It’s been an ugly season for the San Diego Padres, but it turned into a nightmare during Wednesday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs.
Walker Buehler, who was coming off of a five-inning performance of one-run baseball against a loaded Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, was torched. The right-hander gave up nine earned runs across four innings at Wrigley Field.
Buehler gave up seven hits and issued four walks in a performance that led to a 23–3 loss for the Padres. It marked the most runs given up by the franchise since 1977, tying the record.
Dansby Swanson hit three homeruns in the victory over the Padres. Tannen Maury/UPI/Shutterstock
Each Padres pitcher in Wednesday’s game gave up five or more runs during their time on the mound. Reliever Kyle Hart allowed five runs across two innings of work.
Manager Craig Stammen didn’t waste any more bullpen arms with 28-year-old rookie catcher Rodolfo Durán taking the mound for the final two innings of the game. Durán allowed eight more runs against the Cubs lineup.
Chicago hit eight homers against San Diego, including three from infielder Dansby Swanson. He also recorded eight RBIs. Even Dodgers castoff Michael Conforto hit two homers off the Padres Wednesday.
The Cubs outscored the Padres 35-12 in their three-game sweep of the Padres in what is surely one of the San Diego’s worst games in its history.
Walker Buehler had his worst start of the season Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Though currently tied for second in the NL West with the San Francisco Giants, the Padres have emerged as one of the worst offensive teams in Major League Baseball this season. San Diego’s lineup is hitting at a .224 clip, ranking dead last in batting average.
What’s next for the Padres remains a mystery as president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is expected to make a move at the trade deadline next month.
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Jun 24, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shane Drohan (55) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Winners of 50 of their last 69 games against the Cincinnati Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers will look to keep on rolling on Wednesday night. The Crew has taken the first two games of this series and a win tonight would secure a series victory.
Just like the first game in this series, it’ll be a battle of left-handers on the mound. The Brewers will have Shane Drohan as their hurler, he’ll be making his seventh start of the season and sixth since being inserted into the rotation at the beginning of June.
Drohan pitched against the Reds his last time out, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings, scattering five hits. He was not very efficient, using 98 pitches to get through those 4.1 IP, but he kept the Reds off the board in what ultimately ended up as a 6-5 Brewers win. His ERA on the season dropped to 3.12.
The Reds will counter with Andrew Abbott and his 3.90 ERA on the season. The Brewers did not face Abbott during their series last week. Abbott last pitched against the Pirates on Friday and gave up three home runs in 5.1 IP.
The Brewers lineup will have some of the usual adjustments they make against left-handers. Gary Sanchez gets the start behind the plate and is batting seventh. That pushes William Contreras to the DH spot and Christian Yelich gets the night off. Yelich has been scuffling a bit at the plate lately and has struggled against lefties a bit more than usual.
Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, and Garrett Mitchell are the only left-handed hitters in the lineup for the Crew. Bauers is playing right field in place of Sal Frelick, who is coming off an incredible month of June. Cooper Pratt is also back in the lineup after getting a day and a half off to help him reset a little bit following some recent struggles. Joey Ortiz mans the hot corner.
The Reds will have their big boppers at the top of their lineup once again with Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart providing a 1-2 punch. Spencer Steer, Eugenio Suarez, and Robert Stephenson make up the meat of their order.
The Brewers will be celebrating America’s 250th anniversary tonight, since they won’t be playing at home on the 4th of July. We’ll see if the Brewers offense can provide some fireworks tonight against Abbott and the Reds pitching staff. First pitch is at 7:10 PM with ESPN having the TV broadcast.
The Vancouver Canucks are adding to their D-core, having signed towering defenceman Jamie Oleksiak to a two-year, $5M AAV contract.
A 6-foot-7 left-shot defenceman, Oleksiak has spent his 14-year NHL career with the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and most recently the Seattle Kraken. Throughout that span, he has played in 758 NHL games and scored 45 goals and 116 assists.
