PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 30: Starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt #32 of the Arizona Diamondbacks prepares to pitch during the first inning of the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on June 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Brandon Pfaadt Makes Successful Return It was late in being announced, but the utterly foreseeable recall of Brandon Pfaadt put the beleaguered righty back onto the mound to start against the Giants. He gave Arizona all they could have asked for.
Pfaadt’s Terrific Return as Good as Could Be Asked by Snakes Despite a limited pitch count, Brandon Pfaadt managed to complete more than five innings, allowing only one run. The righty’s return came as Arizona tries to juggle the rotation amidst an injury crisis. Pfaadt’s ability to pitch a full start did wonders to help save what could have quickly become a taxed bullpen.
The St. Louis Blues winger re-signed with the club on Wednesday, getting a one-year contract for $2 million after the team and player did not come to terms in time to receive a qualifying offer on Monday at 4 p.m. (CT).
Blues general manager Alexander Steen sounded line someone who was confident that the forward, despite getting unrestricted free agency status as of Wednesday despite missing the QO deadline, would be retained.
The Blues came through with the forward, who was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings on December 16, 2025.
The 25-year-old played in 36 games for the Blues last season and had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists). He also played in 15 games for the Red Wings and posted six points (two goals, four assists).
"Berggren was more about the deadline," Steen said Tuesday. "We didn’t feel like we were going to get it done before then, but we’ve been in communication with both him and his agent. We’re hopeful that we can get something done and he can continue to grow as a player with the Bluenote on.
"He’s got high offensive vision. I enjoy watching him play. He has a unique ability. You can almost see when he sees the pass when it’s about to open up and then he presents it at the right time with the right weight with minimum amount of complication to it. And it goes fast. He picks it up fast. If he finds the offensive play to be a little bit on the risky side, he knows the time to score and he’ll revert to something else. He’s not a big risk guy, but he does have that offensive creativity. I think towards the end of the season last season it wasn’t easy because of the amount of bodies we had and what we were looking to accomplish with the last part of the season, but I thought that he really stepped up his all-around game. Defensively, he was very sound. We like him as a player. I know Monty and his coaching staff like him as a player."
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A week ago Friday, in the lead-up to the NHL Draft, the Senators acquired goalie Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifth-round selection in next year's NHL Draft. Five days later, after not being qualified by the Senators, Ersson was allowed to walk into free agency as a UFA.
But it wasn't a very long walk.
Minutes after free agency opened on Wednesday, first reported by Elliotte Friedman, Ersson reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Sens worth $2.2 million a season.
Steve Staios spoke last week about why his goalie gurus were big on Samuel Ersson.
The 26-year-old is coming off a two-year deal with he Philadelphia Flyers at $1.45 million a year
Ersson spent each of the past four seasons with the Flyers and played a career-high 51 games in 2023-24. In 2025-26, he appeared in 33 games for the Flyers, posting a 14-11-5 record with a 3.12 GAA.
The 6-foot-3 is regarded as one of Sweden's finest goaltenders, just like the man he'll be backing up. With Wednesday's $2.2 million investment, there's no doubt that he is officially Ottawa's number two. Given Linus Ullmark's history of never playing more than 50 games, Ersson will carry a heavy load in 2026-27.
“Samuel is a goaltender we identified as a good fit with our system,” Staios said Wednesday in a club statement. “He has a combination of NHL and international experience and has an upside that our staff is excited to work with.”
Ersson represented his country at the 4 Nations Face-Off in a third-place finish. He also represented Sweden twice at the World Hockey Championship, winning bronze in 2024 and 2025. He played for Sweden at last year's worlds, even though Linus Ullmark expressed a desire to play at season's end.
The Sens goaltending was all-Swedish two seasons ago when Ullmark was backed up by Anton Forsberg, who has since moved on to Los Angeles in free agency. Last year, the backup duties were split between Leevi Merilainen and James Reimer.
The Ersson acquisition speaks volumes about how mightily Merilainen's stock has fallen. He was anointed as the undisputed backup last season, and the Sens clearly aren't ready yet to give him that opportunity again.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives around Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 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
In need of bench scoring and depth in the backcourt behind their starting backcourt, one of the Lakers’ first signings this offseason will be a backup guard.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers have agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with Quentin Grimes.
