LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against Jaylin Sellers #2 of the Chicago Bulls in the second half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s not always common for a Summer League team to be exciting. The Lakers have had some of the most exciting sides that have ever traveled to Las Vegas in early July, but they’ve also had some absolute clunkers.
Almost universally, though, fans found this Lakers team a pleasure to watch. After a dud of a debut in the California Classic, the Lakers won five straight games, including the first four in the Las Vegas Summer League.
They were the only team to go 4-0 in the regular season portion of Summer League and featured several standout players. Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero were impressive as the two draft picks on the roster. Chris Mañon proved why he was a two-way player and Arthur Kaluma played his way into a two-way deal after a huge 34-point showing.
Realistically, any of them could be picked for Summer League honors and it’d be a worthy inclusion. The NBA, though, took a different approach to recognizing one of the best teams this summer by….
All four of the aforementioned players averaged double figures, led by Kaluma’s 18.6 points per game, in Vegas. Kaluma also shot 60.9% from the field and 50% from range as well. If anything, his debate should have been between whether he was First Team or Second Team, not if he should be on a team at all.
This is a clear lack of respect for the Lakers and it will not stand. You may respond with the obvious question of “Who cares about the All-Summer League teams?” or “Can you even name who made the team any other year?” and I’d respond to all of those fair points by telling you it’s about the principle!
There’s no doubt this snub will loom large over the rest of the summer for the Lakers and motivate them heading into next season.
There have been three players over the years that have worn the number 72 for the San Jose Sharks, but it's safe to say that the most impactful player to wear the number for the team in teal was William Eklund.
Eklund, the Sharks' seventh overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut during the 2021-22 season when he appeared in nine games. During his first full season in North America in the 2022-23 campaign, Eklund established himself as a standout prospect at the American Hockey League level and scored a pair of goals during his limited opportunities at the NHL level.
During the 2023-24 season, Eklund got his first chance to play a full season in the NHL. In 80 games, he scored 16 goals and 45 points. Oddly though, Eklund became relied on as a veteran during his second and third seasons in the league. Due to the Sharks' youth and lack of long-tenured players, Eklund was one of the voices often heard after a difficult loss or tough moment simply because he had slightly more experience.
That added pressure never slowed Eklund down though, as his production rose in his second season, scoring 17 goals and 58 points in 77 games. Then, in the 2025-26 season, he had a very similar rate of offensive production, recording 15 goals and 53 points in 78 appearances.
Had this countdown been written two months ago, it would've had very different context for the former fan favorite as it would end here. Instead, Eklund was at the center of an offseason trade that saw him and a couple of prospects head to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the ninth overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, which became Keaton Verhoeff.
Now, reunited with his countryman Fabian Zetterlund, Eklund will call a new city home for the first time in his NHL career.
With it being a day ending in Y, the Mets have made another roster move. The team has called up right-handed pitcher Daniel Duarte from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned fellow right-handed pitcher Xzavion Curry to Syracuse. Both pitchers have been part of the team’s roster churn at the fringe of its major league bullpen this year.
Duarte has thrown five innings for the Mets at the major league level, and he has a 0.00 ERA and a 2.50 FIP in that extraordinarily small sample. He’ll presumably get sent back to Syracuse before long, and in 30.1 innings at that level this year, he has a 4.75 ERA and a 4.96 FIP.
As for Curry, he’s thrown six innings over the course of four appearances for the Mets, and he has a 3.00 ERA and a 4.94 FIP. He’s thrown 49.1 innings for Syracuse this year, working almost exclusively as a starter, and he has a 4.74 ERA and a 5.67 FIP there.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looking to shoot is guarded by De'anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on February 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors took down the Los Angeles Lakers in the Summer League semi-finals. Now they’re opening another series of semi-meaningless exhibition games with another go-round with their Southern California rivals.
The Warriors open the preseason Oct. 6 at home with the Lakers. They’ll also welcome two other West Coast teams, the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers, with the road schedule to be announced later.