“Jamie is a big body who moves very well on the ice,” Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson said in a press release. “He’s a solid two-way defenceman who isn’t afraid to use his size and strength to his advantage, and we like his reach and athleticism. He competes very hard and has grown into a good leader in the dressing room. Adding him to the mix on the backend will help us in many positive ways.”
Drafted 14th-overall by the Stars in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Oleksiak initially played for Dallas from 2012-13 to 2017-18 but returned to the team from 2018-19 to 2020-21 after a two-season stint with the Penguins. He did not play in his first full 82-game season until 2023-24 as a member of the Kraken.
Apr 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (24) looks to pass in the first period against the Utah Mammoth at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Oleksiak's best offensive numbers came from his time with the Kraken, as he registered a career-high in goals (9) and assists (16) in a single season with 75 games played in 2022-23.
Last season, Oleksiak put up five goals and 10 assists in 78 games while averaging 16:56 minutes played.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Jalen Brunson and “the starting lineup for the Knicks” have been invited to the power couple’s wedding on Friday in New York, Page Six reported.
Along with Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns were invited to the nuptials at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Jalen Brunson was invited to the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding at MSG. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
There are expected to be at least 1,000 guests at the wedding Friday, one day after the pop star and Chiefs tight end have a rehearsal dinner at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Swift and the Knicks are plenty familiar with each other, as the “Welcome to New York” singer took in the Knicks’ historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. It was Anunoby whose flying tip-in in the waning seconds sealed the victory over the Spurs.
Swift, who wore a blue and orange “Stevie Knicks” T-shirt, was sitting courtside on Celebrity Row with fellow singers Este Haim and Alana Haim and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” actress Mariska Hargitay as the Knicks improbably rallied to win their third game of the Finals.
Kelce, a Cavaliers fan who attended the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland with Swift, was not in attendance for the comeback.
Singer Taylor Swift on Celebrity Row during the second quarter of NBA Finals Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce are seen on May 16, 2026 in New York City. GC Images
Este Haim revealed it was Swift who invited her and her sister to the Finals game.
“Taylor invited me and Alana. I’ve never sat courtside ever, so it was a magical experience,” Este Haim told Variety in mid-June. “I’ve never heard the Garden be that loud in my life. It was amazing. I had the best time.”
The Haim sisters, along with Hargitay, are among the other high-profile guests invited to the big bash, according to Page Six.
Some of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates are expected to attend. Three-time Super Bowl-winning coach Andy Reid was among those invited.
If James came on board, the hope would presumably be that he’d boost the Sixers’ playmaking, versatility and veteran knowhow as the team pushed for an NBA championship. James made his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game last season and averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds. He’s one of the sport’s all-time greats and nowhere near the typical player his age.
Jones wrote that “the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are also considered among the frontrunners for James’ services.”
At times, I’ve promoted the idea that MLB should have a mercy rule – down 10 runs or more after seven innings, the two managers should be able to just say, “We quit.”
It’s games like this that might make me reconsider that idea. On a very hot and windy afternoon at Wrigley Field, Dansby Swanson smashed three homers, giving him five in two games, tying the MLB record for such things. That led an eight-homer demolition of the Padres, 23-3. The eight homers tied the Cubs franchise record, set last July 4 against the Cardinals. That, my friends, was fun, even if the last eight runs came off a position player.
There is a lot of stuff to unpack about this game, so let’s get started!
After a scoreless top of the first, the Cubs got right to work in the bottom of the inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled and Alex Bregman walked. After Michael Busch struck out, Seiya Suzuki launched a home run [VIDEO].
For Suzuki, that was his 100th career home run. More on that from BCB’s JohnW53:
Seiya Suzuki is the 27th batter to hit at least 100 home runs as a Cub. He is tied with Keith Moreland. Next up: Shawon Dunston, 107; Willson Contreras, 117; Kyle Schwarber, 121; and Jody Davis, 122. Andy Pafko is 20th, at 126, 12 behind Leon Durham’s 138.
