired by their respective organizations.
These silly summer arguments are fun to get into, but there is no denying that each of these players is among the best in NHL history, and only a few players during their era were even in the same stratosphere.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the most active teams this NHL off-season on the forward front, specifically on July 1, when the league's free agency period became live.
Leafs GM John Chayka signed five forwards and acquired another one in a trade, all on the same day. With the club looking to leave the disappointing 2025-26 campaign in the past, basically half of the team's forward group has been revamped.
Toronto looks to turn the page from this past year and get back to the post-season after missing the dance for the first time in a decade.
Of course, that won't be an easy task in the Atlantic Division, where every team is looking to be a playoff team. But in a division with eight teams, only a maximum of five can qualify.
On the topic of forwards, where do the Maple Leafs rank in that department on paper among their divisional peers?
Off-Season Subtractions And Additions
From the beginning of the 2025-26 season to now, the Maple Leafs' forward group has seen an overhaul to some degree.
Some of that change began when Brad Treliving was still running the operation as GM. At the trade deadline from this past year, Toronto moved three solid NHL roster forwards in exchange for future assets. They traded away centers Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton, as well as left winger Bobby McMann.
It's also worth mentioning that David Kampf moved on from the Leafs after not earning any ice time with the team this past year. He joined the Vancouver Canucks in November as a free agent following his contract termination with Toronto.
At the end of this past season, the Maple Leafs parted ways with a couple of more forwards, including left wingers Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson, as well as right winger Calle Jarnkrok.
Robertson was Chayka's first piece of business when the calendar flipped to July. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2028 fourth-round pick, reuniting with Kyle Dubas, the former GM of the Leafs who drafted Robertson 53rd overall in 2019.
For Jarnkrok, after some years of mediocrity and lacking influence on the ice, he remains a UFA as the four-year contract that he signed with Toronto in July 2022 has expired. All signs point to the 34-year-old turning to a new chapter of his hockey career outside of Toronto.
Of those six names, Paul was the only player who was acquired through a trade. The Maple Leafs received the 31-year-old from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick.
Sissons was the biggest signing in terms of the money he received on his new deal. The 32-year-old got a two-year contract at $4.25 million per year. In fact, Roslovic, Blueger and MacEwen all got two-year contracts.
Duhaime was the only forward that the Maple Leafs signed to get more than a two-year contract, getting a three-year deal with a $2.6-million cap hit.
And even though he isn't a UFA signing or off-season trade, Toronto still made a key addition by drafting Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. He's a player who could instantly be given an opportunity in the Leafs' top six.
It's no secret that, to some extent, the Maple Leafs will go as far as captain Auston Matthews can take them. He hasn't been the same player in the past two seasons, but as he turns 29 for next season, he's still very much in the prime of his NHL career and capable of scoring at high rates again, especially with a new coaching staff behind the bench.
Nonetheless, the Leafs' forward group is capable of being a juggernaut in this league, and it will need to be in order to separate itself from the rest of the Atlantic.
On paper, the Maple Leafs' attack is certainly better than the Detroit Red Wings'. Toronto can match up player for player with Detroit, and the Wings might even lose their captain, Dylan Larkin, after his trade request earlier this summer.
Another team that the Leafs probably have the edge over up front is the Boston Bruins. Indeed, they brought in JJ Peterka, but he is counting on a bounce-back season after a dip in offensive production and no points in six playoff games with the Utah Mammoth.
In terms of center depth, Matthews and John Tavares on the top two lines overshadow Boston's Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm duo. And even superstar right winger David Pastrnak isn't far from William Nylander.
Looking at provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators, they should perform better than they do. On paper, several individuals can turn the game around, including Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, and now William Eklund.
However, the loss of Brady Tkachuk sets the team back slightly, a team that couldn't earn a lead against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs this past year.
The Maple Leafs don't dismantle the Senators in an on-paper comparison, but there are arguments to be made that Toronto can be given the edge.
Another team that the Leafs could earn the decision over is the Buffalo Sabres, but it's close, especially after clinching the Atlantic Division this past season. But again, on paper, why can't Toronto have the edge over Buffalo?
