July has arrived, which means the NBA Summer League is right around the corner.
Former Huskies Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr.’s will both start early in the California Classic, taking place from July 3-6. The main NBA Summer League will be in Las Vegas from July 9-19.
Karaban’s Sacramento Kings and Reed’s Spurs are in the field along with the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat. The two UConn rookies are set to make their Summer League debuts this holiday weekend.
Sacramento Kings’ California Classic schedule:
Saturday, July 4 vs Brooklyn Nets at 5:00 PM ET
Sunday, July 5 vs Golden State Warriors Blue at 5:00 PM ET
Monday, July 6 vs Milwaukee Bucks at 10:00 PM ET
San Antonio Spurs’ schedule:
Friday, July 3 vs Miami Heat at 8:00 PM ET
Monday, July 6 vs Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 PM ET
With the draft over and the players now in their new cities, Karaban and Reed Jr. have had a chance to reflect on their journey from high school to college and the pros.
In Sacramento, GM Scott Perry mentioned basketball IQ as a separator as well as Karaban’s elite shooting and connecting ability along with winning mentality. He also shared that he observed a UConn practice, saying anyone coming out of that program is “battle-tested.”
Sacramento Kings GM Scott Perry on Alex Karaban:
"Alex Karaban was one of the most accomplished players in college basketball. He's the winningest player of all time in UConn Huskies history. That says a lot. 2 time National Champion. So he brings a winning pedigree; he's an… pic.twitter.com/HcPXDpOrVu
Karaban will immediately bring the winning DNA that a team like Sacramento needs. The Kings last won the NBA title in 1951 when they were the Rochester Royals, and have only made the playoffs twice since 2006.
Karaban credited Dan Hurley for his development as a player, noting that he will bring the same mentality to the Kings.
Alex Karaban: Coach Hurley, he changed my life. I wouldn't be here without him… Those practices, the daily habits that we had every single day, those core values that he instilled in me are something I want to carry over to this organization."
With No. 11 being retired, AK chose No. 33 after fellow Massachusetts legend Larry Bird. That number was last worn for the Kings by Jake LaRavia in 2025.
Alex Karaban on choosing #33 as his jersey number on the Sacramento Kings:
"Coach Hurley called me Larry Bird a lot, so I had to go with 33." 😂😂
Over in San Antonio, Reed was introduced just a few days after the draft and got to work immediately.
“The first thing I noticed is the game is a lot faster than college. We played a little bit slow at UConn, but here it is just fast-paced, fast-tempo.” He described the game as one where you have to be on high alert on the defensive end and not get caught for a defensive three-second violation.
Lars Eller's brief time in Ottawa is officially over. On the first day of 2026 free agency, the veteran centre signed a one-year, $850,000 deal with the Florida Panthers. Eller also has the potential for $250,000 in performance bonuses, mostly based on games played.
Eller will be reunited with Brady Tkachuk, his teammate in Ottawa this season, though the two parted ways with the team in very different ways. Eller honoured his contract and left in free agency. With two years left on his deal, Tkachuk requested a trade after the season, and 10 days ago, the Senators accommodated him.
Steve Warne talked about the free agent status of Claude Giroux.
With 6 points in his first 12 games, Eller got off to a fine start with the Senators. But he ran into some nagging injuries and had only had nine points over the next 56 games.
Eller finished the season with 15 points, 50 hits, 33 blocked shots and 67 shots on net. He played in all four playoff games for the Senators but averaged less than 9 minutes of ice time per game. His highlight this year was probably the opportunity to play at the Olympics in Milan with Team Denmark.
At 37, he's either going to continue being a fourth-liner in Florida or a part-time player.
Tkachuk won't be the only familiar face from Ottawa. The Danish veteran played briefly in Ottawa with Donovan Sebrango before the Panthers claimed the young defenceman off waivers from the Senators back in October.