Colin Rea got into a bit of trouble in the third on a double and two hit batters, loading the bases, but ended the inning with a ground ball.
Then the Cubs blew the game open in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Suzuki walkwd and Ian Happ doubled. One out later, Michael Conforto was intentionally walked so Walker Buehler could pitch to Miguel Amaya.
If you’re keeping count, that’s four homers for Swanson in a game (yesterday) plus three innings (today) and four RBI already. It’s 9-0 Cubs. Incidentally, Buehler had been on a pretty good run, with a 2.64 ERA over his last nine starts. This game marks the first time in Buehler’s career where he allowed nine runs. His season ERA went from 3.81 to 4.61 with his four-inning outing.
Rea made it through the fifth inning, allowing a pair of runs in that frame to make it 9-2. You could tell he was running out of gas in the heat, issuing two walks to load the bases after the two runs had scored, but he struck out Jake Cronenworth to end the inning. Earlier in the fifth, Rea had some defensive help from Happ [VIDEO].
Rea turned 36 today. Fun fact from John about that:
Cubs starters on their birthdays have won six consecutive decisions: Rea today, Jordan Wicks in 2024 and 2023, Justin Steele in 2024, Marcus Stroman in 2022 and Randy Wells in 2010. The last to lose was Carlos Zambrano, who gave up seven runs, six earned, on 13 hits (no homers) and two walks in 5.0 innings on June 1, 2007. Rea’s start is the 11th since then. Since 1901, Cubs starters on birthdays are 21-15, with 17 no-decisions.
Now it’s 13-2 and the fun isn’t anywhere near done!
Trent Thornton threw a 1-2-3 sixth on only six pitches, and then the Cubs tacked on two more in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Happ walked. One out later, Conforto went deep for the second time [VIDEO].
If you’ve lost count, that’s six Cubs homers and a 15-2 lead.
Jordan Wicks was given the ball for the seventh and he retired the Padres in order. He allowed a run in the eighth to make it 15-3, and that’s when the position player pitcher fun began. Padres catcher Rodolfo Duran had thrown the seventh and retired the Cubs 1-2-3 – the only Padre to do that in this game.
He wasn’t so fortunate in the eighth, but Cubs fans enjoyed the show. Michael Busch, who had been 0-for-4, singled leading off the inning. Suzuki doubled him to third. A single by Kevin Alcántara scored Busch [VIDEO].
Oh, we have SO MANY fun facts about that! First, as noted above, that matches the MLB record for most home runs in a two-game span. But also:
Dansby Swanson has 26 RBI in a 10-game span. The only players to do this in a 10-game span within a season since RBI became official in 1920: Swanson in 2026 Joe DiMaggio in 1939 Jimmie Foxx in 1933 Lou Gehrig in 1931 Lou Gehrig in 1930 Mel Ott in 1929
Pretty good company, I’d say. Also, from John, who I asked, “Who’s the last Cub to have back-to-back multi-homer games?”
Patrick Wisdom, Aug. 27-28, 2021, at White Sox. Three-run shot in first inning and solo in ninth of first game, then solos in fourth and fifth of second gam
And at Wrigley Field?
Javier Baez, April 10-11, 2018, in 8-5 loss and 13-5 win over Pirates. Only six such earlier pairs at Wrigley: Bill Williams, Sept. 9-10, 1968 Andre Dawson, June 1-2, 1987 Sammy Sosa, June 19-20, 1998 and Aug. 20-21, 1999 Derrek Lee, May 27-28, 2005 Alfonso Soriano, May 16-17, 2008 Note that Williams had a day off between games.
Swanson had eight RBI in the game. That also accomplished something rare:
Dansby Swanson's 8 RBI are 2nd most by any player batting 9th in a game since RBI became official in 1920, trailing only Tony Cloninger (9 RBI at Giants on July 3, 1966)
Since Wicks threw three innings and finished up, he gets a save – with a 20-run lead!
