In the latest episode of his Habscast podcast, former professional scout Grant McCagg covered a lot of topics, but one particularly caught my eye: his segment on Florian Xhekaj. Arber’s younger brother is seen by many as a future member of a Montreal Canadiens’ energy line, and there are even those who hope he can make the roster out of training camp. While it would certainly be a good story to see the brothers line up together for the Habs regularly, McCagg considers the forward a long shot to make the team out of camp.
At the 31-minute mark, he starts breaking up Xhekaj’s play with the Laval Rocket in a couple of games in the Calder Cup playoffs against the Toronto Marlies. McCagg’s main concern with the Hamilton, Ontario native’s game is his skating. He considers Xhekaj to be an average skater in the AHL and therefore a below-average skater at the NHL level. According to McCagg, he hasn’t improved his skating at all this season, and the former scout believes that might be down to putting on too much weight and his quest to become bigger and stronger.
At 6-foot-4 and 204 pounds, Xhekaj does have a big body; however, a big body becomes much more efficient when it brings speed and velocity to hits. That’s quite important in the NHL; how often has Martin St-Louis spoken about the importance of a player moving his feet to be efficient on the forecheck?
McCagg does, however, mention that Xhekaj is doing well as a penalty killer and that this might be key to his eventual bid to make the NHL. Because of his lack of pace, he doesn’t believe he’ll be able to play as a center in the big league unless there’s a significant improvement in that department.
McCagg even goes as far as saying that he believes that Owen Beck is more likely to make the Canadiens’ roster this season than Xhekaj. As things stand right now, the Canadiens’ 12 forward spots are pretty much spoken for. Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno left, but that means the Habs no longer have a 13th forward. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Ivan Demidov, Alexandre Texier, Phillip Danault, Josh Anderson, Zach Bolduc, Kirby Dach and Jake Evans all have a chair. However, it’s not exactly clear which chair is whose outside the top line, with Demidov being a fixture on the second line.
Beck and Xhekaj are both 22, entering the final year of their ELC contracts, and whichever way you look at it, being the 13th forward in the NHL wouldn’t be optimal for their development, but it may be all that the Canadiens have to offer for now, at least. That being said, there will be injuries; there always are, or there could even be a trade that comes before training camp and changes things, but at this stage, it doesn’t look very likely.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell took to Instragam on Sunday to open up about the next chapter of his life after more than a decade in professional hockey, a message that effectively served as his retirement announcement from the NHL.
In the post, Campbell reflected on the journey that took him from a highly touted first-round pick to an NHL All-Star and, eventually, to a place where stepping away from the crease felt like the right decision. The tone was measured and grateful rather than dramatic. He spoke about closing one book and beginning another, emphasizing growth, perspective, and a desire to move forward with purpose beyond the ice as a life coach.
Campbell’s path was never linear. Long before the bright lights of Toronto or the pressure of a big free-agent contract in Edmonton, he publicly discussed the challenges of the pressure he had put on himself early career. As a high draft selection by the Dallas Stars in 2010, the expectations weighed heavily. He has spoken in the past about periods of deep self-doubt, anxiety, and the sense that he was failing not just as a player but as a person.
Those struggles resurfaced later, most notably when he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in the fall of 2024 while under contract with the Detroit Red Wings organization. The program, which supports players dealing with mental health issues among other challenges, marked a clear prioritization of his well-being over continued on-ice performance. Campbell has since referenced therapy, yoga, meditation, and other personal work as part of rebuilding himself away from the daily grind of professional hockey.
His highest points as a player came in Toronto. Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in February 2020, Campbell arrived as a backup and quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff and the fan base. The 2020-21 season produced one of the more memorable stretches in recent Maple Leafs goaltending history. Campbell opened the year with an 11-0-0 record, setting a franchise mark for the most consecutive wins by a goaltender to start a season. That run helped stabilize the team during a condensed schedule and announced him as a legitimate starter. The following year he appeared in the NHL All-Star Game and posted 31 wins in 49 appearances, solidifying his status as a fan favourite affectionately known as “Soupy.” The connection with Leafs Nation was genuine. Campbell’s openness, competitiveness, and personality made him more than just a reliable netminder during a period when the team was searching for consistency in goal.
Those two seasons represented the peak. In the summer of 2022, Campbell signed a five-year, $25-million contract with the Edmonton Oilers, a deal that reflected both his performance in Toronto and the market’s belief that he could be a long-term No. 1. The transition proved difficult. Campbell struggled with consistency and the elevated expectations that came with a contending roster and a significant financial commitment. After a rough first season and limited NHL action the next year, the Oilers bought out the remaining three years of the contract in June 2024. He signed a one-year deal with Detroit shortly afterward and spent the majority of his time with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League before focusing fully on his personal health.
Now, with the Instagram message serving as a quiet but clear bookend, Campbell is stepping into his new life as an executive and identity coach, drawing on the same experiences that once threatened to derail him. For a player who spent so much of his career battling the mental side of the game as hard as the physical one, the next chapter appears focused on helping others navigate similar pressures.
Leafs fans who watched him during those standout seasons will remember the smile, the compete level, and the way he seemed to embrace the city. Campbell’s story was never only about stops and starts. It was about resilience, honesty, and the long process of figuring out who he was beyond the crease. That process, it seems, is still ongoing.
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1907 – Chicago’sCarl Lundgren and New York’sChristy Mathewson are stingy today with the Cubs twirler allowing just four hits while the Cubs scratch three off Matty as the Giants win, 1-0. Joe Tinker is hitless against Matty, the only time this year that Mathewson shuts down his nemesis.
1938 – Johnny Mize of the Cardinals has three home runs in a game for the second time this season, in a game against the Giants.
1958 – Jim Bunning of the Tigers pitches a 3-0 no-hitter over the Red Sox and fans 12. Only two walks and a hit batsman mar Bunning’s performance as he wins his sixth game in seven decisions.