In terms of the Sabres' top-end talent, Tage Thompson stands alone as a true star player on the team. With Alex Tuch with the Washington Capitals, it's not hard for the Leafs' roster to match what the Sabres have now.
Moving on to the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto is not far from meeting their quality, but isn't quite there.
While any team will have circumstances that depend on how certain players perform next year, Montreal has very strong depth. Even without a true second-line center, Jake Evans and Phillip Danualt behind Nick Suzuki has its perks, and it's rare to find mistakes in their game.
Cole Caufield is now a 50-goal scorer, Juraj Slafkovsky is emerging as a star power forward who scored 73 points in 2025-26. Not to mention Suzuki, the reigning Selke Trophy winner, with likely more to come later in his career.
There's a world where Toronto outperforms Montreal's forward group next season, but on paper, with the depth, young talent, and performance from the past year, the Habs get a slight lead.
The teams from the Sunshine State remain, with Toronto not coming close to what the Florida Panthers have to offer next year. With the addition of Brady Tkachuk, alongside a healthy Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, that team is ready to contend for a Stanley Cup again.
As for the Lightning, it's a much more realistic comparison.
The Leafs' bottom six gives a real fight, but the Bolts' top six, which includes Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, is hard to beat.
It isn't egregious to say Toronto has the better forward group, and anything can happen during a season. But on paper, going into next year, Tampa look to be in a decent place, even with the loss of Oliver Bjorkstrand, Paul, and some other minor departures.
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“New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta has been extremely active in his first off-season managing the team. While the roster is cheaper, deeper, and there are plenty of bodies to fill out a 23-man squad, it still feels like there is meat on the bone as far as movement goes. Let’s take a closer look at a few reasons why I believe more activity is to come.” [Infernal Access ($)]
“General manager Sunny Mehta has made some improvements to the roster. But he still has work to do if the Devils want to enter next season at the level of the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. Let’s project the Devils’ roster as it stands today and see what else Mehta may have to do over the next few weeks.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“Matthew Tkachuk is genuinley sad to see his former teammates leave for the New Jersey Devils. The Florida Panthers star pulled no punches when reflecting on Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist during a recent episode of his podcast. As both forwards head to the Devils in the trade for goaltender Jacob Markstrom, Tkachuk made it clear just how much he values them—not only as players but as people. His words carry extra weight because they include a direct message he delivered to Jack Hughes about one of the new arrivals.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
Hockey Links
Macklin Celebrini is the NHL 27 cover athlete:
The next generation is here. Macklin Celebrini is the youngest NHL cover athlete in history.
“Star center Macklin Celebrini said he has considered taking less than market value on a contract extension to give the San Jose Sharks more financial flexibility to build a winner. ‘Yeah, 100%. I mean, that’s why all of us play. We want to win. We’re competitive and we want to win,’ Celebrini told ESPN last week while promoting EA Sports’ ‘NHL 27’ reveal.” [ESPN]
If you’d like to weigh in on The Athletic’s NHL fan survey, which takes a look at the state of the league broadly, you can do so right here: [The Athletic ($)]
A good step for players post-retirement:
“Make tomorrow better than today”
That’s the motto of Glenn Healy, Executive Director & President of the NHL Alumni
Today at their golf tournament, Healy discussed the recent NHL/NHLPA CBA, where the league and union agreed to contribute north of $4M combined towards a… pic.twitter.com/vrCrFJbpbu
Happy birthday to Chris Denorfia, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1973,California Angels ace Nolan Ryan hurls his second no-hitter of the season in taming the Detroit Tigers, 6-0. Ryan fans 17 batters, the most ever in a nine-inning no-hitter, including eight straight, but only one over the last two innings. Nolan’s arm stiffens while watching his team rally for five runs in the top of the eighth. With two outs in the ninth, Norm Cash, who struck out his three other times at bat, comes to bat wielding a piano leg. Umpire Ron Luciano points out the illegality and Cash then pops out using a regulation bat. Ryan’s eight strikeouts in a row ties the American League record he set last year, and other stories as well.
1921 – NY Yankees slugger Babe Ruth ties MLB record of 138 career home runs (held by Roger Connor since 1895) in a 7-2 win over St. Louis Browns at Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis.
