The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar.
Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved.
Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future.
St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor is on the LA Lakers’ radar ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026–27.
For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No. 25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on.
In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: Trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Dončić or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future.
If the Lakers choose the latter path, there isn’t a shortage of options of prospects who they should consider drafting.
Toward the top of that list should be St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor, whose hustle, defensive versatility and energetic style of play would be a welcome addition to the Lakers’ front court.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is keeping his eye on St. John’s star Ejiofor. Getty Images
Despite being an undersized big man, Ejiofor was an impactful defender throughout college because of his wingspan, instincts, strength and communication.
Ejiofor can switch onto perimeter ball handlers and contain them in isolations. And even if they get a step by him, he has the length and quickness to recover to either block or contest the shot.
And four years of college basketball helped showcase that he’s regularly in the right position defensively.
Ejiofor’s time in college allowed him to make significant strides as a passer/playmaker — which will be his strongest offensive skills in the NBA besides his reliable screening.
But his best attribute is how hard he plays — which has proven to be a skill.
It was evident in the 3.3 offensive rebounds he averaged in 2025–26 and the 4.4 offensive rebounds he averaged as a junior.
It was clear in the all-around growth he made as a player from his freshman year at Kansas to leading St. John’s to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
A star-driven team like the Lakers could use more players like Ejiofor who give it their all on every possession, which raises the collective hustle and energy of the team.
Areas of improvement?
Ejiofor being undersized hurts him when it comes to scoring and finishing at the rim against bigger and longer players.
And if his 3-point shot isn’t going to be consistent (30.5% in 2025–26; 27.7% in college), then it’s going to be difficult for him to be viewed as an offensive threat outside of hustle plays because he’s limited in other areas since he isn’t an offensive creator.
If the shot doesn’t develop, Ejiofor’s ceiling likely would be as a change-of-pace energetic big man.
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The Warriors possess the No. 11 pick in this month’s NBA draft.
Who they pick with their highest selection since 2021 could hold the cards to not only the final years of Steph Curry’s career but also the future direction of the franchise.
This week, we are profiling five possible prospects GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. could target.
Former Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. is on the Warriors’ NBA draft radar. Getty Images
Concluding with Part 5:
Morez Johnson Jr.
Age: 20
Position: Forward
Height/weight: 6-foot-9 / 250 pounds
School: Michigan
Why he’s a fit
The Warriors were so short on frontcourt depth at the end of last season that they signed a center to their G League team that ended the regular season playing real NBA minutes.
Charles Bassey and Golden State’s three other big men — Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Quinten Post — all have uncertain futures. Even if some combination of them returns, a player whose game and body are as developed as Johnson’s will find a way to contribute.
Johnson teamed up with Yaxel Lendeborg, another possible Warriors target, and 7-3 center Aday Mara, who could also go in the lottery, to form one of the most physically formidable front courts in the country while leading Michigan to a national championship.
Johnson’s switchability and physicality on defense may remind you of another player from around those parts. He also has the same kind of length that has helped Draymond Green — a Michigan State man — be an elite defender, with a wingspan measuring 7-3 ½.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr might be in need of some frontcourt depth, and Johnson would fit the bill. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Why he’ll last until No. 11
Johnson is the prototypical high-floor, low-ceiling player.
He doesn’t have a 3-point shot and hasn’t tried to incorporate one. He has the physicality to get to the rim and finish through contact but isn’t considered to have many moves in his bag.
That said, Johnson knows his skill set and doesn’t waste shots, setting an Illinois record for field-goal percentage as a freshman and shooting 62.7% mostly from close range at Michigan, where he averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while starting all 40 games.
That doesn’t mean he is always a smart decision-maker on offense: He committed more turnovers (53) than he dished out assists (48). Foul trouble has also been a problem, though his 3.7 per 40 minutes with Michigan was an improvement over his 5.6 per 40 as a freshman.
Just as he makes up his lack of height with brute force, Johnson’s defensive prowess helps overshadow his offensive shortcomings, though he’ll have to work on avoiding the whistle.
NBA comp: Isaiah Stewart
Johnson’s pure physicality means he won’t be overwhelmed by the NBA. He lacks the upside of other lottery talent but could be of immediate help for the Warriors’ defensive scheme.
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 28: Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators before a face-off during a game against the Colorado Avalanche on January 28, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
News Around the League
Senators send captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida Panthers after he informed them he would not re-sign with the team. [Ottawa Citizen]
Florida had made an earlier trade with the Seattle Kraken sending Mackie Samoskevich there for a first and second round pick. [Florida Panthers]
What will replace Hockey Night in Canada? Women’s sports! [CBC]
Jonathan Toews annnounces retirement after 16 seasons and three Stanley Cups. [NHL]
Colorado Avalanche News
Zach Stortini named as ECHL expansion franchise (and new Avalanche minor league affiliate) New Mexico Goatheads’ first head coach. [Colorado Avalanche]
ICYMI: Pros and Cons of Jared Bednar returning to the Avalanche bench. [MHH]
The Avs have lost another depth player; this time to the KHL as reports are surfacing that indicate Zakhar Bardakov is leaving for Russia. [Denver Sports]
Goodbye Ross Colton as he is now a member of the Nashville Predators reuniting with former Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland. [Sportsnet]
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 19: JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Folks, I don’t think I got it today. I spent all of Thursday getting ready for a weekend trip, of course not giving myself enough time to do everything I wanted to do, so the entire day was hectic. I arrived at my destination that night, and then drank heavily for three straight nights. I am unfortunately saddled with the inability to sleep when I drink – I am a near guarantee to wake up at 5 or 6 in the morning and then struggle to go back to sleep. There is a bonus: I have avoided many a hangover because it hasn’t kicked in yet when I wake up. The downside is becoming a walking zombie.
Anyway, I drove home Sunday morning, but not to my house. It was Father’s Day after all. I drove straight to my parents house on something like a combined 15 hours sleep over the past three days. Actually 15 is probably optimistic. My dad got a JJ Wetherholt jersey and Masyn Winn bobblehead, so it was incredibly exciting when both hit homers in the 1st. I’m not kidding, we just finished giving him gifts and then the Cardinal game started not even five minutes later. I finally got home at 7 pm. And here we are.
