Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras has had a handful of verbal altercations with opponents this season. Tuesday night at Fenway Park, things got physical.
Tempers flared in the fourth inning after Nationals starter Cade Cavalli struck Contreras out looking. Cavalli celebrated by yelling, “Sit down, boy!” and Contreras took exception.
The two exchanged more words before Contreras lost his cool. The 34-year-old slugger charged and threw his helmet at Cavalli as both benches and bullpens cleared.
Watch the sequence below:
Willson Contreras throws his helmet during a benches clearing incident after Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli told him to “sit down boy” pic.twitter.com/IBEyYXKReN
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 1, 2026
Contreras was ejected for the second straight game. On Monday, he was ejected by the first base umpire for arguing a check swing call and tapping his helmet.
Red Sox utility man Nate Eaton, interim manager Chad Tracy, and Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas also were ejected from Tuesday’s game.
This is the fourth time this season that the fiery Contreras has been involved in a benches-clearing incident. The other instances came against the Milwaukee Brewers in April, the Minnesota Twins in May, and the New York Yankees on Friday.
Losing Contreras to a suspension would be a major blow to a Red Sox club that entered Tuesday on a five-game win streak. Contreras leads Boston in homers (18), RBI (53), and OPS (.903).
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Marcus Sasser #25 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Marcus Sasser has seemingly spent his entire career as the odd man out in the Detroit Pistons rotation. As a scoring guard with a good floater game and a reliable three-point shot, he’s always been useful and performed well. However, because he’s a 6-foot-1 off-guard without the ability to orchestrate an offense, it’s always been tough to find him minutes on the floor.
Now, it looks like he might get a fresh start within a context where he more naturally fits, and he could be sent closer to home to boot.
“The Mavericks have emerged a leading suitor to acquire Detroit’s Marcus Sasser via trade, league sources tell @TheSteinLine,” Marc Stein wrote on social media.
The Mavericks have emerged a leading suitor to acquire Detroit's Marcus Sasser via trade, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.
Sasser averaged 5.2 points and 12 minutes per game across 38 games for the Pistons last season. He was often a healthy scratch as Detroit relied primarily on Cade Cunningham and Daniss Jenkins at point guard, and a mix of Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, Jaden Ivey, and Caris LeVert at shooting guard last season.
When Sasser did get minutes, he shot reliably from three, hitting 41%. He also helped unstick a wobbly offense in the playoffs in the Cleveland Cavaliers series.
Any deal would be a pure financial play for the Pistons, freeing up his $5.2 million salary obligation. The Mavericks would be taking a low-cost flier on a player in the final season before restricted free agency with an eye toward having his rights in case he is worth investing in further.
Sasser is also a native of Red Oak, Texas, where he grew up and played high school ball. Red Oak is roughly 30 minutes south of Dallas. He also went on to be a four-year star player at the University of Houston.
Whether this deal remains small — you take my surplus player, you give me salary relief via a second-round pick — or a large deal — Dallas is thought to be willing to shop big men such as Daniel Gafford or PJ Washington, and Detroit is staring down big potential holes if one or both of Jalen Duren or Tobias Harris were to play elsewhere — remains to be seen.
Free agency begins today at 6 p.m., and I expect we’ll see some resolution on what the future of the Detroit Pistons looks like.
But it does look Sasser has likely played his final game for the team he’s play for his entire NBA career thus far.
In 2019, Kawhi Leonard wanted out of San Antonio, and Toronto stepped up and traded for him, knowing full well that he would not sign an extension to stay north of the border because he wanted to play in his native Southern California. Toronto got a ring out of taking that roll of the dice.
Now, Leonard is headed back to Toronto specifically because the Raptors are willing to offer him a massive extension.
The Clippers and Rockets are finalizing a trade that sends Leonard back to Toronto for a package centered around All-Star Brandon Ingram and picks, a story simultaneously broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania and basketball insider Chris Haynes.
The deal shakes out like this:
Toronto receives: Kawhi Leonard The LA Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a pick swap, two second-rounder picks Note: The details of this trade are not finalized and things like the picks could change.
The Raptors and Leonard are reportedly talking about a two-year contract extension beyond this season. Leonard was available for a trade because he and the Clippers could not reach terms on an extension — Los Angeles would not give him the years or money he wanted. The Clippers were already pivoting to a new era and had traded away James Harden and Ivica Zubac.
