LAS VEGAS — Entering what feels like a make-or-break season for his Knicks career, Pacôme Dadiet understands the assignment.
“[Become] more efficient at the 3-point line,” the 20-year-old forward said over the weekend, “and play harder.”
Dadiet has been, to this point, a disappointment as New York’s lone first-round draft pick in the past four years. His career 3-point efficiency sits at a paltry 21.9 percent. Scouts have noted his low motor, with Dadiet’s relaxed movements reminiscent of another former Knicks first-round pick: Kevin Knox.
Pacome Dadiet #4 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
With that in mind, Dadiet’s goal to “play harder” is noteworthy. It would help his defense and rebounding, which also have underwhelmed. As one NBA general manager jokingly texted last year during Las Vegas Summer League: “I wouldn’t trade a croissant for Pacôme Dadiet.”
Even with all the signs of a bust, the Frenchman remains on the Knicks roster — guaranteed at roughly $3 million — because of the tantalizing potential. He has the ideal build and skill set for a forward, standing at 6-foot-9 with all the proper mechanics on his jumper.
He’s also young enough to believe a giant leap still is possible.
It’s why people inside the Knicks are predicting a breakout for Dadiet, who nonetheless struggled in the opening two games of this year’s summer league with 16.5 points per game on 36 percent shooting — and 15.4 percent from beyond the arc.
It’s all significant now for Dadiet, whose contract includes a team option for next season with an Oct. 31 deadline. If the Knicks don’t pick up that $5.3 million option — and it would be impossible to justify picking that up right now — Dadiet will become a trade candidate and a free agent next summer.
“I have a better feeling of what the expectations are,” Dadiet said. “So trying to put that into my workouts. Also, I know when to take time off [and] when to work; feeling more experienced.”
What are those expectations?
“It’s more like playing hard [and being] somebody who can make shots, [make] open shots, play defense,” he said.
Dadiet certainly has the blueprint for success on a championship squad. He has watched and absorbed masterful playoff performances from Knicks wings Mikal Bridges and, especially, OG Anunoby.
They played off the ball, played defense and thrived.
Pacome Dadiet has been underwhelming in his Knicks opportunities thus far. NBAE via Getty Images
“I’ve been watching them a lot,” Dadiet said. “I know [playing off the ball] is important to our schemes, so just try to be better.”
To stick around, Dadiet has to capitalize on his chances. They’ve been sporadic for him in the NBA.
He shockingly started his 2024-25 rookie campaign in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation, but that lasted just a couple of games before Dadiet was relegated to the bench. He was a starter in the preseason last year under Mike Brown but struggled during the games in Abu Dhabi and never recovered.
People around the league believed Dadiet’s preseason chance last year mostly was about showcasing him for a trade.
A deal never developed, and Dadiet is now part of a young group the Knicks will try to lean on to get through the regular season. After Thibodeau was fired, the Knicks put out the message they’re emphasizing development and even hired a player development coach, Billy Lange.
It’s especially important since building out depth is more difficult while under the mandate of avoiding the second apron of the luxury tax. Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, Mohamed Diawara, Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil all have been drafted over the last three years. It’d be great for the Knicks if one pops.
Dadiet is overdue and grasps that 3-point shooting and effort are the way forward.
The LeBron James free agency saga has been drawn out for weeks now. If James does sign with the Warriors, what does that mean for forward Moses Moody and his future with the franchise?
Moody suffered a torn left patellar tendon in March, which required surgery and caused him to miss the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season.
A potential LeBron signing would confirm the agenda for Golden State is to win right away. With a timetable uncertain for Moody’s return to the floor, a trade is possible to maximize the Warriors’ potential during the 2026-27 season.
Another factor is that Moody and James are represented by the same agent: Rich Paul. Paul has been active in the media recently since James announced his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I don’t call Rich every day,” Moody said. “I’m not in it like that, because I ain’t got nothing to do with how it’s gonna go down. So I’m just watching. … Whenever something needs to be talked about, it will.”
Some of the top potential suitors for James include the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Warriors. James recently spent some time with Draymond Green, who couldn’t help but try to recruit LeBron to the Bay. Green shared how the experience went on “The Draymond Green Show.”
Draymond on hanging out with LeBron James
"I'd be remissed if I don't take the opportunity to throw my pitch in there, I'd be crazy if we're together for x amount of days and at no point am I like 'yo, we need to chop it up, what the hell going on? what we doing?' of course I… pic.twitter.com/C5GBVyw6Fy
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) July 12, 2026
LeBron’s decision doesn’t affect just him. Many role players like Moody will have their fate decided by the outcomes of NBA free agency. Once the first domino falls, then the rest will follow in line.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 19: A detail shot of baseballs in a cart during the MLB Home Run Derby X quarter finals at The Ballpark at America First Square on Friday, September 19, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tyler McFarland/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to another week A’s fans!
The first half is officially in the books. The Athletics’ season began well enough as the club was in first place as late as May. Unfortunately a rough June and July has seemingly sunk the A’s playoff hopes as the club’s nine-game losing streak has dropped them to 41-55, good for fourth place and eight games back in the AL West. They’re a closer 6 1/2 games out in the Wild Card hunt but with seven teams ahead of them. With the third-worst record in the American League its seeming that the squad will be sellers this deadline.
On the bright side of things the A’s added lots of talent this weekend through the MLB Draft. The club added a high-ceiling outfielder and a couple interesting college arms to a farm system that needs all the talent they can get. There’s plenty more intriguing players that have joined the system and it’s likely that one of those late-round picks ends up being the best player in the class. That randomness is just how the game works sometimes.
