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Report: Maple Leafs Have Spoken To Claude Giroux’s Camp As Free Agent Weighs Options, Does He Make Sense For Toronto?

As the initial dust settles on the opening of NHL free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs could be looking to add a massive dose of veteran experience and versatility to their forward group. 

According to the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, the Maple Leafs are "keenly interested" in the services of unrestricted free agent forward Claude Giroux. The veteran, who spent the last four seasons with his hometown Ottawa Senators, is assessing his options as he hunts for an elusive Stanley Cup ring, and Toronto could be a possible landing spot. 

The report, first hinted at during early offseason rumblings, aligns perfectly with management's ongoing desire to reshape the identity of the team’s middle-six forward complement. But as with any high-profile pursuit of a player on the back nine of a legendary career, the potential acquisition carries both fascinating upside and undeniable risk. 

The Recent Trajectory: Giroux by the Numbers

While Giroux is no longer the elite, 100-point Hart Trophy finalist he was during his peak years with the Philadelphia Flyers, he has maintained a remarkably consistent baseline of health and utility. 

Over the last few seasons in Canada's capital, Giroux’s raw point totals have naturally trended downward, but his underlying metrics show a player who remains highly effective in an insulated role: 

  • 2022–23 (Ottawa): 82 GP | 35 Goals | 44 Assists | 79 Points | +4 
  • 2023–24 (Ottawa): 82 GP | 21 Goals | 43 Assists | 64 Points | -14 
  • 2024–25 (Ottawa): 81 GP | 15 Goals | 35 Assists | 50 Points | -8 
  • 2025–26 (Ottawa): 82 GP | 14 Goals | 35 Assists | 49 Points | +20 

Even at age 38 last season, Giroux played a full 82-game schedule, contributing 49 points and finishing with a strong plus-20 rating on a turbulent Senators squad. 

The Pros: What Giroux Brings to Toronto

Giroux's most obvious asset is his elite ability in the faceof circle. Last season, he won an astounding 63.1% of his 799 draws. For a Maple Leafs team that has occasionally struggled with consistency on crucial defensive-zone starts and late-game puck possession, adding a right-handed option who can reliably win draws is an instant upgrade. 

Furthermore, Giroux offers rare positional flexibility. He can slide into the third-line center spot or play the right wing on an offensive top-six unit. His presence would give the coaching staff options to shuffle their combinations, potentially allowing them to balance the scoring lines more effectively. 

Beyond the stat sheet, Giroux brings 1,345 games of regular-season experience and 99 career playoff appearances. For a locker room that has undergone structural changes over the last year, a respected former captain with a fierce competitive drive is exactly the type of personality leadership covets. 

The Cons: The Age Curve and Cap Friction

The primary concern with signing Giroux is Father Time. Born in January 1988, Giroux will turn 39 midway through the 2026–27 campaign. While his durability has been exemplary—skipping almost no games over the past four years—the modern NHL demands high-end pace. Pairing an aging veteran with a line that lacks foot speed could leave the Maple Leafs vulnerable to quick transition teams in the Eastern Conference. 

Then there is the financial calculus. Toronto is navigating a tight salary cap environment. Coming off a one-year, $2 million contract with Ottawa, Giroux will likely command a similar short-term salary with performance bonuses attached. Every dollar spent on a veteran forward is a dollar that cannot be allocated toward reinforcing a defense corps that still requires structural help. 

If Toronto expects Giroux to be a primary driving force offensively, they are bound to be disappointed. He has functioned primarily as a middle-six supplementary winger or specialized center for the bulk of the past calendar year. 

Furthermore, it remains unclear whether this management interest preceded or followed the Maple Leafs loading up on several depth forwards who occupy the very roles Giroux would slot into. While his upside is glaringly obvious on the power play, the penalty kill, and in the faceof circle, everything else carries undeniable risk given his age. 

The Verdict

Ultimately, the Maple Leafs' pursuit of Claude Giroux boils down to value and expectations. If management can secure him on a cap-friendly, bonus-laden deal that reflects his current reality as a 45-to-50-point utility forward, the move checks many boxes. 

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Flyers Fans Have No Reason to Worry About Matvei Michkov

While he may not have spent most of his summer in Voorhees like many have hoped, Philadelphia Flyers fans can rest assured Matvei Michkov is hard at work having a productive offseason.

As has been discussed ad nauseam at this point, Michkov, 21, had a rough season for his standards, scoring 20 goals, 31 assists, and 51 points in decreased ice time from his rookie year, with his fitness level coming into question throughout the season.

But, after leading the Flyers in scoring after the Olympic break, only to again hit a wall in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Michkov is back on his grind... with the help of a familiar Flyers friend.

Recently, Michkov was spotted working out on the ice at Perm's (his hometown) new arena, where Molot-Prikamye Perm allowed Michkov and other players full access to use the ice.

Our friend, Uggg_uggg, posted the video of the Flyers' Russian dynamo to their X page on Saturday.

Most importantly, Michkov was joined by his de facto Flyers translator Slava Kuznetsov, who is also an experienced skating coach.

In layman's terms, the Flyers have an eye in the sky helping Michkov along as he heads into the last season of his entry-level contract, looking to build on two productive but uneven NHL seasons to date.

While he isn't necessarily a poor skater, Michkov is not fast and seldom produces bursts of quickness to beat defenders one-on-one, so more time with Kuznetsov should only mean good things when it comes to addressing that weakness, in addition to building a stronger foundation of conditioning.

Some fans have questioned whether or not Michkov is still doing the right things, spending a significant portion of his offseason back home in Russia.

Those concerns can swiftly be dismissed, as there is now video proof that the young Flyers star is very much taking his offseason training seriously, especially under the guidance of an experienced Flyers staff member.

Plus, we can imagine Michkov is extra motivated now that the Flyers went out and offer sheeted Leo Carlsson in a bid to get him a true No. 1 center to play with for the next decade.

Flyers training camp is still two months away, so Michkov still has plenty of time to continue his training in preparation of a monster third NHL season.