This is a win-now move for Toronto — just like it was last time Toronto brought in Leonard (and it paid off then). Toronto now has a dominant forward lineup with All-Stars Scottie Barnes and Leonard, an elite combination if Leonard can stay healthy. Barnes is a big Leonard fan — when asked who he wanted most as a teammate, he said Leonard.
Let’s shoot the 3 with Scottie Barnes. Favorite pre-game music? Which NBA player would he pick as a teammate? Thoughts on Leonard Hamilton? Catch @ScottBarnes561 Thursday, 8pm ET on ESPNU. @tedemrichpic.twitter.com/0uRcYDxmAy
Toronto also has RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Collin Murray-Boyles and some depth. It's a roster that could do damage if they get the Leonard from last season, when he was largely healthy and averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals a night.
The Clippers get their books cleaned up and have some flexibility in the future to rebuild their roster around Darius Garland and the just-drafted Keaton Wagner.
Most important to the Clippers are the draft picks, they now control six future first-round picks, whether they ultimately use them or trade them. There also is the looming Aspiration investigation into the Clippers allegedly circumventing the salary cap to pay Leonard. If found guilty, the Clippers will likely face punishment that includes losing their own picks, but the league cannot take away the picks they traded for. (Do not expect Leonard to face much punishment from the league, outside of maybe fines.)
Garland and Ingram give the Clippers plenty of shot creation next season as well — this is not a team bottoming out and tanking. The Clippers have cleared about $23 million in cap space and can make other moves.
There were a number of former San Jose Sharks who didn’t receive a qualifying offer from their new teams ahead of Monday’s deadline. The last name to trickle through the pipeline was former Sharks prospect Daniil Gushchin who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche last summer.
Gushchin was unable to crack the Avalanche’s roster and spent another season at the American Hockey League level, this time with the Colorado Eagles. In 49 games with the Eagles, the Russian winger scored 18 goals, a career-low, and 32 points. He also failed to record a point in three playoff games.
As free agency approaches, the Avalanche opted not to retain his rights by not tendering Gushchin a qualifying offer. As a result, the 24-year-old forward will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
Despite being undersized and having a poor season in Colorado, Gushchin does have the potential to provide depth scoring at the NHL level if he can find a way to get back on track. With that being said, it’s far from a guarantee that he reaches that potential.
Heading into the summer, it’ll be interesting to see if Gushchin can find a new team to give him an opportunity in North America or if he opts to head back to his native Russia.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: The Golden State Warriors 2026 first and second round draft picks Yaxel Lendeborg (L) and Lajae Jones (R) cheer court side during the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream WNBA game at Chase Center on June 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Golden State Warriors fans appear to be fully on board with the team’s decision to select Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
In the latest SB Nation Reacts Survey, 61% of voters gave the selection an “A” grade, while another 29% handed out a “B.” Altogether, 90% of respondents gave the pick a positive grade, with just 10% rating the selection as a “C” or worse.
Throughout the pre-draft process, Lendeborg steadily emerged as one of the prospects most frequently connected to the Warriors. By the time Golden State was on the clock, many analysts viewed the versatile forward as the best player available and a perfect fit for the team’s roster.
Lendeborg was one of the most accomplished players in college basketball last season, earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors while helping lead Michigan to a national championship. He averaged 15.1 points for the Wolverines along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, showcasing the all-around skill set that made him one of the most NBA-ready prospects in this year’s draft class.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have a clear need for young players who can contribute immediately. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody both expected to miss time next season while recovering from significant leg injuries, there is a clear pathway for the 6-foot-9 forward to earn meaningful minutes in head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation thanks to his versatility and NBA-ready size.
But the excitement surrounding Lendeborg extends beyond his on-court fit. The rookie has quickly become a fan and team favorite thanks to the personality he has shown since arriving in the Bay Area. Lendeborg has come across as someone who is authentic and open to saying whatever is on his mind. One minute he’s discussing his admiration for Stephen Curry; the next, he’s joking that he “used to hate” the Warriors superstar because he grew up rooting for Kyrie Irving. Not to mention, the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry has already sparked some playful trash talk between Lendeborg and former Spartans star Draymond Green.