It’ll be the second preseason game for the Lakers, who will visit the Kings at the Golden1 Center one night before they hit the Chase Center, like a mini-California Classic! The Lake Show will show off their new-look team, with LeBron James gone to the Heat/76ers/Cavaliers, or making the correct decision and teaming up with Steph Curry and 2027 Rookie of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg.
Now the Lakers will feature Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Jaden Hardy, first-rounder Cameron Carr, and old favorite Kevon Looney — and probably not Bronny James, since he’ll be joining his dad on the Dubs.
It’s an exciting way to start the preseason and the highest-profile preseason game the Warriors will play, no offense to Darius Acuff, Jr. and the Kings. They’ll also see Damian Lillard showing off his repaired Achilles tendon across the Bay from his hometown and some undisclosed other opponents who probably have a lot of Southwest Airlines flights from the Bay Area to their cities.
Get excited for 12-15 minutes of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves! Preseason NBA action: It’s fan-tastic!
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Luis Peña #13 of the Milwaukee Brewers poses for a photo during the 2026 All-Star Futures Game player photoshoot at Philadelphia Marriott Downtown on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Georgia Soares/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Welcome back to another edition of our Brewers Reacts Survey! In this week’s survey, we’re asking fans which Brewer prospect they’d be LEAST willing to part with at the trade deadline.
It seems like top prospect Jesús Made is all but untouchable, and fellow prospects Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara are both in the majors and locked into long-term deals. That left me curious: among the other top prospects in the Brewer organization, who would you least like to see moved?
Luis Peña, 19, is currently at High-A Wisconsin and ranks as Milwaukee’s No. 2 prospect (MLB No. 18). Signed in the January 2024 international class out of the Dominican Republic, he’s hitting .314/.415/.430 with a homer, seven doubles, two triples, 17 RBIs, 30 runs, and 21 steals across 35 games this year. He was also one of two prospects named to the NL Futures squad for last week’s All-Star festivities (alongside Made).
Jett Williams, 22, was drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft by the Mets and was sent to Milwaukee in the Freddy Peralta trade. Ranked as the team’s No. 5 prospect (MLB No. 78), he’s had a bit of an up-and-down season, hitting .234/.341/.385 with nine homers, nine doubles, five triples, 41 RBIs, 60 runs, and 21 steals across 80 games with Triple-A Nashville.
Josh Adamczweski, 20, is one of the quickest risers in Milwaukee’s system. A 15th-round pick in 2023, he’s with Double-A Biloxi and ranks as Milwaukee’s No. 6 prospect (MLB No. 90). He’s hit over .320 in all three of his minor league seasons (not counting the three games he played in in 2023), and he’s slashing .327/.444/.553 with 12 homers, 18 doubles, two triples, 56 RBIs, 55 runs, and 13 steals over 74 games between High-A and Double-A this year.
Lastly, Andrew Fischer, 21, is the only one of these players not ranked in MLB’s top 100 prospects, but he’s ranked as Milwaukee’s No. 7 prospect. The third baseman was the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2025, and he’s hitting .286/.432/.674 with an incredible 29 homers, 14 doubles, three triples, 67 RBIs, 75 runs, and nine steals in just 79 games between High-A and Double-A. The main reason he isn’t ranked higher is his strikeout rate, as he’s struck out 118 times in 276 at-bats.
Which of these prospects would you least like to see dealt at the deadline? Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!
Even with James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, saying James won’t be rushed into making a decision on which team he’ll play for next, and encouraging teams to fill out their open roster spots if they want to, much of the league’s free agency business remains on hold while James mulls his options.
Until LeBron James makes up his mind on his next home, the rest of the NBA is in a freeze as so much revolves around James’ decision.
As sources described to the California Post, multiple teams — and players — throughout the league are in a holding pattern until James makes his decision.
It’s why James Harden remains an unrestricted free agent after declining his $42.3 million player option with the Cavaliers over three weeks ago with the expectation he’d re-sign with Cleveland on a new deal.
It’s why Draymond Green remains an unrestricted free agent after declining his $27.7 million player option with the Warriors, with the expectation he’d re-sign with Golden State on a new deal.
