LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Pacome Dadiet #4 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 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 Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks won’t have long to shake off Friday’s loss, as they return to the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday for a Summer League Finals rematch with the Spurs. New York will be looking for more consistent performances from Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara while hoping its offense avoids the droughts that doomed it against Brooklyn. San Antonio presents another intriguing test with second-year forward Carter Bryant and a rookie class that includes first-round picks Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed, Jr.
Tip-off is 6 pm EST on Gotham and ESPN. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Enjoy basketball. And go Knicks!
Kranti Gaud took five wickets before Smriti Mandhana once more piled on the runs against England as India continued to dominate the inaugural women’s Test at Lord’s on Saturday.
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at FedExForum on April 06, 2026.
Ja Morant has the chance to rebuild his career in Portland, to revive his reputation as one of the league’s most electric talents.
But he knows it will be far harder to remake the perception so many have of him as a “bad guy.”
“Obviously, I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already. I don’t see why, years later, that’s still the topic when nothing’s happened since,” Morant said in his first media availability since being traded to the Trail Blazers, per ESPN.
“I feel like if I was that guy you wouldn’t be talking to me now.”
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half of a game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Houston. AP
The two-time All-Star is just 26 but has seen his stock dip significantly, having played just 79 games in the past three seasons due to injuries and off-court issues.
Morant, who has averaged 22.4 points and 7.4 assists since being taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, looked like a shell of himself last season, as he struggled to stay healthy and shot a career-worst 41 percent from the field (23.5 percent on 3-pointers).
However, Memphis’ difficulty trading the guard also stemmed from his image.
Morant served an eight-game ban in 2023 for “conduct detrimental to the league” and a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season, following incidents in which he displayed a gun on an Instagram live stream.
Morant was also suspended for one game this past season for an altercation with coach Tuomas Iisalo.
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at FedExForum on April 06, 2026. Getty Images
“Do I feel like I need a new start? I love it. I’m happy for it,” Morant said. “Get to start fresh. New home, new team, new organization. I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja … Over the years, I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learned a lot
“Just staying more focused and what’s the most important thing. not worrying about any of the outside stuff. … Anything that was a problem in Memphis shouldn’t matter to me no more. My focus is Portland.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Labaron Philon #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during the game against the Detroit Pistons during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at Cox Pavilion 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 David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Your 2026 Summer Sixers are here, and they got off to just the right start. They won their first game against the Pistons in Las Vegas on Thursday, 101-93, and are back in action Saturday evening against the Pacers.
Of course, following new Sixers rookie Labaron Philon is the main draw, after his handle and smooth shooting stood out at times in the Sixers’ first Summer League game. He only finished the game shooting 6-of-19 for 18 points, but went 4-of-10 from three (the high volume is nice to see), showed off his ball-handling ability, and flashed some nifty playmaking on his way to tallying seven assists to three turnovers.
For the very first time, it's time for Labaron Philon Sixers highlights!
Liked a lot of what we saw from the No. 22 pick. Some inconsistent shooting, but clear ability and game sense. Great handles and awareness; smart about collapsing the defense and kicking out for assists. pic.twitter.com/kdgE1lZrtg
Can Johni Broome continue to build on his solid start this summer? Against the Pistons, he tallied 19 points on 50 percent shooting, 13 rebounds and two blocks, with his work on the glass in particular standing out with his eight offensive rebounds. He’s got some way to go before you can say he looks like a potential NBA player, but this was a good start to his summer after a difficult rookie year.
Apart from the guys we’re more familiar with, Dante Maddox Jr. (21 points on 7-of-13 shooting with four triples) and Isaac Johnson (20 points with four threes) both led the way with their shooting on Thursday. They’ll be players to keep an eye on against Indiana.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 10: The sneakers worn by Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Bruce Thornton #2 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on July 10, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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 David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Friday July 10 marked the start of the Houston Rockets’ Summer League campaign. Unlike previous years, Houston does not have top lottery talent, or even a player picked in the first round competing, but second-round pick Bruce Thornton stepped up to deliver a performance sure to excite fans, as Thornton delivered 27 points in 35 minutes in a 97-86 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Houston traded with the New York Knicks to acquire the 31st pick in this year’s draft in order to select Thornton, who previously played at Ohio State. Houston’s front office later signed Bruce to a standard NBA contract, so he will be eligible to receive regular NBA playing time in the 2026-2027 season.