The rookie’s fit becomes even more intriguing when considering the Warriors are not done making moves this offseason. Should Golden State find a way to add another marquee player through free agency (Perhaps a former four-time NBA champion and rival to the Bay Area), Lendeborg’s willingness to embrace an energy role and impact games without needing the ball could make him one of the most important complementary pieces on the roster.
For the latest Warriors odds and NBA futures, check out FanDuel Sportsbook.
Former San Jose Sharks forward Carl Grundstrom will be staying with the Philadelphia Flyers organization for the 2026-27 season.
On Tuesday morning, insider Darren Dreger reported that Grundstrom had signed a one-year contract extension with the Flyers worth $1 million, just a single day before Grundstrom hit the open market.
Grundstrom, who spent just one season with the Sharks before being traded to the Flyers, spent the majority of the 2025-26 season in the NHL, but also had some stints in the American Hockey League as well.
The 28-year-old winger appeared in 47 games for the Flyers last season, scoring nine goals and tallying a total of 13 points. At the AHL level, he scored six goals and 15 points in 19 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
With the Flyers looking to establish themselves as a perennial playoff team in a very difficult Metropolitan Division, Grundstrom will be able to provide valuable depth as the season goes on.
Sergei Bobrovsky helped the Florida Panthers win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles before the team missed the playoffs last season. The goalie had one of the worst seasons of his career as the Panthers dealt with major injuries.
Now, he's heading to free agency. Bobrovsky, 37, reportedly had been seeking more years than the Panthers wanted to give him, so Florida traded for Jacob Markstrom on Tuesday, June 30, a day after acquiring goalie Akira Schmid.
The 2007 No. 1 pick became the top U.S.-born scorer in 2025-26. He has topped 50 points the last two seasons. Current cap hit: $3 million.
8. Anders Lee, New York Islanders
He had been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is usually good for 20-plus goals, though he had 19 in 2025-26. Current cap hit: $7 million.
7. Mason Marchment, Columbus Blue Jackets
He struggled with the Seattle Kraken after an offseason trade, but his trade to Columbus revived his season with 32 points in 39 games. He's also an agitator. Current cap hit: $4.5 million.
6. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins
He's the third-highest-scoring player on the free agent list with 64 points after he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Will a general manager be tempted to think he can do that again, or only look at his subpar production before that? Current cap hit: $2.5 million.
5. Viktor Arvidsson, Boston Bruins
The forward bounced back from a couple subpar seasons and had 25 goals and 54 points after being traded to Boston. Current cap hit: $4 million.
4. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is expected to either re-sign with the Capitals or retire. Otherwise, he would lead this list. He scored 32 goals at age 40. Current cap hit: $9.5 million.
3. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The goalie won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and owns two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.
2. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights
The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this past season by the Flames. He can provide offense with one 50-point season and others topping 40 points, including 47 points in 2025-26. He had an average playoffs. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 19: Anfernee Simons #22 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball over Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half on February 19, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With free agency just 4 days away, the Dallas Mavericks still have plenty of work to do, chief among them is acquiring more guard help. But who are some realistic options that the Mavericks should target?
Anfernee Simons
The first name on the list is Bulls guard Anfernee Simons. Simons played for the Celtics and Bulls last season and notched 14.3 points per game while shooting 38.5% from three. Simons would immediately add a spark of shooting and shot creation off the bench for a Mavericks team that desperately needs it. After being traded to the Bulls, he was stuck in a log-jam of guards, with a new organization looking to move in a new direction.
Simons will have plenty of suitors in free-agency, but could pursue a larger role in Dallas if he wants to improve his long-term value.
Acquiring Simons would probably entail offering him the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is about $16 million annually
His fit in Dallas would be clean, as he would either start alongside Kyrie Irving or come off the bench as a supercharged 6th man. Simons best skill is his ability to take a large volume of three-pointers with good efficiency, as he attempted 13.9 threes per 100 possessions, which ranks in the 97th percentile.
Shaedon Sharpe
One interesting name the Mavericks could target is current Portland guard Shaedon Sharpe, who shares a deep connection with current Mavericks G.M. Mike Schmitz.
Schmitz is the one who helped to select Sharpe 7th overall in the 2022 NBA draft, and was a vocal proponent of the Kentucky guard before he was hired to the Trailblazers. Sharpe’s availability is a question-mark, but after the addition of Ja Morant, the Blazers could be interested in moving the uber-athletic guard.
The Mavericks could acquire Sharpe in 2 ways: Either absorbing him into their traded-player exception, or sending back P.J. Washington.