1962 – Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Co. overpower Roberto Clemente‘s Pirates with a devastating aerial assault. Bob Stevens of the San Francisco Chronicle writes: “Chuck Hiller led off with a single. Mays then hit a line drive, 420-foot home run for 2-0. With two down in the third, McCovey belted a memorable shot over the left-field scoreboard. It was one of the few ever ripped into that area by a lefthander in the more than half a century existence of ivy-cloaked Forbes Field. The McCovey smash stood up for the victory. The Bucs started to move in the fourth, when Bill Mazeroski singled home Clemente, who also contributed a dazzling throw from right field to cut down the sliding McCovey at the plate in the sixth.”
1969 – San Francisco’sGaylord Perry connects for his first hit of the year, and his first major league homer, to beat the Dodgers, 7-3. Last year, Alvin Dark had remarked to sportswriter Harry Jupiter about Perry’s hitting, “They’ll put a man on the moon before he hits a home run.” Perry’s homer comes about 20 minutes after the clubhouse receives word that Neil Armstrong has set foot on the moon.
2004 – At Wrigley Field, Albert Pujols goes 5 for 5, including three home runs and five RBIs, as the Cardinals beat Central Division rivals the Cubs, 11-8. The Redbird first baseman’s first career three-homer game helps St. Louis to erase a six-run deficit.
2012 – Chipper Jones becomes the all-time leader for RBIs by a player who was primarily a third baseman with a two-run single in the 8th inning; he was tied with George Brett at 1,598; Mike Schmidt continues to hold the record for RBI collected when actually playing at the hot corner.
1749 – Earl of Chesterfield says “Idleness is only refuge of weak minds.”
1793 – Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie completes the first European east-to-west crossing of America north of Mexico.
1801 – Elisha Brown Jr presses a 1,235-pound cheese ball at his farm.
1921 – Congresswoman Alice Mary Robertson becomes the first woman to preside over the floor of US House of Representatives.
1964 – First surfin’ record to go to No.1-Jan & Dean’s “Surf City.”
1965 – Columbia records releases the Bob Dylan single “Like a Rolling Stone.”
1968 – Iron Butterfly’s “In-a-gadda-da-vida” becomes first heavy metal song to hit charts; it comes in at No. 117.
1968 – Judy Garland headlines concert also featuring Count Basie and Jackie Wilson at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; her last US concert
1969 – NASA’s Apollo 11 lunar module, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, lands on the surface of the Moon. Seven hours later, Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the moon at 10:56 pm EDT, and Aldrin joins him shortly after. Michael Collins remains in orbit in the command module.
1975 – Bruce Springteen and the E Street Band kick off the Born to Run Tour at the Palace Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island; Steven Van Zandt debuts as a full-fledged member of the group.
The Syracuse Mets slipped back to .500 in the second half, falling short in a sloppy slobbernocker that saw both teams log 9 hits and slug 2 home runs apiece. Coming into the ninth, Syracuse was still losing, but the score was a much more palatable 4-3. In the ninth, Ben Simon and Guillo Zuniga combined to allow 4 runs on 3 hits and a pair of walks. Not what you want to see, especially in the ninth.
Jonathan Santucci pitched a lot better than his final line suggests. He gave up 6 hits and a pair of walks over 5.2 innings, allowing just one extra base hit, but every hit seemed to come at a bad time, hence the four earned runs. On the bright side, the left-hander struck out a career-high 13 batters, the second time in three July starts that he reached double-digit strikeouts (he struck out 10 Baysox batters on July 5th). Nick Lorusso added two more hits to a very quiet solid season and Jose Ramos hit a double, but the Binghamton offense continues to not get it done.
Early on, things didn’t look too bleak for Brooklyn. Frank Camarillo had allowed three runs over three innings, yes, but the offense had kept pace, with Daiverson Gutierrez driving a run in with an RBI double in the second and Corey Collins doing the same with a single in the third. Calvin Ziegler came in to pitch the fourth, and all hell broke loose from thereon in. His inning began with a runner reaching base via catcher’s interference and that really set the tone for things. The former top prospect then walked a batter, threw a wild pitch, walked another batter, threw another wild pitch, walked the next two batters, and then allowed a triple, allowing four runs to score all without recording a single out. By and large, the relievers following him weren’t any better, with Tanner Witt and his 1.1 innings of scoreless relief being the only stretch of success for the Brooklyn bullpen.
St. Lucie jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first, and continued adding on. The pitching, meanwhile, was cooking, with Ethan Lanthier, Tyler McLoughlin, and Jonathan Jimenez combining to throw five scoreless innings. The bullpen finally gave in in the later innings, with Luis Alvarez allowing a run in the sixth and him and Ernesto Mercedes combining to allow five more in the seventh, but Mercedes threw a clean eighth and Miguel Mejias locked down the ninth, preventing further damage. Trey Snyder had himself an exceptional game, going 4-5 with a triple and a homer, and may be working himself back into top prospect consideration.
· REHAB ALERT SS Marco Vargas: 0-2, R, 2 BB, 2 K, SB (1)
Jul 19, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Dylan Beavers (12) and center fielder Colton Cowser (17) and right fielder Leody Taveras (30) celebrate after the game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Three weeks ago, if you had told me that the Orioles/Red Sox series in mid-July would be a crucially important one for both teams, I’d have looked at you like you had three heads. “Important for what, draft positioning?” I’d have replied derisively, then laughed at my own joke. I’d have said you were crazy, and that you clearly weren’t paying attention to baseball, and that maybe you should find another hobby, like canasta. Oh man, would I have been obnoxious.
The point here is that I’m kind of a jerk. But the bigger point here is that the Orioles and Red Sox have both pulled off incredible turnarounds for seasons that once appeared to be dead and buried. At the start of July, the O’s were nine games under .500. The Red Sox were 10 under. Both teams were getting lambasted by their home fans, who had nothing to look forward to but the inevitable trade deadline sell-off. It was a shambling footrace to the bottom of the AL East for the two massively disappointing clubs.
