Some of the top suitors for James have reportedly included the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, among others.
USA TODAY asked individuals at the ESPYS where they thought James would be playing next season ... and one person revealed an interesting name wanted to get in the mix.
“I don't know," said Pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters. "I know the owner of the professional pickleball league just bought the Portland basketball team, the Trail Blazers, and I know he's trying to get (James), so we'll see if that happens."
Gymnast Suni Lee believes that James may be headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lee has ties to the state, having attended school in St. Paul.
Magician Oz Pearlman doesn't have any ties to the teams interested in James but believes the veteran player will return home to Cleveland.
Jun 18, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (41) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
It’s another Wednesday evening here at BCB After Dark: the coolest night spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and cool off with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. We have a few good tables available. The show will start shorty. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night I asked you for your predictions of where the Cubs would finish the season. There was a pretty solid bell curve in the votes at 41 percent of you thought that the Cubs would get the first Wild Card and thus, home field advantage in the Wild Card round. Another thirty percent thought that they’d get a Wild Card spot but on the road and 18 percent of you think the Cubs will win the Division but not get a bye. I don’t know. I think if the Cubs catch the Brewers, they get a bye, but it’s certainly possible Milwaukee crashes to earth but the Braves take off, so I’m not going to disagree too strongly with that position.
Here’s the part with the music and the movies. You can do with it what you will. We’re here to please.
Tonight we’re featuring drummer Jeff Hamilton and the Jeff Hamilton Trio at the Jazz Port Townsend Festival in Washington in 2022. This is also a broadcast on KNKX Public Radio in Seattle-Tacoma.
Joining Hamilton are Tamir Hendelman and Jon Hamar on bass.
I haven’t had much time to watch films over the past week or so, but I wanted to give you something. So tonight we’re featuring Canadian director Guy Maddin’s six-minute silent film The Heart of the World (2000).
Maddin is one of the greatest iconoclastic and experimental filmmakers around. I’ll recommend his surrealist mockumentary My Winnipeg (2007) for the way it weaves a fictional history of the city of Winnipeg around a fictional history of his own family. What drew me to it in the first place is that he found an 86-year-old Ann Savage, the femme fatale of the all-time great 1945 film noirDetour, to play his mother. But what kept me in was the terrific black-and-white imagery as well as the bone-dry absurdist humor. Maybe I’ll write more about My Winnipeg another day.
But The Heart of the World is a rapid-fire, surrealist silent film shot in the style of the early Soviet filmmakers like Sergei Eisenstein. The plot, such as it is, is about Anna, a scientist who studies the earth’s core, where a beating heart exists. Literally. Anna looks down a tube and there is a diseased heart at the center of the earth’s core.
Anna has two men in love with her. The first in Nikolai, a young mortician. The second is Osip, an actor playing Christ in a passion play and who stays in character the entire film. Nikolai tries to impress Anna with his embalming skills and Osip tries to impress her with all the suffering he does as Christ.
A third man, an industrialist, comes into Anna’s life, and he’s a caricature of how the Soviets portrayed rich capitalists. But that relationship is interrupted by the Earth suffering a fatal heart attack. Anna must then slide down to the earth’s core to prevent the end of the world.
So yeah, if that sounds nuts, it is. Maddin has the images going a mile a minute, all accompanied by the frenetic beat of the Time Forward! March by Soviet composer Georgy Svirdov.Maddin packs around 100 shots per minute into the six-minute film, which gives the film a feel like it’s a one-hour movie sped up into six minutes. The imagery, while absurd, is also fascinating. It’s at once familiar to anyone who has seen silent movies (especially Soviet silent films) but also fresh in the way Maddin throws it all in together into one big stew. In this way, The Heart of the World is both a a loving tribute to silent film and a silly parody. But in the end, Maddin reaffirms the power of cinema to change the world. Unless that’s just a joke too.
I could go on about The Heart of the World, but it would be better for you to just watch it and decide for yourself. At six minutes, it’s shorter and probably more enlightening than any podcast your listening to right now.
Here’s the whole short film.
Welcome back to whomever skips the music and movies.