Sharpe’s game is one of potential, as his combination of elite athleticism and shot making ability provide tantalizing upside. The challenge for Sharpe is to figure out how to impact the game at a high-level, but if he can, watch out.
Reed Sheppard
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 29: Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Five on April 29, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Everyone knows that the Mavericks desperately need more three-point shooting, so why not look to bring in one of the better shooters in the league.
Since being drafted 4th overall by the Rockets, Reed Sheppard has had a rocky 2-year career, with flashes of brilliant upside mixed with frustrating flaws.
Sheppard can shoot with the best of them, but struggles in almost every other aspect, specifically as an on-ball creator. Acquiring Sheppard would be very difficult, as the Rockets still have a need for his skill-set; but, there is one avenue to getting the young guard.
That avenue would be as a centerpiece in a Kyrie Irving trade. While the Mavericks have maintained a staunch stance on keeping Irving, it is not impossible that they receive an offer they simply cannot refuse.
Sheppard would immediately inject the Mavericks with a massive dose of spacing and shooting, as he’s capable of changing games with his shooting alone.
Jrue Holiday
Another Portland guard makes this list, this time being the uber-experienced Jrue Holiday.
Holiday is yet another player who could be a casualty of the Ja Morant trade. Unlike Sharpe, Holiday is on the decline as the enters next season at 36 years old.
Any Holiday trade would be an attempt for the Mavericks to win now, with a trade package being made up of P.J. Washington and Klay Thompson.
Holiday would be a perfect 2-guard next to Kyrie Irving, as while Holiday has slowed down, his defense still borders on elite. The issue is that he does not fit in the current timeline at all, as the Mavericks are rebuilding, not lookingto compete.
But there is a scenario where a Holiday trade makes sense; what if the Mavericks exceed expectations leading up to the trade-deadline. In this world it would make more sense to go “all-in” by adding a player who would fill a significant need as a point of attack defender.
Immanuel Quickley
TORONTO, CANADA – APRIL 9: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles against the Miami Heat during the second half in their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on April 9, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Multiple players on this list have connections with Mike Schmitz, but what about Masai Ujiri. Ujiri acquired Immanuel Quickley from the New York Knicks in the OG Anunoby trade, and proceeded to give him a lucrative extension.
But now the Raptors are moving in a different direction, and with a Kawhi Leonard trade looming, Quickley could be moved to balance the roster. Quickley has had an up-and-down career in Toronto, as while his volume and role have increased, his efficiency and defense has declined.
The other issue is his massive contract, as he will earn $32.5 million of the next 3 years. Due to this, his cost wouldn’t be very high, and a package of Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford may be enough to pull him from the Raptors.
Quickley’s fit in Dallas would be simple: run the offense next to Cooper Flagg, and while his salary may be too much for the Raptors, it wouldn’t be a large issue in Dallas.
It’d be an understatement to say Landry Shamet is excited to be back with the Knicks.
Shamet posted a Knicks-themed video on his Instagram story to celebrate agreeing to a four-year, $24 million deal to return to the Knicks after helping them to their first title in 53 years,
Taken from the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street”, Shamet posted himself saying Jordan Belfort’s famous line — spoken by Leonardo DiCaprio — of “I’m not leaving. I’m not leaving. I’m not f–king leaving.”
Several Knicks appeared on faces in the background, with Jose Alvarado and Karl-Anthony Towns celebrating with Shamet.
“The show goes on. This is my home,” Shamet also said, pretending to be the disgraced stockbroker Belfort.
Landry Shamet doing an impression of Leonardo DiCaprio while celebrating his return to the Knicks.
@landryshamet on Instagram
“They gonna need a f–king wrecking ball to take me.”
Shamet quickly became a fan favorite in New York during the Knicks title run and was set to become an unrestricted free agent before the team retained him.
The guard reportedly turned down more money from other teams to stay with the Knicks and help them on their quest to repeat as champions.
Faces of Jose Alvarado and Karl-Anthony Towns in Landry Shamet’s return video.
@landryshamet on Instagram
Shamet’s contract will also allow the Knicks to stay below the second apron after the roster is filled out, following owner James Dolan’s recent statement about not going into the punitive salary cap bracket.
The 2018 first-round pick started his career with the 76ers before bouncing around between the Clippers, Suns, Nets and Wizards.
