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Jalen Green could be the key to a more dynamic Suns offense

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a three-point shot against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

How will the Suns’ offense function next season? Will it become predictable again, like it did last year? The Suns weren’t exactly running a complex offense down the stretch, and far too many possessions ended with a three-point attempt.

From February 1 on, Phoenix went 15–18. And during that span, 46.9% of its shots came from beyond the arc. That ranked sixth in the league. They were also third in the NBA in the percentage of their total points that came from three-point range at 41.5%. That’s something the Suns have to change next season because, quite simply, it didn’t work. They need more ways to generate offense. Having players who can get downhill, attack the rim, and create pressure inside is something this team desperately needs.

Suns’ CEO Josh Bartelstein was on with Burns and Gambo earlier this week, and he said that “The league right now has evolved so much. Where the league was three or four years ago, where shooting was in high demand…of course you wanna have shooters…if you watch what’s happening now, it’s guys who can get downhill. Get two feet in the paint. It’s guys who can guard multiple positions. It’s athletic specimens who can meet you at the rim and block your shot. You got to be able to attack and play off closeouts and spray the ball around.”

The conversation centered on the acquisition of Miles Bridges and how he could ultimately affect the offense. That naturally leads to another interesting question: Who will be the second-leading scorer on this team next season, assuming Devin Booker remains the top dog? Because if he isn’t, the Suns are going to have a multitude of other problems.

The majority of the community believes Jalen Green will fill that role. In our most recent Suns Reacts survey, 61% of voters picked Green to finish second on the team in scoring. Miles Bridges came in second at 22%.

I agree with the consensus that Jalen Green will be the second leading scorer for Phoenix next season. His talent, combined with his athleticism, should create plenty of opportunities for him to fill that role. Whether he can step into it, embrace it, and execute consistently will be one of the defining storylines of the season.

I can also see a world where Miles Bridges benefits tremendously from Devin Booker’s presence and the gravity he creates, as well as from what Jalen Green can do athletically. One thing Bridges does better when attacking the basket is passing, and that is an area where Green still has room to grow. Green can get blinders when he sees the rim. When he attacks with the kind of ferocity he possesses, finishing becomes the only objective. The more cerebral approach is understanding that defenses know what he wants to do. When they collapse, opportunities open up elsewhere.

In the same breath, that could also be part of what helps Green become the second leading scorer. Bridges showed in Charlotte that he can be a willing passer on his way to the rim. If Green is cutting from the weak side, he can benefit from those passes and use his athleticism to put an exclamation point on the possession.

Regardless of who finishes second on the team in scoring, I think we’re going to see a much more entertaining version of Suns basketball. Don’t get me wrong, everybody in the arena loves it when the team hits a three. It’s kind of like a home run; everybody gives a high five. What really gets people out of their seats, though, is when beautiful ball movement ends with a slam dunk or an easy two points at the rim. That is something Jalen Green can provide with regularity.

And that may ultimately be the biggest difference between this offense and the one we watched stumble through the end of last season. Phoenix shouldn’t have to live and die by the three-point line anymore. If they want to surpass that 38.5 over on FanDuel, Booker will have to create gravity, Bridges will have to collapse defenses, and Green will have to use his athleticism to punish the openings that follow. The goal isn’t to abandon the three. It’s to create better ones while rediscovering everything that can happen before the ball ever gets there.

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3 Flyers Prospects Who Could Make a Splash at Training Camp

In the doldrums of the 2026 offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers appear to be done adding to their roster, though training camp can and will throw wrenches into the plan, be it through injury or otherwise.

For instance, this time last year, we all had prospect defenseman Helge Grans penciled in as the No. 6 defenseman to play on the third defense pair, but the Swede had a training camp and preseason performance so bad that the job was decidedly handed to Noah Juulsen, who had a slow camp himself working back from a season-ending hernia.

On defense, especially, that scenario could play out for the Flyers again in some way, as Rasmus Ristolainen, perpetually a trade candidate, has only one year left on his contract, as does newcomer Simon Benoit.

No. 3: Oliver Bonk, RHD

Rather quickly, 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk is showing signs of NHL potential, recording a goal and assist in his NHL debut against Montreal on April 14, then making his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Hurricanes in the 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4 on May 9.

The Flyers organization is clearly bullish on the 21-year-old; they aren't the types to hand out debuts in important games just because.