Free agent guard Quentin Grimes has agreed to a four-year, $60 million to join the Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/5mcp4pULuD
Now Grimes will reunite with his former teammate Luka Dončić. They played together briefly in Dallas during the 2024-25 season. Ironically, both were traded in pretty terrible deals for the Mavs with Grimes dealt for Caleb Martin days after Luka joined the Lakers.
Grimes had some big scoring nights last season in Philadelphia. He had 20-plus points in 15 games with his best performance coming against the Blazers where he scored 31 points in a win. Across the season, Grimes averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season. He also shot 33.4% from beyond the arc.
Overall, Grimes had an up-and-down postseason with the Sixers, but he had some great scoring games. He scored 18 points in a pivotal Game 5 win over the Celtics. In that matchup, he was red-hot from deep, knocking down four 3-pointers.
Over his career, Grimes has averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 36.6% from the 3-point line.
With Grimes on the Lakers, they have added another guard with some youth and athleticism. These are two things they have desperately been lacking over the past few seasons. The Lakers are betting on those two aspects helping the team improve over Smart and Kennard from last season.
"I don't see them going anywhere, and frankly I think that's a story that was last year's story, and that actually am told and believe strongly that these guys are getting along much better," Cohen said on The Show podcast. "And so I just don't see that as an issue anymore. I'm lucky enough to have two high-quality players like that, and with the elimination of whatever issues there were last year, I'm thrilled that they're on the team."
In saying that he doesn't expect either player to get traded, Cohen seems to be shutting down whispers about Lindor's future.
During the Winter Meetings this past offseason, Lindor didn't seem to be entirely off-limits in trade discussions.
Things also took a turn this February, when Cohen said the team would never have a captain during his ownership -- following speculation that Lindor could be named captain in the near future.
"It’s not where they want to go. I respect it, I understand it and I’m on board," Lindor said at the time. "It’s just one of those where it’s like, I’m going to focus on baseball. I feel like we’ve got leaders [without] captains and all that stuff. The clubhouse is the clubhouse. Let’s just play baseball, and let’s focus on winning."
Soto is having a phenomenal season, leading the National League with a .971 OPS and playing improved defense after shifting from right field to left field.
Lindor, who recently returned after missing roughly two months due to a calf injury, has finished in the top 10 in National League MVP voting each of the last four seasons.
The 32-year-old Lindor is in the fifth season of a 10-year, $341 million extension he signed after being acquired from Cleveland ahead of the 2021 season.
Soto, 27, is in the second year of a 15-year, $765 million deal he signed before the 2025 season. He has an opt-out after the 2029 season that the Mets can void if they add $4 million per year to his salary for 2030 through 2039.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons waits during the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jalen Duren might have been eager to test the free agent market in a search to maximize his earnings on a new long-term deal, but that market has all but disappeared two days into free agency. There were few teams with salary cap space to spend, but there were plenty of teams interested in landing a difference-making center.
When it was reported that Duren was interested in meeting with the Sacramento Kings, it made sense because, well, they’re the Kings. When LeBron James made it clear he was moving on from the center-needy Los Angeles Lakers, the fit didn’t seem like it could get better. It was clear throughout the season that the Boston Celtics viewed center as the weakest spot on their roster, and the organization telegraphed that they would work to land a permanent solution in the offseason. You can toss some teams with money to spend and the ability to create more in the mix — the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets chief among them.
In the two days since free agency began, all those teams (save the Kings) have found their answer at center, and it wasn’t Jalen Duren.
The Lakers swung a huge trade to land defensive powerhouse Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz. The Boston Celtics landed New York Knicks champion Mitchell Robinson on a new three-year deal. The Bulls and Nets went bargain shopping and signed Zach Collins and Moe Wagner, respectively.
Restricted free agency is a nasty piece of business from the player’s perspective. Your team holds all the leverage and you have few avenues to dictate your own market. Jalen Duren is coming off an All-NBA season and technically qualified for a supermax contract. The Pistons are reportedly not even offering him the standard max. They telegraphed that even if Duren found a team willing to offer him a deal, they would match it. They made clear that any sign-and-trade would have to blow them away to even entertain the possibility.
I’m not surprised Duren is unhappy with the contract Detroit has put in front of him, and I understand he was trying to create leverage by exploring the market for a team that would pay him more. But it appears the league either values Duren differently or fully understands the strong position Detroit found itself in.