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DitD & Open Post – 7/6/26: Fixing Utica Edition

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“…The statistical overlap in production pace, shot danger, and skating metrics makes (Shane) Wright a defensible target if the Hayton deal falls through. He addresses the same roster hole—secondary center scoring and depth—while adding four years of team control at a fraction of the cap hit at $886,666.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

“Sunny Mehta has said that the AHL is of paramount importance to him and the Devils. How has he addressed that issue, and why is it so important to begin with?” [Devils’ Advocates]

“Judging by how quickly Hischier signed with the Devils, he was always intent on staying in the Garden State. Let’s break down Hischier’s extension and what it means for both sides moving forward.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

Arseny Gritsyuk talks after signing his new deal:

Hockey Links

Full list of players who have filed for arbitration:

Now things are getting fun!

On the Leo Carlsson offer sheet: “The Ducks are in an unenviable position, faced with two unappetizing options. Either way, they’re swallowing poison with one option infecting the short term and one option infecting the long term. It takes a nasty offer sheet to make keeping your franchise player feel like anything but a slam dunk, and the Flyers have delivered here. Now we wait to see which pill Anaheim takes — and how it affects the Ducks’ suddenly sour future.” [The Athletic ($)]

Mavrik Bourque gets a six-year deal:

Pavel Mintyukov gets a deal:

On the insanity of trade protection in the NHL:

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Open Thread: Spurs Tony Parker and Patty Mills to reunite with ASVEL

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 21: Tony Parker #9 and Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs speak during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 21, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs won their fifth NBA title.Tony Parker and Patty Mills were the Spurs two point guards during that historic run. Recently, Tony Parker was named the new head coach of ASVEL. And now, Patty Mills is heading to ASVEL to play under his former teammate.

Mills played for the Spurs from 2012-2021. He played for seven NBA teams over sixteen seasons. Last year he was hired as the general manager for the University of Hawaii.

Mills now heads to France, his fourth international team.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Monday Posted & Toasted Notes: Mitch reveals the truth, afraid Melo take

A wild brown-throated sloth, Bradypus variegatus, Landing Casual, Upper Amazon River Basin, Loreto, Peru. (Photo by: Sergi Reboredo/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Crazy slow start to Monday around these places, and on top of that, the muscles on my right leg don’t feel willing to cooperate when I try to move around. Links and notes next, so I can forget about my pains.

  • Mitchell Robinson finally explained how he injured his hand before the NBA Finals and opened up massively on tons of personal stuff, which we all know Mitch for as a sentimental man. Spoiler: it involved a punch and his knuckle, and it surely is a hella sad story.

““I would like to address the concerns regarding my finger, which was actually my knuckle. To provide some context, I had been dealing with personal issues, relationship problems, and internal struggles, which affected my performance on the basketball court. In this league I simply follow the instructions given to me y’all have seen videos of everything I’m very capable of doing. Moving forward to the Eastern Conference finals, after our victory in Cleveland, everything seemed to be going well. We were celebrating our achievement, but for me, things took a turn for the worse.

“As many of you know, I am a compassionate and private person who enjoys listening to country music. Without going into details about my upbringing, I am extremely protective of my siblings, whom I care for deeply. Upon returning to New York, I received an unexpected phone call, and my family members contacted me, informing me that my youngest brother had been involved in a car accident. I did not see the messages until I arrived home late that night. As the eldest sibling, I felt a deep sense of concern, and I immediately went into panic mode. I began returning calls and texts, and when I FaceTimed my brother, I thought he was deceased. He was wearing a neck brace, unresponsive, and not speaking.

“I broke down in tears, feeling like a failure for not being able to protect my siblings. Being 910 miles away, I felt helpless. In a moment of frustration, I banged my hand on my truck. As many of you know, I have a deep affection for my trucks, but my siblings and daughter are my top priority. Before judging someone, it is essential to understand their circumstances, which may not be publicly known. Life is unpredictable, and it is how we respond to challenges that truly matters.

“After consulting with doctors, I was able to gain the confidence in myself to go in and get the job done and WE DID 2026 NBA CHAMPS.so at the end of the day I battled with so much throughout this season even made a huge sacrifice to not see my daughter as much this season because I needed to focus and lock in so she can have a better future than I did.”

  • Carmelo Anthony said on 7PM in Brooklyn that he does not think the rest of the league is intimidated by the Knicks following their title-winning season. According to Melo, all the Knicks did was catch fire for a minute.
  • That’s also probably why Miami added Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia added Jaylen Brown, Boston stole Mitch and redrew their whole blueprint, the Hornets outright tapped out, and the Raptors went nostalgic and brought back an aging Kawhi. As I wrote the other day, though, Parity… or just plain dumb randomness?
  • Jalen Brunson, meanwhile, is having a better summer than me. That’s for sure.
  • Ric Bucher “touched” on the LeBron James “situation,” and didn’t hold back. A tease:

“I had to smile when it was reported that LeBron informed the Lakers that he didn’t intend to play for the Lakers next year. As if the Lakers weren’t intending for that to be the case. But kudos to the Lakers for allowing LeBron to present it that way and preserve some dignity on the way out.”

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.

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Erie sweeps with walkoff win

Toledo Mud Hens 6, Iowa Cubs 2 (box)

The Toledo Mud Hens took Sunday’s game against Iowa, 6-2, to split the series against the Cubs.

Dylan File was outstanding in this one, giving the Mud Hens five innings of one-hit ball. He went 1-2-3 in every frame but the second and didn’t allow any free bases. File only threw 61 pitches, but he also started on Tuesday. Smart to not overdo it and take him out after he’s in line for the win.

File left with a four-run lead, thanks to a three-spot in the first. Max Clark led the inning off with a walk and stole second — his 18th of the year — and Max Anderson drove him in with a double (initially ruled an error) right after. Gage Workman kept things going with an RBI single up the middle, and Trei Cruz scored him on a sac fly.

Clark scored again in the third after leading off with a single. He stole second, again, and moved to up a bag on another Workman single. Brett Callahan drove Clark in with a base hit. 4-0, Toledo.