Anyway, there’s no baseball games today but there is some evening entertainment for us tonight. The Home Run Derby is set and the field is wide open. There’s no clear-cut favorite this year but it’s going to be a star-studded lineup for us fans to watch. In Philadelphia it’d be fun to see one of the two Phillies in Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber take the crown and win it in front of the home town team. Who do you all got taking it tonight?
The Derby begins at 5 p.m. Pacific time. Have a great day everyone.
The big 3 arms from this draft (Edwards, Gaeckle, Dudan) will really be a test for the A’s pitching development. All are super interesting, but carry significant reliever risk. It will be fascinating to see if the A’s can turn any of them into quality mlb starters
STATELINE, Nev. – Yaxel Lendeborg’s journey from college basketball to the Warriors was long and stellar yet perhaps under appreciated for his ability to adapt to his surroundings. He was a transformer in the purest sense.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Lendeborg spent two seasons at University of Alabama-Birmingham, where his dominating play at power forward and center made him the most coveted big man to enter the NCAA transfer portal in April 2025.
Lendeborg chose the University of Michigan, where coach Dusty May scanned his rebuilt roster and opted to move Lendeborg to small forward. Alongside fellow transfer students Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr., Lendeborg became a super-size wing.
After moving from the paint to the perimeter in his final college season, Lendeborg was the best player on a Wolverines team that rolled to a national championship.
Jay Bilas, a college basketball analyst at ESPN since 1995, believes Lendeborg’s adaptability was a factor when Golden State selected him with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“I think it’s difficult for the average player,” Bilas told NBC Sports Bay Area. “But for the star player . . . that’s one of the beautiful things about Yaxel Lendeborg. He’s willing to do what’s asked of him. UAB said ‘Hey, we need you to operate more in the middle and play a 5 spot and guard the 5.’ He essentially played the 3 — or hybrid 3-4 – at Michigan. And he did it. And by all accounts was a great teammate.”
In Lendeborg’s final season at UAB, he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He was one of only two players in NCAA Division I history finish a season with more than 600 points, 450 rebounds and 150 assists. The other is Larry Bird, who accomplished the feat in 1978-79.
With Lendeborg’s name on the board when the Warriors were on the clock on the night of the draft, he was the obvious choice for a team with many needs and a veteran core desperate for effective support.
“We’ve been following Yax for a few years now,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said after the draft. “And I think the biggest thing that sticks out about him is he’s a winner. Speaks no further than winning the national championship this year at Michigan.
“But at prior levels, focused on winning, multiskilled, versatile player that we think can play both sides of the ball. He’s got tremendous size. He’s got a great feel for the game. He’s a tremendous teammate. We think he’ll fit in really well here.”
The Warriors project Lendeborg, 23, will be no less than a rotation player as a rookie, with the likelihood of earning some starts.
“I felt like it was a perfect match because Yaxel Lendeborg is not only an outstanding player; he’s got tremendous versatility and he’s built like a tank,” Bilas said. “Because of his versatility, people would say he’s a ‘Swiss Army knife.’ He’s a Swiss Army tank. But he’s plug and play.
“He’s going to be 24 before the season starts, so he’ll be he’ll be ready to go on day one.
You don’t have to wait; it’s not like you’re taking an 18- or 19-year-old freshman that might take a little bit of time to develop. He’s ready now. And he’s really smart. And it’s not all about him. He’s a team guy, so he’ll fit in really nicely with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, the whole crew. Draymond Green. He fits the maturity of that team.”
Lendeborg has appeared in four NBA Summer League games, two in the California Classic at Chase Center and two more in the Las Vegas Summer League. He’s averaging 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game. Moreover, he usually has been the most impressive player on the floor.
Lendeborg is not a perfect player. His athleticism and lateral movement are good but not elite. He’ll turn 24 on Sept. 30, which doesn’t hurt Golden State’s team-building approach, as he’ll still be in his mid-20s when Curry and Green leave the franchise.
The Warriors already know they have a young player who can fill several needs. It’s a plus that he can provide help at every position on the frontcourt.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers waits during the national anthem before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James is 41 years old and still seizes the epicenter of the NBA offseason discourse. He is a gargantuan figure, almost larger, if not bigger, than the sport of basketball itself. Therefore, it is assumed that where LeBron goes, he will be the sun of any team’s solar system.
A common complaint amongst NBA pundits about another potential reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers is that LeBron’s positional fit is, if anything, more awkward than others’. While LeBron will be the biggest name on the roster wherever he lands, at this phase of his career, LeBron cannot be the end-all, be-all of the roster. The good thing for both LeBron and the team is that his game is so versatile it seamlessly integrates into whatever the roster requires of him.
LeBron’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers really took an interesting turn when Luka Dončić arrived. While it definitely extended the window for LA, it left LeBron in a position we hadn’t really seen him in his 23 years in the league: a clear second banana.
Instead of inviting criticism, it actually drew the King more praise — highlighting that this new role was a perfect transition for an aging mega-star. LeBron is one of the smartest players in league history. He knows what the team needs and what leads to winning. Instead of being the focal point, he showed that he can expand his game to help maintain a dependable floor of production while also driving winning through contributions that extend beyond the box score.
LeBron’s greatest offensive strength this past season wasn’t any one skill; it was his capacity to be whatever the Lakers needed on a given night. He could function as the engine of the offense, initiating nearly every action, or recede into a complementary role, leveraging his screening, cutting, spacing, and connective passing to elevate the players around him. Few stars possess that kind of stylistic flexibility without sacrificing their effectiveness.
That versatility became especially valuable as the Lakers’ personnel shifted throughout the year. Rather than forcing the offense to conform to him, James continually reshaped his game to fit the roster at hand, ensuring the team retained its identity regardless of who was available.