Well. Would you look at them now?
The O’s and Red Sox are now the hottest teams in baseball, carrying the league’s two longest winning streaks. The Orioles have ripped off seven victories in a row, a streak they extended yesterday by completing a three-game sweep of the Astros in Houston. The Birds are 10-3 in July and have been getting incredible performances in particular from their starting rotation, which has a 2.40 ERA during the streak. The O’s are even winning without meaningful contributions from their star hitters, as Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson were a combined 1-for-22 in the Astros series and Adley Rutschman is 2-for-15 during the winning streak. That’s arguably a cause for even more optimism, because if and when those star players heat up, the Orioles will have more weapons at their disposal.
And yet the Orioles’ hot stretch pales in comparison to that of the Red Sox, who have strung together an incomprehensible 13-game winning streak. The Sox swept three consecutive series on the road to end the first half, then opened the second half by sweeping the division-leading Rays in four games. It’s Boston’s longest winning streak since 1948! Interim manager Chad Tracy, who inherited a woeful club from the fired Alex Cora in April and initially did little to improve its fortunes, suddenly seems to have the magic touch. Absolutely everything is clicking right now for the Sox, who had come-from-behind wins in three of their games against Tampa Bay. The Sox, like the Orioles, have delivered some stellar pitching. Only twice during their 13-game streak have they allowed more than two runs.
The Red Sox surge has vaulted them into playoff position, currently holding the third and final AL wild card spot. The Orioles, now within two games of .500, are just two games back of Boston. The O’s leapfrogged the Astros in the wild card race, and also pulled into a tie with the Twins and a game back of the Mariners.
Which brings us to the, yes, crucially important series that begins tonight at Fenway Park. If the Orioles can manage to slow down the sizzling hot Sox and maybe even win the series, they’ll chip away further at their wild card deficit and make a big statement that maybe they’re for real after all. But if Boston’s surge continues and the Orioles lose the series — or worse, get swept — the O’s will again be left scrambling to stay relevant in the postseason chase as the clock ticks down toward the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Everything is on the line for the Orioles and Red Sox these next three nights, and I never thought it would come to this. Sorry for calling you crazy.
Brandon Young, a Texas native, just loves pitching in Houston. I’m already circling Aug. 10-12, 2027 on my calendar for his next masterpiece at Daikin Park.
Tough break for Cam Sanders, who was demoted despite retiring all five batters he faced and earning both a win and a save in his first two games as an Oriole. But I suppose it’s a good thing the O’s had Huff on hand yesterday, considering that both of their regular catchers ended up injured.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with five former Orioles: catchers Pedro Severino (33) and Charles Johnson (55), infielder Alexi Casilla (42), outfielder Jake Fox (44), and left-hander Mark Lee (62).
On this date in 1983, Orioles leadoff man “Disco” Dan Ford almost single-handedly defeated the Mariners, hitting three solo home runs to lead the Birds’ 4-2 victory in Seattle. It was a weird offensive performance for the Orioles, who had 10 hits that were split between just three hitters: four apiece by Ford and Cal Ripken Jr., and two for Rick Dempsey. The rest of the lineup was 0-for-21.
In 2021, the Orioles’ game against the Rays was broadcast entirely by women for the first time in baseball history. MASN’s own Melanie Newman was the play-by-play announcer, joined by analyst Sarah Langs, on-field reporter Alanna Rizzo, and pregame/postgame hosts Heidi Watney and Lauren Gardner. That was cool! What’s way less cool is that it’s never happened again since then.
And on this day in 2023, the Orioles took over sole possession of first place for the first time that season by defeating the Rays, 4-3, in 10 innings. Colton Cowser’s sac fly in the top of the 10th brought in the go-ahead run, and closer Félix Bautista worked both a scoreless ninth and 10th to seal the victory. The Rays had started the season 13-0 and at one point held a six-game lead over the Orioles, but the 2023 Orioles were simply too good to be contained. It marked the latest date in a season that the O’s had been in first place since 2016.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 19: Alan Rangel #57 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers are in town today, but Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch in the three game set. Seems like the Dodgers are playing coy with an injury here.
Jul 17, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) celebrates after driving in the winning run during the tenth inning against the Miami Marlins at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Off Day
Tuesday: Off Day (AL All-Stars 4, NL All-Stars 0)
Wednesday: Off Day
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: Brewers 2, Marlins 1
Saturday: Brewers 8, Marlins 6
Sunday: Brewers 3, Marlins 1
Division Standings
Brewers: 62-37
Cubs: 56-43 (6.0 GB)
Cardinals: 51-47 (10.5 GB)
Pirates: 52-48 (10.5 GB)
Reds: 45-53 (16.5 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 3-0
Cubs: 2-1
Cardinals: 1-2
Pirates: 2-1
Reds: 2-1
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
There was a lot of solid pitching from the staff. Logan Henderson only allowed one run over five innings on Friday, striking out four. Shane Drohan allowed three runs in his start, but also recorded a career-high nine strikeouts. Robert Gasser also allowed just a single run in five innings on Sunday. Chad Patrick pitched three innings out of the bullpen, striking out four. Aaron Ashby, Trevor Megill, and Abner Uribe also had two scoreless innings each out of the bullpen. Craig Yoho also earned his first career win in Friday’s game with a scoreless inning.
Top Hitting Performance of the Week
Garrett Mitchell remained hot coming out of the All-Star Break with another strong series, this one against the Marlins. He went 5-for-12 over the weekend with three RBI. The biggest hit came on Friday, when he hit the walk-off single in the 10th inning to end the Brewers’ three-game losing streak.
Honorable mentions go to Joey Ortiz, whose home run on Friday tied the game and sent it into extra innings. He went 2-for-8 in the series with three walks, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. Also, William Contreras only had one hit over the weekend, but it was a walk-off home run on Sunday afternoon.