As it happens, Sebrango also signed up for another tour of duty with Florida on Wednesday. The Panthers didn't give Sebrango a qualifying offer, which made him a UFA. But after Florida made Sebrango an NHL semi-regular for the first time in his career, there was still interest in returning.
Sebrango played 40 games with Florida this season (0 goals, 8 assists), so according to THN's David Dwork, they signed him to a one-year deal.
Florida also signed former Senator Boko Imama on Wednesday, and on Tuesday, they acquired forward Angus Crookshank in the Jacob Markstrom deal.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:
It seems fair since the Swift-Kelce party has taken over the Knicks' home, Madison Square Garden, for the nuptials. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns all made the list, which is reportedly more than 1,000 strong. The Knicks did not return a message looking to confirm the report.
Swift was there for the Knicks' big moment, so it's a little fair play.
She was courtside for two Knicks playoff wins this spring, including their miracle comeback from 29 points down to win Game 4 of the NBA Finals by a point. She and Kelce, an Ohio native, also showed up on the road when the Knicks took on the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
She was there for one of the Knicks' biggest moments and they are invited to be there for hers − if they RSVP'd in time. The reports said it was unclear if the players accepted.
Reports on the wedding, which have not been confirmed by the couple's representatives, have the Garden being transformed for the wedding with Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw among the names rumored to perform. The guest list runs deep into Hollywood, too, with Selena Gomez, Mariska Hargitay and Gigi Hadid among those expected, plus a contingent of Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs teammates.
Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli has apologized for his comment toward Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras on Tuesday that incited a benches-clearing scrum.
Cavalli shouted, “Sit down, boy,” at Contreras after striking him out looking in the fourth inning of the Nationals’ 8-1 win.
“I’m extremely torn up about the way things were perceived. Obviously, there was no ill intention behind that,” Cavalli told reporters Wednesday.
Cade Cavalli (front right) is held back as tempers flare during the fourth inning of the Nationals’ 8-1 win over the Red Sox on June 30, 2026 in Boston. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Cavalli is referring to the racist connotations of the term “boy” in the United States. Contreras, who is Venezuelan, said Tuesday he would “let MLB handle that” when asked postgame if he felt there were racist undertones to Cavalli’s comment.
“There’s a history behind that word, and that’s just something that as a competitor, like in football or basketball, playing whiffle ball with my brother, you don’t understand it. And then it gets perceived in a way that was not my intention, and then you learn from that,” Cavalli said.
“It’ll never happen again.”
Cavalli said he was unaware of the controversy he’d stirred until he returned to the team hotel.
“I looked at my phone, and I saw what people were saying about me,” the right-hander said. “Saw how torn up my wife was. It hurt my heart … because I know that people know me, and they know my character, and that’s not me. So it was hard. I truly didn’t sleep last night.”
Boston first baseman Willson Contreras (40) gets into an altercation in the fourth inning of the Red Sox’s loss to the Nationals on June 30, 2026. Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images
Contreras yelled back, “Are you talking to me?” after Cavalli’s comment as he was walking back to the dugout. Contreras then charged the mound after words were exchanged and tried to throw his helmet at Cavalli over a group of players stopping him before he got to the pitcher.
The incident was brief, but resulted in the ejections of Contreras, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy, Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton and Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas.
Cavalli said he hadn’t yet personally apologized to Contreras but hoped he would hear his message.
“I hope that he hears this and understands that was not what was intended at all. I think he knows that. But if I see him, I want to make sure that he knows that,” Cavalli added.
While the Philadelphia Flyers did very little on Day 1 of NHL free agency, they still have a few irons in the fire that could make or break this important period for the team.
Earlier Wednesday, the Flyers failed to pull off a trade for Mavrik Bourque, leaving them mostly stranded when it came to acquiring a right-shot center with positional versatility.
Signing Noel Acciari helped, but he is 34 years old and a stopgap who will be used exclusively in a fourth-line role by the Flyers.
One player the Flyers are interested in, with at least more upside than Acciari, is former captain Claude Giroux, who is a free agent at the time of this writing without a new contract from the Ottawa Senators.