So a quick article it is. But I don’t want to leave you with nothing so, some random observations for you
JJ Wetherholt’s ridiculous season
JJ Wetherholt is answer to the question: what if you just maxed out everything a baseball player does? JJ Wetherholt, at least in his first three months of professional baseball, has been an elite baserunner and elite fielder. It doesn’t matter what stat you use. He is +13 outs above average, which is quite literally 100 percentile among defenders according to Statcast. He is 95th percentile by baserunning value. He has 1.2 dWAR if you prefer Baseball-Reference. And his hitting isn’t bad either.
Wetherholt, now with 3.3 fWAR on the year, is on pace to have the best rookie season by a Cardinals player since Albert Pujols. And it’s pretty much equal to Pujols’ season. He’s on pace for 7.1 fWAR, Pujols had 7.2 fWAR. That’s a rounding error. I have comped him to Chase Utley before in sort of a pie-in-the-sky outcome – that is not a crazy comp. Utley was not a Hall of Famer caliber player because of his offense – well he sort of was – but he maxed out his baserunning and fielding value.
Ignore the power aspect – Citizen Banks Park is a much better park for homers than Busch Stadium, but even accepting that, Utley most likely has more power than Wetherholt ever will – if you look at the season by season wRC+ Utley had, it doesn’t feel THAT crazy anymore. Utley’s peak began with a 134 wRC+, which he followed with a 130 wRC+, and then a 150, then 134, 141, and 128 wRC+. Wetherholt still has work to do, since he’s “only” at a 127 wRC+ right now.
However, he is arguably getting unlucky. Maybe yesterday’s game fixes that. I don’t know. But he entered yesterday’s game with a .360 xwOBA and a .343 wOBA. His 3-5 day with two homers and a HBP rose his actual wOBA to .354. But you know, it probably raised his xwOBA too. Somewhat inexplicably his second homer carried an expected batting average of .030 while simultaneously being a homer in 19 parks. His single carried a .930 xBA and there’s no data on his first homer, but that was more of a no doubter. Point being, I think his xwOBA will still paint him as unlucky.
So that 130-140 wRC+ range doesn’t feel crazy, and we’re talking about a 23-year-old with 71 career games. While his baserunning and fielding really has nowhere to go but down, his hitting may not be a finished product. We really have a special player here.
Have faith in Masyn Winn
Even if I accepted that Masyn Winn was now an 80-85 wRC+ hitter carried by his defense, I have not really understood the discourse about replacing him. Let’s tackle positions that are actually a problem first. I don’t care if there are a lot of 3 win shortstops, that doesn’t make replacing him automatically easy. Wetherholt could most likely handle SS, but his greatest weakness is his arm, so he is very much not a guarantee that it would work and there’s very little chance he’s a better defender at SS than Winn.
I have also been very vocal in thinking he has more in the tank offensively. He’s still just 24-years-old. I don’t think his best offensive days are behind him. I also look at like this: we don’t need Masyn Winn’s bat to better. It’s almost a bonus. I think it can be better, but we’re not dependent on it being better. Winn will still be a valuable player and a worthy starter on a playoff caliber team even if his bat is what it is. Despite a slow start with the bat and with defensive numbers that I think will get better, he’s still nearly on pace for a 3 WAR season.
Is anybody else worried about Gordon Graceffo?
Graceffo is really working on a razor’s edge right now. He is not missing bats, he is walking too many, and he’s not really getting a lot of groundballs either. ERA is the only stat that makes him look good, the rest make him look… unplayable honestly. Every single one of them. His bad game on Thursday was a long time coming, and he has 4 walks to zero strikeouts in his last 3.1 innings of work. I had kind of assumed his advanced stats would start creeping towards his ERA at some point, and they really haven’t.
It’s interesting how much even the analytical fans will trust a good ERA, because I just haven’t seen a lot of talk about Graceffo. By literally any advanced stat and I genuinely think I’m using literally correctly here, we should trust Ryne Stanek more than Graceffo. We should trust Justin Bruhl more! Why can’t he miss any bats???
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies walks with his interpreter Yuto Sakurai before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whenever Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) pitches or speaks to the media, you may notice the man who flanks him. This is Yuto Sakurai, who has served as Sugano’s interpreter for the last two years.
However, before Sakuari worked for Sugano, he had other roles that shaped how he approaches his current work.
Early Life
Sakurai was born in Tokyo, Japan, but moved to the United States at a young age.
“I was probably four or five,” he said. “I remember going to kindergarten in LA, so it was just a short stint in LA that I had.”
And after a few years, his family moved back to Japan where he completed elementary and junior high school. But when he was a teenager, he moved to Vancouver, Canada.
“I wanted to play baseball in the States, but with visa complications, Canada or Australia was my second option,” he recalled. “And I thought ‘Well, the United States is right next door, so close enough.’ And that’s why I chose Canada.”
Sakurai also attended university in Canada, where he initially studied psychology and business but ultimately finished his degree in marketing.
“My friends were all taking business classes, and I thought, ‘Why not take business?’” he said. “And then while doing my business major, I took one of the marketing courses and just fell in love with it. It was a course called ‘Personal Selling’ or something like that. I really enjoyed the negotiation tactics and the communication aspect of marketing, so I think that’s when I kind of shifted.
“Studying wasn’t really my thing,” he laughed. “But in terms of acquiring language, it was one of the good things I was able to do so I guess it all worked out in the end.”
And even though Sakurai isn’t currently working in marketing, he credits the skills he learned with “absolutely” helping him land his roles in Major League Baseball.
“Being in this role, I’ve had to communicate with various people from different departments,” he said, “someone like you from the media or the PR from our team, business and baseball ops people, and then, of course, players. So it has definitely helped me out.”
Pivoting to Major League Baseball
Before Sakurai was hired by Sugano, he worked for another Japanese pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (山口 俊). Yamaguchi and Sugano played together on the Yomiuri Giants in the NPB, and Yamaguchi was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2019. Unfortunately, his MLB career never quite took off, in part because of the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Yamaguchi made his MLB debut on July 26, 2020 and made 17 appearances that year. He went 2-4 with a 8.06 ERA across 25.2 innings. He was designated for assignment in February 2021 and signed by the San Francisco Giants, but was eventually released in July after not making another appearance in the majors.