Following his DFA last week, the Brewers traded Easton McGee to the Royals for cash on Tuesday.
The Brewers made another trade with the Astros on Wednesday as the trade deadline gets closer. They acquired RHP Lance McCullers Jr., LHP Colton Gordon, and cash from the Astros. They sent OF Jadyn Fielder to Astros for their side of the deal. Gordon was optioned to Triple-A Nashville, and McCullers Jr. joined the Brewers in the bullpen. McCullers Jr. has not made his Brewers debut yet. The Brewers also moved Rob Zastryzny to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man roster space.
Greg Jones cleared waivers on Thursday following his DFA. He was outrighted to Nashville, but elected to become a free agent.
Jared Koenig was optioned to Triple-A Nashville when McCullers Jr. was activated Friday. Koenig has struggled since his return from the IL and will get some work down there.
On Saturday, the Brewers placed Sal Frelick on the 10-day IL with a shoulder strain. The severity is not known right now, and he will get an MRI to determine next steps. The only indication so far from manager Pat Murphy is he “won’t be able to go anytime soon”. Blake Perkins was recalled to fill Frelick’s roster spot.
Brandon Woodruff is officially done for the season after he decided to undergo another shoulder surgery to repair the capsule in his right shoulder. His last shoulder surgery kept him out 20 months, and the timeline on this one will be similar. Though 2027 is a possibility, he likely won’t be ready until 2028.
Kyle Harrison underwent a precautionary MRI during the All-Star Break, and the results were “all good”. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is on track to return shortly after the minimum IL stint on July 24.
DL Hall threw 15 pitches in a scoreless inning for High-A Wisconsin on Sunday. He allowed one hit and struck out one, and was pleased with his performance.
David Hamilton and Brandon Lockridge are both scheduled to begin rehab assignments on Tuesday at Triple-A Nashville.
The Detroit Tigers failed to complete the sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon, falling short by a run in a 3-2 defeat in Anaheim. Casey Mize was knocked out early after getting hit on the left wrist with a 108 mph comebacker and the offense wasted all of its gas the night before.
Next up on the schedule are the Chicago Cubs, who host the Motor City Kitties for a three-game series starting on Monday at Wrigley Field. Right-hander Jack Flaherty will get the start in the opener looking to continue his superb performance since the calendar flipped from May to June.
Over his last six starts, the 30-year-old veteran has posted an impressive 2.12 ERA along with a sterling 2.46 FIP over 29 2/3 innings of work, striking out 34 against 10 walks while allowing just one home run over that stretch. Flaherty has averaged just a hair under five frames per outing over that stretch, but despite his limited efficiency, he is still getting the job done as the Tigers have won in four of those appearances.
For the Cubbies, fellow righty Jameson Taillon takes the mound amidst what is turning out to be his worst season in the big leagues. The 34-year-old was shelved in early June with a left hamstring injury and will be making his first start off the injured list against Detroit.
Prior to his leg trouble, Taillon had thrown the third of his three quality starts in 2026 against the Athletics, allowing a pair of runs on six hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out six with a wild pitch over 6 1/3 innings, but still took the loss in a 2-1 defeat. He then lasted just one inning against the San Francisco Giants, allowing a run on two hits and two walks while striking out two before being removed from the game with his injury.
Take a look at how the two matchup for the series opener on Monday night.
Detroit Tigers (46-53) vs. Chicago Cubs (56-43)
Time (ET): 8:05 p.m. Place: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois SB Nation Site:Bleed Cubbie Blue Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 100: RHP Jack Flaherty (3-8, 4.48 ERA) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (2-5, 5.19 ERA)
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W, 5-4 vs. Worcester Red Sox
SS George Lombard Jr. 2-5, 2B, K, CS — first full game at Triple-A since coming back from injury (here’s the double) C J.C. Escarra 3-4, 2 2B, HR, BB, 2 RBI — walk-off homer, now up to a 1.057 OPS in 13 games at Triple-A CF Spencer Jones 1-3, 2B, BB, K — in comparison, .952 OPS in 51 games (for those curious) 2B Marco Luciano 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K — two-run bomb put Scranton up in the sixth RF Yanquiel Fernández 0-4, 2 K 3B Oswaldo Cabrera 2-4, HR, RBI, SB — 10th dinger of the season, tied game in the second 1B Tyler Hardman 0-4, K, GIDP DH Ernesto Martínez Jr. 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K, SB — no-contact day LF Duke Ellis 1-4, 2 K, SB
Alexander Cornielle 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, HBP — get ready to see a whole bunch of different names! Eric Reyzelman 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Chris Kean 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K Bradley Hanner 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K — there’s a reason they didn’t want to lose him when he exercised his opt-out Danny Watson 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Will Brian 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 0 K — blew lead, but maybe he was just setting the stage for Escarra! Good teammate if you ask me Zach Messinger 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K Yovanny Cruz 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (win) — gassed ’em on 19 pitches with four of at least 99.5, and seven swings and misses
Double-A Somerset Patriots:L, 1-2 at Portland Sea Dogs — both sides got five hits, Portland just had the extra run
LF Jackson Castillo 1-4, K CF Jace Avina 0-4 3B Coby Morales 2-4, HR, RBI, K — solo shot in the ninth to chip away, 16th homer of 2026 RF DJ Gladney 1-4, 2 K, SB 2B Connor McGinnis 0-2, 2 BB, K C Miguel Palma 1-4, 2B — grounded out with tying run on first to end it 1B Josh Moylan 0-2, BB, 2 K DH Tomas Frick 0-3, 2 K SS Owen Cobb 0-3, K
Ben Hess 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, WP (loss) — nice work on 77 pitches, hard-luck loss after giving up an RBI triple in his last frame Ben Grable 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K — showing why he got the Futures Game nod Geoffrey Gilbert 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K Harrison Cohen 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades: W, 14-2 (7) and W, 5-2 (7) at Brooklyn Cyclones — doubleheader sweep!