"We've had some discussions. I can't say much more than that. We've had some discussions, we're looking at everything. At the moment, yeah, there's nothing imminent," Flyers general manager Danny Briere said of Giroux and defenseman John Carlson at his free agency press conference Wednesday.
A few questions later, Briere opened up a bit more on the topic of Giroux.
The Flyers boss was asked which side opened up dialogue first: Giroux's side, or the Flyers' side?
Briere tried to maintain his stoicisim, but his smile told it all in the end.
I don't even, I don't even know. I don't remember," Briere said with a grin.
As reported by myself, Pierre Lebrun, and others, the Flyers have interest in bringing back Giroux, and it of course takes two to tango and get a deal done.
Giroux would have to choose the Flyers over a potential return to his hometown Senators or a last-ditch bid to win a Stanley Cup with a contender, and the Flyers would have to sell their former talisman on a top-nine role suitable for his talents, farewell tour notwithstanding.
Whatever comes next could determine the Flyers' fate for the 2026-27 season.
Jun 20, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn (35) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Well, the A’s have one final chance to get a W against the reigning champion Dodgers after dropping the first two games of the series. Neither loss was especially close so now the A’s will have to do a complete 180 if they want to salvage a single game against our Southern California rivals. Hopefully they can end the series with a win and notch their 41st of the season.
Taking the ball today for the good guys will be right-handed J.T. Ginn. The righty comes into tonight’s contest with a solid 3.15 ERA on the year, good for 7th in the American League. He hasn’t been quite as dominant his last two trips to the mound but he posted solid enough starts against the Angels that he could have earned a pair of wins. Instead he split those contests. With the All-Star Game quickly approaching Ginn probably needs a couple more strong starts to really put himself into the middle of the debate when it comes to the pitching staff for the Junior Circuit in this year’s Midsummer Classic. Can Ginn conquer a mighty Dodgers lineup that has put up 18 runs in the first two games against our A’s?
Here’s how the A’s will lineup for tonight’s series finale:
Typical top of the order for the A’s right now; DH Shea leadoff, Kurtz behind him, followed by Colby Thomas and Jonah Heim (tonight’s catcher).
Infield prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer gets his first start at the hot corner tonight in place of Max Muncy, who heads to the bench. And he’ll also rise up the batting order to the fifth spot. Butler and Bolte are behind him, followed by the middle infield duo of Jeff McNeil and Alika Williams.
The A’s are getting a bit lucky tonight regarding the Dodgers’ starting pitcher plans. It was originally going to be superstar Shohei Ohtani on the bump for Los Angeles this evening, but with them cruising to the postseason they’ve decided to push his start back, giving him an extra breather during the course of a long season he has double duties. Instead it’ll be a bullpen game for the Dodgers, so hopefully A’s batters have done some homework on the LA relief corps. Lefty Jack Dreyer will start things off for LA, likely only for the first inning.
And the Dodgers’ starting nine this evening:
Updated lineup:
Ohtani DH Pages CF Freeman 1B Muncy 3B Tucker RF Edman LF Freeland 2B Rojas SS Robinson C Dreyer P https://t.co/UlBcs54qNP
Looks like the A’s are getting another break. After originally being penciled into tonight’s starting lineup Mookie Betts will instead head to the bench, giving veteran Miguel Rojas the start at shortstop in the series finale. Still plenty of dangerous hitters in the lineup but at least Ginn will have one less bat to worry about.
Getting desperate. Can we finally end the skid and get a big bounce back victory to wrap the series? Time to find out. Let’s go A’s!
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 24: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 24, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Through streaming tears and a quivering bottom lip, I gazed at Shams Charania’s latest release in the great dance we call free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers had realized my greatest horror: they overpaid for Walker Kessler, and the Utah Jazz would not be matching their offer sheet.
Now who’s going to be the UCCU Jazzman?