Iowa got a run back in the sixth after Yilber Diaz took over for File. Other than that two-out RBI double, Diaz was fine. Luke Taggart relieved him in the seventh and got five straight outs. Toledo turned to Ricky Vanasco for the four-out save.

Vanasco got the job done, but it wasn’t exactly efficient. He walked a batter in the eighth and gave up a pair of singles in the ninth. The Mud Hens traded a run for an out, and they could afford to because of a two-run eighth.

Workman was at the center of the scoring again, doubling in Anderson, stealing third and scoring on another sac fly from Cruz.

Trade: Woo-Suk Go was sent to Minnesota for cash considerations. He has an assignment clause in his contract and will join the Twins on Tuesday, according to Dan Hayes.

Clark: 1-3, 2 R, BB

Anderson: 2-4, 2B (13), 2 R, RBI, 2 K

Workman: 3-4, 2B (24), 2 R, 2 RBI

File (W, 5-5): 5.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next:The Mud Hens are on the road next week against the Indianapolis Indians, starting Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET.

(F/10) Erie SeaWolves 4, Akron RubberDucks 3 (box)

Erie finished off the sweep with its eighth straight on Sunday, but it took extra innings for the SeaWolves to take down the Akron RubberDucks, 4-3.

Hayden Minton went 3.1 innings to start. Besides a solo homer in the fourth, he was fine. Four hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Nothing special, but also not anything bad.

Just after Minton gave up the lead, Erie took it back on a Garrett Pennington double and Max Burt two-run homer.

Minton left the game after getting the first out of the fourth. Tyler Owens replaced him and got the next two outs. Carlos Pena was next, and he worked the same four innings he’s gone in each of his previous relief outings with Erie. A solo homer in the sixth was his only blemish. He had five strikeouts to one walk and allowed just two more hits in the outing. Unfortunately, that homer tied up the game and gave him a blown save.

Both offenses stalled until the ninth. Garrett Pennington finally broke the tie with a leadoff home run, but Wandisson Charles gave the run back in the bottom of the inning, sending the game to extras.

Bennett Lee drove in Viandel Pena from second, but Erie couldn’t add an insurance run. Chris Meyers also got hurt while swinging. It looked like his back, and he was in obvious pain, running to first on a single. Peyton Graham replaced him in the outfield, which is nice because he was hit in the arm with a pitch yesterday and left the game.

Charles closed things out with a 1-2-3 10th, including a pair of strikeouts. Bring out the brooms!

Pennington: 2-4, HR (2), 2B (4), 2 R, RBI, 2 K

Burt: 1-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI

Bigbie: 2-5, 2B (14), K

Pena (BS, 2): 4.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 5 K, HR

Coming Up Next:The SeaWolves are at home next week against the Harrisburg Senators, starting Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. ET.

Lake County Captains 6, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)

West Michigan dropped the series against Lake County, 4-2, with a 6-4 loss on Sunday.

Rayner Castillo had another up-and-down start. He started out fine, going 1-2-3 in the first, but Castillo hit a batter and walked another in the second, which served as a bad omen.

Lake County got to him in the third. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for Nolan Schubart, who cleared them with a double down the right-field line. Castillo worked around a pair of baserunners in the fourth, but that was it for him.

Carlos Lequerica took over on the mound in the fifth. He got into three straight three-ball counts, but only one of them resulted in a walk. The other two were punchouts, both coming on the changeup.

West Michigan threatened in the bottom of the fifth, with men on the corners and only one out, but nothing came of Andrew Sojka’s double.

Ethan Sloan got the sixth. He gave up three straight singles to open the frame. Samuel Gil made a nice diving stop on the third, but the throw was a tad late and forced the first baseman off the bag. A pair of sac flies made it 5-0.

Luke Stofel also had some trouble in the seventh, allowing back-to-back one-out singles, but he worked his way out of it. The Whitecaps finally got some runs on the board in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three on four singles and a walk. Woody Hadeen and Jackson Strong had RBI base knocks, and Clayton Campbell drove one in on a sac fly.

Eliseo Mota gave a run back to the Captains in the eighth, allowing back-to-back hits with two outs. Ryan Harvey faced the minimum in the ninth despite walking the leadoff man, aided by a 4-6-3 double play.

Hadeen reached on an error that could have been ruled a base hit in the ninth. Rainer and Campbell walked to load the bases. Strong cut the deficit to two runs with a sac fly, but the next two batters went down to end the game.

Rainer: 1-4, BB, K

Strong: 2-3, 2 RBI, BB

Sojka: 2-4, 2B (9), R, 2 K

Castillo (L, 1-6): 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next:The Whitecaps are at home next week against the Fort Wayne TinCaps, starting Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. ET.

Palm Beach Cardinals 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (box)

Despite outhitting the Palm Beach Cardinals 11-5, the Lakeland Flying Tigers couldn’t claim a series win on Sunday, losing 5-3 to split the series.

Connor Fenlong had a nearly identical start to his first with Lakeland a week ago. He went 4.2 innings, struck out eight and walked one. The only differences for him were allowing a pair of runs (one earned) on three hits instead of five. The stuff is clearly good enough to think about High-A. He’s 26 years old, and a recent Indy league signing, so while the Tigers have him in Lakeland tuning some things up, he should be pushed as rapidly as he can handle.

Before those runs scored off Fenlong, Lakeland took a 3-0 lead. In the third, Jesus Pinto hit his third triple of the year to score Jack Goodman (walk), and Beau Ankeney drove in Pinto with a single up the middle.

Hunter Dobbins tripled and scored in the fourth for the other run. Goodman got the RBI this time.

Fenlong left the game with two on and two out in the fifth, giving way to Xiomer Guacache. A single and an error from Pinto in right field cleared the bases, hence the unearned runs. Guacahe gave up another run in the sixth. This one was earned after back-to-back walks to open the frame.

Lakeland kept getting on base, but the Flying Tigers went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding eight batters. Clutch hits matter more in games like these.

Donye Evans got the seventh and worked around a one-out walk. Jan Carballo pitched the final two frames, dealing with multiple baserunners in each. Palm Beach scored its fifth run off him in the eighth, and that was the game.