2022 – In his last start before the All-Star break, veteran Clayton Kershaw is better than ever, taking a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Angels before Luis Rengifo breaks up the bid with a lead-off double. It is already the second time this season that the Dodgers’ ace has been perfect through seven innings, the other coming in his first start on April 13th. Kershaw completes the 8th inning without allowing another hit to earn his seventh win, 9-1, after Reyes Moronta allows a meaningless run in the 9th.
1501 – Portuguese explorer Pedro Cabral arrives back in Lisbon from his voyage to India, having lost six ships, during which he accidently discovered Brazil.
1869 – Margarine is patented by Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès for use by the French Navy.
1912 – American athlete Jim Thorpe places in the top 4 in all 10 events, achieving an Olympic record of 8,413 points to win the Decathlon gold medal at the Stockholm Olympics; his medal is stripped in 1913 (played pro baseball) and reinstated in 1982.
1933 – Wiley Post begins the first solo flight around the world, completing the journey in 7 days and 19 hours.
1941 – Howard Florey and Norman Heatley present freeze-dried mold cultures of penicillin.
1978 – British Open Men’s Golf at St Andrews: Jack Nicklaus completes his third career Grand Slam, winning by two strokes over Ben Crenshaw and Ray Floyd.
2018 – Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao stops WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in the seventh round in Kuala Lumpur for his first knockout in 9 years and 60th career victory.
Today in music history:
1960 – Chubby Checker releases his version of “The Twist” in the US (date approximate).
1972 – “Honky Chateau” becomes Elton John‘s first No. 1 album in the US, includes hit “Rocket Man”.
1973 – Ray Davies announces his retirement from The Kinks, then attempts suicide; neither effort successful.
1987 – Boy George is barred from a British TV show because he may be a bad influence.
2012 – Korean pop singer Psy releases single “Gangnam Style,” it becomes a worldwide hit, topping the charts in over 36 countries.
2022 – Elton John kicks off the North American leg of his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour” at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 13: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates Brandon Marsh and Bryce Harper during the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski answers questions during media day at the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia July 13, 2026. | Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Team MVP
Paul Dietrich: Brice Turang
The correct answer here is Jacob Misiorowski but given that he’s going to get the Cy Young award below, I’ll choose a position player for variety’s sake. And while there are several important contributors among that group, the player most worthy of recognition here is also the one who leads the team in WAR: Brice Turang.
Though he has slumped at times (as all hitters do), Turang has still been excellent. He’s had a nice bounce back defensively after the metrics last season weren’t as kind as in previous years. He’s 15-for-18 in stolen base attempts. And the offense that miraculously appeared last summer has mostly sustained — Turang’s 126 OPS+ is right there amongst a cluster of Brewers for tops on the team behind the first-base platoon of Jake Bauers and Andrew Vaughn. He’s first on the team in games played and second in home runs. The combination of all of these things makes him the most valuable Brewer position player, and it’s not all that close. And it’s a joke that he isn’t an All-Star.
Harrison Freuck: Brice Turang
Turang has only gotten better from last season, when he exploded for 18 homers after displaying virtually no in-game power in his first two seasons. This year, he’s already posted 4.0 bWAR, putting him well on track to outpace his 5.5 mark from last year, and part of that is due to the return of his strong defensive metrics. It seems silly to go with anyone besides the fourth-year second baseman here.
Dave Gasper: Brice Turang
Turang has continued his progression into a star player this year with the power surge that began last year. He’s up to 14 homers already, just four shy of last year’s total and is close to being on pace for a 30-30 season. Turang is already up to a 4.0 bWAR. He’s an anchor in the heart of the lineup and he continues to provide stellar defense up the middle.
Jackson Heiden: Jake Bauers
Much like the real-life MVP, it typically goes to the best offensive player, and although that’s certainly not the case with this year’s Brewers, that’s what I’m going to do today. Jake “Light Tower Power” Bauers is taking home my midseason MVP honors. Through all of the ups and downs with this season’s offense so far, Bauers has been the most consistent. Bauers is currently having the best season of his career, with his batting average currently over 30 points higher than his second best, which came last year. Most impactfully, his long ball is what stands out to me, with his ability to come in through the clutch. Furthermore, his interview with the Baseball is Dead podcast makes this season that much more magical for him and fans alike.