“He was supposed to be a starter, but he ended up becoming a middle reliever,” Sakurai recalled. “It was during the 2020 shortened season – the COVID year – so he didn’t really have a chance to play that year. The Giants picked him up, but he never got to the major leagues. I think we played half the season in Sacramento.
“When he signed with the [San Francisco] Giants, I was like, ‘I have a background in Vancouver,’” he continued, “so I thought I could help him out with making the adjustments – coming over here, but also playing. And when I saw the news, I applied, and luckily they saw my email, and that’s how things started.”
After his role with Yamaguchi, Sakurai took a sabbatical from being an MLB interpreter.
But then another opportunity presented itself in 2025.
Connecting with Tomoyuki Sugano
After spending 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, Tomoyuki Sugano signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he fulfilled a longtime goal of playing Major League Baseball. However, he needed an interpreter to help him navigate life in the United States.
That’s when Sakurai decided to shoot his shot again.
“I saw Tomo sign with the Orioles last year, and I thought, ‘Why not shoot the GM an email and see what the response will be like?’ And luckily, I got a response, and that’s how the thing started rolling,” he said.
“I had an interview with his agent, Shawn Novak, who speaks both English and Japanese fluently,” Sakurai continued. “And I had two different interviews with him and his agency, and then I was one of the final candidates and then got to speak with Tomo next on Zoom. He asked me a bunch of questions, but it seemed like he was looking for someone who is willing to help not only on the field, but off the field and have a relationship with and hang out with. So I was like, ‘Sure, why not?’”
Sakurai was based in Japan at that time, but moved back to the US when he was hired by Sugano. And part of his role is to help Sugano communicate with coaches, media, etc., but also to help him adjust to life in the US.
“I guess it’s helped – in a good way – that he’s single and didn’t have any family to be with over here,” Sakurai said. “I’m basically kind of replacing the family component there, so we just hang out every day – go out for lunch, go out for dinner, go golf together. Whichever city we go to, we try to find something to do. He likes to go to amusement parks, so we’ve been to a couple different Six Flags in the last year. And just seeing each other every other day kind of helped with the bonding process.”
And the two are pretty much inseparable at this point.
“I’m pretty much with Tomo 24 hours everywhere except for the time I fall asleep,” Sakurai said.
“I wake up and usually he tells me, ‘Let’s meet up downstairs’ or [we’ll] go have lunch or coffee. That’s how my day usually starts. We go grab lunch, and then on a road trip, we come back, take the bus to the stadium, and from there on, you see what’s going on. I’m always with him on the field, and once the game is over, we take the same bus back. And if we don’t end too late, we usually go grab dinner together or have dinner at the stadium and go our separate ways afterwards.”
Perks of being an interpreter
On top of being connected to a legendary pitcher like Sugano, Sakurai has been enjoying being an MLB interpreter.
One of the most surprising things, though, was how ‘normal’ most of these guys are.
“You used to think of all these guys as your childhood heroes,” he said. “I mean, they still are, but how they interact with myself and Tomo, they’re just regular people, too. I was surprised about how a lot of them are very humble. They have respect for each other. No matter who you are, they will treat you with respect.”
And specifically with guys like Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, he has made sure to stay the same and not get too caught up in the moment.
But the biggest lesson he’s learned so far?
“Maybe try not to stand out too much,” he said, “because I am a staff member. I’m not a player, so essentially I have to hide in the shadows, per se, and do my job discreetly and try not to get too ahead of myself.”
Having worked for four organizations, Sakurai has noticed a few differences, but noticed one thing in particular that the Rockies excel at doing.
“I feel like we have a family-like team, per se. Like, the first day of spring training, everybody was welcoming from top to bottom,” he said. “Not all the teams have that, so I really appreciate that component. And even still now, we have a good thing going on. Everybody says hi to each other every single day coming in, and I really like that. It’s a long season to battle, so you want to get along with everybody as much as possible, and I think this organization has the best of it.”
However, Sakurai has one favorite part of the job that’s unique to his particular role.
“When I get to go on the mound with Alon [Leichman],” he said, “talking about what to do with the next hitter and stuff like that in front of 30,000 or 40,000 fans.”
“That’s something that not everybody gets to do – even as players,” he emphasized. “Position players wouldn’t really go up to the mound during the game unless they’re on the field already. So I think that’s my favorite part about this job. But otherwise, pretty much everything you get to do, like talk to the players that you typically see on TV on a daily basis. I get to do what I like to do – play catch with the guys. And last but not least, I like to travel. If it wasn’t for this job, I probably wouldn’t go to places like Cincinnati or Kansas City.”
But at the end of the day, Sakurai feels the same as most players about what he’s looking most forward to for the rest of the 2026 season.
“I think it’s the same with all the players and all the staff for all 30 organizations,” he said. “I think everybody’s ultimate goal is to get that championship ring, and I would love to accomplish that dream with these guys.”
And any advice to anyone who wants to get into this field?
“I think it’s just like any other job or any other dreams that people have,” Sakurai said. “If you put in the work for it, or you have the desire – like, for me, I wanted to work in Major League Baseball, and of course I had to put some effort in – anything is achievable.”
It was a back-and-forth affair in Albuquerque, but unfortunately, the Space Cowboys (HOU) came out on top. DH Nick Kent, second baseman Chad Stevens and catcher Jose Cordova all recorded two hits.
First baseman CJ Alexander got things started for the Space Cowboys in the first with a two-run homer, but Kent answered back in the bottom half with a solo shot of his own. Catcher César Salazar singled to put the Cowboys up 3-1, then Alexander walked with the bases loaded to score another run.
Kent doubled again in the third to score Dew Avans, and then Stevens singled to score Kent. Second baseman Pascanel Ferreras tripled to score left fielder Cavan Biggio in the sixth, and then Mike Antico hit a sac fly to score Stevens. A wild pitch by RHP Ryan Weiss then scored Cordova. Another triple, this time by third baseman Vimael Machín, scored first baseman Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) to give the Topes the lead, but it was quickly erased by a Biggio two-run homer in the eighth to end the scoring.