If Bonk is able to continue to perform well, add more strength and play speed, and stay healthy this time around, the former 22nd overall pick should have no issues inserting himself into the conversation for an NHL roster spot.

Last year, the competition between Juulsen and Grans had been so uninspiring that Bonk, if healthy, likely had a legitimate chance to make the roster, especially given that the Flyers technically weren't a playoff team with expectations at the time.

Flyers Defense Prospect 'One of the Best' at World Junior Summer ShowcaseFlyers Defense Prospect 'One of the Best' at World Junior Summer ShowcaseRising Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Amico is beginning to draw rave reviews from national experts around the NHL.

That context makes things a bit more challenging this year, but a strong showing from Bonk could earn him a roster spot at the expense of someone like Ristolainen, or even David Jiricek.

No. 2: Hunter McDonald, LHD

Continuing with the theme on defense here, Hunter McDonald, the Flyers' last remaining unsigned restricted free agent, is running out of time to make an NHL impact.

McDonald, 24, made his NHL debut, like Bonk, against the Canadiens on April 14, recording his first NHL point--an assist--with a sparkling +3 rating and a McDonald classic four penalty minutes.

The hulking 6-foot-4 defenseman will be 25 years old at the end of next season, and it's up to him to prove to the Flyers that he can replace the older, more expensive veterans in Benoit and Nick Seeler and take over the roles they play for the team.

Drafted as an overager in 2022, McDonald is another prospect who is an in-house favorite, but he will know that Ty Murchison also played well in his cameo for the Flyers last year, and the organization just allocated a first-round pick to selecting Maksim Sokolovskii, another bruiser, at the 2026 NHL Draft two months ago.

With Seeler getting older and no longer shielded by trade protection, and with Benoit only under contract for one year, this could be McDonald's best shot at landing an NHL roster spot with the Flyers.

He's got some wind in his sails after making his NHL debut, but that must now carry over into training camp for the real push ahead.

No. 1: Devin Kaplan, RW

I'm sure many of you were probably expecting Jett Luchanko to be the player representing the forwards here, but the Flyers want him to play as many minutes as possible if he isn't one of the 12 best forwards on the roster... in other words: an established every-night NHLer.

Instead, I wanted to acknowledge Devin Kaplan, a 6-foot-3 right winger who made his NHL debut for the Flyers at the end of that dreadful 2024-25 season in a 5-4 loss to Buffalo.

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyExclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

Kaplan, 22, played his first full pro season in the AHL for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last year, scoring five goals, eight assists, and 13 points in 49 games before suffering a season-ending injury.

Heading into a contract year, and with the Flyers' logjam of wingers, Kaplan needs a strong camp to keep himself on the radar, and further embracing the grinder playstyle will help him do that.

The Flyers had re-signed Carl Grundstrom earlier this offseason to a one-year, $1 million deal, but they would assuredly be thrilled with the development of another one of their young prospects beating out a veteran for a roster spot, just as Nikita Grebenkin did last year, and Denver Barkey and Alex Bump did later in the season.

After signing Noel Acciari, the Flyers don't really need Grundstrom's versatility to fill in at center, which opens the door a wee bit more for a winger like Kaplan to come in and make a splash.

Plus, the Flyers traded away Garnet Hathaway this offseason, so they'll be missing their fourth-line sandpaper right wing. With Kaplan, the hope is that he can continue to grow into that kind of player, and what better time than the present to prove yourself?

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Good Or Bad? Maple Leafs Only NHL Team Without An Expiring Contract Within Next Two Seasons On Projected Roster

The Toronto Maple Leafs had one of the busiest off-seasons in the NHL this summer, signing an abundance of UFAs as well as a few notable trades from GM John Chayka.

However, in terms of internal business, such as signing significant players to contract extensions, the organization wasn't so occupied on that front. Aside from trade acquisitions like Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae, they re-signed defenseman Troy Stecher.

For the next little while, the Maple Leafs will remain relatively quiet with expiring contracts on the roster. In fact, no player on Toronto's roster will have an expiring contract within the next two seasons, according to PuckPedia. Some players will be eligible to sign contract extensions next off-season, but none of those deals will be officially expiring until 2027-28 is completed.