Duren now finds himself as the lone starting-level center still on the market. And there is one team he will likely be starting for — the Detroit Pistons.
What that contract arrangement looks like remains to be seen. Will a livid Duren do something as drastic as signing his qualifying offer, playing out one more year in Detroit and getting out at the earliest convenience? Probably not. That would be leaving more than $150 million dollars on the table.
He could sign for the full five years at between $32-38 million, have generational wealth and still be in his prime when he is up for his next monster deal. Or it could fall somewhere in between, fewer years, quicker pathways to a big payday, player options, etc.
But it appears that for all his agent’s posturing and trying to work the media to their fullest advantage, this is going to end up where it was always most likely to land — with Jalen Duren catching lobs from Cade Cunningham and Duren looking at another year in the playoffs where he can really show what he can do.
On Wednesday, the St. Louis Blues reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract extension with forward Jonatan Berggren, bringing back the Swedish forward who rediscovered his game after being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings midway through the season.
The signing closes what has been a pivotal chapter in Berggren's career, one that began with the promise of a high-end prospect and nearly faded before St. Louis stepped in and gave him the opportunity Detroit never quite extended.
The Red Wings selected Berggren 33rd overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, a pick that carried genuine expectations. The Uppsala, Sweden native arrived in North America with the pedigree of a player who could contribute offensively at the NHL level, and he flashed that potential during a promising debut season in 2022-23 that saw him put up nearly 30 points and turn heads as a legitimate top-six option in the making. That momentum, however, never fully carried forward in Detroit.
Berggren spent the bulk of his Red Wings tenure operating in a limited role, averaging somewhere between ten and thirteen minutes of ice time per game, a number that made it difficult for any offensive player to find consistent rhythm and production.
By mid-December, the writing was on the wall as Detroit placed Berggren on waivers, and the Blues immediately jumped at the chance to claim him, recognizing what the organization believed was a player whose situation rather than his talent had been the limiting factor.
The results in St. Louis backed that theory up in a hurry. Given an average of 14:35 of ice time per night, roughly two full minutes more than he had typically seen in Detroit, Berggren responded with 16 points in 36 games with his new club, a pace that would have translated to nearly 37 points over a full 82-game season.
At 25 years old, Berggren is at precisely the age where most skilled European forwards hit their developmental stride, and St. Louis is betting that the second half of this past season was a preview rather than a peak.
The one-year, $2 million deal keeps him affordable while giving him a full training camp, a full season of meaningful minutes and a genuine chance to prove that his time with the Red Wings was a story of circumstance rather than ceiling.
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Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly makes his now-famous pouty face toward Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. (Bob Levey / Getty Images)
Corona High baseball coach Andy Wise has pulled off the most intriguing acquisition of the summer season.
Former Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly, a Corona graduate, is joining the program as an assistant coach to help guide pitchers.
Known for his quirky personality and ability to thrive under pressure, Kelly has followed the program in recent years after retiring as a player and jumped at the chance to help the pitchers, Wise said.
“My conversations with him over the years have been incredible,” Wise said. “What an asset for the pitching staff and the whole program. He’s got the time and he’s got a lot of kids. He’s not going to be here six days a week. He’s excited.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 30: Luis Arraez #1 of the San Francisco Giants fields a ground-ball out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the six inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on June 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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It’s been a disaster of a season for the San Francisco Giants. And unless things dramatically turn around over the next month, that means they’ll be big sellers at this year’s deadline.
The silver lining there is twofold: the Giants have some intriguing pieces to deal, and arguably Buster Posey’s best work since taking over has been the deadline deals he made a year ago when flipping Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Mike Yastrzemski for prospects.
San Francisco is looking to unload some big contracts, and they’ll likely field offers on some of their younger players as well. But the moves we can expect revolve around the players on expiring contracts. And they have two who should have quite a bit of value: Robbie Ray and Luis Arráez.
So which of those two has more value, and will return a better haul to the Giants? On the one hand, Arráez has been the better player this year, and is almost sure to be in the All-Star Game as an offensively brilliant Gold Glove candidate. On the other hand, Ray had an exceptional June, and pitchers usually have more value at the deadline than position players. That’s compounded by the fact that Ray could slide into any team’s rotation, while there are a limited number of playoff-bound squads that have a roster hole to fill with Arráez.
SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 20: Kendry Chourio #33 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Royals’ farm system may lack depth, but the higher-end talent is gaining notice on prospect lists. And during MLB’s All-Star weekend, you can get a look at the future!
Pitcher Kendry Chourio and catcher Blake Mitchell were both named to the MLB Future Game to be played at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 12 at 11 a.m. CT. The American League will be managed by former Gold Glove shortstop Larry Bowa, while the National League will be managed by former All-Star outfielder Shane Victorino.
Chourio is ranked as a top prospect by both MLB Pipeline (#70) and Baseball America (#32). The 18-year-old right-hander dominated at Low-A with a 1.88 ERA in 11 starts with 44 strikeouts and just 9 walks in 48 innings, earning him a promotion to High-A recently. Chourio throws in the mid-90s with a plus change up and has excellent command and poise on the mound.
Mitchell was the eighth-overall pick in the 2023 draft out of high school in Texas. He suffered a hamate bone injury last year, but has rebounded to hit .210/.409/.425 with 13 home runs and 16 steals in 68 games at High-A this year. He features the best plate discipline in the organization and had an impressive 24 percent walk rate in the advanced Arizona Fall League last year.
The game will feature some of the best overall prospects in the sport including Brewers shortstop Jesús Made, Nationals shortstop Eli Willits, Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula, Athletics shortstop Leo De Vries, Mariners pitcher Kade Anderson, and Pirates pitcher Seth Hernandez.
DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 12: Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026...
The floodgates were fully open for the Lakers’ free agency moves Wednesday morning.
The Lakers landed explosive guard Collin Sexton on a 2-year, $19 million deal in NBA free agency. Getty Images
ESPN was first to report that Sexton is signing a two-year, $19 million deal.
Sexton, the No. 8 pick in the 2018 draft, is coming off of averaging 15.4 points and 3.3 assists in 68 regular season games (22 starts) for the Hornets and Bulls in 2025-26.
He has career averages of 18.3 points (47% shooting; 50.4% on 2-pointers and 38.9% on 3-pointers), 3.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds during an eight-season NBA career that’s taken him to Cleveland, Utah, Charlotte, Chicago and now Los Angeles.
Sexton is expected to slot in as the backup ball handler behind star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
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WRAPPING UP JUNE: The Cubs were 16-10 in June, for a winning percentage of .615. That was their highest percentage in any June since 1992, when they were 18-10, .643. They were better than .615 in only six more of the past 80 seasons: .677 (21-10) in 1967; .621 (18-11) in 1969; .667 (18-9) in 1971; .704 (19-8) in 1977; .667 (16-8) in 1979; .621 (18-11) in 1983. They were better in 28 seasons from 1876-1946. They were .607 in 1972 and 2007 (17-11). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STREAKING: A win today would give the Cubs their third-longest winning streak of the season, four games, behind their pair of 10-game streaks. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
COMPLETING SWEEPS: The Cubs have a shot at their 18th sweep of the Padres at Wrigley Field since the rivalry began in 1969, but only their fourth in 27 series on the North Side since 2000. The Cubs won all three games in 2009, 2012 and 2021. This season, the Cubs won the first two games of six previous series. They completed sweeps in five of them, including two of four games. The only third-game loss was at San Francisco. At home, they swept the Mets, Phillies and Reds. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
PCA’S JUNE: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s case for Player of the Month: 26 games, .381/.468/.781 (40-for-105) with five doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 20 RBI, 17 walks, 21 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
Colin Rea had a rough patch in early June but his last two starts, against the Blue Jays and Mets, have been very good – 10.1 total innings, one earned run.
Hopefully he can continue that tonight vs. the Padres, who he has not faced this year.
Rea has been much better at Wrigley Field (2.61 ERA in seven games, six starts) than on the road (6.60 ERA in 10 games, seven starts). Hopefully, that will come into play in this afternoon’s contest.
Walker Buehler was a free agent before 2026. He’s making just $1.5 million this year with the Padres. Coming off two pretty bad years, you can understand why teams weren’t interested.
He’s been very good this year in San Diego – 3.81 ERA and 1.308 WHIP, a 1.3 bWAR season so far. When he faced the Cubs April 28 in San Diego, he was struggling and allowed three hits, three walks and two runs in 4.2 innings, throwing 92 pitches.