The physical 6-foot guard finished with a game-high 27 points while leading Houston to a 97-86 victory (box score) over the Denver Nuggets; the Rockets went +20 in his 35 minutes, best of any player on the floor; he made all seven of his free-throw attempts; his true shooting finished at a solid 64.0%; in addition to scoring, he added three assists, three rebounds, and three steals, the latter of which demonstrated his ability to make plays defensively and committed just one turnover while frequently handling the ball for Houston.
Thornton’s ball-handling is the biggest story here, in my opinion. Everyone knows that Houston struggled without Fred VanVleet last season since they had no real traditional point guard/table setter to initiate the offense. While they tried using Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, it’s pretty clear that they were playing outside their best roles. If Thornton can learn under VanVleet, it will help place less of a burden on Fred, who is coming back from a significant injury.
No. 31 overall pick Bruce Thornton in the @HoustonRockets' win over Denver:
With all that said, I am excited to see how Thornton looks in the rest of Houston’s Summer League games and hopefully into the regular NBA season. As always, make sure to check back at The Dream Shake for all your Rockets’ news.
The newest future Detroit Tiger has joined the organization, as Scott Harris and co selected RHP Cameron Flukey with the 22nd pick of the MLB Draft. Flukey just finished his third year with Coastal Carolina with 31 strikeouts in 24 innings, having missed most of the season with a preseason stress fracture in his rib. He looked strong during his return, routinely touching 98 mph on his fastball and commanding his two breaking balls.
Flukey is a 6’6 lanky righty from Coastal Carolina, a Sun Belt D1 program, with room to add some weight to his frame as he matures in professional baseball. He’s primarily known for his riding upper-90s fastball and upper-70s curve that both register as average or plus on most scouting outlets. There’s concern over changeup development and command, but he is coming off an injury; those two feel-and-rep traits should improve as he moves past that issue.
MLB Pipeline rated Flukey as the 15th best player in the class, while FanGraphs had him as 34th, but in a meaty middle tier of player that lasts from 15th to 44th, so this aligns reasonably well with industry expectations. For an organization fairly short on good starting pitching, Flukey provides a well-needed injection of stuff and upside. If everything breaks right, this could be a middle to top of the rotation starter. Before his injury kept teams from seeing him at full strength, he was a pre-season contender for a top-10 pick. The rib issue shouldn’t be a long-term indicator, so getting that top-10 upside at a discount is a nice bonus for Detroit.
Expect to see Flukey stay on the backfields for the rest of 2026 as he adjusts to professional life and continues to fill out, then heading to the Low A Lakeland Flying Tigers for 2027 like Malachi Witherspoon, last year’s 2nd round pick. He is a seasoned strike thrower, so he should move rapidly once the Tigers are confident in any adjustments they’re going to make. For now, we’ll have to wait and see how his stuff translates to pro ball and if he’s able to develop the kick change he’s working on. He’ll likely take full advantage of his high-octane fastball and strong breaker early on, but the rest will need to improve to get him into the upper levels quickly.
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 23: Carter Beck #12 looks on during the 2026 Draft Combine at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the 26th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft the Atlanta Braves have selected Indiana State outfielder Carter Beck. Beck is a very toolsy college outfielder who had a ton of helium this year.
2026: .346/.446/.637, 17 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 12-16 SB, 35 BB, 33 K in 285 PA
Hit Tool 50
Beck has an average hit tool, with the chance to develop more as he is a former multi-sport athlete from Canada who has only spent two years in D1. His feel for contact already in his career is what makes him interesting.
Power 50
There is above average power potential, but it probably settles in more as average with his approach.