Game 1
3B Roderick Arias 3-3, 2B, 3B, 2 BB, 5 RBI, throwing error — put Renegades ahead with double in the third and later cleared the bases with his fourth-inning triple, finished a dinger shy of the cycle in maybe best day as a pro SS Core Jackson 0-5, RBI, K, GIDP DH Eric Genther 1-4, BB, RBI, K 1B Kyle West 1-5, 2B, 2 K CF Wilson Rodriguez 2-4 2B Enmanuel Tejeda 0-3, 2 BB, K, GIDP C Josue González 0-1, 3 BB, K RF Luis Durango 1-1, 2 BB, sacrifice LF Robbie Burnett 2-2, 2B, 2 BB, 5 RBI — getting five ribbies from both the leadoff and No. 9 hitter is very funny
Luis Serna 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 6 K Aaron Nixon 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (win) Andrew Landry 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K Brandon Decker 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Low-A Tampa Tarpons:W, 7-2 vs. Bradenton Marauders
3B Jackson Lovich 1-5, HR, 3 RBI, 3 K — 18th homer in 72 games, 434 feet off the batter’s eye in center 1B Hans Montero 2-4, 2B, HBP, 3 SB, CS — up to 30-for-35 on steals in 82 games LF Luis Puello 1-4, 2B, RBI, K SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 1-4, K, 2 SB RF Willy Montero 2-4, RBI, K, SB 2B Luis Escudero 1-2, BB, CS 2B Christofer Reyes 0-1, RBI CF Brando Mayea 1-4, 2 K DH Gregory Bozzo 1-2, 2 BB C Ediel Rivera 1-3, HR, RBI, HBP, passed ball
Sabier Marte 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, HR Josh Tiedemann 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (win) — one batter faced, one win, hell yeah Jordarlin Mendoza 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, pickoff error Jose Ledesma 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, fielding error Matthew Tippie 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Parker Seay 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
🚨Jackson Lovich hits a 3-Run BLAST (18) into the batters eye!!
NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 28: New Jersey Devils defenseman Seamus Casey (24) skates with the puck during a game between the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on September 28, 2025 in the New York, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“Based on (Anthony Mantha’s) production last season, he should slide into a top-six role. That changes the outlook of the Devils’ roster, at least up front, and it could affect other players’ places in the lineup.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
“Change hit the New Jersey Devils this offseason, and the Utica Comets are feeling the effects. New Jersey has failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs three times in the past five seasons, and has only one series victory in that span. And three consecutive postseason misses for the Comets have the Devils eager to retool their AHL affiliate, too.” [TheAHL.com]
On Alexander Command: “He can settle in and be a good player, maybe like Anton Lundell was in Florida as a rookie. He was picked around the same area (No. 12, 2020 NHL Draft). Lundell had Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett there. The transition to the NHL is not easy, but it becomes a little less burdensome and I think the same thing is true for Alexander Command (with Hischier and Jack Hughes in New Jersey). I think he’s a terrific player.” [NHL.com]
“The Steve Yzerman Era in Detroit is over. And it didn’t go the way anyone wanted. A hiring that was set up to be a fairytale homecoming has ended in a flameout. There’s no doubt Yzerman inherited a tall task back in 2019. But to go seven years without making the playoffs would have surprised any skeptic back then — if such skeptics even existed.” [The Athletic ($)]
“Precisely 3,542 names have been etched, ever, onto the Stanley Cup, a tradition that dates back to 1907. Each one commemorates not just a championship won but a lifetime of work and sacrifice, blood and sweat, tears and teeth spent getting there. The list includes both all-time greats — Gretzky and Lemieux, Crosby and Ovechkin, Gordie Howe and Rocket Richard — along with journeymen who rose up in the biggest moments. You don’t get there by accident. This is sacred stuff. Well, it used to be, anyway.” [ESPN]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: James Goldstein attends a game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you’ve ever watched an NBA playoff game, there’s a solid chance you’ve seen James Goldstein sitting court side. A California real estate mogul, Goldstein has season tickets to both the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers games, but he purchases court side seats throughout the season, especially in the playoffs.
Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA super-fan Jimmy Goldstein attends game four of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
The eighty-six-year-old has attended over 2,000 games over the years, often dressed to the nines in his flamboyant leather, cowboy-style outfits.
Goldstein has shared that he started watching basketball as a 10-year-old. By the age of 15, he was hired by the Milwaukee Hawks. “Once I did that and sat courtside for the games, I was totally hooked. My entire life has been devoted to professional basketball since then. I have such a passion for the game. I think there’s more athleticism displayed in basketball than in any other sport.”
Recently, Goldtsein was on vacation at Verde Beach in Saint-Tropez in sporting a Spurs Western Conference Finals t-shirt.
Goldstein was a fixture during the Spurs Race for Seis. It stands to reason he will be spending more time in San Antonio in late spring for years to come.
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DETROIT, MI - MARCH 25: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots a three point basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 25, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you spent any amount of time on Mavericks Twitter, Reddit, or Discord after the Zaccharie Risacher trade was announced, the reaction was almost universal.
“Another forward?”
“Do the Mavericks know guards exist?”
“What exactly is this roster supposed to be?”
Honestly, I understood every bit of it.
Mine wasn’t much different.
When Shams Charania first reported Dallas had acquired the former No. 1 overall pick in a three-team deal with Atlanta and Oklahoma City, my first thought wasn’t excitement. It was confusing. The Mavericks already entered the offseason overloaded with wings and forwards, yet desperately needed another ball-handler. Trading for another player who occupies a similar position felt like doubling down on a roster imbalance that already existed.
Then the details started trickling in.