More facts about this crazy game from John:
This is the 43rd game since 1901 in which a Cub has hit three home runs. None has hit four.
Michael Busch was the last to do it, on July 4 of last year, when the Cubs set the franchise record of eight home runs that they tied today.
Sammy Sosa did it six times; Ernie Banks, four; Dave Kingman and Aramis Ramirez, three; Kris Bryant, Hank Sauer and Alfonso Soriano, two.
The Cubs are 31-12 in the three-homer games.
…
The Cubs had hit at least five homers in back-to-back games only twice before:
Aug. 10-11, 2002, at Colorado: six, then five, in 15-1 and 12-9 wins
Aug. 1-2, 2023, at home vs. Reds: seven, then five, in 20-9 and 16-6 wins
…
This is just the sixth game since 1901 in which the Cubs scored at least 23 runs.
The last was a 26-7 win at Colorado on Aug. 18, 1995.
The last at home was 23-6 over the Padres on May 17, 1977.
They beat the Cardinals at home, 23-13, on April 17, 1954; the Braves at Boston, 24-2, on July 3, 1945; and the Phillies at home, 26-23, in the highest-scoring MLB game ever, on Aug. 25, 1922.
…
This is the Cubs sixth series sweep of the season: three games vs. the Diamondbacks, Mets and Padres; four games vs. the Mets, Phillies and Reds.
In all other series they are 6-13-2, including three straight losses vs. the Astros and Brewers.
A note on that 23-6 game from 1977 – this game matches that one as the most runs allowed in a game in Padres franchise history.
Saving the best for last from John:
This is just the third game ever that the Cubs won by at least 20 runs!
24-2 at Boston on July 3, 1945
21-0 at home vs. Pirates on April 23, 2022
Lastly, I thought you might like to have a look at my scorecard:
Whew! What an afternoon at Wrigley Field. Oh, and almost lost in all this: The Cubs have won five straight and 15 of their last 19.
The Cubs have a well-earned day off tomorrow and will open a three-game series against the Cardinals Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Cubs don’t have a starter listed yet but it should be David Peterson’s turn to make his Cubs Wrigley debut. The Cardinals are going with Andre Pallante. Game time Friday is 3:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 26: Andrew Abbott (41) of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch during a MLB game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 26, 2026 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds have lost three games in a row. They are just 19-34 over their last 53 games played, which is abysmal. They are the owners of an impossibly bad 4-19 record within the National League Central, and they have lost all five games in which they have played the Milwaukee Brewers so far this year.
On Wednesday night, they once again will be tasked with tackling the beast that is Milwaukee, and they’ll send out lefty Andrew Abbott to try to do it. Abbott has settled in rather nicely after a rough first few weeks of the season, and the Reds will need his unique blend of precision and deception to help keep this smack-hitting Brewers lineup on its heels.
Shane Drohan will get the start for Milwaukee. He just faced the Reds last week and held them scoreless over 4.1 IP. He has pitched in both the rotation and bullpen for the Beers so far in 2026, so odds are he won’t be in there much longer than that even if he’s being as effective as he was last time out, so Cincinnati will inevitably be required to take on a Milwaukee bullpen that’s been mostly a Top 5 unit in the game all season for an extended period.
First pitch is set for 8:00 PM ET as ESPN will carry it nationally.
Lineups for both clubs are listed below, with the Reds once again stacking righties against a left-handed starter. That includes the switch-hitting Ivan Johnson, who’ll start in LF for the first big league appearance of his career.
The day had started with a report that Werenski had vetoed a trade to the Dallas Stars.
Werenski who has two more seasons left on his contract, won a gold medal with the USA at the Olympics last season and was voted the NHL's top defenseman for the first time in his career. But the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs for the sixth season in a row.
Here are the statements by Waddell and Werenski explaining what happened:
Statement from Don Waddell
"Earlier this spring, Zach and I met and talked about his future with the Blue Jackets beyond his current contract and he indicated that he wasn’t sure what the future would hold with regards to staying with the club or possibly moving on. During those discussions, we talked about me exploring opportunities to move him now and we all agreed if there was a deal to be made that I would bring it to him.