He spent the past two seasons with the Knicks, playing in 101 regular-season games and averaging 7.1 points per game in 19.1 minutes.
Landry Shamet poses with a trophy after winning the NBA title. NBAE via Getty Images
The 29-year-old was most lethal in the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers in the Knicks sweep, where he shot 11-of-12 from 3 and hit a clutch shot in the team’s Game 1 comeback.
James will have no shortage of interest as he prepares to change teams for the first time since he initially signed with the Lakers in 2018.
And that will include suitors from outside of the NBA, as a couple of NFL teams proved with social media posts following news of James' imminent departure.
The Jacksonville Jaguars wasted little time throwing their hat into the mix for James. Their social media team posted a meme suggesting their interest in the 22-time All-Star less than two hours after ESPN's Shams Charania first reported that James was leaving the Lakers.
Of course, the Jaguars and Packers were merely joking, as each knows James, 41, won't be switching sports at this point in his storied career.
That said, their posts provide a reminder that James was once considered a potential football star. James was an All-State receiver during his sophomore and junior seasons at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School before switching his focus to basketball full-time.
James flirted with the idea of playing football at times, even after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Notably, he received offers to work out for the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks during the 2011 NFL lockout, as he told The Athletic in 2021.
"I always think about it," James said regarding a potential career in football.
James – who was 26 at the time of the lockout – also opined he would have made either team had he gone through with the tryouts, which he ultimately decided against.
"I would have tried out, but I would have made the team," James said. "One thing about it, I don't mind working for something, so if I would have had to try out for the Cowboys or the Seahawks, or if I'd have stayed home and went back home to Cleveland, I'd have tried (out), but I would have made the team. I just know what I'm capable of doing on the football field. Especially at that age."
James' potential as a football star will remain a great "what if," but there's little doubt he made the right decision playing in the NBA
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: The sneakers worn by Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues will buy out Jonathan Drouin's contract if the forward goes unclaimed on waivers.
Drouin, 31, has one year remaining on his contract with a $4 million cap hit after being acquired from the New York Islanders on March 6 as part of the Brayden Schenn trade.
With Alexander Steen set to officially take over as Blues general manager on Wednesday after the Blues introduced the 42-year-old at a press conference on Tuesday, it will go down as the first buyout by the Blues since before Doug Armstrong took over as GM in 2010.
“Obviously a tough decision. We waited a
lot,” Steen said. “I think ‘Dru’ is a very defined player and
at the end of the day, we didn’t feel like we were going to provide
him with a position to excel, so we landed at that decision.”
The Blues will but themselves some cap space, and under the current structure in the CBA, are responsible to pay 2/3 of Drouin's remaining salary.
If
Drouin, who had a goal and two assists in nine games in St. Louis, goes unclaimed, the Blues will owe him $1,333,333 million over the next two seasons.
Asked whether this was to give more of a defined role to someone like Otto Stenberg, a first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Steen said, "
What our management group is really high on
is internal competition, so we’ll be looking at everything. We’re
happy with where our team’s positioned right now, but that would be
something that we’d explore if it presented itself to us. This is
going to be a highly-competitive camp."
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As LeBron James departs the Los Angeles Lakers, two of the franchise's key figures – Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson – shared their thoughts on the impact he's had the club.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,’’ wrote Buss, the team’s governor and controlling executive. “We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers – including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.’’
Magic Johnson also had a key role in the Lakers signing LeBron James in 2018.
"I want to thank LeBron James and his super agent Rich Paul for taking a meeting with me back in 2018 when I was President of the Lakers and deciding to sign with us,'' Johnson wrote. " He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the milestones he surpassed in a Lakers jersey. I’ll always love and be grateful for him and wish him all the best in the next phase of his life, on and off the court!"
The Lakers had failed to make the playoffs for five straight seasons before James arrived. The Lakers ended that drought in James’ second season with the team and reached the postseason in seven of his last seasons with the Lakers.
Luka Doncic, who joined the Lakers midway through the 2024-25 season, posted a photo of himself and James hugging with the caption: “An honor to play with and learn from you @kingjames.”
"It doesn't seem to be like that's actually something that's likely to materialize," Johnston reported on Tuesday. "I'm not sure that's a good fit as some people have said."