Ryan Nembhard was heading to Atlanta. Dallas was giving up a future second-round pick that originally belonged to Chicago. The Mavericks were using the Anthony Davis trade exception to absorb Risacher’s contract.
The more I looked at the trade, the more my opinion shifted.
Not because I suddenly think Zaccharie Risacher is going to become a star.
I don’t.
But I think this is one of those deals where the process deserves more credit than the initial reaction gave it.
Let’s not pretend Risacher has been good
There’s a reason Atlanta moved on after only two seasons.
Risacher hasn’t been a very good NBA player.
That’s not an overreaction.
That’s reality.
After entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick, he never developed into the player the Hawks envisioned. His sophomore season was especially disappointing. His production stagnated; his efficiency never took the leap Atlanta hoped for; he eventually lost his starting spot; and by the end of the season, he had fallen out of the Hawks’ playoff rotation. Reports throughout the offseason suggested both sides had reached the point where a fresh start made sense.
Even more concerning is how he has struggled.
Risacher wasn’t drafted because scouts believed he’d become an elite shot creator. He was drafted because he projected as one of the safest prospects in the class—a long, athletic wing who could defend multiple positions, shoot open threes, and fit seamlessly around stars.
Instead, he hasn’t consistently done any of those things at an NBA level.
The jumper hasn’t been reliable.
The defense hasn’t become the strength many expected.
He doesn’t create much offense for himself or others.
For a former No. 1 pick, that’s understandably disappointing.
So if your immediate reaction was, “Why are the Mavericks trading for a player who hasn’t even been good?” you’re not wrong.
That’s exactly why I understand the gamble
This is where I think two things can be true at the same time.
I don’t think this was some home-run acquisition.
I’m not sitting here trying to convince anyone that Risacher is secretly destined to become an All-Star.
Honestly, I have no idea if he’ll ever become a consistently good NBA player.
But I also think flipping Ryan Nembhard, an undrafted rookie, and a future second-round pick that originally belonged to Chicago for a former No. 1 overall pick is a perfectly reasonable swing.
That’s the important distinction.
I’m not buying Risacher.
I’m buying the price.
Those are two completely different conversations.
If Dallas had traded one of its remaining first-round picks for him, I’d probably hate the move.
If they had given up one of their core young players, I’d understand the outrage.
Instead, they took a chance on a player whose value had completely cratered while giving up relatively little.
That’s the type of bet rebuilding teams should be willing to make.
Sometimes players need a different environment.
One thing I keep coming back to is that Risacher feels like a player who needed a fresh start.
That doesn’t guarantee anything.
Sometimes former top picks never figure it out.
Sometimes a change of scenery changes absolutely nothing.
But development isn’t linear, and environment matters.
Atlanta clearly reached the point where it was ready to move on.
Dallas has a new front office led by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, a coaching staff led by Dusty May that already has a reputation for player development, and far less pressure to force Risacher into becoming a franchise cornerstone.
Will Dusty May fix him?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
But if you’re going to take a swing on a struggling former No. 1 overall pick, this feels like one of the better situations for that player to land.
The roster questions are still real.
None of this means I suddenly understand everything Dallas has done this offseason.
I still think they need another legitimate creator.
I still think they have too many forwards.
I still think Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving would benefit tremendously from another guard capable of organizing the offense.
This trade doesn’t solve any of those problems.
And that’s why so many fans reacted the way they did.
People weren’t just reacting to Zaccharie Risacher.
They were reacting to an entire offseason that still feels incomplete.
That’s a fair criticism.
This trade makes much more sense if it isn’t the last move
Maybe that’s the biggest takeaway.
If this is the roster Dallas brings into training camp, I’ll probably have a very different opinion of the offseason as a whole.
But I don’t think that’s the plan.
Masai Ujiri inherited one of the strangest roster situations in basketball. Nico Harrison left behind a team with limited draft assets, an aging core, and a roster that didn’t fit particularly well together. Fixing that wasn’t going to happen in one draft or one week of free agency.
The Risacher trade feels more like another dart throw than a finishing touch.
Dallas essentially used a trade exception, an undrafted rookie, and a second-round pick to acquire a 21-year-old former No. 1 overall pick whose value has never been lower.
If it works, the Mavericks suddenly have another intriguing young piece alongside Cooper Flagg.
If it doesn’t, they move on.
That’s a risk I’m comfortable taking.
Final thoughts
I still don’t know what this Mavericks roster is supposed to look like this season.
I’m still waiting for the move that brings another true ball-handler into the fold.
I’m still skeptical that the roster construction, as it currently stands, makes much sense.
But I also think it’s important to separate the value of the trade itself from the bigger picture.
Those are two different conversations.
From a roster construction standpoint, I still have questions.
From an asset management standpoint, I think Dallas did well.
The Mavericks didn’t give up a premium draft pick.
They didn’t sacrifice one of their best young players.
They bought low on a former No. 1 overall pick whose value had reached rock bottom.
Maybe Zaccharie Risacher never becomes anything more than a rotational wing.
Maybe Atlanta ends up looking smart for moving on when it did.
But when the cost is an undrafted free agent, a second-round pick, and a trade exception, I think that’s a gamble worth taking.
It doesn’t fix the Mavericks.
It doesn’t suddenly make the offseason a success.
But it also isn’t nearly as bad a trade as many of us thought it was in those first few minutes after the news broke.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 18: Wilyer Abreu #52 and Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after taking the lead against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the seventh inning at Fenway Park on July 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello and happy Monday, folks. Feels weird to not have a World Cup game ready to go on deck now, doesn’t it?
But you know what we do have on deck? A Red Sox game. They play Baltimore at Fenway tonight, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST. A win would bring our boys to 14 straight wins, which is tantalizingly close to the longest win streak in the franchise’s history (!!!!!!), dating back to when the 1946 Sox won 15 games in a row.