By the time the playoffs arrived and injuries thrust him back into the spotlight, he effortlessly expanded his responsibilities, controlling tempo, diagnosing coverages, and creating advantages wherever they presented themselves. His ability to toggle between superstar creator and elite complementary piece wasn’t simply a luxury; it was the foundation that kept the Lakers competitive under constantly changing circumstances.
In Cleveland, LeBron would be able to continue this role on a greater scale, as Cleveland’s roster is more balanced. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, they would carry the bulk of time on-ball, allowing LeBron to choose his spots. The presence of dynamic bigs in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen allows LeBron to have plentiful options while also having elite lob threats and, in the case of Allen, an excellent screener. Knockdown shooters like Sam Merrill and Max Strus are archetypes that have always had success with LeBron throughout all iterations of his career.
The basketball concerns floating around about LeBron being an awkward fit with the Cavaliers are underselling the fact that the Lakers have asked him to be the ultimate basketball chameleon over the last season and a half. LeBron can insert himself into any offense in the league and find his best way to ingratiate himself with any roster. Cleveland offers him the most coverage of responsibility to be the guy of any of the realistic options out there. It already is apparent that Cleveland’s stars are welcoming and not daunted by the prospect of the King joining the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers aren’t desperate for the 2010’s version of LeBron James; this isn’t 2014 when he brought with him a level of competency that the franchise was lacking. This team has been a constant postseason presence since 2022, having just made their first non-LeBron run to the Eastern Conference Finals. The potential reunion is one where LeBron can insert himself into the Cavaliers lineup, and it’s not like the messiah arrived. It instead feels like the ultimate complementary piece that completes the Cavaliers roster.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 17: Ronel Blanco #56 of the Houston Astros sits in the dugout during a game agaisnt the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on May 17, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (45-47) won 3-1 (BOX SCORE)
Blanco started for Sugar Land and tossed 4.1 scoreless innings. Sugar Land got on the board in the third inning on a Biggio RBI double. The pen was solid allowing just one unearned run as the Isotopes tied it in the 7th. In the bottom of the 9th, Sugar Land walked it off on a Meyers 2 run home run as they won 3-1.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (40-47) lost 11-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning on an Encarnacion steal of home. Hertzler got the start and went 2 innings allowing 3 runs. Gillis pitched in relief but had his first rough outing in a while allowing 7 tuns over 5 innings. The offense got one in the third on a Sisneros groundout and another in the 5th on an Austin sac fly but that was it as the Hooks fell 11-3.
Brett Gillis, RHP: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Nic Swanson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (30-56) lost 10-4 (BOX SCORE)
Howard started for Asheville but struggled allowing 4 runs over 3.2 innings of work. The offense got on the board in the bottom of the inning on a Powell sac fly and a run on a passed ball. The pen struggled for Asheville allowing another 6 runs as they found themselves down 10-2. The offense got 2 runs back in on Daudet and Batista RBI singles but that was it as they fell 10-4.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (42-42) lost 18-1 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning on a Cauro RBI single. Things went downhill fast after that. The pitching staff had a rough game allowing 18 runs over 8 innings. The offense was quiet the rest of the way collecting just six hits as they fell 18-1.
Note: This was Newman’s first game in Fayetteville since June 3rd.
The LeBron James sweepstakes have continued into a new week, and the timeline for a final decision remains unclear.
Likewise, James’ camp hasn’t dropped many explicit hints as to who has the best chance of landing the 22-time NBA All-Star.
The Warriors still do appear to be in the running, though, as ESPN insider Shams Charania joined “NBA Today” on Monday to share the latest news around James’ decision and when it might come.
“Every day, LeBron James inches closer and closer to a decision,” Charania explained from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. “It’s decision time for LeBron James because all the information, for the most part, is in. [General managers], presidents, owners — they’ve all been heard from. They’re continuing to have conversations with agent Rich Paul here this week as well. Players have also reached out to LeBron James to recruit him, and yes, all the voice notes have also been listened to, and rosters have been set around the league. The decks have been set.
“And the leading suitors have been Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota. And what we know definitively is LeBron James has made it clear privately that he wants to go somewhere where he can compete for a championship, somewhere where he feels like he finds that happiness from a team environment and culture that he feels he can uplift. And the big thing here is, this is not going to be a financially driven decision, so that gives LeBron James the ability to hear from teams that have the minimum, have other exceptions, have salary-cap space as well, and also be allowed to take his time through this decision.”
None of this news is particularly new, but perhaps Golden State continuing to be one of the “leading suitors,” according to Charania, is a good sign. After all, several reports last week suggested the Warriors were falling behind in the race to sign James.
Who knows, maybe Draymond Green’s pitch to his good friend in Puerto Rico last week has made James lean more in the Warriors’ direction.
Johni Broome turns 24 years old next week. The reality is that players of Broome’s age don’t have a lot of time to prove their worth in the NBA. When you’re an older draft pick, you either quickly assimilate to life in the association, or you’re quickly phased out. There will always be veterans available for at or near league-minimum prices that can round out a roster and play serviceable minutes in the regular season at the very least. Most teams will quickly move on from a recent draft pick who is approaching his mid 20s if that player is nothing more than a G Leaguer who occasionally sneaks his way into the bottom of their NBA rotation.
The cold reality for players like Broome who play (at least) four years of college basketball is that they’re not given as many chances in the NBA players who were drafted at 19 or 20. That makes what was essentially a non-existent rookie season for Broome in the NBA to be that much more concerning. It’s also resulted in this year’s NBA Summer League being the beginning of a pivotal 2026-27 for Philadelphia’s second-round pick one year ago.