It's a unique position to be in for the Maple Leafs, especially considering that no other team in the NHL is in the same situation. The team closest to having all their players locked up for the next two campaigns is the Florida Panthers, with Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway becoming UFAs following 2026-27.

With the Maple Leafs not having to worry about contract negotiations for NHL players for a little while, is that a good thing or a bad thing? There are two ways to look at it. 

Gavin McKenna’s No. 92 Maple Leafs Jersey Now Available at Real Sports After Giving Up No. 72 to Sergei BobrovskyGavin McKenna’s No. 92 Maple Leafs Jersey Now Available at Real Sports After Giving Up No. 72 to Sergei BobrovskyThe first-overall pick’s official No. 92 jersey is now on sale at Real Sports after McKenna deferred his longtime number out of respect for Sergei Bobrovsky.

On one hand, the players or staff members wouldn't be distracted by negotiations or contract disputes, allowing the team to focus on hockey and results. On the flip side, not having the option to walk away from a player or two at the end of the year can handcuff Chayka and the roster potentially. In other words, there is a lack of flexibility.

Four of the six players that Chayka brought in through free agency were inked to two-year contracts. Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen are all under contract through 2027-28.

Maple Leafs' Three Most Challenging Contracts For 2026-27 NHL SeasonMaple Leafs' Three Most Challenging Contracts For 2026-27 NHL SeasonFor the most part, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in pretty good shape when it comes to the roster's payroll. However, there are a small handful of contracts that may become challenging to deal with in the future.

Therefore, if one of those players didn't fit in with the roster, or head coach Jim Hiller's play style, or just underperforms, the simplest solution is unavailable, which would be to let that player go when the deal expires. Instead, if one of those acquisitions struggles in their first year with the team and can't really find a groove in Toronto, the franchise is stuck with him, unless they can find a trade partner.

Speaking of trades, not only could these contracts be a short-term freeze to the roster, but they might hinder any desire to add when it comes to the trade deadline, or at any other point during the season when a clear need or hole in the lineup emerges.

Making a trade will always be possible one way or another, but with the Maple Leafs' roster pretty much filled up, there isn't much room for new opportunity or adjustment.

Should The Maple Leafs Consider Giving Gavin McKenna The Auston Matthews Rookie Treatment?Should The Maple Leafs Consider Giving Gavin McKenna The Auston Matthews Rookie Treatment?For the opening night of the 2026-27 NHL season, should the Toronto Maple Leafs give Gavin McKenna the Auston Matthews rookie treatment?

To combat that argument, this could be a drama-free season in terms of contract negotiations, particularly with star players. 

Auston Matthews is the star player with the most recent expiration date, as his deal is done after 2027-28. But even then, he isn't eligible to sign a contract extension until next off-season.

As for the others, William Nylander is locked in through 2031-32, which is six years remaining on his deal. Also, John Tavares and Matthew Knies signed their contract extensions two days apart in late June 2025. Tavares' expires the soonest, in three more seasons.

Even the youngsters in Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna won't be occupied by contract negotiations for the next couple of years. Cowan has two more years left on his entry-level contract, while McKenna, of course, will be beginning his entry-level deal this coming season as he inches closer to making his NHL debut.

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Summer reset: FSU baseball’s portal haul and draft luck put Link Jarrett’s program on the right track heading into the fall

For the last two baseball seasons, Florida State has been in a vicious cycle of not being able to line up veteran bats with veteran arms.

Last season, the Noles’ top seven pitchers in innings were all juniors or older, making the Seminole arms the calling card that pushed FSU to host its third-straight regional. However, the reason why Florida State did not make it to a third-consecutive Super Regional was the lack of composure at the plate and in the field. Jarrett’s team scored five runs or fewer in three of four games in the Tallahassee regional, as the bats went silent at the worst time.

A year before, a veteran duo of Alex Lodise and Drew Faurot powered FSU at the plate and in the field as Florida State finished one win away from going to Omaha. The offense finished second in the ACC in batting average and ripped over 100 home runs, 24 more homers than in 2026. Unfortunately, the Noles did not have the experience needed on the mound and lacked trustworthy bullpen options, as Florida State struggled to put away games while giving up too many crooked numbers.

But for the upcoming 2027 season, FSU will have age, talent, and experience on both the mound and at the dish for the first time since 2024.

It starts with a bit of luck, especially on the pitching side.