It was homer-fest in Hartford as the Yard Goats defeated the Fightin Phils (PHI) 7-4. DH Cole Messina (No. 26 PuRP) got things started in the first, scoring catcher Bryant Betancourt on a two-run homer to jump out to an early lead. Unfortunately, the Phils plated four runs in the third — all off RHP Fisher Jameson. Jameson ended up pitching three innings, but only allowed damage in his first inning. The Phils started off the third with a left fielder Bryson Ware homer, then center fielder Pedro León hit a three-run homer to put them on top. Goats’ first baseman Jimmy Obertop hit a homer in the fourth to cut into the lead, and then right fielder GJ Hill homered in the fifth to tie the game.
The first (and only) non-homer score came later in the fifth, when center fielder Conner Capel doubled to score shortstop Andy Perez. Betancourt wanted in on the homer parade, hitting a two-run shot as the final scoring hit.
DH Tommy Hopfe and right fielder Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP) each recorded multiple hits in the Indians’ 9-5 loss to the Canadians (TOR). Belyeu went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, one RBI, one walk and two strikeouts. Hopfe went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Belyeu got things started with a leadoff homer to put the Indians’ up 1-0. Hopfe then hit a sac fly to score second baseman Roynier Hernandez later in the inning to put them up 2-0. In the third inning, DH Eric Snow hit a three-run homer to put the Canadians over the top. In the fourth, left fielder J.R. Freethy scored catcher Edward Duran on another sac fly, and then Hopfe doubled in the fourth to score Belyeu and Hernandez.
In the sixth and seventh, the Canadians blew things open with a double and two, two-run homers to put them up 9-4. Left fielder Jacob Hinderleider doubled in the seventh to score catcher Alan Espinal, but that ended the scoring and the comeback.
It was a pitchers’ duel for most of the game in Fresno, as the scoring didn’t start until the seventh inning and ended with a walk-off. DH Luis Mendez led the way, going 3-for-4. Rehabbing second baseman Adael Amador and center fielder Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) each went 2-for-4, and Brito also struck out once.
66ers (SEA) second baseman Dervy Ventura broke through the brick wall that was RHP Austin Newton when he hit a sac fly to score left fielder Ricardo Cova. It was the only run allowed by Newton, who also allowed three hits and struck out two batters in 6.1 innings of work.
In the Grizzlies half of the inning, catcher Jesus Freitez hit a sac bunt, and then right fielder Carlos Renzullo scored on a fielding error by pitcher Ray Cebulski. The walk-off also came off the bat of Freitez, who singled to score shortstop Ashly Andujar (No. 20 PuRP).
Patrick Saunders has covered the Rockies since 1998 and his final game will be this Wednesday, June 24th against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field. He shares some of his favorite stories from his career as he bids goodbye to the Rockies beat. Thank you, Patrick, for your excellent coverage of Denver sports over the years. You will be missed!
Saturday night’s game ended with a rare 5U out due to an interference call. Kyle Karros fielded a ground ball from Jake Mangum with the bases loaded, and immediately started to look around without throwing anything. Turns out, the foot of Billy Crook grazed his glove while he was running from second to third, triggering runner interference. Crew chief Todd Tichenor explained it as such: “The runner failed to avoid the defender in the act of fielding the baseball; therefore, he’s called out. It’s very simple.” Luckily, the Rockies were on the winning side of the bizarre ending!
TJ Rumfield has been setting toe world league on fire, slashing .279/.359/.483 with 28 extra-base hits in his first 75 games as a Major League Baseball player. He’s making a case for NL Rookie of the Year, and Thomas Harding talked to him about the lessons he learned in the minor leagues that prepared him for this moment.
TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Dan is seen in the broadcast booth just prior to the Jays vs Texas Rangers game at the ACC. Dan Shulman is the play-by-play voice calling games for the Blue Jays. Story is on his famously deep, silky voice. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
These clubs have appeared in 5 of the last 9 World Series. Each have run into various road blocks in 2026, but the winner of this upcoming series could potentially springboard to new life in the second half of the season.
Blue Jays Play By Play Man Dan Shulman joins us to discuss the Astros upcoming series at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto.
Q: Let’s start with George Springer. Could he be turning the corner?
A: George has looked better lately. He fouled a ball off his toe earlier this season, fractured it, missed 17 games, and it seemed to take him a while to get his timing back when he returned. But lately there have been signs that he is turning it around. He is drawing a lot of walks lately, and if the power stroke returns too, that would really help the Jays.
Q: For the Astros, injuries have drastically hindered their season thus far. What have been the biggest hurdles for the Blue Jays?
A: They have been decimated by injuries too. Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk both suffered injuries very early in the season. Barger sprained his ankle, returned for one game, and suffered an elbow injury on a throw. He has only appeared in 9 games. Kirk fractured his thumb in early April and just returned last week.
As mentioned, Springer was on the IL and so was Nathan Lukes. Daulton Varsho is on the IL now with a wrist issue.
On the pitching side, Jose Berrios underwent Tommy John surgery, Cody Ponce tore his ACL, Dylan Cease was on the IL for 15 days, Max Scherzer missed more than a month and Shane Bieber is just now nearing a return after some arm fatigue following his Tommy John surgery. So they have had more than their fair share of bullpen games as they try to find 5 starters. They’re getting healthier now but it’s been a huge part of their struggles.
Q: If you had to predict, which Jays “will” or “should” make the All Star Game next month in Philadelphia?
A: I think Ernie Clement should and will. He’s had a very good season, and in my mind, deserves to be the starter at 2nd base for the American League.
Louis Varland has been one of the best relievers in the majors, he should be there and I think he will be. I think Dylan Cease should as well, and likely will. Even with a brief stint on the IL, he’s been one of the better starting pitchers in the AL.
Even though he’s not having an All-Star caliber season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could get voted in.
Q: Lastly, it’s been a roller coaster with the pitching rotation which Astros fans can relate to. What’s the latest?
A: They need to find 5 healthy, effective starters. Cease and Gausman are a great 1-2 punch. Trey Yesavage has had his ups and downs this year but still gives them a quality starting pitcher. A healthy Bieber would be a great addition. The bullpen has been worked hard, Fluharty and Fisher are among MLB leaders in appearances. But for the most part, it is a strong bullpen.
Happy Monday, everyone! We hope you had a restful weekend and are ready to take on the week ahead. We’ve got lots of fun little news bites from over the weekend to ease you into your Monday grind. On the good news side of things, Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka welcomed their second child and announced the birth over the weekend. In true Ohtani fashion, he then his a massive home run on Father’s Day Eve to help the Dodgers win.