Broome had 19 points and 13 rebounds this past Thursday against Detroit. He then posted 23 points and 11 boards on Saturday against Indiana, despite a disappointing fourth quarter vs. the Pacers. His combined plus/minus rating in the two games is a +18. The obvious takeaway here is this is exactly what Broome should be doing in these games, as should any player that’s playing in the NBA Summer League for the second time.
Time will tell if these are significant improvements for Broome or if he just isn’t an NBA player. Broome was a high-level achiever in college so the fact that he’s performing at a high level against similar competition shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise. Despite some good statistical performances, it should also be pointed out that Broome is 2-of-12 from the three-point line in two games so far in this year’s Summer League. For a player who lacks top-end athleticism, his offensive ability was going to have to be aided by some good outside shooting and that hasn’t looked good so far this summer for the second-year player out of Auburn.
So where does Broome go from here? Well, at the bare minimum, he’ll need to churn out more good performances this week as Summer League continues. Then the real test for Broome will come in training camp in September and the handful of preseason games Philadelphia will play in October. If he can crack the rotation for Philly early in the season after that, how is that going to change? Once the regular season starts and the games start counting for real, developing a 24-year-old recent second-round pick isn’t going to be a priority.
Broome’s time to show the Sixers’ coaching staff he belongs in the NBA is now and in September and October. Should he earn his way into a bench role for Philadelphia this season, perhaps the leash will get a little bit longer and he could perhaps stabilize himself as an eighth or ninth man in a rotation. We’ve all known about the Sixers’ struggles to rebound well and maybe being a good rebounder becomes the best path to playing time for Broome come the fall, especially if his jump shot never gets better.
Right now, it just feels like Broome is meeting the minimum standard of what he should be doing. But can at least some of it carry over into a regular role with the Sixers in 2026-27? The clock’s ticking.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons plays defense during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While we saw Okorie struggle in his second game by shooting 5-for-17 from the field, he was still able to find ways to impact the game with 14 points, three rebounds, six assists, and seven steals.
Scoring
If he has the ball in transition, good luck stopping Okorie. He was able to get into the paint plenty yesterday, including knocking down multiple and-one layups.
Okorie struggled finishing around the rim yesterday. Some were tough looks that didn’t fall and others were well-defended by Cleveland. He got stuffed at the rim on this possession, but still ended up finding Brice Williams for an open trailing three.
Here’s another where the opportunity to get a shot up vanished in front of his eyes. A couple of his drives and shots at the rim, like this one, looked forced – his shot selection should improve as he adjusts to the NBA game.
Cleveland prevented him from getting all the way to the rim on this possession, so instead of forcing up a tough shot, he was able to find an open Lanier for the knockdown three.
Perspective Check: Four teams have more wins than the Cubs, two teams have as many wins as the Cubs. The Cubs enter the All-Star break in the top Wild Card spot. They are now only one loss behind the Braves and five behind the Brewers. They are on pace for 91 wins. A quirk about me, I loathe the All-Star break being the end of the “first half.” Approximately 60 percent of this year’s games have been played. Regardless, the Cubs enter the break playing well and in good position.
Secondary perspective check. As the pendulum swings back and forth, I try to keep us from getting either too high or too low. So we could also note that the Cubs were 27-12 on May 8. They’ve played 57 games since that time. They’ve won 27 more games over that time. But they lost 30. That’s a very long, very mediocre stretch. This cuts both ways. This is that point I’ve made all along. This is what your eyes tell you. This team runs hot and cold. For very long stretches.
This team has a fairly special group of position players and a pretty rough pitching staff. This team is built to reach the playoffs and to be in a decent position, on paper, when they get there. I do not think that their pitching staff will be able to keep up with the damage that will be done to that staff by a talented offensive team. Most of the playoff teams will be talented offensively. It definitely behooves this front office to add real talent at the trade deadline. That’s always a reluctance and prices are high.
I will say, on the one hand, that the silver lining is that it is hard to imagine a healthy pitcher that doesn’t make this staff better. You don’t have to show at the premium store to improve your chances this season. But, are you trying to make sure you get in? Are you trying to win a series or two? Or do you want a parade in November? It’s hard to imagine an intersection of the prospect caliber the Cubs are leading to deal and the kind of haul that would need to be made to have a chance of hoisting a trophy or two.
All of that is probably still a couple of weeks into the future. For now, there was a nice road trip and a solidly B+ first 96 games of baseball. This team definitely shot itself in the foot several times in the first half and was ravaged by injuries. I would hope that this front office spends serious time in the offseason and assesses the causes of this many injuries. I’ve seen some point out that there are an awful lot of injured pitchers for this team that have a track record of being injured. Were those arms properly nurtured? Or were they ridden too hard? Are there things the training staff needs to do better? Does the front office need to de-emphasize the acquisition of these types of players or at least the quantity of these types of players.
Sunday afternoon the Cubs jumped on top early, saw their lead get away, but then bounced back and won a relatively easy one. I like seeing the team weather the adversity. The team accounted for itself well Saturday and Sunday after a couple of rough losses and a slow start Saturday. It looked like the offense was heading back into a funk but they bounced hard. The 2025 Cubs had so much resiliency. We see another one of those indications that something like that is not necessarily a “skill.” They didn’t lose that resiliency in the offseason. Also, it’s easier said than done, but if you want to avoid long losing streaks, hire the best starting rotation in baseball. It’s amazing when you get a decent start every night, how losing streaks don’t really take root. I remember that about the 2003 Cubs. They never really slumped, because they had so much pitching.
Terrific sign of the weekend was Alex Bregman being in the middle of so much of the scoring and hitting a couple of long balls. I thought he hit a few balls on the trip that were really well hit that came up just short of getting out too. So he’s on it pretty good right now. That’s probably the primary reason that I hate to see the break right now. The pitching felt better late in the first half, but I’m sure they can use a reset too. It looks like Jameson Taillon will be an option again shortly, too. Hopefully the time away and time working at the minor league level helps clear some of what has been troubling him too. He did not look major league worthy when last we saw him.