Ankeney: 2-5, RBI

Dobbins: 2-4, 3B (2), R

MacDonald: 2-4

Fenlong: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 8 K

Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers are on the road next week against the Dunedin Blue Jays, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 7/6/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 03: (L-R) Carlos Rodon #55, Max Fried #54, Austin Wells #28 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees look on from the dugout during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on July 03, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees have their biggest series of the year lined up starting tonight, and they could not be in a worse state entering it. Losers of eight of their last nine, New York has surrendered the AL East to the Rays who went on a big winning streak of their own at the same time to carve out a four-game lead. Conveniently, they’re now set to open a four-game against Tampa that could bring them right back, but entering their house of horrors at the level of play they’ve shown over the past two weeks is a recipe for disaster. The worst-case scenario for this matchup feels like it could fare just like that fateful series against the Blue Jays last year to open up July that saw them fall out of first place for good, and though the Yankees built themselves a decent lead in the Wild Card race that gap isn’t looking too big anymore either.

Nick opens the day up for us with a look at the pitching matchups that we’ll see in this Rays series, and Kevin follows up with the Rivalry Roundup featuring the Astros besting those Rays to do the Yankees a small favor. Jonathan wishes Willie Randolph a happy birthday and relives his legacy of success as a player and coach with the Yankees. Josh looks over the Giants to see if there’s a reasonable trade the two teams could work towards, Michael examines the inability of the team to work walks of late, and finally I’ll be back later in the day to open up the mailbag for this week.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

Time: 6:40 p.m. EST

TV: YES Network, Rays.TV

Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Questions/Prompts:

1. Get your predictions in now: will the Yankees win zero, one, two, three, or all four of these games in Tampa?

2. Will the USA defeat Belgium tonight to advance to the quarterfinals? Will Folarin Balogun make an impact after getting his one-game suspension reversed?

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Islanders & NHL News: Arbitration filings and trade rumors

He exists. | Getty Images

The U.S. Independence Day has passed, regular 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday schleps return to work, and the seven-day clock on the Flyers’ offer sheet to Leo Carlsson continues to count down.

(Also, in the World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team continues their run vs. Belgium after England devastated Mexico in Mexico City, then resumed their abuse of the rest of the world by singing Oasis songs.)

Nothing much new from the Isles…

  • Rehash: Isaiah George on eyeing an NHL role this year. [Newsday | Isles]
  • Around the NHL, 15 players filed for salary arbitration, the most notable being Jason Robertson, who has not been able to reach a massive extension with Dallas and refused a sign-and-trade to Seattle. At the other end of the Notability Scale, Alex Jefferies also filed for arbitration with the Isles, and I can’t imagine how that hearing would sound. [NHL]
  • Technically, Jefferies filing for arbitration qualifies the Islanders for a second 48-hour buyout window. [THN] (However, a second window only applies to players whose cap hit is $4 million or higher.)

Elsewhere

  • The Rangers sent their (top-10 protected) 2030 first-round pick to the Canucks for Pettersson…Marcus Pettersson. A move of mixed messages. [Athletic]
  • The Capitals announced Alex Ovechkin is returning for another season, no surprise but lots of bonus money easily achieved. [NHL]
  • Kypreos on who else could still be moved this summer. Like Dylan Larkin, of course. And Alexander Nikishin. And Matthew Knies? I’ve heard there was no interest in Jordan Binnington at the deadline, but maybe that’s changed. [Sportsnet]
  • Kirill Marchenko is supposedly not on that list, despite earlier reports he wants out of Columbus. [TSN]
  • Nashville signed their recently acquired Mavrik Bourque to a five-year extension. [TSN]
  • That hard bargainer Pat Verbeek signed RFA Pavel Mintyukov — reportedly a target of possible offer sheets from several teams — to a big extension at $7.2 million, but that may only increase the pressure in Anaheim. [Sportsnet]
  • He’ll never be a Stastny. [Sportsnet]
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Kings draft pick Alex Karaban drops one-word recipe for winning basketball

Kings draft pick Alex Karaban drops one-word recipe for winning basketball originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings are looking to rebuild their roster this NBA offseason with the hopes of returning to playoff contention.

During the 2026 NBA Draft, Sacramento selected Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. and UConn forward Alex Karaban in the first round and Houston guard Emanuel Sharp in the second round to add much-needed depth to its roster.

NBC Sports California contributor Deuce Mason recently spoke with Karaban, who revealed the characteristic that he believes brings winning basketball to a team.

“I think it’s accountability,” Karaban said.

“Everyone wants to be buddy-buddy with their teammates and just try to be nice to everyone. But at the end of the day, if we’re hard on each other and we’re holding each other accountable, it’s going to make us closer when we have the good moments and realize that those real talks and the pain that we went through in practices were truly worth it.

“I think now people can be afraid to say what’s on their minds, and if someone is messing up, people just don’t want to critique people anymore. I think accountability is a huge thing. That’s something I learned how to be more comfortable with [UConn] coach [Dan] Hurley.”

Karaban was a key piece to UConn’s back-to-back NCAA championships during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward averaged 12.5 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block per game in 150 starts in five seasons with the Huskies, including a redshirt year during the 2021-22 season.

Near the end of the 2026 draft, the Kings acquired the No. 29 overall pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the No. 34 selection and a future second-round pick to select Karaban after already successfully drafting Acuff Jr. at No. 7 overall.

The Kings have had two consecutive losing seasons with a 40-42 record during the 2024-25 season and a 22-60 record last season, following two winning seasons with at least 46 victories.

Coming from a winning culture at UConn and having a mindset of keeping each other accountable, Karaban brings a certain trait the Kings need heading into the 2026-27 NBA season that potentially can deliver more victories for Sacramento.

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The Pirates finally spent some money. You'll never guess what happened next.

WASHINGTON – They are the tacit representatives in Major League Baseball’s fight to install a salary cap during collective bargaining negotiations, the embodiment of “what fans want” when the league claims widespread socialism must exist among its billionaire owners for the game to survive.