Even though Florida State lost its top-two high school recruits in the MLB Draft, Jarrett and his staff will feel they came out ahead given who was not selected, as RHP John Abraham, RHP Chris Knier, LHP Payton Manca and LHP Cooper Whited return to Tallahassee after not hearing their name called. Starting with Abraham, it was shocking he did not get drafted, and he would have almost certainly signed after his junior season. But, according to Brett Nevitt, he will now turn into a full-time starter, giving Florida State a 1-2 punch atop its rotation alongside transfer LHP Cayden Suchy, who was the 2026 Big East Pitcher of the Year at UConn. On the backend of the rotation, Manca and Whited return for another season and will battle for the Sunday and midweek slots with a host of right-handed transfers, including RHP Isaiah Shayter, who started 14 games for Penn State last season.

In the bullpen, the Noles return a ton of experience, headlined by Knier, who became Micah Posey’s #2 reliever over the course of the 2026 season. LHP Kevin Mebil was also not selected in the MLB Draft and should be in line for an increase in his 20.0 innings pitched a season ago. Further down the line, RHP Cade O’Leary will be expected to take another step after an erratic sophomore season, and RHP Rhett Vaughn looks exceptional on the Cape this summer, with an ERA under one with over 20 innings pitched.

This will be one of the oldest staffs Posey has had in his time in Tallahassee, with a mix of returning production and four transfer pitchers, all with starting experience. The questions in fall camp will be around Abraham’s transition as a starter, who wins the Sunday slot, and who else besides Mebil can be trusted as a bullpen LHP. But the Seminoles will begin the season with a belief that the answers to those questions are in their clubhouse.

On the position-player side, FSU also received welcome draft news with the return of OF Brody DeLamielleure and INF Cal Fisher, but more importantly, Jarrett entered the portal to address some of his wrongs from the 2025 season. Out is Gabe Fraser at shortstop, who entered the transfer portal, and in comes former Indiana SS Cooper Malamazian, who has played in 106 collegiate games with a career .310 batting average, bringing a veteran presence to the infield the Noles desperately lacked a season ago. Jarrett also picked up 1B Nick Barron from Northwestern and 1B/LHP Jackson McKenzie from FAMU, both LHH who hit for power to try and replace the production from Myles Bailey. The rest of the infield should be a battle between returners Cal Fisher, Will Bavaro, Jace Estes, and Texas transfer Callum Early. Both Estes and Early are LHH and will help solve the over-reliance on RHH in the lineup in 2025.

Moving to the outfield, this should once again be a position of strength for Florida State in the 2027 season. John Stuetzer should shift to center field and be one of the most dynamic players in the country after starting 51 games as a freshman and leading the Noles in RBI. As mentioned, DeLamielleure returns and will want to capitalize on a strong second half of his season to boost his draft stock in his redshirt-junior campaign. Most likely, transfer OF Ty Peeples, a LHH, will play left field and is one of the most interesting pickups of the offseason for FSU. Peeples spent his freshman year at Georgia and did not play much, but brings an incredible profile to Dick Howser Stadium. Perfect Game rated Peeples the best outfielder in Georgia in the 2025 recruiting class, and the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, but he elected to go to campus. Listed at 6’2” and 188 pounds, Peeples can hit for average and power on the left side with above-average athleticism. Jarrett will hope that extended playing time can bring out the best in one of the most talented players on the roster.

It is too early to make any predictions about what this team can be or what its expectations are. But Jarrett assembled a roster where the pieces fit together and used the transfer portal to infuse talent into positions of need, instead of overhauling the whole roster like in previous years. Depending on the way the football season goes, the excitement for the 2027 baseball season will start to build in the fall.

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Phillies news: Chase Utley, Luis Arraez, Dave Dombrowski

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 07: Phillies legend Chase Utley is shown during his Wall of Fame induction ceremony before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays on August 7th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What a night for an all-time Phillies great. Chase Utley gave his Wall of Fame speech on a night that was a little delayed by rain and he was finally immortalized among the team’s greats, as he should be. Next stop: Cooperstown.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

    MLB news:

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    Open Thread: Luke Kornet stops to help a local motorist

    NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 7: Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 7, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

    In the midst of summer, members of the Spurs are in Paris, France working out and visiting a national art museum. Keldon Johnson made an appearance at a summer basketball camp in Laredo, Texas. And this weekend, the Spurs are hosting a back-to-school at the Frost Bank Center.