Over his last nine starts: 2.64 ERA, 1.175 WHIP, 41 strikeouts in 47.2 innings. He’s not quite the guy he was with the Dodgers, but that’s really good. He turns 32 in a few weeks and if he keeps this up he’ll be a desirable free agent this offseason.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Charlie Condon #24 of the Colorado Rockies bats during the seventh inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The 2026 edition of the Midsummer Classic is coming up in just two weeks. While rosters for the All-Star Game at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia are still in the air, Major League Baseball has announced the teams for this year’s All-Star Futures Game.
Two Rockies prospects have been named to the National League Futures Team.
First Baseman and Outfielder Charlie Condon (no. 1 PuRP)
23-year-old Charlie Condon was selected third overall by the Rockies in the 2024 draft and is making his second All-Star Futures Game appearance after suiting up for the National League squad last year in Atlanta.
Although he got off to somewhat of a slow start in his third professional season, Condon has become a force to be reckoned with over the last month. The University of Georgia product and 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner hit .337/.462/.814 with a 1.276 OPS in June and slugged three doubles, four triples, and ten home runs with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.
It’s expected that Condon will make his Major League debut at some point this season.
Center Fielder and Second Baseman Roldy Brito (no. 11 PuRP)
One of the rising stars of the Rockies’ farm system, 19-year-old Roldy Brito exploded onto the scene with an incredible 2025 campaign. He was named the Arizona Complex League MVP after hitting .368/.445/.555 with 13 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 21 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases with the ACL Rockies. Once the short ACL season was over, Brito continued to dominate with a promotion to the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. In 33 games with Fresno to finish the year, Brito hit .375/.442/.463 with another seven doubles, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.
Brito has regressed slightly in 2026, but even then he is having an excellent season in a second stint with the Grizzlies. He is currently hitting .312/.363/.477 with 19 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 60 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Brito is a likely candidate for promotion to High-A in the near future.
The 2026 All-Star Futures Game will take place on Sunday, July 12th at 10:00 AM MDT to kick off All-Star Week in Philadelphia and will be broadcast on NBC.
Jan 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Mamuuu! Nooo!
Shams Charania of ESPN has broken the news that newly minted free agent Sandro Mamukelashvili has officially signed a $52 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, locking the centre-forward up for the next four years. It seems that as Toronto takes from one LA team, the other one takes back, and in a very vulnerable position for the Raps.
The potential effects of Mamu’s departure on the team have already been discussed: the loss of size and a respectable shooter is not something the Raptors can take lying down, and brings even more urgency to the Raptors’ quest to fill out their centre rotation. Trayce Jackson-Davis is now the team’s third stringer, who after playing only 17 games for the team, could see a huge uptick in minutes. All that considered, some additional urgency is probably not a bad thing for this team. The marathon to getting a positionally sound roster together is one that is going painfully slowly, but appears to be quite calculated, picking up Kawhi Leonard along the way.
But, the Raptors have only one seven footer, and ESPN shows Jamison Battle as the fourth string centre. That is an unacceptable state for this team to be in, long term. With even Jonathan Mogbo departing, the Raptors need more size of the bench, and a more reliable centre, full stop. We could see in the upcoming weeks more aggressive pursuit of Myles Turner, as Jalen Duren and many other high profile free agent centres have either been linked with new teams, or have already inked deals. The Raptors will have to make new moves sooner than later.
For more than his play, I’ll miss Mamu. The player seemed nothing but kind in his personal life, and injected excitement into a Raptors’ team that is only now beginning to find its identity. I wish him the best in Los Angeles, but reflect on the way we could have kept the good times going.
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 10: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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The Golden State Warriors opened the offseason with a big move, signing their trade deadline acquisition, Kristaps Porziņģis, to a two-year extension worth $40 million. The reunion wasn’t at all surprising, though I think the price tag probably raised a few eyebrows.
There are reasons to love and be skeptical about the extension. Porziņģis fit in brilliantly with the Dubs on both ends of the court, and showed just how dynamic of a force he can be in their systems. On the other hand, he also displayed the serious health concerns that have plagued him throughout the last decade.
So with all that in mind … how do you grade the extension?