Three Positives:
Alex Bregman had a three-hit, four RBI day. He scored twice. He had a double and a homer.
Michael Busch had a couple of doubles early in this one and helped get the scoring going. He drove in one and scored one.
Kevin Alcántara had a two-run single that felt quite large at the time it occurred. The Cubs had runners on second and third with no outs and bases loaded with one out and then a Dansby Swanson strikeout threatened to have the Cubs come away empty handed, trailing 4-2.
Obligatory Pete Crow-Armstrong watch: One hit, two walks, and RBI and two runs scored in five plate appearances.
Game 96, July 12: Cubs 8, Reds 4 (54-42)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Alex Bregman (.294). 3-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R
Hero: Kevin Alcántara (.185). 1-2, 2 RBI
Sidekick: Michael Busch (.175). 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.121). 0-4
Goat: Pedro Ramírez (-.071). 0-1, BB
Kid: Carson Kelly (-.065). 0-4, BB, R, DP
WPA Play of the Game: Alex Bregman’s three-run homer in the seventh off of former Cub prospect Pierce Johnson. (.207)
Reds Play of the Game: Eugenio Suárez millionth career home run against the Cubs or something like that. Gave the Reds a two-run lead. (.191)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 95 Winner: Alex Bregman received 51 of 62 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +24
Carson Kelly +16.5
Michael Busch +15
Ben Brown +13.5
Trent Thornton +12.5
Phil Maton -10
Dansby Swanson -11
Seiya Suzuki -11.5
Nico Hoerner -12
Caleb Thielbar -14
Up Next: The All-Star break. Baseball restarts Friday at home against the Twins (48-49). Fangraphs is projecting Shōta Imanaga getting the first game and Matthew Boyd the second. Boyd technically could pitch Friday, but Saturday would be the more typical five days of rest. Fangraphs has the Cubs projected as favorites in five of the six games at home to start post-Break play (Twins and Tigers coming in). It gets tougher after that, so gonna want to start things off hot.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 12: Weston Wilson #31 of the Seattle Mariners runs the bases after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 12, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things have not always been pretty for the Yankees of late, but they will go into the All-Star break on a good note. Capping it off on Sunday, the Yankees had a trio of comeback wins over the weekend during their series in DC against the Nationals. There’s still plenty of things they need to do better and have go their way over the rest of the season, but they at least came away with a couple of wins to end the first half.
As that was going on, there were plenty of other games happening around the league, with some also having an impact on the Yankees’ place in the standings. Let’s take a look at how some other AL notables ended their first halves.
Seattle Mariners (48-49) 8, Tampa Bay Rays (58-38) 2
The Yankees managed to gain one full game back before the All-Star break, as three RBI games from J.P. Crawford and Randy Arozarena allowed the Mariners to down the Rays.
Seattle broke things open fairly early into the game. In the second inning, Victor Robles drove home one run on a sacrifice fly before Crawford scored another two with an RBI double. However, they put up an even bigger frame shortly after that. In the fourth, Weston Wilson and Arozarena both went deep, with the latter being a three-run shot.
One big negative for Seattle came when starting pitcher Emerson Hancock was forced to leave the game after 1.2 innings, having gotten hit on the hand by a comebacker. (X-rays later came back negative.) However, the M’s bullpen backed him up very well. Tampa Bay did get two runs back in the eighth thanks to a Jonathan Aranda homer, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Seattle’s bullpen allowed just four hits over the final 7.1 innings to finish things off.
Other Games
Texas Rangers (49-47) 6, Houston Astros (47-51) 5: Having blown a lead and needing to rally in the eighth, the Rangers then walked it off in the ninth on a Brandon Nimmo single. Texas held leads of 3-0 and 4-1, only for the Astros to chip away and then take a lead on a Cam Smith homer in the top of the eighth. However, Kyle Highashioka hit one to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, allowing Texas to walk away with the win in the following frame.
Chicago White Sox (50-45) 9, Athletics (41-55) 1: The White Sox’s remarkable rise will see them go into the All-Star break tied atop the AL Central after crushing the A’s. Despite going down 1-0 in the top of the first, the White Sox struck with six in the bottom half of the frame, with Braden Montgomery hitting a three-run home run. It wasn’t much of a contest after that, as Noah Schultz and Chicago’s bullpen didn’t allow a run the rest of the after the first inning.
Cleveland Guardians (51-46) 5, Miami Marlins (52-45) 2: The White Sox weren’t able to take first all for themselves, though, as the Guardians kept pace on Sunday. Cleveland never trailed in the game as they scored two runs in the top of the first after RBI hits from Brayan Rocchio and Kyle Manzardo. Joey Cantillo was pretty good on the mound for the Guardians, striking out nine while allowing one run in five innings. The Marlins cut into Cleveland’s lead at points, but the Guardians answered back to keep Miami at arm’s length.
Carson Wiggins. Aiden Robbins. Shane Sdao. You might not remember any of their names in five years, but there’s always a chance one of these newly-drafted Mets could be the next David Wright, or Jacob deGrom, or Pete Alonso, or Pete Crow-Armstrong—well, hopefully not that last one, for the sake of fans’ collective sanity.
It can feel impossible to parse through the projections of power and stuff, the anecdotes about players’ mature mindsets, the nuance of whether the difference between a 60-grade tool or a 65-grade tool actually matters when measured on an already-confusing 20-80 scale for evaluating draftees. It can feel pointless and romantic, especially when players are likely years away from having an impact at the major league level. But if this season has shown any bright spot, it’s that homegrown talent can still be a spark in dark times. Perhaps one of these newest Mets prospects may at least prove to be the next burst of youth on the horizon, if not the next franchise legend.