There’s always a discussion about whether or not a pitcher should be a team MVP or not. When it comes to a starting pitcher, they only pitch once every five (or so) days, so they have a lower overall contribution to the team. However, even though he’s only pitched in 18 of the Brewers’ 96 games this season, Misiorowski has had the biggest contribution to this team. At 4.4 fWAR, his value not only is the best of any Brewer, it’s also the highest fWAR of any pitcher in the majors this season. He had a sub-1.00 ERA in both May and June, and the Brewers lost only two games he pitched in those months. Whenever he pitches, the Brewers’ chance to win the game increases significantly. There’s not a more valuable player on this team right now.
Adam Zimmer: Brice Turang
There are several Brewers with legitimate cases here. Jackson Chourio, Misiorowski, William Contreras, Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell, and even Aaron Ashby have all played valuable roles this season. Ultimately, though, Turang gets the nod. His 4.0 WAR entering the break is nearly double that of Milwaukee’s next-most valuable position player, a testament to just how impactful he’s been on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he’s hitting .266 with an .826 OPS, 14 home runs, and a 126 OPS+, while also totaling 10 Defensive Runs Saved. It’s hard to believe he wasn’t named an All-Star, but an extra week of rest and a little added motivation heading into the second half might not be the worst thing for Turang and the Brewers.
Cy Young
Paul Dietrich: Jacob Misiorowski
Jacob Misiorowski isn’t just the best pitcher on the Brewers — he’s the best pitcher in baseball this season, I think. Enough digital ink has been spilled (by me and others) that I don’t feel I need to spend a whole lot of time justifying this decision, but yeah, Miz is the best.
Harrison Freuck: Jacob Misiorowski
I don’t think there’s much more that I can say about Milwaukee’s ace — all I do now is talk about how good is Misiorowski is. Loads of strikeouts? Check. Low(er) walk numbers? Check. Best WHIP in baseball? Check. Enough said.
Dave Gasper: Jacob Misiorowski
Is there really any other candidate for this award? Aaron Ashby is making a push with his win total, but this is not the Cy Young voting of yesteryear. It’s Miz and it’s not close.
Jackson Heiden: Jacob Misiorowski
As I’m sure many people across baseball will determine, Miz is my Cy Young at this year’s halfway mark. Having only missed one start this season, Misiorowski has a 1.62 ERA with a league-leading 167 strikeouts. As of right now, he leads in two of the three categories needed to win the pitching crown, which was last done in 2024 by both Tarik Skubal and Chris Sale. Entering the second half, the arm fatigue is something to be concerned about, but the first half was one to remember, most notably his complete-game shutout where he faced the minimum under 100 pitches, striking out 15.
Jason Paczkowski: Jacob Misiorowski
While there is a discussion to be had around the team MVP, Misiorowski is a clear favorite for the team Cy Young award. Not only is he leading the majors in fWAR, he’s putting up incredible numbers in ERA (1.62), FIP (2.09), and strikeouts (167). He will easily break the 200-strikeout mark this season and has a chance to set the team record for strikeouts in a season. The biggest concern for him is the innings count, since he is already at 111 IP and is closing in on the 141 1/3 pitched last season. An additional 20% for innings would be around 170 IP, which he could hit in roughly 10 more starts in the second half. It will be something to watch, especially with the extra rest he’s getting during the All-Star break.
Adam Zimmer: Jacob Misiorowski
Misiorowski is the no-brainer pick here as the current odds-on favorite to win the actual Cy Young Award. Miz leads baseball with a 1.62 ERA and is the only qualified pitcher under 2.00. He also leads the league in WHIP (0.76), strikeouts (167), and is tied with Dylan Cease for the MLB lead in strikeouts per nine innings (13.5). Many expected the right-hander to take a step forward in his first full major league season, but I’d guess almost nobody expected him to become the most dominant pitcher in baseball. Milwaukee needed someone to step up in the wake of Freddy Peralta’s departure, and Misiorowski has done far more than that. He’s emerged not just as a legitimate front-of-the-rotation starter, but as one of the best pitchers in the game.