I don’t think I have to tell any of you the Cubs are going to have to add pitching before the Trade Deadline. The Cubs have stayed afloat in the playoff hunt with all the pitching injuries they’ve had. But if they want to make some noise in the postseason, they will have to get some good, healthy arms.
Jon Heyman made a little noise by writing that the Braves, Rays and Cubs are expected to be the most aggressive teams going after Tarik Skubal. Now Heyman gave himself a little wiggle room there by saying “expected” and not claiming that he’s talked to Jed Hoyer about it, but it is one of the first indicators that the Cubs are interested in the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner. Heyman is probably repeating the scuttlebutt that the front office executives are passing around, but they generally have a good idea what the market for players is.
I’m not going to directly ask you about Skubal tonight because I’ve done that fairly recently. Three weeks ago, you weren’t so keen to give up a lot for a two-month rental in Skubal. But there is another pitcher who has been linked to the Cubs lately and that’s Twins right-hander Joe Ryan.
Ryan is a very good pitcher, but he certainly doesn’t have the track record of Skubal. He’s a two-time All-Star but he’s never gotten a single Cy Young Award vote, for example. You can argue that Ryan has been the better pitcher than Skubal this year, because he has been. Ryan has a 2.85 ERA and a 2.77 FIP compared to 3.09 ERA and 3.06 FIP. But it should be noted that Ryan had a similarly excellent first half of 2025 and then fell off a cliff after the All-Star Break. Skubal was also hurt for a part of this season. He struggled in his first three games off of the IL, giving up nine runs over 16.1 innings. But in his last three starts, he’s only allowed four runs over 16 innings, which is a 2.25 ERA. He’s also struck out 23 and walked just three in those 16 innings. In other words, it looks like the old Tarik Skubal is back.
Skubal is a hard-throwing lefty whose fastball averages around 97 miles per hour. He’s also got a sinker that also comes in around 96, an upper-80s slider and a change. All four of those pitches rate from above average to plus. The Cubs don’t have anyone on their staff with anything like Skubal’s arsenal.
Ryan, on the other hand, is a right-hander who gets by on movement rather than velocity. His fastball is a pretty average 93 mph, but it has very good movement and “rise.” Yes, I know pitches don’t really rise. It’s the illusion of rise. It’s what scouts call an “invisiball” because it’s so hard for hitters to get a read on it. It’s a plus pitch despite the lack of pure velocity.
But Ryan also has a splitter, a sinker and a sweeping slider, all of which are at least average or better. This year he also seems to have junked his changeup for a better knuckle-curve. All-in-all, Ryan may not be a Cy Young Award candidate in most years, but he’s a very good pitcher who could anchor almost any rotation in the majors.
All things being equal, I would still go with the pure stuff and track record of Skubal over Ryan. But there are two big factors that might push the discussion towards Ryan. For one, Skubal makes $32 million this year and Ryan only makes $6.2 million. You might say that’s Tom Ricketts’ money and I don’t care and I’d say I agree with you. But Ryan might leave more money in the payroll for a second player acquisition at the deadline that Skubal doesn’t.
But the other factor is that Skubal becomes a free agent at the end of this season and Ryan doesn’t become one until the end of next year. So a trade for Skubal is just for the final two months of the season and the playoffs. With Ryan, you get the end of this year and all of next. Yes, Ryan will be in line for a big raise next year, but he’s not getting $32 million like Skubal did.
Neither pitcher will be cheap in terms of the quality of players the Cubs would have to surrender to get them. Matt Shaw, Jefferson Rojas, Jaxon Wiggins, Kane Kepley and maybe even Josiah Hartshorn are the types of players that would have to headline a deal to get one of those two pitchers. In other words, at least one and maybe more of the Cubs top-four prospects or Matt Shaw would have to go in a deal. Before someone misunderstands me, no. The Cubs aren’t trading all five of those players for a pitcher. At least one of those five would have to go along with maybe two more solid prospects from farther down the rankings.