July 1st, 2026;
Dear Diary — er, MANLY Diary,
Oh Diary, he said he loved me. He said I was the only one for him. Even when we argued, he made an Instagram post just for me! He promised that I would always be in his heart, but when that silicon bimbo from Los Angeles flaunted her wares around, his eyes turned to dollar signs.
The pain! The agony! He said we would be together forever, but I guess she can give you something I never could: regret.
Don’t come crawling back to me when she doesn’t give you a ring. Don’t beg for my forgiveness when you realize I was the best you would ever have. I have a new boy now. His name is Jaxson; he spells his name with an X and an S, and he is always nice to his partners.
See you never!!!
And that is all I care to share from my personal record of the day.
Sincerely, I believed it would be the end of the world if the Utah Jazz lost Walker Kessler in restricted free agency. And to lose Kessler to the Lakers, of all teams, is an especially bitter gulp of offseason medicine. And while Jaxson Hayes isn’t the answer for Utah’s center needs (heh, welcome to Utah!), acquiring Los Angeles’ entire draft future in a sign-and-trade is a generous spoonful of sugar.
But as we step away from Kessler, it’s becoming fairly clear that Walker didn’t want to play in Utah as badly as he claimed on Instagram:
“I’ve seen what’s being said, and I want it to be clear that I have always wanted to be here — I love this city, these fans, my teammates, my coaches — that’s real to me. You don’t grow roots where you don’t want to be”.
Money was the wedge between Utah and Kessler, and it always had been. Kessler and his team touted him as one of basketball’s best shot-blockers and rebounders, and he deserves to be paid as one of the league’s premier centers. The Jazz conceded that point, but couldn’t possibly weigh down their cap sheet for a player who had never been an All-Star or All-Defense honoree, and had only played in 61% of all possible games since joining the team.
It came down to paying for Walker Kessler or paying for the idea of Walker Kessler, and Los Angeles is the Mecca of ideas.
The wildest development in this entire saga is the fact that with California’s steeper income tax rate, Kessler will be pocketing less than he would have if he had accepted Utah’s final offer. That communicates to me one of the following two possibilities:
Walker Kessler and his team are financially illiterate
It’s clear that this couple was better off splitting up. And though we’ll all miss Kessler here in Salt Lake City, the pair just couldn’t see eye to eye when it mattered most.
But at least the Lakers are finally doomed, right?
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
WEST SACRAMENTO — Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts was scratched from the team’s lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Athletics shortly before first pitch because of right wrist soreness, manager Dave Roberts said.
However, Roberts said the issue is believed to be minor, and that Betts should be back in the Dodgers’ lineup on Thursday.
Betts arrived at the ballpark Wednesday dealing with soreness and a lack of strength in his wrist, prompting the Dodgers to “err on the side of caution,” Roberts said, and remove him from the lineup.
Mookie Betts has been playing better lately and had a nice series against the Padres. AP
The setback came at an inopportune time for Betts, who was just starting to rediscover his swing after missing a month earlier this year with an oblique strain.
Entering Wednesday, Betts was hitting .373 over his last 16 games with five home runs, four doubles and 11 RBIs.
During that time, he had raised his season batting average from .181 to .244 and his OPS from .591 to .744.
He had also been playing standout shortstop, ranking second at the position with eight defensive runs saved.
Betts was removed from the starting lineup against the Athletics after experiencing wrist soreness. AP Photo/Matt Krohn
With Betts out Wednesday, Miguel Rojas was inserted into the lineup in his place.
That wasn’t the only discouraging injury news out of the Dodgers on Wednesday, with Roberts also saying that catcher Will Smith is unlikely to return before the All-Star break. Smith has been out since June 5 with a neck injury that was initially expected to be short term but is now set to sideline him for well over a month.
Roberts maintained the Dodgers’ belief that Smith’s issue — which the catcher described as an inflamed disk in his neck when he first went on the injured list — won’t be too long term but acknowledged surprise at what is already becoming an extended timeline to return.
“It’s certainly longer than I know was expected,” he said, “but I don’t think it’s an affecting-the-season type of thing.”