    Meanwhile, somewhere in San Antonio, Luke Kornet is moonlighting as a roadside assistant.

    A TikTok user posted this video of Kornet as he pulled over to help a motorist who was having car trouble.

    It seems no matter where Kornet is, he makes the day brighter. Good on ya, Luke.

    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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    Rangers v Hibs: Pick of the stats

    Rangers v Hibs pick of the stats
    [SNS]
    • Rangers lost their last league meeting with Hibernian 1-2 at Ibrox in May but have not lost successive top-flight matches against Hibs since November 2005 under Alex McLeish.
    • Hibernian have won two of their past three league visits to Rangers (L1) and could win successive trips in the top-flight for just the fourth time, previously doing so in September 1902, October 1985, and February 2018.
    • There have been 35 goals scored in Rangers' past seven league games at Ibrox, an average of five per game. Their most recent game was a 2-1 defeat by Hibs in May – they have never lost consecutive home league games against the same team both times. They last duplicated the same result and opponent in April/August 1990, back-to-back wins against Dunfermline Athletic.
    • The past six results in Hibernian's Scottish Premiership matches have been away wins – they have lost four home games and won their two away games in this streak. The last side to have a longer run was Rangers between February and April 2025 (7), with the seventh game in that run ending Rangers 0-2 Hibernian.
    • Thelo Aasgaard has scored in each of his past three Premiership appearances for Rangers – the last Ibrox player with a longer streak was Cyriel Dessers in April and May 2025 (5 in a row).
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    Braves News: Tyler Mahle debuts, win streak snapped, and more

    NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 07: Tyler Mahle #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

    The Atlanta Braves’ eight-game win streak came to an end on Friday after a 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees. Tyler Mahle, acquired just ahead of the trade deadline, made his Braves debut and was fantastic. In six scoreless innings, he allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out nine. 

    Though a terrific start from Mahle, the Braves’ bats were quiet and the bullpen was unable to hang on, ultimately leading to the loss in extra innings.

    The Braves aim to even things up this afternoon behind Chris Sale.

    More Braves News:

    Cam Caminiti made his Double-A debut on Thursday and threw 5.1 innings. More in the minor league recap. 

    Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Braves were in on Jacob deGrom.

    MLB News:

    Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene will undergo season-ending elbow surgery. It has not been decided if he will require Tommy John surgery.

    The Minnesota Twins have placed pitcher Joe Ryan on the 15-day injured list with a mild left glute strain. 

    From the Feed:

    Braves Clubhouse Manager John Holland has been inducted into the Major League Baseball Clubhouse Managers Association Hall of Fame.

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    Today on Pinstripe Alley – 8/8/26

    NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 07: Ryan McMahon #19 (C) of the New York Yankees celebrates his tenth inning game winning sacrifice fly against the Atlanta Braves with teammates Heliot Ramos #34 and Amed Rosario #14 at Yankee Stadium on August 07, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

    The Yankees haven’t exactly been in a slide with their win-loss ratio of late, but they’ve had some tough losses that could’ve easily been prevented by the offense looking alive instead of comatose. Friday night was looking like one of those losses, as they failed to capitalize on a strong Max Fried start and were getting shutout entering the ninth inning. Then a rally ignited when George Lombard Jr. hit a one-out single and a throwing error led to him advancing all the way to third. Austin Wells doubled him home, and Ben Rice singled Wells in two batters later to tie the game. In extras the Yankees miraculously avoided allowing the Manfred runner to score as Lombard and Luis García Jr. made sterling defensive plays, and then a pair of walks brought Ryan McMahon to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom half. McMahon delivered the walk-off sac fly, and the Yankees had their biggest win in a while — made all the more real by the fact that the Red Sox’s win earlier in the night necessitated a win in response or they’d get leapfrogged in the standings.

    Before we get to a battle between two of this generation’s top pitchers in Gerrit Cole and Chris Sale, we’ve got a few things prepared for you. Andrés leads off with a look at how George Lombard Jr.‘s defensive ceiling alone is paying dividends for the Yankees’ odds of winning, and Peter follows that with the Rivalry Roundup featuring the aforementioned Red Sox result. John gives Anthony Rizzo a fond look down memory lane in honor of his birthday, and Nick examines the bullpen corps with his monthly Reliever Confidence Index.