So tonight’s question is, all things being equal, which pitcher would you rather the Cubs have? Skubal or Ryan? That is, if both the Tigers and Twins would accept the same package for their pitcher, which deal would you pull the trigger on? I’ll let you vote “neither” if you want. Spoilsport.
Thank you for stopping by tonight. We’re so glad to see a friendly face. Get home safely. Call a ride if you need to. Don’t forget any personal items. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again next week for more BCB After Dark.
Curtis Douglas, the newest Seattle Kraken forward, is no stranger to a long road to the NHL.
After being selected 106th in the 2018 NHL Draft, the forward spent two seasons in the OHL before moving on to four seasons in the AHL. He made his NHL debut in 2025-26 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, seven years after he was drafted.
“There were times when I’ll admit, I thought it might not work out for me,” he told NHL.com. “But I never stopped trying.”
Douglas signed as a free agent with Toronto on March 22, 2022, before being traded to Arizona for Conor Timmins on November 23, 2022, and then he was transferred from Arizona to Utah on June 13, 2024.
After that, Douglas was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay from Utah on October 6, 2025.
Three days later, Douglas made his NHL Debut against the Ottawa Senators on October 9, 2025. Douglas skated for five minutes in his first game, then appeared in 29 more games that season with the Lightning.
In the 2025-26 season, the 6-foot-9 center recorded two assists.
He was then claimed off waivers by Vancouver from Tampa Bay on March 6, 2026.With the Canucks, Douglas appeared in 14 games, recording one goal and one assist.
“This whole process doesn’t really feel real yet,” Douglas said. “I don’t think it will feel 100% real until I put the jersey on. If you were to have told me last year, after I got sent down by Utah that I’d go on to play 40 NHL games, I think I would have probably slapped you across the head. It was pretty special the whole year, and I’m just in awe about the whole experience with Tampa, Vancouver and now this next chapter with the Kraken. I’m just so excited.”
Douglas signed with the Kraken on July 1, 2026.
Seattle Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill announced the team had agreed to terms with Douglas on a two-year contract ($1.25M AAV).
When the announcement was made, Botterill released a statement on the signing.
“Curtis adds size and a strong physical presence to our forward group,” Botterill said to NHL.com. “He competes with an edge, brings energy, and is difficult to play against. We look forward to seeing him in our lineup next year.”
Douglas is a tall presence on the ice, as one of the tallest players in NHL history. He is known for his grit, dropping the gloves in his first NHL shift.
He will now join the Kraken for the next few seasons as the 26-year-old continues to grow in the major leagues.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have some incredible coaching staffs, some incredible mentors that were basically telling me, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get your foot in the door, and the way to do that is to throw your weight around and to fight a little bit more than maybe you want to,’” Douglas said.
Visit The Hockey News Seattle Kraken team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
THN.com/free
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, in attendance for the 2026 ESPY Awards at Lincoln Center on Wednesday night, took a swipe at one of the team’s playoff foes as New York looked to take home the Best Team award.
“You can pick up all the analytics and statistics you want,” Towns said during a pre-show interview Wednesday with ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson.
Karl-Anthony Towns and model Jordyn Woods attend the 2026 ESPY Awards at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
“Analytically, we should win this one. We should win this one analytically.”
“We’ve had success against this team before. We’ve had really good moments,” Atkinson said after Game 3. “In this series, up [20 points in] Game 1. Even Game 2, take that run out from the beginning of the third quarter, and it’s pretty tight.
“I think analytically, I think we’ve won I said three out of three, I think we’re two out of three in the [expected score] … we’ve won two out of three. And I know you’re looking confused, but … if you believe in process and all that, take that layer.
Karl-Anthony Towns swiped at Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson (above), who said his team had been “analytically” superior. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Karl Anthony Towns makes a joke towards Kenny Atkinson
After coming back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a memorable Game 1 win, the Knicks ultimately steamrolled past Cleveland en route to a sweep.
Despite entering the organization’s first NBA Finals in 27 years as the underdog, the Knicks defeated the Spurs in five games to cap off a historic postseason.
After going down to the Hawks 2-1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Knicks went on an improbable run, winning 13 straight games and going more than a month and a half between losses.
