PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 27: The tarp is seen on the infield during a rain delay in the Opening Day game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on July 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dylan Dodd just got the Atlanta Braves out of the fifth inning with a 6-4 lead against the Pittsburgh Pirates. As it turns out, the Braves will have to wait to either hold on to or add to their two-run lead in the rubber match as the tarp has been put on the field at Pittsburgh.
According to local forecasts, this may not be a long one but we’re still in for a bit of a pause to see the conclusion to this game and series. Keep it right here for updates as we will provide them as they come.
We have entered a weather delay here in Pittsburgh. We'll keep you posted when we have a time for play to resume.
UPDATE [3:05 p.m. ET]: Both teams are now back in their dugouts and it appears that they figured to be better safe than sorry rather than playing through a drizzle. Play should resume shortly, so come join us in the chat and discussion thread!
George told The Hockey News during development camp that he and Schaefer had to wait a bit before they could begin their summer workouts with Giordano because his Marlies team went on a long playoff run, ending in a championship.
This is Giordano's first NHL coaching gig. He has not been on an NHL bench since he retired following the 2023-24 season.
His last two NHL seasons came with his hometown Maple Leafs, making this a cool full circle moment for him and his family.
The 2026 MLB Futures Game takes place this Sunday, July 12, at 12:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. MLB's top rising stars will go head-to-head in a seven-inning National League vs American League format at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
The Futures Game, which made its debut at Fenway Park in 1999, has been a stepping stone for some of the biggest names in the sport over the past 25 years, including Clayton Kershaw, Gerrit Cole, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña Jr., Fernando Tatís Jr., Pete Alonso, Aaron Judge, and many more.
This year's rosters include No. 1 prospect Jesús Made of the Brewers, top pitching prospect Kade Anderson, Athletics prospect Leo De Vries, Pirates right-hander Seth Hernandez, and many more. See below for everything you need to know about the 2026 MLB Futures Game, including live stream information and full rosters.
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
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NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
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Welcome to this edition of The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks Mailbag. In this series, we answer your questions about what is going on with the Canucks. In this article, we look at the Elias Pettersson-to-Pittsburgh rumour, what will happen to the radio rights for the 2026-27 season, and more.
Any Smoke Behind Petey To Pittsburgh?
There will always be trade talk surrounding Pettersson. From a purely roster perspective, the Pittsburgh Penguins make a ton of sense. Pettersson slotting in behind Sidney Crosby would give Pittsburgh strong top-six center depth, with the 27-year-old potentially being the missing piece for the Penguins to go on another deep playoff run.
The biggest issue with the Pettersson-to-Pittsburgh rumours is the no-move clause. The Swedish center is very loyal and wants to be part of the team that eventually brings a Stanley Cup to Vancouver. As of writing, it appears unlikely that Pettersson would waive to join the Penguins.
What Are The Expectations For Jonathan Lekkerimäki Next Season?
This is not a make-or-break year for Jonathan Lekkerimäki, but it is getting close to that point. The 21-year-old had his 2025-26 season cut short by injury but is expected to be ready for training camp. Last year, Lekkerimäki found success in the AHL with 13 goals and 20 points in 21 games, but could not replicate his goal-scoring touch at the NHL level.
With Lekkerimäki, the key is giving him opportunities even if he is struggling at the NHL level. It was clear from his deployment that Adam Foote and his staff didn't trust him, which led to limited ice time and bouncing back and forth between the NHL and AHL. As for next season, the expectations should be that Lekkerimäki finds some success on the power play and shows he can be reliable at both ends of the ice as part of the Canucks' middle six.
Who’s Picking Up Canucks Radio Broadcasts? Or Will It Be An Online Venture Where The PBP and Colour Are Done While Watching In Vancouver?
Taking Sportsnet 650 off the air was a terrible decision by Rogers Sports & Media. Not only does it eliminate the only full-time sports radio station in Vancouver, but it also affects teams like the Vancouver Giants and Vancouver Canadians, which broadcast their games on the station. The decision also puts talented hosts and producers out of work.
For next season, the most likely option is that Canucks games move to Jack 96.9 FM, as it is the only radio station Rogers Sports & Media owns. As for the play-by-play and colour commentators, they will most likely continue to broadcast off monitors for away games. Vancouver has not had a travelling radio crew for the last few years.