And it’s not just the teams, or players associated with the franchises, in the hunt for James, such as the Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers and 76ers, that are in a state of limbo.
Los Angeles’ interest in Kuminga is well documented, but Cleveland is also rumored to be on Kuminga’s list if James doesn’t sign with the Cavaliers. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s also James’ former team, the Lakers, who are in a wait-and-see stage for James’ decision before finalizing their roster.
The Lakers have made several moves since James revealed on June 29 that he wouldn’t be returning to the franchise for his unprecedented 24th NBA season: Austin Reaves (four years, $180 million), Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million), Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million), Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million), Kevon Looney (one year, $3.9 million), Ziaire Williams (one year, $2.8 million) and Matisse Thybulle (one year, $3.3 million).
They pushed forward with their roster reconstruction around superstar guard Luka Doncic once it was known James wasn’t returning to L.A.
But as they continue to finalize their roster ahead of the 2026-27 season (they need to shed at least one player from their roster to be compliant with the league’s rules), even they’re caught in the holding pattern because of James.
The Lakers continue to be interested in adding unrestricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga to their roster even after their other moves over the last couple of weeks, a source told the Post, but there hasn’t been progress on discussions recently.
The last offer the Lakers made to Kuminga came with an average annual salary around $10 million – a salary that won’t get a deal done now.
The main avenue for the Lakers to add Kuminga would be via a sign-and-trade with the Hawks, who are unlikely to bring the 23-year-old forward back to the team, sources told the Post.
The Cavaliers also have strong interest in Kuminga, a source said, and have been the team most linked to him outside of the Lakers over the last few weeks.
But the Cavaliers, whose head coach Kenny Atkinson coached Kuminga while Atkinson was an assistant coach with the Warriors from 2021-24, have held off on making any significant roster moves while James mulls his decision.
The Lakers appear to be using James’ uncertainty as leverage with Kuminga.
A timetable for James to make a decision does not exist at the moment, but many believe he could announce his choice this week. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
And that’s just one situation the Lakers are caught in a holding pattern.
The Lakers, who have 16 players signed or agreed to standard NBA deals, will need to trade or waive at least one player before Opening Night in October to trim their roster to the maximum 15 signed players allowed during the regular season.
But the options for trimming their roster won’t be fully revealed until after James makes his decision.
Will the team James joins want to trade for Bronny James?
It isn’t a guarantee that the younger James will follow his dad to his next team. Bronny is well-liked within the Lakers organization and he’s a player they’ve developed since drafting him with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 draft. But if LeBron’s next team is willing to send the Lakers a real asset for Bronny, that changes the calculus.
Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy and Jarred Vanderbilt are other players to eye when it comes to the Lakers’ roster crunch.
In addition to Kuminga and having to reduce their roster to 15 players, the Lakers are still evaluating their big man options even after adding Kessler and Looney.
The Lakers no longer revolve around James after his eight seasons with the franchise.
But at least for now, like a lot of the NBA, they’re waiting to see what his next move will be before making any other potentially significant moves.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Jul 10, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Mike Yastrzemski (18) is congratulated by designated hitter Dominic Smith (8) after scoring against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The stage is set as the Atlanta Braves look for a second win in this four-game series against the San Diego Padres.
Mike Yastrzemski has been added to the lineup after being reactivated coming off a forearm injury.
Against San Diego’s Walker Buehler, Yastrzemski averages a .646 OPS and .240 batting average. But, if he takes advantage of Buehler’s constant struggles at landing his pitches in the zone, Yastrzemski, along with the rest of the Braves’ offense, have the tools to come out with a win.
Matt Olson, Michael Harris II and Austin Riley have previously put up some good numbers against Buehler, all averaging over an .800 OPS, but will need to be consistent in striking while the iron’s hot. The silent bats won’t cut it, if they want to put the game away early with a qualified offensive production.
As for the Padres’ offense, they might not be as dominant as the Braves, but they sure have a variety of players on the roster who love hitting against Reynaldo López.
López’s last start against the St. Louis Cardinals wasn’t a great showing, but he does have a knack for consistency. If he can get ahead early with run-support to back him up, he’ll manage just fine.