The Knicks swept the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“The city hasn’t seen this in 53 years, hasn’t even seen the opportunity of being in the Finals for 27 years,” Towns added. “So when you think about those factors, a team that wasn’t picked to be the favorite, underdog in every series we played, including the last one.
“For us, with the playoff run we had, with how dominant it was … six-point differential in the games that we did lose. 49 days, I believe, without losing a game in the playoffs. That’s my pick for best team.”
New York was among several memorable teams competing for Best Team ESPY, including the Aces (WNBA), Dodgers (MLB), Indiana Hoosiers (NCAA football), Hurricanes (NHL), Texas Longhorns (NCAA softball), Seahawks (NFL) and the United States men’s and women’s hockey teams.
The show proved to be another trophy-filled night for the Knicks as Jalen Brunson took home Best NBA Player and Best Championship Performance ESPY Awards.
A prodigy is defined as a person, especially a highly talented child, who exhibits extraordinary abilities or skills far beyond what is typical for one's age.
Macklin Celebrini is no longer a child, but the prodigy title still applies. He's only 20 years old.
Celebrini just accomplished another feat ― gracing the cover of EA Sports' NHL 27. He's the youngest ever to appear on the video game's front page.
The cover features two different looks: one of Celebrini donning the teal and black home jerseys as he looks to the rafters; and another in their crisp white away jerseys as Celebrini screams in celebration.
The next generation is here. Macklin Celebrini is the youngest NHL cover athlete in history.
Jun 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy (31) is congratulated by third baseman Kyle Karros (12) as he crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Usually, making predictions is a great way for us to make fools of ourselves. Even speculating on the future can do the job, as the Purple Row community will see as the staff revisits and updates our State of the Position series this week from preseason prognosticating to midseason reflection and projection.
That being said, making predictions is still fun.
With that in mind, what are your predictions for the post-All-Star portion of the 2026 season. While we’d love to hear all your predictions — big and small — here are four categories for a guide if you want them.
Category 1: What are your predictions for the final record?
Some will measure this in wins and others in losses. For my pick, I am hoping and believing the Rockies will finish with fewer than 100 losses — even if it’s just by one or two games. So maybe 63-99?
Category 2: What player will have the best second half?
It could be a pitcher or a position player. He could end the season with the Rockies or not. My prediction is that Kyle Karros continues to tear it up and finishes with 20 home runs and a batting average over .275.
Category 3: Who gets traded?
Same deal — this could be a position player or a pitcher. I am leaning toward Antonio Senzatela, who could be a valuable arm for a contender in exchange for some future bullpen arms.
Category 4: Outside-of-the-box predictions
What’s something wild that will happen in the second half? This could be a single-game performance, a final stat total or anything you can think of.
I think Jake McCarthy hits another inside-the-park home run, bringing his total on the year to three. I am also predicting Hunter Goodman finishes with 50 homers, making his Home Run Derby omission embarrassing for MLB.
What do you all think? Feel free to expand the categories!
Speculation has since swirled over Golden State’s handle on the situation as some fans believe Kerr’s response hints toward the Warriors losing out on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. That would fall in line with ESPN insider Shams Charania’s report on the sweepstakes.
LeBron James is the top free agent of the summer after informing the Lakers he would not return for the upcoming season. Best Image / BACKGRID
Charania revealed the only suitors left on James’ list are the Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers. Other sources have said the veteran is destined to land in the Eastern Conference, labeling the once seemingly favorited Warriors as current dark horses in the race.
There were plenty of reasons to believe the Warriors had as good a chance to sign James. For one, Curry and James had undeniable chemistry during Team USA’s gold medal run at the Paris Olympics. That was also when James familiarized himself with Kerr as a head coach.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Steph Curry made a direct free-agent pitch to LeBron James on “Good Morning America.” Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
However, the prospect of Curry and James teaming up once again appears to be slim.
James returning to the Cavaliers perhaps makes the most sense and ties up all loose ends in terms of his legacy. But Warriors fans can still dream of a miracle because of Kerr’s latest comments.
Carson Wiggins has taken his first steps to Citi Field.