Yet the Pittsburgh Pirates might be proving a different point as they head toward the All-Star break with a winning record: Spending just a little bit of money can make a big difference.

Two offseason moves – signing designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million contract and trading for second baseman Brandon Lowe – played significant parts in turning one of the game’s least productive lineups into one of its most potent. And as the 46-45 Pirates remain in the thicket of the National League wild card race, they’re proving one of baseball’s axiom’s to very much be true.

“You have to spend money to win. That’s really what it is,” veteran outfielder Bryan Reynolds tells USA TODAY Sports. “Spend smart money. It doesn’t have to be a ton.

“We spent some money. And it’s paying off.”

Brandon Lowe, here hitting his team-leading 21st home run, says "it's a blast being a part of this lineup" in Pittsburgh.

Let’s be clear: It wasn’t a lot. O’Hearn’s signing and the $11.5 million due Lowe after a three-way trade sent him from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh helped nudge the payroll to $102 million, 22nd among 30 teams.

It’s the highest the Pirates’ payroll has ranked since 2016, when they had the 20th-highest the year after winning 98 games. Yet their payroll that season was $100 million. That means the Pirates payroll jumped 2% as industry revenues grew 31%, from an estimated $9.5 billion in 2016 to $12.8 billion in 2025.

Certainly, the Pirates’ piece of that pie didn’t grow in lockstep, but they benefited from greater revenue sharing as well as increases in national TV contracts, among other shared revenues.

And while they may be painted as the small market, underdog anti-Dodgers, it’s also clear early proposals shared by MLB run counter to some of their 2026 success.

Wake me up when December ends

O’Hearn knows his way around medium markets. A Kansas City Royals draftee, he broke out as an All-Star in his third season in Baltimore and now totes an .807 OPS with 13 homers for Pittsburgh.

He also knows what saber-rattling looks like when MLB and the MLB Players’ Association lock horns early in negotiations.

“I read the emails. I have an idea what’s going on,” says O’Hearn. “But this’ll be my third CBA. I would be shocked if anything came to a solution before crunch time. So I’m not going to get lost in the day-to-day of it, because I have seen this before.

“The league said they’re going to lock us out. So, OK. Things don’t really happen until crunch time, from my experience. I’ll stick with that.”

That Dec. 1 lockout date can wait just a minute, though.

The Pirates’ offensive turnaround has been startling. In 2025, their payroll was a mere $86 million and the lineup resembled such neglect as they ranked 30th in OPS (.655) and runs (583).

This year? They are second in OPS (.762), trailing only the Dodgers, third in runs (475) and lead the majors with 829 hits.

Many hands have had a part in the uprising, including rookies Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez, along with big steps forward from players like infielder Nick Gonzales that manager Don Kelly says began last year under first-year hitting coach Matt Hague.

It’s foolhardy to downplay O’Hearn and Lowe’s impact, though. Lowe’s 42 extra-base hits rank fifth in the major leagues, and his 21 homers already surpass Oneil Cruz’s team high from 2025.

“It’s very helpful,” says Reynolds, in the fourth year of an eight-year, $106.75 million deal that averages $13 million a season. “We’ve got one of the best offenses in baseball now, in big part to those two guys, and some other guys too. It’s been great.”

Lowe leads all major league second basemen in homers, RBIs (63) and slugging, making his omission from the All-Star Game something of a surprise. He put the capper on the Pirates’ Sunday, July 5 conquest of the Nationals, ripping a three-run homer in the eighth inning of their 11-5 victory to cap a winning road trip.

“It’s a blast being a part of this lineup,” says Lowe. “One through nine, and even with guys not starting that day, there’s damage to be found and runs to be scored.

“It’s fun coming to the ballpark understanding that I hit behind (Griffin) or in front of (Reynolds), we got O’Hearn and Valdy behind me.”

Indeed, while Lowe and O’Hearn have had huge hands in the Pirates’ success, another newcomer is simply fortunate an MLB CBA proposal wasn’t already adopted.

The kid stays in the picture

On a single, steamy 94-degree afternoon, Griffin’s play constantly demands attention. One moment, he’s laying out headlong to reel in a fly ball to shallow left field; a couple innings later, he’s going horizontal to reel in another dying quail.

And then with the game on the line, he’s fighting off a pair of two-strike pitches to slash a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning Sunday, a knock that preceded Lowe’s game-breaking three-run homer.

Griffin is 20 years old. And if one of MLB’s proposals in early rounds of CBA negotiating was already gospel, he wouldn’t be here.

Griffin reclassified to the 2024 draft class – he was selected ninth overall by Pittsburgh – and was bought out of a commitment to LSU. But an early proposal from MLB to the union included a stipulation that high school players would no longer be draft-eligible, that they’d have to be two years removed from high school graduation and at least 20 years old to be drafted.

Griffin wouldn’t be a Bucco, then, instead serving time in Baton Rouge. The proposal seems all the more drastic when you see Griffin take over a major league game.

“I want to do some special things in Pittsburgh, so it’s been really cool to see how the fans have shown me the love," rookie Konnor Griffin says of commiting long-term to the Pirates.

He certainly took notice when MLB and the union exchanged proposals June 19 and the high school draftee ban was floated.

“It makes me think, ‘Dang, what if I couldn’t have gotten drafted out of high school?’” Griffin tells USA TODAY Sports. “It’s definitely a different situation, but I’m just thankful I was able to be a part of that and glad it worked out for me.”

Some guys are just ready.

Griffin was still 19 when he made his debut April 3, and four days later agreed to a nine-year, $140 million contract extension – a term that would also be limited under MLB’s proposals.

Instead, he is a Bucco through most of his 20s, continuing a pattern of moving quickly: Griffin is already married, and already putting down roots in Pittsburgh.

“It’s just cool seeing a lot of my jerseys, my last name in the stands,” he says. “It’s pretty neat seeing all that. I wanted to be somewhere to try to help change a club where we become a winning baseball team.

“I want to do some special things in Pittsburgh, so it’s been really cool to see how the fans have shown me the love.”