Do You Think They Do Rotating As Or Pick A Leadership Group And Stick With It The Whole Season?
When it comes to the leadership group, I think the Canucks do home and away "A's". At this point, it does not make sense to name a captain unless it is one of the younger players like Zeev Buium or Tom Willander, who will be here for a while. Here is a look at what the "A" rotation could look like:
Full-Time:
Filip Hronek
Rotating Home And Away:
Elias Pettersson Brock Boeser Brendan Gallagher Luke Schenn
Are You Concerned They Traded Maybe Their Most Popular Player In The Room? (Höglander)
Nils Höglander is an easy player to root for. Even when he is struggling to produce offensively, the effort level is there. Höglander was also a pleasure to deal with from a media perspective, as his positive attitude and willingness to answer questions to the best of his ability created some interesting stories and insight into the player.
While it would have been intriguing to see Höglander play under Malhotra, it was also time to move on. The 25-year-old gets a fresh start, while Vancouver received a future draft pick that should help with the rebuild. There is no doubt that Höglander will be missed in the market as he became a fan favourite over the past six years.
What Will The Goalie Situation Be? Are They Carrying 3?
At this point, it appears that the Canucks will have to carry three goaltenders next year. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen will be the 1A/1B, while Nikita Tolopilo will serve as the practice goaltender who occasionally gets into games. It is not an ideal situation, but it prevents Tolopilo from being lost on waivers.
The reason this is not ideal is because the move could stunt Tolopilo's development. While working with Goalie Coach Marko Torenius should help the 26-year-old, there is no drill that can replicate what it is like to play a full game. While this plan may work for next year, Ryan Johnson and his team need to come up with a stronger plan for their goaltenders moving forward.
If You Were The GM, Would You Target More Players To Add As Assets In Free Agency, Or Just Roll With The Roster You Have?
At this stage, the only players Vancouver should be signing are those on two-way contracts. The Canucks roster is full and adding more experienced players on one-way deals would be taking away ice time for younger players. Building up the Abbotsford Canucks roster should be the main priority when it comes to free agents.
As for trades, if Vancouver is able to move experienced players, bringing back "bad contracts" is worth exploring. Especially those who have one year left on their deals and can be flipped at the deadline. Even if the Canucks can only get a sixth-rounder in return for a player, adding as many future assets is key at this stage of a rebuild.
If There’s No Changes To The Roster, What Are The Line Combinations You’re Putting Together On Day One? Assuming Everybody Is Healthy.
Assuming everyone is 100% healthy and no player is traded, here is what the 2026-27 23-man opening night roster could look like:
Oct 21, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (40) take a first period face-off at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker will take part in the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia.
The 24-year-old is the fifth player announced for the competition, joining Boston’s Willson Contreras, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero and the New York Yankees’ Ben Rice. The other three participants haven’t been announced.
Walker is a first-time All-Star who is having a breakout season and his 21 homers rank fifth in the National League. The 2020 first-round draft pick is batting .294, has an .889 OPS and leads the big leagues with 70 RBIs.
He’ll be the eighth Cardinals player to compete in the competition, joining Jack Clark (1985), Ray Lankford (1997), Mark McGwire (1998-99), Jim Edmonds (2003), Albert Pujols (2003, 2007, 2009, 2022), Matt Holliday (2010-11) and Carlos Beltran (2012).
Metsinfielder Mark Vientos exited Thursday's game against the Royals after getting hit by a pitch in the hand – later announced as a fracture – resulting in a major league first for A.J. Ewing.
After New York's win, it was announced Vientos suffered a fracture and will land on the IL.
Ewing, who had spent every inning of his young major league career in the outfield, slid to second base as the Mets shuffled things around – Brett Baty moved to third base and Tyrone Taylor entered the game in center – after Vientos left.
Ewing has plenty of experience at second base, having played there regularly in the minors.
He has also been taking ground balls at the position prior to games, including before Thursday's contest.
The Mets have been clear about their intention to regularly play Ewing in center field, where he is a plus defender.
However, with Luis Robert Jr. potentially returning soon from the IL, it's possible Ewing could get some more time at second base in the near future.