The Mets signed their top selection (27th overall) in this year’s draft on Wednesday in Queens, agreeing to a $3,466,500 signing bonus (the full slot value) with the 6-foot-5 flamethrower from Arkansas.
Wiggins, 21, has been touted by Mets officials as a potential “front-line” starter in the future, featuring a fastball that has touched 102 mph.
Carson Wiggins, who was the Mets’ top draft pick, poses for a photo during the 2026 Draft Combine at Arizona Grand Resort Phoenix on June 23, 2026 in Phoenix. MLB Photos via Getty Images
But the right-hander threw only 14 innings in college (3.21 ERA) after undergoing elbow surgery last year and missed his entire sophomore season with the Razorbacks.
After being selected by the Mets, Wiggins said he is done with his rehab and ready to pitch again.
MLB insider Buster Olney believes the Dodgers are only beginning to heat up with the postseason just a few months away. Getty Images
“I would definitely take the Dodgers. Look, they’re on a 101-win pace and think about what hasn’t gone well for them. Blake Snell hasn’t pitched. Tyler Glasnow is on the injured list. Kyle Tucker, who they spent so much money on in the offseason, he hasn’t played that well. And yet here they are, again,” Olney said.
“The team to beat. I think the best of the Dodgers is yet to come. After slow-playing these injuries, get Edwin Díaz and other guys back. They’re going to be a great team by the time we get to October.”
"The best of the Dodgers is yet to come. … [The Dodgers] are going to be a great team by the time we get to October."@Buster_ESPN and @MadDogUnleashed debate which team will win the World Series next pic.twitter.com/pJg49M2tBv
The Dodgers are chasing a third consecutive World Series championship in 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Olney is right, a lot of things have gone wrong for the Dodgers in 2026.
Injuries appear to be a staple story for LA in recent seasons, but the Dodgers have pressed forward even without key roster pieces. The struggles of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki could have also derailed the starting rotation’s success, but the right-hander’s 5.33 ERA hasn’t prevented the Dodgers from taking an 11 ½-game lead in the National League West.
The Dodgers stand tall with the NL’s best record (61-36) heading into the second half of the season, when reinforcements are poised to return imminently.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is expected to play in the team’s upcoming series against the Yankees. Getty Images
The Dodgers became the first team to win back-to-back championships in a quarter century but are looking to take the dynasty a step further by completing the three-peat. With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, the front office has the ability to make the roster even scarier by adding Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal.
While it’s no guarantee a trade happens, the fact the Dodgers can realistically acquire Skubal is simply infuriating for every other MLB team.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Michael Ajayi #10 of the Charlotte Hornets plays defense on Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game on July 15, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks exterminated the Charlotte Hornets 110-91 tonight, picking up their first victory of Summer League. It was a game of runs for Milwaukee, which built a big lead early, blew it, then ultimately took things back to blowout territory down the stretch. Nate Ament led the Bucks with 23 points (Brayden Burries didn’t play), while Hannes Steinbach dominated for Charlotte with 27 points and 15 rebounds.
Bogi Markovic got the party started for the Bucks, throwing down a driving dunk and drilling a catch-and-shoot three for the team’s first five points of the night. Charlotte’s “big three” of Christian Anderson, Hannes Steinbach, and Tidjane Saluan all got some buckets early, and Nate Ament knocked down a couple pretty jumpers for Milwaukee, including an and-one triple from the right corner. The young talent for both sides was on full display. Milwaukee mounted an extended 19-4 run after the 6:02 mark of the opening quarter and finished the period with a 28-18 lead. Zack Austin’s energy was a spark on both ends during the push— he blocked three shots in his first stint off the bench alone.
The Hornets promptly tightened the gap in the second quarter, with twin trey balls from Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Kylan Boswell cutting Milwaukee’s cushion to four by the 8:05 stamp. But, then the Bucks did what all good basketball teams do: they responded to the run with a run of their own. Ament and Markovic each swished a three before Pete Nance laid the ball up in transition, restoring a 12-point advantage and forcing a Charlotte timeout within two minutes of Boswell’s shot. The Hornets hung around with some help from Saluan, but Milwaukee escaped the first half up 53-37.