Former NBA player Malik Beasley arrives outside of Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in New York.
Malik Beasley’s lawyer said the indicted former NBA star “wants to move on with his life” after pleading not guilty Wednesday to charges that he altered his play in certain games in 2024 to enrich sports bettors and ease his own debts.
Beasley, the latest big name caught up in a sweeping federal gambling investigation, said little at his arraignment in Brooklyn federal court. He answered a judge’s questions with “yes, your honor” but let his lawyer, Jason Goldman, enter his plea on his behalf.
Afterward, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard stood quietly as Goldman spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, demurring when one asked if he had anything to say to his fans. Beasley, who played for six NBA teams in nine years, missed the most recent season because he was under investigation. Instead, he played for a Puerto Rican team co-owned by the rapper Bad Bunny.
Former NBA player Malik Beasley arrives outside of Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Heather Khalifa
“He looks forward to fighting. He’s fought every day,” Goldman said. “He’s presumed innocent and that has to mean something still, obviously.”
Beasley, 29, and sports agent Paolo Zamorano, who also pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, were among six people charged in an indictment unsealed this week.
They are the newest defendants in a gambling sweep that has netted more than three dozen arrests, including former Miami Heat star Terry Rozier, who was accused of conspiring with friends to help them win bets, and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, who was accused of conspiring to fix high-stakes poker games.
Zamorano, 39, formerly represented another co-defendant, ex-NBA player Ed Davis, who had loaned money to Beasley and is accused of acting as his “gatekeeper” in the alleged scheme.
“We look forward to our day in court,” Zamorano’s lawyer, Kenneth Breen, told reporters.
Beasley and Zamorano were both released on bond. They’re due back in court for a status conference on Aug. 6.
Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons reacts in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena on April 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images
Beasley is accused of fixing or trying to fix his performance in at least four games while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024 by under or overperforming bookmakers’ expectations. In exchange, the indictment said, the bettors bribed Beasley and his debts to Davis were reduced or eliminated.
“Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting,” Davis told Beasley in a Jan. 26, 2024, text message, according to the indictment. “Everything else they got the edge.”
In one example, according to the indictment, Beasley told Davis that he would try to outperform the 3.5 line that sportsbooks had set for his rebound total in Milwaukee’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 10, 2024.
With a second left, and the Bucks up by seven points, Beasley challenged a Clippers shot and dashed past four players to grab his fourth rebound and securing a win for the bettors as the horn sounded.
One bettor made a $3,252 profit on a $2,838 wager, the indictment said, and another made a $2,107 profit on wagers totaling $2,400. Other bettors missed out and lost money, mistakenly placing wagers on Beasley to underperform the rebound total because of an apparent miscommunication, the indictment said.
“What’s funny is after he got it he had a big sigh of relief,” a co-conspirator said in a text message, according to the indictment.
Former NBA player Malik Beasley, center, exits Brooklyn federal court, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Heather Khalifa
Beasley borrowed money from Davis, a former teammate, after racking up millions of dollars in gambling losses. His widely reported financial problems include disputes with a Detroit landlord, a Milwaukee barber and a Minnesota dentist. A 2025 lawsuit from a sports marketing agency resulted in a $1 million default judgment against him.
“There’s a bigger conversation here about the industry, about individuals and institutions that are profiting billions and billions of dollars and fueling the addiction,” Goldman said.
Beasley has been aware of the investigation for about a year, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Weintraub said.
He last played in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons on a one-year, $6 million contract in the 2024-2025 season. He averaged 16 points per game and scored 20 in his last game, a playoff loss to the New York Knicks. He is one of five players in NBA history with more than 300 three-pointers in a season.
Beasley’s release was secured by his parents, actors Michael and Deena Beasley, who joined the arraignment by phone from their home in Georgia. Stone-faced for most of the hourlong proceeding, Beasley laughed at his mother’s answer to Magistrate Judge Taryn Merkl’s question about how often they talk to each other.