The Phillies continue to have an unprecedented resurgence that should honestly make any team that has struggled in recent months (not naming names…) realize that there is room to turn things around still. This time, they did it with crazy performances from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. On the less cheerful side of things, Justin Verlander was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start due to a hamstring injury and will be heading right back to the injured list.
We’ve got all that and more below, so let’s get right into it!
I love weird stats…According to @EliasSports Justin Dean is the 4th player in the expansion era (1961+) to hit a bases loaded triple as his first career @MLB hit joining: Anthony Bass (05/04/2012 SD), Scott Podsednik (07/15/2001 SEA) and Pedro Martinez (!) (05/22/1994 MTL). https://t.co/v6YeB3dvA9
MONTGOMERY, AL - MARCH 31: Kamren James #3 of the Montgomery Biscuits poses for a photo during the Montgomery Biscuits photo day at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Ethan Lowe/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This was the 11th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Sunday, June 21st).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), the Rays top overall prospect Theo Gillen has taken over at the top performer in the system. His full season stat line is further below.
Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarods is back as the top performing pitcher system. The 22-year old Cremarosa is having a solid debut season within the Rays system. The 2025 8th round pick is currently in Single-A and holds a 2.56 ERA | 2.52 FIP with a 32.0 K% & 4.9 BB% over 52.2 IP.
RUMBLINGS
Kamren James, the Rays 16th round pick in 2022, had a career day on Sunday as he launched three homeruns in a single game. The 26-year old was hitting .209/.294/.341 with 2 HR over 103 PA entering play on Sunday.
Luke Jackson, the Rays 11th round pick from 2025, made his organization debut. Jackson was among Baseball America’s top 500 prospects entering the draft and signed a $497,500 deal with Tampa Bay. The 22-year old is currently in Single-A.
Leonardo Pineda, one of the Rays top international signings from 2024, has been placed on the 60-day Injured List
Daniel Pierce, the Rays top draft pick in 2025, hasn’t played since May 3oth.
Carson Williams since being optioned at the end of May is hitting .288/.358/.507 with a 24.7 K% and 9.9 BB% over 81 PA
FanGraphs should be releasing their list of the Rays top prospects at some point this week.
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 120 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .256, Carson Williams OBP: .342, Carson Williams SLG: .451, Carson Williams HR: 9, Tatem Levins wRC+: 104, Carson Williams SB: 24, Raynel Delgado (Traded to the Astros on 6/10)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 2.27, Evan Reifert FIP: 4.03, Ty Johnson K%: 29.6% Ty Johnson BB%: 8.7%, Chase Solesky WHIP: 1.04, Ty Johnson AVG: .182, Evan Reifert WHIFF%: 14.4%, Ty Johnson
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .309, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27) OBP: .379, Xavier Isaac SLG: .533, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27) HR: 13, Will Simpson wRC+: 141, Austin Overn (Placed on IL on 5/27) SB: 28, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.94, Chris Clark FIP: 3.14, Chris Clark K%: 26.5%, Michael Forret (Promoted to Triple-A) BB%: 4.3%, Gary Gill Hill & Santiago Suarez WHIP 0.97, Chris Clark AVG: .186, Michael Forret WHIFF%: 15.4%, Jackson Baumeister
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .340, Theo Gillen OBP: .449, Tony Santa Maria SLG: .591, Theo Gillen HR: 15, Connor Hujsak (Promoted to Triple-A) wRC+: 165, Theo Gillen SB: 28, Theo Gillen
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.90, Jacob Kisting FIP: 2.47, Jacob Kisting K%: 30.4%, Jacob Kisting BB%: 5.2%, Jacob Kisting WHIP: 0.95, Jacob Kisting AVG: .196, Jacob Kisting WHIFF%: 15.0%, Jacob Kisting
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .379, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) OBP: .433, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) SLG: .614, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) HR: 6, Taitn Gray & Cooper Flemming wRC+: 177, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) SB: 19, Alberth Palma
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 11: A general view at Pride Movie Night with screening of "In The Heights" at Oracle Park on June 11, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
A new week of San Francisco Giants baseball is upon us, so it’s time to take a look ahead and see what’s on deck for this week.
After today’s off-day, the Giants return to Oracle Park to begin a three-game series against the Athletics. After that, they will welcome the Atlanta Braves to town for a rematch of last week’s series.
I don’t know who is doing the schedule this year, but man they sure do love to have the Giants play the same team two weeks in a row.
Anyway, of course I’m most interested in the A’s series. Nothing against the Braves, I just really love the vibes of Giants vs. A’s games, and it’s nice that A’s fans won’t have to travel for this one. Be nice to them if you’re going to a game during this series. Their organization has put them through enough.
Which series are you most interested in this week?
Defenseman Noah Dobson was dealt for the No. 16 and No. 17 picks, along with pending restricted free agent Emil Heineman.
On Sunday, we saw our first blockbuster trade of this draft season.
The Florida Panthers acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for No. 9 and No. 25 in this year's draft, a 2029 first-round pick (top-10 protected), and a 2027 second-round pick.
The two deals aren't comparable, in the slightest, but it is interesting to look at value.
Dobson, despite being overrated by many within the Islanders' fan base, is an offensive defenseman who recorded a 70-point season at age 24 before a down season.
He was also a pending restricted free agent who forced general manager Mathieu Darche to trade him after the two sides couldn't agree on a contract extension, before he inked an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually.
Tkachuk, who won gold with his brother Matthew representing Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, is a three-time 30-goal scorer, a now former captain, and some teams hate to play against him given his grit.
In terms of the returns, there's no question Darche got back a lot for Dobson, especially given the little leverage he did have.
Victor Eklund, who they took at No. 16, and Kashawn Aitcheson, who they took at No. 17, are likely big pieces of their future alongside Calder winner Matthew Schaefer.
Tkachuk's package is significantly stronger, even if Senators fans don't see it that way right now.
While general manager Steve Staois didn't have leverage and Florida was really the only team he was going to go to, despite having the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes as options, he also didn't have to trade Tkachuk at this moment.
He had two seasons left at $8.205 million annually, and Staios could have forced his star to add more teams to his willing-to-be-traded-to list like Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman did with Dylan Larkin.
Obviously, Brady's dream was to play with Matthew, and with NTC handed out like candy, he made that a reality.