He has rewarded them, too, becoming the fastest Pirate in club history to notch 20 steals, and accruing 1.7 WAR in just 59 games, despite missing nearly a month with a forearm strain.

“Being 20 years old and a rookie, he’s way mature beyond his years,” says Kelly, in his first full season as Pirates manager. “He’s going to have huge moments like that, yes, and also understanding that he’s 20 and learning.

“There’s not too many 20-year-olds in the big leagues. It’s the work ethic, the way he goes about it – he’s a mature kid to begin with and when you put the talent on top of that, it’s hard to beat.”

Says Griffin: “I’ve had to grow up pretty quick. Getting drafted out of high school, reclassed a year early, been living on my own a while now, got married, just adapting to what life is throwing at me.”

Lowe says he likes to give Griffin a hard time when he sprawls out for catches as he did Sunday, when sweat mottled the lenses of his sunglasses, he went sans eyewear and then had to lay out for a fly in shallow left field.

At 6-3, 222 pounds, Griffin is an imposing physical figure, featured on ESPN’s “You Got Mossed” segment when he was a Mississippi high school freshman.

“That wide receiver’s coming out on those plays,” says Lowe. “It shows the athleticism and why he’s up here. Not just a hitter or glove. He’s got it all going on.”

Tempting to say the Pirates do, as well. While reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and veteran Mitch Keller have scuffled of late, the rotation remains stout. They’re just three games out of a wild card and more important, a biscuit above .500 as the trade deadline nears in less than a month.

At year’s end, they’ll be on the back nine of Skenes’ contractually obligated time with the team. A new CBA may frame just what he can pursue come free agency in 2029, and will certainly set a course of action for the Pirates to pursue.

In the current system, the Pirates – with a TV market size ranked No. 27 – should be more concerned with catching Milwaukee (38th-biggest Nielsen market) than the Dodgers.

But at least the Pirates are in the conversation, proof positive that spending a few bucks can provide an immediate dividend.

“I came into this and it was like, ‘Hey, this team has great pitching but was 30th in offense last year.’ A pretty big turnaround offensively,” says O’Hearn. “I’m proud of what we’ve done so far.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve got the players to score runs.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Pirates finally spent some money. You'll never guess what happened next.

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MLB power rankings: As Red Sox dig out of big hole, another big loss looms

Even when they dig themselves out from the lowest point of their season, the Boston Red Sox can't win.

After sinking to their lowest point of the season - 15 ½ games out of first, 14 games under .500 - the Red Sox proceeded to win eight of their next 10 games. They were still in last place - but you could almost see fourth place from there.

Yet throughout that period, second-year lefty Connelly Early was diagnosed with elbow inflammation, went for an MRI, received "some good news," according to manager Chad Tracy - yet now is headed for a second opinion with noted orthopedist Keith Meister. Those often don't end well - and the Red Sox's season doesn't figure to, either.

Oh, they've moved up three spots in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings. Yet Early's loss would put even more of an onus on a lineup that's surprisingly averaged five runs per game in this hot streak. They best keep it up to avoid a wholesale sell-off by the trade deadline.

A look at our updated rankings:

Connelly Early can only hope for good news as he receives additional opinions on his elbow injury.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

  • Edwin Diaz - remember him? - aiming for a return shortly after All-Star break.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

3. Tampa Bay Rays (+1)

  • Junior Caminero's crazy home run stretch - 11 in 11 games - deserved more attention.

4. Atlanta Braves (-1)

  • Some of that starting pitching magic is dissipating.

5. New York Yankees (-)

  • For the first time this year, they feel like a not very good team.

6. Philadelphia Phillies (-)

  • Bryce Harper says he'll do the Home Run Derby "if he can find someone to pitch to him."

7. Chicago Cubs (-)

  • Pete Crow-Armstrong is their lone All-Star, but he's been as good as three players.

8. Miami Marlins (-)

  • Who needs a perfect game when you're in a virtual tie for the third wild card in early July?

9. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)

  • Non-All-Star JJ Wetherholt leads the majors with 17 outs above average.

10. Chicago White Sox (+2)

  • The joyride continues as they escape Cleveland with a tenuous grip on first place.

11. Cleveland Guardians (-2)

  • José Ramírez eyes return after All-Star break.

12. Seattle Mariners (+3)

  • Logan Gilbert's first-half finishing kick makes his All-Star snub more pronounced.

13. Washington Nationals (-)

  • Luis Garcia Jr. already sets career high in homers, with 19.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates (+2)

  • Big finish to first half, with home series against Atlanta and Milwaukee.

15. Texas Rangers (-1)

  • Life is unpredictable: Jacob Latz loses bid for starting rotation, morphs into All-Star closer.

16. San Diego Padres (-6)

  • They're 44-45, and haven't hit the break below .500 since 2023.

17. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

  • Seven games with Padres, Dodgers before break may determine team's deadline direction.

18. Houston Astros (+1)

  • 12-6 run has them almost back to .500.

19. Minnesota Twins (+4)

  • Byron Buxton reaggravates hip injury, but confident he's playing it wisely.

20. Baltimore Orioles (+1)

  • Coby Mayo crushing lefties, with a 1.038 OPS.

21. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

22. Boston Red Sox (+3)

  • The kids aren't much for RBIs these days, but Willson Contreras ranks sixth in the AL with 59 of 'em.

23. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

  • Outfielder Will Benson designated for assignment after batting .188 with 33% strikeout rate.

24. Detroit Tigers (-)

  • 18-12 since June 1, still very confounding.

25. Athletics (-7)

  • The Yolo County loyalists booed the Marlins for punting a perfect game, but perhaps a rotation wtih a 5.23 ERA - 29th in the majors - should've been the target of their ire.

26. New York Mets (-)

  • Kodai Senga "throwing the ball really, really well" in relief, interim manager Andy Green says.

27. San Francisco Giants (+1)

  • Rafael Devers, OPS now up to .791, might be the ultimate "water finds its level" hitter.

28. Colorado Rockies (+2)

  • Hunter Goodman getting that "perennial All-Star" vibe.