The Nationals (51-50) took the series opener versus the Rockies (40-62), 7-3, behind three home runs and a triple. The second game of the series is expected to be high scoring as oddsmakers set the game total at 13 runs.
Colorado's pitching staff has gone through the gutter to start the second half of the season. The Rockies' pitching staff has a 6.25 ERA (26th), right ahead of the Nationals' 5.98 ERA (25th). Colorado is tied for the fourth-most earned runs allowed (25) post All-Star break, while the Nationals are seventh (23).
Washington is 3-1 out of the All-Star break and took the last two games. The Nationals have scored an MLB-best 36 runs in four games and is hitting .295 (4th) with top three marks in OPS, OBP, and SLG. Washington is one game above .500 and one game back of the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Nationals at Rockies
Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Time: 8:40 PM EST
Site: Coors Field
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Nationals at the Rockies
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Washington Nationals (-114), Colorado Rockies (-105)
The Nationals’ James Wood is hitting .271 with 105 hits, 28 home runs and 66 RBI over 387 at-bats
The Nationals’ Dylan Crews is hitting .211 with 39 hits and 43 strikeouts over 189 at-bats
The Rockies’ Hunter Goodman is hitting .255 with 89 hits, 30 home runs, and 56 RBI over 349 at-bats
The Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar is hitting .198 with 64 hits and 88 strikeouts over 324 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Nationals at Rockies
Washington is 59-42 ATS, ranking third-best
Colorado is 54-48 ATS, ranking 10th-best
Washington is 57-39-5 to the Over, ranking second-best
Colorado is 52-47-3 to the Under
Washington is an MLB-best 35-15 to the Over on the road
Colorado is 26-25 to the Over at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Rockies
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game between the Nationals and the Rockies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Rockies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 13.0
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 29: Eric Lauer #33 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch in the third inning during a game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on June 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers conclude the second stop on their three-city road trip on Wednesday night, taking on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Eric Lauer starts for the Dodgers, who have won all seven games in which he’s pitched for them.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. - MAY 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) sits on the bench during a timeout in the second quarter of Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. on Friday, May 15, 2026. (Photo by Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Nets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Nic Claxton is on his way out after holding the reins as the longest-tenured Net. More recently, Clax came out and thanked the fans/organization. Now that that’s out of the way, we’re looking forward to who’s on the roster now and what Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. are working with.
Insert two-time All-Star… and good culture guy Julius Randle. Sean Marks made a pre-draft trade that sent out Nic Claxton and the No. 33 pick for Randle and the No. 28 pick, who became Joshua Jefferson.
With the dust settling, how would you grade the trade?
💬 Discussion
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 15: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park on April 15, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been somewhat less than a great season for the San Francisco Giants, who seem determined to alienate their supporters of all stripes. The players created a Pride Night controversy and pissed off local fans. Prospect watchers don’t love how the team has actively blocked some of the best young hitters. Old-school traditionalists hate how many defensive and base running mistakes the Giants make. Fans of musicals aren’t thrilled with the team’s purchase of the Curran Theatre. The front office hired a college baseball coach and alienated, well, mostly just Joe Maddon.
So instead of focusing on which hatemongering pitcher blew the most recent game, or which highly-paid infielder looked at strike three with the bases loaded, or how much Buster Posey’s lip quivered while facing basic questions from the media, let’s look at some of the other wonders of baseball. Namely, the incredible strikeout production of Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who is chasing history this season.
Suarez is one of the most prolific home run hitters of his generation, smacking 49 dingers in both 2019 and 2025. He has 337 career home runs, 10th among all active players and 117th all time. But where he really shines is as one of the most prolific whiffers of all time.
Sunday, Suarez passed the century mark for the season, striking out for the 100th and 101st time this season. He moved into a tie for 16th on the all-time strikeout list with Giants legend Andrew McCutchen. Look, he still hits the ball a long way when he does connect, like this 9th-inning bomb one strike away from defeat last month.