    Today’s Matchup:

    New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves

    Time: 3:05 p.m. EST

    TV: YES Network, BravesVision

    Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

    Questions/Prompts:

    1. Where does last night rank in your top five biggest wins of the season?

    2. If you could snap your fingers and live out the careers of either Gerrit Cole or Chris Sale — including their statistics, accolades, earnings, and injuries — which one would you choose?

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    Evaluating the Pens’ 2026-27 schedule, part 1

    EDMONTON, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Ryan Shea #5, Sidney Crosby #87 and Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate a first-period goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the game at Rogers Place on January 22, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

    There’s still a while before training camp starts but August is the final month without hockey. Let’s take the chance to set the stage now for the first part of the Penguins’ upcoming season by breaking down what they’ll be facing in the first three calendar months of the season.

    The activities start even earlier than this, the Pens will be sending prospects out to Detroit from September 11-14, a departure from the recent past when Pittsburgh went to Buffalo to scrimmage. Typically the full camp has officially started right after, which should mean camp will open on or around September 14th, though many of the NHL players will trickle back and participate in informal skates prior to that.

    Preseason is quick this year, just four games spread across six days from Sep 21-26. The NHL has cut out two preseason games to account for tacking on two more regular season games, boosting the total back to 84 for the first time in over 30 years. Usually the star players don’t go on the road for exhibitions, but it’s at least a quick trip to Buffalo for the final preseason game if the team wants to use that as a final tuneup before the year starts.

    The regular season for the Pens kicks off in Philadelphia on September 30th. This will mark the first time Pittsburgh has played a game that counts in the month of September in franchise history.

    October

    The Pens get their first heavy stretch of games early in the year – playing five times in eight days from Oct 3-10. This stretch includes two games against division opponents (WSH, CBJ) but don’t get used to it – Pittsburgh doesn’t play Washington again until January 18th. The NHL has loaded up on the out-of-conference games early on in the year, giving just a little taste of these division opponents early. Overall, the Pens will play Western Conference teams eight times out of their 13 October games, including knocking out the entire season series with Utah over a 10-day stretch.

    October also includes the first long road trip out west for four games in Chicago, Colorado, Vegas and Utah. Overall, Pittsburgh travels about the fewest miles of anyone in the league this season, they’ll get a chunk of that down in the early going.

    A trade-off to the low miles is a frequency for back-to-back games. The Pens ease into it here with just two b-2-b’s in October. Another theme for the club will be playing on Saturday’s – they don’t get a Saturday without a game until December 19th.

    Only five games are against 2026 playoff teams, but that could be misleading to assume an easy start with teams like the Caps, Mammoth and Panthers all looking to take steps forward this year, while also playing Western powers like Colorado, Vegas and Dallas.

    November

    November features a reprieve in the scheduling at the start of the month, with only five games in the first 18 days. That figure includes a significant amount of travel with the annual California trip against the trio of teams out west. That break erodes away a little with seven games in the last 12 days of the month, though five will be at home – including the near-annual Thanksgiving Eve home game where Calgary will be the opponent this year.

    This is also shaping up to be a tricky month scheduling-wise with three instances of back-to-back games, including a weekend stint in Nashville followed by a quick turn to get to Dallas the next day. Games outside the conference continue to be the early-season trend with eight of the first 11 games of the month coming against Western teams.

    By the time November ends, the Pens will have visited 9/16 of the West, virtually knocking out all their far games to go to, aside from a February road trip that will knock six out. The worm starts to turn after Thanksgiving where the Pens shift to playing more Eastern teams.

    At this point, Pittsburgh will have played 27 of their 84 games, completing nearly one-third of their schedule. There’s usually a statistical to-do about the of teams in a playoff spot at this point and the perceived correlation of making the playoffs, though that will be put to the test this year since the Pens will still have 24 more games against Metropolitan Division opponents still to play and plenty of hockey left to play to make or break their season.

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    James Harden gun case is settled

    EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 19: James Harden attends the FIFA Gold Carpet before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Arturo Holmes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) | FIFA via Getty Images

    Earlier this summer, Cleveland Cavaliers free agent guard James Harden was arrested on Saturday, June 26, outside of Houston after having a handgun visible in the car during a routine traffic stop. The handgun was not carried in a holster as it should’ve been. Harden was booked later that same day and released on bond.