Mark Vientos has been removed from the game after being hit in the hand
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 08: Yandy Díaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays slides home to score in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field on July 08, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s MLB slate is bringing plenty of heat, with no shortage of MLB player props value. A couple of the league’s top sluggers find themselves in spots I absolutely love, including Ketel Marte.
Check out my favorite MLB picks for Thursday, July 9.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Kyle Schwarber
Over 2.5 hits + runs + RBI
-122
Bryce Harper
Over 1.5 total bases
-110
Ketel Marte
Over 2.5 hits + runs + RBI
+142
Kyle Schwarber Over 2.5 hits + runs + RBI (-122)
People forget a home run cashes this play, and today Kyle Schwarber’s home run price is sitting at +150. Gross.
The Philadelphia Phillies slugger finds himself with an elite rating on Batters-Box this evening. Across 263 elite ratings over the last three seasons, the big fella has left the yard 27.76% of the time while going over this prop 42.59% of the time.
Schwarber draws Cincinnati Reds right-hander Brady Singer, who owns one of the worst pitcher ratings on the slate. Left-handed hitters have given Singer plenty of trouble, especially recently. Over his last 30 left-handed hitters faced, they are posting a .320 xBA, .680 xSLG, and .344 xwOBA.
On top of that, they are generating a 41.2% hard-hit rate and 17.6% barrel rate.
Over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Schwarber is slashing .320 BA, .560 SLG, .977 OPS, and .240 ISO. Of course, the big fella is also generating a monster 74.5% hard-hit rate during that span.
Yes, he homered last night. Do not be scared. If you don't want to pay the juice, sprinkle the double and home run markets instead.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CINR, NBCSP
Bryce Harper Over 1.5 total bases (-110)
We already know Singer has struggled against left-handed bats this season, so let's get into why we are backing both Schwarber and Bryce Harper on back-to-back days.
For starters, the Phillies superstar owns one of the highest matchup ratings on the day over at Batters-Box, where he has 100% arsenal coverage against Singer's pitch mix. Similar to Schwarber, Harper has been absolutely crushing right-handed pitching over his last 60 at-bats, posting a .320 BA, .740 SLG, 1.140 OPS, and .420 ISO.
He is also generating a 61.5% hard-hit rate and 12.8% barrel rate during that span.
I am once again very high on the Phillies today, and hopefully they come through. I would play this prop up to -120.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CINR, NBCSP
Ketel Marte Over 2.5 hits + runs + RBI (+142)
This play has me pretty giddy, as I am absolutely loving the value on Ketel Marte’s hits + runs + RBI prop this evening.
The Arizona Diamondbacks star enters today with an elite rating on Batters-Box, and in 59 elite ratings away from home over the last three seasons, he has cleared this prop nearly 50% of the time.
Marte draws San Diego Padres right-hander Griffin Canning, whom he has just 42.2% arsenal coverage against. However, when looking at his expected numbers against some of these pitches, Marte should be just fine.
I am willing to trust the expected stats and believe they point toward positive progression against Canning’s slider and changeup offerings.
Over his last 60 at-bats against right-handed pitching, the Arizona slugger owns a .367 OBP, .574 SLG, .941 OPS, and .278 ISO, while generating a 46.9% hard-hit rate and 10.2% barrel rate.
Canning has struggled against left-handed bats this season. Over his last 60 left-handed hitters faced, they are generating a 54% hard-hit rate, 13% barrel rate, and 59% elevation rate. Those lefties also own a .375 xBA, .671 xSLG, and .389 xwOBA, while Canning carries a 5.93 expected ERA against them.
I think the value is simply too good to pass up here. I love this price and would take it down to +130.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SDPA, ARID
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 282-520, -15.5 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
With Garrett Crochet still on the 60-day IL and 10-1 Sonny Gray being saved for the Yankees tomorrow, the White Sox have had the benefit of only facing three back-of-the-rotation lefties this series. Unfortunately, they managed just one run in the first two games, but maybe the third can be the proverbial charm.
Today’s Red Sox starter is something of an unknown quantity, because Patrick Sandoval hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 2024. That’s when he departed for Tommy John surgery, which was followed by complications that kept him out of action an unusually long time. The former Angels veteran has had eight minor league rehab starts with meh results, but the longest was 68 pitches, so the Boston pen should be a factor early.