Honestly, is it fair to say that Ottawa got back what Tkachuk is worth if not more?
We are talking about three first-round picks and a second-round pick, with a few of them likely on the move to add a top-six scorer like Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson or St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou.
The real question is, how many more blockbuster trades are coming before Friday's NHL Draft?
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JANUARY 03: Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after a made basket during the second half against the New York Knicks at Paycom Center on January 3, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Hawks are finalizing a trade for Aaron Wiggins, sending Oklahoma City Atlanta’s 2030 second-round pick and the less favorable of the Hawks’ and Lakers’ 2032 second-rounders. The agreement was reported late on June 21, 2026, hours after Atlanta retained CJ McCollum.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks (Atlanta's in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ypffJ3jMOk
Wiggins is a career 38% three-point shooter who can defend wings, attack a closeout and function without dominating the ball. He is also owed only a little more than $17 million across the next two guaranteed seasons, with a team option for 2028-29.
Aaron Wiggins is a product of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s strong drafting and player development system. A versatile wing with athleticism, handles, and shooting ability, the 3-and-D type has shot 38% from three in his career but has been limited to a bench role, topping out at 24.2 minutes per game due to the Thunder’s deep and talented roster.
Before the 2024-25 season, he signed a five-year, $45 million extension that declines over time with a team option for 2028-29; the Hawks will owe him slightly more than $17 million over the next two guaranteed seasons and may give him an opportunity for a larger role. We’ll always remember the January 3, 2025 game, when Wiggins scored a season-high 19 points (including 15 in the fourth quarter on perfect 5-of-5 shooting) to beat the Knicks, 117-107. We’re like pessimistic elephants, never forgettin’ the losses. . . .
Wiggins will not transform Atlanta into an Eastern Conference favorite by himself. He does give the Hawks another useful defender and shooter to deploy against Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby. And because Atlanta did not surrender either numbers 8 or 23 in this week’s draft, they can still draft a major prospect, trade a first-rounder, or pursue another established player. Crafty birds.
Over the weekend, McCollum re-signed with the team on a one-year, $21 million contract, marking the first major free agency news of the offseason. The deal, reported by Shams Charania, includes a 7.5% trade kicker and leverages McCollum’s full bird rights acquired at the trade deadline, effectively providing an implied no-trade clause.
The 35-year-old veteran played a key role in the Hawks’ strong late-season surge, averaging 18.9 points per game on 56% true shooting, and delivered clutch postseason performances, making him a valuable short-term veteran presence as the team eyes the future with its upcoming draft pick.
Atlanta finished in sixth place last season. In the first round of the 2026 playoffs, they pushed the Knicks to 2-1 before New York got right and rode a 15-1 pony to the NBA championship (have you heard?). The Hawks’ lack of depth was exposed and exploited by our heroes. The acquisition of Wiggins is thus a corrective step.
So Atlanta patched a hole with Wiggins (a solid but unproven 3-and-D guy who was stuck in OKC’s loaded roster) for basically peanuts, and kept McCollum as their veteran microwave scorer on a short deal. Atlanta must have other deals in their sights if they want to make a real leap, though. If they’ve tired of the first pick in the 2024 draft, Zaccharie Risacher (who averaged 7.7 MPG and 3 PPG in the playoffs), they could bundle the Frenchman and the aforementioned picks in an offer for a star. Miami and Boston seem to be the frontrunners in the race for Giannis, but could Atlanta be positioning itself as a dark horse?
Quietly, Atlanta is building a more complete roster. Are you concerned? Air it out below.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates inspects the ball as he pitches in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates and their ace Paul Skenes are in the midst of an all-time bad string of losses as after Saturday’s contest against the Colorado Rockies the club dropped their seventh straight with Skenes on the mound.
Skenes has been the center of criticism in this stretch with many questioning if he’s slipping in his third big league season. Many have cited his velocity being down, as his four-seamer averaged 98.8 mph as a rookie and 98.2 last season. This season Skenes is averaging 97 mph on his fastball. So there certainly has been a downtick, but the third year pitcher believes that he’s pitching better overall than he has in years past.
“I don’t think I’m necessarily the same pitcher I was my rookie year and last year,” Skenes said. “I do think I’m throwing better. I’m very happy with how I’ve been throwing. I think I’ve evolved. If you’re not getting better in this game, you’re getting worse. I feel I’m better than I was last year. I think there are some numbers that show that; others don’t. But the gut feeling is I’m better.”
In this stretch of losses Skenes certainly has not been dominating opposing hitters the way that fans have grown accustomed to, especially the third time through a lineup where his efficiency starts to slip severely. The commentary team during Skenes’ outing against the Houston Astros suggested that team’s game plans for trying to hit against Skenes could also be why the righty has struggled lately. When Skenes is on the mound, no matter what the count may be, batters are instantly going into protect mode. By taking this approach at the plate the opposing offense is effectively playing a game of attrition. In a batter’s first and sometimes even second time at the plate they’re not necessarily looking for base hits first as much as they’re looking to wear Skenes down by making it longer at bats, where they’re getting six or more pitches.
Paul Skenes tonight:
6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO 104 pitches, 63 strikes, 19 whiffs
Some run support would have been nice, but let's finish this one with a W at least. pic.twitter.com/vjbLDFmCo8
Skenes stylistically already racks up a lot of pitches because of the swing and miss work that he implements into his game. That aggressive style compounded with batters looking to draw out long at bats has Skenes getting into high pitch counts early and often. In his last five starts Skenes has thrown 103+ pitches in each contest and gave up two earned runs in each but one of those last five outings. Aside from his games against Philadelphia and Toronto in the last seven starts, Skenes has been fairly efficient in not giving up a lot of runs, but he is certainly being pushed to his limits on the mound.
The team as a whole has largely not been great at supporting Skenes when he’s on the mound. The team’s offense is often dormant in these matchups, and the lack of run support has not helped. Against Philly on May, 17 the Pirates scored zero runs. Against Toronto on May, 23 the Pirates scored two runs and repeated the same low on May, 28 against the Cubs. In Skenes’ start against the Astros the Pirates did a decent job on offense by scoring nine runs, but lost the lead once Skenes came out of the game. Against Houston Skenes gave up one earned run, and three runs were scored during his time on the mound, but the Pirates lost 11-9, so that one is on the bullpen which is it’s own disaster zone right now. This trend of no offense continued in Skenes’ starts against the Dodgers, Marlins and Rockies.