"We found something that would work for the club and took it to him. After some time and discussions with his family, Zach informed us that he didn’t want to leave Columbus. He has invested a great deal in this organization and after coming close and falling short the past two seasons, his desire is to win here and get this team back into the playoffs.
"The past two seasons have been very challenging ones, but also ones of growth for our team. Our goals from ownership on down and Zach’s goals are the same… to win now, return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and win a Stanley Cup. Our city and fans deserve nothing less and we are all on the same page working towards that end. Zach has been a very important part of this organization and our community for a long time, and we couldn’t be happier that he will continue to be moving forward."
Statement from Zach Werenski
"Don and I have had very open and honest dialogue since the season ended. Ideally, this wouldn’t have become such a public thing but that is the world we live in now and everything got blown out of proportion in my opinion. I want to win and I want to do that in Columbus. As I’ve thought about things and discussed everything with my wife and family, we want to be in Columbus. It has been my home for the past 10 years and I have always been proud to be a Blue Jacket. We have the best fans in the NHL. I love my teammates and coaches and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup. Don and I are completely aligned on that and are excited about what’s to come with our team."
Jul 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Sean Keys (20) gets the water bucket poured on him against the New York Mets at the end of the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Mets 3 Blue Jays 9
One of those, very very rare days, where the offense and the pitching both were great for the Jays.
We scored early, we scored often:
One in the first: Nathan Lukes started things with a single. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a double (very well hit ball). Kazuma Okamoto had an infield single, bringing the run. Course, runners on first and second with no outs, we should have scored more. But Daulton Varsho fly out, Alejandro Kirk walk, Yohendrick Piñango pop out and Ernie Clement strikeout, ended the fun and had us thinking “here we go again”.
Four in the third: Oka walked, an out later, Kirk singled and another out later Clement doubled, scoring out second run. Sean Keys hit his first MLB home run to make it 5-0.
Four in the seventh: Vlad walked, Oka singled but was thrown out trying to turn it into a double. Varsho singled, scoring Vlad. Kirk singled. And then Myles Straw, pinch hitting homered.
12 hits, 2 home runs, 5 for 9 with RISP. All the things we’d like every game. Lukes, Okamoto, Kirk and Clement had two hits each. Piñango and Andrés Giménez had o fors.
All-in-all a good day for the bats.
Pitchers?
Braydon Fisher opened and gave up just a walk in his inning. I was all for having him go another, after just 14 pitches, but then the coaches are closer to the game than I am. Vlad made a terrific play on a ground ball down the line on the first at bat of the game.
Spencer Miles went three innings, giving up just a hit and a walk, with five strikeouts. Excellent job. He also made a terrific play grabbing a line drive and a nice play on a roller down the first base line.
Patrick Corbin, after being demoted to the bullpen, threw the last five innings. He did give up a couple of home runs, and four hits in all, but had five strikeouts and no walks. Honestly, though the two home runs didn’t look good, he knew the assignment, fill up the strike zone. I thought is was a success. Five innings on 46 pitches. He got the save.
Vlad made a nice play on a line drive and a nice play on a ground ball, going to his right and making a great throw to the pitcher at first. Nathan Lukes made a terrific throw to second on a ball off the netting in right field. Giménez had a nice play at short too.
Jays of the Day: Miles (0.13 WPA) and Keys (0.13). Lets give Honourable Mention to Kirk, Vlad, Oka and Corbin.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylen Brown — the Celtics’ 2024 Finals MVP and 5-time All-Star selection — has officially ended his tenure in Boston. Brown has been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the picks are: a 2028 first-round pick that could convert from a first to a swap that is more favorable to Boston, a 2031 unprotected Philadelphia first, 2028 second round, most favorable of GSW/OKC/MIL, and 2030 second round, most favorable of WAS/PORT/PHX.