My question to you, dear reader, is simple: Who the hell are these guys and what have they done with the 2026 Red Sox? I ask that tongue-in-cheek-ly, yes, but seriously! What the hell is happening?! I love it, don’t get me wrong, but this is insane!
What do you chalk this incredible run up to? A matter of the bats simply producing? Is it the manager? The new guys who have stepped up? Something else? A little bit of all of those things? Let me know below.
Draymond Green has seen this movie before — he’s just casting himself in a different role this time.
A fan on Threads asked Green on Sunday who would run the Warriors’ offense if LeBron James signs with Golden State: Green, Steph Curry, or James himself. Green’s answer left little room for interpretation about where he sees himself fitting in.
“Bron,” Green wrote. “I’d become PJ Tucker. Greatest corner 3pt shooter ever.”
It is not the first time Green has made that exact claim about Tucker. Back in Sept. 2020, following a Houston Rockets playoff loss, Green tweeted that Tucker “may be the best Corner 3-point shooter in NBA history” — a claim NBC Sports Bay Area’s Ali Thanawalla examined in detail at the time and found did not hold up.
Curry and Klay Thompson both posted significantly better corner-three shooting percentages than Tucker over that stretch, even with a fraction of his attempts, and six other players in the league that season alone out-shot him from the corner as well.
The real number behind Tucker’s reputation is volume, not efficiency. He has made 704 corner 3-pointers over the past 12 seasons, the most in the NBA during that span, according to Second Spectrum — built largely during his prime years in Houston, where he led the league in corner threes three straight seasons. His career 3-point percentage sits at 36.6 percent, with a corner-specific mark of 38.4 percent.
As for Green actually pulling off the transformation himself, the numbers offer a mixed verdict. He has shot better than 32.6 percent from three just once in the past decade — but he shot 38 percent specifically from the corners last season, and has topped one made three per game in each of the past two years after going seven years without hitting that mark even once.
Six years after his first attempt at this exact comparison, Green still is selling the same pitch — he is just hoping this time it comes with a very different teammate attached.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 15: Head coach Amile Jefferson of the Boston Celtics looks on in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 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
Las Vegas Summer League is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time when every dribble, rebound, and shot can mean as much or as little as the beholder wants.
My personal rulebook for Summer League is that rookies can only improve their stock; second-year guys should look like second-year guys; and third-year guys better not play poorly, or they will be looking for a spot on my hometown professional team, the Tasmanian JackJumpers.
The great news for Celtics fans is that every player of consequence showed out at Summer League. Before we hand out some summer grades, I will remind everyone that I am grading these players based on my expectations and perceptions of their abilities coming into Summer League.
I’m not comparing Chris Cenac Jr. to Cam Boozer.
Hugo González – B+
Hugo Gonzalez is having an excellent summer. It tipped off with a pair of strong performances in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, in which Gonzalez contributed 13 points, 4 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
The skill that really flashed in Hugo’s two FIBA games was his passing, which he carried over to Summer League, where he was tasked with being the team’s lead shot creator, a tall task for a 20-year-old wing who was given close to zero ball-handling responsibility in his rookie season. While there were some clunky stretches for the Summer Celtics’ offense, most notably the streak of 17 straight misses in the first game of the campaign, Hugo acquitted himself nicely in this role. Gonzalez showcased improved handling and passing skills. The young forward turned in 5.7 assists to go with 3.7 turnovers per game.
For a franchise that prioritizes limiting turnovers, I’m sure the coaching staff would like to see the turnover number lower, but an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.54 is impressive in this context. The Celtics Summer League roster was low on spacing and shot creation, so Hugo being a passable offensive engine is encouraging.
Letting ourselves get carried away by the Vegas Vibes, if the young wing can develop his creation ability, it would be a significant boon for the Boston Celtics. With Hugo already showing in his rookie season that he can be a defensive and rebounding machine, if he can simultaneously morph into being a jumbo secondary creator? The “I can’t believe the Celtics didn’t trade this guy for Giannis” takes won’t age well.
Lastly, Celtics fans are likely already familiar with Gonzalez’s historic plus/minus numbers as a rookie. Rivalling all-time greats like Tim Duncan and Jayson Tatum in their rookie seasons. Well, Hugo did it again at Summer League. The Celtics were a plus-34 with Hugo on the court and a minus-28 with him off the court. The kid impacts winning. I docked Hugo down from an “A” because I thought his defense in the second Summer League game was disappointing. He got torched by Liam McNeely. But I won’t let a bad half of Summer League supersede a rookie season of being a defensive menace.
Amari Williams – B
Amari Williams has some passionate believers. I get it. The blend of size and vision is tantalizing. When you squint (close your eyes), it’s not hard to see British Nikola Jokic. Summer League shenanigans aside, the former second-round pick left me feeling optimistic that he could become a solid backup big man at some point.
For those who think reaching a ceiling of a competent backup big man is something to scoff at, I implore you to look at the big man market in today’s NBA. Walker Kessler was just traded for an unconscionable haul, Jock Landale (Australian King) signed for $14 million, and even Zach Collins managed to secure a two-year $17 million contract. The pendulum has violently swung back on the value of big men. Teams have realized the value of having high-level center play for 48 minutes.
So, what did Amari do that leads me to believe he can provide competent centre play for the Celtics? The seven-footer continues to flash impressive rim protection, the ability to gobble up rebounds, and the alluring trait of being a team’s offensive hub due to his passing skills.
On the alluring passing, Williams had a handful of turnovers on no-look and overly saucy passes. My recommendation would be to both look when passing and limit the amount of sauce on some of these passes to ensure better ball security.
My biggest gripe with Williams is that, despite being the biggest guy out there, I’m often left wishing he could experience a motor upgrade. While the seven-footer had several high-level moments as a rim protector and rebounder throughout Summer League, I see no reason why he couldn’t be a game-wrecker.