“I probably call him every day. He might not answer every day,” Deena Beasley said, prompting chuckles in the courtroom. “If I call him six times a week, he’ll answer five times.”
On today’s episode, Leo Sun returns to the pod with Ryan Eichten to recap the Minnesota Timberwolves’ offseason as NBA Free Agency opens.
— Was the Julius Randle era in Minnesota a failure? The Wolves won three playoff series with Randle, but ultimately had to salary dump him after a poor series against the San Antonio Spurs.
— How cautious should the Wolves be about LaMelo Ball’s health? The Charlotte Hornets limited Ball to just 28 minutes per game, which allowed him to play in 72 games, his most since the 2021-22 season in which Ball made his lone All-Star appearance. Before that, Ball had only played in 105 games the previous three seasons.
— Should the Timberwolves start Jaden McDaniels at power forward and Ayo Dosunmu at small forward, or should they look to add another player in a trade? McDaniels has shown the ability to play the four, but come the Playoffs, that lineup might prove not to have enough size.
— Do the Wolves need to commit to playing Jaylen Clark at least 15 minutes per game after signing him to a three-year, $10 million contract? Clark has been in and out of the rotation during his two healthy seasons with the Wolves and now may be set for more permanent playing time.
— With Ball now on the team and Randle not, the Timberwolves roster makes a lot more sense for Gobert. Minnesota can better involve Gobert in the offense with Ball’s playmaking while better spreading the floor.
— Tim Connelly has made several moves that have not worked out in recent years, including the trades of Rob Dillingham and Karl-Anthony Towns two seasons ago, but the trade for Ball ties everything together and gives the Wolves a much better outlook moving forward.
New York Yankees Aaron Judge in dugout when the New York Yankees played the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. (Robert Sabo for...
Still weeks away from even getting more imaging of his rib, Aaron Judge has had plenty of time to watch the Yankees from the dugout over the past month.
In the past week in particular, which Judge kindly described as “not great,” the captain was more pointed in his diagnosis of what has gone wrong during a losing streak that hit seven games on Wednesday afternoon.
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“Just a little lack of focus,” Judge said Wednesday morning before a 6-2 loss to the Tigers while speaking to reporters for the first time since the day he went on the injured list. “Just got to dial it in. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys just got to remember that every single day they show up here. We’re here to win a World Series. That’s your motivation every single day you step on that field, no matter what happens. No matter what happened the day before, I got a job to do.
“We have an important sign when you walk out on that field, it’s the last sign you see before you go out there. It says, ‘Do your job.’ Guys just got to do their job.”
Aside from his responsibilities as captain, it remains a major question as to when Judge will be able to do his job again. The back-to-back AL MVP declined to share even how he was feeling, deferring until he gets more tests on his right rib, which still appears to be weeks away from happening — and that is just to potentially clear him to start ramping up.
“I’ll give you a good update when we get some imaging and we’ll go from there,” Judge said. “There’s no need to talk about this now. I know it’s an important topic and a big issue, but I want to give you guys the full story, so why give you guys something now when we can get you everything here soon?”
Yankees Aaron Judge in dugout when the New York Yankees played the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Yankees need him back badly, though their problems go beyond just his absence. They have scored just 17 runs on 31 hits while committing 10 errors that have led to a total of 17 unearned runs. By just about every facet of the game, the Yankees have been bad.
A few days before the brutal stretch began, there was also Jazz Chisholm Jr. sucking on a Blow Pop while playing second base for an inning in Detroit, and then getting thrown out of Sunday’s game after arguing and spiking his helmet over a check-swing call he did not agree with.
Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval reacts after catcher Ali Sánchez makes a throwing error, allowing a run to score during the 11th inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Judge indicated he has addressed the lack of focus “with a couple guys, but we’ll be talking here as a bigger group soon.” He declined to get specific when asked about how he was seeing it play out.
“I think you guys see it,” he said. “There’s a couple things. But we don’t need to get into that.”