CLARIFICATION ON PICKS: According to MassLive’s Brian Robb, the 2028 first round pick is the better of the 76ers’ and Clippers’ picks and not a pick swap as previously reported.
BLOCKBUSTER: The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/xNcNlIV2mh
Brown is coming off the best season of his career, in which he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, while shooting 47.7% from the field. He finished 6th in MVP voting and was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the second time in his career.
Paul George is coming off a season in which he appeared in 37 games and averaged 17.3 points and 3.6 assists, shooting 43.9% from the field and 39.2% from three. In the playoffs, he averaged 16.4 points per game, shooting 45.3% from the field and 49.3% from three.
This story will be updated as more information is available.
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
After lots of speculation, Jaylen Brown has been traded.
The Celtics deal the five-time All-Star to the 76ers for Paul George and two first-round picks and two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.
Brown is coming off his best season in the NBA, averaging 28.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 71 games, delivering as Boston’s top option while Jayson Tatum recovered from his Achilles tear for most of the season.
Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images
Despite the production this year, Brown has been rumored to be a part of multiple trade packages so far this offseason, with Charania reporting the Celtics were actively shopping him around during the NBA draft.
According to ESPN, the Celtics offered Brown and two unprotected first-round picks for Antetokounmpo.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in late June. “I’m never going to predict the future. Every indication, everything I think about, over the last few years, has been building around those guys.
“You never know. But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he’s always been. He’s been amazing. He’s been an amazing teammate and a great person to be around.”
Shortly after Stevens left the door open for Brown’s exit, Brian Robb of MassLive reported that the Timberwolves had been in talks with the Celtics about the guard before acquiring LaMelo Ball.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George. Boston Globe via Getty Images
Brown was also shopped around by Boston in 2022, as the Celtics offered him in a package deal to the Nets for Kevin Durant.
He now joins his second NBA team after 10 years with the Celtics. The 76ers finished seventh in the Eastern Conference this past season but rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the first round of the playoffs to beat the Celtics. Philadelphia was then swept by the Knicks in the East semifinals.
The Worldwide Leader reported that while the Celtics shopped Brown, the star never requested a trade out of Beantown.
Brown has three seasons left on his five-year, $285,393,640 contract.
The Celtics get a nine-time All-Star in George, who has played in just 78 games the past two seasons combined, averaging 16.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. He has a $54 million cap hit this season and a $56 million hit in 2027-28 if he picks up his player option.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the second half against the Houston Rockets in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2026 in Houston, 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. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz signed Jaxson Hayes to a two-year $12 million deal, according to Tim MacMahon.
Source: The Jazz are signing former Lakers center Jaxson Hayes to a two-year, $12 million deal. The second season is a team option.
The second year is a team option, meaning Utah can release him after this upcoming season if they want.
The Hayes signing makes sense, as Utah now needs center depth after the Walker Kessler trade. Hayes played 66 games last season for the Lakers and started in 9 of them. He averaged 18 minutes per game while shooting 75% from the field, with 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks. As of now, Hayes likely becomes the backup center behind Jusuf Nurkic if the Jazz decide to start Nurkic. But Hayes feels like he’s more of a third center on a good team.
The off-court issues are the biggest concern with Hayes, who has had domestic violence allegations in the past. We haven’t heard from the Jazz front office about those issues, but the Lakers have discussed those issues before. You can read about that here.
We can only hope that those things are behind Hayes and that he has changed his life after some harrowing details of his past were revealed.
In terms of basketball alone, Utah now has a center who can fill the void left by Walker Kessler. Hayes gives the Jazz flexibility in potential future trades, especially with his team option on his second year, while also keeping the Jazz cap low as they prepare for a future contract for Keyone George.
This is also probably a reflection of the Ainge’s view of centers. They might not think putting money into the center position is worth it unless you have a franchise-caliber player. Utah obviously didn’t think Kessler was at that level and can now fill gaps with moves like this.