It’s in the spirit of romantic optimism that we take a journey through memory lane to visit the top 10 players drafted and signed by the Mets, according to bWAR. Note that this criteria includes total career bWAR, not just bWAR as a member of the Mets, and that it excludes players who may have been selected by the Mets but didn’t sign with them. Without further ado, here is the list…
10. PETE ALONSO (25.2 bWAR) – 2016, 2nd round, 64th overall
The Gator was the Mets’ third selection in the 2016 draft, after first-round pitchers Justin Dunn and Anthony Kay. Dunn was traded to the Mariners in the Edwin Díaz deal, while Kay was dealt to the Blue Jays the following summer in a Deadline deal for Marcus Stroman. But Alonso stayed — at least through 2025 — and became a five-time All-Star, two-time Home Run Derby champ, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger, and the franchise’s all-time home run leader with a total of 264.
Sandy Alderson kicked off his tenure as the Mets’ general manager with a big swing, selecting an 18-year-old from Wyoming with his first draft pick. Five years later, Nimmo made his big-league debut, and ten years after that he remains a valuable player as a veteran with the Rangers. Nimmo is one of just three players since 2000 to play a decade in orange and blue, along with fellow homegrown Mets David Wright and José Reyes. Nimmo is also the all-time leader in games played, home runs, runs, RBI, and walks among players born in Wyoming.
Burnett never actually played for the Mets, as he was traded to the Marlins in the Al Leiter deal as a minor leaguer in 1998. Burnett went on to have a 17-year career, earning just one All-Star selection which came during his 17th season in 2015. His 164 career wins rank fourth among eighth-rounders, behind Charlie Hough (216), Tim Wakefield (200), and Derek Lowe (176). But Burnett is certainly not the most infamous Mets draft pick to have been traded early in a decorated career (more on that later in the list). The only other pitchers the Mets have selected in the eighth round who made it to the big leagues are Tylor Megill, who was taken in the 2018 draft, and Mike Vasil — the White Sox’ magic man who was originally selected by the Mets in 2021.
The most productive left-handed-pitcher drafted and signed by the Mets according to bWAR, Matlack earned three All-Star selections and a Rookie of the Year Award during his seven seasons in New York. In the 1973 postseason, he tossed 25 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run (Weaver-esque) while allowing just eight hits before eventually taking the loss in Game 7 of the World Series. The following season, Matlack put up a 2.41 ERA in 265.1 innings of work, good for a 9.1 bWAR — fifth-most in a season by any Mets pitcher.
The Mets have made five No. 1 overall picks in the draft: Steven Chilcott (1966), Tim Foli (1968), Strawberry, Shawn Abner (1984), and Paul Wilson (1994). Chilcott didn’t make the majors. Abner was traded after ’86 in the Kevin McReynolds deal, and ended his career with a negative bWAR. Wilson played one season with the Mets and Foli enjoyed a 16-year big league career, but only Strawberry became a legitimate star. His numbers rank among the best for first-overall picks, with 335 homers (seventh), 221 steals (third), and 1,000 RBI (11th).
Only four 13th-round picks in the history of the draft have more bWAR than Dykstra: Albert Pujols, Jim Thome, Jack Clark, and Steve Finley. He is also one of only three Mets draftees in the 13th-round to record 20+ bWAR, all of whom were left-handed hitters: Dykstra, Darin Erstad (not signed), and Daniel Murphy. It’s possible Alonso or Nimmo surpass Dykstra’s career bWAR total, but as of now, Nails is the second-most valuable position player drafted and signed by the Mets behind…
The Mets received a compensatory pick when Mike Hampton departed in free agency following the 2000 season. They made the most of it. Wright is the franchise leader in hits (1,777), runs (949), and RBI (970), and likely the team’s last captain for quite some time. But Wright was actually the Mets’ second pick of the 2001 draft, as right-handed reliever Aaron Heilman was taken 18th overall. It’s safe to say the Mets buried the lede on that one.
Originally a shortstop in college, deGrom was never a big-name pitching prospect. He was taken in the ninth round, he underwent Tommy John surgery in the minors, and when he arrived in the majors as a 25-year-old he wasn’t even the most anticipated Mets pitcher to debut that series (recall Rafael Montero). But deGrom made the most of that ninth-round selection, as his 49.9 career bWAR trails only Hall of Famer Fred McGriff among ninth-rounders. Oddly enough, the only other pitcher since 2018 with back-to-back Cy Young Awards was a fellow ninth-round pick: the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal.
It’s hard to hit as resounding a ‘home run’ with two first-round draft picks as the Mets did in the early ’80s with Doc and Darryl. Gooden has the fourth-most pitching bWAR of any pitcher taken within the first five overall picks, behind Justin Verlander (82.3), Kevin Brown (68.2), and Chuck Finley (58.3). He also has the most bWAR of any Mets first-rounder, and the most bWAR as a Metof any pitcher the franchise has drafted. I specify “as a Met”because, well…
Taken two rounds after the Dodgers selected Tom Seaver in the 1965 draft, 18-year-old Nolan Ryan would become by far the most productive 12th-round pick in draft history, putting up more than three times the bWAR of center fielder Bill North with 26.8 in second-place. Only 3.0 bWAR came with the Mets between the 1966-71, before he was traded to the Angels in a package for Jim Fregosi. Ryan is the only Hall of Famer the Mets have ever selected and signed in the draft. 16 years later, in the 1981 Draft, the Mets selected another pitcher in the 12th round who would end up blowing past Ryan’s career bWAR total. But as history would have it, Roger Clemens remained unsigned until he was taken in the first round by the Red Sox two years later.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 21: Tate Southisene #19 of the Atlanta Braves runs to first during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Stripers extended their winning streak to four games after a well fought game featuring strong pitching and the long ball. Let’s take a look at how the Stripers got it done.