Charlotte came out hot in the second stanza. They were able to reduce the lead to single digits, 61-52, with a Michael Ajayi putback dunk at the 6:14 tick. A rolling layup for Steinbach thirty seconds later capped off a 10-0 burst for the Hornets. From there, the Buzz City boys kept rolling, and what seemed like a potential no-sweat Milwaukee win was suddenly flipped into a 63-62 barn burner with 3:43 left in the third. Again, though, the Bucks had an answer, as they built a 16-0 run in the waning minutes of the period that put them up 79-64 heading into the fourth.
The Bucks managed to hold on and snuff out the funny comeback business in the final frame, despite the best efforts of Steinbach and Salaun. Kam Jones, Milwaukee’s newest two-way contract man, was a catalyst in sealing the win, as was Ament, who strung together three finishes in a row with around four minutes remaining.
Stat That Stood Out
Eight players scored double digits for the Bucks tonight: Ament, Markovic, Nance, Jones, Austin, Brandon Boston Jr., Luke Travers, and Boopie Miller. Talk about a team effort!
Freddie Freeman appeared in his 10th All-Star Game on Tuesday.
At 36 years old, Freddie Freeman is coming off his 10th career All-Star selection.
In the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, the Dodgers first baseman batted third for the National League in what was his sixth straight appearance in the Midsummer Classic.
Freddie Freeman appeared in his 10th All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Freeman has spent the last five seasons in LA, helping the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series titles over the past two years. The star cemented himself in Dodgers lore when he hit a walk-off home run against the Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.
“I’ve always wanted to try and play until I’m 40 years old,” Freeman said at All-Star Media Day. “That would be three more years after this.”
Freddie Freeman previously admitted that the birth of his daughter changed his perspective on retirement. Laurence Kesterson/UPI/ShutterstockFreeman has played five seasons with the Dodgers, but his current contract expires at the end of the 2027 season. Getty Images
Freeman was reluctant to provide a set number as his Dodgers contract expires at the conclusion of the 2027 season.
“I’m not going to put a firm number on it,” Freeman said. “I would have to get another contract, so I’m only worried about this year. But 20 years in the big leagues would be kind of cool and special.”
While Freeman is closer to the end of his career rather than the start, he’s remained an elite player for the Dodgers. This season, Freeman is hitting .290 with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs and an .862 OPS. Defensively, the veteran ranks in the 82nd percentile in Outs Above Average with a plus-2 grade.
Beyond his talent, Freeman plays a leading role in the Dodgers’ clubhouse as a seasoned veteran. There are still questions about his Dodgers future, but the first baseman will certainly end up in Cooperstown.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
LAS VEGAS — Adou Thiero’s summer league debut didn’t go how he imagined.
The Lakers’ 2025 second-round pick came into the summer wanting to dominate. He had an idea of what being dominant looked like. And then when he tried to execute that vision during the July 3 loss to the Warriors, it didn’t go how he imagined.
The Lakers’ Adou Thiero is trying to strengthen his 2026-27 roster spot with a solid summer league showing. NBAE via Getty Images
He predetermined his drives. He didn’t let the game come to him, instead trying to force his will on the game.
The result was not only a 32-point loss but also Thiero shooting 3-of-10 from the field for nine points.
“Multiple conversations with coaches, multiple film sessions,” Thiero told The California Post about the aftermath of the first game. “I knew after the first game, I knew I didn’t play well myself. So just talking to coaches that night and picking their brain and already knowing what I got to do better for the next games.”
Since then, Thiero has changed his approach — allowing the game to come to him — and his performances reflect it.
“It’s just about him just being available and getting the reps,” Lakers assistant/summer league coach Ty Abbott told the Post. “And as he’s gotten more reps, he’s been able to get a better understanding of how teams are trying to guard him, what his strengths are, what he can go to, right? You don’t really know what you can do until you do it. It’s like a trial-and-error type of thing. He’s kind of gone through that a little bit, and now he knows how he wants to go, where he wants to go, and he’s slowed down.”