EUGENIO SUAREZ THREE-RUN HOMER FOR THE LEAD WITH THE REDS DOWN TO THEIR FINAL STRIKE pic.twitter.com/GKL0bY4p48
But it’s exciting to see him chasing so many strikeout legends, too. He started the season in 27th place, one strikeout ahead of should-be Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez. Since then, he’s moved past this illustrious list of players:
Dave Kingman (442 home runs, three strikeout titles)
Derek Jeter (Hall of Fame, struck out on unanimous induction by one vote)
Bobby Abreu (good career K numbers, unimpressive strikeout peak)
Ryan Howard (two-time strikeout champ, five seasons of 180+ whiffs)
Chris Davis (two seasons leading the league in strikeouts, two 200+ seasons and five above 190)
Tony Perez (Hall of Fame, racked up strikeouts through his age-44 season)
Fred McGriff (Hall of Fame, promoted defensive drills videos that never mentioned contact hitting)
Mike Schmidt (greatest third baseman of all time, led the league in homers eight times, walks four times, strikeouts four times)
Mike Cameron (led the league in K’s, 2002)
He’s surging this season, sitting only one whiff behind Curtis Granderson and Nelson Cruz with 63 games to play. Next is strikeout prodigy Mark Reynolds, who led the league for four straight seasons from 2008-11, setting the single-season record with 223 in 2009.
Suarez is likely to pass Alameda’s own Willie Stargell, along with Oakland Bash Brother Jose Canseco. It’s going to be tough to break into the top 10 by passing Justin Upton (1971), sitting just shy of the 2K-K club.
9th place is Andres Galarraga, who had 110 strikeouts and 19 homers in two stints in San Francisco, notching his 2,000th career strikeout in a Giants uniform. Should the Giants have added Eric Young to their postseason roster so he could pinch-run for J.T. Snow, instead of a 43-year-old man? Maybe, but that would have prevented Galarraga from notching his 20th playoff strikeout.
Why is it important to pay attention to Suarez now? Because he’s been one of the worst players in baseball this season, slashing .208/.280/.392 and playing below average defense at third base. Suarez is beloved by fans and clubhouses alike, but age 34, this could be his last chance at extending playing/strikeout time.
The World Cup showed us it’s important to appreciate greatness while it’s still in front of us. Eugenio Suarez is making history this season. Plus, if you’ve watched Giants baseball all season, you’re used to seeing a ton of strikeouts.
Suarez is striking out for the record books. He already owns the single-season record for strikeouts by a right-handed hitter. If Geno can hit just a few more dingers this season, he’ll have a chance at another contract, and a chance to chase down Miguel Cabrera (2,105 Ks). He deserves a chance to fulfill his swing-and-miss destiny.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver may regret calling out LeBron James to decide where he will play next season.
Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green said that Silver urging James to make a decision soon might only make him take longer to announce it.
“Adam saying that is not going to speed up LeBron’s decision at all,” Green said on the “Draymond Green Show.”
“If I know Bron well, if anything, it may slow his decision down a little more because that’s just how Bron is.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during Fanatics Fest this past weekend. Getty Images
Green said that he believes James’ decision will be coming sooner rather than later.
This past weekend at Fanatics Fest, Silver publicly called out James, urging him to decide where he will play next season, as it will have an impact on the NBA schedule, including opening week and Christmas Day.
During a live recording of his podcast “Mind the Game,” at Fanatics Fest , NBA star Tyrese Haliburton told James he should announce his decision, in front of a crowd of 5,000 people watching, to which James responded by saying, “We don’t have an announcement to make just yet.”
LeBron James as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
On Monday night, James’ longtime agent and friend Rich Paul appeared on his podcast, “Game Over,” with his co-host Max Kellerman and said James is planning to take his time with his decision as he doesn’t know where he wants to go, and called it a “business decision.”
Paul also mentioned that he spoke with Silver following the comments, and reaffirmed to him that it’s still James’ decision to make and remained adamant about not rushing it.
Yaxel Lendeborg was one of the breakout stars of Summer League. He looked like a hand-in-glove fit for the Warriors, capped off by him dropping 21 and 10 in the championship game to lead Golden State to the Summer League crown.
Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick, wins the 2026 NBA Summer League Championship Game MVP!
That capped off a run that saw Lendeborg named Las Vegas Summer League MVP. Over the course of six games he averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists per game.
The NBA also released the All-Summer-League teams:
First Team
Cameron Boozer (Memphis) Brayden Burries (Milwaukee) Yaxel Lendeborg (Golden State) Meleek Thomas (Cleveland) Caleb Wilson (Chicago)
It's unusual to have only rookies on the First Team, but consider it a reminder of just how deep and impressive this rookie class is.
A couple of players on that list stood out to me. Cleveland's Thomas led the Summer League in scoring at 27.1 a game through four games, and the No. 34 pick showed an ability to score at all three levels. He's going to come off the bench for the Cavaliers and will not get touches he saw in Las Vegas, but he showed real potential at providing depth and bringing some scoring off the bench for the Cavaliers next season.
The other was Egor Demin, the Nets lottery pick from a year ago who shot the 3 well last season (38.5%) but struggled to drive into the paint (20.5% of his shots were in the paint compared to 71.7% of his shots coming from beyond the arc, he shot just 27.3% between the paint and arc and 55% in the restricted area). That looked different in Las Vegas, Demin looked stronger and was getting downhill, taking 43.3% of his shots in the paint. It's just Summer League, but that's a promising sign, as was the way he and No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr. made a connection. It's something to watch this fall.
The Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Tuesday that NHL Productions will now be producing the club's game telecasts. The Blue Jackets also shared that their new broadcast deal with the NHL will begin during the 2026-27 season.
Per a club announcement, “We are excited about working with the NHL and its award-winning production team to continue delivering the best Blue Jackets coverage to our fans,” said club Vice President of Business Intelligence & Broadcasting Marc Gregory. “This partnership allows us to leverage the league’s industry-leading production resources and storytelling capabilities to bring the game closer to our fans than ever before. We are continuing to work on our distribution platforms and look forward to announcing those details in the near future.”
The Blue Jackets are not the only team who have now partnered with the NHL to produce regional broadcasts for this upcoming season. The other clubs include the St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, and Minnesota Wild.
At this time, the exact details of the Blue Jackets partnership with NHL Productions have not been announced yet. However, with the regular-season getting closer, we should soon get more information on that front.
The Blue Jackets will kick off their 2026-27 season on Oct. 1 against the Buffalo Sabres. It will be interesting to see how the new broadcast looks once they return to the ice.
Let us know what you think below.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Before John Marino locked up an eight-year, $6.75 million extension with Utah on Tuesday, he was a sixth-round afterthought the Edmonton Oilers gave up on entirely. This one is going to sting a little for Oilers fans who remember he was a prospect who got away.
Edmonton drafted Marino 154th overall back in 2015, a late-round flier out of the USPHL with modest offensive numbers and no clear NHL path. He spent three seasons at Harvard, developing quietly, while the Oilers never signed him.
In July 2019, with his rights about to require a decision, Edmonton shipped him to Pittsburgh for nothing more than a conditional sixth-round pick — the kind of trade nobody notices in the moment.
A tht time, then-GM Jim Rutherford said, "John is a mobile defenseman who excels at moving the puck while also playing with an edge to his game. We are excited to acquire him as we continue to add defensive depth to the organization. The next step is to work on getting a contract done with him."
It didn't take long to look like a mistake. Marino made his NHL debut with the Penguins that same year and quickly established himself as a legitimate top-four, puck-moving defenseman. He was traded to New Jersey and then Utah, building a reliable, stabilizing reputation at every stop.
Utah recognized his potential and locked him up to an eight-year deal.
Sixth-round picks rarely turn into eight-year veterans with two-way trust from three different organizations. Edmonton had him first, gave up on the projection, and watched him become exactly what a good asset-management department hopes a late pick eventually becomes.
Marino had 36 points last season, which would have placed him just behind Mattias Ekholm. His plus/minus - +42 would have been a big help for the Oilers as well.