    It looks like this situation will not follow Harden and presumably, the Cavaliers are not going to have this dark cloud hanging overhead to start the upcoming season. It was reported by TMZ that the case against Harden has been dismissed.

    It was also reported by The Athletic that Harden and the Harris County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office “completed an alternative resolution agreement.” Those details aren’t known at this time.

    It appears Harden will be able to put this situation behind him and now fully focus on his contract negotiations with the Cavaliers.

    Harden has been delaying his new contract with the Cavaliers to offer some flexibility for roster upgrades. It has been rumored that Harden’s deal will be a two or three-year agreement, but the specifics depend on what the Cavs do elsewhere on the roster.

    As the season slowly approaches, it is beneficial for both Harden and Cleveland not to have a legal issue dangling over both the player and the team.

    Harden played in 26 regular-season games with the Cavs last regular season after being traded to them in February in a deal that saw Darius Garland head to the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds on .466/.435/.840 shooting splits. He also appeared in 18 playoff games with Cleveland, averaging 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game.

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    Breaking: Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal called up to Chicago

    PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Hagen Smith #33 of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
    No. 2 White Sox prospect Hagen Smith is getting the call to The Show — along with fourth overall prospect Tanner McDougal. | (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

    In a bit of top pitching prospect musical chairs, word broke early Saturday morning that Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal were getting the call to the South Side, with fellow rookies Noah Schultz and David Sandlin heading down to Charlotte.

    White Sox sources confirmed the news to multiple outlets, with Future Sox first getting the news out.

    While not the impetus for the moves, they couldn’t come at a better time for a depleted White Sox bullpen, whose fatigue was further exacerbated on Friday night when manager Will Venable missed Zach Bove’s mound visit four batters into the game and trotted out to chat with Schultz after a two-run single, forcing the lefthander’s early exit. Despite throwing just 23 pitches, Schultz is burned for the next four days, and Sandlin had thrown just 18 ⅓ innings since June 26 while battling minor injury (he tossed 96 on Friday night in emergency relief of Schultz).

    Smith, the No. 2 prospect in the White Sox system per MLB, and McDougal (No. 4), both are starting pitchers but have taken on reduced workloads in 2026 due to injuries.

    Smith struggled through a shoulder impingement that sidelined him from mid-June to mid-July, but holds a 1.43 ERA in six games out of the Knights pen since his return.

    McDougal’s injury woes were more dire, as the righthander went from ticketed for a quick call-up to the South Side starting rotation to forearm soreness just a month into the season that evoked fears of a second, looming TJS. Returning to action a couple of weeks before Smith in Charlotte, the fireballer has had a rougher go, sporting a 4.39 ERA over 12 games out of the pen since his return.

    In what turns out to be some cheeky foreshadowing, GM Chris Getz all but promised the duo would be promoted before season’s end during his pregame press gaggle on Friday.

    “[Smith and McDougal] are pitching well out of the bullpen,” Getz said. “We anticipate that they will be helping us at some point. We don’t know exactly when. But those guys are transitioning well.”

    As opposed to the piggyback arrangement planned with Schultz and Sandlin — Sandlin in fact was expected to take over from Schultz mid-game on Friday and close it out, sparing a pen that had seen seven of eight arms spent in the marathon loss in Boston on Thursday — neither Smith nor McDougal will be assuming a rotation spot. As Erick Fedde presumably resumes the rotation role that Luis Castillo booted him from for a turn, the two newest White Sox will provide high-octane relief in doses not deeper than two innings.

    While 0% of Sox brass and fans would anticipate Friday being Schultz’s last taste of the majors, what a tragic finale it would be if so: 23 pitches to earn one out, two runs on his ledger, and an accidental hook from a manager too prior consumed with a possible challenge to realize he was removing his young starter from the game.

    After a shaky MLB debut on April 13, Schultz ran off three straight stellar starts (and his first two MLB wins) that made it appear he might make as much mincemeat of the majors as Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski. Yet Schultz then set on a season-long slump that abated only briefly, in a bulk starter effort (five innings, one run) on August 1 in St. Petersburg. His season line as he heads for a re-set in Charlotte is a 3-9 record, 6.06 ERA, 1.423 WHIP and -0.4 WAR.