In the consolation game, we saw what it can look like when Williams cranks his motor up. The big fella had a beautiful tip-in on an offensive rebound, a sequence with back-to-back blocks, and a lovely backdoor pass to DeVries. We need more of that for the big man to fulfil his potential as a high-level backup big man. If we could clone Hugo Gonzalez’s motor and install it where Williams’ currently is, we would have a monster on our hands. All that to say I’m encouraged by Amari’s development and feel confident in his ability to reach the level of rotational big man in the NBA.
Chris Cenac – A
I loved the Celtics’ selection of Chris Cenac at the 27th overall pick. He fits the profile of the type of prospect I wanted the Celtics to draft: a high upside big man that, in a ceiling outcome, gives you two-way versatility in the playoffs.
The book on Cenac was that he was a raw prospect. I come away blown away by how this kid fell to the Celtics at the 27th pick. The blend of size and length, skill, and motor all popped across his Summer League campaign. I expected Cenac to look like Bambi on ice out there. But he flashed the ability to switch on the perimeter defensively, hit clutch threes, mash opponents on the glass, and make smooth passing reads out of the short roll… and he just turned 19 years old in February.
The Chris Cenac hype train has left the station. In just 23.3 minutes per game, the first-round draft pick stuffed the stat sheet with 10.5 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2.8 blocks. If we let our imagination run wild and extrapolate those numbers to a per-36-minute number, we would be looking at 18 points, 12 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 4.3 blocks.
One of the concerns about Cenac as a prospect was his incredibly low block rate in college, despite being an athletic marvel. The big man out of Houston only averaged 0.5 blocks per game in college. The optimists explained this by saying it was due to Cenac playing in a Houston context that had him at the power forward spot, where he was not asked to be a rim protector. Well, those concerns have been addressed emphatically with 11 blocks over his four games. The rim protection isn’t perfect; Cenac has the quintessential rookie trait of biting on lots of pump fakes. However, Cenac also has the ability to recover from these mistakes to either collect blocks or still impact shots at the rim thanks to his freakish mix of size and athleticism. 19-year-olds picked late in the first round of the NBA draft rarely get much playing time, but I would love to see what Cenac could do with some real NBA minutes.
Dillon Mitchell – B+
Dillon Mitchell is a fun player to watch. The 40th overall pick is a high-octane, turnover-generating, rebound-securing chaos agent. Mazzulla Ball is often pigeonholed as only being about three-point shooting rate. It is more about maximising possessions, and Mitchell fits this philosophy. The explosive guard looks like Ed Reed picking off passes on the way to thunderous dunks on the other end, and is often in danger of concussing himself as he soars through traffic to collect offensive rebounds.
This is what the Celtics envision with Mitchell: a non-shooting possessions generator. Mitchell is not a shooter, but he is a smart offensive player. The explosive guard is quick to set screens that spring teammates open, a timely cutter, and a precise passer. He also hit more threes in Summer League (3) than he did in the entirety of his last college season (1)…so maybe there is a shooter in there that the Celtics development staff can coax out of him. I don’t see a path for Mitchell to get burn in his rookie season with so many perimeter players ahead of him in the rotation, but I’m certainly intrigued to follow his development.
John Tonje – A
John Tonje already stamped himself as a Celtics legend with his performance in Game 82 of last season. The two-way forward continued his strong play for the Summer Celtics.
Tonje can stroke it from three. Catch and shoot threes, pull-ups, and side step threes. The athletic wing also showed improvement on defense, continued to hit the glass, and showcased his athleticism with a one-handed tomahawk slam in the final Summer League game.
The only thing working against the toolsy guard-forward hybrid is that the Celtics are overflowing with talent on the wing. Between Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Hugo Gonzalez, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr, and Jordan Walsh, there isn’t a path for Tonje to earn minutes. For this reason, I would lean toward giving the last two-way slot to Milos Uzan. That being said, I am terrified that Tonje will end up on the Miami Heat and be the next Caleb Martin or Max Strus for them. Dude can play.
Milos Uzan – A
Milos Uzan is a slippery, tough-shot-making, consistent shot-creator. At a minimum, Milos Uzan will go down as a Summer Celtic great. The highlight of Uzan’s Summer League was his clutch buckets to seal a victory against the Sacramento Kings.
The Celtics’ point guard depth is not the strength of the roster. After Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, the options get a little bit creaky. Mike Conley, whom I love, is coming into his 20th season as a pro. It would be great to add a developmental guard to the pipeline. Interestingly, Uzan and Conley have similar profiles as shifty guards who battle on defense, and more importantly, are great in the possession game. Mike Conley has made a career out of suppressing turnovers and getting offenses organized. I’m not saying Uzan is prime Mike Conley, although that would be wonderful news for the Celtics, but Uzan fits the Celtics philosophy of maximising possessions across 48 minutes and across 82 games.
Milos (have I mentioned how Milos Uzan is an outrageously cool name?), averaged 4 assists to only 1.4 turnovers per game in his Summer League campaign, which was a near identical stat line to his two-year career at Houston, where he averaged 4.1 assists to 1.4 turnovers across 77 games. Signalling to me that this was a deliberate roster decision by the Celtics as they see Uzan as fitting their identity.
As mentioned above, I think it makes sense for Uzan to be rewarded with one of the two-way contracts. Milos fills a bigger need than John Tonje, has some built-in chemistry with Houston teammate Chris Cenac, and is two years younger than Tonje. As much as I will always remember Tonje’s performance in Game 82 of the 2025-2026 NBA season, it is Milos Uzan’s time to shine in Maine.
Honourable mention – Tucker Devries – A
Tucker DeVries had two jobs: take threes and make threes. Mission accomplished. I don’t know if there is an NBA player in there, but he will, at a minimum, have a long career overseas as a professional basketball player.
I’m already excited to see what Year Two Chris Cenac looks like at Summer League next year. Until then, we have three months to argue about whether or not the Celtics are better or worse than last season. I can’t wait.