Speed 60
Plus speed is the best tool in Beck’s game. He’s got a chance to develop into more of a threat on the bases than what we’ve seen so far.
Glove 50
Beck has a chance to be an average defender in center as he continues to refine his glove. There is a chance he would have to move to left, where he could be an asset with the glove.
Arm 45
The arm is more fringy and would keep him in left as opposed to right if he had to move.
Overall Thoughts
I like Beck as a toolsy late bloomer with room for growth in his game. This is the kind of player who could potentially have a better pro career than college.
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shane Drohan (55) pitches during the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 1, 2026. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After dropping the first half of today’s doubleheader 7-6 in disappointing fashion after Esmerlyn Valdez hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh, the Brewers will look to bounce back in the second game this afternoon.
Left-hander Shane Drohan gets the ball for the Brewers, with right-hander Bubba Chandler opposite him. Drohan has a 2.97 ERA and 3.20 FIP over 18 appearances (eight starts) this season, spanning 63 2/3 innings with 61 strikeouts. He’s allowed just four earned runs over his last four starts, spanning 21 innings (1.71 ERA) and striking out 17. Chandler, also a rookie, has made 18 appearances (17 starts) this season, with a 4.82 ERA, 4.70 FIP, 79 strikeouts, and a league-worst 52 walks over 89 2/3 innings. He’s been roughed up in his last two outings, allowing nine runs over just 10 1/3 innings against the Phillies and Nationals.
Right-hander Garrett Stallings is the Brewers’ 27th man for the doubleheader, and he’s been activated ahead of this one.
The Brewers’ lineup is not yet finalized, but I’ll be updating that here as soon as it’s in.
It’s a busy day today, if you couldn’t tell. The MLB Draft is happening concurrently with the doubleheader, and you can follow along with the Brewers’ picks here. ICYMI, they took shortstop Trey Ebel out of Corona HS (California) with the No. 25 overall pick. If that name sounds familiar, that’s because Ebel is the younger brother of last year’s No. 32 overall pick, Brady Ebel, also selected by the Brewers and currently with the Low-A Wilson Warbirds. Corona High School is also the school Brice Turang was drafted from when he was picked No. 21 overall by the Brewers in 2018.
Baseball’s first major event of the All Star Weekend, the MLB Draft, kicks off today. Today we have the first four rounds of the Draft televised; rounds 5 through 2o will occur tomorrow off-air.
The event begins at 1:00pm on NBC/Peacock, where the Chicago White Sox will make the first pick around 1:30pm. This year’s draft is structured a bit strangely, as the first 10 picks are on NBC/Peacock, but picks 11-40 are on the MLB network. Rounds 2 through 4 are on MLB.tv or MLB.com and are expected to last from 4:30 to 7:45pm. Day 2 will be an untelevised event tomorrow afternoon.
Stay here to follow along throughout the draft for every Tigers’ pick and every first round pick overall. As each pick is made, this post will be updated with that player’s name, position, and where they’re drafted from. Join us for duscussion on the whole Day 1 coverage of the draft in the comments. The Tigers have a bonus pool of $9,165,100 to work with. They’ll select 22nd overall for their first round pick.
Round 1
1. White Sox – Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA 2. Rays – Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX) 3. Twins – Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech 4. Giants – Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara 5. Pirates – Derek Curiel, OF, LSU 6. Royals – Zion Rose, OF, Louisville 7. Orioles – Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove (MS) 8. Athletics – Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech 9. Braves – AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia 10. Rockies – Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky 11. Nationals – Chris Hacopian, 2B, Texas A&M 12. Angels – Jared Grindlinger, OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA) 13. Cardinals – Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah HS (GA) 14. Marlins – Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL) 15. D-backs – Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas 16. Rangers – Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL) 17. Astros – Logan Hughes, OF, Texas Tech 18. Reds – Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama 19. Guardians – Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida 20. Red Sox – Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina 21. Padres – Coleman Borthwick, South Walton HS (CA) 22. Tigers – Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina 23. Cubs – Cade Townsend, RHP, Ole Miss 24. Mariners – Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State 25. Brewers – Trey Ebel, SS, Corona HS (CA)
Prospect Promotion Incentive Picks
26. Braves – Carter Beck, OF, Indiana State
27. Mets – Carson Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas
28. Astros – Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame
Competitive Balance Round A
29. Giants – Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian (SC)
LSU will once again be represented at some of the highest levels in Major League Baseball.