Aaron Boone acknowledged again that it has been a “terrible week” but did not seem to agree that a lack of focus has been the root of the problems.
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“I think when we’re right, we’re a quality team in those areas where we’ve made some errors this week and let some unearned runs go,” Boone said. “I think moving forward, that should be the case. There’s a little bit of a product of us having some important guys [out] around Judgey that settle us especially defensively and some of the little things, so guys are moving around a little bit, so I think that’s factored in.
“But no, individually speaking, I feel like guys are in the right frame of mind.”
Judge said that being sidelined during this stretch in particular has been “the worst” because he can’t be going through it with his teammates on the field.
“I hate missing games, but I hate missing it in times where things aren’t going your way,” he said. “That’s when I want to be out there. I want to be grinding with the guys and be part of the solution to get us back where we need to be.”
Walker Kessler checks off all the boxes of an A-list center. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Kessler fits the bill.
According to StatMuse, Kessler is the only starter in NBA history with 10-plus points per game, 10-plus rebounds per game, two-plus blocks per game while shooting 67% or better from the field.
The 24-year-old spent the first four seasons of his NBA career with the Jazz. While Kessler was injured for most of last season, he’s earned a reputation for being one of the league’s premier interior defenders throughout his early career.
The Lakers posted a 116.4 defensive rating last season but proved to be inconsistent during the campaign. Now, general manager Rob Pelinka has addressed a pivotal issue by acquiring Kessler.
Kessler should pair well with Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Regardless, the Lakers have finally added a legitimate big with a ton of upside. Kessler should pair well with Doncic and Austin Reaves, but the team will need to make additional moves to round out the roster after losing multiple free agents this summer.
Going up against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Peralta lasted just four innings, allowing five runs in the Mets' 9-3 loss up in Toronto. The outing raised Peralta's ERA to 4.81 and WHIP to 1.416 and continued his disappointing season with the Mets.
The Mets traded for Peralta this past offseason, hoping he'd be the ace of the staff. What they got has been an inconsistent starter, and someone who has not pitched anywhere close to the 2.70 ERA, 1.075 WHIP ace the Brewers had a season ago.
For Wednesday's start, specifically, Peralta's fastball command was just not there. He walked three batters, the most he's allowed since the six-walk start against the Yankees on May 17, and when he did find the zone, the Jays were all over it.
"I know we all want him to go out there and dominate like we believe he can," interim manager Andy Green said after the game. "For us, it’s just a matter of getting the fastball where he knows he wins. He’s been winning there for a long time in the big leagues. And he knows how he’s good, why he’s good and we all know it. It’s just a matter of going out there and executing.”
“At some point, I can’t tell if I lose the command a little bit, but I think everything starts with the walk with the first hitter of the inning," Peralta said of his fastball command. "The plan was good. It just…it happens. I can’t control it, I just need to be better, execute better. Have to check and see what’s going on. I’ve been getting some work with people I need to work with. Just have to put everything together and wait for the best."
Peralta was visibly frustrated on the mound and in the dugout during the game. When he dialed up his fastball to 99 mph to get the final out in the first inning and limit the damage to just one run, Peralta could be seen talking to himself and clenching his fists.
He was asked after the game how he was feeling, and the right-hander was candid.
"Not good," Peralta said. "I don’t feel good, but just try to come back and make the adjustment."
Peralta was asked if he feels this is the roughest stretch of his career, and he answered: "probably, yes."
What's especially frustrating for Peralta is that his velocity, the movement of his pitches and his mechanics are right where it needs to be, but he can't explain what's happening to him.
"I understand the game, and all that. But sometimes what I do is my best every day. I prepare to have success, but sometimes," Peralta said before pausing. "It’s crazy is the word I can describe it right now."
Peralta is in the final year of his contract and could potentially be a trade piece if the Mets decide to become sellers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline. But if the Mets go down that route and hope to get a decent return, they need Peralta to become more consistent.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 24: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field on June 24, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies have had a rough go so far in the series against the Miami Marlins. Pitching has been hit particularly hard, giving up 24 runs over the firsttwo games of the series. Entering game three, the Rockies will look to get back on track behind their veteran starting pitcher.