The White Sox counter with a southpaw of their own who hasn’t gone deep into games lately. Anthony Kay’s last start only went four innings, but that wasn’t his fault; Mother Nature interfered after he’d only given up one run. The previous early exit was on him, though. He didn’t make it out of the fourth after allowing seven hits and five runs, three earned, to the lowly Royals.
The Miguel Vargas leading off experiment was apparently a quick one, with Chase Meidroth back at the top of the lineup against a lefty as usual.
The Red Sox have a heavy-righty lineup with only one batter who has ever faced Kay, and that was one plate appearance (it ended in a K, though, so maybe that’s a good sign).
The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals conclude an elongated series at Busch Stadium on Thursday night.
After taking the three straight from their divisional rival before Wednesday's setback, the Brewers are a short favorite (-127) for the finale, while the total is set at 8.5.
My Brewers vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, July 9 expect runs to be hard to come by in a tight game.
Who will win Brewers vs Cardinals today: Cardinals moneyline (+119)
Logan Henderson returns from the IL, and the market is giving him plenty of respect given his 26.7% K-BB% and 2.42 FIP.
Still, I'm in no hurry to lay juice on a 24-year-old coming back from a back injury. He won't receive a full workload, and the untrustworthy bullpen behind him (4.81 SIERA, 5.01 xFIP in the last 14 days) will get plenty of work.
Over his last eight starts, Andre Pallante has the third-best hard-hit rate (24.3%) of any qualified starter. With him on the bump, I'd play the St. Louis Cardinals to +110.
COVERS INTEL: Andre Pallante's 55.2% groundball rate since May 23 ranks third among qualified starters. His ability to keep the ball out of the air is crucial on a day with hitter-friendly weather (temps in the upper 80s, winds of 5-7 mph blowing out to right).
Brewers vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-107)
Pallante has been fantastic, and combined with a solid bullpen (3.47 FIP in the last 14 days), can limit a strong Milwaukee Brewers lineup.
Henderson's status coming off the IL may provide uncertainty, but his metrics are certainly impressive. He locates (105 Location+) his nasty stuff (107 Stuff+) while finding strikeouts (33.3% K rate), so it's no surprise Milwaukee is 1-4 O/U in his five outings.
We won't see a blow-up spot for either pitcher, even if Henderson isn't at his sharpest. St. Louis has cashed the Under in 12 of its last 14 home games, so I'm riding the trend.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 26-26, -3.9 units
Over/Under bets: 35-18, +16.1 units
Brewers vs Cardinals weather
Brewers vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Milwaukee -127 | St. Louis +122
Run line: Milwaukee -1.5 (+133) | St. Louis +1.5 (-138)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-104)
Brewers vs Cardinals trend
St. Louis has won seven of Andre Pallante's last eight starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Brewers vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Thursday, July 9, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Brewers starting pitcher
Logan Henderson (2-1, 2.74 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Andre Pallante (10-5, 3.60 ERA)
Brewers vs Cardinals latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PITTSBURGH — The Atlanta Braves have activated outfielder Eli White from the paternity list and designated outfielder Jose Azocar for assignment.
White joined the team in Pittsburgh for the finale of a three-game series. He is hitting .218 this season with four home runs, 15 RBIs and four stolen bases in 53 games.
Azocar played 11 games for Atlanta, which leads the NL East, and went 6 for 17 (.353).
“Still processing it,” Mazzulla said of the stunning deal. “Obviously, when something like that happens it’s not a black and white type of thing. There’s a ton of stuff that goes into it on and off the court. The part that I hope gets talked about more, and the part that we wanna focus on the most is really just the respect, the appreciation and the gratitude for what he did for the Celtics for 10 years.
“He’s a Celtic longer than I have been. He was here before me. He set the tone and started that and was a part of special things and obviously was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to be as successful as we have been. That, to me, is what we have to focus on more: the respect as a competitor and the gratitude for what he’s done.”
The Celtics drafted Brown with the third overall pick in 2016. Mazzulla joined then-Celtics head coach Brad Stevens’ staff as an assistant in 2019 and replaced Ime Udoka as Boston’s head coach in 2022.
Mazzulla spoke highly of Brown’s impact on him and the rest of the Celtics organization over the last 10 years.
“He made me a better coach. I know that for a fact,” he said. “The way he pushed me. The way he pushed himself. The way he pushed the locker room.”