    Sandlin, unlike first-rounder Schultz an 11th round diamond in the rough, has struggled similarly, albeit in less time: five games (three starts), 6.93 ERA, 1.398 WHIP, -0.4 WAR. The righty has been more hot-and-cold in his debut season, with two stellar starts spaced a month apart, and now pads his frequent flier miles in being sent back to Charlotte for a third time this year.

    McDougal is on the 40-player roster, but Smith is not, necessitating a move to open space on the maxed list. That move came on Saturday afternoon, with Triple-A reliever Wikelman González being designated for assignment. González was one of four players traded to Chicago from Boston, along with Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth and Braden Montgomery, for Garrett Crochet.

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    High divers take the plunge in Paris for a new test of reclaimed Seine’s water

    • European Aquatics Championships taking place in city

    • Threat to water quality tested two years after Games

    Paris is staging its first high-diving competition in the Seine, with athletes launching themselves from a 20-metre platform in front of the Eiffel Tower – a spectacular new test of the city’s effort to reclaim its river for sport. The event on the Pont de Bir-Hakeim has also exposed the fragility of that ambition.

    Organisers suspended training on Thursday when traces of hydrocarbons were detected upstream. By Friday, the French Swimming Federation said the affected area had been treated, allowing athletes to return to the water and the event to proceed as planned. High diving concludes on Saturday with the final two rounds and medal events, while the broader European Aquatics Championships run through to 16 August.

    Continue reading...
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    Yankees news: Yanks planning out Carlos Rodón’s return

    New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Later today, Carlos Rodón is set to make a rehab start in Triple-A. The pitcher has been out since June 30th with elbow inflammation, but his return could be close. The team may or may not give him one more rehab outing, but either way, he’ll be back before he’s fully built up pitch count-wise and will initially be used in conjunction with another pitcher “piggybacking” him.

    New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees so-so play of late has them in a pickle. For one, they’ve lost some ground on the Rays at the top of the AL East. However, they’ve also lost a lot of ground to the red hot Red Sox, which now has them staring right down the barrel at third place in the division.

    Deadline | Anthony D’Alessandro: If you ever grow tired of watching the real Yankees, good news: you may have a dramatized and/or fictional version of them to watch soon. Netflix has greenlit a show from actor Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Studios as well as MLB Studios that will be about the Yankees. Details are a little sparce at the moment over what that exactly entails.

    MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: In case you missed it, the Yankees signed catcher Mitch Garver to a minor league deal. While Garver is hardly the catcher everyone was hoping they’d acquire at the deadline, he has been a good hitter over the course of his career. The bad news is that doesn’t include this year, which led to his release by the Mariners, which put him on the open market.

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    SB Nation Reacts: who could be Jayson Tatum’s +1?

    PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Gold medalists Team United States pose for a photo during the Men's basketball medal ceremony on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

    One of the goals of the current collective bargaining agreement is to break up superteams like the 2024 championship squad — or at least spread the wealth when it comes to high paid talent. New York, particularly Jalen Brunson, had to take considerable discounts to keep the Nova Knicks together and bring home a championship. The Oklahoma City Thunder had to trim around their edges this offseason to stay competitive and maybe more importantly, under the second apron.

    Those economics were part of Boston’s decision to trade Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia and while Paul George makes roughly the same amount of money as JB, he has one year less on his contract. PG13 may not be the ideal veteran partner to pair with Jayson Tatum and some have speculated on who might be a better fit as the 28-year-old JT enters his prime.

    Last week, longtime beat writer and Sports Illustrated’s John Karalis speculated on a possible deal that would land four-time NBA champ Steph Curry with the Celtics and in a recent SB Nation poll, our readers agreed that he’d be the best fit over Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.

    OK, who voted for a Kyrie reunion, guys?

    If you’re looking at a potential timeline for Brad Stevens and the Celtics front office, the next 2-3 years could be Tatum plus the current roster plus some aging superstar/Hall-of-Famer looking for one last run at a championship. Curry might be at the top of that list. AD and KD are probably past their “could be Celtics” phase of their careers, but could it make sense down the road to pursue Damian Lillard or Jimmy Butler?

    For now, George is a green and Boston is firmly in the Eastern Conference mix. Our friends at FanDuel have the Celtics (+1400) just behind the Knicks (+950) and Sixers (+1100) to raise Banner 19.