Kyle Freeland (1-7, 7.50 ERA) makes his 15th start of the season for the Rockies. Freeland gave up a lot of contact in his last start against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field. Freeland grinded out six innings, giving up six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and one walk on 81 pitches. Boston was aggressive against Freeland and continued to string together hits and did damage with a pair of home runs. He gave up six runs in three of his five starts in June while working at least five innings each time. Since returning from his shoulder injury on April 28, he has given up six or more runs in a start seven times. He has historically done well against the Marlins, owning a 3.80 ERA over 10 appearances, but the Marlins this season are a contact-heavy team, which could prove troublesome for the veteran lefty.
The Marlins will send out right-handed starter Max Meyer (9-0, 2.60 ERA) for his 18th start of the year. Meyer has been excellent for the Marlins this season with his consistent dominance on the mound. He allowed just six runs in 30.1 innings over the course of five June starts. His last outing came in St. Louis, where he tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits. He will typically give up a couple of walks, but generally pounds the zone and will collect strikeouts. He has just one game this season where he struck out fewer than five batters. He has made three starts against the Rockies in his career, posting a 6.60 ERA over 15 innings. In his lone start at Coors Field, he allowed five runs over five innings.
July 1 marked the official start of the new league year in the NBA with the start of free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to improve after a 2025-26 season which saw them finish in first place in the Pacific Division and advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs before getting bounced by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Of course, next year marks the start of a new era for the team. LeBron James is not returning to the team, which leaves a pretty massive hole in their frontcourt. That said, although the new league year has only been active for a day, the Lakers have already made efforts to address their needs.
Los Angeles traded for Utah center Walker Kessler, sending unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 as well as two first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 in order to bring him to the city of angels.
But that wasn't the only deal the Lakers made today.
The Lakers also signed former Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to a fully guaranteed four-year, $52 million deal with a player option for the fourth year as well as two guards, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton.
Everyone knows that this organization can make a massive trade or convince a big-time free agent to join them on a moment's notice. With that in mind, here is a full list of the Lakers' offseason transactions.
Lakers trade for center Walker Kessler (two first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps)
Walker Kessler stats:
Kessler played in just five games for the Jazz in 2025-26, sidelined for most of the year with a shoulder injury. In his last full season, Kessler averaged over 11 points per game and actually led the league in offensive rebounds per game with 4.6.
Lakers sign Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four-year, $52 million deal
Sandro Mamukelashvili stats:
Mamukelashvili played in 80 games for the Raptors, providing crucial minutes off the bench for a team that massively exceeded expectations during the regular season. He averaged 11.2 points per game on 52.3% shooting while grabbing 4.9 boards per game. Mamukelashvili's efforts last season earned him tenth place in Sixth Man of the Year award voting.
Lakers sign Quentin Grimes to a four-year, $60 million deal
Quentin Grimes stats:
Grimes worked primarily as an off-the-bench scoring option for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 13.4 points per game on 45% shooting. Grimes endured one of the worst 3-point shooting performances of his career last season, shooting a career-low 33.4% from beyond the arc. That said, he has shot over 38% from deep in three of his five seasons in the league, so a bounce-back is expected.
Lakers sign Collin Sexton to a two-year, $19 million deal
Collin Sexton stats:
Sexton is an elite scorer, but struggles with playmaking and inconsistent defense. That said, he's great at what he does, which is getting buckets. Last year, he averaged 15.4 points per game during his time with the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls. He did that with an effective field goal percentage over 55%, thanks in large part to his lethal 3-point ability, where he's shot over 40% each of the last two seasons.
Will LeBron James return to Lakers for 2026-27?
James will not return to the Lakers next season. Reports indicate that James informed the Lakers of his decision to go elsewhere on June 30.
James is now open to signing with other teams going into his 24th season.