Newcomer
Paul Dietrich: Kyle Harrison
This is pretty obviously Kyle Harrison, who came to the Brewers (along with David Hamilton and Shane Drohan) when they traded Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler to the Red Sox in the offseason. All three of those players have contributed to the Red Sox turnaround over the last few weeks, so this trade looks a little bit less like the fleecing that it looked like a couple months ago, but Harrison has still been by far the best player in the trade and looks like he’ll be a staple of the Brewers’ rotation for several years to come. Let’s just get him healthy and to the end of the season.
A couple others to quickly shout out here: Cooper Pratt, by moving Joey Ortiz out of everyday shortstop duties and relieving Luis Rengifo of his duties, has looked good on defense and has held his own offensively. It has been a huge boon to the Brewers’ team defense, and Ortiz has even perked up with the bat. Also give it up for Drohan, who came over with Harrison, and has been a crucial part of the team in his first major league season.
Harrison Freuck: Kyle Harrison
Have to go with the guy with the same name as me, right? While Harrison hasn’t been quite as good the last month or so, he’s still been Milwaukee’s No. 2 starter this season. He has a solid 8-2 record with a 3.01 ERA and 101 strikeouts, putting him on pace to approach the 200-strikeout mark if he’s able to stay healthy after what is hopefully a short IL stint. The lefty also turns just 25 in a few weeks, meaning there’s still plenty of potential. Shoutout to Shane Drohan and Cooper Pratt.
Dave Gasper: Kyle Harrison
I debated going with Luis Rengifo here (kidding) but it’s clear Kyle Harrison is the best newcomer of the first half. Brandon Sproat has flashed signs, but Harrison hit the ground running. Through 17 starts, he has a 3.01 ERA. Even though he’s on the IL right now, it was a dominant first half.
Jackson Heiden: Kyle Harrison
So few teams are lucky to have a two-headed monster at the front of the rotation like the Brewers have found. Not many people were expecting to see what Kyle Harrison has provided for the Brewers this season, being a perfect replacement for Freddy Peralta. Though he has stumbled a little bit down the stretch, he has been a phenomenal No. 2 pitcher in the rotation. Entering the All-Star break, he is currently having the best season of his career and is on pace to break his inning workload by roughly mid-August, assuming he is healthy. Once again, for what feels like the millionth time, the Brewers’ pitching lab is working wonders.
Jason Paczkowski: Cooper Pratt
If we’re looking at total contribution over the season so far, the newcomer should be Kyle Harrison. However, I’m going to give a vote to Pratt. He is fixing one of the biggest weaknesses that this Brewers team has had so far. Since making his debut on June 16, he has already matched Joey Ortiz’s full season value (0.6 fWAR) and surpassed David Hamilton (0.3 fWAR) and Luis Rengifo (-0.7 fWAR). In addition, we’re already starting to see him adjust to major league pitching. Since the start of July, he’s batting .306/.422/.417 with a 138 wRC+. It may be early for him, but he’s already showing why the Brewers signed him to a long-term deal before he even played a game in the majors.
Adam Zimmer: Kyle Harrison
Like Misiorowski, I expected Harrison to be good. I just didn’t expect him to be this good. Through his first 17 starts with the Brewers, Harrison owns a 3.01 ERA and a 1.076 WHIP while giving Milwaukee exactly what it needed after acquiring him over the winter. Shane Drohan, David Hamilton, and Gary Sánchez have all made valuable contributions in their first seasons with the club, but Harrison has separated himself from the rest of the newcomers. He’s pitched like a legitimate top-of-the-rotation starter, helping stabilize one of baseball’s youngest pitching staffs and playing a major role in the Brewers’ 100-win pace.
Team Grade
Paul Dietrich: A
I don’t see how you could give them anything else. The Brewers yet again traded away a franchise centerpiece and yet again came out of it as a better team. They have the second-best record in baseball in a season when essentially everyone thought they’d be worse. Yes, they scuffled into the break and yes, the Cubs are making a charge, but they’ve positioned themselves as well as they possibly could for the second half of the season.