After failing to deal him during their foray into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, the Boston Celtics have agreed to a blockbuster trade that ships star forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for veteran Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-round selections, a person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on the matter.
The picks in the deal include a 2028 first rounder that would turn into a pick swap if that turns out to be more favorable for the Celtics and an unprotected first rounder in the 2031 draft. The second-round picks are in 2028 and 2030.
This is a clear signal that Philadelphia is looking to elevate itself into a championship contender in the East. The Sixers have made the playoffs eight of the last nine years but haven't advanced past the second round over that span. And with center Joel Embiid at 32 years old, Philadelphia’s window to win with the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player is winding down.
With Brown, the 76ers now have a three-headed force on offense with Embiid, Brown and two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, whose 28.3 points per game last season ranked fifth in the league — just 0.4 points per game behind Brown.
The Sixers have seen other teams in the East beef up, including the Heat acquiring Antetokounmpo, so this trade indicates that they feel they are among the top teams in the conference. Philadelphia also signed free agent Dean Wade, and VJ Edgecombe shined in his rookie season.
George’s contract had been rather cumbersome and the Sixers are able to both offload it and bring back a younger, more talented player in Brown. George is due $54.1 million next season and has a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28.
The deal also breaks up the nine-year partnership of Brown and Jayson Tatum as the faces of the franchise and presents something of a new era in Boston. The Celtics appear to be building more toward the future, but with Tatum in his prime at 28 years old, the trade of Brown is dissonant with the timeline to win now.
Brown was stellar for Boston this season, most of which was played without fellow star Tatum, who missed the first five months of the campaign recovering from his ruptured Achilles tendon suffered deep in the 2025 playoffs.
Brown averaged career-highs in points (28.7) and assists (5.1), while tying his career mark in rebounds (6.9), as the Celtics exceeded external expectations en route to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the East.
Boston raced out to a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the playoffs against the 76ers but lost three consecutive games to crash out.
That early exit led to several weeks of angst and uncertainty as the franchise weighed its future and roster construction. Despite Boston being just two years removed from an NBA championship, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens clearly felt the team was not built to compete for another title.
The Celtics engaged with the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo but lost out to the Heat, who offered a blend of young players and draft capital. Brown was a significant part of those discussions and was eventually dangled out in trade talks.
Later, Stevens had called Brown integral to the team’s identity and culture, but he stopped short of reaffirming his future with the franchise.
"Jaylen Brown is a big part of us," Stevens said on June 24. "I’m never going to predict the future. Every indication, everything I think about over the last few years, has been building around those guys. You never know.
"But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he has always been. He has been amazing. He has been an amazing teammate and a great person to be around."
Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, is a five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection.
Nashville Predators general manager Chris MacFarland has dipped back into familiar waters once again.
After already acquiring former Colorado Avalanche forwards Ross Colton and Jack Drury—who quickly signed a contract extension with Nashville—this offseason, MacFarland has now brought in another player from his former organization. The Predators announced Wednesday that they have signed defenseman Jack Ahcan to a two-year, two-way contract, adding another player MacFarland knows well from his time in Colorado.
While Ahcan has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL defenseman, he showed enough in Colorado to earn meaningful opportunities when they mattered most. The 29-year-old appeared in three Stanley Cup Playoff games this spring, dressing twice against the Minnesota Wild before drawing into Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights with Cale Makar sidelined by injury.
Ahcan didn't register a point during his postseason stint, but he made his presence felt in the defensive zone. Against Minnesota, he showcased a fearless style of play, throwing himself in front of several dangerous scoring chances and making a number of eye-catching shot blocks that helped stabilize Colorado's blue line under pressure.
His regular-season production also turned heads at the American Hockey League level. Ahcan recorded 50 points—11 goals and 39 assists—in 61 games with the Colorado Eagles, finishing among the league's more productive offensive defensemen while also appearing in 11 NHL contests for the Avalanche.