Drue Hackenberg got the start and was extremely strong – allowing just a single hit over five innings of work. His one blemish came in the fourth inning when Hackenberg allowed back-to-back walks before allowing a sacrifice fly to score. Outside of that, Drue was completely in control. Drue featured his two-seam, four-seam, curveball, changeup, while sprinkling in his cutter. After a rough 2025, Drue hasn’t allowed more than four earned runs in a single start and has done a great job of re-establishing his value in the Braves pitching depth chart. After five strong innings the Stripers turned to Elieser Hernández (2IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K) who was just as strong – getting through two perfect innings as he leaned heavily on his four-seam and cutter. Following Elieser was Connor Thomas who was also absolutely fantastic as he absolutely pounded the zone with 9 strikes on 10 pitches while recording two strikeouts. Closing out the game, with the game pretty firmly in hand, was Anthony Molina (1IP 2H 1ER 0BB 1K) who allowed a run to score while inducing a double play.
Offensively, the recipe for success was a lot like the last game as Patrick Clohisy and Rowdy Tellez continued to show out. Fast forwarding to the fourth inning, the Stripers found themselves down 1-0, before loading the bases when Patrick Clohisy tied the game with an RBI single. Two batters later Rowdy Tellez drove in two with a two RBI single. One inning later, Cal Conley connected on his second home run of the seasons driving in Aaron Schunk and DaShawn Keirsey Jr., extending the Stripers lead to 6-1. One inning later it was once again Rowdy Tellez who drove in the last run of the game for the Stripers with this absolute bomb of a home run coming in at 110.4 MPH and going 430’ – extending his streak to three straight games with a home run.
The suddenly surging Columbus Clingstones picked up their seventh win in their last 10 games with another strong starting pitching performance, and timely hitting.
Cedric de Grandpre got the start for the Clingstones and was absolutely dynamic – striking out seven across six innings of work. Cedric continued to utilize his four-seam/two-seam/cutter fastball repertoire to great success as he never really ran into much trouble in the start. His only blemish cam in the third inning when he allowed a run scoring single with two outs. After that, Cedric would retire the next ten hitters to get the Clingstones through six innings. He would be replaced by Braden Scott (0.1IP 4H 3ER 0BB 1K), making his Clingstones debut, and he struggled – allowing back-to-back singles before eventually surrendering a three run home run and another single. He would be replaced by Luis Vargas (1.2IP 0H 0R 1BB 3K) who was the opposite, immediately retiring the first two batters he saw to end the threat, before striking out the side in his next inning of work. Isaac Gallegos (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K) picked up his first save of the season for the Clingstones with a perfect ninth.
Offensively, it was Jordan Groshans who got the fun started for the Clingstones very early on – hitting a two run home run in the first.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) July 12, 2026
This was Jordan’s 17th home run of the season which has been one of the best of his career, and has been an absolutely fantastic signing for the organization. Logan Braunschweig would drive in the third run of the game for the Clingstones in the fourth inning with an RBI single that drove in Will Verdung to extend the Clingstones lead to 3-1. They would tack on an additional three runs in the fifth inning highlighted by an Archer Brookman two run home run. The final run of the game for the Clingstones came in the seventh inning with a Drew Compton RBI single that drove in Luke Waddell.
As a team the Clingstones went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding seven on base.
(42-42) Rome Emperors 7, (41-44) Hudson Valley Renegades 4
The Aiven Cabral show continued, while Tate Southisene got it going offensively in a thrilling victory for the Rome Emperors.
Cabral did what he has done all year, absolutely pounding the zone with his pitch mix and allowing just two hits across five innings, while striking out five. Outside of a third inning double Aiven was in complete control of the game. He was efficient as he needed just 63 pitches to get through his outing. On the season Aiven has now made 15 appearances across two levels, and his ERA is now a ridiculous 1.88 on the season, with a WHIP of 0.99. Even without a standout pitch, he lives in the zone and induces a ton of weak contact with all three of his pitches. He was replaced by Tyler Schoff (1.1IP 3H 4ER 3BB 0K) who struggled in his fourth appearance for the Emperors. Brody Fowler (1.2IP 0H 0R 2BB 4K) , the Braves 17th round pick from 2025, had one of his best outings of his careers – striking out four across 1.2 innings of work. Justin Long (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K) picked up his third save of the season with a perfect inning of work.
The fun got started early for the Emperors as John Gil walked, and stole his 38th base of the season, before Owen Carey connected on his sixth home run of the season – giving the Emperors a 2-0 lead.
They would be held scoreless until the seventh inning when Dallas Macias drove in Dixon Williams to push the Emperors lead to two runs, at 3-1. One inning later, the Emperors found themselves down and it was once again Owen Carey that came up with the big hit – this time a run scoring single that drove in Tate Southisene, to tie the game at 4-4. One inning later it was Tate Southisene’s time to shine as he drove in two on his second triple since joining the Rome Emperors.
The GreenJackets fell, running into the buzzsaw that is Evan Siary, in a shutout loss to the Crawdads.
Kendy Richard got the start for the GreenJackets and was OK, allowing three earned runs across four innings of work while giving up a pair of home runs. Kendy has an up-and-down season, finding more success coming out of the bullpen, but overall did enough to keep the GreenJackets in the game. He was replaced by Luis Arestigueta (3.2IP 3H 3ER 2BB 0K) who has had a very odd 2026. After having strong success to start his career, Luis has found himself moving between Augusta and the FCL Braves as he’s struggled to generate whiffs and consistently find the zone. To his credit, Luis did allow just three earned runs while providing some length so it was a step in the right direction but it still has been a rough 2026 in a year he had some loftier expectations. Cristobal Abreu (1.1IP 2H 1ER 0BB 1K) worked the final stretch of the game and allowed one earned run over his inning+ of work.