Along with that report, Johnston added that there should be multiple teams lining up for Kane's services, possibly including his hometown Buffalo Sabres or even a return to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Nonetheless, though Kane seems interested in testing out what the free-agent market looks like in his favor, Johnston doesn't believe the Maple Leafs will be among the front-runners to land the three-time Stanley Cup champion.
Though Kane is 37 years old, he's proven to still be an offensive threat and a respectable point-producer in the NHL. In his past three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, he recorded great numbers considering where he is in his career and the major hip resurfacing surgery he went through in the summer of 2023.
This past year, Kane registered 16 goals and 57 points in 67 appearances for Detroit, while averaging 17:42 of ice time. He finished the year as the fifth-best scorer on his team.
Also, he showed no signs of slowing down at the end of the 2025-26 season. In fact, after the Olympic break, Kane posted eight goals and 25 points in his last 24 games of the year, averaging over a point per game. He was the second-highest scorer on the team in that span, only behind Alex DeBrincat's 11 goals and 28 points.
The 2015-16 Hart Trophy winner is coming off three straight one-year contracts, with his latest deal costing just $3 million against the salary cap.
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers controls the ball against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half at Intuit Dome on February 02, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Los Angeles Clippers are “nearing a deal” to send Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
That seems like a clear win not just for the Raptors, but the Sixers as well.
Thanks to the James Harden trade, the Sixers own the Clippers’ fully unprotected 2028 first-round pick along with a top-three-protected pick swap in 2029. Swapping out the oft-injured 35-year-old Leonard for the soon-to-be 29-year-old Ingram might give the Clippers a higher floor, but they now have a much lower ceiling.
That’s where the NBA’s new draft-lottery system could help the Sixers.
Under the former system, the lottery included the 14 teams that wound up missing the playoffs, and only the first four picks were drawn via lottery. In other words, the team with the worst record in the league couldn’t fall below the No. 5 pick, the second-worst record couldn’t fall below the No. 6 pick, etc. The lottery teams with the worst records also had higher odds of winning the No. 1 pick than those with better records.
For tanking teams, that floor was almost as important as the ceiling. Under the new lottery system, that floor is now gone.
The new lottery will include 16 teams—the 10 teams that miss the play-in tournament, the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds in each conference, and the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games—and all 16 picks will be drawn via lottery. The new lottery flattened every team’s odds, too. The teams with the three worst records have only a 28 percent chance of landing a top-five pick and a 61 percent chance of getting a top-10 pick, while the other non-play-in teams have a 39 percent chance at a top-five pick and a 73 percent chance at a top-10 pick.
The NBA Board of Governors today approved a new NBA Draft Lottery system designed to eliminate incentives for teams to prioritize their position in the Draft over winning games.
In other words, the new system introduced far more variance into the lottery. That should make for thrilling television, but it’s now impossible to predict where any team will land.
In the wake of the Leonard trade, the Clippers are left to build around Ingram, Darius Garland and No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler. Beyond that, it’s unclear what else they have up their sleeves for now.
The Clippers do still have Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez and Kris Dunn, but all three are on expiring contracts. Beyond that, they have Isaiah Jackson and Cam Christie signed for two more years, while Yanic Konan Niederhauser has three years left on his rookie-scale deal.
In an increasingly cutthroat Western Conference, where does that roster leave them? More importantly, how many West teams can you confidently say would be worse than the Clippers in 2027-28 and 2028-29?
The Sacramento Kings, for sure. The Memphis Grizzlies, maybe. The Dallas Mavericks? The New Orleans Pelicans? Beyond that, it’s already unclear.
Until the NBA announces the results of the cap-circumvention investigation into the Clippers, the Sixers should cling to the Clippers’ unprotected 2028 first-round pick and the top-three-protected 2029 first-round swap unless they’re blown away by an offer. Perhaps the Clippers get off scot-free… but what if they don’t? The NBA has the right to take away multiple draft picks and/or suspend the Clippers’ front office executives.
If the Denver Nuggets are amenable to swapping Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid with those picks attached, that’s one thing. But short of Jokić, Luka Dončić or Victor Wembanyama becoming available, it’d be a tough sell to give up a fully unprotected pick of a team that could easily be in the lottery in 2028 and 2029.
At this point, it seems clear that the Sixers are mostly building with the Maxey-Edgecombe era in mind. Those Clippers picks could be the crown jewel of that effort. They should act accordingly with those, particularly with Leonard now set to leave L.A.