Thiero scored in double figures in all four of the games he’s played since the Lakers’ initial loss, including having his best and most efficient performances during the Las Vegas summer league games.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
There was the 20-point performance on 8-of-14 shooting to go with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots during Friday’s win over the Thunder.
He had 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with six rebounds and three assists during Tuesday’s win over the Clippers.
“With more reps, it’s just gonna keep slowing down for me,” Thiero told the Post. “So I just got to keep going out there playing and keep getting a feel for the game. And it’s just going to keep getting easier.”
Thiero’s playing time was limited during his rookie season due to knee injuries.
He played in 25 regular-season games, averaging six minutes, with most of his playing time coming in the G League.
Thiero didn’t play well during his first summer league game this year, but he has continued to grow after the opener. NBAE via Getty Images
Thiero played in six playoff games, including being in the rotation for a few games.
“I feel like during the season, it was a little easier for me, whatever, older guys helping me, putting me in places,” Thiero told the Post. “So now I’m out there. I got to be that leader for everybody. And that’s just getting easier as time goes on.”
At 22 years old, 6-foot-8 with a 220-pound frame and otherworldly athleticism, Thiero will have a spot on the Lakers’ 2026-27 roster if his development during the summer carries over into the fall.
The Lakers need a player of his archetype, even after their roster reconstruction.
And Thiero knows that starts with improving as a point-of-attack defender, which has been a point of emphasis from coach JJ Redick.
“Just pressuring the ball,” Thiero told the Post what he’s been working on defensively. “Just going out there, trying to be physical on defense, talk, trying to lead on the defensive side for my teammates. And just trying to set the tone. Every night we come into the game, set the tone with the physicality and everything. Chris [Manon] does a good job at it. So just trying to be up there with him.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tarris Reed Jr. #10 of the San Antonio Spurs poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
The Summer Spurs looked completely out of it after being blown out in their first game in Vegas by the Atlanta Hawks after a fruitless 0-3 California Classic campaign, but just like Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber, there’s a chance for the Spurs to make it into the Summer League playoffs. Only the top four teams in Las Vegas Summer League make it into the championship, but there are only two unbeaten teams left, which means that at least two one-loss teams will make it into the tournament. All the Spurs have to do is beat the Jazz by a lot of points to get into the first or second spot among the one-loss teams. At the time of writing, that would require about a 30 point win, but could be more or less depending on how the rest of the games play out.
The Spurs might not want to get into the playoffs, because they’ve pretty much accomplished what they needed to in Summer League, with the team playing with nice energy and a little bit of cohesion after a slow start. If they don’t make it into the championship tournament, they’ll have one more game scheduled this weekend, to practice against another one of the also-rans and give the summer warriors a bit more run. My guess is that tonight is the last time you’ll see this year’s draft picks in the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League. Hopefully the Spurs will get a chance to face the Summer Lakers and Robbie Avila, who is becoming my favorite player of this year’s Summer League. It just goes to show that slightly overweight guys with coke bottle glasses can play this game.
This game will be on Prime, which is the NBA’s way of telling you that you need to buy every streaming service if you want to watch the games, even if you’re already paying for League Pass.
Game Prediction:
Corliss Williams pulls all of the starters in the fourth quarter after the Spurs build a big lead, trying to avoid the possibility of getting into the SL playoffs and playing an extra game.
San Antonio Spurs vs Utah Jazz(Las Vegas Summer League) July 15, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT Streaming: Prime TV: Prime Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts to his error during the ninth inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox.
The Mets are just two seasons removed from falling two wins short of the World Series, a little more than a year since they held the best record in baseball, and less than four months since being labeled contenders again.
But now the Mets (40-57) are on pace to finish in last place for the first time in 23 years, returning from the All-Star break after posting their worst first-half mark since 1995.
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
Steve Cohen is spending roughly a half-billion dollars on a roster that ranks 26th in batting average (.234), 29th in on-base percentage (.303), 27th in slugging percentage (.381), 26th in quality starts (23) and tied for the second-most errors (65).