Offensively it was a complete struggle as the GreenJackets had just two opportunities with runners in scoring position the entire game, to which they unfortunately went 0-for-2. The top four of the lineup (Guanipa, Essenburg, Lodise, Miller) went a combined 0-for-15, with Essenburg drawing a walk, but the totality of the group striking out seven times. The pitching hero from two games ago, shortstop Joe Olsavsky, was the only hitter to not strike out, as he and Tanner Smith were the only two players to reach base twice.
SAN DIEGO, CA - CIRCA 1982: Dale Murphy #3 of the Atlanta Braves bats against the San Diego Padres during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California. Murphy played for the Braves from 1976-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With All-Star festivities kicking into high gear, we continue our series featuring 2x MVP Dale Murphy. Murphy would play 15 seasons for the Braves, with half of those resulting in All-Star Game selections.
In the 80’s only one player hit more home runs than Dale, that being Mike Schmidt. Dale Murphy joins us exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: It was almost a given back in that era that you’d be selected by the fans. You appeared in 7 All Star games in the 1980’s. What do you remember about that 1986 game?
A: What’s funny is that for that particular year and game at the Astrodome, my stats weren’t really that good so I kind of felt weird about starting that game. But you mentioned the fans, they voted me in as a starter. It was always an honor.
Q: You got to face Roger Clemens, who was appearing in his first All-Star Game and was in the zone. What do you remember about that confrontation?
A: I only saw one pitch from Clemens as I remember, and I grounded out to short. I had two at bats that night, and then Chili Davis came in for me.
My second at bat was against Higuera. I actually told Whitey Herzog that I was good with just the one at bat, but he kept me in.
Q: Historically though, you had some big games in the Dome. That night was the exception to the rule. Did you like playing at the Astrodome?
A: I’m not sure I could say I ever fully enjoyed playing in the Astrodome though (laughs). Playing there was always tough and it was a credit to those Astros teams. Facing the likes of Nolan, Scott and J.R. it didn’t get tougher than that in the mid-eighties.
Plus, the dome had a problem with the ceiling. If you weren’t careful, it would be hard to pick up a fly ball in the outfield.
Q: What was the coolest thing about that night?
A: Far and away getting to meet at the time Vice President Bush before the game. He came through the club house and all of us had a chance to speak to him. That was really special.
Q: What’s life like for you now?
A: I’m no longer chasing fly balls; I’m chasing down my grandkids here in Atlanta. (laughs)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 11: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks on stage during the 2026 MLB Draft at Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Day Two of the draft, the Astros made sixteen selections. Below is some information on the picks.
On Day Two of the draft, the Astros made sixteen selections. They started the day going back to back to back pitchers in the 5th, 6th and 7th rounds. Gavin Eddy was the Astros 5th rounder and he had a 2.87 ERA this season for Cal while pumping mid 90s heaters and a strong breaking ball. In the 6th they took Michael Addari out of Illinois State. He posted a 2.27 ERA with 73 K over 67.1 innings. The 7th round selection was Bryan Carney out of University of Olivet. He was dominant there posting a 1.35 ERA with 122 strikeouts over 73.1 innings. The thing that stood out about all three of these selections is all of them were at least 6-5 and had above average extension, a trait the Astros clearly value.
The Astros went with a couple of position players with their next picks selecting Aaron Piasecki in the 8th and Ryan Pruitt in the 9th. Piasecki was great for Troy hitting .337 with 10 home runs and elite contact rates. Pruitt, out of South Florida, appears to be another prospects with speed and contact skills. They ended the first half of the draft getting right-hander Taz Butler out of Kansas State.
In the 11th round, the Astros took a swing on a junior college pitcher Peyton Fiene out of Odessa Junior College. He has a big time arm touching 96 mph while also adding three solid off-speed pitches. He is only 20 years old and has a huge ceiling. In the 12th they got an outfielder in Owen Nowak, who was dominant for Middle Tennessee State hitting .316 with a ridiculous 36 walks to just 11 strikeouts over 57 games.
The Astros took a big swing in the 13th round selecting shortstop Jack Beck out of Columbia Central HS in Tennessee. He had a breakout combine where he showed off his plus raw power connecting on 21 balls over 100 mph (113 mph max) and hitting the longest home run at 466 feet. He has huge upside. In the 14th round they took a right-hander in Brady Thomas who is 6-5 and hit and pitched for Jacksonville State.
They took another top prep prospect in the 15th in James Tronstein who also possesses excellent tools, though he might be a fall back option in case the other don’t sign as he has a strong commitment to Vanderbilt. The Astros took their first catcher in the 16th round, though he played right field too, in Rashawn Galloway. He has some monster pope and had a nice season for Texas State hitting .318 with 27 doubles and 12 home runs for the Bobcats. In the 17th they selected Ben Tyron from Dallas Baptist, another infielder with good walk to strikeout ratio and some sneaky pop.
The Astros continued their run on position players taking Petey Soto in the 18th round out of Utah Tech. Soto is a slick defender who hit .347 with 6 home runs and 13 stolen bases over 59 games. They took another catcher in the 19th in Noah Miller out of Michigan. His playing time was sparse but he was a big time prospect coming out of high school. They concluded their draft selecting Mick Uebelhor out of Western Kentucky. He pitched in relief in college and struck out 59 batters over 44.2 innings while posting a 3.43 ERA.