Harrison Freuck: A
This was honestly kinda hard for me to decide on, because while there’s still room for improvement, the Brewers had such a great first half that it’s hard to complain. After the late April struggles, the team has really put things together since Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn returned in May, and Jacob Misiorowski has seemingly figured out at least some of the issues that plagued him last season. Milwaukee once again looks like the team to beat in the Central, and if it weren’t for the money machine of the Dodgers, I’d say they look like the team to beat in the NL, too.
Dave Gasper: A
At no point has it really felt like this team has fully hit their stride, yet they still have a franchise record for first-half wins and are in control in the NL Central. They lost Chourio and Vaughn for a month to start the season, they got nothing from the bottom three spots in the lineup for months, and they have not had Quinn Priester at all and missed other various starters throughout. Despite all that, being able to win that many games is an easy A grade. They haven’t fired on all cylinders, but you are what your record says you are, and the record says they had a great first half.
Jackson Heiden: A-
It feels almost cliché to give the Brewers an A- at the halfway mark. Despite having the second-best record in baseball and falling one win short of becoming the 21st team in baseball to hit 60 wins before the All-Star break, there are some glaring issues that will need to be addressed at the trade deadline if the Brewers want to make a run come October. The Brewers’ pitching staff has been the backbone, but with a roller coaster of injuries spread throughout, another arm wouldn’t hurt to help support the rotation. Offensively, despite seeing better production as of late from the left side of the infield, it’s still an area that could use some veteran leadership to really boost this lineup. Overall, the Brewers are in a great spot. In fact, the best spot they have ever been to this point in the season. Arms will get healthier, the bats will figure it out, and with a favorable stretch of schedule coming out of the break, it could be a good “get hot” time for the Crew.
Jason Paczkowski: A
A lot has gone right for the Brewers this season. Even though they did spend a few days in last place early in the season, they have never had a losing record this season. They’ve been in sole possession of first place since May 19 and have held a lead as large as 7.5 games. The young rotation has been a strength of the team, and the bullpen has also been as strong as last year. New additions to the position players are fixing some of the issues that the team has had so far. There are a few concerns as the team comes out of the All-Star break, with the rotation facing some injuries and the Brewers on a three-game losing streak. However, they’re still set up to finish the season strong.
Adam Zimmer: A
At the All-Star break, the Brewers have 59 wins, the second-best record in baseball, the Cy Young frontrunner, the best farm system in the sport, and a front office that keeps plugging holes with talented young players. Sure, you can point to the bullpen’s occasional struggles, the inconsistent production with runners in scoring position, or the lack of elite power, but none of that changes the bigger picture: the Brewers are winning games. They’re just a game and a half behind the Dodgers for the best record in the majors. If that doesn’t deserve an A, what does?
Florida Complex League Yankees:L, 8-13 at FCL Blue Jays
1B-3B Richard Matic 0-4, BB, 2 K SS George Lombard Jr. 1-1, HR, 2 BB, RBI — another rehab game, another homer PH-1B Diego Flores 0-1, BB CF Wilberson De Pena 3-4, 2B, HR, BB, 3 RBI, K, CS — 16th homer, continues to lay waste to Rookie ball (1.085 OPS in 51 games); also a new FCL record for single-season homers! DH Queni Pineda 0-4, BB, 2 K 3B-2B Leni Done 0-4, SB RF Jose Castro 2-3, BB, RBI, K, 2 SB LF Francisco Vilorio 1-4, RBI 2B-SS Dexters Peralta 0-2, 2 BB, GIDP, CS, picked off C Justin Capellan 1-3, 2B C Carlos Rondon 0-1, K
Danny Flatt 2.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, HR, WP (loss) Marco Manzano 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, WP Brian Hendry 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K Hueston Morrill 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 2 K — on a rehab assignment of his own, but yike Brian Arias 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, HR, HBP Stanly Alcantara 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, HBP
Solo homer to left field by George Lombard Jr. for the FCL Yankees on rehab.