Former ace pitcher Kade Anderson, who helped carry the Tigers to the 2025 national title and was selected third overall by the Seattle Mariners, has been named a starting pitcher for the MLB Futures Game to take place during All-Star Weekend.
Anderson has had a strong start to his professional career, holding a 1.36 ERA in 72 innings of Double-A baseball in Arkansas. He leads in opponent batting average (.160), WHIP (0.69), and is second with 108 strikeouts among all Minor League pitchers. He is currently labeled as the top prospect in baseball.
Mariners skipper Dan Wilson said of the honor: “It’s super exciting. He has had a tremendous half and has thrown the ball extremely well. It being his first professional season, that’s really impressive. Really exciting that he gets the ball tomorrow, and I think we’ll be interested to see how it all goes for him.”
The game takes place Sunday at Citizens Bank Park with first pitch scheduled for Noon.
The San Francisco Giants' season may have hit a wall but help could very well be on the way thanks to the 2026 MLB Draft.
The Giants, mired in a 39-55 season, see themselves fourth in the NL West. But the upside on a day like Saturday is that hope can spring eternal, if only for the afternoon.
The Giants have picks at No. 4 and No. 29, bringing into the farm system some much-needed depth. The organization did not have to search far for its first pick, grabbing right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora from UC Santa Barbara at No. 4.
The first day of the draft consists of four rounds. The Giants also have picks at No. 55, No. 90, No. 118 and No. 150.
No. 4 - San Francisco Giants: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara. Grade: C
The Giants play it safe but smart, bypassing Jacob Lombard’s swing-and-miss concerns to add what should be a rotation stalwart – and fairly soon. Yet you wonder if any of this decision was driven by the urgency of the present as opposed to selecting the best available player. — Gabe Lacques
By squeaking out a 100-93 overtime victory Saturday over the Pacers after blowing a large second-half lead, the Sixers improved to 2-0 in the Las Vegas summer league.
Labaron Philon Jr. posted 24 points and six assists. Johni Broome had 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Next on the Sixers’ summer league schedule is a meeting with the Rockets on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Here are observations on their OT win over Indiana:
Strong work from Philon with size advantage
The Sixers used the same starters as for their opening win over the Pistons and the team began brightly for a second straight game.
Broome converted a put-back layup for the game’s first points. Dante Maddox Jr. buried a corner three-pointer and Philon hit an elbow jumper to give the Sixers a 7-2 edge.
Philon was defended by multiple smaller players Saturday in No. 38 overall pick Braden Smith and Yuki Kawamura, both of whom are under 6 feet. The rookie made two smooth mid-range jumpers in the first quarter. He posted up Smith and drew a foul at the start of the second period.
Philon will face plenty of guards bigger than him as a rookie — the Alabama product measured in at 6-foot-2.5 without shoes and just 176 pounds at the NBA draft combine — but it’s evident he knows how to use a size advantage when he has one. In general, Philon has a knack for getting where he wants on the floor.
Broome’s decision-making was a bit sharper than in his first game, which was a 19-point, 13-rebound performance.
He didn’t force up many shots outside of his comfort zone and finished 9 for 19 from the floor and 2 for 4 at the foul line.
Broome has gone 2 for 12 (16.7 percent) from three-point territory so far in summer league. Any progress from him in that department would be helpful, especially in terms of his potential viability for NBA power forward minutes. He shot 28.9 percent beyond the arc in 26 G League games last season.
Broome is set to turn 24 years old next Sunday and has clear weaknesses as a player. Purely from a raw production standpoint, he’s delivered at his second summer league.