Stevens, now the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, denied during his Monday press conference that superstar Jayson Tatum had any input on trading Brown. Mazzulla claims he didn’t have input either, and he trusts Stevens’ decision.
“Not input. Just, Brad comes to you and talks to you and gives you a breakdown and an understanding,” Mazzulla said. “In moments like this, obviously there’s great alignment within the organization and there’s conversations that are always gonna be had. But I think in moments like this, this is where you just trust, you listen, and you have an understanding for what they do.
“I think Brad is the absolute best at what he does, and there’s just a level of trust that goes into that.”
The Celtics acquired veteran Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-rounders in exchange for Brown. Prior to the deal, they signed free agents Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley. Stevens said he doesn’t anticipate any other significant moves to be made in the near term.
“I think that’s one of the big questions is, every time something like this happens, it’s like, how are you gonna replace? You’re not going to. I mean, obviously not only what (Brown’s) done in his career, but what he did this year, you don’t replace that,” Mazzulla said.
“I think that’s where it’s not a black and white thing, right? There’s two sides to it. We’ve also brought in people. And so, we have to have an understanding that we’re not asking anybody who comes back — whether it’s free agency, whether it’s trade — to be what he was, but they gotta be the best version of themselves and they have to bring things to our team to try and help us become a better team.”
So, what now?
The Celtics have formed a unique identity over the last few years with Mazzulla at the helm. That identity will undoubtedly change now that the Jays have been split up.
“We have a different roster. We have a different identity now,” Mazzulla added. “I think there’s been a clear identity over the last 10 years with the roster that we have, especially the cornerstones of the organization. Now, that identity is a little bit different, so the challenge lies in, how do we create that identity? How do we establish that identity, and then how do we end our season on a win?”
The Celtics’ surprisingly stellar 2025-26 campaign ended with disappointment as they blew a 3-1 first-round series lead to the Sixers. Looking ahead with a new-look roster, Mazzulla is ready to turn the page to a new era of Celtics basketball.
“When you look at the season that we had this year, it’s what we talk about all the time is the duality of the good and the bad,” Mazzulla said. “To have such a great regular season, but then when you blow a 3-1 lead that’s on everybody. That’s on me, that’s on, the coaching staff, that’s on the player. You have to look at all those things.
“So, I think you first have to have an appreciation for what we were able to do from a competitive standpoint. At the same time, have an understanding that the way we ended wasn’t good enough, and that starts with me and then it goes to everybody.”
The C’s will return to the court Friday night when they open their Summer League slate against the Toronto Raptors.
LeBron James' decision on where to play next is the one big bit of drama left in free agency, and he is taking his time doing so. Here are the latest rumors around his decision.
As a reminder, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are considered the leaders in the chase, with the Philadelphia 76ers potentially on that tier depending on who you ask. Also still in the mix are the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.
LeBron’s decision timeline
Get comfortable, we could be here a while.
While there was an expectation — or, maybe better phrased as a hope — in some league circles that LeBron would announce his decision this weekend, while the NBA media was largely assembled in Las Vegas for Summer League, it looks like things will drag out longer than that. NBA Insider Marc Stein put it this way in an appearance on the A Must Win Game podcast.
"More people than not that I speak to do not expect a resolution this week. The feeling is that this is going to seep into Summer League and will last until at least next week."
"He can join any team at any time. He can join a team in December. Because of that, there's no reason not to see how things develop and see if anything alters the decision. Just because you think one way on July 10th doesn't mean he'll feel that way on July 20th.
"The timeline is completely his. It's up to him. Because it's smaller money, there's no penalty for him to wait. I think this is what veterans are looking for. You see this in the NFL with veteran players near the end of their careers who aren't playing for top dollar can do: sit, wait, and watch the market. He definitely has a favorite in his head, of course he would at this point, but there's no penalty for waiting."
So we wait.
Would LeBron be happy in Philly?
Bob Myers made the case for LeBron to join the Philadelphia 76ers, and it is pretty straightforward: If he wants another ring, this is his best chance.
"If he was (on the podcast), I'd say, 'I honestly believe this is your best chance to win. You have to decide all the other things that are equally important. … What I would say is if it's about winning, 'Let's talk about that team because you can win in Philadelphia.'"