Don Kelly seems to always field the worst possible lineup on nights that Skenes pitches, which isn’t helping matters either. Ryan O’Hearn is regularly missing from the lineup, while poor performers like Marcell Ozuna and Jared Triolo are consistently getting at bats. Henry Davis always catches for Skenes and he is mostly an offensive liability as well. The amount of prospects and random call ups that are on the field for Skenes starts is laughable too. While Skenes has had his own fair share of struggles this season, it’s fair to say that the best product is not always being put on the field to support him either.
Defensively the Pirates are not nearly as sound this year as they were last year either. O’Hearn is being asked to play mostly outside of his natural position, and there have been some shortcomings with him in right field. Oneil Cruz is still not a great defender in center field and to this point has not been able to make the out of the ordinary plays that a Gold Glove defender is capable of. The rotating cast in the outfield has not helped either, and the right side of the infield is average at best but certainly not great.
Baseball is such a cruel game. Why?
Paul Skenes, a generational talent and one of the best pitchers in baseball has not won a game for his team since May 12th
All things considered it could be a lot worst, as Skenes is still statistically right up there with the best pitchers in baseball, but there’s definitely a different feel around him and his most recent starts. Still though his Pirates’ teammates are confident in his abilities with Brandon Lowe saying he’s still pitching incredibly.
“That’s one of the things that everybody in baseball has been clouded by: how great Paul has been in his first two years,” Lowe said. “When you can look at a guy who has a (2.85) ERA, and the media says he’s having a down year … it’s pretty incredible, the numbers he’s been able to put up and what he’s been able to do, for people to question his ability at this point in the season.”
Some have also pointed to Skenes’ involvement in the World Baseball Classic and the hangover period that many players from the tournament have experienced, but Skenes stands by his conditioning and the work he continues to put in, and is not concerned by a perceived slip or downtick in velocity on his pitches.
“I mean, you can still blow it by them with 97 compared to 98,” Skenes said. “I’m feeling better after starts compared to the last couple years. If it weren’t for a couple short outings, I’d have more innings under my belt. I’m conditioned to throw more innings than I have been throwing.”
Kelly echoes his confidence in the work that Skenes does to keep his body in top shape during the season.
“I think we are trying to keep it in perspective,” Kelly said. “I think Paul has still done that, given us a chance to win, even though he hasn’t been maybe at the exceptional level he has been all of his career. He’s had stretches where he hasn’t been like that throughout the last two years. I think the one thing that we do know: The preparation, the work ethic, the man and how he goes about it, he’s always going to give everything he’s got.”
Skenes is scheduled to start against the Cincinnati Reds in a three game home stand following the team’s next series against the Seattle Mariners.
02 September 2025, Rhineland-Palatinate, Landau in der Pfalz: Cheetah girl Assama is out and about in the enclosure. The cheetah girl Assama was born as an only child at Landau Zoo at the beginning of July. The first few weeks were a rollercoaster of emotions with some health problems, but now Assama's overall good development allows her to make her first appearance in front of the press. Photo: Andreas Arnold/dpa (Photo by Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Just when you think there will be nothing to write about or stories to cover, all of a sudden, you wake up, read 30-something articles, and file a 1,000-word post filled with notes. Such is life in this wonderful place.
Enjoy a relatively slow Monday; we’ll be busy again on Tuesday with the NBA Draft going down at Barclays.
Not that it’s the most Knicks-centric thing, but it looks like the Celtics are it. According to Marc Stein, reporting after posting a humongous file on his Substack, Boston “emerged from the weekend with a real shot to win this race with a Jaylen Brown-centric offer.” Sounds like Milwaukee won’t even consider a third team to facilitate the deal or sweeten it, so stay alert for a Shams bomb dropping any time now.
We have already discussed how the potential landing of Giannis in Boston could affect the Knicks next season and beyond, and truth be told, I have between none and zero worries. Everything points toward Boston sending Jaylen Brown the other way, which is a Knicks win already. On top of that, the C’s are bringing back legitimately damaged goods in Adetokunbo, who has appeared in 36 (last year), 67, 73, 63, 67, 61, and 63 regular-season games in the past seven seasons. Want more? If Stein’s report is to be believed, then the Celtics are sending more than JB the other way, which makes sense considering the reports about the Bucks wanting to bake Bobby Portis into any Giannis deal, and the subsequent salary-matching that would entail.
Will the Celtics be better with a Giannis-Tatum pairing than keeping their two-man core together, given their track record and Tatum’s supposedly healthier body going forward? Our friends from CelticsBlog are calling it an “agonizing decision” and comparing it to the good old ‘07 trade for Kevin Garnett, which was the closest to a one-year victory for the C’s with KG’s prime virtually expiring right after they hung the ‘08 banner. Crippling an Eastern Conference rival, and the Celtics of all franchises? Make it happen, Bradley!
The earlier report from Marc Stein pointed to the opposite scenario, with the Heat ahead in the Giannis race.
“League sources say that the Heat remain in full-speed pursuit of Antetokounmpo but also indicate that the Boston Celtics have not yet abandoned hope.”
Renowned NBA analyst and deal-breaker Chad Ochocinco with the strong sauce, emphasis mine.
“As y’all know I’ve said it multiple times over the months. The sources that I do have, they know what they’re talking about. Which is why I’ve came on here and say things that I’ve said. All the other stuff, with Boston, and him going anywhere, none of that is going to happen. That’s just created dialogue to keep people guessing on where he might go.”
The Pistons want Kyrie Irving and Celtics-linked Rudy Gobert is saying he’s still “very far from thinking” about retiring. Stars are definitely aligning for the Knicks.
New York Jets wide receiver Isaiah Williams’s plans to score more touchdowns next season? Training with Olympic sprinters, reports ESPN’s Rich Cimini. After all of the struggles, this must be our year!
I sent this ESPN article to my Kindle yesterday without knowing the author. The more I kept reading, the more I suspected who was behind the pen. Always read former P&T scribe Jayson Buford, people.
Touching piece from yet another former P&T man (!!!) in Abe Bame and his tale about the Knicks parade, his son, sports in childhood, parenting, family moments, and our sickening yet charming world.