Rogers shines off bench
Matt Rogers racked up 11 points in the first quarter.
The 6-foot-9 forward out of American University cut well and brought immediate energy to the game. He also knocked down a three from each wing in Saturday’s first half. Rogers improved throughout his five-year college career as a shooter and went 40.3 percent from long range last season on 4.3 attempts per game.
Rogers’ final stat line was 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting and three rebounds in 20 minutes.
Gerald Ayayi jumped out for the Sixers’ second unit, too. The French guard soared high in the first quarter for an audacious dunk.
The Sixers led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter, but the Pacers made a major run spearheaded by 5-foot-7 fan favorite Kawamura. Philon sunk a key three late in the third and the Sixers maintained a double-digit lead entering the fourth.
An and-one layup from former summer Sixer Jalen Slawson late in the fourth quarter cut Indiana’s deficit down to one point. Philon then assisted a clutch Rogers corner three, but the Pacers kept pushing.
Smith drew a foul on Rogers with 5.1 seconds left and made both his free throws to knot the game up at 93-all. The Sixers got the ball to Philon on the final play of regulation and his tightly contested jumper came up well short.
In the two-minute overtime, the Sixers scored the first four points with a Broome put-back bucket and Philon fast-break layup. This time around, they held their lead.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 5: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants continue this four-game series against the Colorado Rockies this afternoon from Oracle Park.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Tyler Mahle, who enters today’s game with a 5.70 ERA, 4.59 FIP, with 69 strikeouts to 29 walks in 71 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 7-6 loss to the Rockies on Sunday, in which he allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts in four and a third innings.
He’ll be facing off against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland, who enters today’s game with a 7.46 ERA, 4.94 FIP, with 70 strikeouts to 18 walks in 82 innings pitched. His last start was in the Rockies’ 8-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, in which he allowed six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in five innings.
Don’t look now, but the Yankees are starting to get on a roll. After a big win on Thursday to close out their series with the Rays, Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a clutch home run to put them ahead for good against the Nationals last night. Now, the American League’s best pitcher takes the ball hoping to get his club their third straight win in a Saturday afternoon affair (with the MLB Draft afoot as well; look for the Yankees to get their first-round pick in within the next hour).
Cam Schlittler shoved on Monday against the Rays, delivering the first of two wins in that set. Eight innings, one run allowed, a strikeout per inning and no walks was exactly what his deflated squad needed. The Nationals aren’t quite as good as the Rays, so Cam should have a little more breathing room today, but if he wants to go ahead and throw another eight shutout in his final start of the unofficial first half, I’m going to watch and enjoy it.
PJ Poulin counters for the Nats, an opener getting his second taste of MLB action after a brief call-up last year. A 2.83 ERA is sparkling, and a 46.6-percent groundball rate ain’t too bad at all, but he essentially strikes out as many batters as he walks, and his FIP is nearly three full runs higher. Discipline and elevation are the keys to pushing runs across against a pitcher like this — he’s not gonna strike you out, so get your pitch and get it in the air. Fortunately, the Yankees are a bit homer-happy after last night, so hopefully that continues.
Following Poulin will be veteran Miles Mikolas, who has been arguably the worst full-time pitcher in baseball. A 5.78 ERA is ugly, but his 5.51 FIP indicates that it’s a deserved ugliness. For all the drama surrounding D.C.‘s Reflecting Pool the past few weeks, we need to consider the damage that baseballs landing in it may cause.
We see some similarities in the lineups the past two days, with Amed Rosario back at leadoff (and, perhaps regrettably, third base) and World’s Oldest Man Paul Goldschmidt cleaning up after snapping his lengthy oh-fer last night. Ali Sánchez finds himself catching and rounding out the lineup, while the red-hot Ben Rice is your DH and hopefully continuing to practice for Monday’s Home Run Derby.
How to watch
Location: Nationals Park — Washington, D.C.
First pitch: 4:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Nationals.TV
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280; WJFK 106.7 The Fan