Although his NHL résumé remains relatively brief with just 22 career games split between Colorado and the Boston Bruins, Ahcan has consistently produced in the AHL. Across stints with the Eagles and Providence Bruins, he has accumulated 198 points in 272 career AHL games, underscoring the offensive instincts that have made him a dependable contributor at that level.
For Nashville, this signing is about more than organizational depth.
The Predators are in the midst of a roster transition, and Ahcan arrives with an opportunity that may not have existed in Colorado. Nashville's evolving blue line could provide him with the clearest path yet toward earning consistent NHL minutes, especially after proving he can be trusted in high-pressure situations during the postseason.
MacFarland's familiarity with Ahcan undoubtedly played a role in the decision. After bringing Colton and Drury to Nashville earlier this summer, the Predators' general manager has once again turned to a player he knows firsthand, betting that a change of scenery could allow Ahcan to finally establish himself as an everyday NHL defenseman.
Jul 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Sean Keys (20) celebrates hitting a three run home run against the New York Mets during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
On Canada Day, the Mets dropped the rubber game of their series with the Blue Jays, 9-3. The Mets have now lost ten of their last twelve, and are 2-4 in the Andy Green era.
Certainly, the Mets hoped that Freddy Peralta’s most recent start was the beginning of a turnaround for the veteran free agent-to-be. But the Blue Jays had other plans, as three straight hits to start the game led to a run. A one-out walk loaded the bases, but Peralta was able to escape with just the 1-0 deficit, but threw entirely too many pitches in the first frame.
After a low-stress second inning, the wheels came off for Peralta in the third. A walk to Kazuma Okamoto started the inning and a single by Alejandro Kirk put two on, but Peralta managed to get two outs and almost got out of the inning. Ernie Clement doubled to score Okamoto.
Not to be outdone, Sean Keys drove a ball over the left-field wall for a three-run jack, and all of a sudden the Mets were down 5-0. Peralta would pitch a scoreless fourth, but that was merely to give the Mets a little (wait for it) relief for their bullpen. Joey Gerber was first out of the ‘pen, and he pitched an inning and a third of scoreless ball before leaving the game in the sixth with an apparent hand injury. Cionel Pérez was next up, and he went got through the sixth without incident, but had his first truly bad outing as a Met, allowing four runs to score in the seventh, including a Myles Straw three-run jack.
Anyone who has been watching the Mets know that offense has been hard to come by at points for the Mets, and they were stymied today by opener Braydon Fisher, bulk man Spencer Mills, and the unexpected 2026 relief debut of Patrick Corbin. Corbin looked about as good as he has in this decade, although with the way most of the team was swinging the bat today, they could’ve put Corbin at his worst out there and he may’ve looked like May 2021 Jacob deGrom.
Defensive was how Vlad Guerrero Jr. contributed to this game, making three excellent plays at first base. Despite his offensive skills in free fall this year, Guerrero looked almost Keith Hernandez-esque in the field today. On the Mets’ side, A.J. Ewing threw an absolute bullet off the wall to throw out Okamoto trying to stretch a single into a double. Tyrone Taylor, also in the seventh, threw out Clement on a replay-confirmed call later in the inning. Taylor made another fantastic diving catch in the eighth; this outfield construction is maybe the best defensive outfield the Mets have put out in at least a decade.
A.J. Minter came in with two outs in the seventh and quickly dispatched Keys on a held foul-tip for a strikeout. The Mets added two runs in the top of the eighth on a home run from Carson Benge. The only real consequence of this was that Luis Torrens was going to pitch the bottom of the eighth but could not because the Mets were only down by seven, not eight. Francisco Lindor hit a one-out solo home run in the ninth, but it was too little too late, as has been most Met action in 2026.
Only Unnaturally Rude Homers Operate Mercilessly, Enjoying Agonizing National Days. No Agita Toronto, IVery Enthusiastically Laud And Naturally Decree: Happy Canada Day.
The Mets are off tomorrow before traveling to Atlanta for a three-game series with the Braves. Christian Scott will go for the Mets, with our old pal TBD going for the Barves.