29. Kansas City Royals (-)

  • John Wathan receives his blue blazer, inducted into Royals' hall of fame.

30. Los Angeles Angels (-3)

  • Mike Trout confident he'll be active shortly, plans to make All-Star post.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: As Red Sox dig out of big hole, another big loss looms

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The five stages of the Jaylen Brown trade, and what's next for Celtics

The five stages of the Jaylen Brown trade, and what's next for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For maybe the first time in league history, the NBA’s annually awkward summer moratorium might have been a good thing. It gave everybody in Boston nearly a full week to process the Jaylen Brown trade.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and lead owner Bill Chisholm will make their first official comments on the trade on Monday afternoon, finally spinning forward a trade that left everyone’s heads spinning. The league’s annual break, an awkward dead zone where trades and signings get negotiated but can’t be finalized over a six-day accounting stretch, gave Celtics fans the opportunity to navigate the entire five-stage grief spectrum.

From the denial that Paul George could truly be the headliner in a Brown package, to maybe the first bit of anger directed at Stevens in his 13 years in Boston, to bargaining whether George is really that much of a dropoff from Brown given his Round 1 performance last season, to the depression that the Jays era is truly over, it feels Boston fans have emerged from the July 4 holiday weekend having finally arrived at acceptance.

We’re guessing most don’t feel any better about the trade itself. But it’s time to move forward.

We’re not certain there’s much Stevens and Chisholm can say Monday about the Brown situation that will make anyone feel much better. They will smother Brown with praise for his decade-long contributions to the organization, including being a monster part of delivering Banner 18. They will likely tiptoe around the circumstances that forced the team to move as quickly as it did at the start of the offseason, especially given the seemingly lukewarm market for Brown’s services.

The best we might hope for is a clearer vision of what comes next.

You can twist yourself into a pretzel trying to determine how we ended up here. The three years, $185 million remaining on Brown’s max-money deal, coupled with the potential for a two-year, $142 million extension later this month, likely left Boston pondering harder if two supermax players commanding 35 percent of the cap was sustainable long-term.

Sprinkle in some analytical debate about Brown’s overall impact on winning, his arrival at his age-30 season, and the perpetual consternation about the 1A/1B stature of him and running mate Jayson Tatum, and it all might have all simmered together to force the Celtics to make a swallow-hard decision on his future.

We’d consider ourselves a numbers guy, leaning heavily into analytics during our time covering the Celtics. We’ve long shrugged our shoulders at Brown’s sometimes unexplainable on/off numbers.

The Celtics owned a +6.4 net rating during Brown’s 2,443 minutes on the court this past season. That’s a strong number and one that stat site Cleaning the Glass says puts the team on the same 56-win pace that Brown ultimately delivered the team. Boston was somehow 5.6 points per 100 possessions better without Brown, per Cleaning the Glass data. There’s some noise in there: lower-leverage minutes with an overachieving bench competing against some lesser competition. But it’s also Brown’s fourth straight season in the negative, including having a minus-8.9 on/off differential in the 2024 title season.

We struggle to reconcile with those numbers. You can’t watch what Brown did in the 2024 Finals, or nearly the entirety of last season, and suggest that he doesn’t impact winning. His greatest strength was his desire to take on challenges on the biggest stage, often producing his best moments when the stakes were the highest or the competition the toughest.

But now, coming off an MVP-caliber season and with Boston pondering the need to reel back in a sky-high usage rate with a healthier Tatum, we understand the consternation that has long existed about how exactly the Tatum/Brown combo might share duties moving forward. That Boston couldn’t immediately put the sort of surefire championship-ready supporting cast around them, this while navigating the new second-apron minefield the new collective bargaining agreement has delivered, added a layer of complication.

So the Celtics made a tough decision to pivot. Unfortunately for them, a very public pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, which might have further forced Boston’s hand, created an expectation for the level of player that might have been obtained in return for Brown.

While there were all sorts of risks with Antetokounmpo, including health and the need to pay him a very hefty long-term contract at an even more advanced age, the idea of pairing two top-10 players was at least intriguing to the Boston fan base. Landing on a past-his-prime George earning his own super max money at age 36 was not the Plan B most expected.

Maybe the Celtics simply felt like it was time to rip the Band-Aid. There was a justifiable fear that, if things didn’t go well this season, Brown’s trade value could have diminished even lower than what Boston seemingly settled for. We refuse to believe that there wasn’t a higher probability that league volatility might have eventually pushed Brown’s value up again, but certainly that was another part of the risk that Stevens and Co. had to ponder.

Maybe the bigger “What if?” is whether the Celtics should have moved off Brown last summer. If the team knew it was going to navigate the so-called gap year the team vehemently pushed back against, then could the Celtics have gotten a bigger haul for Brown (or even Derrick White) and chased a lottery pick while Tatum rehabbed?

The 2025-26 season was such a joy to watch that it feels weird to suggest the team should have embraced a far less enticing path. That said, that route might have expedited the return to true contender status. Hindsight is, of course, 20/20.

Little good can come from lingering on the past. What’s done is done. We’ve had an entire moratorium to process this trade. You don’t have to like it, but this is the path that Boston brass has chosen.

Stevens deserves some benefit of the doubt given his track record. He built a title team in 2023. The last two summers have been incredibly painful with the teardown in the aftermath, but there’s a pathway to a similar roster splurge in the summer of 2027.

The Celtics can reset pesky repeater penalties by staying under the luxury tax again this year. Next summer could provide an opportunity to chase a new star to pair alongside Tatum. There’s a very real pathway to combining the final year of George’s contract with Boston’s growing pile of picks and chasing one of the league’s biggest names.

Of course, we’re not patient around here.

The Celtics will still be competitive this season. George showed in the playoffs that he has something left in the tank, Boston will simply have to be diligent in how quickly they dispense it. There will be an opportunity for Payton Pritchard to step into a bigger spotlight yet again, and White will get every opportunity to show last year was simply an outlier shooting season. Newcomers Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley can aid in winning.

But all eyes are on the summer of 2027. That’s when Stevens and Co. will have a real chance to show why they made the Jaylen Brown trade.