The ninth season of the BIG 3 tipped off over the weekend…
Michael Beasley and Dwight Howard just got ejected on the first day of The Big 3 season
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 20, 2026
…and of course, all of Dwight Howard, Michael Beasley, and Lance Stephenson got the fireworks going. I have been advocating for and willing to lead a BIG 3 blog here at SBN for more than five years. We’ll get there, we’ll get there. It’s a one-game suspension for Beasley and Lance, while Dwight somehow escaped punishment. The game was forfeited by Miami as they ran out of players. (lol)
If you have $3 million to spare, OG’s tip-in ball from Game 4 will soon be up for the craziest bidder. Meanwhile, I’m so frugal that I’m having an internal debate about whether or not I should buy any $20-buck Knicks paraphernalia following the championship.
Isaiah Thomas, not Isiah Thomas as shocking as that after your read the next quote, believes all the Spurs lacked to beat the Knicks in the Finals was… Chris Paul.
“I believe if they had Chris Paul on this roster, they would’ve won the finals. His experience and who he, a Hall of Fame career, is would’ve helped De’Aaron Fox, (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper.”
Isiah Thomas believed all the Knicks lacked to win 35 games were Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. Close!
If you want a tough player, get yourself a Balkan. S/o Brandon Mullen from our sister site Blazer’s Edge for sharing Deni Avdija’s interview, in which he shared a ridiculous quote about the car crash he suffered last January. He was hooping 24 hours after suffering it.
“I saw my life flashing before my eyes. Airbags deployed, the car was a total loss. I took a really, really hard hit to the head from the airbag. My dad almost cut his entire hand. We were both pretty shaken up.
“The day after, I had a game… I’m the kind of guy who hides his injuries and the bad things that happen to him. You know? I’m not the type who comes and complains about things that happened to me or about injuries. I play… As long as I can walk on two legs, I can play.”
This went completely under my radar, but it turns out former New York Knicks bench warmer Guerschon Yabusele appeared on French show First Team over a week ago and touched on plenty of things, including the Knicks. Yabu admitted his frustration with the lack of playing time (“The games go on, and well, I still do not play. And sometimes, zero minutes.”) and seemingly started to think about what might happen given his precarious situation (“I would go home, I did not know what to do anymore. I said to myself, ‘But it is not possible. I am not going to go back into that for the whole season.’ I am not going to not play for two years.’”).
A free agent in a week, Yabusele also said he’s prioritizing signing another NBA deal, though he’s keeping his door open for a return to Europe.
Charles Oakley has spoken, and he’s mad at both James Dolan and Patrick Ewing. By extension, he’s happy about the current Captain.
This is incredible 🇨🇻💙 There was an interview happening with a fan and Cape Verde fans went insane seeing their team score their first goal ever#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/L0Vyi06W3I
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 31: The NBA logo on May 31, 2026, outside the NBA Store in New York, NY. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
AJ Dybantsa does not want to hear “from the Boston area.” He grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. In his head, when he imagines the moment – when his name was called and he would walk out onto the stage – he wants to hear “from Brockton.
When Malika Andrews reached out to the projected No.1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft the other day, he wanted to make sure she understood the difference. He wanted to make sure she wrote it down: he’s from Brockton, not Boston.
She wrote it down. She always does.
Andrews, 31, is the face of ESPN’s NBA coverage. She hosts “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown,” just wrapped the 2026 NBA Finals on site and in 2022 became the first woman to host the draft.
So, she sweats the details, like the preferred hometown of a teenager, because for 30 seconds she'll decide how the biggest moment of his life will sound.
Andrews doesn’t just wing those seconds. She reports them.
The instinct is deeply ingrained. Andrews came up from print, ran her college newspaper at the University of Portland, earned a New York Times reporting fellowship, and then covered the NBA for the Chicago Tribune. ESPN hired her in 2018 to write. She's also the host of WNBA Countdown and just this year has added tennis to her roster; she will be hosting ESPN's Wimbledon coverage in a week. Tennis isn't her background, but she is a reporter at heart.
She likes to tell the story of the people behind the news.
The Knicks are still on her mind as she prepares for the draft. She was on site when they won their first title in 53 years. It wasn’t the trophy that she remembered.
“There’s winning an NBA title, and then there’s winning an NBA title for a franchise like the Knicks,” Andrews said. “I’ve covered a lot of champions. This one was different.”
What she keeps thinking about is how the team will get remembered. Jalen Brunson, told for years he was too small, just a second-round pick. OG Anunoby, hurt during Toronto’s 2019 title run and stuck watching. Josh Hart, a near disaster of a mistake in Game 4 that ended up not mattering.
“I am glad they will be remembered as winners instead,” Andrews said.
She knows the job of a reporter helps shape those memories.
Andrews tries to find the best words for the biggest moments, that put the people in context. Like the Knicks' title and the kids’ memories of beginning their NBA career.
So, before the draft, even during those NBA Finals, she calls every prospect she can reach, about 15 to 20 of them. She does some research, but she always makes a point to ask every prospect the same thing. “When you dreamed about that moment, what did you hear?”
“It’s a clip you’re going to go back and watch,” she said, the whole family will watch it. “I do want their input.”
Reporters do not owe a source input in how a story is shaped. Andrews makes an exception for input for the draft. The kids get one shot for a lifetime memory, she wants to get it right.
On the floor, she works from a binder – alphabetized by last name – no teleprompter, the night running live. Below the camera, her researcher Gil Bransford holds the lowest-tech tool in the building, a note card clipped to what amounts to a trash picker-upper and taps the bottom of her chair with updates.
The morning of the draft, Andrews is filled with nervous excitement. The lights and camera go on, the first name is called and that drains out.
“I always feel this deep calm,” she said. “And it’s not about (me), it’s about these guys.”
The draft opens Tuesday, June 23, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 10 days after the city’s title. Dybantsa is expected to be among the first names commissioner Adam Silver reads. When the moment comes, there will be general talk: one year at BYU, top player in the country, three gold medals with the national team in the under-19, 17, and 16’s, etc.
Meanwhile, Andrews will quickly flip to the notes she wrote while talking to him. There, in her writing she will see the thing that was most important to him.
And Andrews will remember to say that he is from Brockton.