Winning is part of the equation for LeBron, but not the only — and not necessarily the most important — factor in his decision. Which is something ESPN's Windhorst got into on the network's Get Up. It's about his happiness.
Brian Windhorst on LeBron and the Sixers:
“I don’t necessarily know if it is the most attractive because you’re making a basketball case and LeBron has said it’s a happiness case. Can he be happy living in Philly? The big factor here is Tyrese Maxey.” pic.twitter.com/4hpuOPB2y0
League sources continue to tell NBC Sports that, reading the tea leaves, it feels like LeBron is headed back to Cleveland. That said, LeBron and his team are playing this very close to the vest, and nobody is sure exactly what he has planned.
Steph Curry on the possibility of playing with LeBron James:
“I’d say more so I’m interested to just play golf with LeBron. We’ll handle the basketball stuff, but I want to see the golf LeBron free agent. He’s out here really grinding on the game. But I’m sure we obviously would… pic.twitter.com/aGcZhc5PYI
As much fun as a LeBron and Curry pairing would be to watch, it seems increasingly unlikely. Even if LeBron has been hanging out with Draymond Green lately.
Los Angeles, CA - April 07:Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28), right, joins a huddle with teammates before a game against the Oklahoma Thunder at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
While most fans focus on projected starting lineups and ponder whether their stars are good enough, teams have to think about everything from top to bottom.
That’s why the Lakers remain focused on finding the best players possible, even though their stars are in place and they’ve announced the signings of Quentin Grimes, Walker Kessler and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
They still have at least one position open, and signing the right player could raise their ceiling or limit how good they can be.
On Wednesday, a report by Dave McMenamin on ESPN detailed where things stand in free agency and how important the final roster spots are to the Lakers.
A Lakers source told ESPN that the last spots “will be critical” for next season’s team.
The Lakers have had discussions with free agent wing Jonathan Kuminga, sources told ESPN, pitching opportunity over the veteran minimum salary they can offer.
Since the Lakers need wings on their roster, it’s no surprise they are considering adding Jonathan Kuminga. He is a player they’ve been linked to since the Hawks declined his team option.
LA figuring out how to sweeten the deal for Kuminga will be a challenge given their salary cap situation, but that’s the task in front of Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka.
Whether Kuminga ultimately signs here or not, the Lakers have to be smart with how they use their remaining spots.
So, perhaps another center can be signed as insurance for Kessler if the Lakers can move some end-of-the-rotation players.
It should encourage fans that the Lakers are doing everything they can to maximize every roster spot. To win it all, teams need top talent and depth. That doesn’t happen unless you sign a wide variety of players with upside in different areas.
Pelinka nailing these final additions won’t be viewed as blockbuster moves, but it could be the difference between the Lakers having backups they can trust or praying none of the top players get hurt because there is no one on the bench worth playing.
Lakers fans should be hoping for the former scenario.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has not found what he deems an acceptable trade package for Dylan Larkin from the mere three teams he said he'd accept a trade to.
Despite various reports from outside sources that Larkin's camp had expanded that list by multiple teams, a new report from longtime beat writer Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press indicated otherwise.
However, it looks as though Larkin may have expanded his list by one club to include the Dallas Stars, per fellow beat writer Ansar Khan of MLive.
The Stars are run by former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill, but he reportedly shot down Detroit's request for goal-scoring forward Wyatt Johnston in return for Larkin.
Like Stars forward Jason Robertson, whom the Red Wings have also been linked to, Johnston cleared the 40-goal mark this past season. He's also signed for for the next four seasons with a reasonable $8.4 million cap hit, which is slightly less than the $8.7 million cap hit Larkin's contract carries over the next five seasons.
Johnston was selected by the Stars in the opening round (23rd overall pick) of the 2021 NHL Draft, in which the Red Wings selected goaltender Sebastian Cossa with the 15th overall pick.
While Johnston is now one of the top players for the Stars, Cossa appeared in only one NHL game from the time he was selected by the Red Wings, and was traded to the Utah Mammoth late last month.
The Stars are in the midst of a difficult salary cap situation, while the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild, all of whom were on Larkin's original trade list, haven't been able to present an acceptable offer for him.
With each passing day that a deal isn't reached for Larkin, the chances of him having to report to Training Camp in the fall and make the best of an awkward situation rise.
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