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Bay Area native, G League guard Chance McMillian chasing Warriors roster spot

Bay Area native, G League guard Chance McMillian chasing Warriors roster spot originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Pat Spencer’s impending departure from the Warriors created, at least on paper, a vacancy on the roster for a combo guard who can come off the bench and invigorate an offense that sometimes stagnates when Stephen Curry is on the bench.

Chance McMillian is using the California Classic Summer League to submit his application for the opening.

After a solid season with the Santa Cruz Warriors, McMillian came into the weekend at Chase Center realizing Golden State is holding roster auditions; only first-round pick Yaxel Lendesborg is guaranteed to make the team. McMillian, a 6-foot-3 Bay Area native and childhood fan of the Warriors made a nice bid to get a deeper look.

Playing 17 minutes off the bench Sunday afternoon, McMillian produced 12 points and three assists in a 98-69 win over the San Antonio Spurs. His totals for the first two games – 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, including 4 of 6 from deep; six assists, six rebounds, three steals over 35 minutes – indicate that he knows his way around the court.

“He creates good situations for himself, good open looks,” Summer League coach Khalid Robinson said. “And then, when plays break down, he’s a very talented guy that can go create something for us. He gives us a little bit of everything.”

McMillian’s road to this opportunity has had more detours than Bay Area freeways at night. From two high schools in Vallejo to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, where he spent three seasons. From GCU, he went to Texas Tech, where he played two seasons and as a senior was named to the All-Big 12 second team.

The Warriors brought McMillian into their circle last summer after he went undrafted, despite knowing surgery on his left ankle would render him unavailable. Once he recovered, he was assigned to Santa Cruz, he appeared in 30 games (24 starts), averaging 17 points, on 44.7-percent shooting from the field, including 35.7 from beyond the arc, with 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds.

“That whole Santa Cruz coaching staff just had unbelievable confidence in me,” McMillian said. “I felt that. I just put in the work, and each day it was just getting better for me. So, I credit the coaching staff.”

McMillian shot 40.8 percent from distance in college but was so unimpressed with his deep shot last season under coach Lainn Wilson with the Sea Dubs that he has spent countless hours in the gym at Chase Center since April. 

“Lainn and his staff did a great job with him, just teaching him like how we want to play, our spacing, making good decisions,” Robinson said. “He had a full season of doing that. He’s worked throughout this summer, like the past two months on this, with the same teaching points. He’s done a very good job of carrying over the things from Santa Cruz and postseason into the Summer League.”

In his desire to improve, McMillian also is taking cues from Curry.

“My last year at Texas Tech, I played off ball, and I literally pulled up some of his film on how he gets open off the ball,” he said. “I remember getting face-guarded at the start of conference. And he was getting face-guarded, too, in big games. So, I was just picking and choosing on how he was moving off the ball, like little things on how to get open.”

McMillian, 25, would love a chance to be on the same roster as Curry. There is a path, probably with a two-way contract. But a lot can happen between early July and late September, when Golden State opens training camp.

Spencer, who last week reached agreement to join the Phoenix Suns, began last season on a two-way contract with the Warriors before being promoted at midseason to a standard NBA contract. He used grit, fearlessness and a few memorable scoring outbursts to elevate himself from intermittent appearances to being a staple in Golden State’s rotation.

When given an opportunity, Spencer exploited it.

McMillian is seeking an opportunity to fill a void on a roster still in progress. His best bet, as the California Classic ends Monday night and the team moves to the Las Vegas Summer League later this week is to maintain the early trajectory that began with the last two games.

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Yankees news: Fried tosses successful live BP session

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 03: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 3, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

NY Post | Jake Nisse: Yankees’ left-hander Max Fried continues to trend towards a rehab assignment, as he completed another live batting practice session on Sunday. The $218-million man is recovering from an elbow issue that sidelined him in May. He threw 36 pitches and faced Ryan McMahon and Alí Sánchez.

“It’s been good, it’s been a good run-up for him, and obviously another step today,” manager Aaron Boone said. The 32-year-old star boasts a 3.21 ERA in 61.2 innings this season.

NY Post | Mark Sánchez: With their loss on Sunday, the Yankees have now dropped nine of their last 10 games and 13 of their last 17 games. On top of the horrible, sloppy play, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. had to be removed from Sunday’s finale after the fifth inning with discomfort in his right toe. The team announced that X-rays were negative and said he’ll be reassessed Monday. “Kinda nags him from time to time,” Boone explained after the game.

NJ.com | Adam Zagoria: The Yankees are down right now, but they’ve got their biggest series of the year in front of them. They’re traveling down to Tampa for a massive four-game series against the Rays starting tonight, with a four-game deficit in the AL East that could either be closed entirely or grow to a massive gap. If anything’s going to get this team to wake up and get their season on a lifeboat, this challenge needs to be the one to do it.

SNY | Colin Martin: The Yankees recalled Ángel Chivilli on Sunday morning, and he made his first MLB appearance since April 19th. He pitched well, completing 1.1 scoreless innings in low-leverage duty, allowing one hit, and striking out one to lower his ERA to 2.45 in a tiny sample in the majors. He had posted a 1.08 ERA over 16.2 innings in Scranton, with 17 punchouts.

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Quinten Post reportedly signing three-year, $30M Grizzlies contract offer sheet

Quinten Post reportedly signing three-year, $30M Grizzlies contract offer sheet originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

A recent Warriors NBA draft success story could be on his way out.

Third-year center and restricted free agent Quinten Post is signing a three-year, $30 million contract offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday, citing sources.

As Charania mentions, the Warriors, with Post being a restricted free agent, have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday to match the offer.

However, it appears unlikely they will, given the team already has signed veteran bigs Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford to new contracts this offseason.

Golden State selected Post with the No. 52 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and the Dutch big man quickly established himself as an intriguing stretch big in coach Steve Kerr’s system.

In 109 career games (49 starts) across two seasons with the Warriors, Post averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game on 44.3-percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range in 16.9 minutes per game.

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