Game 1 — completion of July 9th game suspended in the third
CF Isaias Castillo 2-2, 2B RF Manuel Aguilar 1-2, 2 BB, K SS Stiven Marinez 1-4, BB, SB, HBP RF-CF Yostin Pena 3-5, 2 2B, BB, 4 RBI, SB — three run-scoring hits in four innings DH Juan Torres 3-5, 3 RBI, SB 1B Juan Martinez 1-3, K 1B John Rosillo 1-2, HR, 2 RBI — first pro homer C Cesar Lopez 0-2, 2 BB, K, SB, HBP, passed ball LF Kendry Diaz 0-5, K 3B Abrahan Pichardo 1-2, CS, throwing error 3B Adrian Feliz 0-2, BB, K, CS 2B Emmanuel Orozco 1-5, 2 K, SB
Jhosneyker Colina 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K Dariel Chalas 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP Dalvin Taveras 1 IP, 2 H, 5 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, WP, HBP Angel Salazar 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, WP — DSL Rockies scored five in the eighth to come back Luis Rodriguez 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 0 K (loss)
Game 2
SS Stiven Marinez 1-3, BB C Juan Martinez 2-3, BB, SB, throwing error CF Yostin Pena 3-4, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, K — launched go-ahead homer in the sixth; six hits and eight RBI in the doubleheader, pretty good! 2B Juan Torres 1-4, 2B, RBI, SB RF Manuel Aguilar 1-4, 2 K LF Eliezer Adames 0-2, BB, K DH Edgar Jimenez 0-3 1B Jose Peralta 0-2, BB 3B Emmanuel Orozco 0-2, BB, K, fielding error
Jhosneyker Colina 4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, HR, HBP, fielding error — starting both ends of a doubleheader! wow! (yes I know he actually started the first one on July 9th) Varis Villarreal 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (win) Emanuel Vargas 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, WP (save)
Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 6-8 (10) at DSL Colorado
2B Dariel Santana 2-5, 2B, 3B, K — scored on a fielder’s choice to briefly put Bombers ahead in 10th 3B Carlos Bello 0-3, BB, 2 K C Kenneth Melendez 1-5, K, SB, passed ball C Jesus Guerrero 0-0 RF David Carrera 3-4, BB, 2 RBI, SB, outfield assist DH Poly Ojeda 1-5, HR, 4 RBI — three-run blast in the eighth SS Germayhoni Beltre 0-4, BB, K, SB, CS 1B Stalen Ramirez 0-4, fielding error LF Sebastian Pinto 0-3, BB CF Alfiery Matos 0-4, K
Junior Tavera 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, HR Higor Requena 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, HR, HBP — allowed game-tying homer in the eighth Diego Carrillo 0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, HR (loss) — gave up walk-off three-run bomb in the 10th
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles during the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is on a quest for his second championship after ending the Knicks’ drought of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy this summer.
Brunson led a movement that snapped a 53-year drought of losing, but he hopes to bring another ring to the Knicks. Bleacher Report contributor Andy Bailey believes Brunson will be the 24th-best player in the NBA by the start of the new decade.
“Brunson has already had to learn how to dominate at both a size and athleticism deficit. He’s done it with skill and craft,” Bailey wrote. “And neither trait is likely to abandon Brunson over the next four years. In fact, there’s a real chance he only sharpens those between now and 2030. We just witnessed Chris Paul remain very effective well into his 30s, and the similarly built Brunson could do the same.”
Brunson turns 30 this summer, which could suggest that he is heading towards a decline. However, the injuries he has faced over the years have not slowed him down, and there’s reason to believe that he isn’t stopping anytime soon.
The top 30 players in the NBA in 2030, predicted by @BleacherReport
1. Victor Wembanyama 2. Luka Dončić 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 4. Nikola Jokić 5. Anthony Edwards 6. Cooper Flagg 7. Cade Cunningham 8. Cameron Boozer 9. Tyrese Maxey 10. LaMelo Ball 11. Darryn Peterson 12. AJ… pic.twitter.com/IvkNBkQnZ1
There is still potential that Brunson has not played up to the best of his abilities quite yet. It’s possible he could have another gear in him, which would be great for the Knicks.
With his co-stars Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby lining up for extensions coming up, the Knicks could keep this core together for the next several years in hopes of winning another championship or two.