Coming off a home sweep by the Red Sox, the Mets resume their seasonlong slog Thursday at Philadelphia, beginning what is MLB’s toughest remaining schedule (.539 opponents win percentage) over the final 65 games.
Following a three-game set against the Phillies, the Mets will play three consecutive series against first-place teams (at Milwaukee, vs. Dodgers, vs. Atlanta), as part of 25 straight games against winning teams. The Mets will not face a team that is currently worse than one game under .500 until the final weekend of August.
“Continue to fight,” Francisco Lindor said after the final game before the break. “At the end of the day, that’s the only thing we can do. And we’re going to try to be better. We’re going to play as hard as we can in the second half, and hopefully we put ourselves in a much better position. Because right now, it’s not where we want to be.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts to his error during the ninth inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“It’s not to the standard that we have here, and definitely not what we expected … We just have not played up to our potential.”
Whatever potential the Mets appeared to have in March doesn’t matter anymore, sitting 12 games back of the final wild-card spot and behind all but one team in the National League (Rockies).
“It’s a better team than that,” said interim manager Andy Green, who has gone 6-10 since replacing Carlos Mendoza, the first Mets manager to be fired in-season since 2008. “There’s too much talent in the room to be in this spot right now.”
Soon, the room will have even less talent.
After David Stearns whiffed on nearly every offseason move — including moving on from franchise fixtures such as Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Edwin Díaz, while bringing in Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. — the Mets president of baseball operations will attempt to recoup some of his losses by the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
The Mets’ first sell-off since 2023 began last month, when they traded David Peterson to the Cubs, and could end with several more players leaving Queens, including Peralta, Williams, Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazobán and others. Earlier this month, Cohen told The Post that he was “extremely worried” about the team’s future because of “regression in [their] farm system.”
There is nothing left to fear this season. It’s hard to imagine how it could get any worse.
Devin Williams (38) walks in a run during the ninth inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox. Robert Sabo for NY Post
But there is still time.
“We have to take a level of ownership of it ourselves,” Green said of the team’s record. “Every single person on this team has a level of responsibility to flip the script going into the second half.”
The superstar Knicks guard took home a trio of ESPY Awards on Wednesday night for Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports.
To end the awards spectacle, the Knicks won the Best Team ESPY, beating out eight other squads across the sports spectrum.
Brunson was announced the winner of the NBA-focused award earlier Wednesday and earned his second and third honors at the award show at Lincoln Center in New York.
Jalen Brunson accepts the Best Championship Performance award onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
Brunson, on hand with his wife, Ali Marks Brunson, accepted his awards on the David H. Koch Theater stage while dressed to the nines in a tuxedo.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my family for sacrificing everything day in and day out,” Brunson said after winning the championship performance ESPY. “Thank you to [owner] Jim Dolan and the Knicks organization, [president] Leon [Rose], the front office, Mike Brown, my teammates — without them, none of this would be possible. They allow me to be me. I’m forever indebted to them.”
He beat out United States hockey gold medalists Aerin Frankel and Connor Hellebuyck and Texas softball’s Teagan Kavan for the championship performance ESPY. Argentina soccer legend Lionel Messi, Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford were up for the men’s athlete award.
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks Brunson. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
A group of Knicks, including Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and president Leon Rose, joined Brunson to accept the team award. Knicks superfan Fat Joe fittingly closed down the show with his song “All the Way Up.”
He scored over 30 points in four of the five contests, with 36 in the Knicks’ historic Game 4 comeback before dropping 45 in the Game 5 clincher on the road in San Antonio.
Making it all the more impressive was that Brunson dealt with pain in his left hand and wrist, something that bothered him during the final two rounds of the playoffs, he revealed earlier Wednesday on ESPN Radio.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson with the Championship trophy riding on a float. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Post previously reported he underwent surgery for the issue July 7.
“I just remember being at the free-throw line in the third or fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals,” Brunson said. “My wrist was starting to feel weak. I was like, ‘Where is this coming from?’ From that point on, I was trying to figure out what was going on, and how I can push through, because I wasn’t going to get anything done during that time.”
